Utah-Boise St. highlights early bowl action
Bowl season is here.
The pre-Christmas schedule features seven games with three on Saturday to kick it all off.
But definitely circle Dec. 22 on your holiday calendar. That's the night No. 19 Utah and No. 10 Boise State meet in the Las Vegas Bowl (ESPN, 8 p.m.).
It's an intriguing early bowl game featuring two teams that were unbeaten deep into the season.
Boise State was very much in the mix for a BCS at-large bid until a crushing 34-31 overtime loss at Nevada the night after Thanksgiving knocked the Broncos down to a lesser bowl. Still, it's a chance to see one of the top teams in the country. The Broncos are 11-1 and led by quarterback Kellen Moore, who was a Heisman Trophy finalist.
The real question is whether Boise State, certainly disappointed at missing a chance for a BCS bowl, shows up in Las Vegas.
"We are very excited upon our selection to the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas," Boise State coach Chris Petersen said on the Las Vegas Bowl's website. "Our team is looking forward to another great bowl experience and the opportunity of finishing our season against another nationally ranked opponent. Utah has one of the top programs in the country and has proved that again this season. Coach Kyle Whittingham and his staff do a great job in preparing their team and we look forward to the challenge."
Utah was in a similar spot as Boise State this season. The Utes were 8-0 when they hosted TCU at home in one of the biggest games of the season. But Utah was destroyed, 47-7, and saw any hopes of a BCS at-large bid disappear. Utah followed that loss with another bad one, 28-3, at Notre Dame. But the Utes rebounded and finished the season with wins over San Diego State and BYU, both bowl teams.
The Utes (10-2) will be without starting quarterback Jordan Wynn, who is out with a shoulder injury. But his replacement, senior Terrance Cain, is 9-1 in his career as a starter.
Saturday
New Mexico Bowl: BYU vs. UTEP (ESPN, 2 p.m.): Two 6-6 teams looking to finish with a winning record. BYU was 1-4 at one point this season.
Humanitarian Bowl: Northern Illinois vs. Fresno State (ESPN, 5:30 p.m.): Northern Illinois must get over the loss of coach Jerry Kill, who is taking over the Minnesota program, and the MAC championship game loss to Miami (Ohio). Fresno State comes into the game on a high note after beating Illinois in the regular-season finale.
New Orleans Bowl: Ohio vs. Troy (ESPN, 9 p.m.): It's a good chance to see Troy freshman quarterback Corey Robinson, who has thrown for 3,339 yards and 24 touchdowns.
Dec. 21
Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl: Southern Mississippi vs. Louisville (ESPN, 8 p.m.): Charlie Strong has done a superb job in his first season getting Louisville back to a bowl game. Southern Mississippi scores a ton of points (38 per game) and gives up a ton (29 per game).
Dec. 23
Poinsettia Bowl: Navy vs. San Diego State (ESPN, 8 p.m.): San Diego State's four losses were by a combined 15 points, including heartbreakers against No. 12 Missouri (27-24), No. 3 TCU (40-35) and No. 19 Utah (38-34).
Dec. 24
Hawaii Bowl: No. 24 Hawaii vs. Tulsa (ESPN, 8 p.m.): Hawaii's offense is enough reason to tune into this game. The Warriors are first in the nation in passing yards per game (388). Check out these video game numbers: Bryant Moniz, 4,629 passing yards and 36 touchdowns; Alex Green, 1,168 yards and 17 touchdowns; Greg Salas, 106 catches for 1,675 yards and 12 touchdowns; Kealoha Pilares, 88 catches for 1,306 yards and 15 touchdowns.
