B/R Experts Answer Biggest CFB Bowl Season Questions, Part 2
Although a nationwide cold front chilled the holiday weekend, bowl season is ready to heat up significantly.
After a dozen days of one matchup, maybe two, we're ready for a complete week of three or four showdowns. This is, in fact, the most wonderful week of the postseason.
This edition covers the biggest bowl-season questions, as determined by our panel, for games from Tuesday, Dec. 27, through the end of bowl season, only excluding the New Year's Six contests—which feature two College Football Playoff semifinals.
Bleacher Report's expert team—Max Escarpio, David Kenyon, Adam Kramer, Morgan Moriarty and Brad Shepard—is here to break it down.
What's Your Favorite Non-NY6 Bowl?
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Adam Kramer
This one is pretty easy. It's the Alamo Bowl, and I'm not sure it's close.
Washington and Texas are two teams destined to receive a ton of buzz this offseason. Before we get there, however, we should see these squads trade touchdowns in a fascinating matchup.
Washington's Michael Penix Jr. emerged as one of the best quarterbacks in the sport, and he could use this performance to catapult into the Heisman Trophy discussion. On the other side, Quinn Ewers has flashed at times this year for Texas. He could certainly use a strong finish to get a fast start on a fascinating offseason in Austin.
While we won't see Bijan Robinson in this game, which is a bummer, there is still a ton to get excited about. The offenses should both find success, and the scoreboard could be very active.
It's a tough game to pick, which is also why it's my favorite. I'm not sure a single outcome would surprise me, and that says plenty about the talent and potential on both sides.
Morgan Moriarty
Same here, Adam. Both teams look like they could be playoff candidates entering 2023.
This is also a great opportunity to see fans watch Penix play. A Heisman candidate for next season, the signal-caller enters the Alamo Bowl second nationally in passing yards (4,354) and with a top-15 mark in touchdowns through the air (29). He's got two talented receivers around him in Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan too.
Texas, meanwhile, enters this matchup 8-4, a big improvement from a 5-7 season in 2021. Ewers missed some time this season with a shoulder injury but has thrown for 1,808 yards and 14 scores in nine games.
Texas, which appears to have the edge defensively, is a 3.5-point favorite, according to DraftKings. This should be a great game, and we'll be talking about both of these teams' playoff hopes heading into next season.
What Under-the-Radar Storyline Stands Out?
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David Kenyon
Folks, it's time to preview the Music City Bowl. From a storyline perspective, this is easily one of my favorite bowls.
Iowa quarterback Spencer Petras underwent shoulder surgery, and Alex Padilla entered the transfer portal. As a result, the Hawkeyes will be turning to third-stringer Joey Labas with fourth-stringer Carson May as the backup. They have combined for zero snaps this season.
Advantage: Kentucky. Right? Well, not so fast.
As the Hawkeyes shift to Labas, the Wildcats need to replace NFL-bound starter Will Levis. Kaiya Sheron has served as the backup, but true freshman Destin Wade is also expected to make his college debut.
Oh, what if Kentucky wants to cycle through the QB room? The third option would Deuce Hogan, who—in the greatest #narrative luck possible—transferred from Iowa last offseason.
I love every bit of this bizarre Music City Bowl.
Which Player Are You Most Excited to Watch?
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Max Escarpio
A battle of high-scoring offensive schemes will hit Petco Park on Wednesday. The Oregon Ducks will face off against the North Carolina Tar Heels, giving college football fans an incredible quarterback bout between Bo Nix and Drake Maye.
Maye has been a sensation in his redshirt freshman year, recording 4,115 yards with 35 touchdowns against seven interceptions. He has an 82.7 QBR, a top-10 mark.
It's going to be interesting to see him face this talented team, especially in unfamiliar territory. The Pac-12 has produced some of the highest-scoring games this season, so Maye and the Tar Heels have to be ready to put up points frequently against the Ducks' No. 9 scoring offense.
There's been a lot of rumors surrounding Maye for the past several weeks, so he needs to show his focus is still with UNC. An upset win would definitely help both parties.
David Kenyon
I'm excited to (hopefully) watch Dorian Thompson-Robinson one final time before he heads to the NFL.
As of now, the expectation is the fifth-year quarterback won't skip the bowl. He's participated in practice, and UCLA head coach Chip Kelly recently said DTR's involvement is not performative.
Thompson-Robinson has racked up 3,515 offensive yards this season, accounting for 36 total touchdowns (25 passing with just seven interceptions). He was the catalyst of a UCLA squad that climbed as high as ninth in the AP poll and handed Kelly the best season of his Bruins tenure.
After seeing where he started—UCLA was just 3-9 in 2018—the Sun Bowl against Pittsburgh on Friday will offer DTR a well-earned celebratory finale.
Brad Shepard
For me, it's player(s), it's a matchup, and it's a shootout between Nix and Maye. Now that we know Nix is playing in the bowl game and returning to Eugene for another season and we know that Maye is coming back to Chapel Hill after those wild NIL rumors, everything is set for a showdown.
The Heels haven't stopped anybody this season, with the 115th-ranked total defense out of 131 FBS teams. And while the Ducks haven't played well down the stretch, Nix can straight up light it up. And all the pressure is off, even if offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham is now the head coach at Arizona State.
This could be a battle of the top Heisman Trophy contenders beyond Caleb Williams next year. We're going to see a lot of points, and if I have to pick one player, I'm thrilled to get to see Nix against a porous defense in the postseason.
But both of these guys have big-play capability, and this should be a matchup everybody watches.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
How Will the Big 12 Fare in Underdog-Heavy Slate?
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Brad Shepard
I don't like any of these matchups for the Big 12, which normally means the conference is going to shock some teams.
Right now, though, the only game that looks like a win is Oklahoma State over Wisconsin in what should be a low-point affair Tuesday in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl.
It would be a shocker if Arkansas didn't handle Kansas in the Liberty Bowl after the Jayhawks limped down the stretch. Ole Miss has too much running-game muscle for Texas Tech in the Texas Bowl. Florida State is a more complete team than Oklahoma and should win the Cheez-It Bowl.
But it's never fun to pick all favorites. If star running back Bijan Robinson were playing against Washington, I'd lean Longhorns in the Alamo Bowl. But without him, Michael Penix Jr. and the Huskies should claim that one too. So, unless something changes, head coach Mike Gundy's Cowboys may be the only one that brings home a win.
David Kenyon
For much of the season, I looked at the Big 12 as a solidly deep conference that lacked a national threat outside of TCU. But, man, the league took a pretty tough draw in bowl season.
I agree with Brad, not believing much in Kansas, Texas Tech or Oklahoma. However, I'm also not picking Oklahoma State because of the mass exodus on the defensive side, whether due to transfers or the NFL draft. Wisconsin has seen a bunch of players leave too, but I'm bought into the "motivation" idea as Jim Leonhard coaches his last game at his alma mater.
Although the Texas roster hasn't been hit as hard, not having Robinson is obviously a major loss. Roschon Johnson is a fine backup but also opted out of the game. Even if Johnson had decided to play, Washington's high-powered offense would be tough to match without Robinson.
In this handful of games, the Big 12 will get swept.
Oregon or North Carolina in the Holiday Bowl?
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Adam Kramer
I have Oregon, and I believe this score could actually get lopsided. That is not a hot take, by the way. The oddsmakers see this football game ultimately following the same path.
With that said, I am still giddy about the potential here. From a sheer QB standpoint, there is a ton to be excited about. Nix vs. Maye is as good as it gets on the college level; it could also be an early preview for next year's Heisman. (For real.)
The full rosters, however, feel somewhat lopsided. And as we saw against Clemson, North Carolina simply didn't have enough players who stacked up to a talented roster. I anticipate seeing something similar with Oregon, a really good team with a lot of overall speed.
There will be points. Lots and lots of points. But Oregon feels destined to have more of them.
Morgan Moriarty
If you like watching talented quarterbacks face off against each other, this is the game for you. We're in for a treat during this year's Holiday Bowl.
Unfortunately for Maye, the Heels will be without leading receiver Josh Downs, who opted out of the game to prepare for the NFL draft. We'll see if some of his other receivers, like Antoine Green and J.J. Jones, can fill the void.
Both teams will be without their offensive coordinators. Phil Longo left UNC to become Wisconsin's new OC, and Kenny Dillingham is now the Arizona State head coach.
I like Oregon in this one, especially given UNC's 2-5 record in bowl games dating back to 2013.
Notre Dame vs. South Carolina: Who You Got?
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Max Escarpio
Notre Dame did lose its last game of the regular season, but both teams found their identity later in the campaign. The Fighting Irish were riding a five-game winning streak before their defeat to USC, and South Carolina finished with back-to-back wins against Tennessee and Clemson.
The Gamecocks have been on a roll, especially on the offensive end. That will likely come to a halt when they face an Irish defense that's allowed just 21.8 points per game. SC will also be without one of its best offensive weapons after tight end Jaheim Bell transferred to Florida State.
Notre Dame was able to be competitive with just about everyone on its schedule, and South Carolina should cool down from its all-time high after nearly a month of rest.
The Gamecocks will have the regional advantage with the Gator Bowl being at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Florida, but ND will take a victory back to South Bend behind quarterback Tyler Buchner.
Brad Shepard
This showdown between the Fighting Irish and Gamecocks is one of the most intriguing tossups of bowl season.
You simply don't know what you're going to get out of either program, each of which has looked brilliant at times this year and pedestrian at others.
Few teams are riding the type of shocking hot streak as head coach Shane Beamer's Gamecocks. They came out of nowhere to seem unstoppable in a 63-38 win over Tennessee that knocked the Vols out of the College Football Playoff race and then turned around and did the same thing to Clemson.
As a result, the Vols and Tigers are meeting in the Orange Bowl—outside of the Top Four.
South Carolina has laid its share of eggs this year, but quarterback Spencer Rattler is playing at a high level and is confident right now. The Irish defense is going to be tough, but the Gamecocks can post points. And I'm not sure Notre Dame can go toe-to-toe with them.
I like Beamer Ball to win outright 31-26 in a close one.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
