2005-2006 College Football Bowl Season Preview
Viewing Guide:
**** - Must see
*** - Should be interesting
** - For diehards only
* - Not recommended
Dec. 20:
* New Orleans Bowl - Arkansas St. (6-5) vs. Southern Mississippi (6-5)
The game is actually being played in Lafayette because of hurricane damage. Southern Miss. is a decent small program. Arkansas St. is not.
Prediction: Southern Mississippi by 20.
Dec. 21:
* GMAC Bowl - UTEP (8-3) vs. Toledo (8-3)
Gak.
Prediction: Toledo by 3.
Dec. 22:
* Poinsettia Bowl - Colorado St. (6-5) vs. Navy (7-4)
Well, San Diego should be nicer than Boise this time of year…
Prediction: Colorado St. by 3.
** Las Vegas Bowl - BYU (6-5) vs. California (7-4)
BYU's passing attack may keep the game close. Maybe.
Prediction: California by 13.
Dec. 23:
* Fort Worth Bowl - Houston (6-5) vs. Kansas (6-5)
Who let Kansas in a bowl game? Actually, it was Iowa St. Kansas didn't win a single road game this season. Houston is a very average team.
Prediction: Houston by 1.
Dec. 24:
* Hawaii Bowl - Central Florida (8-4) vs. Nevada (8-3)
This is another bowl game that should have good weather.
Prediction: Central Florida by 1.
Dec. 26:
* Motor City Bowl - Akron (7-5) vs. Memphis (6-5)
Double Gak.
Prediction: Memphis by 7.
Dec. 27:
* Champs Sports Bowl - Clemson (7-4) vs. Colorado (7-5)
Let's just say that Colorado is not entering the game on a hot streak.
Prediction: Clemson by 10.
** Insight Bowl - Arizona St. (6-5) vs. Rutgers (7-4)
Arizona St. is one of the teams I think is most under-ranked. I think Rutgers last went to a bowl game in 1978.
Prediction: Arizona St. by 24.
Dec. 28:
*** MPC Computer Bowl - Boise St. (9-3) vs. Boston College (8-3)
Boston College is easily the better team, and has played well in recent bowl games. Boise St.'s head coach is leaving the team to go to Colorado, and may or may not coach this game. But the game is in Boise.
Fear the Smurf Truf!
Boise St. hasn't lost on it's blue colored field since 2001 (reports that birds have killed themselves diving on it because they thought it was water are apparently not true). Nevertheless,
Prediction: Boston College by 3.
** Alamo Bowl - Nebraska (7-4) vs. Michigan (7-4)
Going 7-4 this year in the Big 10 is a bit different than going 7-4 in the Big 12 North.
Prediction: Michigan by 14.
Dec. 29:
** Emerald Bowl: Utah (6-5) vs. Georgia Tech (7-4)
Unfortunately for Utah, they don't have the team they did last season.
Prediction: Georgia Tech by 7.
*** Holiday Bowl: Oregon (10-1) vs. Oklahoma (7-4)
Oklahoma does seem like they have slowly gotten better during the course of the season, and their pre-bowl layoff should give star running back Adrian Peterson a chance to get completely healthy. Oregon is the better team though. Oklahoma's best chance may be if Oregon catches the dreaded "letdown because we've been cheated out of a BCS game" disease.
Prediction: Oregon by 7.
Dec. 30:
** Music City Bowl: Minnesota (7-4) vs. Virginia (6-5)
Minnesota likes to run the ball. A lot.
Prediction: Minnesota by 4.
*** Sun Bowl: Northwestern (7-4) vs. UCLA (9-2)
Don't expect much effective defense to be played in this game. Is this a proverbial "the team with the ball last wins" type of game?
Prediction: UCLA by 3.
** Independence Bowl: Missouri (6-5) vs. South Carolina (7-4)
Fear the visor?
Prediction: South Carolina by 7.
*** Peach Bowl: Miami (9-2) vs. LSU (10-2)
Could be low scoring. LSU's starting QB may be unable to play.
Prediction: Miami by 3.
Dec. 31:
** Meineke Car Care Bowl: North Carolina St. (6-5) vs. South Florida (6-5)
Worst named bowl? This game features two unpredictable teams. Will this be the N.C. St. team that beat Florida St. and Virginia Tech? Or will it be the one that lost to Wake Forest? Will it be the South Florida team that absolutely thrashed Louisville? Or will it be the one that lost to Connecticut?
Prediction: N.C. St. by 6.
** Liberty Bowl: Tulsa (8-4) vs. Fresno St. (8-4)
Fresno St. has been in a tailspin, losing their last two games to teams they should have beaten after their close game against USC. Tulsa is another team they should beat.
Prediction: Fresno St. by 10.
** Houston Bowl: Iowa St. (7-4) vs. TCU (10-1)
If only TCU hadn't lost to SMU, they'd be in a BCS game. Iowa St. probably has them topped in the bad loss department however, losing at home to Baylor.
Prediction: TCU by 7.
Jan. 1:
What? No bowl games on New Year's Day? What has the world come to? There's always the NFL I guess.
Jan 2:
*** Outback Bowl: Iowa (7-4) vs. Florida (8-3)
Iowa has been getting better throughout the season, and they have been a great bowl team under coach Kirk Ferentz.
Prediction: Iowa by 4.
**** Cotton Bowl: Texas Tech (9-2) vs. Alabama (9-2)
Texas Tech's pass-happy offense normally doesn't fair well against good defenses, but Alabama's offense doesn't fair well against any defense. Could be a great game.
Prediction: Alabama by 3.
** Gator Bowl: Virginia Tech (10-2) vs. Louisville (9-2)
This was shaping up to be a great matchup, but Louisville will be hard-pressed to keep up without their star QB, who will be unable to play due to injury.
Prediction: Virginia Tech by 13.
*** Capital One Bowl: Wisconsin (9-3) vs. Auburn (9-2)
Auburn fans just hope the game isn't decided by field goal kicking.
Prediction: Auburn by 7.
**** Fiesta Bowl: Notre Dame (9-2) vs. Ohio St. (9-2)
Notre Dame's great passing offense vs. the great Ohio St. defense, simply a great matchup (yes, I'm aware I used the word "great" three times in one sentence, or four times whatever). Interestingly, Notre Dame and Ohio St. represent the best wins this season by USC and Texas respectively.
Prediction: Ohio St. by 4.
*** Sugar Bowl: Georgia (10-2) vs. West Virginia (9-2)
The reputation of the Big East (and possibly their automatic place in the BCS) hinges on West Virginia's performance in this game.
Prediction: Georgia by 9.
** Orange Bowl: Florida St. (8-4) vs. Penn. St. (10-1)
Florida St. appeared headed to the Music City bowl (as their season was in a tailspin) before their upset of Virginia Tech in the ACC championship game. Can they pull off back-to-back upsets? Look for the media to relentlessly hype the "two old head coaches" angle (if you don't know who they are, maybe I shouldn't tell you).
Prediction: Penn St. by 10.
***** Rose Bowl: USC (12-0) vs. Texas (12-0)
Ok, I know I didn't have a five * rating, but you don't have to be Keith Jackson to know that this season the Rose Bowl truly is the "granddaddy of them all." It's undefeated #1 vs. undefeated #2 for the national title. I've changed my mind again about this game. I think that Texas has played slightly better throughout the season, but USC may have just not been quite as interested in stomping teams in the first half. Playing in the Rose Bowl, it's a practical home game for USC, and they also have more big game experience than Texas. The team that turns the ball over the least should win, and I don't trust the way Texas QB Vince Young holds the ball when he runs (or his decision making in the passing game for that matter).
Prediction: USC by 4.
**** - Must see
*** - Should be interesting
** - For diehards only
* - Not recommended
Dec. 20:
* New Orleans Bowl - Arkansas St. (6-5) vs. Southern Mississippi (6-5)
The game is actually being played in Lafayette because of hurricane damage. Southern Miss. is a decent small program. Arkansas St. is not.
Prediction: Southern Mississippi by 20.
Dec. 21:
* GMAC Bowl - UTEP (8-3) vs. Toledo (8-3)
Gak.
Prediction: Toledo by 3.
Dec. 22:
* Poinsettia Bowl - Colorado St. (6-5) vs. Navy (7-4)
Well, San Diego should be nicer than Boise this time of year…
Prediction: Colorado St. by 3.
** Las Vegas Bowl - BYU (6-5) vs. California (7-4)
BYU's passing attack may keep the game close. Maybe.
Prediction: California by 13.
Dec. 23:
* Fort Worth Bowl - Houston (6-5) vs. Kansas (6-5)
Who let Kansas in a bowl game? Actually, it was Iowa St. Kansas didn't win a single road game this season. Houston is a very average team.
Prediction: Houston by 1.
Dec. 24:
* Hawaii Bowl - Central Florida (8-4) vs. Nevada (8-3)
This is another bowl game that should have good weather.
Prediction: Central Florida by 1.
Dec. 26:
* Motor City Bowl - Akron (7-5) vs. Memphis (6-5)
Double Gak.
Prediction: Memphis by 7.
Dec. 27:
* Champs Sports Bowl - Clemson (7-4) vs. Colorado (7-5)
Let's just say that Colorado is not entering the game on a hot streak.
Prediction: Clemson by 10.
** Insight Bowl - Arizona St. (6-5) vs. Rutgers (7-4)
Arizona St. is one of the teams I think is most under-ranked. I think Rutgers last went to a bowl game in 1978.
Prediction: Arizona St. by 24.
Dec. 28:
*** MPC Computer Bowl - Boise St. (9-3) vs. Boston College (8-3)
Boston College is easily the better team, and has played well in recent bowl games. Boise St.'s head coach is leaving the team to go to Colorado, and may or may not coach this game. But the game is in Boise.
Fear the Smurf Truf!
Boise St. hasn't lost on it's blue colored field since 2001 (reports that birds have killed themselves diving on it because they thought it was water are apparently not true). Nevertheless,
Prediction: Boston College by 3.
** Alamo Bowl - Nebraska (7-4) vs. Michigan (7-4)
Going 7-4 this year in the Big 10 is a bit different than going 7-4 in the Big 12 North.
Prediction: Michigan by 14.
Dec. 29:
** Emerald Bowl: Utah (6-5) vs. Georgia Tech (7-4)
Unfortunately for Utah, they don't have the team they did last season.
Prediction: Georgia Tech by 7.
*** Holiday Bowl: Oregon (10-1) vs. Oklahoma (7-4)
Oklahoma does seem like they have slowly gotten better during the course of the season, and their pre-bowl layoff should give star running back Adrian Peterson a chance to get completely healthy. Oregon is the better team though. Oklahoma's best chance may be if Oregon catches the dreaded "letdown because we've been cheated out of a BCS game" disease.
Prediction: Oregon by 7.
Dec. 30:
** Music City Bowl: Minnesota (7-4) vs. Virginia (6-5)
Minnesota likes to run the ball. A lot.
Prediction: Minnesota by 4.
*** Sun Bowl: Northwestern (7-4) vs. UCLA (9-2)
Don't expect much effective defense to be played in this game. Is this a proverbial "the team with the ball last wins" type of game?
Prediction: UCLA by 3.
** Independence Bowl: Missouri (6-5) vs. South Carolina (7-4)
Fear the visor?
Prediction: South Carolina by 7.
*** Peach Bowl: Miami (9-2) vs. LSU (10-2)
Could be low scoring. LSU's starting QB may be unable to play.
Prediction: Miami by 3.
Dec. 31:
** Meineke Car Care Bowl: North Carolina St. (6-5) vs. South Florida (6-5)
Worst named bowl? This game features two unpredictable teams. Will this be the N.C. St. team that beat Florida St. and Virginia Tech? Or will it be the one that lost to Wake Forest? Will it be the South Florida team that absolutely thrashed Louisville? Or will it be the one that lost to Connecticut?
Prediction: N.C. St. by 6.
** Liberty Bowl: Tulsa (8-4) vs. Fresno St. (8-4)
Fresno St. has been in a tailspin, losing their last two games to teams they should have beaten after their close game against USC. Tulsa is another team they should beat.
Prediction: Fresno St. by 10.
** Houston Bowl: Iowa St. (7-4) vs. TCU (10-1)
If only TCU hadn't lost to SMU, they'd be in a BCS game. Iowa St. probably has them topped in the bad loss department however, losing at home to Baylor.
Prediction: TCU by 7.
Jan. 1:
What? No bowl games on New Year's Day? What has the world come to? There's always the NFL I guess.
Jan 2:
*** Outback Bowl: Iowa (7-4) vs. Florida (8-3)
Iowa has been getting better throughout the season, and they have been a great bowl team under coach Kirk Ferentz.
Prediction: Iowa by 4.
**** Cotton Bowl: Texas Tech (9-2) vs. Alabama (9-2)
Texas Tech's pass-happy offense normally doesn't fair well against good defenses, but Alabama's offense doesn't fair well against any defense. Could be a great game.
Prediction: Alabama by 3.
** Gator Bowl: Virginia Tech (10-2) vs. Louisville (9-2)
This was shaping up to be a great matchup, but Louisville will be hard-pressed to keep up without their star QB, who will be unable to play due to injury.
Prediction: Virginia Tech by 13.
*** Capital One Bowl: Wisconsin (9-3) vs. Auburn (9-2)
Auburn fans just hope the game isn't decided by field goal kicking.
Prediction: Auburn by 7.
**** Fiesta Bowl: Notre Dame (9-2) vs. Ohio St. (9-2)
Notre Dame's great passing offense vs. the great Ohio St. defense, simply a great matchup (yes, I'm aware I used the word "great" three times in one sentence, or four times whatever). Interestingly, Notre Dame and Ohio St. represent the best wins this season by USC and Texas respectively.
Prediction: Ohio St. by 4.
*** Sugar Bowl: Georgia (10-2) vs. West Virginia (9-2)
The reputation of the Big East (and possibly their automatic place in the BCS) hinges on West Virginia's performance in this game.
Prediction: Georgia by 9.
** Orange Bowl: Florida St. (8-4) vs. Penn. St. (10-1)
Florida St. appeared headed to the Music City bowl (as their season was in a tailspin) before their upset of Virginia Tech in the ACC championship game. Can they pull off back-to-back upsets? Look for the media to relentlessly hype the "two old head coaches" angle (if you don't know who they are, maybe I shouldn't tell you).
Prediction: Penn St. by 10.
***** Rose Bowl: USC (12-0) vs. Texas (12-0)
Ok, I know I didn't have a five * rating, but you don't have to be Keith Jackson to know that this season the Rose Bowl truly is the "granddaddy of them all." It's undefeated #1 vs. undefeated #2 for the national title. I've changed my mind again about this game. I think that Texas has played slightly better throughout the season, but USC may have just not been quite as interested in stomping teams in the first half. Playing in the Rose Bowl, it's a practical home game for USC, and they also have more big game experience than Texas. The team that turns the ball over the least should win, and I don't trust the way Texas QB Vince Young holds the ball when he runs (or his decision making in the passing game for that matter).
Prediction: USC by 4.
posted by Freethinker at 5:28:00 PM
7 Comments:
Did you forget the ****Salad Bowl?
How can a salad be four stars?
Good stuff J.
So are you going to be at Robert's watching the BCS game on that BIG screen in HDTV?
Gonna be a fun one for sure!
USC 35
UT 31
Probably.
Well you only missed that Ft Worth Bowl by like 40 points or so.....hahaha.
Hey I don't even have the guts to make predictions so I am applaud you.
(you should keep a total of your wins and losses just for fun)
I planned to keep track. I'm 3-2 so far. I'll even predict my predictions and say I'll go 18-10.
If I can count, I went 14-14. Which is as good as a coin could do.
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