Pre-New Years Picks

After going 4-3 on the last 7 games, I'm back even at 6-6. Here are the next five games (that people may actually start to watch).

Rutgers -6.5 NC State

The Papajohns.com Bowl features a Rutgers team that never really got off the ground this season (starting 1-5) but finished with a 6 game Big East win streak and an NC State team that won their last four games to make them bowl eligible. The difference here is that the Wolfpack beat 2 ranked teams in the last month, and the Scarlet Knights . . . well they beat Syracuse and Army!! I'll take the Wolfpack with the points.


Mizzou -12.5 Northwestern

Mizzou, the other team that played in the Big XII championship, gets to face off against the fourth-best team in the Big Ten, Northwestern. I'm sure that Chase Daniel and the #4 passing team in the nation are comforted by the fact that they get to take on the 61st ranked passing defense in the country while Oklahoma, Texas, and Texas Tech all play in major bowl games. I think Daniel uses this game to boost his draft profile in year where there are already at least 3 other QBs ahead of him.

Northwestern's defense should be good enough to put up some fight, but their passing offense (featuring QBs CJ Bacher and Mike Kafka and their 17 INTs) looks about as reliable as those Cash 4 Gold.com commercials. I'm taking Missouri giving 12.5.

Speaking of low-budget commercials, this just popped up on TV. I'm not even Italian, and I'm embarassed.

Nevada -1.5 Maryland

Somehow Maryland still gets invited to bowl games, and the state of Maryland still makes a stink that no matter how poor of a season the Terps had, they deserve a better post-season game. I think it has something to do with those snazzy Under Armor uniforms. Unfortunately for the Terps, they have to take on Wolf Pack QB Colin Kaepernick (who along with RB and top-name nominee Vai Taua make up the #2 run offense in the country) who reminds the Terps that their not playing this game in "their Hooouuuuuuussssse!!!!" I'm going with my cousin Cara on this one who said a few weeks ago that Maryland sucks this year (making her the only rational Terp fan out there). I'll take Nevada giving the points.

Rice -2 Western Michigan

I had no idea that both of these teams had 9-3 records (let lone bowl eligible). I'm picking Rice giving two points because if the team from Texas doesn't win the Texas bowl, I think it means the state can legally execute someone.

Oklahoma State -2.5 Oregon

A couple of weeks a go, I was at a bar where the bartender informed me that he was from Norman, OK, went to OSU, but was a fan of both teams. Even though it might be true, (and he managed to get us half-price pitchers) people like that piss me off. New Yorkers should be Mets or Yankees fans. Los Angelinos should root for the Lakers or the Clippers. There is no "well I just want both teams to do well" involved. One or the other. For that reason, I'm taking Oregon getting two and a half. That, and they'll probably trot out some crazy new uniform for the game.

Until New Years . . .