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Do you like the bowl season after one day?
Don’t worry. The second half looks more promising to providing the same excitement seen during the regular season.
Here are my second-half picks to conclude another season of controversial college football.
Bell Helicopter Armed Forces, Dec. 31, 9 a.m. (ESPN)
Houston vs. Air Force
Scoop: It’s only fitting to have a service academy in this bowl. Both teams possess underrated offenses, which should result in a shootout. Pick goes to Air Force because of its tough conference schedule.
Brut Sun, Dec. 31, 11 a.m. (CBS)
Oregon State vs. Pittsburgh
Scoop: What a difference a loss makes. The Beavers should be in Pasadena for the Rose Bowl, but they will have to make due with El Paso. Pitt comes in ranked 20th and will have a tough time stopping Oregon State’s offense. Beavers win in an upset.
Gaylord Hotels Music City, Dec. 31, 12:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Boston College vs. Vanderbilt
Scoop: Vanderbilt started off the season with so much promise and hope. My has Vandy fallen off the rader. The Golden Eagles win easily.
Insight, Dec. 31, 2:30 p.m. (NFL Network)
Kansas vs. Minnesota
Scoop: The Gophers have lost four straight while the Jayhawks finished with four losses in the second half of the season. Kansas, though, upset Missouri on the road and has momentum. Jayhawks win in Phoenix.
Chick-fil-A, Dec. 31, 4:30 p.m. (ESPN)
LSU vs. Georgia Tech
Scoop: This is one of the best non-BCS bowl games. The Yellow Jackets are the hottest team in the ACC and seem unstoppable. Playing in Atlanta gives Tech and edge and that’s all it needs against the Tigers.
Outback, Jan. 1, 8 a.m. (ESPN)
South Carolina vs. Iowa
Scoop: Iowa finished with a blowout win over Minnesota and don’t forget, it upset Penn State to run the Nittany Lions’ national title dreams. Iowa faces a strong defense but momentum is harder to stop. Iowa wins its ninth game of the year.
Capital One, Jan. 1, 10 a.m. (ABC)
Georgia vs. Michigan State
Scoop: After the Bulldogs trounced Hawaii last year, everyone thought they were the team to beat this year. Wrong. Georgia ends the season on the wrong foot and the Spartans win their 10th game.
Konica Minolta Gator, Jan. 1, 10 a.m. (CBS)
Nebraska vs. Clemson
Scoop: Probably the most underrated quarterback in the country is a Cornhusker. Can Clemson stop Nebraska’s passing attack, or will it cap off a remarkable turnaround? Clemson gets the upset, if you can call it that.
Rose Bowl, Jan. 1, 1:30 p.m. (ABC)
Penn State vs. USC
Scoop: It would have been nice if USC could stop Florida’s high-profiled offense. But the Trojans are stuck in the Rose Bowl, again, and might end up giving Joe Paterno a heart attack. USC easily wins.
FedEx Orange, Jan. 1, 5:30 p.m. (FOX)
Cincinnati vs. Virginia Tech
Scoop: The Bearcats came back against Hawaii on the road, and Tech has won three straight. It’s the old Big East vs. the new Big East. Cincinnati comes on top and shows that football can exceed alongside basketball.
AT&T Cotton, Jan. 2, 11 a.m. (FOX)
Ole Miss vs. Texas Tech
Scoop: The Red Raiders got overlooked in everything, from the Big 12 title game to Graham Harrell in the Heisman voting. Ole Miss has won five in a row but won’t be able to stop the spread offense. Tech wins with Harrell and Michael Crabtree connecting twice in the end zone.
AutoZone Liberty, Jan. 2, 2 p.m. (ESPN)
Kentucky vs. East Carolina
Scoop: East Carolina beat Tulsa to win the C-USA title and Kentucky had a poor second half. The Pirates are riding high and will come up with a booty.
Allstate Sugar, Jan. 2, 5 p.m. (FOX)
Utah vs. Alabama
Scoop: The Mountain West made a mockery of the Pac-10 this season. Can it give the SEC a lesson or two, or will the Crimson Tide be fighting with emotion after its loss to Florida? This Utah team isn’t as good as the one four years ago. Alabama wins some sugar.
International, Jan. 3, 9 a.m. (ESPN2)
Buffalo vs. Connecticut
Scoop: Buffalo deserves credit for knocking off Ball State, but can it carry that momentum against the Huskies? If Connecticut shows up to the game, it will be out of hand for Buffalo. But don’t rule out an upset. The Huskies will come on top.
Tostitos Fiesta, Jan. 5, 5 p.m. (FOX)
Ohio State vs. Texas
Scoop: The Buckeyes had a shaky first half and really doesn’t belong in a BCS. It would have been better to see Boise State or even TCU, but the whole system is driven by greedy hogs. Colt McCoy and his Longhorns will be no match for Ohio State. Texas wins by a couple touchdowns.
GMAC, Jan. 6, 5 p.m. (ESPN)
Ball State vs. Tulsa
Scoop: Does anyone still wonder why college football likes cramming these worthless bowls among the BCS? January is BCS bowl season, but this game could be OK to watch. What happens if the once-undefeated Ball State loses to Tulsa? Overrated, anyone? Tulsa wins the upset.
National Championship, Jan. 8, 5 p.m. (FOX)
Florida vs. Oklahoma
Scoop: Do the Sooners belong in this game? Probably, but so do a couple other teams. Expect a shootout in this game and Oklahoma to come on top, and for once and for all, prove that the Big 12 is better than the SEC.
This caps off another college football season before teams come back in the spring for drills and scrimmages. Will your team be the next in the BCS title game?
You’ll have to wait 12 months.
Thomas Ranson can be contacted at transon@lahontanvalleynews.com.
Don’t worry. The second half looks more promising to providing the same excitement seen during the regular season.
Here are my second-half picks to conclude another season of controversial college football.
Bell Helicopter Armed Forces, Dec. 31, 9 a.m. (ESPN)
Houston vs. Air Force
Scoop: It’s only fitting to have a service academy in this bowl. Both teams possess underrated offenses, which should result in a shootout. Pick goes to Air Force because of its tough conference schedule.
Brut Sun, Dec. 31, 11 a.m. (CBS)
Oregon State vs. Pittsburgh
Scoop: What a difference a loss makes. The Beavers should be in Pasadena for the Rose Bowl, but they will have to make due with El Paso. Pitt comes in ranked 20th and will have a tough time stopping Oregon State’s offense. Beavers win in an upset.
Gaylord Hotels Music City, Dec. 31, 12:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Boston College vs. Vanderbilt
Scoop: Vanderbilt started off the season with so much promise and hope. My has Vandy fallen off the rader. The Golden Eagles win easily.
Insight, Dec. 31, 2:30 p.m. (NFL Network)
Kansas vs. Minnesota
Scoop: The Gophers have lost four straight while the Jayhawks finished with four losses in the second half of the season. Kansas, though, upset Missouri on the road and has momentum. Jayhawks win in Phoenix.
Chick-fil-A, Dec. 31, 4:30 p.m. (ESPN)
LSU vs. Georgia Tech
Scoop: This is one of the best non-BCS bowl games. The Yellow Jackets are the hottest team in the ACC and seem unstoppable. Playing in Atlanta gives Tech and edge and that’s all it needs against the Tigers.
Outback, Jan. 1, 8 a.m. (ESPN)
South Carolina vs. Iowa
Scoop: Iowa finished with a blowout win over Minnesota and don’t forget, it upset Penn State to run the Nittany Lions’ national title dreams. Iowa faces a strong defense but momentum is harder to stop. Iowa wins its ninth game of the year.
Capital One, Jan. 1, 10 a.m. (ABC)
Georgia vs. Michigan State
Scoop: After the Bulldogs trounced Hawaii last year, everyone thought they were the team to beat this year. Wrong. Georgia ends the season on the wrong foot and the Spartans win their 10th game.
Konica Minolta Gator, Jan. 1, 10 a.m. (CBS)
Nebraska vs. Clemson
Scoop: Probably the most underrated quarterback in the country is a Cornhusker. Can Clemson stop Nebraska’s passing attack, or will it cap off a remarkable turnaround? Clemson gets the upset, if you can call it that.
Rose Bowl, Jan. 1, 1:30 p.m. (ABC)
Penn State vs. USC
Scoop: It would have been nice if USC could stop Florida’s high-profiled offense. But the Trojans are stuck in the Rose Bowl, again, and might end up giving Joe Paterno a heart attack. USC easily wins.
FedEx Orange, Jan. 1, 5:30 p.m. (FOX)
Cincinnati vs. Virginia Tech
Scoop: The Bearcats came back against Hawaii on the road, and Tech has won three straight. It’s the old Big East vs. the new Big East. Cincinnati comes on top and shows that football can exceed alongside basketball.
AT&T Cotton, Jan. 2, 11 a.m. (FOX)
Ole Miss vs. Texas Tech
Scoop: The Red Raiders got overlooked in everything, from the Big 12 title game to Graham Harrell in the Heisman voting. Ole Miss has won five in a row but won’t be able to stop the spread offense. Tech wins with Harrell and Michael Crabtree connecting twice in the end zone.
AutoZone Liberty, Jan. 2, 2 p.m. (ESPN)
Kentucky vs. East Carolina
Scoop: East Carolina beat Tulsa to win the C-USA title and Kentucky had a poor second half. The Pirates are riding high and will come up with a booty.
Allstate Sugar, Jan. 2, 5 p.m. (FOX)
Utah vs. Alabama
Scoop: The Mountain West made a mockery of the Pac-10 this season. Can it give the SEC a lesson or two, or will the Crimson Tide be fighting with emotion after its loss to Florida? This Utah team isn’t as good as the one four years ago. Alabama wins some sugar.
International, Jan. 3, 9 a.m. (ESPN2)
Buffalo vs. Connecticut
Scoop: Buffalo deserves credit for knocking off Ball State, but can it carry that momentum against the Huskies? If Connecticut shows up to the game, it will be out of hand for Buffalo. But don’t rule out an upset. The Huskies will come on top.
Tostitos Fiesta, Jan. 5, 5 p.m. (FOX)
Ohio State vs. Texas
Scoop: The Buckeyes had a shaky first half and really doesn’t belong in a BCS. It would have been better to see Boise State or even TCU, but the whole system is driven by greedy hogs. Colt McCoy and his Longhorns will be no match for Ohio State. Texas wins by a couple touchdowns.
GMAC, Jan. 6, 5 p.m. (ESPN)
Ball State vs. Tulsa
Scoop: Does anyone still wonder why college football likes cramming these worthless bowls among the BCS? January is BCS bowl season, but this game could be OK to watch. What happens if the once-undefeated Ball State loses to Tulsa? Overrated, anyone? Tulsa wins the upset.
National Championship, Jan. 8, 5 p.m. (FOX)
Florida vs. Oklahoma
Scoop: Do the Sooners belong in this game? Probably, but so do a couple other teams. Expect a shootout in this game and Oklahoma to come on top, and for once and for all, prove that the Big 12 is better than the SEC.
This caps off another college football season before teams come back in the spring for drills and scrimmages. Will your team be the next in the BCS title game?
You’ll have to wait 12 months.
Thomas Ranson can be contacted at transon@lahontanvalleynews.com.
