2009-2010 Bowl Games: Let The Fun Begin!

Ryan HealeyDec 8, 2009

Ahhhh Bowl Games got to love them. So with my BCS Bowl predictions done I thought I would touch on the bowls that seem to go unnoticed. Here is the list of all the bowls excluding the BCS ones with my predictions and a few short write ups about some of the games.

New Mexico Bowl

Fresno State (8-4) vs. Wyoming (6-6)

Dec. 19th, 4:30 p.m. on ESPN

Winner: Fresno State

St. Petersburg Bowl

UCF (8-4) vs. Rutgers (8-4)

Dec. 19th, 8 p.m. on ESPN

This could be a good game. UCF did beat Houston earlier in the season.

Winner: Rutgers is too much

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl

Southern Miss (7-5) vs. Middle Tennessee (9-3)

Dec. 20th, 8:30 p.m. on ESPN

Right...

Winner: Don't care so I'll go with Middle Tennessee

MAACO Las Vegas Bowl*

#18 Oregon State (8-4) vs. #14 BYU (10-2)

Dec. 22nd, 8 p.m. on ESPN

This game should be a great match-up. Expect the Rodgrs to have a good day statistic wise along with Max Hall.

Winner: BYU in a thriller

S.D. County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl*

#23 Utah (9-3) vs. Cal (8-4)

Dec. 23rd, 8 p.m. on ESPN

Good match-up. Utah is guided by a freshman quarterback and Cal is lead by an impressive running game.

Winner: Cal proves to be too much to handle.

Sheraton Hawaii Bowl*

Nevada (8-4) vs. SMU (7-5)

Dec. 24th, 8 p.m. on ESPN

June Jones comes back to Hawai'i! This should be interesting and expect it to be filled with Jones supporters in the Aloha State.

Winner: Nevada breezes past SMU

Little Caesars Bowl

Marshall (6-6) vs. Ohio (9-4)

Dec. 26th, 1 p.m. on ESPN

Winner: Ohio

Meineke Car Care Bowl*

#17 Pitt (9-3) vs. North Carolina (8-4)

Dec. 26th, 4:30 p.m. on ESPN

Good game. Dion Lewis looks to continue breaking records and look for UNC's defense to step up.

Winner: Pittsburgh

Emerald Bowl

Boston College (8-4) vs. #24 USC (8-4)

Dec. 26th, 8 p.m. on ESPN

As a BC 'homer' this one should be interesting. BC's D is ranked in the top 20th nationally so I expect them to keep USC offense bottled up. On the offensive side of the ball BC will give it away to USC defense like they've given it away all year. Plus this a prelude to a series that starts in 2013.

Winner: USC wins easy

Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl

Kentucky (7-5) vs. Clemson (8-5)

Dec. 27th, 8:30 p.m. on ESPN

C.J. Spiller enough said.

Winner: Clemson

Independence Bowl

Texas A&M (6-6) vs. Georgia (7-5)

Dec. 28th, 5 p.m. on ESPN2

Texas A&M can put on a show especially on 'good' defenses and don't forget Georgia is looking for a new defensive coordinator.

Winner: Texas A&M

EagleBank Bowl

Army or UCLA vs. Temple (9-3)

Dec. 29th, 4:30 p.m. on ESPN

Temple was a very big surprise. Army has to beat Navy to get here anyways and I don't think they do.

Winner: Temple regardless of who they play.

Champs Sports Bowl*

#15 Miami (9-3) vs. #25 Wisconsin (9-3)

Dec. 29th, 8 p.m. on ESPN

Interesting match-up. Miami was the giant slayer to start the season beating three of four ranked teams which no one thought they could do. Wisconsin surprised people with their record.

Winner: Ehh Miami

Roady's Humanitarian Bowl

Bowling Green (7-5) vs. Idaho (7-5)

Dec. 30th, 4:30 p.m. on ESPN

Hmm...

Winner: Bowling Green

Pacific Life Holiday Bowl*

#20 Arizona (8-4) vs. #22 Nebraska (9-4)

Dec. 30th, 8 p.m. on ESPN

Ndamukong Suh pretty much handled Texas with some help and I expect him to do the same.

Winner: Nebraska

Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl

Houston (10-3) vs. Air Force (7-5)

Dec. 31st, 12 p.m. on ESPN

Interesting game. Can Air Force stop that air attack that Houston has?

Winner: Houston

Brut Sun Bowl*

Oklahoma (7-5) vs. #21 Stanford (8-4)

Dec. 31st, 2 p.m. on CBS

Oh this is probably one of the more intersting ones in my mind. Toby Gerhart against Gerald McCoy? The Cardinal are without their quarterback Andrew Luck which is bad news and I don't know who Stanfords back-up is, Pritchard or someone else?.

Winner: Oklahoma. But if Luck was playing I'd 100% go with Stanford

Texas Bowl Bowl

Navy (8-4) vs. Missouri (8-4)

Dec. 31st, 3:30 p.m. on ESPN

I like Navy's chances. But Mizzou has been pretty impressive.

Winner: Missouri

Insight Bowl Bowl

Minnesota (6-6) vs. Iowa State (6-6)

Dec. 31st, 6 p.m. on NFL Network

Yawn.

Winner: Minnesota

Chick-fil-A Bowl

#11 Virginia Tech (9-3) vs. Tennessee (7-5)

Dec. 31st, 7:30 p.m. on ESPN

This could surprise people. Tennessee is pretty good and had that close game against Alabama.

Winner: Virginia Tech finds a way to over power the Vols. But don't be surprised if its the other way around.

Outback Bowl

Northwestern (8-4) vs. Auburn (7-5)

Jan. 1st, 11 a.m. on ESPN

This could be a dog fight to the finish

Winner: Northwestern but I wouldn't be surprised if Auburn won.

Capital One Bowl*

#13 Penn State (10-2) vs. #12 LSU (9-3)

Jan. 1st, 1 p.m. on ABC

Penn States two losses came at the hands of Iowa and #16 Ohio State, LSU's three loses came at the hands of #1 Florida, #3 Alabama, and Ole Miss. (Rankings were at the time of the game.) I like LSU's chances but I think Penn State could give them a good challenge.

Winner: LSU by a few

Konica Minolta Gator Bowl*

#16 West Virginia (9-3) vs. Florida State (6-6)

Jan. 1st, 1 p.m. on CBS

Watch this game. Bobby Bowdens last game ever as the head coach of FSU and he is going up against the second team he coached prior to FSU. I think FSU's players are going to play their hearts out for their coach but come up short.

Winner: West Virginia

International Bowl

South Florida (7-5) vs. Northern Illinois (7-5)

Jan. 2nd, 12 p.m. on ESPN2

Winner: South Florida

Papajohns.com Bowl*

South Carolina (7-5) vs. UConn (7-5)

Jan. 2nd, 2 p.m. on ESPN

UCONN plays some inspired football or Jasper Howard. Don't forget they almost got Cincinnati and they beat Notre Dame.

Winner: UCONN

AT&T Cotton Bowl*

#19 Oklahoma State (9-3) vs. Ole Miss (8-4)