17.   Outback Bowl (Jan. 1)
Iowa (8-4) vs. South Carolina (7-5), Tampa
The Hawkeyes are making their third Outback appearance in the past six years. The Gamecocks are making their third Outback showing in the past nine years. But they haven’t played one another here.
*Hawkeye RB Shonn Greene is the nation’s 2^nd leading rusher and the only one to top 100 yards in every game played.

16.   Sun Bowl (Dec. 31)
Oregon State (8-4) vs. Pittsburgh (9-3), El Paso, Tex.
Two flawed football teams that know how to run the ball. Pitt’s last bowl win came at the Insight in ’02 against...the Beavers. That was also Oregon State’s last bowl loss.
*In terms of points per game, Pitt’s LeSean McCoy is tied with Michigan State’s Javon Ringer as the nation’s leading scorer (10.50, or 21 TDs).

15.   Las Vegas Bowl (Dec. 20)
Brigham Young (10-2) vs. Arizona (7-5), Las Vegas
The Cougars are to this bowl what USC is to the Rose. This is their fourth consecutive trip to Sin City and they’ll be in search of their third straight win versus a Wildcat team that last went bowling in 1998.
*Cougar WR Austin Collie leads the nation in receiving yards per game (118.25).

14.   Papajohns.com Bowl (Dec. 29)
Rutgers (7-5) vs. N.C. State (6-6), Birmingham
A better game than you think, as the Wolfpack comes in having won four straight while the Scarlet Knights have won six. Rutgers’ six wins during the streak have come by at least 18 points. Pack frosh QB Russell Wilson has been a godsend.
*Rutgers WR Kenny Britt is 2^nd nationally in receiving yards per game.

13.   Hawaii Bowl (Dec. 24)
Notre Dame (6-6) vs. Hawaii (7-6), Honolulu
Can’t...look...away. The Irish attempt to snap a 9-game bowl losing streak against a Warrior team that does all the things good teams do not: commit turnovers, accrue penalties and allow sacks. Charlie Weis in a Hawaiian shirt is worth tuning in for, but we’re hoping for a pre-game Santa sleigh flyover. If you’re playing on Christmas Eve, your defense should be (wait for it) Blitzen!      
*Hawaii is the nation’s most penalized team, in terms of yards, next-to-last in sacks allowed, and third-to-last in turnovers lost. This is a lay-up, Charlie.

12.   Alamo Bowl (Dec. 29)
Missouri (9-4) vs. Northwestern (9-3), San Antonio
They’re dubbing it the Prose Bowl, as this match-up may set a record for alums in the press box. Mizzou has scored 38 points in each of its last three bowls, winning two. The Wildcats’ last bowl victory occurred 61 years ago in the ’48 Rose Bowl. Evanston is 0-5 since.
*Mizzou’s Jeremy Maclin leads the nation in all-purpose running (203.54 ypg)

Special feature Mascot Madness Check out some of the best college football mascots from around the country. NBCSports.com

11.   Orange Bowl (Jan. 1)
Virginia Tech (9-4) vs. Cincinnati (11-2), Miami
The Hokies failed to crack the top 25 in the final Coaches Poll, but they did finish 7^th nationally in total defense. And they’re the only bowl team we know of with a player named “Macho” (Victor “Macho” Harris). I miss the old O.B.
*Cincy leads the nation in net punting (as if this game weren’t sexy enough).

10.   Chik-fil-A Bowl (Dec. 31)
LSU (7-5) vs. Georgia Tech (9-3), Atlanta
The Bayou Bengals needed that ridiculous come-from-behind win against Troy to avoid losing their final four games of the season. Paul Johnson and the Wreck get to head an exit or two south on I-75 to play in Atlanta’s big boy football stadium (even though theirs has far more charm).
*Tech DB Morgan Burnett is one of four players who have a nation’s best 7 interceptions.