2009 Ranking of the Bowls - No. 18 to 27

Before they start, the ranking of the bowls and how entertaining they should be, along with an early prediction. The mediocre bowls ranked 18th to 27th.

2010-2011 Bowl Rankings

Ranking Them 18 to 27

- Initial Thoughts on the Bowl Matchups    
- Top 15 Non-AQ Bowl Teams | Every School's Bowl Profile    
- Six Bowls Worthy of Respect | 35 Games, 35 Comments  
- Ranking the 2009/2010 Bowl Season
- 2009-2010 CFN All-Bowl Team & Top 50 Players 

The 2010-2011 Pre-Bowl Rankings
- No. 1 to No. 9 | No. 10 to No. 17 | No. 28 to No. 35 

Something To Do Because You're Bored
They're bowl games. What are you going to do, play with the kids?
 
27. Hyundai Sun Bowl
December 31, 2010  El Paso, TX 2 pm CBS
Miami vs. Notre Dame
Three Reasons To Watch This Bowl: 1) It's Miami vs. Notre Dame. It sounds good on paper and it'll generate a buzz and national interest. 2) The Irish ended the season well with three straight wins including a win over USC. 3) Miami's pass defense and pass rush are among the best in the nation.
And Why You Should Spend Your Time Roasting Your Chestnuts: The matchup sounds good, but neither team is all that great at playing college football. It might be a close game, but it won't be played at a high level. Miami's bigger concern is at head coach.
Three Names To Drop That'll Make The Perky Girl In Accounting Want To Take You Into The Storeroom During The Holiday Party For Smooches: 1)  DE Allen Bailey, Miami, 2) LB Manti Te'o, Notre Dame, 3) WR Leonard Hankerson, Miami
Gut-Reaction Pick That Might Change In The Next Few Days On A Whim: Miami 23 ... Notre Dame 17

26. Meineke Car Care Bowl
December 31, 2010 Charlotte, NC 12:00 pm ESPN
South Florida vs. Clemson
Three Reasons To Watch This Bowl: 1) Clemson is better than its 6-6 record. The Tigers took Auburn to overtime. 2) Skip Holtz will have his USF team pumped up. The defense should be strong with a month to prepare. 3) Three of the last four Meineke Car Care Bowls have been terrific. Those three games were decided by a total of four points.
And Why You Should Spend Your Time Roasting Your Chestnuts: Neither team does much on offense. USF is 103rd in the nation in total yards and Clemson is 87th in total offense.
Three Names To Drop That'll Make The Perky Girl In Accounting Want To Take You Into The Storeroom During The Holiday Party For Smooches: 1) DE Da'Quan Bowers, Clemson, 2) QB B.j. Daniels, South Florida, 3) WR DeAndre Hopkins, Clemson
Gut-Reaction Pick That Might Change In The Next Few Days On A Whim: Clemson 23 ... South Florida 20

25. BBVA Compass Bowl
January 8, 2011 Birmingham, AL 12:00 pm ESPN
Pitt vs. Kentucky  
Three Reasons To Watch This Bowl: 1) It's a new era at Pitt with head coach Dave Wannstedt resigning/getting canned. The team wasn't that bad winning six of its last eight games. 2) Kentucky has its share of big-play stars. WR Randall Cobb and RB Derrick Locke are two of the best players you probably haven't seen. 3) Offense. UK is 26th in the nation in total offense while Pitt's attack is better than the stats.
And Why You Should Spend Your Time Roasting Your Chestnuts: Kentucky had one great fourth quarter against South Carolina. The second best win came against Louisville. The third best win was Vanderbilt. Pitt's best win was either South Florida or Louisville ... whoopee.
Three Names To Drop That'll Make The Perky Girl In Accounting Want To Take You Into The Storeroom During The Holiday Party For Smooches: 1) QB Mike Hartline, Kentucky 2) RB Dion Lewis, Pitt, 3) LB Danny Trevathan, Kentucky
Gut-Reaction Pick That Might Change In The Next Few Days On A Whim: Pitt 23 ... Kentucky 20

24. TicketCity Bowl
January 1, 2011 Dallas, TX 12 pm ESPNU
Northwestern vs. Texas Tech
Three Reasons To Watch This Bowl: 1) Northwestern is going for its first bowl win since the 1949 Rose Bowl. 2) Texas Tech finished the season relatively hot winning three of the last four game with a win over Missouri and the lone loss coming to Oklahoma. 3) It's the inaugural TicketCity Bowl. Be there for history!
And Why You Should Spend Your Time Roasting Your Chestnuts: Northwestern has been miserable over the second half of the season and got next-level bad after losing QB Dan Persa.
Three Names To Drop That'll Make The Perky Girl In Accounting Want To Take You Into The Storeroom During The Holiday Party For Smooches: 1) QB Taylor Potts, Texas Tech 2) DE Vince Browne, Northwestern, 3) LB Brian Duncan, Texas Tech
Gut-Reaction Pick That Might Change In The Next Few Days On A Whim: Texas Tech 45 ... Northwestern 20

23. AutoZone Liberty Bowl
December 31, 2010 Memphis, TN 3:30 pm ESPN
UCF vs. Georgia
Three Reasons To Watch This Bowl: 1) Can the best team in Conference USA match up with a lower-level SEC team? Conference USA needs this. 2) A.J. Green. Enjoy your last chance to see the phenomenal Bulldog wide receiver before he goes off to the NFL. 3) The Liberty Bowl has been great recently with each of the last six games decided by eight points or fewer.
And Why You Should Spend Your Time Roasting Your Chestnuts: As good as UCF might be, it's still SEC vs. Conference USA.
Three Names To Drop That'll Make The Perky Girl In Accounting Want To Take You Into The Storeroom During The Holiday Party For Smooches: 1)  QB Jeff Godfrey, UCF, 2) LB/DE Justin Houston, Georgia, 3) DE Bruce Miller, UCF
Gut-Reaction Pick That Might Change In The Next Few Days On A Whim: Georgia 24 ... UCF 13

22. Beef O’Brady’s St. Petersburg Bowl
December 21, 2010 St. Petersburg, FL 8:00 pm ESPN
Louisville vs. Southern Miss   
Three Reasons To Watch This Bowl: 1) It's the return to the bowl season for Louisville, who made a big first statement in Charlie Strong's initial head coaching season. 2) The Southern Miss offense is fantastic, the defense stinks. This might be a shootout. 3) The Big East needs this and the C-USA team wants to make a statement. Both teams will try..
And Why You Should Spend Your Time Roasting Your Chestnuts: The first two St. Petersburg Bowls were awful. The Big East won both games in blowouts.
Three Names To Drop That'll Make The Perky Girl In Accounting Want To Take You Into The Storeroom During The Holiday Party For Smooches: 1)  RB Bilal Powell, Louisville, 2) QB Austin Davis, Southern Miss, 3) RB/KR Vic Anderson, Louisville
Gut-Reaction Pick That Might Change In The Next Few Days On A Whim: Louisville 38 ... Southern Miss 20  

21. Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl
December 30, 2010 Nashville, TN 6:30 pm ESPN
North Carolina vs. Tennessee
Three Reasons To Watch This Bowl: 1) Tennessee comes into the game hot on a four-game winning streak. 2) This is a momentum game for each program. The winner will use this over and over again to pump up the potential for 2011. 3) The bowl is usually pretty good. The last six games have been decided by eight points or fewer.
And Why You Should Spend Your Time Roasting Your Chestnuts: Tennessee won its last four games ... against the weak and the sad. The offense might not have the pop to keep up if UNC gets rolling.
Three Names To Drop That'll Make The Perky Girl In Accounting Want To Take You Into The Storeroom During The Holiday Party For Smooches: 1) LB Bruce Carter, North Carolina, 2) WR Danarius Moore, Tennessee, 3) QB T.J. Yates, North Carolina
Gut-Reaction Pick That Might Change In The Next Few Days On A Whim: North Carolina 27 ... Tennessee 17

20. Champs Sports Bowl
December 28, 2010 Orlando, FL 6:30 pm ESPN
NC State vs. West Virginia   
Three Reasons To Watch This Bowl: 1) Defense. Even if it's not all that thrilling, the game should be extremely close with the score kept low. 2) The Mountaineers might really have the Big East's best team. The West Virginia D hasn't allowed more than 21 points all year. 3) Both conferences need this. The Big East could use all the good wins it can get, while the ACC is always looking for more respect. Both teams will try in what should be a good, tough game.
And Why You Should Spend Your Time Roasting Your Chestnuts: The Champs Sports Bowl is usually a dog. This isn't going to be an offensive thrill ride.
Three Names To Drop That'll Make The Perky Girl In Accounting Want To Take You Into The Storeroom During The Holiday Party For Smooches: 1)  QB Russell Wilson, NC State, 2) DE Bruce Irvin, West Virginia, 3) QB Geno Smith, West Virginia
Gut-Reaction Pick That Might Change In The Next Few Days On A Whim: West Virginia 21 ... NC State 17

19. Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl
January 9, 2011 San Francisco, CA 9:00 pm ESPN
Boston College vs. Nevada  
Three Reasons To Watch This Bowl: 1) Nevada's duo of QB Colin Kaepernick and RB Vai Taua form the greatest rushing tandem in the history of college football. Nevada is the third player to run for 20 touchdowns and throw for 20 in the same season. the others are Tim Tebow and Cam Newton. 2) Luke Kuechly and the BC defense is good enough to keep the Wolf Pack O in check. It'll be strength vs. strength. BC is No. 1 in the nation against the run, Nevada is No. 3 running the ball. 3) BC has won five straight games, Nevada has won six straight including a win over Boise State.
And Why You Should Spend Your Time Roasting Your Chestnuts: Nevada has been a disaster in bowl games lately losing the last four post-season trips and getting embarrassed by SMU last year and New Mexico two years ago.
Three Names To Drop That'll Make The Perky Girl In Accounting Want To Take You Into The Storeroom During The Holiday Party For Smooches: 1) DE Dontay Moch, Nevada, 2) RB Montel Harris, Boston College, 3) WR Rishard Matthews, Nevada
Gut-Reaction Pick That Might Change In The Next Few Days On A Whim: Boston College 24 ... Nevada 20

18. Texas Bowl
December 29, 2010 Houston, TX 6:00 pm ESPN
Illinois vs. Baylor
Three Reasons To Watch This Bowl: 1) Running quarterbacks. Baylor's Robert Griffin and Illinois' Nathan Scheelhaase are worth the watch. 2) Illinois RB Mikel Leshoure. There's a chance he could be the highest rising running back in the draft and he could be another Rashard Mendenhall. 3) 1994. That's the last time Baylor was in a bowl game. This is a really big deal for the program.
And Why You Should Spend Your Time Roasting Your Chestnuts: The Texas Bowl doesn't have the best history. It was among the worst bowl games of the last two seasons.
Three Names To Drop That'll Make The Perky Girl In Accounting Want To Take You Into The Storeroom During The Holiday Party For Smooches: 1)  RB Jay Finley, Baylor, 2) LB Martez Wilson, Illinois, 3) WR A.J. Jenkins, Illinois
Gut-Reaction Pick That Might Change In The Next Few Days On A Whim: Baylor 34 ... Illinois 30