2010-11 Bowl Guide

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Senior fullback Patrick DiMarco

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since 2003, while handing Urban Meyer his first loss to Florida State as head coach.

South Carolina’s junior quarterback Stephen Garcia threw for 2,816 yards this season with a 65.1 completion percentage. Garcia has thrown 20 touchdowns and 11 interceptions throughout the season, along with six rushing touchdowns.

Garcia’s favorite target is sophomore wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, ranked fourth in the nation for total yards with 1,387. The remarkable receiver also snagged nine touchdown receptions throughout the season. Freshman running back Marcus Lattimore has 1,198 yards and 17 touchdowns on the season.

Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder threw for 2,038 yards with a 62.2 percent completion rate.

Ponder threw 20 touchdowns and 8 interceptions this season. Unlike South Carolina, which primarily relies on Jeffery for receiving yards and touchdowns, Florida State’s passing yards are spread out between multiple receivers, including junior Bert Reed with 589 yards and sophomore Willie Haulstead with 573 yards.

Sophomore running back Chris Thompson rushed for 699 yards on 108 carries, with five touchdowns for the Seminoles.

Florida State’s defense will be a challenge for South Carolina’s talented offense. Seminole defensive end Brandon Jenkins ranks second with 13 sacks. Florida State also ranks first in the country as a defensive unit with 46 sacks. The Seminoles rank 25th overall for points allowed, averaging 19.8 a game, and can be expected to give up as many to South Carolina.

Legendary Gamecock Coach Steve Spurrier will get all the components of his offense working in the same game. Garcia will connect with star-receiver Jeffery as usual and running back Lattimore will provide the rushing balance the Gamecocks’ offense needs to be successful.

South Carolina wins, 41-31.—Christian Roehm

Gamecock Vitals coach Steve Spurrier quarterback Stephen Garcia player TO WATCH FOR Alshon Jeffrey 2010 record 9-4 conference record 5-3 bowl record 4-11

Seminole Vitals coach Jimbo Fisher QUARTERBACK Christian Ponder player TO WATCH FOR Brandon Jenkins 2010 record 9-4 conference record 6-2 bowl record 21-14-2

Prediction

USC

41-31

oth teams share the same garnet red color.

Both teams have a 9-4 record. Both teams lost their conference championship games. And both teams expect one more win.

The 20th ranked South Carolina Gamecocks will match up against the 23rd ranked Florida State Seminoles in the 43rd annual Chick-fil-A Bowl on Dec. 31. This will be the 19th meeting between the two schools, with Florida State dominating the series 15-3. This will be the first time the teams have played since 1991, however, when Florida State won 38-10.

This will mark Florida State’s 29th straight bowl appearance, giving the Seminoles the longest active bowl appearance streak in the country. This will be South Carolina’s third straight bowl appearance.

The Southeastern Conference (SEC) East Division Champion Gamecocks look to bounce back after suffering a 56-17 loss to top-ranked Auburn during the SEC Championship game. Despite its embarrassing loss, South Carolina proved that it was capable of winning big games earlier in the season when they beat then top ranked Alabama in October.

Three of the Gamecock’s four losses were against excellent SEC teams, including two losses to Auburn.

South Carolina’s loss against the unranked Kentucky Wildcats a week after toppling Alabama, however, showed the Gamecocks that they must play hard against every team.

The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Atlantic Division Champions also failed to win their conference championship game. The Seminoles lost the ACC Championship game to the then 15th ranked Virginia Tech Hokies, although unlike the Gamecock’s embarrassing defeat, Florida State lost 44-33. Two of the Seminoles losses were close games against unranked teams, North Carolina and North Carolina State, that could have easily gone the other way. Florida State’s win over its Sunshine State rival Florida gave the Seminoles their first nine-win season

Atlanta, GA S. Carolina v. Florida St. Dec. 31 7:30 p.m., ESPN

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Arlington, Texas Texas A&M v. Louisiana Jan. 7 8:00 p.m., FOX Aggie Vitals coach Mike Sherman quarterback Ryan Tannehill player TO WATCH FOR Cyrus Gray 2010 record 9-3 conference record 6-2 bowl record 13-8

Tiger Vitals coach Les Miles QUARTERBACK Jordan Jefferson player TO WATCH FOR Stevan Ridley 2010 record 10-2 conference record 6-2 bowl record 21-19-1

Prediction 21-13

LSU

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Kicker/Punter Josh Jasper

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he 75th anniversary of the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic on Jan. 7 pits the Texas A&M Aggies against the Louisiana State University (LSU) Tigers. These teams have faced each other 49 times on the gridiron since 1899. The Tigers lead the series 26-20-3, but the Aggies have won the last five meetings.

Aggies Coach Mike Sherman, former head coach of the Green Bay Packers, has been to the Cotton Bowl three times. But Tiger Coach Les Miles has a 5-3 bowl record with a national championship under his belt and the highest winning percentage of any LSU coach at 79.2 percent.

Off of a six-game win streak, Texas A&M finished its season with a 9-3 record, securing the team’s fifth appearance in the classic since 1991. In the team’s most recent Cotton Bowl in 2005, the Aggies brought an estimated 55,000 fans to see the team’s 38-7 loss at the hands of Tennessee.

The Aggies were also able to clinch a share of the Big-12 South title after beating Oklahoma, Nebraska, Missouri and Oklahoma State. This losing streak was coupled with a loss to the Aggies’ only SEC opponent—Arkansas. Through this three-game skid, the team’s quarterback, senior Jerrod Johnson, turned the ball over five times and was pulled halfway through the Aggies’ seventh game of the season against Kansas. Junior Ryan Tannehill took over on offense for Texas A&M and threw for three touchdowns in that game and 11 total on the season. Tannehill and the Aggies are 18th in the nation in passing yards per game with 281.8 yards and a quarterback rating of 141.08.

Thoug the Tigers’ passing game is 107th in the nation, the team excels on defense. Allowing only 17.8 points per game, the Tigers’ defense is ranked 9th in the nation and has held four opponents this year to 10 points or less.

Despite ending the regular season with a loss to

Arkansas, LSU is 15-1 under coach Les Miles when coming off a loss. The Tigers were also able to hold Heisman candidate Cameron Newton of Auburn to 86 yards passing and no passing touchdowns during the game.

For the Tigers’ offense, junior Stevan Ridley has not fumbled all season for and has met pay dirt eight times in his last four games. Junior Cyrus Gray has rushed for over 100 yards in each of his last six games—all wins for the Aggies.

On the opposite side of the ball, the Aggies have been successful over the course of the season in stopping the running game. Texas A&M stopped Oklahoma on two consecutive fourth-and-goal situations in the fourth quarter to win. The Tigers were able to hold SEC rival Florida Gators to 89 yards on the ground and score ten points of their own in the final minute.

In 2007, the last time the Tigers bested the Gators, they went on to be national champions. The Aggies have fallen in their last four bowl appearances, including four matchups against SEC teams. Texas A&M has beaten two straight Top Ten teams, holding Nebraska to six points, but LSU is 4-2 against Top 25 opponents on the season.

The matchup is sure to be interesting with the Aggies’ win streak and the Tigers’ stout, SEC defense. With the SEC having won the past four BCS National Championships, things are looking up for the Tigers, whose 2008 campaign made its mark on the streak. The teams LSU has fallen to are in BCS bowl games, but the team will have to learn to get over Texas A&M’s new, young quarterback. Although the Aggies will have the home crowd with the game being played in Cowboys Stadium, three hours from their campus, the Tigers’ defense and Ridley’s legs will prove to be too much for the Big-12 team.

Tigers win, 21-13. —Devin Casey

Junior running back Mark Ingram

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than potent rushing defense, the one weak spot in Alabama’s game. Averaging 6.1 yards per carry, Spartan Edwin Baker will try to confront the 22nd ranked rushing defense.

Alabama also has the edge in the rushing game, as the Crimson Tide averaged 175.3 yards per game, compared to the Spartans’ 168.8 yards. The Tide does have a slightly better rushing defense to contend with, however, as the Spartans are ranked 20th in the nation, allowing only 121.9 yards every game. This leads to a draw on the rushing side of the ball, with neither team having a real edge over the other in the trenches.

The rushing and passing fronts displayed by both teams have been used against a strength of schedule that is sure to benefit the Spartans. Wins against two Top 25 teams give the Spartans their only real edge over the Crimson Tide, as Alabama’s three respective losses are to two Top Ten teams, as well as an additional Top 25 team. If Michigan State stands any chance, they will have to capitalize on Alabama’s lack of composure against any real opponents.

Overall, defense will dominate the field in the Capital One Bowl. The Crimson Tide will leave the Spartans hanging out to dry. With the fifth ranked defense in points allowed per game, Michigan State’s 44th ranked passing offense and 39th ranked rushing offense will not be able to stand up to the daunting task of toppling Alabama from another bowl win.

The Crimson Tide will start with an early lead, but Alabama’s lack of late game composure will lead to a dramatic, late Spartan comeback throughout the second half. In the end, Alabama will not sink to the level it did against Auburn and blow another dominating early game lead. They will hold off the Spartans from their conquest but only barely. The Crimson Tide wins by a field goal, 24-21. —Mason Hood

Crimson Tide Vitals coach Nick Saban quarterback Greg McElroy player TO WATCH FOR Mark Ingram 2010 record 9-3 conference record 5-3 bowl record 32-22-3

Spartan Vitals coach Rick D’Antonio QUARTERBACK Kirk Cousins player TO WATCH FOR Edwin Baker 2010 record 11-1 conference record 7-1 bowl record 7-13

Prediction

ALA

24-21

n the 65th annual Capital One Bowl in Orlando, FL, the 16th-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide (9-3) will face the 8th-ranked Michigan State Spartans (11-1).

Coming off a BCS National Championship title last season, the Crimson Tide fell from their previous glory this year to losing a disappointing three games to South Carolina, and LSU respectivly and Auburn in the Iron Bowl. The fall to National Championship participant Auburn was an especially devastating loss, as Auburn came back from 24 points under to end up winning 28-27 in the rivalry game. If Alabama has another breakdown, the chance of a Crimson Tide bowl win will be the same as snow in June.

Comparatively, the Spartans are coming off a three-game win streak, with their only loss coming midseason against the then 18th-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes.

Whether Alabama can bounce back from a rocky end to the regular season remains to be seen. To stand any chance, they must rely on senior quarterback Greg McElroy, who has shown his prowess amongst the 26th-ranked offense in the nation with more than a 70 percent completion percentage and 19 touchdown passes compared to only five interceptions. Teamed up with explosive receiver Juilo Jones, who has 75 receptions, 1,084 yards and seven touchdowns on the season, the two look to expose holes in the Spartans’ defense.

Michigan quarterback Kirk Cousins will attempt to match McElroy and seems to have the ability to do so. With a 67.5 percent completion percentage and 20 touchdowns compared to nine interceptions, he should be able to give the Alabama defense a fair fight.

With the 12th ranked passing defense and the seventh defense overall, the Crimson Tide will not go down without a fight. The Spartans’ only hope is to attempt to take advantage of the Tide’s less

Orlando, FL Michigan St. v. Alabama Jan. 1 1:00 p.m., ESPN

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Miami, FL Virginia Tech v. Stanford Jan. 3 8:30 p.m., ESPN Cardinal Vitals coach Jim Harbaugh QUARTERBACK Andrew Luck player TO WATCH FOR Stepfan Taylor 2010 record 11-1 conference record 8-1 bowl record 9-11-1

Hokie Vitals coach Frank Beamer quarterback Tyrod Taylor player TO WATCH FOR Darren Evans 2010 record 11-2 conference record 8-0 bowl record 9-14

Prediction 24-21

STAN

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Jim Harbaugh leads the Cardinal.

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fter featuring a string of lackluster matchups in recent years, the 15th Discover Orange Bowl will have some sizzle on Jan. 3 when the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) champion Virginia Tech Hokies face the Pacific-10 Conference (Pac-10) runner-up Stanford Cardinal at Sun Life Stadium in Miami, Fl. Virginia Tech is making its third Orange Bowl appearance in the last four years, accumulating only one win over that span.

In contrast, Stanford is making its first showing in this bowl. The Cardinal’s only other BCS game came in the Rose Bowl in 1999. Stanford has not won a bowl since 1996, when it faced Michigan State in the Sun Bowl, and this is the first time that an ACC and Pac-10 team will face off in the Orange Bowl.

Beyond featuring a Hokies team, which is on an 11-game winning streak, and a Cardinal squad whose lone loss came at Oregon, the Orange Bowl will showcase two of the country’s most electrifying quarterbacks and explosive offenses.

Virginia Tech (11-2) carried national championship hopes in September, but saw those aspirations go up in flames over the first two weeks of the season. The Hokies gave up a late score in their season opener to the Boise State Broncos 33-30 and then were stunned at home by James Madison 21-6 five days later.

Hokie senior quarterback Tyrod Taylor was named ACC Player of the Year after producing 3,158 yards of total offense and 28 touchdowns.

Overall, the Hokies’ offense ranks 19th in scoring, with 35.5 points per game, and 38th in total offense, averaging 411.1 yards per contest. Junior wide receiver Jarrett Boykin looks to help advance the Hokies offense down the field, despite ranking 75th in passing yards. Besides Taylor, the main focus of the Hokie offense is its trio of running backs, junior Darren Evans, sophomore David Wilson and sophomore Ryan Williams, who gave the Hokies the

18th regular season ranking in rushing yards.

Tech has not lost since it stumbled in the first two weeks. The Hokies swept the ACC with an 8-0 conference record and then beat Florida State 44-33 in the conference championship.

Stanford (11-1) is on a seven-game winning streak following a tough 52-31 loss to Oregon in early October, a game it led 31-24 at the half.

This BCS berth also caps off a resurgence for the fifth-ranked Cardinal, who have gone from 1-11 to 11-1 in four years.

The Cardinal squad is eighth in scoring, with 40.3 points per game, and 14th in total offense, with 537.6 yards.

Third-year sophomore Cardinal quarterback Andrew Luck is expected to be a finalist for the Heisman Trophy and a possible top NFL draft pick after throwing for 3,051 yards and 28 touchdowns, and rushing for 438 yards and three scores this season.

Senior wide receiver Doug Baldwin was key in leading the Cardinal offense to 30th in passing yards with 256.3 yards per game. Sophomore running back Stepfan Taylor has been productive in taking the offense to 17th in rushing yards (211.0 yards per game).

With a little bit of Luck, the Cardinal offensive will edge out the Hokies in both passing and rushing. Utilizing the Beamer Ball method, the Hokie defense is ranked first at forcing turnovers, but is followed closely by the Cardinal at third.

Both teams rank in the top 20 in scoring offense and defense. The winner of the game is going to come down to special teams. Stanford has the best Pac-10 place kicker in senior Nate Whitaker, but the Hokies have a knack for big plays such as blocking punts and field goal attempts. Tyrod Taylor and the Hokies are not going to be able to stop Luck and the Cardinal. Stanford will win by a field goal, 24-21. —Sarah Wilkinson

Linebacker Travis Lewis

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The team is middle of the road when it comes to its average rushing and passing yards allowed per game.

The standalone stat that can cause problems for opponents is the Huskies’ ability to create turnovers while taking very good care of the ball themselves, as they are 12th in Division I in turnover margin.

Oklahoma, however, stands at seventh in the country in that same stat. This, still, is only the tip of the iceberg of what composes the Sooners.

Sooner Head Coach Bob Stoops has brought his teams to a bowl game in all but one of his 12 seasons.

While the program has lost its past five BCS bowl games, Stoops has the experience to utilize the vast pool of talent he has on his squad this year.

Sophomore quarterback Landry Jones has put up extraordinary numbers this season. Jones threw for 35 touchdowns this season, while only throwing 11 picks. It helps that Jones has an All-American wide receiver to throw to in Ryan Broyles The Sooners are able to balance out their pass game with a powerful running game led by Senior Demarco Murray. Murray left the Nov. 27 game against Oklahoma State with a knee injury and was limited to only eight carries the following week in the Big 12 Championship Game against Nebraska.

When it comes down to straight wins and loses the stark differences between these two teams conferences separates a great team from an average team. The only losses Oklahoma has suffered this year have been away games within the Big-12 to Missouri (10-2) and Texas A&M (9-3), respectively.

UCONN has suffered embarrassing losses early this season to Michigan, Temple, Rutgers and Louisville.

Oklahoma has a tendency to play down to its opponent’s level this season as evident in its narrow victories to Utah State, Air Force and Cincinnati. The Sooners’ offensive firepower, however, cannot be matched by one man alone.

Oklahoma takes it, 41-17. ­—Eric Muenchen

Sooner Vitals coach Bob Stoops quarterback Landry Jones player TO WATCH FOR Ryan Broyles 2010 record 11-2 conference record 6-2 bowl record 25-17-1

Huskie Vitals coach Randy Edsall QUARTERBACK Zach Frazer player TO WATCH FOR Jordan Todman 2010 record 8-4 conference record 5-2 bowl record 3-1

Prediction

OU

41-17

he 2007 Tostitos Fiesta bowl was exactly what college football is all about: Late game heroics by starry-eyed college kids whose future in football depends on perfection every down. Trick plays thought to have only been implicated during the last five minutes of practice, used in the final seconds of the most important game of the year, and an underdog, cast aside by larger conferences, stealing a win from a nationally acclaimed traditional powerhouse. Boise State’s victory over Oklahoma in overtime wasdubbed “the greatest college football game of all time.” Any casual fan hoping to see a similar battle between Oklahoma and Connecticut this year will most certainly be disappointed.

The Connecticut (UCONN) Huskies have one major offensive threat. His name is Jordan Todman.

The running back has been heavily utilized all season long by the Huskies. It is strikingly obvious that Head Coach Randy Edstall and offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead are not afraid to place a large load on the Junior’s back as he is second in Division I in carries with 302 and fourth in yards with 1574. It is not like UCONN does not have good reason to place most of its offensive production squarely on Todman’s back. Besides the fact that he is a stout road runner whose eyes are constantly fixed downfield preparing to bust a bug gain, UCONN does not have any other offensive athlete whose skillset can compare to Todman’s.

Starting quarterback Zach Frazer has been a nonfactor this season for Connecticut offensively. Frazer suffered a knee injury early in the season, sidelining him for two games. That, however, is no excuse for only throwing for five touchdowns in a season and directing under center a 26-0 shutout loss to a subpar Louisville team.

Defensively, the Huskies won’t dominate an opposing running back in the trenches or maintain a widespread blanket coverage in the secondary.

Glendale, AZ Okla. v. Connecticut Jan. 1 8:30 p.m., ESPN

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CLASH OF THE MIGHTY DUCKS

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Duck Vitals coach Chip Kelly quarterback Darron Thomas player TO WATCH LaMichael James 2010 record 12-0 CONFERENCE RECORD 8-0 bowl record Quarterback Nate Costa 9-14

UO

41-30

Oregon Head Coach Chip Kelly must be some kind of magician.

Prior to the opening kickoff of the 2010-11 college football season, a black cloud of legal troubles hovered over the team. Four players were arrested in the weeks following their Rose Bowl loss to Ohio State, including Heisman hopefuls LaMichael James and Jeremiah Masoli. The program became a punching bag for national sports media pundits, and created a perception that Kelly was letting his players run wild around Eugene.

This all changed after the season’s opening kickoff. The Oregon spread attack ranks fourth in the nation in rushing offense and leads the country in scoring at 49.4 points per game. All of Kelly’s critics magically disappeared after his team proved week after week that it could embarrass any team that dared oppose the Ducks. Rather than criticizing players’ actions off of the field, the media began to marvel at the Ducks’ performance on the gridiron.

Despite being ranked 11th in the Associated Press Preseason Poll, Oregon came into the season with a Chip on its shoulder.

Last year, the Ducks’ championship hopes were crushed by Boise State, and this was immediately followed by the two month suspension of star running back LeGarrette Blount. The Ducks did not give up, and reeled off 10 wins in a row before to their disappointing appearance in the Rose Bowl. However senior quarterback Jeremiah Masoli carried the team down the stretch, and had many analysts lauding his bright future. Some even said that he would win a Heisman before he left Eugene.

His career with the Ducks came to an abrupt end. After a few arrests, Kelly offered Masoli a choice—redshirt and return for the start of the 201112 season or leave the team. Masoli chose the latter and transferred to Ole Miss, which has been a blessing in disguise for the Ducks.

Sophomore Darron Thomas replaced Masoli and stepped up Oregon’s productivity, throwing for over 2,500 yards and 28 touchdowns while running for nearly 500 yards and five touchdowns. Thomas has masterfully guided the Ducks’ lethal offense, which spreads out opponents and attacks them at their weakest points with speed.

While the Ducks’ explosive offense might steal the show, their defense will win this game. Oregon has been ruthlessly efficient this season, rarely turning the ball over, as their defense creates havoc and capitalizes on turnover opportunities.

In the 12 games played this season, the Ducks’ defense has intercepted opponents 20 times and recovered 15 fumbles, a statistic category in which Oregon dwarfs Auburn. The Tigers only have 10 interceptions through 13 games.

Auburn quarterback Cameron Newton has propelled the Tigers to an undefeated sesaon. The Heisman frontrunner cannot be Superman every weekend, however, and Oregon’s defense will cause confusion.

Aside from Newton, the Tigers do not have many offensive weapons.

If the Ducks can neutralize Newton, the Auburn supporting cast will have to step up, something they have not done all season.

Oregon will stun the Tigers with speed. James’s agility will take the bite out of Auburn’s defense, and the Ducks’ aerial onslaught will have the Tigers retreating with their tails between their legs. The Ducks will fly on to victory in a shootout, 41-30. —Kyle Morrison

UNDEFEATED newton’s law

C Tiger Vitals coach Gene Chizik quarterback Cameron Newton player TO WATCH Michael Dyer 2010 record 13-0 CONFERENCE RECORD 8-0 Wide receiver Darvin Adams bowl record 20-13-2

42-35

AU

Cameron Newton is the Chuck Norris of college football.

Time and time again, the University of Auburn quarterback has proven that he is a master of averting criminal charges, a master of passing and rushing, and a master of fate. Newton has certainly proven his viability on and off the field.

But when Newton and his undefeated Tigers meet the also undefeated Oregon Ducks on Jan. 10, the “I” element in team will be nonexistent.

Glendale Arizona’s second Bowl Championship Series (BCS) National Championship will present the Tigers with a challenge. A challenge, even to a team that made up a 24-point deficit while fighting the defending national champions (Alabama). A challenge even to a team that went on to route the 2010 national champs 28-27.

Alabama football is certainly a force to be reckoned with, but the Ducks are a different animal. The Pac-10 powerhouse might just be Cam Newton’s kryptonite. Unlike Auburn, which continually forgets to play defense as exhibited by its 0-24 start against the Crimson Tide, an Oregon defense that caused a Pac-10 leading 35 turnovers will not disappoint.

But this game will inevitably become an offensive shootout.

Averaging 50 points and 540 yards per game, the Ducks will light it up against an Auburn defense that gave up 30+ points four separate times this season. With running back LaMichael James averaging a first down every two carries, Auburn’s only hope is to knock the ball loose. The Tigers better be prepared to hit hard. But if John Madden were describing this offensive showdown, he’d say “The team who scores the most points wins.”

And he would be exactly right. Time and again, the Tigers have proven that regardless of their heart attack-inducing defensive stumbles, they will always follow up a collapse with a cardiac comeback. While this might not instill too much confidence in Tiger nation, the ability to do this week-in and week-out will prove beneficial to Cam and company. Auburn’s persistence on the offensive side will gradually exhaust the Duck defense. Newton and running back Michael Dyer will showcase the rushing ability that earned them a combined 29 rushing touchdowns this season as the Tigers earn most of their points on the ground, with the rest deriving from the play action pass.

After all, Oregon’s defense isn’t as invincible as its turnover margin might make it seem. Allowing at least 29 points to each ranked team they have played, and 31 to unranked Arizona State, The Ducks are far from invincible.

The BCS National Title will be the players’ game, and based on the talent and starpower within “Running Back U’s” offense, the Tigers are fit to for some duck hunting.

Oregon scores early in typical fashion against a lethargic Auburn defense. Riding this momentum through halftime, the Ducks consistently keep on track with Cam Newton and company’s offensive onslaught. But with each waning moment, Oregon grows continually fatigued. The Tigers outrun, out-pass and out-play the Ducks, especially when their lackadaisical defense wakes up when it counts. In a four-quarter display of sheer talent on both sides of the ball, the Tigers prevail 42-35. The Ducks learn once and for all: Chuck Norris doesn’t lose. —Faiz Siddiqui

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New Orleans, LA Ohio State v. Arkansas Jan. 4 8:00 p.m., ESPN Buckeye Vitals coach Jim Tressel quarterback Terrelle Pryor player TO WATCH FOR Dan Herron 2010 record 11-1 conference record 7-1 bowl record 19-22

Razorback Vitals coach Bobby Petrino QUARTERBACK Ryan Mallett player TO WATCH FOR Joe Adams 2010 record 10-2 conference record 6-2 bowl record 12-22-3

Prediction 38-27

OSU

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The Buckeye defense at work against Michigan.

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n a historic matchup, The Ohio State Buckeyes and Arkansas Razorbacks will compete for the first time in the 76th Allstate Sugar Bowl.

The Buckeyes ended the regular season with an 11-1 record, falling only to third-ranked Wisconsin 31-18, and are Big Ten co-champions for the sixth consecutive year. Buckeye coach Jim Tressel is no stranger to bowl games, and led the Buckeyes to a victory in the Rose Bowl last year against a competitive Oregon team.

With a 10-2 record, Arkansas will make its first BCS bowl game appearance. The Razorbacks fell twice in conference play against strong Southeastern Conference (SEC) teams. They were defeated by then top-ranked Alabama 24-20 and also lost to Auburn, who now tops the BCS standings, in a 65-43 offensive shootout. Last year, Arkansas defeated East Carolina in overtime in the Liberty Bowl.

Although they operate in very different styles, the offenses of Ohio State and Arkansas have had comparable success. Ohio State is ranked 14th in rushing, with an average of 219.7 yards per game.

The Buckeyes are led by junior running back Daniel Herron who has 1,068 yards and 15 touchdowns on 192 carries, ranking 33rd in the nation.

Also aiding the run game is quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who ran for 639 yards and four touchdowns in 120 attempts this season. Pryor has proven himself unreliable, however, struggling in the regular season.

He has thrown 11 interceptions on the season compared to only 25 touchdowns and is ranked as the 47th best passer in NCAA Division 1-A. Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallet, the fifth best passer in the nation, has led the Razorbacks to a third overall ranking in pass yards, with an average of 338.4 yards per game. He has a core of dangerous targets, three of whom, Joe Adams, Greg Childs and Cobi Hamilton, have scored at least five touchdowns.

He also has a deep ball threat in Jarius Wright, who

averages 18.9 yards a reception, and has caught an 81 yard touchdown reception. Mallet is known for his consistency and accuracy, and he has thrown 30 touchdowns with 11 interceptions. Although the running game has not had as much success as the passing attack, the Razorbacks have a strong running back in Knile Davis, who has scored 13 touchdowns, including an 89-yard touchdown run this season.

The Ohio State defense has held strong throughout the course of the season, and is ranked third in the NCAA with an average of 13.3 points allowed per game. The Buckeyes only allowed their opponents to score more than 20 points three times. One of these came early, in a week two 36-24 victory over Miami (FL) and another occured when they tore apart Eastern Michigan 72-20. The final occured against a strong Wisconsin team. The defense will find extra motivation in the fact that Mallet transferred from division rival Michigan University.

The Arkansas defense has not been a formidable force on the field, and is ranked 43rd in the NCAA, giving up an average 22.8 points per game. The Razorbacks have allowed the opposition to score at least 20 points in eight different games, three of these being against unranked teams.

Although Arkansas has an offensive weapon in Ryan Mallet, the Buckeye defense has almost never faltered, and will remain strong. Even with Mallet’s exceptional play, it will be hard for him to navigate the Razorbacks through the Buckeye defense, Ohio State’s offense is not as strong as Arkansas’ is, but Arkansas’ defense will not be able to contain Herron and Pryor throughout the course of the game. As long as Pryor remains consistent, the Buckeyes will go as far as their defense allows them to, just like in their Rose Bowl victory the previous year. Ohio State will outlast Arkansas in the teams’ first ever meeting, 38-27. —Sarah Fanning

Runningback John Clay

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with the victory.

To combat Wisconsin’s strong offensive line, TCU offers one of the strongest defenses in the nation.

Led by linebacker Tank Carder, the TCU defense has managed to shut down its opponents’ offense, giving TCU the lowest points against per game in college football at 11.4 points. If TCU wishes to leave the Rose Bowl with a victory, its defense must manage to shut down the Badgers’ offense in the first half or it will face major difficulties later on in the game.

On the other side, Wisconsin’s defense, led by junior defensive tackle J.J. Watt, must be able to stop Andy Dalton from driving the Horned Frogs down the field. Watt is key in putting pressure on the quarterback and is known for his ability to force the interception. If Watt and the Badger defense can hold Dalton’s offense and grab a few essential interceptions, it will be smooth sailing for the Badger offense.

Interestingly enough, both teams have scored exactly 520 points this season, with both teams scoring an average of 43.33 points per game.

The key Rose Bowl match-up is between Wisconsin’s offense and TCU’s defense. If the Horned Frogs manage to hold Wisconsin’s strong offensive line and prevent the Badgers from running the football, they will be able to keep the game close.

Although TCU’s defense holds strong against its opponents, Wisconsin’s quick offense is better than that of the teams the Horned Frogs have played this season. Wisconsin running backs Clay and White will manage to snake their way around the TCU defense to give them the offensive edge in taking control of the score. If Tolzien manages to push the ball down the field, TCU’s offense will be unable to compete. For the first time in history, Wisconsin will defeat TCU in the Rose Bowl, 35-27, and regain control of the Big Ten Conference.—Brittany Bennett

Badger Vitals coach Bret Bielema quarterback Scott Tolzien player TO WATCH FOR John Clay 2010 record 11-1 conference record 7-1 bowl record 10-11

Horned Frog Vitals coach Gary Patterson QUARTERBACK Andy Dalton player TO WATCH FOR Tank Carder 2010 record 12-0 conference record 8-0 bowl record 11-4-1

Prediction

WIS

35-27

n New Year’s Day, Big Ten co-champion Wisconsin will take the field against the undefeated Texas Christian University (TCU) Horned Frogs of the Mountain West Conference in “The Granddaddy of Them All.” The 97th annual Rose Bowl marks the first matchup in history between the Badgers and the Horned Frogs.

However, both teams are playing for much more than the glory of victory in the Jan. 1 Rose Bowl; they are playing for respect. Head Coach Bret Bielema hopes to regain powerhouse status in the Big Ten after Wisconsin’s first conference title since 1999 and its Oct. 16th defeat of then top-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. On the other side of the field, TCU and Head Coach Gary Patterson wish to seize the opportunity to establish themselves among the BCS elite before joining the Big East Conference in the 2012 season.

TCU senior quarterback Andy Dalton and Wisconsin senior quarterback Scott Tolzien are almost evenly matched, although both teams run completely different styles on offensive side of the ball. Dalton tends to utilize his receivers more often than Tolzien and his Badger rushing offense. Both quarterbacks, however, show impressive numbers with Dalton throwing for a total of 2,638 yards and Tolzien for a total of 2,300.

With Wisconsin’s go-to running back junior John Clay returning from injury to play in the Rose Bowl, the Wisconsin offense will be a tough matchup against TCU’s top-ranked defense. Wisconsin’s triple-threat offense, consisting of running backs Clay, freshman James White and sophomore Montee Ball, is nearly unstoppable and lead the team with a combined total of 2,829 yards rushing. Tolzien, however, cannot solely rely on those three to run the ball. While he may not be able to match Dalton throw for throw, Tolzien must manage to keep his options open down the field if Wisconsin is to leave the game

Pasadena, CA Wisconsin v. TCU Jan. 1 5:00 p.m., ESPN

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TAMING the

LIONS Florida dominates Tennessee.

T

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while pulling double-duty as a thrower and receiver.

He is the lone bright spot on an otherwise anemic Gator offense, which has struggled to find an identity all year and is as a result ranked 79th nationally in total yardage, averaging 357.3 yards a game.

The Gators do possess a top ten defense, only giving up 302.9 yards a game. Led by senior cornerback Ahmad Black, who snatched three interceptions and accumulated a team-leading 101 total tackles, the Gators look to exhibit their 13th ranked passing defense in the program’s 20th consecutive bowl appearance.

Paterno’s Nittany Lions, on the other hand, roll into Tampa on a bit of an upswing. Despite early struggles with freshman quarterback Rob Bolden at the helm, a week 7 switch to crafty sophomore Matt McGloin gave the Lions a much needed spark.

McGloin and the offense were especially impressive in a heartbreaking 28-22 loss to Big Ten conference co-winners Michigan State, in which the Scranton native threw for a game high 312 yards.

Despite the moral victory, Paterno’s Lions are still overwhelmingly average. Senior running back Evan Royster is a shrugging Atlas, only able to do so much to hold up his team’s 67th ranked offense. He became the school’s all-time leading rusher this year but was unable to prevent the young team from slipping to a sixth place conference finish.

The Penn State defense shared many of the same struggles this year as its offensive counterpart. They rank 45th nationally in terms of yardage given up and struggle in particular against the run, averaging 165 yards against a game. Senior linebacker Chris Colasanti will have to bring his “A” game to match up with the speed of Florida’s skill position players.

In Urban Meyer’s final game, Florida’s speed and athleticism will prove too much for Paterno’s young Penn State squad. At the end of the day defense wins championships, and although the Outback Bowl is a long way from Arizona this mantra still holds true. Both teams will struggle to score, but the Lions will struggle more. Florida wins, 14-10.­—Tyler Kieslich

Gator Vitals coach Urban Meyer quarterback John Brantley player TO WATCH FOR Trey Burton 2010 record 7-5 conference record 4-4 bowl record 18-19

Nittany Lion Vitals coach Joe Paterno QUARTERBACK Matt McGloin player TO WATCH FOR Evan Royster 2010 record 7-5 conference record 4-4 bowl record 27-13-2

Prediction

FLA

14-10

he 2011 Outback is on the surface a bastion of mediocrity.

The story will be told by two iconic head coaches each boasting painfully average football teams. Penn State’s Joe Paterno has already been carved onto the college football Mt. Rushmore.

He stands as a symbol for a brand of football that would make Bo Schembechler proud. In Paterno’s world, real men lose teeth and break knuckles in the war fought at the line of scrimmage and integrity means “run right” only when you can’t “run left.”

In the twilight of his career, however, Paterno has become the pigskin equivalent to Queen Elizabeth.

He wields no real power, relegating play-calling duties to coordinators Galen Hall and Jay Paterno.

On the other sideline will be Florida’s Urban Meyer, a contentious figure in the wake of his sudden and inexplicable decision to retire. It’s unclear whether or not the “family” Meyer is a certain Denver Bronco, but that is a moot point. It will be a farewell, a goodbye to a coach that has brought so much success in such a short period of time to his program.

Meyer is probably not done with coaching for good, but in all likelihood this will be his last game as Gator head coach. His team should use Meyer as a source of inspiration, something to win for in a game that otherwise means absolutely nothing.

From Gainesville come the struggling Gators, reeling after a humiliating 31-7 loss at the hands of rival Florida State and still missing that giant Tim Tebow-shaped hole in Meyer’s spread offense.

Junior quarterback John Brantley looked like a sure thing coming out of high school, winning the 2006 Gatorade National Player of the Year award and breaking Tebow’s Florida state high school touchdown record. This season he has struggled, however, unable to adapt his pro-style skill set to Meyer’s flashy system.

After a three game losing streak in October, Meyer decided to switch to a three quarterback rotation, mixing in freshmen Jordan Reed and Trey Burton.

The elusive Burton has proved to be exceptionally versatile, leading the team with 12 total touchdowns

Tampa, FL Florida v. Penn State Jan. 1 1:00 p.m., ESPN

San Antonia, Texas Oklahoma State v.

Arizona Dec. 29 9:15 p.m., ESPN

New Orleans, LA Utah v.

Boise State Jan. 4 8:30 p.m., ESPN Junior quarterback Kellen Moore

Running back Jeremy Smith

A

Prediction 48-31

OSU

O

n Nov 26, Boise State senior kicker Kyle Brotzman missed two potential game-winning field goals against 19th-ranked Nevada, worth $7.25 million. The defeat to the Wolfpack cost Boise the chance to play in a BCS bowl game, landing the Broncos in the MAACO Las Vegas Bowl.

The Las Vegas Bowl pits the Mountain West winner against the Pac10 fourth or fifth place finisher. Because the Pac-10 fourth and fifth place teams are not bowl eligible, and the Mountain West winner, Texas Christian University (TCU), is undefeated and headed to the Rose Bowl, the second place Utes and the boys from Boise will square off in the Las Vegas Bowl.

The high-powered Boise State offense is led by junior, first-team AllAmerican quarterback Kellen Moore. The offense’s success overshadows a surprisingly solid defense which is ranked fourth in the nation in points allowed per game and yards allowed per game.

Another overlooked part of Boise State’s team is its running game.

Junior tailback Doug Martin racked up 1,113 rushing yards to go with his 323 receiving yards.

The Utes, led by Head Coach Kyle Wittingham, have had a rollercoaster ride all year. After starting the season unranked, the Utes rose all the way to the fifth ranking in week 10. Then the TCU Horned Frogs beat the Utes 47-7, ending Utah’s bid on an undefeated season.

Utah will be without its starting quarterback, Jordan Wynn, who is having surgery on his right shoulder. Wynn’s replacement, Terrance Cain, has 2,234 yards and 17 passing touchdowns in his career, and has seen action in eight of Utah’s 12 games this year.

Another threat for Utah is its dynamic All-American returner Shaky Smithson, who led the nation with a Mountain West record 572 punt return yards.

The Utes are playing with a chip on their shoulder, but Boise has much more talent along with better coaching as Chris Peterson is one of the best in the country. After being heartbroken

by Nevada, the Broncos will come out swinging to try to prove to the country that they are are still a BCS quality team. Both teams are disappointed with their bowl bids, but Boise has shown time and time again that they come to play every week. And this time, Brotzman will redeem himself with a field goal under much less pressure. And, to top it all off, Utah lost to Notre Dame. That in itself says enough about the outcome.

The Broncos will be expected to blow out Utah in an exploding 45-10 landslide victory, ending the Utes’ previous bowl reign in dominating fashion. —Brett Colburn

Prediction

BSU

45-10

fter two losses in the Alamo Bowls, Oklahoma State will try to “Remember the Alamo” when it matches up against Arizona.

Junior quarterback Nick Foles leads the Wildcats’ ninth-ranked passing attack, which averages 310 yards per game. Foles himself tossed 2,911 yards and 19 touchdowns. His primary and most reliable target, junior wide receiver Juron Criner, has racked up 73 receptions for 1,186 yards and 10 touchdowns during the season.

Arizona’s ground game features a pair of running backs: junior Keola Antolin, who ran for 667 yards and seven touchdowns, and senior Nic Grigsby, who rushed for 474 yards and eight touchdowns. Together, the two rushers form college football’s 85th-ranked rushing attack out of 120 teams. The defense has been solid, allowing 343 yards per game and ranking it 43rd among all of college football.

Had it not been for a blocked extra point, the Wildcats would have defeated Arizona State for one of the country’s longest standing rivalry trophies, the Territorial Cup, likely placing them in the Holiday Bowl.

The early season win against then ninth-ranked Iowa also helped to propel the Wildcats to a top-15 ranking at one point in the season.

The Cowboys also have a very effective air game, ranking second in the country. It is led by 27-year-old junior quarterback Brandon Weeden.

Weeden threw for over 4,000 yards this season, with 32 touchdowns.

Sophomore Justin Blackmon, a Biletnikoff Award finalist, given to the nation’s best wide receiver, caught 102 balls for 1,665 yards and 18 touchdowns. The Cowboys also have an outstanding senior running back in Kendall Hunter. He ran 261 times for 1,516 yards and 16 touchdowns.

With the potency of the offense both through the air and on the ground, the Cowboys ranked third in points for this season with 45 points per game. The Cowboys defense, however, allowed 28 points per game, ranking it 68th in the country. The Cowboys still fell to Big 12 foes Nebraska and Oklahoma during the regular season.

If this year’s Alamo Bowl follows recent tradition, it should be a tight contest, as the last five games were decided by 10 points or less. In the two times Oklahoma State has played in the bowl, however, it was a losing effort. Arizona has never played in this bowl, but is 6-8-1 in its bowl games.

Expect offensive fireworks, especially through the air. The Oklahoma State offensive juggernaut, however, will outshine Arizona’s. Expect a big day out of Blackmon, one of the best wide receivers. Foles and Arizona will make it interesting in the first half, but the ground game will end up turning the tide toward Oklahoma State in the second half as Hunter will explode on the ground. OSU wins 4831.—John Grasty

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New Orleans, LA Ohio v. Troy Dec. 18 9:00 p.m., ESPN

Runningback Ryan Boykina

T

Prediction

OU

31-21

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The Redhawks swarm on defense.

O

n Jan. 6, the Miami University (MU) RedHawks will show the Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) Blue Raiders who is “daddy.” The Mid-American Conference (MAC) and Sun Belt Conference teams face off in the 12th rendition of the GoDaddy.com Bowl at Ladd Peebles Stadium in Mobile, AL. Michael Haywood, MAC Coach of the Year, led the RedHawks to a 9-4 season. Making a complete turnaround from their 1-11 season last year, MU clinched the MAC title at the last minute from Northern Illinois, propelling them to the their first bowl since the 2004 season.

Under Head Coach Rick Stockstill, this is the third postseason appearance for MTSU in five years. After defeating Southern Mississippi in the 2010 New Orleans Bowl, MTSU hopes to defeat MU to win its second straight bowl.

The RedHawks are 33rd in passing yards, averaging 250.3 yards per game while the Blue Raiders are 80th, averaging 193.6 yards per game.

On the other hand, MTSU is better when it comes to rushing yards, averaging 178.5 yards per game, to MU’s 96.8 yards per game.

MU quarterback sophomore Zac Dysert has had a successful season, but spleen problems could cause him to miss the bowl game. Backup quarterback and freshman Austin Boucher is prepared to play if Dysert cannot compete. If Dysert does not play, MTSU will gain an advantage.

MTSU quarterback Dwight Dasher had a rough season, but shows promise in this year’s bowl. He could fshine like he did last year in the New Orleans Bowl when he rushed for 201 yards—the most ever by a quarterback in a bowl game. Dasher is the 15th player in NCAA history to pass for more than 5,000 yards and rush for more than 2,000 yards in a career.

Both teams have similar averages; the Blue Raiders are averaging 26.9 points and 372.1 yards per game while letting opponents take 27.5 points and 384.5 yards a game. The Redhawks are averaging 20.1 points and 340 yards a game, allowing 23.6 points and 332.7 yards a game. MU receivers, such as senior wideout Armand Robinson, have more total yards than MTSU’s receivers. MTSU’s receivers, such as freshman wide receiver Malcom Beyah, however, have more average yards than MU’s receivers.

Both teams will put out excellent offense, but MTSU will do more running and MU will do more passing. Both offenses will be very competitive, giving each other’s defense a hard time.

The teams will be neck and neck throughout the game, but the Redhawks will take advantage of a slip-up by the Blue Raiders’ defense, resulting in victory for the RedHawks. Miami (OH) wins in a tough fight to the finish, 21-14.—Shivang Patel

Prediction

MU

21-14

he battleground has been set for Ohio University and Troy University in the Dec. 18 [R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl].

The Bobcats’ 8-4 record has landed them in their third bowl in the last five years, while Troy showed potential, emerging out of a small, Sunbelt football program, ending with a 7-5 record.

The Bobcats have put up consistent numbers this season, averaging 169.2 rushing yards per game. With their air attack factored in, the Bobcats turn lethal, generating an explosive offense with solid defense to hold the line. Ohio put up 3,931 yards of total offense this season and averaged 28 points per game, while holding opponents to an average 21.8 points per game.

Quarterback Boo Jackson and wide receiver Terrence McCrae make a great team, hooking up for nine passing touchdowns during the season. The pair holds the current school record for most quarterbackwide receiver combinations, including most touchdown receptions and highest pass efficiency. If these two players connect in the bowl game, the effects will be devastating.

The Trojans, however, have weapons of their own. This season, Troy has amassed 3,477 yards passing, averaging 289.8 yards per game.

Quarterback Corey Richardson, a vital part of the offense for the Trojans, has 3,339 yards, completing 62.4 percent of his passes. Aided by his four receivers, Jerrel Jernigan, Tebiarus Gill, Jason Bruce and Chip Reeves, the Trojan offense unstoppable, presenting the Bobcats with the ordeal of stopping the high-powered offense.

Although the defense is weak at times, the Trojans still pull through, led by Xavier Lamb and J. Massaquoi with a combined 161 tackles.

Thankfully, the offense makes up for the sometimes questionable defense by pushing twice as hard and going twice as fast.

Both of these teams are explosive. The Bobcats seem to give the second push this season, especially at the end of the game, with 90 points total in the fourth quarter. The Trojans give it their all at the start of the game, hauling in a total 128 points in the second quarter this season.

The victor is going to be determined by how and when the teams score.

Even though the Trojans have an impressive air strike offense, the Bobcats will pull through with a victory. The Trojan defense occasionally buckles and allows consecutive points to be scored.

With the Bobcats’ powerful offense, this is likely to happen, leading to the fall of the Troy. Additionally, the Bobcats have had a tougher schedule, having played Ohio State. The game will be close, but the Bobcats will give the Trojans the knockout punch. Bobcats win, 31-21.—Tommy Behan

Tempe, AZ Miami (OH) v. Middle Tennessee State Jan. 4 8:30 p.m., ESPN