First week record: 7-3

Cheez-It Bowl

No.18 Oklahoma State (7-3) vs. No. 21 Miami (8-2)

Camping World Stadium, Orlando

4:30 PM CT

ESPN

Dave O’Brien, Tim Hasselbeck, Katie George

Laundry, SEC, Steve Marlowe

OK State by 1 1/2

It all starts with D’Eriq King for the Canes. King (5’11”, 202) has completed 200 of 315 passes, 64%, for 2,570 yards, 22 TDs against only 5 ints. He’s also rushed for 520 yards and 4 TDs. His key weapon on the perimeter is Mike Harley (5’11”, 180), who has 49 receptions on the season for 730 yards and 6 TDs. Tight end Brevin Jordan ( 6’3”, 245) added 30 receptions for 480 yards and 5 TDs. Running back Cam’ron Harris rushed for 579 yards and 9 scores. They’ll be missing defensive ends Jaelen Phillips and Quincy Roche who have opted to sit this one out for the draft. The Canes leading tackler is safety Bubba Bolden (6’3”, 200), who recorded 65 tackles for the season. Losing Phillips and Roche hurts because Phillips recorded 15 1/2 tackles for loss and 8 sacks, while Roche added 14 1/2 tackles for loss and 4 1/2 sacks. Cornerback Al Blades Jr. (6’1’“, 192), the nephew of former Miami great wide receiver Bennie Blades in the glory years in the late ‘80’s early 90’s, led the team with 2 interceptions, but was ruled out December 9th for the rest of the season with a heart complication., myocarditis, related to a positive test for COVID-19. The Canes only posted 7 ints on the season.

The Cowboys will be missing all world running back Chuba Hubbard, who is opting out. Dezmon Jackson (5’11”, 218) is a pretty strong back though. He rushed for 526 yards and 4 TDs. Quarterback Spencer Sanders (6’1”, 205) completed 128 of 207 passes, 62%, for 1,702 yards, 10 TDs, but 8 ints. Tylan Wallace (6’0”, 190) is the Cowboys leading receiver with 53 receptions for 872 yards and 6 TDs. Their leading tackler is linebacker Amen (Corner) Ogbongbemiga (6’1”, 235), who posted 76 tackles. Safety Tre Sterling (5’11”, 200) led the team in TFLs with 8 1/2. Sterling and fellow safety Kolby Harvell-Peel (6’0”, 210) led the defense with 2 interceptions apiece with Sterling taking one back to duh house. The Pokes accumulated 6 ints on the season.

Final Analysis and Decision

I don’t really trust Canes’ Coach Manny Diaz or offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee, but I really trust King. He’s a phenomenal player and has decided to come back for another season, so he still has more he wants to accomplish in college football, which is very refreshing. Miami got embarrassed at home by UNC, 62-26, to close out the season, so they’ve got redemption on their minds. I like D’Eriq to lead the Canes over the top with his spectacular playmaking ability. I’ll take the Canes in a slight upset.

Miami 38, Oklahoma State 35

Tonight

Valero Alamo Bowl

No. 20 Texas (6-3) vs. Colorado (4-1)

Alamodome, San Antone

8 CT

ESPN

Jason Benetti, Mike Golic Sr., Kris Budden

Yella, SEC, Marc Curles, Makes mistakes

Horns by 7 1/2

Sam Ehlinger (6’3”, 225), a homegrown talent from Austin, has been a phenomenal quarterback for the Longhorns in his 4 years in Austin. This season he has completed 184 of 306, 60%, for 2,406 yards, 25 TDs against 5 ints. He has also rushed for 382 yards and 8 TDs. Running back Bijan Robinson (6’0”, 222) compiled 520 rushing yards on the season along with 3 TDs and Roschon Johnson (6’2”, 227) rushed for 386 yards and 5 TDs. Joshua Moore (6’1”, 169) caught 25 passes for 386 yards and 7 TDs and Brennan Eagels (6’4”, 229) recorded 28 receptions for 469 yards and 5 TDs. Linebacker Joseph Ossai (6’4”, 253) posted 15 1/2 tackles for loss and 5 1/2 sacks. He is the second leading tackler on the team with 55. Linebacker Juwan Mitchell (6’1”, 230) led the team in tackles with 59. The Longhorns have 8 interceptions on the season with 8 players posting 1 each.

For the Buffaloes, they were looking strong after the first 4 games going 4-0 and primed to make the PAC-12 Championship with Utah coming to Boulder. A victory might have secured their spot as PAC-12 officials were considering making it a Colorado-USC All PAC-12 South Championship game with Washington unable to play Oregon for the North Title due to COVID issues and Oregon only coming into that game with a 3-2 mark. Colorado didn’t get that potential opportunity because the Utes blasted them 38-21. Oregon got the forfeit from Washington, USC defeated UCLA and Oregon defeated USC in the Championship game, 31-24.

Quarterback Sam Noyer (6’4”, 220) completed 80 of 137 passes, 58%, for 1,000 yards, 6 TDs against 5 ints. Running back Jarek Broussard (5’9”, 185) led the team in rushing with 813 yards and scored 3 TDs on the ground. Noyer rushed for 191 yards and 5 TDs. The Buffs leading receiver is Dimitri Stanley (5’11”, 195), who caught 16 passes for 249 yards and 1 TD. Branden Rice (6’3”, 205) posted 6 reception for 120 yards and led the team with 2 TDs.

On defense, linebacker Nate Landman (6’3”, 235) led the team in tackles with 53 and added 9 TFLs and 4 sacks.Linebacker Carson Wells (6’4”, 250) led the team in TFLs with 13 1/2 and sacks with 4 1/2. The defense posted 4 ints on the season.

I’m taking my Talents to….

Tom Herman has been under the gun for the last 2 years as all coaches seemingly are at Texas. He is 3-0 in bowls though, and I like his stellar quarterback, Ehlinger to lead the Horns to another bowl victory. Maybe Herman can save his job next season with at least getting IN the Big 12 Championship Game. May have to win it too. His recruiting class was 17th in the country according to 247 Sports. He got 1, 5 Star, 8 4 stars, and 11, 3 stars. An impressive victory here might get him some more high quality signees in February. Texas boosters are impatient, as most big time boosters are, so Herman needs to step it up. This would be a good start.

Texas 38, Colorado 28