Bowl Picks

By Mike King
Associated Content

Bell Helicopter Armed Forces: Fort Worth, Texas, Dec. 31, 9:30 p.m., ESPN California (6-6), Pac 10 No. 7 vs. Air Force (9-3), MWC No. 2
Cal is another one of those mystery teams that probably does not deserve a bowl bid. They won five straight games and were ranked #2, and then unexpectedly they dropped off the face of the earth and lost six of seven to finish with a .500 record. They face a tough Air Force team that averages 300 yards on the ground. Only two of Air Force's wins were against teams with a winning record. All three of their losses were against teams with a winning record. I think Cal gets back on the right track, they do have the better athletes after all.

Roady's Humanitarian: Boise, Idaho, Dec. 31, 11 p.m., ESPN2
Georgia Tech (7-5), ACC No. 6 vs. Fresno State (8-4), WAC No. 3
This will be a good game. Fresno State was close to beating Texas AM earlier in the year. I think this is there chance to knock off one of the big boys since the game is in Idaho. GT will have to travel cross country to meet up with a team trying to earn respect year in and year out.
Winner: Fresno State 26, Georgia Tech 21

Brut Sun: El Paso, Texas , Dec. 31, 1 p.m., CBS
South Florida (9-3), Big East No. 4 vs. Oregon (8-4), Pac-10 No. 4
Both South Florida and Oregon were ranked as high as No. 2 in the BCS standings, now they meet up in the Sun Bowl. South Florida has knocked off some quality teams this year like Auburn and West Virginia. Oregon has as well, beating USC, Michigan and Arizona State. The problem is these two teams are headed in different directions heading into this game. The Ducks have dropped three straight games since losing QB Dennis Dixon for the season. Meanwhile, the Bulls of South Florida ended with three straight wins. Lets be honest here it was a terrible call by the Sun Bowl inviting Oregon to play in this game. Typically, the No. 3 Pac-10 team plays in the Sun Bowl. That Pac-10 team was Oregon State (8-4), who defeated Oregon in the civil war but Oregon can draw fans so they got the invite over a team who deserved it more. The Ducks have lost way too many people to injuries to win this game; if they do, it will be one of the bigger upsets this bowl season.
Winner: South Florida 31, Oregon 10

Gaylord Hotels Music City: Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 31, 1 p.m., ESPN HD
Florida State (7-5), ACC No. 6 vs. Kentucky (7-5), SEC No. 9
Florida State has one of the weakest offenses to make a bowl game. They have broke the 30 point mark just one time this year, and that was back in game two against UAB. Their average point margin is +1. Kentucky has one of the best QB in the nation in Andre' Woodson. He leads a Kentucky team that averages 37 points a game. He will try and test the solid FSU defense. I just think when it is said and done FSU won't have enough offensive firepower to keep up.
Winner: Kentucky 31, FSU 21

Chick-fil-A: Atlanta, Dec. 31, 4:30 p.m., ESPN HD
Clemson (9-3), ACC No. 3 vs. Auburn (8-4), SEC No. 5
Now this what I call a quality match-up! Auburn has won seven of nine games, mostly because of their sweet defense that allows just 16.7 points a game. Clemson has won five of six and their average margin of victory is 16 points!
Winner: Auburn 20, Clemson 17

Insight: Tempe, Ariz., Dec. 31, 3 p.m., NFL Network
Oklahoma St. (6-6), Big 12 No. 8 vs. Indiana (7-5), Big Ten No. 6
The Hoosiers have not beaten anybody good all year. Their best win was against Ball St. (7-5) and they are 0-5 vs. teams with a .500 or better record. Oklahoma St. doesn't really deserve to be in a bowl game with a 6-6 record, however, it's a good match-up for them. OSU has lost all six games against teams with a .500 or better record, and their best win was against Texas Tech (8-4). OSU blew a game against Texas (9-3) that they should have won. Since they have the better win, and the showed some promise against Texas, they are the better pick.
Winner: Oklahoma St. 35, Indiana 29