Cram Session (Bowl Edition) - Week 3

We are now into the third week of bowl season and are at the point where the top teams begin to play. The BCS bowls begin on Friday, but more importantly to me, Ndamukong Suh will play his last game for Nebraska tonight in the Holiday Bowl. I hope Suh and the rest of the senior class can go out in style and whoop up on the Wildcats.

Humanitarian Bowl - December 30

Bowling Green (7-5) vs. Idaho (7-5)

I couldn't begin to pretend I know anything or give two craps about this game.

Prediction: Idaho 30, Bowling Green 24

Holiday Bowl - December 30

#20 Arizona (8-4) vs. #22 Nebraska (9-4)

Huskers coach Bo Pelini looks to win his second straight bowl game. The Huskers face a tough test against Mike Stoops and his Wildcats. This Wildcats team is the best Arizona team since the one that beat Nebraska in the 1998 Holiday Bowl. This game could be decided in the trenches, where the Huskers top-10 defense will face off against a Wildcats offensive line that allowed the 10th fewest sacks in Division I. The Huskers will have their work cut out for them on offense. Not only because of their own limitations, but also because Arizona finished with the 21st best defense in Division I. Nebraska has little to no passing game, so any offense will have to come from their RBs Roy Helu Jr. and Rex Burkhead. The defense will have to create turnovers and give the offense a short field to work with. The Wildcats don't have a very explosive offense, led by QB Nick Foles, who threw 19 TDs and 8 INTs. I think Suh will have a monster game in his going away party and will seal the victory and a 10-win season for Nebraska.

Prediction: Nebraska 19, Arizona 17

Armed Forces Bowl - December 31

Houston (10-3) vs. Air Force (7-5)

This is a rematch of last year's Armed Forces Bowl, where Houston came out victorious 34-28. It will be an interesting battle between prolific Cougars QB Case Keenum and the Falcons top-ranked passing defense. The Falcons defense will stop Keenum enough to get revenge for Air Force.

Prediction: Air Force 27, Houston 24

Sun Bowl - December 31

Oklahoma (7-5) vs. #21 Stanford (8-4)

The Sun Bowl should be a much better game this year, than last year's 3-0 snooze fest between Pittsburgh and Oregon State. Cardinal RB Toby Gerhart will be the player to watch.

Prediction: Stanford 24, Oklahoma 23

Texas Bowl - December 31

Navy (9-4) vs. Missouri (8-4)

Navy has had some great success this decade but has come up short in bowl games. I think they end the decade with a bowl win.

Prediction: Navy 28, Missouri 21

Insight Bowl - December 31

Minnesota (6-6) vs. Iowa State (6-6)

Games like these are what make people rail against the bowl system. Two 6-6 teams face off! Feel the excitement!

Prediction: Iowa State 17, Minnesota 13

Chick-fil-A Bowl - December 31

#11 Virginia Tech (9-3) vs. Tennessee (7-5)

2009 will wrap up with the Hokies taking on the Volunteers. Lane Kiffin has people excited in Tennessee, as the Vols showed improvement towards the end of the season. Hokies fans have high hopes for next year, especially with the emergence of the offense in recent weeks, led by stud RB freshman Ryan Williams. I think Williams has a great game and the Hokies get another 10-win season.

Prediction: Virginia Tech 34, Tennessee 20

Outback Bowl - January 1

Northwestern (8-4) vs. Auburn (7-5)

Auburn limped to the finish line, losing 5 of their last 7 games after a 5-0 start. Northwestern got some huge wins to close the season, upsetting previously unbeaten Iowa, and knocking off Wisconsin. This game could be a high-scoring entertaining affair, and might help cure some hangovers.

Prediction: Northwestern 35, Auburn 31

Gator Bowl - January 1

#16 West Virginia (9-3) vs. Florida State (6-6)

Despite being 6-6, the Seminoles get to play on New Year's Day. That is because it will be the last game that legendary coach Bobby Bowden ever coaches in. Sure Bowden actually stopped coaching about 10 years ago, but we won't see him looking dumbfounded on the sidelines anymore. I think the Seminoles will play very inspired football and pull off the upset.

Prediction: Florida State 34, West Virginia 27

Capital One Bowl - January 1

#13 Penn State (10-2) vs. #12 LSU (9-3)

One of the better non-BCS games will be this Big 10/SEC clash. Penn State had probably the most uninspiring 10-2 season in history, as they beat no one of significance, and lost to the two good teams they faced. LSU always seemed kind of overrated this year as well, living more off their conference affiliation, then anything of note they had done on the field. The Nittany Lions win and lose on the back of QB Daryl Clark. I think he struggles and the Nittany Lions lose.

Prediction: LSU 26, Penn State 23

Rose Bowl - January 1

#8 Ohio State (10-2) vs. #7 Oregon (10-2)

The Buckeyes get another shot at beating a good team outside of the Big 10. The Buckeyes defense will have to slow down a potent Oregon offense, led by QB Jeremiah Masoli. He will be dueling with Buckeyes QB Terrelle Pryor, who almost chose Oregon. I think Ohio State has to win a big game sometimes and they came very close against Texas last year. I think this is their breakthrough year.

Prediction: Ohio State 30, Oregon 24

Sugar Bowl - January 1

#3 Cincinnati (12-0) vs. #5 Florida (12-1)

Both these teams have faced major distractions since this game was announced. Cincinnati lost its coach Brian Kelly to Notre Dame, and even their interim coach for this game, Jeff Quinn, has already taken the job at Buffalo. It will be hard to imagine the Bearcats players could have their minds completely on the Gators. However, Gators coach Urban Meyer caused plenty of unrest for his own team, by first resigning due to health issues, then saying he will only take a leave of absence after the Sugar Bowl. This is also the last college game for QB Tim Tebow, so the game is not devoid of interesting subplots. It will be devoid of a close finish.

Prediction: Florida 38, Cincinnati 21

International Bowl - January 2

South Florida (7-5) vs. Northern Illinois (7-5)

The Bulls better win or coach Jim Leavitt will beat the holy hell out of them.

Prediction: South Florida 24, Northern Illinois 17

Papajohns.com Bowl - January 2

South Carolina (7-5) vs. Connecticut (7-5)

Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier has sure been humbled this decade. From the top of the college football world, to an NFL flame out and now the Papajohns.com Bowl. I think the Huskies will be a little more excited for this one.

Prediction: Connecticut 27, South Carolina 17

Cotton Bowl - January 2

#19 Oklahoma State (9-3) vs. Mississippi (8-4)

It was last year's Cotton Bowl performance against Texas Tech that made everyone completely overrate Ole Miss coming into this season. Oklahoma State didn't have quite the season they wanted, although they were hurt by the suspension of WR Dez Bryant. I think Ole Miss wins a second straight Cotton Bowl and slightly redeems their season.

Prediction: Mississippi 41, Oklahoma State 30

Liberty Bowl - January 2

Arkansas (7-5) vs. East Carolina (9-4)

East Carolina is back in the Liberty Bowl for the second straight season as C-USA champions. The Razorbacks feature a potent offense, led by QB Ryan Mallett but not much defense. However, talent wise, I think they win out in this one.

Prediction: Arkansas 45, East Carolina 38

Alamo Bowl - January 2

Michigan State (6-6) vs. Texas Tech (8-4)

This is another bowl game where stories off the field are bigger than the stories the teams have made on the field. Michigan State will be missing 11 players, who were suspended for an on campus fight. Texas Tech will be without coach Mike Leach, who has been suspended for alleged mistreatment of a player. The Red Raiders will miss Leach but its far different missing a coach, than it is missing 11 of your players. Michigan State has a very weak pass defense, that the Red Raiders figure to exploit.

Prediction: Texas Tech 48, Michigan State 31

Fiesta Bowl - January 4

#6 Boise State (13-0) vs. #4 TCU (12-0)

Some were complaining that these two would have been better off facing major conference teams, to try to prove they were on equal footing. I agree that it would have been more interesting that way, but now we get to see which mid-major is the best. TCU has been dominant all season and was about a second away from likely playing for the national championship. Boise State had an impressive win over Oregon to start the year, but played cupcakes the rest of the way. I think TCU shows their dominance yet again.

Prediction: TCU 42, Boise State 24

Orange Bowl - January 5

#10 Iowa (10-2) vs. #9 Georgia Tech (11-2)

The Orange Bowl has a far more appealing matchup than last year's bore fest between Virginia Tech and Cincinnati. It will be Georgia Tech's prolific offense matching up against Iowa's stout defense. The Hawkeyes get QB Ricky Stanzi back from injury. Stanzi was 9-0 as the starter this year before being injured against Northwestern. I think the Yellow Jackets have too much firepower for the Hawkeyes.

Prediction: Georgia Tech 27, Iowa 17

Bowl Record

Last Week: 6-3
Overall: 8-5

Overall Record (Regular season and bowl record combined)

230-68