Michigan Vs. Virginia Tech

Game Time (8:30 pm) ESPN, ESPN3

Michigan Favored by 2.5

You know what they say, You cant spell “Sugar” without “Jaguars”.  Well I guess you probably dont know that if you havent been around Cedar Shoals High School where I work this year.  The only reason anything about Cedar Shoals actually made it into this post is because their band will be performing at this year’s Sugar Bowl.

This game features Virginia Tech whose only 2 losses this year came to the same team, Clemson.  Their opponent will be Michigan who lost 2 close games to Michigan State and Iowa.  This should be a good game.  Thats all I have to say about that.

If you have anything to add, you know where to do it.  In the Locker room

Yesterday before the Oklahoma State game we missed the opportunity to see the famous speech by coach Mike Gundy.  Here it is for those of you who were missing it.  I’m a man I’m 40

Sabowl Picks:

Michigan:  Michael, Christina, Danny/Stephen, Rebecca, Joe, Joey

VT:  Emily, Jonathan, Ellen, Jimmy, Josh, April, Jim

This is the closest SABOWL  in history and it is just now starting to get rolling.  4 games today, 5 games tomorrow, and 6 games on Monday.  Will we see some diversity?  or will everyone continue to stick together?  Only time will tell as we proceed through today’s intense competition.

Game 1:  BYU Vs. Tulsa (Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl)

Game Time:  12 PM (ESPN, ESPN 3)

BYU really gives mascot pickers a lot to choose from when picking this game.  I like to refer to them as the Storming Mormons, their actual mascot is the Cougars and their head coach is named Bronco Mendenhall.

Tulsa is known as the Golden Hurricanes. Not really sure how you know if a hurricane is golden or purple or whatever other color schools like to name them but I guess it works for them.

Things to watch for:

• BYU is currently 9-3 and is looking for its 5th 10 win season under head coach Bronco.
• Tulsa is 8-4, all 4 of their losses came against teams ranked in the top 10.
• Both teams feature high powered offenses so we could see a replay of last nights game between Baylor and Washington.  The Baylor and Washington coaches need to check the SABOWL Glossary for the definition of defense.
• These teams were formally in the same conference so they are familiar with each other.
• BYU has beaten Tulsa 6 times and Tulsa has 1 win in the series.
• Tulsa’s only win came in the most recent meeting where they defeated BYU 55-47.

SABOWL Picks:  BYU is favored by 3.5

BYU:  Christina, Emily, Ellen, Danny/Stephen, Jimmy, Rebecca

Tulsa:  Michael, Jonathan, Josh, April, Jim, RJ1, Joey

Game 2:  New Era Pinstripe Bowl @ Yankee Stadium

Rutgers vs. Iowa State

Game Time:  3:20 PM (ESPN, ESPN 3)

Neither of these teams competed in the SABOWL Last year.  The Rutgers Scarlet Knights had previously had gone to 5 consecutive bowl games until the down year this year.  Rutgers wanted to play in Yankee Stadium so badly that they decided to give up an opportunity at a BCS Bowl game.  Rutgers headed into its final game with a chance to win a share of its first Big East title and stay on track for the conference’s automatic bid to a BCS bowl.  Visiting a Connecticut team that entered with a 4-6 record, the Scarlet Knights committed six turnovers, allowed their second-most points of the season and fell behind by 30 in the third quarter en route to a 40-22 loss Nov. 26.

Iowa State had one of the most difficult schedules in college football this year.  They competed against 7 teams ranked in the top 25.  Their biggest win of the year came against Oklahoma State on November 18th in double overtime.  This victory is the only reason that we are even hearing about the Iowa State Cyclones today.

This is the 2nd annual Pinstripe Bowl in Yankee Stadium.

SABOWL Picks:  Rutgers is favored by 2.5

Rutgers:  Michael, Ellen, Danny/Stephen, Jimmy, April

Iowa State:  Christina, Emily, Jonathan, Josh, Rebecca, Jim, Joe, Joey

Game 3:  Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl

Mississippi State vs. Wake Forest

Game Time:  6:40 PM (ESPN, ESPN 3)

 Both of these teams are 6-6 which means that one of them will have a losing record after tonight’s bowl game.  This also means that they barely became bowl eligible.  If your interested in the mascots They are the Mississippi State Bulldogs and the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.  These teams rarely make it to the bowl season but when they do they make it count.  Wake Forest is looking for their 3rd straight bowl victory and 6th in their last 7 tries.  Mississippi State is looking for their 5th straight Bowl victory.

SABOWL Picks:  Mississippi State favored by 6.5

Mississippi State:  Michael, Christina, Josh, April, Rebecca, Jim, Joe, Joey

Wake Forest:  Emily, Jonathan, Ellen, Danny/Stephen, Jimmy

Game 4:  Insight Bowl

Oklahoma Vs. Iowa

Game Time:  10 PM (ESPN, ESPN 3)

At Halftime during this game we will be at the official halfway point of the SABOWL.  This game features the biggest spread of this SABOWL season.  All this tells us is this will not be a very good game.  The Oklahoma Sooners began the season as the #1 Ranked team in the nation and now they find themselves playing in the insight bowl.  Oklahoma has been devastated by injury and could find themselves outside of the top 25 with a loss tonight.  Iowa is currently outside of the top 25.  The Iowa Hawkeyes faced a similar challenge last year facing #14 Missouri and were able to come out with a victory.  They are hoping for some of the same magic this year.  Probably not going to happen though.  Oklahoma features one of the best passing offenses in the nation and Iowa has the worst passing defense in their own conference. 

SABOWL Picks:  Oklahoma Favored by 14.5

Oklahoma:  Michael, Christina, Emily, Ellen, Danny/Stephen, Josh, Jim, Joe, Joey

Iowa:  Jonathan, Jimmy, April, Rebecc

Military Bowl Presented By Northrop Grumman

Toledo Rockets (8-4) vs. Air Force Falcons(7-5)

Game Time: Dec. 28 4:30 PM (ESPN, ESPN 3)

In case you were wondering Northrop Grumman is Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide.  I’m not really sure how sponsoring this game really helps them since we will never need their services.  This is the 4th annual Military Bowl and the first time that either of these teams have participated.  Both of these teams have prolific offenses so expect to see another high scoring game this afternoon.  Toledo will have a new head coach for this game since Tim Beckman left the Rockets and accepted the job at Illinois.  Former Offensive Coordinator Matt Campbell will be the new Head Coach.  Toledo has a pretty balanced offense so you can expect to see them run the ball just as much as they pass it.  Air Force Runs the Triple Option similar to Georgia Tech.  They are 2nd in the nation in rushing (rushing means the offensive player runs with the ball), however Toledo has a strong rushing defense so you can expect Air Force to pass the ball more than they usually do.  These teams have a common opponent, Toledo lost to Boise State at home 40 – 15 and Air Force lost to Boise State on the road 37 – 26.  Should be an exciting game Toledo is favored by 3.5.

SABOWL Picks

Toledo: Emily, Danny/Stephen, Jimmy, Rebecca, Jim, Joe, Joey

Air Force: Michael, Christina, Jonathan, Ellen, Josh, April

Bridgeport Education Holiday Bowl

California Golden Bears (7-5) vs. Texas Longhorns (7-5)

Game Time:  Dec. 28 @ 8 PM (ESPN, ESPN3)

Bridgepoint Education was founded on the principle that those who are academically prepared deserve access to an affordable higher education without sacrificing quality, transferability of credits, accessibility and academic standards. A leading provider of postsecondary education services, Bridgepoint Education is dedicated to those seeking flexible, high-quality choices in higher education.

This game features 2 teams that have seen better days.  Especially Texas who has been one of the nations best programs through the early 2000’s.  Texas did not make a bowl last year and this year they are playing in a pre-new years bowl.  This will be their first Bowl game since losing the BCS National Championship game 2 years ago.  Texas’ unsettled quarterback situation has played a big part in the team’s troubles. Garrett Gilbert — who nearly led the Longhorns past Alabama in the 2009 BCS championship game following Colt McCoy’s injury — began the season as the starter but decided to transfer after struggling in two games.  David Ash and Chase McCoy have shared time as quarterback since the departure of Gilbert.  Texas does have a strong defense, they rank 14th in the nation.  After a 4-4 start it was doubtful that California would be participating in this year’s Sabowl.  They however finished the season strong winning 3 of their last 4.  The only loss coming in a close game against then ranked #8 Stanford.  The Golden Bears score an average of 1.1 points more per game than the Longhorns, but they give up 1.1 more points per game.

Holiday Bowl Notes:

• This will be the 34th Annual Holiday Bowl.
• This will be Texas’ 5th appearance in the Holiday Bowl they are 2-2 in this game.
• This will be California’s 3rd appearance in the Holiday Bowl they are 1-1 in this game.

SABOWL Picks:  Texas Favored by 3.5

Texas:  Christina, Emily, Ellen, Danny/Stephen, Jimmy Josh, April, Rebecca, Jim, Joe, Joey

California:  Michael, Jonathan

SABOWL Scenarios for 12/28

If Toledo and Texas Both win

• Joe will remain in first place with a 1 game lead over Jimmy

If Toledo and California Both win

• Joe will remain in first place with a 1 game lead over Jimmy

If Air Force and Texas Both win

• Joe will remain in first place with a 1 game lead over Jimmy, April, and Josh

If Air force and California Both win

• Joe and Jonathan will be tied for first place with a 1 game lead over Jimmy, April, Josh, and Michael

Belk Bowl

Louisville Cardinals (7-5) vs. North Carolina State Wolfpack  (7-5)

Game Time:  Dec. 27 @ 8 PM (ESPN, ESPN 3)

This is the 10th Annual Belk Bowl in Charlotte North Carolina.  NC State (ACC)  had a slow start to the season, then won 5 of their last 7 games to become bowl eligible.  One of those victories includes a decisive 37 – 13 victory of #7 Ranked Clemson (ACC Champions).  Louisville(Big East)  also started the season slowly and won 5 of their last 6 games.  One of their victories includes a 38-35 victory over#23 Ranked West Virginia.  (Clemson and West Virginia will be playing each other in the Discover Orange Bowl later in the SABOWL season.)

These teams are very similar, Both of them ended the season strong and have big wins towards the end of the season.

Belk Bowl notes:

• ACC Representatives are 5-4 in the Belk Bowl.
• The Big East has won the last 3 Belk Bowl games.
• The last 3 games were decided by less than a touchdown.

This game could go either way.  NC State has been somewhat schizophrenic lately.  This game could come down to whoever has the least turnovers.  NC State was 2nd in the nation in forcing turnovers and led the nation in interceptions.  I predict that whoever scores the most points tonight will win the game and if NC State wins by more than 2.5 that will be a SABOWL victory for them.

Points of SABOWL Interest:

Josh  Can force a tie with Rookie Joe for first place with a victory in both of today’s games.  This will be the first time that Josh has been in first place this late in the season since SABOWL I.

Jimmy will be within 1 game of Rookie Joe if he can win both games today.

If Joe wins both games today, he will still have a 2 game lead over Danny/Stephan and April.

SABOWL Picks:  NC State is favored by 2.5

NC State:  Jonathan, Ellen, Danny/Stephen, Jimmy, April, Rebecca, Jim, Joe

Louisville:  Michael, Christina, Emily, Josh, Joey

Little Caesars Pizza Bowl

Western Michigan (7-5) vs. Purdue (6-6)

Game Time:  Dec. 27 @ 4:30 PM (ESPN, ESPN 3)

Today is a match up between two mediocre teams and the game has a title sponsor that makes a mediocre pizza.  Purdue is making its first Bowl appearance since the 2007 Motor City Bowl which also took place at Ford Field.  The Purdue Boilermakers are 8-7 in Bowl games.  Purdue will likely have to play without running back Ralph Bolden who was injured during the last game of the regular season.  This provides an opportunity for Akeem Hunt who ran for 100 yards on 10 carries.  Purdue is also likely to play without receiver O.J. Ross due to an indefinite suspension for braking team rules.  Western Michigan will be making their 5th Bowl appearance.  They lost each of their previous four bowl games.  The Broncos are lead by senior receiver Jordan White, who leads the nation in 127 receptions for 1,646 yards.  Both of these teams score a lot of points and give up a lot of points so expect a high scoring game.

Purdue (not to be confused with Perdue Chicken of Salisbury, MD)  is a college located in West Lafayette, Indiana.  I’m not 100% sure what exactly the meaning of a Boilermaker is but that is their mascot.  Before becoming the Boilermakers previous mascots include:  ‘grangers’, ‘pumpkin-shuckers’, ‘railsplitters’, ‘cornfield sailors’, ‘blacksmiths’ and ‘foundry hands’.  Sounds like Boilermakers was the right choice.

Western Michigan located in Kalamazoo, Michigan is only 140 miles from where the game is taking place.  The mascot of Western Michigan is the Broncos

Sabowl Picks: Purdue is favored by 2.5

Purdue:  Michael, Christina, Jonathan, Ellen, Jimmy, Josh, Rebecca

Western Michigan:  Emily, Danny/Stephen, April, Jim, Joe, Joey