College Bowl Picks: Rose Bowl and Games That Will Actually Be Thrilling to Watch

The 2011-12 college football bowl schedule isn’t exactly jam-packed with thrilling games.

Just look at some of the blowouts that have already been played.

Boise State beat up on Arizona State, Temple smashed out Wyoming and Marshall took care of business against Florida International.

For every few games that are boring and uninteresting, there will be one LA-Lafayette 32, San Diego State 30 that comes down to the wire and ends in thrilling fashion.

Here are some upcoming games that certainly project to be close and fun to watch.

TicketCity Bowl: Houston vs. Penn State

Both participants in this Cotton Bowl battle feel that voters and selection committees disrespected them.

Houston was a win in the Conference USA championship from making a BCS bowl and playing spoiler to an opponent from a major conference.

Penn State felt that they were relegated to this bowl after a decent 9-3 season because of the Jerry Sandusky scandal and deserve better.

Regardless of what happened, college football fans benefit.

This is a matchup between two powerhouse programs and should be a very intriguing battle.

Pick: Houston 35 – Penn State 28

Outback Bowl: Michigan State vs. Georgia

These two teams each lost in their conference championship games against schools now heading to BCS bowls.

Expect them not forget the heartbreak and both will try to close their season with a solid victory over an opponent from a power conference.

These programs have a lot of promise and will like to head into the offseason on a high note as they prepare for next year.

Pick: Georgia 24 – Michigan State 21 

Rose Bowl: Wisconsin vs. Oregon

This historic bowl game features the two best two-loss teams in the nation.

The Badgers are the fourth highest-scoring team and Oregon is third in the nation. It’s going to be an absolute shootout in Pasadena because of this firepower.

How can you not be excited for this matchup?

Pick: Oregon 49 – Wisconsin 42

Fiesta Bowl: Stanford vs. Oklahoma State

The two teams competing in the Fiesta Bowl feel that they have every right to play for the national championship and will be angry that the computers and human voters snubbed them.

Stanford finished at No. 4 and the Pokes ranked No. 3 after both lost just a single game in otherwise outstanding seasons.

The quarterback matchup is phenomenal and we will get to see Andrew Luck face off against Brandon Weeden in what will be an incredible display of offense from both sides.

Pick: Oklahoma State 42 – Stanford 38