GatewayRedbirds.com

There are 35 bowls. The first 18 are mandatory for the pick 'em contest, if you don't pick one of the first 18 it will count as a loss. The next 17 are optional for those who want to improve in the standings or just want to pick. You are free to pick any or all of the optional games.
As always, you are allowed to change any pick before kickoff of that game. Good luck!

MANDATORY GAMES:

ROSE
Site: Pasadena, Calif.
Date: Jan. 2
Time/TV: 5 p.m./ESPN
Matchup: Oregon (11-2) vs. Wisconsin (11-2)
FIESTA
Site: Glendale, Ariz.
Date: Jan. 2
Time/TV: 8:30 p.m./ESPN
Matchup: Oklahoma State (11-1) vs. Stanford (11-1)
SUGAR
Site: New Orleans
Date: Jan. 3
Time/TV: 8:30 p.m./ESPN
Matchup: Michigan (10-2) vs. Virginia Tech (11-2)
ORANGE
Site: Miami
Date: Jan. 4
Time/TV: 8 p.m./ESPN
Matchup: Clemson (10-3) vs. West Virginia (9-3)
BCS TITLE GAME
Site: New Orleans
Date: Jan. 9
Time/TV: 8:30 p.m./ESPN
Matchup: LSU (13-0) vs. Alabama (11-1)
INDEPENDENCE
Site: Shreveport, La.
Date: Dec. 26
Time/TV: 5 p.m./ESPN
Matchup: Missouri (7-5) vs. North Carolina (7-5)
HOLIDAY
Site: San Diego
Date: Dec. 28
Time/TV: 8 p.m./ESPN
Matchup: California (7-5) vs. Texas (7-5)
CHAMPS SPORTS
Site: Orlando, Fla.
Date: Dec. 29
Time/TV: 5:30 p.m./ESPN
Matchup: Florida State (8-4) vs. Notre Dame (8-4)
ALAMO
Site: San Antonio
Date: Dec. 29
Time/TV: 9 p.m./ESPN
Matchup: Baylor (9-3) vs. Washington (7-5)
INSIGHT
Site: Tempe, Ariz.
Date: Dec. 30
Time/TV: 10 p.m./ESPN
Matchup: Iowa (7-5) vs. Oklahoma (9-3)
SUN
Site: El Paso, Texas
Date: Dec. 31
Time/TV: 2 p.m./CBS
Matchup: Georgia Tech (8-4) vs. Utah (7-5)
CHICK-FIL-A
Site: Atlanta
Date: Dec. 31
Time/TV: 7:30 p.m./ESPN
Matchup: Auburn (7-5) vs. Virginia (8-4)
TICKETCITY
Site: Dallas
Date: Jan. 2
Time/TV: Noon/ESPNU
Matchup: Houston (12-1) vs. Penn State (9-3)
CAPITAL ONE
Site: Orlando, Fla.
Date: Jan. 2
Time/TV: 1 p.m./ESPN
Matchup: Nebraska (9-3) vs. South Carolina (10-2)
OUTBACK
Site: Tampa, Fla.
Date: Jan. 2
Time/TV: 1 p.m./ABC
Matchup: Michigan State (10-3) vs. Georgia (10-3)
COTTON
Site: Arlington, Texas
Date: Jan. 6
Time/TV: 8 p.m./Fox
Matchup: Arkansas (10-2) vs. Kansas State (10-2)
ARMED FORCES
Site: Dallas
Date: Dec. 30
Time/TV: Noon/ESPN
Matchup: BYU (9-3) vs. Tulsa (8-4)
GoDADDY.COM
Site: Mobile, Ala.
Date: Jan. 8
Time/TV: 9 p.m./ESPN
Matchup: Northern Illinois (10-3) vs. Arkansas State (10-2)


OPTIONAL GAMES:

NEW MEXICO
Site: Albuquerque
Date: Dec. 17
Time/TV: 2 p.m./ESPN
Matchup: Temple (8-4) vs. Wyoming (8-4)
FAMOUS IDAHO POTATO
Site: Boise, Idaho
Date: Dec. 17
Time/TV: 5:30 p.m./ESPN
Matchup: Ohio (9-4) vs. Utah State (7-5)
NEW ORLEANS
Site: New Orleans
Date: Dec. 17
Time/TV: 9 p.m./ESPN
Matchup: Louisiana-Lafayette (9-3) vs. San Diego State (8-4)
BEEF ‘O’BRADY’S
Site: St. Petersburg, Fla.
Date: Dec. 20
Time/TV: 8 p.m./ESPN
Matchup: Florida International (8-4) vs. Marshall (6-6)
POINSETTIA
Site: San Diego
Date: Dec. 21
Time/TV: 8 p.m./ESPN
Matchup: TCU (10-2) vs. Louisiana Tech (8-4)
LAS VEGAS
Site: Las Vegas
Date: Dec. 22
Time/TV: 8 p.m./ESPN
Matchup: Boise State (11-1) vs. Arizona State (6-6)
HAWAII
Site: Honolulu
Date: Dec. 24
Time/TV: 8 p.m./ESPN
Matchup: Nevada (7-5) vs. Southern Miss (11-2)
LITTLE CAESARS PIZZA
Site: Detroit
Date: Dec. 27
Time/TV: 4:30 p.m./ESPN
Matchup: Purdue (6-6) vs. Western Michigan (7-5)
BELK
Site: Charlotte, N.C.
Date: Dec. 27
Time/TV: 8 p.m./ESPN
Matchup: N.C. State (7-5) vs. Louisville (7-5)
MILITARY
Site: Washington
Date: Dec. 28
Time/TV: 4:30 p.m./ESPN
Matchup: Air Force (7-5) vs. Toledo (8-4)
PINSTRIPE
Site: New York
Date: Dec. 30
Time/TV: 3:20 p.m./ESPN
Matchup: Rutgers (8-4) vs. Iowa State (6-6)
MUSIC CITY
Site: Nashville, Tenn.
Date: Dec. 30
Time/TV: 6:40 p.m./ESPN
Matchup: Mississippi State (6-6) vs. Wake Forest (6-6)
TEXAS
Site: Houston
Date: Dec. 31
Time/TV: Noon/ESPN
Matchup: Northwestern (6-6) vs. Texas A&M (6-6)
LIBERTY
Site: Memphis, Tenn.
Date: Dec. 31
Time/TV: 3:30 p.m./ABC
Matchup: Cincinnati (9-3) vs. Vanderbilt (6-6)
KRAFT FIGHT HUNGER
Site: San Francisco
Date: Dec. 31
Time/TV: 3:30 p.m./ESPN
Matchup: Illinois (6-6) vs. UCLA (6-7)
BBVA COMPASS
Site: Birmingham, Ala.
Date: Jan. 7
Time/TV: 1 p.m./ESPN
Matchup: Pittsburgh (6-6) vs. SMU (7-5)
GATOR
Site: Jacksonville, Fla.
Date: Jan. 2
Time/TV: 1 p.m./ESPN2
Matchup: Ohio State (6-6) vs. Florida (6-6)

Standings:
fanforever 93-39 .7045
Theosqua 72-35 .6729
ilstu24 88-43 .6718
Maclowery 87-44 .6641
cardsfansince82 83-42 .664
albertmvpujols 87-45 .6591
PurdueStL 84-44 .656
socnorb11 80-43 .6504
JL21 74-40 .6491
obucard 77-45 .6311
slide into first 83-49 .6288
ndistops 81-51 .6136
TransmogrifiedTiger 81-51 .6136
Dillagii 79-52 .6031
JoeShlabotnik 74-58 .5606
BigDCardlvr 62-58 .5167

_________________

ROSE: Oregon
FIESTA: Stanford
SUGAR: Virginia Tech
ORANGE: Clemson
BCS TITLE GAME: LSU
INDEPENDENCE: Missouri
HOLIDAY: Texas
CHAMPS SPORTS: Notre Dame
ALAMO: Baylor
INSIGHT: Oklahoma
SUN: Utah
CHICK-FIL-A: Auburn
TICKETCITY: Houston
CAPITAL ONE: South Carolina
OUTBACK: Georgia
COTTON: Arkansas
ARMED FORCES: Tulsa
GoDADDY.COM: Arkansas State

NEW MEXICO: Temple
FAMOUS IDAHO POTATO: Utah State
NEW ORLEANS: San Diego State
BEEF ‘O’BRADY’S: Marshall
POINSETTIA: TCU
LAS VEGAS: Boise State
HAWAII: Southern Miss
LITTLE CAESARS PIZZA: Purdue
BELK: Louisville
MILITARY: Air Force
PINSTRIPE: Iowa State
MUSIC CITY: Mississippi State
TEXAS: Texas A&M
LIBERTY: Cincinnati
KRAFT FIGHT HUNGER: Illinois
BBVA COMPASS: SMU
GATOR: Ohio State

_________________
Your friendly neighborhood bigot since 2012.

ROSE
Wisconsin
FIESTA
Oklahoma State
SUGAR
Michigan
ORANGE
Clemson
BCS TITLE GAME
Alabama
INDEPENDENCE
Missouri
HOLIDAY
Texas
CHAMPS SPORTS
Notre Dame
ALAMO
Baylor
INSIGHT
Oklahoma
SUN
Georgia Tech
CHICK-FIL-A
Auburn
TICKETCITY
Houston
CAPITAL ONE
Nebraska
OUTBACK
Michigan State
COTTON
Arkansas
ARMED FORCES
Tulsa
GoDADDY.COM
Northern Illinois

POINSETTIA
TCU
LAS VEGAS
Boise State
HAWAII
Southern Miss
LITTLE CAESARS PIZZA
Purdue
KRAFT FIGHT HUNGER
Illinois
GATOR
Ohio State

_________________

ROSE: Oregon vs. Wisconsin
FIESTA: Oklahoma State vs. Stanford
SUGAR: Michigan vs. Virginia Tech
ORANGE: Clemson vs. West Virginia
BCS TITLE GAME: LSU vs. Alabama
INDEPENDENCE: Missouri vs. North Carolina
HOLIDAY: California vs. Texas
CHAMPS SPORTS: Florida State vs. Notre Dame
ALAMO: Baylor vs. Washington
INSIGHT: Iowa vs. Oklahoma
SUN: Georgia Tech vs. Utah
CHICK-FIL-A: Auburn vs. Virginia
TICKETCITY: Houston vs. Penn State
CAPITAL ONE: Nebraska vs. South Carolina
OUTBACK: Michigan State vs. Georgia
COTTON: Arkansas vs. Kansas State
ARMED FORCES: BYU vs. Tulsa
GoDADDY.COM: Northern Illinois vs. Arkansas State


Optional games:
NEW MEXICO: Temple vs. Wyoming
FAMOUS IDAHO POTATO: Ohio vs. Utah State
NEW ORLEANS: Louisiana-Lafayette vs. San Diego State
BEEF ‘O’BRADY’S: Florida International vs. Marshall
POINSETTIA: TCU vs. Louisiana Tech
LAS VEGAS: Boise State vs. Arizona State
HAWAII: Nevada vs. Southern Miss
LITTLE CAESARS PIZZA: Purdue vs. Western Michigan (7-5)
BELK: N.C. State vs. Louisville
MILITARY: Air Force vs. Toledo
PINSTRIPE: Rutgers vs. Iowa State
MUSIC CITY: Mississippi State vs. Wake Forest
TEXAS: Northwestern vs. Texas A&M
LIBERTY: Cincinnati vs. Vanderbilt
KRAFT FIGHT HUNGER: Illinois vs. UCLA
BBVA COMPASS: Pittsburgh vs. SMU
GATOR: Ohio State vs. Florida

ROSE Oregon
FIESTA Oklahoma State
SUGAR Michigan
ORANGE Clemson
BCS TITLE GAME LSU
INDEPENDENCE Missouri
HOLIDAY California
CHAMPS SPORTS Florida State
ALAMO Baylor
INSIGHT Oklahoma
SUN Georgia Tech
CHICK-FIL-A Auburn
TICKETCITY Houston
CAPITAL ONE Nebraska
OUTBACK Georgia
COTTON Arkansas
ARMED FORCES Tulsa
GoDADDY.COM Northern Illinois
NEW MEXICO Wyoming
FAMOUS IDAHO POTATO Ohio
NEW ORLEANS San Diego State
BEEF ‘O’BRADY’S Florida International
POINSETTIA TCU
LAS VEGAS Boise State
HAWAII Southern Miss
LITTLE CAESARS PIZZA Purdue
BELK N.C. State
MILITARY Air Force
PINSTRIPE Iowa State
MUSIC CITY Wake Forest
TEXAS Texas A&M
LIBERTY Cincinnati
KRAFT FIGHT HUNGER Illinois
BBVA COMPASS SMU
GATOR Ohio State

These picks are copy/pasted from an against the spread contest, but I don't care enough to adjust the 5 of them that change for straight up.

Wisconsin
OSU
Michigan
Clemson
LSU
Mizzou
Texas
FSU
Washington
Oklahoma
Georgia Tech
Auburn
Penn State
South Carolina
Michigan State
Arkansas
BYU
Northern Illinois
Wyoming
Utah St
SDSU
FIU
Boise St
Southern Miss
Purdue
Louisville
Air Force
Iowa State
Miss State
Northwestern
Vanderbilt
Illinois
SMU
Florida

ROSE
Oregon (11-2) vs. Wisconsin (11-2)
FIESTA
Oklahoma State (11-1) vs. Stanford (11-1)
SUGAR
Michigan (10-2) vs. Virginia Tech (11-2)
ORANGE
Clemson (10-3) vs. West Virginia (9-3)
BCS TITLE GAME
LSU (13-0) vs. Alabama (11-1)
INDEPENDENCE
Missouri (7-5) vs. North Carolina (7-5)
HOLIDAY
California (7-5) vs. Texas (7-5)
CHAMPS SPORTS
Florida State (8-4) vs. Notre Dame (8-4)
ALAMO
Baylor (9-3) vs. Washington (7-5)
INSIGHT
Iowa (7-5) vs. Oklahoma (9-3)
SUN
Georgia Tech (8-4) vs. Utah (7-5)
CHICK-FIL-A
Auburn (7-5) vs. Virginia (8-4)
TICKETCITY
Houston (12-1) vs. Penn State (9-3)
CAPITAL ONE
Nebraska (9-3) vs. South Carolina (10-2)
OUTBACK
Michigan State (10-3) vs. Georgia (10-3)
COTTON
Arkansas (10-2) vs. Kansas State (10-2)
ARMED FORCES
BYU (9-3) vs. Tulsa (8-4)
GoDADDY.COM
Northern Illinois (10-3) vs. Arkansas State (10-2)
NEW MEXICO
Temple (8-4) vs. Wyoming (8-4)
FAMOUS IDAHO POTATO
Ohio (9-4) vs. Utah State (7-5)
NEW ORLEANS
Louisiana-Lafayette (9-3) vs. San Diego State (8-4)
BEEF ‘O’BRADY’S
Florida International (8-4) vs. Marshall (6-6)
POINSETTIA
TCU (10-2) vs. Louisiana Tech (8-4)
LAS VEGAS
Boise State (11-1) vs. Arizona State (6-6)
HAWAII
Nevada (7-5) vs. Southern Miss (11-2)
LITTLE CAESARS PIZZA
Purdue (6-6) vs. Western Michigan (7-5)
BELK
N.C. State (7-5) vs. Louisville (7-5)
MILITARY
Air Force (7-5) vs. Toledo (8-4)
PINSTRIPE
Rutgers (8-4) vs. Iowa State (6-6)
MUSIC CITY
Mississippi State (6-6) vs. Wake Forest (6-6)
TEXAS
Northwestern (6-6) vs. Texas A&M (6-6)
LIBERTY
Cincinnati (9-3) vs. Vanderbilt (6-6)
KRAFT FIGHT HUNGER
Illinois (6-6) vs. UCLA (6-7)
BBVA COMPASS
Pittsburgh (6-6) vs. SMU (7-5)
GATOR
Ohio State (6-6) vs. Florida (6-6)

_________________

ROSE: Oregon (11-2) vs. Wisconsin (11-2)
FIESTA: Oklahoma State (11-1) vs. Stanford (11-1)
SUGAR: Michigan (10-2) vs. Virginia Tech (11-2)
ORANGE: Clemson (10-3) vs. West Virginia (9-3)
BCS TITLE GAME: LSU (13-0) vs. Alabama (11-1)
INDEPENDENCE: Missouri (7-5) vs. North Carolina (7-5)
HOLIDAY: California (7-5) vs. Texas (7-5)
CHAMPS SPORTS: Florida State (8-4) vs. Notre Dame (8-4)
ALAMO: Baylor (9-3) vs. Washington (7-5)
INSIGHT: Iowa (7-5) vs. Oklahoma (9-3)
SUN: Georgia Tech (8-4) vs. Utah (7-5)
CHICK-FIL-A: Auburn (7-5) vs. Virginia (8-4)
TICKETCITY: Houston (12-1) vs. Penn State (9-3)
CAPITAL ONE: Nebraska (9-3) vs. South Carolina (10-2)
OUTBACK: Michigan State (10-3) vs. Georgia (10-3)
COTTON: Arkansas (10-2) vs. Kansas State (10-2)
ARMED FORCES: BYU (9-3) vs. Tulsa (8-4)
GoDADDY.COM: Northern Illinois (10-3) vs. Arkansas State (10-2)

NEW MEXICO: Temple (8-4) vs. Wyoming (8-4)
NEW ORLEANS: Louisiana-Lafayette (9-3) vs. San Diego State (8-4)
BEEF ‘O’BRADY’S: Florida International (8-4) vs. Marshall (6-6)
POINSETTIA: TCU (10-2) vs. Louisiana Tech (8-4)
LAS VEGAS: Boise State (11-1) vs. Arizona State (6-6)
HAWAII: Nevada (7-5) vs. Southern Miss (11-2)
LITTLE CAESARS PIZZA: Purdue (6-6) vs. Western Michigan (7-5)
BELK: N.C. State (7-5) vs. Louisville (7-5)
MILITARY: Air Force (7-5) vs. Toledo (8-4)
PINSTRIPE: Rutgers (8-4) vs. Iowa State (6-6)
MUSIC CITY: Mississippi State (6-6) vs. Wake Forest (6-6)
TEXAS: Northwestern (6-6) vs. Texas A&M (6-6)
KRAFT FIGHT HUNGER: Illinois (6-6) vs. UCLA (6-7)
BBVA COMPASS: Pittsburgh (6-6) vs. SMU (7-5)
GATOR: Ohio State (6-6) vs. Florida (6-6)

_________________
There's a lot to be said for making people laugh. Did you know that that's all some people have? It isn't much, but it's better than nothing in this cockeyed caravan.
-John L. Sullivan, Sullivan's Travels (1941)

Those top 18 games were extremely tough to pick, almost every one of them. There were only a few exceptions.

The bottom batch... not so much.

Then again, it's almost impossible to predict what these teams will do after 5 weeks off and nobody has a home field advantage.

_________________
There's a lot to be said for making people laugh. Did you know that that's all some people have? It isn't much, but it's better than nothing in this cockeyed caravan.
-John L. Sullivan, Sullivan's Travels (1941)

There are 35 bowls. The first 18 are mandatory for the pick 'em contest, if you don't pick one of the first 18 it will count as a loss. The next 17 are optional for those who want to improve in the standings or just want to pick. You are free to pick any or all of the optional games.
As always, you are allowed to change any pick before kickoff of that game. Good luck!

MANDATORY GAMES:

ROSE
Wisconsin (11-2)
FIESTA
Oklahoma State (11-1)
SUGAR
Virginia Tech (11-2)
ORANGE
Clemson (10-3)
BCS TITLE GAME
Alabama (11-1)
INDEPENDENCE
Missouri (7-5)
HOLIDAY
Texas (7-5)
CHAMPS SPORTS
Florida State (8-4)
ALAMO
Baylor (9-3)
INSIGHT
Oklahoma (9-3)
SUN
Georgia Tech (8-4)
CHICK-FIL-A
Virginia (8-4)
TICKETCITY
Houston (12-1)
CAPITAL ONE
Nebraska (9-3)
OUTBACK
Georgia (10-3)
COTTON
Arkansas (10-2)
ARMED FORCES
BYU (9-3)
GoDADDY.COM
Northern Illinois (10-3)


OPTIONAL GAMES:

NEW
Wyoming (8-4)
FAMOUS IDAHO POTATO
Ohio (9-4)
NEW ORLEANS
Louisiana-Lafayette (9-3)
BEEF ‘O’BRADY’S
Florida International (8-4)
POINSETTIA
TCU (10-2)
LAS VEGAS
Boise State (11-1)
HAWAII
Southern Miss (11-2)
LITTLE CAESARS PIZZA
Western Michigan (7-5)
BELK
Nc state
MILITARY
Air Force (7-5)
PINSTRIPE
Rutgers (8-4)
MUSIC CITY
Mississippi State (6-6)
TEXAS
Texas A&M (6-6)
LIBERTY
Cincinnati (9-3)
KRAFT FIGHT HUNGER
Illinois (6-6)
BBVA COMPASS
Pittsburgh (6-6)
GATOR
Florida (6-6)

_________________
100 years of losing on the wall
100 years of losing
what's that I hear? Wait till next year...
101 years of losing on the wall.