Thursday, December 31
ARMED FORCES BOWL
Houston v. Air Force (Fort Worth, 12:00, ESPN)
Case Keenum leads the Cougars into a rematch of the same bowl game from last year. Houston has the #1 passing offense while the Falcons boast the #1 passing defense. Expect Keenum to put up his normal 300 yard game but for the game to be closer than the average fan thinks it will.
Player to watch: James Cleveland, WR, Houston
Keenum needs a main target to hit and to be a decoy so he can hit other receivers. Cleveland is the only Cougar wideout over 100 catches and could a very reliable target Thursday.
Prediction: Houston 48, Air Force 31
SUN BOWL
Oklahoma v. (21)Stanford (El Paso, 2:00, CBS)
The obvious standout of this game will be Cardinal RB Toby Gerhart, who will most likely cause the OU defense problems. But if the Sooner D does stop Gerhart and gets pressure on the quarterback, especially if starter Andrew Luck is unable to play.
Player to watch: Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma
The man who has been overshadowed this season by a more dominant defensive lineman in his own conference, Ndamukong Suh, McCoy is the anchor to the Sooner defense and will be the key to stopping Gerhart.
Prediction: Oklahoma 23, Stanford 21
TEXAS BOWL
Navy v. Missouri (Houston, 3:30, ESPN)
This game features two very different offensive styles in Navy's triple option and Mizzou's spread. Both quarterbacks are skilled in their respective offenses and this game should be a shootout.
Player to watch: Danario Alexander, WR, Missouri
Alexander's return to his home state could be very explosive if Blaine Gabbert finds him early and often to counter the scoring Navy should do.
Prediction: Navy 45, Missouri 42
INSIGHT BOWL
Minnesota v. Iowa State (Tempe, 6:00, NFL Network) Both teams have been marred by injury to star players, for Minnesota it was WR Eric Decker, for the Cyclones QB Austen Arnaud and RB Alexander Robinson. Decker is out for the year but Arnaud and Robinson have returned. Decker's absence has hurt Minnesota and will continue to.
Player to watch: Austen Arnaud, QB, Iowa State
If Arnaud does not turn the ball over, the Cyclones should coast to the victory but if his troubles continue, the Minnesota defense should have a field day.
Prediction: Iowa State 16, Minnesota 13
CHICK FIL-A BOWL
(11)Virginia Tech v. Tennessee (Atlanta, 7:30, ESPN)
The bowl with the best title sponsor ever will be a battle between the Hokies and Vols. Look for Va Tech to run early with Ryan Williams and then look to use the play-fake with Tyrod Taylor if the run works. The Vols will try to do the same thing by running Montario Hardesty as their main weapon on offense. But as so many Hokie games come down to, special teams will be the deciding factor.
Player to watch: Eric Berry, S, Tennessee
Berry is one of the top defensive backs in the nation and will be a high draft pick in the spring if decides to skip his senior year. Berry will cause havoc among the Hokie receiving corps and should be the defensive MVP.
Prediction: Tennessee 23, Va Tech 21
Friday, January 1
OUTBACK BOWL
Northwestern v. Auburn (Tampa, 11:00 AM, ESPN)
In the beginning of the year many fans would not expect to see this matchup on New Years' Day. Northwestern has surprised many people under coach Pat Fitzgerald and Auburn has been so disappointing this year that they don't deserve the honor of playing in this bowl.
Player to watch: Ben Tate, RB, Auburn
The Tigers chances of winning rely on their senior running back and if has a big game in his last collegiate game then Auburn will win.
Prediction: Auburn 27, Northwestern 13
CAPITAL ONE BOWL
(13)Penn State v. (12)LSU (Orlando, 1:00, ABC)
This is the top non-BCS bowl matchup. Coaching great Joe Paterno leads his Penn State team to yet another New Years' Day bowl goes up against one of the top young coaches in college football in Les Miles. With plenty of talent on the Citrus Bowl field Friday this game is a toss-up.
Player to watch: Citrus Bowl field
There are many players to choose from but the biggest factor in this game will be the field at the Florida Citrus Bowl. The same stadium in which Miami RB Graig Cooper broke his leg and will be out for the 2010 season. Many analysts have made this a big deal due to the number of games being played in such a small timespan, many Florida HS championships were played there.
Prediction: Penn State 16, LSU 9
GATOR BOWL
(16)West Virginia v. Florida State (Jacksonville, 1:00,CBS)
There is one and only one headline going into this game: Bobby Bowden's final game as Florida State head coach. The Seminoles were selected specifically for this bowl for Bowden to coach his last game in Florida. The explosive offense of the Mountaineers will put up a fight but emotions will be running high and there is no way Bowden wants to go out with a loss.
Player to watch: E.J. Manuel, QB, Florida State
Manuel will be reason that the Noles succeed on offense. With only a few starts under his belt, inexperience is a concern but the motivation to win Bowden's final game will be enough.
Prediction: Florida State 34, West Virginia 26
ROSE BOWL
(8) Ohio St. v. (7) Oregon (Pasadena, 4:30, ABC)
Both teams are coming off wins against rivals in their respective final games. That is where the similarities end. Oregon's spread offense will cause havoc with the Buckeye defense and Terrelle Pryor needs to show up and give Buckeye fans the performance they have been waiting for for two years.
Player to watch: Terrelle Pryor, QB, Ohio State
Buckeye fans are waiting to see which Terrelle Pryor shows up on New Years' Day and they hope it is the person that can control a game with his abilities.
Prediction: Oregon 37, Ohio State 20
SUGAR BOWL
(3) Cincinnati v. (5) Florida (New Orleans, 8:00, FOX)
Unfortuneately for both teams, the two main storylines going into this game involve the head coach position at both schools. Brian Kelly left the Bearcats for Notre Dame and their interim coach is leaving for the Buffalo head coaching position after the game. For the Gators, Urban Meyer's health problems have overshadowed the topic of Tim Tebow's last game.
Player to watch: Tim Tebow, QB, Florida
Tebow's final collegiate game will be classic Tebow, filled with emotion, especially after Meyer's announcement that he is taking an indefinite leave of absence after the game, and being the toughest man out on the field.
Prediction: Florida 35, Cincinnati 16
Saturday, January 2
INTERNATIONAL BOWL
South Florida v. Northern Illinois (Toronto, 12:00, ESPN2)
In a Big East-MAC matchup, the Bulls have the advantage but watchout if the Huskies do try and pull the upset since they are facing a Florida team in Toronto in January
Player to watch: B.J. Daniels, QB, South Florida
Daniels has stepped in to the starting role, after Matt Grothe was hurt early in the season, and has improved in every game.
Prediction: USF 21, N.Illinois 13
PAPAJOHNS.COM BOWL
South Carolina v. UCONN(Birmingham, 2:00, ESPN)
The coaching matchup in this bowl is one to watch for. Steve Spurrier is one of the best coaches in SEC history and Randy Edsall has brought UCONN to the top level of college football and excelled. The Huskies had a great end to the season by beating Notre Dame and will be motivated to put on a good show in SEC country against the Gamecocks.
Players to watch: Andre Dixon, Jordan Todman, RBs, UCONN
The two-headed rushing attack for the Huskies has given opposing defenses headaches all season and look for these two versatile backs to contribute alot Saturday.
Prediction: South Carolina 24, UCONN 21
COTTON BOWL
(19) Oklahoma State v. Ole Miss(Arlington, 2:00, ESPN)
Both teams have had disappointing seasons and will look to rebound into 2010 with a win to boost morale. For Oklahoma State, the suspension of star wideout Dez Bryant slowed their progression. As for the Rebels, a #4 preseason ranking was too much to live up to after their first loss early in the year against South Carolina.
Player to watch: Dexter McCluster, RB, Ole Miss
The most explosive and versatile offensive player in the nation will take the field at Cowboys Stadium and will give the Cowboys matchup problems all day. McCluster started the year at receiver but is now the starting running back and is very explosive once he touches the ball.
Prediction: Ole Miss 48, Oklahoma St. 27
LIBERTY BOWL
Arkansas v. East Carolina (Memphis, 5:30, ESPN)
The C-USA champions will have plenty to prove to the nation as they take on a talented Razorback team. This game has upset written all over it especially if Arkansas' passing attack is slowed.
Player to watch: Patrick Pinkney, QB, East Carolina
Pinkney's performance will decide how the Pirates fare in this game. With a C-USA title already under his belt, the Liberty Bowl title should be his as well.
Prediction: East Carolina 24, Arkansas 20
ALAMO BOWL
Michigan State v. Texas Tech (San Antonio, 9, ESPN)
This game is marred by controversy whether it be the Spartans suspending eight players for the game or Texas Tech firing head coach Mike Leach this week. Both teams will have to face adversity going into the game and it is hard to predict who will respond better.
Player to watch: Baron Batch, RB, Texas Tech
Batch is the Red Raiders' leading rusher and will help to provide balance to a pass happy offense. Batch can also come out of the backfield to catch screen passes for long gains.
Prediction: Texas Tech 38, Michigan State 17
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