10 down, 25 to go.....

We've gotten through the first stretch of bowl games, each one providing a great amount of information for fans nationwide. We learned a lot about individual teams, players, coaches, and about college football in general.

First, as a whole, we've learned that the predictable games were, well, predictable. TCU and Boise both won games they should have dominated. Beyond that, the other games were truly pick'em games, and our records so far have exhibited that.

Current Rankings: 

DLav:  8-2

Dots:   7-3

Lost:    6-4

Greg:   5-5

Now let's go game by game and see what we have learned in each:

Temple 37   Wyoming 15

Temple is a force to be reckoned with in college football, and this is not going to change any time soon. The 9-4 Owls scored a TD immediately after Wyoming's first score just before halftime to change any momentum and went on in a rout of the Cowboys. 

Ohio 24   Utah State 23

We learned in this game that the past means nothing.  Ohio was winless in the past five bowl games and came into the game after a disappointing loss in the MAC title game after leading 20-0. Down late in the game, Ohio was the one to come back and get the win on a boot leg that went for a TD with under 15 seconds left. 

LA Lafayette 32   SD State 30

This game shows fans everywhere that one of the most uninteresting games on paper can actually be the most exciting! Both QBs threw for over 400 yards (first time that two QBs threw for over 400 yards in the same bowl game since the 2004 Hawaii Bowl) and 3 TDs each in this game, and the Ragin' Cajuns ended the game with a 50 yard field goal as time expired. . 

Marshall 20   Florida International 10

Two things pop out to remember in this game. First, don't underestimate the MAC. Nobody gave them a shot in this defensive battle, yet the Herd came out and put the clamps down on the Golden Panthers. Second, keep an eye on Marshall junior wide receiver Aaron Dobson. You might remember him earlier in the year for his backhanded, one-handed TD snag. It was play of the week for over a month. He provided some more fireworks in this game with 2 TDs, and each time he plays he reminds me more and more of a former Herd wide receiver: Randy Moss.  Too bold of a comparison? I sure don't think so!

 

TCU 31   Louisiana Tech 24

Never count TCU out. For the third time this year, the Horned Frogs overcame a 4th quarter deficit to end up with the victory. Can they perform the same feats in the Big 12 next year though?. 

Boise State 56   Arizona State 24

This game shows us that the bowl system needs to change. Boise State is ranked #7 in the BCS, but didn't make a BCS game. Even worse, they play in a pre-Christmas bowl game against a 6-6 Pac-12 team. What!?!?!?!? The Mountain West can only offer the Las Vegas MAACO and the Pointsettia Bowl for Boise and TCU? Boise for sure should be playing on New Years Day, but stupid conference affiliation puts them in a meaningless game against a terrible team. At least Houston got a Jan 2 bowl.... h

Southern Miss 24   Nevada 17

Numbers don't mean anything. Think about it, these teams combined to average just about 1000 yards per game during the season. In the bowl game, they combined to just over 600, and well under their points per game average too. Still even without the scoring this was an exciting game, with Southern Miss scoring the winning TD with just under six minutes left. 

Missouri 41   North Carolina 24

We learned a lot about Missouri sophomore James Franklin, a dual threat QB who threw for 132 yards and ran for 142 with 3 total TDs. He leads the Tigers into the SEC next year, so we'll need to see how he does against defenses like South Carolina, LSU, and Alabama next season. 

Purdue 37   Western Michigan 32

Two successful first half onside kicks and forcing seven turnovers is still barely enough for a team to win.  We learned just how good of a team Western Michigan is, or just how opportunistic Purdue's team is. We also learned about Broncos' senior wide receiver Jordan White, who caught 13 passes for 265 yards and a TD. Remember this guy's name come April for the NFL draft, and again come September when the season begins, and yet again in January and beyond some day. This guy is fun to watch!

NC State 31   Louisville 24

In the Belk Bowl we learned about poor clock management down the stretch. Louisville used their first timeout with less than 5 minutes left, with the clock stopped, and with 20 seconds left on the play clock. They then decided to kick it onsides with 4:00 and two timeouts left. After not recovering the kick, they elect NOT to take their timeouts on defense and save them for offense...why? You control your own pace on offense! (#smh)  NC State did no better...instead of pooch punting on 4th and 3 from the 35 yard like, they go for it and get stuffed (the O-Line didn't even move, they didn't expect a snap either). I don't know who these coaches are, but I sure hope they aren't coaches much longer with such boneheaded decision-making.