In tradition of the holiday season, I’m in the mood for giving. All season I have provided picks and insight for the BCS games and have neglected the lesser known and/or lesser successful schools of college football. That’s about to change. Since we’re going to have the next month full of bowl games before the ‘real’ matchups are played, I figured I’d give a quick take on the bowl games most people have never even heard of. Stay tuned for the BCS!
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Teams noted in BOLD are my picks for the matchup
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Nevada vs. Arizona
GILDAN NEW MEXICO BOWL
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Arizona is an underestimated squad. Being ranked for a good part of the season, thanks in majority to QB Matt Scott. He spent a couple of weeks injured and has struggled since coming back, but best believe he’ll be ready for this game in his Senior showcase. He didn’t pass the 3000 yard mark by being a mediocre quarterback.
Toledo vs. No. 22 Utah State
FAMOUS IDAHO POTATO BOWL
Utah State can hang with the big teams (for the most part), let alone a MAC squad. They’re a 10-2 team who’s only losses stem from Wisconsin and BYU in close games. It’ll be a close game, but I see State finishing it.
Brigham Young vs. San Diego State
SAN DIEGO COUNTY CREDIT UNION POINSETTIA BOWL
BYU is a team who has hung with major opponents all season—one of which is the current #1 in all of the land, Notre Dame. They’ve got a top-ranked defense that’s going to help pull them through against San Diego State in a home game in Southern Cali.
UCF vs. Ball State
BEEF O’BRADY’S BOWL ST. PETERSBURG
Basically another home game bowl as UCF plays in St. Petersburg. Ball State has been in-and-out of the Top 25 and that kind of inconsistency is going to get them hurt.
East Carolina vs. Louisiana-Lafayette
R+L CARRIERS NEW ORLEANS BOWL
The Ragin’ Cajuns with a red-hot victory in New Orleans.
Washington vs. No. 19 Boise State
MAACO BOWL LAS VEGAS
Boise State will have the ultimate celebration in Las Vegas after this game. I envy that potential post-game celebration.
Fresno State vs. Southern Methodist
SHERATON HAWAII BOWL
SMU has Deion Sanders, Jr. to look forward to next season. Bulldogs by a lot. Hey, at least they got a free vacation to Hawaii.
Western Kentucky vs. Central Michigan
LITTLE CAESARS BOWL
I’ve gotta go with my alma mater in this game, Central Michigan. The Chippewas will have a home game, it being played just 150 miles from campus. The combo of QB Ryan Radcliff and HB Zurlon Tipton with mean business. I’ll be in attendance at Ford Field cheering them on. Fire up Chips!!!
No. 24 San Jose State vs. Bowling Green
MILITARY BOWL
Another MAC team falling victim in this matchup. San Jose State has a high-powered passing offense and good defense to keep them balanced against the Falcons. Falcons have a great defense, but no match for Junior QB David Fales as he zeros in on 4000 yards passing on the season.
Cincinnati vs. Duke
BELK BOWL
Cincy has lost Head Coach Butch Jones for the future, but they won’t lose this game. Duke is continually trying to gain respect as a football team, but the Bearcats really couldn’t care less. They came into the season ranked, they’ll leave it victorious.
“Its been said that this orange tie brings out the color in my eyes.”
Baylor vs. No. 17 UCLA
BRIDGEPORT EDUCATION HOLIDAY BOWL
I’m a fan of Freshman Brett Hundley, but UCLA finished the regular season on a sour note losing to Stanford two straight weeks. Baylor is on a roll. Talk about a team that can turn some heads. Sure, they lost RGIII, but ask Kansas State how they’re doing without them. The Bears take the Bruins to school in the Bridgeport Education Holiday Bowl.
Ohio vs. Louisiana-Monroe
ADVOCARE V100 INDEPENDENCE BOWL
Both teams are weak and should have never been ranked over the course of the season due to their awfully easy schedules. The difference is, Ohio can pass AND run. They’ll finally snap the 3-game losing streak.
Rutgers vs. Virginia Tech
RUSSELL ATHLETIC BOWL
The Scarlet Knights look to capitalize and finish up on a solid winning season. The 6-6 Hokies are no match for the Rutgers defense. Just waiting for Marcus Vick to run his mouth via Twitter. Stay tuned, we all know its going to happen.
Minnesota vs. Texas Tech
MEINEKE CAR CARE BOWL OF TEXAS
Senior QB Seth Doege is closing out his career at Texas Tech in style. He’s narrowing in on 4000 yards passing and 40 touchdowns on the season while leading a passing attack that is 2nd in the nation. The Golden Gophers can’t stop what he’s got.
Rice vs. Air Force
BELL HELICOPTER ARMED FORCES BOWL
Air Force playing in the HELICOPTER ARMED FORCES BOWL. Is that even fair?!
West Virginia vs. Syracuse
NEW ERA PINSTRIPE BOWL
Quarterback battle for the ages. West Virginia came into the season ranked and moved all the way up into the Top 5, then decided to shit the bed with 5 straight losses mid-season—you just can’t do that and remain a contender. I have faith in their ridiculously strong offense to get it done. Nassib will have a great day against the Mountaineers, just not good enough.
“See ya later, Syracuse.”
Navy vs. Arizona State
KRAFT FIGHT HUNGER BOWL
Navy is overrated and barely squeaked by a 2-10 Army team last week. The Sun Devils have played in big games and can hang with the big dogs. Retreat Navy, Retreat.
No. 23 Texas vs. No. 13 Oregon State
VALERO ALAMO BOWL
I rode the Beavers all season (no pun intended) and will continue to do so in this matchup. They won’t quite put up 77 points like they did against Nicholls State to close out the season, but they’ll get it done.
TCU vs. Michigan State
BUFFALO WILD WINGS BOWL
MSU didn’t realize what I had been saying all along until it was too late—give the ball to Le’Veon Bell! They’ve tried too much with a non-existent passing game throughout the season but have finally come to their senses. Bell has averaged 35 attempts in his past three games and the results have proven profitable. Now that they’ve got it straight, they’re gonna be taking home the Wings Bowl trophy. What sauce will they pick?
Insert *WHOOP* sound here
North Carolina State vs. Vanderbilt
FRANKLIN AMERICAN MORTGAGE MUSIC CITY BOWL
Vandy has a great defense and balanced offense than can be potentially dangerous to a one-track squad like the Wolfpack. All season, NC State has suffered big losses from half-assed schools. Look for the trend to remain consistent.
USC vs. Georgia Tech
HYUNDAI SUN BOWL
Tech has a great rushing attack, I’ll give them that. Regardless of Matt Barkley playing on the other side of the ball, they’re no match for the Trojans. Not the game USC expected to be playing in to end the year, but the whooping will suffice.
Iowa State vs. Tulsa
AUTOZONE LIBERTY BOWL
Golden Hurricanes vs. the Cyclones. Who woulda guessed it? Iowa State has clearly had the tougher schedule out of the two and has kept big ranked games close, even though they ultimately lose. Can’t see it happening against a C-USA school though.
No. 8 LSU vs. No. 14 Clemson
CHICK-FIL-A BOWL
One of my favorite bowl games of the year. I’m a big Tajh Boyd fan, but he’ll have to wait till next year to get his. Les Miles keeps smiling as he pockets his bank roll.
Mississippi State vs. No. 20 Northwestern
TAXSLAYER.COM GATOR BOWL
All season I was waiting for Miss State to get kicked out of the Top 25. A team that was clearly overrated and over-appreciated by the media. Going with the BIG 10 on this one as the Wildcats beat the Bulldogs further into the ground.
Purdue vs. Oklahoma State
HEART OF DALLAS BOWL
This will be an awful bowl game. Oklahoma State by a bunch. Yee haw, Cowboys!
No. 7 Georgia vs. No. 16 Nebraska
CAPITAL ONE BOWL
I loved watching both of these teams this season, but if you ask me, Georgia got screwed out of a big time bowl game. Sure they closed out their season with a loss to Alabama, but they’re deserving of more respect. Guess there were too many stellar squads this year to fit everyone in a primetime bowl game. ‘Dawgs take care of the Huskers.
No. 10 South Carolina vs. No. 18 Michigan
OUTBACK BOWL
The combination of Devin Gardner and Denard ‘Shoelace’ Robinson at quarterback has proven deadly. Since the combo has taken the field together more consistently behind center, they’re production has gone up significantly. Sure, they’re coming off a loss from undefeated Ohio State, but that won’t hurt them any in this matchup—If anything, they’ll be in with a chip on their shoulder. South Carolina is without Marcus Lattimore due to injury already, but now they’ll be without him next year as well as he declared for the NFL Draft in April. Talk about a shot to team morale and momentum. Hail to the Victors, Steve Spurrier.
