Get ready, because this is a long one...

Why watch?

This year's national championship match-up in Pasadena makes for a fitting end to the decade. Look at all of the themes that defined the past 10 years in college football that are involved:

-Like USC, Oklahoma, Texas and Ohio State before it, one of the sport's marquee names, Alabama, is looking for a return to glory under a charismatic savior doubling as a football coach.

-Texas runs a wide-open spread offense; the Crimson Tide runs a more traditional pro-style attack.

-The power conferences are represented in the title game, at the expense of some mid-major upstarts.

-In a decade that celebrated the "cult of the coordinator"–Norm Chow, Bo Pelini, Mike Stoops, Gene Chizik, Gus Malzahn–both staffs feature hot young assistants in Will Muschamp of Texas and Alabama's Jim McElwain who may hold the key to their teams' fates.

And, of course, 'Bama has a chance to add yet another chapter to the story of the decade: the rise of the SEC juggernaut.

Why you should watch:

Well the simple answer here is that you'll have nothing to do between the Orange Bowl and the National Champinoship anyway, so why not watch the two of the best non-BCS teams in the country. While neither team is a Boise State or TCU, they each won a conference championship which should at least equate to a quality football game to watch.

When Central Michigan has the ball:

This will be my last chance to talk about senior QB Dan LeFevour during his college career. No one player makes a team, but a single player can be the difference in a game when he has the right supporting cast around him. Players like Jamarcus Russel, Vince Young, and Matt Lienhart come to mind. I'm not convinced either of these players are the best quarterbacks I've seen but they were the difference for their respective college teams in many different games. The Chippewas have spent the past four years hinging their success directly to the abilities of dual threat quarterback Dan LeFevour and in his final game things will be no different. While there are plenty of other players on the CMU team to talk about, none will determine the outcome of the bowl as much as their veteran quarterback. To prove just how important his play has been here are just a few stats to digest:

#8 Nationally in Passer Rating (154.44)

#1 Nationally in Completion Percentage (71.3%)

#3 Nationally in Total Yards for a Quarterback (3745 yards)

#9 Nationally in TD2INT ratio (4.5)

For all of you not familiar with this stat, the top QB is Kellen Moore with a 13 and the bottom QB is Riley Dodge with a 0.6

Any quarterback who carries a 2.0 or better is generally looked upon favorably.

#2 Nationally in Percentage of Overall Team Plays (63%)

To put this stat in perspective, Tim Tebow accounts for only 58% of Floridas plays and QB Ricky Dobbs in Navy's Triple option only accounts 49% of the total plays.

The top player in this statistic is MTSU QB Dwight Dasher who accounts for 65%

So can Troy manage to slow down and contain Dan LeFevour? Well the Trojans played MTSU this season and were able to pull off a decisive win while moderately containing Dwight Dasher. I guess that means it's possible. The difference will be the way in which LeFevour is contained. While Dasher's strongest points are his legs and ability to run the ball, Central Michigan has proven they can win even in games when LeFevour doesn't gain much on the ground. Where CMU has a problem is when their star quarterback is held below a 60% completion rate which has happened in both of their losses this season. If the Troy secondary can play solid pass defense, the Trojans could come a way with a win.

Why you should watch

Both teams are looking for a little extra respect.  Georgia Tech  has had a fantastic year, going 11-2 and winning the ACC championship, but was shut down by Miami (33-17) and slipped against Georgia (30-24).  Getting by Virginia Tech 28-23 helps their image a little, but honestly, they’re .500 against ranked opponents and their win wasn’t quite as impressive as their loss was telling.  Getting a win over a tough Big Ten defense could do a lot to show that this team is someone that could make even bigger waves next year.

Iowa was in the national title discussion for all of two seconds, but that’s more than they’ve had in a long, long time and ending 10-2 is actually a little disappointing after the 9-0 start they had.  With wins over Arizona (27-17), Penn State (21-10), and Wisconsin (20-10), Iowa has proven that they can beat the big boys.  Yes, they lost to Ohio State (27-24 OT), but it wasn’t as if they were blown away.  On the biggest stages this year, the Hawkeyes have held their own and finished the regular season 3-1 against ranked opponents.  Most of those were conference opponents though.  A win over Georgia Tech would prove that the Hawkeyes can hang with the tough teams around the nation, not just around the Midwest.

When Georgia Tech has the ball

QB Josh Nesbitt is quick on his feet, sharps as a tack with his decision making, and a tough enough runner to square his shoulders and get a little nasty against tacklers.  He’s just not that great when he has to throw the football.  With a 47.7 completion percentage, he’s missed more than he’s hit, but he’s also had 100 fewer attempts than his counterpart, Ricky Stanzi, with four additional games.  Nesbitt doesn’t throw for a ton of yards, averaging roughly 130 yards per game, but the offense isn’t designed around his arm anyway.

Nesbitt leads the charge on the ground, running 259 times for 991 yards and 18 touchdowns.  There are a slew of supporters in the option attack, but Jonathan Dwyer is perhaps the most dangerous.  Dwyer has carried 221 times for 1346 yards, averaging a very impressive 6.09 yards per carry and earning 14 touchdowns.

If there’s anyone more dangerous than Dwyer, it may be fellow junior Anthony Allen.  Allen has only carried 61 times, but has gained 597 yards for an astronomical 9.79 yard-per-carry average and five touchdowns.  The Nesbitt/Dwyer/Allen trio gives this offense the depth that makes it so hard to defend, and they’re still not all that Tech has to offer.  There are six individuals who are averaging more than five yards per carry (with more than 10 carries) on the Yellow Jacket roster.

Look for Tech to use all available options (no pun intended) in this match.  Not only because this is a bowl game and this is their chance to showcase all of their talent, but also because…

On the other side of the ball, Iowa represents the toughest all around team Georgia Tech has faced all season.  The Hawkeyes are not only the highest ranked (10^th), but have the highest rated defense (also 10^th).

Linebackers Pat Angerer, A.J. Edds, and Jeremiah Hunter are quicker than most stereotypical Big Ten linebackers, are smart, well disciplined, and are coached by one of the best defensive minds in college football -  Norm Parker.  This trio flies to the ball and don’t often miss tackles.  They’ll be the key to slowing down the option.

Nesbitt can’t forget DE Adrian Clayborn, though.  Clayborn is very quick in his own right and can chase down a play on the opposite side of the field as if he were a linebacker, not an end.  The rest of the defensive line is pretty solid as well.  DE Broderick Binns isn’t the best pass rusher in the world, but he’s quick and good at sniffing out the ball.  Tackles Christian Ballard and Karl Klug take good care of the center of the line and will free up the linebackers to move around.

This defense will give up yards, but they’ve only allowed eight rushing touchdowns all year (8^th nationally).  Against the run, they’ll bend a little, but won’t break easily, especially in the redzone.

Why you should watch: 

The two best non-AQ FBS teams collide in a showdown in the desert. Between the two teams, they have a perfect record of 25 wins and zero losses this season – the best combined record in any bowl game outside the BCS National Championship (26-0). While each team would have loved a chance to take down an undefeated foe from one of the “major” conferences, they're both salivating at the chance to face each other. TCU and Boise State met last season in the Poinsettia Bowl, and it was one for the ages, ending in a 17-16 victory for the Horned Frogs. It's safe to say both teams are stronger this season, so it will come down to which team has improved the most in the past year. Break out your chips and salsa, and sit down for one hell of a show.

When Boise State has the ball: 

The Boise State offense has been unconscious this season, leading the nation in scoring with 44.2 point per game. Sophomore QB Kellen Moore is the most efficient passer in the nation, leading all quarterbacks with a rating of 166.9. He has thrown for 3325 yards, 39 touchdowns, and just 3 interceptions. His favorite targets have been receivers Titus Young (969 yards, 10 TD) and Austin Pettis (850 yards, 14 TD), who is expected to return to the field after missing the last two games due to an ankle injury. Moore is also very adept at getting the tight ends involved, especially near the red zone. While the passing game has been the strength of the Broncos offense, they are very strong on the ground as well. Junior Jeremy Avery and sophomore Doug Martin lead a running back corps that is averaging 5.3 yards per carry and nearly 200 yards per game. Martin, a hard-nosed player who used to line up as a safety, has been the primary weapon lately...rushing for 332 yards and 8 touchdowns in the last three games. Avery and Martin will be hard-pressed to gain ground against a TCU defense that is completely stifling against the run. The Frogs have allowed more than 100 rushing yards just four times this season, and have allowed only 7 rushing touchdowns all season. The defense is full of fast and talented athletes, but the standout player is senior DE Jerry Hughes, who finished 2009 with 54 tackles, 11.5 sacks, and 7 quarterback hurries. The Broncos will have to continue their terrific offensive line play in order to contain Hughes and the terrific TCU pass rushers. If Moore can get enough time in the pocket, he should be able to complete the short passes necessary to move the Broncos methodically down the field. But the TCU secondary is very talented, and will look to force Moore into mistakes.

Why you should watch

Can anyone say drama? Michigan State apparently left half their players at home, suspended for their part in a fight on campus.  Texas Tech is now sans Head Coach Mike Leach after he was canned for mistreating injured receiver Adam James.  About the only thing not being talked about in regards to this bowl game is football.

This game is a train wreck.  It might be pretty ugly and there are definitely casualties, but we can’t keep from craning our necks to see the carnage.

When Texas Tech has the ball

Well now, here’s question of the day #1:  will Texas Tech look like Texas Tech with defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill running the show?  No doubt, McNeill won’t try to upset the apple cart any more than it already is, but will he have the same strategic mind that Leach has?  More importantly, will he be able to focus his team away from the off-field distractions and on Kirk Cousins & Company?

The Red Raiders bring a pass happy attack led by junior QB Taylor Potts.  Potts has been accurate, completing 65.6% of his passes for a very impressive 3068 yards and 20 touchdowns (with 12 interceptions).  He has four good targets in Alexander Torres, Deltron Lewis, Tramain Swindall, and Lyle Leong – all of whom have five or more TD catches – but the roster is full of available ball catchers and he’ll have no shortage of hands to toss to.

When the Red Raiders do run the ball, Baron Batch is no slouch, averaging 5.37 yards-per-carry and boasting 12 touchdowns on the ground.

Just assume that the “Leach Affair” will be the farthest thing from the players minds when they take the field.  Potts should have an enormous day against a Spartan defense that ranks 103^rd in the nation against the pass (last in the Big Ten) – when everyone’s available.

Speaking of the Spartan defense, Potts will have to keep his eyes on LB Greg Jones.  Jones has nine sacks on the season, 13.5 tackles for loss, and 141 tackles.  He’s a one-man-wrecking-crew.  Also, the warriors of Sparta have five different defenders with an interception (though they all only have one each) that can disrupt this pass attack if they’re on their games.

Why you should watch: 

Well, if you watch that would make two of us.  Take a break from the BCS games and watch two middle of the pack teams from their respective conferences square off in what could be the least cared about football game of the season.  As my man, Felder, put it, "this may be South Florida's best chance at winning a game above the Mason-Dixon line because it's being played in a dome."  True, but if Northern Illinois can start up the ground game, this could get out of hand quickly regardless of the climate controlled dome interior.

When Northern Illinois has the ball: 

For the Huskies, it will be all about the running game.  The offense isn't the juggernaut of the past in rushing yards, but Northern Illinois has two very talented backs.  Chad Spann leads the team with 938 yards and 19 TDs.  Me'co Brown plays the role of "back up" nicely and has 645 yards and 4 TDs when Spann is on the sidelines taking a break.  Calling the plays for the Huskies will be QB Chandler Harnish who completes more than 66% of his passes for 1540 yards, 11 TDs, and only 5 INTs.  With a TD2INT ratio just shy of 2.0, Harnish has a proven ability to keep the ball out of the hands of opposing secondaries.  While he has plenty of yardage through the air, there isn't a single receiver Harnish favors more than others.  The team leader in receiving yards is WR Landon Cox with 528 yards and 4 TDs.  Where the Huskies quarterback can hurt defenses is with his unexpected ability to scramble.  While I wouldn't call him a running quarterback, Harnish does have just enough speed to keep plays alive and gain a few yards on broken plays (250 yards, 2 TDs). 

If South Florida expects to slow down the Northern Illinois running game, it will begin in the trenches with DE George Selvie and DE Jason Pierre-Paul.  Both are talented players and have a proven ability to single handedly impact offenses.  While Selvie has been all the rage over the past two years, he has taken a backseat in the stats to Pierre-Paul who is the team leader in sacks (4.5), tackles for a loss (13.5), and ranks 5th in tackles (40).  The Huskies could probably handle blocking one outstanding defensive end, but two might be a different story.

Why you should watch: 

It's the Rose Bowl. The oldest bowl game. The “Grandaddy” of them all. And the game pits the Pac-10 champion against the Big 10 champion in a battle for conference superiority.

When Ohio State has the ball: 

The Buckeyes have not been an eye-popping team on the offensive side of the football in 2009. Junior QB Terrelle Pryor is considered by many to be the most athletic player on the team and he has certainly been the most valuable player. Pryor leads the team in rushing (707 yards, 7 TD) as well as passing, but has thrown for just 152 yards per game and has struggled with his passing efficiency (55.6% completions, 16 TD, 10 INT). The Oregon defense will certainly focus on containing Pryor, so it will be important for another star to emerge for the Buckeyes offense. Look for junior RB Brandon Saine, who was a potent weapon the last three weeks of the season, to take some of the pressure off of Pryor. The Buckeyes leading receiver is sophomore DeVier Posey, who has 52 receptions for 727 yards and 7 TD. The Ducks don't have the best defense in the nation, but they have been able to put pressure on the quarterback. Their 32 sacks rank 17^th in the nation and Oregon is 21^st in pass efficiency defense (16 TD, 13 INT). While Pryor is a very mobile quarterback, he will have to keep an eye on LB Kenny Rowe who leads the Ducks in sacks (8.5) and tackles for loss (11).

Why You Should Watch?

West Virginia and Florida State any year in the last few decades is interesting because of the Bobby Bowden angle. This year it is especially interesting as Bowden is working the sidelines for his last time. That means plenty of old Bobby recaps, plenty of flashbacks to his WVU days as well as a great run down of the Florida State years in a tribute to one of college football’s greatest of all time.

When West Virginia has the football:

Noel Devine is the body that drives the Mountaineers offense and while he is small in stature he is quite a force when it comes to his impact on the game. Jarrett Brown will be quarterbacking the Mountaineers and he’s proven himself capable as a fifth year senior but is a severe talent drop off from last season’s phenom Pat White. However, Brown is a better passing quarterback and the Mountaineers have been able to be a solid threat throwing the football.

For the Noles they have plenty of issues on the defensive side of the ball and losing stalwarts Mickey Andrews and Chuck Amato is sending a shockwave through the program. Look for Andrews in his last effort to release the hounds and pull up all the stops in working to shut down this Mountaineers attack and get one final win. The defensive ends will pin their ears back, the corners will be aggressive to the football and the linebackers will fast flow. While the garnet and gold have looked bad against some potent offenses the athletes are there and the gloves will be off as Mickey has nothing to lose.

Why you should watch

Oh, shall I count the reasons?  This is SEC against Big Ten.  If you like smack talk, that is reason enough to pay attention to this game.

Penn State boasts a 10-2 record, but lacks a quality win over a ranked opponent.  LSU comes in at 9-3, but lacks a quality win over a ranked opponent.  Penn State narrowly missed a shot at the conference title.  LSU was never really in the running.  Penn State is favored by two points, but LSU had to compete in the SEC.

For football purists, this is a battle between two fantastic defenses and two mediocre offenses.

The last time LSU graced this bowl game (January 1, 2005), they were beat when Iowa’s Drew Tate hooked up with Warren Holloway for Holloway’s only touchdown as a Hawkeye – with time running out on the clock.  This is a chance to burn away the bad voodoo from that visit.

When LSU has the ball

Take a good look at the stats and the story will become clear – LSU’s offense just isn’t that good.  Ranked 107^th in the nation in total offense, the Tigers have gotten to a nine win season on the back of a tough defense and by playing opportunistic football (+7 turnover margin).

Sophomore QB Jordan Jefferson is growing into a solid leader for the Tigers completing 62.5% of his passes through eleven games.  With 16 touchdowns and only 6 interceptions, he’s smart with the football and isn’t prone to making a lot of the “rookie mistakes” that are common to young quarterbacks.  He’s not much of a rushing QB, averaging just over a yard per carry, but given time and opportunity, he’s capable of carving up a defense with his arm.

LSU’s rush attack ranks a spectacular 85^th (note the sarcasm).  Who will be the lead ball carrier for the Tigers?  Does it matter?  No one on the roster has more than four touchdowns on the season and as a team they’ve rushed for only fourteen touchdowns.  Freshman Russell Shepard, Sophomore Stevan Ridley, Junior Richard Murphy, and Senior Trindon Holliday all have fantastic averages (all over five yards per carry), but none of them have the carries necessary to believe they could maintain that average through a full work load against a defense like Penn State’s.  If they split time (which is likely), they can combine for a solid rush attack, and that will be their best opportunity to keep Penn State’s 9^th rated run defense off balance.

Using a pro-style offense, look for Les Miles to try the pro-style approach – establish some semblance of a run to set up an air attack.  The problem is…

On the other side of the ball, the Tigers need to watch out for Navorro Bowman who leads Penn State in tackles-for-loss (15.5) , and Sean Lee, who isn’t far behind with 10.5 tackles for loss of his own.  This linebacker tandem is dangerous with a capital D.  Not only are they adept at getting into the backfield, but they’ve combined for three interceptions and five sacks on the year.

Also, Jefferson will have to watch Jared Odrick, who has six sacks and will be head hunting in his final game as a Nittany Lion.

Why you should watch

Northwestern is (still) trying for their first bowl victory since 1949 and only their second in school history.  How can you not want to see if they can finally end the long drought?  The Wildcats ended their regular season on a three game winning streak that included victories over undefeated Iowa and a Wisconsin team that finished 9-3.

Auburn, meanwhile, finished their regular season by losing three of their last five.  They did, however, play national champion contender Alabama very tough in their final game, losing by just five points.  They don’t have a signature win this year (a la Northwestern over Iowa), but have the benefit of having played the SEC schedule.  In other words, they get bonus points for finishing fourth in the “toughest conference in America”.

This is SEC vs. Big Ten.  The fans of these two conferences have been at each other for more than a few years now.  This is a chance for both conferences to get a little ammo for the next round of trash volley.

When Auburn has the ball

Put aside Auburn’s late struggles for a moment.  Yes, they lost five of their last seven games, but consider that those losses included narrow misses against Georgia and Alabama.  They did get a nice win over Ole Miss.  In another conference, this team could just as easily be 9-3.

Both Ben Tate and Onterio McCalebb boast running averages over five yards per carry. Look for the Tigers to use Tate and McCalebb to work over the Wildcat defense and try to wear them down.  Northwestern brings the nations 34^th ranked rushing defense into the contest, but Auburn’s 13^th ranked rushing offense will put it to the test.

QB Chris Todd is somewhat overlooked, completing nearly 60% of his passes (59.9) and boasting a great TD-to-INT ratio (21-6 respectively).  If Tate can get enough room to do a little Wildcat bowling, Todd should find the pass game open up nicely – particularly against a Northwestern pass defense that’s ranked 67^th in the nation.

On the other side of the ball, the Tigers need to account for DE Corey Wootton.  Wootton has come on strong toward the end of the season, racking up four sacks in the last five games and six tackles for loss over the same span.

Why You Should Watch?

Two teams separated by four hours and the Appalachian Mountains that play very similar styles of football; big boy, run first, smash mouth football. Frank Beamer is a salt of the earth long time guy while Lane Kiffin is a new, flashy, mouthy guy captaining the Tennessee ship. Tune in and you’ll see two contrasting coaching personalities but two very similar football philosophies.

When Virginia Tech has the football:

Tyrod Taylor is one of the most explosive quarterbacks in the nation and he has finally come into his own in his junior season. That emergence can be based on two facts; first the maturation of his receiving core and secondly the dominating running performance of freshman Ryan Williams. The freshman ran for over 1,500 yards and totaled 19 touchdowns on his way to becoming a first team All-ACC running back. There will be heavy doses of Williams who averaged around 128 yards per game supplemented with play action passes to Jarrett Boykins and Danny Coale.

For Tennessee they bring a possible number one overall draft pick to the party in safety Eric Berry. Berry is a dynamic player capable of controlling games with his presence and Monte Kiffin has taken advantage of the studs abilities both physical and his mental understanding of the game. Dan Williams, the defensive tackle, Rico McCoy at linebacker give the Vols two more All-SEC defenders that anchor the nation’s 18^th ranked defense. They have played will with Florida, Alabama and haven’t given up more than 23 points in regulation to BCS opponents.

For a program accustomed to title shots and BCS bowls, a New Year's Eve bowl game seems almost pointless. In fact, given how Oklahoma has been sleepwalking through recent postseasons, it's easy to wonder if "pointless" is actually an overestimation of their attitude towards the 2009 Brut Sun Bowl.

Stop me if you've heard this one before, but this time is different.

Sadly, the 2009 season turned into a 2010 audition for a large number of Sooners as soon as quarterback Sam Bradford went down in the first game of the year against BYU. In that sense, this game represents something of a final exam for all the OU youngsters pressed into action this season. A win over a quality opponent like Stanford could provide a nice springboard into next year.

On the other hand, fourth-year players like Gerald McCoy and Trent Williams are facing the prospect of finishing their careers with an 0-4 bowl record. The Sun Bowl may not have the cachét of a BCS game, but it still offers these upperclassmen an opportunity for some redemption.

Can the Sooners turn their bowl fortunes around? Will a fired-up Stanford team become the latest underdog to slay OU in the postseason?

Why you should watch: 

It's a game between two teams that could not be any different. Air Force is an option team that relies heavily on a physical and disciplined defense to win games. Houston is a team with a defense will give up quite a few points but relies on one of the nation's highest scoring offenses to simply outscore their opponent.

When Houston has the ball: 

Houston's tremendous success this season is the result of their offense, a unit that had a record-breaking year. Junior QB Case Keenum would have been the favorite for the Heisman based solely on his numbers. He led the nation in passing yards (5410), touchdown passes (43), and completed 71 percent of his passes. He also ran for four touchdowns. Keenum has been terrific at distributing the ball to several different receivers, and Houston has quite a few. Junior WR James Cleveland (1182 yards, 14 TD), and sophomores Patrick Edwards (990 yards, 5 TD), and Tyron Carrier (981 yards, 7 TD) have been the major weapons, but there are five receivers on the squad with more than 500 yards this season. Despite their obvious knack for passing, the Cougars rely on their running game to loosen up coverages. In their ten wins this season Houston is averaging 153.9 rushing yards per game; they managed just 68.0 in their three losses. Getting it done on the ground are talented sophomore Bryce Beall and freshman Charles Sims. Don't expect Beall and Sims to have too much success on Thursday – the Air Force defense is very stingy against the run (the Falcons held two of the toughest running attacks, Army and Navy, under 200 yards in their rivalry games this season). Air Force opponents are averaging just 3.7 yards per carry and have scored only 12 rushing touchdowns. The passing defense has been equally strong, led by talented corners Anthony Wright (51 tackles, 4 INT, 2 TD, 1 forced fumble) and Reggie Rembert (41 tackles, 3 INT, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble return TD). As good as the Air Force secondary has been, they showed a few chinks in their armor in their last game of the season, when Max Hall and the BYU squad completely dismantled their defense for 377 yards and 5 touchdowns. Sadly for Air Force, Houston's passing game is even better than that of BYU.

Why you should watch

How often do you get to see Iowa State in a bowl game?  Seriously, it’s a pretty big deal.  Neither of these teams have great bowl records in the last decade, so it’ll be entertaining enough just to see who will be celebrating when the final whistle blows.

Aside from that, this is a match between two programs that are in desperate need of some positive mojo.  Iowa State had a great win over Nebraska in Lincoln, but the rest of the season has been merely mediocre.  Minnesota lacks a true signature win, but has the talent to be competitive with about anyone.  Both teams need something positive to help their offseason recruiting.

When Iowa State has the ball

New Head Coach Paul Rhoads has made it clear that he intends to bring a new attitude to Iowa State.  He hasn’t done a bad job in his first year, taking the Cyclones to a bowl game using a lot of the same players Gene Chizik failed with.

Look for that to be the theme this time around too.  Minnesota’s run defense isn’t great by any stretch (64^th nationally) and they’ve been fooled by running quarterbacks before.  If the Cyclone line can give Robinson a little room to breathe, he should burn the Gophers for well over 100 yards and at least a couple of scores.  Throw Arnaud into the mix, and the Gophers could be in for a long day.

On the other side of the ball, they’ll have to watch out for LBs Lee Campbell, Simoni Lawrence, and Nate Triplett.  That trio can wreak havoc on State in every way fashionable.

Why you should watch:

1. The emotional appeal:

The Idaho Vandals are arguably the “feel good” story of the 2009 college football season. Under the guidance of passionate head coach Robb Akey, the Vandals have gone from perennial bottom-dweller to a bowl team. Their improvement from 0-12 last season to a 7-5 season in 2009 is simply remarkable, and shows us why the right attitude and a few key recruits can quickly bring a sinking program back to a state of positive buoyancy. For leading the Vandals to such an amazing resurgence, Akey has been named WAC coach of the year by The Sporting News and Phil Steele's College Football.

2. The statistical appeal:

Bowling Green WR Freddie Barnes is a really special player, and he's having a record-breaking season. If Barnes can haul in just five passes in this game he will break the 20-year standing record for receptions in a season (142) – and he's averaging more than 11 receptions per game, so it's almost a sure thing. Despite Bowling Green continues to be a solid program in the MAC, finishing third in the East this season with a 6-2 mark in conference play. And the Falcons have been especially hot of late. Coming into this contest, the Falcons have won four games in a row and six of their last seven overall. There will be plenty of offense in the cold Idaho air, with both teams able to air it out and find the end zone with regularity against overmatched defensive squads.

3. The sex appeal:

If you keep your eyes open, you just may see a sexy college football analyst sitting in the stands with his parents. My folks are both alumni of the University of Idaho so, while this analysis will be as unbiased as possible, I can promise you that I will be cheering for the Vandals on Wednesday.

Why Watch?

Football purists should love watching the Nebraska defense. Obviously, Heisman Trophy finalist Ndamukong Suh is one of the most dominant defensive players of the last decade. Watching him toss offensive linemen around like rag dolls is worth the price of admission alone. The rest of coach Bo Pelini's well-coached unit key off of Suh's ability to wreak havoc in the interior, and you won't find a team anywhere in the country that tackles better than the Cornhuskers.

When Arizona has the football:

Arizona's move to a wide-open spread attack under coordinator Sonny Dykes has been the story on the offensive side of the ball in recent years for the Wildcats. In 2009, however, the running game really clicked, generating nearly five yards per attempt. In three of four losses, opponents stifled U of A's ground game, holding the Wildcats to 3.63 yards or fewer per rush. Meanwhile, sophomore signal caller Nick Foles put together a solid season, completing 66.1 percent of his passes to go along with 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions. 'Zona doesn't win games by relying on Foles' arm, so establishing the run is key in this game.

Unfortunately for the Wildcats, they're facing one of the best run defenses in the country. NU gave up just 2.77 yards per rushing attempt, ranking sixth overall in the country. Suh excels at penetrating the middle of the line of scrimmage and generating tremendous push against opposing offensive lines, typically rendering efforts to run inside moot. The 'Husker D is equally stout against the pass, allowing the sixth fewest yards per passing attempt in the country in 2009, 5.4. The bottom line is that few teams have had success moving the ball by land or air this season.

Why You Should Watch?

Al Golden. The Temple head coach is the number one reason to watch. He’s led probably the most successful rebuilds this side of Turner Gil at Buffalo. The head coach has already pulled his name from other job offers as he works to elevate the status of the Philly school.

When UCLA has the football:

The Bruins have been less than impressive this year on offense as quarterback Kevin Prince has had to shoulder the bulk of the load for Neuheisel’s squad. Their running game has been incredibly ineffective with no backs coming within 400 yards of 1,000. The Bruins played their best game in beating Tennessee in the season’s second game and since then they’ve been an up and down losing 4 games by two or more scores. Taylor Embree and Nathan Rosario will have to have big games to offset the Bruins in ability to advance the football on the ground.

Golden is a defensive minded coach and his team reflects this as the Owls sport the 37^th ranked defense in college football. They swarm to the football, run well and take advantage of mismatches to running multiple defensive sets. They don’t play a true 3-4 or 4-3 as they have players who are comfortable standing up on the edge and putting their hands in the dirt. Look for this experienced defense to confuse Prince by disguising their looks and playing the same defense that allowed them to run to a 9-3 and 7-1 MAC finish.

Why you should watch

On paper, this could very well be one of the most entertaining bowl games of the entire season…on paper.  Both teams sport 9-3 records.  Both teams made a little noise in their respective conference.  Both teams have profitable offenses and both teams have holes in their defenses.

There are, however, two very good reasons that this game could get really ugly, really quickly.

First, Miami has a high octane pass offense that will match up favorably for the Hurricanes against Wisconsin’s very questionable pass defense.  Second, Wisconsin has basically crumbled when they’ve come face-to-face with truly competitive teams.

However, before you close the books on Wisconsin, don’t forget that they do have the Big Ten’s best rush attack and boasts the nations 34^th ranked total offense compared to Miami’s 36^th ranked offense.  The Badgers aren’t completely coming into the battle unarmed.

When Miami has the ball

Jacory Harris should have a fantastic day.  Wisconsin’s pass defense isn’t exactly terrible, but they have allowed 300+ yards passing three times this season – against arguably weaker offenses than Miami will bring.  Michigan State (6-6) hung 396 passing yards on the Badgers.  Leonard Hankerson is Harris’ favorite target and will give the Badgers all they can handle, but he’s far from the only one Wisconsin will have to account for.  Look for Harris to spread the ball around the field and keep Wisconsin off balance.

When they’re not throwing, the Hurricanes also have a slew of running backs that can produce, and will likely use all of them.

Harris will have to watch out for DE O’Brien Schofield.  He’s not the fastest end in the nation, but he’s solid (10 sacks) and will give their line fits.  Also, Safety Jay Valai is an all-Big Ten defender who can disrupt the pass game, even though he only has one interception.

The Independence Bowl makes me think of  Independence Day.  4th of July brings to mind cookouts, American flags, and fireworks.  That's really fitting since cookouts and tailgating are obviously a huge part of the College game.  More importantly, we're going to see some fireworks lighting up the scoreboard when Georgia and Texas A&M commence hostilities.

High scoring Football games can be a lot of fun to watch.  I'm much more appreciative of great defensive plays and the impact they make on the game, but defense isn't always sexy.  Watching Auburn and Mississippi State battle to a 3-2 final last year wasn't much fun; however, I think both teams in this game will put 28-plus points on the board.  This probably has to do with the offenses of these two teams and more to do with how poor performance of their defenses. 

Why you should watch:

CJ Spiller. Period. The senior is heading into his final collegiate contest and he is winless in bowl games. Spiller is the nation's most electrifying player and although he was just outside of the Heisman race he will give the nation one more showcase before heading to the NFL.

When Kentucky has the ball:

Clemson has one major focus, to shut down Randall Cobb and Derrick Locke. With the long layoff between the ACC Title Game and the Music City Bowl look for Kevin Steele to work in some fresh schemes and personnel groupings to shut down the Wildcats. Seniors Ricky Sapp and DeAndre McDaniel will have to have big games if they hope to get their first bowl win and they appear poised to do so. Brandon Thompson and Da'Quan Bowers, the young guys on the defensive line will work to contain the Wildcat rushing attack while Brandon Maye and Kavell Conner flow to make tackles.

Why you should watch:

The 9th ranked rushing defense in the country lines up against the nation's 3rd best running back in rushing yards per game.  For all you running game purist (Big Ten fans) this game will be a treat.  

When Pittsburgh has the ball:

With one of the best offenses in the Big East, the Panthers will look to establish both the running and passing games against the Tarheels.  While Senior QB Bill Stull is the leader on the team and calls the plays, the big time offensive threat is Freshman RB Dion Lewis.  The Panthers running back has 1640 yards and 16 touchdowns this season which ranks him 3rd nationally in rushing yards per game (136.67ypg).  If the ball isn't given to Lewis, Stull will be looking to throw the ball to Sophomore WR Jonathan Baldwin who averages a ridiculous 20 yards per reception.  There are plenty of other receivers in the country with an average at or above Baldwins, but none of those receivers have over 1000 yards receiving and lead their respective team in the category.  If Pitt finds themselves in a hole, you can be sure Stull will be looking for Baldwin deep.  

Lining up to slow down the Panthers will be North Carolina Sophomore DE Robert Quinn and Junior LB Quan Sturdivant.  These two will have to step up big in shutting down Dion Lewis in order to give the Tarheels' overwhelming average offense an opportunity to keep pace in the game.  Sturdivant leads the team in tackles this season, and Quinn leads in sacks and tackles for a loss.  Pittsburgh's concerns should be focused on Quinn who seems to play the game with a life perspective above that of most college football players.  I think any coach should watch out for players who overcome life threating medical issues and are playing with a second chance at life.  Read the amazing story here.

Why you should watch:

This is going to be a good football game to watch.  Unlike Oregon State vs. BYU and Utah vs. California, this game pairs to equally talented football programs which will make for another early bowl classic similar to Wyoming vs. Fresno State or MTSU vs. Southern Miss.

When Ohio has the ball:

Lookout for Senior QB Theo Scott!  He's not really a dual threat quarterback, but he has shown the ability to scramble when need to keep plays and drives alive.  Scott completes 58.2% of his passes and has 2258 yards through the air this season.  While neither of those stats seem too impressive, he has a 1.9 TD2INT ratio (19 TDs, 10 INTs) which shows his ability to put the ball in his receivers' hands and not the opposing secondary's.  The two main threats down field for the Bobcats will be Senior WR Taylor Price (735 yards, 5 TDs) and Junior WR Lavon Brazil (689 yards, 6 TDs).  Opposing teams will have to focus on these two play makers, but close to the end zone, Scott tends to find 6'4 Junior WR Terrance McCrae who leads the team in touchdown receptions.  If it was just the pass Marshall had to worry about it wouldn't be a problem, but Ohio has three running backs which have a proven ability to grind out yardage on the ground and move the chains.  Senior RB Chris Garret leads the team in yards and carries, but Junior RB Vince Davidson and Sophomore RB Donte Harden combine for the other half of the running back carries.  If Marshall expects to stay in this game past halftime, they will have to find away to get to QB Scott.  Tasked with this will be DE Albert McClellan and  DE Vinny Curry who have combined for 17.5 TFL, 6.5 sacks, and 109 tackles.  Impressive. 

Why you should watch:

The Trojans are down, BC has played surprisingly well for a team that lost the nucleus of their defense so what is there to tune in to? Well to see the Trojans in a game besides the Rose Bowl for one thing and to watch how the men of Troy respond to playing on a smaller stage; especially with the Joe McKnight drama that has engulfed the program recently.

When Southern Cal has the ball:

Matt Barkley has had a less than stellar freshman campaign but in reality he hasn’t truly been the Trojans offensive problem. Largely in part to their inability to ride just one running back the USC offense has been wildly inconsistent. The offensive line has underachieved as a unit and now they’re without their best playmaker running back Joe McKnight for the time being. Southern Cal is going to try to run the ball early and often behind their experienced offensive line. Allen Bradford and, perhaps they knock the dust off of my favorite; CJ Gable should split carries if McKnight is deemed ineligible.

If the Trojans can establish the run then they’ll be able to use their play action passing game in which Damian Williams is the only legitimate threat now that tight end Anthony McCoy is academically ineligible. Barkley is effective in his play action passing and when Ronald Johnson and Brice Butler find a way to get open he can hit them.

On the other side of the ball the Eagles will have their hands full playing against the most talented team spot for spot that they’ve played all season. However, the Eagles do have an ace up their sleeve in terms of confidence boosters as the lone USC-BC common opponent saw the BC defense shut down ND’s potent passing attack. The Eagles are sound defensively under Spazziani and what they lack in athleticism they make up for in toughness, grit and discipline. BC will work to make the Eagles one dimensional by stuffing the box and turning freshman linebacker Luke Kuechly loose on the Trojans.

Why you should watch: 

If you don't follow the WAC, and I know very few of you do (shame on you for ignoring the WAC, but we won't get into that now), you probably don't know much about Nevada. So I'll devote a few seconds to getting you educated on the Wolf Pack. Nevada is a program that has continued to experience success thanks mainly to the outstanding coaching from head coach Chris Ault, a man who has been the face of the program for 25 years. Ault's “Pistol” offense places the quarterback in a short shotgun formation, giving him enough time to make decisions yet placing him close enough to the line of scrimmage to be a legitimate running threat on every down. On the other side of the field, SMU enters as a team quickly ascending the college football ranks thanks to the guidance of June Jones. Jones' offense is a high-octane passing assault, where running is simply an afterthought. But the pass-heavy scheme has been nearly impossible to stop and, at Hawaii, produced record-breaking quarterbacks like Colt Brennan and led to an invitation to the 2008 Sugar Bowl. The two head coaches are offensive pioneers with very different styles. But one thing is true of both programs – they can put plenty of points on the board. So grab some popcorn and expect more kickoffs than punts. This is gonna be an old west shootout, even though it will be played in the Pacific islands.

When SMU has the ball: 

The Mustangs offense has taken a huge leap forward from a season ago. In 2008, SMU managed just 314 yards and 21.3 points per game; this season they are averaging 380 yards and 27.9 points. Much of the success can be attributed to the passing game, where freshman QB Kyle Padron has stolen the reins from veteran Bo Levi Mitchell. Padron started the last six games of the season (4-2) and was impressive, to say the least. The 6-4 gunslinger has 8 touchdown passes to just 4 interceptions. His quarterback rating of 152.6 would place him behind only Case Keenum for the best in Conference USA if he had enough passing attempts. His favorite target this season has been senior WR Emmanuel Sanders, who has more than twice as many receptions (91) as the next-highest receiver (sophomore Terrance Wilkerson has 40). Sanders should be able to add to his conference-best 1215 yards against a Wolf Pack secondary that has been completely inept at slowing down opponents passing attacks. Nevada is the second worst team in the nation in pass defense, allowing a staggering 284.3 yards per game and an NCAA-worst 31 touchdown passes for the season. The only saving grace for Nevada may be their pass rush, which has been able to get plenty of pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Junior end Dontay Moch is 3^rd in the WAC with 6.5 sacks and has 19.5 tackles for loss (matching Nebraska Heisman finalist Ndamukong Suh). On the other side of the defensive line Kevin Basped is 2^nd in the WAC in sacks (7.5). If the tandem can put enough pressure on the Mustangs' young quarterback, Padron, this could be a long game for the Mustangs.

Why you should watch:

 It's a matchup of pre-season conference contenders who fizzled out down the stretch. Utah had a chance to win the Mountain West crown, but losses to TCU and BYU killed their title ambitions. Cal started the season as the most likely team to challenge USC for the Pac-10 title, but back-to-back losses to Oregon and USC killed their quest early in the season.

When Utah has the ball:

The Utah offense definitely took a step back from their undefeated 2008 campaign, but there's certainly still life in the Utes attack. The key element in the Utes on offense has been junior RB Eddie Wide III, who has amassed more than 1000 yards despite not getting his first start until the fourth game of the year. Freshman QB Jordan Wynn is the future of the program, and the future looks bright. In his four games this season, Wynn has shown flashes of talent and has made good decisions with the football. He's not as much of a running threat as outgoing starter Terrance Cain, who carried the ball 87 times in 8 games, but Wynn's arm will turn heads. The somewhat limited mobility of Wynn may come into play in this contest against a Bears defense that has wreaked havoc on opposing quarterbacks (3.5 sacks per game). Despite their solid pass rush, and boasting two of the nation's finest corners in Syd'Quan Thompson and Darian Hagan, the Cal secondary has been exploited considerably this season. They will need to focus on covering senior WR David Reed, who was the only receiver in the Mountain West to finish with more than 1000 yards receiving.

Why you should watch:

This game may pair up the two most statistically equal teams in the country. Both teams have an amazing ability to move the chains and churning out ridiculous offensive numbers.  That being said both are pretty average on the defensive side of the ball.  This game will likely have everything you'd ask for in a bowl game: a lot of offense, some defense, and plenty a dramatic scoring. Why wouldn't you want to watch?

When Oregon State has the ball:

The Beavers might be the most under appreciated and overlooked teams in the PAC-10 year in and year out.  At 8-4, their record isn't jaw dropping, but they have played solid football all year and were in the conference title mix until the final weeks of the season.  Leading the way have been two very outstanding brothers, Jacquizz and James Rodgers.  Sophomore RB Jacquizz Rodgers is the crown jewel of the Beavers having run for 1377 yards and 20 TDs throughout the season.  Second in rushing yardage is his older brother, junior WR James Rodgers, and all four leading rushers average over 5.0 yards per carry.  If the run was the only concern for opposing teams, the Beavers might be easy to defend, but senior QB Sean Canfield ranks 4th nationally in pass completion percentage, has over 3100 yards through the air, and a TD2INT ratio of 3.5.  Any team expecting to sell out on the run won't be able keep pace with an Oregon State offense that is full of big yardage capability, deception, and even the occassional Wildcat formation. 

If "the Y" expects to some how reduce the impact of Jacquizz and Co., it will begin in the trenches with Defensive Captain Jan Jorgensen.  Lining up at right defensive end, Jorgensen has 10.5 TFL and 6.5 Sacks which isn't winning him any awards nationally, but he does lead the team in these categories.  Stopping the run will be pivotal in this game, and Jorgensen performance will determine BYU's success on defense.

Why you should watch:

Oh come on who are we kidding?  The only people who have any interest in this bowl are either fans of the schools playing in it or die hard fans like us.

When MTSU has the ball:

Don't let the 9-3 record fool you.  MTSU dominated in SunBelt conference play but was a no show in games against opponents with a winning record.  With all of their losses coming at the hands of teams with a pulse, we should all be asking ourselves whether MTSU really deserves to be playing in a bowl.  Although the quantity and quality of teams invited into the postseason is a discussion for later.  Let's get down to business.  MTSU will rely heavily on the athletic abilities of junior QB Dwight Dasher.  He is the quintessential spread option quarterback who has over 2600 yards passing and 900 yards rushing.  The results on the scoreboard don't follow the ups and downs of Dasher's play, but do not underestimate his ability to break off the big plays.  As any spread offense tends to do, MTSU gets to ball to just about every receiver on the team.  There doesn't seem to be a favorite with 3 receivers over 400 yards and 3 receivers over 200 yards on the season. 

The Blue Raiders average more than 31 points per game, but teams who have held them to less than 14 yards come away with wins.  In order to slow down the option attack, Southern Miss will turn to their secondary led by senior DB Eddie Hicks who has 5 INTs on the year.  USM ranks 45th nationally in INTS, but the defense has forced a pick in 75% of their games this year which makes them a threat to Dwight Dasher.  If the USM defense comes up big and plays above the 112th ranking in pass defense, this game should go their way.

Why you should watch:

While it isn't the first bowl game of the season, it is the prime time game on the first day which has to mean something.  Right?  I know it's a bit of a stretch, but with little else to do on a snowy weekend in Washington, D.C. this match up should be fairly interesting.  

Once again this year, Rutgers has finished the season as one of the hottest teams in the country winning 7 in a row.  Then again, they played both Cinci and Pitt early in the season, so 7 straight wins might not be saying that much.

When Rutgers has the ball:

Look for at least an attempt at a balanced offense.  Coach Greg Schiano has done great things with the Scarlet Knights program, but they just haven't been able to put together a perfect season.  Last year it was the loss of star running back Ray Rice, and this year it was the loss of star quarterback Mike Teel.  Things are beginning to look up for Schiano and the Scarlet Knights as both their new quarterback and running back will be around for a couple of years yet.

In this game, I'll be watching how freshman QB Tom Savage handles the pass rush of Central Florida.  Savage completes just over 53% of his passes this season for 1917 yards and has a 2:1 TD2INT ratio.  Not bad for a freshman who took over the starting job half way through game one against Cincinnati.  Savage's biggest drawback may be his inability to scramble which again could be a problem against a tough UCF pass rush.  Looking to easy the pressure on Savage will be sophomore running back Joe Martinek who has 923 yards and 9 TDs.  He will be a key to victory for Rutgers considering the Scarlet Knights have lost every game where Martinek is held to around 50 yards rushing.  Downfield, UCF will need to watch out for WR Tim Brown who has over 1000 yards receiving, 8 TDs, and a 20.61 yards per reception average.  If the defensive secondary for the Golden Knights can't contain Brown, it is going to be a long day.

On the other side of the ball, Central Florida has a total of 36 sacks which ranks them 7th in the country.  In fact, the Golden Knights managed 6 sacks against Miami.  I know what you're thinking and it was the U not Miami (OH).  While counting on sacks to turn again in a teams favor isn't something I like to do, Rutgers is ranked 114th nationally in sacks allowed this year so things don't look good.

Why you should watch: 

It's the first bowl game of the year! While the rest of the world is out shopping for the holidays, you can relax on your sofa and enjoy some football.

When Fresno State has the ball: 

There's no secret what to expect when you face the 2009 Fresno State Bulldogs – you're going to run the ball straight down your throat. Junior RB Ryan Mathews leads the nation in rushing yards per game (151.3 ypg), and has 17 touchdowns. But the Fresno offense has been extremely balanced this season, converting a staggering 45.7% on third down. And overall, the Bulldogs have been equally successful with both the ground (120 first downs) and aerial game (119 first downs). Wyoming's defense has been the strength of their team, but that isn't saying much. The woeful Cowboys have struggled lately, dropping four of their last six games. And the defense has shown its vulnerability – run defense. Though the Pokes have managed to slow a few opposing offenses down, they have been trampled on the ground in their six losses (221.8 ypg, 14 total TD). They will have to limit the producton of Mathews and the Fresno ground game if they are to have a chance in this contest.

Courtesy NCAA.org