Rose Bowl, Jan. 1st, 4:00 pm CST, Fox
USC vs Michigan
Pete Carroll vs. Lloyd Carr. Henne vs. Booty. Jarrett vs. Manningham. Hart vs. some backs from USC without a lot of name recognition because of USC's receiving corps. A classic Pac-10-Big 10 Rose Bowl matchup. Wowee! Can it get better than this?
I've always felt that the Rose Bowl games were overrated, mostly because they contained a really good team from the Big 10 going to play mostly California teams on their own turf. Hence why any playoff should have home-field advantage. Or maybe it's because I live around Big 10 people and I'm tired of hearing about the Rose Bowl. Since 1970, Michigan has been in the Rose Bowl 15 times. Of those, they've won four. USC has been there 14 times, winning 10. The two have met six times (1970, 1977,1979, 1989, 1990, and 2004) with Michigan winning only once, in 1989.
I'm taking USC in this game because they're closer to home, and while Chad Henne has more experience than Booty, I've never been high on Henne. Life, yes. Miller High Life? Yes. Chad Henne? No.
Maybe it's my age but I can't shake the "Big 10 is slow" stereotype. I realize that Manningham isn't slow, nor is Breaston. But overall, yeah, they're slower than USC. Speed kills, ands USC has plenty. And then there's that whole history thing.
USC 31
Michigan 27
Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, Jan. 1st, 7:00 pm CST, Fox
Boise State vs. Oklahoma
This year, dubbed as the lose-lose bowl because neither team will get any credit for winning this game. If Boise State wins, everyone will say they caught the Big 12 in a down year. If Oklahoma wins, it'll be because they're playing an overrated Boise State team.
Oklahoma's rushing offense got better without Adrian Peterson because everyone decided to be better. Now that he's returning for the bowl game, you think there will be a let up? No way. Oklahoma will pound the ball at Boise State and Peterson will rule the second half in an advertisement of himself to the NFL.
Boise State will be kept in check by Oklahoma's great defense. Too bad for Oklahoma that they 'lost' the game to Oregon early in the season.
Oklahoma 27
Boise State 17
Fedex Orange Bowl, Jan. 2nd, 7:00 pm CST, Fox
Wake Forest vs. Louisville
Oh, the half-time show of the Orange Bowl. I can't remember a single one of them because it was always time to eat something, take a nap, pet the dog, you name it.
Louisville scores a lot. Wake Forest doesn't. Wake Forest has a decent defense, but not that much better than Louisville's. Wake Forest has been a great story this season, and that's nice, but I can't help but think that Louisville is ready to explode.
Louisville 31
Wake Forest 21
AllState Sugar Bowl, Jan. 3rd, 7:00 pm CST, Fox
Notre Dame vs. LSU
At least all the Notre Dame fans out there will have a good time in the Big Easy. I've always liked the Irish, but I'm tired of hearing about Brady Quinn and their defense is lousy. They've lost eight bowl games in a row, and this'll make it ninth. Somehow Charlie Weis will remain dubbed a genius offensive coach, but things won't get any better until someone figures out how to play defense in South Bend.
It's basically a home game for LSU, touting the second ranked defense in the nation. LSU's offense can be sporadic, but if they're on, they'll shred Notre Dame for some heavy points. The Irish can't stop the run, can't stop the pass, can't stop anything. The Sugar Bowl is the worst of the BCS bowl match-ups because people keep allowing Notre Dame to have their way.
LSU 38
Notre Dame 21