Byline: B.G. Brooks
ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS
The bowl season is upon us, and any head coach who's not preparing his team for a final game somewhere should share his administration's and fan base's shame.
With college football's bowl landscape now as cluttered as a mall parking lot Dec. 26, most coaches who can't place teams in one of 28 bowls should be feeling a trickle of sweat by now.
Do the math: Division I-A is made up of 117 teams. There are 28 bowls, which creates opportunities for 56 teams. So almost half of Division I-A schools have a decent shot at the postseason. What's more, becoming bowl eligible requires only six victories, even in a 12-game season such as 2003.
Let's be honest: Is there anything in organized sport uglier than a 6-6 bowl team?
Nowadays in December, if you're a coach on the outside looking in, you can only hope your exclusion is because your conference offers only a couple of bowl tie-ins and your school was caught in the numbers crunch.
If that's not the case, better be ready to explain it to the regents.
With a long off-season under way at the bowl-less University of Colorado, one late-season quote from coach Gary Barnett keeps coming back like bad eggnog. Said Barnett after a pair of particularly devastating and costly road losses: ``At some point when the season's over, I'll probably get Baylor and Texas Tech pennants and hit myself in the head with them.''
Think one lick with each will be enough?
With two of the 28 bowls (New Orleans, GMAC) already rinsed and stored, here's our guide to the remaining 26 (all times are MST, all payouts are per team, all opinions are loosely based in fact):
Tangerine Bowl
* When: Monday
* Where: Orlando, Fla. (3:30 p.m., ESPN)
* Payout: $750,000
* Teams: North Carolina State (7-4, ACC) vs. Kansas (6-6, Big 12)
* The lowdown: N.C. State QB Phillip Rivers, the nation's total offense leader, figures to light up KU's bend-and-break defense. But the Wolfpack underachieved this season.
* TV appeal: Don't lose track of the remote.
Fort Worth Bowl
* When: Tuesday
* Where: Fort Worth, Texas (5:30 p.m., ESPN)
* Payout: $750,000
* Teams: Texas Christian (11-1, C-USA) vs. Boise State (12-1, WAC)
* The lowdown: Nice to see Boise State leave its blue turf for a bowl played in somebody else's back yard. This is classic wide-open offense (BSU) vs. nose-busting defense (TCU).
* TV appeal: Stay with it for at least a half.
Las Vegas Bowl
* When: Wednesday
* Where: Las Vegas (5:30 p.m.,
ESPN)
* Payout: $800,000
* Teams: New Mexico (8-4, MWC) vs. Oregon State (7-4, Pac-10)
* The lowdown: Lobos tailback DonTrell Moore ran wild in November. But the Beavers can counter with Vegas homeboy Stephen Jackson.
* TV appeal: Is your Christmas Eve really this boring?
Hawaii Bowl
When: Thursday
* Where: Honolulu (6 p.m., ESPN)
* Payout: $750,000
* Teams: Houston (7-5, C-USA) vs. Hawaii (8-4, WAC)
* The lowdown: This is the bowl system's present to the Rainbows - a home-field game against a Houston defense that couldn't stop Santa's elves.
* TV appeal: Keep the remote, the eggnog and a few unopened presents close by.
Motor City Bowl
* When: Dec. 26
* Where: Detroit (3 p.m., ESPN)
* Payout: $800,000
* Teams: Bowling Green (10-3, MAC) vs. Northwestern (6-6, Big Ten)
* The lowdown: Good first year for Bowling Green coach Gregg Brandon, a former CU assistant. And a very winnable postseason draw in enigmatic Northwestern.
* TV appeal: Only if you know (or knew) Brandon.
Insight.com Bowl
* When: Dec. 26
* Where: Phoenix (6:30 p.m.,
ESPN)
* Payout: $750,000
* Teams: California (7-6, Pac-10) vs. Virginia Tech (8-4, Big East)
* The lowdown: Cal's bright spot was its OT win against Southern California; Tech's was its thrashing of Miami. Good matchup of mediocre teams.
* TV appeal: Only if you're very, very desperate.
Continental Tire Bowl
* When: Dec. 27
* Where: Charlotte, N.C. (9 a.m., ESPN2)
* Payout: $750,000
* Teams: Pittsburgh (8-4, Big East) vs. Virginia (7-5, ACC)
* The lowdown: The best college receiver (Pitt's Larry Fitzgerald) must compensate for one of the worst rushing defenses. And Virginia can move the ball.
* TV appeal: Fitzgerald makes it somewhat watchable.
Alamo Bowl
* When: Dec. 29
* Where: San Antonio (7 p.m.,
ESPN)
* Payout: $1.45 million
* Teams: Michigan State (8-4, Big Ten) vs. Nebraska (9-3, Big 12)
* The lowdown: Can the Fighting Pellinis throttle Spartans QB Jeff Smoker? Is Bo Pellini the right coach for Nebraska? Is Steve Pederson the right athletic director?
* TV appeal: Frank Solich will be watching, and so should you.
Houston Bowl
* When: Dec. 30
* Where: Houston (2:30 p.m.,
ESPN)
* Payout: $1 million
* Teams: Navy (8-4) vs. Texas Tech (7-5, Big 12)
* The lowdown: Tech QB B.J. Symons will strafe Navy for a pair of fives - 500 yards, five TD passes. If the Middies ever get the ball, they might run for a pair of sixes.
* TV appeal: Like Paris Hilton, Tech offers some voyeuristic allure.
Holiday Bowl
* When: Dec. 30
* Where: San Diego (6 p.m.,
ESPN)
* Payout: $2 million
* Teams: Washington State (9-3, Pac-10) vs. Texas (10-2, Big 12)
* The lowdown: Coming off a puzzling Apple Cup loss to Washington, the Cougars should be primed. But as long as he's not facing Oklahoma, Mack Brown feels good.
* TV appeal: Given the day's three choices, the wise tuber takes this one.
Silicon Valley Classic
* When: Dec. 30
* Where: San Jose, Calif. (8:30 p.m., ESPN2)
* Payout: $750,000
* Teams: Fresno State (8-5, WAC) vs. UCLA (6-6, Pacific-10)
* The lowdown: This could be first-
year UCLA coach Karl Dorrell's worst nightmare. ``Low-rent'' Fresno State lives to play ``highbrow'' Pac-10 opponents.
* TV appeal: Keep it on just long enough to say a prayer for Dorrell.
Music City Bowl
When: Dec. 31
Where: Nashville, Tenn. (10 a.m., ESPN)
Payout: $950,000
Teams: Wisconsin (7-5, Big Ten) vs. Auburn (7-5, SEC)
The lowdown: Auburn's Tommy Tuberville endured a hellish November. Maybe he should talk to Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez, who will become AD on April 1.
TV appeal: There's lots if you're an alum. Otherwise, why bother?
Sun Bowl
* When: Dec. 31
* Where: El Paso, Texas (noon, CBS 4)
* Payout: $1.45 million
* Teams: Minnesota (9-3, Big Ten) vs. Oregon (8-4, Pac-10)
* The lowdown: The Golden Gophers fattened up on cupcakes, but QB Asad Abdul-Khaliq can pass (No. 3 nationally). The Ducks whipped Michigan, then dropped four of five.
* TV appeal: Tune in briefly while regrouping for that New Year's Eve bash.
Liberty Bowl
* When: Dec. 31
* Where: Memphis, Tenn. (1:30 p.m., ESPN)
* Payout: $1.35 million
* Teams: Utah (9-2, MWC) vs. Southern Mississippi (9-3, C-USA)
* The lowdown: ``U'' is for Utah and Urban Meyer, who had a marvelous first year. But he and the Utes won't fare so well against the Southern Miss defense.
* TV appeal: What? No Colorado State or Air Force? Too disorienting. Forget it.
Independence Bowl
* When: Dec. 31
* Where: Shreveport, La. (5:30 p.m., ESPN)
* Payout: $1.2 million
* Teams: Missouri (8-4, Big 12) vs. Arkansas (8-4, SEC)
* The lowdown: The Razorbacks get to see Mizzou QB Brad Smith up close and personal, and won't like it - unless the game goes to OT. In that case, take the Hogs.
* TV appeal: Woo, pig, phooey. Is this any way to spend a New Year's Eve?
San Francisco Bowl
* When: Dec. 31
* Where: San Francisco (8:30 p.m., ESPN2)
* Payout: $825,000
* Teams: Colorado State (7-5, MWC) vs. Boston College (7-5, Big East)
* The lowdown: So much depends on the health of CSU QB Bradlee Van Pelt (wrist). The game could evolve into a smash-mouth running fest, which would suit BC.
* TV appeal: Rams fans will be locked in for the duration. Party on, here or somewhere.
Outback Bowl
* When: Jan. 1
* Where: Tampa, Fla. (9 a.m.,
ESPN)
* Payout: $2.65 million
* Teams: Iowa (9-3, Big Ten) vs. Florida (8-4, SEC)
* The lowdown: The Hawkeyes have to contend with the Gators' Chris Leak, the best freshman QB in the country. Leak gives Florida coach Ron Zook some security.
* TV appeal: It's early, it's New Year's Day. C'mon. Give it a look.
Gator Bowl
* When: Jan. 1
* Where: Jacksonville, Fla. (10:30 a.m., KUSA-Channel 9)
* Payout: $1.825 million
* Teams: Maryland (9-3, ACC) vs. West Virginia (8-4, Big East)
* The lowdown: Pity the Terps; they're catching college football's hottest team. After a 22-20 loss at Miami, the Mountaineers won their next seven.
* TV appeal: Many of you won't be lucid by kickoff, so catch the last half.
Capital One Bowl
* When: Jan. 1
* Where: Orlando, Fla. (11 a.m., KMGH-Channel 7)
* Payout: $5.1 million
* Teams: Purdue (9-3, Big Ten) vs. Georgia (10-3, SEC)
* The lowdown: The Boilermakers have been to seven bowls under Joe Tiller, whose wide-open offense will be severely tested by David Pollack and the Bulldogs' ``D''.
* TV appeal: Follow Gator Bowl instructions.
Rose Bowl
* When: Jan. 1
* Where: Pasadena, Calif. (2:30 p.m., KMGH-Channel 7)
* Payout: $14 million-$17 million
* Teams: Southern California (11-
1, Pac-10) vs. Michigan (10-2, Big Ten)
* The lowdown: USC, No. 1 in the hearts and minds of the ``human polls,'' has something to prove to the machine-driven Bowl Championship Series. How well can Michigan play the spoiler?
* TV appeal: Hey, it's the Rose Bowl. How can you not watch?
Orange Bowl
* When: Jan. 1
* Where: Miami (6:30 p.m., KMGH-Channel 7)
* Payout: $14 million-$17 million
* Teams: Florida State (10-2, ACC) vs. Miami (10-2, Big East)
* The lowdown: By next September, this pair will have played three times in 11 months. That's a lot of hatred packed into a relatively short time. Miami also wins the rematch.
* TV appeal: Entertaining way to cap off the traditional tube bowl day.
Cotton Bowl
* When: Jan. 2
* Where: Dallas (Noon, KDVR-
Channel 31)
* Payout: $3 million
* Teams: Mississippi (9-3, SEC) vs. Oklahoma State (9-3, Big 12)
* The lowdown: QBs Eli Manning (Ole Miss) and Josh Fields (OSU) could make this one wild. But the Cowboys have the better tailback (Tatum Bell) and defense.
* TV appeal: Suffering from bowl burnout? Gut it up and watch a quarter.
Peach Bowl
* When: Jan. 2
* Where: Atlanta (2:30 p.m.,
ESPN)
* Payout: $2.1 million
* Teams: Clemson (8-4, ACC) vs. Tennessee (10-2, SEC)
* The lowdown: Clemson coach Tommy Bowden can justify his administration's late and shaky faith in him with a win. Casey Clausen and the Vols won't permit it.
* TV appeal: If it's this one or the Fiesta, take a break and skip this one.
Fiesta Bowl
* When: Jan. 2
* Where: Tempe, Ariz. (6 p.m., KMGH-Channel 7)
* Payout: $14 million-$17 million
* Teams: Kansas State (11-3, Big 12) vs. Ohio State (10-2, Big Ten)
* The lowdown: After running over Oklahoma in Kansas City, Mo., K-
State brings heat to the desert. But Ohio State's No. 1-ranked run defense will be much nastier than OU's.
* TV appeal: Must-see-TV for the Buckeyes haters and the K-State doubters.
Humanitarian Bowl
* When: Jan. 3
* Where: Boise, Idaho (10 a.m.,
ESPN)
* Payout: $750,000
* Teams: Tulsa (8-4, WAC) vs. Georgia Tech (6-6, ACC)
* The lowdown: Tech lost three of its past four, including 41-17 to Duke. Tulsa finished 1-11 last season. That's all you need to know.
* TV appeal: Watch all or part of this and consider yourself unredeemable.
Sugar Bowl
* When: Jan. 4
* Where: New Orleans (6 p.m., KMGH-Channel 7)
* Payout: $14 million-$17 million
* Teams: Oklahoma (12-1, Big 12) vs. Louisiana State (12-1, SEC)
* The lowdown: Have the talent-
laden Sooners recovered from their Big 12 title game debacle? LSU will be primed - especially in a Superdome certain to resemble a Cajun Crock-Pot.
* TV appeal: The seven BCS computers demand that you watch every snap.
CAPTION(S):
Photo
Many people believe Southern California should be in the running for the national title, playing in the Sugar Bowl and not the Rose Bowl. The Trojans will be out to prove the Bowl Championship Series, and its rankings, wrong. RIC FRANCIS / ASSOCIATED PRESS
