15 Bold Predictions For Bowl Season
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Year after year, bowl season rears its beautiful head. As fans, all we can do is be thrilled out of our minds. After all, virtually extra football is being played, and the matchups are insane.
For this year’s festivities, and before the madness gets underway, we give you 15 bold predictions for the college football bowl season.
Happy bowling, everyone!
15. Butch Jones Has His Team Rocking
![Oklahoma v Tennessee](/ncaa-football/files/2015/12/GettyImages-487935214.jpg)
15. Butch Jones Has His Team Rocking
![Oklahoma v Tennessee](/ncaa-football/files/2015/12/GettyImages-487935214.jpg)
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Tennessee will take on Northwestern in the Outback Bowl. Considering Northwestern is ranked No. 13, and Tennessee just No. 23, things could go downhill for the Volunteers in a hurry.
That said, Butch Jones' team didn't receive a ton of love in 2015, and they really should have. Tennessee's losses were all very close, while the Wildcats' two losses came in blowout fashion. Nonetheless, look for the Vols to do work in this bowl clash.
14. Most Exciting Non-Ranked Battle: Georgia Southern vs. Bowling Green
![Bowling Green Football](/ncaa-football/files/2015/12/USATSI_8782845_149008644_lowres.jpg)
14. Most Exciting Non-Ranked Battle: Georgia Southern vs. Bowling Green
![Bowling Green Football](/ncaa-football/files/2015/12/USATSI_8782845_149008644_lowres.jpg)
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Two reasons why this bowl game could be epic: (1) Bowling Green QB Matt Johnson (if you don't know the name, go look up his impressive stats). (2) Georgia Southern's No. 1 running game.
13. Leonard Fournette Finishes The Season Off Like He Started It — On Fire/Unstoppable
![LSU Football](/ncaa-football/files/2015/09/USATSI_8825841_149008644_lowres.jpg)
13. Leonard Fournette Finishes The Season Off Like He Started It — On Fire/Unstoppable
![LSU Football](/ncaa-football/files/2015/09/USATSI_8825841_149008644_lowres.jpg)
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Leonard Fournette cooled off toward the end of the season, but he will be straight fire when LSU takes on Texas Tech. Just remember, the Red Raiders don't rock the best defense in college football. In fact, they are giving up a monstrous 42.6 PPG.
When it's all said and done, Fournette could break some records in this one.
12. Houston Knocks Off Florida State
![Florida State Football](/ncaa-football/files/2015/10/USATSI_8882772_149008644_lowres.jpg)
12. Houston Knocks Off Florida State
![Florida State Football](/ncaa-football/files/2015/10/USATSI_8882772_149008644_lowres.jpg)
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If this one actually goes down, we could be looking at the biggest upset of the bowl season.
11. Bowl Season Does Not Go So Well For Auburn
![Alabama v Auburn](/ncaa-football/files/2015/12/GettyImages-499076800.jpg)
11. Bowl Season Does Not Go So Well For Auburn
![Alabama v Auburn](/ncaa-football/files/2015/12/GettyImages-499076800.jpg)
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Auburn is just 6-6 on the year. Clearly, it was arguably the most overrated team in the country entering 2015, as it entered by being ranked as high as No. 6.
Memphis might have fallen off the map toward the end, but one can't forget that Memphis knocked off the Ole Miss Rebels, and are probably just a wee bit more thrilled about this bowl than Auburn.
10. Washington State Embarrasses Miami
![Virginia v Miami](/ncaa-football/files/2015/12/GettyImages-496149136.jpg)
10. Washington State Embarrasses Miami
![Virginia v Miami](/ncaa-football/files/2015/12/GettyImages-496149136.jpg)
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Miami will be going up against the lethal Washington State in the Sun Bowl.
To make a long story short, Cougars QB Luke Falk is going to make it rain on the Hurricanes.
9. Most Entertaining Matchup: Oregon vs. TCU
![Baylor v TCU](/ncaa-football/files/2015/11/GettyImages-498967680.jpg)
9. Most Entertaining Matchup: Oregon vs. TCU
![Baylor v TCU](/ncaa-football/files/2015/11/GettyImages-498967680.jpg)
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The Alamo Bowl could be — wait for it — legendary.
Oregon and TCU can both put up points in a hurry, and the QB battle between Trevone Boykin and Vernon Adams Jr. is a dream come true.
8. Best Player: Ohio State’s J.T. Barrett
![J.T. Barrett](/ncaa-football/files/2015/10/J.T.-Barrett.jpg)
8. Best Player: Ohio State’s J.T. Barrett
![J.T. Barrett](/ncaa-football/files/2015/10/J.T.-Barrett.jpg)
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Leonard Fournette (or one of the quarterbacks listed above) could steal the show. Or, you know, one of the Heisman finalists could go off.
However, Ohio State is not going to be thrilled about not making the playoff, and J.T. Barrett is unfortunately going to take it out on Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl.
7. Buckeyes Beat Fighting Irish By 3 Scores
![Notre Dame v Pittsburgh](/ncaa-football/files/2015/11/GettyImages-496142186.jpg)
7. Buckeyes Beat Fighting Irish By 3 Scores
![Notre Dame v Pittsburgh](/ncaa-football/files/2015/11/GettyImages-496142186.jpg)
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Ohio State didn't make the playoff, but it is still one of the most talented teams (on both sides of the ball) in the country.
If you need a reason to believe in this prediction, just remember this: The Buckeyes beat Michigan on the road by the score of 42-13 in their last contest.
6. Gators Drop 30 On Wolverines’ Elite Defense
![Vanderbilt v Florida](/ncaa-football/files/2015/11/10.jpg)
6. Gators Drop 30 On Wolverines’ Elite Defense
![Vanderbilt v Florida](/ncaa-football/files/2015/11/10.jpg)
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All you need to know about this prediction: Michigan arguably has one of the best defenses in college football, and the Gators don't necessarily have an elite offense.
5. Hawkeyes Show Their Worth By Handling The Cardinal
![Big Ten Championship](/ncaa-football/files/2015/12/GettyImages-500120798.jpg)
5. Hawkeyes Show Their Worth By Handling The Cardinal
![Big Ten Championship](/ncaa-football/files/2015/12/GettyImages-500120798.jpg)
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Iowa's one loss came against the Michigan State Spartans by three points. The Hawkeyes went under the radar the entire season, but a win over Stanford would surely change that.
4. Michigan State vs. Alabama Is A Shootout
![Alabama v Auburn](/ncaa-football/files/2015/11/GettyImages-499079734.jpg)
4. Michigan State vs. Alabama Is A Shootout
![Alabama v Auburn](/ncaa-football/files/2015/11/GettyImages-499079734.jpg)
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Michigan State vs. Alabama could very easily be a low-scoring affair, but let's go in the opposite direction.
Derrick Henry is certainly capable of racking up the points for the Crimson Tide, and Connor Cook & Co. can do some damage to the scoreboard.
3. Crimson Tide Win Said Shootout
![Big Ten Championship](/ncaa-football/files/2015/12/GettyImages-500122156.jpg)
3. Crimson Tide Win Said Shootout
![Big Ten Championship](/ncaa-football/files/2015/12/GettyImages-500122156.jpg)
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In the end, Alabama has arguably the best player and best defense in the country. Those two things combined are pretty unstoppable in college football.
2. Sooners Take Down The No. 1 Team In College Football
![Oklahoma Clemson](/ncaa-football/files/2015/12/01.jpg)
2. Sooners Take Down The No. 1 Team In College Football
![Oklahoma Clemson](/ncaa-football/files/2015/12/01.jpg)
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Not many teams can beat Baylor, TCU and Oklahoma State in back-to-back-to-back games, but Oklahoma just so happens to be one of those teams.
At the same time, Clemson is undefeated.
1. National Champion: Oklahoma Sooners
![TCU v Oklahoma](/ncaa-football/files/2015/11/GettyImages-498234444.jpg)
1. National Champion: Oklahoma Sooners
![TCU v Oklahoma](/ncaa-football/files/2015/11/GettyImages-498234444.jpg)
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It's bold because the Sooners are ranked No. 4. It can happen because Oklahoma has weapons like Bakyer Mayfield, Semaje Perine and Sterling Shephard.
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