2017 College Football Bowl Game Picks & Predictions – Outback Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Rose Bowl & Sugar Bowl: While the College Football Playoff semifinals were no doubt the biggest games of the bowl season thus far, a strong argument can be made that Monday’s slate is the best top to bottom. Three of the six so-called New Year’s Six bowls are on tap, and six of eight teams in action are ranked in the top 15, including four in the top 10. Let’s take a closer look at some of the best matchups of the 2016 College Football season.
Outback Bowl: No. 17 Florida vs. Iowa
In what might be the lowest-scoring bowl game of the season, the Iowa Hawkeyes will take on the Florida Gators. Both teams are defensive-minded with one-dimensional, run-first offenses, and they actually enter this matchup tied for ninth in the country in points allowed.
At full strength, the Gators probably have the stronger defensive unit. However, Florida’s front seven is a little banged up coming into the bowl game, and the Gators allowed more than 200 rushing yards against LSU, Florida State and Alabama to close the year. Iowa boasts two backs, LeShun Daniels Jr. and Akrum Wadley, who have run for more than 900 yards this year, so the Hawkeyes have the weapons to exploit the one crack in Florida’s defense.
Both sides are going to have to earn every yard and every point, but Iowa’s dual-headed monster at running back and stingy defense should allow the Hawkeyes to control the clock and eventually grind out a win.
Prediction: Iowa Hawkeyes (+3) Cover the Spread
Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic: No. 15 Western Michigan vs. No. 8 Wisconsin
It is the classic David versus Goliath matchup as the Western Michigan Broncos, the top-ranked non-Power 5 team, take on the Wisconsin Badgers. Yes, the Broncos enter the matchup undefeated, but the Badgers come from the Big Ten, arguably the best conference in the country this season.
Based purely on talent, the Badgers should be able overpower the Broncos in the trenches on both sides of the ball and win this game. However, we’ve seen this movie before. Everyone remembers Boise State stunning Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl, but there have been plenty of major upsets in major bowls. UCF knocked off Baylor, Houston beat Florida State, and TCU knocked off Wisconsin when the Horned Frogs were still in the Mountain West.
The Broncos have absolutely nothing to lose in this one, and they also have one of the best receivers in the country in Corey Davis, who could find some room to work against a Wisconsin secondary that collapsed in a loss to Penn State in the Big Ten title game. Meanwhile, the Badgers are really a one-dimensional offensive team, and as good as the offensive line and running back Corey Clement can be, the Badgers rarely blow out quality opponents. I’ll take the Broncos and the points.
Prediction: Western Michigan Broncos (+8) Cover the Spread
Rose Bowl Game Presented by Northwestern Mutual: No. 9 USC vs. No. 5 Penn State
The paths these teams took to reach the Rose Bowl are eerily similar. Both dropped games early, but the USC Trojans are riding an eight-game winning streak, and the Penn State Nittany Lions won nine straight on their way to capturing the Big Ten crown.
Both teams have balance on the offensive side of the ball. Penn State has developed a potent downfield passing attack thanks to the excellent play of quarterback Trace McSorley, and running back Saquon Barkley is one of the best in the country. Meanwhile, Sam Darnold has stabilized the quarterback spot for USC, and running back Ronald Jones II and receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster are just two of the dynamic weapons at his disposal.
Both sides also boast stout defenses, and while Penn State probably has the better pass rush, The Trojans are stout at all levels, especially in the secondary where Adoree’ Jackson roams. The speedy Jackson could also be an X-factor on special teams.
In the end, I like the Trojans to continue their hot streak. USC will be the most complete, balanced team the Nittany Lions have faced, and the Trojans simply have a few more playmakers on both sides of the ball.
Prediction: USC Trojans (-6.5) Cover the Spread
Allstate Sugar Bowl: No. 14 Auburn vs. No. 7 Oklahoma
It will be a classic battle of offense versus defense when the Auburn Tigers take on the Oklahoma Sooners. Carl Lawson and Montravius Adams lead the Tigers’ powerful defensive front, and Auburn ranks fifth in the country in scoring defense. Meanwhile, Oklahoma ranks third in the country in scoring and ranks in the top 20 in both rushing and passing.
The balance of Oklahoma’s offense is what will ultimately make the difference in this matchup. Even if Auburn shuts down the Sooners’ running back tandem of Joe Mixon and Samaje Perine, Oklahoma still has a pair of Heisman finalists who can burn the Tigers through the air in quarterback Baker Mayfield and receiver Dede Westbrook.
Auburn needs this game to be a lower-scoring, defensive battle, and while the Tigers will try to control the clock with their rushing attack, the Sooners simply have too much offensive firepower.
Prediction: Oklahoma Sooners (-3) Cover the Spread
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