International Bowl

Jan. 5, 2008

12 p.m. EST, Toronto, Canada, ESPN 2

Prediction: Notre Dame vs. Toledo

Big East/Notre Dame vs. MAC

Analysis:

If Saturday's performance is any indication, Notre Dame will be lucky to finish with a .500 record this season. And if they do, they better hope no team from the Big East finishes with a winning record. Bowl rules dictate that teams with a winning record are given preference. A team like Pittsburgh could leapfrog the Fighting Irish here.

Central Michigan was the original pick for this game, but they didn't show any fight versus Kansas. Toledo didn't exactly excel against Purdue either, but they showed more than the Chippewas. The Rockets are hoping the Toledo of old starts showing through and it should.

International Bowl

Jan. 5, 2008

Prediction: Notre Dame vs. Central Michigan

Big East/Notre Dame vs. MAC

Analysis:

Notre Dame has teamed up with the Big East to send a representative to the International Bowl. The way things look right now, it appears as if Louisville, South Florida, West Virginia and Rutgers will all be more attractive representatives for bowl games than traditional powerhouse Notre Dame. It will be a definite down year for the Fighting Irish after losing lots of offensive playmakers including Brady Quinn, Darius Walker, Jeff Samardzija and Rhema McKnight. Perhaps the best returning player on the team is strong safety Tom Zbikowski who hopes to make an All-American bid. The International Bowl will gladly gobble up a mediocre Notre Dame squad who would be sure to send lots of fans to Toronto.

If the International Bowl is lucky enough to get a high profile team like Notre Dame, the MAC will be sure to send its conference champion to this game. Right now the favorite to win the MAC championship looks like Central Michigan, a team that hopes to defend its MAC crown. Quarterback Dan LeFevour leads the team that also returns last year's leading rusher, Ontario Sneed. Look for the Chippewas to go bowling in Ontario come January.