SAN DIEGO COUNTY CREDIT UNION POINSETTIA BOWL
UTAH VS. NAVY
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego
6 p.m., ESPN
The Midshipmen (8-4) won the inaugural Poinsettia Bowl game in 2005, but don’t look for them to win in their return, as Utah’s (8-4) superior talent and kicking game give them the edge.
PICK: Utah, 41-31
DEC. 21
R&L CARRIERS NEW ORLEANS BOWL
FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY VS. MEMPHIS
Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans
5 p.m., ESPN2
Both teams have explosive offenses – and hideous special teams and defense. Despite posting winning records, Florida Atlantic (7-5) and Memphis (7-5) were both outscored by their opponents this season.
PICK: Florida Atlantic, 24-21
DEC. 22
PAPAJOHNS.COM BOWL
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI VS. CINCINNATI
Legion Field, Birmingham, AL
10 a.m., ESPN2
Explosive offense meets stingy defense. Southern Miss (7-5) only allowed 283 points this season, yet will they be able to stop a Cincinnati (9-3) team that lit up the scoreboards for 441 points? Probably not.
PICK: Cincinnati, 38-17
NEW MEXICO BOWL
NEVADA VS. NEW MEXICO
University Stadium, Albuquerque, NM
1:30 p.m., ESPN
New Mexico (8-4) is definitely looking forward to playing in Albuquerque, where the Lobos were 5-1 this year. Yet its offense is quite conservative (298 points favored), and their solid defense (247 points allowed) will have to find ways to stop a Nevada (6-6) team that put up 435 points this season.
PICK: Nevada, 34-17
PIONEER LAS VEGAS BOWL
BYU vs. UCLA
Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas, NV
5 p.m., ESPN
UCLA (6-6) has been inconsistent all year, primarily due to multiple injuries on defense. Brigham Young (10-2) lost to UCLA, 27-17, in week 2, yet the Cougars’ defense did not allow a 100-yard rusher all year, and enter this game with a nine-game winning streak.
PICK: UCLA, 26-20
DEC. 23
SHERATON HAWAI’I BOWL
EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY VS. BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY
Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, HI
5 p.m., ESPN
No return to a BCS Bowl game for Boise State. Yet the Broncos (10-2) still have a high-powered offense that should cruise by East Carolina (7-5). Boise State outscored their opponents 513-240. Against a defense that allowed 357 points, the Broncos should have no trouble beating ECU.
PICK: Boise State, 47-14
DEC. 26
MOTOR CITY BOWL
CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY VS. PURDUE
Ford Field, Detroit, MI
4:30 p.m., ESPN
Purdue (7-5) cruised by Central Michigan (8-5) earlier this year. The Boilermakers enter this game with a three-game losing streak and a losing record (3-5) in league play after a 5-0 start. Conversely, Central Michigan has won 4 of its last 5.
PICK: Central Michigan, 17-16
DEC. 27
PACIFIC LIFE HOLIDAY BOWL
ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY VS. TEXAS
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, CA
5 p.m, ESPN
Arizona State (10-2) earned a share of the PAC-10 title with USC. Both teams bring top-notch offenses with solid defenses, so expect this bowl game to be decided in the fourth quarter.
PICK: Arizona State, 34-30
DEC. 28
CHAMPS SPORTS BOWL
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY VS. BOSTON COLLEGE
Citrus Bowl, Orlando, FL
2 p.m., ESPN
Matt Ryan will play in his last game as an Eagle, and that should motivate Boston College (10-3) to win this game after losing three of its final five games. Michigan State (7-5) is playing in its first bowl game since 2003.
PICK: Boston College, 27-10
TEXAS BOWL
TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY VS. HOUSTON
Reliant Stadium, Houston, TX
5 p.m., NFL Network
Virtually a home game, Houston (8-4) will play this game without Coach Art Briles. The Cougars bring a high-powered offense that finished fourth in the nation, in terms of total offense, against a TCU (7-5) defense that is lead by Chase Ortiz (eight sacks, 15 ½ tackles for a loss).
PICK: Houston, 23-17
EMERALD BOWL
OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY VS. MARYLAND
AT&T Park, San Francisco, CA
5:30 p.m., ESPN
Maryland (6-6) beat two top-10 teams this season (Rutgers, Boston College), yet owned a 3-5 record in ACC play. Oregon State (8-4) beat two of three ranked teams within its own conference (California, Oregon).
PICK: Maryland, 34-31
DEC. 29
MEINEKE CAR CARE BOWL
BANK OF AMERICA STADIUM, CHARLOTTE, NC
Wake Forest vs. University of Connecticut
10 a.m., ESPN
An evenly matched game, Wake Forest (8-4) will have the edge playing roughly 80 miles from home. Connecticut (9-3), though, has played spectacular all year, and finished the season in the Top 25.
PICK: Wake Forest, 24-7
AUTOZONE LIBERTY BOWL
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA VS. MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis, TN
1:30 p.m., ESPN
Neither team has much of a passing game, but Central Florida (10-3) has one of the best running games in the nation, with junior Kevin Smith leading nation in rushing yards (2,448 with 29 touchdowns).
Mississippi State (7-5) has a decent defense, but not good enough to stop UCF, which will win school’s first ever bowl game.
PICK: UCF, 48-10
VALERO ALAMO BOWL
TEXAS A&M VS. PENN STATE
Alamodome, San Antonio, TX
5 p.m., ESPN
Penn State (8-4) won seven of eight games when Anthony Morelli threw for more than 195 yards. If he can do that against Texas A&M (7-5), the Nittany Lions will win its 23rd bowl game.
PICK: Penn State, 27-13
DEC. 30
PETROSUN INDEPENDENCE BOWL
COLORADO VS. ALABAMA
Independence Stadium, Shreveport, LA
5 p.m., ESPN
After beating Tennessee on Oct. 20, Alabama (6-6) did not win a game. Colorado (6-6) beat Oklahoma and played Kansas close, but was also blown out by Kansas State and also lost to Iowa State.
PICK: Alabama, 21-17
DEC. 31
BELL HELICOPTERS ARMED FORCES BOWL
CALIFORNIA VS. AIR FORCE
Amom G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, TX
9:30 a.m., ESPN
California (6-6) lost five of last six games after 5-0 start and No. 2 ranking in AP Poll. A healthy Nate Longshore is needed for the Golden Bears to have a chance against Air Force (9-3), which had a strong second half of the season.
PICK: Air Force, 25-19
BRUT SUN BOWL
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA VS. OREGON
Sun Bowl Stadium, El Paso, TX
11 a.m., CBS
Oregon (8-4) lost final three games without Dennis Dixon. South Florida (9-3) looked like a Cinderella team, but finished season with 3-3 record with all three wins in final three weeks.
PICK: South Florida, 39-27
ROADY’S TRUCK STOPS HUMANITARIAN BOWL
GEORGIA TECH VS. FRESNO STATE UNIVERSITY
Bronco Stadium, Boise, ID
11 a.m., ESPN2
Georgia Tech (7-5) will have to rely on its blitzing and run defense under interim coach Jon Tenuta if they want to beat Fresno State (8-4). The Bulldogs do not play much defense, though.
PICK: Fresno State, 31-24
MUSIC CITY BOWL
FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY VS. KENTUCKY
LP Field, Nashville, TN
1 p.m., ESPN
Florida State (7-5) makes its 26th straight bowl appearance despite losing four of last seven games. Kentucky (7-5) scored a lot of points (440), but also gave up a lot of points (357). Seminoles need to capitalize on week Wildcat defense.
PICK: Florida State, 24-13
INSIGHT BOWL
INDIANA VS. OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY
Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, AZ
4:30 p.m., NFL Network
Kellen Lewis and James Hardy lead an exciting Indiana (7-5) offense, and the quarterback-receiver duo should have a few big highlights against Oklahoma State’s (6-6) defense.
PICK: Indiana, 44-21
CHICK-FIL-A BOWL
CLEMSON VS. AUBURN
Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA
4:30 p.m., ESPN
Clemson (9-3) and Auburn (8-4) meet for the 45th time in one of the best match-ups in bowl season. Clemson has one of nation’s most balanced offenses, while Auburn’s stingy defense allowed 16.7 points per game.
PICK: Clemson, 17-14
JAN. 1, 2008
ROSE BOWL GAME PRESENTED BY CITI
ILLINOIS VS. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, CA
1:30 p.m., ABC
Illinois (9-3) quarterback Juice Williams has tremendous speed. So does the Southern California (10-2) defense. The Trojans have the most balanced team in the nation, and quarterback John David Booty is healthy just in time for USC to win his second Rose Bowl Game.
PICK: USC, 31-21
ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL
HAWAI’I VS. GEORGIA
Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, LA
5:30 p.m., FOX
Hawai’i will be playing its second-ever bowl game on the mainland, thanks to Colt Brennan leading the Warriors to a 12-0 record with a high-powered aerial attack. Georgia (10-2) is one of the nation’s hottest teams and had a defense that may be able to keep up with Brennan and the Warriors.
PICK: Hawai’i, 42-38
OUTBACK BOWL
WISCONSIN VS. TENNESSEE
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
8 a.m., ESPN
Tennessee (9-4) won close and lost big, made several mistakes on defense, and lost four of six on the road, yet won SEC East and may win 10 games. Wisconsin (9-3) is a surprise despite average numbers on offense and defense.
PICK: Tennessee, 35-27
AT&T COTTON BOWL
MISSOURI VS. ARKANSAS
Cotton Bowl Stadium, Dallas, TX
8:30 a.m., FOX
Missouri (11-2) lost in the Big 12 title game to drop from No. 1 seed to Cotton Bowl. Arkansas (8-4) arrives in Dallas with the nation’s best player in Darren McFadden. Mizzou primed for upset after falling out BCS Bowl contention.
PICK: Arkansas, 31-30
KONICA MINOLTA GATOR BOWL
TEXAS TECH VS. VIRGINIA
Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, Jacksonville, FL
10 a.m., CBS
Texas Tech (8-4) averaged 41.8 points per game, mostly by aerial attack, because they completely lack a running game (ranked 120th in nation). If the Virginia (9-3) secondary can stop the pass, they may beat Tech.
PICK: Virginia, 44-41
CAPITAL ONE BOWL
MICHIGAN VS. FLORIDA
Citrus Bowl, Orlando, FL
10 a.m., ABC
Florida (9-3) quarterback Tim Tebow won the Heisman Trophy by scoring 51 touchdowns (29 pass, 22 rush), and should be difficult to contain for Michigan (8-4), whose eight-game winning streak was sandwiched by consecutive losses to begin and end the season, including losses to Appalachian State, Oregon, and Ohio State.
PICK: Florida, 34-10
JAN. 2
TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL
OKLAHOMA VS. WEST VIRGINIA
University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, AZ
5 p.m., FOX
Oklahoma (11-2) beat then-No.1 Missouri, 38-17, in the season finale, while West Virginia (10-2) was knocked out of the BCS Championship Game with a 13-9 upset loss to unranked Pittsburgh.
PICK: Oklahoma, 28-17
JAN. 3
FEDEX ORANGE BOWL
VIRGINIA TECH VS. KANSAS
Dolphin Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL
5 p.m., FOX
Virginia Tech (11-2) beat Boston College, 30-16, to make its case for a top BCS bowl game, while Kansas (11-1) will rely on a balanced and speedy offensive attack to blitz past the Hokies. Both teams have strong defenses, but do not expect a defensive battle. The Hokies will be playing for 32 fallen students who died on-campus in April.
PICK: Virginia Tech, 27-24
JAN. 5
INTERNATIONAL BOWL
BALL STATE UNIVERSITY VS. RUTGERS
Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON
9 a.m., ESPN2 (USA), TSN (Canada)
Rutgers (7-5) travel north of the border to display running back Ray Rice and the Big East’s best pass defense. Ball State (7-5) will counter with quarterback Bill Davis (3,376 yards, 27 TDs).
PICK: Rutgers, 24-7
JAN. 6
GMAC BOWL
TULSA VS. BOWLING GREEN UNIVERSITY
Ladd Peebles Stadium, Mobile, AL
5 p.m., ESPN
Tulsa (9-4) and Bowling Green (8-4) are two explosive teams playing in a bowl game meant for high-octane offense. Tulsa’s offense (542.5 yards per game) is top in the nation, while both teams average 32 points per game (and allow just as much on defense).
PICK: Tulsa, 51-45
JAN. 7
BCS CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY VS. LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY
Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, LA
4 p.m., FOX
Ohio State (11-1) allowed only two rushing touchdowns all season. Louisiana State’s quarterbacks Matt Flynn and Ryan Perrilloux are slippery as fish. Both teams have a penchant of winning close games.
PICK: Ohio State, 20-17
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