Swicat's Bowl Games Preview

When looking at the bowl match ups, there of course is the analysis of offense vs defense and vice versa, coaches, etc but over my time of watching bowl games, I have been able to find winning sides by finding favorable match ups that fall into my customized categories.

The categories are:

• The PO'd teams- teams that should be playing in a much better bowl game than they are in and have an edge for it.
• The first timers-  Either first time for a coach or a time that has not been to a bowl in a game for a while so they are pulling out all the stops.
• Really good bowl coaches or really bad one- Some coaches are masters at getting their teams ready while others just don't do that well.
• The coach has left teams- This cuts both ways. Some teams rise up after their coach has accepted another job others teams fold without their leader.
• Homefield Advantage- Bowl teams that have a game on "neutral" field but are really in their backyard.
• The let down teams- Teams that just are not interested in being there.

Looking at the PO'd teams.

Both come the Mountain West

Boise St -14 vs Arizona St. - I am not a big boise st supporter but this team should be in BCS bowl game...no doubt. It is pretty criminal that they are not and they will tatoo ASU all night in this one.

TCU -10.5 vs Louisiana Tech- The Horned frogs had another solid season and beat Boise St, won the Mountain West and end up playing La Tech? They will show no mercy against La Tech and build momentum for their move to the Big 12.

Homefield Advantage:

UL Lafayette +5 vs SDST- this game also fits the first timers. ULL will be fired up up playing in New Orleans and add to that that the HC for SD ST is not a great bowl coach and this looks like a big time money line play on ULL.

Vanderbilt -2.5 vs Cincinnati- Vandy did what they needed to do to get to a bowl and are rewarded with a game in Memphis. Look for a spirited effort from the long suffering Commodores in their home state.

Rutgers -1.5 vs Iowa St- It was not a great year for Rutgers but they will be in their element in NYC. HC Schiano has done pretty well in bowl games and this should be a win for the Scarlet Knights.

Coach has left:

Air Force +3 vs Toledo- The Rockets will be in a bit of fog with their head coach leaving. It is tough enough  getting ready for Air Force under regular circumstances and Toledo without their coach will be in trouble in this one.

First Timers:

Baylor -9 vs Washington- Yes, I know that Baylor was in a bowl last year but they have huge momentum with RG3 winning the Heisman. This is new territory for Baylor and they will take full advantage. Also Washington has struggled this year and does not have the same chemistry that they had last year.

Bowl Coaches:

Iowa +14 vs Oklahoma- Iowa always seems to be ready one way or another for their bowl games. Oklahoma has not been great in their majority of bowl games under Stoops.

Wisconsin +6 vs Oregon- Chip Kelly has made quite a name for himself but he has not gotten over the bowl game win hump. I think 6 is too much for the Ducks to cover and I look for the line to increase so don't be in a big rush to lock in the Badgers who will be a lock.

Michigan -2.5 vs Va Tech- Get on the Brady Hoke bandwagon. Less than a field goal is a gift. The Wolverines will be ready in this one. BIG.

The Let Down Teams:

SMU +4.5 vs Pitt-  SMU has momentum in their favor while Pitt is building for the future and I don't see them bringing all they can to Birmingham.

I will have a side for pretty much each game as they get closer but get the above games on the radar now!