Weekly Bowl Preview

Poinsettia Bowl
BYU vs. San Diego State
Thursday 8 p.m. ESPN
Two former WAC teams meet this evening, but don't expect a shootout like the nearly defunct conference was once known for. BYU has the 5th-ranked scoring defense in the nation and has been shutting down opponents all season. San Diego State is riding high on an seven-game winning streak. If you need a college football fix, this should make for a fun defensive battle.
Prediction: BYU- 16 San Diego State- 13

Beef O'Brady's Bowl
Ball State vs. Central Florida
Friday 8 p.m. ESPN
Who's ready for some Friday night MACtion? The MAC made quite an impression during non-conference play, and will try to take another leap with a strong bowl season. Central Florida barely missed out on a Conference-USA championship thanks to an overtime defeat against Tulsa. Both teams come in on a hot streak- Ball State has won six in a row while Central Florida has won its last seven games against teams not named Tulsa.
Prediction: Central Florida- 27 Ball State- 23

New Orleans Bowl
East Carolina vs. Louisiana Lafayette
Saturday Noon ESPN
If nothing else, this game could provide some background noise while you wrap presents or finish off any other holiday projects. Both teams come in with 8-4 records without any marquee wins on the season. When in doubt, go with the Ragin' Cajuns.
Prediction: Louisiana-Lafayette- 37 East Carolina- 30

Las Vegas Bowl
Washington vs. (19)Boise State
Saturday 3:30 p.m. ESPN
In a sign there are too many damn bowls, the sixth game of the bowl season is the first to feature a ranked team. Washington can play fantastic defense, but the unit can also be inconsistent as they were exposed at a few inopportune times this season. This may not be a huge game nationally, but it is a big game in Boise, which likely means they find a way to win.
Prediction: Boise State- 24 Washington- 17