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Best Bowl Games
1. Rose Bowl: USC vs. Texas – The nation’s best two teams will go meet in Pasadena to decide the 2005/06 national championship. The game will be an instant classic and while some will think of a potential 2004/05 repeat (where USC destroyed Big XII champ Oklahoma), you would be crazy not to be tuned in on January 4th. Heisman runner-up Vince Young will have even more motivation after Reggie Bush’s landslide victory, Even though he won’t go public about it, I’m guessing Young wants to prove even more that he is the nation’s most valuable athlete. With the help of a stifling defense, Young will carry the Longhorns west to Pasadena to take on the mighty defending champions, USC. The Trojans offense is a star studded lineup while its defense will be ready to try and slow down Young. Unlike 2004/05 this game should be one of the best BCS games to date (since the 2003 Miami-OSU game), and look for a surprisingly high scoring game. Prediction: Young will get his yards on the ground and will make some key plays, but look for the USC defense to do enough to keep him from going wild. The Trojans have faced a better passing attack in Notre Dame’s Brady Quinn, so the key for the Trojan D will be to control Young’s scrambling ability. Bush and LenDale White will control the ground game (Texas’ defense hasn’t seen anything near this impressive of a rushing game) for USC while Leinart will find Jarrett and Smith for a few big plays. USC wins the championship once again, 42-27.
2. Fiesta Bowl: Notre Dame vs. Ohio State – The Buckeyes have improved throughout the season and aren’t the same team that barely lost to Texas on September 10th. The defense is playing as well as any in the nation while its offense is finally clicking. Notre Dame was on the defensive after some claimed their schedule wasn’t that impressive, but you can’t blame the Irish for Tennessee and Purdue playing like chumps all season long. The Irish were able to take USC down to the final seconds, and when this team is firing on all cylinders you better watch out. The key to this game will be the Notre Dame offense vs. the Ohio State defense. With four weeks to plan, will Charlie Weis come up with a genius plan to outsmart the Ohio State defense or will the few weeks bring some rust with it for the Irish? This game is a toss up in all senses and could go either way. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Ohio State win by 7-10 points thanks to a great defensive team performance led by AJ Hawk, or I could see Notre Dame winning by 10-14 thanks to Jeff Samardzija and Maurice Stovall making some big plays on the end of Brady Quinn bombs. Just my hunch is that Ohio State will pull off the close win, 24-21 in a great Fiesta.
3. Peach Bowl: LSU vs. Miami – The Peach Bowl could easily be a 5th BCS bowl this year as the Canes will meet the Tigers in a great pre-New Years matchup. Both teams lost out on a potential BCS bid thanks to the state of Georgia: LSU lost the SEC championship game to Georgia while Miami lost to Georgia Tech late in the season, allowing Virginia Tech to represent the Coastal division in the ACC Championship game. The Canes bring in a tremendous swarming defense that will give the Tigers fits all night. Currently JaMarcus Russell is still resting his non-throwing shoulder, which leaves backup Matt Flynn getting the snaps as the starting quarterback. The Tigers will need their defense to play much better than the blowout in the SEC championship game while the Canes offense needs to get going again. Look for the Canes defense to rattle Flynn and create some key turnovers handing LSU another loss in the Georgia Dome; Miami wins 27-16.
4. Cotton Bowl: Texas Tech vs. Alabama – All headlines focusing on this one revolve around the Red Raider offense vs. the Crimson Tide defense. While it will be fun to watch to see which squad dominates, the real winner will be decided between the Red Raider defense vs. the Crimson Tide offense. Alabama’s offense has been somewhat sluggish all season while the Red Raiders defense has been consistent and solid through the Big XII schedule. Even though the Red Raiders may look like a better all around team, Texas Tech’s biggest games this year were a blowout loss to Texas, 52-17 and a squeaker over Oklahoma, 23-21. Bama has played in the big games all year long, from Florida to LSU to Auburn, the Crimson Tide will be ready come January 2nd. Problem is they have no offense to score any points and will rely on the defense to slow a very potent Red Raider offense. Look for the Raiders to win, but they won’t rack up nearly as many yards as usual, Texas Tech 23-13.
5. Sun Bowl: UCLA vs. Northwestern. While some will argue why aren’t the other two BCS games in the top 6 yet, I’m looking at the best matchups/potential outcomes, rather than the games being played on the biggest stage, ala Georgia-West Virginia. Now, back to the Sun Bowl. UCLA and Northwestern both have dangerous offenses but their defenses can’t seem to slow down anyone. UCLA’s defense ranks 111th in the nation in stopping the run, but not to be outdone, Northwestern ranks a measly 117th (out of 119). Look for Wildcat running back Tyrell Sutton and Bruin running back Maurice Drew to be licking their chops when they step out on the field. Each running back should have at least 150 yards when this one is over, and don’t forget the supporting QBs for both teams: Brett Basanez and Drew Olson. The Sun Bowl will be a shootout in the wild west of El Paso, Texas with UCLA coming away with a close win, 48-44.
6. Orange Bowl: Penn State vs. Florida State – In what most consider the Joe Paterno-Bobby Bowden bowl game, look for a better than anticipated game. Although it may be a mismatch on paper with a 10-1 team facing a 8-4 team, Florida State was able to put a three game losing skid behind them to shut down a talented Hokie squad in the ACC championship game. Obviously the coaching history present in this game is enough to turn on the TV, but the game will depend on which Florida State team shows up. With more on the line and a primetime TV slot look for the Noles to be fired up and ready to meet the Nittany Lions. Joe Pa will have his team ready and this one will go down as one for the ages thanks to the coaching legends. Look for Penn State’s defense to rattle Drew Weatherford all night long and Michael Robinson to take over on for the Nittany Lion offense, Penn State wins 26-14.
Others receiving votes: Sugar Bowl: West Virginia vs. Georgia…Gator Bowl: Louisville vs. Virginia Tech…Holiday Bowl: Oregon vs. Oklahoma…Capital One Bowl: Auburn vs. Wisconsin…
“All Eyes on Me”
(Top athletes that everyone will be watching come bowl season)
1. Reggie Bush, USC – The Heisman winner playing in the BCS National Title game. There isn’t anyone else who will have this many peering eyes on him, especially since this could be his last college game. Reggie Bush has already placed himself amongst the greats with his 2005 season, but an MVP performance in the Grandaddy of them all will solidify his place as one of the true all time greats in college football.
2. Vince Young, Texas – The hype surrounding this year’s Rose Bowl is unlike any other, and just think of the storylines Bush vs. Young part II. Young may have lost out on the Heisman, but he was able to take home the Maxwell award for the best all-around player this season in college football. While the Maxwell doesn’t get the glory that the Heisman does, look for Young to make his statement January 4th. Young will be ready and his emotion will rub off on the Horns. Look for VY to do everything possible to pull off the win.
3. AJ Hawk, Ohio State – Given the task of slowing a talented Irish offense isn’t easy, but the weight will fall on Hawk’s shoulders on January 2nd. Even with the game’s hype, another recent storyline will add to the intrigue: Hawk is dating Irish QB Brady Quinn’s sister. While this hidden storyline won’t determine the winner on the field, I’m sure a few fans want to see how Hawk reacts after chasing down Quinn for a sack. I’m guessing the “I’m dating your sister” won’t make for much drama as Hawk and Quinn are professional on the field, but watching Hawk chase down Irish athletes from sideline to sideline will be, especially in his last college game before the NFL comes a knockin’.
4. Cody Hodges, Texas Tech – As mentioned before all eyes will be on the Texas Tech offense vs. the Bama defense in Dallas. And since Hodges is the leader of the Red Raider O here’s guessing people will wonder if he can make the big plays against a talented and dangerous defense. Hodges has plenty of weapons around him, including RB Taurean Henderson, but look for the Red Raiders to start off with a few dump plays and quick slants to wear down the Crimson Tide. After a few plays Hodges will sling a pass 30 yards down the middle: the Raiders will either get a big first down or Bama will be taking it back the other way for a pick six. In what will be the best Offense vs. defense matchup this bowl season, look for Hodges to be the center of attention.
5. Elvis Dumervil, Louisville – Mr. Dumervil is a monster. He’s a consensus All-American and was named the Big East player of the year. He has 20 sacks on the season, and will have the huge task of slowing down a very mobile Marcus Vick. Not only will Dumervil need a big day for Cardinal defense, but with star QB Brian Brohm out for the game the Louisville offense may not be as high-flying as normal, adding even more pressure on Dumervil. PickSix is guessing the man-beast will have a great game as usual, holding Marcus Vick in check while racking a few sacks along the way.
6. Head Coach Dan Hawkins, Boise State – In Hawkins last game as head coach for the Broncos, most fans will be excited to watch his last hooray on the Blue Turf. While Boise State fans will be waving goodbye, Colorado fans will be found grinning ear-to-ear while watching their next coach in action. Although the Hawkins move isn’t a shocker, it will be exciting to see the emotional send-off he receives from the Broncos faithful, in what is really a home Bowl game.
Others receiving votes: Zac Taylor, Nebraska – was the 30-3 win over CU signs of things to come, or a flash in the pan over a reeling Buffs team?...Brady Quinn, Notre Dame – will Quinn be able to shake off the month’s rust against one of the nation’s best defenses?...Pat White, West Virginia – Some might say he has been racking up yards against the Big East cream puffs. PickSix is guessing he will have a big day but the Georgia D will be too much to handle…Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma – Will Peterson build on the huge day he had against Oklahoma State? The guess is he will get his yards in a tough game against an underrated Oregon D.
Potential Upsets
(This time of year all bowl games could be upsets, but here are the top 6 that have the best chance of happening).
1. Iowa over Florida – Florida was riding an emotional thumping of FSU…but that was about three weeks ago and things can change with a few weeks rest. Iowa wrapped up its season on a 3 game winning streak while putting the pieces together on a somewhat disappointing season. Iowa has the QB to lead the charge in Drew Tate, so don’t be surprised to see a Hawkeye victory.
2. Northwestern over UCLA – The game will be a shootout with the prolific offenses on the field, but don’t be surprised if you see a Wildcat win here. UCLA had some narrow escapes all season long, and remember this team has already lost to a Wildcat squad once in Tucson, Arizona.
3. Houston over Kansas – The Jayhawks were amazing at home all season long, going 6-0 and shutting opposing offenses down. Problem is we’re not in Kansas anymore and the Cougars will have a decent amount of fans that made the trip from Houston to Fort Worth. Kevin Kolb leads a solid Cougar offense against an underrated Kansas defense. Don’t be surprised to see a Cougar win down in Forth Worth.
4. Oklahoma over Oregon – The Duck fans will laugh here, but look back just a year ago. A Pac10 team gets shut out of the BCS only to head down to San Diego and get thumped in the Holiday Bowl by a Big XII underdog. This year is no different, but I can’t see Oklahoma putting up points left and right, much like Texas Tech did to Cal last year. If Oklahoma is going to win here Adrian Peterson must get his fair share of carries and Rhett Bomar cannot force any passes. The PickSix guess is that the Sooners either win in a close one, or Oregon comes out so fired up about not being the BCS pick that they win by 14+. I’ll stick with option number one…
5. UTEP over Toledo – Both teams come in reeling after late season losses, but the bowl games are meant for a fresh start. UTEP was rolling all season long until November hit and if Mike Price can turn back the clock, UTEP should be able to take home a win in the GMAC Bowl.
6. Rutgers over Arizona State – Most fans would be shocked to see a Big East team travel into Arizona and knock off the Sun Devils. I’m one of those fans, but I can also envision a Scarlet Knight victory in their first Bowl game since 1978. A 27 year wait since your last post-season bowl trip? QB Ryan Hart will have this team fired up and the Rutgers faithful will be celebrating like no other. A 27 year wait one a bowl game played on December 27th…too eerie, and a win will cause an all out Party in New Jersey.
Others receiving votes: USF over NCSt…LSU over Miami…Akron over Memphis…Colorado State over Navy…Tulsa over Fresno State…
Potential Blowouts
1. Auburn over Wisconsin – The Badgers are an extremely talented team, but with the emotion revolving around Barry Alvarez’s last game as head coach it could easily wear them down. In the Badgers last home game Wisconsin lost 20-10 to Iowa and this Auburn team is one of the best teams in the nation right now. Led by Kenny Irons, the Tiger ground game may eat up the Badger front seven leaving the Badgers scrambling to score. If the Badgers are going to win they need Brian Calhoun to control the ball rather than relying on John Stocco to make the big plays, or else it could be a long afternoon in Orlando.
2. Southern Miss over Arkansas State – While neither team should be bragging about their 6-5 records, both teams did earn a trip to the bowl post-season and that should be commended. The only problem is that this may be the worst mismatch of the post-season and could get ugly. This is the same Arkansas State team that not only lost, but got blown out by Army, 38-10. Even if it is a blowout this game opens the Bowl Season on Tuesday night, and the diehards can’t wait for the bowl week(s) to get underway.
3. Georgia Tech over Utah – What could be the one positive for Utah’s bowl trip to San Francisco’s Emerald Bowl? They might get to hang out with former QB Alex Smith for the evening, but the rest of the trip could get messy. Georgia Tech may have had a rollercoaster season, but its last two efforts have been impressive (win over Miami and a close loss to Georgia). The Ramblin Wreck has a stingy defense and is led by senior QB Reggie Ball on offense. To make matters worse, Utes QB Brian Johnson will be out with a knee injury. Reggie Ball should have a field day with the Utah defense, but he may not need too if the GT defense can apply some constant pressure on the Utes offense.
4. Minnesota over Virginia – The Minnesota rushing attack is now a serious two headed monster with Laurence Maroney and Gary Russell providing a 1-2 punch. This Virginia team has underachieved this year, especially with a 6-5 record where two of those wins came against lowly Temple and Duke. Minnesota started off the season hot and the muffed punt against Wisconsin seemed to deflate the Golden Gopher season. Luckily for the Gophers they have had a few weeks off to regain their composure and a Gopher blowout wouldn’t surprise me one bit.
5. Clemson over Colorado – This is one of those games that I wouldn’t touch with a ten foot pole if I were a betting man. Colorado has lost it’s last 3 games by a combined score 130-22 while Clemson is on a three game winning streak. Since their last loss, Colorado has fired their old head coach in Gary Barnett, appointed Mike Hankowitz as interim coach for the Bowl game, and hired Dan Hawkins as their new coach for the 2006 season. The Buffs will either come out charged up as this game could be a great stepping stone for the 2006 season or they could hang their heads and Clemson wins in a blowout…take your pick.
6. Michigan over Nebraska – A matchup full of tradition that you can almost smell. This apple pie matchup could get ugly if the Huskers don’t bring their ‘A’ game to San Antonio. Sure, Nebraska looked mighty impressive with a 30-3 win over Colorado, but this Husker team still isn’t close to being a top 25 team. The Huskers barely beat Kansas State the week before and were smacked around the field by Kansas also this season. On the other hand the Wolverines lost a close one to Ohio State and were the only team to beat Penn State in a feisty Big Ten conference. Nebraska will need Zac Taylor to be effective when passing the ball and the Huskers can’t afford to abandon the rushing game or else the Michigan front seven will key in on the pass, making it a long day for the Husker faithful. Now, if this game was played 10 years ago we could be watching a potential national championship matchup…but the Alamo Bowl will do just fine.
Others receiving Votes: Cal over BYU…South Carolina over Missouri…
These should be some of the best bowl game matchups in this year’s Bowl post-season
Best QB matchup:
1. Vince Young, Texas vs. Matt Leinart, USC – Is there any really other choice? The other two Heisman invitees will face off in the Grandaddy of them all. Look for Young to take off on some draws and carry the Longhorns on his back, while Leinart will most likely be the puppeteer of the USC offense, making some key plays to Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith on play action passes or on short yardage opportunities.
Others to note:
2. Drew Olson, UCLA vs. Brett Basanez, Northwestern
3. Brady Quinn, Notre Dame vs. Troy Smith, Ohio State
4. Drew Tate, Iowa vs. Chris Leak, Florida
5. Cody Hodges, Texas Tech vs. Brodie Croyle, Alabama
6. Jordan Palmer, UTEP vs. Bruce Gradkowski, Toledo
Top RB matchup:
1. Kenny Irons, Auburn vs. Brian Calhoun, Wisconsin – Fans of the running game will love the Capital One Bowl as both Calhoun and Irons come into this game as their team’s workhorses. Calhoun racked up 21 touchdowns and an impressive 1421 yards on the season while Irons has been hot of late racking up over 1100 yards with a 5.1 average. Both defenses will be keying the run, but the difference will be each team’s offensive line. It will be a slobber knocker in Orlando come January 2nd.
Others to note:
2. Maurice Drew, UCLA vs. Tyrell Sutton, Northwestern
3. DeAngelo Williams, Memphis vs. Brett Biggs, Akron
4. BJ Mitchell, Nevada vs. Kevin Smith/Jason Peters, UCF
5. Marshawn Lynch, Cal vs. Curtis Brown, BYU
6. Kyle Bell, Colorado State vs. Lamar Owens/Adam Ballard, Colorado State
Top WR/TE matchup:
1. Maurice Stovall/Jeff Samardzija, Notre Dame vs. Santonio Holmes/Ted Ginn, Ohio State – Just another storyline to an already great Fiesta Bowl matchup will be the battle of the wide receiver play. The Ohio State tandem will double up as special teams return men while the Notre Dame duo will allow Quinn to pass it early an often. Look for all four athletes to contribute greatly with Samardzija adding a big play or two to his 2005 resume.
Others to note:
2. Dwayne Jarrett/Steve Smith/Dominique Byrd, USC vs. David Thomas/Billy Pittman/Limas Sweed, Texas
3. Calvin Johnson/Damarius Bilbo, Georgia Tech vs. John Madsen/Brian Hernandez, Utah
4. Derek Hagan/Rudy Burress/Terry Richardson, Arizona State vs. Tres Moses/Bryan Leonard/Clark Harris, Rutgers
5. Chad Jackson/Dallas Baker, Florida vs. Clinton Solomon/Ed Hinkel, Iowa
6. Sinorice Moss/Ryan Moore/Greg Olsen, Miami vs. Dwayne Bowe/Craig Davis/Early Doucet, LSU
Top Defense/Special Teams matchup:
1. Darryl Tapp, Virginia Tech DE vs. Elvis Dumervil, Louisville DE – You could also add VT defensive back Jimmy Williams here for a great defensive show between the teams’ three stars. Dumervil racked up 20 sacks this year while Tapp brought in 10 sacks and made the AP All-American 2nd team. Williams was a first team All-American but with Cardinals QB Brian Brohm out of the game Louisville may focus more on the rushing game with Michael Bush, making Williams’ day that much easier.
Others to Note:
2. Tom Zbikowski, Notre Dame PR vs. Ted Ginn, Ohio State PR
3. Paul Posluszny, Penn State LB vs. Ernie Sims, FSU LB
4. Miami, FL defense vs. LSU defense
5. Mason Crosby, Colorado K vs. Jad Dean, Clemson K
6. Cory Rodgers, TCU KR vs. DeAndre Jackson, Iowa State KR
Pick Six Crystal Ball – Picking the Bowl Winners:
**
New Orleans --- Southern Miss (6-5)
GMAC --- Toledo (8-3)
Pioneer PureVision Las Vegas --- California (7-4)
San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia --- Colorado State (6-5)
Fort Worth --- Kansas (6-5)
Sheraton Hawaii --- Nevada (8-3)
Motor City --- Akron (7-5)
Champs Sports --- Colorado (7-5)
Insight --- Arizona State (6-5)
MPC Computers --- Boston College (8-3)
MasterCard Alamo --- Michigan (7-4)
Emerald Bowl --- Georgia Tech (7-4)
Pacific Life Holiday --- Oklahoma (7-4)
Gaylord Hotels Music City --- Minnesota (7-4)
Vitalis Sun --- UCLA (9-2)
Independence --- South Carolina (7-4)
Chick-fil-A Peach --- Miami (9-2)
Meineke Car Care --- NC State (6-5)
AutoZone Liberty --- Fresno State (8-4)
EV1.net Houston --- Iowa State (7-4)
AT&T Cotton --- Texas Tech (9-2)
Outback --- Iowa (7-4)
Toyota Gator --- Virginia Tech (10-2)
Capital One --- Auburn (9-2)
Tostitos Fiesta --- Ohio State (9-2)
Nokia Sugar --- Georgia (10-2)
FedEx Orange --- Penn State (10-1)
The Rose Bowl Game Presented by Citi --- USC (12-0)
** PS2: Pick Six Parting Shot – Enjoy the bowl season folks and remember to blink every once and while if you are trying to watch all of the bowl games. I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season and a great New Years! Look for the Pick Six column to stay true to the college football fans with plenty of off-season updates…Please send questions for a potential Pick Six off-season mailbag to PickSixSports@gmail.com
Matt Shaw is a NCAA staff writer for www.football.com. You can reach him at: matthewrshaw@gmail.com.
2005/06 Bowl Preview
by Matt Shaw
His last college game
1. Rose Bowl: USC vs. Texas – The nation’s best two teams will go meet in Pasadena to decide the 2005/06 national championship. The game will be an instant classic and while some will think of a potential 2004/05 repeat (where USC destroyed Big XII champ Oklahoma), you would be crazy not to be tuned in on January 4th. Heisman runner-up Vince Young will have even more motivation after Reggie Bush’s landslide victory, Even though he won’t go public about it, I’m guessing Young wants to prove even more that he is the nation’s most valuable athlete. With the help of a stifling defense, Young will carry the Longhorns west to Pasadena to take on the mighty defending champions, USC. The Trojans offense is a star studded lineup while its defense will be ready to try and slow down Young. Unlike 2004/05 this game should be one of the best BCS games to date (since the 2003 Miami-OSU game), and look for a surprisingly high scoring game. Prediction: Young will get his yards on the ground and will make some key plays, but look for the USC defense to do enough to keep him from going wild. The Trojans have faced a better passing attack in Notre Dame’s Brady Quinn, so the key for the Trojan D will be to control Young’s scrambling ability. Bush and LenDale White will control the ground game (Texas’ defense hasn’t seen anything near this impressive of a rushing game) for USC while Leinart will find Jarrett and Smith for a few big plays. USC wins the championship once again, 42-27.
2. Fiesta Bowl: Notre Dame vs. Ohio State – The Buckeyes have improved throughout the season and aren’t the same team that barely lost to Texas on September 10th. The defense is playing as well as any in the nation while its offense is finally clicking. Notre Dame was on the defensive after some claimed their schedule wasn’t that impressive, but you can’t blame the Irish for Tennessee and Purdue playing like chumps all season long. The Irish were able to take USC down to the final seconds, and when this team is firing on all cylinders you better watch out. The key to this game will be the Notre Dame offense vs. the Ohio State defense. With four weeks to plan, will Charlie Weis come up with a genius plan to outsmart the Ohio State defense or will the few weeks bring some rust with it for the Irish? This game is a toss up in all senses and could go either way. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Ohio State win by 7-10 points thanks to a great defensive team performance led by AJ Hawk, or I could see Notre Dame winning by 10-14 thanks to Jeff Samardzija and Maurice Stovall making some big plays on the end of Brady Quinn bombs. Just my hunch is that Ohio State will pull off the close win, 24-21 in a great Fiesta.
3. Peach Bowl: LSU vs. Miami – The Peach Bowl could easily be a 5th BCS bowl this year as the Canes will meet the Tigers in a great pre-New Years matchup. Both teams lost out on a potential BCS bid thanks to the state of Georgia: LSU lost the SEC championship game to Georgia while Miami lost to Georgia Tech late in the season, allowing Virginia Tech to represent the Coastal division in the ACC Championship game. The Canes bring in a tremendous swarming defense that will give the Tigers fits all night. Currently JaMarcus Russell is still resting his non-throwing shoulder, which leaves backup Matt Flynn getting the snaps as the starting quarterback. The Tigers will need their defense to play much better than the blowout in the SEC championship game while the Canes offense needs to get going again. Look for the Canes defense to rattle Flynn and create some key turnovers handing LSU another loss in the Georgia Dome; Miami wins 27-16.
4. Cotton Bowl: Texas Tech vs. Alabama – All headlines focusing on this one revolve around the Red Raider offense vs. the Crimson Tide defense. While it will be fun to watch to see which squad dominates, the real winner will be decided between the Red Raider defense vs. the Crimson Tide offense. Alabama’s offense has been somewhat sluggish all season while the Red Raiders defense has been consistent and solid through the Big XII schedule. Even though the Red Raiders may look like a better all around team, Texas Tech’s biggest games this year were a blowout loss to Texas, 52-17 and a squeaker over Oklahoma, 23-21. Bama has played in the big games all year long, from Florida to LSU to Auburn, the Crimson Tide will be ready come January 2nd. Problem is they have no offense to score any points and will rely on the defense to slow a very potent Red Raider offense. Look for the Raiders to win, but they won’t rack up nearly as many yards as usual, Texas Tech 23-13.
5. Sun Bowl: UCLA vs. Northwestern. While some will argue why aren’t the other two BCS games in the top 6 yet, I’m looking at the best matchups/potential outcomes, rather than the games being played on the biggest stage, ala Georgia-West Virginia. Now, back to the Sun Bowl. UCLA and Northwestern both have dangerous offenses but their defenses can’t seem to slow down anyone. UCLA’s defense ranks 111th in the nation in stopping the run, but not to be outdone, Northwestern ranks a measly 117th (out of 119). Look for Wildcat running back Tyrell Sutton and Bruin running back Maurice Drew to be licking their chops when they step out on the field. Each running back should have at least 150 yards when this one is over, and don’t forget the supporting QBs for both teams: Brett Basanez and Drew Olson. The Sun Bowl will be a shootout in the wild west of El Paso, Texas with UCLA coming away with a close win, 48-44.
6. Orange Bowl: Penn State vs. Florida State – In what most consider the Joe Paterno-Bobby Bowden bowl game, look for a better than anticipated game. Although it may be a mismatch on paper with a 10-1 team facing a 8-4 team, Florida State was able to put a three game losing skid behind them to shut down a talented Hokie squad in the ACC championship game. Obviously the coaching history present in this game is enough to turn on the TV, but the game will depend on which Florida State team shows up. With more on the line and a primetime TV slot look for the Noles to be fired up and ready to meet the Nittany Lions. Joe Pa will have his team ready and this one will go down as one for the ages thanks to the coaching legends. Look for Penn State’s defense to rattle Drew Weatherford all night long and Michael Robinson to take over on for the Nittany Lion offense, Penn State wins 26-14.
Others receiving votes: Sugar Bowl: West Virginia vs. Georgia…Gator Bowl: Louisville vs. Virginia Tech…Holiday Bowl: Oregon vs. Oklahoma…Capital One Bowl: Auburn vs. Wisconsin…
“All Eyes on Me”
(Top athletes that everyone will be watching come bowl season)
1. Reggie Bush, USC – The Heisman winner playing in the BCS National Title game. There isn’t anyone else who will have this many peering eyes on him, especially since this could be his last college game. Reggie Bush has already placed himself amongst the greats with his 2005 season, but an MVP performance in the Grandaddy of them all will solidify his place as one of the true all time greats in college football.
2. Vince Young, Texas – The hype surrounding this year’s Rose Bowl is unlike any other, and just think of the storylines Bush vs. Young part II. Young may have lost out on the Heisman, but he was able to take home the Maxwell award for the best all-around player this season in college football. While the Maxwell doesn’t get the glory that the Heisman does, look for Young to make his statement January 4th. Young will be ready and his emotion will rub off on the Horns. Look for VY to do everything possible to pull off the win.
3. AJ Hawk, Ohio State – Given the task of slowing a talented Irish offense isn’t easy, but the weight will fall on Hawk’s shoulders on January 2nd. Even with the game’s hype, another recent storyline will add to the intrigue: Hawk is dating Irish QB Brady Quinn’s sister. While this hidden storyline won’t determine the winner on the field, I’m sure a few fans want to see how Hawk reacts after chasing down Quinn for a sack. I’m guessing the “I’m dating your sister” won’t make for much drama as Hawk and Quinn are professional on the field, but watching Hawk chase down Irish athletes from sideline to sideline will be, especially in his last college game before the NFL comes a knockin’.
4. Cody Hodges, Texas Tech – As mentioned before all eyes will be on the Texas Tech offense vs. the Bama defense in Dallas. And since Hodges is the leader of the Red Raider O here’s guessing people will wonder if he can make the big plays against a talented and dangerous defense. Hodges has plenty of weapons around him, including RB Taurean Henderson, but look for the Red Raiders to start off with a few dump plays and quick slants to wear down the Crimson Tide. After a few plays Hodges will sling a pass 30 yards down the middle: the Raiders will either get a big first down or Bama will be taking it back the other way for a pick six. In what will be the best Offense vs. defense matchup this bowl season, look for Hodges to be the center of attention.
5. Elvis Dumervil, Louisville – Mr. Dumervil is a monster. He’s a consensus All-American and was named the Big East player of the year. He has 20 sacks on the season, and will have the huge task of slowing down a very mobile Marcus Vick. Not only will Dumervil need a big day for Cardinal defense, but with star QB Brian Brohm out for the game the Louisville offense may not be as high-flying as normal, adding even more pressure on Dumervil. PickSix is guessing the man-beast will have a great game as usual, holding Marcus Vick in check while racking a few sacks along the way.
6. Head Coach Dan Hawkins, Boise State – In Hawkins last game as head coach for the Broncos, most fans will be excited to watch his last hooray on the Blue Turf. While Boise State fans will be waving goodbye, Colorado fans will be found grinning ear-to-ear while watching their next coach in action. Although the Hawkins move isn’t a shocker, it will be exciting to see the emotional send-off he receives from the Broncos faithful, in what is really a home Bowl game.
Others receiving votes: Zac Taylor, Nebraska – was the 30-3 win over CU signs of things to come, or a flash in the pan over a reeling Buffs team?...Brady Quinn, Notre Dame – will Quinn be able to shake off the month’s rust against one of the nation’s best defenses?...Pat White, West Virginia – Some might say he has been racking up yards against the Big East cream puffs. PickSix is guessing he will have a big day but the Georgia D will be too much to handle…Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma – Will Peterson build on the huge day he had against Oklahoma State? The guess is he will get his yards in a tough game against an underrated Oregon D.
Potential Upsets
(This time of year all bowl games could be upsets, but here are the top 6 that have the best chance of happening).
1. Iowa over Florida – Florida was riding an emotional thumping of FSU…but that was about three weeks ago and things can change with a few weeks rest. Iowa wrapped up its season on a 3 game winning streak while putting the pieces together on a somewhat disappointing season. Iowa has the QB to lead the charge in Drew Tate, so don’t be surprised to see a Hawkeye victory.
2. Northwestern over UCLA – The game will be a shootout with the prolific offenses on the field, but don’t be surprised if you see a Wildcat win here. UCLA had some narrow escapes all season long, and remember this team has already lost to a Wildcat squad once in Tucson, Arizona.
3. Houston over Kansas – The Jayhawks were amazing at home all season long, going 6-0 and shutting opposing offenses down. Problem is we’re not in Kansas anymore and the Cougars will have a decent amount of fans that made the trip from Houston to Fort Worth. Kevin Kolb leads a solid Cougar offense against an underrated Kansas defense. Don’t be surprised to see a Cougar win down in Forth Worth.
4. Oklahoma over Oregon – The Duck fans will laugh here, but look back just a year ago. A Pac10 team gets shut out of the BCS only to head down to San Diego and get thumped in the Holiday Bowl by a Big XII underdog. This year is no different, but I can’t see Oklahoma putting up points left and right, much like Texas Tech did to Cal last year. If Oklahoma is going to win here Adrian Peterson must get his fair share of carries and Rhett Bomar cannot force any passes. The PickSix guess is that the Sooners either win in a close one, or Oregon comes out so fired up about not being the BCS pick that they win by 14+. I’ll stick with option number one…
5. UTEP over Toledo – Both teams come in reeling after late season losses, but the bowl games are meant for a fresh start. UTEP was rolling all season long until November hit and if Mike Price can turn back the clock, UTEP should be able to take home a win in the GMAC Bowl.
6. Rutgers over Arizona State – Most fans would be shocked to see a Big East team travel into Arizona and knock off the Sun Devils. I’m one of those fans, but I can also envision a Scarlet Knight victory in their first Bowl game since 1978. A 27 year wait since your last post-season bowl trip? QB Ryan Hart will have this team fired up and the Rutgers faithful will be celebrating like no other. A 27 year wait one a bowl game played on December 27th…too eerie, and a win will cause an all out Party in New Jersey.
Others receiving votes: USF over NCSt…LSU over Miami…Akron over Memphis…Colorado State over Navy…Tulsa over Fresno State…
Potential Blowouts
1. Auburn over Wisconsin – The Badgers are an extremely talented team, but with the emotion revolving around Barry Alvarez’s last game as head coach it could easily wear them down. In the Badgers last home game Wisconsin lost 20-10 to Iowa and this Auburn team is one of the best teams in the nation right now. Led by Kenny Irons, the Tiger ground game may eat up the Badger front seven leaving the Badgers scrambling to score. If the Badgers are going to win they need Brian Calhoun to control the ball rather than relying on John Stocco to make the big plays, or else it could be a long afternoon in Orlando.
2. Southern Miss over Arkansas State – While neither team should be bragging about their 6-5 records, both teams did earn a trip to the bowl post-season and that should be commended. The only problem is that this may be the worst mismatch of the post-season and could get ugly. This is the same Arkansas State team that not only lost, but got blown out by Army, 38-10. Even if it is a blowout this game opens the Bowl Season on Tuesday night, and the diehards can’t wait for the bowl week(s) to get underway.
3. Georgia Tech over Utah – What could be the one positive for Utah’s bowl trip to San Francisco’s Emerald Bowl? They might get to hang out with former QB Alex Smith for the evening, but the rest of the trip could get messy. Georgia Tech may have had a rollercoaster season, but its last two efforts have been impressive (win over Miami and a close loss to Georgia). The Ramblin Wreck has a stingy defense and is led by senior QB Reggie Ball on offense. To make matters worse, Utes QB Brian Johnson will be out with a knee injury. Reggie Ball should have a field day with the Utah defense, but he may not need too if the GT defense can apply some constant pressure on the Utes offense.
4. Minnesota over Virginia – The Minnesota rushing attack is now a serious two headed monster with Laurence Maroney and Gary Russell providing a 1-2 punch. This Virginia team has underachieved this year, especially with a 6-5 record where two of those wins came against lowly Temple and Duke. Minnesota started off the season hot and the muffed punt against Wisconsin seemed to deflate the Golden Gopher season. Luckily for the Gophers they have had a few weeks off to regain their composure and a Gopher blowout wouldn’t surprise me one bit.
5. Clemson over Colorado – This is one of those games that I wouldn’t touch with a ten foot pole if I were a betting man. Colorado has lost it’s last 3 games by a combined score 130-22 while Clemson is on a three game winning streak. Since their last loss, Colorado has fired their old head coach in Gary Barnett, appointed Mike Hankowitz as interim coach for the Bowl game, and hired Dan Hawkins as their new coach for the 2006 season. The Buffs will either come out charged up as this game could be a great stepping stone for the 2006 season or they could hang their heads and Clemson wins in a blowout…take your pick.
6. Michigan over Nebraska – A matchup full of tradition that you can almost smell. This apple pie matchup could get ugly if the Huskers don’t bring their ‘A’ game to San Antonio. Sure, Nebraska looked mighty impressive with a 30-3 win over Colorado, but this Husker team still isn’t close to being a top 25 team. The Huskers barely beat Kansas State the week before and were smacked around the field by Kansas also this season. On the other hand the Wolverines lost a close one to Ohio State and were the only team to beat Penn State in a feisty Big Ten conference. Nebraska will need Zac Taylor to be effective when passing the ball and the Huskers can’t afford to abandon the rushing game or else the Michigan front seven will key in on the pass, making it a long day for the Husker faithful. Now, if this game was played 10 years ago we could be watching a potential national championship matchup…but the Alamo Bowl will do just fine.
Others receiving Votes: Cal over BYU…South Carolina over Missouri…
These should be some of the best bowl game matchups in this year’s Bowl post-season
Best QB matchup:
1. Vince Young, Texas vs. Matt Leinart, USC – Is there any really other choice? The other two Heisman invitees will face off in the Grandaddy of them all. Look for Young to take off on some draws and carry the Longhorns on his back, while Leinart will most likely be the puppeteer of the USC offense, making some key plays to Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith on play action passes or on short yardage opportunities.
Others to note:
2. Drew Olson, UCLA vs. Brett Basanez, Northwestern
3. Brady Quinn, Notre Dame vs. Troy Smith, Ohio State
4. Drew Tate, Iowa vs. Chris Leak, Florida
5. Cody Hodges, Texas Tech vs. Brodie Croyle, Alabama
6. Jordan Palmer, UTEP vs. Bruce Gradkowski, Toledo
Top RB matchup:
1. Kenny Irons, Auburn vs. Brian Calhoun, Wisconsin – Fans of the running game will love the Capital One Bowl as both Calhoun and Irons come into this game as their team’s workhorses. Calhoun racked up 21 touchdowns and an impressive 1421 yards on the season while Irons has been hot of late racking up over 1100 yards with a 5.1 average. Both defenses will be keying the run, but the difference will be each team’s offensive line. It will be a slobber knocker in Orlando come January 2nd.
Others to note:
2. Maurice Drew, UCLA vs. Tyrell Sutton, Northwestern
3. DeAngelo Williams, Memphis vs. Brett Biggs, Akron
4. BJ Mitchell, Nevada vs. Kevin Smith/Jason Peters, UCF
5. Marshawn Lynch, Cal vs. Curtis Brown, BYU
6. Kyle Bell, Colorado State vs. Lamar Owens/Adam Ballard, Colorado State
Top WR/TE matchup:
1. Maurice Stovall/Jeff Samardzija, Notre Dame vs. Santonio Holmes/Ted Ginn, Ohio State – Just another storyline to an already great Fiesta Bowl matchup will be the battle of the wide receiver play. The Ohio State tandem will double up as special teams return men while the Notre Dame duo will allow Quinn to pass it early an often. Look for all four athletes to contribute greatly with Samardzija adding a big play or two to his 2005 resume.
Others to note:
2. Dwayne Jarrett/Steve Smith/Dominique Byrd, USC vs. David Thomas/Billy Pittman/Limas Sweed, Texas
3. Calvin Johnson/Damarius Bilbo, Georgia Tech vs. John Madsen/Brian Hernandez, Utah
4. Derek Hagan/Rudy Burress/Terry Richardson, Arizona State vs. Tres Moses/Bryan Leonard/Clark Harris, Rutgers
5. Chad Jackson/Dallas Baker, Florida vs. Clinton Solomon/Ed Hinkel, Iowa
6. Sinorice Moss/Ryan Moore/Greg Olsen, Miami vs. Dwayne Bowe/Craig Davis/Early Doucet, LSU
Top Defense/Special Teams matchup:
1. Darryl Tapp, Virginia Tech DE vs. Elvis Dumervil, Louisville DE – You could also add VT defensive back Jimmy Williams here for a great defensive show between the teams’ three stars. Dumervil racked up 20 sacks this year while Tapp brought in 10 sacks and made the AP All-American 2nd team. Williams was a first team All-American but with Cardinals QB Brian Brohm out of the game Louisville may focus more on the rushing game with Michael Bush, making Williams’ day that much easier.
Others to Note:
2. Tom Zbikowski, Notre Dame PR vs. Ted Ginn, Ohio State PR
3. Paul Posluszny, Penn State LB vs. Ernie Sims, FSU LB
4. Miami, FL defense vs. LSU defense
5. Mason Crosby, Colorado K vs. Jad Dean, Clemson K
6. Cory Rodgers, TCU KR vs. DeAndre Jackson, Iowa State KR
Pick Six Crystal Ball – Picking the Bowl Winners:
**
New Orleans --- Southern Miss (6-5)
GMAC --- Toledo (8-3)
Pioneer PureVision Las Vegas --- California (7-4)
San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia --- Colorado State (6-5)
Fort Worth --- Kansas (6-5)
Sheraton Hawaii --- Nevada (8-3)
Motor City --- Akron (7-5)
Champs Sports --- Colorado (7-5)
Insight --- Arizona State (6-5)
MPC Computers --- Boston College (8-3)
MasterCard Alamo --- Michigan (7-4)
Emerald Bowl --- Georgia Tech (7-4)
Pacific Life Holiday --- Oklahoma (7-4)
Gaylord Hotels Music City --- Minnesota (7-4)
Vitalis Sun --- UCLA (9-2)
Independence --- South Carolina (7-4)
Chick-fil-A Peach --- Miami (9-2)
Meineke Car Care --- NC State (6-5)
AutoZone Liberty --- Fresno State (8-4)
EV1.net Houston --- Iowa State (7-4)
AT&T Cotton --- Texas Tech (9-2)
Outback --- Iowa (7-4)
Toyota Gator --- Virginia Tech (10-2)
Capital One --- Auburn (9-2)
Tostitos Fiesta --- Ohio State (9-2)
Nokia Sugar --- Georgia (10-2)
FedEx Orange --- Penn State (10-1)
The Rose Bowl Game Presented by Citi --- USC (12-0)
** PS2: Pick Six Parting Shot – Enjoy the bowl season folks and remember to blink every once and while if you are trying to watch all of the bowl games. I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season and a great New Years! Look for the Pick Six column to stay true to the college football fans with plenty of off-season updates…Please send questions for a potential Pick Six off-season mailbag to PickSixSports@gmail.com
Matt Shaw is a NCAA staff writer for www.football.com. You can reach him at: matthewrshaw@gmail.com.
