We're down to seven days until the kickoff of bowl season.  Most of the games in mid-December are snoozers that many fans don't care a hoot about.  However, there are a couple of very good bowls early in the season; one of which is as good as virtually any BCS bowl on the docket.

For those who have read my blog before, you know I'm a fan of the Big Ten Conference and its teams.  However, since the Big Ten doesn't play a bowl game until December 27th, I'm stepping outside the box and giving some predictions for games leading up to the Big Ten Bowls and the BCS matches.

Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl

December 20, 2008  8:00 P.M. (Eastern)  ESPN

BYU vs. Arizona

This is BYU's fourth appearance in the Vegas Bowl.  USC, here's someone that feels your pain.  There's no doubt that it's a letdown for the Cougars to be playing in Sin City yet again.  For Arizona, playing anywhere after the end of the regular season is a huge bonus.  The Wildcats haven't been bowling since 1998.

Who Cares? 

Every true college football fan should care - at least a little.  This is "one of those bowls".  BYU came into the season looking for an at-large berth in a BCS bowl.  Two losses and the lack of a great blowout or two knocked that dream off the radar.  As I said above, Arizona is making their first appearance in a bowl in ten years.  This bowl will pit two decent teams with more talent than they've been given credit for in a game that they both hope will launch them to something bigger and better next year.

Why This Could Be Good...

Talk about the Pac-10 all you want.  I'll agree with any argument that says its weak.  Still, Arizona held USC to only 17 points while scoring 10 of their own against a defense that has been fantastic this year.  So what?  So what is that USC averages 37.5 pts/game offensively and is #1 in the nation in terms of points allowed per game and passing yards per game.  Not only that, they have the 5th ranked rushing defense.  For the Wildcats to hold them to under 20 while scoring at all says something about their ability.  Arizona, despite dropping a 24-23 heartbreaker to Stanford, losing to Oregon, USC and New Mexico, is much improved over past years.  Their new spread offense is coming around.

BYU, on the other hand, is 10-2 yet again.  That's not bad considering they're in the same conference as Utah and TCU (their two losses this year).  They beat New Mexico 21-3....who beat Arizona 36-28.  Also, these two teams have faced each other in the two seasons prior to '08.  They split those games, with the home team winning each time.  This will be a game between two teams who are evenly matched and know each other as well as anyone else in the bowls.

What I'd do if I was BYU's...

Offensive Coordinator:  QB Max Hall has to rebound from the Utah loss where he threw the ball away more often than I've thrown away pages from my never published novel.  First and foremost, he has to protect the football and make smart decisions.  Arizona's defense isn't anything he can't beat, he just has to keep his head about him.  Utilize the return of TE Dennis Pitta.  Keep him involved in the offense by throwing short-to-mid range passes closer to the middle.  I'm also wondering how healthy RB Unga is?  Test him early and often.  Combining the run game with a short pass game should draw the defense in tight and give you a shot or two at hitting WR Austin Collie down the side.  Spread the wealth around.  Don't give them just a target or two to key on.  As with any game, your play at the line will have to be up to snuff.  Protect Hall and give him a few seconds to make his reads and he'll move the ball for you.

Defensive Coordinator:  Arizona QB Willie Tuitama plays control football.  He'll generally keep his passes short and to the outside.  LB David Nixon will have to have his head on straight.  The secondary as a whole can't get sucked into playing too tight.  As crazy as it may sound, let the short stuff go.  I should say, don't get too worried about it.  At least, until you start to feel the endzone creaping up on your backside.  Then, lock down.  Stuff the run early and force Arizona to the air, then your CB's and Safeties can work on stopping the TD passes short, where you have the least territory to have to defend. 

Head Coach:  Get your staff and players fired up for this game.  I know you were hoping for something bigger, but this is what you've got.  Arizona will come out fired up.  Play flat and you'll lose this one and everyone will say you weren't that good to begin with. 

What I'd do if I was Arizona's...

Offensive Coordinator:  Do what you do best: spread the ball around.  BYU has a very good LB in Nixon, but he's just one man.  The rest of the defense is suspect.  Keep Nixon running from side-to-side and you'll eventually wear him out.  When you get down toward the red zone, pull out one of those "special plays" or two -  just to keep them guessing.  Don't abandon the run too early, but you can afford to use the pass to set up the run, rather than the other way around.

Defensive Coordinator:  BYU's RB Unga has played much of the season injured.  They're predicting he'll be fine by game time, but there will always be the question of just how ready he is to go.  Lock down on him early and shut down the Cougar running game.  Your secondary needs to keep a close eye on Pitta as well as Collie.  The main thing is, keep the plays in front of you.  Don't let them burn you deep.  Small gains can be corrected, but it's a lot tougher to bounce back from the big plays.

What'll Happen:  This one should be a bit of an offensive shootout.  The fans should love it.  No one seems to care much for good defense these days.  In the end, Arizona's offense has more weapons and I like the way they move the ball better.  They're more controlled and should eat up more of the clock.  They'll slowly wear down the Cougar defense.

Pick:  Arizona 37 - BYU 31

San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl

December 23, 2008  8:00 P.M. ESPN

#11 TCU vs #9 Boise State

Really?  San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl?  For crying out loud, who names these things?  I know...corporate sponsorship.  Still, that's a little rediculous, don't you think? 

Who Cares?

Quite a few people actually.  Either of these two could've/should've been in a BCS bowl.  How on earth did they end up playing on December 23rd in a bowl whose name is longer than any billboard in America?  This game should be better than the Orange Bowl, which pits two mediocre teams who happen to be in more respectable conferences. 

Why This Should Be Good...

TCU and Boise State are #2 and #3 in scoring defense respectively.  Maybe, for those of you who think defense is holding someone under 60 points, this will be a snoozer.  For those of us who still respect a mean D-line and LB's who crush QB's like squeezing orange juice, this should be a fantastic game.  No doubt those rankings are skewed by the fact that these two teams play weak conference schedules, but they're still pretty good.

What I'd do if I was Boise State's....

Offensive Coordinator:  QB Kellen Moore will be your ticket.  He needs to spread the ball around.  WR Austin Pettis is a great target, but he'll find coverage to be thick.  Get RB Ian Johnson involved in more ways than just the run attack.  Hit him with screens and short lobs while shooting bullets to your WR's on quick outs and short crosses.  Don't try to be sexy.  The TCU defense will chew up sexy and spit it out.  Just try to move the ball down field a little at a time.  Your O-Line has been very good, but they'll need to be pumped up for this one.  You'll have to put together some kind of scheme to handle Jerry Hughes.  Moore only needs a little time for routes to develop. 

Defensive Coordinator:  LB Ellis Powers needs to be a madman, but the big play needs to come from the line.  Get pressure on the QB and don't give him time to make solid reads.  WR Jeremy Kerley will be back in the TCU lineup, so your CB's will need to stick to their assignments and keep a blanket on him.  Stack the box and put pads on Turner.  He's a bruising back, so expect to get hit back.

What I'd do if I was TCU's...

Offensive Coordinator:  Run the ball.  A lot.  You're ranked #1 in time of possession, and that's key.  Keep the ball out of Boise State's hands and control the clock.  Protect the ball and protect your QB.  Move the ball around the corners and keep away from the middle of the field.  That's dangerous territory.  Make Powers move around a lot to get to the ball.  Short patterns to the outside should give you the matchups you need, but if the run game works as planned, you should find one or two decent gains down the sideline. 

Defensive Coordinator:  Boise State's O-Line has done a great job of protecting their QB.  You're going to have to really make them work for it this time.  Hensen and Phillips need to be flying all over the field, constantly moving to the ball.  CB's Sanders and Priest need to watch their lanes and keep an eye on Kerley.  Eliminate the deep threat and contain the run.  Do that and you'll fluster Moore.  Eventually, he'll make a mistake.

What'll Happen:  TCU lost the two games this year that were the biggest, getting drummed 35-10 by Oklahoma and losing 13-10 to Utah.  The only good win they have this year is a 32-7 thumping of BYU.  Boise State, on the other hand, has beaten everyone put in front of them.  They had some growing pains at times, but got the job done.  They'll do it again in the SDCCU Poinsettia Bowl.

Pick: Boise State 20 - TCU 19

I'm only putting up two picks for now.  As we get into next week, I'll likely put up a couple more, just to keep things interesting. 

Good Luck, Happy Holidays, and Happy Bowling!