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Bowl Games and Basketball Open Thread, 12/19

There's football and basketball and hockey and more!

By MNWildcat
We at OTE just want to remind you that we love you, man. We love you.
We at OTE just want to remind you that we love you, man. We love you.
Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

Good morning, OTE! It's your second-favorite Northwestern writer, bringing you a place to talk about the myriad sporting events for this Saturday. As we embark on the most wonderful time of the year, bowl season, there's more than enough to talk about today. Here's your thread to do that!

All times Central, you damn heathens.

Football

Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl

Alcorn State vs. North Carolina A&T || 11am, ABC

Forgot about this one. Sorry! Tune in!

Gildan New Mexico Bowl

Arizona (-9) vs. New Mexico || 1pm, ESPN

Prediction: Arizona, 31-21

Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl

#22 Utah (-2.5) vs. BYU || 2:30pm, ABC

It's the Holy War. Unless your squeakyfouls team of choice is playing, you gotta at least tune in to this one to see if proper Utah civility turns into an on-field brawl in Bronco Mendenhall's farewell. Let's check in from Vegas...

Oh.

Prediction: Utah, 27-24

Raycom Media Camellia Bowl

Ohio vs. Appalachian State (-7.5) || 4:30pm, ESPN2

MACtion meets FUNBELT! This is what it's all about, kids. The high-flying Mountaineers offense should be able to get their points on the Bobcats, and we'll see if Solich's crew can keep up.

Prediction: Appalachian State, 40-28

AutoNation Cure Bowl

San Jose State (-1) vs. Georgia State || 6pm, CBSSN

These are two teams that probably shouldn't be in a bowl. The Spartans are 5-7 and qualified by virtue of APR, while the Panthers somehow upset the heavily-favored Georgia Southern Eagles in an apparent rivalry game. Watch this game -- if you dare!

Prediction: Georgia State, 28-27 on some stupid ending, I hope!

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl

Arkansas State vs. Louisiana Tech (-1.5) || 8pm, ESPN

Somehow, if the Ragin' Cajuns aren't playing at the Carrier Dome, this one just doesn't feel the same. But when in doubt, take the home team.

Prediction: Louisiana Tech, 34-31

Shootyhoops

#1 Michigan State (-8.5) at Northeastern

11:30am, NBCSN

Some MSU fan is gonna need to explain this one to me.

Prediction: MSU, 84-70

Northwestern (-3.5) at DePaul

1pm, FS1

It's the Battle for the Mayor's Key!* The 'Cats look to pass the last moderate test of their non-conference season against a streaky DePaul team. LincolnParkWildcat sets aside his purple in favor of blue and black today.

Prediction: Northwestern, 68-64

Notre Dame vs. Indiana (-1.5)

1pm, ESPN2

An exciting opener to the Crossroads Classic in Indianapolis. Both these teams are bowling, but there's no need to worry about that! Shootyhoops! Irish and Hoosiers! Which side of the jacket will IU basketball fans use today? TUNE IN!

I feel I should explain. When we did OTE predictions at the start of the season, I had the Hoosiers losing in this one. So I'm sticking to that; not for any particular reason save I'm too lazy to check in and see what's happened to ND basketball.

Prediction: Notre Dame, 86-80

South Dakota at Illinois (-10.5)

2pm, ESPN3

Beware, Illini. Beware.

--WhiteSpeedReceiver, probably

Prediction: Illinois, 80-64

#4 Kentucky (-10) vs. Ohio State

2:30pm, CBS

This one's at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Oh God not in the face. NOT IN THE FACE.

Prediction: Kentucky, 82-67

Drake vs. Iowa (-16)

3:30pm, ESPN3

Tune in to your computer or smartphone to watch some red-hot Hy-Vee Classic action, live from Des Moines! This serves as a nice little undercard to Iowa State-Northern Iowa, which is probably the game people actually want to see.

Prediction: Iowa, 81-58

#17 Butler vs. #9 Purdue (-4.5)

4pm, BTN

Now here's a game, and it follows what should be an exciting opener in the Crossroads Classic. We might find out if the Boilers are for real as they take on the hometown favorite, an under-the-radar Butler club which has gotten off to a solid start.

Prediction: Purdue, 63-56

Youngstown State at Michigan (-20.5)

5pm, ESPN3

I love the Youngstown State mascot.

Prediction: Michigan, 78-60

Princeton at #6 Maryland (-12.5)

6pm, BTN

Checking in with Maryland football:

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Prediction: Maryland, 74-59

Penn State (-5.5) at Drexel

6pm, No TV

Live from the Palestra, no one cares!

Prediction: Penn State, 64-50

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Usual rules apply: No illegal threads, no porn, no being a jackwagon. Don't ruin bowl season for the rest of us -- football football football football!