Sneaker Report Predicts College Bowl Results

Auburn/Alabama
Image via USA Today

The 2013 College Bowl Games officially kick off Saturday at 2PM, and this year’s lineup promises to be one of the most thrilling we’ve seen in awhile.

For the National Championship on January 6, Heisman winner Jameis Winston and his Florida State Seminoles will be taking on Heisman contender Tre Mason and the Auburn Tigers. The next can’t-miss game is No. 4 Michigan State and No. 5 Stanford, a match-up that will likely be decided on defense. The Discover Orange Bowl will pit No. 7 Ohio State against No. 12 Clemson in a Big Ten-ACC clash on January 3. Also on the 3rd, No. 8 Missouri meets No. 13 Oklahoma State for the AT&T Cotton Bowl.

Chances are, you’ve already checked out the rest of the lineup. The question is, who’s going to come out on top in some of the year’s biggest college football games? Find out as Sneaker Report Predicts College Bowl Results.

Riley Jones is a freelance writer from Charlottesville, VA and a contributor to Sneaker Report. With an unshakable affinity for basketball and all things ’90s, he can be found on Twitter @rchrstphr.

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Notre Dame
Image via USA Today

New Era Pinstripe Bowl

Rutgers vs. Notre Dame
December 28

Kicking off from the Bronx, there won’t be any on-field fitted caps in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl, just grueling helmet-to-helmet action. Let’s get right down to it: neither of these teams had a very impressive season.  There’s one thing you can’t take away from them though, and that’s their rabid fan bases. Even if this game is ugly, it’ll be worth watching as both teams are evenly matched. However, Notre Dame has defeated Rutgers every time they’ve played for over 90 years, and we’re betting on history here. Notre Dame wins a close battle.

Oregon
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Valero Alamo Bowl

Oregon vs. Texas
December 30

Case McCoy will be playing his last game as a Longhorn, which will add some fuel to Texas’ fire, but it’s still going to be hard for them to stop No. 10 Oregon. Expect to see Marcus Mariota come up big, and this one likely won’t be as close as their 35-30 meeting at the 2000 Holiday Bowl. Oregon wins big here.

Texas A&M
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Chik-fil-A Bowl

Duke vs. Texas A&M
December 31

Admit it, you didn’t think the Blue Devils would make it this far. While Duke has put together an incredible season, they’re going up against Johnny Manziel on what is likely his final game with the Aggies. As amazing as it would be to see Duke pull it off, we’re sticking with Johnny Football. Texas A&M in a close one.

LSU
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Outback Bowl

LSU vs. Iowa
January 1

Improving from 4-8 in 2012 to 8-4 this season, Iowa has been another one of the year’s best redemption stories. But can they take down No. 16 LSU? The Tigers come into the Outback Bowl without starting QB Zach Mattenbeger, and Iowa’s defense is a force to be reckoned with. Still, LSU is just too strong offensively. We’re taking LSU in a close, close game.

South Carolina
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Capital One Bowl

Wisconsin vs. South Carolina
January 1

This New Years’ Day meeting promises to be a grueling one. South Carolina’s defense has played a large part in their No. 9 spot and 10-2 record, but Wisconsin is a bigger threat than many might realize. Going into the Bowl Game, South Carolina is on a smoking hot 5-win streak, while Wisconsin had their six-game streak deflated to end the season. Expect some of that momentum to carry over here, and look for South Carolina to take the W.

Stanford
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Rose Bowl

Stanford vs. Michigan State
January 1

As No. 5 Stanford takes on No. 4 Michigan State, you can probably expect to see some teeth fly out. This is going to be one of those slow-burning, grind-it-out types of battles, with both teams trying to win the game with defense. The Grandaddy of Them All will be close all the way to the end, but we’ll take Stanford.

Baylor
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Tostitos Fiesta Bowl

UCF vs. Baylor
January 1

Both No. 15 UCF and No. 6 Baylor come into the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl having only lost one game this season, and UCF went undefeated in their American Conference. The Knights have been a thrill to watch, but now they’re up against one of the nation’s absolute best teams in Baylor. You can count on Bryce Petty and Antwan Goodley connecting on a handful of touchdowns as Baylor takes this one big.

Alabama
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Allstate Sugar Bowl

Oklahoma vs. Alabama
January 2

Oklahoma is a football powerhouse, but Alabama’s coming into this one off of a nearly flawless season. Will the Crimson Tide be able to bounce back after their recent loss to Auburn? We say yes, and here’s why. Oklahoma’s star QB Trevor Knight has been out of action for two weeks now, and Sooners head coach Bob Stoops has been quoted as saying Knight’s status is a game-time decision. With that in mind, if Knight does make it back, he’ll be a little rusty, and likely not at Bowl Game level. We’re sticking with the former No. 1 team in the nation, Alabama, to take this one.

Clemson
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Discover Orange Bowl

Clemson vs. Ohio State
January 3

There will be enough numbers on the board in this one to make Pusha T jealous. No. 7 Ohio State has got their offensive game on lock, but they’ll need to step it up on D if they want to contain the No. 12 Clemson Tigers. These two offensive machines meet on January 3, and we’re going against the grain and picking Clemson to win.

Missouri
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AT&T Cotton Bowl

Oklahoma State vs. Missouri
January 3

This should be one of the most exciting Bowl Games of all. No. 13 Oklahoma State and No. 8 Missouri are proven winners, but we think the Cowboys might stumble a bit in this one. The Oklahoma State defense simply isn’t going to be able to shut down Mizzou, so look for Missouri to take it.

Florida State
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BCS National Championship

Florida State vs. Auburn
January 6

The Rose Bowl is known as “the granddaddy of them all,” but let’s face it, it’s all about the National Championship game. If there’s one Bowl Game you absolutely can’t miss, it’s this clash between No. 2 Auburn and No. 1 Florida State for the AFCA National Championship Trophy. Auburn took it home in 2010, but the Seminoles are hungry for their first championship win since 1999. Auburn’s offense, led by Tre Mason, will give Florida State some major headaches, but we’re counting on the Heisman winner and his quad to pull through. Florida State in an absolute war.

Riley Jones is a freelance writer from Charlottesville, VA and a contributor to Sneaker Report. With an unshakable affinity for basketball and all things ’90s, he can be found on Twitter @rchrstphr.

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