Bowl season gets real this week with a full ten bowl games between the 27th and the 30th.
Little Ceasar's Bowl
Purdue Boilermakers vs. Western Michigan Broncos
Tuesday, Dec. 27th at 4:30 PM in Detroit, MI
ESPN/ESPN3
Watchability Rating: 5
Pertinent Information:
This is the second time in four years the Boilermakers will be playing a bowl game at Ford Field in Detroit. The last time they were there in 2007 they also played a directional Michigan team. I sense a theme! W. Michigan has a pretty good quarterback in Alex Carder (3400 yards passing, 28 TDs) who accounted for more offense than either Caleb TerBush and Robert Mavre did combined.
Line:
Purdue -3 O/U 60
Belk Bowl
Louisville Cardinals vs. North Carolina State Wolfpack
Tuesday, Dec. 27th at 8 PM in Charlotte, NC
ESPN
Watchability Rating: 3
Pertinent Information:
Louisville came close to playing in a BCS bowl thanks to the incredibly mediocrity of the Big East this year. Instead, they have to settle for a bowl game in NCSU's home state. NCSU had a so-so year as well, but also managed to hand Clemson their most Clemson loss of the year. Neither team will be mistaken for an offensive juggernaut, as both finished 94th or worse in the NCAA in total offense.
Line:
NC St. -1 O/U 44.5
Military Bowl
Toledo Rockets vs. Air Force Falcons
Wednesday, Dec. 28th at 4:30 PM
ESPN/ESPN3
Watchability Rating: 8
Pertinent Information:
Who's had the best offense in college football since the start of November? Yup, the Toledo Rockets. Toledo comes into the game in the top 10 in the nation in yards/game and points/game. Air Force isn't too shabby on offense either. The Falcons' 320 rushing yards/game ranks second in the nation and their 34.4 points/game has them just outside the top 30 in the country.
Line:
Toledo -3 O/U 70
Bridgeport Education Holiday Bowl
Wednesday, Dec. 28th at 8 PM
ESPN/ESPN3
Watchability Rating: 5
Pertinent Information:
Texas has had a rough couple of years since losing the MNC game to Alabama in 2010. After missing a bowl last year, Texas struggled to a 7-5 record amidst an unsettled quarterback situation (sound familiar?). Texas has lost 3 of their last 4 games while Cal won 3 of their final 4.
Line:
Texas -3 O/U 48
Champs Sports Bowl
Florida State Seminoles vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Thursday, Dec. 29th at 5:30 PM
ESPN/ESPN 3D/ESPN3
Watchability Rating: 8
Pertinent Information:
What was once an elite matchup is now a game between two has-beens. That doesn't mean we're not in store for an entertaining game. After starting off slow with a 2-3 record, FSU recovered to win 6 of 7 games. Notre Dame started the season 0-2 before reeling off two 4-game win streaks. Both teams average 30+ points a game and rank in the top 35 in passing.
Line:
FSU -3 O/U 46
Valero Alamo Bowl
Washington Huskies vs. Baylor Bears
Thursday, Dec. 29th at 9 PM
ESPN/ESPN3
Watchability Rating: 9
Pertinent Information:
The Heisman Trophy winner, Robert Griffin III, will likely be making the last start of his collegiate career on Thursday night. Griffin is 2 passing yards shy of 4,000 on the season, which he'll likely pick up as he leads the nation's second best offense against the Huskies' 94th ranked defense.
Line:
Baylor -10 O/U 78.5
Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl
BYU Cougars vs. Tulsa Golden Hurricanes
Friday, Dec. 30th at 12 PM
ESPN/ESPN3
Watchability Rating: 7
Pertinent Information:
Tulsa has four losses this year, each to teams ranked in the top 10 at the time (Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Boise State, Houston). However, BYU has won 8 of their last 9 games and have outscored their past 3 opponents 125-34.
Line:
BYU -1 O/U 55
New Era Pinstripe Bowl
Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs. Iowa State Cyclones
Friday, Dec. 30th at 3:20 PM
ESPN/ESPN3
Watchability Rating: 4
Pertinent Information:
Rutgers could have been playing in a BCS game this year. Instead, they were blown out in their final game against the 5-7 Connecticut Huskies and fell to the Pinstripe Bowl. Iowa State finished the season with a 6-6 record, but played a particularly difficult schedule that included games against seven ranked teams. Iowa State went 2-5 in those games, but one of their wins was against then #2 Oklahoma State.
Line:
Rutgers -1.5 O/U 44.5
Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl
Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Friday, Dec. 30th at 6:40 PM
ESPN/ESPN3
Watchability Rating: 3
Pertinent Information:
Two 6-6 teams meeting in a bowl game generally doesn't inspire a lot of excitement. Perhaps they should spice the game up by making a bet that the losing coach has to take the Penn State job.
Line:
MSU -7 O/U 48
Insight Bowl
Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Oklahoma Sooners
Friday, Dec. 30th at 10 PM
ESPN/ESPN3
Watchability Rating: 7
Pertinent Information:
The Insight Bowl has to be a disappointment for the Sooners, who were the preseason #1 team. However, after dropping two of their final three games, Oklahoma played themselves right out of the BCS picture. Iowa is playing in their second consecutive Insight Bowl (they beat Missouri 27-24 last year) after having their second straight up and down season.
Line:
OU -14 O/U 57.5
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