I’m not extremely overjoyed about my performance so far this Bowl season, but 8-6 will take the money and I’m looking forward to having a big week on the heals of a 4-1 record in the NFL’s regular season. If I don’t like a game today, or going forward, I’m not going to make a pick just for making a pick’s sake and I’m sure you guys understand that. There’s no need to press, especially once we start sitting pretty like I expect us to. And since we’re on the subject, I’d just like to express my appreciation to you guys for your commitment to the website. You guys know damn well I’ll keep busting my ass to put money in your pockets in 2012 as well. I constantly boast to fellow handicappers about how intelligent my players -you guys- are to other handicappers and it’s not common to find in this business especially. Okay, enough jerkin’ eachother off. Here we go!….-Fireman Mike

Houston -6.5 vs. Penn State - Ticket City Bowl

Colin, my uncle Jim and I are in an NFL pool in which we pick every game against the spread throughout the season. We were in first place -out of 46 teams, 230 guys- for the majority of the season until we fell off the past few weeks. My uncle calls me yesterday and starts over-analyzing every game tot he point where I had to bark at him and tell him to pipe the fuck down! We’ve gone through the entire season making our picks using common sense and a little in-depth statistical info. What’s my point? Don’t OVER-analyze these things. Houston is a team with a great 6th-year QB playing in his final college game -with a TON to prove to the NFL scout who will likely be in attendance- against a team that is in complete disarray and have a quarterback situation that is borderline embarrassing. I can’t see them hanging with the Cougars or stopping Case Keenum enough to make it a defensive battle.

Houston wins handily, 37-23, and Keenum finishes his record-setting career with another great performance.

Michigan State +3.5 vs. Georgia - Outback Bowl

The Outback Bowl usually provides a pretty entertaining battle and this shouldn’t be any different. The Spartans are a few points away from playing a BCS Bowl and have been one of the most consistent teams in college football over the past five years. Georgia and Mark Richt have been the college equivalent to the San Diego Chargers and Norv Turner over the last few seasons. They start slowly, put their coach on the hot seat and rally for a few big wins to regain the University’s faith. Mark Dantonio on the other hand has led his team to a great three year run and his program is at the point where they can hang with anybody, which I fully expect this talented and veteran team to do. Kirk Cousins plays in his final game and the Spartans defense will step up to the challenge in the Outback Bowl.

Michigan State wins this game straight up, 36-31, but we’ll take the points because they’re free.

Florida -2 vs. Ohio State - Gator Bowl

These aren’t the same Gator and Buckeye teams that we’ve become accustomed to and they’re now programs in a touchy transitional period. With the coaching change dominating the headlines in Columbus over the past month and a half, these players are definitely playing with a sense of urgency because they know Urban Meyer’s eyes are upon them -like Chuck Norris in ‘Walker, Texas Ranger’- for next season’s personnel decisions. Florida is on a mission to stick it to their former coach and Will Muschamp is the tye of coach, when given a month, will come together will one hell of a gameplan. Throw in a few dozen NFL prospects on the Florida roster and I’ll take speed, experience at the QB and coaching positions and a defense that still flies around the field with the best of them.

Florida wins this ugly game 26-20.

South Carolina -2.5 vs. Nebraska - Capital One Bowl

This is another Bowl that provides constant excitement and the most entertaining facet of this matchup is going to come along the offensive and defensive lines. South Carolina has one of the most dominant and athletic defensive groups in the country highlihgted by Melvin Ingram and freshman sensation JaDaveon Clowney, who has burst onto the SEC scene as a true frosh and done some things that are downright jaw-dropping. The Gamecocks can run a lot of pro schemes with their front seven, allowing them to wreak havoc all over the field. The same way the Steelers are going to beat the bag out of Tim Tebow and the Broncos next week is what the Gamecocks are going to do to Taylor Martinez today.

The Gamecocks roll behind All-Everything WR Alshon Jeffery, 44-31, and are a QB away from being serious contenders for a National Championship in 2012.

Oregon vs. Wisconsin - OVER 74- Rose Bowl

Both of these teams feature explosive offensive squads but more importantly are so susceptible to the big play that this must have been a difficult number for Vegas to make. The Ducks feature a bevy of running backs that can break loose but their special teams constantly puts them in a position to score, which is a bonus for Chip Kelly. Brett Beilema’s squad emphasizes a steady running game but the coach can’t help but utilize his tremendous fourth-year starting signal caller Russell Wilson, who made the seamless transition from NC State to the Badgers. I can see this game being tied at 35 sometime in the third quarter, which is what we’re looking for.

Oregon eventually wins this matchup, 51-45, and we get our number convincingly.

Virginia Tech +2.5 vs. Michigan - Sugar Bowl

For the life of me I can not understand how the Hokies are dogs in this game? They played a tougher schedule than the Wolverines, who’s record was boosted by Ohio State’s downfall, Notre Dame’s inconsistentcy and Nebraska’s inability to throw the ball. I don’t like to play the “What If?” game but Virginia Tech is two close losses to Clemson from playing for the National Championship and even though Denard Robinson is similar to Tajh Boyd, I can’t see the Wolverines stopping Logan Thomas and David Wilson for sixty minutes tonight. Neither team has played well in their most recent bowl games so you can throw history out the window for this one. Look for Logan Thomas to make his first statement in what should be a legit 2012 Heisman Trophy season for the big QB.

Virginia Tech wins this game on the field, 31-19, but we’ll take the points because they’re free.