Bowl Game Schedule 2017-18: Complete Predictions for Can't-Miss Matchups

For all the consternation and debate about which team belonged in the final spot of the College Football Playoff, the sport delivered an intriguing set of bowl games to conclude the 2017 season.

The playoff games figure to be instant classics with Clemson and Alabama squaring off for the third straight year and Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield going up against a stout Georgia group, but there are a number of games that jump off the schedule page.

With that in mind, here is a look at a few of them. Games were determined to be "can't-miss matchups" based on the noteworthiness of the two programs involved, the caliber of the players and the entertainment potential as an inter-conference showdown.

While the playoff contests are "can't miss," they were not included in the predictions section to focus more on the other bowl games.

Bowl Game Schedule

Boca Raton Bowl: Akron vs. Florida Atlantic, 7 p.m. ET on Dec. 19

Frisco Bowl: Louisiana Tech vs. SMU, 8 p.m. ET on Dec. 20

Gasparilla Bowl: Temple vs. Florida International, 8 p.m. ET on Dec. 21

Bahamas Bowl: Ohio vs. UAB, 12:30 p.m. ET on Dec. 22

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Central Michigan vs. Wyoming, 4 p.m. ET on Dec. 22

Birmingham Bowl: South Florida vs. Texas Tech, 12 p.m. ET on Dec. 23

Armed Forces Bowl: San Diego State vs. Army, 3:30 p.m. ET on Dec. 23

Dollar General Bowl: Appalachian State vs. Toledo, 7 p.m. ET on Dec. 23

Hawai'i Bowl: Fresno State vs. Houston, 8:30 p.m. ET on Dec. 24

Heart of Dallas Bowl: Utah vs. West Virginia, 1:30 p.m. ET on Dec. 26

Quick Lane Bowl: Duke vs. Northern Illinois, 5:15 p.m. ET on Dec. 26

Cactus Bowl: Kansas State vs. UCLA, 9 p.m. ET on Dec. 26

Independence Bowl: Southern Mississippi vs. Florida State, 1:30 p.m. ET on Dec. 27

Pinstripe Bowl: Iowa vs. Boston College, 5:15 p.m. ET on Dec. 27

Foster Farms Bowl: Purdue vs. Arizona, 8:30 p.m. ET on Dec. 27

Texas Bowl: Texas vs. Missouri, 9 p.m. ET on Dec. 27

Military Bowl: Virginia vs. Navy, 1:30 p.m. ET on Dec. 28

Camping World Bowl: Oklahoma State vs. Virginia Tech, 5:15 p.m. ET on Dec. 28

Alamo Bowl: Stanford vs. TCU, 9 p.m. ET on Dec. 28

Holiday Bowl: Washington State vs. Michigan State, 9 p.m. ET on Dec. 28

Belk Bowl: Wake Forest vs. Texas A&M, 1 p.m. ET on Dec. 29

Sun Bowl: North Carolina State vs. Arizona State, 3 p.m. ET on Dec. 29

Music City Bowl: Kentucky vs. Northwestern, 4:30 p.m. ET on Dec. 29

Arizona Bowl: Utah State vs. New Mexico State, 5:30 p.m. ET on Dec. 29

Cotton Bowl: Ohio State vs. USC, 8:30 p.m. ET on Dec. 29

Taxslayer Bowl: Louisville vs. Mississippi State, 12 p.m. ET on Dec. 30

Liberty Bowl: Memphis vs. Iowa State, 12:30 p.m. ET on Dec. 30

Fiesta Bowl: Washington vs. Penn State, 4 p.m. ET on Dec. 30

Orange Bowl: Wisconsin vs. Miami, 8 p.m. ET on Dec. 30

Outback Bowl: South Carolina vs. Michigan, 12 p.m. ET on Jan. 1

Peach Bowl: Auburn vs. Central Florida, 12:30 p.m. ET on Jan. 1

Citrus Bowl: Notre Dame vs. LSU, 1 p.m. ET on Jan. 1

Rose Bowl (playoff game): Georgia vs. Oklahoma, 5 p.m. ET on Jan. 1

Sugar Bowl (playoff game): Clemson vs. Alabama, 8:45 p.m. ET on Jan. 1

National Championship: Rose Bowl winner vs. Sugar Bowl winner, 8 p.m. ET on Jan. 8

Predictions for Can't-Miss Matchups

Cotton Bowl: Ohio State vs. USC

Michael Conroy/Associated Press

Fans of these two historic programs would likely be fine calling this the better-resume-than-Alabama bowl since Ohio State and USC finished fifth and eighth, respectively, in the final College Football Playoff rankings even though they combined for five Top 16 wins compared to the Crimson Tide's zero.

It is only fitting, then, that they play each other and determine which of the teams on the outside of the playoff looking in is better.

Ohio State enters the Cotton Bowl as Big Ten champions after shaking off a stunning loss to Iowa with notable victories over Michigan State, Michigan and Wisconsin down the stretch. USC won the Pac-12 after beating Stanford for the second time this season.

While the quarterback matchup immediately stands out with potential No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft Sam Darnold leading the Trojans against three-time Big Ten Quarterback of the Year and 2014 national champion J.T. Barrett and the Buckeyes, the difference will be determined in the trenches.

According to Football Outsiders, USC's offensive line is a solid-but-unspectacular 33rd in the country in adjusted line yards (which separates the running back's ability from the offensive line's) and 26th in the country in adjusted sack rate.

Ohio State's defensive line is No. 1 in adjusted line yards and No. 1 in holding runs to under five yards when five yards are available, per Football Outsiders. It is also 12th in the country in total sacks and features a number of players who could be NFL starters in the coming years in Nick Bosa, Sam Hubbard, Dre'Mont Jones, Tyquan Lewis, Jalyn Holmes and Robert Landers.

That group will pressure Darnold and keep running back Ronald Jones II in check against an overmatched USC offensive line.

Forcing Darnold to the sidelines after defensive stops will, in turn, allow Barrett and running backs J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber to control the contest on the ground against a USC defense that was a mere 56th in the country in rushing yards allowed per game this season.

Prediction: Ohio State 28, USC 20

Orange Bowl: Wisconsin vs. Miami

AJ Mast/Associated Press

Miami and Wisconsin can console each other about what could have been at the Orange Bowl.

Had the Hurricanes beaten Clemson in the ACC Championship Game, they likely would have been in the College Football Playoff. The same can be said about the Badgers had they beaten Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game.

Alas, they face each other in one of the best bowl games of the season.

Miami's famed turnover chain could come into play considering Alex Hornibrook threw 15 interceptions in 2017, but the Badgers will look to control the tempo on the ground.

Jonathan Taylor ran for 1,847 yards and 13 touchdowns and figures to be a problem for a Hurricanes defense that gave up four rushing touchdowns to Clemson in the ACC title contest and is a mere 41st in the country in rushing yards allowed per game.

Wisconsin's defense will also be too much for a Miami offense that scored just three points against Clemson and 14 points against Pittsburgh the prior week. The Badgers are second in the country against the run, fourth against the pass and third in scoring defense behind only Alabama and Clemson.

Prediction: Wisconsin 24, Miami 14

Alamo Bowl: Stanford vs. TCU

Brandon Wade/Associated Press

Like the Orange Bowl with Wisconsin and Miami, the Alamo Bowl pits two losers of conference title games against each other with Stanford and TCU.

Unfortunately for the Horned Frogs, they have to play another Heisman Trophy finalist after Mayfield tore them up for four passing touchdowns and 10.8 yards per carry in Oklahoma's 41-17 victory in the Big 12 Championship Game.

TCU will be tasked with stopping Stanford running back Bryce Love at the Alamo Bowl, which is much easier said than done considering he ran for 1,973 yards and 17 touchdowns during the season.

Love and his teammates will likely be happy to face anyone but USC after the Trojans beat them twice and spoiled what would have been an impressive season that included wins over Notre Dame, Washington, Oregon and Utah.

However, they will run into trouble in this contest even though it isn't against USC.

TCU is fourth in the country in rushing yards allowed per game and will force the ball out of Love's hands. On the flip side, Stanford is 73rd in the country against the run, meaning there will be plenty of lanes for Sewo Olonilua and Kyle Hicks. That will force the Cardinal to put additional defenders in the box, and quarterback Kenny Hill will beat them over the top with a late touchdown.

Prediction: TCU 30, Stanford 23