Bowl Predictions (Part 1)

Bowl season is finally upon us. I know that no one is particularly excited about our bowl game, but there are still a lot of bowl games worth watching over the next few weeks. Of course, some of them aren't particularly compelling either, but every one of them is watchable if for no other reason than that college football is better than not college football. The 35 bowl games being played over the next few weeks are the only thing standing between us and a very, very long offseason.

We'll be previewing every bowl game over the next couple of weeks. We finished the regular season on a high note by correctly picking both the the SEC Championship Game and the Big Integer Championship Game, but that still left us with a 26-27 overall record for the year. So, while we hope you're entertained by each of our bowl picks, no matter how good our rationale sounds Don't Bet On It!

New Mexico Bowl (Saturday Dec. 21)
Washington State (-3.5) v. Colorado State
What the New Mexico Bowl lacks in history it may make up for in offensive fireworks. Mike Leach's typically pass-happy Washington State Cougars threw for more than 364 yards per game, good enough for fourth nationally. That can't be good news for a Colorado State team that ranks 111th nationally in passing yards allowed per game. The Cougars easily cover.

Las Vegas Bowl (Saturday Dec. 21)
Fresno State v. USC (-5.5)
The Trojans forsook interim coach Ed Orgeron, who went 6-2 as the head man in L.A., for Seven-Win Steve Sarkisian. While Sarkisian is expected to improve recruiting, which had suffered a bit during the last days of Lane Kiffin's tenure, he won't be there for the bowl game. Neither will Orgeron. USC's third head coach in as many months will have to face Fresno State's high-octane offense, which scores an absurd 53 points per game, just three tenths of a point shy of Baylor's number-1-ranked scoring offense. I like the West Coast Bulldogs plus the points in a shoot-out.

Idaho Potato Bowl (Saturday Dec. 21)
Buffalo (-3) v. San Diego State
Buffalo linebacker Khalil Mack is expected to be the brightest star on the field next Saturday and will probably be an early-round pick in April's draft. He and runningback Branden Oliver are the only two names you might recognize on Buffalo's roster. That's still two more names than you'll recognize on the Aztecs' roster, though. The Buffalo Bulls cover the spread and secure the program's first bowl win ever.

Go Dawgs!