Group of Five teams will have a chance to shine during bowl season. Find out which G5 teams could earn a berth in a bowl game this year.
Among the Group of Five conferences, 35 teams became bowl-eligible.
Here’s a look at each bowl game that will have a G5 team and predictions for those matchups, including Liberty taking on Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl.
For my Fiesta Bowl prediction, I’m picking Oregon to win but for Liberty to cover the spread at +17.5. I also am predicting the game will go Over 65.5 total points.
By several metrics, Liberty had one of the worst schedules in the country. But the teams the Flames played are competing at the FBS level nonetheless, and Liberty consistently dominated them on both sides of the ball.
Liberty has the HERO Sports G5 Player of the Year, Kaidon Salter, and the Co-Coach of the Year, Jamey Chadwell, as well as other G5 All-Americans. Some may not believe CUSA is a strong conference, but the Flames are loaded with talent and have been consistently great.
And they don’t rely on their offense or defense to win, either. While the Flames were top five in the country in scoring offense (40.8 points per game) and total offense (514.9 yards per game), they were also among the two best teams in CUSA in scoring defense (22.7 points per game allowed) and total defense (356.5 yards per game allowed).
All of this makes me believe Oregon won’t win in a blowout. That said, the Ducks have defeated a number of nationally-ranked teams. With Oregon quarterback Bo Nix reportedly playing, I think the Dukes will score enough to avoid an upset against Liberty.
For my Armed Forces Bowl prediction, I’m picking JMU to win and cover the spread at -2.5. I also am predicting the game will go Under 41 total points.
Air Force was clearly not playing at its best at the end of the regular season. The Falcons, after starting the 2023 season 8-0, have lost their last four contests.
Meanwhile, JMU has only lost once all season – in overtime against App State. While the Falcons do have the second-best rushing offense in the country with 275.8 yards per game, the Dukes allow 61.5 rushing yards per game, which is the fewest in the FBS.
I think JMU’s defense will give Air Force’s offense plenty of problems. I also anticipate the Dukes will find a way to win in a low-scoring game.
For my Frisco Bowl prediction, I’m picking UTSA to win but for Marshall to cover the spread at +13. I also am predicting the game will go Over 52.5 total points.
UTSA is more skilled on both sides of the ball, in my opinion. The Roadrunners were top five in the AAC in both scoring offense and defense this year, while Marshall was outside of the top five in both categories in the Sun Belt.
UTSA also is playing in its home state. However, I do believe Marshall will manage to keep this a one-possession game.
The Thundering Herd scored 35 or more points in two of their last three games, and I think they continue that momentum on offense in this contest.
For my Guaranteed Rate Bowl prediction, I’m picking Kansas to win but for UNLV to cover the spread at +12.5. I also am predicting the game will go Under 64.5 total points.
I think Kansas is the better team. But I don’t think the Jayhawks are 13 points better.
I believe UNLV’s offense will prove to be talented enough to keep this game close. The Rebels are first in the Mountain West with 34.3 points per game scored and are third with 414.8 yards per game gained.
But I think Kansas will be in control for most of this matchup. The Jayhawks put together an impressive resume this season, including a win over Oklahoma and an 8-4 overall record. They’ve also limited three of their last four opponents to 21 or fewer points, so I think their defense will make critical plays on the way to a victory.
For my Quick Lane Bowl prediction, I’m picking Bowling Green to win and cover the spread at +4. I also am predicting the game will go Under 38.5 total points.
I believe the defenses for Bowling Green and Minnesota will thrive in this matchup. The Falcons were in the top five in the MAC in scoring defense (23.5 points per game allowed) while the Gophers gave up 26.9 points per game, which was 10th in the Big Ten.
But I think Bowling Green is simply playing better recently. The Gophers haven’t won since October, while the Falcons have won each of their last six contests except their one-point loss against Toledo.
I also believe Bowling Green’s offense, which ranked second in the MAC with 26.3 points per game scored in 2023, will score just enough to earn an upset.
For my Camellia Bowl prediction, I’m picking Arkansas State to win and cover the spread at -1. I also am predicting the game will go Over 53.5 total points.
I like the way both of these offenses have been playing recently. Northern Illinois scored 61 points in its last two outings, while Arkansas State has totaled 98 in its last two games.
If it does become a high-scoring contest, I think the Red Wolves have the advantage. They’re used to those kinds of matchups. Arkansas State has scored at least 31 points in each of its six wins this season.
I think the Red Wolves will score early and often en route to a victory.
For my Famous Idaho Potato Bowl prediction, I’m picking Utah State to win and cover the spread at -1. I also am predicting the game will go Over 62.5 total points.
I believe both of these teams are talented on the offensive side of the ball. I foresee this being a high-scoring contest as a result.
However, I think USU is playing better recently. The Panthers haven’t won since October, while the Aggies had to play with some urgency late in the season to get to a bowl game at all.
I think the Aggies will keep their momentum going into this clash.
For my First Responder Bowl prediction, I’m picking Texas State to win and cover the spread at -4.5. I also am predicting the game will go Over 60.5 total points.
I anticipate Texas State’s offense will dominate in this matchup. The Bobcats were in the top 20 in the FBS with 36 points per game scored. Even if they lose, I don’t think they’ll struggle scoring in this clash.
But I don’t expect them to lose. Even if Rice is capable of making this a high-scoring battle, the Bobcats are comfortable in those types of games.
Three of Texas State’s last four games have featured 61 or more points.
Yes, Texas State struggled a bit against Sun Belt teams after starting the year 4-1 overall. But after beating South Alabama 52-44 in their regular season finale, I believe the Bobcats will thrive in the First Responder Bowl with a few weeks of preparation.
For my 68 Ventures Bowl prediction, I’m picking South Alabama to win but for Eastern Michigan to cover the spread at +15.5. I also am predicting the game will go Under 47 total points.
While South Alabama has been solid offensively, the Jaguars have been arguably even better on defense this season. They ranked third in the Sun Belt with 21.9 points per game allowed.
EMU, meanwhile, ranked in the top half of the MAC in scoring defense with 24 points per game allowed. So I think both of these teams’ defenses will make this be a low-scoring contest.
However, I anticipate South Alabama’s offense will make just enough explosive plays to end up winning. The Jaguars have averaged 31 points per game in their last three, so I think they will keep playing well enough on that side of the ball to win by a score similar to 24-21.
For my Liberty Bowl prediction, I project Memphis will defeat Iowa State. The Cyclones are 8.5-point favorites against the Tigers.
After playing a tough AAC schedule, Memphis proved it is one of the better G5 teams in the nation. I think the Tigers’ offense will have a great game against Iowa State.
For my Hawai’i Bowl prediction, I’m picking San Jose State to win but for Coastal Carolina to cover the spread at +10. I also am predicting the game will go Under 53.5 total points.
I think both of these defenses will shine in this clash. The Chanticleers are fourth in the Sun Belt in scoring defense (24.7 points per game allowed) while the Spartans are fifth in the Mountain West (25.8 points per game).
That’s why I could see this being a close battle. However, I think SJSU’s offense will manage to sustain drives and will help the Spartans remain in control of the contest.
For my Birmingham Bowl prediction, I’m picking Troy to win but for Duke to cover the spread at +7.5. I also am predicting the game will go Under 44.5 total points.
While Troy will be without head coach Jon Sumrall, I still think the Trojans will play well on defense. They rank 10th in the FBS in scoring defense, having allowed 17.15 points per game.
However, Duke also played well this year before head coach Mike Elko went to Texas A&M. The Blue Devils went 7-5 while playing in the ACC, so obviously there’s some talent on their roster.
I think this will end up being a close, low-scoring contest. But I believe Troy will manage to win.
For my Boca Raton Bowl prediction, I’m picking USF to win and cover the spread at +1.5. I also am predicting the game will go Under 58.5 total points.
Even in USF’s losses this year, the Bulls have managed to play at a high level. They’ve won three of their last five contests, and the two losses were against Memphis, a 59-50 battle, and UTSA.
I think USF will enter this matchup with confidence. The Bulls are also playing in their home state, so I anticipate they will find success on both sides of the ball in a victory.
For my Fenway Bowl prediction, I project SMU will beat Boston College. The Mustangs are 11-point favorites against Boston College.
After securing the AAC Championship against Tulane, SMU proved it’s one of the top G5 teams in the country. Even against Boston College, I have believed the Mustangs would a good chance of winning their bowl game for a while now.
For my Military Bowl prediction, I project Virginia Tech will beat Tulane. Virginia Tech is a 7.5-point favorite against the Green Wave.
Tulane is now also going through a coaching change after Willie Fritz decided to go to Houston. I could see this being a close game, but I think Virginia Tech will be victorious in this contest.
For my Arizona Bowl prediction, I project Toledo will defeat Wyoming. The Cowboys are 3-point favorites.
The Rockets are one of the top Group of Five teams in the country at 11-2 overall. Wyoming is also talented, but I believe Toledo will end up winning.
BowlDayMatchupTVLADec 16Boise St. vs. UCLAABCNew MexicoDec 16NMSU vs. Fresno St.ESPNCureDec 16Miami (OH) vs. App St.ABCNew OrleansDec 16Jax St. vs. LouisianaESPNFamous ToasteryDec 18WKU vs. ODUESPNMyrtle BeachDec 18Ga. Southern vs. OhioESPNFriscoDec 19UTSA vs. MarshallESPNBoca RatonDec 21USF vs. SyracuseESPNHawai’iDec 23CCU vs. SJSUESPN68 VenturesDec 23S. Alabama vs. EMUESPNFamous Idaho PotatoDec 23Ga. St. vs. USUESPNArmed ForcesDec 23JMU vs. Air ForceABCCamelliaDec 23A-State vs. NIUESPNBirminghamDec 23Troy vs. DukeABCGuaranteed RateDec 26Kansas vs. UNLVESPNFirst ResponderDec 26Texas St. vs. RiceESPNQuick LaneDec 26BGSU vs. MinnesotaESPNMilitaryDec 27VT vs. TulaneESPNFenwayDec 28SMU vs. BCESPNLibertyDec 29Memphis vs. Iowa St.ESPNArizonaDec 30Toledo vs. WyomingCW NetworkFiestaJan 1Liberty vs. OregonESPN
