After a little thought, and realizing that I won't be on air for a few days with the New Year's holiday, here's some of my picks for the upcoming bowl games. Laugh all you want...
Wednesday, December 30Bowling Green
Idaho
Take: Freddie Barnes, who is 4 catches from the NCAA single season record, and Urban Meyer's first head coaching gig, the Bowling Green Falcons. Watch for: North Platte, NE native Nathan Enderle direct a Vandal offense that sorely missed him in a few games down the stretch. Nebraska fans will weep after watching Enderle, then remember Zac Lee is the QB for the Huskers.
20 Arizona
22 Nebraska
Take: Ndamukong Suh leads the Best NU defense since...99? It feels that way, after NU came up one second short of beating Texas in the Big 12 championship. Watch for: A defensive struggle in which the first team to give up a special teams play will lose.
Thursday, December 31
11 Virginia Tech
Tennessee
Take: Va Tech's defense can flat frustrate any offense, and that's not Peyton Manning taking snaps for the Vols. Watch for: Intriguing match up between Vols D coordinator Monte Kiffin and Hokie QB Tyrod Taylor
Oklahoma
21 Stanford
Take: A p*&%% off OU team that will not have to face Stanford QB Andrew Luck. Watch for: Toby Gerhart was your Heisman runner up, dude can flat truck it.
Houston
Air Force
Take: Case Keenum in the new Run N Shoot for Houston. Watch for: Never, EVER, count out a service academy in a bowl game.
Navy
Missouri
Take: Blaine Gabbert and MU to put a ton of passing yards and points on the board. Watch for: I'm serious, never, EVER, count out a service academy in a bowl game.
Minnesota
Iowa State
Take: ISU and first year coach Paul Rhodes. ISU could start throwing monkey wrenches in the Big 12 North very soon (see: 8 forced turnovers vs Nebraska) Watch for: An ISU team that jumped Mizzou in the Big 12 bowl selection order...
And now, New Year's day and the weekend picks...
Friday, January 1st
| 3 Cincinnati | 8:30 | |
| 5 Florida | PM ET |
8 Ohio State | 4:30 | |
| 7 Oregon | PM ET |
13 Penn State | 1:00 | |
| 12 LSU | PM ET |
16 West Virginia | 1:00 | |
| Florida State | PM ET |
Northwestern | 11:00 | |
| Auburn | AM ET |
Saturday, January 2nd
| 19 Oklahoma State | 2:00 | |
| Mississippi | PM ET |
South Florida | 12:00 | |
| Northern Illinois | PM ET |
South Carolina | 2:00 | |
| Connecticut | PM ET |
Arkansas | 5:30 | |
| East Carolina | PM ET |
Michigan State | 9:00 | |
| Texas Tech | PM ET |
