New Years Day Bowls

Happy New Year! 2007 is looking like things could be bright. Lets take a looksee at the biggest bowl day of the whole bowl season. Some of the most famous and well known games are being played today.

NCAA College Football


January 1

Outback Bowl
Penn State (9-3) vs. Tennessee (8-4)
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa 11 am (ESPN)
Favorite- Tennessee by 4
Its A Fact-The Vols are back in a bowl after missing last year, the first time since 1987 the Vols missed making a bowl game.
Two of the more storied college football lead the day off. JoePa ain't as washed up as people thought him to be three years ago. They feature the usual litany of power running and rugged defense. The Vols have improved as QB Erik Ainge has done as well. The Vols have a good defense and if they can slow the Nittany Lions running game down they can steal a win.
Pick-Tennessee

AT&T Cotton Bowl
Nebraska (9-4) vs Auburn (10-2)
Cotton Bowl Stadium, Dallas- 11:30am (FOX)
Favorite-Auburn by 1.5
Its A Fact-This is Nebraska first Cotton Bowl game since 1979
Both these teams are no stranger to playing on New Years. Nebraska is still getting used to Bill Callahan's pro set offense and has struggled at times. QB Zac Taylor is a solid if unspectacular leader. On the other hand Auburn has a very inconsistent offense. Their defense is the key if they can keep Husker RB Brandon Jackson under control they can steal a tight low scoring affair.
Pick-Auburn

Toyota Gator Bowl
West Virginia (10-2) vs Georgia Tech(9-4)
Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville-1 (CBS)
Favorite-West Virginia by 10
Its A Fact-The Mountaineers have the #2 rushing game in the country
The Yellow Jackets had a real chance to be a big time BCS player but lost two in a row in bad fashion to Georgia and Wake Forest. They suddenly developed offense problems and not utilizing all world WR Calvin Johnson enough. The Mountineers are solid featuring QB Pat White and RB Steve Slaton. This may be a New Years Yawner.
Pick-West Virginia

Capital One Bowl
Wisconsin (11-1) vs Arkansas(10-3)
Citrus Bowl, Orlando-1 (ABC)
Favorite -Arkansas by 2.5
Its A Fact- The Badgers have only missed making a bowl once in the past 10 years (2001)
Wisconsin is probably the best team that you've never heard of. Had they not fallen to Michigan in Ann Arbor in September, there would have been a very messy situation as the Badgers did not play Ohio State. They face a tough Arkansas team who shook off an opening week rout by USC and reeled off 10 straight wins. Losses to LSU and Florida dimmed their outside BCS chances, but they are a solid team. This will be the best non BCS game. Both teams have studs at RB as Razorback Darren McFadden does it all from QBing and running back kicks. While Fab frosh Badger RB PJ Hill is a workhouse and pretty much cancel one another out as factors.
I think it'll be a close tight game with the the underrated Badgers pulling it out late.
Pick-Wisconsin

Rose Bowl presented by Citi
USC (10-2 Pac 10 Champs) vs Michigan (11-1)
Rose Bowl, Pasadena-4:30 (ABC)
Favorite-Michigan by 1
Its A Fact-This is the eighth time these teams have met in the Rose Bowl (USC leads 5-2)
The left out bowl, both teams are coming off of distant losses to archrivals. USC brings its usual stabele of studs led by QB John David Booty has filled in well for graduating Matt Lineart and WR Dwayne Jarrett can flat out fly. Michigan has a strong offense led by RB Mike Hart but keep your eye on the Wolverine defense led by DE/LB Lamar Woodley who is fast agile and a hard hitter. SC has shown itself to have problems with athletic defenses and the Wolverines move fast and hit hard. Booty isn't very mobile and that will be trouble for the Trojans.
Pick-Michigan

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl
Boise State (12-0, WAC Champs) vs Oklahoma (11-2 Big 12 Champs)
University of Phoenix Stadium; Glendale, AZ- 8 (FOX)
Favorite-Oklahoma by 8
Its A Fact-Boise State is the second non power school to qualify for the BCS
Boise State crashes the BCS party and its all under a first year coach. The Broncos have a talented QB in Jared Zabransky and a fast RB in Ian Johnson. The Broncos are no cinderella they are good and can score points. Oklahoma is not really counting on one time Heisman hopeful Adrian Peterson and has an effiecent offense. Their defense is the key, which ranked 17th nationally and though they have no big name stars are plenty good as a unit. Boise State hasn't seen anything like it in the WAC.
Pick-Oklahoma

Bowl Tally
Sat/Sun 3-1
Overall 16-5