2011 Bowl Schedule: Predicting the 5 Biggest Upsets

Bowl season is nearly upon us, and teams and fans alike are preparing. Over the course of the next month, we will all get to witness the pageantry, excitement and wonderful spectacle that is college football at its finest.

Teams will travel far and near to take on familiar and not-so-familiar opponents. Hotels will be filled, money will be spent, and oh yeah...football will be played.

There will be 35 bowl games played this year, including the always anticipated BCS bowls and national championship game.  Some match-ups are intriguing, while some just make you shake your head.

No matter the case, this year, like any other, will certainly bring its share of incredible plays, outstanding performances and fantastic finishes.

Along the way, there will be blowouts, busts, bruises, and breakouts, but most will be expected.

However, no matter how much we prepare, no matter how thorough the research, there are always surprises. There are always upsets.

So, on that note, let's take a look at the five biggest predicted upsets of the 2011 bowl season.

Houston vs Penn State: TicketCity Bowl

Teams: No. 19 Houston Cougars vs. No. 22 Penn State Nittany Lions

Bowl Game: TicketCIty

Location: Cotton Bowl Stadium -- Dallas, Texas

Date: Jan. 2, 2012

Time: 12:00 P.M. ET

Television: ESPNU

Line: Houston favored by anywhere from 6 to 9 points

Sorry Houston fans, but this might be a painful way to start a new year.  Your beloved Cougars have not faced a defense like this one all year.

Now, with all the scandals and drama surrounding Penn State, you would think that this would be a huge distraction for the Nittany Lions football team.

Well, it has been.  However, for this one game, you can bet that they will be able to set it aside and play inspired.  You know they are going to want to win this game to end a very challenging season.

Houston, on the other hand is very disappointed.  They are not happy to be in this bowl, no matter what they say.  They wanted to be in a BCS game, and that was lost in the Conference USA championship game against Southern Miss.

Which, brings me back to why this upset will most likely happen.  Southern Miss has a fine defense, but it is nothing compared to Penn State's.

Penn State got at opposing quarterbacks 29 times this year, and held teams to an average of 15.7 points per game, which was fifth overall in college football.

Expect Houston to be hurried, challenged and knocked around all day by Penn State's defense.

The Nittany Lions are vulnerable to the ground game, but even though Houston has a couple decent running backs, neither of them have faced this stiff of competition.

The front seven of Penn State's defense is unlike anything the Cougars have faced, and you can anticipate that they will dominate the line of scrimmage.

Case Keenum is an amazing quarterback, but he can't do his magic running all over, being hurried all day, and throwing from his backside.

Upset Prediction: Penn State 34, Houston 24

West Virginia vs. Clemson: Discover Orange Bowl

Teams: No. 23 West Virginia vs No. 15 Clemson

Bowl Game: Discover Orange Bowl

Location: Sun Life Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla.

Date: Jan. 4, 2012

Time: 8:30 P.M. ET

Television: ESPN

Line: Clemson Favored by 3.5 

These two teams are matched somewhat evenly on paper.  Both have mediocre defenses, and both have struggled running the ball.

Both teams have a decent passing game, but West Virginia is actually ranked No. 7 in the country for passing yards per game at 341.8 yards per contest.

When you look at how each of these teams played the last month of the season, you realize one seemed to be getting better, while one was in decline.

West Virginia won the last three games of the season against good conference foes Cincinnati, Pitt and South Florida.

Clemson, on the other hand, had actually lost two straight, and three of four, until they ran into their personal whipping post, Virginia Tech.

The VT game is a bit of an anomaly, because Clemson just seems to have the Hokies' number. However, 37-13 and 34-13 losses to North Carolina State and South Carolina prior to that game were a bit more telling.

West Virginia is playing great as of late, and you can expect that to continue in the Orange Bowl.

Expect vastly underrated quarterback Geno Smith to have a field day on that Clemson secondary.  The Tigers will not be able to keep up with the Mountaineers when it matters most.  Come fourth quarter, West Virginia will take over, and they will pull off the upset.

Upset Prediction: West Virginia 38, Clemson 31

Wisconsin vs. Oregon: The Rose Bowl Presented by Vizio

Teams: No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 10 Wisconsin

Bowl Game: Rose Bowl

Location: Pasadena, CA

Date: Jan. 2, 2012

Time: 5:00 P.M. ET

Television: ESPN

Line: Oregon Favored by 6.5

Not many people are giving Wisconsin a chance in this one. After all, look what happened last year in the Rose Bowl.

However, you might want to remember that a Duck is no match for a Badger when a fight breaks out. Sure, the duck can fly a bit, but it has to land sometime.

Wisconsin has played good all year long.  Their only losses were to Michigan State 37-31, a loss they avenged in the Big Ten title game, and somehow to Ohio State 33-29.  But, since that middle of the season slump, the Badgers have played brilliantly.

Meanwhile, Oregon stumbled along the way, losing to USC 38-35.

This game will come down to one simple aspect: defense.

The Ducks have not played a defense this good since they played LSU, and we all know how that game went.

Now, Wisconsin's defense isn't quite the same as the Tigers', but it is solid.  The Ducks will be able to run a bit on Wisconsin, but they will need to do more than that to win.

If Wisconsin comes out hungry, and plays the kind of defense they have shown they can play, the Ducks will struggle to keep up.

We also know that Oregon is notorious for starting slowly.  Well, against the Badgers they can't afford that.  If they get behind a potent Wisconsin offense, it will cause them to have to throw the ball.  If that happens, the Badgers will have the Ducks right where they want them.

Expect Oregon to trail in the second half.  When that happens the dominant rushing game of Wisconsin will be able to chew up yardage and clock time.  This will keep that potent Oregon offense on the sidelines, and limit the number of scoring opportunities for the Ducks.

Expect Wisconsin to run the ball effectively between tackles, and expect the Oregon defense to lose the battle at the line.

Upset Prediction: Wisconsin 42, Oregon 31

TCU vs. Louisiana Tech: San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl

Teams: No. 18 TCU vs. Louisiana Tech

Bowl Game: San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl

Location: Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, Calif.

Date: Dec. 21, 2011

Time: 8:00 P.M. ET

Television: ESPN

Line: TCU Favored by 12.5

This is one of those picks that makes people shake their heads and say something like; "You are crazy."

However, before you stoop to such levels, look at the facts.

Louisiana Tech is not the same team they were at the beginning of the year.  They started off 1-4 and looked like a cellar dweller in the WAC, of all places.  But, looking closer at some of those losses you start to wonder.

The Bulldogs lost to Southern Miss 19-17 in the opener, they also lost to Houston 35-34 and Mississippi State 26-20 in overtime.

As the season went on La. Tech got better and better.  The beat a pesky Utah State team along the way, as well as Ole Miss, Fresno State and Nevada.

TCU is of course a powerhouse team, full of confidence and swagger as they won the Mountain West title on their way to the Big 12.

This confidence, may be their downfall.

TCU has had a lot of success in the area of rushing, and in scoring points.  There defense has been okay, allowing only 21.3 points per game. La. Tech's defense isn't far behind, allowing just 22.5 points per contest.

These teams are more evenly matched than anyone probably knows, at least on paper.  But, the difference will be the overconfidence and overlooking Horned Frogs and the hungry and just happy-to-be-there Bulldogs.

Louisiana Tech is very excited to be in this game, while TCU is just going through the motions after missing a lucrative BCS game by two spots in the rankings.

Heart trumps apathy every time.

Upset Prediction: Louisiana Tech 35, TCU 29

LSU vs. Alabama: Allstate BCS Championship Game

Teams: No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 1 LSU

Bowl Game: Allstate BCS National Championship Game

Location: New Orleans, La.

Date: Jan. 9, 2012

Time: 8:30 P.M. ET

Television: ESPN

Line: LSU Favored by 1 
 

Most of us watched the first game, and if you stayed awake, you know it was more of a failure by Alabama than it was a victory by LSU.  Quite frankly, this pick shouldn't even be considered an upset.

However, there will be some surprising things that can be predicted other than who wins and who loses.

First bold prediction: This game will not look like the first.

Expect both teams to score a bit more, and expect special teams to make a difference.  Of course, missed field goals by Alabama came into play the first time, but don't think history will repeat itself.

Expect Nick Saban to go for it this time when he's close on fourth down and beyond the 25-yard line. Also, expect Saban to take more chances and open up his offense more than the first game.

The Crimson Tide are very hungry for a win, and LSU probably doesn't want it nearly as bad.

It will be a defensive brawl once again, but a few early scores will shift game plans.  Expect Alabama to come out full throttle and not let up. Expect LSU to come out a bit rusty and uninspired.

It will not be the dud the first game was, but it won't be the happy ending Les Miles and his Tigers were hoping for.

Upset Prediction: Alabama 24, LSU 17