OUTBACK BOWL
MISSISSIPPI
STATE VS. IOWA
TIME: Noon ET on
TV: ESPN2 at
WHERE: Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida)
WHY TO WATCH: They might rename the playing turf Iowa
Field at Raymond James Stadium during pregame ceremonies. The Hawkeyes have
played in the Outback Bowl six times since 2003.
WHOM TO WATCH: Iowa cornerback Amani Hooker is
tied for No. 2 in the Big Ten with four interceptions and is No. 7 with 11
passes defended. The Hawkeyes allowed only 186.8 passing yards per game.
MOTIVATING FACTOR FOR MISSISSIPPI STATE: It's the
last game for Bulldogs senior defensive end Montez Sweat and
probably the last for junior defensive tackle Jeffery
Simmons, who are projected as NFL first-round picks. The Bulldogs
can win nine games in coach Joe Moorhead's first season, which isn't bad.
MOTIVATING FACTOR FOR IOWA: The Hawkeyes used to be a
pretty good bet in the postseason, winning five of seven bowl games from 2003
to 2010. But they've lost five of their past six, including three to SEC
opponents.
PREDICTION: Mississippi State 27, Iowa 20
VRBO CITRUS BOWL
KENTUCKY VS. PENN STATE
TIME: 1 p.m. ET
TV: ABC
WHERE: Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida
WHY TO WATCH: It's your final chance to watch two of
the good guys in college football: Penn State quarterback Trace
McSorley and Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen.
WHOM TO WATCH: A former two-star recruit, Allen was
named SEC Defensive Player of the Year, won the Bronko Nagurski, Lott IMPACT
Trophy and Bednarik awards, and was runner-up for the Butkus Award. He ranks
fourth in the FBS with 14 sacks, tied for 10th with 18.5 tackles for loss and
tied for first with 5 forced fumbles.
MOTIVATING FACTOR FOR KENTUCKY: The Wildcats are 9-3
and have a chance to win 10 games in a season for only the third time in the
program's 103-year history. They haven't reached double-digit wins since going
10-1 in 1977.
MOTIVATING FACTOR FOR PENN STATE: The Nittany Lions
hoped to reach a third straight New Year's Six bowl, but they'll still have a
chance to win at least 10 games for the third consecutive season. Plus, they'd
love to send McSorley out a winner.
PREDICTION: Penn State 27, Kentucky 24
PLAYSTATION FIESTA
BOWL
LSU VS. UCF
TIME: 1 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
WHERE: State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona
WHY TO WATCH:
Will UCF finish unbeaten for the second straight season, extend its 25-game win
streak and declare itself SEC West champion if it beats LSU in the desert?
WHOM TO WATCH:
UCF redshirt freshman Darriel Mack
Jr. started the AAC championship game after star quarterback McKenzie
Milton suffered a serious leg injury. Mack responded by
throwing for 348 yards with 2 touchdowns and running for 4 more scores in a
56-41 win over Memphis.
MOTIVATING FACTOR FOR LSU: It's about SEC pride for
LSU. Last season, UCF upset No. 7 Auburn 34-27 in the Peach Bowl to finish
13-0. Will these Tigers be more motivated? LSU can win 10 games in a season for
the first time since 2013.
MOTIVATING FACTOR FOR UCF: The Knights can post
back-to-back unbeaten seasons and New Year's Six bowl victories over SEC
opponents, which would certainly quiet some of their critics. They would become
the first FBS team to post consecutive undefeated seasons since Nebraska in
1994 and '95.
PREDICTION: LSU 38, UCF 34
ROSE BOWL GAME PRESENTED
BY NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL
WASHINGTON
VS. Ohio State
TIME: 5 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
WHERE: Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California
WHY TO WATCH: It's the Granddaddy of 'Em all -- and
its Urban Meyer's first trip to the Rose Bowl and last game as Ohio State's
coach.
WHOM TO WATCH: Buckeyes quarterback Dwayne
Haskins might have won the Heisman Trophy in any other season.
He threw for 4,580 yards, 47 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. He had 400 or more
yards in five games; no other Buckeyes player had done so more than once.
MOTIVATING FACTOR FOR WASHINGTON: The Huskies have
been really good under Coach Chris Petersen, but they've dropped three of four
bowl games in his tenure. He was 5-2 in bowl games as Boise State's coach.
MOTIVATING FACTOR FOR OHIO STATE: The Buckeyes will
want to win their last one under Meyer, who says he doesn't think he'll coach
again. They'd also like to jump-start the Ryan Day era with a victory in
Pasadena.
PREDICTION: Ohio State 31, Washington 27
ALLSTATE SUGAR
BOWL
TEXAS VS. GEORGIA
TIME: 8:45 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
WHERE: Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans)
WHY TO WATCH: Georgia argued it was one of the four
best teams in the country after blowing a 14-point lead against Alabama in the
SEC championship game. Will the Bulldogs be motivated to play the Longhorns?
OK, cool. Sic' em.
WHOM TO WATCH: Bulldogs tailback D'Andre Swift was
bothered by a nagging groin injury early in the season. But he was healthy down
the stretch, running for 100 yards or more in four of the past six games. He
finished with 1,037 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.
MOTIVATING FACTOR FOR TEXAS: The Longhorns improved
in Coach Tom Herman's second season, going 9-4 with victories over Oklahoma and
Iowa State. They haven't won 10 games in a season since 2009.
MOTIVATING FACTOR FOR GEORGIA: The Bulldogs will have
to bounce back after losing to Alabama in the final minutes for the second
straight season. With a victory over the Longhorns, they can finish in the top
four for the second straight season and set the stage for another big season in
2019.
PREDICTION: Georgia 38, Texas 28
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