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ESPN.com's Mark Schlabach ranks the 34 bowls, and here's how he views the games featuring MWC teams:
4. San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl
No. 9 Boise State vs. No. 11 TCU
8 p.m., Dec. 23 (ESPN)
The bowl match-makers tried to pit the unbeaten Broncos against Ball State. The Horned Frogs present a better game and a tougher out. Don't be surprised if the Horned Frogs spoil Boise State's unbeaten season.
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5. Allstate Sugar Bowl
No. 6 Utah vs. No. 4 Alabama
8 p.m., Jan. 2
Sugar Bowl officials can only hope this game is better than the 2007 edition, in which Georgia routed unbeaten Hawaii 41-10. Alabama might have too much defense for the Utes, who are rather pedestrian on offense. At least Utah has been more battled tested than Hawaii was last season, beating Michigan, TCU and BYU.
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16. Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl
No. 16 BYU vs. Arizona
8 p.m., Dec. 20 (ESPN)
BYU might want to set up a satellite campus in Las Vegas. The Cougars will play in the Las Vegas Bowl for the fourth consecutive season, after beating Oregon 38-8 in 2006 and UCLA 17-16 in 2007. The Wildcats lost three of their last five games, but beat rival Arizona State 31-10 in their finale
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22. Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl
Houston vs. Air Force
Noon, Dec. 31 (ESPN)
How is this for contrasting styles? Houston quarterback Case Keenum threw for 4,768 yards with 43 touchdowns. Air Force freshman Tim Jefferson passes for 557 yards with five touchdowns.
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30. New Mexico Bowl
Colorado State vs. Fresno State
2:30 p.m., Dec. 20 (ESPN)
Great first year for Rams coach Steve Fairchild, a former Buffalo Bills assistant. He became the first coach in Colorado State history to direct his team to a bowl game in his first season.
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Reports out of Seattle indicate former BYU QB Steve Sarkisian will make 1.85 million dollars per year in a five-year deal to be the head coach at Washington. If those reports are accurate, Sark would be the 4th highest-paid head coach in the Pac-10 (behind Carroll, Bellotti and Tedford).
The press conference to announce his hiring will be televised live by FSN at 10:30am MT this morning, with re-airings at 1:30pm and 11:30pm. The press conference might have a bit of a gameday feel--it's open to the public, and fans will be charged 6-12 dollars for parking. No word on whether the concession stands will be open...
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