Updated: January 9, 2007, 9:46 AM ET
Bowl Predictions: The Schwab Outpicks SportsNation!
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Our esteemed Coordinating Producer for ESPN's Studio Production, better known as "The Schwab" to fans of his regular appearances on various programs, came up two games short of SportsNation in predicting the winners of all of last season's bowl games. But Schwab, never one to back down from a challenge, came back this year for revenge and didn't disappoint.
Despite the numerous upsets this bowl season, Schwab picked 24 of 32 games correctly compared to SportsNation's 21. Sadly, neither picked Florida to upset Ohio State in the BCS championship. Nobody's perfect.
This season: SportsNation 21-11 | The Schwab 24-8
Last season: SportsNation 16-12 | The Schwab 14-14
| Bowl Pick 'Em! Pick the Winners with ESPN's Howie Schwab! | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Bowl Game | |||
| Dec. 19 | San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia (8 p.m. ET, ESPN2) TCU vs. Northern Illinois Howie says: TCU has seven straight wins, NIU 3-3 in last six ... sorry Garrett Wolfe. |
76% |
34-20 |
NIU 7 |
| Dec. 21 | Pioneer PureVision Las Vegas (8 p.m. ET, ESPN) BYU vs. Oregon Howie says: Too much John Beck for Cougars. BYU riding nine-game win streak, Oregon lost last three games. Look for a shootout. |
54% |
38-30 |
Oregon 8 |
| Dec. 22 | R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl (8 p.m. ET, ESPN2) Rice vs. Troy Howie says: Rice's last four wins came by a total of 14 points. My friend Helen told me to pick Troy! |
60% |
24-20 |
Rice 17 |
| Dec. 23 | Papajohns.com Bowl (1 p.m. ET, ESPN2) South Florida vs. East Carolina Howie says: I love this bowl for obvious reasons. Any game named after a pizza place works for me. |
79% |
24-17 |
ECU 7 |
| Dec. 23 | New Mexico (4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) New Mexico vs. San Jose St. Howie says: Lobos have an advantage playing in Albuquerque. Dick Tomey's club keeps this close |
54% |
27-20 |
NM 12 |
| Dec. 23 | Bell Helicopter Armed Forces (8 p.m. ET, ESPN) Tulsa vs. Utah Howie says: Tulsa closed 1-3 in final four games of season. |
56% |
28-24 |
Tulsa 13 |
| Dec. 24 | Sheraton Hawaii (8 p.m. ET, ESPN) Arizona St. vs. Hawaii Howie says: Sun Devils end Dirk Koetter's era with tough loss. Colt Brennan breaks single-season TD pass mark. |
81% |
38-31 |
ASU 24 |
| Dec. 26 | Motor City (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) Middle Tennessee vs. Central Michigan Howie says: Middle Tennessee State lost to Maryland, Oklahoma, Louisville, South Carolina and Troy -- all bowl teams. Make it six losses to bowlers. |
78% |
38-24 |
MTU 14 |
| Dec. 27 | Emerald (8 p.m. ET, ESPN) Florida St. vs. UCLA Howie says: UCLA'S bowl game was a win over USC. Time for Bobby Bowden's team to come through for the future. |
68% |
27-23 |
UCLA 27 |
| Dec. 28 | PetroSun Independence (4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) Oklahoma St. vs. Alabama Howie says: Cowboys lost four games by six points or less. 'Bama really struggled down the stretch, happy to have season end. |
50.1% By 7 votes! out of 45,000+ |
23-17 |
Alabama 31 |
| Dec. 28 | Pacific Life Holidayo (8 p.m. ET, ESPN) Cal vs. Texas A&M Howie says: One of the most interesting bowl games and both closed 1-2 in final three games. Slight edge to Jeff Tedford's team. |
51.5% |
27-20 |
A&M 10 |
| Dec. 28 | Texas (8 p.m. ET, NFL Network) Rutgers vs. Kansas St. Howie says: Greg Schiano's dream season ends with a win, though it won't be easy. |
78% |
30-20 |
KSU 10 |
| Dec. 29 | Gaylord Hotels Music City (1 p.m. ET, ESPN) Clemson vs. Kentucky Howie says: Clemson's best performances came earlier in season. Kentucky has a lot to prove, pulls off stunner. |
67% |
27-24 |
Clemson 20 |
| Dec. 29 | Brut Sun (2 p.m. ET, CBS) Oregon St. vs. Missouri Howie says: Beavers beat USC, Hawaii, Oregon and Arizona State, all in bowls. |
64% |
30-21 |
Missouri 38 |
| Dec. 29 | AutoZone Liberty (4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) Houston vs. South Carolina Howie says: When in doubt, go with Spurrier. |
74% |
23-14 |
Houston 36 |
| Dec. 29 | Insight (7:30 p.m. ET, NFL Network) Texas Tech vs. Minnesota Howie says: I know Minnesota won its last three games but this is not a great bowl team (will Glen Mason put this on a bulletin board?) |
75% |
37-24 |
Minnesota 41 OT |
| Dec. 29 | Champs Sports (8 p.m. ET, ESPN) Purdue vs. Maryland Howie says: One of the toughest games to pick. I respect Tiller and Friedgen a lot. |
58% |
23-20 |
Purdue 7 |
| Dec. 30 | Meineke Car Care (1 p.m. ET, ESPN) Navy vs. Boston College Howie says: Navy No. 1 in rushing, B.C. No. 13 in rush defense ... hmm. Going with a surprise. |
69% |
23-20 |
Navy 24 |
| Dec. 30 | Alamo (4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) Texas vs. Iowa Howie says: Iowa had 19 takeaways, 29 giveaways. I hope Colt McCoy is healthy! |
75% |
31-17 |
Iowa 24 |
| Dec. 30 | Chick-fil-A (8 p.m. ET, ESPN) Georgia vs. Virginia Tech Howie says: Hokies defense had 16 INT, allowed just five TD passes. |
59% |
24-14 |
Va. Tech 24 |
| Dec. 31 | MPC Computers (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) Miami vs. Nevada Howie says: Sorry, but I am rooting for good guy Larry Coker to go out a winner. I hope Miami cares about this game. |
61% |
21-13 |
Nevada 20 |
| Jan. 1 | Outback (11 a.m. ET, ESPN) Tennessee vs. Penn St. Howie says: Tough season for Joe Paterno. |
59% |
30-17 |
Tenn 10 |
| Jan. 1 | AT&T Cotton (11:30 a.m. ET, FOX) Auburn vs. Nebraska Howie says: I am still surprised Nebraska won a bowl game last year! |
58% |
31-13 |
Nebraska 14 |
| Jan. 1 | Toyota Gator (1 p.m. ET, CBS) West Virginia vs. Georgia Tech Howie says: Georgia Tech lost last two games. Please tell me Pat White is healthy! |
82% |
27-20 |
GT 35 |
| Jan. 1 | Capital One (1 p.m. ET, ABC) Arkansas vs. Wisconsin Howie says: Bret Bielema has done a great job and Badgers were screwed by BCS rules. Wisconsin deserves a lot more respect. |
53% |
20-17 |
Arkansas 14 |
| Jan. 1 | Rose Bowl presented by Citi (5 p.m. ET, ABC) USC vs. Michigan Howie says: Remember how Auburn struggled a few years ago when it was snubbed? |
72% |
23-21 |
Michigan 18 |
| Jan. 1 | Tostitos Fiesta (8 p.m. ET, FOX) Boise St. vs. Oklahoma Howie says: Boise State allowed five rushing TD all season; closer than most thought. |
63% |
24-21 |
OU 42 |
| Jan. 2 | FedEx Orange (8 p.m. ET, FOX) Louisville vs. Wake Forest Howie says: Going on a limb with a team that was a phenomenal story. |
74% |
20-17 |
Wake Forest 13 |
| Jan. 3 | Allstate Sugar (8 p.m. ET, FOX) Notre Dame vs. LSU Howie says: At times Tigers were best team in nation this season. Can't take ND 'til they win a bowl & it has been a while! |
64% |
30-17 |
Notre Dame 14 |
| Jan. 6 | International (noon ET, ESPN2) Cincinnati vs. Western Michigan Howie says: Strange game. I am looking forward to rendition of Oh Canada! |
68% |
21-15 |
Western Michigan 24 |
| Jan. 7 | GMAC (8 p.m. ET, ESPN) Ohio vs. Southern Miss Howie says: This will be a very competitive game. |
61% |
20-14 |
Ohio 7 |
| Jan. 8 | Tostitos BCS Championship Game (8 p.m. ET, FOX) Ohio St. vs. Florida Howie says: Sorry Gators, Michigan would have put up a better fight. |
67% |
38-14 |
Ohio State 14 |
