It's the best time of the year.  This weekend starts the madness that is the BCS bowls and this year the match-ups are actually interesting and should make for compelling TV.  Unfortunately, I'll be out of the country and will be anxiously awaiting scores and highlights on CNN.  Que sera, sera.  Right?

So before I board the plane and take off for warmer climes, here are my BCS predictions:

• Rose Bowl - Let's start with the big game, USC vs. Texas.  As much as I hate to admit it, the Trojans have been impressive all year.  But not in the ways you may think.  While Bush, White and Leinart and company are spectacular athletes and playmakers, it's the intangibles about this team that impress me.  They come up big at the right moments.  Short and sweet, they know how to win, as they have proven over the last three seasons.  Which is why as much as it kills me, I can't pick against them.  Texas has played well all season and Young looks to have a bright NFL future.  But they have not played teams of a high-enough caliber to be ready for USC.  Their early season win over Ohio State wasn't decisive.  In fact, it looked lucky at the time.  Both of teams are offensive power houses, and both have lackluster defenses.  This will be a shootout.  That's why I'm picking USC over Texas, 38-31.
• Sugar Bowl - While the Mountaineers come into this game with a better record (10-1) than the Bulldogs (10-2), they come from a depleted and lackluster Big East versus the powerhouse SEC.  I still firmly believe that the SEC is the best conference in college football and the Dawgs are still a force to be reckoned with, despite the two losses, both to good teams.  That said, WVU does have some offensive weapons in their arsenal with White and Slaton and this won't be a blowout.  I'm going with Georgia, 21-17.
• Orange Bowl - I love this game.  Not because it's going to be any good, but because I really want to see JoePa beat the crap out of Bobby Bowden.  This game matches up two guys who are going to have to be carried off the field eventually.  One has personified class, and the other practically invented sleaze.  This time class should prevail easily.  The Nittany Lions have looked impressive all year, quietly posting consistent quality wins.  The Seminoles have been up and down all year.  Sure they had a big win over Tech in the ACC championship, but Tech helped them.  Hell, they practically handed it to them.  I'm going with Penn State, 30-9.
• Fiesta Bowl - This game has already been controversial for the inclusion of Notre Dame over Oregon.  The system is what it is.  Both teams had great seasons, but Notre Dame got the nod.  Sure TV audience size and advertising played into it.  The bowls are big business.  But that doesn't make the Irish any less deserving, and they will prove it on Jan. 2.  Ohio State's defense is the best ND will face this year.  They are tough and seasoned but have had trouble against great passing attacks, see the Texas game.  OSU's offense is dependable with the strong rushing attack they are known for.  But I don't think it will be able to keep pace with the Irish aerial attack.  Weis has had a month to prepare the game plan and the Irish have something to prove - not just that they were more deserving of the BCS bid than Oregon but that they are fully back as a force to be reckoned with.  Irish top the Buckeyes in a close one, 27-20.

What's your take? 

Go Irish!