Bowl Schedule 2013-14: Matchups Sure to Produce Big Scores

If you want to see electrifying offenses and tons of scoring, you'll get your fair share of both this bowl season.

With 35 bowl games in 2013-14, it's inevitable that some will be defensive struggles. Two teams will take the field, both eyeing postseason glory, and proceed to pound the ball right into the teeth of the opposing defense for 60 minutes until the cloud of dust clears and the game mercifully ends.

But that's not what the spread offense revolution is all about. If you're a fan of fast-paced offense with as many big plays as huddles, you have to know where to look, lest you tune in looking for passing and find a field position battle.

Curate your viewing experience around dynamic quarterbacks, laissez-faire defenses or, better yet, both. The athletes will get into space, the points will pile up, and you'll just sit back and enjoy.

Date	Time (ET)	Bowl	Matchup	Watch
Jan. 6	8:30 p.m.	BCS Title	Florida State vs. Auburn	ESPN
Jan. 5	9 p.m.	GoDaddy	Ball State vs. Arkansas State	ESPN
Jan. 4	1 p.m.	BBVA Compass	Houston vs. Vanderbilt	ESPN
Jan. 3	8 p.m.	Cotton	Oklahoma State vs. Missouri	FOX
Jan. 3	8:30 p.m.	Orange	Clemson vs. Ohio State	ESPN
Jan. 2	8:30 p.m.	Sugar	Alabama vs. Oklahoma	ESPN
Jan. 1	Noon	Gator	Nebraska vs. Georgia	ESPN2
Jan. 1	Noon	Heart of Dallas	UNLV vs. North Texas	ESPNU
Jan. 1	1 p.m.	Capital One	Wisconsin vs. South Carolina	ABC
Jan. 1	1 p.m.	Outback	Iowa vs. LSU	ESPN
Jan. 1	5 p.m.	Rose	Michigan State vs. Stanford	ESPN
Jan. 1	8:30 p.m.	Fiesta	Baylor vs. UCF	ESPN
Dec. 31	12:30 p.m.	AdvoCare V100	Boston College vs. Arizona	ESPN
Dec. 31	2 p.m.	Sun	Virginia Tech vs. UCLA	CBS
Dec. 31	4 p.m.	Liberty	Rice vs. Mississippi State	ESPN
Dec. 31	8 p.m.	Chick-fil-A	Duke vs. Texas A&M	ESPN
Dec. 30	11:45 a.m.	Armed Forces	Middle Tennessee vs. Navy	ESPN
Dec. 30	3:15 p.m.	Music City	Georgia Tech vs. Ole Miss	ESPN
Dec. 30	6:45 p.m.	Alamo	Texas vs. Oregon	ESPN
Dec. 30	10:15 p.m.	Holiday	Texas Tech vs. Arizona State	ESPN
Dec. 28	Noon	Pinstripe	Notre Dame vs. Rutgers	ESPN
Dec. 28	3:20 p.m.	Belk	North Carolina vs. Cincinnati	ESPN
Dec. 28	6:45 p.m.	Russell Athletic	Miami (FL) vs. Louisville	ESPN
Dec. 28	10:15 p.m.	Buffalo Wild Wings	Kansas State vs. Michigan	ESPN
Dec. 27	2:30 p.m.	Military	Maryland vs. Marshall	ESPN
Dec. 27	6 p.m.	Texas	Syracuse vs. Minnesota	ESPN
Dec. 27	9:30 p.m.	Fight Hunger	Washington vs. BYU	ESPN
Dec. 26	6 p.m.	Little Caesars Pizza	Pittsburgh vs. Bowling Green	ESPN
Dec. 26	9:30 p.m.	Poinsettia	Utah State vs. Northern Illinois	ESPN
Dec. 24	8 p.m.	Hawaii	Boise State vs. Oregon State	ESPN
Dec. 23	2 p.m.	Beef O'Brady's	East Carolina vs. Ohio	ESPN
Dec. 21	2 p.m.	New Mexico	Colorado State vs. Washington State	ESPN
Dec. 21	3:30 p.m.	Las Vegas	Fresno State vs. USC	ABC
Dec. 21	5:30 p.m.	Famous Idaho Potato	San Diego State vs. Buffalo	ESPN
Dec. 21	9 p.m.	New Orleans	Tulane vs. La-Lafayette	ESPN

Miami (FL) vs. Louisville (Russell Athletic Bowl)

The Hurricanes offense topped 40 points in five of its 12 games this season, and the team allowed at least 40 points in all three of its losses.

That's important because Louisville is better than Miami. And the Cardinals are better because they have Teddy Bridgewater and Miami doesn't.

Bridgewater, who originally committed to the Canes before reneging and opting to go to Louisville, has emerged as an elite quarterback. He has the arm strength, accuracy and knowledge of the Cards' pro-style offense to make any throw they ask him to, and in the unlikely event Miami can bottle up all of Bridgewater's targets, he can beat them with his legs, too.

That talent, versatility and poise allowed the junior QB to throw for 3,523 yards this season with 28 touchdowns and four interceptions. Miami has no answer on defense for that kind of player; the only alternative is to try to match his output.

Stephen Morris will have his hands full there, facing a Cardinals defense allowing only 12.4 points per game, third fewest in the nation. That's not what you want to hear, but consider this: Louisville's D is also in the top 20 in turnovers with 26, and every possession Miami loses is one Bridgewater gains.

Texas vs. Oregon (Alamo Bowl)

Oregon's blur offense has looked more vulnerable in the past four games than it has in years. The Ducks scored 20 or fewer points twice in that stretch, losing both times, while Marcus Mariota has thrown multiple interceptions in each of his last two games after throwing none prior.

That said, don't take that as any indication that Oregon will be any less dynamic and pose any less of a threat to Texas. Rather, the Longhorns might have a better chance of keeping up with the Ducks than you might expect.

Case McCoy doesn't seem up to the task of matching Mariota, which is fine. Mariota is a fantastic dual threat under center who has thrown for 30 touchdowns and run for nine more. But keep in mind McCoy tossed three TDs as he outdueled West Virginia in a 47-40 overtime win, and Texas has scored more than 30 points in all but four games this season.

Unsurprisingly, the Longhorns lost those four, but don't expect them to settle for punting and praying against Oregon.

It will be head coach Mack Brown's final game at the helm, and his players will come out passionate and aggressive against the Ducks. If that translates into more points for Texas, fans will get the thrill of seeing Oregon try to execute under more pressure.

Otherwise, they'll just watch the third-best scoring offense in college football keep working.

Duke vs. Texas A&M (Cotton Bowl)

Don't even worry about Duke. Any bowl game featuring Texas A&M was going to be a shootout.

It starts with Johnny Manziel, of course. The 2012 Heisman winner was every bit as great this season, throwing for 3,732 yards, running for 686 more and scoring 41 total touchdowns. While he has an All-American receiver in Mike Evans, Manziel makes the passing game incredible with his ability to make plays with his feet and throw on the run.

But any fan of offense has to appreciate the Aggies' commitment to scoring; not only are they fifth in scoring offense, but they're also 89th in scoring defense. It's a win-lose for A&M, but it's a win-win for everyone watching.

How the Blue Devils respond to that porousness will be fascinating. They surely can't stop Manziel, but how well will they be able to keep pace with him? Will Duke's quarterback tandem of Anthony Boone and Brandon Connette find success through the air?

Anything is possible against A&M's defense, and that makes the other team's offense just as exciting as Manziel's.

Baylor vs. UCF (Fiesta Bowl)

No team in college football has averaged more points than the Baylor Bears, who have put up a whopping 53.3 per game. Bryce Petty has a 30:2 touchdown-interception ratio and has run for 11 more TDs. In fact, Baylor has scored 43 times on the ground in total.

Between Petty and his receivers, Petty and his legs and Lache Seastrunk in the backfield, Baylor can pick up bunches of yards and points any number of ways. But unlike their intrastate rivals in the Cotton Bowl, Baylor is also in the top 20 in scoring defense.

Fortunately, the UCF Knights have a great quarterback of their own leading the offense.

Blake Bortles' 22 touchdowns and seven interceptions are nothing too impressive in the college ranks, but he's 6'4", 230 pounds with a cannon arm and the ability to stand strong while the play develops downfield.

UCF will need him to do so early and often against Baylor because there's no chance the Knights will dictate the pace. They can only hope to let their QB air it out and match the Bears score for score.

Florida State vs. Auburn (BCS National Championship)

What, you thought we wouldn't want to watch an offense that averages 50 points per game and touts this year's Heisman winner? And it's facing the most magical college football team in recent memory?

Amazing things happen when Jameis Winston plays quarterback. Things like throwing for 38 touchdowns as a redshirt freshman, leading an undefeated Florida State team that never scored fewer than 37 points and going just one game without throwing multiple touchdowns.

Winston was the most exciting player in college football this season. Perhaps that's because Bridgewater, Manziel, Mariota and Petty all lost games, so give some credit to Florida State's staunch defense, which led the nation with 10.7 points allowed per game, for the assist.

Just don't expect the Tigers to be intimidated when they face the Seminoles. Auburn can score even when both defenders get to the ball.

Florida State hasn't faced a team on Auburn's level; Clemson and Miami don't cut it. Nick Marshall is effective using the run to set up the pass, which is a lot easier to do when Tre Mason is behind you with his 1,621 yards and 22 touchdowns.

It isn't Auburn's style to make it easy on its opponents. Against Winston and Florida State, that means scoring with them, so expect this to be an exhilarating sendoff for the BCS era.