Oltzy New Year's Eve Picks

It's New Year's Eve, which can only mean one thing: tons of great football on. Also, how about that Idaho-Bowling Green game? That was incredible.

Nebraska saved me a Byrum-like performance in the last round of picks. Here's hoping for a New Year's Eve comeback.

Armed Forces Bowl, ESPN, 12 PM, Houston (-4.5) vs Air Force

Air Force seems like they've had a better-than-expected team for the past several seasons, and it's easy to like them as a bit of an upset in the Armed Forces Bowl. Houston, though, has a win over Oklahoma State this season and I think clearly has the higher ceiling with Case Keenum at QB. If they come to play, I think they roll. And I think they come to play. Big Bob's pick: Houston

Brut Sun Bowl, CBS, 2 PM, Oklahoma (-7.5) vs Stanford

Toby Gerhart is an absolute man of a running back, but OU's defense, for all of the team's problems this season, has been relatively consistent. Before the Bedlam game, I would have gone Stanford here without thinking too hard about it, but it's really hard to get that 27-0 beating of OK State out of my head. Stanford's defense, too, has been vulnerable. In the end, though, I'll stick with my gut and take Stanford to cover, if not outright win. Big Bob's pick: Stanford

Texas Bowl, ESPN, 3:30 PM, Missouri (-6.5) vs Navy

I'm very impressed with the consistent program that has been built and now continued in Annapolis. Missouri, on the other hand, is a difficult team to figure out. They've got 8 wins, but none of them are very impressive. Still, they're in the Big 12, which means they should ultimately wear down the Midshipmen, especially up front. Big Bob's pick: Missouri.

Insight Bowl, NFL Network, 6 PM, Minnesota (-2.5) vs Iowa State

There is exactly one bowl not televised by ESPN or a major network. This is it. Wow. Why does this bowl still exist? Does it make money? Big Bob's pick: Minnesota.

Peach Bowl, ESPN, 7:30, Virginia Tec (-4.5) vs Tennessee

The ACC has been horrible in bowls so far, going a mighty 0-3 with only one truly close game, the Heels' heartbreaker to Pitt. The conference badly needs the Hokies to pull off a win over the SEC's middle-of-the-road Vols, and I think they can. With a month to prepare for Tennessee's fairly vanilla offense, I like Bud Foster's D's chances to slow them down. It could be ugly, but I think VT pulls one out. Big Bob's pick: Virginia Tech.

Updated records:

Found: 10-5

Oltzy: 7-8

Byrum: 4-11