One of the
most exciting weeks of the year is finally here. Next to March
Madness, there is not a more exciting time during the year to watch
sports. Starting on December 20 with the New Orleans Bowl between
Southern Miss and Arkansas State and ending with the national
championship game on January 4th between Texas and USC. Every
couple of days there will be a football game on. I am so excited. I can
hear my wife now…”do we have to watch football again?” Yes dear,
we do. As a journalist I owe it to my readers to watch each and
every game (wink-wink). Lets take a moment and break down
some of the exciting games we will see.
New Orleans
Bowl Southern Miss vs.
Arkansas Dec. 20
Southern Miss, which is led by QB Dustin Almond, stumbled into a bowl
bid with a 6-5 record but they shouldn’t have a problem with an
Arkansas St. team that lost to Louisiana Monroe, Middle Tenn. St. and
Army. Watch out for Ark. St. running back Antonio Warren who has
3000 career yards, and 8 100-yard rushing games this season.
GMAC
Bowl UTEP vs.
Toledo
Dec. 21
This game could be one of the highest scoring bowl games of the
year. Toledo, led by Bruce Bradkowski’s 2100 yards passing and 24
Touchdowns, averages more than 400 total yards per game ranking 17th
nationally. UTEP, who took C-USA’s western division by a storm,
is led by Jordan Palmer’s 3300 yards passing and 28 touchdowns will be
even harder to stop. I give the edge to UTEP
Hawaii
Bowl Central Florida vs.
Nevada Dec. 23
Nevada has proven themselves over the last few years. Central
Florida has been overshadowed by its Florida counterparts.
Nevada’s ground game is what has carried them this season, led by B.J.
Mitchell who rushed for 1221 yards. Central Florida went 0-11
last year, but behind new head coach George O’Leary, the Golden Knights
have turned things around. Look for UCF to come away with the win
in this one.
The start of bowl week should be exciting and these three games are
part of the reason why. Check back next week and I will evaluate
the BCS games..
