Dec. 29-30th Bowl Games

     Hey football fans, I hope you're enjoying all of these Bowl Games! As the match-ups get bigger, we're starting to get some more exciting games, so hopefully that trend continues. Headed into the next set of bowl games my record is 16-9 and Nate's is 14-11. This post will focus on our predictions for the next couple days before we get to all the New Year's Six games. There's a lot of games in this one, so enjoy reading all of our predictions!

Belk Bowl
Wake Forrest vs. Texas A&M

Alex

     I like this match-up because Wake Forrest has been a very sneaky team on the rise this season. They've had a number of close losses, but have been a difficult team to stop as well. The Demon Deacons average 450 yards per game and nearly 34 points. The Aggies of Texas A&M on the other hand have struggled to a lackluster 7-5 record, firing their Head Coach Kevin Sumlin in the process. The future looks bright with Jimbo Fisher coming in to coach next year (and the 9 years after that), but I'm not so sure about the Aggies chances in this game. Their defense has been MIA this year, giving up 35+ in 4/5 of their losses. The Aggies do have play-makers on offense, but I haven't seen much cohesion with this team throughout the season. When I've watched Wake Forrest this season, they've been very consistent on offense, and don't make many mistakes. Sadly, their stud Freshman wideout Greg Dortch was injured during the Louisville game, but they've still been okay without him. He'll definitely be a player to watch next year though! As for this game, keep an eye on Demon Deacon QB John Wolford. He's thrown for nearly 2,800 yards with a 25 to 6 TD to INT ratio but his scrambling ability makes him extremely deadly. He loves to tuck and run, racking up 615 yards and 10 more TDs on the ground. Wake Forrest 37, Texas A&M 20.

Nate

     Well this seems like a classic talent versus excitement thriller. Texas A&M should be the better team on paper, as they boast great pieces like their defensive front. Led by Jarrett Johnson, they have almost 90 tackles for loss on the entire season.  Jake Hubenk has been quietly really solid, but will be missing this one with a knee injury. On the Deacon side, they very quietly have had one of the better offenses in the nation, and are 33^rd in total offense this year. Lead by John Wolford, Wake knows how to put up points. Despite the tough A&M defense, I think there are too many missing pieces for the Aggies to get this one

Wake Forest: 35, Texas A&M: 24

Hyundai Sun Bowl
NC State vs. Arizona State

Alex

     This game will feature two offenses that are nearly identical and two defenses that are almost complete opposites. Starting with the offenses, they're both lead by two Junior QBs who could set themselves up for NFL careers next season. Manny Wilkins of Arizona State has thrown for nearly 3,000 yards, completing 63.5% of his passes and posted an impressive 17:5 TD to INT ratio. He's also rushed for 6 TDs, causing numerous headaches for opposing defenses. Looking over to the Wolfpack QB, Ryan Finley has thrown for 3,200 yards with a 64% completion rating and a solid 16:6 TD to INT ratio. He's also rushed for another 3 TDs, but his game managing ability is second to none. Although both of these QBs have similar stats, there is one that is extremely different... sacks. Ryan Finely has only been sacked 11 times this season while Walkins has been sacked an insane 37 times! This could be the most telling stat in this game because when looking at the defenses, they both love to get after the QB. Arizona State has 35 sacks on the season and NC State has 27. It does not look like star DE Bradley Chubb will be playing for the Wolfpack, so that will be a huge loss. Regardless of Chubb's playing status, with Arizona State firing Todd Graham as Head Coach, I doubt they'll have it all together in this one. I'm taking the Wolfpack with a 34-20 victory.

Nate

     I don’t know about this one guys, this seems like a strange bowl. I mean not for NC State, they are going to win pretty convincingly, but more for the other side. Ryan Finley has thrown for 3K yards and 16 TDs, and the defense for the Wolfpack is led by surefire top ten draft pick Bradley Chubb. But why I think having the two best players on the field is good enough for a NC State win, the fact that Arizona State had one of the strangest coaching implosions I’ve ever seen may do it. After firing Todd Graham, they hired Herm freaking Edwards, claiming it would be a more NFL like coaching structure. Well their defensive Coordinator just skipped town, and this is looking more and more like an implosion. Arizona State feels like the biggest “stay away” I’ve ever seen.

NC State: 38 Arizona State: 17

Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl
Kentucky vs. Northwestern

Alex

     This was one of my more anticipated match-ups because Northwestern has been a very fun team to watch under the radar this season. Apart from their early season loss to Duke and their second half against Penn State, they've played very well and have been tough to beat. They're on a 7-game win streak and had 3 straight overtime wins during that span. Third-year starter Clayton Thorson hasn't had the most impressive season, throwing for 2,809 yards with 15 TDs (8 more on the ground) and 12 picks, but only 5 of those picks have come in the past 7 games. He's taking much better care of the ball, and he's been able to spread out the ball to help get star RB Justin Jackson out in space. Jackson is the all-time rushing leader in Northwestern history, and has gone over 140+ on the ground in 3 out of the last 4 games. Kentucky has had a solid season as well, reaching a bowl game for the second consecutive season for the first time since '09-10. The Wildcats (in blue) are lead by a steady ground game with star RB Benny Snell. Snell has 1,318 yards and 18 TDs on the ground this year, and takes a lot of pressure off of Senior QB Stephen Johnson. The big story of this game is on defense though, and how well each team can contain these star running backs. Kentucky ranks 62nd in rush defense while giving up 28.6 points per game on average. Northwestern on the other hand ranks 10th in rush defense and only gives up 19.8 points per game on average. Having watched their defense up close, I like the Purple Wildcats in this game. Northwestern 35, Kentucky 17.

Nate

     Am I a bad football fan if I honestly forgot Kentucky was bowling for a while? I’m kind of embarrassed, but I don’t feel too bad, because that just makes it all the easier to pick Northwestern. Not that you need that many reasons, because all you really need is number 21, Justin Jackson. Jackson is responsible for a staggering 53% of total rushing attempts by the wildcats, and he has certainly made the most of it. Benny Snell is a talented back of his own for Kentucky, but the Wildcat defense is known for being stingy, and I expect this game to be no different, Jackson carries it home.

Northwestern: 20, Kentucky: 14

Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl
New Mexico State vs. Utah State

Alex

     A bit of a lack-luster match-up mixed in with all of these Power 5 bowl games, but we'll see what happens with the two Aggies meeting up. Neither of these two teams have very impressive stats, but they're both typically stronger in the opponents opposite categories. For example, Utah State gives up around 220 yards on the ground per game on average, but New Mexico State only averages 101 rushing yards per game. I haven't watched either of these teams (apart from Utah State getting demolished in the second half of Wisconsin's opener), so I really don't know much. Utah State has a better defense though, so I'll go with the Blue Aggies. Utah State 36, New Mexico State 28.

Nate

     Oh boy, who doesn’t love the “Random average G5 teams playing 80% of the way through bowl season” Bowl? I mean, at least I think that’s what It’s called. I guess I shouldn’t be a jerk, because this is the first bowl game for New Mexico State in over 55 years. It seems almost inconceivable that one can go that long and not make it. But I think they will get there and win. Utah State’s defense isn’t good, and New Mexico State’s offense has the potential to make them pay. I can’t lie and say that I know that much about these teams, but I’m rooting for the good story.

NMSU: 28, Utah State: 20

Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
#8 USC vs. #5 Ohio State

Alex

     Easily one of the most anticipated match-ups in all of Bowl season, the Fightin' Trojans of USC take on the mighty Buckeyes of THE Ohio State University. Two of the best offenses in the nation, lead by two of the most dynamic QBs in the nation, will square off in Dallas as the two conference champions clash. Both are looking to give arguments on why they should've been added to the playoffs, so we should see a great game. JT Barrett and the Buckeyes have been nearly impossible to stop this year, averaging 42.5 points and 523 yards per game. Barrett's numbers are fantastic, but his accuracy still concerns me. Looking at the numbers (2,939 yards, 35 TDs & 9 picks, 64.7% completion rating), it seems as though that there's no issue. Having watched him up close however, I can honestly say that his receivers make the catch far more often than Barrett makes the throw. This could come back to haunt him in this game, as USC's defense has been improving steadily as the season moves on. Plus, QB Sam Darnold is loaded with weapons on offense, and can keep up with points if needed. This is a tough choice, but I'll take the Buckeyes. USC is on a roll since losing to Notre Dame, but I think Ohio State is just a step above the Trojans this year. Buckeyes 31, Trojans 23. I'm hoping this game is crazy.

Nate

     Now this is the game that makes me wish I had more time to write these. I think this is one of the most fascinating games in the entire season, and I expect a lot of great pieces and small match-ups that will decide this one. The obvious place to start is the quarterbacks, with Sam Darnold, that I still love, despite the turnover problems, and JT Barret, who Alex and I have flipped on more than a burnt pancake. I think, as much as I love USC, Ohio State has the more rounded team in many of aspects, from skill weapons, to defense, to special teams. I think that Urban Meyer is a better coach, and will have his team just a bit more prepared. Look for the Buckeyes, to take this one.

Ohio State: 35, USC: 28

Taxslayer Bowl
Louisville vs. #23 Mississippi State

Alex

     I have the opportunity to go watch this game in person as I'm on vacation in Jacksonville with my family, so I'll likely be in attendance! This is a good match-up, but doesn't have quite the luster it could've had in my opinion. First off, the Bulldogs will be missing star QB Nick Fitzgerald. He's accounted for 2,766 total yards and 29 total TDs, but sadly his nasty ankle injury from the Egg Bowl against rival Ole Miss has taken him out for the year. The other big issue with this game is that Mississippi State will also be without their Head Coach. Dan Mullen has left for Gator Country, leaving the Bulldogs to fend for themselves against the 2016 Heisman winner. Speaking of Lamar Jackson, he's only gotten better this season. Barring a complete meltdown or injury, he'll finish this season with more passing and rushing yards than his Heisman winning season last year, and he's averaging more yards per play and increased his completion percentage from 56% to 60%! This kid is phenomenal and I'm excited to watch him in person. Mississippi State does not have the firepower to compete with Lamar Jackson without Nick Fitzgerald, and without their Head Coach, I doubt they'll have the willpower too. Lamar with another insane game and the Cardinals win this one easy 41-24.

Nate

     Does Mississippi State satisfy all my pick against checkboxes? Their coach left them for a better team, their quarterback and best player is out. They lost to a terrible team in their last game? Check check and check. Yeah, you know I’m not super high on Louisville either; they are basically Lamar Jackson and nothing else. But hey, Lamar Jackson is a Heisman winner, and that’s good for a top 25 rushing attack. Mississippi State isn’t a bad team, but there is too much going against it.

Fighting Lamar Jackson’s: 33, Mississippi State: 21

Autozone Liberty Bowl
Iowa State vs. #20 Memphis

Alex

     This is an interesting game because these are two of the most surprising teams in all of College Football this season. They Cyclones had the shocking upset at Oklahoma, but continued that trend and knocked off TCU just a couple weeks later. They fell short at the end of their season, losing 3 close games out of their last four, but have been a very difficult team to beat all season long. Memphis on the other hand, has the 4th ranked offense in the nation, 2nd ranked scoring offense (47.7 points per game) and a narrow, double-overtime loss in their conference championship. They're lead by NFL-prospect QB Riley Ferguson, who has thrown for nearly 4,000 yards with 36 TDs and just 9 picks. Plus their star wideout Anthony Miller will be looking to torch the Cyclone defense. Miller has over 1,400 receiving yards this season and 17 TDs. Iowa State is lead by Kyle Kempt, who doesn't have all the flashy numbers like Ferguson, but has been one of the efficient QBs in the nation, completing nearly 67% of his passes and only throwing 3 picks. They have a very stingy defense, only giving up 21 points per game, lead by former QB now Linebacker Joel Lanning, and the Cyclones have a NFL-caliber wideout of their own in Allen Lazard. The numbers say to pick Memphis in this game, but Iowa State has an incredible fight in them, and my gut says to go with the Cyclones. Iowa State wins a tough one, even with Memphis at home, 33-30.

Nate

     The Memphis tigers average 48 points per game. I know it’s strange to bring up a stat this early in the preview, but wow that’s insane. Alex gave you the stats about Ferguson and Miller, but will that matter against Iowa State? After all, they stopped Oklahoma? I think that it will matter. I think it will be close, but I think Memphis squeaks it out.

Memphis: 44 Iowa State 36

Playstation Fiesta Bowl
#11 Washington vs. #9 Penn State

Alex

     Two teams who seemed destined for the playoffs until mid-season slip ups set them back clash as the Huskies take on the Nittany Lions. Washington has more or less fell off the map since their Playoff clash with Bama last season. They brought back an experienced team, but not many people paid them much attention over the course of the season. However, even without people knowing, Jake Browning and Crew still had a very impressive year. Their offense took a step back, ranking 54th in the nation overall, but Myles Gaskin has nearly 1,300 rushing yards and 19 TDs, and Browning has over 2,500 passing yards with 18 TDs and 5 picks... so I'd say they're still deadly. Their defense is still top notch though, ranking 5th overall in the nation, and holding teams to an average of 277 yards and 14.5 points. I'm not sure that's going to fly with Penn State. They have a young man named Saquon Barkley, and up until the end of October, he had the Heisman sitting on his bedside table. Barkley has more than 2,100 total yards this season, along with 22 TDs and a 5.7 yards per carry average. Sadly for Washington, Barkely isn't the only play-maker Penn State has. Along with one of the most talented receiving corps in the nation, Penn State's QB Trace McSorely is one of the best (and most underrated) players in the nation in my opinion. McSorely has over 3,600 total yards this year, and is completing 65.3% of his passes, which is up nearly 8% from a year ago! His efficiency and ability to manage the offense is absolutely phenomenal when you watch him in game, and I think Washington will find that out. Penn State wins this one 34-24.

Nate

     Saquon Barkly is not skipping this one. While that I feel is a big mistake for him, I think it will obviously good for the Nittany Lions. I don’t know what happened to Penn State, but they lost a few games that they shouldn’t have. I don’t know what happened, but I do know that they will come into this game motivated and ready to show off why they still should be considered a great team.  They don’t give away the ball, sitting at +14 on turnovers, and I feel like Washington has been a bit disappointing this year, as players like Jake Browning seem to have taken a step back. I don’t think this will be a blowout, but I think this will be a game that Penn State will control.

Penn State: 34, Washington: 24

Capital One Orange Bowl
#6 Wisconsin vs. #10 Miami

Alex

     Will any points be scored in this game? I doubt we'll see very many as the #3 (Wisconsin) and #17 (Miami) ranked scoring defenses clash in South Beach. Reminiscent of the old Husker Days, Miami will yet again play a "Neutral Site Game" in their home stadium, but oh well. Wisconsin rolls into this game looking to end their season on a high note after missing out on a BIG 10 Championship ring and a Playoff spot. Miami is trying to do much of the same, as they were demolished by Clemson in the ACC championship after a stellar season. The defenses are probably the most important aspect to watch in this game, but I think the running backs will be interesting as well. Everyone knows what Wisconsin is going to do, but only Ohio State was able to stop them. Miami's rush defense is tough, but slowing down Freshman stud Johnathan Taylor won't be easy. Taylor has 1,847 yards with 13 TDs on the ground this season, while averaging 6.8 yards per carry. On the other side, Travis Homer has been incredible for the Hurricanes since taking over for injured star RB Mark Walton halfway through the year. Homer has 902 yards with 7 TDs so far this year, while averaging 6 yards per carry. If Miami wants to win, they need to follow the Buckeye's game plan and force Alex Hornibrook to beat you with his arm. Wisconsin cannot win that way, but I'm not sure Miami is ready for the grind the Badgers are going to put them through. I like Wisconsin to win this low-scoring affair. Badgers 21, Hurricanes 10.

Nate

     Miami has been a team that has disappointed me at the end of the season, as they laid two eggs to finish out a magical year. Wisconsin it felt like it laid an egg, but honestly they didn’t play that bad. They have the number one defense in the nation, and for a Miami team that sometimes looks a bit lost on offense, it might be a rough start. In a stat that is not that surprising but still totally surprising, Jonathan Taylor needs just 150 yards to make it to 2K. That’s absurd. I don’t want to play against him anymore, and this is just year one. Miami needs to add to its 3^rd in the nation 30 turnovers and force Hornibrook to beat them. But I think Taylor will do enough, and the defense will dominate for Wisconsin. Wisconsin 24, Miami: 14

Thanks for reading our predictions and enjoy all the bowl games!

#CollegeFootballKnowItAll
Alex Fernando
Special Guest: Nate Muhlbach

Dec. 27-28th Bowl Games

     As we move forward through Bowl Season we look to have bigger and bigger match-ups ahead! We still have 3 games to watch today, including the confusing case of Josh Rosen (sorry about the re-post, but we both feel the outcome will be VERY different without Rosen in). This post will focus on the next couple days of bowl games and we definitely have some good ones to pick, enjoy!

Walk-On's Independence Bowl
Southern Miss vs. Florida State

Alex

     One of the possible Final 4 contenders from week 1 skidded to a disappointing 6-6 record as their coach ran off to find a big pay day in another Power 5 Conference. The 6-6 is even in question as one of their wins is against an FCS team, so the 'Noles probably shouldn't even be here. Nonetheless, they are matched up against the Golden Eagles of Southern Miss, and look to get back on track for next year. Freshman QB James Blackman has had his ups and downs, but for a true Freshman, I thought he played well this season. Especially when you consider that he was sacked 29 times this season. The Seminoles' offensive line was practically non-existent all season, leading to very poor protection. The only bright spot was their sub-par rushing game lead by the two-headed rushing monster of Cam Akers (930 yards) and Jacques Patrick (687). The Golden Eagles are ranked 27th in rush defense nationally however, and give up just around 130 per game on average. Their primary play maker is Senior RB Ito Smith, who has nearly 4,500 career rushing yards. I would expect FSU to get a heavy dose of Smith running at them, leading to opportunities for QB Kwadra Griggs to air it out. Griggs only has 2 picks this season, but he'll be throwing against a much tougher secondary that features possible 1st-rounder Safety Derwin James. My biggest issue with picking this game is that FSU was HAPPY to have Jimbo leave. Numerous players said they would leave if he had stayed, so they may be more motivated in this game rather than the typical attitude we see from teams losing a coach. I would like to see the upset, just to mess with FSU's season even more, but they'll probably take this one. Seminoles 33, Golden Eagles 20. This could be a weird game.

Nate

     Florida State is technically not eligible for this game. In the weirdest story of the season, it was found by social media of all places that the Seminoles weren’t eligible for the post season because of an FCS team they played didn’t meet the requirements to count as a win. But even through this mix up, they were still allowed to compete, probably because money. But it’s too bad for Southern Miss that the ‘Noles will still play, because expect them to roll this game. I don’t know if it will be a complete blowout but I would expect the ‘Noles to hit them with the one two punch of Cam Akers and Jacques Patrick on the ground.  While James Blackman has had some freshman blues this season, but expect him to come alive sooner or later against lesser talent.  I don’t think this will be a blowout, but expect the ‘Noles to pull away sooner or later.

Florida State: 30, Southern Miss: 18

New Era Pinstripe Bowl

Iowa vs. Boston College

Alex

     Tough ground attacks will battle it out in Yankee Stadium as the Hawkeyes square off against the Eagles. Neither team has been overly impressive this year, but Iowa does have their 31-point beat down over Ohio State. Boston College has hung around with a lot of teams in the early parts of the game, but fail to get a lot moving in the second half. That's where I think we draw the line here between these surprisingly similar teams. While I do think BC RB AJ (that was a lot of double letters) Dillon will get his yards (1,432 yards so far this year), I don't think it will be enough to over come Iowa's play-makers. Defensive stars like LB Josey Jewell and DB Josh Jackson should hold the Eagles to a lack-luster performance while Iowa RB Akrum Wadley pushes through a sturdy but breakable Boston College run defense. A couple of mediocre throws down field by Stanley should seal this one. Iowa 37, Boston College 22.

Nate

     This game feels like a toss up if I’ve ever seen it. Teams are 7-5, both teams are within the same sphere of statistical categories, with Iowa leading Boston College by about 10 places in them, and they both have similar run first game plans. When two teams are this evenly matched, I tend to go by the star players. And that is a category that I just feel like Iowa has more of. I can’t see Josey Jewell, perennial award snub, and Josh Jackson (aka Desmond King 2.0) will show up big time and show the Eagles what’s up.

Iowa: 27, Boston College: 24

Foster Farm's Bowl

Arizona vs. Purdue

Alex

     The Boilermakers are bowling once again in their first season under Jeff Brohm. He's ignited their offense and solidified their defense into a respectable team. They easily could have more wins, losing a tough opener late against Lamar Jackson and Co., hanging with Wisconsin, losing a dumb one to Rutgers and outplaying Nebraska at home, but losing in the final seconds. Arizona on the other hand, either blows you out or gets blown out. Sophomore standout QB Khalil Tate has impressed everyone this season, taking over mid way and absolutely running WILD. After his break-out 327 yard rushing performance against Colorado, he's racked up 1,353 yards and 12 TDs on the ground as well as 1,289 yards trough the air with 9 more TDs and 8 picks. The biggest issue for the Wildcats as I mentioned, was getting blown out themselves. They rank 117th in total defense, so expect a lot of points in this one. Khalil Tate has been fun to watch, but I have a feeling about Purdue in this game. Arizona has struggled late this season, and I think their youth will benefit them next year, but hurt them in this bowl game. BOILER UP! Purdue 34, Arizona 30.

Nate

     Are we going to Boiler up? Unfortunately, I don’t think so. Arizona is 3^rd in the nation in rushing; going for almost 324 yards per game, and while Purdue has a rather stout, standing about 29^th in the nation allowing only 130 yards per contest. But I doubt a middling Purdue offense can get it done. Khalil Tate should finish off the Boilermakers by himself, but congrats to Jeff Brohm and his team, they are on the up and up.

Arizona: 28, Purdue: 14

Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl

Texas vs. Missouri

Alex

     This may be one of the most disgusting match-ups I have ever encountered... sorry, that's just my Husker fan in me. Still though, I won't enjoy picking either of these teams in this one. All season long, people have wanted to say "Texas is back", especially since new Head Coach Tom Herman is in town. However, they didn't quite have the turnaround they were looking for. Falling to a 6-6 record with a couple of close losses, to very good teams (USC, OU and OSU). Freshman QB Sam Ehlinger, the hometown kid, has been the bright spot of this season, throwing for 1,803 yards with 10 TDs. He's had plenty of Freshman mistakes, resulting in 7 picks, but his scrambling ability has helped the Longhorns more than anything else this season. The Tigers come in with one of the hottest offenses in the nation, averaging nearly 40 points and over 500 yards per game. Junior QB Drew Lock has thrown for 3,695 yards and an impressive 43:12 TD to INT ratio. However, he did just lose his Offensive Coordinator Josh Heupel as he took the UCF opening from Scott Frost's departure. This could be the biggest story-line in the game because Texas has a very tough defense as it is. Middle Linebacker Malik Jefferson is a monster, with 110 total tackles this season. The Longhorns are extremely banged up and will be without some talent, but I think they'll pull this off. Missouri will look lost without their OC and that's where Texas can take it. Longhorns Hook'em 31-27.

Nate

     This is a game between two strange teams. Texas has looked absolutely amazing in many respects this season, such as close games against teams like USC and Oklahoma. But then they also looked hapless against bad teams too. Missouri is 7-0 against non-bowling teams and 0-5 against bowling teams. I don’t think they will lose a sixth. First of all, Texas is depleted, they are down two starting secondary members and a o-lineman for draft related reasons, and the Texas o-line has already had its share of problems without their best player. Jeff Lock will make a strained Longhorn Secondary pay, and I expect Missouri to take this game.

Missouri 38, Texas: 20

Military Bowl Presented by Northrop Grumman

Virginia vs. Navy

Alex

     Virginia has lost 5 of their last 6 games, but their 1 victory was against a triple-option team... coincidence? Nope. Georgia Tech ran the ball fine in that game, but got a little pass happy and that lead to 2 picks. The Cavaliers have a decent offense to keep up with teams, but may struggle to find any time with the ball in this one. Navy ranks 1st in the nation for Time of Possession, holding the ball for nearly 36 minutes on average. Junior QB Zach Abey leads the Midshipmen attack with 1,325 yards and 14 TDs on the ground, followed by Sophomore RB Malcolm Perry (1,068 yards and 9 TDs). I've enjoyed watching Virginia all season, and I think Kurt Benkert is a solid QB, but I'm taking Navy in this game. I think their ground game will take over late in the game and finish off the Cavs. Midshipmen win it to go 2-0 for the military academies. Navy 33, Virginia 23.

Nate

     It’s going to be hard to compete with Navy’s collection of rushing talent this game. Both Zach Abbey and Malcolm Perry are 1,000 yards rushers, and for a Cavalier rushing defense that has given up close to 200 yard games in each of the last six contests. For Virginia, Kurt Benkurt is pretty good, throwing for 3000 yards and 25 touchdowns. Potential NFL talent for Virginia like safety Quin Blisling will be playing, so I kind of like Virginia here.

Virginia: 27, Navy: 20

Camping World Bowl

#22 Virginia Tech vs. #19 Oklahoma State

Alex

     Our first ranked match-up features the Hokies of VA Tech and the Pokes of Oklahoma State. Nate is all excited that at least one of his teams made a bowl game, and I'm sure this was an easy pick for him. As for me, this pick is quite easy as well. I think Virginia Tech is on the rise, and Freshman QB Josh Jackson will definitely be a force to be reckoned with in the years to come. However, their youth, especially on offense, will be their downfall in this one. Oklahoma State is too high-powered and too experienced to keep up with. My neighbor Ryan Dial (Big Cowboy fan) says they've got this in the bag, and having watched Mason Rudolph this year, I don't doubt it. Tech might hang around early, but the Pokes will take this one 36-24. Look for tough defense early on from the Hokies though, they are ranked 11th in total defense. 

Nate

     All right, now this is more like it. We got the first big game between ranked teams, and who better than my second favorite team Oklahoma State. Okie State ranks 3^rd in scoring offense with over 46 points per game. Led by offensive superstars Mason Rudolph, who threw for 575 yards per game. Justice Hill, their 1000 yard rusher, should lead the way on the ground too. Virginia Tech is a competent team, but they lack the offensive capacity to stay up with the Pokes, even against a rather mediocre defense.

Oklahoma State 42, Virginia Tech 28

Valero Alamo Bowl

#13 Stanford vs. #15 TCU

Alex

     The Frogs had so much potential, but could not live up to they hype in this season. The funny thing is that's almost the same story-line for Stanford. Both teams are runner-ups in their respective conferences, and couldn't quite get over the hump of finishing off other teams. Apart from the early season loss to USC, Stanford lost their other 3 games by 3 points each. TCU fell short against a surprising Iowa State team, and were no match for Baker Mayfield and OU in their two meetings. So what does each team need to do to win this game? It's quite simple actually; for Stanford, hand the ball to Bryce Love, and for TCU, stop Bryce Love. Okay, maybe the second one isn't so simple, because Love is the nation's 2nd leading rusher and very difficult to bring down. TCU does rank 4th in rush defense, giving up just 99 yards per game on average, but in their two losses to Oklahoma, they gave up 418 yards combined (200 & 218). They may be able to slow Bryce Love down, but I doubt they'll stop him. Frog QB Kenny Hill will lead the offense against a mediocre Cardinal defense, but I'm not sure it will be enough. Plus, I am a huge fan of KJ Costello at QB for Stanford, that kid is going to be phenomenal next year! I think he'll make some big plays for them in this bowl and finish off the Horned Frogs. Stanford wins this one 30-21.

Nate

     This is a classic unstoppable force vs. immovable object game. As the 4^th rated rushing defense of TCU comes up against the monster rusher and Heisman Runner up Bryce Love. Stanford and TCU both don’t have too strong of a passing defense, both hovering around 60^th in the nation. But don’t expect either Keller Chyrst or Kenny Hill to put too much fear into the defense either. This feels like a game that comes down to who comes better-prepared and ready. I think it will be Stanford.

Stanford 27, TCU: 20

San Diego Credit Union Holiday Bowl

#18 Washington State vs. #16 Michigan State

Alex

     I like this match-up a lot because these have been two of the most polarizing teams in all of college football this season. Statistically, it looks like Wazzu should blow the Spartans out of the water. But Senior QB Luke Falk has two sides, and you never know which will show up. There's the NFL-caliber side, where he'll throw for 400+ yards, 5 TDs and complete more than 73% of his passes (i.e. Nevada game), or there's the BENCH HIM side where he still throws for over 250, but throws 5 picks instead of TDs (i.e. Cal game). The Cougars also have a fairly tough defense, but give up blowout performances like Arizona (58-37 loss) or Washington (41-14 loss). On the other side, you look at the Spartans and think; "this is a solid team". Brian Lewerke has been impressive at QB, passing for 2,580 yards, 17 TDs and 7 picks while also rushing for 486 and 5 more TDs. RB LJ Scott has fallen off a bit in production from a year ago, but is still a durable back that will get you the yards needed most of the time. The true stats lie with the Spartan defense, always tough, and giving up just 20 points per game on average. They've had some puzzling losses as well, like a 48-3 beat down to Ohio State just 1 week after upsetting Penn State, but hey, that's College Football in a nutshell. I picked Wazzu for my Dark Horse Playoff team and they failed me. I picked Wazzu to upset Washington and go to the Pac-12 Championship game and they failed me. I'm going to pick Wazzu to LOSE to Michigan State and they'll probably fail me and win just because. Oh well, Sparty takes this one 33-21.

Nate

     Washington State has had a disappointing end to this season, going 3-3 after starting 6-0.  For both it and its opponent, Michigan State, they have this weird weakness where they both get weak against their opponents strength. Michigan State has been lit up by good QBs this year, 400 to McSorly and Barrett. Washington state got manhandled by Washington’s rushing attack, and Lewerke should get the job done. I think that Michigan State’s secondary should get tired first though, and I feel it will be hard to play comeback.

Washington State: 38 Michigan State: 20

Thanks for reading all of our bowl predictions and stay tuned because we've got more big games to come! Happy Holidays and enjoy the games! GO BIG RED!

#CollegeFootballKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Special Guest: Nate Muhlbach

Dec. 23-26 Bowl Games

     Well readers, these past few games haven't been the best for me, but at least Nate is back in the race with our predictions! Nate and I are now both 6-4 as we head into some of the bigger bowl match-ups. This post will focus on our predictions for the bowl games through the 26th, enjoy!

Birmingham Bowl
Texas Tech vs. South Florida

Alex

     If you like defense, I would avoid watching this game. The Birmingham Bowl will feature one of the most dynamic players in the nation with Quinton Flowers. Flowers has lead the Bulls to another impressive season and is their leading passer and rusher. He's accounted for nearly 3,600 total yards and 31 TDs. The Red Raiders give up 434 yards per game on average and nearly 32 points per game. Flowers usually achieves those numbers on his own, so I would expect a show from him. Tech is known for their offense though, and it's still deadly without Patrick Mahomes III. Senior QB Nic Shimonek has lead this dynamic offense with 3,500+ passing yards and a stellar 68.2% completion rating, resulting in 30 TD passes and just 8 picks. One big concern has been his protection, as Shimonek has been sacked 24 times this season. With USF averaging 3 sacks per game, I think he'll be under some heat in this game. I believe Tech has the offense to keep pace for a while, but Flowers is too much to handle in the end. With a couple of key plays on defense, I see the Bulls winning this in convincing fashion. USF 44, Texas Tech 30.

Nate

     While Alex probably talked up Quinton Flowers and USF offense as he should, I’ll talk a little bit about the Red Raiders. Nic Shimonek has passed for 3,500 yards this season and has thrown a nice 30 touchdowns. Their top running back, Justin Stockton, will be back after missing the last game with a concussion. The Tech offense should be explosive, but that’s not what worries me. Their defense is better than the last few years, but it has only improved from utterly garbage to just bad. They allow teams to complete about 65% of their passes, and Flowers will make them pay. USF’s defense isn’t anything stellar either, so I’m expecting this game to be a toss up, but I’ll take the team with the one man wrecking crew at quarterback.

 USF: 48, Texas Tech: 45

Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl

San Diego State vs. Army

Alex

     When looking at the stat sheets for these two teams, they are very similar. They both average around 30 points per game, while giving up around 20, and both teams are lead by two of the strongest rushing attacks in the nation. Everyone knows what Army is going to do, they've been running the triple option for longer than anyone who follows College Football can remember. The Black Knights average 355 yards per game on the ground, and dominate time of possession, ranking 5th in the nation. SDSU is fresh off the season where their star RB Donnel Pumphrey became the NCAA all-time leading rusher. So you'd think they may take a step back after he graduated and moved onto the NFL right? WRONG? Senior RB Rashaad Penny (who rushed for 1,005 yards last year in Pumphrey's shadow) has jumped out into the stage light and demolished everyone in his way. Penny will likely finish with more yards than Pumphrey did a year ago (neither of them were invited to NYC for the Heisman), and he's viewed as one of the highest rated RBs in the upcoming NFL draft. This kid has been fun to watch, and I'm sure he'll give us a good show today. I think Army will keep this as a tight game, but Penny is a player you don't want to bet against, so I'm taking the Aztecs. SDSU edges out Army 30-26 in a very tough football game.

Nate

     Did you know that in one of Army’s wins, they didn’t throw a single pass? Now that brings me back. And it probably brings Army fans back as well, as they are going bowling for the second time in a row, for only the second time in program history. Ahmad Bradshaw leads the way with 1,500 yards and 15 touchdowns, and will look to use that triple option attack to grind SDSU out. That being said, I don’t think it will happen. Rashaad Penny might be the best back in football this season (sorry Bryce Love) and the SDSU rushing defense is actually no slouch either. The Aztecs are too strong, too fast, and will overpower the Army.

SDSU; 30, Army: 17

Dollar General Bowl

Appalachian State vs. Toledo

Alex

     This could be one of the more entertaining games of bowl season as Toledo and App State meet in the post season for the second straight year! The Mountaineers pulled out a 31-28 victory last year, so you know Senior QB Logan Woodside will be looking to right the ship in this game. Woodside has been nothing short of phenomenal this season, passing for nearly 3,800 yards with 28 TDs and just 5 picks. Although they don't have NFL rookie-star Kareem Hunt in their backfield anymore, Senior RB Terry Swanson has done an incredible job filling his shoes for the Rockets. He's averaging nearly 6 yards per carry and has 14 TDs with 1,319 rushing yards on the season. Appalachian State has play-makers of their own however, and I doubt Senior QB Taylor Lamb will let anything get away that easy. The Mountaineers have looked good this year, but I think Toledo has a few more weapons at their disposal. This will be a great QB dual between two very under-rated QBs, but I'm giving the nod to  Woodside. I've watched him play for the past few seasons and I think he's going to make the difference in this game. Rockets 33, Mountaineers 31.

Nate

     Hey, it’s a rematch! App State beat Toledo 31-28 last bowl season, and it should be another tight, but exciting game. Both teams come in to the game with explosive offenses. With Toledo being the 11 ranked offense in the nation, led by QB Logan Woodyard and a stable of running backs that have rushed for over 3000 yards this season. It will be a good matchup up against a 34^th Ranked App State defense loaded with talent. I do think however that Woodyard and the Rockets avenge last year and take a close one.

Toledo: 38, App State: 32

Hawai'i Bowl

Fresno State vs. Houston

Alex

     This is another one of those bowl games where I would be completely okay with losing 4 games in a year for. The Hawai'i Bowl welcomes the Bulldogs of Fresno State and the Cougars of Houston to the islands. This is another tough game to pick because the teams are so similar and are matched fairly evenly. The most telling stat is how Fresno ranks 16th in total defense this season, while Houston ranks 84th. The Cougars definitely have some key players on defense, like Ed Oliver, but I like Fresno State in this one. They've been a very tough team all season long, and I think they'll cap it off right! I wouldn't expect a lot of offense in this game, but be sure to watch the defenses, they're the key in this one. Fresno State 21, Houston 10.

Nate

     Now we have a matchup between a solid Houston team and Alabama’s best win.  I kid, I kid, but Fresno really is a good team, led by a crushing pair of Defensive lineman, Tobenna Okeke and Malik Forrester. Houston is no slouch on the defense either, as Ed Oliver looks to tear things up. Look for a tight defensive struggle in this one.

Fresno: 21, Houston: 14

Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl

Utah vs. West Virginia

Alex

     Having watched these two teams a lot over the season, it seems like an easy pick for me to go with the Mountaineers. from my perspective, they were a stronger team throughout the season, and have much more dynamic players than the Utes. Then, however, you look at who won't be playing for WVU and get all freaked out. Start RB Justin Crawford will sit out to save himself for the draft, and star wideout David Sills might as well. Plus QB Will Grier is still injured and will not play. This helps Utah significantly, and with WVU being all offense, they are now nothing. I think the Utes should be able to take care of business in this one. Be careful, as Dana Holgersen is never someone to underestimate in a bowl game though. Utes beat the Mountaineers 33-20.

Nate

     Hey it’s the first power five versus power five game of the season. Too bad it won’t be a good one. West Virginia will probably be without some of their best weapons. Justin Crawford is sitting out for the draft, and Will Grier is injured. David Sills might sit out as well, so that would be the QB, and the top RB and WR for the mountaineers. Tyler Huntly for the Utes isn’t that great of QB, but it doesn’t matter, injuries for the mountaineers are too great to overcome. 

Utah 36, West Virginia 20

Quick Lane Bowl

Duke vs. Northern Illinois

Alex

     Having the privilege (and horror) of watching Northern Illinois up close gives me a lot to think about in this game. The Huskies and the Blue Devils are set to meet up in Detroit at Ford Field. Duke has not been impressive at all this season, especially on the offensive side of the ball. They're only averaging 25 points per game, and rank 93rd in total offense. The Huskies on the other hand, rank 18th in total defense, so I don't think I need to say much more. Sophomore Defensive lineman Sutton Smith leads the nation in both Sacks (14) and Tackles for Loss (28.5). The Blue Devils have given up 27 sacks this season, so look for the young-stud Sutton to have another big day. I'm taking the Huskies for sure in this game! Northern Illinois 34, Duke 14. Watch out for that Husky defense in this one!

Nate

     Duke is a team that has sputtered to a limp 6-6, and Northern Illinois overachieved. For Duke, they have probably the best defender you’ve never heard of in Joe Giles-Harris, who leads the team with 117 tackles and 5 sacks. For NIU, they will try to avoid him and get the ball to Marcus Childers, the freshman QB who has led the huskies to a 6-2 record over the final eight games. While I think NIU can get it done, I like Duke to take this one.

Duke 24, NIU: 17

Cactus Bowl- Updated

Kansas State vs. UCLA

Alex

     This is a tough game because it's basically a match-up between a good team and a great player. Josh Rosen is about all you need to know when it comes to UCLA, and as long as he's good to go in the game, the Bruins will be okay. K-State on the other side doesn't necessarily have 1 dynamic, game-changing player on their squad. They have a fairly balanced offensive attack, and QB Skylar Thompson has done well filling in for the injured Jesse Ertz. The Wildcats do rank nearly twice as high in Time of Possession compared to UCLA however, so their best bet is to grind it out and keep the ball away from Rosen. If he has his chance to prove why he's the #1 rated QB prospect, you bet he'll take it. I've recently read that Rosen is NOT going to play in the bowl game, and to me that's a big difference. The Bruins have been very unimpressive without him on the field and I doubt they'll be much of a threat without him. Nate & have both updated our predictions with the new Rosen information, and I think K-State will be able to hold them off. K-State 30, UCLA 13.

Nate

     Can I just post my West Virginia outlook and re post it? Only Josh Rosen will be missing for the bruins, but that’s more than enough to probably sink the ship for a disappointing UCLA team. They have a poor rushing defense too, letting up over 200 yards per game, not a good sign against a team like Kansas State. Exact the wildcats to be in control early and often.

Kansas State: 29, UCLA: 20

Thank you all for reading and have a wonderful Christmas! Sit back, hang with the family, and watch some bowl games! Nothing better right? Be sure to keep up on our predictions challenge and comment below if you have any College Football Questions! Thank you, Merry Christmas & GO BIG RED!

#CollegeFootballKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Special Guest: Nate Muhlbach

Dec. 19-22 Bowl Games

     Hey football readers, bowl season (and my predictions) are off to a great start with some fantastic games. I'm off to a hot start with a 3-2 record for bowl predictions while my good friend Nate sits at 1-4 after the first few games. This post will focus on our predictions for the bowls between the 19th and 22nd, so be sure to follow along with our picks throughout the rest of bowl season, enjoy!


Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl
Akron vs. Florida Atlantic

Alex

     Two legendary coaches'.... sons, will face off in Boca Raton as the Zips take on the Fightin' Owls of FAU. Terry Bowden (Akron) and Lane Kiffin (FAU) have lead their teams to very impressive seasons, especially for the Owls, winning the C-USA Championship for just the second time in school history (last was 2007)! Kiffin has his team rolling with a stellar offense that averages just under 40 points per game and nearly 500 yards. Akron gives up over 430 on average, so I'm not liking their odds. Thomas Woodson has been an impressive QB this season, passing for nearly 1,800 yards, but I doubt he'll be able to keep pace with Kiffin's offense. The Owls should win this one easily. FAU 52, Akron 29.

Nate

     We all ready to get Kiffin’ed? Lane Kiffin continues his backwards job slide, but has settled in a seemingly a nice coach at the G5 level. People were laughing at him at the beginning of the season, as his team got off to a rough start, they’ve won 9 straight, with only one (against also bowling Marshall) being within one possession. Devin Singletary is one of the most underrated rushers in the country, finishing with 29 touchdowns. But don’t count out Jason Driskel, brothers of maligned Florida QB Jeff Driskel, as he has thrown over 200 yards in his last 4 games. Combine this offense with an Akron Defense that is known to surrender a lot of yards (they gave up almost 600 in the MAC championship) this should be a blowout.

FAU: 42, Akron: 28

DXL Frisco Bowl

Louisiana Tech vs. SMU

Alex

     Statistically, this game is a victory already for the Mustangs. LA Tech doesn't even come close to competing with their offensive firepower, and there's not way the Bulldogs (54th in pass defense) could even imagine slowing down SMU QB Ben Hicks (3,442 yards, 32 TDs & 9 picks) and his horde of wideouts lead by Trey Quinn and Courtland Sutton (both over 1,000 yards receiving and with 12 TDs each). However, the big news with this game is the departure of Mustang Head Coach Chad Morris as he took the Arkansas job just a couple of weeks ago. Having a Head Coach leave can really hurt a team, and that gives LA Tech their best shot at winning. I think losing Morris will hurt SMU, but it won't cripple them. As I stated, Ben Hicks will light up this Bulldog Secondary, and I think he'll be just a little too much in the end. LA Tech keeps it close for a while, but SMU finishes strong to cap a great season. Mustangs 37, Bulldogs 24.

Nate

     This feels like it should be an easy game to pick on paper. SMU comes in with an offence that scores over 40 points a game. They have 2 receivers with over 1,000 yards on the year, and they are playing a team that is the very definition of “middle of the road” (Seriously, LA Tech is 57^th in total offence, and 65^th in total defense, that is bizarre). This seems like an easy pick. But this won’t discount my rule, and that is don’t take a team that is replacing their coach. I took Oregon on Saturday, and that disappointed me, and I won’t make the same mistake. While I don’t think the loss of Chad Morris is debilitating to the program as a whole, for this game, I think it will have a great impact. I will stick to this rule for the rest of the bowl season, don’t take teams that lose their coaches.

Louisiana Tech: 39 SMU: 32

Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl
Temple vs. FIU

Alex

     Statistically, both of these teams give up more points than they score on average, so good luck picking a winner here right?! Ugh, this game is just weird because of the similarities between the two teams. Both in the 50s for Time of Possession, both negative in the turnover margin, heck, both of their QBs have 8 picks each! It's hard to pick in this game, but I'll stick with one of my primary strategies, too much offense. I don't believe Temple has enough offense to keep up with Florida International, so I'll give the edge to the Panthers. Besides, Nate picked Temple, and I don't want to be wrong! Panthers win it 33-23.

Nate

     Who likes throwing the football? If you do like passing that pigskin, this game should be a treat to watch. Mostly because both teams are not great at defending the air, Florida International ranks 94^th in the nation in pass defense, while Temple is better, sitting at 42^nd but still nothing special. The difference in the game should come from the other units on the defense, as Temple is top 25 in the nation in sacks with 32 as talented D-ends Sharif Finch and David Martin lead them. With FIU not being the greatest protection line in the country (ranking about 50^th in sacks allowed) I expect Temple to do just enough to stymie the Panther attack and take this game.

Temple: 38, FIU: 21

Bahamas Bowl

UAB vs. Ohio

Alex

     Honestly, maybe for just a year, my goal as a coach would be to go 8-4 so I can make it to the Bahamas Bowl, because that just sounds like an awesome week for those guys. Better yet, the newly resurrected football program at UAB get to cap off their 2017 comeback tour with a trip to the Bahamas to take on Fearless Frankie and his Ohio Bobcats. I very rarely pick against my man Frank Solich, but I am today. The primary reason for picking the Blazers in this game, turnovers. UAB has a +4 turnover margin, while Ohio sits at -4. To win games, you need to take care of the ball, and that's what the Blazers do best. They won't put up 50+ on you, but they will methodically move the ball down the field and not make many mistakes. Junior QB AJ Erderly only has 4 picks on the season and completes nearly 62% of his passes. I think Ohio makes a couple of critical turnovers and UAB finishes an incredible season with an incredible win. Blazers 33-28.

Nate

     What an incredible story to see UAB back and in a Bowl game. Technically they are looking for their first bowl game win ever, as they lost their only other attempt back in 2004. Why I like the story, I don’t think they get it here. The Blazers rely on Spencer Brown or AJ Erdly to get it down. Ohio has one of the best rushing defenses in the nation, holding opposing teams to 112 yards per games, holding their opponents to under 100 six times, and when UAB gets held to under 160 yards, they are 0-3. Not good for the Blazers.

Ohio: 28, UAB: 17

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

Central Michigan vs. Wyoming

Alex

     Coming into this season, all we heard about from Wyoming was their star QB Josh Allen and how he was going to be a top NFL draft pick if he had a good year. Many people will look at his numbers and wonder why he's a top NFL scout, but they would forget that he lost a majority of his weapons from last season as well. Nonetheless, Allen has only produced 1,658 yards through the air with a respectable, but no where near impressive, 13 to 6 TD to INT ratio. However, his Cowboy company has fought to a well-earned 7-5 record, mostly because of their stellar defense. The Cowboys give up only an average of 17.8 points per game, and have held their last 5 opponents to 17 or fewer. Teams really struggle to move the ball against Wyoming, and I think Central Michigan will understand why come game time. The Chippewas rank 71st in Total Offense, so I wouldn't expect too many points out of them. Hopefully next year Wyoming can put an offense AND a defense together in the same year. They should have a great springboard after this game! Cowboys 31, Chippewas 10.

Nate

     Can any of you guess what stat Wyoming leads the nation in? If you guessed Turnover Margin, then congratulations. Wyoming is sitting at a plump +16 turnover margin, and that is bizarre. That does not bode well for a Central Michigan team that has had an inconsistent offense for most of the year. Wyoming's offense has also been streaky, mostly due to the up and down health of semi-star QB Josh Allen, but he has indicated that he is right and ready to go for this game. With Allen back fully, and that takeaway city of a defense, I think Wyoming does enough to send this slightly disappointing season out on a high note.

Wyoming: 24, Central Michigan 17

Thanks for reading and be sure to keep up with the rest of our Bowl Predictions! More posts to come!

#CollegeFootballKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Special Guest: Nate Muhlbach

Dec. 16th Bowl Games

     Hello football fans and welcome to BOWL SEASON!! I think we've got some very interesting bowl match-ups this year, and we get to kick it off today with 5 games! As you all remember, I bested my good friend Nate in our bowl game predictions last year, and he's back yet again to lose! I posted a solid 97-55 record (.638) on my predictions (outright wins) for the season, and I'm ready to keep that momentum going into the post season! So here are my predictions for the first few bowl games we'll get to see, enjoy! -Alex

     Hey readers, back again for another rousing bowl pick em. I can't believe I lost last year, and its time for me to avenge my prior self and prove that I am of course, the superior football mind. Alex might have the home field advantage, but he can't match the intensity that I'm about to bring. I wish him all the best, and let the best man win! -Nate

Alex

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Troy vs. North Texas

     Other than Troy beating LSU on their Homecoming, I don't really know too much about these teams. North Texas was the West Division champ in C-USA, but was routed (for the second time) by Lane Kiffin and the fighting Owls of FAU in the championship. They have a decent offense, averaging 35.9 points per game and 467 yards, but the Mean Green has struggled to slow down their opponents giving up 33.8 points per game on average and over 430 yards. Troy has a solid offensive lead by Senior QB Brandon Silvers, and should be able to keep pace with the Mean Green. Silvers has nearly 3,000 yards passing and completes nearly 63% of his passes. With Silvers slinging it and Troy's defense slowing down the Mean Green, I think they'll take care of this one. Troy 33, North Texas 19.

Nate

     Bowl season is starting very soon, and I am primed and ready to get immersed in the final hurrahs of the 2017 season.  And what better ways to start then two teams that come into the game hot off of win streaks. Both teams are riding 6-1 and 5-1 streaks to end the season respectively, so I would expect a high quality game between the teams. Of the two, I do believe that Troy is the better team top to bottom, especially on the defensive side. Tied for 13^th in the nation in sacks with 36, watch out for players like LB Hunter Reese and DE Jamal Stadom. With the defensive edge, and with North Texas’ thousand-yard rusher Jeffery Wilson likely sitting because of a foot injury, I like Troy in this one.

Troy: 35, North Texas 24

Alex

Autonation Cure Bowl
Western Kentucky vs. Georgia State

     This one doesn't look to be the most exciting of bowl games, as both teams have struggled to get bowl eligible to begin with. Both teams have something to prove this bowl season though. WKU is looking for their fourth straight bowl win and the Panthers of Georgia State are looking for a school-record 7th win. When looking at the stats, all you want to focus on is the air-attacks. Neither team can run the ball very much, so I would expect this game to take a little while. Of the two QBs, Mike White of WKU has been the more impressive this season. He's thrown for over 3,800 yards and 24 TDs with just 7 picks. Despite the struggles, I think the Hilltoppers will take victory in this one. WKU wins it 38-28.

Nate

     What’s a rushing attack?  This will be the question on display this game, as we will watch two of the worst rushing attacks in the nation. Western Kentucky is statistically the worst rushing attack in the nation with only 66 yards per game. And when you adjust for advanced statistics, Georgia State becomes the worst rushing attack. Both offenses are going to have to rely on their QBs, and I feel that WKU’s Mike White probably gives WKU an edge. Georgia States special teams have been really bad as well, as their kicker is only 50% on field goals for the season. Even thought both teams are bad in similar ways and are both up and down teams, I think that WKU has the better overall team from top to bottom, and Mike White should make the difference. WKU; 32 Georgia State: 20

Alex

Las Vegas Bowl
#25 Boise State vs. Oregon

     I was lucky enough to peak into a Boise State practice over the summer while I was visiting the campus during a family vacation, and I saw a heavy focus on the passing attack under Junior QB Brett Rypien. I am personally a favorite of their back-up QB, Senior Montell Cozart, primarily because of his dual-threat abilities, but Rypien still has an impressive season going with over 2,500 yards and 14 TDs with 4 interceptions. The Broncos will likely use both QBs, which could cause Oregon's lack-luster defense lots of headaches. Boise RB Alexander Mattison is a game time decision with an injury as well, so he could definitely provide some balance for the Broncos. The Ducks rank 40th in total defense and 77th in scoring defense, giving up nearly 30 points per game. Luckily, they have a stellar QB of their own in Justin Herbert. When he's healthy and able to play, the Ducks are one of the toughest offenses to stop in football. They could lose a step in this game, with star RB Royce Freeman electing to sit out of the bowl game. Losing Freeman is huge for the Ducks because their next top rusher on their roster is nearly 1,000 yards behind him (Kani Benoit, 573 yards). Herbert is a great QB, but I don't know if he can handle Boise State all on his own. Plus, Boise State in Bowl Games is always a good pick. Nate can never resist the lure of Justin Herbert, but I'm taking the Broncos in a 38-36 stunner. This one should be fun to watch!

Nate

     Two words, Justin Herbert. After a tough injury prone season, the Ducks limped to a 7-5 record and ended up losing their coach. So why am I not counting them out? Two words, Justin Herbert. Oregon is averaging 36 more points per game with him in the lineup, and that is an absurd difference. The ducks will be without rusher Royce Freeman, and that really stinks, but Herbert should make up for that and more, while also going back to just a very plentiful group of rushers that make the loss of Freeman a bit more manageable. For Boise it looks like they will continue to go with the dual QB approach with Brett Rypien and Montrell Cozart. I like Rypien as a player, Cozart less so. Boise state has a top 30 defense, and should stop a Freeman less rushing attack well enough. Oregon’s defense isn’t horrible, sitting at a respectable 40^th, but it’s a unit that is nothing special. But I don’t feel like Boise State’s offence is quite good enough to keep up with Herbert, and while this is breaking my own rules of picking a team that lost their coach, I feel like the Ducks get fired up and take this game.

Oregon 41, Boise State 28

Alex

Gildan New Mexico Bowl
Marshall vs.  Colorado State

     This game doesn't have a lot of flash, but there are definitely some play-makers to watch. Colorado State has one of the best trios in all of CFB with QB Nick Stevens (3,479 pass yards & 27:10 TD to INT ratio), RB Dalyn Dawkins (1,349 rush yards and 8 TDs) and WR Michael Gallup (1,345 receiving yards and 7 TDs). These three Rams have helped CSU become the 10th best total offense in the nation. Marshall has a fairly solid defense, giving up just 19.3 points per game and 337 yards on average, but they've yet to face an offense like this. The Thundering Heard will need some production from their play-makers, RBs Tyler King and Keion Davis. The two-headed rushing monster of King and Davis has 11 TDs along with 1,385 yards on the ground. With all of Colorado State's flash on offense, many people (Nate included) have overlooked their poor performances on defense. In thier last 3 losses alone, the Rams have given up a combined 879 yards on the ground, including 413 to Air Force and 310 to Boise State. If Marshall can get their Heard a Thundering, they should be able to control the clock and win this game! I'm sure Nate probably went with the flashy numbers and picked the Rams, but I've got the Heard in this one! Marshall wins it 27-22.

Nate

     Help, both teams have fallen and they are trying to get up! Both of these teams have limped to a bad final quarter of the season, going 1-4 and 1-3 to finish the regular season. Colorado State is coming into the game however with a high-powered offense even with the losses, averaging over 500 yards per game. Beyond their great QB that I’m sure Alex has covered, they have a solid group of skill position players with the standouts being WR Micheal Gallup and RB Dalyn Dawkins, who both funnily enough have almost the same amount of yardage (1,349/1,345).  For Marshall, they will need to control the ball with their solid but not standout backfield of Tyler King and Keion Davis. It’s a strategy that I have doubts that they will pull off.  I think it’s the sexy and obvious pick, but with an offense this good, it’s too hard to pick against.

Colorado State: 28, Marshall: 17

Alex

Raycom Media Camellia Bowl
Middle Tennessee vs. Arkansas State

     Having watched the Red Wolves in person at the beginning of the year as they took on my Huskers, I learned a lot about their team. Coming into the season, we all knew (okay, maybe just me) about Junior QB Justice Hansen. He's improved quite a bit from a season ago, throwing for over 3,600 yards and completing nearly 64% of his passes. His 34 to 15 TD to INT ratio isn't the best, but with 5 new starting offensive linemen, you knew it would be a struggle for him this year. However, their defense is what I've been watching closely this year. They had one of the most experienced defensive lines coming into the season, all lead by Senior DE Ja'Von Rolland-Jones. Rolland-Jones has 13 of the team's 34 sacks on the season, and will be looking to boost his draft stock by ripping through a beaten and battered Blue Raider squad. I expect a big victory for the Red Wolves in this one, not too much competition. Arkansas State 42, Middle Tennessee 17.

Nate

     On the radio show I said I was going to pick Arkansas State because I just wanted a team Nebraska beat to win. But I hate to repeat every argument that Alex probably made for Justice Hanson, so I’ll just talk about the reasons Middle Tennessee will lose. And it’s an easy list to quantify. Injuries have rocked the blue raiders, as Brent Stocksill, their starting QB, was lost for the season half way through the year and they were completely changed. Top receiving threat Richie James broke his collarbone early in the season, and both leading rushers for Middle Tennessee are questionable. This seems like easy pickings for a Red Wolves team that has held teams to under 25 points per game. This is an easy pick for Arkansas State.

Ark State: 38, Middle Tennessee: 17

Thanks for reading our first predictions of the Bowl Season and be sure to watch for our next post of predictions! I've also attached a link to our Radio show, The 2nd String, where Nate and I discuss everything College Football Related! GO BIG RED and Happy Bowl Season!

#CollegeFootballKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Special Guest: Nate Muhlbach

Conference Championship Predictions

     What's up football fans and welcome to Championship Saturday! The PAC-12 game was decided last night as USC beat Stanford 31-28, but we have tons of great games still set up for Saturday just for our enjoyment! So many of the games to day are practically quarterfinals for the Playoff as multiple top 10 teams take on each other and battle for a spot in the CFP. This is probably the most chaotic year for the committee to select on, and it's only going to be crazier after today. There are 3 rematches in some of the Conference Championships too, which is always difficult to deal with. I always say it's not good to play a team twice in one season, so you know that'll bring some chaos. With more chaos to come, all we need to do as football fans is sit back, watch and enjoy. Here are my predictions for all the Conference Championships today, and  if you listen to the podcast of my radio show, The 2nd String, with my friend Nate Muhlbach, you'll find a little Playoff teams speculation and lots of coaching talk! Enjoy!

American Athletic Conference Championship
#20 Memphis vs. #14 UCF

     The first of our three rematches set up for the day takes place in the American Conference. The Gold Knights ROLLED the Tigers 40-13 in their first meeting this season, racking up 603 total yards and dominating the clock with over 37 minutes of Time of Possession. Memphis has been rolling on their own since, scorning no less than 41 points in their last 5 games. I expect lots of points and yards to be put up in this game, and this should be an interesting game. Memphis QB Riley Ferguson against the Knights defense will be a key factor to watch in this one as he threw 3 of his 8 picks against UCF earlier this season. He has 3,500 yards and 32 TDs, but UCF will bring lots of pressure again, especially since they sacked him twice last game, and will be looking for more today. UCF's offense is coming off an incredible game against USF, so look for Scott Frost and his crew to continue their momentum. This will likely be Frost's last game as a Gold Knight, but I know he'll get it done! UCF wins the American Athletic Conference Championship over Memphis 49-36. Be sure to watch for another thriller!

Big XII Conference Championship
#11 TCU vs. #3 Oklahoma

     The second of our rematches takes place down in Texas as the Horned Frogs square off against Baker Mayfield and the Sooners. Oklahoma took the first meeting in a solid, unwavering 38-20 performance. The Frogs weren't quite at full capacity with Kenny Hill recovering from injury, but the defense was the big issue last time. They gave up 533 yards, including 383 from Mayfield himself. They will need to be extremely disciplined this time around and limit the big plays Baker will try to make with his mobility. With the Frogs offense, they need to get Darius Anderson rolling. If they can establish a rushing attack early, that will take a lot of pressure of Kenny Hill to win the game on his arm. Anderson has 768 yards and 8 TDs on the season while averaging 6 yards per carry. Oklahoma gives up an average of 150 on the ground per game, and let's be real, no Big XII team really has much defense. TCU has the best in the conference statistically, but Baker Mayfield makes any defense look like they're ranked in the 100s. I think it will be a tough game, hopefully a fun to watch, but I think Baker Mayfield is too much yet again for the Frogs. Not the best attitude all the time, but Mayfield is someone who just refuses to lose, and he's the best player in College Football because of that. I think this one has the most potential for the upset out of the 3 rematches, but I'll take the Sooners in a tight one. Oklahoma wins the Big XII and a spot in the playoff, 37-31.

SEC Championship
#6 Georgia vs. #2 Auburn

     The third and final rematch comes down in Atlanta, GA as the Bulldogs look to avenge their only loss of the year against the Tigers of Auburn. This rematch plays the biggest role because the winner is almost guaranteed a spot in the playoffs. I've been calling it for the past few weeks, "Auburn will be the first 2-loss playoff team", and I will stick with it. Georgia will not be easy to beat... again. The Bulldogs are really set out on defense to stop the run and demolish the line of scrimmage. Since their loss to Auburn (where they gave up 237 rushing yards), they've given up 124 to Kentucky and 188 to Georgia Tech. This defense has stepped up and made it nearly impossible for teams to pace any sort of ground game on them for most the season, and will be looking to right the ship against Auburn this time around. The Tigers' star RB, Kerryon Johnson, had 167 yards in the first meeting between these teams, but could struggle today as he's battling a brutal shoulder injury that ended taking him out of the Bama game last week. That's why my focus will be on Auburn QB Jarrett Stidham. Stidham has been phenomenal over the second half of the season, completing no less than 67.9% of his passes in each of his last 5 games, including two back to back 75% performances. His scrambling ability has been another big factor for defenses to watch as he has 127 rushing yards and 3 TDs on the ground over those 5 games as well. He's playing with unbelievable confidence and that will be tough to slow down in this game. Georgia definitely has a shot, but protecting QB Jake Fromm will be crucial. Auburn's defense has 34 sacks on the season, and was able to pressure Jalen Hurts of Bama last week while locking down their run game. I think Auburn is playing like the best team in College Football right now, and I think they'll prove that to Georgia yet again. Tigers 36, Bulldogs 20.

ACC Championship
#7 Miami vs. #1 Clemson

     Two of the best defenses face off in the ACC Championship as Miami takes on the reigning national champs of Clemson. Miami's perfect season was dashed last week as they lost to Pitt on the road, but luckily they still have a shot at the playoffs with a big win today. Clemson's one slip up this season came against Syracuse earlier in the year, with an injured QB. Syracuse played a great game, but with a sub-par Kelly Bryant, Clemson struggled to get anything going. Kelly Bryant will be healthy today, which could cause the U a lot of headaches. Yes, we all know about the Turnover Chain, and Miami's quick, hard hitting defense, but they have yet to face a player quite like Bryant. More accurately, they haven't faced a team with this many weapons! Bryant has one of the best receiving corps in the nation with Renfrow, Cain, McCloud and more. Miami hasn't faced a team with this much talent, so their secondary will be challenged a lot downfield today. Plus, you have the 3-headed rushing monster of Etienne, Feaster and Bryant. The 'Canes will need to have a Notre Dame-like performance if they want to pull this upset. In my mind, Clemson is arguably the most complete team in the CFP race this season, and they will be tough to stop. On the other side of the ball, Miami QB Malik Rosier will be the key factor to watch. He was benched at a point last week, and will face the number 6 total defense this week, compared to the 67th last week. The Tigers will make life very difficult for Rosier, which is why his decision making will be the difference. Scrambling when necessary and making smart throws will determine how well Miami plays in this game. Overall, I think Clemson is the best team, and they're going to prove that again today. Tigers head to their third College Football Playoff with a 38-20 victory over the Hurricanes.

BIG 10 Championship
#8 Ohio State vs. #4 Wisconsin

     Of all the Conference Championship games, this one makes me nervous. Wisconsin has yet to face an offensive power like the Buckeyes, but the Buckeyes have been all over the place this season. The Badgers are undefeated and will likely lock in a spot in the playoff with a win, but they've faced only 1 top 50 offense in the nation! Their defense is good, I've witnessed it firsthand, but I'm not sure they can keep up with Ohio State, even if JT Barrett doesn't play. Barrett is rumored to be able to play today, even after a minor knee surgery last week. If he's unable to go, backup QB Dwayne Haskins will get his chance, and he played fairly well against Michigan. He came in mid-3rd quarter, so we don't have a very big sample size to draw from. That's could be a boost for Wisconsin, but Ohio State is still loaded with weapons. Wisconsin does have weapons of their own, two of them are the legs of Johnathan Taylor. The true Freshman RB has over 1,800 yards on the season and 13 TDs on the ground. He's the typical Badger Back that refuses to be stopped by anyone. Ohio State's 13th best rush defense will be tested to the max in this game. I think their linebackers will have the toughest challenge because of Wisconsin's play-action tendencies. Once they've sucked you in with their run game, Wisconsin will take their shots downfield to TE Troy Fumagali with play-action. Fumagali is a tough target to defend, so look for Wisconsin to use him a lot. My big concern in this game is Wisconsin QB Alex Hornibrook. Hornibrook has 13 picks this season, and is not the most accurate QB. If you try to make him beat you with his arm, he'll go 9-19 with 123 yards and 2 picks, just watch. JT Barrett is not very accurate as well, but he at least his his rushing ability to pick apart defenses with. Plus, the Buckeyes have wideouts that can make tough catches, so even when JT isn't on the money, they can still get the ball. Wisconsin doesn't have as much talent on the outside, so Hornibrook's accuracy has been an issue for their passing game. Ohio State will bring a lot of pressure, and I'm not sure Hornibrook can keep up. Wisconsin is a solid team, but I'm not sure they're good enough to take on a challenge like Ohio State. I think their defense will hold for a while, but give up a couple big plays that Hornibrook can't quite counter. Besides, I need to predict at least a little big of chaos, right?! Buckeyes win the BIG 10 and make life hard on the committee with a 30-23 win over the Badgers.

I hope you all enjoyed reading my predictions and have a fantastic Saturday watching the games! Let's hope for some more chaos!! GO BIG RED!

#CollegeFootballKnowItAll
Alex Fernando

Rivalry Week Predictions

     Hey football fans! I hope you're all ready for the holiday weekend because this is the best weekend of the year in my opinion. Rivalry Week is the best weekend of the year because I get out of classes for half the week, there's tons of great food to eat (thanks mom) and great football games to watch. Rivalry games bring out the best (and sometimes worst) of teams, because there's nothing better than taking down the team you love to hate. I do want to make the disclaimer that Rivalry Week isn't nearly as great as it used to be. With all the conference re-shuffling back a few years, we lost some of the best rivalry games in all of College Football. West Virginia and Pitt with the backyard brawl, Bedlam being moved up in the season and countless others. Why don't they do what Clemson and South Carolina do and save 1 non-conference game for their rivalry every year. Georgia Tech and Georgia do it, as well as Florida and Florida State. I personally think bringing back more of those old rivalries will only enhance College Football. But enough about me and my soap box, let's get to my predictions! Enjoy!

South Florida at #15 UCF

     A birth in the American Athletic Conference Championship game is on the line as the Bulls and Gold Knights clash for a major showdown in the Sunshine State. This is a bigger game than UF and FSU this year as neither one of those teams are even close to a bowl game. Scott Frost has UCF on track to finish undefeated and likely to make a New Year's Six Bowl. The big names to watch in this game are the star QBs, Brandon Flowers of USF and McKenzie Milton of UCF. Flowers has over 2,000 yards passing with a 17 to 5 TD to INT ratio, as well as 870 yards rushing with 9 more TDs. He's been one of the nations most dynamic players over the past few seasons, and will look to cause headaches for the Knights' defense. Milton has been extremely impressive in Frost's system, throwing for nearly 3,000 yards with 26 TDs and 5 picks. He leads the nation's 5th best total offense. We'll see which QB has the bigger plays in this match-up, but no matter what, I expect a lot of yards and points to be put up in this shootout. I'm all in with Scott Frost, UCF wins the big rivalry 42-36.

#25 Virginia Tech at Virginia

     The Battle for the Commonwealth Cup takes place in Charlottesville as the Hokies face off against the Cavaliers. The Cavs hung tough with the Hurricanes on the road last week, but gave up 30 points in the second half, eventually falling 44-28. The Hokies have had a solid season, but struggle on the road, losing both the Miami and Georgia Tech in the past 3 weeks. Both offenses are led by talented QBs, Josh Jackson for VT and Kurt Benkert for UVA. Jackson has been impressive in his freshman season, throwing for 2,600 yards with 18 TDs and 7 picks, but his inexperience has cost him at times. Benkert, the Senior, has put up solid numbers with over 2,800 yards and 25 TDs with 8 picks. He too has struggled with bonehead mistakes, so I look to the defenses in this game. Virginia Tech's defense give up just 14.7 points per game, and allow just 315 yards per game on average as well. Virginia will put up a fight yet again, but I like the Hokies in this one. Plus, I'm still on the Josh Jackson train, this kid is going to be good! Hokies win it 34-24.

#9 Ohio State at Michigan

     The Game. No trophy for this rivalry, but bragging rights are much more important to begin with. The Ohio State Buckeyes travel to "that place up North" to take on the Wolverines of Michigan. This Rivalry always leads to some of the best games, but recently just for the Buckeyes. They have won the past 5 meetings between the two teams, and last year's Overtime stinger still leaves a bad taste with Jim Harbaugh and company. Harbaugh has taken a lot of heat this season for not being able to beat his rivals. A win this weekend would calm a lot of those OUTRAGEOUS rumors that he'll get fired. However, to beat Ohio State, his Wolverines will need to have some form of offense take place. That likely won't happen as John O'Korn is likely back at QB after Brandon Peters suffered a concussion last week against Wisconsin. The Wolverines' defense will keep them in the game for a while, but without their offense producing any points and taking up some time to drive the ball, JT Barrett will get his. He is too dynamic of a play-maker to hold down for an entire game, and I expect him to make some big plays in this one. Michigan does not seem like they can hang tough in this game, but in rivalry games, you forget everything you know about a team. I think Ohio State will win this game, but Jim Harbaugh will definitely not be fired. Buckeyes continue their streak with a late pull away win 35-16.

Arizona at Arizona State

     The Wildcats and the Sun Devils square off in the desert for the Territorial Cup and a 2nd place finish in the PAC-12 South. Both teams have had ups and downs this season, but bragging rights in this classic rivalry will make everything better. Arizona QB Khalil Tate has been one of the best highlight reels to watch this season, with 2,482 total yards (1,157 passing and 1,325 rushing) and 20 total TDs. Arizona State can move the ball just fine, especially with Manny Wilkins running the offense, but their defense has been lacking. Neither one of these teams has much defense to be honest, so this looks to be a high-scoring shootout! This will be a great QB dual between Wilkins and Tate, but I love watching Tate run the read option, so I've gotta take the Wildcats. Arizona wins a crazy one in the desert, 44-39.

#3 Clemson at #24 South Carolina

     This is one of the best protected rivalries in all of College Football, and it seems to get more heated every year when the Tigers and Gamecocks meet to determine who runs the state of South Carolina. Clemson is on a 3 game streak in this rivalry, and will look to make it for as the tune up for Miami in the ACC Championship game. South Carolina does not stack up very well, scoring just 25 points per game. Jake Bentley has been fairly impressive at QB this season though. The Sophomore has a 63.1% completion rating with 2,429 yards and a 15 to 9 TD to INT ratio. No matter how well he plays, I don't think Bentley will be able to get past Clemson's 7th ranked total defense. The Gamecocks will look to do better than the 56-7 beat down they suffered last season, but Clemson shouldn't have too many issues in this one. Tigers 40, Gamecocks 14.

#8 Notre Dame at #21 Stanford

     The Fighting Irish travel up to the Farm to take on the Cardinal, who are coming off a couple of tough wins against Washington and Cal over recent weeks. This is a tough game to pick because both teams have been really good at times, and really bad as well. Statistically, these two teams are very similar with powerful rushing attacks and mediocre passing attacks. Defensively the both hold teams to 20 points on average. It's hard to know which of these teams will show up, but hopefully Stanford will play K.J. Costello at QB. The Cardinal have been much more successful with him under center, as he has a 60.7% completion rating. Brandon Wimbush for the Irish has been very good this season, especially when using his legs to move the chains. Both QBs will need to make a couple of game changing plays to win, because this game will focus primarily on the two star running backs. Bryce Love and Josh Adams are two of the best backs in the nation with Heisman-caliber numbers. They will be the focal points of both offenses, and especially the defenses. This one should be a good game, but I've been sticking with Love all season long, and I'm not going to break that now. I think he's probably the best running back in the nation, and he'll prove that on Saturday night. Stanford 33, Notre Dame 24.

#13 Washington State at #17 Washington

     The Apple Cup has quite a bit riding on it, just like last year. Last season, the winner would represent the North in the PAC-12 Championship, and the stakes are very similar now in 2017. However, Washington can only play spoiler as they lost their head-to-head with Stanford. Since Wazzu beat the Cardinal, if they beat the Huskies, they're in the PAC-12 Championship. If Washington were to win, for the 5th straight season, then Stanford would win the North Division due to their victory over the Huskies a couple weeks ago. So when looking at this game, you wonder who has the edge. Washington has dominated the Cougars over recent years, holding them to 17 points or fewer in their past 4 meetings, including a 45-17 whacking last year. However, this is a new and improved Wazzu team here in 2017. Their defense ranked 62nd last year in total defense, but ranks 11th this season. They're holding opponents to around 300 yards per game on average and just 22.9  points. Their offense is usually one of the best in the nation, and with Luke Falk, they will always be able to score points. The Huskies have not been as impressive as last season, primarily because Jake Browning hasn't thrown for 3,400+ yards and 43 TDs. He has 2,451 yards and 18 TDs so far this year, but their offensive efficiency has taken a step back. This will be a great game to watch in my opinion, and I picked Wazzu earlier in the year to be my Dark-horse team for the Playoffs. While the Cougars may not make it to the CFP, I do think Mike Leach's crew will make it to the PAC-12 Championship. Wazzu turns the tables in this rivalry and comes away with a major win in the Apple Cup! Cougars beat the Huskies 44-30.

#1 Alabama at #6 Auburn

     Yet again, the Iron Bowl has much more than in-state bragging rights. One of the best, most vicious rivalries in all of sports takes place in Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday as the Tigers of Auburn take on the Rolling Crimson Tide of Bama. This game will be the focal point of the weekend because the winner goes onto play Georgia in the SEC Championship, and will likely go on to the College Football Playoff as well. Bama has yet to miss a playoff, but has yet to play a top-notch team this season as well. Some may argue FSU or LSU, but if you look beyond the numbers, we can all see that the Tide's schedule wasn't the most difficult of challenges. Auburn on the other hand, played a tough schedule, and are looking to be the first 2 loss team to make it into the playoffs. I said they would be on my radio show, which gives away who I'm picking in this game. Bama is Bama, and they will do their thing. Tough defense followed by an efficient offense. However, their offense has yet to face a major challenge like the one Auburn will present. The Tigers rank 10th in total defense, giving up just 16.6 points per game on average. Look for them to pressure Jaylin Hurts early and often, making him beat them with his arm. He's improved as a passer, but still throws with a lot of inconsistencies at times. On the other side of the ball, you have the dynamic Tiger offense against Bama's stonewall defense. The Tide have the #1 total defense in the nation, but yet to face any team close to the caliber of Gus Malzhan's offense. The Tigers rank 17th in total offense, racking up an average of 475 yards and nearly 38 points per game. Statistically, the best offense Bama has faced all year was Ole Miss (20th in total offense), but they are not nearly as good as that ranking suggests. This will be a very tough game, but with some home field advantage, and a possible playoff birth on the line, I think the Tigers will win. As I stated on my radio show, "Auburn will be the first 2 loss team in the playoff". Also, the last time College Gameday visited the Iron Bowl... the KICK SIX happened! Not saying, just saying! Tigers 30, Tide 27.

The Heroes Game
Iowa at Nebraska

     The annual Heroes game doesn't really mean much yet again. "Farmaggedon", as some fans call it, pits the Hawkeyes against the Huskers in a boarder war that is missing a bit of an edge in the rivalry. If these teams would come in ranked, with a potential trip to Indianapolis on the line, then maybe we could really get some national attention on this. For now, it's going to be a battle of sub-par teams looking to bounce back in 2018. Nebraska is a total mess and will likely have a coaching vacancy once the clock hits 00 in the 4th Quarter. Iowa is set for the next 50+ years with Kirk Ferentz, but follows their typical trend of random upsets mixed with atrocious losses. This will be a very infuriating game to watch for both sides in my opinion. There are a few bright spots, including Stanley Morgan having a chance to become the first 1,000+ yard receiver at Nebraska, needing just 88 more yards to accomplish that feat. Iowa has a bowl game to look forward to, and All-American Linebacker Josey Jewell will be a big draft pick for the Hawks. Looking at the game, it's honestly hard to pick. There's a 3.5 point spread in Iowa's favor, but they did lose to Purdue last week. Nebraska has lost to basically everyone else and just want to finish this season and move on. I'll definitely take my Huskers, but Tanner Lee better not throw anywhere near Iowa DB Joshua Jackson. The Junior DB has a nation-leading 7 picks on the season, returning 2 of them for TDs. We all know Tanner has been prone to those Pick-Sixes, so hopefully he can avoid that today. Lee has improved a lot over the year, and his passing is the only source of offense for the Huskers. Iowa needs to feed Akrum Wadley, as he's one of the best backs in the BIG 10 Conference. We'll see how this all turns out later this afternoon, but I've got Nebraska finishing on a high note! Morgan gets 1,000+ yards and Nebraska gets the win over Iowa 34-30.

Here are some quick hit games that will be fun to watch this weekend as well!

Cal at UCLA: The Bruins fired Jim Mora with just 1 game remaining on their schedule as they battle the Golden Bears for bowl eligibility. UCLA is a mess right now, and I'm not sure Josh Rosen can win this on his own. I like Sonny Dykes and Co. for the upset win in this game. Cal has been impressive under their new head coach, and this would be a great way to finish their season! Golden Bears win it on the road 31-27.

#7 Georgia at Georgia Tech: Clean, Old Fashioned Hate. Nothing better than beating your rival when it comes to the Bulldogs and the Yellow Jackets. The Ramblin' Wreck's triple option attack will be challenged by Georgia's defense, and the Dawgs only way to make the CFP is to never lose again. I think they'll be pretty motivated in this game and bring the house down. Georgia 37, Georgia Tech 17.

#5 Wisconsin at Minnesota: The Battle for Paul Bunyan's Ax takes place in the Twin Cities this year as the Badgers travel to take on the Gophers. Wisconsin already has the BIG 10 West wrapped up, so this game is to help build their playoff resume. The Gophers are looking to end a 13 year drought against the Badgers, and spoil their playoff dreams. As much as I would love to see the upset, I know this one will not happen. Wisconsin's defense will shut down Croft and company pretty quickly, and win this game 34-10 on the back of Johnathan Taylor. On Wisconsin.

West Virginia at #4 Oklahoma: After his inappropriate actions last weekend at Kansas, Oklahoma QB will not allowed to be a captain or start in this game. I doubt Lincoln Riley will keep him out for long (at most a series, but I'm expecting 1 play), so look for the Sooners to start rolling quickly. WVU has the offense to put up points, especially against the 64th ranked Sooner defense. But the Mountaineers lack a defense of their own, and Baker Mayfield will likely be too much for them to handle. Sooners win this one 47-28.

Thanks for reading my predictions and enjoy all the greatness that is rivalry weekend! We've already had 1 upset with Ole Miss shocking #14 Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl 31-28, so maybe there's more chaos to come! Let's hope for some great games and GO BIG RED!

#CollegeFootballKnowItAll
Alex Fernando