Bowl Preview: Tostitos Fiesta Bowl

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl
U. of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Az.
Boise State vs. TCU
Date: Jan. 4
Time: 8 p.m.
TV: FOX
Line: TCU -7

About Boise State (12-0): The Broncos earned a BCS berth in the first game of the season when they beat Oregon. After that they trounced a bunch of horrible WAC teams and .. voila! ... it's the Fiesta Bowl! Boise is decent, though. They can do a bit of everything and their defense is good.

Intangibles:
Beating Oklahoma three years ago with remarkable plays: +2
Having to hear it about it every time they take the freaking field: -3
Inevitable non-stop yammering about non-BCS schools during telecast: -3

About TCU (12-0): The Mountain West's performance in bowl games will give TCU a better image than it probably should have. Their one big non-conference victory? At Clemson. A nice win, but well, it was Clemson. The Horned Frogs are fast on defense and have a nice quarterback. And they're balanced.

Intangibles:
Horned Frogs as opposed to regular frogs: +2
Trying to name three players on TCU roster: -3
Having Jesus on their side: +2

Impact Player: Boise State Kellen Moore has big numbers against crap-ass WAC teams. But Moore can be rattled with pressure and doesn't have a huge arm. Moore needs to be above average for Boise to win.

Bowl slogan: "For the world championship of teams people don't care about!"

Little known fact: I, like many people, were upset about this matchup. It's a dumb idea. The very idea behind non-BCS schools making BCS games is that it gives non team-aligned fans an underdog to root for, a system spoiler, etc. Who do you root for in this game? Who gives a crap? One of these teams finishes undefeated and they get a sombrero and some Tostitos.

Watchability (1-5): 3

The pick: TCU 34, Boise State 31

Bowl Preview: Poinsettia Bowl

San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego
TCU vs. Boise State
Date: Dec. 23
Time: 8 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Line: TCU -3

About TCU: Texas Christian University is located somewhere in Texas (Forth Worth as it turns out) and is filled with Christians. As if Jesus would let anybody else in Texas. They’re nicknamed the Horned Frogs and that’s nice. Gotta have a nickname. There’s not much interesting about TCU. They’re pretty good, but you haven’t heard of any of their players or their coach.


Intangibles:
Strip bars: +6
Near Dallas: -4
Jesus on side: +8
Unless Mohammed is one true and only God: -8


About Boise State: BSU is this year’s whiny, crying non-BCS “but we’re undefeated, waaaah” school. BSU is undefeated, whipping up on schools like Northeastern Wesleyan Southern State and the University of Phoenix EA Sports squad.


Impact Player: Boise State running back Ian Johnson was the guy who asked the cheerleader to marry him after the big win over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl a couple years ago. I was under the impression chicks thought the athletic event proposal was cheesy? Unfortunately, Johnson will not be able to duplicate the feat this year, since he doesn’t play for BYU. Hey-O!


Intangibles:
Blue turf: -2
Potatoes: +5
Soft powder: +3
Not Montana: +2

Bowl slogan: “A bowl game for all!… residents of San Diego County. Get a free checking account with four tickets!”

Little known fact: TCU was founded by a pair of brothers who were Confederate officers after the Civil War. I looked that up. I’m like a historian or something. Or maybe I’m like “The Librarian” with that Carter guy from ER where I fight ancient demons. That’d be awesome. But I’d probably have to leave my apartment.

Watchability 1-5 (1- Ghost Rider, 5-Smokey and the Bandit): 4.5

The Pick: TCU 28, Boise State 24