Ahoy their mateys! Avast ye pirate x-mas, etc etc. *Cough* Sorry, had something in my throat there. Amidst a week where the Pirate Captain Mike Leach is being rumored to be in the mix for the forthcoming Maryland coaching vacancy, we have a bowl game to be played completely underwater (see: right). Fortunately for the Naval Academy, this sort of scenario is what they spend four years (and a minimum two years beyond that) preparing for *rimshot*.
Last week marked a tasty start to the 2K10/'11 (ELEVEN!!1! SYNERGY) season with yours truly rocking the 3-1-1 record for the games that have transpired. The grand total for the year at-large? 58-57-3 on the season (a little under 50.5%). The only solution is more cowbowl (see what I did there?) *WHOOSH* F-it, let's go bowling.
Thursday, December 23rd
Poinsettia Bowl: Navy vs. San Diego State (-3) - 8:00 p.m. - ESPN (HD)
In ancient Rome they used to fill the Collesium with water so that they could stage naval battles inside that grand arena, to the delight of the crowds that gathered. Such theatrics likely won't be required on Thursday, but the modern day equivalent (the Midshipmen triple option offense) will be on display. Brady Hoke and the Aztecs are favored to win this game over visiting Navy, but the Midshipmen come into the bowl on a four game winning streak, including a ridiculous 76-35 victory over East Carolina that saw them rack up over 500 yards of offense on the ground. In terms of overall talent this isn't quite the same Navy team that we saw last year, but don't be surprised if they pull off the upset against a San Diego State team that lost 2 of its last 3 (albeit against TCU and Utah).
Navy 24 - San Diego State 20
Friday, December 24th
Hawaii Bowl: Hawaii vs. Tulsa (+10) - 8:00 p.m. - ESPN (HD)
Do you ever think that the Rainbow Warriors ever get sick of playing on their home turf, year after year? Do you ever think they wish they could perform the haka in Memphis or New Orleans or maybe even in NYC at Yankee Stadium? Yeah me neither. Hawaii, as is their wont, has been racking up huge numbers and points all year: Bryant Moniz has 4,629 yards of passing to go along with 36 TDs. Tulsa, despite being big underdogs here, have also done some damage themselves, winning six in a row and putting up over 50 points in half of those games. Take Hawaii to win, but Tulsa to cover the spread.
Hawaii 48 - Tulsa 44
Sunday, December 26th
Little Caesars Bowl: Florida International vs. Toledo (-1.5) - 8:30 p.m. - ESPN (HD)
When I was a kid, probably the greatest act of love that any parent could show for a child was to purchase one of those 12 foot long pizzas that Little Caesars made and then let said child invite 4 or 5 of their friends over to eat semi palatable pizza and watch Dino Riders. The point I'm making of course is that Toledo should be able to both win this game and cover the spread; neither team is what anyone would call "good," but FIU's 6-6 record is somewhat skewed by them beginning the season with four consecutive losses, and Toledo does have a win over a Big Ten team in addition to having beaten up on teams much like FIU throughout the year. I almost made a Howard Schnellenberger joke and then remembered that he coaches FAU, not FIU. Exactly.
Toledo 32 - FIU 27
Monday, December 27th
Independence Bowl: Air Force vs. Georgia Tech (+3) - 5:00 p.m. - ESPN2 (HD)
This bowl could and likely will set the record for fewest pass attempts in a game since the invention of the microwave, as it features the 1st and 2nd ranked rushing teams in the nation. If you like two teams who would much, much rather run around like squirrels than do anything resembling passing the football, this is the game for you. I happen to be just that person, and as such, this is probably going to be the most fun I have watching a game all year. At first blush Air Force seems to have the advantage here, having the better record. But Tech RB Anthony Allen has come on very strong as of late, rushing for 331 yards in his last two games. Look for both teams to completely sell out to stop the run, and then also stubbornly refuse to abandon said run despite that. A low scoring game favors the more battle tested Yellow Jackets, and they pull it out.
Georgia Tech 20 - Air Force 14
Tuesday, December 23rd
Champs Sports Bowl: North Carolina State vs. West Virginia (-2.5) - 6:30 p.m. - ESPN (HD)
West Virginia are the favorites here, but look for a much different game than many might think transpire. Though the Mountaineers own the better record, they obtained that record by playing in the Big East, also known as "Some Dudes Who Play Football On Saturdays, Kind Of" Okay, you might say, but what about Noel Devine? He's really good, right? Sure, if 886 yards and 4.4 ypc is good nowadays. Given that the team is also losing their coach, look for funslingin' Russell Wilson (he of 28 TDs and 15 INTs) and the Wolfpack to pull out to an early lead that they won't relinquish as WVU tries to play catch up.
NC State 30 - WVU 20
Insight Bowl: Iowa vs. Missouri (-3) - 10:00 p.m. - ESPN (HD)
The Big Ten's equivalent to the Group of Death begins in earnest against Missouri in the Insight Bowl. This might be one of the absolute worst matchups for the Big Ten overall this bowl season: Missouri is a balanced team with a 6th ranked scoring defense that's only allowing 15.2 points per game. Iowa fields a similarly capable defense (ranked 7th in the country in scoring at 16.4 points per game), but given the off field chaos and the team more or less quitting on the field at the end of the season, it's hard to fathom the Hawkeyes bouncing back from a loss to Minnesota to take on the Tigers. Still, expect the seniors on the team to give it their best shot and make it close toward the end, but still falling short.
Missouri 27 - Iowa 21
Wednesday, December 29th
Military Bowl: East Carolina vs. Maryland (-7) - 2:30 p.m. - ESPN (HD)
Oh, the Military Bowl. Our nation's capital. Local boys Maryland and... A crippling inability to sell any tickets whatsoever. Say what you will about the revitilization effort headed by Ralph Friedgen this pass season, but the Fridge didn't put butts in seats. If this week's taught us anything, it's that college football is a business more than anything else. Despite the aforementioned turnaround, the Fridge's Terrapin swan song will take place in a near empty Fed Ex Field against the remnants of former Texas Tech Coach Mike Leach's staff. could this be a preview of a good number of the folks rocking Under Armour on the Maryland sidelines next year? Expect fireworks between these two; Maryland's talent differential rules the day, but ECU keeps it close and gets the cover.
Maryland 37 - ECU 34
Texas Bowl: Baylor vs. Illinois (+1.5) - 6:00 p.m. - ESPN (HD)
A place close to Alex and I's own hearts as Texans fans, Reliant Stadium keeps up its tradition of seeing little to no defense as Big XII darlings Baylor and renaissance/late floundering Illinois let the offense take the mic for 60 minutes. Electric quarterback Robert Griffin III leads the Bears' high flying attack against Nathan Nounhouse's feast-or-famine Fightin' Zookfense. While Illinois likely carries an edge strictly in the talent department, Baylor's coaching advantage can't be taken for granted (sorry [REDACTED]). While Paul Petrino and his counterpart Vic Koennig have shown they can gameplan with the best of them, expect Art Briles' bunch to do anything but rope a dope and match blows with blows. While I'd love to give the nod to the Bears following the Illini's loss to bowl losers Fresno, 1.5 points makes this one pretty much a toss up. Let's live dangerously.
Illinois 35 - Baylor 31
Alamo Bowl: Arizona vs. Oklahoma State (-5) - 9:15 p.m. - ESPN (HD)
Thursday's the new Friday, 30's the new 20, and the Alamo Bowl's the new Holiday Bowl. As such, we've been conditioned to expect fireballs/explosiorz of offense a plenty and much late game heroics and drama. Okie State quarterback Brandon Weeden does have a little Major Applewhite in him after all. Arizona's offense is much improved under the watchful eye of Nick Foles than they were a year ago in San Diego a year ago, but the defense has had their fair share of mixed bag results. Should the good Arizona defense show up, Oklahoma State (who'll be dealing with the pending departure of OC wunderkind Dana Holgersen for West Virginia as a potential distraction) could find their efforts a bit curtailed. While I'd love to go with the dogs in this one, if I've learned anything, it's that when faced with great opportunity, Mike Stoops can and will lose that football game. Roll with the other OSU.
Oklahoma State 44 - Arizona 27
