I imagine some of you have been patiently awaiting my college football bowl predictions. If that’s true, I truly apologize — particularly for skipping the entire 2014-2015 bowl slate.

I took a season off for the simple reason that I didn’t follow college ball as much, letting pro football, fantasy football and the Hot Stove League take over my brain last winter.

Hopefully this time around I’ll do better than my predictions from two seasons ago when I went a meager 18-17 and lost eight of my last 10 picks before salvaging an above-.500 record by taking Florida State in the championship.

Anyhow, here’s Part I of a quick, three-part guide to the upcoming college football bowls, along with my picks. This year we get 42 bowls to choose from — that’s up from 35 two seasons ago — and we get everything from the sure-to-be-crazy BattleFrog Fiesta Bowl to the dress-in-your-best for the Military Bowl, from the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl to the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl. I’m not making these up. I swear.

Saturday, Dec. 19

AFR Celebration Bowl (Atlanta)

Matchup: Alcorn State vs. North Carolina A&T

Time, channel: 9 a.m., ABC

Channel: ABC

The skinny: Remember when I said I’ve been following college football more this year? Yeah … not THIS closely. Besides a forgettable (63-point) loss to Georgia Tech to open the season, Alcorn State (9-3) hasn’t lost a game by more than a touchdown. The Aggies of North Carolina A&T (9-2) won eight of their last nine. In a toss-up, I’m taking Alcorn State since Braves beat Aggies most of the time … right?

My pick: Alcorn State, 31-24

Gildan New Mexico Bowl (Albuquerque, N.M.)

Matchup: Arizona vs. New Mexico

Time, channel: 11 a.m., ESPN

The skinny: Always pick the home team, right? Maybe. New Mexico is 7-5 and coming off a 12-point win against Air Force while Arizona (6-6) tries to put behind them an ugly loss to UW. The Wildcats have lost four of their last five games. I’ll take the hometown special.

My pick: New Mexico, 35-29

Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl (Las Vegas, Nev.)

The matchup: BYU vs. (22) Utah

Time, channel: 12:30 p.m., ABC

The skinny: Utah’s Utes (9-3) were the belle of the Pac-12 ball for a while, winning their first six games before bewildering losses to USC and Arizona and a less-than-impressive effort against Colorado. BYU (9-3) had won seven of eight and a freshman quarterback with a super-cool name (Tanner Mangum). I like the Cougars to win here.

My pick: BYU, 24-21

Raycom Media Camellia Bowl (Montgomery, Ala.)

The matchup: Ohio vs. Appalachian State

Time, channel: 2:30 p.m., ESPN

The skinny: I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for FCS powerhouse Appalachian State (10-2) after they topped Michigan in 2007, one of the more improbable upsets in college football history. Now a Division I school, they take on Ohio’s Bobcats (8-4) in their first Division I bowl game. I like that motivation and that they’ve only lost twice this season — to bowl-eligible Arkansas State and top-ranked Clemson.

My pick: Appalachian State, 26-20

AutoNation Cure Bowl (Orlando, Fla.)

The matchup: San Jose State vs. Georgia State

Time, channel: 4 p.m., CBSSN

The skinny: San Jose State comes in with a 5-7 record and has to travel across the country to face a Georgia State team (6-6) on a four-game roll. But Spartan running back Tyler Ervin runs like a madman, racking up 300 yards in a game this season. Spartans overcome the odds.

My pick: San Jose State, 45-27

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl (New Orleans, La.)

The matchup: Arkansas State vs. Louisiana Tech

Time, channel: 6 p.m., ESPN

The skinny: Louisiana Tech (8-4) beat a bunch of teams this year that have no business going to a bowl and played bowl-eligible teams close. Sun Belt champ Arkansas State (9-3) did the same … only they got whupped by their biggest challengers, USC (55-6) and Toledo (37-7). “Home” team wins here.

My pick: Louisiana Tech, 41-14

Monday, Dec. 21

Miami Beach Bowl (Miami, Fla.)

The matchup: Western Kentucky vs. South Florida

Time, channel: 11:30 a.m., ESPN

The skinny: South Florida’s Bulls (8-4) seem to have home field advantage, but Western Kentucky (11-2) is the C-USA champ with nine wins in 10 games. The Hilltoppers love to throw, as evidenced by QB Brandon Doughty’s 4,594 (!) passing yards. The “road” team wins here.

My pick: Western Kentucky, 45-35

Tuesday, Dec. 22

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Boise, Idaho)

The matchup: Akron vs. Utah State

Time, channel: 12:30 p.m., ESPN

The skinny: I saw Utah State (6-6) play this season, against UW. Ick. Akron State (7-5) has a great mascot name (the Zips). That being said — well, written — USU’s Aggies are battle-tested with their schedule while Akron has taken on the likes of Kent, Buffalo and Miami … of Ohio.

My pick: Utah State, 28-21

Marmot Boca Raton Bowl (Boca Raton, Fla.)

The matchup: Toledo vs. (24) Temple

Time, channel: 4 p.m., ESPN

The skinny: The American Conference champion Temple Owls (10-3) lost to three bowl-worthy teams this year while Toledo (9-2) won their first nine games and lost to two bowl teams (Northern Illinois, Western Michigan) each by five points. This may be one of the better under-the-radar games of the season. The Rockets’ coach won’t be at the game after taking the Iowa State job and the distraction might be just enough to tip the scales to Temple.

My pick: Temple, 31-30

Wednesday, Dec. 23

San Diego County CU Poinsettia Bowl (San Diego, Calif.)

The matchup: Boise State vs. Northern Illinois

Time, channel: 1:30 p.m., ESPN

The skinny: Boise State’s Broncos (8-4) have had a wild season, from blowing out Hawaii and Colorado State to losing heartbreakers to New Mexico and Air Force. Northern Illinois’ QB Drew Hare is out and they haven’t looked good since he went down in early November.

My pick: Boise State, 31-13

GoDaddy Bowl (Mobile, Ala.)

The matchup: Georgia Southern vs. Bowling Green

Time, channel: 5 p.m., ESPN

The skinny: I’ve always liked Bowling Green. No idea why. The MAC champion Falcons (10-3) are favored against Georgia Southern (8-4) after the Eagles racked up a bunch of wins against really awful foes.

My pick: Bowling Green, 41-20

Thursday, Dec. 24

Popeyes Bahamas Bowl (Nassau, Bahamas)

The matchup: Middle Tennessee vs. Western Michigan

Time, channel: 9 a.m., ESPN

The skinny: Middle Tennessee’s Blue Raiders and Western Michigan’s Broncos are both 7-5. They both have had a few tests in their schedule (Middle Tennessee with Alabama, Western Michigan with then No. 1 Ohio State), and they both are likely to never set foot in the Bahamas again. Just guessing.

My pick: Western Michigan 28, Middle Tennessee 27

Hawai’i Bowl (Honolulu, Hawaii)

The matchup: San Diego State vs. Cincinnati

Time, channel: 5 p.m., ESPN

The skinny: Cincinnati (7-5) can score. A lot. Their defense gives up. A lot. San Diego State is 10-3 and riding a nine-game win streak. Go Aztecs.

My pick: San Diego State, 34-27

Reach Sequim Gazette editor Michael Dashiell at editor@       sequimgazette.com.