2 Bowl 2 Games
6-5 to start, let's run it back!
And we are back…..here’s part two of my bowl games preview. If you didn’t read my article last week, check it out here. Anyway, let’s get back into it.
SATURDAY, DEC. 23
Birmingham Bowl
Troy vs. Duke
Birmingham, Alabama
Noon | ABC
I’ll be honest, this one is tough. I am not the biggest fan of Troy or Duke. Remember Liberty is 2-0 against Troy, despite what they think. All I hear is them chirping about us not being the best G5 team. About this game though, Duke will be missing their QB Riley Leonard), RB Jordan Waters, CB Brandon Johnson, EDGE RJ Oben, DL Aeneas Peebles, LB Dorian Mausi &
DB/KR Jaylen Stinson (though he could still play). Troy hasn’t lost as much but both have lost their coaches. Troy lost Sumrall to Tulane and Duke lost Elko to Texas A&M.
I think Troy will win this game, but I wish they could both lose somehow.
Camellia Bowl
Arkansas State vs. Northern Illinois
Montgomery, Alabama
Noon | ESPN
The whole day will be packed with SEC teams like Troy and Arkansas State. I meant SBC, sorry I was convinced by that conference fanbase that they’re essentially the SEC. Listen, I always wanted a husky growing up (also a big Golden and German Shepard fan) so I am pulling for Northern Illinois. I have a big heart for MAC teams. Arkansas State will come out swinging, and I honestly think they will win this one. This Northern Illinois team isn’t like the teams of the past.
Arkansas State will probably pull this one out. But if the SBC was 1-6 in bowl games by the end of this one, that’d be a swell Christmas gift for me.
Armed Forces Bowl
Air Force vs. James Madison
Fort Worth, Texas
3:30 p.m. | ABC
At one point in the season, James Madison was high and mighty. But the season didn’t end the way they wanted. At one point they were ready to sue the NCAA for following the rules that JMU agreed to when they moved to the FBS.
Yet, a bunch of teams go 5-7 this year so JMU gets a pity bowl. Sun Bowl Conference wants to brag that they have 12 bowl teams. How many are 6-6? 7.
JMU is sitting with one loss and Air Force has lost multiple games straight to end the season. Ex-JMU coach Cignetti left to take Indiana to a yearly 7th-place finish in the Big Ten. JMU has a ton of players in the portal that are going to play in the game. Air Force is America’s true team and will be hard to stop. JMU will have a lot to play for, but it is always tough to win without your coach.
I am cheering for the Air Force but picking JMU, unfortunately.
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Georgia State vs. Utah State
Boise, Idaho
3:30 p.m. | ESPN
Another Sun Belt game and I don’t think Georgia State will win this one. Georgia State has far more players in the portal than Utah State. But at this point, I wonder how much the portal losses matter. I do think that Utah State has an excellent QB in Levi Williams. I never understood why Williams transferred from his starting QB spot at Wyoming. (Maybe it’s the fact his girlfriend is a volleyball player at Utah State. Another fun fact, his sister Kainah played volleyball at Liberty). Williams is their third-string QB but has more experience than what you see on the stat sheet this year.
I am rooting for Utah State and picking them to win.
68 Ventures Bowl
Eastern Michigan vs. South Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
7 p.m. | ESPN
I don’t have a ton to say about this one. Eastern Michigan is a former bowl opponent for Liberty. South Alabama has an excellent young coach in Kane Wommack. Both teams are missing key contributors due to injury and the portal. Southern Alabama’s stud RB Webb won’t be able to play because of injury and QB Carter Bradley is still up in the air. They’re also without their top receiver Lacy. EMU won’t have their starting QB Smith.
I am cheering for Eastern Michigan, but I see South Alabama winning this game.
Las Vegas Bowl
Northwestern vs. Utah
Las Vegas, Nevada
7:30 p.m. | ABC
I like both of these programs. Utah and Coach Whittingham have always been relentless and Northwestern has put together one of the best turnarounds that I can remember. Northwestern had a rough offseason but recovered and rallied around Coach David Braun. Utah has plenty of key contributors in the portal, but QB Brandon Barnes is expected to play in the bowl game.
I am cheering for Northwestern, but I’m taking Utah to pull this one out.
Hawai'i Bowl
San Jose State vs. Coastal Carolina
Honolulu, Hawai'i
10:30 p.m. | ESPN
Listen, it’s always BEAT COASTAL. Chants QB Grayson McCall is now a member of the NC State football program and QB Jarrett Guest is also in the portal. Chevan Cordeiro is a fun QB to watch for San Jose State and they are the hotter team in this matchup. This game could end up being one of the best games of the bowl season, that is if you can stay up past your bedtime to watch it.
I am cheering for the Spartans and for the Sun Belt to end the day 1-10 in bowls (unlikely, but not impossible). I am also picking San Jose State to win.
TUESDAY, DEC. 26
Quick Lane Bowl
Bowling Green vs. Minnesota
Detroit, Michigan
2 p.m. | ESPN
Bowling Green was Liberty’s first game of the season. Now they have the chance to prove themselves against one of the 5-7 teams that got into a bowl because of openings. Bowling Green honestly has a good shot to win this game. Minnesota isn’t going to be at full strength and they’re a losing team this season. Bowling Green is better than their 7-5 record even without some key contributors.
I am cheering for Bowling Green and picking them to win.
First Responder Bowl
Texas State vs. Rice
Dallas, Texas
5:30 p.m. | ESPN
Texas State just extended their Coach GJ Kinne to make him one of the highest-paid coaches in their conference. Both teams are near full strength, so this could make for one of the best games in the bowl season. Rice will be without QG JT Daniels, one of my all-time biggest misses as I thought he would be the next Trevor Lawrence at one point.
At this point you probably get the message: I am not cheering for any Sun Belt teams. Although Texas State is by far the most likable Sun Belt team for me. I like watching QB TJ Finley sling it.
That doesn’t stop me from cheering for Rice and for the Sun Belt to finish 1-11 in bowl games this year. Everyone can then thank App State for being the one win and the team that ruined James Madison’s Game Day.
However, Texas State probably wins this one.
Guaranteed Rate Bowl
Kansas vs. UNLV
Phoenix, Arizona
9 p.m. | ESPN
Yeah, I should pull for UNLV and the G5. But I love Coach Leipold and Kansas. QB Jalon Daniels and RB Devin Neal are electric to watch every Saturday. If they are both playing, I will always pick Kansas to win. UNLV is a very good team and should make the game interesting. I’d say this is another top-10 bowl game for me. UNLV and Coach Barry Odom have done great things with more to come in the future.
I am honestly going to pull for Kansas and I am picking them to win.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 27
Military Bowl
Tulane vs. Virginia Tech
Annapolis, Maryland
2 p.m. | ESPN
Alright, this one is too easy. For the first time all year, give me Tulane! Tulane will be without HC Willie Fritz and star QB Michael Pratt plus multiple other starters. Tulane could and should still win this football game because I truly don’t think Virginia Tech is any better. I am a big fan of HC Brent Pry. Even though I am not a fan of the Hokies, he makes it hard not to cheer for them. Plus it’d be good for the state right… Nah! Go Green Wave!
But I think the Hokies pull out a shocker and win.
Duke's Mayo Bowl
North Carolina vs. West Virginia
Charlotte, North Carolina
5:30 p.m. | ESPN
UNC QB Drake Maye will not be playing in this game. Coach Mack Brown and UNC will have to play WVU without him and multiple other key contributors. West Virginia and Neal Brown will also be without many key players. After hearing what Dave Doeren down at NC State said about UNC, makes me want to pull for the Heels. Just kidding. West Virginia has always had a soft spot in my heart, even growing a Penn State fan.
I am cheering for the Mountaineers who I kind of like. I’m also picking them to win.
Holiday Bowl
15 Louisville vs. Southern Cal
San Diego, California
8 p.m. ET | FOX
A very interesting matchup with USC losing basically everyone to either the portal or draft opt-outs. 2022 Heisman winner Caleb Williams is off to the draft and I wonder if that won’t help USC. Louisville is the far better team and should win this one. Although it will be like a home game for USC. I am excited to see what USC looks like with a lot of their playmakers gone.
I am cheering for Louisville to win this one and picking them to win.
Texas Bowl
20 Oklahoma State vs. Texas A&M
Houston, Texas
9 p.m. | ESPN
Now since Jimbo Fisher is gone, I might actually like A&M. However, I am rooting for Coach Gundy and Oklahoma State. Texas A&M is losing many players to the portal and opt-outs. I expect elite RB Ollie Gordon II and the Cowboys of OSU to run all over the Aggies. A&M has basically a home game, but that won’t matter.
I am cheering for OSU and also picking the Cowboys to win. Not the ones from Dallas. (Go Bills [Boo! - Kyle])
THURSDAY, DEC. 28
Fenway Bowl
24 SMU vs. Boston College
Boston, Massachusetts
11 a.m. | ESPN
Ah yes SMU, the Group of Five’s best team that is leaving to be a Power 5 team next year. Guess what conference? Big 12? Nope. Big 10? Nope. The ACC! This is exactly the conference I would expect a team from Dallas to land in.
There are many Liberty connections on the Mustangs roster. But after all that happened these past couple of months, you would have to pay me a good sum of money to root for SMU in this bowl game. Who does Boston College have any more? Matt Ryan isn’t there. Luke Kuechly isn’t. Matt Milano isn’t either. Boston College is losing quite a bit to the portal. But, there is that hope they can still pull out a W. It is a home game for them after all in the first of the two baseball stadium bowl games.
I am pulling for Boston College, but picking the SECOND BEST G5 team to win.
Pinstripe Bowl
Rutgers vs. Miami (Fla.)
The Bronx, New York
2:15 p.m. | ESPN
Rutgers? Ha. No thanks. Never will cheer for that team. I am still not happy with what the Miami boosters did to Manny Diaz. But I gotta cheer for Miami since at some point they’ve gotta be back right? Is Miami the new Texas? This is a Rutgers home game even though their fans barely show up to their actual home games. (I know that is changing for the better.)
Go Canes but I am unfortunately picking Rutgers to win. And the crowd goes mild.
Pop-Tarts Bowl
18 NC State vs. 25 Kansas State
Orlando, Florida
5:45 p.m. | ESPN
Ah the Pop Tarts Bowl, the most overrated breakfast food. It’s our first ranked vs ranked matchup in the bowl season. There are a bunch of people in the portal for both teams and multiple opt-outs. QB Brennan Armstrong (ex-UVA QB) will start for NC State and they should make things interesting. However, I expect Kansas State to win this one. Avery Johnson is a good QB for the Wildcats even with Will Howard gone. My best friend from HS (shout out to my brother Curtis) lives in Kansas and married a wonderful girl who danced for Kansas State. I gotta cheer for them, right?
I am cheering for KSU and picking them to win.
Alamo Bowl
12 Oklahoma vs. 14 Arizona
San Antonio, Texas
9:15 p.m. | ESPN
Give me a double down on the Wildcats for the day. I’ve got Arizona in this one folks. HC Jedd Fisch has done a fantastic job turning around the Wildcats. QB Jayden de Laura is a really exciting QB to watch. They’re only expecting to lose LT Jordan Morgan and possibly WR Jacob Cowing. Oklahoma and HC Venables will be without star QB Dillon Gabriel who has already committed to Oregon. I am a big fan of Coach Venables but I am not a big Sooner guy.
Cheering for Arizona to get a big bowl win and I am picking them to win this one.
Stay tuned for the next round of my bowl predictions featuring one I think you’re all going to be very interested in…