SMU (6-6, 5-3 CUSA) vs. Fresno State (9-3, 7-1 MWC)

December 24, 2012 8:00 PM ET ESPN

The History: Did you know that there used to be two games in Hawaii… but they moved one to Seattle for a while? Yup, hopes of heading to Honolulu in December dashed by the “better coffee” of the Pacific Northwet.  This game was also a “slump-buster” of sorts, where Pickles broke the 9 game losing streak that the Irish carried through the Weis years. Giveaways for this “opportunity” include an ‘aloha’ shirt, a ‘custom’ beach towel, backpack and watch, and a calendar. Can’t go wrong with that, now can … [Read More]

Ever since the upsets of Colorado, Oregon State, and Wisconsin in 2001, I’ve had you on my “teams to watch” list… scrappy mid-majors that were willing to play anyone, anywhere, anytime… and bring the fight to them.

In 2002, you upset Georgia Tech; in 2003 it was UCLA; in 2004 it was UW and Kansas State. In 2006, it was only due to Reggie Bush’s heroics that you didn’t upset USC… although, thanks to the NCAA, you did get the win after all.

So, for the last several years, I’ve picked you to win your bowl game, as have all the writers here at tBBC.  In spite of the fact that some of the people who cheer you seem to have some sort of inferiority complex, and couldn’t realize that we were backing the Bulldogs, we continued … [Read More]

Continuing our look across the vast expanse that is the honorable bowl season…

Northern Illinois (10-3, 8-0 MAC) vs. Fresno State (8-4, 5-3 WAC)

December 18, 2010 5:30 PM ET ESPN

History: Believe it or not, this is the thirteenth edition of this epic endeavor, which is on at least it’s fourth sponsor. Played, as you know, on the smurf turf of Southern Idaho State, it was a home game for the Broncos on four occasions and for the Idaho Vandals on two others. My personal favorite memory of the game is the 2006 clash between ‘Da U and Nevada- great to see a team from Florida have to play a bowl game in that horrid thing called “weather”.

One of the “neat” aspects of this game is the decision to honor a “Highway Angel” as a part of the festivities- a over the road truck driver who risked … [Read More]

All is right with the world- football is back, baby! And what a slate of games we had… although, for Buckeye fans, it all seems anticlimactic after Thursday night, amiright?

In case you’ve forgotten, Houston Nutt has a penchant for overtime games, being on the sidelines for several of the longest contests in history while at Arkansas.  The one thing, though- he needs to remember how to “win” in OT and not just “play for OT”, as the Rebels were upset Saturday by the Gamecocks of Jacksonville State. As a public service announcement, tBBC would like to remind you that Jeremiah … [Read More]

Ohio State, fresh off a 30-20 win at Illinois, now gets to focus on That Team Up North without looking past anybody. The Buckeyes return home for their final regular season game at 9-2, while TTUN comes to Columbus at 3-8.

Today’s game was rather anti-climactic, but any fan of the Buckeyes could see that coming. Ohio State has a long, storied tradition of underachieving in the game before The Game. For example;

• 2007 – Ohio State never got their game plan working, as Illinois stole a big win away from the #1 Buckeyes, 28-21
• 2006 – Ohio State 17, Illinois 10. Ugly, ugly, ugly. Prior to that game, OSU had 7 games of scoring 35 or more points. It was a win, but not at all pretty
• 2004 – A 24-17 loss to Purdue in the final two minutes, one of only two regular-season losses
… [Read More]