December 30th
Autozone Liberty Bowl
Georgia vs. TCU
Alex:
Kirby Smart has lead Georgia to a 7-5 season in his first year at the helm, but it could've even been better than that! Three out of 5 of the Bulldogs' losses were by a field goal or less. Nonetheless, they come into this game looking to put a strong win at the end of their year and focus on finishing out those games in year two under Smart. TCU on the other hand has been on a roller coaster of a season, finishing at 6-6. Kenny Hill has not played well with his new team, and Gary Patterson will have a lot of questions to work on in the off-season.
Looking at the game, both teams stack up fairly well as far as offense goes, the only difference is that TCU averages a touchdown more per game. Jacob Eason leads Georgia's passing attack with over 2200 yards and Nick Chubb leads the ground game with 988 yards and 7 TDs. For the Horned Frogs, Kenny Hill has thrown for over 3000 yards this year, but has 13 picks compared to just 15 TDs. On the ground, Junior RB Kyle Hicks leads the Frogs with just under 1000 yards rushing and 12 TDs. Neither team has played very well on defense this season, but I'll give that edge to Georgia because they've played a tougher schedule and kept the games tighter. So who do I pick?? I've always enjoyed Gary Patterson as a coach, and I think he'll bring TCU back once he gets his recruiting cycle organized again. On the other side, Kirby Smart is supposed to be Georgia's new savior since apparently Mark Richt wasn't good enough (I still think that was a dumb fire, I like Kirby Smart, but Richt was a great pick up for Miami). I always say it takes a coach at least 3 years to really turn the team around the corner though, so I don't think he'll get it done this year. Gary Patterson always has his team play in some exciting Bowl games, and I'm ready for another one. Horned Frogs win it in Memphis, 30-27.
Nate:
Talk about two
teams who have been disappointing. Both teams came into the season with an
amount of hype that seems almost unreasonable looking back on it. Georgia was
primed to shake off the mediocrity that was the Mark Richt era, looking to
blaze into the future with a hyped new coach/quarterback combo. A few
heartbreaking losses later, and the Dawgs sit at 7-5, wondering what could have
been. The good note, is that it does look like they should be trending up.
The frogs on the
other hand, have seemed to go backwards. I had seen many an analyst putting the
Horned Frogs in the Playoffs, or at the very least winning or competing for a
Big 12 title. Instead, they sit at 6-6, coming off of a very uninspiring loss
to Kansas State 30-6 and never seriously contending for the conference at
all.
The real game play
will be how the quarterbacks preform. Both have had struggles this season, but
one is a true freshman bound to improve, and one is a senior that is
backsliding hard. I do think TCU’s Kenny Hill can be the better QB right now,
but he hasn’t impressed over the last half of the season. Jacob Eason is in
that batch of Freshman SEC QB’s that I do like, and I think he has room to
grow; something that I doubt Hill will get in this month of practice. This game
is basically a coin flip of whatever quarterback is on. I think Eason has more
room to do that and improve, and the team just looks like it plays better.
Georgia: 27 TCU: 17
Hyundai Sun Bowl
#18 Stanford vs. North Carolina
Alex:
Stanford has been one of my biggest disappointments of the season because I thought Christian McCaffrey was going to be unstoppable after last season. The REAL 2015 Heisman Winner (Yupp, still salty, not going away anytime soon) had a decent year rushing for over 1600 yards and 13 TDs on the ground while hauling in another 3 TDs through the air. Doesn't really matter though because he's skipping the bowl game to prepare for the NFL draft this upcoming spring. Speaking of Stanford's passing game though, QB Ryan Burns has been flat out horrible. I know the Cardinal don't pass much, but Burns has only 1065 yards through the air this season and a very poor 5 to 7 TD to INT ratio. I'm very happy they've switched over to Junior Keller Chryst who has lead them to 5 straight wins to close out their season. Quick side note; I really don't know why David Shaw and company refuse to use WR Michael Rector in their offense, but I think he would help out if they gave him a few more looks, especially with McCaffrey not playing.
On UNC's side, they too will be without their star RB Elijah Hood as he is out for medical reasons. However, unlike McCaffrey, Hood is coming back for his Senior Year and will be the main focal point of the offense once again as Junior QB Mitch Trubisky is likely headed for the NFL after this game. Before he leaves though, he'll likely have another big game and he looks to tear apart Stanford's 50th ranked passing defense that gives up nearly 220 yards per game on average through the air.
With both running backs missing, a majority of the game's weight will be put on these QBs' shoulders. I trust Trubisky with that one even though I like Stanford as a team and program much more (*cough, Academic Fraud at UNC *cough). However, I've gotta stick with my head in this game and say the Tar Heels pull it out. I think Stanford keeps it close, but the Heels win it 33-28.
Nate:
If I had made
this write up a week ago, I would be debating the semantics of how the Stanford
running game can push through a Tar Heel defense that isn’t all that great, but
any argument I could have made is now missing a McCaffrey sized hole. The
running back’s choice feels appropriate for a team that didn’t really live up
to the preseason Pac-12 hype, but it leaves an already medium offense without
its best weapon. Stanford does have some nice options. Keller Cryst has been
nice for them over the last half of the seasons, tossing 9 touchdowns to only 2
picks. We will get to see the running
back of the future for the Cards, as Bryce Love has rushed for 600 yards in
relief when McCaffrey was injured. We will see where he stands, and that will
be important against a North Carolina Run defense that has let opponents run
for almost 200 yards per game.
Even though
Stanford doesn’t have a superstar level player, North Carolina more than makes
up for it. Mitch Trubisky has looked absolutely great this season, tossing for 3,500
yards and 28 touchdowns. Looking absolutely like the NFL first pick that many
now project him as. Ryan Switzer, his main air weapon has over 1,000 yards and
5 scores.
Neither team gets
or turns the ball over much, so this will be an offensive game. I don’t think
Stanford is explosive enough to keep up, but if Stanford can get down to the
grindstone and Bryce Love is the real deal, well watch out.
North Carolina: 28 Stanford: 20
Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl
South Alabama vs. Air Force
Alex:
I'm not entirely sure why these teams are playing on a day with much bigger games on the slate, but I don't make the schedules and more football never hurt anyone right? Looking at this game, it looks like an obvious pick, but I would like to say that South Alabama is a better team than most might think. The Jaguars upset Mississippi State on the road in week 1, and also destroyed San Diego State's shot at an undefeated season in week 4. They know how to keep games close, but sadly they're still South Alabama. Air Force's ground game should be able to do just about anything they want in this game with little resistance. The Jags give up over 200 yards per game on the ground, and the Falcons average over 320 yards on the ground per game. They should have an easy time with this one as long as they don't try to get cocky. The Jaguars are on the rise and they're sneaky, don't sleep too much on them, but a light nap is okay. Air Force 37, South Alabama 24.
Nate:
Hey, nothing like
squeezing in a bowl that should have been played a week ago into today! Sorry,
thinking about the Nebraska game has made my negative side light up like a damn Christmas
tree. Even after looking at this game with a clearer head, I don’t find
anything special in this one. Air Force is playing like typical Air Force, 4th
in the nation in total rushing yards, solid against the ground game, but can be
beaten in the air, ironically, letting 22 scores go by them. I don’t expect
South Alabama to punish them though, as QB Dallas Davis has thrown more picks
than touchdowns. The Jaguars will struggle defending the run against air force’s
steady attack, letting up almost 5 yards per carry, a statistic that won’t win
them this game. Expect Air Force to roll.
Air Force: 38 South Alabama: 14
Capital One Orange Bowl
#6 Michigan vs. #11 Florida State
Alex:
I think (and hope) this will be one of the best games of bowl season. Two high caliber teams with great coaches and talented players square off down in Miami for this game. Michigan comes in with a decent offense and the #2 defense in the nation in both yards and points allowed. Florida State comes into this bowl game with one of the best offensive attacks in the nation and a very athletic defense full of speed and play makers.
Michigan has looked like one of the best teams in the nation all season long. Their game against Ohio State was absolutely phenomenal, and many said that loss could be argument enough as to why they should be in the Playoffs. Nonetheless, they're set to face off against the Seminoles and Dalvin Cook. Michigan's 12th ranked rush defense will be tested as the Seminoles are averaging over 200 yards per game and Dalvin Cook has ran for over 100 yards in 2/3 of their games this season. Their pass defense should be out in full force and Deondre Francois will be under lots of pressure with Michigan's various blitz packages. On the offensive side of the ball, Michigan will want to look to the air attack. FSU ranks 64th in pass defense in the nation and gives up an average of 225 yards per game through the air. Wilton Speight won't light anyone up per say, but he has enough weapons to do some damage against the 'Noles' defense. Look for Jake Butt and Amara Darboh to cause headaches for FSU's secondary.
Florida State needs to control the ball and the clock if they want to win this game. Michigan's offense isn't nearly as deadly as they are, but they have the talent to score on anyone. If they let up the much more than the 24 they give up on average per game, I think Michigan takes this one. However, if Deondre Francois can take care of the ball and stay away from the blitz, I think they can pull this one off. I want to see the BIG 10 win this game, and I won't be upset if I'm wrong, but I just have a feeling about the Seminoles. I think they've turned it on the last half of the season and Dalvin Cook will have a big game and FSU's defense steps up. Could go either way in my opinion, but I think Florida State wins a close one 28-27. I really hope this game is as good as I imagine it will be.
Nate:
Capital One Orange Bowl
#6 Michigan vs. #11 Florida State
Alex:
I think (and hope) this will be one of the best games of bowl season. Two high caliber teams with great coaches and talented players square off down in Miami for this game. Michigan comes in with a decent offense and the #2 defense in the nation in both yards and points allowed. Florida State comes into this bowl game with one of the best offensive attacks in the nation and a very athletic defense full of speed and play makers.
Michigan has looked like one of the best teams in the nation all season long. Their game against Ohio State was absolutely phenomenal, and many said that loss could be argument enough as to why they should be in the Playoffs. Nonetheless, they're set to face off against the Seminoles and Dalvin Cook. Michigan's 12th ranked rush defense will be tested as the Seminoles are averaging over 200 yards per game and Dalvin Cook has ran for over 100 yards in 2/3 of their games this season. Their pass defense should be out in full force and Deondre Francois will be under lots of pressure with Michigan's various blitz packages. On the offensive side of the ball, Michigan will want to look to the air attack. FSU ranks 64th in pass defense in the nation and gives up an average of 225 yards per game through the air. Wilton Speight won't light anyone up per say, but he has enough weapons to do some damage against the 'Noles' defense. Look for Jake Butt and Amara Darboh to cause headaches for FSU's secondary.
Florida State needs to control the ball and the clock if they want to win this game. Michigan's offense isn't nearly as deadly as they are, but they have the talent to score on anyone. If they let up the much more than the 24 they give up on average per game, I think Michigan takes this one. However, if Deondre Francois can take care of the ball and stay away from the blitz, I think they can pull this one off. I want to see the BIG 10 win this game, and I won't be upset if I'm wrong, but I just have a feeling about the Seminoles. I think they've turned it on the last half of the season and Dalvin Cook will have a big game and FSU's defense steps up. Could go either way in my opinion, but I think Florida State wins a close one 28-27. I really hope this game is as good as I imagine it will be.
Nate:
Hey it’s a game
featuring two really good teams! Michigan has to feel some disappointment,
losing a game that would’ve basically propelled them into the playoff. Some say
they are overrated some say they are clearly one of the top 4 teams in the
nation still. My opinion? I do think they are one of the top 4 teams in the
nation, but I don’t think it was a travesty. (I’m of the opinion that almost
any team not named Alabama is pretty much interchangeable this year.) For
Florida State, they have only just recently gotten over the complete shelling
that Louisville put on them early this year, but have looked impressive this
November.
Game wise, this
is between two units who are on a collision course. Michigan’s Defense is 2nd
only to the crimson tide in Yards and points allowed. They have a suite of
players that I think are great. Jabrill Peppers wasn’t even close to a Heisman
candidate, but he is a hell of a player. Taco Charleston and Jordan Lewis are
both amazing, NFL caliber players. They will be literally run into by a
Seminole offense averaging 474 yards and 35 points per game. Dalvin Cook
actually had a Heisman worth season, rushing for 1,600 yards. Freshman
quarterback Deondre Francois hasn’t been a world beater, but he has looked
promising. Wilton Speight has been fine for the Wolverines, he doesn’t have
much in the name of big play dudes, but he has a bunch of solid threats to give
the ball to try and take advantage of a State Defense that has had some
unfortunate injuries this season.
So what happens
when a buzzsaw meets a rock? Personally I think that the rock will win, but it
won’t be a killing. Both teams have talent, but I think Michigan has enough O
to take it home. Michigan: 28 Florida State 24
December 31st
Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl
#20 LSU vs. #13 Louisville
Alex:
Nate & I both were big Louisville boasters and thought they should have a shot at getting into the playoffs if the right teams lost.... Then Houston happened and we were all out of sorts. The Cardinals dropped their last two games, but are still a very dangerous team with Heisman winning QB Lamar Jackson running the show. The Tigers have been up and down this season, but seemed to have found some light at the end of the tunnel with new Head Coach Ed Orgeron. They fired Les Miles after starting the year 2-2 with close losses to Wisconsin and Auburn. I'm still not convinced that was the right move for the Tigers, but Orgeron is who they wanted, and they've got him now.
For Louisville, the offensive game plan is pretty simple; Let Lamar do Lamar. Jackson has accounted for more than 50 TDs this season and has just under 5000 total yards. On defense, they will look to slow down the LSU rushing attack with their 9th ranked rush defense that gives up just 110 yards per game on the ground. The Tigers will be without star RB Leonard Fournette as he is skipping the bowl game to prepare for the NFL draft. However, they do have Sophomore RB Derrius Guice who has been incredible this season. I'm scared of the numbers this kid will put up in the future because he has over 1200 yards and 14 TDs on the ground this year. He's coming off of a career game against Texas A&M where he carried the ball 37 times for 285 yards and 4 TDs. The Tigers will look to lean on him and take the pressure off of QB Danny Etling. Etling is a solid QB for LSU, but he doesn't have the play making ability like Lamar. LSU's defense is one in the best in the nation, but they have trouble against dual threat QBs, and they have not faced a QB nearly as good as the 2016 Heisman Winner. I think Lamar pulls the Cardinals through a tight one, but this should be a good game. Louisville 38, LSU 28.
Nate:
For Louisville, the offensive game plan is pretty simple; Let Lamar do Lamar. Jackson has accounted for more than 50 TDs this season and has just under 5000 total yards. On defense, they will look to slow down the LSU rushing attack with their 9th ranked rush defense that gives up just 110 yards per game on the ground. The Tigers will be without star RB Leonard Fournette as he is skipping the bowl game to prepare for the NFL draft. However, they do have Sophomore RB Derrius Guice who has been incredible this season. I'm scared of the numbers this kid will put up in the future because he has over 1200 yards and 14 TDs on the ground this year. He's coming off of a career game against Texas A&M where he carried the ball 37 times for 285 yards and 4 TDs. The Tigers will look to lean on him and take the pressure off of QB Danny Etling. Etling is a solid QB for LSU, but he doesn't have the play making ability like Lamar. LSU's defense is one in the best in the nation, but they have trouble against dual threat QBs, and they have not faced a QB nearly as good as the 2016 Heisman Winner. I think Lamar pulls the Cardinals through a tight one, but this should be a good game. Louisville 38, LSU 28.
Nate:
The first time I
was on this blog was when Alex mentioned me sticking up for Louisville and
saying that they were one of the best 4 teams in college football. Oops. That
was a good first impression, as that night they just got destroyed by Houston.
LSU went down a bumpy road this season, looking like the most disappointing
teams in the nation after they started 2-2. They fired long time, but national
championship winning coach Les Miles, and Hired Interim Ed Orgeron. Then they
looked like the team they were supposed to be for a few weeks before losing a
really tough game against Alabama and a rough one against Florida.
Game wise, Louisville
has a player you might have heard about. Quarterback Lamar Jackson has what I
would call a quiet season, racking up almost 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns. All
jokes aside, the Heisman winner has been spectacular, and will try to leverage
his skills against a spectacular LSU front 7. Louisville has had a rough couple
of weeks of offensive line play, and a D-line that has been tough on
Quarterback rushers (Jalen Hurts has the most with 114 Yards) might spell
trouble for the Cards. They have some
other weapons, most notably Running Back Brandon Radcliffe, but It will be
tough.
LSU does not have
Fournette, but they do have Derrius Guice. He isn’t Fournette, but he is pretty
good. He’s had multiple games of over 200 yards, and will try to get one
against a sneaky good Cardinal Defense (16th in the nation). Danny
Etling isn’t going to light it up, but he has been a solid option in the air.
Call it SEC bias,
but I like LSU. I feel real sketchy going against the Heisman winner, but Louisville
coughs up the football a lot, and LSU is more than happy to convert. LSU: 35 Louisville:
30
Taxslayer Bowl
Georgia Tech vs. Kentucky
Alex:
Two great rushing attacks have helped these teams to solid seasons in 2016. Georgia Tech flopped hard last year, so having a bounce back year like this is good to see. For the Wildcats, this is their first bowl game since 2011. Kentucky has been fun to watch this season, and actually had a shot at winning the SEC East for a while! Even thought they didn't, a 7-5 season is a great improvement from previous years.
I mentioned the rushing attacks, and that's what I'm going to focus on. The Wildcats are lead by Sophomore RB Stanley Williams who has 1135 yards and 7 TDs on the year. He will be the focal point of their offense as GT gives up 174 yards on the ground per game on average. For the Yellow Jackets, they rank 10th in the nation in rush offense averaging nearly 260 per game on the ground. Kentucky ranks 107th in rush defense giving up 225 yard per game on average, so you can see where the big focus will be. My final key factor in the game is Senior QB Justin Thomas. The three year starter has been fantastic for the Yellow Jackets throughout his career and I think his leadership and experience will carry GT to victory. Kentucky keeps it close, but Georgia Tech wins this game 40-31.
Nate:
Kentucky has had
a quiet good season this year (for Kentucky standards) and went a solid 7-5. I
was excited for them, and was rooting for their chances to take the SEC East.
Sadly that didn’t happen, but they did still get bowl eligibility, a rarity for
them. Georgia Tech had a nice bounce back season after a lame duck 2015,
netting 5 more wins from that lame 3-9 campaign.
For both teams,
they will rely on hard nosed rushing attacks. Kentucky will lead with running
back Boom Williams, who has gashed opponents for 1,135 yards and seven scores.
The Yellow Jackets will attack with Quarterback Justin Thomas, who has some
talent on both his feet and his arm. I don’t foresee Kentucky being able to
stop the Tech offense, as they have allowed over 200 yards rushing in almost
every single game. Kentucky likes to turn the ball over as well, they average
two turnovers a game. Look for the
Yellow Jackets to wear down Kentucky over the course of a game. Georgia Tech:
20 Kentucky: 14
Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl (CFP Semifinal)
#4 Washington vs. #1 Alabama
Alex:
Everyone seems to already have this game chalked up for the Tide, but I don't think it will be quite as easy for them as most might think. Washington is easily the best, most complete team that Bama has faced all season long. The Huskies have so many great weapons on offense, and Sophomore QB Jake Browning has been incredible with over 3200 yards passing 42 TDs and just 7 picks. Their ground game is lead by Sophomore RB Myles Gaskin who has nearly 1400 yards and 10 TDs. Plus their receivers are some of the best in the nation lead by John Ross and Dante Pettis. Again, this is easily the best team the Tide have faced this season and the arguably one of the best coaches not named Nick Saban with Chris Petersen at the helm.
Obviously the Huskies will have a lot to deal with when it comes to Alabama's defense, because they are basically un-movable. Jonathan Allen is an absolute monster up front, and the rest of their defense follows his lead. Washington's offensive line will need to be flawless if they want to have a shot in this one. The other big key will be turnovers. Neither Browning nor Hurts give the ball away very often, but with how opportunistic these defenses are, they will both need to be extra careful. Turnovers will likely decide this game in my opinion. I'm really hoping for the upset, because it would be great to see Washington and not Alabama play for the title, but I think the Tide are too much this year. Look for Washington to take that final step next year though, this is a very young, very talented football team. Bama wins a much tighter game than the experts say.
Tide 35, Huskies 30.
Nate:
Oh boy, playoff
time. Some would call this the most wonderful time of the year (including me).
I think we all know about Alabama, so lets just talk about the Huskies.
So how do you win
if you are Washington? Well aside from a post-Christmas miracle, you need to
have a couple things happen. One, their offensive line has to play perfect. I
don’t mean to speak hyperbole, but it’s almost true. Looking over the physical
attributes, Washington has the tools, but Jonathan Allen is a man among boys,
and the rest of the front seven isn’t a slouch either. Two, Jake Browning will
have to be a god. He’s a capable one, throwing for just 42 TDs to 7 picks. He
will have to outduel true freshman Jalen Hurts for the Tide, who has looked
real impressive this season (oops Alabama found a really good QB) who has
combined for over 3,000 yards and 30 touchdowns himself. Washington’s defense
is no slouch, they are rated 16th overall, but comparing the two jobs
is almost herculean. I guess that is my number 3 point, the Washington defense
has to make Jalen Hurts play like a true freshman. It has happened before, and
Washington’s defense is good enough, but man, do you really think they can win
this one? This is close to Saban’s most talented team (I still think that the
2010 team that went 10-3 was his most talented) and they are actually playing
like it. Don’t look for a Michigan State like score from last year, but don’t
expect it to be particularly close either.
Alabama: 38 Washington: 20
Playstation Fiesta Bowl (CFP Semifinal)
#3 Ohio State vs. #2 Clemson
Alex:
This game is another one where I think it will be an incredible match-up, but I have a difficult time picking a winner. Both teams are lead by outstanding QBs and dynamic offensive attacks. JT Barrett leads the Buckeye and their speedy group of receivers. Curtis Samuel is one of the most explosive players in the nation, so look for Ohio State to use him in a number of ways out of that WR spot. For Clemson, Deshaun Watson leads the Tigers back to the playoffs after falling short to Alabama in last year's championship. He hasn't played quite as well as last season in my opinion, but their offense is still one of the best in the nation and he's the reason. RB Wayne Gallman gives them a lot of balance, but the main focus will be on their passing game because they have one of the best WR corps in the nation lead by Junior Mike Williams.
So with so much offensive firepower, which team has the best chance of winning? Well usually that question can be answered with defense, but looking at those stats doesn't make it any easier. Both teams boast two of the best defenses in the nation and don't give up many points. The biggest thing I've watched with these teams is there athleticism on defense. They both put a lot of pressure on opposing QBs and have some of the best tackling in the nation (in my opinion one of the most important factors in any game).
I think if Ohio State was in the Playoff last year like they probably should've been (still laugh at Tim Beck blowing that Michigan State game for them last season), then this would've been the National Championship match-up. Last year, I think I would've picked the Buckeyes in a meeting between these two, but not this year. I have a feeling about Clemson and they're just such a tough team to beat. Both teams will bring their A games and give us a show, but I think Clemson edges it out in a tight one. I honestly wouldn't be surprised with the possibility of Overtime between these two teams because this is such a great match-up. Tigers 38, Ohio State 36.
Nate:
Hey, our
prime-time playoff looks to be a bit more exciting. We have actual experience
with one of these teams (heyo). I don’t want to think about it as much as the
rest of you Nebraska fans, but Ohio State has been no less than the second best
program in college football for the last few years. For the game, this will
come down to one thing, how well the quarterback’s play. The two teams have
remarkably similar quarterbacks. Both JT Barrett and Deshaun Watson have been
electric this season. Watson didn’t surpass his play last season, but has put
up over 4,000 yards and 40 touchdowns on the year. Barrett has put up close to
3,500 yards and 31 touchdowns on the year for himself. They surround themselves
with good weapons. The Buckeyes have Curtis Samuel, who has grabbed 800 yards
and 9 scores for them. The Tigers have Mike Williams and Wayne Gallman.
Williams caught 10 Touchdowns and 1,171 and Gallman rushed for over 4 digits
himself. The defenses also look very similar, both in the top of the FBS.
This game is
about as close to a toss up as you can get for the playoffs. The teams are
remarkably similar. For me? I will have to go with the Urban Meyer team, just
hard to pick against him.
Ohio State: 28 Clemson: 24
January 2nd
Outback Bowl
#17 Florida vs. Iowa
Alex:
First one to 20 wins? That honestly might be too much for these teams because points will be hard to come by in this game. Both teams have extremely solid defenses and extremely mediocre offenses. I really don't see a lot of points in this game. Iowa will look to run the ball, but won't have their normal level of success because Florida only gives up 142 yards on the ground per game on average. Florida has barely any offense to begin with, so Iowa's stout defense shouldn't have to do too much more than normal to keep them at bay. Momentum could play a factor as Florida is coming off back to back beat downs for FSU and Bama while the Hawkeyes have won 3 straight to finish out their season. I think Nebraska helped them out a lot by playing Tommy Armstrong, but we don't need to revisit that game. You never know which of these teams will show up, but I'll take Iowa just so the BIG 10 can get another win (please don't make me regret this). Hawkeyes 21, Gators 17. Maybe? Who cares to be honest. It's Iowa & Florida, gross.
Nate:
Hey, it’s another
matchup featuring a team that killed us. Hoorrraaaayyyyy. Oh well, you have to
have professionalism I suppose. For this game, expect both teams to have a
defensive struggle. Both teams have solid defensive units, but also offensive
units that leave much to be desired.
The quarterbacks
for both units have been shrug worthy this season, as Austin Appleby looks like
the average backup he was at the beginning of the season. CJ Bethard has taken
a massive step back from last year, and it will be tough to get air yards
against a Jalen Tabor and Quincy Wilson secondary that has one of the best in
the nation (3rd). Both offenses do have a player I like. Iowa has
explosive running back Akrum Wadley, who has gashed for over 1,000 yards on the
year. Florida has Antonio Calloway, who doesn’t quite have the big name stats,
but will absolutely leave you in the dust on his way to the end zone.
The Iowa offense
just isn’t good enough to score on the Florida D (115th total
offense). The Florida Offense is no gem either, but I think they have enough to
get it done. Florida: 20 Iowa: 16
Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
#15 Western Michigan vs. #8 Wisconsin
Alex:
This game has me torn
for a number of reasons. I have been a huge supporter of the Broncos over the
past couple of years because Head Coach PJ Fleck has built an incredible
program & has such a passion for not only his team, but the game itself.
I've been saying all season long how I truly believe that WMU could hang with
just about anyone in the nation, and this game will provide that test & then
some. They've beaten 2 BIG 10 teams already this season, so with the third
possible being the Badgers, that'd be huge. Coming into this season, I did not
think Wisconsin had the talent to survive their schedule. Their offense still
isn't a whole lot to look at, but it's 10x more than what I thought it would be
in all honesty. Their two QBs are basically interchangeable, but if healthy, I
would give Hornibrook the nod. No matter who is under center though, their
two-headed rushing monster with Corey Clement & Dare Ogunbowale will be the
main focus of the Badgers offense. Western Michigan will really need to step up
on defense to slow down this rushing attack. If they can force a couple of
longer 3rd downs, then they can start getting pressure on Wisconsin's QB(s) and
keep the Badgers' offense off the field.
Offensively, Western
Michigan will be tested unlike ever before. Wisconsin's defense has played one
of the toughest schedules in the nation, but still post some of the best stats
in the nation. They are solid on every level and their speed to the ball is
uncanny. QB Zach Terrell will need to get the ball out quickly because
Wisconsin likes to bring a lot of pressure. The nations best receiver (yes,
I've said it all season & I stand by it) Corey Davis will be shadowed
closely by the Badgers 36th ranked pass defense, so the Broncos will need to
get him in space to have success.
I want this upset
to happen so bad, but Wisconsin is really tough to beat & I don't think
they're very happy about letting Penn State come back & beat them in the
BIG 10 Championship. Ya know what, screw it! I've been with the Broncos since
day 1 and I'm gonna stick with 'em. I think they'll pull the upset or at least
keep it closer than people think. Western Michigan is legit ladies & gentlemen,
just you wait & see. Broncos upset the Badgers 31-27. ROW THE BOAT!!
Nate:
Row the boat!
What a season for the Broncos of Western Michigan, as they completed their first
undefeated season in school history, topping it off with a MAC championship.
Must feel good for them. For Wisconsin, they have to be disappointed. They had
a trip to the rose bowl almost locked up during the Big 10 championship, now they
have to travel and play a G5 team in one of those no wins scenario. Lose and
they lost to a lesser team. Win and they “just” beat a G5 school.
I think the most
important thing for the Broncos is that they still have their coach. PJ Fleck
was the hottest coach on the market, and it looks like he will stay another
year. I have questions on whether or not it’s a good idea for him (personally I
would leave when my stock is highest.), but it looks like he’s in a holding
pattern until Brian Kelly gets the axe from Notre dame, but alas, he is still
here. Western Michigan has a solid offense, led by NFL first rounder Corey
Davis. Davis leads all FBS players in active receiving yards with over 5,000,
and is a true monster. Zac Terrell is a solid option behind center, and If
Trace McSorley can toss for over 300 yards, then Terrell can almost certainly
do it as well. It will be rough to get the run game going, and there are
questions as to whether they can keep Terrell on his feet to get the ball to
his receivers, but it will be a nice battle.
Wisconsin will
try to jam their run game into a solid Western Michigan defense. Two headed
monster Corey Clement and Chris Ogunbowale will try to fight for yards. QB Alex
Hornibrook might or might not be back, but Bart Houston is basically the same
quarterback.
Tough game, but I
think Wisconsin has the pieces necessary to stop the Western Michigan menace. I
am rooting for the Broncos, but look for a shutdown badger D to take control
here. Wisconsin: 24 Western Michigan: 14
Rose Bowl
#9 USC vs. #5 Penn State
Alex:
Arguably the two hottest teams in College Football square off in the Granddaddy of them all, the Rose Bowl. USC and Penn State have both enjoyed incredible season after early stumbles in the year, and both were a game or two away from breaking into the playoffs. Hopefully this will be a more interesting game than the previous shellackings the Rose Bowl usually boasts.
For USC, Freshman QB Sam Darnold has been the saving grace of the Trojans since he became the starter after early season struggles. Darnold has thrown for over 2600 yards with 26 TDs and just 8 picks this season. USC's entire team is loaded with talent, but their special teams is going to be one of the biggest factors to watch. Adoree Jackson is one of the best return men in the game and he's all over the field for defense as well. Their main focus will be through the air since Penn State's defense is so tough.
For the Nittany Lions, they need to pound the rock. Saquon Barkely has been a workhorse this season, rushing for over 1300 yards and 16 TDs. His rushing ability opens up the play-action for Penn State, and with how hot Tracey McSorely has been in recent weeks, there's nothing better. McSorely has been phenomenal this year passing for over 3300 yards with a 25 to 5 TD to INT ratio. His ability to keep plays alive outside of the pocket has lead the Nittany Lions to their 9-game win streak, and I think he's going to make it 10. This game will be a tough one, but I think Penn State has something special, and I've got to stick with the BIG 10. Nittany Lions win it 38-33.
Nate:
Praise Darnold!
This is between two teams that can make the claim “Best team left out of the
playoffs. Both teams have beaten a team in the playoffs, and both looked like
one of the best teams in the country over the last few weeks.
Penn state is
going to look to leverage Trace McSorley for the game. No quarterback has been
better than McSorley over the last 2 games. He has thrown for over 700 yards
and 8 touchdowns in his last two games. McSorley has been a nice revelation for
the Nittany Lions, throwing for 3,360 yards on the season. Him and excellent
running back Saquon Barkley will try to propel the Penn state offense.
For USC, they
have the man, the myth, the legend himself, Sam Darnold. Calling Darnold a
revelation is an understatement. Starting the year as the backup, after a shaky
2-3 start he came in to great effect, tossing 2,680 yards and 26 touchdowns. He
has a few nice weapons, most notably Ju-Ju Shuester-Smith, and a solid defense
led by Adoree Jackson.
This will be a
tough game, but I just think Darnold is the best player on the field, and at
the QB spot too. Look for USC to eek out a close one. USC: 27 Penn State: 24
Allstate Sugar Bowl
#14 Auburn vs. #7 Oklahoma
Alex:
Points, points and more points! This game has potential to be one of the highest scoring games this bowl season as both offenses are two of the best in the nation. Auburn has been up and down this year, but some big wins late in the year have propelled them into a big bowl game. Neither team has much defense, so this will depend on which team can hold onto the ball and finish drives. I like to look at the QB play when it comes to a shootout and all the signs point to Baker Mayfield. Oklahoma has turned it on since their 1-2 start, and Mayfield's play is the reason. He has nearly 3700 yards passing with a 38 to 8 TD to INT ratio. 16 of those TD passes have gone to star wideout DeDe Westbrook, and he can outrun any defense. I think Oklahoma pulls away at the end of this game and Auburn can't quite keep up on the scoreboard. Chalk another win up for Big Game Bobby & the Boomer Sooners. Oklahoma 48, Auburn 35.
Nate:
This sugar bowl
looks to be the nightcap on an excellent night. Where I think the other games
will be balance, hard fought games, this will be a shootout. Both teams feature
some absolutely killer offense, and some less than stellar defense.
Auburn has a
stretch of games where they averaged over 250 yards per game on the ground.
It’s an unsustainable statistic, but it shows just how much firepower the
tigers are capable of. QB Sean White and
RB Kamryn Pettway will tear through an Oklahoma running defense giving up
almost 7 yards per carry. The tigers have a good defense, but it will be hard
top stop the 3rd ranked Oklahoma offense that features two Heisman
candidates in Baker Mayfield and DeDee Westbrook.
Tough game, but I see Auburn winning in a shootout. Auburn: 45
Oklahoma: 38
Thanks for reading our picks and enjoy all the games! This is going to be a fantastic weekend to finish up bowl season! GO BIG RED!
#CollegeFootballKnowItAll
Special Guest: Nate Muhlbach
Alex Fernando
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