Bowl News and Notes For December 20

Here are some news and notes for sports handicappers and fans alike from the staff of OffshoreInsiders.com   

Memphis-South Florida

South Floridacould approach this as a consolation bowl. After their first preseason ranking ever, they were thinking BCS starting 5-0. However, they slide into the postseason having lost 5-of-7. They failed to score more than 20 points in their final five games.

Memphis defeated just one bowl team Southern Miss and has no wins to teams with a winning record.

Southern Miss-Troy

Troy was 8-4 but easily could have won two more. They lost by one to Louisiana-Monroe when their potential game winning field goal hit the crossbar. They also blew a 31-3 lead to LSU.

Southern Miss enters the postseason playing their best football of the year winning five straight. Their defensive improvement was the reason. After giving up 35.8 points per game in five straight losses, they have up 35 points combined in their final five games.

BYU-Arizona

Motivation should not be a factor for an Arizona team playing in their first bowl game in a decade. BYU’s focus may be another story. A loss to Utahin their season finale cost them a shot at a BCS bowl.

Arizona allowed only 14.7 points per game at home, but 30.6 on the road. Arizona ranks 16th in the nation in total offense and BYU 19th, so points should be aplenty.

Wake Forest-Navy

These teams met on Sept. 16 and Navy won 24-17. Navy won 5-of-7 to close the year including the final two contests by a combined 50-0. Navy should have QB Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada at full speed. He missed five games this year but returned against Army. “He makes a huge difference for the Naval Academy,” says ScoresOddsPicks.com Brian Gould.