The Poinsettia Bowl might be the first bowl in the cycle that’s truly worth watching (at least on paper). Of course, “The Holy War,” featuring hated in-state rivals BYU and Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl was pretty cool; especially the unintentional comedy of placing a lot of Mormons in Las Vegas! Cue the Ned Flanders in Sin City episode of The Simpsons.
However, that bowl is too local, just like Arizona versus New Mexico in the New Mexico Bowl was way too regional.
The Poinsettia Bowl, matching the NIU Huskies versus the Boise St Broncos, thus begins the cycle of entertaining/meaningful bowls.
Poinsettia Bowl SPREAD: Boise State -9.5
Poinsettia Bowl TV: 3:30 CST Wed December 23rd, ESPN
(Update: Photos of NIU visiting the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Midway museum)
You have two mid-majors who are as brand name as it gets. If you don’t think a mid-major can be brand name in college football these days, then you haven’t really been paying attention. Yes, this is the Holiday Bowl de facto Junior Varsity game, but it’s still Boise St, the “bracket busters” of college football, versus the NIU Huskies, who are making their eighth straight bowl appearance.
Of course, this isn’t the Fiesta Bowl winning Boise St Broncos, and NIU has had much stronger teams recently than this one.
They back-doored their way into the MAC Title game this year, where they were demolished by Bowling Green. Also, this isn’t the Boise teams of recent vintages. Bryan Harsin is only 8-4 this year, not very Chris Petersen or Gary Patterson like. However, he won the Fiesta Bowl last year, which gives him the program’s third win in the Arizona classic.
Rod Carey on seeing what the Boise State offense can do:
“We have, not probably all in one package, but we’ve seen parts from everybody. They’re really dynamic in their personnel groups, their formations, everybody’s using all their formations now but they certainly do as well. Then, they also utilize tempo at times. Dynamic is the best word to describe it. We’ve seen dynamic offenses but this one rates up there with probably the best.”
Carey scouting Boise State:
“They got a young quarterback playing. Everyone keeps saying he’s going to be really good but from my eye, he is really good. There’s no waiting, he is good. They have a dynamic offense with tremendous receivers, tight ends, the running back is a top-shelf guy, really explosive, really good feet. The O-line, it’s really good, probably one of the best, if not the best, we’ve faced all year, without a question.
“Going over to the defensive side now, the defensive line is outstanding, physical, active, use their hands well. Linebackers, the same you can say for them. They have two guys that are among the Mountain West leaders in the secondary in interceptions. A strong physical, disciplined secondary.”
NIU Huskies injury update
NIU coach Rod Carey on Ryan Graham playing in the bowl game
“I fully expect him to be out there and ready to go. We got him back yesterday and a little more today. We’ll have him on Thursday and ready to go.”
Carey on the health of Tommylee and the rest of the team
“Yes, there’s a chance he could play. He’s way more day to day than he’s been. He looks good out there. Does he look 100 percent yet? No, but he’s still got some time. Tommylee at 80 percent is still better than a lot of guys at 100 percent so that’s how I’ll put that.”
Everybody makes fun of how the Poinsettia Bowl has the longest name possible once you say its official title counting the corporate sponsor. As they should, it is ridiculous that the acronym is SDCCUPB, no bowl acronym should be longer than three letters, and I’m old enough enough to remember the glory days when a lot of bowls didn’t have soulless corporate names. The Rose Bowl presented by AT&T was the last holdout; finally caving in when 2001 came.
Still the Poinsettia Bowl is pretty awesome. They’re having press conferences on aircraft carriers. The teams are going to Sea World and the San Diego Zoo. The city itself is kick ass. You couldn’t ask for a better locale and “vacation aspect” of a bowl game experience.
Of course, nothing says San Diego like fun in the sun, and nothing says bowl game like snowbirds escaping winter’s chill for a few days. Well, this el nino winter has made things unexpectedly pleasant. Wednesday’s projected high in Northern Illinois is 58. Predicted high in San Diego- 63. Not that big a deal.
PREDICTION: Boise State 27, NIU Huskies 18
Fourth time’s a charm for NIU? Well, not. This will be Northern Illinois’ tenth bowl appearance since 2004, but thus far they have only won three.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and sometimes writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. The website is also featured on News Now.
Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye. He also appears regularly on numerous television and radio talk shows all across the country. Catch him Tuesdays on KOZN 1620 The Zone.
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