Dhaka TimeNew Mexico Bowl
Temple (8-4) vs. Wyoming (8-4)
Date: Dec. 17 at 2 p.m. ET
Location: University Stadium, Albuquerque, N.M.
The 2011-2012 bowl season kicks off in Albuquerque, N.M. with a matchup of two 8-4 teams. Wyoming is making its second bowl appearance under coach Dave Christensen, while Temple is led by first-year coach Steve Addazio.
Christensen has engineered quite a turnaround after a 3-9 record last year. The Cowboys closed the regular season with wins in three out of their last four games and nearly knocked off TCU in early November.
Temple has been on the rise over the last few seasons. Before departing to Miami, former coach Al Golden went 27-34 in five seasons with the Owls and successfully resurrected the program into a contender in the MAC. Addazio has picked up where he left off, leading Temple to a season of at least eight victories for only the second time since 1979.
This is the Cowboys’ second trip to the New Mexico Bowl, as they defeated Fresno State 35-28 in 2009. Wyoming is also riding a two-game winning streak in bowls after beating UCLA 24-21 in the Las Vegas Bowl in 2004.
Temple is making just its fourth bowl game in school history. The Owls’ last postseason appearance came in 2009, losing 30-21 to UCLA in the EagleBank Bowl.
