Time to finish my bowl picks. I left off on December 31st, but didn't finish the day. I left two of the longer-running bowl games, so we'll start there, then move to the traditional New Years' Day bowls (now on Jan 2nd due to the NFL).
Dec 31
Sun Bowl - Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (8-4) v Utah Utes (7-5) : Utah struggled in their first season of the Pac-12, but came on late in the season. Georgia Tech had their share of problems, too, especially late in the season. Enough time has passed that Utah's momentum has died, so we need to examine the relative strengths and weaknesses of the teams. Tech's defense is weak, and their passing offense is practically non-existent. Their running offense, though, is one of the best in the FBS. Utah has some problems on the line, so Tech's running defense will work. Utah will score, too, but a ground-churning, clock-burning offense like Tech's will wear down Utah's defense. GEORGIA TECH
Liberty Bowl - #22 Cincinnati Bearcats (9-3) v Vanderbilt Commodores (6-6) : Vandy may play in the tough SEC, but that doesn't automatically make them a strong team. The SEC was a bit down this season, and Vandy still went 2-6 in the conference. Although the Big East was not stellar, Cincinnati also proved themselves against non-conference opponents. CINCY
Jan 2
Ticket City Bowl - #8 Houston Cougars (12-1) v Penn State Nittany Lions (9-3) : Houston collapsed in the Conference USA Championship Game, so they have something to prove. Penn State is still reeling from the Sandusky scandal, so they want a victory to help wash away the sting. Penn State usually plays hard in bowl games, so this one will be closer than Houston would like, but I think the Cougars will pull this one out. HOUSTON
Outback Bowl - #11 Michigan State Spartans (10-3) v #23 Georgia Bulldogs (10-3) : This should be an exciting game! Offensively, these teams are fairly evenly matched. Michigan State prefers to pass more, while Georgia is more ground-based, but their offensive output per game is similar. Where the Spartans gain the edge is in defense. They have slowed some powerful teams this season, including Wisconsin, so Georgia will have their hands full. The Outback Bowl frequently is a high-scoring affair, but I don't think this one will fit that mold. MICHIGAN STATE
Capital One Bowl - Nebraska Cornhuskers (9-3) v #16 South Carolina Gamecocks (10-2) : The Big Ten has typically owned the Capital One Bowl, but a new team represents the conference. Both of these teams prefer the ground game, but the Gamecocks can pass when needed. South Carolina also has a much stronger defense, and Nebraska struggled against the strong defensive teams of the Big Ten. SOUTH CAROLINA
Gator Bowl - Ohio State Buckeyes (6-6) v Florida Gators (6-6) : The Buckeyes get a chance for revenge against the team who TWICE beat them in the BCS National Championship Game. The Buckeyes struggled early in the season, but improved as they regained players serving suspensions. With those players back (especially wide receiver DeVier Posey), the Buckeyes should beat Florida, even WITHOUT former Gator coach Urban Meyer leading them yet. OHIO STATE
Rose Bowl - #5 Wisconsin Badgers (11-2) v #7 Oregon Ducks (11-2) : The Big Ten has not done well in Rose Bowls, so many analysts give the edge to Oregon. It doesn't help that Wisconsin lost in Pasadena last year. However, I like Wisconsin here. Everyone is touting Oregon's quick score offense, but Wisconsin scores just as often. They prefer running, so they don't score as quickly, but QB Russell Wilson can throw long, too. In fact, it's the diverse styles of offense that gives Wisconsin the edge. Oregon may take the early lead, but Wisconsin brutal rushing attack will wear down the Ducks defense. With the offense scoring so quickly, the defense won't get enough time to recover. This will eventually wear down the Ducks defense, especially since Oregon hasn't had to face such a physical running game all season. Wisconsin will take the lead in the second half, and maintain it. WISCONSIN
Fiesta Bowl - #4 Stanford Cardinal (11-1) v #3 Oklahoma State Cowboys (11-1) : This could be the most exciting BCS game, even better than the BCS Championship Game. For only the second year does the BCS have #3 face #4 in a BCS bowl, and they have a great one. Two great quarterbacks, two teams with strong offenses, and two teams with only a single upset loss to a much weaker team -- this is a recipe for excitement. Expect lots of points and several lead changes. As much as I would love to pick Stanford in this, Oklahoma State faced more games like this during the season. The Big XII was actually the most competitive conference in the FBS, and I think the Cowboys will outlast Stanford. OKLAHOMA STATE
Jan 3: Sugar Bowl - #9 Michigan Wolverines (10-2) v #18 Virginia Tech Hokies (11-2) : The Hokies may have been the cream of the ACC, but they couldn't hold back Clemson in the title game. Michigan's defense will hold back the Hokies, and the offensive line will open holes for their runners. The Wolverines will control the clock, the pace of the game, and the scoreboard. MICHIGAN
Jan 4: Orange Bowl - West Virginia Mountaineers (9-3) v #17 Clemson Tigers (10-3) : The Mountaineers won the Big East on history; the BCS voters considered them the better overall team because they usually are. Cincy had the best stats in the conference, and the offensive-charged Tigers will have the better stats in this game. CLEMSON
Jan 6: Cotton Bowl - #20 Kansas State Wildcats (10-2) v #12 Arkansas Razorbacks (10-2) : The Wildcats had a decent year, but the Razorbacks were powerhouses. They generated more yards than the Wildcats, and their defense is much stiffer. Arkansas should have a pretty easy time in this game. ARKANSAS
Jan 7: Compass Bowl - SMU Mustangs (7-5) v Pittsburgh Panthers (6-6) : I've mentioned how I dislike having weaker teams play after the BCS games start, as the level of competition reduces after exciting games. The Panthers played fairly well in the Big East, but didn't do well outside of the conference. Given the weaknesses of the Big East this season, I have to favor the Mustangs. SMU
Jan 8: GoDaddy.com Bowl - #21 Arkansas Red Wolves (10-2) v #24 Northern Illinois Huskies (10-3) : The MAC and Sun Belt champions go at it, and this could be an interesting game. The Sun Belt is 1-1 and often does well in bowl games; the MAC is 3-1 and often play well. The Huskies have a potent running offense, and gain lots of yards. However, they also give up lots of yards, especially in the secondary, and that opens the door to the passing attack of the Red Wolves. Northern Illinois will endeavor to control the clock, but the scoreboard will belong to the Red Wolves. ARKANSAS STATE
BCS CHAMPIONSHIP -- #2 Alabama Crimson Tide (11-1) v #1 LSU Tigers (13-0) : The previous meeting was a 9-6 overtime game with no touchdowns. I think we'll see more points in this contest. What many fans forget is that Alabama was in position to score more than LSU; their kicker had a bad day. I don't think LSU should count on that in this rematch. The Alabama game woke up LSU; they played much harder after that. I think Les Miles and his team KNOWS they should have lost. They are thankful to be playing in this game, as an Alabama victory would have made them #1, likely playing against Oklahoma State. The Tigers will want to prove they can win, but I think the Tide just has more tools. With their kicking game working and their top-ranked defense, the Tide will win the grudge match. ALABAMA
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