Sunday Bowl Game tonight, after busy day in the NFL with Steelers vs. Packers going down to the Wire

Next up on Sunday, December 20, 2009:
7:30 p.m. Central Time kickoff on ESPN
New Orleans Bowl from New Orleans, LA
Sun Belt vs. C-USA
Middle Tennessee vs. Southern Mississippi

The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders finished 7-1 in the Sun Belt in 2009, with an overall record of 9-3 on the season. While the Southern Miss Golden Eagles, they finished third in the C-USA East Division with a 5-3 record, 7-5 overall. An ESPN audience can tune in to see the Blue Raiders vs. the Golden Eagles square off in the Louisiana Super Dome.

Southern Miss is returning to the New Orleans Bowl in 2009 again, after finishing 7-6 in 2008 with a 30-27 OT win over Troy. The Golden Eagles are 9-8 overall in bowl games. Coach Larry Fedora is in his second season at the helm for the Golden Eagles.

Middle Tennessee State is coming off a 5-7 record in 2008. The Blue Raiders are making only their second bowl trip ever in the school's history. The Blue Raiders lost 14-31 to Central Michigan in the 2006 Motor City Bowl. Coach Rick Stockstill is in his fourth season at the helm for the Blue Raiders.

Middle Tennessee State enters the game on a six game win streak. The wins all came in conference play. Southern Miss lost their final conference game to lose out in an opportunity for the C-USA Title in 2009.

Prediction:

Southern Miss 30, Middle Tennessee State 17

In the NFL today: Pittsburgh beats Green Bay 37-36 on the final play of the game. Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin's failed onside kick attempt with the Steelers up 30-28 late provided plenty of drama for everyone watching. But, the Steelers took the ball all the way down the field in the final two minutes. Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger's career high 503 yards passing and a final TD pass from 18 yards on the final play of the game was the difference. Wow!

peace

College Basketball for 2008-2009 tips off

Creighton picked to take Valley Men's Basketball Title in 2008-09, with Southern Illinois and Illinois State winding out Top 3 in the conference.

Duke tips off the 2008-09 basketball season on Monday, November 10th. More games tip off tonight in college basketball for Veterans Day.

Is Creighton a Top 25 team entering 2008-09? Joel Welser for collegehoopnet.com has the Bluejays at #24 in the country. Conference picks.

News Channel 8 Picks the Valley out in Arlington, VA. This looks very familiar to The Sports Network...

Valley seeks to regain multiple NCAA tourney bids by Jim Benson in Normal, Illinois with the Pantagraph.com... his breakdown of the Valley race.

Creighton and Southern Illinois make the mid-Major Top 25 poll from collegeinsider.com.

For the 2009-10 season, the Missouri Valley Conference and the Mountain West Conference will field a basketball challenge. Article.

It will be interesting year in College Basketball. How will the smaller conferences do vs. the super conferences, when it comes to head to head and NCAA selection?

In the Valley, the Drake Bulldogs had a special season last year. The won both the regular season title and conference tournament in Keno Davis' only season in Des Moines. Now, will Creighton and Southern Illinois win back their Mojo? Will the Valley get back to sending more than one team to the Dance? Stay tuned!

peace