2009 Bowl Preview (Week of Sat. Jan. 2nd – Thurs. Jan. 7th)
(All helmet images courtesy of the great work done by Charles Arey at The Helmet Project. http://www.nationalchamps.net/Helmet_Project/index.htm)


International (aka the Building Canadian Good Will) Bowl
Sat. Jan. 2 Noon Toronto, CAN ESPN2
Northern Illinois Huskies (MAC 7-5) vs. South Florida Bulls (Big East 7-5)

I’m sure South Florida will be thrilled to go from 80 degree weather to 20 degree highs in a game that’s not even played in this country. Against Northern Illinois. The Bulls are immensely talented but unless they can eliminate the late season collapses which have come to define their program, they may want to just reserve their visas ahead of time every year. Northern Illinois 23 South Florida 20


Papajohn’s.com Bowl
Sat. Jan. 2 2pm Birmingham, AL ESPN
Connecticut Huskies (Big East 7-5) vs. South Carolina Gamecocks (SEC 7-5)

What’s weird is that this isn’t even the Papa John’s Bowl. It’s the Papajohn’s.com bowl. I guess they had to find a way to top Little Caesar’s. South Carolina eats too many of those yummy breadsticks at halftime- Connecticut 27 South Carolina 23


AT&T Cotton Bowl
Sat. Jan. 2 2pm Dallas, TX FOX
Oklahoma St. Cowboys (Big 12 9-3) vs. Ole Miss Rebels (SEC 8-4)

I don’t care for either team, honestly. Too much hype, nothing to back it up. Ole Miss 27 OSU 24


AutoZone Liberty Bowl
Sat. Jan. 2 5:30pm Memphis, TN ESPN
Arkansas Razorbacks (SEC 7-5) vs. East Carolina Pirates (C-USA 9-4)

Again two spotty teams who can get red hot and then ice cold all in the same quarter. Arkansas 31 East Carolina 10


Valero Alamo Bowl
Sat. Jan. 2 9pm San Antonio, TX ESPN
Texas Tech Red Raiders (Big 12 8-4) vs. Michigan St. Spartans (Big 10 6-6)

Talk about your lopsided match-ups. Texas Tech 56 Michigan State 20


Tostitos Fiesta Bowl
Mon. Jan. 4 8pm Glendale, AZ FOX
TCU Horned Frogs (MWC 12-0) vs. Boise St. Broncos (WAC 13-0)

TCU will stop Boise St dead in their tracks, mark my words. Especially since the Broncos lost their best receiver. TCU 55 Boise St. 27


Fedex Orange Bowl
Tues. Jan. 5 8pm Miami, FL FOX
Georgia Tech YellowJackets (ACC 11-2) vs. Iowa Hawkeyes (Big 10 10-2)

I cannot stress this point enough: I loathe the Hawkeyes. Georgia Tech 45 Iowa 16


GMAC Bowl
Wed. Jan. 6 7pm Mobile, AL ESPN
Central Michigan Chippewas (MAC 11-2) vs. Troy Trojans (Sun Belt 9-3)

I hope this guy named Troy knows he’s taking on an entire team- led by a future NFL qb. Chippewas 31-10.


Citi BCS National Championship Game
Thurs. Jan. 7 8pm Pasadena, CA ABC
Alabama Crimson Tide (SEC 13-0) vs. Texas Longhorns (Big 12 13-0)

Alabama earned this one, Texas backed their way in. Bama’s defense will try to replicate what Nebraska’s did and they won’t be intimidated by Mack Brown’s group in the least. In fact, it may be the other way around. I see blitzes coming from Bama all night long...and you know what that means. Alabama 37 Texas 19

2009 Bowl Preview (Week of Sun. Dec. 27th – Fri. Jan. 1st)
(All helmet images courtesy of the great work done by Charles Arey at The Helmet Project. http://www.nationalchamps.net/Helmet_Project/index.htm)


Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl
Sun. Dec. 27 8:30pm Nashville, TN ESPN
Kentucky Wildcats (SEC 7-5) vs. Clemson Tigers (ACC 8-5)

Kentucky vs. Clemson? Geez, the Tigers didn’t do themselves any favors losing the last 2 games on their schedule. Kentucky in a shootout: 57- 49


Advocare 100 Independence Bowl
Mon. Dec. 28 5pm Shreveport, LA ESPN2
Texas A&M Aggies (Big 12 6-6) vs. Georgia Bulldogs (SEC 7-5)

Finally a game to break out the Tivo for! Texas A&M’s offense is about as fun as it gets in college football this year. Georgia is so up and down that nobody knows who will show up (actually that could be said for either team) so let’s just hope for a fun one. In the highest scoring game in college football bowl history since the invention of the facemask (I’m guessing): A&M 64 Georgia 61


EagleBank Bowl
Tues. Dec. 29 4:30pm Washington D.C. ESPN
Temple Owls (MAC 9-3) vs. UCLA Bruins (Pac-10 6-6)

I’m picking Temple over UCLA in this one 27 to 20. Temple has a good ground game and will be completely jacked up for this one since they haven’t been bowling since, well, before anyone reading this blog was probably born.


Champs Sports Bowl
Tues. Dec. 29 8pm Orlando, FL ESPN
Miami Hurricanes (ACC 9-3) vs. Wisconsin Badgers (Big 10 9-3)

Wisconsin always wins when you least expect 'em to, but I just think Miami has too much talent even if they had a late-season meltdown. Miami 37 Wisconsin 31


Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl
Wed. Dec. 30 4:30pm Boise, ID ESPN
Idaho Vandals (WAC 7-5) vs. Bowling Green Falcons (MAC 7-5)

If they really were humane they’d cancel this game. Idaho 49 Bowling Green 31


Pacific Life Holiday Bowl
Wed. Dec. 30 8pm San Diego, CA ESPN
Nebraska Cornhuskers (Big 12 9-4) vs. Arizona Wildcats (Pac-10 8-4)

Nebraska has no business being here. Meaning, they should be in the BCS. And they will be pissed. Arizona is thrilled to be here but will get a defensive wake up call the likes of which no other Pac-10 team could possibly have prepared them for. Nebraska 17 Arizona 3


Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl
Thurs. Dec. 31 Noon Fort Worth, TX ESPN
Houston Cougars (C-USA 10-3) vs. Air Force Falcons (MWC 7-5)

Pass-happy offense vs. nasty pass defense. Air Force 31 Houston 30


Brut Sun Bowl
Thurs. Dec. 31 2pm El Paso, TX CBS
Oklahoma Sooners (Big 12 7-5) vs. Stanford Cardinal (Pac-10 8-4)

This is a crazy cool match up if you ask me. Lucky may not play, which would be huge. Gerhardt versus that defense? Sticky, just plain sticky. I can’t get a read on Oklahoma this year but they will stack the box and leave their db’s in man coverage unless the cardinal can beat ‘em through the air, which I don’t think they can. Oklahoma 24 Stanford 17


Texas Bowl
Thurs. Dec. 31 3:30pm Ft. Worth, TX ESPN
Navy Midshipmen (Ind. 8-4) vs. Missouri Tigers (Big 12 8-4)

Another intriguing match-up. How much time (or effort) do you really think Mizery is going to put into defending the triple option? Hell, I don't even think Pinkel would know HOW to practice defending it even if he did care. This is really Navy vs. Danario Alexander. I’m picking the team who wants to be here: Navy 41 Missouri 34


Insight Bowl
Thurs. Dec. 31 6pm Tempe, AZ NFLN
Iowa State Cyclones (Big 12 6-6) vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers (Big 10 6-6)

Here’s some insight for you: Minnesota doesn’t deserve to be in a bowl game. Iowa St 37 Minnesota 17


Chick-Fil-A Bowl
Thurs. Dec. 31 7:30pm Atlanta, GA ESPN
Tennessee Volunteers (SEC 7-5) vs. Virginia Tech Hokies (ACC 9-3)

No-Class Kiffin vs. Only Class Beamer. Hmmmm...too bad Tyrod Taylor is your quarterback. Tennessee 20 V Tech 17


Outback Bowl
Fri. Jan. 1 11am Tampa, FL ESPN
Northwestern Wildcats (Big 10 8-4) vs. Auburn Tigers (SEC 7-5)

I like Northwestern’s spunk and they have all the momentum. Northwestern 20 Auburn 13


Capital One Bowl
Fri. Jan. 1 1pm Orlando, FL ABC
LSU Tigers (SEC 9-3) vs. Penn State Nittany Lions (Big 10 10-2)

Les Miles and LSU has no offense. Penn St. is softer than a marshmallow in a cup of steaming hot chocolate. Do I have to pick a winner of this one? Arghh….At least these two teams will be evenly matched and should produce a good game!LSU 17 Penn St. 15


Konica Minolta Gator Bowl
Fri. Jan. 1 1pm Jacksonville, FL CBS
Florida St. Seminoles (ACC 6-6) vs. West Virginia Mountaineers (Big East 9-3)

I can’t believe I’m saying this but I wouldn’t mind if Bowden went out with a win. And I bet his players feel the same. FSU 45 West Virginia 35


Rose Bowl presented by Citi
Fri. Jan. 1 4:30pm Pasadena, CA ABC
Oregon Ducks (Pac-10 10-2) vs. Ohio St. Buckeyes (Big 10 10-2)

Ohio St should conceivably win this one with their defense, but Oregon is gonna be through-the-roof amped up. And the Buckeyes haven’t faced an offense like this all year- not even close. Oregon 51 Ohio St. 24


Allstate Sugar Bowl
Fri. Jan. 1 8:30pm New Orleans, LA FOX
Florida Gators (SEC 12-1) vs. Cincinnati Bearcats (Big East 12-0)

Florida needs to dig deep after their loss to Bama. For Tebow this is it. Cincinnati looks like they just lost their head coach and their defense was already atrocious to begin with. Gator defense will rise to the occasion. Florida 37 Cincy 21