Here’s a look at the other three bowl games today.
Franklin Mortgage Music City Bowl
Ole Miss Rebels/Black Bears (7-5) vs Georgia Tech Yellow
Jackets (7-5)
LP Field,. Nashville (68,798)
3:15 PM ET/2:15 CT
ESPN
Talent: Mark Jones, Brock Huard and Jessica Mendoza
Refs: Big 12, Reggie Smith
Surface: Grass
Coaches: Ole Miss: Hugh Freeze, second season, 14-11. Georgia Tech: Paul Johnson, sixth season, 47-31.
Weather: Mostly cloudy, 39 @ kickoff, 10% rain, Wind N 4MPH
Line: Ole Miss by 3
Ole Miss is averaging 30.4 points per game while the Ramblin Wreck is averaging 36.6. Ole Miss gives up 24.2 per game and Tech gives up 22.7. Ole Miss suffered a heartbreaker @ Mississippi State, 17-10, in overtime to close out the season, while Tech suffered their own heartbreaking loss, 41-34, in double overtime to Georgia at Atlanta. Bo “Sunshine” Wallace triggers the Rebels offense at qb. Sunshine has completed 261-of-405 passes (64.4%) for 3,09o yards, 17 TDs and nine ints. Wide receiver Laquon Treadwell is one of his favorite receivers. Treadwell caught 67 passes for 557 yards and five TDs. The other is Donte Moncriefm who caught 53 passes for 825 yards and five TDs as well. Running back I’Tavius Mathers rushed for 505 yards and 3 TDs this season while the electric Jeff Scott ran for 493 yards and two TDs. Ole Miss’s best player on defense is linebacker Denzel Nkemdiche, who was hurt some of the year–he only played in nine games. Nkemdiche had 34 tackles on the season. His brother, Robert, a defensive end for the Rebs and the number one player in the country last year coming out of high school, had 29 tackles and eight for loss. Denzel is 5’11”, 207 and Robert is a massive 6’5″, 294.
Georgia Tech runs the triple option and their leading rushers are David Sims (846 yards, 11 TDs) and Robert Godhigh (694 yards and six TDs) Quarterback Vad Lee runs well too, he finished with 489 yards and eight TDs. Lee can throw it OK. He completed 77-of-163 passes (47.2%) for 1,414 yards, 10 TDs and nine ints. He did have a good game against Georgia passing the ball particularly in the first half. Godhigh and DeAndre Smelter are the leading receivers with 21 catches apiece. Godhigh had 420 yards receiving and two TDs, while Smelter had 345 yards receiving and four TDs. The Jackets are led on defense by senior defensive end Jeremiah Attaochu (6’3″, 242), who had 15.5 tackles for loss of -91 yards and 12 sacks for -83. He was tied for fourth in the country in sacks.Defensive tackle Adam Gotsis (6’5″, 277) had 13 tackles for loss and five sacks. The Jackets had 13 ints on the season.
Final Call:
Looks like another good game coming up. Georgia Tech gave the Dawgs everything they wanted and could have won that game, they led 17-0 in the first half. Still like Ole Miss to pull this one out, but expecting a closely contested game.
Ole Miss 31, Tech 30
Valero Alamo Bowl
No.10 Oregon Ducks (10-2) vs. Texas Longhorns (8-4)
Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas (72,000)
6:45 PM ET/5:45 CT
ESPN
Talent: Brad Nessler, Todd Blackledge, Holly Rowe
Whistles: ACC, Dennis Hennigan
Surface: Artificial
Coaches: Oregon: Mark Helfrich, first season (10-2); Texas: Mack Brown, 16th season, 166-51 (76%).
Weather: Indoors
Line: Ducks by 14 1/2
Final call:
The Quack Attack and quarterback Marcus Mariota and D’Anthony Thomas and all their weapons will send Mack Brown packing with an L, unfortunately for him. Charlie Strong would be a strong candidate for the Texas job, but he may not want to deal with the Longhorn Network and that soap opera out there.
Oregon 45, Texas 30
National University Holiday Bowl
Texas Tech Red Raiders (7-5) vs. No.14 Arizona State Sun
Devils (10-3)
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego (71,294)
10:15 PM ET/9:15 CT
ESPN
Joe Tessitore (Tess), Matt Millen and Maria Taylor
Refs: SEC: Matt Austin
Surface: grass (Joe Namath’s favorite)
Coaches: Arizona State: Todd Graham, second season, 18-8; Texas Tech: Kliff Kingsbury, first year, 7-5.
Weather: 62, clear, 0% rain, wind N @ 2 MPH
Line: ‘Zona State by 14 1/2
Final Call:
Kliff KIngsbury has done a good job at Texas Tech having the the Red Raiders ranked as highly as 10th in the country midway through the season. But they don’t play great defense and their starting quarterback has transferred. Todd Graham has done an excellent job at Arizona State and they should have a big night tonight in San Diego.
Arizona State 48, Texas Tech 28
Record:
Bowls: 9-6
Against the spread in bowls: 9-6
Overall: 134-49 (73%)