Are you ready to be “bowled over?” Because the 2013-14 college football bowl season is ready to oblige …
So stock up on chips, dip and brewskis. Trade out those remote control batteries. Flip the cushions on your sofa. And make sure your twitter account is fired up and ready to drop social media “smack bombs” on your fellow football trash talkers (which reminds us … follow our notoriously smackful founding editor here).
What’s up with this postseason? Well, for the first time in its seven-year run of Bowl Championship Series domination, the Southeastern Conference backed into this year’s big game – with Auburn earning its title shot by virtue of Ohio State’s loss to Michigan State in the Big Ten championship.
A year after posting a 3-9 record (including an 0-8 mark in SEC play), Auburn is one game away from closing out the BCS era with an eighth straight SEC title – although the Tigers (12-1, 7-1 SEC) are heavy underdogs against Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston and the undefeated Florida State Seminoles.
For those of you keeping score at home, Florida State (13-0, 8-0 ACC) opened the season ranked No. 11 according to the Associated Press and No. 12 according to the USA Today/ Coaches’ poll. In other words they weren’t supposed to compete for the title.
Of course no one knew just how good Winston – a 6-foot-4, 228-pound redshirt freshman from Bessemer, Alabama – was going to be. Through thirteen games, Winston has thrown for 3,820 yards and 38 touchdowns – and rushed for nearly 200 yards and another four touchdowns. He’s completed an impressive 67.9 percent of his passes and only thrown 10 interceptions.
Not bad …
Auburn? Not only were the Tigers unranked heading into 2013 – they weren’t even in the “others receiving votes” section of either major poll. Three months later, though, AP Coach of the Year Gus Malzahn has his troops one game away from what would be the most unlikely national championship in recent memory.
How unlikely? Watch here and here.
In addition to the final BCS national championship game (FBS moves to a four-team playoff next year) there are a ton of other big games on tap – including five Top 15 match-ups.
This website has been outspoken in its coverage leading up to the bowl season – chronicling the dominance of the SEC against other major conferences (here and here). We also penned a column equating the elevation of unworthy teams to BCS bowls to government welfare.
This year’s bowl lineup features thirty five games … five of which are already in the books. Below you’ll find the results of those games and a complete schedule for the rest of the bowl season – including television times, points spreads and our founding editor’s predictions (in red). We’ve also included a conference record tabulation at the end of the post so you can keep track of how your (most and least) favorite conferences are faring.
Enjoy …
Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl
No. 25 Southern California – 45
(10-4, 6-3 PAC 12)
No. 20 Fresno State – 20
(11-2, 7-1 Mountain West)
Beef O’ Brady’s Bowl
East Carolina – 37
(10-3, 6-2 Conference USA)
Ohio – 20
(7-6, 4-4 MAC)
R+L Carriers Bowl
Louisiana Lafayette – 24
(9-4, 5-2 Sun Belt)
Tulane – 21
(7-6, 5-3 Conference USA)
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
San Diego State – 49
(8-5, 6-2 Mountain West)
Buffalo – 24
(8-5, 6-2 MAC)
Gildan New Mexico Bowl
Colorado State – 48
(8-6, 5-3 Mountain West)
Washington State – 45
(6-7, 4-5 PAC 12)
Sheraton Hawaii Bowl
Oregon State – 38
(7-6, 4-5 PAC 12)
Boise State – 23
(8-5, 6-2 Mountain West)
Line: Beavers by 3
#FITSPick: Boise State 44 Oregon State 38
Little Caeser’s Bowl
Pittsburgh – 30
(6-6, 3-5 ACC)
Bowling Green – 27
(10-3, 7-1 MAC)
Line: Falcons by 4.5
#FITSPick: Bowling Green 49 Pitt 31
S.D. County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl
Utah State – 21
(9-5, 7-1 Mountain West)
No. 23 Northern Illinois -14
(12-2, 8-0 MAC)
Line: Huskies by 1.5
#FITSPick: Northern Illinois 38 Utah State 35
Military Bowl
Marshall – 31
(10-4, 7-1 Conference USA)
Maryland – 20
(7-6, 3-5 ACC)
Line: Herd by 2.5
#FITSPick: Marshall 31 Maryland 20
Texas Bowl
Syracuse – 21
(7-6, 4-4 ACC)
Minnesota – 17
(8-5, 4-4 Big Ten)
Line: Gophers by 4
#FITSPick: Minnesota 23 Syracuse 17
Fight Hunger Bowl
Washington – 31
(9-4, 5-4 PAC 12)
Brigham Young – 16
(8-5) *Independent
Line: Huskies by 3
#FITSPick: BYU 33 Washington 24
New Era Pinstripe Bowl
Notre Dame – 29
(9-4) *Independent
Rutgers – 16
(6-7, 3-5 American)
Kickoff: 12:00 p.m. EST (ESPN)
Line: Irish by 14
#FITSPick: Notre Dame 37 Rutgers 13
Belk Bowl
North Carolina – 39
(7-6, 4-4 ACC)
Cincinnati – 17
(9-4, 6-2 American)
Line: Tar Heels by 2.5
#FITSPick: Cincinnati 38 North Carolina 30
Russell Athletic Bowl
No. 18 Louisville – 36
(12-1, 7-1 American)
Miami – 9
(9-4, 5-3 ACC)
Line: Cardinals by 3
#FITSPick: Louisville 40 Miami 20
Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl
Kansas State – 31
(8-5, 5-4 Big 12)
Michigan – 14
(7-6, 3-5 Big Ten)
Kickoff: 10:15 p.m. EST (ESPN)
Line: Wildcats by 4.5
#FITSPick: Michigan 35 Kansas State 28
Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl
Navy – 24
(9-4) *Independent
Middle Tennessee – 6
(8-5, 6-2 Conference USA)
Line: Midshipmen by 6
#FITSPick: Navy 31, Middle Tennessee 21
Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl
Ole Miss – 25
(8-5, 3-5 SEC)
Georgia Tech – 17
(7-6, 5-3 ACC)
Line: Rebels by 3
#FITSPick: Ole Miss 34 Georgia Tech 20
Valero Alamo Bowl
No. 10 Oregon – 30
(11-2, 7-2 PAC 12)
Texas – 7
(8-5, 7-2 Big 12)
Line: Ducks by 13.5
#FITSPick: Texas 37 Oregon 35
National University Holiday Bowl
Texas Tech – 37
(8-5, 4-5 Big 12)
No. 14 Arizona State – 23
(10-4, 8-1 PAC 12)
Line: Sun Devils by 14
#FITSPick: Texas Tech 45 ASU 42
AdvoCare V100 Bowl
Arizona – 42
(8-5, 4-5 PAC 12)
Boston College – 19
(7-6, 4-4 ACC)
Line: Wildcats by 7.5
#FITSPick: Arizona 35 Boston College 17
Hyundai Sun Bowl
No. 17 UCLA – 42
(10-3, 6-3 PAC 12)
Virginia Tech – 12
(8-5, 5-3 ACC)
Line: Bruins by 7
#FITSPick: Virginia Tech 31 UCLA 30
AutoZone Liberty Bowl
Mississippi State – 44
(7-6, 3-5 SEC)
Rice – 7
(10-4, 7-1 Conference USA)
Line: Bulldogs by 7
#FITSPick: Mississippi State 24 Rice 14
Chick-Fil-A Bowl
No. 21 Texas A&M – 52
(9-4, 4-4 SEC)
No. 24 Duke – 48
(10-4, 6-2 ACC)
Line: Aggies by 11.5
#FITSPick: Texas A&M 44 Duke 21
Taxslayer.com Gator Bowl (Jan. 1 – Jacksonville)
No. 22 Georgia
(8-4, 5-3 SEC)
Nebraska
(8-4, 5-3 Big 10)
Kickoff: 12:00 p.m. EST (ESPN2)
Line: Bulldogs by 9
#FITSPick: Georgia 31 Nebraska 28
Heart of Dallas Bowl (Jan. 1 – Dallas)
North Texas
(8-4, 6-2 Conference USA)
UNLV
(7-5, 5-3 Mountain West)
Kickoff: 12:00 p.m. EST (ESPNU)
Line: Mean Green by 6.5
#FITSPick: North Texas 45 UNLV 30
Outback Bowl (Jan. 1 – Tampa)
No. 16 LSU
(9-3, 5-3 SEC)
Iowa
(8-4, 5-3 Big 10)
Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. EST (ESPN)
Line: Tigers by 7
#FITSPick: LSU 45 Iowa 28
Capital One Bowl (Jan. 1 – Orlando)
No. 9 South Carolina
(10-2, 6-2 SEC)
No. 19 Wisconsin
(9-3, 6-2 Big Ten)
Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. EST (ABC)
Line: Badgers by 1.5
#FITSPick: South Carolina 41 Wisconsin 33
Rose Bowl (Jan. 1 – Pasadena)
No. 5 Stanford
(11-2, 7-2 PAC 12)
No. 4 Michigan State
(12-1, 8-0 Big 10)
Kickoff: 5:00 p.m. EST (ESPN)
Line: Cardinal by 5.5
#FITSPick: MSU 26 Stanford 24
Tostitos Fiesta Bowl (Jan. 1 – Glendale)
No. 15 Central Florida
(11-1, 8-0 American)
No. 6 Baylor
(11-1, 8-1 Big 12)
Kickoff: 8:30 p.m. EST (ESPN)
Line: Bears by 16.5
#FITSPick: UCF 33 Baylor 30
AllState Sugar Bowl (Jan. 2 – New Orleans)
No. 11 Oklahoma
(10-2, 7-2 Big 12)
No. 3 Alabama
(11-1, 7-1 SEC)
Kickoff: 8:30 p.m. EST (ESPN)
Line: Tide by 15
#FITSPick: Alabama 52 Oklahoma 21
AT&T Cotton Bowl (Jan. 3 – Arlington)
No. 13 Oklahoma State
(10-2, 7-2 Big 12)
No. 8 Missouri
(11-2, 7-1 SEC)
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. EST (FOX)
Line: Tigers by 1
#FITSPick: Missouri 41 OSU 38
Discover Orange Bowl (Jan. 3 – Miami)
No. 12 Clemson
(10-2, 7-1 ACC)
No. 7 Ohio State
(12-1, 8-0 Big Ten)
Kickoff: 8:30 p.m. EST (ESPN)
Line: Buckeyes by 2.5
#FITSPick: Clemson 38 Ohio State 24
BBVA Compass Bowl (Jan. 4 – Birmingham)
Vanderbilt
(8-4, 4-4 SEC)
Houston
(8-4, 5-3 American)
Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. EST (ESPN)
Line: Commodores by 2.5
#FITSPick: Vanderbilt 27 Houston 16
GoDaddy Bowl (Jan. 5 – Mobile)
Arkansas State
(7-5, 5-2 Sun Belt)
Ball State
(10-2, 7-1 MAC)
Kickoff: 9:00 p.m. EST (ESPN)
Line: Cardinals by 7.5
#FITSPick: Ball State 32 Arkansas State 20
BCS National Championship Game (Jan. 6 – Pasadena)
No. 1 Florida State
(13-0, 8-0 ACC)
No. 2 Auburn
(12-1, 7-1 SEC)
Kickoff: 8:30 p.m. EST (ESPN)
Line: Seminoles by 8.5
#FITSPick: FSU 35 Auburn 30
CURRENT CONFERENCE STANDINGS
SEC: 3-0
Sun Belt: 1-0
Pac 12: 6-2
Big 12: 2-1
FBS Independents: 2-1
Mountain West: 3-2
Conference USA: 2-3
ACC: 3-6
American: 1-2
Big Ten: 0-2
MAC: 0-4
#FITSPICK RECORD
9-9
28 comments
Merry Christmas everyone…………..WAR EAGLE.
Merry Christmas Bogart and WDE! Must be tuff living around Athens.
While here, let me also wish Big Fuckin’ T, probably the biggest redneck and most picked upon Gamecock, a merry Christmas. May there be bass under all your lilly pads.
Lol! I would also like to extend the merriest of Christmas cheer to that fuck as well.
When you’re hated by liberals, Clemson fans (and Auburn if you are) …I consider it a very distinguished honor. Because I find you repulsive and dangerous, aside from you being stupid.
I’d much rather be assailed by the most disgusting, than be FITS, and loved by you because he walks in lockstep w/ the ignorant masses.
We still love ya! Merry Christmas, Hoss!!
I find you repulsive and dangerous, aside from you being stupid.
Back at you, Sugartits.
Merry Christmas!!
“When you’re hated by liberals, Miracle Whip fans (and Blue Plate Mayo if you are) …I
consider it a very distinguished honor. Because I find you repulsive
and dangerous, aside from you being stupid.”
Does this make any more sense than what you said?
About as much sense if you would have said something you tried to create w/ your mind…
That asshat gives new meaning to the word “creative writting”! Maybe it takes the genius of Limbaugh and Beck to understand what the fuck he’s espousing, while the rest of us either consider him dipship stupid, or a gifted comic. Oh, fuck me…he’s a damn fool.
When it comes to who has the most beautiful young women: Auburn and Alabama are forever tied.
yes for second behind Ole Miss.
TRUTH
Third –
I find myself up at the Russell House for the start of soroity rush every year for some odd reason. No, I’m not a dirty old man – though I’d volunteer for the position…
Carolina Girls are simply the finest in the world as evidenced by the song written by that most famous of song writing Generals; General Johnson and the Chairmen of the Board:
CAROLINA GIRLS
YOU’RE SO FINE GIRL, YOU’RE ONE OF A KIND SWEET CAROLINA GIRLS
CAROLINA GIRLS (CAROLINA GIRLS) SWEET SOUTHERN PEARLS
YOU’RE SURE ENOUGH TUFF GIRL, I CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF SWEET CAROLINA GIRLS
I LOVE THE WAY YOU WALK (WALK THAT WALK) I LOVE THE WAY YOU TALK (TALK THAT TALK) YOU’RE SO FINE GIRL, YOU’RE ONE OF A KIND SWEET CAROLINA GIRLS
CAROLINA GIRLS (CAROLINA GIRLS) BEST IN THE WORLD (CAROLINA GIRLS)
YOU’RE SO FINE GIRL, YOU’RE ONE OF A KIND SWEET CAROLINA GIRLS
I’m not a dirty old man…
Don’t sell yourself short, Colonel.
*Smiles*
Merry Christmas everyone………………WAR CHANT!
Merry Christmas, all! I won’t be around the computer much the next couple of days so I wish all of you a safe and very happy Holiday Season!
Merry Christmas everyone from a Gamecock fan. Be safe and have a great holiday season and a successful 2014. Damn, I have to go back to work on Thursday.
Um, let me just say Merry Christmas first, and second I hope who ever you pull for in this bowl season wins. 3rd that girl in the picture is pretty, so to her I also say Happy New Year, and I wish I were near you at midnight.
Mr Folks, I have never called you out on anything in any story you have posted on your site, but there is an inaccuracy in this story. Jameis Winston is from Hueytown, Alabama, not Bessemer… I can attest as to such, being that I am probably only the person you have ever met from Hueytown, Alabama.
Bo Jackson is from Bessemer. NASCAR’s Allison’s (Bobby, Donnie, Davie, and Clifford) were from Hueytown, also.
FITS is severely challenged by so many fundamental deficiencies, who really cares about a slight factual screw up?
Not to mention: Because Winston is from Alabama, no matter which town, lets hope it means he’s extra motivated to Kick Auburn’s pretender @$$…
Florida State’s official media guide lists Winston as being from Bessemer, Alabama. If you have a source for your contention, feel free to send it our way …
Aside from hoping for a BIG SC win, I hope Clemson and Auburn get STOMPED!!!!!…That would make my bowl season GREAT!!!!…
FITS, like Teddy Heffner, K-Mac and Cary Rich, always desperately pulls for Clemson….It’s a sign of a punch-drunk, cliché Columbia media…that cannot seem to understand that Clemson is a bunch of Chumps vs anyone except D-II level competition…
At least FITS has figured out that he looks stupid by picking against SC…but that scares me, because FITS, like Teddy, K-Mac and Rich, are usually so wrong, it may hurt SC.
Good that you’re pulling for the ACC! I knew you’d come around sometime.
PS Biggot: How those Lithium gel caps working for you? If we need to, we can up the dosage. A case as severe as yours may not respond to normal dosages.
Do you know how tired and un-original you are w/ the jokes about meds…???..Mental midgets have been trying to attack me w/ that lame crap for years, because you have nothing of substance (because most of you know I’m right)….
Of course that figures: You’re either a Tater or an Auburn fan. Both of you are clichés . You cheat to win…or become losers….then do it all over again…
But –but that would make you a dirty, liberal Buckeye fan!
Will BigT/GrandTango survive this paradox? Tune in next time. Same bat time; same bat channel.
I have a Facebook and Twitter post ready to go out for a prediction in the Ohio State-Clemson game.
Nice pick on the Maryland-Marshall game, FITS.