2009-2010 College Football Bowl Match-Ups and TV Schedule

2009-2010 College Football Bowl Matchups and Schedules

Wyoming vs Fresno State
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NEW MEXICO BOWL
Dec. 19, 4:30 PM ET

Wyoming coach Dave Christensen is the only first-year Mountain West coach to get his team into a bowl, but the Cowboys are going to have a tough time controlling the strong offensive attack of Fresno State. Running back Ryan Mathews is one of the best in the nation and should make short work of a Wyoming rushing defense that is allowing 170.50 yards per game.

Rutgers vs UCF
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ST. PETERSBURG BOWL
Dec. 19, 8:00 PM ET

Rutgers has been putting up billboards in Florida touting its program to recruits for the past few years; now the Scarlet Knights will make their first-ever bowl trip to the Sunshine State. It will be a virtual home game, though, for Central Florida, which should bring plenty of fans to Tropicana Field.

Middle Tennessee State vs Southern Miss
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R+L CARRIERS NEW ORLEANS BOWL
Dec. 20, 8:30 PM ET

For the second consecutive season, Southern Miss will match up against a Sun Belt team. Middle Tennessee features a tough front seven that leads the nation in tackles for loss (8.83) and is fourth in sacks (3.14). Southern Miss' defense is equally as good, which will make it tough for two talented offenses.

No. 14 Brigham Young vs No. 18 Oregon State
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MAACO BOWL LAS VEGAS
Dec. 22, 8:00 PM ET

Nothing will surprise BYU about the Las Vegas Bowl, considering the Cougars will be playing in the game for the fifth consecutive year. The Cougars are 2-2 vs. the Pac-10 in the bowl. BYU quarterback Max Hall has thrown for 30 touchdown passes, while the Beavers feature quarterback Sean Canfield and the Rodgers brothers, running back Jacquizz and receiver James.

No. 23 Utah at California
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SAN DIEGO COUNTY CREDIT UNION POINSETTIA BOWL
Dec. 23, 8:00 PM ET

This is a good matchup of two teams that are likely disappointed with their seasons. California, once ranked sixth, got blown out by Oregon and USC and then seemed to recover its mojo before falling hard at Washington in the season finale. Utah played three ranked teams -- including Oregon -- and lost to each of them.

Southern Methodist vs Nevada
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SHERATON HAWAII BOWL
Dec. 24, 8:00 PM ET

SMU will be playing in its first bowl since 1984. Ironically, the Mustangs may feel like they're going up against the Pony Express when they face a Nevada rushing offense that is the best in the nation behind three 1,000-yard rushers. SMU coach June Jones is returning to the islands for the first time since leaving the University of Hawaii for SMU two years ago.

Ohio vs Marshall
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LITTLE CAESARS BOWL
Dec. 26, 1:00 PM ET

A new coach will lead Marshall in this bowl game after Mark Snyder resigned following the final game of the regular season. Ohio is susceptible to the run, which will play into Marshall's offense and star running back Darius Marshall, but the Bobcats' offense started to click late in the year with Theo Scott and receiver Taylor Price.

No. 17 Pittsburgh at North Carolina
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MEINEKE CAR CARE BOWL
Dec. 26, 4:30 PM ET

Two former Jimmy Johnson disciples meet when Dave Wannstedt's Panthers face Butch Davis' Tar Heels in Charlotte. Pitt will have to shake off the disappointment of two straight last-minute losses to end the season, including a heartbreaker against Cincinnati that cost it the Big East title. The Tar Heels have been Team Schizophrenia, beating Virginia Tech and Miami but losing to Virginia and NC State.

No. 24 USC vs Boston College
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EMERALD BOWL
Dec. 26, 8:00 PM ET

This one sounds sort of strange, eh? USC, after playing seven consecutive BCS bowls and winning two national titles, will try to regroup for a matchup with the Eagles. BC features a stingy defense but has struggled on offense much of the year. The Trojans have been inconsistent on both sides of the ball.

Clemson vs Kentucky
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GAYLORD HOTELS MUSIC CITY BOWL
Dec. 27, 8:30 PM ET

Nashville might as well be Kentucky's postseason home. The Wildcats will be making their third trip to the Music City Bowl in the past four years and will be looking to win their fourth straight bowl game overall. They're going against a Clemson team that was outlasted by Georgia Tech in a wild ACC championship game and features one of the most explosive players in the country in C.J. Spiller.

Georgia vs Texas A&M
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ADVOCARE V100 INDEPENDENCE BOWL
Dec. 28, 5:00 PM ET

Expect an offensive battle when Jerrod Johnson and Texas A&M hook up with Joe Cox and Georgia. The main factor in this game will be how Georgia's defense -- playing without fired coordinator Willie Martinez and two other assistants -- will stand up against an A&M offense that ranks in the top 25 nationally in scoring, rushing, passing and total offense.

No. 15 Miami (FL) at No. 25 Wisconsin
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CHAMPS SPORTS BOWL
Dec. 29, 8:00 PM ET

Miami's defense will have to stop Wisconsin's strong running game, led by Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year John Clay. Both defenses will be tested, as Miami has opened up its playbook this season under first-year offensive coordinator Mark Whipple. Miami quarterback Jacory Harris was plagued by turnovers in the second half of the season, but the Badgers are known for their run-stuffing defense, not their secondary.

Idaho vs Bowling Green
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ROADY'S HUMANITARIAN BOWL
Dec. 30, 4:30 PM ET

This game promises to be a high-scoring affair, with two of the more potent offenses in the country. Idaho, which is attending its first bowl game since 1998, is averaging 31.83 points per game, and Bowling Green is averaging 27.33 points per game. Bowling Green features the nation's best receiver statistically in Freddie Barnes.

No. 20 Arizona at No. 22 Nebraska
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PACIFIC LIFE HOLIDAY BOWL
Dec. 30, 8:00 PM ET

Arizona will be riding high after beating USC for the first time in seven tries, while Nebraska might be asking what might have been after losing in the final seconds to Texas in the Big 12 championship game. First order of business for the Wildcats: figuring out how they are going to block the incomparable Ndamukong Suh.

Air Force vs Houston
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BELL HELICOPTER ARMED FORCES BOWL
Dec. 31, 12:00 PM ET

This game is a rematch of last year's Armed Forces Bowl that Houston won 34-28. This year, the bowl will pit the nation's top passing attack in Houston against the nation's best pass defense in Air Force. Houston, behind quarterback Case Keenum, averages 450 passing yards per game, while the Air Force defense allows just 148.67 yards per game.

No. 21 Stanford vs Oklahoma
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BRUT SUN BOWL
Dec. 31, 2:00 PM ET
CBS

It's a big downer for the Sooners to play in El Paso, even with the challenge of stopping Heisman candidate Toby Gerhart and the Cardinal's sizzling offense in their first bowl trip since 2001. It will be an interesting coaching contrast between Stanford's Jim Harbaugh, who will be making his first bowl trip, against Bob Stoops, who has lost five of his past six bowl games.

Missouri vs Navy
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TEXAS BOWL
Dec. 31, 3:30 PM ET

Contrasting offenses will be pitted in the first battle between the two schools since the 1961 Orange Bowl. Missouri's Danario Alexander has been the nation's hottest receiver, sparking an explosive passing offense that has scored at least 32 points in each of its past five games. That high-powered attack will be a huge contrast for Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo's team, which ranks third nationally in rushing but 119th in passing.

Iowa State vs Minnesota
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INSIGHT BOWL
Dec. 31, 6:00 PM ET
NFL Net

Excitement from ISU fans helped convince bowl officials to pick the Cyclones over Big 12 teams with better records. Enthusiastic ISU coach Paul Rhoads' passionate postgame victory speech after beating Nebraska has become a YouTube staple. We'll see if he's as excited after playing in his first bowl game against the Gophers, who are playing in the Insight Bowl for the third time in the past four seasons.

No. 11 Virginia Tech at Tennessee
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Chick-fil-A BOWL
Dec. 31, 7:30 PM ET

Virginia Tech will return to Atlanta for the third time this season, but the Hokies are still looking for their first win in the city after losses to Alabama and Georgia Tech. Tennessee's rushing defense, which is ranked seventh in the SEC, will have to slow standout rookie running back Ryan Williams, who has had nine 100-yard games this year.

Auburn vs Northwestern
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OUTBACK BOWL
Jan. 1, 11:00 AM ET

Auburn ended its first season under Gene Chizik by losing five of its last six SEC games, but that last loss was one of the Tigers' best performances of the season in a 26-21 setback to Alabama. Northwestern comes into this contest as the hot team, having won four of its past five games. Included in that stretch were wins over No. 4Iowa and No. 16 Wisconsin.

No. 16 West Virginia at Florida State
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KONICA MINOLTA GATOR BOWL
Jan. 1, 1:00 PM ET
CBS

Florida State will bid farewell to legendary coach Bobby Bowden when he faces his former team, West Virginia, in the New Year's Day bowl. The 6-6 Seminoles were able to jump Miami, Boston College and ACC runner-up Clemson in the selection process because there were no contractual provisions that prevented it. FSU's struggling defense will be tasked with stopping the No. 2 rushing offense in the Big East.

No. 12 LSU vs No. 13 Penn State
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CAPITAL ONE BOWL
Jan. 1, 1:00 PM ET

It was a season of "close" for LSU, which lost three fourth-quarter games, two of them to Alabama and Florida. But the Tigers rallied in their final regular-season game to beat Arkansas in overtime, giving them a chance to win 10 or more games for the fourth time in five years under Les Miles. Penn State looked like it was headed for a BCS bowl berth until its 24-7 loss to Ohio State.

No. 7 Oregon vs No. 8 Ohio State
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ROSE BOWL GAME PRESENTED BY CITI
Jan. 1, 4:30 PM ET

This is a classic matchup of the Ducks' sixth-rated rushing offense versus the Buckeyes' fifth-rated rushing defense, but so often it is the less obvious considerations -- such as Oregon's fast but undersized defense versus Ohio State's physical but inconsistent offense -- that decides things. And Buckeyes quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who almost went to Oregon, will get a close-up look at an offense that might have better fit his skill set.

No. 3 Cincinnati vs No. 5 Florida
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ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL
Jan. 1, 8:30 PM ET
FOX

Call it the Urban Meyer Bowl. Florida's coach will square off against his alma mater, Cincinnati, and one of the few playcallers who can match him in creativity: Bearcats boss Brian Kelly. It will be a huge litmus test for the Big East as its champion takes on the defending BCS champs. Oh, and some fellow named Tim Tebow will play his final college game.

Northern Illinois vs South Florida
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INTERNATIONAL BOWL
Jan. 2, 12:00 PM ET

After a 5-0 start, South Florida went through another mid-year calamity and finished just 7-5. So the Bulls got shipped all the way out of the country to Toronto for a bowl game against a 7-5 MAC team. South Florida should have far too much athleticism for Northern Illinois, but the Bulls are unpredictable.

Connecticut vs South Carolina
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PAPAJOHNS.com BOWL
Jan. 2, 2:00 PM ET

Connecticut became America's team this season after cornerback Jasper Howard was killed in October. The Huskies suffered five losses by a total of 15 points before bouncing back and wining their final three contests. South Carolina lost four of its final six but did end the year with a resounding win over Clemson.

No. 19 Oklahoma State at Mississippi
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AT&T COTTON BOWL
Jan. 2, 2:00 PM ET
FOX

Oklahoma State and Ole Miss had similar seasons. Both started in the top 10, suffered through a disappointing loss early only to get it going again, but then ended the season with resounding losses to rivals. Ole Miss' Dexter McCluster enters the game with a chance to become the first player in SEC history to rush for 1,000 yards and have 500 yards receiving in the same season.

East Carolina vs Arkansas
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AutoZone LIBERTY BOWL
Jan. 2, 5:30 PM

East Carolina played its best football in the second half of the season, punctuated by a 38-32 victory over No. 21 Houston on Saturday to win the Conference USA championship. The Pirates will go from Houston's Case Keenum to Arkansas' Ryan Mallett, who led the SEC this season with 3,422 passing yards and 29 touchdown passes.

Texas Tech vs Michigan State
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VALERO ALAMO BOWL
Jan. 2, 9:00 PM ET

This game has the look of a mismatch, as Texas Tech's high-powered offensive attack will be pitted against a suspension-ravaged Michigan State team that ranked 96th in pass efficiency defense, 103rd in pass defense and allowed 29 touchdown passes. The underrated Tech defense played better than expected this season but will be tested by MSU's pass-and-catch combo of Kirk Cousins and Blair White.

No. 4 TCU vs No. 6 Boise State
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TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL
Jan. 4, 8:00 PM ET
FOX

This might be a controversial matchup, with the two non-AQ teams pitted against each other instead of against BCS conference teams they'd prefer to prove themselves against, not to mention they played in the Poinsettia Bowl last year. The big matchup here is TCU's dominant defense versus Boise State's offense -- No. 1 in the nation in scoring -- led by quarterback Kellen Moore.

No. 9 Georgia Tech vs No. 10 Iowa
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FedEx ORANGE BOWL
Jan. 5, 8:00 PM ET
FOX
Georgia Tech's spread option offense has seemed unstoppable this season, especially to teams that are unfamiliar with it, but Iowa has an advantage in that it's strong in the defensive interior, which is key to stopping the triple option. Iowa has mastered the art of winning ugly, though, and just completed its fourth season with at least 10 wins under Kirk Ferentz.

Troy vs Central Michigan
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GMAC BOWL
Jan. 6, 7:00 PM ET

Sun Belt champ Troy will have to find a way to stop shifty quarterback Dan LeFevour, who capped his record-setting career with a MAC championship. It's the fourth straight bowl appearance for Central Michigan, and the last for LeFevour, who helped the Chippewas to their third conference title in four years.


No. 1 Alabama vs No. 2 Texas
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CITI BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Jan. 7, 8:00 PM ET

They're two of the most tradition-rich and storied programs in college football, and they'll be meeting for the first time in nearly 30 years when Alabama and Texas clash in the BCS National Championship Game. It's also the first time since the 2005 classic between Texas and Southern California that two unbeaten teams have met for the BCS national title.