ACC Bowl Matchups: Tigers, Hokies And 'Canes Look To Come Out On Top

CNNSI's Stewart Mandel predicts all 34 Bowl games in his Bowl Pickoff article. It's a good rundown of all the bowl games. Let's look at the ACC team's matchups and any other bowl games that caught the eye of my blog All About Sports .

Meineke Car Care Bowl. No. 17 Pittsburgh (9-3) vs North Carolina (8-4)

I know Dion Lewis of Pittsburgh is a workhorse at running back, but the game is in Charlotte and will be virtual home game for North Carolina. In addition, towards the end of the season the Tar Heels displayed a nice power running game. The North Carolina defense is the best the ACC has to offer. Robert Quinn is a star in the making for that unit.

CNNSI Prediction Pitt 24 UNC 19

All About Sports Prediction: UNC 27 Pitt 23

Emerald Bowl: USC (8-4) vs Boston College (8-4)

Boston College is one the ACC's biggest surprises this year... in a good way, but they got the shaft getting sent out west. USC is down, but I just don't see how they lose this game. This is still a team full of HS All-Stars that beat Ohio State earlier in the year. If BC can control the clock with Montel Harris on the ground they have shot.

CNNSI Prediction: USC 24 BC 14

All About Sports Prediction: USC 28 BC 20

Music City Bowl: Clemson (8-5) vs Kentucky (7-5)

This the third time in four years Kentucky has been in this game. They won the other two times and the crowd will be heavy on Wildcat fans. Clemson's defense struggled late in year and was torched by Georgia Tech's triple option offense in the ACC Championship. This one will be a shootout, as C.J. Spiller creates a highlight reel against the Kentucky defense.

CNNSI Prediction: Kentucky 26 Clemson 21

All About Sports Prediction: Clemson 34 Kentucky 27

Champs Sports Bowl: No. 14 Miami (9-3) vs No. 24 Wisconsin (9-3)

I love this game. It is one of the best non-BCS matchups of the season. The Badgers feature solid running back John Clay but the Big 10 doesn't have many offenses as explosive as the Hurricanes. The key to this game is for Miami to give QB Jacory Harris time to throw. If he gets that Miami could run away and hide in this one.

CNNSI Prediction: Miami 35 Wisconsin 31

All About Sports Prediction: Miami 31 Wisconsin 20

Chick Fil A Bowl: No. 12 Virginia Tech (9-3) vs Tennessee (7-5)

Tennessee is physical enough on defense to give the Hokies trouble. UT's Eric Berry is an All-American at safety, but I think the Hokies have something to prove. QB Tyrod Taylor and RB Ryan Williams give Virginia Tech a dynamic backfield. I'll be heading down to Atlanta to check out this game myself.

CNNSI Prediction: Tennessee 27 Virginia Tech 24

All About Sports Prediction: Virginia Tech 23 Tennessee 17

Gator Bowl: No. 18 West Virginia (9-3) vs Florida State (6-6)

It is the last game of Bobby Bowden's illustrious coaching career. It won't matter. The Mountaineers have the kind of offense that could slice a bad Nole defense apart. West Virginia's Noel Devine might run for 300 yards. What sticks out in my mind is before the Georgia Tech game the Noles walked out arm in arm with Bowden after a particularly bad week for the coach. The game was in Tallahassee and FSU still lost 49-44.

CNNSI Prediction: Florida State 38 West Virginia 34

All About Sports Prediction: West Virginia 41 Florida State 27

Sugar Bowl: No. 4 Cincinnati (12-0) vs No. 5 Florida (12-1)

Why does this game remind of the Utah\Alabama game last year? Florida has a good defense, but this is the best offense they've seen this year. The Bearcat's Marcus Gilyard and Tony Pike are absolute playmakers. Can anyone see Tim Tebow ending his career with a loss though?

CNNSI Prediction: Florida 41 Cincinnati 24

All About Sports Prediction: Florida 30 Cincinnati 27

Fiesta Bowl: No. 3 TCU (12-0) vs No. 6 Boise St. (13-0)

I hope this game gets the credit it deserves. These are legitimate top 10 teams playing each other. TCU has a great defense that controlled C.J Spiller and Clemson in Death Valley, but Boise St. and their star QB Kellen Moore will provide the Horned Frogs their toughest defensive test. This should be a classic.

CNNSI Prediction: TCU 27 Boise St. 21

All About Sports Prediction: Boise St. 24 TCU 20

Orange Bowl: No. 9 Georgia Tech (11-2) vs No. 10 Iowa (10-2)

I don't think Georgia Tech's defense is capable of stopping anyone. Iowa is a physical team and they get QB Ricky Stanzi back. Everyone thinks extra time helps teams prepare for the Jacket's triple option, but Paul Johnson seems to find way to dispel myths like this. The offense will be fine, but can the Jackets defense make enough stops?

CNNSI Prediction: Georgia Tech 31 Iowa 24

All About Sports Prediction: Georgia Tech 30 Iowa 28

National Championship: No. 1 Alabama (13-0) vs No. 2 Texas (13-0)

Texas QB Colt McCoy meet Mount Cody and the country's best linebacker in Rolando McClain. I would consider it a huge upset if the Longhorns win this game.

CNNSI Prediction: Alabama 27 Texas 16

All About Sports Prediction: Alabama 30 Texas 20