New Orleans Bowl

Dec. 21, 2007

8 p.m. EST, New Orleans, La., ESPN 2

Prediction: Troy vs. UCF

Sun Belt no. 1 vs. Conference USA

Analysis:

With their win over BCS conference foe North Carolina State on Saturday, UCF is rewarded with an elevation in the bowl pecking order. They get to face the Sun Belt champion in the Crescent City. On a side note, is this what Tom O'Brien signed up for at NC State?

Troy might have lost their season opener at Arkansas, but they played admirably. Omar Haugabrook should be able orchestrate Troy to a conference championship. A key game will be against Florida Atlantic in the last game of the regular season. Atlantic showed their might with a win over a 2006 bowl eligible team in Middle Tennessee State in their season opener.

GMAC Bowl

Jan. 6, 2008

Prediction: Central Florida vs. Ohio

Conference USA no. 2 vs. MAC

Analysis:

The only team better than UCF in Conference USA might be Southern Mississippi. After a bowless year in 2006, UCF will be bowl eligible once again if they don't manage to make it to the conference title game. The strength of the team lies in the tandem of cornerbacks, Joe Burnett and Johnell Neal. Opposing offenses will want to stick the the run game with those cornerbacks roaming the secondary.

Frank Solich has Ohio exactly where he wants them, near the top of the MAC standings. It won't be easy for the Bobcats to become bowl eligible for a second year in a row with only 11 returning starters from last year's team. One of those 11 just so happens to be one of the best running backs in the conference in Kalvin McRae. Behind McRae, Ohio can do special things despite an inexperienced squad.