Forecaster Frank's New Year's Day Bowl Picks
2019 Outback Bowl
Mississippi State 34 Iowa 20
A pair of 8-4 teams meets in Tampa, in the first of the New Year’s Day Bowl games. New Year’s Day used to be when all the best bowl games were played, but with the influence to the Playoff, the BCS and the glut of 40 bowl games, it too has become watered down. This one is somewhat good, in both teams are similar. However, the Bulldogs played a tougher schedule and has some wins against quality opponents like Texas A&M and Auburn. Iowa meanwhile went 0-2 in their games against ranked teams.
Watchability Factor: This game kicks off at noon on New Year’s Day if you are not too hung over it may be good to look in, but with the Winter Classic bringing NHL hockey to Notre Dame Stadium, there will be better options.
2019 VRBO Citrus Bowl
Penn State 24 Kentucky 13
It was a great season for Kentucky as they meet Florida for the first time in 30 years, had their highest ranking in 40 years as they seek their first ten-win season since 1977. Penn State also is looking for their tenth win, sitting at 9-3. However, the Wildcats have not won a bowl game in a decade and need to prove themselves before you can take them. The Nittany Lions are the more complete team, as Trace Sorely looks to make a good impression on NFL scouts as his long career at Penn State comes to an end. Look for Penn State to get enough offense and get the win.
Watchability Factor: Kentucky quietly had one of the top defenses in the country, led by Josh Allen, who won the Chuck Bednarik Award, while Penn State always plays well in bowl games. However, with other options, including the Fiesta Bowl and the Winter Classic it may get lost in the shuffle.
2019 PlayStation Fiesta Bowl
LSU 27 UCF 20
Last year Central Florida upset Auburn in the Peach Bowl to finish the season unbeaten. As the only FBS team to go 14-0 last year, the Golden Knights raised a banner and gave out rings proclaiming themselves as National Champions. Once again UCF went unbeaten and were not considered for the CFP as they are not in a power five conference. This time they won’t need to get the Cracker Jack box rings, as they will get a good helping of humble pie from LSU. The Tigers are battled tested playing Alabama every year. Look for them to take out UCF who will miss quarterback McKenzie Milton.
Watchability Factor: If you want to get a look at the best team not in a power five conference this is the game for you. Central Florida’s success over the past two seasons are the best argument for expanding the playoff as the fact they have finished unbeaten two straight seasons and not gotten considered for the playoff shows how unfair the system is and why the bowls need to be flushed for a full playoff.
2019 Rose Bowl Game Presented by Northwestern Mutual
Ohio State 47 Washington 20
The Urban Meyer era is coming to an end in Columbus as Ohio State faces Washington in the Rose Bowl. Ohio State has to be angry that they missed out on the College Football Playoff, as they essentially had the same qualifications as Oklahoma, but the committee chose the Sooners. Washington won the Pac-12 in a season in which the entire conference had a down year. Look for the Buckeyes to send Urban Meyer out a winner as they go out and take apart the Huskies in a big way at the Rose Bowl, as Dwayne Haskins lights Pasadena.
Watchability Factor: The Rose Bowl is the granddaddy of them all and the Big Ten versus Pac-12 matchup is one of the NCAA’s great New Year’s Day traditions. This is also the final game of Urban Meyer and the last college game for Dwayne Haskins who is looking to boost his draft stock. Washington is a big underdog but has talent that can also be playing on Sunday in Jake Browning and Myles Gaskin.
2019 All-State Sugar Bowl
Georgia 35 Texas 20
After their appearance in the Big XII Championship Game and win in the Red River Shootout, Tom Herman has Texas back on the verge of elite status a win in the Sugar Bowl would go to further the Longhorns resurgence. However, Georgia who should have beaten Alabama in last year’s championship game and this year’s SEC Championship is perhaps the best team not in the CFP. Look for them to make the case they should have still been selected by going down the Bayou and taking apart Texas in the final bowl game before next week’s championship.
Watchability Factor: The Sugar Bowl signals every year the end of Christmas Vacation the return to work, it’s sad but true, but the season of joy is over now its time to watch one last game before the grind begins anew.