Bowl Central.....You name it,this thread has it.

[Greenbacks]

Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl: West Virginia vs. Utah

(1:30 p.m. ET on ESPN at Cotton Bowl in Dallas)

There are few guarantees in bowls, but Utah coach Kyle Whittingham's record in bowl games comes close (he's 10-1). This isn't a great Utah team, but it has enough on defense to take down a West Virginia team missing star quarterback Will Grier.

Prediction: Utah 27, West Virginia 24

 

[Greenbacks]

Quick Lane Bowl: Duke vs. Northern Illinois

(5:15 p.m. ET on ESPN at Ford Field in Detroit)

The Blue Devils emerged from their midseason swoon with a good finish, and their speed on defense will give Northern Illinois' run-heavy offense some problems. NIU counters with its own stingy defense, but Duke will have enough with Daniel Jones, Shaun Wilson and Brittain Brown to get the win.

Prediction: Duke 23, Northern Illinois 17

 

[Greenbacks]

Cactus Bowl: Kansas State vs. UCLA

(9 p.m. ET on ESPN at Chase Field in Phoenix)

This might be tricky. A Baylor team with a coaching staff heading out the door stunned Boise State last year. Can UCLA do something similar? Maybe, but Kansas State is a more complete team with a hot quarterback (Skylar Thompson) to counter Josh Rosen. Bill Snyder will avenge the 2014 Alamo Bowl loss.

Prediction: Kansas State 37, UCLA 35

 

[Greenbacks]

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

(1:30 p.m. ET on ESPN at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana)

Motivation level is a factor in a matchup like this, and the Seminoles brought the energy for interim coach Odell Haggins on Saturday and should want to send the coaching staff out with another win. Running back Cam Akers will end his freshman season with a big performance.

Prediction: Florida State 31, Southern Miss 14

 

[Greenbacks]

New Era Pinstripe Bowl: Iowa vs. Boston College

(5:15 p.m. ET on ESPN at Yankee Stadium in New York)

Iowa's recent postseason no-shows make it hard to remember when the Hawkeyes performed well in bowls. They will finally get back on track with running back Akrum Wadley as the difference-maker in a low-scoring slog at Yankee Stadium.

Prediction: Iowa 19, Boston College 16

 

[Greenbacks]

Foster Farms Bowl: Arizona vs. Purdue

(8:30 p.m. ET on Fox at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California)

This will be a really fun game as first-year Purdue coach Jeff Brohm takes the Boilers to their first bowl since the 2012 season. Both offenses are dynamic and Arizona QB Khalil Tate will deliver some highlights, but Purdue is so much better on defense.

Prediction: Purdue 35, Arizona 31

 

[Greenbacks]

Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl: Texas vs. Missouri

(9 p.m. ET on ESPN at NRG Stadium in Houston)

This is a huge springboard game for both teams, pitting a very talented Texas defense, anchored byPoona Ford, against a Missouri offense led by QB Drew Lock. Texas will have the home crowd but won't be able to keep up on the scoreboard.

Prediction: Missouri 35, Texas 28

 

[Greenbacks]

Military Bowl Presented by Northrop Grumman: Virginia vs. Navy

(1:30 p.m. ET on ESPN at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland)

Both of these teams are slumping, having each dropped five of their past six games (Navy still can get on track by beating Army on Saturday). The Midshipmen's defense will be the difference on their home field.

Prediction: Navy 21, Virginia 17

 

[Greenbacks]

Camping World Bowl: No. 22 Virginia Tech vs. No. 19 Oklahoma State

(5:15 p.m. ET on ESPN at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida)

One of the best postseason pairings features Mason Rudolph, James Washington and a Cowboys offense averaging 46.3 points per game going against a Bud Foster-coordinated defense featuring linebackerTremaine Edmunds. I don't see the Hokies keeping pace as Rudolph will shine in his final game.

Prediction: Oklahoma State 31, Virginia Tech 27

 

[Greenbacks]

Valero Alamo Bowl: No. 13 Stanford vs. No. 15 TCU

(9 p.m. ET on ESPN at Alamodome in San Antonio)

Two of the game's more solid programs and coaches (Stanford's David Shaw and TCU's Gary Patterson) match up in what should be a highly competitive contest. Both teams are solid defensively and in the running game, but I think Stanford freshman quarterback K.J. Costello will make a big jump in bowl practices and lead a game-winning drive for the Cardinal.

Prediction: Stanford 27, TCU 24

 

[Greenbacks]

San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl: No. 18 Washington State vs. No. 16 Michigan State

(9 p.m. ET on Fox at SDCCU Stadium in San Diego)

Both of these teams had quality home wins and some clunkers away from familiar soil. After being upset in last year's bowl game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers, Washington State will find a way as record-setting quarterback Luke Falk will go out a winner.

Prediction: Washington State 35, Michigan State 31

 

[Greenbacks]

Belk Bowl: Wake Forest vs. Texas A&M

(1 p.m. ET on ESPN at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina)

Despite a surprising loss to Duke to end the season, Wake Forest should be geared up and boasts an offense, led by quarterbackJohn Wolford, to cause problems. How much does Texas A&M really want to be here after Kevin Sumlin was fired? The Deacs will notch their second straight bowl win.

Prediction: Wake Forest 36, Texas A&M 28

 

[Greenbacks]

Hyundai Sun Bowl: No. 24 NC State vs. Arizona State

(3 p.m. ET on CBS at Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas)

NC State is the better and more talented team, but Arizona State will go all out for Todd Graham, its fired coach who is sticking around for the bowl game. Still, the Wolfpack will find a way to win behind Bradley Chubb and one of the nation's top defensive fronts.

Prediction: NC State 30, Arizona State 23

 

[Greenbacks]

Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl: Kentucky vs. No. 21Northwestern

(4:30 p.m. ET on ESPN at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee)

The Wildcats win! OK, the ones from Northwestern, which has a better defense and comes in on a seven-game winning streak, eyeing its third 10-win season since 2012. Running back Justin Jackson will go off in the final game of a record-setting career.

Prediction: Northwestern 34, Kentucky 27

 

[Greenbacks]

NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl: New Mexico State vs. Utah State

(5:30 p.m. ET on CBSSN at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Arizona)

It was great to see New Mexico State getting so much love Saturday after securing its first bowl berth since 1960. Both teams lack impressive wins, but Utah State gets the nod thanks to a defense led by cornerback Jalen Davis.

Prediction: Utah State 26, New Mexico State 21

 

[Greenbacks]

Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic: No. 8 USC vs. No. 5 Ohio State

(8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas)

Quite possibly the best non-playoff matchup features star power on both sides and teams motivated to show they should have been in the playoff. USC QB Sam Darnold will make some highlight-reel plays, but Ohio State's defensive line and Texas natives J.T. Barrett and J.K. Dobbins will come up big late.

Prediction: Ohio State 34, USC 30

 

[Greenbacks]

TaxSlayer Bowl: Louisville vs. No. 23 Mississippi State

(Noon ET on ESPN at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida)

If you forgot about Lamar Jackson this season, he will remind you why he might still be the nation's most outstanding player. Mississippi State's defense will keep the Bulldogs in this game for a bit, but Jackson and Louisville will overwhelm the Nick Fitzgerald-less Bulldogs.

Prediction: Louisville 37, Mississippi State 31

 

[Greenbacks]

AutoZone Liberty Bowl: Iowa State vs. No. 20 Memphis

(12:30 p.m. ET on ABC at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee)

This is a brutal draw for Iowa State, which has one of the nation's more underrated profiles, but must face Riley Ferguson, Anthony Miller and the Tigers in their home stadium. Joel Lanning and the Cyclones' defense will be up for the challenge, but Ferguson will win it for Memphis in the fourth quarter.

Prediction: Memphis 38, Iowa State 36

 

[Greenbacks]

PlayStation Fiesta Bowl: No. 11 Washington vs. No. 9 Penn State

(4 p.m. ET on ESPN at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona)

Another delicious Big Ten vs. Pac-12 matchup could come down to whether Penn State's iffy offensive line handles Vita Vea and Washington's defensive front. Expect Penn State RB Saquon Barkley to dazzle in his final game, but Washington's offensive balance is the difference.

Prediction: Washington 37, Penn State 35

 

[Greenbacks]

Capital One Orange Bowl: No. 6 Wisconsin vs. No. 10 Miami

(8 p.m. ET on ESPN at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida)

We know how good Miami can be on its home field, but unless the turnover chain comes out 3-4 times -- Wisconsin has committed 23 turnovers this season -- the Canes could be in trouble. Wisconsin's defense will redeem itself in a big way, and running back Jonathan Taylor will have a strong finish to his freshman season.

Prediction: Wisconsin 23, Miami 17