ITB Bowl Bonanza Kickoff - Poinsettia Bowl Preview
It wouldn't be Bowl Season without a little competition between a few blogs to see who can pick (or guess in some cases) the most correct winning teams. I sent out a mass email to every blogger I could find (and then some) and a few were even kind enough to respond with their picks. I will be represent In The Bleachers in this contest, but I fully expect Charlie, Chris, and Ron to pipe in with their picks in the comment section so we can settle once and for all, who is all knowing at ITB.
As far as the other bloggers go we have John from The Mountain Lair, Jon from Corn Nation who I will call Mr. Cornnation (you will see why in a minute), Heidi also from Corn Nation who I will call Mrs. Cornnation, Brian from College Football Resources, and Husker Mike from Husker Mike's Blasphemy. I hesitate to say that if Mrs. Cornnation wins this competition, we should all quit blogging. I would like to thank them all for taking the time out to fill out the little excel spreadsheet and to mention if anyone else would like to join in this little competition just send an email to inthebleachers AT gmail DOT com and I will send you the entry form. Or you can just leave your picks in the comment section of each Bowl Preview.
Poinsettia Bowl
#25
10-2 (6-2), 2nd Mountain West
vs
7-5 (5-3), 3rd Mid-American - West
The TCU Horned Frogs were thought by many to be the "Boise State" of this year. If any team was going to crash the BCS Party it was going to be the Horned Frogs this year, but after early losses to BYU and Utah, TCU had to settle for a 2nd place finish in the Mountain West. By far their best win of the season was a 12-3 victory over now 24th ranked Texas Tech. That win came right before their two losses. Their QB Jeff Ballard has had a nice season throwing for over 2200 yards and 12 touchdowns. TCU also has two quality RBs in Aaron Brown and Lonta Hobbs.
The Frogs take pride in their tough defense and the Red Raiders found that out by only scoring 3 points, but this time they have to do it against the Nation's top rusher. TCU only averages 67.6 ypg rushing and is only one of 4 teams that haven't had an opposing player rush for over 100 yards against them.
When you mention Northern Illinois you can't get another word out without hearing about Garrett Wolfe. Wolfe was once a Heisman Trophy candidate and he did run for over 170 yards against the Nation's #1 team, but teams started stacking the box against him and his Cinderella run to the Heisman ended. Wolfe has 1900 yards rushing in 12 games and 18 touchdowns to go along with all of those yards. The Huskies are going to have to find a passing game to complement Wolfe or the Frogs will just stack the run all day.
As much as I like Garrett Wolfe and the Huskies, I think that TCU wins this one pretty easy. Wolfe is going to have a tough time finding anywhere to run and that will be too much pressure for NIU QB Phil Horvath to handle. TCU 30-14.
Mountain Lair (0-0) - TCU
Mr. Cornnation (0-0) - TCU
Mrs. Cornnation (0-0) - Northern Illinois
Brian from CFR (0-0) - TCU
Husker Mike (0-0) - TCU
10-2 (6-2), 2nd Mountain West
vs
7-5 (5-3), 3rd Mid-American - West
The TCU Horned Frogs were thought by many to be the "Boise State" of this year. If any team was going to crash the BCS Party it was going to be the Horned Frogs this year, but after early losses to BYU and Utah, TCU had to settle for a 2nd place finish in the Mountain West. By far their best win of the season was a 12-3 victory over now 24th ranked Texas Tech. That win came right before their two losses. Their QB Jeff Ballard has had a nice season throwing for over 2200 yards and 12 touchdowns. TCU also has two quality RBs in Aaron Brown and Lonta Hobbs.
The Frogs take pride in their tough defense and the Red Raiders found that out by only scoring 3 points, but this time they have to do it against the Nation's top rusher. TCU only averages 67.6 ypg rushing and is only one of 4 teams that haven't had an opposing player rush for over 100 yards against them.
When you mention Northern Illinois you can't get another word out without hearing about Garrett Wolfe. Wolfe was once a Heisman Trophy candidate and he did run for over 170 yards against the Nation's #1 team, but teams started stacking the box against him and his Cinderella run to the Heisman ended. Wolfe has 1900 yards rushing in 12 games and 18 touchdowns to go along with all of those yards. The Huskies are going to have to find a passing game to complement Wolfe or the Frogs will just stack the run all day.
As much as I like Garrett Wolfe and the Huskies, I think that TCU wins this one pretty easy. Wolfe is going to have a tough time finding anywhere to run and that will be too much pressure for NIU QB Phil Horvath to handle. TCU 30-14.
Mountain Lair (0-0) - TCU
Mr. Cornnation (0-0) - TCU
Mrs. Cornnation (0-0) - Northern Illinois
Brian from CFR (0-0) - TCU
Husker Mike (0-0) - TCU
