Preview & Predictions for Every Bowl Game, Including the National Championship
By Nathan Deal
Dec 6, 2014; Fort Worth, TX, USA; TCU Horned Frogs quarterback Trevone Boykin (2) and safety Sam Carter (17) and defensive tackle Chucky Hunter (96) lift the Big 12 championship trophy up after the victory against the Iowa State Cyclones at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
New Year’s Eve
Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl: #6 TCU vs. #9 Ole Miss. TCU’s playoff hopes were crushed Sunday afternoon, when the playoff committee moved the Horned Frogs from #3 to #6, despite the fact they won a share of the Big 12 and beat Iowa State 55-3. Now, Gary Patterson’s crew has to pick themselves up and prepare for one of the nation’s best defenses, the Ole Miss Rebels. The Rebels have one of the best defenses in college football, while TCU has one of the best offenses, so this match-up is very appealing. The difference in this game is TCU’s defense. They’re not among the best units in the country, but they’re a solid unit, and Ole Miss’ offense has been inconsistent all year, whether it be the Good Bo Wallace/Bad Bo Wallace narrative or the ground game that only works in spurts. #6 TCU 30, #9 Ole Miss 24
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Fiesta Bowl: #10 Arizona vs. #20 Boise State. Well, the Pac-12 Championship Game didn’t go the way the Wildcats wanted it to. RichRod’s offense gained 25 yards in the first half and a last-play touchdown cut the Oregon Ducks’ lead to 51-13. Now, the Wildcats face the highest-ranked “Group of Five” program, 11-2 Boise State, in a glorified home game at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. The crowd will be almost entirely in support of Arizona. This bowl game has been home to some surprising upsets in the past, like Boise State over Oklahoma in 2007, West Virginia over Oklahoma in 2008 and UCF over Baylor last season. I think this is another upset opportunity, as the Broncos have caught fire over the past few months and I’m not sure how Arizona will respond to the beating Oregon gave them. #20 Boise State 41, #10 Arizona 30
Orange Bowl: #7 Mississippi State vs. #12 Georgia Tech. Dan Mullen’s program reached new heights this season, producing a star in QB Dak Prescott and climbing to the #1 ranking in the polls for the first time in school history, then holding onto that spot for a month. On the other side is Georgia Tech, whose triple-option offense cut up ACC defenses in route to 10 wins and a berth in the ACC Championship. Mississippi State statistically actually had one of the SEC’s worst defenses this year, allowing 412 yards per game. On the outside, that would look like a good thing for Georgia Tech. However, the Bulldogs actually boast a great run defense because the front seven is among the best in all of college football. Mississippi State also has a month to prepare for the Yellow Jackets’ attack, and recent history has shown that Georgia Tech’s offense has struggled in bowl games. I see this trend continuing as Mississippi State picks up its 11th win. #7 Mississippi State 35, #12 Georgia Tech 21
Next: New Year's Day