This was supposed to be posted yesterday, but Bobby Bowden invited me to play 18 at Augusta out of the blue

Since the sixth grade (1996) I've overseen a now fairly prestigious bowl picking contest (the aptly named "Mike Bowl Challenge") for my friends and family members. I started the contest with the sole intention of making games like tonight's Poinsettia Bowl between Navy and Utah somewhat interesting, and for 11 years the MBC has served that purpose admirably.

But now, after 11 championship-less years, I want more. Through junior high, high school and college I've had to suffer through the humiliation of consistently finishing behind my mother (whose sole prognosticating technique outside of outright guessing is picking teams that share her first name, Virginia) and little sister (who hasn't watched anything on television that didn't involve a red carpet or pedophiles being busted by Chris Hansen since she was five). I could almost taste the modest cash prize a year ago, but Ohio State's disastrous performance in the mythical national title game left me on the outside looking in once again.

Well all that is about to change my friends, and now I'm willing to share with you the picks that will finally take me to the promised land of winning a contest that people have expected me to win since I was 12.

1. 12/20/07 Poinsettia Bowl: UTAH vs. NAVY

Pick: Utah

They beat at Louisville at home so that means they must be awesome...right?

2. 12/21/07 New Orleans Bowl:  FLORIDA ATLANTIC vs. MEMPHIS

Pick: Memphis

I saw Florida Atlantic with my own eyes two years ago, and thought then that they were the worst team in the history of Division I football. I simply can't imagine a team improving that much in 27 months, then again, it's Schnellenberger.

3. 12/22/07 Papajohns.com Bowl: CINCINNATI vs. SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI

Pick: Cincinnati

Anyone who says otherwise is a fool.

4. 12/22/07 New Mexico Bowl: NEW MEXICO vs. NEVADA

Pick: Nevada

Don't make me give a reason because I have none to share.

5. 12/22/07 Las Vegas Bowl: BYU vs. UCLA

Pick: BYU

I really like Max Hall and UCLA doesn't have a coach.

6. 12/23/07 Hawaii Bowl: EAST CAROLINA vs. BOISE STATE

Pick: Boise State

Isn't this supposed to be the Humanitarian Bowl? No? Boise still wins because they're a lot better.

7. 12/26/07 Motor City Bowl: CENTRAL MICHIGAN vs. PURDUE

Pick: Purdue

I think this will be a better game than the majority of the experts seem to, but in the end I'm still riding the same pony.

8. 12/27/07 Holiday Bowl: ARIZONA STATE vs. TEXAS

Pick: Arizona State

This used to always be a fun game, and these are two pretty good teams, but I have absolutely zero desire to watch this bowl.

9. 12/28/07 Champs Sports Bowl: BOSTON COLLEGE vs. MICHIGAN STATE

Pick: Boston College

Mike Bowl Challenge rule #1: Always pick Boston College.

10. 12/28/07 Texas Bowl: TCU vs. HOUSTON

Pick: TCU

Because Kevin Kolb is gone.

11. 12/28/07 Emerald Bowl: OREGON STATE vs. MARYLAND

Pick: Maryland

At least the commercials should be entertaining.

12. 12/29/07 Meineke Car Care Bowl: WAKE FOREST vs. CONNECTICUT

Pick: Wake Forest

Uconn is the one Big East bowl team that I still have no confidence in. Larry Taylor is a cheat.

13. 12/29/07 Liberty Bowl: CENTRAL FLORIDA vs. MISSISSIPPI STATE

Pick: Central Florida

Kevin Smith alone makes this game worthy of tuning into periodically.

14. 12/29/07 Alamo Bowl: TEXAS A&M vs. PENN STATE

Pick: Texas A&M

Two fairly large underachievers, one playing without its head coach, but I'm going with A&M for the sole reason that I like Stephen McGee.

15. 12/30/07 Independence Bowl: ALABAMA vs. COLORADO

Pick: Colorado

Not gonna see a lot of defense...or viewers.

16. 12/31/07 Armed Forces Bowl: CALIFORNIA vs. AIR FORCE

Pick: California

Because Cal was good in September.

17. 12/31/07 Sun Bowl: OREGON vs. SOUTH FLORIDA

Pick: South Florida

Dennis Dixon stars in: "Wounded Star Watches Team Thrashed in Bowl Game."

Well that one wasn't very good.

18. 12/31/07 Humanitarian Bowl: FRESNO STATE vs. GEORGIA TECH

Pick: Georgia Tech

I love the early game on New Year's Eve, and for absolutely no reason.

19. 12/31/07 Music City Bowl: KENTUCKY vs. FLORIDA STATE

Pick: Kentucky

I think the bigger question at this point is whether or not this game is even going to be played.

20. 12/31/07 Insight Bowl: OKLAHOMA STATE vs. INDIANA

Pick: Oklahoma State

I'd love to see the Hoosiers pull out another one for Hep, but I'd rather hear the Mike Gundy speech played on repeat during the first and second quarters.

21. 12/31/07 Chick-Fil-A Bowl: AUBURN vs. CLEMSON

Pick: Clemson

Because Clemson's running backs and Cullen Harper are pretty good, and this game isn't important enough for the Tigers (the orange ones) to completely choke.

22. 1/1/08 Outback Bowl: WISCONSIN vs. TENNESSEE

Pick: Tennessee

The best game you won't watch.

23. 1/1/08 Cotton Bowl: ARKANSAS vs. MISSOURI

Pick: Missouri

I actually picked Arkansas and then went back after I was done and switched to Missouri. This, of course, all but guarantees victory for Bobby P's new boys.

24. 1/1/08 Gator Bowl: VIRGINIA vs. TEXAS TECH

Pick: Texas Tech

I don't care how many games they barely win, Virginia is not good and you can't convince me otherwise.

25. 1/1/08 Capital One Bowl: FLORIDA vs. MICHIGAN

Pick: Florida

An inferior opponent and a non-BCS game could be the perfect cure for the Heisman curse.

26. 1/1/08 Rose Bowl: USC vs. ILLINOIS

Pick: USC

Close your eyes and try to picture Illinois winning this game. If you just saw anything remotely clear then be my guest and take the Zooks.

27. 1/1/08 Sugar Bowl: HAWAII vs. GEORGIA

Pick: Georgia

My biggest hope for this football season is that Hawaii wins this game, LSU beats Ohio State, and a two-loss team wins the national championship while the sport's only undefeated squad goes uncrowned. But Georgia rolls.

28. 1/2/08 Fiesta Bowl: OKLAHOMA vs. WEST VIRGINIA

Pick: Oklahoma

I was all set to go with the 'Eers until Rich Rod bolted. Now I think this one could get ugly.

29. 1/3/08 Orange Bowl: VIRGINIA TECH vs. KANSAS

Pick: Kansas

Because VPI players know that if they try to thug it up Mangino will eat them.

30. 1/6/08 International Bowl: RUTGERS vs. BALL STATE

Pick: Rutgers

I hate these post-New Year's games that should be played before Christmas, and therefore I refuse to comment further.

31. 1/6/08 GMAC Bowl: TULSA vs. BOWLING GREEN

Pick: Tulsa

Hate it.

32. 1/7/08 BCS Championship Game: LSU vs. OHIO STATE

Pick: Ohio State

I miss this game every year, so I'm going with the Bucks only because I think LSU is going to win. If Georgia beats Hawaii then I hope this game is called after a scoreless four quarters and 16 overtimes.

You'll have to tell me if it is because I'll be watching a basketball game.