NCAA College Football 2006 Bowl Games December 31, 2006

NCAA College Football Bowl Games Dec. 31, 2006 - Jan. 1, 2007

NCAA College Football Bowl Picks 12/31/06 - 1/1//07

Rick Gagliano | 12/24/06

Dec. 31, 7:30 pm
MPC Computers Bowl, Boise, ID, ACC vs. WAC, ESPN
Miami (FL) (-3, 43) vs. Nevada - At 6-6, Miami shouldn't even be in a bowl game. I guess the consolation is that they will have to play on the funky blue turf in Boise against a motivated Nevada squad. The (8-4) Wolfpack should find numerous ways to get to the end zone as Miami's 5th ranked defense (252.1 ypg) hangs tough, but the offense folds up one last time for departing coach Larry Coker.

Prediction: Wolfpack 20 Hurricanes 13

Jan. 1, 11:00 am
Outback Bowl, Tampa, FL, Big Ten vs. SEC, ESPN
Penn St. vs. Tennessee (-4.5, 41) - The 9-3 Volunteers have nearly a TD edge on offense (29.3 ypg vs. 22.5 for Penn State) and actually recorded a couple of wins over ranked teams - Cal, 35-17 and Georgia 51-33 - something 8-4 Penn State did not accomplish, though the Nittany Lions lost by 10 to Wisconsin and by 7 to Michigan. Their losses to Ohio State and Notre Dame were of the blowout variety, but they were early in the season and they have improved - defensively, at least.

Tennessee, with close calls against Auburn (28-24) and Florida (21-20), saw their season slip away with their third loss, to Arkansas, 31-17, but the Vols finished up with wins over Vandy and Kentucky and appear to be capable of beating just about any team outside the SEC.

The combination of Erik Ainge to Robert Meachem will be the one Penn State has most to worry about, and the one which will likely send the Vols home winners. Both defenses should keep the scoring down, but punchless Penn State simply does not have the skill players to stay in this.

Prediction: Volunteers 24 Nittany Lions 14

Jan. 1, 11:30 am
AT&T Cotton Bowl, Dallas, TX, Big 12 vs. SEC, FOX
Auburn (-2.5, 45) vs. Nebraska - For a team with just two losses (10-2), Auburn isn't getting much respect. Of course, when you fail to qualify for your conference championship, that does take a bit of the bloom off the rose.

The Tigers' victories are predicated primarily around their defense, which allowed 13.9 points per game (7th), but only the third best in the SEC, behind Florida and LSU. That points up just how solid the SEC was this year, top to bottom. If the Tigers' defense shows up, this one is over.

The Cornhuskers had a quality campaign, finishing 9-4, but closing out the regular season with a loss in the Big 12 championship to Oklahoma was a bit of a let-down. That game showed how a stingy defense could shut down the West Coast offense installed by Bill Calahan and executed by QB Zac Taylor. Nebraska committed 5 turnovers that day under the Sooners' relentless pressure. Expect Auburn to apply the same kind of defense and keep the 'Huskers under wraps most of the day.

Prediction: Tigers 21 Cornhuskers 17

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Jan. 1, 1:00 pm
Toyota Gator Bowl, Jacksonville, FL, CBS
Georgia Tech vs. West Virginia (-10.5, 48) - This game will turn on how well the Tech contains the Mountaineers potent offense (38.9 points, 463 yards per game) because their own offense is going to be crippled by the loss of QB Reggie Ball, who was declared academically ineligible for the game. Ball, who was plagued with inconsistency in his 4 years as the Georgia Tech starter, will be replaced by Taylor Bennett, who has seen only limited action.

With Steve Slaton and Pat White both healthy, this could be a runaway romp for West Virginia. While the Mountaineers' defense is less than exceptional, they should be able to contain Tech's offense, which has crossed the goal line only once in its last two games.

Prediction: Mountaineers 31 Yellow Jackets 16

Jan. 1, 1:00 pm
Capital One Bowl, Orlando, FL, SEC vs. Big Ten, ABC
Arkansas (-1.5, 45) vs. Wisconsin - Both of these teams fell just short of BCS bids, but at least get to play on New Years' day. Of teams ranked in the top 10, 11-1 Wisconsin is probably the least well known, but deserves credit for an outstanding season. Their defense may well be the best in the nation, allowing 11.9 points and 243.5 yards per game, both good for third overall.

The 10-3 Razorbacks will have to find ways to generate consistent offense with running backs Darren McFadden and Felix Jones because neither quarterback - Casey Dick or Mitch Mustain - has demonstrated consistency all season.

Wisconsin also has a slight statistical edge on offense, so if the defense comes ready to play, this could become a one-sided affair.

Prediction: Badgers 30 Razorbacks 20

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