Cram Session (Bowl Edition) - Week 3

Happy New Year! Just two weeks are left in the bowl season and over the next week there will be a whopping 19 games. The big bowl games (Orange, Sugar, Rose, and Fiesta) will take place and more importantly to me, the Nebraska Cornhuskers will be in action on New Year's Day in the Gator Bowl. Next Thursday I will post the final Cram Session of the season and predict the winner of the BCS Championship game between the Florida Gators and Oklahoma Sooners.

Humanitarian Bowl - December 30

Maryland (7-5) vs. Nevada (7-5)

The most interesting thing about this game will be the blue turf that it will be played on. Maryland ducked Navy in the EagleBank Bowl so their cowardliness has been "rewarded" with a trip to Boise. I am almost certain this is the last place any Maryland player wants to be and it will show in their play.

Prediction: Nevada 27, Maryland 20

Texas Bowl - December 30

Western Michigan (9-3) vs. Rice (9-3)

Rice has homefield advantage and has won six in a row. Sounds like a recipe for victory to me.

Prediction: Rice 45, Western Michigan 31

Holiday Bowl - December 30

#13 Oklahoma State (9-3) vs. #17 Oregon (9-3)

The Holiday Bowl is usually one of the better non BCS bowl games there is and this year is no exception. The Pac 10 has been laughed at most of the year but a win here could earn the conference some respectability. This should be a high scoring game as both teams are ranked in the top ten in offense.

Prediction: Oklahoma State 38, Oregon 37

Armed Forces Bowl - December 31

Houston (7-5) vs. Air Force (8-4)

The Falcons have to win this game, I mean it's the Armed Forces Bowl.

Prediction: Air Force 33, Houston 23

Sun Bowl - December 31

Oregon State (8-4) vs. #20 Pittsburgh (9-3)

The Beavers were a win away from the Rose Bowl, now they get to play in the Sun Bowl. Two great RB's in this one, the Beavers Jacquizz Rodgers and the Panthers LeSean McCoy.

Prediction: Pittsburgh 28, Oregon State 24

Music City Bowl - December 31

#24 Boston College (9-4) vs. Vanderbilt (6-6)

The home field advantage will be Vanderbilt's as this game is played in Nashville, Tennessee. However, the Eagles are a much better team and have won 8 straight bowl games.

Prediction: Boston College 35, Vanderbilt 17

Insight Bowl - December 31

Kansas (7-5) vs. Minnesota (7-5)

The Golden Gophers stumbled badly down the stretch, ending the season with a 55-0 home loss to Iowa. Kansas had a disappointing year but salvaged it somewhat by defeating Missouri in their final game.

Prediction: Kansas 48, Minnesota 20

Chick-Fil-A Bowl - December 31

LSU (7-5) vs. #14 Georgia Tech (9-3)

LSU finished the regular season with the most losses ever for a defending national champion, appropriate considering they won the national title with the most losses ever by a national champion. The Yellow Jackets already beat a better SEC team in Georgia, they roll over the Tigers.

Prediction: Georgia Tech 41, LSU 28

Outback Bowl - January 1

South Carolina (7-5) vs. Iowa (8-4)

For the people watching this game at 11 AM it will be the Hangover Bowl. Iowa has won 3 in a row, including spoiling Penn State's season. The once mighty Steve Spurrier continues to fall.

Prediction: Iowa 29, South Carolina 18

Capital One Bowl - January 1

#15 Georgia (9-3) vs. #18 Michigan State (9-3)

Disappointing season for the Bulldogs, who started the year ranked #1. Michigan State has been much better than anyone expected, although when they have faced top level competition they have gotten waxed.

Prediction: Georgia 31, Michigan State 25

Gator Bowl - January 1

Nebraska (8-4) vs. Clemson (7-5)

Each team has won three straight heading into this one. Clemson fired Tommy Bowden halfway through the season and saw the team play much better under new coach Dabo Sweeney. Nebrasaka's Bo Pelini has gotten off to a good start in his first season of trying to erase the stain that was the Bill Callahan era. Huskers QB Joe Ganz will be playing his final game which is a shame as it seems there has been a revolving door at QB for years for Nebraska. The emergence of RB Roy Helu has been key to Nebraska winning 4 of their last 5 and I think he makes the difference in this one.

Prediction: Nebraska 34, Clemson 31

Rose Bowl - January 1

#8 Penn State (11-1) vs. #5 USC (11-1)

The Rose Bowl lucked out with Oregon State's loss to Oregon and avoided a boring Penn State/Oregon State rematch. This game is much more enticing and will be closer than the experts think. USC coach Pete Carroll has whined all year about his team being ignored but when you play in a crappy conference and don't win very impressively why should people care?

Prediction: USC 24, Penn State 14

Orange Bowl - January 1

#12 Cincinnati (11-2) vs. #18 Virginia Tech (9-4)

It's the game no one cares about! Most people tuning into this one will just be finding out that Cincinnati even has a football program. Tech fans haven't truly embraced this team, despite them winning another ACC Championship. The Bearcats are going to be hyped for this one and it will show.

Prediction: Cincinnati 27, Virginia Tech 13

Cotton Bowl - January 2

#25 Mississippi (8-4) vs. #7 Texas Tech (11-1)

The Cotton Bowl has moved from its usual January 1st date and will be the showcase game in the early afternoon of January 2nd. Houston Nutt has done a great job in his first year with Mississippi while Texas Tech was the forgotten third team in the Big 12 three way tie. I think the Rebels will play the Red Raiders tough but Texas Tech is legit (except when they play Oklahoma).

Prediction: Texas Tech 41, Mississippi 37

Liberty Bowl - January 2

Kentucky (6-6) vs. East Carolina (9-4)

Remember when only the best teams played January 1st and beyond? Now you can be 6-6 and get to play on January 2nd, such a shame. East Carolina started the season hot and appeared to be a potential BCS buster, but then lost three straight in the middle of the season before recovering to win the Conference USA Championship. The Wildcats come into this game losers of three straight.

Prediction: East Carolina 28, Kentucky 20

Sugar Bowl - January 2

#6 Utah (12-0) vs. #4 Alabama (12-1)

Alabama will be without their stud offensive lineman Andre Smith who was suspended for trying to get a jump on his pro career by talking to agents. Utah will be fighting for the little guys of the world and will try to make up for the poor showing Hawaii had last year in the Sugar Bowl. They keep it close for 3 quarters but then the Tide roll.

Prediction: Alabama 28, Utah 13

International Bowl - January 3

Buffalo (8-5) vs. Connecticut (7-5)

Buffalo took the fraudulent UCONN Huskies to the wire in college basketball. Nebraska legend Turner Gill will do one better in football and get the win.

Prediction: Buffalo 24, Connecticut 17

Fiesta Bowl - January 5

#10 Ohio State (10-3) vs. #3 Texas (11-1)

90% of the country is picking Texas to win this one. Many people are just thankful that the Buckeyes weren't able to ruin the national championship game this year. This is a redemption game for the Buckeyes as they try to prove that they are up to not wetting themselves on the big stage. Texas will be an angry team after being snubbed for the national championship game and Colt McCoy will be the better QB on the field over his counterpart Terrelle Pryor.

Prediction: Texas 35, Ohio State 21

GMAC Bowl - January 6

#22 Ball State (12-1) vs. Tulsa (10-3)

Somehow tucked in between all of these big games is the GMAC Bowl. Hasn't been a good last month for Ball State, they lost both their perfect season and the MAC Championship to Buffalo, then saw their coach leave for that "dream job" at San Diego State. Tulsa was undefeated earlier in the year but then came back to earth with losses in 3 of their final 5 games. Ball State alums David Letterman and Jason Whitlock will not be pleased with the result in this one.

Prediction: Tulsa 38, Ball State 20

Bowl Record

Last Week: 8-1
Overall: 10-4

Overall Record (Regular season and bowl record combined)

148-57