It has been an interesting start to the bowl season. As I type this, Baylor is slaughtering UCLA in the Holiday Bowl. Underdogs did well in the early bowls, which is not uncommon. Two Top 25 teams will definitely tumble, but season-long contenders also fell in their bowl games. Right now, Baylor and UCF seem poised to replace UCLA and Fresno State, but it's still too early to tell. After a shaky 4-4 start, I should sweep the Dec 27th bowls. That should propel me well into the final slate of games.
Music City Bowl, sponsored by Franklin American Mortgage - Dec 31, Nashville, TN
NC State Wolfpack (7-5) v Vanderbilt Commodores (8-4) : Many of the fans will be Tennessee fans, but they'll switch to rooting for Vandy. I don't know if the favorable crowd will help much, but the Vandy defense will. The Commodores held nearly all of their foes to less than 24 points (only Georgia, Florida, and Ole Miss scored more), while the Wolfpack struggled in a weakened ACC this season. Vandy doesn't get to bowls often, but they'll make this visit count. VANDERBILT by six
Sun Bowl, sponsored by Hyundai - Dec 31, El Paso, TX
#24 USC Trojans (7-5) v Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (6-7) : I don't think teams with losing records should be in bowl games, especially when they represented their division solely because of teams on probation. As such, I am picking USC just because I don't want Tech winning. However, the Trojans will play without Matt Barkely, os they won't score too much. USC by six
Liberty Bowl, sponsored by AutoZone - Dec 31, Memphis, TN
Iowa State Cyclones (6-6) v Tulsa Golden Hurricane (10-3) : Iowa State was a plucky team, but Tulsa was a very powerful team. They lost some steam near the end of the season, but overtook UCF in overtime to capture the Conference USA title. That amount of spunk deserves respect. TULSA by 16
Georgia Bowl, sponsored by Chick-fil-A - Dec 31, Atlanta, GA
While I doubt Chick-fil-A will be pulling their sponsorship anytime soon, if they keep making questionable PR maneuvers to push their political agenda, the NCAA may not allow them to sponsor a bowl. Taking a name used for only one year for this bowl, we'll see if Chick-fil-A can toe the line.
#10 LSU Tigers (10-2) v #13 Clemson Tigers (10-2) : This battle of the Tigers is the first bowl game to match two Top 25 teams. LSU is used to New Years or BCS bowls, so this one is almost an insult. If the players don't let that resentment affect their playing, they ought to beat Clemson. Clemson dominated many of their opponents, but they couldn't overcome SEC opponent South Carolina. LSU is tougher. LSU by 12
Gator Bowl, sponsored by TaxSlayer.com - Jan 1, Jacksonville, FL
Mississippi State Bulldogs (8-4) v Northwestern Wildcats (9-3) : None of the Big Ten teams are favored, but this is the closest line. While the Big Ten once again drew tough opponents (further proof that the bowl organizers like HAVING Big Ten teams, as they draw the attendance numbers, they won't want the Big Ten to WIN), this game looks favorable. The Bulldogs are bowl neophytes, while the Wildcats understand the necessary preparation. I also think the Bulldogs will believe the "unbeatable SEC" talk that the conference loves to spout, so I don't think they will adequately prepare for the Wildcats. NORTHWESTERN by six
Dallas Bowl, sponsored by the Dallas tourism board - Jan 1, Dallas, TX
Purdue Boilermakers (6-6) v Oklahoma State Cowboys (7-5) : On the other hand, this game won't be pretty. Purdue was too sporadic, while the Cowboys have a sold offense. The Cowboys will take an early lead and never trail, despite some heroics in the fourth quarter by Purdue. OKLAHOMA STATE by 23
Outback Bowl, sponsored by Outback Steakhouses - Jan 1, Tampa, FL
Okay, why keep THIS sponsor name? First of all, it is the longest running bowl game that has NEVER had another name, and I don't think Outback is going away. This history deserves recognition.
#12 South Carolina Gamecocks (10-2) v #23 Michigan Wolverines (8-4) : The Big Ten has often done well in this bowl, so the Gamecocks should watch out! Truthfully, I think Steve Spurrier has too many tools to lose this game, and he will adequately prepare for Michigan. However, the Wolverines have done some tricky things under Brady Hoke, so they'll keep the game close and interesting. SOUTH CAROLINA by nine
Capital One Bowl, sponsored by Capital One - Jan 1, Orlando, FL
Capital One is firmly enmeshed in college football, so their sponsorship won't disappear. Formerly the Tangerine Bowl and Florida Citrus Bowl, another bowl game was created when Capital One removed the fruit portion of the bowl's name, so this is uniquely the Capital One Bowl.
#5 Georgia Bulldogs (11-2) v Nebraska Cornhuskers (10-3) : Nebraska spent some time in the Top 25, but they were embarrassed by Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game. Georgia played in the SEC Championship Game, but couldn't withstand a late Alabama drive. Still, Georgia was a strong team who toughened themselves after a shocking loss to South Carolina. They are the most dangerous team not playing in the BCS title game. GEORGIA by 20
Rose Bowl, presented by Vizio - Jan 1, Pasadena, CA
Wisconsin Badgers (8-5) v #11 Stanford Cardinal (11-2) : Wisconsin found life at the end of the season, and Monte Ball found some yardage. The Badgers have kept each of the last two Rose Bowls close, but they lost both of those. I'm afraid this year will be a repeat performance. The Badgers ground game will be tougher with Barry Alvarez back on the sidelines, and Barry will create some innovative plays that Stanford won't expect, but the Cardinal is just the better team. STANFORD by four
Orange Bowl, sponsored by Discover Card - Jan 1, Miami, FL
#15 Northern Illinois Huskies (12-1) v #9 Florida State Seminoles (11-2) : I'm going for the upset here. Florida State has a lousy bowl record over the past decade, and nobody is taking Northern Illinois very seriously. However, I think the Huskies will come out strongly against Florida State, overpowering their defense. That will anger them, inspiring a series of penalties against the Seminole defense. Once Florida State falls 14 points behind, they will force some plays, opening up the Huskies to capture a couple of turnovers. NORTHERN ILLINOIS by 24
Sugar Bowl, sponsored by Allstate - Jan 2, New Orleans, LA
Louisville Cardinals (10-2) v #7 Florida Gators (11-1) : We know this was set up for the BCS #3 to have a strong win. Now Bill Muschamp is hoping that Alabama and Notre Dame play a close game so that he can claim that Florida should be considered the top team. No dice. I recognize a set-up when I see one, and arranging to play a patsy doesn't gain any respect from me. FLORIDA by too much
Fiesta Bowl, sponsored by Tostitos - Jan 3, Glendale, AZ
#11 Oregon Ducks (11-1) v #6 Kansas State Wildcats (11-1) : The Wildcats are ranked higher, but I'm going for the upset here, too. Collin Klein looked good, but that's only because the offense could set their own pace due to a strong defense. Oregon can score so quickly, and outrun any defense, that the Wildcats will find themselves in a rare position - behind. Klein doesn't operate so well in that situation. OREGON by 18
Cotton Bowl, sponsored by AT&T - Jan 4, Arlington, TX
#8 Texas A&M Aggies (10-2) v #14 Oklahoma Sooners (10-2) : Johnny Football should produce plenty of highlights to show on Cowboys Stadium's Jumbotron. While surrounding himself with family and old friends might help inspire the young Heismann Trophy winner, that's not the main reason that the Aggies will win. They have a dynamic offense that can produce big plays in a number of sets and plays. The Sooners defense is good, but they will not be able to figure out everything that Texas A&M does, and that gives the Aggies the edge. TEXAS A&M by 12
Birmingham Bowl, sponsored by BBVA Compass - Jan 5, Birmingham, AL
This newcomer to bowl sponsorship has an uncertain future; this might be the next bowl in need of a new sponsor. Time to give it a stable name, like the place where it is played.
Pittsburgh Panthers (6-6) v Ole Miss Rebels (6-6) : The game is played in the south, and the SEC is the stronger conference than the Big East. So, clearly, Ole Miss should win this game, right? Well, not so fast. Pitt may not have won too many games, but they were close in most of them. They should have beaten Notre Dame, if not for a blown call by the officials. Ole Miss struggled in the SEC, who actually didn't have the amount of power, from top to bottom in the conference, that they often have. I have to give a surprise boost to the Panthers. PITT by six
Alabama Bowl, sponsored by GoDaddy.com - Jan 6, Mobile, AL
GoDaddy seems a stable sports sponsor (so long as NASCAR doesn't collapse), but even Insight.com realized the foolishness of having ".com" in the name of a bowl, especially when most people watch it on TV, not the Internet.
#21 Kent State Golden Flashes (11-2) v Arkansas State Red Wolves (9-3) : The Sun Belt Conference has done very well in bowls in recent years, but the top MAC teams were a real force this season. While the Red Wolves will make this a tight contest, I have to give the nod to Kent State. KENT STATE by six
BCS National Championship, sponsored by Discover Card - Jan 7, Miami, FL
#3 Alabama Crimson Tide (12-1) v #1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (12-0) : Repeats have been hard since the BCS National Championship Game was established; only USC could do it. Nick Saban has created a team similar to those Pete Carroll Trojan teams, so he has a chance. Notre Dame has a staggeringly stiff defense, and an offense that was improving in the second half of the season. Alabama also has a crushing defense, even if teams like Texas A&M and Georgia found ways to score. In each of those games, the offense was lackluster in the first half, but found life in the second half. That may be Notre Dame's undoing. If they go into the halftime locker room ahead by ten points, they may believe the title is theirs. Alabama is more dangerous in the second half, and an overconfident Irish team could be fodder. Either team could win, but I somehow see a 'Bama comeback in the works. ALABAMA by two
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