2010 Bowl Schedule: The Ultimate Bowl Guide

It's college football bowl season, and we've got you covered on the 2010 bowl schedule from A (AutoZone Liberty Bowl) to V (Rose Bowl presented by Vizio).

Sorry, no zzzzzzzz's. Not during bowl season.

The bowl schedule is all about who, when and where, and this bowl-by-bowl guide will give you the lowdown on each and every one of the 35 bowl games that start on Dec. 18 and end with the national title game on Jan. 10.

Use it as your handy-dandy reference.

New Mexico Bowl

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FORT WORTH, TX - OCTOBER 16: Quarterback Jake Heaps #9 of the Brigham Young University Cougars throws a pass against the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs at Amon G. Carter Stadium on October 16, 2010 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington

MATCHUP: Brigham Young vs. UTEP (official)

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 18

WHERE: University Stadium, Albuquerque, N.M.

TIME: 2 p.m. (EST)

TELEVISION: ESPN

PAYOUT: $750,000

EXTRA POINTS: Both teams come into the game with a record of 6-6 … The Miners have lost five of their last six games after starting 5-1 … UTEP is the first team from outside the WAC or the Mountain West to play in the five-year-old bowl … Since its inception, the game has been played on the Saturday before Christmas … The game is the only annual televised sporting event in the state of New Mexico.

UDrove Humanitarian Bowl

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BOISE , ID - SEPTEMBER 13: A general view of players cleets on the blue turf during the game between Boise State Broncos and Bowling Green Falcons at Bronco Stadium on September 13, 2008 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

MATCHUP: Northern Illinois vs. Fresno State

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 18

WHERE: Bronco Stadium, Boise, Idaho

TIME: 5:30 p.m. (EST)

TELEVISION: ESPN

PAYOUT: $750,000

EXTRA POINTS: The game will be played on the blue turf at Boise State University ... This is the 14th edition of the Humanitarian Bowl … Idaho beat Bowling Green, 43-42, in last year’s game in what traditionally has been a high-scoring affair. Only twice in the bowl’s history has the winner failed to score at least 34 points ... NIU fell to this game after being upset by Miami (Ohio) in the Mid-American Conference Championship Game.

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl

MATCHUP: Troy vs. Ohio

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 18

WHERE: Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, La.

TIME: 9 p.m. (EST)

TELEVISION: ESPN

PAYOUT: $325,000

EXTRA POINTS: Ohio slides in here as a representatitive from the MAC... This is the second-lowest bowl payout among the 35 bowl games … Southern Miss has won this game three times in its nine-year existence … In Middle Tennessee State’s 42-32 win over Southern Miss last year, MTSU quarterback Dwight Dasher set an NCAA bowl record for rushing yards by a QB with 201, surpassing Vince Young’s 200-yard effort in Texas’ win over USC in the 2006 Rose Bowl national championship.

Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl St. Petersburg

MATCHUP: Louisville vs. Southern Mississippi

WHEN: Tuesday, Dec. 21

WHERE: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Fla.

TIME: 8 p.m. (EST)

TELEVISION: ESPN

PAYOUT: $1 million

EXTRA POINTS: Say what you want about the Beef O’Brady’s Bowl, but everything they do is first class. The payout is a surprising cool mil, bowl headquarters are at the ultra-expensive Renaissance Vinoy Hotel, and former NFL great Kellen Winslow is the game’s spokesman … Expect the game to be high-scoring: Southern Miss is ranked 15th in the country in total offense.

Maaco Las Vegas Bowl

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LAS VEGAS - FEBRUARY 18: Singer Wayne Newton performs at the 2007 NBA All Star Game on February 18, 2007 at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph

MATCHUP:Boise State vs. Utah

WHEN: Wednesday, Dec. 22

WHERE: Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas, Nev.

TIME: 8 p.m. (EST)

TELEVISION: ESPN

PAYOUT: $1 million

EXTRA POINTS: Utah could very well end up in this game next year, albeit as a member of the newly reformed Pac-10 … This year, the Pac-10 will not field a representative for the bowl, hence Boise State's appearance. Utah will bring a national-best nine-game bowl winning streak into the contest.

San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - OCTOBER 23: Patrick Mealy #5 of the Navy Midshipmen rushes against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at New Meadowlands Stadium on October 23, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

MATCHUP: San Diego State vs. Navy

WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 23

WHERE: Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, Calif.

TIME: 8 p.m. (EST)

TELEVISION: ESPN

PAYOUT: $750,000

EXTRA POINTS: This is the sixth year for the Poinsettia Bowl … San Diego State finished the regular season at 8-4, Navy is 9-3 … This will be SDSU’s ninth bowl game in school history but first since 1998 … Undoubtedly, Navy will have a huge fan contingent at the game given the large U.S. fleet presence in San Diego … The Midshipmen still have one regular-season game to play, the annual showdown with Army on Dec. 11.

Sheraton Hawaii Bowl

MATCHUP: Tulsa vs. Hawaii

WHEN: Friday, Dec. 24

WHERE: Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, Hawaii

TIME: 8 p.m. (EST)

TELEVISION: ESPN

PAYOUT: $398,000

EXTRA POINTS: This is the only college bowl game on Christmas Eve … In its nine-year history, the game has been played on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day eight times … The Warriors are currently 9-3 overall … Hawaii has played in every one of these bowls except for three.

Little Caesars Pizza Bowl

MATCHUP: Toledo vs. Florida International

WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 26

WHERE: Ford Field, Detroit

TIME: 8:30 p.m.

TELEVISION: ESPN

PAYOUT: $750,000

EXTRA POINTS: FIU slides in here in place of a Big Ten team … The game was formerly known as the Motor City Bowl … The game does have some pretty heavy hitters running the show—former Michigan State coach George Perles is the CEO, and former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr is the president.

Advocare V100 Independence Bowl

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LAS VEGAS - NOVEMBER 18: Quarterback Tim Jefferson Jr. #7 of the Air Force Falcons gets instructions from his sideline during a game against the UNLV Rebels at Sam Boyd Stadium November 18, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Air Force won 35-20. (Photo by Ethan

MATCHUP: Georgia Tech vs. Air Force

WHEN: Monday, Dec. 27

WHERE: Independence Stadium, Shreveport, La.

TIME: 5 p.m. (EST)

TELEVISION: ESPN2

PAYOUT: $1.1 million

EXTRA POINTS: This is the 35th anniversary of the Independence Bowl. It is the 11th-oldest college football bowl game … There has only been one tie in Independence Bowl history and it was in 1990 (34-34) between Louisiana Tech and Maryland … The Falcons have posted at least eight wins and qualified for a bowl game the last four seasons … Air Force claimed the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy with wins over Navy and Army this season, capturing the trophy for the 17th time.

Champs Sports Bowl

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LOUISVILLE, KY - NOVEMBER 20: Noel Devine #7 of the West Virginia Mountaineers celebrates after runing for a touchdown during the Big East Conference game against the Louisville Cardinals at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium on November 20, 2010 in Louisville

MATCHUP: North Carolina State vs. West Virginia

WHEN: Tuesday, Dec. 28

WHERE: Florida Citrus Bowl, Orlando, Fla.

TIME: 6:30 p.m. (EST)

TELEVISION: ESPN

PAYOUT: $2.25 million

EXTRA POINTS: Given its reputation and national fanbase, we thought Notre Dame was as close to a virtual lock for this game as any team was for any bowl. Alas, we were wrong … This one is usually the ugly step-sister to the Capital One Bowl on New Year’s Day, the second of the two bowl games during the self-proclaimed “Orlando Bowl Week.”

Insight Bowl

MATCHUP: Iowa vs. Missouri

WHEN: Tuesday, Dec. 28

WHERE: Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Ariz.

TIME: 10 p.m. (EST)

TELEVISION: ESPN

PAYOUT: $1.35 million

EXTRA POINTS: Most pundits had Michigan matched up against Nebraska in this game if the Cornhuskers lost the Big 12 Championship Game to Oklahoma, which they did, but it’s doubtful powerful Big Ten commissioner Jim Delaney wanted to see a matchup of two schools that will be in the same conference next year in this game.

Military Bowl Presented by Northrop Grumman

MATCHUP: Maryland vs. East Carolina

WHEN: Wednesday, Dec. 29

WHERE: RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.

TIME: 2:30 p.m. (EST)

TELEVISION: ESPN

PAYOUT: $1 million

EXTRA POINTS: The Pirates are 6-6 heading into the Military Bowl … East Carolina is making its fifth consecutive bowl trip … When last we saw ECU coach Ruffin McNeil during the holidays, he was interim coaching Texas Tech to a 41-31 win over Michigan State in the Alamo Bowl in the wake of Mike Leach’s shocking ouster at Tech earlier that week.

Texas Bowl

MATCHUP: Illinois vs. Baylor

WHEN: Wednesday, Dec. 29

WHERE: Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas

TIME: 6 p.m. (EST)

TELEVISION: ESPN

PAYOUT: $700,000

EXTRA POINTS: All hail the Baylor Bears! If Notre Dame is the definitive lock for the Champs Sports Bowl, Baylor is a pretty close second in this bowl. This will be the Bears’ first bowl game since 1994, and organizers would do themselves well to invite a team that is relatively close and will likely travel well.

Valero Alamo Bowl

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STILLWATER, OK - SEPTEMBER 05: Wide receiver Justin Blackmon #81 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys warms up before the college football game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Boone Pickens Stadium on September 5, 2009 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The Cowboys defe

MATCHUP: Arizona vs. Oklahoma State

WHEN: Wednesday, Dec. 29

WHERE: Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas

TIME: 9:15 p.m. (EST)

TELEVISION: ESPN

PAYOUT: $2.25 million

EXTRA POINTS: The Alamo Bowl drew some great attention last year when Texas Tech coach Mike Leach was fired just days before the game over the Adam James allegations, and interim coach Ruffin McNeil led the Red Raiders to a 41-31 win over Michigan State. ... This game will draw some attention because of OSU wideout Justin Blackmon, one of the nation's best.

Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl

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NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 20: Trent Steelman #8 of the Army Black Knights rolls out against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Yankee Stadium on November 20, 2010 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

MATCHUP: SMU vs. Army

WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 30

WHERE: Gerald J. Ford Stadium, Dallas, Texas

TIME: Noon (EST)

TELEVISION: ESPN

PAYOUT: $600,000

EXTRA POINTS: This is Army’s first bowl game—and first non-losing season heading into the Dec. 11 Navy game—since the Black Knights went 10-2 and played in the Independence Bowl in 1996 … SMU, best known for receiving the NCAA "death penalty" back in the early 1980s, played in its first bowl game in 25 years last season with a 45-10 win over Nevada in the Hawaii Bowl.

New Era Pinstripe Bowl

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NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 20: A general view of the kickoff during the game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Army Black Knights at Yankee Stadium on November 20, 2010 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

MATCHUP: Kansas State vs. Syracuse

WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 30

WHERE: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, N.Y.

TIME: 3:20 p.m. (EST)

TELEVISION: ESPN

PAYOUT: $2 million

EXTRA POINTS: This is the first-ever Pinstripe Bowl, aptly named given where it’s located … Yankee Stadium did a nice job on the configuration for the Army-Notre Dame game last week … Syracuse tried several years ago to make a football presence in the New York City area through various marketing techniques, and though it didn’t take hold, the school has a considerable alumni presence in the city.

Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl

MATCHUP: North Carolina vs. Tennessee

WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 30

WHERE: LP Field, Nashville, Tenn.

TIME: 6:40 p.m. (EST)

TELEVISION: ESPN

PAYOUT: $1.6 million

EXTRA POINTS: This will be the 13th Music City Bowl, formerly sponsored by Gaylord Hotels … Clemson beat Kentucky in last year’s game, 21-13 … Tennessee hasn’t won an SEC championship since 1998 … The Tar Heels, mired in controversy since the beginning of the season, still managed to post a 7-5 record this year.

Bridgeport Education Holiday Bowl

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ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 04: Quarterback Taylor Martinez #3 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers drops back to pass against the Oklahoma Sooners during the Big 12 Championship at Cowboys Stadium on December 4, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/

MATCHUP: Washington vs. Nebraska

WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 30

WHERE: Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, Calif.

TIME: 10 p.m. (EST)

TELEVISION: ESPN

PAYOUT: $2.35 million

EXTRA POINTS: 47-43. 52-34. 45-31. These are just some of the scores of some recent Holiday Bowl games, always, for some reason, one of the highest-scoring and most entertaining of the bowl games … The Holiday Bowl actually served as the de facto national championship game back in 1984 when an undefeated BYU team completed its unbeaten campaign with a 24-17 victory over Michigan.

Meineke Car Care Bowl

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AUBURN, AL - SEPTEMBER 18: Head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on September 18, 2010 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

MATCHUP: Clemson vs. South Florida

WHEN: Friday, Dec. 31

WHERE: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, N.C.

TIME: Noon (EST)

TELEVISION: ESPN

PAYOUT: $1.6 million

EXTRA POINTS: Despite its payout, this isn’t exactly one of the better second-tier bowl games. In fact, it might be third tier. So bowl organizers should be happy with Clemson, which is barely a two- or three-hour drive from Charlotte.

Hyundai Sun Bowl

MATCHUP: Miami (Fla.) vs. Notre Dame

WHEN: Friday, Dec. 31

WHERE: Sun Bowl, El Paso, Texas

TIME: 2:30 p.m. (EST)

TELEVISION: CBS

PAYOUT: $1.9 million

EXTRA POINTS: Wow, what a get for the Sun Bowl, and CBS must be ecstatic over its only bowl game ... The two programs haven't played since 1990, and never in a bowl game ... Whoever revives the "Catholics vs. Convicts" T-shirt is going to make a fortune.

AutoZone Liberty Bowl

MATCHUP: UCF vs. Georgia

WHEN: Friday, Dec. 31

WHERE: Liberty Bowl, Memphis, Tenn.

TIME: 3:30 p.m. (EST)

TELEVISION: ESPN

PAYOUT: $1.7 million

EXTRA POINTS: Tough game for Georgia to accept, although it probably doesn’t have a better choice. If the Bulldogs beat UCF, they should have. If they don’t, it’s a huge blow in a season of huge blows … The O’Jays are performing at halftime of this year’s game. We defy you to show us a better halftime show.

Chick-Fil-A Bowl

MATCHUP: Florida State vs. South Carolina

WHEN: Friday, Dec. 31

WHERE: Georgia Dome, Atlanta

TIME: 7:30 p.m. (EST)

TELEVISION: ESPN

PAYOUT: $3 million

EXTRA POINTS: Laugh all you want at the "eat mor chikin" commercials and the funny name, but this is one of the best non-New Year’s Day bowl games, especially with the payout … Bowl officials already guaranteed an invite to the ACC runner-up, which was FSU, and getting South Carolina and its loyal fans to make the easy, short trip to Atlanta is icing on the cake.

TicketCity Bowl

MATCHUP: Northwestern vs. Texas Tech

WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 1

WHERE: Cotton Bowl, Dallas, Texas

TIME: Noon (EST)

TELEVISION: ESPNU

PAYOUT: $1.2 million

EXTRA POINTS: Not exactly where first-year Tech coach Tommy Tuberville probably wanted to be, but he’ll take it … This is the inaugural TicketCity Bowl … Northwestern will come into this game having lost three of its last four, including a 48-27 defeat to Illinois and the staggering 70-23 loss at No. 5 Wisconsin.

Outback Bowl

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COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 13: Head Coach Joe Paterno watches his team play the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on November 13, 2010 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

MATCHUP: Penn State vs. Florida

WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 1

WHERE: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Fla.

TIME: 1 p.m. (EST)

TELEVISION: ABC

PAYOUT: $3.3 million

EXTRA POINTS: Terrific matchup between Joe Paterno and Urban Meyer ... This is among the more attractive of the non-BCS games, for sure ... Be nice to see how John Brantley evolves with all the time off before the game ... Would have been a nice game for JoePa to go out in, but he'll be back next year at the age of 83.

Capital One Bowl

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ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 1: Sparty, the mascot of the Michigan State Spartans cheers play against the Georgia Bulldogs at the 2009 Capital One Bowl at the Citrus Bowl on January 1, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

MATCHUP: Michigan State vs. Alabama

WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 1

WHERE: Florida Citrus Bowl, Orlando, Fla.

TIME: 1 p.m. (EST)

TELEVISION: ESPN

PAYOUT: $4.25 million

EXTRA POINTS: This is always a good bowl and always features two good teams … Gotta figure that the good folks who run this game have a sense of humor and a sense of timing, and will put Alabama head coach Nick Saban up against the team he previously coached … BCS bowls can only take two teams from the same conference, so this is why co-Big Ten champ MSU ends up here and Wisconsin and Ohio State are in BCS bowls.

Gator Bowl

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COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 27: Quarterback Denard Robinson #16 of the Michigan Wolverines drops back to pass against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on November 27, 2010 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

MATCHUP: Michigan vs. Mississippi State

WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 1

WHERE: Municipal Stadium, Jacksonville, Fla.

TIME: 1:30 p.m. (EST)

TELEVISION: ESPN2

PAYOUT: $2.5 million

EXTRA POINTS: Well, everybody had Michigan penciled in for the Insight Bowl in Arizona, but athletic director David Brandon must have known something when, at a team dinner five days before bowl announcements were official, he slipped and said the Wolverines probably weren't going west, but south.

Rose Bowl Presented by Vizio

MATCHUP: Wisconsin vs. TCU

WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 1

WHERE: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Calif.

TIME: 5 p.m. (EST)

TELEVISION: ESPN

PAYOUT: $18 million

EXTRA POINTS: The Rose was obligated to take the highest-ranked non-automatic qualifier, hence this matchup … Actually, this might be the second-best—if not the best—game, as it should produce a ton of offense between Wisky’s running game and the Horned Frogs’ Andy Dalton slinging passes all over the field.

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl

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STILLWATER, OK - NOVEMBER 27: Head coach Bob Stoops of the Oklahoma Sooners celebrates after the Sooners beat the Oklahoma State Cowboys 47-41 at Boone Pickens Stadium on November 27, 2010 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

MATCHUP: Oklahoma vs. UConn

WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 1

WHERE: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz.

TIME: 8:30 p.m. (EST)

TELEVISION: ESPN

PAYOUT: $18 million

EXTRA POINTS: Well, this could get ugly. In a hurry. UConn is a four-loss team and has no business being here. The only reason is the fouled-up BCS system that MUST include the Big East champion ... Unfortunate, it's another trap game for OU coach Bob Stoops. He is supposed to win—of course, he was supposed to beat Boise State a couple of years ago.

Discover Orange Bowl

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MIAMI - NOVEMBER 20: Tyrod Taylor #5 of the Virginia Tech Hokies leads the huddle during a game against the Miami Hurricanes at Sun Life Stadium on November 20, 2010 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

MATCHUP: Virginia Tech vs. Stanford

WHEN: Monday, Jan. 3

WHERE: Sun Life Stadium, Miami, Fla.

TIME: 8:30 p.m.

TELEVISION: ESPN

PAYOUT: $18 million

EXTRA POINTS: The poor Orange Bowl ended up with a better game than it probably thought it would by getting the No. 4 team in the country in Stanford ... Va Tech, after the early stumbles to Boise and James Madison, is on an 11-game winning streak.

Allstate Sugar Bowl

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COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 27: Quarterback Terrelle Pryor #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes rolls out of the pocket against the Michigan Wolverines at Ohio Stadium on November 27, 2010 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

MATCHUP: Arkansas vs. Ohio State

WHEN: Tuesday, Jan. 4

WHERE: Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, La.

TIME: 8:30 p.m. (EST)

TELEVISION: ESPN

PAYOUT: $18 million

EXTRA POINTS: This should be a fabulous game between two fabulous quarterbacks. Ohio State’s Terrelle Pryor and Arkansas’ Ryan Mallett had two great seasons for QBs not named Cameron Newton this year … Of either team, it’s Ohio State that really needs this one. As the marquee Big Ten program of the last half-dozen years, the Buckeyes need a strong bowl showing to get rid of the reputation that they suck in the postseason.

GoDaddy.com Bowl

MATCHUP: Miami (Ohio) vs. Middle Tennessee State

WHEN: Thursday, Jan. 6

WHERE: Ladd-Peebles Stadium, Mobile, Ala.

TIME: 8 p.m. (EST)

TELEVISION: ESPN

PAYOUT: $750,000

EXTRA POINTS: One question—why? Why even bother putting this game, this Compass Bowl thing (what, they can’t find themselves?) and the Fight Hunger Bowl in between the BCS bowls and the BCS national championship? It’s like serving filet mignon with sautéed mushrooms and then, right before that Bananas Foster dessert, they tell you, “Hey, here’s some liver and split pea soup.” Of course, you don’t have to eat it.

AT&T Cotton Bowl

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AUSTIN, TX - NOVEMBER 25: Quarterback Ryan Tannehill #17 of Texas A&M passes against the University of Texas during the second half at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 25, 2010 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Darren Carroll/Getty Images)

MATCHUP: Texas A&M vs. LSU

WHEN: Friday, Jan. 7

WHERE: Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas

TIME: 8 p.m.

TELEVISION: Fox

PAYOUT: $3 million

EXTRA POINTS: Here’s Fox, trying to pull a fast one with its only bowl game, wedging it in between the other BCS games and the BCS national title game … Then again, good thinking. This is such a good matchup that it sure seems like a BCS bowl game … Pray tell, how will LSU coach Les Miles win this one in the closing seconds?!?

BBVA Compass Bowl

MATCHUP: Pittsburgh vs. Kentucky

WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 8

WHERE: Legion Field, Birmingham, Ala.

TIME: Noon (EST)

TELEVISION: ESPN

PAYOUT: $300,000

EXTRA POINTS: Are ‘ya kidding? A low-rung bowl game, with the smallest payout of any of the 35 games, on the same day as the NFL playoffs???

Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl

MATCHUP: Boston College vs. Nevada

WHEN: Sunday, Jan. 9

WHERE: AT&T Park, San Francisco, Calif.

TIME: 9 p.m.

TELEVISION: ESPN

PAYOUT: $850,000

EXTRA POINTS: In theory, a good concept. In execution, lousy timing and bad placement.

BCS National Championship Game

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TUSCALOOSA, AL - NOVEMBER 26: Quarterback Cam Newton #2 of the Auburn Tigers warms up before facing the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 26, 2010 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

MATCHUP: Oregon vs. Auburn

WHEN: Monday, Jan. 10

WHERE: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz.

TIME: 8:30 p.m.

TELEVISION: ESPN

PAYOUT: $18 million

EXTRA POINTS: The Big Kahuna. The one we’ve all been waiting for. It has to be this way, a matchup of two explosive offenses mixed with the drama of two unbeaten teams and capped off by the most engaging player of the year in Cam Newton.

Yeah, yeah, say what you want about the controversy and the alleged pay-for-play, but Newton grabbed everybody’s attention in our first post-Tebow college football season.