College football bowl games are already underway; these local watering holes are terrific choices to watch your "big game."

1. The 25 TVs at Joe & Lewie's Penalty Box Sports Eatery & Tavern, 2400 Owen Road in Fenton, pretty much guarantee that all the games will be on at once. It's open New Year's Day.

2. O'Malley's Irish Pub & Restaurant, 1774 N.Old US 23 in Hartland Township (Howell mailing) has eight flat-screen TVs and a large projection TV for your football viewing pleasure. (O'Malley's closes at 9 p.m. New Year's Eve and closed on New Year's Day, but will be open its regular schedule otherwise.)

3. Champ's Pub, 140 E. Grand River in downtown Brighton, isn't open on New Year's Day but will be open the rest of the week for all the big bowl games; according to its website, the pub has 12 Flat Screen HD TVs with which to watch the games.

4. 59 West Billiards, 786 West Highland Rd. (M-59) in Highland, is open every day for any of the upcoming football games after 11 a.m.; view the action on five huge screen TVs on the walls or on the seven 32-inch flat screens surrounding the bar.

5. The Blue Duck, 10150 Highland Road in White Lake, has three large and three smaller TVs; it also will be open on New Year's Day.

Editor's note: The greatest number of football bowl games are scheduled for Jan. 2 this year.