The Ultimate Matchup: Swami McMullen’s Super Bowl Preview and Prediction

Drew Brees will look to start Mardi Gras early when his Saints face the Colts on Super Bowl Sunday.

We’ve finally come to the matchup that the analysts have been begging for since before the championship games even began: The Saints and the Colts will meet for the biggest prize in professional football: The Vince Lombardi Trophy. Who will be planning for a parade in their home city, and who will go back home, so close to glory? Swami McMullen whips out his crystal ball one more time to see who will come home from Miami as Super Bowl champions.

Why The Saints Will Win:

Rush, Rush, Rush: When you match up the two rushing attacks, the Saints clearly are superior. Running backs Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas have splid the load pretty evenly, which makes them a double threat in the backfield. They’ve also been potent in the recveiving game (110 yards receiving combined in the postseason), which makes them even more threatening. The Colts secondary will have to be on top of their game if they want to shut them down. It doesn’t help that cornerback Bob Sanders is out, but the substitutes have steeped up nicely. This matchup shoud be quite even.

Quarterback Battle: This game pits two of the best quarterbacks in the league this year: Drew Brees versus NFL MVP Peyton Manning. Brees has been very good this offseason, throwing no interceptions and being very efficient throwing the ball (116.1 quarterback rating), while Manning has been slightly less efficient this postseason (five touchdowns, one interception, and a 104.6 quarterback rating). It will all come down to who can stay the coolest under the fire of two very stifling defenses. Seeing how the Colts had such a tough time with the Jets’ blitzing in the championship game, I give the edge to Brees.

Grace Under Fire: To quote famous WWE wrestler John “Bradshaw” Layfield, “[The Saints] smell like smoke ’cause they’ve been through fire.” No truer statement can be made about this team. They’ve had to deal with losing their home field in Hurricane Katrina. They’ve been through losing season after losing season, and finally, they had to sweat their way through one of the best NFC Championship Games ever. They’ll go into the game hoping to not just throw the monkey off their backs, but throw him completely out of the stadium. With the team they’ve assembled, it’s not a stretch to think that.

Why the Colts Will Win:

The Prowess of Peyton: All-everything quarterback Peyton Manning is, without a doubt, one of the best in the league. He knows how to pick apart defenses, and he showed that with his decimation of the Jets’ league-leading offense. He has shown he can win in the big games as well, winning Super Bowl XLI against another dominating defense in the Chicago Bears. If Manning keeps his league-renowned cool against another defense that seems to be pretty dominating, he’ll walk away from Miami with another Super Bowl victory.

Rip-Roaring Receiving: Even with the loss of All-Pro wide receiver Marvin Harrison, the Colts’ receiving corps hasn’t lost a beat. The receiving trio of Pierre Garcon, Austin Collie, and Reggie Wayne stepped up in a big way when Anthony Gonzalez (knee injury) went down for the season. They are a three-pronged threat that must be taken very seriously. The Jets did not pay attention to that, instead focusing on a blitz-heavy package, and got burned in the process. The Saints’ secondary, which looks to be one of the best in the league, will have to make special plans to defend these guys.

The Injury Bug Bites: As the Colts prepared for the Super Bowl, they came with a laundry list of injuries. This is normal come Super Bowl time, but they have some big injuries that might not get better by Sunday. Defensive end Dwight Freeney (ankle) is looking less and less likely to start, and they have suffered considerable injuries for most of the season. The bench needs to come up big like they have all season for the Colts. Unfortunately, Freeney is a big cog in the Indianapolis machine, and I don’t think backup Raheem Brock can make the same impact that Freeney does. All the onus will be on him to step up big if Freeney can’t play, if the Colts want another Lombardi Trophy.

Prediction: Saints 38, Colts 35 in the first overtime period in Super Bowl history. This is the ultimate showdown of unstoppable force (the Saint offense) meeting immovable object (the Colt defense). It will be a high scoring game, however, with Saints kicker Garrett Hartley showing the same heroics he did in New Orleans in the Championship Game.

So there you have it: the Saints start Mardi Gras a little early and bring their first Super Bowl trophy home from Miami. Will the clock strike 12 for the Cinderella Saints? Will the Colts bring rookie coach Jim Caldwell to glory? You’ll just have to watch to find out!

An Expensive Victory: South Carolina Fined $25K After Win Over Kentucky

This kind of celebration cost the Gamecocks $25,000, courtesy of the SEC.

It had finally happened…after seven previous tries at defeating a #1 team, the South Carolina Gamecocks had finally beaten the top team in the nation, defeating Kentucky 68-62.

Naturally, the fans and students rushed the court, elated that this milestone had happened. Nothing wrong with that, right?

Wrong, says Southeastern Conference head Mike Slive, and it’ll cost you $25,000. According to an off-the-wall rule (possibly precipitated by panic after the Pistons-Pacers brawl of 2004), no fan can go onto the court at all, period. It doesn’t matter if your team just won a big game or not. Here’s Slive’s rationale toward the rule:

“This policy is designed to create a safe environment for everyone who participates and attends our athletic contests. The security and protection of our student athletes, coaches, officials and fans is our primary concern.”

Correct me if I’m wrong, but this didn’t seem like a safety or a security issue at all. Kentucky head coach John Calipari had left the court and all the Kentucky players were supposedly back in the locker room, so there was no chance of anybody running out there and slugging someone. The only people out there were the South Carolina student body, the team, and the coaches…no one else. In fact, the players (particularly SEC scoring leader Devan Downey) and athletic director encouraged the idea. According to athletic director Eric Hyman:

“[The arena was] as exciting as any time since I’ve been here.”

Of course it was…that had to have been the biggest basketball game in the history of the college. Every shot will be met with wild cheers (if you’re a Gamecock) or vicious jeers (if you’re a Wildcat). There is so much pent-up energy in a field house during an exciting game that an upset will bring one of the biggest celebrations in sports: rushing the court.

As a matter of fact, the security detail was well taken care of: when the game seemed to be well in hand, field house security held up a yellow rope too keep people off the court (not that that would stop anything, but give them an A for effort). It’s not like the guards just left the court after the game; they stayed and tried to keep the SEC’s draconian law.

I can see the SEC’s rationale behind it (to ensure that peole are safe and no fights break out). In fact, the reason they instituted this rule was because of the Gamecocks (after Clemson and South Carolina football players got into a fight during a game). However, Slive, playing the role of buzzkill, destroyed the whole atmosphere of a very exciting game. This was history in the making, and he went and ruined it by not allowing the fans to celebrate with the players after the players invited them onto the court.

On the other hand, the students understood the rule, and took up a collection for the to help pay the fine. I applaud the effort given by the students, because they knew what they did was wrong (if only in the SEC’s eyes). However, it shouldn’t have been needed. You can’t fine someone for getting excited as much as you can tax someone for buying soda (yes, I’m looking at you, New York).

One message to Mike Slive: playing the role of Buzz Killington (of Family Guy fame) might get you points with the suits that run the NCAA, but it’s not going to make you very popular with the fans. If you lose fan support, you’re going to get fired anyway, no matter how many rules you implement to keep people safe.

If that happens, just like in the game on that fateful Tuesday night, the fans might be telling you, “I told you so.”

Who Wins the Crystal Football? BCS Championship Preview/Prediction

Mark Ingram looks to run wild against Texas.

It’s finally happened: two teams who actually deserve of a shot at a national championship are actually in the championship game. Granted, it’s still the SEC vs. the Big 12 (for the fourth year out of 12), but these two are fully deserving to be here. Will Big Al or Bevo be holding the Crystal Football? Read on and see…

Why the Crimson Tide Will Win:

Receiver’s League of Alabama: Quarterback Greg McElroy has a lot of options in his passing game, the least of which is a Heisman winner, tailback Mark Ingram. Usually, they’ll throw to start, to push defensive stances back, then pound through the line with their dominating run game (almost 216 yards per game).  However, if the stingy Longhorn defense holds firm against the run, they have wide receivers Julio Jones and Marquis Maze, tight end Colin Peek and Ingram. McElroy has a full set of weapons, and he will need all of them if they want to beat Texas.

Tuscaloosa Toughness: The Alabama defense is considered one of the best in the nation (ranked second in total defense and second in rushing defense), led by defensive end Terrence Cody and linebacker Rolando McClain. McClain will probably be responsible for Texas quarterback and Heisman finalist Colt McCoy. Seeing as he leads the team in tackles (101 and 12 ½ behind the line of scrimmage, McCoy better hope his offensive line steps up for this game, or it will be a long, long day for McCoy.

A Chance for Redemption: This will be the first chance for a championship for the Crimson Tide since 1995, when they were put on a post-season ban until four years ago. Since then, they have had a meteoric rise, moving from the middle of the SEC pack to alongside Florida for the lead. This is their chance to prove that they have fully come back from their suspension. Granted, they are still on probation for their textbook incident earlier in the season, but this team has learned from its mistakes and has put that distraction behind them.

Why the Longhorns Will Win:

Young Colt: Quarterback Colt McCoy has been the leader of this team from the beginning, and it has shown. He has been proficient on the ground as well as in the air, running for 128 yards and three touchdowns. He has also a lot of weapons in his receiving corps, led by McCoy’s roommate, wide receiver Jordan Shipley, who racked up almost 1,400 yards and 11 touchdowns this season. Paired up against a stifling Alabama defense, this could be one of the most explosive championship games in recent memory.

Lockdown: After allowing Texas A&M to romp all over them in one of the closest calls they’ve had this season, the defense cracked down for the Big 12 Championship game, limiting Nebraska to only 105 yards, five first downs, six completions, and four field goals. Then again, Nebraska’s offense isn’t as explosive as Alabama’s. The big matchup will be linebacker Roddrick Muckelroy against Alabama running back and Heisman winner Mark Ingram. Muckelroy leads the team in tackles while Ingram leads the team in most rushing categories. This will truly be a case of unstoppable force meeting immovable object.

Run, Horns, Run: The Longhorns have a spread-out rushing attack, with four players racking up at least 300 yards. Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain will have his hands full, especially with running back Tre’ Newton, who ran for over 500 yards in just 11 games. It’ll be interesting to see who the main rusher is in this game, but with the way the Alabama defense has been dominating even the best rushing attacks, it wouldn’t be surprising to see all four leading rushers get at least 10 to 15 touches to confuse the Alabama defense.

 

Prediction: Alabama 41, Texas 35 in three overtimes. This game was the best decision the BCS could have made, with the two best teams making it to Pasadena. Ironically, the last time Texas won a BCS championship was in the Rose Bowl. However, the heroics that the Longhorns showed in that game will come up a little bit short this time in a very exciting game.

                There you have it: Alabama will finally come full circle after 15 years with a national championship. Will Mark Ingram run over the Texas defense as easily as he did against Florida? Will Colt McCoy make one final accomplishment on his NFL resume with a national championship? You’ll just have to watch to find out!

Yellow Meets Orange: Orange Bowl Preview/Prediction

Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz hopes to prove his Hawkeyes are the real deal when they face Georgia Tech.

We’ve hit the Orange Bowl and two teams who wear yellow are in this one: The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the Iowa Hawkeyes. Both teams were in the BCS championship hunt right up to the last couple of weeks, before they dropped three of their last five combined. Who will win this battle of the Yellow? Read on, dear reader, read on…

Why the Hawkeyes will win:

Welcome Back, Stanzi: Quarterback Ricky Stanzi is expected to be back for the Hawkeyes after missing the last three games with a high ankle sprain. They tried to make do with James Vandenburg, but he sort of cracked under the pressure, losing two of Iowa’s last three (while he also threw five interceptions against only two touchdowns). He is one of the leaders of this team, and his return should be a great boost for Iowa.

The Great Wall of Iowa City: The Hawkeyes’ defense has looked great this year, ranking in the top three in points allowed and pass defense. They also rank fifth in the Big Ten in rushing defense, and with Georgia Tech running an option attack similar to the Naval Academy, they’re going to need to be as good, if not better, thank that if they want to stop it. However, they do have some big men on their defense. Defensive end Adrian Clayborn has racked up 9 ½ sacks this season, and could be quarterback Josh Nesbitt’s worst nightmare. Linebacker Pat Angerer has been seen as sort of a run stuffer, accumulating 135 tackles this season. That could be beneficial against Georgia Tech’s running game.

Receiver’s Army: Stanzi has a lot of options in his passing attack. He will look for the leader of that group, wide receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, who has 41 receptions for almost 700 yards. Stanzi does have other options, especially Marvin McNutt, who is tied for the team lead in touchdowns, with seven. The Hawkeyes have 14 players with at least one reception, which gives Stanzi a lot of options in the passing game.

 

Why the Yellow Jackets will win:

Defense wins (Fiesta Bowl) championships: The Yellow Jackets have had one of the best defenses in the nation, led by defensive end, ACC Defensive Player of the Year Derrick Morgan. He has been overpowering this season, racking up 18 tackles for a loss and 12 ½ sacks. If the defensive line, which has looked semi-porous this year (giving up 25 points a game and five yards per carry), doesn’t step up, the Iowa offense is going to run all over them.

Shades of Michael Vick: The key to the offense is quarterback Josh Nesbitt, who can run the football as well as throw it (18 touchdowns rushing and 10 throwing). He has improved his accuracy over the season, which just adds another weapon to the potent offense. He has proven himself to be one of the best, along with Ricky Stanzi, in the close games, so if this comes to a shootout, expect a really exciting game. Combine that with the devastating option attack the Yellow Jackets have, and it just may be enough to win.

B=A?: B-Back Jonathan Dwyer took some snaps at A-back in the ACC championship game against Clemson, which provides another weapon for the potent running game that includes Nesbitt and current A-back Anthony Allen. Dwyer has accumulated seventeen 100-yard rushing days, which is the third-most in Georgia Tech history. Combined with an option attack that has helped the Yellow Jackets rank second nationally in rushing, this could be a long day for the Hawkeyes.

Prediction: Iowa 47, Georgia Tech 44 in overtime. Iowa has a ton of weapons, but the Ramblin’ Wreck does too. It’s a shame one of these teams have to lose, but Ricky Stanzi has proven himself to be an effective player in the clutch.

                There you have it: Iowa brings the Oranges back to Iowa City. Will Ricky Stanzi lead his team to a victory? Will the Yellow Jackets sting the Hawkeyes? You’ll just have to watch to find out!

BCS Buster Showdown: Fiesta Bowl Preview/Prediction

 

Quarterback Kellen Moore looks to show that Boise State can run with the Big Six when they face TCU.

It’s finally happened: the two teams that were supposed to bust the BCS are going to meet each other in the Fiesta Bowl. The Boise State Broncos and the TCU Horned Frogs will meet to see who is the better BCS Buster. Who will win the honor of being Fiesta Bowl Champions? Read on and find out!

Why The Horned Frogs Will Win:

Dominating Defense: The Horned Frogs finished the season ranked first in the nation in total defense, where they allowed only 233 yards per game. The key to this defense is defensive end Jerry Hughes, who earned All-American status while racking up 11 ½ sacks this season. The unstoppable force of Kellen Moore meeting the immovable objects of the TCU defense should be a great matchup to watch.

Full Recovery: The Horned Frogs got some good news this week. Strong safety Colin Jones and safety Tekerrian Cuba will be ready for the game after suffering sore hamstrings. This adds more weapons to an already potent defense, especially if Moore decides to throw. If they step up after coming back from injury and shut down the pass, and Hughes shuts down the run, this should be an easy victory for TCU.

Dalton the Destroyer: Quarterback Andy Dalton is the key to the Horned Frogs’ offense, racking up over 2,500 yards and 22 touchdown passes. He has also proven he can beat defenses with his feet too, running for over 500 yards and three more scores. He is almost as poised as Moore, but still has one more year to play. He should be a force to be reckoned with in this game and next year too.

Why The Broncos Will Win:

Exacting Some Revenge:  You can bet your bottom dollar that Boise State wants a little bit of revenge for the 17-16 loss given to them by the Horned Frogs in the Poinsettia Bowl last year. This time, the stakes are extremely higher, with the slim possibility of a #1 vote in the polls hanging in the balance. You can bet, with those stakes, both teams will be playing extra hard, but Boise State, with that chance at sweet redemption, will be playing just a little bit harder.

High-Octane Offense: The Broncos have been on fire on offense after coach Chris Petersen challenged them to refine themselves at midseason. Since then, they have been on a tear, scoring 40 points and winning by 30 and over in their last seven games. They are led by a front runner for next year’s Heisman in quarterback Kellen Moore, three scoring workhorses in wide receivers Titus Young and Austin Pettis and running back Doug Martin, and a 1,000-yard rusher in Jeremy Avery. The Horned Frogs will have a lot to take care of if they want to stop the Broncos.

Kellen The Conqueror: Quarterback Kellen Moore is one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the nation, throwing 39 touchdowns against only three interceptions. He seems to be poised and more collected than most NFL quarterbacks, even in the face of dominating defenses. He still needs a little work with his scrambling, but the way he throws the football, it doesn’t seem to matter.

 

Prediction: Boise State wins, 35-34. This is another case of unstoppable force (the Boise State offense) meeting immovable object (the TCU defense). The difference will be the motivation of the Broncos after the Poinsettia Bowl defeat. They’ll be fired up and ready to win.

So there you have it: the Broncos take the jump out of the Horned Frogs. Will this be the great game it’s being made out to be? You’ll have to watch to find out!

Happy New Year: Swami McMullen’s New Year’s Bowl Predictions

 

 

Bobby Bowden hopes to ride off into the sunset on a high note when his Seminoles face West Virginia.

 

 Happy New Year, everybody! As we look toward 2010, there is still some unfinished business from 2009 to get to: who wins all these shiny bowl trophies, particularly the crystal football that denotes the national champion? Swami McMullen brings out the crystal (foot) ball for the first time in the new decade to look at the bowls played on New Year’s Day!

Outback Bowl: Northwestern Wildcats vs. Auburn Tigers

The Wildcats showed some mettle in the defensive ranks in their season finale against Wisconsin, only allowing 99 yards for the 14^th best rushing attack in the nation. Auburn ranks 13^th best, and right next to Wisconsin in another couple of categories, so Northwestern knows what it’s going up against in terms of offensive production. The Wildcats also are familiar with Auburn’s spread offense, which makes their defensive preparation even easier. They need to bounce back from an injury-plagued regular season if they want to win this game, however. 

            The Tigers’ defense is choppy at best; they ranked last in a defense-minded SEC. They had some success near the end of the year, but overall, it was a really bad season for the defense. The offense has made up for it, ranking in the top half in rushing, passing, and total offense. They have to learn how to contain quarterback Mike Kafka and make a metamorphosis of the wildcat offense or this will be the “Description of a Struggle” for the Tigers. (Look it up.) I expect the Wildcats’ spread offense to flourish, while shutting down Auburn’s and walk away from Tampa with a victory.

Prediction: Northwestern 45, Auburn 17.

Konica Minolta Gator Bowl: Florida State Seminoles vs. West Virginia Mountaineers 

            Florida State wants to send Bobby Bowden out on a high note, and while it isn’t a national championship, it’s a good way send out one of the best in college football. The offense has suffered since starting quarterback Christian Ponder was knocked out for the season (shoulder). Bowden needs to model his final game plan for backup quarterback E.J. Manuel to establish a short passing game if they want to send him out on a good note.

            The Mountaineers run their offense around tailback Noel Devine, who could be considered one of the best in the nation. However, the offense runs flat in the middle of the game, only managing 16 yards total in the second and third quarters in the season finale against Rutgers. They need to establish momentum in the second and third quarters if they are to win this game. The key in the West Virginia defense is safety Robert Sands, who leads the team with five interceptions.  In the battle of Bobby Bowden’s last two teams, I have to give the edge to the team he’s leaving right now.

Prediction: Florida State 30, West Virginia 24 in overtime.

 

Capital One Bowl: Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Louisiana State Fighting Tigers

            The Nittany Lions, while they rank fourth in the nation in scoring defense (with only under 12 points per game), do not have a win against a top 25 team this year. The problem here is the offense, which usually needs second-half sparks to beat teams. The line has been porous at times, leaving quarterback Daryll Clark unprotected. However, Clark rose up from the adversity, throwing for 23 touchdowns (to eight different receivers) and almost 2,800 yards this season. The offensive line needs to get together and protect Clark (he’s been sacked 14 times in 12 games this season) if they want to win this game.

            The Tigers share some similar woes on offense, ranking ninth in the SEC in passing (with only 180 yards per game). Because of some injuries to key running backs, they’ve only been able to produce 130 yards per game, only good enough for 11^th in the SEC. Because of that, they’ve had to lean on the defense, which allows only 16 points per game, good enough for third in the SEC. With the porous Penn State offensive line (which, surprisingly, only gave up 16 sacks all season), the Tigers’ defensive line will put some pressure on Clark, which they could conceivably do, and it could result in Tigers’ head coach Les Miles remaining undefeated in bowl games.

Prediction: LSU 10, Penn State 7 in overtime.

Rose Bowl: Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Oregon Ducks 

            The Buckeyes will have a long day defensively if they can’t stop Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli. He has thrown only five interceptions this season, but there is a bright spot for Ohio State: three of those have been in the last three games. If their defense, which is led by safety Kurt Coleman (who leads the team with five interceptions) and linebacker Ross Homan (who has four interceptions, including one that clinched the Rose Bowl berth), can get some pressure to Masoli, it should be a long day for the Ducks. Combine that with dangerous (with his feet as well as his arm) quarterback Terrelle Pryor, and everything should come up roses for Ohio State.

            The Ducks lead the Pac-10 in rushing yards, with 236 per game, which is also good enough to rank sixth nationally as well. Led by running back LaMichael James, they have a penchant for running over defenses touted as “impenetrable,” for lack of a better word. They will face a high powered defense that ranked fifth in total defense, rushing defense, and points allowed. With the return of LeGarrette Blount at the end of the season after his shameful fight in the season opener, this Oregon offense looks better than ever.

            This will be a great game, with Oregon taking the Roses home by a slight margin.

Prediction: Oregon 49, Ohio State 48.

 

Allstate Sugar Bowl: Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Florida Gators

            The Bearcats have been the darling of the media and the BCS, but that may be tarnished slightly before this game. Head coach Chip Kelly unceremoniously left the team for Notre Dame only days after Cincinnati grabbed their second consecutive Big East championship. However, they have the weapons to get past that distraction. Their offense tops the nation in passing efficiency and is sixth in total offense, passing offense, and scoring offense. All that is led by quarterback Tony Pike, who has passed for over 2,300 yards and 26 touchdowns. When defenses key on main receiver Mardy Gilyard, Pike has some other options in wide receiver Armon Binns and tight end Ben Guidugli. If the two offenses click quickly,, this should be a great, high scoring game.

            Do we really need to say who leads the Florida Gators? Quarterback Tim Tebow is the emotional and physical leader of this team. He is dangerous not only with his great feet (he’s set records for rushing touchdowns, beating out some big-name running backs), but also his great arm. He also shows emotional leadership, proven by his display in the SEC championship game. I expect him to lead his team to a great game in New Orleans, but I expect that it won’t be enough to knock off the powerful Bearcats.

Prediction: Cincinnati 40, Florida 34 in four overtimes.

            There you have it: the New Year’s Day bowls. Will lowly Cincinnati continue their meteoric rise and knock off powerhouse Florida? Will the Florida State Seminoles send Bobby Bowden off on a good note and defeat West Virginia? Well, sit back, crack open your favorite beverage, and watch and see what happens!

The Return of Swami McMullen: McMullen’s Bowl Predictions Part 3

Lane Kiffin and quarterback Jonathan Crompton will be ready when Tennessee meets Virginia Tech in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl.

Here we are…the final so-called “minor” bowls before the big bowls start on New Year’s Day. Don’t tell these teams their bowl is minor, though…this is their time, and they’ll go all out to bring a trophy home to their respective colleges. Swami McMullen dusts off the crystal ball for the last time this year and brings you the final “minor” bowls of the bowl season.

Insight Bowl: Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Iowa State Cyclones

The Golden Gophers are on the way back from a 1-10 season, which they suffered in 2007. They are also trying to exact a little bit of redemption at the Insight Bowl, after dropping a 31-point lead against Texas Tech in 2006, to lose by a field goal. For the Gophers to get that sweet redemption, they need to shore up their offense (after switching to a new offensive set, they slowly devolved to the worst offense in the Big Ten), and establish a viable option at running back (they tried three running backs over the course of the season, but never found a viable starter). This will also be a quarterback battle for next season, as Adam Weber has looked inconsistent all season, and backup MarQueis Gray is nipping at his heels. If the offense comes in clicking, the Gophers could pull off the victory.

The Cyclones, like Minnesota, are trying to rebound from a dismal season. The Cyclones finished 2-10 in 2008. They run a more reliable offensive attack, similar to the offense Minnesota sees all season: using their offensive line and running backs to try and win the game in the trenches. However, in a mirror opposite of Minnesota’s problems, the defense is the problem for Iowa State. The key to this defense will be linebacker Jesse Smith. He leads the Big 12 in tackles, and needs to have a big game in order for Iowa State to pick up the victory. In all honesty, this is a game where you have to pick the lesser of two evils. Iowa State has a good offense, but a bad defense, and that will be the difference in this game.

Prediction: Minnesota 30, Iowa State 6.

Chick-Fil-A Bowl: Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Tennessee Volunteers

This is a story of two very good rushing teams, as the Hokies and Volunteers both have very good rushing attacks. Running back Ryan Williams has taken some of the onus off of quarterback Tyrod Taylor. The offense as a whole has found balance as Taylor has become more comfortable throwing the ball deep (averaging 17 yards per completion). The defense is suffering slightly, as linebacker Zach Luckett blew out his knee in the regular season finale and will miss the bowl game and spring practice. If the defense, led by defensive ends Jason Worilds and Nekos Brown and linebacker Cody Grimm, can blow out the SEC leader in sacks, they should make this a very good game.

The Volunteers have two major distractions dogging them on their way to Atlanta: the college is under investigation for recruiting violations by head coach Lane Kiffin. On top of that, two assistants are leaving for Florida State and LSU. However, quarterback Jonathan Crompton has blossomed as the starter, taking some of the pressure off of running back Montario Hardesty. Once Crompton turned into a reliable quarterback, the receiving game took off as well, led by wide receivers Gerald Jones and Denarius Moore. If they play like they’ve been playing all year, they should make the short trip back to Rocky Top with a Chick-Fil-A trophy in their overhead bins.

Expect a low-scoring defensive battle, with Crompton leading the Volunteers to a victory.

Prediction: Tennessee 10, Virginia Tech 7.

International Bowl: South Florida Bulls vs. Northern Illinois Huskies

It could be believed that the Bulls backed into this bowl, losing five of their last seven games after starting the season 5-0. The defense, ranked third in the Big East, is the key for South Florida. Led by defensive end George Selvie, the Bulls led the league in pass defense, allowing almost 200 yards per game. However, they’ve only produced 25 sacks in the meantime, only good enough for second to last in the league. This is Selvie’s final game, and if he wants to make a good impression for NFL teams, he needs to step up and win in Toronto.

The Huskies have established the Mid-American Conference’s best rushing game, and they will face a very tough test in one of the stingiest defenses in the Big East. They also have a good scrambling and passing quarterback in Chandler Harnish, who overcame a knee injury to lead the Huskies to two close losses to end the season. The defense exceeded expectations after losing a bunch of seniors, allowing only 21 points and less than 330 yards per game. They are led by defensive end Jake Coffman, who leads the team in tackles for loss and sacks. They say that defense wins championships, and given the explosive state of the Huskies’ defense, I give this one to Northern Illinois.

Prediction: Northern Illinois 27, South Florida 10.

Papajohns.com Bowl: Connecticut Huskies vs. South Carolina Gamecocks

The Huskies come into this bowl losing their five games this season by a total of 15 points. They are also extremely motivated after the death of one of their teammates, Jasper Howard. They are exceptionally strong on both aspects of the offense, led by quarterback Zach Frazer. However, it seems that the passing game is slightly behind the running game, so if the Gamecocks stop the run and force Frazer to pass, it could be a long day for the Huskies. The defense needs to step up in the wake of Howard’s death and linebacker Greg Lloyd’s injury if they want to win this game.

The Gamecocks are still being praised for their great performance against Clemson, where they rushed for 223 yards. However, that rushing attack is far from perfect, as they finished last in the SEC. They more than make up for it, however, with their defense, which ranked 15th in the nation and only third in the SEC (behind BCS contenders Florida and Alabama). They will be in a fight against UConn, who averages 32 points per game. They are led by linebacker Eric Norwood, who just needs one more tackle for loss to move into fifth all-time in the SEC in that category. If Norwood steps up to stop the running game and forces Frazer to pass, the Gamecocks will win this game, and that’s the way it will be.

Prediction: South Carolina 48, Connecticut 20.

AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic: Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. Ole Miss Rebels

The Cowboys usually have a true balanced defense, mixing run with pass in a perfect blend of offensive attacks. Star quarterback Zac Robinson is truly the key to the Cowboy offense; as he goes, so goes the team. With the suspension of wide receiver Dez Bryant, a new go-to receiver has sprung up in Hubert Anyiam. The running game is led by a very good duo in running backs Keith Toston and Kendall Hunter. The offensive line must give Robinson enough time to make a play if they are going to leave Arlington with a Cotton Bowl victory.

The Rebels have relied on quarterback Jevan Snead a little too often this year. However, when he faltered, they did have a second option: running back Dexter McCluster. He is proficient in the rushing and receiving games. Where Snead has faltered this season (throwing 17 interceptions and only completing a little more than half his passes), McCluster has stepped up (only needing 15 yards to be a 1,000-yard rusher and 25 yards to be a 500-yard receiver). If the Oklahoma State defense learns how to stop both Snead and McCluster, it will be a long day for the Rebels.

Prediction: Oklahoma State 20, Ole Miss 3.

AutoZone Liberty Bowl: East Carolina Pirates vs. Arkansas Razorbacks

This is a second chance for the Pirates, after they frittered away a 13-point lead to Kentucky in last year’s Liberty Bowl, and they have the offense to get that sweet redemption they’ve been waiting for since last year. The offensive line has allowed only one sack in the last seven games (they went 6-1 in that span). The defense has forced at least one fumble in the last two-and-a-half seasons and has 19 takeaways in the last seven games. If they are able to take away Ryan Mallett’s passing game, this should be sweet redemption for the Pirates.

The Razorbacks’ offense is led by sophomore quarterback Ryan Mallett, who has flourished since his transfer from Michigan (he led the SEC in passing yards, with just over 300 per game). The running game is weak, only accumulating 136 yards per game, but Mallett more than makes up for it. The defense needs to step up to match the high-powered offense (the Razorback defense allows just over 400 yards per game), and I don’t think they can.

Prediction: East Carolina 46, Arkansas 24.

Valero Energy Alamo Bowl: Michigan State Spartans vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders

The Spartans are coming into the Alamo Bowl with a depleted passing attack. Star wide receivers B.J. Cunningham and Mark Dell have been suspended. This means that quarterback Kirk Cousins needs another option besides top choice Blair White. The defense has looked good against the run, but needs to step up and establish their passing defense. The key to that is linebacker Greg Jones. He will need to get to quarterback Taylor Potts if they want to win this game.

The Red Raiders have been able to spread out the ball this season, led by quarterback Taylor Potts. However, the offensive line has looked porous at times, allowing 30 sacks this season and has had teamwork issues. There is one bright spot: running back Baron Batch, who can give the offense balance by pulling off a good work day in the backfield. The defense is also pretty good, giving up only 21 points per game, which is pretty good for a Big 12 team. They are led by defensive end Brandon Sharpe. He should be able to get to Cousins most of the day and conquer the Spartans.

Prediction: Texas Tech 30, Michigan State 6.

GMAC Bowl: Troy Trojans vs. Central Michigan Chippewas

The Trojans have looked suspect on defense, giving up just about 140 yards rushing and over 400 yards total. They haven’t really played anybody of note, except for Florida, and they were crushed 56-6. The defense needs to step up big time if they want to win. Central Michigan is ranked 25th and looks really good lately. This could be a very long day for the Trojans if they don’t step it up on defense.

The Chippewas have to deal with a very big distraction concerning the future of head coach Butch Jones. Rumor has it Jones is a leading candidate to coach Marshall next year. However, they do have a great leader in quarterback Dan LeFevour. He has had a great career for the Chippewas, breaking all kinds of records. He is the key to the Central Michigan defense, and he will be able to lead them to a victory in Mobile.

Prediction: Central Michigan 40, Troy 10.

There you have it…the final bowls before the major bowls start on New Year’s Day. Will the Spartans be able to overcome their passing woes to defeat Texas Tech? Will East Carolina be able to cap off another great year with another bowl victory? You’ll have to watch to find out!

Swami McMullen Strikes Again: McMullen’s Bowl Predictions: Part 2

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney leads Clemson into the Music City Bowl against Kentucky.

The Bowl season is in full swing, already with some big upsets and some locks that lived up to expectation. Now, we move into the next week of bowls, which feature some high-caliber teams and some teams that just barely made it in. Will we see some big upsets this week? Swami McMullen looks into the crystal ball once more to look at the second week of bowl games!

Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl: Kentucky Wildcats vs. Clemson Tigers

The Wildcats got some good news when quarterback Mike Hartline came back to practice after suffering a knee injury in October. This should open up the passing attack, considering that Hartline’s replacement, freshman Morgan Newton, only threw for just over 600 yards in seven starts. This should also make wide receiver Randall Cobb an even bigger threat, as he has more rushing yards than receiving yards (537, against 427 receiving yards). Combined with the “WildCobb” offense, Kentucky should be tough to beat en route to their fourth straight bowl victory.

The Tigers finished what was a promising season (combined with an impressive six-game winning streak) with two disappointing losses to a middle-of-the road South Carolina team and resurgent Georgia Tech. It seems that the offense and special teams both revolve around running back C.J. Spiller. While Kentucky should have a tough time stopping him (they average just over 180 yards a game, good for 100th nationally), one marquee running back does not a team make. Once Kentucky learns how to shut down Spiller, the rest of the Tigers could fall apart. The Wildcats win this one going away, but it’s a lot closer than the score suggests.

Prediction: Kentucky 35, Clemson 20.

Advocare V100 Independence Bowl: Texas A&M Aggies vs. Georgia Bulldogs

The Aggies stumbled into the Independence Bowl, following a promising three-game winning streak by losing six of their last nine. There was some promise, as they took Championship Game participant Texas down to the wire before losing by 10. Quarterback Jerrod Johnson is being touted as a Heisman front runner. However, if they want to win this game, they need to protect him, and SEC defenses are well-known for being stingy and tenacious.

Georgia parlayed a disappointing loss in the season opener to Oklahoma State into an embarrassing 7-5 record and a third-place finish in the SEC East. They also had some tragedy this season, as Uga VII died the day before their game against Kentucky. The key for the Bulldogs will be the running game, as they will try to establish that against a semi-porous A&M run defense (allows almost five yards per carry). Big 12/SEC matchups are well-known for being close, high scoring games, and this will be no different. Georgia wins this one, but never fear, Aggieland: Texas A&M should come back next season even stronger.

Prediction: Georgia 40, Texas A&M 28.

EagleBank Bowl: UCLA Bruins vs. Temple Owls

The Bruins needed help getting into this bowl, needing Army to lose in the Army/Navy game for them to get in. If they want to win this game, they need to get tougher on special teams. They’re facing the 10th best return team in the nation, while they are only 112th in defending on special teams. Their offense has sputtered as of late, but they outperform their opponents with their athleticism and endurance. To pull off the upset against the upstart Owls, they will need that superior athleticism to outlast them and finish them off when it matters: in the fourth quarter.

The Owls have a game plan from their most famous alumni: comedian Bill Cosby, who told Temple to “…take them on open boat rides across the Delaware in horizontal snow without top coats and hats.” They might not need to do that, since they have one of the best tailback duos in the nation: “Bernie and the Bug,” also known as starting tailback Bernard Pierce and Matt “The Bug” Brown. They also have an up-and-coming quarterback in Chester Stewart, who is only making his fifth start for the Owls. That inexperience might hurt them a little, but not enough to lose their first bowl game in 30 years.

Prediction: Temple 40, UCLA 30.

Champs Sports Bowl: Miami Hurricanes vs. Wisconsin Badgers

The Hurricanes have a very potent offense, led by quarterback, Jacory Harris. The receiving corps gets a lot of practice when he is on the field, as he spreads the ball around to all of them. The defense has to figure out a way to stop tailback John Clay. They only allow about 118 rushing yards per game, but they haven’t met a tailback like the 248-pound Clay. They’ll have their hands full in this game, especially if they give the passing game time to open up. If everybody’s clicking on all cylinders, Coach Randy Shannon will be able to enjoy the team’s third win in this bowl (in previous editions; the Micron PC Bowl in 1998 and the Carquest Bowl in 1996).

The Badgers face a very good quarterback in Harris, but their pass defense isn’t exactly great (ranking somewhere near the middle with a 128.7 efficiency rating on defense). However, where the Hurricanes have Harris, Wisconsin has Clay. He has run for almost 2,300 yards in only two seasons, including 884 yards as a redshirt freshman. If the line is able to protect quarterback Scott Tolzien so he has time to throw to tight end Garrett Graham, this should be a very good game.

Prediction: Wisconsin 20, Miami 7.

Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl: Bowling Green Falcons vs. Idaho Vandals

The Falcons clawed back into a bowl after starting the season 1-4, winning six of their last seven games to face a tough Idaho team. Bowling Green is no stranger to the blue turf of Boise State (where the game will be played), having played twice there and lost both times since 2005. De’Maundray Woolridge, Princeton McCarty, and Deonte Jackson could be considered the best running back trio in the nation, which could be a problem for the Falcons. Their run defense has been suspect at times, but has gelled together as of late. Time will tell which run defense came to Boise.

The Vandals got some good news when they got to Boise: starting quarterback Nathan Enderle is expected to start in Idaho’s first bowl game in 11 years after sitting out the season finale with a shoulder injury. This could open up the pass game and take the pressure off of the triumvirate of Woolridge, McCarty, and Deonte Jackson. Bowling Green has allowed almost 200 yards on the ground, and that bodes well for the Vandals. I expect them to sack Boise and bring to the Kibbie Dome the spoils of war: their first Bowl trophy in 11 years.

Prediction: Idaho 35, Bowling Green 10.

Pacific Life Holiday Bowl: Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Arizona Wildcats

The Cornhuskers have looked absolutely abysmal on offense lately, accumulating only 106 yards in the Big 12 Championship Game. However, the defense, led by Heisman finalist Ndamukong Suh, has more than made up for it, ranking ninth in the nation in total defense (allowing just under 285 yards per game). There will be some measure of revenge for the Huskers, if they win this game: these two teams met in the same bowl 11 years ago, with the Wildcats coming away with the 23-20 victory. However, the offense has to step up if they are going to win this game, because while defense wins championships, a team cannot win by defense alone.

The Wildcats’ running game got a much needed boost when they found out that running back Nic Grigsby, who missed seven of the nine conference games with a shoulder injury, will play in the game. This gives quarterback Nick Foles another option aside from star wide receiver Juron Criner. The defense has been great this year, especially defensive end Ricky Elmore, who led the Pac-10 with 10.5 sacks. The Huskers offensive line must be ready for that rush, and more than likely, they will be, having to face such dominating defenses in the Big 12. It will be a close game, with the Huskers exacting their revenge for eleven years ago.

Prediction: Nebraska 38, Arizona 35 in overtime.

Bell Helicopters Armed Forces Bowl: Houston Cougars vs. Air Force Falcons

The Cougars look to make it two in a row against the Falcons in the Armed Forces Bowl , as they won last year’s game. It certainly looks like they can pull off another victory, as they are ranked first in the nation in total yards (581 yards per game) and passing (450 yards per game), and second in scoring with almost 44 points per game. They also have one of the best quarterbacks in the nation in Case Keenum, who leads the nation himself in three categories (total offense, passing, and touchdown passes). Combine that with wide receiver James Cleveland, who is second in the nation in catches per game, and the Falcons will have a tough time keeping up with the Cougars.

If anybody on Air Force can ground Keenum’s passing game, it will be the cornerback duo of Anthony Wright Jr. and Reggie Rembert. They combined for seven interceptions on the year and gave quarterbacks in the Mountain West nightmares en route to the best passing defense in the nation. The Falcon defense, as a whole, ranked tenth in the nation in total defense (allowing just less than 285 yards per game) and ninth in scoring defense (allowing just over 15 points per game). If they are able to establish the run (Houston is ranked 112th in rushing defense, allowing under 215 yards per game), they should be able to tame the Cougars, but I don’t think it’ll be enough.

Prediction: Houston 40, Air Force 20.

Brut Sun Bowl: Stanford Cardinal vs. Oklahoma Sooners

The Sooners’ record tells the story, as injuries have depleted the Oklahoma roster. The biggest loss was Heisman-winning quarterback Sam Bradford (shoulder surgery). Their offensive line hasn’t fared any better, losing three players for the season and losing three others for long terms. If Oklahoma wants to win their first season finale in four years, they need their defense to follow up a big day against Oklahoma State, where they shut down powerful quarterback Zac Robinson. If the bench steps up and fills the holes the injured players left, the Sooners will make the short trip back to Norman with a Sun Bowl trophy in tow.

The Cardinal’s defense has been suspect at times, but they’ve more than made up for it with their offense over the course of the season. However, that offense might also be depleted as quarterback Andrew Luck had an unlucky injury on his throwing hand which required surgery. Head coach Jim Harbaugh has not ruled out Luck for the game, but has backup Tavita Pritchard on standby, just in case. If Luck can’t go, they still have an extremely potent weapon in Heisman candidate tailback Toby Gerhart. One Heisman candidate does not a team make, but it sure does help. I expect Gerhart to run wild over the depleted Sooner defense and ride off into the sunset with the Sun Bowl victory.

Prediction: Stanford 24, Oklahoma 7.

Texas Bowl: Missouri Tigers vs. Navy Midshipmen

The Tigers need to step up defensively if they want to keep up with the Naval Academy. They allowed Kansas quarterback Todd Reesing to throw for almost 500 passing yards. However, they face a Midshipmen team that has only thrown 89 passes all season. The offense is really good, flattening defenses in their last three games (Kansas State, Iowa State, and Kansas) for an average of just over 500 yards. However, the offense sort of revolves around quarterback Blaine Gabbert, who suffered a sprained ankle during the season. If he’s healthy, this should turn out to be a great game.

The Midshipmen run a non-traditional triple option attack, which has been confusing most of the defenses they’ve come up against. That attack has been led by quarterback Ricky Dobbs, who already owns the record for rushing touchdowns in a season with one game to go. They go up against a formidable Missouri rush defense that has allowed less than 100 yards per game. The key for the Middies will be the offensive line, to keep that triple option from getting dismantled. Missouri wins this one, as Harry Doyle once said: “in a squeaker, and that’s with two e’s.”

Prediction: Missouri 27, Navy 21 in two overtimes.

There you have it: week two of the Bowl Season. Will the Naval Academy’s triple option fool the Missouri Tigers? Will Georgia avenge the loss of UGA VII and defeat Texas A&M? Tune in to week two of the bowl season to find out!

Let the Games Begin: McMullen’s Musings’ Bowl Predictions, Part 1

BYU Coach Bronco Mendenhall faces a big test in the Las Vegas Bowl against Oregon State.

After weeks of bickering and complaining about how their team got shafted, the bowl season is finally upon us. The first half of the season is usually overlooked, because it is viewed by most as meaningless. Having said that, who gets a supposedly “meaningless” trophy? McMullen’s Musings dusts off the old crystal ball to review and predict the first half of the Bowl season.

New Mexico Bowl: Fresno State Bulldogs vs. Wyoming Cowboys

                The Cowboys edged into Albuquerque with a one-point win over a miserable Colorado State team. They need to shore up their defense, which has allowed 38 touchdowns (to the offense’s 21) and 396 total yards (almost 100 yards more than the offense) if they hope to being home a trophy for the first time in five years.

                The Bulldogs ended their season with an exciting 53-52 victory over a lackluster team in Illinois and made their tenth bowl in eleven years. However, they face one big distraction before then. Head coach Pat Hill’s has been mentioned for several coaching openings, including Mountain West middle-of-the-road team UNLV. It shouldn’t be hard for the Bulldogs to dominate the Cowboys’ rushing defense (ranked 91^st in the nation), face down the distraction of Coach Hill’s possible departure, and make up for the embarrassing loss to Colorado State in the same bowl last year.

Prediction: Fresno State 45, Wyoming 10.

St. Petersburg Bowl: Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs. Central Florida Golden Knights

                One could make the argument that the Scarlet Knights backed into this bowl, losing two of their last three games, including a painful 31-13 loss to Big East cellar-dweller Syracuse. When they have a week off, however, they seem to come alive, winning to Texas Southern and South Florida by a combined score of 73-0. They have a week off before playing Central Florida. Can they use the week off to get their fourth straight bowl victory?

                The Golden Knights went on a tear in Conference USA play, winning six straight and dismantling Conference USA West division champion Houston. They have a potent offense, racking up 400 total yards in four of their last six games. This should be a big deal against a Rutgers defense that has faltered against the top-tier teams they have played. This should be a really close game, with the Golden Knights avenging their close bowl losses of 2005 and 2007 and winning their first bowl in team history.

Prediction: Central Florida 41, Rutgers 35 in overtime.

 

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl: Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles vs. Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders

                The Golden Eagles make their second straight trip to New Orleans after winning two of their last three to make it there. The offensive line will be a key factor, as they have only given up 16 sacks this year and are partially responsible for making the Golden Eagles 19^th in the nation in scoring (33 points per game). The defense is even better; they are ranked 12^th in the nation in sacks and 22^nd in tackles for a loss. It’ll be tough against a team that averages over 400 total yards per game, but they’ve shut bigger teams (likeVirginia) down before.

                The Blue Raiders went on a tear from mid-October to the end of the season, winning six straight games by an average of 22 points. Two of their three losses this season were to teams that made a bowl themselves (Clemson and Troy), but in those three losses, they lost by 23, 24, and 21, respectively. Facing the high-scoring Golden Eagles, Middle Tennessee State will have to play four quarters of hard-nosed football if they want to come home with a victory. Unfortunately, against Southern Mississippi’s defense, that doesn’t look very likely.

Prediction: Southern Mississippi 20, Middle Tennessee State 3.

 

MAACO Las Vegas Bowl: BYU Cougars vs. Oregon State Beavers

                The Cougars make their way to Las Vegas for the fifth straight time. This time, it should be a great game, as they play one of the front-runners for the Pac-10 title this year in the Oregon State Beavers. The teams last played in 1986, when BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall played there in a 10-7 victory for Oregon State. BYU will be looking to exact a measure of revenge for that game, and they have to perfect guy to lead them there in Mendenhall.

                The Beavers make their second trip to Las Vegas this year (as does BYU), as they defeated home team UNLV on a last second field goal. They do bring a lot of weapons to the table, the biggest being running back Quizz and James Rodgers (no relation). These two have set school records in their respective positions. They were dangerous against Oregon, and could be even more dangerous in Las Vegas

This will come down to a game of defense, and I believe Bronco Mendenhall will have his team fired up to play…and win.

Prediction: BYU 30, Oregon State 17.

 

SDCCU Poinsettia Bowl: Utah Utes vs. California Golden Bears

                The Utes’ three losses this season have all come to ranked teams (Oregon, TCU, and BYU) by an average of 12 points. They lost one of their best players in running back Matt Asiata (ACL tear) early on in the season, yet they still managed to win nine games for only the eighth time in team history. Early reports say that the Utes will be completely healthy for the game, which gives them a very good chance to extend their nation-leading bowl winning streak to nine. 

                After two big victories against ranked teams (Arizona and Stanford), the Golden Bears fell apart in an embarrassing 42-10 loss to Washington. They also have to deal with the fact that they might not be playing with their best player, tailback Jahvid Best (concussion). His replacement, Shane Vereen, looked very good in his first two games, but was insignificant against Washington, running for less than 100 yards.  Against a Utah defense that only allows an average of 141 yards a game, it’ll be hard for California to snap Utah’s bowl winning streak.

Prediction: Utah 29, California 7.

 

Sheraton Hawaii Bowl: Southern Methodist Mustangs vs. Nevada Wolf Pack

                The Mustangs are making their first bowl appearance in 25 years, and head coach June Jones is making his first appearance in Honolulu since leading Hawaii to a BCS bowl. While it may not look that good from the outset, the Mustangs are ranked 28^th in passing average, which should give them a fighting chance in this one, especially if they can keep their defense off the field (ranked 88^th in total defense)

                The Wolf Pack started the season 0-3, and then went on a tear, winning eight straight games before running into the powerhouse that is Boise State. If they want to win this game, they are going to have to shore up their passing defense, which gave up five touchdowns against Boise State. They are ranked near the bottom in pass efficiency defense and dead last in pass defense. That will be the difference in this game, as SMU quarterback Kyle Padron leads a great pass offense to their first bowl victory since 1984

Prediction: SMU 45, Nevada 27.

 

Little Caesars Pizza Bowl: Marshall Thundering Herd vs. Ohio University Bobcats

                The Herd are facing their seventh bowl since joining the FCS and their first Battle for The Bell against rival Ohio since they were both members of the MAC in 2004. However, they will be doing it with an interim coach. After the Herd’s embarrassing 52-21 season finale loss to UTEP, head coach Mark Snyder resigned from the team, leaving defensive coordinator Rick Minter in his stead, and Doc Holliday waiting in the wings to take over. This means possibly having to learn an all-new philosophy in a little less than a month. However, Marshall received some good news when they found out 1,000-yard rusher Darius Mitchell (sprained ankle) will probably play after missing the last two games, along with some key blockers. Will it be enough to bring the Bell to Huntington?

                The Bobcats are seeking their first bowl win in program history, losing their last three. They have the defense to do it, which has only allowed 21 points per game and leads the nation in turnovers forced. They face the unstoppable force of Mitchell, but they have an immovable object of their own—middle linebacker Noah Keller. Whoever wins this battle will win the day in Detroit. With Mitchell just coming back from injury, I’m giving this one to the Bobcats, but it’s close.

Prediction: Ohio 31, Marshall28 in overtime.

 

Meineke Car Care Bowl: North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Pittsburgh Panthers

                The Tar Heels’ defense has a big job in stopping Pittsburgh’s marquee running back, Dion Lewis. He ranks among the nation’s best in not only carries, but also yards gained. They also need to try to stop the Panthers’ pass attack, which has two big weapons in receiver Jonathan Baldwin and tight end Dorin Dickerson. However, the defense has some credentials as well: they rank sixth in the nation overall and ninth against the rush. If North Carolina can take away the other part of the Pittsburgh offense, they should have no problem winning this game.

                The Panthers’ defense leads the nation in sacks, which means that the North Carolina offensive line must take special precautions to protect quarterback T.J. Yates. The Pittsburgh offensive line must be able to open up holes for Lewis, because as he goes, so goes the team. This is a big job for both teams in the trenches, and this is where the game will be won or lost. I give the edge to North Carolina, because close losses to West Virginia (19-16) and Cincinnati (45-44) exposed some holes in that line, and that doesn’t bode well for Jimmy Johnson student Dave Wannstedt against his Johnson colleague, Butch Davis (both of them worked under Johnson at Oklahoma State, Miami and the Dallas Cowboys).

Prediction: North Carolina 38, Pittsburgh 20.

 

 

Emerald Bowl: Boston College Eagles vs. Southern California Trojans

                The Eagles are looking good heading into this bowl, as they have already exceeded expectations this season (they were expected to finish dead last in the ACC). The offense has been less than spectacular, but with a freshman (David Shinskie) at quarterback, the Eagles can only get better. Their defense has more than made up for it, however, ranking in the top 60 in most defensive categories. If running back Montel Harris lives up to his accomplishments this year (over 1,300 yards and 13 touchdowns)against the unimpressive USC front seven, the Eagles should fly high.

                The Trojans have looked absolutely horrible these past few weeks, and it’s believed that they have, in the words of famous chef Gordon Ramsay, “shut it down.” They’ve lost three out of their last five, and to say that their egos are bruised would be an understatement. They tried to transition from phenomenon quarterback Mark Sanchez to true freshman Matt Barkley, and that didn’t work out as they had hoped. The defense is a shambles, but that’s to be expected when you lose eight starters from last year. Combine the fact that they have a laundry list of injuries, and this marks the fall of the Trojan Empire, and it continues with a loss in San Francisco.

Prediction: Boston College 28, USC 3.

There you have it…the first half of the bowl season. Who will emerge victorious? Who will end the season on a low note? Tune in to the games to find out!

Stay tuned for Part Two coming at the end of this week or the beginning of next week!

Killing the National Pastime: Five Reasons Why Bud Selig is the Worst Commissioner in Sports History

Bud Selig: Commissioner or Joker? You decide.

As the head of a major sports league, you’re the person fans, players, and officials depend on to make the big decisions. Unfortunately, sometimes those big decisions backfire, and the backlash is so great, the embarrassment seems insurmountable. However, sometimes you make majorly stupid decisions that define your career. Nowhere is that more apparent than in Major League Baseball and their commissioner, Bud Selig. What follows are five reasons I believe that Bud Selig will go down in history as the worst commissioner in sports:

All-Star Game Stupidity: If anything, this is the biggest reason why Selig should hang his head in shame. Not only did he call the 2002 All-Star game a tie (much to the anger and disdain of the Milwaukee fans, a team he once owned), he turned right around and decided, in his infinite wisdom, that starting the next year, the winning league would get home-field advantage in the World Series.

As much as I’ve loved the tour of American League ball parks (the AL has won every single game since the rule change), this should not be the deciding factor in who gets the home field in the World Series.

None of the other leagues use their all-star game as a way to decide which league gets the home-field advantage. They use a little thing called…what’s the word…a won-loss record! If you win more games than your championship game opponent, you are the home team. That’s all you need to figure this thing out, not a midseason game that shouldn’t mean anything anyway.

Pete Rose: Yes, I know Rose gambled on baseball, but if Selig was at least willing to listen to some semblance of reason, we wouldn’t be having this debate. He’s flip-flopped so many times on the issue (as quickly as 24 hours later, which happened earlier this year), that most supporters of Rose’s reinstatement concede that it won’t happen until at least 2012 (when Selig is reported to retire).

Rose has said he has never bet against his team, and never would.  He believed in his team enough to wager his hard-earned money for them. But Selig, genius that he is, keeps dragging his feet on the issue as the cries get louder to reinstate him. Meanwhile, the time to get Rose’s face into Cooperstown gets shorter and shorter (he can’t be voted in by regular ballot anymore; he has to get in through the Veterans’ Committee).

Rose is already in the WWE Hall of Fame for his contribution there…why can’t he come back to the game he loved so much and have his bust in Cooperstown?

Extending the Season into November: Look, when I was little, the baseball season began in April, sometime around my birthday, and ended in October, and that was it. Now, it goes into November, when people are done with baseball and are already embroiled in football.

The only reason I can see that Selig did this was to increase the ratings, and that just isn’t right. People already don’t care about baseball in November, because most of their favorite football teams are mired in a playoff race. If Selig wanted to do the right thing to increase ratings, he should have shortened the regular season by at least 50-60 games, because after 162 games, even the most diehard fan is bored with the season and just wants to move on to the next sport, especially if there’s no chance of their team making the playoffs.

One thing is for sure: nobody wants to watch baseball while they’re having Thanksgiving dinner.

Lesson In Futility #1- The World Baseball Classic: This was an absolutely ridiculous idea for three reasons.

The first reason is attendance.  For both years, in the first two rounds, attendance averages in at slightly fewer than 20,000 people. This number might seem misleading, but considering what I saw in this year’s Classic, believe me, it isn’t.  They barely have enough people in the stadium to constitute a good wave, much less post a sellout. Show of hands…how many people knew that the Dutch national team (who had all of one all-star) beat the Dominican Republic national team (who has a whole team of all-stars)? I didn’t think so.

The second reason kind of correlates with the first reason, and that is the venues in which these games are being played. They almost got it right this year, when they decided to play a couple of them in Major League ballparks (and the Tokyo Dome). But why not play a couple of the games at Yankee Stadium or Fenway Park, where most of the baseball fans congregate (for obvious reasons)? Most of the baseball fans in the world are either Yankee or Red Sox fans, so this might be their only opportunity to not only see their favorite players, but maybe see their team’s stadium as well.

The third reason is the teams that come to this thing. Yes, you’re going to have the usual teams, like the USA and Japan, because they can field a team of all-stars without even trying. But South Africa? Australia? The Netherlands? These are teams that are specialized in other sports besides baseball, and with the exception of the Netherlands (who won two), won all of one game. If you really want to put people in the seats for these things, at least put up some competition for Japan, Cuba, and the other teams that can field a team of all-stars.

Lesson in Futility #2- Transfer of the Montreal Expos: First, it was moving them down to Puerto Rico to play a few games, which they played miserably. That was a bad idea in itself, but then Selig had the gall to, instead of maybe expanding the league by two teams (including a possible team in Washington), move the Expos out of Montreal and into Washington, where it seems they’re playing even worse. The Expos were at least competitive when they were in Montreal; now it just seems that they’re mathematically eliminated even before the season starts.

With the exception of the All-Star game, this is the worst decision Selig has ever made. The Expos were at least competitive before the move, and now the new Nationals seem to look like the Angels in “Angels in the Outfield” (before the heavenly intervention).  They haven’t finished any better than .500 (in their first season) and haven’t finished higher than fourth in the NL East. This is a team that has obviously been destroyed by the move, and it wouldn’t have happened if Selig hadn’t meddled with a team by making another of his trademark bad decisions.

For those reasons, and many, many more, I can safely assert that Bud Selig is the worst commissioner ever to take on the title in sports history. Yes, he might have done some very good things (the imposition of interleague play, for example), but all of the ridiculous decisions he’s made far outweigh the good things he’s done. Selig should be ashamed of the way he’s run America’s Pastime, and that is why he will go down as the worst commissioner in sports, ever.