Each week, Bryan Hooyman, the Daily’s football fanatic, normally previews and predicts local college football games not featuring the Cyclones. This week, however, he presents you his thoughts on bowl games involving some of Iowa State’s season opponents. Sadly, Hooyman went 0-3 last week, bringing his overall record to 25-17.

Alamo Bowl: Iowa Hawkeyes (6-6) vs. No. 19 Texas Longhorns (9-3) – These two teams have met once before in a bowl game. In 1984, the Hawkeyes defeated the Longhorns, 55-17, in the Freedom Bowl. In this year’s Alamo Bowl, look for the Longhorns to send linebacker Jared Norton and defensive tackle Roy Miller on blitzes and stunts against the Hawkeye offensive line. Iowa has given up 20 sacks this season, and will surely give up a few more to a Longhorns defense that has accumulated 34 sacks this year. Expect Texas to win the Alamo Bowl and drop the Hawkeyes to 2-7 in their last nine games.

WINNER – TEXAS

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl: No. 8 Boise State Broncos (12-0) vs. No. 10 Oklahoma Sooners (11-2) – On paper, it seems as if the Broncos should just walk away with a win in this bowl game. Despite the Broncos’ 12-0 record, the teams they’ve faced have been mediocre at best. Fate may have swung in the Broncos favor, however, because Sooners star running back Adrian Peterson is still out because of a broken collarbone he suffered in the sixth week of the season. That means Boise State, which has allowed 984 rushing yards on defense this year, may stand firm in this matchup.

WINNER – BOISE STATE

AT&T Cotton Bowl: No. 9 Auburn Tigers (10-2) vs. No. 23 Nebraska Cornhuskers (9-4) – This game will come down to the running game of both teams. The Tigers have rushed for 1,860 yards this season, while Nebraska has posted 2,283 rushing yards. Since both of these teams have prolific rushing attacks, it’ll be up to the defensive unit that can adjust best to the game. I predict Auburn will claw out a victory in this close game.

WINNER – AUBURN

Insight Bowl: Minnesota Golden Gophers (6-6) vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders (7-5) – The Red Raiders seem to have gotten lucky to get into a bowl game this year, going 4-4 in their last eight games. The Gophers, however, got into this bowl game by winning four of their past five games. I could see this being a possible upset, with Minnesota’s win streak being its favor, but I believe the Red Raiders offense will be too much for Minnesota.

WINNER – TEXAS TECH

Brut Sun Bowl: Oregon State Beavers (9-4) vs. Missouri Tigers (8-4) – The momentum is with Oregon State. Missouri has won only two of its past five games – including a loss to Iowa State – while the Beavers have won four of their past five. The Tigers have only been able to run up the score on mediocre teams, and the Beavers are certainly not a mediocre team. Expect an Oregon State victory.

WINNER – OREGON STATE

PetroSun Independence Bowl: Alabama Crimson Tide (6-6) vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys (6-6) – This game comes down to protecting the ball. The Cowboys and the Crimson Tide have been very turnover-prone this season. This is my upset pick: The Cowboys will add an interception to the nine that Alabama has thrown.

WINNER – OKLAHOMA STATE

– Bryan Hooyman is a junior in pre-journalism

and mass communication from Waterloo.