College football pre-Christmas Bowls: Picks and preview

Miami was a preseason favorite to take the Mid-American Conference title but ended up needing to win its final two games -- over Northern Illinois and Ball State by a combined seven points -- just to become bowl eligible. RedHawks receiver Mac Hippenhammer has caught 23 passes for 366 yards and four touchdowns in the last four games. UAB, meanwhile, is bowl eligible for a sixth consecutive season. Blazers running back DeWayne McBride ran for 1,710 yards, including 272 at Louisiana Tech on Nov. 26, with 19 touchdowns to earn Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year.

Prediction: Miami (Ohio) (+10)

One of the better bowl matchups on the docket and that includes the New Year's Six and College Football Playoff. Each team enters on a 10-game winning streak. UTSA is 23-4 since the start of last season, and Frank Harris (9,158 career passing yards, 73 touchdowns, 21 interceptions; 1,808 rushing yards, 24 TDs), who said he'll return for a seventh season with the Roadrunners, is a big reason. Troy is bowling for the first time since 2018 and got here with a defense that allows an average of 17.5 points. The Trojans are also riding a four-game bowl winning streak.

Prediction: UTSA (+1)

Hollywood couldn't write a better script for the inaugural (albeit three years in the making) Fenway Bowl. Scott Satterfield has left Louisville to be the next head coach at Cincinnati but won't be on the sideline for either team come kickoff as the Keg of Nails rivalry is renewed for the first time since 2013. Jeff Brohm has left Purdue to return to Louisville but will wait to guide the Cardinals. This Cincinnati group is not in the mix for a national title this season but looks to win at least 10 games for the fourth time in five years.

Prediction: Cincinnati (+2)

Deion Sanders will run the Colorado program in 2023 but has said he plans to coach Jackson State one final time here. The Tigers went undefeated against FCS competition and won back-to-back SWAC titles for the first time since 1995-96. Shedeur Sanders (3,383 passing yards, 36 touchdowns, six interceptions; five rushing TDs) is headed to Colorado with his dad but will quarterback Jackson State in the Celebration Bowl. Meanwhile, North Carolina State won nine games for the first time since 2016, bringing a four-game winning streak into this contest, but is a hefty underdog.

Prediction: Jackson State (OFF)

One of the better 2022 college football stories is Oregon State. The Beavers have enjoyed their best season since going 9-4 in 2012 and can win 10 games for the first time since 2006. They're giving up an average of 17.3 points while winning six of the last seven. Oregon State is facing its first SEC opponent since losing 22-21 at LSU in 2004. Florida didn't have nearly as good a season in its first under Billy Napier's direction and will try to avoid a third consecutive defeat. With Anthony Richardson prepping for the NFL and backup Jalen Kitna booted from the team, touted Ohio State transfer Jack Miller will make his first start as a Gator.

Prediction: Oregon State (-10 1/2)

These schools don't have too far to travel for this Jimmy Kimmel-sponsored bowl. Washington State lost talented linebacker Francisco Mauigoa (60 tackles, 3 1/2 sacks, three forced fumbles) and two of its top receivers, De’Zhaun Stribling and Donovan Ollie, to the transfer portal . That likely does not bode well against Fresno, the Mountain West champion that's won eight in a row. Bulldogs quarterback Jake Haener (8,733 career passing yards, 65 touchdowns, 17 interceptions) is slated to suit up. Fresno is looking for a fourth straight bowl win.

Prediction: Fresno State (-1)

Since not enough programs with .500 or better records were bowl eligible, a 5-7 team is bowling. Rice is that team, based on its Academic Progress Rate (APR) , which uses academic success as a measure of rating football programs. However, the Owls, who last went to a bowl in 2014, were outscored 107-17 while losing their final three games. Rice's opponent, Southern Miss, snapped its own three-game skid with a 20-10 victory over Louisiana-Monroe in the final week of the regular season. With 199 rushing yards in that contest, the Golden Eagles' Frank Gore Jr. has amassed 1,053 on the ground this season.

Prediction: Southern Miss (-7)

College football fans can only dream that this matchup resembles the 1980 Holiday Bowl classic these programs played. Jim McMahon and BYU overcame a 20-point deficit with less than three minutes to play and won 46-45 on a Hail Mary. The Cougars and Mustangs next bowl matchup will take place in Albuquerque, where BYU aims for a fourth straight win after losing four in a row. SMU, meanwhile, has won three of the last four. Each team averages more than 31 points per game and allows an average of 30 or more. So, maybe another high-scoring barn burner awaits.

Prediction: BYU (+1 1/2)

North Texas has lost five consecutive bowl games. Its last bowl triumph came in 2013. Ending that skid won't be easy. Yes, Boise just lost in its conference championship game, too, but is the more complete team in this matchup. The Broncos have had a host of players enter the transfer portal , but quarterback Taylen Green (1,905 passing yards; 467 rushing yards, eight touchdowns) is fun to watch. The North Texas defense has allowed at least 41 points in five games this season.

Prediction: Boise State (-10)

Jim Mora has staged quite the turnaround at UConn, which prior to this season, was 10-50 since making its most recent bowl appearance in 2015. That also came against Marshall, which won the St. Petersburg Bowl matchup 16-10. The Huskies beat bowl-bound teams like Fresno State and Liberty, and also Boston College. The highlight of Marshall's season came with that 26-21 victory at Notre Dame. The Thundering Heard have won four in a row and boast one of the nation's most underrated running backs in Florida State transfer Khalan Laborn (1,423 yards, 16 touchdowns).

Prediction: Marshall (-10)

Eastern Michigan is making its fifth bowl appearance in seven seasons, but its last victory of the kind came in the 1987 California Bowl. Its opponent then -- San Jose State. Is this a sign that the Eagles' bowl-losing streak will come to an end? Well, the last time EMU won eight or more games came during that 10-2 '87 campaign. Keep an eye on running back Samson Evans (1,084 yards, 13 touchdowns). Meanwhile, SJSU hits the blue turf paced by a defense that held seven opponents to 17 or fewer points this season.

Prediction: San Jose State (-3 1/2)

Hugh Freeze left Liberty for Auburn, but the Flames are getting a good one in coach Jamey Chadwell, who turned Coastal Carolina into a prominent Group of Five performer. Now, while that's potentially promising for the future of Liberty football, the present is about halting a three-game losing streak, which won't be easy against Mid-American Conference champion Toledo. The Rockets have been an inconsistent group in 2022, but Dequan Finn (2,127 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, 12 interceptions; 608 rushing yards, eight TDs), when healthy, is one of the country's most versatile threats.

Prediction: Toledo (-4 1/2)

Austin Reed and his 4,247 passing yards and 36 touchdowns have entered the transfer portal . If that wasn't a big enough blow to Western Kentucky. Backup Darius Ocean is also in the portal. However, the Hilltoppers' biggest challenge in New Orleans could be stopping a South Alabama offense averaging just under 32 points and 423.6 yards. The Jaguars, whose only losses came to UCLA and Troy by a combined five points, have three receivers (Jalen Wayne, Caullin Lacy, Devin Voisin) with at least 53 receptions and 700 yards and a 1,015-yard running back in La'Damian Webb (13 touchdowns).

Prediction: South Alabama (-8)

A year ago, Baylor was the Big 12 champ and about to play in New Year's Day bowl. Fast forward to the present day, where the Bears have dropped three in a row, allowed an average of 33.3 points in four November games, and rate only a pre-Christmas bowl. Air Force, meanwhile, is trying for a second straight 10-win defense. While we know about the Falcons' potent option offense that tops the country averaging 330.9 rushing yards, they've allowed just 51 points over the last six games.

Prediction: Air Force (+6 1/2)

As will be a prominent theme, there will be several key performers missing from this season contest due to the transfer portal, NFL Draft declaration or ineligibility . Notably at Louisiana, where linebacker Andre Jones and leading receiver Michael Jefferson (51 receptions, 810 yards) are out. Meanwhile, Houston quarterback Clayton Tune (11,765 career passing yards, 101 touchdowns, 41 interceptions; 1,204 rushing yards, 15 touchdowns) is slated to be there, trying to help the Cougars to a second straight bowl triumph.
Prediction: Houston (-6 1/2)

Wake opened 6-1, but its only win the rest of the way came against Syracuse. So, finishing with a bowl victory would obviously be a positive. Whether star Sam Hartman, the Demon Deacons' career leader in passing yards (12,687) and touchdowns (107), is there to help and possibly become the ACC's all-time leader in TD passes  remains to be seen . Missouri, meanwhile, is trying for its first bowl victory since 2014. Speaking of quarterbacks, Missouri's Brady Cook (2,500 passing yards; 547 rushing yards) threw for 710 yards with six touchdowns and ran for 315 and another score in the last three games.

Prediction: Missouri (+1)

Barring any more issues, the Hawai'i Bowl will be played for the first time since 2019. For those whose Christmas Eve felt incomplete without this traditional pre-Santa visit appetizer the past two years, it's time to rejoice. MTSU has won three in a row and has averaged 30.8 points over the last five. SDSU, meanwhile, allows 20.2 points per contest and is looking for a third consecutive bowl victory. This will be the second Hawai'i Bowl appearance for each program.

Prediction: Middle Tennessee (+7)