Keep on hibernating because it's bowl season eight more days

What better weather to hibernate and watch football for the next eight days from noon until late-night pizza feeding time around midnight?

Gazette lazy slob R.B. Headley has that gameplan in place and hopefully — unlike NFL on Christmas — somebody will actually make a few of his picks seem less than totally stupid.

R.B. joins AP guru Ralph Russo to predicat all of remaining bowl games starting with today’s Quick Lane Bowl team featuring Big Ten Golphers fron Minneesotah!

Russo: MINNESOTA 24-13. RB: The Gophers are 5-7, which means they should be thrilled to still be playing like Nebraska in 2015 vs. UCLA — Big Red’s last bowl win..MINNESOTA 31-22

First Responder Bowl, Texas State (minus 4 1/2) vs. Rice

RUSSO: Why watch? See something that has never happened before: Texas State playing in a bowl game. PICK: Texas State 38-28. RB: A chance to watch another former failed Husker QB in Luke McCaffrey, who’s CAUGHT 12 touchdown passes as a Rice receiver. I’ll even shake it up with ...RICE 35-31.

Guaranteed Rate Bowl, Phoenix

Kansas vs. UNLV (plus 12 1/2)

RUSSO: Why watch? Two fun teams that have shed their losing histories to find success. Also, sounds like a great NCAA men’s basketball Final Four game from the early 1990s. PICK: Kansas 42-33. RB: I’ll take the Jayhawks to win by more than a Danny Manning buzzer beater...KANSAS 41-27.

Wednesday

Military Bowl, Annapolis, Md.

No. 23 Tulane (plus 7 1/2) vs. Virginia Tech

RUSSO: Why watch? Hokies appear to be on the rise, with a 5-3 run to end the season under second-year coach Brent Pry after several years in the doldrums. PICK: Virginia Tech 24-20. RB: If Tulane wears the angry Wave growling face decals on their helmets, I’ll give them a chance but it’s holidays so take the Gobblers (Hokies)...VIRGINIA TECH 28-20.

Duke’s Mayo Bowl, Charlotte, N.C.

North Carolina vs. West Virginia (minus 5 1/2)

RUSSO: Why watch? West Virginia coach Neal Brown began the season on the hottest seat in college football and will now end it trying to reach nine wins. PICK: West Virginia 34-21. RB: It’s sort of hoops season and all know I love the Tar Heels. I’ll give Mack Brown the edge even without QB Maye...CAROLINA 34-30.

Holiday Bowl, San Diego

No. 16 Louisville (minus 7 1/2) vs. Southern California

RUSSO: Why watch? No Caleb Williams for USC, but Trojans freshman WR Zachariah Branch is a game-breaker and one of the most exciting players in the country. PICK: Louisville 35-24. RB: No Caleb Williams and still no Trojan defense? Plus Louisville should be the more motvated team: LOUISVILLE 34-27.

Texas Bowl, Houston

No. 22 Oklahoma State (plus 2 1/2) vs. Texas A&M

RUSSO: Why watch? Get a look at a team that was good enough to make a bowl game, but bad enough to convince A&M to pay $76 million to fire the coach. PICK: Oklahoma State 31-28. RB: Neither team finished well but at least the Cowboys aren’t overrun with opt-outs or transfer pool jumpers: OSU 28-24.

Thursday

Fenway Bowl, Boston

No. 17 SMU (minus 10 1/2) vs. Boston College. RUSSO: Why watch? Well, it’s a future ACC matchup. PICK: SMU 28-14. RB: Crazy things could happen with football next to the Green Monster. I’ll be watching and thinking that tackle was right where the late great Don Zimmer and Alex Rodriguez scuffled in Yankees-Red Sox two decades ago...SMU 31-28

Pinstripe Bowl, New York

Rutgers vs. Miami (minus 1 1/2)

RUSSO: Why watch? Floridians going to New York for the holidays. Isn’t it supposed to be the other way around? PICK: Miami 17-12. RB: Hurricanes historically sleep through “small bowls” so I’ll roll with Big Ten and ...RUTGERS 20-17

Pop-Tarts Bowl, Orlando, Fla.

No. 19 North Carolina State vs. Kansas State (minus 3)

RUSSO: Why watch? Two words: Edible mascot. PICK: Kansas State 26-20. RB: I just want Pop-Tarts! I also want Wildcats but many have opted out while Wolfpack are hungry...NC STATE 27-17.

Alamo Bowl, San Antonio

No. 12 Oklahoma vs. No. 14 Arizona (minus 2 1/2)

RUSSO: Why watch? See the future of Oklahoma football in five-star freshman QB Jackson Arnold, who steps in for the departed Dillon Gabriel. PICK: Arizona 34-31. RB: This is a classic vibe screaming Boomer Sooner! OKLAHOMA 38-31

Friday

Clemson (minus 5 1/2) vs. Kentucky

RUSSO: Why watch? Not a great year for Clemson, but with a victory the Tigers could extend their streak of seasons finishing ranked in the AP Top 25 to 13, second longest in the nation behind Alabama’s current 15.

PICK: Clemson 24-17.

RB: I can’t think Gator Bowl without recalling Pelini Huskers beating Clemson in this game 15 years ago...CLEMSON 23-19

Other bowl picks shortened:

Sun Bowl, El Paso, Texas

No. 15 Notre Dame (minus 6 1/2) vs. No. 21 Oregon State

Why watch? The first Sun Bowl matching ranked teams since 2008. In that game, Oregon State beat Pitt 3-0. Wait, is this actually a reason to watch? PICK: Notre Dame 20-12. R.B. What’s more impactful? Irish QB question or Beaver coaching change?..OREGON ST. 24-23.

Liberty Bowl: Russo likes IOWA ST; R.B. sees home team MEMPHIS prevailing.

Cotton Bowl: Both take OHIO STATE over Missouri

Peach Bowl: Both take MISSISSIPPI over Penn State

Music City Bowl: Both take AUBURN over Maryland.

Orange Bowl, Miami Gardens, Fla.

No. 4 Florida State (plus 14) vs. No. 6 Georgia

RUSSO: Why watch? Let’s find out just how important injured QB Jordan Travis is to the Seminoles. RB: Seminoles will be motivated? How about Georgia? Enough to beat FSU third-team QB...GEORGIA 24-10.

Can’t remember the bowl name but both like WYOMING over Toledo to finish Dec. 30.

Monday

ReliaQuest Bowl, Tampa, Fla.

No. 13 LSU (minus 10 1/2) vs. Wisconsin

RUSSO: Why watch? Heisman winner Jayden Daniels is undecided on playing, but how’s this for symmetry if he does: Daniels’ last game for Arizona State before transferring was a bowl game against Wisconsin.PICK: LSU 35-23. RB: Badgers make it closer? Not likely with LSU’s firepower: LSU 41-24.

Citrus Bowl, Orlando, Fla.

No. 20 Iowa (plus 7 1/2) vs. No. 25 Tennessee

RUSSO: Why watch? Hawkeyes only need to score 109 points to reach the total set at the beginning of the season to trigger a renewal of offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz’s contract — which explains why he has already been fired. PICK: Tennessee 17-12.RB: This has a weird nobody likes Iowa flavor which usually brings out the best Hawkeyes...TENNESSEE 22-14.

Fiesta Bowl, Glendale, Ariz.

No. 8 Oregon vs. No. 18 Liberty (plus 18 1/2)

RUSSO: Why watch? One last goodbye to Oregon’s Bo Nix, who is set to make his NCAA record 61st career start at quarterback. It has been a wild ride. PICK: Oregon 48-31. RB: We need one bowl game that totals close to 100 points. Here it is ...OREGON 59-40.

Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Calif. College Football Playoff Semifinal

No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 5 Alabama (plus 1 1/2)

RUSSO: Why watch? The somewhat rare opportunity this season to see Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh actually coaching his team in a game. PICK: Alabama 26-23. RB: The Tide seems to be getting a wave of support just from all those Nick Saban victories.

My opening instinct says don’t take Big Ten, don’t take Big Ten, don’t trust Michigan or Harbaugh. The moxie of McCarthy, Corum and others almost makes me step into that same old holiday trap...ALABAMA 27-24.

Sugar Bowl

College Football Playoff Semifinal

No. 2 Washington vs. No. 3 Texas (minus 4 1/2)

Why watch? Michael Penix Jr. Rome Odunze. Quinn Ewers. Xavier Worthy. Playmakers everywhere and top-notch play-callers in Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian and Washington offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb. PICK: TEXAS 35-28. RB: I love Penix..WASH 38-33.