MCR – Holiday Specials Part II

With Christmas behind us and that glorious time known as bowl week just beginning it’s time to take a look at games that stretch Santa day to New Year’s day – the Holiday Specials Part II. Here is the Matchup Comparison Rating defined for your reference.






Motor City
Middle Tennessee State (7-5) vs. Central Michigan (9-4)
Dec. 26, 7:30 PM - ESPN

What could be better then the center of Tennessee playing the center of Michigan in Detroit, at the end of December - a root canal maybe? MAC champion Central Michigan takes on Sun Belt runner up Middle Tennessee. CMU is 29th in the nation in total offense while MTSU is 105th and 83rd against the pass. That alone may be the downfall for the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders because the Chippewas have the 17th best passing offense. The Blue Raiders rely on ball control running and an aggressive, blitzing defense but if they make a mistake it could be costly.

-1 record disparity
-1 cold location (who wants to travel to Detroit?)
+1 big play offense

MCR 1 (Woman’s Heart) - just skip it unless you have a bet.

Emerald
Florida State (6-6) vs. UCLA (7-5)
Dec. 27, 8:00 PM ESPN

Did you know that UCLA beat USC the last game of the year?! You did! Could that be because it’s been the only thing associated with Bruins football the last month? The subtitle of the game should be the race to 10 because it’s difficult to believe either offense scoring that many points on these two defenses. Seminoles linebacker Buster Davis is fun to watch because of his tenacious play and the fact that he looks like Robocop. Bruins defensive ends Justin Hickman and Bruce Davis have combined for 25 sacks and will be meeting in the FSU backfield all night. It’s also the last time Florida State will be holding a pair of Bowdens because Bobby’s son Jeff has been tarred, feathered, and run out of town by FSU fans resigned from his offensive Coordinator position. The Seminoles are 80th in total offense with the Bruins one step ahead at 79th – take the under, even if it’s three.

+1 Last game for a Bowden (ok, so it’s not THE Bowden)
+1 two strong defenses
+1 strong possibility of offensive players getting maimed or permanently injured
-1 no offense

MCR 2 (Microwave Dinner)

PetroSun Independence
Oklahoma State (6-6) vs. Alabama (6-6)
Dec. 28, 4:30 PM - ESPN

When your trying to mask the fact that you make a boat-load of money drilling for oil, change your name to something that sounds eco-friendly like PetroSun (get it, there’s Sun in our name, we’re friendly). Likewise, when you have a crappy bowl; invite a team that has a tradition like Alabama – never mind the fact that it’s a matchup of two teams barely bowl eligible. The Tide are coachless but get one of the worst defenses in the nation; OSU checks in at 92nd in total D. The Cowboys offense, on the other hand, is 8th in rushing and 13th overall with dual threat Bobby Reid at Quarterback. It’s a matchup of strengths against weaknesses. OSU did manage to beat Nebraska while Alabama managed to do just enough to lose to all the big boys. This may be one of the better games heading into New Year’s Day.

+1 potent offense
+1 Alabama coaching debacle (how many times will ESPN talk about it – let’s count)
-1 two teams barely bowl eligible
+1 early start – nothing like football while eating dinner

MCR 2 (Microwave Dinner – eat it in the living room)


Pacific Life Holiday
Texas A&M (9-3) vs. California (9-3)
Dec. 28, 8:00 PM - ESPN

Now we start to see the boys with resumes – Cal has one of the most talented offenses and Texas A&M is not to be taken lightly. Bears Tailback Marshawn Lynch is fun to watch and the Aggies’ rush defense is a pedestrian 46th in the nation. A&M’s season was pretty much made with the win over Texas but 9-3 is very impressive. The Aggies are 7th in the nation in rushing and possess two outstanding running backs in Mike Goodson and Jorvorskie Lane (combined 1474 yards rushing). The Cal rushing defense is also an unimpressive 45th in the country so it may be a game of ball control, but if the Aggie D can’t get pressure on QB Nathan Longshore it could be a long night.

+1 redeemed coach Dennis Franchione
+1 3 good running backs
+1 two statistically potent offenses

MCR 3 (Jessica Simpson Sex Tape)

Texas
Rutgers (10-2) vs. Kansas State (7-5)
Dec. 28, 8:00 PM - The NFL Network

Tagline: the best game you probably won’t see. Not many cable companies carry the NFL Network so here is their attempt to get it added to basic packages. Luckily, fans in the New Jersey – New York area get it for free, but most people won’t see it. It’s too bad because we will miss dynamic duo Ray Rice and Brian Leonard running all over 70th ranked rushing defense. Rice may use this opportunity to springboard his 2007 Heisman candidacy. The Wildcats bring a freshman quarterback who has thrown seven more interceptions then touchdowns and their leading rusher has 595 yards. Kansas State did manage to beat Texas but the rest of their schedule is filled with creampuffs.

+1 kickass backfield
-1 record disparity
-1 weak defense
-1 no passing offenses
-1 corporate greed

MCR 1 (Woman’s Heart) – can’t watch it anyway