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OK, this is getting embarrassing – for me, as much as the Pac-12 Conference.  Colorado's 38-8 loss to Oklahoma State in Thursday's Alamo Bowl was the second bowl defeat for the conference in three games and the second time my prediction missed badly. Friday's another day, though.  Stanford vs. North Carolina, Sun Bowl, noon, CBS This matchup is tricky, for several reasons. Stanford (9-3) is a better team than the Pac-12 typically sends to the Sun Bowl, after Utah was picked over the Cardinal for the Foster Farms Bowl. Then again, Stanford is playing without running back Christian McCaffrey, who starred in the 2016 Rose Bowl but chose to end his college career before going to El Paso.  And the Atlantic Coast Conference is performing very well in the bowl season. More than anything, though, let's blame Washington State and Colorado for this pick: North Carolina 24, Stanford 21.  – Kurt Kragthorpe