2011-12 College Football Bowl Schedule: Power Ranking Every Game

It's bowl season.

Seventy of the best teams in the nation will square off to give us one more month of college football.

Yes, I was being sarcastic in referring to "70 of the best teams in the nation," but I'll gladly take postseason-overkill for one more month of football.

The question is which are the best games? Which are the games that are really worth calling out sick for?

In this ranking system, I used three criteria: drama, quality game potential and national interest.

Drama concerns back stories, issues surrounding the people involved, the prestige of the game itself, inherent heat between the two programs and the most awe-inspiring players.

Quality game potential looks at which matchups will provide the fan with the best, most exciting game.

Finally, national interest has to do with which games are most appealing to the most people.

Obviously, there's some overlap as concerns drama and national interest, but I believe there is a difference.

Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl: Marshall Thundering Herd vs. FIU Golden Panthers

Where: St. Petersburg, FL

When: Dec. 20, 2011, 8:00 p.m.

Who: Big East No. 6 vs. C-USA (replacement team for the Big East)

History: These two programs have never met.  

Quick Hits: At 8-4, FIU finished up the most successful season of its 10-year history as a college football program.

The Golden Panthers are a balanced team that ranked third in the Sun Belt Conference in scoring offense and second in scoring defense.

On the other hand, Marshall had an up-and-down year and wound up finishing 6-6, securing bowl eligibility in its last game of the regular season.

The Thundering Herd ranked No. 6 in C-USA scoring D and ninth in scoring O. Still, one has to keep in mind that Conference USA was a much stronger conference than the Sun Belt, and all but one of Marshall's losses were to teams with eight wins or more.

Drama Factor: 1

Quality Game Potential: 4

National Interest: 1 

Total Points: 6

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Ohio Bobcats vs. Utah State Aggies

Where: Boise, ID

When: Dec. 17, 2011, 5:30 p.m.

Who: MAC No. 3 vs. WAC

History: These two programs have met once. In 1994, Utah State beat Ohio by the unlikely score of 5-0.  

That said, Ohio head coach Frank Solich has faced off against the Aggies six times, as a position and head coach of Nebraska. Needless to say, NU owned Utah State.

Quick Hits: The 9-4 Bobcats will look to end a bowl losing streak that stretches back to the JFK administration. In fact, Ohio has never won a bowl game.

Meanwhile, 7-5 Utah State only has one bowl win to its credit—a 1993 Las Vegas Bowl win over Ball State.

As a strict disciple of Nebraska patriarch Bob Devaney, Solich is a believer in leading with a strong running game and staunch defense.

Utah State is also a run-first team, though its defense is not as impressive as Ohio.

If the Aggies are to win, they will have to outscore the Bobcats.

Drama Factor: 3

Quality Game Potential: 4

National Interest: 1 

Total Points: 8

Hawaii Bowl: Southern Miss Golden Eagles vs. Nevada Wolf Pack

Where: Honolulu, HI

When: Dec. 24, 2011, 8:00 p.m.

Who: WAC vs. C-USA

History: These programs have played twice: 1997 and 1998. Southern Miss won both times. Coincidentally enough, those were two of only 10 seasons since 1976 that current Wolf Pack head coach Chris Ault wasn't at the helm.

Quick Hits: Southern Miss hasn't had quite as much stability at the head coaching position, and in fact, will be without its head coach, Larry Fedora, as he has moved on to North Carolina.

That said, the Golden Eagles ruined Houston's perfect season en route to 11 wins and a C-USA championship. The key to Southern Miss's success was a powerful running game, in which five different players had over 300 yards rushing on the season. This was complemented by senior quarterback Austin Davis's steadiness.

On the other hand, the Wolf Pack didn't equal their success in 2010. Instead, Nevada went 7-5, which was good for a second-place finish in the WAC.

They platooned two quarterbacks and also had a powerful running game, in which four players rushed for over 400 yards each.

Drama Factor: 3

Quality Game Potential: 1

National Interest: 4

Total Points: 8

New Mexico Bowl: Temple Owls vs. Wyoming Cowboys

Where: Albuquerque, N.M.

When: Dec. 17, 2011, 2:00 p.m.

Who: MWC No. 4 vs. WAC (replacement team for WAC)

History: These teams met in 1990, at which time Temple was a member of the Big East and arguably the worst college football program in the country. Yes, there was a time when they were so bad that the Big East kicked them out.

Wyoming won 38-23.

Quick Hits: Temple is no longer in the Big East, nor is it the worst program in the country. In fact, I suspect the Big East would be happy to have them back, if perhaps, they played in Hawaii instead of Philadelphia.

That said, head coach Steve Addazio did not deliver on the promise of an experienced Temple team, though he didn't do poorly in his first year.

His Owls finished 8-4 in a decidedly strong MAC. Their strength was a strong defense, which ranked No. 3 nationally in scoring. The offense was also solid, scoring over 30 ppg, but they were shut down in three of their four losses, managing 13 points or less against Penn State, Toledo and Bowling Green.

Wyoming is another institution that is not known for football, but third-year coach Dave Christensen has led the Cowboys to bowls in two of his three years as the head man.

This season, Wyoming went 8-4, which is their strongest season since 1998. They did it on the back of a multi-headed rushing attack and the arm of true freshman quarterback Brett Smith.

Three of the Cowboys' losses were to ranked teams, though they do have to answer for a 19-63 shellacking at the hands of Utah State.

Drama Factor: 1

Quality Game Potential: 7

National Interest: 1 

Total Points: 9

Little Caesars Pizza Bowl: Purdue Boilermakers vs. Western Michigan Broncos

Where: Detroit, MI

When: Dec. 27, 2011, 4:30 p.m.

Who: MAC No. 2 vs. Big Ten No. 8

History: These two programs have met twice: in 1993 and 2002. Purdue won both contests.

Quick Hits: This is Purdue coach Danny Hope's first bowl trip.

His Boilers went 6-6 despite losing their starting quarterback for the second season in a row.

Purdue features a strong running game and a better-than-their-statistics defense. If Boilermaker quarterback Caleb TerBush can make some strides during bowl practices, PU might be a dangerous foe.

Meanwhile, MAC stalwart Western Michigan went 7-5 this year.

The Broncos' defense was porous, but their pass-first offense picked up steam at the end of the year, scoring over 45 points in three of its final four contests.

Drama Factor: 1

Quality Game Potential: 6

National Interest: 2 

Total Points: 9

Military Bowl: Air Force Falcons vs. Toledo Rockets

Where: Washington DC

When: Dec. 28, 2011, 4:30 p.m.

Who: ACC No. 8  vs. Navy (replacement teams for Navy and ACC)

History: These programs have never met. However, Air Force coach Troy Calhoun did serve as Toledo rival Ohio's offensive coordinator from 1995-2000.

Quick Hits: These are two of the best rushing teams in the country, though they get their yards in different ways.

Air Force moves the ball in the tried-and-true Academy way, via a triple-option attack. Meanwhile, though Toledo does employ a dual-threat quarterback, they move the ball in the more vogue method of spreading the defense out and working from the read option.

Air Force is No. 2 nationally in rushing YPC, while Toledo is No. 20.

Unfortunately, neither team has much of a defense to speak of. The Falcons have let up 27.3 ppg, and a woeful 5.02 ypc. Toledo has had better success stopping the run—3.86 ypc allowed—but have let up 30.9 ppg. The Jets let up 63 points in consecutive weeks against Northern Illinois and Western Michigan.

This will be yet another in a series of high-octane, high-scoring games in this season's bowl lineup.

Drama Factor: 1

Quality Game Potential: 7

National Interest: 1 

Total Points: 9

GoDaddy.com Bowl: Northern Illinois Huskies vs. Arkansas State Red Wolves

Where: Mobile, AL

When: Jan. 8, 2012, 9:00 p.m.

Who: MAC No. 1 vs. Sun Belt

History: These two programs have met seven times, with all of the games taking place between 1990-1996.

The Huskies came out the victor of six of those meetings, with the Red Wolves' lone victory coming in a 28-21 win in 1995.

Quick Hits: This game is a meeting of two quality, dual-threat quarterbacks.

NIU's Chandler Harnish will look to put an exclamation point on an outstanding career that saw him as the starting signal-caller for four years, during which he broke a slew of Husky passing records.

Meanwhile, ASU's Ryan Aplin is a junior and a three-year starter who will likely leave Arkansas State as its all-time leading passer.

The key difference between these teams is that Arkansas State has a quality defense—best in the Sun Belt and 15th in the country—while NIU's D is porous—10th-ranked in the MAC.

If the Huskies are to compete, they will have to outscore the Red Wolves.

Drama Factor: 3

Quality Game Potential: 5

National Interest: 2 

Total Points: 10

Poinsettia Bowl: Louisiana Tech Bulldogs vs. TCU Horned Frogs

Where: San Diego, CA

When: Dec. 21, 2011, 8:00 p.m.

Who: MWC No. 2 vs. WAC

History: Louisiana Tech and TCU have never played.

However, Louisiana Tech head coach Sonny Dykes has faced off against TCU head coach Gary Patterson. Dykes was at Texas Tech as a wide receiver coach, and eventually, offensive coordinator. While there, his Red Raiders played Patterson's Frogs twice. They wound up splitting the games.

Quick Hits: TCU had its worst season since 2008. Of course, when "worst" season means 10-2 and the MWC Championship, you know the program is in pretty good shape.

As is the case with non-AQ giants, it's either undefeated or bust, and this season, it was bust for the Frogs.

That leaves them in San Diego as a heavy favorite to beat the Bulldogs.

Meanwhile, Louisiana Tech won its second-ever WAC Championship. Certainly, the departure of Boise State from the WAC had a lot to do with that, but that doesn't diminish the Bulldogs 8-4 (7-1 in-conference) campaign.

On paper, this looks to be a TCU blowout, but earlier in the year, Louisiana Tech did take ranked Houston and Southern Miss to the wire.

Drama Factor: 3

Quality Game Potential: 1

National Interest: 5

Total Points: 10

Belk Bowl: Louisville Cardinals vs. North Carolina State Wolfpack

Where: Charlotte, NC

When: Dec. 27, 2011, 8:00 p.m.

Who: Big East No. 3 vs. ACC No. 5

History: NC State has played, and beaten, Louisville three times. The last matchup was 2007 in current Wolfpack head coach, Tom O'Brien's first season at the helm. At the time, the Cardinals also had a new head coach—Steve Kragthorpe—who has since been fired.

Quick Hits: At 7-5, the Wolfpack didn't live up to their early-season expectations.

Much of that was due to the ACC's second-worst rushing offense. At times, the offense led NC State to strong showings—37 points in a win over Clemson—and at other times, it sputtered to nothingness—10 points in a loss to Boston College.

Louisville head coach Charlie Strong didn't have much of an offense—last in the Big East—but as one might assume from a coach with a defensive background, his Cardinals led with defense. They were second in the Big East and 14th in the country in scoring D.

Drama Factor: 1

Quality Game Potential: 5

National Interest: 4 

Total Points: 10

Music City Bowl: Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs

Where: Nashville, TN

When: Dec. 30, 2011, 6:40 p.m.

Who: ACC No. 6 vs. SEC No. 7

History: These two programs have never met.

Quick Hits: Jim Grobe's Demon Deacons began the season strong, including a 35-30 win over Florida State.

However, they fell apart as the year went on, going 2-5 over the final seven weeks. This was mostly due to an offense that only manged just over 21 ppg during that stretch. The running game was particularly woeful, finishing 105th in the country (ypc).

In the end, Wake Forest ended up 6-6.

On the other side of the field, MSU opened up the season with hopes of challenging for the SEC title. Unfortunately, the SEC was vicious and the Bulldogs had one of the toughest conference schedules.

They wound up losing to five ranked teams—four in the top 10—as well as Auburn.

Drama Factor: 3

Quality Game Potential: 5

National Interest: 3 

Total Points: 11

New Orleans Bowl: Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns vs. San Diego State Aztecs

Where: New Orleans, LA

When: Dec. 17, 2011, 9:00 p.m.

Who: Sun Belt No. 1 vs. C-USA (replacement team for C-USA)

History: These two programs have never played.

Quick Hits: First-year ULL coach Mark Hudspeth is a rising star in the college football world. He has led the Ragin' Cajuns to their first bowl game since 1970 and their first winning season since 2005.

He did it with a two-headed rushing game and a strong passing game. ULL junior quarterback Blaine Gautier was the most efficient quarterback in the Sun Belt Conference.

Meanwhile, San Diego State sophomore running back Ronnie Hillman is on his way to breaking all kinds of team records in leading the Aztecs to their second 8-4 season in a row. This is despite breaking in new head coach Rocky Long.

Drama Factor: 2

Quality Game Potential: 7

National Interest: 2 

Total Points: 11

Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas: Texas A&M Aggies vs. Northwestern Wildcats

Where: Houston, TX

When: Dec. 31, 2011, 12:00 p.m.

Who: Big 12 No. 6 vs. Big Ten No. 6

History: These two teams have never met.

Quick Hits: Texas A&M came into the season as a darkhorse to go to the BCS national title game. Nevertheless, the Aggies finished 6-6, which led to the firing of head coach Mike Sherman.

That said, it should be remembered that all but one of the Aggies' losses were to ranked teams. Three of the losses were by a field goal or less. In short, this team is better than its .500 record indicates.

Meanwhile, Northwestern also came into the season with darkhorse hopes. Of course, Northwestern's hopes have to be tempered by reality, more so than TAMU. However, with one of the most experienced offensive lines in the country, as well as the return of quarterback Dan Persa, hopes were high in Evanston.

Unfortunately, Persa was never 100 percent, and the Cats limped to a 6-6 record.

These two programs have two of the longest active bowl win droughts. The Wildcats haven't won a bowl since Harry S. Truman was president, while Texas A&M has lost five bowls in a row going back to 2005.

Drama Factor: 3

Quality Game Potential: 4

National Interest: 5 

Total Points: 12

Pinstripe Bowl: Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs. Iowa State Cyclones

Where: New York, New York

When: Dec. 30, 2011, 3:20 p.m.

Who: Big 12 No. 7 vs. Big East No. 4

History: These programs have never met, though ISU head coach Paul Rhoads was the defensive coordinator at Big East institution Pitt, between 2000-2007.

Quick Hits: Iowa State is one of the surprise teams on the bowl scene this season. At 6-6, the Clones hardly set the world afire, but they had one the toughest schedules in the country.

Perhaps, ISU's big upset over Oklahoma State was less a fluke and more a sign of things to come.

Meanwhile, Greg Schiano has had unprecedented success at former Big East doormat RU. When Schiano took over in 2001, the Scarlet Knights had not been to a bowl since 1978. However, in 2005, he led them to the Insight Bowl. They proceeded to make a bowl for the next four seasons, before slipping to 4-8 in 2010.

This year, at 8-4 and boasting the Big East's stingiest defense, Rutgers is back. Nevertheless, the Scarlet Knights will have to beat ISU with a dominant D, as the RU running game is 119th in the country (ypc) and the 97th-ranked passing attack (efficiency rating) isn't much better.

Look for this one to be a defensive showdown, with turnovers and special teams taking the day.

Drama Factor: 3

Quality Game Potential: 7

National Interest: 3 

Total Points: 13

Independence Bowl: Missouri Tigers vs. North Carolina Tar Heels

Where: Shreveport, LA

When: Dec. 26, 2011, 5:00 p.m.

Who: MWC No. 3 vs. ACC No. 7

History: These programs have played twice. Once in 1973 and again in 1976. Mizzou won both games.

Quick Hits: Missouri is a better program than its 7-5 record suggests. Four of the Tigers' losses are to ranked teams, and the fifth loss was to Arizona State, which, at the point when Missouri faced them, were playing like a ranked team.

Moreover, four of the losses were on the road, with only home loss coming to No. 3-ranked Oklahoma State.

I'm not making excuses for the Tigers. I am just making the point that with Houston's schedule, the Tigers would arguably have also gone 12-0. Then again, with the move to the SEC, Missouri will have to get used to that level of competitiveness.

Meanwhile, 7-5 is an accurate portrayal of UNC. However, this is a team that's currently working under an interim coach and has been scrutinized by the NCAA for the last two years. Certainly, the Tar Heels deserve to be scrutinized, but I can think of a lot of teams that deserve the same treatment, yet seem to do as they please.

One can only guess how the Tar Heels will respond with a coaching change on the horizon.

Drama Factor: 5

Quality Game Potential: 5

National Interest: 4 

Total Points: 14

Armed Forces Bowl: Brigham Young Cougars vs. Tulsa Golden Hurricane

Where: Dallas, TX

When: Dec. 30, 2011, 12:00 p.m.

Who: BYU vs. C-USA

History: These two programs have met seven times, with BYU holding a 6-1 lead in the series. The last meeting was in 2007, when Mendenhall's Cougars lost to then Tulsa coach Todd Graham, 47-55.

Quick Hits: Tulsa had explosive C-USA's third-best scoring offense, putting up 34.1 points per game.

The Golden Hurricane D was so-so, ranking fifth in conference scoring D. However, they were particularly vulnerable through the air, coming second-to-last in the conference in passing ypg allowed.

The BYU offense wasn't as good as expected, but it did over score over 30 ppg.

Much of the inconsistency was due to true sophomore quarterback Jake Heaps, who continues to struggle to be a complete quarterback. He lost the starting job to junior Riley Nelson, who was later injured, re-opening a door for Heaps.

Ultimately, the fate of the Cougars in both the bowl game and the future will rest on the shoulders of the signal-caller, whoever that might be.

Drama Factor: 4

Quality Game Potential: 6

National Interest: 4 

Total Points: 14

Sun Bowl: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets vs. Utah Utes

Where: El Paso, TX

When: Dec. 31, 2011, 2:00 p.m.

Who: ACC No. 4 vs. Pac-12 No. 4

History: Utah has played Georgia Tech once—in the 2005 Emerald Bowl. The Utes won 38-10. At the time, Kyle Whittingham was in his first year as head coach, having taken over for Urban Meyer. Meanwhile, Georgia Tech was in the middle of the Chan Gailey era.

More recently, current Yellow Jacket coach Paul Johnson almost took on Whittingham's Utes in the 2007 Poinsettia Bowl. At the time, he was Navy's head coach; however, he took the Georgia Tech job right before the game.

Quick Hits: The Utes went 7-5 in their first season in the Pac-12. This was not a letdown as this looked to be something of a rebuilding year.

The offense took a hit early in the season when quarterback Jordan Wynn was lost for the year with a shoulder injury. Since then, junior Jon Hays has led the offense.

Nonetheless, the defense, which was the best in the Pac-12, ultimately led the way.

Meanwhile, Georgia Tech went 8-4 led by its typically powerful triple-option rushing game. The problem is that as well as the Yellow Jackets have done during the season under Paul Johnson, they have consistently laid eggs against good defenses in bowl games.

In the 2010 Independence Bowl, Air Force held them to seven points. In the 2010 Orange Bowl, Iowa held them to 14 points. In the 2008 Chick-fil-A Bowl, LSU squashed them to the tune of three points.

Can the Georgia Tech offense deliver when quality defenses have time to prepare for it? We will see this season.

Drama Factor: 4

Quality Game Potential: 6

National Interest: 4 

Total Points: 14

Liberty Bowl: Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Vanderbilt Commodores

Where: Memphis, TN

When: Dec. 31, 2011, 3:30 p.m.

Who: C-USA No. 1 vs. Big East/SEC No. 8 or No. 9 (replacement team for C-USA)

History: The Bearcats and Commodores have met four times: 1976, 1977, 1993 and 1994. Vanderbilt won all but 1976.

Quick Hits: The Bearcats are one of this season's turnaround teams—from 4-8 in 2010 to 9-3 this season. They did it on the back of a staunch defense—20th in the country—and particularly a rush D that ranked fourth in the country (ypc allowed).

They could have achieved even more had quarterback Zach Collaros not missed the final four games with an injury. The Bearcats lost two of those contests—contests that ultimately decided the fate of the Big East.

Nevertheless, Collaros will be healthy for the bowl game.

Meanwhile, Vandy was the little-train-that-could of the SEC.

All but one of the Commodores' six wins were over sub-.500 teams—the one exception was an end-of-the-year rout over 6-6 Wake Forest—but six wins are six wins, especially for the usual SEC-doormat team.

Vanderbilt will look to ride a strong running game led by junior Zac Stacy and his 6.21 ypc, along with a solid defense.

Drama Factor: 4

Quality Game Potential: 7

National Interest: 3 

Total Points: 14

BBVA Compass Bowl: SMU Mustangs vs. Pitt Panthers

Where: Birmingham, AL

When: Jan. 7, 2012, 1:00 p.m.

Who: SEC No. 8/9 vs. Big East No. 5/C-USA

History: These two programs have met five times, with the last meeting a 7-3 SMU win in the 1983 Cotton Bowl.

More recently, Pitt coach Todd Graham—as the Tulsa head coach—faced SMU coach June Jones three times, with Jones taking two victories. Before that, Graham—as the Tulsa defensive coordinator—faced off twice against Jones as the Hawaii head coach. They split those games.

Quick Hits: In Graham's first season as head coach of Pitt, the Panthers had some trouble adjusting to his quick-hit offense. In effect, they lost a number of close games, including three-point losses to Cincinnati and Notre Dame and a one-point heartbreaker to arch rival West Virginia.

However, they did just enough to eke out six wins and achieve bowl eligibility.

June Jones' Mustangs went 7-5 against one of the tougher schedules in C-USA. Despite that, SMU managed to pull out the Skillet win over 10-2 TCU.

On the other hand, Houston, Tulsa, Southern Miss and Texas A&M squashed the Mustangs by an average score of 8-37.

Drama Factor: 5

Quality Game Potential: 7

National Interest: 3 

Total Points: 15

Maaco Bowl: Boise State Broncos vs. Arizona State Sun Devils

Where: Las Vegas, NV

When: Dec. 22, 2011, 8:00 p.m.

Who: MWC No. 1 vs. Pac-12 No. 5

History: BSU has played ASU once. It was in 1996—before the Broncos had become a powerhouse and during the Sun Devils' last Pac-10 championship run. Needless to say, ASU won easily, 56-7.

That said, BSU coach Chris Petersen is from California and was the Oregon wide receiver coach 1995-2000, so he has seen plenty of Arizona State.

Quick Hits: This is the world of Boise State. Go undefeated, and they are in a BCS bowl. Have even one slip up, and they are in Vegas.

It's pointless reciting statistics, because anybody that follows college football knows the Bronco's stats are generally gaudy. Is that because they typically play a cakewalk schedule, because they are that good or a combination thereof?

We're not going to find out this bowl season.

Meanwhile, Arizona State began the year with nearly the entire team returning. The Sun Devils played like a top-15 team to begin 2011. After starting off 6-2, a close loss to UCLA unraveled the team. They proceeded to lose the final three games, which led to the firing of head coach Dennis Erickson.

Erickson will be coaching the bowl game, but the question is which Sun Devil team will show up—the one that beat 10-2 Southern Cal or the one that lost to 4-8 Washington State?

Drama Factor: 7

Quality Game Potential: 3

National Interest: 5

Total Points: 15

Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl: Illinois Illini vs. UCLA Bruins

Where: San Francisco, CA

When: Dec. 31, 2011, 3:30 p.m.

Who: Pac-12 No. 6 vs. Army (replacement team for Army)

History: UCLA and Illinois have met 11 times over the years, with the Bruins going 6-5 against the Illini. UCLA has won the last four meetings, including a 1984 45-9 Rose Bowl win.

Quick Hits: Both Illinois' Ron Zook and UCLA's Rick Neuheisel were fired following disappointing 6-6 campaigns. In effect, both teams will feature coordinators as the interim head coach.

Illinois started out the year 6-0 and popped into the top 25. Then the wheels came off the cart following a mid-October loss to OSU, after which the Illini failed to win another game.

In the end, the defense was solid, but the offense averaged 11 ppg over the six-game slide.

Meanwhile, despite its lackluster record, UCLA managed to squeak into the Pac-12 title game—a statement on the weakness of the Pac-12's new Southern Division. Needless to say, they were easily handled by Oregon.

The Bruins were outscored by their opponents by an average of just under 10 ppg, and their only remotely impressive wins were over 6-6 Arizona State and 7-5 Cal.

Drama Factor: 6

Quality Game Potential: 6

National Interest: 5 

Total Points: 17

Holiday Bowl: Texas Longhorns vs. California Bears

Where: San Diego, CA

When: Dec. 28, 2011, 8:00 p.m.

Who: Pac-12 No. 3 vs. Big 12 No. 5

History: Texas and Cal have met four times—1959, 1961, 1969, 1970—with the Horns winning all of them by a combined score of 134-18. Texas fans must long for the heydays of Darrell Royal.

That said, current Texas coach Mack Brown has faced current Cal coach Jeff Tedford once. In 2000, Browns' Longhorns faced Oregon in the Holiday Bowl. At the time, Tedford was the Ducks' offensive coordinator.

Oregon won 35-30.

Quick Hits: The Horns have now gone 12-12 over the last two seasons. Put bluntly, Mack Brown is on incredibly thin ice in Austin. He has to bring home a winner next season, and as always, "next season" starts with the bowl game.

Texas had a strong defense in the offense-dominant Big 12. They had the second-best scoring D, rush D and pass D in the conference.

On the other hand, the offense failed to impress. It only managed 17.25 ppg over its final five games.

Cal has not delivered on the early promise of Jeff Tedford's tenure in Berkley. Nevertheless, the Bears have usually been dependable.

This season, they beat all of the teams they were supposed to beat and lost to all of the teams to who they were supposed to lose (outside of arguably UCLA). That left them with a respectable 7-5 record.

Drama Factor: 5

Quality Game Potential: 5

National Interest: 8 

Total Points: 18

Insight Bowl: Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Oklahoma Sooners

Where: Tempe, AZ

When: Dec. 30, 2011, 10:00 p.m.

Who: Big 12 No. 4 vs. Big Ten No. 4

History: Oklahoma and Iowa have played once. These two programs met in 1979, which was Iowa patriarch Hayden Fry's first year as head coach. Meanwhile, Oklahoma legend Barry Switzer was in the middle of his run as the head man in Norman. Needless to say, OU handily beat the Hawks 21-6.

More notably, current Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops is a University of Iowa graduate. He played for Hayden Fry on that 1979 Hawkeye team, and he interviewed for the Iowa head coaching job currently held by Kirk Ferentz.

Quick Hits: This doesn't look to be an even matchup. The Sooners might be the best 9-3 team in the history of college football, while Iowa's 7-5 record is accurate.

On the other hand, the fact that OU is 9-3 leads one to believe that this is an underachieving team. Moreover, one of Kirk Ferentz's best attributes as a head man is bowl prep. Ferentz is 5-3 in bowls and is currently riding a three-game bowl win streak.

Oklahoma will come into the game heavily favored, but the Hawkeyes have a history of playing up to the quality of their opponent.

Drama Factor: 10

Quality Game Potential: 2

National Interest: 7 

Total Points: 19

Chick-Fil-a-Bowl: Auburn Tigers vs. Virginia Cavaliers

Where: Atlanta, GA

When: Dec. 31, 2011, 7:30 p.m.

Who: ACC No. 2 vs. SEC No. 5

History: These two programs split a home-and-home series in 1997-98.

Quick Hits: A 7-5 record and the Chick-fil-a Bowl might seem like a substantial fall from grace for last year's national champs—the Auburn Tigers. However, one has to consider that not only were they one of the youngest teams in the country in 2011, but they also had one of the most difficult schedules.

This season's Tigers got by with timeliness more than anything specific—they were the ninth-ranked scoring offense in the SEC and the 11th-ranked scoring defense.

Somehow, head coach Gene Chizik made the pieces of the puzzle come together enough to win seven games.

On the other side of the field, second-year head coach Mike London led his team to an 8-4 record, though the Cavs only had one quality win on the season—a 14-13 win over Florida State.

The offense suffered from far too many turnovers, while the defense was solid, but not solid enough to beat the conference's heavyweights.

Drama Factor: 5

Quality Game Potential: 7

National Interest: 7 

Total Points: 19

Alamo Bowl: Washington Huskies vs. Baylor Bears

Where: San Antonio, TX

When: Dec. 29, 2011, 9:00 p.m.

Who: Big 12 No. 3 vs. Pac-12 No. 2

History: Baylor and Washington have met four times between 1954 and 1965. Baylor won three of the meetings.

Quick Hits: Baylor went 9-3 on the back of one of the strongest and most dynamic offenses in the country. Particularly notable was the play of Heisman winner Robert Griffin III, who had the second-most total offense of any individual player in the country (and the most total offense of any individual player that didn't face a junior varsity schedule).

The Baylor defense wasn't much to speak of, coming in 109th nationally in scoring. Nonetheless, the goal for the Bears is to outscore their opponents.

The Husky dynamic is much the same as Baylor, only they weren't as good at it.

After a strong 5-1 start to the season, they finished 2-4. Needless to say, most of the meat of their schedule—Stanford, Oregon, Southern Cal—though that still doesn't explain a loss to 3-9 Oregon State.

Drama Factor: 9

Quality Game Potential: 3

National Interest: 8 

Total Points: 20

Outback Bowl: Michigan State Spartans vs. Georgia Bulldogs

Where: Tampa, FL

When: Jan. 2, 2012, 1:00 p.m.

Who: Big Ten No. 3 vs. SEC

History: MSU and UGA have played twice, both in bowl games and both Georgia wins. The Dawgs beat the Spartans in the 2009 Capital One Bowl and in the 1989 Gator Bowl.

Quick Hits: The battle of the teams that lost their respective conference's championship games.

This is the second year in a row that the Spartans will have to settle for a non-BCS bowl game, despite winning double-digit games both years. Hopefully, this season they show up for the postseason, as last year, they got pasted by Alabama in the Capital One Bowl.

The Spartans feature a senior quarterback and strong offensive playmakers, as well as the ninth-best scoring defense in the country.

The MSU D will be tested by Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray, whose numbers took a slight dip from last year, but that can be attributed to the loss of A.J. Green.

More notably, the Georgia defense was fourth best in the SEC—no small feat when one considers that Nos. 1, 2 and 3 were LSU, Bama and South Carolina.

Drama Factor: 6

Quality Game Potential: 7

National Interest: 7 

Total Points: 20

Capital One Bowl: Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. South Carolina Gamecocks

Where: Orlando, FL

When: Jan. 2, 2012, 1:00 p.m.

Who: Big Ten No. 2 vs. SEC

History: These programs have met three times—1964, 1986, 1987—with the Cornhuskers winning all of them.

Quick Hits: At the beginning of the season—Nebraska's first in the Big Ten—who would have thought that the Huskers would have the seventh-ranked scoring defense in the conference, and despite that, still have a reasonably impressive 9-3 record?

Not me.

Due to a number of injuries, as well as a seeming adjustment from the Big 12 pass-happy offenses to Big Ten O's, the Nebraska defense was a disappointment. Nevertheless, the offense, for the most part, did its share, scoring 30.5 ppg. More notably, Nebraska had the best special teams in the conference.

On the other hand, Steve Spurrier's offense was the key problem in the Gamecocks' two losses on the season. It moved the ball, but before quarterback Stephen Garcia got kicked off the team, he was near the top of the country in interceptions thrown.

Meanwhile, the defense was one of the best in the country.

Ideally, in a Bo Pelini vs. Steve Spurrier matchup, one would expect an explosive offense vs. a staunch defense. In this case, one is left to ask which team will field which?

Drama Factor: 7

Quality Game Potential: 8

National Interest: 8 

Total Points: 23

Champs Sports Bowl: Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Florida State Seminoles

Where: Orlando, FL

When: Dec. 29, 2011, 5:30 p.m.

Who: Big East No. 2 vs. ACC No. 3

History: These two storied programs have met six times—1981, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2002, 2003—with FSU winning four of those games.

The Seminoles kicked the tar out of the Irish 37-0 in the last meeting.

Quick Hits: This is the meeting of two also-ran teams—teams that began the season as favorites to win its conference and/or make a BCS bowl. FSU was the No. 6 team in the AP Preseason Poll. Notre Dame was No. 16.

Both teams ended the season 8-4. Notre Dame is unranked, while the Noles are No. 25 in both the AP and Coaches Poll but are out of the BCS Poll. Whichever team wins this game will surely finish the year in the top 25.

On paper, the Seminoles have a quality team—the third-best scoring offense in the ACC and the fourth-best scoring defense in the country. The problem is they haven't been able to put the pieces together in their biggest games. The offense couldn't score more than 13 points in losses to Oklahoma and Virginia, while the defense couldn't hold Clemson and Wake Forest to less than 30 points.

Ultimately, FSU goes into the bowl game with only two wins over bowl eligible teams—Miami (FL) and Florida, both of which are an unimpressive 6-6.

Meanwhile, three of the four Domers' losses are to top-25 teams, though they still have to answer for a close loss to a bad South Florida team. Nevertheless, this has been a hallmark of head coach Brian Kelly's career—failing to show up against the top teams.

Generally speaking, Notre Dame did improve as the season went on. The Irish held Stanford to its lowest point total of the season, but it was still in a loss, and moral victories don't hold much weight in South Bend.

Drama Factor: 6

Quality Game Potential: 6

National Interest: 10 

Total Points: 22

Cotton Bowl: Kansas State Wildcats vs. Arkansas Razorbacks

Where: Arlington, TX

When: Jan. 6, 2012, 8:00 p.m.

Who: Big 12 No. 2 vs. SEC

History: KSU and Arkansas have played twice: 1926 and 1967. The Wildcats won the first meeting, while the Razorbacks took the second.

Quick Hits: After a three-year hiatus, Bill Snyder has come back and resurrected the program that he originally built.

His offense was No. 6 in the conference, while his defense was No. 4—hardly the numbers of a 10-2 team. More than anything else, he has done it through in-game coaching—winning the close ones. His Wildcats played nine games decided by a touchdown or less, and they went 8-1 in those contests. They went 3-0 in games decided by a field goal or less.

Meanwhile, Bobby Petrino's Arkansas was its usual offensive juggernaut. The Hogs were the 15th-best scoring offense in the country.

The problem was they couldn't get it done against the SEC's—and the country's—top two defenses, scoring only 14 and 17 points against Bama and LSU, respectively.

Drama Factor: 7

Quality Game Potential: 8

National Interest: 9 

Total Points: 24

TicketCity Bowl: Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Houston Cougars

Where: Dallas, TX

When: Jan. 2, 2012, 12:00 p.m.

Who: Big Ten No. 7 vs. Conference USA

History: PSU and Houston have met twice: 1964 and 1977. Both times, Joe Paterno prowled the sidelines for the Nits but not this year.

Houston coach Kevin Sumlin was a Big Ten position coach at Minnesota and later Purdue, between 1993 and 2000.

Quick Hits: 9-3 Penn State got passed over by every Big Ten bowl that had the right to pass them over due to the athletic department's gross negligence in the face of child molestation. Under normal circumstances, they probably would be in the Outback or Insight Bowl.

Meanwhile, Houston went into the C-USA Championship game with a 12-0 record and a one-way trip to a BCS bowl. Southern Miss ruined Houston's perfect season, and now, the Cougars have to settle for a lesser bowl as well.

In the end, this is a meeting of strength on strength.

Houston boasts the best scoring offense in the country but a lackluster defense.

Meanwhile, Penn State is the No. 5 scoring defense in the nation, but the offense, which is ranked 109th, is awful.

Drama Factor: 10

Quality Game Potential: 5

National Interest: 10 

Total Points: 25

Gator Bowl: Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Florida Gators

Where: Jacksonville, FL

When: Jan. 2, 2012, 1:00 p.m.

Who: Big Ten No. 5 vs. SEC

History: These blue-blood programs have only met once—in the 2007 BCS National Championship Game. OSU came in heavily favored but got its clock cleaned by Urban Meyer's upstart Florida Gators. The final score was 41-14.

More notably, at the end of the 2010 season, Meyer left the Florida program for health reasons and to be with his family. After a year off, he presumably has decided he'd rather risk his life than be with said family. In effect, he has accepted an offer to be the next head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes.

I hope he enjoyed his year off.

Quick Hits: At 6-6, this was Ohio State's worst season since 1999. Florida had an equally lackluster year and also finished 6-6.

Whether or not this turns out to be a more hotly contested game than the 2007 meeting, it's ultimately not the matchup one would expect between Florida and Ohio State.

In the end, this game is more notable because of the tie that exists between the two programs due to Urban Meyer.

Drama Factor: 10

Quality Game Potential: 5

National Interest: 10 

Total Points: 25

Orange Bowl: Clemson Tigers vs. West Virginia Mountaineers

Where: Miami Gardens, FL

When: Jan. 4, 2012, 8:30 p.m.

Who: ACC Champion vs. BCS at-large

History: The only time these two programs have met was the 1989 Gator Bowl. Clemson came away with a 27-7 victory.

Quick Hits: Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney has finally delivered on the early promise of his time in Clemson. After a disappointing 2010, Swinney has brought his Tigers to a 10-3 record and its first ACC championship since 1991.

He did so on the back of the ACC's second-strongest offense that led with a balanced, efficient attack.

Unfortunately, the defense wasn't particularly good and only seemed to show up in games against Virginia Tech. Outside of two impressive stands against the Hokies, the Tigers' D was generally porous en route to the fourth-worst defense in the conference.

Meanwhile, first-year head coach Dana Holgorsen has revived the Mountaineers' fortunes after four years of Bill Stewart failing to win the wide-open Big East.

Holgorsen also did so on the back of a strong offense, which led the Big East in scoring. Also, much like Clemson, the Mountaineers didn't do much on defense, coming in seventh in a conference of eight.

On the other hand, the WVU D did improve as the season went on, saving its best three performances for the end of the year.

Drama Factor: 8

Quality Game Potential: 9

National Interest: 9 

Total Points: 26

Sugar Bowl: Michigan Wolverines vs. Virginia Tech Hokies

Where: New Orleans, LA

When: Jan. 3, 2012, 8:30 p.m.

Who: SEC Champion vs. BCS at-large

History: These programs have never met.

Quick Hits: Virginia Tech has been to a BCS bowl five of the seven years it's been a member of the ACC, though this is the first year the Hokies will not go as a conference champion.

As is typically the case under head coach Frank Beamer, 10-2 Virginia Tech leads with a staunch defense. Only one team has scored more than 26 points on the Hokies. Unfortunately, it was Clemson, and it happened twice in the Techs' only two losses.

The Hokies were tied for the No. 7 scoring defense in the country. The team they were tied with is the team that they will line up against on Jan. 3.

The Wolverine defense was not quite as good as the numbers indicate, but they were eons better than they were under former coach Rich Rodriguez.

In fact, after three years under Rich Rod, the Wolverine faithful finally feel their team is back where it belongs under new coach Brady Hoke, having gone 10-2, beaten Ohio State and headed to a prestigious bowl.

The key to this game is simple: if UM quarterback Denard Robinson has a strong day, Michigan will win. If he is held in check, Tech wins.

Drama Factor: 9

Quality Game Potential: 9

National Interest: 10 

Total Points: 28

Rose Bowl: Oregon Ducks vs. Wisconsin Badgers

Where: Pasadena, CA

When: Jan. 2, 2012, 5:00 p.m.

Who: Pac-12 champion vs. Big Ten champion

History: These teams have played four times, with UW holding a 3-1 edge.

The last time they met was in 2000. Unranked Oregon came into Camp Randall and knocked off the No. 5-ranked Badgers. Wisconsin finished the season 9-4. The Ducks wound up 10-2.

Quick Hits: 11-2 Oregon is the No. 3 scoring offense in the country. 11-2 Wisconsin is No. 4. Though their methods of moving the ball on the ground are different, the Ducks are the top rushing offense (ypc) in FBS college football while Wisconsin is No. 9.

On paper, the edge seems to go to Wisconsin, which has the No. 6 scoring defense in the country. This is in comparison to Oregon, which is No. 47. However, while the Badgers do not have a bad defense, it's not as good as it appears. Specifically, it has been exposed multiple times this season.

In short, this projects to be a back-and-forth, offensively charged game—the Badgers' power vs. the Ducks' speed and precision.

Drama Factor: 9

Quality Game Potential: 10

National Interest: 10 

Total Points: 29

BCS National Championship Game: LSU Tigers vs. Alabama Crimson Tide

Where: New Orleans, LA

When: Jan. 9, 2012, 8:30 p.m.

Who: BCS No. 1 vs. BCS No. 2

History: LSU and Bama have met 73 times over the years—so often you'd think they're in the same conference. One of those meetings took place recently This season, in fact. The Tigers won 9-6.

The powers that be obviously felt that four missed Alabama field goals weren't enough, so the game will be replayed—the SEC champion vs. the second-place team in the SEC West.

Quick Hits: What is there to say that hasn't been said?

As far as I'm concerned, win or lose, LSU has earned the right to be called No. 1. On the other hand, Bama has earned the right to be 11-1. Nevertheless, both teams, via the SEC by proxy, signed the BCS contract, which stipulates that the winner of the BCS national championship game is the No. 1 team in the land.

Admittedly, this is the least anticipated BCS national championship game in a while—perhaps ever—but that's not to take anything away from the two participating teams. They are both outstanding programs with particularly unbelievable defenses.

Hopefully, this contest will be a better game than the last time they played.

Drama Factor: 9

Quality Game Potential: 10

National Interest: 10 

Total Points: 29

Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. Stanford Cardinal

Where: Glendale, AZ

When: Jan. 2, 2012, 8:30 p.m.

Who: Big 12 champion vs. BCS at-large

History: These programs have never met.

Quick Hits: Put simply, this is a matchup of No. 3 vs. No. 4—both 11-1 teams, both incredible offenses.

The Cardinal boasts the best quarterback in the nation and the biggest sure-thing quarterback since Peyton Manning. The Cowboys boast the best receiver in the nation and the most high-powered offense in the country.

Both have deceptive defenses. Specifically, Stanford has the No. 23 D in the nation, but against top offenses—Southern Cal and Oregon—the defense let up a combined 101 points.

Meanwhile, the Cowboys are the No. 60 D in the land, but they also have forced the most turnovers in the country.

Bama fans can say I have it out for their team, but this is the best bowl game in the land, and LSU vs. Oklahoma State would have been even better.

Drama Factor: 10

Quality Game Potential: 10

National Interest: 10 

Total Points: 30