5. Alamo Bowl
Details: Friday, Jan. 2, 6:45 p.m. ET, ESPN
The skinny: An intriguing Big 12/Pac-12 matchup. And it also matches teams that overachieved (No. 11-rated K-State) and underachieved (No. 14 UCLA) relative to their talent levels. K-State senior WR Tyler Lockett (above) is a dynamic playmaker. This is the final college game for UCLA QB Brett Hundley (above), and he'll be facing a physical defense.
Game picks:
Brandt: Kansas State, 28-27
Brooks: UCLA, 31-28
Jeremiah: UCLA, 21-20
Fischer: Kansas State, 35-28
Goodbread: UCLA, 43-14
Huguenin: UCLA, 28-23
4. Peach Bowl
Associated Press
4. Peach Bowl
Details: Wednesday, Dec. 31, 12:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
The skinny: No. 6-rated TCU should be playing with a chip on its shoulder, given that it fell from No. 3 to No. 6 in the final playoff rankings. While TCU has won with offense, No. 9 Ole Miss with defense. TCU QB Trevone Boykin (above) had a huge season, and he poses a stern test for the Rebels' defense. Rebels CB Senquez Golson (above) is second nationally with nine interceptions, and he and the rest of Ole Miss' "Land Shark" defense know that the outcome of this one is in their hands.
Game picks:
Brandt: TCU, 21-20
Brooks: TCU, 24-20
Jeremiah: Ole Miss, 28-24
Fischer: TCU, 33-28
Goodbread: Ole Miss, 31-27
Huguenin: TCU, 27-21
3. Cotton Bowl
Associated Press
3. Cotton Bowl
Details: Thursday, Jan. 1, 12:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
The skinny: The offensive-minded Bears meet up against the tough-minded Spartans. Worth noting is that in two games against good teams that run the spread, No. 8-rated Michigan State was sliced-and-diced by Oregon and Ohio State. But while the Spartans' defense could have trouble with No. 5 Baylor, the same goes for the Bears' defense against the Spartans' offense. Two high-level junior defensive ends will be on view in Baylor's Shawn Oakman (above), who said Monday he is staying in school, and Michigan State's Shilique Calhoun (above).
Game picks:
Brandt: Michigan State, 37-34
Brooks: Baylor, 40-38
Jeremiah: Michigan State, 31-30
Fischer: Baylor, 30-24
Goodbread: Michigan State, 42-24
Huguenin: Baylor, 34-31
2. Sugar Bowl
Associated Press
2. Sugar Bowl
Details: Thursday, Jan. 1, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
The skinny: It doesn't get much better than Nick Saban vs. Urban Meyer, with a spot in the national title game on the line. There is talent galore on both teams, headed by No. 1-rated Alabama WR Amari Cooper (above) and No. 4 Ohio State DE Joey Bosa (above). The biggest storyline: This will be just the second career start for Ohio State sophomore QB Cardale Jones, and you have to figure Saban and defensive coordinator Kirby Smart are prepared to throw a ton of different looks at Jones.
Game picks:
Brandt: Alabama, 34-24
Brooks: Alabama, 25-22
Jeremiah: Ohio State, 28-27
Fischer: Alabama, 31-17
Goodbread: Alabama, 27-17
Huguenin: Alabama, 28-17
1. Rose Bowl
Associated Press
1. Rose Bowl
Details: Thursday, Jan. 1, 5 p.m. ET, ESPN
The skinny: No. 3-rated FSU is the only unbeaten team in the nation, but seemingly everyone not wearing garnet and gold questions the Seminoles. There's a great quarterback matchup: No. 2 Oregon's Marcus Mariota (above), this season's Heisman winner, vs. FSU's Jameis Winston (above), last season's Heisman winner. The absence of Oregon CB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, who is injured, is big. But how big? Oregon's offense is going to have success. Can the Ducks stymie FSU's passing attack without Ekpre-Olomu? Expect a shootout.
Game picks:
Brandt: Florida State, 35-31
Brooks: Florida State, 30-27
Jeremiah: Florida State, 38-31
Fischer: Oregon, 40-31
Goodbread: Florida State, 30-24
Huguenin: Oregon, 38-34