January 1st used to mean more to me than December 31st.  From as young as I can remember, I can recall waking up turning on the television and being mesmerized for 15 hours.  I only moved for bathroom breaks.  My dad would have food delivered or we would eat the leftovers from the New Years Eve party and it was a joyous time. 

Some did not realize the trick to watching New Years day football.  Most would pick the premiere bowl games, stick to those and hope the others were no good.  My dad was much smarter.  We had three televisions going on at once on the three major networks.  We would watch every snap of every game.

While many would call this an obsession, I thought of it as research for my future profession.

Things are a bit harder now.  Instead of mostly every game on New Years Day, the casual sports fan must now wade through three weeks of bowl games and hope you can catch maybe one or two that will remain with you until the next bowl season comes around. 

In 2005, the Alamo Bowl treated to a Nebraska-Michigan game that produced a Cal-Stanford like finish, of course without the payoff.  Last year, we had Boise State-Oklahoma, with a pay-off.

This year might not produce the greatest bowl game ever, but here are seven bowl games that you must tune into. 

7) December 31, Armed Forces Bowl – Cal vs. Air Force – It seems everyone has forgotten that Cal was once ranked second in the nation.  Despite having one of the most explosive players in the country in DeSean Jackson, many believe Air Force will dominate Cal. 

It is easy to notice Cal lost six of its last seven and Air Force is coming in on a three game winning streak. However, AccuScore has Cal winning 52 percent of the simulations by an average final score 27-26.  .

Air Force is a team of believers that play with more heart than most division 1 programs.  On the flip side, Cal quit on its coach in the middle of the year and mailed in the second half of the season. 

I feel this game is about saving face more than anything else, and because of that Cal will step up and win a tight one.

Players to watch for: Cal: Jackson, Nate Longshore, Justin Forsett, Lavelle Hawkins, Zach Follett.     Air Force: Chad Hall, Shaun Carney, John Rabold, Carson Bird, Triple Option.

6) January 1, Cotton Bowl – Arkansas vs. Missouri – This is your chance to see the best running back combo in the country.  Darren McFadden and Felix Jones will both get drafted in the first round of this year’s NFL Draft.  Houston Nutt is no longer the head coach which should lead to better offensive production by the Razorbacks.  Nutt had been criticized for not making the most of his talent on the field, which was a catalyst for losing his offensive coordinator, stating quarterback and wide receiver at the end of last season.

Shake off your hangover and wake up early to see two great offenses go head to head.  Arkansas will no doubt run the Wildhog with McFadden at quarterback which will be too tough for Missouri’s soft defense to handle. 

However, Arkansas’ defense is not that much better and Chase Daniel has a lot to prove after his performance in the Big 12 championship game.  After being snubbed by the BCS, The Tigers should have a chip on their shoulder.  The Tigers boast one of the best all-purpose players, Jeremy Maclin who is projected to rack up 200 all-purpose yards. AccuScore has Missouri winning 54 percent of the simulations with an average score, 37-34.

While the Armed Forces Bowl might have more emotion, the Cotton Bowl showcases two offensive juggernauts with something to prove.

Players to watch for: Arkansas: Darren McFadden, Felix Jones, Marcus Monk, Wildhog. Missouri: Chase Daniel, Jeremy Maclin, Spread offense.

5) January 1, Gator Bowl – Texas Tech vs. Virginia – Talk about contrast in styles.  Texas Tech-Virginia is the symbol for black and white.  Texas Tech runs a run and gun style that averages over 40 points per game.  The Red Raiders feature Biletnikoff winner Michael Crabtree at wide receiver and quarterback Graham Harrell leads the nation in total offense. 

Virginia is 9-3, but won five games by two points or less.  Its offense is not spectacular, but defense is where the Cavaliers have a chance to make some noise.  Why is this game one you must watch?  Chris Long.  The Cavalier defensive end is a human tornado.  This year, the senior has 14 sacks in a 3-4 defense.  If the Long name sounds familiar, it is because he is Howie Long’s son.  If Long does what he has been doing all year long, it could put a wrench in the Texas Tech game plan.  The Red Raiders’ offense is built on timing and accuracy, both those will go out the window if Long can cause havoc, as many believe he can.

AccuScore simulations feel Long won’t be able to hold down Texas Tech offense, as the Red Raiders are winning 70 percent of the simulations.

Players to watch for:  Texas Tech: Graham Harrell, Michael Crabtree.            Virginia: Chris Long.

4) December 29, Liberty Bowl – UCF vs. Mississippi State – Sports is centered on numbers and records and the Liberty Bowl has the opportunity to be a backdrop to history.  UCF’s Kevin Smith is a mere 180 yards short of the NCAA single-season record set by Barry Sanders in 1989.  180 yards may seem like quite a bit for most running backs, but Smith has proven he is special.  The junior is averaging over 188 yards per game and Mississippi State is 65th against the run allowing 159 yards per game. Additionally, the Bulldogs gave up more than 200 yards in their games against West Virginia and Arkansas.  AccuScore simulations have Smith running for 159 yards.  Regardless, tune in to see if you are a part of history.

Players to watch for:  UCF: Kevin Smith

3) December 26, Motor City Bowl Central Michigan vs. Purdue – Whenever a non-BCS school gets a chance to prove itself against a BCS school, you can expect them to give more than usual.  This is a rematch from earlier in the year where Purdue thumped Central Michigan 45-22.  However, since then the Chippewas are 7-3, Purdue is 4-5.

Central Michigan’s success will rely on the efficiency of Quarterback Dan LeFevour, a dual threat, with 3,360 passing yards and 1,008 rushing.  LeFevour joins Vince Young as the only player in FBS history to have 3,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in a single season.  In addition, he accounted for 41 touchdowns -- 17 rushing, 23 passing and one receiving.

On the other side of the ball, Purdue’s hopes of ending a three game losing streak will rely on quarterback Curtis Painter.  In their first meeting, Painter completed 29 of 39 passes for a season-high 360 yards and three touchdowns.  The junior started the year with 300 yard passing games in thee of his first four games.  Painter had just two 300 yard passing games after that.

These are two teams that have been heading in different directions and they should meet in the middle for a classic game of David vs. Goliath.

Players to watch for: Purdue: Painter, Dorien Bryant, Dustin Keller, Kory Sheets. Central Michigan: LeFevour, Bryan Anderson, Antonio Brown.

2) January 1, Capital One Bowl – Florida vs. Michigan - When the bowl match ups were first released, it was clear the huge gust of wind that swirled through the nation was the Michigan supporters realizing another spread offense was coming.

Michigan started the year with two spread offenses and allowed nearly 1000 yards combined between the two teams, and 73 points.  Blue’s defense looked slow, and had no answer for the increasingly effective spread.

It’s kind of ironic, Michigan, much maligned against the spread just hired Rich Rodriguez who is also known for the spread offense.  If you can’t beat them join them.

This game holds viewers attentions because it will tout the Heisman Trophy winner, Tim Tebow.  I am giddy just to see a great match up on opposing offenses.  Tebow’s dual threat ability against Mike Hart’s running game.

Toss in the emotional factor of Lloyd Carr coaching his final game and expect the Wolverines to leave nothing on the field in trying to send Carr off with a victory.

If Michigan hopes to do that against the nation’s 13th ranked total offense, they will need erase the memory of Oregon and Appalachian State.

Players to watch for:  Michigan:  Hart, Chad Henne, Mario Manningham, Adrian Arrington, Jake Long, Sean Crable, Jamar Adams.  Florida: Tebow, Percy Harvin, Brandon Spikes, Derrick Harvey.

1) January 1, Sugar Bowl – Hawaii vs. Georgia –

This is the premier game of the BCS slate.  Hawaii is undefeated for the first time in its history and many believe Georgia ended the season as the best team in the country.  They both have something to prove and are offensive powder kegs that could ignite in an instant. .  And both wear black to infuse emotion into their respective teams.

That’s where the similarities end.

Everyone knows about Hawaii’s offense.  June Jones’ version of the run-and-shoot has turned a mediocre program into a team that competes for the WAC title every year.  This season, all the stars have aligned and Jones has found his ideal quarterback.  Imagine Barry Sanders with Emmit Smith’s line, Dan Marino with Peyton Manning’s offense, that’s what Jones is working with right now.  He has a quarterback who is smart, accurate and talented.  Jones also can sit back knowing his wide receivers have the speed, hands, smarts and ability to do great things on every play.  They are best team of ball-catchers in America.

Unlike in years past however, the Warriors now have a defense that can hold opponents making outcomes just down right unfair.  In previous years, Jones has always stated his penchant for scoring the most points, regardless of how pour his defenses was. However, defensive coordinator, Greg McMackin changed all that.  If Hawaii played in a bigger conference and certain schools didn’t back out of playing them, they could be playing for a national championship.

Georgia thought it would have a shot at a national championship after West Virginia and Missouri lost.  The Bulldogs were ranked fourth in the BCS, almost guaranteeing the spot at number 2 by default.  Ohio State went from third to first without playing a game, but Georgia went from fourth to fifth when they were idle.  That might not make sense but everyone did their best to make it fit.  Not only did Georgia not win its conference, but they didn’t even win their own division.  The same pundits who were professing UGA as the best team in college football were now stepping on their own tongues to make sure Georgia didn’t get in.

Georgia got to this point by going on an impressive run.  After looking dead against Tennessee, UGA then went on a roll and won its last six games, three of which were against ranked teams.

Georgia is led by a host of underclassmen.  Matthew Stafford may be the guy behind center, but freshman running back Knowshon Moreno is the guy.  Georgia’s six game winning streak was keyed by Moreno’s 850 yards and nine touchdowns.  He finished the regular season with 1,273 yards rushing and joined Herschel Walker as the only freshmen in school history to go over 1,000 yards on the ground.

AccuScore’s super computer has Georgia winning 70 percent of the simulations.  As Boise State showed last year, however, an undefeated team has intangibles that can’t be plugged into a computer.

You can expect all televisions to be plugged in come January 1st.  The only difference between this year and year’s past, all sets will be focused on New Orleans.

Players to Watch for:  Hawaii: Colt Brennan, Davone Bess, CJ Hawthorne, Ryan Grice-Mullen, Jason Rivers, Myron Newberry, Solomon Elimimian, Blaze Soares.
Georgia: Moreno, Stafford, Thomas Brown, Dannell Ellerbe.