Bowl Breakdown-Part 2

Here is the next round of Bowl Previews. One item before I continue...The final FBS PRS will be released later tonight. Once I have broken down the PRS at 1-120, I will be posting a look at how I would have had the bowl assignments done out according to my ranking. I will also be looking at what the bowl schedule would look like if I had complete control, including which bowls would exist and which would not. I'll give you one sneak peak at what to expect from that...I would re-emphasize the importance of New Years Day.
Without further delay, here is my continuation of the bowl breakdown...

Poinsettia Bowl
December 23, 8PM EST
ESPN

Navy Midshipmen (8-3) vs. San Diego State (8-4)
(Navy plays Army this Saturday)
Navy still has one more game on the slate, and can still win their 9th game of the season. The Middies are in the midst of the best run in academy history, and the success continues with another bowl bid. The season started a bit bumpy, but Navy has has now won 6 of their last 7. QB Ricky Dobbs is not having the season that he had in 2009, but he is still solid, as he has a combined 23 TDs rushing and passing. The defense is a work in progress still, and the Middies will be hard pressed to defend the weapons that Al Borges' SDSU offense brings to bear. QB Ryan Lindley has passed for 3554 yards and 26 TDs in 2010, but does have 14 picks to go along with it. Vincent Brown and DeMarco Sampson have both gone for over 1000 yards receiving and have combined for 17 TDs.Ronnie Hillman also brings his 1304 rushing yards to the table with his 14 TDs on the ground.
I Pick: San Diego State

Hawaii Bowl
December 24, 8PM EST
ESPN

Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (10-3) vs. Tulsa Golden Hurricane (9-3)
This will be one of the more exciting bowl games on the plate this season. Not many people had a bunch of hope for these two clubs this season, and both for different reasons, but they both played well above the level expected. Hawaii plays at Aloha Stadium once again, and they bring one of America's best offenses to the front of the room. They tied for the WAC title behind the incredible arm of QB Bryant Moniz, who passed for 4629 yards and 36 TDs on the season. Greg Salas finished the season with 106 grabs for 1675 yards and 12 TDs, and add the outstanding production of Kealoha Pilares (88-1306-15 TDs) to the mix. Royce Pollard and Rodney Bradley combined for another 104 catches for 1283 yards and 7 TDs on the season. You may not think that with that much passing going on that UH would have a running game, but you would be wrong about that. Alex Green has rushed for 1168 yards and an amazing 17 TDs on the season and has 26 catches out of the backfield. On defense, the Rainbows are loaded with stars as well and have held opponents to 21 points or under 7 times.
Tulsa was coming off of one of their most disappointing seasons in 2009, and Todd Graham got the ship headed in the right direction this season. They started off 1-2, but then went 8-1 the rest of the way. They tied SMU for the CUSA West title, but they fell to the Mustangs, keeping them out of the CUSA title game. QB GJ Kinne has developed into a monster at QB. Kinne has passed for 3307 yards and 28 TDs, and then led the Hurricane in rushing with 557 yards and 7 more TDs. Damaris Johnson led the team in receiving, but Charles Clay led the team in receiving scores with 7. Marco Nelson and Dexter McCoil are dangerous on D, each with 6 picks.
I Pick: Hawaii in a wild one

Little Caesers Bowl
December 26, 8:30PM EST
ESPN

Florida International Panthers (6-6) vs. Toledo Rockets (8-4)
This will be the first ever bowl appearance for the Panthers. The Panthers shared Sun Belt title with Troy, but had defeated the Trojans 52-35 this season to get the conference's top spot. After an 0-4 start, FIU went 6-2 the rest of the way. QB Wesley Carroll (Mississippi State transfer) struggled at times, and passed for 2483 yards, but his TD/Pick ratio was almost even at 15/13. The strength is in the run game, but the job is shared by Darriet Perry and Darrian Mallary. They have combined for 1373 yards and 16 TDs this season. TY Hilton will be the main target in the receiving game, as he combined for 1094 yards rushing/receiving, while scoring 8 TDs.
Terrence Owens and Austin Dantin shared the QB job due to Dantin getting injured. Owens is the better option, as he has passed for 1112 yards with 12 TDs against 2 picks. Dantin tossed 8 picks against 7 TDs. Adonis Thomas is the rushing leader with 905 yards and 6 TDs. Eric Page is the receiving leader with 1081 yards on 94 catches with 8 TDs. Tim Beckman has done a splendid job of putting the pieces back together this season after several season of downturn. The Rockets are on the way back.
I Pick: Toledo

Indpendence Bowl
December 27, 5PM EST
ESPN

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (6-6) vs. Air Force Falcons (8-4)
The Yellow Jackets were a letdown team in 2010. Josh Nesbitt is not a passing threat, so whenever the Yellow Jackets fall behind, they are not a solid choice to make a comeback. Nesbitt can run like the wind, as he rushed for 737 yards and 10 scores. He did manage to pass for 7 scores. Anthony Allen rushed for 1225 yards and 6 TDs as the replacement for Jonathon Dwyer. Tech lost 4 of their last 5 games, so they are stumbling into this bowl.
Air Force, like Tech, is not a pass first team by any means, but Tim Jefferson can toss it around a little. Jefferson passed for 1342 yards and 10 TDs, and he rushed for another 769 yards and 15 TDs. Asher Allen is the leading rusher with 1001 yards and 5 TDs. The Falcons have won 3 straight after a bad mid-season slump.
I Pick: Air Force

Champs Sports Bowl
December 28, 6:30PM EST
TV TBA

North Carolina State Wolfpack (8-4) vs. West Virginia Mountaineers (9-3)
Russell Wilson had a very nice season, as he passed for 3288 yards and 26 TDs. He did, however, still toss 14 picks. Wilson rushed for 394 yards and another 9 scores. NC State rushed for a total of 17 team TDs this season. Owen Spencer is the first option at WR. This will be the first bowl trip for NC State under Tom O'Brien.
Geno Smith had a solid season at QB for the Mountaineers. WVU needed a new leader at the position, and they found one. Smith passed for 2567 yards and 23 TDs, and he only tossed 6 picks. WVU usually has a solid rushing game, but this season was under the usual standards. Noel Devine was not his usual self, as he missed out on 1000 yards (886) and 6 TDs. Tavon Austin caught 8 TD passes, while Jock Sanders had 64 catches.
I Pick: NC State

Insight Bowl
December 28, 10PM EST
ESPN

Iowa Hawkeyes (7-5) vs. Missouri Tigers (10-2)
This is the first time that these two teams will play in 100 years. The Hawkeyes are coming in trying to scrub away the after taste of a miserable finish. They dropped their final 3 games of the season, including a loss to Minnesota. The offense fell apart during that slump, and scored 24 points or less in their final 4 games. There is no blaming Ricky Stanzi for the poor play, as Stanzi passed for 2804 yards and 25 TDs against only 4 picks on the season. The rushing game was in trouble from the opener, as injuries started out in fall camp. Adam Robinson carried the load with 941 yards and 10 TDs. Marvin McNutt and Derrell Johnson-Koulianos combined for 18 TDs receiving, but Johnson-Koulianos will miss the bowl as he is suspended for a drug related arrest. The Hawkeyes held their opponents to 21 points or less in 7 games this season, so the defense is a bright spot.
The Tigers had a shot to play for the Big 12 title after having won 6 straight to open the season. They then dropped a game to Nebraska, but what made matters worse was a strange loss to Texas Tech the following week. Blaine Gabbert passed for 2752 yards, but only had 15 TDs, a fairly low number for a QB in this offense. De'Vion Moore rushed for 8 TDs, but only managed a mere 485 yards on the season. TJ Moe is the top receiving target, but only had 6 TDs on the season.
I Pick: Missouri...close and low scoring