Dec. 23, 2007Prediction: Fresno State vs. Tulsa
WAC vs. Conference USA
Analysis:
The Hawaii Bowl generally banks on the local team playing in their own bowl. That won't be the case this year as the Warriors head to a BCS game. The bowl committe will have to settle on Fresno State as an alternative. Fresno State will be eager to return to a bowl after missing out in 2006. Head coach Pat Hill's teams are used to knocking off a ranked team or two almost annually and they should return to that form in 2007. Their take-on-all-comers attitude will see them play at Texas A&M, Oregon and Kansas State in non-conference play. More consistent play from quarterback Tom Brandstater will be one of the keys to the season.
Tulsa returns only 10 starters from their Armed Forces Bowl squad of a year ago, which will make things tough on the Golden Hurricane. Luckily they return both their leading rusher and passer from a season ago. Running back Courtney Tennial will have another good season if he can reach 14 rushing touchdowns as he did a season ago. And count on quarterback Paul Smith being elevated from 2nd team All-Conference USA to 1st team this season.
2 comments:
for Hawaii to NOT have the Hawaii bowl slot, it's implied that Fresno St would have had to lose to Hawaii (at Hawaii)
that Fresno/Hawaii game is Nov 11, i can't imagine any interest from Fresno or the bowl folks in having the losing team coming back a month later
Interesting thought, but if Hawaii is in the BCS, Boise State is in the Humanitarian, and New Mexico State plays in the New Mexico Bowl, where else is Fresno going to go?
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