Bowl Season Is Here

With Christmas approaching the college bowl season is upon us. The normal mixture of waste-of-time games such as UCF vs Rutgers, interesting matchups like Boise St vs TCU, and the cream of the crop like Cincinnati vs Florida or Alabama vs Texas. Bowl season is a great chance t0 see seniors from average football schools like Marshall or Idaho leave everything they have out on the field with the dream of winning their last ever game in that uniform. In some occasions a bowl win could mean everything to a program trying to get over that hump into the big times like Temple, who with a win over UCLA this bowl season could gain a ton of national exposure. With plenty of great matchups let's rank the top 5 bowls.

5. Dec. 26, North Carolina vs. Pittsburgh, Meineke Car Care Bowl

North Carolina probably hoped to have a better season than what their final record ended up being and Pittsburgh had higher hopes of its own. How will they respond after an absolutely tragic loss against Cincy in the Big East finale? Who will have the coaching advantage with Butch Davis up against Dave Wannstedt? I think Pitt takes this but expect a good game.

4. Jan. 1, West Virginia vs. Florida State, Gator Bowl

This game clearly has the biggest story line heading in. Bobby Bowden coaching the final game of his career at Florida State against the team where it all began. There has been some controversy over the Gator Bowl's decision to take Florida State over a more deserving ACC team but I like it. Expect a big effort out of the Seminole's who I think win this game and send Bowden off right.

3. Jan. 1, Cincinnati vs. Florida, Sugar Bowl

A lot of question marks on both sides make for an interesting game here. Can Florida rebound from an SEC Championship game loss to Alabama and can Tim Tebow end his career right? Will Cincinnati be inspired at all after Brian Kelly left for Notre Dame? I expect a high scoring matchup but in the end Florida has too much.

2. Jan. 4, TCU vs. Boise State, Fiesta Bowl

I know there has been a lot of opposition to this matchup but I must prefer this to the alternatives. Instead we'd be having Boise St playing Iowa and TCU playing Georgia Tech, this game is much better. The major matchup here is Kellan Moore, who has been one of the best quarterbacks in the country, against a tenacious TCU defense which is arguably the nation's best. Expect a TCU win.

1. Jan. 7 Alabama vs. Texas, BCS title game

Yea, yea I know. Easy pick. But this game is for the National Championship, based on importance alone this game needs to be number one. You have Heisman trophy winner Mark Ingram up against Texas' all-time leading passer in Colt McCoy. I feel as if Alabama is the dominant team here and Saban will have his guys ready to go. I know Texas will come to play but it won't be enough.