College football bowl games: Who plays today Wednesday December 27? | Teams, times and matchups

Quick reminder and preview of today’s Bowl Season program.

Military Bowl: Virginia Tech vs Tulane

The Military Bowl will feature a matchup between Tulane and Virginia Tech, but it illustrates the challenges that the current bowl season is facing. Due to player absences, there is an atmosphere of indifference, which has resulted in a lack of star power and a diminished competitive edge in these matchups.

The Virginia Tech Hokies, representing the ACC, will compete against the 23rd-ranked Tulane Green Wave, representing the AAC, at the Military Bowl in Annapolis, Maryland. The Hokies have a record of 6-6 this season and won their last game to qualify for the bowl. The Green Wave has a record of 11-2 but lost the AAC Championship to SMU in their previous game.

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Duke’s Mayo Bowl: North Carolina vs West Virginia

West Virginia is relatively unscathed by opt-outs and transfers, while North Carolina faces a more challenging situation with several key players opting out. North Carolina’s defensive struggles are highlighted, ranking 89th in rush defense and 101st in pass defense.

In contrast, West Virginia boasts a top-five rushing offense and is expected to dominate on the ground against North Carolina’s depleted lineup. The prediction leans towards West Virginia securing a decisive victory.

DIRECTV Holiday Bowl: Louisville vs USC

Louisville had a great 10-3 season, with wins over Notre Dame and Duke. However, their loss to Pitt prevented them from being conference champions. Quarterback Jack Plummer had his best season yet with 3,063 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. But Louisville will have to play without two key players, Hawkins and Atwell, which could impact their offense. Senior running back Isaac Guerendo will have to step up. The defense allowed only 19.7 points per game this season, and there are no major absences for the bowl game. Defensive end Ashton Gillotte is one to watch, finishing the season with 11 sacks and ranking eighth in the country.

USC’s 2023 season was disappointing. The defense didn’t improve, and the offensive line regressed, causing losses to Notre Dame and other top teams. Losing key players will limit their offense, but Coach Lincoln Riley will still develop creative strategies for Miller Moss and the talented players remaining. However, the defense is still a concern as they allowed an average of 34.9 points per game, ranking third-worst among Power 5 teams. Starting safety Calen Bullock and starting linebacker Tackett Curtis won’t be playing, which will weaken the defense.

Watch entire NCAA Football Bowl Season on FuboTV(free trial available)

TaxAct Texas Bowl: Texas A&M vs Oklahoma State

On Wednesday night, the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the Texas A&M Aggies will face off at the Texas Bowl. The Aggies ended the season with a 7-5 record, while the Cowboys reached the Big 12 title game with a 9-4 record. The last time they met was in 2019, with the Aggies winning by three points. This rivalry game is expected to be close, so fans should be in their seats for the match.