2010 Bowl Preview

It’s not even worth thinking of this game, let alone watching it as two 6-6 teams meet in a bowl only the most die hard Cougar and Miner fans will be interested in. BYU finished the season strong winning their last five, while UTEP scuffled losing five of their last six games.

Ordinarily the blue turf of Boise is a house of horrors for Fresno as they have been regular victims of the Broncos. This time, however they are playing Northern Illinois of the MAC. Fresno while not a world beater is a consistently solid program, that has sent its share or players to the pros. In a chance to showcase the WAC, the Bulldogs will win by two touchdowns.

The MAC and Sun Belt will be matched up three times this bowl season, with this being the first game. Both teams are pretty much even, but Troy’s passing strength will take advantage of Ohio’s secondary weakness to win by a Field Goal.

Yes Virginia there really is a Beef O’Brady’s Bowl. I don’t know what a Beef O’Brady is but it does not sound too appetizing. Southern Miss’s offense was clicking in Conference USA down the stretch, but Louisville had one of the best defenses in the Big East. In matters like this I lean towards the Cardinals defense winning the game.

This game could go one of two ways; either Boise State feeling a letdown for not being in a bigger bowl puts up a lackluster effort or they want to make a statement on a team heading to a AQ conference. Knowing the Broncos I see them putting up an A effort as they slaughter the Utes in Vegas.

The game may be on the Aztecs homefield, but Navy will feel right at home, with the large Naval bases in the San Diego area sending a large contingent for the Midshipmen. Both teams have solid offenses, but I like Navy’s spread formation and their ability to control the clock to win the game.

The good news for Tulsa is they get to spend a few days in Paradise, because winning is a long shot on the Warriors home turf. Hawaii has the number one passing game in D1 FBS, while the Golden Hurricane have one of the worst defenses against the pass. It will be high scoring but Hawaii will score more than leas Five -O.

Sun Belt vs. MAC round two sees Toledo facing Florida International in the Little Ceasar’s Pizza Pizza Bowl. Previously known as the Motor City Bowl, this game is in the domain of the MAC, and the Rockets are bowl tested and strong over FIU playing in their first ever bowl.

If you like option passing game this bowl is for you. Both teams like to run the spread, however, the health of Joshua Nesbit is a big question for the Jackets. Even if 100% the Falcons still have the better defense, and that is why the Air Force will win this game.

All season long the Mountaineers offense seemed to sputter as they failed to live up to expectations. Facing a strong defense like the one possessed by NC State does not bode well for them to get it going in Orlando.

Ordinarily this is a game you would think Iowa should wine easily, as they had one of the most complete teams in the Big Ten. However, with the drug testing allegations clouding the program it is hard to imagine they can win a bowl game against a decent Missouri program out of the Big XII.

East Carolina has a decent offense but statistically their defense is one of the worst in D1 FBS. Maryland who finished the season strong also will have the edge of the home crowd playing in Washington DC.

Baylor has not played in a bowl game in over a decade, so expect plenty of green and hold to fill the Jerry Dome in Dallas. This should be one of the more exciting games, as both teams have solid offenses. In the end I see the edge going to the Bears as they play off the home crowd to win the game.

Oklahoma State like Boise State is a team that has to fight the letdown factor in their bowl game, as they lost a chance to play for the BCS by losing their annual bedlam game to rival Oklahoma. The Cowboys on paper are the better team, but Arizona has a solid team in their own right and should be able to pull off the upset.

Army has not beaten a team with a winning record all season, while SMU is back on the rise again after 20 years wandering the desert thanks to the coaching of June Jones. The game also gives the Mustangs a homefield edge. Whatever way you look it will take a miracle for the Black Knights of the Hudson to win this game.

Welcome to Yankee Stadium, and welcome back to the bowl game New York City. It’s been nearly 50 years since Gotham has seen a bowl game, over 25 years since one in the metropolitan area, and it’s long overdue. There should be plenty of Syracuse fans on hand, but they won’t go home happy as the Orange do not match up well with the Purple clad Wildcats.

After a few seasons of adversity and the sudden departure of Coach Lane Kiffin after just one season the Vols have appear to be on the road to recovery as their young team played well down the stretch. They are now rewarded with a bowl game in their home state. Look for them to get a win over a mediocre Tar Heels team,

Didn’t we already see this match up this year? Back on September 18th the Huskers shucked, roasted of a fire placed the Cougars on the cob in a 56-21 win in Seattle. This time on a neutral field the Huskies will be turned into popcorn as Nebraska rolls again.

Both teams’ offenses have struggled most of the season, but Clemson has the better quarterback and the better defense, while the Bulls of South Florida are a showcase of the Big East mediocrity just by being bowl eligible.

Two decades ago this was the match up of the season as both teams brawled out for the National Championship over a three year stretch. Both teams have had their up and downs since. Notre Dame is appearing on the rise under first year coach Brian Kelly, while Miami is looking in trouble in the middle of a coaching change. I like the stability of Kelly to lead the way for the Irish.

The Bulldogs struggled early in the season without A.J. Green. Once he returned they again were a typically strong Georgia team. Facing Central Florida it is ready made for a big day for Green as the Dawgs look to finish strong, with something to build on for next season where they hope to reach the BCS.

Both teams suffered a letdown in AQ championship games with a spot in the BCS on the line. For the Seminoles the health of QB Christian Ponder is a big question mark. Look for Marcus Lattimore to have a big day as Steve Spurrier beats FSU again.

Apparently Ticket City is in Dallas, must be needed to fill the enormous ego of Jerry Jones. Once QB Dan Persa went down the Wildcats were toast as Northwestern loss the most important piece of the team. Their defense is not strong enough to win a game on its own, as the Red Raiders have a strong offense.

After winning the National Championship last year, Alabama against one of the hardest schedules in the NCAA lost three games. Micihgan State is no slouch in their own at 11-1. However, when you put a SEC powerhouse against the third best team in the Big Ten, with the Tide defense making the difference.

Emotions should be high as 44 year old Urban Meyer coaches his final game for the Gators against Joe Paterno who though 40 years older never intends to retire. The Gators had a disappointing season, but I expect them to put forth their best effort to send Meyer out a winner.

Imagine if you will game where Quarterbacks and receivers and backs run up and down the field with little resistance and you will get a picture of what the Gator Bowl will be as neither team has a good defense but have explosive offenses. Well not so much explosive. This game has OT written all over and a game that may never end it may eve n reach triple digits. In the end Denard Robinson suffers a groin injury going for the tying two in octople overtime.

The Horned Frogs are a good team and they deserve to be here, Wisconsin is a bad match up for them. The Badgers have one of the best offenses in all of FBS, and capable of putting points up at will. I don’t see this game being a blowout, but the Badgers have too many weapons for TCU to overcome.

Welcome to the BCS UConn, now bend over and prepare for a royal ass whoppin’ Oklahoma style. The Huskies are only here because they won the Big Least championship, and the fact this team won is an indictment against the conference not a credit to UConn. The Sooners have struggled in the past in the Fiesta Bowl but not this year as this game will be over during the National Anthem.

Stanford has the best Quarterback in FBS and this game will be his launching pad to the number one pick overall in the NFL Draft. Look for Andrew Luck to have a field day against a Hookie team that is vulnerable to big passing offenses, as the ACC continues to lose BCS games.

Ohio State has a strong solid defense and a good play maker at quarterback. This is a team that is there was a tournament to decide the National Championship would have to be considered one of the favorites. Arkansas does deserve their BCS spot, but they are no match for the Buckeyes, as Ohio State gives QB Ryan Mallett nightmares.

Don’t know where Cupid, Comet , Vixen or Donner are, but with QB Dwight Dasher leading the way for MTSU, Miami’s only hope is to do plenty of Blitzen. Not sure if Rudolph can save the day for the Red Hawks either as Middle Tenn. Dancers and Prancers off the field with a victory.

This should be a good one as two historically strong programs meet in one of the oldest bowl games. The Bayou Tigers are always in close games, as the erratic but lucky Les Miles seems to find a way to win games in sometimes the strangest ways.

No team has been more disappointing than Pitt, as they were expected to win the BCS but suffered another big letdown and ended up in this wonderful bowl game played a week after New Year’s Day on the day the NFL playoffs begin against Kentucky. The letdown led to the firing of Coach Dave Wandestedt who is allergic to big games, why should his last game be any different.

When does Kraft Fight Hunger during the pregame, postgame, or is it the halftime show and will it be better than the game itself. BC has injury issues and Nevada has lack of respect issues. If anyone saw their win over Boise State they will know Nevada is a solid team and will win this game easily.

Oregon is loaded with talent to play with anyone thanks to RB LaMichael James who ran circles around the Pac 10. However, Auburn QB Cameron Newton was the best player in college football season winning the Heisman Trophy. The only thing that can stop Newton is the NCAA as he still has the clouds of suspicion regarding pay for play after his father admitted to asking for money from Mississippi State. So far the NCAA has kept Cameronin the clear, but if things change before the big game all bets are off. Unless there is a smoking gun somewhere I can’t see the NCAA blowing up their title game. In the future something may happen and the game may not count which will also be bad for the NCAA, but when this game is played on January 10th look for Mr. Newton to be the star again, as Auburn’s ability to rally and make halftime adjustments will be the big difference as the Tigers keep the SEC dominance over College Football alive.