BowlQuestXIII

Yup, hitting the wall of bowl game watching with four games on Monday. Even my wife came into the family room and said "Aren't you sick of these games?"  Yes, yes I am and so are you based on page views. Never the less, four more in the books. Western Kentucky vs. Western Michigan When both teams have Western in their name it's a good sign there is no need for this game. It was a telling sign last year when bad weather cancelled this game in the first quarter. Unfortunately no such luck this go around with plenty of sunshine and a miniscule crowd in Dallas. All you need to know is that the threat of overtime hung over this game until Western Michigan had too many players on the field on the last play, giving the Hilltoppers an extra play to kick the winning field goal.  WKU 23  WMU 20 My pick:  Western Kentucky My bet:  The over at 55.  I was sort of rooting for overtime, sort of.  Game Notes -This was Western Michigan's 10th bo...

I put the bowl in BowlQuest on the biggest day of games.  Penn State vs. Memphis Two games on at the same time so I started with the Cotton Bowl. It took both teams a few series to warm up and then it was a shootout. The most points in the first half and game total. You don't think of Penn State and shootout together but their running game lead by Journey Brown (best name of BowlQuest contender) was unstoppable.  Penn State 53  Memphis 39 My Pick:  Penn State Game Notes Journey Brown had one touchdown run where at least half the Memphis defense tried to drag him down and he threw them around like rag dolls. What Did I Eat:  Small bag of Hen In The Woods Red Vinegar potato chips. Bowl Swag:  It's a secret Notre Dame vs. Iowa State The first time these two teams have played each other. I had no interest in this one, so it was the second quarter and done.  Didn't miss much, Notre Dame took care of business on a wet field in Orl...

Games all day starting at noon with the finale at 10:15pm - too much really. I've railed on previous BowlQuest journeys that a game or two could be played on Christmas Day but ESPN uses that day for the NBA and won't counter program themselves.  Prior to the games I did get out for some exercise, walked a few miles taking in the splendor of my neighborhood. Gotta stay in shape. Radio ratings also were in so I had that to do during the first game. North Carolina vs. Temple This was a dog of a game from the get go. North Carolina's 6-6 record was not indicative of how they played including a couple one score losses and a one point loss to Clemson. The Tar Heels took Temple to the woodshed.  North Carolina 55  Temple 13 My pick:  North Carolina My bet:  North Carolina -5, winner  Game notes North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell was the game MVP, with 294 yards passing, three touchdowns, 53 yards rushing and a TD catch. Give h...

Two games on the day after Christmas, the ACC involved in both.  Miami vs. Louisiana Tech For long time BowlQuest readers, my disdain for Shreveport is well documented. It's just not a great destination for a bowl game.  The city's young mayor appeared in several tourism ads and he seemed enthusiastic and earnest in wanting you to come to visit his city - there is just no reason to go there unless you're involved with the petrochemical industry. The ads mainly featured some local music performers and statues of Leadbelly, Elvis and someone else.  There were also lots of ads for Walk*Ons, a growing chain of higher end sports bars partly owned by Saints quarterback Drew Brees who appears in the ads. The places look nice, unfortunately the closest location is in Louisville or Lexington, too far to drive either way.  Why so much about the ads in the game?  Because it was a massive dud, a candidate for worst bowl game of the season. The AD of Miami had to ...

Back to it's rightful place on Christmas Eve, it's a trip to the islands for the only sporting event of the day. BYU vs. Hawai'i  Prior to the game, we had our Christmas Eve dinner.  I cooked the standing rib roast while watching a bunch of 1960s Christmas specials on Youtube. Youngest son and wife took care of everything else, a fine meal for all.  The first half was non-stop scoring by both teams, 55 points total. Adjustments made in the second half and little scoring until Hawai'i put the game away late, real late. This game took over four hours to play. BYU inexplicably threw incomplete on 3rd and short with two minutes to go, stopping the clock and giving the ball back to the Rainbow Warriors who hit a couple big chunk plays for the final score.  Hawai'i 38  BYU 34 My pick:  Hawai'l, the record improves to 7-4.  My bet:  The over on 65.5, which took until the last score to hit. After 55 first half points, I thought the over wou...

Ah, the Monday before Christmas, with some time off on a working vacation and one bowl game in the middle of the afternoon. It's like these games were created just for gamblers. Central Florida vs. Marshall Bad Boy Mowers is back for another go around as the sponsor of this often sponsored game in Tampa that used to be played in the Rays ball park but is now in the Buccaneers stadium.   With a 2:30pm start, it gave me time to run some usual pre-Christmas errands like going to the liquor store and taking Son No. 2 out to lunch. The Party Source in Newport was hopping and then we had lunch at the Hofbrauhaus.  This is one of the places I love, great beer and food. I've never had a bad time there. But football, right. We were back home in plenty of time for me to catch the first quarter and then take a German food induced nap in the second quarter. Marshall turned the ball over frequently and UCF capitalized. Marshall was the home team and it looked like Jameis Wi...

A really long day of flipping from game to game including checking three NFL games. The pros and bowls don't usually mix together except for the first Saturday of bowl season.  New Mexico Bowl - San Diego State vs. Central Michigan Caught this one through halfway into the second quarter and checked back in occasionally. Disappointing effort by the Chips. Aztecs 48  Chippewas 11 - my pick San Diego State Cure Bowl - Liberty vs. Georgia Southern Flipped here as it started, stayed for the required quarter. At least this game is for a good cause. Liberty 23  Georgia Southern 16 - my pick, Georgia Southern In week one of the season, Liberty head coach Hugh Freeze needed back surgery and coached the team from a hospital bed.  Sometimes sports is stupid.  Boca Raton Bowl - Florida Atlantic vs. Southern Methodist.  I picked this one up for the second quarter. The Mustangs looked disinterested while FAU was playing without head coach Lane K...

What a glorious way to spend a Friday night, with a bowl game from Frisco, Texas and another round of MACtion. If you're a fan of MAC football this weekend is for you.  Utah State vs. Kent State I was home from work in plenty of time to settle in and get ready for what I thought would be a dud of a game. Kent State had to win three straight to become bowl eligible and Utah State has quarterback Jordan Love. Love is a certain NFL draft pick who was cleared to play after getting accused of a marijuana charge in Utah.  It turns out both defenses were playing like they were high. This was a track meet and the two offenses never tired.  39 points were scored in the fourth quarter, 25 by the Golden Flashes. This game was so long I fell asleep before the end.  There were some wacky plays including a 20 yard punt that appeared to be on purpose. Kent State 51  Utah State 41  This was Kent State's first ever bowl win. The Golden Flashes three previous bowl ...

BowlQuest getting a late start this year thanks to the late ending of the regular season, so two games on a Friday to kick things off including this tilt from a mostly empty stadium in the Bahamas. Just a reminder of the rules of BowlQuest, of which there are two. I have to watch one live quarter of every game.  In the event I cannot watch a game, one of my two sons can one watch a live quarter. Now that my sons are 25 and 21, they really don't look forward to this foolishness, although I didn't need them once last year.  Buffalo vs. Charlotte I'm watching this one from work, my last day before taking some time off.  The first quarter was watched with Marty Bender, another programmer in the building.  He at least feigned interest in my journey to watch all the games but checked out after the first quarter.  Not much to see here, Buffalo took an early lead and Charlotte threw in a few second half scores to keep it a little interesting. The finish got a...

The games start today, The Bahamas Bowl and Frisco Bowl, the first two of 39. This is a post from 2012 with apologies to Clement Moore. Friday, December 14, 2012 Twas The Day Before BowlQuest... With inspiration from Clement Moore, my version of the holiday classic.  Enjoy.   Twas the day before Bowl Quest, when all through the house, Some people weren’t happy, namely my spouse. The batteries were fresh, placed in the remote with care, In hopes that the games would be played with great flair.  The snacks were all nestled, fresh in their bowls, With visions of burgers grilling over hot coals. And mama in the kitchen, and me on the couch, Had settled in to watch and listen to her grouch. When there on the screen there arose such a clatter, I jumped up from the sofa to attend to the matter. Away to the remote I flew like a flash, Hearing Lou Holtz with his gums he did mash. And the goon next to Lou with much wind did he blow, Gave the bluster of May-Day...

If, unlike me, you have a life and have no interest in watching 39 bowl games, here are my picks for the Top 10 games. 10.  Cheez-It Bowl, Air Force vs. Washington State, Dec. 27, 10:15pm.  I put this one on here because it was easily one of the most entertaining games last year thanks to how utterly bizarre the game was. There were at least seven turnovers and the final score was 17-10 in overtime.  Any game involving Washington State coach Mike Leach is usually worth your time. 9. Cotton Bowl, Penn State vs. Memphis, Dec. 28th, 12pm.  Your appetizer before the playoff games. I like this match up of schools that may never have played before. Or maybe they have, I'm not looking it up. Penn State fan feels like they should have been in the Rose Bowl, too bad. Mike Norvelle left Memphis to take the head coaching job at Florida State. 8. Camping World Bowl, Notre Dame vs. Iowa State, Dec. 28th, 12pm.  The other appetizer game before the playoffs. Really s...

Welcome back bowl game fans, this is my 13th attempt to watch every college football bowl game of which there are 39. The games start on December 20th and go through the National Championship game which technically is not a bowl game. Getting fancy with the graphics thanks to co-worker Vinny Moses who created the BowlQuestXIII image.  So here's the deal, readership fell off last year, the lowest since I've been using this platform. If I'm doing this thing you better read some of it. And share it on your favorite social media platform. Or call your Uncle Mel and tell him about it so he can read it.  Here's a link to the schedule of games. December 21st and 27th are both looking like the roughest days. My Michigan State Spartans, fresh off another sparkling 6-6 regular season, will play Wake Forest in the Pinstripe Bowl in New York City on 12/27. Here's to a great bowl season!