Bowl Breakdown: Meineke

2008-12-27T16:16:10-05:00

2008-12-25T16:28:11-05:00

2008-12-27T16:16:09-05:00

268

GoForthAndDie

Warren 560540

11 The best part of the game? For all the talk about White's running, he turned in passing numbers that would make any QB jealous. Good game Pat, and thanks for everything. Here's hoping an NFL team figures out a way to use your skills properly. 3782079

2008-12-27T13:03:05-05:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/184/674/thumb/29airobama533.jpg 31 NY

nyccharlie

Brooklyn 184974

10 should be a hard fought game. I think the UNC offense will have too many weapoions and too much motivation for the WFU defense. Home field will have almost no factor since WVU travels well. Lok for UNC to throw for at tleast 2-3 td's to Hicks and Tate. This isa game with two programs heading in different directions. WVU is heading in into t rebuilding year or two and UNC is headed to the top oif the ACC next year. 3781007

2008-12-27T05:04:06-05:00

westva.baby

Man 645019

9 who is rich rodriguez? 3779721

2008-12-27T00:50:50-05:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/471/753/thumb/Black_TansRule.jpg 131 Oh

Black&TansRule

Marengo 472193

8 Pat White has been fun to watch and is a class act. I hope he goes off on the Tarheels and gives everyone a farewell game to remember. 3779085

2008-12-26T17:59:03-05:00

steelerfans08

Apex 412255

7 Great prediction Arash. Way to go out on a limb. Your prediction means you have no idea who is going to win this game. WVU is used to being the underdog - Arash said WVU would never beat UGA. Arash said that WVU would never beat OU. Arash failed to mention that 25-30 thousand WVU fans will be at the game. WVU is really not intimidated by the Tarheel fans. I am so tired of hearing how WVU will crumble without RR/White. WVU played in the title game and RR/White were not involved in that game. Will UF crumble without Tebow? Will Texas cease to exist without McCoy? New story, please........ What I am trying to say is that WVU really doesn't care what Arash says. He needs to spend more time worrying about finding a new hair style than making lame predictions. 3776992

2008-12-26T17:33:55-05:00

Marty78

North Augusta 400899

6 I'm a diehard WVU fan, and this game scares me a little. WV has beat NOBODY this season, except a decent UCONN team and an underachieving USF team. Wins a against a 4-8 Auburn and a rebuilding Louisville aren't exactly "quality" wins. However, due to the fact that this will be the last time that Pat White suits up for the mounties and looking back at their past success in bowl games with White at the healm, I'll take the mounties 27-24, but I still think this game is a coin flip due to it being played in UNC's backyard. But I guess we did embarass UGA at the Georgia dome and 84%of the country also got it wront when we played the Sooners last year. Let's GOOOOOO MOUNTAINEERS!! Here's hoping Pat White goes out on top! 3776837

2008-12-26T15:59:55-05:00

BWD

Saint Albans 86889

5 UNC should stick to basketball. WVU 35 UNC 14 3776233

2008-12-26T15:25:53-05:00

2444

Sandy Underpants

Los Angeles 481510

4 Wah Wah WHAT!!!!?!?!?!?! UNC over West Virginia!?! Why!!?! I didn't even find any reason in this article to justify this pick. Gee, it's Pat White's last collegiate football game, he's 3-0 in Bowl Games. I can't think of any motivation there, and he's just the quarterback, so maybe if he gets an opportunity to touch the ball he could make a difference in the game. Yeah, UNC definitely. WVU 32 UNC 15 3775888

2008-12-26T02:23:05-05:00

atruewvafaninflorida

Milton 229921

3 dont take much too embarrass you ga tech remember wvu beat you in a bowl and your step sister ga too 3772262

2008-12-26T00:44:27-05:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/171/093/thumb/BCS_Trophy.jpg 219 OH

FOOTBALL REIGNS SUPREME

Columbus 171393

2 Agreed with the pick. 3771787

<div class="photo_container image_center"><img src="http://img.fannation.com/upload/si_blog_post_images/pat-white-swp.jpg" alt="Pat-white-swp" /> <div class="photo_attributes" style="text-align:right;">In his final collegiate game, Pat White hopes to improve his bowl record to 4-0. :: AP</div> <div class="photo_attributes" style="text-align:right;"> </div> </div> West Virginia (8-4) vs. North Carolina (8-4) Dec. 27, 1 p.m. ET, ESPN Reason To Watch: To see Pat White's final collegiate game. White's one of the most dyanmic quarterbacks college football has ever seen. He's the NCAA's all-time leader in career rushing among quarterbacks with 4,425 yards, including four 200-yard games. He ran for 919 yards with eight touchdowns in 11 games this season in leading West Virginia to its seventh straight bowl game, the previous five of which took place on New Year's Day. While the Mountaineers struggled at times this season, White, who passed for 1,510 yards and 18 touchdowns with only six interceptions this season, is looking to finish his career with a perfect 4-0 record in bowl games after quarterbacking West Virginia to wins in the Sugar, Gator and Fiesta Bowls the past three years. Keep An Eye On: West Virginia running back Noel Devine has done an admirable job taking over for Steve Slaton, who left for the NFL last year. Devine, a sophomore, may follow in Slaton's footsteps when he's eligible next year after rushing for 1,228 yards this season, third best in the Big East. He and White will be flying out of the back field for most of the game, as the Mountaineers run the ball 17 more times than they throw per game and White and Devine controll over 75 percent of the carries. Even if they do pass, White will still likely look to get the ball in Devine's hands, as the tailback is second on the team with 34 receptions. Did You Know?: That both West Virginia and North Carolina lost their only other appearances in the Meineke Bowl? West Virginia lost 48-22 to Virginia in the inaugural game (known then as the Continental Tire Bowl) in 2002, and North Carolina lost 37-24 to Boston College in 2004. Final Analysis: Don't let the records or the bowl game name fool you; this is a match-up of two talented teams that could have easily met in the Orange Bowl before faltering late in the season (both teams lost two of their last four games). While West Virginia will be hard-pressed to have many more 11-win seasons without Rich Rodriguez at the helm (or White under center), Butch Davis looks like he's building a contender in Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels blew out two Big East bowl-bound teams in Connecticut and Rutgers this season and could easily beat a third to finish the season. The Pick: North Carolina 21, West Virginia 20. UNC will spoil White's final college game in what will amount to a home game for the upstart Tar Heels, playing in only their second bowl game since 2001 and first since 2004, while the Mountaineers will fail to find enough motivation to get up for a game that is certainly a step down from what they've been accustomed to in recent years. http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/396/7/thumb/markazi_arash.jpg 118 CA

Arash Markazi

Los Angeles 3987 35682 <div class="photo_container image_center"><img src="http://img.fannation.com/upload/si_blog_post_images/pat-white-swp.jpg" alt="Pat-white-swp" /> <div class="photo_attributes" style="text-align:right;">In his final collegiate game, Pat White hopes to improve his bowl record to 4-0. :: AP</div> <div class="photo_attributes" style="text-align:right;"> </div> </div> West Virginia (8-4) vs. North Carolina (8-4) Dec. 27, 1 p.m. ET, ESPN Reason To Watch: To see Pat White's final collegiate game. White's one of the most dyanmic quarterbacks college football has ever seen. He's the NCAA's all-time leader in career rushing among quarterbacks with 4,425 yards, including four 200-yard games. He ran for 919 yards with eight touchdowns in 11 games this season in leading West Virginia to its seventh straight bowl game, the previous five of which took place on New Year's Day. While the Mountaineers struggled at times this season, White, who passed for 1,510 yards and 18 touchdowns with only six interceptions this season, is looking to finish his career with a perfect 4-0 record in bowl games after quarterbacking West Virginia to wins in the Sugar, Gator and Fiesta Bowls the past three years. Keep An Eye On: West Virginia running back Noel Devine has done an admirable job taking over for Steve Slaton, who left for the NFL last year. Devine, a sophomore, may follow in Slaton's footsteps when he's eligible next year after rushing for 1,228 yards this season, third best in the Big East. He and White will be flying out of the back field for most of the game, as the Mountaineers run the ball 17 more times than they throw per game and White and Devine controll over 75 percent of the carries. Even if they do pass, White will still likely look to get the ball in Devine's hands, as the tailback is second on the team with 34 receptions. Did You Know?: That both West Virginia and North Carolina lost their only other appearances in the Meineke Bowl? West Virginia lost 48-22 to Virginia in the inaugural game (known then as the Continental Tire Bowl) in 2002, and North Carolina lost 37-24 to Boston College in 2004.