With UTSA ineligible for a while, we have nothing to take from these games than what we did before we had a team. So what is a Runner to do? Well, we are going for WAC teams (future not current-but-leaving) and Texas teams. Why? Well those are the rules buddy.
If you are unfamiliar with how this all works, don't worry. We'll break down each and every bowl so you know what the hell is going on in this world. Capice?
Gildan New Mexico
Albuquerque, N.M.
University Stadium
Dec. 17 2 p.m. ESPN
What?
The New Mexico Bowl is fairly new. It began in 2006 and is the only annually nationally televised event in the state. Gildan makes outdoor wear and is in the first year of sponsorship.. This game began by featuring MWC and WAC teams and has moved on to include Pac-12 teams. This year, they have put Temple in there for some reason.
Famous Players
James Jones, currently of the Packers formerly of San Jose State.
Interesting Tidbit
This bowl has already had some high scoring games. Highest point total belongs to BYU last year. They put up 52 on UTEP. Also, here are their logos over the years:
Teams
Temple is interesting under Steve Addazio, former Florida co-head coach and coordinator. He leads a scrappy bunch that beat up on crappy teams. That's okay, though because for a long time Temple couldn't even do that. It is good to see Bill Cosby's alma mater good again. Wyoming may not be interesting at all but all their four losses are nothing to be ashamed of. Nebraska is more talented, Utah State is surprising good and TCU and Boise State had BCS aspirations all season.
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Ohio (9-4, 6-2 MAC) vs. Utah State (7-5, 5-2 WAC)
Boise, Idaho
Bronco Stadium
Dec. 17 5:30 p.m. ESPN
You may remember this thing as the Humanitarian Bowl, or the Crucial.com Humanitarian Bowl, or the MPC Computers Bowl, or ht U Drove Humanitarian Bowl. This is the one on the blue turf in Boise. Interestingly, you have to provide your own sponsor, stay at a hotel for a minimum amount of time and purchase your own seats if you get invited. 2001 UCLA decided that that was stupid and declined the invite. Boise State has the most appearances (four, going 3-1).
Famous Players
There are a few on the list but I'll go with former Cowboy Woody Dantzler.
Interesting Tidbit
The ACC has the most appearances and most wins (5-2).
Teams
Ohio bested the MAC East with and dropped a heartbreaker to Northern Illinois. They were up 20 at halftime and lost 23-20. Utah State is WAC brethren and had the craziest 2-5 start ever. They lost to Auburn in a game they had one multiple times, lost in OT to Colorado State (where they tried to go for the win in a ballsy move) by one, lost to BYU the following week by a field goal, then to Fresno State by ten and La Tech by one touchdown. They then ripped off five wins by equally razor-thin margins (an average of 3.8 points including an OT win). I'm sure this will be a close, exciting game. Go Aggies.
R+L Carriers New Orleans
San Diego State (8-4, 4-3 MWC) vs. Louisiana-Lafayette (8-4, 6-2 Sun Belt)
New Orleans, LA
Mercedes-Benz Superdome
Dec. 17 9 p.m. ESPN
What?
This is probably the most fun bowl outside of the coastal ones and the BCS behemoths. Who doesn't want an excuse to go to New Orleans? Formerly known as the Wyndham Hotels & Resorts New Orleans Bowl, it has been sponsored by R+L Carriers since 2006. The matchp is between the CUSA and the SunBelt. I was looking forward to going to this thing at least a couple times during my stay in Denton given that UNT went to four straight from 2001 to 2004.
Famous Players
How about Schertz's own Scott Hall? The former Samuel Clemens Buffalo quarterbacked the Mean Green in the early part of the decade.
Interesting Tidbit
The payout is a measly 325K.
Teams
San Diego State is making it's first appearance in the bowl, as they are from the MWC. It is difficult to tell how good the Aztecs were as they lost similar games to Wyoming (good ones) including their matchup with the Cowboys in early November. Losing to Michigan, Boise State, and TCU is not bad. University of Louisiana at Lafayette actually hosted the NO bowl back in 2005 when the Superdome was wrecked by Katrina. This is also their first appearance but that is because they have sucked for a while. Thanks to a surprising season and a down year from traditional Sunbelt powers MTSU and Troy, ULL found itself with a nice season. Were it not for even more surprising seasons from Hugh Freeze's 10-2 Arkansas State and a 7-5 Western Kentucky, the Ragin Cajuns might be in a slightly better bowl.
