Five reasons to watch the Miami Beach Bowl

Okay, listen, we get it. Most likely, you think bowl season starts on New Year's Eve. Maybe slightly earlier depending on when your team is playing. But regardless of whether or not you're aware of them, the bowls have already started, and there's plenty of college football action to get you through to the main events around New Year's.

High-scoring football on tap for a Monday afternoon? Tell the boss you're in a meeting for a few hours to sneak in this nooner.

Miami Beach Bowl
Central Michigan (6-6, Mid-American Conference) v. Tulsa (9-3, American Athletic Conference)
Location: Marlins Park, Miami (Yes, really.)
Time: 2:30 P.M. ET/11:30 A.M. PT
Channel: ESPN

• Central Michigan will be coming into this bowl with a bit of a chip on its shoulder, looking to establish legitimacy after that whole winning-against-Oklahoma-State-on-a-fluky-play thing (and also losing to in-state rival Eastern Michigan).
• Speaking of the Chippewas, Cooper Rush has largely been overlooked this season, despite having thrown for 23 touchdowns and nearly 3,300 yards. Look for him to have a huge game.
• On the Tulsa side of the ball, James Flanders is an incredibly dynamic playmaker who is ninth in total rushing yards this season. He'll be trying to lead Tulsa to their tenth win on the season.
• Across the two-year history of the Miami Beach Bowl, no game has been decided by more than 10 points, and no team has scored less than 35. Sure, those were completely different teams, but if history is any guide, this game will at least be slightly competitive.
• If nothing else, this game will be high-scoring. Tulsa has averaged over 41 points per game this season, so this game will likely either be a shootout or a blowout – both of which are fun in their own special ways.

Mascot edge: Hurricanes (Tulsa Golden Hurricanes) generally aren't kind to humans (Central Michigan Chippewas), but this one is so far inland who knows what their strength will be like by kickoff.