2016 Bowl Predictions

**I started on this last week, but didn't have time to get to predictions for the later bowls.

This is going to deviate a bit from the basketball theme of this blog, however I wanted to post some bowl predictions, just in case they're crazy accurate.

I started working on a college football bracketology based on trying to develop the ideal college playoff system.  For the record, I think the current +1 format is a step in the right direction, however the existing bowl schedule allows room for much more compelling match ups.

Without extending the championship game further into January, and excluding just 14 barely eligible bowl participants, we could have a 16-team playoff.  These teams would get either one or two weeks off prior to the first playoff game.  It would consist of two additional playoff rounds during the two weekends prior to the existing BCS Playoff, and would closely mirror the NCAA basketball selection process.  Each of the ten FBS conferences would receive one automatic bid awarded to its champion, plus six at-large bids.  Here's what this year's bracket would look like:

Round One - Friday 12/16 - Saturday 12/17
1. Alabama (SEC Champ) vs.
16. San Diego State (MWC Champ)

8. Wisconsin (At-Large) vs.
9. USC (At-Large)

4. Washington (Pac 12 Champ) vs.
13. Temple (AAC Champ)

5. Penn State (Big 10 Champ) vs.
12. Western Michigan (MAC Champ)

3. Clemson (ACC Champ) vs.
14. Appalachian State (SBC Champ)

6. Michigan (At-Large) vs.
11. Florida State (At-Large)

7. Oklahoma (Big 12 Champ) vs.
10. Colorado (At-Large)

2. Ohio State (At-Large) vs.
15. Western Kentucky (C-USA Champ)

Round Two - Friday 12/23 - Saturday 12/24
Semi-Finals - Saturday 12/31
Championship - Monday 1/9


And now for my actual bowl predictions:

Saturday, 12/17/16
Celebration Bowl: Grambling State 34 - NC Central 24
New Mexico Bowl: New Mexico 31 - UTSA 28
Las Vegas Bowl: Houston 37 - San Diego State 30
Camellia Bowl: Appalachian State 34 -Toledo 31
Cure Bowl: Arkansas State 28 - UCF 24
New Orleans Bowl: Southern Miss 28 - UL Lafayette 27

Monday, 12/19/16
Miami Beach Bowl: Tulsa 41 - Central Michigan 24

Tuesday, 12/20/16
Boca Raton Bowl: Western Kentucky 38 - Memphis 28

Wednesday, 12/21/16
Poinsettia Bowl: BYU 33 - Wyoming 28

Thursday, 12/22/16
Potato Bowl: Colorado State 31 - Idaho 17

Friday, 12/23/16
Bahamas Bowl: Old Dominion 42 - Eastern Michigan 31
Armed Forces Bowl: Navy 35 - Louisiana Tech 30
Dollar General Bowl: Troy 34 - Ohio 21

Saturday, 12/24/16
Hawai'i Bowl: Middle Tennessee 38 - Hawaii 17

Monday, 12/26/16
St. Petersburg Bowl: Mississippi State 52 - Miami (OH) 31
Quick Lane Bowl: Maryland 17 - Boston College 16
Independence Bowl: NC State 24 - Vanderbilt 22

Tuesday, 12/27/16
Heart of Texas Bowl: Army 31 - North Texas 20
Military Bowl: Temple 31 - Wake Forest 13
Holiday Bowl: Washington State 30 - Minnesota 24
Cactus Bowl: Boise State 41 - Baylor 34

Wednesday, 12/28/16
Pinstripe Bowl: Pittsburgh 35 vs Northwestern 28
Russell Athletic Bowl: West Virginia 28 vs Miami (FL) 27
Foster Farms Bowl: Utah 34 vs Indiana 20
Texas Bowl: Kansas State 31 vs Texas A&M 28

Thursday, 12/29/16
Birmingham Bowl: USF 41 vs South Carolina 21
Belk Bowl: Virginia Tech 35 vs Arkansas 26
Alamo Bowl: Oklahoma State 30 vs Colorado 28

Friday, 12/30/16
Liberty Bowl: Georgia 24 vs TCU 20
Sun Bowl: Stanford 27 vs North Carolina 23
Music City Bowl: Nebraska 28 vs Tennessee 27
Arizona Bowl: Air Force 35 vs South Alabama 10
Orange Bowl: Michigan 35 vs Florida State 23

Saturday, 12/31/16
Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl: LSU vs Louisville
TaxSlayer Bowl: Georgia Tech vs Kentucky
Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl: Washington vs Alabama
Playstation Fiesta Bowl: Ohio State vs Clemson

Monday, 1/2/17
Outback Bowl: Florida vs Iowa
Goodyear Cotton Bowl: Western Michigan vs Wisconsin
Rose Bowl Game: USC vs Penn State
Allstate Sugar Bowl: Auburn vs Oklahoma

Monday 1/9/17
National Championship: TBD vs TBD