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College football bowl picks: Predicting the score of every game

Stetson Bennett and Georgia soundly defeated Michigan in a semifinal game of the College Football Playoff last season. John David Mercer/USA TODAY Sports

The idea of picking all the bowl matchups immediately after they're set is equal parts fun and chaotic. Kind of like the college football season.

But we'll do it here -- all 43 games -- from the HomeTown Lenders Bahamas Bowl to the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T.

Key players likely will opt out of games in the coming days, and many teams are dealing with coaching changes -- at the top and/or the assistant ranks. Motivation is always a huge factor for bowl games. Teams like Duke, Kansas, UConn and New Mexico State will be stoked to play in bowls, while other squads will have a tougher time getting revved up.

Certain matchups jump out, not only those in the CFP/New Year's Six but Group of 5 games like Troy-UTSA. Or pairings with contrasting styles like Illinois-Mississippi State. There's plenty of history in these matchups, from Tulane's return to the big bowl stage to Kansas and Arkansas meeting for the first time in more than 100 years.

These picks are straight up -- I have enough factors working against me here -- although point spreads and other tools were used in making the selections.

Ready, set, bowl!

College Football Playoff

Dec. 31

CFP semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl: Georgia Bulldogs vs. Ohio State Buckeyes
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, Georgia) | Tickets