Now that all the upsets have been made, and the SEC has dominated, the time has come to see who will win the big bowl games
Artwork by Kiera Classen
Lets just say my first BCS bowl prediction article was a miss (Honestly Nebraska, a loss to Northwestern at home?) Now that the season has panned out and teams like Oklahoma were, unfortunately, upset we see who will win the big BCS bowl games.
Sugar Bowl (Virginia Tech vs. Michigan): Both teams come into this bowl game with the at-large bids and did not win their Conferences. Both teams have excellent defenses where both have an average of 17.2 points scored against in a game. Both teams don’t pass the ball well, with Virginia Tech ranked 66th in the nation and Michigan ranked 90th, but they both are in the top 30 in rushing yards. Virginia Tech lost two times this year, and both times to Clemson; once in regular season and once in the ACC Championship game. Michigan also only lost twice, and to two passing teams; Iowa and Michigan State. Michigan scores quickly with quarterback Denard Robinson, who rushed and passed for over 1000 yards this year, and Virginia Tech can manufacture great drives, so look for some scoring in the middle part of the game.
Michigan may be vulnerable to the passing attack, but don’t look for Virginia Tech quarterback Logan Thomas (19 TDs, 2799 passing yards on the season) to do much against a well coached Michigan defense. The Call: Michigan wins 45-30
Tostitos Fiesta Bowl (Oklahoma State vs. Standford): This will be the highest scoring bowl game of the year, without a doubt. Oklahoma State is 2nd in passing offense, an average of 386 yards of passing per game, and has the best quarterback wide receiver tandem in the country with QB Brandon Weeden (4328 yards passing, 34 passing TD) and WR Justin Blackmon (113 Receptions, 1336 receiving yards, 15 receiving TD). The Oklahoma State Cowboys is 2nd in the nation for points scored with an average of 49.3 per game, and have put up 60 more than once. The Standford Cardinal has the best quarterback in the nation: Andrew Luck. Not only will he be the first in this year’s NFL Draft, but he also had a chance to win the Heisman finishing second in the voting. Luck fits the ball in tight throwing windows like I have never seen before, and rolls out and throws-on-the-run perfectly. He alone will put up enough points to beat just about any team.
The offenses of the Standford Cardinal and the Oklahoma State Cowboys will combine for over 1000 yards passing. It may come down to whose defense can stop whose offense first in a shootout like this, and that advantage lies with the Cardinal (23rd ranked defense). The Call: Standford 63-52.
Discover Orange Bowl (Clemson vs. West Virginia): Clemson shows a strong passing offense with 284 yards a game, and an average run offense with 155 yards a game. Their only losses this year have come when the offense was anemic and scored only 17 points or less. The quarterback of the Clemson Tigers Tash Boyd has 3578 passing yards and 31 passing touchdowns, and is a big threat to the West Virginia defense. Speaking of West Virginia, they play in this bowl game because they seemed to stumble upon the Big East title. This team has a bad defense, but a good passing attack. The running aspect of this team is terrible because they are ranked 100th nation, and don’t have a speed running back. Quarterback of West Virginia, Geno Smith (25 passing TDs, 3978 passing yards), will definitely keep his Mountaineer team in the game.
This game will be the biggest bore of the college football season. Clemson won the ACC, and comes into the game with a cold offense. West Virginia is on a hot streak, but has beaten some poor teams. It pains me that I have to watch this game. The Call: Clemson 23-21.
Rose Bowl (Wisconsin vs. Oregon): This will be the most interesting bowl to watch of the bunch. Wisconsin brings quarterback sensation Russell Wilson, Heisman finalist Montee Ball, and a defense that is ranked 4th in the entire nation. Ball has 1759 rushing yards, and 6.4 yards a carry average, and 32 rushing TDs on the season and proven to the nation he will run over anybody. Especially this Oregon defense, which is not strong on the defensive line, and a linebacking core that isn’t the greatest, but they bring a strong and quick offense. LaMicheal James (7.4 yards a carry average, 1646 rushing yards) is getting white hot when it matters. The Oregon offense is high octane and is so efficient, they have driven the length of the field in under two minutes at times.
Chip Kelley take too many risks for me, but it seems to work. As stated, Oregon has a quick offense, but its too quick. They won’t be able to have a long , sustained drive against this Badger defense. Wisconsin was in the Rose Bowl last year and came so close to winning. If Wisconsin has the ball at the end of the game, and has to run out the clock to win, they will do it. This game may hit overtime, and will be intriguing from start to finish. The Call: Wisconsin 37-30.
The BCS National Championship (LSU vs. Alabama): I thought about boycotting this game. How can a team get the number one ranked team in the nation at home, flop and lose the game, not win their conference much less their division, and still play for a National Championship? That is the Alabama Crimson Tide. Alabama has the best defense in the nation and can score points with running back Trent Richardson (Heisman Finalist, 1583 yds, 6 yards per rush average, and 20 rushing TDs). Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron (16 TD, 5 interceptions) is a game manager and won’t take big risk/reward plays down the field. He shouldn’t against this airtight LSU secondary. Leading the way is nickel cornerback Tyrann “Honeybadger” Mathieu, who makes game changing plays in special teams. In the SEC Championship game, he returned a punt return for a touchdown and broke the flood-gates open for LSU scoring. LSU also has defensive lineman Micheal Brockers (47 tackles, 2 sacks) and Sam Montgomery (9 sacks) to get Richardson down quickly in the back field.
LSU seems to have the better team, and will bring the better team. Mathieu will make a momentum changing punt return and get the narrow win for the Tigers. The Call: LSU 13-10.
