...will be named Judah Samuel

...it's a boy. Name is coming along, but still TBD.

Well, here we are again: bowl picks. I’m not sure how it’s happened, but this has become such a standard part of my December that I get contacted several times each year when the picks are running late—and they’ve never been running as late as they are this time (which is one of the reasons why this batch is sure to be chock full of typos). But for whatever reason, people want to know what I think. So that’s what this is.

If you remember back to last year, I reported my bowl-picking record (dating back to 2003–04) as 151-99. Over the summer, however, my parents dropped off several boxes of stuff from my closet at home and I found therein my very first bowl picks ever: 1994–1995. I’ve long remembered those picks—poorly drawn helmets representing each team, fake/joke bowls that aren’t even remotely funny—but I didn’t expect that I’d ever see them again, much less be able to add them to my bowl picks folder.

If nothing else, it does bring back wonderful memories of a time when there were only 20 bowl games and most of them hadn’t sold out their heritage to the highest bidder. The fact that I was 13-7 at that age when I didn’t have any real means of research—or even ESPN—is also a plus. So, to make a long story short, my bowl picking record is 164-106.


New Mexico Bowl – Temple vs. Wyoming
This one should be pretty simple. Wyoming has a horrendous run defense; Temple has a very good running back. Temple it is.

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl – Ohio vs. Utah State
I don’t know a whole lot about Ohio this year (as opposed to any other year where, apparently, I know tons about them), but I do know that Utah State is better than their record. At least two of their losses should have been wins, including the should’ve-been huge upset over Auburn. That’s enough to convince me to go with Utah State.

New Orleans Bowl – San Diego State vs. Louisiana-Lafayette
I probably shouldn’t pick against a team named the Rajin’ Cajuns, especially when they essentially have a homefield advantage. But SDSU typically fields a strong team. My feeling is that they’ll simply be better than Louisiana-Lafayette.

St. Petersburg Bowl – FIU vs. Marshall
Florida International has had a quietly good year, beating BCS-foe Louisville on the road and in-state rival UCF. After a mid-season slump, they’ve rattled off three straight. Let’s go with FIU to make it four.

Poinsettia Bowl – TCU vs. Louisiana Tech
A two-loss season lands you in the Poinsettia bowl. Tough break for the soon-to-be Big 12 Horned Frogs. TCU’s early-season loss to Baylor looks a lot better in retrospect. And even though they’re not what they’ve been the last couple of years, TCU still should have enough to win this one.

Las Vegas Bowl – Boise State vs. Arizona State
Another inexplicable loss for Boise State lands them in another mediocre bowl. The worst news for them is that this was the year they actually might have landed in the title game. Look for Boise to take out its frustrations on a pretty mediocre ASU squad.

Hawaii Bowl – Southern Miss vs. Nevada
How much money did Southern Miss cost Conference USA again by beating Houston and knocking them out of a BCS game… several million dollars. If they turn around and lose now, they might just get a lifetime ban. Then again, if they can shut down a high-powered Houston offense, they shouldn’t struggle with Nevada. Right? SMU for the win.

Independence Bowl – North Carolina vs. Missouri
Head coaching instability typically makes for bad bowl games. The mitigating factor here is that UNC’s coaching situation has been unstable long enough that it’s somewhat stabilized, I suppose. According to my team of researchers, Missouri has more wins over respectable opponents than UNC does, so that’ll be my pick.

Little Caesars Bowl – Purdue vs. Western Michigan
Western Michigan runs a fast-paced spread offense, from what I understand. Purdue lost their running back to an ACL injury. I’d typically pick Purdue in this game, but I think I’ll put my confidence on them not being able to keep up. Western Michigan for the win.

Belk Bowl – NC State vs. Louisville
No doubt Louisville is a significantly better team today than they were in week one. A full year of experience for a true freshman quarterback will do that for a team. NC State has been horribly inconsistent; if they play like the Clemson thrashers they were, they could run away with it. But they may well play like the other NC State squad. Can’t put confidence in a bipolar team; confidence goes in a Strong team: Louisville.

Military Bowl – Air Force vs. Toledo
However it goes, this one should be a shootout: both teams can put up a lot of points. The game may well be determined on which one can slow the other one down a time or two. Not knowing much about either team, I’ll look to the common opponent. Toledo got thrashed by Boise State; Air Force lost to them by a couple of scores. Air Force it is.

Holiday Bowl – Texas vs. California
Another down year for Texas; another status quo year for Cal. My guess is that Texas will have more motivation to wrap up a rebuilding year with a win to head into spring on a roll.

Champs Sports Bowl – Florida State vs. Notre Dame
The question of this game is which Notre Dame quarterback will start and will he play the entire game. FSU has been up and down, mostly on offense, while their defense has been relatively strong throughout. What’s that old saying? Defense wins bowl games? Something like that. FSU.

Alamo Bowl – Baylor vs. Washington
When was the last time that the Heisman winner was playing in the Alama Bowl?! Baylor is likely the better team here, but the rock-star treatment given the Trophy Winner is enough of a distraction that it’s led to the so-called Heisman curse. I think Griffin and Baylor are hungry enough to overcome.
 
Armed Forces Bowl – BYU vs. Tulsa
Just learned that these two teams beat a combined three bowl teams all season. Talk about inflated records! BYU’s defense is better on paper, but given their weak schedule, is it really that good? Tulsa is better offensively, but given their weak schedule…. What was that I said about defense earlier? Let’s ignore it this time and go with Tulsa.

Pinstripe Bowl – Iowa State vs. Rutgers
Rutgers is not a good enough team to be 8-4. Their quarterback situation is terrible and either of their QBs could singlehandedly lose the game. Iowa State.

Music City Bowl – Wake Forest vs. Mississippi State
Wake me up after MSU wins.

Insight Bowl – Iowa vs. Oklahoma
I fully believe that Oklahoma is more talented than their record (or their three losses) indicate. Then again, Oklahoma seems to lose every time I pick them. Can’t… look… away… from… the… trainwreck… Oklahoma.

Texas Bowl – Northwestern vs. Texas A&M
A&M managed to lose just about every game that they should have won. They also are between coaches, which historically results on bowl losses. But Northwestern really isn’t that good. And they have a really bad bowl-game-losing-streak. If there was a way to pick both teams to lose, I think I might. Instead, I’ll give A&M a vote of confidence.

Sun Bowl – Georgia Tech vs. Utah
Utah’s first year as a BCS school didn’t turn out at all the way they’d hoped, though things did improve down the stretch. Tech has been up and down without Nesbitt running their triple-option this year. Given the time to prepare and the Utes seeing the triple option fairly regularly, I’ll go with Utah.

Liberty Bowl – Cincinnati vs. Vanderbilt
Great to see Vandy get to six wins, but it’s obvious that their six wins came against their six weakest opponents. If Collaros is back for Cincinnati, as it seems he might be, the Bearcats should win this one fairly easily. Might be a little tougher if he’s not back.

Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl – Illinois vs. UCLA
Gag me. Two middle-of-the-pack teams. Two interim coaches. Too painful to watch. Illinois.

Chick-fil-A Bowl – Virginia vs. Auburn
Will either of Auburns coordinators be in the stadium or are they both already off to their new gigs? Even if they’re bodily there, will they be there mentally? Then again, against Virginia, does it matter which Auburn coaches are there?

TicketCity Bowl – Penn State vs. Houston
Penn State’s first bowl game without Paterno on the sidelines since the innovation of the forward pass. Houston’s consolation game after being exposed in the C-USA championship game. If Southern Miss can slow down Keenum, just imagine what Penn State will do to him.

Outback Bowl – Michigan State vs. Georgia
Michigan State definitely has something to play for after last year’s bowl humiliation. And this year’s Georgia squad isn’t nearly as good as last year’s Alabama. But Georgia sure seems to have gotten better every week. No reason to expect them to regress at this point.

Capital One Bowl – Nebraska vs. South Carolina
I’ve not follow Nebraska that closely, but it sure seems like they have underachieved this year. South Carolina hasn’t been great, all things considered, but they should be good enough.

Gator Bowl – Ohio State vs. Florida
Urban sprawl. Is it the winner or the loser of this game that gets to play Utah? In any event, I think Florida has gotten worse every year. Add to that the offensive mastermind’s departure and I have very little confidence in their ability to beat a mediocre OSU team. One thing is certain: however it goes, it won’t be as exciting as the 2007 game.

Rose Bowl – Oregon vs. Wisconsin
Old-fashioned hammer-you-with-the-running-game verses new-fangled spread option. As much as I’d like to go with the old-school approach, I’m not sure Wisconsin can slow Oregon down enough to keep up.

Fiesta Bowl – Stanford vs. Oklahoma State
With no disrespect meant to Luck, the last time the Cardinal faced a team anything like this, Oregon pounded them. Again, I’m not sure that Stanford has the firepower to keep up in a shootout—and Harbaugh isn’t there anymore to work his coaching magic. I like Oklahoma State, seeking to prove they belonged in the bigger game, in this one.

Sugar Bowl – Virginia Tech vs. Michigan
Virginia Tech’s inclusion in this game is offensive, especially to Kansas State and Boise State. For that matter, it’s offensive to Clemson, who hammered them twice and has a lower-ranked opponent in their bowl game. The only just thing is for Michigan to win.

Orange Bowl – Clemson vs. West Virginia
About the only thing that could have salvaged a Big East BCS win is to draw Clemson, who has a tendency to sleepwalk through three quarters and then try to come from behind. But West Virginia hasn’t exactly been consistent either, especially early in games. If WVU doesn’t jump out to a huge lead, then Clemson will run away with this one.

Cotton Bowl – Kansas State vs. Arkansas
Bill Snyder may well be the most underrated coach in the history of college football. What he has done at KSU—twice now—is absolutely amazing. And don’t let the fact that Arkansas will hammer them detract from that reality.

Compass Bowl – Pittsburgh vs. SMU
For as great of a coach as Snyder is, Graham is a complete slime-ball. Pitt is probably better off without him.

GoDaddy.com Bowl – Northern Illinois vs. Arkansas State
Danica Patrick is... wait… nevermind… that’s not relevant. Time to play the Interim Coach Loses card: Northern Illinois.

BCS National Championship Game – LSU vs. Alabama
Here’s the toughie. What did the first game prove: well, LSU won at Alabama, which suggests that they’re the better team. On the other hand, Alabama would have won the game if their kicker had just made a couple of relatively easy kicks. Then again, how much more in the groove is Jefferson now than he was back at that first game? Then there are the coaches, brilliant-if-evil Saban and insane-but-successful Miles. Yeah. I have no idea who to pick. LSU.