College Bowls Predictions: Bold Predictions for Today's Bowl Action

College football fans are in luck this New Year's Eve.

Saturday's slate of bowl games will see the defending national champion Auburn Tigers in action in the annual Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta, as well as the SEC's newest program, Texas A&M, taking on Northwestern at Reliant Stadium in Houston. 

Here's a rundown of how it will all unfold on the last day of 2011:

Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas: Texas A&M Over Northwestern (12:00 PM ET, ESPN)

This game will be played in Houston, where the Aggies will have the distinct home-field advantage over the Wildcats. Texas A&M's senior quarterback Ryan Tannehill is also a legitimate NFL draft prospect, and he will put pressure on Northwestern's offense to keep up in the scoring department.

The Aggies rank 12th in the nation in scoring offense, lighting up the scoreboard for nearly 40 points per game, while the Wildcats of the Big Ten lack the explosion on either side of the ball to top such a prolific attack.

Hyundai Sun Bowl: Georgia Tech Over Utah (2:00 PM ET, CBS)

Georgia Tech will run the ball all over Utah on Saturday afternoon in the Sun Bowl. The Yellow Jackets rank an impressive second in the country in rushing by yardage, racking up more than 316 per game.

Junior quarterback Tevin Washington leads GT in both passing and rushing, with 1,515 and 890 yards, respectively. Washington has also scored a total 24 touchdowns on the ground and through the air this season. He'll be the player to watch in this one.

AutoZone Liberty Bowl: Vanderbilt Over Cincinnati (3:30 PM ET, ABC)

I'll take the SEC over the Big East any day, and, of course, I'll take Aaron Rodgers' little brother, Jordan in this Liberty Bowl matchup.

Both defenses have been successful this season for Vanderbilt and Cincinnati, but the offensive competition has without question been tougher on the Commodores' side.

Vandy's D will wreak havoc on Cincy's Zach Collaros and do the Bearcats in late in the game.

Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl: UCLA Over Illinois (3:30 PM ET, ESPN)

In what should be called the "disappointment bowl" between UCLA, losers of seven games this season, and Illinois, losers of six-straight games, the Bruins get the slight edge based on the ineptness of the Fighting Illini.

It's saying something about how undeserving Illinois is of a bowl game when it isn't even a solid favorite to beat a 6-7 team with a minus-9 scoring differential.

There isn't likely a soul out there that is excited for this lackluster matchup, except the parents of the kids playing. 

Chick-fil-A Bowl: Virginia Over No. 25 Auburn (7:30 PM ET, ESPN)

The nightcap on New Year's Eve will feature the surprising 8-4 Cavaliers of the ACC taking on the defending national champ Auburn, the only top 25 team in action on the day.

The Tigers have a minus-5 scoring differential this season thanks to some blowout losses against LSU and Alabama. Virginia is coming off a 38-0 blowout loss to Virginia Tech in the regular season finale meanwhile.

Auburn is the favorite in this matchup, but they have serious quarterback questions considering that Barrett Trotter led the team in passing with 1,009 yards on the year.

Michael Rocco is a steadier hand for Virginia at quarterback, and I like him to be the difference in Atlanta Saturday night, leading the Cavaliers to a huge Chick-fil-A Bowl win over the most recent champs of college football.