Sadly, mediocre is good enough to earn a college bowl bid these days

The big problem with having 32 bowl games is mediocre teams n and that might be a generous description n are rewarded with postseason bids.

Six 6-6 teams will try to avoid finishing the season with a losing record in bowls played before New Year’s Day.

Minnesota barely defeated Division-IAA North Dakota State in mid-October, but its .500 record earned the Gophers an Insight Bowl bid. Then again, at least the Gophers finished strong with three straight victories.

Iowa lost its final three games, including its finale to Minnesota, and still got invited to the Alamo Bowl.

Alabama also ended the season with a three-game losing streak before getting a bid to the Independence Bowl, where the Crimson Tide will face another 6-6 team, Oklahoma State.

New Mexico’s 6-6 earned the Lobos a home game against San Jose State.

At Miami and Florida State, 6-6 records got a head coach fired and led to the resignation of an offensive coordinator. Still, the Hurricanes and Seminoles are going bowling.

Miami’s Larry Coker coaches his final game in Boise, Idaho, in the MPC Computers Bowl. Jeff Bowden’s last game as offensive coordinator for his father, Bobby, will be in the Emerald Bowl.

So which is the worst team playing in a bowl this season?

Try Middle Tennessee (7-5), which finished second in the Sun Belt Conference and was outscored 179-34 by four teams from BCS conferences.

The bowl picks for games played before New Year’s Day:

Tuesday, Dec. 26

Motor City Bowl

Central Michigan (plus 9 1/2) vs. Middle Tennessee

Middle Tennessee making its bowl debut … CENTRAL MICHIGAN 34-14.

Wednesday, Dec. 27

Emerald Bowl

Florida State (plus 4 1/2) vs. UCLA

Seminoles trying to avoid first losing season since ’76, Bobby Bowden’s first as coach … UCLA 24-21.

Thursday, Dec. 28

Independence Bowl

Oklahoma State (minus 2) vs. Alabama

Tide’s second Indy Bowl since 2001; Cowboys’ first since ’81 … OKLAHOMA STATE 28-17.

Holiday Bowl

California (minus 5) vs. Texas A&M

Aggies’ first bowl game against Pac-10 team since ’98 Cotton … CALIFORNIA 27-24.

Texas Bowl

Rutgers (minus 7) vs. Kansas State

Scarlet Knights are 0-2 in bowls … RUTGERS 27-13.

Friday, Dec. 29

Music City Bowl

Clemson (minus 9 1/2) vs. Kentucky

Wildcats’ last bowl win was ’84 Hall of Fame against Wisconsin … CLEMSON 34-28.

Sun Bowl

Missouri (plus 3) vs. Oregon State

Beavers have scored 93 points in winning last two bowl games … OREGON STATE 32-21.

Liberty Bowl

South Carolina (minus 6 1/2) vs. Houston

Cougars’ last Liberty Bowl appearance was ’96 loss to Syracuse … SOUTH CARLONIA 37-34.

Insight Bowl

At Tempe, Ariz.

Minnesota (plus 6 1/2) vs. Texas Tech

First bowl game against Big 12 opponent for Minnesota … TEXAS TECH 41-23.

Champs Sports Bowl

Maryland (pick) vs. Purdue

Terps have won five of last six bowls … PURDUE 39-31.

Saturday, Dec. 30

Meineke Bowl

Navy (plus 6) vs. Boston College

Eagles have six-game bowl winning streak, best in nation … BOSTON COLLEGE 32-17.

Alamo Bowl

Iowa (plu 9 1/2) vs. Texas

In only bowl meeting, Hawkeyes beat ‘Horns 55-17 in ’84 Freedom … TEXAS 55-17.

Chick-fil-A Bowl

Virginia Tech (plus 2 1/2) vs. Georgia

Bulldogs 2-2 in the formerly-know-as-Peach Bowl … GEORGIA 17-16.

Sunday, Dec. 31

MPC Computers Bowl

Nevada (plus 3 1/2) vs. Miami

‘Canes trying to avoid first losing season since 1997 … MIAMI 27-14

Final week of regular season: 5-4 (straight); 5-4 (vs. points).

Season: 204-63 (straight); 132-111-7 (vs. points).