2011 Bowl Predictions: Power Ranking the Biggest Games Before 2012

The 2011 college football season is coming to a close with a bowl season full of action. But all of the action isn’t limited to the early part of 2012.

With Christmas on the horizon and New Years Day just a short time away, there are a plethora of fantastic games in 2011 that you can’t miss.

Think of these games as the appetizer to your 2012 college football main course.

The following list is of the best games left for 2011. Enjoy!

Check back for more on the NCAA Football as it comes, and check out Bleacher Report’s College Football Page to get your fill of College Football.

Follow @Donald_Wood

Iowa vs. Oklahoma: Friday, December 30

After dreams of BCS National Title glory, the Oklahoma Sooners were relegated to the No. 14 spot in the polls and a 9-3 record this season.

The right step on the path to redemption will be against a surprisingly tough Iowa Hawkeyes team that doesn’t lie down in big games.

Despite Iowa’s defensive abilities, the Sooners will put on an offensive showcase and bring home the Insight Bowl to start the road to success next season.

California vs. Texas: Wednesday, December 28

While the names in this contest strike memories of great times come and gone, this battle between the Texas Longhorns and the California Golden Bears is much more about the programs than the actual players on the field.

This game has mediocrity written all over it, but these two programs know how to bring their game on the big stages.

The Longhorns are the ranked team, but it will be the Golden Bears that pull out the upset victory. Sad days in the heart of Texas.

Washington vs. Baylor: Thursday, December 29

With Robert Griffin III winning Baylor’s first ever Heisman Trophy, all of the mainstream eyes that didn’t know much about the star will be focused on this game.

While the actual game is not that stellar of a matchup, it leaves itself open for the perfect showcase of all the talents that won Griffin the Heisman.

I expect Baylor to win big against Washington and I think Griffin will be putting on a show for the NFL scouts as well. This will be fun to watch.

Florida State vs. Notre Dame: Thursday, December 29

This is another matchup that would be front page headlines if this was 1992, but it’s not. This is just a battle of helmet emblems and memories of a different time in sports.

I know that’s a negative light, but this game does have a lot of potential to be an absolute shootout. Neither defense is all that impressive, and on the biggest of stages, this could be an epic war.

If Notre Dame can establish the running game early, they can control the clock and keep the tough Seminoles offense on the sidelines.

Arizona State vs. Boise State: Thursday, December 22

Of all the games that are taking place before the New Year, there are none more intriguing than the Arizona State Sun Devils vs. Boise State Broncos.

While Arizona has gone in a different direction with the coaching staff, their offense still has the ability to put up huge points. Almost as many as the Broncos ridiculously talented offense.

Neither team has any real semblance of a defense, so I can see both teams scoring over 40 points in what could be the most exciting bowl game of the entire season.