Sheraton Hawaii Bowl
Nevada Wolfpack vs. Southern Miss Golden Eagles
Hawaiian Airlines Field at Aloha Stadium (Honolulu, HI)
Website: www.sheratonhawaiibowl.com
TV: ESPN
Line: Southern Miss -6 ½
Two teams and programs that are in a bit of a state of flux match up in this one. For Nevada, it was a somewhat disappointing 7-5 campaign, as the Wolfpack spent most of the early part of the year trying to figure out how to replace their graduated, All-Planet quarterback Colin Kaepernick this year.
Meanwhile, Southern Miss had no such trouble during the regular season, ripping off 10 wins and a Conference USA Championship. But now they must deal with another sad reality: This is the last game as head coach at the school for Larry Fedora, before leaving afterward to take over at North Carolina.
As much as we know about these teams, their psyche is what will be most intriguing on Christmas Eve.
Making This All Possible:
The good folks at Sheraton are the title sponsor of this event. Chances are pretty good that you’ve probably heard of them.
Since there really isn’t much more to share about Sheraton itself, let me ask a different question: Do the words “Hawaii” and “hotel” make anyone else think of the movie “Forgetting Sarah 
Marshall?” And if so, do they make you think of the most beautiful hotel receptionist that ever walked this Earth, Mila Kunis?
No, that’s just me? Ok, let’s move on then.
Getting To Know: Nevada
As mentioned above, Nevada was a bit disappointing in their first year without Kaerpernick, who is now a back-up quarterback with the San Francisco 49ers. The Wolfpack can move the ball, ranking fifth in college football in total offense (522 yards per game), but their bigger problem was putting it in the end zone. For all the yards they put up, they’re just 31st nationally in scoring.
Finishing drives will be Nevada’s biggest issue on Christmas Eve.
Getting To Know: Southern Miss
For all the shortcomings that Nevada had in the red zone the Golden Eagles had no such problems; they averaged 37 points per game, and put up at least 44 in three of their last five.
But with Fedora on his way to North Carolina following this game, the greater question must be asked: Psychologically where will Southern Miss’s heads be at?
You Should Know:
This is the Hawaii Bowl’s 10th anniversary (what is that, the silver anniversary?), and of all the great performances the game has seen, maybe the greatest came from current Tennessee Titans superstar running back Chris Johnson. Playing for East Carolina back in 2007, Johnson finished a 41-38 win over Hawaii with a staggering 408 yards of total offense, including 223 rushing and 153 on kickoff returns.
Then again, if you’ve ever seen him play on Sundays, those numbers might not be so staggering after all.
If You’re Going:
Folks, there’s no other way to put it: If you’re in Hawaii, the Pearl Harbor Memorial is a must-see for any visitor. Pearl Harbor was one of the watershed moments in American history, and December 7, 2011 was the 70th anniversary of the event. There are any number of Pearl Harbor tours you take, including this one in Oahu.
As for the rest of your time in the islands, have fun! This is Hawaii after all, one of the most magical places on Earth, with any number of things to do. Take a helicopter tour over volcanoes, swim with dolphins, or just hang out on the beach.
Simply put, if you’re looking to Crystal Ball Run for advice on stuff to do in the islands, that’s a “you” problem, not ours.
If You’re Watching At Home:
The Kona Brewing Company based out of Honolulu has any number of good choices, including the well-known Longboard Island Lager.
As for food, head down to the grocery store, and grab some fresh coconut and pineapple. Sure it might not be quite like being in the islands yourself, but hey, at least you’re eating somewhat healthy, right? On Christmas Eve, that’s no small feat.
Prediction:
One of the toughest things about bowl season is trying to decide where the heads and hearts of the players participating in these games will be. Southern Miss is as good of an example of that as any.
But Nevada? Not so much. And after coming to the islands and suffering a beat down of epic proportions in 2009, they’ll take nothing for granted this year.
Southern Miss is the more talented team, but with their coach on his way out the door, look for the Wolfpack to have the upper-hand.
Nevada 31, Southern Miss 28
