My Crystal Ball Says...

...that I know what will happen in this week's key games. Always remember that I'm right, and your team sucks.

This is the semi-final edition of the special bowl season picks. My predictions have been downright abysmal, but you have to admit that this bowl season has been anything but predictable. It has been very entertaining, with only a few blowouts and several very close games. More on that later.

Texas Tech vs Mississippi (AT&T Cotton Bowl)
Texas Tech looks like the obvious pick here. They are 4th in the nation in total offense (536 ypg) and scoring offense (44.58 ppg). But one wonders what will happen when they face a defense that will actually try to stop them from scoring? Mississippi is, very quietly, 14th in the nation in total defense – 6th against the run, and they probably deserve more respect than they get. If they can avoid costly mistakes, I think they’ll earn that respect by winning this game.

East Carolina vs Kentucky (Auto Zone Liberty Bowl)
Kentucky started the season with lots of promise and a 4-0 record. They then lost to Alabama by just a field goal, but injuries, particularly on offense, have decimated the team. The Wildcats come into this game riding a three game losing streak, and QB Reggie Cobb is likely unavailable – still nursing a knee injury that required surgery. East Carolina started the season with surprising wins over Virginia Tech and West Virginia, then suffered through a three game losing streak and some midseason struggles. It is SO tempting to pick Kentucky because I do think that SEC teams (except this year’s South Carolina team) almost always deserve the benefit of the doubt. But I think the Pirates pull this one off.

Utah vs Alabama (Allstate Sugar Bowl)
These are two teams that play good defense, and Utah should be credited for having a great year, and, once again, finishing the regular season unbeaten. They’ve won twelve games, but they won’t win thirteen. Alabama has to be disappointed after grinding unbeaten through twelve and three quarters of regular season games before falling to Florida in the SEC Championship game. Alabama hasn’t played in the Sugar Bowl since the ’92 season – when they demolished Miami 34-13 to win a national championship. I think the Tide will, slowly but surely, grind the Utes into the ground.

Buffalo vs Connecticut (International Bowl)
This game might be interesting. Connecticut has the nation's top running back in Donald Brown (just under 152 ypg), but they limped into the finishing gate - going 2-5 since the end of September after starting 5-0. And if they get behind, they might be in trouble because it's quite possible that I might be a better quarterback than either of the guys who have played for the Huskies (106th in the nation in passing). Buffalo has to be one of the better feel-good stories of the season. They started the season 2-4, but finished 6-1, including a surprising 42-24 upset of Ball State in the MAC Championship game. And I suppose everybody now knows that this is their first bowl game ever. They were invited to the 1958 Tangerine Bowl, but declined the invitation when informed that their black players would not be allowed to participate. Head coach Turner Gill may not last much longer at Buffalo. In just his third year, he has them in a bowl game at 8-5. The school had a record of 10-69 in the seven years prior to his arrival. Connecticut should win this one, but I am going to pick Buffalo.