FINAL BOWL RECORD: 8-9.  I’m not happy with that record, but I did win my favorite play (Utah).  I also kicked Nick’s ass.  He get to punch him in the stomach.

January 6, 2009 - GMAC Bowl

TROY +3.5 vs. Central Michigan W

Central Michigan has an awesome QB in Dan LeFeavor, but Troy has a good one in Joe Webb as well.  Central Michigan had an easy MAC schedule and even got to play the MAC Champshionship in Detroit.  Traveling to Alabama to play in this one without their head coach should cause some trouble.  Troy makes a short trip and needs a solid win for the Sun Belt and to prove they can hang with the big boys.  They lost big to SEC teams, but we think this matchup is fairly even.  Take the field goal!

January 4, 2009 - Fiesta Bowl

TCU -7 vs. Boise State L

This is a tough call to lay 7 against a Boise State team that thrives in big time games.  HOWEVER, we feel like this years TCU team is the Boise State of yesteryear.  TCU will be pumped to prove to the world just how good they are.  TCU has allowed just 11 ppg on the road, and 12.4 ppg overall.  We’ve seen some teams able to score on Boise State, and nobody can score on TCU.  Plus their QB is a ginger kid.  Don’t f with gingers because they are determined!  Additionally, without star WR Austin Pettis, TCU should have a slightly easier time.  We were surprised this line came out so high, but after more research we see why.

January 2, 2009 - Papa Johns/Liberty

CONNECTICUT +4 vs. South Carolina W

Well we certainly like the dogs this year.  UConn is 9-2 ATS this year, including 4-0 as a dog.  This team is real tough and have a great head coach.  They will be playing again for their fallen teammate and could pull the upset here.  South Carolina thrives as a home underdog, but do not perform well as favorites.  With two solid defenses we anticipate a lower scoring game won by a field goal. 

ARKANSAS -7 vs. East Carolina L

We really like Arkansas because Mallot is a beast.  Arkansas is 6-1 ATS against teams over .500, and East Carolina has sucked when asked to step up in class (losses to West VA, UNC, and VA Tech).  Arkansas defense isn’t spectacular, but they are certainly more athletic and stronger than ECU so we could see a pick 6 or some big sacks.

January 1, 2009 - Outback/Capital One/Sugar

NORTHWESTERN +9 vs. Auburn W

We bet on Northwestern a few times at the end of the year and won’t stop now.  The SEC is a bit overrated this year, and Northwestern has certainly been under the radar.  Northwestern was 5-2 ATS as an underdog and will be thrilled to be playing on New Years.  Woof woof.

LSU +3 vs. Penn State W

A Big 10 school favored by 3 points against a top SEC squad?  Sure, we’ll take the points please.  None of Penn States 10 victories were against ranked teams.  Although LSU hasn’t been spectacular, we will certainly see a size and speed advantage with the Louisiana fed boys.  Penn State sucked it up last year versus USC and we anticipate that again.

CINCINNATI +13 vs. Florida L

Strange game here.  Florida is disappointed to be here, but this is Tim Tebow’s final collegiate game so he will be fired up.  When Tebow is fired up, the Gators are fired up.  Cincy’s head coach Brian Kelly jetted on the team for Notre Dame, and Cincy’s new head coach Butch Jones will be watching the game from a far.  Cincy will be led by their interim head coach Jeff Quinn.  Quinn will have the troops ready for the following reasons:  1. He needs a job next year and what better interview than to get a big win in front of the new head coach. 2. The Bearcat players are PISSED about Brian Kelly and want to prove to the world they got them to 12-0 and not the genius coach.  3.  Again, Quinn needs a job next year so he needs to impress other teams or impress Jones.  This economy sucks and he needs to feed his family!  11 is a tough number to cover so we’ll take the underdog.

December 31, 2009 - Armed Forces/Insight

AIR FORCE +4 vs. Houston W

These two teams split games last year, but Houston won the Bowl Game by 6.  Air Force will be motivated to play in this one, and we have seen Mountain West teams thrive in Bowl games recently.  Houston is unstoppable on offense, but they also couldn’t stop a female football team on defense.  So, again we’ll take the points.  This game is on New Years Eve so we also like the military boys to stay calm and the drunk Texas boys to be thinking about which farm animal they will be banging after the game.

MINNESOTA -2 vs. Iowa State L

We’ll call for another Big 10 win here.  QB Adam Webster should come to play here and have success against the 99th ranked defense in the country.  Minnesota’s offense scares me a tad, but I’m not too impressed with the Big 12 teams.

December 30, 2009 - Holiday Bowl

ARIZONA -1 vs. Nebraska L

Nebraska has the most dominate player in college football in Suh.  However, they have nothing on offense.  Arizona has been very solid since making the QB change, and have a speedy/shifty RB in Grigsby.  We’ll take the playmakers over a Nebraska squad that may be hangin their heads after blowing the Big 12 Championship.

December 29, 2009 - Champs Sports Bowl

WISCONSIN +3.5 vs. Miami W

Both teams have been impressive and much improved from 2008.  Wisconsin will pound the rock with Clay, and Miami will be trying to throw most of the game.  Although we like Jacoby Harris, the Hurricanes will be without their Team MVP, .Jason Fox (left tackle).  Wisconsin has one of the best DE’s in the nation (Schofield) who could have a field day at Jacoby’s blind side.  We’ll take a shot here with the dog as the Big 10 needs some bowl wins.

December 28, 2009 - Independence Bowl

TEXAS A&M +7 vs. Georgia L

We like taking 6 win teams in Bowl Games because they are excited they got in.  We also love getting 7 points with a team that can score going up against a bad defense.  Both defenses suck here so we should see score after score....SO, why not grab a TD?  Sounds good to me!

December 26, 2009 - Little Caesars Pizza/Emerald/

MARSHALL +3 vs. Ohio W

The 9-4 Ohio Bobcats certainly look better on paper than 6-6 Marshall with an interim head coach.  From what we’ve been seeing, the Marshall players really like their interim head coach and should be extremely happy to be in a bowl game.  We expect a motivated contest from them, and that is the key in these bowl games.  We’ve learned this from the first couple bowl games.  Ohio may be bummed about playing a 6-6 team after losing in the MAC Championship.  With Marshall getting their leading rusher back for the game we’ll grab the key number 3.

BOSTON COLLEGE +8 vs. USC L

Again we’ll go with the motivation factor.  USC is probably embarassed to be in this game, and BC will be looking to beat the mighty Trojans.  USC is led by a freshman QB that struggled at the end of the year.  McKnight might be suspended, and 3 Trojans were just announced ineligible due to being dumb.  While I don’t trust the BC QB (he really sucks), I do like their defense and 8 points =)

December 23, 2009 - Poinsettia Bowl

UTAH +3 vs. California W

Utah upset Alabama in the Sugar Bowl last year, so why can’t they “upset” the big bad Pac-10 Golden Bears?  The Utes have won their last 8 bowl games....why are they dogs now?  Utah is not the team they were last year but you know damn well what you are going to get from these kids.  They will play their tails off and the coach will have a good game plan.  Cal has not impressed us, particularly late in their season.  Once Jahvid Best got knocked the f*** out they lost their identity.  We think this game will mean more to the Utes, and athletically the Utes aren’t that far behind the Bears.  The Utes ended their regular season by losing to bitter rival BYU in the Holy War.  That certainly left an ugly taste in their mouths.  Cal is just the antiseptic they need.  We love this pick.

December 20, 2009 - New Orleans Bowl

SOUTHERN MISS -3.5 vs. Middle Tennessee State L

We are not completely sold on this one.  We’ve sided with MTSU a couple times this season and really wanted to side with ‘em again.  However, we are going to side with Southern Miss.  Dwight Dasher is fun to watch but I’m not sold on his throwing ability.  He is short so he has trouble seeing over the line and has a propensity to force throws to his big wideouts.  MTSU has the better defense on paper, but they had a really easy Sun Belt schedule.  When they played the class of the Sun Belt (Troy), they got beat up.  When MTSU played Miss State, they could not stop the power run, so Damion Fletcher could have a field day.  MTSU will be jacked to be in a bowl game and it wouldn’t surprise me to see an upset.  We’ll take the tough 3.5 number as we think WR Deandre Brown will have a field day in his first bowl game since his nasty leg break.

December 19, 2009 - New Mexico Bowl

FRESNO STATE -10.5 vs. Wyoming L

This is Fresno States 2nd straight year at the New Mexico Bowl.  Last year they lost to another Mountain West squad, Colorado State.  Fresno State loves to play big name schools, and Pat Hill ALWAYS has them jacked up for it.  However, they tend to play down to their opponent, and that worries us here with Wyoming.  Wyoming is in a bowl game for the first time since 2004 so they will definitely be excited to be playing.  Although we’re worried about Fresno not taking Wyoming as seriously as they should, we think Pat Hill will remind them of last years loss and keep them focused.  This team needs to dominate and make a statement after last years Bowl loss.  Both these teams defenses blow, but lucky for Fresno Wyoming cannot score.  Wyoming will be led by a true Freshman, and Fresno will be led by Ryan Matthews who is the nations leading rusher over the last 10 games.  This guy is a beast.  Feed him the rock and force Wyoming to throw on Fresno.  We’ll start the Bowl season laying the big chalk.

We will be picking every Bowl game....keep checking.