Well it is that time folks. As a recap, I like to do my bowl preview a little differently. I’ll list each bowl in order of telecast but I also give each bowl a number value 1-40, 40 being the worst bowl and put that number after it. The national title game is not included because there is nothing to write about it yet. Anyway, from there I then take on the perspective of a local fan (i.e. a Utah fan living in Salt Lake City) and give the chances of me attending. Basically I talk out of my butt like always but it is more fun to write as a fan when it comes to bowl games than really analyze these things. All times central.
December 17 Games:
Gildan New Mexico Bowl – 18
New Mexico (8-4, 6-2, MTW) vs UTSA (6-6, 5-3, C-USA)
The very first game in bowl season is an intriguing one as evident by my 18th spot. The Lobos boast the nation’s best rushing attack and came from a terrible start to the season to win a share of their division in the Mountain West. Along the way they upset Air Force, beat bowl-bound Hawai’i, and crushed Wyoming, the league runner-up.
Texas San Antonio brought in a whole new coaching staff after Larry Coker berthed the program in 2011 and after a 1-3 start with the lone win over a FCS team, new head man Frank Wilson turned the ship around. After demolishing Southern Miss, the Roadrunners stayed hot with wins in four of the next five. They struggled with Louisiana Tech (C-USA runner up) and Texas A&M before polishing off Charlotte in the finale to make the first bowl in school history.
Would I go if I was a New Mexico Fan: 10/10
The Lobos made their first bowl game in nearly a decade last year and came up just short. This time they will be the favorite. In addition to an impressive five game winning streak in league play, this outfit knocked off three bowl teams so they didn’t just feast on featherweights. The fact that I don’t have to go anywhere but the home stadium makes this a no brainer.
Would I go if I was a UTSA Fan: 7.5/10
The idea of this being the first bowl in school history is exciting. The reason I can’t go higher is it’s an eleven hour drive and there are no direct flights. With all the holiday travel and preparation, budgeting travel and all that for what is, despite the history, a bowl game at your opponent’s home stadium makes me pause some.
Would I go if Iowa was playing: 2/10
Albuquerque is a fun town…in the right time of year. With their altitude and the mountains, I would be worried about terrible weather. December is their worst month so when the city is pretty pristine the other 11, why waste visiting a great town at the wrong time? Besides, go for the hot air balloon festival. I’ve been, it’s great. Pro tip: Santa Fe is another fun city and it is a really short drive from Albuquerque.
…So, should we watch on TV: 10/10
Yes! Unlike some 6-6 teams that feast on a bunch of scrubs, UTSA had a tough schedule. They played seven teams in bowl games and held their own going 3-4 in those games. While ASU fell apart in league play, this team took on Sparky at their healthiest and almost pulled off the upset. They are an intriguing team with an up and coming team with a 43 year old first year coach. Not to be out done New Mexico has that outstanding rushing game, averaging 360.9 yards per game which is best in the nation. People don’t seem to realize that Bob Davey has long admired the triple option and finally implemented it here at New Mexico and it has been paying off as this program is much more competitive than a few years ago.
- 1 pm, ESPN
Las Vegas Bowl – 11
Houston (9-3, 5-3, AAC) vs SDSU (10-3, 6-2, MTW)
Boy oh boy do I like this one. Both teams have the talent to make a New Years six bowl game but just had some uncharacteristic games. Houston looked like they had never heard of the option against Navy and then inexplicably lost to cross town rival SMU. To add insult to injury when Tom Herman was all but gone the Cougars laid an egg against a good Memphis team before trying to rally back.
SDSU had circled their date with South Alabama after losing that game a year ago. They promptly lost to the Jags again. Still, they ripped off six straight after to get back in the polls and wrap up their division. Then they lost to Wyoming. The win gave the Pokes their division and set a rematch up in two weeks. After that loss in Laramie, the Aztecs looked totally disinterested in a loss to Colorado State. Despite the 0-2 finish, they woke up against Wyoming in the Mountain West title game and enter a bowl as conference champions for the second straight title.
Would I go if I was a Houston fan: 10/10
I love Vegas.
Would I go if I was a SDSU fan: 10/10
I love Vegas.
Would I go if Iowa was playing: 10/10
I love Vegas.
…So, should we watch on TV: 10/10
I swear it seems like this game is the best early bowl year in and year out. Houston will have had a while to process Herman’s departure, stew, get pissed, then get ready with new headman Major Applewhite. He knows these kids really well, after all he helped recruit them and coordinated the offense all year. An offense by the way that when on point knocked off Oklahoma and Louisville. In an alternate universe, Greg Ward Jr is the Heisman winner and Lamar Jackson is playing in this game. As for SDSU they have a 2000 yard back in Donnel Pumphrey who is closing in on the all time rushing mark record, currently held by Ron Dayne. In another alternate universe, Pomphrey is the Hesiman winner and Lamar Jackson is taking on Greg Ward for the second time in this game.
- 2:30 pm, ABC
Raycom Media Camellia Bowl – 14
Appalachian State (9-3, 7-1 Sun Belt) vs Toledo (9-3, 6-2, MAC)
What is this? Another good early game. Two top 20 games on the opening day? What a steal. This one faces co-champ (with Arkansas State) App State taking on the second best team from the MAC, Toledo. The Mountaineers defense was the best in their conference and 8th overall nationally with just 17 points allowed per. The Rockets have a different philosophy. They score, score, score to the tune of 38.8 points per game, which ranked 18th nationally. Their wideout Cody Thompson is possibly the best player you’ve never heard of.
Would I go if I was an App State fan: 8/10
Montgomery to Boone is a deceptively short trip. It is just a 7 hour drive with Atlanta almost smack dab in the middle of these two towns. The only reason I gave it an 8 compared to last year’s 10 was because the Mountaineers played in this game a season ago! Last year was historic, it was their first bowl as a FBS member, but that obviously wears off in round two. Still, with such an easy drive, I would be very, very, tempted.
Would I go if I was a Toledo fan: 2/10
This is a tough game to get to. It is an 11 hour drive with some potentially awful midwestern weather to drive through. If you fly from Toledo’s airport you have to make two stops. A common solution is to just drive to a bigger city but the Detroit airport is 45 minutes away and no direct flights. Cleveland’s airport is 90 minutes away and also has to stop. Then there is the secondary issue of this program is just used to bowls. In this century they have played in nine bowls games and won five. They’ve also won the last two, including a 2014 bowl game in Mobile, Alabama so it isn’t even that new of a destination to see. Honestly, I think I would save my money, enjoy the holiday, and save up for the next time this program is in a fun bowl – like last year when they were in Miami.
Would I go if Iowa was playing: 5/10
Montgomery is a great historical city, especially for the Civil Rights Movement. Their December weather is pretty reasonable and the city is a stone’s throw from other interesting places like Mobile, Biloxi and even New Orleans. If you were so inclined, you could create a nice little southern tour for the holidays and catch a ball game.
…So, should we watch on TV: 10/10
I can’t believe this is my third 10/10 but I really am profoundly excited for these games. App State has taken on four bowl-bound teams but haven’t world beaters in those games, going just 1-3 but lost to Tennessee and Troy by a combined 11 points. Toledo played a whopping six bowl teams and went .500 in those games. Interestingly they beat the Mountaineer’s co-champ team, Arkansas State, by 21 so another win would mean Toledo is Sun Belt champ, right? Toledo did lose to Western Michigan by 20 but their other two losses were by a combined seven points so this Rocket team is no slouch. I’m already fired up for these polar opposite philosophies to square off.
- 4:30 pm, ESPN
AutoNation Cure Bowl – 16
UCF (6-6, 4-4, AAC) vs Arkansas State (7-5, 7-1, Sun Belt)
Okay, this is the last one in the top 20 for this preview. This line up last year was incredibly weak, to the point that I ranked the Cure Bowl 40th last year, but what a way to kick off the bowl season. Central Florida went oh-for last year but first year coach Scott Frost engineered a great turnaround to 6-6. One reason was a much saltier defense. This side was so improved that I gave Shaquem Griffin the American defensive player of the year on the podcast. While they faced several bowl teams, six in fact, they came out on the losing end in all of those games. The rebuild still has several steps left but beating a team with a winning record is one piece of the puzzle they need to find.
Arkansas State had a bonkers season. They started 0-3 against Toledo, at Auburn, and at Utah State. Toledo was a legit team, Auburn was one of the SEC’s best, and USU was healthy at the time. Then the season really took a turn as they lost to FCS Central Arkansas. What had been a paycheck win on paper turned into an 0-4 nightmare. Thankfully, Arkansas State knows the Sun Belt. The Red Wolves went 4-8 (4-4) in 2010. Since then…10-3 (8-0) and champs, 10-3 (7-1) and champs, 8-5 (5-2) and co champs, 7-6 (5-3), and lastly 9-4 (8-0) and champs just last year. Once in league they turned it on again, finished 7-1 and were co champs yet again. A machine in Jonesboro.
Would I go if I was a UCF fan: 10/10
The Knights should be right at home in this game. Camping World Stadium was the home stadium for the program from 1979 until 2006 when UCF moved into an on campus facility. In fact the two stadium are just 25 minutes apart.
Would I go if I was an Arkansas State fan: 5.5/10
I would consider it for a couple reasons. The first is obvious. Orlando is a fantastic city for families and you know the weather will be great…or at least better than Arkansas’s in winter. The second reason less obvious. ASU’s incredible run hasn’t included too many destinations. They’ve been to the New Orleans Bowl (2005, 2015) and Go Daddy Bowl in Mobile (2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014) so it must be nice to go somewhere new. The downside is Jonsboro is frankly in them middle of nowhere. The nearest major airport is Memphis…81 miles away. Because of this, I can’t go higher than that 5.5 ranking.
Would I go if Iowa was playing: 4/10
This one is tough because on one hand Orlando is a fun city, especially for families, and has really boosted their other non-Disney attractions but it is a low tier bowl played before Christmas when there are other fish to fry.
…So, should we watch on TV: 10/10
Look the tens are getting out of hand but honestly, I think I’m selling the crap out of these games. UCF had an extremely impressive turnaround. No one expected them to make a bowl. For Arkansas State they are still the class of the Sun Belt. Despite the small conference they still played five bowl-bound programs and knocked off two of them. This will be a big measuring stick for UCF to finally defeat a team with a winning record but also means something important for ASU, who struggled mightily this year outside their Belt underlings. Color me curious and therefore a ten in my book.
- 4:30 pm, CBS Sports Network
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl – 32
Southern Miss (6-6, 4-4, C-USA) vs Louisiana Lafayette (6-6, 5-3, Sun Belt)
Two programs trying to stabilize after some recent hits square off in a bowl game that will have extra meaning as both recruit in gulf coast states, but is that enough to be intriguing? I’m not so sure. Southern Miss was a mess down the stretch going just 2-5 with a perplexing loss to Charlotte. They did upset Louisiana Tech in their finale to make a bowl though. The Cajuns started 2-4 but turned it around over the final six. They won their final two, including stunning Arkansas State in their penultimate game.
So what were the hits that these schools took recently? For Southern Miss Larry Fedora departed for North Carolina after a 12 win season. The consistent Golden Eagles had a streak of 18 straight winning seasons and ten straight bowls but their replacement for Fedora couldn’t keep up. In fact, USM went 0-12 and he was fired after just one season in Hattiesburg. Then came Todd Monken who went 1-11 then 3-9 before finally getting the proud program back in the C-USA title game and a bowl in 2015. He departed though for a NFL offensive coordinator gig. In comes Jay Hopson and while the program still feels fragile, a second straight bowl isn’t nothing.
For ULL, Mark Hudspeth had been a consistent winner since being hired in 2011. The Ragin’ Cajuns were in four straight bowl games but last year was a big step back in multiple levels. First the team limped to a 4-8 record but violations form previous seasons resulted in several wins, including two of those four bowl victories, being vacated. While Hudspeth was cleared of wrongdoing, it still rocked the program that felt like they had the beginnings of a Sun Belt dynasty.
Would I go if I was a Southern Miss fan: 10/10
New Orleans is one of the greatest cities in the United States and it is under 2 hours driving away from Hattisburg. It would be silly not to go.
Would I go if I was a ULL fan: 10/10
Believe it or not, ULL has a longer drive…but only by about 30 minutes. Really, this is a such an easy call to make the trip.
Would I go if Iowa was playing: 9/10
I love New Orleans. It is one of my absolute favorite cities. I don’t love the idea of playing in a bowl before Christmas, but I can make an exception for the Crescent City. I also love that it is a later start. This game was a 10 am kickoff a few years ago. Yikes! For a city known for its parties, has a casino right downtown, and insane night life, getting to that kick off would have been rough.
…So, should we watch on TV: 3.5/10
USM has the higher ceiling based on their win over Kentucky and a solid senior qb in Nick Mullens but ULL counters with a top 50 defense and a 1000 yard back in Elijah McGuire. McGuire has had a brilliant 4000+ yard career. Outside of watching those two seniors take their final bow at the collegiate level, this one doesn’t hold much reason after so many better games during the day.
- 8 pm, ESPN
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