However two stick out more than any othersOf course I could just be making a big deal out of all of thisMessi should have a good day with the teamI think Auburn will have Dyre and LattimoreSEOUL Jan 6 Reuters POSCO Co Ltd 005490Just like BJ Penn lost to the UFCs welterweight champ GYeah thats basically how The Last Emperor rolls20 am the bureau said in a faxed statementHaving said that he is by no means great Well i have found some men who can fill this role(On the other hand, BYU players must be getting sick and tired of Las Vegasmore on that later.)Don't forget all the free goodies the bowls give out too. Obviously every player would love to get in one of the "gift suites" (i.e. "Here's $400 to spend on electronicsknock yourself out"), but I'd be thrilled with just the sunglasses and watch from the Gator Bowl.Wait, that's it Even the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl participants get to party in the gift suite. I guess organizers figure a trip to Jacksonville is reward enough.With my love for bowl games now professed, here's Part One of a look at all the matchups coming up this holiday season, covering the New Mexico Bowl on Dec. 
Fresno State finished the regular season 8-4, with its losses coming against four tough squads (Wisconsin, Boise State, Cincinnati, Nevada) while beating just one team headed to the postseason (Idaho).Running back Ryan Mathews (left) has rolled up 1,664 yards this year, second in the nation, in leading the Bulldogs to their second straight New Mexico Bowl. Fresno State ranks seventh in the nation in rushing yards per game with 231.6a trend they'll look to continue against Wyoming's 91st-ranked rushing defense (170.5 rushing yards allowed per game).The Cowboys snuck into bowl season for the first time since 2004 by nipping 3-9 Colorado State in their last game to finish 6-6. They were soundly defeated by each of the five bowl teams they faced and were actually shut out three times this season, contributing to their -10.3 scoring margin.Do you see where I'm heading with thisPredictionFresno State may give up over 27 points a game, but so does Wyomingand the Bulldogs score 17 more points per game The Cowboys won't be able to keep up Call it 38-20 Fresno State.. It's a medieval battle in Florida as the Knights in Scarlet take on the plain old Knights.After being pasted by Cincinnati to open the year, Rutgers posted an 8-4 mark in 2009, but only a 3-4 record in the Big East. The Scarlet Knights won twice against bowl teams (UConn and South Florida, the latter a 31-0 shutout), but their other wins came against two FCS squads and four teams with a combined 14-33 record.Receiver Tim Brown (left) is a big play threat, averaging 20.6 yards on each of his 51 catchesthis after averaging 20.9 per the year before.Central Florida also finished 8-4, losing to four bowl teams but upsetting Houston at home and edging Marshall by a single point.The Knights rank fourth in the country in rushing defense at just 82.5 yards allowed per game, but that may be because teams are too busy throwing all over their 112th-ranked pass defense to bother running the ball.PredictionWith the game about two hours away from UCF's campus in Orlando, this is a virtual home game for the Knights, and they'll look to take advantage. The Scarlet Knights get lulled into complacency by the balmy weather and fall behind early, but they get it together in the second half and win a close one by dint of superior talent, not superior effort Rutgers wins 30-26.. Middle Tennessee is back in a bowl game for the first time since 2006.
Their 9-3 record doesn't boast any wins over bowl teams but does feature a number of decisive victories over Sun Belt opponents, as the Blue Raiders ended the regular season on a six-game winning streak.The Blue Raiders are strong against the pass, with their 17 interceptions (tied for 12th nationally) helping them rank 20th in pass efficiency defense. The secondary is helped by a pass rush that ranks sixth nationally in sacks per game (3.2).Dual-threat QB Dwight Dasher (left) sparks the offense, with 3,580 total yards (953 rushing) and 32 total touchdowns (11 rushing)and he's got the name for it. If only they had a guy named Smasher too...The Golden Eagles have two wins over bowl-bound teams (UCF, Marshall) and have ridden their offense (19th in scoring, 31st in yards per game) to a 7-5 mark.This will be Southern Miss' eighth straight bowl game and fourth New Orleans Bowl in six years; they've won each of the previous three trips.Part of the reason for the team's success in New Orleans may be the campus' proximity to the cityjust 110 miles awayallowing fans to create a friendly atmosphere, assuming they're still excited about going to New Orleans.PredictionThe teams are evenly matched, and there's real potential for a shootout with both teams averaging over 30 points a game.In the end, I think the Blue Raiders' enthusiasm for being in a bowl game beats out the Golden Eagles' "New Orleans again" feeling and inspires Middle Tennessee State to a 36-34 victory. First of all, let's get it straight: It's the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas, not the MAACO Las Vegas Bowl. Just think RL Carriers Bowl New Orleans and you'll be fine...or confused. One or the other.This matchup is already gathering hype as one of the best of the season. Quarterback Max Hall is the linchpin of the attack, ranking third nationally in QB rating, fourth in touchdowns, and eighth in passing yards.Hall looks to finish his collegiate career with a win in BYU's fifth consecutive Las Vegas...MAACO Bowl...MAACO Las...whatever.The Cougars posted a 10-2 mark this year, their fourth straight 10-plus-win season, with wins over bowl teams Oklahoma, Wyoming, Air Force, and Utah.
However, they did get blown away by TCU and Florida State.On a side note, is it just me, or is it completely ironic that the football team of America's largest religious university has made five straight postseason trips to "Sin City" What do fans do while they're there for the game Las Vegas must have some kind of wholesome entertainment...right Better than going to San Francisco for the Emerald Bowl, I guess.Meanwhile, Oregon State will have to shake off the blues from blowing its shot at the Rose Bowl for the second straight year and take solace in the many vices Las Vegas has to offer. Brothers James and Jacquizz Rodgers sit eighth and 18th respectively in all-purpose yardage, and Jacquizz is tied for third in touchdowns scored.PredictionThe teams are similar defensivelybetter than middle of the pack, but not eliteso this could well be a high-scoring showdown, a big change from Oregon State's 3-0 win over Pittsburgh in last year's Sun Bowl.BYU boasts more quality wins and a better overall record. However, I'm picking Oregon Statenot because of the quality of their wins, but the quality of their losses.The Beavers lost to Cincinnati, Arizona, USC, and Oregon by an average of six points. The Cougars' two losses, on the other hand, were by an average of 28.5 points.Thatand gut feelingis why I think Oregon State will triumph in Vegas, 33-24.. Another Pac-10-Mountain West showdown, another of the better non-BCS matchups as 9-3 Utah travels down to San Diego to take on 8-4 Cal.After last year's 13-0, BCS-busting campaign, the Utes were bound to have a letdown, but they maintained their status as one of the better non-BCS teams in the country with a solid campaign despite switching QBs midseason and losing top running back Matt Asiata in the fourth game of the year.Utah lost to the three best teams it played this year (Oregon, TCU, and BYU, all on the road), but the Utes beat everyone they were supposed to, including bowl teams Air Force and Wyoming.
