4 - 3 After the first 7

I survived the first week with a 4-3 record. Actually, I'm kicking myself for the TCU - Northern Illinois game. First, I'm not sure how Garrett Wolfe could have had a better season as he led the nation in rushing. However, to overlook TCU's defense was a big mistake.

This week's games start to feature a few more top-25 teams, but not often against each other. It seems we have a lot of pretenders right now. Mainly, historically strong programs coming off average or even bad years, but who still manage to get into a bowl game based on reputation and the simple fact there are so many games to be filled. Let's get at em...

Motor City Bowl

Central Michigan -vs- Middle Tennessee

Central Michigan is the MAC Champion, but that doesn't really mean a lot this season as the MAC turned out to be a so-so group this year. However, Middle Tennessee is not exactly from a power conference either and their two outings against ranked teams this year were disasterous. Give this one to Central Michigan for having "Home Field" advantage.

Emerald Bowl

Florida State -vs- UCLA

When San Francisco set this one up, I'm doubting if they expected a Prime Time match-up like this one. However, it is not very often that Florida State finishes 6-6 and UCLA is only 7-5 although their season-ending win against USC was certainly impressive. Nonetheless, I have trouble imagining Florida State with a losing record and think they'll find a way to end this season on a high note.

Independence Bowl

Alabama -vs- Oklahoma State

Sure, they are both storied programs, but not this year. They both finished 6-6. Alabama recently fired Mike Shula and Oklahoma State has a couple of quality wins making them my favourite for this one.

Texas Bowl

Rutgers -vs- Kansas State

Rutgers was THE STORY of 2006 until Cincinatti ruined their bid for a perfect searson. West Virginia finished the job in triple overtime. The truth is, Rutgers is probably happy to have had the stage for these reasons considering they were one of the worst teams of the 1990's. However, Kansas State beat Texas this year and plays in a pretty tough conference making them more battle-ready for this one.

Holiday Bowl

Texas A&M -vs- California

In our first bowl match-up of the season featuring two teams in the Top 25, expect California to remind everyone who "The Other Team" of the PAC Ten is. They weren't consistent enough to win the conference, but many thought they could have been the team to knock USC off the number 1 spot and, in fact, they both finished with identical 7-2 conference records. However, Texas Tech will come out on top at the end. They lost 3 games all season including 1-point losses to Oklahoma and Nebraska and are likely to catch the Golden Bears flat-footed.

Music City Bowl

Clemson -vs- Kentucky

Kentucky making a bowl in football used to be big news in the Bluegrass State until Louisville started making national noise. Now, nobody really pays attention to them even when they have a respectable season. Clemson, on the other hand, got as high as Number 10 in the nation before the rug came out from under them. Despite a missing cornerback (on a drug charge) against a pretty good passing offense at Kentucky, expect the Tigers to win the Cat Fight.

Sun Bowl

Oregon State -vs- Missouri

Oregon State beat USC and won the Civil War in a close, but ugly game. They have a lot of heart and seem to know how to win games, although their losses were pretty lopsided leaving questions about what team shows up on game days. Missouri only has two wins against teams with winning records and one of those is a MAC team leaving a lot a doubt to their ability to win against a quality opponent. Oregon State should prevail.

Liberty Bowl

Houston -vs- South Carolina

Steve Spurrier is the coach of South Carolina and this already gives them some credible chance of winning this one. Houston won't let it be easy having had 10 wins this season, but most of their opponents are a level down from South Carolina's who, incidently, beat both Kentucky and Clemson this year. South Carolina will take this in a close one.

Insight Bowl

Texas Tech -vs- Minnesota

I always root for the Big Ten...I seldom expect them to win. Texas Tech plays in the Big 12 and played good opponents close even in losses. Minnesota plays in the Big 2 and little 9 this year, only finished 6-6 and got man-handled by teams like Michigan and Ohio State. Tech is going to kill them.

Champs Sports Bowl

Purdue -vs- Maryland

Same problem. Maryland plays a tougher conference and still managed alright while Purdue lined their non-conference schedule with weak teams from weak conferences and didn't beat a team all year that had a winning record. Unless Purdue found a secret weapon during the last month, this will be a laugher for Maryland.

Meineke Bowl

Navy -vs- Boston College

I saw the Navy - Notre Dame game and although the longest winning streak against one team in NCAA history stayed intact that day, I felt that Navy should not be taken too lightly. They lack quality wins and will naturally field a smaller team, but the school that produced Doug Flutie should know better than to judge talent by sheer weight and they'd be mistaken to look past our future Navy & Marine officers. I'm going to give this one to our military.

Alamo Bowl

Texas -vs- Iowa

Before the Big Two made their statement, people were talking about Iowa making their mark this year. It never happened and playing Texas in a bowl named after the Alamo is asking for a massacre with the Texans coming out on top this time.

Chick-fil-A Bowl

Georgia -vs- Virginia Tech

Playing in Atlanta certainly plays to Georgia's advantage, but Virginia Tech comes in number 14 in the country with some quality wins under thier belt including Clemson and Wake Forrest. Georgia finished the season knocking off Auburn and Georgia Tech and should finish their season with a home-bowl win.

MPC Computers Bowl

Miami (Fl) -vs- Nevada

What annoys me most about this match-up is that the Hurricanes are backing into a bowl after a stinky season and an on-field brawl that should have put them on probation. Since Nevada is a slightly above-average team from a weak conference where an undefeated team cannot even be considered a national champion contender Miami will probably end the season with a win and continue annoying all of us who hate her so much.

That's all for now. I'll start on the New Years day and beyond match-ups before they start. Hope you'll tune in.