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Dang vs Doc vs Stock vs Jiz
Football Diner College Bowl Big Prediction Board
by Brian Davis, Paul Hopkins, Ben Stockwell & James Izzard
29/12/2009
 
This Saturday, the centrepiece of the college football calendar kicks off as the 2009 Bowl Season arrives. Granted, there’s a big gap between those Bowls starting the season quietly this weekend, and the BCS Bowls that arrive in 2010, culminating with the National Championship game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Texas Longhorns.
 
As has been the norm throughout the year, the Diner writers have been studying the form and have made their picks for each and every Bowl game below.
 
There are 34 games in total. And for those who are looking to overindulge in football over the festive period, here is the Diner’s justification for you to give your family/spouse/partner/pets/friends when seeking some refuge in front of the television, as opposed to shopping or visiting relatives or something else that deep down, you know you don’t want to do.
 
Whatever you decide and can get away with, enjoy your Bowl season.
 
New Mexico Bowl, Fresno St. vs. Wyoming (Dec. 19)
Apart from it being the first Bowl of the season, the game features the nation’s leading rusher in Ryan Matthews of Fresno State, currently averaging 151 yards per game.
 
St. Petersburg Bowl, Central Florida vs. Rutgers (Dec. 19)
There’s two very good coaches, both of whom has found that their teams are very hot and cold (just as well it doesn’t appear to be coming to UK screens…
 
New Orleans Bowl, Southern Miss vs. Middle Tennessee (Dec. 20)
Look out for Southern Miss running back Damion Fletcher and Middle Tennessee’s QB Dwight Dasher.
 
Las Vegas Bowl, Oregon St. vs. BYU (Dec. 22)
Two teams for who the season could have been so very different. That being said, it’s a game featuring two high-octane offences. Points-a-plenty are guaranteed.
 
Poinsettia Bowl, Utah vs. California (Dec. 23)
Remember last year when Utah dismantled a team now in the National Championship game? Well, that was Utah’s nation-leading eighth successive Bowl win. Can Cal bring this to an end?
 
Hawaii Bowl, Nevada vs. SMU (Dec. 24)
You should be watching as SMU have not been to a Bowl in 25 years. Nevada on the other hand have three rushers who are over 1,000 yards for the season.
 
Little Caesar’s Bowl, Marshall vs. Ohio (Dec. 26)
Its Boxing Day a day for which sport was created so we can avoid our families watch it(sorry, I just don’t know anything about either programme!).
 
Meineke Car Care Bowl, Pittsburgh vs. North Carolina (Dec. 26)
For me, this Bowl marks the point at which the season kicks up a notch. Two strong programmes, who like strong physical football.
 
Emerald Bowl, USC vs. Boston College (Dec. 26)
That’s right. USC are playing on Boxing Day. Loaded with talent, but something has gone array this season. Watch to see how their players react to being lost in the ranks of the also-rans for once.
 
Music City Bowl, Kentucky vs. Clemson (Dec. 27)
Watch to see, in his last game in college, the phenomenal CJ Spiller.
 
Independence Bowl, Georgia vs. Texas A&M; (Dec. 28)
A very intriguing SEC v BigXII match-up. And luckily for those of us who like points, these defences are ghastly. Also worth watching is Jerrod Johnson, the QB for the Aggies.
 
Champs Sports Bowl, Miami vs. Wisconsin (Dec. 29)
The power of the Badgers against the speed and finesse of the ‘U’.
 
Humanitarian Bowl, Idaho vs. Bowling Green (Dec. 30)
No idea, sorry. It’s being played on the smurf turf in Boise, Idaho though!
 
Holiday Bowl, Arizona vs. Nebraska (Dec. 30)
Defensive football all the way in this one, not least because those offences are terrible. And by now, you all know about Ndamukong Suh, and if you don’t then watch this and you soon will.
 
Armed Forces Bowl, Houston vs. Air Force (Dec. 31)
A points-fest to kick off New Years Eve I’ll be staggered if there’s less than 100 total points.
 
Sun Bowl, Oklahoma vs. Stanford (Dec. 31)
Which Oklahoma will turn up? They don’t have the best record in Bowl games of late, but watching their usually stiff defence against the phenomenal Heisman Trophy runner-up Toby Gerhart is worth tuning in for.
 
Texas Bowl, Navy vs. Missouri (Dec. 31)
Navy runs the ball better than virtually anyone. On the other side, Mizzou stops the run. This tussle will be worth seeing.
 
Insight Bowl, Minnesota vs. Iowa St. (Dec. 31)
An NFL Network Bowl game, so you probably won’t see it. So I’ll just skip over this. But it is another football game!
 
Chick-fil-A Bowl, Tennessee vs. Virginia Tech (Dec. 31)
Lane Kiffin’s first year in Tennessee has been a rollercoaster ride. Frank Beamer’s teams always come ready to play, so this is worth seeing. It’s also a game between two sides not ‘that’ far apart geographically.
 
Outback Bowl, Auburn vs. Northwestern (Jan. 1)
Imagine if your school hadn’t won a Bowl game since 1948? Welcome to Northwestern…can they finally do it?
 
Capital One Bowl, Penn St. vs. LSU (Jan. 1)
I don’t think I need to sell this one. Two powerhouse schools, with big names, big coaches and the ability to put up some points through their playmaker QBs. And then there’s the sub-plot of the Big Ten trying to prove itself against the superior SEC.
 
Gator Bowl, Florida St. vs. West Virginia (Jan. 1)
Probably the most emotional Bowl game of 2009, as Bobby Bowden bows out after 34 years at the Seminoles. Somewhat fittingly, he will be lining up against WVU, the school he first coached. There won’t be a dry eye in the house. For history, you need to see this.
 
Rose Bowl, Oregon vs. Ohio St. (Jan. 1)
Will we finally get Ohio State delivering a performance to judge the attention given to them? Has there been a more entertaining and fascinating team than the Ducks this year? And it’s the Rose Bowl! You can’t miss this.
 
Sugar Bowl, Florida vs. Cincinnati (Jan. 1)
Its farewell to Tim Tebow…and whilst ESPN might struggle to realise the world won’t come to an end without him at Florida, there’s also the sub-plot of the Brian Kelly less Bearcats.
 
International Bowl, South Florida vs. Northern Illinois (Jan. 2)
It’s a Bowl game in Canada, and you’ll still be recovering from New Year festivities!
 
PapaJohns.com Bowl, South Carolina vs. Connecticut (Jan. 2)
Connecticut has suffered heartbreak on a number of occasions this season. They’ve lost close games, and tragically they also lost their CB Jasper Howard, murdered in November. In the face of this adversity, the school has shown class personified this year. Root for them to end the season on a high.
 
Cotton Bowl, Ole Miss vs. Oklahoma St. (Jan. 2)
Two teams who were meant to be real contenders this year. That will now have ‘but didn’t’ after it. Still, there’s enough talent on both sides to hold your attention.
 
Liberty Bowl, Arkansas vs. East Carolina (Jan. 2)
Worth sticking on to see the Pirates very strong defence line up against Arkansas’ Ryan Mallett, who can light up any defence out there.
 
Alamo Bowl, Michigan St. vs. Texas Tech (Jan. 2)
This game will be all about the aerial assaults being launched by both offences. Tech are always worth watching under the super genius.
 
Fiesta Bowl, Boise St. vs. TCU (Jan. 4)
The most controversial Bowl game of 2009, as the BCS seeks to stifle the never-ending criticism of their joke of a system. Take that out of it and consider this – Boise St. is the nation’s No. 1 scoring team, and TCU is the best defensive team in the country. You cannot miss this game.
 
Orange Bowl, Iowa vs. Georgia Tech (Jan. 5, 8:00, Fox)
Two teams who have taken a lot of games to the death this season. This has pulsating nail-biter written all over it. Georgia Tech’s rushing attack is also a joy to watch.
 
BCS National Championship Game, Alabama vs. Texas (Jan. 7)
You know why you need to see this game.