BOWL WEEK 3
(Games from 1/1 to 1/6)
RECORD: 5-0
Here are the 7 Bowl Games in Week 3 along with our Picks, Predictions and Game Analysis. Happy Bowl Season!
BCS Bowl Games found here
BCS Bowl Games found here
GATOR BOWL
Tuesday January 1st, Noon, ESPN2
Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald has turned the Wildcat program around into annual winning seasons and bowl appearances. Similarly, Dan Mullen has turned around the Mississippi State program from the basement of the SEC into a team familiar with the top-25 rankings. In a bowl season that features many SEC teams favored over Big Ten teams, this matchup provides one of the best chances for the Big Ten to steal one. Mississippi State jumped out to a 7-0 start against a weak front end of its schedule and proceeded to drop four of its last five games, including a 17 point loss to in-state rival Ole Miss. In those four losses, the vaunted Bulldog rushing attack dropped to 2.29 yards/rush, which will be an important statistic to watch as the Northwestern rush defense is solid even in losses, allowing only 3.62 yards/rush. This should be a hard-fought, ground-and-pound type game that will be tight. Northwestern by 6
HEART OF DALLAS BOWL
Tuesday January 1st, Noon, ESPNU
Having to replace a combination of first round QB and WR is never easy; with the departure of Weeden and Blackmon, Oklahoma State had some rebuilding to do. Surprisingly, the Cowboy offense didn’t miss a beat, finishing 4th overall in scoring (44.7 points per game). It was the spotty defense that held back OSU this year, allowing 40+ in 5 games – all losses. Still OSU held on to 4th place in the new Big12, and received a very favorable matchup in a New Year’s Day Bowl Game: the Purdue Boilermakers. Most notably, Purdue gave the two Undefeateds – Notre Dame and Ohio State – their closest scares of the season. However, Purdue’s only 3 BCS wins were against lowly BigTen foes Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana. The QB controversy has plagued the Boilermaker offense, with Miami-Transfer Robert Marve and Caleb TerBush both receiving playing time under center. Look for the BigTen’s struggles to continue in this one, as the talent levels simply aren’t close. I expect Oklahoma State to have this game wrapped up early and the national attention will quickly turn to the other 3 early NewYear’s Day games…Oklahoma State by 20
CAPITAL ONE BOWL
Tuesday January 1st, 1:00pm, ABC
3 yards. 3 short yards cost Georgia the chance to play Notre Dame for the BCS National Championship. In a valiant effort, QB Aaron Murray led the UGA offense down the field in the final minute, in search of the go-ahead TD. But a first and goal pass from the 5 yard line was deflected, caught, but tackled in bounds…then the helpless feeling of the clock running down to 00:00 with no timeouts. So close for Richt’s ‘Dawgs. A month removed from that heartbreak, Georgia faces Nebraska, who coming off of an absolute embarrassment in the BigTen Championship will also be looking for some redemption. Nebraska had been living on the edge all season and was looking like the most resilient team in the nation, save Notre Dame and Ohio State, with 4 second-half, double-digit comeback wins. Then the trainwreck occurred in Indianapolis- complete domination from the other team in red and white en route to a 70-31 drubbing. What looked like Nebraska taking the next step as a program, resulted in a MAJOR step back. The Nebraska defense has struggled against strong rushing attacks, and UGA RB Todd Gurley looks to exploit this maligned Blackshirt front seven. If Pelini failed to make major improvements or scheme adjustments in the four weeks of bowl prep, look out Husker Nation, cause this could get ugly. For a team that never seems to lose normally, never a 17-10 loss for example, look for more SEC-BigTen destruction. Nebraska’s elite offense led by explosive QB Taylor Martinez and workhorse RB Rex Burkhead simply wont be enough to keep Nebraska in the game. Look for Aaron Murray to lead the Dawgs to a big win here…Georgia by 17
OUTBACK BOWL
Tuesday January 1st, 1:00pm, ESPN
In a matchup of two household names in college football, South Carolina and Michigan square off as programs on the cusp of greatness. After South Carolina knocked off Georgia 35-7, the entire college football world was ready to crown South Carolina for taking the next step as a program. The following week, however, they lost a very difficult game to LSU in a primetime matchup in Death Valley and then the following week in a trip to Gainesville despite outgaining the Gators. The most critical point in their season may have just been losing star RB Marcus Lattimore against Tennessee, which seemed to change the identity of the team. Still, South Carolina will provide quite a task for Michigan, a team that saw a drop off after last season and will be without its starting CB J.T. Floyd. In addition, QB Denard Robinson is still questionable and we may see Devin Gardner for the fifth straight game; Gardner has averaged more yards through the air than Robinson, but does not provide the lethal running threat that Robinson does. The running threat may be crucial in this matchup, as either QB will have to face South Carolina DE Jadeveon Clowney, who recorded 3.5 sacks in his last matchup against in-state rival Clemson, and has already put his name in the mix for the 2013 Heisman trophy. Look for the Gamecocks to take control early and never look back. South Carolina by 10
COTTON BOWL
Friday January 4th, 8:30pm, FOX
In a year that seems to lack premier bowl matchups, this one has it all. With Johnny Football now becoming Johnny Heisman, he leads his Texas A&M Aggies against old Big12 South Rival Oklahoma on perhaps the biggest stage in college football – “Jerry World” in Dallas, Texas. Can Manziel shake the timeless ‘Heisman curse’…Oklahoma knows all about the curse, as winners Jason White (’03) and Sam Bradford (’08) both choked in the Championship Games following their ceremonies. Oklahoma was our preseason pick to win the National Championships, but ‘Big Game Bob’ (Stoops) came up short in both big games. Fumbles at both goal lines cost OU the conference title against Kansas State, while a 4th quarter collapse threw Notre Dame into the title discussion. While we still value the Sooners very high, they simply haven’t had the killer instinct that champions must embody. Meanwhile, Texas A&M has been red hot since their early season stumbles against SEC powers Florida and LSU. Manziel settled in, and went on to surpass both Tim Tebow and Cam Newton in total yardage. Further, the Aggies feature some of the top lineman in the country that should be able to control the line of scrimmage. Luke Joeckel and Jake Matthews are two of the nation's top OTs and may both be selected within the top ten of the 2013 NFL draft. Two linemen from one school with that sort of acclaim is impressive, but Texas A&M features three with DE Damontre Moore also looking to be selected that high in the draft and is one of the nation's best edge rushers. Oklahoma must protect Landry Jones if they want to stand a chance in this one…Texas A&M by 3
COMPASS BOWL
Saturday January 5th, 1:00pm, ESPN
SEC vs. Big East. Easy pick, the SEC team, Ole Miss, right? While the Rebels are much improved under new head coach Hugh Freeze, do not jump to conclusions on this game. Pittsburgh started off its season slow, losing four of its first six including a 14-point loss to Youngstown State in week one. Since that 2-4 start, the Panthers have been on a tear with a record of 4-2 with convincing wins over Rutgers and South Florida and a triple overtime loss to the number-one ranked Fightin’ Irish of Notre Dame. Mississippi has not had the success that Pittsburgh has had in the wins column to end the season, but they have been equally impressive with a decisive victory over in-state rival Mississippi State and narrow losses to Vanderbilt and LSU. Quarterback Bo Wallace has given the Rebels consistency in the QB position with his accuracy and his ability to make plays on the ground. The Rebels have had their issues on defense and will have to be able to stop senior QB Tino Sunseri, who has had a troubled career but an excellent senior season, with a 19:2 TD:INT ratio and a 67% completion percentage. Sunseri would love nothing more than to go out a winner, and we believe he will. Pittsburgh by 4
GODADDY BOWL
Sunday January 6th, 9pm, ESPN
Kent State lost the MAC title game in double overtime to Northern Illinois; further, they lost out on the BCS bowl bid and accompanying national exposure that UNI will receive New Year’s Day. Not all is lost for the Golden Flashes, as they are in the midst of their greatest football season in school history and will attend just their third bowl ever. They did it in style this fall, led by a rushing attack with two 1000 yard rushers featuring do-it-all Dri Archer. Archer was voted a 3rd Team All-American, and the only player this season to record Touchdowns via passing, rushing, receiving, and kick returning. The only apparent flaw with KSU is that they can become a bit one-dimensional on offense, relying too much on the run at times. Their opponent, the Arkansas State Red Wolves, are Champions of the Sun Belt Conference, with impressive victories over UL-Lafayette, UL-Monroe, and Middle Tennessee. This is another strong offense, but ASU has more of a passing threat with efficient QB Ryan Aplin in command. ASU lost Head Coach Gus Malzahn to Auburn, and will be dealing with the typical transistional distractions for this one. For you football addicts who are still craving more after a weekend of NFL WildCard Playoff matchups, tune in Sunday night for some high powered offensive attacks in a bowl game that surely wont disappoint…Kent State by 6