BRIDGEPOINT EDUCATION HOLIDAY BOWL SAN DIEGO, CA Dec. 27 [Payout 10/6]
- With a 7-5 (5-4) record, the Wildcats find themselves heading to San Diego and who can complain about that! Looking at the match up with Oregon this looks to be a very exciting game. Both teams are evenly matched statistically and have a similar style of play. Kansas State is putting up 287 yards of offense and scoring 21 points per game. Defensively they are giving up a little more at 297, which plays into their opponents hands and they must buckle down in order to beat the Ducks. Kansas will look to do most of their damage on the ground and with Hubert feeling slighted on the All Conference selection he will want to bust out and have a big game to disprove his doubters. But it will ultimately be K States defense that wins or loses this game. Ranked #103 defensively in the league they'll need to find some answers quickly.
- For a team at 9-4 (7-3), we haven't really heard much out of the Ducks this season. But that is a deceptive quietness out of Oregon. Offensively this team is ranked #17 in total offense. They are surely licking their chops at the prospects of facing a team ranked so low defensively in K State. After struggling early, the Ducks won 6 straight games and found themselves in the PAC 12 CC game but lost to a red hot Arizona team. Oregon will look to continue running and should. Between Barner, Thomas, and Bennett the Ducks scored 23 rushing TD's. The aerial attack has not shined as bright as the rushing attack, but it is important to note that Bennett threw for 2000 yards. This should make the Wildcats realize that the Ducks passing attack is valid, they just choose to run once they're in the red zone. 
MEINEKE CAR CARE BOWL HOUSTON, TX Dec. 28 [Payout 10/6]
- TCU finished the season 7-5 (4-5), good enough for 7th in the BIG XII. Despite their late season slump they are a nightmare to match up against. Statistically speaking TCU should completely dominate their opponent. The Frogs average 294 yards per game and are fairly balanced with 120 of that rushing and 170 passing. Defensively they are allowing 246 yards but only give up 17 points per game. QB Casey Pachall, being a dual threat, is what makes this team so special. He can make teams pay both through the air (9 TD's) or with his legs (8 TD's).
- The Hoosiers, like their counterparts, finished the season 7-5 (3-5). Also like TCU, they started the season red hot but seemed to fade a little late. While IU doesn't have any of the marquee wins like TCU, they are still a dangerous team that the Frogs must take seriously. The Hoosiers defense only allows 201 yards of total offense and limits opponents rushing attack to a paltry 65 yards per game. Offensively IU keeps teams honest. QB Tre Roberson has thrown for 13 TD's while RB Stephen Houston has rushed for over 1300 yards and scored 10 TD's.
NEW ERA PINSTRIPE BOWL BRONX, NY Dec. 29 [Payout 10/6]
- Texas was able to get some key wins when they needed them to help keep them bowl eligible. Sitting at 6-6 (5-4), Coach VVV has to consider himself lucky to see a bowl game this season. More importantly though, if he wants to remain the head ball coach at Texas he must win this game. The Longhorns will need to impose their will on the Bulls and keep feeding the ball to RB Malcolm Brown. Brown was able to put up 125 rushing yards per game and split the rushing TD's with his QB 7/6. Defensively, Texas will need another big game out of star LB'er Steve Edmond. All offensive members of the opposing team need to know where this guy is at all times. The Longhorns are very capable of greatness, evident by their Week 6 win at West Virginia, and will need that fire to ensure VVV remains in Austin.
- Coach Aj and his Bulls finished the season at 6-6 (3-4). While South Florida's rushing attack is no where to be found, they are still averaging 27 points per game. That's all thanks in part to QB BJ Daniels who has thrown for over 2000 yards and 17 TD's on the season. USF was able to pull the upset win over Penn State early in the season and played #1 Alabama very close. South Florida also has a penchant for taking the ball away on defense. Their team was able to get 19 take away's on the season and will need to do the same to beat the Longhorns.
VALERO ALAMO BOWL SAN ANTONIO, TX Dec. 29 [Payout 14/10]
- The Mountaineers strung together an impressive season finishing 9-3 (6-3) and ranked #20 in the final poll. When focused, Coach Talened and his team are a very tough opponent. This match up with UCLA is actually a rematch of a Round 3 NDL Cup game that was simmed. The Mountaineers defense is playing exceedingly well this season allowing only 215 yards per game. More importantly, they are only allowing 82 rushing yards per game. They will need to focus on their rushing defense against UCLA. Offensively the Mountaineers are all about the big plays. Sr. QB Geno Smith is playing very good this year and has two outstanding WR's that have both scored 11 TD's on the season. They will continue to be an offensive nightmare for UCLA.
- UCLA finished the season 10-2 (7-2) and if not for a late season loss to Arizona they could have been in a BCS game. The Bruins must make sure they do not let that fact cloud their ability to play in this game. Statistically speaking the Bruins own all category match ups against WVU except passing yards. The Bruins rushing attack is averaging 180 yards a game with HB Jonathon Franklin eclipsing 1600 yards and 14 TD's on the season. He should find rushing a little tougher against the Mountaineers though. If Franklin does struggle, QB Brett Hundley will be there to pick up the slack. With 1640 passing yards and 15 TD strikes, teams can ill afford to forget UCLA can also sling the ball through the air.
BUFFALO WILD WINGS BOWL TEMPE, AZ Dec. 29 [Payout 12/8]
- Oklahoma finished the season 7-5 (5-4). Coach Niddler, in his first season with the Sooners, was able to lead the team to a winning record, but most importantly he was able to beat his schools most bitter rival in the Red River Shootout. To cap off his season he was also able to defeat mighty Oklahoma State, which was on a 16 game winning streak for conference play. The Sooners defense has got to be their strong suit. They're currently averaging 2 sacks and 3 take away's per game. The defense is allowing 279 yards per game, but are very opportunistic when opposing offenses make a mistake. The offense, on the other hand, is only averaging 271 yards and will most likely need to increase on that number in their bowl game. QB Landry Jones will need to keep feeding the ball to WR Jaz Reynolds, but will need to cut down on his INT's (31).
- Also finished the season 7-5, but had a much tougher time in conference play finishing 3-5. Ohio State will need to improve upon their ability to hold onto the ball and increase their time of possession. The Buckeye's already average less yards than Oklahoma allows and could have a lot of trouble against this defense. The biggest playmaker for OSU is QB Braxton Miller, who is responsible for 9 of their 14 total offensive TD's on the season.
AT&T COTTON BOWL ARLINGTON, TX Jan. 4 [Payout 14/10]
- The Red Raiders were the surprise team of the Big XII, challenging for the conference title all the way through the season. Finishing #2 in the conference at 8-4 (6-2) they have proved they belong and that Coach Tjw needs to be taken seriously. Tech's strength lay's in their defense. First appearance should make teams think they can do as they please, especially with the Red Raiders ranking of #114 in total defense. But second looks make you realize that while they do allow an excessive number of yards, their take away's more than make up for it. The dynamic duo of Neboh and Davis will keep offensive units in check. Neboh crushes your spirits with take away's (14 INT's, 2 DTD's) while Davis just crushes you (11 TFL, 4 INT's, 5 PD's, 1 DTD). On the offensive side, Seth Doege leads the team with 2474 passing yards and 20 TD's, and he loves to spread the ball around.
- The Bulldogs of MSU had to battle it out in a tough SEC West division and were still able to walk away with an 8-4 (6-2) record. Their two in conference losses of the season came against current #1 Alabama and #6 Arkansas. Mississippi State loves to play ball control and will look to keep the ball away from TTU's aerial juggernaut. RB LaDarius Perkins will be the primary focus of their attack (1023 yards, 12 TD's), but QB Tyler Russell will also play a huge role as well. While no where near the rushing threat that Perkins is he will still has the legs to run on teams if he can't get his passing attack going (1740 passing yards, 15 TD's). 
TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL GLENDALE, AZ Jan. 3 [Payout 18/12]
- The Cowboys finished the season at 11-2 (8-1) and while this is a great record they're probably disappointed, especially considering that this time last year they were preparing for the National Title game. To add insult to injury, Oklahoma State is probably also upset at who they are facing. Coming into this game OSU should be a huge favorite, but it's this exact thought that could ruin a good season for them. The Wolfpack of Nevada proved that Oklahoma State can be beat and OSU must focus on that game to make sure they don't lose this game. The offensive combination of Chelf and Randle should pick FIU apart with easy and will just need to depend on the defense to hold off the Panthers attack. Currently ranked 115th in the league in total defense that might be a lot to ask, but hey, it's FIU right?
- A dream season for a team out of the Sun Belt conference. Finishing the year 11-2 (6-1), losing your conference championship game, yet still making it to a BCS game is more than any team can ask...and FIU will take advantage of it to the utmost of their ability. Offensively, FIU should be able to put up some points on such a poorly ranked defense like Oklahoma States. With the ability to spread the ball around both through the air and on the ground, they will make it tough for their opponent to key in on any one player. QB Jake Medlock has thrown for 1489 yards and 12 TD's with only 5 TO's. On the ground, FIU has combined for almost 2000 yards between 8 different players. Defensively they do rank 42nd in the league, but OSU is no WKU.
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