2008 Bowl Game Results: Final Scores for Eaglebank, New Mexico, St. Petersburg, Las Vegas, and New Orleans Bowls

The college football bowl season results through Sunday, December 21:

• Eaglebank Bowl: Wake Forest 29, Navy 19
  My prediction was: Navy 21-13
  
  In the first half it looked like Navy would indeed pull off the upset a second time as they rushed to a 13-0 lead, but Wake QB Riley Skinner finished a perfect 11 for 11—unlike the previous Wake-Navy game where he threw four interceptions and fumbled one—but the real key here was that the Deacons had more rushing yards than Navy. Since the Midshipmen rarely pass, it's hard to imagine them coming out on top when they're beat on the ground.
  
  What it means for the final top 25: Not much. Wake at 8-5 is a very unlikely pick as many ACC will be considered ahead of them, and any slim hope Navy had was dashed as they also finish 8-5.

• New Mexico Bowl: Colorado State 40, Fresno State 35
  My prediction was: Colorado State 41-35
  
  Needless to say the game went pretty much as I expected. Both teams moved the ball well all game and the lead changed many time. The Bulldogs' rushing defense was predictably poor, but the Rams' Gartrell Johnson exceeded everyone's expectations by rushing for a whopping 285 yards and two touchdowns, including a 77-yard run that gave CSU a 40-28 lead.
  
  What it means for the final top 25: Nothing; both teams finish 7-6.

• St. Petersburg Bowl: South Florida 41, Memphis 14
  My prediction was: South Florida 24-10
  
  I had the score roughly correct—if the game had ended at halftime. The Bulls took a 24-14 lead then ran away with it in the 2nd half behind Matt Grothe. Grothe finished with three TD throws and ran for another 83 yards as USF, playing close to home, overwhelmed C-USA's Tigers.
  
  What it means for the final top 25: Probably nothing. USF doesn't have the résumé at 8-5 to make the rankings.

• Las Vegas Bowl: Arizona 31, BYU 21
  My prediction was: Arizona 33-30
  
  I wrote that Willie Tuitama would "probably match Hall point for point" and I should have said "yard for yard" too, as Hall outthrew him by just three yards. As he's done quite a bit this year, Hall had trouble holding on to the ball as he fumbled twice. Arizona jumped to a 10-0 lead on a 70-yard pass that led to a short scoring run, but BYU took a 14-10 lead in the 3rd quarter on Hall's sole TD pass of the day. Tuitama took over then, throwing two touchdowns and rushing for another to make it 31-14.
  
  What it means for the final top 25: Arizona still probably won't make it at 8-5, but they'll get votes in the various polls. BYU is 10-3, and they still look good enough to slip in despite their loss in this bowl. If TCU and Utah win it helps quite a bit.

• New Orleans Bowl: Southern Miss 30  Troy 27 (ot)
  My prediction was: Troy 33-30 (ot)
  
  How close can you be to picking a game exactly, but not even pick the winner correctly? I had trouble deciding who would win, calling an overtime game and picking Troy based on Southern Miss' poor field goal kicking. Ironically, it was Southern Miss that blocked a Troy field goal in the overtime period to seal their win. Had Troy made a touchdown in the overtime period, the score would have been exactly 33-30. Oh well.
  
  What it means for the final top 25: Troy's slim hope of a top 25 finish was blocked with that kick.

My tally so far: Winners 3-2; spread 3-1-1