The BCS bowl games are coming up after the New Year’s Day NFL games Sunday, with the Rose Bowl and Fiesta Bowl Monday, the Sugar Bowl on Tuesday, the Orange Bowl and on Wednesday and then the BCS National Championship Game the following Monday, January 9th.

Here is a quick preview of the BCS bowl games with picks and current point spreads.

Keep in mind the following:

• All games listed are EST
• Point spreads are of Sunday, January 1st. For updated point spreads and expert advice, here you go: BCS Bowls Odds and Lines

BCS Bowl Games Bettor’s Guide

Point Spreads – Free Picks ATS – Over-Under Odds

TV Schedule – Lock Pick

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Rose Bowl: #10 Wisconsin Badgers vs. #5 Oregon Ducks

• Wisconsin-Oregon Date: Monday, January 2nd at 5:00 PM on ESPN
• Wisconsin-Oregon Point Spread: Ducks -6
• Wisconsin-Oregon Over-Under Odds: 71.5
• Wisconsin-Oregon Spread Pick: Expect a high scoring shootout in what could be the best game of the BCS bowls, as both teams can light up the scoreboard in a hurry. The Badgers rely on the dual passing/rushing threat of QB Russell Wilson  (2,879 yds, 31 TDs, 4 INTs ) and Heisman finalist Montee Ball (1,759 yds, 32TDs).  The Ducks counter with QB Darron Thomas (2,493 yds, 30 TDs, 6 INTs) and Ducks all-time rushing leader LaMichael James (1,646 yds, 17 TDs). Oregon looks to improve on their all-time bowl record of 9-15 and having lost bowl games the past 2 seasons. Wisconsin looks to avenge their Rose Bowl loss last year vs. TCU. Look for the Ducks speed to eventually be too much for the Badgers defense, winning 42-31.
• Pick: Ducks -6

Fiesta Bowl: #4 Stanford Cardinal vs. #3 Oklahoma State Cowboys 

• Stanford-Oklahoma State Date: Monday, January 2nd at 8:30 PM on ESPN
• Stanford-Oklahoma State Point Spread: Cowboys -4
• Stanford-Oklahoma State Over-Under Odds: 73.5
• Stanford-Oklahoma State Spread Pick: Only a devastating 37-31 double overtime loss at Iowa State prevented Oklahoma St. from playing in the BCS Championship Game against LSU. The Cowboys finished their regular season by crushing Oklahoma 44-10. Led by outstanding WR Justin Blackmon (113 rec, 1,336 yds, 15 TDs) and 28-year-old QB Brandon Weeden ( 4,328 yds, 34 TDs), the #3 ranked team in the nation looks to prove it belonged in the BCS title game. Stanford, led by consensus #1 pick in the NFL draft Andrew Luck ( 3,170 yds, 35 TDs) and RB Stepfan Taylor (1,153 yds, 8 TDs), will need to apply the same defensive  pressure on Weeden that has earned them the #6 national ranking with 38 sacks. Look for the Oklahoma St. offense to ultimately take the game over and pull away from Stanford, 45-35.
•  Pick: Cowboys -4  

Sugar Bowl: #13 Michigan vs. #11 Virginia Tech

• Michigan-Virginia Tech Date: Tuesday, January 3rd at 8:30 PM on ESPN
• Michigan-Virginia Tech Point Spread: Wolverines -3
• Michigan-Virginia Tech Over-Under Odds: 50.5
• Michigan-Virginia Tech Spread Pick: Two solid defenses (Virginia Tech-13th nationally, Michigan-18th) and rushing offenses collide in The Superdome in what looks to be a close game. The Wolverines’ star quarterback Denard Robinson (2,056 yds, 18 TDs passing-1,163 yds, 16 TDs rushing) and running back Fitzgerald Toussaint (1,011 yds, 9 TDs) lead a bruising, clock controlling rushing offense. The Hokies are led by ACC player of the year David Wilson (1,627 yds, 9 TDs) and sophomore QB Logan Thomas (2,799 yds, 19 TDs).  Look for the Hokies to rebound from their embarrassing 38-10 loss to Clemson in the ACC title game. Special teams play and a defense keyed on Michigan’s rushing game will pace the Hokies to a 27-19 win.
• Pick: Hokies +3

Orange Bowl: #23 West Virginia vs. #15 Clemson

• West Virginia-Clemson Date: Wednesday, January 4th at 8:30 on ESPN
• West Virginia-Clemson Point Spread: Tigers -3
• West Virginia-Clemson Over-Under Odds: 61.5
• West Virginia-Clemson Spread Pick: In what may be the least attractive BCS bowl game with slow ticket sales in South Florida, the on-field game may turn out to be better than imagined, with two potent offenses both averaging over 33 points per game and 440 yards of offense. West Virginia has the 7th rated passing offense and a 17th rated total offense, led by QB Geno Smith (3,978 yds, 25 TDs, 7 INTs) and WR Stedman Bailey (1,197 yds, 11 TDs). Clemson counters with QB Tajh Boyd (3,578 yds, 31 TDs), RB Andre Ellington (1,062 yds, 10 TDs) and Freshman WR Sammy Watkins (1153 yds, 11 TDs). With more offensive weapons, Clemson eventually pulls away from West Virginia, winning 35-24.
• Pick: Tigers -3

BCS National Championship: #2 Alabama vs. #1 LSU

• Alabama-LSU Date: Monday, January 9th at 8:30 on ESPN
• Alabama-LSU Point Spread: Crimson Tide -1
• Alabama-LSU Over-Under Odds: 40.5
• Alabama-LSU Spread Pick: The rematch between these 2 top defensive squads for the BCS title in New Orleans. No idea why top-ranked LSU is an underdog after winning in OT at Alabama and now playing in what will be a decided home field advantage in The Superdome. Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide ranks first in the country at yards allowed per game (191.3) with LSU #2 allowing 252.1 yards/game. Offensively, LSU ranks #13 in points scored with 38.5 and Alabama ranks #16 with 36 points a game. Crimson Tide is led by Doak Walker award winner Trent Richardson (1,583 yds, 20 TDs) and QB A.J. McCarron (2,400 yds, 16 TDs). Tigers are sparked by dual QBs Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee, who combined for 20 TDs and nearly 2,000 yards and RBs Michael Ford (755 yds, 7 TDs) and Spender Ware (700 yds, 8 TDs). Points will be at a premium for this game, which is where LSU Heisman finalist Tyrann Mathieu comes in to play with his knack making big plays as a punt returner. Look for the Tiger’s to claim the national title in convincing fashion, pulling away from the Crimson Tide in the 2nd half 27-10.
• Pick: Tigers +1

Lock Pick: LSU +1

Cotton Bowl Bonus Lock Pick: Friday, January 6th 8:00 PM on Fox. Arkansas -8 vs. Kansas State. No way Wildcats can hang with Razorbacks in this one. Arkansas 44 Kansas State 23.

Enjoy your 2012 BCS Bowl Games!

Oh, and the great link of all: things that are tougher than Adam James. It’s priceless.

Everything:

• A pretty damn comprehensive look back at the year in the sports — (FanSided)

College Football:

• What We Learned From the Fiesta Bowl — (Bootlegger Sports)
• Fiesta Bowl Full of Funny — (Detroit 4 Lyfe)
• Erin Andrews nearly gets tackled during Fiesta Bowl — (NESW Sports)
• Tailgating, Rose Bowl Style — (Thunder Treats)
• Awesome! Things tougher than Adam James — (TideSports.com Forum)

NFL:

• The biggest flops of the 2009-2010 NFL season — (Rumors and Rants)
• Chad Ochocino hooks Fireman Ed up with a trip to Cincy — (Steady Burn)
• Wild Card Weekend: Re-Run Style — (Global Sports Fraternity)
• Cowboys-Eagles Part II – (Dallas Sports Fans)

College Basketball:

• How good does that IU victory over Pitt look now? — (Post-Gazette)

NBA:

• Even Pau Gasol has an impersonator – (That NBA Lottery Pick)

NHL:

• Rapping About the Washington Capitols — (Outside the Box Score)

Misc:

• How Do You Hire? — (Small Hands, Big Ideas)
• Building a Compliance Program Part I: Developing a Risk Profile and Risk Management Program — (CCI)
• Building a Network Using Social Media — (How-to-Blog.tv)

NFL:

• Chris Myers thinks the Lions’ defensive linemen are terrorists — (Detroit 4 Lyfe)
• Pat White gets knocked out by Ike Taylor — (Zoner Sports)
• How Lovie Smith’s Cover 2 went from smiley face to frowny face in two short years — (Not Qualified to Comment)
• What was that Emmitt Smith? 7-9? — (Dallas Sports Fans)
• Chris Johnson and Usain Bolt want to race eachother — (No Guts, No Glory)

College Basketball:

• College basketball time-outs = NASCAR pit stop — (Paneech)
• Did John Calipari yell at a Louisville player (0:19 mark) — (YouTube)

College Football:

• Tostitos Fiesta Bowl: A quest for perfection — (MoonDog)
• In Alabama, football is above the law — (Global Sports Fraternity)
• Advice for Tim Tebow: Retire Now (I disagree!) — (Gregg Doyel, CBS Sports)

NBA:

• Danny Ferry faces uncertain future in Cleveland — (Waiting for Next Year)
• Today in likely bogus NBA trade rumors – Kirk Hinrich for Caron Butler? — (Tremendous Upside Potential)

Soccer:

• Iranian soccer official loses job thanks to New Year’s email to Israel — (Sports Rubbish)

Non-Sports:

• Why Twitter Will Endure — (New York Times)
• Is Twitter (Already) the New Google? — (How-to-Blog.tv)
• How Getting Stingy Like a Scoundrel Will Make You Rich — (Illuminati)

This year’s Fiesta Bowl features two teams who harbored legitimate national championship thoughts throughout the 2009 season: TCU and Boise State.

Were it not for the undefeated seasons of Alabama, Texas, and Cincinnati, the Horned Frogs and Broncos might have had a chance. As it is, they will have to settle for a multi-million dollar payday and a national Monday night audience.

All things considered, not too shabby.

Here is all of information you need to know for tonight’s Fiesta Bowl:

2010 Fiesta Bowl Quick Preview

• TCU-Boise State Kickoff Time: 8:00 PM ET
• TCU-Boise State TV: FOX
• TCU-Boise State Announcers: Sam Rosen and Tim Ryan
• TCU-Boise State Spread: TCU -7.5
• TCU-Boise State Over-Under: 54
• Dallas Sports Fans: TCU-Boise State Preview

When it comes to picking this game, I definitely like TCU straight up. I would have loved to have seen TCU get a chance to play Texas or Alabama for the national championship because I think that they are good enough to compete. They are solid in all phases of the game and while you can say what you want to about their schedule, TCU dominated their competition this year, just as you’d expect an elite team to do against the teams they played.

Boise State obviously had a terrific year as well and has already proven that they can pull of a BCS upset. And while the Broncos certainly had their fair share of blowouts, the number of close games they played against inferior competition (Tulsa and Louisiana Tech, for example) makes me think that is a very good team as opposed to a great one.

With all that said, I think that both of these teams are going to supremely motivated to prove that they are the best non-BCS school in the country.

So while I like TCU and head coach Gary Patterson (pictured left) to win, I think asking them to do so by more than a touchdown is a little much. Boise State has an experienced coach and QB, and we know how important that is in bowl games.

(And, as a quick side note, luckily Time Warner and FOX ended their pissing match so I can actually watch the game tonight!)

TCU-Boise State Prediction: TCU 35 | Boise State 31

TCU-Boise State Spread Pick: Boise State +7.5

TCU-Boise Stat Over-Under Pick: Over

Umm, can I interject here and just ask a reasonable question real quick: who the hell cares?

Apparently Fiesta Bowl officials do, according to the account of the story at SI.com:

Pryor’s absence was notable in the ballroom set aside for media day. Frustrated Fiesta Bowl officials had to tell reporters that the Buckeyes’ starting quarterback wasn’t present — and that there was nothing they could do about it.

Fiesta Bowl president and CEO John Junker said he’d like the Bowl Championship Series to provide clearer rules for media access to players.

“Any policy is workable only if there are consequences in place, which is currently not the case,” Junker said. “The present arrangement puts the team in question and the bowl in question in a difficult circumstance.”

Tressel shrugged off the stir caused by Pryor’s absence.

My favorite part is the last line. Of course Jim Tressel shrugged off Pryor’s absence. The absence was no accident, and Ohio State should not be forced to explain why they want their freshman quarterback attending meetings as opposed to being put in a situation that he might not be totally ready to handle.

First off, just so everyone is clear, Terrelle Pryor skipping the media day was not any kind of violation. Each team is required to submit a list of 30 players who will attend the media day. Ohio State did this and as far as I can tell, all 30 players were there. So tough titties Fiesta Bowl.

And why is it such a big deal anyway? Sure, we’re all love to hear Terrelle Pryor’s thoughts, mostly because he is probably the most likely player on either team to say something that could be used as bulletin board material. Pryor is a brash, confident, and still-immature freshman who famously got into numerous fights while in high school. He also vastly talented but still working to grasp the finer points of playing quarterback at a big-time college football program.

Jim Tressel no doubt wanted to avoid any situation where Terrelle Pryor could say something that could be construed as incendiary towards Texas. He also knows that his young phenom needs every minute of coaching and film study he can get to prepare for the biggest game of his young career. Why should he have to explain anything?

He made a wise choice for his team and still complied with the rules. John Junker (pictured, left) should go round his other BCS bowl cronies and figure out a way to bring a playoff to college football, rather than complaining about a freshman not attending media day. He should also not wear canary yellow sports jackets. It is my personal philosophy never to trust old men in pastel-colored suit coats. I can’t explain why, just trust me on this one.

And what if Jim Tressel wanted media day attendance to be a reward for upperclassmen? Should he have to answer to John Junker? Hell no. Jim Tressel should do whatever he thinks is best for his football team.

And that is what he did.

Good for Jim Tressel — not that it was really big deal for him. Jim Tressel could sell crap to a sewer. He is the kind of guy who could clog your toilet with a nasty deuce and then convince you that the new “potpourri” scent adds “life and zest” to your restroom.

That is why his expertly crafted explanation of the matter was no surprise:

Asked if Ohio State fans would like to hear from their starting quarterback before the game, Tressel replied, “Well, I think we owe a lot to our fans. Unfortunately, you can’t do everything you’d like to do.

“I would like all of our kids and coaches to be able to sign every autograph that every fan would like and, you know, all those kinds of things. But you can only do so many things. You have to make decisions. Some of them are well thought of, some of them aren’t.”

I guess some people think this is a bigger deal than me. A writer in the Plain-Dealer thinks Tressel did the Fiesta Bowl and the fans wrong by not making Pryor available. I simply disagree. If this were the NFL, it would be different. They are professionals. College football players are not supposed to be professionals…which people sometimes forget. So if the coach doesn’t want them there, deal with it — it’s the coach’s decision.

And I think Jim Tressel made a good one.

(Update: For the record, after reading a few other posts on this subject in which the authors disagree with my take, I realized I should clarify something. Technically, all BCS teams are supposed to make all starters available for the media day. However, there is no penalty or consequence to enforce the rule. So technically, Jim Tressel and Ohio State violated the letter of the rule by not making Terrelle Pryor available for the Fiesta Bowl media day. Still, I think it’s a stupid rule and I don’t think Jim Tressel, Ohio State, or Terrelle Pryor should be taking heat for it.)