If you were able to stay up for it, free football was delivered on Christmas Day before Santa got there.
The Hawai’i Bowl was a thriller, going five extra rounds beyond regulation and setting the record for most overtime sessions in bowl game history.
As we look towards the post-Christmas bowl schedule, things will begin to get busy over the next few days. In fact, December 26-28 marks the busiest three day stretch of Bowl Mania this season.
Let’s take a look at the games taking place on Boxing Day.
GameAbove Sports Bowl
Pittsburgh vs. Toledo (Thursday, 2 PM ET – ESPN)
The Panthers really like going to Detroit for the postseason – this will be Pitt’s third trip to Ford Field since 2013 for a bowl game. The ACC participant is 2-0 against MAC teams all-time in the game, but will essentially be playing a road game against Toledo, which is located just over an hour from the Motor City. The Panthers have also struggled mightily to stop the pass this season, and Toledo boasts the MAC’s most potent passing attack behind senior Tucker Gleason. Expect Toledo to find some success against the Power conference defense, though Pitt’s chances in this game really hinge on the quarterback situation. If Eli Holstein plays, the Panthers will still be in good position to win this game. If he doesn’t, a walk-on will start for Pat Narduzzi’s sqauad.
Holstein had been struggling with injuries the last quarter of the regular season, missing Pitt’s final two games. The entire squad has been banged up, and the Panthers’ five game losing skid following a surprise 7-0 start to the season can be blamed at least in some part on the health of the team. Given Coach Narduzzi’s confidence that the majority of the team will suit up if healthy, I like the chances that the Panthers are focused heading into this one. While the Rockets will certainly have their moments through the air, I think the size and talent of their ACC opponent will ultimately be too much to overcome in the end. It might be close, but the Panthers will get the job done and move to 3-0 in this bowl game.
My Pick: 28-24 Pittsburgh
Bowl Mania Confidence: 37 points
Rate Bowl
Kansas State vs. Rutgers (Thursday, 5:30 PM ET – ESPN)
Arguably, this is the most interesting bowl matchup to occur at this point in the postseason. Not only is it the first non-Playoff matchup between Power conference opponents, but both the Wildcats and Scarlet Knights were being thrown around as dark horse Playoff candidates at various points in the season. Unfortunately, rough patches in the midseason (Rutgers) and late regular season (Kansas State) derailed those dreams, but these are still two programs with a coaching staff that should have its squad ready for this bowl game.
The chess match between Greg Schiano and Chris Klieman alone should be worth the watch. Both coaches employ a run-first philosophy, and the strength of both offenses reflects this. However, DJ Giddens has already confirmed that he will miss this game, and the status of Kyle Monangai is up in the air at the time of writing. Given his injury scares this season, it seems likely that the Rutgers star will opt out to protect his health. Therefore, both sides will need production from lesser proven commodities at the running back position. Kansas State will still benefit from the services of quarterback Avery Johnson, and for this reason the Wildcats are the favorite to come away victorious. Without Giddens his running ability may be contained, but Johnson has shown the ability to torch opposing defenses with his arm and Rutgers has struggled in this area. I expect Mr. Sunshine and his glorious hair to come away as the MVP of this game.
My Pick: 34-24 Kansas State
Bowl Mania Confidence: 34 points
68 Ventures Bowl
Arkansas State vs. Bowling Green (Thursday, 9 PM ET – ESPN)
The Sun Belt and MAC will clash in the Boxing Day nightcap, and although the Sun Belt has dominated postseason head-to-head meetings recently, Bowling Green has an excellent opportunity to turn the tide. Although the Falcons will be without their top running back Terion Stewart, who announced he will transfer to Virginia Tech, there is still plenty of offensive firepower suiting up for Bowling Green in this game. Arkansas State’s porous defense will likely have trouble stopping an onslaught of downfield passes unless it can force turnovers and manufacture points from those opportunities.
With Stewart out, the Bowling Green offense will run through Connor Bazelak and his arm. Bazelak didn’t put up huge numbers this season, but has a good arm and can take advantage of the Arkansas State secondary. Bazelak also has a stud to throw to in tight end Harold Fannin Jr., who will be the most talented player on the field in this game. The 6’4” 230 pound Fannin was the MAC’s Player of the Year and needs just 11 yards to break the single-season record in FBS for receiving yards by a tight end. Very few teams this season had the personnel to match up with Fannin’s unique skills and that will remain true against the Red Wolves. Expect Bowling Green to have success through the air and as long as the defense can contain Jaylen Raynor in the pocket, Arkansas State to struggle to keep up.
My Pick: 31-14 Bowling Green
Bowl Mania Confidence: 4 points
