Bowl Games 2022-23: Predictions for Most Exciting Matchups on the Schedule

Bowl season is nearly upon us once again. While some college football teams are done for the year, others will get to put on the pads and compete one more time (or two, for the ones that advance past the College Football Playoff semifinals).

There are 41 bowl games this season, beginning with a Bahamas Bowl matchup between UAB and Miami (Ohio) on Dec. 16. Not every bowl is going to be thrilling and competitive, but some of them will provide that type of exciting action.

Both CFP semifinals on Dec. 31 should be entertaining. Georgia and Ohio State are facing off in the Peach Bowl, while Michigan and TCU are going head-to-head in the Fiesta Bowl. The winners will advance to the CFP National Championship Game on Jan. 9.

But with so many bowls on the schedule, which non-CFP matchups are most worth tuning in for?

Here's a look at several bowls with exciting matchups that aren't part of the College Football Playoff but should still be quite fun to watch.

Dec. 16 is the first day of bowl season, and there are two games on that day's schedule. The second is an intriguing matchup between Troy and UTSA in the Cure Bowl that has the potential to be the first thrilling bowl game.

It's the only bowl this season that features a pair of conference champions. Troy (11-2) enters on a 10-game winning streak after beating Coastal Carolina in the Sun Belt Championship Game. UTSA (11-2) has also won 10 straight games, a stretch that includes a victory over North Texas in the Conference USA Championship Game.

UTSA's offense is led by talented senior quarterback Frank Harris. He has thrown for 3,865 yards, 31 touchdowns and seven interceptions while leading the Roadrunners to success this season. But he and the rest of that unit will face a tough test in Troy's defense, which is anchored by senior linebacker Carlton Martial, the FBS career tackles leader.

These two teams appear to be even. But the prediction here is that UTSA (which is joining the AAC next season) squeaks by, with Harris leading a crucial, late scoring drive.

Prediction: UTSA 31, Troy 28

Steve Sarkisian's first head-coaching job came with Washington from 2009 to 2013. Now, he's the head coach at Texas, and he's preparing the Longhorns to take on the Huskies in the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 29.

Even without the Sarkisian storyline, this is an interesting matchup, as Washington and Texas both had some highs and lows during the regular season. The Huskies (10-2) lost back-to-back games to UCLA and Arizona State earlier in the year, before ending with six straight wins, including a victory over Oregon. The Longhorns (8-4) own a win over Kansas State and never lost by more than seven points.

Both teams should get solid quarterback play in the Alamo Bowl. Washington junior Michael Penix Jr. has had an impressive year, passing for 4,354 yards, 29 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Meanwhile, Texas redshirt freshman Quinn Ewers missed some time due to a shoulder injury, but he has a lot of talent.

There's a good chance the Longhorns could be without star junior running back Bijan Robinson, who could be leaving for the NFL. Still, Texas has enough talent on both sides of the ball to pull away late from Washington, as Sarkisian will notch a win over his former program.

Prediction: Texas 33, Washington 24

The pageantry that comes with the Rose Bowl is always exciting. But this season, the game (which is set for Jan. 2) will also have a great matchup, even though it's not one of the New Year's Six bowls featured in the College Football Playoff.

Utah (10-3) earned a spot in the Rose Bowl by winning the Pac-12 championship. It may have lost games to Florida, UCLA and Oregon during the regular season, but the Utes own a pair of wins over USC, including a victory in the Pac-12 Championship Game.

Penn State (10-2) was the third-best team in the Big Ten behind Michigan and Ohio State (both in the CFP), but the Nittany Lions still had a solid regular season. Their only losses came against the Wolverines and Buckeyes, as they took care of everybody else on their schedule.

The biggest difference-maker in this matchup could be Utah junior quarterback Cameron Rising. He has stepped up in big moments, such as when he threw for 310 yards and three touchdowns in the Pac-12 Championship Game. Expect him to have another impressive performance to help guide the Utes to victory.

Prediction: Utah 30, Penn State 28