NCAAFB Betting News, Match-Ups and Trends For Tuesday 1/1/19

Outback Bowl, Tampa
Underdogs are 4-3 vs spread in this bowl the last seven years; average total in last five is 45.8. SEC teams won this bowl five of last six years, all vs Big 14 teams. Iowa lost 21-14/30-3 in this bowl in ’13/’17, both to SEC teams; Hawkeyes snapped 5-game bowl skid with win in Pinstripe Bowl LY. Mississippi State won last three bowls, but that was with Mullen as coach- this is Moorhead’s first bowl as a HC. Iowa won its last two games after a 3-game skid, running ball for 203-266 yards vs Illinois/Nebraska- they’re +9 in turnovers their last eight games. Miss State won four of its last five games, allowing 13 or fewer points in all four wins- they held five of last six opponents under 300 TY. SEC teams covered six of last eight bowls when favored over a Big 14 opponent. Over is 8-2 in last 10 Iowa games; under is 8-1 in MSU’s last nine.

Citrus Bowl, Orlando
Favorites covered this bowl five of last seven years, with average total in last five, 46.4. SEC teams won this bowl five of last seven years. Big 14 teams are 1-4 in last five Citrus Bowls. Kentucky scored 34-56 points in winning its last two games (both outside SEC), after being held to 17 or fewer points in last five SEC games. Wildcats are 3-2 vs spread as underdogs this year, 2-3 in games with single digit spread. Kentucky is 7-0 this season when they score more than 17 points. PSU won its last three games, allowing total of 20 points; they’re 6-4 vs spread as a favorite. Kentucky lost its last four bowls, scoring 16 ppg; their last bowl win was in ’08. Penn State is 2-3 in its last five bowls, all as underdogs- last time they were favored in a bowl was in ’09. Three of last four Kentucky games went over; under is 6-2 in last eight Penn State games.

Fiesta Bowl, Glendale, AZ
Central Florida was 0-12 three years ago, but they’re 25-0 last two years, under two different coaches; Golden Knights are 4-3 vs spread in last seven games as underdogs, 0-0 this year; they were only single digit favorite three times this year, so they’re stepping up in class here. UCF is 3-2 in last five bowls, winning SU twice as double digit underdogs. UCF’s QB is out here with knee injury- the backup has thrown 70 passes TY. LSU is 3-2 in last five bowls (2-3 vs spread, all as favorites); Tigers are 4-3 in last seven games, losing last game in 7 OT’s to A&M. LSU is 4-1 this year in games with single digit spread. Underdogs are 4-3 vs spread in last seven Fiesta Bowls; UCF won this game as 16-point underdogs five years ago. Average total in last five Fiesta Bowls is 65.6. Six of last nine LSU games went over the total.

Rose Bowl, Pasadena
Favorites are 5-2 vs spread in last seven Rose Bowls; Pac-12 teams won five of last six visits here, with average total of 77.4 in last five. Winning side scored 45+ points in last four Rose Bowls. Big 14 teams lost four of their last five Rose Bowls. Washington won its last four games, giving up 16 ppg; under Petersen, Huskies are 5-6 vs spread as underdogs, 1-1 this year. Ohio State won its last five games, but allowed 31+ points in three of those games; Buckeyes are 2-1 in games with single digit spread this year. Washington was last in Rose Bowl in 2000; Huskies lost three of last four bowls, losing 24-7/35-28 last two years- they covered four of last six games as a bowl underdog. This is Ohio State’s first Rose Bowl since ’09, when they upset Oregon 26-17 (+4); Buckeyes won four of last five bowls. Under is 9-3 in Husky games, 0-3 in last three OSU games.

Sugar Bowl, New Orleans
Georgia (rightfully) thinks they should’ve been in national playoff, how do they react here? Dawgs won five of last six games, losing 35-28 to Alabama in SEC title game. Favorites won/covered last three Sugar Bowls; SEC teams lost this bowl four of last six years, with average total of 51 in last five. As a HC, Texas coach Herman is 8-2-1 vs spread when an underdog. 2-1-1 this year. Longhorns split their last six games after 5-1 start- they scored an average of 33 ppg in their four losses. Texas is 8-3 in its last 11 bowls; they upset Mizzou 33-16 (+3) LY, their first bowl in three years. Georgia lost national title game LY, just their second bowl loss in last seven tries. Dawgs are 4-3 vs spread as dole digit favorites this year. Last three Georgia games stayed under total; over is 3-1-1 in Georgia’s last five games.

Tuesday's Early Bowl Tips
December 31, 2018
By Joe Williams

**Iowa vs. Mississippi State**

Outback Bowl History

-- The Iowa Hawkeyes (8-4 straight up, 7-5 against the spread) from the Big 10 Conference will square off against the Mississippi State Bulldogs (8-4 straight up, 8-4 against the spread) from the Southeastern Conference in the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Fla.

-- Iowa will be playing in their sixth consecutive bowl game under head coach Kirk Ferentz, and their 16th since 2001 under his leadership. Their past two trips to the Outback Bowl haven't ended well, losing to Florida 30-3 in 2016, and 21-14 against LSU in 2013. This will be their sixth appearance in the Outback Bowl, posting a 2-3 SU record so far.

-- Mississippi State doesn't have as lengthy of a bowl history as Iowa, but they have had plenty of success when they have qualified. Mississippi State has won three straight bowls, and nine of their past 11 appearances in the postseason. This will be their first-ever appearance in the Outback Bowl in Tampa, although it will be their third consecutive bowl appearance in the Sunshine State. All-time they're 4-3 SU in seven bowl games in the state of Florida, including a 13-12 loss to Duquesne in 1936 in their first appearance in the Orange Bowl.

-- Mississippi State rolled out to a 3-0 SU/ATS start, holding a Top 25 ranking for the two of those weekends. However, back-to-back losses and offensive fizzles in a 28-7 loss to Kentucky and 13-6 loss to Florida spoiled that start. They lost three of four from Sept. 22 to Oct. 20, with only a win over Auburn to show for it. They finished up with four wins in the final five, with a shutout to National Championship Game participant Alabama as their only blemish. They routed Ole Miss 35-3 on Nov. 22 to secure their eighth victory of the season.

-- Iowa also opened 3-0 SU/ATS, including a win over rival Iowa State. They lost to Wisconsin on Sept. 22 with a 28-17 setback, but theyripped off three straight after that to get back on track and secure bowl eligibility by Oct. 20. That's a good thing, too, as they dropped three in a row at Penn State, at Purdue and home to Northwestern before wrapping up the year with back-to-back wins against Illinois and Nebraska.

-- Iowa had difficulty on offense, ranking 79th in total yards per game (389.7 YPG), while checking in 69th in passing yards (227.7 YPG) and 74th in rushing yards (162.0 YPG). Still, somehow they managed to end up 42nd in the country with 31.5 points per game (PPG). Defense was a key to their success, ranking seventh in total yards allowed (289.6 YPG), 21st in passing yards (186.8 YPG) and fourth in rushing yards allowed (102.8 YPG). They also checked in 10th in points allowed (17.4 PPG), which will be key to whether they can win or not.

-- Mississippi State ranked 69th in total yards (402.0 YPG), while going for 175.6 YPG in passing yards to check in 111th in the nation. They did pound the ball for 226.4 YPG on the ground, finishing 11th overall. Defensively Mississippi State had it on lockdown, ranking first in the country in total yards allowed (268.4 YPG) and points allowed (12.0 PPG). They also shut down the pass with 164.2 YPG, ranking sixth, and just 104.2 YPG in rushing yards to finish 10th in the land.

-- Iowa RB Ivory Kelly-Martin (undisclosed) is listed as probable for the bowl game, while the FB Brady Ross (leg) is questionable. TE Noah Fant, who declared for the NFL Draft, will skip the bowl game, too. Fant posted 49 catches for 518 yards and seven touchdowns.

-- Mississippi State DE Montez Sweat, who is expected to go in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, will play and not skip the game.

-- Mississippi State is 4-1 ATS in the past five overall, 5-0 ATS in the past five non-conference games and 9-4 ATS in the past 13 against winning teams.

-- Iowa is 4-0 ATS in the past four non-conference games, but 1-3-1 ATS in the past five neutral-site games and 1-4 ATS in the past five overall.

-- The 'under' is 13-3 in the past 16 against teams with a winning record and 19-7 in the past 26 overall, too.

-- The 'over' is 8-2 in Iowa's past 10 games while going 7-2 in the past nine against teams with a winning record. However, the under is 7-3 in the past 10 non-conference games and 9-4 in the past 13 neutral-site battles.

-- This will be the first-ever meeting between the Hawkeyes and Bulldogs.

-- Kickoff is slated for 12:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN2.

**Kentucky vs. Penn State**

Citrus Bowl History

-- The VRBO Citrus Bowl will feature a matchup of the Kentucky Wildcats (9-3 straight up, 5-7 against the spread) from the Southeastern Conference will face off against the Penn State Nittany Lions (9-3 straight up, 7-5 against the spread) at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla. This will be a battle featuring a pair of Top 15 teams.

-- Kentucky will finish their season in a bowl game for the third consecutive season. They're hoping to snap a four-game losing streak in the postseason dating back to their last win in a bowl on Jan. 2, 2009 against East Carolina in the Liberty Bowl. This will be their second meeting in a bowl against the Nittany Lions since Jan. 1, 1999 when the teams squared off over in Tampa in the Outback Bowl. Penn State won that game by a 26-14 score under Joe Paterno against former UK coach Hal Mumme. The Wildcats are 0-3 all-time in bowl games in the state of Florida.

-- Penn State is back in the Citrus Bowl for the first time since the game was named the Capital One Bowl in 2009, a 19-17 win over LSU with JoePa at the helm. This will be their sixth appearance in the Capital One/Citrus Bowl game, going 2-3 SU in the first five showings. After a 9-2 SU run from 1993 to 2007, they're just 3-5 SU over the past eight postseason appearances.

-- Kentucky won their first five games of the season, including impressive wins at Florida, home against Mississippi State and home against South Carolina, all bowl teams. They suffered a 20-14 overtime loss at Texas A&M on Oct. 6, but bounced back against bowl teams Vanderbilt and Missouri the following two weeks. The Wildcats had a chance to clinch the SEC East Division and make their first-ever appearance in the SEC Championship Game, but they fell short against Georgia 34-17 on Nov. 3. They followed that up with an egg-laying in Tennessee on Nov. 10, 24-7. They bounced back with two non-conference wins to close out the year, but questions remain heading into the bowl.

-- Penn State nearly lost a stunner to Appalachian State in their opener, needing overtime to survive. They opened 4-0 SU/3-1 ATS in the first four before suffering a gut-wrenching 27-26 setback against Ohio State on Sept. 29. They also lost to Michigan State the following week. After a pair of wins they were humbled at Michigan by a 42-7 score. They wrapped up the conference schedule with three straight wins against Wisconsin, Rutgers and Maryland, all 'under' results.

-- Penn State was 45th in total yards (424.3 YPG) on offense, while posting 215.8 YPG in passing yards to finish 77th. They finished 28th in rushing yards (208.5 YPG) and 30th in points scored (30.6 PPG). The Nittany Lions are strong on defense, finishing 35th in total yards allowed (354.9 YPG), while giving up just 186.5 YPG to check in 19th. They also gave up just 20.0 PPG to finish 21st in the nation.

-- Kentucky finished 101st in total yards on offense, posting just 366.9 YPG while going 116th in passing yards (164.8 YPG). Their bread and butter is the run game, going for 202.1 YPG to finish 34th in the country. Defensively the Wildcats had it on lockdown, ranking 20th in the nation (327.0 YPG) in total yards. They were 15th against the pass (181.3 YPG) while checking in eighth (16.2 PPG) in points per game allowed.

-- The one to watch for the Wildcats is RB Benny Snell Jr., who managed 1,305 rushing yards (5.0 YPC) with 14 touchdowns.

-- For Penn State, RB Miles Sanders (207-1,223-9) did his best to fill the shoes of Saquon Barkley, while QB Trace McSorley passed for 2,285 yards, 16 touchdowns and six interceptions while running for 723 yards and 11 more scores.

-- Kentucky covered just two of their final seven games overall. They're also a dismal 3-12 ATS in their past 15 non-conference games and 1-5 ATS in the past six on a neutral-site field.

-- While Penn State is 0-4 ATS in their past four tries against SEC teams, they're 6-1-1 ATS in the past eight non-conference battles. They're also 15-5-2 ATS in the past 22 against winning teams while going 24-9-2 ATS in the past 35 games overall, including 5-2 ATS in the past seven at a neutral site.

-- The 'under' has cashed in four straight bowl games while going 6-1 in the past seven neutral-site appearances. The under is also 11-3 in the past 14 against teams with a winning overall mark.

-- The over is 5-0 in Penn State's past five outside of the conference while going 6-1 in the past seven neutral-site battles. The over is 13-6 in the past 19 overall and 9-3 in their past 12 against teams with a winning overall record.

-- Kickoff is slated for 1:00 p.m. Eastern on ABC.

**LSU vs. UCF**

Fiesta Bowl History

-- The Playstation Fiesta Bowl features the UCF Knights (12-0 straight up, 9-3 against the spread) from the American Athletic Conference while facing the Louisiana State Tigers (9-3 straight up, 6-6 against the spread) from the Southeastern Conference at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.

-- The self-proclaimed national champion Knights won the Peach Bowl last season against Auburn, 34-27. Overall they're 4-5 SU in their nine bowl appearances, although they won their previous Fiesta Bowl showing on Jan. 1, 2014 against Baylor, 52-42. They're also 2-1 SU in three bowl games all-time against the SEC.

-- LSU has a lengthy bowl history, although lately their history in bowls hasn't been great. They're just 4-5 SU in the past nine bowl appearances after a 10-2 SU run from 1995 through 2008. This will be their first-ever appearance in the Fiesta Bowl. They're looking to bounce back after a 20-17 loss against Notre Dame in the Citrus Bowl last season.

-- UCF has won 25 consecutive games dating back to their last loss, Dec. 17, 2016 in the Cure Bowl against Arkansas State. The Knights scored 31 or more points in all 12 of their games this season, including 37 or more in each of the final six. Six of the wins came against teams which qualified for bowl games, including two wins against Memphis.

-- LSU opened the season with a 33-17 win over Miami-Florida in a neutral-site battle in Arlington, Tex. They opened conference play 22-21 at Auburn to move to 3-0, and headed to Florida 5-0 on Oct. 6. The Gators upended the Tigers 27-19, however, before the Tigers bounced back 36-16 over Georgia and then 19-3 over Mississippi State. Like most, the Tigers were outclassed by Alabama 29-0 on Nov. 3 at Death Valley in an anticlimactic game. They wrapped up the regular season with an epic 74-72 loss in 7 OT against Texas A&M in front of the 11th man on Thanksgiving weekend.

-- UCF finished third in the land with 545.7 total yards per game and fifth in rushing yards (276.8 YPG). They also posted 44.2 PPG to finish fifth in the country. They slacked off slightly in passing yardage, due in part to a season-ending loss in November of Heisman candidate QB McKenzie Milton (knee). The Knights ranked 86th in total yards allowed (425.5 YPG), while finishing 118th against the run (227.5 YPG). Still, they managed to rank 21st in points allowed (21.2 PPG).

-- RB Adrian Killins Jr. (lower body), who had 698 rushing yards and four scores and 385 receiving yards and four touchdowns through the air, is listed as questionable.

-- LSU was so-so on offense, going 80th in total yards (389.3 YPG) while finishing 41st with 31.8 PPG. They posted 174.7 yards per game on the ground, finishing 58th. That might be the key to victory for the Tigers. On defense, the Tigers ranked 29th in total yards allowed (346.1 YPG), while finishing 24th in the land with just 20.9 PPG.

-- Graduate transfer QB Joe Burrow was adequate, posting 2,500 passing yards, 12 TDs and four INTs while running for 375 yards and seven touchdowns. RB Nick Brossette racked up 14 rushing touchdowns with 922 yards on the ground, while RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire added seven touchdowns with 626 rushing yards.

-- LSU leading WR Justin Jefferson (undisclosed), who posted 788 receiving yards and four touchdowns, is listed as questionable with an undisclosed ailment.

-- The Tigers are 2-5 ATS in their past seven bowl games, 1-4 ATS in the past five games in the month of January and 1-6-1 ATS in the past eight non-conference battles.

-- The Knights have cashed in four straight against winning teams while going 5-1 ATS in the past six games overall. UCF is also 5-2 ATS in the past seven non-conference battles.

-- The under is 3-1-1 in the past five games overall while going 4-1 in the past five neutral-site contests. The under is 5-2 in the past seven bowl games, too, while hitting the over in five of the past seven against winning teams.

-- The under is 7-2 in the past nine overall, while going 8-0-1 in UCF's past nine against the SEC.

-- This is the first-ever meeting between LSU and UCF on the gridiron.

-- Kickoff is slated for 1:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.

Tuesday's Evening Bowl Tips
December 29, 2018
By Joe Nelson

Getting to play on New Year’s Day is still a big draw even if the College Football Playoffs have taken some of the appeal away from the traditional bowl schedule. If that field expended these two matchups would be fitting play-in games as four prestigious programs face off in the Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl games Tuesday night to wrap up the bowl schedule ahead of next week’s championship game.

ROSE BOWL

Matchup: Washington Huskies at Ohio State Buckeyes
Venue: Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California
Time/TV: Tuesday, January 1, 5:00 PM ET, ESPN
Line: Ohio State -6½, Over/Under 57½
Last Meeting: 2007 Ohio State (-3) 33, at Washington 14

For the second straight season, Ohio State wound up just on the outside of the College Football Playoffs as the Big Ten champion was left out for the second straight season. The 12-1 Buckeyes didn’t always look the part but wound up with a playoff caliber resume as this was an exceptional season with three prominent undefeated teams. For the second straight season, the caliber of the loss was damaging to Ohio State with a 49-20 defeat against a Purdue team that wound up 6-6 after last season being left out with an ugly 55-24 loss to Iowa cited, though a difference being that last season that was loss #2.

The season for Ohio State started with great controversy with the allegations surrounding Urban Meyer. He was suspended for the first three games which Ohio State won, including what at the time looked like a notable win over TCU. Meyer has announced that he will resign following this game and assistant Ryan Day, who led the team in Meyer’s absence, will take over leading the program.

The Buckeyes posted huge offensive numbers with Dwayne Haskins producing great results in what will likely be his only year as the starter, finishing third in the Heisman voting and with potential to be a NFL draft pick in the spring. Haskins was asked to do a lot this season as Ohio State was not a strong rushing team gaining nearly 1,000 fewer yards on the ground and 1.7 fewer yards per carry compared with last season. Ohio State also allowed 26 or more points in eight different games this season and had close call results with teams like Nebraska and Maryland before the emphatic win over Michigan.

With three losses out of a mediocre Pac-12, Washington didn’t receive any consideration by the playoff committee, but while Ohio State’s single loss came by 29 points, the three losses for Washington came by a combined total of 10 points. Washington lost two Pac-12 road games against Oregon and California and lost a big season opener with Auburn, ironically a team that just blasted the Purdue team that beat Ohio State. Washington was in position to win all three of those games as it will be a remembered as a season of what-ifs for the Huskies.

Senior quarterback Jake Browning had an underwhelming season as he has not been able to recapture the success of his sophomore season when the Huskies made the playoffs. He still had steady numbers and the Huskies out-rushed foes by nearly a yard per carry this season led by Myles Gaskin on offense and one of the nation’s better run defenses. While Meyer’s retirement will steal the spotlight with an all-time great resume, Chris Petersen has a tremendous 139-32 record at Boise State and Washington though he has lost three of his past four bowl games including a seven-point loss to Penn State in last season’s Fiesta Bowl.

Even in the current era where the significance of many bowls games has declined, the Rose Bowl still remains a prized invitation. The past two Rose Bowls have been wildly entertaining games with USC beating Penn State 52-49 two years ago in a traditional Big Ten/Pac-12 contest while the Rose Bowl was a playoff semifinal last season with Georgia holding off Oklahoma 54-48 in overtime. That type of scoring was common in Ohio State games this season but isn’t likely the preferred pace for a Washington team that allowed just over 15 points per game on the season.

SUGAR BOWL

Matchup: Texas Longhorns at Georgia Bulldogs
Venue: Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana
Time/TV: Monday, December 31, 8:45 PM ET, ESPN
Line: Georgia -13, Over/Under 58
Last Meeting: 1984 (Cotton Bowl) Georgia (+7½) 10, Texas 9

Georgia had a playoff spot on the line in the SEC Championship with Alabama, a rematch of last season’s national championship game. The Bulldogs had a two-touchdown lead in the second half of that game but wound up falling short and ended up the last team out of the bracket. A Sugar Bowl bid is certainly a worthy consolation, but Georgia is a bowl team that has immense potential but perhaps suspect motivation in the final bowl game ahead of next week’s championship in Santa Clara.

Georgia had a few breaks in that game against Alabama with a 2-0 turnover edge and quarterback Tua Tagovalioa leaving the game for Alabama but for the second year in a row, the Bulldogs couldn’t finish off the Tide in a game they controlled. Georgia’s only regular season loss was a 20-point defeat at LSU in which they had four turnovers and the Bulldogs were a dominant rushing team posting 6.1 yards per carry and 252 yards per game. Georgia allowed just over 18 points per game on defense as well, only four times allowing more than 17 points, though they did so in each of the three most recent games.

Cornerback Deandre Baker is skipping this game for a big loss for the Georgia defense while defensive coordinator Mel Tucker left the program several weeks ago after being announced as the new head coach at Colorado and he has hired two assistants from the Georgia staff to join him. Georgia didn’t post the eye-popping offensive numbers that some of the other elite teams in the nation did, but Jake Fromm was one of the top quarterbacks in the nation in his second season and Georgia wound up defeating seven bowl teams by 14 or more points.

Georgia drew a difficult SEC schedule pulling LSU and Auburn from the West and certainly looked the part of a playoff caliber team and would have had a compelling case in most seasons. As this line suggests, Georgia is certainly considered one of the top four teams in the nation even if they didn’t have the credentials to be in the playoff field.

Tom Herman’s second season in Texas began poorly as he was often named in the investigation surrounding Urban Meyer. Texas then went out and lost to Maryland to open the season for the second straight season. The Longhorns rebounded for a fine season reaching 6-1 before losing a pair of very tight Big XII games, eventually making the Big XII title game where they lost to Oklahoma after beating the Sooners in the regular season. None of the four losses for Texas came by more than 12 points which was the margin in the Big XII championship loss in a game that was tied in the fourth quarter.

Texas also had several narrow wins however with six wins by seven or fewer points and four of those wins were against non-bowl teams. The Longhorns struggled to run the ball consistently this season, but quarterback Sam Ehlinger did have a breakthrough season in the passing game after inconsistent results last year.

The Sugar Bowl has not featured many close games in recent years with five of the past six games decided by 10 or more points. The game has featured some prominent upsets however with a pair of Alabama losses in 2014 and 2015 and while it wasn’t an upset by the pointspread, Alabama was the playoff #4 seed defeating #1 seed Clemson last season in this game. This will be a measuring stick game for the Big XII against the SEC with the Big XII winning two of the past three Sugar Bowl meetings with the SEC.

Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. Iowa Hawkeyes Preview and Predictions 2019-01-01

OUTBACK BOWL STORYLINES

1. Two of the premier defenses in FBS will take center stage on New Year's Day in Tampa, Fla. when No. 18 Mississippi State and Iowa square off in the Outback Bowl. The Bulldogs are the only team in the country to rank inside the top 10 in scoring (FBS-best 12 points allowed per game), rushing (ninth; 104.3 yards), passing (sixth; 164.2) and total (third; 268.4) defense. Iowa, which finished the regular season in a tie for first in FBS with 18 interceptions, rivaled Mississippi State in three of the four defensive categories: 11th in scoring (17.4), seventh in rushing (102.8) and seventh in total yards (289.6).

2. Iowa served as the home of the two of the best tight ends in the country in 2018, but only one will take the field at Raymond James Stadium. First-team All-Big Ten selection Noah Fant elected to skip the bowl game to begin preparing for the 2019 NFL Draft following a three-year career in which he caught 19 touchdown passes - the most ever by a tight end in school history. Mackey Award winner T.J. Hockenson has yet to announce whether he will turn pro but will play in this contest after posting seven total TDs and team-high totals of 46 receptions and 717 receiving yards in 2018.

3. Senior defensive end Montez Sweat, who is expected to be a first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, became the first Mississippi State player to be named a first-team All-American since Benardrick McKinney in 2014.. The 6-6, 245-pound Georgia native ranks sixth in school history with 21.5 career sacks despite playing only two seasons with the Bulldogs. Sweat consistently made his presence felt in 2018, totaling 11 sacks (tied for sixth in FBS), 13.5 tackles for loss (seventh in the SEC) and 40 total pressures per Pro Football Focus.

TV: Noon ET, ESPN2. LINE: Mississippi State -7

ABOUT MISSISSIPPI STATE (8-4, 4-4 SEC): Senior quarterback Nick Fitzgerald, who has been responsible for 99 total touchdowns in his career, owns the SEC record for most 100-yard rushing games by a quarterback (20) and is the only signal-caller in conference history to run for more than 3,000 yards. All-SEC junior defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons anchors the front of the Bulldogs' dominant defense, as his team-high 14.5 tackles for loss rank fourth in the conference, while his 45 tackles during league play led all SEC defensive lineman. Senior safety Johnathan Abram heads up the back end of the Bulldogs' defense, garnering All-SEC honors after recording a team-high 93 tackles - 7.5 for loss - 2.5 sacks, two interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

ABOUT IOWA (8-4, 5-4 Big Ten): Junior Nate Stanley is responsible for two of the top six passing touchdown totals in school history (26 in 2017 was second in program annals, while his 23 in 2018 ranks sixth), and his 49 TD passes in 2017-18 is tied with Chuck Long for the most over a two-year span. Defensive ends A.J. Epenesa and Anthony Nelson are in a three-way tie for first in the Big Ten with 9.5 sacks - the highest single-season totals by any Hawkeye since Adrian Clayborn had 11.5 in 2009. Sophomore Ihmir Smith-Marsette averages a Big Ten-best 29.3 yards on kickoff returns (second in FBS), while Kyle Groeneweg also leads the conference with a 10.2-yard average on punt returns (19th).

PREDICTION: Mississippi State 21, Iowa 10
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Louisiana State Tigers vs. Central Florida Knights Preview and Predictions 2019-01-01

PLAYSTATION FIESTA BOWL STORYLINES

1. Seventh-ranked Central Florida tries to complete its second straight perfect season when it takes on No. 11 LSU in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1 in Glendale, Ariz. The Knights ended last season 13-0 with a 34-27 victory over Auburn in the Peach Bowl before winning its final two games this year without star quarterback McKenzie Milton, who suffered a serious knee injury early in the regular-season finale, and 22 UCF seniors are determined to leave with 26 straight wins. "We talk about every game like this could be the one game that could trip us up," senior defensive lineman Titus Davis told the Orlando Sentinel. "This being the last game, it's a big game for us and we know that going out with a bang would mean everything to us."

2. The starting quarterbacks will offer quite a contrast in experience and style as LSU junior Joe Burrow averages 208.3 yards passing and will go against dual-threat UCF freshman Darriel Mack Jr. Burrow, an Ohio State transfer, finished the season strong with six touchdown passes and no interceptions in the last three games while rushing for 100 in the wild finale against Texas A&M - a 74-72 loss in seven overtimes. Mack ran for 120 yards in his first career start against East Carolina on Oct. 20 and threw for 348 in the American Athletic Conference championship game against Memphis as the Knights (4-5 in bowl games overall) rallied from 17 points down for a 56-41 win.

3. The Knights are fifth in the nation in rushing offense at 276.5 yards per game and boast five healthy players with at least four touchdowns and 250 yards on the ground, led by sophomore Greg McCrae (1,101 yards, nine TDs). The Tigers, who will play in the 50th bowl game in their history, have limited opponents to 139.3 yards per contest on the ground and junior linebacker Devin White leads the way with 115 tackles - 12 for a loss. If UCF is forced to go to the air more often, LSU is tied for 12th in the nation with 16 interceptions - five by sophomore defensive back Grant Delpit - although star corner Greedy Williams (two interceptions, nine pass breakups) will sit out the game to prepare for the NFL draft.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: LSU -7.5

ABOUT LSU (9-3, 5-3 SEC): Burrow has thrown for 2,500 yards and 12 touchdowns, but is completing just 57.4 percent of his passes, while sophomore Justin Jefferson has been the top target for the Tigers with 50 catches, 788 yards (189 versus Georgia and Alabama combined) and four TDs. Senior running back Nick Brossette waited his turn behind Derrius Guice and Leonard Fournette for three years before getting his chance and took advantage with 922 yards along 14 scores to lead LSU's ground attack. Sophomore Clyde Edwards-Helaire added 626 yards rushing, including 145 against Georgia on Oct. 13, along with seven scores but was held to just three yards against Texas A&M.

ABOUT CENTRAL FLORIDA (12-0, 8-0 American): While the Knights gave up at least 30 points four times this season and 423.6 yards per game - 86th in the country - the defense has stepped up at key times, including the 38-13 win over Cincinnati. Sophomore defensive back Richie Grant leads the team in tackles (102) and interceptions (six) while Davis led the way in tackles for loss (16) and sacks (6.5) for a unit that is tied for eighth in the nation in turnovers gained with 26. Junior Adrian Killins Jr. is a threat on the ground (698 yards, four TDs) or through the air (385 yards, four TDs) and sophomore Gabriel Davis (50 catches, 756 yards, six TDs) leads a balanced receiving corps.

PREDICTION: Central Florida 38, LSU 34
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Kentucky Wildcats vs. Penn State Nittany Lions Preview and Predictions 2019-01-01

VRBO CITRUS BOWL STORYLINES

1. Penn State had visions of greater success this season while Kentucky has to be thrilled with where it is at as the teams prepare for a VRBO Citrus Bowl matchup New Year's Day in Orlando, Fla. The 12th-ranked Nittany Lions bounced back from a midseason swoon to win their final three games and hope to send star quarterback Trace McSorley off with a third straight season of 10 wins or more. In their sixth year under coach Mark Stoops and playing in their third consecutive bowl game, the 15th-ranked Wildcats have not won 10 games since 1977.

2. McSorley is Penn State's all-time leader in passing yards (9,653), passing touchdowns (75) and completions (703) and needs just 16 rushing yards to become the top quarterback in that category for the Nittany Lions (Michael Robinson had 1,637 between 2002-05). While he's in the conversation as the best player in program history, the same could be said for one of the men that will be watching his every move - Kentucky senior linebacker Josh Allen, who is fourth among FBS players with 14 sacks and tied for first with five forced fumbles. The SEC Defensive Player of the Year has been cleaning up the postseason awards and announced he would play in the Citrus Bowl after some speculation he may skip it to focus on the NFL.

3. Wildcats running back Benny Snell Jr., a junior, announced that he would forgo his senior season and enter the NFL draft, but in the same announcement indicated he will play in the Citrus Bowl. The SEC's second-leading rusher with 1,305 yards, Snell has been held to just 49 yards on 13 carries through his first two bowl games. The Nittany Lions can match Kentucky on the ground behind McSorley and junior running back Miles Sanders, who was second in the Big Ten with 1,223 yards - 375 over the final three games.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, ABC. LINE: Penn State -6.5

ABOUT KENTUCKY (9-3, 5-3 SEC): The Wildcats rank 115th with an average of 164.8 passing yards per game, but sophomore starter Terry Wilson averaged 209.4 while throwing seven TDs over the final five games. "Early in the season, some of my decisions weren't quite there and weren't the best," Wilson recently told reporters. "Middle of the season I was a little hesitant, but I feel like these past four or five weeks I've been trusting myself and trusting where everybody's going to be at and trusting the o-line and trusting the play calling that's being called." Wilson accounted for four scores - one on the ground - in the 56-10 win over rival Louisville to end the regular season and has gained more than 50 rushing yards on five occasions.

ABOUT PENN STATE (9-3, 6-3 Big Ten): McSorley was not the most heralded recruit but he already has the most wins for a quarterback in school history with 31 and getting one more before moving on is all he can think about. "That'd be huge. Obviously, for our team, that's our goal," McSorley told reporters when asked about getting a 10th victory. "It's hard to win 10 games two years in a row, but it's harder to do it three years. I mean, if you look at teams that can do that, it's Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson - those programs that are always at the top. So, if we can do that, I think that it puts us in a really good spot for the future and it's something that is a testament to all the hard work that we put in this year." The Nittany Lions allowed a total of 20 points in the three-game winning streak to end the regular season and they are tied for third among FBS teams with 43 sacks, including six over the last six games by emerging sophomore defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos.

PREDICTION: Penn State 31, Kentucky 23
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Washington Huskies vs. Ohio State Buckeyes Preview and Predictions 2019-01-01

ROSE BOWL GAME PRESENTED BY NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL STORYLINES

1. Urban Meyer gets to stalk the sidelines at the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day in his final game as coach for fifth-ranked Ohio State, which faces No. 9 Washington in the 105th edition of the game in Pasadena, Calif. Meyer announced he is stepping down as coach after the contest, primarily because of stress-related headaches stemming from a cyst on his brain. Offensive coordinator Ryan Day will be the replacement for Meyer, who has an 82-9 record and won the 2014 national title during seven seasons at the school.

2. The matchup between the Buckeyes and Huskies marks the first time the Big Ten champion (Ohio State) and Pac-12 champ (Washington) have met in the Rose Bowl since the College Football Playoff began in 2014. Both schools are making their 15th Rose Bowl appearances but have never previously met in Pasadena. "We ended up right where we hoped to be, facing an awesome team in a big-time game that has so much history with this school and this program," Washington coach Chris Petersen said during a press conference. "We couldn't be more excited about going down there. It couldn't be more awesome for our fans and where we recruit and those types of things."

3. Ohio State wins games with a flashy offense behind sophomore quarterback Dwayne Haskins Jr. while the Huskies are happy to lean on a strong defense led by senior linebacker Ben Burr-Kirven, the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. Haskins, who finished third in the Heisman Trophy balloting, set school records of 4,580 yards and 47 touchdown passes as the Buckeyes scored 40 or more points on eight occasions while averaging 43.5 points per game. Burr-Kirven has racked up 165 tackles and forced four fumbles for a defense that allowed 15 or fewer points seven times while allowing 15.5 points per game.

TV: 5 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Ohio State -6.5

ABOUT WASHINGTON (10-3, 7-2 Pac 12): Senior quarterback Jake Browning is the school's all-time leader in career passing yardage (11,983) and touchdown passes (94) but he battled consistency issues while passing for 2,879 yards and 16 touchdowns against 10 interceptions this season. Senior running back Myles Gaskin is the program's all-time leader with 5,202 rushing yards and his 1,147 yards this season marked his fourth straight 1,000-yard campaign. Burr-Kirven, an All-American, gets help on the defensive side from sophomore cornerback Byron Murphy (four interceptions) and junior safety Taylor Rupp (two interceptions, five sacks).

ABOUT OHIO STATE (12-1, 8-1 Big Ten): Haskins completed 70.2 percent of his passes in his first season as a starter and his top target, wideout Parris Campbell (79 catches, 11 touchdowns), is eight receiving yards away from a 1,000-yard campaign. Sophomore back J.K. Dobbins (1,029 yards, nine touchdowns) and junior Mike Weber (858 yards, five scores) split the ball-carrying duties with Weber already announcing he is leaving in favor of the NFL after the Rose Bowl. Sophomore defensive end Chase Young (9.5 sacks) and junior defensive tackle Dre'Mont Jones (8.5 sacks) have enjoyed strong seasons but the leaky defense has allowed 200 points over the past six games, with one of the shaky outings being a 49-20 loss to Purdue that eventually caused Ohio State to be bypassed by the College Football Playoff committee.

PREDICTION: Ohio State 30, Washington 24
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Texas Longhorns vs. Georgia Bulldogs Preview and Predictions 2019-01-01

ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL STORYLINES

1. Sixth-ranked Georgia faces No. 14 Texas in the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1, and for the Bulldogs the challenge of facing the Longhorns is one of several hurdles they must overcome. Last season's national runner-up would have made the College Football Playoff if it had not blown a fourth-quarter lead in losing to No. 1 Alabama in the SEC championship, defensive coordinator Mel Tucker left to take the head job at Colorado, and reports have surfaced that highly touted freshman quarterback Justin Fields intends to transfer. "This is the hand we were dealt," sophomore quarterback Jake Fromm told reporters. "I know I'm going to go out and try to compete and play my best."

2. The Longhorns have enjoyed a renaissance in Tom Herman's second season as coach, achieving their highest win total since a nine-win campaign in 2012 and are back in a high-profile bowl game for the first time since losing the BCS championship in 2009. Texas shook off an upset loss to Maryland in the season opener, finishing 6-3 in games decided by one possession and defeating four ranked teams. "It's really big for our team and our seniors," senior defensive tackle Chris Nelson told the media. "To have a chance to leave a legacy on the program and get it back to the level that Texas needs to be at is special."

3. Both quarterbacks look to cap stellar seasons with a New Year's Day bowl victory. Sophomore quarterback Sam Ehlinger, who is recovering from an AC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder, passed for 25 touchdowns with five interceptions, rushed for 13 touchdowns and has already accumulated 5,038 passing yards in two seasons. Fromm completed 68.4 percent of his passes for 2,537 yards and 27 touchdowns with five interceptions, and his play down the stretch limited opportunities for Fields.

TV: 8:45 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Georgia -12.5

ABOUT TEXAS (9-4, 7-2 Big 12): Ehlinger has two big-time targets in junior wide receivers Lil'Jordan Humphrey and Collin Johnson, who have combined for 144 receptions, 2.054 yards and 16 touchdowns - making the Longhorns one of only seven teams to have two receivers with 65-plus receptions. A healthy offensive line has helped Texas average 31.3 points per game, as lineman have missed only three combined games this season. Senior defensive end Charles Omenihu earned Big 12 defensive lineman of the year, leading the conference with 9½ sacks.

ABOUT GEORGIA (11-2, 7-1 SEC): The Bulldogs average 39.2 points and feature the nation's 12th-best rushing offense at 251.6 yards per game, fronted by sophomore D'Andre Swift (1,037 yards, 10 touchdowns) and junior Elijah Holyfield (956 yards, seven scores). Defensively, Georgia has allowed only 19.3 points per game, led by All-American defensive back Deandre Baker and his 40 tackles, two interceptions and 10 pass breakups. Kicker Rodrigo Blankenship is one of the nation's most consistent kickers, hitting 19-of-23 field goals while recording 79 touchbacks on 93 kickoffs.

PREDICTION: Georgia 37, Texas 21
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