Friday, December 19, 2008

Bowl Games Preview: December 20

EagleBank Bowl: Wake Forest v. Navy; 11 a.m. EST; ESPN

The Midshipmen defeated the then-No.16 Demon Deacons 24-17 on the road back in September and Saturday's EagleBank Bowl should be no different. 
Navy is the better team and the hotter team right now, and its stifling defense will pose many challenges to Wake Forest and quarterback Riley Skinner. The junior signal caller for the Demon Deacons threw four interceptions last time against the Midshipmen and will have to perform much better to give his team a chance at revenge.
Navy comes into the game having won four of its last five games after losing at then-No.23 Pittsburgh, including a 50-0 margin in its last two games against Northern Illinois and Army.
Though the Demon Deacons will have more time to prepare for the Midshipmen and their option offensive scheme, it should be the Navy defense that makes the difference in the game Saturday.
Navy rarely throws the ball, but its potent rushing attack - featuring fullback  Eric Kettani and running back Shun White - makes its play-action pass difficult to stop and should give Wake Forest fits all day.

Prediction: Navy 27-Wake Forest 17

New Mexico Bowl: Fresno State v. Colorado State; 2:30 p.m. EST; ESPN

Saturday's second bowl game, the New Mexico Bowl, features two teams going in opposite directions heading into the bowl game. 
Fresno State finished the regular season at a disappointing 7-5, including losses in three of its last five games.
Colorado State finished the regular season with a pair of victories to become bowl-eligible at 6-6 after finishing at just 3-9 last season, making head coach Steve Fairchild the first in school history to reach a bowl game in his first season.
Throw in FSU head coach Pat Hill's interview for the same position at the University of Washington, and the Bulldogs appear to be a frustrated, disappointed and distracted team.
The Rams are looking for their first bowl victory since 2001, and they will get it, led by senior Billy Farris. The Rams' quarterback will take advantage of a Bulldogs' defense that gives up more than 30 points per game and has intercepted an FBS-low four passes this season.
Colorado State - who recorded an FBS-low nine sacks - will need to get better pressure on Fresno State quarterback Tom Brandstater to keep the Bulldogs off the board.
If they do so, they will be able to shut down the senior signal caller for FSU and add to what has been a relatively disappointing season for Brandstater and the Bulldogs.

Prediction: Colorado State 34-Fresno State 31

St. Petersburg Bowl: Memphis v. South Florida; 4:30 p.m. EST; ESPN2

Not many teams will travel less this bowl season than Bulls. Tropicana Field is a mere 32 miles from the University of South Florida campus. As a result, despite the neutral site, it will feel and look like a home game for USF.
With this game being played indoors on the turf, it should be an exciting, high-scoring affair. Despite being ranked No. 10 in the nation at one point this season, the Bulls have fallen, losing five of its last seven to finish 7-5.
The Bulls' offense struggled in its losses this season, but quarterback Matt Grothe will rebound against the Tigers, running all over the field and utilizing the turf to his advantage.
Saturday's game will come down to the battle between the Memphis offense and the USF defense. It should be a good one as the Bulls boast the 13th-ranked defense in the country, including ninth against the run, and the Tigers have the 22nd-ranked offense and the nation's 18th-ranked rushing attack.
Junior running back Curtis Steele - a junior college transfer - rushed for 1,175 yards and seven touchdowns for Memphis this season and will need to perform at his best to give Memphis its best chance to win.

Prediction: South Florida 44-Memphis 38

Las Vegas Bowl: Brigham Young v. Arizona; 8 p.m.; ESPN

The main event on the first day of the bowl season will be another high-scoring offensive affair between No. 16 BYU and Arizona.
Although the Cougars held out BCS hopes until losing to Utah late in the season, they return to the Las Vegas Bowl - a place with which they are all too familiar. The Wildcats, on the other hand, will be playing in their first bowl game since 1998.
Arizona's spread offense, led by quarterback Willie Tuitama, ranks 16th in the nation with an average of just over 37 points per game this season. Similarly, BYU ranks 19th with 35.3 points per game offensively.
This game may come down to which team has the ball last, but more likely it will come down to whoever wants it more. Though the Cougars could use the game to prove they belong in the BCS bowls, the Wildcats' first taste of the postseason in more than 10 years will be enough motivation to put them over the top.

Prediction: Arizona 54-BYU 48
 

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