BCS BOWL GAMES
RECORD: 3-1
Here are the 5 BCS Bowl Games along with our Picks, Predictions and Game Analysis. Happy Bowl Season!
ROSE BOWL
Tuesday January 1st, 5pm, ABC
After a very average 7-5 regular season, their thrashing of Nebraska in the BigTen Championship Game was enough for Wisconsin to punch its third straight trip to Pasadena. However, the program is undergoing a major transition as head coach Bret Bielema is heading south to take the Arkansas vacancy; Utah State HC Gary Andersen has been announced as the next Badger Head Coach. Long-time Coach and current Athletic Director Barry Alvarez has stepped in and will coach the team in the Rose Bowl. Wisconsin better ignore the distractions because they have their hands full against Stanford whose trademark is stopping the run. Wisconsin relies heavily on its rushing attack, and given Stanford’s stingy front 7, will UW QB Curt Phillips be able to win the game through the air? This season, David Shaw proved that Stanford Football was bigger than Andrew Luck, and were two scores away from an undefeated season! Last season’s loss to Oregon was avenged; can this team finish the job and atone for the BCS bowl loss last January? Look for the Stanford defense to control Wisconsin’s rush attack, and for the Hogan-Taylor combo to earn a Rose Bowl victory for the Cardinal- school’s first since 1972…Stanford by 4
ORANGE BOWL
Tuesday January 1st, 8:30pm, ESPN
In one of the more controversial BCS selections ever, Northern Illinois finds itself in the Orange Bowl against the mighty Seminoles of Florida State. FSU HC Jimbo Fisher has his team back in a BCS bowl for the first time since 2005 when they lost to Penn State in overtime in the Orange Bowl. While many could argue that Florida State underachieved this season after wild preseason expectations, it was a great accomplishment to finally meet those expectations in-conference and land in this position. Regardless of the opponent, the ACC could use a BCS win—the conference is a collective 2-13 in BCS bowl games. The Seminoles will need to slow down Northern Illinois QB Jordan Lynch, who needs 229 yards to reach 2,000 rushing yards on the season, while also tossing 24 touchdowns through the air. It will be tough sledding for Lynch, facing the nation’s second best defense that only gives up an average of 253 yards/game. Stud DEs Brandon Jenkins, who was lost in week one, and Tank Carradine are both out with injuries. Potential top-five draft pick Bjoern Werner will have to pick up the slack on the outside, and will have plenty of help around him from a unit that should be able to stop this NIU attack. Florida State by 14
SUGAR BOWL
Wednesday January 2nd, 8:30pm, ESPN
Louisville head coach Charlie Strong faces off against the school where he made his name as one of the premier defensive coordinators under Urban Meyer. Recently, Strong has been rumored to be the top candidate for the coaching vacancies at Auburn and Arkansas, but was rewarded with an extension at Louisville and shows he is dedicated to building something special. QB Teddy Bridgewater has been a crucial part of the Cardinals’ recent success as he has thrown for nearly 3,500 yards and 25 touchdowns with a lethal 69% completion percentage. In his final game against Rutgers, despite not being expected to play, he entered the game to lead a comeback victory and capture the Big East Title. Unfortunately for Bridgewater, the college football Gods rewarded him with a matchup against arguably the nation’s toughest defense: the Florida Gators. Led by an unbelievably talented front seven featuring DTs Sharrif Floyd and Omar Hunter and LBs Jon Bostic and Jelani Jenkins, this team has every piece necessary to slow down this Louisville attack. The Gators are only allowing 12.9 points/game and have already shut down a player similar to Bridgewater: Heisman-winner Johnny Manziel. Expect Florida to have its way with this less-talented Louisville squad. Florida by 18
FIESTA BOWL
Thursday January 3rd, 8:30pm, ESPN
Saturday night, November 17th, the College Football world was flipped upside down as #1 Kansas State and #2 Oregon were both upset by conference rivals. If the fate of that night had been different, this bowl matchup would most likely be the BCS National Championship Game! Instead, these two teams – perhaps the most dominant squads all season long – will face off in the Fiesta Bowl in Tempe, Arizona. Both offenses have been electric and feature dynamic weapons at quarterback. Both KSU’s Collin Klein and Oregon’s Marcus Mariota are efficient passers but can break defenses with their legs. I am a little surprised at how low Oregon RB Kenjon Barner fell in the final Heisman vote (9th) despite 1600+ yards and 21 TD’s. Rumors have been swirling about Chip Kelly’s alleged desire to coach in the pros with Philadelphia springing up as a possible destination. Will this distraction impact the Oregon Duck’s bowl preparations? I will say not too much, considering last season Kelly had a similar scenario and still brought the Ducks a Rose Bowl Championship over highly touted Wisconsin. It has been a storybook season for Optimus Klein and legendary Coach Snyder, but look for Oregon’s speed to take over this game. I expect the trio of Mariota/Barner/Thomas to carry the Ducks to a second straight BCS bowl win, placing them back in National Championship discussions for ’13…Oregon by 10
BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Monday January 7th, 8:30pm, ESPN
The BCS National Championship Game, Notre Dame vs. Alabama, two of the most storied programs in all the land. The Irish have been tested by a gauntlet of a schedule and yet are facing much scrutiny from fans because they haven’t won quite how we would like. Stop it, right now. Notre Dame has defeated Michigan, Oklahoma, and Stanford and Alabama has defeated Michigan, LSU, and Georgia; that’s three top-25 teams apiece. Both teams are led by unbelievable defenses that are sure to display NFL playmakers for years to come. Heisman-finalist LB Manti Te’o and DE Stephon Tuitt anchor an Irish defense that will face an Alabama offense orchestrated by QB A.J. McCarron. The ‘Bama attack includes a heavy dose of RBs Eddie Lacy and T.J. Yeldon running behind the nation’s premier offensive line that absolutely wore down Georgia in the SEC Championship Game. The key to the game will be the battle in the trenches, where both teams excel. Alabama’s only loss this season came against a team, Texas A&M, that has the Heisman Trophy winner playing QB, but maybe more importantly, three potential top-10 draft picks in their trenches in OTs Jake Matthews and Luke Joeckel and DE Damontre Moore. If Notre Dame can slow down the rushing attack of Alabama, expect them to make McCarron uncomfortable. On the other side of the ball, Alabama must be able to do the same thing: stop the Irish rushing attack led by RBs Cierre Wood and Theo Riddick. Alabama has been here before; they have that advantage. The Irish keep hearing that they cannot have this title, which may end up being an advantage for them. One thing you can be sure of, both teams are very, very good and this will not be an SEC team simply out-classing its opponent. There has been something special about this season for Notre Dame, and we do not expect it to end here. Notre Dame by 3