The Rabbi's Bowl Preview Part 2!

Once again, I am Rabbi, the video editor of On The Sportslines.

OK, as I said I'm going 3 at a time with these, and I'm willing to show commitment here. So, as you start your shopping for Christmas, let's look at the bowls that will take you up till Christmas.

By the way, the numbers to your left next to the teams represent their ranking. That ranking is from the last BCS Standings.

MAACO Las Vegas Bowl- Dec 22nd
(18)Oregon State (8-4) Vs. (14)BYU (10-2)

Why Watch: This Tuesday Night Delight will be your first time to see ranked teams in the bowl season, and it’s 2 ranked teams at that.

Matchup: For BYU, it’s a case of deja vu all over again, this is the teams 5th consecutive year playing in this bowl (BYU has a 2-2 record in those games). After a season opening win against than national title hopeful Oklahoma, things were supposed to be different. That changed with a shocking blowout loss at home against FSU and a non competitive game against the team that they want to be now, TCU. However, BYU should be proud, as this was a year where they stayed a Top 25 team from moment 1. Their opponents, Oregon State had some good moments this season (winning at Cal and against Stanford), but the team who took apart USC could not get it together in their 3 biggest games of the season (hosting Cincinnati, going to USC, and the Pac-10 Title Civil War game last week), and find themselves in their 10th straight bowl, but still look to capture the magic of 2001, when the team went to the Fiesta Bowl.

Who To Watch: Not hard here. For BYU it’s Max Hall, who was an early Heisman Hopeful, and although he never match his extremely high expectations, he still finished with 30 TD’s and 3,000 plus yards. For Oregon State, it’s Rodgers. Pick one. Jacquizz had 1,800+ yard rushing and receiving, his brother James had just about 1,300 all purpose yards.

Prediction: Eh, I liked the Beavers play in the Civil War, but I feel like BYU wants to make a statement that TCU can’t in its bowl, and beat a higher up team. BYU wins, and put 14 points on it.


S.D. County Credit Union Poinsettia- Dec 23rd
(23)Utah (9-3) Vs. California (8-4)

Why Watch: To see the team that gave Alabama their last loss (that would be Utah) play in the season after their undefeated season.

Matchup: That Utah team was expected to fall back a little after the undefeated 08-09 season, and that’s what they did. They played 3 ranked teams (Oregon, TCU, and BYU) and lost all 3 of them. Utah’s mojo was pretty much weakened by the Oregon game, and destroyed when they had to make the visit to Fort Worth. However, the most damaging of the losses was the BYU won, which they lost in overtime, 26-23. They will try to bounce back from that game against their opponent in Cal. This season, and every Cal season is described like this: lots of hype to start (#6 in the nation after a 3-0 start), hard fall (consecutive losses at Oregon and at home against USC by a combined score of 72-6!), little sliver of hope (wins in consecutive weeks over Arizona and Stanford, dashing each’s Rose Bowl hopes), and the grand finale in which they don’t show up (42-10 loss at Washington! The Circle is complete!). It’s amazing with the talent Cal has every year why they haven’t been to a BCS game by now.

Who to Watch: For Utah, it’s Linebacker Koa Misi, who for the 2nd straight year was an all MWC selection at linebacker. For Cal, hopefully he recovers, it’s Jahvid Best. Another one of the scrum of Heisman candidates when the year started, Best had 1,000 all purpose yards from scrimmage in what was basically 8 games (he got injured early against Oregon State last month, and the concussion kept him out the rest of the year.)

Prediction: Utah has won 8 bowl games in a row. They took care of Alabama last year, should have the motivation to knock off another BCS-conference opponent. Take the Utes with 23 please.


Sheraton Hawaii Bowl- Dec 24th
Nevada (8-4) Vs. SMU (7-5)

Why To Watch: If you only saw Nevada in their season opener versus Notre Dame, you missed a lot of one the highest powered offenses in the nation. Plus, June Jones in coaching in Hawaii again!

Matchup: It’s SMU’s first bowl since 1994, and the Mustangs look to take full advantage of it. Again, nothing was amazing impressive about the team from Texas in June Jones second season, but they did win 4 out of their last 5 to get to this point. However, their only victory against a bowl team is a 7 point win over eventual Conf Champ East Carolina. For Nevada, the nations 2nd ranked offense and top rushing offense (With 3 1,000 yard rushers!), their non conference season started out horribly at 0-3, but then 8 straight wins were rattled off by the Wolfpack to put them to the brink of a WAC Title. Sadly for them, Boise State pushed them off that brink, and despite only losing by 11, the game was never really that close. Does that linger here? Nevada’s last bowl win WAS the Hawaii bowl 3 years ago.

Who To Watch: For SMU, they would not be here without the efforts of wide out Emmanuel Sanders, who despite having 2 QB’s, still caught 91 balls for 1,200 plus yards. For Nevada, Vai Taua was the leader of the 1,00o yard rushing gang, running for 1,345 yards, and HE MISSED 2 GAMES! He went for at least 95 yards in all of his games this year.

Prediction: The numbers say Nevada, but beware. They lost an early game this season versus Colorado State, so different conference styles might give them trouble. I’m gonna give this one the unlucky 13 points.

Friday! 3 solid bowls for the day after Christmas, including the first non important bowl in what seems like a lifetime for USC.