PPCS: January 1

A low-key New Year's Eve, in contrast to last year's debacle, as allowed me the chance to get this day's picks up as the Outback Bowl is just kicking off.

Outback Bowl: Penn State 27, Tennessee 24- Why Advil, Gatorade, or McDonald's breakfast hasn't jumped up and grabbed the naming rights to this 11:00am kickoff game is beyond me. Good matchup between Tennessee's newfound offense led by new Offensive Coordinator David Cutcliffe and Quarterback Erik Ainge and Paul Poslusny and the Penn State defense. I expect a close game and the Lions to get the Big Ten's first bowl win.

Cotton Bowl: Auburn 17, Nebraska 7- This could be a yawner or a defensive struggle depending how you feel about defensive struggles. Both teams QB's aren't the air-it-out types that we've seen in the December bowls and both defenses are tough. Kenny Irons should get into the endzone once or twice and be the difference maker for War Eagle.

Gator Bowl: West Virginia 35, Georgia Tech 10- This one could be ugly, Georgia Tech is without its starting quarterback who was ruled academically ineligible leaving a backup to get Calvin Johnson the ball. Pat White and Steve Slaton should both have big games.

Capital One Bowl: Arkansas 28, Wisconsin 17- Wisconsin's record is a little padded by not playing Ohio State and playing Bowling Green and Buffalo. Freshman P.J. Hill for Wisconsin and Darren McFadden for Arkansas should do all the scoring.

Rose Bowl: Southern Cal 31, Michigan 28- "How Proud are You?..." this bowl means the end of those tireless commercials, thank God. While both teams are super talented and both teams are less than thrilled about being here, I expect Southern Cal to come out stronger because they'll be playing in the same stadium as their last loss and prepared for this game the day after UCLA while Michigan has spent a good month complaining about getting screwed out of a chance to lose to Ohio State again. Southern Cal should be a dynasty for years to come and that dynasty starts again tonight in Pasadena.

Fiesta Bowl: Boise State 38, Oklahoma 35- Perhaps because I want to see it happen so bad. Perhaps because Adrian Peterson may be coming back too soon off a broken collarbone. Perhaps because this is the most complete Boise State team ever. Perhaps because it's my blog and I can pick who I want to.