Tonight we have have the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl and towmorrow is the Las Vegas Bowl. TCU is playing in the first and Boise St. is in the second. Both of these schools have become nation powerhouses and deserved better bowls, but won't get them until they make their moves to other conferences.
TCU had a slow start to the season, but made up for it with a strong finish and a huge, nation ramifications victory at Boise. These two teams seem to be tied together for the last few years. They both have had nation title hopes in the last few years, but neither could put together the undefeated season at the right time.
This bowl is very important to TCU. They take on a middle of the road Louisiana Tech and will be trying to put up some big points and play extremely well. If they can have a big game, Casey Pachall will go into his junior year with big hopes and probably a high preseason ranking, this game could do a lot for next year. Since TCU will be in a major conference next season and could make a legitimate run at a national title. They of course will have a harder schedule and will finally get to prove themselves against some of the major teams in the nation.
Boise has a different type of game. This will be Kellen Moore's victory lap for a great career at Boise St. He has put up some big numbers and lots of wins for the Broncos. They will face of against Arizona St. The Sun Devils were thought to be the top contenders for the PAC-12 South title with USC on probation, but fell apart in the second half of the season. ASU has a very nice win against USC early in the season, but that was before USC really got it together. Boise also got their best victory early on, against a Georgia team that made the SEC title game.
Neither TCU or Boise St. should have too much trouble in these games. Arizona St. is probably the tougher opponent, but Boise St. won't run into to many problems with team.
I lost last night to move to a record of 19-15. I'm laying the points in both of these games. TCU (-9.5) and Boise St. (-14)
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
The Beef 'O' Brady Bowl
The Marshall Thundering Herd and the Florida International Golden Panthers will descend on Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, tonight.
Why does this bowl exist? Do we really need to know if the fifth place Conference USA team is better than the fourth best Sun Belt team? Marshall needed over time to beat ECU just to be eligible to play in this game. I give Marshall credit for playing three ranked teams this year, but they got blown-out in all of them.
Marshall doesn't rank in the top half of the NCAA in anything. FIU ranks pretty well in points-against, but that has a lot to do with playing in the Sun Belt.
FIU has the only quality win between them, in an early season victory against co-Big East Champion Louisville. That's a 7-5 Louisville team that played a lot better as the season went on.
Went 1-2 on the first set of bowl games to snap my winning streak. I now stand 19-14 overall.
I'm gonna go with FIU (-4). I don't have much of a reason for picking FIU, but Marshall is just bad.
Be back tomorrow with some decent bowl games, containing TCU and Boise St. among others.
Why does this bowl exist? Do we really need to know if the fifth place Conference USA team is better than the fourth best Sun Belt team? Marshall needed over time to beat ECU just to be eligible to play in this game. I give Marshall credit for playing three ranked teams this year, but they got blown-out in all of them.
Marshall doesn't rank in the top half of the NCAA in anything. FIU ranks pretty well in points-against, but that has a lot to do with playing in the Sun Belt.
FIU has the only quality win between them, in an early season victory against co-Big East Champion Louisville. That's a 7-5 Louisville team that played a lot better as the season went on.
Went 1-2 on the first set of bowl games to snap my winning streak. I now stand 19-14 overall.
I'm gonna go with FIU (-4). I don't have much of a reason for picking FIU, but Marshall is just bad.
Be back tomorrow with some decent bowl games, containing TCU and Boise St. among others.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Happy Bowl Season!
It's that time of year again. Christmas songs are becoming annoying again, except "Little Drummer Boy" Bowie's version kicks ass. So does Tori Amos'. I still haven't gone shopping yet (Note to self: go to liquor store). Most importantly the bowl games start this Saturday.
Another thing. Can HBO do a 24/7 series for everything? Sports. Shopping. Scrap-booking. Everything.
Went 3-2 championship weekend to finish the regular season 18-12. I'll be picking every bowl game. I assume my hot streak will turn really cold soon.
The legendary New Mexico Bowl will start it all of for us at 2 PM Saturday. Temple will represent the MAC against Wyoming from the MWC in this 11AM local time kickoff.
Temple is seventh in the nation in rushing and third in points against. They only lost to Penn St. by 4, pre-craziness at State College. They also crushed a bad Maryland team in their other major conference game.
Wyoming on the other hand is a mediocre team across the board, ranked mid-table in points for and against, along with passing and rushing. The are a little better on the ground. Looking at the results of their season, the Cowboys have four losses, but three of them are to Nebraska, TCU and Boise St. It seems that Wyoming can beat the teams they are supposed to, and fail to the better teams in the country.
Temple is favored by 7 in this game. I always think of Temple as the one win Rutgers would have in all of those 1-11 seasons pre-Brian Leonard/Ray Rice. That means the Owls are not a Power. I'm taking Wyoming (+7).
Bonus Question: Does anyone go to this game? Are Wyoming fans going to travel to New Mexico for a late morning kickoff? I'm pretty sure Temple fans will not be flocking from Philly.
When this season started, I really wanted to see Ohio University and Utah St. battle each other on the football field. Thanks to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, this blogger gets his wish.
I've actually watched a few Ohio games this year. They played Rutgers and they have played on Tuesdays and Wednesdays this year. When they did play mid-week I happened to be out and the games were on the TV at the bar. They played very close games on those occasions. This game falls in the late afternoon slot and I will be watching before I head out to a Christmas Party on Saturday. I hope it's a close one.
Ohio is coming off a loss in the MAC Title game against Northern Illinois, which would have moved them into next year to play Arkansas St. This might actually be a better game for them, people are itching for some college football now, by Jan. 8 some may have had enough.
The only time I saw Utah St. this season, I saw them take Auburn to the brink to start the season. Auburn was out-played by the Aggies and needed an onside kick to win the game. They fell one game short of taking the WAC Title.
Both teams can rush the ball, both over 200 yards per game. Utah St. runs it better 277 per game. That, along with almost beating a SEC team and defending champs gives them the edge in my mind. Utah St. (-1.5).
The last game of this first slate of bowl games is the New Orleans Bowl. With San Diego St. taking on Louisiana-Lafayette in a MWC-Sun Belt showdown. I'll be at a party and the Rangers will be playing on the west coast, there is no shot I watch a second of this game.
The purpose of this game is clear. Which is more impressive UL-Lafayette's 61-34 loss to Oklahoma St. to start the season, or San Diego St.'s 52-35 loss to Boise St. AQ conference vs. mid-major...sorta.
Let's go to the video tape. UL-Lafayette gave up 388 yards through the air for 3 TDs by Brandon Weeden, but also picked him off three times. Nice work guys! San Diego St. on the other hand limited (?) Kellen Moore to 366 yards and 4 TDs, but only intercepted him once.
This expert, in-depth analysis shows me that UL-Lafayette is clearly the better team. San Diego St. is favored by 5. I'm taking the points UL-Lafayette (+5).
Bonus Question: Who would win in a fight a "Ragin' Cajun" or "Aztec"?
I'll be back for the mid-week bowls predictions, which happen to contain teams that I have actually watched this season. Have a good one.
Another thing. Can HBO do a 24/7 series for everything? Sports. Shopping. Scrap-booking. Everything.
Went 3-2 championship weekend to finish the regular season 18-12. I'll be picking every bowl game. I assume my hot streak will turn really cold soon.
The legendary New Mexico Bowl will start it all of for us at 2 PM Saturday. Temple will represent the MAC against Wyoming from the MWC in this 11AM local time kickoff.
Temple is seventh in the nation in rushing and third in points against. They only lost to Penn St. by 4, pre-craziness at State College. They also crushed a bad Maryland team in their other major conference game.
Wyoming on the other hand is a mediocre team across the board, ranked mid-table in points for and against, along with passing and rushing. The are a little better on the ground. Looking at the results of their season, the Cowboys have four losses, but three of them are to Nebraska, TCU and Boise St. It seems that Wyoming can beat the teams they are supposed to, and fail to the better teams in the country.
Temple is favored by 7 in this game. I always think of Temple as the one win Rutgers would have in all of those 1-11 seasons pre-Brian Leonard/Ray Rice. That means the Owls are not a Power. I'm taking Wyoming (+7).
Bonus Question: Does anyone go to this game? Are Wyoming fans going to travel to New Mexico for a late morning kickoff? I'm pretty sure Temple fans will not be flocking from Philly.
When this season started, I really wanted to see Ohio University and Utah St. battle each other on the football field. Thanks to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, this blogger gets his wish.
I've actually watched a few Ohio games this year. They played Rutgers and they have played on Tuesdays and Wednesdays this year. When they did play mid-week I happened to be out and the games were on the TV at the bar. They played very close games on those occasions. This game falls in the late afternoon slot and I will be watching before I head out to a Christmas Party on Saturday. I hope it's a close one.
Ohio is coming off a loss in the MAC Title game against Northern Illinois, which would have moved them into next year to play Arkansas St. This might actually be a better game for them, people are itching for some college football now, by Jan. 8 some may have had enough.
The only time I saw Utah St. this season, I saw them take Auburn to the brink to start the season. Auburn was out-played by the Aggies and needed an onside kick to win the game. They fell one game short of taking the WAC Title.
Both teams can rush the ball, both over 200 yards per game. Utah St. runs it better 277 per game. That, along with almost beating a SEC team and defending champs gives them the edge in my mind. Utah St. (-1.5).
The last game of this first slate of bowl games is the New Orleans Bowl. With San Diego St. taking on Louisiana-Lafayette in a MWC-Sun Belt showdown. I'll be at a party and the Rangers will be playing on the west coast, there is no shot I watch a second of this game.
The purpose of this game is clear. Which is more impressive UL-Lafayette's 61-34 loss to Oklahoma St. to start the season, or San Diego St.'s 52-35 loss to Boise St. AQ conference vs. mid-major...sorta.
Let's go to the video tape. UL-Lafayette gave up 388 yards through the air for 3 TDs by Brandon Weeden, but also picked him off three times. Nice work guys! San Diego St. on the other hand limited (?) Kellen Moore to 366 yards and 4 TDs, but only intercepted him once.
This expert, in-depth analysis shows me that UL-Lafayette is clearly the better team. San Diego St. is favored by 5. I'm taking the points UL-Lafayette (+5).
Bonus Question: Who would win in a fight a "Ragin' Cajun" or "Aztec"?
I'll be back for the mid-week bowls predictions, which happen to contain teams that I have actually watched this season. Have a good one.
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