NCAAF Intriguing Bowl Games

The College Football Playoff Committee had an extremely tough decision to make, and it chose Michigan, Washington, Texas, and Alabama in this last go-round of the four-team playoff.

Those aren’t the only postseason games of significance. There will be a number of intriguing pairings on the schedule. Here’s a quick look at five of the better bowl games, though not excluding the two semifinals…

Friday, Dec. 29th, Cotton Bowl (No. 9 Missouri vs. No. 7 Ohio St.)

It’s some rarified air with the SEC’s Missouri Tigers (10-2, 6-2 conference), earning a berth in a “New Year’s Day” bowl game. This isn’t new when it comes to Ohio St. (11-1, 8-1 Big Ten), who had their national title hopes dashed after a loss at Michigan. 

It’s the Buckeyes favored by a point-and-a-half (total at 49½), according to college football odds.

Moneyline is Buckeyes -120, Mizzou at even. 

Both teams score in excess of 30 points per game, the OSU’s defense is much tighter than that of the Tigers. 

OSU will now be without quarterback Kyle McCord, who has entered the transfer portal. Elite wideout Marvin Harrison Jr. may sit out this game. Those defections lead us to Mizzou. 

Saturday, Dec. 30th, Peach Bowl No. 11 Ole Miss vs. No.10 Penn St.

The Peach Bowl is another SEC-Big Ten pairing, and these teams could not be any different. The Rebels of Mississippi (10-2, 6-2 conference) want to play fast and score, while Penn St. (10-2, 7-2) sets a defensive tone.

Penn St. is a four-point choice (total at 49½), with the moneyline PSU -175, Ole Miss +150. 

Having lost just to the two “biggies” (Ohio St. and Michigan), the Nittany Lions are a legitimate top-10 team this season. Expect a Happy Valley win and a cover in Atlanta. 

Saturday, Dec. 30th, Orange Bowl No. 6 Georgia vs. No. 4 Florida St.

These two teams thought they deserved to be playing in the final round. Instead, they meet in Miami. Georgia (12-1, 8-0 SEC) and Florida St. (13-0, 8-0 ACC) were the odd men out.  

UGA had won 29 games in a row, but fell to the Alabama Crimson Tide in a tight conference title game. Now, the Bulldogs are huge (two-touchdown) faves (total at 45), with UGA -600 (‘Noles +450) on the moneyline. FSU has been decimated at quarterback.

Both teams feature good defenses. FSU is ranked eighth (16.2 points per game), Georgia ninth (17.4 points/game). 

It’s a number too steep to ignore. Take the 14 points, back the Seminoles to keep it respectable. 

Monday, Jan. 1st, Rose Bowl, No. 5 Alabama vs. No. 1 Michigan

These two historic programs head to Pasadena, a venue more familiar to the Wolverines.

Michigan is a scant one-point favorite (total at 45½), with no moneyline due to the puny spread.

Michigan (13-0, 9-0 Big Ten) has faced a ton of adversity this season, much of it self-inflicted. However, they have also played as well as any team in the country all season long. The Wolverines can do everything well (36.7 points per game offense, nation’s-best 9½ points/game defense), and are eventually taken to pull away against the Crimson Tide (12-1, 8-0 SEC).

It’s the Wolverines as timid 9-5 (+180) favorites to win the title, as per college football championship odds.

Monday, Jan. 1st, Sugar Bowl, No. 3 Texas vs. No. 2 Washington

Texas (12-1, 8-1 Big 12) has only lost once (to Red River rival Oklahoma), while Washington (13-0, 9-0 Pac-12) has been perfect. 

Texas is a 4½-point choice (total at 64), with the ‘Horns -190, Huskies +163 on the moneyline. 

With apologies to Michigan, Texas has as many weapons as any team in the country, having torched their last two foes to the tune of 106 points. Texas had 662 yards of offense in disposing of Oklahoma St. to win the Big-12 title. 

Washington wasn’t supposed to beat Oregon in the Pac-12 title game, but here they are. 

Grab the points in the one, as a field goal decides this game in favor of the Longhorns.