I RANK ALL 39 BOWL GAMES

39. CAMELLIA BOWL: GEORGIA SOUTHERN (9-3) VS. EASTERN MICHIGAN (7-5), DEC. 15

Eastern Michigan's creative bowl appeal was heard, but it might need to plea to a higher power for help in taking down Georgia Southern. The Eagles out of the Sun Belt boast an option attack that features five players with at least 300 yards on the ground.

38. CURE BOWL: TULANE (6-6) VS. LOUISIANA (7-6), DEC. 15

This one features a pair of teams from Louisiana meeting in Orlando, FL to conclude their respective seasons. Tulane is making its first bowl appearance since 2013, when it lost 24-21 to Louisiana in the New Orleans Bowl. We can only hope it will be just as close this time around.

37. ARIZONA BOWL: ARKANSAS STATE (8-4) VS. NEVADA (7-5), DEC. 29

Arkansas State is making an eighth straight bowl appearance, but coach Blake Anderson and his family are in for a bigger fight at the moment. This is Nevada's first bowl appearance since 2015, as it tries to match its win total from the previous two seasons.

36. FAMOUS IDAHO POTATO BOWL: WESTERN MICHIGAN (7-5) VS. BYU (6-6), DEC. 21

Two seasons ago, Western Michigan was rowing the boat to the Cotton Bowl. Now the Broncos get to spend time on the blue turf of Boise. BYU's record might not look all that great, but after going 4-9 a season prior, making a bowl is progress for this young team.

35. BAHAMAS BOWL: FIU (8-4) VS. TOLEDO (7-5), DEC. 21

This might not end up being the most entertaining bowl on the slate, but that won't matter to either of these teams that will be spending December in the Bahamas. Both squads have potentially potent offenses, but FIU sports the stingier defense.

34. HAWAII BOWL: LOUISIANA TECH (7-5) VS. HAWAII (8-5), DEC. 22

Hawaii's Cole McDonald ranks among the national leaders in passing yards (3,790) and touchdowns (35). Louisiana Tech defensive end Jaylon Ferguson is tied for the national lead with 15 sacks and is a finalist for the Hendricks Award. Should be fun.

33. NEW MEXICO BOWL: NORTH TEXAS (9-3) VS UTAH STATE (10-2), DEC. 15

By the time this game is played, both teams could be without the head coach who got them here. Matt Wells already left Utah State for Texas Tech and Seth Littrell could be set to bolt the Mean Green. Regardless who is in charge of either team, expect points to be aplenty in this one. 

32. FRISCO BOWL: SAN DIEGO STATE (7-5) VS. OHIO (8-4), DEC. 19

San Diego State has lost three in a row and four of the last five. Ohio, meanwhile, has won two straight and five of the last six heading into the contest. We like the #MACtion to prevail in this matchup of Group of Five programs that expected better regular seasons in 2018.

31. NEW ORLEANS BOWL: APPALACHIAN STATE (10-2) VS MIDDLE TENNESSEE (8-5), DEC. 15

Appalachian State's Scott Satterfield is a hot coaching commodity, so this game could take on a different meaning if he leaves. However, it should be entertaining regardless. It will be the final collegiate game for decorated Middle Tennessee quarterback Brent Stockstill, who has thrown for 12,165 yards and 105 touchdowns in his career.

30. DOLLAR GENERAL BOWL: BUFFALO (10-3) VS. TROY (9-3), DEC. 22

Buffalo might still be reeling from blowing a 19-point, second-half lead in the Mid-American Conference Championship Game, but the team features two freakishly talented offensive performers in 6-foot-7 quarterback Tyree Jackson and NFL-bound receiver Anthony Johnson. Troy won at Nebraska but also lost at Liberty this season. Strange.

29. BOCA RATON BOWL: UAB (10-3) VS. NORTHERN ILLINOIS (8-5), DEC. 18

A pair of conference champs meet near Florida's Atlantic coast. Expect defense to rule the night with NIU led by defensive end Sutton Smith, who is tied for first in the country with 15 sacks and has 24.5 tackles for loss. UAB's 6-foot-8 defensive end, Jamell Garcia-Williams, is also a force to be reckoned with.

28. GASPARILLA BOWL: MARSHALL (8-4) VS. SOUTH FLORIDA (7-5), DEC. 20

It's a true Tampa home game for South Florida, which limps into this contest as a loser of five in a row under coach Charlie Strong. Marshall, meanwhile, will be looking to extend its impressive bowl winning streak to seven games. 

27. TEXAS BOWL: BAYLOR (6-6) VS. VANDERBILT (6-6), DEC. 27

This should be a fun one between two revitalized programs. Baylor had just one victory in 2017, but Matt Rhule has done a nice job in Waco. Derek Mason began the season on the hot seat at Vandy, but his team beat Ole Miss and Tennessee to become bowl eligible.

26. CHEEZ-IT BOWL: CALIFORNIA (7-5) VS. TCU (6-6), DEC. 26

Wins over Baylor and Oklahoma State allowed TCU to extend its bowl streak to five straight seasons. Neither team has been consistently successful on offense, but TCU held four Big 12 opponents to 17 or fewer points this season. Cal has been held to 17 or fewer six times in 2018.

25. BIRMINGHAM BOWL: MEMPHIS (8-5) VS. WAKE FOREST (6-6), DEC. 22

Memphis running back Darrell Henderson and Wake receiver Greg Dortch are two of the most exciting players in all of college football. They alone are worth the effort to watch this matchup — that and the scoreboard operator might get tired from all the potential points that will be scored.

24. QUICK LANE BOWL: MINNESOTA (6-6) VS GEORGIA TECH (7-5), DEC. 26

A seemingly improbable win at Wisconsin in the regular-season finale earned Minnesota a bowl invite, but its work will be cut out in this one. Led by quarterback TaQuon Marshall, Georgia Tech's option offense might be too much for the Golden Gophers to handle.

23. ARMED FORCES BOWL: HOUSTON (8-4) VS. ARMY (9-2), DEC. 22

Houston would have more of a chance in this contest with quarterback D'Eriq King healthy and star defensive lineman Ed Oliver wanting to play. Still, Houston isn't void of potency, but not having Oliver against Army's methodical option offense might be the difference.

22. INDEPENDENCE BOWL: TEMPLE (8-4) VS. DUKE (7-5), DEC. 27

This pits against each other two teams seemingly going in opposite directions. Temple closed the regular season with three straight victories and six in the last seven. Duke, meanwhile, has dropped two in a row and four of its last six. 

21. LAS VEGAS BOWL: FRESNO STATE (11-2) VS. ARIZONA STATE (7-5), DEC. 15

Herm Edwards has guided Arizona State to a bowl in his first season, but his club faces a difficult assignment. Fresno State finally won at Boise State to win the Mountain West title and also took down UCLA at the Rose Bowl this season.

20. BELK BOWL: SOUTH CAROLINA (7-5) VS. VIRGINIA (7-5), DEC. 29

The Gamecocks averaged 38.2 points over the final five games of the regular season. Virginia allowed 64 while losing its last two against Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech. The advantage looks to be pointing in South Carolina's direction.

19. MILITARY BOWL: CINCINNATI (10-2) VS. VIRGINIA TECH (6-6), DEC. 31

It was close, but Virginia Tech's bowl streak lives on thanks to wins over Virginia and Marshall in its last two games. This will be the third time in 11 seasons that Cincinnati and the Hokies will face off in a bowl. Virginia won the previous two meetings, but the Bearcats look to win 11 games for the first time since 2009.

18. FIRST RESPONDER BOWL: BOSTON COLLEGE (7-5) VS BOISE STATE (10-3), DEC. 26

Boise running back Alexander Mattison (1,415 yards) might be the best running back many college football fans don't know about. Boston College certainly does, and its defense that yields 148.3 rushing yards per game needs to be better than it's been.

17. MUSIC CITY BOWL: PURDUE (6-6) VS AUBURN (7-5), DEC. 28

A victory for Purdue would be the cherry on top of a memorable season that featured wins over Boston College, Iowa and, of course, Ohio State. Auburn, however, probably can't wait for the end of this season, considering how it has struggled following a 4-1 start.

16. REDBOX BOWL: MICHIGAN STATE (7-5) VS. OREGON (8-4), DEC. 31

Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert is expected to play in this contest. However, Michigan State's defense allowed an average of 12.2 points in the final five games of the regular season. The problem was that the Spartans have been held to seven or fewer points three times in 2018.

15. LIBERTY BOWL: MISSOURI (8-4) VS OKLAHOMA STATE (6-6), DEC. 31

Missouri enters as one of the hottest teams in the country, outscoring its opponents 159-62 while going 4-0 in November. Oklahoma State, however, can score (38.4 points per game) but also has given up plenty of points this season (32.4). 

14. SUN BOWL: STANFORD (8-4) VS PITTSBURGH (7-6), DEC. 31

One of the more historic and picturesque of the non-New Year's Six bowls, the Sun Bowl, with a mountain lurking behind UTEP's football stadium is a bowl-season staple. Stanford expected to be part of a more prestigious bowl when the season started, but it's been a rough go of it by the program's standards. It's been the opposite for Pitt, which reached the ACC title game and returns to a bowl after missing out in 2017.

13. OUTBACK BOWL: MISSISSIPPI STATE (8-4) VS IOWA (8-4), JAN. 1

The Bulldogs are making their ninth consecutive bowl appearance, while Iowa is headed to its sixth in a row. Mississippi State has held three of its last four opponents to six or fewer points. Iowa, meanwhile, has recorded two shutouts this season, so this might be one bowl game in which defense is actually played.

12. HOLIDAY BOWL: NORTHWESTERN (8-5) VS. UTAH (9-4), DEC. 31

It's a matchup of conference runner-ups. Utah overcame the loss of its starting quarterback and running back to reach the Mountain West title game. Northwestern was the surprise winner of the Big Ten's West Division and will try to win a third consecutive bowl game.

11. GATOR BOWL: NORTH CAROLINA STATE (9-3) VS. TEXAS A&M (8-4), DEC. 31

It's been a solid first season for Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M, which won its last three games to finish second in the SEC West. Now Fisher must get the Aggies prepared enough to avoid a fourth straight bowl loss. N.C. State has also won three in a row, and quarterback Ryan Finley would like to go out in style.

10. ALAMO BOWL: IOWA STATE (8-4) VS. WASHINGTON STATE (10-2), DEC. 28

Washington State's special regular season ended with a bit of a thud in losing the Apple Cup at home, but an 11th win would be huge for the program. Iowa State appears to be a team on the rise after finishing third in the Big 12 and with talented freshman Brock Purdy under center.

9. PINSTRIPE BOWL: MIAMI, FL (7-5) VS. WISCONSIN (7-5), DEC. 27

It's safe to say both of these teams underachieved mightily in 2018, but at least they get one more chance to end the season on a positive note. It's a rematch of last season's Orange Bowl, which Wisconsin won 34-24. The climate will be much chillier for the sequel.

8. CAMPING WORLD BOWL: WEST VIRGINIA (8-3) VS SYRACUSE (9-3), DEC. 28

The big question surrounding this contest is whether or not star quarterback Will Grier will play for the Mountaineers. Either way, expect an upstart Syracuse group to be primed for its first bowl appearance since 2013.

7. CITRUS BOWL: KENTUCKY (9-3) VS. PENN STATE (9-3), JAN. 1

Both teams are 9-3, but Kentucky is looking to cap a special season with its first bowl victory since 2008. Penn State's three losses, meanwhile, somehow wreak of underachievement considering it led Ohio State late, was stunned at home by Michigan State and blown out at Michigan.

6. FIESTA BOWL: LSU (9-3) VS. UCF (12-0), JAN. 1

UCF's chances of winning a second straight New Year's Six Bowl won't be as good without the services of injured quarterback McKenzie Milton. However, the Knights have shown their perseverance all season. Hopefully, LSU will have caught its breath following that 74-72, seven-overtime defeat to Texas A&M.

5. SUGAR BOWL: TEXAS (9-4) VS. GEORGIA (11-2), JAN. 1

The Bulldogs inability to once again hold a lead against Alabama cost them a spot in the College Football Playoff. Like Georgia, Texas is a conference runner-up looking to end a solid season on a strong note. Sam Ehlinger and Jake Fromm are perhaps the two best sophomore quarterbacks in the country. 

4. PEACH BOWL: FLORIDA (9-3) VS. MICHIGAN (10-2), DEC. 29

Michigan will have had plenty of time to get over that embarrassing loss to Ohio State, but will it be mentally ready? Florida has enjoyed a nice bounce-back season under Dan Mullen but is 0-4 all time against the Wolverines.

3. ROSE BOWL: WASHINGTON (10-3) VS. OHIO STATE (12-1), JAN. 1

It's another matchup of league champions. Ohio State has won five in a row and hoped it would be in the College Football Playoff, but the selection committee had other ideas. Washington enters on a four-game winning streak and might possess a defense that's capable of containing the Buckeyes.

2. COTTON BOWL: NOTRE DAME (12-0) VS. CLEMSON (13-0), DEC. 29

Clemson hung on for a 24-22 victory when these programs last met during the 2015 regular season. The Tigers are big favorites, but the Irish have met every challenge in 2018. So we can hope this one will be as close as the last.

1. ORANGE BOWL: OKLAHOMA (12-1) VS. ALABAMA (13-0), DEC. 29

Despite reportedly undergoing ankle surgery, Tua Tagovailoa would seem to be ready for this semifinal. However, we know Jalen Hurts is a more than serviceable replacement, who should be able to handle Oklahoma's porous defense. Watching Kyler Murray against the Crimson Tide defense will be fun.