The best: so many bowls, so little time: no worries—we're here to make sure you catch

Tom Dienhart

BEST DAY

It has to be January 2. You'll have plenty of time to sober up for Iowa-Florida in the Outback, Virginia Tech-Louisville in the Gator, Wisconsin-Auburn in the Capital One, Georgia-West Virginia in the Sugar and--the biggie--Ohio State-Notre Dame in the Fiesta. Sorta makes you wanna get out to the Tiki Lounge and form a conga line, doesn't it?

DAY TO MISS

Go ahead and hit the snooze button on December 31. Hit it twice, if you want, and roll over. You'll want to be well-rested for a night of New Year's Eve reveling. Besides, you can catch the highlights of the Meineke (South Florida-N.C. State), Liberty (Tulsa-Fresno State) and Houston (TCU-Iowa State)--if you get up in time on January 1.

BOWL TO MISS

Check out the Fort Worth(less) Bowl: 6-5 Houston vs. 6-5 Kansas. One word: woof.

BEST COMEBACK STORY

You probably remember George O'Leary. He's the guy who had the Notre Dame job, then lost it after it was revealed he had fudged on his resume. Not good. After a brief stint-in-hiding in the NFL, O'Leary landed at Central Florida. Not good. The Golden Knights went 0-11 in 2004, O'Leary's first in Orlando. Now, the Knights will play Nevada in the Hawaii Bowl. This will look good on his resume.

GLIMPSE OF WHAT'S TO COME

If you didn't get enough of Charlie Weis' mug this fall--and who didn't?--wait 'til next fall. Notre Dame's defense figures to improve, and the talent of the skill players on offense will be formidable. The key: developing the offensive line. In Weis we trust.

BEST PLAYER NOT IN A BOWL

Jerome Harrison, RB, Washington State. Go back and watch some highlights of the nation's leading rusher. You'll swear he chases a package of Pop Rocks with a can of soda pop before hitting the field. Yes, he's that explosive. And he's about as big as a burp.

BEST PLAYER, WORST BOWL

Garrett Mills, TE, Tulsa. You've never heard of him, but NFL scouts have volumes of information on Mills. They probably know whether he's boxers or briefs. You don't need to know that, but know this: He's the best tight end in the nation. He also may be the most versatile player--he lines up as a fullback, a receiver or a wing. Tulsa plays Fresno State in the Liberty Bowl. Check out Mills.

BEST TEAM NOT IN A BCS BOWL

Quick shout-out to 10-1 Oregon. Loved your work. Sorry about the BCS snub. But Auburn deserves a tighter sympathy hug. Here's hoping the university is picking up Tommy Tuberville's psychiatrist bills. Ol' Tubs' 13-0 Tigers were shut out of the BCS title game last year. This season, the Tigers finished 9-2 and are the highest-ranked SEC team in the country--they're No. 7, look it up--but were sitting on the curb during the league title game. What's it all mean? Auburn is headed to the Capital One Bowl to play overmatched and overrated Wisconsin--and Tuberville is blabbering to himself even more.

BEST COACH

Rich Rodriguez, West Virginia. Who's the most influential coach in America? It isn't Joe Paterno or Bobby Bowden, no matter what your grandpa tells you. It's Rodriguez. He's credited with popularizing running out of spread sets. Oh, and he wins a lot, too. His Mountaineers have claimed at least a share of the past three Big East titles. Next up: a date with Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, West Virginia's first BCS spot. Spread the word and run with it.

BEST BCS VENUE

Arriba! The Fiesta Bowl has it all--sun, desert vistas and great buzz days leading up to the game. Think of it as a fun-filled burrito with two dashes of Tabasco. Many fans stay near the stadium, which creates a festive and rollicking atmosphere up and down nearby Mill Avenue. Sadly, this is the last year the Fiesta Bowl will be played in Sun Devil Stadium on the Arizona State campus. Next year, the game moves to the Arizona Cardinals' new digs--which are in the middle of nowhere. It'll be like going to a mall--drive in, park, go to the game, drive home, eat at Applebee's.

BEST NON-BCS VENUE

Alamo Bowl. No bull; this bowl is a blast. The famed Riverwalk--Paseo del Rio--is where it's all happening. Restaurants, bars, boat tours on the San Antonio River and lots of rowdy fans trading (mostly) friendly barbs. And when they're done shouting at one another from across the river, they can walk--or stagger--to the Alamodome.

BEST 6-5 TEAM

Is this a good or bad thing? Let's call it a bad thing. Sorry, Kansas, you get this dubious distinction. The Jayhawks won three of their last four games to become bowl-eligible---and each victim is going to a bowl. Not bad. Come on! Wave the wheat! OK, never mind.

BEST OFFENSE VS. DEFENSE MATCHUP

Notre Dame hasn't seen a defense like Ohio State's. Brady Quinn, meet A.J. Hawk. Yeah, the Fiesta Bowl ought to be a blast.

BEST BET FOR A DEFENSIVE STRUGGLE

Miami and LSU have talent on offense. Problem is, each team has more of it on defense. So feel free to leave your seat often during the Peach Bowl. You won't miss much, unless you like sacks and tackles for loss.

BEST TEAM NOT BOWLING

Let me get this right: Northern Illinois goes 7-5 and plays in the MAC title game but it doesn't get a bowl bid? This is a joke, right? Is Joe Novak getting punk'd? Where's Ashton Kutcher?

BEST BET FOR A SHOOTOUT

Oh, baby, the Northwestern-UCLA Sun Bowl will he a blast. Seriously. Both offenses are plastered with "highly explosive" labels. Defense? Well, it's optional at both schools.

BEST VENUE WITHOUT A BOWL

Kansas City. Hey, if the Chiefs get that rolling roof put on Arrowhead, it might be a possibility. A Big 12-Big Ten matchup sounds good. Let's go ahead and call it the Barbecue Bowl.

BEST TRADITION

Lawry's Beef Bowl. This beef-eating competition between the two teams is a Rose Bowl staple--and could make someone want to staple his stomach. But being able to eat a lot of meat matters. The Lawry's Beef Bowl champ usually goes on to win the Granddaddy. Who would be more impressed--Jimmy The Greek or Emeril?

SPONSOR WE MISS

Poulan Weedeater. We dare you to name another brand of weedeater. You can't. Keep trying. See? This sponsorship stuff really works.

BEST NON-BCS MATCHUP

Let's call the Alamo Bowl showdown between Michigan and Nebraska the Crossroads Bowl. Each team is accustomed to playing in a biggie but will arrive in San Antonio with a 7-4 mark. It's like seeing Donald Trump in the morning before he has combed his hair. No doubt, the winner will have thick and lustrous hopes for 2006. Expect a big cover-up by the loser. Sorta like a combover. Yeah, they never fool anybody, do they?

BEST QB BATTLE THIS SIDE OF THE ROSE BOWL

Pick the Cotton Bowl, featuring Alabama's Brodie Croyle vs. Texas Tech's Cody Hodges. Croyle's career is the stuff of Rocky movies--he has battled back from adversity time and again. Hodges may be the most well-rounded gunslinger Mike Leach has had at Texas Tech.

PLAYERS TO TiVo

UCLA RB Maurice Drew

Georgia Tech WR Calvin Johnson

Oregon DT Haloti Ngata

Memphis RB DeAngelo Williams

Colorado K Mason Crosby

Alabama LB DeMeco Ryans

Kansas LB Nick Reid

Penn State DE Tamba Hali

Arizona State LB Dale Robinson

Utah SS Eric Weddle

Boston College DE Mathias Kiwanuka

Toledo QB Bruce Gradkowski

Southern Miss LB Kevis Coley

The pick-it line

Bowl             Matt Hayes
                 College football Insider

New Orleans      Southern Miss 23, Arkansas State 16
GMAC             Toledo 30, UTEP 17
Las Vegas        California 24, BYU 20
Poinsettia       Colorado State 17, Navy 9
Fort Worth       Kansas 20, Houston 12
Hawaii           Nevada 28, Central Florida 17
Motor City       Akron 24, Memphis 23
Champs Sports    Clemson 27, Colorado 10
Insight          Arizona State 38, Rutgers 35
MPC Computers    Boston College 27, Boise State 16
Alamo            Michigan 27, Nebraska 13
Emerald          Georgia Tech 20, Utah 14
Holiday          Oklahoma 24, Oregon 23
Music City       Minnesota 30, Virginia 20
Sun              UCLA 26, Northwestern 16
Independence     South Carolina 17, Missouri 13
Peach            LSU 23, Miami 21
Melneke          N.C. State 16, South Florida 14
Liberty          Tulsa 31, Fresno State 30
Houston          TCU 27, Iowa State 17
Cotton           Alabama 16, Texas Tech 10
Outback          Iowa 23, Florida 10
Gator            Virginia Tech 24, Louisville 14
Capital One      Auburn 25, Wisconsin 17
Fiesta           Ohio State 26, Notre Dame 21
Sugar            Georgia 24, West Virginia 14
Orange           Penn State 24, Florida State 6
Rose             USC 34, Texas 24

Bowl             Tom Dienhart             Steve Greenberg
                 Associate editor         Managing editor

New Orleans      Southern Miss, 30-20     Southern Miss, 26-12
GMAC             Toledo, 40-35            UTEP, 35-31
Las Vegas        BYU, 29-24               California, 27-16
Poinsettia       Colorado State, 28-27    Navy, 24-20
Fort Worth       Kansas, 21-17            Houston, 19-14
Hawaii           Nevada, 30-20            Nevada, 38-27
Motor City       Akron, 24-21             Akron, 23-20
Champs Sports    Clemson, 31-13           Clemson, 30-10
Insight          Rutgers, 29-27           Arizona State, 42-21
MPC Computers    Boise State, 30-28       Boston College, 27-26
Alamo            Michigan, 35-17          Nebraska, 27-20
Emerald          Georgia Tech, 19-13      Utah, 23-16
Holiday          Oregon, 31-28            Oregon, 31-21
Music City       Minnesota, 27-24         Minnesota, 34-13
Sun              Northwestern, 40-37      UCLA, 48-34
Independence     South Carolina, 20-19    South Carolina, 23-13
Peach            LSU, 17-16               LSU, 16-7
Melneke          N.C. State, 22-13        N.C. State, 24-6
Liberty          Tulsa, 34-30             Fresno State, 34-33
Houston          Iowa State, 14-13        TCU, 28-10
Cotton           Alabama, 23-21           Alabama, 24-14
Outback          Iowa, 17-14              Iowa, 23-21
Gator            Virginia Tech, 39-13     Virginia Tech, 34-13
Capital One      Auburn, 41-10            Auburn, 34-16
Fiesta           Ohio State, 34-21        Notre Dame, 38-24
Sugar            Georgia, 28-20           Georgia, 33-17
Orange           Penn State, 20-10        Penn State, 20-3
Rose             Texas, 38-35             USC. 41-31

Bowl             Kyle Veltrop             Tim Brando
                 Associate editor         Sporting News Radio

New Orleans      Southern Miss, 20-6      Southern Miss, 34-13
GMAC             UTEP, 33-27              Toledo, 41-28
Las Vegas        BYU, 40-30               California, 31-30
Poinsettia       Navy, 24-22              Navy, 35-31
Fort Worth       Houston, 20-13           Houston, 48-34
Hawaii           Nevada, 34-24            Central Florida, 38-35
Motor City       Memphis, 28-27           Akron, 28-24
Champs Sports    Clemson, 27-10           Clemson, 30-10
Insight          Arizona State, 31-28     Arizona State, 33-31
MPC Computers    Boston College, 30-27    Boise State, 42-24
Alamo            Michigan, 41-7           Michigan, 28-21
Emerald          Georgia Tech, 21-20      Georgia Tech, 27-24
Holiday          Oregon, 27-24            Oregon, 28-10
Music City       Minnesota, 28-27         Minnesota, 28-20
Sun              UCLA, 41-38              Northwestern, 52-35
Independence     South Carolina, 27-13    South Carolina, 27-24
Peach            LSU, 13-10               Miami, 20-14
Melneke          N.C. State, 24-20        N.C. State, 33-17
Liberty          Fresno State, 35-24      Tulsa, 31-30
Houston          TCU, 30-20               TCU, 28-20
Cotton           Texas Tech, 28-17        Texas Tech, 28-10
Outback          Iowa, 27-24              Iowa, 28-24
Gator            Virginia Tech, 35-30     Louisville, 45-38
Capital One      Auburn, 28-10            Auburn, 24-7
Fiesta           Notre Dame 24-21         Notre Dame, 31-28
Sugar            Georgia, 20-10           Georgia, 28-27
Orange           Penn State, 30-7         Penn State, 41-27
Rose             USC, 35-31               Texas, 38-30

SCOUTS VIEWS

Observations from college coaches

Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk is a freak. If I had a first-round pick in the NFL draft, he's the guy I would pick. He's the best linebacker in the Big Ten by a big margin. ... Virginia Tech beats you down with that front seven. I don't think they're quite as good in the secondary, even cornerback Jimmy Williams. I'm not even sure how much they love him, from what I hear. ... Auburn is the best team in the SEC. They have the best offensive line we faced, hands down. When they decided they wanted to run the hall down our throats, they ran the hall down our throats. ... Notre Dame finds a weakness and probes it. They were good throwing it last year, but they are precise this year. ... Penn State defensive end Tamba Hali is the real deal. You have to account for quarterback Michael Robinson, and he's tough. ... Boston College cornerback Will Blackmon killed us on just five plays. He's really special. ... Nebraska's offensive line doesn't look that bad to me athletically. But they have a hard time running it, and that puts a lot of pressure on Zac Taylor. He has delivered in some games; when he doesn't, they can't win because there's no running game. ... Georgia Tech finds out your plan to beat the blitz by blitzing on almost every play. In a way, they almost mess you up when they don't come. ... Texas Tech's Taurean Henderson is a hell of a running back. He's the key. He presents the most problems of any back in the Big 12 because of what he can do running and catching. ... Iowa State's Todd Blythe is as good a receiver as there is in our league. He makes plays every week. He lacks speed but he has great ball skills, and he'll body you up. He's a big guy and a huge target. ... Minnesota is a great running team, the best rushing team I've ever seen in this league. They're better defensively than they were a year ago, but they always lack speed. ... Cal's Marshawn Lynch is as good as Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson, maybe better. He's a big, strong, tough back. If you watch him week in and week out, he doesn't want to go down. I've never seen a guy fight for yards like he does. ... If Florida's Chris Leak had come in as a freshman and run that offense, I think he'd be excellent at it. But I think he was so used to being a pocket passer and carrying the ball on his terms instead of doing that option stuff. ... I don't think Georgia's receivers are quite as good as they have been, except for tight end Leonard Pope. ... Iowa quarterback Drew Tate didn't play well against us. I think he was trying to do too much.

BEST COACHING MATCHUP

While the TV nitwits are promoing the Joe Paterno-Bobby Bowden showdown more than a Barbara Walters special, check out the mental chess match between Boise State's Dan Hawkins and Boston College's Toro O'Brien in the MPC Computers Bowl. And, no, it's not OK to cry after watching.

MATCHUP WE'D LIKE TO SEE

How about Ohio State vs. USC? If you don't think the Buckeyes are the best team in the Big Ten, then you must think it's OK to go out in public wearing Coke-bottle glasses, white socks and black shoes. It's this simple: At the end of the season, Ohio State was the nation's hottest team thanks to the development of its offense. Now, couple that with the best defense in the country and you have the makings of a pay-per-view event. Where's Don King?

BEST PLACE TO PARTY

Pick a place, any place, in Manhattan Beach, Calif. If you haven't been there, well ... your life isn't complete. If you're in the Rose Bowl parking lot, you'll have to drive--hey, it's Southern California--quite a distance to find this little piece of nirvana, but it's worth it. Manhattan Beach captures the essence of California Cool. A stroll along the Strand will convince every dork in flannel that SoCal Chic beats Midwest Charm any day. But get out of town before someone gives you a wedgie and sends you back to your Hampton Inn in Orange County.

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