As I write this and with still two bowls to go in my first week of picks, I’m looking pretty woeful. Wyoming pulled out a bowl win (that just sounds odd even saying it) over Fresno State, 35-28; Rutgers ripped UCF 45-24; and BYU shredded Oregon State like yesterday’s salad, 44-20. Middle Tennessee – the team I least likely thought would pull out a win – kept me from going 0-4 the first week, winning over Southern Miss, 42-32. Since this is being written before the Utah-Cal and Nevada-SMU games, I could be anywhere from 3-3 to 2-4 or 1-5. As it sits now, I’m 1-3. That’s shabby no matter how you look at it. Oh well.

Little Caesars Bowl

Marshall (6-6) vs. Ohio (9-4), Satuday, Dec. 26 at 1 p.m. (ESPN)

These two teams are a little bit of a mystery to me, which doesn’t matter because both the Bobcats and Thundering Herd are pretty familiar with each other: the two schools sit just 90 miles apart, Ohio in…well, Ohio… and Marshall in Huntington, West Virginia. Take the team with the best record on this one. Pick: Ohio.

Meineke Car Care Bowl

Pitt (9-3) vs. North Carolina (8-4), Saturday, Dec. 26 at 4:30 p.m. (ESPN)

This ACC vs. Big East match-up should be pretty special, despite both teams ending the regular season on a downote. Pitt lost to rival West Virgina, North Carolina to in-state rival North Carolina State. Look for the Panthers to take care of business. Pick: Pitt.

Emerald Bowl

Boston College (8-4) vs. USC (8-4), Saturday, Dec. 26 at 8 p.m. (ESPN)

Oh how the mighty have fallen.Wasn’t only a few months ago that the Trojans were in the national title hunt? Anyway Pete Carroll’s squad has more than enough talent to take care of BC. Pick: USC.

Music City Bowl

Kentucky (7-5) vs. Clemson (8-5), Sunday, Dec. 27 at 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Clemson senior running back C.J. Spiller should have been invited to New York for the Heisman Trophy presentation. The Wildcats, though, will send him out with a loss. Pick: UK.

Independence Bowl

Texas A&M (6-6) vs. Georgia (7-5), Monday, Dec. 28 at 5 p.m.

Georgia’s in the Independence Bowl. That’s odd in itself, considering Mark Richt’s track record as the ‘Dawgs’ head coach. A&M will be no challenge. Pick: UGA.

EagleBank Bowl

UCLA (6-6) vs. Temple (9-3), Tuesday, Dec. 29 at 4:30 p.m.

Temple hasn’t been to a bowl in forever. Pick: Bruins.