Rounding out the first...um...round: Byrum's picks

So apparently the way things work around here is that I'm supposed to open my post with some over-arching thoughts on the college bowl season and whether it's too inclusive. Fine, I'll play.

The current bowl system is stupid, because there should have a playoff. But that's another discussion for another day (What? You really think I'm going to fill the summer months breaking down the pennant race in the AL West? Gotta save some material.)

Seriously though, as a fan I don't see how anyone can complain there are "too many" bowls. What are the arguments AGAINST lots of bowls? Too much football on television? Some people say it "lessens the prestige" and making a bowl "doesn't mean what it used to." Those people are retarded.

Look, here's the deal. There are a handful of legit big-time bowl games (BCS games plus a few others. Cotton has good tradition. The Citrus and Peach bowls were cool, but their new names make them less cool. Roughly a dozen bowls make this cut.) Every other bowl game is mediocre or crappy. And so whose prestige is really being lessened here? The Rose Bowl is still the Rose Bowl. Am I supposed to believe that the "prestige" of making the Liberty Bowl is somehow lessened by the fact that there's now a bowl for the Armed Forces or Emerald-brand almonds? Ridiculous.

Anyways, on to my picks. My partners in crime have already done a good job of breaking down the objective information about each game. Clearly, none of us have watched any of these teams play this year, and there's only so much info I can glean from the "Matchup" page on USAToday.com. Therefore, instead of pretending to make my picks based on some objective statistical evidence of superiority I will simply give you the REAL reason my teams will cover.

FRESNO ST. -11.5 over Wyoming
The real reason why: Wyoming's school colors are turd brown and mustard yellow. Ugliest uniforms in college sports. I like my teams to look good (argyle anyone?)

CENTRAL FLORIDA +2.5 over Rutgers
The real reason why: Tony Soprano died at the end of the last episode. He definitely did. The proof? James Gandolfini was Rutgers' most famous alumnus, and ever since The Sopranos went off the air this program has been in a slow decline from their brief stint of prominence. Clearly, Tony's crew is no longer making threats to the coaches of Rutgers opponents.

SOUTHERN MISS -3.5 over MTSU
The real reason why: I'm gonna stick with the famous alumni card here. Brett Fav-ruh was a Golden Eagle. And who wants to pick against Brett this year? Even Wrangler jeans are flying off the racks. Which reminds me - I want next year's ads to feature Mr. Fav-ruh slinging the ball around a muddy field to the Adrian Peterson and Percy Harvin. All of them must be wearing tight Wranglers, although Percy went to Florida so he can cut his down into jorts...