2011 Bowl Schedule: Predicting the Can't-Miss Games of New Year's Weekend

We're still several days away from the first BCS bowls, but the New Year's weekend games bring a ton of excitement to the television as well.

The highly-publicized Valero Alamo Bowl featuring Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III is tonight, December 29th, at 9:30 p.m. ET, and is only one of the many "can't-miss" games this weekend.

As for the rest of the weekend's big games, you can't miss them either.

Champs Sports Bowl: Notre Dame vs. Florida State (Dec. 29, 5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)

The battle of the overhyped will do exactly that once again: Hype up the winner for next year.

Both Notre Dame and Florida State have talented returning starters and great recruiting classes.

More importantly, they're both getting their starting quarterbacks back.

The Irish would love to send their most prolific receiver of all time, Michael Floyd, out in style.

And the Noles would love to close the year strong and add more fuel to their fiery recruiting base.

The Champs Sports Bowl is the first "can't-miss" game of the weekend.

Prediction: Notre Dame 28, Florida State 24.

Valero Alamo Bowl: Washington vs. Baylor (Dec. 29, 9:00 p.m. ET, ESPN)

The RG3 Bowl isn't just about the Heisman Trophy winner, although he's the biggest bowl attraction until New Year's.

Both the Huskies and Bears' defense give up plenty of points, and the over/under set for this game, 79.5 points, is the largest ever set for a bowl game.

RG3 will be able to put up points in bunches, and Chris Polk will lead the way for the Huskies.

But there is a reason RG3 was named the nation's top player. He'll show it tonight.

Prediction: Baylor 45, Washington 28.

Insight Bowl: Oklahoma vs. Iowa (Dec. 30, 10 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Landry Jones and the Sooners are trying to put a disappointing season to bed once and for all.

In order to do so, they'll need to beat a Hawkeyes team happy just to be in Arizona.

The Sooners, however, are a superior team in almost every way.

If they choose to show up, that is.

With a number of their players eying the NFL draft, the game is a last opportunity to make an impression. 

Prediction: Oklahoma 45, Iowa 21.

Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas: Texas A&M vs. Northwestern (Dec. 31, 12 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Two senior quarterbacks will look to close their careers in Reliant Stadium, when the Aggies and Wildcats get together.

Ryan Tannehill of Texas A&M is a potential first-round prospect, while Dan Persa is trying to help the Wildcats to yet another winning season.

The Aggies had quite a disappointing year and blew five second-half leads at various points this season.

They also got their coach fired because they lost four of their last five.

Like Oklahoma, Texas A&M has a number of players looking to make a lasting impression. The Aggies will take an early lead and if they can pull it together, they'll run away with this game.

Prediction: Texas A&M 42, Northwestern 31.