Good morning, everyone, except for my sisters who are screwing with my schedule with the VA because their eyes don't want to work. I swear I need crystals or something to ward off their persistent negative energy. Anyway, I'm back with part two of my half-assed bowl game previews. I left off with games takng place on December 22, so I'll pick things back up with December 23.
Independence Bowl: (Shreveport, LA)
Louisiana vs. Houston.
The school formerly known as Louisiana-Lafayette travels up Interstate 49 to face off against upcoming Big 12 newcomer Houston and their coach who desperately needs a new haircut, Dana Holgerson. Expect a lot of offense in this game, which the Cougars are favored by 6.5
Gasparilla Bowl: (Tampa)
Wake Forest vs. Missouri.
The first of Tampa's two bowl games, this one having once being played at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg until the folks at ESPN realized how much of a dump the Trop is and moved it across the bay to Tampa (where the Rays SHOULD be, but that's for another topic at another time). For the seventh straight season, Wake is going bowling, which is an impressive feat considering they were amongst the bottom-feeders of the ACC when I was growing up in North Carolina. Last year, they won the Gator Bowl by defeating Rutgers. This year, they face Missouri, who are making their second straight bowl appearance. Wake is favored by a point.
Hawaii Bowl: (Honolulu)
Middle Tennessee vs. San Diego State.
The Blue Raiders beat Miami this season, at Hard Rock Stadium, meanwhile the Aztecs after two years playing their home games in the Los Angeles area went back home to their brand-new Snapdragon Stadium. The Bowl game is being played at the Ching Athletics Complex, which replaced the aging and now-condemned Aloha Stadium a couple of years ago. San Diego State is favored by seven.
Quick Lane Bowl: (Detroit)
New Mexico State vs. Bowling Green
The school that I think is tied with the worst logo in all of collegiate sports faces off against a school named for an infamous massacre that never existed. Besides, this Bowling Green is in Ohio, NOT Kentucky, Kellyanne Conway. Other than what I just wrote, there's nothing remarkable about this game, which Bowling Green is favored by 3.
Camellia Bowl: (Montgomery, AL)
Georgia Southern vs. Buffalo.
Another unspectacular matchup. Georgia Southern is favored by four.
First Responders Bowl: (Dallas--Gerald J. Ford)
Memphis vs. Utah State.
See above (both are 6-6). Tigers are seven-point favorites.
Birmingham Bowl: (Birmingham)
Coastal Carolina vs. East Carolina.
Intriguing matchup here, too bad UNCW doesn't have a football program otherwise the game might (and in my opinion) should be played there (Wilmington, NC). As it is, I believe this is the first time these schools will have met on the gridiron. It could be a rivalry game, but I don't suppose either of these schools will be in the same conference going forward. ECU is favored by eight.
Guaranteed Rate Bowl: (Phoenix)
Wisconsin vs. Oklahoma State.
Two power Five Schools coming off disappointing seasons. The game has undergone many name changes, including the Copper Bowl and Insight.com Bowl. Now it's sponsored by a mortgage company that has a downward arrow in its logo, kind of like the seasons for the two schools involved. Wisconsin is favored by three.
Military Bowl: (Annapolis, MD)
UCF vs. Duke.
This is a rematch of sorts, albeit in a different sport. These two schools met a few years back in a cassic round of 32 game in the NCAA Men's Basketball tournament, with Duke surviving a scare from the Knights. A bit of irony in that UCF will be playing at the stadium of the Naval Academy, who cost them the chance to host the American Conference title game (where they lost to Tulane) by beating them 17-14 in Orlando. Gosh, I had to reboot my laptop AGAIN. Can't even go to the restroom without this old thing go haywire on me. Anyway, I wonder if them playing at Annapolis is karma for Orlando's Navy Base being closed down years ago. Doubt it because it wasn't really UCF's call it was the base closure commision's in 1993. Duke by the way is favored by two.
Liberty Bowl: (Memphis)
Kansas vs. Arkansas.
A visually pleasing matchup from a spelling point of view, although they aren't homophones. Kansas had a terrific campaign after years and years of being lost in the college football wilderness. Their last bowl game was in 2008(!) when they went to the Insight (now Guaranteed Rate) Bowl where they beat Minnesota. Arkansas has had a little bit of a down year following their Outback (now Reliaquest) Bowl win over Penn State last season. Wonder why the Liberty Bowl doesn't invite Liberty University to play there. Maybe it's because they're an Independent for now. Arkansas is favored by 2.5.
Holiday Bowl: (San Diego)
#15 Oregon vs. North Carolina.
How long ago was North Carolina's last conference title? Let me put it to you this way, I was midway through the first grade, and they're star player was Lawrence Taylor. THAT'S how long ago it's been. As for Oregon, they're coming off a disappointing (by their standards) campaign in which they lost to their bitter rivals in Corvallis. At least they're favored by two touchdowns and are playing in San Diego, albeit a baseball stadium. I miss the Murph.
Texas Bowl: (Houston)
Texas Tech vs. Ole Miss.
Texas Tech will be playing with somewhat heavy hearts as Mike Leach was once their head coach. The Rebels, who gave Alabama a ballgame this year, are favored by 4.
Pinstripe Bowl: (New York City)
Syracuse vs. Minnesota.
The Orange get to play a de facto home game at not-so-new Yankee Stadium against the Golden Gophers, which could change their name to Olden Gophers to pay homage to current Yankees PA (and former Rays radio voice) Paul Olden. Just make sure that no managers are around after he asked about a certain player's performance. Gophers are favored by four.
Cheez-It Bowl: (Orlando--Camping World)
Oklahoma vs. #13 Florida State.
The 'Noles are back! For the first time since 2019 when the beat Southern Miss in the Independence Bowl, Florida State is going bowling, in their home state even! A righteous reward for the best team in what used to be the capital of college football but is now the capital of bum-ass governors. Oklahoma had a dismal year, scuffling to break even after a lot of promise to begin the year, I know a particular horsey lady near OKC has to be disappointed. This is FSU's fifth bowl game against the Sooners. First was the January 2, 1965 Gator Bowl, where they won 36-19. The other three games have been losses though, 24-7 in the 1980 Orange Bowl, 18-17 in the 1981 Orange Bowl, and 13-2 in the BCS National Championship, which just so happened to be the 2001 Orange Bowl. This is also their third appearance in this particular bowl game, winning over Wisconsin in 2008, and Notre Dame in 2011 (when it was known as the Champs Sports Bowl). Florida State is a 7.5-point favorite.
Alamo Bowl: (San Antonio)
#20 Texas vs. #12 Washington.
Washington had a terrific season in 2022, going 10-2. Meanwhile, Texas went 8-4, with all four of their losses coming by one possession, including a one-point loss at hoe to Alabama, which at the time looked unstoppable (until Tennessee happened). Texas and Bama (as well as Tennessee) will be conference rivals in 2025. The Longhorns are 4.5-point favorites over the Huskies, probably because the game is in San Antonio.
Well, since my laptop is continuing to act up, and I have other things to get ready, I'll pause this preview until sometime next week. I'm sure I'll have fallen victim to Whamageddon by then, but hopefully not "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer." Gosh almighty that song was so stupid. Anyway, be well and enjoy the remainder of your Wednesday.
CT
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