Bowl games preview, pt. 1

No one is going to read a rambling, too long preview of 40 bowl games so I'll break these up into four pages of rambling about ten games each, in the order they're played because that only makes sense - you know, just like someone trying to watch all 40 games.

Dec. 19th

Arizona vs. New Mexico    New Mexico Bowl, Albuquerque  2pm EST  

-Former Notre Dame coach Bob Davie has been at the helm of the Lobos for the past three years and they finally managed to win enough games to qualify for a bowl, and against a quality opponent to boot.  For the past two years, Davie has visited the ESPN booth during the game to talk up the Lobos program and by gawd, he went and avoided that booth visit this year.

 This was a disappointing season for the Wildcats although they did a get a Gameday visit to campus on what no doubt was a slow week in good match ups.  The guest picker that day was horse trainer Bob Baffert who didn't know much about college football - all his picks were based on what schools his horse racing friends attended.  Weak.

 I'll go with New Mexico here, they get to play in their home stadium.  Cool trophy alert.

They should sell mini replicas of these, I'd buy one.

BYU vs. Utah    Las Vegas Bowl, 3:30pm ET

-Bowl season also means games in the aftermath of coaching changes.  BYU's Bronco Mendenhall is off to coach Virginia.  The Cougars won their first two games on fluke plays and were embarrassed in Ann Arbor.  BYU is also one of the dirtier teams in college football.  They roughed it up big time with Memphis in last year's Miami Beach Bowl.

 
 There was talk in the first half of the season that Utah was a national title contender after they rolled Oregon 62-20. The Utes stumbled at USC and things unraveled from there.

 My pick, Utah and two brawls with their cross state rival.

Ohio University vs. Appalachian State.  Camellia Bowl, Montgomery, AL  5:30pm ET

 Year two of this game at glamorous Cramton Bowl.  Frank Solich has done a nice job after being run out at Nebraska.  The Bobcats had been to two bowl games in school history prior to Solich's arrival.  This will be the school's seventh bowl game since then.  With all the openings for head coaches I'm surprised Solich is still in Athens.

 I had no idea App State moved up to the Sun Belt and the FCS.

 Let's go with Ohio. Whatever.

San Jose State vs. Georgia State   Cure Bowl, Orlando, FL 7pm ET

-This is one of the new bowl games this year. No, it does not involve The Cure.  Too bad, I'd like to see Robert Smith drop by the broadcast booth.

 Georgia State won one game the past two seasons, so I suppose that's the story line here.  San Jose State is one of three 5-7 teams to qualify for a bowl game.

 Might as well pick Georgia State.

Arkansas State vs. Louisiana Tech    New Orleans Bowl, 9pm ET

-This game wisely chooses a team from Louisiana each year, swapping the Ragin' Cajuns for the Bulldogs of LaTech. Arkansas State scores a lot of points.  I'll be exhausted from watching four games previous to this one and this one could go late into the night.

 Red Wolves? Bulldogs?  Who cares.

December 21st

South Florida vs. Western Kentucky    Miami Beach Bowl, 2:30pm ET

-Last year's game was fun, ending with a brawl between BYU and Memphis. Bulls head coach Willie Taggart went to South Florida from WKU, so that's a talking point.  I only saw South Florida once, giving UC a total beat down. Western Kentucky scores lots of points. The Hilltoppers are the best team in the state of Kentucky but I think the Bulls get the win.

 This game is on a Monday afternoon, so only gambling degenerates or guys burning vacation days (me) will be watching.  Pro tip:  Don't wait until December 21st to take a full week off of work.  I used vacation in dribs and drabs this year, mistake.

December 22nd

 Akron vs. Utah State   Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, Boise, ID  3:30 ET

-Another afternoon, another crummy game.  Reason to watch, frequently injured Utah State quarterback Chuckie Keeton.  I think he's been an Aggie since BowlQuest started in 2006. This is his last game.  I have no idea why this game has a MAC team slotted - no one from Ohio or Michigan ever travels to this game.

 One of my favorite bowl mascots, Spudsy, will be in the house!

 Edible and anthropomorphic.  I'll go with Utah State, Zips just happy to be invited.

No. 24 Temple vs. Toledo   Boca Raton Bowl, 7pm ET

 Two teams with disappointing ends to their seasons. Temple lost to Houston in the AAC championship game while Toledo lost to Western Michigan to blow a chance to play in the MAC championship and then their coach left for the Iowa State job.  The Rockets started strong including a win at Arkansas.

 This should actually be a good game. I like the Owls but that could change.

December 23rd

Boise State vs. Northern Illinois   Poinsettia Bowl, San Diego, 4:30pm ET

 -Weird year for a usually good Boise State squad.  They lost on a BYU Hail Mary and had eight turnovers in their game against Utah State.  Maybe the horrifying blue turf has caught up with them.  Northern Illinois went through every quarterback on their roster.

 Have to take Boise State.

Bowling Green vs. Georgia Southern  GoDaddy Bowl, Mobile, AL, 8pm ET

-This game is usually the last bowl game of the season, played on a Sunday night on January 8th. Someone woke up and put it somewhere someone may watch it.

 Bowling Green is a lot of fun, they beat two Big 10 teams and won the MAC. But alas, success in the MAC leads to coaches jumping to bigger jobs.  The Falcons Dino Babers must like the color orange, he left to take the coaching job at Syracuse.  I know nothing about Georgia Southern, not even what conference they're in.

 I like the Falcons and their senior QB Matt Johnson.  I'd say it's a 50/50 chance for Danica to show up.

There you go, the first ten games.  Don't forget, my BowlQuest picks game, free to play on the ESPN site. .  Straight up game, no confidence picks. The picks group is BowlQuestX and the password is "cincyspartan."