2011 Bowl Predictions: 5 Failures Guaranteed to Lose This Bowl Season

Momentum has a lot to do with how teams will fare during their respective bowl games. On top of that, teams can simply gain momentum just by being happy with their respective bowl.

And of course, that works the other way. If teams had disappointing seasons and get bowls they don't really want, they can be at a disadvantage, even if they have more talent than their opponent.

Just look at Nebraska last year. They had more talent than Washington, but the Cornhuskers didn't want to be in the Holiday Bowl and were upset by the Huskies.

It happens every year. 

Here's a look at five teams that will finish their disappointing years with losses during the bowl season. 

UCLA Bruins

Better times should be ahead for the UCLA Bruins as they have moved on from Rick Neuheisel to Jim Mora at head coach, but Mora can't help them in this one.

The Bruins actually made the Pac-12 Championship Game, but it was more because of USC's probation rather than what UCLA actually accomplished. It was still a very disappointing season at 6-7. 

Of course, on the other side of the field is an equally disappointing Illinois team that has also fired their head coach. 

Essentially, the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl is a battle of two completely underwhelming teams. This one won't be pretty.

Both teams have interim head coaches, and both are missing key players because of suspension. Go ahead and pick your poison. 

I'll take the team with Nathan Scheelhaase, arguably the game's best player. UCLA's disappointing season continues. 

Auburn Tigers

Auburn is ranked No. 25, so it's hard to label its season as disappointing, but remember they are the defending National Champions. 

No matter how much talent you lose, it's hard to go from the National Championship to Chick-fil-A Bowl. It's hard to believe the Tigers really want to be here. 

Further hurting Auburn's chances is the fact leading rusher Michael Dyer is suspended and will miss the game.

Also, defensive coordinator Ted Roof left three weeks ago, and this vaunted defense hasn't been the same since. 

Auburn's opponent, Virginia, has a balanced offense led by a bunch of seniors and experience on both lines. 

Somehow, Auburn is still favored, but I love the Cavaliers as an upset pick here. 

Houston Cougars

The Houston Cougars certainly haven't had a disappointing season overall, but after being in line for a BCS bowl going into the final week of the season, they can't be overly-happy about having to go to the TicketCity Bowl. 

Houston, of course, lost to Southern Mississippi to end their undefeated season and chances at the biggest game in recent memory. 

Not only do they now have to settle for a bowl they weren't expecting, but also they have to face a very good Penn State defense. The Nittany Lions have their own distractions, obviously, but Houston hasn't seen a defense like this all year.

Quarterback Case Keenum has put up video-game numbers, but Southern Miss showed that he could be slowed down. Penn State will do the same and knock off the Cougars. 

How quickly the Cinderella has fallen. 

Ohio State Buckeyes

Talk about disappointing. Both Florida and Ohio State are usually among the Top 10 teams in the nation, but they've both fallen to 6-6 on the year.

Both of these teams have plenty of problems on both offense and defense and as a result this will be a close game. 

This is actually the game I've had the hardest time picking, but I think Florida's explosive running back duo of Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey will eventually be the difference. 

Ohio State also has a very good run game, but Braxton Miller's inability to keep the defense honest with his arm will hurt the Buckeyes.

I like Florida in a close, low-scoring game. 

Oklahoma Sooners

This is the classic "Team That Doesn't Want to Be Here." Oklahoma is a big favorite over the Iowa Hawkeyes, but the Sooners will fall victim to the upset.

All-world wide receiver Ryan Broyles is already out, but now big-play threat Jaz Reynolds will also miss the game. Landry Jones is a good quarterback, but he struggled a bit without Broyles. He'll struggle even more with Reynolds. 

Of course, Iowa is also without star running back Marcus Coker, so both offenses will be hurting in this one. That favors the Hawkeyes, who, being from the Big-10, are more used to grind-it-out games.

After this one, the Sooners will hit four losses for the second time in three years.