2008 Bowl Previews, Part 2

We'll finish up our quick look into each bowl game this season. There are plenty of great matchups this season, but some real duds, too. I'll give the basics for each bowl game; who's in it, when, why I (and you) should take the time to watch, and which team gets the early nod from one of the better vegas sites out there. (not that I condone gambling or anything... *wink, wink*)

Part 2: Armed Forces Bowl thru BCS Title Game
Part 1

Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl Dec. 31 / 12 p.m. 

Air Force (8-4) vs. Houston (7-5)
Why I should watch: While you're getting ready for that New Years Eve party, flip this one on. It's nothing to go gaga for, but it offers some decent football between some evenly matched teams. Since this is another service academy in a bowl game, you sort of have to feel guilty if you don't watch.
Early line: Cougs by 3.
On paper, this game gets a... 3/10.

Brut Sun Bowl Dec. 31 / 2 p.m.

Pitt (9-3) vs. Oregon State (8-4)
Why I should watch: There's two reasons for Penn State fans to tune into this game. Everyone loves rooting against Pittsburgh, and an Oregon State win would boost PSU's strength of schedule going into the final BCS poll release. The Beavers left a bad taste in everyone's mouths, getting blown out by Oregon in the final game. Meanwhile, we can't forget that Pitt lost to Bowling Green, and was slammed by Rutgers. As mediocre as they are, this game should be good.
Early line: Beavs by 2.5.
On paper, this game gets a... 5/10.

Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl Dec. 31 / 3:30 p.m. 

Boston College (9-4) vs. Vanderbilt (6-6)
Why I should watch: Wow, where did Vanderbilt go after that 5-0 start? Seems like decades ago we were ranking the 'Dors in the top-15. Not so much now. Combine that with the fact that Boston College was ambushed by a fired-up Virginia Tech team, and this game could get ugly in a big hurry. Still, it's BCS vs. BCS.
Early line: Fighting Fluties by 3.5.
On paper, this game gets a... 3/10.

Insight Bowl Dec. 31 / 5:30 

Minnesota (7-5) vs. Kansas (7-5)
Why I should watch: The Golden Gophers were a nice feel-good story for about eight weeks, then it all caved in. Yes, it was still a great turnaround, but Kansas is still a much better overall team than Minnesota. Don't forget that the Jayhawks pulled out a very gutsy win over Missouri three weeks ago, in one of the best games this year. If KU quarterback Todd Reesing comes out sharp, this could turn into a great QB-battle with Adam Weber. Too bad its on the NFL Network.
Early line: Hawks by 10.
On paper, this game gets a... 3/10.

Chick-fil-A Bowl Dec. 31 / 7:30 p.m.
Georgia Tech (9-3) vs. LSU (7-5)
Why I should watch: The talking heads on TV are still trying to cling to their "SEC is awesome!" preseason garbage, by calling for the upset here. Not so fast, my Corso wanna-be friends. Georgia Tech completely demolished Georgia–you know, the team that was supposed to win the National Championship–in the final game, while LSU has been a shell of the program it was the last few seasons. I'm not so sure this won't turn into a blowout.
Early line: Wreck by 4.
On paper, this game gets a... 7/10.

Outback Bowl Jan. 1 / 11 a.m.

Iowa (8-4) vs. South Carolina (7-5)
Why I should watch: Here we go, the first Big Ten vs. SEC matchup this bowl season, and it looks like quite the yawner. South Carolina played a very easy schedule, with its only good win against 8-4 Ole Miss. Losses to Vandy and Clemson were inexcusable. Iowa was a bit different, as three of four losses came to teams with more than nine wins, while the Hawkeyes beat No. 3 Penn State.
Early line: Hawks by 3.5.
On paper, this game gets a... 5/10.

Konica Minolta Gator Bowl Jan. 1 / 1 p.m.  

Clemson (7-5) vs. Nebraska (8-4)
Why I should watch: How quiet have those Cornhuskers been? Bo Pelini might be trying to keep his team under the radar for a while, because when he gets all the pieces in place, Big Red will be a killer once again. But it might all blow open early with a win over Clemson. Speaking of the Tigers, it wasn't all that long ago we were getting hyped up about the Alabama-Clemson game, only to find out that Clemson was a very, very mediocre team.
Early line: Tigers by 2.5.
On paper, this game gets a... 4/10.

Capital One Bowl Jan. 1 / 1 p.m. 

Michigan State (9-3) vs. Georgia (9-3)
Why I should watch: This is Big Ten vs. SEC part two. But this game won't be as kind to them northerners. Michigan State had a very good season, beating all the teams it should have. That was pretty impressive, considering where the program was under John L. Smith. Now look at Georgia, which came into this season with all the glitz and glamour of a sure-thing Hollywood blockbuster. Well, that movie bombed, moving straight to DVD in two months. Possibly one of the most overrated teams in college football this year, Georgia will come out hungry to redeem itself. It may not be a blowout, but it won't be pretty.
Early line: Dogs by 7.5.
On paper, this game gets a... 6/10.

AutoZone Liberty Bowl Jan. 2 / 5:00 p.m.

East Carolina (9-4) vs. Kentucky (6-6)
Why I should watch: The Pirates made a big splash this September, beating Virginia Tech and West Virginia. Then they dropped a few games, and quickly lost favor among the pundits. But East Carolina made up for it by winning C-USA. Kentucky should be much better next season or the year after that, but it still managed a bowl bid.
Early line: Pirates by 2.5.
On paper, this game gets a... 6/10.

AT&T Cotton Bowl Jan. 2 / 2 p.m.   

Texas Tech (11-1) vs. Ole Miss (8-4)

Why I should watch: Ok SEC, want to prove you're not mega-overrated this year? Beat Texas Tech. Ed Orgeron, er, Mississippi wasn't given enough credit for winning eight games, one being Florida's only loss, in the Swamp. Texas Tech never seemed to recover from the Oklahoma debacle and could be prime meat for an upset. But Mike Leach has a way to win games, and Ole Miss hasn't seen anything like it before.
Early line: Tech by 5.5.
On paper, this game gets a... 7/10.


International Bowl Jan. 3 / 12 p.m. 

Connecticut (7-5) vs. Buffalo (8-5)
Why I should watch: UConn isn't all that bad, having earned two straight bowl bids. Plus, coach Randy Edsall is still a very good coach who knows how to get a lot out of a little. Buffalo is probably the best overall program-turnaround from the last few years to this season's MAC championship. Turner Gill has entertained offers to other big-time jobs, but will probably stay put for another season.
Early line: Huskies by 4.5.
On paper, this game gets a... 2/10.

GMAC Bowl Jan. 6 / 8 p.m. 

Tulsa (10-3) vs. Ball State (12-1)
Why I should watch: This can be the "Wow, how did we lose those games" bowl. Ball State was one uninspired performance away from going undefeated, while Tulsa was everyone's favorite offensive juggernaut for most of this year. Outside of the massive disappointments that were the two teams' final games, this one should provide some fireworks.
Early line: Cards by 2.5.
On paper, this game gets a... 4/10.

BCS Games


FedEx Orange Bowl Jan. 1 / 8 p.m.
 
Virginia Tech (9-4) vs. Cincinnati (11-2)

Why I should watch: All my friends and neighbors around here are Hokies fans, so there's some interest from that. But actually I think I'll root against Tech. I'm a Big East guy by nature, so I'll go with Cincy. It's still not one of the best BCS games in recent memory. VT coach Frank Beamer got a lot out of his team after a disastrous start, to win the ACC. Cincinnati has now won 21 games the last two seasons, and coach Brian Kelly said he's staying put. Remember, Oklahoma was one of Cincy's losses.
Early line: Bear...cats by 2.
On paper, this game gets a... 7/10.

Rose Bowl presented by Citi Jan. 1 / 5:10 p.m.
  
USC (11-1) vs. Penn State (11-1)

Why I should watch: You know why... I'll have the full Rose Bowl Preview posted on Dec. 29.
Early line: Condoms by 9.5.
On paper, this game gets a... 9/10.

Allstate Sugar Bowl Jan. 2 / 8:30 p.m.
  
Alabama (12-1) vs. Utah (12-0)
Why I should watch: What will Alabama do now? The Tide was riding higher than a Utah skilift, until it all came crashing down with a loss to Florida in the championship game. If Nick Saban is really a good coach, he'll get his team ready. Personally, I would have rather seen Alabama take on Texas in the "Should-Have-Been-In-Bowl." Utah is back in the BCS after crashing the party in 2004. But this time, it's not going up against an 8-3 Pitt team. The Utes have been one of the more consistent winners over the last few years, and with a win can make an even stronger, even if its unintentional, case for a playoff system.
Early line: Tide by 10.
On paper, this game gets a... 7/10.

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Jan. 5 / 8 p.m.
  
Texas (11-1) vs. Ohio State (10-2)
Why I should watch: Texas beat Oklahoma. Texas beat Oklahoma. TEXAS... BEAT... OKLAHOMA... 45-35! Has there ever been more motivation for a eam to absolutely annihilate its opponent? On top of that, Colt McCoy didn't even win the Heisman, losing to Sam Bradford... of Oklahoma! Ohio State, though, isn't even being given a chance in this one. We all know what happens when you tell a team "you can't possibly win this one." The Buckeyes are just not as good as we thought this year, and don't count on Terrelle Pryor.
Early line: Horns by 9.5.
On paper, this game gets a... 8/10.

FedEx BCS National Championship Jan. 8 / 8 p.m.
 
Oklahoma (12-1) vs. Florida (12-1)
Why I should watch: I never would have thought that Oklahoma would be an under-the-radar kind of team this year, but they have been. With so much hype over Texas Tech, Texas, Florida, Alabama and even Georgia early on, Oklahoma sort of fell by the wayside after losing to the Longhorns. On the other hand, Florida always had its SEC homers telling anyone who would listen, that the Gators were the best kept secret all season long, and that the Ole Miss loss actually made them better. Plus, watching two Heisman winners on the same field is always fun.
Early line: Fighting Tebows by 3.
On paper, this game gets a... 9/10.