FAVORITE TEAMS

DECEMBER 23

BAD BOY MOWERS GASPARILLA BOWL – TAMPA, FL (11:30AM PT / 2:30PM ET) [ESPN]

UCF (9-3) VS. MARSHALL (8-4)

• This is the 12th meeting between these two teams and first since 2012 before UCF departed for the AAC conference. This is  However, Marshall lost eight straight to UCF. UCF makes their 11th bowl appearance in 15 seasons but are 1-2 in the last three bowls. Marshall won the last year’s Gasparilla Bowl against South Florida (an AAC opponent). They’re definite underdogs against UCF. Marshall quarterback Isaiah Green has his hands full against one of the better AAC opponents in their home state.

MY PICK: UCF

DECEMBER 24

SOFI HAWAI’I BOWL – HONOLULU, HI (2PM PT / 5PM ET) [ESPN]

HAWAI’I (9-5) VS. BYU (7-5)

• This is the 32nd meeting all-time and the first meeting in a bowl game between these two. BYU makes their 14th bowl appearance in the last 15 seasons (8-5). They also make their trip back to Hawai’i since 1992 when they faced Kansas. They currently hold a five-game win streak over Hawai’i. Hawai’i appears in their third bowl game in four seasons. They also have their 11th game all-time in their home state (5-5). Hawai’i hasn’t defeated BYU since 2001, and with what BYU has endured on their schedule with resilience, the drought may continue for the Rainbow Warriors despite being at home.

MY PICK: BYU

DECEMBER 26

INDEPENDENCE BOWL – SHREVEPORT, LA (1PM PT / 4PM ET) [ESPN]

LOUISIANA TECH (9-3) VS. MIAMI (FL) (6-6)

• Both teams meet for the fifth time in history, which Miami owns La Tech in all four. However, Miami lost to a C-USA team a few weeks back (FIU). They’re also 1-5 in their last six bowl games, 0-1 in the Independence Bowl, and 2-3 in the state of Louisiana. Louisiana Tech is 2-3 against Power 5 teams in bowls all-time, but they’re 5-0 in bowls under Skip Holtz and 2-1-1 all-time in the Independence Bowl. I’ll be frank, despite the fact that Miami may be favored in this game, I can’t trust their offense. They’re too inconsistent for me to trust them while Louisiana Tech’s key players returned from suspension not too long ago.

MY PICK: Louisiana Tech

QUICK LANE BOWL – DETROIT, MI (5PM PT / 8PM ET) [ESPN]

PITT (7-5) VS. EASTERN MICHIGAN (6-6)

• Pitt and Eastern Michigan meet for the third time. Pitt’s currently 2-0. In their last 10 bowls, however, they’re 3-7 and are on a current four-game losing streak in bowl game. Eastern Michigan makes their fourth bowl game all-time, second straight appearance, and third bowl game in four seasons. Coach Chris Creighton has done a massive job making this program look a little more relevant in the MAC and college football. They’re currently on a 2-game losing streak in bowls and are 0-5 against ACC teams all time. This is the second most difficult pick to make next to BYU/Hawai’i. This is made to be a physical game and both teams have a good, underrated defense that make up over their average offense. With that, the better defense is likely to help their team win this game.

MY PICK: PITT

DECEMBER 27

MILITARY BOWL – ANNAPOLIS, MD (9AM PT / 12PM ET) [ESPN]

UNC (6-6) VS. TEMPLE (8-4)

• Temple makes their fifth bowl appearance and second Military Bowl appearance, but they are, unfortunately, 1-3 in their last four, including after last year’s second half blowout against Duke. North Carolina returns after missing the last two bowls. They currently hold a two-game losing streak, but coach Mack Brown is 13-8 all-time in bowl games. Temple’s a grinding out team with good defense, but they haven’t been successful in their recent bowl matchups except FIU two seasons ago. UNC is a hard out in all 12 games they’ve played and I see this being that same situation too.

MY PICK: UNC

PINSTRIPE BOWL – THE BRONX, NY (12:20 PM PT / 3:20PM ET) [ESPN]

MICHIGAN STATE (6-6) VS. WAKE FOREST (8-4)

• Michigan State makes their 11th appearance in the last 12 bowl games. But, they are 0-2 against ACC teams in bowl games and are 1-2 in the last three appearances. Wake Forest makes their fourth straight bowl appearance in the last six seasons under coach Dave Clawson. They are 3-0 under him while averaging 42 points per game, but their defense allowed around 37 points per game with games decided by a touchdown or less. It’s Michigan State’s defense vs Wake Forest’s offense and it’s a tough call to make. Given Michigan State’s offense’s recent downfall in the last two seasons, it’s hard to tell if they can get the job done consistently even with Wake Forest’s captain linebacker Justin Strnad out for the season.

MY PICK: WAKE FOREST

ACADEMY SPORTS + OUTDOORS TEXAS BOWL – HOUSTON, TX (3:45PM PT / 6:45PM ET) [ESPN]

#25 OKLAHOMA STATE (8-4) VS. TEXAS A&M (7-5)

• The former rivals of the Big 12 meet for the 28th meeting all-time. Oklahoma State play their 14th straight bowl game after coach Mike Gundy’s uproar with the media in his first season. They’re on a 3-game winning streak but are 2-4 against the SEC in bowls. Texas A&M makes their 11th straight bowl game and their second under coach Jimbo Fisher, which he is 6-2 in bowls all-time. However, they lost the last four matchups to Oklahoma State dating the last game back to 2011 before heading to the SEC. Things could turn around for the Aggies, given the improvements they’ve made and the games they dealt with (Clemson, Alabama, LSU, Auburn, Georgia), but Oklahoma State won’t make it easy for them.

MY PICK: TEXAS A&M

CHEEZ-IT BOWL – PHOENIX, AZ (4:15 PM PT / 7:15PM ET) [ESPN]

AIR FORCE (10-2) VS. WASHINGTON STATE (6-6)

• Wazzu makes their fifth straight bowl appearance and are 2-3 under coach Mike Leach. Air Force returns after missing the last two seasons and are 4-5 under coach Troy Calhoun. Washington State’s quarterback Anthony Gordon is five passing touchdowns away from becoming the first quarterback to throw for 50 and has the players to do it, but will receiver Brandon Arconado’s injury affect Gordon’s chances? Air Force made a huge bounce back after figuring out their quarterback situation with an improved roster. Both teams lost when allowing over 30 points this season, but Wazzu only had one win allowing over 30 points. This is potentially a high-scoring game and the offense with a better, consistent success likely wins.

MY PICK: AIR FORCE

SAN DIEGO COUNTY CREDIT UNION HOLIDAY BOWL – SAN DIEGO, CA (5PM PT / 8PM ET) [FOX SPORTS 1]

#22 USC (8-4) VS. #16 IOWA (9-3)

• This is the 10th all-time meeting in this matchup, but USC won the last six dating back to 2003 in the Orange Bowl, and yes, old Kirk Ferentz coached that game. USC will make their third Holiday Bowl appearance (1-1) and are 20-11 all-time against Big Ten teams. Iowa has only missed four bowl games under Kirk Ferentz all-time. They’re 2-4 in their last six games, and are 3-7 against Pac-12 opponents. USC has a talented offense led by a third string quarterback (33.2 points per game) while Iowa has a stingy defense (13.2 points allowed per game). Key number for this game: 20. That’s the amount of points USC has to score in order to have any chance of success. Iowa has allowed over 20 points three times this season (2-1).

MY PICK: IOWA

DECEMBER 28

CAMPING WORLD BOWL – ORLANDO, FL (9AM PT / 12PM ET) [ABC]

#15 NOTRE DAME (10-2) VS. IOWA STATE (7-5)

• Notre Dame plays their ninth bowl game in the last 10 seasons under coach Brian Kelly (4-4). Iowa State makes their third straight bowl game under coach Matt Campbell in four seasons and their last two appearances were decided by two points or less. It doesn’t sound like an interesting matchup, but this is where Iowa State could make a statement. They have an overall physical squad with an underrated defense and an impactful backfield on offense. This matchup features Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book and Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy, and it will come down to who has the better front on both sides of the ball.

MY PICK: NOTRE DAME