Bowl Game Schedule 2016-17: Complete Predictions for Can't-Miss Matchups

If you've been looking for a complete schedule of college football's postseason with odds and predictions tossed in, look no further!

We've got you covered below.

Bowl Game	Date	Time (ET)	Matchup	Watch	Pick
Miami Beach	Dec. 19	2:30 p.m.	Central Michigan vs. Tulsa (-11)	ESPN	Tulsa
Boca Raton	Dec. 20	7 p.m.	Memphis vs. Western Kentucky (-6.5)	ESPN	Memphis
Poinsettia	Dec. 21	9 p.m.	BYU (-7.5) vs. Wyoming	ESPN	BYU
Potato	Dec. 22	7 p.m.	Idaho vs. Colorado State (-13)	ESPN	Colorado State
Bahamas	Dec. 23	1 p.m.	Old Dominion (-4) vs. Eastern Michigan	ESPN	Old Dominion
Armed Forces	Dec. 23	4:30 p.m.	Louisiana Tech vs. Navy (-1)	ESPN	Navy
Dollar General	Dec. 23	8 p.m.	Ohio vs. Troy (-5)	ESPN	Troy
Hawaii	Dec. 24	8 p.m.	Hawaii vs. Middle Tennessee	ESPN	Hawaii
St. Petersburg	Dec. 26	11 a.m.	Mississippi State (-11.5) vs. Miami (Ohio)	ESPN	Mississippi State
Quick Lane	Dec. 26	2:30 p.m.	Boston College (-1) vs. Maryland	ESPN	Maryland
Independence	Dec. 26	5 p.m.	NC State (-4) vs. Vanderbilt	ESPN2	Vanderbilt
Heart of Dallas	Dec. 27	Noon	Army (-9.5) vs. North Texas	ESPN	Army
Military	Dec. 27	3:30 p.m.	Wake Forest vs. Temple (-12.5)	ESPN	Temple
Holiday	Dec. 27	7 p.m.	Minnesota vs. Washington State (-5.5)	ESPN	Washington State
Cactus	Dec. 27	10:15 p.m.	Baylor vs. Boise State (-10)	ESPN	Boise State
Pinstripe	Dec. 28	2 p.m.	Northwestern vs. Pitt (-3)	ESPN	Pitt
Russell Athletic	Dec. 28	5:30 p.m.	Miami (Fla.) (-1.5) vs. West Virginia	ESPN	Miami
Foster Farms	Dec. 28	8:30 p.m.	Indiana vs. Utah (-6.5)	Fox	Utah
Texas	Dec. 28	9 p.m.	Kansas State vs. Texas A&M (-2.5)	ESPN	Texas A&M
Birmingham	Dec. 29	2 p.m.	USF (-11) vs. South Carolina	ESPN	USF
Belk	Dec. 29	5:30 p.m.	Virginia Tech (-6) vs. Arkansas	ESPN	Virginia Tech
Alamo	Dec. 29	9 p.m.	Oklahoma State vs. Colorado (-2)	ESPN	Oklahoma State
Arizona	Dec. 30	5:30 p.m.	Air Force (-14) vs. South Alabama	Campus Insiders	Air Force
Liberty	Dec. 30	Noon	TCU (-1.5) vs. Georgia	ESPN	TCU
Sun	Dec. 30	2 p.m.	North Carolina vs. Stanford (-2.5)	CBS	North Carolina
Music City	Dec. 30	3:30 p.m.	Nebraska vs. Tennessee (-3)	ESPN	Tennessee
Orange	Dec. 30	8 p.m.	Michigan (-6.5) vs. Florida State	ESPN	Michigan
Peach	Dec. 31	3 p.m.	Alabama (-14) vs. Washington	ESPN	Alabama
Fiesta	Dec. 31	7 p.m.	Ohio State (-3) vs. Clemson	ESPN	Ohio State
TaxSlayer	Dec. 31	11 a.m.	Georgia Tech (-5) vs. Kentucky	ESPN	Kentucky
Citrus	Dec. 31	11 a.m.	Louisville vs. LSU (even)	ABC	Louisville
Outback	Jan. 2	1 p.m.	Florida (-2) vs. Iowa	ABC	Iowa
Cotton	Jan. 2	1 p.m.	Western Michigan vs. Wisconsin (-6.5)	ESPN	Wisconsin
Rose	Jan. 2	5 p.m.	Penn State vs. USC (-6.5)	ESPN	USC
Sugar	Jan. 2	8:30 p.m.	Auburn vs. Oklahoma (-5.5)	ESPN	Oklahoma
CFP National Championship	Jan. 9	8:30 p.m.	TBD	ESPN	Alabama

So, which are this year's can't-miss games? And who are the can't-miss players?

Well, obviously the College Football Playoff matchups are must-watch television. Ohio State vs. Clemson will probably be the more competitive contest, but NFL draft buffs won't want to miss Alabama vs. Washington.

In Matt Miller's latest mock draft for Bleacher Report, he projected a number of players from this game going in the first two rounds:

• Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster: No. 2 to the San Francisco 49ers.
• Alabama defensive lineman Jonathan Allen: No. 3 to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
• Alabama edge-rusher Tim Williams: No. 8 to the Cincinnati Bengals.
• Washington wideout John Ross: No. 17 to the Philadelphia Eagles.
• Alabama tight end O.J. Howard: No. 19 to the Miami Dolphins.
• Alabama edge-rusher Ryan Anderson: No. 20 to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
• Washington cornerback Sidney Jones: No. 33 to the Cleveland Browns.
• Alabama tackle Cam Robinson: No. 39 to the Carolina Panthers.
• Alabama cornerback Marlon Humphrey: No. 46 to the Indianapolis Colts.
• Washington safety Budda Baker: No. 49 to the Minnesota Vikings.
• Washington defensive lineman Vita Vea: No. 53 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

What was the point of this little exercise? First, to remind you of how much talent will be on display in this game on both sides of the ball. Secondly, to point out that Alabama's defense might be historically good. The Crimson Tide could potentially have three top-10 picks from their front seven alone. That's...well, that's insane.

If you haven't watched Alabama in action this year—we haven't even touched on the team's offensive playmakers, led by freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts—you won't want to miss this contest. Washington will put up a fight, but Alabama will advance to the CFP National Championship.

There, the Tide will meet Ohio State, though the Buckeyes will have quite the battle on their hands against Clemson. A few factors will decide this game:

1. Can Clemson's excellent front seven slow down Ohio State's dynamic run game and quarterback J.T. Barrett?
2. Can Clemson keep Ohio State playmaker Curtis Samuel in check? 
3. Will the Buckeyes' receivers have any luck making plays down the field?
4. Will Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson limit his turnovers? (He's thrown 15 interceptions this year.)
5. Can Ohio State's premier secondary contain Clemson's fantastic receiving corps of Mike Williams, Artavis Scott and Jordan Leggett?

Based on my prediction, I think Ohio State will answer more of the questions facing them in this contest. But it should be a heck of a matchup.

The game many folks are most excited for isn't even in the CFP—it's the Rose Bowl, featuring two red-hot teams in Penn State and USC. This contest has it all: balanced and talented offenses, two teams on long winning streaks and a reminder of the sort of games we could have if the playoff would just extend to eight freaking teams already.

I mean, c'mon, wouldn't you love to see a playoff that also included Michigan, Penn State, Oklahoma and USC?

Sure, you can see all of those teams in action, and Michigan's stout defense versus Florida State's explosive Dalvin Cook will be one of the most intriguing matchups to watch this bowl season. Watching Auburn attempt to slow down Oklahoma's torrid offense should be fun too, and Louisville's Lamar Jackson against LSU should be a tasty contest for folks who love offensive dynamos. 

In less hyped games, Oklahoma State vs. Colorado, Miami vs. West Virginia, Baylor vs. Boise State and North Carolina vs. Stanford should all be fun.

You can follow Timothy Rapp on Twitter.