The Bowl Games

All of the bowl games have been announced and scheduled. And boy there are some really good games and some really bad games.

I have expressed my opinions on the BCS and this year's outcome multiple times on here so I won't do it again.

What I am giving you today are the best games to watch. And maybe I will give you some games to avoid. I am not going to pick any games today and I am not going to give you any BCS games in my list. I will pick all the games next week and preview the BCS games before they are played. This is just a list of the best non BCS games.

Games to Watch:

Poinsettia Bowl - Dec 23 - 8:00 - - 9 Boise State vs 11 TCU

This game will rival any game on the slate including the BCS games. Boise is 12-0, averages almost 40 points a game, and allows about 12 points a game. Their best win was over Oregon AT Oregon. TCU is 10-2 with their losses coming at Oklahoma and at Utah. They average 35 points and allow about 11 points a game. Something has to give here. This game will be worth watching.


Texas Bowl - Dec 30 - 8:00 - - Rice vs Western Michigan

I know this is a game with teams that you don't know. Hell you might not even know which team is the Owls and which is the Broncos but you should watch this game. Rice has one of the most dynamic QB-WR combinations in history with QB Chase Clement and WR Jason Dillard. Clement has thrown for 41 td's this season and Dillard 19 of them. Rice is 9-3 which includes a 7-1 conference record as they only lost to Tulsa in C-USA. Western Michigan is also 9-3 and their 2 conference losses were on the road against Central Michigan and Ball State. Both teams throw the ball all over the field. Rice averages 327.8 passing yards per game while Western Michigan averages 301.2 yards passing a game. This could be the highest scoring game of the bowl season. If you don't get the NFL network though you will probably have to "settle" for the next game on this list.


Holiday Bowl - Dec 30 - 8:00 - - 13 Oklahoma State vs 17 Oregon

Traditionally the Holiday Bowl is always one of the best gamest to watch. Unfortunately if you want to watch the Texas Bowl it is on at the same time. So you will have to pick one. I personally recommend the Texas Bowl but I would LOVE to watch both games. Oklahoma State has only lost 3 games, to Texas, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma. Oregon has also lost 3 games, @ USC, @ Cal, and to Boise State. Both of these teams average over 40 points a game and both give up more than 25 points a game. In other words.....SHOOTOUT!


Sun Bowl - Dec 31 - 2:00 - - Oregon State vs 20 Pittsburgh

Two seriously contrasting styles in this game. One team is the best passing offense in their conference while the other is more of a running team with one of the best running backs in the country. Not that Pittsburgh doesn't throw but RB LeSean McCoy is the bread and butter of that offense. And the Beavers are surprisingly the best passing offense in the PAC-10 even though all you ever hear about is RB Jacquizz Rodgers. I think this game will be a good close game played on a true neutral field.


GMAC Bowl - Jan 6 - 8:00 - - Tulsa vs 22 Ball State

Both of these teams were favored in their conference title games and both lost. Yet both are probably where they should be in bowl games anyhow. Tulsa scores more than 47 points per game and is 2nd in their conference in passing and 1st in rushing. Pretty much a very dynamic offense that can beat you multiple ways. Ball State averages over 36 points per game and is 3rd in passing and 2nd in rushing in their conference. This game is good in my opinion because it matches 2 teams that won a lot of games and lost their conference title games. The offenses are dynamic and the defenses are suspect....the makings of a great bowl game.


Some other games that have potential:

Outback Bowl - South Carolina vs Iowa
Capital One - Georgia vs Michigan State
Champs Sports - Wisconsin vs Florida State
Emerald Bowl - Miami vs California


Games to Avoid:

New Mexico Bowl - Dec 20 - 2:30 - - Colorado State vs Fresno State

Really? The only reason to watch this game is because it is the only thing on and you are missing college football that much.


New Orleans Bowl - Dec 21 - 8:15 - - Southern Miss vs Troy

Let me put it to you this way....San Diego vs Tampa Bay is the NFL game at the same time. So I would rather watch that. (I believe that game is subject to change too)


Independence Bowl - Dec 28 - 8:15 - - Northern Illinois vs Louisiana Tech

Unfortunately for all of us there is no NFL game this Sunday night. So if you want to watch something that resembles football you will have to settle for this game.


Insight Bowl - Dec 31 - 5:30 - - Kansas vs Minnesota

Maybe not the worst game to watch but there has to be something better on. The only reason to watch this game (if you get NFL network that is) is....(insert good reason here or any reason for that matter).


Liberty Bowl - Jan 2 - 5:00 - - Kentucky vs East Carolina

The only reason East Carolina is in this game is because Tulsa turned the ball over 7 times and blew their chance at Kentucky. Kentucky by the way has won 2 of their last 8 games. Enough said!


Any games you would add to either list??

There are obviously other games to watch and other games to avoid but those are your best bets for each category. Listen to the podcast this week (should be up tomorrow) as Verb and I will talk a little about the Bowl games.