Bowl Games 2014-15: Full Schedule and Bold Predictions for Key Matchups

The buzz around college football is increasing with each passing day. Bowl season has taken on a completely different vibe thanks to the College Football Playoff, as this is the first time teams can settle the champion instead of arbitrary computer systems. 

However, the buzz is also picking up because the new year is approaching. Nothing in sports can top the feeling of watching college football from noon until midnight on New Year's Day, though this year provides bonus treats because the schedule is loaded from December 29 through January 2. 

There is so much discussion around the College Football Playoff, but it's important to remember the other games on the schedule. The Fiesta Bowl and Orange Bowl are still prestige games and have two very different and intriguing battles. 

Whichever game you are looking forward to, there's plenty to discuss about all of the matchups left. Here is a look at the remaining bowl schedule, as well as bold predictions for the games that aren't in the College Football Playoff. 

Orange Bowl: Mississippi State vs. Georgia Tech

It will be interesting to see the mindset of Mississippi State coming into the Orange Bowl against Georgia Tech. The Bulldogs should be thrilled about playing in one of the major bowl games but have to be upset after being the No. 1 team in the playoff standings for three weeks. 

The Bulldogs also have to be concerned about how they finished the season. They lost two of their last three games after a 9-0 start. Dak Prescott went from a great story early in the year to looking lost by season's end. 

In the two biggest games of the year, against Mississippi and Alabama, Prescott was all over the map. He had three interceptions against Alabama, and Ole Miss made him one-dimensional as a passer by taking away the run, which isn't his strength. 

What changed in Prescott's game?

ESPN's Jesse Palmer presented a theory to Michael Bonner of The Clarion-Ledger about the Mississippi State quarterback.

"Thinking back on it, in all the film I watched, I didn't get the feeling that Dak Prescott regressed in the second half of the year," Palmer said. "I think the competition was a little bit different in the second half of the year."

The good news is Prescott will be up against a Georgia Tech defense that struggled all year in every category, via StatMilk:

Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

The Yellow Jackets are a unique offensive team, running the triple-option attack to perfection. They average 333.6 yards per game on the ground and 37 points per game. 

Few teams have been able to stop Georgia Tech's running game. Not even Florida State could do it in the ACC Championship Game, allowing 331 yards. The Seminoles were just able to outscore them 37-35 to keep their perfect season in tact. 

The question is, which offensive scheme do you trust more? Even when Mississippi State was winning, Prescott was all over the map. He had a three-game streak against Auburn, Kentucky and Auburn in which he threw five interceptions, yet the Bulldogs went 3-0. 

Georgia Tech has the offense to create problems for Mississippi State, as the Yellow Jackets can control the clock and score a lot of points. In this battle of ACC vs. SEC, look for the former to come out ahead. 

Georgia Tech 37, Mississippi State 31

Cotton Bowl: Michigan State vs. Baylor

Of the non-playoff games, the bowl game that offers the most excitement is Michigan State against Baylor. These are two top-10 teams that play fun styles to keep your eyes glued to the television. 

The Spartans have been battle tested this season, losing to Oregon and Ohio State. However, Mark Dantonio's vaunted defense has shown holes against those teams with 95 points and 1,059 total yards. 

There's been a stigma around Michigan State, that it was all defense and no offense, though that has changed this year. The Spartans are averaging 43.1 points per game, seventh in the nation, and control the tempo of their games, as noted by Mike Griffith of MLive.com: "From an Xs and Os standpoint, Dantonio's teams are efficient on offense and aggressive on defense, thus explaining how the Spartans lead the nation in turnover margin and time of possession."

That's going to be a key point against a Baylor team that led the nation in scoring at 48.8 points per game. The Bears aren't prone to making mistakes, as quarterback Bryce Petty had just six interceptions in 377 attempts. 

Another aspect of Art Briles' team that doesn't get talked about because of how many points it scores is the defense, though Chuck Carlton of The Dallas Morning News pointed it out, via Griffith at MLive.com:

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People hear the system (spread) and the conference (Big 12) and immediately get the mental picture of a finesse team. Nothing could be further from the truth. Baylor has consistently sent offensive linemen to the NFL under Briles and is physical and nasty up front led by All-American Spencer Drango. The defense has a future NFL rush end in Shawn Oakman (6-9, 290) and one of the strongest defensive tackles in the country in Andrew Billings, who broke Olympian Mark Henry's high school power-lifting record.

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Baylor can get physical with a team like Michigan State, which has had problems keeping up with faster teams throughout the year. The Spartans aren't lacking for firepower, but the offense is more cerebral than the one on the other side of the field. 

The Bears do have to pump themselves up for a lesser bowl game after getting left out of the College Football Playoff, which could be a problem. The good news is they are playing virtually in their own backyard as the Cotton Bowl is at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. 

There won't be a letdown for Baylor. In fact, look for Briles' team to make an emphatic statement. 

Baylor 34, Michigan State 24

Peach Bowl: Mississippi vs. TCU

The battle between Mississippi and TCU is fascinating because it will help provide an answer to what happens when a dominant SEC defense goes up against a potent Big 12 offense. 

In the past, this has been a recipe for disaster on the Big 12 side. The conference has had to fight for respectability, though it seemed to get it back this year thanks to the performances of Baylor, TCU and Kansas State. 

For the Horned Frogs, they face a similar situation as Baylor in trying to get up for a lesser game after spending the final five days of the regular season ranked No. 3 in the College Football Playoff Top 25 poll. They also have to go against a more formidable opponent, as Ole Miss is among the most physical teams in the country. 

Look at the matchup of TCU's offense against Mississippi's defense, via StatMilk:

It's the closest thing fans will get to an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object this bowl season, unless Oregon's offense goes up against Alabama's defense for the national championship. 

There are concerns about Mississippi's offense that could hold the Rebels back in this game. They are 57th in the country with 30.4 points per game and were held to seven points total in losses against LSU and Arkansas. 

Quarterback Bo Wallace has completed 29 of his last 61 passes with three interceptions but got credited with a win against Mississippi State because that's something attached to the position. Here's another stat to keep in mind for the Ole Miss senior, via Ryan Gerbosi of The Dallas Morning News:

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The last time Ole Miss quarterback Bo Wallace played in Atlanta, it was a mixed bag for the senior. He completed 25-of-36 for 287 yards with four touchdowns, but three interceptions marred his performance. That was kind of how Wallace’s whole season went. He was up in some weeks, he was down in others.

"

Mississippi's defense has to be on point because no one knows which Wallace will show up. TCU scored at least 30 points in every game this season, though it hasn't faced a defense like the one it will face in Atlanta on December 31. 

Something has to give. Gary Patterson has been in this spot before, while Hugh Freeze is new to the spotlight. TCU has fewer question marks at the most important position on the field, as well as more offensive depth to overcome what the Rebels will use. 

TCU 28, Ole Miss 24