Five exciting bowl games will take place on December 27th in various locations across the country. Teams from the SEC, Pac-12, ACC, Big 10, and AAC will be on display. The games start at 1:00 p.m. eastern time and won’t conclude until around midnight.
December 27th Bowl Games
Military Bowl: Cincinnati vs. Virginia Tech
After losing three straight games early in the season, Cincinnati (9-3) rattled off seven straight wins. They finished third in the AAC with their biggest win of the season coming against East Carolina. Sophomore quarterback Gunner Kiel put up some gaudy numbers, throwing for over 3,000 yards and leading the conference with 30 touchdown passes. They are slightly favored in this game, but Kiel must be able to put up points against a stout Virginia Tech defense.
Virginia Tech (6-6) had a very strange season filled with peaks and valleys. The high point of the season came early on when they upset Ohio State, a team that will take on Alabama in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff on January 1st. After that game, they lost five of their next seven games and their bowl eligibility was in serious question. They rebounded with another upset over a then-ranked Duke team, but lost to a miserable Wake Forest team in the following game. A close win over rival Virginia netted them the required sixth win and the regular season circus ended. That final win kept them from finishing last in the ACC Coastal division, and a win in this game could put them above .500 for the season. I don’t see that happening though, as I predict a close win for Cincinnati.
Hyundai Sun Bowl: Arizona State vs. Duke
Arizona State (9-3) is ranked 15th nationally and had legitimate College Football Playoff aspirations before getting upset by Oregon State late in the season. They finished third in the Pac-12 South, one of the toughest divisions in college football, after a loss to Arizona in the final game of the regular season that determined the winner of the division. Senior quarterback Taylor Kelly should be back to play in his final collegiate game after getting benched during the Arizona game. I expect a relatively easy win for Arizona State here.
An extremely weak schedule allowed Duke (9-3) to sneak into the national rankings late in the season, but consecutive losses to Virginia Tech and North Carolina quickly dropped them out of the discussion. They managed to finish second in the ACC Coastal division, but it was arguably the worst Power Five division this season. However, David Cutcliffe knows how to get the most out of his players, and if Arizona State takes them lightly, he could make them pay. Their biggest win came against Georgia Tech in the middle of the season.
Duck Commander Independence Bowl: Miami (FL) vs. South Carolina
Miami (6-6) ended their regular season with three straight losses, including a heartbreaking loss to Florida State. They finished fifth in the ACC Coastal division after this disappointing run. However, quarterback Brad Kaaya and running back Duke Johnson should be able to exploit a mediocre South Carolina defense. I expect Miami to edge out South Carolina in a high-scoring game. On a somewhat related note, Miami beat three teams (Duke, Cincinnati, Virginia Tech) that will play in bowl games on the same day as them.
South Carolina (6-6) is arguably the most disappointing team in college football this year. They were ranked 9th in the preseason AP Poll but barely managed to earn a bowl berth. Their biggest win of the season came against Georgia in their third game, but disappointment followed, as they lost four of their next six games. They finished 5th in the SEC East, which wasn’t much better than the ACC Coastal.
New Era Pinstripe Bowl: Boston College vs. Penn State
Boston College (7-5) surprisingly had some key moments on the national stage this season. At the beginning of the year, an upset over a ranked USC team shocked the college football world. At the end of the year, they nearly pulled off another monumental upset against Florida State, but lost in heartbreaking fashion. They finished fourth in the ACC Atlantic division after completing the regular season with a win over Syracuse. This will be a defensive battle with plenty of rushing attempts, but I think Boston College will edge out Penn State at the end.
Penn State (6-6) started the season with four straight wins, but lost six of their final eight games. They finished sixth in the Big 10 East and didn’t have any marquee victories. They were undefeated in a weak non-conference schedule, allowing them to reach bowl eligibility. Their offensive line is one of the worst lines in the country, and it could be a long night for quarterback Christian Hackenberg if the Boston College defensive line plays well. It will be a surprise if either team reaches 20 points.
National University Holiday Bowl: Nebraska vs. USC
Nebraska (9-3) lost two of their last three games, costing head coach Bo Pelini his job. Interim coach Barney Cotton will lead Nebraska in this game, and it will be interesting to see how the players respond to his leadership. They finished third in the Big 10 West, but held legitimate Big 10 Championship aspirations and potentially CFP aspirations before the Wisconsin game. This season was certainly a disappointment for the Cornhuskers, but the future under Mike Riley is bright.
USC (8-4) had a disappointing season as well, losing three games by six points or less. They frequently collapsed in the fourth quarter because of their severe depth issues due to sanctions and compounded by injuries. They finished fourth in the difficult Pac-12 South, falling one game short of the leader, Arizona, who they actually beat earlier in the season. However, they are ranked 24th nationally and I expect the Trojans to take care of business against a team that lost its leader, but don’t be surprised if the Cornhuskers make it interesting in the fourth quarter.
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