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Here we go again! As we've begun the recent bowl season, we again note that no
less than Thirty-Four Bowl Games will transpire this year. And again note that
when we released our very first bowl edition (Tues, Dec 16, 1969), it consisted of
exactly 8 Bowls: Sun, Gator, Peach, Blue Bonnet, Rose, Cotton, Orange, & Sugar.
And again, we mention that the "bowl eligible" mission seems the main quest for
the vast majority of marginal squads, with a 6-6 record actually coveted in most
quarters. Sad. As of this writing, only La-Lafayette, La-Monroe, & NotreDame
finished at 6-6, with no bowl reward (NotreDame of its own choosing). That being
said, this contest pits a perennial bowl squad, & a somewhat bowl novice. For the
Bulldogs of Fresno St, this marks their 10th bowl game in the last 11 years, with
this marking their 2nd straight appearance in this particular bowl. They are led, of
course, by Mathews, who led the nation, with 151.3 RYpg. QB Colburn finished
25th in the nation, in passing efficiency (18/11, 60.2%). The 'Dogs finished the
year on a 7-1 SU run, reaching 30 pts in 10 of their last 11 contests. For the
Cowboys of Wyoming, this represents only their 2nd bowl game over the past 16
seasons (24-21 win over Ucla, in the '04 LasVegas - their only other winning year
since '99). And with this bid, Dave Christensen has become the only first-year
Mountain West coach to get his team into a bowl. With QB Cara-Samuels at just
7/4 (59%), & a running game which has reached 200 yds just once, the 'Pokes,
who have failed to top 10 pts in all 6 losses, certainly don't figure to stay with the
explosive Bulldogs. However, that Fresno "D" is not to be trusted, & the dog has
covered EVERY ONE of the Bulldogs' last 9 bowl games. The final determinant.
PROPHECY: Fresno State 37 - WYOMING 30 RATING: 6

The Knight Bowl. For the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers, under coach Greg Schiano,
post-season play has become a given. This one marks their 5th straight bowl
campaign, after failing to reach such a reward the previous 26 seasons (1979
thru 2004). This season, the Knights returned 14 starters from LY's 8-5 squad,
which wound up the '08 campaign with a 29-23 comeback win over NoCaroSt, in
the Papajohns.com Bowl. But gone is QB Teel, who threw for 3,418 yds & 25
TDs in '08, including 319 yds & 2 TDs vs NCSt. Thus, a 47-15 opening day loss
to Cincinnati, hardly augured well for a continuance of their recent success. But
that first game flop was duplicated only one more time, in a shocking 31-13 loss
to Syracuse, in which the Knights experienced 23-11 FD, 213-26 RY, & 211-104
PY deficits (27½ pt ATS setback, as well). They quickly rebounded, with a rout of
Louisville, but ran for just 65 yds in their windup loss to WestVa. It must be noted
that in their 4 losses, they managed just 50, 38, 26, & 65 RYs, with QB Savage
(52%) hardly among the elites. But they do lead the nation in TO margin (+20).
The Knights of Central Florida, under George O'Leary, are making their 3rd bowl
appearance in the last 5 years. Their first 2 such contests were in stark contrast,
namely a 49-48 OT loss to Nevada, in the '05 Hawaii, & a 10-3 loss to MississippiSt,
in the '07 Liberty. Contrary to LY, when they entered the season, minus 5 "O"
starters, this time around, they returned 10 "O" starters, including RB Harvey,
who has rushed for 1,596 yds in his last 16 starts. And QB Hodges has thrown
for 2,263 yds (61%). With the home field advantage, and the nation's 5th-ranked
rushing "D", vs that iffy Rutgers run "O", we call for Central's first-ever bowl win.
PROPHECY: CENTRAL FLORIDA 27 - Rutgers 22 RATING: 2

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Miss st over Houston(91-78) Sat Rating:1

Butler over Xavier(79-66) Sat Rating:2

ND over UCLA(89-70) Sat Rating:3

Drake over Iowa(66-58) Sat Rating:5