January 2, 2009: Cotton, Liberty and Sugar Bowl games are on for today

It was a great start to the New Year yesterday enjoying the Outback and Rose Bowl games, along with parts of the Capital One, Gator and Orange Bowl games. Congratulations to Iowa and USC in very strong performances. Nebraska pulled on their second bowl win under coach Bo Pelini, the first was in 2003 as a interim coach. Georgia and Virginia Tech were both winners.

Today, we have the Cotton, Liberty and Sugar Bowl games up. The majority of bowl games are in the books, but three major BCS games are yet to be played, including the BCS Championship game.

The 2009 Cotton Bowl: Texas Tech (11-1) vs. Mississippi (8-4) in this Big 12 vs. SEC match up on FOX. The Texas Tech Red Raiders finished in a three-way tied for first in the Big 12 South, while the Mississippi Rebels second in the SEC West.

In the last five bowl games, Texas Tech's Mike Leach is 4-1. The lone loss, the Red Raiders lost 10-13 in the 2006 Cotton Bowl to Alabama, in the Big 12 vs. SEC match up. The Rebels are playing in their first bowl game, since the 2004 Cotton Bowl. By the way, the Rebels won 31-28, in the SEC vs. Big 12 match up, to Oklahoma State

Cidsports' prediction for the 2009 Cotton Bowl:

Texas Tech 27
Mississippi 33

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My prediction for the Liberty Bowl:

Kentucky 20

East Carolina 24

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My prediction for the Sugar Bowl:

Utah 24

Alabama 35

It was a great start to the 2009 year with the January 1 bowl games. The NHL enjoyed a little ice time at Wrigley Field and the College Basketball season is beginning to heat up as most conferences are beginning conference play. For example, the Creighton Bluejays are off to a 2-0 start with wins over Wichita State and Indiana State to open the 2008-09 Missouri Valley Conference basketball season.

Enjoy your first weekend of the New Year! T.G.I.F. to all!

peace