Holiday Bowl (Baylor
vs. UCLA): The 2012/13 bowl slate is the worst in college football history,
but this clash between the Bears and Bruins should be a dandy. Baylor finished
the season playing arguably the best football of any team in the Big 12, while
the potent Bruins were the comeback story of the PAC 12. Who you like in this
one probably depends upon which conference you think
is better. I’m going with the Big 12.
The Vision: Baylor 41
UCLA 34
Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas (Texas Tech vs.
Minnesota): This game should be called the Freefall Bowl because both the
Red Raiders and Gophers enter this contest skittering down Skid Row. Tech has
lost four of its last five and its last two wins came in overtime, one of which
was over a miserable Kansas team. Minnesota has dropped six of its last eight
games and its last victory came against an Illinois team that is as awful as
Kansas. But here’s the rub: Minnesota has scored 14 points or less six times
while Tech has scored 41 points or more seven times.
The Vision: Texas
Tech 32 Minnesota 27
Pinstripe Bowl (West Virginia vs. Syracuse): This clash between former Big East foes could be
interesting by the standards of current bowls. The Orange have been competitive
against everybody they’ve played, while West Virginia, after suffering a prolonged
mid-season slump, seems to be getting its groove back. Both teams can sling the
football. But Syracuse is also a pretty good defensive team.
The Vision: Syracuse
36 West Virginia 35
Alamo Bowl (Texas vs.
Oregon State): The Longhorns began their season with a four-game winning
streak, followed it with a two-game losing streak, bounced back with another
four-game winning streak, and concluded the season with another two-game skid.
Will Texas start another winning streak? Oregon State sure won’t make it easy.
The Vision: Oregon
State 28 Texas 22
Buffalo Wild Wings
Bowl (TCU vs. Michigan State): If you like bruising defensive football,
this game should be on your plate along with the leftover ham, turkey, dressing
and mashed taters. If not, the Wild Wings Bowl may turn your lights out quicker
than a heavy dose of holiday tryptophans.
The Vision: Michigan
State 17 TCU 16
Liberty Bowl (Iowa State vs. Tulsa): There are all sorts of things wrong with the bowl system,
and in about the middle of the list is the possibility of rematches. In this
case we have a rematch between two mediocre football teams. What could possibly
be more exciting. Zzzzzzz…
The Vision: Iowa
State 31 Tulsa 20
Heart of Dallas Bowl
(Oklahoma State vs. Purdue): Where oh where could you possibly rather be than
in the heart of Dallas on New Years Day? I can think of several places. And the
fact that the Cowboys will be squaring off against yet another break-even Big
Ten team makes this game even more missable if not
miserable.
The Vision: Oklahoma
State 46 Purdue 21
Fiesta Bowl (Kansas State vs. Oregon): If styles make bowl games as well as fights, the Fiesta
Bowl could easily be the best of this whole stinking slate. Kansas State is so
old school that they make Weeb
Eubank’s Baltimore Colts look a brainstorming session by geeks at
General Dynamics, while Oregon State is so radical and bizarre they make a
NAMBLA gathering resemble a powwow of the Plainview Shriners. Most people figure
the Wildcats won’t be able to keep up in this one. Perhaps
not. But it will be close.
The Vision: Oregon 35
Kansas State 28
Cotton Bowl (Oklahoma
vs. Texas A&M): The Aggies may be playing better football right now
than any team not named Notre Dame. But don’t count the Sooners out entirely;
they know how to win ugly. Still, they won’t win this one.
The Vision: Texas
A&M 44 Oklahoma 34