2024-25 NCAA Bowl Games - January 2-4
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Dec. 31 Bowls; CFP Quarterfinals
Thursday, January 2
Gator Bowl
Surely, Ole Miss deserves favoritism, but the Blue Devils weren't that bad, finishing 9-3 with a 5-3 mark in the ACC. Their worst showing was a 53-31 loss at Miami, but that was when the Hurricanes were 9-0 and looking like the ACC champion. Still, Duke's pass defense must be pretty horrid.
The Rebels were supposed to have a potent, explosive offense, but it often didn't show up. In their eight SEC games, they only tallied 28 or more once. And, they're weird. They beat Georgia, but lost to Kentucky.
Gimme the points.
Coin Flip: Duke
Fearless Rick's Pick: Rebels 28 Blue Devils 23
First Responder Bowl
The Mean Green of North Texas showed true grit, whipping Temple, 24-17, in their season finale to become bowl eligible. Those five losses, BTW, were to Memphis, Tulane, Army, UTSA, and East Carolina, all bowl teams. The other was to Texas Tech (they got splattered, 66-21).
The Bobcats went 7-5 on the season and 5-3 in conference (Sun Belt). Sometimes they play defense, like in their early-season 49-10 win over UTSA. But sometimes not, witness the 52-44 loss to Georgia State.
Should be plenty of scoring in this game.
Coin Flip: Texas State
Fearless Rick's Pick: Bobcats 40 Mean Green 31
Even though the Hokies were 6-6, they were quite competitive, even in defeat, losing to Rutgers by three, Miami by four, Syracuse, 38-31, Clemson by 10, and Duke by a field goal. So, The Goldies almost upset Penn State and the Hokies almost upset Miami. Should be about even.
Coin Flip: Virginia Tech
Fearless Rick's Pick: Hokies 24 Golden Gophers 23
Bahamas Bowl
Liberty was 8-3 (5-3 in Conference USA) and their worst loss was 31-21 to Jacksonville State. The Flames can score well and they do play defense.
Coin Flip: Buffalo
Fearless Rick's Pick: Flames 38 Bulls 26
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Sports Home
Results: Rick: 3-5; Flip: 2-6
Cumulative: Rick: 111-138; Flip: 113-136
8:00 pm Duke vs. 14 Ole Miss (-17, 50) (ESPN) - It just goes against everything seen and heard this bowl season to give any team 17 points.
Friday, January 3
4:00 pm North Texas vs. Texas State (-14, 61.5) (ESPN) - Seriously, is anybody going to this game?
Duke's Mayo Bowl Bowl
7:30 pm Minnesota (-8.5, 42.5) vs. Virginia Tech (ESPN) - Minnesota was lights out mid-season, winning four straight, but tailed off at the end of the season, losing to Rutgers (26-19) and Penn State (26-25) before closing out with a win over rival Wisconsin, 24-7. The Gophers proved to be a very solid football team.
Saturday, January 4
11:00 am Buffalo (-3, 51) vs. Liberty (ESPN) - Buffalo went 8-4 overall and 6-2 in the MAC, falling just short of making the championship game. They had some bad beats, like 38-0 against Missouri, 47-3, to UConn, and 47-16 against Ohio, the conference champs. They score in bunches, don't play much defense.
