Last week on OS Radio we were happy to be joined by EA Sports' Ben Haumiller to discuss NCAA Football 11. We talked about what goes into making the game, and we got a brief glimpse at the future of the franchise.

Being the college football junkies that we are, yours truly along with Ben and Chris Sanner decided to break down 11 of this year's biggest bowl games and make our expert picks. Of course it would not make much sense to just make these picks and leave it at that -- we are a sports gaming website after all.

So following the radio show I locked myself in my gaming man cave and simulated each and every single one of the games we discussed. How did we stack up against NCAA Football 11's picks? Better yet, how do you think we will have done once the real games are in the books, and the dust has settled on January 10?

NCAA 11's Pick: After storming out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter, Penn State fell apart, eventually losing the game 46-20. The Nittany Lions defense was no match for Florida's devastating pass game. The Gators threw for five touchdowns, three of them to Chris Rainey.

NCAA 11's Pick: All three of us thought this would be an offensive explosion by the Cowboys. According to NCAA 11, this game will be a defensive struggle. Oklahoma RB Kendall Hunter racked up 120 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns as the Cowboys managed to beat the 'Cats 26-14. Nick Foles struggled for Arizona, throwing for only 131 yards and being picked off twice.

NCAA 11's Pick: The Seminoles stormed out to a 23-0 halftime lead behind Christian Ponder's solid passing performance. But the Gamecocks came storming back in the second half, and they got within two at 23-21 entering the fourth quarter. The 'Noles kicked a late field goal, and their defense withstood a late drive by Stephen Garcia to win 26-21.

NCAA 11's Pick: Clearly Ben and his game are not on the same page because according to NCAA 11 Boise will absolutely destroy Utah. Kellen Moore threw four touchdown passes, and Jeremy Avery added two more as the Broncos won big, 42-10.

NCAA 11's Pick: It was a sad day in Orlando for Sparty as Alabama won this game 42-23, and it was not even that close. Mark Ingram rushing for 200 yards and three touchdowns, and Michigan State's run game being held to just 80 yards was a recipe for disaster for the Spartans.

NCAA 11's Pick: This game was a battle, with each team trading the lead multiple times. LSU pulled out a 37-33 victory on a 19-yard Jordan Jefferson run with just 33 seconds left to play. Jefferson finished with three touchdowns in the game, and Texas A&M's Cyrus Gray rumbled for 142 yards and two touchdowns.

NCAA 11's Pick: Imagine my surprise when UConn held a 7-0 lead at halftime of this game. However, the Sooners woke up in the second half and put up 21 unanswered points to win 21-7. Even with the loss, the Huskies performed far better than any of us three "experts" thought they would.

NCAA 11's Pick: Stanford fell behind early 14-0, but somehow managed to grind out a 28-14 victory by the day's end. Andrew Luck tossed for 413 yards and three touchdowns, two of which came in the second half. Ryan Williams picked up 183 yards and a touchdown for Virginia Tech, but Tyrod Taylor only managed to throw for 88 yards and an interception.

NCAA 11's Pick: Arkansas hung tough with the Buckeyes for one quarter, but then Brandon Saine began having his way with the Razorback defense. Saine finished with 157 yards on 37 carries and three touchdowns. He out dueled Ryan Mallett who threw for 326 yards and three touchdowns. The final score was OSU 38, Arkansas 21.

NCAA 11's Pick: This was hands down the most exciting game of the entire simulated bowl season. The Horned Frogs kicked a field goal as time expired to upset the Badgers 19-17. After leading 16-0 on a punt return touchdown and three field goals, TCU witnessed Wisconsin taking a 17-16 lead on a Scott Tolzien pass with just 40 seconds left in the game. TCU was not deterred as Andy Dalton marched the Horned Frogs into field-goal range with three seconds left in the game. The kick was good, and the virtual Horned Frogs fans can now lobby for a National Championship game.

NCAA 11's Pick: This game should have been renamed Cam Newton's worst nightmare. Newton tossed three critical interceptions, leading to 21 Oregon points, and he also fumbled the ball once. The Tigers were out gained in this game 480-248, with many of those 248 yards coming in garbage time. The Ducks led 28-6 at the half, and they piled on the points in the second half en route to taking home the BCS Championship with a 42-9 whipping of the Tigers.

How do you think NCAA 11's picks will hold up. Better yet, how about Chris, Ben and my picks? Happy bowl season everyone and enjoy college football's swan song -- August is a long ways away.


Christian McLeod is a senior staff writer here at Operation Sports. A college football junkie, he is rooting hard for his Michigan State Spartans in their Capital One bowl game against Alabama. Make sure to follow him on Twitter @Bumble14_OS, talk to him on our forums via Bumble14, or challenge him on XBL/PSN via the tag Bumble14.