College Football 2011: Complete Bowl Season Projections
Each year for the past seven years, I’ve tried to accurately predict each team for each college football bowl game. In June, it’s far too early to say where a team will be playing come December or January; anything can happen in between now and the start of bowl season, be it transfers, injuries, resignations, etc.
Will Ohio State come out with something to prove, or will they wilt under the scrutiny of NCAA violations?
Will Texas bounce back from a horrid 5-7 season?
Will the SEC keep the five-year National Championship streak in tact?
Is Florida State a legit contender or a great pretender?
Will Boise State make a return trip to the BCS after missing out last year?
How does West Virginia respond to the Bill Stewart/Dana Holgorsen situation? Will they win a winnable Big East this year?
Let’s take a look at each bowl game and see which teams will play in which bowl.
New Orleans Bowl: Florida International (10-2) vs. East Carolina (7-5)
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Mark it down: This will be FIU coach Mario Cristobal's final year at the helm for the Golden Panthers before heading for greener pastures at a bigger school. What he's done in four years isn't anything short of remarkable.
East Carolina displayed a potent offensive attack in Ruffin McNeal's first year at the helm, but the defense needs major improvement.
Quarterback Dominue Davis will put up impressive numbers, but the Pirates' defense will not be able to contain Panthers receiver T.Y. Hilton and company.
With Cristobal probably coaching his final game, look for FIU to win by a couple touchdowns and wrap up an 11-win season.
Winner: Florida International
Humanitarian Bowl: Nevada (7-5) vs. Northern Illinois (11-1)
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This matchup pits the third-place team in the WAC against the second-place team in the MAC West.
The Huskies return an experienced group on offense, but will be breaking in a new head coach in Dan Doeren. Northern Illinois needs to replace seven starters on defense, but their only losses should come to Wisconsin and Toledo.
Meanwhile, Nevada lost the most with the departure of its three best players in quarterback Colin Kaepernick, running back Vai Taua and defensive end Dontay Moch.
Rest assured though, Ault will not let his program suffer tremendously with the loss. Though Nevada certainly won’t be winning 13 games this year, they should still be a fun group to watch in the pistol offense.
Nevada will not have the firepower to hang in with one of the top teams in the MAC; Chandler Harnish and company will be too much for the Wolfpack.
Winner: Northern Illinois
New Mexico Bowl: Colorado State (7-5) vs. Tulsa (6-6)
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This bowl game pits a WAC team against a Mountain West team, but Tulsa receives an invite because the WAC doesn't have enough teams to qualify.
Colorado State coach Steve Fairchild does a good job of getting the Rams back into bowl season, but Tulsa has too much offensive firepower for them to handle. Reshirt senior G.J. Kinne and senior wide receiver Damaris Johnson both return to lead a lethal offense.
If both teams play, expect the Golden Hurricane to win by four or five touchdowns.
Winner: Tulsa
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Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl: Rutgers (6-6) vs. Southern Miss (8-4)
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Last season, Rutgers endured one of its worse seasons since coach Greg Schiano turned the program around. Expect signs of improvement in 2011 though, as sophomore Chas Dodd looks to build on experiences learned as a freshman.
Southern Miss returns redshirt senior quarterback Austin Davis, but they must replace DeAndre Brown at wide receiver.
This would be an exciting game to watch, but Schiano and the Scarlet Knights should squeak out a win in the end.
Winner: Rutgers
Poinsettia Bowl: Fresno State (9-4) vs. TCU (10-2)
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This matchup would pit the soon-to-be past of the Mountain West (TCU) against the future of the Mountain West (Fresno State).
TCU shouldn't have much trouble with the Bulldogs. The Horned Frogs can lean on junior running back Ed Wesley or distribute the ball to wide receivers Andre Hicks and Skye Dawson.
TCU will field one of the top defenses in the country and could pressure Fresno State quarterback Derek Carr into mistakes. The Horned Frogs will carry the banner for the Mountain West for the final time before bolting for the Big East.
Winner: TCU
MAACO Bowl Las Vegas: Washington (6-6) vs. San Diego State (10-2)
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Michigan coach Brady Hoke deserves a ton of credit for turning around a terrible San Diego State squad.
With Hoke's departure, the Aztecs will try to take another step and win the Mountain West.
Washington has proven talent in running back Chris Polk and wide receiver Jermaine Kearse, but the question remains, how well will quarterback Keith Price play?
San Diego State has too much for Washington's defense. Though not a household name, quarterback Ryan Lindley was one of the best quarterbacks in the country last year. Running back Ronnie Hillman also returns after rushing for more 1,500 yards and 17 touchdowns as a freshman last season.
Winner: San Diego State
Hawaii Bowl: SMU (7-5) vs. Hawaii (12-1)
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June Jones versus Greg McMackin in a showdown on Christmas Eve—it doesn't get any better than this.
Redshirt senior quarterback Bryant Moniz returns after throwing more than 5,000 yards, but Hawaii must replace its two star receivers who combined for 207 receptions, 3,195 yards and 29 touchdowns.
Junior quarterback Kyle Padron, who threw just under 4,000 yards and 38 touchdowns, returns to direct the Mustangs' offense. Big, bruising junior running back Zach Line, who rushed for just under 1,500 yards and 10 touchdowns, allowed the Mustangs to have a balanced attack last season.
This game would be a shootout and a thrill to watch. It wouldn't surprise me if SMU dropped 70 in a win.
Winner: SMU
Independence Bowl: North Carolina (7-5) vs. Boise State (11-1)
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The Broncos shouldn't have any problems adjusting to their new home in the Mountain West this year. I predict the Broncos will be 9-0 after a tough contest at home against TCU, but the game will take its toll on them.
In fact, I expect their BCS hopes to be dashed in a Nov. 19 contest at San Diego State.
The Tar Heels have had their share of problems with the NCAA with the past year, and I'm wondering how it will all play out this year.
Boise State returns Kellen Moore for one more go-around, but will have to replace departed wide receivers Austin Pettis and Titus Young. With the new receivers well-adjusted though, the Broncos should have no problems scoring in this game. The Broncos will also have a strong tandem with senior running backs D.J. Harper and Doug Martin.
Boise State's experienced defense will make sure to keep tabs on North Carolina's capable receiving corps as well.
Winner: Boise State
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl: Toldeo (9-4) vs. Ohio State (6-6)
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Given all of Ohio State's problems, it's tough to gauge exactly where they'll be bowling.
They might be bad, but it's far too early to say how they'll respond to what's all gone down.
After all, Ohio State could rally, pull off a 10-win season and play in a bowl game in January.
This game could serve as a remach between from a contest in Columbus Sept. 10. The ironic part of this game is that Ohio State's new coach might be Toledo coach Tim Beckman, depending on sanctions dished out by the NCAA.
Beckman has done a tremendous job turning the Rockets around and has a pedigree the Buckeyes are looking for. He knows Ohio and the surrounding areas well, he graduated from high school and college in Ohio, and he served as defensive coordinator at Bowling Green and cornerbacks coach at Ohio State.
If Ohio State is 6-6 or 7-5 by season's end, it wouldn't be a shock to see them give less than 100 percent effort in a lower tier bowl for the Big Ten.
Winner: Toledo
Belk Bowl: Miami (8-4) vs. West Virginia (8-4)
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This bowl sees two former Big East foes looking to gain momentum heading into 2012.
Al Golden proved himself at Temple and will be looking to do the same in Miami.
First though, he needs to pick a quarterback—will it be senior Jacory Harris or sophomore Stephen Morris?
Whoever wins the job, will have experienced targets with senior wide receivers Travis Benjamin, LaRon Byrd and senior tight end (Southern Cal transfer) Blake Ayles.
On defense, the Hurricanes return experience in senior linebacker Sean Spence, and junior safeties Ray-Ray Armstrong and Vaughn Telemaque.
With the resignation of Bill Stewart, the Dana Holgorsen era at West Virginia will start a year early.
The Mountaineers have an experienced signal-caller in junior Geno Smith, but the running game will sorely miss Noel Devine.
Senior defensive end Bruce Irvin, a sack machine with 14 sacks last year, and senior Keith Tandy will need to set the tone for the defense.
Both teams will be evenly matched, but Miami wins by a field goal in a nail-biter.
Winner: Miami
Holiday Bowl: Baylor (6-6) vs. Arizona State (7-5)
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The pressure is on Arizona State head coach Dennis Erickson, as the Sun Devils have not been to a bowl game since 2007.
Expect the Sun Devils to go bowling this season though.
Junior quarterback Brock Osweiler is capable of putting up nice numbers, and the defense should be better with junior linebacker Vontaze Burfict leading the way.
Baylor turned the corner and won seven games last year. This year they will try to top that mark, but games against TCU, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas loom on the schedule.
Robert Griffin is a very talented and exciting quarterback. He's one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the country; Griffin completed 67 percent of his passes, tallied more than 4,000 total yards and 30 touchdowns last season.
The Bears return its receiving corps, and the passing offense should be better in 2011. They need to replace 1,000-yard rusher Jay Finley to add balance to the offense though.
This will be hard-fought game, but Griffin should lead his Bears to a 10-point win.
Winner: Baylor
Champs Sports Bowl: NC State (9-3) vs. Cincinnati (10-2)
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After finishing 12-1 in 2009, the Cincinnati Bearcats were one of college football's biggest underachievers in 2010 under first-year head coach Butch Jones.
In a fairly weak Big East, the Bearcats should be one of the conference's top teams in 2011 and clinch at least a share of the Big East title.
Though leading receiver Armon Binns has moved on, fourth-year junior Zach Collaros still has at his disposal senior running back Isaiah Pead and senior wide receiver D.J. Woods.
Cincinnati's veteran defense, humbled by 2010's failure, will look to step it up a notch this season. Senior linebacker J.K. Schaffer will look to record his third consecutive 100-tackle season, and senior cornerback Dominique Battle returns after tearing his ACL in the season-opener against Fresno State last year.
NC State will officially begin the Mike Gleannon era this season. On paper, NC State looks average, but will be a contender in a winnable ACC. Though the receiving corps needs work, fourth-year junior tight end George Bryan returns.
In yet another regular-season rematch, expect Cincinnati to come out on top.
Winner: Cincinnati
Alamo Bowl: Missouri (7-5) vs. Utah (9-3)
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Utah has a experienced signal-caller in junior Jordan Wynn, but he is rebounding from shoulder surgery. Last year's running backs have graduated, and Jereme Brooks needs to be replaced at wide receiver.
Despite the work needed on offense, the Utes should be fine on the defensive side of the ball.
Sophomore Brian Blechen has moved from safety to linebacker, and senior linebacker Chaz Walker and senior defensive end Derrick Shelby return to anchor the Utes' defense.
Missouri has experienced running backs, wide receivers and offensive linemen, but an inexperienced quarterback.
Defensive end Aldon Smith is gone, but the Tigers have solid defenders, such as junior linebacker Zaviar Gooden and junior defensive end Brad Madison.
A 10-win season in their Pac-12 debut would be a solid start for Utah.
Winner: Utah
Pinstripe Bowl: Kansas State (6-6) vs. Louisville (9-3)
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It looks as if head coach Charlie Strong has Louisville's ship headed in the right direction after three disastrous seasons during Steve Kragthorpe.
Louisville needs to replace last year's leading rusher Bilal Powell and his 11 touchdowns. Tight end Cameron Graham, who led the team with 470 receiving yards and five touchdowns, must also be replaced.
But the Cardinals need fourth-year junior Victor Anderson to step up for Powell. Powell, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards as a freshman, has yet to recapture his freshman form. Tight end Josh Chichester caught five touchdowns and will be counted on to replace Graham at tight end. Third-year sophomore Will Stein is penciled in as starting quarterback, but it could be only a matter of time before prized recruit Teddy Bridgewater steps in and begins his era for the Cards.
Kansas State needs to replace their own talented running back in the form of Daniel Thomas. The Wildcats will have Bryce Brown, a transfer from Tennessee who was once one of the nation's top recruits. Brown's brother Arthur, a junior linebacker transfer from Miami, will look to make an impact on defense.
Kansas State must find a quarterback to complement the running game; what Thomas accomplished without a polished quarterback was amazing. Whoever wins the job will have a pair of talented wide receivers in Chris Harper and Broderick Smith.
Kansas State returns to the Pinstripe Bowl to face a resurgent team from the Big East. Louisville should win, but the gritty Wildcats should make it interesting.
Winner: Louisville
Armed Forces Bowl: Air Force (8-4) vs. BYU (7-5)
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This bowl pits two former foes from the Mountain West Conference.
Even with a month of preparation, facing the triple option for the first time can be nerve-wracking. But given BYU's familiarity with the offense and the growth of sophomore quarterback Jake Heaps, the Cougars should not have trouble defeating the Falcons.
Winner: BYU
Music City Bowl: Auburn (6-6) vs. Boston College (8-4)
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2011 certainly promises to be an interesting year for Auburn.
The Tigers must replace its Heisman-winning quarterback, two wide receivers, four offensive linemen, three defensive linemen, two linebackers, two safeties, a cornerback and the kicker.
In addition to the losses, Auburn now deals with having the targets on their back thanks to their National Championship.
The good news for Auburn is sophomore Michael Dyer and junior Onterio McCalebb return to carry the load at running back.
Whoever wins the quarterback job between Barrett Trotter, Clint Moseley and true freshman Kiehl Frazier will be working with a revamped receiving corps.
The defense has promise, but might need a year's worth of experience to be fully prepared for the rigors of SEC play.
On the other side of the field, Boston College is one of those teams that puzzles you. It seems no matter how low they're picked to finish, the Eagles seem to defy the odds and overachieve.
Senior running back Montel Harris has been a one-man crew on offense throughout his career without any help from a reliable quarterback.
Defensively, the Eagles seem to find great players, despite their inability to sign five-star studs. Junior linebacker Luke Kuechly could very well be the best linebacker in the country after registering 183 tackles last year. Sophomore Kelvin Pierre-Louis also recorded 93 tackles in his debut last year.
With both teams wanting to run the ball, expect a low-scoring game of 14-10 or 17-13 in favor of Auburn. The Tigers will look to carry that momentum into 2012.
Winner: Auburn
Insight Bowl: Iowa (9-3) vs. Oklahoma State (8-4)
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Coach Kirk Ferentz by and large has Iowa overachieving.
The Hawkeyes have never been known for great offenses, but with several key players on defense lost, Iowa will need the offense to play better.
Despite losing offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen, the Cowboys should still make plenty of noise on offense. Even though running back Kendall Hunter is gone, Oklahoma State still returns the lethal duo of redshirt junior quarterback Brandon Weeden and redshirt sophomore Justin Blackmon. The Cowboys also return all the starters on the offensive line.
The key to Oklahoma State's Big 12 success will be the play of the defense though.
At the end of the day, I can't imagine the Hawkeyes, who lost players such as Adrian Clayborn and Tyler Sash on defense, having enough to slow down the powerful Cowboys offense.
Winner: Oklahoma State
Meineke Car Care Bowl: Texas Tech (7-5) vs. Michigan (8-4)
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Michigan head coach Brady Hoke returns to Michigan after successful stints as coach at Ball State and San Diego State.
Junior quarterback Denard Robinson returns after a successful season a year ago.
Robinson has experience-laden targets in seniors Roy Roundtree, Junior Hemingway, Daryl Stonum and Kevin Koger. Hoke and offensive coordinator Al Borges want to run a pro-style offense, but it will be interesting how they tweak the system to suit Robinson and other spread offense players recruited by Rodriguez.
The Wolverines boasted one of the worst defenses last year, regardless of division level.
Hoke wisely hired former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Greg Mattison to shore up the defense, so Michigan will improve to some degree on defense in 2011.
After just one year, it seems like an eternity since Mike Leach roamed the sidelines in Lubbock. In the Tuberville era, the days of quarterbacks throwing like there's no tomorrow are over.
The Red Raiders lost some talent on the offensive side of the ball, but Texas Tech's defense stunk last year. The 4-2-5 defense they're employing couldn't be any worse than last year's 3-4.
These two teams would've been evenly matched in 2010; both could score, but couldn't stop anyone.
This season, with a dangerous offense and an improving defense, Michigan wins this game in a rout.
Winner: Michigan
Hyundai Sun Bowl: Arizona (10-3) vs. Maryland (8-4)
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I've predicted Arizona will make a surprise trip to the new Pac-12 Championship game, but will fall to Oregon.
The good news is Arizona has a dangerous offense with returning fourth-year senior Nick Foles, senior running back Keola Antolin and a good receiving corps.
The bad news? The Wildcats will have five new starters on the offensive line.
The Terrapins have new coach Randy Edsall and a ton of experience on both sides of the ball. As long as the receivers step up, the Terps will figure to be just fine offensively.
My guess is Maryland will win a share of the ACC Atlantic, but will miss the league championship game with a loss in Tallahassee.
This game will come down to defense, where Maryland gets the edge. It will be close, but look for Edsall's group to hold on.
Winner: Maryland
Liberty Bowl: Central Florida (11-2) vs. Tennessee (7-5)
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It will be interesting to see Tennessee's mindset this year amidst a NCAA investigation.
Senior running back Tauren Poole is back, along with sophomore wide receivers Justin Hunter and Da'Rick Rogers.
Tyler Bray finished strong at the end of 2010 and made fans wonder why he rode the pines the first half of the season. Tennessee's young offensive line will also benefit greatly by being thrown into the fire immediately.
The questions for the Vols will reside on the defensive side of the ball where they must replace all three starting linebackers, defensive end Chris Walker and the best player in the secondary, Janzen Jackson (assuming he doesn't return to the team).
Central Florida is in a different boat altogether. They have several of their star players returning, minus defensive end Bruce Miller.
It will be interesting to watch linebacker Ray Shipman adjust to football. Shipman spent two years at Florida, where he was a shooting guard on the basketball team.
Sophomore quarterback Jeff Godfrey was thrust into action as a true freshman and rose to the occasion.
Throw in junior receiver Quincy McDuffie and junior running backs Latavius Murray and Brynn Harvey, and the Golden Knights will have the best team in Conference USA.
Central Florida will be on a roll after upsetting previously-unbeaten Houston in the Conference USA Championship game. Though the game could come down to the final possession, I like the Golden Knights to knock off a SEC team for the second year in a row.
Winner: UCF
Chick-fil-A Bowl: Georgia (8-4) vs. Florida State (8-5)
21 of 35Mark Richt faces his former employer one more time—this time in Atlanta.
Georgia figures to be better this year after an abysmal 2010 campaign. Though A.J. Green is gone, the Bulldogs return what should be the SEC's best quarterback in Aaron Murray. Replacing Green won't be easy, but the Bulldogs will see if junior wide receiver Marlon Brown finally lives up to the hype coming out of high school in 2009.
Washaun Ealey's departure hurts the depth at the running back position, but the question remains whether Richt will start freshman running back Isaiah Crowell from day one.
Georgia's defense now has time to settle on defense after using last season to adjust to defensive coordinator Todd Grantham's 3-4 scheme.
The talk of the preseason says the Seminoles are on a resurgence after their first 10-win season since 2003.
Despite losing Christian Ponder, Florida State has third-year sophomore EJ Manuel ready to step in on a full-time basis. Manuel played in place of the oft-injured Ponder the past couple of seasons.
Defensively, the Seminoles should rank in the top two or three in the ACC with athletes such as senior linebacker Nigel Bradham and junior defensive end Brandon Jenkins.
Despite the game being in Georgia's backyard, the Seminoles should win by 10 to 14 points.
Winner: Florida State
Outback Bowl: Mississippi State (9-3) vs. Wisconsin (10-3)
22 of 35Dan Mullen has done a tremendous job reviving a near-lifeless Mississippi State program; a second consecutive New Year's Day bowl (to be played Jan. 2 this season) speaks volumes about his ability.
The Bulldogs' success hinges on how well fourth-year quarterback Chris Relf plays.
The defense for Mississippi State will be there, but Relf needs to improve in his passing game to create balance for the offense.
Wisconsin will be coming off a tough loss to Michigan State in the inaugural Big Ten Championship game.
The running game will be the focal point for the offense, regardless of the heir to Scott Tolzien at quarterback. It would be interesting to watch the battle between Mississippi State's front four and Wisconsin's running back duo of junior Montee Ball and sophomore James White.
Don't expect to see a duplicate of last season's Gator Bowl beatdown. I'd expect to see a fairly low-scoring game with both teams looking to control the clock.
My guess is Mississippi State wins by two.
Winner: Mississippi State
Gator Bowl: Penn State (9-3) vs. South Carolina (8-4)
23 of 35Let's call this matchup the "Legends Classic Part 2."
Steve Spurrier and Joe Paterno squared off in the 1998 Citrus Bowl, with Spurrier's Gators winning 21-6. Both teams are similar in regards to quarterback situations.
Fourth-year junior Stephen Garcia will be the quarterback, but it's only summer workout time.
Penn State has Matt McGloin and Rob Bolden in the hunt at starting quarterback.
The Gamecocks will have the best two offensive players on the field in sophomore running back Marcus Lattimore and junior wide receiver Alshon Jeffery.
Penn State's Derek Moye would be covered by junior cornerback Stephon Gilmore. Though Gilmore's listed at 6'1'', Moye still has four inches on him. Watching Moye utilize his height would be interesting to see.
Defensively, both teams seem pretty even. However, it should be fun to watch the Nittany Lions match up against the SEC's speed again.
This game seems like a sloppy game in which both teams would combine for five or six turnovers.
In the end, Lattimore, who would probably carry the ball nearly 40 times, will be too much for the Penn State defense.
Winner: South Carolina
Capital One Bowl: Nebraska (10-2) vs. Florida (10-3)
24 of 35What better way for Will Muschamp to endear himself to Gator Nation than an 11-win season and a bowl win in his first season?
In the process, Muschamp's squad could exorcise past demons by getting revenge on Nebraska, who humiliated Florida 62-24 for the National Championship in the 1996 Fiesta Bowl.
The Orange and Blue's offensive transition from spread to pro-style should help, but quarterback John Brantley, who supposedly didn't fit the spread offense, looked dreadful in the spring game.
Senior running backs Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey have experience, but how will they fair running under center as opposed to shotgun?
Florida's receiving corps has a chance to shine in the offense; Frankie Hammond Jr. and Omarius Hines played well last season. Fourth-year junior Deonte Thompson has also shown the ability to get open, but drops passes more often than not.
Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez played well in his first year. He did a great job running the football, but clearly needs more work on his passing game. Losing Roy Helu at running back hurts, but with Martinez and junior Rex Burkhead, they will be enough.
Defensively, Nebraska will likely have a pair of All-Americans in fourth-year junior defensive end Jared Crick and senior linebacker Lavonte David.
This game will be close; Muschamp and defensive coordinator Dan Quinn will come up with schemes to keep Martinez in check. Florida offensive coordinator Charlie Weis trying to out-duel Nebraska defensive coordinator will also be worth watching.
Despite their efforts though, Nebraksa wins 24-20.
Winner: Nebraska
TicketCity Bowl: Northwestern (7-5) vs. Houston (12-1)
25 of 35Looking at Houston's schedule, it's possible the Cougars run the table and perhaps contend for a BCS bowl.
However, I feel they will be upset by Central Florida in the Conference USA Championship.
Northwestern played very well last season before quarterback Dan Persa's season-ending injury.
If these two teams play, Houston should rebound nicely from the conference championship loss. The Cougars' high-powered offense, led by the tough duo of sixth-year senior quarterback Case Keenum and fourth-year junior Patrick Edwards, would be too much for the Wildcats' defense to handle.
Winner: Houston
Cotton Bowl: Texas (9-3) vs. Arkansas (9-3)
26 of 35This matchup allows younger fans to witness a classic rivalry from the old Southwest Conference.
The last time these two teams faced off in 2003, Arkansas knocked off Texas 38-28 in Austin.
The Longhorns should be much better in 2011.
Junior quarterback Garrett Gilbert was terrible last year, but should use his experiences (as well as his performance against Alabama as a true freshman) to improve.
Texas hasn't had a legitimate running threat since Jamaal Charles in 2007. Freshman Malcolm Brown comes highly touted and could be the sorely-needed back Texas needs to balance the offense.
Arkansas has a loaded offense with junior running back Knile Davis, who is one of the SEC's best backs.
Third-year sophomore Tyler Wilson, outside of garbage of time and extended time against Auburn last year, has very little game experience. Luckily though, he has three talented senior receivers in Joe Adams, Greg Childs and Jarius Wright to aid him.
Motivation will not be a problem in this game, and both teams would look forward to the challenge.
The Razorbacks are too talented for Texas though.
Winner: Arkansas
BBVA Compass Bowl: Clemson (7-5) vs. Syracuse (7-5)
27 of 35I'm predicting Clemson to receive an at-large bid because the SEC won't have a team left for this bowl.
I expect another mediocre season from Dabo Sweeney and the Tigers with the highlight being an upset against Florida State at home in Week 4.
If junior running back Andre Ellington stays healthy and true freshman Mike Bellamy lives up to the billing, Clemson might have another great 1-2 punch at running back.
The losses of linebacker Brandon Maye, safety DeAndre McDaniel, and defensive linemen Da'Quan Bowers and Jarvis Jenkins is a major blow to the defense. Let's see if last year's backups can rise to the challenge and provide stability for the losses.
Syracuse enjoyed their first bowl game since 2004. Senior quarterback Ryan Nassib, along with senior wide receivers Van Chew and Marcus Sales, return. Senior running back Antwon Bailey will be counted on to give the Orange the same presence Delone Carter did last year.
This game will be close. Clemson should win, but my gut feeling says Doug Marrone outcoaches Sweeney for a narrow victory.
Winner: Syracuse
Military Bowl: Navy (7-5) vs. Georgia Tech (7-5)
28 of 35Paul Johnson versus Ken Niumatalolo. Teacher versus mentor. Two exact offenses.
Johnson would be facing the school he coached for six seasons prior to taking the Georgia Tech job.
For those who want to see heavy passing and a 40- or 50-point game shouldn't bother tuning in.
Navy quarterback Kris Proctor and second-year quarterback Tevin Washington both run the triple option, but which quarterback will execute the option better?
There's no denying the Yellow Jackets have better athletes and they know the triple option as well as the Midshipmen.
This game will come down to execution on both sides; the Midshipmen will come out with a little more motivation given the name of the bowl.
I predict Navy wins 17-14.
Winner: Navy
GoDaddy.com Bowl: Temple (9-4) vs. Troy (8-4)
29 of 35I'm predicting Temple will fall just short to Toledo in the MAC Championship.
With the loss, the Owls will be looking for something to prove in its bowl game with Troy.
Troy has proven to be no slouch against tough competition. Troy has had near upsets against Florida State, Ohio State and at LSU (twice).
The Owls have a good back in junior Bernard Pierce, but if they can get quality play from the quarterback position (something they haven't had in a while), they will get their offense clicking on all cylinders.
JUCO transfer quarterback Clint Granger is tabbed to be the man running the Temple offense and will be counted on to add more than what they got from last year's bunch under center.
Third-year sophomore Corey Robinson threw for nearly 4,000 yards and 28 touchdowns in his debut last year for Troy. Expect him to cut down on his 15 interceptions in year two.
Replacing Jerrel Jernigan at WR will be tough, as he accounted for more than 2,000 all-purpose yards and 11 total touchdowns. The Trojans do have junior running back Shawn Southward, who averaged 5.4 yards per carry and seven touchdowns in 2010, returning though.
Troy's offense will score some points, but the defense probably won't stop the Owls. Temple should be able to pull away from Troy with a 42-24 effort.
Winner: Temple
Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl: Oregon State (7-5) vs. Army (6-6)
30 of 35Don't expect Oregon State to repeat their 2010 performance; the team and coach Mike Riley are too talented to have two consecutive losing seasons.
Ryan Katz played well for the most part, and his touchdowns should increase from 18 with fourth-year junior James Rodgers, who missed most of last season, receiving a medical hardship. Rodgers' return should soften the blow of the early defection of younger brother, Jacquizz, to the NFL.
Oregon State's defense better be prepared for this game because it's not often teams encounter the triple option. But even though Rich Ellerson has done a tremendous job of getting Army back to bowl-eligible status, the Beavers are simply too much for them to handle.
Winner: Oregon State
Fiesta Bowl: Texas A&M (11-1) vs. Stanford (10-2)
31 of 35Stanford returns the best quarterback in the country (and probably the top pick in the 2012 NFL Draft) in fourth-year junior quarterback Andrew Luck.
The Cardinal also lost several key personnel, including coach Jim Harbaugh. But Stanford will reap the benefits of Harbaugh's recruiting for the next year or two.
Junior running back Stepfan Taylor returns after rushing for 1,137 yards and 15 touchdowns. However, the losses of fullback/linebacker Owen Marecic, along with wide receivers Ryan Whalen and Doug Baldwin, will be felt. Stanford will count on senior wide receiver Chris Owusu and Griff Whalen, alongside senior tight end Coby Fleener, to fill out voids.
Texas A&M really kicked it into high gear once Jerrod Johnson was benched in favor of Ryan Tannehill at quarterback last season.
Tannehill will have plenty of targets at his arsenal, including senior wide receiver Jeff Fuller, who caught 72 passes for 1,066 yards and 12 touchdowns. Plus, the Aggies have the Big 12's best running back in junior Cyrus Gray.
This game could be the best of all the BCS bowls, as both teams have dangerous offenses, but the game will come down to defense.
Stanford would top the Von Miller-less Aggies in a 31-27 thriller.
Winner: Stanford
Orange Bowl: Virginia Tech (12-1) vs. South Florida (10-2)
32 of 35South Florida winning the Big East isn't the most believable prediction, but they have just as good a chance as anyone else to win.
I expect the Bulls to share the Big East with Cincinnati, but USF will receive the Orange Bowl bid with a victory over the Bearcats as a tiebreaker. It wouldn't be a shock for the Bearcats to win the league, but I'll go with South Florida as of now.
Demetris Murray is listed as starter at running back, but could find pressure from junior Colorado transfer Darrell Scott and Auburn transfer Dontae Aycock.
Wide receiver A.J. Love returns for a rare sixth year of eligibility after missing all of 2010. He should provide depth and experience to the receiving corps. B.J. Daniels shows nice skills running the football, but looks terrible when forced to pass the ball.
South Florida's defense surrendered 20 points and just under 318 yards per game. The defense should be even better under former Marshall head coach and current Bulls defensive coordinator Mark Snyder.
Virginia Tech loses an experienced quarterback and two talented backs but are projected to win 12 regular-season games. A weak ACC plays right into Frank Beamer's hands, and junior running back David Wilson should pick up where Ryan Williams and Darren Evans left off.
Bud Foster's defense is more than capable of picking up the slack for the offense until third-year sophomore Logan Thomas gains playing experience.
Skip Holtz's big-time coaching can only go so far; the Hokies win in blowout fashion.
Winner: Virginia Tech
Sugar Bowl: LSU (10-2) vs. Notre Dame (10-2)
33 of 35The last time these two teams met, the Bengal Tigers mauled the Irish 41-14 in the 2007 Sugar Bowl.
The Tigers have one of the top programs in the country, but lose talented cornerback Patrick Peterson, defensive tackle Drake Nevis and linebacker Kelvin Sheppard. The defense will take a step back after losing these three quality players but should still be tough to handle for any offense.
LSU's success in 2011 hinges on the shoulders of quarterback Jordan Jefferson, who enters his senior season with pedestrian numbers, at best. For his career, Jefferson has completed 58 percent of his passes for 3,996 yards, 28 touchdowns and 18 picks. He's also averaging 2.6 yards per carry and has nine touchdowns on the ground.
For the Bayou Bengals, Jefferson needs to step up big time. If he doesn't, Miles has the luxury of choosing from fourth-year junior Jarrett "Pick Six" Lee and JUCO transfer Zach Mettenberger.
Losing running back Stevan Ridley hurts, but the Tigers have a plethora of redshirt freshmen and sophomores to choose from.
Brian Kelly's group in South Bend picked up nice momentum with a thrashing of the Miami Hurricanes in the "Catholics vs. Convicts" matchup in the 2010 Sun Bowl.
It's interesting to see who wins the quarterback job among Dayne Crist, Tommy Rees and Andrew Hendrix. Rees led the Fighting Irish to its biggest wins of the year against Utah, Miami and Southern California (which, in the process, stopped a seven-game losing streak to the Trojans).
Whoever the quarterback, he will have the luxury of one of the country's top three receivers in senior Michael Floyd. Junior Theo Riddick and sophomore T.J. Jones provide an excellent group of targets as well.
The Irish need solid quarterback play, but hopes for a BCS bowl rests in the hands of the defense.
If the defense can take what they did down the stretch and apply it to this season, they should go to a top-tier bowl.
Even if Notre Dame's defense improves though, they won't be able to handle the Tigers. The Irish are too talented to be manhandled by LSU again. It will be closer, but LSU wins 31-21.
Winner: LSU
Rose Bowl: Oregon (11-2) vs. Michigan State (11-2)
34 of 35Oregon should be the class of the newly-formed Pac-12 with a win over Arizona in the championship game.
But it's tough to say where the Ducks will go bowling amidst an NCAA inquiry into recruiting allegations and an indefinite suspension for junior cornerback Cliff Harris. If Harris misses extended time, Lache Seastrunk—one of the most highly-touted recruits of the 2010 recruiting class—might take over return duties in his absence.
The Ducks will be fine with third-year sophomore quarterback Darron Thomas and third-year sophomore running backs LaMichael James and Kenjon Barner.
Work is needed on the receiving corps. Sophomore wide receiver Josh Huff tallied more than 500 yards and five touchdowns on offense as a true freshman, but he should have a bigger impact in 2011.
The defense will miss Casey Matthews on defense, but should still be solid with a veteran group.
The Spartans are my pick to beat Wisconsin in the first Big Ten Championship. They have one of the most balanced offenses in the country, led by quarterback Kirk Cousins. Junior Edwin Baker and sophomore Le'Veon Bell also provide an excellent one-two punch at running back.
Michigan State has a deep wide receiver unit. Although leading receiver Mark Dell moved on, B.J. Cunningham, who led the team with nine touchdown receptions, returns.
Michigan State will miss Greg Jones, but might have the next big thing if sophomore defensive end William Gholston lives up to his five-star hype out of the prep ranks.
Oregon has the talent, but has choked in their biggest games the past couple of seasons (2010 Rose Bowl and 2011 BCS National Championship).
The question will be if Michigan State can handle the speedy Oregon Ducks. With Ohio State's Sugar Bowl win tainted with the participation of ineligible players, the Big Ten will need this game to regain respect.
This game would live up to the billing, but Oregon edges Michigan State 28-24.
Winner: Oregon
BCS National Championship: Oklahoma (13-0) vs. Alabama (13-0)
35 of 35It shouldn't be too difficult to figure out who'd win this matchup.
These two coaches met before in the 2004 National Championship game, and Saban's LSU team prevailed 28-21.
If the game was played from September through November, the Sooners would have a very good chance to win. But the Sooners look like a different team come January; it's as if they have a Jeckyll/Hyde mentality. They look seem to look poorly coached and act as if they've never played the game before.
The Sooners return quarterback Landry Jones, who gained his experience when he replaced the injured Sam Bradford for nearly the entire 2009 season. DeMarco Murray will be missed, but as well as Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops recruits, someone will emerge as a go-to back.
The Sooners also have wide receiver Ryan Broyles back, but other players need to step up to help him out.
On defense, Oklahoma returns linebacker Travis Lewis and defensive end Frank Alexander. The weakest link on the defense looks to be in the secondary, but the Sooners should have guys ready to play by the start of the season.
Oklahoma will steam roll through the Big 12, but in the National Championship game, the Jekyll of Oklahoma's Jeckyll/Hyde will emerge.
Same place. Same faces (though Saban's wearing different colors this time around). Same result.
Saban two, Stoops zero. Alabama wins 34-14.
Winner: Alabama
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
