10 Best Football Games-Week 16!

Bowling starts this week, and no, I'm not in a bowling league, talking about the best 3 weeks of the year: college Bowl games, and all of the wacky names and companies associated with the 35 bowl games this year. Some of the wackier: Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, Ticketcity Bowl, Belk Bowl, Beef O' Brady's Bowl and Military Bowl-Presented by Northrop Grumman. There are other names too which are kind of out there if you will, like the AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl, TaxSlayer.Com Gator Bowl,  and BBVA Compass Bowl. But, there are these names because of the magnitude of bowls and for the companies to get their names out there. Since there are so many bowls, and many of them I will not be able to preview, but will preview the best ones, and go until Wednesday of the following week as far as what Bowls I will preview.
This week in the NFL, it's not very exciting, with many games featuring playoff bound teams against teams which aren't very good, or two teams just preparing for next season. There are two exciting games, but that's about it. Now, on to the preview.

Bowls

Gildan New Mexico Bowl
Temple vs. Wyoming,  Saturday, 2, ESPN

This is a game between two rather surprising mid-major conference teams, who both posted 8-4 record, and are deserving of bowl bids. Temple closed out the regular season with three consecutive victories, led by elusive back Bernard Pierce, who is coming back next year to try and put up even gaudier numbers than his 1381 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns, which is more touchdowns that Heisman candidate Trent Richardson. Temple also has a good defense to go along with Pierce and the rushing game, only allowing slightly less than 14 points per game. Wyoming meanwhile, could be the front runner for next year's Mountain West conference, as Boise State could be leaving for the Big East and TCU is already jettisoning for the Big 12. Wyoming finished third in the MWC behind those two schools, and are led by freshman quarterback, and freshman of the year in the MWC Brett Smith, who finished the season with nearly 2500 yards passing and 18 touchdowns. This game should be a good one, and could be rather low scoring.
Info obtained from: http://espn.go.com/ncf/preview?gameId=313512751

Pick: Wyoming 23, Temple 14

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Boise, Idaho
Ohio vs. Utah State, 5:30, Saturday, ESPN

Ohio lost in the MAC championship game, to finish 9-4 on the season, now they have to travel two thirds across the country to Boise, for their bowl game. Utah State finished a pedestrian 7-5 in the WAC, but that was only one game back of conference winner Louisiana Tech, so they could be a contender next season in an even more depleted WAC, as Fresno State leaves the conference. Ohio won five consecutive games to win the East division of the MAC and advance to the championship game before losing to Northern Illinois. Ohio has a very potent offense, led by quarterback Tyler Tettleton, who passed for over 3,000 yards, and were averaging over 400 yards a game in their five consecutive victories. Utah State is very much a rushing attack, and kind of like a throwback offense, a lot of running, and not a whole lot of passing. As Utah State ranks in the bottom third for passing in division 1-A.  This should be an offensive shootout.
Info: http://espn.go.com/ncf/preview?gameId=313510328

Pick: Utah State 38, Ohio 36

R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
San Diego State vs. Louisiana-Lafayette, Saturday, 9, ESPN

San Diego State suffered no ill effects after their coach, Brady Hoke, who led them back to some prominence  last season left for Michigan, and are going to back to back bowl games for the first time since the '60s. The Ragin' Cajuns are making their first trip to any bowl since 1970. This game will essentially be a home game for  the Cajuns, as it's only a short drive from Lafayette. The Cajuns will have to deal with senior running back Ronnie Hillman, who, while not receiving too much attention like other running backs like Montee Ball and Trent Richardson and LaMichael James, he is a very good back, ranking third in the nation averaging 138 yards a game. The Cajuns meanwhile, rely on passing and two main receiving threats in Javone Lawson and Ladarius Green, who caught 15 of quarterback Blaine Gautier's 20 touchdown passes. This again should be rather high scoring, with Louisiana-Lafayette's poor defense down the stretch.
Info: http://espn.go.com/ncf/preview?gameId=313510309

Pick: Louisiana-Lafayette 41, SDSU 27

Beef O' Brady's Bowl St. Petersburg
Florida International vs. Marshall, Tuesday, 8, ESPN

FIU was a respectable 8-4 and finished fourth in a top heavy Sun Belt, while Marshall shouldn't be here, with a 6-6 record. FIU has been having a rise in its football program, started just a decade ago in 2002. The eight wins are a school record, and this is thanks to coach Mario Cristobal, who has turned this program around, from a 0-12 team in 2006 to the now 8-4 squad in 2011. FIU also has one of the most dynamic receivers in the nation in T.Y. Hilton, who is blazing fast and has nearly 1,000 yards on the season. Marshall meanwhile finished 2nd in the Conference USA East division, behind eventual conference champ Southern Miss. Marshall has a great defense, creating 28 turnovers on the year, and led by defensive end Vinny Curry, who has 21.5 tackles for loss, with 11 of those being sacks. This should be a decent game, but with FIU coming out on top.
Info: http://espn.go.com/ncf/preview?gameId=313540276

Pick: FIU 21, Marshall 10

San Diego Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl, San Diego
#18 TCU vs. Louisiana Tech, Wednesday, 8, ESPN

TCU had an excellent closing to their season, winning seven straight, and their two losses were by a combined  nine points. Plus, the one was to Heisman winner Robert Griffin III. TCU is moving on from their mid-major status next season and moving into a power conference in the Big 12 next season, where they could be a conference title contender. TCU has a focused running game, mainly because of losing star quarterack Andy Dalton to the NFL. Now, they're averaging over 200 yards a game on the ground. Louisiana Tech won the WAC and are headed to their first bowl since the 2008 Independence Bowl. But, since TCU is coming from a tougher conference and since they beat a top 10 team in Boise State, go with the Horned Frogs.
Info: http://espn.go.com/ncf/preview?gameId=313552348

Pick: TCU 45, La. Tech 20

NFL

Detroit at Oakland, 4, Fox

Oakland is trying to break back into the race for the AFC West, with them still only one game behind the Broncos, who are playing the Patriots this week. Oakland has not been very good the past few weeks, losing big to Miami and Green Bay, but have three very winnable games left, beginning with this one. Oakland needs to get back to playing stout defense and they need Carson Palmer not to be imploding, as he has done the past two weeks. Then, Detroit needs to just play their game and not make stupid penalties and mistakes, then they'll win, as that has been their achillies heel this season. Detroit also has Ndamukong Suh coming back for this game, so they should be motivated to get this win and continue on their quest for the playoffs.

Pick: Detroit 28, Oakland 22

New England at Denver, 4:15, CBS

This is the first really big test for the Broncos and Tim Tebow as a team, as last week, Tebow faced the best defense he had faced, now the Broncos defense faces a huge test in Tom Brady and the Patriots offense. Everyone has been crowing about Tebow, but really, the key to this whole turn around by the Broncos has been the defense, led by linebackers Elvis Dumervil and Von Miller, only giving up more than 15 points in three of the eight games. Tebow and the Broncos will be relying on the running game and the option game, as the Patriots strength is in their secondary. But, I think New England is too much and has too many weapons for the Broncos to cover.

Pick: New England 37, Denver 23

New York Jets at Philadelphia, 4:15, CBS

Yes, Amazingly enough, the Eagles still have a shot at the division title, as if the Cowboys, Giants and Eagles all finish 8-8, the Eagles win the division. But, kiss those dreams goodbye Eagles fans, as the Jets are too good on defense and can wreak havoc on Mike Vick and LeSean McCoy. The Jets have also been climbing back into the AFC playoff picture, thanks to Cincy's collapse and the Jets just playing better on offense, thanks mainly to Shonn Greene, who has been a key piece of the running game the past few weeks.

Pick:  New York Jets 24, Philly 10

Baltimore at San Diego, 8:30, NBC

Baltimore has been very much in charge of the AFC North the entire season, only slipping a few times, losing three games, they probably shouldn't have. San Diego meanwhile, may have found their step again, after losing six consecutive games, after starting the season 4-1. San Diego has won their past two, thanks to Philip Rivers finding his passing game again. Baltimore, though, has been doing very well, thanks to star running back Ray Rice, who has been tearing up the league. Baltimore has also been putting up stellar numbers on defense as usual.

Pick: Baltimore 24, San Diego 13

Pittsburgh at San Francisco, Monday, 8:30, ESPN

This is a great interconference game, matching up two 10-3 teams, and both having Super Bowl aspirations. Pittsburgh, probably has a much better shot at the Super Bowl than San Francisco, based simply because they've been there, and they've been able to score touchdowns in the red zone, while San Francisco has been awful in the red zone, more often than not, getting field goals rather than touchdowns. That has proven to be their downfall in their losses, with a perfect example being last week's loss against Arizona, getting four field goals, rather than touchdowns. San Francisco has a very stout defense, but they probably can't stop the Steelers offense.

Pick: Pittsburgh 34, San Francisco 26