2007-08 CFB Bowl Picks and News

[RJ Esq]

<table style="border: 1px solid rgb(102, 102, 102);" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="554"><tbody><tr><td colspan="3" class="topper">Bowl Breakdown: Poinsettia</td></tr><tr><td class="logo">

</td><td><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="matchup">Utah (8-4) vs. Navy (8-4)</td></tr><tr><td class="gametime">Dec. 20, 9 p.m. (ESPN)</td></tr><tr><td class="location">Qualcomm Stadium (71,294)
San Diego</td></tr></tbody></table></td><td class="logo">

</td></tr></tbody></table>SI.com's Cory McCartney analyzes the matchups.
Breaking down Utah

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Utah won seven of its last eight games after QB Brian Johnson's return from injury.
Boyd Ivey/Icon SMI


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</td></tr></tbody></table>The bowl season kicks off with one of the hottest teams not named Georgia or USC as Utah battles Navy. The Utes started 1-3 after starting quarterback Brian Johnson was injured in a season-opening loss to Oregon State. But bolstered by Johnson's return -- and the emergence of 1,400-yard rusher Darrell Mack -- Utah came back to win seven straight, including road triumphs at Louisville and TCU. The only blemish was a season-ending loss to BYU in the Holy War, as the Cougars won on their final drive.
Utah's offense may have lost the bite of the UrbanMeyer-directed spread-option days of old, ranking 81st in total offense (362.8 yards per game) and 74th in scoring (25.5 points per game), but these Utes are succeeding largely behind their stingy defense. Utah is 15th in total defense (319.4 ypg) and third in points allowed (15.6 ppg). The unit gave up just five touchdowns in its last six games behind all-Mountain West first-team defensive lineman Martail Burnett and defensive back Steve Tate.
Breaking down Navy

This will be coach PaulJohnson's finale, with the mastermind behind the Midshipmen's machinelike triple-option attack taking over at Georgia Tech. Navy once again leads the nation in rushing, averaging 351.5 yards per game behind quarterback and leading rusher Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada, though seven players have rushed for at least 450 yards. As usual, it's all about the run with the Midshipmen. Navy attempted 122 passes all season, ranking last in the nation in passing offense.
In stark contrast to Navy's potent offense is a defense that was ranked 190th in the nation and gave up more than 40 points seven times, including 59 to Delaware and 62 to North Texas. It seems Navy's best defense has been an offense that's scoring nearly 40 points a game.
Final analysis

Utah has won six straight bowl games dating back to 1999, the second-longest streak in the country, and it's been predicated by defense. During that run, the Utes have held opponents to 27-of-99 on third- and fourth-down conversion attempts. But if Utah is to keep its run alive, it will have to figure out a Navy offense that's similar to the Air Force attack that totaled 334 yards on the ground in beating the Utes 20-12 on Sept. 8. The Midshipmen will be looking to send Johnson out with a win after six seasons in Annapolis, and while the offense has unquestionable firepower, Navy's defensive weaknesses will prove too much against a Utes offense that averaged 33 points and 416.4 yards per game during its seven-game winning streak. Johnson will be off to Atlanta, while Utah's streak will last at least another postseason.
The pick: Utah 38, Navy 30

 

[RJ Esq]

Oh Shit!!! A Bowden at WVU??? WTF??? December 20, 2007

Posted by AngryEer in Big East Football, SEC Football.
trackback I received this in an email this morning:
A very reliable source has informed CrimsonTider.com that former Auburn coach and Sports Commentator Terry Bowden is close to accepting the West Virginia Head Coaching position. Bowden said in a statement released by his publicist. “I made a full commitment to get back into coaching almost two years ago. Coming home to West Virginia would obviously be the dream job for me,” Terry Bowden had a successful stint with Auburn which included an 11-0 season in 1993. Even more appealing for WVU fans is the fact that his father, legendary coach Bobby Bowden, coached at the school from 1970-1975. Bobby Bowden was 42-26-0 before he departed for greener pastures at Florida State.
West Virginia athletic director Ed Pastilong didn’t immediately return a telephone message Tuesday morning but sources claim that all is left is “crossing some I’s and dotting some T’s”. The package is said to be near the $1.78 million earned by former head coach Rich Rodriguez, who took the job as head coach at the University of Michigan after seven seasons in Morgantown, where he built West Virginia into a Big East power, won the conference championship this year for the fourth time in five seasons and went 60-26 overall.
This selection is my worst fucking nightmare. A Bowden is coming home? I just can’t understand why ANYONE would ever want Terry Bowden to coach WVU!

For instance:
1. He hasn’t coached in 10 years!
2. He is a horrible recruiter.
3. He is condescending towards his assistant coaches.
4. His loyalty SHOULD be questioned. Regardless of how loyal he is to his alma mater, he did leave Auburn in the middle of the year in 1998.
5. Although he won 11 games at Auburn in 1994, it was with Pat Dye’s players.
6. Significant NCAA recruiting violations while at Auburn.
7. I will NOT go to WVU football games if Terry Bowden becomes head coach.
8. He made that kid cry, fat fuck.

 

[RJ Esq]

Two OSU Cornerbacks Suspended (?); How Does This Affect LSU's Game Plan?

Posted Dec 20th 2007 1:03PM by Mark Hasty
Filed under: LSU Football, Ohio State Football, Big 10, SEC, BCS, Bowl Games

There are reports that Ohio State has suspended starting cornerback Donald Washington and backup corner Eugene Clifford for the upcoming BCS Championship Game. As usual, these reports involve unnamed sources and the ever-classic undisclosed violations of team rules. Normally I'd caution LSU fans to take these reports with a link of boudin (or at least a grain of salt), but OSU athletic director Gene Smith is quoted as saying there's "work to be done" in regards to this matter.

LSU's passing offense is in the high middle of the pack nationally. They're a run-first kind of team, but Les Miles has been known to make an adjustment or two, so these suspensions (if true) might have some effect on the Tigers' game plan. Still, the Buckeyes didn't just bumble their way to having the nation's number one pass defense, and that ranking wasn't solely the result of Washington and Clifford. So don't be too quick to assume that OSU's secondary just became vulnerable. These suspensions (again, if true) hurt the Buckeyes, but probably not too much.

 

[RJ Esq]

Todd Boeckman Needs To Bounce Back

Posted Dec 20th 2007 2:25PM by Tom Fornelli
Filed under: Ohio State Football, Big 10, BCS, Bowl Games

While the Buckeyes try and figure out what they're going to do without their two suspended cornerbacks, and LSU comes up with a gameplan to exploit the Buckeyes' secondary, Ohio State quarterback Todd Boeckman is just hoping he plays better against LSU than he did in OSU's last two games.

Boeckman was never a legit Heisman contender, but due to the fact Ohio State was one of the only teams in college football who wasn't losing, his name was being bandied about as a candidate. Then the final two games of the Buckeyes season came, and nobody talked about Todd again.

In Ohio State's loss to Illinois and win over Michigan, Boeckman struggled a bit. He completed only 55% of his passes for only 206 yards, no touchdowns, and four interceptions. In Ohio State's first ten games, Boeckman completed 65% of his passes for 1,965 yards, 23 touchdowns and 8 interceptions.

If the Buckeyes are going to beat LSU in January, they're going to need the Boeckman from the first ten games, and Todd knows it.

"Maybe I got down on myself too much at the end," said Boeckman, who has thrown for 2,171 yards, 23 touchdowns and 12 picks while completing 65 percent of his passes. "At the beginning of the season, I was making mistakes and bouncing right back. At the end, I wasn't bouncing back as quickly. You can't let a turnover affect your entire game. I'm going to shrug those off and keep going."​

Of course, it's a lot easier said than done when you don't have Glenn Dorsey barreling down on you.

 

[RJ Esq]

<table><tbody><tr><td colspan="3" class="storytitle"> 2007 New Orleans Bowl - Memphis vs. FAU </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="primaryimage" valign="top">

Florida Atlantic RB Charles Pierre
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</td> <td valign="top"> <table bgcolor="#f5f5f5" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1" width="60%"> <tbody><tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="middle">By Pete Fiutak
CollegeFootballNews.com
Posted Dec 14, 2007
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2007 New Orleans Bowl Preview - Memphis vs. Florida Atlantic
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Memphis (7-5) vs. Florida Atlantic (7-5)
Dec. 21, 8 p.m. ESPN2
- Get Tickets for the New Orleans Bowl
- The Big Story Memphis O Rolls Under Helton - 2006 CFN New Orleans Bowl Preview
- WhatIfSports.com New Orleans Bowl Predicted Box Score
New Orleans Bowl History, Each Team's Best Bowl Moments, & More

Never underestimate just how huge it is for most teams to go to a bowl game. While the Floridas, Oklahomas and Michigans of the world just assume there will be an extra game at the end of the year, for programs like Florida Atlantic and Memphis, it's a chance to get the national spotlight all to themselves for a few minutes. The lone bowl game on a late December Friday night, it's the big stage for the Sun Belt conference to showcase its champion, while Conference USA could always use as much exposure as it can get.

More than anything else, this should be a really, really good game thanks to the two most important element to an early bowl game without two big-name teams: 1) the teams will try hard for a fully sixty minutes, and 2) there will be lots and lots of offense.
<table id="table8" align="right" border="0" cellspacing="6" height="83" width="205"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" width="100%"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> <table id="table9" border="0" width="213"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#000000" width="206"> National Rankings</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" width="206"> <table id="table10" border="0" height="139" width="205"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000080" height="6" width="50%"> Fla Atlantic</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#cccccc" height="6" width="50%"> Memphis</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="6" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Total Offense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000080" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 45th 413.08 ypg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#cccccc" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 58th 345.17 ypg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Total Defense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000080" height="11" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 85th 417.08 ypg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#cccccc" height="11" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 23rd 447.42 ypg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Scoring Offense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000080" height="16" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 48th 30.08 ppg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#cccccc" height="16" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 49th 29.42 ppg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Scoring Defense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000080" height="16" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 99th 33.75 ppg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#cccccc" height="16" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 91st 31.25 ppg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Run Offense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000080" height="5" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 91st 126.92 ypg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#cccccc" height="5" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 76th 139.58 ypg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Run Defense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000080" height="16" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 83rd 179.50 ypg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#cccccc" height="16" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 110th 209.75 ypg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Pass Offense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000080" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 19th 286.17 ypg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#cccccc" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 12th 307.83 ypg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Pass Defense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000080" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 74th 237.58 ypg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#cccccc" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 64th 229.75 ypg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Turnover Margin[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000080" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 1st 1.58[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#cccccc" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 17th 0.75[/FONT]</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="105"> Florida Atlantic[FONT=Arial, Helvetica][/FONT] Mid Tenn W 27-14
at Okla St L 42-6
Minnesota W 42-39
at N Texas W 30-20
at Kentucky L 45-17
S Florida L 35-23
at UL Laf W 39-32 OT
UL Mon L 33-30 3OT
Ark State W 34-31
at Florida L 59-20
at FIU W 55-23
at Troy W 38-32</td> <td align="left" valign="top" width="106"> Memphis[FONT=Arial, Helvetica][/FONT] Ole Miss L 23-21
Jville State W 35-14
at UCF W 56-20
at Ark. St L 35-31
Marshall W 24-21
Middle Tenn L 21-7
at Rice W 38-35
at Tulane W 28-27
East Carolina L 56-40
at So Miss W 29-26
UAB W 25-9
SMU W 59-52 3OT</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> <table id="table11" border="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="3" align="center" bgcolor="#c0c0c0" width="100%">Position Ratings
relative to each other</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#ff0000" width="33%"> FAU</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000000" width="33%">5 highest
1 lowest</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000080" width="34%"> MU</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 4</td> <td align="center" width="33%">Quarterbacks</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 4.5</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 3</td> <td align="center" width="33%">RBs</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 2.5</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 3</td> <td align="center" width="33%">Receivers</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 4</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 3.5</td> <td align="center" width="33%">O Line</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 3.5</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 3</td> <td align="center" width="33%">D Line</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 2.5</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 3</td> <td align="center" width="33%">Linebackers</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 3</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 3</td> <td align="center" width="33%">Secondary</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 2.5</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 2</td> <td align="center" width="33%">Spec Teams</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 3</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 3.5</td> <td align="center" width="33%">Coaching</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 3</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> Florida Atlantic football didn't even exist until 2001, when Howard Schnellenberger started building up the program with loads of glossed over Florida talent. Built on defense and overall quickness, the Owls moved up to D-I in 2004 and came out hot going 9-3 with a shocking 5-0 start, all on the road, including wins over Hawaii, North Texas and Middle Tennessee. It took a few years to reload and build things up to where Schnellenberger wanted them, and this year it all came together with a win over Middle Tennessee to start the year and a 38-32 victory at Troy to end the regular season and earn the Sun Belt title.

Along the way, the Owls beat Minnesota, gave South Florida a battle, and was far better than the 59-20 final score would indicate against Florida. They have one of the Sun Belt's best offenses, averaging 413 yards per game, and have the nation's best turnover margin with 33 takeaways and just 14 turnovers. Even so, the defense will give up plenty of yards and lots of points. It just so happens that Memphis cranks out plenty of yards and lots of points.

One of the hottest teams coming into the bowl season, Memphis has won five of its last six games including a triple-overtime thriller over SMU to secure the post-season spot. Living by the skin of its teeth, MU has won five games this year by three points or fewer thanks to a veteran offense that's come through time and again. Averaging 308 passing yards and 29.4 points per game, the Tigers have a high-octane attack that should be able to move the ball from anywhere on the field.

With the two offenses in place, and the two suspect defenses, this should be the wildest, most exciting game in the brief seven year history of the New Orleans Bowl. The Sun Belt is 2-4 so far including a 27-17 North Texas loss to Memphis in 2003, but Troy got the league on track with a 41-17 win over Rice last year. A Florida Atlantic win would be another huge step for the afterthought of a conference that's still trying to find national respect, while a win for Memphis would make it three bowl victories in the last five years.

Yes, this is one of the non-New Year's Day bowl games worth going out of your way for, if only to get a chance to see a highly competitive, high-octane battle. It should be fun.

Players to watch: The game will come down to the two bombs-away quarterbacks, Memphis senior Martin Hankins and rising FAU sophomore Rusty Smith.

Smith is a 6-5, 215-pound pro-style passer who took over the reins at the end of last year and showed a few glimpses of greatness and good leadership for his age. He was the man from day one going into this season, and he showed why with 27 touchdown passes and eight interceptions, with four coming in a two-game midseason span, as he kept his mistakes to a minimum, did a nice job of getting the ball out of his hands in a hurry and into the hands of his playmakers, and he came through big when the team needed him the most. His high point was a 463-yard, five touchdown performance in the win over Minnesota, but he was strong throughout the Sun Belt season and did a great job under the pressure of the Florida and Troy defenses completing 61% of his passes for 581 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions against the two.

Hankins struggled a bit with interceptions, throwing 12 on the year with seven over the final six games, but he was able to overcome the problems with scores, throwing four touchdown passes in three of his last four games. While not as tall and not the prototype bomber like Smith, he has no problems pushing the ball down the field and tightening up his decision making around the goal line.

Hankins has a devastating 1-2 receiving punch in sophomores Duke Calhoun and Carlos Singleton, who have been as hot as any tandem in America over the last month of the season. The 6-4, 185-pound Calhoun is one of Conference USA's most talented receivers coming on at the end of the year with three 100-yard games in the final four including a four-catch, 159-yard game against UAB. While Calhoun was cranking out the yards, Singleton was getting into the end zone with seven scores in the final four games including a a three-touchdown day in the win over SMU. He's 6-8 and rail-thin, but he's a matchup nightmare.

Trying to shut down at least one of the Tiger stars will be FAU freshman Tavious Polo, who came up with seven interceptions in the first five games and didn't come up with another the rest of the way. Extremely quick, he's also used as a punt returner, but he's mainly a needed as the team's shutdown corner.
Florida Atlantic will win if... the ground game gets going. FAU likes to throw to win, but it can pound the ball relatively well when it has to with a decent enough attack to make Memphis worry a bit. The Tigers can't stop anyone from running the ball, and while the FAU offensive line isn't strong at blowing defensive lines off the ball, it's quick enough to get on the move and get Charles Pierre, William Rose and DiIvory Edgecomb into the open for just enough yards to take the heat off of Smith. Defensively, FAU has to force a few turnovers. Memphis is terrific at hanging on to the ball, like the Owls are, so the team that wins the turnover battle will likely win the shootout.
Memphis will win if... it plays an even game. Memphis and FAU are near mirror-images of each other. Both like the throw the ball. Both are great in pass protection. Neither can punt or generate any pass rush, but they're aggressive enough to force big mistakes. The difference is that Memphis, from top to bottom, is more talented and has more explosion. If everything else is even, and Memphis isn't giving the ball away in key spots, and as long as the pass protection holds up against the quick FAU defensive front, it should be able to simply outrun and out-home run its way to a win. The better quarterback will win the game, and Hankins is more experienced than Smith.

What will happen: It'll be a high-powered shootout with several big plays and plenty of momentum swings. Memphis will give up 400 passing yards, but will come up with a bit more offensive balance and a little more pressure into the backfield. Hankins will be stellar and mistake-free helped by the bigger, more physical Tiger receivers who'll outmuscle the smaller FAU defensive backs all game long.

Line: Florida Atlantic -2.5... CFN Prediction: Memphis 38 ... Florida Atlantic 34</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[RJ Esq]

<table><tbody><tr><td colspan="3" class="storytitle"> 2007 PapaJohns.com Bowl - So. Miss vs. Cincy </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="primaryimage" valign="top">

Cincinnati QB Ben Mauk
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</td> <td valign="top"> <table bgcolor="#f5f5f5" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1" width="60%"> <tbody><tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="middle">By Richard Cirminiello
CollegeFootballNews.com
Posted Dec 14, 2007
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2007 PapaJohns.com Bowl Preview - Southern Miss vs. Cincinnati
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Southern Miss (7-5) vs. Cincinnati (9-3) Dec. 21st 1 p.m. ESPN2
- Get Tickets for the PapaJohns.com Bowl
- The Big Story Southern Miss Welcomes In The Fedora Era
- The Big Story Cincinnati's Kelly Close To Signing Big Deal - 2006 CFN PapaJohns.com Bowl Preview
- WhatIfSports.com PapaJohns.com Bowl Prediction & Box Score
PapaJohns.com Bowl History, Each Team's Best Bowl Moments, & More
<table id="table8" align="right" border="0" cellspacing="6" height="83" width="205"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" width="100%"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> <table id="table9" border="0" width="213"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#000000" width="206"> National Rankings</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" width="206"> <table id="table10" border="0" height="139" width="205"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#ffcc66" height="6" width="50%"> Southern Miss</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000000" height="6" width="50%"> Cincinnati</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="6" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Total Offense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#ffcc66" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 62nd 393.92 ypg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000000" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 28th 436.33 ypg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Total Defense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#ffcc66" height="11" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 47th 363.17 ypg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000000" height="11" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 51st 370.67 ypg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Scoring Offense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#ffcc66" height="16" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 57th 28.33 ppg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000000" height="16" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 14th 36.75 ppg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Scoring Defense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#ffcc66" height="16" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 38th 23.58 ppg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000000" height="16" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 11th 18.58 ppg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Run Offense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#ffcc66" height="5" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 22nd 200.33 ypg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000000" height="5" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 56th 154.17 ypg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Run Defense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#ffcc66" height="16" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 48th 139.58 ypg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000000" height="16" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 15th 105.67 ypg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Pass Offense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#ffcc66" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 90th 193.58 ypg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000000" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 23rd 282.17 ypg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Pass Defense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#ffcc66" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 52nd 223.58 ypg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000000" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 105th 265 ypg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Turnover Margin[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#ffcc66" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 74th -0.17[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000000" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 3rd 1.42[/FONT]</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="105"> Southern Miss[FONT=Arial, Helvetica][/FONT] UT Martin W 35-13
at Tenn. L 39-19
at ECU W 28-21
at Boise St L 38-16
Rice L 31-29
SMU W 28-7
at Marshall W 33-24
UCF L 34-17
at UAB W 37-7
Memphis L 29-25
at UTEP W 56-30
Ark State W 16-10</td> <td align="left" valign="top" width="106"> Cincinnati[FONT=Arial, Helvetica][/FONT] SE Miss. St W 59-3
Oregon State W 34-3
at Miami U. W 47-10
Marshall W 40-14
at SDSU W 52-23
at Rutgers W 28-23
Louisville L 28-24
at Pitt L 24-17
at So Florida W 38-33
Connecticut W 27-3
West Virginia L 28-23
at Syracuse W 52-31</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> <table id="table11" border="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="3" align="center" bgcolor="#c0c0c0" width="100%">Position Ratings
relative to each other</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#ff9900" width="33%"> USM</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000000" width="33%">5 highest
1 lowest</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000000" width="34%"> C</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 3</td> <td align="center" width="33%">Quarterbacks</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 4</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 4</td> <td align="center" width="33%">RBs</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 3.5</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 2.5</td> <td align="center" width="33%">Receivers</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 4</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 3.5</td> <td align="center" width="33%">O Line</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 4</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 3.5</td> <td align="center" width="33%">D Line</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 3.5</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 3.5</td> <td align="center" width="33%">Linebackers</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 3.5</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 3</td> <td align="center" width="33%">Secondary</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 4</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 4</td> <td align="center" width="33%">Spec Teams</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 3</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 3</td> <td align="center" width="33%">Coaching</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 4</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> Although Cincinnati was hoping for a higher profile venue in December, say the Sun Bowl or Meineke Car Care Bowl, a chance to win a second bowl game in the same calendar year and a tenth game for the first time since 1951 will be plenty enough motivation in Birmingham. Along with Connecticut, the Bearcats were one the Big East’s big surprises, flirting with a league title well into November before fading after a loss to West Virginia on Nov. 17. The team has responded very well under first-year head coach Brian Kelly, quickly adopting his passer-friendly “Cat Attack” offense and setting a school record for points in a season. The new system wound up making a star out of Wake Forest export Ben Mauk, who flipped 27 touchdown passes and led the league in passing efficiency. On defense, Cincy did a fair amount of attacking as well, stuffing the run with a veteran front four, and leading the Big East in both sacks and turnover margin. Very quietly, Kelly has Cincinnati ramping up toward bigger and better things, but will he be on board when the program gets there? One of the rising stars in the coaching ranks, his name has been linked to some higher-profile openings this month.

Kelly’s future at Cincinnati is a topic of uncertainty, but Jeff Bower’s future at Southern Miss is not. After 17 successful years in Hattiesburg, he was forced to resign following a disappointing 7-5 season that many felt would end with a league title and a berth in the Liberty Bowl. Bower will be on the sidelines one final time, facing a familiar foe that was a member of Conference USA from 1996-2005. Early 20-point defeats to Tennessee and Boise State lowered the bar for the Golden Eagles in 2007, but it was an inexcusable home loss to Rice on Oct. 3 that sent shockwaves throughout the conference and the program. Southern Miss recovered to nab a ninth bowl berth in the last decade, but never mounted a challenge in the East Division. While it has star power on both sides of the ball in RB Damion Fletcher and LB Gerald McRath, the supporting cast is average, and the signature “Nasty Bunch” defense was not vintage quality during the regular season.

The PapaJohns.com Bowl will be an audition of sorts for both Kelly and Bower. While Kelly could be in line for a substantial promotion, Bower has been steadfast since his resignation that he’s not through with coaching.

Players to watch: One of Kelly’s big concerns when he coached the Bearcats in last year’s International Bowl was whether or not he had enough quality receivers to effectively run his offense in 2007. It took a few weeks, but redshirt freshman Marcus Barnett answered the call, developing into Mauk’s favorite target, while catching 60 passes for 845 yards and 13 touchdowns. A sure-handed, 6-1 target with good separation speed, he’s going to be a handful for a beatable Southern Miss secondary that’ll have to compensate for its own freshman, starting CB C.J. Bailey.

For Southern Miss to pull the upset in Birmingham, it has to create running lanes for Fletcher, one of the forgotten star running backs in a league that already has a pair of 2,000-yard rushers, UCF’s Kevin Smith and Tulane’s Matt Forte. The sophomore has run for more than 1,000 yards in each of his two seasons, carrying the Eagle offense for a time when the quarterback situation was in disarray. It’ll be incumbent upon linemen Chris Clark, Nick Dean, and Ryan McKee to get a push up front against a Terrill Byrd-led defensive line that yielded more than 100 yards rushing in a game just three times all year.

Southern Miss will win if... QB Jeremy Young makes a number of big plays with his arm and legs. When healthy, he’s a dangerous quarterback that’s capable of breaking down defenses whether he’s sitting back in the pocket, or sprinting out of it on designed runs. Cincinnati is going to score points, and make it very difficult for Fletcher, Tory Harrison, and the rest of the Golden Eagle running game to control the tempo of the game. If Southern Miss is going to keep pace, it’ll be up to Young and his two favorite targets, WR Torris Magee and TE Shawn Nelson, to outperform a Bearcat secondary that permits a lot of long completions.
Cincinnati will win if... it controls the turnover battle. Few programs in the country have been better at creating takeaways than the Bearcats, which boast Mike Mickens and DeAngelo Smith, a couple of thieves at cornerback. Southern Miss has been careless all year with ball, which is a surefire way to turn a competitive game into a rout. If Cincy gets pressure up front with Byrd and DE Anthony Hoke, Young is type of inconsistent quarterbacks that’ll make ill-advised throws.

What will happen:Two schools trending in different directions will continue down those paths. Cincinnati will get a couple of touchdown passes from Mauk, and at least three turnovers from a defense that’s substantially faster than the Southern Miss offense. The Eagles would love to send Bower off with a victory, but once they get down in the second half, there won’t be much fight left in a program that’s being led by a lame duck coach.

Line: Cincinnati -11... CFN Prediction: Cincinnati 34 ... Southern Miss 20</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[RJ Esq]

<table><tbody><tr><td colspan="3" class="storytitle"> 2007 New Mexico Bowl - Nevada vs. New Mexico </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="primaryimage" valign="top">

New Mexico WR Marcus Smith
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</td> <td valign="top"> <table bgcolor="#f5f5f5" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1" width="60%"> <tbody><tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="middle">By Pete Fiutak
CollegeFootballNews.com
Posted Dec 14, 2007
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2007 New Mexico Bowl Preview - Nevada vs. New Mexico
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Nevada (6-6) vs. New Mexico (8-4) Dec. 22, 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN Get Tickets for the New Mexico Bowl
- The Big Story Can The Utah QBs Be Consistent? - 2006 CFN New Mexico Bowl Preview
- WhatIfSports.com New Mexico Bowl Prediction & Box Score
2007 New Mexico Bowl History, Each Team's Best Bowl Moments, & More
Alright New Mexico, let's try this again.

USC might get to play in L.A. and LSU gets to battle Ohio State in New Orleans, but when it comes to home field advantages in the bowl games, no one will get a bigger boost than New Mexico playing in the New Mexico Bowl for a second year in a roll. It didn't matter much last year as San Jose State stuffed the Lobos with a great defensive performance, and while UNM wasn't supposed to be able to play here two years in a row, a quirk of the bowl lineup allowed it to happen. It's a bigger deal than you might think.
<table id="table8" align="right" border="0" cellspacing="6" height="83" width="205"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" width="100%"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> <table id="table9" border="0" width="213"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#000000" width="206"> National Rankings</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" width="206"> <table id="table10" border="0" height="139" width="205"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000080" height="6" width="50%"> Nevada</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#800000" height="6" width="50%"> New Mexico</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="6" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Total Offense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000080" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 7th 488.92 ypg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#800000" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 84th 131.08 ypg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Total Defense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000080" height="11" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 71st 403.92 ypg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#800000" height="11" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 23rd 329.08 ypg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Scoring Offense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000080" height="16" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 18th 36.25 ppg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#800000" height="16" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 78th 24.83 ppg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Scoring Defense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000080" height="16" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 97th 32.92 ppg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#800000" height="16" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 25th 20.58 ppg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Run Offense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000080" height="5" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 11th 225.83 ypg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#800000" height="5" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 84th 131.08 ypg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Run Defense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000080" height="16" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 79th 172.58 ypg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#800000" height="16" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 31st 126.67 ypg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Pass Offense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000080" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 35th 263.08 ypg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#800000" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 57th 226.33 ypg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Pass Defense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000080" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 67th 231.33 ypg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#800000" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 22nd 202.42 ypg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Turnover Margin[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000080" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 83rd -0.33[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#800000" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 47th 0.08[/FONT]</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="105"> Nevada [FONT=Arial, Helvetica][/FONT] at Nebraska L 52-10
at Nwestern L 36-31
Nicholls St W 52-17
UNLV W 27-20
Fresno State L 49-41
at Boise St L 69-67 4OT
at Utah St W 31-28
Idaho W 37-21
at NMSU W 40-38
Hawaii L 28-26
at SJSU L 27-24
La Tech W 49-10</td> <td align="left" valign="top" width="106"> New Mexico
at UTEP L 10-6
NMSU W 44-34
at Arizona W 29-27
Sac. St W 58-9
BYU L 31-24
at Wyoming W 20-3
at SDSU W 20-13
Air Force W 34-31
at TCU L 37-0
Colo. St W 26-23
at Utah L 28-10
UNLV W 24-6</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> <table id="table11" border="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="3" align="center" bgcolor="#c0c0c0" width="100%">Position Ratings
relative to each other</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000080" width="33%"> N</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000000" width="33%">5 highest
1 lowest</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#800000" width="34%"> NM</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 3.5</td> <td align="center" width="33%">Quarterbacks</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 3.5</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 4</td> <td align="center" width="33%">RBs</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 4</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 4</td> <td align="center" width="33%">Receivers</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 4</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 3.5</td> <td align="center" width="33%">O Line</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 3.5</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 3</td> <td align="center" width="33%">D Line</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 3.5</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 3.5</td> <td align="center" width="33%">Linebackers</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 3.5</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 2.5</td> <td align="center" width="33%">Secondary</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 3.5</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 3.5</td> <td align="center" width="33%">Spec Teams</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 3.5</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 4</td> <td align="center" width="33%">Coaching</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 3.5</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> The Lobos have a nice 8-4 season going 5-1 in Albuquerque, with the lone loss coming to Mountain West champ BYU, while Nevada lost four of its six games away from Reno. So that should be enough for the Wolf Pack to just enjoy the scenery and not worry about actually winning the game, right? Not quite.

The explosive Pack offense has the weapons and the talent to hang 500 yards and 40 points on just about anyone, but the New Mexico defense has bee solid all season long while the offense has shown flashes of explosion. It should be an entertaining game led by several good young playmakers, but it'll all come down to whether or not Nevada can play a little bit of defense.

Playing in the WAC, Nevada saw its share of shootouts, but it always seemed to come out on the wrong side highlighted by a 69-67 four-overtime thriller of a loss to Boise State, which set a record for points and yards in game. There was a 49-41 loss to Fresno State and a 28-26 battle with Hawaii to go along with a 36-31 loss at Northwestern and a 40-38 win over New Mexico State. This is a team used to going up and down the field, and it's also used to close games with eight decided by eight points or fewer.

Unlike Nevada, New Mexico managed to be on the right side in most of its tight battles going 4-2 in games decided by seven points or fewer. Call it a sign of maturity that the team was able to beat San Diego State, Air Force and Colorado State all by three points each over the second half of the season as the Lobos won five of their last seven games. They come into the game hot, while the Wolf Pack is just looking to put a nice cap on an inconsistent season.

Few teams can lose their starting quarterback and get better, but that's what happened after Nick Graziano was knocked out for the year with a foot injury. 6-6, 215-pound redshirt freshman Colin Kaepernick stepped in and turned into one of the nation's best dual-threat quarterback with 567 rushing yards and six touchdowns to go along with 19 touchdown passes and just three interceptions. While he has the talent, he has to improve on his overall accuracy and has to shine in a big-stage audition for what'll be a quarterback battle going into next year.

For New Mexico, a second-straight home bowl loss would be a devastating blow to a program that can't shake the tag of being one of the biggest bowl losers over the last several years. 0-5 in their last five bowls going back to 1997, the Lobos haven't won a bowl game since 1961. On the flip-side, no one has a more thrilling bowl history than Nevada, who has gone 3-3 with three of the games decided by one point, two decided by three, and two of the games decided in overtime. The biggest margin of victory in a Nevada post-season game came in a 13-6 win over North Texas in the 1948 Salad Bowl.

It's mid-level team and mid-level conference bragging rights time. This will mean a lot for both leagues, and for two teams about to undergo a bit of an overhaul, this will be a big moment for several young players to step up and shine going into the offseason.

Players to watch: New Mexico has the Mountain West's best set of skill players led by junior RB Rodney Ferguson and the tremendous senior wideout tandem of Marcus Smith and Travis Brown. However, Ferguson will likely be out meaning more will have to come from the passing game. Smith, a former running back, led the league with 86 catches for 1,039 yards and three touchdowns. Speed wasn't an issue after making the full-time switch to receiver last year, but consistency was. With the improvements from QB Donovan Porterie, Smith has become a more reliable target with at least five catches in every game but one and three 100-yard receiving days. Brown, who finished third in the league with 69 catches for 911 yards and five scores, was one of the nation's most productive receivers over the first half of the year with five 100-yard days in the first seven before Smith became an even bigger part of the attack. Brown has the ability to strike from anywhere on the field and should feast on a Nevada secondary that'll key on Smith first.

Ferguson was one of the lone bright spots in last year's 20-12 New Mexico Bowl loss to San Jose State with 102 rushing yards, and he's been a do-it-all workhorse for the attack this year with 1,177 yards and 13 touchdowns while finishing third in receiving with 18 catches for 264 yards and a score. While not necessarily a gamebreaker, he's great at being able to wear down defenses while providing a pop from start to finish.

While Kaepernick might be the star of Nevada's show, the offense actually revolves around junior RB Luke Lippencott, the best back in the WAC this season with 1,380 yards and 1The former safety has great power and quickness for a 215-pound back, and he has a nose for the end zone with five touchdowns in the regular-season finale against Louisiana Tech and four in the shootout against Boise State. With the Lobo defense needing to watch out for Kaepernick coming out of the backfield, Lippencott should be able to run up the middle all day long.
Nevada will win if... Kaepernick gets running early. Statistically this is a strong New Mexico run defense, but that's mostly because the Mountain West is merely average at pounding the ball. San Diego State, with running quarterback Kevin O'Connell, and Air Force, even though Shaun Carney only ran six times, were able to have some success on the ground, while TCU and Colorado State were able to pound away. Nevada will want to keep its mistakes to an absolute minimum and will get Kaepernick into the open on the outside as much as possible. The more the Pack can run the ball, and the less Kaepernick has to force throws on third downs, the better.
New Mexico will win if... Nevada LB Ezra Butler doesn't have a huge game. Butler will wow the NFL scouts at the combine and has WAC Defensive Player of the Year skills, but he had a slightly disappointing season as he wasn't nearly the pass rusher he was in 2006 and didn't do enough against the run until late in the year. It'll be up to him to make play after play as the mammoth Lobo offensive front, averaging 312 yards per man among the starters, should be able to shove around the front three of the Wolf Pack 3-4 all game long. If Butler isn't coming up with at least ten tackles and doesn't keep Ferguson under wraps, the Lobos will likely be dominating the time of possession and the tempo of the game.

What will happen: Nevada has the talent and the playmakers to get into a shootout, which it'll prefer, but it'll likely have to fight it out in a grind-it-out war with the UNM offensive line looking to establish its dominance early. The Lobos will have to throw and throw some more with Ferguson out attending to a "personal matter," and Smith and Brown will take advantage of single coverage as the game goes on. Can Porterie avoid making the big mistake? Probably not, but the overall matchup, and the home field advantage, favors New Mexico. Even though you never go against a streak, and New Mexico head coach Rocky Long has yet to prove himself in a really big game, the Lobos will come away with a tough win in a game that'll get better as it goes along.

Line: New Mexico -3... CFN Prediction: New Mexico 34 ... Nevada 30
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[RJ Esq]

<table><tbody><tr><td colspan="3" class="storytitle"> 2007 Las Vegas Bowl - UCLA vs. BYU </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="primaryimage" valign="top">

UCLA DE Bruce Davis
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</td> <td valign="top"> <table bgcolor="#f5f5f5" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1" width="60%"> <tbody><tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="middle">By Richard Cirminiello
CollegeFootballNews.com
Posted Dec 19, 2007
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2007 Las Vegas Bowl Preview & Analysis - UCLA vs. BYU
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UCLA (6-6) vs. BYU (10-2)

Dec. 22, 8:00 p.m. ET, ESPN
Get Tickets for the Las Vegas Bowl
- The Big Story UCLA Players Getting Used To Interim Coach - 2006 CFN Las Vegas Bowl Preview
- WhatIfSports.com Las Vegas Bowl Prediction & Box Score
2007 Las Vegas Bowl History, Each Team's Best Bowl Moments, & More
<table id="table8" align="right" border="0" cellspacing="6" height="83" width="205"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" width="100%"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> <table id="table9" border="0" width="213"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#000000" width="206"> National Rankings</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" width="206"> <table id="table10" border="0" height="139" width="205"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#ffcc00" height="6" width="50%"> UCLA</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000066" height="6" width="50%"> BYU</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="6" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Total Offense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#ffcc00" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 96th 335.08 ypg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000066" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 15th 457.58 ypg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Total Defense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#ffcc00" height="11" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 34th 349.75 ypg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000066" height="11" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 10th 307.17 ypg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Scoring Offense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#ffcc00" height="16" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 90th 22.92 ppg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000066" height="16" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 42nd 31.17 ppg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Scoring Defense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#ffcc00" height="16" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 33rd 22.75 ppg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000066" height="16" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 13th 18.75 ppg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Run Offense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#ffcc00" height="5" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 62nd 150.08 ypg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000066" height="5" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 58th 153.58 ypg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Run Defense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#ffcc00" height="16" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 25th 115.42 ypg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000066" height="16" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 9th 92.08 ypg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Pass Offense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#ffcc00" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 99th 185 ypg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000066" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 13th 304 ypg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Pass Defense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#ffcc00" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 71st 234.33 ypg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000066" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 41st 215.08 ypg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Turnover Margin[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#ffcc00" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 83rd -0.33[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000066" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 92nd -0.50[/FONT]</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="105"> UCLA[FONT=Arial, Helvetica][/FONT] at Stanford W 45-17
BYU W 27-17
at Utah L 44-6
Washington W 44-31
at Oregon St W 40-14
Notre Dame L 20-6
California W 30-21
at Wash State L 27-7
at Arizona L 34-27
Arizona St L 24-20
Oregon W 16-0
at USC L 24-7</td> <td align="left" valign="top" width="106"> BYU[FONT=Arial, Helvetica][/FONT][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1] Arizona W 20-7
at UCLA L 27-17
at Tulsa L 55-47
Air Force W 31-6
at N Mex W 31-24
at UNLV W 24-14
E. Wash W 42-7
Col St W 35-16
TCU W 27-22
at Wyom. W 35-10
Utah W 17-10
at SDSU W 48-27[/SIZE][/FONT]</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> <table id="table11" border="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="3" align="center" bgcolor="#c0c0c0" width="100%">Position Ratings
relative to each other</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#6666ff" width="33%"> UCLA</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000000" width="33%">5 highest
1 lowest</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000066" width="34%"> Y</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 3.5</td> <td align="center" width="33%">Quarterbacks</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 3.5</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 3.5</td> <td align="center" width="33%">RBs</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 4</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 3</td> <td align="center" width="33%">Receivers</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 3.5</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 3</td> <td align="center" width="33%">O Line</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 3.5</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 5</td> <td align="center" width="33%">D Line</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 4</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 4</td> <td align="center" width="33%">Linebackers</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 3.5</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 4</td> <td align="center" width="33%">Secondary</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 3.5</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 4</td> <td align="center" width="33%">Spec Teams</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 3</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 2</td> <td align="center" width="33%">Coaching</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 4</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> Had BYU played Hawaii’s schedule, might the Cougars, not the Warriors, be playing in the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day?

BYU isn’t exactly doing cartwheels over a third straight Las Vegas Bowl or another game with a middling Pac-10 opponent, particularly a rematch with a 6-6 UCLA team that fired its coach earlier this month. The Cougars started slowly, losing to the Bruins and Tulsa in September, before tearing off nine wins in-a-row to snare a second straight outright Mountain West championship and climb all the way to No. 17 in the BCS standings. Today’s BYU team is substantially better than the one that got out of the gate slowly, which is why many around Provo believe the Cougars are the best team outside the six major conferences, regardless of who’s playing where in the postseason.

A little more than three months ago, BYU QB Max Hall and RB Harvey Unga had never started a game at this level. Today, they’re the All-Mountain West first team quarterback and the Mountain West Freshman of the Year, respectively, shining symbols of how far the program has progressed since opening day. Winners of 16 consecutive league games under Bronco Mendenhall, the Cougars are inching closer to the glory days when they were respected and feared on a national level. Beating a Pac-10 team, even a feeble one, in the postseason for the second straight year would be another bold statement for a school that feels it’s gotten lost in Hawaii’s shadow this fall.

Before the season began, UCLA appeared to be teed up for a run at 10 wins and a long-awaited return to the Rose Bowl. And then reality set in for a program that’s underachieved and lacked consistency since Karl Dorrell was hired five years ago. The low points of the 2007 rollercoaster ride have included a 44-6 loss to Utah, a 20-6 loss to Notre Dame, and a 27-7 loss to Washington State before the Bruins ran out of healthy quarterbacks in November. Although a fifth straight invite to a second-rate bowl game will pad the coiffures a bit, it wasn’t enough to rescue Dorrell, who was sacked a day after losing to USC in the regular season finale. Coaching the team in Las Vegas will be DeWayne Walker, the defensive coordinator and a possible candidate to replace Dorrell.
While its psyche may be battered from recent events, UCLA will be as close to full strength as it’s been in months. At one point in November, the Bruins were relegated to starting a walk-on behind center, yet somehow remained mathematically alive for a Pac-10 title on the final weekend of the regular season. Both starter and former BYU recruit Ben Olson and backup Patrick Cowan played versus the Trojans, and will be healthy for the bowl game. That’ll be huge for a Bruin team that knows it has to move the ball in order to keep pace with an opponent that leads the Mountain West in scoring.

Players to watch: DE Jan Jorgensen has been to the BYU defense what Hall and Unga have been to the offense. An emerging star in his sophomore year, he tops the league with 18 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks, but is also a rock in run defense. A relentless worker on the field and in the film room, and a student of the game, he presents an enormous challenge for a UCLA offensive line that’s 103^rd nationally in sacks allowed. On offense, the Cougars have uncovered a versatile star in Unga, who’s aided Hall’s development as John Beck successor by picking up the tough yards on the ground, and catching short passes out of the backfield. He’s rushed for 1,211 yards and 13 touchdowns, and caught 41 passes for 629 yards and four touchdowns, getting more productive as the season progressed.

Whether it’s Olson or Cowan in the huddle, the UCLA quarterback will be looking to isolate WR Dominique Johnson, a budding playmaker in the Bruin receiving corps that’ll present match up problems for the BYU secondary. At 6-4 with long arms and a bounce in his step, he’s a unique weapon that could blossom into a star in 2008. When Hall drops back to pass, he’ll want to know where No. 44 and No. 23, DE Bruce Davis and CB Trey Brown, respectively, are at all times. While Davis has the speed off the edge to blow up an offensive gameplan, Brown leads the country with 23 passes defended. When these two seniors are on, you can forget about making plays downfield on UCLA.

UCLA will win if... Olson or Cowan can approach Hall’s production through the air. It’s not going to be easy, but the Bruins must regain the offensive balance that was lost when their top two quarterbacks were on the shelf. You’re not going to beat the Mountain West’s best defense with a one-dimensional attack, so it’ll be up to the passing game to give LBs Bryan Kehl and Kelly Poppinga, and the rest of the Cougar defense a reason not to stack the line to stop RB Chris Markey.
BYU will win if... Unga is permitted to run wild. The Cougars can still chuck it with the best of them, but when there’s a power running game in the mix, their offense becomes downright unstoppable. If Unga is consistently getting to the second level, it’ll open things up for Hall to play catch with TE Dennis Pitta and top receiver Austin Collie. Although the Bruin secondary is dominated by veterans, it allows 234 yards a game, and has been prone to occasional breakdowns versus established passing teams. What will happen: Where are the Bruins’ heads these days? This is a senior-laden team playing in a consolation bowl game without their head coach. BYU, on the other hand, delights at the opportunity to beat any Pac-10 team when the entire nation is in attendance. The Cougars will roll on the strength of a balanced offense and a defense that’s vastly underrated.

Line: BYU -5.5... CFN Prediction: BYU 31 ... UCLA 19</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[RJ Esq]

It’s Business Time: Poinsettia Bowl Pre-Game Live Blog

Welcome aboard (DING!)* and thanks for showing up! I'm counting you down to the 9 PM EST start of the 2007 Poinsettia Bowl between Navy and Utah, complete will random thoughts, insignificant anecdotes, and lots of criticism directed at things completely beyond my control. Oh yea, and did I mention I'll be live-blogging the football game as well? Sweet deal if you ask me.

First order of business. College Football Live did a fairly good job today in lead-up to the game, complete with a cut-in to Rece Davis on the USS Midway in San Diego. Rece will be calling the action tonight on ESPN. It's a good thing too, as Rece is one of the most knowledgeable and insightful on-air personalities the world wide leader has on its payroll. Unfortunately he will be paired with two of the least knowledgeable and insightful personalities of ESPN college football in Lou Holtz and Mark May. Alright, so maybe Mark May is a bit insightful, and Coach Holtz must have some knowledge from all those years of coaching, but let's be honest; listening to these two discuss Navy football is like listening to the eight year olds down the street talking about which kids' brother can beat up the others'. After all, can we possible forget Lou Holtz's discussion of, uh, your not going actually make me explain this to you, are you?


<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KJxUhyEZOv0&rel=" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425">

Needless to say, the last time these two teamed up to call a Navy game things got a bit off topic. From Mark May;s strangely homosexual fascination with Eric Kettani's dressing habits to Lou Holtz's attempt to explain the "wishbone" with a sandwhich in his mouth, the Navy-Pittsburgh broadcast of October can be summed up in three concise words. What. The. Hell. Dude...

Ok, so that's four, but you get my drift. Well, I'm off to go eat something which will potentially shorten my life by a matter of weeks, but after the break I'll get you caught up on how the pundits are seeing this one play out.

*For every hastily made and poorly constructive Naval pun I or the ESPN team of commentators make tonight, $1 will be donated to the "Buy Chris Spielman an actual pair of dress pants and shoes" fund.

 

[RJ Esq]

POINSETTIA BOWL PREVIEW

Name: The Poinsettia Bowl. Presumably monikered to evoke Christmas imagery, since the bowl all but admits in its name that it will be played forever before Christmas, and not with the respectable adult bowls with matured pairs of horns, descended testicles, and fully grown earflaps that all get to play after the Christmas. It’ll just have to play on the outskirts and attempt to steal weak, sickly viewers like ourselves from the fray, since desperate, mainlining college football junkies will watch this just to stop the cruel spasms of withdrawal. Gimmeh. NOW. We’ll eat a Poinsettia if you’ll just let us watch a quarter.
<embed src="http://www.metacafe.com/fplayer/773183/mitch_eats_a_poinsettia.swf" wmode="transparent" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="345" width="400">
Mitch Eats A Poinsettia - The best bloopers are here Motto: No, we’re not the Holiday Bowl.
Fake Bowl? As in, owned by ESPN? No. The Poinsettia Bowl is a homegrown San Diego product, just like crystal meth, and just as electrifying. We’re exaggerating. Nothing’s as energizing as crystal meth, though in the Poinsettia Bowl’s defense the game will not steal your teeth, soul, and innocence like crystal meth will. So it’s got that going for it.
Tickets left? Sure. Grab yourself a family pack and watch the game laying down across four seats if you like.
Intrusive Corporate Sponsor: The San Diego Credit Union strikes us as being too obvious a target, so check the sponsor’s page and find the Viejas Casino, a local moneypit managed by the Viejas Indian tribe. There’s all the glutton-fodder you’ll find at most casinos (2-for-1 prime rib! Yayyyyy!), but the outstanding entertainment is really what gets our dander up in the best of ways:
Past performers include Chris Isaak, Pat Benatar, Chicago, Al Jarreau, Billy Idol, Julio Iglesias, Kenny G, David Sanborn, Earth Wind and Fire, Gipsy Kings, Heart, Randy Travis, Dwight Yoakam, LeAnn Rimes and many more.
The David Sanborn? Better avoid that show, as the searing riffs from the Lethal Weapon soundtracks will have us pulling the ampitheater off its foundations with our pickup truck while screaming “Your diplomatic immunity has just been revoked!” We may very well have that reaction anyway, since the additive effect of all that soft rock could trip you into a delusional state where you are convinced that you are about to have a tooth removed in a dentist’s office. And no one could blame you for the violence at that point, both thanks to dental trauma and the anger MOR format music provokes in us all.
Tradition Rating: Around since 2005, so roughly comparable in tradition to…EDSBS, baby!
Setup: Mountain West runner-up versus free agent, though that’s usually a military academy, as they’ve pulled Navy twice and Army once in the three years of their existence.
Location: San Diego. Anchorman jokes aside, it’s nicer than anywhere you’ll ever live, even if you already live in San Diego. Wrap the old mainframe around that, man.
Matchup quality: Entertaining: Navy will change little even though Paul Johnson’s off to Georgia Tech, and will run polysyllabic wonder Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada and the triple option. Utah…okay, it’s an hour to kickoff, and we don’t know anything about Utah. Nothing. So tune in, because in all probability, you don’t know anything, either. It’ll be a big learning experience for us all!

 

[RJ Esq]

SMQ Bowl Blitz: The Poinsettia
By SMQ
Posted on Thu Dec 20, 2007 at 04:51:00 PM EDT

The least you should know about the Poinsettia Bowl...
<table 1="" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 10px;" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" width="210"><tbody><tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(164, 74, 74) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td>Sponsor</td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(234, 234, 234) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td>The Poinsettia Bowl is brought to you for the third consecutive year by the San Diego County Credit Union, which reminds readers that that whole “mortgage loan crisis” is just a typical scare tactic of the liberal media elite, which will never tell you, valued consumer, how to get a leg up with an ARM. Trust us: you can afford it.</td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(164, 74, 74) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td>Location Inquisitor</td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(234, 234, 234) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td>This is the one in: a) San Jose b) San Diego c) Memphis d) El Paso e) All of the above If you said b) San Diego, you’re right! And you can read and/or possess an underveloped sense of irony! These will get harder.</td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(164, 74, 74) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td>The Venue</td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(234, 234, 234) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td>

<strike>Jack Murphy</strike> Qualcomm Stadium – "More Than Just A Football Stadium, Though Primarily Just A Football stadium” – is located in the heart of beautiful San Diego, a military-friendly town on the Mexican border so breathtakingly gorgeous your eyes will dry up and recede into their sockets at sunset. The stadium is home to the San Diego Chargers and San Diego State Aztecs as well as baseball’s San Diego Padres, making for decidedly suboptimal logo conditions; we are likely to see the double crime of badly faded end zone paint and visible infield outline in one swoop. This is acceptable as long as the ground crew uses tonight’s game as a test run for next week’s Holiday Bowl, and learns its lessons for the betterment of the bigger game.</td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(164, 74, 74) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td>Formerly Known As...</td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(234, 234, 234) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td>NA. The San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl boasts a remarkable tradition of stability, having existed for three seasons as the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl in a successful run of not folding under oppressive disinterest. Two more years, and it’ll graduate to the role of relatively wizened teenager on the block.</td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(164, 74, 74) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td>Past Winners Include...</td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(234, 234, 234) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td>Navy and TCU. That’s it. The Horned Frogs’ utter dismantling of Northern Illinois’ one-dimensional offense last December set the stage for heavy preseason breathing over the Frogs, who lost Poinsettia MVP Tommy Blake for most of the season to a weird combination of undisclosed medical condition and debilitating stress and finished 7-5. But man, they were terrors in the Poinsettia. The first two games were won by 21 and 30 points, respectively. Also, this guy drunk-dialled “about three or four different Poinsettia Bowl officials” during last year’s game: <object height="175" width="199">

<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FAsmfAC6Uss&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="175" width="199"></object></td> </tr> </tbody></table>
The first edition of an ongoing public service to enlighten readers of their bowl viewing options... Tune in for: The Poinsettia Bowl is a deceptive one, ostensibly promising a base, mid-week, mid-major level sideshow, but secretly hiding inside its Trojan Horse of gratuitous mediocrity a compelling matchup of two of the country's most not terrible sub-BCS teams. Navy is entertaining, if nothing else: the academy easily set a new standard for rushing offense this decade by slicing its way to 351 per game on the ground (and averaging 5.7 per carry in the process, better than every other offense except Arkansas, West Virginia and Illinois, even though every defense knew exactly what was coming) and contrary to its old school trappings had a promising tendency for outrageously high-scoring shootouts - Navy punted fewer times than any other team in the country and combined with opponents for more than 80 points in five different games, including multi-overtime thrillers with Pitt and Notre Dame and a nine-touchdown effort by the Midshipmen alone in their 74-62 win over North Texas, the highest scoring game in I-A history. The only question is whether newly promoted <strike>World War II vet Nancy Kulp</strike> assistant head coach Ken Niumatalolo and his new offensive coordinator, Ivin Jasper, taking over play-calling from Paul Johnson for the first time, will have the same knack for keeping defenses off-balance.

She could set up Buddy Ebsen one-liner, she can set up the option pass.
- - -

This will be key, because Utah doesn't give up those kinds of points - four of the Utes' last six opponents were held to 10 or less, and none topped 20, including Mountain West scoring leader BYU; for the season, Utah was third nationally in scoring defense. It also, following a 1-3 start with losses to Air Force and UNLV without him, won seven straight after quarterback Brian Johnson returned to the lineup full-time at the end of September and outgained Wyoming by 383 yards in a 50-0 bludgeoning on Nov. 10. Turn away in disgust and re-assess your priorities in life when: If you're a defensive aficionado, Navy is, well, offensive, in keeping with the general shift in miliary priorities under the current administration. The Midshipmen were dead last nationally in pass efficiency defense, in the bottom ten in sacks, tackles for loss and third down stop percentage and allowed more yards per pass (8.33) than any defense except Toledo's. Notre Dame threw a pair of touchdowns on Navy (though, to be fair, one was in overtime).
For Utah's part, get ready for the sob story: 1,100-yard rusher Darrell Mack has had boiling hot vats of tragedy poured all over him repeatedly in his short life -

• • His mother was a drug addict who was murdered with a lug wrench in 1995. Mack was 8.
  • His father killed a woman by stabbing her 43 times in 2002 and is in prison for life. Mack was 15.
  • Because of his family situation, he missed out on much of the first and second grades.
  • He has dyslexia.
  • Last week, the grandfather who helped raise him died of cancer.
  - - -

- and if Mack has a big game (uh, see above for the odds of that), we will not hear the end of it. Just a fair warning. The only possible positive in this scenario - for the aggrieved Mack, for the mostly indifferent viewer - is that there's nobody left for ESPN sideline babe du jour to waste our time interviewing. What Else is On
You have no life. But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy these actual non-gridiron alternatives:

• FOX • 9 p.m. • Don't Forget the Lyrics! (60 mins.)
  A game show that test contestants' knowledge of popular song lyrics. The must sing missing lines after the band stops playing and the words disappear. (TV-PG)
  
  
  
  Don't tell his achy breaky heart it's up against the Poinsettia Bowl.
  - - -
  
  BIO • 9 p.m. • Biography: Billy Ray Cyrus (60 mins.)
  A profile of singer-actor Billy Ray Cyrus includes his Kentucky upbringing; his rise to fame with "Achy Breaky Heart"; his family life; and interviews with Cyurs, Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn and his daughter Miley. (TV-PG) MTV • 10 p.m. • Run's House - "Too Cool For Old School" (30 mins.)
  JoJo begins an internship at Phat Farm, where one of the designers makes his life miserable. Meanwhile, Rev buys an old school arcade game to prove to Diggy and Russy that he used to be an arcade wiz. (TV-PG)
  BRAVO • 10 p.m. • Real Housewives of Orange County (60 mins.)
  Fiftysomething divorceé Quinn Fry joins the cast, as the O.C. housewives welcome her into their camp. Meanwhile, Lauri prepares for her pending nuptials, but daughter Ashley's appeal to be maid of honor at the event complicates matters. Vicki's son contemplates following his mother's footsteps into the insurance business; and Jeana travels to Vancouver to watch son Shane play baseball. (TV-14)
  - - -

SMQ Watchability Rating: All bowl games are rated on a scale of one TV ("Christmas shopping done? Yes? Think of more people. Phone book suggested if necessary.") to five ("Block out a few hours - and possibly the sun, if there's a glare - for this can't-miss classic.") based on completely subjective factors, up to and including potential cheerleader hotness/fulfillment of requisite nubile teen lust fantasies, which are so sadly lacking anywhere else on contemporary television or the Internet. For the inevitable offensive explosion alone, the Poinsettia gets an unprecedented rating of two sets, and when the flexbone is part of the equation, bar the door for an all-time high:

Worth an afternoon or evening, if there's nothing better to do, until it gets out of hand.
- - -
Three sets for the Poinsettia in Year Three. This is your chance to do something decent, rook: don't blow it to some emo-drenched Grey's Anatomy rerun where all of the doctors are too angsty to complete the minimum requirements of their job without a tear-jerking solliloquey. You can beat that.
(Not, as KSK would say, that I would know.)
The Pick: Utah has won six straight bowl games and was quietly one of the hottest teams in the country after it got Johnson back; Navy hasn't beaten a team that finished with a winning record since the 2004 Emerald Bowl over New Mexico (7-5), one of only two teams - the other was East Carolina to open last season - above .500 at year's end the Midshipmen defeated in Paul Johnson's entire six-year tenure, a record he stretched for much acclaim and big bucks at Georgia Tech. Niumatalolo can go halfway to matching that in his first game, but Utah has better personnel and a clock-killing ethos and anyway, Navy allowed 64 points to North Texas and 59 to Delaware. Whatever tricks are up the Midshipmen's collective, perfectly-pressed sleeves, the Utes can keep up.
- - -
<table><tbody><tr><td>

</td> <td>Utah 45</td> <td>•</td> <td>Navy 32</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[RJ Esq]

Bowl-O-Rama: Poinsettia Edition

It's here, folks! The Winter Doldrums of off-time between football have come and gone. I've been getting caught up on all of the hockey I've missed and besides that, taking care of all the little things I was too occupied to take care of during the football season! Anyway, it's over, the wait, the long, dreaded wait, is finally over! Thank you, God.

Background Info & History​

This game is played in San Diego and it's official sponsor is San Diego County Credit Union.

Of course, you're probably aware that a Poinsettia is a Christmas "flower". But how did it get its name? It is named after the first ambassador to Mexico, Joel Roberts Poinsett. The poinsettia is native to the west coast, hence the bowl game being named after a Pacific flower. It also could go by other names such as Mexican flame leaf, Christmas star, or Winter rose.

The Poinsettia is commonly mistaken for being a flower. It's actually clusters of shrub with the red flower growing on top of it. It's part of the Christmas holiday because of a Mexican story. If you want to read more, just visit Wikipedia.

As for the history of this relatively new football bowl, let's go back to 2005. Navy played Colorado State in the inaugural game basically mopping the floor with the Ram carnage after wasting them 51-30. Reggie Campbell lit up the scene with 5 TDs which was tied for the most scored in a bowl game. In 2006, TCU owned Northern Illinois 37-7. The game was nowhere near as close as the score shows, if you can believe that.

Navy Storyline​

The season started out on a positive note, even though it was a shaky win against what was thought to be one of the worst teams in the nation in Temple. The Middies had to go on the road to earn that one.

After the opener, Paul Johnson's crew dropped a hard one against Rutgers and the following week, they lost in a, at least what CSTV considers a classic, game against Ball State in overtime.

Is the season over? Is it time to go home and fade away into oblivion? This Navy team responded with a big win against Duke. Okay, so it's impossible for a win against Duke to be big, but the Blue Devlis were on the cusp of winning that game and it did show some resiliency from this Navy bunch.

There was a second stretch of the season where it appeared that things were going to fall apart. Navy got creamed by the Demon Deacons of Wake Forest and they lost in a 59-52 shootout against FCS runner-up, Delaware. Things suddenly changed with an earth-shattering victory against downtrodden Notre Dame. The team that had defeated them, what was it, 42 straight times, had finally gone down. This could be a major turning point in Navy football.

The Midshipmen were involved in one of the largest shootouts ever with Todd Dodge's North Texas team. Each squad traded scores after another but Navy had too much in the second half as they pulled away for a 74-62 win.

This is Navy's season in a nutshell, but their head man is gone, obviously. Paul Johnson left for what he feels is greener pastures in Atlanta, but the option will stay behind. Ken Niumatalolo will take over the head coaching duties. Obviously, the biggest storyline in this game involving Navy is the head coaching debut of Coach KN which I will call him from now on. He's a rookie at this kind of thing so it will be interesting to see if he can get this team prepared.

Utah Storyline​

Utah began the season with much bigger aspirations.

The Utes had a ton of offensive firepower and the defense should have been okay as usual. The only reason this team wasn't nearly as good as expected, at least at the beginning of the season, was the injury to Brian Johnson.

The biggest storyline of the year was Utah's wild inconsistency at the beginning of the year. Matt Asiata and Brian Johnson both went down with severe injuries in the opener against Oregon State.

Tommy Grady filled in and was okay, but the Utes blew a tough one against the Air Force Academy. After that, in one of the most mind-boggling games of 2007 with all of the App State/Michigans and Stanford/USCs, UCLA was totally whipped by a final score of 44-6!!!!!

I'm still trying to soak that in. And, speaking of that wild inconsistency, the Utes found a way to get SHUTOUT, yes, shutout, 27-0 against.......UNLV! That could be the most amazing two-game stretch this entire season. How does that happen?

Anyway, Utah picked up the pace and won seven games in a row including a big, close win against TCU and an amazing game against Wyoming in which the Utes won 50-0.

Match ups of the Game​

Utah's Running Game vs. Navy's Run Defense-This could have the potential to play a big part in this game. The leading RB for the Utes goes by the name of Darrell Mack. This could get interesting because Utah has a decent rushing attack, but isn't anything special. Navy has been mediocre against the run, unlike the terribleness they display against the pass. Utah will throw, so the game could be won or lost on the ground. If this ground game gets going, it should be an easy with for the Utes.

Navy's Special Teams vs. Utah's Special Teams-The Midshipmen currently rank 13th in punt returns and 6th in kickoff returns. Most of the credit goes to one Reggie Campbell, but they know how to block upfield on these returns. Unluckily for them, the Utes can fire back with some special teams fireworks of their own. Utah is 19th in punt returns and 27th in net punting. Both teams are very sound on special teams and it should be very interesting to see who will win the battle.

Keep an Eye on...:​

Louie Sakoda. This guy is a tremendous kicker and one of the more clutch ones in the nation. Sure, Joey Bullen for Navy has made his share of kicks as well, but Sakoda is widely regarded as one of the top punters/FG kickers in America and rightly so.

The picture to the left shows the game against Louisville where Sakoda nailed the coffin tight and shut against the Cardinals at Papa John's Stadium.

Whenever Utah will need a FG, don't count on Sakoda to miss.





Reggie Campbell should also be a huge difference maker. Remember, this guy tied the bowl game record of 5 TDs at this very site.

Campbell is also a monster at returning kicks and punts as we mentioned before. He has a great deal if shiftiness, but probably his best attribute would be his blazing agility. The Utah defense, as solid as it may be, should have a difficult time stopping Campbell cold.

Watchability-o-Meter​

This game gets a 7 out of 10 on the SSO Watchability-o-Meter. While this game may not get the attention and love some of the bigger bowls will get due to the NFL being played on this Thusrday night, it should be a great game if you like offense.

Utah's specialty is defending the pass. The Utes currently rank 15th in pass defense and second in pass efficiency defense. They're an absolute rock through the air. The problem is, guess what? Navy doesn't pass!

Utah has defended Air Force's option game and they had some major trouble with it. Granted, Troy Calhoun throws some normal sets and such into his offense while the option at Navy is almost pure flexbone, but nevertheless, defending the option is defending the option. The unfamiliarity in peparing for it always gives Navy a distinct advantage.

Navy, on the other hand, will not be able to stop Utah's passing game. Even though these guys rank 85th in passing offense, Navy is 106th and they have the 109th ranked scoring defense. There's no way Utah will be kept out of the endzone.

Prediction​

This bowl game should be a great matchup. Both teams have a lot of things working for them. As previously mentioned, the special teams will be the most interesting thing to watch. Navy will move the football against the Utah offense as it usually has this season. The only problem is that, even though Utah doesn't have a great offense on paper, they will light up Navy's defense. Utah wins, 45-37 (27 confidence points, yeah, it's high and it will be an entertaining game, but I'm confident in Utah).

BTW, Adam, I know the "experts" have loved picking the MWC over Navy starting from the 2004 New Mexico Bowl, but I took Navy in both of their bowl games against the MWC. I just can't trust the Middie defense in this one.





Merry Bowl Season!

 

[Timh]

RJ - GL on the bowls and hope you have a great holiday.

 

[RJ Esq]

You too, Tim. Hope you and your wife a good first Xmas together.

 

[RJ Esq]

Tons of late money on Utah. Could almost hit a nice 3 point middle.

 

[RJ Esq]

FAU getting alot of love now too. Line is now 3'.

 

[RJ Esq]

2007 R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl Preview

by Brian Sakowski @ 9:00 pm. Filed under Analysis, Bowl Games, Commentary, Conference USA, Non-BCS Conference, Pick Em Contest, Sun Belt
<!-- meta -->

Memphis 7-5 (6-2), 2nd Conference USA - East
vs

Florida Atlantic 7-5 (6-1), 1st Sun Belt
December 20th 8:00PM EST ESPN2
Florida Atlantic pull a bit of a shocker and beat Troy to win the Sun Belt Conference title this year. Howard Schnellenberger has built this Owls team up for scratch and made them bowl eligible in 9 years. Memphis comes into the bowl game riding a three game winning streak, but did not play a team the entire season that was ranked in the Top 25.
The Tigers have a passing offense that is ranked 12th in the country, led by quarterback Martin Hankins who has thrown for almost 3000 yards with 22 touchdowns. Hankins has some big receivers to throw the ball to, which present match up problems for most of the teams in the NCAA. Their rushing offense would rank below average with Joseph Doss and his 715 yards for the year leading the way. Memphis struggles on defense against the run giving up over 209 yards per game and almost 440 yards total.
Florida Atlantic is almost as potent passing the ball as the Tigers are ranking 19th in passing and 83rd rushing the ball. Rusty Smith is the Owls quarterback and he has tallied over 3300 yards in the air with 27 touchdowns and only 8 interceptions. Their running back, Charles Pierre, has similar numbers to his counterpart on the Tigers team. Defensively the Owls are 74th against the pass but have the highest turnover margin in the country. Since these two teams are so close in stature, turnovers could become a key part of this game.
I think this has the potential to be a really good game. Memphis has slightly better stats on the offense and defensive team stats, but I think Florida Atlantic has played much better competition since the Owls have played four teams in bowl games to Memphis’ two. Florida Atlantic defense is going to come up with a key turnover which will turn the tide in this game. Although, I don’t expect this one to get out of hand either way. Florida Atlantic 28 Memphis 24
Picking Memphis to Win (55%)
MizzouRAH, Corn Nation, Sportsbone TV, Bastard Sons of Pinfall Marks, Rizzo Sports, ITB Ron Juckett, The Enlightened Spartan, Sunny Verma, Jason Stiver, Rodney Polston, Richard Dixon, Cyril Tircuit, Pete Boivin, Mrs Corn Nation, Logan Jaffe, Brant Chruscial, Timmy B
Picking Florida Atlantic to Win (45%)
ITB Brian Sakowski, Kansas Football-It’s Business Time, The LSC Scoop, Football Frontier, MidWest Coast Bias, Pitch Right, Troy Nunes is an Absolute Magician, ITB Charlie Swager, Jeff Brancolini, Lou Nemec, Lorena the Dodgerchick, Dan Schoonover, Greg Gowins, Brian Isaacson

 

[RJ Esq]

Rodriguez fires Michigan's assistants

No word on whether staffers will coach in bowl game

Posted: Thursday December 20, 2007 9:10PM; Updated: Thursday December 20, 2007 9:10PM

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) -- Rich Rodriguez fired Michigan's assistant coaches Thursday, his second day as an employee of the school.
Rodriguez met with the coaches one by one at Schembechler Hall as retiring coach Lloyd Carr packed up his belongings in boxes, clearing space for his successor.
Michigan athletic director Bill Martin declined comment.
Carr will coach the Wolverines on Jan. 1 against Florida in the Capital One Bowl, then Rodriguez will take over.
But the former West Virginia coach put his mark on the program by firing each of Carr's assistants, all of whom were given two-year deals in March that will pay them through Feb. 28, 2009.

 

[RJ Esq]

Adding:

Navy +6 (-105)

Hedging off this one completely. I think Brian Johnson is so injured that he can't throw.

 

[RJ Esq]

Alamo Bowl Team Comparison
By Mike Section: Football
Posted on Thu Dec 20, 2007 at 10:39:37 PM EDT



<table align="center" border="1" width="70%"><caption align="top">Team Comparison</caption><tbody><tr align="center"> <th align="center" width="130">Statistical Category</th> <th bgcolor="#7e2217">Texas A&M</th> <th bgcolor="#7e2217">NCAA Rank</th> <th bgcolor="#151b54">Penn State</th> <th bgcolor="#151b54">NCAA Rank</th> <th>Advantage</th> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffff"> <td align="center">Rushing Offense (ypg)</td> <td align="center">216</td> <td align="center">13</td> <td align="center">187</td> <td align="center">32</td> <td align="center">

</td> </tr><tr bgcolor="#ffffff"> <td align="center">Passing Offense (ypg)</td> <td align="center">187</td> <td align="center">98</td> <td align="center">212</td> <td align="center">70</td> <td align="center">

</td> </tr><tr bgcolor="#ffffff"> <td align="center">Pass Efficiency Offense</td> <td align="center">120.5</td> <td align="center">79</td> <td align="center">124.9</td> <td align="center">66</td> <td align="center">

</td> </tr><tr bgcolor="#ffffff"> <td align="center">Total Offense (ypg)</td> <td align="center">403</td> <td align="center">54</td> <td align="center">399</td> <td align="center">56</td> <td align="center">

</td> </tr><tr bgcolor="#ffffff"> <td align="center">Scoring Offense (ppg)</td> <td align="center">28.8</td> <td align="center">53</td> <td align="center">30.8</td> <td align="center">44</td> <td align="center">

</td> </tr><tr bgcolor="#ffffff"> <td align="center">Rushing Defense (ypg)</td> <td align="center">152</td> <td align="center">57</td> <td align="center">88</td> <td align="center">6</td> <td align="center">

</td> </tr><tr bgcolor="#ffffff"> <td align="center">Passing Defense (ypg)</td> <td align="center">264</td> <td align="center">104</td> <td align="center">219</td> <td align="center">46</td> <td align="center">

</td> </tr><tr bgcolor="#ffffff"> <td align="center">Pass Efficiency Defense</td> <td align="center">141.8</td> <td align="center">100</td> <td align="center">119.1</td> <td align="center">44</td> <td align="center">

</td> </tr><tr bgcolor="#ffffff"> <td align="center">Total Defense (ypg)</td> <td align="center">416</td> <td align="center">83</td> <td align="center">307</td> <td align="center">9</td> <td align="center">

</td> </tr><tr bgcolor="#ffffff"> <td align="center">Scoring Defense (ppg)</td> <td align="center">26.1</td> <td align="center">55</td> <td align="center">17.6</td> <td align="center">8</td> <td align="center">

</td> </tr><tr bgcolor="#ffffff"> <td align="center">Net Punting (yards)</td> <td align="center">38.1</td> <td align="center">10</td> <td align="center">39.2</td> <td align="center">6</td> <td align="center">

</td> </tr><tr bgcolor="#ffffff"> <td align="center">Punt Returns (yards)</td> <td align="center">5.9</td> <td align="center">103</td> <td align="center">10.8</td> <td align="center">34</td> <td align="center">

</td> </tr><tr bgcolor="#ffffff"> <td align="center">Kickoff Returns (yards)</td> <td align="center">23.5</td> <td align="center">21</td> <td align="center">21.4</td> <td align="center">62</td> <td align="center">

</td> </tr><tr bgcolor="#ffffff"> <td align="center">Turnover Margin</td> <td align="center">0.67</td> <td align="center">20</td> <td align="center">0.08</td> <td align="center">47</td> <td align="center">

</td> </tr><tr bgcolor="#ffffff"> <td align="center">Sacks Per Game</td> <td align="center">1.5</td> <td align="center">96</td> <td align="center">3.8</td> <td align="center">2</td> <td align="center">

</td> </tr><tr bgcolor="#ffffff"> <td align="center">Tackles for Loss</td> <td align="center">5.7</td> <td align="center">81</td> <td align="center">8.0</td> <td align="center">10</td> <td align="center">

</td> </tr><tr bgcolor="#ffffff"> <td align="center">Sacks Allowed Per Game</td> <td align="center">1.3</td> <td align="center">7</td> <td align="center">1.7</td> <td align="center">41</td> <td align="center">

</td> </tr></tbody></table> Obviously A&M is a good running team. They have three options to go to with Lane, Goodson, and McGee. They're basically a slower version of Illinois with Stephen McGee playing the part of a poor man's Juice Williams. The front seven for Penn State should be able to contain them well forcing the Aggies to go to the air. Though Penn State struggled in pass defense late in the year, this Aggie team doesn't have a James Hardy or Devin Thomas. We should contain their offense just fine.
When Penn State is on offense it appears they should have success. A&M ranked #104 in pass defense. And the rush defense is meh coming in at #57.
Special teams is my concern. The Aggies can hang right with us in the punting game, though they don't return as well. Look for a lot of fair catches in this game. But what bugs me is our kickoff coverage. Our kickoff coverage hasn't been so great this year. Ok, it sucks. And the Aggies kick return game is better than suck. Ok, they're pretty good. But there is hope since Brian Norwood used to coach the kickoff coverage team and he's gone. Kermit Buggs has assumed that role now so maybe he can turn things around. Let's hope he can do it in about 10 practices.

 

[RJ Esq]

Those logos are the size of text from the blog. Way too big for this thread.

 

[RJ Esq]

In the words of Charlie Brown: AAUUGGGHHH!!!!
By Meriones Section: Football
Posted on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 03:18:01 PM EDT


Per Doh!n, Bellotti is staying at Oregon:

Mike Bellotti has rebuffed overtures from UCLA and will remain head coach at Oregon, leaving Rick Neuheisel as the apparent front-runner to become the Bruins' next football coach. An announcement is expected today.
Bellotti had met Thursday with UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero, who has been interviewing candidates since firing Karl Dorrell on Dec. 3.
This is NOT on Dohn's blog, but is on the actual Sports Section of the online edition of the Daily News.
Mike Bel-Lucy just pulled the freaking football.
^%$@#!% DAMN.
At the same time, you have to respect DG and his search committee/ firm for this: when was the last time (other than during the CBH hire) you heard of our AD's office going for anyone with anywhere NEARLY as big a name as Bellotti, huh?
Plus, the Bellotti news snuck up on us *less than 24 hours ago.* How many of us would LOVE to find out DG has another big name in the bag of tricks, along with the same big sack of cash to throw at him?
It's the time of year for miracles, folks. Who knows?
NEXT!

 

[RJ Esq]

BOWLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: THE QUICKIE VERSION, SCHNELLENBERGER-STYLE

The Bowld and the Beautiful brings you previews of wildly variant quality throughout bowl season. Tonight, the lowest quality review will be reserved for tonight’s New Orleans Bowl, which we’re previewing just to have an excuse to put Schnellenberger’s pic up again.
All you need to know…has already been written by this man over at SMQ. So don’t bother with this space, as we’ve already started drinking.
But… Tune in for at least three seconds of the game just to get a whiff of the bourbon-fueled dapper sex-god himself walking the sidelines: Howard Schnellenberger, who built the Miami and Louisville programs and yet could walk into a room full of college football fans and not get pulled aside for so much as a “dude, that ’stache is bomber, man.” Criminal, we say–that’s the equivalent of letting Richard Feynman walk into a physicists’ convention and not asking for a single autographed equation.

The criminally underrated Howard Schnellenberger.

 

[RJ Esq]

SMQ Bowl Blitz: The New Orleans
By SMQ
Posted on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 01:34:36 PM EDT

The least you should know about the New Orleans Bowl...
<table 1="" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 10px;" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" width="170"><tbody><tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(164, 74, 74) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td>Sponsor</td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(234, 234, 234) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td>R+L Carriers, a prompt, efficient, careful delivery service that for some reason has never caught on the scale of UPS or FedEx, possibly because R+L ritually destroys all inquiries addressed to “R and L” or “R&L” in a ceremony that calls for a curse to descend on the intended recipient’s address. It’s math, dammit!</td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(164, 74, 74) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td>Location Inquisitor</td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(234, 234, 234) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td>This is the one in: a) Memphis
b) New Mexico
c) New Orleans
d) El Paso
e) All of the above
If you said c) New Orleans, you’re right! And you can read and/or possess an underveloped sense of irony! These will get harder, I swear to god they will.
</td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(164, 74, 74) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td>The Venue</td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(234, 234, 234) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td>

I’ve been to many, many events in the Superdome, before and after the big storm, and one fact about the building remains: it’s the best place on Earth to be a part of a geared-up, electric crowd, and the absolute worst for half-empty doldrums. Coughs echo all over the building, whistles on the field are jarringly loud, the air conditioner set for 65,000 bodies leaves the crowd shivering – chattering teeth, you’ll find, are a surprisngly effective noisemaker. You can hear the defensive calls and audibles, if you listen. For the Friday before Christmas, I’d be satisfied if I were in charge with 25,000 and a concession stand stocked with mittens and Robitussin – the, uh, the non-drowsy kind, of course.</td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(164, 74, 74) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td>Formerly Known As...</td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(234, 234, 234) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td>NA. The New Orleans Bowl boasts a remarkable tradition of stability, having been forced to relocate from its metropolitan namesake in the aftermath of a devastating natural disaster only once since it began in 2001. Sponsors have come and gone, as the fickle merchants are wont: Wyndham Hotels & Resorts hosted the first three games under a much nicer logo before giving up the title to R+L Carriers in an unprecedented transfer of power among linking glyphs.</td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(164, 74, 74) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td>Past Winners Include...</td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(234, 234, 234) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td>The Sun Belt has sent its champion to New Orleans every year, with little success – briefly, North Texas was the Buffalo Bills of the Big Easy, losing times in four years from 2001-04. Troy reinstated some measure of Sun Belt pride by whipping Rice last year, but Memphis (2003 winner over UNT) is playing tonight to join Southern Miss as the only two-time winner. I, for one, am rooting for them.</td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(164, 74, 74) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td>Perfect Christmas Idea</td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(234, 234, 234) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td>

True aficionados would never leave for the game without their stylish bright white polo with grey accents by ProLine Sportswear, displaying the New Orleans Bowl logo in embroidered applique. Cotton/polyester blend, moisture wicking, durable: perfect to be pressed over and over and over again. A steal at $45. Order yours before supplies run out.</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
The second edition of an ongoing public service to enlighten readers of their bowl viewing options... Details: Florida Atlantic (7-5) vs. Memphis (7-5) • 8 p.m. ET, ESPN2. Be there or be enjoying the warmth and company of your precious loved ones at this special time of year, square.
Tune in for: You haven't seen the first second of Memphis or Florida Atlantic (more on FAU's big primetime debut below), but the statsheet shows an obvious theme: Score! Score, baby! Yeah! Memphis is 12th nationally in passing offense, FAU 19th, and throwing the ball is the only aspect of the game either team performs remotely well. Luckily for disinterested fans just looking to escape the family get-together for a few minutes, that streak of futility includes defending the pass and rushing the passer, at which both teams are mediocre-to-bad even among their peers in the worst two conferences in the country. The two names viewers will take away are Martin Hankins and Rusty Smith, who will throw the ball about two-thirds of the time, if things get interesting. And they definitely should. Memphis has a lanky, power forward-type leaper, 6-foot-8-inch Carlos Singleton, who had an eye-popping touch-to-touchdown ratio (ten scores on just 47 catches, eight in the Tigers' surge over the last five games) and is probably good for an acrobatic haul or two.
Actually, Florida Atlantic is good at one other aspect of the game: pouncing on fumbles. Well, and also intercepting terrible quarterbacks, which FAU did in tandem well enough to tie Kansas for the best turnover margin in the nation, plus-nineteen. This is, of course, a double-edged sword: if the Tigers don't put the ball in mortal danger, as each of the Owls' victims did on multiple occasions, the comparatively athletic Tigers could stride away quickly.

Gather round, charges. Gather round and hear how a real man incessantly wooshes about in his wind suit.
- - -

Turn away in disgust when: One can never be certain about these things, but as best I can tell, Florida Atlantic has played exactly one game on national television in its seven-year history, and I know this only because I was the only person who watched the Owls lose a 6-0 heartbreaker to Louisiana-Lafayette on a random Wednesday last October, which I compared unfavorably to that night's particularly offensive new episode of South Park:

• South Park:Included post-coital scenes of a nude female kindergarten teacher in bed with an unintelligible five-year-old male student, while making it very clear verbally the two had just engaged in intercourse.
  UL-Lafayette at Florida Atlantic: Combined for six turnovers. South Park: Portrayed law enforcement and males in general as unprofessional, uncaring, neo-frat boys devoid of decency or perspective in even the most depraved instances concerning the sexuality of young, attractive women.
  UL-Lafayette at Florida Atlantic: Portrayed Howard Schnellenberger as the "Best-Dressed Coach in College Football."
  South Park: Trivialized the damaging effects of alcohol as a debilitating addiction as well the hardships and sacrifices endured during the often torturous process of recovery.
  UL-Lafayette at Florida Atlantic: Trivialized the concept of offense with 15 punts, a long play of 23 yards and a zero percent conversion rate by Lafayette on 14 third down attempts.
  - - -

This is the extent of my exposure to Florida Atlantic - and, for the most part, to Sun Belt football in general - and yours, too, and is evidence that, on some level, TV execs know what they're doing in keeping the conference and its literally sub-standard swatches of empty seats (the Owls saved their bacon by averaging 15,700-plus in home games this year thanks to games with Minnesota and South Florida, up from less than 9,300 in 2006) off the air waves. The conference could have gotten away with a vastly more attractive representative in defending champion Troy, which last year ended the league's three-year New Orleans Bowl losing streak, then trounced Oklahoma State in September, became just the second Sun Belt team to reach eight overall wins, boasted a legitimate, kooky-monikered star in quarterback Omar Haugabook, ranked in the top 50 of almost every singificant stat category and only lost in quasi-respectable, shootout fashion to SEC heavies Arkansas, Florida and Georgia. The Trojans were an exemplary Sun Belt champ, probably the best potential bowl representative the conference has produced in its short existence, right up to the finale, when FAU scored 21 points in the third quarter and clung to the lead over the Trojans in the fourth to capture a share of the SBC title, and with the tiebreaker the automatic berth. Aside from that win, the Owls bring a three-point win over Minnesota to their name (uh, okay?) but lost by 36 to the same OSU Cowboys that flopped a week later in Troy and no identifiable names to even the most diehard fans. They are demonstrably bad on defense by every measure - nine of twelve opponents topped 30 points, including all five opponents from outside of the Sun Belt. Admittedly, all of them were better than Memphis (the Tigers were even worse defensively, and also lost to Sun Belt also-rans Arkansas State and Middle Tennessee State), but on the whole, the New Orleans Bowl's history of rampant mediocrity from both parties is just reinforced.
What Else is On
You have no life. But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy these actual non-gridiron alternatives:

• Lifetime • 8 p.m. ET • Reba - "The Shirt Off My Back" (30 mins.)
  For the sake of Kyra's college fund, Reba reluctantly partners with Barbra Jean to make handmade patchwork shirts; Van sacrifices his vanity in the name of team unity. (TV-PG)
  
  
  
  Fake love for a fake lesbian/ celebrity/ person. MTV hits its self-made zeitgeist, like, again.
  - - -
  
  MSNBC • 8 p.m. ET • Countdown With Keith Olbermann (60 mins.)
  The nightly news program ranks the day's top five stories by what will likely be the next morning's hot topics for discussion. `It's a hard-news broadcast produced and hosted by people who are uncontrollably silly,' quips the wry Olbermann, who also conducts newsmaker interviews. Animal Planet • 8:30 p.m. ET • Orangutan Island: "Orangutan 911" 30 mins.
  Donald is treated for malaria, but test results indicate something else and the staff worries it might be contagious; Chen Chen sets off to find a new playmate and succeeds in piquing the interest of Yeyen. (TV-G)
  MTV • 9 p.m. ET • Shot at Love With Tila Tequila (60 mins.)
  In the first-season finale, Tila chooses between the last two contestants to see who gets a shot at love.
  - - -

SMQ Watchability Rating: All bowl games are rated on a scale of one TV ("Christmas shopping done? Yes? Think of more people. Leafing through the phone book suggested if necessary.") to five ("Block out a few hours - and possibly the sun, if there's a glare - for this can't-miss classic.") based on completely subjective factors, up to and including potential cheerleader hotness/fulfillment of requisite nubile teen lust fantasies, which are so sadly lacking anywhere else on contemporary television or the Internet. Again, you haven't seen a single sign either of these teams' existence all season, or even many of their respective conferences. Why would you want to start now? As always, ignorance is bliss.

• 
  
  Christmas shopping done? Yes? Think of more people. Leafing through the phone book suggested if necessary.
  - - -

The Pick: The only granule of pride Conference USA could possibly salvage from this miserable season is that at least one of its also-rans was still able to beat the Sun Belt champion, as become a sort of unacknowledged custom. Last year was a break from that, and if Troy were here instead of FAU, there would be no good reason to doubt the Trojans' ability to shred the Tigers' beleaguered defense into tiny, striped bags of flea bait. FAU may do this, too, but Memphis is on as hot a streak as it's been on in years (winners of four straight to close the season, five of six, six of eight, etc. since a 1-3 start) and has more dangerous skill players on this level - since September, the Tigers' offense has been quietly prolific and won't meet any resistance here.
- - - <table><tbody><tr><td>

</td> <td>Memphis 36</td> <td>•</td> <td>Florida Atlantic 27</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[RJ Esq]

2007 New Mexico Bowl Preview

by Brian Sakowski @ 1:15 pm. Filed under Analysis, Bowl Games, Commentary, Mountain West, Non-BCS Conference, Pick Em Contest, Western Athletic
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Nevada 6-6 (4-4), 4th Western Athletic
vs

New Mexico 8-4 (5-3), 3rd Mountain West
December 22nd, 4:30PM ESPN
Usually when a team loses a starting quarterback, it is noticeable and the team suffers. But for the Nevada Wolfpack it was a much needed shot in the arm. Freshman Colin Kaepernick took over for Nick Graziano after he was lost for the year on October 6, and piled up a 4-3 record along with the WAC freshman of the year honors. New Mexico besides playing at home for the bowl game has to deal with losing two players, running backs Rodney Ferguson and Mike Love, who were deemed ineligible and cannot play in the New Mexico Bowl.
The Lobos will have to find a new go to guy in the backfield with Ferguson out and that will put a little more pressure on QB Donovan Porterie who threw for 2652 with 13 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. Marcus Smith and Travis Brown are Porterie’s main targets, catching over 170 balls for 1900 yards and 8 touchdowns. Those two are going to be a lot to handle for a Wolfpack defense that ranks 67th against the pass. The Lobos have a tough defense themselves ranking 22nd against the pass, 31st against the run, and 25th in scoring defense. They are going to have to play with a chip on their shoulders since the Lobos who only score 24 points per game will be short handed on offense and won’t be able to generate as many points.
As stated before Colin Kaepernick leads the Wolfpack offense throwing for 2038 yards, 19 touchdowns, and only 3 interceptions in 7 starts and 10 total games. Overall, Nevada has a powerful offense ranking 11th in rushing offense and 7th in total offense. Luke Lippincott leads the Pack’s rushing attack with 1380 yards and 15 touchdowns but with Kaepernick at QB he brings a running threat to the table. On defense, Nevada is below average against the run and the pass.
This game has the strength’s of each team going up against each other with the Nevada offense and the New Mexico defense. Nevada has held it close with quality teams like Hawaii, Boise State, and Fresno State. While the Lobos have more wins, I’m not sure they have had as many quality games as the Wolfpack has had. All things considered equal, one would have to pick New Mexico in the game, but the suspension to their top running back makes this game really interesting and is the deciding factor in the game. Nevada 31 New Mexico 21
Picking Nevada to Win (75%)
ITB Brian Sakowski, Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician, Rizzo Sports, Bastard Sons of Pinfall Marks, The LSC Scoop, MizzouRAH, ITB Charlie Swager, Pitch Right, Sportsbone TV, Corn Nation, Lou Nemec, Rodney Polston, Richard Dixon, Brian Isaacson, Brant Chruscial, Timmy B, Matt Kieta, Jeff Brancolini, Sunny Verma, Cyril Tircuit, Pete Boivin, Mrs Corn Nation, Logan Jaffe, Greg Gowins
Picking New Mexico to Win (25%)
Kansas It’s Business Time, The Enlightened Spartan, ITB Ron Juckett, MidWest Coast Bias, Football Frontier, Lorena The Dodgerchick, Jason Stiver, Dan Schoonover

 

[RJ Esq]

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</td><td><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="matchup">No. 20 Cincinnati (9-3) vs. Southern Miss (7-5)</td></tr><tr><td class="gametime">Dec. 22, 1 p.m. ET (ESPN2)</td></tr><tr><td class="location">Legion Field (71,594)
Birmingham, Ala.</td></tr></tbody></table></td><td class="logo">

</td></tr></tbody></table>
SI.com's Gennaro Filice analyzes the matchup.
Breaking down Cincinnati

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Wake Forest transfer Ben Mauk has flourished in coach Brian Kelly's no-huddle spread offense.
Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images


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</td><td class="cnnstoryclpad">
</td></tr></tbody></table>Brian Kelly's at it again. The 46-year-old coach who built successful programs at Grand Valley State and Central Michigan is already enjoying great success in his first season at Cincinnati. Granted, the Bearcats showed signs of improvement under coach Mark Dantonio, but Kelly -- the Big East Coach of the Year -- guided the Bearcats to their first nine-win season since 1953. Cincinnati knocked off USF, Rutgers and Connecticut along the way.
Kelly's signature is his no-huddle spread offense, and senior QB Ben Mauk runs it to perfection. The Wake Forest transfer set five national passing records while quarterbacking the same offense at Kenton (Ohio) High. Although Mauk wasn't named to the Big East first or second teams -- thanks to West Virginia's Pat White and Louisville's Brian Brohm -- he finished ninth nationally in pass efficiency with 27 TDs and just six interceptions. With Mauk at the controls, Cincinnati ranks 14th in scoring offense (36.75 points per game). Penalties have been the Bearcats' Achilles heel, as they set school records for most penalties (114) and penalty yards (977).
Cincinnati boasts one of the nation's most opportunistic defenses; the Bearcats rank second in total turnovers gained (39). CB Mike Mickens and FS Haruki Nakamura were both unanimous picks for first-team All-Big East, but strangely the Bearcats struggle mightily against the pass, ranking 105th nationally.
Cincinnati possesses a huge weapon in punter Kevin Huber, who leads the nation with a 46.8-yard average.
Breaking down Southern Miss

Southern Miss raised more than a few eyebrows when it fired coach Jeff Bower after 17 seasons. Bower has led the Golden Eagles to 14 consecutive winning campaigns and 10 bowl games in the last 11 seasons. Bower will stay on to coach the bowl game, but his lame-duck status doesn't help Southern Miss' morale.
The Golden Eagles' offense revolves around standout sophomore Damion Fletcher. The diminutive (5-foot-10, 175 pounds) rusher has totaled 2,819 yards and 26 touchdowns in his first two seasons at the college level. The x-factor is quarterback Jeremy Young. If Young isn't on his game, opponents load the box and shut down Fletcher.
Southern Miss' defense is respectable, statistically speaking, but the Golden Eagles have had trouble at times defending the pass. Still, offenses must steer clear of versatile DB Brandon Sumrall, who has a nose for the football. C-USA defensive Player of the Year Gerald McRath headlines a strong front seven from the middle linebacker spot. Up front, the Golden Eagles boast two talented linemen in Matthew Chatelain and Martavius Prince.
Final analysis

Cincinnati was hoping to get to a better bowl, but the Bearcats will still be geared up to earn their 10th win. While Cincy is suspect against the pass, they're stout against the run -- Southern Miss' strength. Southern Miss has experienced lapses against solid passing teams ... like Cincinnati. Look for Mauk to finish his college career in style.
The pick: Cincinnati 49, Southern Miss 24

 

[RJ Esq]

<table style="border: 1px solid rgb(102, 102, 102);" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="554"><tbody><tr><td colspan="3" class="topper">Bowl Breakdown: New Orleans</td></tr><tr><td class="logo">

</td><td><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="matchup">Florida Atlantic (7-5) vs. Memphis (7-5)</td></tr><tr><td class="gametime">Dec. 21, 8 p.m. (ESPN2)</td></tr><tr><td class="location">Louisiana Superdome (69,703)
New Orleans</td></tr></tbody></table></td><td class="logo">

</td></tr></tbody></table>SI.com's Cory McCartney analyzes the matchups.
Breaking down Florida Atlantic

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One half of Memphis' explosive wide receiver tandem, Carlos Singleton led the team with 10 touchdown receptions.
AP


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</td></tr></tbody></table>Howard Schnellenberger started the Miami Hurricanes' 1980s dynasty and returned Louisville to prominence. But at Florida Atlantic, the 73-year-old coach is in a whole new territory. After helping build the program from scratch nine years ago, Schnellenberger has led the Owls to their first Sun Belt title and bowl game. FAU won four of its last six, including a come-from-behind victory over preseason conference favorite Troy. The Owls averaged 36 points a game in the second half of the season behind sophomore quarterback Rusty Smith.
FAU's biggest asset is its opportunistic defense, which leads the nation in turnover margin (+19). Linebackers Frantz Joseph (121 tackles) and Cergile Sincere (111 tackles and six forced fumbles) anchor the unit up front, while defensive backs Taheem Acevedo, Tavious Polo and Corey Small combined for 17 interceptions. Turnovers have come easy, but stopping teams hasn't. The Owls are allowing 417 yards a game (85th nationally) and are 99th in scoring defense, giving up 33.7 points per game.
Breaking down Memphis

The Tigers got off to a 2-4 start, putting the heat on coach Tommy West. But after quarterback Martin Hankins returned from a hip injury, Memphis won five of its last six games, averaging 34 points and 504 yards in the second half of the season. Hankins, who averaged at least 320 yards and three touchdowns during the streak, has a pair of standout sophomore wide receivers in Duke Calhoun (850 yards, five touchdowns) and 6-foot-8 red zone threat Carlos Singleton (704 yards, 10 TDs.).
Memphis took advantage of a schedule that included Jacksonville State and five other teams that were a combined 13-47 in earning a bowl bid, but no matter the opponent the defense struggled. The Tigers held only one team below 21 points and gave up more than 50 points three times. The pass defense was among the nation's worst, ranking 110th (209.7 ypg).
Final analysis

The Tigers haven't fared well against Sun Belt teams, losing to Arkansas State and Middle Tennessee State, but those losses came before Hankins' return. Calhoun and Singleton should be able to feast on FAU's 74th-ranked pass defense, so long as Hankins avoids any costly errors.
While so many teams have been able to feast on Memphis' porous run defense (209 ypg), the Owls, who are 91st in rushing offense, don't have the weapons to exploit it. Schnellenberger and FAU made history and appear to be a program on the rise, but Memphis' offense may be too much for the Owls.
The pick: Memphis 35, Florida Atlantic 30

 

[RJ Esq]

2007 Papajohns.com Bowl Preview

by Brian Sakowski @ 9:41 am. Filed under Analysis, BCS Conferences, Big East, Bowl Games, Commentary, Conference USA, Non-BCS Conference, Pick Em Contest
<!-- meta -->

Southern Mississippi 7-5 (5-3), 4th Conference USA - East
vs

Cincinnati 9-3 (4-3), 3rd Big East
December 22nd, 1:00PM, ESPN2
The Cincinnati Bearcats started out the season 6-0 under new head coach Brian Kelly, but finished the year 3-3 to go to cap off their best season in 54 years. On the other side of the field Southern Miss will be saying farewell to their coach Jeff Bower who resigned after 29 years at the school, 17 of which were as the head coach. This is the second year in a row that Cincinnati will play in a bowl game while the Golden Eagles will be playing in a bowl game for the sixth straight year.
The Bearcats are led by former Wake Forest QB, Ben Mauk. Mauk has thrown for over 2700 yards this season with 27 touchdown passes. He has helped Cincinnati have the 23rd ranked passing offense and 14th ranked scoring offense in the country. Marcus Barnett and Dominick Goodman are his go to receivers combining for over 1600 yards and 19 touchdowns. On defense the Bearcats have a stingy rush defense and a lock down guy in Mike Mickens who has 6 interceptions, 2 of which he has returned for touchdowns. Although as a whole, Cincinnati has shown they will give up a lot of yards through the air.
Southern Mississippi’s strength on offense is their rushing attack. Sophomore Damion Fletcher ran for over 1400 yards this season with 15 touchdowns, averaging over 5.4 yards per rush. This will be a good test for Fletcher going up against the Bearcats’ tough run defense. Jeremy Young and Stephen Reaves have both seen time at quarterback this year, but Young is the better of the two. Neither are terribly effective and Reaves has show that he is interception prone, throwing 8 interceptions to only 3 touchdown passes. On defense the Golden Eagles are about average against the run and the pass. For them to win they need to use Fletcher to control the clock and not turn the ball over.
Even though both teams have similar records, they are a bit apart in talent. Cincinnati has been battled tested beating teams like Rutgers, South Florida, and Connecticut while Southern Miss. only beat 1 team that is bowl eligible and that was East Carolina. Ben Mauk will have a good day spreading the ball around and the Bearcats will show the Golden Eagles what a true run defense is holding Fletcher to under 100 yards on the ground. Cincinnati 30 Southern Mississippi 13
Picking Southern Mississippi to Win (6%)
Sportsbone TV, Mrs Corn Nation,
Picking Cincinnati to Win (94%)
ITB Brian Sakowski, Rizzo Sports, ITB Ron Juckett, Pitch Right, The Enlightened Spartan, Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician, ITB Charlie Swager, Kansas It’s Business Time, MizzouRAH, The LSC Scoop, Corn Nation, Football Frontier, MidWest Coast Bias, Bastard Sons of Pinfall Marks, Brian Isaacson, Brant Chruscial, Timmy B, Matt Kieta, Jeff Brancolini, Sunny Verma, Jason Stiver, Rodney Polston, Richard Dixon, Cyril Tircuit, Pete Boivin, Lou Nemec, Lorena The Dodgerchick, Logan Jaffe, Dan Schoonover, Greg Gowins

<!-- story content --> <script src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/%7Es/InTheBleachersPodcast?i=http://inthebleachers.net/bcs-conferences/big-east/2007-papajohnscom-bowl-preview/" type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[RJ Esq]

CURIOUS INDEX: 12/21/07

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</td> <td width="528"> Navy wins syllable battle, loses game. Despite having a 10-7 halftime lead, a sympathetic Navy town crowd behind them, and a decisive advantage in the number of total syllables in their team name roster (Kaheaku-Enhada Niumatalolo!), Navy fell late to Utah in the Poinsettia Bowl, 35-32. Brian Johnson only began to play well after getting hammered in the third quarter. Johnson went 9-9 for 130 yards in the third, opening up a lead for Utah they clung to until the final bell. This all happened thanks to a fishy non-call by officials, who failed to rule a touchback on a play where Utah’s Jerome Brooks lost the ball off the pylon and through the back of the endzone. Officials admitted the error in a statement released after the game, which made everyone completely happy and forget the whole thing over a couple of malts and order of fries down at the corner soda shop.
North Carolina players stumble into the most fucked-up afterschool special EVAR. Three North Carolina players followed two women and a man back from a night out in Chapel Hill only to stumble into a scene from a BET version of Pulp Fiction. The three players ended up being voluntarily tied up only to be robbed by a naked man with a knife and fondled by two women, who initially got permission from the bound players but then continued to fondle the players against their will, which leads us to a sexual assault charge thrown their way, too. The whole thing is nine plaid onions worth of crazy, but two salient details should be mentioned.
Exhibit A:
Lewis is accused of taking the contents of two wallets valued at $100, and trying to take $3,000 worth of computer and entertainment equipment. He is also accused of biting a police officer in the groin and pushing him down stairs to elude arrest, according to arrest warrants.
Exhibit B: The women who did the fondling and who, when asked to stop, began punching one of the players in the head. The one not named “Tnikia.”

D’Angelo has fallen so, so very far.
HT: Brahsome.
Norm Chow has withdrawn himself from consideration in the UCLA coaching search, leaving the Bruins with Dewayne Walker and Rick chortle Neuheisel chortle as the top remaining candidates, though everyone from Temple’s Al Golden to Oregon’s Mike Bellotti remain in contention for the job. (Mike Bellotti’s wife in L.A.! Now that’s some fun right thurr!)
Deep South Sports has confirmed that this is no photoshop.

Alabama fans will have to drive past it on the way to their bowl game in Shreveport, thus adding insult to injury.
We will fight every single one of you in the Thunderdome to live down the humiliation of what we’re about to admit, but a small, tender, and weepy part of us loves this song and always will because it, more than any other song, evokes Christmas for us. For dignity, you could choose Nat King Cole, or Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters…but as Florida fans who wear candy orange and sky blue to football games, dignity went out the window a great long time ago, sirs and madams.
Damn you and your magical teleporting box, Paul McCartney.

<object height="355" width="425">

<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Pb5hauj-U-A&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></object></p> Notice that the first thing show in the video is some kind of hallucinatory graphic in the sky followed by a sign of people getting riotously drunk. We have several English friends, and based on their self-medicating regimens, this does NOT surprise us as being the first thing shown in an English Christmas video from the seventies.
That said, we’ll be waiting in the Thunderdome with some wassail and figgy pudding for that ass. Brang it.
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[RJ Esq]

UNC Football: When the Tape Comes Out, The Lights Come On
By SMQ
Posted on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 06:53:13 AM EDT


It probably goes without saying many gridiron partisans imagine possessing for just a day or week the perceived sexual prowess their on-field heroes exude involuntarily, as a matter of the insatiable animal essence at the core of their impossibly chiseled being. Accordingly, it must be also assumed that a few of these upstanding young citizens spend the odd weekend tied up, bound with tape, perhaps threatened with bodily harm, and ultimately engaged in carnal knowledge with their "captors" as a result of said being. Whatever gets you going, man. Through the ages, such are the residual rewards of talent and scholarship.
Unless, that is, the "captors" are actual captors, and their disposition is along the lines of...

...the night will probably not end well. And so it didn't last Sunday for three anonymous North Carolina football players who had the misfortune and bad judgment to hook up with Michael Troy Lewis, 32, Tnika Monta Washington, 29 and Monique Jenice Taylor, 28, accused assailants of the trio of Tar Heels in an incident Taylor's attorney described after his client was charged Thursday - in a massive understatement - as "a very unusual case":

• Prosecutors said the players and the accused went to the victims' apartment after meeting at a downtown bar. At a Thursday court hearing, assistant Orange County prosecutor Morgan Whitney cited a police report and said one of the players was drunk and was taken to his room, The News & Observer of Raleigh reported on its Web site.
  According to the newspaper, the other two had some consensual sexual contact with the women, but then became uncomfortable and told them to stop. When police arrived at the scene, two of the victims were tied up, wearing boxer shorts, and the hands of the third victim, who was fully clothed, also were tied, Whitney was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
  At least two players were sexually assaulted, and authorities were awaiting the final police report to learn if the third was as well, the News & Observer reported.
  Defense attorneys told the court, according to the newspaper, that the acts were consensual.
  - - -

That account doesn't include the knife allegedly wielded by one of the women, which surprisingly (if true) did not result in a charge. The alleged kidnapping, conspiracy to commit a felony and resisting arrest, however, did, along with one count of first-degree sexual assault against each of the women, who were arrested at the scene Sunday, and one count each of robbery, possession of stolen goods and assault on government officials against Lewis, who "surrendered Wednesday after fleeing during a confrontation with police." This might be the first recorded charge of rape levied by football players, though the recent collapse/exhaustion of a string of sexual assault cases against athletes (Kobe Bryant, Duke LaCrosse, Minnesota football) has taught us that such allegations are frequently not as they're first presented.
Personally, your humble proprietor has never been into the bondage thing his own self, and perhaps in this he's in accord with the anonymous victims. SMQ passes no judgment - just a warning: be more careful who u roll out da club wit, playa. Just because you can doesn't mean you should.

 

[RJ Esq]

thewizardofodds.blogspot.com continues on with a look at BCS travel mileage:

Breaking Down BCS League Travel

We begin our second day of examining how many miles teams have traveled for nonconference games with a look at four Bowl Championship Series conferences. This is all part of an extensive study taken on by Richard of Map Game Day, who has agreed to share his results with us.

After releasing the initial results on Thursday, an anonymous poster suggested that we rerun the data to reflect conference alignments from 1998-2005. Richard thought this was a terrific idea and has been busy recalculating the data, which was based on current conference alignments. Without getting technical (read the end of this post for more), we're going to post the updated data on Saturday. Those numbers, along with breakdowns of the Atlantic Coast and Big East conferences, will be posted then. On Sunday, the non-BCS conferences will be posted and reviewed.

Let's jump into the four BCS conferences we have posted today. At the top is the Big Ten, which is led by Northwestern, having traveled nearly 20,000 miles in the past 10 years to nonconference games. At the bottom is Penn State, which is No. 10 overall in ranking of teams having traveled the fewest miles. Ohio State's nonleague schedule this season was a joke: Youngstown State, Akron, at Washington and Kent State. Come on Buckeyes, you can do better. Ohio State does start a home-and-home with USC in 2008.
Let's take a look at the Big 12. It's a tightly packed group, but that might be somewhat expected given that this league is located in the heart of the country and going east or west doesn't involve the mileage that would be involved in other leagues. Kansas is at the bottom and the Jayhawks got fat this season on a diet of Central Michigan, Southeastern Louisiana, Toledo and Florida International, all at home. In fact, Kansas didn't have to leave the state for a game until Oct. 20 and now has a ticket to the Orange Bowl. This is a prime example of what creative scheduling can do for a program and something we'd like to see come to an end.
Love them or hate them, USC will travel to play quality opponents. Look at that mileage. Although this season included road games at lousy Nebraska and Notre Dame, the Trojans scheduled those games believing the quality of the opposition would be better. In 2008, USC opens at Virginia and plays host to Ohio State and Notre Dame. Give USC a big thumbs up for seeking out quality nonleague opponents. Even Arizona State, which ranks at the bottom, has a 2008 home game against Georgia. Overall, the Pac-10 is the best of the BCS leagues when it comes to scheduling quality nonconference opponents home and away. Teams only get three nonconference games because of a round-robin league schedule.
Bring it on, SEC. We don't care how difficult the league schedule is. Your nonconference schedules are a joke. Two notable road tests in the past three years: In 2005, Arkansas played at USC and lost, 70-17. In 2007, Tennessee played at California and lost, 45-31. Seven of the top eight spots nationally for teams having traveled the fewest miles belong to teams from the SEC. Georgia does appear to see the error of its ways. The Bulldogs have games at Arizona State in 2008, at Oklahoma State in 2009 and at Colorado in 2010. Maybe there is hope.

 

[RJ Esq]

Bowl-O-Rama: New Orleans Bowl Edition

Background Info & History

​

R+L Carriers is the sponsor of this bowl game. If you don't know, R+L Carriers is a trucking company......in case you didn't notice. The company was founded in 1965 by Ralph Roberts. In addition to sponsoring the New Orleans Bowl, R+L Carriers is involved with NASCAR as well. One of the cars Matt Kenseth drives has R+L Carriers on the front (forgive me for my lack of NASCAR jargon-usage). The former sponsor was Wyndham Hotels.

The history of this game dates back to 2001 where Colorado State defeated North Texas, 45-20. After that, the Sun Belt won their first ever bowl game with the Mean Green defeating the Cincinnati Bearcats, then playing in C-USA. In 2003, Memphis defeated North Texas and in 2004, Southern Miss defeated North Texas easily. Arkansas State broke the streak of Sun Belt representation by North Texas earning a bid to play Southern Miss in the 2005 New Orleans Bowl (which was relocated to Lafayette, Louisiana due to Hurricane Katrina). And last year, as I'm sure you're well aware of, the favored Rice Owls got clobbered by Troy due to Rice's unprecedented flukiness throughout the course of the C-USA season and their injury to Chase Clement. But make no mistake about it, Troy earned a lot of respect for the conference last year.

Florida Atlantic Storyline​

Could you imagine somebody like Howard Schnellenberger being a Santa Claus in the mall or something? I could see that.

Er, I digress, this is FAU's biggest coming out party in the program's existence. Before this season, I guess you could say their shocking road win against Hawaii during 2004 or their run in the then 1-AA playoffs in 2003 would be their most memorable moments.

Florida Atlantic has been consistently improving since their move to full-blown FBS status. The Owls this year have defeated the Sun Belt co-champs of the previous season, defeated a Big 10 team in Minnesota, gave the then #2 USF Bulls all they could ask for, and knocked off arguably the best Sun Belt team ever to keep them out of the postseason. Impressive resume? It is for a program in it's third year of tasting the FBS.

FAU is looking good right now as a football program. This is their opportunity to shine, their very first bowl game.




​

Memphis Storyline​

This season for Memphis is most remarkable by their solid end to the season.

The Tigers opened the year with a tough loss to Ole Miss but they were able to rebound against Jacksonville State the next week.

After a crushing blow dealt by Central Florida, tragedy struck this Memphis football team. Defensive lineman, Taylor Bradford, was shot but Memphis was determined to play for their fallen comrade the following Tuesday against Marshall. This could be the turning point of the season.

Memphis followed that up with a loss to Middle Tennessee, but after that, the Tigers started to roll. There were a few close wins on the way, defeating Rice by 3, Tulane by 1, Southern Miss by 3, and a 3 OT thriller against SMU, but it was all head coach Tommy West could ask for being down for that portion of the season.

I suppose you could say that this Memphis team is C-USA's Virginia. It may not be pretty all of the time (especially defensively...), but they are getting the job done.

Match ups of the Game​

FAU Running Game vs. Memphis Run Defense-Florida Atlantic is not really what one would consider a running team, but expect them to get yards in chunks whenever they decide to pound the rock. Memphis is 110th against the run allowing a staggering 200+ yards PER GAME defensively. The Owls will come at you with D'Ivory Edgecomb, Charles Pierre, and FB William Rose. The biggest question here is, will Memphis be able to handle all of these rushing threats?

Memphis Passing Game vs. FAU Pass Defense-Neither team is remotely decent at defending the pass, but the Tigers are equipped with some big, strong, athletic wideouts that could give the FAU DBs trouble. Even though Duke Calhoun is the speedster, Carlos Singleton and Steven Black are the guys that could make the Memphis O run smoothly.

Keep an Eye on...​

Carlos Singleton. While most of the FAU defensive backfield will focus on the best WR in this offense, Duke Calhoun, Singleton has the ability to make plays.

This guy is really one of the most underrated players in the smaller ranks of the FBS. Most of the passes Hankins/Hudgens/Malouf throws his way will be hauled in.

The Tiger passing game is 12th in the nation and his under-the-radarness, if you will, is part of the reason why.







Just as the Memphis WRs could make the difference in the game, the pressure is on the Florida Atlantic defensive backs. Taheem Acevedo (which is #9 in the pic) will be one of the keys in stopping Memphis.

The safety was almost as good as Tavious Polo this year (and this true freshman can play, even though his INT production slipped off a little bit at the end, part of it was teams shying away from him).

Acevedo can play the safety position and his covering of guys like Singleton and Black could win or lose the game.

Must-See-Ometer​

Okay, it has as new name now: The "Must-See-Ometer". How's that? At least I'm being a little more original.

This game gets a 6 of 10 on the Must-See-Ometer. If you're a diehard, every game gets a 10, but I'm trying to look at this from a fan's perspective that wouldn't be considered casual or a diehard. If you like offense, though, you must watch this game. We're talking about the 12th and 19th ranked passing offenses here, Memphis and FAU's respectively.

Prediction​

This is a game Memphis should be able to win and while they probably have better athletes by a slight margin, FAU has one thing working for them: Motivation. To Memphis, they might feel that this is just a bowl game. For FAU, this is the biggest game in the program's history with the national spotlight shining bright all over them. While it's not the Rose Bowl, it probably feels like it to FAU and their fans.

The other reason I like FAU is that even though they don't play much defense, they find ways to generate turnovers and save their potential win. Polo is a big reason to their #1 ranking in turnover margin. If Memphis gets a little careless with the football, they could be in some hot water.

I'm taking the Owls in a big, big shootout even though usually the expected shootouts leave us scratching our heads at very low scoring first quarters (or so it seems), 42-37 (12 confidence points).

 

[RJ Esq]

Vols may lose players for Outback Bowl

Associated Press

Updated: December 21, 2007, 11:58 AM EST Tennessee coaches are concerned about the academic eligibility of a few players for the Outback Bowl, including two starters on defense.<fstl:edgeinclude source="/name/public/Topstoriesshort"></fstl:edgeinclude>
A university official said linebacker Rico McCoy and defensive tackle Demonte Bolden are among those who could be ruled out for the game after the school releases fall semester grades Friday afternoon.
The person did not want to be identified because the academic report had not been released.
Coach Phillip Fulmer said Thursday during practice that he was concerned about the eligibility of "three or four guys, and maybe a couple more than that."
McCoy, a sophomore, has started all 13 games this season and is second on the team with 106 tackles.
Bolden started each of the 12 games he played in this season, but was suspended against Louisiana-Lafayette for an unspecified violation of team rules.
No. 16 Tennessee (9-4) faces No. 18 Wisconsin (9-3) on Jan. 1 in Tampa, Fla.

 

[RJ Esq]

MAC officials make mistake at the Poinsettia Bowl

<script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "pub-0237893561790135"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; google_ad_format = "300x250_as"; google_ad_type = "text_image"; //2007-11-27: entries, fanblogs, inpost google_ad_channel = "0603066557+5452098552+3119009114"; google_color_border = "FFFFFF"; google_color_bg = "FFFFFF"; google_color_link = "003399"; google_color_text = "333333"; google_color_url = "999999"; google_ui_features = "rc:10"; //--> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script><iframe name="google_ads_frame" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-0237893561790135&dt=1198282781468&lmt=1198282780&format=300x250_as&output=html&correlator=1198282781453&channel=0603066557%2B5452098552%2B3119009114&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fanblogs.com%2F%2F007403.php&color_bg=FFFFFF&color_text=333333&color_link=003399&color_url=999999&color_border=FFFFFF&ad_type=text_image&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Freader%2Fview%2F&ui=rc%3A10&cc=100&ga_vid=892070800.1198282781&ga_sid=1198282781&ga_hid=2144678775&ga_fc=true&flash=9&u_h=768&u_w=1280&u_ah=738&u_aw=1280&u_cd=32&u_tz=-480&u_his=1&u_java=true&u_nplug=28&u_nmime=106" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" vspace="0" hspace="0" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="250" scrolling="no" width="300"></iframe> After Utah tied Boston College for the longest consecutive streak of bowl victories, the officiating crew issued a statement admitting a blown call in the game, even after it had been reviewed.

The play came on a Brian Johnson third-down pass to Jereme Brooks, where the Utah wide-out dove for the end zone and tried to push the ball past the sideline pylon at the goal line.
The ball appeared to leave his hand and hit the pylon, with the officials ruling the play wasn't a touchdown and that Utah retained possession for a fourth-down try from inside the 1-yard line.
In their written statement, the crew cited NCAA Football Rule Section F-1, Rule 8, Section 6, Article 1, Item 1, explaining "the ball was fumbled forward, hit the pylon. The pylon is out of bounds, also in the end zone. The mistake was — it should have been ruled a touchback."
Lou Holtz and Mark May had it right in the press box, how do the refs in the replay booth get it wrong? I am a Utah fan, it should have been a touchback.
The results of the mistake was that Navy stopped Utah at the goal line the next play, giving them the ball at the goal line instead of the 20 they should have. They got eight yards and went for it on fourth down. This was the real mistake that cost Navy. Utah got the ball back at the ten and went in for the easy touchdown.
The Navy coach said he would have ran the same three plays from the 1 as from the 20. Option, option, option. Maybe if he had got to the 28 he would have punted, but at your own 8 you got for it?
I'll take the win and the 32 Bowl mania points.

 

[RJ Esq]

<table><tbody><tr><td colspan="3" class="storytitle"> 2007 Hawaii Bowl - Boise State vs. ECU </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="primaryimage" valign="top">

East Carolina RB Chris Johnson
</td> <td nowrap="nowrap" width="3">
</td> <td valign="top"> <table bgcolor="#f5f5f5" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1" width="60%"> <tbody><tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="middle">By Richard Cirminiello
CollegeFootballNews.com
Posted Dec 19, 2007
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</td> </tr> </tbody></table>

2007 Sheraton Hawaii Bowl Preview - Boise State vs. East Carolina
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Boise State (10-2) vs. East Carolina (7-5)

Dec. 23, 8:00 p.m. ET, ESPN Get Tickets for the Hawaii Bowl
- The Big Story A Bowl Win Would Mean Everything To ECU - 2006 CFN Hawaii Bowl Preview
- WhatIfSports.com New Mexico Bowl Prediction & Box Score
2007 Hawaii Bowl History, Each Team's Best Bowl Moments, & More
<table id="table8" align="right" border="0" cellspacing="6" height="83" width="205"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" width="100%"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> <table id="table9" border="0" width="213"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#000000" width="206"> National Rankings</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" width="206"> <table id="table10" border="0" height="139" width="205"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#800080" height="6" width="50%"> East Carolina</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#333399" height="6" width="50%"> Boise State</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" height="6" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Total Offense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#800080" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 71st 377.92 ypg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#333399" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 10th 475.67 ypg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Total Defense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#800080" height="11" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 98th 436.42 ypg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#333399" height="11" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 21st 326.50 ypg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Scoring Offense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#800080" height="16" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 47th 30.17 ppg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#333399" height="16" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 5th 42.75 ppg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Scoring Defense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#800080" height="16" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 80th 29.75 ppg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#333399" height="16" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 21st 20 ppg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Run Offense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#800080" height="5" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 38th 171.33 ypg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#333399" height="5" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 29th 192.17 ypg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Run Defense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#800080" height="16" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 53rd 29.75 ypg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#333399" height="16" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 24th 114.92 ypg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Pass Offense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#800080" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 75th 206.58 ypg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#333399" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 22nd 283.50 ypg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Pass Defense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#800080" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 115th 290.58 ypg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#333399" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 37th 211.58[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Turnover Margin[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#800080" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 6th 1.17[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#333399" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 32nd 0.33[/FONT]</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="105"> East Carolina[FONT=Arial, Helvetica][/FONT] at Va Tech L 17-7
No Carolina W 34-21
So Miss L 28-21
at West Va L 48-7
at Houston W 37-35
UCF W 52-38
at UTEP W 45-42 OT
NC State L 34-20
UAB W 41-6
at Memphis W 56-40
at Marshall L 26-7
Tulane W 35-12</td> <td align="left" valign="top" width="106"> Boise State[FONT=Arial, Helvetica][/FONT] Weber St W 56-7
at Wash L 24-10
Wyoming W 24-14
So Miss W 38-16
NMSU W 58-0
Nevada W 69-67 4OT
at La Tech W 45-31
at Fres St W 34-21
SJSU W 42-7
at Utah St W 52-0
Idaho W 58-14 at Hawaii L 39-27</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> <table id="table11" border="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="3" align="center" bgcolor="#c0c0c0" width="100%">Position Ratings
relative to each other</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#ffcc00" width="33%"> ECU</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000000" width="33%">5 highest
1 lowest</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#333399" width="34%"> BSU</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 3</td> <td align="center" width="33%">Quarterbacks</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 3.5</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 4</td> <td align="center" width="33%">RBs</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 4.5</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 3</td> <td align="center" width="33%">Receivers</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 3.5</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 3.5</td> <td align="center" width="33%">O Line</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 4</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 4</td> <td align="center" width="33%">D Line</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 3.5</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 4 </td> <td align="center" width="33%">Linebackers</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 3.5</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 1.5</td> <td align="center" width="33%">Secondary</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 4</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 3</td> <td align="center" width="33%">Spec Teams</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 4</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 4</td> <td align="center" width="33%">Coaching</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 5</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> About a month ago, Boise State was thinking about a return trip to a BCS bowl game, while East Carolina had its sights fixed on the Liberty Bowl and a Conference USA championship. Instead, they’ll meet in Honolulu with an opportunity to soak in one of the prettiest bowl venues, and end the season on a high note.

Last year’s postseason darlings for beating Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl, Boise State passed on a chance to host Georgia Tech in the Humanitarian Bowl, opting instead to take its product off the mainland. Ironically, the Broncos will be returning to the scene of a Nov. 23 loss to Hawaii that ended any dreams of a repeat appearance in a big-money, January bowl game.

Considering the turnover at some key spots from last season’s perfect squad, Boise State has done well to get back to 10 wins for the seventh time in the last nine years. A lot of the credit belongs to senior QB Taylor Tharp, who’s proven to be a solid successor to Jared Zabransky, and a fine one-year solution in a system that requires the quarterback to distribute the ball without making mistakes. After starting slowly, Tharp carried a program that was without star RB Ian Johnson for a time, throwing for more than 3,000 yards and 28 touchdowns, getting picked just nine times. Long before kickoff, the school got its first big win of December when coveted head coach Chris Peterson made it clear he plans on staying at Boise State for the foreseeable future.

The East Division of Conference USA was there for the taking before East Carolina squandered control of its own destiny with an inexcusable loss to 1-8 Marshall. The same UCF team that ECU throttled in October went on to win the division and the league, leaving the Pirates to make the longest trek of any of this year’s 64 bowl participants. On a more positive note, the school is playing in back-to-back bowl games, a sign that it’s making progress under third-year head coach Skip Holtz. East Carolina has a game-breaking Johnson of its own, RB Chris Johnson, the nation’s leader in all-purpose yards, and one of the fastest players in the country. Whether he’s taking a handoff, catching a pass, or fielding a kick, the senior is a threat to go the distance with even a hint of daylight.
Both schools fully expected to be playing in higher profile games this postseason, meaning whichever one can maintain its focus with paradise in the backdrop is likely to leave the islands with a well-deserved victory.

Players to watch: Holtz has had success using two quarterbacks, strong-armed Rob Kass and the more athletic Patrick Pinkney. Combined, they’ve tossed 19 touchdown passes, despite having access to a pedestrian corps of receivers.

Success through the air, however, won’t be easy against a WAC-best pass defense that’s built around two of the league’s premier defensive backs, safety Marty Tadman and corner Kyle Wilson. Tadman and Wilson rate a huge edge over any receiver that’ll run patterns for East Carolina, meaning it’ll again be up to Johnson to shoulder the load, even though everyone in blue and orange has been instructed to not let No. 5 beat them with big plays.

The best game within a game, by far, pits a talented Boise State offensive line versus an East Carolina defensive line that boasts the size and depth of some ACC programs. The Broncos are determined to reestablish Johnson and a running game that’s slipped considerably from last year, when the run set up the pass. Paving the way will be LT Ryan Clady, a 6-6, 320-pound All-American, who makes NFL scouts gush about his quick feet and agility from a kid that’s so enormous. Clady, G Tad Miller, C Jeff Cavender will get a challenge up front from a unit that’s been stout all year. The headliners are ends C.J. Wilson and Zack Slate, who’ve combined for 21 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks.

Boise State will win if... it controls the line of scrimmage. If the Broncos create seams for Johnson to get to the second level, they’ll destroy an East Carolina defense that’s thin and weak in the back seven. If Johnson reverts back to his sophomore form, Tharp and WR Jeremy Childs, an emerging star in Boise, will have a field day against a Pirate pass defense that ranks 115^th nationally, and has given up 24 touchdown passes. While the Broncos only scored 27 points the last time we saw them, don’t forget that in the previous seven games, they reached 40 points six times.
East Carolina will win if... dominates the turnover battle. Other than Johnson completely taking over the game, the Pirates’ best chance for the upset is to generate takeaways, something they’ve been good at all year. East Carolina is No. 6 in the country in turnover margin, and when it’s successful in this area, it usually picks up a win. In a game against a decidedly better opponent, the Pirates need their defensive backs to end drives, and their defense to create as many short field opportunities as possible. If East Carolina isn’t +2 or better in turnovers, it’ll lose this game by double digits. What will happen: Count on there to be plenty of points and plenty of big plays from backs named Johnson. Playing the hunter instead of the hunted this postseason, it might take a quarter or even a half before Boise State realizes it’s a substantially better football team than East Carolina. The Pirates’ season-long struggles with good offenses will continue, with Tharp connecting with Childs on a couple of touchdown passes, and Ian Johnson deliveing his best production since the Oct. 14 marathon win over Nevada.

Line: Boise State -10.5... CFN Prediction: Boise State 38 ... East Carolina 24
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[RJ Esq]

<table><tbody><tr><td colspan="3" class="storytitle"> 2007 Motor City Bowl - Purdue vs. C. Michigan </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="primaryimage" valign="top">

Purdue WR Dorien Bryant
</td> <td nowrap="nowrap" width="3">
</td> <td valign="top"> <table bgcolor="#f5f5f5" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1" width="60%"> <tbody><tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="middle">By Pete Fiutak
CollegeFootballNews.com
Posted Dec 19, 2007
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</td> </tr> </tbody></table>

2007 Motor City Bowl Preview - Purdue vs. Central Michigan
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Purdue (7-5) vs. Central Michigan (8-5) Dec. 26th, 7:30 pm, ESPN
Get Tickets for the Motor City Bowl - 2006 CFN Motor City Bowl Preview
- WhatIfSports.com New Mexico Bowl Prediction & Box Score
2007 Motor City Bowl History, Each Team's Best Bowl Moments, & More
<table id="table8" align="right" border="0" cellspacing="6" height="83" width="205"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" width="100%"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> <table id="table9" border="0" width="213"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#000000" width="206"> National Rankings</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" width="206"> <table id="table10" border="0" height="139" width="205"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#ff9900" height="6" width="50%"> Central Mich.</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000000" height="6" width="50%"> Purdue</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="6" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Total Offense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#ff9900" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 22nd 447.92 ypg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000000" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 35th 423.33 ypg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Total Defense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#ff9900" height="11" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 106th 450.23 ypg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000000" height="11" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 60th 385.33 ypg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Scoring Offense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#ff9900" height="16" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 26th 33.77 ppg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000000" height="16" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 31st 32.92 ppg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Scoring Defense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#ff9900" height="16" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 107th 35.85 ppg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000000" height="16" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 47th 24.75 ppg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Run Offense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#ff9900" height="5" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 34th 182.85 ypg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000000" height="5" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 77th 136.08 ypg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Run Defense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#ff9900" height="16" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 72nd 165.38 ypg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000000" height="16" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 55th 149.42 ypg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Pass Offense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#ff9900" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 32nd 265.08 ypg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000000" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 17th 287.25 ypg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Pass Defense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#ff9900" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 111th 284.85 ypg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000000" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 72nd 235.92 ypg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Turnover Margin[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#ff9900" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 43rd 0.23[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000000" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 32nd 0.33[/FONT]</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="105"> Central Mich [FONT=Arial, Helvetica][/FONT] at Kansas L 52-7
Toledo W 52-38
at Purdue 45-22
N Dakota St L 44-14
No Illinois W 35-10
at Ball St W 58-38
Army W 47-23
at Clemson L 70-14
at Kent St W 41-32
at W Mich W 34-31
E Mich L 48-45
at Akron W 35-32[FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1] [FONT=Arial, Helvetica][SIZE=-1] MAC Championship
[/SIZE][/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Miami Univ. 35-10[/FONT]</td> <td align="left" valign="top" width="106"> Purdue[FONT=Arial, Helvetica][/FONT] at Toledo W 52-24
East Illinois W 52-6
Cent Mich W 45-22
at Minn. W 45-31
No Dame W 33-19
Ohio State L 23-7
at Michigan L 48-21
Iowa W 31-6
Nwestern W 35-17
at Penn St L 26-19
Michigan St L 48-31
at Indiana L 27-24</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> <table id="table11" border="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="3" align="center" bgcolor="#c0c0c0" width="100%">Position Ratings
relative to each other</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#800000" width="33%"> CM</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000000" width="33%">5 highest
1 lowest</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000000" width="34%"> P</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 5</td> <td align="center" width="33%">Quarterbacks</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 4</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 3.5</td> <td align="center" width="33%">RBs</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 4</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 3.5</td> <td align="center" width="33%">Receivers</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 4.5</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 3</td> <td align="center" width="33%">O Line</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 3.5</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 2</td> <td align="center" width="33%">D Line</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 3.5</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 3</td> <td align="center" width="33%">Linebackers</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 3.5</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 1.5</td> <td align="center" width="33%">Secondary</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 3</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 3.5</td> <td align="center" width="33%">Spec Teams</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 4</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 3</td> <td align="center" width="33%">Coaching</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 3.5</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> Ugh ... a rematch. And a bad one, too.

Motor City Bowl officials might be ecstatic to get a Big Ten team, but instead of getting Michigan State and the home angle, which would've put more butts in the seats, they get Purdue, who beat Central Michigan 45-22 on September 15th in a game that wasn't even as close as the final score might indicate. The Boilermakers got out to a 38-0 lead before taking the foot off the gas and allowing CMU to bomb its way back in the game, but does that mean the world will be excited to see a rematch?

There's 1,048 reasons to tune in. That's the number of yards gained by the two teams in the first game.

The Motor City Bowl will be a lot of things, but it's not going to be dull. Even if it's a Purdue blowout, it'll be a fun blowout. Of course, things rarely go as planned in rematches. Maybe Purdue comes in overconfident and doesn't take the game seriously. Maybe CMU comes up with its best defensive performance of the season. No matter how it turns out, there will be lots of yards in a huge game for both conferences.

This is the MAC's showcase game considering this is when its champion is supposed to shine, and in a tough year for the league, a win over a Big Ten team would do wonders going into the rest of the bowl season. For the Big Ten, a loss to a MAC team, especially in a rematch game, would be devastating for the already awful national reputation. As bad as a loss would be for the Big Ten, it would be even worse for Purdue.

On a little bit of a hotseat after a few years out of the Big Ten title race, Purdue head man Joe Tiller probably can't afford a fourth straight bowl loss. Three years ago, his Boilermakers suffered a painful late collapse to Sam Keller and Arizona State in the Sun Bowl. Last year, they came up with one of the bowl season's most lifeless performances in a 24-7 clunker to Maryland in the Champs Sports Bowl. While there haven't been a whole bunch of big wins over the last few years, a win over CMU would make it two straight eight-win seasons for Tiller.

CMU has had a strange, uneven season, rocking in MAC play going 8-1 with a blowout 35-10 win over Miami University in the championship. However, the team was beyond awful in non-conference play with a win over Army, and blowout losses to Kansas, Purdue, North Dakota State, and Clemson by a combined score of 211 to 57, or 57.75 to 14.25. Led by star QB Dan LeFevour, the offense was a scoring machine in MAC play, but the defense, the worst in the league, often gave up yards just as quickly. Expect more of the same against the Boilermakers.

Don't expect a defensive battle in any way and don't expect anything other than eye candy for the die-hard bowl fans. There will certainly be more important, more interesting games as the bowl season goes on, but for at least a little while, this could be the most explosive.

Players to watch: Central Michigan begins and ends with Dan LeFevour, the sophomore do-it-all quarterback who's been the best player in the league over the last few years. He has to get going from the opening snap to take advantage of the average Purdue linebacking corps and try to open things up on the inside for Justin Hoskins, who's coming back from an ankle problem, and Ontario Sneed. This is a speedy Boilermaker defensive front that'll do everything possible to keep LeFevour from getting to the outside, but it'll be the offense that can do the best job of forcing CMU to throw the ball more. In the first game, Purdue got up so quickly that LeFevour had to start throwing, and while he threw for 364 yards and two touchdowns, he only ran for 26. If he runs for 100 yards, Purdue will be in big trouble.

Purdue will try to control the game with a strong running game that didn't get enough credit or attention throughout the year. Kory Sheets has a nice mix of speed and power with 832 yards and nine touchdowns this year, including 144 yards and two scores in the first meeting with the Chippewas. Junior Jaycen Taylor missed a portion of the season, but when he came back in mid-October, he turned into a key cog again with a 157-yard, two touchdown day against Northwestern while providing a bit more speed than Sheets. With CMU forced to pay attention to these two, holes should open up for the Purdue passing game.

This will be the final game in the great career of Purdue WR Dorien Bryant, who has 287 career catches for 3,483 yards and 21 touchdowns to go along with his kick and punt return duties. He'll be the main focus of the CMU secondary, but he should be able to run free across the middle if the safeties have to cheat up to handle Sheets and Taylor. With Selwyn Lymon, one of the team's most explosive threats, kicked off the team, Bryant and tight end Dustin Keller should combine for at least 15 catches.

One of CMU's shining stars in the loss to Purdue, and the team's best defensive player, was senior LB Thomas Keith, who made 11 tackles in the first meeting and finished with 139 stops on the year. A good-sized hitter and sure tackler who everything funnels around, he's not going to make a bunch of plays all over the field, but he'll stop everything that comes his way. It'll be his job to keep Sheets and Taylor from breaking off big runs and allow the safeties to hang back and deal with the Boilermaker receiving corps.
Central Michigan will win if... Purdue doesn't care. While Michigan State is off playing Boston College and Indiana is playing Oklahoma State, Purdue, among the lower-level Big Ten bowl teams this year, gets a MAC team it already beat. They can say all they want about taking this game seriously, going to Detroit for a throwaway bowl like this isn't like going to Tempe or Orlando. Central Michigan has the type of explosive attack that can score in a hurry and get out to a big lead of Purdue comes out lethargic. If the CMU offensive line can give LeFevour time, and if the defense can come up with a few early stops, the first quarter could be a shocker.
Purdue will win if... it gets the running game working right away and there aren't a lot of mistakes. Purdue has done a good job all season long of keeping the turnovers in relative check, and this game can't be any different. With the exception of quarterback, the Boilermakers are far more talented and far better in all other areas, so it'll take something extraordinary to blow this. That'll start with controlling the tempo from the start, getting a few early scores, and get Taylor and Sheets rumbling for a full sixty minutes to counter the inevitable backlash from the CMU offense at some point. Defensively, Purdue has to use its athleticism to swarm LeFevour and avoid getting pounded on. If the team's head is into it, it should be able to end this by halftime.

What will happen: Purdue will go through the motions and be in for more of a fight than it wants early on, but in the end, the CMU defense will break down for a long stretch and get tagged for a big run. It might take a quarter or so, but the Boilermakers will come up with at least 20 points or more in a row to blow up a decent battle. LeFevour will throw for well over 300 yards, but Purdue will crank out over 500 yards of total offense using a balanced attack to get the win.

Line: Purdue -9... CFN Prediction: Purdue 48 ... Central Michigan 30</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[RJ Esq]

<table><tbody><tr><td colspan="3" class="storytitle"> 2007 Holiday Bowl - Arizona State vs. Texas </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="primaryimage" valign="top">

Texas RB Jamaal Charles
</td> <td nowrap="nowrap" width="3">
</td> <td valign="top"> <table bgcolor="#f5f5f5" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1" width="60%"> <tbody><tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="middle">By Pete Fiutak
CollegeFootballNews.com
Posted Dec 19, 2007
</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">
</td> </tr> </tbody></table>

It's always the first really big game of the bowl season with a top Big 12 team facing off against the No. 2 team from the Pac 10. Jamaal Charles and Texas will try to end the season on a high note in the 2007 Pacific Life Holiday Bowl against Arizona State.
</td></tr> <tr> <td colspan="3">

Texas (9-3) vs. Arizona State (10-2) Dec. 27, 8:00 p.m. ET, ESPN
Get Tickets for the Holiday Bowl - 2006 CFN Holiday Bowl Preview
- WhatIfSports.com Holiday Bowl Prediction & Box Score
2007 Holiday Bowl History, Each Team's Best Bowl Moments, & More
There one consistency in the brief history of the BCS: the non-USC Pac 10 teams always gets hosed.

Go over the years, and for whatever reason, the number two Pac 10 team always gets passed over, and it happened again this season as Arizona State, who finished 11th in the BCS rankings, didn't actually deserve a spot in the big money games, but at some point, the Pac 10 should get a little bit of a break. On the plus side, the glossing over of the league usually means a star team gets a spot in the traditional first big bowl game of the seasons. However, that hasn't always meant the Pac 10 has been able to come through and prove it belonged in a bigger spotlight.
<table id="table8" align="right" border="0" cellspacing="6" height="83" width="205"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" width="100%"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> <table id="table9" border="0" width="213"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#000000" width="206"> National Rankings</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" width="206"> <table id="table10" border="0" height="139" width="205"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#ff9900" height="6" width="50%"> Texas</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#800000" height="6" width="50%"> Arizona State</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="6" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Total Offense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#ff9900" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 13th 462 ypg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#800000" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 52nd 406.67 ypg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Total Defense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#ff9900" height="11" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 54th 374.83 ypg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#800000" height="11" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 27th 334.42 ypg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Scoring Offense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#ff9900" height="16" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 19th 36 ppg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#800000" height="16" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 34th 32.17 ppg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Scoring Defense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#ff9900" height="16" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 45th 24.58 ppg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#800000" height="16" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 22nd 20.08 ppg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Run Offense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#ff9900" height="5" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 25th 199.83 ypg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#800000" height="5" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 67th 146.58 ypg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Run Defense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#ff9900" height="16" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 10th 99.33 ypg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#800000" height="16" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 13th 100.92 ypg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Pass Offense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#ff9900" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 36th 262.17 ypg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#800000" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 38th 259.08 ypg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Pass Defense[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#ff9900" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 109th 275.5 ypg[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#800000" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 69th 233.50 ypg[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="16" width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Turnover Margin[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#ff9900" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 79th -0.25[/FONT]</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#800000" height="1" width="50%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] 24th 0.58[/FONT]</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="99"> Texas
Ark. St W 21-13
TCU W 34-13
at UCF W 35-32
Rice W 58-14
Kansas St L 41-21
Oklahoma L 28-21
at Iowa St W 56-3
at Baylor W 31-10
Nebraska W 28-25
at Okla St W 38-35
Tex. Tech W 59-43
at Tex A&M L 38-30</td> <td align="left" valign="top" width="104"> Arizona St[FONT=Arial, Helvetica][/FONT] SJSU W 45-3
Colorado W 33-13
SDSU W 33-14
Oregon St W 44-32
at Stanford W 41-3
at Wash St W 23-20
Washington W 44-20
California W 31-20
at Oregon L 35-23
at UCLA W 24-20
USC L 44-24
Arizona W 20-17</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> <table id="table11" border="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="3" align="center" bgcolor="#c0c0c0" width="100%">Position Ratings
relative to each other</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#ff9900" width="33%"> T</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000000" width="33%">5 highest
1 lowest</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#800000" width="34%"> ASU</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 4.5</td> <td align="center" width="33%">Quarterbacks</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 4.5</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 5</td> <td align="center" width="33%">RBs</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 5</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 5</td> <td align="center" width="33%">Receivers</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 3</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 4</td> <td align="center" width="33%">O Line</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 4.5</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 3.5</td> <td align="center" width="33%">D Line</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 3.5</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 3.5</td> <td align="center" width="33%">Linebackers</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 4</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 4</td> <td align="center" width="33%">Secondary</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 3</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 5</td> <td align="center" width="33%">Spec Teams</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 4</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="33%"> 4.5</td> <td align="center" width="33%">Coaching</td> <td align="center" width="34%"> 4</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> California blasted Texas A&M last year, but the Pac 10 has only beaten the Big 12 four of the nine years the two leagues have played in what's usually been one of the best games of all the non-New Year's Day bowls. This season, the Pac 10, which suffered an ugly death over the second half of the year when Oregon and Cal stunk it up and UCLA got injured, could use a big win over a Texas team that needs a win to get the Mack Brown era back on track.

Yeah, Texas came agonizingly close to playing for the Big 12 title last year and yeah, it won last year's Alamo Bowl over Iowa, and yeah, it won nine games this year, but this isn't the juggernaut many thought it'd grow into after winning the 2005 national championship. The defense has gone bye-bye, the offense has been inconsistent, and Oklahoma has won the last two Big 12 titles. Brown isn't on a hot seat of any sort, but a loss to ASU would get the Longhorn faithful grumbling a bit and would make 2008 more pressure packed than most seasons in Austin.

Arizona State was always tantalizingly close to doing big things under Dirk Koetter but couldn't get over the hump. Dennis Erickson came in and applied a word to the Sun Devil program not seen in several years: overachiever.

This isn't an ultra-athletic ASU team, but it's been able to fight its way through rough start after rough start to be one of the nation's better second-half teams while coming up with the first double-digit win season since the Jake Plummer-led 1996 squad. This is a confident, relatively loose team that's playing beyond its capability to be on the cusp of the BCS. The same can't be said for Texas.

It's not just that Texas lost to Texas A&M for the second straight year, it's that the team needed to scramble to get by Nebraska and Oklahoma State late in the season while it struggled early on to get by Arkansas State and UCF. Give credit to the Longhorns for finding ways to win despite not being tremendously flawed, but that's not exactly what the UT fans are looking for while Kansas and Oklahoma are in the BCS and Missouri was BCS worthy. The Holiday Bowl might be one of the elite non-BCS bowls, but this is the program's fourth trip to San Diego since 2000; that's not considered a positive.

Can Texas establish its dominance and make a statement going into 2008? Will Arizona State be able to prove that it deserved to be one of the big five bowls and that the Pac 10 really wasn't all that bad after all? This game can be used as a jumping off point, or an indictment. It'll also be the most important non-New Year's Day game.

Players to watch: Considered a major disappointment last season, Texas RB Jamaal Charles came back roaring as the best back in the Big 12 this season with 1,458 yards and 16 touchdowns. He was having a nice season, and then he roared against Nebraska with 290 yards, highlighted by an epic 216-yard fourth quarter, followed up by a 180-yard, three touchdown day to beat Oklahoma State. His breathtaking speed was never a question, but this year he showed off more toughness along with the ability to carry the team on his back. Now he'll have his biggest test of the season against a run defense allowing just 101 yards per game.

This isn't a star-studded ASU defense, but it's been tremendously effective led by sophomore DE Dexter Davis, who finished second in the Pac 10 with 10.5 sacks. He's not huge, but he's a blur into the backfield and needs to get consistent pressure on Texas QB Colt McCoy. Slowing down Charles will largely up to senior Robert James, who went from being a promising reserve to the team's top tackler. Only around 230 pounds, he uses his quickness on the outside to be the team's steadiest defender against the run, while also doing a decent job in pass coverage.

In the end, the winner of the game will probably come down to which quarterback plays better. McCoy has had a fantastic season considering he lost his number one receiver, Limas Sweed, early on and didn't get a whole bunch of help from the rest of his receivers. He wasn't as efficient as efficient as last year, and he threw 18 interceptions, but he threw for 200 yards or more in every game but one and showed decent decision-making ability under fire.

Arizona State junior Rudy Carpenter settled down after a rough 2006, relaxed, and threw 23 touchdown passes and eight interceptions despite being knocked around as much as any quarterback in America. He was tough, accurate, and relatively consistent, especially in the second halves of games. With only one interception thrown over the final five games, he didn't hurt his team while doing a good job of spreading the ball around with the onus of the offense falling on the passing game.
Arizona State will win if... it can keep Carpenter upright. Texas doesn't have much in the way of a steady pass rush, but that hasn't mattered against a porous ASU offensive line that gives up sacks in bunches allowing 51 on the year, along with 61 tackles for loss. If Carpenter can get a little bit of time, he should be able to light up the porous Longhorn secondary like a Christmas tree. With little help from the defensive front, the UT defensive backs have been under pressure and the they haven't come through allowing 276 yards per game. As long as Carpenter doesn't get knocked out, he should be able to throw for at least 300 yards on a group that allowed an average of 393 yards per game and 13 touchdown passes over the last four including 362 to Texas A&M.
Texas will win if... it wins the fourth quarter. ASU has been a notoriously slow starter all season long having found ways to win late. Texas has had some of the same issues and has been particularly fantastic in the fourth quarters scoring 94 points in the last five (an average of 18.8 per quarter). The Sun Devils likely won't be able to run the ball and will try to win with midrange passes while getting the ball out of his hands as soon as possible. The Texas Tech game will be a blueprint, so Texas will have to get ready for a bit of a shootout, and with better parts than ASU will be happy to get the offense moving.

What will happen: This should be an entertaining four quarter battle with ASU able to bomb away on Texas and the Longhorn offense able to use its balance to keep up the pace. Both teams will be fired up, but neither team is really all that great with gaping holes that will be exploited throughout. ASU's running game will go absolutely nowhere while Charles, after being bottled up for most of the game, will hit at least two home runs to get Texas ahead in the second half just enough to hold off a late Carpenter scoring drive.

Line: Texas -1... CFN Prediction: Texas 34 ... Arizona State 27</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[bluemyboy]

this thread is a must read for all serious about following the bowls. I still have pages to go before I am done, thanks guys esspecially RJ!

not too many threads like this out there in forum land, trust me I look. well done.

 

[RJ Esq]

Thank you, sir.

 

[RJ Esq]

Sun Devils basking in Holiday spirit

Despite not reaching a BCS game, Arizona State appears eager to face Horns in Holiday Bowl

<script src="http://alt.coxnewsweb.com/cnishared/js/NewsworthyAudioC2L.js" type="text/javascript"></script><script src="http://alt.coxnewsweb.com/cnishared/newsworthy/statesman/sports/stories/longhorns/12/22/statesman_sports_stories_longhorns_12_22_1222asu.js" type="text/javascript"></script>

Click-2-Listen​

By Rick Cantu
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Saturday, December 22, 2007
TEMPE, Ariz. — On a practice field lined with palm trees and capped by a cloudless blue sky, it's hard to imagine the Arizona State football team having any holiday spirit.
Or Holiday spirit, for that matter.
As the Sun Devils chugged off the field after a 90-minute workout earlier this week, their winter wonderland rested solely in their minds. Even though the temperature in the Phoenix area was in the mid-60s, this is still football season, and a victory over the University of Texas in Thursday's Holiday Bowl in San Diego will validate a successful fall.
"In some ways, it feels like the first game of the season because all we've been doing is practice and more practice," wide receiver Chris McGaha said. "Finally getting a chance to play another football again is going to be a treat."
This marks the first time Arizona State and Texas will play. It's also the first time ASU coach Dennis Erickson and Texas' Mack Brown will face each other.
"Mack has obviously done a great job in his 10 years at Texas, winning a national championship and with recruiting," Erickson said Thursday. "I'm really looking forward to it."
Erickson, in his first season with the Sun Devils, gets much of the credit for ASU's 10-2 record and Pac-10 co-championship with Southern California.
Many Sun Devils have publicly said they are disappointed about being left out of a Bowl Championship Series game. But while those feelings are not about to change soon, they are looking forward to playing Texas, a team with star power that won the national championship just two years ago.
"This is a chance for us to prove we can play against anybody," said wide receiver Michael Jones, who starred at Fort Bend Austin High School in Sugar Land. "Ever since Texas played USC in the Rose Bowl, everybody knew about Texas. It's been Texas, Texas, Texas, Texas everything."
The Sun Devils have had a storied past, too, earning a 12-9-1 all-time record in bowl games. This marks their third appearance in the Holiday Bowl, including a 34-17 loss to Kansas State in 2002.
Arizona State ranked No. 11 in the final BCS rankings. Texas finished 19th. This could be the best non-BCS matchup of the bowl season, some players said.
Despite being ranked lower, Texas is a slight betting favorite to win, something that has not gone unnoticed in Tempe.
"I think people think that because they're Texas, they're going to be better than us," quarterback Rudy Carpenter said. "We'll have to prove (ourselves) to everybody else. We wanted to be in a BCS game, and I think this a good time to prove to everybody that we should have been in a BCS game."
Carpenter, who has thrown for 23 touchdowns and just eight interceptions, said he has "great respect" for Texas' defense and offered this scouting report:
"They got a guy named Marcus Griffin who plays safety for them," Carpenter said. "He's a pretty good player. He's fast, big, strong, physical. They also got a middle linebacker, (Rashad) Bobino, and he's a very good player too. He's a fast guy, plays real hard. So, those two guys really stick out to me."
If ticket sales reflect a community's bowl interest, Arizona State fans are ready for the Longhorns.
While Texas officials continue to urge fans to follow the team to San Diego, the Sun Devils sold their allotment of 11,000 tickets by Dec. 10, less than a week after they went on sale.
"We're excited about going to the Holiday Bowl and getting to play Texas," Erickson said. "That's a great program, a historic program, and this is a great opportunity for us."

 

[RJ Esq]

FSU short 34 players for Music City

Seminole officials cite team rules violations, injuries

Posted: Saturday December 22, 2007 12:52PM; Updated: Saturday December 22, 2007 1:16PM

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- Thirty-four Florida State players won't be going to the Dec. 31 Music City Bowl against Kentucky because of an academic cheating scandal, other violations of team rules or injuries.
Linebacker Dekoda Watson, cornerback Patrick Robinson, who had six interceptions, and three top defensive tackles were among the players sidelined either as a result of the ongoing investigation into an academic cheating scandal at the school or some other violation of team rules.
"It is very important that the media make clear that those missing the bowl trip are not included because of either injury or for a violation of team policy," associate athletic director Rob Wilson said in a statement accompanying the travel list. "It would be irresponsible to imply or state that any or all of the student-athletes will miss the trip for one particular reason."
The school announced earlier this week that 25 of its players were included in its ongoing investigation of academic wrongdoing by the athletes. It didn't identify which students.
A violation of team rules could range from poor class attendance to a run-in with the law or failing a drug test, among many other things.
The Florida State roster was so thinned by the academic scandal that the team had room for 17 players on the traveling party who are either redshirt freshmen or athletes who suffered season-ending or career-ending injuries this season.
Junior quarterback Xavier Lee, who started three games for the Seminoles, was among offensive players not traveling. The offensive line was also hit hard with tight ends Caz Piurowski and Charlie Graham, offensive tackle Damon Rose and guard Jackie Claude not making the trip.
The absence of defensive tackles Letroy Guion, Budd Thacker and Paul Griffin, linebacker Marcus Ball and defensive ends Neefy Moffett and Justin Mincey could lead to a big day for Kentucky quarterback Andre Woodson.
The team's top two tacklers -- linebackers Derek Nicholson and Geno Hayes -- will play.
And while Florida State usually has a couple of casualties after the first semester, never has a Bobby Bowden-coached team limped off to postseason play without this many players.
"You have 22 positions out there and some you'd be more concerned about than others," Bowden said following Friday's practice. "I think we've gotten everything we could out of it."
The Seminoles, who will match 7-5 season records with Kentucky, will have most of their key skill players. Quarterback Drew Weatherford, tailback-receiver Preston Parker and wide receiver Greg Carr were healthy and unscathed by the sanctions.
Thirteen of the names missing from the travel list had started games this season for Florida State. Nine of the players were non-scholarship athletes.
Meanwhile, former Florida State athletic director David Hart Jr. rebutted part of Florida State President T.K. Wetherell's statement Friday that could have implied that the scandal led to Hart's leaving the university a year before his contract expired.
"There's no connection there," Hart said Saturday. "I can assure you that my separation from Florida State had absolutely nothing to do with this current review of academic misconduct. To even suggest otherwise would be irresponsible."

 

[RJ Esq]

6 Vols Ineligible for Outback Bowl

Posted Dec 22nd 2007 12:37PM by Ryan Ferguson
Filed under: Tennessee Football, SEC, NCAA FB Scandal

6 Vols, including three starters, will be unavailable for the Outback Bowl game against Wisconsin due to academic ineligibility. The starters sidelined are WR Lucas Taylor, DT Demonte Bolden and LB Rico McCoy.

Why? Nope, not cheating. FSU's got the "academic scandal" angle all wrapped up.

Tennessee's at less than full strength due to sheer laziness on the parts of the players.

Whaddup, Phil Fulmer?

"We have every resource available through our academic center for academic success by our athletes in all of our sports," he said in a statement released by the sports information office. "In most of these cases, it was simply the student-athlete not being accountable and doing their work."​

So there you have it. Lucas Taylor is the Vols' best receiver, with 73 receptions and 5 TDs; but the biggest loss might be Rico McCoy, who is the team's second-leading tackler.

First they lose Coach Cut, now this. Tennessee's going to have their hands full against Bret Bielema and his Badgers

 

[RJ Esq]

SMQ Bowl Blitz: The PapaJohns.com
By SMQ
Posted on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 11:12:27 AM EDT

The least you should know about the PapaJohns.com Bowl...
<table 1="" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 10px;" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" width="186"><tbody><tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(164, 74, 74) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td>Sponsor</td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(234, 234, 234) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td>Not the pizza company, as you might think at first glance, but rather the Web site of the pizza company, a significant step in Papa John’s drive to dominate global communications. Dude, you don’t have Papa John’s Mobile yet? Next thing you’re going to tell me you’ve never even experienced Papa John’s The Weekend... </td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(164, 74, 74) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td>Location Inquisitor</td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(234, 234, 234) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td>This is the one in: a) Louisville
b) Memphis
c) Birmingham
d) Mobile
e) Charlotte
If you said c) Birmingham, you’re right! Sorry to those who guessed Louisville, apparently confusing the bowl game with Papa John’s Stadium in the Derby City. That edifice is named for the actual company, not its Web site. Keep it straight next time, or suffer the delicious, subtly spicy consequences.
For the record, Birmingham holds the record for the high end of the “How many people live there?” award: only 242,800 in Birmingham proper (73.5 percent black), but more than 1.1 million in the greater Birmingham-Hoover metropolitan area, about a quarter of the entire population of Alabama and more than post-hurricane New Orleans. I would have guessed like half that, but maybe I’m just really clueless about demographics.
</td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(164, 74, 74) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td>The Venue</td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(234, 234, 234) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td>

Legion Field has played host to champions and legends, barrier-breaking efforts such as Sam Cunningham’s epic night against Bear Bryant’s all-white Crimson Tide in 1970 and unforgettable performances like Ruben Studdard’s unironic rendition of the beloved racist anthem “Sweet Home Alabama” at halftime of a UAB game in 2004. Reclaim it, big man! </td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(164, 74, 74) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td>Formerly Known As...</td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(234, 234, 234) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td>NA. The PapaJohns.com Bowl boasts a remarkable tradition of stability, having <strike>thrived</strike> existed for a whole year. No new bowls came into the picture this season, so, along with the New Mexico and International bowls, the PJ.c is still the youngest game on the block. But they grow up so fast!</td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(164, 74, 74) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td>Past Winners Include...</td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(234, 234, 234) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td>South Florida. The Bulls routed East Carolina last December as a launching point for their magical mythical title run over the first month and a half of this season, as seen on VH1’s new hit pop documentary series, “I Love Late September 2007.”.</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
The third edition of an ongoing public service to enlighten readers of their bowl viewing options... Details: Southern Miss (7-5) vs. Cincinnati (9-3) • 1 p.m. ET, ESPN2. Be there or be enjoying the warmth and company of your precious loved ones at this special time of year, square.

Once more, with feeling.
- - -

Tune in for: Big cascading waves of emotion-like sentiment from the Southern Miss contingent, especially considering the kind of fan likely to make the trip for this kind of game on the Saturday before Christmas - that is, the kind of all-weather partisan not disappointed enough by USM's sixth place finish in C-USA to dissuade them from traveling to a fifth-tier game the Saturday before Christmas, i.e., the kind of partisan who is likely still incensed over the sudden dismissal of Jeff Bower earlier this month and anxious for a fuzzy send-off (and no small amount of told-you-so retribution) via the school's most significant upset in almost four years. Even the momentarily triumphant "time for a change" faction isn't sour enough to wish defeat on the program's grand old man, so nostalgia is the order of the day . Turn away in disgust when: Sentiment does not even begin to bridge the gap between these two teams, pretty easily the largest in recent bowl memory. That would have never been true before this season (Southern Miss consistently beat Cincinnati when the teams were C-USA rivals, although Cincinnati upset the Eagles in the last meeting, 52-24 in 2004, the most points ever scored by a visitor in Hattiesburg) but the Bearcats' first season under Brian Kelly has been UC's best in decades, and happens to coincide with probably the most underwhelming USM outfit of any in the vaunted 14-year winning streak, with one win over a winning team (East Carolina in September) and a couple bad losses (Rice and Memphis, the team most recently seen completing an 0-3 record against the Sun Belt). The final regular season Sagarin rankings show how far apart they've drifted this year: Cincinnati is 15th, Southern Miss is 92nd. The Bearcats have been a consistent, balanced team with blowouts of Oregon State and UConn and another solid win over South Florida, performances USM has not nearly equalled in years; Ben Mauk has solidified Cincinnati's quarterback position where Southern Miss has been a revolving door of injury-plagued inefficiency for the second year in a row. On paper, this is the most lopsided game of the postseason.
What Else is On
You have no life. But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy these actual non-gridiron alternatives:

• CBS • 1 p.m. ET • Action Sports World Championship: From Dallas (60 mins.)
  Skatebaording, in-line and BMX pros compete for more than $600,000, taped 9-11 in Dallas. Athletes include Pierre Luc Gannon; Takeshi Yasutoko; and Chris Haffney.
  
  
  
  The PapaJohns.com Bowl is hard to get, Steve. All you have to do is ask.
  - - -
  
  CMT • 1:30 p.m. ET • CMT Insider (30 mins.)
  A weekly magazine show that spotlights country music, featuring interviews and news, chart action, new CD releases and new videos. Also: movie previews. (TV-PG) Spike • 1:30 p.m. ET • Trucks! (30 mins.)
  A look at light trucks, including how-to projects, vehicle tests and reports on truck races. (TV-G)
  TCM • 2 p.m. ET • To Have and Have Not (105 mins.)
  Humprhey Bogart meets his match (and his future wife) in this crackling 1944 World War II adventure, which may remind some of "Casablanca." The setting is the West Indies island of Martinique in the days after the fall of France to the Germans. There, a cynical charter boat captain named Harry Morgan (Bogart) becomes involved with the French Resistance, and with a sultry American named Marie (Bacall, in her movie debut). Howard Hawks directed William Faulkner's adaptation of an Ernest Hemingway story. Eddie: Walter Brennan. Helene: Dolores Moran. Cricket: Hoagie Carmichael. Paul: Walter Molnar. Coyo: Sheldon Leonard. Gerard: Marcel Dalio. (NR)

SMQ Watchability Rating: All bowl games are rated on a scale of one TV ("Christmas shopping done? Yes? Think of more people. Phone book suggested if necessary.") to five ("Block out a few hours - and possibly the sun, if there's a glare - for this can't-miss classic.") based on completely subjective factors, up to and including potential cheerleader hotness/fulfillment of requisite nubile teen lust fantasies, which are so sadly lacking anywhere else on contemporary television or the Internet.
There is something to a rematch of old conference rivals, and to the last hurrah of a loyal, respected coach, but neither can overcome the likelihood of blowout.

• 
  
  Christmas shopping done? Yes? Think of more people. Phone book suggested if necessary.
  - - -

The Pick: If this was a real homer blog, and I was more interested in sentiment than being right, I'd reach deep in the emotional well and pull out some justification - Damion Fletcher is the best player on the field! Cincinnati lacks a true identity on offense! - to pick the ol' alma mater to win one for the Gipper. This is lamebrained wishful thinking. Cincinnati does everything better than Southern Miss, with the exception of the running game on offense, and UC is better enough defensively that even that looks like a wash at best. Some days you just have to swallow the odds.
- - -
<table><tbody><tr><td>

</td> <td>Cincinnati 34</td> <td>•</td> <td>Southern Miss 17</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[RJ Esq]

What Happens In Vegas, Stays In Vegas
By Nestor Section: Football
Posted on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 10:47:45 AM EDT


I know. I know. You are all fired up for the bowl game today!!

The seniors are super excited!! This is their last game and then some of them are playing for their "coach" - DeWayne Walker.

The DyNoMite fans are jacked because they get to see how their latest boy wonder (Dorrell being the last one) perform in an `audition' game.

Never mind how absurd and stupid it would be on the part of UCLA brass to decide whether or not to retain Walker in the program based on one game (just like we heard before the last game of the regular season, which was pimped as the make or break game for Dorrell despite the fact his body of work had already proved him to be one of the worst coaches in college football), you can bet the shameless Walker campaign will kick into the stratosphere, should UCLA beat up on a BYU program it has dominated in recent years. Here is a little taste oh how Walker supporters will blowup a meaningless win in an inconsequential bowl game from Dohn:
However, with the timetable possibly changing to late next week for a coaching hire, sources said UCLA interim coach De- Wayne Walker could re-emerge as a serious candidate, especially if the Bruins play well today against No.19 BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl.
Obviously the notion of hiring Walker as HC based on this just one game is beyond absurd (but then again this idea is being pushed by the same idiots who tried to make a meaningless game against Southern Cal as the deciding game on whether or not to fire Dorrell). Anyway, in our view what happens in Vegas, should stay on Vegas. Walker should ot be serving as the head coach of UCLA football beyond today's one night stand in the Sin City. Anyway let's talk a little bit about the game.

Once again if you have forgotten already UCLA is 7-1 against BYU. The last time we lost to the Cougars it was in 1983 (at the Rose Bowl).

I know the excuses we are hearing already is that Ben Olson is banged up and we don't have Kahlil Bell. Yet we have an athletic talent like Osaar Rasshan waiting in the wings. I imagine is all pumped up because of the magical, mystical powers of DyNoMite Walker, who I am sure is ready to let the offense lose under Jay Norvell, now that the problem from this year's team (according to Walker shills it was just Karl Dorrell) has been removed from the program. In fact per Foster the Real Deal (another nick name courtesy of Walker fans) have already <strike>talked to</strike> called out both of his QBs:Walker said he met with quarterback Ben Olson on Thursday. Olson is questionable because of an injured left knee.

"We talked philosophies and about just being quarterback and leadership, all those kind of things," Walker said. "We're not questioning anything. That's one thing I learned, you never question a player because everybody's [pain] threshold is different. We just had a little man-to-man talk."

Walker said he had a "similar conversation" with Osaar Rasshan, who will start if Olson cannot play.
After motivational meetings like those how can you not expect them to step up? Anyway, it seems OR will likely get the start today:UCLA interim Coach DeWayne Walker said it was likely Osaar Rasshan would start at quarterback against Brigham Young in the Las Vegas Bowl today, though he held out hope that Ben Olson's injured left knee would show enough improvement so he can play.

"We're going to take it to the end, but I would say if we were playing the game today, Osaar would be in there," Walker said at Friday's news conference. "But we'll take it through tomorrow. I want to give Ben all the time he needs.'
I am expecting our offense to be lot more productive under the bestest and awesomest leadership of DeWayne, who I am sure have made sure to remove all the shackles off Mini Doofus. So I expect OR to fly around the Cougars this pm. And then we should have a decent running attack as Markey should be all healed up, who will be backed up by Moline.

More on the matchup between BYU defense and our `cured' offense under Walker (now that KD is gone!) here is Sportsline.com:SCOUTING THE DEFENSE
LB Bryan Kehl and DE Jan Jorgensen had yet to establish themselves as the disrupters on the defense the last time the Cougars played the Bruins. Jorgensen has come into his own as one of the premier defensive linemen in the conference. If he can apply pressure while BYU plays the bend-but-don't-break strategy in the secondary, UCLA will be hard-pressed to match the 27-point effort of its first game. If the Cougars can't get pressure with their front four, the Bruins may be able to take advantage of their athletic ability at the receiver position.
Well talent at receiver position should not be an issue since we should Brandon Breazell who is all fired up to play his last game at UCLA, and Dominique Johnson, who sort of had a semi break out season (showing signs of his ability) despite being shackled by the Dorrellian offense. I expect these guys to step up and dominate this weekend no matter who is at QB. Not to mention if OR gets in the game, I expect him to wreck havoc with the BYU defense with his athletic ability, which he should be able to use to keep the BYU defense on their heels.

Meanwhile, BYY offense has been on a roll since we saw them last time at the Rose Bowl earlier this season. From the same link:SCOUTING THE OFFENSE
The Cougars figure to be a much stronger unit than they were when they faced the Bruins way back in Week 2 of the season. QB Max Hall was making only the second start of his career, and RB Harvey Unga had yet to establish himself as the featured back. Now that both are playing with the benefit of a season's worth of experience, expect them to better exploit the UCLA defense. They still have a tendency to turn the ball over and must play a cleaner game than the three-turnover game BYU had in Los Angeles in September.
Both Unga and Hall have had great seasons as they are listed among the key players to watch:PLAYERS TO WATCH

RB Harvey Unga has rushed for 1,211 yards and 13 TDs this season and could have a huge impact in the rematch against the Bruins. He's also third on the team with 41 receptions for 629 yards and four scores and will give the Cougars a dimension they didn't know they had the first time the teams met.

QB Max Hall could be the MWC Offensive Player of the Year after passing for 3,617 yards this season. He had 24 TDs and just 12 interception, and he developed the ability to engineer drives at critical times for the Cougars down the stretch, including an 80-yarder in just less than a minute for the game-winning touchdown against Utah on Nov. 24.

FS Kellen Fowler started the season as a fourth-stringer but has kept the BYU defense from falling off after injuries depleted the position. In the Las Vegas Bowl, Fowler will go up against as athletically gifted wide receivers as he has seen all season.

DE Jan Jorgensen has turned in a monster sophomore season, recording 12 sacks and 18 tackles for losses. For the year, he's risen to third on the team with 73 tackles and will be key in slowing UCLA's offense.
Well I am not worried about our defense's ability to handle the BYU offense because after all we have the most awesome DC in the country, whom according to Dohns of the world, everyone is after, and has more upside than Vince Lombardi!!

If you need to read up more on BYU check my notes from earlier in the season here and here. Obviously things are little different this time around. However, I come from the school of thought that since we beat them last time by 10 points despite being handicapped by having a cardboard cutout posing as a `head coach' on the sidelines, we should be able to win this game going away, if I were to take all the players at their word, who talked all week about how excited they are to play in this bowl game and for Walker.

So Bruins should beat up on the Cougars, and then we should all expect DG to introduce someone besides Walker or CHOKER as the next football coach at UCLA.

GO BRUINS.

 

[RJ Esq]

Bowl-o-Rama: Dec. 22nd Edition

We've got a triple-header on the menu today with the Papajohns.com Bowl, New Mexico Bowl, and the Las Vegas Bowl. Enjoy the games!

Background Info & History​

You know what's interesting? I have never actually had Papa John's Pizza. There's one nearby in Flint, but it's too far away from me. I'm not sure about you guys, but the best pizza in mid-Michigan is from a local chain called B&T. That stuff is.....stupendous, excellent, fantastic, whatever. I think Hungry Howie's is a national chain. It was founded in Michigan. Shoot, fatty is rambling again .

I'm sure you're aware that, probably, the one bowl sponsor that gives the rest a bad name is none other than the one sponsored by Papa John's Web site. But what about the history of the game? There is virtually none with this being the second game ever played. Last time was a forgettable victory for USF over ECU.

Southern Miss Storyline​

The biggest issue surrounding Southern Miss and the one thing that the 2007 Golden Eagle football team will be remembered for is obviously the departure of steady-as-a-rock head coach, Jeff Bower (even Bob Seger might be impressed).

Southern Miss was hardly a stand-out team at any point this season. This was actually a team that many pundits thought could be a BCS sleeper. In my predictions, I didn't have Southern Miss going to be the BCS, but I was looking at 9 or 10 wins. Can anybody say, disappointment?

There were opportunities for two huge games that would make-or-break their BCS hopes. They were able to play Tennessee and Boise State but Southern Miss possessed no ability to compete, much less beat them.

In one of the biggest WTF games which occurred on a Wednesday in front of everybody, they choked big-time. They were defeated by Rice. By RICE folks! That Rice team that lost to Nicholls State and couldn't stop anybody defensively besides Southern Miss and Nicholls State. It was one of the ugliest losses in the Bower era in terms of preparation.

The Golden Eagles bounced back nicely looking halfway decent to close out the year. From the Rice loss onward, Southern Miss only suffered losses to UCF and Memphis.

Cincinnati Storyline​

The storyline for Cincinnati is simple: Brian Kelly.

No, it's not like he took the Bearcat program from a steaming pile of crap and made it into gold, but at the very least, he extended upon what Mark Dantonio was building, benefiting from Dantonio's defensive genius and his own offensive innovation.

If you have read this blog, Kelly's name has been mentioned close to 1,806 times but that's mainly my little bit of homerism because he is a home-grown product around my parts. But what about the season?

Cincy started off the year smoking Southeast Missouri State 59-3. The week after, the unknown Bearcat program trounced Oregon State in Nippert Stadium by a score of 34-3. This pretty much announced that Cincinnati has arrived.

After the Bearcats managed to beat Rutgers at their place, this team looked like it might not recover from two very big, under-the-radar upsets. Cincinnati lost to Louisville and Pitt, the definition of mediocre if there ever is one. So was Cincinnati just an overrated team that pulled off one upset on a relatively simple schedule? It turns out that they closed the season out on fire defeating USF and UConn, two of the Big East's other top teams.

Match ups of the Game​

Southern Miss Passing Game vs. Cincinnati Pass Defense-Not much of a surprise here, but Southern Miss wasn't able to throw the football effectively this year. Most of the damage Southern Miss does is on the ground with Damion Fletcher. But the 90th ranked pass offense will go up against the 105th ranked pass defense. If there's one definitive weakness of this team, it's the fact that they don't defend the pass all that well. However, this is because many teams realize that they won't run against this team. Cincy is 38th in pass efficiency defense. So this should be the most interesting match up of the game.

Southern Miss Pass Rush vs. Cincinnati O-line-When looking at these teams from these two particular areas, neither is that great. Cincinnati has looked decent at times blocking for Mauk, but in some games there has been spotty pass protection. Southern Miss isn't great at creating sacks or making plays in the backfield for that matter. If Cincinnati can contain the pass rush of USM, this game could get ugly.

Keep an Eye on...​

Anthony Hoke. This guy is one of the best defensive players on the team. The reason you have to keep your eyes peeled for this particular player is the fact that he's tied for 6th in the nation in sacks; he averages 1 per game.

He's been a pass rushing terror, but he's not all about that. He can defend the run as well somewhat providing a dual-threat for the offensive lines.

Southern Miss isn't great at blocking for Jeremy Young, but Young can scramble. It will be interesting to see how much of a factor Hoke will play.


Damion Fletcher. He's one of the best running backs in Southern Miss history and it's safe to say that even if he is only a sophomore.

The stud is the one carrying this Southern Miss team from just being downright mediocre. He's led Southern Miss to become a rushing powerhouse currently ranking 22nd in the country.

Keep in mind, Cincy is excellent at defending the run so this game could hinge on whether or not Fletcher could get going.

Must-See-Ometer​

This game gets a 4 out of 10 on the SSO Must-See-Ometer. It's not a very intriguing football game by any means. Southern Miss is a slightly above-average C-USA team going against one of the Big East's best in Cincinnati.

However, there is one major storyline and that's the departing of head coach Bower. This is used by many USM pickers to explain why they're going with the upset. Don't be surprised at all if there's one last "hurrah" effort for his going-out party, if you will.

Prediction​

I'm taking Cincinnati here. Whoopty-do, big surprise. The Bearcats just have a lot more firepower offensively with the mad scientist Kelly operating the scheme. If Cincy gets Butler Benton rolling on the ground game, don't expect Southern Miss to hang around much.

Give me Cincy, 37-17 (32 Confidence points).

 

[RJ Esq]

Background Info & History​

Just a little FYI here since the New Mexico Bowl has no sponsor, the trophy is made out of Zia Pueblo pottery which, as you can probably infer, is native to New Mexico.

Last year's game was a big clunker. Even though most expected to be #32 out of 32 bowl games on the must-see list, I thought it would be entertaining. The offenses were really bad but San Jose State came up with a timely stop (especially right on the goal line). The Spartans won the game 20-12 with James Jones and Matt Castelo being named MVPs.

Nevada Storyline​

Coming into the 2007 season, the biggest question surrounding this Nevada program was the departure of QB Jeff Rowe who resurrected Nevada football. Nick Graziano was the heir apparent.
However, during the Wolf Pack's loss to Fresno State, Graziano suffered a season-ending injury which forced freshman Colin Kaepernick into the starting role. He never looked back taking the bull by the horns.

If you had to characterize Nevada's season in one word, it would be "almost". We're talking about a team that almost beat Northwestern, Fresno State, Boise State, and Hawaii. Northwestern scored a last minute TD to win, the Fresno State game wasn't as close but Nevada had over 700 yards of offense in the loss, the Sunday night game against Boise State lasted 4 OTs, and of course we all know how Hawaii kicked a last-second FG to beat the boys from Reno. Also, in the loss to San Jose State, Brett Jaekle missed a last-second FG which would have sent the game into overtime.

However, they have been on the good side of almost as well. This Nevada team has survived upset bids from UNLV by 3 points, New Mexico State by 2 points, and Utah State by 3 points. To wrap it up, this Nevada team has been living on the edge all season.

New Mexico Storyline​

This Lobo season didn't start off with a bang. In what might have been the ugliest game I have ever seen at the FBS level, they dropped the opener to UTEP 10-6. More of the same from 2006? The Lobos were determined to prove that wrong.

New Mexico has also been involved in some tight games. They pulled off the upset against Arizona earlier this year which might have turned their season around. They dropped a tough game against BYU where Long made the always unpopular decision of punting the ball and never getting it back.

The win against Wyoming showed that this team wasn't planning on going anywhere. Even though they got drilled against TCU 37-0, they also have a solid win against Air Force to their credit.

New Mexico is coming into this game with a number of triumphs and struggles in a screwy season. As far as we can tell though, when New Mexico has the "on" switch flipped, they can play hard and at a high level. Rocky Long's bunch was looking like it was slipping with a step back in 2006, but now the program is headed in the right direction. Now it's just a matter of getting that bowl win....

Match ups of the Game​

Nevada Running Game vs. New Mexico Run Defense-The outcome of the game may depend on this one factor. Luke Lippincott (who I will get to in a second) has the potential to be a big part of this Nevada offense. Chris Ault loves running the football and it has shown with an 11th ranked attack. New Mexico is 37th against the run led by Tyler Donaldson.

New Mexico Running Game vs. Nevada Run Defense-Well, we've examined one of the rushing attacks and defenses, how about the other? In what is widely regarded as the biggest twist to this game, New Mexico will be without Rodney Ferguson. That's troubling news for this 84th ranked rushing offense. Nevada has struggled stopping the run and the pass, but they're worse against the run. Ezra Butler is probably their best defensive player and he'll have to perform at LB. Let's just say something has to give.

Keep an Eye on...​

Luke Lippincott. As previously stated, if Nevada can run, run, and run some more to wear out this New Mexico team, it'll be up to Lippincott to get the job done.

He's one of the most underrated backs in the nation and when you think of the WAC, you think of passing offense. Nevada doesn't necessarily fit the mold in this regard.

Lippincott, the junior, is responsible for 115 yards a game which is 20th in the country. Luke has played all 12 games and has 8 100+ yard games. He's only hit the 200-mark once, but he is the prototypical consistent RB.

Marcus Smith is my game-changer for the Lobos. This WR can really fly with his size and he's a good NFL prospect.

He, along with Travis Brown, will be a tough combo for the Nevada secondary to contain. Smith ranks 11th in the FBS in receptions per game, a little more than 7.

With Ferguson out, the running game might become even less of a factor. Donovan Portiere will have to look for Smith all game. If you saw what those Memphis WRs did to FAU, Smith might be able to do that to Nevada.

Must-See-Ometer​

This game scores a 4 out of 10 on the Must-See-Ometer. If I'm a 'tweener compared to a casual fan and a diehard, I'm not going to go out of my way to see this game. For the second year in a row, there's not much buzz surrounding the New Mexico Bowl.

But the match up of Nevada's powerful offense and New Mexico's strong defense will be something to watch. Also, if you haven't seen Colin Kaepernick, he should be the next thing to catch the WAC by storm. Don't be surprised if Nevada makes some noise offensively in the WAC next year with this kid. His pass efficiency is through the roof. Kaepernick has looked a little raw at times this year, but the guy has a rocket arm and pinpoint accuracy. He's a kind of player you'll go out of your way to see.

Prediction​

I'm going against common wisdom and I'm picking Nevada. The Wolfpack have the offensive balance that could upset the Lobo defense. Most people think that New Mexico can't lose at home, but they did so last year. I'll grant you that that was a different New Mexico team, but it can be done. However, I'm not very confident. Usually in these offense/defense battles, the defense wins. I'm taking Nevada though, 31-27 (5 confidence points).

 

[RJ Esq]

Background Info & History​

Man, that thing looks sharp..........

Oh, forgive me, I'm still in the dark ages. I've got a dial-up Internet connection and no HDTV. I can't believe I don't have a freaking HD television yet. How can one enjoy football without HD? Anyway, Pioneer is actually Japanese although you probably can't tell that by the name. It used to be sponsored by EA Sports and Sega Sports before Pioneer gained the rights in 2003.

History shows the Las Vegas Bowl as an exception to the rule as far as newer bowl games are concerned. Unlike the Seattle Bowl or Fort Worth Bowl, the Las Vegas Bowl has been a hit pitting the best of the MWC (beginning in 2006) against a middle-of-the-road Pac-10 team. In the past, there have been some pretty entertaining games such as the Utah/Fresno State one in 1999 where Utah won 17-16. If you recall, it's also the game where USC was defeated by Utah which now looks pretty insane. Wyoming also pulled off a shocker against UCLA because I remember I got totally burned on that. I had 28 (out of 28 at the time) on UCLA because I didn't even see how Wyoming could be in that game. That's a story for another day I assume.

UCLA Storyline​

The current head coaching situation is swirling around the UCLA Bruins. This cyclone of distractions could do one of two things: Gear UCLA up to play or have them come out flat.

DeWayne Walker is the new head honcho--at least for now. The interim head coach is still a leading candidate for the job but Rick Neuheisel appears to be a valid candidate.

Let's go see how the season played out. In the preseason, UCLA was along with Kentucky, Illinois, Texas A&M, and USF, the media's common "sleeper". Some people were expecting UCLA to win the Pac-10 and, correct me if I'm wrong, but I think I read Matt Hayes saying something to the extent of them looking like USC did before their run to the Orange Bowl in 2002. I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that's what I read.

Anyway, the Bruins looked like the juggernaut many expected them to be after crushing Stanford and beating a respectable BYU team. But things all went down from there for head coach, Karl Dorrell. Utah came from absolutely nowhere and slammed the Bruins to the turf, 44-6. That was one of the biggest head-scratchers of the season because UCLA came into that game looking awesome and Utah was 0-2 with losses to Oregon State and Air Force.

UCLA was going to be okay right? Sure, they beat up on Washington and Oregon State after that until they ran into Notre Dame. This 2007 UCLA team now has the dubious distinction of losing to the worst Notre Dame team ever, joining Duke and Stanford. Ouch.

And, believe it or not, this team still had a shot to win the Pac-10 during the last week of the season! Wow. Turns out they lost to USC pretty handily and Dorrell got the boot. Things appear to be going downhill for UCLA, but they'll get a shot to come back with a win against BYU tonight.

BYU Storyline​

The Cougars could be the best non-BCS team in the nation.

The Cougars began the year with a hard-fought win against Arizona and a loss to UCLA. Then, in a classic shootout, Tulsa shockingly found a way to hang 55 points on this very good BYU defense.

Then, the whole season took a turn for the better. BYU is the hottest team in the nation besides maybe Georgia. The Cougars of Brigham Young have won 9 straight games including victories against Air Force, TCU, New Mexico, and Utah.

The offense is rolling right along. Right now, BYU is 15th in total offense and 10th in total defense. If these guys didn't lose to Tulsa, I would have no problem with them being in the BCS. They're that good.

Match ups of the Game​

UCLA QBs vs. BYU Pass Defense-UCLA's injury-ridden season at the QB position may have had something to do with their 6-6 mediocrity and lack of consistency. Both Cowan and Olson will be healthy, it's just a matter of which one will take more snaps. BYU is 41st in the nation; they aren't really that great in the secondary. So, like some other match ups this bowl season, something has to give.

BYU O-line vs. UCLA Pass Rush-Say what you want about UCLA's pass defense--it's not good at all. But you have to give credit to the UCLA front 4. These guys can move and it's led by Bruce Davis. The Cougars O-line is 26th in sacks allowed. Whether the size and speed of UCLA's defensive front will be an issue for BYU's offensive line is yet to be seen.

Keep an Eye on...​

Do you want to mess with that? I don't want to mess with that. I guess it goes back to Joey Porter's "dark alley" question. I'll take Bruce Davis over Jerramy Stevens or Joey Porter.

But let's go back to the actual football field. Davis is a monster and the main reason UCLA ranks 14th in sacks and 4th in tackles for loss.

Davis could be the biggest difference in this game because of his 9 sacks. Most teams when going up against UCLA will try to focus on him putting a TE or an extra blocker of some sort to keep him from getting to the QB. This allows extra opportunities to other UCLA defenders showing how important of a role Davis has.

Let's stick with the DEs while we're at it. UCLA may have Bruce Davis, but BYU has Jan Jorgensen.

Jorgensen has registered 11 sacks so far this season and he'll be an issue for the 103rd ranked pass protection otherwise known as UCLA's offensive line.

Only a sophomore, he's shown just how bright his future can be at BYU. UCLA's blocking problems are pretty severe and Jorgensen might exploit that.

Must-See-Ometer​

The Must-See-Ometer for the Las Vegas Bowl reads a 6 out of 10. Part of the problem would be the fact that we've already seen this game. UCLA won and even though they are two different teams now then they were then, it's still a rematch and those are never fun.

Even with that said, the BYU pass offense will roll against the struggling pass defense of UCLA. Both offensive lines working the opposing defensive line will be fun to see as well. For a casual fan, they might check this game out, but there might not be a ton to get excited about. There is a little bit of retribution possibly with Ben Olson playing his former team.

Prediction​

I like BYU. Not much of a surprise. BYU is a much hotter team than UCLA right now. The only thing that concerns me regarding BYU is their running game against UCLA. I don't think they're going to get it moving, but the passing game led by Max Hall will do the bulk of the offensive work. BYU's pressure on Cowan/Olson will be too much to handle. BYU wins, 33-20 (24 confidence points).

 

[JPicks]

How big are the losses RJ or have you looked? I see 13 have started and 9 non schollies. Have to think that 20 of them have seen significant playing time this season. I'm not sure how they compete, but that's the same thought everybody will have an we'll either have a rediculous line or somehow FSU will find a way to cover.

 

[RJ Esq]

Looks like 8 defensive starters.

 

[RJ Esq]

SMQ Bowl Blitz: The New Mexico
By SMQ
Posted on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 01:19:46 PM EDT

The least you should know about the New Mexico Bowl...
<table 1="" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 10px;" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" width="184"><tbody><tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(164, 74, 74) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td>Sponsor</td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(234, 234, 234) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td>The New Mexico Bowl is brought to you by a coalition of New Mexico sponsors, including the local dining favorite El Pinto (“The Pinto”) and Phillips 66 (“Hard Working Gas”). Check out Rainbow Ryders, your hot air balloon ride specialists, who welcome and encourage all to take a ride high above and try to spit upon beautiful Albuquerque</td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(164, 74, 74) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td>Location Inquisitor</td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(234, 234, 234) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td>This is the one in: a) New Orleans
b) Albuquerque
c) Memphis
d) El Paso
e) All of the above
If you said b) Albuquerque, you’re right! And possess the most crude sense of geographical accumen. Visit one of Albuquerque’s famous nightspots, i.e., get drunk in your hotel bar.
</td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(164, 74, 74) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td>The Venue</td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(234, 234, 234) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td>

The University of New Mexico’s aptly-named University Stadium opened in 1960 with a UNM rout of the National University of Mexico (as is nature’s way, the new triumphs over the original) and seats a little over 38,600. Outsiders probably like to think of it as a dusty field replete with tumbleweed, but University has hosted international soccer matches, concerts by the Rolling Stones and Metallica and, in1979-80, a I-AA bowl game known as the Zia Bowl. Among other things, “Zia”is defined as “sweat;swelling,” though presumably not with pride.</td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(164, 74, 74) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td>Formerly Known As...</td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(234, 234, 234) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td>NA. The New Mexico Bowl of New Mexico boasts a remarkable tradition of stability, entering its second season of blatant homerism. The New Mexico Bowl for New Mexicans!</td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(164, 74, 74) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td>Past Winners Include...</td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(234, 234, 234) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td>San Jose State. The Spartans ruined the Lobos’ jog across the street last December, recovering four UNM fumbles in a 20-12 win.</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
The fourth edition of an ongoing public service to enlighten readers of their bowl viewing options... Details: New Mexico (8-4) vs. Nevada (6-6) • 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN. Be there when the Lobos and Wolf Pack are overrun by actual lobos/wolf packs in a stirring, emotional scene to be immortalized from the canine point of view by official New Mexico Bowl Historian Jack London (he's going to ghost write it!)

Finally, a bowl game a nature-loving peddler of Socialist propaganda can love.
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Tune in for: Something about the very makeshift existence of the New Mexico Bowl, and especially of the University of New Mexico's presence in the New Mexico Bowl for the second year of the New Mexico Bowl's two-year existence, is very reassuring, in the darkest, seediest way. Here, in our nation's badlandiest, border outpost, the nostalgic spirit of cronyism and, hopefully, grimy backroom deals remains unabashedly alive. In the age of computer polls and the BCS tie-ins, one game reminds us all what the bowl season is really all about: shameless regional patronage. Not that New Mexico doesn't deserve to be in the postseason - far from it, if we take widespread bowl bloat for granted (and we do). Unlike last year, when this game welcomed a sketchy UNM outfit that had limped in at 6-6 with a .500 Mountain West record and a loss to a I-AA team, these Lobos have earned their keep with typically solid defense (top 40 in all four major categories, top 25 in scoring and total defense) and old school, ultra-consistent, run-first balance on offense. Run-first balance! If that doesn't get the clicker clickin', it might be time to reassess your priorities.
Also do not underestimate the briefly interesting novelty of Nevada's "Pistol" formation, which spread to more high-profile offenses this year like LSU and Missouri but calls Chris Ault's brain `home' and has worked out stunningly well for the Pack: 1,400-yard great white tailback hope Luke Lippincott led a near-400-yard rushing effort in the four-overtime shootout at Boise State, the offense went over 500 total yards six times and the Pack finished in the top 20 in rushing, total and scoring offense. Freshman quarterback Colin Kaepernick can run and throw and is 4-3 as a stater, with all three losses coming down to the last play against Boise State and Hawaii and, less impressively, at San Jose State. After the opening blowout loss at Nebraska, the Pack's next five losses were by a combined 20 points, all but the one at SJSU to winning or BCS conference teams, i.e. it's a little better than "6-6 WAC team" usually indicates.

You can't declare Mike Love ineligible. Mike Love declares you ineligible - ineligible for groovin'.
- - -

Turn away in disgust when: At 33 points allowed per game, Nevada's defense was terrible even by WAC standards, but New Mexico comes in lacking not only the best weapon it has to exploit any defense, but also the best weapon's backup: two-time leading rusher Rodney Ferguson was declared ineligible this week along with reserve running back Mike Love, who - ego aside - was the only one trying to keep the group together when you get right down to it. Ferguson ate up a huge majority of the Lobos' carries and puts the pressure on sophomore QB Donovan Portrerie to carve up the Pack defense his own self. This is readily achievable, but given the very conservative nature of the Lobo passing game, it's likely to take forever. These offenses aren't likely to be actually stopped, but they are quite likely to trade excruciating 15-play drives all afternoon. What Else is On
You have no life. But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy these actual non-gridiron alternatives:

• A&E • 4:30 p.m. ET • Criss Angel: Mindfreak - "Building Float" (30 mins.)
  Levitation illusions are performed. Included: Criss floats from one tall building to another; and levitates a child. (TV-PG) FX • 5 p.m. ET • That 70's Show: "Christmas" (30 mins.)
  Eric finds he's cool when he returns to his high school; Red plays Santa at the mall; Jackie's booted off the cheerleading squad; Kelso lobbies for more time with Brooke (Shannon Elizabeth). Julie: Ashley Drane. Rachel: Shonda Farr. Natalie: Jennifer Aulden. Guy: Ben Ziff. Eric: Topher Grace. Red: Kurtwood Smith. Jackie: Mila Kunis. (TV-14)
  
  
  
  
  Nothing says `Alaska' like a punch drunk Texan.
  - - -
  
  History Channel • 5 p.m. ET • Alaska: Big America (120 mins.)
  George Foreman hosts a history of the 49th state. Included: Russian expeditions in the 1700s; the building of the Alcan Highway, which opened in 1942; and statehood in 1959. Sundance • 5:30 ET • Nimrod Nation (30 mins.)
  Bolstered by their 18-2 record, the Nimrods head into the first game of the postseason and face one of their fiercest rivals; Coach Peterson delivers an emotional speech on senior night, bidding farewell to six graduating players. (TV-PG)
  - - -

SMQ Watchability Rating: All bowl games are rated on a scale of one TV ("Christmas shopping done? Yes? Think of more people. Phone book suggested if necessary.") to five ("Block out a few hours - and possibly the sun, if there's a glare - for this can't-miss classic.") based on completely subjective factors, up to and including potential cheerleader hotness/fulfillment of requisite nubile teen lust fantasies, which are so sadly lacking anywhere else on contemporary television or the Internet. New Mexico-Nevada is a tough enough draw, even when one of the teams isn't missing its best player. The best you, fan, can hope for is that the Lobo offense is liberated sans it workhorse and decides to go bombs away, or at least brings on a Lady Kicker for comic relief as it memorably did with infamous Colorado reject Katie Hnida shanking an extra point into her teammates' helmets in the 2002 Las Vegas Bowl. Unless some horrible pre-game tragedy befalls current UNM kicker John Sullivan, no such luck this time.

• 
  
  
  CAUTION: For obsessed, inoculated fans only.
  - - -

The Pick: New Mexico may be missing its preferred dimension offensively, but Nevada's defense is too shaky to think Porterie won't be able to get reliable receivers Marcus Smith (86 catches, best in the Mountain West) and Travis Brown (69 catches, 3rd in the MWC) heavily involved. The Wolf Pack (note the space, NC State!) should score some, but New Mexico was more successful in a tougher conference because of its defense, which is by no means spectacular but is at least as good as any the Pack saw in the regular season.
- - - <table><tbody><tr><td>

</td> <td>New Mexico 26</td> <td>•</td> <td>Nevada 24</td></tr></tbody></table>