Music City Bowl
No.23 LSU (8-4) vs. Notre Dame (7-5)
LP Field, Nashvegas, Tennessee (68,798)
3 PM ET/2 PM CT
ESPN
Mark Jones, Rod Gilmore, Jessica Mendoza
Coaches:
LSU
Les
61 years old, born in Elyria, Ohio. 14 years as a head coach, 131-49 (73%), 7-5 in bowls. Oklahoma State 2001-04; LSU 2005-present.
Notre Dame
Brian Kelly
53 years old, Everett, Massachusetts. 24 years as a head coach, 214-77-2 (73%). 44-20 (69%) Five years @ Notre Dame (Grand Valley State: 1991-2003; Central Michigan: 2004-06; Cincinnati: 2007-09; Notre Dame: 2010-present.
Refs: Pac-12, Mike Batlan
Weather: 40, sunny at kickoff, 0% rain, wind: NNE @ 8 MPH, staying 8-10 MPH throughout game.
Line: LSU by 8 1/2
Prediction:
LSU will ground and pound it versus an Irish defense that has allowed 244.2 yards per game rushing over the last six games. Expect Leonard Fournette, who appears to be coming into his own after rushing for 891 yards and 8 TDs this season, and Terrence Magee, who rushed for 546 and three TDs, to have their way running the ball for LSU. Brian Kelly has benched starting quarterback Everett Golson after he turned the ball over 22 times this season. Malik Zaire will start in his place. Should be a good day for “the Hat” and the Bayou Bengals and a long day for the Irish. Brian Kelly will have another Jackson Browne moment after the game, as in “Here come those tears again.” Hopefully Les will provide some entertainment at halftime and in the post game interview. I think LP Field is supposed to have some pretty good tasting grass. Sometimes Les seems like he smokes it. He does an excellent job though, and he and Ball Coach keep it fun.
LSU 34, Notre Dame 21
Belk Bowl
No.13 Georgia (9-3) vs. No. 21 Louisville (9-3)
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, N.C. (74,455)
6:30 PM ET/5:30 PM CT
ESPN
Anish Shroff, Kelly Stouffer, Cara Capuano
Coaches:
Georgia
Mark Richt
54 years old, Omaha, Nebraska. 14 years at Georgia: 135-48 (74%). Bowls: 8-5.
Louisville
Bobby “Neck Brace” Petrino
53 years old, Lewistown, Montana. 10 years as a college head coach: 92-33 (74%). 4-3 in bowls. 3-10 in the NFL with the Falcons before bolting prior to the season ending
Refs: Big Ten, David Witvoet
Weather: 40 @ kickoff in high 30″s throughout the game. 5 % rain. Wind. NE 4 MPH
Line: Dawgs by 7
Nick Chubb ran for 1,281 yards and 12 TDs this season for Georgia. He might make fans forget about Todd Gurley when he’s done with his eligibility. Sony Michel will get his share of carries as well, and while he’s been bothered by some injuries this season, he was a five-star recruit coming out of high school last year and one of the top players in the country. He could help Chubb a lot today and have a big game himself. Georgia lost offensive coordinator Mike Bobo to Colorado State, which hired him as their head coach last week, but they should still be fine here. The Cardinals are down to their third string quarterback most likely, and while their defense may keep them in the game, I like the Dawgs to handle their business, run the ball well, and play lock down defense. Michael Dyer’s infamous career is over at Louisville, and in college, after he got suspended last week. So Louisville is pretty short handed on the offensive side of the ball. Petrino is going to have to work some near miracles offensively in order to win this game. Louisville defensive coordinator Todd Grantham is coaching against his old team in this one, so that might give him and his defense an advantage somewhat. But I like Jeremy Pruitt a lot better as coordinator for the Dawgs defense. He’s going to make this group elite in the near future.
Georgia 30, Louisville 14
Foster Farms Bowl
Stanford (7-5) vs. Maryland (7-5)
Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California (68,500)
10 PM ET/9 PM CT
ESPN
Allen Bestick, Ray Bentley, Quint Kessenich
Coaches:
Stanford
David Shaw
42 years old, San Diego California, 4 years as head coach at Stanford: 41-12. Bowls: 1-2
Maryland
Randy Edsall
56 years old, Glen Rock, Pennsylvania, 16 years as a head coach, 94-99 overall; 3-3 in bowls. 1999-2010 at UConn; 2011-present at Maryland.
Refs: Big 12, Reggie Smith
Weather: 48 @ kickoff, 0% rain, wind NNE 28 MPH
Line: Stanford by 14
This should be a pretty interesting game with the wind howling. Stanford lost their best player, wide receiver Tyrone Montgomery, to injury, so that makes it tougher offensively for the Cardinal. It’s probably going to be a low scoring game with the defenses and the wind. Maryland plays pretty decent defense, and the offenses aren’t too swift, especially since Stanford will be missing Montgomery. But I like the Stanford defense to get the job done here.
Stanford 14, Maryland 10
