SouthernCollegeSports.com 2003 Bowl Previews

By: Jonathan SouthernCollegeSports.com Editor Contact Jonathan

MUSIC CITY BOWL
	Wednesday, December 31 Nashville, TN 11:00 AM CDT   ESPN Official Bowl Site Auburn Athletics Wisconsin Athletics
AUBURN TIGERS vs WISCONSIN BADGERS
GAME SUMMARY: Both of these teams had bigger plans than Nashville for the Christmas holidays. Auburn was supposed to be a national title contender, but those hopes sank with early-season losses. Wisconsin's run at the Big Ten title was hampered by a consistently-injured Anthony Davis. Auburn will have a tough time stopping Davis and WR Lee Evans, but the most talented team wins it.
SCS.com PREDICTION: Auburn 21 ... Wisconsin 17

SUN BOWL
	Wednesday, December 31 El Paso, TX 1:00 PM CDT   CBS Official Bowl Site Oregon Athletics Minnesota Athletics
MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS vs OREGON DUCKS
GAME SUMMARY: Two very talented offenses go to work in this one. Oregon started off the season with a two-QB system, assuming one would emerge as the main man. Neither did, but both Kellen Clemens and Jason Fife played well all season. QB Asad Abdul-Khaliq is the leader of the Minnesota offense, possibly the best in the Big Ten this season. The difference in this one is the Ducks' defense slowing UM just enough to win.
SCS.com PREDICTION: Oregon 33 ... Minnesota 24

LIBERTY BOWL
	Wednesday, December 31 Memphis, TN 2:30 PM CDT   ESPN Official Bowl Site Southern Miss Athletics Utah Athletics
SOUTHERN MISS GOLDEN EAGLES vs UTAH UTES
GAME SUMMARY: This may be the best defensive battle of the entire bowl season. The weather is usually cold in Memphis for this game, so the offenses receive no help there. This is also the only non-BCS bowl that matches up two conference champions, USM out of CUSA and the Utes from the Mountain West. Points will be at a premium in this one, but it should be entertaining. The Eagles score just a few more.
SCS.com PREDICTION: Southern Miss 21 ... Utah 14

INDEPENDENCE BOWL
	Wednesday, December 31 Shreveport, LA 6:30 PM CDT   ESPN Official Bowl Site Arkansas Athletics Missouri Athletics
MISSOURI TIGERS vs ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS
GAME SUMMARY: This is a very good matchup of two middle-of-the-pack teams in their respective conferences. Missouri is led by one of the best run/pass threats in the country in QB Brad Smith. Arkansas has been playing musical chairs at QB most of the season, often starting Ryan Sorehan and bringing in Matt Jones for most of the minutes off the bench. Missouri is able to score more often than UA.
SCS.com PREDICTION: Missouri 28 ... Arkansas 24

SAN FRANCISCO BOWL
	Wednesday, December 31 San Francisco, CA 9:30 PM CDT   ESPN2 Official Bowl Site Colorado State Athletics Boston College Athletics
COLORADO STATE RAMS vs BOSTON COLLEGE EAGLES
GAME SUMMARY: Boston College heads cross-country for their fifth consecutive bowl under head coach Tom O'Brien, with the last three being wins. Colorado State didn't have quite the season they had expected in the final year of star QB Bradlee Van Pelt. The Eagles are riding high after a season-ending win over Virginia Tech on the road, and O'Brien has proven he can win the postseason games. Add another one.
SCS.com PREDICTION: Boston College 34 ... Colorado State 31

OUTBACK BOWL
	Thursday, January 1 Tampa, FL 10:00 AM CDT   ESPN Official Bowl Site Iowa Athletics Florida Athletics
FLORIDA GATORS vs IOWA HAWKEYES
GAME SUMMARY: Two very good teams from two of the top conferences in the nation hook up in the first bowl of New Year's Day. The Gators struggled early on but came on strong late to tie for the SEC East title. Iowa also played well but was more consistent than the Gators throughout the season. The Gators lost in the Swamp more than they had planned this year, so they make it up with a home-state win in Tampa.
SCS.com PREDICTION: Florida 28 ... Iowa 23

GATOR BOWL
	Thursday, December 1 Jacksonville, FL 11:30 AM CDT   NBC Official Bowl Site Maryland Athletics West Virginia Athletics
WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS vs MARYLAND TERRAPINS
GAME SUMMARY: You probably skipped right over this game when scanning the list of bowl games for the first time earlier this month. However, this one is probably in the top ten of the postseason matchups. WVU was just one miracle-catch away from winning the Big East and playing in the BCS. Maryland finished a strong second in the ACC behind FSU after winning at NC State to finish the season. WVU has a point to prove.
SCS.com PREDICTION: West Virginia 24 ... Maryland 20

CAPITAL ONE BOWL
	Thursday, January 1 Orlando, FL 12:00 PM CDT   ABC Official Bowl Site Georgia Athletics Purdue Athletics
PURDUE BOILERMAKERS vs GEORGIA BULLDOGS
GAME SUMMARY: The Georgia Bulldogs tied for the SEC East title and got the opportunity to play in Atlanta for the SEC Championship. Mark Richt's team look far less than a BCS contender when matched up with the LSU Tigers, however. Purdue has already proven themselves capable of playing with the big boys this season when they nearly knocked off Ohio State in Columbus. Joe Tiller's team is the best of the two in Orlando.
SCS.com PREDICTION: Purdue 24 ... Georgia 17

ROSE BOWL
	Thursday, January 1 Pasadena, CA 4:00 PM CDT   ABC Official Bowl Site Michigan Athletics Southern Cal Athletics
MICHIGAN WOLVERINES vs SOUTHERN CAL TROJANS
GAME SUMMARY: It doesn't get any bigger than this, with possibly the only exception being the Sugar Bowl. Southern Cal has a right to feel snubbed after being left out of the BCS national title picture, but how will the Trojans respond in a bowl game in their home state? Michigan has consitently been ranked as one of the best teams in the country throughout the season, though, and the Wolves pull the upset in California.
SCS.com PREDICTION: Michigan 34 ... Southern Cal 31

ORANGE BOWL
	Thursday, January 1 Miami, FL 7:30 PM CDT   ABC Official Bowl Site Miami Athletics Florida State Athletics
MIAMI HURRICANES vs FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES
GAME SUMMARY: This game gives all the BCS-haters yet another reason to do just that. College football fans have already seen this matchup once this season but will now endure it for a second time. The better team earlier in the year in Tallahassee was clearly Miami, but following the 'Canes' collapse and the 'Noles' rise to the top of the ACC, it is clear that Bobby Bowden's team has more going for it now.
SCS.com PREDICTION: Florida State 31 ... Miami 20

COTTON BOWL
	Friday, January 2 Dallas, TX 1:00 PM CDT   FOX Official Bowl Site Oklahoma State Athletics Mississippi Athletics
MISSISSIPPI REBELS vs OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS
GAME SUMMARY: The Rebels fell short in their bid to end their streak as the only SEC West team without an appearance in the SEC title game, but Eli Manning has one last chance to show his stuff in a college football game. The Rebel defense has been up and down but will need to have a big game against the likes of Josh Fields, Tatum Bell, and Rashaun Woods. OSU gets their points, but Manning and UM get a few more.
SCS.com PREDICTION: Mississippi 35 ... Oklahoma State 24

PEACH BOWL
	Friday, January 2 Atlanta, GA 3:30 PM CDT   ESPN Official Bowl Site Clemson Athletics Tennessee Athletics
CLEMSON TIGERS vs TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS
GAME SUMMARY: Tennessee tied with Florida and Georgia for the SEC East title but was left out of the SECCG. After looking as if they were ready to quit and cost Tommy Bowden his job in October, the Tigers turned their season around with huge wins over Florida State and in-state rival South Carolina. Those victories vaulted Clemson into the Peach Bowl and will keep Bowden around for another year. This game makes it even better.
SCS.com PREDICTION: Clemson 28 ... Tennessee 17

FIESTA BOWL
	Friday, January 2 Tempe, AZ 7:00 PM CDT   ABC Official Bowl Site Ohio State Athletics Kansas State Athletics
KANSAS STATE WILDCATS vs OHIO STATE BUCKEYES
GAME SUMMARY: If that Michigan/USC matchup in Pasadena didn't quite do the trick for you, this one will surely do the trick. Kansas State played their best game of the year in the Big XII title game when they knocked off the top-ranked OU Sooners. Ohio State lost two games this year but continued to play tough defense and find a way to score points. OSU's defense is tough, but Roberson, Sproles, and Co. are even tougher.
SCS.com PREDICTION: Kansas State 38 ... Ohio State 20

HUMANITARIAN BOWL
	Saturday, January 3 Boise, ID 1:00 PM CDT   ESPN Official Bowl Site Tulsa Athletics Georgia Tech Athletics
GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS vs TULSA GOLDEN HURRICANE
GAME SUMMARY: This isn't exactly a thrilling game to hold you over between the Fiesta and Sugar Bowls. Georgia Tech got here thanks to the play of true freshman QB Reggie Ball. Tulsa, along with Navy, is among the biggest of surprises among bowl teams this season. The Hurricane was able to get it done against WAC competition but will find the going a bit tougher against the Yellow Jackets. Not many points but enough for GT.
SCS.com PREDICTION: Georgia Tech 17 ... Tulsa 13

SUGAR BOWL
	Sunday, January 4 New Orleans, LA 7:00 PM CDT   ABC Official Bowl Site LSU Athletics Southern Cal Athletics
LSU TIGERS vs OKLAHOMA SOONERS
GAME SUMMARY: The game it all comes down to, at least in the minds of the BCS gods, takes place in New Orleans. Of course, if USC beats Michigan, then the writers and poll voters will have other ideas. The Tigers slipped up only once this year in a home game with Florida that got the Gators' season turned around. Oklahoma went through the regular season unbeaten before getting smashed by Kansas State in the Big XII title game. The Tigers and fans will be pumped since they're playing in their home state, but will they be pumped enough (or too pumped)? Oklahoma was beaten as badly as they have been since Bob Stoops arrived in Norman; will the Sooners come out raging with anger or will they be scared of the same happening again? OU will be ready, but the Tigers' defense is too tough, giving QB Matt Mauck enough wiggle room to score enough points and knock off Oklahoma.
SCS.com PREDICTION: LSU 31 ... Oklahoma 27

Back to Part I of the 2003 SCS.com Bowl Previews....

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