Bowls are listed in order of date played.
NCAA Bowls:
12/20 - Poinsettia - Utah (-7.5) v. Navy
Utah has had an excellent season after suffering major injuries to their quarterback and running back in the opener versus Oregon St. Navy has a high powered offense but has played a weak schedule while Utah has a stingy defense and has faced a much more difficult schedule. Navy will have the crowd advantage in San Diego, but Utah is a far better team and will score at will against the horrid Navy defense. Factor in Coach Johnson bolted for GT and this one could get ugly.
Pick: Utah by 19
Status: Recommended Play (rank - 16th)
Result: Utah 35, Navy 32 (Loss)
12/21 - New Orleans - Florida Atlantic (-2.5) v. Memphis
Memphis is a very overrated team playing in the extremely weak conference USA. I like Florida ATL and they will be fired up for their first ever bowl game. Emotion and momentum will lead the Owls to a big victory.
Pick: Florida ATL by 8
Status: Recommended Play (rank - 8th)
Result: Florida ATL 44, Memphis 27 (Win)
12/22 - PapaJohns - Cincinnati (-10) v. S Miss
Playing against Conference USA will serve you this bowl season. The Bearcats had an excellent season and might feel a little shafted playing in this "lesser" bowl. I doubt it, as Cincinnati hasn't been on the national scene of late and will look to close on a high note. S Miss has struggled and is going through a coaching change and will be completely out gunned on both sides of the ball.
Pick: Cincinnati by 21
Status: Recommended Play (rank - 17th)
Result: Cincinnati 31, S Miss 21 (Push)
12/22 - New Mexico - New Mexico v. Nevada
This is a home game for the Lobos who have struggled down the stretch, while Nevada play fairly well to close the season.
Pick: New Mexico by 5
Status: No Play
12/22 - Las Vegas - BYU v. UCLA
There is a lot of action pouring in on BYU in this one, but I think UCLA might show up to play in this one.
Pick: UCLA by 1
Status: No Play
12/23 - Hawaii - Boise St. v. E Carolina
Both teams may spend more time enjoying Hawaii than focusing on this game.
Pick: Boise St. 15
Status: No Play
12/26 - Motor City - Purdue v. C Mich
Purdue destroyed C Mich in the regular season and there is really no need for this rematch.
Pick: Purdue by 6
Status: No Play
12/27 - Holiday - Arizona St (+2.5) v. Texas
l love the Sun Devils in this game. Texas had a terrible season on and off the field and don't expect them to be focused on this matchup. Arizona St. will have the crowd and play strong under legendary coach Erickson.
Pick: Arizona St. by 4
Status: Recommended Play (rank - 4th)
Result: Texas 52, Arizona St. 34 (Loss)
12/28 - Texas - TCU (-6) v. Houston
Staying with the theme of going against Conf. USA. This is a home game for Houston, but TCU is the superior team. TCU played well down the stretch after struggling early in the season. TCU won't have a letdown of falling short of possible BCS expectations and will continue their fine play down the stretch.
Pick: TCU by 13
Status: Recommended Play (rank - 7th)
Result: TCU 20, Houston 13 (Win)
12/28 - Champs - Michigan St. (+4.5) v. Boston College
BC went from National Title to BCS berth to Champs. Will this team be motivated for this game? I like Michigan St. coming in and being very happy to be in this game after the last few years. Ryan is an outstanding QB and will be a top 10 pick in next years draft. BC has played over their heads all season and will have a letdown in this one.
Pick: Michigan St. by 4
Status: Recommended Play (rank - 1st)
Status: BC 24, Michigan St. 21 (Win)
12/28 - Emerald - Oregon St. (-5) v. Maryland
Oregon St. has really played well down the stretch and will over match the Terps in San Francisco. Oregon St. will have the crowd and an overall edge in talent. The ACC had a down especially compared to the powerful PAC 10. Maryland has shown up big in their last three bowl games and the public seems to be riding the Beavers, which makes me nervous. However, I'll join the crowd and ride the Beavers.
Pick: Oregon St. by 9
Status: Recommended Play (rank - 19th)
Result: Oregon St. 21, Maryland 14 (Win)
12/29 - Meineke - Wake Forest (-2) v. Conneticut
The Huskies had a solid year, but Wake simply has more talent on the field of play in this one. Charlotte creates a home field advantage for Wake and I expect the Demon Deacons to play inspired ball for coach Grobe after he passed on the Arkansas position. Two great defenses will take the field but I give the edge to Wake.
Pick: Wake by 13
Status: Recommended Play (rank - 5th)
Result: WF 24, UConn 10 (Win)
12/29 - Liberty - UCF v. Miss St.
I would strongly recommend avioding this game. UCF seems to be the real talented team in Conf. USA but Miss St. had an excellent year in the powerfule SEC.
Pick: UCF by 1
Status: No Play
12/29 - Alamo - Penn St. v. Texas A&M
Penn St. is deadly when they have extended time to prepare for an opponent, but Texas A&M has a huge home field advantage in this one.
Pick: Penn St. by 4
Status: No Play
12/30 - Independence - Colorado (+4) v. Alabama
Bama really stumbled at the end of the season and I expect it to continue into the bowl game. Colorado plays strong defense and has really started to pick up coach Hawkins offense of late. This one will be tight throughout and I'll take the Buffaloes with the points.
Pick: Alabama by 1
Status: Recommended Play (rank - 10th)
12/31 - Armed Forces - Air Force (+4) v. California
Cal experienced one of the biggest collapses in NCAA history. This teams head and heart left the locker room a long time ago. Air Force was a pleasent surprise this season and should creat problems for Cal defense with the option. How can you go against Air force in the Armed Forces Bowl?
Pick: Air Force by 7
Status: Recommended Play (rank - 6th)
12/31 - Humanitarium - Fresno St. (+4.5) v. GT
This is another case of a team not mentally into the bowl game. Fresno is thrilled with this game and GT is picking up the pieces after the firing of coach Gailey. Fresno will look to add another BCS scalp to their resume while GT will look to the off-season.
Pick: GT by 2
Status: Recommended Play (rank - 13th)
12/31 - Sun - S Florida v. Oregon
Oregon has fallen off the map since the Dixon injury, but I could see them playing a solid game to close out the season.
Pick: S Florida by 6
Status: No Play
12/31 - Music City - Kentucky (-1.5) v. Florida St.
I expect Woodson to play a sensational game to finish out his career at Kentucky. Florida St. has little offense and will probably not be up for the game after another disappointing season. Florida St. still has an aura about them and this will be nice win the Wildcat program heading into next season.
Pick: Kentucky by 4
Status: Recommended Play (rank - 12th) -- Removed due to FSU suspensions
12/31 - Chick - fil - A - Clemson (-2) v. Auburn
This is one of the most interesting bowl games in my opinion matching two excellent teams against one another. The Bowden family still holds ill will towards Auburn University due to the circumsatnces surrounding Terry Bowden. Clemson is known to lay an egg in the bowl, but I think this year will be an exception.
Result: Clemson by 5
Status: Recommended Play (rank - 14th)
12/31 - Insight - Oklahoma St. v. Indiana
Two high powered offenses square off in this matchup. I would lean towards the Cowboys but Indiana has been playing inspired ball for their fallen coach.
Pick: Oklahoma St. by 5
Status: No Play
1/1 - Outback - Wisconsin (+3.5) v. Tennessee
Tennessee has struggled in bowl games of late and I expect this one to be no different. Wisconsin is a gritty team that will put up a fight to the end. This is the fifth consecutive year Wisconsin has met up with an SEC foe in the bowl game. Wisconsin upset Arkansas and Auburn the last two years and covered agianst Georgia the year before. This one will be close.
Pick: Tennessee by 1
Status: Recommended Play (rank - 9th)
1/1 - Cotton - Arkansas (+3) v. Missouri
Missouri went from the number ranked team after the regular season to out of the BCS. How is that posible? This what happens in the silly world of college football. Argument for one team (LSU over Georgia) don't apply to others (Missouri - Kansas). Missouri has packed in and the Razorback outsatnding pair of RB's will lead them to victory.
Pick: Arkansas by 2
Status: Recommended Play (rank - 11th)
1/1 - Gator - Virginia (+6) v. Texas Tech
The Red Raiders are up and down from week to week. This team has struggled outside of the Big 12 the last couple of seasons, especially as a favorite. I love the Cavaliers getting the points and believe they have an excellent chance to pull the upset.
Pick: Virginia by 1
Status: Recommended Play (rank - 3rd)
1/1 - Capital One - Florida (-10) v. Michigan
Michigan struggled with unconventional offensive systems this year and the Gators offense gives everyone problems. The Gators are probably the third best team in the country, better than eight of the teams in the BCS. Tebow and company will dominate and cruise to a victory.
Pick: Florida by 19
Status: Recommended Play (rank - 18th)
1/1 - Rose - USC v. Illinois
It is joke that the Illini are even in this game. USC is the best team in the nation, as expected. Yet, I can't bring myself to take the Trojans. Too many things are pointig their way, almost too good to be true.
Pick: USC by 14
Status: No Play
1/1 - Sugar - Georgia v. Hawaii
Boise St. keeps runnign through my mind when I look at this game. I'm intrigued by Hawaii enough to lay off.
Pick: Georgia by 10
Status: No Play
1/2 - Fiesta - West Virginia (+7) v. Oklahoma
Oklahoma is probably the second best team in the country, while WV is probably around fourth or fifth. I still can't believe WV lost to Pittsburgh. I think WV will bounce back and showcase their offensive talent and give an outstanding Oklahoma team a run for their money.
Pick: Oklahoma by 3
Status: Recommended Play (rank - 15th)
1/3 - Orange - Virginia Tech v. Kansas
I don't know what to think of this game. Kansas shouldn't be here, so they will probably pull the upset.
Pick: Kansas by 3
Status: No Play -- added to replace FSU / KY
1/5 - International - Rutgers v. Ball St.
How inspired is Rutgers after a terrible season? How good is Ball St?
Pick: Rutgers by 12
Status: No Play
1/6 - GMAC - Tulsa v. Bowling Green
Tulsa has been a problem for me all season. I want no parts of this game.
Pick: BG by 4
Status: No Play
1/7 - BCS Title - Ohio St. (+5.5) v. LSU
In the world of the BCS, we get two teams that lost their last home games versus mediocre opposition. I don't think either team is in the Top 5, in terms of talent, right now. Everyone thinks this Florida versus Ohio St. II, so it won't be. LSU has played very poorly over the last two months to be considered the "best" team in the country. I love the underdog in the Title game and this years is no different.
Pick: LSU by 1
Status: Recommended Play (rank - 2nd)
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