And some I-Bowl talk

The Sporting News has bowl projections in this week's issue.

Here's what the magazine's Tom Dienhart and Matt Hayes predict for the Dec. 30 PetroSun Independence Bowl at Shreveport's Independence Stadium.

Dienhart has Miami playing Kansas State. Miami (the Hurricanes not the Redhawks)would fill the SEC slot because Dienhart doesn't have the SEC qualifying enough teams.

COMMENT: If Miami indeed comes to Shreveport, it would be something of a surprise. The ACC and I-Bowl have worked closely in the past, but you've got to figure that Miami isn't going to end up here. These aren't the 'Canes of old and a matchup with K-State could be a killer at the gate for the I-Bowl since Miami brings no fans and K-State fans are legendary at some locales but an unknown here.

Hayes has Arkansas playing Colorado in the I-Bowl.

COMMENT: Regardless of the soap opera in Fayetteville, the I-Bowl would do flips to have the Hogs back for the first time since 2003.

Sure, they may be a coachless team by that point, but Arkansas has enough fans in northwest Louisiana and southern Arkansas to make I-Bowl officials take note. Colorado wouldn't bring many fans but with Arkansas on the other side it might not be that big of a deal. Colorado, after its win over Oklahoma, would certainly be a deserving team.

Here's one matchup not mentioned -- Arkansas vs. Texas A&M.

That would be box office gold for the I-Bowl. Both could be going through coaching changes but you wouldn't hear much complaining in downtown Shreveport.