Well, it’s time to deck the halls and trim the trees, as it’s the best time of the year and of course I mean Bowl Season. One can argue that there are too many, and the blood has certainly gotten thin as you don’t even need to be a .500 team to get an invitation this year, and you would be right, but you one thing you can’t deny is that there are some intriguing matchups this year and games worth watching other than on New Year’s Day. The big question will be can they hold the average fan’s interest enough so they will actually alter their schedule to watch or only when they’re done with shopping and looking to take a load off, or only that 7:30 break between when the shows change at the top or bottom of the hour? I think that will depend on how the early games finish and if they can generate enough interest on the Sports Center highlights to make viewers actually take a moment and find out when the upcoming bowl games are on. We’re going to try and help you out by letting you know when every bowl game is being played and also possibly giving you a reason to watch. We’ll periodically be checking in to add a preview to the upcoming games to keep them fresh and let you know of any breaking news and without a doubt will have our Bowl Playoff Series preview up before New Year’s Eve, so get the Winter beverages flowing, sit back, and enjoy.
2015/2016 Bowl Schedule
Cure, San Jose State (5-7) vs. Georgia State (6-6), Saturday, 9 a.m., CBSSN: Nothing like a matchup between 5-7 and 6-6 teams to kick things off. Susan Wilson, San Jose State’s interim president, told the San Jose Mercury News : “I’m delighted the students earned it with No. 2 pencils.” Winner: San Jose State
New Mexico, Arizona (6-6) vs. New Mexico (7-5), Saturday, 11 a.m., ESPN: New Mexico’s Bob Davie was a broadcaster on bowl games during a 10-year coaching hiatus. Now he has the Lobos playing in one for first time since 2007. Linebacker Scooby Wright is expected to play for the Wildcats. Winner: Arizona
Las Vegas, Utah (9-3) vs. Brigham Young (9-3), Saturday, 12:30 p.m., Channel 7: After Utah scheduled a home-and-home series with Michigan, the Holy War game between the in-state rivals was not supposed to resume until next season. Now it reprises nine months ahead of schedule in Las Vegas. Winner: Utah
Camellia, Ohio (8-4) vs. Appalachian State (10-2), Saturday, 2:30 p.m., ESPN: Ohio’s Frank Solich continues to show that Nebraska might have erred letting him go. See: Callahan, Pelini and Riley eras. Appalachian State is making its first bowl appearance. Winner: Appalachian State.
New Orleans, Arkansas State (9-3) vs. Louisiana Tech (8-4), Saturday, 6 p.m., ESPN: USC‘s season-opening opponent finished with a better record than the drama-riddled Trojans. Louisiana Tech running back Kenneth Dixon has scored 83 career touchdowns. Winner: Arkansas State.
Miami Beach, South Florida (8-4) vs. Western Kentucky (11-2), Monday, 11:30 a.m., ESPN: Western Kentucky offensive coordinator Tyson Helton is the little brother of USC Coach Clay Helton. Sixth-year senior Brandon Doughty has passed for 45 touchdowns. Winner: Western Kentucky
Famous Idaho Potato, Akron (7-5) vs. Utah State (6-6), Tuesday, 12:30 p.m., ESPN: Akron Coach Terry Bowden has Zips in a bowl game for the first time since 2005. Utah State might have Potato fatigue: Aggies are playing in the game for the third time in five years. Winner: Utah State
Boca Raton, Temple (10-3) vs. Toledo (9-2), Tuesday, 4 p.m., ESPN: All-American linebacker Tyler Matakevich helped Temple defeat Penn State for the first time in 74 years. Toledo Coach Matt Campbell has already gone to Iowa State. Winner: Temple
Poinsettia, Boise State (8-4) vs. Northern Illinois (8-5), Dec. 23, 1:30 p.m., ESPN: No arguments for inclusion in major bowls this season. Boise State defeated Washington and Virginia. Shawun Lurry has nation-leading nine interceptions for Northern Illinois. It’s still amazes me how Boise State is able to get up for even the smallest of bowls so look for the Broncos to treat this like they were playing Oklahoma. Winner: Boise State
GoDaddy.com, Bowling Green (10-3) vs. Georgia Southern (8-4), Dec. 23, 5 p.m., ESPN: Dino Babers rolled out of Bowling Green to become coach at Syracuse. Georgia Southern is playing in a bowl game for the first time in school history. Winner: Bowling Green
Bahamas, Middle Tennessee (7-5) vs. Western Michigan (7-5), Dec. 24, 9 a.m., ESPN: Average records aside, both teams can proudly proclaim victory: They earned a postseason trip to the best bowl destination. Winner: Western Michigan
Hawaii, Cincinnati (7-5) vs. San Diego State (10-3), Dec. 24, 5 p.m., ESPN: Cincinnati Coach Tommy Tuberville: “Unless you’re playing for the national championship, what better place to spend the holidays than Hawaii?” San Diego State makes second trip to Oahu after beating Hawaii in October. Winner: San Diego State
St. Petersburg, Connecticut (6-6) vs. Marshall (9-3), Dec. 26, 8 a.m., ESPN: UConn’s Bob Diaco has the Huskies in a bowl game for the first time since 2010. A Marshall victory would make the Thundering Herd the first Group of 5 team with three straight 10-win seasons. Winner: Marshall
Sun, Miami (8-4) vs. Washington State (8-4), Dec. 26, 11 a.m., Channel 2: Hard-to-believe department: Miami has not won a bowl game since 2006. Washington State Coach Mike Leach and Cougars hope to extend the streak in the teams’ first meeting. Winner: Washington State
Heart of Dallas, Washington (6-6) vs. Southern Mississippi (9-4), Dec. 26, 11:15 a.m., ESPN: Chris Petersen is 14-12 in his first two seasons at Washington. Southern Mississippi Athletic Director Bill McGillis said, “We need to get ready for one heck of a holiday party!” Winner: Washington
Pinstripe, Duke (7-5) vs. Indiana (6-6), Dec. 26, 12:30 p.m., Channel 7: To be honest, we’d rather see the Blue Devils and Hoosiers playing hoops at Madison Square Garden than football at Yankee Stadium. Indiana, making its first bowl appearance since 2007, has not won a bowl game since 1991. Winner: Duke
Independence, Virginia Tech (6-6) vs. Tulsa (6-6), Dec. 26, 2:45 p.m., ESPN: In Frank Beamer’s final game with Virginia Tech, it would be fitting for the outcome to turn on a perfectly executed special-teams play by the Hokies. Winner: Virginia Tech
Foster Farms, Nebraska (5-7) vs. UCLA (8-4), Dec. 26, 6:15 p.m., ESPN: Bruins won their last two bowl games under Jim Mora, who will not look out of place on sideline at an NFL stadium. Like Mike Riley. You have gotta’ love the way the Husker fans travel, but 5-7? Have the bowls gotten that desperate? Just the same Josh Rosen may be a true Freshman but he will put a ton a pressure on the Nebraska secondary and they will have a tough time scoring with UCLA. Winner: UCLA
Military, Pittsburgh (8-4) vs. Navy (9-2), Dec. 28, 11:30 a.m., ESPN: This game should be dubbed the Keenan Reynolds Bowl in honor of record-breaking Navy quarterback who will be playing his final game in Annapolis. Winner: Navy
Quick Lane, Minnesota (5-7) vs. Central Michigan (7-5), Dec. 28, 2 p.m., ESPN2: Central Michigan says 75% of its roster are Michiganders, so a bowl trip to Detroit is considered a reward for the team and fans. Minnesota played four opponents that won at least 10 games. Winner: Central Michigan
Armed Forces, Air Force (8-5) vs. California (7-5), Dec. 29, 11 a.m., ESPN: Cal Coach Sonny Dykes signed an extension and got a raise last week after he reportedly interviewed at Missouri. Cal beat Air Force in the 2007 Armed Forces bowl. Winner: California
Russell Athletic, North Carolina (11-2) vs. Baylor (9-3), Dec. 29, 2:30 p.m., ESPN: Tar Heels fell short of possibly crashing the playoff party with loss to Clemson in ACC title game. Baylor receiver Corey Coleman won the Biletnikoff Award on a team that averages 48 points and 605 yards a game. Winner: Baylor
Arizona, Nevada (6-6) vs. Colorado State (7-5), Dec. 29, 4:30 p.m., ASN: It’s the Mountain West Conference Bowl. Two MWC teams that did not play during regular season must travel to the University of Arizona to do so. Winner: Colorado State
Texas, Texas Tech (7-5) vs. Louisiana State (8-3), Dec. 29, 6 p.m., ESPN: LSU Coach Les Miles isn’t going anywhere — except possibly recruiting in Houston. Texas Tech averages 47 points and 595 yards a game under Kliff Kingsbury. Winner: LSU
Birmingham, Auburn (6-6) vs. Memphis (9-3), Dec. 30, 9 a.m., ESPN: Both teams are in transition. Defensive coordinator Will Muschamp left Auburn to succeed Steve Spurrier at South Carolina. Justin Fuente left Memphis for Virginia Tech. Winner: Auburn
Belk, North Carolina State (7-5) vs. Mississippi State (8-4), Dec. 30, 12:30 p.m., ESPN: Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott is fun to watch. But the bowl highlight might be Carrie Underwood’s performance at FanFest. Winner: Mississippi State
Music City, Louisville (7-5) vs. Texas A&M (8-4), Dec. 30, 4 p.m., ESPN: Louisville started the season with losses to Auburn, Houston and Clemson. Texas A&M’s Kevin Sumlin, once regarded by some as USC’s top candidate to succeed Lane Kiffin, is 3-0 in bowl games with the Aggies. Winner: Texas A&M
Holiday, Wisconsin (9-3) vs. USC (8-5), Dec. 30, 7:30 p.m., ESPN: A repeat of the classic 1963 Rose Bowl would be worth the price of admission. Wisconsin fans are expected to converge on San Diego. USC is scheduled to hold seven practices and a walk-through in bowl run-up. Clay Helton is 1-0 in bowl games. Winner: USC
Peach, Houston (12-1) vs. Florida State (10-2), Dec. 31, 9 a.m., ESPN: Houston’s Tom Herman, he of the Urban Meyer coaching tree, tests wits against Jimbo Fisher, who led the Seminoles to a national title in 2013 and College Football Playoff semifinal last season. Winner: Houston
Orange, Clemson (13-0) vs. Oklahoma (11-1), Dec. 31, 1 p.m., ESPN: Clemson’s Deshaun Watson and Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield are playmaking quarterbacks. Sooners fans do not have fond memories of their last Orange Bowl appearance in 2005: USC 55, Oklahoma 19. Winner: Clemson
Cotton, Alabama (12-1) vs. Michigan State (12-1), Dec. 31, 5 p.m., ESPN: Now that Derrick Henry has the Heisman, maybe Lane Kiffin will keep giving him ball like he should have in last season’s semifinal against Ohio State. If Michigan State wins, it might be wise to keep Connor Cook off the podium. Winner: Alabama
Outback, Northwestern (10-2) vs. Tennessee (8-4), Jan. 1, 9 a.m., ESPN2: The Outback isn’t a major bowl, but Tennessee Coach Butch Jones just got a $500,000 raise, increasing his salary to $4.1 million. Northwestern has never won 11 games in a season. Winner: Northwestern
Citrus, Michigan (9-3) vs. Florida (10-3), Jan. 1, 10 a.m., Channel 7: Both first-year coaches revitalized their programs. Jim Harbaugh’s Wolverines lost to Utah, Michigan State and Ohio State. Florida’s Jim McElwain was SEC coach of the year. Winner: Florida
Fiesta, Ohio State (11-1) vs. Notre Dame (10-2), Jan. 1, 10 a.m., ESPN: Former Irish assistant Urban Meyer was Utah’s coach when he opted for Florida over South Bend before 2005 season. Brian Kelly joked they would arm wrestle before the game and “whoever wins gets the Notre Dame job.” Winner: Ohio State
Rose, Iowa (12-1) vs. Stanford (11-2), Jan. 1, 2 p.m., ESPN: Hawkeyes fans descend on Pasadena for the first time since 1990 season. National television audience finally gets a decent TV window to see Christian McCaffrey and what all the Heisman buzz was about. Winner: Stanford
Sugar, Mississippi (9-3) vs. Oklahoma State (10-2), Jan. 1, 5:30 p.m., ESPN: Mississippi beat Alabama, Auburn and LSU in the same season for the first time. Oklahoma State has not played in the Sugar Bowl since 1945, when it defeated St. Mary’s. Winner: Mississippi
TaxSlayer, Penn State (7-5) vs. Georgia (9-3), Jan. 2, 9 a.m., ESPN: Georgia is playing between the Mark Richt and Kirby Smart eras. Penn State is 3-0 against interim-coached teams this season, defeating Rutgers, Illinois and Maryland. Winner: Georgia
Liberty, Kansas State (6-6) vs. Arkansas (7-5), Jan. 2, 12:15 p.m., ESPN: Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema was co-defensive coordinator under Bill Snyder at Kansas State in 2002-03. Back then, Snyder joked, Bielema “was about 200 pounds lighter.” Winner: Arkansas
Alamo, Texas Christian (10-2) vs. Oregon (9-3), Jan. 2, 3:45 p.m.; ESPN: TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin and Oregon quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. make this must-see TV and one of the highlights of the bowl season. Winner: Oregon
Cactus, West Virginia (7-5) vs. Arizona State (6-6), Jan. 2, 7:15 p.m., ESPN: Coach Dana Holgorsen recently got a vote of confidence from West Virginia’s athletic director. Arizona State tries to avoid its first losing season since 2011 after opening as a projected title contender in the Pac-12 South. Winner: Arizona State
College Football Championship, Jan. 11, 5:30 p.m., ESPN
Prediction: With Derrick Henry running the ball and Alabama’s defense controlling the line of scrimmage against Clemson, Nick Saban wins his fifth national title.