12 Days of Bowl Season: Top 5 Most Intriguing Non-BCS Bowls

Debating the BCS is easy.

Finding decent bowls outside the big five? There's a challenge.

When bowl season rolls around, the matchups get exciting and the football gets crazy. Not that this season has been anything else thus far.

Without a playoff system, bowl games will continue to flourish, and the teams playing in them will continue to lose money.

Nonetheless, Christmas vacation will be spent watching these 35 games with nothing else on the mind other than wondering if Santa Claus will bring a BCS title back to Alabama for a third consecutive season.

This is the first in a 12-part series.

5. Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl: UCLA vs. Illinois

I hope Kraft is handing out mac-n-cheese during this one. The football won't be the main attraction for sure.

The only things certain about this game is anyone watching will have a hard time stomaching the awful teams involved.

And A.J. Jenkins will be the best player on the field.

Both schools fired their head coaches following the regular season, and both will be looking to start a new chapter with a win.

UCLA is the only team in this year's bowl field to enter with a losing record. The Bruins are 6-7 after losing the Pac-12 title game to Oregon.

A waiver was granted to the Bruins, and thus they will play the Illini, who are on a six-game losing streak.

Why This Game Is Intriguing

UCLA has a losing record. Illinois is on a huge skid. Neither team has a head coach.

Yet both are in a bowl. Together. Fitting.

4. Holiday Bowl: Cal vs. Texas

Without a doubt, this game carries some interesting facts.

Both teams overwhelmingly underachieved this season. Both teams are still figuring out their quarterback situations. Both head coaches could be looking for jobs after next season.

Mack Brown and Jeff Tedford are super coaches with incredible resumes, but neither of them have been able to consistently beat their arch-rivals as of late.

The Longhorns need a boost after a disappointing season, and Case McCoy could use a little help from...well, anyone.

Why This Game Is Intriguing

I wonder if Cal remembers where Brown ranked the Bears in his Coaches Poll in 2006, essentially keeping them out of the BCS.

3. Chick-fil-A Bowl: Auburn vs. Virginia

What a tremendous coaching job by Gene Chizik and Mike London.

These two up-and-coming head coaches have made the best of their situations this season and deserve to be recognized.

Auburn, coming off last season's national championship, has struggled at times to find their offense. Given another year under Malzahn, the Tigers could have three very impressive and capable QBs.

The Wahoos are the surprise of the ACC, sans Clemson. Virginia makes its first appearance in this bowl in over a decade. Its last trip to Atlanta was a 1998 loss to Georgia.

The Wahoos are 2-1 in the game, though.

Auburn has won its last four bowl games and seven of its last eight.

Why This Game Is Intriguing

Virginia has a chance to defeat the defending national champions on a huge stage. The CFA bowl always carries a high TV rating.

2. Gator Bowl: Ohio State vs. Florida

Urban Meyer is not coaching in this game, but rest assured Florida fans don't care.

Despite winning two national titles in Gainesville, Meyer has fallen from the graces of Gators fans after taking the job at Ohio State.

Florida will attempt to salvage a horrendous season under first-year head coach Will Muschamp. Fortunately for the Gators, John Brantley should be 100 percent healthy by game time.

Why This Game Is Intriguing

Urban Meyer. Need I say more?

This is also a rematch of one the most lopsided BCS championship games. The Buckeyes finally got over their winless streak versus the SEC in last year's Sugar Bowl, but can the Buckeyes start a new streak this season?

1. Cotton Bowl: Arkansas vs. Kansas State

In the only bowl game featuring the Big 12 and SEC, the Cotton Bowl offers the most intriguing matchup of all.

Both teams ranked in the top 11 of the BCS rankings, but missing out on a bid means Jerry World gets a very intriguing matchup.

Arkansas has been explosive offensively, and outside of the two best teams in the country, have been superior to every team this season.

Kansas State has a resume very similar, with losses to the BCS No. 3 team Oklahoma State and Oklahoma.

Why This Game Is Intriguing

Looking at each team's resume, both could be considered "frauds." Arkansas' best win was over 10-win South Carolina. Similarly, K-State's best win is over Baylor, who had nine wins.

This game will be the only measuring stick for the Big 12 against the SEC.