And just like that – it’s bowl season.
This Saturday features six bowl games. It all starts with the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl – SWAC champion Grambling State squaring off with MEAC champion North Carolina AT&T – on ABC at noon EST.
In FBS action, Conference USA is represented in four of Saturday’s five matchups – playing a Sun Belt opponent in three of the contests. If you’re looking for one game to zero in on, check out (25) Boise State vs. Oregon in the Las Vegas Bowl on ABC at 3:30pm EST.
What follows is the first of five viewing guides covering the wide swath of bowl action. It’s formatted chronologically, taking you game-by-game through the schedule.
It’s when to watch, what to watch for and who to watch doing it.
In the words of Eleanor Roosevelt, “It’s about to get real.”
Saturday, Dec. 16
R+L Carriers NEW ORLEANS BOWL
Troy (10-2, Sun Belt co-champions) vs. North Texas (9-4) – Sun Belt vs. C-USA – Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, La. – 1PM EST – ESPN
The Bowl
First year: 2001
Most appearances: Southern Miss (4-1)
Last year: Southern Miss 28 – UL-Lafayette 21
The Teams
Troy is 3-3 in bowl play. It beat Ohio 28-23 in last year’s Dollar General, also the Trojans’ first bowl appearance since 2010.
North Texas is 2-6 in bowl play. It lost 38-31 to Army in last season’s Heart of Dallas Bowl. Its most recent bowl victory was the 2013 Heart of Dallas, a 36-14 win over UNLV.
The Matchup
Troy and North Texas have met 10 times previously, most recently in 2012. The series dates to 2001, Troy leads 8-2. This is the first-ever meeting in the postseason.
Line: Troy -5.5
North Texas is No. 7 in the FBS in long plays from scrimmage, earning more than 10 yards on 227 snaps. This is a great matchup against a Troy defense that ranks No. 26 in yards per game and No. 14 vs. the run. The Mean Green’s biggest statistical weakness is rush defense, ranking No. 108 nationally and No. 13 of the 14 teams in the Sun Belt.
Players to Watch
Troy: senior running back Jordan Chunn (#38) (leads the team with 774 yards and 10 scores).
North Texas: sophomore quarterback Mason Fine (#6) (No. 12 in the FBS in TD passes), senior running back Jeffery Wilson (#3) (No. 20 in the FBS in rushing yards per game – status questionable due to a broken foot), senior kicker Trevor Moore (#30) (No. 4 in the FBS in field goal percentage).
AutoNation CURE BOWL
Western Kentucky (6-6) vs. Georgia State (6-5) – C-USA vs. Sun Belt – Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Fla. – 2:30PM EST – CBSSN
The Bowl
First year: 2015
Last year: Arkansas State 31 – UCF 13
The Teams
Western Kentucky is 3-1 in bowl play. It beat Memphis 51-31 in last season’s Boca Raton. Its only loss came in its very first outing, the 2012 Little Caesars, a 24-21 defeat to Central Michigan.
Georgia State is 0-1 in bowl play. Its only-ever FBS bowl action was the 2015 Cure, a 27-16 loss to San Jose State.
The Matchup
WKU and Georgia State have only met once previously, a regular-season game in 2013 in Atlanta. The Hilltoppers won 44-28.
Line: WKU -4.5
This is the battle of two potent passing attacks. Western Kentucky is ranked No. 9 in the FBS in pass offense while Georgia State is No. 31. On paper, the Hilltoppers have the advantage in defending the pass, ranked No. 36 nationally vs. the Panthers’ No. 92 mark. WKU has gained 340-plus yards through the air in each of its last seven outings.
Players to Watch
Western Kentucky: senior quarterback Mike White (#14) (No. 7 in the FBS in passing yards per game).
Georgia State: sophomore wide receiver Penny Hart (#18) (No. 8 in the FBS in receiving yards per game).
LAS VEGAS BOWL
(25) Boise State (10-3, MWC champions) vs. Oregon (7-5) – Mountain West vs. Pac-12 – Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas, Nev. – 3:30PM EST – ABC
The Bowl
First year: 1992
Most appearances: BYU (3-3)
Last year: San Diego State 34 – Houston 10
The Teams
Boise State is 11-6 in bowl play. It lost 31-12 to Baylor in last year’s Cactus Bowl. Its most recent bowl win over a Power school was the 2014 Fiesta, a 38-30 victory vs. (12) Arizona.
Oregon is 13-17 in bowl play. Its last bowl appearance was the 2015 Alamo, a 47-41 loss in triple overtime to (11) TCU. It hasn’t won a bowl game since beating (2) Florida State in the 2014 Rose, also a CFP Semifinal game.
The Matchup
Boise State has won both previous meetings – regular season games in 2008 and 2009.
Line: Oregon -5
The battle Royale in this one is Oregon’s No. 8 nationally ranked rushing attack taking on Boise State’s No. 20 ranked rush defense. Though BSU has allowed a paltry 125.85 ground yards per game this season, it will be intriguing to see how that number holds up vs. Duck team stacked with top-tier athletes. Keep in mind that while the Broncos are No. 9 in the FBS in turnover margin, Oregon is No. 130 (or dead last nationally) in penalties.
Players to Watch
Boise State: senior wide receiver Cedrick Wilson (#1) (No. 10 in the FBS in receiving yards per game), junior linebacker Leighton Vander Esch (#38) (No. 6 in the FBS in total tackles and No. 4 in solo tackles).
Oregon: senior running back Royce Freeman (#21) (No. 11 in the FBS in rushing yards per game – it’s up in the air whether he’ll participate in the bowl game or prep for the NFL draft).
Gildan NEW MEXICO BOWL
Marshall (7-5) vs. Colorado State (7-5) – C-USA vs. Mountain West – Branch Field at Dreamline Stadium, Albuquerque N.M. – 4:30PM EST – ESPN
The Bowl
First year: 2006
Most appearances: New Mexico (2-2)
Last year: New Mexico 23 – UTSA 20
The Teams
Marshall is 10-2 in bowl play. It beat UConn 16-10 in last season’s St. Petersburg – its fifth-consecutive bowl win. It hasn’t lost a bowl game since falling 32-14 to Cincinnati in the 2004 Ft. Worth.
Colorado State is 6-10 in bowl play. It lost 61-50 to Idaho in last season’s Famous Idaho Potato – its third consecutive bowl loss. It hasn’t won a bowl game since the 2013 New Mexico, a 48-45 victory over Washington State.
The Matchup
This is the first-ever meeting between Marshall and Colorado State. The Thundering Herd are 0-2 all-time vs. current Mountain West members while the Rams are 29-16 vs. Conference USA (25-10 vs. UTEP).
Line: Colorado State -5.5
Like Troy-North Texas in the New Orleans, this matchup features an explosive offense vs. a solid defense. Colorado State is No. 10 in the FBS in long plays from scrimmage, racking up a whopping 221 plays of 10-plus yards. Cue up Marshall’s defense, No. 25 nationally in yards per game and No. 19 vs. the run and you’ve got a classic strength vs. strength scenario.
Players to Watch
Marshall: junior linebacker Chase Hancock (#37) (No. 16 in the FBS in total tackles).
Colorado State: senior wide receiver Michael Gallup (#4) (No. 5 in the FBS in both receiving yards per game and total receiving yards).
Raycom Media CAMELLIA BOWL
Middle Tennessee (6-6) vs. Arkansas State (7-4) – C-USA vs. Sun Belt – Cramton Bowl, Montgomery, Ala. – 8PM EST – ESPN
The Bowl
First year: 2014
Former Camellia Bowls: 1948 in Lafayette, La. and 1961-1975, 1980 in Sacramento, Calif.
Most appearances: Appalachian State (2-0)
Last year: Appalachian State 31 – Toledo 28
The Teams
Middle Tennessee is 1-5 in bowl play. It lost 52-35 to Hawaii in last season’s Hawaii. Its only-ever bowl win came in its very first outing – the 2009 New Orleans – a 42-32 win over Southern Miss.
Arkansas State is 3-4 in bowl play. It beat UCF 31-13 in last season’s Cure Bowl. Its most recent bowl loss came the year before, in 2015, when it fell 47-28 to Louisiana Tech in the New Orleans.
The Matchup
Middle Tennessee and Arkansas State first met in 1948. The Blue Raiders lead 9-5, but the Red Wolves have won three straight, most recently a 45-0 shutout in 2012. This is the first-ever postseason meeting between the two.
Line: Arkansas State -3.5
This one will come down to how well Middle Tennessee’s defense can contain an Arkansas State passing attack that ranks No. 6 in the nation. Though the Blue Raiders have been decent vs. the pass ( No. 46 in the FBS), they coughed up 485 yards and five scores through the air in a loss to Western Kentucky in November. To compare, WKU is ranked No. 9 – just three places behind Arkansas State – in passing offense.
Players to Watch
Middle Tennessee: senior cornerback Charvarius Ward (#2) (tied for the ninth-most passes broken-up in the FBS), freshman safety Reed Blankenship (#12) (leads the team in interceptions).
Arkansas State: junior quarterback Justice Hansen (#15) (No. 6 in the FBS in yards per game, also has thrown 15 picks – the second-most of any QB in the nation), senior defensive end Ja’Von Rolland-Jones (#11) (No. 2 in the FBS in sacks and No. 9 in tackles for a loss).
Historical data courtesy of Sports Reference/College Football. Statistics courtesy of CFBStats.com. Lines courtesy of OddsShark.