A Three-Bowl Saturday!

Meineke Car Care Bowl
1:00 pm, ESPN
North Carolina (-1) West Virginia

The last game in the college career of one of this blogger’s personal favorite players. After this game, WVU QB Pat White will head off to the NFL, where he’ll probably end up being a wide receive or kick returner of some sort. Before he goes, expect some electricity. Each of these teams has been to the Meineke Car Care Bowl before. West Virginia lost the first one ever, 48-22 to Virginia in 2002. North Carolina lost to Boston College, 37-24, in the 2004 game.

This is a two-point game and that’s it. Along with the Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl, it is one of only two bowls in our pool that are not required for any of the combo bonuses.

Yohan has designated West Virginia as his LOCK pick, which means he will get five bonus points if the Mountaineers win.

PICKS

Dan: West Virginia +1
Jim: North Carolina -1
Jon: West Virginia +1
Mark: North Carolina -1
Ed: West Virginia +1
Greg: North Carolina -1
Nino: West Virginia +1
Chris: West Virginia +1
Yohan: West Virginia +1 (LOCK)
Rob: West Virginia +1
Sal: West Virginia +1
Steve: West Virginia +1

Champs Sports Bowl
4:30 pm, ESPN
Florida State (-4.5) Wisconsin

With Michigan’s streak having ended in brutal fashion this year, Florida State now has the longest active streak with 27 straight bowl appearances. Last year, you may remember, Bobby Bowden suspended something like 37 players before his team’s Music City Bowl game against Kentucky and, shockingly, lost. This year the Seminoles come in at full strength to face a Wisconsin team that was taken to overtime by no less a traditional power than Cal Poly in its last game. FSU quarterback Christian Ponder could make up for a disappointing season with a big finish against a disappointing Big Ten squad, but the Noles are more likely to try and win the game on the ground against the much slower Badgers.

This is a two-point game but is also required for the 12-point Bobby Bowden’s Belly Bonus, since it is being played in the state of Florida.

PICKS

Dan: Florida State -4.5
Jim: Florida State -4.5
Jon: Florida State -4.5
Mark: Florida State -4.5
Ed: Florida State -4.5
Greg: Wisconsin +4.5
Nino: Florida State -4.5
Chris: Wisconsin +4.5
Yohan: Wisconsin +4.5
Rob: Wisconsin +4.5
Sal: Wisconsin +4.5
Steve: Florida State -4.5

Emerald Bowl
8:00 pm, ESPN
California (-7) Miami

The man to watch in this matchup is Cal running back Jahvid Best, whos late-season performance is the main reason Cal is in any bowl at all, and especially one in their own backyard. He’ll get to run against a Miami run defense that’s the main reason the Hurricanes didn’t make it to a more impressive bowl this year, and it should be fairly ugly.

On the other side of the ball, Robert Marve and Jacory Harris have been sharing time at quarterback for Miami this season. But in this one, it’s going to be all Harris, as Marve is suspended for academic reasons and cannot play. Hm. A team with a killer running back, playing what amounts to a home game against a team with a lousy run defense and whose quarterback is suspended? If I hadn’t picked Cal in this one, I’d say they were a pretty safe bet.

This is a two-point game and Pete Carroll’s Tan Bonus (because it’s in California), the CC Sabathia’s Wallet Bonus (because it’s being played in a baseball stadium – AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants) and the Homer Simpson Bonus (because its corporate sponsor, Emerald Nuts, is a food product). It is the FIRST of the Simpson Bonus games, which means everybody still has a shot at it.

PICKS

Dan: California -7
Jim: California -7
Jon: Miami +7
Mark: California -7
Ed: California -7
Greg: California -7
Nino: California -7
Chris: Miami +7
Yohan: California -7
Rob: California -7
Sal: California -7
Steve: Miami +7