Just going to make predictions on these and will have a lot more detailed analysis on the bowls starting Monday, Dec.31, New Year’s Eve.

Here are predictions for tomorrow’s (Friday’s) and Saturday’s bowls:

Friday:

Independence Bowl: Louisiana Monroe (8-4) vs.Ohio (8-4); Shreveport, La., ESPN, 2 PM ET/ 1 CT, Line: La. Monroe by 7

La Monroe 35, Ohio 27

Russell Athletic Bowl: Rutgers (9-3) vs. Virginia Tech (6-6); Orlando, ESPN, 5:30 PM ET/4:30 CT; Line: Va. Tech by 2 1/2

Rutgers 27, Va Tech 23

Meineke Car Care Bowl: Minnesota (6-6) vs. Texas Tech (7-5); Houston, ESPN 9 PM ET/8 CT; Line: Texas Tech by 13:

Texas Tech 34, Minnesota 27

Saturday:

Armed Forces Bowl: Air Force (6-6) vs. Rice (6-6); Fort Worth, ESPN 11:45 AM ET/10:45 CT; Line: Air Force by 2 1/2

Air Force 31, Rice 27

Pinstripe Bowl: West Virginia (7-5) vs. Syracuse (7-5); Bronx, NY,ESPN, 3:15 PM ET/ 2:15 CT; Line: West Va. by 3 1/2:

Syracuse 28, West Virginia 27

Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl: Arizona State (7-5) vs. Navy (8-4); San Francisco,ESPN2, 4 PM ET/3 CT; Line: Arizona State by 14):

Arizona State 38, Navy 27

Alamo Bowl: Oregon State (9-3) vs. Texas (8-4); San Antonio, ESPN, 6:45 PM ET/ 5:45 CT; Line: Oregon State by 3):

Oregon State 35, Texas 31

Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl: TCU (7-5) vs. Michigan State (6-6); Tempe, Arizona, ESPN, 10:15 PM ET/9:15 CT; Line: TCU by 2 1/2)

TCU 28, Michigan State 20

Just some quick thoughts from last night’s Little Caesar’s Bowl and then we’ll move on to today’s action. Western Kentucky interim Coach Lance Guidry decided to roll the dice and go for it on fourth and two at the Central Michigan 19 with his team down 24-21 with 51 seconds left in the game instead of kicking a 36-yard field goal which would have tied the  game at the end of regulation and sent it into overtime. I didn’t mind Guidry going for it really, but I thought the play call was not too swift. Instead of just throwing a five-yard slant or just a button hook for five yards, quarterback Kawaun Jakes threw it 15 yards to tight end Jack Doyle, who played an excellent game, but couldn’t corral the pass ball as it fell just out of his reach. Guidry’s kicker, Garrett Schwettman, was one-for-three from 30-39 yards on the season. He was eight-for-eight from 20-29, so it was a tough call. I kind of like him going for it. Ball Coach always does that. He’d go for the win. Of course, he has Connor Shaw, Ace Sanders and Bruce Ellington playing for him among others on his offense. These guys are pretty good players, but not NFL players like Sanders and Ellington are. I just thought if you’re going to go for it, throw a shorter pass, get the first down, then get serious about getting it into the end zone. Complete it and keep the drive going. Maybe Jakes made the wrong read. But Doyle was the team’s top receiver, so he was probably the primary target. He was triple covered. Felt bad for Guidry. I liked his aggressiveness, just didn’t love the play call.
There was major laundry thrown by  the ACC ref crew in the first two series last night. The David Epperley crew threw more laundry than the Aladdin Cleaners’ staff threw in their hoppers all day yesterday. It was a little bit obnoxious. But the teams settled in and so did the officials. It was a pretty fun game.

Here is a look at today’s contests. The Military Bowl has started but I have not looked at the score before I made this prediction.

Bowl Record: 5-3; Overall: 132-39

Military Bowl

Teams: Bowling Green (8-4) vs. San Jose State (10-2)

Where: RFK Stadium (46,000), Washington, DC

Time: 3 PM ET/2 CT today

Weather: 40 degrees, cloudy, 2o mph winds

Network: ESPN

Broadcast team: Bob Wischusen, Danny Kannell and Quint Kessenich

Line: San Jose State by 7 1/2

Analysis: San Jose State has a good football team. In their first game of the season, they lost just 20-17 to Stanford, and have beaten San Diego State ( 38-34), BYU (20-14) and La Tech (52-43). San Diego State just played in the Poinsettia Bowl against BYU (losing to BYU, 23-6) and La Tech finished 9-3, but didn’t make a bowl game. Are you kiddin’ me? La Tech should be in a bowl. That’s a travesty.

The Spartans have a high flying offense led by quarterback David Fales, who has completed 294-of-408 passes (72%), for 3,798 yards, 31 TDs and nine ints. Wide receiver Noel Grigsby leads the team with 73 receptions for 1,173 yards and nine TDs. Wide receiver Chandler Jones has 48 for 618 yards and 10 TDs. Running back De’Leon Eskridge has rushed for 992 yards and 10 TDs. They’ve got some pretty impressive numbers on defense as well though they’ve given up quite a few points in some games. Defensive end Travis Johnson has 19 tackles for losses of 106 yards and 12 sacks for 66 yards. Defensive tackle Travis Racili has 12 tackles for 41 yards lost and 7.5 sacks for 33 yards. Cornerback Bene Benwikere has seven ints.Bowling Green lost to Florida 27-14, pretty respectable, then lost to Va. Tech, 37-0, and the week before that lost to Toledo, 27-15. They have beaten some MAC teams, but nobody real impressive. But they have some good players. Running back Anthon Samuel has rushed for 966 and 10 TDs. Quarterback Matt Shilz has completed 212-of-378 (56.1%) passes with 14 TDs and 12 ints. Not real impressive numbers, but he has been effective at times. Defensive tackle Chris Jones has 19 tackles for losses of 100 yards and 12.5 sacks for 84 yards. Linebacker Gabe Martin has 8.5 tackles for loss of 46 yards and 4.5 sacks of 33 yards. Cornerback Jude Adjei-Barimah has four ints on the season.

The wind is blowing 20 mph, so that’s going to take away from the passing game some. I expect a good game, but I like the Spartans under interim coach Mike Caragher to get the job done. Their former coach, Mike McIntyre left for Colorado.

San Jose State 28, Bowling Green 20

Two other bowls:

Belk Bowl

Teams: Duke (6-6) vs. Cincinnati (9-3)

Where: Bank of America Stadium (73,298),Charlotte, NC.

Time: 6:30 PM ET/5:30 CT

Network: ESPN

Broadcasters: Mike Patrick, Ed Cunningham and Jeannine Edwards

Weather: 51 degrees, mostly sunny, wind at 5 mph

Line: Cincy by 8

Cincy lost Butch Jones to Tennessee so they’re also going with an interim also. The interim before Tubby takes over is Steve Stripling.This has to be the year of the interims. Still like the Bearcats to get it done over Duke. David Cutcliffe trying to build a winner at Duke. He’s getting closer.Hopefully Coach Cutcliffe  can get it done at Duke. Very good coach and an awesome person.

Bearcats 42, Blue Devils 31

Holiday Bowl

Teams: UCLA (9-4) vs. Baylor (7-5)

Where: Qualcomm Stadium (71,.294), San Diego

Time: 9:45 PM ET/8:45 CT

Network: ESPN

Broadcasters: Dave Pasch, Brian Griese and Jenn Brown

Weather: 55 degrees, clear, wind at 4 mph

Line: UCLA by 3

Analysis: I’m a believer in Art Briles and what he does at Baylor. He’s an outstanding coach. UCLA is a good team, but Baylor beating Kansas State handily at home, made me a believer in Briles and his football program. After losing RGIII and many other good players last year, he came back and had a pretty decent season. Beating KState had to make the season. A bowl win would cap it off.

Baylor 37, UCLA 34

Bowl Record: 5-2; Overall: 132-38

Western Kentucky (7-5)  vs. Central Michigan (6-6)

Where: Ford Field (66,00), Detroit

Time: 7:30 PM ET/ 6:30 CT

TV: ESPN

Broadasters: Mark Neely (play-by-play), Ray Bentley (color commentator), Jamele Hill (sideline reporter)

LIne: WKU by 6

Players to watch: For Western Ketucky, it’s running back Antonio Andrews (6″0″,211). Andrews has rushed for 1,609 yards and 11 TDs, along with catching 34 passes for 411 yards and three TDs. On the other side, Central Michigan counters with running back Zurion Tipton (6’1″219), who has rushed for 1,396 yards and 19 touchdowns and caught 22 passes for 258.

Breakdown: Western Kentucky defeated Kentucky this season and were relatively competitive with Alabama though they did kind of limp home. Central Michigan defeated Iowa but had to scratch and claw to make a bowl, winning their last three over some pretty weak teams. Like Andrews to have a big game and the Hilltoppers’ defense should be better than the Chippewas’, which has struggled this season.

Western Ky. 28, Central Michigan 17

I’ve learned one thing now about picking the bowls and it was a good lesson last night; don’t pick MAC teams. Thought Ball State might pull off an upset last night, but they looked more like a junior high team playing an FBS team. Central Florida was good. Their quarterback, Blake Bortles, was fantastic, going 22-of-33 for 272 yards and three TDs and also rushing for 80 more yards and a TD. He just dominated a Swiss Cheese Ball State defense. UCF finished 10-4 on the season, while Ball State, which finished 6-2 in the MAC– the conference of BCS buster Northern Illinois (Orange Bowl vs. FSU)– looked totally out of its league.

Northern Illinois is going to go into Miami New Year’s Night and get manhandled by Florida State. Kent State, which lost in the MAC championship game to Northern Illinois, will play Arkansas State in the GoDaddy.com bowl in Mobile, Sunday, Jan.6, and both teams have new coaches, though the assistants will lead them, so the MAC may have a chance that night. Ohio will lose to La Monroe in the Independence Bowl on Dec. 28. That game last night doesn’t bode well for Northern Illinois’ chances in the Orange Bowl.

Bowl Record: 3-1; Overall: 130-37 (78%)

Here’s a look at today’s games:

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl

La-Lafayette (8-4) vs. East Carolina (7-5)

Where: Mercedes-Benz Superdome, N’Awlins, (72,003)

Time: Noon  ET/ 11 AM CT

Network: ESPN

Broadcast team: Beth Mowins, Joey Galloway and Quint Kessenich

Line: La Lafayette by 5 1/2

The Ragin’ Cajuns took Florida to the wire on Nov.10, losing 27-20 in the Swamp. That shows me a lot. They beat San Diego State in this same bowl last year, 32-30. I really like the Cajuns’ head coach, Mark Hudspeth. He took North Alabama to the national semifinals in Division II three or four times, and he has it going at La Lafayette. Look for quarterback Terrence Broadway (2526 passing yards, 65.7%, 16 TDs, 8 ints) to have a big game. Linebacker Justin Anderson has 101 tackles on the season, eight for loss. East Carolina is led by running back Vintavious Cooper, who has rushed for 1,030 yards and seven TDs this season. Like the Ragin’ Cajuns to take care of business here and Hudspeth’s name to be very interesting in 2013.

Ragin’ Cajuns 42, East Carolina 30

Maaco Bowl

Boise State (10-2) vs. Washington (7-5)

Where: Las Vegas, Sam Boyd Stadium (home of UNLV Rebels, 36,800)

When: 3:30 PM ET/ 2:30 CT

Network: ESPN

Broadcast team: Brent Musberger, Kirk (Northern Illinois? Are you kiddin’ me?) Herbstreit and Tom Rinaldi

Line: Boise State by 5 1/2 

I just like Boise State in big games. D.J. Harper is an excellent back and looks to go in the first or second round of the April draft. He has run for 1,065 yards and 15 scores. He’s got terrific speed and is always a  threat to break it when he gets through the first line of defense. Quarterback Joe Southwick has improved throughout the season. He is 222-of-333 (66.7%) for 2,466 yards, 17 TDs and 7 ints. The Broncos leading receiver is Matt Miller with 60 catches for 679 yards and five TDs. Linebacker J.C. Percy leads the defense with 101 tackles, and defensive end Demarcus Lawrence has 9.5 sacks on the season. For Washington quarterback Keith Price is not having the year he had last year. LSU really dominated him and the Huskies offense earlier this season, 41-3, but he’s been improving since then. Price is 243-of-393 (62%), for 2,484 yards with 18 TDs and 11 ints. Bishop Sankey leads the team in rushing with 1,234 yards and 15 TDs. Wide receiver Kasen Williams has 71 catches for 783 yards and six TDs, and Jenkins Seferian has caught 63 passes for 789 yards and six scores. The Huskies defense is led by linebacker John Timu who has 76 tackles on the season and two ints. Defensive ends Andrew Hudson and Josh Shirley have 6.5 sacks apiece.

But I like Chris Peterson and Boise State in big games on the big stage. They just know how to get it done. The Boise State defense is good and better than the Huskies and Harper will have a big day clearing 100. Boise State will finish with another very successful season at 11-2. I think they’re primed for a big 2013. They’ve got some young guys who will get better and be players next year. It’ll start today.

Boise State 35, Washington 21

NFL picks: Last week 3-4

Atlanta Falcons (12-2) @ Detroit Lions (4-10)

8:30 PM ET/ 7:30 CT

ESPN

Line: Falcons by 3 1/2

Like the way the Falcons shellacked the Giants last week. Matt Ryan, Roddy White, Julio and Tony Gonzales will shred the Lions’ defense. Calvin Johnson having a huge year, but Lions can’t keep up with Falcons.

Falcons 38, Lions 27

Minnesota Vikings (8-6) @ Houston Texans (12-2)

1 ET/noon CT

FOX

Line: Houston by 9

The Texans’ goal is to stop Adrian Peterson, who is trying to break the single season rushing record of 2,105 set by Eric Dickerson in 1984. But Jim Brown, one of the greatest running backs of all time, a Hall of Famer, says the Dickerson record is a sham because it was accomplished in 16 games and O.J. Simpson broke 2,000 in 14 games in 1973, which Brown says should be the real record. I think that’s a pretty valid argument. But Peterson has 1,812 on the season and needs 294 to break the record. That’s 147 per game. I say he doesn’t go over 100 tomorrow and will fall short of the record after next week. The Texans will neutralize Peterson and make the erratic Christian Pnnder try to beat them. He won’t get it done.

Texans 35, Vikings 24

Saints (6-8) @ Cowboys (8-6)

Time: 1 ET/noon CT

Where: Jerry’s World

Fox

Line: Dallas by 1

I like the Saints to get’er done here. Don’t trust Dallas to make the playoffs. They’ve blown it too many times. Drew Brees and company should light up the Cowboys, though they are playing better on defense. Romo and Cowboys will put up some points on Saints’ defense but it won’t be enough. I like the Saints in a mild upset.

Saints 35, Cowboys 31

Bengals (8-6) @ Steelers (7-7)

1 PM ET/ noon CT

CBS

Steelers by 3 1/2

Don’t trust either one of these teams really, but always like the Steelers over the Bengals, particularly at home.

Steelers 28, Bengals 20

Giants (8-6) @ Ravens (9-5)

4:25 PM ET/ 3:25 CT

FOX

Giants by 1

I don’t trust either one of these teams either. Both teams limping home, but I’ll take Eli over Flacco, who may never lead his team to a championship.

Giants 24, Ravens 21

49ers (10-3) @ Seahawks (9-5)

8:20 PM ET/ 7:20 CT

NBC

Niners by 1

Like both of these teams a lot, but think that Colin Kaepernick is better than Russell Wilson at quarterback. Both defenses are excellent and both teams can win the Super Bowl with the type of defense they play and their pretty potent offenses. Frank Gore for the Niners and Marshawn Lynch for the Seahawks are both terrific backs. This will be a war. With all due respect to the Patriots, I think these are the two best teams in the NFL. This is a tough one to pick, but I’m going with the Niners. They look to be the best team in the league. But it’ll be a stellar game.

Niners 24, Seahawks 21

Also, Hawaii Bowl

Fresno State (9-3) vs. SMU (6-6)

Aloha Stadium (50,000), Honolulu

Monday, Dec. 24, 8 PM ET/7 CT

ESPN

Carter Blackburn, Kelly Stouffer and Kaylee Hartung

Line: Fresno State by 12 1/2

Fresno State 48, SMU 35

Bowl Record: 3-0

Wow, that BYU defense was something special last night as the Cougars beat San Diego State, 23-6. If linebacker Kyle Van Noy is not a first round pick in April it’s a travesty. He forced and recovered a fumble in the end zone in the fourth quarter to put the Cougars ahead 10-6, then later  intercepted a pass and returned it for a 17-yard score. He was awesome. He looks like a top 15 pick to me. He’s a junior and BYU kids are serious about academics and their missionary work, but if he wants to come out, an NFL team will welcome him with open arms. He is fantastic. Linebacker Ezekiel Ansah is going to be a first rounder too, most likely. He’s a player. Junior linebacker Brandon Ogletree looks like he’ ll play on Sundays in two years. They are a special linebacking corps. It’s a special defense. Just shutdown a high flying Aztec offense and caused five turnovers. That was a fantastic performance by one of the best defenses in the country.

Also, punter Riley Stephenson could have punched his ticket to the league next year with three punts inside the five and six punts inside the 2o. He put on a masterful performance. He changed field position constantly and was a key reason BYU won. He’s a senior and I know these kids are serious about their missionary work, so the NFL could be delayed for a couple of them. But if these guys want to go, Van Noy, Ezekiel and Stephenson, they will be highly coveted in the draft and be terrific players on Sundays..

Now for a look at tonight Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl:

Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl

Teams: Ball State (9-3) vs. Central Florida (9-4)

Where: Tropicana Field (capacity 40,473), St. Petersburg, Florida

Time: 7:30 PM ET/6:30 CT

TV: ESPN

Announcers: Dave Neal, Andre Ware, Desmond Howard and Cara Capuano (sideline)

Line: UCF by 7

Key players; UCF: running back Latavius Murray: 177-1035 yds. 5.8 average, 14 TDs; quarterback Blake Bortles: 229-336, 62.6%, 2,787 yards, 22 TDs and 7 ints. 7 TDs rushing; wide receiver J.J. Worton: 41 catches, 562, 4 TDs; wide receiver Jeff Godfrey: 36-400, 3 TDs; wide receiver Rannell Hall: 31-557, 4 TDs; Cornerback Kemal Ishmael: 116 tackles, five for loss, three ints, three fumbles recovered; linebacker Troy Davis: 9 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, three fumble recoveries.

Ball State: Running back Jahwan Edwards: 218-1,321, 6.1 average, 14 TDs; quarterback Keith Wenning: 279-426 (65.5 %), 2,878 yards, 22 TDs, 10 ints; wide receiver Willie Snead 82-1070, 13.0 average, seven TDs; wide receiver Jamill Smith 69-706, 10.2 average, 6 TDs; wide receiver Zane Fakes: 51-404, five TDs; linebacker Travis Freeman: 119 tackles; defensive end Jonathan Newsome: 12 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks.

This should be a good game. UCF has the better defense by the numbers, and Ball State quarterback Keith Wenning is just back after missing three games with a broken ankle,  so he could be rusty. Although I like the running game of UCF led by Murray and like their defense better, Ball State is 0-5 in bowl games and are hungrier from what I’ve researched. So I like the Cardinals to pull off the upset.

Ball State 28, UCF 24