There are several opt outs for these upcoming bowl games within the most recent landscape of college football that we’re in right now. Nevertheless, it doesn’t totally take the entertainment value out of these games to me. There are some nice matchups on Saturday in bowl season as we “matriculate” through the bows and the phenomenal playoff. The No.9 seeded Crimson Tide pulled off the mild upset in Norman, defeating the No.8 Oklahoma Sooners, 34-24, with Ty Simpson, Lotzeir Brooks and Zabien Brown standing out, among others. The Crimson Tide is getting healthier and healthier and looks to be highly competitive with No.1 Indiana, which they’ll square off with in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Thursday, New Year’s Day, 1/1/26, at 3 P.M. CT on ESPN.
Another quarterfinal playoff matchup features No.2 Ohio State taking on No.10 Miami, which went to College Station and won impressively, 10-3, with a stellar defense and running game. Miami is a force, just like Ohio State. That game will be the Goodyear Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. on New Year’s Eve, Wednesday, 12/31/25, at 6:30 P.M. CT on ESPN.
On New Year’s Day at 11 A.M. on ESPN, No.4 Texas Tech will face No. 5 Oregon, a 51-34 winner over No.12 James Madison last Saturday. That will take place in the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. The Red Raiders defense versus the explosive Ducks’ offense should be riveting viewing.
And the nightcap on New Year’s Night will feature a classic SEC duel with the No. 6 Ole Miss Rebels, impressive 41-10 winners over No. 11 Tulane last Saturday in Oxford, taking on the No.3 Georgia Bulldogs in the Allstate Sugar Bowl in N’Awlins at Caesars Superdome at 7 CT on ESPN. Georgia defeated the Rebels earlier this season in Athens, 43-35, but that was with Lame on the Rebels’ sideline. We’ll see if any upsets transpire in these classic encounters. The underdogs, Bama, Miami, Texas Tech and Ole Miss, are all very good football teams as are the teams they are facing.
So, it will be stellar football viewing come December 31st/ Jan 1st. In the meantime, here are the upcoming bowl matchups this Saturday. All the bowls will lead up to the denouement of the Playoff games. There are six matchups Saturday, tomorrow, that White’s World Sports Confidential is breaking down along with predictions for which team will emerge victorious.
Playoff Record, First Bowl game-like record installment/ Overall
SU: 3-1, 163-52, 76%; ATS: 2-2 98-117, 45%; Over/Under: 3-1, 111-104, 52%
Saturday’s Games, all times Central
Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl
Penn State (6-6) vs. Clemson (7-5)
Yankee Stadium, the Bronx, was up there 2 weeks ago for my daughter’s wedding. Had a blast. 50,000. Extremely cold two weeks ago. Expecting 6 inches tonight. Should be OK with snow, but cold at game time with temperatures in the low 30’s. Standard in the Northeast this time of year.
11 A.M.
ABC
Dave, Dusty, Taylor
Clemson by 3 1/2, 48 1/2
Penn State won their last three games under interim coach Terry Smith. Matt Campbell, formerly of Iowa State, is taking over right after the Pinstripe. Dabo and the Tigers won their last 4 games including defeating South Carolina @ Columbia, 28-14. A lot of opts out for this one, but Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik (235-of-353, 67%, 2,750 yards, 16 TD’s, 6 ints), and running back Adam Randall (779 yards, 9 TDs) are “hopefully!” going to play. That’s what a couple of young guys said on a flight Beth and I were on out of Atlanta a few years back after the pilot must have said “hopefully, we’ll be leaving soon” a dozen times as we were stuck on the tarmac for 45 minutes. For that “hopeful!” reason that Klubnik and Randall will play, I’ll take the Tigers.
Clemson 24, Penn State 20
Wasabi Fenway Bowl
UConn (9-3) vs. Army (6-6)
Fenway Park, Baaston
1:15 P.M.
ESPN
Wes Durham, Steve Addazio, Dana Boyle
Army by 9 1/2, 43 1/2
Though it’s not been an Army-type year under the great Jeff Monken, give me the Cadets to excel Saturday in Fenway over a UConn team that lost its coach, Jim Mora Jr., to Colorado State. The Huskies had a nice season, but Army is more stable at this point. It’ll be 24 in Boston at kickoff, but those are cold weather teams, so no problem.
Army 31, UConn 14
Pop-Tarts Bowl
No.22 Georgia Tech (9-3) vs. No. 12 BYU (11-2)
Camping World Stadium, Orlando, 60, 219
2:30 P.M.
ABC
Mark, Roddy, Quint
BYU by 4 1/2, 55 1/2
BYU was one win away from making the 12 team playoff, but the Red Raiders of Texas Tech defeated them twice this season, at home, and in the Big 12 Championship Game in Arlington, TX. They had a really nice season though and are a strong team, soI like them to prevail over a pretty solid Yellow Jackets team.
BYU 34, Georgia Tech 28
Isleta New Mexico Bowl
No.22 North Texas (11-2) vs. San Diego State (9-3)
University Stadium, Albuquerque, N.M., 39,224
4:45 P.M.
ESPN
Lowell Galindo, Aaron Murray (why did then GA coach Mark Richt not get Murray clock the ball in the 2012 SEC Champ game? Murray wanted to. Could have allowed Georgia to defeat the Crimson Tide), Lauren Sissler
UNT by 5 1/2, 52 1/2
The Aztecs are missing key players on offense, but North Texas lost its coach, Eric Morris, to Oklahoma State, and its starting quarterback is transferring. This Aztecs defense is pretty good, also. I’l take the upset.
San Diego State 23, North Texas 21
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
No. 19 Virginia (10-3) vs. Missouri (8-4)
EverBank Stadium, Jacksonville, FL., 67,164
6:30 P.M.
ABC
Bob, Louis, Kris
Mizzou by 3 1/2, 44 1/2
Could be an electric game, except for the opts outs. Still should be entertaining. Chandler Morris, UVA’s starting quarterback, is playing, while freshman Matt Zollers will get the start for the Tigers, as starter Beau Pribula opted out. Thank you may I have another…upset.
Virginia 21, Missouri 20
Kinder’s Texas Bowl
LSU (7-5) vs. No.21 Houston (9-3)
NRG Stadium, Houston, TX.
8:15 P.M.
ESPN
Tom, Jordan, Cole
Houston by 2 1/2, 41 1/2
LSU has been in a state of disarray, but Lane is swooping in to save the day. But he’s not coaching in this one and the Bengal Tigers might not win if he was coaching in this one. Ole Miss sure looks fine without him with Pete Golding in charge. Cougars quarterback Conner Weigman has completed 204-of-319, 64%, for 2,475 yards, 21 TDs against 9 ints. He is playing, and Michael “Martin” Van Buren will get the start for the Bengal Tigers. Van Buren is 78-of-125, 62%, for 743 yards 5 TDs and 2 ints in 3 starts and some relief. Former starter Garrett Nussmeier is opting out after being injured in the Alabama game on Saturday, November 8th and not playing after that. Nuss decided it’s time to move on. I still like a good game here, nonetheless.
10 Responses
DW – Thanks for the selections. I hate the opt outs but i guess i understand it. I like UVA as well in an upset. Keep the picks coming.
Thanks, Joseph!
Thanks for the previews, DW! Like your picks! The Penn State and Clemson players need to bring thermal clothing. NYC is awfully cold this time of the year!
No doubt, E! We should know!
“Hopefully” some of these bowl games will be competitive and a good opportunity for some players to showcase their talent. Thanks fo the coverage DW!
I agree, WP! Thanks, Walter!
I like the picks DW. I have not watched a full bowl game this year. Not sure but these opt outs and transfers really are hurting the sport and particularly these bowl games.
They are, MB, but you gotta go with what you got. Thanks.
Thanks for the write ups and information. Helps keep it straight and ID which ones to follow. Oklahoma just couldn’t hold on and pull it out against Bama. I like UVA and Army. Dabo just needs to win. We’re playing golf today out at Streamsong/Red Course. Have a great weekend.
Sounds great, SH. Thanks.