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.