The Back Corner Fade

Bowl Season is here. That time of year when teams get some extra time on the field, kids get “swag bags” full of all kind of fun stuff from Play Stations, to “Famous Idaho Potato Bowl” rings, and coaches can brag to 2 star recruits that they beat UL Lafayette in the New Orleans Bowl. It’s a time when you flip through the stations see, a couple of directional schools duking it out, and you put down the remote. Yeah, the two teams may suck, but it’s this or your significant other will have you watching “A New Pit Bull for Christmas” staring Torii Spelling and Richard Dean Anderson on Lifetime. Just remember, football is like pizza: It can be chain-brand pie, but it’s still pizza.

With that being said, let’s take a look at the match-up’s and crack wise when it’s needed. I’m not going to give the sponsor’s name unless it’s too much fun not to mention.

New Mexico Bowl: New Mexico vs UTSA: Seriously, the year was bad enough and the thought that Beavis is in his second bowl game in a row is a kick in the junk. He’s got the boys playing some “footbowel.” UTSA by 2

Las Vegas Bowl: Houston vs. SDSU: No Herman, no big time bowl game. Well, that escalated in a hurry for the Cougars. Houston by 14

Camellia Bowl: Appalachian St vs. Toledo: You either have no life or have a serious gambling issue to watch this one more than a quarter. Toledo by 10

Cure Bowl: UCF vs Arkansas St. Pretty cool that the 80’s progressive band got a bowl named after them. Since Jaime’s article came out, I’m actually looking forward to seeing what UCF’s defense can do under Erik Chinander. UCF by 8

New Orleans Bowl: UL-Lafayette vs. S. Miss. TV sets in Hattiesburg and Lafayette will be glued to this, I’m sure. The rest of the country, not so much: USM by 3

Miami Beach Bowl: CMU vs Tulsa: Yes, CMU did beat Oklahoma St back in September. Tulsa likes to run a play every 3 seconds. This one might be fun if offense is your thing. Tulsa by 17

Boca Raton Bowl: Memphis vs WKU: Another game where defense is an afterthought. WKU to Jeff Brohm is also an afterthought. Memphis by 7.

Poinsettia Bowl: BYU vs Wyoming: Is it me, or does BYU seem to play every one of their bowl games in San Diego? BYU by 2

Potato Bowl: Idaho vs Colorado St. Friggin Idaho made a bowl game? When was the last time they did that when John Friesz was chucking it around for the Vandals? CSU by 21

Bahamas Bowl: ODU vs Eastern Michigan: I’m sure the folks at Popeye’s Chicken who are sponsoring this puppy are beyond thrilled with this match-up. Good for EMU, they’ve been garbage for years. ODU by 4.

Armed Forces Bowl: LA. Tech vs. Navy: Skip has done a really nice job at LTU. Skip’s team also plays zero defense. Navy by 14

Dollar General Bowl: Ohio vs.Troy. Man, what a bowl sponsor. Do the kids not get a swag back and just get to dive in bargain bins to pull out year old 1,000 Grand bars? Ohio by 9.

Hawaii Bowl: Hawaii vs MTSU: Like New Mexico, Hawaii gets a home game for their bowl. Another “who cares classic.” MTSU by 7

St. Pete’s Bowl: Miami (OH) vs Mississippi St: As ND fans, I’m sure the vast majority of us a rooting like hell for the Red Hawks and the job Chuck Martin has done there. Tough draw though. MSU by 18.

Quick Lane Bowl: Fredo vs Maryland: Another 90mph fastball in the cup. The little brother nobody claims is in a bowl game?!?! Maryland by 11.

Independence Bowl: NCSU vs Vandy: NCSU had to beat UNC to get in and Vandy held their own in the SEC. Finally, some signs of life this bowl season. Vandy by 6.

Heart of Dallas Bowl: Army vs. N. Texas: Yep, I’m rooting for the Army. That was, after all, our signature win this past season. Army by 1.

Military Bowl: Wake Forest vs. Temple: Mike Elko watch! Mike Elko Watch!!! Temple by 2.

Holiday Bowl: Minnesota vs Washington St: The Holiday Bowl, for whatever reason, usually produces high scoring, great games. Flounder vs The Pirate. I dig it. Minny by 4.

Catcus Bowl: Baylor vs. Boise St: Jim Grobe’s farewell babysitting performance as the Bears head coach. He’ll be on a golf course within 24 hours after this one wraps up. BSU by 13.

Pinstripe Bowl: Pitt vs. Northwestern: I’ll watch simply to root against ND hater, Pat Fitzgerald. It was almost 30 years ago, d-bag. Get over it. Pitt by 10.

Russell Athletic Bowl: The U vs WVU: Miami has been up and down all year, WVU quietly had a very nice season. This is basically a home game for Miami. Wait, they don’t even show up when their playing at home. WVU by 12.

Foster Farms Bowl: Indiana vs Utah: No coach for IU, Utah has a great coach, and just who in the hell is Foster Farms? Utah by 20.

Texas Bowl: Texas A&M vs K-State: A&M had their traditional nose dive after mid-October and Bill Snyder will have his boys ready like he always does. KSU by 2.

Birmingham Bowl: USF vs. S. Carolina: I wonder is defensive guru, Will Muschamp, is still waking up in cold-sweats after what Clemson did to him. Willie Taggert won’t be at USF much longer. USF by 5.

Belk Bowl: Arkansas vs Virginia Tech: Prediction: Big Brent will have gone up yet another pants size from the time of this article to the bowl game. This also has the makings of a pretty good game. Arkansas by 7.

Alamo Bowl: Colorado vs Oklahoma St: Former Big 8 foes get together in what usually, like the Holiday Bowl, produces some great football. This one will be fun. OSU by 6.

Liberty Bowl: Georgia vs TCU: Georgia got a free pass this season with a new coach, TCU had their worst season under Gary Patterson. Two teams, one boring match-up. UGA by 8.

Hyundai Bowl: Stanford vs UNC: The last ride of Lil’ Eddie and potential top 10 pick, Mitch Trubisky. I expect a lot of points and lots of David Shaw whining. UNC by 1.

Music City Bowl: Nebraska vs Tennessee: I’ll always have fond memories of the Music City Bowl. THE big bowl win of the last 20 years. Seriously, how sad is that? Oh yeah, nice match-up. UT by 3.

Arizona Bowl: Air Force vs. South Alabama: Why? Because ESPN can only show so much Texas Hold ‘Em.
AFA by 13.

Orange Bowl: Michigan vs Florida St. Don’t ya just loathe both of these teams? Our first true “asteroid game” of the bowl season. Beyond not liking either of these two programs, this has all the ear markings of a hell of a football game. FSU has to get Dalvin Cook going or this could be an awfully long night. I fully expect Michigan to wear them down and take over in the second half. UM by 11.

This gets us through December 30th. We’ll take a look at the big boy bowls next week. I hope this guide to, for the most part, hideous match-up’s is a help to you and your bowl season viewing. It’s sad, obviously, that I don’t have anything to write up about the Irish. All that we’re left with in ND country is to hear how Kelly is doing graveling to 18 year old commits that they need to stay verballed and that better days are ahead.

……..the Birmingham Bowl is more exciting than that.