College Bowl Week: The Anarchy Continues!

So most of us slept through the long winded games of the first few weeks of the college postseason. But yesterday, Pat White gave us a reason to believe in shockers and miracles. So for White's final performance (hope you were paying attention Detroit), we're going to try to finish strong heading into the start of the BCS Games.

Here's the preview of this week's games.

December 29th

Alamo Bowl: Missouri Tigers vs. Northwestern Wildcats

Last season, the Tigers came up short of their goal for BCS Championship glory. This season, they weren't even close. So they get to play another game in the Lone Star State, ironically enough in the same place where Mizzou got decimated last season in the Big XII Championship Game. But Chase Daniel has continued to play like a Heisman candidate despite the team losing four tough games this season.

On the other side of the field, you got the Northwestern Wildcats. These guys spent the majority of the season under the radar. They didn't even come into conversation until the last few weeks of the season when they had a shot at the Big Ten Championship. Now they will be in the spotlight as they face the Big XII North Champions in primetime.

So when the smoke clears in San Antonio on Monday night, who gets the big "W?" My bet is on Mizzou. It's not just because I'm a homestate guy. It's because if anyone knows this state, let alone this stadium, it's Daniel. He was a huge standout in high school, and he did show some promise last year against Oklahoma in the Alamodome. So with all that, plus the fact that Missouri is looking for a happy ending to their tragic tale, I'm picking the Tigers in this one.

Final Score: Missouri 34, Northwestern 24

December 30th

Holiday Bowl: #13 Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. #15 Oregon Ducks

The Cowboys were good this season...but they couldn't quite muster up the gut check they dished out all season when it came to Texas, Oklahoma & Texas Tech. But despite all that, they have the tools to make some serious noise and win big the day before New Years' Eve. But in order for them to do that, they have to beat an upset minded team from the Pac-10.

This isn't a Disney story, but the Ducks hope that it has a Disney ending. Oregon did USC and the Rose Bowl committee a favor when they decimated the Oregon State Beavers to give the Trojans the Pac-10 Crown once again. The Ducks have proven that even without the legs of Dennis Dixon, they can still win some games. But to get that win, they have to face someone who is no stranger to the Holiday Bowl.

Mike Gundy will become the first coach to ever play and coach in the Holiday Bowl. He got a win in his last visit there, a 62-14 over Wyoming 20 years ago. Now he hopes that Zac Robinson will lead the Cowboys to another storybook ending and win the Holiday Bowl. The way they've played all season, this could be a game that will mirror yesterday's West Virginia-North Carolina shootout.

Final Score: Oklahoma State 27, Oregon 24

New Years' Eve

Sun Bowl: #24 Oregon State Beavers vs. #18 Pitt Panthers

The Beavers had it waiting for them on a silver platter. Their early season victory over the Trojans had them primed to win the Pac-10 Title with a victory over Oregon...and then they went out and got straight up bitch slapped by the Ducks. Now they have to settle for the Sun Bowl and a showdown with the Big East.

On the other side of the ball, the Pitt Panthers have played like they want the National Championship. LeSean McCoy returns to the spotlight after a pretty impressive season last year. But he has a war on his hands against Jacquizz Rodgers, who took his place as the top first-year rusher. But both of these backs have something to prove on New Years' Eve, but in all honesty, it will come down to the play of their quarterbacks.

So when the underrated and disrespected Beavers face the underrated Panthers in the Sun Bowl, anything can happen. But I think the Big East will do more to get the win. After the dismal defeat at the hands of Oregon, and the fact that Rodgers may not be ready by gametime, it's a toss up to know which Oregon State team will show up. So...

Final Score: Pitt 29, Oregon State 17

Chick-Fil-A Bowl: LSU Tigers vs. #14 Georgia Tech

The downside of being the defending National Champions is that everyone expects too much from you the following season. After joining Florida as BCS National Champions, Les Miles had a twisted off season that saw Matt Flynn heading to the NFL, Ryan Perilloux playing for the Chrontanomo Bay Stoners and an unknown quarterback trying to prove himself in a bad situation, it was spelling bad news for LSU.

But they got a motivated Georgia Tech team coming to take them on in the CFA Bowl. The Jackets used defense to shock Florida State in the final stretch of the season, and they used that heavily underused rushing game to get the victory in their annual rivalry game against Georgia. So to say that they have not earned this bowl game is an insult. Though they would like something else, they are comfortable knowing that in just a few days, they have a chance to shock the defending NC.

And I couldn't agree more. Despite the tough play of Jarrett Lee, the Tigers have underplayed themselves this season. Now they have to try something to hand the ACC another loss. But the way that Georgia Tech plays in the trenches, the only way I see them losing this game is the way the Tigers play in the clutch.

Final Score: Georgia Tech 23, LSU 13

Happy New Year!

Capital One Bowl: #16 Georgia Bulldogs vs. #19 Michigan State Spartans

As most of us pop as many aspirin and alka seltzer as humanly possible to shake off the New Year's Cobwebs, the Georgia Bulldogs will hope to finish the season the way they started: On top of the world. After losing to Georgia Tech in the season finale, the Bulldogs are looking for a Holiday Recovery when they step on the field to face The Big Ten. But the team they're facing is more motivated than usual.

The Spartans were involved in a slugfest against Ohio State and Penn State for the Big Ten Championship. Now that the champ has been decided, the Spartans are hoping to finish the season with a win over the SEC. At this point, only Michigan can say that they are the only team to defeat a powerhouse SEC team (last year's Capital One Bowl win vs. Florida). On New Year's Day, the Spartans hope to add their name to the list.

The Bulldogs will have a set of equalizers in Matthew Stafford at quarterback and Knowshon Moreno in the backfield, while the Spartans will look to Javon Ringer to carry them to victory. The way Georgia has played this season, I see the SEC notching another victory when they play Michigan State. Last season, they took out the Hawaii Warriors in a BCS Game; this year, they'll add another Big Ten team to the plate that the SEC has digested the past two and a half years.

Final Score: Georgia 31, Michigan State 20

On Deck: The BCS Bowl Games