Previewing New Year's Eve: Peach, Fiesta, Orange Bowl

Previewing the New Year's Eve bowl games:

Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl in Atlanta

No. 6 TCU (11-1) vs. No. 12 Mississippi (9-3)

Time/TV: 12:30 p.m. ET/ESPN. Surface: Artificial.

Glantz-Culver line: TCU by 3½. Sagarin difference: TCU by 1.15.

Bowl records: Ole Miss 23-12, TCU 13-15-1. Series: Ole Miss 5-1 (won last meeting 20-7 in 1983).

Synopsis: Wednesday and Thursday should offer plenty of treats for the college football fan as the bowl schedule has come at last to the New Year's Six — plus two. We begin Wednesday in the Georgia Dome, where one of the two Big 12 co-champions will look to prove it belonged in the four-team playoff. Standing in the way of the Horned Frogs is one of the many teams representing the powerhouse SEC West in the postseason. Ole Miss is, in fact, the only one that can claim a win against Alabama, and the Rebels also own wins against major bowl participants Boise State and Mississippi State. TCU's new-look, high-octane offense has produced the desired results, putting up 46.8 points a game with QB Trevone Boykin at the controls. But he'll be up against the stiffest defense he's seen all year.

The Rebels are giving up only 13.8 per contest, and Ss Cody Prewitt and Senquez Golson don't let too much get past them. The Horned Frogs had hoped running back B.J. Catalon (concussion) would return in time for the bowl, but he remains sidelined, perhaps indefinitely. Boykin does have dependable running back Aaron Green at his disposal, however, as well as WRs Josh Doctson and Kolby Listenbee. Ole Miss QB Bo Wallace has had some bad moments but for the most part gets the ball to the right place. Losing top WR Laquon Treadwell to a terrible leg injury was hard to overcome, and WR Vince Sanders (knee) also went down in the Egg Bowl victory. Wallace will rely heavily on TE Evan Engram in the aerial attack while hoping running back Jaylen Walton can find room against LB Paul Dawson and the TCU ground defense.

Vizio Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Ariz.

No. 11 Arizona (10-3) vs. No. 21 Boise State (11-2)

Time/TV: 4 p.m. ET/ESPN. Surface: Grass.

Glantz-Culver line: Arizona by 3. Sagarin difference: Arizona by 3.66.

Bowl records: Boise 9-5, Arizona 8-9-1. Series: first meeting.

Synopsis: The Broncos' bowl history dates only to 1999 since the program elevated to the highest level. But they've missed the postseason only once in that stretch, and two of their biggest bowl moments have come in this event. To do it again, however, they'll have to beat the Wildcats' in their own backyard. Arizona is just as happy to be here, despite losing a rematch with Oregon in the Pac-12 finale. Wildcats freshman QB Anu Solomon was one of the surprise stars of the 2014 season, thriving in the Rich Rodriguez spread to the tune of 27 TD passes.

Running back Nick Wilson added 15 scores himself by land, and they'll be the primary concerns for LB Tanner Vallejo and the Broncos' defense. Boise State will be bidding a fond farewell to versatile running back Jay Ajayi, who has announced he'll be entering the NFL draft. He has accounted for 2,225 all-purpose yards and 29 TDs in 2014. He'll have to avoid Wildcats' LB Scooby Wright, who has been in on a lofty 153 tackles, 89 solo, including 27 behind the line of scrimmage. Broncos' QB Grant Hedrick must provide air cover and maintain ball security.

Capital One Orange Bowl in Miami Gardens, Fla.

No. 8 Mississippi State (10-2) vs. No. 9 Georgia Tech (10-3)

Time/TV: 8 p.m. ET/ESPN. Surface: Grass.

Glantz-Culver line: Mississippi State by 7. Sagarin difference: Mississippi State by 9.87.

Bowl records: Georgia Tech 23-19, Miss. State 10-7. Series: Georgia Tech 4-0 (won last meeting 42-31 in 2009).

Synopsis: The final contest of 2014 features two teams enjoying tremendous seasons, with a couple of the game's best dual-threat QBs topping the marquee. While both are coming off losses, they also notched some quality victories along the way. Directing the attack for the Bulldogs is Dak Prescott, who was front-and-center in the Heisman Trophy discussion for a time when his team topped the polls. He threw for 24 scores and ran for 13 more, but his INT count started to climb when the competition became tougher during a back-loaded schedule.

Running back Josh Robinson is his backfield helper, and both will get plenty of attention from Yellow Jackets' LBs Paul Davis and Quayshawn Nealy. Georgia Tech's man in charge of the option is Justin Thomas, who is at his best when Zach Laskey and Synjyn Days are picking up yardage from the inside or B-back position. Bulldogs' run-stuffing LB Benardrick McKinney can expect a busy night.

Jeff Sagarin's power ratings show the relative strength of teams.