College Football Schedule: TV Channels, Predictions, Updated Betting Odds For Jan. 1 Bowl, Playoff Games

New Year’s Day 2015 is the biggest day on this season’s college football schedule. The day will feature five bowl games, all of which will include two ranked teams.

The first ever College Football Playoff game will take place between No.2 Oregon and No.3 Florida State. The last two Heisman Trophy winners, and likely the top two quarterbacks to be taken in the 2015 NFL Draft, will face off for a chance to play in the national championship game. Marcus Mariota won the award this year, and Jameis Winston led the Seminoles to another undefeated season.

No.1 Alabama and No.4 Ohio State will end the day’s action in the Sugar Bowl. The winner will also go on to play in the title game, though few experts are picking the Buckeyes to pull off the upset. Alabama is the biggest favorites on the Jan. 1 bowl schedule.

The first three games of the day are all set to begin within an hour of each other. No.19 Auburn against No.18 Wisconsin is the first contest on the schedule. Both teams were defeated in their last game, as Auburn lost by 11 points in the Iron Bowl and Wisconsin was shut out, 59-0, in the Big Ten Championship Game.

No.5 Baylor believes it should have been selected to the College Football Playoff, and the Bears will look to prove the committee wrong when they play Michigan State in the Cotton Bowl. The matchup could end up being the most entertaining bowl game of 2015, as Baylor pits the nation’s top offense against the No.7-ranked offense of Michigan State.

No.25 Minnesota will finish the season with a fourth straight game against a ranked opponent. Missouri is favored, despite losing by 29 points in the SEC Championship game.

Below is the complete bowl schedule for New Year’s Day 2015, including TV channels, start times and betting odds.

Outback Bowl (ESPN 2, Noon)

Auburn (-6.5) vs. Wisconsin, 63.5

Prediction: Auburn over Wisconsin, 40-27

Cotton Bowl (ESPN, 12:30 p.m. ET)

Baylor (-2.5) vs. Michigan State, 70

Prediction: Michigan State over Baylor, 34-33

Citrus Bowl (ABC, 1 p.m. ET)

Missouri (-4.5) vs. Minnesota, 47.5

Prediction: Missouri over Minnesota, 24-17

Rose Bowl (ESPN, 5 p.m. ET)

Oregon (-8) vs. Florida State, 71.5

Prediction: Oregon over Florida State, 41-38

Sugar Bowl (ESPN, 8:30 p.m. ET)

Alabama (-9) vs. Ohio State, 58.5

Prediction: Alabama over Ohio State, 37-27