College Football Bowl Predictions: Predicting the Biggest Games Before 2011

The Champs Sports Bowl features West Virginia from the Big East, and NC State from the Atlantic Coast Conference.  

West Virginia is a decent team and actually had a shot at the Big East title, although that meant next to nothing this season.  They are led by Geno Smith even though they run a fairly balanced attack offensively.  Currently the Mountaineers are ranked 22nd in the nation and look to prove they belong in the top 25.

NC State is led by quarterback Russell Wilson who has thrown for 3,228 yards this season and 26 touchdowns.  He has also ran for 394 yards and nine touchdowns.

Sheraton Hawaii Bowl

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HONOLULU - SEPTEMBER 02: Ronald Johnson #83 of the University of Southern California Trojans is taken down by Po'okela Ahmad #40 of the University of Hawaii Warriors during first half action against the University of Southern California Trojans at Aloha S

This Bowl game features Hawaii and Tulsa and will be played on Christmas Eve.  This WAC vs Conference USA bowl game should be a thrilling one.

Hawaii comes in with the top passer in the country in terms of yards.  Bryant Moniz has thrown for 4,629 yards this season for 36 touchdowns and only 11 interceptions.  He is explosive and can really make a difference in a game.

Tulsa comes into this game with G.J. Kinne a prolific passer who has thrown for 3,307 yards and 28 touchdowns with only 10 touchdowns.

Tulsa

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SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 30: John Flanders #21 of the Tulsa Golden Hurricane holds the ball after intercepting a pass in the end zone against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish as teammates Charles Davis #24 (center) and DeWitt Jennings #27 join the celebratio

This Bowl game features Hawaii and Tulsa and will be played on Christmas Eve.  This WAC vs Conference USA bowl game should be a thrilling one.

Hawaii comes in with the top passer in the country in terms of yards.  Bryant Moniz has thrown for 4,629 yards this season for 36 touchdowns and only 11 interceptions.  He is explosive and can really make a difference in a game.

Tulsa comes into this game with G.J. Kinne a prolific passer who has thrown for 3,307 yards and 28 touchdowns with only 10 touchdowns.

Champs Sports Bowl

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LOUISVILLE, KY - NOVEMBER 20: Noel Devine #7 of the West Virginia Mountaineers runs with the ball during the Big East Conference game against the Louisville Cardinals at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium on November 20, 2010 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo b

The Champs Sports Bowl features West Virginia from the Big East, and NC State from the Atlantic Coast Conference.  

West Virginia is a decent team and actually had a shot at the Big East title, although that meant next to nothing this season.  They are led by Geno Smith even though they run a fairly balanced attack offensively.  Currently the Mountaineers are ranked 22nd in the nation and look to prove they belong in the top 25.

NC State is led by quarterback Russell Wilson who has thrown for 3,228 yards this season and 26 touchdowns.  He has also ran for 394 yards and nine touchdowns.

NC State

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RALEIGH, NC - SEPTEMBER 16: T.J. Graham #6 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack during their game at Carter-Finley Stadium on September 16, 2010 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

I will have to choose NC State on this one.  They are just too strong of a team.  I think that West Virginia is a bit overrated. The Big East really was the "Big Least" this season and it will show during the bowl season.

Insight Bowl

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IOWA CITY, IA - NOVEMBER 20: Quarterback Ricky Stanzi #12 of the University of Iowa Hawkeyes throws under pressure from Ohio State Buckeyes defenders during the first half of play at Kinnick Stadium on November 20, 2010 in Iowa City, Iowa. Ohio State won

This should be a great matchup between the Big Ten and the Big Twelve.  It will feature the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Missouri Tigers. 

Missouri is the 12th ranked team in the nation and is looking for a big bowl win against the Hawkeyes. They feature a great defense who is one of the best in the nation.

Meanwhile the Hawkeyes have a very strong defense themselves, but are led offensively by quarterback Ricky Stanzi.

This should be a defensive battle from start to finish. 

Missouri

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KANSAS CITY, MO - NOVEMBER 27: Kendial Lawrence #4 of the Missouri Tigers is congratulated after scoring a touchdown during the game against the Kansas Jayhawks on November 27, 2010 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/G

Although I'm a Big Ten guy, I have to go with Missouri on this one.  They are just too strong for the Iowa Hawkeyes to handle.  Although the Big Ten is one of the strongest conferences in the nation, Iowa is one of the mid level teams.

Valero Alamo Bowl

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TUCSON, AZ - DECEMBER 02: Wide receiver David Douglas #85 of the Arizona Wildcats scores a touchdown reception against the Arizona State Sun Devils during the college football game at Arizona Stadium on December 2, 2010 in Tucson, Arizona. The Sun Devi

This bowl game will feature number 14 Oklahoma State against Arizona.  This matchup between the PAC 10 and the Big 12 will not be much of a game.

Oklahoma State has one of the best offenses in the nation.  They have the nations best receiver in Justin Blackmon who has had 102 receptions for 1,665 yards and 18 touchdowns on the year.  He is truly a beast and leads the offense to further greatness.

Meanwhile, Arizona is lead by quarterback Nick Foles who has thrown for 2,911 yards on the season and 19 touchdowns.  He is a great QB and will need to have a huge game if they expect to win this one.

Oklahoma State

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WACO, TX - OCTOBER 24: Justin Blackmon #81 and Cooper Nicholas #89 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys celebrate a touchdown in front of Jordan Lake #21 of the Baylor Bears at Floyd Casey Stadium on October 24, 2009 in Waco, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/G

Oklahoma State will just be too strong for the Wildcats to handle.  Their passing attack will just be too much.  Don't expect this one to be a close game, unless it's a fluke, but as we have found, anything can happen.

Hyundai Sun Bowl

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PITTSBURGH - SEPTEMBER 23: Jacory Harris #12 of the Miami Hurricanes drops back to pass against the Pittsburgh Panthers on September 23, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

The Sun Bowl this season will feature the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame against the Miami Hurricanes. Although this game may seem like a dud, the nation will be watching as they see this rivalry reinvent itself.

Miami comes in with some uncertainty as to what the future holds as they have an interim head coach. However, they do have returning their key player Jacory Harris.  Harris is either on or off, and isn't so great under pressure.

Notre Dame comes out with a freshman quarterback and nothing to lose.  The Irish have had a rough season, but a much better one than last, even featuring a victory against USC.

Notre Dame

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LOS ANGELES - NOVEMBER 27: Head coach Brian Kelly of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish gestures during the game with the USC Trojans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 27, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. Notre Dame won 20-16. (Photo by Stephe

Notre Dame will win this one.  Miami just comes in depleted and I don't see them being competitive.  As much as it pains me to say this as a Purdue fan, but I think Notre Dame will be among the nations elite again in a few years.  They have really turned over a new leaf and it will show in this match-up of 7-5 teams.