One of my favorite days of the year is here! I love New Years Day for one reason and one reason only. BOWL GAMES!
Outback Bowl (Noon ET) Michigan vs. South Carolina (+9): Give me the Wolverines in the Outback Bowl all day. Jim Harbaugh and his staff have had over a month to prepare for this game. That means that not only did Michigan prepare for South Carolina, but they went back and did some fundamental work as well. That is critical for the Wolverines, especially on offense.
Will Muschanp has done a great job turning the South Carolina program around. However, I think the Gamecocks will struggle today because they don’t match up with Michigan talent wise.
I am leery of putting my money on Brandon Peters and the Wolverines but it’s not Peters I am betting on. It’s the Michigan defense I am putting my money on. They will get consistent pressure on Jake Bentley and shut down the South Carolina offense.
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (12:30 p.m. ET) No. 7 Auburn vs. No. 12 UCF (+9.5): It’s the physicality of the Auburn run game versus the speed and athleticism of Central Florida. The Knights have been fun to watch this season thanks to quarterback MacKenzie Milton. The diminutive sophomore dual threat quarterback threw for almost 4,000 yards and 35 touchdown passes.
Milton and UCF’s talented skill group will give Auburn all they can handle but they also haven’t faced a front seven like Auburn’s. not only that, they haven’t faced a running game like Auburn’s.
Tigers running back Kerryon Johnson is a load. He runs down hill and consistently breaks tackles. He will be tough to stop. Auburn puts defenses in a bind. If you load up the box to stop Johnson, Jarrett Stidham can make you pay over the top in play action.
All of that sounds good but something tells me that Central Florida will come to play. I have a feeling the Knights will keep pace with Auburn and lose a tight game. I’m taking Central Florida as a dog.
Citrus Bowl presented by Overton’s (1 p.m. ET) No. 14 Notre Dame vs. No. 17 LSU (-3): LSU is going through some staff turmoil with offensive coordinator Matt Canada being rumored to depart the program.
Will that affect them in today’s game? It could but let’s be honest, it doesn’t matter who calls the plays for LSU. The M.O is to get the ball to Derrius Guice. Guice will be the focal point against an aggressive Norte Dame defense that likes to pressure the quarterback.
Defensively, the Tigers will have their hands full with dual threat quarterback Brandon Winbush. Wimbush was unstoppable the first six weeks of the season but has really tailed off of late.
Wimbush and tailback Josh Adams are an imposing tandem that run down hill and put a lot of pressure on defensive fronts. They will challenge LSU’s athletic front seven.
This game will be tight throughout and it will come down to which team can control the clock and get key stops down the down stretch. I’m taking LSU. I think the Tigers will pull it out late.
Rose Bowl (National Semifinal, 5 p.m. ET) No. 2 Oklahoma vs. No. 3 Georgia (-3.5): Alabama, Clemson will get all the hype but by the end of the night, we might be calling this the game of the year. I really believe it has the potential to be that good of a game.
Both defenses will have their hands full trying to stop the run. Georgia has three legit backs in Nick Chubb, Sony Michel and D’Andre Swift. All three can impact this game in different ways.
The focal point of the Oklahoma offense is Baker Mayfield but redshirt sophomore running back Rodney Anderson has been a good compliment to Mayfield and gives the Sooners offense balance.
Both teams make big plays in the passing game, especially Oklahoma. The Sooners will have a hard time early on adjusting to the speed of the Georgia’s defense. They will get pressure on Mayfield. How the Sooners deal with that pressure will be a big key to whether or not they can win this game. If Georgia has success getting to Mayfield, the Sooners could be in for a long afternoon.
The same can be said for Jake Fromm and the Bulldogs passing game. Oklahoma’s front four will get pressure on him. Fromm must prove he can deal with the pressure and get the ball out quickly.
I don’t you will see a shootout in this game. Georgia will try to slow things down by pounding the ball and keep Mayfield on the sideline. That will keep the score down. That is why I am taking Georgia to win by a field goal. Their ability to run the football and play good defense will be the difference in this game.
Sugar Bowl (National Semifinal, 8:45 p.m. ET) No. 1 Clemson (+3.5) vs. No. 4 Alabama: Who will the third installment of what has become the best rivalry in college football? I’m putting my money on Clemson.
Both teams have dual threat quarterbacks in Kelly Bryant and Jalen Hurts and both teams play great defense. The reason I am picking Clemson is because I think they have the ability to make more big plays than Alabama. They know how to attack Alabama’s defense and expose their weaknesses. They’ve done each of the last two years.
Alabama’s best chance to win this game is to run the ball with Bo Scarborough and Damien Harris and control the clock. That is easier said than done. Clemson’s front seven did a good job of limiting Bama’s running game in the national championship and I expect them to do the same in this game.
This game will be tight but in the end, I think Clemson’s ability to match up with Alabama and make big plays will be the difference in what should be a great game.