BoBA 2007 Bowl Preview: Week 3

BoBA 2007 Bowl Preview: Week 3

In this part of the BoBA 2007 Bowl Preview, we take a look at the teams that will be facing each other in the non-BCS bowl games from January 1 onward, as well as my picks for the games.

OUTBACK

Wisconsin vs. Tennessee
Tampa, Fla.
Tuesday, Jan. 1 (ABC, 11:00 AM EST)

One of the more tastier bowls (not just the name, but also the opponents in it), this year's edition of the Outback Bowl features two resurging teams that have young talent for the future.


The Volunteers won close and lost big, and senior quarterback Erik Ainge's guile had to make up for a lot of mistakes by a young defense. But the Vols kept improving and won the SEC East. The Badgers finished sixth in the Big Ten in points (30.5) and points allowed (23.3) but fourth in the league. They, like the Vols, are young. Sophomore Shane Carter (seven picks) is a budding defensive star.
-- Ivan Maisel

In a strong contest like this, I look for surprises at every corner. I like Wisconsin to pull off a stunning performance and trump the Volunteers at Raymond James Stadium.

BoBA predicts: Wisconsin 38, Tennessee 28

AT&T COTTON

Missouri vs. Arkansas
Dallas, Tex.
Tuesday, Jan 1 (Fox, 11:30 AM EST)

This year's Cotton Bowl showcases a couple of Heisman finalists: Missouri's Chase Daniel and Arkansas's Darren McFadden. It will be the pass for the Tigers, against the Razorbacks' rushing attack and Wild Hog formation. For Arkansas, the arrival of Bobby Petrino, who has flown the coop in Atlanta to call out the Hogs, effectively alienating the Falcon naton, has put the team from Fayetteville in a state of flux.

For the first time since the 1997 season, Houston Nutt won't be on the Arkansas sideline. He bid adieu to "Hog Heaven" and took the job at Ole Miss a day later. The Razorbacks still have the best player in the country in junior tailback Darren McFadden, who's always worth the price of admission. You wonder how excited Missouri will be after going from No. 1 to being left out of the BCS bowls.
-- Chris Low

McFadden will have his numbers, but Chase Daniel will savor avenging the fact that he finished two spots behind Darren in the voting with a stellar aerial assault under head coach Gary Pinkel.

BoBA predicts: Missouri 59, Arkansas 35

CAPITAL ONE

Florida vs. Michigan
Orlando, Fla.
Tuesday, Jan. 1 (ABC, 1:00 PM EST)

This is a great opportunity for Tim Tebow to prove why he deserved the Heisman Trophy this year. Meanwhile, credit should go to Michigan, who, after being humbled by Appalachian State (who at the time this is going to blog is facing Delaware for the Division I FCS national championship in Chattanooga) and Oregon, to rebound and go bowling once again, at the expense of Lloyd Carr riding off into the sunset.

The defending national champion Gators and the Wolverines have met only one other time, with Michigan winning 38-30 in the Outback Bowl after the 2002 season. The Gators are led by Heisman Trophy hopeful Tim Tebow, who has run for 22 touchdowns and passed for 29. The Wolverines opened and closed the season with consecutive losses.
-- Mark Schlabach

Florida is going to slice and dice the Wolverines in this one.

BoBA predicts: Florida 49, Michigan 21

KONICA MINOLTA GATOR

Virginia vs. Texas Tech
Jacksonville, Fla.
Tuesday, Jan. 1 (CBS, 1:00 PM EST)

The Red Raiders come into Jacksonville with Mike Leach's Air Raid offense and showcase signal-caller Graham Harrell. However, they face a vaunted Virginia defense led by Chris Long, the son of NFL Hall of Famer Howie Long.

The Cavaliers squeaked out enough wins to earn Al Groh the ACC Coach of the Year award and a contract extension, but nobody in the ACC put up the kind of offensive numbers Texas Tech did (41.8 points per game). The one thing Virginia's Chris Long-led defense won't have to worry about is stopping the run.
-- Heather Dinich

Defense wins championships. And the Wahoos will stand testament to that.

BoBA predicts: Virginia 34, Texas Tech 28

INTERNATIONAL

Ball State vs. Rutgers
Toronto, Ont.
Saturday, Jan. 5 (ESPN2, 12:00 PM EST)

It's a battle between one of the players behind Rutgers's resurgence, and a quarterback under the radar from the Mid-American conference. Ray Rice vs. Nate Davis. Can the Cardinals pull off one of the biggest wins in the recent history of its progam?

Rutgers (7-5, 3-4) started this season near the top and plummeted straight to, well, Canada. In its second year of existence, the Toronto-based bowl will feature standout running back Ray Rice and the Big East's best pass defense against silently successful quarterback Nate Davis (3,376 yards and 27 touchdowns).
-- Heather Dinich

BoBA says no.

BoBA predicts: Rutgers 42, Ball State 17

GMAC

Tulsa vs. Bowling Green
Mobile, Ala.
Sunday, Jan. 6 (ESPN, 8:00 PM EST)

Another aerial showcase that will brings the fireworks from every corner of the field. Tulsa's Paul Smith faces Bowling Green's Tyler Sheehan in a match in Alabama that will make for a nice final appetizer to the BCS National Championship.


You might want to loosen up the old necktie for this one. Tulsa quarterback Paul Smith throws it all over the park and -- with 4,753 passing yards and 42 touchdowns -- is behind only Texas Tech's Graham Harrell nationally. His counterpart, Tyler Sheehan, has thrown for 3,123 yards and 23 touchdowns for Bowling Green, which is making its third bowl trip in the past five years.
-- Chris Low

I look for the Falcons to stun Tulsa through a balanced attack and a complete shutdown of the Golden Hurricane's gunslinger here.

BoBA predicts: Bowling Green 56, Tulsa 35