SB Nation Pittsburgh - Bowl Picks: Christmas Week Bowlshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48827/pitt-fv.png2010-12-26T14:28:24-05:00http://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/rss/stream/16518272010-12-26T14:28:24-05:002010-12-26T14:28:24-05:00Bowl Picks: Toledo Vs. Florida International
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<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/toledo-rockets">Toledo Rockets</a> (8-4, 7-1 MAC) vs. Florida International Golden Panthers (6-6, 6-2 Sun Belt)</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.littlecaesarspizzabowl.com/">Little Caesars Pizza Bowl</a><br>December 26 - 8:30 pm - ESPN<br>Detroit, MI<br>$750,000 payout per team</p>
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<p>The Toledo Rockets and the Florida International Golden Panthers will square off in the fourteenth playing of the Little Caesar’s Bowl, formerly the Motor City Bowl. Florida International has never appeared in the Little Caesar’s Bowl, while this is Toledo’s fourth trip to Detroit. The Rockets have won once, in 2001, but lost to Connecticut 39-10 in their most recent appearance, in 2004. Last year’s Little Caesar’s Bowl was a 21-17 victory for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/marshall-thundering-herd">Marshall Thundering Herd</a> over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/ohio-bobcats">Ohio Bobcats</a>.</p>
<p>The Rockets and Golden Panthers did not face each other this season, but squared off twice in the two previous years. The series is a draw, with each team winning on the road, most recently a 2009 41-31 Rockets victory in Miami.</p>
<p>Florida International, despite a 6-6 record, enters the bowl as co-champions of the Sun Belt conference thanks to a victory over co-champion Troy. Toledo comes to Detroit as the second place team out of the MAC West Division. The Rockets finished the year 8-4, with a 7-1 conference record. The highlight of their season was a 31-20 road upset of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/purdue-boilermakers">Purdue Boilermakers</a>. Victory will be decided by whether or not the Toledo defense can handle Florida International’s two-headed rushing attack of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/36045/darriet-perry">Darriet Perry</a> and Darrian Mallary. The Rockets’ defense is led by Archie McDonald, the MAC leader in tackles, and should be up for the task.<br><i>- SBN Pittsburgh analysis by Aaron Hawley</i></p>
<p><b>SBN PITTSBURGH BOLD PREDICTION</b> - Toledo 17, FIU 13</p>
<p><b>Analyst Projections<br></b>Aaron - Toledo<br>Anson - Toledo<br>Jeff - Toledo</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://espn.go.com/college-football/overview/_/week/17">From ESPN</a>:</p>
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<p>Few expected Toledo or Florida International to make a bowl game, but Tim Beckman and Mario Cristobal had other ideas. Beckman revived a former MAC power in Toledo, which went 7-1 in league play. This fall, Cristobal orchestrated college football's most impressive building job at Florida International, which had gone 9-39 in the past four seasons. <i>-- Adam Rittenberg</i></p>
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<p><a target="_blank" href="http://msn.foxsports.com/collegefootball/story/The-skinny-on-the-2010-11-bowl-season-120510">From Fox Sports</a>:</p>
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<p>You've got to love, LOVE bowl games to make this appointment television. FIU had a great year under head coach Mario Cristobal, who'll be off to bigger and better things soon, while Toledo overcame a bad offense and a slew of injuries to win five of its last six games. It'll be a defensive battle.</p>
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https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/penn-st-nittany-lions/2010/12/26/1896944/bowl-picks-toledo-vs-florida-internationalJunny Junny2010-12-24T11:14:03-05:002010-12-24T11:14:03-05:00Bowl Picks: Hawaii Vs. Tulsa
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<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/hawaii-warriors">Hawaii Warriors</a> (10-3, 7-1 WAC) vs. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/tulsa-golden-hurricane">Tulsa Golden Hurricane</a> (9-3, 6-2 CUSA)</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.sheratonhawaiibowl.com/">Sheraton Hawaii Bowl</a><br>December 24 - 8:00 pm - ESPN<br>Honolulu, HI<br>$750,000 payout per team</p>
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<p>One team plays on the island regularly, will not have to travel, and gets to play in front of their fans, who similarly do not have to travel. The other team has to come from nearly 5,000 miles away. Sounds fair, right?</p>
<p>Fair or not, this should be an exciting matchup, with two extremely potent offenses lining up to see who can put the largest number on the board. This will be the proverbial shootout that many expect it to be, and fans of high scoring games will not be disappointed.</p>
<p>This will be the eighth time these two teams have met, with Hawaii holding a slight edge, at 5-2. Last time, in 2004, Hawaii took care of Tulsa 44-16 at home. Something tells me this game will have a similar outcome, only with more points on the board.</p>
<p>The Hawaii Bowl is relatively new, having been played in Honolulu since 2002. Hawaii has played in five of the eight previous games, winning three of them. Last year, the Hawaii Bowl played host to Southern Methodist and Nevada, as the Mustangs snapped their 25-year bowl drought streak with a victory, 45-10.</p>
<p>Hawaii is led by third year head coach Greg McMackin, who has gone 23-17 since 2008. Todd Graham is in his fourth year at Tulsa, and has put together a record of 35-17 in that time.<br><i>- SBN Pittsburgh analysis by Jeff Junstrom</i></p>
<p><b>SBN PITTSBURGH BOLD PREDICTION</b>: Hawaii 71, Tulsa 57</p>
<p><b>Analyst Projections<br></b>Aaron - Hawaii<br>Anson - Hawaii<br>Jeff - Hawaii</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://espn.go.com/college-football/overview/_/week/17">From ESPN</a>:</p>
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<p>Two of the most prolific offenses in the country face off on Christmas Eve: Tulsa ranks No. 5 in the country in total offense, while Hawaii ranks No. 8. Two great quarterbacks to watch, as well: G.J. Kinne for the Golden Hurricane and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78912/bryant-moniz">Bryant Moniz</a> for the Warriors. Hawaii is 3-2 in its past five bowl appearances. So is Tulsa. <i>-- Andrea Adelson</i></p>
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<p><a target="_blank" href="http://msn.foxsports.com/collegefootball/story/The-skinny-on-the-2010-11-bowl-season-120510">From Fox Sports</a>:</p>
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<p>Defense is boring. Demand 65-61 between two teams that put their feet on the offensive gas pedal and don't let up. Hawaii is first in the nation in passing and has hung up 159 points in its last three games and 45 or more in five of its last six games. Tulsa is fifth in the nation in total offense and beat Southern Miss 56-50 to close out the regular season.</p>
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https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/penn-st-nittany-lions/2010/12/24/1893178/bowl-picks-hawaii-vs-tulsaJunny Junny2010-12-23T07:40:59-05:002010-12-23T07:40:59-05:00Bowl Picks: Navy Vs. San Diego State
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<p>San Diego State Aztecs (8-4, 5-3 MWC) vs. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/navy-midshipmen">Navy Midshipmen</a> (8-3, Independent)</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.poinsettiabowl.net/">San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl</a><br>December 23 - 8:00 pm - ESPN<br>San Diego, CA<br>$750,000 payout per team</p>
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<p>For San Diego State, this season has been all about agonizing losses. The Aztecs have lost four games by a total of 15 points. A few plays here and there and San Diego State could have ended up with ten wins ... or more. Close defeats to ranked teams TCU (five points), Missouri (three points), and Utah (four points) proved the team can hang with very good teams. The Aztecs have a potent offense and the fewest points the team has scored all season was 21. 1,300 yard rusher <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/88716/ronnie-hillman">Ronnie Hillman</a> and 1,100 yard receivers Vincent Brown and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/12900/demarco-sampson">DeMarco Sampson</a> lead the way. And if they needed anything else in their favor, the game is in San Diego.</p>
<p>Navy's situation is eerily similar. The Midshipmen have only three losses by a combined 14 points, but to less impressive teams in Maryland, Duke, and Air Force. Navy doesn't have nearly the offensive weapons that San Diego State does, but dual threat QB <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/11370/ricky-dobbs">Ricky Dobbs</a> is one of the most exciting players in college football. With more than 1,300 yards passing and 800 yards rushing, the Aztecs will need to keep an eye on Dobbs and Navy's option.<br><i>- SBN Pittsburgh analysis by Anson Whaley</i></p>
<p><b>SBN PITTSBURGH BOLD PREDICTION</b>: San Diego State 31, Navy 20</p>
<p><b>Analyst Projections<br></b>Aaron - Navy<br>Anson - San Diego State<br>Jeff - Navy</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://espn.go.com/college-football/overview/_/week/17">From ESPN</a>:</p>
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<p>You have the local team in San Diego State against a team that has a huge Naval base in the city. Lots of demand already for tickets. San Diego State is making its first bowl appearance since 1998, while Navy is in a bowl game for the seventh straight season. The Midshipmen are 1-1 in bowl games under coach Ken Niumatalolo. <i>-- Andrea Adelson</i></p>
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<p><a target="_blank" href="http://msn.foxsports.com/collegefootball/story/The-skinny-on-the-2010-11-bowl-season-120510">From Fox Sports</a>:</p>
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<p>Navy always brings its A-game for the bowls, but San Diego State will be jacked up to be here in Brady Hoke's second year at the helm. The Aztecs have one of the nation's most explosive passing games and a strong run defense that finished third in the Mountain West. Can it handle the Navy option? Expect an entertaining game.</p>
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https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/penn-st-nittany-lions/2010/12/23/1891225/bowl-picks-navy-vs-san-diego-stateJunny Junny2010-12-22T07:57:33-05:002010-12-22T07:57:33-05:00Bowl Picks: Utah Vs. Boise State
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<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/utah-utes">Utah Utes</a> (10-2, 7-1 MWC) vs. Boise State Broncos (11-1, 7-1 WAC)
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<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.lvbowl.com/">MAACO Las Vegas Bowl</a><br>December 22 - 8:00 pm - ESPN<br>Las Vegas, NV<br>$1,000,000 payout per team</p>
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<p>This year's Las Vegas Bowl will be the nineteenth year that Sin City has hosted a bowl game. This game features a pair of teams most thought could end the season as BCS-busters, the Boise State Broncos and the Utah Utes; as it stands, both teams ended the season with double-digit win totals. Boise State is making their first appearance in Las Vegas, while Utah has appeared twice, winning both, in 1999 and 2001. Last season BYU whipped Oregon State 44-20 for a victory in the 2009 edition of the Las Vegas Bowl.</p>
<p>This season's Las Vegas Bowl will mark the fourth time Boise State and Utah have squared off on the gridiron. The Broncos have been victorious each time, most recently in 2006 when they beat the Utes, 36-3.</p>
<p>Boise State enters as champions of the WAC, while Utah was the second place team in the MWC behind undefeated TCU. Each of these programs had set their preseason sights on bigger things, and the Broncos were three points away from an undefeated season and a trip to the BCS. Instead, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/15358/kellen-moore">Kellen Moore</a> and company will square off with an underrated Utah defense who have held opponents to ten points or less in half of their games this season. While the Boise State air attack has been prolific all season long, the Broncos could be surprised by the Utes. It's also possible that a victory in the Las Vegas Bowl may not be great motivation for a team that expected to be playing on New Year's Day or better.<br><i>- Analysis for SBN Pittsburgh by Aaron Hawley</i></p>
<p><b>SBN PITTSBURGH BOLD PREDICTION</b>: Utah 28, Boise State 27</p>
<p><b>Analysts Projections<br></b>Aaron - Utah<br>Anson - Boise State<br>Jeff - Boise State<b></b></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://espn.go.com/college-football/overview/_/week/17">From ESPN</a>:</p>
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<p>Both schools already have won two BCS bowl games. On the downside for Utah, starting quarterback <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/77654/jordan-wynn">Jordan Wynn</a> won't be able to play due to shoulder surgery, meaning backup <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/77657/terrance-cain">Terrance Cain</a> will get the call. That's not too bad, considering he's 9-1 as Utah's starter. It will be interesting to see how the Broncos react after dropping from a BCS bowl game to Las Vegas. <i>-- Ted Miller</i></p>
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<p><a target="_blank" href="http://msn.foxsports.com/collegefootball/story/The-skinny-on-the-2010-11-bowl-season-120510">From Fox Sports</a>:</p>
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<p>Mountain West old star, meet your replacement. Considering Boise State got hosed out of a BCS appearance, this isn't a bad matchup against the future Pac 12 member that could make future appearances here. It would've been great if Utah QB Jordan Wynn was healthy to make this a battle of young guns, but Terrence Cain is a good, veteran passer and the Utes will give the Broncos a game. An argument could be made that this is the best non-New Year's Day matchup.</p>
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https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/2010/12/22/1891220/bowl-picks-utah-vs-boise-stateJunny Junny2010-12-20T15:21:57-05:002010-12-20T15:21:57-05:00Bowl Picks: Louisville Vs. Southern Miss
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<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/louisville-cardinals">Louisville Cardinals</a> (6-6, 3-4 Big East) vs. Southern Miss Golden Eagles (8-4, 5-3 CUSA)</h3>
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<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.stpetersburgbowl.com/">Beef 'O' Brady's St. Petersburg Bowl</a><br>December 21 - 8:00 pm - ESPN<br>St. Petersburg, FL<br>$1,000,000 payout per team</p>
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<p>In one of the better-named bowls of the 2010/2011 season, Louisville and Southern Miss will meet on the field to battle for whatever trophy is handed out in the Beef 'O' Brady's St. Petersburg Bowl. This will be only the third iteration of this prestigious bowl, with South Florida and Rutgers winning the first two, respectively. That bodes will for Big East representative Louisville, but regardless of the outcome, there aren't too many winners in the Beef 'O' Brady's St. Petersburg Bowl.</p>
<p>These teams have met 24 times in the past, with Southern Miss holding a slight 15-8-1 edge over Louisville. They played every year from 1978 to 2002 (save 1992 and 1994), so this matchup should help rekindle rivalry feelings in the older fans of each school.</p>
<p>Louisville is led by first year head coach Charlie Strong, while Larry Fedora is finishing his third season in Hattiesburg. Fedora has led the Golden Eagles to a record of 22-18 over the past three years.<br><i>- SBN Pittsburgh analysis by Jeff Junstrom</i></p>
<p><b>SBN PITTSBURGH BOLD PREDICTION</b>: Southern Miss 30, Louisville 23</p>
<p><b>Analyst Projections<br></b>Aaron - Southern Miss<br>Anson - Louisville<br>Jeff - Southern Miss<b><br></b></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://espn.go.com/college-football/overview/_/week/17">From ESPN</a>:</p>
<blockquote>This game features two old rivals. Southern Miss was a thorn in Louisville's side in the 1980s and '90s, so it's fitting that the Golden Eagles await in the Cardinals' first postseason appearance since the 2007 Orange Bowl. It's a classic clash of offense (Southern Miss is the nation's 15th-highest scoring team) vs. defense (Louisville finished 11th in total defense). <i>-- <span class="sbn-auto-link">Brian Bennett</span></i>
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<p><a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/collegefootball/story/The-skinny-on-the-2010-11-bowl-season-120510">From Fox Sports</a>:</p>
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<p>Charlie Strong has quickly turned around the Louisville program and took a great first step to get to a bowl game in his first year. The Cardinals is known for its offense, but the defense is the star under Strong. USM is known for its defense, but its explosive offense rocks ranked 15th in the nation in yards and 15th in scoring. The Big East needs this.</p>
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<p>Continue checking out this storystream for bowl game predictions.</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/2010/12/20/2326686/bowl-picks-louisville-vs-southern-missCharlie Wilmoth