First Impressions of Bowl Matchups... Really BCS TCU vs. Boise State

by Jeremy Mauss on Dec 6, 2009 8:39 PM PST in Football Comment 17 comments

FIESTA BOWL

TCU vs. Boise State
When: Jan. 4/8 p.m.
TV: Fox
Where: Glendale, Ariz.

Now this is a slap in the face to both schools who deserve a better matchup then to face the same team for the third time in seven years in the post season. TCU fans should be happy to be here since this is their first ever BCS appearance. Bronco fans have a mixed feeling toward this game, but since they are an at-large team they are not as upset as TCU fans.

Still not sure why a Big 10 team was chosen ahead of either team, and when the Fiesta Bowl people say they wanted this matchup for TV ratings and ticket sales they are lying. All BCS games will sell out but if they invited Iowa then the numbers would be big.

This should be a great game, and lets hope the offense shows up this year, unlike in San Diego last year.

Early prediction: TCU wins any where from 6-14 points.

NEW MEXICO BOWL

Wyoming vs. Fresno State
When: Dec. 19/4:30 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Where: Albuquerque, N.M.

Wyoming's first bowl bid since the 2004 Las Vegas Bowl, and the Pokes made one of the more impressive turn arounds in the country. This game will feature a potent offense with Fresno going up against a solid Wyoming defense.

The key could be the Wyoming spread offense that can move the ball,and with the Bulldogs weak defense Wyoming could take advantage in this one.

Early prediction: Fresno by three points

LAS VEGAS BOWL

Oregon State vs. BYU
When: Dec. 22/8 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Where: Las Vegas

BYU's second home is in Vegas as this is their fifth trip to the game and they are awarded by playing a fellow top 20 foe. The Oregon State offense is really fast which could cause problems for the Cougar defense. However, on the flipside the BYU offense should be able to score some points against Oregon State.

Early prediction: BYU by 10 points

POINSETTIA BOWL

California vs. Utah
When: Dec. 23/8 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Where: San Diego

The big story line will be that Utah's old offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig has the same position at Cal as he had at Utah and for a brief few weeks at Kansas State this past summer. Cal is a hit and miss team, just look at this past weeks game for an example as Cal was humiliate by Washington 42-10.

Early prediction: Utah by four points

ARMED FORCES BOWL

Air Force vs.Houston
When: Dec. 31/noon
TV: ESPN
Where: Fort Worth, Texas

Surprised this matchup was formed since this is the third time these teams met when you go back to last years regular season and bowl game. This will be an entertaining game since Houston throws the ball for over 400 a game while Air Force rushes for 273 yards in the nation.

Early prediction: This is a tough one but Houston by 10.

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Some really great matchups

I’d say Utah-Cal is the least exciting to me. Cal just doesn’t impress me very much.

Oregon State was so close to the Rose Bowl. I also have family that goes there. Solid matchup.

I’m a Wyoming a fan so I’m excited that we have the first bowl game of the season. Won’t get lost in the shuffle with all the others bowls later in the month.

AF has the #1 pass defense going up against Houston’s passing attack. Falcons rushing attack faces the #120 run defense. Polar opposite teams – could be fun.

by The Road on Dec 6, 2009 11:25 PM PST reply actions

andy Ludwig

Is a reason to be intrigued he was the former Utah OC

Mountain West Connection

by Jeremy Mauss on Dec 7, 2009 4:46 AM PST via mobile up reply actions

If Best suits up for Cal the game becomes three times more interesting.

by HawkeyedFrog on Dec 7, 2009 11:21 PM PST up reply actions

predictions

TCU by 20 – they beat them last year and TCU is way better this year than last
Fresno by 12- not the best matchup for the cowboys poor rush D
Oregon State by 14 – beavers were that close to going to the rose bowl
Utah by 17 – does best play? if no I stick with this prediction since utah plays well in bowl games and they are playing a really inconsistent team
Falcons by 3 – rematch..I don’t think Air Force played that great last year and they just barely lost..this year expect another close one but in Falcons favor

by utahmanami on Dec 7, 2009 12:27 AM PST reply actions

It will be interesting

to test the at large vs. traditional power viewership assumption.

I am hoping the Fiesta Bowl out viewerships the Orange Bowl in the TV rankings.

BCS Evolution -- Punctuating the Equilibrium - twitter

by utesfan100 on Dec 7, 2009 6:54 AM PST reply actions

I mean, doesn't Dallas alone have more people than the state of Iowa?

BCS Evolution -- Punctuating the Equilibrium - twitter

by utesfan100 on Dec 7, 2009 6:54 AM PST up reply actions

And the state of Idaho, unfortunately.

I haven’t checked the times of the games, but that might make a difference.

by Hooper on Dec 7, 2009 7:03 AM PST up reply actions

Interseting...

Fiesta: Monday Night

12-0 TCU – Dallas/Fort Worth Area: 6.3 M
13-0 Boise State – Idaho: 1.5 M

Orange: Tuesday Night

Iowa – Iowa 3.0 M
Georgia Tech – 5.6 M

Is it Monday night or Tuesdan night football that is popular? I forget these things.

BCS Evolution -- Punctuating the Equilibrium - twitter

by utesfan100 on Dec 7, 2009 9:47 AM PST up reply actions

at least there is no MNF

Mountain West Connection

by Jeremy Mauss on Dec 7, 2009 1:39 PM PST up reply actions

It may, but Iowa’s fanbase is large and has been shown to be incredibly dedicated. Unlike my other teams 5000 student enrollment purple people team.

by HawkeyedFrog on Dec 7, 2009 11:24 PM PST up reply actions

I don't buy the TCU should be happy comment.

TCU has national championship arguments, Boise State does not. TCU got hosed. I hope they take that frustration out on Boise State by at least 30.

Stawp g’tin tuchee-feelie, zzzEmoGoestzzz. I dun’t lyke noin ur Emoshuns!

by Role Player on Dec 7, 2009 9:42 AM PST reply actions

For those who complain of the TCU-Boise State Fiesta Bowl

Under normal circumstances I would also be among those upset, however, this is a legitimate BCS matchup no matter how you slice it. TCU and Boise St. both finished in the top 6 in the final BCS standings, and the matchup is between schools that travel well and is a good fit for the Fiesta Bowl (which may have been hampered in being able to bring in a school like Iowa that can bring in more fans due to the fact the Packers are playing the Cardinals in U. of Phoenix Stadium the day before the Fiesta Bowl as Packer fans may have booked many of the hotel rooms in the Phoenix area to go see that game on Sunday 1/3).

There is a site you can check out that shows how a 32-team playoff can be realistically done at: http://www.toosmarttofail.com/32teamplayoff.html, which shows that in this format, had TCU and Boise State won their first two rounds, they would have actually met in the Rose Bowl in this format, so this is a legit matchup.

by Wallyhorse on Dec 8, 2009 4:06 AM PST reply actions

It is a legit matchup

The complaints are that the BCS will use it as an excuse so who did you beat? They don’t give credit for little schools beating little schools. You get a lot more credit for the upsets Utah had over Alabama and Boise State over Oklahoma because its big school vs. little school. So rather then getting a chance to prove you belong with the big names you have to play another school looking for that chance. This is a legit BCS matchup but the mass media and the BCS will just look at it as Poinsettia Bowl #2

The one and only AzDuck

by Dude52089 on Dec 8, 2009 9:33 AM PST up reply actions

If BYU had not lost to Florida State.....

…..I suspect we would have had TWO Mountain West schools in the BCS, as BYU’s only loss would have then been to TCU, with BYU likely in the top 10. Given BYU is probably the best known of the non-BCS schools (going back to the Jim McMahon-Steve Young days), I suspect they would have been the THIRD “BCS Buster” this year (in fact, on the page that notes the idea for a 32-team playoff, http://www.toosmarttofail.com/32teamplayoff.html it shows BYU only misses out on playing a home game in the first round because Troy, the Sun Belt Conference champion would get a home game for winning their conference, and BYU would be at Troy in the first round in the format used).

by Wallyhorse on Dec 8, 2009 11:34 AM PST up reply actions

TCU-Boise State

Agree on the media Dude:

They don’t realize this is a very legit matchup, and it’s not like the Fiesta Bowl committee couldn’t have taken a three-loss Virgina Tech team (#11 in the BCS standings) over Boise (which would have caused a much bigger outrage).

It worked out for the Fiesta Bowl that TCU and Boise were the best teams for them this time around, and it’s not like they are playing in the Poinsetta Bowl again. It is the big stage, on FOX in Monday night prime time.

by Wallyhorse on Dec 8, 2009 11:26 AM PST reply actions

Wow

I’m surprised you didn’t use this opportunity to plug your website for the third time.

Mountain West Connection ::Above the Rest::
Bolts From The Blue "There’s a gleam men. Let’s go get the gleam! Focus and Finish!!! One play at a time!!! Let's Go!!!"
Representing the San Diego State University Aztecs, home of the 2009 College Cheerleading National Champions in the all women's division.

by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Dec 8, 2009 2:08 PM PST up reply actions