Bowl Games To Watch Before New Year’s

With 32 games over 19 days, bowl season has something for everyone. Casual observers won’t pay much attention until the long New Year’s weekend, but there are gems among the surfeit of December games. Much like the boxing adage “styles make fights,” matchups make bowl games, whether it’s teams of varying ability — and motivation — or just an appealing Xs and Os battle between contrasting styles.The following games should be among the best of the early bowl season (all rankings BCS):POINSETTIA BOWL (SAN DIEGO)Navy (8-4) vs. Utah (8-4)Thursday, December 20, 9 p.m., ESPNAny game involving Navy usually offers a contrast in styles because of the Middies’ unique triple-option offense. Navy, which led the nation in rushing, may be one-dimensional, but that one dimension is fascinating. Quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada can make defenses that are far superior athletically look passive and confused with his ball-fakes and decision-making. And though he rarely passes, he can still damage a defense with his arm, as he did in Navy’s historic upset of Notre Dame on November 3.Utah, a solid favorite here, doesn’t have the same explosive offense it did when Urban Meyer was on the sidelines and Alex Smith was under center. Still, the Utes have a stout rushing attack that will challenge Navy’s undersized line. Navy’s biggest challenge won’t be on the field; however, it will be overcoming the loss of coach Paul Johnson, who has moved on to Georgia Tech and will not coach in this game.HAWAII BOWLNo. 24 Boise State (10-2) vs. East Carolina (7-5)Sunday, December 23, 8 p.m., ESPNThe Hawaii Bowl has produced a series of high-scoring affairs since its 2002 debut, due in part to the frequent presence of the homestanding Warriors. With Hawaii off to face Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, WAC runner-up Boise State will take on East Carolina of Conference USA.Boise has been to Honolulu once already this year — where the Broncos were beaten by Hawaii in a de facto WAC championship game on November 23. They should find more success this time around, provided they’re motivated to play in a second-tier bowl after winning the Fiesta last season. East Carolina needs something to level the playing field. The Pirates havehadaniceseasonundercoach Skip Holtz (Lou’s son), but this will be a mismatch unless they can open up the playbook and jump on Boise State early. Boise State’s Ian Johnson is the bigger-name running back, but keep an eye on East Carolina’s Chris Johnson, who averaged just three yards per game fewer and had a higher yards-per-carry average.HOLIDAY BOWL (SAN DIEGO)No. 11 Arizona State (10-2) vs. No. 19 Texas (9-3) Thursday, December 27, 8 p.m., ESPNThanks to its tie-ins with the Pac-10 and Big 12, the Holiday is annually one of the strongest non-BCS bowls. This year is no exception, as the participants combined for 19 wins and each finished in the BCS top 20. For Arizona State, remaining in the thick of the Rose Bowl race all season ranks as a pleasant surprise, while Texas has to be disappointed to find itself back in the Holiday, where they lost two of three appearances between 2000 and 2003.Texas’s problems can be traced to a leaky pass defense and too many turnovers from sophomore quarterback Colt McCoy. Arizona State quarterback Rudy Carpenter has to be excited to face a Texas secondary that ranked 109th nationally in pass defense (275.5 yards per game). Texas will try to keep Carpenter on the sidelines by pounding tailback Jamaal Charles (1,458 yards, 16 TDs), but might find the going tough against a surprisingly stout Arizona State front.CHAMPS SPORTS BOWL (ORLANDO)No. 14. Boston College (10–3) vs. Michigan State (7–5)Friday, December 28, 5 p.m., ESPNOn paper, Boston College shouldn’t have too much trouble with Michigan State, but these teams come into the game from opposite directions. Boston College played itself into the national title picture at midseason before losing three of its final five games, including the ACC championship, to miss out on the Orange Bowl. On the other side, Michigan State recovered from a midseason slump to earn its first bowl bid since 2003 with back-to-back upsets of Purdue and Penn State.Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan will get the headlines in his final game before he goes on to be a high NFL draft pick, but the best matchup will come when the Spartans have the ball. Michigan State backs Javon Ringer and Jehuu Caulcrick combined for 180 yards per game, but will be facing the nation’s top-ranked rush defense. If they can keep the chains moving, Michigan State will cap coach Mark Dantonio’s first season in East Lansing with a bowl win. If not, Boston College will record its eighth straight bowl win.EMERALD BOWL (SAN FRANCISCO)Maryland (6–6) vs. Oregon State (8–4)Friday, December 28, 8:30 p.m., ESPNOregon State came on strong to finish third in a tough Pac-10, yet was relegated to the Emerald Bowl because of the conference’s poor bowl tie-ins. The Beavers won six of their final seven games and will get a boost in this game with the return of outstanding tailback Yvenson Bernard from injury. Bernard is a grinder who managed a 1,000-yard season despite missing two games.Maryland is tough to figure. The Terps scored a pair of wins over top-10 teams, beating Rutgers and Boston College, yet finished 6–6 to sneak into a bowl. Maryland doesn’t do anything outstanding, and fails to rank in the top 40 in any of the major offensive or defensive categories. It will need to be opportunistic and come up with a turnover or two in order to give a limited offense some advantageous field position against Oregon State’s 12th-ranked defense.Mr. Levine is a writer for FootballOutsiders.com.

Bowl Games To Watch Before New Year’s

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