Weekly Bowl preview: Dec. 17-21, 2024
Breaking down all the bowl games of the week so you know what to watch
Bowl season is upon us. The teams have spread across the nation for wacky matchups that are played solely because they can. Don’t you love college football? While there aren’t too many games to watch this week, we’ll still wet your tastebuds this season.
Which games should you care about? Let’s break down the whole week’s slate so you know what to watch and when. As a note, we're not going to get into Playoff games here. That article will come on Fridays until we crown a champion.
As always, all times are Eastern.
Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl - Dec. 17, 9 p.m.
Memphis (10-2) v. West Virginia (6-6) (ESPN)
Despite the records, this one is an interesting matchup. Memphis’s aging core is going to get one last send off with a chance to knock off a Power Four program. West Virginia will not have new returning head coach Rich Rodriguez on the sidelines for this game, so interim head coach Chad Scott will once again lead the program.
Worth a watch?: Definitely. Sure, the records are different but these teams both have some great offenses. I expect a barn burner here.
Boca Raton Bowl - Dec. 18, 5:30 p.m.
Western Kentucky (8-5) v. James Madison (8-4) (ESPN)
The records are close for two of the Group of Five’s better passing offenses, but things are different here than in last game. For one, both teams are slumping with Western Kentucky dropping the CUSA Championship to Jacksonville State last week and James Madison losing their last two. Throw in Western Kentucky losing quarterback Caden Veltkamp to the portal and you get what may turn into a lackluster game.
Worth a watch?: Monitor the score for this one. If it gets close, give it a watch.
Art of Sport LA Bowl - Dec. 28, 9 p.m.
California (6-6) v. 23 UNLV (10-3) (ESPN)
Cal had a great run behind the Woke Calgorithm to start the year, but their 6-6 record was, let’s say, expected. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza is in the portal, so Jadyn Ott will once again be the focal point. UNLV has lost head coach Barry Odom with Del Alexander leading the team in the bowl. Expect running early and often here.
Worth a watch?: I’d tune in. UNLV is the better team, but Jadyn Ott can make any game closer than it should be.
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl - Dec. 19, 7 p.m.
Georgia Southern (8-4) v. Sam Houston (9-3) (ESPN/ESPN+)
In terms of Group of Five matchups, this one should be good. Their records aren’t the gaudiest, but these are two solid programs heading in the right direction. Georgia Southern’s played some solid football this season behind the arm of quarterback J.C. French, while Sam Houston has been a revelation in Year 2 in the FBS. Too bad coach K.C. Keeler is off to Temple, of all places. Either way, the Bearkat defense should give Georgia Southern some fits.
Worth a watch?: Definitely. The Georgia Southern offense against Sam Houston’s defense will be a ton of fun.
Want to know the final rankings? What about this season’s award winners? Check them out below!:
StaffDNA Cure Bowl - Dec. 20, 12 p.m.
Ohio (10-3) v. Jacksonville State (9-4) (ABC/ESPN+)
Both teams have lost their head coach, with Ohio’s Tim Albin heading to Charlotte and Jacksonville State losing the aforementioned Rich Rod. Neither head man will be on the sidelines, so expect some Sicko-level chaos here. These are two great teams with conference championships, though. Even without their head coaches, strong running games and big-play potential will keep this interesting.
Worth a watch?: Lock in, this one’s going to be fun.
Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl - Dec. 20, 3:30 p.m.
Tulane (9-4) v. Florida (7-5) (ESPN/ESPN+)
Before the portal opened, this was my favorite game of the week (that honor moves to Ohio-Jacksonville State now). But Tulane lost Darian Mensah to Duke in the portal, so a great quarterback duel between him and D.J. Lagway is off the books. Oh, well. We’ll just enjoy the chess match between Florida head coach Billy Napier and Lagway against Tulane’s defense and Jon Sumrall.
Worth a watch?: For sure, even if it’s just for more D.J. Lagway action.
What I’m Reading:
Three-Point Stance by Tyler Schuster: Three-Point Stance is your favorite independent college football newsletter. Come for in-depth analysis and bold commentary, stay for the jokes and memes. An idea hatched after years of 12-hour days glued to the couch, Tyler Schuster puts his passion for the sport on full display, delivering big-picture ideas, weekly previews and gambling nuggets directly to your inbox.
An idea hatched after years of 12-hour days glued to the couch, Tyler Schuster puts his passion for the sport on full display, delivering big-picture ideas, weekly previews and gambling nuggets directly to your inbox.
Tailgators Setup by Brian Lennon, John Crimella, and Gary McDaniel: I’ll be a little selfish on this one and plug a great college football podcast that I was lucky enough to join a few weeks back to talk UEC and SID Sports! Brian, John and Gary are a ton of fun to listen to and break down the weekend to come in a very easy to digest and entertaining way. Be sure to tune into the Tailgators' Setup podcast and subscribe for more great content from them!
Split Zone Duo by Alex Kirshner, Steven Godfrey, and Richard Johnson: You can't beat Alex, Richard and Godfrey. They're on the front lines breaking news and creating the best content in the game. I 100 percent recommend SZD for anyone into college football and Steven Godfrey hating your team. They’re mostly a podcast publication, but sometimes being able to listen to three well-informed guys talking about college football is what you need in your life.
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