First, let me start by saying that when Fresno State is the best team to watch during the first weekend of bowling, then you’ve got a lousy weekend ahead of you.
Still, we try to trick people into believing that tBBC is a professional blog, so we’re going to continue that ruse by previewing every game. Bowl game #2 on the schedule gets it’s fair shake now.
Central Florida (8-4, 6-2 Conf-USA) vs. Rutgers (8-4, 3-4 Big East)
December 19, 2009 8:00 PM ET
Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida
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I really, really want to tell you that this will be a good bowl matchup. Hell, it probably is. But it’s only a good matchup because both teams suck at an equal level.
Central Florida and Rutgers both sport 8-4 records coming into this game. That’s respectable by any standards…until you consider the fact that UCF plays in Conference USA, and Rutgers is from the Big Least. Being average teams in below-average conferences doesn’t impress me much. Maybe I’m jaded.
Central Florida played a respectable non-conference schedule, which included Texas and Miami. Problem is, they lost those two games by a combined score of 62-10. They ended up beating two bowl-bound schools, including the Marshall Thundering Herd….by one point.
But, they did beat the Houston Cougars. Give them credit even if Houston is overrated.
Rutgers came into the season with many pundits calling them to be a force to reckon with. Yeah, not so much. They opened with a 47-15 loss to Cincinnati (and really, who DOESN’T put up 28+ points on Cincinnati?). The Knights followed with several wins against St. Mary’s School For The Blind (OK, Texas Southern, Howard, and FIU, like there’s a difference), but when the chips were down, they lost to teams that are anywhere near good.
Sometimes, they even lost to teams that are pretty damn bad. Syracuse beat them 31-13. I know!
But they did beat South Florida. Give them credit, even if S. Florida is overrated.
Offensively, Rutgers is ranked #99 in the NCAA. UCF is ranked #83.
Defensively, UCF is ranked #46 in the NCAA. Rutgers is #19.
That’s the key right there. Rutgers’ defense has the ability to slow down the 83rd-best offense in the NCAA. That’s why they’ll win.
If you’re awake for the end of the game, call me and tell me who won. Or I can watch SportsCenter in the morning. I’m sure they’ll show highlights…..right after they discuss the NFL draft that’s six months from now, or the start of Spring Training in March.
Who Are We Picking?
Jeff at the BBC : Rutgers
MaliBuckeye : Rutgers
Eric : Central Florida
Jim : Rutgers
Our first controversy as a staff! Excitement!
As the games get better, we’re hoping our previews will follow suit. Until then, snark is the order of the day!
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