Predicting the Independence Bowl

I have written about every Georgia Tech game of the year, so there is no reason to stop now.  In roughly fifteen minutes, the Yellow Jackets and the Air Force Falcons will face off in Shreveport, LA, in the Independence Bowl.  This game is a match-up of two eerily similar teams since both run the triple option.  That will be play to Tech's advantage since the Jackets are usually at a disadvantage in bowls due to the fact that the option is much easier to stop with ample preparation.  Most prognosticators say this game will be a snooze fest since it features two of the nation's more predictable offenses.  I think it will be much more explosive since both teams have had plenty of time to install new plays.  I expect Paul Johnson to open the game with a trick play or at least as pass.  In the end, Tech's superior recruiting should overcome Air Force's precision.  I encourage you to tune it and watch it at 5 pm on ESPN2.  Georgia Tech 34, Air Force 29

College Football Pick-Em: Bowl Edition

After a two week hiatus, here are my picks for bowl season.  As the bigger bowls come up, I will do score predictions and analysis for them.  So far, I am 2-2, as I correctly predicted Louisville and BYU's wins, but missed on the other two. Tonight, Boise State plays Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl.  Utah's only chance to beat the Broncos went out the window when Jordan Wynn went down with a shoulder injury.  Boise State is out to prove they are a Top 5 team despite their loss to Nevada.  Tonight in Vegas, that is how they will play.  Boise State 45, Utah 21 (Be sure to vote in the poll!)


December 19th

New Mexico Bowl: Brigham Young over UTEP

Humanitarian Bowl: Fresno State over Northern Illinois

New Orleans Bowl: Ohio over Troy

December 21st

St. Petersburg Bowl: Louisville over Southern Mississippi

December 22nd

Las Vegas Bowl: Boise State over Utah

December 23rd

Poinsettia Bowl: San Diego State over Navy

December 24th

Hawaii Bowl: Hawaii over Tulsa

December 26th

Little Caesars Bowl: Toledo over FIU

December 27th

Independence Bowl: Georgia Tech over Air Force

December 28th

Champs Sports Bowl: NC State over West Virginia

Insight Bowl: Missouri over Iowa

December 29th

Military Bowl: Maryland over East Carolina

Texas Bowl: Baylor over Illinois

Alamo Bowl: Oklahoma State over Arizona

December 30th

Armed Forces Bowl: SMU over Army

Pinstripes Bowl: Kansas State over Syracuse

Music City Bowl: North Carolina over Tennessee

Holiday Bowl: Nebraska over Washington

December 31st

Meineke Car Care Bowl: Clemson over South Florida

Sun Bowl: Notre Dame over Miami

Liberty Bowl: UCF over Georgia

Chick-fil-A Bowl: Florida State over South Carolina

January 1st

TicketCity Bowl: Texas Tech over Northwestern

Outback Bowl: Penn State over Florida

Capital One Bowl: Alabama over Michigan State

Gator Bowl: Mississippi State over Michigan

Rose Bowl: TCU over Wisconsin

Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma over Connecticut

January 3rd

Orange Bowl: Stanford over Virginia Tech

January 4th

Sugar Bowl: Ohio State over Arkansas

January 6th

GoDaddy.com Bowl: Miami (OH) over Middle Tennessee

January 7th

Cotton Bowl: LSU over Texas A&M

January 8th

BBVA Compass Bowl: Kentucky over Pittsburgh

January 9th

Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl: Nevada over Boston College

January 10th

BCS Championship Game: Auburn over Oregon

Bowl Record: 2-2
Overall Record: 45-28

My Top 25: Week 14

Here are my final rankings until the end of bowl season.  The Big East finally has a ranked team again, as UConn is now #25.

25. (Last Week: NR) Connecticut (8-4)
24. (Last Week: NR) Central Florida (10-3)
23. (Last Week: 23) Hawaii (10-3)
22. (Last Week: 22) Mississippi State (8-4)
21. (Last Week: 21) Utah (10-2)
20. (Last Week: 20) Alabama (9-3)
19. (Last Week: 18) South Carolina (9-4)
18. (Last Week: 17) Florida State (9-4)
17. (Last Week: 13) Nebraska (10-3)

16. (Last Week: 19) Texas A&M (9-3)
15. (Last Week: 16) Oklahoma State (10-2)
14. (Last Week: 14) Missouri (10-2)

13. (Last Week: 15) Oklahoma (11-2)
12. (Last Week: 12) LSU (10-2)
11. (Last Week: 11) Virginia Tech (11-2)
10. (Last Week: 10) Arkansas (10-2) 
9. (Last Week: 9) Boise State (11-1)
8. (Last Week:8) Nevada (12-1)
7. (Last Week: 7) Michigan State (11-1)

6. (Last Week: 6) Ohio State (11-1) 
5. (Last Week: 5) Wisconsin (11-1)
4. (Last Week: 4) Stanford (11-1) 
3. (Last Week: 3) Oregon (12-0)

2. (Last Week: 1) TCU (12-0)
1. (Last Week: 2) Auburn (13-0)

Dropped Out: Arizona, Northern Illinois

College Football Pick-Em: Week 14

Here are the picks for Week 14:

ACC Championship Game: Virginia Tech vs. Florida State (in Charlotte)- I have picked the Seminoles to win every game this year and I don't see any reason to change that now.  Both of these teams enter this game super hot.  Virginia Tech is riding a ten game winning streak.  And FSU has won three in a row and just routed Florida.  On paper, the Hokies should win, but I am taking my 'Noles in an upset.  Florida State 28, Virginia Tech 24

SEC Championship Game: South Carolina vs. Auburn (in Atlanta)- One of the hardest things to do in footbal is beat a good team twice in one year.  However, Auburn showed in the second half of last week's game just how special of a team they are.  The Gamecocks will need to play better than they did in their upset of Alabama in order to beat the Tigers.  And with Cam Newton on the opposing sideline, even that might not be enough.  Auburn 38, South Carolina 35

Big 12 Championship Game: Oklahoma vs. Nebraska (in JerryWorld)- In the final Big 12 title game, it is only appropriate that these old Big 8 rivals play one another.  Oklahoma has won nearly half of all the Big 12 title games played.  And Nebraska would love nothing more than to take the Big 12 title with them to the Big Ten next year.  Oklahoma finally seems to be able to play as well on the road as they do at home, but Nebraska's combination of an explosive offense and suffocating defense will lead them to a Big 12 victory one last time.  Nebraska 31, Oklahoma 28

Upset Special: Oregon at Oregon State- I am picking this upset not because I believe it will happen, but because I want it to happen.  I like the Beavers and for the past two years the Ducks have beaten them in the Civil War and denied them a Rose Bowl berth.  Its time for the Beavers to return the favor.  And this Beavers' team is no stranger to upsetting dominate teams.  Two years ago, they knocked off #1 USC in Corvallis.  That's where this game is played too.  Oregon State 23, Oregon 21

Week 12 Record: 3-2
Overall Record: 42-23