Back after a nice Christmas, thankfully there was no squabbling with the relatives and I spent a majority of the day either eating or watching old school Looney Tunes cartoons. Not a bad combo for Christmas.
Anyhoo, the bowl season picks back up today and really ratchets up tommorrow and the Bandit has more bowl previews for you and of course the Phat Dap/Head Slap of the week. ;)
The first set of bowl pick were not at all kind to your humble scribe. East Carolina? Florida Atlantic? Who knew? And anyone outside of New Mexico that thought the Lobos would pitch a shutout is flatout lying... Oh well, the Bearcats came through so I'm happy with that but I've got a prognasticating rep to protect.
Thursday December 27th
PACIFIC LIFE HOLIDAY BOWL
#11 Arizona State (9-3) vs #19 Texas (10-2)
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego 8:00 (ESPN)
Favorite Texas by 2½
Fast Fact The Longhorns make their 4th trip to the Holiday Bowl in 7 years
This used to be the so-called minor bowl before the big boys but now I think of it as the best bowl not in January. This matchup is no exception as you have a pair of top 20 teams with high powered passing offenses. The Longhorns seem to like coming to San Diego as this bowl and the Rose Bowl have been the Horns destination 6 of the last 8 years. Colt McCoy is a servicable QB but has a nasty tendency to throw the interception. The Sun Devils feel a bit slighted and thought they should have earned a BCS berth, QB Rudy Carpenter comes into the came hot having thrown 7 TDs and only 1 INT in his last five games.
The Holiday Bowl is more often than not a high scoring affair and this game will be no exception. I give the slightest of edges to the Sun Devils as their offense can put the points and yards up against a suspect Longhorn D and McCoy's predilection to throwing ill-timed picks.
Pick-Arizona State
Friday December 28
CHAMPS SPORTS BOWL
#14 Boston College (10-3) vs Michigan State (7-5)
Florida Citrus Bowl, Orlando 5:00 (ESPN)
Favorite Boston College by 4
Fast Fact Boston College owns the nations longest current bowl win streak having won all its bowl appearences this decade.
The Eagles limp into this game, having lost 3 of their last 5 after an 8-0 start. Matt Ryan was a top Heisman candidate but fell off badly. They face a bowl inexperienced team in the Spartans who last appeared in the 2003 Alamo Bowl. The Spartans rely on a balanced offense which can run well with Javon Ringer and pass capabaly with Brian Hoyer getting a good number of catches and yards from Big Ten receiving leader Devin Thomas. The Eagles have slumped but I doubt that the Spartans have the experience to tip the balance that much
Pick-Boston College
TEXAS BOWL
Houston (8-4) vs Texas Christian (7-5)
Reliant Stadium, Houston 8:00 (NFL Network)
Favorite TCU by 4½
Fast Fact: Both these teams were once longtime rivals in the old Southwest Conference
Both teams are staying in state for this bowl game. The Cougars will be riding the running of senior RB Anthony Alridge who rushed for 1568 yards and paces a nationally ranked running game that averages almost 240 yards a contest. The Horned Frogs will try to stop Alridge with all conference DE Chase Ortiz and try to control the clock themselves with a ball control offense. This looks to be a grind it out type game. The slight edge going to the Cougars playing virtually in their own backyard.
Pick-Houston
EMERALD BOWL
Maryland (6-6) vs Oregon State (8-4)
AT&T Park San Francisco 8:30 (ESPN)
Favorite Oregon State by 5
Fast Fact This is Oregon State's first meeting with an ACC team since the 1942 Rose Bowl.
There are a few things about this game that annoy me. First its being played in a baseball venue. I loath seeing a football game being bastardized by trying to squeeze it in to a place made for baseball. Second, it features a .500 team. Maryland. I know the Terps beat a pair of nationally ranked teams to strengthen its resume, but they are the definition of Jekyll and Hyde. The Beavers are also a bit schizophrenic but finished a bit stronger. Both teams like to run, I saw Beaver senior running back Yvenson Bernard play against Cincy in September and was unimpressed. Bernard does put up decent numbers (103.7 rushing yards per game) but is coming off minor knee surgery and could be rusty. The Terps also have a good running game, featuring Keon Lattimore and and Lance Ball both posting over 700 yards and double digit touchdowns each. The Terps have historically played well in bowls, but I'm just not sold on them coming cross country to beat the Beavers.
Pick-Oregon State
Overall Bowl Picks: 2-4
Phat Dap/Head Slap
PHAT DAP
It might sound a bit self serving, but I'm giving it to me. I won one of my fantasy football leagues The Great Midwest Football League (A Name that I will give up for a certain price to a certain collegiate league I have the copyright), this despite finishing 2nd in my division to an unbeaten team. I beat the team that beat the unbeaten squad. Wanna check out my title winning squad? Take a Look-See Here. The GMFL is a league I founded in 1990 and has been very competitive, though I have won my 6th title in 18 years. I am taking applications for two spots that will soon come open, drop me a private message with your qualifications and you might be able to get a spot.
HEAD SLAP
These go to two NFL teams, the Cleveland Browns and the Minnesota Vikings. Both these teams had chances to clinch a playoff berth by simply winning. The Browns came out flat against the Bengals and Derek Anderson threw four picks. This against a Bengals secondary that was starting two rookies! The Browns have to hope that a nothing to play for Colt team can down the Titans or the playoff berth that they fought so hard for will disappear. The Vikings also had a golden opportunity slip right through their fingers, but to lose at home to a beatable Redskins squad was shameful. Vikes coach Brad Childress stubbornly stayed with a ground game that was not working and QB Tavaris Jackson played a second poor game. This loss means that the Vikes are likely to be eliminated from the playoff race before they take the field in Denver. The Redskins have only to beat a Cowboys team that will likely rest numerous starters as they have nothing to play for to gain a once unlikely playoff berth.
More bowl previews on Friday and the NFL Picks as well. No Thursday NFL games to drop in, thank goodness. Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!
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