Yesterday’s results

Memphis 38, Utah State 10

Not a great result for the Blog in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl in Dallas. When Utah State had a nice drive and scored to make it 24-10 with 10 minutes left, things were looking optimistic. But Utah State coach Blake Anderson tried and failed on an onside kick. Thought that was a mistake. Had three timeouts and plenty of time left and the freshman quarterback for the Aggies was looking sharp. Memphis recovered the kick easily and went on to score and that was all she wrote.

Wisconsin 24, Oklahoma State 17

Blog had a great nightcap as it predicted the Badgers to win, 24-14. The Badgers got off to a slow start at the Guaranteed Rate Bowl in Phoenix, but stellar sophomore running back Braelon Allen rushed for 116 yards and 1, seven, and senior Chez Mellusi added 77 yards and 1 TD, as the Luke Fickell era in Wisconsin started off successfully. Fickell did coach in the game.

Today

Four nice matchups today at the Military Bowl, the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, the Holiday Bowl and the TaxAct Texas Bowl. Here’s a look at the games along with predicted outcomes.

Military Bowl

UCF (9-4) vs. Duke (8-4)

Navy-Marine Corps Stadium, Annapolis, MD. 34,000

1 PM CT

ESPN

Kevin Brown, Hutson Mason, Marilyn Payne

Laundry, Conference USA, Rodney Burnette

Duke by 3

I like first year coach Mike Elko to finish off a highly successful season for his Duke Blue Devils squad. The Blue Devils get over the top versus Gus Malzahn and his Knights team. Looking for a well played game offensively for both teams and Duke to win an exciting contest.

Duke 34, UCF 30

AutoZone Liberty Bowl

Kansas (6-6) vs. Arkansas (6-6)

Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, Memphis, 58,325

4:30 PM CT

ESPN

Dave O’Brien, Dan Mullen, Taylor McGregor

Yello, PAC-12, Matthew “Keith” Richards

Hogs by 2 1/2

Give me coach Sam Pittman, quarterback K.J. Jefferson, 2,361 passing yards, 22 TDs, 685 rushing yards, 7 TDs, and running back Raheim “Rocket” Sanders, 1,426 rushing yards, 10 TDs, to carry the Razorbacks over the top in another tight contest. Kansas is a highly competitive team from the Big 12 that has improved dramatically in Coach Lance Leipold’s second season.

Arkansas 31, Kansas 28

San Diego Credit Union Holiday Bowl

No. 15 Oregon (9-3) vs. North Carolina (9-4)

Petco Park, San Diego, 42,691

7 PM CT

FOX

Gus, Joel, Jenny

Suds and Duds, Big Ten, Mike “Ref K” Kluczynski,

Oregon by 13

Give me first year coach Dan Lanning and his Ducks. Bo Nix is coming back another year. That’s terrific. He’ll shine tonight in El Diego.

Oregon 35, UNC 17

TaxAct Texas Bowl

Ole Miss (8-4) vs. Texas Tech (7-5)

NRG Stadium, Houston, 72,220

8 PM CT

ESPN

Roy Philpott, Andre, Paul Carcaterra

Vogue Cleaners, ACC, Stuart Mullins

Rebels by 3 1/2

The Rebel faithful breathed a huge sigh of relief when Lane said he was coming back to Oxford for 2023 and not going to Auburn. I like Lane’s Rebels to get the job done, but another scrappy team from the Big 12 will make it very interesting. Lane and the Rebs prevail, and get ready to set their sights on a stellar 2023 campaign. The future also looks bright for the Red Raiders under first year coach Joey McGuire, who had tremendous success in Texas high school football and as an assistant at Baylor. The Red Raiders are in their home state, so they’ll be charged up. Should be a thriller.

Ole Miss 38, Texas Tech 34

Thursday

Two games on the slate.

Cheez-It Bowl

Oklahoma (6-6) vs. No. 13 Florida State (9-3)

Camping World Stadium, Orlando

4:30 PM CT, ESPN

Valero Alamo Bowl

No. 20 Texas (8-4) vs. No. 12 Washington (10-2)

Alamodome, San Antonio

8 PM CT, ESPN