This batch of bowl previews features a late-night battle in Tempe, one in our nation's capital, and three in the great state of Texas. And it's one game in Texas that is sure to see some of the biggest fireworks this bowl season.
Arizona and Oklahoma State feature two prolific offenses led by two talented field generals. Every cowboy needs a sidekick, and every gunslinger needs a go-to guy. And these two squads boast two of the nation's best pass catchers.
The Bowl: Insight
The Matchup: Missouri vs. Iowa
The Date: December 28
The Storyline: Iowa limped down the stretch, and then had their top receiver popped for some serious drugs. Can Ferentz circle the wagons?
Offensive Stalwarts
Mizzou: Blaine Gabbert, Michael Egnew, De'Vion Moore, T.J. Moe
Iowa: Adam Robinson, Marcus Coker, Ricky Stanzi, Marvin McNutt, Allen Reisner
A Stat that Matters: This will be a matchup of the nation's 6th and 7th-rated defenses.
Deep Thoughts
Which team wants to be here least? Mizzou comes in at 10-2, with the only losses coming on the road to Nebraska and Texas Tech. Normally this should see a team do better than the Insight Bowl.
Iowa arrives in Arizona in the midst of a free fall, having lost their last three games, including one to a lame duck Gopher squad. Additionally they've lost one of the program's most productive receivers to an ugly drug arrest.
This one looks like a defensive slugfest, one which won't make for good watching.
The Bowl: Military
The Matchup: ECU vs. Maryland
The Date: December 29
The Storyline:
Offensive Stalwarts
ECU: Dominique Davis, Jonathan Williams, Lance Lewis, Dwayne Harris
Maryland: Danny O'Brien, Torrey Smith, Da'Rel Scott
A Stat that Matters: ECU brings its 7th-rated pass offense, but Maryland's QB Danny O'Brien has been on fire of late.
Deep Thoughts
This is an intriguing battle of quarterbacks. Maryland boasts young Danny O'Brien, a freshman lad who's coming off a great campaign, highlighted by 417-4 in the season-ending win over NC State.
ECU's Dominique Davis has found a home in Greenville. He's took control of Ruffin McNeill's offense in year one and posted 45 scores on the season.
One of these portly coaches is just getting started while the other evaded what many thought was a likely firing at season's end. But this won't be McNeill vs. Friedgen, it'll be a battle of two very productive signal callers throwing to some great wide receivers in Smith, Harris and Lewis.
Expect some offensive fireworks in this one.
The Bowl: Texas
The Matchup: Illinois vs. Baylor
The Date: December 29
The Storyline: First one to 50 wins?
Offensive Stalwarts
Illinois: Nathan Scheelhaase, Mikel LeShoure, A.J. Jenkins
Baylor: Robert Griffin, Jay Finley, Kendall Wright
A Stat that Matters: An apparently stout Illini defense couldn't recover from seeing Michigan put 67 on them as they limped home, allowing 38, 27 and 25 down the stretch.
Deep Thoughts
This one pits a great run team that can't pass the ball from Champaign against one of the nation's more-balanced offensive attacks. On defense the Illini do have the much better defense, but this is an aggressive unit that often overpursues and will be made to look silly against RG3.
Look for Griffin and Scheelhaase to make plays with their legs, however it'll be Griffin's ability to wing it deep with underrated accuracy and touch that will leave the Zooker feeling bummed out.
This one has a high watchability factor.
The Bowl: Alamo
The Date: December 29
The Matchup: Oklahoma State vs. Arizona
The Storyline: Get ready for some offense and Mike Stoops yelling a whole lot.
Offensive Stalwarts
Oklahoma State: Brandon Weeden, Justin Blackmon, Kendall Hunter, Josh Cooper
Arizona: Nick Foles, Juron Criner, Keola Antolin, Nic Grigsby
A Stat that Matters: OSU boasts the nation's 2nd-rated passing attack while Zona is the country's 9th-rated unit at throwing it.
Deep Thoughts
It sure seems like the Holiday and the Alamo bowls have the best non-BCS game matchups year in and year out, and this is among the the Alamo's best yet.
A whole bunch of attention will be paid to Pokes' offense heading in, and this is rightfully so. However if the Cowboy defense struggles to get to Nick Foles, then he is going to pick them apart like no quarterback they've seen to date.
Likewise, Justin Blackmon has had an incredible season, but in Juron Criner the Wildcats have their own freak out wide.
If you love wide open offensive football then this one's a 10.
The Bowl: Armed Forces
The Date: December 30
The Matchup: SMU vs. Army
The Storyline: Who wins this battle of contrasting offenses?
Offensive Stalwarts
SMU: Kyle Padron, Zach Line, Aldrick Robinson, Cole Beasley
Army: Jared Hassin, Trent Steelman,
A Stat that Matters: Army presents the nation's 10th-rated rush defense. Before predicting big numbers from the Mustangs you should wonder if they'll have the ball enough.
Deep Thoughts
For as wide open as SMU likes to play it offensively, it's funny that their in Line they have a very Army-esque tailback. His ability to not only keep drives alive with tough runs but break the occasional big one will go a long way towards giving SMU a shot. Army played one team very similar to the Mustangs, and they lost by three to Hawaii. Granted this was a Warrior team that had traveled halfway around the globe to play that one.
Neither team has been too impressive this season, with SMU's most impressive win coming against an improved Wazzu. But in losses to Texas Tech and TCU, two teams that like to come right at you, they weren't exactly blown off the field.
In what will likely be a sloppy game, I'll take the team closer to home. And if my geography is correct, then Dallas is a wee bit closer to Fort Worth than West Point. And while, yes, it's college football, don't be afraid to schedule that root canal for 12:00 on December 30.