Another Bowl Season of Surprises is Underway

If you think trying to figure out the crazy NFL is tough, how about trying to figure out who will win any college bowl game?

The NFL has become impossible to predict, but trying to even think who will win a bowl game is even harder. You never know how teams react after the regular season before their bowl games. Some are just happy to be in a post-season game and don't prepare as hard as others. Some have lost their coach due to a firing or a new job, and you don't know how they'll react.

The first day of bowl season was wild and whacky.  In the New Mexico Bowl, Colorado State trailed Washington State, 45-30, with just over two minutes to go and, helped by Cougar turnovers, rallied to win, 48-45, on a Jared Roberts 41-yard field goal as time expired. The Rams actually trailed by 22 points in the second quarter and never led until the final second in one of the wackiest bowl games in recent history.

Buffalo squared off against San Diego State in the Famous  Idaho Patato Bowl, and with the weather hovering around 20º, all signs pointed to a Bulls win. The Aztecs thought differently, however, and rolled to a 49-24 victory. Adam Muema led the way, rushing for 229 yards and three touchdowns as San Diego State finished the season with an 8-5 record.

USC had a year of turmoil, playing for three coaches this season and already having next years' coach, Steve Sarkisian, in place. Some thought Fresno State had a chance, but the Trojans jumped to a 35-6 half time lead and won the game, 45-20. USC held star quarterback Derek Carr to 217 yards passing and told the college football world that they'll be a force next season.

In the final game of the day, it was an all-Louisiana shootout, as ULL held on to beat Tulane, 24-21, at the Superdome.

What does this all mean?

It's not easy to to pick a winner in any bowl game, much less figuring out who will cover. For those who try, we applaud your courage!