Bowl Primer: December 31st

To make things interesting, we're picking on the spread. For those that don't know, the (-) mark denotes that a team is giving points to the opponent. So, essentially, when the spread is considered, it's as if the underdog is already beginning the game with a lead.

Meineke Car Care Bowl

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

ESPN- 12:00 P.M. ET

Line: Clemson -5.5

Our Pick: Clemson

Tipping off the day early, the Meineke Car Care bowl showcases two mediocre teams who had disappointing seasons. USF, in its first year under head coach Skip Holtz, failed to make a move in the weak Big East, and Clemson utterly fell apart in the ACC race. Second year head coach Dabo Swinney is taking heat for his team's poor performance, and there's some speculation that it's only his top five recruiting class that is keeping him employed.

Both offenses stink, frankly, and this game has a solid chance of being ultra boring. Clemson quarterback Kyle Parker is playing in what looks to be his final game as a Tiger before he jumps to the Colorado Rockies farm system. Stud junior defensive end Da'Quan Bowers also looks to be playing his final game in orange before entering the NFL Draft. Bowers is a freak and a sure top ten pick, so there's at least two interesting storylines to follow.

Clemson defensive coordinator Kevin Steele apprenticed under Nick Saban, and while the Tiger offense struggled, the defense more than held up its end of the bargain. USF may be starting walk on Bobby Eveld at quarterback due to injuries to starter B.J. Daniels, and he will have his hands full with an athletic and talented opponent.

USF defensive coordinator Mark Snyder was defensive coordinator for one season at Ohio State (2004) and led Marshall as head coach until he was relieved of his duties last season. Snyder has the Bulls at 20th in total defense, allowing 319.7 yards per game.

Clemson isn't a particularly well-coached team, but they do have a large talent advantage over the Big East Bulls, and I expect that talent advantage to show up tomorrow. The Bulls may have more motivation for playing than the Tigers, but I don't believe it will be enough.

Hyundai Sun Bowl

Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7-5) vs. Miami Hurricanes (7-5)

CBS- 2:00 P.M. ET

Line:Miami -2.5

Our Pick: Miami

Catholics vs. Convicts. Notre Dame and Miami are renewing their rivalry ahead of schedule (they play at Soldier Field in 2012), but this year's incarnation lacks the star power and success that the previous versions possessed. Brian Kelly is rounding out his turbulent first season at Notre Dame in New Mexico, the first postseason game the Irish have played in since the 2008 Hawaii Bowl. Kelly has noted how important the 15 extra practices the team receives will be to future success, and he's hoping to use this game as a springboard to 2011. Fitting, then, that the game takes place on the last day of 2010.

Likewise, Miami had a turbulent season of their own, underachieving to such a degree that they fired head coach Randy Shannon and hired Al Golden, the former Temple coach, to take over the program. Golden will not be coaching in this game, however, as interim head coach Jeff Stoutland will lead the Hurricanes onto the Sun Bowl turf. Jacory Harris was named the starter after his competition, true freshman Stephen Morris, was injured during bowl practice.

Miami's offense was awful during the regular season, and just nose-dived after Harris's injury during the middle of the schedule. Departed offensive coordinator failed to adjust to a young quarterback, and failed to adjust to the loss of his tight ends from the year before. If Miami wants to win this game, they must run the ball. Their passing attack is crude and depends on play-action, but it can work if there is a legitimate run threat.

Notre Dame's passing spread will face a test against an athletic Miami defense, one that played better than their record would suggest. With all of the turmoil at Miami, it's so hard to justify picking them to beat anybody. But the talent advantage is so great that it's hard to not see them beating Notre Dame.

AutoZone Liberty Bowl

Georgia Bulldogs (6-6)  vs. Central Florida Knights(10-3)

ESPN- 3 P.M. ET

Line: Georgia -6.5

Our Pick: Georgia

Regardless of the outcome, Mark Richt will start next season on the hot seat, but a loss in the Liberty Bowl against Central Florida  would turn the dial up to "boiling." After three straight years of underachievement in Athens, Georgia, the natives are restless for a piece of that BCS action, and as is the case with any contentious situation, they will be looking for every excuse to criticize the coach. A win in the Liberty Bowl will not pacify the natives, but it should placate them temporarily.

Central Florida head coach George O'Leary must be ecstatic with his team's success this year, but he's also looking for the first bowl victory of his career. To do that, he will rely on true freshman quarterback Jeff Godfrey. The youngster threw for 2,042 yards and 13 touchdowns over a 68.4% completion percentage. He fell into UCF's lap because of poor grades in high school, and he'd probably be on a BCS team's roster right now without those academic mishaps.

Georgia's offense is also led by a young quarterback from Florida; Aaron Murray, a redshirt freshman, threw for 2,841 yards and 24 touchdowns on a 61.8% completion percentage. It certainly helps that he has freak wide receiver A.J. Green to throw to (future Cleveland Brown, perhaps?) but Murrary has performed undeniably well in his first year as starter.

Like the previous two bowls, I'm going with the talent. Georgia has outrecruited UCF at every position but quarterback (and that's debatable), and I don't foresee the Knights hanging around for much more than a quarter.

Chick-fil-A Bowl

South Carolina Gamecocks (9-4) vs. Florida State Seminoles (9-4)

ESPN- 7:30 P.M. ET

Line: South Carolina -3

Our Pick: Florida State

Annually one of the more entertaining non-BCS bowls, this year's Chick-fil-A Bowl sees two teams who lost their respective conferences championship game battle it out in primtime. Each team has reason to be hopeful for the future, but they would both love to end their 2010 season with a victory.

If not for Auburn, South Carolina would have been the story of the SEC this season after making their first SEC championship game ever.True freshman Marcus Lattimore sparked Steve Spurrier's offense to new heights, along with sophomore wide receiver Alshon Jeffery. The two are future NFL day one draft picks, and they'll be a handful for Florida State and its defensive coordinator, Mark Stoops, to handle.

Florida State's offense is 37th in scoring in the country, but faces a question mark at quarterback. Senior Christian Ponder missed the ACC title game with a bum elbow, and it's not entirely clear how much his condition has improved. If he cannot go, redshirt sophomore E.J. Manuel will fill in his stead.

I think South Carolina has hit their emotional apex on the season, and the poor play from the SEC championship game continues. Spurrier has had trouble with bowl games while at USC, and this team looked emotionally spent the last time they were in Atlanta. I don't see that changing.