Three bowl games are on the slate today. Just making quick picks in this post.
Papa Johns.com Bowl
Southern Miss Golden Eagles (7-5) vs. #20 Cincinnati Bearcats (9-3)
Coach Brian Kelly has led Cincinnati to one of its most successful seasons ever as it tries to win double digit games for the second time in school history. The Bearcats are a program on the rise, while Southern Miss is trying to adjust with coach Jeff Bower's departure following this game. Bower has been with the program for 17 years, the fourth longest tenure in the nation, behind Joe Paterno, Bobby Bowden and Frank Beamer.
The Pick: Cincinnati takes this one as it gets the Big East Conference going early in bowl season.
Update: Cincinnati started slow, but managed to win 31-21, clinching a 10-win season.
Overall: 3-0
New Mexico Bowl
Nevada Wolfpack (6-6) vs. New Mexico Lobos (8-4)
New Mexico gets the opportunity to host a bowl game, which they hope can push them over the top and finally give them a victory in a postseason game. They haven't won a bowl game in 46 years. Nevada was the team closest to upsetting Hawaii, falling on a last second field goal at home. They have one of the nation's most explosive and balanced offenses, and that should carry them to a "road" victory in this one, adding to New Mexico's bowl nightmare.
The Pick: Nevada
Update: New Mexico ended its bowl drought, manhandling Nevada 23-0 in a game where the Wolfpack hardly looked competitive.
Overall: 3-1
Las Vegas Bowl
UCLA Bruins (6-6) vs. #17 BYU Cougars (10-2)
This bowl matchup features two teams that are going in completely different directions. UCLA is in the midst of a disappointing year, failing to uphold a preseason top-15 ranking, and now in search of a head coach after Karl Dorrell underacheived once again. The Cougars, meanwhile, are on a nine game winning streak, the second longest in the nation, and are one of the most overlooked teams in the nation. This game for them is about respect and revenge for a loss to UCLA earlier in the year.
The Pick: BYU gets revenge and sends UCLA to a losing season four months after they were expected to conted for a Pac-10 title.
Update: BYU held on in the final seconds, blocking a field goal from UCLA as time expired to hold on for a 17-16 win.
Overall: 4-1
12.22.2007
College Football Viewer's Guide: Saturday Bowl Round-Up
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1 comments:
Neil, I had Nevada winning also, especially with New Mexico's less than impressive home history. How pathetic the Lobos couldn't even sell out the game. So much passion for their hoops but can't fill the park for a bowl. Yet, it looked like Nevada didn't even practice for the game. A truly pathetic effort from the Wolf Pack and real surprising considering their coaching reputation over the past few years. Like they didn't even want to be there...which happens in these bowl games from time to time.
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