Remaining Bowl Games with the Most Entertainment Value
Iowa State and Memphis are not two of the best teams in college football, but when they square off in the Liberty Bowl on Dec. 30, it should be one of the most entertaining games of the bowl season.
Diehard college football fans will do everything in their power to watch every minute of all 41 bowl games. But most people have "real" jobs and social lives that don't revolve around Twitter, and they want to know which of these bowl games are worth their time.
With those folks in mind, here are the eight remaining games on the bowl schedule that should be the most entertaining.
"Entertaining" doesn't necessarily mean "high-scoring." One of these games should be a fun defensive fight. Others ought to be entertaining because of the stakes or the history.
But in most cases, yes, there will be lots of points.
The following bowl games are listed chronologically. And though it should be more fun than a barrel of monkeys, we are not including the College Football Playoff National Championship since we don't who will contest that game.
Honorable Mentions
1 of 9
Cactus Bowl: Kansas State vs. UCLA (Tuesday at 9 p.m ET)
There is no telling how entertaining this game will be, but it should have plenty of points. UCLA's rush defense ranks second-to-last nationally at 282.7 yards allowed per game. Kansas State's pass defense also ranks second-to-last nationally, allowing 310.3 yards per game. The Wildcats ran for at least 200 yards six times this season, and the Bruins threw for at least 370 yards eight times. So maybe don't bet the under.
Texas Bowl: Texas vs. Missouri (Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET)
Missouri scored at least 45 points in each of its final six regular-season games, but it did so exclusively against teams that failed to qualify for bowl games. Against a solid Texas defense that is practically playing a home game in this bowl, Drew Lock and Co. will face a stiff challenge for the first time in months. Plus, Texas has a tendency to play in dramatic games. Seven of their 12 contests this year were decided by a maximum of 10 points.
Belk Bowl: Wake Forest vs. Texas A&M (Dec. 29 at 1 p.m. ET)
Make sure you have a two-TV setup on Dec. 29. Louisville vs. Kentucky tips off on the hardwood at the same time as Wake Forest and Texas A&M get going on the gridiron. Demon Deacons QB John Wolford finished the season with 3,406 total yards and 35 total touchdowns, emerging as a standout dual-threat signal-caller. And while the Aggies' Christian Kirk didn't have quite the season we were expecting, he is an ever-present threat for a huge play.
Arizona Bowl: Utah State vs. New Mexico State (Dec. 29 at 5:30 p.m. ET)
There are no household names in this one, but it should be a close, high-scoring affair. New Mexico State's Tyler Rogers ranks second in the nation in passing yards per game, but Utah State has a top-20 pass defense led by Jalen Davis (five interceptions, 13 passes broken up).
TaxSlayer Bowl: Louisville vs. Mississippi State (Dec. 30 at Noon ET)
If Nick Fitzgerald were healthy, this would easily be a top-three game in terms of entertainment value. As is, it should be a fun battle between Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson and a Mississippi State defense that ranks 10th in total yards allowed per game. Can they slow him down, or will Jackson ride off into the NFL draft sunset with his 15th career game of at least 400 total yards?
Texas Tech vs. South Florida
2 of 9
What: Birmingham Bowl (Texas Tech vs. South Florida)
When: Saturday at noon ET
Where: Birmingham, Alabama (on ESPN)
Who: For South Florida, it's all about Quinton Flowers. "Lamar Jackson Lite" has thrown for 7,702 yards and 67 touchdowns over the past three seasons while rushing for 3,493 yards and 40 more scores. And he always saves his best for last. Flowers had 381 total yards and three touchdowns in the 2015 Miami Beach Bowl, and he followed it up with 366 total yards and five touchdowns in last year's Birmingham Bowl. He had 605 yards and five touchdowns against UCF in his most recent game.
Texas Tech's Keke Coutee was one of the top receivers in the country this season, averaging 103.5 yards per game. He went over 160 yards on four separate occasions, hauling in at least nine catches in each of those games. The Red Raiders always put up big passing numbers, but it's hard to imagine what that offense would have looked like without Coutee.
Why: These teams love to light up the scoreboard. The Bulls and Red Raiders have combined for 72.6 points per game this season, and neither team is particularly great at slowing down its opponent. South Florida ranks much higher than Texas Tech in both points and yards allowed per game, but the Bulls played one of the weakest schedules in the country while the Red Raiders had to deal with Baker Mayfield, Mason Rudolph and Will Grier.
Moreover, each of these teams has a recent history of high-scoring bowl games. There were at least 80 total points in each of South Florida's two previous postseason games, and the average in Texas Tech's past eight bowl games is 73.5. So sit back and enjoy the scoring bonanza.
How: South Florida 45, Texas Tech 38
Arizona vs. Purdue
3 of 9
What: Foster Farms Bowl (Arizona vs. Purdue)
When: Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. ET
Where: Santa Clara, California (on Fox)
Who: Arizona was must-watch television—if you had access to the Pac-12 Network—over the final two months of the regular season because of Khalil Tate. The sophomore sensation had five consecutive games with at least 146 passing yards and 137 rushing yards. The only other player with more than one such game (consecutive or otherwise) was Lamar Jackson. Because he started the streak with an eye-popping 327 rushing yards in a game against Colorado, everyone was obsessively following it from the beginning.
First and foremost on the list of players tasked with slowing down Tate is senior linebacker Ja'Whaun Bentley, who led the Boilermakers in tackles this season. He forced a pair of fumbles and had 10 tackles back in the season opener against Louisville, proving he can hold his own against a dual-threat quarterback.
Why: Arizona games are fun, plain and simple. The Wildcats have one of the most potent offenses in the country, but they can rack up more than 500 total yards and still be in a nail-biter in the fourth quarter since their defense is so atrocious. In eight consecutive games, Arizona has both scored and allowed at least 28 points.
Purdue has a flair for the dramatic too, though usually in a lower-scoring environment. Six of its past seven games were decided by a maximum of 10 points. In two of those games, there was a touchdown scored in the final 30 seconds to decide the outcome.
How: Arizona 35, Purdue 31
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Virginia Tech vs. Oklahoma State
4 of 9
What: Camping World Bowl (Virginia Tech vs. Oklahoma State)
When: Dec. 28 at 5:15 p.m. ET
Where: Orlando, Florida (on ESPN)
Who: Whether you want to say Mason Rudolph or James Washington is the MVP for Oklahoma State, the fact of the matter is these Cowboys love to pass. At 392.3 yards per game, their aerial assault led the nation, producing a pair of 1,000-yard receivers along the way. Washington averaged 20.6 yards per reception, and Marcell Ateman wasn't far behind him at 19.4.
Cam Phillips was supposed to be in this spot for Virginia Tech, but it was announced Tuesday he will miss the game because of a sports hernia surgery. Therefore, the Hokie to keep an eye on is probably senior defensive back Greg Stroman. He led the team in interceptions (four) and passes broken up (11), so he could be the difference-maker against this Oklahoma State passing attack. And when the Hokies get stops, Stroman is the punt returner who has taken four to the house in his career.
Why: Virginia Tech had one of the stingiest defenses in the country in 2017, limiting opponents to just 305.3 yards and 13.5 points per game. The Hokies shut out 25 percent of their opponents and allowed 10 or fewer points in half of their games this season. That immovable object is going up against an unstoppable force that scored at least 40 points in 10 of its 12 games and in each of its past five outings. Oklahoma State was not held below 428 total yards in a game this season.
If Oklahoma State gets rolling early, this might not be an entertaining game. Virginia Tech was held to a maximum of 24 points in seven of its past eight games, and that was with a healthy Phillips leading the offense. They might be lucky to score three times in this game without him. But if Virginia Tech can dig in its heels and force an early turnover or two, this should be a fun, low-scoring affair.
How: Oklahoma State 23, Virginia Tech 14
USC vs. Ohio State
5 of 9
What: Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic (USC vs. Ohio State)
When: Dec. 29 at 8:30 p.m. ET
Where: Arlington, Texas (on ESPN)
Who: At quarterback in what would be the Rose Bowl if that weren't a College Football Playoff semifinal this year, it's a battle between two former Heisman front-runners. USC's Sam Darnold started the season as the favorite for the sport's highest individual honor, but a few too many interceptions ended that dream in a hurry. Ohio State's J.T. Barrett was in great shape in early November, prior to the infamous four-interception, 55-24 loss to Iowa. Either one could be the MVP of this game.
What seems more likely to determine the outcome, though, is the battle at running back. USC's Ronald Jones II averaged 162.8 rushing yards and 2.0 TDs over his final five games, but how will he fare against one of the biggest and baddest front sevens in the country? Ohio State freshman J.K Dobbins averaged 7.5 yards per carry and figures to be a major problem for a Trojans defense that had no answer for the likes of Bryce Love, Khalil Tate and Josh Adams.
Why: It's the Big Ten champion against the Pac-12 champion, and it's two schools that have had more than their fair share of success lately. Ohio State and USC each endured a postseason ban-inducing controversy along the way, but these are two of the most successful programs of the past 15 years. With one or two exceptions, this bowl pairing would have been one of the most intriguing in any season dating back to 2002.
But we haven't gotten that matchup until now. In fact, the Buckeyes and Trojans have not met in a bowl game since the Rose Bowl at the end of the 1984 season. This thing has been a long time coming, and the amount of history on each side of the field is like an excitement multiplication factor of at least 2.5. Maybe it won't be a repeat of last year's USC vs. Penn State game, but if it's even remotely close, it would feel like an instant classic.
How: Ohio State 34, USC 23
Iowa State vs. Memphis
6 of 9
What: Liberty Bowl (Iowa State vs. Memphis)
When: Dec. 30 at 12:30 p.m. ET
Where: Memphis, Tennessee (on ABC)
Who: If you haven't been watching Memphis this season and have thus missed out on the spectacle that is Anthony Miller, make sure you fix that before he departs for the NFL. The Tigers wide receiver finished the season at No. 2 in both receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, snagging 92 passes for 1,407 yards and 17 scores. And it's not just the numbers. He's good for at least one "Wow!" play per game.
For Iowa State, the star player is do-it-all linebacker Joel Lanning. The converted quarterback led the team in both tackles and sacks, but he also scored a pair of touchdowns on offense against Oklahoma State. Lanning ended up with 115 rushing yards. He is for the Cyclones what Jabrill Peppers was for Michigan last season, and it's a safe bet Matt Campbell will call his number a few times in this game.
Why: Despite losing three of its final four games, Iowa State was unofficially the most entertaining and easiest-to-root-for team in the country. There was the unexpectedly exciting game against Iowa, followed by gems in Big 12 play against Oklahoma, TCU, West Virginia, Oklahoma State and Kansas State. All told, 50 percent of games involving the Cyclones went down to the wire.
We get to see that team on the field against Memphis, which had one of the four best offenses in the nation in terms of both yards and points, as well as a defense that left much to be desired when facing quality opponents. Throw in the fact Memphis' Tony Pollard is one of the best kick returners in the history of the sport, and it just feels like this game is bound to have some wild swings on big plays.
How: Memphis 27, Iowa State 23
Penn State vs. Washington
7 of 9
What: PlayStation Fiesta Bowl (Penn State vs. Washington)
When: Dec. 30 at 4 p.m. ET
Where: Phoenix, Arizona (on ESPN)
Who: As a pure running back, Saquon Barkley's numbers (1,134 yards, 5.7 YPC, 16 TD) weren't all that great. But as an all-purpose athlete and a highlight-reel hero, there's not a more exciting player in the game. Combining his passing, rushing, receiving and kick-returning totals, Barkley finished with 2,190 yards and 22 touchdowns. And if his Fiesta Bowl is anything like his 2016 Rose Bowl, look out.
Washington has a darn fine return man too in Dante Pettis, who set the NCAA record for career punt-return touchdowns this season. Pettis is also Jake Browning's go-to receiver, as he finished the regular season with 40 more receptions and nearly 400 more yards than any other Husky.
Why: Most of these games figure to be entertaining because of the sheer number of points that will be put up, but the Fiesta Bowl should instead be a defensive delight. Washington and Penn State respectively rank sixth and seventh nationally in points allowed per game. And aside from Barkley and Pettis, neither one has much of a home run threat to worry about.
Most low-scoring sporting events are boring—sorry, soccer fans—but this game could have some pitcher seeking a no-hitter-type of excitement. This might be a battle with 500 combined total yards and around 35 total points in which we are waiting with bated breath for that one big play to happen. And when it does, it will probably involve Barkley.
How: Penn State 21, Washington 17
Georgia vs. Oklahoma
8 of 9
What: Rose Bowl (Georgia vs. Oklahoma)
When: Jan. 1 at 5 p.m. ET
Where: Pasadena, California (on ESPN)
Who: If you are expecting anyone other than Baker Mayfield as Oklahoma's "who," you clearly haven't watched any college football this season. The Heisman winner was on fire all season, completing 71 percent of his pass attempts for 4,340 yards and 41 touchdowns against just five interceptions. He set the NCAA record for passer efficiency rating (196.39) in a season last year, and he did it again in 2017 (203.76).
But speaking of QB rating, did you know Georgia's Jake Fromm ranked sixth nationally this year as a true freshman—the only freshman in the top 45 in that category? He didn't throw much since Georgia's running game is so prolific, but he averaged 9.4 yards per attempt with 21 touchdowns and just five interceptions. If Oklahoma focuses all of its defensive energy on trying to slow down Nick Chubb and Sony Michel, Fromm is more than capable of picking this secondary to pieces.
Why: On one hand, this is a College Football Playoff semifinal. That should be all the justification you need to expect an entertaining game. On the other hand, the No. 2 vs. No. 3 game has been at least a 31-point blowout in all three seasons of the College Football Playoff's existence.
But there's no way this turns into a laugher, right? Oklahoma has the best offense in the country, but Georgia has a sensational defense, setting up a repetitive clash of the titans when Mayfield and the Sooners have the ball. And though Oklahoma's defense isn't great, it isn't anywhere near as awful as many have made it out to be. This should be a fantastic game between two of the best teams this season.
How: Georgia 31, Oklahoma 28
Alabama vs. Clemson
9 of 9
What: Allstate Sugar Bowl (Alabama vs. Clemson)
When: Jan. 1 at 8:45 p.m. ET
Where: New Orleans, Louisiana (on ESPN)
Who: For each of these teams, the dual-threat QB is the star of the show. But neither of them racks up yards like he could if his defense were not repeatedly setting him up with short-field situations.
Alabama's Jalen Hurts finished the regular season with 2,005 passing yards, 768 rushing yards and 23 combined touchdowns. The most impressive number, though, is he only threw one interception. According to Sports Reference, the only other player in the past 18 seasons to throw for at least 2,000 yards with one interception at most was South Carolina's Connor Shaw in 2013. Hurts has had one heck of a two-year run with the Crimson Tide.
Clemson's Kelly Bryant hasn't been nearly that efficient, but he has been every bit as indispensable—as evidenced by Clemson losing to Syracuse when he was injured. Bryant has 3,324 combined passing and rushing yards, as well as 24 touchdowns. Not too shabby for a guy who was battling two freshmen for the starting job in training camp.
Why: Round 3. Fight!
Though it's not the national championship this year, you may have heard this is the third consecutive year that Alabama and Clemson are waging war in the College Football Playoff—and that those previous games were incredible.
You could take on board fun stats like Alabama and Clemson respectively rank first and second nationally in points allowed per game this season or that the Crimson Tide and Tigers are a combined 77-4 in games not played against each other over the past three years. But you don't need any of that drivel to know this semifinal might be even more entertaining than the national championship that follows it.
How: Clemson 31, Alabama 27
Kerry Miller covers men's college basketball and college football for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @kerrancejames.
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