Accessing the bowl picks so far...

The holiday tradition is shared by many. There are the multitude of Christmas cards, of course, that flood the mailbox every December. But there is also that special envelope. The one that contains the annual college football bowl game card. In 11 years, we have won twice (winning loot always goes deep into three figures), finished near the bottom a few times, and finished tantalizingly close many times.

This year? So far, not that great. A whopping 4-4-1.

Boise State -6 vs. East Carolina (ECU 41 BSU 38) Not sweating this one, as the entire free world picked BSU -- no doubt due to last year's ultra-lucky bowl win against Oklahoma.

Purdue -8 vs. Central Michigan (Purdue 51 CM 48) We took the mediocre team from the mediocre conference. Instead the solid team from the underrated MAC easily covered.

Texas -2 vs. Arizona State (Texas 52 ASU 34) We gleefully accepted this holiday gift. Dennis Erickson coaching in a big game? Ha-Ha...easy $$$ every time.

Boston College -3 vs. Michigan State (BC 24 MSU 21) The Eagles and Coach Jags had a 10 point lead with six minutes to go. What do they do? Pass the ball, of course. The Spartans get a quick pick and eventually score, moving this game from a sure W to the dreaded push. We know Mark Whipple. And he would run the ball...and, of course, cover the spread.

Houston +3 vs. TCU (TCU 20 Houston 13) Wow, two teams from Texas playing a bowl game in...wait for it...TEXAS. They should have named this one The Who Cares Bowl. It would be funny, if only the Cougars had covered for us.

Oregon State -5 vs. Maryland (OSU 21 MD 14) It is amazing that a school like Maryland is content to let coaches Fridge and Williams lead the football and basketball teams into mediocrity season after season.

UConn +3 vs. Wake Forest (Wake 24 UConn 10) UMassers watch with joy as UCan't loses a bowl game. And yet UCan't is everything the Minutemen strive to be.

Mississippi St. +4 vs. Central Florida (MSU 10 CF 3) We love Sylvester Croom. Great guy. Good coach. Nice story.

Penn State -5 vs. Texas A&M (PSU 24 A&M 17) The Aggie tough guys weren't making out with their dates much after the first quarter. Want him to retire or not, it's fun watching JoePa coach.