Iowa State football bowl projections: Where the Cyclones are picked after loss to Oklahoma State

Iowa State nearly played its way into the Big 12 championship game picture before coming up short against Oklahoma State at home last Saturday, 49-42. But the Cyclones (6-4, 4-3) are headed to a bowl regardless of what happens on the road at Baylor and Kansas State the next two weeks.

For a program on the rise, that's obviously a positive.

'I think those 15 (bowl) practices are invaluable for a young program and if you don't get them it can really set you back, in my honest opinion, if you don't get those opportunities,' ISU Coach Matt Campbell said Monday. 'A guy like (redshirt freshman quarterback) Zeb (Noland) will certainly benefit from it, some of those young offensive lineman, a guy like (freshman running back) Johnnie Lang. There are a lot of young guys in our program that we're really high on that I think really need that attention. It'll be invaluable for this football team.'

Among prognosticators this week, the Liberty Bowl against an SEC opponent in Memphis, Tenn., is a popular pick. Trips to the Camping World Bowl and Texas Bowl are also tossed out there.

Jerry Palm, CBS Sports: Camping World vs. NC State

Kyle Bonagura, ESPN: Texas vs. Texas A&M

David M. Hale, ESPN: Liberty vs. Texas A&M

Eric Single, Sports Illustrated: Camping World vs. NC State

Bill Bender, Sporting News: Texas vs. Washington State

Jason Kirk, SB Nation: Liberty vs. Kentucky

College Football News: Liberty vs. Kentucky

Bowl information

AUTOZONE LIBERTY BOWL

• Location: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium; Memphis, Tenn.

• Date: Saturday, Dec. 30

• Time: 11:30 a.m.

• TV: ABC

CAMPING WORLD BOWL

• Location: Camping World Stadium; Orlando, Fla.

• Date: Thursday, Dec. 28

• Time: 4:15 p.m.

• TV: ESPN

TEXAS BOWL

• Location: NRG Stadium; Houston

• Date: Wednesday, Dec. 27

• Time: 8 p.m.

• TV: ESPN

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