College Football Bowl Picks 2016: Predictions for Most Underrated Games on Slate

While much of the focus during bowl season is on the College Football Playoff and other big brands such as the Rose Bowl, there are several smaller bowls that boast highly intriguing matchups and could produce fantastic games.

Although the Pinstripe Bowl, Sun Bowl and TaxSlayer Bowl may not have much cachet on the surface, all of them have the potential to lead to offensive fireworks and to come down to the wire with nailbiting finishes.

With the 2016-17 bowl slate in full gear, here is a closer look at three unheralded bowls and predictions for how they will play out.

Pinstripe Bowl: Pittsburgh vs. Northwestern

Pittsburgh was among the most exciting and unpredictable teams in college football this season, as it upset both No. 2 Clemson and No. 5 Penn State but stumbled at times and finished with an 8-4 record.

Northwestern went just 6-6 as part of the difficult Big Ten, but it proved to be a pesky team with wins over Iowa and Michigan State, plus just a four-point loss to No. 3 Ohio State.

The Panthers and Wildcats will meet in the Pinstripe Bowl in a game that promises to feature plenty of back-and-forth action.

Pittsburgh boasts a stacked offense, and the Pinstripe Bowl will mark the farewell of perhaps its two biggest stars in running back James Conner and quarterback Nathan Peterman.

As seen in the following tweet, Conner announced his intention to enter the 2017 NFL draft after overcoming cancer and scoring 20 total touchdowns this season:

"

Forever Grateful. pic.twitter.com/B8wXA9ABZz

— James Conner (@JamesConner_) December 10, 2016"

Peterman is a senior who came into his own during the 2016 campaign, throwing 26 touchdowns and just six interceptions.

As pointed out by Chris Dokish of Pittsburgh Sports Now, Peterman flew under the radar to enjoy one of the best quarterback seasons in college football this year:

The star power isn't quite as evident for Northwestern, but quarterback Clayton Thorson had a solid year with 21 touchdowns, while running back Justin Jackson hit 1,300 yards and 12 touchdowns, and wide receiver Austin Carr turned 84 receptions for 1,196 yards into 12 scores as well.

Pitt's defense has a tendency to allow some big point totals, and that should give the Wildcats a chance to hang close in a shootout for much of the game.

Conner's ability to wear down defenses will prove too much to handle in the end, though, allowing Pitt to prevail.

Prediction: Pitt 45, Northwestern 35

Sun Bowl: Stanford vs. North Carolina

Stanford and North Carolina were polar opposites from an offensive perspective during the regular season, as the Cardinal are led by Christian McCaffrey and the running game, while the Tar Heels rely on quarterback Mitch Trubisky and their aerial attack.

Despite having little to speak of in terms of reliable quarterback play, Stanford went 9-3 this season due largely to McCaffrey's nearly 2,000 yards from scrimmage and 16 touchdowns. However, with little left to prove at the collegiate level, McCaffrey recently announced his decision to enter the 2017 NFL draft. On top of that, McCaffrey announced on Monday that he will not participate in the game.

It can be argued that 2016 was somewhat disappointing at 8-4 for UNC, but it did score key victories over the likes of Pittsburgh, Florida State and Miami. Also, Trubisky performed at an elite level in his first full season as a starter.

The junior completed just under 69 percent of his passes for 3,468 yards, 28 touchdowns and four interceptions. If not for inconsistencies in the running game and on defense, North Carolina could have been a dark horse in terms of a CFP run.

As seen in the following video courtesy of ACC Digital Network, Trubisky did some incredible things in what may have been his final college season:

Trubisky has yet to announce his draft intentions, but the assumption is that he will declare since he has a chance to be among the top picks in April.

A big performance against Stanford could further his case as the top draft-eligible quarterback.

The dichotomy between Stanford and North Carolina should make for a thrilling affair, even without McCaffrey on the field, but the star running back's absence will put UNC over the top.

Prediction: North Carolina 34, Stanford 24

TaxSlayer Bowl: Georgia Tech vs. Kentucky

While throwing the football is all the rage in both college and the NFL today, few teams run it as often and effectively as Georgia Tech and Kentucky.

The Yellow Jackets and Wildcats will clash in the TaxSlayer Bowl, which is made interesting by the fact that both teams like to grind out yardage on the ground and possess the football.

Georgia Tech attempted just 146 passes all season long due to its option attack, and it worked out well to the tune of an 8-4 record.

While Kentucky runs a more conventional offense, it boasts a pair of 1,000-yard rushers in Stanley Williams and Benny Snell Jr.

In addition to that, the 7-5 Wildcats may have finally found an answer at quarterback in their final game of the regular season, as junior Stephen Johnson racked up over 400 total yards and three touchdowns in an upset win over Louisville and Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Lamar Jackson.

That was a huge victory for Kentucky's football program, and head coach Mark Stoops made it clear that closing the season on a winning note is of the utmost importance as well, per Kentucky Football on Twitter:

This marks the Wildcats' first bowl appearance since 2010, and if they manage to come out on top, they will secure their first eight-win season in nearly a decade.

Georgia Tech, on the other hand, is making its 19th bowl appearance in the past 20 seasons, so there may not be quite as much excitement on that sideline.

Due to the fact that Kentucky would likely gain much more from a victory, the Wildcats will pull off the minor upset and continue their ascent.

Prediction: Kentucky 27, Georgia Tech 24

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.