College Football Bowls: Pre Christmas Bowl Previews
December 18, 2010
New Mexico Bowl 2:00 pm
Albuquerque, NM
BYU vs. UTEP
This Bowl gets it all started. It’s not the most intriguing matchup but you should watch anyways. UTEP will probably have more of a home field advantage due to the proximity of the bowl site to the 2 campuses but I don’t think it will matter.
Winner: BYU
uDrove Humanitarian Bowl 5:30 pm
Boise, ID
Fresno State vs. Northern Illinois
Again, this isn’t the most exciting of games but the teams will be fired up to end the year with a win. Fresno has the reputation that it will play anywhere at anytime. This time they have the NIU on the blue turf. Fresno has the advantage because they play Boise State in Boise every other year so they are used to stadium.
Winner: Fresno State
R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl 9:00 pm
New Orleans, LA
Troy vs. Ohio
Troy had a pretty good offense throughout the year but can’t seem to play any defense. I don’t know much about Ohio other than it had a 7 game win streak during the season and finished with 8 wins.
Winner: Troy
December 21, 2010
Beef O’Brady’s St. Petersburg Bowl 8:00 pm
St. Petersburg, FL
Louisville vs. Southern Miss
The last time Louisville was in a bowl game was 2006 and it was in the Orange Bowl. Charlie Strong has this team heading in the right direction in his first year and many though he was the leading candidate to take the Florida job. Strong will probably have many supporters when he takes his Cardinals with him on his return to the Sunshine State. Southern Miss has a good offense but no defense.
Winner: Louisville
December 22, 2010
MAACO Las Vegas Bowl 8:00 pm
Las Vegas, NV
Utah vs. Boise State
This is probably one of the best “lower-tier” bowls of the whole season. If this matchup occurred during week 3 of the regular season Gameday may have been on campus. Utah, who is leaving the Mountain West for the Pac 10, plays Boise State, who is joining the Mountain West. Boise is upset about losing to Nevada and blowing its shot a BCS game. Utah, who was blown out by TCU, wants to prove its worthy of the Pac 10 status. Be sure to watch this one for the offensive fireworks.
Winner: Boise State
December 23, 2010
San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl 8:00 pm
San Diego, CA
San Diego State vs. Navy
This is virtually a home game for San Diego but Navy is always ready to play. The Midshipmen scored 76 points in a game this year, even with the triple option offense. SDSU is overshadowed in the Mountain West by Utah and TCU but can throw the ball around. The key to this game is defense. If the Aztecs can stop the run then they will be successful against Navy, who rarely throws it.
Winner: San Diego State
December 24, 2010
Sheraton Hawaii Bowl 8:00 pm
Honolulu, HI
Tulsa vs. Hawaii
Can you say offensive fireworks? These teams had very similar seasons, each only losing 3 games. Hawaii was the first team to accept a bowl bid this season and elected to stay in paradise for its bowl game. Tulsa gets to leave the cold Midwest to spend Christmas in warm weather.
Winner: Hawaii
