The time is near. The BCS bowl games are starting this week and college football is back to becoming a priority. After the Mayans failed to end the world, we have some great matchups to welcome in the new year. Will Notre Dame cap off their historic season with a National Championship? Which players will stand out and show off their skills to earn them top spots in the draft? Happy New Year, Ya’ll. Stay tuned in this week. Some great bowl games to be seen.
Georgia vs. Nebraska
CAPITAL ONE BOWL
Nebraska has had a great year, but the Corn Huskers have struggled against ranked opponents. They’ll be challenged even more against a squad that put up quite a fight to get a bid for the National Championship (until they lost to Alabama in the final game of the season). Nebraska Junior QB Taylor Martinez will test a tough Bulldog defense with his legs, but they won’t be giving up too many points on this day. Look for the balanced Georgia offense and gritty defense to dominate the Huskers.
Wisconsin vs. Stanford
ROSE BOWL
Badger RB Montee Ball is a beast. The Stanford defense will have their hands full with the pro ready tailback as he’s nearing the 2000 yard mark for the second consecutive season. The Cardinals are on a 7-game win streak, the past four against ranked opponents, most notably against #2 Oregon in Week 12. Stanford RB Stepfan Taylor will have his day on the ground as well. He and the rest of the Cardinals look to take it to the BIG 10 in this matchup on New Years Day.
Northern Illinois vs. Florida State
DISCOVER ORANGE BOWL
Northern Illinois has a great player in Junior QB Jordan Lynch. The Chicago native is nearing 3000 yards in the air and almost 1800 on the ground, totaling for 43 TD’s on his own. A stellar athlete, no doubt, but that’s really all they’re going to bring to the table in this matchup. MAC schools have done a great job this season and continue to give the conference more respect and attention—unfortunately, this won’t be good press. The matchup against Florida State seems so unfair that this game shouldn’t even be televised. What a waste of a BCS game. EJ Manuel is a pro ready quarterback who has the size and supporting cast to be successful. Look for him to put up the kind of numbers to get him attention in the first or second round of the 2013 Draft.
Louisville vs. Florida
ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL
As much as I like Teddy Bridgewater, its not going to be a fun day for him—thankfully he’s only a Sophmore, so he’ll have plenty of other opportunities to impress scouts. Florida has a top-tier defense that is going to get to Teddy and cause him problems all day long. Senior RB Mike Gillislee will give the Cardinals problems on the other side of the ball as well. I don’t see this one being close.
Oregon vs. Kansas State
TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL
Heisman finalist Collin Klein has been phenomenal for Kansas State this season, both on the ground and in the air. The kid has the size and star potential to play on Sundays. K-State had a year, but they let the top rank get to them as they crumbled at the end of the regular season. As much as I would like to see Snyder bring this team back to greatness, this game isn’t going to work out like he had hoped. Chip Kelly has a bag of tricks that will leave any defense flat-footed. The Ducks win this game by a bundle as they wish they had taken the game against Stanford seriously so they could be hoisting the National Championship in January.
Texas A&M vs. Oklahoma
AT&T COTTON BOWL
Two words: JOHNNY FOOTBALL.
Notre Dame vs. Alabama
DISCOVER BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Alabama reigns supreme in the college football world. Notre Dame may be the #1 team in the nation according to the polls, but Alabama is the team to beat. The Irish have the best defense in football, but they will be tested, especially with the tandem Bama rushing attack. Even though I have enjoyed seeing Brian Kelly and Notre Dame dominate this season, the Crimson Tide will attain the ultimate achievement as they finally become a ‘Dynasty’. Well deserved, Nick Saban. Well deserved.
Late Toilet Bowl Games:
Pittsburgh vs. Ole Miss
BBVA COMPASS BOWL
Kent State vs. Arkansas State
GODADDY.COM BOWL
