HelmetNation: It's Bowl Season!

2009 Bowl Preview (Week of Sat. Dec. 19th – Sat. Dec. 26th)
(All helmet images courtesy of the great work done by Charles Arey at The Helmet Project. http://www.nationalchamps.net/Helmet_Project/index.htm)

New Mexico Bowl
Sat. Dec. 19 4:30pm Albuquerque, NM ESPN
Fresno St. Bulldogs (WAC 8-4) vs. Wyoming Cowboys (MWC 6-6)

Hey, I live in Utah, how come we don’t have our own bowl yet? Never mind, it’s too cold here. Fresno St 44 Wyoming 35

MagicJack St. Petersburg Bowl
Sat. Dec. 19 8pm St. Petersburg, FL ESPN
Rutgers Scarlet Knights (Big East 8-4) vs. Central Florida Golden Knights (C-USA 8-4)

I’m gonna be perfectly honest with you, I had no idea this bowl even existed until about 30 seconds ago. Admit it, you didn’t either... Rutgers 21 Central Florida 20

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Sun. Dec. 20 8:30pm New Orleans, LA ESPN
Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders (Sun Belt 9-3) vs. Southern Miss Golden Eagles (C-USA 7-5)

I figured I would get sued for leaving off the sponsor, so even though I doubt anyone is actually reading this, I gave it to you anyway! Southern Miss 17 Middle Tennessee 14

Maaco Las Vegas Bowl
Tues. Dec. 22 8pm Las Vegas, NV ESPN
Oregon St. Beavers (Pac-10 8-4) vs. BYU Cougars (MWC 10-2)

The Beavers are under-rated, the Cougars are over-rated. Oregon St 31 BYU 14

San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl
Wed. Dec. 23 8pm San Diego, CA ESPN
Utah Utes (MWC 9-3) vs. California Golden Bears (Pac-10 8-4)

When these two teams play each other it always ends in a nail-biter. Utah can and should win this, being a much more physical team on defense. They’ll be so thrilled to get out of Utah for some sunshine, however, that they may forget to show up for the game. Don't forget your sunscreen! Utah 35 Cal 32

Sheraton Hawaii Bowl
Thurs. Dec. 24 8pm Honolulu, HI ESPN
Nevada Wolf Pack (WAC 8-4) vs. SMU Mustangs (C-USA 7-5)

In a tight, defensive struggle for the ages: Nevada 62 SMU 49

Little Caesar’s Pizza Bowl
Sat. Dec. 26 1pm Detroit, MI ESPN
Ohio Bobcats (MAC 9-4) vs. Marshall Thundering Herd (C-USA 6-6)

You go Coach Solich! Ohio (and plenty of crushed pepper) 31 Marshall 10

Meineke Car Care Bowl
Sat. Dec. 26 4:30pm Charlotte, NC ESPN
Pitt Panthers (Big East 9-3) vs. North Carolina Tar Heels (ACC 8-4)

Pitt does NOT want to be here, trust me on that one. North Carolina had huge aspirations at the beginning of the year as well. I have no idea who will show up to this one but I’m enamored (read: Man Crush) with Dion Lewis. Pitt by a moustache: 22-20.