Today is a tasty appetizer to tomorrow's main course, and there are quite a few big names involved in action.
A couple of young teams building for next year -- North Carolina and USC -- have a chance to impress, while a pair of G5 teams look to end the season on a high note by upsetting a Power 5 foe.
MILITARY BOWL (12 p.m., Annapolis, Md.)
North Carolina (6-6) vs Temple (8-4)
WHY TO WATCH: There wasn't a ton of expectation for UNC in Mack Brown's return to Chapel Hill, so getting to a bowl game was a big time accomplishment -- especially with one of the youngest teams in college football. Freshman QB Sam Howell flashed big time potential and looks to be a nice building block for the Tar Heels. Temple was solid under first year coach Rod Carey, playing physical on defense and showing some explosiveness on offense. This could be one of the more entertaining non-NY6/CFP contests.
BOWL RECORDS: North Carolina 14-19, Temple 3-5
BETTING NUMBERS: North Carolina -5, Total 53.5
PINSTRIPE BOWL (3:20 p.m., New York City)
Michigan State (6-6) vs Wake Forest (8-4)
WHY TO WATCH: Nothing says bowl season like Yankee Stadium, right? It will be interesting to see how many fans show up to this one as the East Coast is largely the domain of pro sports. Michigan State was a disappointment this season, and you have to wonder if the time has come for MSU to move on from Mark Dantonio. Wake Forest has a top notch offense, led by QB Jamie Newman and WR Sage Surratt, but will be challenged by a Spartans D that was a top 15 unit for much of the 2019 season. Sparty has never beaten a current ACC in a bowl game, and has scored fewer than 7 points in two of their last three postseason appearances, while Wake has won five of its last six bowl games, scoring 34 or more in its last three.
BOWL RECORDS: Michigan State 12-16, Wake Forest 9-4
BETTING NUMBERS: Michigan State -3.5, Total 49.5
TEXAS BOWL (6:45 p.m., Houston)
Oklahoma State (8-4) vs Texas A&M (7-5)
WHY TO WATCH: This one could be a lot of fun as two potentially explosive offenses tangle in Texas. The Cowboys will go as far as RB Chuba Hubbard can carry them, and that could be far since he was one of the top rushers in all of college football. The Aggies showed flashes this season but could not beat the best teams on its schedule. A number of Aggies have decided to declare for the NFL, so desire could be a question mark. OSU has won its last three bowl games, scoring at least 30 points in all of them. The Aggies are 5-1 in bowl games against the Big 12, but have won just once in their last four trips to the postseason.
BOWL RECORDS: Oklahoma State 19-10, Texas A&M 18-22
BETTING NUMBERS: Texas A&M -7, Total 53.5
HOLIDAY BOWL (8 p.m., San Diego)
USC (8-4) vs Iowa (9-3)
WHY TO WATCH: Always among the more fun contests, this Big Ten/Pac 12 showdown will match USC's wide open offense against Iowa's stifling defense. The Trojans will be looking to make a statement toward 2020 and should be ready to go, while the Hawkeyes have a veteran team that lacks explosiveness on offense but can shut down the best offenses with difference-makers at each level on defense. USC has played in this game twice in the last five seasons, beating Nebraska in 2014 and losing narrowly to Wisconsin the following year. Iowa is just 2-5 in its last seven bowl games, and has gone just 2-7 vs the Pac-12 in the postseason. Iowa is 2-0-1 in three previous Holiday Bowl appearances.
BOWL RECORDS: USC 34-18, Iowa 16-15-1
BETTING NUMBERS: Iowa -2, Total 52.5
CHEEZ-IT BOWL (10:15 p.m., Phoenix)
Air Force (10-2) vs Washington State (6-6)
WHY TO WATCH: Fascinating showdown between offenses that are as different as two can be. Air Force wants to hold the football and grind opponents down with its triple option -- run ably by Donnie Hammond -- and play opportunistic defense. Wazzu is coached by Mike Leach, which means Anthony Gordon will be throwing the football all night long. There should be a lot of points here as both teams were top 25 nationally in scoring. Air Force has won two of its last three bowl games but is just 1-4 vs the Pac 12 in the postseason. Wazzu has dropped three of its last five bowl games, including a loss to Mountain West member Colorado State in the 2013 New Mexico Bowl.
BOWL RECORDS: Air Force 12-13-1, Washington State 8-7
BETTING NUMBERS: Air Force -3, Total 68.5
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