NCAA Bowl Preview - Part 1: Non-BCS Bowls

It's bowl season folks, so get ready for some of America's classic sporting events, like Rose Bowl, the Orange Bowl, and the Little Caesars Bowl. Alright, maybe not the last one, but get used to several bowls you've never heard of this year. The bowl lineup is at 35 in 2011, meaning 70 of the 120 colleges in Division 1 FBS get bowl bids. Whether you agree with the current system or not, bowl season is a  pastime for football fans across the country and a great way to welcome in the New Year. In part 1 of our Bowl Preview we will look at the 30 non-BCS bowls taking place over the next month. Enjoy!

1. Cotton Bowl - No. 7 Arkansas (10-2) vs. No. 11 Kansas State (10-2) - The Cotton Bowl looks to be the best non-BCS bowl and probably the fourth best bowl overall. Both Arkansas and Kansas State got robbed of BCS bids but have opportunities to salvage their seasons with a win in one of the most famous games in college football. Kansas State's Collin Klein has been the Tim Tebow of college football this season, totaling 1745 yards in the air and a team-leading 1100 yards on the ground. After being shut out of the Heisman voting, expect Klein to finish the season on a mission. The last time we saw Arkansas they were getting shellacked by Alabama, falling 41-17 to the nation's top team. Junior quarterback Tyler Wilson has carried the Razorbacks all season, leading an offense that averages 37.4 points per game 307.8 passing yards per game. Wilson will have the advantage over the Wildcat defense and will finish his junior campaign with the victory. PICK: Arkansas

2. Outback Bowl - No. 18 Georgia (10-3) vs. No. 12 Michigan State (10-3) - Both Georgia and Michigan State are coming off championship game losses, although each game played out quite differently. The Georgia Bulldogs got throughly thumped in the second half in Atlanta last week en route to a 42-10 loss in the SEC Championship at the hands of LSU. Michigan State, on the other hand, suffered a heartbreaking 42-39 loss to Wisconsin in the Big 10 Championship after a running into the kicker penalty killed the Spartans' comeback hopes. Michigan State will have to shift their focus from Wisconsin's strong running game to Aaron Murray and Georgia's strong passing game. Murray, only a Sophomore, has put up 2861 yards and 33 touchdowns through the air but will have his hands full with an athletic Michigan State defense that is ranked 9th in points allowed. Expect Michigan State to dictate with their speed and control the game from the get go. PICK: Michigan State

3. Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl - Illinois (6-6) vs. UCLA (6-7) - Although the most mediocre bowl game on paper, the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl might have the most unique matchup of all the bowl games this year. Both Illinois and UCLA have fired their head coaches within the past two weeks and are desperate for something right to go their ways after up and down seasons. Illinois started the season 6-0 and ranked as high as 16 in the AP poll before the wheels fell of the wagon and six straight losses to finish the season 6-6. Head coach Ron Zook was held accountable for the Fighting Illini's abrupt downturn and was fired after their 27-7 loss to Minnesota to finish the regular season. UCLA and head coach Rick Neuheisel were unable to string enough consecutive victories and get over the hump of mediocrity this season. Although key victories over California and Arizona State looked like signs of progress for the Bruins, their 50-0 loss to USC spelled doom for Neuheisel and he was fired two days later. The Bruins have showed signs of brilliance throughout the season and played like they deserved to be in the Pac-12 Championship against Oregon last Friday. Illinois hasn't won a game since mid-October and don't expect this game to be their shining moment. PICK: UCLA


New Mexico Bowl - Temple (8-4) vs. Wyoming (8-4) - PICK: Temple


Famous Idaho Potato Bowl - Utah St. (7-5) vs. Ohio (9-4) - PICK: Ohio


New Orleans Bowl - San Diego State (8-4) vs. Louisiana-Lafayette - PICK: San Diego State


Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl - Florida International (8-4) vs. Marshall (6-6) - PICK: Florida International


Poinsettia Bowl - TCU (10-2) vs. Louisiana Tech (8-4) - PICK: TCU


Las Vegas Bowl - Boise State (11-1) vs. Arizona State (6-6) - PICK: Boise State


Hawaii Bowl - Southern Mississippi (11-2) vs. Nevada (7-5) - PICK: Southern Mississippi


Independence Bowl - Missouri (7-5) vs. North Carolina (7-5) - PICK: Missouri


Little Caesars Bowl - Purdue (6-6) vs. Western Michigan (7-5) - PICK: Purdue


Belk Bowl - North Carolina State (7-5) vs. Louisville (7-5) - PICK: North Carolina State


Military Bowl - Toledo (8-4) vs. Air Force (7-5) - PICK: Toledo


Holiday Bowl - Texas (7-5) vs. California (7-5) - PICK: Texas


Champs Sports Bowl - Florida State (8-4) vs. Notre Dame (8-4) - PICK: Florida State


Alamo Bowl - Baylor (9-3) vs. Washington (7-5) - PICK: Baylor


Armed Forces Bowl - BYU (9-3) vs. Tulsa (8-4) - PICK: BYU


Pinstripe Bowl - Rutgers (8-4) vs. Iowa State (6-6) - PICK: Rutgers


Music City Bowl - Mississippi State (6-6) vs. Wake Forest (6-6) - PICK: Mississippi State


Insight Bowl - Oklahoma (9-3) vs. Iowa (7-5) - PICK: Oklahoma


Meineke Car Care Bowl - Texas A&M (6-6) vs. Northwestern (6-6) - PICK: Texas A&M


Sun Bowl - Georgia Tech (8-4) vs. Utah (7-5) - PICK: Utah


Liberty Bowl - Vanderbilt (6-6) vs. Cincinnati (9-3) - PICK: Cincinnati


Chick-fil-A Bowl - Auburn (7-5) vs. Virginia (8-4) - PICK: Auburn


TicketCity Bowl - Houston (12-1) vs. Penn State (9-3) - PICK: Houston


Capital One Bowl - South Carolina (10-2) vs. Nebraska (9-3) - PICK: Nebraska


Gator Bowl - Florida (6-6) vs. Ohio State (6-6) - PICK: Ohio State


BBVA Compass Bowl - Pittsburgh (6-6) vs. SMU (7-5) - PICK: Pittsburgh


GoDaddy.com Bowl - Arkansas State (10-2) vs. Northern Illinois (10-3) - PICK: Northern Illinois