Ranking the bowl games from 1-34

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There's no disputing the fact that many of the once-sacred traditions of bowl games have irreparably changed over the past decade. In this, my sixth-annual ranking of all 34 bowl games (there were 28 when I started it, including the Silicon Valley Classic), I think you will find that the date a game is played no longer bears any correlation to the quality of its matchup.

In the following list -- which is based on the quality of the teams involved, the degree of intrigue for each matchup and the anticipated viewing interest (or lack thereof) -- you will find a game played on Dec. 23 ranked in the top five, while two New Year's Day games fail to crack the top 14.

You know how ESPN likes to promote the heck out of "Bowl Week?" I'd like to know when exactly said week begins and when it ends. Perhaps it should be rebranded "Bowl Half-Month."

1. BCS National Championship Game (Jan. 8): Oklahoma (12-1) vs. Florida (12-1). Two phenomenal QBs, Sam Bradford and Tim Tebow, could stage a championship duel for the ages. Or the Gators could pull off another 41-14 drubbing. Think we'd ever hear the end of that?

2. Rose (Jan. 1): USC (11-1) vs. Penn State (11-1). Joe Paterno vs. Pete Carroll. The Spread HD against the nation's most dominant D. Will the Nittany Lions defy the Big Ten skeptics, or will the Trojans play the role of rude hosts yet again?

3. Fiesta (Jan. 5): Texas (11-1) vs. Ohio State (10-2). The last time these two met, in 2006, Colt McCoy was a scrawny, overmatched freshman, but now our little boy is all grown up. Not that James Laurinaitis has gotten any less beastly.

4. Sugar (Jan. 2): Alabama (12-1) vs. Utah (12-0). Nothing could cause more pride for little guys everywhere than the Mountain West toppling the SEC. Of course, the SEC spin doctors would quickly point out that 'Bama was only their runner-up.

5. Poinsettia (Dec. 23): Boise State (12-0) vs. TCU (10-2). In just its fourth year of existence, the nation's most famous County Credit Union Bowl has managed to land a showdown of two top-11 teams. Who says businesses aren't growing?

6. Capital One (Jan. 1): Georgia (9-3) vs. Michigan State (9-3). This could be the last collegiate game for Dawgs stars Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno, and it definitely will be for Spartans workhorse Javon Ringer. Expect yards aplenty.

7. Holiday (Dec. 30): Oklahoma State (9-3) vs. Oregon (9-3). The Holiday Bowl is known for entertaining shootouts, and this one should be no exception. Both teams average 40-plus points behind lethal dual-threat QBs Zac Robinson and Jeremiah Masoli.

8. Orange (Jan. 1): Cincinnati (11-2) vs. Virginia Tech (8-4). The Bearcats haven't played on this big a stage since Nick Van Exel led them to the Final Four. And while the Hokies have become regulars, they need to reverse a 1-4 bowl-game skid.

9. Cotton (Jan. 2): Texas Tech (11-1) vs. Ole Miss (8-4). Remember Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree? You know, the Heisman front-runners prior to Nov. 22? They're back, and they'll be gunning for Tech's first Cotton Bowl victory.

10. Chick-fil-A (Dec. 31): Georgia Tech (9-3) vs. LSU (7-5). A heavily partisan Yellow Jackets crowd is anticipated as the Jackets attempt to pull off their third-straight 400-yard rushing game against the alleged defending-national champions.

11. Sun (Dec. 31): Pittsburgh (9-3) vs. Oregon State (8-4). You like watching really good running backs? Allow me to present Pitt's LeSean McCoy (1,403 yards, 21 TDs) and the Beavers' Jacquizz Rodgers (1,253 yards, 11 TDs.)

12. Alamo (Dec. 29): Northwestern (9-3) vs. Missouri (9-4). Northwestern fans would love to forget the Alamo. Their last appearance here was a 66-17 thrashing by Nebraska. This time, all the Wildcats have to do is ... shut down Chase Daniel.

13. GMAC (Jan. 6): Ball State (12-1) vs. Tulsa (10-3). What better way to prep for Tebow-Bradford two days later than to watch two other top-10 passers, Ball State's Nate Davis and Tulsa's David Johnson, light up the Mobile sky.

14. Hawaii (Dec. 24): Hawaii (7-6) vs. Notre Dame (6-6). C'mon, admit it. You know you'll be watching. If the Fighting Catholics can't end their nine-game bowl losing streak against a WAC team on Christmas Eve ... they may be running out of options.

15. Outback (Jan. 1): Iowa (8-4) vs. South Carolina (7-5). Apparently, losing your last two games by a combined score of 87-20 is no longer a deterrent to a New Year's Day invite. Next up for the Gamecocks: A date with 1,729-yard rusher Shonn Greene.