BoBA 2007 Bowl Preview: Week 2

BoBA 2007 Bowl Preview: Week 2

In this part of the Bedlam on Baltic Avenue Bowl Preview, I break down the second week on non-BCS bowl action, featuring games from December 28 to 31. Okay, so it isn't a full week, but this will allow Week 3 to focus on the January non-BCS bowls, with Week 4 focusing on the BCS bowls. Here we have some of the more tantalizing matchups. Enjoy.

CHAMPS SPORTS

Boston College vs. Michigan State
Orlando, Fla.
Friday, Dec. 28 (ESPN, 5 ET)

Matty Ice...that's the nickname bestowed on Eagles QB Matt Ryan. After a Heisman campaign that just went south in a hurry, Ryan is looking to finish off a disappointing year with a solid outing in Orlando against the Michigan State Spartans.

The Spartans will be supercharged for their first bowl appearance since 2003, but for the Eagles, who thought they'd be in the Orange Bowl, it's more of a consolation prize. First-year Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio led his team to an eighth-place finish in the Big Ten. His Spartans will face Matt Ryan, the top quarterback in the ACC.
-- Heather Dinich

I am seeing this as a big Eagles victory, though Sparty is looking to capitalizing on a revitalized year under Mark Dantonio.

BoBA predicts: Boston College 38, Michigan State 28

TEXAS

TCU vs. Houston
Houston
Friday, Dec. 28 (NFL Network, 8 ET)

It wouldn't be the Texas Bowl without two teams from Texas duking out in Texas. It's only proper. But with Art Briles heading off to Waco to take over for Guy Morris at Baylor, the Cougars are in a state of transition against the always consistent Horned Frogs.

Houston is looking for a coach after Art Briles left for Baylor. He led the Cougars to four bowl games in five seasons but isn't expected to coach against the Horned Frogs. TCU had grand visions of a BCS bowl game in the preseason, but finished 7-5. The Horned Frogs beat UNLV and San Diego State in their last two games to become bowl eligible.
-- Mark Schlabach

This game will be hosted on NFL Network. I am looking for Texas Christian to make the Mountain West proud here.

BoBA predicts: TCU 24, Houston 21

EMERALD

Maryland vs. Oregon State
San Francisco
Friday, Dec. 28 (ESPN, 8:30 ET)

The Oregon State Beavers will come into the City by the Bay on an emotional high after winning the Civil War over the Dennis Dixon-less Ducks. Meanwhile, a schizophrenic season for Ralph Friedgen's Terrapis have them flying to the other side of the country looking for answers.

The Terps' reward for beating two top-10 teams this season? A mediocre finish and a trip to San Francisco to face the No. 3 team in the Pac-10. The Beavers will have an edge staying on the West Coast, but Maryland has a chance -- depending which side of its split personality shows up.
-- Heather Dinich

The power of coast advantage, plus momentum, has the Beavers taking this one.

BoBA predicts: Oregon State 41, Maryland, 20

MEINEKE CAR CARE

Connecticut vs. Wake Forest
Charlotte
Saturday, Dec. 29 (ESPN, 1:00 ET)

Here is a tasty Big East-ACC matchup. Randy Edsall vs. Jim Grobe. A co-Big East champion against an Atlantic Coast also-ran. It will go down to who wants it more. When it comes to a non-BCS bowl featuring BCS teams, this is what defines them.

UConn coach Randy Edsall and Wake coach Jim Grobe both beat Duke, and somehow they both managed to lose 17-16 to Virginia. The Deacs, playing roughly 80 miles from their home turf, should bring a strong crowd, but can quarterback Riley Skinner beat the Big East co-champions a second straight year?
-- Heather Dinich

This is a huge opportunity for UConn to exact some payback, after losing to Riley Skinner and the Demon Deacons last year. BoBA predicts that redemption will be granted in an ambush in the Tar Heel State.

BoBA predicts: Connecticut 38, Wake Forest 35 (OT)


AUTOZONE LIBERTY

Mississippi State vs. Central Florida
Memphis
Saturday, Dec. 29 (ESPN, 4:30 ET)

Sylvester Croom, like Mark Dantonio, is just happy that his team is going bowling, at the expense of Ed Orgeron's Rebels in the Egg Bowl. Meanwhile, under George O'Leary, the Conference USA Knights are looking to flex their muscles against one of the SEC's rising teams.

Trivia question: Who leads the country in rushing? You'll get to see him in the Liberty Bowl, and Mississippi State is next in line to try to stop him. Central Florida junior tailback Kevin Smith has rushed for 2,448 yards and 29 touchdowns. Sylvester Croom has worked wonders in turning around Mississippi State's program. He ought to be a lock for SEC Coach of the Year honors.
-- Chris Low

I am looking at UCF getting the job done. Kevin Smith will run rings around the Bulldog defense.

BoBA predicts: Central Florida 45, Mississippi State 38


VALERO ALAMO

Texas A&M vs. Penn State
San Antonio
Saturday, Dec. 29 (ESPN, 8:00 ET)

Joe Paterno makes another bowling round, as he has done for just about every year as the Nittany Lions coach. Meanwhile, the Aggies, who have made a head coaching change in Mike Sherman, have home field advantage, but with the team in transition despite a victory in the Lone Star Showdown, how will A&M adjust against Penn State?

Penn State's Joe Paterno will be coaching in his 500th game; Texas A&M's Gary Darnell will be coaching in his first as the Aggies' interim coach. Darnell, the team's defensive coordinator, replaces Dennis Franchione, who resigned after upsetting rival Texas in the regular-season finale. Penn State shut out the Aggies 24-0 in the 1999 Alamo Bowl.
-- Mark Schlabach

Lighting will strike twice here. Penn State will take this one.

BoBA predicts: Penn State 40, Texas A&M 35

PETROSUN INDEPENDENCE

Colorado vs. Alabama
Shreveport
Sunday, Dec. 30 (ESPN, 8:00 ET)

Every bowl features different storylines. In this bowl, the storylines couldn't be any more similar. Both teams are coming off emotional lows. Alabama was embarrassed by Louisiana-Monroe a few weeks ago, while the Buffaloes under Dan Hawkins had a season marked by blowout losses to Iowa State and Kansas State. And both teams only had one big win to note (Alabama over Tennessee, while Colorado defeated Oklahoma).

Alabama and its $4 million man, Nick Saban, went from overachiever to underachiever after an impressive 41-17 win over Tennessee on Oct. 20. The Crimson Tide never won again, including an inexcusable loss to Louisiana-Monroe two weeks ago. Which Colorado team is going to show up: the one that beat Oklahoma and played Kansas close, or the one that lost to Iowa State and gave up 47 points to Kansas State in a blowout loss?
-- Chris Low

Given the eventual outcome of the opponents mentioned...CU must win.

BoBA predicts: Colorado 31, Alabama 10

BELL HELICOPTER ARMED FORCES

Air Force vs. California
Fort Worth
Monday, Dec. 31 (ESPN, 12:30 ET)

Exit Fisher DeBerry, enter Troy Calhoun and an Air Force side rediscovering the winning edge they lost the past few years. For Jeff Tedford, the moods couldn't be any more somber. After losing six of their last seven games (the exception being a successful defense of the Stanford Axe against the Cardinal), a loss to the Falcons and Tedford will be on the hot seat.

Air Force plays in its first bowl in five years thanks to a revitalized offense under first-year coach Troy Calhoun. Sophomore Chad Hall blossomed in the second half of the season and leads the MWC with 1,415 yards and 14 touchdowns. The Falcons want to be in Fort Worth, and then there are the Bears, who lost six of their final seven games. Motivation might be a problem there.
-- Ivan Maisel

Air Force feasts on bowls that have a military touch to it, and saluter their fellow soldiers overseas. You can bet that the Falcons will be ready for this one.

BoBA predicts: Air Force 42, California 28

ROADY'S TRUCK STOPS HUMANITARIAN

Fresno State vs. Georgia Tech
Boise
Monday, Dec. 31 (ESPN2, 2:00 ET)

With Hawaii heading to the Sugar Bowl, Boise didn't want to stay in Boise, heading to the Hawaii Bowl, leaving Fresno State to take their place. Pat Hill's Bulldogs look to finish another solid season off against a Georgia Tech team looking for answers after Chan Gailey was fired days ago.

The Yellow Jackets already have lost their coach, now they have to avoid losing to Fresno State for the second time; the teams' only previous meeting was a 30-21 Bulldogs win in the 2002 Silicon Valley Classic. Under the direction of interim coach Jon Tenuta, aka the defensive coordinator, Georgia Tech has a chance to salvage its season by doing what it does best -- blitzing and stopping the run.
-- Heather Dinich

Fresno State will take this one in a high-scoring festival on the craziest 100 yards in America (assuming you do not put Barrow, Alaska in the same boat). The Hornets will be Ramblin Wrecked in a hurry.

BoBA predicts: Fresno State 63, Georgia Tech 49

BRUT SUN

South Florida vs. Oregon
El Paso
Monday, Dec. 31 (CBS, 2:00 ET)

After an ugly 3-game slump, Matt Grothe and the South Florida Bulls made amends by winning 3-straight games heading into the match with the Ducks. For the Ducks, who had the wheels fall off with Dennis Dixon busting his knees, they stumble into El Paso like a drunken boor looking to quench their thirst at a saloon.

Oregon's BCS championship hopes were derailed when quarterback Dennis Dixon tore knee ligaments late in the season. The Ducks lost their last three games -- against Arizona, UCLA and Oregon State -- without him. The Bulls were ranked as high as No. 2 in the country before losing three games in a row. South Florida recovered to finish the season with three straight wins.
-- Mark Schlabach

South Florida will have fun against the lame [sic] Ducks. Aflac anyone?

BoBA predicts: South Florida 36, Oregon 24

GAYLOR CITIES MUSIC CITY

Florida State vs. Kentucky
Nashville
Monday, Dec. 31 (ESPN, 4:00 ET)

Here is where Jimbo Fisher will need to show that he deserves to be Bobby Bowden's successor. You have to deal with a first-rounder in Andre Woodson. A man with an arm, great agility, and a release that will make the Seminole secondary scream at the heavens when the Wildcat offense scores.

Kentucky heads back to Nashville for the second straight year. Hope the Wildcats like country music. Andre Woodson has been one of the most improved quarterbacks in the country the past two years and should be a first-day pick in the NFL draft. He'll face a Florida State defense that deserved better this season. Yep, the Seminoles were that bad on offense.
-- Chris Low

As we all should know (especially when you are at a job interview), first impressions are important. Jimbo's will not look good as Kentucky slices and dices Florida State like meats at a teppanyaki grill.

BoBA predicts: Kentucky 51, Florida State 23

INSIGHT

Oklahoma State vs. Indiana
Tucson
Monday, Dec. 31 (NFL Network, 5:30 ET)

We all know Oklahoma State's head coach is a man. And so are his players. And Indiana's. The question is: is it going to be shootout, or a match between men against boys posing as men? Aside from all the talk about getting the facts straight, one fact is for sure: Indiana is bowling once again.

The Hoosiers, playing in their first bowl game in 14 seasons, are the feel-good story of the bowl season. The combination of quarterback Kellen Lewis and wide receiver James Hardy is fun to watch. The Cowboys scored at least 39 points in their six victories. They needed to. Their defense allowed 35 points in five of the six losses.
-- Ivan Maisel

Watch for the Lewis-to-Hardy connection in this game down in Tucson. Indiana will take down the Cowboys in a game where a solid defensive effort from the Hoosiers is going to be just as vital. This one's for you, Terry Hoeppner. Here's another fact: this is the second bowl game covered by the NFL Network.

BoBA predicts: Indiana 42, Oklahoma State 38

CHICK-FIL-A

Clemson vs. Auburn
Atlanta
Monday, Dec. 31 (ESPN, 7:30 ET)

The selection process for one of the most stories non-BCS bowls out there is one that you should check out on ESPN.com. Back to the game: it's a match of Tommy vs. Tommy. Bowden vs. Tuberville. It's an ACC-SEC matchup that will be one to savor as the New Year dawns on the world.

Auburn and Clemson are familiar foes, having played 45 times since 1899. The teams played in the 1998 Peach Bowl in Atlanta, with Auburn winning 21-17. Clemson has one of the country's most balanced offenses, led by tailbacks James Davis and C.J. Spiller and quarterback Cullen Harper. Auburn has one of the country's best defenses, allowing only 298.3 yards and 16.7 points per game.
-- Mark Schlabach

I am taking Auburn to pip Clemson in this one.

BoBA predicts: Auburn 24, Clemson 21 (OT)