Beef O’Brady’s Bowl today
Beef O’Brady’s Bowl
Ohio Bobcats (7-5) vs. East Carolina Pirates (9-3)
Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Fl. (40,473)
2 PM ET/1 CT
ESPN
Broadcast team: Beth Mowins, Joey Galloway, Paul Carcaterra
Coaches: East Carolina: Ruffin McNeill (four years, 29-22; 1-2 in bowl games); Ohio: Frank Solich (nine years at Ohio; overall: 124-68, 4-6 bowl games)
Weather: Indoors, around 70 degrees
Refs: Mountain West Conference: Rick Loumiet, referee, Frank LeBlanc, side judge, Christopher Alston, back judge, Kevin Matthews, umpire, Matt Mills, side judge, Doug Moore, head linesman, Nick Lane, field judge, and Robert Wucetich, replay official.
Line: East Carolina by 14.5
East Carolina has had a good year but lost its final game to Marshall, 59-28, while Ohio defeated Marshall, 34-31, on September 14th. The Pirates are paced by junior quarterback Shane Carden (6’2″, 218), who has completed 358-of-504 passes (71% leads the country) for 3,866 yards (sixth in FBS) 32 touchdowns (eighth) and 1o interceptions. Tailback Vintavious Cooper (senior, 5’9″, 200) leads the ground game with 955 yards on 205 attempts (4.9 yds per carry) and 11 TDs. Junior wide receiver Justin Hardy (6’0″, 186) leads the team and is fifth in the nation in receptions with 105 for 1,218 yards and eight TDs.The Pirates defense is headlined by senior linebacker Derrel Johnson (6’2″, 264), who finished the regular season with 79 tackles, 13.5 for loss and 7.5 sacks. Senior safety Damon Magazu (5’11”, 204) leads the team in interceptions with four. He also was second on the team in tackles with 75. The Pirates average 40 points per game and give up 25.2.
The Bobcats average 28 points per game and give up 26.7. Senior signal caller Tyler Tettleton (6″0″, 207) has completed 209-of-331 passes (61%) for 2,633 yards with 20 TDs and nine interceptions. Beau Blankenship, a 5’9″, 206 pound senior, has rushed for 844 yards and five TDs. Wide out Donte Foster, a 6’1″, 205 pound senior, leads the team with 63 receptions for 858 yards and six TDs. Sophomore linebacker Ben Russell (6’1″, 230) is the team leader in tackles with 82 and has 7.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. True freshman defensive end Tarrel Basham leads the team in tackles for loss with 8.5 for -50 and sacks with 6.5 for -46. Senior cornerback Travis Carrie leads the defense in interceptions with four for 103 yards. He’s returned two for touchdowns.
Final Analysis:
I like the numbers for both of these teams. They’ve had good years on both sides of the ball. Interestingly, Ohio has won their last two bowls, the Independence Bowl over La. Monroe last year, 45-14, and the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl over Utah State two years ago, 24-23. East Carolina has lost their last four bowl games, the 2008 Liberty Bowl to Kentucky, 25-19, the 2009 Liberty Bowl to Arkansas, 20-17, the 2010 Military Bowl to Maryland, 51-20, and the the 2012 R+L Carrier Bowl to La. Lafaytette, 43-34. Their last bowl win came in 2007 over Boise State in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl, 41-38. In 2011, they finished 5-7. Even though the bowl numbers look better for Ohio, I like Shane Carden and the Pirates offense to get the job done here with their explosive play ability. I just don’t see Ohio, though they are a hard-working, blue collar, Rust Belt team, stopping this offense. Like the Pirates offensive arsenal to lead them to the Beef O’Brady’s trophy.
East Carolina 45, Ohio 30