Bowl Schedule 2014-15: Full TV Coverage, Picks for Remaining Games

In my family, there are certain New Year's traditions that are sacred. One of them is gathering around if we all can for a huge dinner of pork, sauerkraut and mashed potatoes. The other is me spending most of the day laying on a couch, watching college football. 

I love traditions.

But while the premier matchups are on New Year's Day once again, there are a slew of games this year worth watching. Below, I'll provide the schedule for each remaining game, make some predictions and go over a few of the games I'm most excited to watch.

Now someone pass me the sauerkraut, please.
 

Bowl Games

Bowl	Teams	Location	Date/Time (ET)	TV	Prediction
Liberty	West Virginia vs. Texas A&M	Memphis, Tenn.	Dec. 29, 2 p.m.	ESPN	Texas A&M
Russell Athletic	No. 17 Clemson vs. Oklahoma	Orlando, Fla.	Dec. 29, 5:30 p.m.	ESPN	Clemson
Texas	Texas vs. Arkansas	Houston	Dec. 29, 9 p.m.	ESPN	Arkansas
Music City	Notre Dame vs. No. 23 LSU	Nashville, Tenn.	Dec. 30, 3 p.m.	ESPN	LSU
Belk	No. 21 Louisville vs. No. 13 Georgia	Charlotte, N.C.	Dec. 30, 6:30 p.m.	ESPN	Georgia
Foster Farms	Maryland vs. Stanford	Santa Clara, Calif.	Dec. 30, 10 p.m.	ESPN	Stanford
Peach	No. 9 Ole Miss vs. No. 6 TCU	Atlanta	Dec. 31, 12:30 p.m.	ESPN	Ole Miss
Fiesta	No. 20 Boise State vs. No. 10 Arizona	Glendale, Ariz.	Dec. 31, 4 p.m.	ESPN	Arizona
Orange	No. 7 Mississippi State vs. No. 12 Georgia Tech	Miami Gardens, Fla.	Dec. 31, 8 p.m.	ESPN	Mississippi State
Citrus	No. 25 Minnesota vs. No. 16 Missouri	Orlando, Fla.	Jan. 1, 1 p.m.	ABC	Missouri
Outback	No. 18 Wisconsin vs. No. 19 Auburn	Tampa, Fla.	Jan. 1, 1 p.m.	ESPN2	Wisconsin
Cotton	No. 8 Michigan State vs. No. 5 Baylor	Arlington, Texas	Jan. 1, 12:30 p.m.	ESPN	Baylor
Rose (National semifinal)	No. 2 Oregon vs. No. 3 Florida State	Pasadena, Calif.	Jan. 1, 5 p.m.	ESPN	Oregon
Sugar (National semifinal)	No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 Ohio State	New Orleans	Jan. 1, 8:30 p.m.	ESPN	Alabama
Armed Forces	Houston vs. Pittsburgh	Fort Worth, Texas	Jan. 2, Noon	ESPN	Houston
TaxSlayer	Iowa vs. Tennessee	Jacksonville, Fla.	Jan. 2, 3 p.m.	ESPN	Iowa
Alamo	No. 11 Kansas State vs. No. 14 UCLA	San Antonio	Jan. 2, 6:45 p.m.	ESPN	UCLA
Cactus	Washington vs. Oklahoma State	Tempe, Ariz.	Jan. 2, 10 p.m.	ESPN	Oklahoma State
Birmingham	Florida vs. ECU	Birmingham, Ala.	Jan. 3, 1 p.m.	ESPN	Florida
GoDaddy	Toledo vs. Arkansas State	Mobile, Ala.	Jan. 4, 9 p.m.	ESPN	Toledo
National Championship	Alabama/Ohio St. vs. Oregon/Florida St.	Arlington, Texas	Jan. 12, 8:30 p.m.	ESPN	Oregon

Matchups to Watch

Obviously the two playoff games are the premier contests to view, and they certainly are rife with storylines to make them all the more compelling.

Alabama facing Ohio State is a showdown between Nick Saban and Urban Meyer, between Blake Sims and Cardale Jones, who was expected to be the third-string quarterback this season but was thrust into the starting role in the Big Ten title game after Braxton Miller was lost for the season in August and J.T. Barrett was lost for the year in the team's final regular-season game. 

Meanwhile, Oregon and Florida State's matchup features the last two Heisman Trophy winners (Jameis Winston in 2013, Marcus Mariota this season) and a clear contrast in styles. Oregon loves blowing out its opponents, beating every opponent by 12 or more points since losing to Arizona on October 2.

The Ducks are third in the nation in points per game and have the ability to blow past an opponent in a matter of minutes. 

Florida State, on the other hand, has often survived by the skin of its teeth this year, winning seven games by seven points or less. It hasn't lost yet, however, so Florida State fans will point out the Seminoles are a great team in the clutch.

Oregon will certainly test that theory.

Ah, but there are so many awesome matchups beyond the playoff games. TCU and Baylor will each have a chance to prove they were huge playoff snubs, with the Horned Frogs matching up against the vaunted Ole Miss defense, while the Bears face a very talented Michigan State team that only has losses to Oregon and Ohio State this season.

It would be a huge statement from TCU and Baylor if they went out and handled quality opponents. On the other hand, the committee is going to feel somewhat justified in snubbing them if both schools go out and lay an egg in their respective bowls.

Mississippi State had a disappointing close to the season, losing to Alabama and Ole Miss down the stretch, but it can end on a high note against a Georgia Tech team that beat Clemson and Georgia in their final regular-season games and nearly ended Florida State's national title hopes in the ACC title game.

The ACC has had the SEC's number for much of the season, a fact that won't be lost on the Bulldogs.

Kansas State facing UCLA should be fun, especially considering the Bruins are one of the hottest teams in college football. Boise State will look to once again provide some postseason magic against Arizona, while Auburn and Wisconsin will face off in a battle of teams that closed their seasons on bitterly disappointing notes.

So many games. So many storylines. So much fun. I don't know about you, but I can't wait.