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Here's a look at the upcoming Duke's Mayo and Texas bowls coming up on December 27th, plus a shout-out to some of the top performers of the first eight bowl games that are already in the books.
FanDuel Odds: West Virginia by 6.5
Computer Pick: North Carolina by 7.77
These two schools are separated by just 400 miles yet are meeting for just the third time ever.
West Virginia and North Carolina are coming off solid years, both looking for their ninth win next week in Charlotte. The Mountaineers are enjoying their best season since 2018, a much-needed upsurge for fifth-year coach Neal Brown. They’re led by a Big 12-best ground game featuring a trio of 700-yard rushers, gritty QB Garrett Greene, dynamite rookie Jahiem White and the versatile C.J. Donaldson. However, West Virginia has yet to beat an opponent that finished the regular season over .500.
After rising as high as No. 10 in the polls, Carolina lost four of its final six games. And the Drake Maye era is officially over in Chapel Hill. So now what? Well, the Tar Heels have an opportunity to take some momentum into the offseason while getting a good look at one of Maye’s possible successors. Redshirt freshman Conner Harrell has attempted just six passes, but he’ll get an opportunity to make a statement before touted transfer Max Johnson arrives from Texas A&M. Harrell’s receiving corps has been thinned by opt-outs, but he will have RB Omarion Hampton who ranks fourth nationally in rushing yards per game.
FanDuel Odds: Texas A&M by 1.5
Computer Pick: Texas A&M by 12.28
A couple of old Big 12 rivals meet for just the second time since Texas A&M left for the SEC over a decade ago.
This is an interesting spot for the Aggies. The season was disappointing, sure, and Jimbo Fisher’s entire staff has been vacated. However, the program is still littered with former blue-chippers with something to prove, especially with Mike Elko and his staff set to take over once this game is finished. Expect a spirited effort from the young Aggies, many of whom will be playing as if a job is at stake in 2024.
Oklahoma State enjoyed another solid season under 19th year head coach Mike Gundy. The Cowboys improbably earned a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game versus Texas and can reach 10 wins for the second time in the last three years. The program features RB Ollie Gordon II, who’ll look to extend his lead in the FBS rushing title race, and an attacking defense. LB Nickolas Martin is an underrated playmaker who’ll make the most of this chance to impress a national audience that may not have witnessed him in action this fall.
The Maxwell Football Club honors the nation’s best player with the Maxwell Award. Here’s a look at some of the bowl season's top offensive performers, so far.
Boise State fell for the first time in more than two months, bowing to UCLA in the LA Bowl, 35-22. But Holani was outstanding, even though the Broncos were using an untested true freshman quarterback and played from behind for most of the second half. Playing in his final college game, he scored twice and tallied 186 yards from scrimmage. Holani even outshined his more heralded teammate, Ashton Jeanty, turning 17 carries into 138 yards on the ground.
Hunt took next-man-in to the next level in Saturday’s Myrtle Beach Bowl win over Georgia Southern. On a day that the Bobcats were without their top three rushers, they turned to the true freshman who had just six carries in the regular season. Hunt responded by rushing 17 times for 115 yards and scoring five touchdowns, four on the ground and once on a terrific catch. In so doing, he tied the NCAA bowl record and broke the school mark for TDs in a single game.
The Bulldogs limped into Saturday’s New Mexico Bowl with New Mexico State, losers of three straight and without ailing coach Jeff Tedford. However, under the guidance of acting head coach Tim Skipper, they throttled the Aggies, 37-10, in Albuquerque. Keene recaptured his early-season form by carving up the Aggie secondary for a career-high 380 yards and three TDs on 31-of-39 passing. He also rushed for a score for his third four-touchdown game of the year.
Morton hopes to lead the Red Raider offense in 2024. In Saturday night’s Independence Bowl, he set the bar high for his contenders next spring and fall. Morton attacked the Cal defense early in Shreveport, building a lead that his own D would not relinquish. Morton shook off a rough regular season finale with Texas to complete 27-of-43 for 256 yards and three first-half scoring strikes, just the second time he’s thrown three TD passes in a game.
Veltkamp is the future on the Hill and the future is right now. Getting his first significant action in place of opt-out Austin Reed and benched Turner Helton, the redshirt freshman led Western Kentucky to one of the biggest comebacks in bowl history and a 38-35 OT win over Old Dominion in the Famous Toastery Bowl. Veltkamp was named game Offensive MVP, going 40-of-52 for 383 yards and five touchdowns. He also displayed surprising agility for a 6-6, 235-pounder by rushing for a team-high 53 yards on 19 carries.
The Gamecocks ended an historic first season as an FBS program by winning its first-ever bowl game, 34-31, in overtime in the New Orleans Bowl. Wiggins, who missed a chunk of the season to an injury, was the game’s MVP versus Louisiana. In the high point of his career, the junior from nearby Jacksonville High School caught three balls and ran for 126 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries.
The Maxwell Football Club honors the nation’s best defensive player with the Chuck Bednarik Award. Here’s a look at some of the bowl season's top performers, so far.
The Roadrunners just keep stacking new milestones under fourth-year head Jeff Traylor. In Tuesday night’s Frisco Bowl they defeated Marshall, 35-17, for the program’s first bowl victory. While WR Joshua Cephus spearheaded the offense with seven catches for 102 yards and a touchdown, Alexander led the D. The game’s Defensive MVP had a sack, a 57-yard interception and two pass breakups while generally being airtight in coverage.
While it wasn’t enough in a crushing New Orleans Bowl loss to Jacksonville State, Clark delivered one of his best all-around games as a Ragin’ Cajun. The 6-2, 198-pound sophomore was dynamite in coverage to help thwart the Gamecock passing game. Clark had three tackles and scored a pair of touchdowns, one on a 46-yard fumble return and one on a 16-yard interception, while earning Pro Football Focus’ highest weekend grade for a defensive back.
The Bears struggled in their 20-point loss to Texas Tech in the Independence Bowl. Hearns most definitely did not. After a relatively uneventful regular season as a starter, he was by far Cal’s most dependable defensive back in Shreveport. Not only did he make six tackles, all solos stops, but he also picked off a pass, broke up two others and forced five incompletions to earn an elite coverage grade from Pro Football Focus.
On a very slick and sloppy Orlando track in the Cure Bowl, Jackson brought solid footing to the Mountaineer defense. The fifth-year senior stacked the box to stop the Miami (OH) ground attack, limiting chunk yards and holding the RedHawks to just nine points and 11 first downs. Jackson registered nine tackles, including a team-high five solos, and a pass breakup as Appalachian State closed out the year at 9-5.
Muasau ended his Bruin career with a statement performance for the NFL scouts in attendance at SoFi Stadium. In one of his best efforts since transferring from Hawaii, he earned Defensive MVP of the LA Bowl as UCLA rolled to a 35-22 win over red-hot Boise State. Muasau racked up a team-best 11 tackles which included a whopping six for either no gain or behind the of scrimmage.
In the 34-14 Independence Bowl defeat of Cal Saturday, Washington gave Red Raider fans a glimpse of his potential in Lubbock. The true freshman from Orange, Tex. appeared in just two regular season games and played only a handful of snaps. However, with the D-line needing fresh bodies, Washington stepped up to force a fumble, make four tackles for loss and three sacks of Fernando Mendoza. It was a monster breakout performance that no one outside the program anticipated.
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Rich Cirminiello is the VP of College Awards at Maxwell Football Club. He can be followed on Twitter at @Rich Cirminiello