Okay, so we've had fifteen bowls or so and maybe three have been worth watching. I'm sorry, but the San Diego Credit Union Poinsetta Bowl does not get me all tingly inside. It just doesn't. Neither did the New Mexico Bowl, the PapaJohns.com Bowl or the New Orleans Bowl between Florida Atlantic vs Memphis.
The Eight Bowl Games I Am Looking Forward To:
1. BCS Championship -- LSU vs Ohio State -- Okay, so I talked earlier in the fall about how I understood people saying we really don't need a playoff because the whole season is a playoff. I'm taking that back. A team with two losses (LSU) and a team that didn't beat anybody all year (OSU) should not be playing for the national title just because everybody else lost in the final weekend. Hey, LSU is a great, great team, but are they one of the top two teams in the country? Maybe. Is Ohio State? No, they are not. This should be a good game, but yet again, the SEC speed will take over and dominate, especially in the Superdome, 50 miles from LSU's campus. Prediction: LSU - 37, OSU - 21.
Louisiana State defensive lineman Glenn Dorsey, the best defensive player in the country.
2. Sugar -- Georgia vs Hawaii -- Hawaii is undefeated and I truly believe they deserve a BCS shot, because A. they are undefeated and B. Boise State was undefeated last year and *sigh* beat my Sooners in the Fiesta. I also know that in the last game of the year Hawaii was getting absolutely smoked 21-0 by Washington before coming back to win 35-28. Hawaii's QB Colt Brennan is very good, but he's a system QB. Chuck the ball deep and let his wide receiver's run underneath it. He won't have time to do any of that. Georgia's defense is fantastic and will swarm Brennan so he can't breath. Bulldog's running back Knowshon Moreno will run wild on Hawaii's defense and Georgia whips Hawaii. Prediction: Georgia 41, Hawaii 27.
3. Fiesta -- Oklahoma vs West Virginia -- Oklahoma is playing as good as any team in the country at the moment and with Mountaineers coach Rich Rodriguez leaving for Michigan, West Virginia might be in for a long night in the desert. WVU also sent back 7,500 tickets that they didn't sell. Sooner fans will probably eat those up and the stadium will be filled with Sooner Crimson. After losing to Boise State last year, I expect the Sooners to make this a memorable game by taking care of business early and often. Love Mountaineers QB Pat White, but is he 100%. Prediction: OU 35, WVU 27.
Oklahoma All American linebacker Curtis Lofton makes big plays.
4. Rose -- Illinois vs Southern Cal. -- Ron Zook has done amazing things in Champaign in his first couple years in Champaign, but taking on USC in the Rose Bowl is a whole different ball game. USC was also one of the top couple teams at the end of the year and if a playoff were to be played, they would be one of the teams to beat. The Trojans have a great defense, speed on offense and a healthy John David Booty. Prognosis negative for the Illini. Prediction: USC 31, Illinois 21.
5. Capital One -- Michigan vs Florida -- The year didn't turn out quite how Chad Henne, Mike Hart and Jake Long wanted for the Wolverines. All three returned for their senior seasons for a chance to win the national championship. Yeah, didn't happen. On the other hand, the country found out that Tim Tebow wasn't just a running quarterback like he was as a freshman backing up Chris Leak. The lefty did it all for the Gators in his Heisman Trophy season. The losses can't be blamed on him. On offense the Gators averaged 462 total yards and 43 points per game. Tebow had 51 total touchdowns with 29 passing (vs only 6 interceptions). He is the real deal. Also, watch for lighting fast sophomore Percy Harvin for the Gators. Prediction: Florida 41, Michigan 28.
6. Outback -- Wisconsin vs Tennessee -- The Badgers inexperienced secondary will be tested against Volunteer quarterback Erik Ainge and wide receiver Lucas Taylor and the return of tight end Joff Cottam. To keep up, the Badgers will rely on fifth-year senior quarterback Tyler Donovan, All-American tight end Travis Beckum and running back P.J. Hill to keep up with the Vols. Tennessee is 2-5 in their last seven bowl games; Wisconsin is 9-3 in it's last twelve. Prediction: Wisconsin 31, Tennessee 27.
Arkansas All World running back Darren McFadden has some muscle.
7. Cotton -- Arkansas vs Missouri -- Chase Daniel and the Tigers should be playing in a BCS game after beating Kansas and Illinois (two teams who are in the BCS). Tigers freshman kick/punt returner, Jeremy Maclin, is spectacular and a human highlight reel. Arkansas has lost coach Houston Nutt to Mississippi after being run out of town. The Razorbacks still have the best running back in the country in Darren McFadden, but in the past few days he has been going through some off the field stuff. A car in his mother's name was supposedly bought in a shady deal. The NCAA is looking into it. Arkansas also has another fantastic running back in Felix Jones, who is expected to go in the first round of the draft, so points should be aplenty. Prediction: Missouri 41, Arkansas 34.
8. Orange -- Kansas vs Virginia Tech -- The Jayhawks are 11-1, but they had one big game...and lost. Don't get me wrong, Kansas is fun to watch and quarterback Todd Reesing is a pinpoint passer. A. This is a BCS game and should feature a team better than Kansas and B. Virginia Tech deserves to play somebody better. The Hokies defense should contain Reesing like they did every other quarterback they faced this year (besides the last two minutes of the first Boston College game when Matt Ryan went off for two touchdowns). Hokies freshman quarterback Tyrod Taylor helped VT win the ACC with his arm and his legs. If Kansas thought Missouri was good, they are in for a rude awakening. Hokies easy. Prediction: Virginia Tech 31, Kansas 17.
Virginia Tech freshman quarterback Tyrod Taylor led the Hokies to the ACC Championship.
Also, Auburn vs Clemson should be a great matchup. Florida State vs Kentucky should be fun because Wildcats quarterback Andre Woodson can go deep and Florida State has 36 players suspended for the game after being caught in a cheating scandal. The Sun Bowl will definitely miss Oregon's injured QB Dennis Dixon who took the Ducks to No. 2 in the country.
