College Bowl Picks 2023-24: Predictions For Biggest Matchups After Poll Release
The College Football postseason is officially here and the ride to get to this point was far from smooth.
Michigan, Washington, Texas and Alabama are all heading to the College Football Playoff to contend for a national title. For a program like Alabama, that would add another trophy to a truly dominant run over the past several seasons. For a program like Texas, this provides a chance for the team to reclaim glory from earlier in the decade.
For Michigan and Washington, it presents an opportunity to reach a height not seen in the current millennium. While these opportunities are exciting, the postseason is not singularly defined by just the team's contending for a national title.
Several postseason bowl games will carry significant prominence outside of the illustrious playoff, and finishing the season on a high note could give several programs a great tool for recruiting.
Here is a look at several prominent bowl games to look forward to in the near future.
Capital One Orange Bowl
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This is a matchup that has been on the minds of college football fans since the beginning of the season, albeit on a different stage.
Georgia was ranked at the top of the nation for the majority of the year and is coming off back-to-back National Championships. The team rode a 29-game win streak into the SEC Championship, but a 27-24 loss to the Crimson Tide not only denied a conference title from the Bulldogs. That denied them a chance to contend for the illustrious three-peat.
Somehow, Florida State's story is even sadder. The Seminoles did everything right this season, taking down two non-conference Power-5 opponents, two ranked opponents and winning the ACC Conference Championship with a perfect 13-0 record.
This should have made an easy case for the College Football Playoff, but a season-ending injury to star quarterback Jordan Travis in Week 12, combined with lackluster offensive play after that point, led to the committee's decision to leave the Seminoles out of the playoff despite letting in two team's with losses.
Both teams likely consider this game a consolation prize and NFL hopefuls could end up sitting this one out. Still, this Seminoles team has a chance to prove the committee wrong and facing a Bulldog team that is jaded could be an excellent opportunity to cap off an undefeated season.
Prediction: Florida State 17, Georgia 14
Vrbo Fiesta Bowl
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Oregon also anticipated a berth in the College Football Playoff before this weekend, but the Washington Huskies stood in the way once again.
The final Pac-12 Conference Championship was believed to be a "win-and-in" situation, and the Ducks had an opportunity to avenge its only loss on the season. Instead, Washington got the better of Oregon once again and are playoff bound.
This relegates the Ducks to a bowl game, and the opponent is the best of the Group of Five teams. That ended up being the Liberty Flames, who capped off a 13-0 season with a Conference USA Championship this weekend.
The Flames have had a terrific ride this season and will catch an Oregon team that will likely be without NFL-bound players. Still, the overwhelming talent gap for the Ducks should be enough to clinch a victory over the surging Flames.
Prediction: Oregon 30, Liberty 14
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
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The Peach Bowl is a chance for teams who couldn't beat the top of the conference to prove something.
The Penn State Nittany Lions appeared to be a possible playoff contender going into the season, but losses to Ohio State and Michigan ended those dreams. The Ole Miss Rebels are in an eerily similar situation, as its only two losses came at the hands of Alabama and Georgia.
This game will provide a chance to claim legitimacy and could serve as a preview to what future first-round matchups in the 12-team playoff could look like. This season, it will be a chance for both teams to earn a marquee victory.
Prediction: Penn State 38, Ole Miss 35
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Goodyear Cotton Bowl
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Ohio State is another team that spent most of the season believing it would be in the playoff. A victory over rival Michigan would have ensured that.
Instead, a third consecutive loss to the Wolverines relegated the Buckeyes to the New Year's Six bowls, and a matchup with an intriguing Missouri team lies ahead.
Missouri also found itself in the playoff conversation, but losses to LSU and Georgia ended those hopes. Fortunately for the Tigers, they will get a chance to prove something against a quality opponent and build momentum for the expanded playoffs of the future.
Ohio State will likely be missing some star talent and will look at the bowl as a consolation. Missouri, on the other hand, has much more to play for.
Prediction: Missouri 28, Ohio State 24
ReliaQuest Bowl
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This is a strange one, considering it could feature the team with the Heisman winner without said victor participating.
LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels could very well win this year's Heisman, but playing in this bowl against Wisconsin may not be in the cards. Instead, it could serve as a chance for both the Tigers and Badgers to build towards potential playoff pushes in the future.
Prediction: LSU 35, Wisconsin 21
Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl
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This bowl will signal the end of an era for multiple long-standing tenures.
Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman is expected to participate in the contest, which will be the final one of his illustrious career. However, Oregon State's run as a Power Five team may be coming to an end as well after this season, so this could be a last hurrah for the Beavers as well.
Prediction: Notre Dame 35, Oregon State 24
Holiday Bowl
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This game will almost certainly not feature potential No. 1 pick Caleb Williams, but still is one to keep an eye on.
The USC Trojans had a disappointing 7-5 campaign in 2023, but building positive momentum for next season's move to the Big Ten should be of huge importance to the program. On the other side, Louisville slightly soured an otherwise excellent end to the season with a rough final two games, and a victory here could shift the momentum back to where it was.
Prediction: Louisville 21, USC 17
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