Bowl (P)review: Week 2

After that disastrous first week, we're going to go to December 30. The 31st, 1st, and 2nd will be the subject of their own previews, as they are simply too massive to wrangle all at once. Hopefully my picks are better for this one. They can't be much worse, eh? Moving along, allow me to offend. First up...Clemson fans!

December 27, 2009

Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl
Clemson vs. Kentucky

What's it say about Clemson's division of the ACC that they lost the ACC Championship Game and slid to the 5th best bowl the ACC has to offer? While we're on the subject, what's it say about the conference as a whole that Clemson nearly won the ACC title game? Either way, this will be a matchup between two teams that frankly aren't that good. They're major conference teams that are both glad to be in bowls, but neither team is jaw-droppingly good. Other than CJ Spiller, who is an amazing kick returner, and an alright running back. Yes, he's just "alright" as a running back. And before you point me to his awesome stats in the ACC Championship Game, please take a gander at his 18 yard game against South Carolina. Clemson's a mediocre team without Spiller, and they're a barely-above mediocre squad with him.

Now that I've really offended the Spiller-worshiping Clemson fans (SIDE NOTE: Come burn me in effigy on the quad! December 26, 2009 at 2:30! Coach Dabo Swinney will provide a speech, and Clemson's Campus Outreach will bring refreshments!) allow me to offend Kentucky. I'm predicting a turnout of, like, 14 Kentucky fans at this game. Basketball season's started. The evil weasel named John Calipari is coaching Kentucky's highly-paid, illiterate team to a Final Four season that they'll have to vacate in a few years. Kentucky fans don't care one tiny bit about football now, and it will show when their half-full side of the stadium gleams in the Memphis sun. On the bright side, if you live in West Tennessee, cheap tickets!

Should I watch this game? Watch the kickoffs and punts to see Spiller do well. You can nap through the rest.

CFR Pick: Clemson by at least 14. Kentucky ain't all that great, and Clemson is superior to them. Plus, Clemson fans might actually show up to the game, since their basketball team is skipping the usual December charade and is starting to suck now, rather than in March. (Remember, the effigy burning is at 2:30, Clemson fans. There's nothing else to do in your abyss of a state. You may as well come!)

December 28, 2009
Advocare V100 Independence Bowl
Texas A&M vs. Georgia

Texas A&M really only did one semi-important thing this year. That semi-important thing? They stuck with Texas and sent a shiver down the spines of all Longhorn fans. They did not, however, beat Texas, so it's sort of irrelevant. Georgia, meanwhile, underachieved most of the year (upset over rival Georgia Tech notwithstanding) and is looking for a new defensive coordinator. Bud Foster (of Virginia Tech) already turned them down, and the rumor right now is that they'll be looking at Tommy Tuberville, formerly of Auburn. So, basically, we have 2 teams from major conferences here, neither of whom did very well.

Should I watch this game? Yeah, probably. Take the edge off that first day back from Christmas vacation, plus you'll get to see some decent football.

CFR Pick: Never pick a Big 12 team over an SEC team if you can help it. I can help it. Ergo, UGA wins this one.

December 29, 2009
EagleBank Bowl
UCLA vs. Temple

UCLA was the last team in the country to get a bowl bid. They're only in a bowl because Army couldn't seal the deal against Navy last week. Translation: UCLA is barely bowl worthy. Temple, meanwhile, flew under the radar for most of the year, but they're one of those pleasant surprises. Temple was a joke for many, many years, and it's good to see that they're in a bowl. Yes, bowls mean less than they used to, but for a team like Temple, this is a major victory.

Should I watch this game? Well, Temple hasn't been in a bowl since 1979. You can watch a little bit of history being made during this one. If you're looking for good football, mind you, you might have to wait until the Miami/Wisconsin game later in the day.

CFR Pick: UCLA will win, but Temple should keep it close.

Champs Sports Bowl
#15 Miami vs #25 Wisconsin

Miami's an alright football team, one of the better in the sea of mediocrity that is the Atlantic Coast Conference. Wisconsin, in a similar vein, is an alright team in the sea of mediocrity that is the Big 10 + 1. Neither of these teams did great: Miami's excellent start against 4 straight ranked teams was eventually outweighed by their spluttering down the stretch, while Wisconsin started slowly, but got things together for most of the middle of the season. Wisconsin spluttered early, Miami spluttered late. On the bright side, Miami only lost one game in the state of Florida this year, and their fans are much more apt to be in attendance during this game.

Should I watch this game? Yes, as this one and the Orange Bowl will help answer one of this season's biggest questions: Who's worse? The ACC or the Big 10? Should the game end in overtime, I believe we can all settle on a tie.

CFR Pick: Wisconsin's failed to impress all season. They will continue to do so. I like Miami to win this one by at least 10. failed to beat any ranked teams this season. The bad news for

December 30, 2009

Roady's Humanitarian Bowl

Bowling Green vs. Idaho

If a bowl game happens in Idaho and no one's around to watch it, does it really happen?

Should I watch this game? Well, no. It's going to happen Wednesday at 4:30, you should probably be at work. Also, if you care about Idaho and/or Bowling Green, then my condolences. I'm cycling through this one quickly, in case you can't tell.

CFR Pick: Bowling Green, I think that their defense is better than Idaho's, meaning that they will hold Idaho to "only" 50 points. Idaho might allow 70. Again.

Pacific Life Holiday Bowl

#20 Arizona vs. #22 Nebraska

Nebraska was one second away from playing in a BCS bowl, but I'm sure that they'll take this one, an improvement over last year's placement in the Outback Bowl. Arizona, meanwhile, is coming off of a big win over Southern Cal, and could do really well. This matchup is intriguing, as it is a case of a decent, but not anywhere near great, Pac-10 team meeting an awesome defense coupled with an atrocious offense. This game might have a total of 10 points or less.

Should I watch this game? Yes, unequivocally. This game should be very evenly matched, and if you have any appreciation for defensive football, then you will likely love this game.

CFR Pick: I'm picking Nebraska. Given how well my last week went, this might actually anger some of my friends. Oh, well.

Until next time, those are the picks. Our next preview will be of the 31st of December and the five, count 'em, five games that will be played on that day. Merry Christmas, everyone!