College Football Week 16 – Five Bowl Games this Saturday

It Came Upon a Bowl Game Clear

That Glorious Forecast of Old

From Coaches Reaching Near the Field

To Touch Their Quarterbacks of Gold

Bowl Games, Bowl Games, Bowl Games Rock
Bowl Games Swing and Bowl Games Ring
Predicting and Forecasting Bushels of Wins
Touchdown Tom Sits Back and Grins 

Touchdown Tom’s Annual Bowl Game Predictions: 

New Mexico Bowl – Albuquerque, New Mexico

North Texas vs. Utah State

(Branch Field at Dreamstyle Stadium)

2 pm ET, December 15 – ESPN

The Aggies are feeling the Enchantment

Utah State 33, North Texas 27

Cure Bowl – Orlando, Florida

Louisiana vs. Tulane

(Camping World Stadium)

2:30 pm ET, December 15 – CBSSN

The Green Wave swamps the Rajin’ Cajuns’ boat

Tulane 24, Louisiana 21

Las Vegas Bowl – Las Vegas, Nevada

Fresno State vs. Arizona State

(Sam Boyd Stadium)

3:30 pm ET, December 15 – ABC

Herm scares the Bull out of the Dog

Arizona State 27, Fresno State 25

Camellia Bowl – Montgomery, Alabama

Eastern Michigan vs. Georgia Southern

(Cramton Bowl)

5:30 pm ET, December 15 – ESPN

Eagles from Georgia soar higher than Eagles from Michigan

Georgia Southern 25, Eastern Michigan 24

New Orleans Bowl – New Orleans, Louisiana

Appalachian State vs. Middle Tennessee

(Mercedes-Benz Superdome)

9 pm ET, December 15 – ESPN

The Little Mountaineers turn the Blue Raiders into Andouille

Appalachian State 30, Middle Tennessee 23

Boca Raton Bowl – Boca Raton, Florida

Northern Illinois vs. UAB

(Howard Schnellenberger Field at FAU Stadium)

7 pm ET, December 18 – ESPN

The Huskies are caught in a Blaze

UAB 25, Northern Illinois 21

Frisco Bowl – Frisco Texas

Ohio vs. San Diego State

(Toyota Stadium)

8 pm ET, December 19 – ESPN

The Bobcats sacrifice the Aztecs

Ohio 24, San Diego State 18

Gasparilla Bowl – Tampa, Florida

Marshall vs. South Florida

(Raymond James Stadium)

8 pm ET, December 20 – ESPN

Marco can’t run with the Bulls

South Florida 34, Marshall 30

Bahamas Bowl – Nassau, Bhahmas

Florida International vs. Toledo

(Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium)

12:30 pm ET, December 21 – ESPN

The Rockets are propelled by a Bahama Mama

Toledo 29, Florida International 25

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl – Boise, Idaho

BYU vs. Western Michigan

(Lyle Smith Field at Albertsons Stadium)

4 pm ET, December 21 – ESPN

The Cougars are studs;

The Broncos are spuds

BYU 28, Western Michigan 26

Birmingham Bowl – Birmingham, Alabama

Memphis vs. Wake Forest

(Legion Field)

12 noon ET, December 22 – ESPN

The Tigers hold a Wake for the Deacons

Memphis 36, Wake Forest 33

Armed Forces Bowl – Fort Worth, Texas

Army vs. Houston

(Amon G. Carter Stadium)

3:30 pm ET, December 22 – ESPN

The Cadets boot the Cougars into camp

Army 36, Houston 25

Dollar General Bowl – Mobile Alabama

Buffalo vs. Troy

(Ladd-Peebles Stadium)

7 pm ET, December 22 – ESPN

The Trojans get the Bulls for a buck

Troy 27, Buffalo 20

Hawaii Bowl – Honolulu, Hawaii

Hawaii vs. Louisiana Tech

(Aloha Stadium)

10:30 pm ET, December 22 – ESPN

The Rainbow Warriors Five-0 the Bulldogs

Hawaii 34, Louisiana Tech 21

First Responder Bowl – Dallas, Texas

Boston College vs. Boise State

(Cotton Bowl)

1:30 pm ET, December 26 – ESPN

The Broncos respond

Boise State 29, Boston College 26

Quick Lane Bowl – Detroit, Michigan

Minnesota vs. Georgia Tech

(Ford Field)

5:15 pm ET, December 26 – ESPN

Buzz gives Goldie a lube job

Georgia Tech 31, Minnesota 23

Cheez-It Bowl – Phoenix, Arizona

California vs. TCU

(Chase Field)

9 pm ET, December 26 – ESPN

Kermit jumps Yogi

TCU 23, California 20

Independence Bowl – Shreveport, Louisiana

Temple vs. Duke

(Independence Stadium)

1:30 pm ET, December 27 – ESPN

The Owls are too smart for the Devils

Temple 32, Duke 19

Pinstripe Bowl – Bronx, New York

Miami (Florida) vs. Wisconsin

(Yankee Stadium)

5:15 pm ET, December 27 – ESPN

Bucky pins the stripe on Sebastian

Wisconsin 18, Miami 14 

Texas Bowl – Houston, Texas

Baylor vs. Vanderbilt

(NRG Stadium)

9 pm ET, December 27 – ESPN

Cornelius ties an anchor to a Bear

Vanderbilt 20, Baylor 17

Music City Bowl – Nashville, Tennessee

Purdue vs. Auburn

(Nissan Stadium)

1:30 pm ET, December 28 – ESPN

Nashville Tigers play wild as mountain dew

Auburn 33, Purdue 27

Camping World Bowl – Orlando, Florida

West Virginia vs. Syracuse

(Camping World Stadium)

5:15 pm ET, December 28 – ESPN

Mounties squeeze the pulp out of Dungey

West Virginia 34, Syracuse 30

Alamo Bowl – San Antonio, Texas

Iowa State vs. Washington State

(Alamodome)

9 pm ET, December 28 – ESPN

Gardner Minshew is the Rose of San Antone

Washington State 32, Iowa State 23 

Peach Bowl – Atlanta, Georgia (CFP/New Year’s Six Bowl)

Florida vs. Michigan

(Mercedes-Benz Stadium)

12 noon ET, December 29 – ESPN

Albert can’t wear Khakis

Michigan 26, Florida 17

Belk Bowl – Charlotte, North Carolina

South Carolina vs. Virginia

(Bank of America Stadium)

12 noon ET, December 29 – ABC

Cocky makes veal out of the Cavs

South Carolina 26, Virginia 20

Arizona Bowl – Tucson, Arizona

Arkansas State vs. Nevada

(Arizona Stadium)

1:15 pm ET, December 29 – CBSSN

The Reno Wolves are better howlers

Nevada 27, Arkansas State 26

Cotton Bowl Classic – Arlington, Texas (CFP Semifinal Bowl No. 1)

Clemson vs. Notre Dame

(AT&T Stadium)

4 pm ET, December 29 – ESPN

Dabo is a cotton picker

Clemson 30, Notre Dame 24

Orange Bowl – Miami Gardens, Florida (CFP Semifinal Bowl No. 2)

Alabama vs. Oklahoma

(Hard Rock Stadium)

8 pm ET, December 29 – ESPN

Tua drives a Lincoln

Alabama 42, Oklahoma 35  

Military Bowl – Annapolis, Maryland

Cincinnati vs. Virginia Tech

(Jack Stephens Field at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium)

12 noon ET, December 31 – ESPN

The Bearcat can’t handle Wild Turkey

Virginia Tech 27, Cincinnati 26

Sun Bowl – El Paso, Texas

Stanford vs. Pitt

(Sun Bowl Stadium)

2 pm ET, December 31 – CBS

The Tree falls on the Panther

Stanford 28, Pitt 19

Redbox Bowl – Santa Clara, California

Michigan State vs. Oregon

(Levi’s Stadium)

3 pm ET, December 31 – FOX

The Ducks are out of the Box

Oregon 27, Michigan State 16

Liberty Bowl – Memphis, Tennessee

Missouri vs. Oklahoma State

(Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium)

3:45 pm ET, December 31 – ESPN

The Cowboys bust the Lock

Oklahoma State 35, Missouri 34

Holiday Bowl – San Diego, California

Northwestern vs. Utah

(SDCCU Stadium)

7 pm ET, December 31 – FS1

The Wildcats can’t mute the Ute

Utah 28, Northwestern 22

Gator Bowl – Jacksonville, Florida

NC State vs. Texas A&M

(TIAA Bank Field)

7:30 pm ET, December 31 – ESPN

Jimbo tames a Wolf

Texas A&M 29, NC State 22

Outback Bowl – Tampa, Florida

Mississippi State vs. Iowa

(Raymond James Stadium)

12 noon ET, January 1 – ESPN2

In the Outback, it’s Bully rules football

Mississippi State 20, Iowa 17

Citrus Bowl – Orlando, Florida

Kentucky vs. Penn State

(Camping World Stadium)

1 pm ET, January 1 – ABC

The Nittany Cat is the alpha Cat

Penn State 24, Kentucky 21

Fiesta Bowl – Glendale, Arizona (CFP/New Year’s Six Bowl)

LSU vs. UCF

(State Farm Stadium)

1 pm EST, January 1 – ESPN

The Tigers turn out the Knights’ lights

LSU 30, UCF 26

Rose Bowl – Pasadena, California (CFP/New Year’s Six Bowl)

Ohio State vs. Washington

(Rose Bowl)

5 pm ET, January 1 – ESPN

The Huskies get pelted with Buckeyes

Ohio State 28, Washington 26 

Sugar Bowl – New Orleans, Louisiana (CFP/New Year’s Six Bowl)

Georgia vs. Texas

(Mercedes-Benz Superdome)

8:45 pm ET, January 1 – ESPN

Uga poops on Bevo’s grass

Georgia 32, Texas 23

College Football Playoff National Championship – Santa Clara, California

Alabama vs. Clemson?

(Levi’s Stadium)

8 pm ET, January 7 – ESPN

Tua has the Tiger seeing Crimson?

Alabama 28, Clemson 26? 

Touchdown Tom

December 10, 2018

https://collegefootballweek.blogspot.com

Weekend Recap

GAME OF THE WEEK: Three-straight – Army 17, Navy 10 (Touchdown Tom said: Army 26, Navy 15). Seventeen of the game’s 27 points were scored in the final 7 minutes of the game. That tells you how boring the first 53 minutes of the game were. Army scored on its opening drive of the game and didn’t score again until there were four and a half minutes left in the third quarter. Navy was scoreless until halfway through the fourth quarter. Combined, the teams had less than 500 total yards and less than 25 first downs. Navy suffered four turnovers. Army had none. The teams finished the season the exact opposite of each other – Army was 10-2 and Navy was 2-10. Attendance in Philadelphia: 66,729

Week 15 Results:         1 correct pick, 0 fumbles (100 percent)

Final Season Results:  148 correct picks, 62 fumbles (70.5 percent)

Heisman Trophy Presentation:

Oklahoma junior quarterback Kyler Murray won the 2018 Heisman Trophy. Alabama sophomore quarterback Tua Tagovailoa came in second in the voting, followed by Ohio State sophomore quarterback Dwayne Haskins.

Murray had 517 first place votes and 2,167 points. Tagovailoa had 1,871 points – the most points for a runner-up in the 84 -year history of the Heisman. Haskins was a distant third with 783 points. Three more quarterbacks followed Haskins in the voting – West Virginia senior Will Grier, Washington State senior Gardner Minshew and UCF junior McKenzie Milton. Murray was named on 92 percent of the Heisman ballots – third most of all time.

FCS (Division I-AA) Quarterfinals:

Maine 23, Weber State 18

North Dakota State 35, Colgate 0

South Dakota State 27, Kennesaw State 17

Eastern Washington 34, UC Davis 29

Division II Semifinals:

Valdosta State 30, Notre Dame (Ohio) 24

Ferris State 42, Mankato State 25

Division III Semifinals:  

Mount Union 28, Johns Hopkins 20

Mary-Hardin Baylor 31, Wisconsin-Whitewater 14

Quotes of the Week

“I believe I will not coach again,” Ohio State coach Urban Meyer, following his announced retirement.

“I could never do that,” Ohio State coach Urban Meyer, when asked about coaching in the NFL.

“Other than Texas A&M and Syracuse, who they barely beat, Clemson didn’t play anybody this year but a bunch of empty tomato cans,” ESPN college football analyst Paul Finebaum, on Clemson’s pathetic schedule.

“I’m on record right here, right now. I’m not going anywhere. I’m staying at Michigan. We have big plans here, and there’s a lot we want to accomplish,” Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, on reports he is going to the NFL.

Touchdown Tom

https://collegefootballweek.blogspot.com

P.S.

Not exactly college football related, but sadly there was one passing of note last week – Tim Rossovich.

Tim Rossovich, a consensus All-American defensive end at Southern California who played in the NFL before going on to an acting career, died last week in Sacramento. He was 72. Rossovich played at USC from 1965-67 and appeared in two Rose Bowls. He was the co-captain of the 1967 team that won the national championship. Rossovich was drafted in the 1968 NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles and played linebacker for them from 1968-71. He also played for the San Diego Chargers and the Houston Oilers. After his football career ended, Rossovich spent two decades as an actor and stuntman. At USC, he roomed with Tom Selleck and later appeared on “Magnum , P.I.” His other TV credits included “MacGyver,” “Baywatch,” “The Love Boat,” “Knight Rider,” “Remington Steele,” “Charlie’s Angels” and “The A-Team,” among others. Rossovich also appeared in several movies. Timothy John Rossovich was born on March 14, 1946, in Palo Alto, California.