Final Bowl Games & Wild Card Weekend

Yes, this is the end of the bowl season, which includes the long delayed National Championship game.  The Bowl season is stretched out for entirely too long.  The prime example is in the national title game, as both teams will have last played a game on December 4th!  So, expect a relatively sloppy first quarter, but the game after that should be okay.
Then, there is the wild card round of the playoffs in the NFL.  The wild card teams from both the NFC and AFC are all capable of going all the way to the Super Bowl and winning it.  There is one team which for sure is not going to make it out of the divisional round, and that is the Seahawks.  The reason being is that they have come out of the NFC Worst, rather West.  Now, without further ado, here are six of the final seven bowl games, and the NFL Wild Card preview.

Bowls


Discover Orange Bowl


No. 4 Stanford vs. No. 13 Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech may be the best two loss team in the nation, as after the first week, they've won 11 straight games. Unfortunately for them, they're facing arguably the best one loss team in the nation in Stanford, whose only loss came against No. 2 Oregon at Oregon.  That game was very close for three quarters, as it was 35-31 in favor of Oregon, and Stanford allowed two touchdowns in the fourth without scoring.  Stanford also has a ton of seniors on their roster for experience.  Stanford also has arguably the future number one pick in the NFL Draft, Andrew Luck who can throw blocks like a great fullback, yet is a very precise passer.  Stanford's defense is also very good, as they have only given up 25 or more points three times.  Virginia Tech on the other hand, has just been very consistent, but they also play in a fairly weak ACC conference, which hurts them in my book.

Pick:  Stanford 47, Virginia Tech 24

Allstate Sugar Bowl


No. 6 Ohio State vs. No. 8 Arkansas

Ohio State has five players playing in this game, who really should not be in my opinion for accepting improper benefits for selling some trophies and jerseys and such.  Those five players include star quarterback Terrelle Pryor.  Pryor has been improving year after year, but it won't be enough to stop a very good and consistent SEC West team.  The Big Ten will continue to falter as a conference in bowl games, and will go 1-6 total.

Pick:  Arkansas 33, Ohio State 20

At&t Cotton Bowl Classsic


No. 11 LSU vs. No. 17 Texas A&M

A&M has been a surprise team this season, making a three game improvement over last season, going 9-3.  A&M has a fairly potent offense, and that came with a quarterback change in the middle of the season from Jerrod Johnson to Ryan Tannehill has made a world of difference.  The only time in the Aggies final four games they didn't score 24+ points was against an incredible Nebraska defense which just so happens to be as good as LSU's defense.  LSU has some very athletic players on defense including all conference cornerback Patrick Peterson, who will be a top 15 draft choice.

Pick:  LSU 20, Texas A&M 13

BBVA Compass Bowl


Pittsburgh vs. Kentucky

Pittsburgh's football program is in a state of disarray, as they have fired two head coaches within a span of one month.  The first, Dave Wannstedt didn't live up to expectations throughout his entire six year tenure, and the second, Mike Haywood was fired after he committed felony domestic assault.  But, even without a head coach, Pittsburgh has some good players, including speedy Dion Lewis.  Kentucky is making its fifth consecutive bowl appearance, which is a feat for basketball-centric Kentucky.  Although, whenever a team makes a coaching change, whether from within or outside and makes a bowl, it can be considered a good season.  Kentucky is under first year head coach Joker Phillips, the former offensive coordinator.  Kentucky was highly competitive in some high profile games, including forcing top ranked Auburn to go to overtime, and  beating SEC East champion South Carolina at home.  Kentucky also has a quarterback it can continue to groom in Mike Hartline, who had a fairly good season, throwing for 23 touchdowns and only 9 interceptions.

Pick:  Kentucky 34, Pitt 24

Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl


No. 15 Nevada vs. Boston College

Nevada beat a top ten Boise State team and has baffled defenses all year with its pistol offense, which utilizes Colin Kapernick as its shooter so to speak.  Kapernick can throw the ball with accuracy and run the ball very effectively in this offense.  Boston College started out the season 2-5 to rebound with a five game winning streak to get to this bowl.  Boston College also has a very good run defense, which could slow this offense down, but I don't think it will since this offense is just so unique.

Pick:  Nevada 38, BC 23

Tostitos BCS National Championship Game


No. 1 Auburn vs. No. 2 Oregon

One thing can be said about this game, expect a lot of points to be scored, as both teams rank in the top five in points scored in all of Division 1-A.  Both teams have Heisman candidates, Oregon's LaMichael James, and Heisman winner Cam Newton of Auburn.  Oregon's explosion of offense comes from their speed, as they run each offensive play within about 30 seconds of their previous one.  Auburn's offense comes almost exclusively from Newton, as he is their leading rusher and passer.  If Oregon can slow down Newton enough, which is a tough task, as Newton is huge at 6-6 250, then Oregon can run all over Auburn.  Take the Ducks to stop the SEC's winning streak of national championships.

Pick:  Oregon 45, Auburn 39

NFL Wild Card round


New Orleans at Seattle

Seattle has lost 7 of its past 10, and it has a backup quarterback most likely starting in Charlie Whitehurst.  New Orleans on the other hand, has been winning consistently, and is the defending Super Bowl Champions. I'm sure Drew Brees and the Saints would love to go back to the Super Bowl and possibly win it.  Plus, the Seahawks lost to the Saints earlier in the season 34-19.


Pick:  New Orleans 48, Seattle 13

New York Jets at Indianapolis

Indianapolis was on the brink at the beginning of December, at 6-6 of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2002.  But, they have bounced back to win four straight games, by only an average of five points.  Their veteran leadership and intangibles have gotten them this far, and could get them past an incredibly veteran Jets team who they faced in last year's AFC Championship game and beat.  New York backed into the playoffs for the second straight season, but they could win this game and learn from last season's AFC Championship game.  I think the Jets can come back and play to win.

Pick:  New York 23, Indianapolis 21

Baltimore at Kansas City

Kansas City is back in the playoffs for the first time since 2003, when they won the AFC West last.  There is a huge difference between that '03 team and this team, and that is experience.  Most of the players on this Chiefs team were in college and high school last time the team made it.  Baltimore just made it last season and beat the Patriots in the first round last postseason.  Baltimore was a Super Bowl contender coming into the season, and they very well could go to the Super Bowl playing all of their games on the road.  Baltimore has a very experienced and veteran defense which is seemingly always good, and then Joe Flacco is in his second year of starting, which should translate into a better postseason.  Flacco also has a better receiving corps to work with this season, including All-Pro Anquan Boldin.

Pick:  Baltimore 31, Kansas City 17

Green Bay at Philadelphia

This is a rematch of week one of the regular season.  Green Bay has come back and won two straight over some very good teams, the North division champs the Bears and a team barely missing the playoffs the Giants.  Green Bay also won week one over the Eagles 27-20, but also in that game, Kevin Kolb was knocked out early in the game.  Mike Vick then came in and outscored the Packers over the second half 17-14.  The Packers are coming in hot, the Eagles their past two games of competitive football have not played very well for 7 of 8 of those quarters.  The Eagles are going to win, but it will be a very narrow victory.

Pick:  Philadelphia 30, Green Bay 28