JoePa's Bowlin 'Em Over Picks

[joepa66]

PAPA JOHNS BOWL
DECEMBER 22, 1PM - ESPN2
CINCINNATI vs. SOUTHERN MISS


This will be the final go-around for Southern Mississippi coach Jeff Bower, who will stay on for the bowl against Cincinnati after tendering his resignation. Bower, the coach for 17 years, led the Eagles to a winning record in each of the last 14 seasons, including a 7-5 mark in 2007. But the program is stale, and Southern Miss' last Conference USA championship came in 2003.
Cincinnati, in the first season with rising coach Brian Kelly, beat three ranked teams — South Florida, Rutgers and Connecticut — and went 9-3, its most victories since 1953. The Bearcats' big story has been Kelly's no-huddle spread offense, which set school records for touchdowns (59) and points (441).
Now Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio left Kelly plenty of playmakers, including senior QB Ben Mauk. The Wake Forest transfer is second only to Louisville's Brian Brohm in the Big East in passing yards a game and total offense. Mauk has two of the leading receivers in the conference: Dominick Goodman and Marcus Barnett, who had a league-high 13 touchdown receptions.
Southern Miss has a solid defense, among the best in Conference USA. Sophomore Gerald McRath (131 tackles) was the C-USA defensive player of the year. Senior DLs Matthew Chatelain and Martavius Prince were first-team all-league, as was CB Brandon Sumrall. The Eagles' strength in their offense is the running game, but nothing will come easy against the Bearcats, who lead the Big East in rushing defense, giving up 105.67 yards a game.
The Bearcats hoped for a better postseason venue but were passed over in favor of South Florida (Sun) and Connecticut (Meineke Car Care). Still, it's the sixth bowl bid in Cincinnati's history, and the program can reach 10 wins for only the second time, and it's only a couple of hours from home which should seem like a home game for UC!

PICK: CINCINNATI -10


BOWL RECORD: 0 - 1 - 1

[joepa66]

NEW ORLEANS BOWL
DECEMBER 21, 8PM - ESPN2
FLORIDA ATLANTIC vs. MEMPHIS

In a college football season full of surprises, one of the most unexpected results was Florida Atlantic's first bowl berth the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl at the Superdome.
The Owls (7-5) are one the best feel-good stories of the year, winning a share of the Sun Belt Conference and making the postseason in only the seventh year of the program which didn't exist until 2001 as a Division I-AA team. It all led to the Owls beating Troy 38-32 on the final day of the regular season to tie for the league title.
Sophomore Rusty Smith became the Sun Belt's best quarterback throwing for 3,352 yards and 27 touchdowns and only eight interceptions, and the Owls future looks bright as they have only one senior starter.
Memphis overcame the tragic September murder of Taylor Bradford to win five of its final six games and finish 7-5 overall, 6-2 in Conference USA. The Tigers are a prolific passing team in the spread attack, throwing for 307.8 yards a game 12th in the nation. Senior QB Martin Hankins' favorite targets are sophomores Duke Calhoun (58 receptions for 850 yards and five touchdowns) and 6-8 Carlos Singleton.
FAU's secondary will be busy, led by freshman Tavious Polo, Corey Small and Taheem Acevedo, made 17 interceptions this season. The turnover battle will be critical, and Florida Atlantic can trace its success to forcing 33 takeaways and leading the nation in turnover margin at 1.58 a game. Memphis is tied for 17th at 0.75 a game.

PICK: Still up in the air on this one.....

[wsox08]

GL this bowl season, JP.. I'm leaning towards the Utes too.. Just not sure about them stopping the Navy run.

[joepa66]

UPDATED YTD: 51 - 43 - 3
UNITS: +9.00
MAC: 25 - 15

I plan on having a preview of each game then my pick! Here we go......

POINSETTIA BOWL
DECEMBER 20, 9PM - ESPN
NAVY vs. UTAH

The bowl season kicks off with a game matching two 8-4 teams on a roll. Navy is on a four-game winning streak, and Utah had a seven-game streak late in the season before a 17-10 loss in the regular-season finale against MWC Champion Brigham Young.
Navy's triple-option offense, handled by QB Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada, leads the nation with 351.5 rushing yards a game. The Midshipmen move the chains with FBs Adam Ballard and Eric Kettani. Utah's defense, third in the nation with 15.6 points allowed a game, will be the best Navy has seen this season.
While the Utah defense has plenty to worry about, the offense is hungry to get on the field. Navy's defense has allowed more than 40 points in seven games this season, including 59 to Delaware and 62 to North Texas. The Utes spread the field to run, and RB Darrell Mack, averaging 102.6 yards a game, will be a load for Navy's small defense. The Middies rarely get defensive pressure on the quarterback, and Ute signal caller Brian Johnson should pick apart a secondary that ranks 119th in the nation in pass-efficiency defense.
Utah is in the postseason for the fifth year in a row, and the Utes have won six consecutive bowl games. Only Boston College (seven) has a longer current streak.

PICK: UTAH -8 LOOZER...Where's the sleeping D-Back?

BOWL RECORD: 0 - 1