Football thoughts

This is one of my favorite times of the year as it relates to sports. In fact, it's right up there with March Madness.

All of the college football bowl games are set. Intriguing matches dot the landscape, and conversations will take place about who got snubbed, the biggest Cinderella and the best matchups.

In the NFL, there are only four games left in the regular season and the playoffs are beginning to take shape.

Here's what I'm thinking heading into what should be a very exciting next few months.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL
I really don't mind the BCS national championship game of Ohio State vs. LSU. I think both teams are very good, and there's a ton of story lines. But I think the best team in the nation is Oklahoma. I know the Sooners lost to Colorado, which was a long time ago. More recently, they lost to Texas Tech, but keep in mind that was without Sam Bradford. They just smashed the No. 1 team in the nation in a game everybody was watching. I would have liked to see them get a shot at the title. But LSU also lost twice, and it took six total overtimes for them to lose. They deserve it as well. Plus-one, anybody?

I'm also pretty intrigued by most of the BCS matchups this year. Oklahoma and West Virginia is a great pairing. The traditional power team versus the up-and-coming Mountaineers and their speed and spread offense. Georgia and Hawaii should also be a lot of fun, and I think Hawaii will make this an interesting game.

The biggest snub - easily - has to go to Missouri. Missouri lost twice this year, both times to Oklahoma. They defeated Kansas fairly easily, and they also beat Illinois to open the season. Somehow, Kansas and Illinois (with three losses, but a marquee win) are in the BCS and Missouri is going to the Cotton Bowl.

Other intriguing bowl games I like are:

Gator Bowl: Texas Tech vs. Virginia
Two completely different styles here. Virginia's running game and strong defense against air-it-out Texas Tech.

Armed Forces: Air Force vs. California
Cal was once ranked No. 2 in the country and on pace to play for the BCS title. Since then, the Bears have lost six of seven, including last week's defeat against Stanford. Air Force is a great story this year, and they have a very good team. It's a team stoked to be in a bowl against a team which had BCS aspirations.

Capital One Bowl: Michigan vs. Florida
So many reasons to love this one. Michigan's senior class trying to win its first bowl game. Michigan's coaching situation. Florida's spread offense. Keep in mind Michigan's defense was overwhelmed by Appalachian State's and Oregon's spread offense. Florida runs a spread better than anybody in the country. With a month to prepare, can the Wolverines finally shut down a fast, dynamic offense?

NFL
I can't remember a season where, with four games remaining, every division race was essentially over, but the playoff picture still has a bunch of scenarios. New England has clinched its division and Indianapolis, Pittsburgh and San Diego all have a two-game lead. The gap is even wider in the NFC. Green Bay has a whopping four-game lead while Dallas and Tampa Bay are ahead three games and Seattle is ahead two. But check out the wild-card scenarios in both leagues.

AFC: Jacksonville (8-4), Cleveland (7-5), Tennessee (7-5), Buffalo (6-6) and a host of a 5-7 teams are still alive. The Jaguars have played a great season and should be in, but the race for that last spot will be intense.

It's even wackier in the NFC wild card race: the New York Giants, at 8-4, should be in. But there are EIGHT teams within one game of each other for the final spot. Arizona, Detroit and Minnesota are 6-6, and Carolina, Chicago, New Orleans, Philadelphia and Washington are 5-7. The Panthers have an absolutely brutal schedule remaining and I think they won't make it. I also think the fading Lions will be eliminated from contention, as will the Redskins and Eagles. I'd look for the surging Vikings, behind a suddenly explosive offense, to clinch the No. 6 seed.