December 15th Bowl Picks

Arizona RB Ka'Deem Carey

Hey there guys,

I'm going to be posting my picks for every day that has a bowl game. I'll post my projected score, pass yards and rushing yards for each game, as well as something that I call my "Watchability Grade."

I grade each game on how watchable it should be; I take into affect how recognizable the teams are based on the level of conference they come from (Major, Mid-Major, Low), how well they've played, how high are they ranked (if at all), and then how close the game is projected to be.

Here is what each grade means:

• A - This is a can't miss game; you plan your day around this game. An 'A' grade means it will be a great game between highly recognizable teams. 
• B - These games have pretty high entertainment value. A 'B' grade is a game that involves highly recognizable teams playing a mediocre game, or two semi-recognizable teams playing a great game. 
• C - This level is for football junkies or fans of the team only. Not that these games are awful, but you will rarely see these highlights on SportsCenter the next day. Either an awful game between highly recognizable teams, a mediocre game between semi-recognizable teams, or a great game between teams you need to look up. 
• D - This game is going to put you too sleep. You may start off watching it, but this game is going to either get ugly fast or the two unrecognizable teams playing a mediocre game will just plain get boring. 
• F - This just shouldn't be on television. Or even radio. The fans aren't even interested in this game. 

Click the jump for my previews for today's games.




December 15th

New Mexico Bowl

Nevada (7-5) vs. Arizona (7-5)

12:00 pm CST on ESPN

Preview: This game features two offensive gurus with poor records in bowl games. Chris Ault at Nevada (2-7 in bowl games) and Rich Rodriguez at Arizona (2-4). The general rule for Bowl Games - and for any game where the teams get at least two weeks and a season's worth of game film to prepare for an opponent - is that defense is going to have the upper hand. It's not always the case (see Washington vs. Baylor last year), but more often then not it is. This is going to be one of those games where the offenses will be just fine. Teams from non-automatic qualifier conferences usually play with a chip on their shoulder in bowl games, but Nevada had a disappointing first season in the Mountain West, while Arizona is coming back tot he bowl season after last year's 4-8 season. While both offenses are better than their opponent's defense, Arizona has the considerably larger advantage in their match-up Look for QB Matt Scott and RB Ka'Deem Carey to have big games and the Wildcats to win this one.

Watchability Grade: C+

Projections: Arizona 39, Nevada 35
Pass Yards: Arizona 282 yds (6.9 yds/att), Nevada 266 yds (7.9 yds/att)
Rush Yards: Arizona 229 yds (5.1 yds/att), Nevada 237 yds (4.7 yds/att)

My Pick: Arizona 34 - 28

Idaho Potato Bowl

Toledo (9-3) vs. No. 22 Utah State (10-2)

4:30 p.m. CST on ESPN

Preview: This game features two of the most exciting, underrated QB's in all of college football in Terrance Owens of Toledo and Chuckie Keaton of Utah State. The two have combined for over 5,800 yards passing and over 900 yards rushing. Utah State is going to have an advantage on both offense and defense, however Toledo comes in more battle tested with an edge on special teams, and Matt Campbell's has only coached 13 games for the Rockets, but I thin he has a chance to be special. His only three losses are by a combined 21 points, to three bowl teams. All that said, I think Gary Anderson's program presents too many mismatches and will take this one fairly comfortably.

Watchability Grade: C

Projections: Utah State 32, Toledo 22
Pass Yards: Utah State 294 yds (8.0 yds/att), Toledo 229 yds (6.7 yds/att)
Rush Yards: Utah State 202 yds (5.1 yds/att), Toledo 145 yds (3.6 yds/att)

My Pick: Utah State 31-13