Pete
Fiutak
Q:
Which three non-BCS bowls are you most looking forward to?
A:
Capital One Bowl - Wisconsin vs. Arkansas
I'm a big fan of great running games and can't wait to see the lightning
of Darren McFadden and Felix Jones vs. the thunder of P.J. Hill. This
will be played in about 73 minutes and is as big as it gets for the
pride of the two power conferences.
Sheraton Hawaii Bowl - Arizona State vs. Hawaii
If you haven't seen Hawaii play, here's your chance to catch the Colt
Brennan-Davone Bess show. It'll be a shock if this isn't the highest
scoring, wildest bowl game of them all with both offenses able to
combine for close to 1,000 yards.
Pacific Life Holiday Bowl - California vs. Texas A&M
Each team has a lot to prove and should play one of the highest-level
bowls of the pre-BCS season. Cal's DeSean Jackson and Marshawn Lynch are
worth the price of admission, while the Texas A&M ground game should
pound the ball for at least 250 yards.
Richard
Cirminiello
Q:
Which three non-BCS bowls are you most looking forward to?
A:
Las Vegas Bowl – Oregon vs. BYU – If the Ducks can correct their
problems at quarterback from now until Dec. 21, this has the potential
to be the most entertaining bowl game of the month. There should be
plenty of points to go along with an inspired, surging Cougar team
that’s determined to make a statement with a win over a name brand
opponent from a major conference.
Chick-fil-A Bowl – Georgia vs. Virginia Tech – The Hawaii Bowl
between Arizona State and Hawaii will end with a basketball score, but a
chance to get a sneak peek at two of next year’s potential powerhouses
is an even bigger treat. Both Georgia and Virginia Tech finished very
strong, meaning the winner in Atlanta will have some serious momentum
heading into 2007. Dawg true freshman Matthew Stafford is showing signs
of maturing, but will need to make a quantum leap to put a dent in a
Hokie D that allowed 29 points over the second half of the season.
Capital One Bowl – Arkansas vs. Wisconsin – Their record is as
good as all but three teams in the country, but just how good are the
Badgers, the forgotten one-loss team this year? We’ll finally get an
answer, after they play a top-notch Hog squad that features stars on
both sides of the ball and darn near won the SEC title. After playing
an awful schedule that included just three teams that finished above
.500, Wisconsin has a chance to bag the respect that’s escaped it all
year.
John
Harris
Q:
Which three non-BCS bowls are you most looking forward to?
A. 1. New
Orleans Bowl – Rice vs. Troy – Just to see Rice playing this late in
December for the first time since 1961 is cool as heck. On paper, it
doesn’t have much in the way of excitement, but for a team that has come
as far as Rice has this season under head coach Todd Graham, it’ll be
exciting to see them finish the year off with a bowl win. Wow, who’d
have thunk it?
2. Capital Bowl –
Wisconsin vs. Arkansas – The second of two New Year’s Day SEC-Big Ten
battles (Penn State vs. Tennessee in the Outback) takes place in
downtown Orlando and is one game to look forward to for no other reason
than the stark contrast in offensive styles. Bruising Wisconsin RB P.J.
Hill vs. Arkansas do-everything Heisman candidate Darren McFadden will
front the marquee, but keep an eye on the underrated defenses on both
sides. Wisconsin dominated a highly confident Auburn team last year in
the same game, but no one will find the SEC West champs disrespecting
the Badgers this year.
3. Chick-fil-a Bowl –
Virginia Tech vs. Georgia – Ball carriers in this game will be hit hard
and hit often. It won’t be pretty from an offensive standpoint, but
sometimes watching stout defenses lay the wood down for a full 60
minutes is fun to watch. Well, at least for me. The scoreboard
operator won’t have much to do, but whoever is carrying the smelling
salts had better get ready. This one won’t be 40-3 like last year’s LSU-Miami
matchup.
Matthew
Zemek
Q:
Which three non-BCS bowls are you most looking forward to?
A: 3) Citrus (Yeah, I know the corporate name).
Arkansas-Wisconsin is a heavyweight SEC-Big Ten battle. The bragging
rights in the matchup are enough to sell this showdown, but a
confrontation between the Badgers'
defense and Darren McFadden takes this game over the top.
2) Holiday. Virtually a federal law for this game to be an attractive
non-BCS bowl. Jeff Tedford and Dennis Franchione are two creative minds
but sketchy big-game resumes. How they coach--and how their teams
respond to this occasion--will be very interesting to watch.
1) Cotton. Tommy Tuberville and Bill Callahan are two impressive
football minds who have done solid work at their programs. Seeing Auburn
and Nebraska play is a rare experience that--sadly--doesn't occur very
often in the sport and its non-conference September portion of the
schedule. It's a treat to have such a confrontation on January 1. And
oh, get this: if you still don't think much of watching the Cotton Bowl
early in the morning on New Year's Day (11:30 a.m. in the East, 8:30 on
the West Coast), consider the fact that the legendary Pat Summerall will
call this game for FOX. Great matchup and a great broadcaster. Can't
beat that combo.
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