In some ways it is fitting that the two teams playing in the inaugural Papajohns.com bowl are a very unlikely pairing in a bowl game. Two former Conference USA rivals will hit the field in Birmingham, as East Carolina (7-5) and South Florida (8-4) will play on December 23 rd .
In only its sixth season at the Division I-A level, South Florida will be making its second consecutive bowl appearance after not making one in its first four seasons. After its second straight fourth place finish in the Big East, the Bulls will look to improve upon a 14-0 loss last season in the Meineke Car Care Bowl to N.C. State.
Things are certainly looking up for the Bulls and head coach Jim Leavitt. In their last game, the Bulls went into Morgantown and defeated West Virginia, 24-19, and at the time, knocked off what was the No. 7 team in the nation. Looking at the series history, USF certainly has the advantage. When the Bulls were in C-USA, they met East Carolina three times, winning each game between 2002-04.
One reason for the optimism around the USF team is freshman QB Matt Grothe. He was named Big East Rookie of the Year, after really coming into his own late in the season, as the Bulls won three of their last four games. Grothe's numbers as a whole may not look that impressive (14 TDs, 14 INTs), but in his last four games, he is averaging 265 yards through the air. Grothe is also the leading rusher for the Bulls, as he is the centerpiece of the offense. He has averaged 50 yards per game on the ground, and reached the end zone another nine times rushing.
East Carolina is looking to get some stability back, after missing a bowl the last five seasons. The Pirates' last appearance came in 2001 with a heartbreaking 64-61 Double Overtime loss in the GMAC Bowl to Marshall. ECU was able to get back to a bowl game this year, thanks to five wins in its last six games.
ECU QB James Pinkney is having a stellar end to his career. The three-year starter has thrown for 2,658 yards and 11 touchdowns this season, and run for four more. Even more impressively, Pinkney has completed a little over 63-percent of his passes. Pinkney could have a tough time against the USF defense though. Bulls' cornerback Trae Williams will likely draw the assignment of leading receiver Aundre Allison, as Williams leads the Big East with seven interceptions this season. Look for ECU to try and pound it on the ground with leading rusher Brandon Fractious (675 yards, 4.5 yards per carry).
It may be easier for ECU to move the ball on the ground, especially considering the USF defense is prone to the run. The Bulls have given up an average of 120 yards on the ground. Either way, fans of Conference USA will have flashbacks from a couple of seasons ago, before USF made the big step up to the Big East.
Armed Forces Bowl
Tulsa vs. Utah
New name, same game. The bowl formerly known as the Forth Worth Bowl has taken on a new name for 2006, as Tulsa (8-4) and Utah (7-5) will meet in the Armed Forces Bowl on December 23 rd .
It may not be as festive as the Fiesta Bowl was for Utah two seasons ago when they defeated Pittsburgh 35-7, but the Utes will take it. It's the fourth straight bowl appearance for them (school record) and they will be vying for their sixth straight bowl win, which is tough for any school to accomplish.
Both teams are coming into the game after disappointing finishes to their respective regular seasons. Utah was leading ranked BYU 24-14 when they fell apart, eventually falling 33-31 at home. Meanwhile, Tulsa has lost three of its last four after reaching the national rankings in the middle of the season. A 34-3 win over Tulane secured the Golden Hurricane's second straight bowl appearance—only the second time in school history they have accomplished that.
Utah's senior QB Brett Ratliff is the engine that keeps the offense going. Ratliff has tossed 22 touchdowns this season, and is averaging over 213 yards per game through the air. Derrek Richards has been Ratliff's favorite target, making 53 catches and reeling in six touchdowns as well. Starting running back Darryl Potson has struggled at times, and especially in the team's last outing against BYU where he ran for just 15 yards on six carries. Potson still leads the team with 546 rushing yards.
Tulsa players and fans have to be ecstatic that head coach Dave Kragthorpe decided not to jump to a BCS school that had a job opening at year's end. Kragthorpe is committed to continue to turn things around in Tulsa, and so far he's done a heck of a job. The last time the Golden Hurricane was in back-to-back bowls was in 1964 and 1965.
Junior QB Paul Smith has led Tulsa this season on offense, and things are setting up just the way he wants to see them against Utah. The Utes give up 327.8 yards per game including 220.5 through the air, so it could be a big night for Smith. Smith has averaged 214.1 yards per game passing, while completing just about 66-percent of his passes. Utah also has to look out for running back Courtney Tennial who has had a touchdown in eight straight games, and leads the team with 792 yards on the ground.
This has the makings of a high scoring battle, as Tulsa averages just under 400 yards per game, with Utah giving up as many as they do. It is also likely to be quite the aerial attack with a couple of pretty good quarterbacks going at it. Keep in mind, Ratliff had the best game of his career in last year's Emerald Bowl for Utah.
Douglas Kroll can be reached at dckroll@hotmail.com
