Hoosier Huddle's Top Five Non-CFP Bowl Games to Watch

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Written By Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle) 

It’s bowl season! Unfortunately, Indiana is home for the holidays as they finished 5-7 this season, but that doesn’t mean Hoosier football fans cannot enjoy this year’s slate of bowl games. We at Hoosier Huddle just love college football and have picked seven bowl games, outside of the College Football Playoff that fans should tune in to.

Our Top Five

1. Holiday Bowl, Michigan State (9-3) vs. Washington State (9-3) Dec. 28th 9pm FS1

A matchup between a team that redeemed themselves and one that probably thinks they under achieved. It’ll be fun to see what Wazzu quarterback Luke Falk can do against a stingy Big Ten defense.

2. Alamo Bowl, Stanford (9-4) vs, TCU (10-3), Dec. 28th 9pm ESPN

Both schools are coming off losses in their respective conference title games, but it’s a still an intriguing matchup that features Heisman hopeful running back Bryce Love for Stanford and a 2,800-yard passer in Kenny Hill for TCU.

3. Camping World Bowl, Oklahoma State (9-3) vs. Virginia Tech (9-3), 5:15pm, ESPN

It’s strength against strength as Mason Rudolph and the Cowboys go up against a vaunted Virginia Tech defense. The Hokie defense will have a month to prepare for the Oklahoma State aerial attack. Can the Hokie offense keep up?

4. Peach Bowl, Auburn (10-3) vs. Central Florida (13-0), Jan 1st 12:30pm, ESPN

Many Central Florida fans are probably feeling snubbed from the College Football Playoff right now as they were left out as the nation’s only undefeated FBS team. Auburn is coming off a 28-7 loss to Georgia in the SEC title game that cost the Tigers a spot in the final four. UCF may be without a coach as their head man, Scott Frost bolted to Nebraska. Will Auburn care enough to take care of business in Atlanta and keep UCF from sending a message to the committee that they belong.

5. Cotton Bowl, Ohio State (11-2) vs. Southern California (11-2), Dec. 29th 8:30pm, ESPN

Usually the matchup between the Big Ten and Pac-12 champs is reserved for the Rose Bowl, but that’s a semi-final game in 2017 and this game between traditional powers will be played in Cowboys Stadium. Can Ohio State get pasted the playoff snub and avoid a letdown or will they wilt against Sam Darnold and the Trojans and make the committee say ‘I told you so”. Either way this is a fun game.

Bonus Games:

1. Las Vegas Bowl, Oregon (7-5) vs. Boise State (10-3), Dec. 16th, 3:30pm, ABC

Oregon has been a fun watch as Willie Taggart has brought the Ducks offense back to life. Boise State won the Mountain West title and is looking to knockoff another Power Five opponent in a bowl game.

2. Foster Farms Bowl, Purdue (6-6) vs. Arizona (7-5), 8:30pm, Fox

This may be a tough one for IU fans to watch, but swallow your pride and tune in because Arizona’s Khalil Tate is electric. I also like to keep an eye on what IU’s rivals are doing. Plus, it’s #Pac12AfterDark and crazy things happen.