Tulsa beats Ball State in the GMAC Bowl

The final bowl game was held tonight prior to the BCS Championship Game set for Thursday, January 8, 2009.

2009 GMAC Bowl results:

Tulsa defeated Ball State 45-13 Box Score Recap.

Ball State finishes on a two game losing streak as the C-USA team defeats the MAC opponent. Tough bowl season for the MAC and Big Ten conferences from the Midwest.

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January 5, 2009: Fiesta Bowl and News of note

2009 Fiesta Bowl: Ohio State Buckeyes (10-2) vs. Texas Longhorns (11-1)

We see Ohio State is a +8 point underdog in this third and final Big Ten vs. Big 12 match up in a 2008-09 bowl games.

• OhioStateFB Game Point Spread: Ohio State +8.0, Texas -8.0 http://tinyurl.com/78lz37

Experience would clearly be with Mack Brown's Longhorns at quarterback, with junior Colt McCoy, vs. Jim Tressel's Buckeyes at quarterback, freshman Terrelle Pryor. In the NFL, it clearly was the Arizona Cardinals beating the Atlanta Falcons, due to great part by the difference in experience at the quarterback position.

Ohio State's defense vs. Texas' offense... how much of a factor will defense play in this game? In the Rose Bowl, Penn State couldn't shutdown USC, until it was far too late. Does Ohio State have the offense to keep up with Texas?

Ohio State has won three of four Fiesta Bowls they have played in and only loss was to Penn State in the 1980/81 season. Still, Texas is the team to beat, but historically Ohio State plays the Big 12 far better than SEC bowl opponents. Frankly, Ohio State has never beat a SEC team in a bowl game. Will Texas be Ohio State's first loss to a current Big 12 opponent in a bowl game?

Cidsports' prediction for 2009 Fiesta Bowl

Ohio State 35

Texas 28

The Big Ten isn't going to finish 1-6 in bowl games this year are they? Is Iowa's 31-10 win over South Carolina the only win the Big Ten will have in the 2008-09 bowl season?

In other news, ESPN reports:

Packers fire 6 coaches, including D coordinator - http://tinyurl.com/8n4cs5

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January 3, 2009: College Football's Final Four

It certainly doesn't have the same flair as the NCAA Final 4 for college basketball, but we are down the the final four of college football games today of the 2008-09 bowl season. Over the next six days, four more games will be played, starting today with the International Bowl from Toronto, Canada.

2009 International Bowl: Connecticut (7-5) vs. Buffalo (8-5):

The fifth place Big East team, the UConn Huskies, will square off with the champions of the MAC title game, the Buffalo Bulls. UConn is playing in back-to-back bowl games in the school's history. Of course, they joined the FBS in 2002. Buffalo coach Turner Gill, in his 3Rd season as a head coach, is leading the Bulls to their first bowl game ever. UConn is 1-1 in bowl games and won the 2004 Motor City Bowl over a MAC opponent, Toledo 39-10.

Cidsports' prediciton for the 2009 International Bowl:

Connecticut 25

Buffalo 17

If you are going to have a post-January bowl game between a 7-5 and 8-5 team, I guess it is appropriate that the game is played outside the United States?

• January 5, 2009: Texas (11-1) vs. Ohio State (10-2) in the Fiesta Bowl
• January 6, 2009: Tulsa (10-3) vs. Ball State (12-1) in the GMAC Bowl
• January 8, 2009: Oklahoma (12-1) vs. Florida (12-1) in the BCS Championship Game

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January 2, 2009: Cotton, Liberty and Sugar Bowl games are on for today

It was a great start to the New Year yesterday enjoying the Outback and Rose Bowl games, along with parts of the Capital One, Gator and Orange Bowl games. Congratulations to Iowa and USC in very strong performances. Nebraska pulled on their second bowl win under coach Bo Pelini, the first was in 2003 as a interim coach. Georgia and Virginia Tech were both winners.

Today, we have the Cotton, Liberty and Sugar Bowl games up. The majority of bowl games are in the books, but three major BCS games are yet to be played, including the BCS Championship game.

The 2009 Cotton Bowl: Texas Tech (11-1) vs. Mississippi (8-4) in this Big 12 vs. SEC match up on FOX. The Texas Tech Red Raiders finished in a three-way tied for first in the Big 12 South, while the Mississippi Rebels second in the SEC West.

In the last five bowl games, Texas Tech's Mike Leach is 4-1. The lone loss, the Red Raiders lost 10-13 in the 2006 Cotton Bowl to Alabama, in the Big 12 vs. SEC match up. The Rebels are playing in their first bowl game, since the 2004 Cotton Bowl. By the way, the Rebels won 31-28, in the SEC vs. Big 12 match up, to Oklahoma State

Cidsports' prediction for the 2009 Cotton Bowl:

Texas Tech 27
Mississippi 33

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My prediction for the Liberty Bowl:

Kentucky 20

East Carolina 24

*** ***

My prediction for the Sugar Bowl:

Utah 24

Alabama 35

It was a great start to the 2009 year with the January 1 bowl games. The NHL enjoyed a little ice time at Wrigley Field and the College Basketball season is beginning to heat up as most conferences are beginning conference play. For example, the Creighton Bluejays are off to a 2-0 start with wins over Wichita State and Indiana State to open the 2008-09 Missouri Valley Conference basketball season.

Enjoy your first weekend of the New Year! T.G.I.F. to all!

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Big Difference between Top Ten in FBS and the Top Five

Penn State and Ohio State... clearly not in the Top 5 for 2008. Will one or both finish in the Top 10? We will have to look at the body of work of all the bowl teams, after January 8Th to determine.

The Rose Bowl today clearly shows that USC is a Top Five team this year. If we had a +1 system, they would be in the conversation for the BCS Championship game under a +1 system. But, we don't have that in the current system.

We are Penn State... much better performance in the second half of the Rose Bowl! It is good to see the pride of the Nittany Lions appear.

Cheers and Happy New Year everyone! The current college football season ends in one week. For most programs, our thoughts are beginning for 2009. For a select few and a few small games outside the BCS, there is still some excitement to look forward to.

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Is there a Top Ten team in FBS from the Big Ten?

Right now, we would rank Iowa above Penn State as a member of the Top 15 college football teams for the 2008 season. Penn State is a Top 15 team, but neither team is worthy of the Top Ten.

Throw out the season as a whole... Who are the Top 15 teams right now in College Football? Iowa beat Penn State in 2008 by the score of 24-23. Iowa did lose four games. They lost all four games by a total of 12 points. They clearly would match up with any of those teams right now. They started the season 3-3, but have rolled off six wins in seven games and are clearly playing better than Penn State right now.

Who are the Top Teams in College Football right now? Does the Big Ten close 2008 with a Top Ten team in the FBS?

USC is clearly a Top 5 team. Heck, head to head, they may be able to beat just about anyone with their combination of offense and defense. USC's only loss was at Oregon State, while Florida lost to Mississippi at home, no less.

The Big Ten clearly has one remaining candidate for the Top Ten this season. Ohio State will play Texas in the Fiesta Bowl on January 5Th.

Clearly, the BCS would benefit from changing to a +1 format, with traditional bowl ties and a final BCS Championship game to crown the best team. USC deserves the same opportunity as Texas to play Florida in the BCS Championship game.

Oklahoma will face Florida in the BCS Championship game on January 8Th, but USC may be making some believers for the final AP Poll, which doesn't consider only one game to determine their national champion.

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Iowa takes the Outback To(night)day over South Carolina 31-10 to welcome New Year

As Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said, Iowa brought "great focus" to Tampa and executed vs. South Carolina in the 2009 Outback Bowl.

Mission accomplished! Iowa 31 South Carolina 10 in Tampa!

Iowa moves to 9-4 on the season, while South Carolina finishes 7-6, dropping coach Steve Spurrier to under .500 in bowl games and USC drops to below .500 in games played, after the 2009 Outback Bowl.

Iowa RB Shonn Greene won the Outback Bowl player of the game award with 121 yards and 3 touchdowns. He finishes the season with 13 100+ yards rushing for the season. The only player to rush for at least 100 yards in each ball game this season.

Post game, Iowa's band was playing "Hey Jude" in Tampa.

Kirk Ferentz finishes his tenth season at Iowa with a strong performance, losing four game by a total of 12 points during the season. A Ferentz coached Iowa team wins their second Outback Bowl in three games, completes their fifth January 1 bowl game in ten seasons with a strong 31-10 statement in Tampa.

South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier has a lot of work to do in Columbia, SC to get the Gamecocks ready a SEC title run. It may never come.

It's great to be a Hawkeye!

cidsports

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Happy New Year 2009 everyone: Bring on the 2009 Outback Bowl and four others: Capital One, Gator, Rose & Orange

Bring in the New Year with a little College Football in 2009!

First up, the 2009 Outback Bowl: Iowa (8-4) vs. South Carolina (7-5) kicks off the New Year on ESPN. The Outback Bowl is a classic Big Ten vs. SEC match up.

The Iowa Hawkeyes, finished tied for fourth in the Big Ten in '08, while the South Carolina Gamecocks finished third in the SEC East. Iowa's coach Kirk Ferentz is 3-3 at Iowa in bowl games as head coach, 1-1 in the Outback Bowl. The Ole Ball Coach, Steve Spurrier for the Gamecocks, is 1-1 in bowl games, after returning to college football from the NFL experiment in '05. The Gamecocks are 4-9 lifetime in bowl games.

Neither team played in a bowl game during the 2007 season. Each team was bowl eligible at 6-6. We agree that the intangibles favor Iowa, since they are coming off a strong finish in '08.

Cidsports' prediction for the 2009 Outback Bowl:

Iowa 30
South Carolina 17

3 Keys to the Outback Bowl Game:

1. Iowa junior RB Shonn Greene, Doak Walker award winner, vs. a South Carolina defense that gives up 129 yards per game
2. Quarterback play: both teams have young quarterbacks: turnovers are always big in bowl games. Who plays a stronger game? Iowa's Ricky Stanzi, a sophomore, or South Carolina's Stephen Garcia, a redshirt freshman?
3. Special teams - momentum and field position can always come up big in this phase of the game.

*** ****

While the 2009 Outback Bowl is in play, three more bowl games will kick off:

The 2009 Capital One Bowl: Georgia (9-3) vs. Michigan State (9-3) in another classic Big Ten vs. SEC match up on ABC. The Georgia Bulldogs finished second in the SEC East, while the Michigan State Spartans finished third in the Big Ten.

The running game plays a big role for both clubs. Bowl success is on the side of the Bulldogs. Both teams lost three games and both team lost to the top teams in their respective conferences.

Cidsports' Prediction in the 2009 Capital One Bowl:

Georgia 30

Michigan State 18

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The 2009 Gator Bowl: Clemson (7-5) vs. Nebraska (8-4) in a ACC vs. Big 12 match up on CBS. The Clemson Tigers finished tied for third in the ACC Atlantic Division and changed coaches in the middle of the season. The Nebraska Cornhuskers finished tied for first in the Big 12 North.

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney won the coaching job permanently after leading the Tigers to four wins in the final five games, including three in a row. Nebraska coach Bo Pelini is in his first season, but his second bowl game, since Pelini served as interim coach for the Cornhuskers in the 2003 Alamo Bowl win for Nebraska.

Cidsports' Prediction for the 2009 Gator Bowl:

Clemson 27

Nebraska 21

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The Granddaddy of all Bowl games

The 2009 Rose Bowl: Penn State (11-1) vs. Southern California (11-1) in the traditional match up of the Rose Bowl, the Big Ten champion vs. the Pac 10 Champion, on ABC. The first BCS bowl game of the 2008-09 bowl season. Note to the BCS: implement a +1 system and allow the classic Rose Bowl every year.

The Penn State Nittany Lions and coach Joe Paterno suffered only one defeat in 2008. A 23-24 loss at Iowa on a final second field goal by the Hawkeyes. Like Penn State, the USC Trojans and coach Pete Carroll suffered only loss during the regular season in the Pac 10 conference opener. Again, on the road in the conference, for the Trojans it was a 21-27 loss at Oregon State. Ironically, the Beavers had lost to Penn State in Happy Valley earlier 14-45.

Defense does wins championship, so for the Rose Bowl title in 2009: defense should be the spotlight. Joe Paterno at 82 vs. Pete Carroll in eighth year at USC, the dean of consistency with seven straight BCS bowl games.

Cidsports' prediction for the 2009 Rose Bowl:

Penn State 19

USC 17

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The January 1, 2009 bowl line up concludes today with the 2009 Orange Bowl: Cincinnati (11-2) vs. Virginia Tech (9-4) in a BCS match up of the Big East champion vs. the ACC Champion, on FOX.

Cidsports' prediction for the 2009 Orange Bowl:

Cincinnati 26

Virginia Tech 24

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Chick-Fil-A Bowl: LSU (7-5) vs. Georgia Tech (9-3)

The 2008 Chick-Fil-A Bowl matches the LSU Tigers (7-5, 3Rd in the SEC West) vs. the hometown Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (9-3, tied for 1st in ACC Coastal Division) in Atlanta. I can't eat the sandwiches and do I really care about this game at 7:30 on New Year's Eve? Of course, the game does involve the 2007 season BCS Champion (LSU).

Last year, LSU enjoyed taking down Ohio State and winning their second BCS Title in five years. LSU is playing in their ninth straight bowl game and have won three straight, since their loss to Iowa in the 2005 Capital One Bowl on the final play. LSU coach Les Miles is 3-0 in bowl games for the Tigers. Georgia Tech's coach Paul Johnson is in his first year, since moving over from Navy after last season. The Yellow Jackets have lost three straight bowl games, including last year's 2007 Humanitarian Bowl 28-40 to Fresno State. But, the Yellow Jackets do have been to 12 consecutive bowls.

LSU's losses have come at Florida, vs. Georgia, vs. Alabama and their final two games of the season vs. Ole Miss and vs. Arkansas. Georgia Tech's three losses were at Virginia Tech, Virginia and at North Carolina. Georgia Tech closed out the regular season with a 45-42 win at Georgia, a team LSU lost to at home 38-52.

The last time LSU came off a BCS title... the Tigers were defeated in the bowl game the following season. This year's Chick-Fil-A Bowl... Could it be like the 2000 Peach Bowl, where LSU knocked off Georgia Tech or is it payback?

Cidsports' prediction

LSU 25

Georgia Tech 28

cidsports

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Insight Bowl: Minnesota (7-5) vs, Kansas (7-5)

The 2008 Insight Bowl will welcome the Minnesota Golden Gophers (7-5, tied for 6Th in the Big Ten) vs. the Kansas Jayhawks (7-5, 3Rd in the Big 12 North) in Tempe, AZ. The second Big Ten vs. Big 12 match up in the 2008-09 bowl season.

The 2008 Alamo Bowl was an exciting match up between Northwestern and Missouri, with the Tigers winning in OT. During the season; Kansas beat Missouri, while Northwestern knocked off Minnesota on a late minute turnover taken to the house. The 2008 Insight Bowl may be just as entertaining, but Minnesota enters with one less component... a running game.

Minnesota has rebounded from a 1-11 record last year to 7-5 in coach Tim Brewster's second season for the Gophers. Prior to last year, the Golden Gophers had played in five straight bowl games. For Kansas, the 2008 Insight Bowl represents the first time in school history, that the Jayhawks have played in back to back bowl games. KU beat Virginia Tech 24-21 last year, in the FedEx Orange Bowl. Jayhawks coach Mark Mangino is 2-1 in bowl games in his eighth season at KU.

Minnesota loses came at Ohio State and in their final four games vs. Northwestern, vs. Michigan, at Wisconsin and vs. Iowa. Kansas losses were at South Florida, at Oklahoma, vs. Texas Tech, at Nebraska and vs. Texas.

Midwest conference bragging rights between the Big Ten and Big 12 are on the line in the 2008 Insight Bowl. The Big 12 has won two straight over the Big Ten, including Texas Tech's 44-41 OT win over Minnesota in the 2006 game.

Cidsports' prediction

Minnesota 20

Kansas 30

cidsports

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Music City Bowl: Boston College (9-4) vs. Vanderbilt (6-6)

The 2008 Music City Bowl pits the Boston College Eagles (9-4, tied for 1St in the ACC Coastal Division) vs. the hometown Vanderbilt Commodores (6-6, tied for 3Rd in SEC East) in Nashville.

Boston College leads all FBS programs with eight consecutive bowl wins, including second year coach Jeff Jagodzinski's win last year 24-21 over Michigan State in the Champs Sports Bowl. On the other hand, Vanderbilt is playing in only their fourth bowl ever, and the first bowl since the 1982 Hall of Fame Bowl, where they lost 28-36 to Air Force.

Boston College losses this season were vs. Georgia Tech, at North Carolina, vs. Clemson and vs. Virginia Tech in a rematch for the ACC championship. Vanderbilt won their first five games, then lost six of their final seven games at Mississippi State, at Georgia, vs. Duke, vs. Florida, vs. Tennessee, and at Wake Forest.

Wake Forest was a common opponent for both teams, with Vandy losing at Wake 10-23 to close out the regular season. Boston College beat Wake Forest on the road 24-21 in conference play. Does this game shed some light into the 2008 Music City Bowl?

Cidsports' prediction

Boston College 21

Vanderbilt 10

cidsports

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75th Sun Bowl: Oregon State (8-4) vs. Pittsburgh (9-3)

The 2008 Sun Bowl hosts a match up of the Oregon State Beavers (8-4, tied for 2Nd in the Pac 10) vs. the Pittsburgh Panthers (9-3, tied for 2Nd in the Big East) in El Paso. The Pac 10 is going for their fifth straight win in the Sun Bowl, after Oregon won the one game vs. a Big East opponent, with a 56-21 win over USF last year.

Oregon State is playing in their third straight bowl game, after back to back wins in the '06 Sun Bowl and '07 Emerald Bowl with a one point win over Missouri and a 7 point win over Maryland, respectively. Pittsburgh is playing in their first bowl game under coach Dave Wannstedt, after seeing it's five year bowl streak end after the 2004 season. Pitt beat Oregon State 36-13 in the 2002 Insight Bowl.

Pittsburgh's three losses were vs. Bowling Green, in season opener, vs. Rutgers and at Cincinnati. Oregon State's four losses were at Stanford and at Penn State to open the season, then at Utah and vs. Oregon in the finale. Ironically, Oregon State was blasted at Penn State, while Pittsburgh beat Iowa at home. Iowa beat Penn State 24-23 this season. It doesn't mean much in this game, but it did cost the Nittany Lions a birth in the BCS championship game.

Experience favors the Beavers, with coach Mike Riley in his eighth season and winner of four consecutive bowl games. Ironically, the one bowl loss at Oregon State this decade was vs. Pittsburgh in 2002. Look for a good 2008 Sun Bowl celebrating the 75Th Anniversary of the bowl game.

Cidsports' Prediction

Oregon State 28

Pittsburgh 24

cidsports

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Armed Forces Bowl: Air Force (8-4) vs. Houston (7-5)

The 2008 Armed Forces Bowl will welcome the Air Force Falcons (8-4, 4Th in the MWC) vs. the Houston Cougars (7-5, 3Rd in the C-USA West Division) in Fort Worth.

Last year, the Falcons lost to California 36-42 in the Armed Services Bowl. The Cougars are set for their fourth straight bowl game, but in search for a win, after losing 13-20 to TCU in the Texas Bowl last year.

The twist in this bowl game is that both teams faced one another in game three of the regular season. Air Force beat Houston on the road 31-28. Air Force's four losses were to Utah, Navy, BYU and at TCU. The Falcons lost their final two games, after running off a five game win streak. Houston's other four losses were at Oklahoma State and at Colorado State sandwiched around the game with Air Force, then road losses at Marshall in the middle of the conference season and at Rice in the season finale.

Air Force's last win was vs. Colorado State 38-17. A team that Houston lost 28-25. Conventional wisdom in a rematch says take the Houston Cougars, but it is called the Armed Forces Bowl for a reason... Right?

Cidsports' prediction

Air Force 38

Houston 35

cidsports

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Texas Bowl: Rice (9-3) vs. Western Michigan (9-3)

It's on the NFL Channel and I actually forgot to do a write up on this bowl game between two non-BCS teams from the C-USA and the MAC, respectively. The 2008 Texas Bowl has the hometown Rice Owls (9-3, tied for 1ST in the C-USA West Division) vs. the Western Michigan Broncos in Houston.

Cidsports' prediction:

Rice 28
Western Michigan 30

cidsports

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Holiday Bowl: Oklahoma State (9-3) vs. Oregon (9-3)

The 2008 Holiday Bowl will pit the Oklahoma State Cowboys (9-3, 4Th in the Big 12 South) vs. the Oregon Ducks (9-3, tied for 2Nd in the Pac 10) in San Diego. The Big 12 has beat the Pac 10 in four of the past six Holiday Bowls, including last year, when Texas defeated Arizona State 52-34.

Oklahoma State is playing in their third straight bowl game, including last year's 49-33 win over Indiana in the '07 Insight Bowl. Cowboys coach Mike Gundy is 2-0 in bowl games as a head coach, entering his fourth season. The Oregon Ducks are playing in their fourth straight bowl game under coach Mike Bellotti, who is in his 14Th year as head coach, as dean of the Pac 10 coaches. Last year, the Ducks beat USF 56-21 in the '07 Sun Bowl.

The Cowboys three losses were all in the second half of the season at Texas, at Texas Tech and vs. Oklahoma, while the Ducks three losses cam in the middle half vs. Boise State, at USC and at California. Both teams played Washington State, with the Cowboys opening the season with a 39-13 win, while Oregon took care of business at Washington State 63-14 in the fifth game, coming off a loss to Boise State.

Conventional wisdom says with a Big 12 team squaring off with a Pac 10 team that the audience is in for an offensive showdown in the 2008 Holiday Bowl. Oklahoma State enters the game coming off an offensive showdown, but a 41-61 loss against in-state rival Oklahoma. While the Ducks, closed out the regular season with three wins, including a road finale at in-state rival Oregon State with a sound 65-38 win.

Cidsports' Prediction

Oklahoma State 38

Oregon 35

cidsports

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Humanitarian Bowl: Maryland (7-5) vs. Nevada (7-5)

The 2008 Humanitarian Bowl welcomes the ACC and WAC to Boise this year. The Maryland Terrapins (7-5, tied for 3Rd in the ACC Atlantic Division) vs. the Nevada Wolfpack (7-5, tied for 2Nd in the WAC) will hit the blue turf of Boise for this year's Humanitarian Bowl.

The Terps are making their third straight bowl trip after a 14-21 lost to Oregon State in the Emerald Bowl last year. Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen is 3-2 in bowl games in eight seasons at the helm. Nevada is making their fourth straight bowl visit, after losing 0-23 to New Mexico in last year's New Mexico Bowl. Nevada coach Chris Ault is in his 24Th season for the Wolfpack.

Maryland's losses were at Middle Tennessee, at Virginia, at Virginia Tech, vs. Florida State and at Boston College. They come in on the heels of a two game losing streak. Nevada's losses were vs. Texas Tech, at Missouri, New Mexico State, at Hawaii, and vs. Boise State. Maryland beat five bowl team, while Nevada had two wins over bowl teams at Fresno State and at Louisiana Tech.

Maryland played up to opponents going 4-1 against ranked opponents, but down to unranked opponents finishing 3-4. Nevada is unranked, by the way. The Wolfpack were 3-4 against ranked opponents and 7-2 against unranked foes.

Last year, the non-BCS team beat the BCS team, when Fresno State beat Georgia Tech 40-28, after the BCS had won three out the past four games. Maryland's playing down and up to opponents makes this an interesting pick. Maryland's recent bowls have been against BCS opponents, while Nevada lost the last bowl they played vs. a BCS opponent, when the Wolfpack fell short of defeating Miami-FL in the 2006 MPC Computers Bowl.

Cidsports' Prediction

Maryland 21

Nevada 18

cidsports

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Alamo Bowl: Missouri (9-4) vs. Northwestern (9-3)

The 2008 Alamo Bowl has an interesting match up between the Big 12 North Division champ, the Missouri Tigers (9-4, 1st in Big 12 North) vs. the Northwestern Wildcats (9-3, tied for fourth in Big Ten). Which team shows up for either program, in this classic Big Ten vs. Big 12 match up?

The Missouri Tigers have won back to back Big 12 North Division titles, their first, only to be stalled in the Big 12 Championship game each year. Northwestern hasn't won a bowl game, since the 1949 Rose Bowl. Last year, Northwestern stayed home, though they were bowl eligible at 6-6, while Missouri beat Arkansas soundly 38-7 in the Cotton Bowl.

Each team will be coming off a break, so what impact will that have in the bowl game, especially to each teams passing game? One would think experience clearly favors Missouri, since the Wildcats haven't traveled to a bowl game, since the 2005 Sun Bowl, which ended in a 38-50 loss to UCLA. The Wildcats are 1-5 in bowl games. This is Tiger's fourth straight bowl game.

Northwestern comes into the game with a two game winning streak at Michigan and over in-state rival Illinois, which cost the Fighting Illini a bowl birth. Missouri has lost two straight game to conference rival Kansas and to Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship. Missouri's four losses have come to four bowl teams: Oklahoma State, at Texas, KU and OU, the final two games both at Arrowhead Stadium. Northwestern lost at Indiana 19-21, in additon to the game vs. MSU and at Ohio State.

Missouri coach Gary Pinkel is 3-2 in bowl game, while Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald is in his first bowl game.

Conventional wisdom clearly points to Missouri beating Northwestern, but when you look at the 37-40 loss to Kansas, something tells me that Northwestern does have a speck of hope in this one. Turnovers will be big, as they are in any bowl game. Special teams appear to favor Missouri, as do many other aspects of this game. The intangibles favor Northwestern in this one. It clearly is an opportunity for Northwestern to complete one of their better seasons ever. David meet Goliath in the 2008 Alamo Bowl?

Cidsports' prediction

Missouri 34

Northwestern 35

cidsports

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pappajohns.com Bowl: North Carolina State vs. Rutgers

The 2008 pappajohns.com Bowl will feature the North Carolina State Wolfpack (6-6, tied for 3Rd in ACC Atlantic Division) vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (7-5, tied for 2ND in the Big East) in Birmingham, AL. North Carolina State comes into the bowl game with a four game winning streak in the ACC, while Rutgers come in on a six game winning streak, including five Big East games.

Last season, Rutgers beat Ball State in the 2008 International Bowl 52-30, while North Carolina State stayed home for the holidays. Which hot team will continue their winning streak beyond the 2008 pappajohns.com Bowl? Rutgers has young bowl history, while NC State clearly has a stronger past as a basketball school. But, second year NC State coach Tom O'Brien brings experience and success over from Boston College.

Rutgers lost to five bowl teams: Fresno State, North Carolina, at Navy, at West Virginia and at Cincinnati, while North Carolina State losses came at South Carolina, at Clemson, South Florida, Boston College, Florida State and at Maryland, also all bowl teams. Both teams split among common opponents North Carolina and South Florida this season. Who is the most likely to win the 2008 pappajohn's Bowl?

Cidsports' prediction

North Carolina State 28

Rutgers 34

cidsports

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Independence Bowl: Louisiana Tech (7-5) vs. Northern Illinois (6-6)

Hey, there is no Big 12 vs. SEC match up for the 2008 Independence Bowl this year, but it's the WAC vs. the MAC. The 2008 Independence Bowl hosts the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (7-5, tied for 2Nd in the WAC) vs. Northern Illinois Huskies (6-6, 4Th in the MAC West) in Shreveport, LA.

Another home cooking for a Midwestern team, this time from the MAC? For Louisiana Tech, this is the first bowl trip, since the 2001 Humanitarian Bowl, where the Bulldogs went down 24-49 to Clemson. Prior to that, all three previous bowl trips for LA Tech have been in the Independence Bowl, where the Bulldogs are 1-1-1 previously in Shreveport.

Northern Illinois will be in their third bowl ever, after playing in the '83 California Bowl, '04 Silicon Valley Bowl and '06 Poinsettia Bowl, where TCU took NIU out 37-7. The Huskies are 2-1 lifetime in bowl games.

LA Tech beat Mississippi State to start the '08 season 23-14 at home. Northern Illinois lost a SEC match up at Tennessee 9-13 at Tennessee. Both teams are coming off losses to close out the '08 regular season. The Bulldogs lost 31-35 vs. Nevada, while the Huskies lost 0-16 vs. Navy.

While the game is Louisiana, the better team based on the Vegas spread and power ratings is Northern Illinois. NIU's first year coach is Jerry Kill, who moved over from Southern Illinois, where he was successful as head coach the past seven seasons, including FCS Coach of the Year in 2007. LA Tech's head coach is Derek Dooley, the son of former Georgia legendary head coach Vince Dooley. Dooley is in his second season at LA Tech, after coming over from the NFL.

While the spread and power ratings favor NIU, most are picking Louisiana Tech to win, so I guess my pick goes against the grain for most... upset win by NIU in the 2008 Independence Bowl is the call here by cidsports! Coach Kill brings some very good FCS experience to DeKalb and NIU.

Cidsports' prediction

Louisiana Tech 22

Northern Illinois 30

cidsports

peace

An Early Look at the 2009 College Football Season

We are in the heart of the 2008-09 bowl week for college football, so how are things looking into 2009 for college football. Will we see some new blood in the Top 25?

The 2009 Early Bird Top 25 Preview from NationalChamps.net has some early thoughts into the 2009 College Football season. With a win in the 2009 BCS Championship Game over Oklahoma, could Florida be on track to a two-peat in College Football? You can click on each team for breakdown on the 2009 forecast by NaionalChamps.net:

1. Florida

2. Alabama

3. Texas

4. Oklahoma

5. Southern California

6. Oklahoma State

7. Ohio State

8. Georgia Tech

9. Georgia

10. Penn State

11. Mississippi

12. Pittsburgh

13. Virginia Tech

14. Texas Tech

15. Iowa

16. Louisiana State

17. Utah

18. Minnesota

19. Boise State

20. California

21. North Carolina

22. Boston College

23. Vanderbilt

24. Florida State

25. East Carolina

Others Receiving Consideration by NationalChamps.net, depth charts were included:
Arizona, Arkansas, Auburn, Brigham Young, Miami FL, Nevada, North Carolina State, Notre Dame, Rutgers, South Carolina, and West Virginia.

Some of the top projected players that may return for the 2009 season.

It will be interesting to see how the Big Ten Conference climbs in 2009, after a drop at the elite level in 2008. Overall, from top to bottom, the Big Ten is showing some steady development, with all eleven teams either bowl participants in 2008 or 2007. Only four teams among the Top teams spotlighted for 2009 from the Big Ten conference.

Iowa has been bowl eligible, since 2001, when coach Kirk Ferentz overcame a three year period where Iowa didn't have at least 6 wins. Iowa's bowl opponent in the Outback Bowl are a potential team to watch in 2009, as is Iowa's 2009 non-conference opponent, Arizona. Interesting to see Iowa's 2008 opponent Pittsburgh is high on the list for 2009. Here's an early look at Iowa's 2009 schedule:

IOWA

2009 SCHEDULE
Sep. 5 Northern Iowa

Sep. 12 at Iowa State

Sep. 19 Arizona

Sep. 26 at Penn State

Oct. 3 Arkansas State

Oct. 10 Michigan

Oct. 17 at Wisconsin

Oct. 24 at Michigan State

Oct. 31 Indiana

Nov. 7 Northwestern

Nov. 14 at Ohio State

Nov. 21 Minnesota

2008-09 Bowl Results and Schedule

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