Rose Bowl – Oregon 45, Wisconsin 38
The game that had everything (except maybe a kick return touchdown). Offense from everywhere, a defensive touchdown and a bit of controversy/insanity at the end with the failed spike by Russell Wilson (with two seconds left, always just run a play because a spike leaves you at the mercy of the referee and clock operator). Add that it was the Rose Bowl and it was a true Rose Bowl between the champions of the Pac-12 and Big Ten played when it should be played on New Year's with perfect weather, and it gets even better.
Fiesta Bowl – Oklahoma St. 41, Stanford 38 (OT)
And if the Rose Bowl didn't have everything, this game did. Andrew Luck was nearly perfect in the game, but it wasn't enough as his coach chose to put in on the foot of the kicker in true NFL-bred conservative fashion at the end and paid for it when the freshmen kicker missed both at the end of regulation and in overtime.
Outback Bowl – Michigan St. 33, Georgia 30 (3OT)
This wasn't a particularly well played game, but it was certainly entertaining as these teams tried to outmistake their opponents. Ultimately, Georgia succeeded in part because Mark Richt got too conservative in overtime and left it to the kicker, a very bad proposition this season.
New Orleans Bowl – UL-Lafayette 32, San Diego St. 30
Of course, not every kicker was awful at the end of games. Before we get to him, remember that the quarterbacks shot it out in this game (before the Alamo Bowl redefined the definition of shootout in football) with a combined 905 yards passing between the two teams. Still, the story was the kicker, Brett Baer, who made a 50-yarder to win the game as time expired.
Idaho Potato Bowl – Ohio 24, Utah St. 23
Utah St. played and a MAC team played. Both of those were sure signs of entertainment this season. And in the end, Utah St. played to early season form, blowing a lead in the 4th quarter, allowing Ohio to score with under 20 seconds to go and steal the win.
Alamo Bowl – Baylor 67, Washington 56
Keith Price is a superstar. He was incredible for Washington and minted himself a superstar. The Baylor running game was also amazing, even if it was against Matador defense waving them through. Oh yeah, the Heisman Trophy winner was in this game too. This game was a ton of fun, but its not at the top because I like the thought of defense in football. I don't want my football scores to be higher than my basketball scores.
Whatever they're calling the game in Charlotte now – NC State 31, Louisville 24
Nothing spectacular here. Just a solid, fun game in front of a decent crowd that I enjoyed watching. Sometimes that's all a bowl game needs to be, especially early in the bowl season before the bigger, badder teams get fired up.
Sugar Bowl – Michigan 23, Virginia Tech 20 (OT)
The end was great. Ot was enjoyable. The game was close. It was a BCS game. Why is it ranked so low? It was a BCS game that shouldn't have been and it was boring for most of the game, especially in the first half.
Military Bowl – Toledo 42, Air Force 41
MACtion against the triple-option? Sign me up anytime, especially in a bowl game like this one. And it delivered everything we expect. Points everywhere and a close game decided an a failed two-point conversion on a fake PAT. The big surprise: a real throwing presence (159 yards passing) from normally ground bound Air Force.
Poinsettia Bowl – TCU 31, Louisiana Tech 24
It's a formula that works at least once for a good game in every bowl season: favorite plays lethargically because of either rust or lack of desire (or both) before waking up to take the win in a closer than expected fashion at the end. That is exactly how this one was as TCU slept through much of the game before scoring 14 points to comeback and then put the game away.
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