The college football bowl season kicks off today with the first three of 35 scheduled games.

In the Gildan New Mexico Bowl in Albuquerque, the Temple Owls battle the Wyoming Cowboys. Both teams went bowling in 2009 only to miss out last season, so they should be excited. Also, not much time has past between their final regular season games and today (2 weeks for Wyoming and 3 for the Owls), so the teams should be fresh.

The Owls (8-4) have a statistically better defense having allowed 166 points to 324 for the Cowboys (8-4). The Cowboys are a plus 15 in turnover ratio while the Owls are a plus six. Wyoming used a plus five turnover advantage to beat Bowling Green 28-27 in a game they were outgained by 118 yards. The Falcons also missed an extra point after their final touchdown that would have forced overtime. The Owls lost by three points to the Falcons in a game that was fairly even in most categories.

The Cowboys might have the intangibles going for them by already having played a game in December and more crowd support but the Owls have the advantages on the field and they’ll win.

Pick – Temple 31 Wyoming 21

The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on the famous blue turf in Boise features a pair of teams that beat the participants in the first game of the day. Utah St (7-5) beat Wyoming 63-19 while Ohio (9-4) topped Temple 35-31. Each team also beat New Mexico State, Ohio did it in the first game of the year 44-24 while the Aggies concluded their regular season with24-21 win. For the Bobcats to win, they’ll need to overcome the disappointment of blowing 20-point halftime lead against Northern Illinois in the MAC Championship game. The Aggies might be the hotter team after winning five in a row to overcome a 2-5 start but Ohio is the better team.

Pick – Ohio 27 Utah State 20

In the R&L Carries New Orleans Bowl, the Ragin’ Cajuns of Louisiana Lafayette battle San Diego State (8-4). The Ragin’ Cajuns (8-4) lost their final two regular season games and might suffer from the “just happy to be here” syndrome in the school’s first-ever bowl game. San Diego State is in a bowl game for the second season in a row after beating Navy in the 2010 Poinsettia Bowl.

Pick – San Diego State 30 Louisiana Lafayette 21