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College Football - Breaking Down the Bowls

By Sean Pullins
Thursday, December 19th, 2002
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The Insight Bowl matches Pittsburgh against Oregon State. Pittsburgh has been solid all year and came within one play of sending Miami to overtime. Don't count out Dennis Erickson's Beavers. It will be close, but Pittsburgh it out in a wild one. Pittsburgh 42, Oregon State 35.

Nebraska faces Mississippi in the Independence bowl. Nebraska has obviously had a down year. I look for Nebraska to get on track in a game that could be do or die for Frank Solich. Nebraska 28, Mississippi 17.

The Hawaii Bowl pits surprise, surprise Hawaii vs. Tulane. It's always nice to play at home, especially in a bowl. Look for the Rainbow Warriors to show their pride with a big win. Hawaii 55, Tulane 38.

The Tangerine Bowl pits Clemson vs. Texas Tech. Who is the most famous sports icon in Lubbock? Here is a hint: his last name starts with a K and it isn't Knight. Kliff will be King in an offensive battle. Texas Tech 42, Clemson 28.

UCLA plays New Mexico in the Las Vegas Bowl. UCLA is the better team in this matchup, but they should have waited to fire Bob Toledo until after the bowl. Bad karma strikes the Bruins. New Mexico 21, UCLA 17.

The Motor City Bowl matches Toledo vs. Boston College. These teams are fairly even. Toledo shows that the MAC is underrated and should have had more teams in the postseason. Toledo 24, BC 16.

The Houston Bowl placed Southern Miss against Oklahoma State. The Oklahoma State win against the Sooners wasn't a fluke, look for the Cowboys to use their downfield arial assault. Oklahoma State 24, Southern Miss 14.

Kansas State plays Arizona State in the Holiday Bowl and Kansas State is one of the hottest teams in the nation right now and probably will have a chip on their shoulder about being passed over by the other bowls. Arizona State's Terrell Suggs will show why he is the best defensive lineman in the country. Arizona State with the upset. Arizona 17, Kansas State 13.

Continental Tire Bowl matches up West Virginia against Virginia. Matt Schuab has become one of the finest QBs in the nation. Avon Cobourne, West Virginia's tailback has had a steller career and ends it on a high with a win. West Virginia 27, Virginia 24.

Colorado plays Wisconsin in the Alamo Bowl. Colorado has a great running game, but Wisconsin has a history of playing tough in bowl games. This year is no different. Wisconsin 38, Colorado 21.

In the Music City Bowl, Arkansas plays Minnesota. Minnesota's running attack will prove too much for the Razorbacks. Minnesota 31, Arkansas 24.

The Seattle Bowl pits Oregon against Wake Forest. Oregon is the better team here and it will show on the field. Oregon 45, Wake Forest 24.

The Humanitarian Bowl includes an unknown and one of college football's most dynamic players. Seneca Wallace was an early Heisman candidate and pulled some big upsets this year. Boise State is a very good team with little publicity. They pull the big upset and send Seneca packing. Boise State 28, Iowa State 27.

The Sun Bowl matches the Big 10 vs. the Pac-10 for a third team this bowl season -- Purdue vs. Washington. Purdue and Washington both had some wild finishes this year, but this will be Blowout City. Purdue 28, Washington 10.

Patrick Henry, "Give me the Liberty Bowl or give me death," Colorado State will give TCU all it can handle. Colorado State 21, TCU 10.

In the Silicon Valley Football Classic, Fresno State takes on Georgia Tech. First off, what is the Silicon Valley Football Classic? Some bowls need to go. Honestly, who cares who wins, the only Silicon Classic I want to see is on Pamela Anderson. Fresno 36DD, Georgia Tech 34B.

A more familiar bowl, the Peach pits (no pun intended) Maryland vs. Tennessee. Maryland has been strong recently, but never overlook Tennessee. Maryland shows how far Tennessee's program has fallen in this one. Maryland 17, Tennessee 3.

The San Francisco Bowl matches Air Force against Virginia Tech. Both teams played tough earlier this year. Virginia Tech will break their losing streak. Virginia Tech 24, Air Force 17.

Michigan plays Florida in the Outback Bowl. Michigan was tired of Orlando and decided to go down the road to Tampa and after this year, Michigan will be tired of the whole state of Florida. Florida 31, Michigan 23.

Chris Sims will end his longhorn career with a win. Sims will be the most successful out of the current lot of quarterbacks in college. Texas will play LSU in Cotton Bowl, which happens to be in Texas' backyard. Texas won't lose in longhorn country. Texas 23, LSU 20.

Notre Dame had a great season and everyone jumped on the Tyrone Willingham bandwagon, but not me. Notre Dame is going to Florida and will get stomped by Phillip Rivers and N.C. State in the Gator Bowl. N.C. State 20, Notre Dame 10.

Capital One Bowl matches Penn State vs. Auburn. Look for Larry Johnson to avenge his Heisman snubbing. Penn State 17, Auburn 14.

Now the Big Four, the BCS bowls. These bowls have some tough matchups in each one.

The Sugar Bowl matches Florida State, the ACC champions, against Georgia, the SEC champions. Florida State's starting quarterback, Chris "Sleeping Beauty" Rix lost his eligibility because of snoozing through an exam. Georgia will roll proving that Florida State isn't deserving of a BCS bid. Georgia 28, Florida State 14.

The granddaddy of them all, the Rose Bowl, traditionally matches the best from the Big 10 vs. the best from the Pac-10. Not this year, though. Instead, we will see a Big 12 vs. Pac-10 matchup. Oklahoma's season has been up and down this year, Washington State is lead by Jason Gesser, a pint-sized cocky quarterback. Coaching-wise, Washington State took a big blow by Mike Price announcing he is jumping ship to Alabama. The players will play with no emotion and State won't handle Bob Stoop's Sooners. Oklahoma 21, Washington State 7.

The Orange Bowl matches USC vs. Iowa. Iowa is definitely the surprise team of this year. USC and Carson Palmer came on at the end of the season. Palmer pulled out enough to win the Heisman coincidentally over Iowa's quarterback, Brad Banks. Iowa is going to re-enter reality when they face USC's ariel attack. USC 31, Iowa 21.

And finally ... the Fiesta Bowl.

Ohio State vs. the defending champs, Miami, in Tempe. Right now, Miami is favored by 13, and everybody thinks that OSU is overrated. Miami players are giving the Buckeyes no respect. Here is some advice for the Hurricanes: remember Alabama in '92 and Penn State in '86. You can just see the upset on the horizon that's why I look for Miami to play their best game of the year. But this is a year of destiny for the Bucks. OSU 18, Miami 17. OSU's kicker, Mike Nugent, is going to be a hero.

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