College football’s bowl season began Tuesday, Dec. 19 with Texas Christian beating up on Northern Illinois in San Diego’s Poinsettia Bowl, the first of two bowl games scheduled in San Diego this year.   It really wasn’t much of a game, but it was the first bowl game of the year, so I watched.   Garrett Wolfe, the nation’s rushing leader, was held to 28 yards and No. 25 TCU won by a score of 37-7 in a game that wasn’t as close as the scoreboard indicated.

Northern Illinois was thoroughly outclassed, and if NIU wanted to showcase Wolfe’s rushing skills, they failed miserably.   This game was a bad job of matchmaking.  NIU was thoroughly outclassed and TCU should have been matched up against an opponent that could have given them a better game.

With far too many bowl games on tap this year, most viewers won’t watch them all.   Aside from some particular rooting interest you might have in a particular team or a particular game, here are the bowl games most worth watching this year, and some of the dogs you’ll really want to avoid.

Emerald Bowl: Florida State vs. UCLA
Dec. 27, 8 ET (ESPN). Which UCLA team shows up? Will it be the stifling defense that stopped vaunted USC in its tracks, or the pedestrian Bruins that gave up 30 points or more to Oregon, Washington State, and Cal?   Florida State was 3-5 in the ACC and 6-6 overall.   That’s a disappointing season for the 'Noles and a loss would give them a losing record for the year.   Nevertheless, it looks like a good game, with the Bruins winning in a close one.

Meineke Car Care Bowl: Navy vs. Boston College
Dec. 30, 1 ET (ESPN). I love Navy football.   Undersized, undermanned, all they seem to do is run, avoid mental mistakes and penalties, and win.   Boston College had a shot at the ACC title and an Orange Bowl bid but lost out and lost their coach too.   Nevertheless, they will be favored in what ought to be an exciting match up of two good, exciting 9-3 teams. I’m rooting for the Middies, but picking BC.

Chick-Fil-A Bowl: Georgia vs. Virginia Tech
Dec. 30, 8 ET (ESPN).
Think of this one as the “Defense Bowl.”   Georgia came on toward the end of the season, beating both Auburn and Georgia Tech. Virginia Tech is on a six-game winning streak.   If you like tough, defensive struggles, you’ll this is the game for you.   I can see this playing out like a chess match, with each team battling for fourth quarter field position and an opportunity to win on a field goal.   Georgia is my pick, but not by much.

Rose Bowl: USC vs. Michigan
Jan. 1, 5 ET (ABC). It’s New Year’s Day.   It’s USC versus Michigan in the Rose Bowl. For a few hours isn’t this the way things should be on January 1, and isn’t everything all right with the world?   This is as old-school as it gets for football fans: the Big Ten versus the Pac Ten in the Rose Bowl, and it never rains in Pasadena for the Parade or the game.  

USC looked unbeatable in a few games but very beatable in too many others, and coming off a loss to UCLA they’ve got something to prove.    Michigan looked good all year with the exception of Ball State playing them tough before losing 34-26.   Michigan’s 42-39 loss to Ohio State was an exciting game and this one should excite too.   Watch and enjoy.   I’m rooting for USC but I think Michigan is a bit too much for them, unless the Trojans can jump out to a big lead and force Michigan into a one-dimensional passing attack.   My heart is with the Trojans, but I’m picking the Wolverines in a high scoring affair.

Orange Bowl: Wake Forest vs. Louisville
Jan. 2, 8 ET (Fox). It’s 11-1 Louisville versus 11-2 Wake Forest, two teams that exceeded expectations all year long.   This is the only bowl game of the day, and it promises to be a good one.   

Louisville's offense looks terrific.   Quarterback Brian Brohm appears unstoppable while Wake is opportunistic, effective, and efficient.   This might be one of those games where the team that has the ball last figures to win.   I’m picking Louisville.

Sugar Bowl: Notre Dame vs. LSU
Jan. 3, 8 ET (Fox). I don’t know why I like this match up but I do.   LSU is a tough, effective team that went 10-2 and could easily have gone undefeated with a bit of luck.   They’re 10th in the nation in scoring and they’ve got a great defense too.   Notre Dame’s Brady Quinn continues to impress and his ability to come up with the big play at the right time makes him a special college quarterback.   I think LSU is the better team, but Quinn has the ability to transcend expectations and make this an exciting ballgame.   Tigers will nip the Irish in a close finish.

BCS championship: Florida vs. Ohio State
Jan. 8, 8 ET (Fox). Well, this is the Big Kahuna — the championship game, the season finale, the last piece of real drama on TV until the Sporanos airs again for what’s reported to be its last season.

I think this game will be dominated by Ohio State, although I give Florida a chance if they can score on a few big plays or on a defensive turnover.  

I don’t think Florida is as good a team as Michigan or USC, although they do deserve to play in this game and they have a chance to win.   Nevertheless, Ohio State is my pick to win and run up at least 35 points in the process.  

There you have it; seven bowl games worth watching.    But if you’re still jonesing for more football, I’d suggest taking a look at the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Day where you can see for yourself just how real undefeated Boise State is as they play 11-2 Oklahoma in what might turn out to be a very good game.   Boise State averages more than 39 points per game, and they whacked Oregon State — one of two teams to defeat USC.  

If you’re really addicted to college football, you can put your feet up on the couch and feast on such turkeys as New Mexico vs. San Jose State, East Carolina vs. South Florida, Troy vs. Rice, Purdue vs. Maryland, and Central Michigan vs. Middle Tennessee.   I won’t be watching, even though some of these games will be televised in HD and Rice does deserve some props for playing in their first bowl game in nearly half a century.

Although I do admit to watching TCU dominate Northern Illinois last night, I have an excuse. It was the on the tube during the next two-plus weeks, I might have read a book instead.