Akron Zips

All for Tennessee Official College Football Bowl Game Predictions Part I: Dec. 17-Dec. 24

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 7:09 p.m. ET

Fansided, Caleb Calhoun/FanSided via All for Tennessee

Jan 2, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Football fans walk to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome before the Sugar Bowl between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Alabama Crimson Tide. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Here are the All for Tennessee official college football bowl game predictions for match-ups that last Saturday, Dec. 17 through Christmas Eve.

The bowl game season is here. There is nothing quite like enjoying the holidays off work and school and chilling with people in front of the television to watch college football.

After all, that’s what the holiday season is all about, right?

This year, as we do our college football bowl predictions, we are going to break them up into three parts. The first part is pre-Christmas set of bowl games, of which there are 13.

People can talk all they want about these being meaningless bowl games. They mean a lot to the teams that are in them.

And are they any more meaningless than the No. 16 seed’s NCAA Tournament game in college basketball? Of course not.

As for Tennessee football, almost all Vols fans are upset about the way the program finished the 2016 season, but they still always look forward to bowl season. There is SEC pride and just fun football to watch.

In fact, two of their opponents from 2016 are playing in these bowl games, so that’s something for them to root for to help them look good.

Sure, most of these games involve unranked Group of Five teams, but they are sometimes the most exciting games to watch.

With that in mind, we should all be excited about the bowl season beginning Saturday. And it’s time to give these match-ups some love.

Let’s begin our college football bowl game predictions with the13 match-ups from now through Christmas Eve.

Dec 19, 2015; Albuquerque, NM, USA; General view of University Stadium prior to the 2015 New Mexico Bowl between the Arizona Wildcats and the New Mexico Lobos . Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Gildan New Mexico Bowl

New Mexico Lobos vs Texas San Antonio Roadrunners

Saturday, Dec. 17 at 2 p.m.; University Stadium; Albuquerque, N.M.

Line: New Mexico -7.5; Over/Under: 58.5

So the New Mexico Lobos get a home game for their bowl game after their third place finish in the Mountain West Conference. This is actually a very solid team that finished 8-4 on the year. Everything they do is based on a rushing attack with two 1,000-yard rushers in Teriyon Gipson and Tyrone Owens along with Richard McQuarley being their short-yardage back.

Altogether, this team averages nearly four rushing touchdowns a game. They also have an amazing kicker in Jason Sanders. Bob Davie’s triple-option offense is led by Austin Apodaca, the perfect quarterback for it.

On the other side stands the Texas San Antonio Roadrunners. These guys rely on a much more balanced attack led by Dalton Sturm at quarterback and a series of by-committee running backs. This 6-6 team wins in much uglier fashion usually, with a bit of a focus on defense.

What Will Happen?

Texas San Antonio is simply no match for New Mexico’s triple option. The Lobos will have over 400 yards rushing on the ground and simply dominate in the stats column.

However, the Roadrunners will force a couple of turnovers, which will make this interesting until the fourth quarter.

That’s when New Mexico pulls away with a pretty solid victory in what is a home game for them.

New Mexico: 38 Texas San Antonio: 28

Dec 19, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; General view of the Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl logo at midfield at Sam Boyd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Las Vegas Bowl Presented by GEICO

Houston Cougars vs San Diego State Aztecs

Saturday, Dec. 17 at 3:30 p.m.; Sam Boyd Stadium; Las Vegas, Nev.

Line: Houston -4; Over/Under: 51.5

One team in this bowl game match-up is clearly the better team, but they had such a sickening end to the season that they may not be up for this match-up.

And the other team is psyched about playing in this bowl game. That makes for a dangerous combination.

The Houston Cougars were red hot all year and had huge wins over the Oklahoma Sooners and Louisville Cardinals. Tom Herman’s team should’ve been the Group of Five team in the New Year’s Six, but he and Greg Ward choked down the stretch with losses to Navy, SMU, and Memphis.

Meanwhile, San Diego State, led by a solid quarterback in Christian Chapman and a dominant rusher in Donnel Pumphrey, is celebrating its stunning Mountain West Conference Championship. Head Coach Rocky Long has this team continuing to get better each year.

Houston, on the other hand, has the added distraction of Herman leaving.

What Will Happen?

This game is actually not going to be close. The Houston Cougars will have no energy or motivation to come out and play hard, and as a result, the San Diego State Aztecs will torch them.

Donnel Pumphrey will go for 200 yards and set the all-time school record for rushing yards. And the Aztecs dominate in the process.

San Diego State: 34 Houston: 17

Dec 19, 2015; Montgomery, AL, USA; Appalachian State Mountaineers celebrate after winning the 2015 Camellia Bowl at Cramton Bowl. The Mountaineers defeated the Bobcats 31-29. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

Raycom Media Camellia Bowl

Appalachian State Mountaineers vs Toledo Rockets

Saturday, Dec. 17 at 5:30 p.m.; Cramton Bowl; Montgomery, Ala.

Line: EVEN; Over/Under: 60

This is one bowl game Tennessee football fans might have a vested interest in. The Appalachian State Mountaineers gave the Vols a huge scare early in the year by forcing them into overtime. Tennessee pulled out a victory but became a bit of a laughingstock due to the struggle.

However, Scott Satterfield’s team legitimized itself by going on to win the Sun Belt Conference with a 9-3 record, and now they face a Toledo Rockets team that would have won the MAC were it not for the Western Michigan Broncos.

Both teams are evenly matched in personnel, making it a toss-up.

This game looks like it could be a shootout between two balanced offenses, one that leans more heavily on the passing game and another that leans more heavily on the rushing game.

What Will Happen?

Logan Woodside will get a few big plays for Toledo, as he has done all year. After all, Appalachian State has a very weak secondary, so his yardage totals will be incredible because of those few big plays.

However, at the same time, the Mountaineers will force tons of mistakes with their elite front seven, making lots of big plays themselves.

Meanwhile, Appalachian State will be able to control the clock with Taylor Lamb’s efficiency and their balanced rushing attack. That plus the turnovers will be enough for the Mountaineers to pull out a victory, but the Rockets will out-gain them by over 200 yards.

Appalachian State: 31 Toledo: 28

Jun 8, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; A general view of Camping World Stadium before the group play stage of the 2016 Copa America Centenario between the Brazil and Haiti. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Autonation Cure Bowl

UCF Knights vs Arkansas State Red Wolves

Saturday, Dec. 17 at 5:30 p.m.; Camping World Stadium; Orlando, Fla.

Line: UCF -6.5; Over/Under: 50

Central Florida is enjoying one of the greatest turnaround seasons in history after going from 0-12 in 2015 to 6-6 in Scott Frost’s first year as head coach. Taking his Oregon offense to the Sunshine State, the former Nebraska legend has stayed patient in developing McKenzie Milton while using a by-committee rushing attack.

The result has been a solid offense, and combining that with a very aggressive pass defense, they were able to get to 6-6 in the American Athletic Conference this year.

Now, they get to play a home game against the Sun Belt Conference runner-up team. The Arkansas State Red Wolves lost every non-conference game they played this year but made it to 7-1 in the conference.

They also rely on a balanced attack with Justice Hansen at quarterback and Warren Wand at running back.

What Will Happen?

Yeah, this one’s going to get ugly. The UCF Knights are a much better team than the Arkansas Red Wolves, and they are essentially playing this game at home. So this will get boring and ugly.

As a result, UCF will have a great finish to Frost’s first year with a huge win to get to 7-6, setting the stage for a great future. Hansen will throw three interceptions, and the UCF offense will remain in control all day for the win.

UCF: 27 Arkansas State: 10

Oct 4, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; A general view of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome prior to the game between the New Orleans Saints and the Dallas Cowboys. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl

Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles vs Louisiana Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns

Saturday, Dec. 17 at 9 p.m.; Mercedes-Benz Superdome; New Orleans, La.

Line: Southern Miss -6; Over/Under: 59

Southern Miss had a disappointing drop-off from last year after playing for the Conference USA Championship. This year, they had to back into a bowl game during Jay Hopson’s first season.

But that doesn’t mean they still aren’t a good team.

Offensively, they have lots of firepower with Nick Mullens at quarterback, provided he’s 100 percent, and Ito Smith at running back. A go-to receiver like Allenzae Staggers makes this unit even more elite.

However, the defense is awful. And these guys are facing a Louisiana Lafayette team led by Anthony Jennings at quarterback that is very inconsistent but can torch bad defenses.

What Will Happen?

The Southern Miss defense has come out and said it feels called out based on the way it has played. That will motivate this unit in the New Orleans Bowl to have a strong finish and get back on the right track for next year.

The Golden Eagles will play lots of bend but don’t break, holding the Ragin’ Cajuns to a bunch of field goals. That will allow them to take control of the game in the end.

Southern Miss wins a pretty solid bowl game.

Southern Miss: 35 Louisiana Lafayette: 26

May 18, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; A general view of Marlins Park before a game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Miami Marlins. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

Miami Beach Bowl

Central Michigan Chippewas vs Tulsa Golden Hurricanes

Monday, Dec. 19 at 2:30 p.m.; Marlins Park; Miami, Fla.

Line: Tulsa -12.5; Over/Under: 70

One of the more elite teams of the AAC should take it as an insult that they have to play a mediocre MAC team for their bowl game.

The Tulsa Golden Hurricanes went 9-3 on the year and finished second in their division of the borderline Group of Five conference, yet they are stuck playing a 6-6 team from the MAC in Miami.

The oddsmakers also agree this is a huge mismatch, which is why Tulsa is a 12 and a half point favorite. However, we have seen a long history of teams not caring about the bowl games they go to and losing as a result.

With Art Briles disciple Phillip Montgomery trying to take this team to historic heights, that doesn’t seem likely. After all, his implementation of that high-powered offense produced a 3,000-yard passed in Dane Evans, two 1,000-plus yard rushers in James Flanders and D’Angelo Brewer, and nearly two 1,000-yard receivers in Keevan Lucas and Josh Atkinson.

Central Michigan, meanwhile, is also a bit disappointed in a different way, as they did not take the step forward they wanted to take under John Bonamego. They have a high-powered passing attack as well behind Cooper Rush and Corey Willis at receiver, but not much else.

What Will Happen?

This game will be a shootout, but despite both teams’ feelings, Tulsa is more motivated to play this game.

At the same time, they are the better team.

So the Golden Hurricanes will pull away late and win a very convincing shootout. This is one bowl game you’ll want to see, though.

Tulsa: 55 Central Michigan: 35

Sep 3, 2016; Boca Raton, FL, USA; A general view of FAU Football Stadium before a game between the Southern Illinois Salukis and the Florida Atlantic Owls. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Boca Raton Bowl

Memphis Tigers vs Western Kentucky Hilltoppers

Tuesday, Dec. 20 at 7 p.m.; FAU Football Stadium; Boca Raton, Fla.

Line: Western Kentucky -5; Over/Under: 79

This might be the biggest shootout of all bowl games.

Memphis has taken its offense to another level with new head coach Mike Norvell replacing Justin Fuente, and Riley Ferguson looks like an elite star at quarterback to handle that offense. The team got on a major role late, finishing the year with a huge victory over the Houston Cougars.

Meanwhile, Western Kentucky took a step back in Jeff Brohm’s third year but still managed to win the conference thanks to an amazing passing attack with Mike White at quarterback throwing to Taywan Taylor and Nicholas Norris. Anthony Wales provides balance running the ball as well.

However, Brohm has just left to take the head coaching job at Louisville. So the psychological aspects of this bowl game matter as well.

What Will Happen?

Western Kentucky will still put up tons of points with its high-powered offense, but Memphis will match them blow for blow.

And this will turn into a basketball game in the process.

However, the Tigers have a lot more motivation in this game. They are excited about the state of their program in Norvell’s first year and where it is going.

Meanwhile, Western Kentucky is disappointed about the slight drop-off it had this year and also dealing with the distraction of Brohm leaving.

The result of all of this will be a huge Memphis win. They’ll start stronger because of the momentum, and Western Kentucky will spend the rest of the day playing catch-up. But they will never catch up.

Memphis: 62 Western Kentucky: 49

Sep 1, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; A general view of Qualcomm stadium before the game between the San Diego Chargers and San Francisco 49ers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl

BYU Cougars vs Wyoming Cowboys

Wednesday, Dec. 21 at 9 p.m.; Qualcomm Stadium; San Diego, Calif.

Line: BYU -9; Over/Under: 57

Watch out here. This is a BYU Cougars team that keeps desperately trying to take the necessary steps to become a powerhouse program, but they kept coming up short under Bronco Mendenhall. In his first year as head coach, Kalani Sitake appears to be keeping them as a perennial 8-4 team.

Meanwhile, the Wyoming Cowboys have taken amazing steps under Craig Bohl as head coach. Bohl had them one game away from winning the Mountain West Conference title, and their momentum is only trending upward.

Both teams want to win this bowl game to send their program into what they hope is a brighter future.

What Will Happen?

This is going to be a game decided by the rushing attack of both teams.

With Taysom Hill injured, the Cougars are going to rely heavily on Jamaal Williams to control the game for them, and their tough defense will make some plays to keep this low-scoring in the process.

However, the Cowboys will be playing the same way with a more balanced attack behind Josh Allen at quarterback.

Wyoming will have the advantage of a healthy quarterback and more excitement about the state of the program. That will be enough for a very thrilling victory.

Wyoming: 24 BYU: 21

Dec 22, 2015; Boise, ID, USA; Opening ceremonies at the 2015 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl between the Akron Zips and the Utah State Aggies at Bronco Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

Idaho Vandals vs Colorado State Rams

Thursday, Dec. 22 at 7 p.m.; Albertsons Stadium; Boise, Idaho

Line: Colorado State -13.5; Over/Under: 64.5

Let’s stop for a second and think about the fact that the Idaho Vandals are in a bowl game. Paul Petrino, the brother of Bobby Petrino, has accomplished the impossible by doing this. He got Idaho to 8-4 with his offensive genius!

Now, his team gets to host a Colorado State team that is much better in talent but may not be as motivated to play this game. After all, they have taken a step back since Jim McElwain left, and Mike Bobo does not have the program where he wants to have it.

This game will come down to what Matt Linehan can do against an elite Colorado State pass defense. At the same time, Colorado State will want to torch the Vandals with Nick Stevens in there and the continued tradition of elite receivers with Mike Gallup.

But with better talent, can Colorado State overcome the intangible issues they will be facing in this bowl game?

What Will Happen?

Idaho is much more excited for this bowl game, and they are essentially playing it at home in Boise. So taking both of those things into account, we are going to grant them a shocking upset.

Linehan will torch an unmotivated defense in Colorado State, and that will be all they need to pull off a shocking victory and finish 9-4.

It’s also a way to stick it to the Mountain West, which did not accept them into its conference.

Idaho: 38 Colorado State: 24

May 1, 2015; Nassau, Bahamas; General view of the Thomas A. Robinson stadium exterior in advance of the 2015 IAAF World Relays. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Popeyes Bahamas Bowl

Eastern Michigan Eagles vs Old Dominion Monarchs

Friday, Dec. 23 at 1 p.m.; Thomas Robinson Stadium; Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas

Line: Old Dominion -4; Over/Under: 65

Well this is an interestingly boring bowl game. You’ve got one team that just reached FBS this past year and another that is a lowly MAC team.

Eastern Michigan got into this game at 7-5 after finishing fourth in the MAC. Chris Creighton is clearly building something there, finally getting a winning season his third year. He relies on a heavy passing game to do it and nothing else, right now with Brogan Roback at quarterback.

Old Dominion, meanwhile, is already thriving in FBS under Bobby Wilder. They made it to 9-3 in the Conference USA and 7-1 in the conference.

He uses ridiculous efficiency from David Washington, solid running from Ray Lawry, and an opportunistic defense to dominate turnover battles en route to victory.

That’s the perfect combination against this passing attack.

With Wilder as a veteran coach, he also knows the ropes really well and is better in in-game situations.

What Will Happen?

Brogan Roback will get hit with three interceptions against this opportunistic defense, and the Monarchs will use a balanced attack and no turnovers to pull out a huge victory.

This will be a close game, but Old Dominion slowing down the Eastern Michigan passing offense will play to their advantage. And they’ll get a thrilling victory in the Bahamas.

Old Dominion gets its 10th win in 2016, only their third year in FBS.

Old Dominion: 27 Eastern Michigan: 24

Nov 14, 2015; Fort Worth, TX, USA; A view of the stadium before the game between the TCU Horned Frogs and the Kansas Jayhawks at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs vs No. 25 Navy Midshipmen

Friday, Dec. 23 at 4:30 p.m.; Amon G. Carter Stadium; Fort Worth, Texas

Line: Louisiana Tech -6; Over/Under: 66

Somehow the Navy Midshipmen are still in the College Football Playoff Top 25 after losing to the Army Black Knights. But after finishing the year 9-4 and losing the AAC, they desperately need a chance for a strong punctuation mark on the season.

The Midshipmen will want to have Will Worth fully healthy in this game, as they clearly struggle to run the triple-option without him. However, they also need their defense to step up much better than it has been doing.

That’s because Louisiana Tech is a team that was one win away from winning its conference, and it’s got a pretty high-powered offense with Ryan Higgins at quarterback throwing to Trent Taylor and Carlos Henderson while Jarred Craft adds balance in the rushing attack.

This game will be a complete clash of styles: Louisiana Tech’s pass-heavy high-powered offense vs Navy’s physical, triple-option offense.

What Will Happen?

These types of games can turn into blowouts or normal affairs. Neither school has too much motivation in this bowl game since both have accomplished what they accomplished this year just recently.

But Navy does a better job accepting what it is.

That will give them a bit more motivation, so they will pull out a victory by forcing Louisiana Tech to play their game.

Navy: 17 Louisiana Tech: 14

Jan 24, 2015; Mobile, AL, USA; General view of the pre game ceremonies of the Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Dollar General Bowl

Ohio Bobcats vs Troy Trojans

Friday, Dec. 23 at 8 p.m.; Ladd-Peebles Stadium; Mobile, Ala.

Line: Troy -4; Over/Under: 49.5

This is another bowl game that lots of Tennessee football fans will be paying attention to. After all, the Ohio Bobcats are another quality win that they got.

These Bobcats were a late interception away from winning the MAC Championship and stunning the undefeated Western Michigan Broncos. Greg Windham is still an elite quarterback who wants to finish his career with a bang.

However, standing on the other side is a resurgent Troy Trojans team that Neal Brown got back to a bowl game in just two years as head coach. Their last winning season was all the way back in 2010, so he has a lot to be proud of.

Troy just barely missed out on the Sun Belt title, and their elite passing attack with All-Sun Belt quarterback Brandon Silvers will be tough to stop.

What Will Happen?

Ohio has the better football team and proved it on the field for most of this year with the exception of one bad upset in the opener.

However, the Bobcats are not too motivated to play this game. They are likely hurt by blowing a chance at the MAC Championship, and this season was no better than last season for Frank Solich’s crew.

Meanwhile, Troy is pumped about playing in a bowl game. This will create a huge mismatch as Brandon Silvers torches an unmotivated defense.

And with this game in Alabama, it could get ugly before Ohio decides to start playing hard. But when they do, it’ll be too late.

Troy: 42 Ohio: 31

Dec 24, 2014; Honolulu, HI, USA; A general view before the Hawaii Bowl between the Rice Owls and Fresno State Bulldogs at Aloha Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marco Garcia-USA TODAY Sports

Hawai’i Bowl

Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors vs Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders

Saturday, Dec. 24 at 8 p.m.; Aloha Stadium; Honolulu, Hawai’i

After the four-year Norm Chow disaster, Nick Rolovich has got the Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors back to where they want to be.

Sure, they are 6-7 and don’t deserve to go to a bowl game, but it does set the stage for some big years ahead considering the dramatic improvements they made this year.

Rolovich is trying to install his spread offense without the perfect personnel to do it this year, but he has still gotten some solid play from quarterback Dru Brown and his by-committee rushing attack. Marcus Kemp at receiver is his star weapon.

However, on the other side, the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders are coming all the way from the Southeast to face the Rainbow Warriors on their home turf. They are pretty happy too after an 8-4 finish.

And Rick Stockstill’s team would love nothing more than for basically a road victory in a bowl game to close out the year. Brent Stockstill, his son, is an elite quarterback whom he hopes to rely on in the bowl game, but he needs to get fully healthy.

He and Richie James could really torch a sporadic Hawai’i defense. But the real match-up comes down to the MTSU run game. Can Hawai’i’s terrible rush defense stop record-setting back I’Tavius Mathers?

What Will Happen?

Hawaii has more motivation and is playing this game at home, a perfect combination for them to win this game.

However, Middle Tennessee is simply too deep on offense and has too many key weapons for the Rainbow Warriors to be able to handle. As a result, the Blue Raiders will get a couple of big plays in the passing game, with or without Stockstill.

And in the run game, they will dominate. Mathers goes for 200 yards in Honolulu, and Middle Tennessee will be the ones singing ‘Aloha!’ when it’s all said and done.

This is going to be a blowout from start to finish.

Middle Tennessee: 45 Hawai’i: 17