New Year's Day Games

Gator Bowl

West Virginia (-2.5) vs. Florida State
The Seminoles are here only because Bobby Bowden is coaching his last game and he wanted a game in Florida. It will mean a great deal to him that he is playing against the other school he is known for coaching is his illustrious career. But this year the Mountaineers are the better team and should handle everything Florida State can throw at them. QB Jarrett Brown and RB Noel Devine will be too much to handle for the Noles, while the WV defense has been steady all year and will be able to control the FSU offense without QB Christian Ponder. Give the points and hope the sentimental favorite Bobby Bowden does not end on a winning note. West Virginia 27 - Florida State 21

Capitol One Bowl (Citrus Bowl)

LSU (+2) vs. Penn State
The Bayou Bengals have had chances to have a great season but couldn't pull off the upset of Alabama and Les Miles threw away a win against Ole Miss. Now they find themselves in Orlando as underdogs to the Nittany Lions. But Penn State has not been impressive against good competition, losing to Ohio State and Iowa in Happy Valley in their only real big games of the year. Still, Joe Paterno got another 10 win season in what was thought to be a weak Big 10. Les Miles wins bowl games, as he is 4-0 as head coach at LSU, with the 14 point win over Ohio State in the National Championship game the lowest margin of victory. Having said that I think you would have to be crazy to think LSU does not have a great chance in this game. They will play swarming defense with a month to prepare for the Penn State attack and their offense should be good enough to put a few big plays together with WRs Brandon LaFell and Terrance Tolliver leading the way with QB Jordan Jefferson. Expect Les Miles to be charming his way through the postgame interviews and the LSU faithful to have a Happy New Year's in Orlando. LSU 24 - Penn State 16

Rose Bowl - The Grand Daddy of them All

Oregon (-3.5) vs. Ohio State
This will be both coaches first Rose Bowl, with Jim Tressell playing in his 7th BCS game. Oregon fought through tremendous adversity to get to this point and I'm sure will savor every minute of the pregame festivities and hoopla. But both teams will be ready come kickoff with conference and school pride on the line. Great matchups can be found all over the field, but none more so than the QB position. Terrelle Pryor was expected to do what Jeremiah Masoli has done this year with Oregon, that is be a dual threat QB that contends for the Heisman. If Pryor had a great year this team easily could have been undefeated, but as it is the offense sputtered in big games behind Tressell's conservative play calling and Pryor's mistakes and turnovers. For Oregon their only losses were to Boise State and Stanford on the road with both teams playing their best games. The Ducks outlasted Arizona and Oregon State to lay claim to the Pac 10 with amazing fourth quarters and are never out of a game with their quick-strike ability on offense and play-making defense. The game could come down to which style prevails, that of the conservative, defense and run-first Buckeyers, or the big play, hurry-up attack of the Ducks. Oregon was able to tire out most defenses with their quick pace and relentless style while Ohio State wore down teams with a nasty defense. It is a welcome sight to have a team other than USC representing the Pac 10 and to see the Buckeyes get a chance at the classic Rose Bowl after years of playing in other BCS games. But the Ducks have a lot to live up to after USC dominated the Rose Bowl for many years. I believe LaMichael James for Oregon, along with Masoli will be the difference as they have been all year and after a slow start they will get things rolling for the Ducks in a big second half to pull out the win and cover. Ohio State has lost three straight BCS games while Oregon has won two straight bowls and won their last trip to the BCS in the Fiesta Bowl in 2002. They have not won a Rose Bowl in decades though so the Oregon faithful will have much to cheer about on their way home from Pasadena. Oregon 33 - Ohio State 27

Sugar Bowl

Florida (-10) vs. Cincinnati
This is the Turmoil Bowl, with Cinci coach Brian Kelly watching from his new couch in South Bend and Florida wondering if Urban Meyer will be coaching next year. Both teams should have all the emotions flowing as they are led by strong senior classes with QBs Tim Tebow and Tony Pike the leaders. I think the game comes down to Florida being able to control the game on offense, with Cinci's defense being exposed the last month of the season. While the Bearcats have an explosive offense themselves, they won't have the same success against a nasty Gators defense wanting to make up for the SEC Championship debacle. Whereas last year Alabama lost the SEC and went on to get upset by Utah in the Sugar Bowl, I don't think the same thing happens to Florida with Tebow playing his final college game and the situation with Meyer. Also, Alabama was heartbroken after a tough, hard fought loss last year, while Florida was soundly beaten and should be motivated by the loss that ruined their dream season. Expect Tebow to go out on top and the Gator contingent to be partying on Bourbon Street deep into the night. Florida 48 - Cincinnati 27

Cotton Bowl - Saturday

Ole Miss (-3) vs. Oklahoma State
This should be an exciting game with both teams represented well in the first Cotton Bowl at Cowboys Stadium. The Big 12 though has lost both previous college games played in the stadium, with Oklahoma and Texas A&M losing to BYU and Arkansas respectively. This game features two QBs that lead their team and when they play poorly usually their team follows. Both teams lost their rivalry games to end their seasons and should come out motivated to end on a good note. Ole Miss upset Texas Tech in this game last year and should be happy to be back. I expect Jevan Snead to have a big game in his final showing for Ole Miss and Dexter McCluster to be involved early and often for the Rebel offense. Without many weapons it will be hard for the Cowboys to match up to a stingy Ole Miss defense. Expect a good effort by both teams with the more talented Rebels coming out on top. Ole Miss 31 - Oklahoma State 23