Bowl Games 2018-19: Postseason Schedule and Predictions for Biggest Matchups
Bowl season started on December 15, but college football fans are still waiting for most of the top matchups of the postseason.
After Christmas, things will start to pick up. The College Football Playoff semifinals (Orange Bowl and Cotton Bowl) take place on Dec. 29. And there will be several exciting matchups in the proceeding days, including the Fiesta Bowl, Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl on New Year's Day, among others.
Will Alabama repeat as national champion? How will Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Kyler Murray fare in the final chapter of his football career at Oklahoma? Can UCF end a second straight season with a bowl win over an SEC opponent?
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These are some of the top questions as the college football season winds down in the following weeks.
Remaining Bowl Schedule
Wednesday, Dec. 26
First Responder Bowl (1:30 p.m., ESPN): Boston College vs. Boise State
Quick Lane Bowl (5:15 p.m., ESPN): Minnesota vs. Georgia Tech
Cheez-It Bowl (9 p.m., ESPN): California vs. TCU
Thursday, Dec. 27
Independence Bowl (1:30 p.m., ESPN): Temple vs. Duke
Pinstripe Bowl (5:15 p.m., ESPN): Miami vs. Wisconsin
Texas Bowl (9 p.m., ESPN): Baylor vs. Vanderbilt
Friday, Dec. 28
Music City Bowl (1:30 p.m., ESPN): Purdue vs. Auburn
Camping World Bowl (5:15 p.m., ESPN): West Virginia vs. Syracuse
Alamo Bowl (9 p.m., ESPN): Iowa State vs. Washington State
Saturday, Dec. 29
Peach Bowl (Noon, ESPN): Florida vs. Michigan
Belk Bowl (Noon, ABC): South Carolina vs. Virginia
Arizona Bowl (1:15 p.m., CBS Sports Network): Arkansas State vs. Nevada
Cotton Bowl (4 p.m., ESPN): Clemson vs. Notre Dame; College Football Playoff semifinal
Orange Bowl (8 p.m., ESPN): Alabama vs. Oklahoma; College Football Playoff semifinal
Monday, Dec. 31
Military Bowl (Noon, ESPN): Cincinnati vs. Virginia Tech
Sun Bowl (2 p.m., CBS): Stanford vs. Pittsburgh
Redbox Bowl (3 p.m., Fox): Michigan State vs. Oregon
Liberty Bowl (3:45 p.m., ESPN): Missouri vs. Oklahoma State
Holiday Bowl (7 p.m., FS1): Northwestern vs. Utah
Gator Bowl (7:30 p.m., ESPN): N.C. State vs. Texas A&M
Tuesday, Jan. 1
Outback Bowl (Noon, ESPN2): Mississippi State vs. Iowa
Citrus Bowl (1 p.m., ABC): Kentucky vs. Penn State
Fiesta Bowl (1 p.m., ESPN): LSU vs. UCF
Rose Bowl (5 p.m., ESPN): Washington vs. Ohio State
Sugar Bowl (8:45 p.m., ESPN): Texas vs. Georgia
Predictions
UCF's Winning Streak Will Come to an End
Despite losing quarterback McKenzie Milton to a season-ending injury in late November, UCF capped another impressive regular season with a win over Memphis in the AAC Championship Game on Dec. 1.
The Knights have won 25 consecutive games, with their most recent loss coming on Dec. 17, 2016. However, they are still seeking to prove themselves in the national spotlight, as they have yet to make the College Football Playoff.
Last season, UCF ended its 13-0 campaign with a 34-27 win over Auburn in the Peach Bowl. The Knights have another opportunity to beat an SEC school in a New Year's Six bowl game when they play LSU in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year's Day.
However, without Milton, UCF won't have the same success. After LSU went 2-2 in November—including a seven-overtime loss to Texas A&M in its regular-season finale—the Tigers are in a strong position to bounce back with a season-ending win.
LSU's defense may not be as strong as earlier in the season—cornerback Greedy Williams and defensive tackle Ed Alexander are skipping the game to prepare for the 2019 NFL draft—but it will play well enough to limit a Milton-less UCF offense.
Kyler Murray Stumbles in Football Finale
The Orange Bowl may be the final game of Murray's football career.
Before joining the Oakland Athletics for spring training and beginning his professional baseball career, Murray will look to lead Oklahoma to a national championship. However, the Sooners must first get past Alabama in the Orange Bowl on Dec. 29, and that's a daunting task.
The Crimson Tide rolled through most opponents this season, but they had to rally from behind to beat Georgia in the SEC Championship Game earlier in December. That experience should help Alabama against Oklahoma if once again needs to come from behind.
However, the Tide traditionally have a strong defense, and this year is no exception. Expect them to limit Murray more than most Big 12 defenses did during the regular season. The Heisman winner won't have a chance to play for a national title before departing for the baseball diamond.
Alabama Ends Another Season on Top
Speaking of Alabama, this year's college football campaign is going to have a familiar ending.
Sure, the Crimson Tide has a strong defense, but they also have an incredible offense. And quarterback Tua Tagovailoa may have something to prove after not winning the Heisman and departing the SEC Championship Game with a high-ankle sprain before Jalen Hurts led Alabama's comeback victory.
Tagovailoa recently told reporters that he will "probably be 100 percent" for the Tide's Orange Bowl matchup against Oklahoma on Dec. 29.
That's bad news for Oklahoma, as well as Clemson and Notre Dame, who will contest the other College Football Playoff semifinal in the Cotton Bowl the same day.
Tagovailoa burst into the national spotlight in last season's CFP National Championship, when he led Alabama to an overtime victory. He will continue to build his legacy by leading the Crimson Tide to back-to-back national titles.
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