Big Jon Picks ALL the Bowl Games!

By Jonathan Gillespie, GGR College Football Expert

“ It’s beginning to feel a lot like….College Football Bowl Season” - Bing Crosby or Burl Ives. Not 100% on who sang this originally

Well, folk this season I may of dropped the ball when it came to my week by week articles. I could blame my stat guy being less than 2 years old. I could point the finger to the fact that my assistant is a lazy and barely gets off the couch. I guess that’s what I get for hiring a bulldog to handle my writing schedule. However, it is my fault.

To make it up to all of you do I have quite a treat. When I began writing college football articles, a goal of mine was to write a mega bowl game special article. That time is now! I have made picks for the entire college football bowl schedule. 

I know every year people complain about the amount of bowl games or the ridiculous titles. However, to them I say, don’t be football grinch. To some of these players in the smaller bowls this is the pinnacle of their football career, why can’t we celebrate this opportunity for them. Without further ado, I present my picks for the entire bowl schedule. Follow along to my picks and see how you compare!

Friday December 20

• Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl

  • Buffalo vs Charlotte

I pick Buffalo because I am sure it will be awesome for those players to escape the cold of Buffalo, NY to play a game in the Bahamas. Also, they are a strong team coming out of the MAC

• Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl

  • Utah State vs Kent State

I pick Utah State, I was able to catch on of their games on TV this year and they looked pretty formidable. My only question is are the players only allowed to eat tropical smoothie food and drinks leading up to the game?

if all they’re eating/drinking is Tropical Smoothie, sounds like everyone wins this bowl game.

Saturday, December 21st

• New Mexico Bowl

  • Central Michigan vs San Diego State

This Central Michigan team is creating quite a buzz coming out of the Mac. They are my pick for this game but I wonder if the heat of New Mexico will get to them.

• FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl

  • Liberty vs Georgia Southern

I am going with Liberty on this one because I love when teams get any kind of spotlight. So I hope the Flames step up to the challenge.

• Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl

  • SMU vs Florida Atlantic

After reading the title of this bowl game I can’t help but read it with the accent of a 75 year old from Long Island talking this game taking place in “Boca”. That being said I am picking Florida Atlantic

• Camellia Bowl

  • Florida International vs Arkansas State

Bowl Fun Fact: The Camellia is the state flower of Alabama and that is where this bowl game takes place. I pick Arkansas State

• Celebration Bowl

  • North Carolina A&T vs Alcorn State

I am picking North Carolina A&T because I once refereed a team from North Carolina A&T flag football team while in college. Lame reason but I am going with it.

• Mitsubishi Motors Las Vegas Bowl

  • #19 Boise State vs Washington

Some people just can’t handle Vegas and in this game, I think that’s Washington. I am picking Boise State.

“What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” unless you get waxed in a bowl game. Everyone knows about that.

• R & L Carriers New Orleans Bowl

  • #20 App State vs UAB

I have been a UAB fan ever since they were able to come back after having their football program be cancelled and one year later make it to a bowl game. I am going with UAB with the upset.

Monday, December 23rd

• Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl

  • UCF vs Marshall

I am picking UCF to win this game but I am also picking this as my favorite bowl game name

Tuesday, December 24th

• SOFI Hawaii Bowl

  • Hawaii vs BYU

I could think of worse fates than having to spend Christmas Eve in Hawaii. I am picking Hawaii to win the Hawaii. I mean it makes sense right?

Thursday, December 26th

• Walk-On’s Independence Bowl

  • Louisiana Tech vs Miami

I am picking Miami to Walk-off with the win in this one. (Cue reader eye roll)

Walk-Ons in apparently a sports bar endorsed by Drew Brees. I had no idea.

• Quick Lane Bowl

  • Pittsburgh vs Eastern Michigan

Pittsburgh will make “quick” work of Eastern Michian (Cue readers even more dramatic eye roll)

Friday, December 27th

• Military Bowl

  • UNC vs Temple

This was a tough pick for me. Temple is a tough team and is an upcoming program but I feel like Mack Brown’s coaching experience will have the Tarheels ready to win this game

• New Era Pinstripe Bowl

  • Michigan State vs Wake Forest

This has been a less than stellar season for the Spartans. I know that they are favored but I think Wake Forest has an offense that will give the Demon Deacons the win. 

it’s kind of cool that they play a bowl game at Yankee Stadium.

• Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl

  • #25 Oklahoma State vs Texas A&M

Even though Oklahoma State is ranked, I am still picking the Aggies in this game.

• San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl

  • #22 USC vs #16 Iowa

OK, how much money is in San Diego County that they could afford the naming rights to this bowl game? I am picking Iowa to win this game.

“San Diego is rich and classy.”

• Cheez-it Bowl

  • Air Force vs Washington State

Washington State wins the game and this bowl wins the “tastiest sponsor” award. Seriously, Cheez-Its are probably in my top 5 football snacks.

Saturday, December 28th

•  Cotton Bowl

  • #17 Memphis vs #10 Penn State

I know Penn State is feeling a little disrespected that they were snubbed from the Rose Bowl. However, AT&T Stadium is like football Disney World. It will be an awesome venue and it will help with recruiting (like Franklin needed any help with it). Penn State will win this.

• Camping World Bowl

  • #15 Notre Dame vs Iowa State

I want so badly to pick Iowa State and they are such a solid upset pick but not this year. Notre Dame wins.

• Peach Bowl-CFP Semi-final

  • #4 Oklahoma vs #1 LSU

LSU is way to good on both sides of the ball. LSU wins this one easily

• Fiesta Bowl-CFP Semi-final

  • #3 Clemson vs #2 Ohio State

This is the more evenly matched semi-final. I am giving the edge to Clemson. Dabo and the Tigers are feeling a big disrespected by the media and the selection committee and will want to prove they deserve to be there.

Monday, December 30th

• Servpro First Responder Bowl

  • Western Kentucky vs Western Michigan

I am not going to lie I have no insight into this one. I am going with Western Michigan.

• Music City Bowl

  • Mississippi State vs Louisville

Normally, I go heavy on ACC teams while doing picks but I don’t want to anger my 65 pound bulldog by not picking the Bulldogs to win this game.

• Redbox Bowl

  • California vs Illinois

California wins the game and I feel like I may of forgot to return my last movie from Redbox.

• Orange Bowl

  • #9 Florida vs #24 Virginia

So the only silver lining of UVA beating VT this year is the knowledge that with the UVA victory, it will most likely lead to UVA being beaten badly two games in a row on a national stage. Clemson destroyed them and I am feeling it will happen again in the Orange Bowl. Florida wins.

chomp chomp

Tuesday, December 31st

• Belk Bowl

  • Virginia Tech vs Kentucky

This will be a big program game for the Hokies. After the Duke game, this Hokie football team looked terrible. Fuente did an absolutely amazing job refocusing the team and coming a few minutes away from a Coastal Division Championship. The UVA game hurt but a win against an SEC team in a bowl game will be huge to keep this program in the right direction. Hokies win a close game.

“Hokie Hokie Hokie Hy! Tech Tech V.P.I!”

• Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl

  • Florida State vs Arizona State

The interim head coach for Florida State saved the season for the Seminoles and got them bowl eligible. There is good vibes coming from Tallahassee but I am picking Arizona State. I saw them upset Oregon and their freshmen quarterback could be a threat in the Pac-12 for the next few years. I am picking Arizona State to win but overall this bowl game will be GRRRREEEEATT (Reader now rolls eyes, does a face palm, and then leaves the room).

• Autozone Liberty Bowl

  • #23 Navy vs Kansas State

    (Reader comes back into room) Navy is feeling pretty good after beating their rival Army and I am picking them to beat Kansas State

• Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl

  • Wyoming vs Georgia State

Josh Allen is doing well for the Bills. I don’t think I have heard much about the Wyoming football program until he came into the picture. I am picking Wyoming to win.

• Valero Alamo Bowl

  • #11 Utah vs Texas

Sorry Sam Ehlinger, but Texas isn’t quite back yet. Utah wins this due to their physical play.

Wednesday, January 1st

• Outback Bowl

  • #18 Minnesota vs #12 Auburn

P.J. Fleck is climbing the charts as one of my favorite coaches in college football. At times his passion for football is so intense that some view it as insincere but I am telling you it’s not. It will be a close game but I am picking Minnesota over Auburn

• Citrus Bowl

  • #14 Michigan vs #13 Alabama

OK, are you sitting down? I am picking Michigan to win this game. It’s not a “I’m tired of Alabama winning” pick. Alabama is still a great team but this year they don’t seem as much of an unstoppable force as they have in the past. Michigan comes into this game thinking “we have a chance.” 

Big Blue with the big win?

• Rose Bowl

  • #6 Oregon vs #8 Wisconsin

I like WIsconsin in this game. WIsconsin will be able to slow the game down on Oregon and sustain long drives putting pressure on Oregon to score whenever they have the ball.

• Sugar Bowl

  • #5 Georgia vs #7 Baylor

While this has been a big year for the Baylor program and have won big games, I don’t see them getting past Georgia. UGA wins.

Thursday, January 2nd

• Birmingham Bowl

  • Boston College vs #21 Cincinnati

Boston College does have a strong nucleus of a team, but they recently fired their head coach. Cincinnati is one of the best teams out of the AAC and they will beat Boston College

• Gator Bowl

  • Indiana vs Tennessee

One of my favorite stories coming out of college football this year was the story of a young Tennessee fan whose t-shirt design was picked up by the Tennessee after the story of him being bullied for making his own shirt was brought to their attention. A super classy move by Tennessee. I pick to Vols to win this game.

Friday, January 3rd

• Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

  • Ohio vs Nevada

An annual contender for best bowl game title. I am picking Ohio to win.

Saturday, January 4th

• Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl

  • Southern Miss vs Tulane

Honestly, picked Tulane based on their logo. Seriously, look up Tulane University “Angry Wave”

Monday, January 6th

• Lendingtree Bowl

  • Louisana vs Miami (Ohio)

This is the bowl game that most non-football fans, significant others, and bowl season grinches will say “Is there seriously still bowl games on? Why are they so many?” For that reason I will make it a point to watch as much of this game as I can. I am picking the Ragin Cajuns of Louisiana to win this game.

Monday, January 13th

• National Championship

  • #3 Clemson vs #1 LSU

I love Clemson and Dabo Swinney but this is LSU’s year. Ed Orgeron is the perfect coach for LSU and this is the perfect team. LSU wins the National Championship and instead of Gatorade, Orgeron has gumbo and crawfish dumped on him and he loves it.

Geaux Tigers!

Well folks, those are my picks for all 41 Bowl Games. Some are based on knowledge and some are based on the absurd. Yes, there is a ton of bowl games but I love it so. I hope everyone has a happy Holidays. Enjoy time with family and friends, good food, and of course College Football. See you all next season.