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For better and for worse, I watched a ton of college football this season. To top that off, both my roommates and many of my friends are football fanatics, so I hear more than my share of pig skin commentary. Here are my predictions of the various bowl games:

Emerald:
I think UCLA will handily beat a struggling Florida State team. Despite the long break, I do not think Bobby Bowden has his act together — plus UCLA still has their recent upset of USC fresh in mind. Margin by 14.

PetroSun Independence:
I think Alabama will give Oklahoma State a run for their money, but the recent firing of Mike Shula will effect the battered team. Cowboys by 7.

Pacific Life Holiday:
Call me biased, but I think this will be one of the better match-ups of the season. Cal plays in a West-coast style conference and never had to face the halfback option. In contrast, Texas A&M has faced several West-coast style teams during the year (e.g. Texas Tech), and uses the option as their bread and butter. I give Aggies the slight edge (see their close loses); winning by 10, but only if the J-train is given the ball at the goal line.

Texas Bowl:
Not even a competition, Rutgers is going to run all over Kansas State, winning by 21+.

Gaylord Hotels Music City:
I think Clemson is a better program athletically, and Kentucky does not have their 285+ pound quarterback to fall back on. Clemson by 10.

Brut Sun:
Missouri started off great this year, until they met the Aggies. I still think they are a great team but Oregon State has more confidence in executing the passing game. Beavers by less than 10.

AutoZone Liberty:
It would be fun to see a mid-major upset of a Spurrier team, but I do not think this is going to happen. In fact, I think the Game Cocks (perhaps the porniest mascot name in D-IA play) will slaughter the Cougars by more than 20.

Insight:
I think the strength of schedule serves as the best indicator of victory in this game. Minnesota sneaked in at 6-6, with wins over heavy weights such as North Dakota State and Temple. Texas Tech wins by 30+ and will bench their starters at the half. Note: I hate Tech.

Champs Sports:
Both teams did terrible against T-25 opponents, but I think Purdue played a better season against a harder schedule. Plus, William & Mary and Middle Tennessee State should not be on any back-to-back schedule — false confidence. Purdue by 10.

Meineke Car Care:
Aside from the dumb bowl name, this game will be lopsided in Boston College’s favor. Not only was their schedule more difficult than Navy’s, but they actually won games that mattered. The only wrench is the head coaching transition for the Eagles, yet they will still win by at least 14.

Alamo:
Even if Colt McCoy, Mack Brown, and the entire University of Texas student body keep whining about the crappy bowl they were invited to, their grade A athletes will still run all over Iowa — not even a close one. Longhorns by a million.

Chick-fil-A:
This game should not have been scheduled. Virginia Tech will remind Georgia of why the latter was originally a prison colony while the former yielded the creme-de-la-creme of society. Hokies by a constitution or two.

MPC Computers:
Don’t forget the sponsor name because they bet the farm that you would buy something from them… oops. The third string water boy at Miami has more talent than the entire varsity squad of Nevada. Yet Miami players have attitude malfunctions like Texas Tech girls have STDs. Good thing there is something to do in Boise the night before, because Miami bench warmers might be too tired to start brawling on the field. Result: hung over and sleepless Hurricanes will somehow stay on-side long enough to run the ball the right direction every other drive. Heck, they might even win in the 4th overtime.

Outback:
This should be a good game. However, even though both teams played a tough schedule, I think Tennessee is ready and able to win the big game. Note: Joe Paterno is my hero, he walked it off like a man.

AT&T Cotton:
I would like to think that Nebraska will win it, but they managed to lose all the big games this year. Whereas Auburn at least can savor their wins against Florida and LSU. Auburn by at least 17.

Toyota Gator:
Another game that should not have been scheduled. The entire West Virginia team could fall into a well and still beat an overrated George Tech team by throwing their cleats whenever the Jackets passed; effectively downing it into the end zone every drive. The Mountaineers will win by 12 safeties.

Capital One:
I think that Arkansas is the better team talent and schedule wise, but that Wisconsin will come out of nowhere and beat them by 10.

Rose Bowl:
I really wanted USC to beat Texas last year, believing that Reggie Bush - our Lord and Savior - would lead the Trojans to the Promised Land. Unfortunately he did not and I do not think that Pete Carroll will be able to beat Michigan either. Michigan by 14.

Fiesta Bowl:
Uhh, this is why mid-majors are not in a BCS conference, because of match-ups like this. Stoops managed to take a scandal, drama, and injury-plagued team and managed to win almost all the big games this year. Adrian Peterson will win this by himself, by 34 (he kicks two field goals). Note: I think Rhett Bomar got the shaft.

Orange:
Wake Forrest will start off strong but Louisville will not choke like they did against Rutgers. Cardinals win by 14.

Sugar:
It is games like this that make you want to rewrite that automatic bid Notre Dame gets in the BCS contract. As big a fan I am of the Irish, I think LSU will destroy them in a crawfish-boiler fashion: by cooking them alive and dipping their carcasses in cocktail sauce. Tigers by 21.

Championship game:
I think Jim Tressel will sit down with Urban Meyer and will agree to face-off in a show down of rock, paper, scissors. Florida fans will be disappointed though, because rules are different in the Midwest: dynamite is allowed. Thus, the Buckeyes will win in a blowout.

Joe-blow bowl
For all the other bowls I did not mention: your bowl name was either not sexy enough or the opponents seemed about as exciting as watching the winners of the grueling Pilgrims Pride Junior College bowl face off against the winners of the Special Olympics badminton team.

See also:
- The Bowl Championship Series: A Case Against Subjectively Aggregated Statistics
- Bowl Chaos System Receives Sternest Reprimand Yet
- Florida State University to Phase Out Academic Operations by 2010