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Let's Go Bowling! - Part 2

© Grimace Boyer

SBC Cotton Bowl - Texas (10-2) vs. LSU (8-4)
Jan. 1, 2003, 11am (FOX) - Dallas, TX
LSU's Matt Mauck versus Texas' Chris Simms: Two quarterbacks who started their careers before they were ready and haven't really lived up to the hype they created. Simms was famous for ending the career of one of the best college quarterbacks in recent memory, Major Applewhite. Mauck was simply never Rohan Davey. In the end, however, it boils down to the fact that Texas is too big, too fast, and too strong to be stopped by an unconvincing LSU team. Texas wins in the Cotton Bowl. Big 12: 7-0. SEC: 2-3.

Toyota Gator Bowl - North Carolina State (10-3) vs. Notre Dame (10-2)
Jan. 1, 2003, 12:30pm (NBC) - Jacksonville, FL
Notre Dame has had one of its best seasons in recent memory, despite a pretty poor offense led by quarterback Carlyle Holliday and receiver Arnaz Battle. These two teams boast two of the country's best coaches in Tyrone Willingham (Notre Dame) and Chuck Amato (NC State), but I don't see a clear-cut favorite. The Gator Bowl is a pretty big game, and Notre Dame generally steps up and wins its big games, but NC State is a very dangerous and unpredictable team. I'm struggling with this choice, but I'm taking NC State over Notre Dame. ACC: 2-4. Independents: 0-1.

Capitol One Citrus Bowl - Penn State (9-3) vs. Auburn (8-4)
Jan. 1, 2003, 1pm (ABC) - Orlando, FL
This is Larry Johnson's last real chance to win over the NFL scouts, and I expect him to come up big. Auburn, though, beat Alabama in the Rose Bowl and features not only a great running game, but a defense that comes up big at unexpected times. I'm not looking for them to knock off Penn State, though, with Larry Johnson leading the way. Big 10: 2-3. SEC: 2-4.