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Predicting every 2016 college football bowl game

By Cody Williams

Dec 31, 2014; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; A general view of the logo and end zone marker prior to the the 2014 Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2014; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; A general view of the logo and end zone marker prior to the the 2014 Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 17, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Louisville Cardinals quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) carries the ball during the first quarter against the Houston Cougars at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 17, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Louisville Cardinals quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) carries the ball during the first quarter against the Houston Cougars at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

Citrus Bowl: LSU vs. Louisville – Dec. 31, 11 a.m. ET

No offense to the rest of what should be an entertaining bowl season, but this is my favorite matchup of them all. How can you top arguably the two most explosive and electric offensive players in the country going head-to-head? That’s what you have with Heisman winner and Louisville Cardinals quarterback Lamar Jackson and LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette—and his backup Derrius Guice, for what it’s worth.

Though that may be the billing for this matchup, what’s going to be the key is how Jackson holds up against a lethal LSU defense. Fournette and Guice should have their way with a shaky Cardinals defense, but Jackson struggled late in the season as he faced better defenses, most notably against another SEC defense in their rivalry game with Kentucky, a loss. Because of that uncertainty, I’m betting against the Heisman winner and going LSU and the strength of their defense.

Prediction: LSU: 24, Louisville: 20

Taxslayer Bowl: Georgia Tech vs. Kentucky – Dec. 31, 11 a.m. ET

The matchup between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets is going to be all about running the football. We all know about Georgia Tech and the triple-option, which Justin Thomas has near perfected over his career in Atlanta. However, the Wildcats offer a two-headed monster in their rushing attack with Boom Williams and Benny Snell Jr. Snell is the thunder to Williams’ lightning in this attack and both can wear down and hurt a defense.

2016’s TaxSlayer Bowl could sneakily be one of the better games of bowl season as both teams ultimately have the same goal, moving the ball on the ground. As such, whichever defense is more prepared to handle that sort of attack should come out the victor. Though Georgia Tech was competitive throughout ACC play on their way to 8-4, I don’t think they’ve seen an attack quite like Kentucky’s. Subsequently, the slight edge goes to the Wildcats in my book.

Prediction: Georgia Tech: 24, Kentucky: 28

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