Hash Marks 12.25.08: A Closer Look at this Week's Batch of Bowl Games

Posted by Cody Dalton on 12.25.2008

In the Christmas edition of Hash Marks, 411’s Cody Dalton is your guide for all of the upcoming bowl games! From the Motor City Bowl to the Champs Sports Bowl, discussion of the PapaJohns.com Bowl, the Sun Bowl, Joe Paterno and Penn State’s quest for a Rose Bowl and all the way to the FEDEX Orange Bowl! Check out the full column for all the details!

Welcome back everyone to another post-season edition of Hash Marks. Last week, I talked about Heisman winner Sam Bradford's magical night in New York and the first set of bowl games. Not much this week, but let's take a look at this week's bowl action….

FRIDAY, December 26 games

MOTOR CITY BOWL – 7:30 PM ET, ESPN
Florida Atlantic vs. Central Michigan


This next week of bowl action gets kicked off the day after Christmas, as small schools in Florida Atlantic and Central Michigan tangle to see who will be champion of the Motor City Bowl in Detroit. It's a match up of excellent quarterbacks in Florida Atlantic's Rusty Smith and Central Michigan's Dan LeFevour. This will be a high scoring game that will keep fans entertained. Smith's mistakes have been plenty and those might very well cost FAU a bowl win this year.

SATURDAY, December 27 games

MEINEKE CAR CARE BOWL – 1:00 PM ET, ESPN
West Virginia vs. North Carolina


In what is already a big time sellout game this bowl season, West Virginia and North Carolina will meet for bragging rights. The Tarheels started out strong this season and were ultimately in the ACC Championship picture. However, after losing 2 of their final 3 games, they were diminished to this game. West Virginia knows the hard road too. The Mountaineers appeared in a BCS Bowl game last year and won. This year, they finished tied 2nd in the Big East. They'll have a bowl game that is essentially a road game, as they are playing in Charlotte. The Tarheels have had quarterback issues due to inury, but both T.J. Yates and Cameron Sexton will be healthy. Ultimately, this game comes down to UNC's mistakes and injuries vs. Pat White, Noel Devine, and the WVU running game.

Other games that day:

Champs Sports Bowl – Wisconsin vs. Florida State, 4:30 PM ET, ESPN

Emerald Bowl – Miami (FL) vs. California, 8 PM ET, ESPN

Sunday, December 28 games

Independence Bowl – Northern Illinois vs. Louisiana Tech, 8:15 PM ET, ESPN

MONDAY, December 29 games

PapaJohns.com Bowl – North Carolina State vs. Rutgers, 3 PM ET, ESPN

VALERO ALAMO BOWL – 8:00 PM ET, ESPN
#21 Missouri vs. #23 Northwestern


This is an interesting match up of the Big 12's "runner up" in Missouri and a tough comeback team in Northwestern. Both teams are looking to pick up a win in a bowl game. Northwestern hasn't been to a bowl games since 2005. The Wildcats are a strong overall team who balance between run and pass. Missouri has an outstanding offense led by quarterback Chase Daniel and wide receiver Jeremy Maclin. The Tigers could very well run and pass all over the Wildcat offense to get the win in Daniel's last game.

TUESDAY, December 30 games

Roady's Humanitarian Bowl – Maryland vs. Nevada, 4:30 PM ET, ESPN

PACIFIC LIFE HOLIDAY BOWL – 8 PM ET, ESPN
#13 Oklahoma State vs. #17 Oregon


Another match up of high powered offenses. Jeremiah Johnson and LeGarrette Blount have a combined 28 touchdowns for the Ducks. Jeremiah Masoli is a an excellent passer as well. The Cowboys are also very balanced between run and pass. Zac Robinson has thrown 24 touchdowns and running backs Kendall Hunter and Keith Toston have 23 rushing touchdowns combined. This should be an offensive game that gets won on potentially the last play of the game.

Texas Bowl – Western Michigan vs. Rice, 8:00 PM ET, NFL Network

WEDNESDAY, December 31 games

Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl – Houston vs. Air Force, 12 PM ET, ESPN

Sun Bowl – Oregon State vs. #20 Pittsburgh, 2 PM ET, CBS

Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl -- #24 Boston College vs. Vanderbilt, 3:30 PM ET, ESPN

Insight Bowl – Kansas vs. Minnesota, 6 PM ET, NFL NETWORK

CHICK-FIL-A BOWL – 7:30 PM ET, ESPN
LSU vs. #14 Georgia Tech


Not quite the year that defending National Champion LSU had wanted, but they'll have to settle for a chance to be called Chick-Fil-A Bowl Champion. The Tigers have had issues all year long with the quarterback position and haven't got much productivity. However, running back Charles Scott has been a brighter spot for the team. He has rushed for 1,109 yards and 15 touchdowns. On the other side, Paul Johnson has made Georgia Tech a team to be feared on the ground. The team is ranked third in the nation in rushing yards a game and 7 players have a rushing touchdown (32 total for the team). The key to this game will be the LSU defense against the Yellow Jacket rushing attack, as well as LSU's ability to run and throw the ball.

THURSDAY, January 1

Outback Bowl – South Carolina vs. Iowa, 11 AM ET, ESPN

Capital One Bowl -- #15 Georgia vs. #18 Michigan State, 1 PM ET, ABC

Gator Bowl – Nebraska vs. Clemson, 1 PM ET, CBS

ROSE BOWL GAME PRESENTED BY CITI – 4:30 PM ET, ABC
#8 Penn State vs. #5 USC


This is going to be a great match up on paper and on the field. Joe Paterno vs. Pete Carroll for the first time ever. Both teams were snubbed in the National Championship game, but both still have something to win and prove. The Trojans are looking to show the voters that they should have been playing in Miami, while the Nittany Lions are looking to prove they are for real after heavy criticism for the Big 10. Watch out for Southern Cal's many running backs in Joe McKnight, Stafon Johnson, and Mark Sanchez's arm. Those things could help lead the Trojans to yet another Rose Bowl win.

FEDEX ORANGE BOWL – 8:30 PM ET, FOX
#12 Cinncinati vs. #19 Virginia Tech, 8:30 PM ET


It'll be the Bearcats first ever BCS bowl game and the Hokies third. This might play a little bit into this game, but Virginia Tech is 0-3 in BCS games. Freshman Darren Evans leads the Hokies with 1,112 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. Cinncinati uses Tony Pike, who came in fifth on the depth chart to start the year. Both teams certainly didn't imagine being in such a big game, especially for Virginia Tech, who had 4 conference losses. It should be an interestingly close game throughout and quite possible one of the best BCS bowl games.

Well folks, that does it for this edition of Hash Marks. I'll be back next week to look at the final slate of bowl games in the 2008-09 season.



Until then…..



Cody Dalton's book on sale now! "Sideline Warriors: The Greatest Sports Coaches and Managers of All Time" – http://www.lulu.com/content/2003212