Pick 'Em Corner - The Professor's Smart Money Picks, the Most Wonderful Time of the Year Edition

The Professor is busy this Christmas season, buying gifts for all his contacts within the college football world, so no long breakdowns for all the bowl games. I mean, from Hayden Fry to Judd Heathcote to Gerry Dinardo to Ron Mexico, The Professor has a lot of shopping to do. Plus, do you have any idea how difficult it is to shop for that thing on Frank Beamer's neck?

So, without further ado, it's The Professor's Smart Money Picks, the most wonderful time of the year edition, brought to you by the city of Chanhassen.


Fresno State -10.5 Wyoming (NEW MEXICO)
Let's get the bowl season off with a bang. You hear that sound? Eeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrr-plunk! Eeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrr-plunk! Eeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrr-plunk! It's part 1 of 2 The Professor's Statistically-Proven Locks of the Week, brought to you by National American University!

Rutgers -2.5 UCF (ST. PETERSBURG)
My heart says Rutgers, but The Professor wouldn't be The Professor if he picked with his heart.

Southern Miss -3.5 Middle Tennessee (NEW ORLEANS)
Seems every year Southern Mississippi puts on a show in their bowl.

Oregon State -2.5 BYU (LAS VEGAS)
OSU's Mike Riley is 5-0 in bowl games. Done.

Cal -3.5 Utah (POINSETTIA)
When you lose to Washington and end up here, you don't have much to play for. Go Utes.

Nevada -15 SMU (HAWAII)
The June Jones Homecoming Tour won't result in an SMU win, but a cover.

Ohio -2.5 Marshall (LITTLE CAESARS)
The Bobcats won nine games, Marshall won six. That's my rationale here.

Pitt -3 North Carolina (CAR CARE)
The 'stache was a measly one point away from a BCS game. Tarheels, beware the 'stache.

USC -9.5 Boston College (EMERALD)
That's a lot of points for a bowl game, but BC disappoints annually in their bowls.

Clemson -7.5 Kentucky (MUSIC CITY)
That's just way too many points for a team as inconsistent as Clemson.

Georgia -7 Texas A&M (INDEPENDENCE)
Stay far away from this game. This has shootout written all over it.

UCLA -3.5 Temple (EAGLE BANK)
Thanks for playing, Temple. Here's your complimentary Eagle Bank savings account.

Miami -3 Wisconsin (CHAMPS)
Love the feel-good pick of the Fighting Steve Stellars over the Loathsome C-Noth's.

Bowling Green -1.5 Idaho (HUMANITARIAN)
I've got nothing here.

Arizona -2 Nebraska (HOLIDAY)
Limit turnovers, Cats, and this one is yours for the taking.

Houston -4 Air Force (ARMED FORCES)
It would border on sacrilege to pick a non-armed forces team in the Armed Forces Bowl.

Oklahoma -8 Stanford (SUN)
I've had terrible luck picking against the Sooners this season, but I just think Stanford has enough to keep this one close.

Missouri -6.5 Navy (TEXAS)
If you haven't figured it out yet, The Professor always picks the service academy.

Minnesota -2.5 Iowa State (INSIGHT)
I'm only picking The Professor's Father's squad in the hopes that a Cyclone win will spell the end of Brewster's tenure in Minny. Sadly, I think he'll get an extension before he finds a way to be out-coached by whomever it is that is leading ISU these days.

Virginia Tech -4.5 Tennessee (CHIC-FIL-A)
That thing on Frank Beamer's neck trumps Lane Kiffin's hot wife.

Auburn -7.5 Northwestern (OUTBACK)
Can't believe I'm making this pick, but the Cats are just plucky enough to stay within 7.

Penn State -2.5 LSU (CAPITAL ONE)
Comment withheld in deference to the Cornerman.

West Virginia -2.5 Florida State (GATOR)
I don't care that this is Bowden's last game. He won't know where he is anyway and WVU is miles better than FSU.

Oregon -3.5 Ohio State (ROSE)
The Buckeyes' woes in BCS games continues. For shame, Tressel, for shame.

Florida -10.5 Cincinnati (SUGAR)
That's an awful lot of points to give a Bearcat team in full "F You" mode, but it's still Cincinnati against The Almighty Tim Tebow.

South Florida -6.5 Northern Illinois (INTERNATIONAL)
This was my second lock of the week, until I looked a few games down at the Suspended Spartans vs. the high-flying Red Raiders.

South Carolina -4.5 UConn (PAPA JOHNS)
Mmmmm, pizza.

Ole Miss -3 Oklahoma State (COTTON)
I'm done with you, Oklahoma State.

Arkansas -7.5 East Carolina (LIBERTY)
Woooooo! Pig! Sooie!

Texas Tech -8 Michigan State (ALAMO)
You hear that sound? Eeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrr-plunk! Eeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrr-plunk! Eeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrr-plunk! It's part 2 of 2 The Professor's Statistically-Proven Locks of the Week, brought to you by National American University! My thanks to the multitude of suspended Spartans for handing this one to me on a silver platter.

TCU -7 Boise State (FIESTA)
I really like the Horned Frogs, but this one has all the makings of a classic, back and forth game between a pair of teams looking to prove a point to the nation.

Georgia Tech -4 Iowa (ORANGE)
I've been riding the Ramblin' Wreck bandwagon all year and I'm not stopping now.

Central Michigan -3.5 Troy (GMAC)
If a bowl is played in the midst of all the BCS bowls and no one watches, does it actually happen?

Alabama -5 Texas (BCS NATIONAL CHAMP)
When the second-best team in the state of Texas is playing in the national championship game, you don't pick said team to stay within 5 of ROLL TIDE TURKEY!

The Professor's Smart Money Picks, the most wonderful time of the year edition, brought to you by the city of Chanhassen.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah (that's for you, Stellar) and a Joyous Festivus to all of those involved with Pick 'Em Corner.