12/27:
Music City Bowl. Kentucky (7-5) vs Clemson (8-5) -7.
Another SEC-ACC battle here. Kentucky has some solid wins at Georgia and Auburn. Their only bad loss was at home against Miss. State. They are also 3-0 S/U in their past 3 bowl games. Clemson basically lost their way into this game. They have lost their last 2 games, and have lost their last 3 bowl games, two to SEC teams, one being Kentucky. Kentucky looks good. 7.5 looks a lot better.
12/28:
Independence Bowl. Texas A&M (6-6) vs Georgia (7-5) -7. A&M beats Texas Tech, but loses to both Colorado and K-State, and ends up here. The one SEC team that they played,ARkansas, killed them. Georgia had a very disappointing season, and was not helped by the injury bug. They did win 2 out of their last 3, including an eye catching win at ACC Champ Ga. Tech. Alean to UGA, but certainly not a wager yet.
12/29:
Eaglebank Bowl. UCLA (6-6) -4 vs Temple (9-3). How can UCLA possibly be favored in this game? They have had nothing but offensive problems this year. Their defense is good, and they do have a win at Tennessee. Temple HC Al Golden has this team believeing in themselves. They have played solid, if not spectacular this season. Low end Pac 10 teams vs good MAC team. Tough call.
Champs Sports Bowl. Wisconsin (9-3) vs Miami (9-3) -3. I make no bones about it. I do not have a lot of respect for Big 10 teams in Bowl games. Wisky is a perfect reason why. They are slow. They barely got past Fresno State. Miami has a ton of team speed and Jacoby Harris will have a field day, if given time to throw the ball. If Northwestern can put 33 on Wisky, Miami should be able to cruise here. Miami will be the play.
12/30:
Humanitarian Bowl. Bowling Green (7-5) -1 vs Idaho (7-5). Bowling Green had a tough start to the season, then rallied to win 4 straight and 6 out of their last 7. Idaho was the exact opposite. The Vandals won 6 out of their first 7 games, and then lost 4 of their last 5, including 3 in a row. Their defense has given up a whopping 250 points in their last 5 games, while Bowling Green has averaged 34 per game in teir last 4 games. Overs anyone?
Texas Bowl. Navy (8-4) vs Missouri (8-4) -6. Navy has wins against the Air Force and Notre Dame,and played well in a loss to Ohio State, but losses to Temple and Hawaii were not good. Missouri obvious had a much tougher schedule. Again, a game that may be decided by who wants it the most.
Holiday Bowl. Nebraska (9-4) vs Arizona (8-4) -1. Alll kinds of intangables here. Can Nebraska pick itself up after a questionable call cost them a BCS game? How will Arizona play knowing that their DC is going to Florida State? Normally the Holiday Bowl is a high scoring affair, but that will not be the cse this year.
12/31:
Armed Forces Bowl. Air Force (7-5) VS Houston (10-3) -5. The pints should be plentyful in this game. Air Force came within 3 points of defeating TCU. They are a very disciplined team. Houston is the exact opposite, with a win against Okie State, but losses to UTEP, and a wounded Ohio team. The line has dropped. Pass.
Sun Bowl. Stanford (8-4) vs oklahoma (7-5) -8. Stanford has lost QB Luck for this game, and that will make a critical difference. Without him, they become a one dementional offense, named Gerhart. OU has not had much offense themselves at times, but has a great defense. Still, 8 points is a lot to give to a Pac 10 team.
Insight Bowl. Iowa State (6-6) vs Minnesota (6-6) -2.5. This may be the best shot for a Big 10 win, bcecause Iowa State is not the fastest team in the Big 12. They have also lost 3 out of their last 4. Minnesota may have a little more team speed, and should be able to handle Iowa State, but I would not wager on it.
Chich-Fil-A Bowl. Tennessee (7-5) vs Va. Tech (9-3) -5. A critical game for Va Tech and the ACC. Tennessee played hot and cold, coming within a blocked FG of beating #1 Alabama, but losing to UCLA at home. Va. Tech was crushed by Alabama, the first in a long line of SEC wins over the ACC. This may be the ACC's best shot at a win against the SEC. Va. Tech knows this. Look for a defensive battle.
Music City Bowl. Kentucky (7-5) vs Clemson (8-5) -7.
Another SEC-ACC battle here. Kentucky has some solid wins at Georgia and Auburn. Their only bad loss was at home against Miss. State. They are also 3-0 S/U in their past 3 bowl games. Clemson basically lost their way into this game. They have lost their last 2 games, and have lost their last 3 bowl games, two to SEC teams, one being Kentucky. Kentucky looks good. 7.5 looks a lot better.
12/28:
Independence Bowl. Texas A&M (6-6) vs Georgia (7-5) -7. A&M beats Texas Tech, but loses to both Colorado and K-State, and ends up here. The one SEC team that they played,ARkansas, killed them. Georgia had a very disappointing season, and was not helped by the injury bug. They did win 2 out of their last 3, including an eye catching win at ACC Champ Ga. Tech. Alean to UGA, but certainly not a wager yet.
12/29:
Eaglebank Bowl. UCLA (6-6) -4 vs Temple (9-3). How can UCLA possibly be favored in this game? They have had nothing but offensive problems this year. Their defense is good, and they do have a win at Tennessee. Temple HC Al Golden has this team believeing in themselves. They have played solid, if not spectacular this season. Low end Pac 10 teams vs good MAC team. Tough call.
Champs Sports Bowl. Wisconsin (9-3) vs Miami (9-3) -3. I make no bones about it. I do not have a lot of respect for Big 10 teams in Bowl games. Wisky is a perfect reason why. They are slow. They barely got past Fresno State. Miami has a ton of team speed and Jacoby Harris will have a field day, if given time to throw the ball. If Northwestern can put 33 on Wisky, Miami should be able to cruise here. Miami will be the play.
12/30:
Humanitarian Bowl. Bowling Green (7-5) -1 vs Idaho (7-5). Bowling Green had a tough start to the season, then rallied to win 4 straight and 6 out of their last 7. Idaho was the exact opposite. The Vandals won 6 out of their first 7 games, and then lost 4 of their last 5, including 3 in a row. Their defense has given up a whopping 250 points in their last 5 games, while Bowling Green has averaged 34 per game in teir last 4 games. Overs anyone?
Texas Bowl. Navy (8-4) vs Missouri (8-4) -6. Navy has wins against the Air Force and Notre Dame,and played well in a loss to Ohio State, but losses to Temple and Hawaii were not good. Missouri obvious had a much tougher schedule. Again, a game that may be decided by who wants it the most.
Holiday Bowl. Nebraska (9-4) vs Arizona (8-4) -1. Alll kinds of intangables here. Can Nebraska pick itself up after a questionable call cost them a BCS game? How will Arizona play knowing that their DC is going to Florida State? Normally the Holiday Bowl is a high scoring affair, but that will not be the cse this year.
12/31:
Armed Forces Bowl. Air Force (7-5) VS Houston (10-3) -5. The pints should be plentyful in this game. Air Force came within 3 points of defeating TCU. They are a very disciplined team. Houston is the exact opposite, with a win against Okie State, but losses to UTEP, and a wounded Ohio team. The line has dropped. Pass.
Sun Bowl. Stanford (8-4) vs oklahoma (7-5) -8. Stanford has lost QB Luck for this game, and that will make a critical difference. Without him, they become a one dementional offense, named Gerhart. OU has not had much offense themselves at times, but has a great defense. Still, 8 points is a lot to give to a Pac 10 team.
Insight Bowl. Iowa State (6-6) vs Minnesota (6-6) -2.5. This may be the best shot for a Big 10 win, bcecause Iowa State is not the fastest team in the Big 12. They have also lost 3 out of their last 4. Minnesota may have a little more team speed, and should be able to handle Iowa State, but I would not wager on it.
Chich-Fil-A Bowl. Tennessee (7-5) vs Va. Tech (9-3) -5. A critical game for Va Tech and the ACC. Tennessee played hot and cold, coming within a blocked FG of beating #1 Alabama, but losing to UCLA at home. Va. Tech was crushed by Alabama, the first in a long line of SEC wins over the ACC. This may be the ACC's best shot at a win against the SEC. Va. Tech knows this. Look for a defensive battle.