Bowl Precap, Part 2

by Big Al

The bowls are in full swing and I am happy. So let's talk about more of them, shall we?

Advocare V100 Independence Bowl

Missouri 41 - North Carolina 24

Sorry about missing this one. I was intending to get some bowl precapping done in the days leading up the Christmas, but then I was barely home and awake for 3-4 days. But I can say, without the least bit of guilt or worry of contradiction, that I have no idea who I would have picked in this game, so it would have been a wild guess that really would not have provided any honest insight into the game.

By the way, after the Missouri Tiger mascot broke the original trophy, I'm glad they have another trophy ready for the victor. However, maybe we shouldn't make glass football trophies. I mean, they look neat and everything, but they are as breakable as... I don't know... some brittle substance that is synonymous with easily breakable things... whatever that might be.

Little Caesar's Bowl

Western Michigan - Purdue

I'm in a rush here, so this is going to have to be fast. Western Michigan wins because Purdue is not very good.

Belk Bowl

Louisville - North Carolina State

What is a Belk? Why is there a bowl for it? Anyway, North Carolina State seems to have figured out that they may be a pretty good football team. So how about North Carolina State?

Military Bowl - Presented by Northrop Grumman

Toledo - Air Force

Air Force wins because they are pretty good.

Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl

California - Texas

I have had no luck with Texas. I pick them to lose and they win. I pick them to win and they lose. I don't know if I got a single game of theirs right. After what they did to me this year, I am picking Texas out of spite.

Champs Sports Bowl

Florida State - Notre Dame

From the "that's what she said" file, I would like to point out that this seems like it should be bigger. Anyway, I would also like to point out that both of these teams seemed like they would be pretty good this season, right up until they weren't. Both of them also seem like they are on the upswing, but people have been mistaken about these teams before. Anyway, how about Notre Dame, because I have slightly less lack of faith in them that Florida State.

Valero Alamo Bowl

Washington - Baylor

Robert Griffin has been on quite the whirlwind tour since he won the Heisman. Unfortunately, he has not been with his team, practicing. Washington wins.

Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl

Brigham Young - Tulsa

Tulsa, because Brigham Young has let me down too many times this year.

New Era Pinstripe Bowl

Rutgers - Iowa State

Iowa State, because they are going to be excited to be in New York City, while Rutgers is going to be pissed off about not going someplace cool.

Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl

Mississippi State - Wake Forest

Mississippi State has underwhelmed this year. Wake Forest has overachieved. Wake Forest shocks the SEC with a win over one of its worst teams.

Insight Bowl

Iowa - Oklahoma

Can someone explain to me how this game came into being? Okay, Iowa did have an okay season. And Oklahoma had something of a dud of a season. Still, does anyone think Iowa will keep it within 21? I don't.

Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas

Texas A&M - Northwestern

Texas A&M finally gets a season-defining win for Mike Sherman. Admittedly, it would be a much more accurate definition if they lost.

Hyundai Sun Bowl

Georgia Tech - Utah

Utah made it to a bowl? I mean, Utah made it to a bowl in their first season in the Pac-12! What a bold step forward for a team that is doing whatever to make bold statement for someone because of their goodness-knows-what. Anyway, Georgia Tech wins.

Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl

Illinois - UCLA

UCLA gets a chance to play in a bowl game and finish 2 games below .500. What an honor. Anyway, how about UCLA, because I lost all faith in Illinois.

Autozone Liberty Bowl

Cincinnati - Vanderbilt

I forgot that Vanderbilt made it to a bowl. That's great! Particularly for Cincinnati when they win.

Chick-Fil-A Bowl

Virginia - Auburn

Virginia had a great season this year. Auburn did not. But I'll bet Auburn is still better than Virginia. Auburn wins.

Ticketcity Bowl

Houston - Penn State

Let's see, Houston is coming off of a huge letdown following their loss in the Conference USA title game, which cost them a chance to go to a BCS bowl. Penn State is coming off of a huge scandal that has rocked the foundations of the entire school, as well as a fight between two players that left one of their quarterbacks with a concussion. This game is really depressing. Anway, how about Houston to bounce back against a Penn State team that is coming apart at the season.

Taxslayer.com Gator Bowl

Ohio State - Florida

Florida can't play offense. Fortunately, they are playing a team that can't tackle. Florida wins the Urban Bowl.

Outback Bowl

Michigan State - Georgia

Remember when Michigan State played in a bowl game in Florida last year and got the snot kicked out of them by a really good SEC team? Deja vu, Georgia wins.

Capital One Bowl

Nebraska - South Carolina

Nebraska preserves a modicum of self-respect for the Big Ten with a win here.

Rose Bowl Game Presented by Vizio

Wisconsin - Oregon

I am hoping that Wisconsin learned a lesson in last year's Rose Bowl and figured out that being a power team means that you should take the 20-40 yard gains that are available when you run up the middle, rather than trying to be a speed team and losing 2 yards on sweeps against a small, speed defense. But I'm guessing they didn't. Because every power teams always wants to be a speed team, even though a power team can kick the crap out of a speed team if they stick with being a power team. Oregon wins.

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl

Stanford - Oklahoma State

You know, maybe if more bowls would be played on New Year's Day (Observed), there would be games to watch that did not involve a Big Ten Team getting embarrassed. Like this one, for instance. Anyway, Oklahoma State makes a case for maybe someone should have given them a chance in the title game.

Allstate Sugar Bowl

Michigan - Virginia Tech

Actually a less-interesting game than the national title game, if you can believe it. But at least it has intersectional bragging rights at stake, rather than watching two teams that 75% of the country couldn't give two turds about. Anyway, Virginia Tech has the ability to tackle, which allows them to finally find a team it can beat in a BCS game.

Discover Orange Bowl

West Virginia - Clemson

Clemson.

AT&T Cotton Bowl

Kansas State - Arkansas

My gut keeps gnawing at me about Kansas State. Don't know why, or if this is a good instinct, or the usual, bad one. But, seeing as I have no other insight into this game, how about Kansas State.

BBVA Compass Bowl

SMU - Pittsburgh

Why exactly does one leave one better-than-average school for another do for your career? Unless Graham just wants warmer weather, the move to Arizona State makes no sense career-wise. But he did it and left his team in the lurch. SMU wins on a royal kick in the stones.

Godaddy.com Bowl

Arkansas State - Northern Illinois

I believe this used to be the GMAC Bowl. Every year, some MAC team would get the snot kicked out of it by some Sun Belt team. Well, at least the name changed. Arkansas State.

BCS National Title Game

Alabama - LSU

I have much to say on this game, and more thinking to do. So I will save this one for later.