NCAA: Fifty Teams Left in Bowl Scramble

By Matt Pearl Sports Central Columnist

The Division I-A college football postseason has arrived, and it almost rivals the NCAA basketball tournament in its number of contestants - fifty teams will play in bowl games this year.

However, only two - er, three - teams have an actual chance at a national title. The winner of the Oklahoma/Florida State Orange Bowl will win the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll, while the Miami Hurricanes still have an outside shot in the AP Poll in they beat Florida in the Sugar Bowl and undefeated Oklahoma falls to the Seminoles.

But, the postseason is a grand time, a countdown of the year's most impressive teams. Every so often, you find a story line that intrigues you, a player, or coach who amazes you, and a team that inspires you. The diamonds in the rough do indeed exist.

In one sentence or less, here is the top story for each bowl game:

Mobile Alabama Bowl - Texas Christian has been abandoned by its coach, while Southern Miss has been abandoned to a low spot by the Bowl Selection Committee.

Las Vegas Bowl - The UNLV Rebels and Arkansas Razorbacks barely made it to bowl eligibility; this one could be a stinker.

Oahu Bowl - Georgia coach Jim Donnan is gone after this game, while Virginia head man George Welsh may retire.

Aloha Bowl - Arizona State and Boston College have been on the fringe of the bowl scene all season; both teams have talent, but have underachieved.

Motor City Bowl - The Marshall Thundering Herd will play their fourth straight Motor City Bowl, while Cincinnati enters its first behind wild QB Deontey Kenner.

Gallery Furniture Bowl - At the very least, you've got two great quarterbacks in East Carolina's David Garrard and Texas Tech's Kliff Kingsbury.

Humanitarian Bowl - This is a home game for Boise State (Boise is the location of the Humanitarian Bowl), but don't count out a high-scoring UTEP squad.

Music City Bowl - It's a letdown for Ole Miss and a farewell for West Virginia, who say goodbye to legendary coach Don Nehlen after this game.

MicronPC.com Bowl - Both Minnesota and NC State came on strong early, but have faded; their consolation prize: a measly dot-com bowl.

Insight.com Bowl - Two overachieving clubs face off when pass-happy Pittsburgh faces defensively-strong Iowa State.

Liberty Bowl - The quarterbacks thrive at Louisville, where newcomer Dave Ragone has stolen the show and looks to exploit a quietly-tough Colorado State team.

Sun Bowl - A rematch of the 1998 Rose Bowl, both Wisconsin and UCLA wish they could be back there.

Peach Bowl - Georgia Tech knocked off its in-state rivals Georgia to end the season; now the Yellow Jackets stay at home to take on LSU.

Holiday Bowl - Get ready for an excellent game - Texas and Oregon are two tough ball clubs that will put on a good show.

Alamo Bowl - Nebraska was projected as a preseason No. 1; Northwestern was projected at No. 11 - in the Big Ten.

Silicon Valley Classic - The WAC and Mountain West conferences make an appearance as Fresno State battles Air Force in the inaugural Silicon Valley Classic.

Independence Bowl - This game features Texas A&M and Mississippi State, two teams that aren't all that talented, but are well-coached and work very hard.

Cotton Bowl - Kansas State nearly topped No. 1 Oklahoma; now the Wildcats battle a rising Tennessee squad to kick off New Year's Day.

Outback Bowl - The dynasty meets the upstarts as Ohio State looks to end South Carolina's Cinderella story the hard way.

Gator Bowl - What a treat it will be to watch the nation's two most exciting quarterbacks - Clemson's Woody Dantzler and Virginia Tech's Michael Vick.

Citrus Bowl - Michigan and Auburn should put plenty of points on the board - both have awesome offenses with so-so D's.

Rose Bowl - Ah, the BCS. Purdue has a late-game toughness that will be tested by No. 4 Washington and its tremendous QB, Marques Tuiasosopo.

Fiesta Bowl - Notre Dame always stands tall in the big games, but the Irish will have to watch out below for Oregon State's 5'7" running back Ken Simonton.

Sugar Bowl - Miami can win a share of the national title if it takes down Florida and if Oklahoma loses; however, don't count out the feisty Gators and their freshman sensations, either.

Orange Bowl - Everything's on the table for a big game - Heupel vs. Weinke, Midwest vs. Florida, and Oklahoma against Florida State in the national championship.

Article courtesy of Sports Central