We’re now getting to the bigger bowl games featuring big games. You start seeing ranked teams play each other and a lot of prestige and pride is on the line in these games. The New Year’s Day and BCS games are where conferences really like to measure themselves against each other. There are so great games lined up this year in these games. There is pretty big intrigue in this year’s New Year’s Day games. It’s Tim Tebow’s last game for Florida and possibly Urban Meyer’s too. It is Bobby Bowden’s last game at Florida State. I’ll predict the games coming up to end 2009 and begin 2010. Hopefully I can improve my 7-8 record on the bowls so far.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2009
Armed Forces Bowl
Houston (10-3) vs. Air Force (7-5)
12 PM ET on ESPN
This is a rematch of last year’s Armed Forces Bowl which saw the Houston Cougars beat the Air Force Falcons 34-28. Houston brings in one of the most high scoring offenses in the nation led by QB Case Keenum. Air Force continues to have a successful running game and will need to try and use it to keep Houston’s offense on the sideline. Houston’s defense has struggled at times this year while Air Force is strong against the pass. This is good match-up and definitely worth watching. I’m taking the easy way out on this one and predicting the same result as last year.
THE PICK: Houston 34, Air Force 28
BRUT SUN BOWL
Oklahoma (7-5) vs. Stanford (8-4)
2 PM ET on CBS
This is the first bowl game for Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh who will be without his starting QB Andrew Luck. Stanford will have Heisman runner-up Toby Gerhart who led the nation in rushing. He’ll be going against a stout Oklahoma rush defense in this one. Oklahoma has struggled offensively this season with the loss of last year’s Heisman winner Sam Bradford. There defense has had to carry them in some games and will again in this one. I look for the Sooners defense to take advantage of no Andrew Luck for Stanford. OU should run the ball with DeMarco Murray to seal a win.
THE PICK: Oklahoma 27, Stanford 20
TEXAS BOWL
Navy (9-4) vs. Missouri (8-4)
3:30 PM ET on ESPN
A clash of opposing style offenses. Missouri has one of the best wide receivers in the country with Danario Alexander. Missouri comes in on a winning streak but over bad teams in the Big 12 North. Navy has the third best rushing attack in the nation but is 119th in passing. Will the Tigers be able to stop the cut blocks the Midshipmen will throw at them? Missouri has played well against the run but hasn’t faced an attack like Navy’s and I don’t think there coaching staff will have them prepared for it. I look for both team’s to put up points with relative ease.
THE PICK: Missouri 38, Navy 35
INSIGHT BOWL
Minnesota (6-6) vs. Iowa St. (6-6)
6 PM ET on NFL Network
Neither one of these teams has much of an offense. Minnesota finished last in the Big Ten and Iowa State was 11th in the Big 12. This should be a struggle and honestly not a game I’ll probably be able to watch much because of the boring play. The Gophers have a little bit more talent and will leave Tempe with a W.
THE PICK: Minnesota 20, Iowa State 17
CHICK-FIL-A BOWL
Virginia Tech (9-3) vs. Tennessee (7-5)
7:30 PM ET on ESPN
Vols fans this is a great measuring stick for Lane Kiffin. If he can win or at least put on a good performance, you should be very excited for things ahead. Virginia Tech had a bit of a disappointing season as they lost three games and didn’t make the ACC Championship game. They’ve still got a lot of talent on that roster and Frank Beamer is a great coach. The Vols seemed to progress this season and gave Alabama the Tide’s toughest game of the year. The Vols have struggled on offense most of the season but have seemed to improve winning four of their last five games. I like Lane Kiffin and think his dad, Monte will be the key to this game. With the time Monte Kiffin has had to prepare for this game, I think he’s going to find a way to contain Tyrod Taylor. 2009 ends with an upset.
THE PICK: Tennessee 20, Virginia Tech 16
FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2010
OUTBACK BOWL
Northwestern (8-4) vs. Auburn (7-5)
11 AM ET on ESPN
This should be a great way to kickoff the new year. Both teams have spread offenses that can put up points and defenses that struggle at times. Coming out of the SEC, Auburn is primed and ready for whatever comes there way. THE PICK: Auburn 34, Northwestern 27
KONICA MINOLTA GATOR BOWL
West Virginia (9-3) vs. Florida St. (6-6)
1 PM ET on CBS
Bobby Bowden ends his legendary coaching career against the team he left to head to FSU. He built the ‘Noles up from nothing and won National Titles there. The players will lay it all on the line so he can go out a winner. West Virginia has a lot of talent. Noel Divine is a great runner and will be able to find holes against the ‘Noles. FSU will drive down the field at the end to set-up the game winning FG…WIDE RIGHT! Bobby Bowden ends his career with a losing season and another haunting FG attempt.
THE PICK: West Virginia 28, Florida State 27
CAPITAL ONE BOWL
Penn St. (10-2) vs. LSU (9-3)
1 PM ET on ABC
Three wins for LSU is a disappointing season in the Bayou. They lost games to good teams though and Les Miles will have them ready for this bowl game. Penn St. once again failed to win the games they should have and elude the Big Ten Title. LSU has better players and will control this game.
THE PICK: LSU 28, Penn St. 20
ROSE BOWL
Ohio St. (10-2) vs. Oregon (10-2)
4:30 PM ET on ABC
Oregon rebounded from a horrific start to the season in Boise to win the Pac-10 and a spot in the Rose Bowl. Ohio State once again claimed the Big Ten crown. They seemed to improve the offense some down the stretch and they’ll need that to stay in this one with a dynamic Ducks team. I think this one comes down to Oregon’s ability to run the football on anyone. Their attack is so quick, Ohio State will not have seen anything like it. The Buckeyes score enough to make it respectable but I don’t think this game is ever in doubt.
THE PICK: Oregon 42, Ohio St. 27
ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL
Cincinnati (12-0) vs. Florida (12-1)
8:30 PM ET on Fox
Cincinnati lost their head coach and Florida almost did or may temporarily. Brian Kelly left the Bearcats for Notre Dame and won’t be coaching this game with his team trying to finish out an undefeated season. Urban Meyer shocked the world last weekend when he announced he was resigning as head coach of the Gators. He changed that to an indefinite leave of absence. Both of these greatly impact this game. When Kelly left a lot of his players felt jilted. They felt he gave up on them when they were undefeated and playing the biggest game in Cincy’s history. The Gators had to be stunned by Meyer’s announcement and would have had a little extra motivation for this game knowing it would be his last. Now that he’s just “taking a leave”, what does that do? His team is now left wondering when will he be back. The story of this game when first announced was it’d be Tim Tebow’s last game as a Gator. That hasn’t been mentioned much this week. Tebow will have one great performance left to leave the Gator nation with on New Year’s Day. Cincinnati is undefeated yet overshadowed and feeling underappreciated. The Gators will lose a lot of great senior and talent underclassmen after this game. This one should be a great one. The magic of Tim Tebow wins this one for Florida.
THE PICK: Florida 31, Cincinnati 27
Come back after you’re done watching the Sugar Bowl and get my predictions on the remaining bowl games being played January 2-7, 2010.
