2005-2006 Bowl Season Predictions

Below are my predictions for all 200 bowl games. Keep in mind I am not the greatest on score predictions. I know my football, but as far as picking the score and who'll win...that's not a skill of mine. None the less, enjoy my predictions and happy holidays.


New Orleans Bowl Southern Miss (6-5) vs. Arkansas State (6-5)

It truthfully is remarkable that the Southern Mississippi ball club is even in a bowl this year. After all, the campus was hit badly by Hurricane Katrina. As far as Arkansas State goes, I don't know much about them. I know there preseason rank is the worst of any team participating in the bowl season. Southern Miss. has played tougher opponents and is just physically stronger than the Sun Belt Champs. This game should be an easy win.

38 Southern Mississippi 15 Arkansas State


GMAC UTEP (8-3) vs. Toledo (8-3)

Once again the GMAC Bowl will be a shootout. NFL Scouts will be there to watch Toledo's Bruce Gradowski and UTEP's Jordan Palmer. (Older brother is Cincinnati Bengals' quarterback Carson Palmer.) Mike Price's team will be victorious in this one because in my opinion I feel the Rockets are too inconsistent of a team. The Miners have at least been in the Top 25 this year.

40 UTEP 25 Toledo


Las Vegas BYU (6-5) vs. California (7-4)

This is most likely going to be that game where everyone thinks California will win. I for one think Tedford's team will be victorious, but I for some odd reason I am seeing that BYU upset happening. Call me crazy...

34 BYU 28 California


Poinsettia Colorado State (6-5) vs. Navy (7-4)

Here is another intriguing matchup where I only know information about one team. Navy uses that old option offense that was so common in the 1950s. Colorado State is back at a bowl after missing out last year with an awful record. The deciding factor is the Rams' 104th best rushing defense. Ouch!

41 Navy 33 Colorado State


Fort Worth Kansas (6-5) vs. Houston (6-5)

An evenly matched game when the Cougars' offense goes against the Jayhawks' D. Defense wins games so I will take the Jayhawks who've suprised their share of teams.

35 Kansas 23 Houston


Sheraton Hawaii Nevada (8-3) vs. UCF (8-4)

Nevada was a fun team to watch when they beat the Bulldogs of Fresno. UCF was 0-11 last year and now sit at an impressive 8-4. I like the turnaround story in Florida so I'm taking a rejuvenated UCF team.

42 UCF 30 Nevada


Motor City Memphis (6-5) vs. Akron (7-5)

Congraulations to the Zips for winning their first MAC Championship. Sorry, it will end there. Memphis has the best running back you've never heard of...DeAngelo Williams. He's definitely one of the Top 5 best running backs in the nation. This guy is going to be an NFL back who will be successful.

30 Memphis 17 Akron


Champs Sports Clemson (7-4) vs. Colorado (7-5)

Clemson could very well be in a January bowl had they not lost so many close games. The Tigers are 1-2 in overtime games this year. As for the Buffaloes they were just humilated on national television during the Big 12 Championship. 70-3. Wow. To add more salt to the wound Coach Gary Barnett was fired. Colorado is in such disarray.

38 Clemson 20 Colorado


Insight Arizona State (6-5) vs. Rutgers (7-4)

This will be one game I want to be watching just because the Scarlet Knights are actually in a bowl game. Last time this New Jersey school was participating in the bowl season the year was 1978. I would give Rutgers the victory if the game wasn't being played in Arizona. So much for a 'neutral' site.

36 Arizona State 24 Rutgers


MPC Computers Boise State (9-3) vs. Boston College (8-3)

The Broncos will be playing their last game for Coach Dan Hawkins. This impressive, young coach will be going to Boulder, Colorado to take over a struggling Buffalo team. BC was expected to have a better record this year, but the team fell apart too many times against tougher opponents. Boise wins this battle merely because the Broncos have a more powerful offense than the Eagles.

48 Boise State 28 Boston College


MasterCard Alamo Michigan (7-4) vs. Nebraska (7-4)

This will be the first time in 10 years the Wolverines won't be playing in January. Lloyd Carr's job is very much on the line. A poor performance by his squad, and a firing is even more likely. The Huskers lost some close ones this year, but still have a solid 7-4 record. A win here and Nebraska would go into next season with lots of convidence. The fact remains, Michigan has more talent, better players, and a better coach. Huskers will get beat both physically and mentally.

31 Michigan 14 Nebraska


Emerald Bowl Georgia Tech (7-4) vs. Utah (6-5)

Utah is not in a luxurious BCS Bowl like last year. The Utes are going against a roller coaster GTech team. The bad news for Utah is the roller coaster is going up. The Yellow Jackets are looking like the team they should of played like the whole season. Utes are going to get stung bad.

44 Georiga Tech 19 Utah


Pacific Life Holiday Oregon (10-1) vs. Oklahoma (7-4)

This bowl is one of the Top 5 best bowls not in January. It seems a shootout always takes place in the Holiday Bowl. Oregon is mad for being screwed out of a BCS bowl, which they have the right to be. Oklahoma has turned around this season after it started like a nightmare. Sooners should have only 3 losses, but unforunately for them refrees make mistakes. Everyone has that picture in their head of the Ducks getting jumped on by the Sooners. All I can say is I agree.

35 Oklahoma 20 Oregon


Gaylord Hotels Music City Minnesota (7-4) vs. Virginia (6-5)

Minnesota is back at the Music City bowl. I wonder if the Gopher players have the same hotel rooms? Doesn't matter. Mason's club is going against the Cavs of Virginia. Now that's a football team that is inconsistent. Look for this game to be matchup where Virginia is on.

38 Virginia 27 Minnesota


Vitalis Sun Northwestern (7-4) vs. UCLA (9-2)

The Sun Bowl is always a fun game to watch. Last year the Arizona State/Purdue game was right down to the wire. Northwestern has been up and down all season. What team will show up? I don't know. UCLA is a good football team, besides the two off days they had against Arizona and USC.

45 UCLA 36 Northwestern


Independence South Carolina (7-4) vs. Missouri (6-5)

Spurrier had his football team finish up the regular season pretty solid. South Carolina will be dangerous next year. Missouri may fire Coach Gary Pinkel after this season. Expectations haven't been reached. Only positive is Mizzou QB Brad Smith. He's amazing, but the Gamecocks know he's only one man.

31 South Carolina 21 Missouri


Chick-fil-A Peach Miami (9-2) vs. LSU (10-2)

LSU would be in the Sugar Bowl had the team not tripped up against the Bulldogs of Athens in the SEC Championship Game. The Hurricanes would also be in a BCS Bowl had GTech not beaten them. Very close matchup. The edge is the fact that LSU's starting QB JaMarcus Russell is banged up. For LSU to put up enough points to win, JaMarcus must be at full strength. He isn't. To make matters worse, Miami has a Top 5 defense.

34 Miami Florida 26 LSU


Meineke Car Care South Florida (6-5) vs. NC State (6-5)

Impressive job by Coach Leavitt on a successful season for the Bulls. Had his team not slipped up the final 2 games, a BCS bowl could be where his team would be going. NC State won a couple late season games to become bowl eligible. This Wolfpack team has been very inconsistent. If Andre Hall (star USF RB) gets lose then Amato's team will be in big trouble.

28 South Florida 17 NC State


AutoZone Liberty Tulsa (8-4) vs. Fresno State (8-4)

Tulsa really came around towards the end of the year. As for Fresno State? This team keeps falling and falling. Ever since the 8 point loss to USC, Pat Hill's team has been looking sloppy and beaten. I can't see a good Fresno State team losing 4 straight games. Pat Hill is too good of a coach for that.

38 Fresno State 21 Tulsa


EV1.net Houston TCU (10-1) vs. Iowa State (7-4)

TCU has had a terrific season. They beat Oklahoma to kick off the year, and dominated their opponents week in and week out. Ironically their only loss came to SMU. For the second straight year, the Cyclones blew their chances of going to the Big 12 Championship. The team is angry and will take it out on the Horned Frogs. Too bad that will not be enough for a ISU win.

42 TCU 26 Iowa State


AT&T Cotton Texas Tech (9-2) vs. Alabama (9-2)

This is the first time in a long time that the Crimson Tide are in a January bowl. The Tide were thinking undefeated season. That was until the Bayou Bengals beat them in Bama. To make matters worse, Bama lost the next week against Auburn. Texas Tech is having their best season under Mike Leach. The D is a lot better meaning the Red Raiders didn't have to win every game this year 60-59. As successful of a season as this year has been, people are still confused on how the heck an awful team like Oklahoma State beat a high-powered offense like Texas Tech's. All in all, Bama has the nation's #1 D, but an ineffective offense. Texas Tech is going to get their points, and obviously the Tide won't be able to keep up.

31 Texas Tech 20 Alabama


Outback Iowa (7-4) vs. Florida (8-3)

Once again the Hawkeyes start playing like a team at the end of the season. Urban Meyer's crew didn't have the first year he hoped for, but none the less the Gators finished the regular season strong. Iowa is a good bowl team and once again the nation will be able to agree with that.

30 Iowa 22 Florida


Toyota Gator Louisville (9-2) vs. Virginia Tech (10-2)

No easier way to say it. VTech screwed up big time when they lost to FSU. That loss cost the school a BCS bowl. As you all know a BCS bowl= millions of dollars. I might give Louisville a chance, but without starting QB Brian Brohm the team's chances of victory are slim to none.

45 Virginia Tech 18 Louisville


Capital One Wisconsin (9-3) vs. Auburn (9-2)

Probably the hardest pick for the bowl season. This is Alvarez's last game as a coach for the Badgers. You don't think the team will be motivated? The way Auburn is playing right now they are the best team in the SEC. Winner of this ball game is the team with the more succesful running back. Wisconsin's Brian Calhoun or Auburn's Kenny Irons?

24 Auburn 14 Wisconsin


Tostitos Fiesta Notre Dame (9-2) vs. Ohio State (9-2)

The Irish will take on the Buckeyes for the first time since 1995. Notre Dame is known more for it's offense, while Ohio State is known more for it's defense. One thing for sure is that if OSU goes up by at least 10 points, than a ND victory is out of the question. AJ Hawk leads a suffocating defense.

27 Ohio State 18 Notre Dame


Nokia Sugar West Virginia (10-1) vs. Georgia (10-2)

Nobody gave Georgia much of a chance of beating LSU. Great call on that one. It's quite evident that Coach Richt's Bulldogs are for real. A West Virginia victory is possible, but is not going to happen because of one thing. Speed. This game is on astro turf. The Mountaineers don't have nearly the speed the Bulldogs have.

41 Georgia 24 West Virginia

FedEx Orange Penn State (10-1) vs. Florida State (8-4)

How FSU got into this game? I don't know. In my opinion Oregon should have gotten this bid instead. FSU has 4 losses and is in a BCS bowl? Not right. None the less, it's a great game to watch because of Joe Pa and Bobby Bowden. These 2 old timers will be duking it out. Unforunately for Seminole fans, the Nittany Lions are truthfully for real. After all, the team was :01 second away from victory against Michigan. Wipe out that last second and you have a undefeated Penn State team. To add on to that, Seminoles are just a very young team. Experience is very valuable during bowl season.

38 Penn State 22 Florida State

Rose Bowl USC (12-0) vs. Texas (12-0)

This game has the same hype as the Oklahoma/USC National Championship. Hopefully the outcome will be closer than a 55-19 route. USC is on a 34 game winning streak. That is unbelievable. Take a second to think about that. 34 straight wins. Wow. To go undefeated for the second straight season, USC has to get through Mack Brown's Texas Longhorns. The Longhorns are lead by junior sensation Vince Young. This QB can throw and run, and best of all he does it while having fun. The deciding factor in this game is experience. USC players have been here before, Texas players have not.

40 USC 32 Texas