Just some quick thoughts from last night’s Little Caesar’s Bowl and then we’ll move on to today’s action. Western Kentucky interim Coach Lance Guidry decided to roll the dice and go for it on fourth and two at the Central Michigan 19 with his team down 24-21 with 51 seconds left in the game instead of kicking a 36-yard field goal which would have tied the game at the end of regulation and sent it into overtime. I didn’t mind Guidry going for it really, but I thought the play call was not too swift. Instead of just throwing a five-yard slant or just a button hook for five yards, quarterback Kawaun Jakes threw it 15 yards to tight end Jack Doyle, who played an excellent game, but couldn’t corral the pass ball as it fell just out of his reach. Guidry’s kicker, Garrett Schwettman, was one-for-three from 30-39 yards on the season. He was eight-for-eight from 20-29, so it was a tough call. I kind of like him going for it. Ball Coach always does that. He’d go for the win. Of course, he has Connor Shaw, Ace Sanders and Bruce Ellington playing for him among others on his offense. These guys are pretty good players, but not NFL players like Sanders and Ellington are. I just thought if you’re going to go for it, throw a shorter pass, get the first down, then get serious about getting it into the end zone. Complete it and keep the drive going. Maybe Jakes made the wrong read. But Doyle was the team’s top receiver, so he was probably the primary target. He was triple covered. Felt bad for Guidry. I liked his aggressiveness, just didn’t love the play call.
There was major laundry thrown by the ACC ref crew in the first two series last night. The David Epperley crew threw more laundry than the Aladdin Cleaners’ staff threw in their hoppers all day yesterday. It was a little bit obnoxious. But the teams settled in and so did the officials. It was a pretty fun game.
Here is a look at today’s contests. The Military Bowl has started but I have not looked at the score before I made this prediction.
Bowl Record: 5-3; Overall: 132-39
Military Bowl
Teams: Bowling Green (8-4) vs. San Jose State (10-2)
Where: RFK Stadium (46,000), Washington, DC
Time: 3 PM ET/2 CT today
Weather: 40 degrees, cloudy, 2o mph winds
Network: ESPN
Broadcast team: Bob Wischusen, Danny Kannell and Quint Kessenich
Line: San Jose State by 7 1/2
Analysis: San Jose State has a good football team. In their first game of the season, they lost just 20-17 to Stanford, and have beaten San Diego State ( 38-34), BYU (20-14) and La Tech (52-43). San Diego State just played in the Poinsettia Bowl against BYU (losing to BYU, 23-6) and La Tech finished 9-3, but didn’t make a bowl game. Are you kiddin’ me? La Tech should be in a bowl. That’s a travesty.
The Spartans have a high flying offense led by quarterback David Fales, who has completed 294-of-408 passes (72%), for 3,798 yards, 31 TDs and nine ints. Wide receiver Noel Grigsby leads the team with 73 receptions for 1,173 yards and nine TDs. Wide receiver Chandler Jones has 48 for 618 yards and 10 TDs. Running back De’Leon Eskridge has rushed for 992 yards and 10 TDs. They’ve got some pretty impressive numbers on defense as well though they’ve given up quite a few points in some games. Defensive end Travis Johnson has 19 tackles for losses of 106 yards and 12 sacks for 66 yards. Defensive tackle Travis Racili has 12 tackles for 41 yards lost and 7.5 sacks for 33 yards. Cornerback Bene Benwikere has seven ints.Bowling Green lost to Florida 27-14, pretty respectable, then lost to Va. Tech, 37-0, and the week before that lost to Toledo, 27-15. They have beaten some MAC teams, but nobody real impressive. But they have some good players. Running back Anthon Samuel has rushed for 966 and 10 TDs. Quarterback Matt Shilz has completed 212-of-378 (56.1%) passes with 14 TDs and 12 ints. Not real impressive numbers, but he has been effective at times. Defensive tackle Chris Jones has 19 tackles for losses of 100 yards and 12.5 sacks for 84 yards. Linebacker Gabe Martin has 8.5 tackles for loss of 46 yards and 4.5 sacks of 33 yards. Cornerback Jude Adjei-Barimah has four ints on the season.
The wind is blowing 20 mph, so that’s going to take away from the passing game some. I expect a good game, but I like the Spartans under interim coach Mike Caragher to get the job done. Their former coach, Mike McIntyre left for Colorado.
San Jose State 28, Bowling Green 20
Two other bowls:
Belk Bowl
Teams: Duke (6-6) vs. Cincinnati (9-3)
Where: Bank of America Stadium (73,298),Charlotte, NC.
Time: 6:30 PM ET/5:30 CT
Network: ESPN
Broadcasters: Mike Patrick, Ed Cunningham and Jeannine Edwards
Weather: 51 degrees, mostly sunny, wind at 5 mph
Line: Cincy by 8
Cincy lost Butch Jones to Tennessee so they’re also going with an interim also. The interim before Tubby takes over is Steve Stripling.This has to be the year of the interims. Still like the Bearcats to get it done over Duke. David Cutcliffe trying to build a winner at Duke. He’s getting closer.Hopefully Coach Cutcliffe can get it done at Duke. Very good coach and an awesome person.
Bearcats 42, Blue Devils 31
Holiday Bowl
Teams: UCLA (9-4) vs. Baylor (7-5)
Where: Qualcomm Stadium (71,.294), San Diego
Time: 9:45 PM ET/8:45 CT
Network: ESPN
Broadcasters: Dave Pasch, Brian Griese and Jenn Brown
Weather: 55 degrees, clear, wind at 4 mph
Line: UCLA by 3
Analysis: I’m a believer in Art Briles and what he does at Baylor. He’s an outstanding coach. UCLA is a good team, but Baylor beating Kansas State handily at home, made me a believer in Briles and his football program. After losing RGIII and many other good players last year, he came back and had a pretty decent season. Beating KState had to make the season. A bowl win would cap it off.
Baylor 37, UCLA 34
