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Confucius.
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    So I decided to pick the bowl games, it's pretty tough decisions all around.  This bowl season looks to be really competitive.

 

 

I'm going to start with the Chick-fil-A bowl  which has Georgia tech Vs. LSU

 

My pick: Georgia Tech

 

    The Tech run game is just to good, they ran the ball down a great Georgia D's throat.  They have the ACC leading rusher in Dwyer, and Jones will burn you if you don't keep contain.  You have to play PERFECT all game long, because it only take one play for them to break a long one.  Nesbitt runs this spread to perfection making perfect decisions.

 

LSU just doesn't have enough offense to hang with Tech.  Jarret Lee is just not that good, and Tech has a great run D (22nd in the nation) and will take Scott away, who is there only offensive threat.

 

 

Next up is the Brut Sun Bowl featuring Oregon state and Pitt

 

My pick- Oregon State

 

    Sorry Pitt (lighten up the only reason you like Pittsburgh is because you have a Panther fetish) , LeSean McCoy won't be enough.  This is one of the upsets to be looking out for, Oregon state did not get the credit it deserves, this team flat ouplayed USC who was ranked #1 at the time.  The Rodgers brothers will give Pitt fits all day long, and I don't think Pitt can get a passing game going to get the Beavers distracted from McCoy.

 

 

The Pacific Life Holiday Bowl is the next bowl which matches up Oklahoma St. and Oregon.

 

My Pick- OSU

 

    Oregon has been pretty good all year, but Zac Robinson and Kendall Hunter will just be too much to handle.  Oklahoma States offense (like all Big 12 teams seemingly) are just to hot to handle, and Oregon doesn't have the defense or the offense to match the Cowboys.

 

Let's take a look at the Emerald Bowl with Miami (Fl.) and California facing off.

 

My Pick- Cal

 

    I see it this way, Cal's D has played great all year long and is more than capable than stiffling the Canes offense.  Cal will be able to put up points with Best (who is 5th BEST in rushing yards) who will gash a Canes D that is ranked 70th in the nation.

 

 

Let's go to the Outback Bowl whih hasthe SC Gamecocks against Iowa.

 

My Pick- Iowa

 

    The Gamecocks come into this game ranked 39th in run D, and they are going up against the #2 rusher in the league in Shon Greene.  Iowa will pound the football all game long, and Ricky Stanzi is good enough to keep the heat off of the run game.

 

 

San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl (couldn't think of a better name?) which has Boise State and TCU facing off.

 

My Pick- Boise State

 

    This will be a close, hard fought game.  TCU has a fantastic D, and will keep the game close, but in the end Boise will prevail behind Kellen Moore and the 2 headed monster of Johnson and Avery (who have combined for 1351 yards and 16 TD's)

 

 Champs Sports Bowl, Wisconsin Vs. Florida State

 

 My Pick- Wisconsin

 

    The duo of PJ Hill and and John Clay will just dominate the game.  Florida State's offense just isn't very talented, and they will have problems maintaining possesion.  TOP will be on Wisconsin's side, which usually equates to a W.

 

Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl, BYU Vs. Arizona

 

My Pick- Arizona

 

    Willie Tuitama will torch this secondary that is ranked 59th in the nation. Whil Max Hall has to face the #14 ranked Arizona pass D.  Arizona also brings a better run game in with a back field featuring Nic Grigsby and Keola Antolin who have combined for almost 1600 yards with 22 touchdowns.

 

EagleBank Bowl, Navy Vs. Wake Forest

 

My Pick- Navy

 

    They've played once before with Navy coming out on top, which is how I see this playing out.  This is a Navy Team that averaged near 300 yards rushing!  Wake Forest has been fairly good this year but I don't think they will win this.

 

 Sheraton Hawaii, Hawii Vs. Notre Dame

 

 My Pick- Notre Dame

 

    Maybe the least interesting match up of the bowl season, but I see the fighting Irish pulling out a win here and giving Weis his first Bowl win.  Look for Jimmy Clausen to have a big game.

 

Papajohns.com Bowl, NC State Vs. Rutgers

 

My Pick-Rutgers

 

     Rutgers comes in rolling on all cylinders, they've reeled off 6 straight wins and scoring over 30 in 5 of those 6.  Mike Teel has been molten hot the second half of the season.  Rutgers layed 54 on Pitt, 49 on USF, and 63 on Louisville  all more than respectable teams.  There is no reason to say they won't keep it going.

 

 

Valero Alamo Bowl, Missouri vs. Northwestern

 

My Pick- Missouri

 

    Northwestern's offense just can't put up points like Mizzou can.  Look for Maclin to get 10-15 touches and to make a mockery of the Wildcats D.  Chase Daniel will have his usual efficient game, and the Mizzou run game will keep the D honest.

 

magicJack St. Petersburg, Memphis vs. South Florida

 

My Pick- South Florida

 

    SF's D will shut down Memphis's offense.  George Selvie will be wrecking havoc all day long, expect him to bring down the QB multiple times and force the QB into bad throws.  The Bulls offense will be more than capable of sticking the ball into the endzone.

 

 Meineke Car Care, West Virginia vs. North Carolina

 

My Pick- West Virginia

 

    NC has been one of the most improved teams this season, but West Virginia will beat them.  Pat White will be all over the place in his last game of his Mountaineers career, he will lead this team to victory, of course with a little help from Noel Devine.

 

New Mexico Bowl, Colorado State vs. Fresno State

 

My Pick- Fresno State.

 

    I don't think Colorado State can stop Fresno's version of Earth, Wind, and Fire in Anthony Harding, Lonyae Miller, and Ryan Mathews who have combined for 1944 yards and 15 touchdowns

 

 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, Southern Miss vs. Troy

 

My Pick- Troy

 

    Troy's defense will take control of this game and allow them to coast to a victory.  The Trojans have a good run game that has punched the ball in 22 times, and they have passed for 25 TD's so we know they can get the ball over the plain.

 

Insight Bowl, Kansas vs. Minnesota

 

My pick- Kansas

 

    Any time Minnesota faces a decent offense they get points laid on them, whether it's against Ohio State, Iowa, Wisconsin, and even Michigan.  They are going up against a top notch offense in Kansa, Todd Reesing will have a field day.

 

Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl, Boston College vs. Vanderbilt

 

My Pick- BC

 

    BC's D will demolish Vandy's offense.  Vandy just doesn't have a very good offense, period, They have more INT's than TDs, They are averaging less than 4 yards a carry as a team. BC won't fill it up, but they can put it in the endzone fairly well.

 

Motor City Bowl, Florida Atlantic vs. Central Michigan

 

My Pick-  Florida Atlantic

 

    I take Atlantic because they are more balanced than the Chippewas.  They have a good 1-2 punch at RB in Charles Pierre and Di'Ivory Edgecomb, and Rusty Smith can move the ball well through the air.

 

Independence Bowl, Northern Illinois vs. Louisiana Tech

 

My Pick-Northern Illinois

 

    Northern Illinois's D will shut dow the 1 dimensional Tech offense.  Northern Illinois is good at taking care of the football, and will have enough offense to pick up the W.

 

Roady's Humanitarian Bowl, Maryland vs. Nevada

 

My Pick- Maryland

 

    Maryland has enough playmakers on offense to score some points, look for Heyward-Bey to get behind the secondary for some plays down the field.  Their D will hold down Nevada's offense.

 

Texas Bowl, Western Michigan vs. Rice

 

My Pick- Rice

 

    Chase Clement will tear this D a new one, Jarret Dillard and James Casey will absolutely abuse Western Michigan's corners.  I don't see Western Michigan being able to put up as many points.

 

Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl, Houston vs. Air Force

 

My Pick- Houston

 

    This is a match-up of polar opposites, Houston airs it out while Air Force keeps it on the ground.  However in the end I think Houston will have enough big plays to pull out a win.


Capital One Bowl, Georgia vs. Michigan State   

 

My Pick- Georgia

 

   This could be Matt Stafford's and Knowshon Moreno's last game as a Bull Dog, so they should be giving it their best effort, look for Massaquoi and Green to be making big plays down field.  Georgia's D will shut down the Michigan State attack.

 

Konica Minolta Gator Bowl, Nebraska vs. Clemson

 

My pick- Nebraska

 

    Joe Ganz will be able to move the ball well against the Clemson D, and will finish off drives.  The Cornhuskers have a great run game lead by Helu and Lucky who will get a good run game going.

 

Rose Bowl, Penn State vs. USC  

 

My Pick- USC

 

    The Trojan defense is very stout (I don't want to say stiff).  There DB's are physical and will punish the WR's over the middle of the field.  The Trojan offense is methodical and precise, and will keep The Nittany Lions on the side line.   


FedEx Orange, Cincinnati vs. Virginia Tech   

 

My Pick- Virginia Tech

 

    Virginia Tech's D is vicious and stingy, they will shut down Cincy's offense and Tech's offense will be as good as it usually is, they will control the ball and take a ton of time of the clock.

 

AT&T Cotton, Ole Miss vs. Texas Tech

 

My Pick- Red Raiders

 

Ole Miss has a good D, but no way the slow down Graham Harrel or Michael Crabtree, I see those 2 having a huge game.  Also watch out for Batch and Woods, they are one of the most formidable RB duos in the nation.

 

AutoZone Liberty, Kentucky vs. East Carolina

 

My Pick- East Carolina

 

I see this being a very low scoring game, niether team has an overly impressive offense.  However I see the Pirates getting enough offense to pull out a win.   

Allstate Sugar, Utah vs. Alabama

 

My Pick- Alabama

 

I don't wanna say blowout, but it's probably what it's going to end up being.  It's nothing against Utah, but Alabam has as much talent as anyone in the country and    the Tide will win easily.

 

International, Buffalo vs. Connecticut

 

My Pick- Connecticut

 

    Conneticut's D is more than capable of shutting down Buffalo's offense, and Brown should give them more than enough offense to get by with a win. 

 

Tostitos Fiesta, Ohio State vs. Texas

 

My Pick- Texas

 

    The Buckeyes won't know what hit them.  Colt McCoy will terrorize them all game long.  The Longhorns D will bring the house at Pryor and force him into mistakes.   


GMAC, Ball State vs. Tulsa  

 

My Pick- Tulsa

 

    David Johnson should make enough plays to beat Ball State, and Adams should give them enough of a run game to keep the D honest.   


FedEx BCS National Championship Game, Florida vs. Oklahoma

 

My Pick- OKLAHOMA!!

 

    Well it will be very close.  Oklahoma has never seen a D like Florida in the big 12, BUT Florida has never seen an offense like Oklahoma in the SEC.  I see this coming down to Sam Bradford and Tim Tebow and who could make the most plays WITH THEIR ARMS.  I'm still not sold on Tebow's ability to stand in the pocket and deliver passes, which you have to be able to do in close games. 

December 15, 2008  10:58 AM ET

Florida's D will crush OU's offense. GT will beat LSU because LSU's D is not smart enough for their own speed, just like UGAly.

December 15, 2008  02:57 PM ET

Great job, Confucius! Of course, I disagree with you one some of your picks (including the whole shebang), but excellent job nonetheless.

December 15, 2008  09:47 PM ET

*loading gun*

Comment #4 has been removed
December 15, 2008  10:28 PM ET
QUOTE(#4):

I told you to calm down.

Why so serious?

Comment #6 has been removed
December 16, 2008  08:55 PM ET

Damn. This blog reminded me how much I miss Chick-Fil-A sandwiches. I wish they'd expand that damn place to the west coast.

December 16, 2008  08:58 PM ET

This blog would have been better if you had slipped a Weekend at Bernie's photo into the USC/Penn St. section.

Comment #9 has been removed
December 19, 2008  02:10 PM ET

Colt Mccoy is the leading rusher for Texas with 567 yards or so. Ohio State has a defense, something the Big 12 knows nothing about. You are also forgetting that Beanie Wells, the true front runner for the Heisman (injuried in game 1) played in only 7 full games and gained 1091 yards, while wearing offensive linemen boots, not only was his foot jacked up, but he also had a hamstring injury, playing at 40%. As of today, 19 Dec 2008, he is 85%. Texas hasn't faced an offense or defense like the Buckeyes. But you keep talkin that Colt is going to terrorize stuff....that's what we heard in 2006, and by the way, those seniors that rocked him then and decided to stay in school instead of being first rounders, you know our LB and CB, the all-americans? They will be playing for the scouts that night my friend.....can't wait for 5 Jan.....GO BUCKS!!!

December 19, 2008  02:14 PM ET

I forgot to mention that Terrell Pryor can run when he wants and throw when he wants...and he is a game changer.....freshman of the year - Big 10.....finally, 12 of our juniors may be going to the NFL after the game, they too will be playing like there is no tommorrow......GO BUCKS!!!

 
December 26, 2008  06:46 PM ET

TrueBuckeye Fan....come on and say what you really think....Ohio State is "really" the number one team in the nation and those two losses this season don't really mean anything.

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