Bowl Games 2015-16: Postseason Schedule and Predictions for Biggest Matchups
Now that Christmas has passed and the new year inches closer, so do the prime slate of bowl games that highlight this exciting final period of college football.
Only 23 games over the next 15 days separate the sport from nine months of hibernation, but there are still plenty of monumental matchups and a champion to be crowned to give fans their final fix.
The action hits a hiatus Sunday but returns Monday with just three days before the second annual College Football Playoff.
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Here is a look at the remaining schedule with a further look at a few marquee games.
| Military Bowl | Pittsburgh vs. Navy | 2:30 p.m. | ESPN | Pittsburgh |
| Quick Lane Bowl | Central Michigan vs. Minnesota | 5 p.m. | ESPN2 | Central Michigan |
| Lockhead Martin Armed Forces Bowl | California vs. Air Force | 2 p.m. | ESPN | Air Force |
| Russell Athletic Bowl | North Carolina vs. Baylor | 5:30 p.m. | ESPN | North Carolina |
| NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl | Nevada vs. Colorado State | 7:30 p.m. | Campus Insiders | Colorado State |
| AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl | LSU vs. Texas Tech | 9 p.m. | ESPN | LSU |
| Birmingham Bowl | Auburn vs. Memphis | 12 p.m. | ESPN | Auburn |
| Belk Bowl | NC State vs. Mississippi State | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN | Mississippi State |
| Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl | Texas A&M vs. Louisville | 7 p.m. | ESPN | Texas &AM |
| Holiday Bowl | USC vs. Wisconsin | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN | USC |
| Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl | Houston vs. Florida State | 12 p.m. | ESPN | Florida State |
| College Football Playoff Semifinal – Orange Bowl | Clemson vs. Oklahoma | 4 p.m. | ESPN | Clemson |
| College Football Playoff Semifinal – Cotton Bowl | Michigan State vs. Alabama | 8 p.m. | ESPN | Alabama |
| Outback Bowl | Northwestern vs. Tennessee | 12 p.m. | ESPN2 | Tennessee |
| Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl | Michigan vs. Florida | 1 p.m. | ABC | Michigan |
| Fiesta Bowl | Notre Dame vs. Ohio State | 1 p.m. | ESPN | Ohio State |
| Rose Bowl | Stanford vs. Iowa | 5 p.m. | ESPN | Stanford |
| Sugar Bowl | Oklahoma State vs. Ole Miss | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN | Oklahoma State |
| Taxslayer Bowl | Penn State vs. Georgia | 12 p.m. | ESPN | Georgia |
| AutoZone Liberty Bowl | Kansas State vs. Arkansas | 3:20 p.m. | ESPN | Arkansas |
| Valero Alamo Bowl | Oregon vs. TCU | 6:45 p.m. | ESPN | Oregon |
| Motel 6 Cactus Bowl | Arizona State vs. West Virginia | 10:15 p.m. | ESPN | Arizona State |
Russell Athletic Bowl: No. 10 North Carolina vs. Baylor
This year’s Russell Athletic Bowl pits ACC runner-up No. 10 North Carolina, in hopes of reaching a program-high 12 wins, against No. 18 Baylor, which lost three of its final four games after being an early contender for the playoff.
The Dec. 29 game in Orlando features a matchup of teams unhappy with how the regular season ended.
The Tar Heels opened 2015 with a road loss to lowly South Carolina, then rattled off 11 straight wins before falling 45-37 in the ACC Championship Game to top-ranked Clemson, college football’s last unbeaten.
Such a resume has North Carolina feeling snubbed for not qualifying for a better bowl, perhaps one of the New Year’s Six.
“It was tough to get out of our minds, and the bitter taste was there for a while, but what really helped was getting back on the field, getting ready for another opponent. Just moving on,” senior linebacker Shakeel Rashad said, courtesy Chip Alexander of the News & Observer.
Baylor enters Tuesday’s tilt leading the nation in scoring (48 points per game) and total offense (604.6 yards), but stats are no consolation for a team that won 11 games last year and was as high as No. 2 in the Associated Press Top 25 this season.
Bears cornerback Xavien Howard indicated the team has been elaborately preparing for a game that they believe has a high premium, per Baylor Football:
The Bears’ Big 12 title hopes were dashed with a Week 10 loss to playoff-bound Oklahoma, which yielded a hangover of sorts the rest of the way. They managed a 45-35 win over No. 16 Oklahoma State but dropped their final two games to No. 11 TCU and Texas, albeit by a combined 13 points.
The Bears will be without All-America receiver Corey Coleman (hernia) and star running back Shock Linwood (foot), who both underwent surgery to heal injuries, and will also turn to third-string quarterback Chris Johnson after losing standout start Seth Russell to a season-ending neck injury in Week 9 and backup Jarrett Stidham to an ankle injury Week 13.
Despite rolling with a sophomore quarterback that is listed as a hybrid receiver, Bears head coach Art Briles is confident in Johnson’s ability to man the Bears' high-powered offense, per Jake Trotter of ESPN.
"He's done an admirable job," Briles said of Johnson. "He's made some mistakes, which are understandable, but we sure feel like we can go out and win with him.”
The Bears may be able to settle into an offensive groove against North Carolina’s 78th-ranked defense that allows 411.3 yards per game, but it won’t be until it’s too late. Baylor is simply too beleaguered and will be rolling with a very green group across the board to pull off an upset. Talent will trump all in this one.
Prediction: North Carolina wins
Birmingham Bowl: Auburn vs. Memphis
The Birmingham Bowl on Dec. 30 pits two Tigers teams heading in totally opposite directions.
Auburn entered the season as favorites to win the SEC, and had it done so, it likely would’ve earned a playoff spot.
Memphis, historically in the cellar of Conference USA and long considered a cupcake on any schedule, is on the cusp of their second straight 10-win season in just its third year with the American Athletic Conference.
Auburn’s pass defense, third-worst in the SEC, is faced with the tall task of limiting Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch under interim defensive coordinator Lance Thompson after Will Muschamp took the South Carolina job.
Lynch set Memphis records for passing yards (3,670) and touchdowns (28) in 2015, and is touted as a top prospect for next year’s NFL draft, per Lance Zierlein of NFL.com:
"He is an absolutely outstanding athlete. Lynch plays with very good balance and body control, and has rare quick-twitch for a quarterback with his pocket-passing potential. When running, he shows a good understanding for making the most out of his carries before deciding to end it without taking a big shot. His combination of size and athleticism separates him from most every draft-eligible quarterback.
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Auburn likely won’t win the quarterback battle—riding either Sean White, who’s been hindered by foot and knee injuries, or Jeremy Johnson, who lost his job earlier this year—but if it can create even a remotely decent aerial attack, it should contend, if not win.
Memphis allowed 269.3 pass yards per game, 116th of 128 FBS teams, and allowed 14 plays of 40-plus yards, which ranks 114th. Auburn only mustered 28 passes of 20 or more yards, but if it can get creative and remain committed to the air, open lanes should emerge.
Auburn is in the midst of its worst season under head coach Gus Malzahn, finishing the regular season 6-6 and in last place in the SEC West.
It lost two of its final three games to 9-3 Georgia and 12-1 Alabama, but played closely in both—convincing enough performances that it should be able to finish the season by putting together 60 full minutes and finish the season above .500.
Prediction: Auburn wins
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