Previewing the 2024 New Years 6 Bowl Games.

We are in 2024 and that means that we're coming up on the College Football Playoffs, but it also means that we have 3 other bowl games to watch, so with that said, today we will be previewing the 2024 New Years 6 bowl games, which includes breaking down each team, as well as listing each opt out for all the teams, and of course giving a score predictions.

ReliaQuest Bowl: (13) LSU (-10) vs Wisconsin 

LSU opt-outs

QB Jayden Daniels

LSU Key Players

WR Malik Nabers (#8)

LB Harold Perkins (#4)

WR Brian Thomas Jr. (#11)

Wisconsin opt-outs

OG Trey Wedig

LB Jordan Turner

WR Skyler Bell

WR Chimere Dike

DL Rodas Johnson

Wisconsin Key Players

RB Braelon Allen (#0)

DB Hunter Wohler (#24)

Edge Darryl Peterson (#17)

This is the first bowl of the day, but it will probably be the best game of the non-playoff games. On the LSU side, they're going to be quarterbacked by longtime backup Garrett Nussmeier, who is an alright game manager, but the stars of the LSU offense will be their two WRs Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr, who will expect to hear their name heard relatively early in April. LSU still has most of their team playing in this game and I expect the passing game to still be effective even without the Heisman winner. LSU's defense has been their biggest kryptonite this season, and the reason why they only have 3 wins (allowed 45, 55, and 42 points in their 3 losses while averaging 34 ppg in those games), but they still have some star power on that side of the ball, like sophomore phenom Harold Perkins and Junior DT Maason Smith who is another NFL prospect. LSU's biggest weakness this year has been their CBs (which is usually one of their strongest positions), but at the very least, they'll have their best CB Sage Ryan playing after he withdrew from the portal. For Wisconsin, expect them to lean on their star RB Braelon Allen with all the WRs they have in the transfer portal right now. They have a pretty strong defense that has only allowed 30 or more points in a game one time all year. I expect this to be a low-scoring affair (especially for LSU's standards) and I do think it will be a close game, but I think LSU pulls ahead in the end.

Prediction: LSU 27 Wisconsin 17 

Should you watch it? If you are a CFB fan or if you like defense, then yes.

Citrus Bowl: (21) Tennessee (-8) vs (17) Iowa 

Tennessee Opt-outs

QB Joe Milton

RB Jabari Small

RB Jaylen Wright

DB Tamarrion McDonald

CB Doneiko Slaughter

CB Brandon Turnage

OG Addison Nichols

Edge Tyler Barron

Tennessee Key Players

QB Nico Iamaleava

WR Squirrell White

Edge James Pearce Jr.

Iowa Opt-Outs

WR Diante Vines

QB Spencer Petras

Iowa Key Players

DB Sebastian Castro

LB Jay Higgins

S Xavier Nwankpa

I'm gonna be honest there isn't much to talk about in this game. Tennessee is gonna be a little thin in this game, especially on the defensive side of the ball with how many transfers they have. They'll be without their top 2 RBs as well in this game, and I still do not have a doubt in my mind that they are going to win this game just due to the sheer lack of talent Iowa has on Offense, specifically at QB with 3 QBs missing from the roster (not to mention that their 2 best players [Luke Lachey and Cooper DeJean] will miss this game due to injury). Ever since Cade McNamara went down in week 5, Iowa has had to turn to redshirt freshman Deacon Hill to lead the offense, and he has been one of the worst QBs to start for a power 5 team (let alone a ranked one) since I started watching football, which I've been doing for 11 years now. Iowa still has some really good players on the defensive side of the ball, and this won't be a blowout, but I just don't see how Iowa can win this game without a serious offense.

Score Prediction: Tennessee 13 Iowa 3

Should you watch it? Only Sickos will enjoy this game

Fiesta Bowl: (8) Oregon (-17) vs (23) Liberty

Oregon Opt-Outs

CB Trikweze Bridges

Oregon Key Players

WR Troy Franklin (#11)

QB Bo Nix (#10)

DL Brandon Dorlus (#5)

Liberty Opt-Outs

CB Preston Hodge

IDL Kendy Charles

Edge Bryan Whitehead

S Jaylon Jimmerson

Liberty Key Players

QB Kaidon Salter

RB Quinton Cooley

LB Tyren Dupree

There aren't going to be too many stars missing from this game, which is surprising for Oregon who has a lot of guys playing despite being top NFL Prospects. Oregon has a nasty group of skill players on Offense, most notably their backfield duo of Bo Nix and Bucky Irving, and star WR Troy Franklin. Oregon's offense is lethal and has much more talent than Liberty has dealt with all year, which will make the game hard for Liberty but I think this game will be closer than most are expecting. Liberty has a really good rushing attack and Kaidon Salter is one of the best QBs in the country (He's arguably the best QB in the GO5 as well) so I expect this game to be a solid one, but I think Oregon will ultimately out talent Liberty. This should be a high-scoring and entertaining game to hold us over until the Rose Bowl starts at 4 PM (CST).

Score Prediction: Oregon 38 Liberty 28

Should you watch it? Unless you're a sicko yes 100%.

Rose Bowl: (1) Michigan (-1.5) vs (4) Alabama

Michigan Key Players

C Drake Nugent

LB Michael Barrett

WR Roman Wilson

Alabama Opt-Outs

WR Ja'Corey Brooks

Alabama Key Players

QB Jalen Milroe (#4)

CB Ga'Quincy "Kool-Aid" McKinstry (#1)

Edge Chris Braswell (#41)

This might be the game of the year, which makes sense, as the Rose Bowl is the most highly touted bowl game there is. Starting with Michigan, they are led by the best offensive line in the nation and have a really good backfield duo with Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards. The passing game is best led by their strong offensive line, but JJ McCarthy and Roman Wilson make for a solid enough air duo that the passing game can be effective. I do have worries that defense at the level of Alabama's (a team with 4 guys I give a top 2-round grade in the upcoming draft) will be able to neutralize the Michigan Passing game. The Wolverines also tout one of the nation's best defenses, with arguably the best LB duo in the country, with Michael Wilson and Michael Barrett. They have a really strong run defense that could force Bama into more obvious passing downs than they'd like. For Bama, they have one of the best tackles in the nation (JC Latham) but their overall Offensive Line isn't on the same tier as a team like Michigan, although Jalen Milroe and Jermaine Burton are a better QB1/WR1 pairing than McCarthy and Wilson. Bama also boasts a strong rushing attack with one of the better RB duos (Jase McClellan and Roydell Williams) like Michigan, but Jalen Milroe's rushing ability gives Alabama's offense a different level of explosiveness. I expect a good bit of PA passes and Shot plays in this game from both teams, as well as a lot of establishing the run. I think this will be a very good game that could be won by either team, but gun to my head give me THE TIDE.

Score Prediction: Alabama 27 Michigan 21

Should You watch it? Even if you don't like football you should watch this game.

Sugar Bowl: (2) Washington vs (3) Texas (-4)

Washington Opt-Outs

S Vincent Nunley

Washington Key Players

QB Michael Penix Jr (#9)

WR Rome Odunze (#1)

Edge Bralen Trice (#8)

Texas Opt-Outs

QB Maalik Murphy

S Jalen Catalon

Texas Key Players

QB Quinn Ewers (#3)

IDL T'Vondre Sweat (#93)

WRs Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell (#1 and #5)

I disagree with the betting line for this game. I like this Texas team and they have a lot of star power (I like Quinn Ewers and their receivers too), and are a well-balanced team, but I feel like Washington has more star power and that their passing attack is just too much for Texas' defense to overcome (although they have one of the best and deepest front 7s in college, their secondary isn't quite good enough to effectively overcome Washington's passing attack. I'll make a scouting report on Michael Penix Jr when we get closer to draft season, but for my ticket, he's the best college QB in the nation

Score Prediction: Washington 38 Texas 31

Should you watch it? Yes 100%