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
34th 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
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