Bowl Games Today Provide Final Showcase of 2009

The bowl games today are historic, as they are the last college games of the year and decade. The bowl games today are also the final stepping stone to the biggest matches of the bowl season. Tomorrow is New Years Day, and the start of the BCS schedule, so the best part of the season is finally almost here. But the bowl games for today are no less intriguing, as there are five of them to take up all of New Years Eve.

Today's games include the Armed Forces, Sun, Insight, Texas and Chick-Fli-A Bowls. They may not look like the best matches, but yesterday's Humanitarian Bowl thriller between Bowling Green and Idaho proved that anything can happen anywhere. That is already the case in the Armed Forces Bowl between Houston and Air Force, as the Falcons are already up 14-3 over the favored Cougars.

These two programs met in last year's Armed Forces Bowl, won by Houston. The Cougars have had a big year in 2009, having been ranked much of the season. But they lost out on the Conference USA title, as their defense wasn't quite enough for their offense to overcome - which is also the case in the first quarter today.

Over on CBS at 2 pm est, the Sun Bowl may be the biggest bowl game today. Oklahoma isn't used to playing before New Years Day, but they have to settle for less in 2009. What's more, they have to stop Toby Gerhart and Stanford today.

But USC also had a below average year by their standards, yet they beat Boston College in the Emerald Bowl. Oklahoma also hopes to end a difficult year on a high note, and prepare to return to glory in 2010.

After the Armed Forces Bowl, ESPN carries the Texas Bowl at 3:30 pm, between Missouri and Navy. The Midshipman haven't won a bowl in three years, while the Tigers go for their ninth win of 2009, even without Chase Daniel.

At 6, the NFL Network turns its attention to college football, with the Insight Bowl between Minnesota and Iowa State. Both teams are 6-6, although it is a marked improvement for Iowa State, after three straight lousy seasons.

ESPN's triple header concludes with the last bowl game today, and the final college game of 2009. Virginia Tech and Tennessee clash in the Chick-Fli-A Bowl, as the Volunteers are back in the postseason in Lane Kiffin's first year. Virginia Tech started the year with a loss to future No. 1 Alabama in Atlanta, and will close the year at the Georgia Dome as well - though they hope for better results.

Today has more bowl games than any other in the season thus far. This New Years Eve slate is the final hurdle before the all-important New Years Day. At last, college football is approaching its biggest showcases - and the BCS title game is now even a week away from happening.

But before Bobby Bowden, Urban Meyer, Joe Paterno, Tim Tebow and the Rose Bowl take over tomorrow, the bowl games today have a lot to show off. Prestigious programs, big time players and heavy offense are on display, to send 2009, and the 2000's in general, out with some fireworks.

Sources

Yahoo Sports- "Houston Cougars/Air Force Falcons Box Score"

San Jose Mercury News- "Cardinal, Sooners set to heat up Sun Bowl"

The Capital- "Navy Football Team is Tired of Losing in Bowl Games"

Times Republican- "ISU chasing bowl victory, winning season"