THE NUMBERS DON’T LIE! (BOWL GAMES)
2005 College Bowl Predictions
by Bob Acton of
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Southern Miss (6-5) is appearing in a bowl game for the fourthstraight year, having defeated North Texas 31-10 to win last year'sNew Orleans Bowl.
After winning a share of the Sun Belt Conference crown, ArkansasState (6-5) is headed to its first bowl since 1987 and first sincethe Pecan Bowl in 1970. Between 1982 and 1991, the Indians werepart of Division I-AA.
Prediction: Southern Miss 45-13
The Miners lost in their last three bowl appearances,including a 33-28 defeat to Colorado in the EV1.net Houston Bowllast season. They are 5-6 in bowl games, last winning one in 1967,a 14-7 victory over Mississippi in the Sun Bowl.
Toledo (8-3) is the fourth Mid-American Conferenceteam to play in the GMAC Bowl in the game's seven years of existence.MAC teams are 4-0 in the GMAC Bowl.
Prediction: UTEP 42 Toledo 38
Cal started 5-0 but lost four of its last six,including close defeats to UCLA, Oregon State and Oregon. A 35-10home loss Nov. 12 to the top-ranked Trojans showed just how farthey were from last season's 10-2 record and No. 9 final ranking.
Jeff Tedford's team closed its season with a27-3 win over archrival Stanford before accepting a bid to theLas Vegas Bowl. After a six-year drought, this is the third straightbowl game for the Bears, who are 6-8-1 in bowl games.
The Cougars have won the last two games betweenthe teams, including a 44-16 rout in 2001 when Holmoe coachedthe Bears.
Predicted Score: BYU 21 Cal20
The last time Navy (7-4) played a bowl game inSan Diego, it upset Brigham Young 23-16 in the inaugural HolidayBowl in 1978.
Navy is making its record third straight bowlgame appearance and 12th in team history. It defeated New Mexico34-19 in the 2004 Emerald Bowl and ended a seven-year bowl gamedrought with a 38-14 loss to Texas Tech in the 2003 Houston Bowl.
The Midshipmen are 5-5-1 in bowl games.
Colorado State has played three bowl games inSan Diego, losing Holiday Bowl matchups to Michigan, 24-14 in1994, and Kansas State, 54-21 in 1995. The Rams beat Missouri,35-24 in 1997.
Predicted Score: Colorado State38 Navy 24
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