It is officially the greatest time of year for college football fans: Bowl Season. With bowl season, come bowl predictions and projections. These are my picks for all the college football games scheduled within the next month. (Games are listed in the order they will be played)

 

EagleBank Bowl
Wake Forest vs. Navy

            This pick may be a little off because I have seen Navy play a couple of times and have yet to watch an entire Wake Forest game. With that being said, I like what I see from Navy, they run the ball well and know how to put points on the board and how to win games. This 8-4 football team is pretty good and should finish the season 9-4 after a victory in the inaugural EagleBank Bowl.

 

New Mexico
Colorado State vs. Fresno State

            Despite having a somewhat disappointing season after breaking the top-25 early this season, the Fresno State Bulldogs still had a very good season. This is a talented football team and they will beat the 6-6 Colorado State Rams.

 

magicJack St. Petersburg
Memphis vs. South Florida

            South Florida seems to be everyone's second favorite team because of their somewhat Cinderella story last year. However, they are struggling and after having lost 5 of their final 7 games, I do not think they will beat Memphis.

 

Pioneer Las Vegas
BYU vs. Arizona

 

            Arizona's defense is suspect at best. They had a good game against Arizona State, but struggled to defend Oregon and Oregon State. Arizona hasn't been to a bowl game for a while now and they are one step away from turning the corner and becoming a team that actually wins bowl games. Getting to a bowl game is a big step, however, BYU plays good in the Vegas Bowl and the Cougars are a better team than the Wildcats. This marks the Cougars 4th straight Vegas Bowl appearance, and it will also be their third consecutive win.

 

R+L Carriers New Orleans
Southern Miss vs. Troy

            Um, does anyone know anything about these two teams? I don't but by looking at their schedules and doing minimal research I saw that Southern Miss had a 6 game losing streak in the middle of the season and came back and won its final four games to become bowl eligible. This shows me that this team has figured out how to win and that they found the spark that they needed. R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl Winner: Southern Mississippi.

 

San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia
Boise State vs. TCU

            This is a really intriguing bowl game. Everyone loves Boise State because of what they did to Oklahoma a few years back and people feel that because they ran the table they should be going to a BCS bowl. Bronco fans, forget about the BCS bowl because your Boise State Broncos won't even win the Poinsettia Bowl. TCU has a strong team which only lost two games this year (Utah and Oklahoma). The TCU defense held Oklahoma's offense to its lowest total of the year (35 points). Boise has lost 3 of its last 4 bowl games and will make it 4 of its last 5 after a loss to TCU this year.

 

Sheraton Hawaii
Hawaii vs. Notre Dame

            Hawaii came very close to upsetting number 13 Cincinnati this weekend and Notre Dame is simply horrible. This pick is easy because of the college football Bermuda triangle that has become South Bend, Indiana. Hawaii will win.

 

Motor City
Florida Atlantic vs. Central Michigan

            Central Michigan had an impressive showing against Ball State on ESPN2 a couple weeks ago against Ball State and the 8-4 Central Michigan Chippewas will beat the 6-6 FAU Owls.

 

Meineke Car Care
West Virginia vs. North Carolina

            2 time Big East Player of the Year. Two time bowl and team MVP. Two time West Virginia athlete of the year. West Virginia Senior Quarterback Pat White is also 3-0 as a starter in bowl games and he will be 4-0 after this game. White is an explosive player who can beat teams with his arm and his legs. Look for a lot of Pat White, and a lot of confused faces amongst the Tar Heel defenders.

 

Champs Sports
Wisconsin vs. Florida State

            Wisconsin has 5 losses in a weak Big 10. They actually lost to Michigan. Florida State had 8 wins and although they looked terrible against the Gators in the season finale, I'm hoping that the game was a result of Florida being good rather that Florida State being bad. I'm picking the Seminoles.

 

Emerald
Miami (Fla.) vs. California

            Kevin Riley is a talented quarterback, but has struggled with his accuracy throughout the year. The three weeks of preparation will help the young sophomore prepare to face the Hurricanes. He will also have the help of the explosive Jahvid Best. Having rushed for over 100 yards in his last three games, the explosive Best seems to be finding a late season surge. Miami won't be able to slow him down and the Bears will benefit from playing what is virtually a home game.

 

Independence
Northern Illinois vs. Louisiana Tech

            Louisiana Tech had some impressive wins this season against Fresno State and San Jose State. They had a decent showing when they traveled to Hawaii as they lost a close one to the Rainbow Warriors. I'm picking Louisiana Tech to beat NIU.

 

Papajohns.com
NC State vs. Rutgers

            Rutgers ended the year on a 6 game winning streak. They will make it 7 straight in the Papa John's Bowl.

 

Valero Alamo
Missouri vs. Northwestern

            Even though they went 9-3 I'm not sold on Northwestern. The three loses that they suffered were their only 3 games against decent competition. Missouri has a great offense led by Chase Daniel and the Northwestern defense gave up a lot of points when it faces the better offenses this year. Chase Daniel will be too much for Northwestern to handle in this one. Missouri Tigers will be Alamo Bowl Champions.

 

Roady's Humanitarian
Maryland vs. Nevada

            Both teams are 7-5; Nevada has the stronger strength of schedule because they played Texas Tech, Missouri, and Boise State this year. They lost all three of those games, but it shows that this team is tested and that they know how to play with college football's elite. Nevada is a team on the rise and that will be seen with a Humanitarian Bowl victory.

 

Texas
Rice vs. Western Michigan

            Rice is 9-3 with all three losses coming to bowl bound teams. Quarterback Chase Clement has thrown for 47 touchdown passes this year. The Rice offense averages 41 points per game and is coming into the bowl game on a 6 game winning streak. Look for them to make it 7 straight in Texas.

 

Pacific Life Holiday
Oklahoma State vs. Oregon

            Oklahoma State had a great year going 9-3 however, those three losses all came to teams with great offenses (Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and Texas). Speaking of great offenses, the Oregon Ducks know how to put points on the scoreboard. The rushing duo of Jeremiah Johnson and LeGarrette Blount is a deadly combination that will give the Cowboy defense fits. In the three games this year where Oregon has had more than one week to prepare for their opponent, the offense has scored 55, 54, and 64. Watch out for a great rushing attack as the two running backs and quarterback Jeremiah Masoli can all run effectively. Last time they were in the Holiday Bowl, the Ducks lost to Oklahoma, this time they will beat Oklahoma State.

 

Bell Helicopter Armed Forces
Houston vs. Air Force

            Air Force and Houston already played this year and the Falcons got the 31-28 victory in Houston. It was a close game and I don't think that Air Force can go into Texas and beat Houston twice in one season. Houston won't have to travel as far as Air Force as the game is in Fort Worth, Texas. Houston will learn from the mistakes that caused them to lose to Air Force last time. Cougars over the Falcons as Air Force will lose the Armed Forces Bowl for the second straight year.

 

Brut Sun
Oregon State vs. Pittsburgh

            This game is a difficult one to pick. After watching freshman phenom Jaquizz Rodgers tear through defenses all year, I want to pick the Beavers. It is hard to pick a Pittsburgh team that needed 4 overtimes to put away Notre Dame. However, after watching Oregon State in the Civil War, I saw that they are not the same offense without Jaquizz. Pitt will have plenty of time to prepare for Rodgers, an advantage that most teams did not have this season. If Rodgers is taken out of the offense, Oregon State will struggle to move the ball. If the offense sputters, the Beavers will have to rely on their defense to come up with some key stops and after see Oregon post nearly 700 yards of offense on the Beavers, I don't trust this defense. Panthers will get the W.

 

Gaylord Hotels Music City
Boston College vs. Vanderbilt

            Vanderbilt started off hot and even broke into the top 25. Despite their hot start, there were many doubters and these doubters appear to be correct as Vandy went on to lose 6 of its last 7 games. Boston College won 4 of its last 5 games and is coming off a loss in the ACC Championship Game. Life without Matt Ryan is certainly different, but none the less, the Eagles will still get a highly sought after bowl game victory.

 

Insight
Kansas vs. Minnesota

            Kansas had a disappointing 6-6 season, but they did finish on a strong note with a win over Missouri. Reesing is a good quarterback and it would be hard for to pick against him and for a team that lost 55-0 on its home field in the season finale like Minnesota did. Therefore, I'm picking the Jayhawks.

 

Chick-fil-A
LSU vs. Georgia Tech

            LSU has had defensive struggles on defense all year. Georgia Tech is a good offensive team. LSU is young at key positions and Georgia Tech will have the support of the fans as they are playing close to home. Yellow Jackets will get the win and finish the season with 10 wins.

 

Outback
South Carolina vs. Iowa

            South Carolina has only won 4 bowl games in school history. Don't look for that to change this year as Iowa is a good football team who finished the season with an impressive 55-0 victory over Minnesota at Minnesota. They also upset Penn State and have played like a complete team.

 

Capital One
Georgia vs. Michigan State

            This game should be a great game to watch. It features two star running backs in Knowshown Moreno and Javon Ringer. Georgia was ranked number one in the preseason for a reason and I'm sticking with them. Bulldogs over the Spartans.

 

Konica Minolta Gator
Clemson vs. Nebraska

 

            Both these teams appear to be fairly evenly matched. I'm putting my faith in Bo Pelini and picking Nebraska.

 

Rose Bowl Game Presented by Citi
Penn State vs. USC

            Had it not been for a bad game at Oregon State or for a last second field goal at Iowa, these two teams could be undefeated and playing for the BCS National Championship. This game is very appealing and I think it will be a better game than most people are giving it credit for. Even though the Big 10 was fairly weak this year, Penn State is a good team. However, the USC defense is undoubtedly the best in the country. Penn State will have a hard time scoring and with all the weapons that Mark Sanchez has to use, I think Penn State will fail to come up with the necessary stops and defense. The Trojans will continue their dominance over the Big 10.

 

FedEx Orange
Cincinnati vs. Virginia Tech

            This is defiantly the most unappealing BCS Bowl this year, but it is a bowl game nonetheless. Cincinnati went 11-2 and won the Big East for the first time in school history.  They play good fundamental football and they will finish up their magical season by getting a 12th win.

 

AT&T Cotton
Ole Miss vs. Texas Tech

            Ole Miss was the only team to upset Florida this year and Texas Tech was ranked as high as number two in the nation. Oklahoma has been the only team able to slow down the Harrell to Crabtree connection this year and I don't see that changing in the Cotton Bowl. Texas Tech is more balanced than they have been in years passed and they have an explosive offense that will light up the scoreboard and beat Ole Miss.

 

AutoZone Liberty
Kentucky vs. East Carolina

            Skip Holtz's Pirates have stunned Tulsa, West Virginia, and ACC Champion Virginia Tech. The East Carolina Pirates can also add a victory over the wildcats to their 2008-09 season resume.

 

Allstate Sugar
Utah vs. Alabama

            Everyone wants to see Utah win and play well because they are the BCS buster and we all remember what a great story Boise State was a couple years ago. But what made Boise State such a great story was that it was so improbable. Utah will not upset Alabama. Utah had a great season, but they just lack the depth to match up with a strong team from the SEC. Alabama did have a huge letdown as they were projected to play in the National Championship for most of the season, but they have three weeks to forget about it and Nick Saban will have his team ready and focused to take down Utah.

 

International
Buffalo vs. Connecticut

            The Buffalo Bulls stunned then undefeated Ball State in the MAC Championship Game. This is Buffalo's first ever bowl game and after watching them play against Ball State, I think it will be a special day for them because they will beat Connecticut in Toronto.

 

Tostitos Fiesta
Ohio State vs. Texas

            I still think that Ohio State is overrated. They have two losses and probably would have had more if the conference was a little stronger. I'm not sold on Terrelle Pryor's throwing abilities and with all the time that there is to prepare for a bowl game, I think the Texas defense will find ways to stop Beanie Wells and Terrelle Pryor on the ground. Texas will make Pryor's arm beat them, and he won't be able to. Texas is very balanced on offense and Colt McCoy is playing near flawless football. Texas will be playing with a chip on their shoulder because they feel that they should be in the National Championship.

 

GMAC
Tulsa vs. Ball State

            Despite looking great all year, Ball State fell apart in their conference championship game. Tulsa is a 10-2 team that has an explosive offense. Ball State may have an untimely hangover as they realize they lost their undefeated season, conference championship, and rare shot at a BCS birth. Tulsa is a team full of confidence and one would have to imagine that Ball State is lacking some confidence after their embarrassing performance against Buffalo. Ball State may feel like they have something to prove, but they will come up short against Tulsa.

 

FedEx BCS National Championship Game
Florida vs. Oklahoma

            The process was messed up, but the BCS got this one right. This should be a great game with two explosive offenses. The Florida offense looked good without Percy Harvin against Alabama, and they will be even better with Harvin back on the field. Both teams have great offenses. Florida has a better defense and a better coach. I don't trust Bob Stoops in bowl games, because he always seems to come up short as his team is 0-2 in their previous BCS Bowl game appearances. The x-factor in this game is Tim Tebow. He is the best college football player in the country and has a heart and desire that is unparalleled. He will not let his Gators lose this game, and they won't.