With the college football regular season in the rear view mirror, Simon Clancy looks ahead to the pick of the bowl games…

While the Playoff pairings rightly garner the bulk of the attention lavished on college football at this time of year, the multiple bowl games regularly throwout some interesting match-ups. Including the Playoff fixtures, there will be some 40 bowl games over the next couple of months and this is our pick of the bunch.

I wanted to start with the New Mexico Bowl, but scheduling meant that it took place before this column hit the website. What was billed as a battle between two of the hottest coaches in college football – Seth Littrell (North Texas) and Matt Wells (Utah State) – proved to be a little lopsided on the scoreboard, with Utah State winning 52-13 in Albuquerque. The game was Wells’ last before he heads to Texas Tech and it could also be the final contest for redshirt sophomore quarterback Jordan Love, who has the sort of arm and accuracy that will see him become a high first-round pick when he declares.

There are four other games that ought to grab the attention over the festive period, sandwiching the Playoff semi-finals on the final weekend of December.

CAMPING WORLD BOWL – West Virginia vs Syracuse
Friday 28th December
If you like defense, then do something else because there won’t be much of it and, if you’re a gambler, I’d expect to cover the spread even if it’s 80+. West Virginia’s Will Grier has questionable arm talent and doesn’t make many NFL throws, but has been a stellar passer for the Mountaineers throughout his career. The Orangemen, meanwhile, had a terrific year and only fell down at the end of the campaign with a dud against Notre Dame, after losing their starting quarterback, Eric Dungey, early in a contest they entered ranked at No. 13.

ALAMO BOWL – Iowa State vs Washington State
Friday 28th December
Any time there’s a Mike Leach team playing, then it’s must-see TV. The disappointing Apple Cup loss against Washington robbed the nation of a chance to see this genius at work but, against Matt Campbell’s Iowa State, he has every opportunity to underline his credentials. Campbell is no slouch either and will be getting some serious NFL looks this offseason, as will WR Hakeem Butler and running back David Montgomery, who both have bright futures. This will be an absolute cracker.

CITRUS BOWL – Kentucky vs Penn State
Tuesday 1st January
This should be another hugely intriguing match-up as two teams who do better running the ball than throwing go head-to-head. The Wildcats were one of the best stories of the season until they ran into Georgia, while Penn State were a terrible fourth-down call away from potentially taking down Ohio State in October. Although both fell away at the end, it will be the last chance to see Penn State passer Trace McSorley and Kentucky RB Benny Snell, who needs just 107 yards to break the school’s all-time rushing record.

FIESTA BOWL – LSU vs UCF
Tuesday 1st January
For the second straight season, UCF were hosed by the Playoff Committee. And for the second straight season, they take on legitimate SEC heavyweights in a bowl game. Twelve months ago, the Knights slapped Auburn around in the Peach Bowl and, if they do the same to the Tigers, it will underline how ridiculous the system is that a team should go unbeaten for two seasons and not figure in the conversation for the final four. The loss of McKenzie Milton swings this in favour of LSU, but UCF will be highly motivated to win.