Champs Sports Bowl
#14 Boston College vs Michigan St.Line: Boston College by 4
MSU has the kind of dynamic offense BC is not used to facing. They pass as well as they run and they're one of the top rushing teams in the nation. Meanwhile, BC's offense has been figured out to a large degree. If you jam their slow-footed receivers and put pressure on Matt Ryan, their attack suddenly becomes very average. MSU is an under-the-radar team that could give BC lots of problems. Boston College 20, Michigan St. 17Watchability: ***
Texas Bowl
Houston vs TCULine: TCU by 4.5
Sometimes, the Bowl committee misses on matchups, but this is definitely not one of those cases. We get an old school SWC matchup in the Lone Star state. TCU wins too as the Cougars still recover from knife wounds in their backs thanks to Art Briles jumping ship to Baylor before the season ended. TCU 17, Houston 10Watchability: **
Emerald Bowl
Maryland vs Oregon St.Line: Oregon St. by 5
The long travel will likely wear out Maryland and OSU is playing at a stadium close to their home turf, so they'll have a distinct home field advantage. OSU also plays the run surprisingly well, proving they're not your typical soft Pac 10 defense. I want to go with Maryland, but they're just too inconsistent. Oregon St. 24, Maryland 20Watchability: ***
Alamo Bowl
Penn St. vs Texas A&MLine: Penn St. by 5.5
From a defensive standpoint, PSU is the kind of team that can make A&M completely one-dimensional. If they can take away the running game early and if Anthony Morelli can just manage the game, PSU will come out of San Antonio with a solid bowl victory to end their year. Penn St 20, Texas A&M 10Watchability: ***
#25 Connecticut vs Wake Forest
Line: Connecticut by 2.5
This matchup features two of the best young coaches in America, as Randy Edsall has resurrected the Huskies to a 9-3 record and split of the Big East title following a 4-8 season. Meanwhile, Jim Grobe has proven last year's ACC Title was no fluke by leading the Deacon Demons to an 8-4 year and a second straight bowl appearance. Having played in a BCS game last year, I think WFU will play with the kind of intensity the Huskies aren't accustomed to and take advantage of the home field. Wake Forest 23, UConn 17
Watchability: ***
Central Florida vs Mississippi St.
Line: Central Florida by 3
The big reason to watch this game is Kevin Smith, another C-USA RB along with Chris Johnson who has the talent to be a 1st round NFL Draft pick. He's on pace to shatter the college rushing record now that he's coming back for his senior season. Mississippi St. has faced lots of good RB's in the SEC, but not one as good as this guy. Central Florida 31, Mississippi St. 27Watchability: ***
Colorado vs Alabama
Line: Alabama by 3
At least there's always the NFL on Sunday. Good thing, I doubt I'll be stuck watching this clunker between .500 teams. It's interesting too, it seems like the Independence Bowl is notorious for games like this. Maybe they should step up their advertising and get better corporate sponsors. Alabama 20, Colorado 16Watchability: *
Air Force vs California
Line: California by 3.5
The Golden Bears were at one point the #2 team in the country. Hard to believe that now, but after finishing the season 1-6 and suffering through a series of injuries, here they are. If they can't beat the bottom feeders in the Pac 10, they don't stand a chance against Air Force. Air Force 24, California 14Watchability: **
Oregon vs #21 South Florida
Line: South Florida by 6.5We'll call this the "I once was #2, remember? Bowl." South Florida came bursting out of the gate like gangbusters, winning their first six games. They included an impressive overtime win in Auburn and a home win over West Virginia. After getting upset by Rutgers, however, USF would drop its next two and fall out of the top 25. Oregon, meanwhile, continued to surge after USF fell, climing as high as #2 before Dennis Dixon tore his ACL and OU lost to Arizona, ending their hopes of a national title and sending them into a three-game freefall. It's a shame too, I really thought Oregon was going to represent the Pac 10, but with all the QB problems they're having, they'll likely end the year with 4 straight losses. South Florida 34, Oregon 20
Watchability: ***
Humanitarian Bowl
Georgia Tech vs Fresno St.Line: Georgia Tech by 6
Don't adjust your TV screen, the Humanitarian Bowl is back and the blue turf blamed for twelve seizures in this country will once again be occupied. By the way, isn't it interesting that Georgia Tech hired Paul Johnson now when it would have made perfect sense to hire him last year to coach the option game and save them from Reggie Ball's butchery of the forward pass? Georgia Tech 38, Fresno St. 17
Watchability: **
Don't adjust your TV screen, the Humanitarian Bowl is back and the blue turf blamed for twelve seizures in this country will once again be occupied. By the way, isn't it interesting that Georgia Tech hired Paul Johnson now when it would have made perfect sense to hire him last year to coach the option game and save them from Reggie Ball's butchery of the forward pass? Georgia Tech 38, Fresno St. 17
Watchability: **
Florida St. vs Kentucky
Line: Kentucky by 10
Watching FSU's descent has been truly sad. What happened at FSU with the 20 suspensions would have gotten any coach fired instantly, but the institution protects Bobby Bowden, who's completely lost control of the program. It's too late to turn things around, this short-handed Noles team won't stand a chance against the exciting young Wildcats and their cannon-armed QB, Andre Woodson. Kentucky 35, Florida St. 14
Watchability: ***
Watching FSU's descent has been truly sad. What happened at FSU with the 20 suspensions would have gotten any coach fired instantly, but the institution protects Bobby Bowden, who's completely lost control of the program. It's too late to turn things around, this short-handed Noles team won't stand a chance against the exciting young Wildcats and their cannon-armed QB, Andre Woodson. Kentucky 35, Florida St. 14
Watchability: ***
Indiana vs Oklahoma St.
Line: Oklahoma St. by 4
I may watch this game only for the 200 clips they show of Mike Gundy's outburst, which has to be the most colorful media tantrum a coach has ever thrown, better than even the hissy fits Jim Mora and Denny Green famously threw. This one had heart, as you could clearly see this guy was ready to blow a gasket after the reporter printed an unfavorable story about starting and then-struggling QB Bobby Reid. The great irony, of course, is that the same QB he was defending is now on the bench and the offense runs better with Zac Robinson starting. Oklahoma St. 30, Indiana 24
Watchability: **
I may watch this game only for the 200 clips they show of Mike Gundy's outburst, which has to be the most colorful media tantrum a coach has ever thrown, better than even the hissy fits Jim Mora and Denny Green famously threw. This one had heart, as you could clearly see this guy was ready to blow a gasket after the reporter printed an unfavorable story about starting and then-struggling QB Bobby Reid. The great irony, of course, is that the same QB he was defending is now on the bench and the offense runs better with Zac Robinson starting. Oklahoma St. 30, Indiana 24
Watchability: **
#23 Auburn vs #15 Clemson
Line: Clemson by 2.5
Outside of Texas-ASU, this could be the highest-quality Bowl game of all the pre-New Years matchups. I think Auburn's defensive line can hold Clemson's running attack in check and control the clock as well, forcing Cullen Harper to beat them. They'll win in what should be a defensive slugfest. Auburn 17, Clemson 13
Watchability: ****
Week 1 vs spread 4-4
Week 1 straight up 7-1
Outside of Texas-ASU, this could be the highest-quality Bowl game of all the pre-New Years matchups. I think Auburn's defensive line can hold Clemson's running attack in check and control the clock as well, forcing Cullen Harper to beat them. They'll win in what should be a defensive slugfest. Auburn 17, Clemson 13
Watchability: ****
Week 1 vs spread 4-4
Week 1 straight up 7-1
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