Lets Go Bowling
Florida State is a little over two weeks away from the rematch in Miami, and though waiting for the game is making me sprain my anticipation muscle, we do have a myriad of bowl games to hold us over until the first of January. From walnuts, to Internet sites, to hotel chains, the sponsors are almost as intriguing as the bowl pairings. Which is somewhat frightening, by the way.
It's amazing to me that a 6-6 regular season can get you into the postseason, as numerous teams on this list have done just that. There's nothing quite like rewarding mediocrity. With that in mind, let the games begin. All 28 of them. As they say, the more the merrier. I think.
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New Orleans Bowl: Memphis v North Texas
Memphis hasn't been to a bowl game in 32 years. To put that into perspective, the last time the Tigers made the postseason, Bobby Bowden wasn't coaching at Florida State. Ouch. Behind a stout defense and strong running game, North Texas should make their long-awaited return trip an unpleasant one. Winner: North Texas.
GMAC Bowl: Louisville v Miami (OH)
The Redhawks of Miami may be the best non-BCS conference team in all of college football. Led by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who has thrown for a ridiculous 4,110 yards, the Hawks should roll. Winner: Miami (OH).
Tangerine Bowl: North Carolina State v Kansas
This bowl is hardly what the Wolfpack had in mind at the start of the season. Many pundits had predicted State to not only win the ACC, but contend for a national title as well. So much for that. Regardless, NCST is still a talented team, and barring a letdown, should overwhelm the Jayhawks. Winner: North Carolina State.
Fort Worth Bowl: TCU v Boise State
They should rename this game the "What Could Have Been Bowl". Both the Horned Frogs and the Broncos come into the game with one loss, and were just a few mere points away from possibly crashing the BCS party. This match-up has the potential to be one of the best bowl games of the year, and though picking a winner was difficult, I'm going with the Broncos and their high-powered offense. Winner: Boise State.
Las Vegas Bowl: Oregon State v New Mexico
This game isn't likely to garner much national attention. And it shouldn't. The only bright spot is that two of the nation's best and most underrated running backs, Beaver Steven Jackson and Lobo Dontrell Moore, will get a chance to showcase their talents. Winner: Oregon State.
Hawaii Bowl: Houston v Hawaii
Raise your hand if you just now realized Houston was in a bowl game. The 2003 cougars didn't cause any flashbacks to the days of Andre Ware, but they did have a strong year, finishing 7-5 on the season. Problem is, they will be facing a tough Hawaii team, at their house. Take the Rainbow Warriors. They'll shine through. Winner: Hawaii.
Motor City Bowl: Bowling Green v Northwestern
What a compelling game. The city of Detroit should be absolutely…disappointed. Sure, Bowling Green had a strong season, and led by quarterback Josh Harris, the Falcons are a fun team to watch. But Northwestern? At 6-6, they are just another directional school. Winner: Bowling Green.
Insight Bowl: California v Virginia Tech
Both of these teams were good. At one point in the year. Cal defeated the mighty USC Trojans and Virginia Tech embarrassed Miami, yet both teams have been about as inconsistent as the price of gasoline. Don't let the combined ten losses fool you though, this should be a pretty competitive game. Kevin Jones, in his last college game, will lead the Hokies to victory. Winner: Virginia Tech.
Continental Tire Bowl: Pittsburgh v Virginia
Though the Cavaliers are more than capable of pulling off the upset, as we Noles know all to well, I have one reason for picking the Panthers in this game. Larry Fitzgerald. Is he that good? Um, yeah. Winner: Pittsburgh.
Alamo Bowl: Michigan State v Nebraska
This isn't quite what Hukser fans wanted (just ask Frank Solich), but it sure beats finishing below .500. The return of Jeff Smoker has ignited the Michigan State football team, and head coach John L. Smith deserves a lot of credit for turning the program around. It's been a fun season for Spartan fans, but their lack of running game, and inability to stop it will doom them. Winner: Nebraska.
Houston Bowl: Texas Tech v Navy
This game will be a meeting of college football's most ardent anonyms. On one side, you have Texas Tech. The Red Raiders do more throwing a major league pitcher. Quarterback B.J. Symons has thrown for five times as many yards as Navy signal caller Craig Candeto, and has nearly seven times as many passing touchdowns. Navy on the other hand, has two 1,000-yard rushers, while Tech's top two rushers don't even combine for 1,000 yards. While Texas Tech may have obvious advantages, the rumor has always been that no teams play harder than the service academies. With that in mind, as well as the importance of a demoralizing running game, anchors away. Winner: Navy.
Holiday Bowl: Washington State v Texas
Over the past few seasons the Holiday Bowl has staked their claim as the best non-BCS bowl in the business. This season should be no different. Thanks to Kansas State, Texas caught the BCS shaft, and Washington State flirted with BCS contention for much of the season as well. Break out the VCR for this one. It could be a classic. Give me Texas, and the running of Cedric Benson. Winner: Texas.
Silicon Valley Bowl: UCLA v Fresno State
You know that feeling you get when you turn on ESPN, and the national poker tournament is on? Sickening isn't it? That's what this game does for me. UCLA slipped into the bowl season at 6-6, and though they may have more athletes than Fresno State, I expect the Bruins to struggle. Fresno has more to play for, and we can't root against FSU can we? Winner: Fresno State.
Music City Bowl: Wisconsin v Auburn
The Tigers/War Eagles have got to have the most dysfunctional offense in college football. That, compared with the talent of Lee Evans and Anthony Davis, makes it hard to go against the Badgers. Winner: Wisconsin.
Sun Bowl: Minnesota v Oregon
This might be a battle between two of the ugliest teams in college football. Uniform-wise. I just hope Oregon doesn't sport their amphibious all-yellow swimsuits, or this game might be un-watchable. Give me the Golden Gophers, and their somewhat acceptable attire. Winner: Minnesota.
Liberty Bowl: Southern Miss v Utah
Utah is one of the most underrated teams in the country, and they have been flying under the radar all season long. It should be an old-fashioned, smash-mouth game when they meet up with Southern Miss. The Eagles defense is straight rude, but at times, their offense can be offensive. Take Utah, and their balanced, fundamental attack. Winner: Utah.
Independence Bowl: Arkansas v Missouri
Brad Smith and Matt Jones are two of the most exciting players in the game today. Both have dual-threat ability, and Smith actually passed and rushed for over 1,000 yards this season. Though Smith may be a little better athlete, Jones has a little better team. Winner: Arkansas.
San Francisco Bowl: Colorado State v Boston College
Ever heard of Derrick Knight? Probably not, but the BC running back is coming off a regular season in which he rushed for nearly 1,600 yards. The man has serious game. Unfortunately for Eagle fans, so does Bradlee Van Pelt. Winner: Colorado State.
Capital One Bowl: Georgia v Purdue
The Bulldogs were one game away from a BCS bid, and though they played like Dogs against LSU, expect them to be too much for Purdue. Defense didn't win Georgia a championship, but it should win them their bowl game. Winner: Georgia.
Outback Bowl: Florida v Iowa
In what will be a virtual home game for Florida, the Gators should be able to humble Iowa with their athleticism and speed. The Hawkeyes are a feisty bunch, just ask Michigan, but they won't be able to catch Chris Leak and company. Winner: Florida
Gator Bowl: Maryland v West Virginia
In a previous life this season, the Mountaineers were embarrassed by Maryland by four touchdowns. But this is a new West Virginia team. On October 2nd, in the Orange Bowl, Quincy Wilson showed the nation that WVU was legitimate, and changed the face, and fortune of Mountaineer football. They have reeled off seven consecutive victories since losing to the Canes, and are playing as well as any team in their conference. You have to go with the hot hand. Winner: West Virginia.
Rose Bowl: Southern Cal v Michigan
This game epitomizes college football. Big Ten-Pac Ten. Wolverines-Trojans. History, tradition, pageantry and lore. Conversely, it also stands for all that is wrong with the game today. Southern Cal got robbed like Tom Brady. Only this time the thief didn't steal a blue-light-special television, it stole their chance at a national championship. Michigan is a worthy opponent, and they are on a roll, but Southern Cal is on a mission. Winner: Southern Cal.
Orange Bowl: Florida State v Miami
Neither team wanted this game, right? Riighht. Just ask the Seminole seniors. Redemption and pride is at stake in this one. And though this may sound trite, few factors can be a motivating as those two. In what will likely be a close game, it's hard to argue against FSU. Granted, Miami won the first meeting, but Florida State has proven more than the ability to play clutch in their previous two games, they have proven themselves. Am I biased? Without question. So give me FSU. Winner: Florida State.
Cotton Bowl: Oklahoma State v Ole Miss
Eli this, Eli that. Sure, the Rebel senior is the Man (pun intended), but don't overlook the OSU offense. They have a trio (Josh Fields, Tatum Bell, Rashaun Woods) as good as any in the country, and have the ability to score at will. Considering that the Ole Miss defense has been as porous as security at a low-profile club, that does not bode well for the Rebels. Winner: Oklahoma State.
Peach Bowl: Tennessee v Clemson
Why don't you ask South Carolina who they think should be favored in this game? The Gamecocks took UT to overtime in Neyland, and were embarrassed by the Tigers at home, in Columbia. Clemson seems to have found their offensive niche', and should provide Tennessee with a similar scene to what they saw in Atlanta a year ago. Winner: Clemson.
Fiesta Bowl: Kansas State v Ohio State
Kansas State, lost to Marshal, I know. But you saw them play against Oklahoma, so me jumping on the bandwagon is understandable. The incredible backfield duo of Ell Roberson and Darren Sproles fits in well with flu season, because these guys are sick. While Ohio State has found ways to win games over the past two seasons, do I think K-State will emerge victorious? Ell yes. Winner: Kansas State.
Humanitarian Bowl: Georgia Tech v Tulsa
This bowl was out of place from the beginning. It's in Idaho. It's on a blue field. I mean come on, it doesn't get more obscure than that. But now, they have moved the game to January 2nd, in between two BCS bowls. They could play this game on prime time, each night of the week and nobody would watch it. Winner: Georgia Tech.
Sugar Bowl: Oklahoma v LSU
I won't even bring up the fact that the #1 team isn't playing in this game. I promise. Regardless, this game could be a special one. Both OU and LSU feature two of the best defenses in college football, and offenses that simply get it done. For LSU, the game is in their backyard. The Tigers are coming off an impressive win over Georgia in the SEC title game, and have the advantage of not being abused in the media, like their opponents. Oklahoma on the other hand has much of the nation rooting against them. Fans don't feel they should be in this game, and don't like the fact that they are. They also have to deal with the curse. The Heisman curse. Three of the last four Heisman winner's teams have lost their bowl game. Good luck, Jason. I've debated back and forth on this game, but I've settled on Oklahoma. You know they will be motivated after being humiliated by Kansas State. They have come close to winning it all a couple times since their last title in 2000. It has to happen again sooner or later. Something tells me it will be Sooner. Winner: Oklahoma.
…Whew.
B.J. can be reached at coastalnole@adelphia.net
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