Here’s a look at tomorrow’s slate:

TaxSlayer Gator Bowl

Them Dawgs (No.23) (8-4) vs. Nebraska (8-4)

EverBank Field, Jacksonville (67,164)

Noon ET/ 11 AM CT

ESPN2

Mike Patrick, Ed Cunningham and Jeannine Edwards

Refs: Pac 12, Michael Batian

Coaches: Mark Richt, Georgia: 13 years, 126-44 (74%); Bo Pelini, Nebraska, six years, 57-24 (70%)

Surface: Grass

Weather: Showers, 60%, 61 @kickoff, wind E @3

Line: Georgia by 9

Should be an interesting matchup of excellent running backs. Ameer Abdullah, who went to Homewood High School in Birmingham, has rushed for 1,568 yards and eight TDs. He’s averaged 130.7 yards on the season. Of course, the Dawgs have the awesome Todd Gurley, who rushed for 903 yards in just nine games–he struggled with some injuries–but ran for 122 and three TDs in an awesome performance against Ga Tech in the season finale for the Dawgs. He’s fantastic as we know. Hutson Mason filling in for Aaron Murray, who had the terrible luck of a torn ACL in the next to last game of the season, completed 22-of-36 for 299 and two TDs with one int against Tech. Hutson did a real nice job. Hutson needs a good game tomorrow as the Dawgs look towards next year with excitement if Hutson can produce. Safety Josh Harvey-Clemons and backup cornerback Sheldon Dawson, a good player, are suspended and will not play. Still like Gurley, Mason and the Dawgs to get this done. This was a very young defense this year in Athens. The future looks bright in 2014. It starts tomorrow in Jacksonville. Could be lower scoring though because of the rain. Nebraska without starting quarterback Taylor Martinez, who is out with an injury.

Dawgs 31, Cornhuskers 21

 

Heart of Texas Bowl

North Texas Mean Green (8-4) vs. UNLV Runnin Rebels (7-5)

Dallas, Cotton Bowl (92,100)

Noon ET/11 AM CT

ESPNU

Clay Matvick, Matt Stinchcomb and Dawn Davenport

Refs: MAC, Ron Snidgrass

Weather: 55, sunny, wind SSW @ 11

Line: North Texas by 6 1/2

Mean Green 37, UNLV 30

Capital One Bowl

No.8 South Carolina Gamecocks (10-2) vs. No.19 Wisconsin

Badgers (9-3)

Citrus Bowl Stadium, Orlando (70,000)

1 PM ET/Noon CT

ABC

Dave Pasch, Brian Griese and Luges

Coaches: Ball Coach, 24 years, 218-79-2 (73%), Bowls: 9-10; Wisconsin: Gary Anderson: 39-34 overall in five years, 9-3, first year at Wisconsin, bowls: 1-1

Refs: Pac 12, Jay Stricherz

Surface: Artificial

Weather: 40% chance of showers, 66 @ kickoff, wind NE @ 9 MPH

Line: Whisky by 1

These are two solid football teams with good running games, particularly Wisconsin’s, though Mike Davis of South Carolina is a stud. Davis ran for 1,134 yards and 11 TDs. But the Badgers have two guys who can rack up the yards. Melvin Gordon has rushed for 1,465 yards on 8.1 yards per carry. Senior James White has rushed for 1,337 yards and 15 TDs. But I still like Davis, the tough as nails Connor Shaw and Ball Coach to get it done in an SEC-Big Ten showdown. Should be a good game.

South Carolina 28, Wisconsin 24

 

Outback Bowl

Iowa Hawkeyes (8-4) vs. No.14 LSU Bengal Tigers (9-3)

Raymond James Stadium, Tampa (65,857)

1 PM ET/Noon CT

ESPN

Tirico, Gruden and Lisa (Monday Night football crew)

Coaches: The Hatter, 13 years, 9 @ LSU. 122-45 overall (73%), 94-24 @ LSU (80%), 6-5 bowls; Iowa: Kirk Ferentz 108-78, 6-4 bowl

Refs: Big 12, Greg Burks

Surface: Grass

Weather: 40% chance of showers, 65, wind NE @ 11

Line: Bengal Tigers by 8

Like Jeremy Hill’s 1,185 yards and 11 TDs and Jarvis Landry’s 75 catches for 1,172 yards and 10 TDs and Odell Beckham’s 1,117 yards and 8 TDs in this one. I like freshman quarterback Anthony Jenningsm who will play in place of the injured Zach Mettenberger, who had a good year and is looking at the NFL draft next, once he rehabs his knee. Jennings came in against Arkansas when Zach got hurt and did an excellent job completing six of 10 passes for 99 yards and the game winning touxhdown, a 49-yard toss to Travin Dural, in a 31-27 LSU win. The Hatter is so much fun, and he wins 80% of his game, so he’s gettin it done in Baton Rouge. Fun guy. Like the Hatter tomorrow.

LSU  31, Iowa 20

 

The 100th Rose Bowl

No.4 Michigan State Spartans (12-1) vs. No.5 Stanford

Cardinal (11-2)

5 PM ET/ 4 PM CT/ 2 PM Pacific

ESPN

Brent, Herbie and Heather

Refs: Big 12, Mike Defee

Surface: Grass

Weather: Sunny California, 75, 0% rain, Wind w @ 4

Line: Stanford by 6 1/2

A few breaks here or there and these two teams had a chance to play for it all. David Shaw and Mark Dantonio are excellent coaches at Stanford and Michigan State respectively. Both teams play physical defense and grind it out with the run game on offense. Both teams have excellent backs. But the Spartans are without their defensive leader linebacker Max Bullough and that hurts. Plus, even with Bullough playing, I don’t think the Spartans can hang with this outstanding, powerful football team. A lot of broadcasters are saying what a close game this is going to be, but I don’t agree. Stanford with Tyler Gaffney and the running game and that awesome defense will control this game. Like the Cardinal to win handily.Michigan State hasn’t seen a physical, athletic team like this in the Big Ten.

Stanford 24, Michigan State 14

 

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl

No.6 Baylor Bears (11-1) vs. No.15 Central Florida Knights

(11-1)

University of Phoenix Stadium, Phoenix (63,400)

8:30 PM ET/7:30 CT

ESPN

Sean McDonough, Chris Spielman and Shannon Spake

Refs: SEC, Tom Ritter

Surface: Grass

Weather: 68 clear, wind 3 MPH

Line: Baylor by 17

This line is right and will be worse for UCF. Art Briles has done an excellent job at Baylor and Texas or the Redskins would be smart to hire him,m particularly the Redskins who have his former pupil, RGIIi as the starting quarterback. He helped RGIII win the Heisman Trophy and Griffin needs somebody to straighten him out. He’s been a head case. Maybe he’s always been, but Briles knew how to coach him up. George O’Leary’s done an excellent job at UCF, but this is going to be a long night for him and his team.

Baylor, 55, UCF 28

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advocare V100 Bowl

Boston College Eagles (7-5) vs. Arizona Wildcats (7-5)

Independence Stadium, Shreveport, Louisiana (65,000)

12:30 PM ET/11:30 AM CT

ESPN

Broadcasters: Tom Bart, John Congemi and Niki Noto (hyper)

Refs: Mountain West, Alan Eck

Surface: Artificial

Weather: Partly cloudy, 42 @ kickoff, 0% rain, Wind ENE 3 MPH

Line: ‘Zona by 7

After Arizona State flopped last night against Texas Tech (a 37-23 loss), I’m starting to believe less in the PAC 12 and more in the Big 12. Two good running backs in this one, Andre Williams of Boston College who ran for more than 2,000 yards this season and 17 touchdowns, and ‘Zona’s Ka’Deem Carey who ran for 1,716 yards and 17 touchdowns too. I like Carey and the Wildcats to get it done here even though I’ve lost some faith in the Pac-12.

Rich Rod-Zona 31, Boston College 28

Hyundai Sun Bowl

Va Tech Hokies  (8-4) VS. UCLA Bruins (9-3)

Sun Bowl Stadium, El Paso, Texas (51,500)

2 PM ET/ 1 CT

CBS

Verne, Gare, Wolf

Refs: Big 12, Scott Novak

Surface: Artificial

Weather: 50 @ kickoff, sunny, wind, 2 MPH SW

Line: UCLA by 7 1/2

I really like Frank Beamer. He does an excellent job for the Hokies and Bud Foster is an excellent defensive coordinator. I looked at the recruiting rankings and he’s doing well in recruiting. He’s one of these guys like S and Ball Coach, you want to see stay in the game as long as possible. But I gotta go against the venerable coach today, though his team will be competitive.  I think Jim Mora at UCLA is a high quality coach as well and the future is very bright out there with him in charge. I’ll say Beamer and his good defensive unit are going to compete hard today, but I like Mora and quarterback Brett Hundley (2,845 passing yards and 22 touchdowns, 67.8% completion percentage) to get it done over Beamer and quarterback Logan Thomas, though I’ve always liked Thomas even though he’s erratic at times. Va Tech just doesn’t have enough offense in this one.

Bruins 28, Hokies 20

 

AutoZone Liberty Bowl

Rice Owls (10-3) vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs (6-6)

Liberty Bowl Stadium, Memphis (61,1008)

4 PM ET/3 CT

ESPN

Bob Wischusen, Rod Gilmore and Quingt Kessenich

Refs: ACC, Ron Cherry

Surface: Artificial

Weather: 44 @ kickoff, sunny, Wind no factor (1 MPH NW)

Line: State by 7

Rice has had a fantastic year winning the conference USA title with a win over a good Marshall team that throttled Maryland last week in the Military Bowl (31-20), but I’m going to go with State and quarterback Dak Prescott. Dak is a runner and a good passer. State has played good defense all year for the most part. Their 17-10 Egg Bowl victory over Ole Miss was special. Like the Bullies to get the job done here.

State 28, Rice 20

 

Chick-fil-A Bowl

No.24 Duke Blue Devils (10-3) vs. No.21 Texas A&M

Aggies (8-4)

Georgia Dome, Atlanta (71,228)

8 PM ET/7 CT

ESPN

Rece, Jess, Dave, Sam

Coaches: A&M: Kevin Sumlin, two seasons at A&M: 19-6; six seasons overall (four at Houston):  54-23; Duke; David Cutcliffe: six seasons at Duke: 31-43; 12 overall (six at Ole Miss) 75-72.

Refs: American Athletic, Jeff Maconaghy, confirmed

Surface: Artificial

Weather: Dome, 70

Line: A&M by 13

David Cutcliffe is another veteran coach who I really think a lot of. He did an exceptional job at Ole Miss and got a raw deal there and has done a terrific job in building Duke football to a highly respectable program. He was also key in getting Peyton Manning back on the football field during his neck issues. Denver is certainly glad Cutcliffe had a hand in that. But I can’t deny Johnny Football here. He’s just too much for the Blue Devils to handle. He’s auditioning for an NFL job, he’s going to go pro after this season. Manziel has completed 270-of-391 passes (69.1%) for 3,732 yards, 33 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He has better overall numbers than he did last year when he won the Heisman and led A&M to an 11-2 season. Kevin Sumlin is a high quality coach as well. Love this guy. A&M is recruiting very well and is positioned to challenge ‘Bama and AU and LSU in the west for the next several years if Sumlin stays. Like the Aggies to get it done pretty big here.

A&M 49, Duke 30

 

Bowl record: 12-7

Against spread, bowls: 10-9

Overall: 137-50 (73%)