New Orleans Bowl @ New Orleans, LA

Frankly, I'm just relieved that North Texas is showing up with a winning record this year.  Of course they're only 2 games over .500 playing in a conference where Arkansas State managed to go 6-7.

So really we're talking about how interested Cincinnati will be in actually winning this game.  They've certainly got the firepower, and it might be interesting to see how UNT's 3rd-in-the-nation scoring defense holds up against a real team.

Here we've got the Leftwich - Ragone match up that I can't believe never happened during the regular season.  Both of these guys will be playing on Sundays next year ... or at least holding clipboards.

As to the game itself, I like Marshall.  U of L is a decent team, but a healthy Leftwich should be more than capable of taking them apart.

Krazy Kewebee Kliff Kingsbury's last hurrah!  I can't think of anyone better suited as an opponent than a middle of the road ACC team.  Clemson has "name" so it will look good when the Red Raiduhs run roughshod all over them.  Kliffie's one of those "system" quarterbacks, so this might be the last time anyone gets to see him play for real.  Check it out as a warmup for the NFL night game.

But I'm not convinced that Tulane counts as a decent team.  I was surprised to find out that they're bowling at all.

Corollary to factoid: Only one team currently in a BCS conference has a losing record against non-BCS teams over the last ten years.  That team is the mighty Temple Owls, coming in at 10-16 since 1992.

Makes me proud to be a part of the Big East!

After all your presents have been opened, and after a nice hearty holiday feast, settle down on the coach with belt loosed and get cozy for a nice old fashioned defensive slugfest.  The pundits talk this up as a potential offensive shootout, but I disagree.  OSU has opened it up on a few lesser teams this year, but when they play come up against a solid defense, their offense goes turtle.  Pittsburgh tends to have the same meager output no matter who they're playing.  Nope, I think that defense will rule the day today.  And I like Pittsburgh's bunch.

This game is important, because I didn't think it was even theoretically possible that Nebraska could finish a season only at .500.  It boggles the mind.

But what about the GAME you ask?  Well WVU beat us, and we beat France, so by the transitive property of football the Wahoos are doomed.  I'm actually surprised that the line is only five points.  I really think that West Virginia is going to roll all over France.

The plus side of two lousy bowls both on the same day, is that those of you making the trip west likely wont even be able to watch these if you wanted to.