Why you should watch:

Well the simple answer here is that you'll have nothing to do between the Orange Bowl and the National Champinoship anyway, so why not watch the two of the best non-BCS teams in the country. While neither team is a Boise State or TCU, they each won a conference championship which should at least equate to a quality football game to watch.

When Central Michigan has the ball:

This will be my last chance to talk about senior QB Dan LeFevour during his college career. No one player makes a team, but a single player can be the difference in a game when he has the right supporting cast around him. Players like Jamarcus Russel, Vince Young, and Matt Lienhart come to mind. I'm not convinced either of these players are the best quarterbacks I've seen but they were the difference for their respective college teams in many different games. The Chippewas have spent the past four years hinging their success directly to the abilities of dual threat quarterback Dan LeFevour and in his final game things will be no different. While there are plenty of other players on the CMU team to talk about, none will determine the outcome of the bowl as much as their veteran quarterback. To prove just how important his play has been here are just a few stats to digest:

#8 Nationally in Passer Rating (154.44)

#1 Nationally in Completion Percentage (71.3%)

#3 Nationally in Total Yards for a Quarterback (3745 yards)

#9 Nationally in TD2INT ratio (4.5)

For all of you not familiar with this stat, the top QB is Kellen Moore with a 13 and the bottom QB is Riley Dodge with a 0.6

Any quarterback who carries a 2.0 or better is generally looked upon favorably.

#2 Nationally in Percentage of Overall Team Plays (63%)

To put this stat in perspective, Tim Tebow accounts for only 58% of Floridas plays and QB Ricky Dobbs in Navy's Triple option only accounts 49% of the total plays.

The top player in this statistic is MTSU QB Dwight Dasher who accounts for 65%

So can Troy manage to slow down and contain Dan LeFevour? Well the Trojans played MTSU this season and were able to pull off a decisive win while moderately containing Dwight Dasher. I guess that means it's possible. The difference will be the way in which LeFevour is contained. While Dasher's strongest points are his legs and ability to run the ball, Central Michigan has proven they can win even in games when LeFevour doesn't gain much on the ground. Where CMU has a problem is when their star quarterback is held below a 60% completion rate which has happened in both of their losses this season. If the Troy secondary can play solid pass defense, the Trojans could come a way with a win.

Why you should watch

Both teams are looking for a little extra respect.  Georgia Tech  has had a fantastic year, going 11-2 and winning the ACC championship, but was shut down by Miami (33-17) and slipped against Georgia (30-24).  Getting by Virginia Tech 28-23 helps their image a little, but honestly, they’re .500 against ranked opponents and their win wasn’t quite as impressive as their loss was telling.  Getting a win over a tough Big Ten defense could do a lot to show that this team is someone that could make even bigger waves next year.

Iowa was in the national title discussion for all of two seconds, but that’s more than they’ve had in a long, long time and ending 10-2 is actually a little disappointing after the 9-0 start they had.  With wins over Arizona (27-17), Penn State (21-10), and Wisconsin (20-10), Iowa has proven that they can beat the big boys.  Yes, they lost to Ohio State (27-24 OT), but it wasn’t as if they were blown away.  On the biggest stages this year, the Hawkeyes have held their own and finished the regular season 3-1 against ranked opponents.  Most of those were conference opponents though.  A win over Georgia Tech would prove that the Hawkeyes can hang with the tough teams around the nation, not just around the Midwest.

When Georgia Tech has the ball

QB Josh Nesbitt is quick on his feet, sharps as a tack with his decision making, and a tough enough runner to square his shoulders and get a little nasty against tacklers.  He’s just not that great when he has to throw the football.  With a 47.7 completion percentage, he’s missed more than he’s hit, but he’s also had 100 fewer attempts than his counterpart, Ricky Stanzi, with four additional games.  Nesbitt doesn’t throw for a ton of yards, averaging roughly 130 yards per game, but the offense isn’t designed around his arm anyway.

Nesbitt leads the charge on the ground, running 259 times for 991 yards and 18 touchdowns.  There are a slew of supporters in the option attack, but Jonathan Dwyer is perhaps the most dangerous.  Dwyer has carried 221 times for 1346 yards, averaging a very impressive 6.09 yards per carry and earning 14 touchdowns.

If there’s anyone more dangerous than Dwyer, it may be fellow junior Anthony Allen.  Allen has only carried 61 times, but has gained 597 yards for an astronomical 9.79 yard-per-carry average and five touchdowns.  The Nesbitt/Dwyer/Allen trio gives this offense the depth that makes it so hard to defend, and they’re still not all that Tech has to offer.  There are six individuals who are averaging more than five yards per carry (with more than 10 carries) on the Yellow Jacket roster.

Look for Tech to use all available options (no pun intended) in this match.  Not only because this is a bowl game and this is their chance to showcase all of their talent, but also because…

On the other side of the ball, Iowa represents the toughest all around team Georgia Tech has faced all season.  The Hawkeyes are not only the highest ranked (10^th), but have the highest rated defense (also 10^th).

Linebackers Pat Angerer, A.J. Edds, and Jeremiah Hunter are quicker than most stereotypical Big Ten linebackers, are smart, well disciplined, and are coached by one of the best defensive minds in college football -  Norm Parker.  This trio flies to the ball and don’t often miss tackles.  They’ll be the key to slowing down the option.

Nesbitt can’t forget DE Adrian Clayborn, though.  Clayborn is very quick in his own right and can chase down a play on the opposite side of the field as if he were a linebacker, not an end.  The rest of the defensive line is pretty solid as well.  DE Broderick Binns isn’t the best pass rusher in the world, but he’s quick and good at sniffing out the ball.  Tackles Christian Ballard and Karl Klug take good care of the center of the line and will free up the linebackers to move around.

This defense will give up yards, but they’ve only allowed eight rushing touchdowns all year (8^th nationally).  Against the run, they’ll bend a little, but won’t break easily, especially in the redzone.

Why you should watch: 

The two best non-AQ FBS teams collide in a showdown in the desert. Between the two teams, they have a perfect record of 25 wins and zero losses this season – the best combined record in any bowl game outside the BCS National Championship (26-0). While each team would have loved a chance to take down an undefeated foe from one of the “major” conferences, they're both salivating at the chance to face each other. TCU and Boise State met last season in the Poinsettia Bowl, and it was one for the ages, ending in a 17-16 victory for the Horned Frogs. It's safe to say both teams are stronger this season, so it will come down to which team has improved the most in the past year. Break out your chips and salsa, and sit down for one hell of a show.

When Boise State has the ball: 

The Boise State offense has been unconscious this season, leading the nation in scoring with 44.2 point per game. Sophomore QB Kellen Moore is the most efficient passer in the nation, leading all quarterbacks with a rating of 166.9. He has thrown for 3325 yards, 39 touchdowns, and just 3 interceptions. His favorite targets have been receivers Titus Young (969 yards, 10 TD) and Austin Pettis (850 yards, 14 TD), who is expected to return to the field after missing the last two games due to an ankle injury. Moore is also very adept at getting the tight ends involved, especially near the red zone. While the passing game has been the strength of the Broncos offense, they are very strong on the ground as well. Junior Jeremy Avery and sophomore Doug Martin lead a running back corps that is averaging 5.3 yards per carry and nearly 200 yards per game. Martin, a hard-nosed player who used to line up as a safety, has been the primary weapon lately...rushing for 332 yards and 8 touchdowns in the last three games. Avery and Martin will be hard-pressed to gain ground against a TCU defense that is completely stifling against the run. The Frogs have allowed more than 100 rushing yards just four times this season, and have allowed only 7 rushing touchdowns all season. The defense is full of fast and talented athletes, but the standout player is senior DE Jerry Hughes, who finished 2009 with 54 tackles, 11.5 sacks, and 7 quarterback hurries. The Broncos will have to continue their terrific offensive line play in order to contain Hughes and the terrific TCU pass rushers. If Moore can get enough time in the pocket, he should be able to complete the short passes necessary to move the Broncos methodically down the field. But the TCU secondary is very talented, and will look to force Moore into mistakes.

Why you should watch

Can anyone say drama? Michigan State apparently left half their players at home, suspended for their part in a fight on campus.  Texas Tech is now sans Head Coach Mike Leach after he was canned for mistreating injured receiver Adam James.  About the only thing not being talked about in regards to this bowl game is football.

This game is a train wreck.  It might be pretty ugly and there are definitely casualties, but we can’t keep from craning our necks to see the carnage.

When Texas Tech has the ball

Well now, here’s question of the day #1:  will Texas Tech look like Texas Tech with defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill running the show?  No doubt, McNeill won’t try to upset the apple cart any more than it already is, but will he have the same strategic mind that Leach has?  More importantly, will he be able to focus his team away from the off-field distractions and on Kirk Cousins & Company?

The Red Raiders bring a pass happy attack led by junior QB Taylor Potts.  Potts has been accurate, completing 65.6% of his passes for a very impressive 3068 yards and 20 touchdowns (with 12 interceptions).  He has four good targets in Alexander Torres, Deltron Lewis, Tramain Swindall, and Lyle Leong – all of whom have five or more TD catches – but the roster is full of available ball catchers and he’ll have no shortage of hands to toss to.

When the Red Raiders do run the ball, Baron Batch is no slouch, averaging 5.37 yards-per-carry and boasting 12 touchdowns on the ground.

Just assume that the “Leach Affair” will be the farthest thing from the players minds when they take the field.  Potts should have an enormous day against a Spartan defense that ranks 103^rd in the nation against the pass (last in the Big Ten) – when everyone’s available.

Speaking of the Spartan defense, Potts will have to keep his eyes on LB Greg Jones.  Jones has nine sacks on the season, 13.5 tackles for loss, and 141 tackles.  He’s a one-man-wrecking-crew.  Also, the warriors of Sparta have five different defenders with an interception (though they all only have one each) that can disrupt this pass attack if they’re on their games.

Why you should watch: 

Well, if you watch that would make two of us.  Take a break from the BCS games and watch two middle of the pack teams from their respective conferences square off in what could be the least cared about football game of the season.  As my man, Felder, put it, "this may be South Florida's best chance at winning a game above the Mason-Dixon line because it's being played in a dome."  True, but if Northern Illinois can start up the ground game, this could get out of hand quickly regardless of the climate controlled dome interior.

When Northern Illinois has the ball: 

For the Huskies, it will be all about the running game.  The offense isn't the juggernaut of the past in rushing yards, but Northern Illinois has two very talented backs.  Chad Spann leads the team with 938 yards and 19 TDs.  Me'co Brown plays the role of "back up" nicely and has 645 yards and 4 TDs when Spann is on the sidelines taking a break.  Calling the plays for the Huskies will be QB Chandler Harnish who completes more than 66% of his passes for 1540 yards, 11 TDs, and only 5 INTs.  With a TD2INT ratio just shy of 2.0, Harnish has a proven ability to keep the ball out of the hands of opposing secondaries.  While he has plenty of yardage through the air, there isn't a single receiver Harnish favors more than others.  The team leader in receiving yards is WR Landon Cox with 528 yards and 4 TDs.  Where the Huskies quarterback can hurt defenses is with his unexpected ability to scramble.  While I wouldn't call him a running quarterback, Harnish does have just enough speed to keep plays alive and gain a few yards on broken plays (250 yards, 2 TDs). 

If South Florida expects to slow down the Northern Illinois running game, it will begin in the trenches with DE George Selvie and DE Jason Pierre-Paul.  Both are talented players and have a proven ability to single handedly impact offenses.  While Selvie has been all the rage over the past two years, he has taken a backseat in the stats to Pierre-Paul who is the team leader in sacks (4.5), tackles for a loss (13.5), and ranks 5th in tackles (40).  The Huskies could probably handle blocking one outstanding defensive end, but two might be a different story.

Why you should watch: 

It's the Rose Bowl. The oldest bowl game. The “Grandaddy” of them all. And the game pits the Pac-10 champion against the Big 10 champion in a battle for conference superiority.

When Ohio State has the ball: 

The Buckeyes have not been an eye-popping team on the offensive side of the football in 2009. Junior QB Terrelle Pryor is considered by many to be the most athletic player on the team and he has certainly been the most valuable player. Pryor leads the team in rushing (707 yards, 7 TD) as well as passing, but has thrown for just 152 yards per game and has struggled with his passing efficiency (55.6% completions, 16 TD, 10 INT). The Oregon defense will certainly focus on containing Pryor, so it will be important for another star to emerge for the Buckeyes offense. Look for junior RB Brandon Saine, who was a potent weapon the last three weeks of the season, to take some of the pressure off of Pryor. The Buckeyes leading receiver is sophomore DeVier Posey, who has 52 receptions for 727 yards and 7 TD. The Ducks don't have the best defense in the nation, but they have been able to put pressure on the quarterback. Their 32 sacks rank 17^th in the nation and Oregon is 21^st in pass efficiency defense (16 TD, 13 INT). While Pryor is a very mobile quarterback, he will have to keep an eye on LB Kenny Rowe who leads the Ducks in sacks (8.5) and tackles for loss (11).

Why You Should Watch?

West Virginia and Florida State any year in the last few decades is interesting because of the Bobby Bowden angle. This year it is especially interesting as Bowden is working the sidelines for his last time. That means plenty of old Bobby recaps, plenty of flashbacks to his WVU days as well as a great run down of the Florida State years in a tribute to one of college football’s greatest of all time.

When West Virginia has the football:

Noel Devine is the body that drives the Mountaineers offense and while he is small in stature he is quite a force when it comes to his impact on the game. Jarrett Brown will be quarterbacking the Mountaineers and he’s proven himself capable as a fifth year senior but is a severe talent drop off from last season’s phenom Pat White. However, Brown is a better passing quarterback and the Mountaineers have been able to be a solid threat throwing the football.

For the Noles they have plenty of issues on the defensive side of the ball and losing stalwarts Mickey Andrews and Chuck Amato is sending a shockwave through the program. Look for Andrews in his last effort to release the hounds and pull up all the stops in working to shut down this Mountaineers attack and get one final win. The defensive ends will pin their ears back, the corners will be aggressive to the football and the linebackers will fast flow. While the garnet and gold have looked bad against some potent offenses the athletes are there and the gloves will be off as Mickey has nothing to lose.

Why you should watch

Oh, shall I count the reasons?  This is SEC against Big Ten.  If you like smack talk, that is reason enough to pay attention to this game.

Penn State boasts a 10-2 record, but lacks a quality win over a ranked opponent.  LSU comes in at 9-3, but lacks a quality win over a ranked opponent.  Penn State narrowly missed a shot at the conference title.  LSU was never really in the running.  Penn State is favored by two points, but LSU had to compete in the SEC.

For football purists, this is a battle between two fantastic defenses and two mediocre offenses.

The last time LSU graced this bowl game (January 1, 2005), they were beat when Iowa’s Drew Tate hooked up with Warren Holloway for Holloway’s only touchdown as a Hawkeye – with time running out on the clock.  This is a chance to burn away the bad voodoo from that visit.

When LSU has the ball

Take a good look at the stats and the story will become clear – LSU’s offense just isn’t that good.  Ranked 107^th in the nation in total offense, the Tigers have gotten to a nine win season on the back of a tough defense and by playing opportunistic football (+7 turnover margin).

Sophomore QB Jordan Jefferson is growing into a solid leader for the Tigers completing 62.5% of his passes through eleven games.  With 16 touchdowns and only 6 interceptions, he’s smart with the football and isn’t prone to making a lot of the “rookie mistakes” that are common to young quarterbacks.  He’s not much of a rushing QB, averaging just over a yard per carry, but given time and opportunity, he’s capable of carving up a defense with his arm.

LSU’s rush attack ranks a spectacular 85^th (note the sarcasm).  Who will be the lead ball carrier for the Tigers?  Does it matter?  No one on the roster has more than four touchdowns on the season and as a team they’ve rushed for only fourteen touchdowns.  Freshman Russell Shepard, Sophomore Stevan Ridley, Junior Richard Murphy, and Senior Trindon Holliday all have fantastic averages (all over five yards per carry), but none of them have the carries necessary to believe they could maintain that average through a full work load against a defense like Penn State’s.  If they split time (which is likely), they can combine for a solid rush attack, and that will be their best opportunity to keep Penn State’s 9^th rated run defense off balance.

Using a pro-style offense, look for Les Miles to try the pro-style approach – establish some semblance of a run to set up an air attack.  The problem is…

On the other side of the ball, the Tigers need to watch out for Navorro Bowman who leads Penn State in tackles-for-loss (15.5) , and Sean Lee, who isn’t far behind with 10.5 tackles for loss of his own.  This linebacker tandem is dangerous with a capital D.  Not only are they adept at getting into the backfield, but they’ve combined for three interceptions and five sacks on the year.

Also, Jefferson will have to watch Jared Odrick, who has six sacks and will be head hunting in his final game as a Nittany Lion.

Why you should watch

Northwestern is (still) trying for their first bowl victory since 1949 and only their second in school history.  How can you not want to see if they can finally end the long drought?  The Wildcats ended their regular season on a three game winning streak that included victories over undefeated Iowa and a Wisconsin team that finished 9-3.

Auburn, meanwhile, finished their regular season by losing three of their last five.  They did, however, play national champion contender Alabama very tough in their final game, losing by just five points.  They don’t have a signature win this year (a la Northwestern over Iowa), but have the benefit of having played the SEC schedule.  In other words, they get bonus points for finishing fourth in the “toughest conference in America”.

This is SEC vs. Big Ten.  The fans of these two conferences have been at each other for more than a few years now.  This is a chance for both conferences to get a little ammo for the next round of trash volley.

When Auburn has the ball

Put aside Auburn’s late struggles for a moment.  Yes, they lost five of their last seven games, but consider that those losses included narrow misses against Georgia and Alabama.  They did get a nice win over Ole Miss.  In another conference, this team could just as easily be 9-3.

Both Ben Tate and Onterio McCalebb boast running averages over five yards per carry. Look for the Tigers to use Tate and McCalebb to work over the Wildcat defense and try to wear them down.  Northwestern brings the nations 34^th ranked rushing defense into the contest, but Auburn’s 13^th ranked rushing offense will put it to the test.

QB Chris Todd is somewhat overlooked, completing nearly 60% of his passes (59.9) and boasting a great TD-to-INT ratio (21-6 respectively).  If Tate can get enough room to do a little Wildcat bowling, Todd should find the pass game open up nicely – particularly against a Northwestern pass defense that’s ranked 67^th in the nation.

On the other side of the ball, the Tigers need to account for DE Corey Wootton.  Wootton has come on strong toward the end of the season, racking up four sacks in the last five games and six tackles for loss over the same span.

Why You Should Watch?

Two teams separated by four hours and the Appalachian Mountains that play very similar styles of football; big boy, run first, smash mouth football. Frank Beamer is a salt of the earth long time guy while Lane Kiffin is a new, flashy, mouthy guy captaining the Tennessee ship. Tune in and you’ll see two contrasting coaching personalities but two very similar football philosophies.

When Virginia Tech has the football:

Tyrod Taylor is one of the most explosive quarterbacks in the nation and he has finally come into his own in his junior season. That emergence can be based on two facts; first the maturation of his receiving core and secondly the dominating running performance of freshman Ryan Williams. The freshman ran for over 1,500 yards and totaled 19 touchdowns on his way to becoming a first team All-ACC running back. There will be heavy doses of Williams who averaged around 128 yards per game supplemented with play action passes to Jarrett Boykins and Danny Coale.

For Tennessee they bring a possible number one overall draft pick to the party in safety Eric Berry. Berry is a dynamic player capable of controlling games with his presence and Monte Kiffin has taken advantage of the studs abilities both physical and his mental understanding of the game. Dan Williams, the defensive tackle, Rico McCoy at linebacker give the Vols two more All-SEC defenders that anchor the nation’s 18^th ranked defense. They have played will with Florida, Alabama and haven’t given up more than 23 points in regulation to BCS opponents.

For a program accustomed to title shots and BCS bowls, a New Year's Eve bowl game seems almost pointless. In fact, given how Oklahoma has been sleepwalking through recent postseasons, it's easy to wonder if "pointless" is actually an overestimation of their attitude towards the 2009 Brut Sun Bowl.

Stop me if you've heard this one before, but this time is different.

Sadly, the 2009 season turned into a 2010 audition for a large number of Sooners as soon as quarterback Sam Bradford went down in the first game of the year against BYU. In that sense, this game represents something of a final exam for all the OU youngsters pressed into action this season. A win over a quality opponent like Stanford could provide a nice springboard into next year.

On the other hand, fourth-year players like Gerald McCoy and Trent Williams are facing the prospect of finishing their careers with an 0-4 bowl record. The Sun Bowl may not have the cachét of a BCS game, but it still offers these upperclassmen an opportunity for some redemption.

Can the Sooners turn their bowl fortunes around? Will a fired-up Stanford team become the latest underdog to slay OU in the postseason?

Why you should watch: 

It's a game between two teams that could not be any different. Air Force is an option team that relies heavily on a physical and disciplined defense to win games. Houston is a team with a defense will give up quite a few points but relies on one of the nation's highest scoring offenses to simply outscore their opponent.

When Houston has the ball: 

Houston's tremendous success this season is the result of their offense, a unit that had a record-breaking year. Junior QB Case Keenum would have been the favorite for the Heisman based solely on his numbers. He led the nation in passing yards (5410), touchdown passes (43), and completed 71 percent of his passes. He also ran for four touchdowns. Keenum has been terrific at distributing the ball to several different receivers, and Houston has quite a few. Junior WR James Cleveland (1182 yards, 14 TD), and sophomores Patrick Edwards (990 yards, 5 TD), and Tyron Carrier (981 yards, 7 TD) have been the major weapons, but there are five receivers on the squad with more than 500 yards this season. Despite their obvious knack for passing, the Cougars rely on their running game to loosen up coverages. In their ten wins this season Houston is averaging 153.9 rushing yards per game; they managed just 68.0 in their three losses. Getting it done on the ground are talented sophomore Bryce Beall and freshman Charles Sims. Don't expect Beall and Sims to have too much success on Thursday – the Air Force defense is very stingy against the run (the Falcons held two of the toughest running attacks, Army and Navy, under 200 yards in their rivalry games this season). Air Force opponents are averaging just 3.7 yards per carry and have scored only 12 rushing touchdowns. The passing defense has been equally strong, led by talented corners Anthony Wright (51 tackles, 4 INT, 2 TD, 1 forced fumble) and Reggie Rembert (41 tackles, 3 INT, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble return TD). As good as the Air Force secondary has been, they showed a few chinks in their armor in their last game of the season, when Max Hall and the BYU squad completely dismantled their defense for 377 yards and 5 touchdowns. Sadly for Air Force, Houston's passing game is even better than that of BYU.

Why you should watch

How often do you get to see Iowa State in a bowl game?  Seriously, it’s a pretty big deal.  Neither of these teams have great bowl records in the last decade, so it’ll be entertaining enough just to see who will be celebrating when the final whistle blows.

Aside from that, this is a match between two programs that are in desperate need of some positive mojo.  Iowa State had a great win over Nebraska in Lincoln, but the rest of the season has been merely mediocre.  Minnesota lacks a true signature win, but has the talent to be competitive with about anyone.  Both teams need something positive to help their offseason recruiting.

When Iowa State has the ball

New Head Coach Paul Rhoads has made it clear that he intends to bring a new attitude to Iowa State.  He hasn’t done a bad job in his first year, taking the Cyclones to a bowl game using a lot of the same players Gene Chizik failed with.

Look for that to be the theme this time around too.  Minnesota’s run defense isn’t great by any stretch (64^th nationally) and they’ve been fooled by running quarterbacks before.  If the Cyclone line can give Robinson a little room to breathe, he should burn the Gophers for well over 100 yards and at least a couple of scores.  Throw Arnaud into the mix, and the Gophers could be in for a long day.

On the other side of the ball, they’ll have to watch out for LBs Lee Campbell, Simoni Lawrence, and Nate Triplett.  That trio can wreak havoc on State in every way fashionable.

Why you should watch:

1. The emotional appeal:

The Idaho Vandals are arguably the “feel good” story of the 2009 college football season. Under the guidance of passionate head coach Robb Akey, the Vandals have gone from perennial bottom-dweller to a bowl team. Their improvement from 0-12 last season to a 7-5 season in 2009 is simply remarkable, and shows us why the right attitude and a few key recruits can quickly bring a sinking program back to a state of positive buoyancy. For leading the Vandals to such an amazing resurgence, Akey has been named WAC coach of the year by The Sporting News and Phil Steele's College Football.

2. The statistical appeal:

Bowling Green WR Freddie Barnes is a really special player, and he's having a record-breaking season. If Barnes can haul in just five passes in this game he will break the 20-year standing record for receptions in a season (142) – and he's averaging more than 11 receptions per game, so it's almost a sure thing. Despite Bowling Green continues to be a solid program in the MAC, finishing third in the East this season with a 6-2 mark in conference play. And the Falcons have been especially hot of late. Coming into this contest, the Falcons have won four games in a row and six of their last seven overall. There will be plenty of offense in the cold Idaho air, with both teams able to air it out and find the end zone with regularity against overmatched defensive squads.

3. The sex appeal:

If you keep your eyes open, you just may see a sexy college football analyst sitting in the stands with his parents. My folks are both alumni of the University of Idaho so, while this analysis will be as unbiased as possible, I can promise you that I will be cheering for the Vandals on Wednesday.

Why Watch?

Football purists should love watching the Nebraska defense. Obviously, Heisman Trophy finalist Ndamukong Suh is one of the most dominant defensive players of the last decade. Watching him toss offensive linemen around like rag dolls is worth the price of admission alone. The rest of coach Bo Pelini's well-coached unit key off of Suh's ability to wreak havoc in the interior, and you won't find a team anywhere in the country that tackles better than the Cornhuskers.

When Arizona has the football:

Arizona's move to a wide-open spread attack under coordinator Sonny Dykes has been the story on the offensive side of the ball in recent years for the Wildcats. In 2009, however, the running game really clicked, generating nearly five yards per attempt. In three of four losses, opponents stifled U of A's ground game, holding the Wildcats to 3.63 yards or fewer per rush. Meanwhile, sophomore signal caller Nick Foles put together a solid season, completing 66.1 percent of his passes to go along with 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions. 'Zona doesn't win games by relying on Foles' arm, so establishing the run is key in this game.

Unfortunately for the Wildcats, they're facing one of the best run defenses in the country. NU gave up just 2.77 yards per rushing attempt, ranking sixth overall in the country. Suh excels at penetrating the middle of the line of scrimmage and generating tremendous push against opposing offensive lines, typically rendering efforts to run inside moot. The 'Husker D is equally stout against the pass, allowing the sixth fewest yards per passing attempt in the country in 2009, 5.4. The bottom line is that few teams have had success moving the ball by land or air this season.

Why You Should Watch?

Al Golden. The Temple head coach is the number one reason to watch. He’s led probably the most successful rebuilds this side of Turner Gil at Buffalo. The head coach has already pulled his name from other job offers as he works to elevate the status of the Philly school.

When UCLA has the football:

The Bruins have been less than impressive this year on offense as quarterback Kevin Prince has had to shoulder the bulk of the load for Neuheisel’s squad. Their running game has been incredibly ineffective with no backs coming within 400 yards of 1,000. The Bruins played their best game in beating Tennessee in the season’s second game and since then they’ve been an up and down losing 4 games by two or more scores. Taylor Embree and Nathan Rosario will have to have big games to offset the Bruins in ability to advance the football on the ground.

Golden is a defensive minded coach and his team reflects this as the Owls sport the 37^th ranked defense in college football. They swarm to the football, run well and take advantage of mismatches to running multiple defensive sets. They don’t play a true 3-4 or 4-3 as they have players who are comfortable standing up on the edge and putting their hands in the dirt. Look for this experienced defense to confuse Prince by disguising their looks and playing the same defense that allowed them to run to a 9-3 and 7-1 MAC finish.

Why you should watch

On paper, this could very well be one of the most entertaining bowl games of the entire season…on paper.  Both teams sport 9-3 records.  Both teams made a little noise in their respective conference.  Both teams have profitable offenses and both teams have holes in their defenses.

There are, however, two very good reasons that this game could get really ugly, really quickly.

First, Miami has a high octane pass offense that will match up favorably for the Hurricanes against Wisconsin’s very questionable pass defense.  Second, Wisconsin has basically crumbled when they’ve come face-to-face with truly competitive teams.

However, before you close the books on Wisconsin, don’t forget that they do have the Big Ten’s best rush attack and boasts the nations 34^th ranked total offense compared to Miami’s 36^th ranked offense.  The Badgers aren’t completely coming into the battle unarmed.

When Miami has the ball

Jacory Harris should have a fantastic day.  Wisconsin’s pass defense isn’t exactly terrible, but they have allowed 300+ yards passing three times this season – against arguably weaker offenses than Miami will bring.  Michigan State (6-6) hung 396 passing yards on the Badgers.  Leonard Hankerson is Harris’ favorite target and will give the Badgers all they can handle, but he’s far from the only one Wisconsin will have to account for.  Look for Harris to spread the ball around the field and keep Wisconsin off balance.

When they’re not throwing, the Hurricanes also have a slew of running backs that can produce, and will likely use all of them.

Harris will have to watch out for DE O’Brien Schofield.  He’s not the fastest end in the nation, but he’s solid (10 sacks) and will give their line fits.  Also, Safety Jay Valai is an all-Big Ten defender who can disrupt the pass game, even though he only has one interception.

The Independence Bowl makes me think of  Independence Day.  4th of July brings to mind cookouts, American flags, and fireworks.  That's really fitting since cookouts and tailgating are obviously a huge part of the College game.  More importantly, we're going to see some fireworks lighting up the scoreboard when Georgia and Texas A&M commence hostilities.

High scoring Football games can be a lot of fun to watch.  I'm much more appreciative of great defensive plays and the impact they make on the game, but defense isn't always sexy.  Watching Auburn and Mississippi State battle to a 3-2 final last year wasn't much fun; however, I think both teams in this game will put 28-plus points on the board.  This probably has to do with the offenses of these two teams and more to do with how poor performance of their defenses. 

Why you should watch:

CJ Spiller. Period. The senior is heading into his final collegiate contest and he is winless in bowl games. Spiller is the nation's most electrifying player and although he was just outside of the Heisman race he will give the nation one more showcase before heading to the NFL.

When Kentucky has the ball:

Clemson has one major focus, to shut down Randall Cobb and Derrick Locke. With the long layoff between the ACC Title Game and the Music City Bowl look for Kevin Steele to work in some fresh schemes and personnel groupings to shut down the Wildcats. Seniors Ricky Sapp and DeAndre McDaniel will have to have big games if they hope to get their first bowl win and they appear poised to do so. Brandon Thompson and Da'Quan Bowers, the young guys on the defensive line will work to contain the Wildcat rushing attack while Brandon Maye and Kavell Conner flow to make tackles.

Why you should watch:

The 9th ranked rushing defense in the country lines up against the nation's 3rd best running back in rushing yards per game.  For all you running game purist (Big Ten fans) this game will be a treat.  

When Pittsburgh has the ball:

With one of the best offenses in the Big East, the Panthers will look to establish both the running and passing games against the Tarheels.  While Senior QB Bill Stull is the leader on the team and calls the plays, the big time offensive threat is Freshman RB Dion Lewis.  The Panthers running back has 1640 yards and 16 touchdowns this season which ranks him 3rd nationally in rushing yards per game (136.67ypg).  If the ball isn't given to Lewis, Stull will be looking to throw the ball to Sophomore WR Jonathan Baldwin who averages a ridiculous 20 yards per reception.  There are plenty of other receivers in the country with an average at or above Baldwins, but none of those receivers have over 1000 yards receiving and lead their respective team in the category.  If Pitt finds themselves in a hole, you can be sure Stull will be looking for Baldwin deep.  

Lining up to slow down the Panthers will be North Carolina Sophomore DE Robert Quinn and Junior LB Quan Sturdivant.  These two will have to step up big in shutting down Dion Lewis in order to give the Tarheels' overwhelming average offense an opportunity to keep pace in the game.  Sturdivant leads the team in tackles this season, and Quinn leads in sacks and tackles for a loss.  Pittsburgh's concerns should be focused on Quinn who seems to play the game with a life perspective above that of most college football players.  I think any coach should watch out for players who overcome life threating medical issues and are playing with a second chance at life.  Read the amazing story here.