(Note: I posted this before, but I took it down cuz it needed some changes)

In preparation for this whole bowl preview thingy, I’ve learned 2 things about the 2006 college football season.

1) There are no great teams. The whole Florida/Michigan debate is somewhat useless because they probably are both equal in quality, and about equal with USC and just a notch above Louisville. OSU may be good, but they really weren’t challenged all year outside of one home game. None of these teams would hang with last year’s Texas team, or 2 years ago USC team, or…. well you get the idea

2) This is a weak player year as well. Don’t get me wrong, there are certainly great players, but no transcendent Reggie Bush/Vince Young types. Troy Smith is probably the weakest Heisman winner of the past 10 years or so, and he won in a landslide.

Of course, all of that doesn’t mean we can’t have a great set of bowl games. Or at least one or 2 decent match-ups - whichever. I will preview each bowl game and give my (Straight-up, no point spread) pick, and maybe give reasons for the picks. It’s harder to pick bowl games cuz you have no idea who still cares, and who just is in it to get a free X-Box or leftover Jake Peavy bobblehead (depending on the bowl of course). So without Freddie Adu, let’s get to the bowls.

San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl

TCU  v. Northern Illinois

Right off the bat we have the winner of the “Lamest Bowl Sponsor” award. If bowl sponsors are going to be this localized from now on can Crazy Charlie’s Discount Electronics Bowl be far behind? As for the game itself both of these teams had disappointing seasons; TCU only lost 2 games, but they were supposed to be the Boise State of this season instead of Boise State. I’m sure that sentence made no sense. Northern Illinois has nothing except Garrett Wolfe, and even then they couldn’t make the MAC championship game. This year that’s an even more pathetic statement than it normally is. Right off the bat this seems on paper to be an easy call, but if they played games on paper there would be a lot more paper cuts. Or something…. nevermind

Winner: TCU

Pioneer PureVision Las Vegas Bowl

Oregon v. BYU

Those wacky Mormons are back again for more booze, gambling, and prostitutes. That is what the Mormons believe in right? Well if it isn’t it should be. Anyway it’s odd that BYU is back in Vegas for the second straight year, but Miami has to go to Boise. Just shows that the Bowl selection people have a sense of humor. Even with super-stud running back James Stewart, and his imaginary 6 foot tall rabbit Harvey, Oregon faded badly down the stretch. BYU on the other hand finished well winning the relatively strong Mountain West Conference. That all being said the only way BYU loses is if they figure out that they can get married in any number of places 24/7 in Vegas and have a “Who can marry the most broads contest”.

Winner: BYU

R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl

Troy v Rice

The bowl match-up that sounds like an incredibly stupid teenager trying to microwave an Uncle Ben’s meal. Rice is in its first Bowl game in 45 years. For perspective, Kennedy was still president, Gilligan’s Island was still 3 years from its first airing, and Greg Oden was born. Oh right, he’s only 18. I’m sure all 18 year olds are talking with their grandkids on the sidelines while they’re injured. Back to the matter at hand, this game is interesting because Troy’s QB’s name is Omar Haugabook, which I’m sure sounds similar to Hug-a-book, which if he’s attending Troy I’m sure he doesn’t do all that often. ESPN nation’s vote seems to think that Rice will win, and hell who’s to argue with all 2500 or so of them

Winner: Rice

Papajohns.com Bowl

South Florida v East Carolina

So is there a difference between Papa John’s directly sponsoring this bowl and them just sticking the website up there? Guess we’ll never know. This is a match-up of East-North Carolina versus West-Central (andIguesskindaSouth-ish) Florida. ECU gave West Virginia their toughest non-loss game, but USF beat West Virginia. Of course Pitt beat Central Florida by more points than Florida did this season, so the whole “common opponents” measuring stick ain’t always that accurate. Matt Grothe is a pest of a QB, that’s really the best way to describe him. And USF got better during the year, as most young teams are apt to do. Barring some odd happenings-a-doing USF should win.

Winner: USF

New Mexico Bowl

New Mexico vs. San Jose State

Gee, I wonder how New Mexico was able to snag this game? It’s the battle of the porn star head coaches, with #### Tomey (pronounced Too-me…. I think), and Rocky Long. The head coaches are described as “defensive masterminds” with Long being the inventor of the now en-vogue 3-3-5 defense. That for some reason has always sounded more like a soccer formation, but that’s probably just me.

Winner: Um, San Jose… I guess. But only if Cheechoo gets going

Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl

Utah vs. Tulsa

I’m assuming full-sized, working helicopters aren’t part of the gift basket for this game, although they should be. I really have nothing to say about either of these teams, except Tulsa’s nickname (Golden Hurricanes) sounds like a golden shower fetishist’s dream. Look it up if you don’t know, at your own risk of course.

Winner: Utah

Sheraton Hawaii Bowl

Arizona State vs. Hawaii

Another team with its name in the Bowl title. Using this logic the BSC will rename itself the Notre Dame Challenge after this season. The over/under for this game is 75, I wonder if that’s for one or both teams? Arizona State’s coach Dirk Koetter has been fired, so he may as well skip out on the game and just hang out on the beach for a month or so. Or at least that’s what I’d do, even if I hadn’t been fired. Dennis Erickson is the new head coach, and it was awfully nice of him to pull the charade of being the head coach of his alma mater Idaho for a whole friggin' season. That being said who among us wouldn't take Tempe over, um, wherever the hell the U of Idaho is.

Winner: Hawaii

Motor City Bowl

Middle Tennessee vs. Central Michigan

Central Michigan head coach Brian Kelley has been hired by Cincinnati to replace Mark Dantonio as its head coach. In fact Kelley is going to coach Cinci in their bowl game, completely ditching CMU. All told I have no idea if that’s a good, bad, or indifferent hire. Nor do I care really, although I think Frank Solich would have been a better choice. And for those keeping score that’s the MAC champion’s coach leaving his team for a lower half Big East team. Who says the mid-majors don’t matter? Anyway, CMU actually played a decent out of conference schedule, except they didn’t win a game. Kind of the Penn State of the MAC in a way, so they are kind of unknown still. As for MTU, their QB looks kind of like the QB from The Waterboy (good job needle-####!!).

Winner: Middle Tennessee, if only because they’re more stable

Emerald Bowl

Florida State vs. UCLA

Supposedly Florida State likes to drive to their bowl games, if they leave now they may make it by game-time. Also, it’s very funny to me that DeCody ####g will be playing his bowl game in San Francisco, I’m sure he’ll be very popular. As for the game itself it’s pretty simple, if UCLA wins the field position battle, they win the game. FSU’s offense is more impotent than a Nevada boxing commissioner (ask Monty Burns, it’s his line).

Winner: UCLA

PetroSun Independence Bowl

Oklahoma St. vs. Alabama

The “Battle of .500 Bowl”. Alabama beat Duke, Louisiana-Monroe, Florida Int’l, and Mississippi to get to 6-6. And Oklahoma State’s wins may actually be less impressive. Feel the excitement. Mike Shula’s leaving, and really who can blame him? Rich Rodriguez has already turned Alabama down to be the next head coach, and really it’s for the best that way. Cuz if they liked Mike Shula they’dve loved Rich and his inattention to defense, lack of disciplinary control of his team (on the field at least), and inexplicable losses when he has good teams. That and they probably would have thought he’s an illegal or something; I would have given it 3 years at the most.

Winner: Who cares?

Pacific Life Holiday Bowl

Cal vs. Texas A&M

This is the second bowl game to be played in San Diego, if you count the San Diego Dept of Corrections Bowl, or whatever it is. Anyway, Cal was okay this year, very good at times. Texas A&M beat Texas, but by the end of the season who the hell didn’t? And New Hampshire probably had a tougher schedule than they did. They also have a 5-11 280 lbs running back whose first name is Jorvorskie. Geez, 5-11 280 lbs? He makes Jerome Bettis look like Chris Bosh. For Cal Marshawn #### and the Jackson kid are really good. Texas A&M doesn’t have anyone I’ve ever heard of. All that being said, the Big 12 owns the Pac-10 in lesser bowl games. So why go against history?

Winner: Texas A&M

Texas Bowl

Rutgers vs. Kansas State

You know, the Big East’s bowl coordinator needs a nice kick in the nuts for doing such a crappy job. A month ago Rutgers was on the way to playing in the national title game, now they play in an inaugural bowl against the 13th place team in the Big 12. Okay KSU finished 7-5, but when they played Louisville they looked pretty feeble and it’s the only game of theirs I watched. Rutgers has 2 great running backs, a good defense, a great o-line, an okay QB, and receivers who absolutely suck. K-State has a good defense and, um, I think that’s about it off hand. But with Rutgers being disappointed in being shipped off to Houston, K-State having the veritable home field advantage, and just a gut feeling I’m going with K-State

Winner: K-State

####lord Hotels Music City Bowl

Clemson vs. Kentucky

Heh, ####lord. I think DeCody ####g’s cousin is playing in this game. Anyway... Kentucky has a nice short Jed Clampett-car ride away to go to this game, and being in a bowl game since 1999 has their fans giddy with mid-level excitement. Clemson has one of the more talented teams in the country believe it or not, but for whatever reason (cough*coachsucks*cough) they can never get over the hump. They should have an easy time with Kentucky, what with their dynamic running backs and darling orange/purple uniforms. And I think they will win, but it will be close

Winner: Clemson

Brut Sun Bowl

Oregon State vs. Missouri

Yet another Big-12/Pac-10 match-up. While Mike Riley has done a fine job this season I feel that Oregon State needs to fire him and hire South Florida head coach Jim Leavitt, just for the headline “Leavitt to Beavers”. OSU played 2 BCS teams this season, getting killed by one (Boise State), and beating the other (USC). Missouri, who knows really? I know their QB’s good, but outside of that I have no idea if they’re any good. I really don’t know who will win, but I guarantee this will be the manliest smelling bowl of them all

Winner: Oregon State

AutoZone Liberty Bowl

Houston vs. South Carolina

South Carolina has Sydney Rice, but Houston doesn’t have anyone named Troy so unfortunately we can’t have a pseudo re-match of the epic New Orleans Bowl. Despite The Ol’ Ball Coach’s penchant for offense his team this season has gotten by mostly with defense. Houston’s Kevin Kolb has thrown for almost 3,500 yards 27 TDs and only 3 INTs, wow I didn’t know that. Hell Chris Leak has averaged an INT per game all season and look where he is. Despite the QB’s staggering numbers you have to go with the SEC team over the mid-major.

Winner: South Carolina

Insight Bowl

Texas Tech vs. Minnesota

Is this still the Insight.com Bowl? Or did they not want to be confused with PapaJohns.com so they dropped the.com part? Oh well, I’m sure they make pizza just as well as the other one. This game has 2 completely different offenses, one that throws it all over the field, and one that runs till they caint’s runs no more. I think I just made the MS grammar checker explode with that one. How Minnesota got a bowl game is anyone’s guess, they beat Temple, Kent, and North Dakota State (10-9 was the final score of that one by the way) to only make it to 6-6. They suck and should be nowhere near a bowl, but such is life in a twelve game season. Anyway, long story short Texas Tech should win, and easily.

Winner: Texas Tech

Champs Sports Bowl

Purdue vs. Maryland

Well, this is a match-up of teams who looked feeble and pathetic against local teams. Purdue could have played Penn State for a week straight and not scored a touchdown. Maryland looked slow and offensively inept for most of their game against WVU. Oddly enough the word Champs is in the title of this bowl, veeery funny Orlando. Purdue avoided both Ohio State AND Michigan this season; had Ball State, Miami (OH), and a 1-AA team on their out of conference schedule, and still lost 5 games. They’re kind of like the pitcher who has won 17 games, but has an ERA over 5. Maryland QB Sam “Ain’t no” Hollenbach “Girl” has to have a good game for Maryland to win, and I think he will.

Winner: Maryland

Mieneke Car Care Bowl

Navy vs. Boston College

Boston College is the Groundhog Day of college football teams. Decent season, 8-9 wins, but can’t get over the hump because they lose a game or 2 they shouldn’t. It’s either reassuring or annoying, I’m not sure. Now that Tom O’Brien’s gone maybe they can go back to mediocrity where they belong. You’ll hear that Boston College has won 6 straight bowl games. But don’t forget, Navy is 6-0 when it matters baby!!! USA! USA! USA! USA!

Winner: BC

Alamo Bowl

Texas vs. Iowa

So a 9-3 Texas team gets to play in its own backyard against a 6-6 Iowa team who almost lost to friggin’ Syracuse? Seems like a big ol’ mismatch on paper. The only way Texas loses is if they are just completely disinterested, which could always be the case.

Winner: Texas.

Chick-Fil-A Bowl

Virginia Tech vs. Georgia

RIP Peach Bowl; hello Chicken Sandwich Bowl, peaches and chicken don’t really go together well anyway. Freshman Georgia QB Matt Stafford has twice as many INTs as TDs, and he’s still the best option. And yet GA still had 8 wins, the SEC really is awesome! Virginia Tech was chastised by Kirk Herbstreit for dancing on the field during a loss. And if anyone knows hot to act classy it’s a guy who ####s college chicks every week while his wife and kid sit at home. Virginia Tech’s offense sucks less than Georgia’s so they maybe should win. Do you like how forceful I’m being with my picks here?

Winner: VA Tech

MPC Computers Bowl

Miami vs. Nevada

“Hey, Miami’s had a rough season, they’ve had their worst record since the early 70s, they got into an embarrassing on-field brawl, they had to fire their coach, and they had a player get killed, how can we top it off for them? I know! Let’s send ‘em to Boise!” Miami’s punter would probably be the best athlete on Nevada’s team, but you can never discount the fact that Miami won’t give a ####. If Nevada can avoid getting sick from the combination orange uniforms of the opponents and blue field they should win in a slight upset.

Winner: Nevada

More tomorrow, or whenever I get to it.

If last weekend was Separation Saturday, this weekend is Sedation Saturday. There is one, count ‘em one, match-up between ranked teams. Okay two if you count AZ State vs. Cal, but you know, east coast bias and all. Below are the two games I will be paying the most attention to this weekend, at least of the games that’ll be televised (Pitt vs. The Citadel not on TV, go figure).

24. Penn State vs. 1. Ohio State – Ohio State had a harder time than they thought against Cincinnati last weekend…. and still won by 30 points. Penn State didn’t have a difficult time with Youngstown State, but still didn’t do as much as they wanted. What to expect this week? It all depends on Anthony Morelli and his offensive line. I’ve said this for awhile now, never on here, but Morelli is this generation’s Jeff George. Not the brightest guy in the world (in fact they’re both pretty dumb supposedly), will have an okay career in college but nothing great, however Like George he has awesome physical skills and because of that will be a top 10 NFL pick at worst. They even both reneged on their original commitments coming out of high school (George ditching Purdue for Illinois, Morelli ditching Pitt for Penn State). Given this information, expect him to be signed by the Raiders in 2024 or so. All that being said, a guy with Morelli’s physical skills and supposed weaponry at WR and running back (although I’m not seeing it) is always dangerous, even if he can’t spell PSU. Also, Justin King is the Ted Ginn of PSU, only on defense (Convoluted Sentences ‘R Us). He’s one of the few guys who can actually run with Ginn and neutralize the speed he brings to the game. On defense, Penn State matches up well with Ohio State, to a point, but Ohio State just has too many weapons. Anthony Gonzalez is their best pure wide receiver, the go to guy in crunch time even over Ginn. Also, the Pittman/Wells running back duo is a load, Wells could end up being Maurice Clarrett with a brain. Ohio State wins relatively easily unless Morelli has a great game.

Pick: OSU

12. Notre Dame vs. Michigan State – What lasted longer? Brady Quinn’s Heisman hopes? Or the staple in Charlie Weis’ stomach? Hard call there. Drew Stanton is the real deal at quarterback, he’s Alex Smith with a better arm. Even though he was shut down by Pitt last week, 6’6” WR Matt Trannon could have a big day against a still suspect Notre Dame defense who does not have a Darrelle Revis on their team (but hey, few teams do). Either Javon Ringer is really good at running back, or Pitt’s defense still sucks. Probably a little of both. On the other side of the ball Notre Dame’s receivers are like power forwards to Michigan State’s point guard cornerbacks. In other words, a big advantage (pun intended) is there. If they can get their running game going, and why they haven’t been able to get it going is anyone’s guess, then they can score some points against MSU’s only okay defense. The prediction is that ND will be able to run, and beat MSU by a touchdown or two. Pick: OSU

It seems Part 1 didn't get posted to the main board, not sure why. Just scroll down a bit to see that

I will now take a look at the bowl games that will take place in calendar year 2006. This is when the real action starts.

Outback Bowl

Iowa vs. Florida

Urban Myer came to Florida as the next big offensive genius. While it may change in the future, his new team has mostly won because of its defense this season. He’s also getting a rep as a guy who thinks a little too highly of his own supposed genius. He’d better be careful or he’ll end up being the Brian Billick of college football. Acting like he’s so smart while everyone laughs about what a huge #### he is behind his back. There’s nothing funny about Iowa, ever

Winner: Florida

Cotton Bowl

Alabama vs. Texas Tech

This is the most interesting match-up of the entire bowl season. If you had a team made up of Alabama’s defense and Texas Tech’s offense you’d have the greatest college football team of all time. If you had a team made up of Alabama’s offense and Texas Tech’s defense you’d have, well, Temple. Also, has anyone had a better combo of awesome play/gruesome injury in a season than Alabama receiver Tyrone Prothro? The catch he made against Southern Miss where he caught the ball on the DB’s back? One of the coolest plays you’ll ever see in your life. And he had an injury sustained against Florida where his ankle snapped so badly even Jason Kendall cringed. It’s kind of like if Joe Theissman were involved in the Immaculate Reception the week before his leg snapped.

Winner: Alabama

Gator Bowl

Louisville vs. Virginia Tech

This would have been a much better game at the beginning of the season. As it stands now Brian Brohm, the outstanding sophomore QB of Louisville will not play, and stud RB Michael Bush is coming back from his own injury. And their defense outside of sack-master Elvis Dumerville is suspect at best. Of course VT is not known as the Chokies for nothing, and Marcus Vick has been playing lately like he’s not having much luck with the ladies at the mall. Allegedly. Still with the Brohm injury VA Tech should have no problem pulling this one out.

Winner: VA Tech

Capital One Bowl

Auburn vs. Wisconsin

This was a bit of a smoke, mirrors, and Calhoun year for Wisconsin. They’re not nearly as good as their record suggests, especially on defense. Auburn will either be very angry for this game, or very apathetic. My most sure pick this season is Auburn in this game

Winner: Auburn

Fiesta Bowl

Ohio St. vs. Notre Dame

This is the first BCS match-up of the bowl season, and it’s a pretty good one. Ohio St returns to the site of their national championship win in 2002. And Notre Dame makes its triumphant return to the place they got defeated 41-9 by Oregon St in 2001. What those have to do with anything I dunno, just an interesting tidbit. Ohio St has receiver Ted Ginn, who runs faster than your big fat momma runs after the ice cream truck. Yes, I like to alienate my readers, why do you ask? Notre Dame features a passing attack run by Brady Quinn, who has good, big targets in Maurice Stovall and Jeff Symakjkejdjia, or whatever his name is. Using sports an logic, because Ohio State beat Michigan State and Michigan State beat Notre Dame, that means Ohio State will win this game hands down. Bet the wife and kids on it.

Winner: Ohio State

Sugar Bowl

West Virginia vs. Georgia

One would think that this might be a close game, until you take a look at WVU’s bowl record since 1987

Jan. 1, 2005 Gator Bowl-Florida St. 30, West Virginia 18

Jan. 1, 2004 Gator Bowl-Maryland 41, West Virginia 7

Dec. 28, 2002 Continental Tire Bowl-Virginia 48, West Virginia 22

Dec. 28, 2000 Music City Bowl-West Virginia 49, Mississippi 38

Dec. 26, 1998 Insight.com Bowl-Missouri 34, West Virginia 31

Dec. 29, 1997 Carquest Bowl-Georgia Tech 35, West Virginia 30

Jan. 1, 1997 Gator Bowl-North Carolina 20, West Virginia 13

Jan. 2, 1995 Carquest Bowl-South Carolina 24, West Virginia 21

Jan. 1, 1994 Sugar Bowl-Florida 41, West Virginia 7

Dec. 30, 1989 Gator Bowl-Clemson 27, West Virginia 7

Jan. 2, 1989 Fiesta Bowl-Notre Dame 34, West Virginia 21

Dec. 25, 1987 Sun Bowl-Oklahoma St. 35, West Virginia 33

That’s right, 1-12 and a lot of them not even close, including the past 2 Gator Bowls. The surest bet of any BCS game, but only because WVU can’t handle bowl games for whatever reason.

Winner: Georgia

Orange Bowl

Florida St. vs. Penn St.

How appropriate that this game is in Florida, considering both head coaches retired years ago. Florida St. really has no business being in a BCS game, but that’s what you get with conference championship games. Penn St has had a truly great season, and should be undefeated. Of course, I should have a job, but sometimes things just don’t work out the way they should. Penn St’s offense is better than Florida St’s offense, and both defenses are about equal, which means the edge goes to Penn St.

Winner: Penn St.

Rose Bowl (National Championship)

USC vs. Texas

The big one, red state against blue state, Heisman finalist against Heisman finalists, tradition against tradition, and a really good match-up overall. Texas comes from the fairly awful (this season) Big 12, so their biggest test of the year was against Ohio St in Columbus. USC’s biggest test was against Notre Dame in South Bend. Texas has not seen an offense even close to as good as USC’s, and USC has not seen a defense close to as good as Texas’s. I give the edge to Texas, only because I think their running game and defense can keep USC in check. Of course I could be wrong. We’ll find out though won’t we?

Winner: Texas

Only one more day till Bowl Season starts, really a fun time of the year. Mostly cuz it gives you and your family something to talk about during family visit time besides your cousin Sally’s illegitimate baby. The following is a run-down of, and my pick to win, each game. Part one will be the 2005 games, part two (naturally) the 2006 games. This is kind of lengthy, so go to the bathroom now.

New Orleans Bowl

Arkansas St v. Southern Miss

In the immortal paraphrased words of Beano Cook, hasn’t New Orleans suffered enough? I don’t know jack about these teams, and unless you go to these schools you don’t either. And even in that case you may only know them as “the a-holes who get their papers written for them”. In reading up on them it seems that Arkansas St. lost to 1-AA Tennessee-Martin and also lost to Army by 4 touchdowns. And Southern Miss, um, they have Bret Favre pulling for them, that’s about all I know. However, Bret Favre’s wife could probably QB Southern Miss past Arkansas St, so the pick here is SMU

Winner: Southern Miss

GMAC Bowl

UTEP v. Toledo

This marks the return of Mike Price to Alabama, so hide his ATM cards. Jordan Palmer (Carson’s brother) helms the UTEP, and if he falters they can always turn to backup Jimmy Roethlisberger. Toledo comes in after not making it to the MAC title game for the first time in a long time. They boast future NFL backup Bruce Gradkoswski and guys who were either a little too short, a little too slow, or a little too unknown to play in a BCS conference. That is not to say they aren’t a good team, and they are indeed the pick for this game.

Winner: Toledo

Las Vegas Bowl

BYU v Cal

First off, BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl is kind of like having Miami in the Vatican City Bowl. Anyway, the logical thinking here goes that the Cal kids will be out having a good time in Vegas; you know seeing Danny Gans and Celine Dion……*ahem*. And the BYU kids will be voluntarily locked in their rooms reading the playbook and the Book of Mormon (dum dum dum dum dum). This would normally mean that BYU would have a huge advantage. However, even a severely hung-over mid-tier PAC-10 team can score 50 points on BYU.

Winner: Cal

Poinsettia Bowl

Navy v Colorado St

This is your classic ground attack (Navy) vs. classic air attack (Colorado St.). The ground attack usually prevails in these games so the pick is Navy. However, the big question is, why call it the Poinsettia Bowl? Do you think when the players are asked which bowl they’re going to they say “Uh, the San Diego Bowl”? Or did they players from the teams take poinsettias and hold them up and flaunt them much like players who go to the Tangerine Bowl do with tangerines? Or oranges for the Orange Bowl? Did they put them in their hair to make themselves look pretty? And if Navy actually did do this please don’t send any SEALs to my house to silently kill me in my sleep.

Winner: Navy

Fort Worth Bowl

Kansas vs. Houston

Kansas boasts the number 19 defense in the country, not sure how that happened. They also boast the fattest coach this side of a pre-stapled Charlie Weis in Mark Mangino. How can any player take a coach who looks like they’d get exhausted gathering their thoughts seriously? Not sure, but it seems to work for Mike who has taken a joke of a football program and made it at least bowl-worthy. Houston QB Kevin Kolb recently passed up David Klinger to be number one on the all-time Houston passing yardage list. Paying attention Bengals? I think we found your QB of the future. Kansas is 0-fer on the road this year, and considering this game is on neutral turf this probably means overtime. Overtime games generally go to the teams with better offenses, so Houston is the choice here.

Winner: Houston

Hawaii Bowl

Central Florida vs. Nevada

Central Florida lost the Conference USA title game to Tulsa. They get to go to Hawaii in the middle of December. Tulsa gets to go to Memphis at the end of December. Shouldn’t C-USA address this problem so that teams actually try to win their title game? Nevada gets to leave northern Nevada in the middle of winter.

Winner: Both teams

Motor City Bowl

Akron vs. Memphis

The exact opposite of the last bowl game, these teams get to got o Detroit in the middle of winter. Nothing against the fine city of Detroit, which I’ve never been to myself, but even they can think of better places to be right now. Anyway, Akron’s head coach is JD Brookhart, who was the offensive coordinator at Pitt under Walt Harris. But the thing is Walt Harris calls all the plays for his teams and does most of the game planning. So JD was in more of a consultant role than anything. In a way Akron may as well’ve hired the janitor at Pitt headquarters cuz he helped about as much as JD did it would seem. However I will give the guy credit, he has inherited Walt’s knack for making fans of his teams say “Wait a minute, how’d we win this game/end up with this record?” Akron is a team built on big plays and good QB play which is provided by Luke Getsy. Memphis boasts a top 10 pick in the 2006 draft, DeAngelo Williams, at running back. Memphis has the talent edge, but Akron won the MAC, which is more than Memphis did this year. So the pick goes to Akron, but barely.

Winner: Akron

Champs Sports Bowl

Clemson vs. Colorado

Clemson was not a very good team this year. Not bad, but not all that good either, the ’05 Redskins of college football. And Colorado fell flatter than Anna Benson’s forehead the last half of the season. This one will be more about who sucks less than who is better. Gary Barnett will be more interested in riding Small World 75 consecutive times while in Orlando than being on the Colorado sidelines, so the pick goes, with a fair amount of confidence, to Clemson.

Winner: Clemson

Insight.com Bowl

Rutgers vs. Arizona St.

Rutgers makes its first bowl appearance since the 70’s, but not the 1870’s as you may be thinking. They’ll just be happy to be in a bowl, and Arizona St gets a home bowl-game. If Rutgers has more than 100 fans show up it’ll be a minor miracle. A less impressive miracle will be if they win the game, but I wouldn’t bet on that one either.

Winner: Arizona St.

MPC Computers Bowl

Boise St. vs. Boston College

Boston College makes what will probably be an annual pilgrimage to Boise. So what BC has gotten out of their ACC alliance is red-headed stepchild status, losing Notre Dame as a rival, and more miles traveled in conference than any other BCS team. But if they stay in the Big East they have a good chance to go to a BCS game every year, just saying is all. A very similar game to the previous one, where one team gets a for-all-intents-and-purposes home game, and the other team’s fans will show up by the dozens. BC will be looking to get out of Boise as quickly as possible, while Boise will realize they’re stuck there so they may as well feel good about themselves.

Winner: Boise St.

Alamo Bowl

Michigan vs. Nebraska

Alamo Bowl officials must’ve really tipped their waitresses well this year. They get a game featuring two of the most storied programs in college football history, with two of the most loyal, well traveled fan-bases. The only way it could’ve worked out better would’ve been if Notre Dame had said “Nah, we don’t wanna go to a BCS game, let’s go to the Alamo Bowl”. Nebraska comes out of a lousy Big 12 North this year, and barely beat a lousy Pitt team at home. Michigan comes out of an overrated but still very good Big 10 conference and gave Penn State their only loss of the year. But then again Michigan has been more inconsistent than the new season of Family Guy. And Nebraska has come along offensively the last few games, and they were 5-0 at one point. Michigan is still hurting from the Ohio State loss, so Nebraska is the tentative pick here

Winner: Nebraska

Emerald Bowl

Georgia Tech vs. Utah

Utah was a great team last year, unstoppable, and may’ve even beat one of the top 3 teams had they had the chance. One head coach defection and a quarterback graduation later and they barely make a bowl at 6-5. Georgia Tech had an up-and-down season, and is probably overrated at number 24. The big factor may be GA Tech defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta, who some big time talking heads are saying is the best defensive coordinator in college football. But since he has the same last name as unfunny impressionist Judy Tenuta he can’t be that great, unless he dresses as Cher for the game. However he did help to hold the Miami, Auburn, and Georgia offenses in check, so Utah shouldn’t be that tall of a task.

Winner: GA Tech

Holiday Bowl

Oregon vs. Oklahoma

Last year Cal got screwed by the BCS system and complained very loudly about it. They were then promptly blown out of the water by Texas Tech. This year Oregon got screwed by the BCS system and complained very loudly about it. They will be promptly blown out of the water by Oklahoma, especially now that Adrian Peterson will be fully healthy after a month off.

Winner: Oklahoma

Music City Bowl

Virginia vs. Minnesota

Al Groh is a terrific recruiter, but a lousy coach. Minnesota has a great running game and that’s about it. It seems Virginia shut down after the Florida St. game, like Groh said “Treat this as the ACC championship game” and the team took it a little too literally. Maybe now that they’re in the bowl season they’ll wake up again. Lawrence Maroney, the fine running back for Minnesota, will be taking it easy so as not to blow a knee out or anything of the sort to ruin his draft status.

Winner: Virginia

Sun Bowl

Northwestern vs. UCLA

This game will be high scoring, no doubt about it. At least with Louisville/Boise State last year they could at least fake a defense.

Winner: The Over

Independence Bowl

South Carolina vs. Missouri

This is a fairly easy call, an SEC team against a Big 12 North team. Of course if Brad Smith gets going all bets are off. But he’s pretty much their only hope

Winner: South Carolina

Peach Bowl

Miami vs. LSU

This is kind of similar to the Alamo Bowl because it is a bowl lucky enough to have the two participants fall in their lap. The only downside is Miami supposedly doesn’t travel well, even if it is only one state north. These are teams with great defenses and inconsistent, and sometimes downright bad, offenses. LSU choked like a groupie backstage at a 50 Cent concert in the SEC championship game. Usually the teams who lose their conference championship games lose their bowl games, so I’m going with that logic here

Winner: Miami

Mieneke Car Care Bowl

South Florida vs. NC State

Okay, how exactly does this bowl get to be on New Years Eve? This is the worst bowl game involving BCS teams. How South Florida not only beat, but destroyed a very good Louisville team is one of the great mysteries in sports this year. And NC State beat Middle Tennessee St and Eastern Kentucky to become bowl eligible this year. If South Florida can get its ground game going they will win fairly decisively. But if they have to pass at all forget about it, the Iraq army had a better air attack than South Florida does. NC State’s coach Chuck Amato wears sunglasses and what appears to be pajamas during every game, looking not unlike a vacationing mob-boss. I pick South Florida only out of loyalty to the Big East, and because this is the only game I think they as a conference have a chance to win.

Winner: South Florida

Liberty Bowl

Fresno St. vs. Tulsa

Fresno St has been reeling lately, losing to both USC and Nevada their last 2 games. Tulsa is the Conference USA Champion. However, when the only guy on your team anyone ever talks about is your tight end, you’ll have a tough time beating a good team

Winner: Fresno St.

Houston Bowl

TCU vs. Iowa State

This is not the Whitney Houston Bowl, which is unfortunate cuz that would probably be more entertaining than this game. And you’d get to have a giant crack-pipe trophy to boot. Anyway, TCU may’ve been playing in a BCS game, but they lost to SMU. Not Southern Mississippi, Southern Methodist. That may’ve been fine and dandy 20 years ago, but not so much today. These days it’s like if you don’t make your fantasy football playoffs by a game because you lost to the guy who doesn’t pay attention to his team and has Maurice Clarrett starting for him all year. Iowa State couldn’t win the Big 12 North.

Winner: TCU

More later today or tomorrow

Let me take you back to spring 2003. The Iraq war had just begun, with no doubt that we would be in and out in a few months. The world had just begun to fall in love with a drunken, ####-eyed trollop who for legal purposes will be called Harris Pilton. And the Atlantic Coast Conference had a brilliant idea, have a championship game for football. Doing this would add millions of dollars in extra revenue, which would go back into teachers salaries and cancer research. Or funding the women's field hockey programs, whichever was deemed more important. The only problem was that at the time the ACC had only 9 teams when you need at least 12 teams, in order to have 2 six-teams divisions.

How would the ACC remedy this problem? They could have done the honorable thing and founded 3 new colleges in the region and waited 50 years for them to become viable football schools. But they took the easy way out and raided the Big East conference, and tried to do it behind everyone's back. To be fair it takes 2 to raid, and the 3 ex-Big East schools all felt that the ACC was a better fit, especially Boston College whose natural geographical rivals would be schools in the Carolinas, Florida, and Virginia. Anyway, the raid took the Big East’s 2 biggest powers and another perennial contender. That meant the Big East was left with rebuilding Pitt and West Virginia teams, and a declining Syracuse team as their most notable reps. They then, in turn, raided Conference USA and took Louisville, Cincinnati, and South Florida. This may be looked upon as no better than what the ACC did, but the Big East did it more above board and more out of necessity than anything.

So what all of this means is that now the Big East is looked upon as the red-headed stepchild of the BCS schools. They were looked at that way rightfully last year when their BCS rep was a Pitt team that had no right being anywhere near the Continental Tire Bowl let alone the Fiesta Bowl and were subsequently trounced by Urban Myer and Utah. There have even been calls, mostly by non-BCS schools, to strip the Big East of its automatic BCS bid.

This is why that is unfair. Let's say one day, in fantasyland 2003, the Big East decided to add a championship game and stole Texas, Oklahoma, and Texas Tech away from the Big 12. What would the Big 12 look like this year? It would be far worse than the Big East, but because of the recent successes of Nebraska, Colorado, and even Kansas State there wouldn't be nearly as big a stink raised, and there would be very little talk of taking the automatic bid away. At the very least the BCS would have been too afraid of getting corn cobs filled with explosives mailed to them if they took away the automatic BCS bid for the Big 12, even without its top teams. And what if the tables were turned and the Big East just took Florida State away from the ACC? Who would be left? That's right, Georgia Tech, Maryland, and that's about it really. 

Also, who would replace the Big East? As poor as it is now, it's still much better top to bottom than all the non-BCS conferences. The most logical option would be an extra at-large bid. But after this year the Big East champion would most likely get that anyway. WVU and Louisville are right now top 20 programs, with the potential to be even better. Every other team in the conference, outside of Cinci, has the potential to be a perennial top 25 team. Hell, WVU is a very good team this year, and if not for their history of crapping the bed in bowl games I'd give them a 50-50 chance of beating Georgia. As it stands now it's more like 80-20 they'll lose.

I concede that right now, of the 6 BCS conferences the Big East is 6th in the power rankings, but not as distant a 6th as they're made out to be. All I'm saying is that they as a conference deserve a chance to regain their footing after being unceremoniously taken advantage of. If after 4 more years they’re still sending sacrificial lambs to BCS games as opposed to contenders, then by all means ####.