The Best Games to Watch This Bowl Season
1. College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Sugar Bowl: #1 Clemson Tigers vs. #4 Alabama Crimson Tide: New Year's Day at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN
For the 3rd year in a row, Clemson will face Alabama in the playoffs, this time in a Semifinal Game. The coaching staffs and a majority of players on both sides are familiar foes, but a few newcomers will have their own part to play on how this battle out.
Although he was on the team last year, Clemson quarterback Kelly Bryant has yet take a snap against Alabama. Fortunately, he has plenty of great teammates that can make his first game against the Tide a successful one. Travis Etienne, Tavien Feaster, and Adam Choice are an excellent trio of running backs which Bryant can have confidence handing the ball to. More importantly, Clemson possesses a strong cadre of receivers led by the hero of last year's championship win Hunter Renfrow and the reliable Deon Cain. I don't have the space to list all the other fine receivers that make this receiving corps the best in the nation.
However, the best thing going for the Tigers could be their defensive line headlined by projected 1st round draft pick Christian Wilkins and his teammate at defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence. They have the potential to get as much pressure on Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts as the Auburn defensive line got on him in their dominating victory.
Of course, Alabama usually comes up with great performances in postseason games so Hurts, running back Bo Scarbrough, and the Alabama offensive line could very well turn this game into a shootout.
In the end, I think Clemson will win by 7.
2. College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl: #2 Oklahoma Sooners vs. #3 Georgia Bulldogs: New Year's Day at 5 p.m. on ESPN
Oklahoma has the decided advantage in this game at the quarterback position, as the Sooners have the newest Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield throwing passes. Mayfield completed over 71 percent of his passes, throwing for 4,340 yards, 41 touchdowns and only 5 interceptions. He is the engine that makes the entire team run, and when Mayfield is firing on all cylinders, the Sooners can beat anyone in the country. Mayfield has created enough offense to dominate Ohio State, defeat rival Oklahoma State, and whip TCU, twice! Rodney Anderson is a great workhorse at the running back position and Mayfield has plenty of excellent receivers to dish the ball out to. The big question revolves around the Oklahoma defense. Can the Sooners come up with a defensive stop at the critical moments of the game?
Oklahoma's defensive coordinator will certainly be have his hands full dealing with the duo of talented Georgia running backs, Sony Michel and Nick Chubb. While their offensive line has not always given them enough room to run, like when they got walloped by Auburn in the regular season, Chubb and Michel can certainly make defenses pay dearly when given space, which they did when they took revenge on Auburn in the SEC Championship Game. The Bulldogs also have a solid quarterback in Jake Fromm, but he is a freshman and doesn't have the experience or raw talent that Mayfield has. Georgia's defense is brimming with great players but I don't think they are great enough to contain the nation's best player Baker Mayfield.
My pick: Oklahoma by 3.
The single thing on every analyst's mind regarding this game is how very motivated Ohio State will be coming into this game. Whether correct or not, the entire team feels slighted by being left out of the playoffs. Senior quarterback J.T. Barrett has been the most outspoken member of the team concerning this, and, as the unequivocal leader of the Buckeyes, his teammates will feed off his angst and channel it into putting up a strong showing against USC.
I need to pause to say that despite being an avid Buckeyes fans, I understand why they were kept just out of the playoffs. Ohio State was dominated in an early season loss to Oklahoma, but more glaring was a late season loss to Iowa. One week after notching a huge comeback victory over Penn State, the Buckeyes traveled to Iowa and got their butts handed to them by the Hawkeyes. Barrett tossed 4 interceptions while the Ohio State defense gave up 55 points! In the end, a conference title was not enough to make the Playoff Selection Committee overlook of the ugliest losses by a top 25 team this season.
However, I think the Buckeyes will be more than ready to put this behind them and come out ready to play. Barrett, running back J.K. Dobbins, and a solid offensive line will make a big impact in the game. On the other side of the ball, linebacker Malik Harrison and safety Damon Webb are lynchpins of a defense that is capable of going toe-to-toe with a great quarterback.
That great quarterback would be USC's Sam Darnold. Despite having major turnover problems early in the year that sent his Heisman campaign into a ditch, Darnold responded by leading his team to a PAC 12 Championship down the stretch. I think he will finish the year with a strong performance that won't quite be enough to defeat a ticked off Ohio State team.
My pick: Ohio State by 10.
3. Cotton Bowl: #5 Ohio State Buckeyes vs. #9 USC Trojans: 12/29 at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN
The single thing on every analyst's mind regarding this game is how very motivated Ohio State will be coming into this game. Whether correct or not, the entire team feels slighted by being left out of the playoffs. Senior quarterback J.T. Barrett has been the most outspoken member of the team concerning this, and, as the unequivocal leader of the Buckeyes, his teammates will feed off his angst and channel it into putting up a strong showing against USC.
I need to pause to say that despite being an avid Buckeyes fans, I understand why they were kept just out of the playoffs. Ohio State was dominated in an early season loss to Oklahoma, but more glaring was a late season loss to Iowa. One week after notching a huge comeback victory over Penn State, the Buckeyes traveled to Iowa and got their butts handed to them by the Hawkeyes. Barrett tossed 4 interceptions while the Ohio State defense gave up 55 points! In the end, a conference title was not enough to make the Playoff Selection Committee overlook of the ugliest losses by a top 25 team this season.
However, I think the Buckeyes will be more than ready to put this behind them and come out ready to play. Barrett, running back J.K. Dobbins, and a solid offensive line will make a big impact in the game. On the other side of the ball, linebacker Malik Harrison and safety Damon Webb are lynchpins of a defense that is capable of going toe-to-toe with a great quarterback.
That great quarterback would be USC's Sam Darnold. Despite having major turnover problems early in the year that sent his Heisman campaign into a ditch, Darnold responded by leading his team to a PAC 12 Championship down the stretch. I think he will finish the year with a strong performance that won't quite be enough to defeat a ticked off Ohio State team.
My pick: Ohio State by 10.
4. Fiesta Bowl: #9 Penn State Nittany Lions vs. #11 Washington Huskies: 12/30 at 4 p.m. on ESPN
This battle out in Arizona pits teams that finished in 3rd place of their respective conferences. Both Washington and Penn State were prime contenders to win their conference and snag a playoff spot. However, a pair of losses by each team sent their potential paths to the playoffs into a field of cactus.
For Washington, their first defeat was a rather embarrassing one, losing to poorly regarded Arizona State 13-7. The Huskies were definitely on the outside looking in after that and Stanford stuck a fork in their chances when they defeated them 30-22. Still, Washington is formidable as quarterback Jake Browning and running back Myles Gaskin provide plenty of fuel for the Huskies' offense. Additionally, the Washington defense can seem like a pack of hungry dogs when they are fully focused.
Penn State's 2 losses came at the hands of 2 very good top 25 teams in consecutive weeks. Prior to this, the Nittany Lions were ranked #2 in the nation and their star running back Saquon Barkley was at the top of the Heisman watch list. But after Ohio State's successful 4th quarter comeback against the Nittany Lions and a upset loss to Michigan State, Penn State's time in the limelight ended with a resounding crash. Nevertheless, quarterback Trace McSorley and Saquon Barkley are plenty capable to right the ship and end the season with a close victory that will make December 30th a fiesta for Nittany Lions fans.
My pick: Penn State by 6.
5. Peach Bowl: #7 Auburn Tigers vs. #12 UCF Knights: New Year's Day at 12:30 p.m. on ESPN
As I have said in previous years, I have a great respect for teams from the non-Power 5 Conferences who exceed expectations. This year's team are the American Conference Champion UCF Knights. They are the only undefeated team in the nation which is truly incredible considering the Knights are just 2 years removed from a embarrassing winless season. The resurgence of UCF football has much to do with their prowess on offense. They lead in the nation in points per game thanks to Hawaii born quarterback McKenzie Milton and the two men often lined up behind him, running backs Adrian Killins and Otis Anderson. Milton has thrown for almost 3,800 yards and 35 touchdowns, and also runs the option extremely well. The only weakness is their defense, which was solid most of the year but gave up chunks of yards at the end of the year.
And the leads me right into the key for Auburn in this game: the health of Kerryon Johnson. Johnson is a very effective runner when healthy and I don't think UCF's defense could stop him from singlehandedly taking control of the game. However, Johnson has been really banged up lately and could still be hampered by a shoulder injury he suffered against Alabama. Auburn quarterback Jarrett Stidham is good but only seems to be great when the run game is working. Plus, their enthusiasm in the Peach Bowl could be considerably lower than UCF's as the Tigers missed out on the playoffs after losing the SEC Championship Game to Georgia.
My upset pick: UCF by 3.
I chose this as the least interesting New Year's Six Bowl because of the recent disappointments each team has gone through after losing in their respective conference championship game. Miami got absolutely steamrolled by Clemson in the ACC Championship Game, losing 38-3 thanks to their offense which struggled mightily. Wisconsin's potential undefeated season and spot in the playoffs was ruined when their comeback effort against Ohio State in the Big Ten title game fell short and they were defeated 27-21.
Just from their respective scores you can tell that Wisconsin preformed far better on offense. The Badgers' offensive line is capable of clearing space for freshman tailback Jonathan Taylor to run. Additionally, Wisconsin quarterback Alex Hornibrook has been more consistent of late than Miami quarterback Malik Rozier. I think Miami's problems on offense will continue and Wisconsin will win comfortably.
My pick: Wisconsin by 17
And the leads me right into the key for Auburn in this game: the health of Kerryon Johnson. Johnson is a very effective runner when healthy and I don't think UCF's defense could stop him from singlehandedly taking control of the game. However, Johnson has been really banged up lately and could still be hampered by a shoulder injury he suffered against Alabama. Auburn quarterback Jarrett Stidham is good but only seems to be great when the run game is working. Plus, their enthusiasm in the Peach Bowl could be considerably lower than UCF's as the Tigers missed out on the playoffs after losing the SEC Championship Game to Georgia.
My upset pick: UCF by 3.
6. Orange Bowl: #6 Wisconsin Badgers vs. #10 Miami Hurricanes: 12/30 at 8 p.m. on ESPN
I chose this as the least interesting New Year's Six Bowl because of the recent disappointments each team has gone through after losing in their respective conference championship game. Miami got absolutely steamrolled by Clemson in the ACC Championship Game, losing 38-3 thanks to their offense which struggled mightily. Wisconsin's potential undefeated season and spot in the playoffs was ruined when their comeback effort against Ohio State in the Big Ten title game fell short and they were defeated 27-21.
Just from their respective scores you can tell that Wisconsin preformed far better on offense. The Badgers' offensive line is capable of clearing space for freshman tailback Jonathan Taylor to run. Additionally, Wisconsin quarterback Alex Hornibrook has been more consistent of late than Miami quarterback Malik Rozier. I think Miami's problems on offense will continue and Wisconsin will win comfortably.
My pick: Wisconsin by 17
7. Camping World Bowl: #19 Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. #22 Virginia Tech Hokies: 12/28 at 5:15 p.m. on ESPN
Played in Orlando's Citrus Bowl Stadium, this bowl game features one of my favorite quarterbacks. Oklahoma State's Mason Rudolph is a committed Christian and has led his team with integrity, proving over the two years he has been the starter that he is a consistent and accurate passer. Helping Rudolph at every turn is top notch wide receiver James Washington. Just this year Washington accumulated an astounding 1,423 yards receiving and 12 touchdowns. Adding to the Cowboys' offensive firepower is speedy running back Justice Hill. Unfortunately, Oklahoma State's defense is weak which is why they lost 3 key games to TCU, Kansas State and rival Oklahoma.
Lining up against them are the Hokies of Virginia Tech who possess a talented defense that has given up only 13.5 points per game. On offense, they have freshman quarterback Justin Jackson who some believe will take a big step forward in 2018 and have the opportunity to lead his team in a spot in next year's playoffs. However, I'm focusing on this year's bowl season. Mason Rudolph and Oklahoma State's offense is simply too much for Virginia Tech to handle.
My pick: Oklahoma State by 14
Washington State's season was even harder to predict. Their season started better than expected when they upset juggernaut USC, a game which I covered. They also downed another PAC 12 Conference frontrunner in Stanford, but inexplicable losses to Arizona and Cal stole their thunder. Finishing the year with another terrible performance in their yearly rivalry game with Washington left a bad taste in the mouths of Cougar fans.
It seems to me that Washington State's season ended on a worse note than Michigan State's which gives the Spartans an advantage. Plus, the solid run game that the Spartans have is more reliable than the Cougars' air raid offense. The choice is clear.
My pick: Michigan State by 13.
My pick: Oklahoma State by 14
8. Holiday Bowl: #16 Michigan State Spartans vs. #18 Washington State Cougars: 12/28 at 9 p.m. on Fox Sports 1
This is a battle of teams that struggled with inconsistency for much of the year. Michigan State's season has been a rollercoaster. On the 4th weekend of the season, the Spartans lost by 20 in a important early season contest against Notre Dame. Two weeks later, they defeated rival Michigan in a hard fought 14-10 victory. Then, in late October, they suffered an upset loss to Northwestern, which was honestly the defeat that hurt them the most. They followed that up by upsetting Penn State but the damage was already done.
Washington State's season was even harder to predict. Their season started better than expected when they upset juggernaut USC, a game which I covered. They also downed another PAC 12 Conference frontrunner in Stanford, but inexplicable losses to Arizona and Cal stole their thunder. Finishing the year with another terrible performance in their yearly rivalry game with Washington left a bad taste in the mouths of Cougar fans.
It seems to me that Washington State's season ended on a worse note than Michigan State's which gives the Spartans an advantage. Plus, the solid run game that the Spartans have is more reliable than the Cougars' air raid offense. The choice is clear.
My pick: Michigan State by 13.
9. Dollar General Bowl: Toledo Rockets vs. Appalachian State Mountaineers: 12/23 at 7 p.m on ESPN
This is actually a rematch of a bowl game I previewed for readers last year. In the thrilling contest between these two last year, Camellia Bowl 2016, Appalachian State won by a matter of feet. Late in a close game, the Mountaineer kicked a field goal with a few minutes remaining. Toledo responded by moving down the field to set up a field goal attempt of their own with mere seconds to play. The ball rocketed off of the foot of Toledo's kicker but just missed sneaking inside the upright. The cheers of the Mountaineer players and fans filled the air as the ball hit the ground.
The quarterbacks on each side are the same as last year. The Rockets have 3,000 yard passer Logan Woodside and the Mountaineers have 2,000+ yard passer Taylor Lamb. However, Toledo has the advantage running the ball as their running back Terry Swanson has gained 400 more yards than Appalachian State's Jalin Moore. Also, Toledo longing to avenge last year's defeat will be a powerful motivator.
My Pick: Toledo by 6.
10. Alamo Bowl: #13 Stanford Cardinal vs. #15 TCU Horned Frogs: 12/28 at 9 p.m on ESPN
Both teams are looking to tack a quality bowl win onto the end of a season that fell short of true success. Stanford lost twice to rival USC, once in the regular season and once in the PAC 12 Championship Game. Couple that with an unexpected loss to Washington State and Stanford's season certainly fell short of expectations.
For TCU, things were nearly identical. They lost twice to Oklahoma in the regular season and Big 12 Championship Game and were also upset by Iowa State.
The Cardinal have a decided advantage at running back with Heisman finalist Bryce Love who tallied almost 2,000 yards this year. TCU's top running back doesn't even have 1,000. Although the Horned Frogs have the better quarterback in Kenny Hill, Bryce Love will be too much for them to handle.
My pick: Stanford by 10 (sorry, Zack).
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