2008-2009 BCS Bowl Game Review and Upcoming Predictions

The first half of the BCS College Football bowl season is over. A lot of exciting games so far with a few upsets mixed in to boot! Missouri's Chase Daniel leaves his senior year with leading the Tigers to three straight bowl victories, the Fighting Irish ended the season on a high note and bowl victory, and Arizona pulled an upset over BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl for some of the hightlights! Our predictions for the first half of the BCS schedule were fairly successful going 13-4 (76.5%) putting us 34-10 (77.3%) for the 2008-09 College Football season for game predictions. Results of bowl games completed through 30 December 2008 are listed followed by an update on bowl game predictions for the remainder of the bowling season. Links to summary reviews for each completed bowl game are also included for viewing. BCS Bowl game predictions are primarily based on team performance over the last quarter of the regular season, the current injury report, results against common opponents, and individual team leader (player) performance over the past five games. Enjoy!

Completed BCS Bowl Games (Thru 30 December 2008)

EagleBank Bowl -Wake Forest 29 (8-5) , Navy 19 (8-5)

New Mexico - Colorado State 40 (7-6) , Fresno State 35 (7-6)

magicJack St. Petersburg - South Florida 41 (8-5) , Memphis 14 (6-7)

Pioneer Las Vegas - Arizona 31 (8-5) , No. 16 Brigham Young 21 (10-3)

R+L Carriers New Orleans - Southern Miss 30 (7-6) , Troy 27 (8-5) (OT)

San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia - No. 11 TCU 17 (11-2) , No. 9 Boise State 16 (12-1)

Sheraton Hawaii - Notre Dame 49 (7-6) , Hawaii 21 (7-7)

Motor City -Florida Atlantic 24 (7-6) , Central Michigan 21 (8-5)

Meineke Car Care - West Virginia 31 (9-4) , North Carolina 30 (8-5)

Champs Sports -Florida State 42 (9-4) , Wisconsin 13 (7-6)

Emerald -California 24 (9-4) , Miami (FL) 17 (7-6)

Independence - Louisiana Tech 17 (8-5) , Northern Illinois 10 (6-7)

Papajohns.com -Rutgers 29 (8-5) , North Carolina State 23 (6-7)

Valero Alamo - No. 21 Missouri 30 (10-4) , No. 23 Northwestern 23 (9-4) (OT)

Roady's Humanitarian - Maryland 42 (8-5) , Nevada 35 (7-6)

Texas - Rice 38 (10-3) , Western Michigan 14 (9-4)

Pacific Life Holiday -No. 17 Oregon 42 (10-3) , No. 13 Oklahoma State 31 (9-4)

Upcoming BCS Bowl Game Predictions

Bell Helicopter Armed Forces

Houston vs. Air Force, Fort Worth, Texas, Amon G. Carter Stadium, Dec. 31, Noon, ESPN

Prediction: Houston is favored by 2 ½ over Air Force due to the home field affect (3 points normally) in what is essentially and even up game.

Prediction: Air Force will pull the upset and win!

Brut Sun

Oregon State vs. Pittsburgh, El Paso, Texas, Sun Bowl, Dec. 31, 2 p.m.,CBS

Prediction: Oregon State is favored by 3 points. Oregon State will cover the spread and defeat Pitt in the Sun Bowl.

Gaylord Hotels Music City

Boston College vs. Vanderbilt, Nashville, Tenn., LP Field, Dec. 31, 3:30 p.m., ESPN

Prediction: Boston College is favored by 4 points over Vanderbilt in their home town in the Music City Bowl. Although, many thought Vandy would at least travel to the Liberty Bowl this year, they remained home. Our prediction is that Boston College wins and covers the spread despite the home field advantage.

Insight

Kansas vs. Minnesota, Tempe, Ariz., Sun Devil Stadium, Dec. 31, 5:30 p.m., NFL Network

Prediction: Kansas has been surging at the end of the season coming off of their upset of Missouri. Favored by 10 points, our prediction is that they win but do not cover the spread.

Chick-fil-A

LSU vs. Georgia Tech, Atlanta, Georgia Dome, Dec. 31, 7:30 p.m., ESPN

Prediction: LSU has been tailing off the second half of the season. Tech looked extremely strong with their victory over Georgia at the end of the season. Tech is favored by 4. Our prediction is they win and cover the spread.

Outback

South Carolina vs. Iowa, Tampa, Fla., Raymond James Stadium, Jan. 1, 2009, 11 a.m., ESPN

Prediction: Iowa is favored by 3 ½ over South Carolina. Our prediction is that Spurrier has the Gamecocks ready for this game after a disappointing outing against Clemson and they defeat Iowa.

Capital One

Georgia vs. Michigan State, Orlando, Fla., Florida Citrus Bowl, Jan. 1, 2009, 1 p.m., ABC

Prediction: Georgia has dropped from the pre-season Number 1 after several tough defeats this season. They are favored to win by 7 ½ points. Our prediction is that the Bulldogs end the season on a high note and cover the spread.

Konica Minolta Gator

Clemson vs. Nebraska, Jacksonville, Fla., Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, Jan. 1, 2009, 1 p.m., CBS

Prediction: Clemson is favored to win by 2 ½ points over Nebraska. Although they played Georgia tough, we don't think it will be enough to overcome Nebraska who will win the Gator bowl!

Rose Bowl

Penn State vs. USC, Pasadena, Calif., Rose Bowl, Jan. 1, 2009, 4:30 p.m., ABC

Prediction: USC is favored to win this game by 10 points. Many think if the PAC-10 was stronger that the Trojans would have been contenders for the national title this year. Penn State doesn't lose West of the Mississippi though. Our prediction is that State pulls the major upset of the bowl games and takes down USC!

FedEx Orange

Cincinnati vs. Virginia Tech, Miami, Dolphin Stadium, Jan. 1, 2009, 8:30 p.m., FOX

Prediction: Cincinnati is having their best season in decades! 2 ½ point favorites over Tech. Our prediction is that they continue the trend and take down the Hokies in the Orange Bowl!

AT&T Cotton

Ole Miss vs. Texas Tech, Dallas, Cotton Bowl, Jan. 2, 2009, 2 p.m., FOX

Prediction: This is going to be a big game. The first clash between the Big 12 and SEC leading up to the title game. Tech is favored by 5 points. After seeing Oklahoma's defense handle Graham Harrell's offensive line, our prediction is that Ole Miss follows suit and defeats Tech!

AutoZone Liberty

Kentucky vs. East Carolina, Memphis, Tenn., Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Jan. 2, 2009, 5 p.m., ESPN

Prediction: East Carolina is 1 ½ point favorites over Kentucky. A tough game to call since Randall Cobb is not projected to play for the Cats after having knee surgery after the Tennessee loss. Our prediction is that enough Cat fans make the trek to Memphis and Kentucky defeats East Carolina.

Allstate Sugar

Utah vs. Alabama, New Orleans, Superdome, Jan. 2, 2009, 8 p.m., FOX

Prediction: The Crimson Tide is 9 1/2 point favorites over undefeated Utah. Our prediction after seeing Hawaii collapse last bowl season, is that the Tide wins by at least 20 led by AP Coach of the Year, Nick Saban!

International

Buffalo vs. Connecticut, Toronto, Rogers Centre, Jan. 3, 2009, Noon, ESPN2

Prediction: The only game played in a foreign country this bowl season. UCONN is favored by 4 ½ points. Our prediction is that they win and cover the spread.

Tostitos Fiesta

Ohio State vs. Texas, Glendale, Ariz., University of Phoenix Stadium, Jan. 5, 2009, 8 p.m., FOX

Prediction: Texas is favored to win this game by 9 ½ points. Our prediction after seeing the Longhorns defeat Oklahoma earlier in the year is that they win and cover the spread. Style of play does not become an issue.

GMAC

Tulsa vs. Ball State, Mobile, Ala., Ladd-Peebles Stadium, Jan. 6, 2009, 8 p.m., ESPN

Prediction: Ball State is favored by 3 points in the GMAC bowl. Our prediction is that Tulsa pulls the upset and wins this game.

FedEx BCS National Championship Game- Florida vs. Oklahoma, Miami, Dolphin Stadium, Jan. 8, 2009, 8 p.m., FOX

Prediction: Florida is favored to win this game by 3 points. In BCS national title games the SEC is 4-0, the Big 12 is 2-3. Our prediction is that Tim Tebow doesn't let the Gators lose-though Sam Bradford will have a huge game-- and the Gators will cover the spread!