Predictions for the week of 12/23/2007
Last Week's Predictions
This week's accuracy: 62.50%
Navy at Utah - POINSETTIA BOWL, San Diego, 12/20/07: While Max endorses Navy's new hire as head coach, the Middies are unquestionably going to be in transition mode. Outside of calling for onside kicks when beating Rocky Mountain Hanna into submission by over 40 points, it's been a solid overall season for Utah. Advantage, Utes. "Confidence Points:" 16 Utah by 10.
Result: Utah by 3
Nevada at New Mexico - NEW MEXICO BOWL, Albuquerque, 12/22/07: Who would pick against the Lobos in their backyard? Max would. New Mexico has done nothing to impress Max in 2007. Nevada may have fallen just short at Boise and against Hawaii, but the Pack went down swinging. in both games. "Confidence Points:" 3 Nevada by 4.
Result: New Mexico by 23
Purdue at Central Michigan - MOTOR CITY BOWL, Detroit, 12/26/07: Max's opinion of Purdue hasn't changed in over two years - the Boilermakers are terrible. Max despises the Chippweas, though, and openly refuses to pick them, or even give the impression of supporting them, to win any game, especially a bowl game. "Confidence Points:" 11 Purdue by 4.
Result: Purdue by 3
TCU at Houston - HOUSTON BOWL, Houston, 12/28/07: Who would pick against Houston in their backyard? Max would. Anything can happen in Texas, and it usually does, so Max is leery of the Cougars here. Max has been dying all season since the Texas game to cast a vote in support of Crystal, Barry, and the rest of arguably America's most loyal fan base. "Confidence Points:" 15 TCU by 3.
Result: TCU by 7
Florida State at Kentucky - MUSIC CITY BOWL, Nashville, 12/31/07: Max picked Kentucky to knock off the ACC in Nashville a year ago, and the Wildcats came through big-time for Max. Sometimes, lightning does strike twice. "Confidence Points:" 23 Kentucky by 10.
Result: Kentucky by 7
Rutgers at Ball State - INTERNATIONAL BOWL, Toronto, 1/5/08: Max was at the first International Bowl a year ago, and Canada did a fine job of hosting American college football. Unfortunately for those Canadians interested in our great game, this matchup is unlikely to be as close as last year's Cincinnati-Western Michigan thriller. Expect a lot of offense - and for the Scarlet Knights to put up a lot more points in the end. "Confidence Points:" 28 Rutgers by 21.
Result: Rutgers by 22
California at Air Force - ARMED FORCES BOWL, Fort Worth, 12/31/07: Every year, there is some bowl upset that makes most out there say, "Wow, where did that come from?" Readers, meet Max's choice of that game for the 2007-08 bowl season. Considering that Max picked Kentucky to knock off the Coaster last year and was openly ripped for the pick, which then happened, Max walks into this pick with a swagger, if not reflected in the "confidence points." "Confidence Points:" 1 Air Force by 4.
Result: California by 6
Connecticut at Wake Forest - MEINEKE CAR CARE BOWL, Charlotte, 12/29/07: Who would pick against Wake Forest in their own backyard? Not Max - and certainly not against the most fraudulent team America has seen in some time. Jim Grobe is staying, which means more bowl wins for Wake Forest in the near future. "Confidence Points:" 25 Wake Forest by 14.
Result: Wake Forest by 14
Central Florida at Mississippi State - LIBERTY BOWL, Memphis, 12/29/07: If you like good, competitive football between two solid teams that have had excellent seasons by their standards, you should love this matchup. Max had a real struggle making this pick. UCF will come to play and will give the Bulldogs all they can handle, but Mississippi State has been a true success story this year, and the story has a happy ending. "Confidence Points:" 6 Mississippi State by 1.
Result: Mississippi State by 7
Indiana at Oklahoma State - INSIGHT BOWL, Tempe, 12/31/07: You can be the guy or girl that picks against the Hoosiers as they "Play 13." Max just isn't going to be that guy. Call Max sentimental if you want. Just remember to also call Max correct after Indiana wins. "Confidence Points:" 10 Indiana by 3.
Result: Oklahoma State by 16
Colorado at Alabama - INDEPENDENCE BOWL, Shreveport, 12/30/07: Max is tempted to rip the Buffaloes here, but beating Oklahoma and Nebraska in the same season still carries a lot of weight in Boulder. Max may have abandoned the 'Bama Belle and company in picking Auburn over the Tide, but Max was right - and Max is back on board now. "Confidence Points:" 14 Alabama by 8.
Result: Alabama by 6
Penn State at Texas A+M - ALAMO BOWL, San Antonio, 12/29/07: Who would pick against Texas A+M in their own backyard? Max would. The Aggies are a team in turmoil, transition...feel free to email Max your own adjective starting with a "T" to describe the Aggies. If Justin's Nittany Lions show up, they should take care of business here. If. "Confidence Points:" 13 Penn State by 7.
Result: Penn State by 7
Maryland at Oregon State - EMERALD BOWL, San Francisco, 12/28/07: Both of these teams have had solid overall seasons, but Max just can't go against the Beavers here. Oregon State may just crack the final Top 25 poll after this victory. "Confidence Points:" 17 Oregon State by 10.
Result: Oregon State by 7
South Florida at Oregon - SUN BOWL, El Paso, 12/31/07: Oregon's dream season got derailed when Dennis Dixon got hurt. South Florida's dream season got derailed when Big East parity kicked in. Max has to go with the Bulls here, but the Ducks will give South Florida a much better game than many expect. "Confidence Points:" 12 South Florida by 4.
Result: Oregon by 35
Bowling Green at Tulsa - GMAC BOWL, Mobile, 1/5/08: Max has to pick at least one MAC team to win a bowl game, if somewhat reluctantly this year. "Confidence Points:" 4 Bowling Green by 4.
Result: Tulsa by 56
Memphis at Florida Atlantic - NEW ORLEANS BOWL, New Orleans, 12/21/07: Never put a bunch of "confidence points" on a lower-tier bowl game in which neither team is exceptional and either team could conceivably show up, play well, and win. Max has flashbacks of the Owls' dismantling of Minnesota earlier this season. Max openly admits that those flashes are mixed in with just about every other team on the schedule beating Minnesota down, but it's enough for Max to go with FAU. "Confidence Points:" 2 Florida Atlantic by 7.
Result: Florida Atlantic by 17
Georgia Tech at Fresno State - HUMANITARIAN BOWL, Boise, 12/31/07: Is it just Max, or is Georgia Tech in this game every 2-3 years? Paul Johnson will do a good job in Atlanta, but don't judge him by this outcome. The Bulldogs are 1) happy to be bowling again and 2) happier than the Yellowjackets to be in Boise. "Confidence Points:" 9 Fresno State by 7.
Result: Fresno State by 12
(1) Ohio State at (2) LSU - BCS CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, New Orleans, 1/7/08: Who would pick against LSU in their own backyard? Not Max, and certainly not in a national championship atmosphere. Max doesn't see Jon's and Shuttsie's Buckeyes getting rolled the way they did a year ago in Glendale, but Max also has a hard time seeing Ohio State hanging with the Tigers in a true road environment for a full four quarters. "Confidence Points:" 18 LSU by 14.
Result: LSU by 14
(11) West Virginia at (3) Oklahoma - FIESTA BOWL, Glendale, 1/2/08: One team comes into this matchup as arguably the best team in the country at this point in the season. The other limps into this matchup knowing it should be playing about a week from now, having let a golden opportunity slip through their fingers. Basically, any West Virgina fan Max has ever known has gone into the CIA Witness Protection Program since the Pittsburgh game. Considering that was the ultimate "stomach punch" loss, Max doesn't blame them. Unfortunately, Max has to go with the Schooner here - and big. "Confidence Points:" 27 Oklahoma by 19.
Result: West Virginia by 20
(10) Hawaii at (4) Georgia - SUGAR BOWL, New Orleans, 1/1/08: Everything was going great for Max with last year's picks - until Georgia mounted a big rally and Virginia Tech collapsed in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl. It was basically downhill from there. A year has passed, but Max has not forgotten. Max doesn't seek revenge, though - far from it. In fact, Max just can't pick against Georgia in this bowl season. The Warriors will give the Bulldogs a run until about the end of the third quarter, when a lack of quality opponents on the schedule catches up with them. "Confidence Points:" 26 Georgia by 14.
Result: Georgia by 31
(8) Kansas at (5) Virginia Tech - ORANGE BOWL, Miami, 1/3/08: This should be a very interesting matchup. These are two great success stories, for very different reasons: the Hokies, for overcoming tragic circumstances, and the Jayhawks, for overcoming decades of futility to play in a game of this magnitude. Kansas will give the Hokies all they can handle, but Virginia Tech is the better team. They Will Prevail. "Confidence Points:" 19 Virginia Tech by 10.
Result: Kansas by 3
(13) Illinois at (6) USC - ROSE BOWL, Pasadena, 1/1/08: Who would pick against the Trojans in their own backyard? Not Max, and certainly not in the worst matchup of the 2007-08 bowl season. Max has been on the I-L-L bandwagon all season, and the Illini have had a real solid season, but they have no business being in this game. None. USC rolls big-time in this laugher. "Confidence Points:" 32 USC by 31.
Result: USC by 32
Michigan at (9) Florida - CAPITAL ONE BOWL, Orlando, 1/1/08: Who would pick against the Gators in their own backyard? Not Max - and neither would Ferris State Bulldog Johnny Drama, who writes Max, "Come on, it took them four games to win one for Bo. Do you really think it will just take one for them to win one for Lloyd?" "Confidence Points:" 30 Florida by 20.
Result: Michigan by 6
(17) Texas at (12) Arizona State - HOLIDAY BOWL, San Diego, 12/27/07: Is it just Max, or does the Holiday Bowl seem to get great matchups year after year? Arizona State is probably the better team here, but Max just has a bad feeling about the Sun Devils. Max still hasn't fully recovered from Arizona State's total no-show at home against USC on Thanksgiving. Texas really hasn't impressed this year, though, so Max, while crossing fingers, is going with ASU. "Confidence Points:" 8 Arizona State by 5.
Result: Texas by 18
Michigan State at (14) Boston College - CHAMPS SPORTS BOWL, Orlando, 12/28/07: Max has the feeling that the Eagles' season peaked in the last two minutes in Blacksburg. While MSU's 7-5 overall record isn't exactly impressive, the Spartans didn't lose any game by more than seven points. Consider that, and the fact that Nick Saban's days of getting routed coaching bowl games for MSU are long since past, and Max is willing to at least guarantee a close game. Max is going one step further, though. "Confidence Points:" 5 Michigan State by 4.
Result: Boston College by 3
(18) Wisconsin at (16) Tennessee - OUTBACK BOWL, Tampa, 1/1/08: Picking 32 bowl games, with "confidence points," is a lot of work. Fortunately, Max only had to pick 31. For the 32nd game, Max got help from the Wayside West Warrior: "I only offer comments on one game this year: Tennessee and Wisconsin (sponsored by Wayside West). As you know, Max, my ties have always been split between these two schools. I know it is a weird two, but it is what it is. This could be the 'Thank God Ainge is Gone' game for Tennessee, but instead it is the 'Why Would You Give Phil Fullmer an Extension' game. As you know, Max, I hate Phil. I hate the driver of the bandwagon. He produces lots of NFL Players, but I wonder what has he done for Tennessee lately. Basically, he makes them look like Clemson. Clemson does have a rollercoaster, and their fans are just too stupid since they are from South Carolina to realize it. My other team is Wisconsin, which I view as steady. They will get off the bus running in Tampa. I like the Badgers' apporach to buisness one game at a time. They don't have the best D, but that should change next year. They have a tendency to win bowl games; I am not sure of the record, but I would guess they are well above .500 in the last 12 years. Bottom Line: I think brats will be eaten with much joy throughout Wisconsin, and people in Tennessee will call sports radio and complain about Phil's contract. Max, in January there will be a three touchdown victory party on State Street - and you can print that." Consider it done, Wayside West Warrior. "Confidence Points:" 20 Wisconsin by 21.
Result: Tennessee by 4
UCLA at (19) BYU - LAS VEGAS BOWL, Las Vegas, 12/22/07: You know that old saying about how it's hard to beat the same team twice in a season? You know where Max is going with this. Unfortunately, so does Becky Bruin. "Confidence Points:" 21 BYU by 11.
Result: BYU by 1
Southern Miss at (20) Cincinnati - PAPAJOHNS.COM BOWL, Birmingham, 12/22/07: This one could get real ugly, real fast. Southern Miss made a boneheaded Ole Miss/Minnesota-type release of a solid coach. The Bearcats have the ability to pour it on quickly and not take the foot off the gas. "Confidence Points:" 31 Cincinnati by 28.
Result: Cincinnati by 10
Texas Tech at (21) Virginia - GATOR BOWL, Jacksonville, 1/1/08: When Max watched the Hoos this season, they seemed to really struggle to put points on the board. If you know one thing for sure going into this game, you know Texas Tech is going to score. Max doesn't think the Hoos can keep up. "Confidence Points:" 22 Texas Tech by 11.
Result: Texas Tech by 3
(15) Clemson at (22) Auburn - CHICK-FIL-A BOWL, Atlanta, 12/31/07: This is a great, great match-up. Max went back and forth on this pick, and it ultimately came down to two things: 1) The Auburn Tigers have fully restored their reputation with Max following a disastrous 2006 campaign. Max has nothing but good things to say about Auburn now, and with the exception of Max's love for Alabama fans, the feeling appears to be mostly mutual. 2) Clemson, of course, remains the Coaster, and Max is pleased that the Coaster, following this game, will be re-opening again in the fall of 2008 to simultaneously excite and scare the general viewing public. Even the conductor of the Coaster, Mr. Tommy Bowden, will be back! Like all good rides, though, the Coaster must come to a grinding, complete stop, which of course will happen in Atlanta on New Year's Eve. "Confidence Points:" 7 Auburn by 1.
Result: Auburn by 3
East Carolina at (24) Boise State - HAWAII BOWL, Honolulu, 12/23/07: Enjoy the weather, Pirates. The Broncos will save the fun for the game itself. Boise has a much more pleasant experience than it did a month ago in Honolulu. "Confidence Points:" 29 Boise State by 16.
Result: East Carolina by 3
(7) Missouri at (25) Arkansas - COTTON BOWL, Dallas, 1/1/08: You know how every year, there is that team that gets a huge upset victory near the end of the season, then falls way flat in the bowl game and everyone says, "Wow, what happened?" This year, that team is Arkansas. Kate's Hogs had a good-but-not-great season, and are now in coaching transition mode to boot. Scott's Tigers may not have captured the Big XII title, but a Cotton Bowl championship trophy will provide some consolation. "Confidence Points:" 24 Missouri by 17.
Result: Missouri by 31
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