The bowl season commences today. There are 40 on the slate including the national championship in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Ahlins, Monday, January 13th, 2020 @ 7 PM CT on ESPN. The playoff games, featuring No.1 LSU vs. No.4 Oklahoma (3 PM CT ESPN) and No.2 Ohio State vs No.3 Clemson (7 PM CT, ESPN), kickoff on Saturday, December 28th, a week from tomorrow. LSU is playing OU in the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta while Ohio State-Clemson play in the Playstation Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, just outside of Phoenix. Captivating stuff there along with No.13 Alabama squaring off with No.14 Michigan on New Year’s Day at 12 PM CT on ABC in the VRBO Citrus Bowl in Camping World Stadium in Orlando and No. 12 Auburn locking horns with No.18 Minnesota at 12 PM CT on ESPN New Year’s Day in the Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. It’s kind of unfortunate both games are on at the same time, but one on the TV and one on the phone is the call there. Looks like the Crimson Tide will be with most of their players. Only linebacker Terrell Lewis and cornerback Trevon Diggs will not suit up to wait for the draft. Both have battled injuries and don’t want to take a chance of getting hurt. Defensive tackle D.J. Dale is injured and will miss the game. But all other players look healthy and ready to go including the phenomenal receiving corps of Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs III, DeVonta Smith and the awesome Jaylen Waddle, who put on a beyond spectacular performance against the Auburn Tigers in one of the better Iron Bowls of all time and that’s a high bar. Also, the great Najee Harris will play. Najee has been phenomenal this season and lived up to his billing as the No.1 rated player in the country by Rivals and 247 sports in 2017. Will have more on that game closer to game time. Mac Jones will get a shot at proving he’s the guy in 2020 for the Crimson Tide. Alabama faces 9-3 Michigan that is coming off a 56-27 thrashing by Ohio State at the Big House.

The Auburn Tigers look to have everyone ready to go. Defensive tackle Derrick Brown and defensive end Marlon Davidson are playing which is awesome. Love to see those guys put it on the line for their team when they could easily sit this one out to prepare for the NFL. Auburn gained so much momentum with their Iron Bowl victory that these 2 guys wanted to keep playing. Gus says everybody is a go in what should be an excellent matchup with Minnesota, a 10-2 team out of the Big Ten.

Looking forward to both of those contests.

For now, it’s the beginning of an always interesting and exciting bowl season. Today, the Buffalo Bulls suit up against the Charlotte 49ers in the Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl followed later by Kent State vs Utah State in the Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl. A game named after a northwest Chicago suburb and a smoothie bar. That’s pretty funny.

There will be 6 more tomorrow and I’ll have previews and predictions for all of those games in the AM.

Here’s a look at today’s contests.

Last week: Navy 31, Army 7, 1-0. Just needed to be 1-0 last week. My score was 24-21 Navy, but Army’s starting quarterback was a game time scratch and that really hurt the Cadets. Still an awesome game from the great quarterback for Navy, Malcolm Perry, who ran for 304 yards and 2 TDs averaging 10 1/2 yards per carry. It was a phenomenal performance by the young man from Tennessee who will be a Marine when he graduates in the spring. That figures. He’s 5’9”, 190 pounds and he runs like a bull in a china shop. He’s relentless and as tough as a Sherman Tank. Have major respect for Malcolm Perry.

Navy finished its season at 10-2 after going 3-9 in 2018. Quite a turnaround for Coach Ken Niumatalolo and the Midshipmen. He should be awarded coach of the year in college football by one of the services at least. What a coaching job. The No.23 Midshipmen play Kansas State in the Autozone Liberty Bowl on Tuesday, December 31st at 2:45 PM CT on ESPN. Malcolm Perry is definitely worth the watch. He’s a spectacular player.

Overall record: 255-82, 76%

Here’s a look at today’s 2 matchups.

Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl

Buffalo Bulls (7-5) vs, Charlotte 49ers (7-5)

Thomas Robinson Stadium, Nassau, Bahamas, 23,000

1 PM CT

ESPN

Steve Levy, Gregory McElroy, Dianna Russi

Laundry, Sun Belt, Lead Aladdin, Wayne “Henry” Winkler

Buffalo by 6 1/2

Buffalo is a ground and pound team, and they can really do some serious work running the ball. Running back Jaret Patterson, a 5’9”, 185 sophomore, has rushed for 1,626 yards and 17 TDs. His rushing mark is good for 6th in the country. Chuba Hubbard of OK State leads the country with 1,936 yards. Add to Patterson’s numbers, Kevin Marks who’s rushed for 1,008 yards and 8 TDs and you’ve got quite a potent combination. Buffalo throws it a little bit. Quarterback Kyle Vantrease has completed 93 of 155 passes, 60%, for 7 TDs against only 1 int. Antonio Nunn is the top WR for the Bulls as he’s caught 44 passes for 634 yards and 5 TDs. Daniel Lee is next at 22 for 278 and a TD.

On defense, Buffalo is 34th in the country in scoring defense giving up 22.3 points per game. Clemson leads the country at 10.6. Buffalo is also tied for 18th nationally in turnover margin with +7 turnovers gained over turnovers lost. Florida Atlantic leads the country at +20.

Safety Joey Banks leads the team in tackles with 78 and also is the team leader in interceptions with 3. The Bulls have 9 ints on the season. Defensive end Ledarius Mack (6’1”, 240, SR.) leads the team with 11 tackles for loss for -52 yards. Defensive end Taylor Riggins (6’2”, 255) , the other bookend, has added 10 TFLs for -47 yards. Riggins is the team leader in sacks with 8 1/2 for -46 yards.

On Charlotte’s side, they have a dominating defensive end in senior Alex Highsmith (6’4”, 242), who is tied for first nationally in tackles for loss with 21 for -108 yards. He’s tied with Blake Alldredge of Rice in that category. Highsmith is also tied for 2nd nationally in sacks with 14 for -83 yards. Chase Young of Ohio State leads at 16 1/2. The 49ers have 8 interceptions on the season with cornerback Marquill Osborne leading the team with 3. Their leading tackler is safety Marquavis Gibbs with 94.

Charlotte is 105th in scoring defense at 32.5 per game and 86th in turnover margin -3 turnovers lost over turnovers gained.

On offense, quarterback Chris Reynolds has completed 166-of-267 passes, 62%, for 2,366 yards 21 TDs and 10 ints. Leading rusher Benny LeMay has rushed for 1,027 yards and 9 TDs. Reynolds added 757 yards and 6 TDs. The leading receiver is Victor Tucker, who has 49 receptions for 848 yards and 6 TDs. Cameron Dollar has caught 37 passes for 551 and 2 TDs. Tyler Ringwood has 20 receptions for 331 and 5 TDs.

Final Analysis and Decision

This is a good matchup to kickoff the bowl season. The Bulls and 49ers can both run the ball well, but the Bulls 34th ranked scoring defense and 18th ranked turnover margin over Charlotte’s 105th in scoring and 86th in turnover margin is the edge for me. Charlotte gets gashed some against running teams. Like the Bulls in Nassau.

Buffalo 30, Charlotte 21

Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl

Kent State Golden Flashes (6-6) vs Utah State Aggies (7-5)

Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas, a town 25 miles north of Dallas with a population of 188,000, 20,500 capacity

6:30 PM CT

ESPN2

Anish Shroff, John Congemi, Kris Budden

Whistles, C-USA, lead Yella, Ken Antee

Utah State by 6 1/2

Kent State quarterback Dustin Crum has completed 195-of-286 passes, 68%, for 18 TDs against only 2 ints. His leading target is Isaiah McKay who has 51 receptions for 767 yards and 7 TDs. Kavious Price adds 47 for 504 and 3 TDs and MIke Carrigan has hauled in 38 for 534 and 5 TDs. Crum also leads the team in rushing with 560 yards and added 5 TDs. Will Matthews has rushed for 514 yards and 2 TDs.

On defense, the Golden Flashes are led in tackles by linebacker (Nelson) Mandela Lawrence-Burke who has 94 on the season. He also has 5 1/2 tackles for loss and 4 sacks. Safety Quantrezz Knight leads the defense in tackles for loss with 8. Defensive end Theo Majette (5’11”, 238 SR) leads the team in sacks with 5 for -31 yards. Safety KJ. Sherald and cornerback Jamal Parker lead the team with 3 ints apiece.

Kent State is 91st in scoring defense giving up 31.1 points per game and 37th in turnover margin at +4. They have 15 takeaways and have only given it up 11 times in 12 games.

For Utah State, after having a banner sophomore season, quarterback Jordan Love came back to earth this year. He completed 263-of-434 passes, 61%, for 3,085 yards, 17 TDs, but 16 ints. He’s rated as an NFL prospect this season, but he’s got a lot of proving to do tonight. Gerald Bright leads the team in rushing with 827 yards and 8 TDs. Jaylen Warren added 561 and 5 TDs. On the perimeter, Siaosi Mariner leads the team with 56 receptions for 874 yards and 8 TDs. Jordan Nathan added 47 receptions for 510 and 1 TD, Devin Thompkins caught 36 passes for 485 yards and 3 TDs and Caleb Repp has 36 receptions for 455 yards and 4 TDs.

On defense, the Aggies will be without leading tackler David Woodward. The linebacker is out tonight with an injury. He posted 93 tackles this season. Safety Troy Lefeged was second on the team with 89 tackles and linebacker Kevin Meitzenheimer was third with 85. Safety Shaq Bond led the team in interceptions with 3, one of which he took back to duh house. Linebacker Eric Munoz and corner DJ Williams each had 2 ints. Defensive end Tipa Galeai (6’4”, 235) led the team in tackles for loss with 8 1/2 and sacks with 5.

Utah State is tied for 65th in turnover margin with 23 gained and 23 lost for a net big fat 0. Utah State is 76th in scoring defense at 29 per game.

The Decision

I like a close contest here. Kent State will put up a heckuva fight, but the Aggies will prevail barely.

Utah State 31, Kent State 28