Monday, December 31, 2012

NFL 2012: New York Giants vs. Philadelphia

New York Giants def. Philadelphia 35-7

It was always going to be tough. Not only did the Giants need a win, but they needed the dreaded "other results" to go their way. Unfortunately, it didn't happen. The Giants won't make the playoffs a year after winning it all. I was sort of prepared for that today. Getting in would have been a crazy stroke of luck, and who knows which version of the team - good or bad - might have turned up next week?

If you're going out before the playoffs, a 35-7 shellacking of the hapless Philadelphia Eagles was a good way to go. This is probably the last time we'll see Andy Reid as a head coach in Philly, and the Michael Vick era might be over, too. The entire defensive staff should clean out their desks at the Eagles facility today and never return. Whoever thought firing Juan Castillo would fix all the issues on that side of the football was dead wrong. Can you say...scapegoat?

The Giants looked like a Super Bowl-capable team today, but the Eagles porous defense probably had a little to do with that. Eli Manning, particularly, was superb, going 13-21 for 208 yards and a career-high 5 TD passes, while Ahmad Bradshaw topped 100 yards and ran in a score. Rookie David Wilson, who's really come on late in the season, and will probably be the one bright spot from a late collapse that's cost New York a chance to defend the Lombardi Trophy they won in February.

So the season is over. And what an up-and-down season it was. Hard to believe Big Blue went from comfortably leading the NFC East, and being talked about, yet again as Super Bowl contenders. Then, everything fell apart, and it was tough to watch. If there's one thing that I'd love to see next year - other than another Super Bowl title, of course - it's a little more consistency, particularly offensively. Manning can't go stretches of games without throwing a touchdown.

At times this year, Big Blue looked like the best team in the NFL. Experts were calling them the best team in the NFL. Then, at other times, they barely looked better than Jacksonville or the Jets. The fortunes of the team, more than ever before, rose and fell with the fortunes of Eli Manning. Such is the way of things in the NFL now. In 2012, the Giants failed to play their best football in December. There were opportunities to get in, but they weren't taken. In past year, the team came alive with the arrival of winter. Not so in 2012, unfortunately.

Now, to enjoy what should be a very interesting playoffs. I'll be cheering for anyone but New England and the winner of Dallas vs. Washington. And at least Giants fans can rest easy during the off-season knowing that their team is in much better shape than the Jets!

Happy New Year!

Sunday, December 30, 2012

NCAA Football 2012: Pinstripe Bowl - West Virginia vs. Syracuse

Syracuse def. West Virginia

A snowy, churned-up field at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx didn't slow down the Syracuse offense - at least after half-time - who rolled up 38 points on a cold, dark afternoon in New York City, handing West Virginia another loss in a season that, after a 5-0 start, has seen them drop from national prominence to little more than an afterthought in the Big XII, finishing 7-6.

Once again, as has often been the theme in the second half of the season, West Virginia's defense, as porous as there has been in the nation this year, failed to put up much of a fight. The Orange rolled up 514 total yards on the day, and Dana Holgerson's WVU coaching staff have work to do in the off-season. As good as their offense has been - though it was somewhat subdued today, thanks to a masterful Syracuse defensive game plan - their defense has been ugly, even when the Mountaineers were romping to their 5-0 start.

For Syracuse, Senior QB Ryan Nassib had a difficult day in the snow, with his receivers dropping passes they would almost certainly have reeled in if the weather were sunny and dry. He completed just 50% of his passes, so it was left to RB Price-Tyson Gulley, who ran for 217 yards/2 TDs and helped in the aerial attack, grabbing 5 passes for 50 yards/1 TD. Gulley was the focal point of a ground game that netted 378 yards.

The Syracuse defense did their part, recording two safeties, one in the second quarter to stretch their lead to 5-0 and one late in the third, the last two of 23 points in that period, the death knell to West Virginia's chances.

Saturday, December 29, 2012

NCAA Football 2012: Russell Athletic Bowl - Rutgers vs. Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech def. Rutgers 13-10 (OT)

What an ugly game of football. Was it me or did that one seem to drag on forever? Rutgers probably had the best of the game overall - and out-gained the Hokies by one yard - but Virginia Tech did enough late to first tie the contest before the end of regulation and to win in the extra frame. 

But still, this wasn't any sort of instant classic. Not even close. Neither quarterback could manage to complete 50% of their passes. Rutgers' Gary Nova was 17-40 for 130 yards and an INT and Virginia Tech's Logan Thomas wasn't much better, going 15-39 for 192 yards, 1 TD and 2 INTs. 

It was Cody Journell's 22-yard field goal that won the game for the Hokies, giving Frank Beamer's squad a 7-6 finish to a season that started poorly and didn't get much better down the stretch. The win today might've eased a little of the pressure that Beamer was feeling after an uncharacteristically subpar season in Lynchburg.

As for Rutgers, who were a win away from clinching the Big East's BCS spot, the season went downhill in a real hurry. They ended 2-4 in their last six (including tonight's loss) after, surprisingly, starting the season 7-0, including a good win over SEC opponent Arkansas. A loss to MAC foe Kent State, then losses to Army, Pittsburgh and Louisville in the de-facto Big East championship game sunk a season that had been looking so promising, after long-time head coach Greg Schiano departed for the NFL.

Friday, December 28, 2012

NCAA Football 2012: Bridgeport Holiday Bowl - Baylor vs. UCLA

2012 Bridgeport Education Holiday Bowl: Baylor def. UCLA 42-26

Baylor's offense was great. Unbelievably, Baylor's defense was better. Everyone figured the Bears could score 49 (or more) points, but how many of us expected that they would hold UCLA's potent ground attack to 26 points - or 19 until the very last minute of the game.

 For the second notable time this year - the first being their beat-down of then-undefeated Kansas State - Phil Bennett's defense came up big time. They stopped a very good UCLA Bruins rushing attack, bottling up RB Jonathan Franklin (14 rushes for 34 yards), and causing QB Brett Hundley to throw the football 50 times. The Bears defense sacked the freshman signal-caller 6 times. UCLA's second highest rusher was the punter, Jeff Locke, who managed 8 on a fake punt in the first half. When your punter's the second-best gainer on the ground, you know you're in trouble.

On the offensive side for Baylor, they could do no wrong. In the first half, UCLA gave up big play after big play. QB Nick Florence only threw the football 13 times, and did so for 188 yards and 2 TDs. He added a rushing TD late in the fourth. This game was over at half time, and Baylor were able to rely on their stout, play-making defense - unlike last year in the wild Alamo Bowl vs. Washington - to help close the game out. Which meant Art Briles' squad took their foot off the offensive pedal in the second stanza. The damage, of course, had been done before the half.

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Merry Christmas!!

Thanks to everyone who has read the blog in 2012! It's been a big year of sport. The Giants and the Swans both won championships, making me very happy at the beginning and end of the year. No such luck for the Rangers or the USC Trojans (despite promising moments from both teams) and it's kind of a downer that the NHL remains locked out. I need professional hockey...but am almost resigned to the entire season being lost due to the long-running and supremely-frustrating Collective Bargaining Agreement wrangling and negotiaton.

Anyway, to you and yours, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

Andrew 
@akitchener 

 





Monday, December 24, 2012

Team USA's 2013 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships Roster (Preliminary)

Ufa, Russia; December 26 2012 – January 5 2013

Head Coach: Phil Housley

Captain: Jake McCabe

Forwards

Cole Bardreau (Cornell University)
Riley Barber (Miami-OH University)
Tyler Biggs (Oshawa Generals)
Alex Galchenyuk (Sarnia Sting)
John Gaudreau (Boston College)
Rocco Grimaldi (University of North Dakota)
Ryan Hartman (Plymouth Whalers)
Sean Kuraly (Miami-OH University)
Mario Lucia (University of Notre Dame)
J.T. Miller (Connecticut Whale)
Blake Pietila (Michigan Tech University)
Vince Trocheck (Saginaw Spirit)
Jim Vesey (Harvard University)

Defense

Shayne Gostisbehere (Union College)
Matt Grzelcyk (Boston University)
Seth Jones (Portland Winterhawks)
Jake McCabe (University of Wisconsin)
Connor Murphy (Sarnia Sting)
Mike Reilly (University of Minnesota)
Patrick Sieloff (Windsor Spitfires)
Jacob Trouba (University of Michigan)

Goaltenders

John Gibson (Kitchener Rangers)
Jon Gillies (Providence College)
Garret Sparks (Guelph Storm)

NFL 2012: San Francsico 49ers at Seattle Seahawks

There was very little - if anything at all - that Seattle did wrong. Buoyed by a raucous home crowd that seemed to be louder than ever before, the Seahawks dominated every phase of the football game. Their defense held the 49ers to less than a touchdown for most of the game, their offense made a pretty good San Francisco defense look horrible and even the special teams unit contributed to what was a rout.

Now, we now that Seattle are for real. They showed it to all of the world in a big-time Sunday night game with the division on the line. They'll be an NFC Wild Card entry into the playoffs (NFC West division champions), but no one with half a clue of what's happening in the National Football League at the moment wants to play them. Not with how Pete Carroll's squad is rolling. Playing them at home would be even worse.

As for San Francisco, perhaps it just wasn't their day. They're not a bad football team. They had some things go against them and occasionally, as the Houston Texans seem to be finding out, you just run into a buzz saw. I wonder if the loss today will reignite the quarterback debate in the Bay Area? I mean, there's nothing like a bad loss - especially one on national TV - to get people talking. Though, I don't think you can blame it all on Kaepernick. As far as a lackluster game goes, he had plenty of company tonight.

Sunday, December 23, 2012

NFL 2012: Atlanta Falcons at Detroit Lions

Atlanta were very impressive today, and Detroit not too bad. There's a good football team in the Motor City. They've just lost so many - too many - good targets for Stafford. And they're beat up in the secondary. If they get healthy, and with health comes consistency, watch out. 

Last year wasn't a mirage, I don't think. Stafford is as good as advertised. He can only get better with more targets, and figures to do just that next year, in the final year of his rookie contract. On the other hand, I don't know that Calvin Johnson would have broken Jerry Rice's season record for receiving yards - and be in with a realistic shot of going over 2000 yards in a season next week - if there'd been a more rounded and full cast of characters on the Ford Field turf more often this season. Megatron has been nothing short of phenomenal this year.

NCAA College Football 2013: Bowl Season Australian TV Guide

Happy New Year!! After weeks of lead-up bowls - some entertaining, others not so much - we're down to the business end of the 2012-13 Bowl Season with the big BCS bowls and some other intriguing games, and January 1 2013 means that we're only eight days away from the Discover BCS National Championship Game between No. 1 Notre Dame and No. 2 Alabama...

Thanks for reading the blog over the 2012-13 season! See you back for more college football in late August!

All times AEDT

Tuesday 1 January 2013

Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl: NC State vs. Vanderbilt (4.00am; ESPN)
Autozone Liberty Bowl: Iowa State vs. Tulsa (7.30am; ESPN/ESPN)
College Football Live (11.00am; ESPN/ESPN-HD)
Chick-Fil-A Bowl: No. 8 LSU vs. No. 14 Clemson (11.30am; ESPN)

Wednesday 2 January

Tournament of Roses Parade (3.00am; ESPN)
Outback Bowl Pre-game Show (4.00am; ESPN2)
Outback Bowl: No. 10 South Carolina vs. No. 18 Michigan (5.00am; ESPN2)
Capital One Bowl: No. 7 Georgia vs. No. 16 Nebraska (5.00am; ESPN)
Rose Bowl Game Presented by Vizio Pre-game Show (8.30am; ESPN)
Rose Bowl Game Presented by Vizio: Wisconsin vs. No. 6 Stanford (9.00am; ESPN)
Discover Orange Bowl: No. 15 Northern Illinois vs. No. 12 Florida State (12.30pm; ESPN)

Thursday 3 January

College Football Live (7.00am; ESPN)
College GameDay (11.00am; ESPN2)
Allstate Sugar Bowl Pre-game Show (12.00pm; ESPN2)
Allstate Sugar Bowl: No. 21 Louisville vs. No. 3 Florida (12.30pm; ESPN2)
Allstate Sugar Bowl Post-game Show (4.00pm; ESPN2)

Friday 4 January

College Football Live (7.00am; ESPN)
College GameDay (11.00am; ESPN)
Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Pre-game Show (12.00pm; ESPN)
Tostitos Fiesta Bowl: No. 4 Oregon vs. No. 5 Kansas State (12.30pm; ESPN)
Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Post-game Show (4.00pm; ESPN)

Sunday 6 January

BBVA Compass Bowl: Pittsburgh vs. Mississippi (5.00am; ESPN2)

Monday 7 January

GoDaddy.com Bowl: No. 25 Kent State vs. Arkansas State (1.00pm; ESPN)

Tuesday 8 January

College Football Live (7.00am; ESPN)
College GameDay - Miami (10.00am; ESPN)
Discover BCS National Championship Pre-Game Show (12.00pm; ESPN)
Discover BCS National Championship: No.1 Notre Dame vs. No. 2 Alabama (12.30pm; ESPN)
Discover BCS National Championship Post-Game Show (4.00pm; ESPN)

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Team Canada's 2013 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships Roster

Ufa, Russia; December 26 2012 – January 5 2013

Head Coach: Steve Spott

Captain: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

Forwards

Anthony Camara (Barrie Colts)
Phillip Danault (Victoriaville Tigers)
Jonathon Drouin (Halifax Mooseheads)
Jonathan Huberdeau (Saint John Sea Dogs)
Charles Hudon (Chicoutimi Saguéneens)
Boone Jenner (Oshawa Generals)
JC Lipon (Kamloops Blazers)
Nathan MacKinnon (Halifax Mooseheads)
Ryan Nugent Hopkins (Oklahoma City Barons) 
Ty Rattie (Portland Winterhawks)
Brett Ritchie (Niagara IceDogs)
Mark Scheifele (Barrie Colts)
Ryan Strome (Niagara IceDogs)

Defence

Dougie Hamilton (Niagara IceDogs)
Scott Harrington (London Knights)
Ryan Murphy (Kitchener Rangers)
Xavier Ouellet (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada)
Griffin Reinhart (Edmonton Oil Kings)
Morgan Reilly (Moose Jaw Warriors)
Tyler Wotherspoon (Portland Winterhawks)

Goaltenders

Malcolm Subban (Belleville Bulls)
Jordan Binnington (Owen Sound Attack)
Jake Paterson (Saginaw Spirit)

Sunday, December 9, 2012

2012-13 NCAA College Football Bowl Preview - Ranking the Bowls 1-35

There are some great games, some okay games, some terrible games and some games that make you ask, "Who really cares?" I've gone over the 2012-13 Bowl match-ups with a fine-toothed comb, and ranked them, 1-35 in order of what I consider to be best to worst...

1. Discover BCS National Championship: No. 1 Notre Dame vs. No. 2 Alabama

The most important game of the season, and the most intriguing. So many questions: can Notre Dame's offense match it with Alabama's defense. Can the Irish defense get the better of AJ McCarron and the Tide offense? Will SEC haters who also hate Notre Dame support 'Bama? It's a big chance for the SEC to cement themselves as by far and away the best conference in college football - if anyone was previously in any doubt - but as big a chance for a Notre Dame program everyone had branded as lost in the old world of college football to prove that an independent program can match it with the big boys and their conference alignments. If Alabama's defense can shut down Notre Dame, and give McCarron workable field position, it should be enough. Prediction: Alabama.

2. Rose Bowl Game Presented by Vizio - Wisconsin vs. No. 6 Stanford

With Barry Alvarez back on the sidelines following Brett Bielema's sudden departure for Arkansas and the SEC, there's another storyline to add to what's already an intriguing game. The 5-loss Badgers came out in the Big Ten Championship with a stunning new cache of plays, sure to give Stanford's coaching staff the heebie-jeebies up until New Year's Day, and bludgeoned Nebraska on the ground and on the scoreboard. Stanford are a similar team, with their running game taking centre stage. Wisconsin's defense, now healthy, is back. This could be a classic game. Prediction: Stanford.

3. Discover Orange Bowl - No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 6 Kansas State

The BCS National Championship Game up until a few weeks ago - that inexplicable November night where the Wildcats and Ducks lost within a few minutes of each other - and it's now a pretty interesting Orange Bowl. In a few words: old-school vs. new-school. Can K-State do what few others have done this year and slow down Oregon's offense? What about Collin Klein and the Wildcat offense? You figure they can put up a few points on that Ducks D, which hasn't been great. Coaching match-up between Snyder and Kelly will be one to watch! Prediction: Oregon.

4.  AT&T Cotton Bowl - No. 11 Oklahoma vs. No. 9 Texas A&M

Admittedly unlucky to miss out on a BCS Bowl, Oklahoma find themselves in a potential shoot-out against Johnny Football and the surprising Texas A&M Aggies. Both teams can move the football and score points at will. Defensive stops might be few and far between. Manziel figures to have an epic game, and Landry Jones can do the same for the Sooners. A lot depends on A&M's defense, for mine. If they play like they did in Tuscaloosa against Alabama, this might not be close. It should, however, be wildly entertaining! Prediction: Texas A&M.

5.  Valero Alamo Bowl - No. 18 Texas vs. No. 15 Oregon State

Two teams who looked brilliant early, but faded a little down the stretch. Who knows who'll start at QB for Texas? It seems like that position's been a revolving door lately and their defense has been sieve-like. Oregon State's Mike Riley had to be right up there in contention for Coach of the Year for his transformation of the program in Corvallis. It was an impressive season even with quarterback injuries, though their Civil War loss to in-state rivals Oregon must be leaving a bitter taste. Prediction: Oregon State.

6. Capital One Bowl - No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 12 Nebraska

Nebraska got smacked in the mouth by a resurgent Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship - a result no one saw coming - and Georgia were about five yards short of a berth in the BCS National Championship Game. Their last start will be on the minds of both these teams. Nebraska need QB Taylor Martinez to not make some of the decisions he made in the Big Ten Championship, and, for Georgia, QB Aaron Murray had perhaps the game of his career and was beaten only by a few ticks of the clock. The winner of this game will be the team who gets up off the carpet the quickest. Prediction: Georgia.

7. Outback Bowl - No. 10 South Carolina vs. No. 19 Michigan

The Big Ten haven't exactly distinguished themselves in previous match-ups against the SEC and how Michigan go against Steve Spurrier's Gamecocks depends, largely, on how Denard Robinson is feeling. The nerve injury that's prevented him from throwing over the last month (and caused him to miss two games) might be healed, which makes him lobbing passes from a running back slot with QB Devin Gardner calling signals, a serious threat, aside from the serious threat that Gardner's arm poses. South Carolina has a lot to game plan for. Prediction: Michigan.

8. Chick-fil-A Bowl - No. 7 Louisiana State vs. No. 14 Clemson

LSU's loss to Alabama earlier in the year knocked them out of a running for a BCS Bowl, and instead get Dabo Swinney's Tigers from the ACC on New Year's Eve in Atlanta. Going over it, there are a couple of similarities between these two football teams: in particular, their mascots and nickname for their home ground. But the class is different, ACC vs. SEC. As many offensive weapons as Clemson has, they're going up against a very good LSU defense, which I expect will subdue Swinney's stars and set up the offense for a reasonably comfortable win. Prediction: LSU.

9. Allstate Sugar Bowl - No. 3 Florida vs. No. 21 Louisville 

A great season for Florida, who rightly earn their BCS spot, against a Louisville team who somehow managed to rally from a 14-3 deficit with a QB, Teddy Bridgewater, who was doubly hobbled - wrist and ankle injuries - and yet still managed to beat Rutgers in the de facto Big East Championship Game, bringing the program back to some level of national respect under Charlie Strong, a defensive coordinator at Florida under Urban Meyer. Yet, the Cardinals aren't in the same league as Florida, whose defense has stood up well against a touch SEC schedule. Will Muschamp has done a great job bringing Florida back to where it was under Urban Meyer, and it should continue, and perhaps in blow-out fashion if Bridgewater isn't 100% healthy. Prediction: Florida.

10.  Bridgeport Education Holiday Bowl - Baylor vs. No. 16 UCLA

Baylor's offense is amazing. Baylor's defense, except for one game against Kansas State, has been horrible. UCLA's got a pretty good offense, too, led by QB Brett Hundley and RB Johnathan Franklin, but first-year head coach Jim Mora is going to have his hands full getting the Bruins ready for the ultra high-powered Baylor offense, led by QB Nick Florence. Sure, he's no RGIII, but he can move the football and is a duel threat to score. I see this being the sort of game where the team who handles the football last gets the win. Defensive stops of any variety will be huge. Prediction: Baylor.

11. Tostitos Fiesta Bowl - No. 15 Northern Illinois vs. No. 13 Florida State

Many people think Oklahoma should be here rather than a one-loss - to a pretty bad Iowa team, too - Northern Illinois Huskies, but NIU get the ACC champion Seminoles, a first BCS bowl berth for a team from the Mid American Conference. FSU will probably be happier with this match-up, which, in my book, gives them a better shot at a Fiesta Bowl championship than a game against the Sooners might've. It could get ugly if NIU don't really come to play. Prediction: Florida State

12.  MAACO Las Vegas Bowl - No. 20 Boise State vs. Washington

Quietly in a rebuilding year of sorts, Boise State rolled to a 10-2 season and a Mountain West Conference Championship, and head to Las Vegas for the third year running. Washington, meanwhile, have some good wins (Oregon State, Stanford...) and some bad losses in a fluctuating season. At times, they've looked good. At other times, not so much. They like to run the ball, and Boise State's run defense has been stout all year. And now, a season in, QB Joe Southwick has that Bronco offense rolling nicely. Prediction: Boise State.

13.  GoDaddy.com - No. 25 Kent State vs. Arkansas State 

A win in the MAC Championship Game might have sent Kent State to the Fiesta Bowl rather than Northern Illinois - but that probably still wouldn't have made anyone happy. Instead, the then-undefeated team who shocked Rutgers halfway through the season heads to the GoDaddy.com Bowl against Arkansas State, whose head coach Gus Malzahn was just hired to replace his former boss, Gene Chizik, at Auburn. Teams who lose their coach before Bowl games generally have a bad record in the post-season. One thing's for sure: there will be a lot of offense here, and it should be entertaining. Prediction: Kent State.

14.  New Era Pinstripe Bowl - Syracuse vs. West Virginia

This one has all the makings of a shoot-out. West Virginia's offense has been humming all year, but their defense has been epically bad since the get-go, and the reason for their 5-game losing streak rests wholly and solely on a lack of defensive stops. For Syracuse, QB Ryan Nassib has the arm and the weapons to trouble a porous WVU unit, and Mountaineers QB Geno Smith has shown that he and his high-powered offense can score on anyone. A few defensive stops either way from teams who don't do much defense might decide this one. It'll be high scoring, and it'll be close. Prediction: West Virginia.

15. Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl - Texas Christian vs. Michigan State 

TCU had a good debut season in the Big XII. Michigan State were very disappointing, even in a rebuilding year, in the Big Ten. Statistically, both teams had their worst season in a handful of years. It might be a close game. As for who win's, it's a bit of a toss-up. Prediction: Texas Christian (just).

16. Gildan New Mexico - Arizona vs. Nevada

Quietly, Rich Rodriguez has put together a reasonable offensive season. His Wildcat team features the nation's number-one ranked running back, Ka'Deem Carey. It also features a bad defense. Almost as bad as what RichRod had on the field when he coached Michigan, and worse than Nevada's defense. Lots of points here, in what could be an explosive one to open the 2012-13 Bowl season. Prediction: Arizona.

17. Russell Athletic Bowl - Rutgers vs. Virginia Tech

Rutgers were a loss away from a BCS Bowl and Virginia Tech had their worst season in recent memory, putting some pressure on long-time head coach Frank Beamer. A solid running game and opportunistic defense have been hallmarks of the Scarlet Knights season. There's little good to be said for a Hokies outfit who struggled gainfully to beat lowly Duke. Prediction: Rutgers.

18. Gator Bowl - Mississippi State vs. No. 22 Northwestern

Resurgent season for Pat Fitzgerald's Wildcats. Good start to the season for Mississippi State, 7-0, which fell away late. winning just one of their last five. The ground-based offense that's led Northwestern to a 9-3 record should get the job done against a still-reeling MSU team. Prediction: Northwestern.

19. Music City Bowl - North Carolina State vs. Vanderbilt 

Aside from a win against Florida State, North Carolina were devoid of signature victories and lost some games they shouldn't have. That cost their head coach, Tom O'Brien, his job. On the flip side, Vanderbilt have had an above-average season, and will look to close it out with a Bowl win. Prediction: Vanderbilt.

20. Independence - Ohio vs. Louisiana-Monroe

Two 8-4 teams meet in Shreveport, Louisiana. For Louisiana-Monroe, who announced themselves on the college football scene with a then-unthinkable upset of Arkansas, play in their first Bowl game in program history. Many thought Ohio might go undefeated after beating Penn State early, but the Bobcats, whose marching band did a wonderful interpretation of 'Gangnam Style' that scored YouTube fame, had a string of four bad, double-digit losses down the stretch and are reeling. Prediction: Louisiana-Monroe.

21. Famous Idaho Potato Bowl - Utah State vs. Toledo

Solid season for Utah State, led by QB Chuckie Keaton, who ended the regular season ranked and lost only twice, once to hated in-state rival Brigham Young and once to Rose Bowl Game-bound Wisconsin, and both losses were for a total of five points. USU were one of the first teams to accept a Bowl bid, and will play on the Blue Turf of Boise State University against a Toledo team who stumbled late, but whose offense, like all other MACtion programs, is still dangerous. Prediction: Utah State.

22. Poinsettia Bowl - Brigham Young vs. San Diego State

A good season for the defensively-minded BYU Cougars, whose defense were responsible for a great many marks in the 'W' column. They face their old Mountain West Conference rivals San Diego State, who finished the season with a flourish out on the West Coast, winning their last seven games, and will be playing in front of their home fans. Prediction: San Diego State.

23. Liberty Bowl - Iowa State vs. Tulsa

The Cyclones were a disappointing 6-6 this year, and had no giant killing win like last year (vs. then-high flying Oklahoma State). They did, however, beat Tulsa in the opening game of the season, following which the Golden Hurricane put together a 10-3 season that culminated in a C-USA Championship. Prediction: Tulsa. 

24. Belk Bowl - Cincinnati vs. Duke

Cincinatti lost Butch Jones to Tennessee and hired Tommy Tuberville from Texas Tech and face a Blue Devils team who is playing in it's first Bowl game since 1994. Cincinnati's scoring defense has been their biggest asset this season, and face a Duke team who have lost four straight. Probably, make that five. Prediction: Cincinnati.

25. St Petersburg Bowl - Central Florida vs. Ball State


UCF come in after a tough overtime loss to Tulsa in the C-USA Championship Game and face a Ball State team on a six-game winning run, having started out a middling 3-3. Two teams with 9-win seasons should provide a reasonable contest. Prediction: Ball State.

26. New Orleans - East Carolina vs. Louisiana-Lafayette


Not a bad match-up - two 8-4 teams - but not a game that gets me particuarly excited either. And therein lies the problem with too many Bowl games, especially these pre-Christmas affairs. East Carolina won five of it's last six games. Louisiana-Lafayette won this game last year on a last-second field goal. Prediction: East Carolina.

27. Sun Bowl - USC vs. Georgia Tech

The Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas is the last place anyone expected USC to be playing a Bowl game. It was supposed to be the National Championship Game or bust.We all know what happened. Instead of Miami, the Trojans play Georgia Tech, who at 6-6 relied on a special waiver from the NCAA after losing in the ACC Championship, to get to the post-season. It probably won't be a thriller. Nor will it be particularly close. Prediction: USC.

28. Heart of Dallas Bowl - Purdue vs. Oklahoma State 

The least high-profile of all the New Year's Day Bowl games, tucked away on ESPNU. Oklahoma State seemed to cycle through a different quarterback each game, and Purdue's season wasn't as successful as many expected, leading to the dismissal of their coach, Danny Hope. Offense a-plenty in this one. Prediction: Oklahoma State.

29. Meineke Car Care of Texas Bowl - Minnesota vs. Texas Tech 

6-6 Minnesota vs. 7-5 Texas Tech. The difference is, Tech played in a tougher conference, and will have something to prove after their coach Tommy Tuberville left for Cincinnati. The Red Raiders have a spectacular offense. If it's firing on all cylinders and QB Seth Doege limits his turnovers, watch out, Minnesota. Prediction: Texas Tech. 

30. Military Bowl - No. 24 San Jose State vs. Bowling Green 

Difficult match-up for San Jose State, who gave Stanford all they could handle earlier in the season. Bowling Green's 2012 hallmark has been defense. The Falcons are right up there nationally in two key indicators defensively: yards allowed and points allowed. It could be a struggle, this one, and a close game. Prediction: San Jose State.
 
31. Sheraton Hawaii Bowl - Southern Methodist vs. Fresno State

Fresno State grabbed a share of the Mountain West Conference title. SMU needed a season-finale win against Tulsa to get to 6-6 and a bowl game, on Christmas Eve in Hawaii. There are worse places to spend the holidays, but this contest isn't going to draw too many eyeballs away from the family and celebrations. Prediction: Fresno State.

32. Little Caesars Pizza Bowl - Western Kentucky vs. Central Michigan


7-5 Western Kentucky against 6-6 Central Michigan in Detroit, Michigan the day after Christmas. Another game that most people will probably only watch if they're passed out on the couch after eating too much on Christmas and can't find the remote. A 3-6 start for CMU and an at-large bid from the NCAA to make up the Bowl field for 2012. Not a glowing indication of their team's talent this year. Prediction: Western Kentucky.

33. Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl - Navy vs. Arizona State

Navy's complicated spread-option offense is the sort that takes about a full month to really game-plan for. If Arizona State gets it right, the Midshipmen, who recorded another win vs. Army this year after a shocking start to the year, might be in trouble. Arizona State started fast and finished slow. A match-up of contradictory programs. Prediction: Arizona State.

35. Compass - Pittsburgh vs. Ole Miss

Two 6-6 teams sneaking into the post-season by the barest of margins, and now seeking to end with a winning record for their first-year head coach. Honestly, this game will barely rate a mention for anyone who isn't a Pitt or an Ole Miss fan. Another example of too many Bowl games. Prediction: Ole Miss.


34. Armed Forces Bowl - Rice vs. Air Force

Two more 6-6 teams in contest that many people won't bother about. Air Force makes a regular visit to this game - their fourth in six years - and Rice rarely travel for the holidays. This will be only their third Bowl appearance since 1961. Prediction: Air Force.