Now come the not so meaningless Bowl games...or so we're told. Again, entertainment purposes only, and my picks with little or no explanation.
Humanitarian Bowl - Georgia Tech (+5.5) vs.Fresno State - This game is being played in gorgeous Boise, it's where you want to go to play an insignificant Bowl game. Tech's coach has been fired. The new coach has already been hired, but not with the team yet, so they are being coached by an interim coach who is rumored to be going elsewhere. Fresno always plays well against teams from the bigger conference's.
Lee's Pick - We're taking the Bulldogs taking the points, but expect them to win the game.
Sun Bowl - South Florida (+6.5) vs. Oregon - Since Dennis Dixon, the Ducks QB and probable Heisman front-runner, went down with a knee injury they have lost 3 straight. Along with RB Johnathan Stewart, they made up a dangerous running attack, which ended the year 8th in the nation. However, the USF defense is fierce, with very talented cornerbacks and George Selvie who is becoming one of college football's top pass rushers.
Lee's Pick - The 6.5 is a lot, but it's under a TD. I'll take the Ducks, but I think the Bulls of South Florida to win by a couple.
Music City Bowl - Kentucky (+10) vs. Florida State - The story of this game is that 36 FSU players have been suspended from this game. Leaving this already flawed team with no depth. The only upside is that the Seminoles didn't lose any of their top skill position players, and Kentucky might overlook this....but then the Wildcats are looking to win their 2nd straight bowl game, the first time in school history.
Lee's pick - Seminoles. They wouldn't have won anyway, now they need to keep up with the Wildcats high powered offense (scored 40 eight times, and 50 three times), and only freshman left to stop them. The FSU QB's aren't good enough to get into a shoot-out, they'll lose but keep it within the spread.
Chick-fil-A Bowl - Clemson (+2.5) Auburn - Finally, a nice game. This will be a defensive match-up, pitting two of the nations top 10 defenses against each other (Clemson is 6th & Auburn 8th). This is a pretty even match-up, two good running games and the aforementioned defenses.
Lee's pick - Auburn taking the points. This game comes down to a field goal or less, and I think Auburn will be the team that sneaks by by a point or two.
Rose Bowl - Southern Cal (+14) vs. Illinois - USC is playing like the best team in the country, which they very well might be. This won't be a blow-out from the start, the Illini are a team that plays hard and has a solid running game, ranked 5th in the country. Oh yeah, the Trojans defense is 4th in the nation against the run.
Lee's Pick - USC is going to route them. I'm taking the Trojans.
Sugar Bowl - Georgia (+7.5) vs Hawaii - Hawaii's passing offense is high powered, and will put up a ton of points. The Rainbow Warriors defense aren't push-overs either, however neither is this Georgia team who came within a win/loss of a possible National Championship run.
Lee's Pick - The question is can Hawaii keep up with this team. This is their first game against a BCS opponent, and it's not a bottom rung BCS team either. I don't think they can, and Georgia will win by two scores. Georgia wins giving the points.
Fiesta Bowl - Oklahoma (+7.5) vs. West Virginia - The line for this game is shifting from 6.5 to 7.5, all depending on where you take your lines from. We're going with Sooners giving 7.5 line. The main reason for this 1 point swing is WVU losing it's coach, Rich Rodriguez, to Michigan...and rather bitterly. You can never tell how a team will react to losing it's coach, especially when you have an ace coaching staff on the other side of the field.
Lee's Pick - Like with many of the later bowl games, this is a nice match-up that should be a good game. WVU is a solid team, and matches up well against the Sooners pass offense, and of course they feature QB Pat White, who's name was mentioned regarding the Heisman at points this season. I'm taking the Mountaineers with the points. I don't think they will win, but they should keep it close.
Orange Bowl - Virginia Tech (+3) vs. Kansas - Virginia Tech has been playing good ball all year, and Kansas lost it's only meaninglful game.
Lee's Pick - Virginia Tech's defense will be too much for the high scoring Kansas offense. Plus this is a team playing with a sense of purpose all year, and has the bowl experience. It'll be close, but I'm taking the Hokies outright.
BCS Championship Game - LSU (+4) vs. Ohio State - This game should be USC vs. LSU, but Ohio State played well enough, and one less game than the other contenders, to fall into this game. Let's face it, OSU should thank Stanford for this chance.
Lee's Pick - I think the 4 points is kind of low, even with the Buckeye's top ranked defense, and OSU wanting to redeem themselves from last years debacle. LSU will win by 10.
Humanitarian Bowl - Georgia Tech (+5.5) vs.Fresno State - This game is being played in gorgeous Boise, it's where you want to go to play an insignificant Bowl game. Tech's coach has been fired. The new coach has already been hired, but not with the team yet, so they are being coached by an interim coach who is rumored to be going elsewhere. Fresno always plays well against teams from the bigger conference's.
Lee's Pick - We're taking the Bulldogs taking the points, but expect them to win the game.
Sun Bowl - South Florida (+6.5) vs. Oregon - Since Dennis Dixon, the Ducks QB and probable Heisman front-runner, went down with a knee injury they have lost 3 straight. Along with RB Johnathan Stewart, they made up a dangerous running attack, which ended the year 8th in the nation. However, the USF defense is fierce, with very talented cornerbacks and George Selvie who is becoming one of college football's top pass rushers.
Lee's Pick - The 6.5 is a lot, but it's under a TD. I'll take the Ducks, but I think the Bulls of South Florida to win by a couple.
Music City Bowl - Kentucky (+10) vs. Florida State - The story of this game is that 36 FSU players have been suspended from this game. Leaving this already flawed team with no depth. The only upside is that the Seminoles didn't lose any of their top skill position players, and Kentucky might overlook this....but then the Wildcats are looking to win their 2nd straight bowl game, the first time in school history.
Lee's pick - Seminoles. They wouldn't have won anyway, now they need to keep up with the Wildcats high powered offense (scored 40 eight times, and 50 three times), and only freshman left to stop them. The FSU QB's aren't good enough to get into a shoot-out, they'll lose but keep it within the spread.
Chick-fil-A Bowl - Clemson (+2.5) Auburn - Finally, a nice game. This will be a defensive match-up, pitting two of the nations top 10 defenses against each other (Clemson is 6th & Auburn 8th). This is a pretty even match-up, two good running games and the aforementioned defenses.
Lee's pick - Auburn taking the points. This game comes down to a field goal or less, and I think Auburn will be the team that sneaks by by a point or two.
Rose Bowl - Southern Cal (+14) vs. Illinois - USC is playing like the best team in the country, which they very well might be. This won't be a blow-out from the start, the Illini are a team that plays hard and has a solid running game, ranked 5th in the country. Oh yeah, the Trojans defense is 4th in the nation against the run.
Lee's Pick - USC is going to route them. I'm taking the Trojans.
Sugar Bowl - Georgia (+7.5) vs Hawaii - Hawaii's passing offense is high powered, and will put up a ton of points. The Rainbow Warriors defense aren't push-overs either, however neither is this Georgia team who came within a win/loss of a possible National Championship run.
Lee's Pick - The question is can Hawaii keep up with this team. This is their first game against a BCS opponent, and it's not a bottom rung BCS team either. I don't think they can, and Georgia will win by two scores. Georgia wins giving the points.
Fiesta Bowl - Oklahoma (+7.5) vs. West Virginia - The line for this game is shifting from 6.5 to 7.5, all depending on where you take your lines from. We're going with Sooners giving 7.5 line. The main reason for this 1 point swing is WVU losing it's coach, Rich Rodriguez, to Michigan...and rather bitterly. You can never tell how a team will react to losing it's coach, especially when you have an ace coaching staff on the other side of the field.
Lee's Pick - Like with many of the later bowl games, this is a nice match-up that should be a good game. WVU is a solid team, and matches up well against the Sooners pass offense, and of course they feature QB Pat White, who's name was mentioned regarding the Heisman at points this season. I'm taking the Mountaineers with the points. I don't think they will win, but they should keep it close.
Orange Bowl - Virginia Tech (+3) vs. Kansas - Virginia Tech has been playing good ball all year, and Kansas lost it's only meaninglful game.
Lee's Pick - Virginia Tech's defense will be too much for the high scoring Kansas offense. Plus this is a team playing with a sense of purpose all year, and has the bowl experience. It'll be close, but I'm taking the Hokies outright.
BCS Championship Game - LSU (+4) vs. Ohio State - This game should be USC vs. LSU, but Ohio State played well enough, and one less game than the other contenders, to fall into this game. Let's face it, OSU should thank Stanford for this chance.
Lee's Pick - I think the 4 points is kind of low, even with the Buckeye's top ranked defense, and OSU wanting to redeem themselves from last years debacle. LSU will win by 10.
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