The Classic GMAC Bowl Shootout

this may be the popular play here tonight, at least for anyone who doesnt instinctively fade the public, but it is the right play. when the organizers of this bowl put the teams together they do so looking for high scoring teams. over the last four years, the lowest total was 53, the highest, an astronomical 125 when byron leftwich led marshall came back from a 38-8 halftime deficit to win 64-61.

tonight we're looking at jordan palmer and the utep miners taking on the birdman's boy gradkowski and the toledo rockets. neither of these teams are offensive slouches, UTEP averages 34 a game, toledo 35. combined averaging about 900 ypg. with those kind of numbers you'd expect both to have better than 8-3 records. however, it doesnt matter how much you can score if you cant stop anyone.

we've known for the last half of the season or so that utep is gonna try to win in a shootout because they cant even count on their d to slow down a bad offensive team (ie. Rice getting 31). it's only been of late that the wheels have really fallen off for the fat coach (maybe that should be "a fat coach" since Mangino is possibly fatter than Astutz) and his rockets.the last 3 they're allowing 33 ppg, but over this stretch they've racked up 1425 yds so they're 2-1.

i dont see a straight side here, neither have covered well as of late (Toledo 1-5, UTEP 0-4), mainly because they're defenses have been faltering. in this situation, with two high powered offense, especially UTEP's pass friendly attack, i see both teams running up and down the field all night long. weather shouldnt be a factor as, a crisp clear night is perfect for throwing the ball downfield early and oftern.

UTEP/TOLEDO OVER60 (**)