Outback Bowl Tampa, Florida Jan. 1, 11:00 PM EST
Wisconsin vs Tennessee
Happy New Year and what better way to open the New Year then with a Bowl game. At this point I am not tired of watching football! Tennessee represents the SEC and opens as a 3 point favorite over Big-10 Wisconsin. While Wisconsin had a difficult season it was surprise that they struggled on defense. The Badgers lead the Big-10 in defense a year ago but allowed over 23 points and over 350 yards a game. Minnesota out up 34 against them the last game of the season. Tennessee was fantastic for our wallets this year as we nailed them many time during the season with the two biggest being our plays on Tennessee in blow out wins over Georgia and Arkansas. We also won playing against them on the road at California and Alabama. We have a great record playing Tennessee games this year so we just might kick-off 2008 with a play on this game.
Opening Line: Tennessee -3
Cotton Bowl Dallas, Texas Jan. 1, 11:30 AM EST
Missouri vs Arkansas
January 1st finally brings us must watch TV and we will be flipping the channels. We played Missouri over Kansas and then came right back against them the following week taking Oklahoma and won both plays. Personally it was fun to watch Missouri play this year and everyone remembers our building up of Chase Daniels in his freshman season. Arkansas is always a dangerous team and has the running game to take Missouri to the edge. We will have to some overtime analysis if we want to play this game and we probably will.
Opening Line: Missouri -3 ½
Gator Bowl Jacksonville, Florida Jan. 1, 1:00 PM EST
Texas Tech vs Virginia
Having to choose between Texas Tech/Virginia and Michigan/Florida is an easy choice as watching Tim Tebow is pretty entertaining so I am not sure how much action this game will get. However, with Texas Tech opening up as a 5 point favorite we find that this game just might land on our cut list. Texas Tech went just 2 – 3 down the stretch playing a difficult schedule. Virginia who lost their opening game to Wyoming went on a huge run to climb back into the polls. They went 3 – 2 down the stretch.
Opening Line: Texas Tech -5
Capital One Bowl Orlando, Florida Jan. 1, 1:00 PM EST
Michigan vs Florida
One has to feel for Michigan getting matched up with Florida and I can’t see worse match-up for them having to face the Florida Gators and Tim Tebow. The only question in this game is will the emotion of this being Lloyd’s last game as Michigan’s head coach be enough to help the Wolverines in this game. Never underestimate emotion in college sports. Still, this is more then a difficult match-up for Michigan.
Opening Line: Florida -10
Rose Bowl Pasadena, California Jan. 1, 4:30 PM EST
USC vs Illinois
Would much prefer to see USC play someone else but this is the match-up we get, we rode USC down the stretch and still feel this is a top 3 team when healthy and they will enter this game healthy. With the 4:30 time slot there is no competition and this is must see game just for the feel good story of Illinois. A big underdog as USC opens up in the double digits.
Opening Line: USC -14
Sugar Bowl New Orleans, Louisiana Jan. 1, 8:30 PM EST
Hawaii vs Georgia
This game brings a ton of interest as we all want to see if Hawaii can hang with one of the top dogs in the SEC. Last year we all got watch Boise State defeat Oklahoma and no one gave them a shot. This will be fun game to watch and the underdog emotion Hawaii will bring will be huge in this game. We all know that Hawaii will be betting sentimental favorite so watch the line and see where the big dollars go.
Opening Line: Georgia -8 ½
Fiesta Bowl Glendale, Arizona Jan. 2, 8:00 PM EST
Oklahoma vs West Virginia
I can see better match-ups for both these teams but the only bowl game on January 2nd it is must see TV. Hard to think that West Virginia will not have a let down after losing their spot in the National Championship game by losing to Pittsburgh. On the other side, Oklahoma defeated Missouri for the big ten title (we were on Oklahoma) and probably think they should be in the National Title game. Oklahoma may just be big, fast and strong enough to slow down WV.
Opening Line: Oklahoma -6 ½
Orange Bowl Miami, Florida Jan. 3, 8:00 PM EST
Virginia Tech vs Kansas
Great defense against a great offense so something is going to have to give. A big TV audience for this one to see just how good Kansas is. Kansas averaged over 44 points a game and almost 500 yards of offense. Virginia Tech allowed just 86 rushing yards a game and under 300 yards of total offense this year. Virginia Tech also allowed just 15 ½ points a game. Like we said, something has to give in this one.
Opening Line: Virginia Tech -1 ½
International Bowl Toronto, Canada Jan. 5, 12:00 PM EST
Rutgers vs Ball State
We get one bowl game on January 5th and this is it. Ball State vs. Rutgers and this game is not going to bring much national interest. You would think that the bowl system could produce a better match-up for this game. I am sure Rutgers is saying Ball who? This game would be much more interesting if the Rutgers coach would have accepted the Michigan job.
Opening Line: Rutgers -9
GMAC Bowl Mobile, Alabama Jan. 6, 8:00 PM EST (ESPN)
Bowling Green vs Tulsa
After watching the Rutgers/Ball State game we get treated with this, Bowling Green vs. Tulsa. Again, you would think the Bowl Series would match-up a better game to lead up to the National Championship game but maybe that’s was their plan all along. We get sub par team just before the big game and these teams will make LSU and Ohio State look better then they are.
Opening Line: Tulsa -5
BCS Championship Game New Orleans Jan. 7, 8:00 PM EST (FOX)
Ohio State vs LSU
I have two things to say about this game. The winner of this game is not the best team in the country and one of these teams will get blown out.
Opening Line: LSU -5 ½