Bowl Challenge - Week 2

Here's the preveiw of all the upcoming Bowl Games for the week of X-mas:

TCU-BOISE tuesday night
I took the Frogs at -2, the rest of you all liked Boise. Statitically, it's a wash. Both really good looking teams on both sides of the ball. Boise is a better passing team, TCU is a better rushing team, but both have a nice offense overall. Both teams force a lot of turnovers...but TCU is better at taking care of the ball. Which leads to my pick - I think TCU is a better team. They only lost a nail-biter to Utah, which they honestly should have won (got beat by the always pesky THUR night road rule) and a route to OK. BOISE obviously didn't lose, but seriously who did they beat? Oregon on the road...that's a nice one. Other than that...nobody. So when it's a toss up like this one, I like the better defense and the team that's better in turnover margin...give me the Frogs 23-17.

ND-HAW x-mas eve night
JG likes the Rainbow Warriors, the rest of us took the Irish. HAW comes in playing extremely well winning 3 of their last 4, only losing to CIN in a tight game. HAW throws a lot, doesn't protect well, and turns it over all the time. They run for less than 100 yards per game, which is almost impossible in college. ND doesn't do much right either. They can't run, they throw okay, but the reason I picked them is that their defense is solid. It's a Top 40 National Defense, and I really believe this team will be hungry for a win. Obviously, they have HAW outmanned up front - which is always the case in matchups like this. They don't get a lot of sacks, but HAW's gameplan and ineptitude on the front line might cure that problem. They have also lost 4 of 5 coming in, so I guess this might answer the momentum question for future bowl games...does it matter how you finish going into the bowl? Bottom line, in a pick'em game like this I go with the better defense (and seriously, it's HAW vs. ND?!?!) IRISH show up and get the alumni off Weis' back for the off-season 38-28.

FAU-CMU 12/26
No mysteries here - we all like CMU to win by a TD or better. CMU comes in on a 2 game skid, and FAU has won 5 of 6 since starting 1-5. Once again, will the trend matter? It's basically a home game for CMU, which should help their cause a lot. But FAU should be pumped up to be playing anywhere in DEC. The CMU story is throwing the football and not defending the pass at all. They can run a bit, but their bread and butter is throwing it all over the field - 13th nationally. FAU also throws it well and plays little to no defense. Difference could be pass rush where CMU has one and FAU surely does not. Should be a shootout...CMU at home 47-40.

WV-NC 12/27
Great matchup here - I'm the only one picking the Heels. Seems like I'm on my own a lot so far...hmmm. In Charlotte, like a home game for NC. WV has won their last 3 bowl games with Pat White...but this is a different team. Both teams fizzled a bit at the end of the year going 2-2, so no real mometum advantage there. NC is very impressive in any one area. Offensively they are 95th in the nation, and only 63rd on defense...I thought they would be higher. They did finish a fortunate +6 in turnovers, so they are probably a little overrated. WV can't throw, anyone who has seen them the last 3 years knows that. But they run extremely well. Their defense isn't too shabby finishing in the Top 40. They were a +12 on turnover margin, so they might be even luckier than NC. Bottom line for me on this one was the fact that it's a home game for NC, and Butch and his team have done nothing but surprise me all year. In a pick'em I like the Heels 24-21.

WIS-FSU 12/27
I love it - 4 Badger haters = 4 picks for FSU. Completely emotion free right? Well, I like our chances. If you saw how WIS looked at the end of the year, you probably know why. They are not close to the team they expected to be this year, and FSU is probably a little better than most thought. Big difference for FSU...they can run the ball this year. The defense is great, just like most every year, but the offense is coming around. The speed of the pass rush and the improved running game make this a different FSU team than we're used to seeing. WIS ran it well, shocker, but QB play is a big question. The new guy seems a little better than Evridge...but that doesn't take much. WIS defense isn't horrible, but they haven't exactly been playing their best ball. MN and Cal-Poly both should have beat them and scored 30+. Better dead than red, so I like the Maroon in this one 29-17.

MIA-CAL 12/27
MR and JG like MIA, JR and MK...yep that Mike Kobow pick Cal. Once again, a home game for Cal in a bowl game...kind of shady how this seems to be the case more often than not. Cal has had some big highs and dreadful lows this year, but I feel that they are playing some good ball right now. The running game is lethal, the QB play is questionable, and the defense is pretty solid. They were an astonishing +14 in turnovers this year - Top 10 nationally. They also have a great pass rush. MIA continues to have a non-descript offense year in and year out. They lost their last 2 games, and Bob Marve won't be playing in the game (starting QB). Their defense is also top notch, but turnovers could be the death of them. A -9 was good enough for 101st place in the nation...ouch. Turnovers and home field will play a big role in this defensive battle. I think Cal has more to play for at home and might make this an ugly one...CAL 23-7.

Finally...the much anticipated Independence Bowl

NILL-LT 12/28
I took the dog LT, the rest of you are on N.ILL. This is actually a 3 pt. game, but since it's played on Sunday I thought I'd include it. LaTech runs it well, and stops the run. Which is a good thing when you play a NILL team that ranks 101st in passing offense. NILL wants to run it as well, but they too play good defense. I see lots of running the football and a very, very close game happening under the lights in Shreveport (again a Louisiana school playing basically at home in a bowl). Give me LTECH in a close one 21-20 on a missed 2 pt. conversion to win it!!

That's all for this week - 19 more next week, then 3 games in week 4 of Bowl Season.

Are you ready?!?