Best 2008 Bowl Game Defensive Matchups

Usually, casual football fans want to see a high-scoring game.  When they see two tough defenses duke it out in a low scoring match, they walk away disappointed. 

I can appreciate that point of view, but if you are like me, you don't mind if the defense shines a little more, and you love to see the big hits and you believe that there are few plays that are more exciting than seeing a defense set up a brick wall and deny that critical first down on fourth and inches or that goal-line stand that denies a needed touchdown. 

When you are choosing which bowl games to watch in the next few weeks, consider tuning-in to the match-ups that have pitted the best defenses against each other:

Boise State vs. TCU

This is the best defensive match up you will see and it comes before Christmas on December 23 in the San Diego Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl.  TCU should win by 2. 

USC vs. Penn State

This BCS Rose Bowl Pac 10 vs. Big 10 match up is a must see.  Don't look for USC to score more than a few touchdowns but you can expect them to win by a field goal.

These defenses aren't the powerhouses that you will see in the Poinsettia Bowl and the Rose Bowl but they offer a good match up that should be fun to watch:

BYU vs. Arizona

These two defenses have each allowed an average of 21 points per game.  If you look at the offensive statistics, you can expect this Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl match up to result in a close game but BYU should win by a field goal. 

If the saying is true, that "defense wins championships", then you can expect the following results from the other BCS games:

Alabama beats Utah in the Sugar Bowl by a field goal.

Ohio State beats Texas in the Fiesta Bowl by one touchdown.

Virginia Tech beats Cincinnati in the Orange Bowl by a field goal.

Florida beats Oklahoma by two touchdowns in the BCS National Championship.