Predictions for the New Year's Day Bowls...
Outback Bowl
Tampa, FL
South Carolina vs. Iowa
Normally the Outback Bowl provides a good matchup to start New Year's Day with a bang. But neither of these teams impress me. South Carolina beat #25 Ole Miss on the road, but they also fell to LSU, Vanderbilt, and Clemson. Iowa's claim to fame is that they beat Penn State, but they lost to Illinois the week before that. They didn't have to play Ohio State, and they lost to the other top Big Ten teams. Gotta go with the Cocks.
Capital One Bowl
Orlando, FL
#15 Georgia vs. #18 Michigan State
A pair of 9-3 teams with solid histories. Georgia lost to #4 Alabama, #2 Florida, and #14 Georgia Tech. But the best team they beat was probably South Carolina. MSU lost to #8 Penn State, #10 Ohio State, and Cal. Their best win was over #23 Northwestern. These teams seem made for each other. They can't beat the best, but they take care the rest. I think UGA will be out to prove something after losing to Georgia Tech, and they'll pull away late in this one, 35-21.
Konica Minolta Gator Bowl
Jacksonville, FL
Nebraska vs. Clemson
In some other year, this might seem like a good Orange Bowl matchup. But not this year.
Nebraska's on the way up, Clemson's on its way down. Nebraska's four losses: ACC Champ VA Tech, #21 Missouri, @ #7 Texas Tech (in OT), @ #1 Oklahoma. Sidenote: how big was that OT loss to Tech. If Nebraska wins that game, Texas goes to the Big XII title game, and maybe the national one. Anyway, Clemson beat South Carolina and that's pretty much it. Another 7-5 ACC team with a 4-4 conference record. And unlike the others, they're very much overmatched in this one. Nebraska 31, Clemson 13.
The Rose Bowl Presented by Citi
Pasadena, CA
#8 Penn State vs. #5 USC
A couple of 1 loss teams with legit arguments to be in the title game. Apart from the Championship game, this is the best Bowl of the season. Both teams lost to weak opponents on the road. Both teams otherwise dominated their conferences. I have to go with Penn State in this one because fuck Pete Carroll.
FedEx Orange Bowl
Miami, FL
#12 Cincinnati vs. #19 Virginia Tech
Ugly, ugly, ugly, ugly. What a hideous matchup. Following Penn State/USC with this is like eating fillet mignon then washing it down with Keystone Ice. Virginia Tech wins this tragic game.
Outback Bowl
Tampa, FL
South Carolina vs. Iowa
Normally the Outback Bowl provides a good matchup to start New Year's Day with a bang. But neither of these teams impress me. South Carolina beat #25 Ole Miss on the road, but they also fell to LSU, Vanderbilt, and Clemson. Iowa's claim to fame is that they beat Penn State, but they lost to Illinois the week before that. They didn't have to play Ohio State, and they lost to the other top Big Ten teams. Gotta go with the Cocks.
Capital One Bowl
Orlando, FL
#15 Georgia vs. #18 Michigan State
A pair of 9-3 teams with solid histories. Georgia lost to #4 Alabama, #2 Florida, and #14 Georgia Tech. But the best team they beat was probably South Carolina. MSU lost to #8 Penn State, #10 Ohio State, and Cal. Their best win was over #23 Northwestern. These teams seem made for each other. They can't beat the best, but they take care the rest. I think UGA will be out to prove something after losing to Georgia Tech, and they'll pull away late in this one, 35-21.
Konica Minolta Gator Bowl
Jacksonville, FL
Nebraska vs. Clemson
In some other year, this might seem like a good Orange Bowl matchup. But not this year.
Nebraska's on the way up, Clemson's on its way down. Nebraska's four losses: ACC Champ VA Tech, #21 Missouri, @ #7 Texas Tech (in OT), @ #1 Oklahoma. Sidenote: how big was that OT loss to Tech. If Nebraska wins that game, Texas goes to the Big XII title game, and maybe the national one. Anyway, Clemson beat South Carolina and that's pretty much it. Another 7-5 ACC team with a 4-4 conference record. And unlike the others, they're very much overmatched in this one. Nebraska 31, Clemson 13.
The Rose Bowl Presented by Citi
Pasadena, CA
#8 Penn State vs. #5 USC
A couple of 1 loss teams with legit arguments to be in the title game. Apart from the Championship game, this is the best Bowl of the season. Both teams lost to weak opponents on the road. Both teams otherwise dominated their conferences. I have to go with Penn State in this one because fuck Pete Carroll.
FedEx Orange Bowl
Miami, FL
#12 Cincinnati vs. #19 Virginia Tech
Ugly, ugly, ugly, ugly. What a hideous matchup. Following Penn State/USC with this is like eating fillet mignon then washing it down with Keystone Ice. Virginia Tech wins this tragic game.
