2012 Bowl Pick Em' Part I

This year’s bowl season has some very good match-ups.  I know I’ve been off the blog a little while, but let’s see if we can make some sense out of these teams from the MAC and Conference USA that nobody has heard about.  For your reading pleasure, I have split the bowl pick em’ into two reads.  This way you can read about half today and half next week.  Let’s get to picking!


Gildan New Mexico Bowl
Nevada (7-5) vs. Arizona (7-5)
Line: Arizona by 9.5

This is a match-up that poises two great offenses for an “old west” shootout in the desert of New Mexico.  Nevada’s offense has been led by Junior Stefphon Jefferson, who has rushed for 1703 yards and 22 touchdowns this year.  Arizona quarterback, Senior Matt Scott, has something else to say after a exciting year of beating teams like Southern Cal and Oklahoma State.  This game is going to come down to which defense will be able to make the stops.  I think Arizona will make more stops than Nevada in this shootout.

Pick: Arizona 45-31

The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Toledo (9-3) vs. Utah State (10-2)
Line: Utah State by 10

This game features two good teams that were a win or two shy of possibly being BCS busters.  The Toledo Rockets are led by Junior David Fluellen, who threw for 13 TD passes this year.  The Aggies are led by Sophomore sensation Chuckee Keeton, who threw for more than 3000 yards.  Keeton also threw for 27 touchdowns and just 9 picks.  I think the Utah State passing game is just going to be a little too much for the Rockets from Toledo.

Pick: Utah State 38-17

San Diego County Credit Union Poinsetta Bowl
Brigham Young (7-5) vs. San Diego State (9-3)
Line: BYU by 2.5

San Diego State comes into the game on the back of Sophomore Adam Muema.  Muema rushed for 1300+ yards and had 16 touchdowns this season.  If BYU wants to win this game, they will have to key on Muema.  The Cougars come into this game on the back of Cody Hoffman, the Junior WR who has had 7 100+ yard games this season.  I think BYU does what they do best, and that is turn this ball game into a lower scoring game.  They have to stop (or at least control) Adam Muema to do that.

Pick: BYU 20-13

Beef O’ Brady’s Bowl
Central Florida (9-4) vs. Ball State (9-3)
Line: Central Florida by 7.5

This game features two fantastic running backs.  Central Florida’s Senior Running Back Latavius Murray has had a great year rushing the football with over 1000 yards and 14 touchdowns.  Ball State Running Back Jahwan Edwards has been toting the rock well with 1321 yards and 14 touchdowns as well.  This game will come down to who can chew up the clock.

Pick: Central Florida 27-23

R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
East Carolina (8-4) vs. Louisiana-Lafayette (8-4)
Line: Louisiana-Lafayette by 6

I think this game is actually going to be one of the better bowl games we see this year.  East Carolina is going to have grind out yards with Junior Running Back Vintavious Cooper.  Louisiana-Lafayette is going to have to prevent that because in their 4 losses this season, opponents have averaged 244 yards per game on the ground.  The key to beating the Ragin’ Cajuns is pretty simple: run it early, run it often.

Pick: East Carolina 31-26

Maaco Bowl
Washington (7-5) vs. #19 Boise State (10-2)
Line: Boise State by 5

This is another game that focuses on good running backs.  Sophomore Bishop Sankey has been awesome for the Huskies this year.  He’s totaled 1234 yards on the ground and 15 touchdowns.  Senior DJ Harper has emerged in the absence of now Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie sensation, Doug Martin.  Whoever can shut down the run game in this match-up will come out victorious.

Pick: Washington 28-23

Sheraton Hawaii Bowl
Fresno State (9-3) vs. Southern Methodist (6-6)
Line: Fresno State by 12

Fresno State’s Junior Quarterback Derek Carr has had an exceptional year.  He’s thrown for 3742 yards and 36 touchdowns with just 5 interceptions.  His favorite target has been Freshman phenom Davante Adams who has caught 13 of those touchdowns.  Southern Methodist counters with a rushing attack led by Senior Zach Line , who has rushed for more than 1200 yards this season.  The Mustangs can not afford to the turn the ball over.  In 6 losses this season, they are -10 in turnover margin.  This has been a theme in almost all six of their losses.

Pick: Fresno State 41-21

Little Ceasar’s Bowl
Western Kentucky (7-5) vs. Central Michigan (6-6)
Line: Western Kentucky by 5

Junior Running Back Antonio Andrews has been awesome for the Hilltoppers this season.  He’s rushed for 1609 yards and 11 touchdowns.  In his last 2 games, Andrews has run for 200+ yards in both games.  In this match-up, he goes against a team in Central Michigan, who has trouble stopping the run all season.  I smell a big game for Andrews here.

Pick: Western Kentucky 36-20

Military Bowl
#24 San Jose State (10-2) vs. Bowling Green (8-4)
Line: San Jose State by 7

San Jose State’s Junior Quarterback David Fales is having one of the best statistical seasons in the country.  He’s thrown for 3789 yards and 31 touchdowns this season.  Bowling Green has had a great defense this season, but I simply don’t think they have what it takes to completely shut San Jose State down.

Pick: San Jose State 28-24

Belk Bowl
Cincinnati (9-3) vs. Duke (6-6)
Line: Cincinnati by 7

Despite going 3-5 in ACC play, the Blue Devils are quite excited to be where they are.  This is the first time they have been to a bowl game in almost 18 years.  They have been led this year by Senior Quarterback Sean Renfree who has thrown for 2755 yards and 18 touchdowns this season.  They face a harsh task in trying to stop Senior Running Back George Winn, who led the Big East in rushing with over 1200 yards.  Duke will have to stop the run and cause turnovers to beat Cincinnati, even with an interim coach.

Pick: Cincy 38-28

Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl
Baylor (7-5) vs. #17 UCLA (9-4)
Line: OFF

If no other prediction I make is right, let this one be it.  There will be points scored in this game.  The question is: Which defense will make the stops?  I make this prediction based on Baylor Senior Quarterback Nick Florence’s 4100+ yards and 31 touchdowns.  Not enough for you? How about UCLA’s Senior Running Back Johnathan Franklin, who rushed for an even 1700 yards this season with 13 touchdowns.  The UCLA defense will have to get Baylor’s offense off the field a few times in this one.

Pick: UCLA 35-24

AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl
Ohio (8-4) vs. Louisiana-Monroe (8-4)
Line: Louisiana-Monroe by 7

These two 8-4 teams will square off against each other after pulling upsets on major programs at the beginning of their seasons.  Ohio knocked off Penn State, while Monroe knocked off Arkansas.  Both teams have proved themselves worthy this season, and this bowl game should be a fun game to watch.  Both teams have great quarterbacks in Tyler Tettleton and Kolton Browning.  I think the Warhawks of Louisiana-Monroe will decide this game with their passing game.

Pick: Louisiana-Monroe 41-21

Russell Athletic Bowl
Rutgers (9-3) vs. Virginia Tech (6-6)
Line: Virginia Tech by 2.5

The Scarlet Knights bolster the 4th best defense in the country in points against (14.3) against a Virginia Tech team who has not met anybody’s expectations this season.  Junior Quarterback Logan Thomas, who many compared to former Auburn Heisman Trophy Winner Cam Newton, has kept the team afloat.  With that being said, he has also been the cause of many of the Hokies turnovers.  I think Rutgers defense forces some of thos turnovers in this game.

Pick: Rutgers 21-14

So there you have the first half of my bowl pick ‘em.  I will put up the second half next week.  As always if you’re not following me on twitter @griffaldo then make sure you shoot me an email at JCGriffin13@yahoo.com . Thanks for the read, as always!