Upcoming bowl games
Champs Sports Bowl
Teams: Georgia Tech vs. Syracuse When: Tuesday, 7:45 p.m. Where: Orlando, Fla. TV: ESPN At a glance: Nice trip for two average teams. Syracuse is surprised to be here, making it after a rout of Boston College. The Orangemen hope all-everything player Diamond Ferri continues the assault he began against BC with interceptions, kick returns, and spectacular running plays. Georgia Tech needs a big effort from QB Reggie Ball. Guess here is it won't happen. Prediction: Syracuse 28, Georgia Tech 20
GMAC Bowl Teams: Memphis vs. Bowling Green When: Wednesday, 8 p.m. Where: Mobile, Ala. TV: ESPN At a glance: Nice matchup between mid-major teams that were just a few plays away from being in the Cinderella class. Both can score, and both consider defense optional, so look out. Watch for Memphis RB DeAngelo Williams, who ran for 1,828 yards. Bowling Green counters with QB Omar Jacobs, who passed for 3,637 yards. Last team with the ball wins. Prediction: Memphis 47, Bowling Green 4
Las Vegas Bowl Teams: Wyoming vs. UCLA When: Thursday, 9:45 p.m. Where: Las Vegas TV: ESPN At a glance: If this were early September, this would be an intriguing nonconference game. But two days before Christmas, in a bowl game in Vegas? UCLA should win because the Bruins faced -- that's faced, not beat -- better competition. UCLA has RB Maurice Drew, who exploded for 322 yards and 5 TDs against Washington. But he has a sore ankle; he missed the Oregon game and had minus-6 yards vs. Washington State and minus-5 against Southern Cal. Wyoming offers some defense and a nice passing combination -- Corey Bramlet to Jovon Bouknight. It won't be enough. Prediction: UCLA 26, Wyoming 13
Fort Worth Bowl Teams: Cincinnati vs. Marshall When: Thursday, 6:30 p.m. Where: Fort Worth TV: ESPN At a glance: Boston College was headed here before the Eagles and the Atlantic Coast Conference made a power play to squeeze out Connecticut in the Continental Tire Bowl. Had BC been scheduled to be here, matched against Cincinnati, a team the Eagles didn't care to deal with in the Big East, they might have passed on the invitation. With this Cincinnati-Marshall matchup, the question is, Why watch? Good question. Maybe Cincinnati QB Gino Guidugli is worth watching, or maybe Marshall WR Josh Davis. Then again, maybe it's a good time to wrap some Christmas presents and pass on this one. Prediction: Cincinnati 10, Marshall 7
