The 2021-22 college football bowl season is here. After a year off from predicting bowls (remember that weird thrown-together, ever-changing bowl season last year?), I’m back and predicting better than ever.
The regular season predictions were alright. Not great, not bad, almost nice.
Bowls: 11-3 (78.6%)
Regular Season: 100-46 (68.5%)
Overall: 111-49 (69.4%)
Before you read ahead, run on over to the 2021-22 War Blogle Bowl Pick ’em and get your picks in. I know you want to see what I pick before you get into it. I’d want to follow genius, too, but I’m only picking the first week here. The others, you’ll have to wait.
12/17
Bahamas Bowl
Middle Tennessee State vs. Toledo – Somehow seemingly the worst bowl is in the Bahamas? What am I missing here? Shouldn’t they do the Playoffs on a sandbar?
Toledo 27, Middle Tennessee State 14
Middle Tennessee State 31, Toledo 24 – FAILURE
Tailgreeter Cure Bowl
Northern Illinois vs. Coastal Carolina – Aww the media darling Chanticleers are in the Cure Bowl. I was sure their perpetual #16 ranking because they hadn’t lost a game in their joke of schedule would’ve had them higher.
Coastal Carolina 31, Northern Illinois 20
Coastal Carolina 47, Northern Illinois 41 – SUCCESS!
12/18
RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl
Western Kentucky vs. Appalachian State – Auburn apparently talked to the OCs of both of these teams. Western Kentucky’s went to Texas Tech. Appalachian State’s is still there. Stability is the winner.
Appalachian State 42, Western Kentucky 35
Western Kentucky 59, Appalachian State 38 – FAILURE
Cricket Celebration Bowl
South Carolina State vs. Jackson State – Jackson State just picked up the #1 recruit in the 2022 class because of the oh so pure NIL stuff. I love that we are to the point of being okay with basically paying players so much that the best player in the nation will go play in the SWAC.
Jackson State 45, South Carolina State 13
South Carolina State 31, Jackson State 10 – FAILURE
PUBG Mobile New Mexico Bowl
UTEP vs. Fresno State – Fornite’s competitor got a bowl game? That’s real. I believe Fresno State was ranked at one point and is better than UTEP. There’s your analysis.
Fresno State 24, UTEP 10
Fresno State 31, UTEP 24 – SUCCESS!
Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl
UAB vs. BYU – So many options for t-shirt and other designs when all you have is 6 letters between the two teams. BYU is good. Not sure how UAB got matched up with them.
BYU 38, UAB 17
UAB 31, BYU 28 – FAILURE
LendingTree Bowl
Eastern Michigan vs. Liberty – Malik Willis is really good against teams like Eastern Michigan.
Liberty 44, Eastern Michigan 34
Liberty 56, Eastern Michigan 20 – SUCCESS!
Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl pres. by Stifel
Utah State vs. Oregon State – This is the made up bowl because they had too many bowl eligible teams. At first I was like no way Jimmy Kimmel is actually putting up money to sponsor this game. Then I noticed the “pres. by Stifel.” This is an ABC/ESPN marketing stunt.
Utah State 31, Oregon State 21
Utah State 24, Oregon State 13 – SUCCESS!
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Louisana-Lafayette vs. Marshall – The Ragin’ Cajuns lost their coach to Florida. Is that an upgrade? One team in this bowl is 12-1. One team is 7-5. Not sure how this one happened.
Louisiana-Lafayette 45, Marshall 20
Louisiana-Lafayette 36, Marshall 21 – SUCCESS!
12/20
Myrtle Beach Bowl Presented by TaxAct
Old Dominion vs. Tulsa – I will never say there are too many bowl games, but this is one of those examples where I’m like “I mean, I’m glad there’s something to watch on tv” and then five minutes later I’m like “well those leaves do need raking.”
Tulsa 21, Old Dominion 13
Tulsa 30, Old Dominion 17 – SUCCESS!
12/21
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Kent State vs. Wyoming – The most delicious bowl name is back and I fully expect people from Wyoming to be handle to the conditions of Idaho over the school that Nick Saban attended.
Wyoming 28, Kent State 17
Wyoming 52, Kent State 38 – SUCCESS!
Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl
UT-San Antonio vs. San Diego State – This might actually be a good one. Both teams were ranked too high because they had good records in bad conferences. I guess we’ll get to see who reigns supreme: the Mountain West or Conference USA.
San Diego State 34, UT-San Antonio 13
San Diego State 38, UT-San Antonio 24 – SUCCESS!
12/22
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
Missouri vs. Army – Army just lost to 3-win Navy. Missouri is mediocre. They have better players than Army, but never bet against the Army after a tough defeat.
Army 16, Missouri 14
Army 24, Missouri 22 – SUCCESS!
12/23
Frisco Football Classic
North Texas vs. Miami (OH) – A 6-6 bowl in Frisco, TX two days before Christmas. Who doesn’t love bowl games?! Wait, they called this one a classic.
Miami (OH) 31, North Texas 17
Miami (OH) 27, North Texas 14 – SUCCESS!
Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl
UCF vs. Florida – Dan Mullen somehow beat Auburn in the Swamp two years ago. Gus Malzahn was the Auburn head coach. Now Gus is at UCF and Dan Mullen is gone from Florida. UCF had no turnover and loves to beat bigger teams in games that don’t matter. The Knights will win.
UCF 21, Florida 10
UCF 29, Florida 17 – SUCCESS!
Now that I’ve picked the bowls, you should go join the bowl pick’em. Just make sure you have them in prior to each game, but go ahead and do them all so you don’t have to worry about it. There’s prizes and stuff.
