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Here's the third installment up through all New Year's Eve games. Fourth installment will be out tomorrow. Again, you guys are seeing more than was in my section. Didn't have enough room for it again. Guess I'm just writing too much. Enjoy.
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If you haven’t watched any of the first 11 games of the bowl season, then you’re missing out on the beginning of what could be the most memorable college football postseason ever.
After much research, it’s hard to find another year to rival the entertainment value found through the first 10 days. Three games have been decided by a last second field goal and one of those field goals was blocked.
In the Las Vegas Bowl, BYU held a 17-16 advantage over the UCLA Bruins. The Bruins, however, had set themselves up for a field goal attempt that was essentially a chip shot for their kicker. The snap was good. The hold was fine. However, the kick was blocked with no time left on the clock and BYU held on for the one-point victory.
That hasn’t been the only thrill. Even games that most viewers probably gave up on turned out to be memorable.
Purdue led Central Michigan 34-13 at halftime of the Music City Bowl. Change the channel, right? That would’ve been a mistake.
Central Michigan, led by sophomore quarterback Dan LeFevour, scored 28 points in the third quarter, tying the game at 41. Purdue simply couldn’t escape the Chippewas as an early fourth-quarter touchdown was answered by LeFevour, who finished with four passing touchdowns and two rushing, with 1:09 left to play.
Unfortunately for the Chippewas, they left too much time on the clock for Purdue quarterback Curtis Painter, who finished with 546 passing yards. Painter took the Boilermakers within field goal range and Chris Summers nailed the 40-yard kick to break the 48-48 tie with no time left on the clock.
Still not satisfied? Yeah, me either. After all, what’s bowl season without a close, thrilling game featuring Boise State?
The Broncos’ last four bowl games have been decided by six points or less, including an unforgettable 43-42 overtime win over Oklahoma in the 2006 Fiesta Bowl.
Boise State didn’t let us down. It appeared as if the Broncos were going to make another memorable comeback against East Carolina after overcoming a 24-point deficit to tie the game at 38-all with 1:25 left on the clock.
However, the Pirates weren’t going to let Boise State collect their booty. What happened? You guessed it. Yet another game was decided by a field goal with no time left, courtesy of ECU’s Ben Hartman nailing a 34-yard kick.
I know many of you have lives that don’t allow you to be bowl crazy like the Herald’s sports guy. Regardless, if you find yourself with some extra time, take my advice and sit down to watch some of the great matchups lined up over the next few days. After all, what’s New Year’s day without bowl games?
Here’s a quick look at the matchups set for Sunday and Monday:
Independence Bowl
Alabama (6-6) vs. Colorado (6-6)
7 p.m. Sunday (ESPN)
Last bowl appearances: Oklahoma State 34, Alabama 31 (2006 Insight); Clemson 19, Colorado 10 (2005 Champs)
Top 2008 draft prospects: Alabama – WR D.J. Hall, CB Simeon Castille, DE Wallace Gilberry, WR Keith Brown; Colorado – LB Jordon Dizon, CB Terrance Wheatley, RB Hugh Charles, OT Tyler Polumbus
Synopsis: There is probably more excitement about what these two teams might accomplish in the next two years as opposed to the mediocre seasons each had this year.
Both teams had incredible highs this season. For Colorado, it was beating then No. 2 Oklahoma 27-24 as Kevin Eberhart with a game-winning field goal with no time left on the clock.
Alabama’s highest point of the season was a 41-17 thumping of Tennessee. However, the Crimson Tide proceeded to lose four straight after that victory, including two 7-point losses to LSU and Auburn. Falling to those two SEC powerhouses is understandable, but also mixed into that 4-game losing streak were pitiful displays against Mississippi State and, even worse, Louisiana-Monroe.
Colorado also had its lows, though. The Buffs never showed up in games against Kansas State and Missouri and then, lost to Iowa State in a game they led 28-0 at halftime.
However, it’s the flashes of brilliance that have fans excited about the future in Colorado. Second-year head coach Dan Hawkins is on the verge of bringing in the best recruiting class the Buffs have had in more than a decade. That elite class will join an already talented, but young team, including Hawkins sophomore son at quarterback, Cody Hawkins.
All the talk in Alabama is of disappointment. Coach Nick Saban’s journey to the Crimson Tide is well documented. Also, very well noted is the fact Saban is the highest-paid coach in the country. The Crimson Tide faithful expected results better than an Independence Bowl berth because of that.
The top playmakers for both teams are on the defensive side of the ball. For Colorado, the play of linebacker Jordon Dizon and cornerback Terrance Wheatley is key. Dizon finished second in the nation in tackles, averaging more than 12 a game. He was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and is a first-team AP All-American.
Wheatley led the Buffs in interceptions, despite missing the last two games of the season due to injury. He had five picks with three of them coming in one game against Texas Tech.
For Alabama, defensive end Wallace Gilberry and defensive back Rashad Johnson compliment each other well. Gilberry is Alabama’s best pass rusher, recording nine sacks and 14 quarterback hurries this season. If he can get consistent pressure into Colorado’s backfield, then he’ll create opportunities for Johnson to add to his interception total of six. Johnson also leads the Crimson Tide in tackles.
Prediction: Colorado 27, Alabama 24 – Both teams can get extremely stagnant offensively, but Hawkins has been a more efficient passer than ‘Bama quarterback John Parker Wilson. Often times, it looks as if Wilson puts too much air under the ball, allowing opponents to make a play.
However, Colorado is terrible at defending the pass, making Wheatley’s play even more important. He’s come up big against two of the higher profile passing offenses he’s faced this season in Texas Tech and Oklahoma.
Both of these teams should be playing more meaningful bowl games within the next two years.
Armed Forces Bowl
Cal (6-6) vs. Air Force (9-3)
11:30 a.m. Monday
Last bowl appearances: Cal 45, Texas A&M 10 (2006 Holiday); Virginia Tech 20, Air Force 13 (2002 San Francisco)
Top 2008 draft prospects: Cal – WR Desean Jackson (Jr.), RB Justin Forsett, WR Lavell Hawkins, TE Craig Stevens, S Thomas DeCoud, OT Michael Gibson, WR Robert Jordan, DT Matt Malele; Air Force – RB Chad Hall.
Synopsis: This was supposed to be a year for Cal’s Golden Bears to compete for a Pac-10 title and maybe even a national title. Early in the season, it appeared that’s what they’d do, but then a disappointing loss to Oregon State changed everything.
The Golden Bears were ranked No. 2 before the loss. After the loss, they went on to lose five of their last six games, including embarrassing performances against Stanford and Washington.
Now, Cal serves as a great example to what emotion means in college football. Head Coach Jeff Tedford didn’t do a good job of patrolling his team’s emotions, allowing them to get out of hand and start believing they couldn’t win close games.
The talent is there, especially on offense. Desean Jackson is one of the most electrifying players in the country. Jackson teamed with Lavell Hawkins and Robert Jordan gives Cal a fantastic trio of receivers. Nate Longshore is a great passer if he can get in a rhythm.
Cal also has a game-breaking running back in Justin Forsett.
However, Forsett’s ability pales in comparison to that of Air Force running back Chad Hall. Hall is Mr. Everything for the Falcons. He leads the No. 2 ranked run offense in rushing yards and is also the team’s leading receiver and kick returner. He ranks third in the nation in all-purpose yards.
Stop Hall and the Falcons offense is thwarted. However, no opponent has kept him from gaining less than 180 total yards since he took over as the feature back in week 6.
Prediction: Cal 36, Air Force 31 – Hall will give Cal’s defense fits. The Golden Bears allow 151 yards a game on the ground.
However, it’s hard to believe that Tedford – one of the game’s best coaches – won’t have his team prepared after such a long layoff. Cal is obviously the more talented team. Focus has been the problem for them this season. This is a great opportunity for Tedford to re-establish his squad’s confidence heading into next season.
Humanitarian Bowl
Georgia Tech (7-5) vs. Fresno State (8-4)
1 p.m. Monday (ESPN2)
Last bowl appearances: West Virginia 38, Georgia Tech 35 (2006 Gator); Tulsa 31, Fresno State 24 (2005 Liberty)
Top 2008 draft prospects: Georgia Tech – RB Tashard Choice, LB Philip Wheeler, DE Darrell Robertson, DE Adamm Oliver, S Jamal Lewis, PT Durant Brooks, LB Gary Guyton, OC Kevin Tuminello; Fresno St. – CB Damon Jenkins, DT Jason Shirley, LB Marcus Riley, DE Tyler Clutts.
Synopsis: No coach in the country that was fired this season deserved to keep his job more than now former Georgia Tech head man Chan Gailey. The Yellow Jackets’ 7-5 record is disappointing, but look at the losses they suffered this season. All of them came against bowl teams – Boston College, Virginia, Maryland, Virginia Tech and Georgia.
However, Georgia Tech does bring in a very deserving Paul Johnson from the Naval Academy to take over for Gailey. Unfortunately, Johnson is inheriting a team that is losing a ton of talent to graduation, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.
Georgia Tech possesses one of the most dominant defenses in the country that is just as good against the pass as it is the run. The Yellow Jackets lead the nation in sacks and are second in tackles for loss. Seven Yellow Jackets have at least four sacks this season.
Despite missing the postseason last year, Fresno State has been a mainstay in the bowl season for the past decade. The Bulldogs rely heavily upon the run game with freshman Ryan Matthews getting most of the carries.
Fresno State has won three of its last five bowl games. That streak began with a 30-21 win over Georgia Tech in the Silicon Valley Classic in 2002.
Prediction: Georgia Tech 28, Fresno State 13 – Both schools use the run game as its main offensive weapon. The Yellow Jackets have the edge in running the ball with Tashard Choice as well as defending a good rushing attack.
Georgia Tech is ranked 11th in total defense and 12th in rushing defense. Expect middle linebacker Philip Wheeler and defensive end Darrell Robertson to make their presence felt early and often.
Sun Bowl
South Florida (9-3) vs. Oregon (8-4)
1 p.m. Monday (CBS)
Last bowl appearances: South Florida 24, East Carolina 7 (2006 Papajohns.com); BYU 38, Oregon 8 (2006 Las Vegas)
Top 2008 draft prospects: South Florida – CB Mike Jenkins, CB Trae Williams, LB Ben Moffitt; Oregon – RB Jonathan Stewart (Jr.), QB Dennis Dixon.
Synopsis: Both South Florida and Oregon were ranked No. 2 in the nation at some point this season. Each lost three straight game after losing that ranking, too.
For Oregon, the self-destruction was more significant. The Ducks lost Heisman-contending quarterback Dennis Dixon in a win over Arizona State and proceeded to lose their last three games of the year to Arizona, UCLA and Oregon State
The Ducks are a completely different team without Dixon in the backfield and become heavily reliant upon running back Jonathan Stewart.
Stewart is one of the top NFL running back prospects for the 2008 draft, but he hasn’t been able to lead Oregon to wins with opposing defenses keying on him.
Oregon’s defense has appeared more suspect since Dixon’s injury as well. The Ducks have allowed more than 30 points in two of their last three games.
South Florida came very close to becoming one of the best stories in college football history. Instead, the Bulls lost three straight games to Rutgers, Connecticut and Cincinnati. However, the combined margin of victory in those three games was 15 points.
Offensively, the Bulls are dependent upon the play of quarterback Matt Grothe, who leads South Florida in rushing as well as passing.
George Selvie is the most surprising player in the country. Selvie came to South Florida as a center, but moved to defensive end at the request of his coaches. The sophomore has blossomed at the position, finishing second in the nation in sacks and first in tackles for loss.
The Bulls have playmakers at every level on defense, including Tyrone McKenzie and senior Ben Moffitt at linebacker and senior cornerbacks Trae Williams and Mike Jenkins in the secondary.
Prediction: South Florida 31, Oregon 14 – Oregon is such a different team without Dixon. In my mind, the Ducks would be playing for a national championship had their starting quarterback not gotten injured.
Without Dixon, the Ducks don’t match up well against the Bulls, who do a great job defensively of stopping the run. They’re the only team to hold Central Florida’s Kevin Smith, who leads the nation in rushing, under 100 yards this season.
Music City Bowl
Kentucky (7-5) vs. Florida State (7-5)
3 p.m. Monday (ESPN)
Last bowl appearances: Kentucky 28, Clemson 20 (2006 Music City); Florida State 44, UCLA 27 (2006 Emerald)
Top 2008 draft prospects: Kentucky – QB Andre Woodson, RB Rafael Little, WR Keenan Burton, LB Wesley Woodyard, TE Jacob Tamme; Florida St. – DT Andre Fluellen, WR De’cody Fagg, S Roger Williams, OG Jacky Claude.
Synopsis: The story of this game isn’t about anything on the field, but instead what’s happening at Florida State off the field. Thirty-six players have been suspended for the Music City Bowl due to a cheating scandal involving an online class.
Funny. I thought that was why students took online classes in the first place.
I doubt Bobby Bowden has ever faced more troubling times than what he’s about to endure. Not only are these players – including significant team members such as quarterback Xavier Lee – suspended for the bowl game, but also for the first three games of next season, setting Florida State back considerably heading into next year.
This situation was out of Bowden’s hands, though. There is no way to police every athlete on the team. He’s paid to be a coach, not a babysitter. Bowden is a quality individual who has handled his share of adversity.
Florida State is at a huge disadvantage, but rest assured that the Seminoles will play hard for their legendary coach.
Everyone knows Kentucky has a great passing game fueled by quarterback Andre Woodson, but few realize how well the Wildcats run the ball. After Woodson, running back Rafael Little is the team’s biggest playmaker. He’s a dual-threat back, showing good hands out of the backfield.
Prediction: Kentucky 49, Florida State 21 – It doesn’t matter how bad an opponents’ defense might be, Florida State struggles to score more than 21 points. Tailback Antone Smith will find some success running the ball, but not enough.
Florida State has been solid on defense this season, but will be without their full arsenal. Five key linemen, two top linebackers and standout cornerback Patrick Robinson won’t be playing. The Seminoles were a bad pass defense before these suspensions. There might not be a word strong enough to describe how dismal they’ll be now.
Insight Bowl
Indiana (6-6) vs. Oklahoma State (6-6)
4:30 p.m. Monday (NFL Network)
Last bowl appearances: Virginia Tech 45, Indiana 20 (1993 Independence); Oklahoma State 34, Alabama 31 (2006 Independence)
Top 2008 draft prospects: Indiana – WR James Hardy, CB Tracy Porter, CB Leslie Majors; Oklahoma St. – WR Adarius Bowman, RB Dantrell Savage.
Synopsis: Almost no defense in the country can stop Oklahoma State’s offense. The problem is the Cowboys’ defense can’t stop anyone, either.
Anytime Oklahoma State is involved in a game then get ready for a shootout. This matchup is no different.
It will be a shootout featuring two of the best playmaking receivers in the country – Oklahoma State’s Adarius Bowman and Indiana’s James Hardy. Both players could be first-round draft picks if Hardy decides to come out early.
The difference in the two offenses is that Oklahoma State has other weapons. Indiana doesn’t do much unless Hardy is apart of it.
Dantrell Savage gives the Cowboys a potential big play every time he touches the ball. Savage can match anyone in the nation with his speed and toughness.
Prediction: Oklahoma State 45, Indiana 41 – Another area Oklahoma State has an advantage is at quarterback. Zac Robinson is just as good with his legs as he is with his arm. Indiana’s Marcus Thigpen isn’t as much of a threat with his arm and makes a lot of mistakes. He’s a playmaker in the run game, though.
The x-factor in this game is Indiana sophomore defensive end Greg Middleton, who has 16 sacks and 17 tackles for loss. If he can keep a steady presence in the Oklahoma State backfield, then the Hoosiers could win their first bowl game since 1991.
Chick-Fil-A Bowl
Clemson (9-3) vs. Auburn (8-4)
6:30 p.m. Monday (ESPN)
Last bowl appearances: Kentucky 28, Clemson 20 (2006 Music City); Auburn 17, Nebraska 14 (2006 Cotton)
Top 2008 draft prospects: Clemson – OT Barry Richardson, OG Chris McDuffie, LB Nick Watkins; Auburn – DE/OLB Quentin Groves, OT King Dunlap, CB Jonathan Wilhite, S Eric Brock, TE Cole Bennett, DB Patrick Lee.
Synopsis: Like defensive battles? Then the Chick-Fil-A Bowl provides your kind of matchup. Clemson is ranked sixth nationally in total defense, while Auburn ranks fifth. Neither team has an obvious defensive weakness with each showing equal ability in stopping the run and the pass.
Stopping the run is the priority against these offenses that rely heavily upon the run game for production. Auburn relies on sophomore tailback Ben Tate, who averages 71 yards a game.
Clemson definitely has the advantage with two game breakers at the running back position. Junior James Davis racks up 83 yards a game, while sophomore speedster C.J. Spiller averages 55 yards a game.
However, Auburn has seen a dangerous two-headed running back beast already this season in Arkansas’ Darren McFadden and Felix Jones. The result was a season low 95 total rushing yards for the highly touted tailback duo.
Prediction: Clemson 21, Auburn 13 – Let’s assume that both teams struggle to run the ball because of the other’s superior defense. If that happens, then Clemson is better equipped to overcome a lack of rushing attack.
Junior Cullen Harper has been much more efficient for Clemson at quarterback than senior Brandon Cox has been for Auburn. Clemson also has a great playmaker at wide receiver in junior Aaron Kelly, who had 1,045 yards and 11 touchdowns.
There will be little opportunity for big plays in this game. Clemson is simply better equipped to take advantage of those chances in this battle of Tigers.
Bowl Preview III
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