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The MRI vs. The World 2008: Sad Times
December 24, 2008 | By Benjamin Miraski
Things haven't gone well for the MRI so far this bowl season. Overtime losses, missed field goals and just plain playing under expectations have foiled the MRI's best chances to win once again this year...and we have only had six games so far this year.
The MRI is mired in dead last with only one win so far this bowl season. The World hasn't done much better, with two wins to its credit.
Leading the pack right now are Pat Forde and Will Harris, who both have five wins so far. The Hawaii Bowl this evening will sort out the top of the rankings, as Forde has sided with the Warriors while Harris (along with the MRI) have picked the Golden Dome to break their long losing streak.
But there are still more games to be picked, so let's go to the spreadsheet.
December 26, 2008
The Motor City Bowl
Why to watch?: Perhaps they will give out some of the financial bailout money to whoever tunes in. The best reason to watch is Dan LeFevour, quarterback for Central Michigan. Since his freshman year, he has been putting up numbers on par with the best quarterbacks in college football. And if his team was slightly better, you might be seeing LeFevour in New York. Central Michigan should be tops this game and give Howard Schnellenberger his first bowl loss
Central Michigan: The MRI, Harmon, Darst, Dodd, Congrove, Forde, Feldman, Herbstreit, Harris, The World (92%)
Florida Atlantic: None
December 27, 2008
The Emerald Bowl
Why to watch?: To see if anyone runs into the walls which are inexplicably close to the field at AT&T park in San Francisco. Frankly this shouldn't be much of a game. Cal is the MRI's 34-point confidence pick in all the bowl challenges. How the line is only 8 points when Cal just needs to ride down the road in a bus is beyond me. Of course, Cal has been known to screw up big advantages in the past.
Cal: The MRI, Harmon, Darst, Dodd, Congrove, Forde, Feldman, Herbstreit, Harris, The World (92%)
Miami: None
The Champs Sports Bowl
Why to watch?: Bobby Bowden is continually in a battle with Joe Paterno for the most wins in history. Can he continue to stalk JoePa? Maybe it is a matter of whether Florida State can hold up against Wisconsin's bruising team. Both teams have something to prove after disappointing seasons kept them from where all the experts thought they might be. Who knew Tangerines were the stuff that football dreams were made of?
Florida State: The MRI, Harmon, Darst, Dodd, Congrove, Forde, Feldman, Harris, The World (82%)
Wisconsin: Herbstreit
The Meineke Car Care Bowl
Why to watch?: George Foreman will only be on about seven or eight...hundred times. West Virginia plays before New Year's for the first time since the players have been there, but Pat White can still win four bowl games for his career. It will be a tough day against Butch Davis and a North Carolina team that never lived up to this year's expectations. Maybe the disappointment of the Mountaineers season will be the difference and North Carolina can make a statement in building for the future.
West Virginia: The MRI, Harmon, Congrove, Forde, Feldman, The World (63%)
North Carolina: Darst, Dodd, Herbstreit, Harris
December 28, 2008
The Independence Bowl
Why to watch?: You can root for... really, there is no reason to watch this game. If there were ever a bowl ripe for cutting from the already bloated slate, I think you could start in Shreveport. Watch at your own risk, and only if you have nothing more interesting to do.
Northern Illinois: The MRI, Harmon, Congrove
Louisiana Tech: Darst, Dodd, Feldman, Herbstreit, Harris, The World (68%)
December 29, 2008
The Valero Alamo Bowl
Why to watch?: Pat Fitzgerald has something brewing at Northwestern, and a win over Missouri might be just the thing to really start a (dare I say it?) dynasty for the Wildcats. Missouri has nothing to play for and has been destroyed in every big game on its schedule this season. The Alamo Bowl is a long way from where the Tigers felt they might be playing come wintertime. Plus you get to watch Journalism students across the country rejoice.
Missouri: The MRI, Harmon, Darst, Dodd, Congrove, Forde, Feldman, The World (88%)
Northwestern: Herbstreit, Harris
The Papajohns.com Bowl
Why to watch?: Mike Teel's final season at Rutgers was somewhat like Missouri's season -- way below what hopes were. Teel and the Scarlet Knights came on strong at the end of the year to sneak into a bowl game, albeit one that is sponsored by a pizza company's Web site. It is a not exactly the going away party that Teel may have hoped for. But this is one last shot for him to show scouts what he might bring to the NFL and that is all the reason to look for a Knights win.
Rutgers: The MRI, Harmon, Darst, Congrove, Forde, Herbstreit, Harris, The World (73%)
North Carolina State: Dodd, Feldman
December 30, 2008
The Pacific Life Holiday Bowl
Why to watch?: This might be the best game of the second set of games. The Oregon Ducks were quietly one of the better teams in the Pac-10. I think it came from playing without Dennis Dixon for part of last season, leading the team to understand what it means to win without their star. Oklahoma State was more explosive this season, but picked the wrong year to man up with Texas, Oklahoma and Texas Tech tearing up the South division in the Big XII. The scoreboard might need triple digits to handle all the scoring here. Pick the over, and the MRI says to quack like a duck.
Oregon: The MRI, Darst, Dodd, Congrove, Forde, Feldman, Herbstreit
Oklahoma State: Harmon, Harris, The World (80%)
The Texas Bowl
Why to watch?: Western Michigan puts up 420 yards of offense per game playing in the cold. Just imagine what a warmer climate could hold for them. Rice can generate even more yards with their top quarterback Chase Clement at the helm. The Owls were one blow-out away from taking their division in Conference USA. Of the teams from the smaller conferences, this is the one game you might want to take the time for to satisfy some football cravings.
Rice: The MRI, Darst, Dodd, Forde, Feldman, Herbstreit, Harris, The World (55%)
Western Michigan: Harmon, Congrove
The Roady's Humantarian Bowl
Why to watch?: Maryland may have been the worst team with a chance to win its division this year, which only underscores how poor the ACC was. They finished 7-5 but have problems with turnovers, a porous defense and trouble on offense. Of course, there is no way to tell what Maryland team might show up: the one that beat Cal, or the one that lost to Middle Tennessee State and tumbled to the end of the season on a two game losing streak. So, for a good time, pick Nevada and enjoy the weirdness of football on the blue turf.
Nevada: The MRI, Harmon, Darst, Dodd, Congrove, Forde, Feldman, Herbstreit, Harris
Maryland: The World (72%)
The MRI Rankings are copyright 2008 by MRISports.com. Ben Miraski is a freelance reporter, edits and writes for MRISports.com and is a featured blogger on FanIQ. Readers can contact Ben at bmiraski@mrisports.com
Posted December 24, 2008 4:00 PM
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