These are the picks for the 2006 bowls, the picks for Jan 1 and afterwards will be up later on.
Las Vegas Bowl
Oregon (+3) vs BYU
This line has just been plummeting way too far, too fast. Oregon may make it competitive, but BYU has been a much better team this season, and ought to come out on top here.
BYU 31, Oregon 21
Hawaii Bowl
Arizona State (+7) vs Hawaii
Hawaii is the better team, but seven points is a bit too much to lay on them.
Hawaii 31, Arizona State 27
Emerald Bowl
UCLA (-4.5) vs Florida State
Is this game really less than a touchdown line? The Noles have been barely decent this season; half the time they didn't even show up to play. If they don't, they get killed, and even if they do, UCLA is still good enough to probably win this game. Easy pick.
UCLA 34, Florida State 14
Holiday Bowl
Cal (-5) vs Texas A&M
This one is a bit tough to pick. While I definitely believe that Cal won't lay the egg here that they did two years ago, I'm just not sold on them being all that great, especially after three straight lousy performances. A&M seems to be peaking, and while bowl games are always a crapshoot, I think that they're the slightly better team here.
Texas A&M 31, Cal 28
Sun Bowl
Oregon State (-3.5) vs Missouri
To be blunt, Mizzou just isn't very good. They have a worse record against an easier schedule than Oregon State, and the Beavers have done well in bowl games lately (of course, a lot of that was against Notre Dame, who is in a historically bad bowl run, so take it with a grain of salt).
Oregon State 28, Missouri 14
National Bowl Games:
New Orleans Bowl
Troy vs Rice (-4)
Rice is definitely the better team here, but the question is whether they'll just be happy to finally be in a bowl game or whether they'll really come to play. Since Troy may well be in the same morale situation, I'll go with the Owls.
Rice 34, Troy 27
Papa Johns Bowl
ECU vs USF (-4.5)
South Florida is a much better team than ECU. This looks like one of the worst lines of the bowl season.
USF 35, ECU 21
New Mexico Bowl
San Jose State vs New Mexico (-3.5)
The Spartans are a bit better, but the Lobos get home field. Then again, that is always less important during bowl season, since distractions are always an issue.
San Jose State 28, New Mexico 24
Armed Forces Bowl
Utah (-1) vs Tulsa
This is one of those where I just don't know. The computer likes Tulsa, so I'll go that way.
Tulsa 27, Utah 24
Motor City Bowl
Middle Tenn St vs Central Michigan (-9.5)
The Blue Raiders aren't terrible, but Central Michigan has really been coming on strong on late.
Central Michigan 31, Middle Tenn St 14
Independence Bowl
Oklahoma State (-2) vs Alabama
To be honest, I'm not a huge believer in the Big 12 this year, so I have to be skeptical about OK St being a favorite here. Bama's coaching situation makes this a crapshoot; they either come out totally on fire or totally flat. My guess is fired up.
Alabama 28, Oklahoma St 17
Texas Bowl
Kansas State vs Rutgers (-7)
This is a pretty fair line. Rutgers is better but not light years better. More of a gut pick than anything else.
Rutgers 28, Kansas State 20
Music City Bowl
Kentucky vs Clemson (-9.5)
The biggest lines between fellow BCS conference teams the past two seasons were the Holiday Bowl in 2004 and the Alamo Bowl last year. This is the one this time around.
Kentucky 28, Clemson 24
Liberty Bowl
Houston vs South Carolina (-5.5)
The Gamecocks are really coming alive, so they should win this without too much trouble.
South Carolina 35, Houston 21
Champs Sports Bowl
Purdue (-1) vs Maryland
One shows up, one does not. Get out the coin.
Maryland 24, Purdue 10
Insight Bowl
Minnesota vs Texas Tech (-6)
I just don't have faith in Minnesota. Texas Tech has too much talent to lose this game.
Texas Tech 38, Minnesota 17
Muffler Bowl
Navy vs BC (-6)
Two teams that always play well in bowl games, but this time one of them has the baggage of a coach who dumped them for a horizontal move inside their own division. Who do you think will be more motivated?
Navy 17, BC 14
Alamo Bowl
Iowa vs Texas (-8.5)
Either Texas kills them or Iowa probably wins. I'll guess the first one.
Texas 37, Iowa 17
Peach Bowl
Virginia Tech (-2.5) vs Georgia
Tech is just a better team.
Virginia Tech 27, Georgia 21
MPC Computers Bowl
Nevada vs Miami (-3)
Miami: A) has played poorly this year; B) doesn't travel well; C) is a warm-weather team playing in Boise.
Nevada 27, Miami 17
Questions, comments or suggestions? Email me at cfn_ms@hotmail.com
