Bowl Season Is Here

OK college football fans, get on your comfy clothes, park yourself in your easy chair and make sure you have the basics close by, chips, dip and your favorite beverage (alcoholic or non-alcoholic). For the next 2 weeks you will be in heaven. It's time to go bowling.

Brother Phil has already covered the games, the match-ups and who he thinks will win and I'm taking his picks to Vegas, (just kidding, bad economy). Let me go a little more in depth if I may with the 1st batch of bowl games.

EagleBank Bowl - December 20th - RFK Stadium, Washington, DC
Wake Forest vs Navy (I like the Deacons in this one)

What Do They Get Don Pardo: Well the players from both schools will receive a Sony 8" portable DVD player with a carry case, a custom woven afghan with logo, an autographed football and a wool hat with logo.

The DVD player is cool and a wool hat is OK. Who has autographed the football? And a afghan for football players? A free Christmas gift for your girlfriend, mom, grandma, etc.

SWAG Meter: 3 (on a scale of 10)

Payout: $1 Million

Bowl Events: An evening at the ESPN Zone. (Guess who is televising this game?)

Final Analysis: Good match-up to start this bowl off. Wake Forest lost to Navy earlier this year so there is a revenge factor. Navy will bring the pomp and circumstance, Wake Forest will bring a few invited guests so there might be just a few empty seats at RFK Stadium but that's OK with the 4-letter word, it's just a TV show.

New Mexico Bowl - December 20 - University Stadium, Albuquerque, NM
Colorado State vs Fresno State (A Fresno State blowout)

What's Behind Door Number 1?: It's a backpack, an Oakley backpack for the players. Inside is an Oakley watch and an Oakley beanie. There's more, a RCA video recorder/camera, a New Mexico Bowl pen by Quill, a New Era cap and a year subscription to ESPN The Magazine.

Guess whose televising this bowl game too. The Oakley freebies sound good and who wouldn't want a camera. The rest re-gift.

SWAG Meter: 6

Payout: It's a secret

Bowl Events: Chili Cook-off at El Pinto. 6 players from each team are given 45 minutes to turn raw ingredients in chili. A panel of judges decided the winner. In the previous 2 chili cook-offs, the winner lost the bowl game. Now that's in depth information.

Final Analysis: Nobody east of the Rockies cares about this game. It's a reward in a way for the Rams and extra practices for the Bulldogs. It's a big event in Albuquerque so a big crowd will attend.

magicJack St. Petersburg Bowl - December 20- Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL
Memphis vs South Florida (Go with the Bulls)

What's In The Prize Box: Players from each team will get a Flip (digital video device), a Ogio bag, Sony headphones, a commemorative football, a beach towel and a bucket hat.

The Flip and Ogio bag sound cool, the rest is weak.

SWAG Meter: 3

Payout: No Comment

Bowl Events: A dinner cruise and a beach bash on St. Pete Beach.

Final Analysis: It's a home game for South Florida only in a different venue no doubt to inflate the gate. Memphis is just happy to be there and won't bring anyone. This isn't the Final Four. By the way, magicJack is a device you plug in to improve you cordless or cell phone reception. Operators are standing by.

Las Vegas Bowl - December 20 - Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada
BYU vs Arizona (This is a great match up and should be a great game. I like BYU by a field goal)

Show Them What They Have Won: Players from both teams receive a Wii System, an Oakley Holeshot 3hd watch and a Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl hat.

Give away the hat, the rest sounds sweet.

SWAG Meter: 8

Payout: $1 million (to be picked up at the cash window)

Bowl Events: Planet Hollywood Resort to watch Stomp Out Loud. Hard to top Las Vegas for entertainment

Final Analysis: 2 west coast teams that people east of the big rocks will watch. The Mountain West Conference has owned the Pac-10 this year so their is plenty of intrigue.