College Football 24/7 is providing a daily glimpse at the best players in each bowl game and predictions from writers Gil Brandt, Bucky Brooks, Daniel Jeremiah, Bryan Fischer, Chase Goodbread and Mike Huguenin.
MILITARY BOWL
Site: Annapolis, Md.
Date: Dec. 27
Time/TV: 1 p.m. ET, ESPN
Matchup: Cincinnati (9-3) vs. Virginia Tech (6-6)
NFL teams attending:Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets.
Top players to watch: Cincinnati (G Parker Ehinger, DE Terrell Hartsfield, QB Gunner Kiel, OT Eric Lefeld, LB Jeff Luc); Virginia Tech (FS Detrick Bonner, CB Kendall Fuller, SS Kyshoen Jarrett, DE Dadi Nicolas.)
Why NFL fans should tune in: This isn't exactly a scintillating matchup, though there is some individual talent on hand. Kiel, a third-year sophomore, is a former national top-30 recruit in the 2012 recruiting class who began his career at Notre Dame before transferring to Cincinnati. He has thrown for 3,010 yards and 30 TDs, but could finds things difficult against a talented Hokies secondary. Lefeld (6-6, 310), a four-year starter, is a likely third-day draft pick, though he needs to add strength and bulk. Hartsfield (6-3, 246) is an undersized end who has eight sacks. Luc (6-1, 252) is a former national top-100 recruit who began his career at Florida State; he is physical against the run and has 120 tackles this season. Ehinger is a massive junior (6-7, 315) who will be heavily scrutinized next season. Fuller (6-0, 190) is a sophomore who already is one of the best cornerbacks in the nation. He has it all: size, speed, instincts and ball skills. Bonner (6-1, 206) and Jarrett (5-11, 200) are seniors who could interest teams on the third day of the draft. Both began their Hokies career at cornerback before moving to safety. Nicolas is a junior with pass-rush skills; he is on the small side (6-4, 231), but he is fast off the edge. His matchups with Lefeld will be worth watching. That there are no Hokies offensive players on this list tells you all you need to know about that unit.
Game predictions:
Brandt: Cincinnati, 27-21
Brooks: Virginia Tech, 23-20
Jeremiah: Virginia Tech, 24-21
Fischer: Cincinnati, 31-17
Goodbread: Virginia Tech, 24-17
Huguenin: Cincinnati, 31-21
SUN BOWL
Site: El Paso, Texas
Date: Dec. 27
Time/TV: 2 p.m. ET, CBS
Matchup: Arizona State vs. Duke
Top players to watch: Arizona State (WR Jaelen Strong, QB Taylor Kelly, RB D.J. Foster, OL Jamil Douglas, DT Jaxon Hood, DL Marcus Hardison, S Damarious Randall, DT Mo Latu); Duke (WR Jamison Crowder, OG Laken Tomlinson, LB Kelby Brown, TE Braxton Deaver).
Why NFL fans should tune in: There are a number of NFL prospects on both sides of the ball in this matchup that features a pair of high-powered offenses and sneaky good defenses. ASU's Strong has already decided this will be his last game for the Sun Devils before moving on to the draft and turns in a highlight-reel catch every single outing. His quarterback, Kelly, appears fully healthy and ready to close out his career in style as one of the best ever to pass through Tempe. Throw in playmakers like all-purpose threat Foster and this game could be one of the more entertaining games. Strong's opposite number for the Blue Devils at wideout is the dependable Crowder, who isn't the only prospect on the team that will hear his name called on draft day. If you love trench work, be sure to keep an eye on Tomlinson, an All-America guard, go up against a fast and attacking ASU defense.
Game predictions:
Brandt: Arizona State, 42-24
Brooks: Arizona State, 38-35
Jeremiah: Duke, 35-31
Fischer: Arizona State, 38-28
Goodbread: Arizona State, 43-35
Huguenin: Arizona State, 38-24
INDEPENDENCE BOWL
Site: Shreveport, La.
Date: Dec. 27
Time/TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC
Matchup: Miami (6-6) vs. South Carolina (6-6)
NFL teams attending:Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers.
Top players to watch: Miami (RB Duke Johnson; LB Denzel Perryman, OL Ereck Flowers, TE Clive Walford, DB Ladarius Gunter); South Carolina (RB Mike Davis, OT Corey Robinson, OG A.J. Cann, DL J.T. Surratt, QB Dylan Thompson).
Why NFL fans should tune in: Call it the Indy .500 Bowl as both teams look to get ahead of the .500 mark to finish a disappointing season on a good note. The matchup between Perryman and the South Carolina offensive line, in particular Cann, could be the most intriguing individual battle of the game between pro prospects. Cann has been called a day-one NFL starter and Florida coach Will Muschamp has called him the best guard in the SEC. Davis, too, will see his share of Perryman, arguably the hardest-hitting defender in the ACC. Davis has already announced he will enter the draft. Expect a big game from Johnson, who should have his way against a Gamecocks defense that has been a season-long mess. He's been compared to the likes of Walter Payton. A young one to watch is UM quarterback Brad Kaaya, who threw 25 touchdown passes to earn ACC Freshman of the Year honors.
Game predictions:
Brandt: Miami, 31-27
Brooks: South Carolina, 27-20
Jeremiah: Miami, 28-24
Fischer: Miami, 33-24
Goodbread: Miami, 30-20
Huguenin: South Carolina, 28-24
PINSTRIPE BOWL
Site: Bronx, N.Y.
Date: Dec. 27
Time/TV: 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Matchup: Boston College (7-5) vs. Penn State (6-6)
NFL team attending:New York Giants.
Top players to watch: Boston College (OT Seth Betancourt, C Andy Gallik, DE Brian Mihalik, QB Tyler Murphy, DT Connor Wujciak); Penn State (SS Adrian Amos, G Miles Dieffenbach, QB Christian Hackenberg, WR DaeSean Hamilton, LB Mike Hull, TE Jesse James, CB Jordan Lucas, DE C.J. Olaniyan, OT Donovan Smith, DT Anthony Zettel.)
Why NFL fans should tune in: You like throwback games, ones where it's all about rock-ribbed defenses? Then by all means tune in. BC is 123rd nationally in pass offense, while Penn State is 73rd. Thing is, BC doesn't want to throw but Penn State does. Murphy (6-2, 213) is a graduate transfer from Florida who is No. 3 nationally in rushing yards by a quarterback (1,074 yards), but he is a poor passer. Gallik (6-3, 304) and Betancourt (6-6, 300) head an offensive line with five fifth-year seniors as starters. Gallik should be among the first centers drafted; Betancourt looks to be a free-agent type. Mihalik is one of the most physically imposing defensive linemen in the nation (6-9, 285); he is a senior who could intrigue some teams because of his sheer size. Wujciak (6-3, 304) is a run-stuffer in the middle. Hackenberg (6-3 234) was the best freshman quarterback in the nation in 2013, but regressed this season; Penn State's offensive line was a mess all season, which meant no rushing attack and open season on Hackenberg. He has the needed tools, but his confidence looks shaken. Dieffenbach (6-3, 303) is a senior who missed most of the season because of a knee injury suffered in spring ball. If he had been healthy, he and Smith, a talented junior, would've formed a strong left side of the line. Hamilton was the most prolific freshman receiver in the nation (75 receptions, but just one TD), and looks to be a future star. Zettel (6-5, 276), a junior who could turn pro, needs to add weight, but he has good pass-rush skills (eight sacks) for an interior lineman and also does a nice job against the run. Olaniyan (6-3, 259) is solid against the run and has flashed some pass-rush ability. Hull (6-0, 225), a senior, is one of the nation's best linebackers. He lacks size, but he can go sideline to sideline, flows nicely to the ball and can deliver a blow. Amos (6-0, 211) also has played cornerback, has good coverage skills for a safety and looks to be a potential mid-round selection. James and Lucas are juniors who should intrigue scouts next season; James is massive (6-7, 265), while Lucas lacks elite speed but is a heady guy who has good balls skills and is solid in run support.
Game predictions:
Brandt: Boston College, 24-17
Brooks: Penn State, 35-30
Jeremiah: Penn State, 34-28
Fischer: Boston College, 24-16
Goodbread: Boston College, 24-17
Huguenin: Boston College, 16-14
HOLIDAY BOWL
Site: San Diego
Date: Dec. 27
Time/TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN
Matchup: Nebraska (9-3) vs. USC (8-4)
Top players to watch: Nebraska (DE Randy Gregory, RB Ameer Abdullah, WR Kenny Bell, DB Corey Cooper); USC (DL Leonard Williams, WR Nelson Agholor, RB Buck Allen, DB Josh Shaw, QB Cody Kessler, OL Aundrey Walker, DL JR Tavai, LB Hayes Pullard, DB Gerald Bowman, DL Delvon Simmons)
Why NFL fans should tune in: Two historic college football powers will meet at the home of the Chargers in one of the most anticipated games of the bowl season for NFL scouts. The reason they're so excited? Look no further than the fact that Nebraska's Gregory and USC's Williams will both be rushing the passer in the same game and could wind up being early-round draft picks. Add in some talented playmakers like USC's Agholor -- who also doubles as an electric punt returner -- and Nebraska's shifty Abdullah and you'll be hard pressed to find a better game before the New Year's Six kick off. Even the under-the-radar guys like Pullard and Bell are worth tuning in for as the tireless workers are a joy to watch as savvy veterans. Seriously, it doesn't get much better than this in the great city of San Diego in what should be a packed house.
Brandt: USC, 38-28
Brooks: USC, 33-30
Jeremiah: USC, 45-28
Fischer: USC, 45-30
Goodbread: USC, 26-17
Huguenin: USC, 31-23
*Follow College Football 24/7 on Twitter **@NFLCFB.*
