The college football bowl season kicked off today with three doozies--the New Mexico Bowl (Temple-Wyoming), Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Ohio-Utah State) and New Orleans Bowl (Louisiana-Lafayette-San Diego State.) Over in NCAA Division II, Pittsburg (KS) State was winning a national championship the practical way--via a playoff--but not in Division I/Football Bowl Subdivision. No, no--over here we kick it off with the first three of 34 different bowl games, not counting the national championship game between LSU and Alabama.
Let's take a look at a few of the bowl matchups, including those with Big 12 schools, over the next 22 days so that you can plot out your viewing strategy.
Independence Bowl, December 26, Missouri and North Carolina. Two 7-5 teams square off in this mundane of matchups. Missouri's high powered offense will face a challenge with UNC's stout defense but should win by a touchdown.
Holiday Bowl, December 28, California and Texas. Remember when Texas used to play in bowls which meant something? Longhorns by eight.
Alamo Bowl, December 29, Baylor and Washington. Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III has electrified Baylor Nation and will have plenty of opportunities to rack up points against the Huskies' porous defense. Baylor by 22.
Pinstripe Bowl, December 30, Iowa State and Rutgers. Let's give it up for the Cyclones, victorious over then number two Oklahoma State and back in a bowl game. This disciplined ISU team will win by two TDs over Rutgers.
Insight Bowl, December 30, Iowa and Oklahoma. The state of Iowa's "other team" takes on a Sooner squad depleted by injuries. OU by three.
Texas Bowl, December 31, Texas A&M and Northwestern. A&M's coach, Mike Sherman, was fired; Northwestern's coach, Pat Fitzgerald, is still coaching in Evanston after being rumored to be in the mix for a couple of high profile openings. Look for Northwestern to win a close one in this New Year's Eve battle.
Ticket City Bowl, January 2, Houston and Penn State. Houston was one game away from playing in a BCS game; Penn State is a program in chaos. Houston will bounce back from their Conference USA league championship game loss with a 10 point win over the Nittany Lions.
Outback Bowl, January 2, Georgia and Michigan State. Michigan State was blown out by SEC's Alabama in last year's Capital One Bowl. The Spartans won't let that happen with a SEC bowl foe again, winning by eight.
Rose Bowl, January 2, Oregon and Wisconsin. The Ducks' speed will overwhelm Wisconsin. Oregon by 12.
Fiesta Bowl, January 2, Oklahoma State and Stanford. In the best matchup of the bowl lineup, OSU will win by 10 over Andrew Luck and Stanford.
Cotton Bowl, January 6, Kansas State and Arkansas. Two teams who should have been in a BCS bowl will duke it out in Dallas. Razorbacks by four.
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