College Football Playoff 2017-2018: Previewing the Sugar Bowl

Travis Entienne, Clemson

The last two seasons, Clemson-Alabama have given us memorable ends to the college football season. Two years ago, Deshaun Watson dominated but it wasn't enough as a bold onside kick to start the second half guided Alabama to victory. Last season, the Tigers started off slow but Watson led an epic comeback capped off by a last-second touchdown grab by Hunter Renfrow. There is no Watson this season, and this isn't the National Championship game, but it should still be a thrilling game. Clemson earned the No. 1 seed in the Playoff field, and hopes to defend that National Title. On the other side, Alabama looks to validate getting into the field over Ohio State, and get vengeance for last year.

Without Watson, Clemson's offense isn't quite as dangerous, but the group still proved it could get the job done on countless occasions this season. First-year starter Kelly Bryant isn't a great passer but he is dangerous with his legs and can really break games open. When paired with freshman Travis Entienne (744 yards, 13 touchdowns) and Tavien Feaster (659), Clemson's rushing attack can really be scary. Facing an Alabama defense that is very beat up on the D-Line and at linebacker could be a great opportunity for the group to show what they can do. On the outside, Clemson possesses some real weapons, namely Deon Cain and Renfrow. Cain is the next in a long line of talented Clemson wide outs, while Renfrow has played insane each of the past two teams he has played the Tide. Up front, Clemson has had some injuries, but the line should still be enough to control the line of scrimmage. In the past, Alabama was able to bully opponents and beat them with their insane athleticism defensively. That isn't going to be the case for Clemson. This offense might not drop 50 every night, but it has good balance and any number of guys can go out and break the game open.

While the offense will obviously need to play well to win this one, the Tigers will turn to their defense, which has been their strength all season. Clemson may have the nation's best defensive line, featuring four guys who should soon be playing on Sundays. Austin Bryant has had a breakout campaign, with 14.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks, Clelin Ferrell dominated in last year's Playoff and had 17 tackles for loss this year, and interior linemen Christian Wilkins and Dexter Lawrence are two of the best out there. Beyond that, the Tigers feature two superb linebackers in Kendall Joseph and Dorian O'Daniel who should be able to slow down Alabama's ground game. In the secondary, Clemson has plenty of talent but the group has lacked much consistency, and has been prone to big plays. Alabama still won't throw the ball a ton, but it could be cause for concern for the Tigers if Jalen Hurts is able to get the ball down the field. Even so, Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables is one of the best there is, and devised a perfect defense to stem the Tide last season.

The first season of new Alabama offensive coordinator Brian Daboll wasn't exactly a booming success, but the Tide have proven they can still move the ball with a stellar rushing attack and consistent play from Hurts. Hurts hasn't had the breakout sophomore season some expected but he still has put up good numbers and showed great command of the offense. He also is still dangerous as ever with his legs, which could give the Clemson defense some serious problems. At running back, the Tide are stacked, per usual. Damien Harris leads the team in rushing, and is averaging 8.2 yards per rush. Powerful Bo Scarbrough and youngsters Joshua Jacobs and Najee Harris also will provide plenty of help. At receiver, there is no secret who Hurts will look to often. Junior Calvin Ridley led the team with 55 receptions and 896 yards on the season. The second closest was true freshman Jerry Jeudy, who had just 13 catches for 244 yards by comparison. If Clemson can shut down Ridley, this Alabama offense could really become one-dimensional.

The biggest reason why Alabama wasn't quite their dominant selves towards the end of the season was their defense. The unit is still as talented and deep as ever, but it has a long list of players sidelined with injury. That list includes defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick, who won the Jim Thorpe Award for the nation's best defensive back. Fitzpatrick has been dealing with a hamstring injury for awhile, but luckily, is probable in this one. Alabama is still pretty strong in the front seven, even with a number of linebackers out. Raekwon Davis has evolved into a top-notch defensive linemen, while nose guard Da'Ron Payne will be tasked with slowing down Clemson's rushing attack. Alabama also should have a great counterattack to Bryant through the air with the talent they possess in the defensive backfield. Not only is Fitzpatrick a proven difference-maker, Levi Wallace and Anthony Averett are terrific. Wallace has proven himself as a game changer on the season, while Averett is one of the country's best cover corners, and will be tasked with slowing down likely Deon Cain.

Neither of these teams are their 2016-2017 selves, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Clemson has proven they can with Bryant leading the way, and the defense, which was once the team's Achilles Heel, has morphed into a Top 10 unit. On the other side, Alabama has proven themselves countless times on the biggest of stages and has insane amounts of depth. I expect it to be a hard-fought, hard-hitting football game, but I think Clemson will pull it out. The Tide just don't seem like they are at Clemson's level right now, and the Tigers have more overall versatility and balance.

College Football Playoff 2017-2018: Previewing the Rose Bowl

Over the course of his three seasons in Norman, Baker Mayfield has won three Big 12 titles, made the

Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma

College Football Playoff twice, won a Heisman, and set countless records while leading the Oklahoma Sooners. However, there is one big thing missing from his legendary career: a National Title. Mayfield will get an opportunity to manage just that as he begins his quest against the Georgia Bulldogs, who pounded Auburn in the SEC Championship to win a conference title in Kirby Smart's second season. The game will feature an explosive, balanced Oklahoma offense against a physical, well-built Bulldogs' defense in a historic venue. It should be the perfect way to kick off 2018 in the world of college football.

Mayfield, who of course was once a walk-on at Oklahoma after transferring from Texas Tech (where he was also a walk-on), has put together one of the most impressive seasons ever by an Oklahoma QB, a list that includes various Heisman winners and many record-setting signal-callers. The senior has played with his usual confidence and fearlessness, but has cut down on turnovers and played even better in the bigger games. Mayfield has been the driving force behind an offense that is averaging 45 points per game and 583 yards per game (best in the nation), but he isn't the only weapon the Sooners will use to attack that fantastic Georgia defense. Oklahoma has a three-headed monster at running back, where Rodney Anderson, Trey Sermon and Abdul Adams will lead the way. Anderson led the team in rushing, with 960 yards and 11 scores, but Sermon and Adams offer some major big-play potential, particularly Adams, who averaged a whopping 9.2 yards per carry. Georgia has done a good job of containing the big play all season long, but OU head man Lincoln Riley is fantastic at finding ways to create space and wearing defenses down. Mayfield also has a very capable receiver group to work with, which includes reliable Marquise Brown and John Mackey Award winner Mark Andrews, who had 906 yards at tight end. He also operates behind one of the country's best offensive lines, which will have to deal with an aggressive and experience UGA pass rush. Overall, the group has great balance and solid experience, which puts them in a good spot to still light up the scoreboard, even with how much talent Georgia has on that side of the ball. 

The bigger question for Oklahoma is on defense, where the group has struggled for a big chunk of the season. With their offense being so good, it hasn't really derailed the Sooners, but it could become a major problem against some of the talented teams in the four-team field. Georgia's offense is not as explosive as Oklahoma, but it is still a group that can certainly attack a weak defense. Oklahoma will have to hope for a big day from sack machine Ogobonnia Okoronkwo, as well as a good day from an inconsistent secondary. If Okoronkwo can apply pressure on true freshman QB Jake Fromm and the secondary can force some turnovers, the Sooners should really be in a good spot.

What is very impressive about Georgia this season is their success despite having Fromm, who is just 19, leading the charge. Fromm took over when former five-star recruit Jacob Eason went down early in the season with an injury, and has subsequently cemented himself as the leader of this football team. Fromm doesn't have the big play ability of Mayfield or other quarterbacks across the country, but he plays smart football and gets down the field without turning the ball over. The true frosh is also exceptional on back-shoulder throws towards the sideline, so expect to see UGA attack the Oklahoma defense horizontally as well as vertically. The Bulldogs lean heavily on their rushing attack, which includes seniors Nick Chubb and Sony Michel. Both could have left for the NFL and likely been high picks, but opted to return for their senior season to try to bring a National Championship to Athens. Chubb is the workhorse that thrives between the tackles, while Michel has a little bit more wiggle to him. Outside of Ohio State, Oklahoma hasn't seen this skilled of a rushing attack, so it will be interesting to see how they react to it. On the outside, UGA also has a number of guys that should be able to attack the Sooners' secondary, mainly wide receiver Javon Wims and Terry Godwin. The offensive line also is known for its physical nature and should be able to perform well, even against an Oklahoma defense that loves to blitz.

The real strength for Georgia is definitely their defense, which is allowing just 13.4 points per game, which is fourth nationally. It starts with their defensive line, which lacks any big names and is far from flashy, but eats up running holes and should be able to get in Mayfield's face. The real strength is at linebacker, where Roquan Smith, who finished tenth in Heisman voting, is the unquestioned leader of the unit. Smith managed 103 tackles on the season and can play from sideline to sideline as well as anybody in the country. The linebacker corps is hurt, however, by the absence of Natrez Patrick, a hard-hitting linebacker is out after being arrested. In the defensive backfield, UGA has a lot of veteran leadership and established playmakers. It is hard to imagine them completely shutting down Mayfield and the Sooners' aerial attack, but they should certainly be enough to at the very least, slow it down.

It should be an interesting clash of two teams with different philosophies. Oklahoma will want to come out and play aggressive on both sides of the ball, while the Bulldogs should slow down the game and play smart, physical football. Both are clearly good football teams, and their differing strengths still make them very evenly matched. In a game where neither team is really a clear favorite, it makes sense to go with the team with the best player, which is Mayfield. The last time he played in a Playoff game it was short-lived, as Mayfield was unable to overcome Clemson in '15-'16. Don't expect that to be the case this time. Oklahoma is my pick to win the National Championship.

The Pick: Oklahoma, 31 Georgia, 24

Bowl Picks 2017-2018: Belk Bowl to Cotton Bowl

Parris Campbell & J.K. Dobbins, Ohio State (Cotton Bowl)

Belk Bowl
Texas A&M Aggies (7-5) vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (7-5)
Its a new day at Texas A&M, as Jimbo Fisher begins his tenure with the Aggies against an old ACC opponent. Wake Forest put together a solid 2017, and continue to make strides under head coach Dave Clawson. QB John Wolford, along with workhorse tailback Matt Colburn will lead the offense, while Jessie Bates and a ball-hawking defense will try to force turnovers. Texas A&M still has an explosive offense, which includes stars Trayveon Williams and wide out Christian Kirk (who confirmed he will play in this one despite some who thought he might sit out). If A&M can make some stops defensively, and the offense can win the turnover battle, the speed and explosiveness of this Aggies' team should guide them to victory.
Texas A&M, 35 Wake Forest, 30

Hyundai Sun Bowl
NC State Wolfpack (8-4) vs. Arizona State Sun Devils (7-5)
After a tough end-of-the-year stretch, NC State looks to finish the season on a high note against an Arizona State undergoing a coaching change, as former NFL head man Herm Edwards moves to the collegiate game. Offensively, NC State doesn't have a clear superstar, but quarterback Ryan Finley is as smart and efficient as they come, and do-it-all running back/receiver Jaylen Samuels should be able to do some serious damage against a weak ASU defense. On the other side of the ball, the Wolfpack have a future first-round NFL Draft pick in defensive end Bradley Chubb, who should wreak havoc against a porous Sun Devils' O-Line. Arizona State has some dangerous weapons, particularly wide receiver N'Keal Harry, but they've struggled with consistency and turnovers all season long. The Wolfpack should be able to roll in this one.
NC State, 31 Arizona State, 17

Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl
Kentucky Wildcats (7-5) vs. Northwestern Wildcats (9-3)
Neither got much attention prior to this season, but Kentucky and Northwestern both put together quality seasons in 2017. Kentucky survived the always-tough SEC thanks in large part to running back Benny Snell Jr., who ran for 1,318 yards and 18 scores this season. Snell and the rest of the Kentucky offense will have to have a field day, because the defense has been unreliable all year long, and Northwestern's offense has been on fire. Dual threat QB Clayton Thorson is always a threat, and tailback Justin Jackson is a threat to have a huge day anytime he runs onto the field. Northwestern is also playing great defense, holding opponents to under 20 points per game on the season. They should be able to control Snell enough to seal a win.
Northwestern, 28 Kentucky, 20

Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl
Utah State Aggies (6-6) vs. New Mexico State Aggies (6-6)
One of the coolest stories of this college football season was New Mexico State, who went 6-6 and will be playing in their first bowl game since 1960. NMSU has a dangerous aerial attack, the fourth best in the country this past season. Signal-caller Tyler Rogers and a quick group of receivers should give Utah State some serious issues. Utah State reached the postseason behind a solid defense and a disciplined offense. Their defense has decent depth and experience, but they have struggled to defend the pass at times this year. That should only make things better for NMSU, who should finish their first bowl appearance in nearly six decades with a win.
New Mexico State, 38 Utah State, 27

Cotton Bowl Classic
Ohio State Buckeyes (11-2) vs. USC Trojans (11-2)
Two conference champions, Ohio State and USC, should be able to give us an exciting Cotton Bowl that is sure to keep the scoreboard operators busy. Quarterback Sam Darnold didn't quite dominate like some expected prior to the season, but he has improved as the season has gone on, and is aided by backs Ronald Jones II (1,486 yards) and Stephen Carr (363 yards). However, USC's defense has struggled with consistency, and has had trouble supporting a turnover-prone offense. They will be in store for a tough game against the Buckeyes. True freshman J.K. Dobbins has had a huge season, and QB J.T. Barrett expects to end his lengthy collegiate career with a resounding win. Ohio State also has the motivation factor advantage here; they will play angry after being snubbed from the College Football Playoff.
Ohio State, 40 USC, 31

Bowl Picks 2017-2018: Pinstripe Bowl to Military Bowl

Drew Lock, Missouri (Texas Bowl)

New Era Pinstripe Bowl
Iowa Hawkeyes (7-5) vs. Boston College Eagles (7-5)
Neither Iowa nor Boston College are teams known to light up the scoreboard, but that has slightly changed in 2017. BC found their offense in the second half of the year and put up 45 against Louisville, 41 against Virginia and 35 over Florida State. They've relied on the play of youthful running back A.J. Dillon (1,432 yards) but it will be interesting to see what he will able to do against a stout Iowa rush defense that includes star linebacker Josey Jewell. For the Hawkeyes they've had some poor moments offensively, but did score 55 against Ohio State and 56 against Nebraska and feature a potent rush attack. If the Hawkeyes can have a solid day offensively and stud defenders like Jewell and cornerback Joshua Jackson trip up the Eagles, Iowa should end a crazy season with a win.
Iowa, 28 Boston College, 21

Foster Farms Bowl
Arizona Wildcats (7-5) vs. Purdue Boilermakers (6-6)
Not much was expected in the preseason from either Arizona or Purdue, but the two have been pleasant surprises this year. Arizona has rode rushing QB Khalil Tate heavily but the offense seemed to struggle late in the year and it is still extremely one-dimensional. For Purdue, new head coach Jeff Brohm has brought a more exciting, up-tempo attack offensively, but with mixed results. Injuries have hurt the Boilermakers, but they are averaging just 24.3 PPG (100th in the nation). The good news is that the defense has tons of experience and is really good in the linebacker corps. Purdue still worries me offensively but I think the defense can be the fueling force in a slight upset here. The Boilermakers seem to be playing harder right now than 'Zona and are healthier overall.
Purdue, 30 Arizona, 26

Academy Sports+Outdoors Texas Bowl
Texas Longhorns (6-6) vs. Missouri Tigers (7-5)
Former Big 12 foes clash in the Texas Bowl, which should give us a pretty high-scoring, exciting football game. Missouri has been on fire over the season's second half and are potent offensively, where QB Drew Lock engineers a big-play group. However, the defense has lagged behind all season long, and could be in store for a tough meeting with the 'Horns. True freshman quarterback Sam Ehlinger has been very good in his first season in Austin, and leads the team in passing and rushing. If he can limit mistakes, which have haunted him at times in '17, he should be able to dice up that very porous Mizzou D. Tom Herman seems to have already injected this Texas team with plenty of life, and a victory here could only be the start of something special for the Longhorns.
Texas, 35 Missouri, 31

Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman
Virginia Cavaliers (6-6) vs. Navy Midshipmen (6-6)
After a dismal 2016 that included a loss to FCS foe Richmond, Virginia had a really good season, and has a very winnable bowl game against Navy. Veteran QB Kurt Benkert has looked much more poised and confident all season, and is helped by two great running backs in Justin Ellis and Olamide Zaccheaus. The defense is also rock-solid, and brings linebacker Micah Kiser and safety Quin Blanding to the table. Navy still runs the triple-option, but the offense hasn't been as crisp and effective as usual under first-year starting QB Zach Abey. Facing a triple-option is still going to adjustment for the Cavaliers but head coach Bronco Mendenhall is a great defensive mind and should have them ready to go.
Virginia, 27 Navy, 24

Bowl Picks 2017-2018: Heart of Dallas Bowl to Independence Bowl

Josh Rosen, UCLA (Cactus Bowl)

Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl
Utah Utes (6-6) vs. West Virginia Mountaineers (7-5)
Two teams with vastly different philosophies square off in the Heart of Dallas Bowl. West Virginia has one of the nation's most explosive offensive units, headlined by quarterback Will Grier, running back Justin Crawford and receivers David Sills and Gary Jennings. They pose a big challenge for Utah, who has long been more conservative offensively and leans more on the defense. However, in order to keep up with WVU, the Utes will need the offense to have a big day. Back Zack Moss and Oregon transfer Darren Carrington give the unit some weapons, but unless the defense shuts down Grier and company, the Mountaineers should be able to snatch up their eighth win of the year.
West Virginia, 33 Utah, 23

Quick Lane Bowl
Northern Illinois Huskies (8-4) vs. Duke Blue Devils (6-6)
Northern Illinois has earned a reputation as a small school dark horse over the past decade in college football, and now they have a shot to take down an ACC school in 6-6 Duke. The Blue Devils aren't very imposing offensively but have still proven they can move the ball with the help of QB Daniel Jones and wide out T.J. Rahming, but there real strength is on defense, where they allow just 20.8 points per game (25th nationally). That is also the case for the Huskies, who have struggled to move the ball through the air consistently all season long, but rely on a methodical rushing attack and strong defense. It should be a competitive game, but Duke brings just more experience and overall talent to the table.
Duke, 27 Northern Illinois, 21

Cactus Bowl
Kansas State Wildcats (7-5) vs. UCLA Bruins (6-6)
Even though both teams dealt with injuries, it was a very disappointing 2017 for K-State and UCLA. The Wildcats couldn't get consistent QB play for a big chunk of the year, but youngster Skylar Thompson has played great down the stretch and orchestrated the upset of Oklahoma State. Meanwhile, UCLA struggled mightily after beating Texas A&M and plan to bring in Chip Kelly to turn around the program. The Bruins have a proven star in junior QB Josh Rosen, but the weak ground attack continues to make the offense very one-dimensional. That isn't going to work against a Wildcats' defense that is well-coached and has solid experience throughout. If Thompson and the offense can pound a lackluster UCLA defense, K-State should roll.
Kansas State, 31 UCLA, 20

Walk On's Independence Bowl
Florida State Seminoles (6-6) vs. Southern Miss Golden Eagles (8-4)
After losing star quarterback Deondre Francois to a season-ending knee injury, Florida State had a rollercoaster of a 2017, barely sneaking into bowl play with a 6-6 mark. They hope to give new head coach Willie Taggart some momentum to work with by ending the year with a win over Southern Miss. The Golden Eagles are a good football team, and have one of the country's most under-the-radar superstars in running back Ito Smith, who ran for 1,321 yards and 13 touchdowns on the year. FSU has loads of talent defensively, including cornerback Tavarus McFadden and safety Derwin James, but the unit has underperformed for much of the year. That puts more pressure on a young offense, which leans on QB James Blackman and true frosh back Cam Akers. Even so, the Seminoles impressive talent and recent hot streak should guide them to a victory.
Florida State, 34 Southern Miss, 28

Bowl Picks 2017-2018: Famous Idaho Potato Bowl to Hawaii Bowl

Logan Woodside, Toledo (Dollar General Bowl)

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Central Michigan Chippewas (8-4) vs. Wyoming Cowboys (7-5)
If you are a fan of hard-hitting, smashmouth defenses than the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl is the one for you. It pits Central Michigan and their 8-4 mark against Wyoming, who has been led by the nation's 13th best scoring defense. Offensively, the Cowboys are hoping NFL Draft prospect Josh Allen (considered by many to have first-round potential) can create some big plays and mask a rushing attack that has been close to nonexistent on the season. Allen will have his work cut out for him against a Chippewas defense that is well-coached and is great at creating turnovers. If Central Michigan can get production from an offense headed by Michigan transfer Shane Morris at quarterback and solid running back Jonathan Ward, they should be able to end the 2017 campaign on a high note.
Central Michigan, 28 Wyoming, 21

Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
Army Black Knights (9-3) vs. San Diego State Aztecs (10-2)
Expect plenty of running the football in the Armed Forces Bowl, as Army and their triple-option attack square off against Rashaad Penny and the SDSU Aztecs. Penny was not invited to New York as Heisman finalist, but he certainly had a case to be after managing 2,027 yards and 19 touchdowns on the year. He is almost sure to give a porous Army rush defense some serious problems in this one. For the Black Knights, they rely almost exclusively on the run, throwing just 61 passes on the season (an average of just over five per game). QB Ahmad Bradshaw is their most dangerous playmaker, while backs Darnell Woolfolk and Kell Walker help out. Facing a triple-option offense is always a difficulty, but the Aztecs have had weeks to prepare. They should be able to slow it down enough to clinch a victory.
San Diego State, 34 Army, 24

Dollar General Bowl
Appalachian State Mountaineers (8-4) vs. Toledo Rockets (11-2)
Outside of UCF and perhaps USF, Toledo and Appalachian State may be the two best Group of Five teams in the country, and eager to finish off the season with a win in the Dollar General Bowl. The Rockets have been consistently terrific, using a big-play offense and well-rounded defense to become MAC Champions. QB Logan Woodside is helped by 1,000-yard rusher Terry Swanson and 1,000-yard wide out Diontae Johnson, two guys sure to give the Mountaineers issues. For Appalachian State, the key will be getting production from a methodical rushing attack and a very strong defense that came in 33rd in points allowed per game. It should be a pretty evenly matched bowl and one of the better of the early ones, but I like Toledo and their explosive offense to keep the momentum rolling.
Toledo, 35 Appalachian State, 30

Hawai'i Bowl
Fresno State Bulldogs (9-4) vs. Houston Cougars (7-4)
Despite having two first-year head coaches, both Fresno State and Houston managed to put together successful 2017 seasons, and now meet in the Hawai'i Bowl. Fresno State was especially surprising, going from a 1-11 2016 to 9-4 this season and a spot in the Mountain West Championship Game. Former Oregon State QB Marcus McMaryion has led a very solid offense, but the defense has been the real key to their improvement, allowing just 17.2 PPG (ninth nationally). Meanwhile, the Cougars also rely heavily on the defensive side of the ball, where they have future NFL Draft selection Ed Oliver leading the way, and plenty of experience throughout. However, in order to overcome the Bulldogs they'll need the offense to find it's groove. The unit has struggled mightily this season (despite head coach Major Applewhite's offensive roots) and won't have it easy in this one.
Fresno State, 27 Houston, 18

Bowl Picks 2017-2018: Boca Raton Bowl to Bahamas Bowl

Jason Driskel, FAU (Boca Raton Bowl)

Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl
Florida Atlantic Owls (10-3) vs. Akron Zips (7-6)
Lane Kiffin has engineered an impressively quick turnaround at Florida Atlantic, where the Owls have risen into a viable program and just won the Conference USA. They should be able to end the year on a high note, squaring off against a good, not great, Akron team. Running back Devin Singletary (1,796 yards) and dual threat QB Jason Driskel should be able to have a big day against an inconsistent Akron rush defense and the Owls' opportunistic defense will look to force some turnovers. FAU has a significant advantage playing at home in this (game is at FAU Stadium) and should be able to use it to finish the season with 11 victories.
Florida Atlantic, 38 Akron, 24

DXL Frisco Bowl
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (6-6) vs. SMU Mustangs (7-5)
Despite a tough late-season stretch SMU managed to find their way into the postseason and will meet up with a Louisiana Tech that can really move the ball. The Mustangs will be without head coach Chad Morris (who has taken the job at Arkansas) but the new coaching staff should still be able to get the team to fight hard. Underrated QB Ben Hicks will lead the efficient offensive attack, and should have a field day against a weak Tech secondary. On the other side, the Bulldogs will lean heavily on a ground game that includes senior Boston Scott (937 yards, eight touchdowns) and dual threat signal-caller J'Mar Smith. The Mustangs are probably the more talented team, and new head coach Sonny Dykes is well-known for being able to attack teams weaknesses. Dykes should be able to begin the new era with the Mustangs with a decisive win.
SMU, 35 Louisiana Tech, 21

Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl
Temple Owls (6-6) vs. Florida International Panthers (8-4)
Two first-year head coaches clash as Temple and Geoff Collins meet with Butch Davis and Florida International. The Panthers were a pretty big surprise, finishing 8-4, despite little preseason expectations. They have done so by playing a smart brand of football and not turning the ball over, which has masked some of their serious deficiencies on the defensive side of the ball. QB Alex McGough and wide out Thomas Owens are a dangerous 1-2 punch, but the Owls are led by Collins, a great defensive mind who loves to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Temple's offense has lacked much bite for much of the season, however, which could force this into a low-scoring affair.
FIU, 24 Temple, 17

Bahamas Bowl
UAB Blazers (8-4) vs. Ohio Bobcats (8-4)
UAB is one of the greatest stories of this college football season, as the Blazers have returned from their two-year absence to finish 8-4 and make their first bowl since 2004, their lone bowl appearance. Their reward is a matchup with Ohio, one of the most consistent Group of Five programs in the country. The Bobcats have a very dangerous rushing attack, and rely on a defense with a lot of veteran leadership and depth. They will be quite a tough game for UAB, although the Blazers will counter with star running back Spencer Brown (1,292 yards) and rock-solid quarterback A.J. Erdely. Ohio is a good football team, but UAB has played with a chip on their shoulder all season long, and should have extra motivation in this one.
UAB, 24 Ohio, 23

Bowl Picks 2017-2018: New Orleans Bowl to Camellia Bowl

Brett Rypien, Boise State (Las Vegas Bowl)

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Troy Trojans (10-2) vs. North Texas Mean Green (9-4)
Two of the best Group of Five teams meet in the New Orleans Bowl, which kicks off bowl action on Saturday, December 16th. Troy is led by an efficient, methodical offense and one of the country's most underrated defenses (17.5 points against per game, 11th in the nation) and have been flaming hot, ending the regular season with six straight victories. North Texas relies more on their offense, and are very explosive through the air. However, veteran QB Mason Fine will be in store for a tough game against the Trojans' opportunistic defense, which feeds off turnovers.
Troy, 27 North Texas, 24

AutoNation Cure Bowl
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (6-6) vs. Georgia State Panthers (6-5)
Old Sun Belt foes (WKU is now in the C-USA) square off in Orlando, and things should be highly competitive. Western Kentucky slipped a little bit without head coach Jeff Brohm this season, but they still move the ball down the field and are a disciplined football team. The Panthers are led by solid quarterback Conner Manning and stud wide receiver Penny Hart, who has attracted the attention of some NFL scouts. With Western Kentucky trending down over the past couple weeks, losing four of their last five, it looks like Georgia State should be able to pull off this one.
Georgia State, 30 Western Kentucky, 27

Las Vegas Bowl
Boise State Broncos (10-3) vs. Oregon Ducks (7-5)
The last time these two West Coast squads met, LeGarrette Blount made headlines with a sucker-punch following a loss. Don't expect that type of drama in this game, but it should still be a good one. Boise has a terrific down the field passing attack, and running back Alexander Mattison has done a fine job replacing star Jeremy McNichols. They also feature a well-coached, well-built defense, which will be key against an Oregon offense that still loves to go fast. The Ducks have missed injured signal-caller Justin Herbert, but will still run the ball well. Motivation could be an important factor; Oregon just lost head coach Willie Taggart to Florida State. Will the players play harder for the coaching staff, or come out flat?
Boise State, 33 Oregon, 31

Gildan New Mexico Bowl
Marshall Thundering Herd (7-5) vs. Colorado State Rams (7-5)
After a rough end-of-the-year stretch, Colorado State hopes to end the year on a high note, facing a quality Marshall opponent. The Rams still have some serious issues on defense, but offensively, they are one of the nation's most explosive. QB Nick Stevens, back Dalyn Dawkins and wide out Michael Gallup are one heck of a trio, and should be able to give the Herd headaches. Marshall will need their own offense to show up, which has some real talent, but has struggled to find any consistency.
Colorado State, 35 Marshall, 24

Raycom Media Camellia Bowl
Arkansas State Red Wolves (7-4) vs. Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (6-6)
While they still played their way into the postseason, Middle Tennessee's 6-6 mark was disappointing to some. They will hope to end the year with some momentum, which will require them to beat one of the Sun Belt's most consistent programs. Injuries have crippled the Blue Raiders, as they've missed star QB Brent Stockstill and receiver Richie James, but the offense still has proven it can move the ball. However, Arkansas State has a rock-solid defense and should be able to attack Middle Tennessee's thin secondary, with QB Justice Hansen leading the country's sixth-best aerial attack.
Arkansas State, 27 Middle Tennessee, 20

My Favorite Moments from the 2017 College Football Regular Season

Now that bowls have been announced and the four Playoff teams are known, the college football season has nearly reached its inevitable end. While there are still some memorable moments left to come, I took some time to reminisce on some of my favorite moments from the 2017 college football regular season:

Baker Plants the Flag

After being dominated by Ohio State early on in the 2016 season, Oklahoma entered their Week Two meeting with the Buckeyes eager for revenge. The Sooners did just that, handling the Buckeyes without much issue, rolling to a 31-16 victory. The victory didn't just assert Oklahoma as serious National Title contenders, but also began Baker Mayfield's Heisman run. It was all capped off with Mayfield rushing to the middle of the field and planting an Oklahoma flag right in the heart of the OSU logo. While the move rubbed some people the wrong way and Mayfield was forced to apologize, I loved it. The senior quarterback had just had a huge victory and was celebrating, in typical Baker Mayfield fashion. The veteran quarterback is not only one of the best players in the sport, his confidence and charisma exemplify some of the things that are the best in sports.

Saquon Barkley Hurdling Iowa

Fourth-ranked Penn State began their conference play on the road against Iowa, a tall task for anyone. While the Hawkeyes don't have the talent or stars Penn State possesses, going on the road in Iowa City is always difficult. The Hawkeyes gave the Nittany Lions a very tough game, and nearly had it won before a last-minute drive by Trace McSorley and PSU. Beating Iowa not only kept Penn State's Playoff hopes alive for the time being, it began to show the college football world just how good PSU running back Saquon Barkley was. Barkley ran for 211 yards and recorded 94 receiving yards and also provided us with some highlight-reel plays, including a hurdle over Iowa defender Joshua Jackson that produced one of the coolest GIFS you'll ever see. Barkley became a Heisman favorite following the win, but struggles later on dropped him out of the race for the sport's most prestigious award. Yet, his play against a good Iowa team on primetime TV on the road was an absolute thrill to watch, and gave us a good indication of what Barkley may soon be doing on Sundays.

Syracuse Stuns Clemson

For the first half of the 2017 season, Clemson looked primed to have a good shot at repeating as National Champions, prior to a Thursday night clash with Syracuse. Not much was thought of Syracuse's chances to win at home, but the Orange came out and outplayed the ACC favorite. Junior quarterback Eric Dungey threw for 278 yards and guided 'Cuse to a thrilling victory (which was helped by Clemson losing QB Kelly Bryant to a concussion). Clemson did end up recovering, winning out and earning the No. 1 seed in the Playoff race, and the Orange were unable to keep the momentum going, as they fell back towards the bottom of the ACC. Even so, watching the fans storm the field and head coach Dino Babers embrace his winning QB (right) was awesome, and again, is one of the things that make college sports so great.

Iowa State Beats Another Top 5 Team

Iowa State has long been a punching bag in the Big 12 over the years, and while second-year coach Matt Campbell looked like he was ready to turn things around in Ames, the Cyclones still were picked eighth or ninth in the preseason by most. However, despite losing their starting QB (Jacob Park) early on in the season, Iowa State proved to be one of the country's biggest surprises. Walk-on Kyle Kempt played masterful and out-dueled Baker Mayfield in a huge upset on the road, then a few weeks later, once again guided Iowa State to a Top 5 victory, overcoming TCU, who at that point was the Big 12 favorite. It was great to see a program that had endured some tough times over the past few seasons have the type of success they did, and even better considering they were led by a walk-on, and veteran Joel Lanning, who starred at both QB and linebacker. The Cyclones were unable to play their way into the Big 12 Championship Game, but finishing at 7-5 was still a major improvement after going 3-9 in Campbell's first year on campus.

The Turnover Chain

I don't think there was a cooler tradition in college football this season than the "Turnover Chain" broken out by Miami. The gold, shiny "U" chain was brought out every time a Hurricanes player forced a turnover, which happened aplenty as Miami jumped out to a 10-0 start on the year. It was great to see Miami, of course one of the sport's storied programs, be dominant once more and even cooler to see them doing it with their version of "swagger". The 'Canes were unable to beat Clemson in the ACC Championship, and won't be playing in the Playoff just yet, but the 2017 season really saw them return to prominence, as they won the Coastal Division for the first time since they moved to the ACC a decade ago, and got the fans the most excited they've been in a long time.

The Iron Bowl

No matter how good Auburn or Alabama is playing, their annual rivalry in the Iron Bowl has big implications for the people of Alabama. The rivalry is always heated and usually has major implications when it comes to the SEC West, which was certainly the case in 2017. The winner would not only win the division, they would put themselves in prime position to earn a Playoff berth. Undefeated Alabama didn't play poorly, they were simply outplayed by Auburn who looked confident en route to their second win over a No. 1 team of the season. Auburn did eventually lose to Georgia in the SEC Championship Game, but the victory still represented a major power shift in the SEC West, and showed that Alabama, who had ruled the SEC with an iron fist the last few years, wasn't exactly invincible.

Other Cool Moments

• Ohio State and Penn State in the rematch of their 2016 thriller
• UCF going undefeated two years after going 0-12 (and their classy send-off to head coach Scott Frost)
• Florida QB Feliepe Franks' Hail Mary to stun Tennessee
• Breakout stars like Stanford's Bryce Love, San Diego State's Rashaad Penny, UCF's McKenzie Milton and Wisconsin's Jonathan Taylor

Reaction to the 2017 College Football Playoff Field

J.T. Barrett, Ohio State

After over three months of fall Saturdays, primetime duels and a decent amount of controversy we have arrived at the culmination of the 2017 college football regular season, and the releasing of the four teams competing for the national title. Unsurprisingly, Clemson locked down the top seed following a dominating ACC Championship win over Miami, Oklahoma came in at number two with the SEC Champ Georgia rounding out the top three. The final spot was where the big debate was set to happen: would the two-loss Big Ten Champ Ohio State get in or could one-loss Alabama make their fourth straight Playoff bid? In the end, the Tide gained the final spot in the four-team field, surprising more than a few folks. Once again, the move by the Selection Committee makes the qualifications to make the Playoff even more unclear, and indicates just how hard it is to make it into the sport's most exclusive club.

The debate between Ohio State and Alabama for the fourth and final spot was clear, even if Alabama wasn't going to get a chance to play in a conference championship field. The Buckeyes win over Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship clearly proved that Ohio State was the top team in the conference, and showed their potential when they were fully healthy. Ohio State also seemed to have a stronger resume, which included victories over Michigan State, Michigan and Penn State and a nine game conference schedule (the SEC only plays eight, which is why Alabama played Mercer late in the season). Yet, that doesn't mean the Buckeyes weren't without downsides. They were dominated in the non-conference at home by Oklahoma and also went on the road and lost to 31 to Iowa, who ended up 7-5 and under .500 in the conference. On the other hand, Alabama owned a better record and did beat a fully healthy Florida State in the opener, but were dominated by an Auburn team that went out and looked flat against Georgia in the SEC Championship. The Tide were also hurt by a resume that lacked much substance beyond wins over LSU and Mississippi State. The Selection Committee still decided that Alabama deserved the last spot, which again throws the Playoff system into question. In 2014, we learned how much the Committee seemed to value conference championships when Ohio State jumped TCU and Baylor then we've seen two teams that haven't won conference championships make it in the last two years (Ohio State last year, Alabama this year). The Committee made it clear how important having a strong resume and overall quality opponents were, then puts Alabama in, despite Ohio State having a stronger strength of schedule and nine conference games. So, what exactly is the Selection Committee looking for? Does Alabama get a free pass just because they are Alabama? While the Playoff system seems like a vast improvement over the BCS, with more teams getting representation, there has to be a way to better figure out the best four teams in the country. Whether it comes to computers or a Committee that is more consistent in their selection of teams, the recent decisions throw serious questions into the future of the Playoff system.

Despite the claim that the implementation of the Playoff would give us a wider variety of teams able to fight for a National Title, the Playoff system continues to exclude Group of Five teams, which includes UCF this year. Sure, the Knights didn't exactly play a brutally tough schedule (their toughest non-conference game was against Maryland) but going undefeated should at least get you more respect than 12th in the country. An ideal solution would be to move the Playoff to eight teams, and include one Group of Five team to get more representation across the country. It seems almost inevitable that this will happen eventually, but perhaps now, in a year where there are a number of teams that have a great case to make the field and were still excluded, that really set the events in motion towards an eight-team Playoff.

There is sure to be plenty of continued debate about how Alabama was able to get in over Ohio State, but the decision has been made and despite these complaints, this year gives us some intriguing battles. Alabama and Clemson are set to meet for the third time in as many years, while Oklahoma and Georgia give us a duel between an elite offense and shutdown defense. It should still be an exciting finish to the 2017 college football campaign, and one sure to still involve plenty of fireworks.