This is the final week of the NFL regular season and bowls are starting to churn out better and better games as we grow closer to New Year's Day and the blowup of games that day. There are a few games to keep an eye on in the NFL to see who will win divisions, including the NFC Worst, I mean West division. Then, the granddaddy of them all, the Rose Bowl Game features a very enticing game featuring #5 Wisconsin against #3 TCU. Also, Bowl games this week will just be from tomorrow until New Year's as I wouldn't have 10 games next week to fill this space if I didn't tweak it that way. Also, gotta give credit to ESPN.com for some of the info used in this column. Especially with the bowl games. Go to espn.com/ncf and also check the bowl previews.
College
Hyundai Sun Bowl
Miami (FL) vs. Notre Dame
These two once historic programs have fallen on hard times lately. Both had higher aspirations than to be in the Sun Bowl, especially Miami. Miami's head coach got fired for failing to meet those lofty expectations. But, both should be motivated to play in this game. Miami would like to prove themselves to be who everyone thought they'd be, and Notre Dame would like to have a springboard into next season. Notre Dame's defense hopes to continue what it's been doing on their current three game winning streak, holding opponents to just over 230 yards a game. Plus, freshman Tommy Rees would like to continue to mature and hold off incumbent Dayne Crist next season. Then, Miami needs to start producing on offense, especially Jacory Harris who has struggled throughout the season. It should be a great game and hopefully a renewal of an old convicts vs. catholics rivalry.
Pick: Notre Dame 31, Miami 23
Chick-Fil-A Bowl
No. 20 South Carolina vs. No. 23 Florida State
Both these teams are coming off crushing defeats in their respective conference title games, and this sets up a rather nice bowl game. Both teams would love to rebound and get off to a fresh start next season. This should be a lower scoring game, as both teams feature some good defenses. South Carolina led the SEC in rushing defense and in sacks, while Florida State is second in the nation in sacks. Florida State will have to get into the backfield a lot to stop South Carolina's three pronged attack of Stephen Garcia throwing to Alshon Jeffery and handing off to talented freshman Marcus Lattimore. Jeffery and Lattimore both had over 1,000 yards respectively, receiving for Heffery and Lattimore rushing. Florida State has a big question mark at quarterback, as they don't know if talented Christian Ponder will start or EJ Manuel. With that up in the air, go with the Cocks.
Pick: South Carolina 24, Florida State 20
Outback Bowl
Penn State vs. Florida
Both teams had middling 7-5 seasons, but the main storyline going into this bowl will be the coaches. Urban Meyer, 46 retiring at the end of the game presumably for good against the ageless wonder Joe Paterno, 84 who has no plans to retire any time soon. Paterno will coach Penn State next season for as long as Meyer has been alive. Another interesting stat regarding this game is that 9 of the combined 10 losses for the two teams came against ranked opponents at the time they faced them. The only one that didn't: Penn State's loss to Illinois. Florida will be very amp'd up for this game, as they should be since Meyer is retiring. Plus, Penn State doesn't nearly have the level of talent that Florida does, hence why I think Penn State will lose.
Pick: Florida 41, Penn State 24
Capital One Bowl
No. 9 Michigan State vs. No. 16 Alabama
This is one heckuva matchup, as it pits the defending National Champions against the Spartans, who are having a magical season. Both coaches will have no hard feelings for one another after the game, as Mark Dantonio was an assistant under former Michigan State coach Nick Saban and both have remained friends throughout the 11 years since Saban's departure for the warmth of the SEC. The matchups do not favor the Spartans on paper, but the game isn't played on paper, hence why I'm going with my gut and picking Michigan State to upset Alabama.
Pick: Michigan State 24, Alabama 22
Rose Bowl Game presented by Vizio
No. 3 TCU vs. No. 5 Wisconsin
This is a classic strength vs. strength game. TCU has the number one rush defense in the nation, while Wisconsin has the number one rushing offense in the nation. When it comes to these types of strength vs. strength games, always go with the defense. Although Wisconsin does have three nearly 1,000 yard rushers in Montee Ball, John Clay and James White. TCU boasts its own talented offense, led by senior quarterback Andy Dalton, who is as poised as they come. Dalton has been a four year starter at TCU and hopes to go out with a bang, which I think he will.
Pick: TCU 42, Wisconsin 39
NFL
St. Louis at Seattle
This game will decide who comes out of the woeful West. It will either be a .500 team if St. Louis wins, or a team with a losing record, if Seattle wins. Since Matt Hasselbeck is most likely out for the Seahawks, that gives a slight edge to St. Louis and their number one pick Sam Bradford. The one advantage Seattle has is that the game is in Seattle, the loudest stadium in the NFL, by far. Seattle needs to rely on their 12th man and a stingy defense to rattle Bradford into mistakes. Seattle also needs Marshawn Lynch to be a good back this game for them to win the West, which I think they barely do.
Pick: Seattle 27, St. Louis 26
Jacksonville at Houston
Jacksonville needs to win and pray Indianapolis loses to win the AFC South. That being said, Jacksonville should roll against Houston, which seems to have given up since going 4-2 to start the season. Since then, they have gone a woeful 1-8 after their bye week. I don't think there is any chance that Gary Kubiak is staying after the game, and Houston is going home again after another disappointing season.
Pick: Jacksonville 37, Houston 21
Tennessee at Indianapolis
Indianpolis' mission: win and they are in. After their game against Oakland last week proved they can actually run the ball, and take some of the pressure off Peyton Manning, I think they will win again to go into the AFC playoffs as the number four seed. Indianapolis will win because they are getting healthier and the emergence of a running game. Plus, Tennessee has Kerry Collins starting at quarterback. Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis will reek havoc on him all day.
Pick: Indy 38, Tennessee 10
Chicago at Green Bay
This is another win and in game, this time for Green Bay. The difference this time is that Chicago still has faint hopes of getting home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Chicago will probably make a decision on their starters depending the result of the Atlanta-Carolina game. If Carolina somehow wins, Chicago will probably play their starters and try and get the number one seed. If Atlanta wins, which I'm thinking will happen, Chicago will probably rest their starters and wait for the divisional opponent. Whichever the case, I think Green Bay will win because they are motivated and for anyone who didn't see their game against the Giants, Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay offense destroyed them. Hence, Packers win and they will be in to face the Eagles in the Wild Card round.
Pick: Green Bay 27, Chicago 13
Tampa Bay at New Orleans
Tampa will need to win and have a lot of help if they are to get the final wild card spot in the NFC. New Orleans is still wishing and hoping for that number one seed if Atlanta loses. Both teams have been playing better down the stretch. Tampa has been running the ball effectively with LeGarrette Blount and Josh Freeman not turning the ball over. New Orleans didn't play well at all in Baltimore, but then rebounded last week to beat Atlanta for the first time since 2007 in Atlanta. I think Tampa will fall just short of their dreams this season, but watch for them next season.
Pick: New Orleans 41, Tampa Bay 17
Happy New Year! Celebrate joyously and responsibly this coming New Year's Eve! If you do drink, please get a designated driver or take a cab home, it's much safer! Also, be sure to check out my December game of the month post coming up on Saturday, along with the game of the year also coming Saturday! Then, on Sunday, be sure to check out my Wild Card round and final Bowl picks!
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