I've been putting this off for too long as it is, so I won't bore you with some smarmy warm-up. 

Here they are...my picks for the Big Ten Bowls:

CHAMPS SPORTS BOWL

December 27, 2008  4:30 PM  ESPN

Florida State vs Wisconsin

The Statistics:

Florida State Seminoles (8-4)

Passing:

Christian Ponder     159 completions     287 attempts     1807 yards     55.4% average     12 TDs to 13 INTs     113.0 QB Rating

D'Vontrey Richardson     23 comp     44 att     315 yards     52.3% ave     3 TDs to 3 INTs     121.3 QB Rating

Team Notes     As a unit, the Seminoles have 16 TDs and 16 INTs.  They're facing the 35th ranked pass defense in terms of yardage allowed.  It's good that the Badgers aren't ranked higher than that, but then again, Fla. St. could have gotten a worse pass defense to work against.  They'll have to be careful with the football.  Wisconsin's Niles Brinkley has 4 INTs to his credit this year and the team as a whole has 12. 

Rushing:

Antone Smith     161 carries     753 yards     4.7 ypc     14 TDs

Jermaine Thomas     66 carries     478 yards     7.2 ypc     3 TDs

Christian Ponder     110 carries     404 yards     3.7 ypc     4 TDs

D'Vontrey Richardson     35 carries     254 yards     7.3 ypc     3 TDs

Team Notes      Florida State has a nice 5.05 ypc average as a team.  Smith has carried the bulk of the load, but the two QB's are obviously mobile enough to be a threat.  They'll need that to confuse a stiff, but beatable Badger defense.

Receiving:

Greg Carr     31 receptions     464 yards     3 TDs

Preston Parker     40 rec     372 yards     2 TDs

Taiwan Easterling     29 rec     317 yards     1 TD

Bert Reed     18 rec     271 yards     3 TDs

Corey Surrency     11 rec     212 yards     4 TDs

Team Notes     The Seminoles have used 17 different receivers to rack up 2230 yards on 188 receptions.  Much like Wisconsin, Florida State runs the ball more than they pass it.  That will slow down the action a little and put the pressure on the defenses to make the stop down after down.  Still, the Seminoles have a wide range of targets they can aim at. 

Wisconsin Badgers (7-5)

Passing:

Dustin Sherer     95 completions     175 attempts     1257 yards     54.3%     5 TDs to 5 INTs     118.3 QB Rating

Allan Evridge     71 comp     132 att     949 yards     53.8%     5 TDs to 5 INTs     119.1 QB Rating

Team Notes     This has been a problem area for Wisconsin all season long.  As a unit they have more INTs (11) than they do TDs (10).  Dustin Sherer has been the starter most of the season but he really hasn't established himself as the QB Wisconsin needs.  To compound matters, they're facing the 8th rated pass defense.  Guess how often the Badgers are going to opt for the pass play???  Better yet...guess how often they should opt for the pass play??

Rushing:

P.J. Hill     211 carries     1021 yards     4.8 ypc     13 TDs

John Clay     144 carries     845 yards     5.9 ypc     9 TDs

Zach Brown     54 carries     306 yards     5.7 ypc     3 TDs

Team Notes     The Badgers have carried the ball 521 times vs 321 pass attempts.  As noted above...is it any wonder?  PJ Hill and John Clay have blossomed into a pretty potent duo out of Wisconsin's backfield.  They have different running styles but compliment each other nicely.  Florida State will need to key on these two if they want to put Wisconsin's game into a frantic state of panic.  Shut them down and they'll be forced to turn to Sherer and the dangerously inconsistent pass game.

Receiving:

David Gilreath     30 receptions     515 yards     3 TDs

Garrett Graham     37 receptions     478 yards     5 TDs

Isaac Anderson     19 rec     268 yards     0 TD

Travis Beckum     23 rec     264 yards     0 TD

Team Notes     Wisconsin has 10 TDs and 2313 yards on 171 receptions.  Gilreath has emerged as a powerful target for Sherer to concentrate on.  He's gone a very long way toward opening up the Badger offense.  Dustin Sherer is going to have to play smarter than he has in the past. 

What's it all mean Bassil?

Obviously this isn't going to be a high-flying shootout.  Each team is as adept at throwing interceptions as they are touchdowns.  If it does become an air war, Florida State definitely has the upper hand.  Wisconsin's pass defense isn't bad by any stretch, but it's not a top 10 pass defense like the Seminoles boast.  This will be a ground pounder with some of the best play coming at the line of scrimmage.  Sorry for all of you that get bored with that kind of football. 

What it comes down to:

Like I said before, this will come down to the play at the lines.  These two teams didn't face any mutual opponents, so there's no clear cut way of comparing them.  Wisconsin had a shaky start to their conference schedule...check that...they fell apart...but they picked it up to end the season.  It all hinged around the play at the line.  The Badgers buckled down and suddenly Gilreath became a monster receiver and the Hill/Clay duo became stellar.  Need any other confirmation that line play makes all the difference in the world? 

Florida State has a questionable defensive line.  They're quick enough, but not nearly strong enough.  They've struggled against physical offensive lines and teams that try to pound the ball down their throat....aka...Wisconsin.  They'll have to get great play out of their LBs to slow down the run game.

What will likely happen:

Florida State will stretch the Wisconsin defense and try to confuse them with rushing QBs.  It'll get them some nice plays here and there and no doubt they'll put some points on the board.  However...Wisconsin will control the line of scrimmage when they have the ball and eat huge chunks of time off the clock.  They'll literally pound the ball down FSU's throat on the way to a nice win to close out the season.

My Pick:  Wisconsin 30 - Florida State 20

Actual: Florida State 42 - Wisconsin 13

When I'm wrong, I'm wrong...and boy, oh boy, was I WRONG!  The first half was decent with FSU going into halftime with a 14-3 lead, but in the second half, it was all Seminoles.  Wisconsin had absolutely no answer for that FSU offense.  What made bad turn to worse was a slew of turnovers, two of which were returned for TD's.  Sherer played poorly and FSU could just tee off on the run game all evening.  That was embarrassing Badgers....just embarrassing. 

VALERO ALAMO BOWL

December 29, 2008  8:00 PM  ESPN

Northwestern vs Missouri

The Statistics

Northwestern Wildcats:

Passing: 

C.J. Bacher      218 comp.      365 attempts      2128 yards      59.7% average     14 TDs to 14 INTs     113.7 QB Rating

Mike Kafka     32 comp.     46 attempts     330 yards     69.6% average     2 TDs to 3 INTs     131.1 QB Rating

Team notes     16 TDs and 17 INTs  passing has obviously been a dangerous affair for the Wildcats.  Northwestern's rated 63rd in terms of passing yards per game.  Defensively, they're rated 76th in pass yards allowed.  That'll come into play later...

Rushing:

Tyrelle Sutton     155 carries     776 yards     5.0 ypc     6 TDs

Mike Kafka     68 carries     321 yards     4.7 ypc     1 TD

C.J. Bacher     74 carries     263 yards     3.6 ypc     3 TDs

Omar Conteh     73 carries     235 yards     3.2 ypc     3 TDs

Stephen Simmons     62 carries     178 yards     2.9 ypc     2 TDs

Team notes:     Northwestern has 1774 yards from 5 carriers with 15 TDs.  While none of their backs are outstanding by themselves, combined they're a decent enough threat to keep defenses honest.  Obviously Sutton is their biggest single threat but he's still listed as questionable for the bowl game.  More importantly, he hasn't played in the last 3+ games, meaning his conditioning and timing will be questionable as well.  Omar Conteh isn't bad, but his 3.6 ypc are a far cry short of Sutton's 5.0.  The 'Cats need Sutton back in the lineup to give some depth to their offensive attack.  Northwestern's rushing offense is ranked 59th while their defense is ranked 35th in stopping the run.

Receiving:

Eric Peterman     52 receptions     654 yards     5 TDs

Ross Lane     55 receptions     563 yards     2 TDs

Rasheed Ward     44 receptions     425 yards     2 TDs

Tyrelle Sutton     30 receptions     276 yards     2 TDs

Team notes     Northwestern has used 14 different receivers, amassed 2513 yards and 17 TDs.  The balance between their pass attack and their rush attack is very nice.  It's also very important since the Wildcats don't particularly excel in any one area. 

Defense:

Northwestern has picked off 10 passes and pick-six'd twice.  That's about average.  That's also about all I can really dig up on defensive stats for any college team that's worthwhile.  The more pertinent info is that they're 76th against the pass and 35th against the run.  The Big Ten is much more conservative than the Big XII in that the B10 utilizes the run game more than the BXII, which does make that rush stat a little better.

Missouri Tigers:

Passing:

Chase Daniel     358 comp.     484 att     4135 yards     74.0% ave.     37 TDs to 15 INTs     164.8 QB Rating

Chase Patton     12 comp.     18 att     196 yards     66.7% ave.     1 TD to 0 INTs     176.5 QB Rating

Team Notes      Obviously, Chase Daniel is the key to the Tiger offense.  He was solidly in the Heisman chase for most of the season and his 37 passing TD's is very impressive.  484 attempts is impressive.  It's also a big key for NW's defense.  Chase Patton has had very little opportunity to lead Missouri's offense in the event something should happen to Daniel or should he bomb big-time. 

Rushing:

Derrick Washington     162 carries     992 yards     17 TDs

Chase Daniel     60 carries     252 yards     1 TD

Jimmy Jackson     59 carries     247 yards     6 TDs

Team Notes     The Tigers have put up 2050 yards rushing on 383 carries.  While that is more than sufficient, I'm still struck at how lopsided the offensive attack is.  The Tigers have attempted 100 more passes than they have rushes.  Take note, Northwestern.

Receiving:

Jeremy Maclin     95 rec     1221 yards     12 TDs

Chase Coffman     83 rec     920 yards     10 TDs

Tommy Saunders     66 rec     800 yards     7 TDs

Jared Perry     39 rec     558 yards     4 TDs

Danario Alexander     23 rec     300 yards     4 TDs

Team Notes     These aren't the only receivers in Missouri's arsenal, just the ones with the most yards.  The team has combined for 4425 yards on 377 receptions and 39 TDs.  They have a lot of targets capable of making big receptions for big yards and scores.  They're a very dangerous lot. 

Defense:      Missouri is ranked 4th in the nation in passing, and you can see why.  However, they're ranked 118th against the pass, and that could be hugely detrimental.  They're only 53rd in rushing, but 38th against it.  Lucky for Missouri (particularly if Sutton is not 100%), NW isn't a big rushing team.

What's it all mean Bassil?

Northwestern cruised to 5-0 start to their campaign, then dropped three of their last seven.  That's not at all a bad thing, especially considering the years NW has had of late.  Still, they were beaten soundly by the two teams that were ranked (Michigan State and Ohio State) and dropped a crazy one to Indiana.  Injuries hurt the Wildcats tremendously.  It'll be questionable as to just how healthy they'll be at kickoff.  They're not particularly great in any one area, but solid enough in all areas to be effective.  The Wildcats like to strike quickly and move the ball slowly.  Trust me...it makes sense.  They go for shorter gains and keep the chains and the clock moving.  Tyrelle Sutton, if healthy, will give Northwestern back a solid threat that will make Missouri respect the run.  If not, CJ Bacher had better really be on his game.

Missouri has a well balanced pass attack.  Chase Daniel is a QB stud who is mobile and accurate.  They lean on him nearly as heavily as Illinois leans on Juice Williams.  The difference is, Daniel gets things done.  Northwestern's defense isn't fantastic, particularly against the pass, which will play right into the Tiger's strength.  Missouri also has a deep enough rush attack to give the Wildcats a reason to think twice about keying solely on Chase Daniel.

What it comes down to:

Competition.  Who've they played during the regular season that would indicate their particular strength?  The two teams do have one common opponent:  Illinois.  Missouri beat them 52-42, while Northwestern also beat them 27-10.  It would appear, based on that stat that NW would have the upper hand.  However, they played Illinois on opposite ends of the season, and there's no doubt that the Illini were not the same team at the end that they were at the beginning.  You could also argue that the Big Ten schedule, however weak it may appear, is still stronger than the Big XII North, and thus Missouri's stats are skewed slightly.  You could do that...but you shouldn't.  The fact is, Iowa was the only decent win Northwestern had all year and that was in the middle of a Hawkeye nightmare.  The only other decent games NW played, they were smoked. 

On the other hand, the same could largely be said of Missouri.  They did beat Nebraska, and Kansas State, but that's hardly a great accomplishment this year.  Missouri has a very explosive offense, but one that has faced less than stellar defenses most of the season.  It's safe to say that both of these teams have benefitted from a lighter than usual regular schedule. 

So, how do we figure out who's better?

What will likely happen

Northwestern will be fired up for this game.  Their #1 goal coming into this season was to win a bowl game and this is their chance.  They haven't gotten to that plateu since 1949.  This is a hurdle they desperately want and need to cross. 

Missouri needs this win just as badly, though.  The drumming they took at the hands of Oklahoma left a bad taste in their mouths and tarnished their image somewhat.  Losing to a Big Ten team (and not even the top team in the conference) would be a huge bash to that image. 

Northwestern will throw everything at Missouri they can.  Particularly, they'll pick on the Tiger pass defense.  They'll move the ball well and pick up some points along the way.

Missouri will pick Northwestern apart, however.  The Wildcat defense isn't tough enough to handle Chase Daniel and his minions of receivers.  It'll be a fairly high scoring affair, with very little in the way of defense.

My Pick:  Missouri 45 - Northwestern 31

Actual: Missouri 30 - Northwestern 23 OT

Hats off to the Wildcats.  They dominated the first half and played very tough through the second half, keeping Chase Daniel off balance and out of control.  At the end, though, Daniel pulled it together and helped his team to OT.  If not for a missed FG, MO would have won it in regulation.  NW's defense played tough and picked up 3 INT's, but ended up making some bad calls and some bad plays.  Actually, each team made some bad calls and some bad plays, but Mizzou was better at the end and that's where it counts.  Northwestern had a great showing, as no one outside of Illinois really picked them to do worth a piddle.  Helluva game!

INSIGHT BOWL

December 31, 2008  5:30 PM  NFL Network

Kansas vs. Minnesota

The Statistics:

Kansas Jayhawks (7-5)

Passing:

Todd Reesing     302 completions     460 attempts     3575 yards      65.7%     28 TDs to 12 INTs     145.8 QB Rating

Kerry Meier     2 comp     2 att     42 yards     100%     0 TD to 0 INTs     276.4 QB Rating

Team Notes     The Jayhawks have the 8th ranked passing offense facing off against the 89th rated pass defense.  Todd Reesing is the "it" for the Jayhawk pass game, and he's carried the responsibility well.  Unfortunately....

Rushing:

Jake Sharp     170 carries     796 yards     4.7 ypc     11 TDs

Angus Quigley     59 carries     309 yards     5.2 ypc     3 TDs

Jacques Crawford     62 carries     232 yards     3.7 ypc     4 TDs

Team Notes     The Jayhawks average an anemic 3.77 yards per carry as a team.  Sharp is respectable, as is Quigley, but they don't get the carries necessary to showcase what they're truly capable of.  Sharp averages less than 15 carries per game.  Obviously, Kansas has made the passing game their main offensive weapon.  Weak play at the line has been a big part of that decision, but run blocking is often easier than pass blocking.  Given Minnesota's ability to generate pressure and turnovers, KU may want to rethink their strategy for this game.

Receiving:

Dezmon Briscoe     78 receptions     1206 yards     12 TDs

Kerry Meier     87 rec     932 yards     7 TDs

Jonathon Wilson     41 rec     556 yards     2 TDs

Jake Sharp     25 rec     283 yards     1 TD

Dexton Fields     19 rec     209 yards     3 TDs

Team Notes     With Reesing taking 460 shots downfield, its not surprising that he connected 305 times for 3628 yards and 28 TDs.  Dezmon Briscoe is doing double duty now, taking over kick returns as well.  He's been their biggest target all year, but Kerry Meier is no slouch either.  If the O-Line can give Reesing time to throw the ball, Kansas should be able to move the ball through the air against this defense.  The problem is, Minnesota's used to facing much stiffer offensive lines.

Minnesota Golden Gophers (7-5)

Passing:

Adam Weber     236 completions     376 attempts     2585 yards     62.8%     14 TDs to 8 INTs     128.6 QB Rating

Justin Kucek     2 comp     2 att     12 yards     100%     100%     0 TD to 0 INT     150.4 QB Rating

Team Notes     As with Kansas, Minnesota has had one man leading the show.  That's not a bad thing.  Weber, as with Reesing for KU, has added consistency to a team that couldn't have handled inconsistency at QB.  The Gophers have a very nice 62.6% completion percentage and are +6 on TDs vs INTs.  Weber is a mobile QB that is second on the team in rushing yards, so he'll add an extra element for the Jayhawks to focus on. 

Rushing:

DeLeon Eskridge     170 carries     652 yards     3.8 ypc     7 TDs

Adam Weber     115 carries     202 yards     1.8 ypc     4 TDs

Shady Salamon     43 carries     174 yards     4.0 ypc     3 TDs

Duane Bennet     32 carries     140 yards     4.4 ypc     2 TDs

Team Notes      Notice something similar with these stats?  Much like KU, Minnesota has relied heavily on the pass and used the run more as a secondary measure to keep defenses from playing too soft against the pass.  As a team, they have only 1308 yards on the ground, however they also have 18 rushing TDs.  They use their ground attack well...where it counts most. 

Receiving:

Eric Decker     76 receptions     925 yards     6 TDs

Ben Kuznia     31 rec     310 yards     0 TD

Jack Simmons     32 rec     300 yards     2 TDs

Brandon Green     18 rec     260 yards     1 TD

Team Notes     The Golden Gophers have used 17 different receivers in 238 receptions for 2590 yards and 14 TDs.  The pass is their main weapon to move the ball downfield and Decker is by far their biggest target.  They have the 57th rated passing game but is facing the 114th rated pass defense. 

What's it all mean Bassil?

For fans of the pass game, this is a game for you.  Neither of these teams can (or do) run the ball well, and both rely heavily on a mobile QB to get them where they're going.  Kansas has a wider array of receivers to throw to, while Minnesota does a better job of punching it in with their ground game.  It'll be an interesting match against two 7-5 teams needing to end their seasons with something positive to carry into next year.

What will likely happen:

There will be a lot of back and forth in this one.  Kansas has a better rush defense and that may prove to be big when Minnesota decides to try and punch it in on the ground.  If Minnesota can get back to playing ball like they did when they burst out to a 7-1 start, they'll be extremely tough for the Jayhawks to beat.  They lived and breathed by turnovers.  If they can do that again, they could walk away with it.  If not, Kansas will get the upper hand on depth at the receiver position. 

My Pick:  Minnesota 27 - Kansas 24

Actual:  Kansas 42 - Minnesota 21

Wow, what a start to the game!  Kansas hit immediately for a touchdown on the first play of the game, but on Minnesota's first offensive play, they answered back with a huge play that set up the tying score.  They balanced that out with a nice run attack that slowed down the action and kept KU's defense on the field.  Unfortunately, their defense couldn't stop KU on the other side.  Yup...it was a great first quarter.  Then things went south quickly.  Reesing/Briscoe tore Minny apart in the second quarter to go into the half up 28-14.  The third quarter wasn't much better.  KU picked up 7 more points through the air while Minny managed to blow a great first and goal situation.  Minnesota's O-Line was beat all day long and their run game sputtered to a halt after the first quarter.  Zero big turnovers to help the Gophers out.  They were outplayed....simple as that.

OUTBACK BOWL

 

January 1, 2009  11:00 AM  ESPN

Iowa vs. South Carolina

The Statistics:

Iowa Hawkeyes (8-4)

Passing:

Ricky Stanzi     137 completions     235 attempts     1809 yards     58.3%     13 TDs to 7 INTs     135.3 QB Rating

Jake Christensen     36 comp     63 att     396 yards     57.1%     2 TDs to 1 INT     117.2 QB Rating

Team Notes     Stanzi has undergone some pretty nasty growing pains as the new starter of the Hawkeye offense.  For their part, the rest of the Hawkeyes have stood behind him, but it's come at a cost.  Iowa is a run first offense, but Stanzi is very good on the move and getting better in the pocket. 

Rushing:

Shonn Greene     278 carries     1729 yards     6.2 ypc     17 TDs

Jewel Hampton     79 carries     409 yards     5.2 ypc     7 TDs

Paki O'Meara     21 carries     62 yards     3.0 ypc     2 TDs

Team Notes     Greene is the second leading rusher in the nation in terms of yards.  He's the only back in the nation to have run for over 100 yards in all 12 games this year.  Don't think that he's the only threat though.  Hampton, despite being a freshman, has shown that he's capable of hurting defenses too.  Greene is the key, though.  If anyone ever figures out how to stop him, they'll have largely stopped Iowa's offense.  The problem is...no one (including Penn State) has figured out how to do that yet...

Receiving:

Derrell Johnson-Koulianos     43 receptions     621 yards     3 TDs

Andy Brodell     33 receptions     506 yards     4 TDs

Brandon Myers     30 rec     392 yards     4 TDs

Allen Reisner     11 rec     200 yards     1 TD

Trey Stross     12 rec     103 yards     0 TD

Team Notes     Iowa has used 16 receivers to get 174 catches for 2215 yards and 15 TDs.  Despite Greene's dominance, Iowa's gaining ground in terms of becoming a balanced team.  DJK (his name's too long to type twice) has stepped up late in the season to become the Hawkeyes' leading receiver.  Brodell, however has been solid and Myers adds a big threat from the TE position.  Unfortunately for the Hawkeyes, they're facing the 3rd rated pass defense.  They likely won't turn to the pass until/unless they have to...though they like to use the play action pass quite a lot.

South Carolina Gamecocks (7-5)

Passing:

Chris Smelley     153 completions     271 attempts     1743 yards     56.5%     13 TDs to 15 INTs     115.2 QB Rating

Stephen Garcia     56 comp     104 att     753 yards     53.8%     6 TDs to 5 INTs     124.1 QB Rating

Tommy Beecher     14 comp     26 att     126 yards     53.8%     0 TD to 4 INTs     63.8 QB Rating

Team Notes     Garcia will get the start for the Gamecocks in the bowl game.  He'll have a tough road in front of him.  South Carolina's rush offense is terrible so he'll have to shoulder the load of the Gamecock's production.  He'll have to turn around an offense that has given up 24 INTs, while gaining only 19 TDs.  Iowa's defense ranks 41st, but boasts 20 INTs with a TD, and they'll be hungry.

Rushing:

Mike Davis     160 carries     571 yards     3.6 ypc     3 TDs

Eric Baker     43 carries     183 yards     4.3 ypc     0 TDs

Stephen Garcia     65 carries     173 yards     2.7 ypc     2 TDs

Brian Maddox     29 carries     104 yards     3.6 ypc     1 TD

Team Notes     South Carolina has amassed only 1190 yards and 7 TDs on 397 carries.  Unlike Iowa, South Carolina has a terrible run game.  They'll find that avenue hard sledding against Iowa's 10th rated rush defense.

Receiving:

Kenny McKinley     48 receptions     556 yards     4 TDs

Jared Cook     35 rec     550 yards     2 TD

Moe Brown     27 rec     368 yards     1 TD

Jason Barnes     22 rec     306 yards     2 TDs

Weslye Saunders     15 rec     208 yards     3 TDs

Team Notes     These guys will have to step up big.  SC has spread the ball around to 15 receivers for 2622 yards and 19 TDs.  They'll find it easy to pick holes in Iowa's cover 2 defense, but difficult to break open on the long route.  Close to the goal, they'll have to get inventive.

What's it all mean Bassil?

Interestingly this game pits the 12th and 13th rated defenses in terms of total yards allowed.  That may be a little misleading, however.  SC hasn't faced anyone like Shonn Greene and Iowa tends to give up pretty big yards through the air.  Each team sees an opporunity to put points on the other team and each one sees an opportunity to shut the other down. 

Iowa has a strong defense...so does South Carolina....just not necessarily in the same areas, and each teams strength is pitted against the other's weakness. 

What will likely happen:

When South Carolina has the ball, they'll move it with relative ease.  That is, as long as Garcia can lead this offense.  When Iowa has the ball, Greene will continually pound away at them and by the second quarter he'll be closing in on 100 yards.  The second half will be all Iowa as they control the clock and continually put points on the board.  Iowa's scoring D will be strong enough to turn the Gamecocks away often enough to allow Greene to do his thing.

My Pick:  Iowa 34 - South Carolina 20

Actual:  Iowa 31 - South Carolina 10

Iowa shut SC out until the 4th quarter.  Turnovers, turnovers, turnovers.  South Carolina started the game throwing an interception and things never got any better for them.  Iowa's coverage was more than adequate and the play at the line was outstanding.  Shonn Greene got his 13th 100+ yard game and Ricky Stanzi played very well, showing his speed on his feet a few times.  As the game got away from SC, the talk in the booth turned to whether or not Kirk Ferentz would return as the head coach or move on to the NFL.  Whle that's been talked about every year since he turned the program around, this year there MIGHT be a little more to it than before.  That'll be something for Hawk fans to keep their eyes on.  In this one, Iowa just outclassed SC all the way around the board. 

I went 2-2 for this segment of my picks.  Unfortunately, the Big Ten only went 1-3.  The "big bowls" are teeing up now, so I'll head over to the second segment of my picks to continue.  So far it's not looking like a great bowl season for the Big Ten.

That's it from here for tonight.  I'll come back tomorrow and finish with the last three bowls.

Be sure to check out SEABASS' picks here.  His are a bit different than mine and definitely worth a read.

PSPKNINE should have his up before long too.  Check him out!

Happy Holidays to all.  I sincerely hope you get the opportunity to spend quality time with your families and friends and enjoy each other's company. 

Peace.