Finally, after fourteen weeks of almost nonstop gridiron play, the 2008 college football season is coming to an end. Sure, after this weekend’s conference title games and league clashes there will be a two week pause before the sport’s “second season” begins, a two and one half week bowl season extravaganza.

But, before the first bowl games are played beginning on December 20th, certain matters must be tended to between now and then. That, my folks, would be this weekend’s games, some of which have a tremendous bearing on who plays where in the post season.

The following games are of varying importance, contests which may mean nothing to you but everything for players, coaches, and fans:

Louisville @ Rutgers – After a 1-5 start, the Scarlet Knights are bowl eligible while the Cardinals need to win in order to be considered for a post season game. Can anyone stop Teel and company?

Ball State v. Buffalo – At 12-0, Ball State must win this conference match up in order to maintain the possibility of appearing in a BCS bowl. A loss would be devastating while Buffalo goes bowling no matter whether they win or lose.

Pitt @ UConn – Both teams will going to a bowl, with the winner of this game seeing its post season prospects improve.

East Carolina @ Tulsa – Early on in the season, I had the Pirates as a surprise Top Ten team. Though they still have a good team, I think the Golden Hurricanes will score early and often when they meet for the Conference USA title game.

Navy v. Army – Forget their won-loss records – these two schools vie in a classic tilt, one that has been dominated by the bowl bound Middies for several years now. Can Army beat Navy? Yes, but they won’t.

Alabama v. Florida – The SEC title game features two of the top teams in the country. The winner of this game plays for the BCS championship. The loser still gets a nifty BCS bowl game.

Missouri v. Oklahoma – Missouri is the king of the Big 12 North, the Sooners of the Big 12 South. The question for this Saturday will be: can the Tigers hold Oklahoma to less than 50 points and still win? Not a chance – Oklahoma 58, Missouri 35.

Arizona at Arizona State – The Wildcats are already bowl eligible while the streaking Sun Devils need to win in order to possibly see some post season activity.

South Florida @ West Virginia – This was supposed to be the game that determined the Big East title, but neither team has proven much other than that are 7-4 and bowl bound.

Cincinnati @ Hawaii – Any kind of slip up from a team this weekend just above the #13 Bearcats could propel Cincinnati into a BCS game. A long shot, but something that’ll make this game against the 7-5 Warriors interesting to watch.

That’s it for the season. I’ll be watching the bowl selections fall into place this Sunday evening and report on key games between now and the BCS title game. Other than that, its getting time to focus in on Men’s College Basketball and whether the UNC Tarheels has what it takes to go the distance this season.

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Tags: BCS, Bowl Championship Series, bowl games, college football, college sports, Cotton Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl

The college football season runs from late August to early December with a 3-5 week break before the bowl games start. Unlike the FCS where a playoff system determines the national champion, FCB colleges must be satisfied with a singular post-season game that may or may not determine a national championship for one school while allowing 63 other schools the chance to play during the holiday season.

What may not be obvious at first to the casual observer is that many universities want to keep the current bowl game structure as these games are a financially lucrative way for schools to get a piece of the bowl money pie. Most bowl games pay schools at least one million dollars to compete, with some paying teams in excess of ten million dollars. Besides, faithful alumni don’t mind the trips to Honolulu, Miami, L.A. and other warm water ports — just ask any Syracuse Orangeman fan who pines to escape two feet of snow for 80 degree weather. Too bad ‘Cuse fans will have to wait yet another year for that to happen!

Kicking It All Off Tonight With The Poinsettia Bowl

The first of thirty-two bowl games will start tonight when the Poinsettia Bowl kicks off in San Diego. The Utah Utes and Navy Midshipmen face off in what promises to be a high scoring affair. After that, it is on to games in New Orleans, Birmingham, Honolulu, Las Vegas, and Albuquerque over the next three days with a two-day break for Christmas.

Once Christmas is over, the bowl season steps up with 26 more games culminating with the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) match up between #1 Ohio State and #2 Oklahoma on Monday, January 7. Not too long ago, the last game of the season ended on January 1st, but that was when there were half as many bowl games.

What Are Your Bowl Viewing Plans?

I grew up in New Jersey and followed the Rutgers Scarlet Knights for more than 30 years. Before two years ago, Rutgers only appearance in a bowl game was in the 1978 Garden State Bowl, a game I watched at Giants Stadium and one that the team lost. In 2005, Rutgers finally produced a bowl eligible team and this year’s team will be bowl bound for the third year in a row. I haven’t attended a bowl game since that Giant’s Stadium loss, but I do enjoy watching three or four bowl match ups each year.

How about you? Are you looking forward to your school’s bowl game? Let’s hear some predictions too. I’m going with Rutgers winning by 34- 17 and I expect Ray Rice to run wild!

Tags: Ball State, BCS, bowl games, football, Navy, Rutgers, Utah