Little Caesars Pizza Bowl <formerly the Motor City Bowl>
Kickoff: Sunday Dec 26, 2010; 8:30pm EST, ESPN
Florida International Golden Panthers vs. Toledo Rockets

FIU RB Darriet Perry (28) scores against Troy (Icon SMI)

Notes:

• FIU is playing in their very first bowl game, quite remarkable for a football program that is just nine years old at any level; the Golden Panthers’ six wins this season comprise one-fifth of their 30 victories all-time.
• The Golden Panthers hit their stride down the stretch, averaging 38 points while winning four of their final five.
• Toledo is 8-2 lifetime in bowls, and has appeared in this bowl three times over the last decade; their last bowl victory was in 2005; a 45-13 victory over UTEP in the 2005 GMAC Bowl.
• The Rockets finished second in the West Division of the MAC behind NIU and three of their four losses were to teams also playing in bowls – Boise State, Northern Illinois and Arizona.
• The Rockets forced 33 turnovers in 2010, tied with Hawaii for the most in the nation; the Rockets allowed an average of 46 ppg in their four losses, and were 1-4 when forcing fewer than three turnovers.

For Key Players: Read the rest of this entry →

New Orleans Bowl: Ohio University (8-4) vs. Troy (7-5)
Kickoff: 9:00 pm EST Sat Dec 18, 2010

• Ohio was the MAC East #2 team behind the MAC overall champion Miami (OH) while Troy is the Sun Belt Conference Champion.
• The Bobcats earned a second straight bowl berth for the first time in school history.
• The Trojans are making their third straight bowl appearance and fifth in seven seasons; Troy won at least a share of its conference championship for the fifth straight season.

Ohio Key Players:

• While the Bobcats had their seven-game winning streak snapped in a season-ending 28-6 loss to Kent State; QB Boo Jackson threw his school-record 35th career touchdown pass for Ohio breaking a mark that had stood for 41 years’ WR Terrence McCrae also set a school record with his 19th career TD catch.
• SS Donovan Fletcher is one of Ohio’s best defensive players this season; notched a team-high five interceptions and is second on the team with 68 tackles. He’ll get plenty of chances against Troy to make an impact as the Trojans throw the ball 40 times a game and use lots of four and five receiver sets.

Troy Key Players:

• Troy DE Jonathan Massaquoi led the Sun Belt with 17 1/2 tackles for loss.
• Troy’s QB Corey Robinson threw for a conference-leading 3,320 yards with 24 touchdowns, but also was intercepted 15 times.

Statbox: Read the rest of this entry →

Although the Sun Belt Conference is not regarded as one of the top conferences for fantasy talent, there will be some good finds among the 2010 crop of SBC players….and at least one fantasy superstar….Middle Tennessee QB Dwight Dasher (photo, thanks College Football News).

For other top fantasy prospects from the SBC, check out our following synopsis of each conference member Read the rest of this entry →

Jan. 6:  GMAC Bowl – Mobile, AL

7:00 p.m. – ESPN

Central Michigan (11-2, 8-0 MAC) vs. Troy (9-3, 8-0 Sun Belt)

Note:  Game marks the battle of two conference champions from the MAC and Sun Belt conferences.  Also marks the fourth consecutive bowl appearance for Central Michigan (2006 Motor City Bowl; 2007 Motor City Bowl; 2008 Motor City Bowl).

Comment: Quite possibly this may be one of the most entertaining non-BCS or non-major bowls as each team averages 33-points per game.  Read the rest of this entry →

Probably the one song not popular among Sun Belt Conference schools this yuletide season will be “Granma Got Run Over By A Reindeer”

Especially among SBC defenses that had to tackle Dasher…Dwight Dasher…to be more exact.   The dual-threat QB from Middle Tennessee is our Fantasy College Blitz Sun Belt Conference Fantasy Player of the Year.

Dasher, a junior from Folkston, GA (Charlton County HS), led the Blue Raiders attack with 2511 yards passing and 19 TDs, while rushing for 865 yards and 9 rushing TDs (stats quoted through November 21st games).  Dasher’s performance led Middle Tennessee to their most successful season in Division I FBS football, and, ended the 2009 season bowl-eligible.

Joining Dasher on the 2009 Sun Belt All-Fantasy Team are…. Read the rest of this entry →