Ranking All 41 College Football Bowl Games: From Must-See to Must-Miss
Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
College football’s regular season is over and the 41 matchups for the 2022-23 bowl season are set. The CFB Playoff begins on Dec. 31 with TCU and Michigan meeting in the Fiesta Bowl, followed by Ohio State and Georgia in the Peach Bowl. The winner of those two games will square off in Inglewood on Jan. 9 for the national championship.
The semifinal playoff games are always must-see matchups, but there's also no shortage of quality bowl contests outside of the four-team playoff. The New Year's Six slate features intriguing matchups between Kansas State and Alabama in the Sugar Bowl, Clemson-Tennessee in the Orange Bowl and Tulane-USC in the Cotton Bowl. Outside of the New Year's Six, the Cure Bowl (UTSA-Troy) and Alamo Bowl (Washington-Texas) are must-see contests. The bowl season officially kicks off on Dec. 16 with two games, with six on tap for Saturday, Dec. 17.
Watching all 41 bowl games isn’t impossible, but it can be difficult prioritizing which matchups are must-see television around the holidays.
Athlon ranks and previews all of the matchups from the must-see to the ones you can avoid. From No. 41 to No. 1, here’s a look at the bowl matchups in terms of watchability and quality of game.
Ranking All 41 Bowl Games: Must-Watch to Must-Miss
41. Quick Lane Bowl – New Mexico State (6-6) vs. Bowling Green (6-6)
Dec. 26 – 2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
The Falcons and Aggies kick off the post-Christmas bowl schedule with the first meeting on the gridiron between these two programs. New Mexico State coach Jerry Kill did one of the best jobs by a first-year coach, getting the Aggies to 6-6 after the team won just eight games over the previous four seasons. The '22 campaign was also a high point for Bowling Green coach Scot Loeffler. This is the Falcons' first bowl trek since 2015. Loeffler's defense tied for 11th nationally with 37 sacks.
Early Pick: Bowling Green
40. LendingTree Bowl – Rice (5-7) vs. Southern Miss (6-6)
Dec. 17 – 5:45 p.m. ET, ESPN
It's a battle of old Conference USA foes in Mobile, but the bigger storyline is the improvement of both programs under current head coaches Mike Bloomgren (Rice) and Will Hall (Southern Miss). The Owls have struggled to stop the run (166.8 yards a game allowed) and face a tough matchup against Southern Miss running back Frank Gore Jr. (1,053 yards).
Early Pick: Southern Miss
39. Bahamas Bowl – UAB (6-6) vs. Miami, Ohio (6-6)
Dec. 16 – 11:30 a.m. ET, ESPN
Bowl season officially starts here. The Blazers and RedHawks both needed victories in their final regular-season game to clinch a postseason trip, but neither team will complain about a trek to the Bahamas. Expect points to be at a premium in this one. Both teams hold opponents to under 25 points a contest, but UAB’s offense (30.6 points a game) has been more prolific behind standout running back DeWayne McBride (1,713 yards and 19 TDs).
Early Pick: UAB
38. Hawaii Bowl – Middle Tennessee (7-5) vs. San Diego State (7-5)
Dec. 24 – 8 p.m. ET, ESPN
Bowl hopes for the Aztecs were dim after a 2-3 start, but coach Brady Hoke's team rallied for a 5-2 finish, largely boosted by the emergence of Jalen Mayden at quarterback. And as usual, San Diego State's defense (20.2 points a game allowed) is one of the stingiest in the Mountain West. This game marks the 10th bowl appearance for Rick Stockstill at Middle Tennessee. The Blue Raiders also scored one of the biggest upsets of the year by beating Miami on Sept. 24 and finished the regular season by winning three in a row.
Early Pick: San Diego State
37. Arizona Bowl – Wyoming (7-5) vs. Ohio (9-4)
Dec. 30 – 4:30 p.m. ET, Barstool Sports
Both Wyoming and Ohio enter bowl prep without a key part of their regular season success. The Bobcats lost quarterback and MAC Offensive Player of the Year Kurtis Rourke to a late-season knee injury, while the Cowboys will be without running back Titus Swen after he was dismissed from the team following the finale at Fresno State. Even with Swen gone, Wyoming will lean on its rushing attack and standout defense to push for its fourth bowl win in a row.
Early Pick: Wyoming
36. Camellia Bowl – Georgia Southern (6-6) vs. Buffalo (6-6)
Dec. 27 – Noon ET, ESPN
Both Georgia Southern and Buffalo needed a win in their final regular-season contest to reach the postseason, but that's not the only tie between the two programs. Quarterback Kyle Vantrease played for the Bulls from 2017-21 before transferring to Georgia Southern. His arrival in Statesboro helped spark the Eagles under new coach Clay Helton, throwing for 3,901 yards and 25 touchdowns over 12 starts.
Early Pick: Georgia Southern
35. Myrtle Beach Bowl - UConn (6-6) vs. Marshall (8-4)
Dec. 19 – 2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Jim Mora quietly did one of the nation's best coaching jobs to get UConn to 6-6 and in a bowl for the first time since 2015. Marshall beat Notre Dame on Sept. 10 but stumbled to three losses in their next four games before finishing the season on a four-game winning streak. Coach Charles Huff's squad brings the Sun Belt's top defense (16.2 points a game allowed) and a prolific one-two punch at running back in Khalan Laborn and Rasheen Ali to the teal turf.
Early Pick: Marshall
34. First Responder Bowl – Memphis (6-6) vs. Utah State (6-6)
Dec. 27 – 3:15 p.m. ET, ESPN
Memphis' Seth Henigan - one of the AAC's top quarterbacks - faces a Utah State defense that's allowed 24 passing scores and surrenders 30.6 points a game this year. The Aggies won the Mountain West last season but regressed to a 6-6 finish after an injury to quarterback Logan Bonner and problems with turnovers (24). These two teams haven't played each other since 1977.
Early Pick: Memphis
33. Famous Idaho Potato Bowl – Eastern Michigan (8-4) vs. San Jose State (7-4)
Dec. 20 – 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Eastern Michigan coach Chris Creighton continues to do one of the nation's most underrated coaching jobs in Ypsilanti by guiding the team to just its third season of more than seven wins and its fifth bowl in five years. The Spartans ranked second in the Mountain West in fewest yards per play allowed (5.0), while a standout pass rush led by linemen Cade Hall and Viliami Fehoko will be a handful for an efficient EMU offense.
Early Pick: San Jose State
32. Independence Bowl – Houston (7-5) vs. Louisiana (6-6)
Dec. 23 – 3 p.m. ET, ESPN
Both Louisiana and Houston were considered preseason favorites in their respective conference, so it's surprising to see these two teams enter bowl season with a combined 13-11 mark. Quarterback Clayton Tune and receiver Nathaniel Dell lead a high-powered offense (37.2 points a game) for the Cougars, but a porous defense (33.5 points allowed a contest) should allow Louisiana's ground game to find plenty of running room.
Early Pick: Houston
31. Frisco Bowl – Boise State (9-4) vs. North Texas (7-6)
Dec. 17 – 9:15 p.m. ET, ESPN
The Mean Green essentially have home-field advantage here thanks to a short trek from Denton to Frisco. However, a tough Boise State defense (18.5 points a game allowed) and ground attack (187 yards a game) will make it tough for North Texas to bring bowl hardware back to campus.
Early Pick: Boise State
30. Boca Raton Bowl – Toledo (8-5) vs. Liberty (8-4)
Dec. 20 – 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
In six of the eight previous meetings of the Boca Raton Bowl, the winning team had at least 49 points. Could we be in for another high-scoring matchup? Quarterback Dequan Finn and one of the MAC's top defenses led the Rockets to a conference title win over Ohio. Liberty scored a huge non-conference victory at Arkansas but lost its last three games and coach Hugh Freeze left for Auburn. A Flames defense that limited teams to 5.03 yards per play should be a good battle against a Toledo offense averaging 32.1 points a game.
Early Pick: Toledo
29. Music City Bowl – Iowa (7-5) vs. Kentucky (7-5)
Dec. 31 – Noon ET, ABC
These two teams met in the Citrus Bowl last season, with Kentucky pulling off a 20-17 last-minute victory. Points should be at a premium once again this year. A struggling Iowa offense won't have starting quarterback Spencer Petras, and backup Alex Padilla opted to transfer. Kentucky's defense held teams to 19.1 points a game in 2022, so even with a full depth chart at quarterback, moving the ball would've been a challenge for the Hawkeyes. It's uncertain if Kentucky will have quarterback Will Levis (declared for the NFL) on Dec. 31.
Early Pick: Kentucky
28. Guaranteed Rate Bowl – Wisconsin (6-6) vs. Oklahoma State (7-5)
Dec. 27 – 10:15 p.m. ET, ESPN
Last year's Guaranteed Rate Bowl was an 18-6 defensive slugfest between Minnesota and West Virginia, and there's a good chance this season's game matches how the '21 version played out. The Cowboys started 5-0 but a rash of injuries - including one to quarterback Spencer Sanders - forced this team to drop five of its last seven games. The Badgers are in the midst of a coaching transition to Luke Fickell, and starting quarterback Graham Mertz entered the portal.
Early Pick: Oklahoma State
27. Duke’s Mayo Bowl – Maryland (7-5) vs. NC State (8-4)
Dec. 30 – Noon ET, ESPN
A matchup of old ACC rivals is intriguing, but the postgame mayo bath of the winning coach is clearly the key storyline when these two teams meet in Charlotte. NC State's defense led the ACC in fewest points allowed per game (19.4) and limited opponents to just 5.01 yards a snap. Maryland's Taulia Tagovailoa is one of the top quarterbacks in the Big Ten, but his supporting cast at receiver could be limited with a couple of targets off to the NFL.
Early Pick: NC State
26. Pinstripe Bowl – Minnesota (8-4) vs. Syracuse (7-5)
Dec. 29 – 2 p.m. ET, ESPN
The Big Ten has won the last five Pinstripe Bowls against an ACC opponent, so that could be good news for Minnesota as it looks to build off the Nov. 26 win against rival Wisconsin. Syracuse started 6-0 but stumbled to a 1-5 finish down the stretch. However, running back Sean Tucker will test a Minnesota defense ranked 15th nationally against the run. Points could be at a premium in this one.
Early Pick: Minnesota
25. Birmingham Bowl – East Carolina (7-5) vs. Coastal Carolina (9-3)
Dec. 27 – 6:45 p.m. ET, ESPN
An all-Carolina showdown and a standout quarterback battle between East Carolina's Holton Ahlers and Coastal Carolina's Grayson McCall is on tap in the Magic City. The Chanticleers lost coach Jamey Chadwell to Liberty, and McCall was dealing with a foot injury late in the year, so it's uncertain what version of CCU will show up in Birmingham. The Pirates average 30.8 points a game behind quarterback Holton Ahlers and running back Keaton Mitchell, which is a tough matchup for the Chanticleers (30.1 points a game allowed).
Early Pick: East Carolina
24. Fenway Bowl - Cincinnati (9-3) vs. Louisville (7-5)
Dec. 17 – 11 a.m. ET, ESPN
An old rivalry and a battle for the Keg of Nails will be renewed in Boston. Louisville had one of the biggest in-season turnarounds to finish 7-5 after a 2-3 start, which likely saved coach Scott Satterfield's job. The Cardinals showed big-time improvement on defense during that stretch, and the additional time to prepare should help quarterback Malik Cunningham get back to full strength. Cincinnati is under the direction of interim coach Kerry Coombs with Luke Fickell off to Wisconsin. The Bearcats lost a chunk of talent off both sides of the ball after a trip to the CFB Playoff last season but came within one win of hosting the AAC title game.
Early Pick: Louisville
23. New Mexico Bowl – BYU (7-5) vs. SMU (7-5)
Dec. 17 – 2:15 p.m. ET, ESPN
SMU and BYU have some postseason history already thanks to a memorable 1980 Holiday Bowl. Although this one might not match that game in terms of intrigue, there could be plenty of fireworks with both teams averaging over 30 points a contest. The Cougars are likely to struggle to stop the connection of quarterback Tanner Mordecai and receiver Rashee Rice for the Mustangs, but SMU's defense will also have its hands full with quarterback Jaren Hall - provided he's healthy for the Cougars.
Early Pick: BYU
22. New Orleans Bowl – WKU (8-5) vs. South Alabama (10-2)
Dec. 21 – 9 p.m. ET, ESPN
WKU's high-powered offense (35.8 points a game) meets South Alabama's shutdown defense (19.4 points a game allowed). The Jaguars have made significant progress under second-year coach Kane Wommack (from 5-7 to 10-2), while the Hilltoppers are making their fourth consecutive bowl trip under coach Tyson Helton.
Early Pick: South Alabama
21. Armed Forces Bowl – Baylor (6-6) vs. Air Force (9-3)
Dec. 22 – 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Baylor finished with a disappointing 6-6 mark after winning the Big 12 last season, so the bowl trip to Fort Worth will be all about ending the year on a high note. Although the Bears rank third in the Big 12 against the run, facing Air Force's offense (first nationally in rushing) is a tough assignment. The Falcons need a victory to post back-to-back double-digit win seasons and are 4-1 in their last five bowl treks.
Early Pick: Air Force
20. Gasparilla Bowl – Missouri (6-6) vs. Wake Forest (7-5)
Dec. 23 – 6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Wake Forest's offense paced the ACC in scoring (36.8 points a game) behind quarterback Sam Hartman and a deep receiving corps. However, Missouri's defense (limiting teams to 25 points a game) and an active pass rush (33 sacks) will make life difficult for Hartman and Co. Quarterback Brady Cook (380 total yards versus Arkansas) is coming off his most productive performance, which helped the Tigers get bowl eligible.
Early Pick: Wake Forest
19. Military Bowl – UCF (9-4) vs. Duke (8-4)
Dec. 28 – 2 p.m. ET, ESPN
Duke showed marked improvement under first-year coach Mike Elko. After winning just five games in the previous two seasons, the Blue Devils made significant statistical strides on both sides of the ball and finished 8-4. UCF lost the AAC title game to Tulane, but the extended time off could be huge with quarterback John Rhys Plumlee limited late in the year with a hamstring injury. A Duke rush defense that ranked fourth in the ACC will be tested by the Knights' speed and production (236.1) on the ground.
Early Pick: Duke
18. Las Vegas – Oregon State (9-3) vs. Florida (6-6)
Dec. 17 – 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC
Oregon State won't lack for motivation in this one, as a victory will give coach Jonathan Smith's team a chance to post double-digit wins since 2006. The Beavers own one of the Pac-12's top offensive lines and rushing attacks (199.2 yards a game), which is a tough matchup for a Florida defense allowing 176.2 yards a game on the ground. Also, a much-improved Oregon State defense (21.4 points a game) will test the Gators' rushing attack and quarterback Anthony Richardson.
Early Pick: Oregon State
17. Cheez-It Bowl – Florida State (9-3) vs. Oklahoma (6-6)
Dec. 29 – 5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
In terms of brand appeal, it doesn't get much better than Florida State and Oklahoma. However, these two teams were headed in different directions at the end of the regular season. The Seminoles closed with five consecutive victories, including huge win over rivals Miami and Florida. The Sooners ended the year by losing three of four and will be shorthanded in this game with four key players - running back Eric Gray, offensive linemen Anton Harrison and Wanya Morris and defensive lineman Jalen Redmond - opting for the NFL.
Early Pick: Florida State
16. Sun Bowl - Pitt (8-4) vs. UCLA (9-3)
Dec. 30 – 2 p.m. ET, CBS
A battle of contrasting styles makes for an interesting matchup in El Paso. Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson and running back Zach Charbonnet direct a UCLA offense averaging 39.6 points a game. However, the Bruins could meet plenty of resistance on Dec. 30 against Pitt's defense (23.4 points a game allowed) - even with standout lineman and ACC Defensive Player of the Year Calijah Kancey sidelined for the bowl due to injury.
Early Pick: UCLA
15. Texas Bowl – Ole Miss (8-4) vs. Texas Tech (7-5)
Dec. 28 – 9 p.m. ET, ESPN
Both Ole Miss and Texas Tech exceeded most preseason expectations, so a matchup in the Texas Bowl is a fitting way to end 2022. The Red Raiders finished seventh in the Big 12 in rush defense (166.4 yards a game allowed), so freshman running back Quinshon Judkins (1,474 yards) should find plenty of running room for the Rebels. Considering Ole Miss allowed 32 points a game in November, Texas Tech's offense will have no trouble moving the ball on Dec. 28. If you are looking for offensive fireworks, this one should have plenty.
Early Pick: Ole Miss
14. Liberty Bowl – Arkansas (6-6) vs. Kansas (6-6)
Dec. 28 – 5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Kansas was one of the best stories of the college football season, and a matchup against Arkansas could be one of the more entertaining bowls outside of the New Year's Six and CFB Playoff. The Jayhawks won just 11 games in the last seven years but jumped to 6-6 behind the leadership of coach Lance Leipold and the emergence of quarterback Jalon Daniels. Arkansas had high expectations going into '22, but a struggling defense and midseason injury to quarterback K.J. Jefferson slowed this team's progress. Considering both teams allowed more than 28 points a game and six yards a play this year, this one could feature a lot of fireworks.
Early Pick: Arkansas
13. LA Bowl – Fresno State (9-4) vs. Washington State (7-50
Dec. 17 – 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC
Fresno State heads into the bowl season with momentum after beating Boise State to claim the Mountain West championship. The Bulldogs have reeled off eight wins in a row, which was spurred by the return of quarterback Jake Haener after an injury forced him to miss four games. Washington State's underrated defense (22.4 points a game) will try to slow Haener, while an offense led by dynamic quarterback Cameron Ward takes on a Fresno State defense that limited teams to 5.3 yards per play.
Early Pick: Fresno State
12. Reliaquest Bowl – Illinois (8-4) vs. Mississippi State (8-4)
Jan. 2 – Noon ET, ESPN2
How about ringing in the New Year on Jan. 2 with one of college football's best passing offenses (Mississippi State) against a stingy Illinois defense? The Bulldogs rank 11th nationally in passing yards per game (314.3) and quarterback Will Rogers paced the SEC with 34 touchdown scores. The Fighting Illini allowed only eight passing touchdowns all season and limited opponents to a 49.5 completion percentage. That's not the only intriguing matchup in this game, as running back Chase Brown (1,643 yards) takes on a Mississippi State front giving up just 4.1 yards per carry in '22.
Early Pick: Mississippi State
11. Gator Bowl – Notre Dame (8-4) vs. South Carolina (8-4)
Dec. 30 – 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
South Carolina was arguably one of the hottest teams in the nation at the end of the regular season thanks to wins over Tennessee and Clemson. Although the Gamecocks will have a different play-caller after Marcus Satterfield left for Nebraska, the offense should be able to keep things rolling with quarterback Spencer Rattler set to play in Jacksonville. Notre Dame's defense (21.8 points a game) and rushing attack (182.8 yards a game) will have to carry this team considering the uncertainty at quarterback. Drew Pyne entered the portal in early December, but Tyler Buchner could return after missing most of the year due to injury.
Early Pick: South Carolina
10. Citrus Bowl – Purdue (8-5) vs. LSU (9-4)
Jan. 2 – 1 p.m. ET, ABC
Both Purdue and LSU ended the regular season with a loss in a conference title game, but a trip to Florida to close the 2022 campaign isn't a bad thing. The Boilermakers (41.6 pass attempts a game) love to throw it around behind quarterback Aidan O'Connell and receiver Charlie Jones. But a talented and disruptive LSU front will create problems for coach Jeff Brohm. The Tigers need a healthy performance from quarterback Jayden Daniels after he appeared to aggravate an ankle injury suffered on Nov. 26 a week later in the SEC title game.
Early Pick: LSU
9. Holiday Bowl – Oregon (9-3) vs. North Carolina (9-4)
Dec. 28 – 8 p.m. ET, FOX
The Holiday Bowl has been known to produce high-scoring games, and if both teams are at full strength, there could be plenty of fireworks on Dec. 28. North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye (366.8 total yards a game) should have no trouble moving the ball against the Ducks' secondary (fifth in the Pac-12 in pass efficiency defense. On the other side, Oregon quarterback Bo Nix directs an offense that averaged 6.94 yards per snap in the regular season. North Carolina enters bowl season ranked 14th in the ACC in points (31) and yards per play allowed (6.11).
Early Pick: Oregon
8. Cure Bowl - UTSA (11-2) vs. Troy (11-2)
Dec. 16 – 3 p.m. ET, ESPN
A matchup between two of the top Group of 5 programs is easily one of the highlights of bowl season. Troy's standout defense (17.5 points a game allowed) against UTSA quarterback Frank Harris and a talented Roadrunners receiving corps is a must-see battle.
Early Pick: UTSA
7. Alamo Bowl – Texas (8-4) vs. Washington (10-2)
Dec. 29 – 9 p.m. ET, ESPN
A matchup between Washington's high-powered offense and quarterback Michael Penix Jr. against Texas' standout defense (21.2 points a game allowed) should be one of the better pre-New Year's Six bowls. It's uncertain if the Longhorns will have running back Bijan Robinson in this game, but even if he does suit up, the Huskies (26.3 points a game allowed) will have trouble containing quarterback Quinn Ewers and receiver Xavier Worthy.
Early Pick: Washington
6. Orange Bowl – Clemson (11-2) vs. Tennessee (10-2)
Dec. 30 – 8 p.m. ET, ESPN
If Clemson and Tennessee are going to meet in a bowl, it's only appropriate that it's the Orange Bowl. The Volunteers are making their first appearance in this game since 1997 and this is also the program's first appearance in a New Year's Six game since the inception of the four-team playoff in 2014. Having a month to prepare is also good news for coach Josh Heupel as he looks to get Joe Milton more comfortable in the starting role against one of the best defensive fronts in the nation. After an impressive performance in the ACC Championship Game, Cade Klubnik will handle the full-time role at quarterback going forward for Clemson.
Early Pick: Clemson
5. Sugar Bowl – Kansas State (10-3) vs. Alabama (10-2)
Dec. 31 – Noon ET, ESPN
Alabama was a heavy favorite to play for the national championship this year but just missed the playoff at No. 5 after losses to Tennessee and LSU. It's rare to see the Crimson Tide in a non-playoff bowl, and with potential opt-outs looming, this will be the first look at how this team could look for 2023. This game marks K-State's first major bowl appearance since the 2012 Fiesta Bowl. The Big 12 champs lead the conference in scoring defense (20.1 points a game), while the one-two punch of quarterback Will Howard and dynamic running back Deuce Vaughn will create plenty of headaches for Alabama coach Nick Saban.
Early Pick: Alabama
4. Cotton Bowl – USC (11-2) vs. Tulane (11-2)
Jan. 2 – 1 p.m. ET, ESPN
The status of USC quarterback Caleb Williams is uncertain after a hamstring injury in the Pac-12 Championship Game. But even if Williams is out or at less than full strength, the Cotton Bowl should be near the top of the viewing list this postseason. Led by quarterback Michael Pratt and running back Tyjae Spears, Tulane is one of the best stories of the college football season. After a 2-10 mark last year, the Green Wave finished 11-2 and won the AAC this year. USC also showed marked improvement under new coach Lincoln Riley, but a struggling defense will have its hands full against a motivated Tulane team.
Early Pick: USC
3. Rose Bowl – Utah (10-3) vs. Penn State (10-2)
Jan. 2 – 5 p.m. ET, ESPN
Fresh off a 47-24 victory over USC in the Pac-12 Championship Game, Utah will look to bring home another important piece of hardware with a Rose Bowl trophy - especially after falling just short in last year's epic battle against Ohio State. Penn State's only two losses in 2022 came at the hands of playoff teams - Ohio State and Michigan. The Nittany Lions have the defensive front (fifth in the Big Ten) to match Utah's physicality. Also, the backfield tandem of Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton will test the Utes' top-ranked rush defense (No. 1 in the Pac-12). This is the first meeting between these two teams.
Early Pick: Utah
2. Fiesta Bowl - Michigan (13-0) vs. TCU (12-1)
Dec. 31 – 4 p.m. ET, ESPN
The Wolverines and Horned Frogs officially get the CFB Playoff started on Dec. 31. TCU's high-powered offense (40.3) led by quarterback Max Duggan and receiver Quentin Johnston faces a tough matchup against a Michigan defense holding teams to 13.4 points a contest. The Wolverines' edge at the line of scrimmage is likely to show up on offense, where running back Donovan Edwards meets a Horned Frogs' front allowing nearly 150 yards a game on the ground. Michigan is on a mission to get to the national title game after last year's blowout loss to Georgia in the Orange Bowl. However, TCU is more than capable of pulling off the upset.
Early Pick: Michigan
1. Peach Bowl - Georgia (13-0) vs. Ohio State (11-1)
Dec. 31 – 8 p.m. ET, ESPN
It doesn't get much better than Georgia's elite defense against Ohio State's high-powered offense for a trip to the national championship. The Buckeyes also won't lack for motivation after winding up in the playoff when they seemed to be out of the picture following a loss to Michigan. And after giving up a couple of big plays to the Wolverines, can Ohio State's defense rebound against an ultra-efficient Georgia offense? The Bulldogs have stepped up when the stage is at its biggest this year, and with this a defacto home game in Atlanta, coach Kirby Smart's team will be tough to knock off in this spot.
Early Pick: Georgia
