College Bowl Picks 2015-16: Predictions for Biggest Matchups After Poll Release

It's the most wonderful time of the year.

The holidays are upon us, the NFL season is nearing its postseason, the NBA, NHL and college basketball are all underway and, oh yeah, the bowl games and College Football Playoff are all set and ready to go.

Let's break down a few of the most intriguing and biggest matchups.

Bowl	Matchup	Date	Time (ET)	Watch	Pick
Russell Athletic Bowl	North Carolina vs. Baylor	Dec. 29	5:30 p.m.	ESPN	North Carolina
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl	Houston vs. Florida State	Dec. 31	Noon	ESPN	Florida State
Capital One Orange Bowl	No. 1 Clemson vs. No. 4 Oklahoma	Dec. 31	4 p.m.	ESPN	Oklahoma
Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic	No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 3 Michigan State	Dec. 31	8 p.m.	ESPN	Alabama
Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl	Michigan vs. Florida	Jan. 1	1 p.m.	ABC	Michigan
Fiesta Bowl	Notre Dame vs. Ohio State	Jan. 1	1 p.m.	ESPN	Ohio State
Rose Bowl Game Presented by Northwestern Mutual	Iowa vs. Stanford	Jan. 1	5 p.m.	ESPN	Stanford
Allstate Sugar Bowl	Oklahoma State vs. Ole Miss	Jan. 1	8:30 p.m.	ESPN	Ole Miss
College Football Playoff National Championship Presented By AT&T	Clemson/Oklahoma vs. Alabama/Michigan State	Jan. 11	8:30 p.m.	ESPN	Alabama

Analysis

I'll start by taking North Carolina over Baylor in a game that should be wild. It's a bit tough to trust a Baylor team that has lost three of its last four games, including a loss to Texas. To Baylor's credit, the Bears also beat Oklahoma State in that stretch, but the team's confidence has to be down after such a disappointing end to the season.

North Carolina, meanwhile, is still smarting from a phantom offsides that cost them a recovered onside kick and a chance to tie Clemson in the ACC Championship Game. The Tar Heels could respond in two ways: They could take out their frustrations against Baylor, or they could sulk.

I'm guessing the Tar Heels will do the former. They're a better team than they've been given credit for over much of this season.

Florida State should squeak by Houston. The Seminoles responded to humbling losses against Georgia Tech and Clemson earlier in the season by absolutely dominating Florida to close the season, 27-2. 

Houston will put up a heck of a fight, however. The Cougars beat three ranked teams in Memphis, Navy and Temple this season. This is one of those major bowls that folks probably aren't overly excited for but could end up being one of the better ones of the bunch.

Michigan vs. Florida is just a fun Big Ten vs. SEC matchup between traditional powers. Michigan was so close to being a top team this year, with close losses to Utah and Michigan State—who could forget that botched punt?—before getting trounced by Ohio State to close the season. 

But Florida closed its regular season by being stomped against Florida State and couldn't get past Alabama in the SEC title game, so neither one of these teams comes into this game on a particular high note. Michigan looks like the better team on paper, so I'll take the Wolverines in a close game.

Ohio State facing Notre Dame may end up being the best bowl game this year, period. Ohio State was three points away from a place in the Big Ten title game and a shot at the playoff. Notre Dame lost two games by a combined total of four points to two Top-10 teams. In an expanded playoff format, either one of these teams would be capable of winning a national title. 

I'll take the Buckeyes in a thriller, however. Ohio State has the core of last year's national title-winning team intact and absolutely demolished Michigan to close the season. While the Buckeyes have had quarterback issues throughout the year and never quite looked like a team that would repeat, this is still, on paper, one of the most talented teams in the nation.

Stanford is going to run the ball down Iowa's throats. Iowa is a very good team, obviously, but Christian McCaffrey is one of the most dynamic players in the country and Stanford survived a stacked schedule this year. Gimme the Cardinal.

Finally, I'll take Ole Miss in an absolute shootout against Oklahoma State, though I think this is a flip-of-the-coin game. Whenever you get two strong offenses together, it's hard to pick between the teams. Oklahoma State's two losses to close the season, however, worry me enough that I'll go with Ole Miss.

And now, to the games that matter.

By most measures, Oklahoma is the most balanced team in the country. The team is 17th in rushing yards per game, 18th in passing yards, third in points for and 21st in points against. Baker Mayfield is a Heisman candidate, and the Sooners have progressively gotten better as the season has gone on.

Add in the team's humiliating loss to Clemson in the Russell Athletic Bowl last season, and motivation for the Sooners is covered as well.

Of course, Clemson has been excellent all season long. Deshaun Watson has been superb, the Tigers are incredibly balanced themselves and wins over Notre Dame, Florida State and North Carolina have the undefeated Tigers battle-tested. 

But it's hard to be less than impressed by the Sooners beating Baylor, TCU and Oklahoma State down the stretch, with the wins over Baylor and Oklahoma State coming on the road. Oklahoma just looks like the best team in the country right now.

While Clemson might have something to say about that, I'll take Oklahoma by a field goal.

Alabama and Michigan State is a matchup between shared strengths, meanwhile. Alabama pounds the rock and plays excellent defense. Michigan State is a touch more balanced offensively but also plays excellent defense.

Michigan State has been a team of destiny this year, winning several games in the final moments against quality opponents. I'm not so sure Derrick Henry and Alabama's stifling, physical defense give a darn about destiny, however.

I'll take a slightly more talented Alabama team over the Spartans.

And I'll take them to win a national title. Alabama has a defense good enough to slow down Oklahoma's excellent offense. I'm not so sure Oklahoma's defense can slow down Alabama's run game. That will be the difference as the Crimson Tide win another national title.