Bowl Ties and predictions
New Orleans Bowl
Dec. 21, 2008
Marshall (C-USA) vs. Louisiana(Sun Belt No. 1)
Last week’s victory over Houston puts 4-4 Marshall back in bowl contention. Louisiana has quietly moved to the top of the Sun Belt standings, though a big game awaits Nov. 22 at Troy.
PapaJohns.com Bowl
Dec. 29, 2008
At Birmingham, Ala.
(SEC) vs. South Florida (Big East) (Big East)
The Papajohns Bowl ditched C-USA for the SEC this year, but it will have to settle the Sun Belt now that it appears the SEC won’t have enough bowl-eligible teams. After a 5-0 start, the Bulls have lost three of their past four.
St. Petersburg Bowl
Dec. 20, 2008
At St. Petersburg, Fla.
Connecticut(Big East) vs. Memphis (C-USA)
After a 5-0 start, the Huskies have lost three of their past four and are fortunate they’re already bowl eligible. The Tigers need to win two of their final three for bowl eligibility, but their opponents have a combined record of 5-20.
Independence Bowl
Dec. 28, 2008
At Shreveport, La.
Arkansas(SEC) vs. Kansas State (Big 12)
The Razorbacks kept their bowl hopes alive by upsetting Tulsa, but they still need another upset against South Carolina or LSU to be bowl eligible. Kansas State can become bowl eligible if they beat both Nebraska and Iowa State at home.