It’s a new season! All of Colin’s horrendous picks are in the past and the future is so bright we gotta….. ahhhhh, forget it! Colin had a terrible handicapping season and he’s trying to make up for it by pounding these Bowl games, if that’s possible. As promised, we are going to handicap every Bowl game of the 09-10 season. We’ll break them down by the week, with this week’s picks running through December 27th. Here we go!

Fresno State -10.5 vs Wyoming

New Mexico Bowl

Fresno State coach Pat Hill has built one of the most consistent programs in the country over the last decade. They deserve to be mentioned in any conversation about the best non-BCS programs in the nation. After a brutal 1-3 start that included losses to Cincinnati, Boise State and Wisconsin, the Bulldogs have rattled off seven out of eight with their lone loss coming to a good Nevada team.

On the flip side, any time Wyoming has faced any type of competition they fold like a cheap tent. They are arguably the softest Bowl team in the postseason with their wins coming against - listen to this - Weber State, Florida Atlantic, UNLV, New Mexico, San Diego State and Colorado State. Their losses to competent teams have come by an average of 27 points.

Picks
Colin: Fresno State
Fireman Mike: Fresno State

Rutgers -2.5 vs. Central Florida - St. Pete’s Bowl

Alright, we’ll admit it. We overrated Rutgers at the beginning of the season and thought they were going to have a much better season. They finished with an 8-4 record but didn’t quite live up to the undefeated standards we set for them during the preseason. Still, they only lost one game to an inferior program during the season. They laid an egg against Syracuse after rattling off three straight UConn, Army and South Florida but came back to beat a garbage Louisville team before losing to West Virginia to end their season.

Central Florida comes into this game having won five of six after starting the season 3-3, with their best win coming against a Houston team that was in contention for a BCS Bowl game early on. Their three games against other stiff competition, however, were debacles. In games against comparable to teams to Rutgers - East Carolina and Southern Miss - they were defeated by an average of six points. They have team speed but lack a big time playmaker with the ability to change games. Rutgers has them defensively as well as an offensive tackle that you can run behind all day in left tackle Anthony Davis.

UCF is 9-2 ATS this season which is making Vegas apprehensive about making them too big of an underdog but we’re not fooled. Rutgers will physically punish the other Knights. We’ll take the Scarlet ones instead. Who else do you expect us to take? We’ve had a love affair with them all season!

Picks
Colin: Rutgers
Fireman Mike: Rutgers

Southern Miss -3.5 vs. Middle Tennessee State - New Orleans Bowl

Southern Miss comes into the New Orleans Bowl as the favorite despite a 7-5 record. The Golden eagles have a plethora of running backs that can take care of business and use them often, averaging 186 yards on the ground. USM hit a rough patch in the middle of the season but won 4 out of their last six games to become Bowl-eligible.

MTSU finished 9-3, 7-1 in the Sun Belt, in the regular season but used a cupcake schedule to pile up W’s. Their best wins all season were back to back games against Memphis and Maryland, hardly BCS powers. Still, the Blue Raiders earned enough respect in Vegas to make this a small spread.

Picks
Colin: Southern Miss
Fireman Mike: Southern Miss

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Oregon State -2.5 vs. BYU - Las Vegas Bowl

Oregon State comes into this game as the lower ranked team, with less wins and losing their last game…. And they’re still favored. Mike Riley’s crew has been one of the most underrated teams over the past 4 years and they have the credentials to prove it. With 36 wins, including 3 straight Bowl victories, the Beavers are as solid a program as you’ll find in the nation. They came on late this year and were playing their best ball of the season the last time we saw them against Oregon.

BYU is also one of the most underrated programs in the nation and consistently beats up on the teams that they are supposed to on their schedule. They have struggled against teams with premier athletes over the past few seasons though and Oregon State definitely has a few of them in The Rodgers Brothers and quarterback Sean Canfield. This mature Cougar group won the games that they were supposed to win this season but didn’t do too much to impress voters after a big win against Oklahoma to start the season. Stagnancy may also take over as they make their fifth consecutive trip to the Las Vegas Bowl having gone 2-2 in their previous Vegas showdowns.
Picks
Colin: Oregon State
Fireman Mike: Oregon State

California -3 vs. Utah - Poinsettia  Bowl

Let us first start by saying this: “Put your money down on this game, make yourself a big sandwich (and a bowl of friggin soup if you live in the Northeast) and enjoy it because it is one of the most least hyped but action-promising games of the Bowl season.

California jumped out to a hot start to begin the season but like most Golden Bears teams in the past, they let us down once the lights shined brightest. Jahvid Best added another season to his fine NFL resume but we won’t see him in Cal’s Bowl game due to symptoms from a concussion sustained earlier in the season. RB Shane Vereen can still cause some problems but Cal will need to balance the offense much more in order to be effective. The Bears pulled off some very nice wins this season but were way too inconsistent to like in this situation, especially without their best player.

Utah starts a true freshman at quarterback, but Jordan Wynn has the tools and pocket savvy to trick anyone into thinking he’s beyond his years. With a talented receiving corps led by the underrated David Reed - 79 rec. 1079 yards - Wynn has plenty of help around him when he needs to get rid of the ball. RB Matt Asiata is one of the nation’s least heralded players but opposing defenses hate playing against him due to his physical nature and pounding style. Utah is one of the most consistent programs in the country and wins games they are able to prepare for. This game won’t be any different.
Picks
Colin: Utah
Fireman Mike: Utah

Nevada -12 vs. Southern Methodist - Hawaii Bowl

Nevada boasts one of the most productive run offenses in the history of college football. With three 1,000-yard rushers in the backfield you simply pick your poison with the Nevada offense. The craziest part about the Wolfpack’s attack is that they have a legitimate NFL prospect under center with Colin Kaepernick. He doesn’t throw as much as many of the top flight quarterbacks in the college game but hits 60% - which is almost pedestrian in today’s game - of his passes and makes excellent decisions, with a 19:5 TD to INT ratio to prove it. After losing their first three games to Notre Dame, Colorado State and Missouri, the Pack rattled off 8 straight wins before losing their last game to Boise State 44-33. Nevada’s defense will give up points to good teams with the expectation that their offense with flat outscore you.

SMU, led by June Jones, were 1-11 last season and come into this game with the attitude that nobody expects them to win. Count us in on that thought but we all know what happens to teams with that mindset, they play at a different level and surprise the hell out of their opponent. The Mustangs battled all season long to become Bowl-eligible and their reward is a trip to Hawaii, where Jones was formerly a head coach. The Mustangs hung tough in every game but have an embarrassing loss to Washington State on their schedule - something Colin was quick to point out and call me an idiot for taking SMU, Fireman Mike - but also played well against Navy and have a very nice win against East Carolina on their resume.
Picks
Colin: Nevada
Fireman Mike: SMU

Ohio -3 vs. Marshall - Little Caesar’s Bowl

Ohio started their season with a 23-16 loss to UConn which turned out to be a very respectable showing considering the season the Huskies had in the Big East. They also lost at Tennessee by double digits but bounced back to win three straight games which started a run in which they won seven of eight games, the signature win coming against a surprisingly good Temple team during their 8-4 season. The Bobcats’ biggest weapon is quarterback Theo Scott - 2,258 yards, 19 TDs, 10 INTs -but he is susceptible to the big turnover at crucial times in big games. He threw 2 TDs and 4 INTs in their losses but performed admirably considering he was the backup to start the season. Their leading rusher only gained 591 yards on the ground this year but they do have two receivers - Taylor Price and LaVon Brazill - that combined for 1,424 yards. Kicker Matt Weller is a reliable weapon.

Marshall played a tough schedule in 2009 and five out of the six teams they lost to have made it to Bowl games. They defeated Bowl participants Bowling Green and Southern Methodist but four of their wins came by an average of 6 points while their losses were by an average of 17 points per game. The Thundering Herd could have easily been 3-9 and left out in the cold this December. You can look at that one of two ways; they know how to win close games or they were extremely fortunate. Taking everything into consideration, we think the latter.
Picks
Colin: Ohio (How the hell can he pick against The Thundering HERD? - Fireman Mike)
Fireman Mike: Ohio

Pittsburgh -2 vs. North Carolina - Meineke Car Care Bowl

Pitt comes into the Bowl season after losing a devastating game to Cincinnati that would have given them the Big East championship and a BCS Bowl berth. Instead, they finish the season 9-3 having lost their last two games. They are led offensively by true freshman Dion Lewis who was arguably the most surprising player in college football in 2009 after rushing for 1,640 yards and 16 TDs. Quarterback Bill Stull was a completely different player in 2009 as opposed to the interception-prone mess the Panthers saw in 2008. Although he only threw 8 INTs during the 2009 season, four of them came in the Panthers last two games, leaving a bad taste in any gambler’s mouth.

North Carolina was one of our favorite teams all season due to the plethora of talent they own on the defensive side of the football. The Tar Heels have one of the most athletic groups in the country led by DT Marvin Austin and LB Quan Sturdivant. Offensively, they struggled o score points against their big time opponents and need to avoid costly turnovers in order to win against good teams. This game has all the makings of a defensive dominated matchup and the ‘under’ might actually be the best play on the board.
Picks
Colin: North Carolina
Fireman Mike: North Carolina

USC -7 vs. Boston College - Emerald Bowl

As underachieving as the Trojans have been this year, both of us fully expect them to put on a show for the nation and send a message against Boston College. Due to the resignation of Urban Meyer and since we are trying are hardest to find more information on the story, we’ll keep this short and sweet. We trust Pete Carroll with our money more than Goldman Sach’s, which isn’t saying much but you get our point. Take the Men of Troy and trust Pete.
Picks
Colin: USC
Fireman Mike: USC

Clemson -7 vs. Kentucky - Gaylord Hotel’s Bowl

Clemson put together another up and down season in 2009, with no rhyme or reason to their wins and losses. They have one of the most athletic, dynamic players in the country in running back CJ Spiller as well as a very good young quarterback in Kyle Parker but their offense isn’t overwhelming or dynamic. WR Jacoby Ford can also give the Tigers a big play but can disappear at times as well. While Clemson is one of the most enigmatic teams in the country, Spiller is the most consistent player in the nation having scored a touchdown in every game this season, the only player to do so. Ironic. The only common opponent these two teams have is South Carolina. Clemson lost to them 34-17 while Kentucky faired a little better, losing 28-26.

Kentucky won five of six games in the middle of the season to gain Bowl eligibility with their signature win coming against Georgia late in the season. The Wildcats are led by quarterback-turned-wide-receiver-slash-running-back Reggie Cobb who has the ability to break loose out of the backfield or by getting open downfield. Kentucky was 3-5 in the SEC but played well out of conference in order to make it to the postseason. They stayed close in most of their games however and with their only two double digit losses coming against Florida and Alabama, which is no sin.
Picks
Colin: Kentucky
Fireman Mike: Kentucky