This is the official contest thread for college bowl games to be played from Dec. 20-January 8. Good luck.

Coast is this for our records in your contest or the thread for the bowl pick'em I created on CBS?

Ohio State -7.5
The Buckeyes will win by at least two TD's. Florida's offense will not be able to score much on OSU. If OSU can roll up 42 on Michigan, they can do it on Florida as well.

LSU -8.5
The Irish have shown that they can beat up on bad teams, but can't compete with the big boys. Their two losses came against teams with much more team speed. LSU fits this category and will roll as long as Jamarcus Russell doesn't fumble the game away, like he did against Florida.

_________________
Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

<º)))><

Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

No pick yet but a funny stat I heard today: No 2 teams are 17-2 vs. No 1 teams against the number.

Our board contest, Ryan. The bowl games run over a three week period, so easier to put them all here in one thread rather than on a weekly one...some guys might want to make their picks now on January games before the lines move.

The next dumb question from me. Will you update the bowls in your weekly review or will you just wait until after the 17th week of the NFL season?

I'll update every week Ryan...so everybody knows where everybody stands.

Finally Bowl Season

Northern Illinois +11.5 vs TCU- Tcu was supposed to be in a BCS bowl at the beginning of the seaon, but didn't and I see Garret Wolfe running wild over the Horned Frogs.

TCU -12 against NIU

This is not a good NIU team and the MAC was not a good conference this year. They have disappointed this year and never really matched up to any good competition. The wild card is Garrett Wolfe. Of course TCU is a top defense against the run. TCU is a highly experienced bowl team with an ambitious coach. I expect them to absolutely pound the Huskies tonight. This one will not be close and I would put it as a great play.

BYU -3 against Oregon

For some reason my post on this was deleted. It was on the board a day before kickoff.

Rice -4 against Troy

I used to love taking North Texas in the New Orleans Bowl in early December. The Bowl is no longer this first of the season and North Texas is no longer the perennial league champion. Instead we have a Troy team who, even in their greatest season, could not beat NIU. Rice is a program on the rebound. They have superior talent on both sides of the ball but especially at WR.

South Florida -4.5 against East Carolina

I am frightening myself in taking so many favorites in the early bowl season. These games are usually built on the public playing a lesser but better known team. Like North Texas, I used to love taking the East Carolina's, the Marshall's and the Southern Miss's in bowl games. However, once their conference crapped out, these teams seemed to have lost momentum. I look at South Florida as a program on the rise. The troubles with the other big programs in Florida will only give them more strenght in the future. I like USF big in this one.

New Mexico -3.5 against San Jose State

Sorry Coast. I like teams that can run the ball and have experience in bowl games. New Mexico gives me both here against a SJSU team that is thoroughly unfamiliar with playing in these games.
Tulsa +1 against Utah

Finally, a dog I like. At 1 point, that is not saying much. I have been a big fan of Tulsa over the past couple of years. They have done nice things in a suprisingly tough conference. Utah, on the other hand, is a team that kind of crapped out toward the end.

Hawaii -7 against Arizona State

How do you not like the Warriors on the island on christmas eve. ASU is the classic underachieving team. They have far more talent than their record would indicate. However, year after year they seem to lose against teams of equal or greater skill. They are a bottom feeder in a bad conference. I think Oregon gave you a little taste of what we will see from the PAC 10 this holiday season. Hawaii on the other hand, only seems to play poorly against superior defenses. ASU is not a superior D. Enjoy this game as you get to see the country's most efficient passer light up the Christmas sky.

Middle Tennessee State +8.5 against Central Michigan

I won't BS you, I know nothing about this game. However, I want to make a prediction on every bowl game and I generally like dogs early.

Florida State +3.5 against UCLA
UNDER 39.5

I know UCLA beat USC. I also know that USC was an overrated team with a weak defense. FSU has been solid on D this year and you can solve a lot of offensive woes in 30 plus days. Both Vegas and I see this one as being low scoring (39.5) which plays into FSU hands. I won't say I love the Seminoles but I do like them a lot tonight.

Oklahoma State -2 against Alabama

A lame duck coach and a disinterested team sets up for an early blowout. OSU may have let up some points this year, but Bama is not the team to take advantage. Like FSU last night, I would be all over this one tonight boys.

Rutgers -7.5 against Kansas State
UNDER 44.5

I have been all over Rutgers from week one this year. They play great D and can run the ball against the best in the country. I think they will grind out another victory in a magical season.

Texas A and M +4 against Cal
UNDER 52.5

TAM really impressed me at the tail end of the season. They have a big, bruising running game and a good D. A game in San Diego is basically a home game for Cal. However, I think TAM will travel well to negate the advantage. Cal has a talented offensive team that petered out towards the end of the season. They are also good on D which makes me think the UNDER is the play for this game. Still, I like TAM and the momentum.

Kentucky +10 against Clemson

Let me start off by saying a big FUCK YOU to Cal for running it in with under a minute to go and a 17 point lead to blow the under. Kentucky has been an unheralded team this year. They have a nice offense in a conference packed with good D. Clemson was the tallest midget in the ACC. Overrated.

Missouri +3.5 against Oregon State

People seem to be pounding the Beavers (joke intended). The OSU love was exacerbated by word that Missouri came down with a serious flu. I have been a Missouri man all year. They are a resilient team that gets it done on the ground. Cal was impressive last night but I think this will be a very poor year for PAC 10 teams.

South Carolina -5.5 against Houston

I love good coaches in bowl games and Steve Spurrier is a good coach. Houston has an offensive game that can keep up with SC but I think Spurrier pulls this one out.

Maryland +1 against Purdue
OVER 53.5

This started off with Purdue as a dog. The line has moved and I cannot figure out why. Purdue built its record beating the bottom of the big 10. Maryland on the other hand, came on very strong at the end. This game features two great offenisve minds in Freidgen and Tiller. I think the OVER is the play here.

Texas Tech -7 against Minnesota

Minnesota sucks. They belong nowhere near a bowl. Texas Tech is going to pound them. I would take this one hard.

BC -7 against Navy

This is really a great matchup for BC. To say Navy is a running team is an understatement...and BC has a great run D. BC will have had time to practice for the wishbone so it will be no suprise. I see BC winning this one easily.

Texas -9 against Iowa

Iowa has been a suprisingly weak team this year. Even when Tate is going well his emotions tend to get him in trouble. That will be a problem against a good Texas D.

Virginia Tech -2.5 against Georgia

I love, love, love this game. It might be the play of the bowl season. Georgia is an incredibly weak offense going up against a spectacluar Hokie D. The thugs from Blacksburg always seem to get into trouble between their last game and bowl game...and then come out firing . Did I mention I love VT?

Nevada +3.5 against Miami

I have a feeling the U is going to think they are too good for this game. They will find that Nevada will be able to move the ball well versus their pourous D.

TCU -12

NIU is a one dimensional team, and TCU should be able to contain Garrett Wolfe as defenses have figured him out over his last few games. TCU is 8-2 ATS as a favorite. TCU has the 4th best rushing D, and 9th best rushing offense and an efficient QB who is 17-2 as a starter.

_________________
Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

<º)))><

Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

Poinsettia Bowl

NIU vs. TCU -12 1/2
Horny Frogs run D shuts down G. Wolfe.
NIU 10 TCU 24

Las Vegas Bowl

BYU -3 vs. Oregon
The refs won't jam the Cougars, 'cause Jesus was kickin' it in Utah for a bit.
BYU 24 Oregon 20

New Orleans Bowl

Troy vs. Rice -4 1/2
Todd Graham will coach 'em up and deny the upset from Troy.
Troy 14 Rice 21

_________________
CSFMB: Home of the small minded

Taking the chalk is not something I normally do in the early bowls, but just gotta do it with these two...

TCU -12 vs. Northern
May I echo the Good Dolphin's take on this game. This is not the same NIU team of Michael Turner. Heck it's not even the same team as last year's. Horvath has not had significant success against quality defenses and TCU is arguably the best D NIU has seen all year (considering how Iowa's D melted down). TCU gears up to stop Wolfe and all should be well. NIU's defense on the other hand has been shredded by some good running games. And TCU is the best rushing attack NIU has seen. Sorry Husky fans. This one likely isn't close.

Las Vegas Bowl, Thursday
BYU -3 vs. Oregon
The Crowton Bowl, matching the team Gary Crowton was fired from versus the team for which he is now offensive coordinator. BYU has been impressive all year and no reason to think they won't be again versus a Ducks team that was shredded by the quality passing attacks it faced. BYU also significantly improved its D this year, allowing just 15 ppg. What Mendenhall has done in cleaning up Crowton's mess at BYU has been pretty impressive. BYU likely knows the Ducks offense very well and what plays they run from different formations.....BYU was running most of that junk when Crowton was there.

Over 46.5 NIU/TCU

TCU should be able to move the ball on NIU and NIU with Wolfe should get into the 20's. TCU 31-21

BYU -3
Oregon finished in 6th place in the mediocre Pac-10. If not for a gift from the refs against Oklahoma, this is a .500 team. BYU on the other hand has been great all year. They know Oregon's offense and have a far superior defense.

_________________
Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

<º)))><

Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

Nebraska-Auburn OVER 45-1/2
Cal-Texas A&M OVER 52
I see value in both of these numbers. Except for Nebraska, the offenses of these teams are better than the defenses. Math play mostly, but the fundamentals of the offenses and weaknesses of the defenses make the matchups worthy of the play also.

Oklahoma -7 vs. Boise
This will probably be my largest bet of the bowl season. I will be surprised if this stays at 7 to kickoff. Whenever Boise has played a top tier team in recent years they've been waxed. Why will it be any different this year when this Boise team doesn't have the backs, running game or defense of previous Boise teams. OU has Adrian Petersen back and I expect him to have a huge day. The OU defense can be suffocating and the significant size advantage in the lines for OU is a huge edge. Does anybody really think that with a month to prepare Bob Stoops is going to lose to freaking Potato U.? Does anybody think it's going to be close? I don't.

Too bad the board was down, because I was on under last night.

_________________
Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

<º)))><

Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

I saw this number and had to start my picks:

Iowa vs Texas -8.5:
Sure this is the first time Drew Tate has been healthy all year but I have no idea why people are jumping on this team. They've beaten one winning team all year and the speed of Texas on the carpet in the dome will prove to be a menace for the plodding defense.

Virginia Tech -2.5 vs Georgia:

Va Tech is rolling right now having won 6 in row and covering in 5 of them. Georgia is 2-6-1 against the spread in their last 9 games.

UCLA -4.5 vs. FSU- Florida St. is a awful football team that does not deserve to be in a bow game and UCLA has mommentum after kocking off USC

Rutgers -7 vs. Kansas St.- Rutgers was one of the best teams in the Big East while Kansas St. is mediocre football team. Rutgers has the final goal to win a bowl game this year.

BC -6 vs. Navy- Again BC got shafted in their bowl game by the ACC they were probably the second best team in the ACC but choked in two games and they don't lose bowl games and Navy is a bad team. BC should roll these guys.

BC vs. Navy over 47- BC's offense should put up big numbers against Navy but the BC defense will give up points to the strong Navy ground attack.

Auburn -1.5 vs. Nebraska- Auburn has been tested this whole year and is a strong team against a mediocre Nebraska squad.

Arkansas -1.5 vs. Wisconsin- Darren McFadden should run all over Wisconsin. Wisconsin has over achieved all season and it should catch up to them and Arkansas should beat them by at least at TD.

Michigan +1 vs. USC- USC did not look that impressive in their last two games while Michigan would have beaten OSU if it was at Ann Arbor.

LSU -9 vs. Notre Dame- Notre Dame has gotten smoked by every good team they played all season and this should be no different. LSU will dominate this game by at least 14 points.

_________________
"Do work, son" -Big Black

Maryland +1
Anytime I can get points with the better defensive team, I am taking it. Purdue is a joke. 5-3 in the Big 10, without playing UM & OSU. They have struggled mightily against good defensive squads.

Oklahoma -7
Like Coast, this will be a big play for me. If not for a screw job from the refs against Oregon, they might be in the BCS Championship game. Boise is used to beating cupcakes, this is another story. I like Stoops with 6 weeks to prepare for an opponent.

_________________
Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

<º)))><

Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

Pizza Website Bowl

East Carolina vs. South Florida -4 1/2
The Bulls have "Florida Speed" at every position and should wear leather 'cause they gonna dominate.
EC 13 S. Florida 28

1st Annual New Mexico Bowl (there's a NEW Mexico?)

San Jose State + 3 1/2 vs. (oddly enough)New Mexico
SJS "D" looks to beat down Lobos for first bowl win since 1990.
SJ State 24 New Mexico 17

Armed Forces Bowl

Utah -1 vs. Tulsa
Utes late season surge lets badly named Tulsa receive some seasons beatings.
Utah 20 Tulsa 9

Hawaii Bowl

Arizona St. +7 vs. Hawaii
Expect 1000 yards offense in this game. Colt Cabana can't put away the Sun Devils.
AZ St. 49 Hawaii 55

Motor City Bowl

Middle Tenn. St. vs. C. Michigan -9 1/2
The Cinderella Blue Meanies will get rolled up by the Chippeweas.
Middle Tenn. St. 6 C. Michigan 40

Emerald Bowl

Florida St. vs. UCLA -4 1/2
Bruins will feed off of the USC upset by thumping the no-show Felon-oles.
Free Shoes U 10 UCLA 34

_________________
CSFMB: Home of the small minded

Rice -4.5
Troy will not have an answer for the spread offense. Clement has been cleared to play for the Owls who are a superior team from a superior conference.

_________________
Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

<º)))><

Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

Rice -5 over Troy

Rice doesnt get to a bowl often so they should be up for this one. I also think they are the better team. Their main QB has been injured but the backup is decent. Only thing that sort of scares me is that Rice was only a fav once this year and they lost that one by 14 to Tulane.

Looks like I couldn't have been more wrong.

_________________
Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

<º)))><

Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

East Carolina +4.5 vs South Florida- I don't know much about these teams, but I seen them play once, SOuth FLorida got drilled by Cincinnati and East Carolina beat N.C. State.

Saturday Bowl Games

New Mexico-San Jose State UNDER 48-1/2
The only times these teams went over these numbers is when they played powerful offenses or really lousy defenses. This is the best SJS defense since...well certainly in the last 30 years since I've been following them. NM is a lousy running team (just 3.3 ypc) but their defense is decent against the run. SJS is very balanced run and pass, but likely will have trouble running against the Lobos. Looks like a game of field positiion to me.


Waiting for Utah to come down a little more to play the Utes.

greek 11:15

Under 43.5 EC/SFLA

Last 5 games played by SFLA stayed under the above # and 4 of the last 5 EC played also stayed under the above #. I have been wrong in the first 3 bowls so if you want to make money on this one go with the over.

the greek 1158

SJ/NM under 48. the best D in conference, balanced O, Ill take the under here



SJ State +3 Ill take the dog due to their balanced offense and good pass defense in a wide open conference. First dog of the bowl season I like


Utah -1.5 I like Utah to take care of Tulsa here. I think Tulsa to be overrated at this price. Tulsa has a good pass d (152 ypg given up avg). Ratliff to Castel to get you some kwan. Utah can stuff the box and its run D can stop Tennial (utah D allowed 54 rush yards on 24 attempts v. BYU in last, Utah Run D avgs giving up a scant 35 ypg. Ill take dem Utes

Utah -1-1/2 vs. Tulsa
Seems like every time I watch Tulsa, they are making stupid mistakes. Utes pretty solid on both sides and Tulsa's defense has given up some big yardage to CUSA teams not in Utes' class.

Arizona State +7 @ Hawaii
Going into the teeth of the high-flying Rainbows at home, but ASU actually has a pretty decent pass rush and secondary. Hawaii has dominated inferior defenses, but has not dominated against BCS conference teams with comparable or better talent on defense.

greek 3:10

San Jose St +3 over New Mexico

NM the slight fav due to the game being in NM. I think SJST is the better team and win SU.

Over 48.5 Utah/Tulsa

Total points in 4 of the last 5 games Utah played in this year 65, 68, 57 and 64 while 2 of the last 3 Tulsa games had 79 and 58. Gotta think pts should be plenty here