Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
No.24 Tulsa (6-2) vs. Mississippi State (3-7)
Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, TX.
11 AM CT
ESPN
Chris Cotter, Mark Herzlich, Ian Fitzsimmons
Yella, Big Ten, Jeff Servinski
Tulsa by 1 1/2
Give me Leach, up and coming quarterback Will Rogers and a pretty stout Bullie defense to carry State to the slight upset victory.
Mississippi State 28, Tulsa 27
Offerpad Arizona Bowl
Ball State (6-1) vs. San Jose State (7-0)
Arizona Stadium, Tuscon
1 PM CT
CBS
Brad, Gary, Jamie
Jimmy Rane, C-USA, Joe Lehring
SJSU by 9 1/2
I like a close game here. The Spartans have been more than impressive this season. They defeated a solid Nevada team, which just blasted Tulane in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, 38-27, and also defeated Bryan Harsin and Boise State, 34-20, in the Mountain West Conference Championship Game. But Ball State is pretty tough as well. They defeated an 8 point favorite Buffalo team in the MAC Championship Game, 38-28, so I like their squad as well. Give me the Spartans but I like the Cardinals to make it tough for them.
San Jose State 34, Ball State 30
AutoZone Liberty Bowl
West Virginia (5-4) vs. Army (9-2)
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis
3 PM CT
ESPN
Wes Durham, Roddy Jones, Eric Wood
Vogue, ACC, Stuart Mullins
West VA by 7
I like Jeff Monken, the Cadets and their superb triple option attack to pull off the upset in the River City. The West Point guys aren’t going to opt out. They love playing college football.
Army 28, West Virginia 27
10 Responses
You are right DW, something need to change with the bowl games to give the players some incentive to play. The Cotton Bowl on paper was a game that should have been a classic but, the opt outs ruined it.
No doubt, WP. Very frustrating situation. I wish I had a solution. Don’t mean to just complain about it. I know it’s exciting for Bama and Clemson fans. Maybe there should be a financial reward for playing in Bowl games. I hate saying that, but that could be the answer. Anyway, something to think about. Will put some more thought into it going forward. Thanks, Walter.
Florida was decimated by the opt outs but honestly I thought more players would have opted out for the whole season before the season started. I am pulling for the Cadets of West Point today.
Yes, Bama G, definitely pulling for the Cadets. Ready to watch some “real” college football players.
I feel the same about the bowl games. The motivation is gone for most of the players and teams and not much interest in them any more. I’m thankful to have Bama contending every year. I have no interest in today’s games and may not even turn them on.
Happy New Year and RTR!
Thanks, D. Do want to watch the Cadets play and Miss State. Still really like the bowls, just need a way to figure out how to get these guys to play. May take a financial incentive of say $1,000. Don’t like to professionalize game it, but players at Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, etc… big name schools, have $5-10 million insurance policies that pay them if they get hurt, and there are stipends now, and, of course, all the food you want to eat. The only solution I know is financially. The bowls have been such an awesome tradition for so long, we have to find a way to revive them. Those are my thoughts on it. Thanks.
Yes!!! This!!!
I’m so tired of seeing this, too, David! I couldn’t have said it better myself! Thanks for putting that out there…seems nobody else is saying it, even if they’re thinking it. As much as he likes to talk, I wish Tess had said what you said after airing that pathetic video last night. You’re right, it should matter. Guys only care about themselves and have no commitment to their TEAM.
Hope you and the fam have been well. Happy New Year!
FT
On Dec 31, 2020, at 08:39 AM, David White <[email protected]> wrote:
Florida opt out Kyle Pitts made a video for his teammates acting like he cared while they were trying their best and he was selling them out. You wonder if NFL scouts even care about this. They should. It should matter if guys don’t want to play games. Could be a telling sign for the way they’ll act in the future. Really tired of this.
Great intro and thoughts.
The Gators were without we know who,…tough to deal with,..the lure of the NFL.
Army will be tough to beat today I think. There’s a team that has a commitment.
Agree, ‘80. Thanks for the awesome comments as always.
Agree with all comments. Bowl games should still be fun but at the highest levels they are not.
These kids do get some stuff. I think the Citrus Bowl includes a 500 Amazon gift card among other things but it clearly is not enough.
Pulling for Army