Blown Coverage: Bowl Previews and Predictions

By Andrew Hill
December 20, 2008

Eagle Bank Bowl ««
Navy (+3) vs. Wake Forest
Washington DC
Think back to bowl seasons of yesteryear. Did you ever find yourself wishing they would add yet another pointless bowl game, pit two teams that played during the regular season against each other, and play it on a field that has been hosting nothing but soccer matches for the last 15 years? Well apparently you aren't alone as this year's bowl season will kick off with this gem between Wake Forest and Navy at D.C.'s RFK Stadium. Oddsmakers installed Navy as a 17 point dog the first time these teams met in September but the Middies left Winston-Salem with their first win over a ranked team since 1985, despite attempting just four passes all game. Navy's defense picked off Wake Forest QB Riley Skinner four times that day and forced six turnovers to lead them to victory.
Player to Watch: Wake Forest LB Aaron Curry. Believe it or not there is actually one player in this game who is a lock to be playing on Sundays (And Thursdays, Saturdays, Mondays, and whatever other days the NFL decides to play on.) Curry should get plenty of "Run" from his LB spot against a team that loves to pound the pigskin on the ground.
Reason to Watch: If you aren't related to a player in this game, an alum of one of these schools, or a degenerate gambler, this game probably isn't for you. In fact, if you only fit into one of those three categories, you should still probably just catch the highlights on SportsCenter.
Winner: Wake Forest

New Mexico Bowl ««
Colorado State (+3) vs. Fresno State
Albuquerque, NM
I could do an entire write up on how this bowl features underrated guys that will grow on their respective teams and go on to make NFL rosters in future years. This is not the case. These teams are awful. Fresno State had big expectations because they had a loaded offense and were going to push Boise State as potential WAC champion. Things got wacky alright as the team flushed their "loaded" season down the toilet with a loss at (s)crappy Louisiana Tech in early November. Colorado State, on the other hand, played a meaningless schedule and snuck in at 6-6. They are terrible. This is why there shouldn't be thirty four bowl games. Fresno State wins in a coin flip.
Player to Watch: Bear Pascoe, TE, Fresno State - Got to love a guy with that name!
Reason to Watch: It seems like Rod Gilmore, the scheduled analyst for the New Mexico Bowl, works for Fresno State, as you would believe he has called every Bulldog game this year. I am just so happy that his goober partner Trevor Matisch (Link) won't have another opportunity this bowl season to show why he should be directing cars in the parking lot instead of calling games. What you really need to watch is how many times Rod Gilmore makes a giddy, "what a great name for a football player, Bear Pascoe" reference during the game. I have heard that about 15 times this year and every time I get to hear "Hot" Rod's giddy feminine giggle.
Winner: Fresno State

MagicJack St, Petersburg Bowl ««
Memphis (+1.5) vs. South Florida
St. Petersburg, Florida
Begin the Bowl bliss!  The Big East's Bulls go bowling near their Tampa Bay abode.  Memphis running back Curtis Steele barely missed besting record-breaking back DeAngelo Williams' best 1,175 yards in a year.  The Bulls backed into a bowl by beating one of their last five. The Bulls blow. Memphis bucks the Bulls in the St. Petersburg Bowl.
Player to Watch: Bulls TE Ben Busbee
Reason to Watch: South Florida tanked the second half of the season. Can the Bull's pull themselves together for a feisty Memphis team?
Winner: Memphis

Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl ««««
16 BYU (+3) vs. Arizona
Las Vegas, NV
This will be a very intriguing game between two teams that love to put on a show. BYU has a talented offense with QB Max Hall, RB Harvey Unga and TE Dennis Pitta. This team really likes to embarrass their opponents. There is only thing that concerns me about BYU coming into this game. Due to the Mormon mission every player is required to undertake, most of the kids (I use that team loosely) on the team will be over the age of 21, which obviously grants them access to all that Vegas has to offer. That means fifteen hour poker sessions, late night liquor parties at the Thunder from Down Under after party, greasy after-hour bowel movements in the back of the Hooter's Casino parking lot, laying face down in someone else's vomit on the double decker bus famously referred to as the Deuce. Oh excuse me, that was a Mike Stoops' story. Should be a great game.
Player to Watch: Dennis Pitta, TE, Brigham Young - A big possession tight end with soft hands.
Reason to Watch: I want to see scheduled announcer Todd Blackledge's infamous Taste of the Town segment. This is where he picks a local eatery and is asked to sample a dish that is local to that particular area of the country where he is calling the game. Todd Blackledge is the most condescending, egomaniacal turd that ever came down the chute so it will be interesting to see who he picks. Having spent much of my adult life in Las Vegas, I hope he picks one of the local $2.99 buffets that litter the city. He can get spaghetti, shrimp, bread pudding and lo mein all on one plate! Hopefully he asks the "King of Vegas" Wayne Allyn Root (Link) to join him at his table while they are filming. Root usually sits at a booth by himself next to the bathroom/kitchen (no difference), because the owner likes his employees to be close to the action.
Winner: Arizona

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl «
Southern Miss (+4.5) vs. Troy
New Orleans, LA
If you find yourself watching this game over Carolina versus New York on SNF you should smother yourself with a couch cushion.  The only reason to watch this game should be that you are ready to smother yourself with that very same cushion after sitting through the 93^rd Toyotathon commercial during the NFL game.  I am slightly intrigued by Troy LBs Boris Lee and Bear "in the" Woods. Troy toys with Southern Miss!
Players to Watch: Troy LBs Boris Lee and Bear Woods
Reason to Watch: Take a peek at Freshman WR stud DeAndre Brown
Winner: Troy

San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl
9 Boise State (+2.5) vs. 11 TCU ««««
San Diego, CA
One could make the argument that the Poinsettia Bowl showcases the two best non-BCS conference teams in America and it's one of the few bowl games I would actually pay to go to. Boise St went undefeated and won the WAC, while TCU would be the Mountain West champ if not for a couple of missed field goals in the 4th quarter of their loss at Utah. Plus this game is in San Diego. I hear the weather there is sweet. TCU was favored on the road against the Utes and they are favored once again in this game against an undefeated team on a neutral field. Clearly, the powers that be in Las Vegas consider the Horned Frogs to be a very good football team. TCU's rush defense is ranked #1 in college football and Boise St's quarterback is a freshman, Kellen Moore. That could spell big trouble for the Broncos offense if they can't effectively move the ball on the ground.
Player to Watch: RB Ian Johnson, Boise St. Johnson has to have a big game to keep the pressure of his freshman QB but will find the going tough against the Horned Frogs vaunted 'D.' It will also be interesting to see how many times they show his wife/cheerleader in the stands during the game. I am setting the total on that one at 7.5.
Reason to Watch: This may be the best non-BCS game of the year. And it's better than most of the BCS games. Plus you get to see Ian Johnson's wife. It's not like we could simply flip to another channel if we wanted to see an attractive woman.
Winner: TCU

Sheraton Hawaii Bowl
Notre Dame (-1.5) vs. Hawaii «
Honolulu, HI
The last time Notre Dame won a bowl game current Hokie freshman were in pre-school, current ESPN talking head Lou Holtz was wearing a head seat on the Irish sideline, and current Notre Dame Head Coach Charlie Weis was checking in at a deuce, deuce and a half. Oh, how times have changed. Notre Dame has gone winless in post-season play over the last 15 seasons and will have their hands full against the (Rainbow) Warriors on Christmas Eve. Hawaii went to the Sugar Bowl last season behind current Redskins clipboard holder Colt Brennan and Head Coach June Jones who followed in the footsteps of such coaching giants as Hayden Fry and 1982 AFC Coach of the Year Ron Meyer to take the job at SMU. Replacing their starting QB and head coach has proved to be tough for the Warriors but their real problems lie along their offensive line which has struggled all season. I'm all for bucking trends and I'm going to go out on a limb and pick the Irish to win a bowl game for the first time in a decade and a half. If they can't control the line of scrimmage against Hawaii, they really are hopeless. Irish win, 31-26.
Player to Watch: WR Golden Tate, Notre Dame. Charlie Weis's vaunted recruiting classes haven't produced many wins but there is some good individual talent on this team and Tate is a definite keeper. The sophomore wideout has been one of the few bright spots for the Irish offense this season.
Reason to Watch: It's Christmas Eve. Spend it with your family. That is unless of course you are like me and will almost certainly have money on the game. Then pull up a chair and settle in for another unnecessary bowl game.
Winner: Notre Dame

Motor City Bowl «
Florida Atlantic (+6) vs. Central Michigan
Detroit, MI
The economic depression has hit the country hard. But nowhere in the country has been harder hit than the city of Detroit. The last time I saw this much money being lost, comedian George Lopez realized the Rally's by his house was open 24 hours a day. Will the local Detroit audience be out to support this game, or will there be 5,000 fans in attendance? That question will be answered on game day. The game will boast two quarterbacks that are fun to watch as CMU QB Dan LeFevour and FAU QB Rusty Smith like to spread you out and pick apart your exposed D. 
Player to Watch: Chris Bonner, WR, Florida Atlantic - A tall receiver that likes to get down the field and make plays. Good chemistry with QB Rusty Smith.
Reason to Watch: I will give a reason for Detroit Lions' fans to watch. Since most of the Lions games have been blacked out this season due to poor attendance, this will be a chance for Detroit fans to see a quality game at Ford Field, something they haven't seen in years. Please watch this game and support the city of Detroit and the car companies. If you look closely you will be able to see ex Detroit QB Joey Harrington wiping off the seats in his bright orange vest for the VIP patrons sitting in the box seats. Way to go Joey, keep up the good work.
Winner: Central Michigan

Meineke Car Care Bowl «««
West Virginia (-1.5) vs. North Carolina
Charlotte, NC
I have followed both of these teams this season, so there will be no reason for me to pull a Scott Templeton and fabricate anything in this preview. The Mountaineers and Tar Heels were both a few plays away from playing in much bigger games than the Car Care Bowl. Both programs hovered near the top of their respective conferences throughout the season and with the Big East and ACC suffering through down years, both of these teams could have easily ended up in BCS bowl games. This game will be played in Charlotte, NC, but considering the way Mountaineers fans travel, the home field advantage should be negligible. North Carolina hasn't won a bowl game since they beat Auburn in the 2001 Peach Bowl behind QB Ronald Curry and DE Julius Peppers. However, the Heels easily disposed of the two Big East teams they played during the regular season, Rutgers and Connecticut, and appear to have a decisive edge in the coaching department with Butch Davis facing off against Bill "Right Place At the Right Time" Stewart. This appears to be a match up of one program on the rise and another on the decline. North Carolina has made great strides under Butch Davis, while the Mountaineers fell back in the Big East pack in their first year A.R.: After RichRod. I'll give the edge to Davis and the Heels in this one.
Player to Watch: QB Pat White, West Virginia. This will be the final game of Pat White's storied career as a Mountaineer. In 4 seasons at the helm, White led the 'Eers to 2 Big East championships, upset wins in both the Sugar and Fiesta Bowls, and he will leave Morgantown as the all-time rushing leader in NCAA history among QBs.
Reason to Watch: Pat White and Noel Devine are always fun to watch and this should be a good game between two relatively even teams.
Winner: North Carolina

Champs Sports Bowl ««
Florida State (-6) vs. Wisconsin
Orlando, FL
Neither team has a dependable quarterback but both have relied on their defense and running games. The five point spread seems a little low but that's probably due to the fact that Wisconsin came on strong in the last couple of games. PJ Hill had another strong year but will most likely be coming back for his senior season. Look for this game to be low scoring with a key turnover being the difference.
Player to Watch: The fact that K Graham Cano is the player to watch means that this is probably not one of the hot bowl games.
Reason to Watch: Every time a Big 10 team plays a team from Florida, the question of team speed is always brought up. Will the Badgers be able to keep up with FSU's legs?
Winner: Florida State

Emerald Bowl «««
Miami (+8) vs. California
San Francisco, CA
Miami hasn't played a West Coast team for in seven years. The matchup is intriguing, and the Emerald Bowl will showcase some great young talent.  Hurricanes' coach Randy Shannon is banking on a big Cane fan base in California showing up in a major way; however, it won't be enough to lead Miami to victory. Cal gets the gold versus the U!
Players to Watch: RB Jahvid Best gets the edge over Miami RB Graig Cooper as the better young running back, but they will do battle in the Emerald Bowl to decide which player has the "streetier" spelling of their first name.
Reason to Watch: Miami showed some life this season but the program still isn't where they want to be. Are the Canes interested enough to get up to play against a big time Cal offense?
Winner: Cal

Independence Bowl ««
Northern Ill. (-1) vs. Louisiana Tech
Shreveport, LA
LA Tech running backs Daniel Porter and Patrick Jackson will gash the 59^th-ranked N Illinois defense.  LA Tech is 5-1 all-time versus N Illinois.  For all the girls picking their bowl winners this one is a Bulldog against a Husky so choose accordingly.  I think a bulldog wins that dogfight 80% of the time.  Unless it's a wimpy French Bulldog from Louisiana's French Quarter. LA Tech neuters the Huskies!
Player to Watch: LA Tech WR Philip Livas handles all of the return duties and can break this bowl wide open. 
Reason to Watch: If you're into watching 6-6 WAC teams and 7-6 MAC teams, than this game is for you.
Winner: Louisiana Tech

PapaJohns.com Bowl ««
N.C. State (+7) vs. Rutgers
Birmingham, AL
I am just as excited to write a meaningless write up of this game as I am to watch it. The last time I was this bored, I was watching an extraordinarily unfunny Kenny Mayne segment on ESPN about mascots and whip cream pies. Anyway, no one would have believed that these two teams would both reach a bowl game after the horrific start they both had. Rutgers was 1-5 after six games, and N.C. State was 2-6 after eight weeks. But both managed to rebound and make it to a bowl. (Impressive considering there isn't a talented player on either side of the ball for both teams.) This will be a Big East/ACC battle which I am sure the country is looking forward to. Look for Rutgers to dominate the line of scrimmage, and for the Rutgers' offense to have a field day against an undersized, slower NC State defense.
Player to Watch: Zaire Kitchen, DB, Rutgers - A defensive back that is always cooking up a mess in the secondary.
Reason to Watch: Well I am sure the viewer will be inundated with commercials highlighting John Schnatter and his famous Papa John's pizza. Check out his 4^th grade haircut, he looks like his mom dropped him off at school. He might as well get a bowl cut, that's how bad it looks. They always have some of the worst commercials on the planet. The first time I saw him on television, I wanted to know why Urban Meyer was trying to sell me a two liter Sprite bottle and garlic breadsticks.
Winner: Rutgers

Valero Alamo Bowl «««
21 Missouri (-12.5) vs. Northwestern
San Antonio, TX
Northwestern had a nice season, ending with wins over Illinois and Michigan. After a big win over 20^th ranked Illinois, Missouri had hopes for a National Championship, but those hopes where crushed with back to back losses to Oklahoma State and Texas. This will be Chases Daniel's last collegiate game and he finds himself playing against a very beatable Northwestern team.
Player to Watch: This is your chance to see the best tight end in the country, Chase Coffman.
Reason to Watch: Between Chase Daniel, Jeremey Maclin and Chase Coffman, there's more than enough reasons to take a peek.
Winner: Missouri

Roady's Humanitarian Bowl «««
Maryland (+2) vs. Nevada
Boise, Idaho
The sponsor for this year's Humanitarian Bowl is Roady's Truck Stops, which makes me wonder: if I owned a truck stop, who would be the last one I would ever give a rest room key to? Ralph Friedgen might be on the top of that list. This is an odd match up in this game. The last time I saw a pairing this odd, Pierce Brosnan was the headliner in the soon to be released to DVD movie Mamma Mia. Let's take a deeper look at this matchup of two average, yet solid, teams. Maryland is going to look to control the line of scrimmage with their beefy boys up front. Nevada will have no answer for this and will be playing from behind all game. Look for Nevada QB Colin Kaepernick to methodically move the ball down the field chewing up time. This will be an interesting game all around.
Player to Watch: Darrius Heyward-Bey - A gifted receiver who will be starring on Sundays next year.
Reason to Watch: How many times will they show Ian Johnson's wife? That is the most overblown story of the 21^st century. Well that last comment might have been the most exaggerated comment of 21^st century, but you get the idea. Who cares about this woman? She is a dime-a-dozen on the BSU campus. What I think they should show is Ralph Friedgen's wife five hundred times in the stands: Link. I give this woman all the credit in the world for basically punting her life to shack up with this beast. When he comes home and kicks his shoes up his dogs must smell up the entire house. Look for Ralph Friedgen's wife to steal this show. I am also excited to watch a Roady's Truck Stop Commercial. What could they possibly look like?
Winner: Maryland

Texas Bowl «««
Rice (-2.5) vs. Western Michigan
Houston, TX
Rice's Chase Clement and Jarett Dillard will do it big in Texas! After flipping their 3-9 2007 record to 9-3 in 2008, the Owls look to cap off this dream season. Western Michigan is no slouch either and will have a chance to match Rice's offensive firepower.  These two teams averaged a combined 895 yards and 71 points per game this season.  Buckle up; Rice gets respect by disrespecting W Michigan.
Player to Watch: I am excited to see sophomore James "Thor" Casey who lit it up with a C-USA record 104 catches this season along with 12 TD catches, 6 rushing TDs, and 2 passing TDs.
Reason to Watch: Rice is ready to claim their first bowl win since 1954
Winner: Rice

Pacific Life Holiday Bowl «««««
13 Oklahoma State (-3) vs. 17 Oregon
San Diego, CA
Thanks to injuries, the Ducks have had to use four different QB's over the course of the season. The Ducks will try to ride their momentum off taking the Pac 10 crown from Oregon State. Oklahoma State is shockingly the fourth best team in the Big 12 despite having a top 10 offense and one of the best QB, RB, WR trios in the country. (Zac Robinson, Kendall Hunter, Dez Bryant).
Player to Watch: Dez Bryant could be the best receiver in the current underclassmen group that includes Michael Crabtree, Jeremy Maclin, Arellious Benn, James Casey, AJ Green and Julio Jones; a group that dominates the upperclassmen.
Reason to Watch: The Big 12 is 3-0 this year against the Pac 10 (Washington State lost to Baylor and Oklahoma State and Washington lost to Oklahoma) While Oregon is certainly not as bad as either Washington teams, Oklahoma State is one of the premier teams in the Big 12.
Winner: Oregon

Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl ««««
Air Force (+3.5) vs. Houston
Fort Worth, TX
This game will be a ton of fun!  Air Force runs through the tunnel with the country's 5^th-ranked rushing attack (268.9) and Houston hurls the 2^nd most passing yards per game (414.1).  These two met back in September and the Falcons won a thrilling 31-28 game where they failed to complete a pass.  Houston will heave it on every play while Air Force will pile as many men in the backfield as they can and then ram every man they can through some tight holes on the Cougars' defensive backside.  Don't ask, don't tell in this year's Armed Forces Bowl. Air Force castrates the Cougars.
Player to Watch: Falcons' freshman QB Tim Jefferson cracked the starting lineup mid-season and led the military men to 5 wins in a row. 
Reason to Watch: What's more fun than watching polar opposites on the pitch?!
Winner: Air Force

Brut Sun Bowl ««
13 Oregon State (-2.5) vs. 20 Pittsburgh
El Paso, TX
Oregon State had a shot to win the Pac 10 crown and a spot in the Rose Bowl. But it was not to be as they were upset at home vs a tough Oregon team in the rivalry known as the Civil War. Pittsburgh was a solid but unspectacular team in the Big East. These are two evenly matched teams in what should prove to be an unbearable game to watch. This will be low scoring with lots of commercials with sweaty dudes, which should make for an overall miserable experience for everyone. The problem might be that Oregon State is really disappointed to be here considering what they could have played for. I would imagine the level of disappointment they feel would be comparable to the first time Gloria Friedgen laid eyes on Ralph during their blind da........ whoa sorry, I forgot that write up is over. Look for a snoozer with only losers watching.
Player to Watch: LeSean McCoy, RB, Pitt - A stocky durable back that is destined for stardom in the NFL.
Reason to Watch: Here is a fun drinking game for all of you at home. Now you are going to have to watch closely, because it can happen really fast so you got to pay constant attention. Ready? Ok, see how many times the camera cuts to Pittsburgh coach Dave Wannstedt on the sidelines running his hand through his wavy hair. Honest to God the over/under on this action might be 20. Does he have to look good for the camera at all times or is this just a nervous tick? It is clearly the most fascinating part of this "dull" Bill Stull game. Enjoy the action!
Winner: Pittsburgh

Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl «««
No. 24 Boston College (-3.5) at Vanderbilt
Nashville, TN
Vanderbilt's run at an SEC title went limp quicker than Coach Bobby's Johnson during his last one-night stay at a Gaylord Hotel.  Vanderbilt was a bettor's delight during the first half of the season, but league play exposed the Commodores quickly.  All of Boston College's players are upset after dropping the ACC Championship for the second year in a row to Virginia Tech.  Boston College covers the -3.5 and sinks the 'Dores.
Player to Watch: ACC Defensive Player of the Year Mark Herzlich will be flying all over the field and will show that he is an equal-opportunity hitter by truck-sticking Vandy's ethnically diverse QBs Chris Nickson and Mackenzi Adams.
Reason to Watch: See which team can resurrect a disappointing season and build momentum into next year.
Winner: Boston College

Insight Bowl ««
Kansas (-9.5) vs. Minnesota
Tempe, AZ
It is difficult to offer insight on a game that you basically know nothing about. Kansas was overrated last year, and Minnesota was overrated this year. Kansas coach Mark Mangino still likes to toss the ball over the field and will continue to do so with veteran signal caller Todd Reesing under center. These teams will put up a lot of points that's for sure. If you like watching shootouts this is the game to watch.
Player to Watch: Eric Decker, WR, Minnesota - A slot receiver who has great hands and a nose for the endzone.
Reason to Watch: This game will be featured on the NFL Network and you know what that means. Resident curmudgeon Mike Mayock will be calling the game. He will be hating more on the game than I am hating in this article. He has no fear when lacing his colleagues with distasteful one-liners on air. If you are big on awkward moments, and let's not kid ourselves we are all into that, then this game is worth Tivo'ing
Winner: Kansas

Chick-Fil-A Bowl ««««
14 Georgia Tech (-4) vs. LSU
Atlanta, GA
The Yellow Jackets come into this game on a roll with wins over ranked Florida State, Miami (FL), and Georgia teams in November. Paul Johnson has quieted skeptics who wondered if his offense could work in major conference. (At least that is if you consider the 2008 ACC to be major conference football.) I'd give Paul Johnson the edge over just about coach in America but especially like his chances when matched up against Les "How Many of Saban's Players Are Left?" Miles. This game will likely be decided by the match up between Georgia Tech's rush offense and LSU's run defense. The Jackets put up a ridiculous 409 yards on the ground during their upset of Georgia to close out the season, proving that Johnson's offense works even against SEC-caliber defense. However, don't overlook the Tigers ability to effectively run the football against a Georgia Tech defense that was a sieve in November. This comes down to which run defense can get it done. The Tigers defensive front seven is loaded with talent and LSU has been very successful in post season play this decade. Look for a minor upset from these cats, who are currently a four point dog in Vegas.
Player to Watch: WR Trindon Holliday, LSU. The 5'5'' Holliday may be the fastest player in college football that Urban Meyer couldn't get his greedy mitts on.
Reason to Watch: Before you go out and embarrass yourselves on New Years Eve, I recommend heading to Chick-Fil-A for a sandwich, waffle fries, and a sweet tea and pulling up a chair for this one.
Winner: LSU

Outback Bowl ««««
Iowa (-3.5) vs. South Carolina
Tampa, FL
The Ol' Ball Coach had a disappointing season in the SEC, but Spurrier's squads are always exciting on the field.  Iowa has played tremendous ball all season behind the legs of Greene and smothered opponents' offenses with their D even more than Coach Kirk Ferentz smothers his Kookaburra Wings in Outback's Danish Bleu Cheese.  Greene against the Gamecocks' speedy defense is a must watch. 
Player to Watch: Iowa's Shonn Greene is the only RB in the nation to top 100 yards in every single game. 
Reason to Watch: This could be the last time to see Junior Shonne Greene run over undersized defenders if he jumps to the NFL
Winner: Iowa

Capital One Bowl «««««
No. 15 Georgia (-7.5) vs. No. 18 Michigan State
Orlando, FL
Michigan State workhorse Javon Ringer leads the nation in carries (370) and demands attention.  Even more so now that he announced he would get 200 yards and 3 scores against Georgia's defense.  So sorry, Javon.  The Bulldogs have too much talent from top to bottom and have struggled more against the pass than the run this season.  The media will jam Moreno and Ringer down your throat, but you should focus more on Georgia's receivers.  Bulldog Senior WR Mohamed Massaquoi has a habit of making the big catch and doesn't shy away from slanting across the middle. 
Player to Watch: Georgia freshman stud A.J. Green has a pro-ready body and hands
Reason to Watch: This could turn out to be the best bowl of the season with the lively pregame smack talk and abundant talent at the skill positions.
Winner: Georgia

Konica Minolta Gator Bowl «««
Clemson (-2.5) vs. Nebraska
Jacksonville, FL
Clemson pulled the old Bill Stewart special by hastily promoting an assistant coach with no big time head coaching experience. Bill at least won the Fiesta bowl. Nebraska quietly amassed an 8 win regular season under new head coach Bo Pelini. Nebraska's RB Marlon Lucky has seen his role diminished over the season after having a career season last year while Clemson's tandem of James Davis and CJ Spiller has been quiet all year. Which ever team can get their running game going will probably take this one.
Player to Watch: Joe Ganz has given Nebraska a nice air attack component to their offense.
Reason to Watch: Remember when there were preseason murmurs about Clemson running away with the ACC and possibly making an appearance in the National Championship with Cullen Harper as a possible Heisman candidate? That combined with the entire Georgia Bulldawgs team should be enough evidence that preseason ranking are worthless. Well, Clemson snuck into a bowl with a seven win season, two of which were against FCS teams (Citadel, South Carolina State). Can Nebraska put a nice cap on one of Clemson's most disappointing seasons in recent memory?
Winner: Nebraska

The Rose Bowl Game Presented By Citi «««««
5 USC (-9) vs. 8 Penn State
Los Angeles, CA
The Men of Troy will be appearing in The Granddaddy of Them All for the fourth straight year and it's hard to imagine them being motivated to face Joe Pa's Nittany Lions. Apparently, the Trojans were hoping Oregon State would win the Pac-10 and head to Pasadena, giving them the opportunity to play in the Fiesta or Sugar Bowls against an opponent like Texas or Alabama. It sounds like USC is about as tired of playing Big 10 teams as America is of watching them. Surely, Pete Carroll has lined up funny guest spots from USC supporters like Will Ferrell and Snoop Dogg but even the chance to be on an episode of "Father Hood" might not be enough to get USC up for this game. Meanwhile, it sounds as if Penn State coach Joe Paterno will actually be awake and on the sidelines for this game which will surely motivate the Nittany Lions players.
Player to Watch: Taylor Mays, S USC. A big, physical safety in the mold of current Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Bowler Troy Polamalulamalua. USC's defense has been by far the best in the country all season and Mays is a big reason why.
Reason to Watch: It's the Rose Bowl. It's New Years Day. And if Joe Paterno is going to take the time to watch this game, you should, too.
Winner: USC

FedEx Orange Bowl ««««
12 Cincinnati (-2.5) vs. 19 Virginia Tech
Miami, Florida
Personally I like the matchup against Cincinnati. They have a good offense, a strong defense, and a great coach; they will match up well against us and it should be a great game. That being said, to the rest of the country not in Virginia or Cincinnati, Virginia Tech is once again headed to the boring bowl. I can't complain though, Tech probably couldn't beat any other BCS team except Cincy.
Player to Watch: Fan favorite and "Wild Turkey" conductor, Greg Boone, has hit the spotlight since OC Bryan Stinespring got a clue and implemented something that would give Tech's offense some life,  (Sidenote, I am sure that Stinespring and Bill Stewart would be best friends because they have so much in common, mainly limiting potential. See: Eddie Royal, Josh Morgan, Pat White, Noel Devine)
Reason to Watch: Virgina Tech is now officially playing against Alabama in the Chick-Fil-A college kickoff. Chick-fil-A Bowl President Gary Stokan said, "I think both teams will be ranked in the top 10 to start the season, we should have a sold out atmosphere in Atlanta." Tech has an outside shot at the top 10 but that chance goes to zero if it loses this game.
Winner: Virginia Tech

AT&T Cotton Bowl «««««
7 Texas Tech (-4.5) vs. 25 Ole Miss
Dallas, Texas
This game features two teams heading in different directions. Ole Miss started the season slow, but notched wins over LSU and Florida and managed only a four point loss to Alabama. Texas Tech cruised through the first half of the season, peaking with the win over Texas, but didn't show up against Oklahoma. The Rebs are looking for a signature win to springboard to next season while Texas Tech is trying to get its 12^th win this season.
I was sitting at lunch the Friday after Texas Tech beat Texas, when I overheard two gentlemen, I would guess around 45, shooting the breeze talking football. The first gentleman who we'll refer to as "older blowhard" says to the second guy, who we'll refer to as "uniformed jerk." Let it be known that I could've swapped nicknames of the two guys and nobody could tell the difference. The following is their conversation:
Older Blowhard: Boy, that Texas Tech team sure is good... Did you see their game against Texas?
Uniformed Jerk: No, I had to go to this thing with the wife (trails off)
Older Blowhard: Well, you missed a great game. Texas Tech has this receiver, (thinks... thinks...thinks) APPLETREE! That's his name, Michael Appletree... he's the best receiver in the country. (At this point I wanted to step in and shake him yelling, his name is Crabtree you uniformed blowhard!)
Uniformed Jerk: Yeah Appletree... right, right. He's so good; I've seen Appletree's highlights on ESPN. (Here I also wanted to step in and tell the other guy that you don't know what you're talking about, you just keep agreeing with this blowhard, thus giving him power. You let your wife push you around too much and instead of watching a great game like you wanted to, you went to some crappy party and you and your wife probably had an argument there and on the way home. Stop being such a sissy and stand up for yourself.)
Player to Watch: If you have never heard of Jevan Snead, you soon will. He was the sixth ranked QB out of high school, behind the ranks of Mitch Mustain, Matt Stafford, and Tim Tebow. He originally committed to Florida, but decomitted and then went to Texas after deciding not to ride the bench behind Tim Tebow for four years. After one year in Austin behind Colt McCoy, he transferred to Ole Miss, passing for 2500 yards and 23 touchdowns.
Reason to Watch: This is your last chance to see Graham Harrell play catch with Michael Appletree.
Winner: Texas Tech

Autozone Liberty Bowl ««
Kentucky (+3) vs. East Carolina
Memphis, TN
This bowl game features two teams that scrapped their way into bowl season. ECU started off flying high with wins over perennial powers Virginia Tech and West Virginia, but faltered down the stretch as injuries derailed their season. Skip "the fun" Holtz has brought a winning attitude to a program that was severely lacking in that department since their inception. The wildcats of Kentucky clawed their way into this bowl, and couldn't be happier to be in this game. Look for East Carolina to put a stamp on their season with a bowl win.
Player to Watch: Dicky Lyons, WR, Kentucky - The team's leading receiver is another slot guy who always finds a way to get open. Look for him to have a big game with a lot of catches.
Reason to Watch: I believe this to be the worst of all the games to watch.  I would rather watch flop series Tyler Perry's House of Payne two days straight days than watch this stinker of a game. But if I had to look for something to watch it would to see if East Carolina can bounce back and knock another BCS game? Skip Holtz will be asked all the questions about whether he will jump to a more celebrated college football program. Hopefully he can use this game as a stepping stone to a BCS program job offer.
Winner: East Carolina

Allstate Sugar Bowl «««
6 Utah (+10) vs. 4 Alabama
New Orleans, LA
Clearly, Nick Saban made the right decision going back to college football after a mediocre stint at the helm of the Miami Dolphins. Saban has done a remarkable job in just two years at Alabama and even though he fell short of the BCS Championship game, he has a fine consolation prize awaiting him in New Orleans: The Sugar Bowl against a Utah team that probably isn't even the cream of its own conference's crop. The Utes were very fortunate to escape with home wins against TCU and Oregon State and haven't seen anything quite like the Crimson Tide team they will be facing on January 2nd. Although Alabama lost the SEC Championship game to Florida, you can't discount what the Tide accomplished by going undefeated in the SEC during the regular season. Neither 2006 BCS champ Florida or 2007 BCS champ LSU were able to navigate the SEC without a loss during their national championship seasons.
Player to Watch: Andre Smith, Alabama OT. It would be easy to point out a quarterback, but Alabama's Andre Smith is easily the best football player in this game. Smith may be the 1st overall pick in April and its fun to watch him move hapless DEs aside to create holes for Bama's running backs. Expect to see the Tide pound the ball through gaping holes behind Andre Smith all night long.
Reason to Watch: See if Utah can avoid pulling a Hawaii this year.
Winner: Alabama

International Bowl «
UConn (-4.5) vs. Buffalo
Toronto, Canada
Buffalo Bulls Head Coach Turner Gill is one of the hottest names in his profession and many expected him to move on to a bigger job at Syracuse or Auburn. Gill was passed over by Auburn and apparently decided that he'd rather wait for a better job next year or the year after than try to take on the enormous task of sifting through the wreckage that is the Syracuse football program. In the meantime, the young coach has the first bowl game appearance in the history of Buffalo football to look forward to as a reward for his team's MAC Championship season. Connecticut has stayed right in that meaty part of the curve in the Big East. They aren't falling behind the other conference's other average programs but at the same time they aren't showing off by winning anything significant. They are rightfully favored in this game due to their solid defense and the nation's leading rusher, Donald Brown. Everyone is talking about Turner Gill and how great of a job he has done at Buffalo. So I'm picking him to lose. UConn wows the crowd who don't understand why that rouge didn't count.
Player to Watch: Donald Brown, RB UConn. Brown rushed for 1,822 yards and 17 TDs during the regular season and Turner Gill and company must come up with a way to slow him down if they want any chance of winning this game.
Reason to Watch: Our neighbor to the north, aka Canada, aka America Jr., didn't exactly get the pick of the litter bowl-wise. I'm not going to sugarcoat: If you watch this game, you probably have a gambling problem and you should visit this website immediately - Link
Winner: UConn

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl ««««
3 Texas (-8.5) vs. 10 Ohio State  
Glendale, Arizona
I would say somewhere around 90% of the country is glad that Ohio State isn't in the National Championship and I am one of those people. The Buckeyes swapped QB's in favor of Terrelle Pryor after an embarrassing loss to USC. Texas got the Big 12 Championship snub and it cost them a spot in the National Championship.
Player to Watch: Sometimes I have nightmares where I am playing quarterback and Texas DE Brian Orakpo blows by my freshman tight end and is coming unabated towards me. I know one person who doesn't need to worry about that happening, Todd Boeckman.
Reason to Watch: This is the third time these teams have met in four years. The last time the Buckeyes were wintering in Arizona in 2006, they handled Notre Dame. Ohio State has been getting a bad rap recently about their recent BCS appearances, but it has been well deserved. Ohio State shakes the hate, and rides Terrelle Pryor to the win.
Winner: Ohio State

GMAC Bowl ««««
22 Ball State (-2.5) vs. Tulsa  
Mobile, Al
Both teams were shooting for the coveted BCS bowl bid. Tulsa made it to 8-0 before ending the season 10-3, while Ball State tripped up in the last game of the season against Buffaloe in the MAC Championship game. Both teams have big-time offenses feature star quarterbacks in Nate Davis and David Johnson. This is going to be points-a-plenty in Mobile.
Player to Watch: MiQuale Lewis has rolled up 22 td's and 1700 yards this season.
Reason to Watch: Ball State choked in the final game of the season and is forced to go to a bowl in Alabama. Can they get revenge or will they lack the motivation to get the win?
Winner: Ball State

FedEx BCS National Championship Game «««««
2 Oklahoma (+3) vs. 1 Florida
Miami, FL
While this can't be said for most of the BCS National Championship games in recent memory, I think they got it right this year. These are the two best teams in the country. The speed on the field is mind numbing and we will look back at this game and marvel in the amount of NFL talent this game produced. Sam Bradford is coming off a Heisman winning campaign. He has weapons all over the field, and an offensive line that allows him to sit back and pick apart defenses. Bradford will be playing without one of his offensive players, DeMarco Murray who has been ruled OUT (hamstring injury) for the game. While Oklahoma plays with a stable of backs, this loss will hurt the Sooners more than they realize. As for Florida, they have just as many, if not more weapons on offense that the Sooners boast. Urban Meyer's spread attack will give the Sooners' defense fits if history is any teacher. Last year Oklahoma struggled with West Virginia's wide open attack and this year might prove to be the same.  I think for whatever reason, Oklahoma struggles in bowl games. Florida is the best team in the country and I think that will be proven in the Championship game. Look for the Gators to win this one by two touchdowns.
Player to watch: Brandon James, RB, Florida - A speedy back that excels in the special teams game.
Reason to watch:
Do you really need a reason to watch?
Winner: Florida