Welcome to Week 4, where College Gameday is in Fargo, North Dakota, and the prime-time ABC game features an 0-2 American Athletic Conference team. This is probably the worst viewing week of the year, but it is still a weekend of football, and that is good.
Saturday September 21, 2013
There is nothing quite like Saturdays in the fall...
11:45 AM: College Gameday (ESPN):
Even if Gameday is covering a North Dakota State game, it's still worth it to tune in. NDSU is actually a good team: they beat Kansas State earlier in the year, and are a perennial power int he FCS (Div. 1AA).
12:00 PM: North Carolina @ Georgia Tech (ESPN):
Just keep the TV on ESPN after Gameday is over, because this is a great game. With a win here, Georgia Tech would move to 2-0 in the ACC. They seem like an early favorite to win the Coastal Division. Watch for: How UNC's defense can stand up against Tech's option attack.
3:30 PM: Tennessee @ #19 Florida (CBS):
Both of these teams need a win in the worst way, coming off of embarrassing non-conference losses. Tennessee got destroyed by Oregon, and Florida put up an embarrassing performance against Miami. Watch for: Freshman cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III shut down Tennessee's passing attack.
3:30 PM: Michigan State @ #22 Notre Dame (NBC):
This is my co-marquee game of the week. Michigan State is 3-0, not having played any tough teams, and Notre Dame is 2-1, and needs a big win badly to solidify their ranking. If you only watch one game, this is the one. What to watch for: Michigan State has arguably the best defense in the country, and they get their first test this week against Tommy Rees and Notre Dame's dynamic group of receivers
7:00 PM: #23 Arizona State @ #5 Stanford (FOX):
This is my other marquee game of the week, and it is a good one. Arizona State is coming off a controversial but good win over Wisconsin, and now they travel to Stanford. The Cardinal hasn't had a stiff test so far this season, and this is a game that impacts the Pac12 in a major way. Watch for: Stanford to gladly sit back and pound the ball between the tackles all game.
7:45 PM: Auburn @ #6 LSU (ESPN):
This is the first test for LSU as they face an Auburn team that is 3-0 on the season, but has yet to play a ranked team. Though there is a large ranking discrepancy, I think this will be a much closer game than the experts think. Watch for: LSU's "new" offense, which is much more pass-oriented than in years previous.
That is it folks! Some other games to keep your eye on are: #15 Michigan @ Connecticut, Missouri @ Indiana, and Kansas State @ Texas. Hopefully next week will have a better slate of games! 'Til next time.
Showing posts with label LSU. Show all posts
Showing posts with label LSU. Show all posts
Friday, September 20, 2013
Saturday, August 24, 2013
College Football Week 1 Viewing Guide
The greatest time of the year is upon us: college football is back! And that means 15 straight Saturdays of tailgating, bar-b-queuing, TV-watching fun! It also means that I am back on the blog, to provide you with a viewing guide for each week. If you watch everything I tell you to watch, you will have maxed out your quality football watching experience each week. Of course, you'll want to tune in to see your favorite team play, but this should give you a good guide of what the action is in week 1.
Thursday August 29th, 2013
It's the first week, which means college football kicks off on a Thursday. Make sure you beat that rush hour traffic and get home a little early, because there are some great games, starting with:
6:00 PM: North Carolina @ #6 South Carolina (ESPN):
This is a perfect way to kick off the year, with a good old fashioned battle for Carolina. While both teams have more important rivals, there will be no love lost between these two squads. Watch for: Jadeveon Clowney, because he is a beast.
8:00 PM: Utah State @ Utah (Fox Sports 1):
If the UNC-USC game is good, make sure you have this one on "last" for something to watch during commercials. If it's a snoozer, then switch over to Fox Sports 1 for this battle of Utah. These long-time rivals are always good for a close game. Utah State, however, has been the better program of late. Watch for: This is Fox Sports 1's first ever game that they will be covering. Lets see how they do.
9:15 PM: Ole Miss @ Vanderbilt (ESPN):
This game will be following the completion of the UNC-USC game, and is a great way to kick off the SEC season. Vanderbilt has been good as of late, and Ole Miss comes in with lots of hype, and potentially the #1 incoming recruiting class. Watch for: Ole Miss' freshmen, and how they impact the game.
10:30 PM: Rutgers @ Fresno State (CBS Sports):
It may not seem like a great matchup, but it is. Both teams are coming off of very good 9-4 seasons, and both have a real shot at winning their respective conferences. Watch for: how Rutgers responds to the road environment and Fresno State's fast paced offense.
Friday August 30th, 2013
Well, work is done for the week. Yeah, you stayed up too late last night, but it's okay, because this is the first college football weekend of the year!
8:PM: Texas Tech @ SMU (ESPN):
This is the only matchup on Friday worth watching, and it's a good one. This in state battle will feature points, points, and more points. Two of the better offenses in the nation clash in Dallas. It will definitely be worth your time. Watch for: points.
Saturday August 31st, 2013
Oh, how we have waited for this day. Call your buddies, and fire up the grill! It's football time!
11:45 AM: College Gameday (ESPN):
This might just be the best part of Saturdays in the fall. Watch the crew pick all of the big games, and see Lee Corso don some ridiculous mascot head. College football doesn't officially start until that happens.
12:00 PM: Purdue @ Cincinnati (ESPN U):
I'm sorry, but I want to see good football, not Ohio State crushing Buffalo from the first snap. This will be an even, back and forth affair. Watch for: Both of the quarterback situations; and kickoffs and punts: both teams have great return men.
3:30 PM: Mississippi State vs #13 Oklahoma State (ABC/ESPN2):
The 3:30 window has some great games, and this is one of them. Played at a neutral site in Houston, it will be a much needed win for both teams to jump-start their seasons. Watch for: Lots of passes: both teams love the "spread and shred" philosophy.
3:30 PM: Syracuse vs Penn State (ABC/ESPN2):
This is the opposite of the previous game, as points will probably be kept to a minimum, as both teams will try and grind their way to a victory. Watch for: the QB situation for both teams, as both teams lost their starting QBs, both of whom led their respective conferences in passing.
5:30 PM: #1 Alabama vs Virgina Tech (ESPN):
Virginia Tech is not supposed to win, but this is Alabama's biggest non-conference test, and it comes in week 1. Played at a neutral site in Atlanta, this is going to be a great game between two very hungry teams. Watch for: If VT gets behind in this game, it's all over. See if they can jump out to a lead and put some pressure on Alabama.
8:00 PM: #5 Georgia @ # 8 Clemson (ABC):
If you only watch one game this week, I suggest you watch this one. By now, your tailgate should be in full swing, and you can watch what is going to be a high powered, back and forth battle. Watch for: everything, really. UGA's offense should be great, but they are replacing a lot of players on defense, and we will see how that stacks up against Clemson's offense.
9:00 PM: #12 LSU vs #20 TCU (ESPN):
It's the battle of the three letter acronym schools, as LSU and TCU take the field for the Cowboy Classic in Arlington, Texas. LSU thinks they can hang with the best in the SEC, and they will have to prove that against a TCU team that is favored to do well in the Big12 this year. Watch for: LSU to come out firing. If they win this, there's a good chance they will be 4-0 going into their showdown @ Georgia.
10:30 PM: #22 Northwestern @ California (ESPN 2):
By now, everyone has probably gone home, and once the two above games finish, turn to this one to see what will probably be a good finish. Normally excelling in the classroom, these two schools have been on the rise as of late. Watch for: Northwestern to handle the Cal defense easily with their edge speed.
And that's it. Enjoy your weekend, and try and recover before work on Monday! Because we have to do it all over again in week 2! 'Til next time.
Thursday August 29th, 2013
It's the first week, which means college football kicks off on a Thursday. Make sure you beat that rush hour traffic and get home a little early, because there are some great games, starting with:
6:00 PM: North Carolina @ #6 South Carolina (ESPN):
This is a perfect way to kick off the year, with a good old fashioned battle for Carolina. While both teams have more important rivals, there will be no love lost between these two squads. Watch for: Jadeveon Clowney, because he is a beast.
8:00 PM: Utah State @ Utah (Fox Sports 1):
If the UNC-USC game is good, make sure you have this one on "last" for something to watch during commercials. If it's a snoozer, then switch over to Fox Sports 1 for this battle of Utah. These long-time rivals are always good for a close game. Utah State, however, has been the better program of late. Watch for: This is Fox Sports 1's first ever game that they will be covering. Lets see how they do.
9:15 PM: Ole Miss @ Vanderbilt (ESPN):
This game will be following the completion of the UNC-USC game, and is a great way to kick off the SEC season. Vanderbilt has been good as of late, and Ole Miss comes in with lots of hype, and potentially the #1 incoming recruiting class. Watch for: Ole Miss' freshmen, and how they impact the game.
10:30 PM: Rutgers @ Fresno State (CBS Sports):
It may not seem like a great matchup, but it is. Both teams are coming off of very good 9-4 seasons, and both have a real shot at winning their respective conferences. Watch for: how Rutgers responds to the road environment and Fresno State's fast paced offense.
Friday August 30th, 2013
Well, work is done for the week. Yeah, you stayed up too late last night, but it's okay, because this is the first college football weekend of the year!
8:PM: Texas Tech @ SMU (ESPN):
This is the only matchup on Friday worth watching, and it's a good one. This in state battle will feature points, points, and more points. Two of the better offenses in the nation clash in Dallas. It will definitely be worth your time. Watch for: points.
Saturday August 31st, 2013
Oh, how we have waited for this day. Call your buddies, and fire up the grill! It's football time!
11:45 AM: College Gameday (ESPN):
This might just be the best part of Saturdays in the fall. Watch the crew pick all of the big games, and see Lee Corso don some ridiculous mascot head. College football doesn't officially start until that happens.
12:00 PM: Purdue @ Cincinnati (ESPN U):
I'm sorry, but I want to see good football, not Ohio State crushing Buffalo from the first snap. This will be an even, back and forth affair. Watch for: Both of the quarterback situations; and kickoffs and punts: both teams have great return men.
3:30 PM: Mississippi State vs #13 Oklahoma State (ABC/ESPN2):
The 3:30 window has some great games, and this is one of them. Played at a neutral site in Houston, it will be a much needed win for both teams to jump-start their seasons. Watch for: Lots of passes: both teams love the "spread and shred" philosophy.
3:30 PM: Syracuse vs Penn State (ABC/ESPN2):
This is the opposite of the previous game, as points will probably be kept to a minimum, as both teams will try and grind their way to a victory. Watch for: the QB situation for both teams, as both teams lost their starting QBs, both of whom led their respective conferences in passing.
5:30 PM: #1 Alabama vs Virgina Tech (ESPN):
Virginia Tech is not supposed to win, but this is Alabama's biggest non-conference test, and it comes in week 1. Played at a neutral site in Atlanta, this is going to be a great game between two very hungry teams. Watch for: If VT gets behind in this game, it's all over. See if they can jump out to a lead and put some pressure on Alabama.
8:00 PM: #5 Georgia @ # 8 Clemson (ABC):
If you only watch one game this week, I suggest you watch this one. By now, your tailgate should be in full swing, and you can watch what is going to be a high powered, back and forth battle. Watch for: everything, really. UGA's offense should be great, but they are replacing a lot of players on defense, and we will see how that stacks up against Clemson's offense.
9:00 PM: #12 LSU vs #20 TCU (ESPN):
It's the battle of the three letter acronym schools, as LSU and TCU take the field for the Cowboy Classic in Arlington, Texas. LSU thinks they can hang with the best in the SEC, and they will have to prove that against a TCU team that is favored to do well in the Big12 this year. Watch for: LSU to come out firing. If they win this, there's a good chance they will be 4-0 going into their showdown @ Georgia.
10:30 PM: #22 Northwestern @ California (ESPN 2):
By now, everyone has probably gone home, and once the two above games finish, turn to this one to see what will probably be a good finish. Normally excelling in the classroom, these two schools have been on the rise as of late. Watch for: Northwestern to handle the Cal defense easily with their edge speed.
And that's it. Enjoy your weekend, and try and recover before work on Monday! Because we have to do it all over again in week 2! 'Til next time.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Mailbag: Uniforms and Badgers
Have you ever wanted to pick the mind of your favorite sports blogger? Now you can! Just send me a question to straightupsports1@gmail.com or tweet it at me @straightsports1. The content is up to you, so make it good!
Straight Up Response: Hank, thanks for hitting me up on Twitter with this question. Being confined to 140 characters can be difficult, so I'll expand on this a bit. Hank is talking about Tyrann Mathieu (at right), a former LSU defensive back, who was dismissed from the team before the 2012 season for drug issues. Mathieu, who was nicknamed the "Honey Badger" in college, is a prospect that is practically covered in red flags. The off the field problems are obviously a big one, but his combine results, including the bench press reps that Hank mentioned, are a bigger issue. He also has not played in a game in over a year.
Straight Up Response: Thanks for the email Dave! I have the feeling that this is a loaded question considering you said you were from Wisconsin, but I'll answer it truthfully anyways. Wisconsin basketball bores me. It verges on almost painful to watch at times. But that does not mean that it isn't good basketball. Sometimes it is hard to watch a team because they are sloppy, or can't make a shot. This is not the case with Wisconsin. Their whole strategy is to slow the game down to the point where they take almost every shot with less than 10 seconds left on the shot clock. Don't think about running on them either: they forego offensive rebounds to get every player back in transition. You might think that there is no way that Wisconsin can win like this, but they have been extremely successful under Bo Ryan's scheme. He never recruits top players because he recruits specifically to his scheme, and then develops his players into what he wants them to be. I think Bo Ryan is one of the best coaches in the country. Over the 12 seasons that he's been at Wisconsin, they have never finished worse than 4th in the very tough Big Ten, and have made the NCAA Tournament every singe year. He's on his way to do the same this year, leading the Badgers to a 20-8 record, including 5 wins over ranked teams Maybe the only criticism result wise with Bo Ryan that he has never gotten a team to the Final Four. But I think that the Badger faithful can live with that one. Ugly, hard to watch, slow basketball can work as long as you have the right coach and the right scheme. Bo Ryan is that coach, and so far in his career, his scheme is working just fine.
Darrel C. writes: "What's up with the new Adidas uniforms for March Madness? Do you like or dislike?"
Straight Up Response: Darrel, thanks for the question. For those of you who have no idea what he is talking about, he is referring to these new uniforms that Adidas released this week:
I normally like the new uniforms or big game uniforms that have been becoming increasingly popular over the last few years. The key word there is normally. I don't even know where to start with these. The teams that have chosen to adapt these uniforms for the NCAA Tournament are Cincinnati, Kansas, Notre Dame, Baylor, UCLA, and Louisville. This honestly looks like something that you would see a surfer or BMX rider wear. What's next from here? Glow in the dark? Advertisements?
There are some teams that you just don't mess with the uniforms. UCLA and Kansas have two of the most classic and recognizable uniforms in college basketball. You don't mess with that. You don't mess with perfection. Michigan and NC State, the two Adidas teams that opted out of wearing these uniforms, will wear their regular Adidas gear during the NCAA Tournament. But in the long run, it's not the uniform, but the team on it that matters.
Hank M. writes: "Which team will take the Honey Badger? One who needs him bad enough to risk his off the field issues? Do his 4 bench reps matter?
Straight Up Response: Hank, thanks for hitting me up on Twitter with this question. Being confined to 140 characters can be difficult, so I'll expand on this a bit. Hank is talking about Tyrann Mathieu (at right), a former LSU defensive back, who was dismissed from the team before the 2012 season for drug issues. Mathieu, who was nicknamed the "Honey Badger" in college, is a prospect that is practically covered in red flags. The off the field problems are obviously a big one, but his combine results, including the bench press reps that Hank mentioned, are a bigger issue. He also has not played in a game in over a year.
Despite all of these issues, I think Mathieu has cleaned up his act, and will be a great pickup for a team in the 2-4 round. I think that the Pittsburgh Steelers are the team that is most likely to pick him. They are depleted in the defensive secondary, and are in desperate need of an interception producing player. That was one of Matthieu's strengths in his time in Baton Rouge. He forced 8 turnovers in just a 13 game season. The Steelers' star corner back Keenan Lewis is also testing the waters of free agency, making secondary a must get position for the Steelers in the draft. Another incredible upside to Mathieu is his punt and kickoff returning skills. If playing defense never works out for Tyrann, he could always be converted to a Devin Hester type kickoff and punt return specialist, seeing limited action on the offensive end. The Steelers have also struggled with finding a solid kick and punt returner, and Tyrann might be their guy.
So to recap: I think the Steelers will take him (but I've been known to be wrong), the upside greatly outweighs the negative (especially if he slips to the 3rd or 4th round), and I think the bench reps don't matter a whole lot in the end (the Steelers will care more about his good 40 time). Thanks for the great question Hank, and remember that the NFL Draft is just around the corner!
Dave R. writes: "What is your opinion on Wisconsin basketball? Do you enjoy watching the games? What do you think of Bo Ryan as a coach?"
Straight Up Response: Thanks for the email Dave! I have the feeling that this is a loaded question considering you said you were from Wisconsin, but I'll answer it truthfully anyways. Wisconsin basketball bores me. It verges on almost painful to watch at times. But that does not mean that it isn't good basketball. Sometimes it is hard to watch a team because they are sloppy, or can't make a shot. This is not the case with Wisconsin. Their whole strategy is to slow the game down to the point where they take almost every shot with less than 10 seconds left on the shot clock. Don't think about running on them either: they forego offensive rebounds to get every player back in transition. You might think that there is no way that Wisconsin can win like this, but they have been extremely successful under Bo Ryan's scheme. He never recruits top players because he recruits specifically to his scheme, and then develops his players into what he wants them to be. I think Bo Ryan is one of the best coaches in the country. Over the 12 seasons that he's been at Wisconsin, they have never finished worse than 4th in the very tough Big Ten, and have made the NCAA Tournament every singe year. He's on his way to do the same this year, leading the Badgers to a 20-8 record, including 5 wins over ranked teams Maybe the only criticism result wise with Bo Ryan that he has never gotten a team to the Final Four. But I think that the Badger faithful can live with that one. Ugly, hard to watch, slow basketball can work as long as you have the right coach and the right scheme. Bo Ryan is that coach, and so far in his career, his scheme is working just fine.
I think this first mailbag is a success. Remember, email me at straightupsports1@gmail.com or tweet me @straightsports1, and maybe you can have your question answered! 'Til next time.
Friday, December 28, 2012
2012-13 College Football Bowl Preview (Part III)
This is the final edition of my 2012-13 College Football Preview. I thoroughly enjoyed writing these, and there has been a a lot of positive response about them. This is definitely something that I will do again next year! (as always, all times are Eastern)
The Chick-fil-A Bowl: Monday December 31st, 7:30 pm.
#8 LSU (10-2) vs #14 Clemson (10-2) - This is the first matchup of the bowl season that features two teams that are ranked in the top 25. These two teams make for a great matchup, with LSU's running game and defense going up against one the top offenses in the nation, led by Tajh Boyd and Clemson's group of dynamic receivers. LSU has thrived in games against top 25 opponents, going 3-2. Clemson, on the other hand, has lost to the only ranked teams that they faced: South Carolina and Florida State. LSU also played South Carolina, and beat them 23-21. I guarantee there will be a trick play at some point, as these teams are led by two of the most gutsy (and some times crazy) coaches: Les Miles for LSU, and Dabo Swinney for Clemson. Straight Up Pick: LSU.
The Gator Bowl: Tuesday January 1st, 12:00 pm.
Mississippi State (8-4) vs #20 Northwestern (9-3) - The first of several great SEC vs Big Ten matchups; this one might be the best. Both teams come in with something to prove. Northwestern has not won a bowl game in 64 years (!) and they need this game to get the monkey off of their back. Mississippi State needs this game to prove that they belong in the top of the SEC, even though they can't beat a ranked SEC team (0-3 this year). Both teams have been exposed by the better teams on their schedule so we will see who is able to capitalize. Straight Up Pick: Northwestern.
The Heart of Dallas Bowl: Tuesday January 1st, 12:00 pm.
Purdue (6-6) vs Oklahoma State (7-5) - Defensively, these teams are almost the same: not good (ranked 72nd and 73rd in total defense). It's when you look at the offenses where you see a difference. Oklahoma is 4th in points scored, 7th in passing, and 22nd in rushing. Purdue is 54th or worse in all of those categories. To their defense, Purdue won their last 3 games to become bowl eligible, including a great comeback win against Iowa. But they are 0-1 against ranked teams, while Oklahoma State is 2-3. Straight Up Pick: Oklahoma State.
The Outback Bowl: Tuesday January 1st, 1:00 pm.
#10 South Carolina (10-2) vs #18 Michigan (8-4) - In this marquee Big Ten-SEC game, South Carolina and Michigan square off in what should be one of the more entertaining games. Michigan's elite dual threat quarterback Denard Robinson has been relegated to receiver running back because of an arm injury. But he might be even more dangerous, because Michigan went 3-1 after backup Devin Gardner stepped in to take his place. South Carolina has taken care of everyone on the schedule save their two losses against LSU and Florida, but they do boast a 35-7 win over Georgia. However, they are missing a key piece to their offense in running back Marcus Lattimore, who is out with a broken leg. Straight Up Pick: Michigan.
The Capital One Bowl: Tuesday January 1st, 1:00 pm.
#7 Georgia (11-2) vs #16 Nebraska (10-3) - Both losers of their conference championship game, Georgia and Nebraska clash in a battle of quarterbacks Nebraska's Taylor Martinez and Georgia's Aaron Murray, will attempt to lead their teams to victory against a couple of tough ball-pursuit defenses. Georgia will be without DT John Jenkins, who is a key part of their rush defense. They will need every bit of that rush defense against Nebraska's attack, which ranks 8th in the nation. Straight Up Pick: Georgia.
The Rose Bowl: Tuesday January 1st, 5:00 pm.
#6 Stanford (10-2) vs Wisconsin (8-5) - There is nothing better than the "Granddaddy of Them All" - The Rose Bowl. Thanks to the NCAA bowl bans against Ohio State and Penn State, Wisconsin received the Big Ten Championship Game big and took advantage of it. Wisconsin comes in an interesting situation, demolishing Nebraska in the Big Ten Championship Game 70-31, having their coach leave, and then using their athletic directer, Barry Alvarez, as an interim coach. But this isn't just any athletic directer: Alvarez led Wisconsin to 3 Rose Bowl victories in the 1990's. Does the magic remain, or will Stanford's top notch defense and stellar running game put Wisconsin in a sleep that they will not be able to rise from? Stanford was 5-1 against ranked teams this year, including their last 4 games against teams that were all ranked in the top 25. Straight Up Pick: Stanford.
The Discover Orange Bowl: Tuesday January 1st, 8:30 pm.
#15 Northern Illinois (12-1) vs #12 Florida State (11-2) - If you love an underdog, you have to love Northern Illinois. They busted the BCS by beating Kent State 44-37 in a dramatic double overtime MAC Championship Game. Their only loss of the year came by one point against Iowa, and they are led by incredible quarterback Jordan Lynch. Lynch has compiled almost 3000 yards passing and over 1700 yards rushing. Northern Illinois is up against a tough task, however. Florida State boasts the number 6 ranked defense, a win against Clemson, and an ACC championship. With senior signal caller EJ Manuel at the helm, the Seminoles are in a good place for a victory. Straight Up Pick: Florida State.
The Allstate Sugar Bowl: Wednesday January 2nd, 8:30 pm.
#21 Louisville (10-2) vs #3 Florida (11-1) - Louisville had a great year this year, winning the Big East and landing a BCS Bowl bid. But the good news stops there. They have yet to play a ranked team, and their season included losses to Syracuse and Connecticut. They do have a great playmaker in quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, but that might not be enough against Florida's 3rd ranked defense. Sometimes stats lie, but this was a defense that held LSU to 6 points, South Carolina to 11, Missouri to 7, and Georgia to 17. More impressively they held Heisman Winner Johnny Manziel and Texas A&M to just 17 points. On offense they always seem to have just enough to win, with their only loss coming to Georgia when they simply could not move the ball. Straight Up Pick: Florida.
The Tostitos Fiesta Bowl: Thursday January 3rd, 8:30 pm.
#4 Oregon (11-1) vs #5 Kansas State (11-1) - With a few weeks left, many people thought that this would be the matchup in the National Championship. But Stanford took down Oregon in OT and the next week Baylor pulled a gigantic upset of Kansas State, throttling them 52-24. Both teams have great conflicting styles. Kansas State is content to bore you to death with a power running game and solid defense, while Oregon tries to run as many plays as they can. Oregon has the number 2 scoring offense, and number 3 rushing attacks in the nation. They don't play much defense, so it's safe to say that is will be a relativity high scoring game. Straight Up Pick: Oregon.
The AT&T Cotton Bowl: Friday January 4th, 8:00 pm.
#9 Texas A&M (10-2) vs #11 Oklahoma (10-2) - Now THIS is a game. Heisman winner Johnny Manziel and Texas A&M take on Landry Jones and Oklahoma. Both teams bring average defenses and top level offenses to the table. These former Big 12 foes will be sure to duke it out to rabid crowds in Dallas. A&M had one of the best upsets of the year, beating (then #1) Alabama, but lost to LSU and Florida. Oklahoma lost to Notre Dame and Kansas State, but beat the other two ranked teams on their schedule. Straight Up Pick: Oklahoma.
The BBVA Compass Bowl: Saturday January 5th, 1:00 pm.
Ole Miss (6-6) vs Pittsburgh (6-6) - Pittsburgh might be the most inconsistent team ever. They took Notre Dame to the wire in 3 overtimes and beat Rutgers, but lost to the likes of Youngstown State and Connecticut. They do boast an above average defense, and leadership at the quarterback position in senior Tino Sunseri. Ole Miss on the other hand has been one of the nation's rebuilding projects over the last few years, and has started to climb back into the thick of things with a 3-5 record in the SEC this year. They are pretty balanced in all phases of the game, but can really sling it around on offense if they need to. Straight Up Pick: Ole Miss.
The Godadyy.com Bowl: Sunday January 6th, 9:00 pm.
#25 Kent State (11-2) vs Arkansas State (9-3) - Kent State was in position to land a BCS berth before Northern Illinois mounted a comeback and won the MAC Championship Game in triple overtime. Now, the Golden Flashes are taking on Arkansas State. Both teams have average defenses and great running games. Both teams are under the leadership of senior quarterbacks, Spencer Keith for Kent State, and Ryan Aplin for Arkansas State. This looks like it will be one of the best under-the-radar bowl games. Straight Up Pick: Kent State.
You may have noticed that I left one very important game out: The BCS National Championship. That is because I am doing a special game breakdown post just for that game. It's that important. But sadly, this is the last post of the Bowl Preview series. 'Til next time.
The Chick-fil-A Bowl: Monday December 31st, 7:30 pm.#8 LSU (10-2) vs #14 Clemson (10-2) - This is the first matchup of the bowl season that features two teams that are ranked in the top 25. These two teams make for a great matchup, with LSU's running game and defense going up against one the top offenses in the nation, led by Tajh Boyd and Clemson's group of dynamic receivers. LSU has thrived in games against top 25 opponents, going 3-2. Clemson, on the other hand, has lost to the only ranked teams that they faced: South Carolina and Florida State. LSU also played South Carolina, and beat them 23-21. I guarantee there will be a trick play at some point, as these teams are led by two of the most gutsy (and some times crazy) coaches: Les Miles for LSU, and Dabo Swinney for Clemson. Straight Up Pick: LSU.
The Gator Bowl: Tuesday January 1st, 12:00 pm.Mississippi State (8-4) vs #20 Northwestern (9-3) - The first of several great SEC vs Big Ten matchups; this one might be the best. Both teams come in with something to prove. Northwestern has not won a bowl game in 64 years (!) and they need this game to get the monkey off of their back. Mississippi State needs this game to prove that they belong in the top of the SEC, even though they can't beat a ranked SEC team (0-3 this year). Both teams have been exposed by the better teams on their schedule so we will see who is able to capitalize. Straight Up Pick: Northwestern.
The Heart of Dallas Bowl: Tuesday January 1st, 12:00 pm.
Purdue (6-6) vs Oklahoma State (7-5) - Defensively, these teams are almost the same: not good (ranked 72nd and 73rd in total defense). It's when you look at the offenses where you see a difference. Oklahoma is 4th in points scored, 7th in passing, and 22nd in rushing. Purdue is 54th or worse in all of those categories. To their defense, Purdue won their last 3 games to become bowl eligible, including a great comeback win against Iowa. But they are 0-1 against ranked teams, while Oklahoma State is 2-3. Straight Up Pick: Oklahoma State.
The Outback Bowl: Tuesday January 1st, 1:00 pm.
#10 South Carolina (10-2) vs #18 Michigan (8-4) - In this marquee Big Ten-SEC game, South Carolina and Michigan square off in what should be one of the more entertaining games. Michigan's elite dual threat quarterback Denard Robinson has been relegated to receiver running back because of an arm injury. But he might be even more dangerous, because Michigan went 3-1 after backup Devin Gardner stepped in to take his place. South Carolina has taken care of everyone on the schedule save their two losses against LSU and Florida, but they do boast a 35-7 win over Georgia. However, they are missing a key piece to their offense in running back Marcus Lattimore, who is out with a broken leg. Straight Up Pick: Michigan.
#7 Georgia (11-2) vs #16 Nebraska (10-3) - Both losers of their conference championship game, Georgia and Nebraska clash in a battle of quarterbacks Nebraska's Taylor Martinez and Georgia's Aaron Murray, will attempt to lead their teams to victory against a couple of tough ball-pursuit defenses. Georgia will be without DT John Jenkins, who is a key part of their rush defense. They will need every bit of that rush defense against Nebraska's attack, which ranks 8th in the nation. Straight Up Pick: Georgia.
The Rose Bowl: Tuesday January 1st, 5:00 pm.#6 Stanford (10-2) vs Wisconsin (8-5) - There is nothing better than the "Granddaddy of Them All" - The Rose Bowl. Thanks to the NCAA bowl bans against Ohio State and Penn State, Wisconsin received the Big Ten Championship Game big and took advantage of it. Wisconsin comes in an interesting situation, demolishing Nebraska in the Big Ten Championship Game 70-31, having their coach leave, and then using their athletic directer, Barry Alvarez, as an interim coach. But this isn't just any athletic directer: Alvarez led Wisconsin to 3 Rose Bowl victories in the 1990's. Does the magic remain, or will Stanford's top notch defense and stellar running game put Wisconsin in a sleep that they will not be able to rise from? Stanford was 5-1 against ranked teams this year, including their last 4 games against teams that were all ranked in the top 25. Straight Up Pick: Stanford.
#15 Northern Illinois (12-1) vs #12 Florida State (11-2) - If you love an underdog, you have to love Northern Illinois. They busted the BCS by beating Kent State 44-37 in a dramatic double overtime MAC Championship Game. Their only loss of the year came by one point against Iowa, and they are led by incredible quarterback Jordan Lynch. Lynch has compiled almost 3000 yards passing and over 1700 yards rushing. Northern Illinois is up against a tough task, however. Florida State boasts the number 6 ranked defense, a win against Clemson, and an ACC championship. With senior signal caller EJ Manuel at the helm, the Seminoles are in a good place for a victory. Straight Up Pick: Florida State.
The Allstate Sugar Bowl: Wednesday January 2nd, 8:30 pm.
#4 Oregon (11-1) vs #5 Kansas State (11-1) - With a few weeks left, many people thought that this would be the matchup in the National Championship. But Stanford took down Oregon in OT and the next week Baylor pulled a gigantic upset of Kansas State, throttling them 52-24. Both teams have great conflicting styles. Kansas State is content to bore you to death with a power running game and solid defense, while Oregon tries to run as many plays as they can. Oregon has the number 2 scoring offense, and number 3 rushing attacks in the nation. They don't play much defense, so it's safe to say that is will be a relativity high scoring game. Straight Up Pick: Oregon.
The AT&T Cotton Bowl: Friday January 4th, 8:00 pm.
#9 Texas A&M (10-2) vs #11 Oklahoma (10-2) - Now THIS is a game. Heisman winner Johnny Manziel and Texas A&M take on Landry Jones and Oklahoma. Both teams bring average defenses and top level offenses to the table. These former Big 12 foes will be sure to duke it out to rabid crowds in Dallas. A&M had one of the best upsets of the year, beating (then #1) Alabama, but lost to LSU and Florida. Oklahoma lost to Notre Dame and Kansas State, but beat the other two ranked teams on their schedule. Straight Up Pick: Oklahoma.
Ole Miss (6-6) vs Pittsburgh (6-6) - Pittsburgh might be the most inconsistent team ever. They took Notre Dame to the wire in 3 overtimes and beat Rutgers, but lost to the likes of Youngstown State and Connecticut. They do boast an above average defense, and leadership at the quarterback position in senior Tino Sunseri. Ole Miss on the other hand has been one of the nation's rebuilding projects over the last few years, and has started to climb back into the thick of things with a 3-5 record in the SEC this year. They are pretty balanced in all phases of the game, but can really sling it around on offense if they need to. Straight Up Pick: Ole Miss.
The Godadyy.com Bowl: Sunday January 6th, 9:00 pm.
You may have noticed that I left one very important game out: The BCS National Championship. That is because I am doing a special game breakdown post just for that game. It's that important. But sadly, this is the last post of the Bowl Preview series. 'Til next time.
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