Here’s a look at tomorrow’s slate:
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
Them Dawgs (No.23) (8-4) vs. Nebraska (8-4)
EverBank Field, Jacksonville (67,164)
Noon ET/ 11 AM CT
ESPN2
Mike Patrick, Ed Cunningham and Jeannine Edwards
Refs: Pac 12, Michael Batian
Coaches: Mark Richt, Georgia: 13 years, 126-44 (74%); Bo Pelini, Nebraska, six years, 57-24 (70%)
Surface: Grass
Weather: Showers, 60%, 61 @kickoff, wind E @3
Line: Georgia by 9
Should be an interesting matchup of excellent running backs. Ameer Abdullah, who went to Homewood High School in Birmingham, has rushed for 1,568 yards and eight TDs. He’s averaged 130.7 yards on the season. Of course, the Dawgs have the awesome Todd Gurley, who rushed for 903 yards in just nine games–he struggled with some injuries–but ran for 122 and three TDs in an awesome performance against Ga Tech in the season finale for the Dawgs. He’s fantastic as we know. Hutson Mason filling in for Aaron Murray, who had the terrible luck of a torn ACL in the next to last game of the season, completed 22-of-36 for 299 and two TDs with one int against Tech. Hutson did a real nice job. Hutson needs a good game tomorrow as the Dawgs look towards next year with excitement if Hutson can produce. Safety Josh Harvey-Clemons and backup cornerback Sheldon Dawson, a good player, are suspended and will not play. Still like Gurley, Mason and the Dawgs to get this done. This was a very young defense this year in Athens. The future looks bright in 2014. It starts tomorrow in Jacksonville. Could be lower scoring though because of the rain. Nebraska without starting quarterback Taylor Martinez, who is out with an injury.
Dawgs 31, Cornhuskers 21
Heart of Texas Bowl
North Texas Mean Green (8-4) vs. UNLV Runnin Rebels (7-5)
Dallas, Cotton Bowl (92,100)
Noon ET/11 AM CT
ESPNU
Clay Matvick, Matt Stinchcomb and Dawn Davenport
Refs: MAC, Ron Snidgrass
Weather: 55, sunny, wind SSW @ 11
Line: North Texas by 6 1/2
Mean Green 37, UNLV 30
Capital One Bowl
No.8 South Carolina Gamecocks (10-2) vs. No.19 Wisconsin
Badgers (9-3)
Citrus Bowl Stadium, Orlando (70,000)
1 PM ET/Noon CT
ABC
Dave Pasch, Brian Griese and Luges
Coaches: Ball Coach, 24 years, 218-79-2 (73%), Bowls: 9-10; Wisconsin: Gary Anderson: 39-34 overall in five years, 9-3, first year at Wisconsin, bowls: 1-1
Refs: Pac 12, Jay Stricherz
Surface: Artificial
Weather: 40% chance of showers, 66 @ kickoff, wind NE @ 9 MPH
Line: Whisky by 1
These are two solid football teams with good running games, particularly Wisconsin’s, though Mike Davis of South Carolina is a stud. Davis ran for 1,134 yards and 11 TDs. But the Badgers have two guys who can rack up the yards. Melvin Gordon has rushed for 1,465 yards on 8.1 yards per carry. Senior James White has rushed for 1,337 yards and 15 TDs. But I still like Davis, the tough as nails Connor Shaw and Ball Coach to get it done in an SEC-Big Ten showdown. Should be a good game.
South Carolina 28, Wisconsin 24
Outback Bowl
Iowa Hawkeyes (8-4) vs. No.14 LSU Bengal Tigers (9-3)
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa (65,857)
1 PM ET/Noon CT
ESPN
Tirico, Gruden and Lisa (Monday Night football crew)
Coaches: The Hatter, 13 years, 9 @ LSU. 122-45 overall (73%), 94-24 @ LSU (80%), 6-5 bowls; Iowa: Kirk Ferentz 108-78, 6-4 bowl
Refs: Big 12, Greg Burks
Surface: Grass
Weather: 40% chance of showers, 65, wind NE @ 11
Line: Bengal Tigers by 8
Like Jeremy Hill’s 1,185 yards and 11 TDs and Jarvis Landry’s 75 catches for 1,172 yards and 10 TDs and Odell Beckham’s 1,117 yards and 8 TDs in this one. I like freshman quarterback Anthony Jenningsm who will play in place of the injured Zach Mettenberger, who had a good year and is looking at the NFL draft next, once he rehabs his knee. Jennings came in against Arkansas when Zach got hurt and did an excellent job completing six of 10 passes for 99 yards and the game winning touxhdown, a 49-yard toss to Travin Dural, in a 31-27 LSU win. The Hatter is so much fun, and he wins 80% of his game, so he’s gettin it done in Baton Rouge. Fun guy. Like the Hatter tomorrow.
LSU 31, Iowa 20
The 100th Rose Bowl
No.4 Michigan State Spartans (12-1) vs. No.5 Stanford
Cardinal (11-2)
5 PM ET/ 4 PM CT/ 2 PM Pacific
ESPN
Brent, Herbie and Heather
Refs: Big 12, Mike Defee
Surface: Grass
Weather: Sunny California, 75, 0% rain, Wind w @ 4
Line: Stanford by 6 1/2
A few breaks here or there and these two teams had a chance to play for it all. David Shaw and Mark Dantonio are excellent coaches at Stanford and Michigan State respectively. Both teams play physical defense and grind it out with the run game on offense. Both teams have excellent backs. But the Spartans are without their defensive leader linebacker Max Bullough and that hurts. Plus, even with Bullough playing, I don’t think the Spartans can hang with this outstanding, powerful football team. A lot of broadcasters are saying what a close game this is going to be, but I don’t agree. Stanford with Tyler Gaffney and the running game and that awesome defense will control this game. Like the Cardinal to win handily.Michigan State hasn’t seen a physical, athletic team like this in the Big Ten.
Stanford 24, Michigan State 14
Tostitos Fiesta Bowl
No.6 Baylor Bears (11-1) vs. No.15 Central Florida Knights
(11-1)
University of Phoenix Stadium, Phoenix (63,400)
8:30 PM ET/7:30 CT
ESPN
Sean McDonough, Chris Spielman and Shannon Spake
Refs: SEC, Tom Ritter
Surface: Grass
Weather: 68 clear, wind 3 MPH
Line: Baylor by 17
This line is right and will be worse for UCF. Art Briles has done an excellent job at Baylor and Texas or the Redskins would be smart to hire him,m particularly the Redskins who have his former pupil, RGIIi as the starting quarterback. He helped RGIII win the Heisman Trophy and Griffin needs somebody to straighten him out. He’s been a head case. Maybe he’s always been, but Briles knew how to coach him up. George O’Leary’s done an excellent job at UCF, but this is going to be a long night for him and his team.
Baylor, 55, UCF 28