Primetime College Football: Wildcats vs Rockets
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This game goes down on the ESPN network and it features the University of Arizona Wildcats take on the University of Toledo Rockets at the Glass Bowl in Toledo. It’s also happens to be the first time that a Pac-10 school will travel to a school from the Mid-American Conference.
Head coach Mike Stoops shaped upped his Wildcats to a 8-5 record and 6-3 in the conference last season but suffered a humiliating loss against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the Holiday Bowl to finish off last year. It was however the first time since 1997-98 that an Arizona squad went to back to back bowls.
Junior quarterback Nick Foles looks to put together another solid season under center after throwing for 2,486 yards 19 touchdowns 9 INTS. Foles top target Juron Criner, 45 catches 582 yards 9 touchdowns, returns but the rest of the receiving core looks bleak at this moment. The balance of Arizona’s offense is what made this unit dangerous last season and with the return of running backs Keola Antolin, 637 yards 4 touchdowns, and Nic Grigsby, 567 yards 5 touchdowns, give the Wildcats a solid one-two punch to compliment the passing attack.
Arizona’s defense was based on speed and the tandem at defensive end Ricky Elmore and Brooks Reed, who have each been the teams sacks leaders the last two seasons. Reed led the team in 2008 and Elmore took that honor last season. While the front line looks primed for a big season, the linebackers for Arizona are a big question mark.
On the Toledo side, head coach Tim Beckman, who is entering his second year, watched his Rockets finish the season 5-7 and 3-5 in the Mid-American Conference West Division. The Rockets started off stronger than 2008 but had nearly the same results when they dropped four of its last five.
The Rockets will have to overcome the loss of quarterback Aaron Opelt and turn to sophomore quarterback Austin Dantin, 962 yards 4 touchdowns 4 INTS, who saw very little time under center. Eric Page no doubt will be his go-to target as the he lead the team with 82 receptions 1,159 yards 7 touchdowns as just a freshman. It was top marks for all freshman in the country. Coach Beckman will also begin the season with a new starter at tailback in Morgan Williams, 444 yards 2 touchdowns, who is replacing DuJuane Collins.
The defensive side for Toledo was one for concern and coach Beckman will look to improve drastically in all aspects. The strength of this unit is up front where defensive end Alex Johnson returns and that of linebacker Archie Donald, 116 tackles.
The Wildcats have won the previous two matchups against Toledo, including a 41-16 victory in 2008.
PICK: University of Arizona Wildcats
Primetime College Football: Trojans vs Warriors
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This game goes down on the ESPN network and it features the University of Southern California Trojans and University of Hawaii Warriors. This ushers in a new ear of USC football as the school is under sanctions and cannot play in a bowl game as well a new head coaching regime under Lane Kiffin.
Kiffin, who came to take over after for Pete Carroll left for the NFL, had left Tennessee after one year and a record of 7-6 record 4-4 in SEC play. USC however finished 9-4 but was a mere 5-4 in the Pac-10 after being such a dominant force in the league for so many years. The team finalized the season with a win over Boston College in the Emerald Bowl, the first non-BCS bowl for the program since 2001.
The Trojans are lead by sophomore quarterback Matt Barkley, 2,735 yards 15 touchdowns 14 INTS and will be joined in the backfield by junior Marc Tyler, missed all but one game. One of Barkley’s main targets will again be Stanley Havli, a three-year starter who to this point already has made more catches than any other fullback in USC history. Ronald Johnson who also only played half the season is expected to put up strong numbers after catching 34 balls for 3 touchdowns.
The biggest reason for the Trojans fall last season was their defense which fell to 22nd in the nation and gave up 19.9 ppg. This unit has lost five of its top 10 tacklers from a year ago but do see a return of tackle Jurrell Casey, 59 tackles 9 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. Michael Morgan, who led the team with his 13 tackles for a loss is also back.
Hawaii finished the year ranked 3rd in the country with 337 ypg through the air and a record of 6-7 and 3-5 in the WAC. Quarterback Bryant Moniz filled in and passed 2,396 14 touchdowns 10 INTS after Greg Alexander went down with an injury. Moniz will have the luxury of leaning on receiver Greg Salas again, 1st Team All-WAC. However really has no running game to speak off.
The Warriors are 19-15 in home openers at Aloha Stadium and are are kicking off a campaign against the Trojans for the third time since 1999, even though they are just 15-34 all-time against members of the Pac-10 Conference.
USC has taken all six previous encounters the most recent in 2005 when the Trojans posted a 63-17 blowout.
PICK: University of Southern California Trojans
Primetime College Football: Panthers vs Utes
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This game goes down on the Versus network and it features the University of Pittsburgh Panthers take University of Utah Utes. Clearly the pressure is on both teams to perform well coming out of the gate and live up to expectations.
Pittsburgh settled for its first bowl victory in seven years last season after being on the verge but missing out on a BCS Bowl game. The Panthers earned a victory over North Carolina in the Meineke Bowl to give them their first double-digit win season since 1981, 10-3 with a 5-2 record in the Big East Conference.
The Panthers are led on offense by sophomore running back Dion Lewis. He exploded onto the scene with a total of 10 100-yard rushing games as he averaged 138.4 ypg, ranking first in the Big East but also third in the nation. He had an average of 5.5 yards per attempt and a total of 17 touchdowns.
However, the success of the Panthers will rest on how quickly redshirt sophomore quarterback Tino Sunseri can replace Bill Stull, who has just 17 career pass attempts. The offensive line though is stocked with juniors and seniors and that should help keep Sunseri upright as well as open the necessary holes for Lewis to run through.
Head coach Dave Wannstedt will once again have his finger prints all over the defense which was 17th in the nation in stopping the run and was tops in sacks with 3.6 per outing. Tackles for loss was another highlight for the group, registering more than 7.5 to rank 9th in the country. The team returns two beasts on that play on that side in Greg Romeus, 8.5 sacks, and Mick Williams, 17 tackles for loss. The Panthers linebackers are no slouches either and might actually be their strenth with Tristan Roberts, Greg Williams and Dan Mason.
The Utes haven’t allowed a visiting team to win in their home stadium since Sept. 8, 2007, 17 consecutive. Head coach Kyle Whittingham picked up his first win with the program back in 2005 when he and the Utes won against Pittsburgh in the Fiesta Bowl. The Utes are looking to continue the momentum they finished off last season with win over California in the Poinsettia Bowl, finishing 10-3 and was 6-2 against the rest of the Mountain West Conference.
The Utes offense will be in the hands of sophomore quarterback Jordan Wynn who took over for Terrance Cain in the eighth game last year and threw for 1,329 yards with 8 touchdowns and 4 INTS. Coach Whittingham has two good running backs in Matt Asiata and Eddie Wide and they both will share the load. Wide put together 6 straight 100-yard rushing games, 1,069 yards and 12 touchdowns.
This is the second meeting between these teams. Utah defeated Pittsburgh 35-7 in the 2005 Fiesta Bowl to cap off a 12-0 season.
PICK: University of Utah Utes
Primetime College Football: Golden Eagles vs Gamecocks
TALENT
This game goes down on ESPN and it features Southern Miss and South Carolina who will be facing off for their first ever meeting at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia.
Southern Miss hasn’t suffered a losing season since 1993 and is coming off to back to back 7-6 finishes under third year head coach Larry Fedora. The Golden Eagles however lost to Middle Tennessee in the New Orleans Bowl to finish out the year.
The Golden Eagles return both quarterbacks Austin Davis, 1,665 yards 10 touchdowns, and Martevious Young, who filled in during Davis’s foot injury to throw for 1,861 yards 16 touchdowns. Will coach Fedora rotate the quarterbacks or simply stick with one and ride him all season long is a definitely a question I will be watching all season to. Who ever is under center will have a play-maker in wide receiver DeAndre Brown, 6-6 231-pound who had 114 catches for 1,902 yards and 21 scores through two years. That’s about where all the positives stop for Southern Miss on the offensive side as they lost four starters on the line and the school’s all-time leading rusher.
The defense though returns all seven starters are on the front, more importantly tackle Anthony Gray, 40 tackles, and end Cordarro Law, 14.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. At linebacker they return Korey Williams, 121 tackles, Ronnie Thornton, 114 stops, and Martez Smith, 82 tackles.
Steve Spurrier starts his sixth season as the Gamecocks head coach compiling a 35-28 record so far but a far cry his success as Florida’s head man. The Gamecocks finished 7-6 return an experienced quarterback in Stephen Garcia, 2,862 yards and 17 touchdowns with 10 INTS. Garcia will once again look to hook up with sophomore Alshon Jeffery, 46 catches for 763 yards and 6 touchdowns. The Gamecocks suffered a setback on the offensive side when senior tight end Weslye Saunders was suspended indefinitely.
Where as a Spurrier coach squad is thought to be all about offense the Gamecocks defense is now his strength. South Carolina returns seven starters back from a defense which ranked 15th in the nation. Defensive end Cliff Matthews is back after posting 7 sacks. Shaq Wilson the top returning linebacker will go from the inside spot, where he had 85 tackles, to outside. The defense as a whole last season also only allowed 163 ypg through the air to rank 8th nationally.
PICK: University of South Carolina Gamecocks
Primetime College Football: Gophers vs Blue Raiders
Somewhat TALENT
This game goes down on ESPNU and it features the University of Minnesota and Middle Tennessee who will be facing off for their first ever meeting at Floyd Stadium in Tennessee.
Minnesota is the more recognizable school since they play in the Big Ten but are coming off yet another disappointing season in which they finished 6-7, 3-5 within conference, and lost to the Iowa State Cyclones in the Insight Bowl.
The Golden Gophers return senior quarterback Adam Weber, 2,582 yards 13 touchdowns 15 INTS, and will look at his leadership to carry the majority of the offensive side since their running game only averaged 99 yards a game last year. That’s not very good, especially in a conference that relies heavily on the run in the winter months of the season. Minnesota used a running back by committee that saw no single running back produced more than 400 yards rushing.
Minnesota wasn’t just 6-7 because of the offense they struggled in many areas of the game on the defensive side as well. The Golden Gophers couldn’t much run the ball and they definitely couldn’t stop it in 2009. Opposing running backs were able to rush for over 150 yards per game on the ground and 19 touchdowns.
Middle Tennessee is coming off of one of the best seasons in program history after recording a 10-3 record and 7-1 in the Sun Belt Conference. The Blue Raiders went on to defeat Conference USA Southern Miss in the New Orleans Bowl.
Middle Tennessee uses a high power offensive attack that averaged 32 points per game, and showed skill in both the passing and ground attacks. The Blue Raiders running backs were able to get into the end zone 22 times while averaging 186 yards per game. The air game of Middle Tennessee was just as productive as they found the end zone 25 times at just a little over 235 yards per game.
The biggest blow to Middle Tennessee was finding out on August 27 that quarterback Dwight Dasher, 2,789 23 touchdowns, has been ruled ineligible.
PICK: Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
Primetime College Football: Herd vs Buckeyes
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It’s that time of year again and I’m back for another year of Primetime College Football posts. For those that weren’t regular visitors of this site during this time last year, you might not be familiar with the whole objective of these posts. First, breakdowns only come of Primetime games during the season. Bowl season is a different story and every bowl game will get it’s own moment. Second, I don’t root for any particular college team just a fan of all 120 Division 1A and no I won’t call it Football Bowl Subdivision. Third, these are just observations I collect throughout the year and notes I’ve compiled through the years on players. I did somewhat OK last year going 66-27 and slightly above .500 during the bowl season.
Oh and if you have any pictures of TALENT decked out in school gear,doesn’t matter which school, feel free to send them my way. So let’s kickoff the 2010 NCAA Division 1-A Football Season.
The Big Ten Network kicks off the first game of this years Primetime College Football and it’s between Ohio State Buckeyes and Marshall University Thundering Herd. A lot of experts have the Buckeyes in contention to play for a BCS National Championship Game this year but it all starts here.
Marshall starts the year off with new coach Doc Holliday, who inherits a Thundering Herd squad that finished 7-6 a year ago, including 4-4 versus Conference USA competition. Marshall’s last victory was a 21-17 win over Ohio in the Little Caesar’s Pizza Bowl. Holliday a longtime assistant and regarded as one of colleges best recruiters returns 13 starters. Senior quarterback Brian Anderson is one of them after throwing for 2,646 yards and 14 touchdowns 13 INTS last year. Anderson main target is Antavious Wilson, who lead the team in catches with 60 catches for 724 yards and 3 touchdowns as a freshman.
On the defensive side of the ball for Marshall they will have to lean heavily on defensive end Vinny Curry, 59 tackles and 3.5 sacks as a sophomore, and senior linebacker Mario Harvey, 117 tackles and 7 sacks. The Thundering Herd will have to go about this season without one of their best play-makers in the secondary after DeQuan Bembry, 3 INTS, was kicked off the team after being charged with assault on a police officer.
Jim Tressel is currently 9-0 in season openers at Ohio State and will watch as junior quarterback and Heisman Trophy candidate Terrelle Pryor looks to guide the Buckeys to their 6th consecutive Big Ten title. Ending the season Pryor had one of his best games when he threw for 266 yards and 2 touchdowns while rushing for 72 yards in a Rose Bowl victory over Oregon.
Two of Pryor’s favorite targets in DeVier Posey, 60 catches for 828 yards and 8 touchdowns, and Dane Sanzenbacher 36 catches for 570 yards and 6 touchdowns are back. The offense firepower doesn’t stop with Pryor and his favorite wide receivers as running back tandem of Brandon Saine, 739 yards, 5.1 ypc, 4 touchdowns, and Daniel Herron, 600 yds,7 touchdowns also are back. The offensive line also returns four starters.
The headlines might read all about Pryor and the offesne but it’s the Buckeyes defense that should dominate the 2010 college football. The defensive unit that was among the nation’s best last year, ranking 5th in total defense and scoring defense brings back most of its starters. Defensive lineman Cameron Heyward is the real star on the defensive side of the ball as he led the team with 6.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss last year. Top tacklers Ross Homan and Brian Rolle also have returned for their senior seasons.
The only previous meeting between Ohio State and Marshall occurred in 2004 with a narrow 24-21 win by the Buckeyes. The Buckeyes haven’t dropped a home opener since a 19-0 loss to Penn State in 1978.
PICK: The Ohio State University Buckeyes
Primetime College Football: BCS National Championship Game
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The best two teams in the land collide in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena for the 4th actual BCS National Championship game, the game was first played at the conclusion of the 1998 college football season to form the Bowl Championship Series however beginning with the 2006 season, the BCS National Championship Game became a separate event. The top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide of the SEC and the second-ranked Texas Longhorns from the BIG 12 each come into the game undefeated at 13-0 with hopes to be crowned National Champion.
Alabama is no stranger to the big stage, as the Crimson Tide will be playing for their 13th national title this week. The team’s last national title came back in 1992. Likewise, Nick Saban is very familiar with the pressures of the big game, leading LSU to the national championship in 2003 and now back in just his third season at the helm in Tuscaloosa. Alabama has earned an NCAA-best 57th bowl berth and are 31-22-3 in postseason play overall.
Mack Brown is also seeking a second national title, winning his first just four years ago with the Longhorns. Texas sporting a perfect 13-0 mark to this point, including winning the Big 12 title with a 13-12 dramatic decision against Nebraska in the conference championship game. Texas ranks second in NCAA Bowl appearances, playing in its 49th bowl game and is 25-21-3 in prior postseason affairs.
There wasn’t much that Texas couldn’t do with the football this season and the result was ranking third in the nation in scoring at 40 ppg. The team was able to rush for 152.7 yards per game on 4.1 yards per carry, but the real strength was in a passing attack that netted 279.7 yards per game.
It certainly helps to have one of college football’s greatest leaders under center in senior All-American Colt McCoy. The all-time leader in career wins, McCoy had yet another stellar campaign this season, completing a ridiculous 70.5 percent of his passes, for 3,512 yards, with 27 TDs. The Heisman finalist was certainly aided by fellow ALL-SGE-NCAA Football Team member wideout Jordan Shipley, who has hauled in 106 passes, for 1,363 yards and 11 TDs. The ground game plays second-fiddle in Austin, but rushers like Tre Newton 5.0 ypc, 6 TDs and Cody Johnson 4.0 ypc, 12 TDs know how to make the most of their opportunities.
As good as McCoy and company have been this year, the Texas defense may have actually played a more critical role in landing the Longhorns in the title game. Among the national leaders in just about every facet of defensive play, Texas finished up ranked 1st in rush defense 62.2 ypg, 3rd in total defense 251.1 ypg and 8th in scoring defense 15 ppg. In addition, this big play unit racked up 41 sacks, 24 interceptions and 11 fumble recoveries.
There are playmakers at every position on the defense. Up front, Texas relies heavily on the push upfield by ends Sam Acho 57 tackles, 13 TFLs, 9 sacks, 4 fumble recoveries and Sergio Kindle 62 tackles, 18 TFLs, 3 sacks and tackle Lamarr Houston 58 tackles, 20 TFLs, 7 sacks. Rodderick Muckelroy has a team-high 96 tackles, 11 TFLs, 2 sacks, one INT highlights the play in the LB corps, while ALL-SGE-NCAA Football Team member safety Earl Thomas has 71 tackles, 5 TFLs, 8 INTs while Blake Gideon has 56 tackles, 5 INTs are ball hawks in the secondary.
The Longhorns use the pass to soften things up for the run, while Alabama uses the run to set up the pass. Sophomore Mark Ingram is the main reason for success on offense for Alabama as he rushed for 1,542 yards and 15 TDs making things easier for quarterback Greg McElroy to manage the passing game and throw for 2,450 yards, with 17 TDs against 4 interceptions. Wideouts Julio Jones had 42 receptions, for 573 yards, 4 TDs and Marquis Maze 30 receptions, for 519 yards, two TDs are the main options on the outside.
The Alabama defens is lead by ALL-SGE-NCAA Football Team member Rolando McClain who led the team in tackles this season 101, with 12.5 TFLs, 4 sacks and 2 INTs. Fellow LB Eryk Anders had 59 tackles, 12.5 TFLs, 5 sacks, one INT. Up front, the team looks to Marcell Dareus 32 tackles, 9 TFLs, 6.5 sacks and Terrence Cody 25 tackles, 6 TFLs. The secondary was lead by ALL-SGE-NCAA Football Team member Javier Arenas 66 tackles 12.TFL 5 sacks and 3 INTs he also gets the help of Mark Barron 70 tackles, seven INTs.
Texas has never lost to Alabama in the all-time series, sporting a 7-0-1 record in eight previous meetings. However, this is the first time these two teams have met on the gridiron since the 1982 Cotton Bowl, a 14-12 win for Texas.
PICK: University of Texas Longhorns
Primetime College Football: GMAC Bowl
TALENT
The 11th annunal GMAC Bowl will feature from the Central Michigan Chippewas from the Mid-American Conference and the Troy Trojans from the Sun Belt Conference in the Mobile, Alabama.
The Chippewas claimed their third MAC title in the last four seasons thanks to an 11-2 mark this season. The success has come at a cost as head coach Butch Jones has moved from the MAC to the Big East, taking the Cincinnati job vacated by Brian Kelly’s move to Notre Dame. The school has named associate head coach Steve Stripling as the interim head coach through this bowl game. This will be the fourth straight bowl appearance for CMU and the sixth overall in school history. The team is just 1-4 in the postseason and has lost its last two bowl games, including a 24-21 setback to Florida Atlantic in last year’s Motor City Bowl.
Through the past four seasons the Chippewas have leaned heavily on the play of Dan LeFevour, who is coming off another outstanding regular season. LeFevour paced the team on the ground with 701 yards and 14 touchdowns, while Bryan Schroeder rumbled for 486 yards and five touchdowns. On top of LeFevour’s play with his legs, the quarterback was even better with his arm, completing 71.1 percent of his throws. The senior signal caller finished the year with 3,043 passing yards and 27 touchdowns against only 6 interceptions. Antonio Brown grabbed 97 passes for 1,020 and 9 touchdowns while Bryan Anderson recorded 700 yards and 6 scores and Kito Poblah hauled in 631 yards and 4 touchdowns.
The play of the offense usually gets most of the attention for Central Michigan, but the defensive play for the Chippewas was sensational throughout the season. CMU held the opposition to just 17 ppg and th Chippewas limited teams to just 36 percent on third down, while surrendering just 18 touchdowns on 43 red zone chances. Nick Bellore led the Chippewas with 118 tackles and 11 tackles for loss and collected 3 sacks and 2 interceptions. Matt Berning was also solid, posting 100 stops and 8.5 tackles for loss.
The Trojans grabbed their fourth straight Sun Belt title this season after going 9-3 on the year and became the first team to go 8-0 in league action. This is the fourth bowl for Troy, which is just 1-2 in its previous three postseason appearances. Last year the Trojans gave up a 10- point fourth quarter lead against Southern Mississippi in the New Orleans Bowl and eventually fell to the Golden Eagles, 30-27, in overtime.
The Trojans were not only the best offensive team in the Sun Belt, but they put up numbers that rivaled some of the top schools in the nation. Larry Blakeney Trojan’s finished the regular season averaging 33 ppg, on an impressive 478.5 total ypg. Shawn Southward and DuJuan Harris formed a dangerous tandem as Southward rushed for 574 yards and 10 touchdowns and Harris rushed for 471 yards and 8 touchdowns. What really propelled this offense into elite status however, was the passing attack, which is led by Levi Brown. Brown completed 64.7 percent of his passes during the regular season, finishing the year with 3,868 yards and 22 touchdowns against 9 interceptions. Brown ranks second nationally in passing yards per game 322.3 and comes into this bowl game with two reliable outlets. Jerrel Jernigan led the team with 62 receptions and 947 yards and Tebiarus Gill grabbed 6 touchdowns and 553 yards.
Defensively has been a different story for Troy, which has struggled to stop opposing teams, especially against the pass. Troy was torched for 277.8 ypg through the air, and out of the 45 touchdowns allowed by this unit, 28 came via the pass. Overall the Trojans surrendered 417.9 total yards per matchup, and that led to 28.6 ppg. Troy also struggled inside the red zone, as opponents scored 29 touchdowns in 41 chances. Bear Woods led the team with 138 tackles and 18 tackles for loss while Boris Lee had 122 stops and 13 tackles for loss. Brandon Lang and Cameron Sheffield recorded 7.5 and 7 sacks.
This is the first time these two schools will have faced each other on the football field.
PICK: Troy University Trojans
Primetime College Football: FedEx Orange Bowl
TALENT
The 76th annual Orange Bowl will have the Iowa Hawkeyes of the Big Ten take on the ACC champions the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in Miami Gardens at Land Shark Stadium.
Kirk Ferentz’s Hawkeyes were not as fortunate in their bid for a conference championship as back-to-back losses to Northwestern and Ohio State prevented the Big Ten title and Rose Bowl bid. Still the team reeled off a 10-win campaign to place second in the Big Ten. Iowa is making its 24th bowl appearance and is 12-10-1 in its previous postseason play. The Hawkeyes have played in the Orange Bowl just one time before, that being a 38-17 loss to USC in 2003.
Unlike a lot of teams in the Big Ten, Iowa utilized more of a balanced attack this season, instead of relying heavily on the run. Iowa scored just 12 rushing touchdowns, all by tailbacks Adam Robinson 775 yards, 5 touchdowns and Brandon Wegher 528 yards, 7 touchdowns. The passing attack was much more effective as quarterback Ricky Stanzi threw for 2,186 yards and 15 touchdowns. The receiving corps was lead by Derrell Johnson-Koulianos 687 yards and 2 touchdowns and Marvin McNutt 653 yards and 7 touchdowns.
A strong defense was really the key to Iowa’s season, as the team limited the opposition to a mere 15 ppg. The team was stingy against both the run at 122.4 ypg, and the pass, where foes managed just 164.7 ypg, ranking eighth nationally in that category. The Hawkeyes thrived on big plays, racking up 29 takeaways this year, including 20 interceptions. Led by ALL-SGE-NCAA Football Team member defensive tackle Adrian Clayborn who finished the season with 61 total tackles and 18 tackles for a loss while forcing 9 sacks. Linebacker Pat Angerer lead the team in tackles with 135. The secondary is highlighted by saftey Tyler Sash and his 84 tackles amd 6 interceptions. Other great defenders on the Hawkeyes are A.J. Edds 73 tackles, four INTs and Broderick Binns 58 tackles, 9.0 tackles for loss and 6 sacks.
The Yellow Jackets posted an 11-win campaign and captured their first outright ACC title since 1990. Paul Johnson’s squad opened the season with a pair of victories before suffering its only league loss at Miami but then won eight straight. The season earned Johnson his second straight ACC Coach of the Year award. Georgia Tech is playing in its 13th consecutive bowl game and is 22-15 in the postseason all-time, including a 3-2 mark in the Orange Bowl. The Yellow Jackets have not had much success in the postseason of late, losing their last four bowl games, including a 38-3 rout at the hands of LSU in last year’s Chick-fil-A Bowl.
The Yellow Jackets use a totally different approach to move the football, as they represent one of the most productive rushing teams in the nation thanks to a devastating spread offense. Georgia Tech finished the year second in the nation in rushing, at 307.2 yards per game on the ground a 5.3 per carry.
They have one of the nations top tailbacks in Jonathan Dwyer who rushed for 1,346 yards and 14 touchdowns. Quarterback Josh Nesbitt was not to much of a passer only throwing for 1,689 yards and 10 touchdowns but did rush for 991 yards and 18 touchdowns. The Yellow Jackets also got production from backup tailback Anthony Allen and his 597 yards, 5 touchdowns. When Nesbit does throw he finds wideout Demaryius Thomas who had 46 receptions, for 1,154 yards and 8 touchdowns.
Keeping the defense fresh has been a key to Georgia Tech’s success this year and a potent ground game has done just that, with Tech controlling the ball for just over 34 minutes per game. That has allowed the defense to make big plays, including 24 takeaways and 23 sacks. The unit is highlighted by ALL-SGE-NCAA Football Team member defensive end Derrick Morgan who finished with 52 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. The linebacking corps is highlighted by standouts Brad Jefferson 90 tackles, 8 tackles for loss and Sedric Griffin 72 tackles. Morgan Burnett is an upcoming star with 77 tackles, 3 tackles for loss and 4 interceptions in the secondary.
Iowa is 0-7 all-time against the ACC, while Georgia Tech is 6-6 in 12 matchups against the Big Ten. However, this is the first-ever meeting between these two teams on the gridiron.
PICK: University of Iowa Hawkeyes
Primetime College Football: Tostitos Fiesta Bowl
TALENT
The 40th annual Fiesta Bowl with see two undefeated teams face off as the Mountain West Conference will be represented by the 12-0 TCU Horned Frogs and representing the Western Athletic Conference is the 13-0 Boise State Broncos in Glendale, Arizona. The two teams faced each other in the 2008 Poinsettia Bowl, with TCU prevailing in a 17-16 final.
The Broncos are making their second appearance in a BCS game, the first considered one of the greatest college football games ever played when they outlasted Oklahoma in a triple-overtime thriller in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl, 43-42. Boise State, which is 5-4 all-time in bowl games, is coached by Chris Petersen, and he owns an incredible 48-4 record in four years at the helm.
Led by star quarterback Kellen Moore, Boise State has one of the most potent offenses in all of college football, averaging a national-best 44 ppg behind 460.5 total ypg. Moore is just a sophomore has thrown for 3,325 yards with 39 touchdowns against only 3 interceptions. His 39 scoring strikes are a school record, and his 167.35 passer rating had him ranked No. 1 in the nation at the end of the regular season. Receivers Titus Young and Austin Pettis have been the primary targets hauling in 71 and 62 passes and combining for 1,819 yards and 24 TDs. The BSU run game has done a nice job in keeping opposing defenses honest as Jeremy Avery finished the regular season with 1,131 yards and 6 scores and Doug Martin had 723 yards with 14 scores. The Broncos have outscored the opposition by a whopping 334-92 margin in the first half.
Defensively, Boise State has gotten it done yielding 17 ppg and only 299.6 total ypg. The effort against the pass has been particularly impressive with opponents coming up with just 172.8 ypg. Jeron Johnson has four picks to match Brandon Thompson and he leads the team in tackles with 88. Ryan Winterswyk is the club’s top sack man with 8.5, coming in just ahead of Billy Winn who has 6.
TCU is 12-0 for the first time in school history, and own a 11-13-1 record in 25 previous bowl games. Gary Patterson is 85-27 in charge of the TCU football program and TCU owns the nation’s second-longest winning streak 14 games behind only Texas 17 games, is fourth in the country in scoring 40 ppg.
The Horned Frogs utilize a formidable rushing attack that generates 256.5 ypg which is fifth nationally and has accounted for 35 touchdowns. The aerial assault generates 212.6 ypg and has resulted in 23 scores. The Frogs had four guys rush for more than 500 yards this season, with Joseph Turner heading the group with 732 yards and 11 touchdowns. Andy Dalton is TCU’s quarterback and has thrown for 2,484 yards with 22 touchdowns against only 5 interceptions and rushing for 522 yards and 3 scores. Jeremy Kerley led the team with 38 grabs for 467 yards and 2 scores and Antoine Hicks had only had 19 catches but 6 touchdowns.
From a defensive standpoint, few teams in the nation can match the Horned Frogs intensity or ability to shut down the opposition. TCU is giving up just 12 ppg, and foes have found it nearly impossible to run the football, averaging a mere 80.5 ppg, and the Frogs have permitted just 7 rushing scores all year. TCU has also done a tremendous job defending the pass, permitting a mere 152.8 ypg through the air with only 10 touchdowns. The opposition is averaging just 2.6 yards per carry and only 5.1 yards per pass attempt. Linebacker Daryl Washington is the team’s leading tackler with 99 stops, and he is tied for the club lead in interceptions with Tejay Johnson at three apiece. Jerry Hughes is a force along the TCU defensive line, logging 11.5 sacks.
The all-time series between these two teams in knotted at 1-1, with both meetings taking place in bowl games. In addition to last year’s Poinsettia Bowl, the first encounter took place in the 2003 Fort Worth Bowl, TCU’s home turf. Despite playing in enemy territory, the Broncos rode off with a 34-31 win. Again these two teams faced each other in the 2008 Poinsettia Bowl, with TCU prevailing in a 17-16 final.
PICK: Texas Christian University Horned Frogs
Primetime College Football: Valero Alamo Bowl
TALENT
The 17th annual Alamo Bowl will be taking place for the first time ever in January. It will also be the first for interim head coach Ruffin McNeill of Texas Tech, as he takes over for recently fired Mike Leach. The Red Raiders come from the Big 12 to face the Michigan State Spartans of the Big Ten here in San Antonio. It will also be a first win for either program in this bowl as Tech has been here twice before and the Spartans once before.
The Red Raiders have played in a bowl game 32 times before this season, but finding success in those matchups has been tough, as the team is just 10-22-1. While five of those wins have come under the tutelage of coach Leach. Texas Tech began its season with a mediocre 2-2 start, but the Red Raiders collected wins in six of their last eight matchups.
The Red Raiders were successful offensively largely because of their prolific passing attack, which finished second in the nation with 380.7 ypg. On the season the team produced a whopping 461.8 total ypg, and that lead to an equally impressive 36 ppg. Taylor Potts threw for 3,068 yards and 20 scores against 12 interceptions. However, Steven Sheffield also saw time under center and completed 73.6 percent of his throws for 1,131 yards and 13 scores. Alex Torres caught 65 passes for 791 yards and 6 touchdowns while Detron Lewis collected 55 passes for 730 yards and 5 touchdowns. Lyle Leong caught a team-high 8 touchdowns. Baron Batch rushed for 784 yards and 12 touchdowns on 5.4 yards per carry.
Texas Tech held its opponents to just 21 ppg on the season, and did a terrific job against the run, holding teams to just 125.0 ypg on a mere 3.3 yards per attempt. The team did have some minor problems against the pass, allowing 223.8 ypg, but out of the 26 touchdowns allowed by this unit, only 10 came through the air. Brandon Sharpe is second in the nation and also set the school’s single season mark with 15 sacks. Brian Duncan led the team with 80 tackles, while Daniel Howard added 8 sacks for Texas Tech.
The Spartans began their season with a 44-3 win over Montana State, but followed that with three straight losses then collected three victories before stumbling down the stretch losing three of their last five games. This is the 20th bowl appearance for Michigan State and the team’s third in a row. However, the Spartans are just 7-12 all-time in the postseason and have lost their last three bowl games, including a 24-12 setback to Georgia in last year’s Capital One Bowl.
Mark Dantonio’s Spartans success this season with the football is largely due to the passing attack, which torched the opposition for 271.2 ypg. Overall Michigan State produced 407.1 total ypg and that led to an equally impressive 29 ppg. Offensively the Spartans scored 40 touchdowns, and 26 of those scores came via the pass. Kirk Cousins passed for 2,460 yards and 18 touchdowns against just 7 interceptions. Blair White proved to be very valuable in the passing attack, as the wide out led the team with 64 receptions, 876 yards and 8 scores. B.J. Cunningham also hauled in 48 passes for 641 yards and 4 touchdowns. The Spartans on the ground averaged 135.9 ypg on 4.2 yards per attempt and Larry Caper did most of the carring with 443 yards and 6 scores.
While the offense relied on its play through the air, the defense for Michigan State had nightmares when having to face the pass, as the team was abused for 251.6 ypg through the air, and out of the 37 touchdowns allowed by this unit, 29 came via the pass. Overall the Spartans allowed 364.3 total ypg and that led to 25 ppg. It wasn’t all bad for the Spartans on defense as they where led by ALL-SGE-NCAA Football Team member of linebacker Greg Jones who collected 141 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and 9 sacks.
This will be the first-ever meeting between Michigan State and Texas Tech on the football field.
PICK: Texas Tech University Red Raiders
Primetime College Football: AutoZone Liberty Bowl
TALENT
The 52nd annual Liberty Bowl will see East Carolina Pirates from Conference USA, in their second consecutive appearance, to face from the SEC the Arkansas Razorbacks in Memphis.
The Razorbacks have a long history of participating in bowl games, but unfortunately winning those matchups have been tough for this school. This will be the 37th bowl game for Arkansas, but the team is just 11-22-3 in the postseason, and has lost 12 of its last 14 bowl games, including a 38-7 setback to Missouri in the 2008 Cotton Bowl.
Bobby Petrino’s Razorbacks definitely possessed one of the most dangerous offensive units in the entire nation, as the team produced 37 ppg. The ground game is churning out 136 yards per without a true running back. Michael Smith led the way on the year with 396 yards, while Broderick Green added 392 yards and 11 touchdowns on 4.2 yards per carry. Ryan Mallett was the difference maker throwing for 3,422 yards with 29 touchdowns against just 7 interceptions. Greg Childs hauled in 45 receptions for 862 yards and 7 touchdowns and Jarius Wright collected 37 passes for 591 yards and 4 scores while Joe Adams also caught 7 touchdowns.
The Razorbacks were unable to keep up with the top teams in their conference was because the defense was simply not good enough. The defense allowed 25 ppg throughout the season and was unable to stop opponents on the ground or through the air. Arkansas was gashed for 150.1 rushing ypg, and even worse was their performance against the pass, as teams torched this unit for 251.8 ypg and also tossed 21 touchdowns against Arkansas. The defense however, was one of the top teams in the country in forcing turnovers, racking up 34 takeaways on the year. Pressuring the quarterback was also another solid area for this team, with 26 sacks. The Razorbacks also stepped up their effort when it mattered most defensively, as the team held opponents to just 36 percent on third downs and allowed just 17 touchdowns in 39 red zone chances for the opposition. Jerry Franklin led the way for Arkansas on the season with 84 tackles, while Adrian Davis and Jake Bequette both collected 5.5 sacks apiece.
As for Skip Holtz’s Pirates, they could not find their stride out of the gate in 2009, splitting their first six games down the middle however the Pirates really took off winning six of their last seven games. East Carolina’s bowl history is not as dated as Arkansas but do have a mark of 5-5 in postseason. However, the team has lost three of its last four and that includes a 25-19 setback to Kentucky in last season’s Liberty Bowl.
The Pirates relied on their rushing attack as the team rumbled for 149.6 ypg on 4.1 yards per attempt. 23 of the team’s 37 touchdowns came on the ground and those scores helped ECU average a respectable 27 ppg. Dominique Lindsay was the main source of production rumbling for 1,029 yards and 5 scores on 5.0 yards per carry. The passing attack has not been as successful as the ground game because Pat Pinkney was inconsistent throwing for 2,738 yards and 14 scores against 10 interceptions. Dwayne Harris was the top wideout with 79 receptions, 914 yards and 6 touchdowns. Darryl Freeney was also a solid option for Pinkney and finished the regular season with 42 catches for 624 yards and three scores.
Overall the play by the defensive unit for East Carolina was solid, as the team held the opposition to just 22 ppg. The Pirates did a solid job against the run, limiting teams to just 123.3 ypg however the secondary was torched for 262.3 ypg through the air, and surrendered 23 passing touchdowns. C.J. Wilson led the way with 5.5 sacks on the year, while Scott Robinson added five sacks. Nick Johnson led the team with 94 tackles on the season, while Van Eskridge racked up 93 stops and a team-best six interceptions.
This is the first ever meeting between the two schools on the football field.
PICK: University of Arkansas Razorbacks
Primetime College Football: AT&T Cotton Bowl
TALENT
In the 74th annual Cotton Bowl Classic the Big 12 will send the Oklahoma State Cowboys to take on the Ole Miss Rebels of the SEC in the first Cotton Bowl game to be played outside of the Cotton Bowl stadium and will take place at Jerry’s World in Arlington, Texas.
Oklahoma State is set to play in a school-record fourth consecutive bowl game and seventh in the last eight seasons. The program is 12-7 all-time in bowl games, and the club is 2-1 in such tilts under current head coach Mike Gundy. Oklahoma State is 9-3 overall and finished 6-2 in Big 12 play, good enough for second in the rugged South Division.
The Oklahoma State offense is lead by Zac Robinson who has thrown for 15 scores while rushing for 4 touchdowns but has a mere 1,966 passing yards. Kendall Hunter has been limited by injury and largely ineffective. The best player for the offense has been tailback Keith Toston, who has racked up 1,177 yards and 11 touchdowns while averaging 5.4 yards per attempt. He is also second on the team in catches, providing a viable outlet for Robinson. The team is averaging 30 ppg and 376.2 total ypg.
The Cowboys are holding opponents to 21 ppg and 329.9 total ypg. They are sixth nationally in rushing defense, allowing 87.7 yards per game. Donald Booker leads with 86 total tackles, while Patrick Lavine has recorded 5 interceptions.
As for Ole Miss, it is making its 33rd appearance in a bowl game, and the 20 wins that the program has earned in the postseason ranks 12th in NCAA history. The Rebels are 7-1 in their last eight bowl games, and they beat Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl last season in a 47-34 final. This year’s squad came into the season with tremendous hype and was ranked as high as fourth in the nation. Despite falling short of expectations, the team finished a respectable 8-4 overall and 4-4 in SEC action. Houston Nutt, the head coach of the Ole Miss program, is a three-time SEC Coach of the Year.
Ole Miss quarterback Jevan Snead completed 54.3 percent of his passes for 2,464 yards and 20 touchdowns against 17 interceptions. Shay Hodge is his favorite target and enters with 63 catches for 1,023 yards and 8 scores. Dexter McCluster, a versatile performer, rushed for 985 yards and six touchdowns on only 147 carries, and he also caught 39 passes for 475 yards and three scores while throwing a touchdown pass on his only attempt. Ole Miss is generating 30 ppg while gaining 405.6 total ypg.
Defensively, Ole Miss has been strong this season, limiting opponents to 18 ppg and 319.3 total ypg. The Rebels have allowed just over a 50 percent completion rating to opposing quarterbacks, as they have been solid against the pass. The run defense has been strong as well, permitting 3.8 yards per carry. Patrick Trahan and Jerrell Powe pace the Rebels with 11 TFLs apiece.
It is ironic that the only previous meeting between Oklahoma State and Ole Miss took place in the 2004 Cotton Bowl, and Eli Manning led the Rebels to a 31-28 victory in that contest.
PICK: University of Mississippi Rebels
Primetime College Football: Papajohns.com Bowl
TALENT
The 4th annual Papajohns.com Bowl will see the Connecticut Huskies of the Big East, who are making their fourth ever bowl game, take on the SEC South Carolina Gamecocks in Birmingham, Alabama.
The Gamecocks stormed out of the gates this season with five wins in their first six games, including four in a row. However, the team eventually hit the tough part of its SEC schedule and suffered losses in four of its next five matchups. This will be the second straight bowl game for South Carolina and the 15th overall in school history. Unfortunately the Gamecocks have not enjoyed much success, posting a mere 4-10 mark in those contests.
Steve Spurrier Gamecocks averaged just 21 ppg and are turning out 125.0 ypg on the ground on 3.7 yards per attempt. Leading the ground attack is Kenny Miles, but he has rushed for just 602 yards and one score, while Brian Maddox has contributed 305 yards and a team-best 5 rushing touchdowns. Stephen Garcia has 2,733 yards and 17 scores against 9 interceptions with his only top receiver being Alshon Jeffery who has 43 receptions for 735 yards and 6 touchdowns.
The reason South Carolina was so competitive this season is mainly due to the play of the defense, which held the opposition to just 20 ppg. The Gamecocks allowed just 137.0 ypg on the ground on a mere 3.8 yards per carry, and against the pass the team was even better, limiting opponents to just 167.7 ypg through the air. The defense is lead by ALL-SGE-NCAA Football Team member Eric Norwood who has 71 tackles and 11.5 that where for a loss as well as having 7 sacks on the season. His sack and tackle for a loss totals pushed him to become the all-time leader for South Carolina in both categories. Cliff Matthews collected 7 sacks as well while Shaq Wilson led the squad with 78 tackles.
The Huskies are not as seasoned when its comes to playing in the postseason, participating in just three bowls prior to this year’s contest. UConn is however, 2-1 in those games, and that includes a 38-20 victory over Buffalo in last year’s International Bowl. This year the Huskies had to overcome tragedy along with a grueling Big East schedule. The Huskies began the season with four wins in their first six games however, after that win the Huskies endured a tremendous loss when cornerback Jasper Howard was killed on campus. UConn stumbled through three straight losses but fortunately UConn won its last three contests.
The Huskies rumble into this contest averaging a stout 32 ppg, and the success is largely due to the team’s performance on the ground, as UConn is churning out 172.8 ypg. Out of the 44 touchdowns scored by this unit, 29 have come via the run. Jordan Todman and Andre Dixon formed a dangerous duo for the Huskies, as Todman amassed 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns, while Dixon rumbled for 967 yards and 13 scores. The ground game overshadowed the team’s lack of success through the air, as UConn struggled to find consistency with its passing attack. Zach Frazer played in seven games this season and was nothing more than mediocre, completing just 54.3 percent of his throws for 1,354 yards. Frazer threw 9 touchdowns on the season but also tossed 9 interceptions. Marcus Easley was clearly the top target on the roster, finishing with 44 receptions, for 853 yards and eight TDs.
The play of the offense lightened the load for UConn’s defense that was inconsistent at times this year. The Huskies are allowing 25 ppg, surrendering 137.6 ypg on the ground and 244.8 ypg through the air as well as 17 touchdowns against this secondary. Lawrence Wilson was one of the top performers for this defense throughout the season with 136 tackles and 10 TFLs and Lindsey Witten had 13 TFLs and 11.5 sacks.
This will be the first-ever meeting between South Carolina and Connecticut on the gridiron.
PICK: University of Connecticut Huskies
Primetime College Football: International Bowl
TALENT
The 4th annual International Bowl is the only bowl to be played outside of the United States and it takes place in the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada. It will see the South Florida Bulls of the Big East take on Northern Illinois Huskies of the Mid American Conference.
The Bulls have been a part of the BCS for five seasons, and all five years the team has made it to a bowl game, including this season. The four previous postseason appearances for South Florida were split evenly at 2-2, and obviously that includes the team’s 41-14 romp over Memphis last season in the St. Petersburg Bowl. The Bulls charged out of the gates this season, winning their first five matchups however, the team started to show cracks in the armor and finished out the year with five setbacks in its last seven games.
The Bulls are not overwhelming offensively, but the team does possess a well balanced attack which has led to a respectable 26 ppg. The ground game is churning out 169.4 ypg, but the team’s top performer on the ground is quarterback B.J. Daniels, who has rushed for 798 yards and nine scores on 4.9 yards per attempt. In the backfield Moise Plancher and Mike Ford combined for 813 rushing yards and both players scored 5 touchdowns apiece on the year. Daniels was not as impressive with his arm, completing just 52.7 percent of his throws for 1,766 yards and 12 touchdowns against 9 interceptions. Carlton Mitchell led the way for South Florida with 34 receptions and finished the year with 612 yards and 4 touchdowns. Dontavia Bogan also collected 4 touchdown receptions, but finished the season with just 305 yards on 22 catches.
The reason the Bulls are playing in a bowl game this season is largely due to the performance of the defense, which is limiting opponents to just 21 ppg. South Florida did have minor problems against the run, allowing 137.8 ypg on the season, but this unit really enjoyed success against the pass, holding teams to just 191.0 ypg through the air. South Florida also collected 12 interceptions on the season, and also put plenty of pressure on opposing quarterbacks, grabbing 24 sacks on the year. The Bulls also stepped up their efforts when it mattered most, as the team held opponents to just 40 percent on third down attempts and allowed just 20 touchdowns on 40 red zone chances. There are plenty of playmakers on this side of the football for South Florida, beginning with Kion Wilson, who led the team with 98 tackles. Nate Allen added 79 stops and collected a team-high four interceptions, while Jason Pierre-Paul led the squad with 14.5 TFLs and 5.5 sacks. George Selvie had 40 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks.
The Huskies opened this season with a tough, 28-20 loss to Wisconsin, but the team rebounded with wins in three of its next four contests however, the team stumbled down the stretch, dropping its last two regular season contests against Ohio and Central Michigan. Despite the late collapse the Huskies finished 7-5 overall and were invited to their second straight bowl game and third in the last four seasons. Unfortunately the team suffered losses in their past two bowls games, including a 17-10 loss to Louisiana Tech in last season’s Independence Bowl.
The Huskies have a simple game plan on offense and that is to run the ball early and often. Northern Illinois relied heavily throughout the season on its ground attack, rushing for 202.4 ypg on 4.9 yards per attempt. The Huskies, who are averaging an impressive 30 ppg on the season, scored 27 of their 41 offensive touchdowns on the ground this season. Me’co Brown started the season has the main tailback for NIU, and rushed for 645 yards and 4 scores, but eventually he had to make way for Chad Spann, who closed out the regular season with 945 yards and 19 touchdowns. The success of the ground game overshadowed the team’s inability to find production through the air, as Northern Illinois posted just 151.7 ypg via the pass. Chandler Harnish has completed an impressive 66.2 percent of his throws, but it has gone for just 1,540 yards and 11 scores against 5 interceptions. When Harnish needs a big play he usually looks towards Landon Cox, who led the team with 44 receptions, 528 yards and 4 scores.
Often overlooked due to the success of the NIU offense, is the play of the defense, which held the opposition to just 21 ppg on the season. Northern Illinois was very stingy against the run all season, holding teams to just 119.0 ypg on 3.7 yards per attempt. However, not everything was easy for this unit, as the Huskies did have some issues against the pass, allowing 204.6 ypg and 16 touchdowns via the pass. While the team has trouble stopping the pass, the defense for NIU had no problems getting to the quarterback, as the Huskies recorded 29 sacks on the season. Seven and a half of those sacks came from Jake Coffman, who also grabbed 12.5 TFLs on the year. Brandon Bice and Sean Progar added five sacks apiece on the season, while Tracy Wilson led the team with 86 tackles.
The all-time series between the two schools on the gridiron is tied at 1-1. The last time NIU and South Florida collided was in 2002 when the Bulls grabbed a convincing, 37-6 decision over the Huskies.
PICK: Northern Illinois University Huskies
Primetime College Football: Allstate Sugar Bowl
TALENT
In the 76th annual Sugar Bowl the Florida Gators will take on the Cincinnati Bearcats in a game full of story lines down in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Cincinnati is making its second straight New Years Day appearance in a Bowl Championship Series game. The Bearcats have won back-to-back Big East Conference titles and wrapped up a perfect regular season and then watched as its head coach Brain Kelly left for the head coaching position vacant at Notre Dame and now will not be on the sidelines for this game. Kelly’s assistant, Jeff Quinn, was named the interim head coach for this Sugar Bowl, but before this game could be played he was selected to be the next head coach at Buffalo, Quinn will honor his commitment though and lead the Bearcats in the Sugar Bowl.
The story becomes even more complicated in that Cincinnati has already hired a new permanent head coach in Butch Jones, who led Central Michigan to a pair of Mid-American Conference titles. Jones replaced Brian Kelly at CMU after he left the Chippewas to lead the Bearcats.
Cincinnati leads the nation in passing efficiency 166.19, and ranks sixth in scoring offense 39.8, passing offense 320.3, and total offense 464.3. The team has the good fortune of having two outstanding quarterbacks in Tony Pike and Zach Collaros. Pike, the senior, missed three games due to injury, but he has still thrown for 2,350 yards with 26 touchdowns against 6 interceptions this year. Collaros, a sophomore, has connected on 75 percent of his attempts for 1,434 yards and 10 touchdowns against a mere 2 interceptions. As a runner, he has posted 344 yards and 4 touchdowns. Pike will get the start under center in this bowl game, and he will benefit from the presence of receivers Mardy Gilyard and Armon Binns as usual. Gilyard has recorded 80 catches for 1,150 yards and 11 touchdowns, while Binns adds 56 grabs for 859 yards and 10 scores. Gilyard has also scored a touchdown as a runner, one as a punt returner and two as a kick returner. Isaiah Pead leads the UC ground attack with 758 yards and nine touchdowns.
Cincinnati is yielding 20 ppg and 350.2 total ypg, and while the defensive unit isn’t dominant, it has been strong in most games this season. The Bearcats are only allowing 3.5 yards per rushing attempt, and they have recorded 16 interceptions as well. Aaron Webster has intercepted four passes to pace the team, and Andre Revels is tops with 103 total tackles.
As for Florida, it is making a bowl appearance for the 19th consecutive year, the second-longest active streak in the nation. The Sugar Bowl marks the program’s sixth appearance in a BCS game, and the team knocked off Oklahoma by a 24-14 final in last season’s national title contest. The Gators are 12-1 and have its own unique story lines surface before the Sugar Bowl could be played as Urban Meyer made a recent announcement that he was going to take an indefinite leave of absence following the Sugar Bowl for health-related reasons. Meyer had originally stepped down from his coaching position, stating his desire to concentrate on his health and focus more on his family. But a day later, changed his mind and will take leave instead.
Florida is led by quarterback Tim Tebow has thrown for 2,413 yards and 18 touchdowns while completing 65.2 percent of his passes this season. As a runner, the versatile signal caller has posted 13 touchdowns and 859 yards. Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey have combined for nearly 1,300 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, while tight end Aaron Hernandez and Riley Cooper have more than 1,500 yards and 12 touchdowns between them.
Florida has allowed just 15 touchdowns this season, tied for the fewest in the nation with Penn State, which has played one fewer game than the Gators. The 11.5 points per game that UF is allowing ranks third nationally, and the team has given up seven or fewer points in six games. Foes are gaining a mere 101.6 yards per game on the ground against the Gators, who are yielding just 3.1 yards per rushing attempt. The pass defense is lead by ALL-SGE-NCAA Football Team member Joe Haden who has recorded 57 tackles and 4 interceptions while deflecting 8 passes.
In the only previous meeting between Florida and Cincinnati on the gridiron, the Gators cruised to a 48-17 victory back in 1984.
PICK: University of Florida Gators
Primetime College Football: Citi Rose Bowl
GO DUCKS
“The Granddaddy of Them All” adds its 96th edition this New Year’s Day, as Ohio State Buckeyes from the Big Ten face the Pac-10 Oregon Ducks in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. The Rose Bowl is the oldest bowl game, beginning in 1902 and played continuously since 1916. This year’s combatants both come in with stellar 10-2 records.
Jim Tressel’s Buckeyes captured the Big Ten title for the fifth straight season, distancing themselves down the stretch with five straight victories to close out the regular season. OSU’s bowl resume consists of an 18-22 postseason record. The team will be participating in its fifth straight BCS bowl game and is making its first trip to the Rose Bowl since 1997. The Buckeyes are 6-7 all-time in 13 previous Rose Bowl appearances.
The Buckeyes have relied heavily on the run this season and the results are a gaudy 198.9 yards per game, on 4.7 yards per carry. Quarterback Terrelle Pryor leads the team in rushing with 707 yards and 7 scores. Tailbacks Brandon Saine has 694 yards, 4 touchdowns and Dan Herron has 558 yards, 7 touchdowns. The passing attack has taken a backseat in Columbus this season as Pryor has completed 55.8 percent of his passes this season for only 1,828 yards with 16 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Sophomore DeVier Posey is the top target with 52 receptions for 727 yards and 7 touchdowns.
The Buckeyes ranked fifth among the nation in total defense at 262.5 ypg. The Buckeyes were lead by linebackers Ross Homan 96 tackles and 2 sacks and Brian Rolle 91 tackles. Kurt Coleman amassed 64 tackles and 5 interceptions in the secondary. The ends where maned by Cameron Heyward 5.5 sacks and Thaddeus Gibson 4 sacks.
Chip Kelly has pushed all the right buttons in his first season at the helm at Oregon. The Ducks opened the year with a deflating loss at Boise State, but regrouped to win seven straight after that to regain their swagger. A shootout loss at Stanford put the Pac-10 title in jeopardy, but Oregon responded with three straight wins and clinched the conference title with a 37-33 win over rival Oregon State in the regular-season finale. Oregon is making its first appearance in the Rose Bowl since 1995 and will be making its fifth trip to the event all-time, with a 1-3 record thus far.
The Ducks uses one of the nation’s most prolific ground games to wear the opposition down and it has worked to near perfection. Oregon ranks sixth nationally rushing the football, averaging 236.1 yards per game on an impressive 5.5 yards per carry.
The team lost starting tailback LaGarrette Blount for most of the season after Blount was suspended after one hittin quittin a Boise State player. It was OK for the Ducks as red shirt freshman and ALL-SGE-NCAA Football member LaMichael James took over the slack and rushed for 1,476 yards and 14 touchdowns, on 6.9 yards per carry after the third game of the season. The other devastating weapon on offense for Oregon is dual-threat quarterback Jeremiah Masoli. The junior signal-caller rushed for 659 yards and 12 touchdowns while throwing 2,066 yards and another 15 scores. Wideout Jeff Maehl had 686 yards and 6 touchdowns, but tight end Ed Dixon did a lot of damage with his yards after catch and blocking while finishing with 42 receptions for 551 yards and 6 touchdowns.
Oregon is giving up just 329.4 yards of total offense per game, while limiting opponets to 23 ppg with 32 sacks and 24 takeaways on the year. Freshman safety John Boyett has made an immediate impression on this team with 78 tackles and 2 interceptions. Safety Javes Lewis has 77 tackles, 2 interceptions while corner Talmadge Jackson has 4 interceptions. Linebacker Casey Matthews has 72 tackles, 2.5 sacks, Spencer Paysinger 72 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and Eddie Pleasant 50 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks while defensive end Kenny Rowe has 8.5 sacks with 11 tackles for loss.
The series between these two teams has been dominated by Ohio State, which has won all seven prior matchups. However, these two schools have met just twice in the last 41 years (1983 and 1987). The first-ever meeting took place in the 1958 Rose Bowl.
PICK: University of Oregon Ducks
Primetime College Football: Konica Minolta Gator Bowl
TALENT
The 47th annual Gator Bowl will see the West Virgina Mountaineers take on the Florida State Seminoles in the iconic coach Bobby Bowden’s last game. Bowden’s historic 44-year career as a head coach reluctantly comes to a close.
The Seminoles (6-6) are in postseason play for the 28th straight year, but it was a difficult season for the affable Bowden. Florida State failed to win more than two in a row and fell for the sixth straight time to Florida, 37-10 on Nov. 28, to finish third in the ACC’s Atlantic Division. Two days later, Bowden, 80, said he hadn’t decided on his future and still had career options – one of them being to remain the head coach. After meeting with university officials Dec. 1, though, Bowden said the Gator Bowl would be his last game.
Regardless of the .500 season, Bowden’s accomplishments while building a powerhouse over 34 seasons in Tallahassee are staggering. Following several near-misses in the 1980s, he won national titles with the Seminoles in 1993 and most recently in 1999, when they went unbeaten and became the first to go wire-to-wire as the top-ranked team in the AP poll. Another big achievement is a string of 14 straight seasons, ending in 2000, during which Florida State won at least 10 games and finished ranked in the top five. The Seminoles were 152-19-1 in that span.
He has a 315-97-4 record with Florida State.
Florida State has long had a plan in place for Bowden’s successor, naming offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher in 2007. But first, Bowden will get a send-off in a bowl game where he’s yet to lose. The Seminoles are 4-0 under him in the Gator Bowl, including double-digit wins over West Virginia in 1982 and 2005.
The Mountaineers have won four consecutive bowls since that last loss to Florida State and two of those victories have been under coach Bill Stewart, who is among the many ardent Bowden supporters.
West Virginia (9-3) appeared to be out of the mix for a New Year’s bowl following late-season losses to South Florida and Cincinnati. However, with three-point wins over then-No. 8 Pittsburgh and Rutgers to close the regular season, the Mountaineers finished tied with the Panthers for second in the Big East behind the 12-0 Bearcats.
The Mountaineers’ best player is running back Noel Devine, who finished second in the Big East with 1,372 yards and fourth with 12 touchdowns. Jarrett Brown was third in the conference with 2,129 passing yards, but threw only 11 TDs with eight interceptions in 12 games.
Brown’s counterpart is EJ Manuel, who has started the last three games after Christian Ponder was lost for the season due to a separated shoulder. Manuel has appeared in six games, throwing for 616 yards with two touchdowns and six interceptions.
His top targets are Rod Owens and Bert Reed, who tied for fifth in the conference with 58 receptions, but Owens had only three touchdowns while Reed had none. Jarmon Fortson topped the team with four TD catches. Jermaine Thomas led the Seminoles ground game with 711 yards and 7 TDs.
PICK: Florida State University Seminoles
Primetime College Football: Captial One Bowl
TALENT
The 64th annual Capital One Bowl will see the Penn State Nittany Lions take on the LSU Tigers for just the second time in their history as Joe Paterno looks to add to his record 23 postseason victories.
Penn State (10-2) had a shot at making a second straight BCS appearance after finishing in the top 14 of the final BCS standings, but home losses to Iowa and Ohio State kept the Nittany Lions out. Penn State was even in consideration despite lacking a win over a ranked opponent was mainly due to a fan base that travels well and Paterno, whose record of 393 wins among major college coaches appears safer by the day with the pending retirement of Florida State’s Bobby Bowden. The Nittany Lions were outscored 45-17 and held to an average of 254.0 yards of offense in their two losses, but their six conference victories came by an average of nearly three touchdowns. Even though their wins came against opponents who went a combined 56-64.
Penn State and LSU (9-3) have met once – a 16-9 Nittany Lions win in the 1974 Orange Bowl that capped Paterno’s third of five unbeaten seasons.
Quarterback Daryll Clark led the conference with 23 touchdown passes and was also the league’s highest-rated passer (145.7), but against LSU, he’ll need to avoid the turnovers that have plagued him during Penn State’s losses. Clark has thrown 39 touchdown passes and 9 interceptions in winning 21 starts, but he’s tossed 3 TDs and 7 INTs in his four losses.
The Tigers forced 36 turnovers in 14 games and allowed 288.8 yards per game on their way to winning the 2008 BCS championship, but they have not had the same success since. LSU has created 37 turnovers in 25 games the last two seasons – three in its final five regular-season games. Of equal concern was the amount of yardage the Tigers allowed in their final four contests. LSU had allowed 293.0 yards per game as it started 7-1, but gave up 393.8 in splitting its last four games.
While Les Miles has a long way to go to match Paterno’s total of bowl victories, no coach has gotten more out of his team in the postseason recently. Since Miles arrived from Oklahoma State before the 2005 season, LSU has won its four bowl games by an average of 28.5 points.
Despite their bowl track record, the Tigers will be hard-pressed to score on Penn State. While quarterback Jordan Jefferson has played better of late – he threw 9 touchdowns and 3 interceptions in his last five games – LSU ranks 108th in total offense (309.7 yards per game).
That offense figures to struggle even more if tailback Charles Scott can’t go. The Tigers’ leading rusher broke his collarbone in early November and missed the last three games, though he returned to practice Dec. 14 and currently is questionable. Speedy senior all-purpose back Trindon Holliday could get more carries as well. Regardless of who receives the bulk of the carries, the Tigers will face a stiff challenge up front. Penn State’s defense is 10th nationally against the run (93.9 ypg), eighth overall (277.1) and allows the fourth-fewest points per game (11.8).
The Nittany Lions, as usual, have a talented trio of linebackers in Sean Lee, Navorro Bowman and leading tackler Josh Hull, but it’s tackle Jared Odrick who gets them started up front.
Penn State is 1-3 in the Capital One Bowl, while LSU is 1-1, losing 30-25 in 2005 on a last-second touchdown pass in Nick Saban’s final game as coach.
PICK: Louisiana State University Tigers
Primetime College Football: Chick-fil-A Bowl
TALENT
The 42nd Chick-fil-A Bowl will see Virginia Tech Hokies from the ACC take on the Tennessee Volunteers from the SEC at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
Virginia Tech is hoping to clinch a 10-win season for the sixth consecutive year, and that would be a tremendous accomplishment to say the least. The team is 9-3 overall this season, including a 5-2 mark against ACC competition. The Hokies are just 8-14 all-time in bowl games, and head coach Frank Beamer is 7-9 in bowl games after winning last years Orange Bowl.
Virginia Tech is led by standout freshman tailback Ryan Williams, who has run for a school and ACC freshman record 1,538 yards this season. He needs 110 yards against Tennessee to break the school’s single-season rushing record set by Kevin Jones in 2003. Williams has 20 total touchdowns, including 19 rushing scores. The Hokies are generating 31 ppg on the strength of 388.3 total ypg. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor has connected on 55.8 percent of his throws for 2,102 yards and 13 touchdowns against 4 interceptions and rushed for 344 yards and 4 scores. Jarrett Boykin paces the club with 36 catches for 715 yards and 5 touchdowns.
Virginia Tech’s defense is limiting opponents to 15 ppg and 300.1 total ypg. Opposing quarterbacks have completed fewer than 50 percent of their passes against Tech, which has permitted a mere 8 touchdowns through the air and 9 rushing scores have been allowed. Cody Grimm has recorded 99 total tackles and forced 7 fumbles.
Tennessee owns a 25-22 all-time record in bowl games and is playing in the Chick-fil-A Bowl for the fifth time in school history and first since back-to-back appearances following the 2002 and 2003 seasons. The Vols are 1-3 in the Atlanta-based bowl, and they enter this game with a 7-5 overall record and 4-4 in the SEC.
Lane Kiffin’s Volunteers are scoring 30 ppg this season while generating 395.4 total ypg. Jonathan Crompton passed for 2,565 yards and 26 touchdowns while Gerald Jones caught 41 passes for 610 yards. Denarius Moore has 6 receiving touchdowns. Tennessee has a true workhorse back in Montario Hardesty, who has rushed for 1,306 yards and 12 touchdowns, carrying the ball 264 times.
On the defensive side of the ball, Tennessee is holding opponents to 21.0 ppg and 308.8 total ypg. The Vols have been outstanding against the pass, yielding a mere 9.5 yards per completion and just 5 touchdowns have been registered by opposing quarterbacks. Rico McCoy is a hard-hitting linebacker for the Vols, and he has made a team- high 112 tackles this season to go along with 5 forced fumbles. ALL-SGE-NCAA Football Team member Eric Berry is an outstanding safety that is the active NCAA leader and stands second in NCAA history with 494 interception return yards.
Tennessee owns a 5-2 lead over Virginia Tech in a series that dates back to 1896. The most recent meeting took place in 1994, a 45-23 triumph by the Vols.
PICK: University of Tennessee Volunteers
Primetime College Football: Insight Bowl
TALENT
The 21st annual Insight Bowl will see for the third time in four seasons the Minnesota Golden Gophers as they take on the Iowa State Cyclones in Arizona at Sun Devil Stadium.
The Gophers fell to Kansas last season, 42-21 in this bowl, and were also defeated by Texas Tech 44-41 in overtime back in 2006. Overall Minnesota is just 5-8 in bowl games and has dropped its last three postseason contests. The last time Minnesota captured a victory in a bowl game was in 2004 when the Gophers slipped past Alabama, 20-16, in the Music City Bowl. 2009 was an inconsistent season for Minnesota, which finished with a mere 6-6 overall and 3-5 in the Big Ten.
The Golden Gophers did very little offensively all season long and tallied just 295.8 total ypg on the season, and that lead to a mediocre 21 ppg. The ground game struggled and the team averaged a meager 97.6 ypg on 2.9 yards per carry, ranking 112th in the country. Daune Bennett scored 6 rushing touchdowns on the season, but the tailback rushed for just 376 yards, while Kevin Whaley added 325 yards and 2 scores on 4.2 yards per attempt. The passing attack was not much better for the Gophers, as the team threw for just 198.2 ypg during the regular season. Adam Weber was inconsistent completing just 51.6 percent of his throws. Weber totaled just 2,321 yards in the air and tossed just 12 touchdowns against 14 interceptions. The only reliable target for Weber has been Eric Decker, who led the team with 50 receptions, 758 yards and 5 touchdowns but he is listed as questionable due to a sprain foot.
Tim Brewster’s Gophers come into this matchup allowing 24 ppg, but struggles against the pass and the run. Opponents have thrown for 217.4 ypg against the Gophers, and stopping the run has been an even bigger problem for Minnesota, as the team is being gashed for 146.7 ypg on the ground and has also allowed 18 rushing touchdowns. Lee Campbell has racked up 112 tackles and 9.5 for a loss. Nate Triplett has 96 tackles.
The Cyclones also finished with a mere 6-6 overall record and 3-5 in the Big 12. This is the 10th bowl appearance for Iowa State, and the first for the team since 2005. The Cyclones have dropped seven of their nine bowl matchups, but one of their two victories came in the 2000 Insight Bowl, as Iowa State defeated Pittsburgh, 37-29.
Paul Rhoads Cyclones have been mediocre at best offensively, finishing the regular season averaging a mere 21 ppg. The rushing attack has been successful turning out 177.3 ypg. Alexander Robinson has rumbled for 1,058 yards and 6 touchdowns on the season, while quarterback Austen Arnaud has contributed with 485 yards and 7 rushing scores on the ground but only throwing for 1,799 yards, tossing 13 touchdowns against 11 interceptions. The Cyclones at times use San Antonio’s Robert E. Lee High Schools Jerome Tiller to pass the ball. Marquis Hamilton has been the most reliable wideout hauling in 46 receptions for 574 yards and 4 touchdowns while Jake Williams has scored 4 times on 320 yards.
Iowa State has held the opposition to just 22 ppg on the season while surrendering a whopping 414.3 total ypg. Iowa State was gashed for 169.3 ypg on the ground, and against the pass the team was even worse, allowing 245.0 ypg through the air including 22 touchdowns. On the season the Cyclones have collected 14 interceptions and have also recovered 16 fumbles. Jesse Smith has racked up a team-high 128 tackles and Christopher Lyle has 11 tackles for loss and 4 sacks.
The Golden Gophers hold a commanding 22-2-1 edge over Iowa State in the all- time series, but over the past 85 years these two schools have only collided three times. All three matchups went in favor of Minnesota, including the last meeting in 1997 when the Golden Gophers pounded Iowa State, 53-29.
PICK: Iowa State University Cyclones
Primetime College Football: Texas Bowl
TALENT
The 4th annual Texas Bowl will see the Navy Midshipmen and Missouri Tigers meet up for the first time in 49 years in Houston at Reliant Stadium. The two teams are meeting for the third time and the first since the Tigers notched a 21-14 victory in the 1961 Orange Bowl. The only other encounter took place in 1948 and Missouri won that clash as well by a 35-14 score in Annapolis.
Gary Pinkel’s Tigers finished strong en route to an 8-4 overall record and 4-4 the Big 12. This is the program’s fifth consecutive bowl game and 27th all-time. The Tigers are 12-14 all-time in bowl games.
Missouri prefers to air the ball out, averaging 285.0 passing ypg with quarterback Blaine Gabbert flourishing in his first season as the starter throwing for 3,302 yards, with 23 scores against only 7 picks while rushing for 228 yards and 3 more touchdowns. ALL-SGE-NCAA Football Team member Danario Alexander has emerged as Gabbert\’s main option and one of the best in the nation. After making just 78 catches over his first three seasons, Alexander hauled in 107 catches for a nation-high 1,644 yards and 13 touchdowns this year. Alexander saved his best for late in the season as well, notching 49 receptions for 802 yards and six scores over his last four games. In the backfield, Derrick Washington has made the most of his chances this season and he leads the Tigers with 803 yards and 10 scores on the ground.
The Tigers have struggled versus the pass this season, allowing 261.6 ypg, but against the run, Missouri has been one of the best teams in the nation, holding opponents to just 96.4 ypg and only 2.9 yards per carry. The Tigers have come up with 30 sacks and that has led to 237 yards lost. Aldon Smith is the team’s top pass rushing threat, racking up 11 sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss. Linebacker Sean Weatherspoon is another big part of this defense and he has made a team-high 104 tackles and 14 for a loss to go along with 4.5 sacks.
For the Midshipmen, they are looking for their first 10-win season since 2004 following a 9-4 showing during the regular season. Navy is making an academy- record seventh consecutive bowl appearance and the team is seeking its first postseason win since defeating Colorado State in the 2005 Poinsettia Bowl.
Behind their option attack, Navy once again ranks among the top rushing teams in the nation, gaining 272.5 ypg and 40 touchdowns on the ground this season. Quarterback Ricky Dobbs makes this ground game go and he has turned in quite a season thus far. The junior gunslinger has gained 1,037 yards on the ground and has already set an NCAA single-season record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with 24. Dobbs has thrown for 5 more scores. Vince Murray is another option for the Navy attack who has 925 yards and 6 touchdowns.
Navy’s defense has been rather good this season and the unit even played well down the stretch, holding its last four opponents to 21 points or less. For the season, the Midshipmen are holding foes to 19 ppg and 333.6 total ypg. The unit is giving up 126.5 ypg on the ground and 207.1 ypg through the air and those numbers are pretty respectable. Ken Niumatalolo’s Midshipmen however, have only forced 20 turnovers and recorded just 18 sacks.
Ross Pospisil highlights the defense with 98 stops, including seven for losses. Wyatt Middleton and San Antonio’s Taft Ram Vela are two other players to keep a look out for, as they have combined for 6 of the team’s 11 interceptions.
PICK: Navy Midshipmen
Primetime College Football: Brut Sun Bowl
TALENT
The 75th annual Sun Bowl will see the Oklahoma Sooners take on the Stanford Cardinals which will take place in El Paso, Texas.
Oklahoma is making its 43rd bowl appearance, and the program is 24-17-1 all- time in the postseason. Last season the club lost the BCS National Championship game to Florida, the fifth loss in the last six bowl appearances for the Sooners. This year’s Bob Stoops Sooners enter with a 7-5 overall and 5-3 in the Big 12.
The Sooners are led by Landry Jones and the Sooners are averaging 31 ppg and 419.4 total ypg, while completing 58.0 percent of his passes for 2,780 yards and 23 touchdowns with 13 interceptions. Ryan Broyles leads the Sooners with 76 catches for 964 yards and 12 touchdowns. The ground attack is paced by Chris Brown who has posted 703 yards and 7 scores. DeMarco Murray, who has 678 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Defensively Oklahoma has been tremendous, as opponents are averaging a low 13 ppg and 273.5 total ypg. Teams are only gaining a mere 88.6 rushing ypg at an average of 2.7 yards per carry against the stout defensive front, and the Sooners are surrendering only 9.9 yards per pass completions with 16 interceptions against 11 passing scores allowed.
Stanford is making its 21st bowl appearance and first since 2001. The program is 9-10-1 all-time in the postseason and hasn’t tasted postseason victory since 1996. Coach Jim Harbaugh’s group finished the 2009 regular season with an 8-4 mark and 6-3 in the Pac-10.
Stanford tailback Toby Gerhart was named ALL-SGE-NCAA Football Team member and finished second in the voting for the Heisman Trophy. The bruising runner has had an incredible year, leading the nation with 26 rushing scores to set a school and conference single-season record. Gerhart has rushed for 1,736 yards at a clip of 5.6 yards per attempt, and the fact that he carried it 311 times in 12 games speaks to his workhorse status.
The Cardinal are generating 36 ppg and 441.4 total ypg, and while the running game is certainly the team’s strength, freshman quarterback Andrew Luck provided balance connecting 56.2 percent of his passes for 2,575 yards and 13 touchdowns against 4 picks, a finger injury may keep him out and if so they will be forced to go with backup Tavita Pritchard. Ryan Whalen leads the club with 54 catches for 861 yards, while Chris Owusu has scored 5 times on 36 grabs.
Defensively, Stanford is allowing 26 ppg and 396.5 total ypg, permitting 38 touchdowns to opposing offenses and 20 have come through the air while only pulling in 7 interceptions. Thomas Kaiser leads the Cardinal with 14.5 tackles for loss including nine sacks, and Delano Howell is tops with 76 total tackles.
Oklahoma owns a 3-1 series lead over Stanford, and the teams haven’t met in a quarter century.
PICK: University of Oklahoma Sooners
Primetime College Football: Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl
TALENT
It’s the 7th annual Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl and it will see for the second year in a row the Houston Cougars take on Air Force Falcons in Fort Worth, Texas. Last year the Cougars secured a 34-28 win against Air Force in this event.
Coach Kevin Sumlin has an offensive juggernaut at Houston scoring no less than 29 points in any one game and averaging 43 ppg to rank second in the nation by mere fractions of a point behind Boise State. Four times the Cougars posted at least 50 points in a game, the high-water mark coming against the Rice Owls on November 28th in a lopsided 73-14 final in the last home game bringing them to 10-3 overall and 6-2 in Conference USA. The Cougars have an 8-10-1 record in the postseason.
The Falcons return to this event for the fourth straight year thanks to a 7-5 overall record and a 5-3 mark in the Mountain West Conference. Coach Troy Calhoun becomes the first coach in school history to take his team to a bowl game in his first three years. However, Air Force has dropped three straight bowls and is now 8-10-1 in such games.
Houston junior Case Keenum was one of the most productive players in all of college football this season and is already the all-time leader in pass completions for the Cougars with 1,052, throwing for at least 300 yards in 25 games. Four times this season alone Keenum threw for at least 500 yards, leading the nation with 5,581 passing yards. First in the nation in total offense with an average of 429.3 ypg, Keenum threw 43 touchdowns and was picked off just 9 times in 659 attempts. Even though this is a pass first offense James Cleveland is the best on the team and one of the best in the nation grabbing 9.2 receptions per game. Five times this season Cleveland had at least 100 yards in a game.
The Cougars were ranked 111th in the nation in run defense with 213.1 ypg allowed. The pass defense permitted another 229.6 ypg, which meant the squad was allowing 442.7 ypg overall, ranking them 108th in the country, surrendering 28 ppg.
Air force uses two signal-callers Tim Jefferson and Connor Dietz but rank last in the Mountain West Conference and 118th in the country with a scant 82.3 ypg in passing. The offense turns to Jared Tew, Asher Clark and Savier Stephens to do the bulk of the work generated by the vaunted triple-option. Tew led the program with 797 yards and 7 touchdowns on the ground, while Clark accounted for 736 yards and 5 scores, followed by Stephens and his 417 yards and 3 touchdowns.
The Falcons defense ranks first in the nation in passing yards allowed with a mere 148.7 ypg and is 10th in total defense, permitting just 284.8 ypg. Ben Garland made 44 tackles this season and finished with 10.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. The Falcons rank third in the nation with a plus-1.42 turnovers per outing, mostly because the offense rarely put the ball in the air and defenses had very few opportunities to pick off passes.
This game marks the third-ever meeting between these two programs, all of them coming in the last 16 months. The very first encounter was during the second week of September, 2008 when Air Force slipped by with a 31-28 victory in Dallas when the teams were forced to change the location of the game due to the arrival of Hurricane Ike in the Houston area.
PICK: University of Houston Cougars
