In the new world of bowl games in an enlarged College Football Playoff setting, they may range – at least for the ordinary fan; not you, because you’re here and obviously more advanced – from excessive to wonderful.
Essentially, the first wave of bowl games will begin in mid-December, followed by the first round of the CFP, the holidays, and then it will be all about the NFL Playoffs while we wait for the College Football Playoff to launch in full force with the bigger games, and…
Nebraska is in a bowl game, Michigan is playing among the regulars, and schools that had outstanding seasons like SMU and Arizona State will find a home – and a FANTASTIC matchup if this happens – as will BYU, USC, and… Texas.
(Seriously, find a solid win and convince us that the committee will pick this squad even if it loses to Texas A&M.)
It’s college football in late December and early January, and we’re all going to watch because it’ll be amazing. At the very least, there will be something exciting to wager on.
Bowl Projections: December 27 to January 4
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
Friday, December 27
12:00 or 3:30, ESPN
Amon G Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, TX
Bowl Affiliations: AAC, CUSA, Big 12
Last Season: Air Force 31, James Madison 21
Bowl Projection: Navy vs Texas Tech
Last Week: Navy vs Baylor
Birmingham Bowl
Friday, December 27
12:00 or 3:30, ESPN
Protective Stadium, Birmingham, AL
Bowl Affiliations: AAC, ACC, CUSA, SEC
Last Season: Duke 17, Troy 10
Bowl Projection: Boston College vs South Alabama
Last Week: Boston College vs North Texas
AutoZone Liberty Bowl
Friday, December 27
7:00, ESPN
Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, Memphis, TN
Bowl Affiliations: Big 12, SEC
Last Season: Memphis 36, Iowa State 26
Bowl Projection: West Virginia vs Vanderbilt
Last Week: West Virginia vs Vanderbilt
DIRECTV Holiday Bowl
Friday, December 27
8:00, FOX
Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, CA
Bowl Affiliations: ACC, Former Pac-12
Last Season: USC 42, Louisville 28
Bowl Projection: SMU vs Arizona State
Last Week: SMU vs Colorado
SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl
Friday, December 27
10:30, ESPN
Reliant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV
Bowl Affiliations: SEC Former Pac-12
Last Season: Northwestern 14, Utah 7
Bowl Projection: Cal vs Arkansas
Last Week: Washington State vs Arkansas
Wasabi Fenway Bowl
Saturday, December 28
11:00, ESPN
Fenway Park, Boston, MA
Bowl Affiliations: AAC, ACC
Last Season: Boston College 23, SMU 14
Bowl Projection: Tulane vs Pitt
Last Week: Tulane vs Pitt
Isleta New Mexico Bowl
Saturday, December 28
2:15, ESPN
University Stadium, Albuquerque, NM
Bowl Affiliations: AAC, MW, CUSA, MAC, Sun Belt
Last Season: Fresno State 37, New Mexico State 10
Bowl Projection: UTSA vs New Mexico
Last Week: East Carolina vs Texas State
Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl
Saturday, December 28
12:00, ABC
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Bowl Affiliations: ACC, Big Ten
Last Season: Rutgers 31, Miami 24
Bowl Projection: Georgia Tech vs Nebraska
Last Week: Georgia Tech vs Nebraska
Pop-Tarts Bowl
Saturday, December 28
3:30, ABC
Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL
Bowl Affiliations: ACC, Big 12
Last Season: Kansas State 28, NC State 19
Bowl Projection: Syracuse vs Iowa State
Last Week: Duke vs Iowa State
Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl
Saturday, December 28
4:30, CW Network
Arizona Stadium, Tucson, AZ
Bowl Affiliations: MAC, MW
Last Season: Wyoming 16, Toledo 15
Bowl Projection: Northern Illinois vs Georgia Southern
Last Week: Buffalo vs ULM
Go Bowling Military Bowl
Saturday, December 28
5:45, ESPN
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, MD
Bowl Affiliations: AAC, ACC
Last Season: Virginia Tech 41, Tulane 20
Bowl Projection: Army vs Virginia Tech
Last Week: Army vs NC State
Valero Alamo Bowl
Saturday, December 28
7:30, ABC
Alamodome, San Antonio, TX
Bowl Affiliations: Big 12 Former Pac-12
Last Season: Arizona 38, Oklahoma 24
Bowl Projection: BYU vs USC
Last Week: BYU vs UCLA
Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl
Saturday, December 28
9:15, ESPN
Independence Stadium, Shreveport, LA
Bowl Affiliations: AAC, Former Pac-12
Last Season: Texas Tech 34, Cal 14
Bowl Projection: Memphis vs Duke
Last Week: Memphis vs Cal
TransPerfect Music City Bowl
Monday, December 30
2:30, ESPN
Nissan Stadium, Nashville, TN
Bowl Affiliations: Big Ten, SEC
Last Season: Maryland 31, Auburn 13
Bowl Projection: Minnesota vs Missouri
Last Week: Minnesota vs South Carolina
ReliaQuest Bowl
Tuesday, December 31
12:00, ESPN
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
Bowl Affiliations: Big Ten, SEC, ACC
Last Season: LSU 35, Wisconsin 31
Bowl Projection: Iowa vs Tennessee
Last Week: Illinois vs Tennessee
Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl
Tuesday, December 31
2:00, CBS
Sun Bowl, El Paso, TX
Bowl Affiliations: ACC, Former Pac-12
Last Season: Notre Dame 40, Oregon State 8
Bowl Projection: North Carolina vs Washington State
Last Week: Syracuse vs Arizona State
Cheez-It Citrus Bowl
Tuesday, December 31
3:00, CBS
Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL
Bowl Affiliations: Big Ten, SEC
Last Season: Tennessee 35, Iowa 0
Bowl Projection: Illinois vs Texas
Last Week: Iowa vs Texas
TaxAct Texas Bowl
Tuesday, December 31
3:30, ESPN
NRG Stadium, Houston, TX
Bowl Affiliations: Big 12, SEC
Last Season: Oklahoma State 31, Texas A&M 23
Bowl Projection: Kansas State vs LSU
Last Week: Texas Tech vs Missouri
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
Thursday, January 2
7:30, ESPN
TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville, FL
Bowl Affiliations: ACC, SEC
Last Season: Clemson 38, Kentucky 35
Bowl Projection: Miami vs South Carolina
Last Week: Miami vs LSU
SERVPRO First Responder Bowl
Friday, January 3
4:00, ESPN
Gerald R Ford Stadium, University Park, TX
Bowl Affiliations: CUSA, Gof5
Last Season: Texas State 45, Rice 21
Bowl Projection: Sam Houston vs Arkansas State
Last Week: Sam Houston vs Arkansas State
Duke’s Mayo Bowl
Friday, January 3
7:30, ESPN
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
Bowl Affiliations: ACC, Big Ten
Last Season: West Virginia 30, North Carolina 10
Bowl Projection: Louisville vs Michigan
Last Week: Louisville vs Michigan
Bahamas Bowl
Saturday, January 4
11:00 am, ESPN/ESPN2
Thomas A Robinson National Stadium, Nassau, Bahamas
Bowl Affiliations: CUSA, MAC
Last Season: WKU 38, Old Dominion 35 OT
Bowl Projection: Liberty vs Buffalo
Last Week: Jacksonville State vs Bowling Green