College football bowl picks: Iowa vs. Missouri, Iowa State vs. Miami, Penn State vs. Boise State, Ohio State vs. Oregon

IOWA VS. MISSOURI

Mike Hlas (1-2, 27-18) — The Tigers are playing the Hawks, which neutralizes Iowa’s TigerHawk logo and may even neuter it. Missouri 13, Iowa 10

John Steppe (2-1, 32-13) — This will be my second time covering the TransPerfect Music City Bowl, and I still don’t know what TransPerfect does. Missouri 20, Iowa 17

Jeff Johnson (2-1, 32-13) — I’ve been to Nashville a couple of times. It’s an unincorporated town in Jackson County. That’s the Nashville where this game is being played, right? Iowa 24, Missouri 10

Rob Gray (0-3, 31-14) — The Tigers were just good enough to approach contender status in the SEC season and the Hawkeyes may have their most productive quarterback back. Nashville’s a helluva good setting for a bowl game and this will be a good one. Missouri 24, Iowa 20

Beth Malicki (1-2, 32-13) — I transferred to Mizzou second semester of my sophomore year. That place gave me true love, made me a mom and started my career. So my loyalty to the Tigers is pure and deep. Missouri 27, Iowa 23

Todd Brommelkamp (2-1, 33-12) — I tried really hard to avoid making any reference to ‘Hawk Tuah’ here. I think I may have succeeded. Missouri 17, Iowa 13

IOWA STATE VS. MIAMI

Hlas — Pop-Tarts have shelf lives of 6-12 months, so remember that the next time you prepare for a nuclear attack. Miami 38, Iowa State 28

Steppe — More bowl games should be named after breakfast foods. Miami 35, Iowa State 34

Johnson — Pop-Tarts sure have changed since I was a kid. They’ve got Hot Fudge Sundae and Confetti Cupcake flavors now. Iowa State 28, Miami 21

Gray — Iowa State will likely need to score in the high 30s (at least) to beat Miami and its No. 1 scoring offense. I think ISU almost does enough to win a bowl game for the first time since 2021, but falls a tiny bit short. Miami 38, Iowa State 33

Malicki — Putting this in the paper to hold myself accountable: I will write thank you notes and file all my documents before 2025. Iowa State 35, Miami 30

Brommelkamp — Ritualistically sacrificing an anthropomorphic breakfast pastry in celebration of a second-tier bowl win is the highlight of bowl season. Miami 35, Iowa State 28

PENN STATE VS. BOISE STATE

Hlas — If your garbage is normally collected on Wednesdays, your service will be delayed by a day next week because Wednesday is New Year’s. Whew! I was running out of time to write something useful in 2024. Penn State 45, Boise State 21

Steppe — The Idaho state motto is “Esto perpetua,” which is Latin for “be eternal” (or maybe “how long it’s been since I cleaned my apartment”). Penn State 31, Boise State 24

Johnson — Everyone knows Kent State got totally hosed by not being included in the playoffs. The Golden Flashes were WAY better than their 0-12 record. Penn State 42, Boise State 7

Gray — This will be an instant dud. Ashton Jeanty will get his, but the Broncos will get little else. Penn State 31, Boise State 14

Malicki — We put together a 2,000 piece puzzle over the holidays and no one got divorced or arrested. This is a level of family harmony I never thought possible. Penn State 24, Boise State 17

Brommelkamp — Expecting James Franklin to win two big games in one season is a major ask. Alas, here we are. Penn State 34, Boise State 17

OHIO STATE VS. OREGON

Hlas — For years, I’ve been trying to figure out who the other people on this panel are and what they do for a living. One may be my chauffeur, but the separator in the limo is tinted so I never get a good look at him or her. Ohio State 32, Oregon 31

Steppe — As we conclude the 2024 pick ’ems, I think the real pick ’ems champions are the friends we met along the way. (I definitely would be saying this if I was in first place, too. OK, maybe not.) Ohio State 38, Oregon 35

Johnson — Happy New Year to everyone. May it be prosperous. Oregon 38, Ohio State 35

Gray — This will be (another) instant classic between new-look Big Ten rivals. Let’s reverse it. Ohio State 32, Oregon 31

Malicki — Listening to our adult children’s friends talk about the reality of paying bills, managing limited PTO, dressing professionally, etc., is all the entertainment I need in life. Oregon 28, Ohio State 24

Listening to our adult children’s friends talk about the reality of paying bills, managing limited PTO, dressing professionally, etc. is all the entertainment I need in life.

Brommelkamp — Could either of these teams beat a 3-loss SEC squad though? Sorry, I’m loosely affiliated with ESPN so I had to ask. Ohio State 31, Oregon 28