2011 Bowl Matchups: Houston vs. Penn State and More Awesome Mid-Tier Games

Now that the speculation is officially over and all bowl bids have been accepted, it's time to look at which bowls will help pass the time while college football fans wait for an Alabama-LSU rematch.

Here are three mid-level bowl games sure to generate a lot of hype.

TicketCity Bowl – Houston vs. Penn State

Houston lost its chance at a BCS bowl with a Conference USA title game loss to Southern Mississippi. The Cougars should be happy their season finale gives them a chance to face off with a power conference team that was also within striking distance of playing in a marquee bowl.

Lost in everything else that has occurred at Penn State over the past month is a football team trying to prove its ability. After starting the season 8-1, the Nittany Lions lost two of their final three games and a trip to conference championship game.

It's a matchup of contrasting styles. Houston has a high-powered offense led by Heisman candidate Case Keenum, but a shaky defense. Penn State relies on a steady defense while hoping its questionable offense can generate enough points.

Cotton Bowl – Kansas State vs. Arkansas

No team in America should have a bigger problem with the BCS than the Wildcats. The computers ranked Kansas State as the fourth-best team in the nation, only to have the human voters screw them out of a BCS bid.

Arkansas isn't far behind with its grievances. Even though the Razorbacks finished sixth in the final standings, teams like Virginia Tech, Michigan and West Virginia were given berths ahead of them because of the system's numerous silly rules.

Both teams should come out with a chip on their shoulder in an attempt to illustrate they deserved better. That should lead to a hard-hitting affair which won't be decided until the final minutes—exactly what fans want in a bowl game.

Gator Bowl – Ohio State vs. Florida

Gator Bowl? How about the Urban Meyer Bowl? The former Florida coach will get his first chance to inspect his new roster after signing a contract to become Ohio State's next head coach.

You can bet that gives an extra layer of motivation to both sides.

If you haven't heard of Braxton Miller yet, it won't be long. The freshman quarterback made huge strides for the Buckeyes throughout the season and should thrive once Meyer's offense is implemented during the offseason.

The player to watch on the Gators is Chris Rainey. He led the team in rushing at nearly 800 yards and was second in receiving. The more Florida can get the ball in his hands, the better its chances of walking away victorious.