Every day (or so) for the next month I will be previewing one of the upcoming college bowl games. I will give my thoughts on the teams playing, players to be on the lookout for, and a general overview of the bowl.

Normally most people would be very interested in a Big Ten vs. Big Twelve matchup, but I don’t know how many viewers the Alamo Bowl will draw. Iowas isn’t exactly in the top tier in the Big Ten and despite having a down year, this Texas team is still very good.

Iowa comes into the game with a 6-6 record, and not a very good one at that. They went 4-0 outside of the Big Ten, but put up an ugly 2-6 in conference record, including a loss to lowly Northwestern. The Hawkeyes at least have some form of offense, as they can usually rush the ball effectively. They platoon running backs Albert Young and Damian Sims who have combined for twelve touchdowns and 1300 yards this year. They are complimented by quarterback Drew Tate who has 2300 passing yards and 16 touchdowns. It is their balance that keeps opposing defenses off guard, and can allow for their success. The problem is, they don’t score nearly enough points. They can move the ball, but can’t always find the end zone and struggle with ball control at times. Tate has lobed up 12 interceptions and when your defense struggles at times, it is up to the offense to help them out. The Hawkeyes bring a three game losing skid into this one, and have lost five of their last six. They’re struggling to regain their winning ways, and facing Texas could make that tough.

Texas comes into the game with a talented offense that just finds ways to score. They are lead by freshman quarterback Colt McCoy, who is healthy and will play in the Alamo Bowl. McCoy has thrown 27 touchdowns, but only managed 2200 yards. They split carries between Jamaal Charles and Selvin Young, who have 1300 yards and 13 touchdowns between them. Again, this is a team that just finds ways to score, they may not rack up the yards on you, but they certainly will rack up the points. They are sixth in the nation in scoring and have averaged 36 points per game. This is helped by a stifling defense that has given up 17 points per game. It is your standard Texas team, put together a great offense with a good defense, and the offense will do well enough to keep the defense off the field for most of the game. This keeps them fresh and allows them to win most of the games they are in. The question for Texas is in their last two games. They started off the year 9-1 before losing their last two to Kansas State and Texas A&M, not exactly the best teams in the nation. Can Texas snap their skid?

The fact that this game is being played in Texas will only help the Longhorns. Let’s face it, their fans are crazy and if they don’t have to travel too far to cheer on their team, they will do it. They also happen to be the better team, so they shouldn’t have any problem taking down Iowa.

My Prediction: Texas Wins

Every day (or so) for the next month I will be previewing one of the upcoming college bowl games. I will give my thoughts on the teams playing, players to be on the lookout for, and a general overview of the bowl.

The Champs Sports Bowl could actually end up being a very good game. Purdue and Maryland will take on each other in this game for ACC-Big Ten supremacy.

Maryland comes in with an 8-4 record that is somewhat deceptive. They went 5-3 in the ACC which was certainly having a down year, and three of those wins came by a combined five points. I’m not trying to take anything away from them, but their record this year isn’t as impressive as it would have been a few years ago. They also have come into this game having dropped their last two, not exactly the high note they were looking to end their season on. They don’t have a whole lot of offense, barely averaging over 300 yards per game, and as a result rely heavily upon field position to score. Their quarterback Sam Hollenbach struggles to maintain possession of the ball, throwing 13 touchdowns while dishing out 11 interceptions. They do have two very good rushers in Lance Ball and Keon Lattimore, and they need to get going in order for this offense to be successful. There isn’t a whole lot to write about on the defensive side for the Terrapins. Since losing EJ Henderson and Shawne Merriman they don’t have a great defense, and are giving up more points than they are scoring, usually a formula for a losing season.

Purdue put together a pretty good season in the Big Ten, but were lucky enough to miss most of the big names in the conference. They missed both Ohio State and Michigan, but still managed to lose to the all four ranked teams they faced. A lot of this is because of their struggles on the defensive side of the ball. They’re almost the Indianapolis Colts of division one football, they simply struggle to stop the run. Luckily for them, they can score. They have two running backs who are both very good (Kory Sheets and Jaycen Taylor) and they have A quarterback who has 3700 yards passing and 21 touchdowns in Curtis Palmer. That is what Purdue has to rely on, their offense. Against Maryland that shouldn’t be too much of a problem. They are a streaky team, and while they ended the season with a loss to Hawaii, they had won the three games previous to that, so they will try to correct their ship against the Terps.

Despite Purdue avoiding some of the big names in the Big Ten conference, they still put together a pretty solid season. There is nothing to indicate that they won’t be able to continue that against Maryland in the Champs Sports Bowl.

My Prediction: Purdue Wins

Every day (or so) for the next month I will be previewing one of the upcoming college bowl games. I will give my thoughts on the teams playing, players to be on the lookout for, and a general overview of the bowl.

I thought that this used to be called the insight.com bowl, regardless, I still don’t know what Insight is. Even if I knew, I still couldn’t be excited for the game, this is two mediocre teams matching up against each other.

The Texas Tech team is lead by a dominant aerial attack at the hands of Graham Harrell. He may not have Colt Brennan numbers, but he does have over 4,000 passing yards, and has 36 touchdowns to go along with it. And he only has 10 interceptions, so his touchdown to interception ratio is very good. It is because of their success in the passing game that they don’t have to run too often. As a result, Shannon Woods hasn’t seen too many attempts this year, but has certainly made the most of them. He has found the end zone seven times, and averages over six yards per carry. Their passing game has kept them in most contests this season, because their defense certainly hasn’t. They give up points in bunches as well, so there really isn’t a big concern if they get involved in a shootout.

Minnesota brings a different style of play. They have an effective running game, that is supplemented by a ball control passing offense. Junior Amir Pinnix is the main rushing threat, having racked up over 1000 yards this season and scoring 9 times. Bryan Cupito is the man who leads them in the passing game, getting 2500 yards but lobbing up 8 interceptions compared to 19 touchdowns. The Golden Gophers 6-6 record is indicative of their struggles this year. They had a mid season slide, including squeaking out a 10-9 win over North Dakota State, not a good thing. They did finish the year strong, winning their last three, but they haven’t had any victories over any impressive teams.

The threat of the Texas Tech passing attack should keep them in this game even if Minnesota gets ahead early. We could see a shootout because neither team boasts much of a defense. If that happens, I look for Texas Tech to win this one.

My Prediction: Texas Tech Wins

Every day (or so) for the next month I will be previewing one of the upcoming college bowl games. I will give my thoughts on the teams playing, players to be on the lookout for, and a general overview of the bowl.

Nothing quite like a mid-major school being matched up against an SEC team in a bowl game. Especially when that mid major team won their conference, and that SEC team barely finished above .500, and were only 3-5 in their conference. The Liberty Bowl is giving us just that this year, South Carolina vs. Houston.

Houston comes into the game with a very good record at 10-3. The problem is, they play in Conference USA, and 7 of those 10 wins have come against Conference USA opponents. Not exactly the cream of the crop. Houston does have a good passing attack with Kevin Kolb at the helm. He has over 3400 yards passing and has found the end zone 27 times. In their running game they may have found someone special in Anthony Alridge. The 5′9″ junior has run the ball 85 times for an astounding 10.6 yards per carry average. They have him listed as a wide receiver, and I haven’t watched enough Houston football (and by that I mean any) to know whether they made a mid-season switch to get him at running back. While the Cougars defense isn’t that great, it really doesn’t have to be. They have a top 10 offense so they haven’t had to focus too much on defense. Their only game against a team of any note is against Miami, a game which they lost 14-13 against a Miami team that is having a very down year.

South Carolina has a deceptive 7-5 record this year. All five of their losses have come within the SEC this year, and all of them are against top ranked opponents. They did finish the year strong with two wins, dominating Middle Tennessee State, and then beating Clemson on the road to end the season. South Carolina has a very potent offense, bringing a well balanced attack. Quarterback Blake Mitchell has done fairly well this year, doing a good enough job of maintaining possession. They also have a good rushing attack lead by Cory Boyd and Mike Davis, who each average over 4.7 yards per carry. This is quite a different style from the fun n gun offense that we are used to seeing the prick Steve Spurrier run. I personally am glad of it, because we don’t have to see him running up the score on opponents any more, and they actually have a defense, which is another change. The South Carolina defense has held well this year, and have helped to keep every game close.

I think that Houston will struggle because they haven’t played in a tough conference at all. South Carolina has faced tough teams and really haven’t been blown out. They have proved that they can play with the big boys, something Houston hasn’t done. Spurrier should lead his squad to another victory in this one.

My Prediction: South Carolina Wins

Every day (or so) for the next month I will be previewing one of the upcoming college bowl games. I will give my thoughts on the teams playing, players to be on the lookout for, and a general overview of the bowl.

The first bowl game that is going to be televised by CBS will be the Brut Sun Bowl. This surprises me because CBS almost always has the SEC games, and yet they’ve elected to go with a Pac-10 vs Big 12 showdown. It isn’t quite as good of a matchup as the Holiday Bowl, but it’s pretty close.

Somehow Oregon State managed to get themselves into third in the Pac-10. This is a team that not many people were talking about at the beginning of the year, but they have come together and really put together a fine season. Their one non-conference loss was against an undefeated Boise State team. And their other losses have to come Pac-10 rivals Cal, Washington State, and UCLA. They handed USC their first loss of the year, and disposed of a potent Hawaii team in Hawaii in their last regular season game. The Beavers aren’t a team that will wow you with anything. They are solid in the running and passing game, and that is just enough to get bye. Yvenson Bernard is the workhorse of the offense logging 273 carries for 1200 yards, solid numbers, but not spectacular. Their defense is the same way. They just seem to get things done. They’ll hold the other team to just few enough points as to where they can win, and then rely on their offense to pick up their slack to get that win. This has been the successful formula so far this year, and it has gotten them to a 9-3 record and the Sun Bowl.

The Missouri Tigers boast one of college footballs best offenses, and will certainly be putting Oregon State to the test. They average over 400 yards per game, and can do it both through the air, and on the ground. Quarterback Chase Daniel has managed 3000 yards, and has teamed up with running back Tony Temple to give the team over 1000 yards rushing. They can move the ball with the best of them, and on defense they do fairly well at keeping the opposing team out of the end zone. The Tigers haven’t had quite as tough of a schedule as the Beavers have, as they managed to avoid most of the better teams in the Big 12. They did finish the season losing three out of their last four, not exactly the type of momentum you’re looking for headed into a bowl game. Their practices this week have been tainted by illness, that has struck at least 20 members of the team. If they can’t get healthy by Friday, the Tigers will be looking at an uphill battle.

I think that Oregon State is being overlooked this year. They have knocked off some very good teams, and when they want to, they can play with the best of them. The Missouri offense should prove quite the challenge for the Beavers defense, but I think they’re up to it.

My Prediction: Oregon State Wins

Every day (or so) for the next month I will be previewing one of the upcoming college bowl games. I will give my thoughts on the teams playing, players to be on the lookout for, and a general overview of the bowl.

The Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl features an unconventional SEC team against a middle of the road ACC team. It also gives everyone the perfect chance to have a nice immature snicker.

The Kentucky Wildcats come into the game with a run of the mill 7-5record. But coming out of the SEC, they also bring something that most SEC teams don’t. A passing game. The Wildcats have a great passing attack, but do next to nothing on the ground. They also don’t have an exceptional defense, basically they look like they belong in the Pac-10. This is definitely a team you don’t want to get into a shootout with. Quarterback Andre’ Woodson is very good, having over 3200 yards passing, along with 28 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions. He has done good things with this offense that often struggles to run the ball. The problem with the Wildcats lies in their struggles against good teams. Four of their five losses have come to teams that were ranked in the top 20 at the time Kentucky played them, and their fifth loss was against a resilient South Carolina team. They can certainly beat up on teams that don’t have the talent that they do, but against the better teams they struggle to matchup well. From this we can gather that their passing offense hasn’t had a whole lot of success in the SEC, and that the old adage is true; defense really does win championships.

Clemson has an absolutely dominant offense, that can seemingly explode on anyone for 30+ points. They have two main running backs in James Davis and C.J. Spiller who have combined for over 2000 yards, and their quarterback Will Proctor has thrown for over 2000 yards as well. Those three combined have 40 touchdowns, a very impressive number. But not only is their offense good, their defense seems to always stand strong, giving up a mere 15 points per game. This team too suffers from inconsistency, as they earned two wins against the teams that were ranked when they faced them (Georgia Tech and Florida State), but have lost to the likes of Maryland and Virginia tech. They do have two hard luck losses by one point each, but those are games that they need to find a way to win. It is what is keeping them out of a bigger name bowl.

Everything here points towards Clemson as being the far more dominant team. They boast one of the best offenses and defenses in division I, and even if they get into a shootout with Kentucky, they can probably outscore them.

My Prediction: Clemson Wins.