10 Bowl Games Most Likely to Surprise Us

Every year, college football fans take a look at the slate of college bowl games and see games that immediately look entertaining and then some that they may overlook. 

While it is easy to recognize the best games of the bowl season, some will prove to surprise. Here are 10 games that will surprise you with how entertaining they will be. 

Las Vegas Bowl: Washington vs Boise State

On the surface, this game does not look like it will entertain, but Washington has shown some magic in bowl games, and against Boise State, this could turn into a classic. 

Look for the Washington offense to attack the Boise State defense and face a huge test. This matchup will be one to watch throughout the game. The question will be if the Broncos offense can get the job done. 

Holiday Bowl: Baylor vs UCLA

Last year, Baylor put up point after point in its bowl game, and this year, it may take a similar effort to take down UCLA.

UCLA was close to winning the Pac-12 this year, and Jim Mora, Jr. and this program have a lot to build off of. Look for these two teams to score at will and give us a shootout. 

Alamo Bowl: Oregon State vs Texas

Oregon State has been quiet all year, but despite that, the Beavers have had a great season and find themselves going up against Texas in the Alamo Bowl.

Both of these teams have talented offenses, but based on the matchup between them, the Texas defense could ultimately prove to be the winning difference. 

Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl: Michigan State vs TCU

Michigan State and TCU both expected to have better seasons than they did, but they find themselves going up against each other in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl.

Both teams enter this game with a strong defensive core, so the difference will be the offense. If Michigan State can establish the running game, this will be a great bowl game. 

Chik-Fil-A Bowl: LSU vs Clemson

Coming into the season, it would not have been surprising to see this game being played for the national championship.

This will be your classic battle of a great offense for Clemson going up against an outstanding LSU defense. Both teams are extremely deep on both sides of the ball, but the question will be if the LSU Tigers can keep up with Clemson.

Outback Bowl: South Carolina vs Michigan

While on paper, this looks like a game that will be won by the offenses, this will come down to the defenses. Michigan has historically and recently struggled with SEC defenses, and the Gamecocks will be bringing pressure all game long.

Rose Bowl: Wisconsin vs Stanford

When people looked at this game, it lacks a lot of the sizzle of other bowl games. Both of these teams like to run the ball and pound against each other in the trenches. 

This game will feature a Wisconsin team playing in its third straight Rose Bowl and hoping to win it for the first time in those three appearances and a Stanford team that has been absent for awhile. 

Gator Bowl: Mississippi State vs Northwestern

Northwestern has been one of the most surprising teams in the nation, and this could be the year that it finally wins another bowl game. 

Standing in its way will be Mississippi State, a team who also had a strong season, but the question will be if it can slow down the Wildcats offense. 

Cotton Bowl: Texas A&M vs Oklahoma

This bowl game will feature the future of college football quarterbacks against a senior quarterback heading to the NFL. Johnny Manziel leads the Aggies into this game against Landry Jones and the Sooners.

Both teams enter this game with a strong offense, but Manziel has had such a magical season that it would be hard to imagine him losing this game. 

Sugar Bowl: Louisville vs Florida

It was well-documented this year that the Gators defense has been hard to move the ball on at all. Coming into this bowl game, many believe that Florida will walk away with this game with ease.

Teddy Bridgewater and Louisville's offense has shown flashes of brilliance, and it will need more than a flash to turn some heads in the Sugar Bowl.