College Football Report - Grading the Bowl Matchups:

New Mexico Bowl

BYU (6-6) vs. UTEP (6-6)

2 PM, ESPN, Dec. 18, Albuquerque, NM

First Reaction…Well, we knew it wasn’t going to be New Mexico playing here. BYU’s step towards independence will begin against UTEP.

Grade…32/35

uDrove Humanitarian Bowl

Northern Illinois (10-3) vs. Fresno State (8-4)

5:30 PM, ESPN, Dec. 18, Boise, ID

First Reaction…Don’t be jealous of all the other teams heading to Florida or Texas for bowls. The Blue turf is a symbol of college football. Enjoy it. Your toes, fingers and lips should turn blue this time of year in Boise, however.

Grade…29/35

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl

Ohio (8-4) vs. Troy (7-5)

9 PM, ESPN, Dec. 18, New Orleans, LA

First Reaction…Maybe after the game, R+L Carriers can safely transfer all the fans back to Bourbon Street. They’ll need to be sloshed up to enjoy this game. Just watch Jerrel Jernigan if you get board.

Grade…34/35

Beef ‘O’ Brady’s St. Petersburg Bowl

Louisville (6-6) vs. Southern Miss (8-4)

8 PM, ESPN. Dec. 21, St. Petersburg, FL

First Reaction…I’ve never been to a Beef ‘O’ Brady’s, but I can tell you this: Louisville running back Bilal Powell is a whole lot of beef running down hill.

Grade…28/35

MAACO Las Vegas Bowl

#19 Utah (10-2) vs. #11 Boise State (11-1)

8 PM, ESPN, Dec. 22, Las Vegas, Nev.

First Reaction… Oh no, Boise in Las Vegas. What are the bet’s Boise kicker Kyle Brotzman misses his fourth straight field goal attempt going for? Someone tell him to stay away from the casino floor, luck just isn’t on his side right now.

Grade…11/35

San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl

San Diego State (8-4) vs. Navy (8-3)

9 PM, ESPN, Dec. 23, San Diego, CA

First Reaction…Do San Diego State players have an advantage in this game if they have an account with the San Diego County Credit Union? Maybe a little added “mistake” after the game if the hometown Aztecs win?

Grade…18/35

Sheraton Hawaii Bowl

Tulsa (9-3) vs. #24 Hawaii (10-2)

8 PM, ESPN, Dec. 24, New Orleans, LA

First Reaction…I don’t think the bowl commission could think of a better location to send Hawaii, then, well, Hawaii.

Grade…33/35

Little Caesars Bowl

Florida International (6-6) vs. Toledo (8-4)

8:30 PM, ESPN, Dec. 26, Detroit, MI

First Reaction…A note to both teams: fill up on Little Caesars Hot-n-Ready’s after the game. Otherwise you’ll be Bloated-n-Not Ready. A lot like you’ve played at times this season.

Grade…31/35

AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl

Georgia Tech (6-6) vs. Air Force (8-4)

5 PM, ESPN 2, Dec. 27, Shreveport, LA

First Reaction…What’s the over/under on the number of passing yards in this one? I’m going with under 125. The only question is, does the team that passes better win the game?

Grade…17/35

Champs Sports Bowl

NC State (8-4) vs. #22 West Virginia (9-3)

9 PM, ESPN, Dec. 28, Orlando, FL

First Reaction…The almost-Champs Sports Bowl turns out to be one of the better none-BCS bowl games. It’s a matchup between two teams that once tasted their conference championships during the year.

Grade…13/35

Insight Bowl

Iowa (7-5) vs. #12 Missouri (10-2)

10 PM, ESPN, Dec. 28, Tempe, AZ

First Reaction…The Insight Bowl? How about the Implode Bowl. Iowa – losers of three of their last five. Missouri – losers of two of their last five.

Grade…12/35

Military Bowl Presented By Northrop Grumman

Maryland (8-4) vs. East Carolina (6-6)

2:30 PM, ESPN, Dec. 29, Washington, D.C.

First Reaction…A bowl presented by Northrop Grumman . The best bowl gift package? Some precision missiles? Maybe some body armor?

Grade…27/35

Texas Bowl

Illinois (6-6) vs. Baylor (7-5)

6 PM, ESPN, Dec. 29, Houston, TX

First Reaction…If the University of Texas would have been bowl eligible, would they have been the Texas Bowls’ first choice? This season, Baylor might be selling more tickets in the Longhorn state.

Grade…22/35

Valero Alamo Bowl

#14 Oklahoma State (10-2) vs. Arizona (7-2)

9:15 PM, ESPN, Dec. 29, San Antonio, TX

First Reaction…The Alamo undoubtedly resembles the slaughtering of losses the Arizona Wildcats have taken four straight weeks to end the year. Will they overcome in the end, much like the Texian’s once did?

Grade…8/35

Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl

SMU (7-6) vs. Army (6-5)

12 PM, ESPN, Dec. 30, Fort Worth, Texas

First Reaction…How about the Army players propel from Bell Helicopter’s to take the field. If they want to sponsor this thing right, that’s the way they need to do it.

Grade…30/35

New Era Pinstripe Bowl

Kansas State (7-5) vs. Syracuse (7-5)

3:20 PM, ESPN, Dec. 30, Bronx, NY

First Reaction…A new era of Syracuse football began this season. It’s only fitting they go out in the New Era Pinstripe bowl, originators of the fitted hat. Is Yankee Stadium going to become the Cowboys Stadium of the north now?

Grade…19/35

Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl

North Carolina (7-5) vs. Tennessee (6-6)

6:40 PM, ESPN, Dec. 30, Nashville, TN

First Reaction…Franklin American Mortgage won’t have to pitch themselves to North Carolina players, they’ll just need to find their agents. They take care of their homes. Wait, wait, wait, Tennessee made a bowl?

Grade…24/35

Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl

#18 Nebraska (10-3) vs. Washington (6-6)

10 PM, ESPN, Dec. 30, San Diego, CA

First Reaction…How’s this to reward Jake Locker for turning down millions and leading his, not-quite-there, team to a bowl. Locker has to face the same defense that held him to a 20 percent completion percentage and two turnovers week three. Is payback in store?

Grade…14/35

Meineke Car Care Bowl

Clemson (6-6) vs. South Florida (7-5)

12 PM, ESPN, Dec. 31, Charlotte, NC

First Reaction…Perfect bowl for the both of these. Both offenses need a tune up heading into next season. They’ve got the parts; they just need to be installed.

Grade…20/35

Hyundai Sun Bowl

Miami (FL) (7-5) vs. Notre Dame (7-5)

2 PM, CBS, Dec. 31, El Paso, TX

First Reaction…Catholics vs. the Convicts has a lot better ring to it than the Catholics vs. the Scholars, which is what the Hurricanes became under Randy Shannon and his top graduation rates and APR ranking. Shannon is out, though…

Grade…9/35

AutoZone Liberty Bowl

#25 Central Florida (10-3) vs. Georgia (6-6)

3:30 PM, ESPN, Dec. 31, Memphis, TN

First Reaction…Poor Georgia. The only thing that could drown a disappointing 6-6 season even more so than it already is, is a loss to a hot Central Florida team in the Liberty Bowl.

Grade…25/35

Chick-fil-A Bowl

#23 Florida State (9-4) vs. #20 South Carolina (9-4)

7:30 PM, ESPN, Dec. 31, Atlanta, GA

First Reaction…Perfect! Both of these teams were cooked, baked, fried and Chick-fil-A'ed in their respective conference championships.

Grade…6/35

Ticket City Bowl

Northwestern (7-5) vs. Texas Tech (7-5)

12 PM, ESPNU, Jan. 1, Dallas, TX

First Reaction…Did you see the Red Raiders play against the Big 12 this season? The only place that a bowl would be able to sell tickets to a Texas Tech game is in Texas. Not even that was enough, though, Ticket City had to sponsor.

Grade…26/35

Outback Bowl

Penn State (7-5) vs. Florida (7-5)

1 PM, ABC, Jan. 1, Tampa, FL

First Reaction…Both Penn State and Florida played down and out and wanted to go back to last year, this season. The Nittany Lions fell from an 11-2 record, to7-5, while the Gators fell from 13-1, to 7-5.

Grade…15/35

Capital One Bowl

Michigan State (11-1) vs. Alabama (9-3)

1 PM, ESPN, Dec. 1, Orlando, FL

First Reaction…Sorry Michigan State, no BCS bowl for you. But you can play the best and most recent National Championship team that didn’t make a BCS bowl. The only thing more annoying than Capital One commercials is watching your team get pounded by the Tide.

Grade…5/35

Gator Bowl

Michigan (7-5) vs. #21 Mississippi State (8-4)

1:30 PM, ESPN 2, Jan. 1, Jacksonville, FL

First Reaction…Is this game for young viewers learning the in’s and out’s of playing defense? How to play defense – Mississippi State, who held Auburn to 17, Florida to seven – and how to not play anything that resembles a defense – Michigan, who gave up 34+ points in eight games.

Grade…16/35

Rose Bowl Game Presented by VIZZIO

#5 Wisconsin (11-1) vs. #3 TCU (12-0)

5 PM, ESPN, Jan. 1, Pasadena, CA

First Reaction…Wisconsin has scored 70+ points in three games this year. Their three headed rushing attack is downright silly. TCU, to quote my good man Andre 3000, “I know you’d like to thank your sh*t don’t stank, but lean a little bit closer, See that roses really smell like poo-oo-ooo.” Have fun in the Rose Bowl.

Grade…3/35

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl

#7 Oklahoma (11-2) vs. Connecticut (8-4)

8:30 PM, ESPN, Jan. 1, Glendale, AZ

First Reaction…Could there be a bigger bully with a richer tradition of championships to match tiny FBS newcomer UConn up against? Although, we could have said the same thing in 2007 when the Sooners took on Boise State in the…Fiesta Bowl. Hmmm?

Grade…10/35

Discover Orange Bowl

#13 Virginia Tech (11-2) vs. #4 Stanford (11-1)

8:30 PM, ESPN, Jan. 3, Miami, FL

First Reaction…Virginia Tech is about to discover the wrath of Stanford’s Andrew Luck in the pocket. I just hope the Cardinal win and he takes the million$, unlike a quarterback from last year …cough…Jake Locker.

Grade…4/35

Allstate Sugar Bowl

#8 Arkansas (10-2) vs. #6 Ohio State (11-1)

8:30 PM, ESPN, Jan. 4, New Orleans, LA

First Reaction…I can only hope Ryan Mallett will show off to Michigan fans what he would have done for three straight years against the Buckeyes, if he stayed in the Maze and Blue. Do it for Bo, Mallett!

Grade…2/35

GoDaddy.com Bowl

Miami (OH) (9-4) vs. Middle Tennessee (6-6)

8 PM, ESPN, Jan. 6, Mobile, AL

First Reaction…Really? The GoDaddy.com bowl? Miami (OH) against Middle Tennessee, in Mobile, Alabama? At least the commercials should be good. Just no Danica Patrick please, not until she wins a race…

Grade…35/35

AT&T Cotton Bowl

#17 Texas A&M (9-3) vs. #10 LSU (10-2)

8 PM, FOX, Jan. 8, Arlington, TX

First Reaction…An interesting quarterback matchup here. A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill started for two years at wideout, with 1,596 career receiving yards. LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson should start at any position, other than quarterback.

Grade…7/35

BBVA Compass Bowl

Pittsburgh (7-5) vs. Kentucky (6-6)

12 PM, ESPN, Jan. 8, Birmingham, AL

First Reaction…What the heck is BBVA Compass? Hopefully it can direct Pitt and Kentucky to breaking in the new season on a better note than 2010. Oh, it’s a bank. Well, you can bank on a slim viewing audience then.

Grade…21/35

Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl

Boston College (7-5) vs. #15 Nevada (12-1)

9 PM, ESPN, Jan. 9, San Francisco, CA

First Reaction…Speaking of fighting hunger. Both these teams are hungry for a bowl win, and both have the players to fight to do so. Nevada has lost four straight bowls, while the Eagles have dropped two in a row.

Grade…23/35

Tostitos BCS National Championship Game

#1 Auburn (13-0) vs. #2 Oregon (12-0)

VS.

8:30 PM, ESPN, Jan. 10, Glendale, AZ

First Reaction…Damn! Alright BCS, you win this season. The two lone undefeated teams from two of the better conferences. The two Heisman trophy leading candidates – Cam Newton and LaMichael James. Two up-and-coming coaches – Chip Kelly and Gene Chizik. Two of the best and fastest scoring offenses in the nation – Oregon averaging 49 points, Auburn 43 points. My only comment is, your making us wait too damn long to see the game! January, 10? That’s more than a month break. These coordinators don’t need a week, let alone a month to prepare.

Grade…1/35