Matt Hayes

ATLANTA -

Believe it, everyone. Before the first New Year's Eve party, there will be significant college football bowl games played.

How significant? Oregon State, Pittsburgh, Clemson and Nebraska were a game away — on the last week of the season — from playing in a BCS bowl. Pitt and Nebraska went down to the last play.

And all four are part of an appetizing package before the second half of the bowl games begin Dec. 31.

Here is a look at the top player matchups in these early bowl offerings:

1. Holiday Bowl, Dec. 30 in San Diego
Arizona C Colin Baxter vs. Nebraska DT Ndamukong Suh.
If I'm Baxter (an All-Pac-10 selection), I'm praying Suh shuts it down to stay healthy for the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine. After talking to Suh weekly for much of the season, I've got a feeling he's going all out. Good luck, Colin.

2. Meineke Bowl, Dec. 26 in Charlotte, N.C.
Pitt WR Jonathan Baldwin vs. North Carolina CB Kendric Burney.
The Tar Heels will load up on defense to stop Pitt TB Dion Lewis, and leave Burney — a small (5-10) corner rising on some NFL draft boards — alone in coverage against one of the toughest matchups in college football. Baldwin's long striding speed is tough enough; his ability to get the ball at his highest point in the air is next to impossible to defend.

3. Music City Bowl, Dec. 27 in Nashville, Tenn.
Clemson TB C.J. Spiller vs. Kentucky MLB Micah Johnson.
The last time these teams played in the Music City Bowl in 2006, and Tigers QB Will Proctor nearly doubled C.J. Spiller's carries (9-5). There's a pretty good chance Spiller will get seven times as many touches this time around — and run into a legit, first-day NFL draft pick in Johnson. Johnson has seen everything as a three-year starter in the SEC — including the end zone in the 2006 Music City Bowl as a fullback.

4. Emerald Bowl, Dec. 26 in San Francisco
USC QB Matt Barkley vs. Boston College FS Wes Davis.

Slideshow   Top action from the bowls Check out the action from all 34 of the postseason games. NBCSports.com

Pete Carroll's freshman man-crush vs. Frank Spaziani's senior comeback story. Two years ago, Davis lay flat on his back at Georgia Tech, unable to feel his arms and legs. Now he's BC's ball hawk in the secondary and will likely play on Sundays despite reconstructive surgery on his spine. Speaking of spines, at some point, USC has to find its backbone after a second-half slump. In the last five games (three losses), Barkley has thrown six touchdowns and seven interceptions.

5. Independence Bowl, Dec. 28 in Shreveport, La.
Texas A&M QB Jerrod Johnson vs. Georgia CB Brandon Boykin.
Watch this one closely. This is your early indicator for the BCS national championship game. Johnson looked like a top 10 NFL draft pick against Texas, and has had a terrific season against Big 12 defenses. What happens against Georgia's beleaguered defense — with no coordinator, and coached, in part, by head coach Mark Richt? Boykin is the team's best cover corner, but the secondary as a whole has been torched numerous times this fall.

6. Poinsettia Bowl, Wednesday in San Diego
Utah LB Stevenson Sylvester vs. California QB Kevin Riley.
I'm well aware of the impact Cal backup TB Shane Vereen has made (444 yards rushing in three starts) since Jahvid Best's concussion. But it's all about Riley at Cal: When he has time to throw, the Bears are successful. When he doesn't — and Sylvester is the best blitzing linebacker in the game — the Bears go in the tank.

7. Champs Sports Bowl, Dec. 29 in Orlando
Wisconsin TB John Clay vs. Miami LB Sean Spence.
The Big Ten's Offensive Player of the Year is a microcosm of Wisconsin football: tough, grinding, unrelenting. The Canes may have problems lining up and trading blows with the more physical Badgers, but a healthy Spence (missed three games with a knee injury) will give the Canes more oomph in run defense.

8. Las Vegas Bowl, Tuesday in Las Vegas
Oregon State RB Jacquizz Rodgers vs. BYU MLB Matt Bauman.
Pound for pound, the diminutive Rodgers may be the strongest running back in the nation. Game tape shows vision and an ability to hide behind a big offensive line before making cuts. Tape can't show the uncanny lower body strength on his 190-pound frame. Bauman, the Cougars' leading tackler, hasn't seen a tailback like this.

9. Hawaii Bowl, Thursday in Honolulu
Nevada QB Colin Kaepernick vs. SMU QB Kyle Padron.

Yeah, it's not an offense vs. defense matchup. But let's face it, this game is all about the QBs. The Pistol vs. The Run and Shoot; a spread option quarterback (Kaepernick) vs. a freshman who hasn't chucked it like any of June Jones' previous quarterbacks.

SportingNews.com Lots of hype, hope _ and Dion Lewis _ for Pitt 6 teams with something to prove Rutgers looking for bigger and better bowl in 2010 After the fall, a new subdued era at USC It's what's up front that counts for Buckeyes

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