Bowl Games thread (2023-24)

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Well, it's that time of the season again! Superstar players sitting out, grab-bag's full of random garbage, and only a handful of games that'll actually be fun to watch.

Yep, it's bowl season! First round of predictions coming up...

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Bowl predictions (Part 1- December 16th)

All right. I've been really good with my prediction records this season. Could it possibly carry over to the unpredictable bowl game season? Let's find out; here are my 1st round of bowl picks (All times are Eastern, and all games on ESPN unless noted):

Myrtle Beach Bowl: Ohio vs. Georgia Southern [11:00 A.M.] (We start things off in Myrtle Beach... where it looks like this bowl is replacing the one held in the Bahamas. Such a shame. Now here is something confusing: Despite limping into this game with a 4-game losing streak, Georgia Southern is still the favorite. WHAT?! Could it be because Vegas likes the GSU offense way better than Ohio's?
They can say what they want, but just know that the Bobcats are ranked 5th overall in scoring defense... which should carry them here.)
My prediction: OHIO 27-24

R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl: Jacksonville State vs. Louisiana [2:15] (I actually don't have too much to say about this bowl. There wasn't enough bowl-eligible teams available when the bowl games were made out, so in comes Rich Rodriguez and the Gamecocks for their 1st-ever bowl! And also, there's the old Ragin' Cajuns playing a de-facto home game in the Superdome. Trouble is, the Cajuns have been inconsistent all season, so the Gamecocks should feast if their offense runs well.)
My prediction: JACKSONVILLE STATE 30-20

Cure Bowl: Miami-Ohio vs. Appalachian State [3:30, ABC] (This one could be good. We have good ol' App. State back in the bowl spotlight, and they're taking on the MAC champions from Oxford, Ohio. And of course, this is the happy bowl where all of the proceeds go to cancer research (and maybe some avocado farmers, I don't know)!
So what will win out? The throwing arm of App. State QB Joey Aguilar, or the leadership of Redhawk QB Blane Gabbert and his defense? Well, the Vegas sharks have the O/U at 42.5. That would suggest a low-scoring game... which is right up Miami-Ohio's alley.)
My prediction: APPALACHIAN STATE 31-24 (You know what? I'll go for the upset.)

Isleta New Mexico Bowl: New Mexico State vs. Fresno State [5:45] (Let's see... What is Isleta? Hmm... says here that it's the name of a casino brand in New Mexico and surrounding states. Anyway, we got a QB duel here between Diego Pavia [for NMSU] and Mikey Keene [for Fresno]. And what a thrill it is for the Aggies; coming off one of their best seasons in school history, they get to play close to home for the postseason! And even better for them, Fresno State is limping into this contest with 3 straight losses.
However, something tells me that Fresno has been spending all of their practice time getting their shit together.)
My prediction: FRESNO STATE 38-31

Starco Brands LA Bowl: UCLA vs. Boise State [7:30, ABC] (Aw, so Jimmy Kimmel is no longer sponsoring this game? And don't get excited about the new sponsor; Starco is just another consumer goods brand. But you know who IS excited? Boise State! 1 month ago, they were 5-5 and just fired their head coach. Now they're the proud champions of the Mountain West and have locked up Spencer Danielson as their new head-man.
So can Boise State pull off the win against a UCLA team that'll be missing a few key players? ...It'll be a close game, but I think Chip Kelly and the Bruins still have some tricks left.)
My prediction: UCLA 31-28

Independence Bowl: California vs. Texas Tech [9:15] (So Texas Tech didn't have the season they kinda wanted, as they're now stuck at 6-6. What will they do when they face an upbeat Cal team that is just happy to be back in a bowl? Well, both teams have good runners [Jaydn Ott for Cal, and Tahj Brooks for Tech]. The stats for both teams' quarterbacks are almost the same. So what about the defense? Cal's numbers aren't good there, but it HAS done better over the last 3 games. Oh, this one is hard...)
My prediction: TEXAS TECH 24-21

Hey, I did it! The first 6 bowl games are up! More picks to come...

 

[redskinsfan1963]

lots of talk here regarding the amos alonzo stagg bowl 50 miles away in salem tonight.

 

[bamagrad75]

I've found some of these "blah" bowls as some think of them end up bring better games,gave great drama and are entertaining.

A few I immediately recall is the Poop Bowl in Birmingham where diarrhea was the name of the day. Another bowl where the coach absolutely got sidelined and a few that went to tense overtime.

Give them a chance

 

[Picklerick 2.0]

The 5-7 gophers made a bowl game. I mean.....God damn.

 

[bamagrad75]

The 5-7 gophers made a bowl game. I mean.....God damn.

Too many bowls. Not enough 6-6 teams

 

[Xeliou66]

I for one really enjoy the bowls - it’s nice seeing teams that don’t normally play each other play plus seeing a lot of teams end their season on a winning note is nice. There are frequently a lot of good games in these bowls.

In tomorrow’s games I think Miami OH/App St and UCLA/Boise St are the standout matchups - I’ll disagree with the OP and pick Miami OH and Boise to win.

 

[Used 2 B Hu]

We start things off in Myrtle Beach... where it looks like this bowl is replacing the one held in the Bahamas.

I think I heard that the Bahamas bowl was being temporarily moved to BOA stadium in Charlotte?

Agree with Ohio, App State, UCLA and Jax State picks.

I think NMSU beats Fresno, and Cal-TTech is just too hard to call. Which Cal are we gonna get?

Redhawk QB Blane Gabbert

I know you meant Brett! Blane has probably used up his eligibility

 

[jwolt92]

What does Ohio have at QB? Saw their starter transferred to Indiana

 

[Xeliou66]

I think I heard that the Bahamas bowl was being temporarily moved to BOA stadium in Charlotte?

Agree with Ohio, App State, UCLA and Jax State picks.

I think NMSU beats Fresno, and Cal-TTech is just too hard to call. Which Cal are we gonna get?

I know you meant Brett! Blane has probably used up his eligibility

Yes the Bahamas Bowl in being held in Charlotte this year, it will be played on Monday.

I hope NMSU beats Fresno, I love what Jerry Kill has done with that long suffering program and it would be nice for them to cap their best season in decades with a bowl win.

 

[Used 2 B Hu]

I hope NMSU beats Fresno, I love what Jerry Kill has done with that long suffering program and it would be nice for them to cap their best season in decades with a bowl win.

Yep, it's a great story. Love that Kill is still coaching and winning

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Bowl recap (December 16th- Part 1)
Well, the first 6 bowls are in the books, so let's see what went down.
In Myrtle Beach, we saw Ohio get their 5th-straight bowl win thanks to the breakout performance of RB Rickey Hunt. In New Mexico, Mikey Keene returned to his old dominant self to give Fresno State the win.

Appalachian State 13-9 Miami (OH) (Dec 16, 2023) Box Score - ESPN

Box score for the Appalachian State Mountaineers vs. Miami (OH) RedHawks NCAAF game from December 16, 2023 on ESPN. Includes all passing, rushing and receiving stats.

www.espn.com

And over in Orlando, we got a disgusting mess of a game that featured 13 fumbles... that App. State managed to win.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Bowl recap (December 16th- Part 2)
Now for the 2nd half of the rundown.

In L.A., we saw UCLA make some great 2nd-half adjustments to beat Boise State. And in Shreveport, Texas Tech won rather easily over Cal.


But those 2 bowls can't hold a candle to the New Orleans Bowl. Holy cow, that was an awesome game!

 

[bamagrad75]

Bowl recap (December 16th- Part 2)
Now for the 2nd half of the rundown.

In L.A., we saw UCLA make some great 2nd-half adjustments to beat Boise State. And in Shreveport, Texas Tech won rather easily over Cal.


But those 2 bowls can't hold a candle to the New Orleans Bowl. Holy cow, that was an awesome game!

Yeah, that one went the distance.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Bowl predictions (Part 2- December 18th)

Just one bowl prediction today, sadly. That's because I don't know if flooding from the coastal storm going on now is going to get me or not. So let's just get to it:

Famous Toastery Bowl: Western Kentucky vs. Old Dominion [2:30, ESPN] (This game was originally going to be the Bahamas Bowl, but current renovations are not yet complete. So instead, these former C-USA rivals will meet in Charlotte... and the game is sponsored by some local chain eatery.
Anyway, what about the actual game? Old Dominion is REALLY hoping that Hilltoppers QB Austin Reed doesn't play... and that is looking more and more likely by the hour. On the other hand, ODU's offensive line is pretty bad and their top linebacker [Jason Henderson] isn't playing either. This could be another interesting contest...)
My prediction: WESTERN KENTUCKY 31-24

Don't worry, folks. If I survive all this rain, I'll be back tomorrow with more picks.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Famous Toastery Bowl recap
So Carson Beck is returning to Georgia, Jayden Daniels will not be at LSU's bowl game, and Nebraska actually used RECRUTING to get a big superstar QB.

Western Kentucky 38-35 Old Dominion (Dec 18, 2023) Final Score - ESPN

Game summary of the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs. Old Dominion Monarchs NCAAF game, final score 38-35, from December 18, 2023 on ESPN.

www.espn.com

Oh yeah, and there was also this bowl game... where Western Kentucky made history. Famous Toastery in Charlotte must be so happy about it!

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Bowl predictions (Part 3- December 19th)

Again, just one bowl pick for today. But that's only because I'm not being stupid and picking Thursday's and Friday's bowl games as well. So, onwards!

Scooter's Coffee Frisco Bowl: UTSA vs. Marshall [9:00, ESPN] (So here we go again. Another battle of former Conference USA rivals, in a bowl sponsored by someone I [once again] had to look up. It says here that Scooter's Coffee is a coffee brand popular in the Midwest and Texas.
Anyway, back to the game. Marshall was able to worm their way here thanks to a Senior Day win, and they have a 1,000-yard rusher. Trouble is, UTSA has a 1,000-yard receiver, a QB [Frank Harris] looking to end his stored career on a high, and a defense that bends but doesn't break.)
My prediction: UTSA 34-20

More bowl picks to come...

 

[BigDGarciaFan]

Frisco Bowl:
UTSA 21-17 Marshall
3rd 11m

on ESPN

 

[BigDGarciaFan]

UTSA 28-17 Marshall
3rd 4m

 

[BigDGarciaFan]

UTSA wins Frisco Bowl 35-17.