Poinsettia Bowl Madness
by John Berkowitz on Dec 23, 2008 2:24 PM PST
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PrintOne of the things you do when you are a Washington Husky football fan these days is watch other teams play in bowl games. I mean who would have guessed that Boise State would have evolved into the top football program in the Pacific Northwest. I mean the chances of that were about as good as Washington not winning a football game in 2008.
One of the most anticipated games of the bowl season is tonight's game between No. 9 Boise State (12-0) and No. 11 TCU (10-2) in the Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego.
This is a game that should have been on the BCS slate of games but the big boys pushed these two Cinderella's onto the stage of the little brother of San Diego's Holiday Bowl. Like the older Holiday the Poinsettia is taking advantage of the BCS greed to gain an instant and bigger place on the national stage.
It's arguably the most anticipated non-BCS matchup of the bowl season, and a coup for a bowl game in just its fourth year of existence. The Broncos are trying to complete their second unbeaten season in the last three years, while a TCU win would help the Horned Frogs' resume as one of the elite non-BCS teams in the country.
Both teams started the season unranked but sport two of the best defenses and offenses in the country. TCU boasts the second-best total and scoring defenses in the country and it's the best in the nation against the run. Boise State is one of the most talented young offenses in the country. It is ranked No. 12 in scoring offense and No. 13 in total offense.
The Horned Frogs played the tougher schedule this season. They lost to two BCS bound Bowl teams Oklahoma and Utah. You can't accuse Boise State of ducking anyone since they upset the Oregon Ducks on the road earlier this season.
This contest shines the spotlight on two of the better coaches in the country. Chris Petersen and Gary Patterson's names were mentioned for about every major job opening this off season and neither were interested. Obviously both of them feel that the big time is where you are currently at.
Both seem content to craft their teams in so called mid major conferences rather than make the jump to the win or else BCS conferences. they both feel they can join the nations elite on an annual basis from there they are at rather than reinventing the wheel and moving on. So far it has been a sound theory for both men.
As far as tonights game goes I am taking TCU in this one. I just feel that the Horned Frogs defense is very capable of shutting down the Bronco offense despite the fact I think Kellen Moore can light it up against almost everyone. TCU isn't everyone and their SEC style defense will prove too much for the Bronco's.
Whatever the outcome expect it to be close and end up being one of the more enjoyable games of the bowl season.
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A great day for me.
BSU losing and Gonzaga getting beat at home by Portland State. NM.
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why don’t the huskies play Gonzaga anymore? That was one of the most exciting games to watch when Morrison scored 43 and the huskies still won.
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I dont think the dawgs have much to gain by playing them
by mynameisdavid on Dec 24, 2008 11:37 AM PST up reply actions
Gonzaga
UW shouldn’t be ducking Gonzaga….it’s gutless.
by John Berkowitz on Dec 24, 2008 11:50 AM PST reply actions
It's All About "Home and Home" Scheduling
Why did Washington drop Gonzaga from the schedule? Many folks think it’s because UDub is “scared” to play the Zags or it has something to do with recruiting efforts. The main reason why Gonzaga is not on the UofW schedule anymore is because Washington wants to play the Zags on a home and home schedule. Translation: Game always scheduled at Bank Of America. We can’t give in to programs from lesser conferences. Let’s face it, although Gonzaga has grown up, they still play in a WCC that is the little brother to the Pac 10. It would be almost as if Ucla dropping Cal State Fullerton because C.S. Fullerton wanted to play the Bruins w/ a home and away scheduling. Or Arizona not scheduling Northern Arizona because the Lumberjacks wanted to play the Cats w/ a home and away scheduling.
This has nothing to do with the in-state rivalry stuff. It has something more to do with ticket sales and revenue. I don’t see Oregon playing U of Portland on a home and away schedule. Why should Washington?
Boise State: Not all that!
Scheduling … scheduling … scheduling. Who the heck do the Broncs play? The Vandies, Wolf pack, Bulldogs, Spartans, Rainbows, Aztecs, and one legit program once a season. This year it was Oregon. Whoooppie!
Granted BSU has a great program. The school is marketing the program as good if not better then Nike U. Donations and funding are flowing and the college football world is turning Boise Blue.
I like Boise State. Fun team to watch, but I unlike some keep it in perspective. Boise State went 12-0 for the season and I for one believe the bowl bid they received was warrented. You’ve got to look at scheduling. I don’t have the numbers in front of me, but I would have to guess their strength of schedule is probably somewhere ranked in the high 70’s or low 80’s.
Not to mention bowl bids are awarded based on the following-
1. potential ticket sales- Ohio State will bring 10 times more fans to Tempe then Boise
2. potential television ratings- Who pays the bills? The advertisers and they want the best television draw they can get.
Honestly, when it comes to all the bowls minus the BCS championship game it all comes down to these two categories. If you don’t believe it then you are living in a vacume.
It was a fun game to watch
and I’ll admit to rooting for TCU if only to see BSU get knocked down a notch. Play a tougher schedule BSU, TCU was more battle tested. IMHO
Jack
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