College Football Bowl Saturday: Three Games on Tap Today

College Football Bowl season continues today with three more bowl games, including an early morning showdown between two top 20 offenses that is as sure to start up your holiday weekend as a good morning jolt of coffee.

Birmingham Bowl

The showdown of which I speak is in the 9 a.m. Birmingham Bowl, between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the South Florida Bulls. The Red Raiders (6-6) are #17 in total offense this season, including the 11th best passing offense in the nation led by senior quarterback Nik Shimonek. Shimonek did not start in Tech’s last game against Texas, but came off the bench to beat the Longhorns in a comeback victory. The South Florida Bulls’ last game was one of the best of the college football season, an absolute barnburner against UCF, in which the Bulls fell 49-42, as the teams combined for three touchdowns in the last 2 and ¹⁄₂ minutes of the game. The Bulls (9-2) are also explosive when they have the ball, coming into the game at #9 in total offense.

Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl

Another interesting bowl features the San Diego State Aztecs versus Army Black Knights. Army (9-3) features its best team of the millennium, and is coming off an exciting and emotional win over Navy, 14-13, in the snow. It was Army’s second straight win over the Midshipmen, following 14 years of losses. SDSU comes into the game with a 10-2 record, with its only losses to Fresno State (winners of the West division of the Mountain West Conference) and Boise State (winners of the Mountain division of the Mountain West Conference). No shame there. If nothing else, tune in just to watch the Aztecs’ senior tailback, Rashaad Penny, who ran roughshod over defenses this season, to the tune of 2,027 rushing yards.

Dollar General Bowl

Unfortunately, the last bowl game of the day is also, in my opinion, the least exciting. Sometimes, however, these types of games end up being the best games. The Dollar General Bowl features the Appalachian State Mountaineers (8-4) versus the Toledo Rockets (11-2). Appalachian State features a dynamic quarterback, senior Taylor Lamb, who can hurt opponents with his arm (27 touchdowns) or with his legs (549 rushing yards). The Rockets won the MAC this season behind the arm of senior quarterback, Logan Woodside. Woodside threw for 28 touchdowns this campaign after throwing for 45 (!) last season. This game is worth watching just to see Woodside sling the ball around.

Here is the bowl schedule for today: