2011 Bowl Schedule: Champs Sports Bowl and the Most Evenly-Matched Games

For all of the fuss over teams that got screwed and teams that got bailed out by the BCS...we still get a handful of incredibly competitive games.

This year is no different. Here are the top three most evenly-matched bowl games:

Champs Sports Bowl: (8-4) Notre Dame vs. (8-4) Florida State

Both teams entered the season as Top 25 teams, only to fail in meeting those expectations. Yet both teams finished the season relatively strong (ignore the Stanford butt-kicking, Irish fans) and should be ranked if they finish the year with a win.

The Seminoles sport the nation's fourth-ranked scoring defense and just held Florida to seven points on the road.The offense averages over 31 points a game and should be able to move the ball on an Irish defense that is very inconsistent.

To Notre Dame's credit, three of their four losses have been against ranked teams, and they had won eight of nine before the loss to Stanford.

Expect this game to come down to whose QB plays better in the fourth quarter under pressure.

Chick-fil-A Bowl: No. 25 Auburn vs. Virginia

Both teams exceeded expectations and are looking to end the year on a strong note after a rough end of the season. The Tigers' potent offense fell off a cliff in two of their last three games, but then again, it was against No. 15 Georgia and No. 2 Alabama.

Expect the previously potent offense to regain it's early-season form against a Virginia team that just got beat 38-0 against No. 11 Virginia Tech. However, the Cavaliers won't roll over...especially with a defense that has allowed 21 points or fewer in four of their last five games.

Ticketcity Bowl: No. 19 Houston vs. No. 22 Penn State

Two teams that have a huge chip on their shoulder are going to be playing as hard as two teams playing in a non-BCS bowl can.

The Cougars were oh-so-close to a BCS game, only to find themselves in a bowl that is going to be televised on January 2nd. QB Case Keenum has one more game to prove to NFL scouts that he deserves a serious shot at the next level, while also getting rid of the unbearable stank that comes with the loss to No. 21 Southern Miss on Saturday.

The Nittany Lions have experienced one of the most bizarre months in the history of sports and were disrespected by a few bowl committees that didn't want to get involved with the fragile program. They'll be determined to show why they shouldn't have been penalized so severely and why the Cougars are nothing more than a soft team with a decent QB.