College Bowl Play of the Day: Sun Bowl

A heavyweight matchup in the Sun Bowl this year.

Notre Dame and Miami.  This would've been an Orange Bowl game for the National Championship about 20 or so years ago.  Both teams are looking to end 2010 on a good note, and winning this game should help preseason rankings for 2011.

Miami is favored by 3.

But I like Notre Dame. 

If the Irish line can protect quarterback Tommy Rees he could put up some numbers against the Hurricanes.  Jacory Harris is back starting at the QB position for Miami.  he's been erratic, but so has the rest of the team. 

The special teams could be the deciding factor today.  It's just great to see this rivalry rekindled. 

A couple trends to know: the Fighting Irish are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games as an underdog and Miami is 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games as a favorite.

Can't believe I'm actually saying take Notre Dame and the 3 pts.

Have a great New Year's Eve of Football!

College Bowl Play of the Day: Armed Forces Bowl

Army and SMU

Two programs that have worked their way into a bowl game this year.  June Jones has worked his magic yet again, this time at SMU.  Army is in a bowl game for the first time since 1996 with their triple-option attack.

SMU is playing this game at their home stadium and are favored by 7.  I like SMU in this matchup.

SMU likes to put the ball in the air, and I'm not sure Army can stop them.

Some trends favoring SMU:  the Black Knights are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games in December and SMU is  5-2 ATS in their last 7 non-conference games.

This could be a good game, but I see SMU pulling away at the end to cover.

College Bowl Plays of the Day: Texas and Alamo Bowl

How about taking a pair of Big XII teams today with easy wins.

The Texas Bowl - Baylor

In what is almost a home game for Baylor, they face an Illinois team that is erratic as the winter weather.

Baylor is favored by 1, and they will cover that with ease.  The Bears really have a breakout season in the Big XII, and they keep recruiting well for the future.  They are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite.  This bodes well for today and a cover over Ill.

The Alamo Bowl - Oklahoma St.

The Cowboys have an offense, that is quite offensive.  They have a super trio that includes running back Kendall Hunter, quarterback Brandon Weeden and wide receiver Justin Blackmon.  They pile up yards and score touchdowns. 

Depending on where you look Okie St. is favored by 4.5 or 5.  it doesn't matter, they have moretalent than Arizona and playig in San Antonio should attract a lot of Cowboy fans.

Other key trends: Arizona is 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games on grass, and Oklahoma St. is 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games overall.

Take the Cowboys!

College Bowl Play of the Day: Poinsettia Bowl

Navy vs. San Diego St. in the Poinsettia Bowl tonight in San Diego.

Heavy rains have flooded the field in San Diego, but the game will go on. 

I like Navy.  Their ground attack will be too much for SDSU.  Navy is getting 3.5 and I like them to win the game.

Navy is ranked fifth in the country in rushing at 288.9 yards per game, how will the wet field impact this?  I don't know and don't care, I just like Navy outright.

Bowls Still Have That Giving Spirit

The economy may be hurting, but the 35 college football bowl games, or at least most of them feel generous this time of the year.  Here's what the players get from the various bowls.

I don't see any iPads, but lots of other great items.

New Mexico

Dec. 18, 2 p.m. (ESPN); Albuquerque, N.M.

Gift suite

Oakley Fuel Cell sunglasses; Oakley beanie; New Era cap

Oakley Panel backpack

Pen with box,

Christmas ornament

uDrove Humanitarian

Dec. 18, 5:30 p.m. (ESPN); Boise, Idaho

Sony gift suite

New Era skull cap; waterproof breathable parka, winter gloves, hand warmers

Ogio Fugitive backpack

Big Game souvenir

football

R+L Carriers New Orleans

Dec. 18, 9 p.m. (ESPN); New Orleans

Apple iPod touch

Balfour ring

Beef ‘O’ Brady’s St. Petersburg

Dec. 21, 8 p.m. (ESPN); St. Petersburg, Fla.

Microsoft Xbox 360 4GB

Oakley Fuel Cell sunglasses

Oakley Panel backpack

Mini-helmet

Maaco Bowl Las Vegas

Dec. 22, 8 p.m. (ESPN); Las Vegas

Gift suite

San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia

Dec. 23, 8 p.m. (ESPN); San Diego

Best Buy gift card

Fossil

Hooded sweatshirt; cap

Sheraton Hawaii

Dec. 24, 8 p.m. (ESPN); Honolulu

Kicker EB141 earbuds

Oakley Fuel Cell sunglasses; Pro Athletics custom shorts; commemorative T-shirt, golf shirt, visor

Oakley Surf backpack

Beach towels,

calendar

Little Caesars Pizza

Dec. 26, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN); Detroit

Gift suite

Timely Watch Co.

Leather duffel bag

Commemorative

football

AdvoCare V100 Independence

Dec. 27, 5 p.m. (ESPN2); Shreveport, La.

Gift suite

Timely Watch Co.

New Era hat; souvenir hat

Champs Sports

Dec. 28, 6:30 p.m. (ESPN); Orlando

$420 shopping spree at a local

Best Buy*

Timely Watch Co.

Insight

Dec. 28, 10 p.m. (ESPN); Tempe, Ariz.

Sony gift suite

Tourneau

Cap

Ogio Cooper

backpack

Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman

Dec. 29, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN); Washington, D.C.

Sony Dash; Altec Lansing inMotion portable speaker

Beanie, cap

Duffel bag

Tailgate blanket

Texas

Dec. 29, 6 p.m. (ESPN); Houston

Apple iPod touch

Fossil

T-shirt

Backpack

Belt buckle

Valero Alamo

Dec. 29, 9:15 p.m. (ESPN); San Antonio

Microsoft Xbox 360 with Kinect; $20 Game Stop gift card; Kicker 541 headphones; Apple iPod shuffle

Fossil

Schutt mini-helmet,

team panoramic photo

Bell Helicopter Armed Forces

Dec. 30, noon (ESPN); Dallas

Sony gift suite

Timely Watch Co.

Ogio All Terrain

duffel bag

Commemorative

football

New Era Pinstripe

Dec. 30, 3:20 p.m. (ESPN); Bronx, N.Y.

Would not disclose (1)

Franklin American Mortgage Music City

Dec. 30, 6:40 p.m. (ESPN); Nashville

Skullcandy headphones,

Apple iPod shuffle, iTunes gift card

Fossil

Majestic fleece;

Port & Co. long sleeve T-shirt

Ogio Newt backpack

Bridgepoint Education Holiday

Dec. 30, 10 p.m. (ESPN); San Diego

Best Buy gift card

Fossil

Hooded sweatshirt; cap

Meineke Car Care

Dec. 31, noon (ESPN); Charlotte

Would not disclose (2)

Hyundai Sun

Dec. 31, 2 p.m. (CBS); El Paso, Texas

Gift suite

Timely Watch Co.

Majestic fleece pullover;

Top of the World cap

Ogio Politan

backpack

Helen of Troy hair dryer; souvenir coin

AutoZone Liberty

Dec. 31, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN); Memphis

Apple iPod nano 6th Generation, 8GB

Fossil

Nike training shoes; Nike sport sandals; Nike sunglasses

Nike Air Jordan

backpack

Commemorative

football

Chick-fil-A

Dec. 31, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN); Atlanta

$250 Best Buy gift card

Fossil

Russell Athletic knit cap

Russell Athletic

travel bag

Commemorative football, Chick-fil-A gift card

TicketCity

Jan. 1, noon (ESPNU); Dallas

Gift suite

Timely Watch Co.

Capital One

Jan. 1, 1 p.m. (ESPN); Orlando

$420 shopping spree at a local

Best Buy*

Timely Watch Co.

Outback

Jan. 1, 1 p.m. (ABC); Tampa

$150 Best Buy gift card

Fossil

Cap

Jostens ring;

$25 Outback Steakhouse gift certificate

Gator

Jan. 1, 1:30 p.m. (ESPN2); Jacksonville

Fossil

Oakley sunglasses

Leather duffel bag

Jostens ring;

commemorative football

Rose Bowl Game presented by Vizio

Jan. 1, 5 p.m. (ESPN); Pasadena, Calif.

Gift suite

Fossil

Oakley cap

Oakley Bugeye

backpack

Tostitos Fiesta

Jan. 1, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN); Glendale, Ariz.

Gift suite

Fossil

Cap

Ogio Cooper

backpack

Discover Orange

Jan. 3, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN); Miami

Gift suite

Tourneau

New Era cap

Allstate Sugar

Jan. 4, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN); New Orleans

Sleek Audio custom earphones;

Gift suite

Reactor Meltdown

New Era cap

GoDaddy.com

Jan. 6, 8 p.m. (ESPN); Mobile, Ala.

Nikon S70 touchscreen

camera package

Timely Watch Co.

Leather luggage bag

Commemorative

football

AT&T Cotton

Jan. 7, 8 p.m. (Fox); Arlington, Texas

Would not disclose (3)

BBVA Compass

Jan. 8, noon (ESPN); Birmingham, Ala.

Oakley Blade II

Oakley Fuel Cell sunglasses

Oakley Surf backpack

Big Game

souvenir football

Kraft Fight Hunger

Jan. 9, 9 p.m. (ESPN); San Francisco

Sony noise-canceling headphones

Fossil

Cap

Ogio backpack

$100 Levi’s gift

certificate

Tostitos BCS National Championship Game

Jan. 10, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN); Glendale, Ariz.

Gift suite

Fossil

Cap

Ogio Cooper

backpack