Oklahoma State-Oregon Prediction

I came out to San Diego thinking Oklahoma State was 14 points better than Oregon and I am going to stick with it. But one thing about the Holiday Bowl is that with all the activities they tire you out with trips to the zoo, Sea World, lunch on the USS Bonhamme Richard. The good thing is the Cowboys really enjoy being together and Mike Gundy believes in not overworking or practicing his team.

“I like to think that our players enjoy each other and have good team chemistry and that is important during the bowl season,” said Gundy. “Coach Bellotti and I were just talking. It is a long season from the start (on) August 1st until the end of November, and that is a long season for these guys.

"I think the team chemistry and the attitude is very important in keeping them close as a group and the attitude is as important as anything.”

Coach Bellotti mentioned a secret weapon as well for his team. The Ducks arch-rival and opponent in The Civil War is Oregon State and the Beavers wear orange and black.

“It doesn’t hurt our preparation that they are OSU and that their colors are orange and black,” joked Bellotti. “That isn’t lost on the Ducks and kind of gets our dander up a little bit.”

I think everybody is right in saying that both offenses have an advantage, both defenses are working to get stops, and special teams may be a difference maker and the Cowboys are better there.

“Offense sells tickets, defense wins games, and special teams wins championships,” said Bellotti. “I do think special teams will have their day. It is the one area that may not get practiced as much, at least not live, leading up to a bowl game. We did try to do that in order to keep the edge.
<>br> "They have Dez Bryant and they want to get him the ball and we don’t want him to have it. If my punter kicks the ball 35 yards out of bounds in this game then I’ll be happy. We have some guys in kicking like Matt Evenson and Morgan Flint that are battle tested.”

That will be a lot of kicking the ball out of bounds. I believe the Cowboys use special teams and at least one score and another big play to create that 14 point or two touchdown difference.

No. 13 Oklahoma State 48,
No. 15 Oregon 34

Big 12 Predictions Season record straight up: 79-17
Season record vs. the spread: 49-35 (games with FCS opponents have no line meaning fewer games vs. the spread)

Alamo Bowl
Missouri 38, Northwestern 13

Insight Bowl
Kansas 34, Minnesota 21

Gator Bowl
Clemson 31, Nebraska 28

Cotton Bowl
Texas Tech 49, Mississippi 28

Fiesta Bowl
Texas 42, Ohio State 17

BCS National Championship
Florida 51, Oklahoma 45