Winning & Boozing: Dec. 27 bowl games

By Chris Marler

We get eight bowl games on Saturday, so cancel any plans and make sure the fridge is stocked. Let’s have a day.

Here’s a special bowl game edition of Winning & Boozing so you know what games to watch and, more importantly, what booze you’ll need to drink at each tailgate.

Texas Bowl: LSU vs Houston

There’s a lot to play for in this game, whether we want to believe it or not. Sending Frank Wilson out with a win tops the list, and regardless of what’s next for him, it would mean a great deal to a lot of people to see that happen.

Houston is still a ranked Power Four opponent. They have a few good wins on their resumé, including back-to-back wins over Arizona and Arizona State. They also have some embarrassing losses, such as the double digit loss to 4-8 West Virginia.

LSU will be missing several key contributors because of opt-outs and injuries, but the closest roster Houston faced in terms of talent was Texas Tech, and the Red Raiders handled them 35-11.

Give me LSU to get one more win for Wilson and finish this very forgettable season on the field and crazy year off of it.

The Winning

LSU 24, Houston 20

The Boozing

Shiner Bock Holiday Cheer

There are a lot of good Christmas beers out there, but this one takes the cake. And, few things say Texas like Shiner Bock Beer. It’s been independently owned in Shiner, Texas since 1909. Coincidentally, it feels like this is the 116th time LSU has played in the Texas Bowl since it originated.

Christmas may be over, but LSU is about to get a ton of new presents when the portal opens on Jan. 2. Grab some Shiner Bock Holiday Cheer and cheers to having to watch only one more game of this disappointing season, and hopefully Santa brings a playoff berth next year.

Your favorite holiday crafts🤝Your favorite holiday craft beers pic.twitter.com/UbOJAFs6YQ

— Shiner Beer (@ShinerBeer) December 12, 2025

The Gator Bowl: Missouri vs Virginia

Another spotlight matchup features an SEC team against a ranked Power Four opponent, with 8-4 Missouri set to face No. 19 Virginia in the Gator Bowl. I wouldn’t recommend a trip to Jacksonville ever, but if you’re forced into making that trip, conference bragging rights isn’t a bad reason to do so. Virginia was one win away from making the postseason tournament before they lost to Duke. That may sound like a familiar storyline, but not in football.

Virginia is a solid team, and reaching 10 wins is no small feat. Neither side has a great win under their belt, though. Missouri finished 8-4 without beating a team with a winning record, while Virginia’s résumé is complicated by a No. 79 strength of schedule despite five wins over bowl-eligible opponents.

I picked Missouri Moneyline in our Big Picks Energy post on Christmas Day, but as the game gets closer the more I’m convinced it’s a bad matchup for Missouri.

The Winning

Virginia 27, Missouri 20

The Boozing

El Presidente

It’s a Cuban cocktail that’s basically a Manhattan with rum. And, nothing says knock off, or lesser version of something great than these two almost conference contenders playing in the Gator Bowl.

The drink is 1.5 ounces of rum, .75 ounces of dry vermouth, .25 ounces of orange curacao, and two dashes of grenadine. It’s served in a coup glass, and enojyed with a pinky out for good measure.

It’s absolutely perfect for this game because no bowl matchup has more ties to former presidents than this one. Missouri’s mascot is named Truman after former U.S. President Harry S. Truman. And the third president of the United States Thomas Jefferson is perhaps Virginia’s most famous alum. In fact, Jefferson is credited with founding the university and former U.S. Presidents James Madison and James Monroe served on the first board of visitors for the university, as well.

UVA coach Tony Elliott: “The objective was to be playing where it’s warm in December.”

Elliott emphasizes how important this experience is for Virginia playing in their first bowl game since 2019. pic.twitter.com/WlgX5ONsoP

— Preston Willett (@PrestonWillett) December 26, 2025

The Pop-Tarts Bowl: Georgia Tech vs BYU

It’s the greatest non-CFP bowl in the country and has been dubbed “The People’s National Championship.” It has no ties to the SEC, and has fallen on deaf ears to some around this conference, but believe me, the 3+ hours of comedy, college football and theatrics is the best bowl game you’ll watch all season.

BYU is favored against Georgia Tech, which will send Haynes King out for the final game of his college career. That’s a gift to us all. BYU desperately wants to make everyone believe that they were snubbed out of the CFP despite getting boatraced twice by Texas Tech. It feels like the smart money and smart play is on BYU. But, if there are two things I love, it’s delicious breakfast pastries and my hometown of Atlanta, Georgia.

The Winning

Georgia Tech 35, BYU 33

The Boozing

Rainbow shots

I never even knew what went into them, and as a former bartender I was never creative or patient enough to learn. It always felt like too much effort for too little alcohol or tip return. They did look cool, though.

That’s probably the best way to describe the Pop-Tarts Bowl to someone who doesn’t get it to be honest.