2007 College Football Bowl Picks

What a bizarre year. On one hand, the plague of upsets made for an unusually exciting mid-season in college football. On the other hand, this year's no-holds-barred brawling has created the real possibility of the first ever two-loss national champion.

It would have been nice to see two clearly dominant teams rise out of the mayhem for an exciting finish to 2007. But, alas, here we are with what amounts to a "prettiest pig" contest between Ohio State and LSU.

Still, nothing says "sports fan heaven" quite like the college bowl season. Here's how I see things shaking out.

Poinsettia Bowl: Utah v Navy
Utah has been sporadic this season, posting an impressive early win against UCLA and a solid mid-season run, but ending with a disappointing instate clash with BYU. Navy has been much more consistent. But how much is that due to departed coach, Paul Johnson? Utah has superior talent and a head coach. Utes by 7.

New Orleans Bowl: FL Atlantic v Memphis
Both teams got their butts kicked by anybody on their schedules who matter. Memphis played a tougher conference schedule. Memphis by 3.

Papa John's Bowl: Southern Miss v Cincinnati
Forget the Sears Trophy, we're all dying to know who will win the coveted golden pizza this year! Cincinnati came oh-so-close to upending West Virginia for the Big East crown (or a share of it, anyway). Southern Miss was a Conference USA also ran. This one won't even be close. Bearcats by 17.

New Mexico Bowl: Nevada v New Mexico
Though 6-6 Nevada is much more competitive than a .500 record would indicate, losing a couple of heartbreaking shootouts. New Mexico beat several decent opponents like Air Force and Arizona. This is a tough call, but I think New Mexico's home turf advantage puts them over the top. Lobos by 3.

Las Vegas Bowl: BYU v UCLA
This is a rematch of an early regular season match. UCLA won that round. But, since then, BYU has been on a roll and the Bruins? Well, they fired their coach. The Cougars exact their revenge handily, by 10.

Hawaii Bowl: Boise St v East Carolina
Last year's Cinderella vs. a bunch of pirates from the East. Both teams will be caught lazing in the island paradise setting. But Bosie State will remain grounded the longest. BSU by 10.

Motor City Bowl: Purdue v Central Michigan
Who's big idea was this? Purdue beat these guys by 23 in the regular season. While the Boilermakers suffered a late-season skid, nothing has changed between these two since September. Purdue by 21.

Champs Sports Bowl: Boston Coll v Michigan St
Things could have been a lot different for Boston College who, by late October, found themselves a heartbeat away from pole position. But, just like a bunch of other 2nd-ranked knuckleheads this season, they lost the very next game. Still, the Eagles put together a mighty impressive season, whereas Michigan State looked very typical. Boston College by 10.

Texas Bowl: TCU v Houston
Seems like the halcyon days are over for the Horned Frogs before they ever really began. After back-to-back 11 win seasons, TCU barely managed seven this year. They meet Houston in a Lone Star shoot 'em up. The Cougars have looked particularly potent on offense, but against suspect competition. This one's a toss up. TCU by 3.

Emerald Bowl: Maryland v Oregon St
Terrapins are 6-6, but they had that impressive jump-out-early-and-hold-on win over a much better BC squad. Oregon State posted a respectable 8-4 record playing a tough Pac 10 schedule. They beat a good Cal team at Berkeley and trumped in-state rival Oregon (albeit without Dennis Dixon). Should be a good match, but I like OSU by 7.

Meineke Bowl: UConn v Wake Forest

Demon Deacons vs. upstart Connecticut. This ain't basketball. Sorry UConn. Look for the Harley-riding mascot to spin cookies all over the Huskies. Wake Forest by 10.

Liberty Bowl: UCF v Mississippi St
Central Florida blew out a lot of bad teams and got blown out by some good ones. Mississippi State faired worse, but against a much tougher schedule. I like the Bulldogs here, by 3.

Alamo Bowl: Penn St v Texas A&M
Two schools with great tradition. Both with mediocre seasons. That's why they're in San Antonio. Penn State played better and more consistently throughout the season. Plus they happen to own the best bowl-win percentage in all of college football. Nittany Lions by 10.

Independendce Bowl: Alabama v Colorado
Another match up of storied programs. But, nonetheless, it's two schools with a combined 12 losses in 2007. Welcome to the Independence Bowl Buffs and Tide. I like Colorado in this one for their win against a team with a legitimate claim to the BCS title game, Oklahoma. But it'll be close. CU by 3.

Armed Forces Bowl: Cal v Air Force
Nothing like shooting to number 2 in the polls by late September, only to lose 6 of your last 7 games. Way to go Cal! I don't think a month off will do much to turn things around. Air Force by 7.

Sun Bowl: South Florida v Oregon
South Florida came out of the college football ether to capture the nation's attention with a win over #5 West Virginia. Three losses in the mid-season sullied a near dream season for the Bulls. Oregon, on the other hand, is still without their star quarterback and they probably had to google "Sun Bowl" just to find out where exactly they'd be playing on New Years eve. South Florida beats an underwhelmed Ducks squad by 7.

Humanitarian Bowl: GA Tech v Fresno St
A decent Fresno State team takes on a disappointed Georgia Tech. I think Tech is better, but this one could go either way. Georgia Tech by 3.

Music City Bowl: Kentucky v Florida St
Remember when the 1990s were dominated by just two college football teams? Oh what a difference a new decade can make. One of those past juggernauts will be channel surfing over the holidays while the other faces Kentucky in the -- what bowl? Oh yeah, the Music City Bowl. Kentucky has shown flashes of brilliance this season, while the once-great Seminoles have shown long stretches of malaise. Kentucky wins by 14. FSU will barely care.

Insight Bowl: Indiana v Oklahoma St
The Big 12's 6th best vs. The Big 10's #7. No real insight to glean from this cripple fight. A toss up. Cowboys by 3.

International Bowl: Ball St v Rutgers
This seems like a bit of a mismatch to me but, with the way this season has gone, I guess you never know. Rutgers by 10.

GMAC Bowl: Tulsa v Bowling Green
Tulsa has a potent offense. Bowling Green, not so much. The defenses seem to be about the same. Edge goes to Tulsa by 7.

Peach Bowl: Clemson v Auburn
Auburn pulled off a fantastic upset of Florida early in the season and played spiritedly in a loss to LSU, but otherwise the Tigers looked pretty average. They'll get another bunch of Tigers to battle when they take on Clemson who has played much more consistently. Clemson wins this catfight by 7.

Outback Bowl: Tennessee v Wisconsin
Tennessee looks to be working its way back to competitiveness and, aside from 2 or 3 games, looked pretty solid. The same can be said of Wisconsin. The Badgers are riding high with a late-season bitch slap of Michigan, while Tennessee is still stinging from a close loss to LSU. Momentum favors the Badgers. UW by 3.

Holiday Bowl: Arizona St v Texas
Arizona State opened with an impressive 8-0 run. But since beating Cal in October, ASU has looked pretty mediocre posting 2 lackluster wins and 2 decisive losses. Texas, on the other hand, has looked mediocre all season. I'm taking the 10-2 Sun Devils by 10.

Cotton Bowl: Mizzou v Arkansas
A little more gut-checking in the Big 12 championship and the Missouri Tigers would have been playing for the National Title. But the Oklahoma Sooners had the Tigers' number. If they can keep their heads in the game instead of on what might have been, Mizzou should cream the Razorbacks. Tigers by 14.

Gator Bowl: Texas Tech v Virginia
Texas Tech isn't quite as impressive as it has been the last couple of years, but the were good enough to derail Oklahoma. Virginia looked awesome against the struggling Miami Hurricanes. But not so much in losses against Virginia Tech, NC State and (yikes) Wyoming. Nor terribly good in a two-point win over Middle Tennessee. Tech by 7.

Citrus Bowl: Michigan v Florida
Florida will bring a mobile quarterback and a spread offense against a Michigan defense that rarely faces either. That alone is enough for a Gator win but -- add in homestate advantage and one of college football's best coaches vs. one who's on his way out -- and you get another Big 10 smackdown by Florida. Gators by 17.

Rose Bowl: Illinois v USC
Illinois doesn't deserve to be in a BCS game. And if it weren't for the upset-crazy 2007 season, neither would the two-loss Trojans. USC wins this one, but it's closer than people think. USC by 7.

Sugar Bowl: Hawaii v Georgia
It was a nice season for the Rainbow Warriors of Hawaii. But their won't be a pot of gold at the end of this one. Just a fire-hydrant as the Georgia Bulldogs mark New Orleans as their territory.

Fiesta Bowl: West Virginia v Oklahoma
A tale of two teams. West Virginia is reeling from coming thisclose to playing for a national title. Oklahoma is riding high after knocking the other title contender out in the Big 12 Title game. Oklahoma is poised to be next year's preseason number one. I think the Sooners rub the Mountaineers' noses in their late-season woes. OU by 14.

Orange Bowl: Kansas v VA Tech
Outside a spanking by LSU, Virginia Tech has been solid against top tier opponents all season. Kansas (despite handing Nebraska its worst loss ever) failed its one and only true test of the season against Missouri. Exam number 2 comes on January 3 in Miami. I think Mangino rallies his team over the hump this time. Jayhawks by 3.

BCS Championship: LSU v Ohio St
I hate the idea of a two-loss National Champion. But Ohio State has shown no reason to suggest they are better than LSU. Solid defense on both sides will keep this one close, but the Superdome is LSU's domain. That, and a superior offense, will give LSU a 7 point win to claim the title of the prettiest pig in 2007.