It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

Around this time last year (actually, 359 days ago to be exact) was when I actually started posting frequently on this blog. Now after almost a year of speculating on different stories, analyzing teams and games, and writing for a loyal following of four, we are back to the time of year that I enjoy most. Bowl season really is one of my favorite times of year (other than the first weekend of March Madness). Many of you may not be interested in the Little Caesar's Pizza Bowl the day after Christmas, but I am. Maybe it's because I am a true fan of the game; honestly though, I think it may be a combination of that and the fact that it gives me a valid reason to stay home and not shower or change my clothes from the day before.

You may be thinking "why do you honestly care about a game that is sponsored by the San Diego County Credit Union?" If you are honestly asking this question, please close your browser and never come back to this site.

Now, for those of you that play ESPN's College Bowl Mania, and thus understand the importance of the three bowl games being played tomorrow, here are my picks for those games. Seriously though; if you are one of those people who think the question I posed in the last paragraph is actually legitimate, you don't have any business being here. At least, you don't until around January 1st.

New Mexico Bowl
BYU vs. UTEP

Since this is the first game of the bowl season, I don't have much but the stats to go off of when analyzing this one. UTEP stumbled in the second half of the season, primarily because quarterback Trevor Vittatoe was injured. Granted, four of their five losses during that half of the season came on the road. However, BYU's story is almost the exact opposite; they have won four of their last five, and only lost by a point to Utah in their season finale. Since Vittatoe still isn't one-hundred percent, I have to go with the Cougars in this one. I have BYU for 15 points in College Bowl Mania game.

Final Score: 30-24 BYU


uDrove Humanitarian Bowl
Northern Illinois vs. Fresno State

Like many games early on in the bowl season, this matchup is pretty much a toss-up. I would have liked Northern Illinois in this game. That was before they lost to the "other" Miami in the MAC Championship game, and then learned that their head coach, Jerry Kill, would not be coaching them in their bowl game after accepting the position of Minnesota's head coach. All this, combined with the fact that Fresno State has to have a little bit of an advantage on that crazy blue turf in Boise (they play there every other year in the regular season), makes me slightly more confident in the Bulldogs in this one. I have Fresno State here, but only for 8 points.

Final Score: 48-45 Fresno State


R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Ohio vs. Troy

At least thus far, I'm not being very kind to the MAC. While Ohio is probably superior to Troy in every way but their nickname, going to New Orleans is a treat for the Bobcats. For the men of Troy, who have previously been to this bowl in 2006 and 2008, it is more of a business trip. In the early bowl matchups, it seems that a good offense will trump a good defense (which totally goes against my usual saying, but whatever). So the question will be, do you like Troy's offense (best in the Sun Belt), or Ohio's defense (total yards per game given up is fourth best in the MAC)? I know that the MAC is known for their stellar defensive performances week in and week out, but I'm going to have to go with the offense here. I have Troy for 5 points.

Final Score: 38-34 Troy


In the spirit of early season bowl matchups that would mean nothing without the College Bowl Mania game, I will leave you with this video. Doesn't it sound a lot like Frankie from those old Budweiser commercials? Ah...classic.



- K. Becks

NCAAF: Sun Belt Preview

Overview

Unless you're an alumnus or alumna of one of the schools in this conference, then you probably don't care much about it. The teams don't play on national TV often, they don't have any national championship contenders, and half the school names make you say "is that really a college?" To answer your question, yes, they are all Division I colleges, and they happen to play pretty decent football. Although you won't see any of these teams playing in BCS bowls, there is always the New Orleans Bowl, which invites a Sun Belt team to play in their bowl. Don't lie; I know you watch the New Orleans Bowl.

Team(s) With the Best Shot at a National Championship Bid
None

Like I said in the overview, none of the teams in this conference have a legitimate shot at playing for the national championship. The NCAA would like you to believe that every team has a shot when the season begins, but we know that that just isn't the case.

Out-Of-Conference Game To Watch
Middle Tennessee State vs. Georgia Tech (October 16th)

It may be a little late in the season for a team like MTSU to surprise a team like Georgia Tech, but you never know. The Blue Raiders have a talented quarterback in Dwight Dasher, who helped lead MTSU to a New Orleans Bowl win against Southern Mississippi last season. If he has an exceptional game and Georgia Tech comes in unfocused, then this one could be much closer than people expect.

In-Conference Game To Watch
Middle Tennessee State vs. Troy

This game will probably end up being the battle for conference supremacy. Troy has been the big dog in the Sun Belt conference for the past four years, but Middle Tennessee State will be chomping at the bit to rip the crown away from the Trojans. Troy lost a lot of starters from last season, so the time is now for the Blue Raiders if they finally want to beat the men of Troy.

Conference Predictions

1. Middle Tennessee State (8-4, [6-2])
2. Troy (8-4, [6-2])
3. Florida Atlantic (5-7, [5-3])
4. North Texas (6-6, [4-4])
5. Arkansas State (5-7, [4-4])
6. Louisiana-Lafayette (3-9, [3-5])
7. Florida International (2-10, [2-6])
8. Louisiana-Monroe (2-10, [1-7])
9. Western Kentucky (0-12, [0-8])



- K. Becks

The Straggler

Tonight's bowl game is like the fat kid who's at the back of the pack when the class is running the mile in PE. The last non-BCS game was four days ago; why this bowl (which is being sponsored by GMAC- good move sponsoring this bowl, guys) is being played so late, I do not know.

Last night's game got more attention than I had figured. Iowa's win gave the Big 10 its fourth of the bowl season, and here's the stat for the night: the Big 10 won four bowl games, all against teams in the Top 15. Guess who the last conference to do that was. The SEC? Pac-10? Try the Big 10, in 1998. Maybe the media will finally lay off this conference.

Tonight is the teaser for the national championship. I actually have a little bit of interest because if Central Michigan wins, then I lock up the win in my College Bowl Mania group. Also, a girl I know from school is going there next year, so I told her I'd root for them.

GMAC Bowl
Central Michigan vs. Troy

Central Michigan should dominate this game. They have the best team offense and defense in the MAC, and Chippewas QB Dan LeFevour can score with both his feet and his arm. The kid has 41 touchdowns this season (27 passing and 14 rushing), and is the NCAA leader in career touchdowns (sure, the record is broken just about every year now, but that's not the point). However, don't write off Troy completely. Florida Atlantic was able to beat Central Michigan in their bowl game last year when they were huge underdogs. If Troy can make this a low scoring game, then they have a chance. I have Central Michigan for 31 points in the College Bowl Mania game, so I'm pretty confident in the Chippewas.

Final Score: 38-27 Central Michigan



- K. Becks

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