Extra Point

By Mike Fitzgerald

Wednesday, December 18, 1996

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It’s that time of the year
to go bowling

IT'S that time of the sports year again.

You should be making a list - and checking it twice - to get ready for the 18 college football bowl games that kick off tomorrow and run until Jan. 2.

Cases of beer. Bags of pretzels. Boxes of cigars. A megaphone to yell at the refs - or your kids, if they bother you during the games. Several crying towels.

And a pistol to shoot the TV set if your favorite team loses - or, worse yet, if it doesn't cover the point spread.

So here is another chapter of Fitz's Fearless Forecast.

As always, though, the mandatory warning: Do not wager your house, car or favorite uncle on these picks. Remember, they are FOR AMUSEMENT ONLY.

Especially with the weird overtime scoring system, which will really drive gamblers up the wall.

Las Vegas Bowl, at Las Vegas, tomorrow: Hey, if Hawaii can beat Ball State in basketball, Nevada can knock them off in football.

Nevada 35, Ball State 21.

Aloha Bowl, at Honolulu, Dec. 25: This is a pretty even matchup, but Cal's losing ways in the last half of the season will continue. Welcome home Paul Johnson, a fine lad! A fine coach!

Navy 28, Cal 21.

Liberty Bowl, at Memphis, Dec. 27: Syracuse will roll over Houston in chilly conditions.

Syracuse 31, Houston 14.

Carquest Bowl, at Miami, Dec. 27: Miami has the home advantage and will zoom past the Cavaliers.

Virginia. Miami 24, Virginia 14.

Copper Bowl, at Tucson, Ariz., Dec. 27: Wisconsin will pick up where it left off in Hawaii and squash another WAC team.

Wisconsin 34, Utah 10.

Peach Bowl, at Atlanta, Dec. 28: Clemson will upset Louisiana State in this one - maybe OT, baby!

Clemson 31, LSU 28.

Alamo Bowl, at San Antonio, Texas, Dec. 29: Texas Tech will get past Iowa in another close one.

Texas Tech 17, Iowa 14.

Holiday Bowl, at San Diego, Dec. 30: Colorado will clobber Washington, even without the great Fred vonAppen on its staff.

Colorado 34, Washington 10.

Sun Bowl, at El Paso, Texas, Dec. 31: Stanford in an upset over Michigan State.

Stanford 17, Michigan State 14.

Independence Bowl, at Shreveport, La., Dec. 31: Army will keep it close, but Auburn pulls it out near the end.

Auburn 15, Army 13.

Orange Bowl, at Miami, Dec. 31: Nebraska will bounce back to pound Virginia Tech.

Nebraska 28, Virginia Tech 7.

Outback Bowl, at Tampa, Fla., Jan. 1: Michigan will edge Alabama in a good matchup.

Michigan 17, Alabama 16.

Gator Bowl, at Jacksonville, Fla., Jan. 1: West Virginia gets past North Carolina in a ho-hum game.

West Virginia 21, North Carolina 14.

Citrus Bowl, at Orlando, Fla., Jan. 1: Tennessee will edge Northwestern in a great game, maybe another OT finish.

Tennessee 31, Northwestern 28.

Cotton Bowl, at Dallas, Jan. 1: Brigham Young will beat Kansas State in a mild upset.

BYU 28, Kansas State 20.

Rose Bowl, at Pasadena, Calif., Jan. 1: A Big Ten team in the Rose Bowl? Ho-ho-ho. Arizona State rolls over Ohio State.

ASU 34, Ohio State 21.

Fiesta Bowl, at Tempe, Ariz., Jan. 1: Here's another good matchup and the toughest game to pick. So, uh, I don't know. The coin flip says Longhorns.

Texas 24, Penn State 21.

Sugar Bowl, at New Orleans, Jan. 2: The debate over who is No. 1 will really rage as this season's screwed-up bowl alliance scenario finally unfolds - or unravels. Florida beats Florida State in what seems like their 10th meeting this season. Florida 28, Florida State 24.

Let's set up a real national championship, you knuckleheads!