Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl: Navy Midshipmen (9-3) vs Oklahoma Sooners (6-6)
Key Facts: It will be interesting to see how this one goes. For what it’s worth Navy has won 5 of their last 6 bowl appearances and Oklahoma has won 5 of their last 7, but you almost have to throw out the records with how different these two programs are. Plus Navy hasn’t reached a bowl since 2019. The real key will be how will Oklahoma’s defense do prepping for the option when their defense will likely see some opt outs. New guys learning new roles going up against a tough scheme can be a challenging recipe. Oklahoma will obviously have the talent edge. Ultimately the key will be turnovers, both teams have shown the capability throughout the year to bury themselves with turnovers the winner will likely be whoever doesn’t do that.
Previous Meetings: These programs have only played once. All the way back in 1965 in Norman, Oklahoma. Navy out gained Oklahoma 376-83 in a 10-0 win. Oklahoma was held for a startling 1-10 passing, although Navy actually attacked a little more through the air than you’d expect.
Motivation Edge: Navy is going to be very excited to get their shot at a big name program to finish the season. The only potential scare is they might suffer a little “relief syndrome” after the massive win over Army. Oklahoma likely won’t be as thrilled with the matchup, this isn’t what they had in mind this season and there’s some opt outs already.
Birmingham Bowl: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (7-5) vs Vanderbilt Commodores (6-6)
Key Facts: Both teams have very fun run offenses. Vandy’s scheme is a creative option like scheme with Diego Pavia who is an incredibly fun QB. Meanwhile Georgia Tech will lean on you with a strong offensive line, this will be a challenge for Vanderbilt who isn’t strong at defending the run. Georgia Tech lost their top receiver to the portal but there doesn’t seem to be any other big opt outs. Georgia Tech has been strong in their bowl appearances, winning 3 of their last 4. Vanderbilt is breaking a long bowl less streak. The Commodores haven’t been to a bowl since 2018, they haven’t won one in over a decade, their last win coming in 2013 when James Franklin was their coach.
Previous Meetings: Former SEC foes reunited!! These programs have played 38 times, with 4 matchups occuring after the Georgia Tech/SEC breakup all recent in 2002, 2003, 2009 and 2016. Georgia Tech is riding a 6 game win streak in this series. One of the wildest results was the 1917 matchup. Dan McGugin’s Commodores and John Heisman’s Georgia Tech squads didn’t play every year but entering this game McGugin’s teams had a history of beating Heisman’s crew very badly, but this 1917 Georgia Tech team was a wagon and they weren’t going to stopped. They FLIPPED this series in a crazy way winning 83-0! I believe that has to be McGugin’s worst loss of his career.
Motivation Edge: Vanderbilt is going to be very excited to be back in a bowl again after such a long drought and being close to home doesn’t hurt either. Brent Key will have this Georgia Tech team pumped for this game as well, especially after such a bitter loss to end the regular season.
Autozone Liberty Bowl: Arkansas Razorbacks (6-6) vs Texas Tech Red Raiders (8-4)
Key Facts: Arkansas has been very strong in Bowl games lately, they’ve won 5 of their last 6. The Razorbacks have appeared frequently in the Liberty Bowl and they’ve been good here in recent history, their last Liberty Bowl loss was to Georgia! In 1987! They have been good against Big 12 teams in bowl games too, last loss coming with an interim coach to Missouri in 2007. Sam Pittman is 2-0. Texas Tech is no slouch on their end either. The Red Raiders don’t lose bowl games often. They’ve won their last 3, including HC Joey McGuire being 2-0. Expanded even further they’ve won 7 of their last 9 (although one of those losses came to an opponent that had a vacate it.) Go even further and Texas Tech is 12-4 since 2002! There may be a few opt outs and Texas Tech will be missing their starting QB but both these teams are gonna bring it.
Previous Meetings: This is a battle of former Southwest Conference foes. Arkansas leads the series 29-8 so the Hogs hold quite the advantage, although Texas Tech has won 3 of the last 4 matchups. Their last matchup occurred in 2015 in Fayetteville where a QB named Patrick Mahomes (you may have heard of him) led Texas Tech to a dominant 35-24 win.
Motivation Edge: As mentioned above, both programs tend to bring it for bowl games and they will both want to finish the season strong. There’s a lot of pride on the line here, even though none of the players were alive for when they shared a conference they are still familiar with the history behind it. Opt outs can change the equation for this one however.
DirectTV Holiday Bowl: Syracuse Orange (9-3) vs Washington State Cougars (8-4)
Key Facts: Washington State opened the season looking fantastic but it hasn’t been a good last month for the Cougars. Their defense fell off a cliff and the offense didn’t provide QB John Mateer much help. The Cougars defense essentially allowed their opponents in the last month to do whatever they wanted to do very well, that’s not a good formula against Kyle McCord and the high flying Orange passing attack. Even worse, John Mateer has been consistently pursued by other programs (which is tampering but seems the NCAA won’t do anything about it) and hit the portal so the engine that makes the Cougs offense run is now gone. HC Jake Dickert left for Wake Forest so it’s officially a mass exodus for Washington State. Syracuse has lost their last 2 bowl games but won their previous 4 before that. Washington State has lost their last 3 bowl appearances and 5 of their last 6. Syracuse is also 2-0 playing in the Pacific Time Zone this year.
Previous Meetings: Surprisingly these programs have met once before! All the way back in 1979 when the Carrier Dome was being built (it has a new name now but the Carrier Dome is what it will always be to me.) They played the game in Orchard Park as a result and Syracuse palindromed them 52-25.
Motivation Edge: This is one of the best non-playoff bowls so both teams will be stoked to be in this game. Based on what Fran Brown is saying it sounds like Syracuse is taking this game very seriously. Washington State took a massive gut punch with Mateer leaving.
SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl: Texas A&M Aggies (8-4) vs USC Trojans (6-6)
Key Facts: Texas A&M has won 3 of their last 4 bowls and Mike Elko has won his only bowl appearance when he was with Duke. Lincoln Riley has been in a lot of playoff bowls which gives him a worse record in bowls but still he’s only won 2 bowls overall. Until they lost the season finale to Notre Dame, USC lost all of their games by 1 score. Texas A&M was strong most of the year but struggles at receiver and run defense failed them down the stretch. This game is in the same stadium where USC beat LSU earlier this year, and it appears Vegas likes something about that? I can’t figure out another reason why USC is favored in this one.
Previous Meetings: These programs have faced off 3 times with USC holding a 3-0 edge. Their last meeting occurred all the way back in the 1977 Bluebonnet Bowl with USC winning 47-28. That was the only game where Texas A&M stayed within 20 points of the Trojans.
Motivation Edge: Vegas is a cool destination so that’s exciting for both, although USC was already here to start the year so they may be a little less excited. This season wasn’t what USC expected and while Texas A&M’s record was about what was expected how they finished was disappointing. Defensive end Nic Scourton for Texas A&M is the biggest opt out so far but there could be more.
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