As Jim Nantz would say, it’s all come down to this. Our final official NCAA Football Bowl games are all happening on New Year’s Day, with the official College Football National Championship game slotted in for Jan. 8.
Considering that a “New Year’s Day Bowl” seems to be a solid consolation prize for teams missing out on the CFP, we get an all-star line up of participants, for the most part, save a Liberty team that is sure to be boat raced out of State Farm Stadium. Actually, until we hit the actual playoff games, all these lines are huge and probably should be.
It’s been a fun holiday season. Since the Wednesday before Christmas we’ve had football of some kind on every single day. We’ll miss this, even the ridiculous Group of 5 nobody matchups, when March hits. We always do.
Let’s celebrate college football, the crowning of the correct national champion and laughing at the losers who thought they had a remote shot at hoisting a trophy.
MONDAY
RELIAQUEST BOWL
WISCONSIN VS LSU (-10, O/U: 55)
Location: Raymond Janes Stadium, Tampa, Fla.
Broadcast: ESPN2
Kickoff: Jan. 1, Noon
If you thought ReliaQuest was an old Commodore 64 role playing game, you’ll be shocked to learn you were almost correct. They’re a computer security company. What does that mean and what does it entail? I don’t know and have chosen a life where I never have to learn it. The Badgers (7-5) come into this game on a two-game winning streak that halted three-game losing streak. The No. 13 Tigers (9-3) won their last three, with big victories over Florida and Texas A&M and celebrated a Heisman Trophy winner in Jayden Daniels. It will not surprise you to learn that Daniels will not be playing in this game and will instead focus on April’s NFL Draft, where he’ll likely end up a Top 5, if not Top 3, pick. LSU 34, Wisconsin 20
VIBO FIESTA BOWL
LIBERTY VS OREGON (-17, O/U: 67)
Location: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Ariz.
Broadcast: ESPN
Kickoff: Jan. 1, 1 p.m.
I had no idea what Vibo was before I Googled it and can now only remember back to happier times with a sad, sweet regret. You see, it’s a DJ Music and Event Planning App and everything in that sentence sounds like a nightmare. No one is a DJ. That’s not a real thing. The No. 23 ranked Flames (13-0) never lost a game this season and never played a ranked team before they’ll face off against the No. 8 Ducks (11-2). Oregon’s only two losses on the year were to No. 2 Washington, who is in the College Football playoff. This spread looks solid. Oregon 44, Liberty 20
CHEEZ-IT CITRUS BOWL
IOWA VS TENNESSEE (-8, O/U: 36)
Location: Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Fla.
Broadcast: ABC
Kickoff: Jan. 1, 1 p.m.
Why is Cheez-It sponsoring the Citrus Bowl? Seems like there’s a plethora of juice companies that would be a better fit. Cheezy crackers and orange slices sounds like a snack your kid would get in kindergarten. The No. 17 ranked Hawkeyes (10-3) bring the worst offense in the FBS to the middle of Florida to face off against the No. 21 Volunteers (8-4). Steve Spurrier used to say that you can’t spell “Citrus” without a “U” and “T” so this bowl is definitely considered a consolation prize. Iowa won four straight with its defense before getting shutout by No. 1 Michigan in the Big 12 Championship. UT halted a two-game losing streak by trouncing Vanderbilt as they always do to wrap the regular season. Joe Milton won’t be playing in this one as he preps for the NFL Combine and Draft so it’s Nico Iamaleava time, which means I’ll have to finally learn how to actually spell his name. This is a Tua Tagovailoa nightmare all over again. Tennessee 34, Iowa 17
CFP SEMIFINAL AT THE ROSE BOWL PRESENTED BY PRUDENTIAL
ALABAMA VS MICHIGAN (-1.5, O/U: 44.5)
Location: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Calif.
Broadcast: ABC
Kickoff: Jan. 1, 5 p.m.
Here we go. The College Football Playoff Bowl with the longest official name shows up first as the No. 4 Crimson Tide (12-1) face off against the No. 1 ranked Wolverines (13-0). Alabama’s only loss of the season was to No. 3 Texas and they cleared the rest of their board with 11 straight wins, including grinding out a 27-24 victory in the Iron Bowl against Auburn. Michigan kept their worksheet clean, beating Ohio State in their regular season finale before crushing Iowa in the Big 12 title game. I like the upset here. Alabama 27, Michigan 23
CFP SEMIFINAL AT THE ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL
TEXAS VS WASHINGTON (+4, O/U: 63)
Location: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, La.
Broadcast: ESPN
Kickoff: Jan. 1, 8:45 p.m.
I could complain that they’ve made the Sugar Bowl one of the College Football Playoff games and not put the SEC team in it, but considering Texas is joining the league next season, it’s fine. The Longhorns (12-1) only lost a single game this season, a 34-30 shootout with then No. 12 Oklahoma. They are, as of this writing, the only team to beat No. 4 Alabama this season and closed out their year with wins over then No. 23 Kansas State and No. 18 Oklahoma State on their way to their final Big 12 title. The No. 2 ranked Huskies (13-0) have been doubted all season and all they’ve done is win every game, including five over ranked opponents on their way to their final Pac-12 championship. I’ve been thinking about these CFP games since the bracket was announced and, for the first time ever, I’m going with both lower seeds and doubting Washington once more. You are welcome, Huskies. Texas 34, Washington 30
Last week
Straight up: 3-6
Against the spread: 6-3
Season
Straight up: 35-38
Against the spread: 38-35
Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan.
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