All the bowl games have been announced and now it is time to take a look at the BCS games.
All games are on ESPN, which means no more Fox for the BCS games and that is a good thing.
Rose Bowl Game presented by VIZIO
Pasadena, Calif. Jan. 1st 4:30 p.m.
Odds: TCU -3
No. 3 TCU Horned Frogs vs. No. 5 Wisconsin Badgers
This will be the first time since 2003 and only the second time since 1946 that the Rose Bowl will not feature a Pac-10 vs. Big 10 matchup. This excludes games that were when the Rose Bowl was the BCS title game. By now, all college football fans know that the reason TCU is going to the Rose Bowl is because in this new BCS cycle, the first time a non-automatic qualifying team is eligible for the BCS and the champion of the Big 10 and Pac-10 are in the title game. The Rose Bowl must take the non-AQ the first time this happens.
As for why this game is interesting, well TCU gets to prove to the nay-sayers that they can play with the BCS schools. This matchup in particular is very interesting, because Wisconsin's offensive line is full of very large men. By no means is TCU's defensive line small, but they will be tested. TCU's defense is built on speed, so this could be something of a replica of the 2009 Sugar Bowl where Utah used their defensive speed to outmatch Alabama's stout offensive line.
Tostitos Fiesta Bowl
Glendale, Ariz. Jan. 1st, 8:30 p.m.
Odds: Oklahoma -16.5
No. 7 Oklahoma Sooners vs. Connecticut Huskies
So, will this be the biggest blowout in BCS history? The biggest blowout ever was the 2004 BCS title game where USC defeated Oklahoma 55-19. Technically the game was vacated, but we all know what happened. This game features an unranked team for the first time ever in the BCS.
Connecticut are on a five game winning streak that was against Big East teams with winning records, but remember UConn lost to Temple who is 8-4 and is not going bowling this year. The Huskies actually do have a solid defense, running back Jordan Todman who is the second leading rusher per game and kicker Dave Teggart who kicked two 50 plus yard kicks to put the Huskies in the BCS.
Oklahoma has a comparable back in DeMarco Murray who is 40th in rushing yards per game, however Murray is a thread to make plays in the passing game as well. Even though Bob Stoops already lost the name of 'Big Game Bob', if the Sooners lose to the Huskies Stoops should be barred from ever using that name again, regardless of how many big games he wins.
Discover Orange Bowl
Miami, FL. Jan 3rd, 8:30 p.m.
Odds: Stanford -3
This game is of interest on two parts: one to see how full (trying to stay positive here) the Orange Bowl will be, plus this is the most interesting Orange Bowl probably since the USC vs. Oklahoma national title game back in 2004. Stanford's only loss came against the Oregon Death Star offense back in early October. The Cardinal offense only scored less then 30 points once this season, and that was in a 17-13 win over Arizona State. All anyone needs to know about Stanford is they have quarterback Andrew Luck, who is projected as the top prospect in the upcomming NFL draft.
Virginia Tech is known for special teams, running the ball and new to this year is losing to James Madison who finished the season at 6-5. Make no mistake, Virginia Tech is back after that lost to JMU and is on a 10 game winning streak. Another reason to tune it, this is not Louisville vs. Wake Forest, but rather two heavy weights teeing off.
Allstate Sugar Bowl
New Orleans, LA Jan. 4th, 8:30 p.m.
Odds: Ohio State -3
No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes vs. No. 8 Arkansas Razorbacks
The pro-style passer vs. the dual-threat quarterback will be on display in N'awlins. Arkansas' Ryan Mallet is every pro scouts dream with his 6-foot-7-inch 238 pound frame, where Ohio State's Terrel Pryor is a threat to run or throw. Contrary to belief of his improving, Pryor is still more of a running quarterback.
This is cliche´ but the quarterback who makes the least mistakes will win. Pryor -- outside of last year's Rose Bowl coming out party -- has been only really dominant against Big 10 also-rans. Mallett has been exceptional in every game except against Mississippi State where for some reason fell flat. This bowl game -- outside of the BCS title game -- will feature the best quarterback matchup out of all of the bowl games.
Tostitos BCS Championship game
Glendale, Ariz. Jan. 10th, 8:30 p.m.
Odds: Auburn -3
No .1 Auburn Tigers vs. No 2. Oregon Ducks
The main event should be a good one. Both teams score more then 40 points per game, Heisman Trophy counter parts in Auburn's Cam Newton and Oregon's LaMichael James oh and the NCAA vs. Cam Newton. This game will be filled with offensive fireworks like no other game as seen (well until the next time a game like this comes upon us next year) as we see the Oregon Duck mascot do a mind-boggling 230 pushups which was their average this year.
No team has been able to completely stop Cam Newton; whenever it is third or fourth and short, Newton is automatic. Plus, he is bigger -- 6-feet-6-inches and 255 pounds -- than eight of the Ducks defensive starters. Oregon's defense is no slouch, but they will have a tough time stopping Cam Newton.
The only weakness I see out of either team is the Auburn secondary; however, Oregon does not have a go to receiver like Georgia's A.J. Green or Alabama's Julio Jones to take advantage of that weakness. Whatever you have going on Jan. 10th cancel it and make an appointment with this game.