Bowl Site Date Time TV Matchup The Sentinel's Early Pick
Poinsettia San Diego Dec. 20 9 p.m. ESPN Utah (8-4) vs. Navy (8-4) Utah by 7
• Like Navy, Utah has been to bowls for five consecutive seasons; the Utes have won 6 bowls in a row overall.
New Orleans New Orleans Dec. 21 8 p.m. ESPN2 Memphis (7-5) vs. Florida Atlantic (7-5) Memphis by 4
• Howard Schnellenberger has FAU in its first bowl game but don't expect a "collision course with a national championship" just yet.
Papajohns.com Birmingham Dec. 22 1 p.m. ESPN2 Southern Miss (7-5) vs. Cincinnati (8-4) Cincinnati by 10
• Jeff Bower coaches his last game at USM, and yes, unlike last year, there will be pizza served at the pizza bowl.
New Mexico Albuquerque Dec. 22 4:30 p.m. ESPN New Mexico (8-4) vs. Nevada (6-6) New Mexico by 12
• When people say there are too many bowl games, well, let's just say matchups like this one are what they have in mind.
Las Vegas Las Vegas Dec. 22 8 p.m. ESPN BYU (10-2) vs. UCLA (6-6) BYU by 9
• Mountain West champ BYU gets another crack at the Bruins, who defeated the Cougars 27-17 in September.
Hawaii Honolulu Dec. 23 8 p.m. ESPN East Carolina (7-5) vs. Boise State (10-2) Boise State by 23
• Blowout warning: Pirates aren't going to have fun in the sun trying to keep pace with the high-scoring Broncos.
Motor City Detroit Dec. 26 7:30 p.m. ESPN C. Michigan (8-5) vs. Purdue (8-5) Purdue by 15
• Why do we need to see this one again? Purdue, in a bowl for 10th time in 11 years, trounced CMU 45-22 in September.
Holiday San Diego Dec. 27 8 p.m. ESPN Arizona State (10-2) vs. Texas (9-3) Texas by 7
• One of the best bowls outside the BCS as both of these teams were strong contenders to be playing in Jan. 1 games.
Champs Sports Orlando Dec. 28 5 p.m. ESPN Boston College (10-3) vs. Michigan State (7-5) Boston College by 6
• Matt Ryan and the Eagles harbored hopes for much more but a trip to the theme parks is not a bad consolation prize.
Texas Houston Dec. 28 8 p.m. NFL TCU (7-5) vs. Houston (8-4) TCU by 7
• Houston goes on without Coach Art Briles, who took the money and ran to the career-killing job that is Baylor. But hey, he'll get paid well.
Emerald San Francisco Dec. 28 8:30 p.m. ESPN Maryland (6-6) vs. Oregon State (8-4) Oregon State by 10
• Oregon State won 6 of its last 7 games, with the only loss coming at USC. Maryland never won more than 2 in a row this season.
Meineke Charlotte Dec. 29 1 p.m. ESPN Wake Forest (8-4) vs. Connecticut (9-3) Wake Forest by 5
• Wake Forest is in consecutive bowl games for the first time in school history while UConn is in its 2nd bowl ever
Liberty Memphis Dec. 29 4:30 p.m. ESPN UCF (9-3) vs. Mississippi State (7-5) UCF by 4
• Mississippi State will try to deny UCF its first bowl win and deny Kevin Smith the NCAA single-season rushing mark
Alamo San Antonio Dec. 29 8 p.m. ESPN Texas A&M (7-5) vs. Penn St. (8-4) Penn St. by 9
• Joe Paterno coaches his 500th game at Penn State while interim coach Gary Darnell coaches his first and only at A&M.
Independence Shreveport, La. Dec. 30 8 p.m. ESPN Alabama (6-6) vs. Colorado (6-6) Colorado by 5
• Tide must feel like Shreveport is a second mobile home — Alabama makes its 3rd bowl trip here since 2001.
Armed Forces Fort Worth Dec. 31 12:30 p.m. ESPN California (6-6) vs. Air Force (9-3) Cal by 10
• Talk about a stunning free fall: Cal has lost six of its last seven games after climbing to No. 2 in the polls.
Sun El Paso Dec. 31 2 p.m. CBS Oregon (8-4) vs. USF (9-3) USF by 4
• This one retires the Ugly Uniform Award. If you don't like green and gold, better hide your eyes when this game kicks off.
Humanitarian Boise Dec. 31 2 p.m. ESPN2 Fresno State (8-4) at Georgia Tech (7-5) Georgia Tech by 11
• Georgia Tech has been to bowls in 10 consecutive seasons. So tell us why, again, Chan Gailey has been pushed out as coach?
Music City Nashville Dec. 31 4 p.m. ESPN Florida State (7-5) vs. Kentucky (7-5) FSU by 6
• FSU has been to bowl games in 26 consecutive seasons under Bobby Bowden while UK makes its 2nd straight trip to Nashville.
Insight Tempe Dec. 31 6 p.m. NFL Indiana (7-5) vs. Oklahoma State (6-6) Oklahoma State by 3
• Indiana is a great story, making a bowl after its coach died. Okie State's coach is better on YouTube than on the field.
Chick-fil-A Atlanta Dec. 31 7:30 p.m. ESPN Auburn (8-4) vs. Clemson (9-3) Clemson by 2
• Will Auburn's Tommy Tuberville be locked down into a mega contract by kickoff time? Or will he be coaching elsewhere?
Outback Tampa Jan. 1 11 a.m. ESPN Wisconsin (9-3) vs. Tennessee (9-4) Tennessee by 3
• Pride of the Big Ten: Wisconsin has won 6 of its last 8 bowl appearances, including 2 in a row vs. SEC opponents.
Cotton Dallas Jan. 1 11:30 a.m. Fox Arkansas (8-4) vs. Missouri (11-2) Arkansas by 6
• Letdown alert: Missouri goes from playing for a berth in the national-title game to being relegated to a bowl that isn't relevant anymore.
Gator Jacksonville Jan. 1 1 p.m. CBS Virginia (9-3) vs. Texas Tech (8-4) Virginia by 2
• Something's got to give: Virginia has won 3 of its last 4 bowls while Texas Tech has won 4 of its last 5 postseason games.
Capital One Orlando Jan. 1 1 p.m. ABC Florida (9-3) vs. Michigan (8-4) Florida by 15
• If Michigan's plodders thought Appy State and Oregon were fast, wait'll they get a load of Tebow and the Gators.
Rose Pasadena Jan. 1 4:30 p.m. ABC Illinois (9-3) vs. USC (10-2) USC by 13
• Good for the Zooker: He and the Illini should send BCS thank-you cards to Missouri and West Virginia, though.
Sugar New Orleans Jan. 1 8:30 p.m. Fox Georgia (10-2) vs. Hawaii (12-0) Georgia by 17
• Hawaii, nation's only unbeaten, tests its mettle against the team that is arguably playing the best football in the nation right now.
Fiesta Glendale, Ariz. Jan. 2 8 p.m. Fox Oklahoma (11-2) vs. West Virginia (10-2) Oklahoma by 9
• But for a bounce or two, these two might be playing for everything in New Orleans instead of playing for pride here.
Orange Miami Jan. 3 8 p.m. Fox Virginia Tech (11-2) vs. Kansas (11-1) Virginia Tech by 10
• Kansas didn't even win its division of the Big 12 but is in the Orange Bowl anyway for the first time since 1968.
International Toronto Jan. 5 Noon ESPN2 Rutgers (7-5) vs. Ball St. (7-5) Rutgers by 13
•Now we're exporting bad bowl games to Canada, where Ball State will make its first bowl appearance since 1996.
GMAC Mobile Jan. 6 8 p.m. ESPN Tulsa (9-4) vs. Bowling Green (8-4) Tulsa by 6
• Look for points a plenty: Tulsa averages 39.5 points per game while Bowling Green averages 32.1.
BCS New Orleans Jan. 7 8 p.m. Fox LSU (11-2) vs. Ohio State (11-1) LSU by 7
• Probably the right matchup but both teams should consider it miracles they got this opportunity after suffering late-season losses.
Other bowl eligible teams not in bowls: South Carolina (6-6), Iowa (6-6), Northwestern (6-6), Louisiana-Monroe (6-6)
Poinsettia San Diego Dec. 20 9 p.m. ESPN Utah (8-4) vs. Navy (8-4) Utah by 7
• Like Navy, Utah has been to bowls for five consecutive seasons; the Utes have won 6 bowls in a row overall.
New Orleans New Orleans Dec. 21 8 p.m. ESPN2 Memphis (7-5) vs. Florida Atlantic (7-5) Memphis by 4
• Howard Schnellenberger has FAU in its first bowl game but don't expect a "collision course with a national championship" just yet.
Papajohns.com Birmingham Dec. 22 1 p.m. ESPN2 Southern Miss (7-5) vs. Cincinnati (8-4) Cincinnati by 10
• Jeff Bower coaches his last game at USM, and yes, unlike last year, there will be pizza served at the pizza bowl.
New Mexico Albuquerque Dec. 22 4:30 p.m. ESPN New Mexico (8-4) vs. Nevada (6-6) New Mexico by 12
• When people say there are too many bowl games, well, let's just say matchups like this one are what they have in mind.
Las Vegas Las Vegas Dec. 22 8 p.m. ESPN BYU (10-2) vs. UCLA (6-6) BYU by 9
• Mountain West champ BYU gets another crack at the Bruins, who defeated the Cougars 27-17 in September.
Hawaii Honolulu Dec. 23 8 p.m. ESPN East Carolina (7-5) vs. Boise State (10-2) Boise State by 23
• Blowout warning: Pirates aren't going to have fun in the sun trying to keep pace with the high-scoring Broncos.
Motor City Detroit Dec. 26 7:30 p.m. ESPN C. Michigan (8-5) vs. Purdue (8-5) Purdue by 15
• Why do we need to see this one again? Purdue, in a bowl for 10th time in 11 years, trounced CMU 45-22 in September.
Holiday San Diego Dec. 27 8 p.m. ESPN Arizona State (10-2) vs. Texas (9-3) Texas by 7
• One of the best bowls outside the BCS as both of these teams were strong contenders to be playing in Jan. 1 games.
Champs Sports Orlando Dec. 28 5 p.m. ESPN Boston College (10-3) vs. Michigan State (7-5) Boston College by 6
• Matt Ryan and the Eagles harbored hopes for much more but a trip to the theme parks is not a bad consolation prize.
Texas Houston Dec. 28 8 p.m. NFL TCU (7-5) vs. Houston (8-4) TCU by 7
• Houston goes on without Coach Art Briles, who took the money and ran to the career-killing job that is Baylor. But hey, he'll get paid well.
Emerald San Francisco Dec. 28 8:30 p.m. ESPN Maryland (6-6) vs. Oregon State (8-4) Oregon State by 10
• Oregon State won 6 of its last 7 games, with the only loss coming at USC. Maryland never won more than 2 in a row this season.
Meineke Charlotte Dec. 29 1 p.m. ESPN Wake Forest (8-4) vs. Connecticut (9-3) Wake Forest by 5
• Wake Forest is in consecutive bowl games for the first time in school history while UConn is in its 2nd bowl ever
Liberty Memphis Dec. 29 4:30 p.m. ESPN UCF (9-3) vs. Mississippi State (7-5) UCF by 4
• Mississippi State will try to deny UCF its first bowl win and deny Kevin Smith the NCAA single-season rushing mark
Alamo San Antonio Dec. 29 8 p.m. ESPN Texas A&M (7-5) vs. Penn St. (8-4) Penn St. by 9
• Joe Paterno coaches his 500th game at Penn State while interim coach Gary Darnell coaches his first and only at A&M.
Independence Shreveport, La. Dec. 30 8 p.m. ESPN Alabama (6-6) vs. Colorado (6-6) Colorado by 5
• Tide must feel like Shreveport is a second mobile home — Alabama makes its 3rd bowl trip here since 2001.
Armed Forces Fort Worth Dec. 31 12:30 p.m. ESPN California (6-6) vs. Air Force (9-3) Cal by 10
• Talk about a stunning free fall: Cal has lost six of its last seven games after climbing to No. 2 in the polls.
Sun El Paso Dec. 31 2 p.m. CBS Oregon (8-4) vs. USF (9-3) USF by 4
• This one retires the Ugly Uniform Award. If you don't like green and gold, better hide your eyes when this game kicks off.
Humanitarian Boise Dec. 31 2 p.m. ESPN2 Fresno State (8-4) at Georgia Tech (7-5) Georgia Tech by 11
• Georgia Tech has been to bowls in 10 consecutive seasons. So tell us why, again, Chan Gailey has been pushed out as coach?
Music City Nashville Dec. 31 4 p.m. ESPN Florida State (7-5) vs. Kentucky (7-5) FSU by 6
• FSU has been to bowl games in 26 consecutive seasons under Bobby Bowden while UK makes its 2nd straight trip to Nashville.
Insight Tempe Dec. 31 6 p.m. NFL Indiana (7-5) vs. Oklahoma State (6-6) Oklahoma State by 3
• Indiana is a great story, making a bowl after its coach died. Okie State's coach is better on YouTube than on the field.
Chick-fil-A Atlanta Dec. 31 7:30 p.m. ESPN Auburn (8-4) vs. Clemson (9-3) Clemson by 2
• Will Auburn's Tommy Tuberville be locked down into a mega contract by kickoff time? Or will he be coaching elsewhere?
Outback Tampa Jan. 1 11 a.m. ESPN Wisconsin (9-3) vs. Tennessee (9-4) Tennessee by 3
• Pride of the Big Ten: Wisconsin has won 6 of its last 8 bowl appearances, including 2 in a row vs. SEC opponents.
Cotton Dallas Jan. 1 11:30 a.m. Fox Arkansas (8-4) vs. Missouri (11-2) Arkansas by 6
• Letdown alert: Missouri goes from playing for a berth in the national-title game to being relegated to a bowl that isn't relevant anymore.
Gator Jacksonville Jan. 1 1 p.m. CBS Virginia (9-3) vs. Texas Tech (8-4) Virginia by 2
• Something's got to give: Virginia has won 3 of its last 4 bowls while Texas Tech has won 4 of its last 5 postseason games.
Capital One Orlando Jan. 1 1 p.m. ABC Florida (9-3) vs. Michigan (8-4) Florida by 15
• If Michigan's plodders thought Appy State and Oregon were fast, wait'll they get a load of Tebow and the Gators.
Rose Pasadena Jan. 1 4:30 p.m. ABC Illinois (9-3) vs. USC (10-2) USC by 13
• Good for the Zooker: He and the Illini should send BCS thank-you cards to Missouri and West Virginia, though.
Sugar New Orleans Jan. 1 8:30 p.m. Fox Georgia (10-2) vs. Hawaii (12-0) Georgia by 17
• Hawaii, nation's only unbeaten, tests its mettle against the team that is arguably playing the best football in the nation right now.
Fiesta Glendale, Ariz. Jan. 2 8 p.m. Fox Oklahoma (11-2) vs. West Virginia (10-2) Oklahoma by 9
• But for a bounce or two, these two might be playing for everything in New Orleans instead of playing for pride here.
Orange Miami Jan. 3 8 p.m. Fox Virginia Tech (11-2) vs. Kansas (11-1) Virginia Tech by 10
• Kansas didn't even win its division of the Big 12 but is in the Orange Bowl anyway for the first time since 1968.
International Toronto Jan. 5 Noon ESPN2 Rutgers (7-5) vs. Ball St. (7-5) Rutgers by 13
•Now we're exporting bad bowl games to Canada, where Ball State will make its first bowl appearance since 1996.
GMAC Mobile Jan. 6 8 p.m. ESPN Tulsa (9-4) vs. Bowling Green (8-4) Tulsa by 6
• Look for points a plenty: Tulsa averages 39.5 points per game while Bowling Green averages 32.1.
BCS New Orleans Jan. 7 8 p.m. Fox LSU (11-2) vs. Ohio State (11-1) LSU by 7
• Probably the right matchup but both teams should consider it miracles they got this opportunity after suffering late-season losses.
Other bowl eligible teams not in bowls: South Carolina (6-6), Iowa (6-6), Northwestern (6-6), Louisiana-Monroe (6-6)
