Bowl Bonanza #2

For the second day in a row we get a triple header worthy of...well...not that much. Beginning with the Meineke Car Care Bowl (what a douchey name) and ends with the Alamo Bowl. In between the two is the epic contest known as the Liberty Bowl. The only reason to watch this game is the UCF RB, but more on that later. One way to look at it is that after Saturday night we will have cleared the majority of the horrible games and we will be that much closer to the real bowl games. And now, on to the picks.

Meineke Car Care Bowl (Charlotte, NC 1:00 p.m. ESPN)

Wake Forest 24 - Uconn 21

* actual score: Wake 24 - Uconn 10

This game is all about Defense (read: horribly boring) and should be close throughout. Both teams rely on a solid defense and great coaching to win games which means this could turn into quite the chess match. When Wake QB Riley Skinner gets into a rhythm he can be deadly (ask Florida State). Uconn relies on TO's and solid D (as well a BS fair catches) so they should be able to make plays during crunch time as many of their games were close. I think Wake Coach Jim Grobe is one of the best game day coaches in the business and he should be enough to get Wake Forest its first bowl win in a very long time.

Liberty Bowl (Memphis, Tenn 4:30 p.m. ESPN)

Memphis State 20 - UCF 17

* actual score: MSU 10 - UCF 3

This game is really too close to call but I am going with MSU for little more than admiration. Admiration of not only what Mississippi State has done on the field but also how head coach Sylvester Croon has done it: the right way. Croon focuses on defense and motivation and does so with a sense of class and dignity unrivaled in today's game. All of the talk going into this game will center on UCF RB Kevin Smith. Smith is 181 yards shy of Barry Sanders' all time record (note: Sanders played in 3 LESS games than Smith). MSU has been hit-or-miss on defense this year but I like them to step it up and make UCF beat them via the passing game and hold Smith under 180 yards thus keeping the record in Barry's hands.

Alamo Bowl (San Antonio, Texas 8:00 p.m. ESPN)

Penn State 27 - Texas A&M 17

* actual score: PSU 24 - TAMU 17

Texas A&M runs the ball very well. Penn State stops the run better. This is a case of strength versus strength when these two teams square off which should make for some good drama. Penn State as one of the best defenses in the nation led by star LB Dan Conner. Texas A&M will feature a 3 pronged attack with QB Stephen McGee and RB's Michael Goodson and Javorskie Lane. Penn State will force the Aggies to throw the ball and the only good option the Aggies have is in TE Martellus Bennett. I think Penn State can handle all of this and will win going away and give JoePa his 23rd bowl victory.