MAACO Bowl Las Vegas Small Consolation for Boise State and Utah

It may seem somewhat oxymoronic that the dingy MAACO Bowl Las Vegas is held in such a glitzy location, but it is actually very fitting, at least in 2010. In early November, Boise State and Utah were the belles of the NCAA footBALL, hailing from conferences that don't merit automatic qualification to BCS bowls, yet standing tall in the top 5 rankings. There was even talk that these two Cinderellas could meet each other in the BCS national championship game! After two cold months and disappointing losses, the juggernauts have turned into jalopies sputtering into the desert for a showdown with virtually nothing at stake.

For Boise State, it's a return to the state where their title hopes took it on the chin in a heartbreaking loss to Nevada on November 26. For the Utes, it's a last dalliance with small-time frustrations before a switch to the powerful Pac-12 next year. Both teams talk a good game about being excited for the match-up,but no one's really buying it.

It's not all dark, though. The buzz around this game has to be seen as a boon for the MAACO Bowl in general, which began as the Las Vegas Bowl in 1992. Since then, it's been able to pick from among the Mountain West Conference teams and the lower part of the Pac-10's first division, but it's really just been one of those filler bowls that you watch because it's late December. With these underdog sweetheart teams, this Bowl has arguably its most talked-about pairing ever.

Who knows? Maybe a good game will break out here. If not, we can vicariously enjoy the warm air and glamor of a Vegas night while making final preparations for Santa Claus and the real bowl games.