Early bowls are prize for some teams and letdown for others
Then there are the teams playing in the, shall we say, less-glamorous bowls. Those games sometimes inspire indifference, with players wondering: What’s my motivation, coach?
While some teams are just excited to have another game, bowl season can be a letdown for others.
Take the first bowl, Tuesday night’s New Orleans Bowl, relocated to Lafayette, La., because of Hurricane Katrina, with Arkansas State playing Southern Mississippi.
The Indians earned their first bowl bid since playing in the 1970 Pecan Bowl against Central Missouri State by winning a share of the Sun Belt Conference title. They’re thrilled to still be playing and don’t seem to care much about where and when.
“People actually notice that we’re going somewhere, we’re playing in December,” quarterback Nick Noce said. “I think people are starting to recognize us and maybe start respecting us. This is just one step for Arkansas State.”
Rutgers can relate. The state university of New Jersey is back in the bowl business for the first time since 1978. Twenty-seven years later the Scarlet Knights and Arizona State stage a rematch of the Garden State Bowl, this time on the Sun Devils’ turf at the Insight Bowl in Phoenix.
“It’s been exciting on campus and almost throughout the whole state, from teachers, to people in restaurants I’ve seen, people are real excited about the program,” said Rutgers defensive end Ryan Neill.
The school has done its part to spread the excitement, offering $300 travel stipends to 275 randomly selected students.
Michigan might have to sweeten the pot to get its student body excited about a trip to San Antonio for the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 28. Much more was expected of the Wolverines after starting the season ranked fourth in the country.
The last time Michigan failed to earn a January bowl berth came in coach Lloyd Carr’s first year at Michigan, when the Wolverines lost to Texas A&M in the Alamo Bowl following the 1995 season.
“Are we disappointed? No. Disappointment is Tennessee. They’re not going to a bowl game,” said linebacker Pierre Woods, putting a positive spin on Michigan’s situation.
Michigan’s opponent, Nebraska, should be geared up after missing the postseason last year for the first time in more than three decades.
The picks:
Tuesday, Dec. 10
New Orleans Bowl
Arkansas State (plus 17) vs. Southern Miss
Golden Eagles looking for two straight New Orleans Bowl wins … SOUTHERN MISS 40-17.
Wednesday, Dec. 21
GMAC Bowl
UTEP (plus 3) vs. Toledo
Miners’ last bowl win was 1967 Sun Bowl against Ole Miss … TOLEDO 34-24.
Thursday, Dec. 22
Las Vegas Bowl
BYU (plus 7) vs. California
Cougars haven’t been to bowl in four seasons, haven’t won one since ’97 Cotton … CAL 41-21.
Poinsettia Bowl
Colorado State (plus 3) vs. Navy
Middies could win bowls in consecutive seasons for first time … COLORADO STATE 28-24.
Friday, Dec. 23
Fort Worth (Texas) Bowl
Houston (plus 3) vs. Kansas
Jayhawks are 19th in country in total defense … KANSAS 34-17.
Saturday, Dec. 24
Hawaii Bowl
UCF (plus 2) vs. Nevada
Wolf Pack is 1-2 in Las Vegas bowls … NEVADA 41-34.
Monday, Dec. 26
Motor City Bowl
Akron (plus 5 1/2) vs. Memphis
DeAngelo Williams has 33 100-yard rushing games, tying NCAA record … MEMPHIS 34-30.
Tuesday, Dec. 27
Champs Sports Bowl
Clemson (no line) vs. Colorado
Buffaloes have been outscored 100-6 in last two games … CLEMSON 26-13.
Insight Bowl
Arizona State (minus 11 1/2) vs. Rutgers
Sun Devils beat Rutgers in ’78 Garden State Bowl 34-18 … ARIZONA STATE 34-18.
Wednesday, Dec. 28
MPC Computers Bowl
Boise State (plus 1) vs. Boston College
Broncos are 3-0 in bowls on the home blue turf … BOSTON COLLEGE 27-17.
Alamo Bowl
Michigan (minus 11 1/2) vs. Nebraska
Last bowl matchup between Wolverines and ‘Huskers was ’86 Fiesta … MICHIGAN 38-17.
Thursday, Dec. 29
Emerald Bowl
Utah (plus 8) vs. Georgia Tech
Yellow Jackets scored 51 points in their last two bowls …. GEORGIA TECH 34-14.
Holiday Bowl
Oregon (minus 3) vs. Oklahoma
Upsetting Ducks could be springboard to ’06 for Sooners …. OKLAHOMA 32-30.
Friday, Dec. 30
Music City Bowl
Virginia (plus 3) vs. Minnesota
Gophers go for two wins in a row at Music Bowl … MINNESOTA 28-21.
Sun Bowl
Northwestern (plus 3) vs. UCLA
Teams combine to allow nearly 450 yards rushing per game … UCLA 53-42.
Independence Bowl
Missouri (plus 4) vs. South Carolina
Gamecocks have won last three bowl appearances, and that was without Steve Spurrier … SOUTH CAROLINA 26-17.
Peach Bowl
Miami (no line) vs. LSU
Hurricanes have won seven of last eight bowls … MIAMI 17-16.
Saturday, Dec. 31
Meineke Bowl
South Florida (plus 5 1/2) vs. North Carolina State
First bowl for Bulls … NORTH CAROLINA STATE 28-14.
Liberty Bowl
Fresno State (minus 7) vs. Tulsa
Bulldogs lost two straight after hanging with USC … FRESNO STATE 42-21.
Houston Bowl
TCU (minus 4) vs. Iowa State
Horned Frogs second in nation in turnover ratio; Iowa State fifth … TCU 32-23.
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Final week of regular season 3-7 (straight); 2-8 (vs. points).
Season 178-59 (straight); 115-109-6 (vs. points).