HelmetNation

2009 Bowl Preview (Week of Sat. Jan. 2nd – Thurs. Jan. 7th)
(All helmet images courtesy of the great work done by Charles Arey at The Helmet Project. http://www.nationalchamps.net/Helmet_Project/index.htm)


International (aka the Building Canadian Good Will) Bowl
Sat. Jan. 2 Noon Toronto, CAN ESPN2
Northern Illinois Huskies (MAC 7-5) vs. South Florida Bulls (Big East 7-5)

I’m sure South Florida will be thrilled to go from 80 degree weather to 20 degree highs in a game that’s not even played in this country. Against Northern Illinois. The Bulls are immensely talented but unless they can eliminate the late season collapses which have come to define their program, they may want to just reserve their visas ahead of time every year. Northern Illinois 23 South Florida 20


Papajohn’s.com Bowl
Sat. Jan. 2 2pm Birmingham, AL ESPN
Connecticut Huskies (Big East 7-5) vs. South Carolina Gamecocks (SEC 7-5)

What’s weird is that this isn’t even the Papa John’s Bowl. It’s the Papajohn’s.com bowl. I guess they had to find a way to top Little Caesar’s. South Carolina eats too many of those yummy breadsticks at halftime- Connecticut 27 South Carolina 23


AT&T Cotton Bowl
Sat. Jan. 2 2pm Dallas, TX FOX
Oklahoma St. Cowboys (Big 12 9-3) vs. Ole Miss Rebels (SEC 8-4)

I don’t care for either team, honestly. Too much hype, nothing to back it up. Ole Miss 27 OSU 24


AutoZone Liberty Bowl
Sat. Jan. 2 5:30pm Memphis, TN ESPN
Arkansas Razorbacks (SEC 7-5) vs. East Carolina Pirates (C-USA 9-4)

Again two spotty teams who can get red hot and then ice cold all in the same quarter. Arkansas 31 East Carolina 10


Valero Alamo Bowl
Sat. Jan. 2 9pm San Antonio, TX ESPN
Texas Tech Red Raiders (Big 12 8-4) vs. Michigan St. Spartans (Big 10 6-6)

Talk about your lopsided match-ups. Texas Tech 56 Michigan State 20


Tostitos Fiesta Bowl
Mon. Jan. 4 8pm Glendale, AZ FOX
TCU Horned Frogs (MWC 12-0) vs. Boise St. Broncos (WAC 13-0)

TCU will stop Boise St dead in their tracks, mark my words. Especially since the Broncos lost their best receiver. TCU 55 Boise St. 27


Fedex Orange Bowl
Tues. Jan. 5 8pm Miami, FL FOX
Georgia Tech YellowJackets (ACC 11-2) vs. Iowa Hawkeyes (Big 10 10-2)

I cannot stress this point enough: I loathe the Hawkeyes. Georgia Tech 45 Iowa 16


GMAC Bowl
Wed. Jan. 6 7pm Mobile, AL ESPN
Central Michigan Chippewas (MAC 11-2) vs. Troy Trojans (Sun Belt 9-3)

I hope this guy named Troy knows he’s taking on an entire team- led by a future NFL qb. Chippewas 31-10.


Citi BCS National Championship Game
Thurs. Jan. 7 8pm Pasadena, CA ABC
Alabama Crimson Tide (SEC 13-0) vs. Texas Longhorns (Big 12 13-0)

Alabama earned this one, Texas backed their way in. Bama’s defense will try to replicate what Nebraska’s did and they won’t be intimidated by Mack Brown’s group in the least. In fact, it may be the other way around. I see blitzes coming from Bama all night long...and you know what that means. Alabama 37 Texas 19