Bowl Game Edition: More Reasons it's Perfectly Acceptable ...

[Pages:17]Bowl Game Edition: More Reasons it's Perfectly Acceptable to Hate Notre Dame . . . not that you need a reason. 28. The fictional "Rudy."

Rudy is a great, heartwarming movie. I'll always have a soft spot for the fictional story of Daniel Rudy Ruettiger. Yes, fictional. Rudy's name was never chanted at Notre Dame Stadium, and that famous jersey scene never happened. Just ask his teammate Joe Montana: "Well, the crowd wasn't chanting. No one threw in their jerseys. He did get in the game. He got carried off [at the end of] the game. ... Back then they tried to play someone at the end of [the season] that all the seniors could get in the last home game. The schedule was kind of set that way. So he got in. He did get a sack. And then the guys carried him off, just playing around. I won't say it was a joke, but it was playing around."

29. The real Rudy.

From Forbes: "The Securities & Exchange Commission, however, says Rudy Ruettiger has grown up to become a penny stock promoter and scammer. The former Notre Dame walkon has agreed to pay $382,866 to resolve the SEC's claim that he participated in a pumpand-dump, fraudulently inducing investors to bid up the stock of his sports drink company, Rudy Nutrition. He did not admit or deny the allegations."

from Matt Kiebus, BuzzFeed Staff & Logan Rhoades, BFMP Video Producer Originally posted on 10/1/13 ? and still just as true today!

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Your 2017 Bowl Guide!

Here ya go, all the games with kickoff dates and times, TV coverage and the LINE's reliable predictions for margins of victory and final scores.

And our annual free advice: Who knows which team will show up 2-4 weeks after season's end? Underdogs will often cover the spread, but these are mainly 18-22 year olds--so do yourself and your "plus one" a favor: Instead of giving the bookies some extra holiday cash, buy a nice dinner out. Probably a better return on your investment.

New for 2017: We also include italicized commentary and alternative predictions by Adam Rittenberg, ESPN Staff Writer (from 12/4/18; out-of-date comments deleted/updated).

>>>>> ^ College Football Playoff Committee (CFPC) Rankings ^ ^ HOME team (there are some, others are quite close by) in CAPS ^ Central Times ^ split decision means that Vegas and at least some computer predictions do not agree on the winner

This should be quite the bowl season:

Almost HALF of the bowl games are split decisions! Plus the LINE predicts that in the 40 games below: 14 (35%) will be decided by less than a Field Goal 30 (75%) will be decided by less than a Touchdown And only 2 (5%) will have a margin of victory greater the two Touchdowns

Enjoy it while it lasts!!!

December 16

Celebration Bowl

o 11-0

North Carolina A&T (Airborne & Touchdowns) over 11-1 Gambling on

Grambling by 9, 30-21

11:00 on ABC at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta

Grambling won a low-scoring game in last year's bowl matchup (10-9), but both of these offenses can put up points. I'm going with North Carolina A&T, led by quarterback Lamar Raynard, who has 26 touchdown passes this season. ESPN/Rittenberg Prediction: North Carolina A&T 38, Grambling 27

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl

o The Helens of

Troy over the Chronic Underachievers of

North Texas by

6 ?, 33-27

Noon on ESPN at Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans

Neal Brown's Trojans come in on a six-game winning streak, and the last time they played in the state of Louisiana they beat LSU. Troy will survive a late push for its 11th win. ESPN/Rittenberg Prediction: Troy 24, North Texas 21

AutoNation Cure Bowl

o The "Six Wins" Bowl: Hooch-Totin' State Snarling by 6, 30-24

Western Kentucky over the

Georgia

1:30 p.m. on CBS Sports Network at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida

There's not too much to get excited about here -- Georgia State was outscored 280-217 this season, while Western Kentucky lost to 2-10 Illinois and dropped four of its past five games -- but the Hilltoppers will get it done behind Mike White, Conference USA's top passer. ESPN/Rittenberg Prediction: Western Kentucky 31, Georgia State 21

Las Vegas Bowl

o split decision--The

Oregon Re-Animated over the Ice Blue Aqua Velva of #25

Boise State by 6, 33-27

2:30 p.m. on ABC at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas

. . . Oregon coach Willie Taggart's [departure] makes this a tough call, but after watching the Ducks since quarterback Justin Herbert returned from injury, it's tough to pick against the Ducks, even against a solid Boise State defense. ESPN/Rittenberg Prediction: Oregon 35, Boise State 32

GILDAN New Mexico Bowl

o split decision--The

Colorado State Bourgeois Boh?me over WE ARE (such as it

is)

Marshall by 4 ?, 31-27

3:30 p.m. on ESPN at Branch Field at Dreamstyle Stadium in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Get to know the name Michael Gallup. Colorado State's Biletnikoff Award finalist is one of the nation's best under-the-radar players, and he will shine for the Rams in his final game against a Marshall team that has dropped four of its last five. ESPN/Rittenberg Prediction: Colorado State 41, Marshall 31

Raycom Media Camellia Bowl

o The

Arkansas State Lone Rangers over "Can I Buy a Vowel?"

Tennessee by 4 ?, 33-28

Middle

7:00 p.m. on ESPN at Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama

Arkansas State's Justice Hansen is a feast-or-famine quarterback, recording six games with three or more passing touchdowns, but three with three or more interceptions. Hansen is the key here, and Middle Tennessee has only four picks all season. ESPN/Rittenberg Prediction: Arkansas State 38, Middle Tennessee 30

December 19

Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl

o "Stay in Your Lane" Akron by 20 ?, 41-20

FLORIDA ATLANTIC over Already Regretting This

6:00 p.m. on ESPN at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton, Florida

The good news for Terry Bowden's team is it gets to escape frigid northeast Ohio for South Florida. The bad news is it faces the Lane Train and its record-setting offense in its home station. After allowing 45 points to Toledo in the MAC title game, Akron's defense will have another tough game. ESPN/Rittenberg Prediction: FAU 45, Akron 27

December 20

DXL Frisco Bowl

o Southern Millionaires University 6, 37-31

SMU over the

Louisiana Tech Tactless by

7:00 p.m. on ESPN at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas

I expected more out of SMU, which dropped three of its past four games and was extremely fortunate to win the finale. But Louisiana Tech doesn't inspire a ton of confidence, either, and Mustangs receivers Courtland Sutton and Trey Quinn will be too much to handle. ESPN/Rittenberg Prediction: SMU 35, Louisiana Tech 31

December 21

Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl

o My Body is a

Temple (Garbage in, Garbage out) over the

International Two-Pawed Kitties by 7 ?, 31-24

Florida

7:00 p.m. on ESPN at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida

Both first-year coaches -- Temple's Geoff Collins and especially FIU's Butch Davis -- did really nice jobs getting their teams to this point. I like the Owls' defense to make the difference down the stretch in a very competitive game. ESPN/Rittenberg Prediction: Temple 26, FIU 23

December 22

Bahamas Bowl

o That Other Athens in

Ohio over the

UAB Under Age Booty by 9 ?, 33-23

11:30 a.m. on ESPN at Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas

It has been an incredible season for coach Bill Clark and the Blazers, whose program returned to competition with eight wins and have the run defense (25th nationally) to contain Ohio's ground game (5.6 yards per carry, 40 TDs). But I like Frank Solich's crew to rebound from their November struggles with a close win. ESPN/Rittenberg Prediction: Ohio 31, UAB 27

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl o split decision, and DEAD EVEN in Vegas--Cowboys & Indians: Buck `Em

Wyoming over the

Central Michigan Chippy by ONE POINT, 24-23

3:00 p.m. on ESPN at Lyle Smith Field at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, Idaho)

Josh Allen's status is the great unknown in this game, as Wyoming looked lost without him down the stretch. Perhaps he returns for what will be his final game before declaring for the NFL draft, but I like Central Michigan QB Shane Morris and a surging Chippewa team, which won its final five games. ESPN/Rittenberg Prediction: Central Michigan 34, Wyoming 31

December 23

Birmingham Bowl

o split decision--"I wanna kill anything from Texas"

USF over the

Tech Tarantulas by ONE AND A HALF POINTS, 33-31

Texas

11:00 a.m. on ESPN at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama

Points, please. Lots of them. Texas Tech's defense is significantly improved numbers-wise, but USF QB Quinton Flowers presents a huge challenge and will lead a talented Bulls team to its 10th win in his final game. ESPN/Rittenberg Prediction: USF 47, Texas Tech 41

Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl

o split decision--The

San Diego State Archery Team over "It's only a Flesh

Wound"

Army by 6 ?, 27-21

2:30 p.m. on ESPN at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas

Jeff Monken has done an incredible job boosting Army, which leads the nation in rushing. But San Diego State has been tested more this season, boasts another stifling defense and the best player on the field in 2,000-yard running back Rashaad Penny. This game will be quick, but SDSU wins. ESPN/Rittenberg Prediction: San Diego State 31, Army 20

Dollar General Bowl

o The

Toledo Supersonic over the

Appalachian State Still Sitters by 7 ?,

34-27

6:00 p.m. on ESPN at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama

This is one of the better Group of Five bowl matchups featuring two up-and-coming coaches in Toledo's Jason Candle and Appalachian State's Scott Satterfield. While I liked how the Mountaineers' defense played down the stretch, Toledo QB Logan Woodside presents a much tougher challenge. ESPN/Rittenberg Prediction: Toledo 38, Appalachian State 29

December 24

Hawai'i Bowl

o split decision--The

Houston Altuve Worship over the

Done by TWO POINTS, 23-21

Fresno State One &

7:30 p.m. on ESPN at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu

I really like the defenses in this game as Fresno State allowed 21 points or less in all but one league game, while Houston held USF to 24 points in a win. This is a really tough call, but Houston has the talent edge as Cougars DT Ed Oliver will come up with a late gamechanging play. ESPN/Rittenberg Prediction: Houston 24, Fresno State 21

December 26

Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl

o split decision--"We're on a Mission from God"

Utah over When Cousins Marry

West Virginia by 5, 31-26

12:30 p.m. on ESPN at Cotton Bowl in Dallas There are few guarantees in bowls, but Utah coach Kyle Whittingham's record in bowl games comes close (he's 10-1). This isn't a great Utah team, but it has enough on defense to take down a West Virginia team missing star quarterback Will Grier. ESPN/Rittenberg Prediction: Utah 27, West Virginia 24

Quick Lane Bowl

o The

Duke Diablos Azules over

Northern Exposure Illinois by 5 ?, 27-21

4:15 p.m. on ESPN at Ford Field in Detroit

The Blue Devils emerged from their midseason swoon with a good finish, and their speed on defense will give Northern Illinois' run-heavy offense some problems. NIU counters with its own stingy defense, but Duke will have enough with Daniel Jones, Shaun Wilson and Brittain Brown to get the win. ESPN/Rittenberg Prediction: Duke 23, Northern Illinois 17

Cactus Bowl

o The

Kansas State Family Practice over the

AND A HALF POINTS, 33-30

UCLA Bruins in Ruins by TWO

8:00 p.m. on ESPN at Chase Field in Phoenix

This might be tricky. A Baylor team with a coaching staff heading out the door stunned Boise State last year. Can UCLA do something similar? Maybe, but Kansas State is a more complete team with a hot quarterback (Skylar Thompson) to counter Josh Rosen. Bill Snyder will avenge the 2014 Alamo Bowl loss. ESPN/Rittenberg Prediction: Kansas State 37, UCLA 35

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