NBL Bowl Analysis

UPDATED – It is with great sadness that Randy and I are not able to bring you a recorded podcast this week. OK, maybe we are not all that sad, as Randy is out on the road enjoying the bowl season and I am enjoying some time off with my family over the holidays. However, we would feel quite guilty if we didn’t provide you with a taste of something, so with that, here are our picks for some of the remaining upcoming bowl games

Armed Forces Bowl

Randy – The Air Force is going to see its worst arial attack
since Vietnam as Case Keenum and Houston pass for over 400 yards and
ground the Falcons. Houston

Eric – I’ve said it before, I know, but why is it that the Air Force Academy doesn’t throw the the football. Maybe they have never learned how to. Well, they are going to get a lesson from Keenum and the Cougars.  Houston
Sun Bowl

Randy – Oklahoma faces their most forbidable foe in Toby Gerheart.
I expect the Sooner D to wear down and Gerheart to get two 4th Quarter
TDs to seal the Cardinal victory. Stanford
Eric – Stanford has been sneaking up on team after team this season, and mostly on the strong legs of Toby Gerheart. Not that Oklahoma is going to be surprised by the Cardinal attack. What would be surprising is if Oklahoma’s defense holds throughout the game. Come to think of it, I have my doubts if the Sooner offense can matchup as well. Stanford
Texas Bowl

Randy – Niumatololo has the troops fired up for win #10 as Navy
pounds Mizzou into submission. Navy by 10. Navy
Eric – 1st of all, Randy officially sucks for going to this game without me, but he is right about the outcome. Missouri is scrambling to recover a pretty shameful season for what it could have been and in years past, it certainly would have been hard to give the edge to Navy. Not this year. If you can’t beat Baylor, you can’t beat Navy. Navy

Insight Bowl

Randy – Ugly matchup, but Minny has struggled with injuries while Rhoades has been able to motivate the Cyclones, so I expect an ugly ISU win. Iowa State
Eric – Tough to find a lot of points for comparison in this one. The Gophers have been here before…too bad they’ve lsot here most of the time and with key offensive injuries, Minnesota’s going to have some trouble getting the ball in the end zone. Iowa State  has had it’s share of injuries as well, but they’ve still manageged quite the turnaround from their 10 loss season of last year. A bowl win would cap it off and give them stronger legs for next season. I think they Cyclones will get it. Iowa State

CFA Bowl

Randy – Virginia Tech has been the benificiary of luck in close
games. Tennessee hasn’t. Hokies get a close victory over the Vols,
extending the Vols losing streak here in Atlanta. Va Tech

Eric – Tennessee really turned out to be a better team than anticipated. A few big losses, but a bit win against Georgia and nearly taking down Alabama in a 2 point game let me know they have what it takes. Virginia Tech may not have been the premier team of college footabll this season, but they showed they can put teams away and have been much more consistent getting the ball in the endzone. Have to take the Hokies. Va. Tech

Outback Bowl

Randy – Both the Tigers and Wildcats have been difficult to predict
this year. Both have exceeded and under performed against expectations
as various points this season. Coin Flip game. I’ll take Auburn. Auburn

Eric – Northwestern doesn’t really believe in bowl games, but on occasion they break from their conventional thinking, make it to a bowl, and lose. Auburn has been to the dance a few times, and in spite of their relative weakness in conference, I’ll take a 7-5 SEC team over an 8-4 Big Ten team this season. Sad, ain’t it? Auburn

Bowden Memorial Game f/k/a the Gator Bowl

Randy – in a matchup that would have been more interesting several times over the past decades compared to this year we say goodbye to one of the greatest coaches to walk the side lines and say “Dad gum.” Unfortunately his last game will go similarly to the way his career ended. Out with a whimper. WVU gives Doc Holiday a send off he’ll never forget as the WVU defense holds FSU to less than 10. West Virginia

Eric – Football is a game of emotions and I assure you that motions will run high in this one. It’s pretty sad to tell you the truth to see a legend leave the field. But, it’s not nearly as sad as the Seminoles on field performance this season. Between Brown and Devine, the Mountaineers will break Bowden’s streak in the Gator Bowl. West Virginia

Some fucking credit card company bowl (Capital One Bowl)

Randy – considering I’m sending these to Eric typed out on my blackberry I’m surprised I haven’t cursed yet, but I’m tired of companies taking over bowl names. I don’t mind them sponsoring the games, but just keep the names. Hear me Citrus, Peach and Motor City Bowls?? Thank God the Cotton, Rose, Orange and Sugar have kept their names. This is college football, and the sport IS about tradition. Oh, you want a pick? Penn State by 7. JoePa and those white socks ARE tradition. Penn State
Eric – Damn…how can I top that one? As far as I’m concerned, LSU winning in double overtime against Arkansas might as well have been a loss. Drop to Ole’ Miss as well right before thanksgiving and it has been a while since the Tigers had a solid win. Besides, it will be Clark to Moye for Penn State and white socks or not, JoePa is a winner. Penn State
Rose Bowl

Randy – Masoli v. Prior is what many thing this game is about, but I
have to think is has more to do with a first year coach vs. The
Sweater Vest. Never trust a man in a sweater vest. While that might be
sage advice, it doesn’t help with this game. The Ducks have a better
ground game, and while their D isn’t as good as the Buckeyes, they
will be good enough to keep Prior in check and keep the Pac-10’s Rose
dominance going. Oregon

Eric – This game belongs to the west coast, so right off the bat the edge goes to the Pac-10. You have to love the Ducks offense. They can certainly run the ball and can throw it if need be. And yes, I agree with Randy that Ohio State has the better defense, Oregon has faced some tough QB’s this year…Kellen Moore and Sean Canfield to name a couple. That, and I’m going to say that I can put Prior into the upper echelon of field generals just yet. A win here would do it, but I don’t think it’s going to happen. Oregon

Sugar Bowl

Randy – Having been in New Orleans in the past 24 hours, I can tell
you that the Cincinnati fans have a complete “Happy to be here” vibe,
while Florida fans are looking to take some frustrations out on the
Bearkats. Crowd numbers might be equal, but the talent level isn’t. I
expect Tim Tebow to jump pass his was to Sugar Bowl MVP and a 20+
point Gator victory. Florida

Eric – No first hand fan experience here, but what I do have is enough experience watching Tebow and add to the fact that Meyer is hanging it up after this one and Cincinnati has been left abandoned by their head coach moving on BEFORE the bowl game, Florida sticks it to them hard. Florida