SB Nation

The best Pac-12 2015-16 bowl games: don't miss these ones

Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports

Avinash Kunnath & Jack Follman select the Pac-12 bowl games you have to watch this bowl season.

We picked the worst Pac-12 bowl games yesterday, but here is the good stuff. The must-watch Pac-12 bowl games of 2015-16.

6. Las Vegas Bowl - Utah vs. BYU - Saturday, December 19 12:30 PM - Las Vegas, Nevada

AK: The salt! So much salt. These teams hate each other, are very similar in playing style, and the Utes would love to finish Bronco Mendenhall's tenure in Provo with a loss. However, no Devontae Booker is a trouble spot for the Utes, who haven't been the same at all.

JF: The Holy War in the city of sin. I'm in.

5. Sun Bowl - Washington State vs. Miami - Saturday, December 26 11 AM - El Paso, Texas

AK: It's good to see Wazzu back in a major bowl game, but this is a major trap game unless Luke Falk is 100%. The Hurricanes have actually played good football the last few weeks of the season, and will be a very solid matchup for a Cougars team that's learning to live in the spotlight.

JF: The Sun Bowl is usually a bore, but I love this year's match-up. Their best bowl in more than 10 years, Washington State will actually be excited to be there and even if they aren't really "The U" anymore, Miami is still a fun program to go up against. Hopefully this will also be a healthy Luke Falk vs. Brad Kaaya in a fun quarterback battle.

4. Cactus Bowl - Arizona State vs. West Virginia - Saturday, January 2 7:15 PM - Phoenix, Arizona

AK: West Virginia and Arizona State are a perfect matchup. Both ordinary, both with obvious flaws and both like to score a lot. Should be a great final matchup to end the 2016 bowl season. The points will flow in our final edition of Pac-12 After Dark.

JF: This is one of those lower bowls that could sneak up and end up being a great game. I think both these teams are better than their records and I like the home game aspect for Arizona State. It should give them a bit of an edge against a slightly better team.

3. Holiday Bowl - USC vs. Wisconsin - Wednesday, December 30 7:30 PM - San Diego, California

AK: Going to be interesting how the Trojans battle the Badgers with practically no defensive staff, but on the flip side Wisconsin had one of the worst offenses in college football this year. The highlight will be USC's big weapons going up against the very physical Wisconsin defense.

JF: Even if these are far from the best teams ever fielded by these programs, these are still the kind of prestigious bowl parings I love to see. Pac-12 fans should watch this one to see how USC comes out in their first outing with Clay Helton as the official head guy. He will be under a lot of pressure to deliver a good first impression.

2. Rose Bowl - Stanford vs. Iowa - Friday, January 1 2 PM - Pasadena, California

AK: The highest quality matchup, but since it's meaningless, this game is almost guaranteed to end 17-14 or something very obscure and low scoring. David Shaw tends to play to the style of his opponent, so don't expect a track meet.

JF: Yes, this isn't a Playoff, but  it's still Big Ten vs. Pac-12, New Year's Day and these teams match up fairly well. Iowa will be ecstatic to be at the Rose Bowl for the first time in 25 years and it could help them take on a Stanford team that is probably more talented across the board along with having the nation's most-electrifying player.

1. Alamo Bowl - Oregon vs. TCU - Saturday, January 2 3:45 PM - San Antonio, Texas

AK: Since Vernon Adams came back fully healthy, the Ducks are back on full tilt. The Horned Frogs are a salty team that should provide Oregon with a stiff test. Both teams are pretty evenly matched in terms of offensive acumen and defensive deficiency. Take your over.

JF: This might be the best non-Playoff bowl game around this year. These teams have offenses that should fly indoors with nothing left  to lose and suspect defenses. Hopefully this is Vernon Adams vs. a healthy Trevone Boykin.

In This Article

Players
  • Trevone Boykin (QB-TCU)
  • David Shaw (Maryland)
  • Brad Kaaya (QB-Miami)
  • Devontae Booker (RB-Utah)
  • David Shaw (Maryland)
  • Brad Kaaya (QB-Miami)

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