Looking over this list of bowls, I can't help but wonder what's happened to college football as I once knew it.
When I was a kid (we're not even talking that long ago, folks), the Independence Bowl was a big-time game. This year, Ohio and Louisiana-Monroe are in it.
That's just an example of some of these silly bowl games. Why is there a Belk Bowl? Do Buffalo Wild Wings AND Beef O'Brady's need bowls of their own?
(Side note: While the media food spread for both of those bowls is probably amazing, nothing will ever top the Outback Bowl spread. Steak and Bloomin' Onions for all. Hard to believe there are any overweight sportswriters in the world.)
What's the deal with BBVA Compass? They don't even make compasses, so what's the point?
Why isn't Navy in the Military Bowl? Why do so many cities have two bowls now?
All questions that will likely remain unanswered. Let's press on then. There are a ton of these bowls so there's no time to waste.
As always, these picks are for entertainment purposes only.
Arizona (minus-9) over Nevada (New Mexico Bowl) - I hate to come out of the gate and lay big points in the first bowl game, but the Wildcats should be way out of Nevada's league this year.
Toledo (plus-10) over Utah State (Famous Idaho Potato Bowl) - I do like the Aggies' team this season, but I am going shootout on this one and taking the points.
San Diego State (plus-3) over Brigham Young (Poinsettia
Bowl) - Note that the Aztecs are playing at home in this game. I liked this better when it was an annual WAC contest. Now I can't keep track of what league any of these teams are in.Ball State (plus-7) over Central Florida (Beef O'Brady's Bowl) - This is a short I-4 trip for UCF, but Ball State came on super strong at the end of the season. I like the Cardinals and their seven points.
La-Lafayette (minus-6) over East Carolina (New Orleans Bowl) - A home-state advantage for the Cajuns plus an opponent that has no business in a bowl equals A TRAP. Paging Admiral Ackbar.
Washington (plus-5) over Boise State (Las Vegas Bowl) - Washington would be really tough if this game was in Seattle, but when in doubt, take the points.
Fresno State (minus-11) over SMU (Hawaii Bowl) - I always take Fresno, which won the unofficial spread-covering national title this season.
Central Michigan (plus-6) over Western Kentucky (Little Caesar's Bowl) - Bobby Petrino isn't walking through that door. Wait, what? He IS walking through the door? Oh. Well not soon enough, and this game is still in Detroit, so I'll take CMU and points.
Bowling Green (plus-7) over San Jose State (Military Bowl) - Here's another one where my gut said to take San Jose, but I talked myself out of it with those precious points.
Duke (plus-7.5) over Cincinnati (Belk Bowl) - Duke is a high-scoring team getting points near its home against an opponent with an interim coach. They are also Duke, but oh well.
UCLA (minus-1) over Baylor (Holiday Bowl) - This one scares me because of how well the Bears played at the end of the season, but UCLA dropped down to a lesser bowl mainly due to two losses to Stanford.
Texas Tech (minus-13) over Minnesota (Meineke Car Care Bowl) - Only because Minny stinks am I laying this many. Also, I will resist the temptation to get up and leave in the middle of this column to take another job.
Virginia Tech (minus-2) over Rutgers (Russell Athletic Bowl) - How pathetic is the Big East when a 6-6 ACC team is favored over your 9-3 co-champ? What's the Big East, you say? Why it used to be an amazing basketball league that was corrupted and turned into the Sun Belt slowly over a 30-year period, thanks for asking.
Ohio (plus-7.5) over Louisiana-Monroe (Independence Bowl) - After I saw this bowl matchup, I threw up. While I was cleaning myself, I remembered that Ohio once was good before tanking late.
Michigan State (plus-3) over TCU (Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl) - Shouldn't this game at least BE in Buffalo? Just saying.
Oregon State (minus-2) over Texas (Alamo Bowl) - Hard to go against Texas at the Alamo, but Oregon State has a better offense than Santa Anna did.
West Virginia (minus-4) over Syracuse (Pinstripe Bowl) - Geno Smith could play left field for Yankees next season if he wanted to.
Arizona State (plus-1) over Navy (Fight Hunger Bowl) - I was not impressed with Navy in Philly. The Middies gave up 370 yards rushing, and now they're stepping up in weight class.
Rice (plus-1) over Air Force (Armed Forces Bowl) - I tried not to go against military academies during the end of the year, and now I've done it twice. But I do support all our troops all over the world in all they do.
LSU (minus-3.5) over Clemson (Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl) - SEC Six are undefeated against the rest of the world. Let the Nine Realms tremble.
Iowa State (plus-1) over Tulsa (Liberty Bowl) - Coin toss. That is all.
USC (minus-10) over Georgia Tech (Sun Bowl) - The Jackets have seven losses. Seven.
Vanderbilt (minus-6) over NC State (Music City Bowl) - Vandy, the new power in the SEC, can handle this at home.
Florida State (minus-12) over Northern Illinois (Orange Bowl) - The Huskies are out to prove this game is not a joke. Remind to me tune in before the second quarter starts.
Wisconsin (plus-6.5) over Stanford (Rose Bowl) - It's time for some Barry Alvarez Magic.
Georgia (minus-10) over Nebraska (Capital One Bowl) - Bulldogs might be the best team in the country, pound-for-pound. Really.
South Carolina (minus-4.5) over Michigan (Outback Bowl) - Steve Spurrier loves bowl season because it's Christmastime and he can still play golf.
Northwestern (plus-2.5) over Mississippi State (Gator Bowl) - Wildcats' coach Pat Fitzgerald said before bowl selection that his team would be a "75-point underdog" to an SEC team in a bowl and that he was fine with that. I don't think he'll need that many.
Purdue (plus-17) over Oklahoma State (Heart of Dallas Bowl) - Now come on, that's not even a real bowl. But even in a fake one, you have to take 17 points.
Florida (minus-13) over Louisville (Sugar Bowl) - Just couldn't bring myself to go against Florida.
Oregon (minus-10) over Kansas State (Fiesta Bowl) - This spread kind of tells you all you need to know about how folks perceive Kansas State. This was supposed to be the title game, but Oregon would win either way.
Texas A&M (minus-4.5) over Oklahoma (Cotton Bowl) - Thou shalt not go against Johnny Football.
Ole Miss (minus-3) over Pittsburgh (BBVA Compass Bowl) - Pitt kept its coach through the bowl game. Congrats.
Kent State (plus-3.5) over Arkansas State (GoDaddy.com Bowl) - This time, Petrino really ISN'T walking through that door.
Alabama (minus-10) over Notre Dame (BCS title) - Never go in against a Sicilian with death on the line, and never give the Tide a second chance.
YTD picks: 90-75-1
Follow Matthew on Twitter @trentonianozzy.
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