Bowl predictions, part 2

Following up on my prognostications for Bowl Season......

R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Rice (7-5) vs. Troy (7-5)

I gotta be honest, who cares? Well, I won't watch this one, but I did promise to give capsules of all the games, so here goes.

Neither Rice nor Troy deserve a bowl game. However, both will get the thrill of it. Rice picked up a spot based on a late-season 6-game win streak. The problem is, they played six weak teams and barely beat each of them.

They beat a 3-9 UAB by one point
They beat a 4-8 UCF by 11 points
They beat a 5-7 UTEP by 6 points
They beat a 8-4 Tulsa by 3 points
They beat a 7-5 East Carolina by 1 point
They beat a 6-6 SMU by 4 points

The only two worthy opponents they faced were Texas and a weak Florida State. Rice lost by a combined score of 107-14.

I can make a somewhat better argument for Troy, since they were beating FSU late in the game before falling to the Seminoles by 7 points. But I'm not impressed with wins over Florida International, Florida Atlantic, North Texas, Louisiana-Lafayette, and Middle Tennessee State. Plus, that loss to Arkansas State?

ESPN is claiming that it will be a high-scoring affair, and I'm sure they're trying to boost ratings of a pathetic bowl matchup. Rice is ranked 51st in the NCAA in total offense, Troy is ranked 80th. And do I need to remind you who their opponents were in which they compiled yardage to get them to their lofty rankings of 51st and 80th???

Rice will rely on WR Jarrett Dillard, who has 20 TD catches, which is impressive by any standard. But that's the only time I'll use the word "impressive" to discuss this game. It's enough for me to give Rice the win.

Rice 31
Troy 17
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Papajohns.com Bowl
South Florida (8-4) vs. East Carolina (7-5)

I must admit, I like this matchup. Yes, I know I just spent some time disparaging Rice for beating East Carolina by only one point. East Carolina just barely deserves their chance, but they get my respect by knocking off Virginia. I know Virginia wasn't a quality team this year, but teams like Virginia, when in down years, get their win total up by beating the East Carolinas of the world. Overcoming the second-tier status and knocking off the Cavaliers is enough for me.

South Florida is a completely different story. I watched them beat West Virginia, and they were fun to watch. They took it to the Mountaineers in every aspect and kept their foot on WVAs throat until the game was over. WVA had a chance to win the Big East and that game meant the world to them...and South Florida wouldn't let them win, IN Morgantown. The Bulls also looked great against Rutgers, but fell by 2 points.

Defense is the key to this game, and South Florida has the advantage. Their secondary has enough to shut down ECU, and if you watched their DL shut down Slaton and White, you'd know enough to bet on the Bulls in this game.

South Florida 27
East Carolina 10
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New Mexico Bowl
New Mexico (6-6) vs. San Jose State (8-4)

When I saw this matchup announced, I though "Wow! How convienent that the New Mexico Bowl found a 6-6 team worthy to play! And it must be a coincidence that the team was New Mexico". I hate setups like that and I'm not happy about it in the least.

The Lobos have done nothing this year except squeak out 6 wins. Their last two wins ere against 4-8 Colorado State and 3-9 San Diego State. They were humiliated at BYU by 25 points, and they LOST to Division 1-AA Portland State. Give me a break.

San Jose State, on the other hand, earned their trip. The schedule isn't full of world-beaters, but they knocked off 8 teams and was the team that came the closest to defeating 12-0 Boise State, falling by only three points.

SJSU's QB is Adam Tafralis. If you watch this game, you'll be impressed with him. His QB rating is 151.05, and he's thrown 20 TDs to 8 INTs. We're spoiled with Troy Smith, but if you look at Tafralis' numbers, you will see that he has led his team valiantly. To be honest, SJSU looks like a poor-man's version of the Buckeyes. A good QB who can run, a 1,000 yard rusher backed up by a young RB with 400+ yards, and two WRs with over 700 yards each.

If the defense holds up and they can overcome a home-field bowl, I'll give them their 9th win.

San Jose State 31
New Mexico 28