College football bowl schedules and predictions

Well, well, well my friends, the best time of the year is upon us. Saturday's slate of games kicks off the month-long countdown until the moment we've all been waiting for -€” crowning college football's national champion.

This year, Santa Benny Clause is giving out Christmas gifts a little early with the following picks. Keep in mind these are not against the spread, but simply straight up winners. These picks are a reflection of my personal views and should be adopted by you immediately. Need a little extra scratch this holiday season? Lay a couple $20 spots on a few of my winners and don't say I never did anything for ya's.

Saturday, Dec. 15

Celebration Bowl: North Carolina A&T vs. Alcorn State

Noon, ET. ABC

Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Atlanta, Georgia

Winner: Alcorn State

New Mexico Bowl: Utah State vs. North Texas

2 p.m. ET, ESPN

Branch Field at Dreamstyle Stadium

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Winner: North Texas

Cure Bowl: Tulane vs. Louisiana

2:30 p.m. ET, CBSSN

Camping World Stadium

Orlando, Florida

Winner: Tulane

Las Vegas Bowl: Fresno State vs. Arizona State

3:30 p.m. ET, ABC

Sam Boyd Stadium

Las Vegas, Nevada

Winner: Fresno State

Camellia Bowl: Georgia Southern vs. Eastern Michigan

5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

Cramton Bowl

Montgomery, Alabama

Winner: Eastern Michigan

New Orleans Bowl: Middle Tennessee vs. Appalachian State

9 p.m. ET, ESPN

Mercedes-Benz Superdome

New Orleans, Louisiana

Winner: Appalachian State

Tuesday, Dec. 18

Boca Raton Bowl: UAB vs. Northern Illinois

7 p.m. ET, ESPN

Howard Schnellenberger Field at FAU Stadium

Boca Raton, Florida

Winner: Northern Illinois

Wednesday, Dec. 19

Frisco Bowl: San Diego State vs. Ohio

8 p.m. ET, ESPN

Toyota Stadium

Frisco, Texas

Winner: San Diego State

Thursday, Dec. 20

Gasparilla Bowl: Marshall vs. South Florida

8 p.m. ET, ESPN

Raymond James Stadium

Tampa, Florida

Winner: Marshall

Friday, Dec. 21

Bahamas Bowl: FIU vs. Toledo

12:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium

Nassau, Bahamas

Winner: Toledo

Potato Bowl: Western Michigan vs. BYU

4 p.m. ET, ESPN

Lyle Smith Field at Albertsons Stadium

Boise, Idaho

Winner: BYU

Saturday, Dec. 22

Birmingham Bowl: Memphis vs. Wake Forest

Noon ET, ESPN

Legion Field

Birmingham, Alabama

Winner: Memphis

Armed Forces Bowl: Houston vs. Army

3:30 ET, ESPN

Amon G. Carter Stadium

Fort Worth, Texas

Winner: Houston

Dollar General Bowl: Buffalo vs. Troy

7 p.m. ET, ESPN

Ladd-Peebles Stadium

Mobile, Alabama

Winner: Troy

Hawaii Bowl: Louisiana Tech vs. Hawaii

10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

Aloha Stadium

Honolulu, Hawaii

Winner: Louisiana Tech

Wednesday, Dec. 26

First Responder Bowl: Boston College vs. Boise State

1:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

Cotton Bowl

Dallas, Texas

Winner: Boise State

Quick Lane Bowl: Minnesota vs. Georgia Tech

5:15 p.m. ET, ESPN

Ford Field

Detroit, Michigan

Winner: Georgia Tech

Cheez-It Bowl: California vs. TCU

9 p.m. ET, ESPN

Chase Field

Phoenix, Arizona

Winner: TCU

Thursday, Dec. 27

Independence Bowl: Temple vs. Duke

1:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

Independence Stadium

Shreveport, Louisiana

Winner: Temple

Pinstripe Bowl: Miami vs. Wisconsin

5:15 p.m. ET, ESPN

Yankee Stadium

Bronx, New York

Winner: Wisconsin

Texas Bowl: Baylor vs. Vanderbilt

9 p.m. ET, ESPN

NRG Stadium

Houston, Texas

Winner: Vanderbilt

Friday, Dec. 28

Music City Bowl: Purdue vs. Auburn

1:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

Nissan Stadium

Nashville, Tennessee

Winner: Purdue

Camping World Bowl West Virginia vs. Syracuse

5:15 p.m. ET, ESPN

Camping World Stadium

Orlando, Florida

Winner: Syracuse

Alamo Bowl: Iowa State vs. Washington State

9 p.m. ET, ESPN

Alamodome

San Antonio, Texas

Winner: Washington State

Saturday, Dec. 29

Peach Bowl: No. 10 Florida vs. No. 7 Michigan

Noon ET, ESPN

Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Atlanta, Georgia

Winner: Michigan

Belk Bowl: South Carolina vs. Virginia

Noon ET, ABC

Bank of America Stadium

Charlotte, North Carolina

Winner: Virginia

Arizona Bowl: Arkansas State vs. Nevada

1:15 p.m. ET, CBSSN

Arizona Stadium

Tucson, Arizona

Winner: Arkansas State

Cotton Bowl Classic: No. 2 Clemson vs. No. 3 Notre Dame

4 ET, ESPN

AT&T Stadium

Arlington, Texas

Winner: Clemson

Orange Bowl: No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 Oklahoma

8 p.m. ET, ESPN

Hard Rock Stadium

Miami Gardens, Florida

Winner: Alabama

Monday, Dec. 31

Military Bowl: Cincinnati vs. Virginia Tech

Noon ET, ESPN

Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium

Annapolis, Maryland

Winner: Cincinnati

Sun Bowl: Stanford vs. Pittsburgh

2 p.m. ET, CBS

Sun Bowl Stadium

El Paso, Texas

Winner: Stanford

Red Box Bowl: Michigan State vs. Oregon

3 p.m. ET, Fox

Levi's Stadium

Santa Clara, California

Winner: Oregon

Liberty Bowl: Missouri vs. Oklahoma State

3:45 p.m. ET, ESPN

Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium

Memphis, Tennessee

Winner: Oklahoma State

Holiday Bowl: Northwestern vs. Utah

7 p.m. ET, FS1

SDCCU Stadium

San Diego, California

Winner: Utah

Gator Bowl: NC State vs. Texas A&M

7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

TIAA Bank Field

Jacksonville, Florida

Winner: NC State

Tuesday, Jan. 1

Outback Bowl: Mississippi State vs. Iowa

Noon ET, ESPN2

Raymond James Stadium

Tampa, Florida

Winner: Mississippi State

Citrus Bowl: Kentucky vs. Penn State

1 p.m. ET, ABC

Camping World Stadium

Orlando, Florida

Winner: Kentucky

Fiesta Bowl: No. 11 LSU vs. No. 8 UCF

1 p.m. ET, ESPN

State Farm Stadium

Glendale, Arizona

Winner: LSU

Rose Bowl No. 9 Washington vs. No. 6 Ohio State

5 p.m. ET, ESPN

Rose Bowl

Pasadena, California

Winner: Ohio State

Sugar Bowl: No. 15 Texas vs. No. 5 Georgia

8:45 p.m. ET, ESPN

Mercedes-Benz Superdome

New Orleans, Louisiana

Winner: Georgia

Monday, Jan. 7

National Championship: No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 2 Clemson

8:00 p.m. ET, ESPN

Levi's Stadium

Santa Clara, California

Winner: Alabama