With just seven of the thirty five bowl games played so far, the fun is just getting started. From today until the end of 2011, there are 16 more bowl games. You can download all of my game previews here: http://ow.ly/d/rnp but right now I'll break down all the matchups and see which team has an advantage in certain areas.
Also, it's always hard to just pick one, but I'll try to pick a good player to watch for each game.
AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl, Dec. 26 5pm
Missouri (7-5) vs. North Carolina (7-5)
Coach: Everett Withers, North Carolina
Stat: Both teams allow exactly 23.5 points per game.
Quarterback: North Carolina - James Franklin (Missouri) can make plays with his feet but is prone to turning the ball over. Bryn Renner (UNC) is a pocket passer who's very efficient and somewhat mobile.
Running back: Giovani Bernard, North Carolina - Missouri lost its leading rusher Henry Josey to an injury. Bernard has had an outstanding freshman season.
Receivers: Even - maybe a slight edge to Missouri for more depth and a better tight end, Michael Egnew, but North Carolina has two studs: Dwight Jones and Erik Highsmith.
Offensive Line: Missouri
Defensive Line: North Carolina
Linebackers: North Carolina
Secondary: North Carolina
Special Teams: Missouri
Offensive Player to Watch: Erik Highsmith, WR, North Carolina
Defensive Player to Watch: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina
My Pick: North Carolina
Little Caesars Bowl, Dec. 27 4:30 p.m.
Western Michigan (7-5) vs. Purdue (6-6)
Coach: Bill Cubit, Western Michigan
Quarterback: Western Michigan
Running back: Purdue
Receivers: Western Michigan - Purdue is without two starting receivers.
Offensive Line: Western Michigan
Defensive Line: Purdue
Linebackers: Purdue
Secondary: Purdue
Special Teams: Purdue
Offensive Player to Watch: Jordan White, WR, Western Michigan
Defensive Player to Watch: Kawann Short, DT, Purdue
My Pick: Purdue
Belk Bowl, Dec. 27 8 p.m.
Louisville (7-5) vs. NC State (7-5)
Coach: Charlie Strong, Louisville
Quarterback: Even - the growth of Teddy Bridgewater (Louisville) has been fun to watch but Mike Glennon (NC State) finally reached his potential with a stellar performance in the final two weeks of the season.
Running back: Louisville - neither team has a featured back, but Louisville's trio is better than NC State's duo.
Receivers: Louisville - Michaelee Harris and DeVante Parker are two really good freshmen.
Offensive Line: NC State - Neither is any good, but NC State is a bit more physical
Defensive Line: NC State
Linebackers: NC State
Secondary: Even
Special Teams: Louisville
Offensive Player to Watch: T.J. Graham, WR, NC State
Defensive Player to Watch: David Amerson, CB, NC State
My Pick: Louisville
Military Bowl pres. by Northrop Grumman, Dec. 28 4:30 p.m.
Toledo (8-4) vs. Air Force (7-5)
Coach: Troy Calhoun, Air Force
Quarterback: Toledo
Running back: Toledo
Receivers: Toledo
Offensive Line: Toledo
Defensive Line: Toledo
Linebackers: Air Force
Secondary: Air Force
Special Teams: Toledo
Offensive Player to Watch: Eric Page, WR, Toledo
Defensive Player to Watch: Jon Davis, S, Air Force
My Pick: Toledo
Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl, Dec. 28 8 p.m.
California (7-5) vs. Texas (7-5)
Coach: Mack Brown, Texas
Quarterback: California - Zach Maynard is best outside of the pocket but Texas is still trying to settle on a quarterback.
Running back: Texas - Malcolm Brown and Joe Bergeron are expected to be healthy and should carry the Texas offense.
Receivers: Even - Cal has two good ones, Keenan Allen and Marvin Jones. Texas is wealthy at the position but needs a quarterback who can spread the ball around.
Offensive Line: Even
Defensive Line: Texas
Linebackers: Texas
Secondary: Texas
Special Teams: Texas
Offensive Player to Watch: Keenan Allen, WR, California
Defensive Player to Watch: Carrington Byndom, CB, Texas
My Pick: Texas
Champs Sports Bowl, Dec. 29 5:30 p.m.
Florida State (8-4) vs. Notre Dame (8-4)
Coach: Jimbo Fisher, Florida State
Quarterback: Florida State
Running back: Florida State - Both teams will use multiple backs, but Notre Dame is without Jonas Gray for the bowl game.
Receivers: Florida State - Notre Dame has the star, Michael Floyd, but not much other help.
Offensive Line: Notre Dame
Defensive Line: Florida State
Linebackers: Notre Dame
Secondary: Even
Special Teams: Florida State
Offensive Player to Watch: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame
Defensive Player to Watch: Brandon Jenkins, DE, Florida State
My Pick: Florida State
Valero Alamo Bowl, Dec. 29 9 p.m.
Washington (7-5) vs. Baylor (9-3)
Coach: Art Briles, Baylor
Quarterback: Baylor
Running back: Even
Receivers: Baylor
Offensive Line: Baylor
Defensive Line: Washington
Linebackers: Even
Secondary: Washington
Special Teams: Baylor
Offensive Player to Watch: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor
Defensive Player to Watch: Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington
My Pick: Baylor
Bell Helicopter Armed Forces, Dec. 30 Noon
BYU (9-3) vs. Tulsa (8-4)
Coach: Bronco Mendenhall, BYU
Quarterback: Even
Running back: BYU
Receivers: BYU
Offensive Line: BYU
Defensive Line: BYU
Linebackers: BYU
Secondary: Tulsa
Special Teams: Even
Offensive Player to Watch: G.J. Kinne, QB, Tulsa
Defensive Player to Watch: Kyle Van Noy, LB, BYU
My Pick: BYU
New Era Pinstripe Bowl, Dec. 30 3:20 p.m.
Rutgers (8-4) vs. Iowa State (6-6)
Coach: Paul Rhoads, Iowa State
Quarterback: Iowa State
Running back: Even
Receivers: Even
Offensive Line: Iowa State
Defensive Line: Rutgers
Linebackers: Iowa State
Secondary: Rutgers
Special Teams: Rutgers
Offensive Player to Watch: Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers
Defensive Player to Watch: Jake Knott, LB, Iowa State
My Pick: Rutgers
Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl, Dec. 30 6:40 p.m.
Mississippi State (6-6) vs. Wake Forest (6-6)
Coach: Even
Quarterback: Mississippi State - Chris Relf's (Miss St) ability to make plays gets a slight edge over the very efficient Tanner Price (WF)
Running back: Mississippi State
Receivers: Even - each team has one go-to guy and not much else.
Offensive Line: Wake Forest
Defensive Line: Mississippi State
Linebackers: Wake Forest
Secondary: Mississippi State
Special Teams: Wake Forest
Offensive Player to Watch: Chris Givens, WR, Wake Forest
Defensive Player to Watch: Josh Bush, S, Wake Forest
My Pick: Mississippi State
Insight Bowl, Dec. 30 10 p.m.
Iowa (7-5) vs. Oklahoma (9-3)
Coach: Kirk Ferentz, Iowa
Quarterback: Even - Landry Jones (OU) is the better pro prospect but when James Vandenburg (Iowa) is on he's on and when Jones is off he's really off.
Running back: Oklahoma - Iowa's Marcus Coker has been suspended for the bowl game.
Receivers: Iowa - Marvin McNutt, Keenan Davis and Kevonte Martin-Manley for Iowa is a better group than Oklahoma without Ryan Broyles and Jaz Reynolds.
Offensive Line: Even
Defensive Line: Iowa - Oklahoma DE Ronnell Lewis was declared academically ineligible for the game.
Linebackers: Oklahoma
Secondary: Even
Special Teams: Iowa
My Pick: risky going with Oklahoma ... clearly the better team but with a lot of issues, not to mention a reputation of not showing up in the postseason.
Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas, Dec. 31 Noon
Texas A&M (6-6) vs. Northwestern (6-6)
Coach: Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern
Quarterback: Even
Running back: Texas A&M - Cyrus Gray is expected back for the bowl game to give a huge boost.
Receivers: Texas A&M
Offensive Line: Texas A&M - allows the second fewest sacks in the nation
Defensive Line: Texas A&M
Linebackers: Texas A&M
Secondary: Northwestern
Special Teams: Texas A&M
Offensive Player to Watch: Dan Persa, QB, Northwestern
Defensive Player to Watch: Sean Porter, LB, Texas A&M
My Pick: Texas A&M
Hyundai Sun Bowl, Dec. 31 2 p.m.
Georgia Tech (8-4) vs. Utah (7-5)
Coach: Kyle Whittingham, Utah
Quarterback: Georgia Tech
Running back: Even
Receivers: Utah
Offensive Line: Georgia Tech
Defensive Line: Georgia Tech
Linebackers: Utah
Secondary: Utah
Special Teams: Utah
Offensive Player to Watch: Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech
Defensive Player to Watch: Jeremiah Attachou, LB, Georgia Tech
My Pick: Georgia Tech
AutoZone Liberty, Dec. 31 3:30 p.m.
Cincinnati (9-3) vs. Vanderbilt (6-6)
Coach: James Franklin, Vanderbilt
Quarterback: Vanderbilt - Jordan Rodgers (Vandy) has been the key to the Vanderbilt offense. Cincinnati says they might have Zach Collaros back, but I don't know how healthy his broken ankle will be.
Running back: Cincinnati - Isaiah Pead (Cincy) is a faster and a bit quicker than Vanderbilt's Zac Stacy.
Receivers: Cincinnati
Offensive Line: Cincinnati
Defensive Line: Cincinnati
Linebackers: Vanderbilt
Secondary: Vanderbilt
Special Teams: Cincinnati
Offensive Player to Watch: Jordan Rodgers, QB, Vanderbilt
Defensive Player to Watch: Casey Hayward, CB, Vanderbilt
Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, Dec. 31 3:30 p.m.
Illinois (6-6) vs. UCLA (6-7)
Coach: there are no head coaches in this game...
Quarterback: Illinois
Running back: Illinois
Receivers: Even
Offensive Line: UCLA
Defensive Line: Illinois
Linebackers: Illinois
Secondary: Illinois
Special Teams: Illinois
Offensive Player to Watch: A.J. Jenkins, WR, Illinois
Defensive Player to Watch: Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois
My Pick: UCLA
Chick-fil-A Bowl, Dec. 31 7:30 p.m.
Virginia (8-4) vs. Auburn (7-5)
Coach: Mike London, Virginia
Quarterback: Even
Running backs: Virginia - Auburn star Michael Dyer is suspended for the game and his Auburn career may be over if he decides to leave the program as rumored. I love Dyer's replacement, Onterio McCalebb and he'll make some players, but Virginia's two backs, Perry Jones and Kevin Parks, will gain a lot more yards.
Receivers: Auburn
Offensive Line: Virginia
Defensive Line: Auburn
Linebackers: Even
Secondary: Virginia
Special Teams: Virginia
Offensive Player to Watch: Onterio McCalebb, RB, Auburn
Defensive Player to Watch: Chase Minnifield, CB, Virginia
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