Bowl Week Selections

I had so much fun picking the biggest games every weekend of the college football season that I couldn't resist taking a run at the 5,311 bowl games. With 5,311 bowl games I had to break the bowl season into 2 parts, so starting with the most wonderful time of the year "Bowl Week" (12/27 to 12/31) here are my picks, as always against the spread.



(12/27) Advocare V100 Independence Bowl: Air Force (-3.5) vs. GTech



It is never a good sign when you have to Google the first bowl game, "Advocare is a premier health and wellness company offering more than 70 exclusive nutritional and skincare products and a business opportunity that empowers." The Advocare 100 is a multi-vitamin and the company's slogan is "We Build Champions" so it only makes sense that the two teams in this game have a combined 10 losses. What is the quickest way to get out of Shreveport in December? Get two options teams that won't stop the clock and we can get this game over in less time than it takes to watch "The International". I am a sucker for points and a hook, so I will take Tech and even if they don't end their 5 game bowl losing streak I still might be OK.



(12/28) Champs Sports Bowl: WVU (-3.5) vs. NC State



Champs Sports offers "fan's gear" and some of the biggest selection of Nike and Jordan apparel. Maybe Bulls GM Gar Forman can buy some Jordan gear at Champs and then Jordan will trade him Stephen Jackson for nothing, like when Jordan gave away Tyson Chandler and Ray Felton. So WVU hires Bill Stewart's replacement and then lets Stewart coach another year while his replacement is on staff, Stewart must have really wanted to go to Orlando for this bowl game. The WVU situation has about as much chance of working as Jordan does winning NBA exec of the year. I'll take Russell Wilson and the points.



Insight Bowl: Missouri (-1) vs. Iowa



After reading Insight's website I still don't know what they do, but they sure use a lot of buzz words like "strategic, long range planning, and effective deployment". Maybe they could have strategized a better way to get these two border-states to meet other than deploying both teams 500 miles to the Southwest. Iowa has underperformed all year beginning with an awful loss on the road to Arizona and I don't think the return trip to the desert against a better team in Missouri will make this trip any more successful.



(12/29) The Millitary Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman: Maryland (-7) vs. East Carolina



Too bad this Washington DC bowl game couldn't get a service academy, like I don't know, how about Air Force? Especially since Northrop Grumman manufactures fighter jets. ECU gave up 76 points to Navy, so I can't take them in the "Millitary" bowl, so I will take the school that is trying to fire their coach even if he won't go. In Maryland's defense isn't Mike Leach always the answer when you want stability and sanity, like Hedo, JRich and Agent Zero being the answer for a struggling NBA team or Cameron Diaz as the answer to a leading lady role.



Texas Bowl: Baylor (-2) vs. Illinois



I wonder where this game is being played? How disappointed were these bowl executives that Texas couldn't beat Texas A&M or Baylor to become bowl eligible, that would be like going to see the Clark's with your buddy Clark. I have to go with Baylor, not only due to the home state advantage, but I never miss a chance to bet against Zook.



Valero Alamo Bowl: Oklahoma State (-6) vs. Arizona



I can't say that I have ever stopped at a Valero station to get gas, but I am going to make a point to stop the next chance I get since not only do they sponsor a bowl game, but a PGA tour event as well. I know it must be quality company since Adam Scott won the golf tourney, since he only wins quality events like Jude Law only making quality movies, and they got both Mike Stoops and Mike Gundy's teams for this game. I will go with Gundy to screw up his team less in this game and get the win and with that Stoops gets the chance to make his own Coors Light commercial, which was only a matter of time anyway.



(12/30) Bell Helicopters Armed Forces Bowl: SMU (-7.5) vs. Army



Like Northrop Grumman, Bell Helicopters is a defense company, do these companies really need to sponsor bowl games to get their names out? Is anyone watching this Thursday afternoon game going to say "That is it, my next helicopter is going to be a Bell"? This game is in Dallas and as I learned from the "30 for 30" Pony Excess so is SMU, so I am going with SMU in Dallas laying the points. By the way, "30 for 30" was the best thing on TV this year after "The Gulag" bringing back CT and T-shirt time on "Jersey Shore".



New Era Pinstripe Bowl: Kansas State vs. Syracuse (PK)



I have to admit I loved the ND/Army game at Yankee stadium and the NW/Ill game at Wrigley, even if the offense could only go one way at Wrigley. I am all for bowl games at these venues every year, and Cuse gets a big advatange playing in their home state. They could turn this venue into a huge edge like their hoop team does at MSG, if only they didn't play football in the worst mid major conference north of the Sun Belt. KSU will win because they can run and they will run at will like every team does to the Yankee's and catcher Jorge Posada in this same venue.



Franklin American Mortgage, Music City Bowl: UNC (-2) vs. Tennessee



A local Nashville Mortgage company took over sponsorship of this game and when I was entering the company into Google, a complaints page was the first result that came up. This is fitting since UNC coach Butch Davis has a website devoted to his firing. Even money on what lasts longer, Davis as UNC coach or Franklin American staying solvent. I will take the SEC team playing in their home state with the points.



Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl: Nebraska (-13.5) vs. Washington



Nothing like a rematch of an early season blowout when Nebraska beat UW by 35 in Husky stadium, this is punishment for Washington, like being forced to repeat an online class. A rematch is a perfect example of the over expansion of bowl games and this line is half of what it should be.



(12/31) Meineke Car Care Bowl: Clemson (-4.5) vs. South Florida



The first in a run of car related bowl games features two teams that have to head north for this showdown, we will have officially jumped the shark when the Artic Bowl is founded next year and pits Houston vs. Arizona State. Meineke is one of our favorites thanks to a friend of illbefrank and there are worse places to be on New Year's Eve than Charlotte, especially if you take Clemson and their stout defense laying the points against a Big East squad.



Hyundai Sun Bowl: Miami (-3) vs. Notre Dame



Hyundai's guarantee is 10 years, coaching gigs at these two schools are about 1/10th of that time as the Brian Kelly tenure is one year in and the Al Golden era is kicking off. I think both coaches are good fits, but I think ND is a little farther along and Brian Kelly has made this game important to his players. I like ND and the points in El Paso, where I once spent a week one night.

NAPA AutoCare Liberty Bowl: Georgia (-6.5) vs. Central Florida

Did you know NAPA has mechanical, collision, and truck service centers? They also have a wild slide show on the website, which along with the "Your NAPA" sections is supposed to distract you into thinking that they are not a chain who will rip you off. This is like saying this game features a real SEC team, it gets your attention until you realize it is Georgia. UCF plays good defense and I like them outright as does every UG fan who thinks a loss to a George O'Leary team will finally get Mark Richt fired.

Chick-Fil-A Bowl: South Carolina (-3) vs. Florida State

One of my favorites and I just don't mean the sponsor, but that does help. I bet the players really load up on nugget trays and sandwiches in the days leading up to this game. Atlanta is a great city and the Georgia Dome on New Year's Eve night is a great venue for this SEC/ACC matchup. Both teams were embarrassed in their respective conference title games, so both should be ready to play in this one. I was just starting to like Christian Ponder until he came down with a mysterious injury and missed the VTech game, and Marcus Lattimore will make an early case for next year's Heisman as Spurrier takes down an old rival.

Season Record (57-41-1)