With the annual coronation of the land's best collegiate athlete behind us (congrats, Tim Tebow), the only thing standing between the collective college faithful and that January 7th BCS Championship Game are the 30-something "other" bowls that get played between now and then.
Surely, every self-respecting fan out there knows all that needs to be known about the five BCS bowls (Rose, Sugar, Fiesta, Orange, and the aforementioned championship showdown). It's those other 27 that have everyone outside of the NFL scouts and the participants' alma-maters wondering what to watch for.
If you're anything like me, my wife will live with my watching about 10 virtually meaningless college bowl games ... anything beyond that gets me dangerously close to receiving laundry duty or, worse, diaper-changing duty. So, as a public service announcement, I've sifted through the bowl schedule and have highlighted the 10 most intriguing components from those non-BCS games to help tune your holiday football-watching schedule.
I've listed these games sequentially in an effort to limit confusion. Enjoy!
1. New Orleans Bowl (Dec. 21), Florida Atlantic vs. Memphis
Combined, these two teams averaged nearly 60 points per game. The duo also gave up nearly 65 per, making this matchup a potential shootout of epic proportions. Add to the drama the fact that this game will be FAU's inaugural postseason appearance (the football team has only been in existence since 2001) and the sub-plot of Memphis overcoming the tragic murder of one of its players and you have the makings of an exciting, dramatic, and emotional postseason contest between two evenly-matched seven-win teams.
What to Watch For: Points, and lots of them. Neither team has a superstar caliber prospect, but this is especially true for the defenses, so buckle up and enjoy TD after glorious TD all afternoon long.
Prediction: Memphis 55, FAU 49 (3 OT)
2. Motor City Bowl (Dec. 26), Purdue vs. Central Michigan
If you haven't had the good fortune of watching Central Michigan's sophomore QB Dan LeFevour, you won't want to miss this contest. LeFevour passed for over 3,300 yards in '07 and ran for another 1,000, leading the Chippewas in both categories. He also managed to haul in a TD reception in 2007, further solidifying his status as a legit big-timer in college football. Purdue employs their usual combination of an aggressive offensive attack with timely running, making for the potential of lots of points and a real see-saw type of contest. Purdue's early season success (5-0, 45.4 ppg in first five games) has been buoyed with losses in five of their closing seven games, and Central Michigan can put points on the board in bunches, so this game may wind up being far more competitive than many think.
What to Watch For: DeFevour is worth much more than the price of admission and is a future NFL QB to be sure. If you want to catch him, this is the game, 'cause Central Michigan won't be much of a television draw anytime soon and the soph QB won't be a secret on the national stage after this game.
Prediction: Central Michigan 41, Purdue 31
3. Holiday Bowl (Dec. 27), Arizona State vs. Texas
For my money, this contest has more intrigue than all the BCS games with the exception of that national title tilt. Two highly ranked teams, both suffering through excruciating late season losses and both wishing they were playing in a higher profile bowl game. Each team loves to run, but both have premier run defenses (Arizona State was 13th in the nation against the run, UT was number 11). Neither showcases an especially stout pass defense and the two starting quarterbacks (Rudy Carpenter and Colt McCoy) have big arms and wide-open offensive schemes. Add to that the beautiful weather of southern California, and this may well be the most entertaining game on the docket.
What to Watch For: Longhorn runner Jamaal Charles rushed for nearly 1,500 yards at over six yards per carry ... and believe me when I tell you opponents saw him coming. Arizona has tons of team speed on defense, so this matchup bears watching as it may well make the difference in the final outcome.
Prediction: Texas 33, Arizona 31
4. Meineke Bowl (Dec. 29), Connecticut vs. Wake Forest
I'm going to be honest here; this game is probably going to be a dog. Neither team scores a particularly startling amount of points and both have quality defenses. Respectively, UConn and Wake had passers who totaled 14 and 12 TDs through the air. The reason I am including this particular game on this particular list is simple: UConn shut out my beloved Maine Black Bears in week two of the season, and Wake Forest is going to shut them out in a bowl game, so, to me, that will be justice served and I want as many people to witness this as possible.
What to Watch For: Both kickers (UConn's Tony Ciaravino and Wake's Sam Swank) are solid, having each connected on field goals longer than 50 yards in 2007. Seriously, that's all I got.
Prediction: Wake Forest 16, UConn 0
5. Liberty Bowl (Dec. 29), Mississippi State vs. Central Florida
Okay, this is the game I truly recommend you watching on Dec. 29th. UCF's Kevin Smith rushed for a ridiculous 2,448 yards in '07, totaling 29 TDs. Read those stats again. Southern Miss put up a paltry 22.4 points per contest in 2007, but the team also sported a top-30 defense. UCF is probably the better team, but this matchup should help answer the age-old question of which is more valuable, offense or defense.
What to Watch For: Smith is a surprisingly big back (6-1, 211 lbs), which pretty much assures that he won't be beaten into submission by the powerful Bulldog defense. Furthermore, Mississippi State was not in the top 50 in terms of run defense, as they are much more able in defending the pass (10th in the nation) — not a good sign when you're facing the nation's top runner.
Prediction: UCF 34, Mississippi State 17
6. Independence Bowl (Dec. 30), Colorado vs. Alabama
This game should be called the "Your Guess is as Good as Mine Bowl." Both teams looked like world beaters for considerable portions of the season (Alabama upset Arkansas and Ole Miss and smacked Tennessee; Colorado shocked the world by beating Oklahoma, nearly knocked off Kansas, and took down a solid Texas Tech squad). Both teams also looked like total dogs for considerable parts of the season ('Bama folded to the tune of four straight losses to end the season, including a train-wreck against Louisiana-Monroe; Colorado squeaked by Colorado State, and choked one up against a 3-9 Iowa State). Both QBs are talented, but both throw far too many picks. If both teams show up and play their games, this should be a very entertaining and competitive dual, but there is the potential that one team will mail it in, or worse, both could stink up the field.
What to Watch For: Fans should know what to expect from this game relatively early on; if Colorado scores early and often, expect the Tide to roll. While this may be counter-intuitive, the Buffaloes were leading 14-0 against Arizona State, 10-0 versus Missouri, and 21-0 at Iowa State before losing those critical games. Conversely, in two of their biggest wins of the season, CU was down 24-10 to Oklahoma and 35-24 against Nebraska.
Prediction: Alabama 24, Colorado 20
7. Humanitarian Bowl (Dec. 31), Fresno State vs. Georgia Tech
Ah, an old-fashioned strength versus strength showdown, just like the old days. Fresno State features a balanced and efficient offense that put up 400 yards and 32 points a contest in 2007 en route to an 8-4 record. Georgia Tech employs a power-running game, but butters its bread with an aggressive, effective defensive scheme that keeps opponents guessing and genuinely confused. The best way to battle a blitz-happy, fast-moving defense? Balance on offense. The most effective way to combat an efficient, balanced offensive attack? Changing defensive looks and varying blitzes and coverage schemes. Therein lies the twist...
What to Watch For: Georgia Tech's 11th-ranked defense should be playing inspired in the wake of losing coach Chan Gailey and with a perceivable feeling that their offense let them down this season. Fresno State also should be playing inspired football, feeling slighted as two of their losses came in very close games against nationally-ranked Texas A&M and undefeated Hawaii and after posting dominating wins against K-State, San Jose State, and Utah Sate.
Prediction: Georgia Tech 16, Fresno State 12
8. Chick-Fil-A Bowl (Dec. 31), Clemson vs. Auburn
After watching the Humanitarian Bowl on the afternoon of the 31st, spend your evening catching this contest between two teams that are all too familiar with one another. This will be the 46th matchup between the two Tigers, and few have been more intriguing. Auburn features the eighth-ranked defense in the land and surrenders less than 20 points per contest. Clemson scores nearly 35 per and also has the sixth-best defense in the nation. On paper, Auburn looks like a solid underdog (I suppose that would be under-"cat" in this case), but their passing defense should be able to hold the unsung Cullen Harper in check, evening the playing field.
What to Watch For: It may be a cliché, but whichever team wins the turnover battle will win this game. Simply put, if Clemson turns the ball over, Auburn will be able to offset their substantially weaker offense with only having to overcome short fields, and if Auburn can't hold onto the ball, they will get behind and they have no shot if they have to come from behind.
Prediction: Clemson 33, Auburn 10
9. Capital One Bowl (Jan. 1), Florida vs. Michigan
If you had put this matchup in front of me in September, I'd have sworn that this would be the national title game. Unfortunately, Michigan had that season-wrecking loss to Appalachian State to open the schedule followed by a tough game against a strong Oregon opponent and really couldn't recover, regardless of how well they played through the middle of their schedule. Likewise, Florida fell victim to some unfortunate scheduling as their one "throw-away" game (loss to Auburn at home) came the week before they took on the mighty LSU Tigers, which pretty much took them out of championship contention far earlier than they had figured.
Which brings us to this game, which actually should be a very good, very entertaining affair. If Michigan wins, they have a chance to salvage their season in the eyes of their already disillusioned fan base. If Florida comes out on top, they feel they would be more than deserving of a top-five spot in the postseason polls, which is a very salvageable final outcome for a three-loss year.
What to Watch For: Heisman-winning QB Tim Tebow will be looking to prove to the masses that he's a deserving recipient against a stout Michigan defense that was ranked seventh in the nation against the pass. Additionally, Mike Hart and Chad Henne will be playing their last games in the maze and blue and both have exemplified hard-work, determination, and pride in their time at Michigan, so this bowl game should be no different.
Prediction: Michigan 38, Florida 37
10. GMAC Bowl (Jan. 6), Tulsa vs. Bowling Green
The next-to-last bowl game of the year might go otherwise unnoticed due to the anonymity of the participants. However, anyone who chooses not to watch this game would be missing the nation's most prolific offense (Tulsa) and a Bowling Green team that plays at full-throttle all the time. Averaging nearly 40 points and just under 550 yards per contest, the Golden Hurricane features a spread attack with lots of passes and misdirection runs. The Falcons of Bowling Green are a pass-happy bunch that mix in the occasional trick play and tend to keep defenses guessing. Between the two of them, you may well see 80 or more passes and points will not be at a premium.
What to Watch For: Tulsa QB Paul Smith was second in the nation with his 4,700 yards and passed for less than 300 yards exactly zero times in 2007. Smith also totaled 42 passing TDs; in short, he is a very effective quarterback option. Expect to see a pile of downfield plays and keep your eyes on Brennan Marion, a freshman receiver for Tulsa who averaged an eye-popping 32 yards per catch in 2007.
Prediction: Tulsa 63, Bowling Green 35
Sit back, relax and enjoy these 10 games and all they have to offer; from a matchup perspective, they should feature far more drama than those silly BCS games.
They certainly won't be any less meaningful.
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