An Old Friend And Some More Bowl Predictions
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Mark [email protected]
Big Nate is a friend of mine in Kansas from long ago, back when we were both younger and, shall we say, less intelligent about that which we consumed. He looked me up on Facebook, and over the weekend we Skyped.
“Man, I can’t believe my neighbors, Mark. I ain’t got nothin’ against folks puttin’ lights on houses. But this guy actually put his name on his house.”
“Really? What’s his name?”
With each syllable he emphasized his disgust. “Fleas Navi-dad!”
“Umm, Nate, could it say ‘Feliz Navidad?’”
“Something like that. And it flashes too. Feliz! Navidad! Then both at the same time.
“And if that wasn’t bad enough, he’s got his son’s name out in lights, too. ‘Jesus is the reason for the season.’ It’s one thing to put your own name out there, but why does he have to drag his kid into it, too?”
Needless to say, Big Nate and I had a long talk before discussing this week’s bowl picks.
Boca Raton Bowl – Marshall vs. Northern Illinois, 2 p.m. today.
Marshall has the slightly better record, but played a weaker schedule. Both teams like to run the ball, but Marshall passes it a little bit better. Since I think Matthew McConaughey makes a good silver-screen college football coach, and because I can’t think of a better reason, I’ll take The Thundering Herd.
Bahamas Bowl – Central Michigan vs. Western Kentucky, noon Wednesday.
This looks like it’ll be a bit of a shootout, as both teams prefer to pass rather than run, and neither team has much of a defense. I think Western Kentucky will come up with a few more stops, and win a game where both teams score at least 30 points.
Hawaii Bowl – Rice vs. Fresno State, 8 p.m. Wednesday.
Fresno State somehow earned a bowl bid with a losing record, and a trip to Hawaii to boot! Both teams enter the game with three-game losing streaks, but the sun and surf tends to make things like that seem OK.
Each team is capable of 30-plus points a game, and that should make for an entertaining game while wrapping those last-minute gifts and setting out the milk and cookies. I have a hunch the last team to have the ball will win, and I’m guessing that will be Rice, but this one is truly a toss-up.
Heart of Dallas Bowl – Illinois vs. Louisiana Tech, 1 p.m. Friday.
I haven’t seen Louisiana Tech play this year, but I did see Illinois and they weren’t very good. I’m taking Tech by at least six, probably more like 14.
Quick Lane Bowl – Rutgers vs. North Carolina, 4:30 p.m. Friday.
This is one of those bowl games where even the criminally confined may not watch. It’s probably considered cruel and unusual punishment to even have the game on. I said I’d call them all, so I’ll take Rutgers, even if Carolina is favored by three. We’ll be nice and call it an “upset special.”
St. Petersburg Bowl – North Carolina State vs. Central Florida, 8 p.m. Friday.
Part of me wants to take Central Florida just because they’re essentially the home team. But something tells me the Wolf Pack is up for this one, and so I’m taking North Carolina State on a hunch. If the Knights can run the ball that’ll change everything, but I don’t think they can. They haven’t all year. Staying with State.
Military Bowl – Cincinnati vs. Virginia Tech, Saturday, 1 p.m.
After Tech beat Ohio State earlier this year, I thought maybe Frank Beamer had an overachieving team. Six wins and six losses isn’t overachieving, and I’m going with Cincinnati.
Sun Bowl – Arizona State vs. Duke, Saturday, 2 p.m.
This may well be the most entertaining game of the bowl week, with two evenly matched teams that probably should be playing closer to New Years Day. Both teams run, pass and defend well. so I’m saying the team that comes up with the big fourth-quarter break will win. I’m guessing that’ll be Arizona State.
Independence Bowl – Miami vs. South Carolina, Saturday 3:30 p.m.
I call this one “The Disappointment Bowl,” as each team had much higher expectations than 6-6 coming into 2014. Both teams are better at passing than running, but I’m taking Miami based only on the fact the Gamecocks were being discussed as Southeastern Conference elite in the preseason, and somehow it’d be fitting to have a soul-crushing defeat to end the season. Sorry, Coach Spurrier.
Pinstripe Bowl – Boston College vs. Penn State, Saturday, 4:30 p.m.
No offense to speak of for either team, but neither has been especially adept at stopping anyone, either. There will be a good crowd at Yankee Stadium, but outside of the die-hard fan bases I’m not certain anyone cares who wins. I’ll take Penn State, but I’m not sure why.
Holiday Bowl – USC vs, Nebraska, Saturday, 8 p.m.
I’m taking the Trojan defense over the Cornhuskers’ ability to stop the run. But it’s easy to see this game turning into a grind-it-out affair, and the outcome won’t be secure until late in the fourth quarter.
So far I’m 5-1, losing only the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl prediction. How in the world did I do that?[[In-content Ad]]
Big Nate is a friend of mine in Kansas from long ago, back when we were both younger and, shall we say, less intelligent about that which we consumed. He looked me up on Facebook, and over the weekend we Skyped.
“Man, I can’t believe my neighbors, Mark. I ain’t got nothin’ against folks puttin’ lights on houses. But this guy actually put his name on his house.”
“Really? What’s his name?”
With each syllable he emphasized his disgust. “Fleas Navi-dad!”
“Umm, Nate, could it say ‘Feliz Navidad?’”
“Something like that. And it flashes too. Feliz! Navidad! Then both at the same time.
“And if that wasn’t bad enough, he’s got his son’s name out in lights, too. ‘Jesus is the reason for the season.’ It’s one thing to put your own name out there, but why does he have to drag his kid into it, too?”
Needless to say, Big Nate and I had a long talk before discussing this week’s bowl picks.
Boca Raton Bowl – Marshall vs. Northern Illinois, 2 p.m. today.
Marshall has the slightly better record, but played a weaker schedule. Both teams like to run the ball, but Marshall passes it a little bit better. Since I think Matthew McConaughey makes a good silver-screen college football coach, and because I can’t think of a better reason, I’ll take The Thundering Herd.
Bahamas Bowl – Central Michigan vs. Western Kentucky, noon Wednesday.
This looks like it’ll be a bit of a shootout, as both teams prefer to pass rather than run, and neither team has much of a defense. I think Western Kentucky will come up with a few more stops, and win a game where both teams score at least 30 points.
Hawaii Bowl – Rice vs. Fresno State, 8 p.m. Wednesday.
Fresno State somehow earned a bowl bid with a losing record, and a trip to Hawaii to boot! Both teams enter the game with three-game losing streaks, but the sun and surf tends to make things like that seem OK.
Each team is capable of 30-plus points a game, and that should make for an entertaining game while wrapping those last-minute gifts and setting out the milk and cookies. I have a hunch the last team to have the ball will win, and I’m guessing that will be Rice, but this one is truly a toss-up.
Heart of Dallas Bowl – Illinois vs. Louisiana Tech, 1 p.m. Friday.
I haven’t seen Louisiana Tech play this year, but I did see Illinois and they weren’t very good. I’m taking Tech by at least six, probably more like 14.
Quick Lane Bowl – Rutgers vs. North Carolina, 4:30 p.m. Friday.
This is one of those bowl games where even the criminally confined may not watch. It’s probably considered cruel and unusual punishment to even have the game on. I said I’d call them all, so I’ll take Rutgers, even if Carolina is favored by three. We’ll be nice and call it an “upset special.”
St. Petersburg Bowl – North Carolina State vs. Central Florida, 8 p.m. Friday.
Part of me wants to take Central Florida just because they’re essentially the home team. But something tells me the Wolf Pack is up for this one, and so I’m taking North Carolina State on a hunch. If the Knights can run the ball that’ll change everything, but I don’t think they can. They haven’t all year. Staying with State.
Military Bowl – Cincinnati vs. Virginia Tech, Saturday, 1 p.m.
After Tech beat Ohio State earlier this year, I thought maybe Frank Beamer had an overachieving team. Six wins and six losses isn’t overachieving, and I’m going with Cincinnati.
Sun Bowl – Arizona State vs. Duke, Saturday, 2 p.m.
This may well be the most entertaining game of the bowl week, with two evenly matched teams that probably should be playing closer to New Years Day. Both teams run, pass and defend well. so I’m saying the team that comes up with the big fourth-quarter break will win. I’m guessing that’ll be Arizona State.
Independence Bowl – Miami vs. South Carolina, Saturday 3:30 p.m.
I call this one “The Disappointment Bowl,” as each team had much higher expectations than 6-6 coming into 2014. Both teams are better at passing than running, but I’m taking Miami based only on the fact the Gamecocks were being discussed as Southeastern Conference elite in the preseason, and somehow it’d be fitting to have a soul-crushing defeat to end the season. Sorry, Coach Spurrier.
Pinstripe Bowl – Boston College vs. Penn State, Saturday, 4:30 p.m.
No offense to speak of for either team, but neither has been especially adept at stopping anyone, either. There will be a good crowd at Yankee Stadium, but outside of the die-hard fan bases I’m not certain anyone cares who wins. I’ll take Penn State, but I’m not sure why.
Holiday Bowl – USC vs, Nebraska, Saturday, 8 p.m.
I’m taking the Trojan defense over the Cornhuskers’ ability to stop the run. But it’s easy to see this game turning into a grind-it-out affair, and the outcome won’t be secure until late in the fourth quarter.
So far I’m 5-1, losing only the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl prediction. How in the world did I do that?[[In-content Ad]]
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