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

You can relax now

With Urban Meyer's change of heart today that he'll just take a leave of absence as head man at UF, there are fans at many other places who are much more at ease today than just the Gator Nation.

These are the programs who can breathe a sigh of relief that their coach won't be shopping for a new home in Gainesville.

1. Dan Mullen, Mississippi State. Mullen may have only went 5-7 in his first year in Starkville, but he's Meyer bred, has a great offensive mind and could complete a near seamless transition. The Bulldogs can relax for now that Mullen will be back in 2010.

2. Kyle Whittingham, Utah. This would likely be Meyer's choice to replace him, but AD Jeremy Foley knows this is his call. Still, Whittingham would be a great pick and he's proven he can beat Alabama.

3. Bobby Petrino, Arkansas. This just feels like a horrible fit, but Petrino can flat out coach. He's slimy and no one can trust him (just ask the fans at Louisville). Just imagine what he could do with the talent in Gainesville. It's kind of scary.

4. Bob Stoops, Oklahoma. I don't really think he'd leave Norman for this job, but he'd have to give it some serious consideration. Sooner fans just have to get tired of hearing his name come up so often. The funny thing about this one is some ESPN talking head (I think it was Dr. Lou Holtz) who said they should consider his brother Mike at Arizona. That could possibly be the worst suggestion ever (surprised he didn't suggest Skip Holtz from East Carolina).

5. Jim Harbaugh, Stanford. I still think he's waiting to take over at Michigan after next year, but it would be hard for someone as competitive as Harbaugh to not consider going to Florida. Stanford fans want to remind everyone that Harbaugh just signed an extension, but what does that really mean today? The Gators would love this guy's moxie.

6. Kevin Sumlin, Houston. If this had happened there would have been a lot of surprised Florida fans. But Sumlin is well respected and many think he'll get a big-time job in the next year or two. His offensive mind may be better than Meyer's and Mullen's. Houston knows it can't keep Sumlin forever.

7. Chris Petersen, Boise State. Rumor is Petersen is not looking to upgrade from his gig in Idaho, but could he really turn down a choice job like UF? I think not. If you can win the way he has in Boise imagine what he'd do with the talent you can attract in Florida? However, Boise fans can relax because Petersen loves right where he is.

8. Gary Patterson, TCU. Both the 'Eye and the 'Eer are big Patterson fans, so we think this would have been one of the top three options for Foley. The Horned Frogs have been highly competitive during Patterson's tenure, and they play some of the best defense in the nation. He'd also be a great fit in the SEC.

9. Charlie Strong, Louisville. There's probably no one more pleased to hear Meyer will probably be back for 2010. Strong, who has taken the Louisville job, has remained in Gainesville to coach the defense in the Sugar Bowl. If not for the new job, Strong could have been a legitimate inside candidate. Now Strong doesn't have to consider reneging on Louisville.

10. Bill Stewart, West Virginia. I can dream right? He would give the Gators a chance to see what it would be like to have Bobby Bowden coach at UF. Stewart would also coach the superbly talented Gators to a second- or third-place finish and confuse the fans with random, unintelligible post-game comments.

Can Clemson avoid another disappointment?

It seems to be in Clemson's DNA. Get a big game and flop. Today the Tigers get BCS-buster TCU at home. Don't be fooled into thinking this is a trap-game (sorry for the cliche). If Clemson can't handle the Horned Frogs defense, which has been the standard under Gary Patterson's teams, we may see a little more of this.

Podcast: Episode 28

Back in the studio, Phil and Tom talk about the best non-BCS coaches, including Gary Patterson at TCU and Kyle Whittingham at Utah. We also offer teams facing the biggest question marks in the ACC and Pac-10, as well as dissect the drama that is Greg Paulus. Our quick hitters are some of our best yet. We wonder why Nick Saban was wearing a suit during the Alabama spring game, why Pete Carroll is writing a book and how Jackie Sherrill is getting Mississippi State into trouble again.

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