2010-2011 College Bowl Predictions: Who Wins the 20 Best Bowls?
2010-2011 college bowl predictions are here.
It's almost that magical time of the year where there's a bowl game on every night to enjoy.
The bowl pools will be coming out soon and everyone has fun playing them. Bowl season means holiday season, so sit back, enjoy the final games of the season and get ready for all of the bowls.
Is it as exciting as a playoff might be? Maybe not, but it doesn't mean it's not awesome to experience.
Any thoughts or questions? Leave them down below, as always.
Pinstripe Bowl: Syracuse vs. Kansas State
1 of 20
The Pinstripe Bowl, a bowl game coming out of the new Yankee Stadium, is a game that I see Syracuse and Kansas State getting to.
Syracuse has a good record this year. But you need to remember that it beat two schools that were gimme games to get two of those wins.
Kansas State has struggled at times this year. However, the Wildcats played in the tough Big 12, which offers more in competition than the Big East.
At least it'll be nice to see a game in Yankee Stadium again.
Prediction
Kansas State 38, Syracuse 16
Music City Bowl: North Carolina vs. Mississippi State
2 of 20
North Carolina has struggled on and off the field this season.
But I see them getting to the Music City Bowl against Mississippi State.
Mississippi State has had to go through the death of a teammate to cancer. It's been a motivating factor for the team that gave Arkansas all it could handle last night in a thrilling game that went to double overtime.
I just think the Bulldogs will be too much for the Tar Heels to deal with.
Prediction
Mississippi State 31, North Carolina 24
Compass Bowl: Georgia vs. South Florida
3 of 20
In this matchup between SEC and Big East teams, I think that the SEC is just such a superior conference that this could be a blowout.
Georgia is a team that gave No. 1 Auburn all it could handle a couple of weeks ago. Against a team like South Florida, I think the Bulldogs are in a great position to put a lot of points up on the board and cruise to a win.
No disrespect to South Florida, but I don't see them hanging with the Bulldogs.
Prediction
Georgia 45, South Florida 13
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Fight Hunger Bowl: Boston College vs. Nevada
4 of 20
I'm intrigued by this matchup because Nevada is sitting in the BCS standings right now.
Against a team like Boston College, it will be a nice test.
The Wolfpack will give the Golden Eagles all they can handle in this game. I wouldn't be shocked to see Nevada come out of this game with a win.
No one respects teams like Nevada, But a big win in this game could do a lot to silence people.
Probably not. But a man can dream, can't he?
Prediction
Nevada 27, Boston College 24
TicketCity Bowl: Northwestern vs. Texas Tech
5 of 20
To be honest, I had never heard of the TicketCity Bowl until going through the list of bowls recently.
Trust me: It exists, and two teams will play in it.
I have Northwestern and Texas Tech in this game. It will be hard for the Wildcats to win without Dan Persa under center.
Losing him for the year with an Achilles injury will be tough to overcome in this game, as Persa had a great year under center for Northwestern.
I think Texas Tech has a big advantage in this matchup.
Prediction
Texas Tech 31, Northwestern 20
Holiday Bowl: Texas A&M vs. California
6 of 20
Texas A&M is rolling right now and just upset Nebraska last night.
The Aggies are going to have a ton of momentum heading into the bowl season.
The Aggies will play California in the Holiday Bowl by my estimation. Even though the Golden Bears gave Oregon all they could handle, they got steamrolled by Andrew Luck and Stanford yesterday, as Luck threw and ran all over the Cal defense.
I think the Aggies will be able to have a lot of success and win going away.
Prediction
Texas A&M 24, California 13
Hyundai Sun Bowl: Maryland vs. Notre Dame
7 of 20
Yes, I actually think Notre Dame will get into a pretty decent bowl game.
The Fighting Irish became bowl-eligible last night in their big win in Yankee Stadium. Plus, it's Notre Dame.
Teams like the Fighting Irish and Penn State and so on get good bowl bids all of the time because they have big fanbases that always travel well across the country.
Just because the Irish get in, it doesn't mean they're going to win. Give me the Terps.
Prediction
Maryland 24, Notre Dame 16
Insight Bowl: Michigan vs. Missouri
8 of 20
Denard Robinson is going to get to show the nation what he has.
I believe he, and the Michigan Wolverines, will play in the Insight Bowl against Missouri.
I think it's going to be a very intriguing matchup and a game you'll have to watch if you're a college football fan.
The Wolverines had a fast start again this year. But it quickly fizzled out and Michigan lost yet again this week.
I think the Tigers will force enough mistakes to slow down the Michigan offense and win the game.
Prediction
Missouri 42, Michigan 38
Meineke Car Care Bowl: West Virginia vs. Miami
9 of 20
These are two teams who have had very up-and-down seasons this year.
It'll be interesting to see who wins out in the end if this matchup were to happen.
I think Randy Shannon is on his way out in Miami. This could be his last game as coach of the Hurricanes.
Jacory Harris will either win this game for Miami or cost it the game. It's just the type of player he is.
It's an old Big East rivalry, and I'd love to watch this game.
Prediction
Miami 31, West Virginia 20
Gator Bowl: Penn State vs. Florida
10 of 20
Now this is a game that would have been a monster game a couple of years ago.
But this year, things just aren't the same for these programs.
Penn State and Florida have had major struggles this year. The Nittany Lions and Gators are in the process of rebuilding after having a lot of successful runs and big-time bowl appearances.
The Gator Bowl would love to have this matchup, and I think it would be a slugfest.
The Nittany Lions play well against SEC teams. But with the injuries to Penn State, I don't like its chances.
Prediction
Florida 31, Penn State 28
Cotton Bowl: Oklahoma State vs. Arkansas
11 of 20
We're starting to get into some of the bigger bowl games.
This is the first big matchup with Oklahoma State and Arkansas.
There's a lot of offense to go around in this game. I think we could see some major fireworks in this game.
With Ryan Mallett and that Arkansas offense, the Razorbacks have a chance in any game. He'll be a player to watch.
I think Arkansas would be too much for the Cowboys.
Prediction
Arkansas 31, Oklahoma State 24
Valero Alamo Bowl: Arizona vs. Oklahoma
12 of 20
Now this is an intriguing matchup between Arizona and Oklahoma.
The Sooners have struggled this year and Arizona has been a pleasant surprise out of the Pac-10 this year. How many people had the Wildcats making a big run this year and having a good bowl bid back in August?
My point exactly, but I think the Sooners have too much talent for Arizona.
Prediction
Oklahoma 45, Arizona 20
Chick-Fil-A Bowl: Florida State vs. South Carolina
13 of 20
Steve Spurrier could be facing an old rival if this matchup happens between South Carolina and Florida State.
Now, if the Gamecocks win the SEC Championship game against Auburn, that changes everything. South Carolina is in a BCS bowl game, shifting around a lot of the bowls.
However, I just don't see that happening.
I like the Gamecocks to win big against the Seminoles.
Prediction
South Carolina 35, Florida State 13
Outback Bowl: Iowa vs. LSU
14 of 20
While Les Miles is trying to campaign for a spot in the BCS Championship Game if Auburn should falter, I don't see it happening.
His consolation prize will be a trip to the Outback Bowl and a game against Iowa. The Tigers lost to Penn State last year in a matchup against a Big Ten teams.
I think Les and company will have a lot more success than they did in that game.
Look for LSU to win this game easily.
Prediction
LSU 24, Iowa 10
Capitol One Bowl: Michigan State vs. Alabama
15 of 20
The last non-BCS bowl on the slate.
I see the Michigan State Spartans up against the former national champion Alabama Crimson Tide.
Look, it's been a good year for Michigan State. The best season for the program in a long, long time.
However, I don't see any way that team beats Alabama on a neutral field. The Crimson Tide are hard to beat—period—and the Spartans have too many flaws.
Expect Alabama to get a lead early and never look back.
Prediction
Alabama 45, Michigan State 24
Rose Bowl: Stanford vs. Wisconsin
16 of 20
Here we go with the BCS bowls.
We start with the Granddaddy of them all—the Rose Bowl.
With Oregon heading to the BCS Title Game (Spoiler Alert!), the Rose Bowl will want to keep that Pac-10 and Big Ten matchup together. I think they'll take Andrew Luck and the Cardinal and take Wisconsin, who will win the Big Ten.
Andrew Luck will get a national stage, and I think he'll play well in a close game.
Prediction
Stanford 31, Wisconsin 28
Fiesta Bowl: Nebraska vs. Pittsburgh
17 of 20
Now to be honest, this is the least appealing of all of the BCS bowls, in my estimation.
I'd enjoy watching Taylor Martinez. But I have no desire to watch Pittsburgh or any representative from the Big East, for that matter.
The teams in that conference just aren't that good. I think they'd all get steamrolled by a team like Nebraska.
I wouldn't make plans to watch the game; let's put it that way.
Prediction
Nebraska 45, Pittsburgh 16
Orange Bowl: Virginia Tech vs. TCU
18 of 20
Virginia Tech will get a shot at redemption to try and make up for the crushing loss to Boise State to start the season back at the end of the summer.
TCU will be looking to make a statement against a major team after not getting into the BCS Championship Game. It'll be a great matchup and one that I would make plans to see, unlike the Fiesta Bowl matchup I have.
It's going to be a close game; that's for sure.
Prediction
Virginia Tech 34, TCU 31
Sugar Bowl: Auburn vs. Ohio State
19 of 20
Sorry Tigers fans, but I have you losing the Iron Bowl to Alabama.
That will knock you out of the national championship game.
Yes, I'm aware that a one-loss Tigers team could still get in if Auburn wins the SEC championship game. But I think a loss that late in the season will hurt Cam Newton and company and slide another team into that spot.
However, I think Newton will torch Ohio State and end the year with a signature victory.
Prediction
Auburn 42, Ohio State 21
BCS National Title Game: Oregon vs. Boise State
20 of 20
I think Boise State is poised to slide into this game.
If the Broncos can stomp Nevada, it will likely move Boise State over TCU. Especially after Utah's blowout loss to Notre Dame a week ago.
I think Oregon will win out and survive a tough rivalry game with Oregon State at the end of the year and make the national title game. Some may not want to watch the Broncos play in the national title game, but how can you pass up a chance to see history made?
The Broncos will be in a lot better position to play in this game than people think. But I'm not sure it's enough to stop the offense.
Prediction
Oregon 35, Boise State 32
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