New Year's Eve -- Now it gets serious

Five games. Three networks. Two locks. Two bonuses begin, and one will be awarded.

And the base point values go up to 4 per game.

If you think you're out of it, you're nuts. We're only at the halfway point -- 17 bowls down, 17 to go, and starting today it gets totally nvts.

On to the previews...

Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl
Noon, ESPN
Houston (-2.5) Air Force

Houston has played in eight bowls, and lost every single one of them, since a 35-0 victory over Navy in the 1980 Garden State Bowl. When that game was played, none of Houston's current players had yet been born.

They were all born, however, by the time Air Force beat them 31-28 on Sept. 13 of this year. Yes, this is a rematch game. That loss to Air Force was the middle game of a three-game Houston losing streak, since which they've won six of eight to get into this bowl.

In the Sept. 13 game, Air Force gained 380 yards -- every single one of them on the ground. So Houston at least knows what the game plan is going to be.

This is the first of our four-point games, and is required for the Tom Landry's Hat Bonus, since it is being played in the state of Texas. Only Ed, Yohan, Rob and Steve remain eligible for the Landry Bonus.

PICKS

Dan: Houston -2.5
Jim: Houston -2.5
Jon: Air Force +2.5
Mark: Air Force +2.5
Ed: Houston -2.5
Greg: Houston -2.5
Nino: Houston -2.5
Chris: Houston -2.5
Yohan: Houston -2.5
Rob: Air Force +2.5
Sal: Air Force +2.5
Steve: Air Force +2.5

Brut Sun Bowl
2 pm, CBS
Oregon State (-3) Pittsburgh

A big-time matchup of stud running backs, with Jacquizz Rogers ready to return from injury for Oregon State and LeSean McCoy licking his chops over an Oregon State defense that gave up 65 points in a rivalry game that it needed to win to play in the Rose Bowl. Expect some nifty running in this one, and feel free to flip to it early if the Bell Helicopter is a blowout. You know we'll keep you posted.

This is a four-point game and is required for the Tom Landry's Hat Bonus, since it's being played in the state of Texas. Currently, Ed, Yohan, Rob and Steve remain eligible for the Landry Bonus, though some could be eliminated from it based on the outcome of the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl.

Dan: Pitt +3
Jim: Pitt +3
Jon: Oregon State -3
Mark: Oregon State -3
Ed: Oregon State -3
Greg: Oregon State -3
Nino: Pitt +3
Chris: Oregon State -3
Yohan: Pitt +3
Rob: Pitt +3
Sal: Pitt +3
Steve: Oregon State -3

Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl
3:30 pm, ESPN
Boston College (-3.5) Vanderbilt

Another team disappointed not to be playing later, Boston College is here because it lost the ACC title game -- and an Orange Bowl invitation -- to Virginia Tech. Their defense, led by a fearsome linebacking corps and absolute monster Mark Herzlich, will attempt to quiet what will undoubtedly be a heavily pro-VAndy crowd in Nashville. Vanderbilt started the season 5-0 but lost six of its last seven, becoming eligible for its first bowl since 1982 only by beating Kentucky on Nov. 15.

This is a four-point game and is required for the Grand Ole Opry Bonus, since it is being played in the state of Tennessee. It is the first of the Opry Bonus games, which means everybody is still eligible for that one.

In addition, Dan has designated Boston College as his LOCK pick, which means he'll get a badly needed five bonus points if they cover the 3.5.

PICKS

Dan: Boston College -3.5 LOCK
Jim: Boston College -3.5
Jon: Boston College -3.5
Mark: Boston College -3.5
Ed: Boston College -3.5
Greg: Boston College -3.5
Nino: Boston College -3.5
Chris: Boston College -3.5
Yohan: Vanderbilt +3.5
Rob: Boston College -3.5
Sal: Boston College -3.5
Steve: Boston College -3.5

Insight Bowl
5:30 pm, NFL Network
Kansas (-10) Minnesota

MANGINO ANGRY ! MANGINO SMASH!

Sorry. Had to be there. Anyway, this one pits a Kansas team that was a national title contender a year ago against a Minnesota team that lost its last four games of the season and probably doesn't belong in any kind of bowl. I have to think the experience of Todd Reesing will make the difference in this one, but will it be enough to cover the double-digit spread?

This is a four-point game and is required for two bonuses, as follows:

-The John McCain's Hangover Bonus, because it is being played in the state of Arizona. This is the first McCain Bonus game, so everybody is still eligible for this one.

-The Dreams of Sunday Bonus, because it's being broadcast on the NFL Network. This is the second and last of the Sunday Bonus games, which means it will be awarded today. If Kansas covers, the three-point bonus goes to Jim, Mark, Greg, Nino, Yohan and Steve. If Minnesota covers, the bonus goes to Jon, Ed, Rob and Sal.

In addition, Jim has designated Kansas as his LOCK pick, which means he'll pick up an additional five bonus points if the Jayhawks cover the 10-point spread. This is a massive game for Jim. Between the base point value (4), the LOCK (5) and the Sunday Bonus (3), he stands to pick up 12 points if Kansas covers.

PICKS

Dan: Kansas -10
Jim: Kansas -10 LOCK
Jon: Minnesota +10
Mark: Kansas -10
Ed: Minnesota +10
Greg: Kansas -10
Nino: Kansas -10
Chris: Kansas -10
Yohan: Kansas -10
Rob: Minnesota +10
Sal: Minnesota +10
Steve: Kansas -10

Chick-fil A Bowl
7:30 pm, ESPN
Georgia Tech (-4) LSU

Last year's national champions are playing on New Year's Eve this year (which is technically the same year in which they won the championship) because they ran out of gas late. LSU lost three of its last four games and would have finished at 6-6 if not for a miracle comeback against Troy on Nov. 15. Georgia Tech, on the other hand, had a nifty 9-3 season that ended with a brilliant comeback victory over Georgia. LSU will have a hard time trying to contain the Yellow Jackets' vicious wishbone offense.

This is a four-point game and is required for the Homer Simpson Bonus (because it's sponsored by a food product). Only Chris and Yohan remain eligible for the Simpson Bonus.

This would also have been a Climate Control Bonus game, since it's being played indoors, but everybody's been eliminated from that one.

In addition, Yohan has designated LSU as his SUPER-LOCK, which means he'll pocket 10 bonus points if the Tigers lose by four or fewer points. Yohan already earned five bonus points when his LOCK pick, West Virginia, won the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

PICKS

Dan: Georgia Tech -4
Jim: Georgia Tech -4
Jon: LSU +4
Mark: LSU +4
Ed: Georgia Tech -4
Greg: LSU +4
Nino: Georgia Tech -4
Chris: Georgia Tech -4
Yohan: LSU +4
Rob: Georgia Tech -4
Sal: Georgia Tech -4
Steve: LSU +4

Enjoy the ballgames, people. We'll be checking back in several times before the ball drops.