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SouthernCollegeSports.com
2003 Bowl Previews
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NEW ORLEANS BOWL |
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Tuesday, December 16
New Orleans, LA
6:00 PM CDT ESPN2
Official Bowl Site
North Texas Athletics
Memphis Athletics
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MEMPHIS TIGERS vs
NORTH TEXAS MEAN GREEN
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GAME SUMMARY: This is not exactly a thrilling start to this year's bowl season. The Tigers' offense was slowed dramatically after the loss of star RB DeAngelo Williams to injury late in the season. The Memphis offense won't overwhelm the Mean Green's defense, which is not too shabby itself. However, it will be the defense of Memphis, led by first-year coordinator Joe Lee Dunn, that will slow the North Texas offense enough to help the Tigers pull out a win in their first bowl game under head coach Tommy West.
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SCS.com PREDICTION: Memphis 24 ... North Texas 21
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GMAC BOWL |
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Thursday, December 18
Mobile, AL
7:00 PM CDT ESPN2
Official Bowl Site
Miami (OH) Athletics
Louisville Athletics
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LOUISVILLE CARDINALS vs
MIAMI (OHIO) REDHAWKS
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GAME SUMMARY: If you're looking for some offense, you won't have to wait long to see a game of big points. Just as it has been in the past, this year's GMAC Bowl between the MAC and CUSA should keep the scoreboard operator on his toes. Led by stud QB Ben Roethlisberger, the Redhawks come in following their win over Bowling Green that clinched the MAC title. Louisville will also put their fair share of points on the board, but it won't be enough for the Cards to pull out a victory. Roethlisberger shines in what may be the junior's final collegiate game.
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SCS.com PREDICTION: Miami (Ohio) 34 ... Louisville 24
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TANGERINE BOWL |
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Monday, December 22
Orlando, FL
4:30 PM CDT ESPN
Official Bowl Site
NC State Athletics
Kansas Athletics
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KANSAS JAYHAWKS vs
NC STATE WOLFPACK
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GAME SUMMARY: After taking the weekend off, the bowl games heat back up with this matchup in Orlando. Kansas is making their first bowl appearance since 1995 when they beat UCLA in the Aloha Bowl. The Wolfpack has one final chance to send record-setting QB Philip Rivers out a winner. He has basically rewritten the NCSU record book and should be able to add to the 'Pack's bowl win total with a victory over the Big XII's Jayhawks. RB T.A. McLendon has also had nearly a month to heal, so expect a big game from the entire NCSU offense.
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SCS.com PREDICTION: NC State 42 ... Kansas 14
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FORT WORTH BOWL |
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Tuesday, December 23
Fort Worth, TX
6:30 PM CDT ESPN
Official Bowl Site
Boise State Athletics
TCU Athletics
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TCU HORNED FROGS
vs BOISE STATE BRONCOS
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GAME SUMMARY: TCU bargained their way out of the GMAC Bowl and will instead play a home bowl game in Texas. The Boise State Broncos, one of the best teams from a non-BCS conference, come to Fort Worth in a matchup of two teams of totally different styles. TCU plays tough defense but doesn't find the endzone much. The Broncos are led by one of the best unknown QBs in the nation, Ryan Dinwiddie. The Boise State offense attempts to outscore the opponent each night, and they'll do so on the road in TCU's own backyard.
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SCS.com PREDICTION: Boise State 45 ... TCU 21
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LAS VEGAS BOWL |
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Wednesday, December 24
Las Vegas, NV
6:30 PM CDT ESPN
Official Bowl Site
New Mexico Athletics
Oregon State Athletics
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NEW MEXICO LOBOS vs
OREGON STATE BEAVERS
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GAME SUMMARY: Two West Coast teams meet about halfway between their respective locations to do battle in Las Vegas, Nevada. Oregon State comes in after a 5th place finish in the PAC 10 and is paced by all-PAC 10 RB Steven Jackson. The Lobos, who came up one game short of Utah in the Mountain West, also turn their offense over to a running back. DonTrell Moore, just a sophomore, is a future star. After almost knocking off Texas Tech earlier this season, New Mexico gets it done against the Beavers.
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SCS.com PREDICTION: New Mexico 31 ... Oregon State 28
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HAWAII BOWL |
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Thursday, December 25
Honolulu, HI
7:00 PM CDT ESPN
Official Bowl Site
Hawaii Athletics
Houston Athletics
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HAWAII WARRIORS
vs HOUSTON COUGARS
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GAME SUMMARY: For the second straight year and the third in the last six, the Hawaii Warriors will play a bowl game in their own stadium. Though QB Timmy Chang was supposed to be dynamite this year, he has split time with senior Jason Whieldon lately. Houston also has a surprise under center this year in true freshman Kevin Kolb. In just his first season, he has led the Cougars to as many wins as they had in the previous three seasons combined. Just like the GMAC Bowl, this one should be full of offense, with the Cougs taking home the 'W'.
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SCS.com PREDICTION: Houston 49 ... Hawaii 40
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MOTOR CITY BOWL |
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Friday, December 26
Detroit, MI
4:00 PM CDT ESPN
Official Bowl Site
Bowling Green Athletics
Northwestern Athletics
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BOWLING GREEN FALCONS vs
NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS
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GAME SUMMARY: This game is one of the more dull ones on the slate this year. Northwestern squeaked into bowl eligibility with a win at Illinois to end their regular season. RB Jason Wright was second in the country in rushing touchdowns this past season and should find some success against the BGSU defense. Bowling Green won the MAC Western Division but fell short against Miami (OH) in QB Josh Harris' final home game as a Falcon. Harris will avenge that home loss with a bowl win in nearby Detroit to end his Falcon career.
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SCS.com PREDICTION: Bowling Green 37 ... Northwestern 24
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INSIGHT BOWL |
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Friday, December 26
Phoenix, AZ
7:30 PM CDT ESPN
Official Bowl Site
Virginia Tech Athletics
California Athletics
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VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES vs
CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS
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GAME SUMMARY: These are two teams undoubtedly heading in two opposite directions. The Cal Bears had a nice season in 2002 but couldn't go bowling due to NCAA violations. Many thought they would falter after the loss of QB Kyle Boler to the NFL, but that wasn't so. The Golden Bears, in their first bowl since 1996 trip to the Aloha Bowl, will battle a Virginia Tech team that was extremely lackluster in the month of November. The Hokies lost four of their last six and will again find themselves on the losing side, this time in Phoenix.
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SCS.com PREDICTION: California 31 ... Virginia Tech 27
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CONTINENTAL TIRE BOWL |
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Saturday, December 27
Charlotte, NC
10:00 AM CDT ESPN
Official Bowl Site
Virginia Athletics
Pittsburgh Athletics
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PITTSBURGH PANTHERS
vs VIRGINIA CAVALIERS
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GAME SUMMARY: Both of these teams were projected as conference contenders in the preseason, but only Pittsburgh came through on their end of the bargain, staying in the Big East race until the final weekend of the season. UVA's hopes were hampered with an early-season injury to QB Matt Schaub. The Cavaliers defense was middle-of-the-pack this season in the ACC, and their challenge will be as tough as any bowl teams'. Stopping Larry Fitzgerald won't happen, but UVA should slow the Pitt offense enough to outscore the Panthers.
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SCS.com PREDICTION: Virginia 28 ... Pittsburgh 24
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ALAMO BOWL |
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Monday, December 29
San Antonio, TX
8:00 PM CDT ESPN
Official Bowl Site
Michigan State Athletics
Nebraska Athletics
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MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS
vs NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS
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GAME SUMMARY: The Spartans recovered very nicely from a terrible 2002 season that saw MSU win only four games, lose their starting QB to off-the-field problems, and fire their head coach. QB Jeff Smoker is back and has led the the Spartans to a bowl game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers, who will themselves be in search of a head coach in the coming days and weeks. The Spartans have been an up and down team this season, as has NU. But the Huskers' offense has been fairly consistent, and QB Jamaal Lord will find some holes to throw to.
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SCS.com PREDICTION: Nebraska 27 ... Michigan State 21
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HOUSTON BOWL |
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Tuesday, December 30
Houston, TX
3:30 PM CDT ESPN
Official Bowl Site
Texas Tech Athletics
Navy Athletics
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NAVY MIDSHIPMEN vs
TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS
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GAME SUMMARY: This is by far the most ironic matchup of this entire bowl season. Most people expected both of these teams to be sitting at home for the holidays, but instead they will meet up in Houston. Texas Tech was led by senior QB B.J. Symons who, in his first year starting, led the nation in almost all passing categories. The Raiders score in bunches but also surrender points quickly. That should help the Navy offense, which led the nation in rushing this past season. Both teams will score but in different ways; the Red Raiders score a few more TDs.
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SCS.com PREDICTION: Texas Tech 56 ... Navy 35
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HOLIDAY BOWL |
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Tuesday, December 30
San Diego, CA
7:00 PM CDT ESPN
Official Bowl Site
Washington State Athletics
Texas Athletics
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WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS
vs TEXAS LONGHORNS
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GAME SUMMARY: This game is year-in and year-out almost always the most exciting bowl game of the season. Maybe it's the beautiful winter weather in San Diego that gets teams in the playing mood, but no matter who matches up in this southern California game, they seem to always play a close game that goes down to the final few minutes. That should again be the case as two teams who were most likely in the last half-dozen left out of the BCS face each other. Washington State, a surprise this season, falls just short of Texas in a close one.
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SCS.com PREDICTION: Texas 35 ... Washington State 28
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Go to Part II of the 2003 SCS.com Bowl Previews....
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