College Football

Complete Bowl Season Guide (w/Picks)

Jake Myers

Published

December 15, 2023

Welcome back to the most wonderful time of the year. Jake and Jay have you covered with a complete guide to Bowl Season, featuring times, channels, picks, and a small breakdown giving you extra context before you watch. Follow our accounts so you can experience Bowl Season, along with us.

Jake: CFBJake

Jay: CoachJayArnold

Podcast: TheGBCoach

Saturday, December 16th

Myrtle Beach Bowl – 11am ET on ESPN
Georgia Southern vs. Ohio
Brooks Stadium – Conway, South Carolina

Picks: Jake GaSo -3.5 Jay GaSo -3.5

The opening act for Bowl Season is a first-time matchup between Ohio and Georgia Southern. The Bobcats walk into Bowl Season 9-3 and a little disappointed they didn’t reach their goal of winning the MAC. The Eagles are limping into Myrtle Beach after starting the year promising at 6-2 but lost their last four. Ohio will be without their star quarterback Kurtis Rourke, and their offense has looked stagnant with his absence. Georgia Southern has struggled on defense but their offense has a 3 headed monster in QB Davis Brinn, RB Jalen White, and WR Khaleb Wood could wear down Ohio toward the end of regulation.

Cricket Celebration Bowl – 12pm ET on ABC
Howard vs. Florida A&M
Mercedez-Benz Stadium – Atlanta, Georgia

Picks: Jake Howard Jay FAMU

Two historic HBCU programs face off in the Celebration Bowl. Florida A&M dominated the SWAC going 11-1, with their only loss being a 38-24 defeat to USF. Howard finished second in the MEAC with a 6-5 overall record and was elected to take part in Bowl Season after NCCU accepted a bid to the FCS Playoffs (which Howard beat 50-20). Do not let that record fool you. They only lost one game to an HBCU opponent (SCSU by 3). Throw the records out the window for this one, it’s going to heat up HOTLANTA.

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl – 2:15pm ET on ESPN
Louisiana vs. Jacksonville State
Caesars Superdome – New Orleans, Louisiana

Picks: Jake Jax St -3 Jay Under 59.5

Both teams had to sweat out their bowl births but for entirely different reasons. ULL had to win in rivalry week to be eligible, while Jax State gained their bid due to their not having enough bowl-eligible teams. The Gamecocks are on a postseason ban due to their jump-up to FBS competition (it’s still a dumb rule). Rich Rod’s offense will be on full display with the dynamic Zion Webb under center after spending a few games sidelined due to injury. ULL’s sensational sophomore duo of Jordan Lawson (DL) and Cameron Whitfield (LB) will look to put pressure on Webb and force him to throw on the run. The X-factor could be the crowd as this will pretty much be a home game for Lafayette.

Avocados from Mexico Cure Bowl – 3:30pm ET on ABC
Appalachian State vs. Miami (Ohio)
FBC Mortgage Stadium – Orlando, Florida

Picks: Jake Miami (Oh) +5.5 Jay App State +5.5

Another first-time meeting. The Redhawks had a phenomenal year going 11-2, and avenging their loss to Toledo from earlier in the season in the MAC Championship. App State lost in the Sun Belt Championship and finished the year 8-5. The Mountaineer offense runs through Joey Aguilar who has 3,546 passing yards on the year. Look for Miami’s Caiden Woullard in the pass rush. He has 9.5 sacks in 2023 and could be the difference-maker.

Isleta New Mexico Bowl – 5:45pm ET on ESPN
New Mexico State vs. Fresno State
University Stadium – Albuquerque, New Mexico

Picks: Jake Fresno St. +3.5 Jay NMSU -3.5

This might be the most underrated matchup of Bowl Season. New Mexico State is going bowling for the second straight season under Jerry Kill, and they are looking to win their 11th game of the year. Fresno State was looking to contend for the Mountain West even after the departure of Jake Haener but finished the year 8-4. Additionally, Tim Skipper will be the interim coach for the bowl game as Coach Tedford temporarily steps away from the Bulldogs to address a health concern. Mikey Keene has been a fine replacement for Haener but the Aggies will be awaiting the news to see if Diego Pavia will play after he left the C-USA game early. NMSU was challenging Liberty before Pavia’s injury, and they will need him to beat Fresno in front of a favorable crowd in their home state.

LA Bowl Hosted by Gronk – 7:30pm ET on ABC
Boise State vs. UCLA
SoFi Stadium – Inglewood, California

Picks: Jake Boise St. +4 Jay Boise State +4

Boise State just took the interim tag off of Spencer Danielson and was named the head coach of the Broncos to the thunderous applause of the team. Chip Kelly’s winter has been a little rocky. It was a bit of a rollercoaster from being on the hot seat to the announcement he would be retained another season, and then Dante Moore’s family saying how badly Kelly managed his team. The Bruins also lost their defensive coordinator to rival USC, and they could use him because Boise is going to run the football. Broncos are averaging 215 rushing yards a game. With Dante Moore in the portal, UCLA will have to turn to Ethan Garbers at quarterback again. He has the experience, but will he be able to outscore the Broncos rushing attack?

Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl – 9:15pm ET on ESPN
Texas Tech vs. Cal
Independence Stadium – Shreveport, Louisiana

Picks: Jake Texas Tech -2.5 Jay Over 58

After being tabbed as a potential dark horse in the Big 12, Texas Tech failed to live up to the lofty expectations placed upon them by their fans and media pundits. The Red Raiders narrowly obtained bowl eligibility thanks to three straight wins near the end of the season over TCU, Kansas, and UCF. In fairness to Joey McGuire’s squad, losing Tyler Shough to injury in week four was a huge blow. Their opponent in Shreveport is a Cal squad that has put up points on just about every team they’ve faced in 2023. The Golden Bears have a ton of momentum after a massive 33-7 victory over UCLA to close the season.

Monday, December 18th

Famous Toastery Bowl – 2:30pm ET on ESPN
Western Kentucky vs. Old Dominion
Jerry Richardson Stadium – Charlotte, North Carolina

Picks: Jake ODU -2.5 Jay Over 55

The Hilltoppers of Western Kentucky undoubtedly planned to contend for the CUSA title in 2023 but it was the newcomers who stole the show with Liberty and New Mexico State finishing atop the standings. WKU’s offense wasn’t quite as explosive as they’ve been in years past but they are still capable of scoring in a hurry at times. Their Sun Belt foes in Old Dominion have played in the margins all year. One-score losses to Wake Forest, Marshall, JMU, and Coastal tell the story of a team that teetered on the edge of greatness. Of course, they also have a fair share of one-score wins that brought them to bowl eligibility. Their knack for cardiac contests has me thinking the Famous Toastery Bowl will likely come down to the wire.

Tuesday, December 19th

Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl – 9pm ET on ESPN
Marshall vs. UTSA
Toyota Stadium – Frisco, Texas

Picks: Jake UTSA -10 Jay Under 53.5

In UTSA’s first year in the American, the Roadrunners got off to a rough start before buckling down and nearly punching a ticket to the AAC title contest. That bid came up short against the reigning champs at Tulane but it was a strong season for Jeff Traylor and company nevertheless. The Roadrunners will bid farewell to Frank Harris as the longtime UTSA QB plays his final contest in Frisco. Marshall sets up as the opponent for the Roadrunners, a team that has struggled offensively all season. Expect a low-scoring affair in Frisco here.

Thursday, December 21st

Roofclaim.com Boca Raton Bowl – 8pm ET on ESPN
South Florida vs. Syracuse
FAU Stadium – Boca Raton, Florida

Picks: Jake Syracuse -3 Jay Syracuse -3

In his first season at South Florida, Head Coach Alex Golesh’s efforts may have flown a bit under the radar. The Bulls had just one win in 2022 and that came against FCS Howard and only one FBS win dating back to 2020. To have his squad bowl-eligible after just one season is no small achievement. The Bulls draw a Syracuse squad that once again started hot before floundering in ACC play. ‘Cuse moved on from Dino Babers and Nunzio Campanile will serve as the interim head coach before Fran Brown takes over in 2024.

Friday, December 22nd

Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl – 6:30 pm ET on ESPN
UCF vs. Georgia Tech
Raymond James Stadium – Tampa, Florida

Picks: Jake UCF -4.5 Jay GT +4.5

The George O’Leary Bowl!!! This is a rematch from when these two teams met in September. UCF won the game 27-10 but the Yellow Jackets have improved under Brent Key. Texas A&M transfer Haynes King was the shot in the arm this offense needed ranking 31st in passing yards per game. UCF has been a bit of a mystery. The Knights lost to Baylor and were embarrassed by Kansas but were able to dominate Ok State by 43 and had Oklahoma on the ropes until the very end. Gus Malzahn will have the edge with RJ Harvey in the backfield and Javon Baker out wide. Can Georgia Tech limit the Knight offense?

Saturday, December 23rd

Camellia Bowl – Noon ET on ESPN
Arkansas State vs. Northern Illinois
Cramton Bowl – Montgomery, Alabama

Picks: Jake NIU -1 Jay Arkansas State +1

Quarterback Rocky Lomabrdi was looking to be a potential candidate for MAC Player of the Year, with the Huskies looking to make a run at the conference. Lombardi got dinged up early in the year, and even though he hasn’t been 100% was still able to throw for over 2,000 yards. Could Lomardi be the second-best quarterback in this game? Arkansas State’s Jaylen Raynor has been a pleasant surprise for Red Wolf fans. The freshman is 6-4 as a starter with 2300 yards passing and 15 touchdowns. Vegas has Ark State with a 1-point edge, but this is going to be a QB duel that is worth the watch.

Birmingham Bowl – Noon ET on ABC
Duke vs. Troy
Protective Stadium – Birmingham, Alabama

Picks: Jake Troy -7 Jay -7

Duke will be down former Head Coach Mike Elko when they head to Alabama to take on Troy in the Birmingham Bowl. After a hot start to the year with a massive win over Clemson, the Blue Devils struggled down the stretch due to injury problems that limited production. Troy’s season is almost the exact opposite with a slow start turning into another impressive double-digit win season capped off by a Sun Belt championship. However, the Trojans also lost their head coach with Jon Sumrall headed to Tulane.

Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl – 3:30pm ET on ABC
James Madison vs. Air Force
Amon G. Carter Stadium – Fort Worth, Texas

Picks: Jake Under 41 Jay Under 41

Air Force looked like a real contender for the Group of 5 NY6 berth before struggling at the end of the season. The Falcons will hope to repeat their bowl performance from last year when they take on James Madison in Fort Worth. Thanks to a bit of late-season magic and a lack of bowl-eligible teams, JMU managed to get a bowl berth in spite of the ban for teams moving up from the FCS. Curt Cignetti may be headed to Indiana but you can bet this fanbase is excited about their first FBS bowl game.

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl – 3:30pm ET on ESPN
Utah State vs. Georgia State
Albertsons Stadium – Boise, Idaho

Picks: Jake Utah State -1 Jay Utah State -1

Are you ready to see french fries dumped on a coach? Two 6-win teams are pitted against each other on the “smurf turf”. Utah State is going into its third straight bowl game under Blake Anderson. The Aggies will try to get All Mountain West WR Jaylen Royals on one coverage and get him into space. Georgia State enters the game losing its last 5 games after becoming bowl-eligible on October 21st. The Panthers are going to pound the football with Marcus Carroll. Caroll has over 2,300 yards on the ground with no fumbles and was a Doak Walker finalist. Will USU be able to limit the Panther rushing attack, or will Carroll fry the Aggie defense?

68 Ventures Bowl – 7pm ET on ESPN
South Alabama vs. Eastern Michigan
Hancock Whitney Stadium – Mobile, Alabama

Picks: Jake USA -15.5 Jay Under 47.5

Eastern Michigan took a step back after their 9-win campaign last year. The Eagles passing attack has been average at best this season but they still managed to get into a bowl. South Alabama also has 6 wins but has looked much better throughout the year. A big win against Oklahoma State, and a few quality losses. South Alabama has a quality defense that ranks 28th in the country in total defense. Look for senior linebacker Quentin Wilfawn to set the tone on defense for the Jags. USA is a 15.5-point favorite and will make every point difficult for the Eagles.

SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl – 7:30pm ET on ABC
Northwestern vs. Utah
Allegiant Stadium – Las Vegas, Nevada

Picks: Jake Under 41.5 Jay Under 41.5

No one (and I mean no one), could have predicted that Northwestern would win 7 games. Even before Pat Fitzgerald’s departure this year wasn’t supposed to have much success for the Wildcats but they made a bowl game and will have to play a tough Utah team. Truthfully the Utes are disappointed with how this year ended. Looking for a third Pac-12 title in a row, they never got to see the return of star QB Cam Rising after suffering an injury in the Rose Bowl in January. Utah finished the year 8-4, and although their defense has looked good, the offense has looked abysmal at times. Ute Quarterback Bryson Barnes is in the transfer portal but will still start in Las Vegas.

Easypost Hawai’i Bowl – 10:30pm ET on ESPN
San Jose State vs. Coastal Carolina
Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex – Honolulu, Hawaii

Picks: Jake SJSU -10 Jay Over 53.5

The Hawaii Bowl is moved out of its Christmas Eve slot to not compete with the NFL viewership, but let’s face it even if it was you’d still watch this. Ethan Vasko is expected to start at quarterback for the Chants. QB Chevan Cordeiro will have a homecoming waiting for him, as he is a Honolulu native. SJSU will bring their high-powered offense to the island with RB Kairee Robinson and WR Nick Nash. Can the Chanticleers keep the Spartans down after dark?

Tuesday, December 26th

Quick Lane Bowl – 2pm ET on ESPN
Bowling Green vs. Minnesota
Ford Field – Detroit, Michigan

Picks: Jake Minnesota -4 Jay Under 38

Minnesota sneaks into bowl season at 5-7, and the Gophers will be losing their quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis to the transfer portal. Bowling Green enters this game 7-5 with a win over Georgia Tech. Minnesota will look to pound the football with Bryce Williams behind a big offensive line. For the Falcons to have a chance they will have to be gap sound football on defense. On offense, Bowling Green has former Missouri and Indiana QB Connor Bazelek under center. Bazelek has led the Falcons to 5 wins out of their last 6 games. Can they beat another Power 5?

SERVPRO First Responder Bowl – 5:30 pm ET on ESPN
Texas State vs. Rice
Dallas, Texas – Gerald J. Ford Stadium

Picks: Jake Texas State -4/ Over 59.5 Jay Over 59.5

David Bailiff spent his playing career at Texas State and several years as a coach in San Marcos. He also served as the head coach of Rice from 2007-2017. Some fans have taken to referring to the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl as the Bailiff Bowl with this in mind. For Texas State, the game represents their first bowl berth. Coach GJ Kinne’s first year in San Marcos can only be classified as a resounding success. For Rice, this bowl berth feels a bit better than last season’s APR qualification. An in-state clash between two Texas G5 teams in Dallas makes for a fun setup.

Guaranteed Rate Bowl – 9pm ET on ESPN
Kansas vs. UNLV
Chase Field – Phoenix, Arizona

Picks: Jake Kansas -12.5 Jay Kansas -12.5

For the second straight season, the Kansas Jayhawks are going bowling and football spirits are back near 2007 levels for the first time in a long time. Lance Leipold’s squad will look to do what they couldn’t last year against Arkansas in an all-time classic, and secure a bowl win. They draw a UNLV squad coming off one of their best seasons this century. Barry Odom’s program turnaround is nothing short of miraculous and this Brennan Marion “go-go” offense is incredibly fun to watch. The game is a fantastic pairing of two great stories.

Wednesday, December 27th

Military Bowl Presented by GoBowling.com – 2pm ET on ESPN
Tulane vs. Virginia Tech
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium – Annapolis, Maryland

Picks: Jake Under 46 Jay Under 46

The Green Wave secured another double-digit win season before falling in the American Championship to SMU. Tulane head man Willie Fritz leaves New Orleans for Houston and the Cougars but you can bet this squad wants to end the season on a high note. Virginia Tech gets back to bowl eligibility after a terrible 2022 season. Brent Pry’s squad will hope to secure a victory and finish above .500 on the season.

Duke’s Mayo Bowl – 5:30pm ET on ESPN
North Carolina vs. West Virginia
Bank of America Stadium – Charlotte, North Carolina

Picks: Jake WVU -3.5 Jay Over 56.5

The Duke’s Mayo Bowl is always appointment television, but this year it’s enhanced by a style clash of two programs nestled in the Appalachian Mountains. North Carolina and West Virginia have two different identities, which is going to make this one fun. UNC has a high-powered offense that is led by the highly touted NFL prospect Drake Maye, who is likely to play in Charlotte. WVU may not be as talented but they are physical up front with a veteran offensive line and one of the best running backs in CJ Donaldson carrying the rock. Finesse vs physical, powder blue vs dark blue, Mack Brown vs Neal Brown. What coach will be doused in Dukes Mayonaisse?

DIRECTV Holiday Bowl – 8pm ET on FOX
No. 15 Louisville vs. USC
Petco Park – San Diego, California

Picks: Jake Louisville -8 Jay Louisville -8

Louisville’s first season under Jeff Brohm was spectacular as the Cardinals won ten games and found themselves in the ACC Championship. They couldn’t get anything going offensively against Florida State but this season still has to feel like a massive success after the struggles of the past few years. USC feels almost the exact opposite. Trojan fans already seem fed up with Lincoln Riley and their lack of defense. Don’t expect to see Caleb Williams suit up for this one either.

TaxAct Texas Bowl – 9pm ET on ESPN
No. 20 Oklahoma State vs. Texas A&M
NRG Stadium – Houston, Texas

Picks: Jake Texas A&M -3 Jay Under 53

Oklahoma State represented the biggest enigma of the college football season suffering head-scratching defeats and securing massive victories over ranked opponents in turn. The Cowboys ended up with a Big 12 Championship berth but couldn’t do much against the playoff-bound Longhorns. Meanwhile, Texas A&M will be playing under interim head coach Elijah Robinson one final time before Robinson departs for his new position as DC at Syracuse. The Aggies moved on from Jimbo Fisher earlier this season and Mike Elko will be stepping in to fill that role. As such, there will be a lot of portal absences from the Texas A&M roster. There is no telling what version of these two teams we will see in Houston.

Thursday, December 28th

Wasabi Fenway Bowl – 11am ET on ESPN
No. 24 SMU vs. Boston College
Fenway Park – Boston, Massachusetts

Picks: Jake BC +11 Jay BC +11

A pair of early season losses to Oklahoma and TCU didn’t do much to derail this SMU squad in their last AAC season. The Mustangs ran the table in conference play before knocking off Tulane in the championship. Their reward is a trip to Boston to take on a Boston College squad that I thought was dead in the water after an early season loss to NIU. The Eagles will hope to get a victory over their soon-to-be conference foe in the ACC. BC should have a bit of home-field advantage as well.

Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl – 2:15pm ET on ESPN
Miami vs. Rutgers
Yankee Stadium – New York, New York

Picks: Jake Rutgers +1 Jay Rutgers +1

From one AL East stadium to another, it’s Miami and Rutgers meeting in Yankee Stadium for the Pinstripe Bowl. Rutgers and Greg Schiano played their typical version of football and earned a bowl berth by being more physical than a lot of their opponents. Miami fans expected great things after an early season victory over Texas A&M but the Hurricanes couldn’t get out of their own way in close games, mismanaging their way to a 7-5 record on the season. They’ll hope to close out the season on a high note against the Scarlet Knights.

Pop-Tarts Bowl – 5:45pm ET on ESPN
NC State vs. Kansas State
Camping World Stadium – Orlando, Florida

Picks: Jake KSU -3 Jay NC State +3

The Wildcats and Wolfpack are similar teams in a lot of ways. Both try to play a physical brand of football and tend to surprise unsuspecting foes over the course of the season. That means this should make for a tight game stylistically. In fact, from a hard-nosed football standpoint, this is one of the most exciting games of bowl season for me. Also, the Pop-Tart mascot is edible and will be eaten at the end of the game. So yeah, this one is a must-watch.

Valero Alamo Bowl – 9:15pm ET on ESPN
No. 12 Oklahoma vs. No. 14 Arizona
Alamodome – San Antonio, Texas

Picks: Jake Arizona -3 Jay Oklahoma +3

Easily one of the best matchups of bowl season sees the Sooners take on the Wildcats in San Antonio. Arizona managed to knock off three straight-ranked teams in a row at one point this season. Jedd Fisch ranked high on a lot of Coach of the Year lists for good reason. Meanwhile, Oklahoma represents the lone loss on Texas’ resume for the 2023 season. The Sooners suffered losses to Kansas and Oklahoma State that kept them out of the Big 12 championship but still have one of the most potent offenses in the country. Don’t sleep on Jackson Arnold either. This should be a banger.

Friday, December 29th

TaxSlayer Gator Bowl – 12pm ET on ESPN
No. 22 Clemson vs. Kentucky
EverBank Field – Jacksonville, Florida

Picks: Jake Clemson -5.5 Jay Clemson -5.5

Clemson looked to be headed towards another disappointing season sitting at 4-4 after two straight losses to Miami and NC State. The Tigers responded by winning four straight, including victories over ranked Notre Dame and North Carolina squads. Their opponent is a 7-5 Kentucky squad who closed out their regular season with a massive victory over the ACC runner-up, Louisville. This should be another physical matchup that you won’t want to miss.

Tony The Tiger Sun Bowl – 2pm ET on CBS
No. 19 Oregon State vs. No. 16 Notre Dame
Sun Bowl Stadium – El Paso, Texas

Picks: Jake Under 43 Jay Under 43

Two great teams playing in one of the most scenic venues in college football should be enough to get anyone to tune in for the Sun Bowl in El Paso. The game loses some of its luster with Oregon State Head Coach Jonathan Smith taking the Michigan State job and several Beavers hitting the portal but I’m still excited to tune in for this one. Notre Dame likely hoped for a better season but 9-3 is still extremely solid and the Irish will look for 10 wins to close out the year.

Autozone Liberty Bowl – 3:30pm ET on ESPN
Iowa State vs. Memphis
Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium – Memphis, Tennessee

Picks: Jake ISU -8.5 Jay Memphis +8.5

After starting the season 1-2 and facing rumors of Matt Campbell on the hot seat, the Cyclones rallied to finish the year a respectable 7-5. They closed out the season with a huge victory over Kansas State and will look to carry that momentum into the bowl game. They face a Memphis squad who finished at 9-3, just narrowly behind the upper-echelon of American teams in SMU, Tulane, and UTSA. The lone non-conference loss for the Tigers was a one-score defeat against Mizzou. Make no mistake, this is a dangerous Memphis squad playing in their home stadium – so expect a great game in Memphis.

Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic – 8pm ET on ESPN
No. 7 Ohio State vs. No. 9 Missouri
AT&T Stadium – Arlington, Texas

Picks: Jake Ohio State +2.5 Jay Mizzou -2.5

Who knows what this spread will be at during kickoff? Ohio State opened as a 6.5-point favorite but has now swung to Missouri being favored by 1.5. This is mainly due to the twelve players that Ohio State has in the transfer portal, mainly quarterback Kyle McCord and WR Julian Fleming, not to mention opt-outs that will be announced. On the opposite end, Mizzou is delighted to be there. Eli Drinkwitz started this season on the hot seat but has found a way to get his Tigers in an NY6 Bowl. The Tiger defense was expected to be the anchor of this team but the surprise has been the 3 headed offensive monster of Brady Cook, Cody Shrader, and Luther Burden III. Ohio State has more talent but with the Buckeye locker room in a bit of disarray, the Tigers have a chance to pounce in a familiar place…. The Cotton Bowl.

Saturday, December 30th

Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl – 12pm ET on ESPN
No. 10 Penn State vs. No. 11 Ole Miss
Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta, Georgia

Picks: Jake Penn State -3.5 Jay Under 49

One of the more intriguing matchups this bowl season is a first-time Big Ten/ SEC meeting. Both teams come into this game 10-2 with their only losses to top opponents. Ole Miss has a speed offense, led by veteran quarterback Jaxson Dart and runningback Quinshon Judkins. However, the Rebels will have their hands full with an elite Nittany Lion defense, even without All-Big Ten defensive end “Chop” Robinson. The big question comes from the opposite side of the ball. Who will rise to the occasion? Can Drew Allar and Penn State’s runningback duo get a signature win, or will the Rebel’s speed be too much for the Penn State offense?

TransPerfect Music City Bowl – 2pm ET on ABC
Auburn vs. Maryland
Nissan Stadium – Nashville, Tennessee

Picks: Jake Maryland +2.5 Jay Maryland +2.5

Auburn nearly pulled off the unthinkable against Alabama before surrendering a touchdown on 4th and 31 – a down and distance that will likely haunt Tiger fans for years. Hugh Freeze’s first year on the Plains was a bit of a mixed bag. Auburn beat the SEC foes they were supposed to and hung tough against both Alabama and Georgia but the offense struggled mightily throughout the season – including a 31-10 loss to New Mexico State. The Terps, on the other hand, got off to a hot start before faltering down the stretch. Maryland will hope to win their third straight bowl game when they head to Nashville.

Capital One Orange Bowl – 4pm ET on ESPN
No. 5 Florida State vs. No. 6 Georgia
Hard Rock Stadium – Miami, Florida

Picks: Jake Georgia -14 Jay Florida State +14.5

Florida State fans were robbed of seeing their undefeated conference championship team in the College Football Playoff. However, the Noles have no time to feel sorry for themselves as they get an incredibly difficult matchup against Georgia in the Orange Bowl. With a victory over the Bulldogs, Florida State would have a pretty strong claim on the national title, in my humble opinion. I’m especially gutted for Jordan Travis, whose injury was used as a justification for keeping FSU out of the playoffs. Meanwhile, Georgia will be looking to take out frustrations of their own when they take the field against Florida State. The Bulldogs hadn’t lost a game in two years before taking the field against the Tide in Atlanta. Unfortunately for them, that didn’t matter to Nick Saban and Alabama. Brock Bowers, Ladd McConkey, and company will want to get back in the win column to close out the season.

Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl – 4:30pm ET on Barstool
Toledo vs. Wyoming
Arizona Stadium – Tucson, Arizona

Picks: Jake Wyoming -3 Jay Wyoming -3

Toledo came up just short of the MAC Championship in their incredible 2023 season. The Rockets nearly ran the table with the lone regular season loss coming against Illinois early in the year. They’ll close out the year in Tucson for what should be a fun G5 matchup with Wyoming. Heading into this contest, Wyoming Head Coach Craig Bohl announced it would be his final ride for the brand as he heads into retirement. Bohl built Wyoming into a physical team that challenged the top teams in the Mountain West. He’s also the architect behind the North Dakota State FCS dynasty, taking the program from D2 to D1 and winning three straight FCS titles before his move to Wyoming. You can bet his squad will hope to send him out with one last win.

Monday, January 1st

ReliaQuest Bowl – 12pm ET on ESPN2
No. 13 LSU vs. Wisconsin
Raymond James Stadium – Tampa, Florida

Picks: Jake Wisconsin +12 Jay LSU -12

If you are a bar in the greater Tampa area, you will want to make sure your provisions are fully stocked. Both LSU and Wisconsin fans will be looking to deplete your reserves at the local watering hole. Unfortunately, I think the partying will be better than the game itself. Jayden Daniels and company will score a lot on Wisconsin and I really just don’t see the Badgers being able to keep up here. Of course, stranger things have happened in bowl season.

Cheez-It Citrus Bowl – 1pm ET on ABC
No. 17 Iowa vs. No. 21 Tennessee
Camping World Stadium – Orlando, Florida

Picks: Jake Under 36.5 Jay Under 36.5

Iowa football’s incredible quest to deliver on unders throughout the college football season saw the Hawkeyes secure ten wins and a place in the Big Ten Championship. Their offensive struggles mean Kirk Ferentz’s squad couldn’t do much against Michigan but it was still another strong year for Iowa thanks to their defense. After a 2022 season that saw the Volunteers’ offense power Tennessee to a great season, it was really the defense that carried the Vols for most of 2023. That means this sets up for yet another under in Orlando for the Citrus Bowl.

VRBO Fiesta Bowl – 1pm ET on ESPN
No. 8 Oregon vs. No. 23 Liberty
State Farm Stadium – Glendale, Arizona

Picks: Jake Oregon -17.5 Jay Oregon -17.5

Liberty goes undefeated and gets the invite to a NY6 Bowl. However, the Flames do have the worst strength of schedule in the nation. Oregon finished 11-2 with both losses coming to Washington, a playoff team. Bo Nix will be playing for the Ducks but that may not matter considering they are 16.5-point favorites. Liberty’s only chance is if they can turn this into a shootout. A few stops by the Ducks, and this could be a long night in the desert for the Flames.

Rose Bowl Presented by Prudential – College Football Playoff Semifinal – 5pm ET on ESPN
No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 4 Alabama
Rose Bowl Stadium – Pasadena, California

Picks: Jake Michigan -1.5 Jay Alabama +1.5

This is going to be an old-school smash-mouth type of football game. Alabama seems to be the program that will never go away. Finding ways to win, and then handling Georgia in the SEC Championship. Michigan has won the Big Ten for the third year in a row, but they are still looking for their first playoff win. The Wolverine will look to limit Jalen Milroe’s legs, and will try and contain him inside the pocket. Whoever controls the trenches best is going to win this game. Does the Crimson Tide make another CFB Final, or does Jim Harbaugh finally get the Wolverines to the National Championship.

Allstate Sugar Bowl – College Football Playoff Semifinal – 8:45pm ET on ESPN
No. 2 Washington vs. No. 3 Texas
Caesars Superdome – New Orleans, Louisiana

Picks: Jake Over 64 Jay Over 64

This game is going to be an electric factory. Two high-powered offenses are set to duke it out in New Orleans. Washington is led by their dynamic quarterback, and Heisman runner-up, Michael Penix. The Huskies have two elite WRs in Rome Odunze and Ja’Lynn Polk. The Longhorns have a few players that can break out at any time. Most people know QB Quinn Ewers, but WR Xavier Worthy are is also a game-changer. Both of these offenses can beat you several ways, but the real question is “What defense rises to the occasion?”.