The Athletes Hub Bowl Predictions
The most exciting time of the college football season begins on Saturday, as North Carolina A&T and Alcorn State will kick off the annual bowl season. With 39 games being played over 18 days, there’s bound to be plenty of excitement to go around. Three members of The Athletes Hub Staff picked winners for all 39, then included a national championship pick as well. We’ve also included a player to watch for every team playing in a bowl game this season.
Our apologies go out to the bowl eligible teams who weren’t selected for games: Wyoming, Louisiana-Monroe, Southern Miss, and Miami University.
Dec. 15
Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl: North Carolina A&T vs. Alcorn State
Players to Watch: Darryl Johnson Jr, DE, NC A&T; Noah Johnson, QB, Alcorn State
Brian’s Pick: NC A&T
Martin’s Pick: NC A&T
Hunter’s Pick: NC A&T
New Mexico Bowl: North Texas vs. Utah State
Players to Watch: Mason Fine, QB, UNT; Jordan Love, QB, Utah State
Brian’s Pick: North Texas
Martin’s Pick: Utah State
Hunter’s Pick: North Texas
AutoNation Cure Bowl: Tulane vs. Louisiana
Players to Watch: Donnie Lewis Jr, CB, Tulane; Elijah Mitchell, RB, Louisiana
Brian’s Pick: Louisiana
Martin’s Pick: Louisiana
Hunter’s Pick: Louisiana
Mitsubishi Motors Las Vegas Bowl: Arizona State vs. Fresno State
Players to Watch: Eno Benjamin, RB, Arizona State; Marcus McMaryion, QB, Fresno State
Brian’s Pick: Fresno State
Martin’s Pick: Fresno State
Hunter’s Pick: Fresno State
Raycom Media Camellia Bowl: Georgia Southern vs. Eastern Michigan
Players to Watch: Wesley Fields, RB, Georgia Southern; Maxx Crosby, DE, EMU
Brian’s Pick: Eastern Michigan
Martin’s Pick: Eastern Michigan
Hunter’s Pick: Georgia Southern
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl: Appalachian State vs. Middle Tennessee
Players to Watch: Darrynton Evans, RB, App State; Wesley Bush, DB, MTSU
Brian’s Pick: Appalachian State
Martin’s Pick: Middle Tennessee
Hunter’s Pick: Appalachian State
Dec. 18
Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl: Northern Illinois vs. UAB
Players to Watch: Spencer Brown, RB, UAB; Sutton Smith, DE, NIU
Brian’s Pick: UAB
Martin’s Pick: UAB
Hunter’s Pick: UAB
Dec. 19
Frisco Bowl: Ohio vs. San Diego State
Players to Watch: Nathan Rourke, QB, Ohio; Kyahva Trevino, LB, SDSU
Brian’s Pick: Ohio
Martin’s Pick: Ohio
Hunter’s Pick: San Diego State
Dec. 20
Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl: South Florida vs. Marshall
Players to Watch: Johnny Ford, RB, USF; Isaiah Green, QB, Marshall
Brian’s Pick: South Florida
Martin’s Pick: South Florida
Hunter’s Pick: South Florida
Dec. 21
Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl: Florida International vs. Toledo
Players to Watch: James Morgan, QB, FIU; Bryant Koback, RB, Toledo
Brian’s Pick: Toledo
Martin’s Pick: Toledo
Hunter’s Pick: Florida International
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, Boise: BYU vs. Western Michigan
Players to Watch: Squally Canada, RB, BYU; Jamauri Bogan, RB, WMU
Brian’s Pick: Western Michigan
Martin’s Pick: BYU
Hunter’s Pick: Western Michigan
Dec. 22
Players to Watch: Darrell Henderson, RB, Memphis; Greg Dortch, WR, Wake Forest
Birmingham Bowl: Wake Forest vs. Memphis
Brian’s Pick: Memphis
Martin’s Pick: Wake Forest
Hunter’s Pick: Memphis
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl: Army vs. Houston
Players to Watch: Kelvin Hopkins Jr, QB, Army; Marquez Stevenson, WR, Houston
Brian’s Pick: Army
Martin’s Pick: Army
Hunter’s Pick: Houston
Dollar General Bowl: Buffalo vs. Troy
Players to Watch: Anthony Johnson, WR, Buffalo; BJ Smith, RB, Troy
Brian’s Pick: Buffalo
Martin’s Pick: Troy
Hunter’s Pick: Buffalo
Hawai’i Bowl, Honolulu: Hawai’i vs. Louisiana Tech
Players to Watch: John Ursua, WR, Hawai’i; Jaylon Ferguson, DE, Louisiana Tech
Brian’s Pick: Louisiana Tech
Martin’s Pick: Hawai’i
Hunter’s Pick: Hawai’i
Dec. 26
SERVPRO First Responders Bowl: Boston College vs. Boise State
Players to Watch: AJ Dillon, RB, Boston College; Alexander Mattison, RB, Boise State
Brian’s Pick: Boston College
Martin’s Pick: Boston College
Hunter’s Pick: Boise State
Quick Lane Bowl: Minnesota vs. Georgia Tech
Players to Watch: Mohamed Ibrahim, RB, Minnesota; TaQuon Marshall, QB, Georgia Tech
Brian’s Pick: Georgia Tech
Martin’s Pick: Georgia Tech
Hunter’s Pick: Minnesota
Cheez-It Bowl: TCU vs. Cal
Players to Watch: Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU; Patrick Laird, RB, Cal
Brian’s Pick: TCU
Martin’s Pick: TCU
Hunter’s Pick: TCU
Dec. 27
Walk-On’s Independence Bowl: Temple vs. Duke
Players to Watch: Ryquell Armstead, RB, Temple; Daniel Jones, QB, Duke
Brian’s Pick: Duke
Martin’s Pick: Temple
Hunter’s Pick: Duke
New Era Pinstripe Bowl: Wisconsin vs. Miami
Players to Watch: Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin; Shaquille Quarterman, LB, Miami
Brian’s Pick: Miami
Martin’s Pick: Wisconsin
Hunter’s Pick: Wisconsin
Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl: Baylor vs. Vanderbilt
Players to Watch: Jalen Hurd, WR, Baylor; Kyle Shurmur, QB, Vanderbilt
Brian’s Pick: Vanderbilt
Martin’s Pick: Vanderbilt
Hunter’s Pick: Baylor
Dec. 28
Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl: Purdue vs. Auburn
Players to Watch: Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue; Daniel Thomas, DB, Auburn
Brian’s Pick: Auburn
Martin’s Pick: Auburn
Hunter’s Pick: Auburn
Camping World Bowl: West Virginia vs. Syracuse
Players to Watch: Jack Allison, QB, West Virginia; Andre Cisco, DB, Syracuse
Brian’s Pick: Syracuse
Martin’s Pick: West Virginia
Hunter’s Pick: West Virginia
Valero Alamo Bowl: Iowa State vs. Washington State
Players to Watch: Hakeem Butler, WR, Iowa State; Gardner Minshew, QB, Wazzu
Brian’s Pick: Washington State
Martin’s Pick: Washington State
Hunter’s Pick: Washington State
Dec. 29
Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic: Clemson vs. Notre Dame
Players to Watch: Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson; Dexter Williams, RB, Notre Dame
Brian’s Pick: Clemson
Martin’s Pick: Clemson
Hunter’s Pick: Clemson
Capital One Orange Bowl: Alabama vs. Oklahoma
Players to Watch: Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama; Curtis Bolton, LB, Oklahoma
Brian’s Pick: Oklahoma
Martin’s Pick: Alabama
Hunter’s Pick: Alabama
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl: Florida vs. Michigan
Players to Watch: Franks, QB, Florida; Devin Bush, LB, Michigan
Brian’s Pick: Michigan
Martin’s Pick: Michigan
Hunter’s Pick: Florida
Belk Bowl: South Carolina vs. Virginia
Players to Watch: Jake Bentley, QB, South Carolina; Bryce Hall, DB, Virginia
Brian’s Pick: South Carolina
Martin’s Pick: Virginia
Hunter’s Pick: South Carolina
NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl: Nevada vs. Arkansas State
Players to Watch: Ty Gangi, QB, Nevada; Justice Hansen, QB, Arkansas State
Brian’s Pick: Arkansas State
Martin’s Pick: Arkansas State
Hunter’s Pick: Nevada
Dec. 31
Redbox Bowl: Michigan State vs. Oregon
Players to Watch: Kenny Willekes, DE, Michigan State; Dillon Mitchell, WR, Oregon
Brian’s Pick: Oregon
Martin’s Pick: Oregon
Hunter’s Pick: Michigan State
Military Bowl Presented by Northrop Grumman: Virginia Tech vs. Cincinnati
Players to Watch: Ricky Walker, DL, Virginia Tech; Michael Warren II, RB, Cincy
Brian’s Pick: Cincinnati
Martin’s Pick: Virginia Tech
Hunter’s Pick: Cincinnati
AutoZone Liberty Bowl: Oklahoma State vs. Missouri
Players to Watch: Tylan Wallace, WR, Oklahoma State; Larry Rountree III, RB, Mizzou
Brian’s Pick: Missouri
Martin’s Pick: Missouri
Hunter’s Pick: Oklahoma State
San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl: Northwestern vs. Utah
Players to Watch: Isaiah Bowser, RB, Northwestern; Chase , LB, Utah
Brian’s Pick: Northwestern
Martin’s Pick: Utah
Hunter’s Pick: Northwestern
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl: Texas A&M vs. NC State
Players to Watch: Reggie Gallaspy II, RB, NC State; Jace Sternberger, TE, Texas A&M
Brian’s Pick: NC State
Martin’s Pick: Texas A&M
Hunter’s Pick: Texas A&M
Hyundai Sun Bowl: Pitt vs. Stanford
Players to Watch: Darrin Hall, RB, Pitt; JJ Arcega-Whiteside, WR, Stanford
Brian’s Pick: Stanford
Martin’s Pick: Stanford
Hunter’s Pick: Stanford
Jan. 1
VRBO Citrus Bowl: Kentucky vs. Penn State
Players to Watch: Benny Snell Jr, RB, Kentucky; Trace McSorley, QB, Penn State
Brian’s Pick: Penn State
Martin’s Pick: Kentucky
Hunter’s Pick: Penn State
Outback Bowl: Iowa vs. Mississippi State
Players to Watch: TJ Hockenson, TE, Iowa; Montez Sweat, DE, Mississippi State
Brian’s Pick: Iowa
Martin’s Pick: Mississippi State
Hunter’s Pick: Mississippi State
PlayStation Fiesta Bowl: LSU vs. UCF
Players to Watch: Greg McRae, RB, UCF; Devin White, LB, LSU
Brian’s Pick: LSU
Martin’s Pick: LSU
Hunter’s Pick: UCF
Rose Bowl Game Presented by Northwestern Mutual: Ohio State vs. Washington
Players to Watch: JK Dobbins, RB, Ohio State; Myles Gaskin, RB, Washington
Brian’s Pick: Ohio State
Martin’s Pick: Ohio State
Hunter’s Pick: Ohio State
Allstate Sugar Bowl: Georgia vs. Texas
Players to Watch: Elijah Holyfield, RB, Georgia; Sam Ehlinger, QB, Texas
Brian’s Pick: Georgia
Martin’s Pick: Georgia
Hunter’s Pick: Georgia
Jan. 7
College Football Playoff National Championship
Brian’s Pick: Clemson over Oklahoma
Martin’s Pick: Alabama over Clemson
Hunter’s Pick: Alabama over Clemson
Image Credit: CBS Sports
