2011 Bowl Games: Baylor and the Scariest Teams in Non-BCS Bowls

Very few people are going to take the time to watch all 35 bowl games on this year's slate. In all honesty, you'd be crazy to even try.

And you know what? That's cool. These bowl games don't exist so you can watch all of them. They exist to make money for people who would rather not see college football ever adopt a playoff system.

But hey, at least regular Joes like you and me have options. All we have to do is decide which bowls are worth watching.

One thing you can do is gravitate towards bowls that feature exciting teams. There are plenty of those to go around, and a handful of them are truly scary.

For kicks, let's take a look at the five scariest teams playing in non-BCS bowls this year.

5. Georgia Bulldogs (vs. Michigan State in Outback Bowl)

A lot of people had high expectations for Georgia this season, but the Bulldogs made a lot of people look elsewhere when they lost two straight to open their season.

Georgia rebounded in a big way after that, winning 10 straight and clinching the SEC East crown. The Bulldogs then proceeded to get bullied by LSU in the SEC Championship Game, which was inevitable.

My advice is not to judge Georgia by its three losses. This is a very good football team that excels on both offense and defense. To boot, it will be fighting for SEC pride in the Outback Bowl against Michigan State. Expect Georgia to bring the thunder.

If you haven't seen Georgia play this year, you'll want to key in on quarterback Aaron Murray, who is one of the most unappreciated players in the SEC. At his side will be freshman sensation Isaiah Crowell, who can be an electric playmaker on a good day. On the other side of the football, you're going to see a defense that was one of the better units in the country for a good chunk of the season.

What's not to like?

4. Boise State Broncos (vs. Arizona State in Maaco Bowl Las Vegas)

Continuing on that last note, it's hard not to like the Boise State Broncos. The Broncos have been one of the most entertaining teams in the nation for a decade now, and they had another strong season in 2011.

This is going to be your last chance to catch a glimpse of senior quarterback Kellen Moore, who will be wrapping up a legendary career at Boise State. Though it seems like this wasn't his best year, it actually was, as he set a new career-high with 41 touchdown passes despite the fact he lost two key wide receivers to the draft.

Defensively, the Broncos are as solid as a rock. They gave up just 18.3 points per game this season, a figure that ranked 10th in the nation. 

It's my personal opinion that Arizona State will come to play in the Maaco Bowl Las Vegas, but the Sun Devils definitely have their work cut out for them.

3. Toledo Rockets (vs. Air Force in Military Bowl)

Toledo?!

Yup, Toledo. Very quietly, the Rockets were one of the most explosive teams in the nation in 2011, as a balanced offensive attack allowed them to score over 40 points per game.

The Rockets were even more studly in the closing weeks of the season. In their final five games, the Rockets averaged nearly 53 points per game. Had they managed to maintain that figure throughout the entire season, they would have been the highest-scoring team in the country.

Toledo conducts its business primarily on the ground. Adonis Thomas and Morgan Williams both averaged better than five yards per carry, and both notched 11 rushing touchdowns.

So go ahead, watch Toledo in the Military Bowl. You won't be disappointed.

2. Arkansas Razorbacks (vs. Kansas State in AT&T Cotton Bowl)

The final BCS rankings may suggest otherwise, but the Arkansas Razorbacks were the best two-loss team in the nation this year. The only games they lost were to the two teams playing for the BCS national title.

How is Arkansas so good? Primarily because of its passing offense, which is elite. Tyler Wilson took over for Ryan Mallett, and the Hogs didn't slow down at all under his watch, as he ended the season with over 3,400 yards passing and 22 touchdowns.

Wilson got plenty of help from speedy wide receiver Jarius Wright. He's got blink-and-you'll-miss-him speed, and he's a threat to go the distance every time the football is in his hands.

Kansas State will most certainly put up a fight in the Cotton Bowl, but I think the Hogs will emerge victoriously.

1. Baylor Bears (vs. Washington in Valero Alamo Bowl)

I'll say right here and now that Baylor's defense is the epitome of awful. When the Bears are on defense, you're better off making a run to the fridge for another beverage.

Just don't go anywhere when the Bears are on offense. That's when Robert Griffin III will be doing his thing, and that's a win for you. RG3 was arguably the most exciting player in the country in 2011, and his efforts have put him in the mix for the Heisman Trophy.

The best thing about RG3 is that he throws a great deep ball, and it helps that he has two outstanding receivers to throw to in Kendall Wright and Terrance Williams.

Of course, you can't overlook Terrance Ganaway, who quietly rushed for over 1,300 yards this season. Without him, life would have been much tougher for RG3.

It's my personal opinion that the Alamo Bowl is one of the best on the non-BCS docket, as Washington's own offensive is pretty prolific in its own right. Either way, you're not going to want to miss this one.