Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve, which means the College Football Playoff semifinal games are right around the corner, including the other major bowl games this season. Tonight marks the first of six bowl games we’ll cover, the Capital One Orange Bowl, between Tennessee and Clemson. Monday is loaded with the Rose and Cotton Bowl games on the schedule. Here are my picks and analysis for each NY6 bowl game:
Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic: #16 Tulane (11-2) vs. #10 USC (11-2) (-2)
I’m shocked that USC is favored by so little with how unreal the Trojans’ offense has been all year, especially with Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams leading the way, including this game. Despite USC’s lackluster defense, Tulane has not played as tough of a schedule this season, with their best game coming at Kansas State, where they upset the Wildcats. I’ll take Lincoln Riley getting a bowl win in his first season in Los Angeles.
Tune into the Cotton Bowl on Monday at 1 PM ET on ESPN.
Capital One Orange Bowl: #6 Tennessee (10-2) vs. #7 Clemson (11-2) (-4)
Clemson trails the all-time series, 11-6-2, against Tennessee, but the Volunteers are depleted right now. Cade Klubnik looks promising for Dabo Swinney’s program, while Hendon Hooker and Jalin Hyatt are out for the final game of their season.
Tune into the Orange Bowl at 8 PM ET on ESPN.
Allstate Sugar Bowl: #5 Alabama (10-2) (-7) vs. #9 Kansas State (10-3)
Alabama and Kansas State meet for the very first time in Caesars Superdome in New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl. Alabama is the top-ranked non-CFP SEC team, while the Wildcats are the Big 12 Champions. Nick Saban treats this bowl game like it’s the College Football Playoff, with Will Anderson and Bryce Young ready to play. Deuce Vaughn will be the biggest threat for the Crimson Tide, but a full-strength Alabama team is rarely defeated.
Tune into the Sugar Bowl tomorrow at 12 PM ET on ESPN.
Rose Bowl Game Presented by Prudential: #11 Penn State (10-2) vs. #8 Utah (10-3) (-2)
Utah had a phenomenal performance in the Pac-12 Championship game, looking to avenge last year’s Rose Bowl loss to Ohio State. That, with Cam Rising and Dalton Kincaid leading the way, is why I think Utah wins the Rose Bowl for the first time. I think this will be the closest out of the New Year’s Six bowl games. Penn State is a phenomenal team led by Sean Clifford and Nick Singleton. Kyle Whittingham will show why he deserves this Rose Bowl win.
Tune into the Rose Bowl on Monday at 5 PM ET on ESPN.
CFP Semifinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl: #3 TCU (12-1) vs. #2 Michigan (13-0) (-7.5)
Michigan and TCU will face off for the very first time in college football, and the stakes could not be any higher. This year’s Wolverines are seeking to avenge last year’s team as they want to get to the National Championship game for the first time (all of their championships have been due to polls). It’s a battle between Max Duggan, a Heisman finalist, and J.J. McCarthy, a young rising star. I think the defense and running game, led by Donovan Edwards with Blake Corum out for the season, wins this game for Michigan to get to Inglewood.
Tune into the Fiesta Bowl tomorrow at 4 PM ET on ESPN.
CFP Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl: #4 Ohio State (11-1) vs. #1 Georgia (13-0) (-6)
It’s odd seeing the 1 vs. 4 matchup have a closer spread than the 2 vs. 3 game, but that just shows how anticipated this semifinal game is. Ohio State was just a rivalry win away from the Big Ten Championship game, which they likely would have won. Instead, they watched USC choke against Utah to bring the Buckeyes back to the College Football Playoff. C.J. Stroud vs. Stetson Bennett is must-see TV. However, I think Jalen Carter and the Georgia defense get the job done in their home state.
Tune into the Peach Bowl tomorrow at 8 PM ET on ESPN.
Calhoun's Corner 