Tulsa-Bowling Green

the GMAC Bowl Sunday, January 6th, 8:00pm Mobile, Alabama
Tulsa (9-4)_____Conf USA____164.04				Bowling Green (8-4)_____MAC____78.08
Week	Opponent	oPts	Res, Score	Week	Opponent	oPts	Res, Score
3	Brigham Young	341.36	W, 55-47	5	Western Kentucky	11.29	W, 41-21
11	Houston	111.86	W, 56-7	12	@ Buffalo	-89.68	W, 31-17
1	@ Louisiana-Monroe	-29.37	W, 35-17	13	Toledo	-104.62	W, 37-10
10	@ Tulane	-144.98	W, 49-25	11	@ Eastern Michigan	-130.06	W, 39-32
7	Marshall	-158.83	W, 38-31	10	Akron	-140.28	W, 44-20
12	@ Army	-176.10	W, 49-39	4	Temple	-154.46	W, 48-35
13	@ Rice	-221.2	W, 48-43	1	@ Minnesota	-195.44	W, 32-31
5	Alabama-Birmingham	-232.53	W, 38-30	8	@ Kent	-226.51	W, 31-20
9	Southern Methodist	-292.91	W, 29-23	6	@ Boston College	313.79	L, 24-55
4	Oklahoma	409.00	L, 21-62	2	@ Michigan State	196.40	L, 17-28
8	@ Central Florida	266.42	L, 23-44	9	Ohio	-44.80	L, 27-38
14	Central Florida	266.42	L, 25-44	7	@ Miami (Ohio)	-62.84	L, 14-47
6	@ Texas-El Paso	-110.58	L, 47-48

One decent win for Tulsa, none for BG. Edge to Tulsa in the loss department too.

Decent finishes to the season for both, but the Golden Hurricane team has leapt higher.

The Line: Bowling Green +5.5

The Story: Why are they playing this one on January 6th? For the love of God why?

The Call: Tulsa by 7

The Result: Tulsa 63-7 = 7? Did I say 7? I meant 70.

TCU-Houston

the Texas Bowl Friday, December 28th, 8:00pm Houston, Texas
TCU (7-5)_____Mtn West____152.78				Houston (8-4)_____Conf USA____111.86
Week	Opponent	oPts	Res, Score	Week	Opponent	oPts	Res, Score
10	New Mexico	154.27	W, 37-0	4	Colorado State	-109.69	W, 38-27
7	@ Stanford	-46.40	W, 38-36	9	@ Texas-El Paso	-110.58	W, 34-31
13	@ San Diego State	-84.17	W, 45-33	3	@ Tulane	-144.98	W, 34-10
5	Colorado State	-109.69	W, 24-12	12	Marshall	-158.83	W, 35-28
1	Baylor	-139.20	W, 27-0	7	Rice	-221.20	W, 56-48
12	Nevada-Las Vegas	-178.30	W, 34-10	8	@ Alabama-Birmingham	-232.53	W, 49-10
4	Southern Methodist	-292.91	W, 21-7	10	Southern Methodist	-292.91	W, 38-28
11	@ Brigham Young	341.36	L, 22-27	13	Texas Southern	-	W, 59-6
2	@ Texas	275.96	L, 13-34	1	@ Oregon	251.78	L, 27-48
3	@ Air Force	233.04	L, 17-20	6	@ Alabama	183.77	L, 24-30
8	Utah	213.09	L, 20-27	11	@ Tulsa	164.04	L, 7-56
6	@ Wyoming	-10.46	L, 21-24	5	East Carolina	89.72	L, 35-37

A battle of decent state-of-Texas teams. Record & schedule is a push - though the Cougars didn't have a really bad loss, they didn't have a single decent win on their slate. The Horned Frogs blanked New Mexico but took a bad loss at Wyoming.

Season progress is a push too - both teams have worked their way up from slow starts.

Intangibles: The game is in Houston, which should give the Cougars a bit of an edge. but they're in between coaches after Art Briles left for Baylor a few weeks ago.

The Line: Houston +6.5

The Story: TCU put up no less than 20 points in each of their games this year, but Houston can put up some gaudy numbers too. Just a feeling, but this one could come down to whoever has the ball at the end.

The Call: TCU by 7

The Result: TCU 20-13 = Yet another exciting finish, and another prediction right on the money.

East Carolina-Boise State

the Hawaii Bowl Sunday, December 23rd, 8:00pm Honolulu, Hawaii
East Carolina (7-5)_____Conf USA____89.72				Boise State (10-2)______WAC_____229.42
Week	Opponent	oPts	Res, Score	Week	Opponent	oPts	Res, Score
6	Central Florida	266.42	W, 52-38	9	@ Fresno State	151.92	W, 34-21
5	@ Houston	111.86	W, 37-35	7	Nevada	54.01	W, 69-67
10	@ Memphis	21.53	W, 56-40	5	Southern Mississippi	53.31	W, 38-16
2	North Carolina	7.58	W, 34-31	3	Wyoming	-10.46	W, 24-14
7	@ Texas-El Paso	-110.58	W, 45-42	8	@ Louisiana Tech	-48.56	W, 45-31
13	Tulane	-144.98	W, 35-12	10	San Jose State	-53.89	W, 42-7
9	Alabama-Birmingham	-232.53	W, 41-6	6	New Mexico State	-156.16	W, 58-0
1	@ Virginia Tech	439.86	L, 7-17	11	@ Utah State	-209.20	W, 52-0
4	@ West Virginia	364.93	L, 7-48	12	Idaho	-335.67	W, 58-14
3	Southern Mississippi	53.31	L, 21-28	1	Weber State	-	W, 56-7
8	North Carolina State	34.24	L, 20-34	13	@ Hawaii	395.58	L, 27-39
11	@ Marshall	-158.83	L, 7-26	2	@ Washington	-9.10	L, 10-24

Boise State has the lead here, not only having a better record but also having played in Hawaii less than a month ago. The only blemish on the Bronco's record is an somewhat unexplainable loss to Washington in September.

Intangibles: Everyone still remembers what Boise State did to Oklahoma last year in one of the greatest bowl games ever. Will their hearts be in Hawaii this year?

The Line: East Carolina +11

The Story: Can East Carolina score? To have any shot at all they'll need to - their D has given up a ton of points this year.

The Call: Boise State by 14

The Result: East Carolina 41-38 = Well done, Pirates. Boise State's D isn't too shabby, but East Carolina just stepped on the gas from the start.

New Mexico-Nevada

the New Mexico Bowl Saturday, December 22nd, 4:30pm Albuquerque, New Mexico
New Mexico (8-4)_____Mtn West____154.27				Nevada (6-6)_____WAC____54.01
Week	Opponent	oPts	Res, Score	Week	Opponent	oPts	Res, Score
9	Air Force	233.04	W, 34-31	14	Louisiana Tech	-48.56	W, 49-10
3	@ Arizona	69.56	W, 29-27	10	@ New Mexico State	-156.16	W, 40-38
7	@ Wyoming	-10.46	W, 20-3	5	Nevada-Las Vegas	-178.30	W, 27-20
8	@ San Diego State	-84.17	W, 20-17	8	@ Utah State	-209.20	W, 31-28
11	Colorado State	-109.69	W, 26-23	9	Idaho	-335.67	W, 37-21
2	New Mexico State	-156.16	W, 44-34	3	Nicholls State	-	W, 52-17
13	Nevada-Las Vegas	-178.30	W, 27-6	12	Hawaii	395.58	L, 26-28
4	Sacramento State	-	W, 58-0	7	@ Boise State	229.42	L, 67-69
5	Brigham Young	341.36	L, 24-31	6	Fresno State	151.92	L, 41-49
12	@ Utah	213.09	L, 10-28	2	@ Northwestern	30.45	L, 31-36
10	@ Texas Christian	152.78	L, 0-37	1	@ Nebraska	29.14	L, 10-52
1	@ Texas-El Paso	-110.58	L, 6-10	13	@ San Jose State	-53.89	L, 24-27

New Mexico has the edge in how much they've been tested, winning a good game vs Air Force, while Nevada hasn't beaten anyone of note.

Not too much difference in these teams' seasons - both started with a loss but have pulled themselves back up.

Intangibles: The game is basically a home one for New Mexico, which is good because the Lobos only lost one (to BYU) this season at home.

The Line: Nevada +3

The Story: New Mexico's leading rusher Rodney Ferguson and backup rusher Mike Love are both out for the game, and though coach Rocky Long says that plugging in Paul Baker will work just fine, I don't think it's going to be that simple. It might be just enough though.

The Call: New Mexico by 6

The Result: New Mexico 23-0 = Maybe it was that simple - Paul Baker racked up 167 yards rushing. Who knew? (Besides Coach Long, that is.)

Florida Atlantic-Memphis

the New Orleans Bowl Friday, December 21st, 8:00pm New Orleans, Louisiana
Florida Atlantic (7-5)_____Sun Belt____42.86				Memphis (7-5)_____Conf USA____21.53
Week	Opponent	oPts	Res, Score	Week	Opponent	oPts	Res, Score
14	@ Troy	134.45	W, 38-32	11	@ Southern Mississippi	53.31	W, 29-26
11	Arkansas State	-63.38	W, 34-31	9	@ Tulane	-144.98	W, 28-27
1	Middle Tennessee State	-67.64	W, 27-14	5	Marshall	-158.83	W, 24-21
3	Minnesota	-195.44	W, 42-39	8	@ Rice	-221.20	W, 38-35
8	@ Louisiana-Lafayette	-210.36	W, 39-32	12	Alabama-Birmingham	-232.53	W, 25-9
4	@ North Texas	-309.82	W, 30-20	13	Southern Methodist	-292.91	W, 55-52
13	@ Florida International	-322.15	W, 55-23	3	Jacksonville State	-	W, 35-14
12	@ Florida	377.83	L, 20-59	4	@ Central Florida	266.42	L, 20-56
6	South Florida	316.42	L, 23-35	10	East Carolina	89.72	L, 40-56
5	@ Kentucky	208.61	L, 17-45	1	Mississippi	-39.22	L, 21-23
2	@ Oklahoma State	112.55	L, 6-42	5	@ Arkansas State	-63.38	L, 31-35
9	Louisiana-Monroe	-29.37	L, 30-33	7	Middle Tennessee State	-67.64	L, 7-21

These are the two weakest teams in the bowls, both of them barely finishing in positive territory. They've had rather similar seasons too - same record, one good win for each, a bad loss or two, up and down the whole year, etc. Looking a bit closer though, 4 of Florida Atlantic's 5 losses were to BCS conference teams, while Memphis had a non-conf slate of mainly cream-puffs. So an edge goes to the Owls for having played in tougher matches.

Memphis, after going downhill the first half of the season, is playing well and has won 5 of 6. Streak edge to the Tigers.

Intangibles: This is Florida Atlantic's first bowl ever, and having to adjust to playing in a bowl might help or hurt the team. Memphis has had a rough season, dealing with the tragic death of teammate Taylor Bradford since the beginning of October.

The Line: Memphis +3

The Story: This is a tough call, partly because the teams are so similar. Gut, what do you have to say?

The Call: Florida Atlantic by 7

The Result: Florida Atlantic 44-27 = Another exciting game. Well done by both teams. Good job to you too, gut.

Utah-Navy

the Poinsettia Bowl Thursday, December 20th, 9:00pm San Diego, California
Utah (8-4)_____Mtn West____213.09				Navy (8-4)______Indy_____111.26
Week	Opponent	oPts	Res, Score	Week	Opponent	oPts	Res, Score
12	New Mexico	154.27	W, 28-10	5	Air Force	233.04	W, 31-20
8	@ Texas Christian	152.78	W, 27-20	7	@ Pittsburgh	76.94	W, 48-45
3	UCLA	117.96	W, 44-6	10	@ Notre Dame	-135.92	W, 46-44
6	@ Louisville	106.21	W, 44-35	1	@ Temple	-154.46	W, 30-19
11	Wyoming	-10.46	W, 50-0	14	@ Army	-176.1	W, 38-3
7	San Diego State	-84.17	W, 23-7	4	Duke	-205.27	W, 46-43
9	@ Colorado State	-109.69	W, 27-3	12	Northern Illinois	-277.36	W, 35-24
5	Utah State	-209.2	W, 34-18	11	@ North Texas	-309.82	W, 74-62
13	@ Brigham Young	341.36	L, 10-17	8	Wake Forest	245.34	L, 24-44
2	Air Force	233.04	L, 12-20	2	@ Rutgers	146.23	L, 24-41
1	@ Oregon State	209.72	L, 7-24	3	Ball State	70.73	L, 31-34
4	@ Nevada-Las Vegas	-178.3	L, 0-27	9	Delaware	-	L, 52-59

Same W-L record for these two, but Utah definitely has the edge from playing (and beating) tougher teams. They only lost one bad one to UNLV, while the only decent team Navy beat was Air Force. Losing to DI-AA Delaware really hurts the Midshipman's case too. To their credit, Navy was able to put lots of points on the board, even in their losses.

Both teams have gone upward in the last half of the season, but the Utes have surged ever since week 4, their only blemish being the loss to BYU in the last week of their season.

Intangibles: Navy's coach is now at Georgia Tech, leaving them interim'd for their bowl - not usually a good thing. Utah know's how to prepare for a bowl too, having beaten Georgia Tech, Pitt, and USC to take their bowl-streak to 6 wins.

The Line: Navy +8

The Story: Navy's Run O vs Utah's D. Can the Utes stop the Midshipmen from running all over the field with their triple-spread option? Probably.

The Call: Utah by 10

The Result: Utah 35-32 = Much more entertaining that anticipated, which hopefully bodes well for the bowl season as a whole.