Birmingham Bowl, South Florida 46, South Carolina 39 OT

South Carolina freshman quarterback Jake Bentley brought the Gamecocks back on a furious comeback, but came up short at Legion Field. Down 39-24 in the fourth quarter, South Carolina scored 15 points including a touchdown and  two point conversion with less than a minute left, but Bulls quarterback Quinton Flowers threw a 25 yard TD pass in the first overtime and SC couldn’t get it in the end zone in what was a super game in the Magic City. Bentley finished 32- of- 43 for 390 yards, 3 sevens and two ints. His future looks extremely bright. Super wide receiver Deebo Samuel caught 14 passes for 190 yards and a 7. Flowers was just as superb if not more so. He completed 23 of 32 passes for 261 yards and 2 TDs and ran for 105 yards on 21 carries with three 7’s. He was unstoppable. He’s going to be a Heisman candidate next season. He’s like Vince Young all over again. Superb talent.

Belk Bowl, VA Tech 35, Arkansas 24

The Razorbacks took a 24-0 lead into halftime and looked like they were cruising, but Va. Tech made an amazing comeback and dominated the second half to pull away from Arkansas. Arkansas looked clueless in the second half. Don’t get me started on Bielema and the Razorbacks’ effort after halftime. It was “beyond pathetic” as Phil Mickelson said about his putting one time. Once the Hokies started coming back and getting all the momentum, Arkansas mailed it in. Starting to wonder about Bielema’s coaching ability. Terrible performance by the Razorbacks. Disgusting really. Bielema could be on the hot seat next year if these results don’t start getting better. 

Alamo Bowl, Oklahoma State 38, Colorado 8

Another pathetic performance. Colorado really limped home getting blasted by Washington in the Pac-12 championship and then getting destroyed by the Cowboys last night. Trying to find logic in these bowl preparations by some teams is like a neurosurgeon  trying to explain brain surgery to a five year old. It seems impossible at times. The Big Ten looks good. The ACC looks good. The Sun Belt is playing well. They’re 4-0. Everybody else is on spring break already. 

Today’s decisions

Liberty Bowl

Georgia (7-5) vs. TCU (6-6)

Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis (61,108)

11 AM CT/Noon ET

ESPN

Beth Mowins, Anthony Becht, Rocky Boiman

Yellow: Pac-12, Michael Batlan

The SEC is un-trustable right now at 1-4. There’s only one team I totally trust and that team plays tomorrow. But I still believe the conference can get it together. Like Kirby, Chubb, Michel and Eason to get the job done in the River City in an upset.

Dogs 35, TCU 30

 

Sun Bowl

No. 18 Stanford (9-3) vs. North Carolina (8-4)

Sun Bowl, El Paso, TX. 51,500

1 PM CT/2 PM ET

CBS 

Brad Nessler, Gary, Allie

Stripes: SEC, John McDaid

Christian McCaffrey not only sold his team down the river, he cost them a chance to finish out the season with a victory and gather momentum for 2017. Really, really disappointing decision.

UNC 35, Stanford 28

 

Music City Bowl

No. 24 Tennessee (8-4) vs Nebraska (9-3)

Nissan Stadium, Nashvegas, 69,143

2:30 PM CT/3:30 PM ET

ESPN

Tom Hart, Andre, Cole

Whistles: Pac-12, Michael Mothershed

I don’t really trust Butch, but I like his team here. Quarterback Joshua Dobbs and the Vols get it done in the Music City.

UT 42, Nebraska 31

 

Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl

South Alabama (6-6) vs. Air Force (9-3)

Arizona Stadium, Tuscon, AZ. (55,675)

4:30 PM CT/5:30 PM ET’

American Sports Network, Channel 68 B’ham

Refs: ACC, Jerry Magallanes 

The Sun Belt is 4-0 and the Jags beat Mississippi State on the road the first game of the season,l 21-20, and blasted San Diego State, the Mountain West champion, 42-24, in Mobile. Air Force is in the Mountain West and is a very solid, disciplined running machine averaging 323 yards per game on the ground, third in the country. But Air Force struggled with a more athletic Cal team last year in the Armed Forces Bowl losing 55-36, and while I have the utmost respect for the Academy, I’m going to trust Joey and the Jags in the desert.

South AL. 38, Air Force 35

 

Capital One Orange Bowl

No.6 Meechigan (10-2) vs No. 11 Florida State (9-3)

Hard Rock Stadium (sounds fun), Miami, FL. (65,326)

7 PM CT/8 PM ET

ESPN

Steve Levy, Grease, McShay

Laundry: SEC, Matt Austin

FSU’s Dalvin Cook has rushed for 1,620 yards and 18 TDs this season. He’s superb. But Michigan is second ranked in the country in total defense behind the Crimson Tide giving up just 252 total yards per game. And the Wolverines are 12th in the country in rushing defense allowing just 116 yards per game. They’re also second in the country in scoring defense, giving up only 12.5 points per game. The Crimson Tide also leads that category at 11.8.

Michigan defensive lineman Ryan Glasgow was asked by a media member if he’s enjoyed his experience in Miami so far, and he responded, “I’ve yet to see a bikini. All I’ve seen are dudes in football pads.” A reporter asked Jim Harbaugh if his players are a little disappointed they haven’t been to the beach, and Jim said, “I don’t have any thoughts on that.” 

It’s a business trip for the Wolverines. Like the focus. They want this game. I know FSU is serious too, Jimbo does a good job getting his teams prepared, but I like how homed in the Wolverines are for the first of the New Year’s Six bowls. Going with the business trip approach in South Beach.

James 28, FSU 24

 

Tomorrow

 “Play-offs! You wantta talk about the playoffs?”

Jim Mora didn’t want to at the time, but tomorrow is the time to get ready for some epic playoff ball featuring the No.1 Crimson Tide (13-0)  vs. the No.4 Washington Huskies (12-1) at 2 PM CT/3 PM ET @ the Peach Bowl in Hotlanta, and then, immediately afterwards,  the No.2 Clemson Tigers (12-1) kickoff with the No.3 Ohio State Buckeyes (11-1) at the Fiesta Bowl in Phoenix @ 6 PM CT/7 PM ET. Both games are on ESPN. Can’t wait. Full report-prediction in the AM.

Tonight’s Orange Bowl should be riveting as we rev up for the New Year’s Six Bowls and these spectacular playoff match-ups.  The rest of the New Year’s Six Bowls will be on Monday along with the t. The Cotton Bowl, pitting No. 15 Western Michigan (13-0) vs Wisconsin (10-3) starts off the Jan. 2nd bowls Monday at 12 PM CT/1 PM ET on ESPN. The Grandaddy of them all, the Rose Bowl, features No. 5 Penn State (11-2) squaring off with No. 9 USC (9-3). It’ll kickoff at 4 PM CT/5 PM ET on ESPN. And the Sugar Bowl featuring a healthy No.14 Auburn Tigers team (8-4) squaring off with a No. 7 Oklahoma (10-2) team that’s been pretty dysfunctional with the Joe Mixon assault videotape released three weeks ago, but possesses a high octane offense. The Tigers-Sooners kickoff Monday Night at 7 PM CT/8 PM ET on ESPN. AUaims to finish off the season on a highly positive note, then complete a successful recruiting year, which includes stud Baylor transfer quarterback Jarrett Stidham who will be ready to go in January, along with the 9th ranked class in the country at this point, and hyped up for a promising 2017.  Previews and predictions for AU and the two other Monday New Year’s Six games on Monday. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yesterday

Heart of Dallas Bowl

Army was a 10 1/2 point favorite over North Texas at the Heart of Dallas Bowl, but had to battle it out over former Alabama quarterback Alec Morris, who played a super game, and outlast the Mean Green in overtime, 38-31. 

Army showed their mental toughness and discipline in overtime when they were facing a 3rd and 8 on the North Texas 14. Army is not a passing team at all having only attempted 119 passes in 12 games, less than 10 per game, but quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw answered the bell completing a 10 yard pass to wide out Edgar Poe, as the poet/author pulled it in at the 6. Then facing a 4th and goal at the 2, Coach Jeff Monken elected to go for it instead of kicking a field goal which would have put the Cadets up by 3, but given North Texas a chance to get a six and win it. If they didn’t make it, the Cadets were in serious trouble. It was a brave decision. And it worked out well. Bradshaw faked a handoff to the fullback and ran it around right end for a seven, as Army took the 38-31 lead and held North Texas on downs to secure the victory. 

Morris, a senior, did play an excellent game for the Mean Green though,  completing 26-of-38 passes for 304 yards with 3 TDs and one int. But the Army defense stood tall in the overtime. Super game.

Military Bowl

Wake Forest used some explosive offense and good defense at times to knock off Temple, 34-26, at the Military Bowl in Annapolis. That was despite an outstanding comeback effort by Owls quarterback Phillip Walker and wide receivers Adonis Jennings and Ventell Bryant. Walker completed 28-of-49 passes for 306 yards, 2 sevens and an int. Jennings caught 7 passes for 154 yards and 2 TDs, and Bryant caught 11 passes for 151 yards. Temple was down 31-10 at halftime but made a furious comeback.  Wake held on to secure the victory. I’m trying to find logic in these bowl games for predicting purposes, so in retrospect, Temple’s coach left and Wake has a good coach along with the ACC is now at 3-0 in bowls. 

Holiday Bowl

Minnesota played stellar defense and just out-physicaled Washington State in a 17-12 victory at the Holiday Bowl in San Diego. Washington State quarterback Luke Falk had no clue on how to solve a really solid Golden Gophers’ defense. Again, a solid defense prevailed from the Big Ten over a high flying offense from the Pac-12. One other note, the referee for the game, Gary Patterson, from the ACC, had a distinct resemblance to Bill Murray. I guess he took his Urban Assault Vehicle back to the hotel after the game. 

Motel 6 Cactus Bowl

Another surprise.  Baylor, a 7 point underdog, blasted Boise State, 31-12, at Chase Field in Phoenix. The Bears new coach, Matt Rhule, who comes over from Temple, must have had an impact along with a staff from the Art Briles regime. Baylor running back Terrence Williams ran for 103 yards on 25 carries and wide out K.D, Cannon caught 14 passes for 226 yards and two 7’s. Quarterback Zach Smith connected on 28-of-39 passes for 375 yards and 3 TDs against 1 int. The light was on for Baylor; They didn’t leave the light on for Boise State. 

Today’s lineup

New Era Pinstripe Bowl

No. 23 Pittsburgh (8-4)  vs. Northwestern (6-6)

Yankee Stadium, The City That Never Sleeps, 54,251

1 PM CT/2 PM ET

E-S-P-N

Ryan Ruocco, Mike Golic, Mike Golic, Jr (Father-son double team), Paul Caracaterra

Aladdin: Big 12, Dan Romeo

Pittsburgh features their major success story in James Connor, who missed all of last season recovering from leukemia. The 6’2″, 235 pound hoss of a running back came back this season to rush for 1,060 yards and 16 TDs. The Panthers can throw it, too, and their line gave up only seven sacks all season. On defense, Pitt’s Ejuan Price finished with 12 sacks this season, and while their pass defense is 127th in the country, next to last just above Arizona State, they rush the passer well and the Northwestern o line has given up 35 sacks this season.

For Northwestern, wide out Austin Carr has caught 84 passes for 1,196 yards and 12 TDs, so he and quarterback Clayton Thorson will try to make some mileage through the air against the porous Panthers secondary. Running back Justin Jackson is a stud as he rushed for 1,300 yards and 12 TDs this season. Defensively Ifeadi Odenigbp ranks second in the Big Ten with 10 sacks. Can Odenigbo and the Northwestern front line get pressure on Pitt quarterback Nathan Peterman, who threw for 2,600 yards, 26 TDs against just 6 ints.  That’s a major question mark for the Wildcats.

Final call

Pitt is obviously terrible in pass defense but can really play some offense. I’m liking a shootout because Northwestern can play some offense, too. But James Connor and that passing game will edge out a team that is always solid but is 1-10 in bowls since 1948, at the awesome venue in the Bronx. Pitt’s 43-42 victory over Clemson @ Clemson on November 12th, tips the scales in the Panthers’ favor for me. 

Pitt 38, Northwestern 35

 

Russell Athletic Bowl

No. 16 West Virginia (10-2) vs. Miami (8-4)

Camping World Stadium, Orlando, 70,000

4:30 PM CT/5:30 PM ET

ESPN

Dave Pasch, Gregory McElroy, Tom “Lugues” Luginbill

Vogue: SEC, Ken Williamson

The West Virginia offensive line is a major strength for Coach Dana Holgerson and has allowed running back Justin Crawford to rush for 1,169 yards. Miami running back Mark Walton rushed for 1,065 yards. Miami has a good quarterback, Brad Kaaya, who has thrown for 3,250 yards and 23, sevens against 7 ints. Mountaineers quarterback Skyler Howard threw for 3,194 yards, 26 TDs and 10 ints. He has thrown 24 picks in his  career in Morgantown. He is a senior but just became the undisputed starter his junior year. West Virginia cornerback Rasul Douglas picked off eight passes this season so Kaaya will be tested.

Final decision

I’ve always liked Mark Richt. He’s a good guy and he’s at his alma mater, a good place where he can do well. Dana Holgerson’s defense was better this season, but in two of their biggest games, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, they lost 56-28 and 37-20 respectively. I like Mark Richt, Brad Kaaya and a more physical Miami team to get the job done.

Miami 34, West Virginia 30

 

Foster Farms Bowl

No. 19 Utah (8-4) VS, Indiana (6-6)

Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, Cal (68, 500)

7:30 PM CT/8:30 PM ET

FOX

Gus, Joel, Shannon

Laudromat: SEC, David Smith

Minnesota’s performance last night proved the Big Ten is a solid, physical group of football teams in these bowl games. But Utah has always been a physical group, too. And Utah’s bowl record under Kyle Whittingham is 9-1 since 2005. Since 1996, Utah is 6-0 vs other Power Five teams. Utes running back Joe Williams has rushed for 1,185 yards and 9 sevens. He’s a dynamite runner who combines power and take it to the house speed. That’s enough for me to like the Utes.

Verdict

Utah 38, Indiana 31

 

Advocare V100 Texas Bowl

Texas A&M (8-4) vs. Kansas State (8-4) 

NRG Stadium, Houston, home of Super Bowl 51 on February 5, 2017, (72,200)

8 PM CT/9 PM ET

ESPN

Dave Flemming, Jess, Laura Rutledge

Wash and Go Coin (for those who do their own): Big Ten, Jerry McGinn

A&M has  been really inconsistent this season like they have been under Kevin Sumlin the last three years. They seem to start out fast then play Alabama and run out of gas. I like Kevin a lot, and want him to keep coaching at A&M because he is a good guy and a good coach. He just needs to start doing better than 8-4, though the SEC West is no bargain for any coach, particularly one trying to win a west title and get to Atlanta with Nick Saban always looming. This should be a solid game as K State always plays most people tough. They are solid fundamentally, they make few mistakes and are very well coached under 77 year old Bill Snyder.

Final decision

The difference for A&M in this game will be the ultra explosive Christian Kirk. Kirk has 77  receptions for 842 yards and 9 TDs and he’s taken 3 punts back to the house. Tailback Trayveon Williams is also outstanding, as he’s rushed for 1,024 yards and 8, sevens. So I’m going with the SEC in this one, but I like it  close. Kansas State is very solid, but I like A&M to get a victory and head into the rest of the recruiting season, which they always do well in, they’re 8th this season, with a lot of momentum and prepare for an even better 2017. 

A&M 35, Kansas State 31 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yesterday

The Mississippi State Bulldogs provided some dramatics with a late game blocked field goal on a 27 yard attempt by the Miami of Ohio kicker to preserve a 17-16 victory over the RedHawks in the St. Petersburg Bowl. State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald looks like another Dak Prescott as he ran for 132 yards and 2 touchdowns, while completing 13 of 26 passes for 136 yards with quite a few drops by his receiving corps. Dan Mullen and State look very stout at quarterback for the next two years with the sophomore Fitzgerald in Starkville, if he can stay healthy. He’ll take a lot of shots the way he runs the ball with reckless abandon. He did yesterday. But solid win for State.

Boston College outlasted Maryland 36-30 in the Quick Lane Bowl and the Vanderbilt Commodores had a painful afternoon in a 41-17 loss to a talented North Carolina State Wolfpack team with an NFL defensive front and a superb junior playmaker at tight end-wide receiver Jaylen Samuels who caught 6 passes for 104 yards and 3 TDs. It was domination by the Wolfpack. Tough day for Derek Mason and the Dores. But they have a young team, so they should get it back together and have a shot at a pretty good 2017 season. 

Bowl record: 9-4

Overall: 212-97, 69%

Today’s lineup

Heart of Dallas Bowl

Army (7-5) vs. North Texas (5-7)

Cotton Bowl, Dallas, (92,100)

11 AM CT/Noon ET

ESPN

Allen Bestick, Mike Bellotti, Kris Budden

Refs: SEC, Hubert Owens

Army is second in the country in rushing offense averaging 327.8 yards on the ground. Fullback Andy Davidson, a 6’2″, 230 pound sophomore, has rushed for 905 yards and 11 TDs. Army snapped a 14 game losing streak to Navy by defeating the Midshipmen, 21-17, at Baltimore on December 10th. You could see the relief and elation in the Cadets’ eyes when they pulled off the upset and got the losing streak off their backs. Like the Cadets to get it done in Dallas over a North Texas Mean Green team that beat them earlier in the season, 35-18, and had an impressive Academic Progress Report score to qualify for a bowl as a 5-7 team. Running back Jeffery Wilson, who rushed for 855 yards and 13 TDs for the Mean Green this season, needs to have a big game. Army was fourth in the country in total defense allowing 281.6 yards per game, so North Texas will have to really buckle down on the offensive front to move the chains and get TDs.

Army 31, North Texas 24

 

Military Bowl

Temple (10-3) vs. Wake Forest (6-6)

Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, MD. (34,000)

2:30 PM CT/3:30 PM ET

ESPN

Jason Benetti, Kelly Stouffer, Paul Carcaterra

Whistles: Sun Belt, Kevin Stine

Temple is third in the country in total defense, and running backs Jahad Thomas, who has rushed for 918 yards and 13 TDs, and Ryquell Armstead, who also rushed for 918 yards and 14 TDs, along with quarterback Phillip Walker, who has thrown for 2,899 yards and 20 TDs, will have their way with Wake Forest. Temple lost their head coach, Matt Rhule, who left to take the job at Baylor. Geoff Collins will take over as head coach of the Owls for the 2017 season. Collins comes from Florida, where he was the defensive coordinator. Tight ends Coach Ed Foley will guide the Owls in this game. 

Temple 34, Wake Forest 17

 

Holiday Bowl

Minnesota (8-4) vs. Washington State (8-4)

Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego (70,561)

6 PM CT/7 PM ET

ESPN

Bob Wischusen, Brock Huard, Allison Williams

Vogue Cleaning Laundry: ACC, Gary Patterson

Like Mike Leach and the Air Raid Attack to dominate this game against a Golden Gophers team that almost boycotted this bowl because 10 players were suspended from the team for assault charges on a woman. Pretty dysfunctional group. 

Washington State 49, Minnesota 28

 

Cactus Bowl

Boise State (10-2) vs. Baylor (6-6)

Chase Field, Phoenix (48,519)

9:15 PM CT/10:15 PM ET (have the coffee brewin)

ESPN

Rece, Joey, Dave, Molly McGrath

Refs: American, Michael Roche

Boise State running back Jeremy Nichols, who rushed for 1,663 yards, which was fifth nationally, and 23 touchdowns, and also caught 32 passes for 450 yards and four more 7’s, leads a balances Broncos attack that will be tested by a Baylor team that has gotten revitalized with new coach Matt Rhule coming over from Temple. Like it to be close, but for Boise to hang on in Phoenix.

Boise State 38, Baylor 35 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

St. Petersburg Bowl

Mississippi State (5-7) vs. Miami of Ohio (6-6)

Tropicana Field, St. Pete, FL. (40,473)

10 AM CT/11 AM ET

ESPN

Dave LaMont, Rene Ingoglia, Chris Doering

Stripes: C-USA, Jay Edwards

State sophomore quarterback Nick Fitzgerald led the SEC in total yards this season with 3,524 yards. Nick rushed for 1,243 yards, which was third in the conference, and passed for 2,281 yards, 21 TDs and 10 Ints. He completed 55% of his passes. The Bullies were banged up with injuries this season, but finished off the season with a tremendous Egg Bowl victory over Ole Miss, 55-20 @ Ole Miss. Look for State wide receiver Fred Ross, who caught 68 passes for 873 yards and 12, 7’s, to have a big day. Look for Fitzgerald Ross and the Bullies, which qualified for a bowl game at 5-7 due to a high Academic Progress Report, which is impressive in itself, to have a big day in St. Pete, and get ready for a much improved and very competitive 2017. 

State 31, Miami of Ohio 14

 

Quick Lane Bowl

Maryland (6-6) vs. Boston College (6-6)

Ford Field, the Motor City, (65,000)

1:30 PM CT/2:30 PM ET

ESPN

Mark Neely, Ray Bentley, Alex Corddry

Whistles: Pac-12, Steve Strimling

Like a defensive struggle here. BC defensive end Harold Landry had 15 sacks for -133 yards and 20.5 tackles for loss of 142 yards, second in the nation. Wow. The Terps were led this season on defense by outside linebacker Jesse Aniebonam, who completed the regular season posting 13 tackles for loss of 88 yards and 9 sacks for -74 yards. So I’m seeing a defensive battle in Detroit. Like Maryland to play a little better on offense and get over the hump here.

Terps 20, BC 17

 

Independence Bowl 

Vanderbilt (6-6) vs. NC State (6-6)

Independence Stadium, Shreveport, LA. (65,000)

4 PM CT/5 PM ET

ESPN2

Mike Couzens, Cole Cubelic, Kevin Wiedl

Laundry: Big Ten, Mike Cannon

The Wolfpack have just kept improving under fourth year coach Dave Doeren. They lost in overtime at Clemson. Their kicker missed a 27 yard field goal at the end of regulation to win it. Then they lost to FSU, 20-13, at home, but finished the season with a huge upset victory over North Carolina, 28-21, at Chapel Hill. Doeren is doing a tremendous job in Raleigh and has the Wolfpack headed in a strong direction. Matt Dayes is their stud running back who’s rushed for 1,119 yards and 10 TDs. Quarterback Ryan Finley has completed 224-of-372, 60%, for 2824 yards, 15 TDs and 8 ints. Defensive end Bradley Chubb is tied for the lead in the country with 21 tackles for loss of 80 yards. He also has 9.5 sacks for -53 yards. He is a force.

The Vanderbilt Commodores really exploded at the end of the season with upset victories over Ole Miss, 38-17, and Tennessee, 45-34. The Dores offense came alive as sophomore quarterback Kyle Shurmur came into his own in those games, and played like the 4 star quarterback Derek Mason and his staff expected him to be when he came to Nashville. Shurmur completed 185-of-329 passes, 57% for 2,251 yards, 9 TDs against 7 ints, but was a different quarterback from the Auburn game on, a game the Commodores lost 23-16 at Auburn, one in which they could have won and played a heckuva game. That game and the Georgia game two weeks before that, which the Dores won at Athens, 17-16, catapulted this team towards the end of the season when they demolished Ole Miss and dominated the Vols. Ralph Webb is the man for the Commodores on the ground. Ralph rushed for 1,172 yards and 12, 7’s this season. Ralph broke Zac Stacy’s career rushing mark this season. Ralph is a junior. C.J. Duncan (38 receptions, 447 yards), Trent Sherfield (31-468, 1 TD), freshman Kalija Lipscomb (25-306, 2 TDs), tight end Jared Pinkney (22-276, 2 TDs) and Caleb Scott (20-417) are all highly capable receivers in the passing game. 

And the man on the Vanderbilt defense is consensus All-American Zach Cunningham from Pinson, Alabama. The 6’4″, 230 pound junior led the SEC with 119 tackles, had 16.5 tackles for loss of 31 yards and was second in the country with four fumble recoveries. Zach also had two of the best plays of the year in college football when on fourth and one and Georgia going in for the winning score at the end of the game, Zach blasted Georgia speedster Isiah McKenzie, who was running around the right side for an almost certain first down,  for no gain and preserved the Commodores victory. Cunningham came out of nowhere to make the play. It was phenomenal. Just as phenomenal was Cunningham’s leap and block of a Daniel Carlson 26 yard field goal attempt that would have iced the game for Auburn at Auburn. Cunningham raced to the line of scrimmage right before the snap, leapt over the snapper, which was timed perfectly with no penalty, and blocked Carlson’s kick to keep the game at 23-16 and give the Commodores a chance. The Dores threw an interception and lost the game, but there was a very controversial overturn of a fumble by Auburn when VU was up 13-10. It was a pivotal play late in the third quarter that really hurt the Dores’ momentum. Cunningham had stripped Kamryn Pettway of the ball as he was going to the ground, and VU recovered. The refs initially called it a fumble, recovered by VU, but the replay official overturned the call. The ball came out simultaneously as Pettway was hitting the ground. It was impossible to overturn, but somehow the SEC replay ref figured out a way to overturn the call on the field. That was a tough break for the Dores. But a very strong third season under Derek Mason and his recruiting is going extremely well for 2017.

Final Analysis

The Dores are a 5 1/2 point underdog to the Wolfpack, but I like my Commodores to pull off the slight upset in Shreveport. Zach Cunningham, Ralph Webb and company get it done and finish off the season with huge momentum heading into 2017.

Vanderbilt 24, NC State 21

 

 

 

Armed Forces Bowl

3 PM ESPN

La Tech 42, Navy 31

 

Dollar General Bowl

7 PM, ESPN

Going with the Troy Trojans to finish off a super season at 10-3
 

Troy 35, Ohio 31

Lukas Kornet showed what a stud and clutch player he is with two phenomenally clutch shots in the last 90 seconds of our game against Chattanooga in an awesome 76-74 VU victory before 9,500 at Memorial.

Memorial Magic struck again in the form of one Luke Kornet. But the entire team had a lot to do with this key victory over a very good Mocs team coached by an outstanding young coach in Matt McCall. I kind of like our guy a lot too. Bryce is clutch and his players responded with their own clutchness as we moved to 6-5 on the season and head into Dayton with a ton of momentum for a 6 PM CT/7 PM ET game Wednesday Night. Chattanooga went to the NCAA Tournament last year and is having another solid season this season and looks like a tournament team, dropped to 8-3. Dayton is 7-3 and just lost a tough game on the road to a resurgent Northwestern team, 67-64. The Dayton Flyers are a usual participant in the tournament, so we’ll have our work cut out for us. But I want to talk about our victory Saturday Night.

Matt Fisher-Davis and Luke led the team with 18 points apiece. Matt pulled down 7 boards. Matt has really become a more complete player this season. Like what I’m seeing out of our junior sharp shooter. Matt was also 9-for-9 from the charity stripe. Wow. We finished 26-for-29 from the line, 90%. What a huge thing that is. We’re a super free throw shooting team this season. We’re shooting 78%. Matt is shooting 87%, Luke is shooting 86% and Riley is shooting 92%. Those are John Stockton, Steve Nash, Steph Curry numbers for Riley. Love the way our team is getting it done at the line. That’s going to win some close games in the SEC for us. Jeff Roberson finished with 11 points and 5 rebounds. Solid performance by J Robe. He sank some clutch shots. Joe Toye came off the bench and gave us a huge lift on both the offensive and defensive ends. Joe had 10 points and his activity on defense really made a difference. He’s just such a super athlete. Riley finished with 10, and was 4-for-4 from the line and sank a huge 3 late. Payton Willis gave us some more good minutes at point guard. Payton is going to be stellar. He’s already showing flashes of that this season. Clevon Brown and Nolan Cressler gave us some quality hustle minutes off the bench. They are both going to help us a lot going forward. Bryce just goes with the hot hand and he’ll stick with them if he sees them giving stellar effort. We have a lot of effort guys. We only have 9 scholarship players, but they’re 9 quality players. 

Luke’s first trifecta came with 1:27 left and put us up by two. The Mocs fought back and took a 74-73 point lead with 10 seconds left and were at the line for a 1 and 1 to make it a possible 3 point game and one which would require a 3 to send the game into overtime. But fortunately, they misfired on the front end of the one and one and Luke grabbed the rebound and hustled up the court as Riley brought it down. Bryce had called timeout before the free throw to get a play worked up. Riley hustled the ball up the court but was under control then handed it off to Luke, who fired from behind the arc with a hand or two in his face and sank a string music shot in the Music City to put us ahead 76-74 with 3 seconds left. Chattanooga took a timeout and had a last look at it, and it was a pretty good look, but missed and we took home  an amazing comeback victory. We had been down 62-53 with nine and a half minutes left. Just really proud for Luke and the team. 

Now we move onto Dayton tomorrow night at 6 PM, though there won’t be any TV. Will keep up closely online and have a report on Thursday. Then we have a week and a day off from games, and will have some good practice time to get ready for a road SEC game at LSU Thursday, December 29th @ 8 PM CT/9 PM ET on ESPNU. So a lot to look forward to for our exciting basketball team. Got to stay healthy, but I like the group of guys we’ve got.

Football

I misspoke about which network will be televising our game against North Carolina State in the Independence Bowl next Monday, Dec. 26th at 4 PM CT/5 PM ET. The Deuce, ESPN2, will broadcast the game. Will have a preview and prediction on this blog Monday around 11 AM. Really psyched up to see the guys compete. Want our seniors to go out as the winners that they are and get the underclassmen some excellent momentum heading into 2017. Recruiting always gets a boost from a bowl victory as well. Can’t wait for Shreveport.

Baseball

 Collegiate Baseball has selected VU right fielder Jeren Kendall and pitcher Kyle Wright as preseason All Americans. Congrats to Jeren and Kyle. Expecting big things out of those two and our super talented roster this season. Of course that’s always the expectation for Vanderbilt baseball. There is some youth on this team, but some really good vets as well with Jeren, Kyle, Will Toffey, Alonzo Jones, Connor Kaiser, Ethan Paul, Julian Infante, Patrick Raby and some other experienced guys, who are still young, but gained some valuable experience in 2016. And Corbs keeps on churning out the recruiting classes. We finished No. 10 in 2016, which is solid, but we’re No.3 in 2017 with time left, and No. 1 in 2018 and 2019. Wow, that’s special. Who wouldn’t want to play for Corbs, one of the finest men you’ll ever meet and the ultimate leader.

We’ve been awesome under Tim Corbin. With the new baseball facility in the works which has amazing locker rooms, both for the present players and our pro guys to come back to, workout facilities for the present players and our pros, who almost all to a man come back to work out in Nashville, our recruiting efforts are enhanced even more. The man who has made it all possible is Tim Corbin. Quite a guy. Will have a preview in mid January with the man. Looking forward to another stellar season for Vanderbilt baseball. 

Also, will talk to Scott Limbaugh in late February. Scott’s men’s golf team finished No.1 in the country during the fall season. Really looking forward to seeing Scott’s team play this spring and compete for a deep run in the NCAA’s. And of course will also talk with Geoff McDonald who will have another stellar team in women’s tennis. Geoff is the best coach in the country. So a lot to look forward to.  

Will hit ya back soon. Write up on bball Thursday and more on football coming up. Any baseball, golf or tennis news will be reported on as well. Will look into our women’s bball team. Coach Stephanie White is doing an outstanding job with the girls. Will investigate and get back to you on that as well. Merry Christmas to you though I will definitely be in touch in the meantime.