The State of Sports Dec. 8th

-College Football

-Bowl Previews: A Second Look

-The 12 Joke Bowls to consider watching:
I will call the bowls that are just there because corporate sponsorship is the American way the "Joke bowls." Fact is, there arent really many BCS vs BCS conference matchups in these previews, but I will just point out the obvious on a reason why you might just want to tune in. I would also like to note that I was 20/27 in last years picks, and beat out my freind Lopes who was 18/20. I was surprised by the amount of 6-5 teams in this particular bracket or games (10 out of 24 teams).

-New Orleans Bowl- Favorite- Southern Mississippi; Underdog-Arkansas State
-Dec. 20th; Lafayette, LA; ESPN

I can't emphasize how bad the Sun Belt conference is, in football. When the top two teams are just over .500 overall, and six other teams are either .500 or below, that must tell you something about themselves. Southern Mississippi has held their own in the Conference USA this year to. The opening spread on this game was Arkansas State getting 17 points. Southern Miss. should beat them by a lot more.
-Pick- Southern Miss.

-GMAC Bowl- Favorite- Toledo ; Underdog- UTEP
-Dec. 21st; Mobile, AL; ESPN


ESPN reports that both teams rank at the top of the NCAA in total offense (Toledo 18th and UTEP 17th) in yards per game. While both teams have average defenses, I think that Toledo has the edge in quaterback experience. Thier quarterback (Bruce Gradkowski) is probably one of the best to come out of the MAC since Rothlesberger. You also have to pay attention to UTEP QB Jordan Palmer (Carson's brother). I pick Toledo here for this edge. It may be a pretty high scoring game. The opening over under for this game is 60.5. So we will see what happens.
-Pick-Toledo

-Las Vegas Bowl- Favorite- Califorina ; Underdog- BYU
-Dec. 22nd; Las Vegas; ESPN

When it comes to this game, I look to the strength of schedule. The Pac 10 always has good competition, but how has Cal. done this year? I remind you that Cal was one of a handful of teams that was undefeated at mid-season. But if we add up the wins and the teams records on the season we get a 18-60 record. If we add up the losses and the teams records on the season, we get 32-9. I think Cal has a very soft schedule. BYU on the other hand, of their losses, they played much better vs BC, Notre Dame, and TCU, who are ranked than Cal when they played ranked opponents. Although they should have beaten San Diego State and maybe Utah, BYU has the upperhand in schedule strength. Lopes also pointed out that Cal finished the season 2-4, in their last 6 games. I pick BYU for the upset here.
-Pick- BYU

-Poinsettia Bowl- Favorite- Navy ; Underdog- Colorado State
-Dec. 22nd; San Diego; ESPN 2

Navy finished the season with a 7-4 record. A 7-4 record is pretty good, unless you do what I did above with California's schedule. If we look at the records of the teams that Navy has beaten and their overall records you get 14-74. I think that Colorado State is the better team too. Thats why I pick Colorado here. However, Lopes picked Navy. He made the point that Navy the top rushing team in football with rushing yards and rushing yards per game. Colorado State, however, is near the bottom (100th) in rushing yards allowed and rushing yards per game (102nd). This might be Navys only edge, however.
-Pick- Colorado State

-Forth Worth Bowl- Favorite-Kansas ; Underdog- Houston
-Dec. 23rd; Fort Worth; ESPN

Kansas really stepped it up on the season. A team that looked like it would go winless its last four games, beat three of the better Big 12 North teams in Nebraska, Iowa State, and Mizzou and only lost to Texas. Although they lost to a better Colorado team, a Kansas State team that was in a down year, a better Oklahoma team, and a better Texas Tech team, they definately closed out the season strong to prove themselves an improving team in the Big 12. Maybe Kansas shouldnt have gotten a bowl bid, but they should definately handle Houston. Houston really didnt play a good schedule beating teams that boosted their record. Kansas will blow this team away.
-Pick-Kansas

-Hawaii Bowl- Favorite- Nevada ; Underdog- UCF
-Dec. 24th; Honolulu; ESPN

After sharing the WAC crown with Boise, I think Nevada got snubbed from their chance to show people that they could have competed with the other good teams in the minor conferences. But I do like the WAC this year, and its all ive been talking about, so im kind of biased. Regardless, UCF and Nevada is a good matchup. Nevada in their own conference is top 5 in defense and offense, with the real balanced approach. UCF on the other hand is bottom 5 in defense and offense. But they are 8-4 and lost in the Conference USA championship game. I will point out that UCF (within the last 5 years, when UCF has been competative) has played their conference opponents well. Even with losses, they have kept themselves in the game. Its just UCF doenst play up to the BCS conference opponent competition. UCF has an inflated schedule and will get manhandled by Nevada.
-Pick- Nevada


-Motor City Bowl- Favorite- Memphis ; Underdog- Akron
-Dec. 26th; Detroit; ESPN

Among one of the most explosive Running Backs in college football is Deanglo Williams, who plays for Memphis. All the hype has been around Reggie Bush, but what about what Williams. In competing with Bush, and Jerome Williamson (from Washington State), Williams is second in total rushing yards behind Williamson. But, according to ESPN.com, Williams is one of the only active running backs that has 5,000 rushing yards for thier career. Likewise, Memphis is #6 in the nation in rushing yards per game. It will be interresting for Akrons middle of the road run defense. And, this will be Akrons first ever bowl game appearance. Its minor coference action; who knows what will happen.
-Pick- Memphis

-Champs Sports Bowl- Favorite-Clemson ; Underdog-Colorado
-Dec. 27th; Orlando; ESPN

If both QB's play in this game, it should make for an interresting game. Both are questionable, as ESPN reports as Colorado QB Klemm was in the hospital, and Clemson QB Whitehurst just had shoulder surgury. Both would be making their 40th collegiate start and it could be a good matchup. It is more likely that Klemm plays, and they just havent done well at all. After getting outscored 103-22 in the last three game losses, it just doesnt look well for them at all. Klemm, their senior QB, whos one of the best in the schools history hasnt played up to his prior performances. As ESPN notes in thier preview, the last few games carry over into the bowl season, and it looks like it could the the case here. Clemson on the other hand did well in its last four games going 4-1 and beating a ranked Florida State and South Carolina and almost beating a ranked GT team (10-9). Clemson's defense is pretty good too and should do well versus Colorado.
-Pick-Clemson

-Insight.com Bowl- Favorite-Arizona State ; Underdog- Rutgers
-Dec. 27th; Phoenix; ESPN

-Rutgers has its first bowl bid since 1978. Although the Big East is down in recent years Rutgers is not as thier coach (since '02) has been trying to make them a competative team. Brian Lenord and freshman Ray Rice have carried Rutgers to this game. Although the Scarlet Knights havent played anyone of much good competition, they have centainly improved, and will play in a good bowl. Arizona State on the other hand has the major home field advantage, as their campus is in the next town over. All they have to do is literally take a 15 minute bus ride over to Bank One Ballpark. Although the Sun Devils were underperforming, look for their offensive passing attack to crush Rutgers. The opening spread on this game was Rutgers getting 17.5. It might get close though, because Arizona State let USC and LSU come back in home games they could have won.
-Pick-Arizona State
-Pictured- Notre Dames 300+ member band at Last years Insight.com Bowl

-MPC Computers Bowl- Favorite-Boise State ; Underdog- Boston College
-Dec. 28th; Boise; ESPN

BC got snubbed. They got screwed for other teams that should have been in the peach or even the Music City bowl. BC has one of the best all around defenses in the league and will really put a lot of pressure on Zabranski, with Kiwi and the rest of the DL. Ryan is also the clear starter for BC, and should be effective versus a middle of the road total defense (50th) in Boise State. Lopes pointed out to me that Boise has a 31 home game winning streak. They are also playing on the field turf blue grass in a possible cold temperature (like its never cold in Idaho in the winter time) factor at home. Boise will really have the home field advantage. It may be their only one, however. This game will be the best BCS conference vs non-BCS conference in the Bowl games this year.
Pick- BC

-Music City Bowl- Favorite- Minnesota ; Underdog-Virgina
-Dec. 28th; Nashville; ESPN


Like Memphis and Navy, Minnesota has Laurence Maroney, who is quite the running back and they use him in an all out running attack. Virgina has done well this year in the ACC beating Florida State, and other lower tier BCS conference teams, but lost to BC, Va Tech, and Miami, teams with really good balanced offenses. If you put Minnesotas run based attack vs Virgina's middle of the road total defense (49th) in yards per game, it could get interresting. Minnesota, however, is near the bottom (86th) themselves in total defense in yards per game, but they have the edge with Maroney.
Pick- Minnesota


-Independence Bowl- Favorite-South Carolina ; Underdog- Missouri
-Dec. 30th; Shreveport; ESPN

This is an easy pick. Missouri is another one of those teams that should not have ever gotten a bowl bid. They played very poorly throughout the season, and are lucky to be in contention versus an alright South Carolina team. The Cocks, under the first year of Steve Spurrier look to blow them away. Rightly so they will do that and show that their program is once again one to be in contention with the SEC. South Carolina is more of a defensive team because their team doesnt put up a lot of points. Mizzou is all offense. Look for a low scoring Gamecocks victory.
-Pick- South Carolina