Four exciting, though strange, months of college football have reached the final day of the bowl season. The final two New Year’s Six games will be played with the Fiesta Bowl before the Orange Bowl on a day of four games before the College Football Playoff National Championship, which will be played in nine days.
Iowa’s tenth state, after falling short of the Big Ten Championship Game, will undoubtedly seek to end the biggest season in the show’s history with a big bowl victory, while No. 25 Oregon hopes to gain more momentum in the 2021 season after being a participant surprise and victory in the Pac-12 Championship Game.
At the end of the night, the 5th Texas A&M will try to prove that it should have been the final team at the College Football Playoff, as the North Carolina 13th seems to end its season on a high after some tough defeats hampered a campaign that Tar Heels had hoped would have resulted in a spot in the ACC Championship Game.
So, what will happen on Saturday, and which teams should you support throughout the day? Our college football experts at CBS Sports share their insights on the four games and offer their choices both against the spread and up. Click on the game names in the bowl below for a more detailed view of each game.
Gator Bowl: (23) NC State vs. Kentucky
Most recent odds:
Kentucky Wildcats -2.5
Yes, even though NC State is ranked and Kentucky is 4-6, they are the favorite Wildcats in this game. How is this possible? Well, on the one hand, public perception has a lot to do with it. When the general public looks at this game, they see a SEC team going against an ACC team that is not considered one of the elite programs at the conference and that will push them towards the SEC team. Now, I will not lie. The fact that Kentucky is the favorite makes me wonder if there is anything that oddsmakers know I don’t, but I will ignore that suspicion and follow common sense. Consider the team that has been better all season. Choose: NC State +2.5 | NC State 24, Kentucky 20 – Tom Fornelli
Outback Bowl: (11) Indiana vs. Ole Miss
Most recent odds:
Indiana Hoosiers -9.5
Take the points, but you won’t need them because Ole Miss will win this game right away. Even if Elijah Moore and Kenny Yeboah are not there, coach Lane Kiffin will have a lot up his sleeve and will want to put on a national TV show with the college football world watching. Quarterback Matt Corral has moments of awkwardness, but that won’t happen now that he has had a little more time to hone his craft. Choose: Ole Miss (+8.5) | Ole Miss 45, Indiana 42 – Barrett Sallee
Fiesta Bowl: (10) Iowa State vs. (25) Oregon
Most recent odds:
Iowa state cyclones -5
It is true that Oregon is a little cooler than Iowa State entering this game. It will be interesting to see how much this becomes a factor. But the state of Iowa is about to have its best season with its most talented team of all time. With the bitter taste of the defeat of the big 12 title game still in their mouths, the Cyclones find a way to end the season on a positive note. Choice: Iowa State -4.5 | Iowa State 31, Oregon 24 – Ben Kercheval
Orange Bowl: (5) Texas A&M vs. (13) North Carolina
Most recent odds:
Texas A&M Aggies -7.5
I understand that North Carolina is losing a ton here and its young defense will be busy with one of the best offensive lines in the country for Texas A&M, but the last time I checked, Sam Howell was still playing in this game and that means the The back door will be absolutely open for the Tar Heels. I think the odds makers are also taking this fact into account, considering how little the spread has changed with news from all the opt-outs, so give me Howell and the underdog Heels to make it exciting in the fourth quarter. Choose: North Carolina +7.5 | Texas A&M 31, North Carolina 25 – Chip Patterson