The Gridiron Breakdown: College Bowl Games Check In

So far, I'm 6-2 on my Bowl Game picks. (Original Post).

Here is a reminder of what I picked for the games from Dec. 22-Dec. 29. Enjoy your holidays!

DECEMBER 21 
Bahamas Nassau Bowl, Bahamas 12:30 p.m. (ESPN) 
 Toledo (7-5) vs. FIU (8-4) 
This is a bowl sponsored by a Chicago suburb. Yeah, nothing shady there at all. FIU was close to being 10-2 this year and have a good quarterback who can throw and run. The Rockets are no slouches but the Panthers overall team speed is the difference here. 
FIU 24, Toledo 22 

Idaho Potato Bowl Boise, Idaho 4 p.m. (ESPN) 
BYU (6-6) vs. W. Michigan (7-5) 
The Broncos ride onto the blue turf ready to french BYU. However this BYU team has learned a few things and, despite the record, aren't the lesser team here. BYU wins this in the trenches.
BYU 24, W. Michigan 21 

DECEMBER 22 
Birmingham Bowl Birmingham, Ala. Noon (ESPN) 
Wake Forest (6-6) vs. Memphis (8-5) 
Last time Memphis came to the Ham it didn't go so well, but this Wake team doesn't have the horses on defense to keep up with that Tigers' run game. 
Memphis 36, Wake Forest 23 

Armed Forces Bowl Fort Worth, Texas 3:30 p.m. (ESPN) 
Army (10-2) vs. Houston (8-4) 
Army may only have the ball for six drives but they will score on four of them and hold the ball for over 40 minutes against the Cougs. 
Army 20, Houston 14 

Dollar General Bowl Mobile, Ala. 7 p.m. (ESPN) 
Buffalo (10-3) vs. Troy (9-3) 
Could nickname this the disappointment bowl as both teams hoped to win conferences and both coaches hoped to get pulled up to the next level. Oh, well. Enjoy scenic Mobile, AL and lock your doors when you park. 
Buffalo 22, Troy 17 

Hawaii Bowl Honolulu 10:30 p.m. (ESPN) 
Hawaii (8-5) vs. La. Tech (7-5) 
Nick Rolovich has made Hawaii football fun again and unlike some teams (USF) they like playing on the home turf. La. Tech is tough but not deep enough to hang with the 'Bows who can score fast and furious. 
Hawaii 31, La. Tech 24 

DECEMBER 26 
Quick Lane Bowl Detroit 5:15 p.m. (ESPN) 
Minnesota (6-6) vs. Georgia Tech (7-5) 
I'd like to see Paul Johnson ride that option attack to a final win but the Gophers defense has come to life late in the season. While they don't see the option much, Minnesota is fast enough to play here and keep this interesting. 
Minnesota 30, Georgia Tech 26 

Cheez-It Bowl Phoenix, Az 9 p.m. (ESPN) 
TCU (6-6) vs. California (7-5) 
TCU is a shell of their former selves while Cal continues to improve and the Bears defense shouldn't have trouble containing the Horned Frogs in the crackers bowl. 
Cal 30, TCU 16 

DECEMBER 27 
Independence Bowl Shreveport, La. 1:30 p.m. (ESPN) 
Temple (8-4) vs. Duke (7-5) 
NO SEC teams in the Independence Bowl?!? What's the world coming to? This game will be as boring and unwatchable as a botanical gardens event in Shreveport. 
Duke 20, Temple 16 

Pinstripe Bowl New York, NY 5:15 p.m. (ESPN) 
Miami (7-5) vs. Wisconsin (7-5) 
Miami fans will feel at home here. Wisconsin's offensive line is garbage. Is it less garbage than Miami's? Nope. 'Canes can still run the ball. 
Miami 24, Wisconsin 21 

Texas Bowl Houston 9 p.m. (ESPN) 
Baylor (6-6) vs. Vanderbilt (6-6) 
Vanderbilt doesn't do anything flashy or great, per se. They do play for four quarters though. Baylor is still learning how to be a real football team after being nuked from orbit a few years ago. However, they will have the crowd. 
Baylor 29, Vanderbilt 27 

DECEMBER 28 
Music City Bowl Nashville, Tenn. 1:30 p.m. (ESPN) 
Auburn (7-5) vs. Purdue (6-6) 
Auburn needs to bracket Rondale Moore and they can contain the Purdue offense. The Auburn offense doesn't have to be great to move the ball on this bunch. If the Tigers show up interested, they should win with ease. 
Auburn 31, Purdue 17 

Camping World Bowl Orlando, Fla. 5:15 p.m. (ESPN) 
W. Virginia (8-3) vs. Syracuse (9-3) 
The Mountaineers have to go without Will Grier but that offense system produces points no matter the triggerman. Syracuse is stout-ish on defense and can run the ball. If the Orange can keep the turnovers at bay, they should win. 
Syracuse 34, West Virginia 31 

Alamo Bowl San Antonio 9 p.m. (ESPN) 
Iowa State (8-4) vs. Washington State (10-2) 
The Cyclones will have their hands full with Mike Leach's offense in a domed stadium. However, Iowa State has played and beaten that (West Virginia) already this year and David Montgomery can run for daylight on the Cougs porous defense. 
Iowa State 24, Washington State 20 

DECEMBER 29 
Peach Bowl Atlanta Noon (ESPN) 
Michigan (10-2) vs. Florida (9-3) 
If you think you've seen this before, you have, many times. This one won't be any more interesting. Florida is finding it's groove. Michigan's defense is good but they are a slower version of LSU. Florida's overall speed and depth give them the edge. 
Florida 27, Michigan 20 

Belk Bowl Charlotte, N.C. 12:30 p.m. (ABC) 
South Carolina (7-5) vs. Virginia (7-5) 
Virginia's defense isn't good and South Carolina's Jake Bentley should be able to pick them apart through the air all day. It'll probably be cold and rainy. More people will be driving around Uptown Charlotte than at this game. 
South Carolina 31, Virginia 14 

Arizona Bowl Tucson, Ariz. 1:15 p.m. (CBSSN) 
Nevada (7-5) vs. Arkansas St. (8-4) 
Arkansas State doesn't have much of a defense but they have an offense that can give any team fits. Nevada's good enough to neutralize that if they can control the ball but that's a tall task for the Wolf Pack. I like the Red Wolves here. Dog fight. 
Arkansas State 45, Nevada 34 

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF
DECEMBER 29 
Cotton Bowl Arlington, Texas 4 p.m. (ESPN) 
No. 2 Clemson (13-0) vs. No. 3 Notre Dame (12-0) 
Notre Dame beat a bunch of meh to bad ACC teams to get here. So, it's only fair they play the best ACC team. Clemson's weakness on defense is in the DBs but you have to keep that front seven off your QB long enough to do something about it. On offense, Clemson is a lot like Georgia last year (or now, actually) and keyed off the run game to set up high-percentage throws from a young stud at QB. The Domers will make this look good for a long time as Ian Book really gives them a good chance with how he directs the offensive attack. Clemson's depth is just too much to overlook. The Tigers roll two and three deep everywhere except QB. Even if they just ran wildcat the whole second half, I still think they can win. Clemson's the better team. 
Clemson 31, Notre Dame 20 

Orange Bowl Miami Gardens, Fla. 8 p.m. (ESPN) 
No. 1 Alabama (13-0) vs. No. 4 Oklahoma (12-1) 
Oklahoma's offense is going to score points here. Alabama's defense is phenominal but the Sooners know their chance is go fast, go hard, and score every time they can. I expect Kyler Murray is going to get his in this game. Problem is the Oklahoma defense gives up too many yards and points (especially on the ground). While Alabama's attack has been pass-heavy this year, they can still rush with the best of them. I think that's what we'll see here. Similar to how Georgia got by Oklahoma last year, Alabama's run game should find plenty of room to roll. That works well for the Tide especially if Tua is still injured or just limited. It's a scorefest for a half but there may not be a team that adjusts at halftime better than Alabama. 
Alabama 51, Oklahoma 34