This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Having missed badly on my pick of Washington State in the Holiday Bowl, I came much closer with the forecast for Utah's winning the Foster Farms Bowl. I said it would be 27-17 for the Utes, and it turned out to be 26-24. On to Thursday's pick: Colorado vs. Oklahoma State, Alamo Bowl, 7 p.m. MST, ESPN The Pac-12 South champions feel like something of an afterthought in the bowl season, with conference winner Washington playing Saturday in the College Football Playoff (vs. Alabama in the Peach Bowl). But the Buffaloes deserve notice for their remarkable turnaround with a 10-3 record in 2016, even if they lost badly to Washington in the Pac-12 title game.  Can they regroup, four weeks later? This will be a good matchup of the Pac-12's best defense statistically and a prolific Big 12 offense. In turn, it will be important for Colorado's average offense to exploit the Cowboys' relatively weak defense. OSU itself is coming off a poor showing in early December, having lost 38-20 to Oklahoma to conclude the regular season.  Colorado has no bowl history in the Pac-12 era, but I'll take my chances with the Buffs in San Antonio. Colorado 31, Oklahoma State 27.  – Kurt Kragthorpe