The pre-Christmas college football bowl games: Picks and previews

The 2021-22 bowl season kicks off in the Bahamas, where Toledo looks to avoid a fourth consecutive bowl loss. Interestingly, the Rockets' most recent bowl appearance came in the Bahamas in 2018. Behind running back Bryant Koback (3,915 career yards, 46 touchdowns in 43 games), Toledo aims for a fourth straight victory overall. Meanwhile, Middle Tennessee has held four of its last six opponents to 17 or fewer points.

Prediction: Toledo (-10)

NIU is one of the better stories from 2021, going from 0-6 in 2020 to Mid-American Conference champs. Thomas Hammock is a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award while Michigan State transfer Rocky Lombardi (2,388 passing yards; eight rushing touchdowns) and freshman back Jay Ducker (1,038 rushing yards) have the Huskies in position to win at least 10 games for the first time since 2014. NIU, however, has dropped six straight bowl games, and won't have an easy time with Coastal stars Grayson McCall (2,558 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, three interceptions), Shermari Jones (988 rushing yards, 13 TDs), and tight end Isaiah Likely (52 receptions, 816 yards, 10 TDs).

Prediction: Coastal Carolina (-9 1/2)

Both Western Kentucky and App State each lost in their respective conference championship games, so finishing the season on a positive note will be paramount for both. Led by Conference USA MVP Bailey Zappe (5,545 passing yards, 56 touchdowns, 11 interceptions), leads a WKU offense that averages 43.1 points. On the opposite sideline, the Mountaineers rank among the top defensive teams in the country while allowing 19.3 points per game.

Prediction: Appalachian State (-3)

The question here will be how Fresno State manages without Kalen DeBoer, who took the Washington coaching job, and possibly quarterback Jake Haener, who entered the transfer portal, then removed himself from it after the school hired Jeff Tedford as coach. Defensively, the Bulldogs allowed just 16 points in their last two games and have also posted two shutouts this season. UTEP, meanwhile, recorded two more victories in 2021 than it did the previous four seasons combined. However, the Miners have dropped four of their last five games.

Prediction: Fresno State (-11)

BYU's long-term future is in the Big 12 , and the potential for a bigger bowl payout. However, the immediate focus for the Cougars is securing back-to-back 11-win seasons for the first time since 2006 and '07. Accomplishing that could ride on the legs of Tyler Allgeier, one of the nation's top rushers with 1,404 yards and 20 touchdowns. UAB likely won't be a pushover, and its defense has allowed 188 total yards on the ground while winning two of the final three contests.

Prediction: BYU (-7)

Two teams that struggled in the final weeks of the regular season meet in Mobile. Eastern Michigan dropped two of its final three games, and also yielded an average of 32.8 points over its last six. Things were worse for Hugh Freeze's Liberty squad, which lost its last three games by a combined 56 points. That slide could continue if touted NFL prospect Malik Willis (4,876 passing yards, 44 TDs, 18 INTs; 1,764 rushing yards, 25 TDs from 2020 and '21) doesn't play.

Prediction: Liberty (-8 1/2)

The Jimmy Kimmel-sponsored bowl features a couple of feel-good stories from 2021. Jonathan Smith guided Oregon State to its first winning season since 2013 -- when the program last earned a bowl bid. However, the Beavers, who average 32.8 points, will be in for a serious test against Utah State, which won its first league title since 2012. The Aggies, who rolled over San Diego State 46-13 in the Mountain West Championship Game, put up more than 33 points per game thanks to quarterback Logan Bonner (3,554 passing yards, 36 TDs, 11 INTs) and wideout Deven Thompkins (96 catches, 1,589 yards, nine TDs).

Prediction: Utah State (+7)

Louisiana is coming off its first outright Sun Belt Conference championship, but the coach that got the Ragin' Cajuns to that point, Billy Napier, has taken over the Florida program. Still, Louisiana, which boasts one of the nation's top-scoring defenses (18.3 points allowed per game), likely won't lose any spirit while trying to cap this special campaign with a 12th straight victory. That defense, though, could have its hands full with Marshall running back Rasheen Ali, who ranks among the nation's best rushers with 1,241 yards and tied for the national lead with 20 touchdowns on the ground.

Prediction: Louisiana (-5)

Both Tulsa and Old Dominion got hot when needed most. For the Golden Hurricane, it was winning their final three regular-season games, highlighted by a stunning 34-31 victory at an SMU squad that spent time in The Associated Press Top 25 this season. ODU, meanwhile, was even better down the stretch, winning its last five to become bowl eligible. This matchup features two solid running backs in Old Dominion's Blake Watson (1,039 yards, eight TDs) and Tulsa's Shamari Brooks (922 yards, six TDs).

Prediction: Tulsa (-9 1/2)

Wyoming can thank the Mid-American Conference for its bowl eligibility. After taking down the aforementioned MAC champion Northern Illinois and Ball State during the regular season, the Cowboys aim to make it 3-0 against that league. However, Wyoming was outscored 177-140 while going 2-6 in the Mountain West. Kent State reached the MAC title game but has allowed 41 or more points six times this season.

Prediction: Wyoming (-3)

The first of two bowls that will be played in this suburban Dallas community this season. This could end up being like a home game for Texas-San Antonio, which just won a Conference USA title and now aims to cap its special season with the program's first bowl victory. Standing in the way, though, is SDSU, which looks to rebound after being rocked by the aforementioned Utah State in the Mountain West Championship Game. UTSA's Sincere McCormick (1,479 rushing yards, 15 TDs) is among the country's top running backs, but the Aztecs allow just 77.6 yards on the ground and 2.6 per carry.

Prediction: UTSA (-2 1/2)

Army was rolling on a four-game winning streak when it was stymied 17-13 by three-win Navy is a game that's bigger than any bowl for either school. But, the Black Knights get a chance to close out an otherwise decent season on a positive note. Missouri beat Florida this season, but that's not really saying much. Tyler Badie (1,612 rushing yards, 14 TDs) and the Tigers have a chance to record the program's first bowl victory since 2014

Prediction: Missouri (+3 1/2)

As if we don't have enough bowl games to keep college football occupied, a new one arises. But, we do, and at football hotbed Frisco. It will be a short drive for North Texas, which reached bowl eligibility by winning its final five games of the regular season including 45-23 over previously undefeated UTSA. The Mean Green allowed an average of 17.0 points during that five-game winning streak. Miami, which last won a bowl game in 2010, went 1-6 away from home this season. Four of those defeats came by a combined nine points.

Prediction: North Texas (-3)

For Florida, this is a tepid consolation on a disappointing season that saw the Dan Mullin era come to an end. UCF, on the other hand, might finally have a legitimate chance to beat the Gators and do a little in-state bragging. These programs have met only twice, with Florida winning both -- most recently 42-0 in 2006. The Knights have won five of the last six, but coach Gus Malzahn is 2-5 in bowl games

Prediction: Florida (-7)

The addition of the Frisco Football Classic opened the door for a six-win Hawaii team, even with a losing record, to earn a bowl bid. This is a familiar spot for the Rainbow Warriors, who beat a ranked Fresno State team and posted victories in each of its final two regular-season contests. Memphis started 3-0 but eventually needed a 33-28 win over Tulane in its regular-season finale to earn an eighth consecutive bowl bid.

Prediction: Hawaii (+7)