Talking about High Octane recruiting by Todd Graham the new head football coach at ASU. The guys get into college hoops and discuss a new SPORTS FAN RULE. NFL upsets this past week are analyzed and picks are made for NFL and Bowl Games this week. Kip and Kev also go in deep about what to expect in the MAACO VEGAS BOWL with Dennis Erickson Coaching his last game against Boise State.

Throughout the history of the BCS there have always been controversies and it becomes even more apparent in the Bowl Season. With the rankings set the bowls are created and there are a set of rules to determine these bowls. More specifically there are rules to creating what are known as the BCS Bowls. These bowls are The Rose Bowl, The Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, The Allstate Sugar Bowl, The Discover Orange Bowl, and The BCS National Championship. The rules are pretty clear as to who gets bowl invites. The rules state that the Winner of the Pac-12 and Big Ten will earn an automatic berth in The Rose Bowl. This year that happened as the Wisconsin Badgers, Big Ten Champions, and Oregon, Pac-12 Champions, will face off. The two teams ranked #1 and #2 in the BCS rankings at the end of the season will also gain automatic berths into the National Championship game regardless of conference. This has happened as well, although this game has its own controversy, as the #1 LSU Tigers will take on the #2 Alabama Crimson Tide. From then on the other three BCS Bowls are made up of Automatic Qualifying Conference Champions, ACC, Big East, and Big 12 are the remaining conferences, unless something happens. If an At-Large, not in an AQ Conference, team is ranked higher in the BCS Rankings than one of these conference championships they will get a spot in one of the BCS Bowls. This is where it became interesting for this year as the At-Large spots in the BCS Bowls were taken by teams that could have been argued against. The Two At-Large teams this year were the Stanford Cardinal, the Michigan Wolverines, and the Virginia Tech Hokies as all did not win their conferences but earned spots in the BCS Bowls. Stanford is the team that is much harder to argue against as most people want to see Heisman runner-up and potential 1^st overall NFL Draft pick, Andrew Luck, play in the BCS. What was even more interesting is that Michigan, after finishing second in the Big Ten Legends Conference, earned a spot even though there was a team much better than them in the wings. The Wolverines finished the season ranked #13 while the Boise State Broncos were ranked #7 in the final BCS Rankings. This should mean that Boise State gets a berth in the BCS Bowl, specifically the Sugar Bowl. Instead The Sugar Bowl committee decided that they would invite Michigan to face the Virginia Tech Hokies, who also do not belong in the BCS Bowl after losing the ACC Championship to Clemson, who are in the Orange Bowl. Virginia Tech finished the season ranked 11^th, also below the #7 Boise State Broncos. It is pretty obvious to any fan that both teams in the Sugar Bowl should not be there and instead the Boise State Broncos should have taken their place. Yet again the BCS has failed the fans as instead of seeing Kellen Moore go for his 50^th win in a BCS Bowl he was forced to play his last game in the Las Vegas Bowl again. Moore took over the game and dominated in a lack luster bowl that could have been prevented if the Sugar Bowl committee had picked a good team to play in their bowl. As the BCS continues to stick around it seems more and more like the system is not working and it has been mainly thanks to the bowl committees. There is nothing anyone can do now though, as the best course of action will be to just enjoy the bowls that the system has given with plenty more bowls to come.

Last Week:

Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl St. Petersburg:

Marshall Thundering Herd 20 – 10 Florida International Golden Panthers

- Marshall Freshman QB Rakeem Cato made an appearance in his home state and was able to dominate the Golden Panthers with a 226 yard, 2 TD game and led the Thundering Herd to a 10 point 4^th quarter for the win

San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl:

#18 TCU Horned Frogs 31 – 24 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs

- The TCU Horned Frogs were expected to walk over the Bulldogs but that wasn’t the case as Louisiana Tech gave the Horned Frogs a scare as TCU seemed to fall asleep until the fourth quarter where they scored 14 points to win their third Poinsettia Bowl

MAACO Bowl Las Vegas:

#7 Boise State Broncos 56 – 24 Arizona State Sun Devils

- The Broncos wanted to prove that they deserved a BCS Bowl by running over Arizona State from the opening kickoff where they got their first TD and with the win Kellen Moore improved to 50-3 in his NCAA career a record that may never be broken

Sheraton Hawaii Bowl:

#21 Southern Miss Golden Eagles 24 – 17 Nevada Wolf Pack

- Eagles’ QB Austin Davis continued had broken all of Brett Favre’s school records but that didn’t help him as Southern Miss had a shaky start against Nevada but he did put together one final drive in the fourth quarter to win the game

Next Week:

AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl:

Missouri Tigers vs. North Carolina Tarheels (December 26^th; 5:00 pm)

- The Tigers are on their way to the SEC and will be leaning on dual threat QB James Franklin to frustrate the 14^th ranked run defence of the Tarheels and prove they deserve a spot in the new conference while North Carolina will ride freshman sensation Giovani Bernard to spoil the party

Little Caesars Pizza Bowl:

Western Michigan Broncos vs. Purdue Boilermakers (December 27^th; 4:30 pm)

- In a classic matchup of offence vs. defence the Purdue Boilmakers, led by Joe Holland, will look to shut down the MAC’s #1 passing attack led by Alex Carder as Purdue looks to make good on their first bowl appearance since 2007

Belk Bowl:

Louisville Cardinals vs. NC State Wolf Pack (December 27^th; 8:00 pm)

- The Cardinals did not start their season very well but they finished on a hot streak although it might not match the hot streak of the Wolf Pack who finished their season by beating Clemson and Maryland, in the schools biggest comeback, and are hoping to continue the trend

Military Bowl:

Toledo Rockets vs. Air Force Falcons (December 28^th; 4:30 pm)

- Both teams are not overly impressive on offence or defence but both are looking to their return men for sparks as the Rockets will look to Eric Page while the Falcons will look to Jonathan Warzeka in what could be a battle of special teams

Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl:

California Golden Bears vs. #24 Texas Longhorns (December 28^th; 8:00 pm)

- After peaking in the National Championship Texas has started to fall and they will look to make their way back up starting in the Holiday bowl but will need RBs Joe Bergeron and Malcolm Brown to be healthy if they want to keep up with Zach Maynard of the Cal Bears

Champs Sports Bowl:

Florida State Seminoles vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (December 29^th; 5:30 pm)

- A battle of disappointing teams the Noles and the Irish will look to build for next year with the Seminoles looking towards their strong defence led by Brandon Jenkins and the Irish looking to their QB of the future in Andrew Hendrix to build for next year

Valero Alamo Bowl:

Washington Huskies vs. #12 Baylor Bears (December 29^th; 9:00 pm)

- In a treat for all fans the Heisman Trophy Winner Robert Griffin III will take on a Huskies defence that has already seen Andrew Luck and Matt Barkley and will try to stop the explosive Griffin to give their own offence a chance to keep up

Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl:

BYU Cougars vs. Tulsa Hurricane (December 30^th; 12:00 pm)

- The Hurricane will be looking to recover from a terrible performance against Case Keenum by shutting down BYU QB Riley Nelson and giving their own QB, G.J. Kinne, an opportunity to try for his 6^th straight 300+ yard game

New Era Pinstripe Bowl:

Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs. Iowa State Cyclones (December 30^th; 3:20 pm)

- Iowa State will seemingly have a break in this bowl as they will face their first unranked team since November 5^th against Rutgers and will try to win the bowl by their defence led by linebacking duo Jake Knott and A.J. Klein

Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl:

Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (December 30^th; 6:40 pm)

- The Bulldogs will need RB Vick Ballard to perform if they hope to win against the Demon Deacons who themselves are looking to recover from losing 5 of their last 6 games of the season

Insight Bowl:

Iowa Hawkeyes vs. #14 Oklahoma Sooners (December 30^th; 10:00 pm)

- From Preseason #1 to the Insight Bowl the Sooners will be hoping to recover from a disappointing season with a bowl win but will have it tough as a rash of injuries will see the Hawkeyes have the better team on paper

Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas:

Texas A&M Aggies vs. Northwestern Wildcats (December 31^st; 12:00 pm)

- The Aggies will be the more athletic team on the field with Ryan Tannehill (QB), Jeff Fuller (WR), and Ryan Swope (WR) but they have also had trouble finishing off games and that could be an advantage for the Wildcats if they can keep it close

Hyundai Sun Bowl:

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets vs. Utah Utes (December 31^st; 2:00 pm)

- The Yellow Jackets have one of the best Triple Option attacks in the NCAA that is led by QB Tevin Washington but they have trouble against good running defences which is exactly what the Utes have

Autozone Liberty Bowl:

Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Vanderbilt Commodores (December 31^st; 3:30 pm)

- This matchup could be a shootout with QB Jordan Rodgers, brother of Aaron, and RB Zac Stacy leading the Commodores against Munchie Legaux and the Bearcat offence as both offences are very good and could give the defences a headache

Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl:

Illinois Fighting Illini vs. UCLA Bruins (December 31^st; 3:30 pm)

- The Illini and Bruins have both played bad enough to have their coaches fired with Illinois losing their last six and UCLA only getting into the Pac-12 championship game because USC was not eligible, even after a 50-0 beatdown at the hands of the Trojans

Chick-fil-A Bowl:

Virginia Cavaliers vs. Auburn Tigers (December 31^st; 7:30 pm)

- The Cavaliers have not been to a bowl since 2007 while Auburn are the defending National Champions but both teams will be looking to take home the Chick-fil-A Bowl as Auburn will need to worry about the Cavaliers pass defence

Tonight the 'Jays host another B1G opponent in Northwestern at the Century Link Center

First Quarter: NHL

Here is what’s up in the NHL tonight, last night there was a ton of offense in addition did anyone see 24/7 on HBO?

Second Quarter: Maaco Bowl Las Vegas!

Tonight in Las Vegas ESPN will be a career retrospective of the life of Boise State’s Kellen More as he Broncos take on the Arizona State Sun Devils

Third Quarter: Northwestern at #21 Creighton

I’ll catch the end of the bowl game after this must see match-up for anyone in Omaha as the Wildcats come to the Century Link Center to face the nationally ranked Blue Jays.

Fourth Quarter: College Football Coaching Hot Stove

Here is the latest on college football coaching searches around the country

Boise State (-14) vs. Arizona State (66)

Boise State: Boise State missed out on a chance for the National Championship for the second straight year after a missed Field Goal this year, falling to TCU 36-35 at home.  QB Kellen Moore (74.1%-3507-41-7) wasn’t invited to New York City for the Heisman Trophy presentation this year, but was named MWC Offensive Player of the Year and will end his career as the winningest quarterback in college football history.  RB Doug Martin was also named to the All Conference Team compiling 1377 total yards (1148 rush/229 receiving) and 17 touchdowns (15 rush/2 receiving).  DJ Harper contributed an additional 553 yards on the ground and 8 touchdowns.  After losing WRs Austin Pettis and Titus Young to the NFL, Tyler Shoemaker picked up the slack hauling in 59 catches for 959 yards and 15 TDs en route to joining Moore, Martin, and OL Nate Potter (2^nd Team AA) on the MWC 1^st Team. WR Matt Miller contributed 58-647-8 for the Broncos offense that averaged 43.2 points per game, and enjoyed a +122 first down deferential.  The Boise State defense, led by leading tackler LB Byron Hout (65 tackles), allowed only 18.2 points per game and contributed to a +9 turnover ratio.  S George Iloka (57 tackles) was named 3^rd Team All American, and leading sack artists DEs Shea McClellin (6.5 sacks) and Tyrone Crawford (6 sacks) were named MWC 1^st Teamers.  Again, the only glaring weakness of the BSU squad was a kicking game that went 6/9 on the season with a long of only 32 yards.  Boise went undefeated (6-0) on the road (4-2 ATS) and were favored in every game they played (11-1 SU/4-8 ATS).  Against bowl bound competition they fared well straight up (7-1), but struggled against the spread (2-6).  Boise won three straight after the TCU defeat to close out the season, but lost an astounding 6 straight games ATS.

Arizona State: Dennis Erickson is out as head man in Tempe, but will be coaching the team in its bowl game.  A four game slide to end the season led to Erickson’s downfall.  6’8” QB Brock Osweiler burst onto the Pac-12 scene and completed 63.1% of his passes for 3641 yards and a 2:1 TD/INT ratio (24/12).  Osweiler also ran for 128 yards and 3 scores.  A trio of receivers consisting of Gerrell Robinson (64-1156-6), Jamal Miles (60-361-6) and Aaron Pflugrad (40-620-5) are Osweiler’s main targets.  RB Cameron Marshall rushed for 1038 yards and 18 touchdowns.  Arizona State averaged 6.1 yards per play, and 33.9 points per game.  Like its opponent, the Sun Devils were among the nation’s top passing offenses at 310 pass ypg, but did surrender 24 sacks on the season. On defense, LB Vontaze Burfict might be the most intimidating player in college football, but his is also one of the most penalized.  Burfict, who will eventually be playing on Sundays, made 68 tackles (7 TFL) with 5 sacks and 1 interception.  Fellow LB Colin Parker had one less tackle (67), one less tackle for loss (6) and 2.5 sacks.  A-State allowed 26.3 points per game and 6.0 yards per play, especially struggling against the pass allowing 279 pass ypg.  Sparky went 1-4 SU away from Tempe on the season (1-3-1 ATS) and did not manage a SU win as an underdog (0-2 SU/1-1 ATS) in the regular campaign.

Bowl/Misc.: Boise State defeated Utah 26-3 in the 2010 Maaco Bowl Las Vegas.  Favorites have gone 4-6 ATS since 2000.  Totals have favored the UNDER in the last decade (7 Unders/3 Overs) and 3 of the last 4 games have gone UNDER.  Mountain West Conference teams have gone 5-5 ATS in this matchup while Pac-12 schools have gone 4-5 ATS.

Bottom Line: Boise did not achieve its goal of winning the MWC and playing in a BCS bowl game, and may be a disinterested favorite in the Maaco Bowl Las Vegas.  Arizona State had its problems as well, dropping four straight to close out the season and getting Dennis Erickson canned in the process.  It is shocking how bad Boise State played at home this year (0-6 ATS) on the blue turf.  On the other hand, they were 4-2 ATS on the road.  This is a tricky spread (well-played @ToddFuhrman, well played), because double-digit underdogs perform well during bowl season, but Arizona State didn’t play motivated football when Dennis Erickson was under contract, so why would they play motivated football now that he is fired?  This is the last game for Kellen Moore in a Boise uniform, and despite the Broncos disappointment of being left out of the Sugar Bowl, I think Chris Petersen will rally the troops to send off Mr. Moore is a big way.

 -14; OVER 66

YTD – Side:1-4 (starting to get ugly); Total 4-1

Regardless of the enjoyability of these kinds of games, we still watch them because, well, they’re bowl games so they have somewhat of a meaning. To be quite honest, if Utah St played Ohio in early September or if FIU and Marshall played each other on a Tuesday night in October, I wouldn’t be too interested. But the fact that these teams play each other in a meaningful game that is essentially their Super Bowl makes it slightly enjoyable.

However, come Thursday night in Las Vegas, Nevada the added dimension of a bowl game is not needed when getting a fan excited for this bowl game. The Boise State Broncos and the Arizona State Sun Devils will square off in the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas, basically just one of those bowl games that means absolutely nothing when it comes to BCS rankings and national image.

Both teams are likely quite disappointed that they are playing this game to be honest. Had Boise State been able to make an easy field goal at home against TCU, they would’ve finished the season undefeated and would’ve likely earned a bid to the Sugar Bowl or Fiesta Bowl. However, Sam Boyd Stadium on a Thursday night in December is far from a BCS bowl atmosphere.

As for the Sun Devils, this bowl game is more realistic for their preseason expectations, but they could have done much better. Had the Sun Devils not faltered in the last month of the season, they would have run away with the Pac-12 South title over the UCLA Bruins, and would have played the Oregon Ducks in the inaugural Pac-12 Championship Game. Earlier in the season, Arizona State fell to Oregon on the road 41-27. In that game, the Sun Devils showed that they were quite capable of holding on with the Ducks and could very well have given the Ducks a run for their money in the conference championship.

Kellen Moore is must-see TV.

If the Sun Devils had won the Pac-12, they would have earned a berth in the prestigious Rose Bowl against the Wisconsin Badgers. Now playing in the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas, the Sun Devils will likely enter this game with the what-could-have-been mentality, much like the Broncos.

Putting aside the fact that these two teams may not be too happy to be playing Thursday night, this game is must-see television. The reason that this game is something we can’t miss is because of one player, Kellen Moore.

Come 8:00 P.M. eastern time on Thursday, we will get to witness the final game of one of the greatest collegiate quarterbacks in NCAA history. The senior is the winningest quarterback in NCAA history, a stat that many people tend to put aside, mainly because of his level of competition. Playing in the WAC and Mountain West Conference, Moore rarely faced the stiff level of competition that quarterbacks in the SEC or Big 12 face.

However, that reason is a completely absurd excuse to use when saying he is not one of the greatest college quarterbacks of all time. It’s not Moore’s fault that he faces teams such as Nevada, Wyoming, and UNLV on a weekly basis, so you can’t knock the guy for that. And if anyone wants to use his level of competition as a knock on him, just look at his performances in some of his biggest games.

On the opening weekend of college football this year, Moore led the Broncos to a 35-21 victory over the Georgia Bulldogs in a much-hyped matchup that took place in the Georgia Dome. In that game, Moore picked apart the stout Bulldogs defense, completing 28 of 34 passes for 261 yards and three touchdowns.

While that game was a spectacular performance by Moore, his effort against the Virginia Tech Hokies last season was more impressive. In one of the most hyped early season games in recent memory, Moore led the Broncos into FedEx Field, the home of the Washington Redskins, and defeated the Hokies. In that game, Moore completed 23 of 38 passes for 215 yards and three touchdowns. What was even more impressive about that performance was his game-winning drive capped off by a 13-yard touchdown pass to Austin Pettis with 1:09 remaining.

Those two spectacular performances by Moore, complemented by dozens of other eye-opening performances, make him undoubtedly one of the best quarterbacks to play college football. While Moore’s stats are positively skewed because of his low level of competition, his 140 career touchdown passes are simply too impressive to not mention.

When Moore takes the field Thursday night, we will all be presented with the last 60 minutes of Moore’s college career, and possibly the last start of his football career.

Moore has publicly stated that he intends to give the NFL a shot, but he does not have very lofty expectations. In fact, after last season, Moore told reporters that coming back for his senior season was a no-brainer, citing three reasons: he’s a short quarterback (6’1), he’s a white quarterback (Moore is highly immobile outside of the pocket), and he is left-handed (not a typical attribute of an NFL quarterback).

Those factors will likely prevent Moore from being a starting quarterback in the NFL, however, I expect him to be a very good backup because of his intelligence and ability to be a game manager. It’s not completely out of line to think that Moore could be successful in the NFL. Heck, many draft experts claimed that Cam Newton and Tim Tebow were not NFL quarterback material, but their play on the field has shown otherwise.

In reality, most people, including Moore himself, don’t expect that Thursday night’s performances will lead anyone to think that the guy is the next three-time NFL MVP.

However, this is one last chance to see one of the truly great players both on and off the field, so savor every last minute of Moore’s last game in a Boise State Broncos uniform.

The Bowl season is one of the best parts of the NCAA season with a total of 35 bowls to be played. One of the best parts about these 35 bowls is that there are a number of great games between teams that you rarely see on National TV. This was the case in the first bowl week as the three bowls that opened the season featured a number of unranked, yet good, teams. One of these bowls was the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl between the San Diego State Aztecs and the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns. The San Diego State Aztecs have not been ranked in the major college division but have had success in the postseason. They had a long layoff from 1998 until their next bowl game in 2010 where they beat Navy in the Poinsettia Bowl. This year they were back in the postseason again and were trying to make it two bowl wins in a row as they continue to build a good program. The Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns did not have the same success as their opponents recently as they had not been in a bowl game since 1970 when they were members of the Small College Division. Since entering the Division I-A the Ragin’ Cajuns have not been in a bowl game but that changed this week as they entered their first bowl game in 41 years and their first bowl game in the Division I-FBS. They would take on the more experience Aztecs in the New Orleans Bowl that was essentially a home game in the Metrodome. The story leading into the game was that of Ronnie Hillman who was touted as the best running back that nobody had heard about. Hillman had run his way into the third spot in the NCAA D-I books behind Trent Richardson and LaMichael James and was expected to take over the game against Louisiana-Lafayette. From the start it was obvious that the Ragin’ Cajuns had prepared for Hillman (24 rsh, 55 yds, 0 TD) and had done it well not letting him take over. Instead it was Blaine Gautier (24/40, 470 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT) who took over the game and did it for the Cajuns. Louisiana-Lafayette led from the start of the game and never looked back. At halftime the Cajuns led the Aztecs 13-3 but the Aztecs were not there because they gave up on games. The second half saw San Diego State mount a comeback with two TDs in the 3^rd quarter. Late in the fourth quarter the Aztecs took over the lead for the first time, 30-29, thanks to a TD by Ryan Lindley (28/49, 413, yds, 3 TD) to Colin Lockett (6 rec, 85 yds, 3 TD). It came down to Gautier in the last possession of the game and he came through as he led a 44 yard drive that put the Cajuns’ kicker Brett Baer (2/2 FG, 50 lng, 2/4 XP, 8 pts) 55 yards away from winning the game. He got a bit of a break though as SDSU earned a pre-snap penalty that pushed the field goal forward 5 yards to make it a 50 yard attempt. Baer came through in the clutch and kicked the field goal for the win. It was the Ragin’ Cajuns first bowl win ever making the New Orleans Bowl the biggest win in school history. It was big for even more than just the fact that they won a bowl as some Cajuns’ players had the performances of their lives. One of these was Brett Baer who came through in the clutch with the last second kick that marked the longest kick in his career. More than Baer though was the performance of Blaine Gautier who shattered records while leading his team to the win. First was the Bowl record for most passing yards as Gautier threw for 470 yards shattering the former record held by Troy’s Corey Robinson who threw for 387 yards in 2010. The bigger record for him may have been the school record as the bowl performance broke the school record for most yards and TDs in a single season. Gautier’s new records stand at 2,958 yards and 23 TDs that were previously held by Jake Delhomme who had 2,901 yards and 20 TDs in his 1996 season. The game went down to the wire as the underdogs pulled out a win close to home which was a great finish to the first day of the Bowl season.

Before the trilling game in New Orleans four more teams were looking to put their names in the books as bowl winners. The first bowl of the day was the New Mexico Bowl where Temple took on Wyoming in a matchup of two 8 win teams. The game was Temple’s to lose from the start as Bernard Pierce (25 rsh, 100 yds, 2 TD) took over the game quickly. Pierce scored two TDs in the first half against a defence that could not seem to figure out how to stop the Temple running game. The game was essentially over at halftime with Temple leading 28-7 and the lead got worse in the second half as Temple continued to dominate the Wyoming Cowboys. Temple took home the win as they earned their first Bowl victory since 1979. With a blowout in the books the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl followed between the Ohio Bobcats and Utah State Aggies. Both teams had not had much success in the postseason with Ohio winless in the last five bowl games. They changed all that as the Bobcats took the ball down the field at the end of the game. Ohio QB Tyler Tettleton (19/26, 220 yds, 2 TD) ended their five bowl game losing streak almost single-handedly in the 4^th quarter. Down by six, Tettleton led the Bobcat offence on a 61-yard drive down the field. He then ran a QB keeper that was stopped short but they did not give up as they ran another keeper that was successful. With the TD and the extra point the Bobcats took home the win in a thriller. With the first weekend of bowls over the rest of the bowls will take place and we can only hope that the rest of the bowls reflect the great performances in the New Orleans Bowl and the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.

Last Week:

New Mexico Bowl:

Temple Owls 37 – 15 Wyoming Cowboys

- Bernard Pierce took over the game as he ran all over a weak Wyoming run defence as the Temple Owls won their first Bowl game since 1979

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl:

Ohio Bobcats 24 – 23 Utah State Aggies

- Tyler Tettleton led a 61-yard drive in the last quarter for a TD that won the game and ended a five game bowl losing streak for the Bobcats

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl:

Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns 32 – 30 San Diego State Aztecs

- The Ragin’ Cajuns made a big step towards building a good program as they won their first Division I-FBS bowl with a record-breaking performance by Blaine Gautier

Next Week:

Beef “O” Brady’s Bowl St. Petersburg:

Florida International Golden Panthers vs. Marshall Thundering Herd (December 20^th; 8:00 pm)

- FIU is coming off of the best season in school history winning 8 games for the first time but will have their hands full against Marshall DE Vinny Curry who has the second most sacks, with 21.5, in the NCAA

San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl:

#18 TCU Horned Frogs vs. Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (December 21^st; 8:00 pm)

- TCU won every game in their conference but could not manage a BCS Bowl appearance but will take on Louisiana Tech who accepted their invitation before American Thanksgiving

MAACO Bowl Las Vegas:

Arizona State Sun Devils vs. #7 Boise State Broncos (December 22^nd; 8:00 pm)

- The Broncos could not bust the BCS another time as they were ranked #7 but could not get an invite to a BCS Bowl and will take out their frustrations on the Sun Devils who lost their last four games of the season

Sheraton Hawaii Bowl: 

Nevada Wolf Pack vs. #21 Southern Miss Golden Eagles (December 24^th; 8:00 pm)

- The Wolf Pack has the 7^th ranked rushing offence in the league but may have their hands full against the Golden Eagles who shut down the NCAA’s top offence in Houston and were hoping to earn a BCS bid for that win but will travel to Hawaii for Christmas Eve

2009 Las Vegas Bowl champion Boise State will get another shot to win the trophy

In the first week of the bowl season, the best matchup could occur in the desert. Boise State and Arizona State are both teams that expected more out of this season, but they will instead be paired up in the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas, which could be a real treat for football fans.

More: See the other bowl games

Arizona State Sun Devils (6-6, 4-5 Pac-12) vs. No. 7 Boise State Broncos (11-1, 6-1 MWC), Thursday, Dec. 22, 8 p.m. [ESPN]

For the second year in a row, Boise State was a missed field goal away from being in the BCS Title game discussion. That missed field goal came as a delight to many who don’t want to see a Boise State or a TCU in the national title game, but those missed kicks took a lot away from the Broncos.

BSU quarterback Kellen Moore is the winningest player in college football history, but he could have finished his career with three consecutive perfect seasons. Regardless of what you think about Boise State’s standing in the college football world, you have to admit that’s pretty impressive.

But Boise State has a kicker who chokes under pressure, so that discussion is moot.

That may come into play in this game, which is likely to be very close. Arizona State is hoping that kicking trend will continue in Vegas, but the Sun Devils got to this game with some disappointments of their own.

ASU was looking like a possible Pac-12 champion early in the year, beating up on USC and winning the first three games of their conference schedule. But the party ended in Eugene, when they were beaten 41-27 by Oregon on Oct. 15. The Sun Devils would go on to lose the final four games of their regular season — to UCLA, Washington State, Arizona and California.

With four losses in a row to teams that aren’t exactly world-beaters, Arizona State fired head coach Dennis Erickson (but allowed him to stay on and coach the bowl game). They have a 1-4 record away from home, so there are plenty of reasons to believe Boise State is going to win by even more than the 14-point line.

Call me crazy, but I think this will be a close game. Arizona State still has plenty of great athletes, including 6-foot-8 quarterback Brock Osweiler. In a disappointing season, Osweiler averaged 303.4 passing yards per game, ninth-best in the country. If he can notch another game of 300+ yards, the Sun Devils should be able to stay in this game.

But they’re facing an offense that averages 43.3 points per game (No. 7 nationally) and 483.1 total yards per game (No. 10 nationally), and regardless of who their opponents were, that’s impressive.

When ASU is on defense, keep an eye on linebacker Vontaze Burfict, if he plays. In their final game of the regular season, Burfict was benched for a personal foul (he has committed a slew of them this year) and refused to re-enter the game when the coaches un-benched him. Erickson said Burfict will travel with the team, but is not positive he will play.

If he plays, watch him. He’s certifiably insane. But that’s what you want from a linebacker, right?

I expect the Sun Devils to rally around their fired coach for one more game, and I expect Boise State to be a little disappointed to be playing in a bowl game before Christmas despite a top-10 BCS ranking.

My prediction: Boise State 41, Arizona State 38

Past Days: Day 3 | Day 2 | Day 1

Back to home page

Will the Urban Bowl in Jacksonville be as exciting as the 2009 Gator?

Saturday, December 17, 2011 –
Gildan New Mexico Bowl: Temple (8-4, 5-3 MAC) v Wyoming (8-4, 5-2 MWC), ESPN 1 pm
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Ohio (9-4, 6-2 MAC) v Utah State (7-5, 5-2 WAC), ESPN 4:30 pm
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl: San Diego State (8-4, 4-3 MWC) v Louisiana-Lafayette (8-4, 6-2 Sun Belt), ESPN 8 pm

Tuesday, December 20, 2011 –
Beef O’Brady’s Bowl St. Petersburg: Florida International (8-4, 5-3 Sun Belt) v Marshall (6-6, 5-3 CUSA), ESPN 7 pm

Wednesday, December 21, 2011 –
San Diego Country Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl: #18 TCU (10-2, 7-0 MWC) v Louisiana Tech (8-4, 6-1 WAC), ESPN 7 pm

Thursday, December 22, 2011 –
MAACO Bowl Las Vegas: Arizona State (6-6, 4-5 Pac12) v #7 Boise State (11-1, 6-1 MWC), ESPN 7 pm

Saturday, December 24, 2011 –
Sheraton Hawaii Bowl: Nevada (7-5, 5-2 WAC) v #21 Southern Miss (11-2, 6-2 CUSA), ESPN 7 pm

Monday, December 26, 2011 –
AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl: Missouri (7-5, 4-5 BigXII) v North Carolina (7-5, 3-5 ACC), ESPN2 4 pm

Tuesday, December 27, 2011 –
Little Caesars Bowl: Western Michigan (7-5, 5-3 MAC) v Purdue (6-6, 4-4 B1G), ESPN 3:30 pm
BELK Bowl: Louisville (7-5, 5-2 Big East) v North Carolina State (7-5, 4-4 ACC), ESPN 7 pm

Wednesday, December 28, 2011 –
Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman: Toledo (8-4, 7-1 MAC) v Air Force (7-5, 3-4 MWC), ESPN 3:30 pm
Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl: California (7-5, 4-5 Pac12) v #24 Texa$ (7-5, 4-5 BigXII), ESPN 7 pm

Thursday, December 29, 2011 –
Champs Sports Bowl: Florida State (8-4, 5-3 ACC) v Notre Dame (8-4), ESPN 4:30 pm
Valero Alamo Bowl: Washington (7-5, 5-4 Pac12) v #12 Baylor (9-3, 6-3 BigXII), ESPN 8 pm

Friday, December 30, 2011 –
Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl: BYU (9-3) v Tulsa (8-4, 7-1 CUSA), ESPN 11 am
New Era Pinstripe Bowl: Rutgers (8-4, 4-3 Big East) v Iowa State (6-6, 3-6 BigXII), ESPN 2:20 pm
Franklin America Mortgage Music City Bowl: Mississippi State (6-6, 2-6 SEC) v Wake Forest (6-6, 5-3 ACC), ESPN 5:40 pm
Insight Bowl: Iowa (7-5, 4-4 B1G) v #14 Oklahoma (9-3, 6-3 BigXII), ESPN 9 pm

Saturday, December 31, 2011 –
Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas: Texas A&M (6-6, 4-5 BigXII) v Northwestern (6-6, 3-5 B1G), ESPN 11 am
Hyundai Sun Bowl: Georgia Tech (8-4, 5-3 ACC) v Utah (7-5, 4-5 Pac12), CBS 1 pm
Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl: Illinois (6-6, 3-6 B1G) v UCLA (6-7, 5-4 Pac12), ESPN 2:30 pm
Autozone Liberty Bowl: Cincinnati (9-3, 5-3 Big East) v Vanderbilt (6-6, 2-6 SEC), ABC 2:30 pm
Chick-Fil-A Bowl: Virginia (8-4, 5-3 ACC) v #25 Auburn (7-5, 4-4 SEC), ESPN 6:30 pm

Monday, January 2, 2012 –
TicketCity Bowl: #19 Houston (11-1, 8-0 CUSA) v #22 Penn State (9-3, 6-2 B1G), ESPNU 11 am
TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl: Ohio State (6-6, 3-5 B1G) v Florida (6-6, 3-5 SEC), ESPN2 11 am
Outback Bowl: #17 Michigan State (10-3, 7-1 B1G) v #19 Georgia (10-3, 7-1 SEC), ABC Noon
CapitalOne Bowl: #20 Nebraska (9-3, 5-3 B1G) v #9 South Carolina (10-2, 6-2 SEC), ESPN Noon
Rose Bowl Game presented by Vizio: #10 Wisconsin (11-2, 6-2 B1G) v #5 Oregon (11-2, 8-1 Pac12), ESPN 4 pm
Tostitos Fiesta Bowl: #4 Stanford (11-1, 8-1 Pac12) v #3 Oklahoma State (11-1, 8-1 BigXII), ESPN 7:30 pm

Tuesday, January 3, 2012 –
AllState Sugar Bowl: #13 Michigan (10-2, 6-2 B1G) v #11 Virginia Tech (11-2, 7-1 ACC), ESPN 7:30 pm

Wednesday, January 4, 2012 –
Discover Orange Bowl: #23 West Virginia (9-3, 5-2 Big East) v #15 Clemson (10-3, 6-2 ACC), ESPN 7:30 pm

Friday, January 6, 2012 –
AT&T Cotton Bowl: #8 Kansas State (10-2, 7-2 BigXII) v #6 Arkansas (10-2, 6-2), FOX 7 pm

Saturday, January 7, 2012 –
BBVA Compass Bowl: SMU (7-5, 5-3 CUSA) v Pittsburgh (6-6, 4-3 Big East), ESPN Noon

Sunday, January 8, 2012 –
GoDaddy.com Bowl: Arkansas State (10-2, 8-0 Sun Belt) v Northern Illinois (10-3, 7-1), ESPN 8 pm

Monday, January 9, 2012 –
AllState BcS National Championship: #2 Alabama (11-1, 7-1 SEC) v #1 LSU (13-0, 8-0 SEC), ESPN 7:30 pm

http://collegefootballbowlseason.yolasite.com/maaco-las-vegas-bowl.php

The Place: Sam Boyd Stadium, Whitney, Nevada

The Bowl: Maaco Bowl Las Vegas

The Teams: #19 Utah Utes vs. #10 Boise State Broncos

The Result: BSU 26-3

The national anthem in this one was sung by Boyz II Men, but the important thing was that this game was The End of The Road for the number 19 ranked Utah Utes and the number 10 ranked Boise State Broncos (that was puntastic).

Boise State missed a Rose Bowl berth due to two missed kicks from usually reliable Senior Kyle Brotzman against Nevada in week 12. The missed kicks not only cost BSU millions, but would have severely damaged the mental state of the team heading into the Maaco Bowl Las Vegas, and this showed in the mistakes they made early in the game.

On the third play of the game, Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore fumbled when he was sacked by Utah’s Lamar Chapman. On BSU’s next possession, they were stalled by a holding penalty and forced to punt. On their third, they were again in punt formation after going three-and-out, but tried a trick play that resulted in a dropped catch by an open wide Brotzman (this guy can’t catch a break).

On their next possession, BSU looked to be gaining momentum, moving 26 yards on their first 6 plays, before Moore threw an interception that was returned 24 yards by Utah’s Chaz Walker. This time the turnover resulted in points for Utah, who kicked a 44-yard field goal to go up 3-0 at the end of the first.

After fumbling for the second time on their first possession of the second quarter, and being down 3-0, BSU looked to have been seriously jolted by their shocking exit from the BCS race against Nevada.

That was all ended on one play by BSU’s Junior running back Doug Martin. On the first play of their next possession, he took the ball 84 yards for a touchdown, igniting the BSU team to a great win.

Martin said after the game, “It was a start up for our team. A momentum changer.”

And BSU didn’t look back. They went on to score two more touchdowns and two field goals, and shut down the Utah offense to finish the game 26-3. And it wasn’t as close as that.

Broncos’ receiver Austin Pettis caught 12 passes for 147 yards and an 18 yard pass from Moore, who finished 28/38 for 339 yards, 2 touchdowns and the interception. His second score was on a 25-yard pass to Junior Tyler Shoemaker, who had 5 catches for 89 yards and the score. Martin finished with 147 yards rushing off 19 carries and the long score, as well as a 15-yard reception.

A disappointment for Utah and Boise State fans has turned into a good game (hopefully) for the rest of us. The two powerful, redheaded stepchildren of the BCS face off this evening in the (sigh) MAACO Bowl. 

This game, as are most of their games in recent seasons, should be marked by high-powered offenses. The Utes will battle behind Cain, their senior QB. He is quick on his feet, which could cause problems for the Broncos. Unfortunately for Utah, this could cause problems for them, too. Cain is sometimes to too quick to move around. (Fans of USF should know what I am talking about; i.e. Matt Grothe and B.J. Daniels.) Match this with Kellen Moore of Boise State and the experience/poise that he has and this match up starts to slide to one side.

Anyone who watched Moore throw a 79 yard TD and a 54 yarder to the 9 yard line in the OT loss to Nevada knows the kind of ability that Boise State has to score – and to score quickly. That game brings up another question, though: How will place kicker Brotzman handle the pressure after missing two critical field goals? The first missed FG was for the win. The second might have taken Nevada into double OT.

It won’t matter.

Utah’s defensive numbers are padded from games against teams like Colorado State and Wyoming. They didn’t fair so well against even mediocre offenses like Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, and San Diego State. Boise State won’t have any trouble scoring. Their lowest score (33) was against VA Tech, which was VA Tech’s highest score by an opponent until FSU matched it in the ACC championship game.

No matter what problem you may have with either the BCS system or with Boise State’s tears about being on the outside looking in, one would be hard pressed to argue against Boise State deserving to be in a better bowl game. Utah has not been the same as the past.  While they may deserve a better one themselves, they are not in the same league as BSU. Nevada may have proven it’s possible to beat the Broncos, but the numbers are against Utah in this one. Utah’s defense is shaky at best whereas Boise State has a defense that is undeservingly overshadowed by its offense. Look for the Broncos to take their BCS frustrations out on the Utes.

The Broncos were 10-0 and riding a national best 24-game winning streak before a stunning 34-31 overtime loss at Nevada-Reno back on November 26th. The Utes were 8-0 and ranked in the national Top 5 until getting blown out 47-7 at home by TCU on November 6th, then following that up with a 28-3 defeat at Notre Dame the next week. But Utah recovered to close with wins over San Diego State and rival BYU. Both teams also boasted big wins from outside the conference, as Boise State defeated Virginia Tech back in its season opener, and Utah downed Pittsburgh in its opener.

While the coaching staffs have kept things classy since arriving in town, there have been some pre-game dustups. The teams got into a minor scuffle during Sunday’s welcome reception, then Utah receive Devonte Christopher posted a Twitter message referring to the Broncos as “Girlse State” and “a bunch of cheerleaders.” Boise State is a 16-point favorite at the Las Vegas Hilton, with the total at 57 1/2. With steady rain for the past few days, the quality of the grass field at Sam Boyd Stadium may also be a factor.

100.5 FM KXNT is your exclusive radio home of the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas, starting at 3 with a special edition of the Over and Under Show with Corey, Chad and Lee leading up to kickoff at 5. The Alan Stock News Show and all regular KXNT programming can still be heard on AM 840.

Boise State:  Boise State came within a 26 yard FG from bursting the BCS bubble, but there’s no need to rehash Kyle Brotzman’s troubles on that fateful night in Reno.  Needless to say, the Bronco offense is a Who’s Who of WAC 1^st Teamers. QB Kellen Moore (71.0%-3506-33-5) was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. Doug Martin ran for 1142 yards and 11 TDs, and Jeremy Avery matched those 11 TDs on 440 yards rushing.  WRs Titus Young (65-1151-9) and Austin Pettis (59-804-9) are among the best wide receiver duos in the nation, and helped the Broncos to the 6^th most prolific passing game in the nation (10.0 yards per completion ranks 2^nd behind Auburn). The Bronco offense averaged 46.7 points per game, 2^nd behind Oregon, and were tied for 2^nd nationally with Auburn in yards per play at 7.5.   Defensively, the Broncs were equally as stingy against the run (T-6^th nationally at 103.5 ypg) as the pass (3^rd nationally at 155.7) and led the nation in allowing a mere 4.0 yards per play. Jeron Johnson is the team leader in tackles with 72.  As a unit, the BSU defense recorded 45 sacks, 14 interceptions, and 10 fumble recoveries (+9 turnover ratio) and only surrendered 13.6 points per game and 4.0 yards per play.  Boise State enjoyed a winning ATS record in all areas we measure: 3-2 in the last five games, 4-1 vs. bowl teams, 4-1 away and 7-4 as a favorite (all double-digit spreads).

Utah: The Utes are Pac-12 bound after this game, but it still have some work to do in its last game as a member of the Mountain West Conference. Most notably, QB Jordan Wynn (62.2%-2334-17-10) will miss the game with a shoulder injury, meaning backup Terrence Cain will be thrust into duty. Cain is 9-1 as a starter at Utah, and in limited action this year he compiled a 70.8% completion percentage and threw for 610 yards, 6 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. The Utes spread the ball evenly between RBs Eddie Wise (143-706-11) and Matt Asiata (150-680-8) and both backs are heavily featured in the passing game, again, very evenly (Wise: 31-250-2; Asiata: 31-185-1). Jereme Brooks  (50-628-4) and DeVonte Christopher (39-660-6) are the leading pass catchers on the squad.  On the year, Utah averaged 35.6 ppg and 6.3 yards per play. The Utah defense is stout against the run allowing only 104.2 rush ypg (#8 in the nation). DE Christian Cox is a former walk-on and 1^st Team All Mountain West Conference who registered 4 sacks on the year.  LBs Chaz Walker (66 tackles, 7 TFL) and Matt Martinez (59 tackles, 5.5 TFL) are the leading tacklers on the roster, and CB Lamar Chapman is the big play man in the secondary registering 9.5 TFLs including 5.5 sacks. Utah finished the year on a rough slide winning 3 of 5, but going only 1-4 ATS. The Utes played well on the road (5-1), but lost their only game as an underdog, a 47-7 shellacking at the hands of TCU.

Bowl/Misc.: Favorites are 3-6 ATS in the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas, the UNDER has a 6-3 record in the last nine games. The Mountain West Conference is 5-4 ATS, and this will be the first time since 2004 that BYU will not represent the MWC in this Bowl.

Bottom Line: The bottom line can be summed up in one word: motivation. Needless to say both Boise State and Utah had their sights on a BCS Bowl game, so bowling in Las Vegas is a bit of a letdown. If you think Boise State will play like it still has something to prove and Utah will check out with their starting quarterback on the sidelines, then by all means lay the points. If you think Boise will have a national championship hangover (and maybe a physical hangover after cruising the Strip) and that Kyle Wittingham will have his Utes jacked up to play a “name” program and continue their bowl winning streak, currently at nine games, then take the Utes and as many points as you can get. However, all things being “equal,” Boise beats the Utes on a neutral field like TCU beat them in Salt Lake City.

 Pick:

-17; UNDER 60 (note: I got this number two days ago, it is now at 58).

YTD – Side: 2-2; Total 1-2-1

Unlike the other bowl so far where a bad offense goes against a bad defense while on the other side of the ball a good offense goes against a good defense this one pits two good offenses against good defenses.

Boise St is averaging the second most points in the nation only behind Oregon, and rank 4th in total yards with just over 500 yards.  In recent years Boise St. hasn’t fared well in small bowl games.  In being a bowl game for the ninth straight year they are 4 – 4 in that time and two of the wins coming in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl(’07, ’10).

Utah has an offense of its own putting up over 400 yards a game the only down side that I see in this game is the Utes defense giving up over 200 yards passing which is the strong suit of the Broncos.  The Utes in recent bowl games have fared pretty well going for their 10th straight win including two BCS bowls(’05 Fiesta, ’09 Sugar) and this is their 8th straight year they will end in a bowl game.

A little history about the Bowl game itself.  It became a bowl in 1992 after the organizers moved it from Fresno, CA where it was called the California Raisin Bowl.  Up until last year it was known as the (enter sponsor) Las Vegas Bowl. This is Boise’s first trip to this bowl while Utah is making its third trip winning it in ’99 and ’01.

Prediction: Boise 42  Utah 34            Boise St. 26   Utah 3    Record 4 – 1

The Boise State Broncos and Utah Utes arrive in town this weekend for the MAACO Las Vegas Bowl. There are several special events and activities taking place leading up to the game on Wednesday evening at Sam Boyd Stadium. On Sunday, players will attend a special welcome reception at the Hard Rock Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip, then take in the Cirque du Soleil “Mystere” show at the Treasure Island. On Monday, players from both teams will greet young people at the Sunrise Children’s Hospital and the Summerlin Hospital Children’s Medical Center. Monday night is the Outback Beef Bowl, with the teams enjoying a feast under the Fremont Street Experience. On Tuesday night, the teams will again gather on Fremont Street for pep rallies. In between all of that, the teams will mix in some practices at Sam Boyd Stadium. 

For the sixth consecutive year, the game is a sellout, although fans may be able to get tickets from each team’s allotment by checking the Boise State and Utah athletic websites. This year’s game represents one of the biggest matchups in the 19-year history of the Las Vegas Bowl, with Boise State at 11-1 ranked #10 in the nation, and Utah at 10-2 ranked #20. Boise State is a 17-point favorite at the Las Vegas Hilton. The MAACO Las Vegas Bowl kicks off at 5 p.m. Wednesday. You can hear the game live on 100.5 FM KXNT, starting with a special edition of the Over and Under Show at 3 p.m.

The Boise State Broncos and Utah Utes arrive in town this weekend for the MAACO Las Vegas Bowl. There are several special events and activities taking place leading up to the game on Wednesday evening at Sam Boyd Stadium. On Sunday, players will attend a special welcome reception at the Hard Rock Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip, then take in the Cirque du Soleil “Mystere” show at the Treasure Island. On Monday, players from both teams will greet young people at the Sunrise Children’s Hospital and the Summerlin Hospital Children’s Medical Center. Monday night is the Outback Beef Bowl, with the teams enjoying a feast under the Fremont Street Experience. On Tuesday night, the teams will again gather on Fremont Street for pep rallies. In between all of that, the teams will mix in some practices at Sam Boyd Stadium. 

For the sixth consecutive year, the game is a sellout, although fans may be able to get tickets from each team’s allotment by checking the Boise State and Utah athletic websites. This year’s game represents one of the biggest matchups in the 19-year history of the Las Vegas Bowl, with Boise State at 11-1 ranked #10 in the nation, and Utah at 10-2 ranked #20. Boise State is a 17-point favorite at the Las Vegas Hilton. The MAACO Las Vegas Bowl kicks off at 5 p.m. Wednesday. You can hear the game live on 100.5 FM KXNT, starting with a special edition of the Over and Under Show at 3 p.m.

For 2011, Nike’s Pro Combat uniforms have been tweaked with a redesigned base layer with strategically placed seams, pads and cooling zones to minimize distraction, while optimizing protection. Deflex padding provides two-way breathability and sweat resistance. Four-way stretch woven twill gives a moisture-shedding element to the jerseys. Flywire in the collar not only eliminates fabric, but enhances the stability of the jersey itself. Last, but not least, the base layer features customizable protection. A strong, thin carbon fiber plate comes in multiple sizes and placed where needed in the padding zones.

Boise State will introduce their new uniforms against Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl on December 22. Florida heads to Tampa to take on Penn State in the Outback Bowl on January 1. Texas Christian University will debut the Alpha Talon Cleat and an updated version of their current Pro Combat uniform against Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl on January 1. Finally, the Oregon Ducks will wear their new digs in the BCS National Championship in Glendale on January 10.

Their dreams of an undefeated season and BCS bowl game dashed, the 11-1 Boise State Broncos have accepted an invitation to meet Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl.  The Broncos, ranked 10th in the AP poll and 11th in the final BCS standings, were invited as an at-large selection after the Pac-10 failed to qualify an eligible team for the game.  With the Utes (10-2) ranked 20th, this will mark the second consecutive year that the Las Vegas Bowl will match ranked teams, although the Broncos are the highest-rated team to appear in the 18-year-old game.  Boise State is also the first Western Athletic Conference team to play in the Las Vegas Bowl since Fresno State in 1999, and this is Boise State’s first game in Las Vegas since the Broncos met UNLV in 1976.

The Las Vegas Bowl has sold out for five consecutive years and the addition of the high-powered Broncos will provide a boon to ticket sales this year.  Boise State was 10-0, ranked third in the BCS standings and riding a nation-best 24-game winning streak before falling at Nevada-Reno 34-31 in overtime back on November 26th.  The Broncos also feature a likely Heisman Trophy finalist in quarterback Kellen Moore.  The Utes were also undefeated and ranked in the top five until early November, when they were blown out in consecutive weeks by eventual Mountain West champ TCU and Notre Dame.  However, Utah rallied to win its final two games against San Diego State and in-state rival BYU.  The Broncos and Utes haven’t met since 2006, with Boise State leading the all-time series 4-2.  This will also mark the final game for each school in its current conference, as the Utes are leaving the Mountain West for the Pac-10 next year and Boise State is departing the WAC to join the Mountain West.

The 2010 Maaco Las Vegas Bowl will be played at Sam Boyd Stadium on December 22nd at 5 p.m.  Tickets are on sale now at the Thomas & Mack Center box office, at unlvtickets.com or by calling 1-866-388-FANS.  The game will be televised live on ESPN television and on 100.5 FM Newsradio KXNT.

Their dreams of an undefeated season and BCS bowl game dashed, the 11-1 Boise State Broncos have accepted an invitation to meet Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl.  The Broncos, ranked 10th in the AP poll and 11th in the final BCS standings, were invited as an at-large selection after the Pac-10 failed to qualify an eligible team for the game.  With the Utes (10-2) ranked 20th, this will mark the second consecutive year that the Las Vegas Bowl will match ranked teams, although the Broncos are the highest-rated team to appear in the 18-year-old game.  Boise State is also the first Western Athletic Conference team to play in the Las Vegas Bowl since Fresno State in 1999, and this is Boise State’s first game in Las Vegas since the Broncos met UNLV in 1976.

The Las Vegas Bowl has sold out for five consecutive years and the addition of the high-powered Broncos will provide a boon to ticket sales this year.  Boise State was 10-0, ranked third in the BCS standings and riding a nation-best 24-game winning streak before falling at Nevada-Reno 34-31 in overtime back on November 26th.  The Broncos also feature a likely Heisman Trophy finalist in quarterback Kellen Moore.  The Utes were also undefeated and ranked in the top five until early November, when they were blown out in consecutive weeks by eventual Mountain West champ TCU and Notre Dame.  However, Utah rallied to win its final two games against San Diego State and in-state rival BYU.  The Broncos and Utes haven’t met since 2006, with Boise State leading the all-time series 4-2.  This will also mark the final game for each school in its current conference, as the Utes are leaving the Mountain West for the Pac-10 next year and Boise State is departing the WAC to join the Mountain West.

The 2010 Maaco Las Vegas Bowl will be played at Sam Boyd Stadium on December 22nd at 5 p.m.  Tickets are on sale now at the Thomas & Mack Center box office, at unlvtickets.com or by calling 1-866-388-FANS.  The game will be televised live on ESPN television and on 100.5 FM Newsradio KXNT.