Tuesday
Champs Sports Bowl
6:30 PM ET ESPN: #22 West Virginia 9-3 (-2.5) vs. North Carolina State 8-4 - While their overall records might not show it, both of these teams had a shot at winning their conference and playing in a BCS bowl game. The Mountaineers will be playing shorthanded as their starting center and two of their defensive backups are out for academic reasons. The rest of their team is led by QB Geno Smith, who was 1st in the Big East in completion percentage, yards per attempt, and QB passer rating. RB Noel Devine came into the season as a Heisman Trophy candidate, but didn't live up to the hype as he only managed 73.8 ypg rushing. He's only scored 2 TDs in his last 6 games and will need to bring his "A" game against the Wolfpack's 12th ranked run defense. NC State has allowed a combined -16 rushing yards in their last two games. Now most of that is because of sacks, which the college game counts against rushing yards, but that is still a very impressive feat. The Mountaineers will most likely run the ball as much as possible and try to use play-action to attack a Wolfpack secondary that has only 1 INT in their last six games. Offensively for NC State, it's all about QB Russell Wilson, who led the ACC in passing yards per game and in passing TDs. He's a duel threat as he averaged 31.8 ypg rushing and led the team in rushing TDs with 9. How he and RB Mustafa Greene handle the Mountaineers run defense will go a long way towards determining who wins this game. West Virginia lost three of the four games that they allowed a team to rush for more than 100 yards and the only one they did win was by three points. Bill Stewart, who is on the outs with the WV program, is 2-1 in bowl games, while Tom O'Brien is 6-2.
Mountaineers Offense: 376.6 ypg (64th), 5.4 yards/play (69th), & 44.6|PERCENT| 3rd Down (32nd)
Pass: 214.4 ypg (66th), 7.5 ypa (39th), 65.0|PERCENT| comp. (19th), 23 TDs, & 7 INTs
Run: 162.2 ypg (49th), 3.88 yards/carry (82nd), & 18 TDs
Wolfpack Defense: 340.5 ypg (35th), 5.3 yards/play (50th), & 32.1|PERCENT| 3rd Down (7th)
Pass: 227.5 ypg (79th), 7.4 ypa (81st), 61.0|PERCENT| comp. (81st), 20 TDs, & 8 INTs
Run: 113.0 ypg (12th), 3.32 yards/carry (13th), & 12 TDs
Wolfpack Offense: 405.6 ypg (40th), 5.3 yards/play (73rd), & 43.6|PERCENT| 3rd Down (39th)
Pass: 281.7 ypg (19th), 6.8 ypa (74th), 58.3|PERCENT| comp. (67th), 26 TDs, & 14 INTs
Run: 123.9 ypg (94th), 3.49 yards/carry (98th), & 17 TDs
Mountaineers Defense: 251.3 ypg (3rd), 4.2 yards/play (3rd), & 24.7|PERCENT| 3rd Down (2nd)
Pass: 166.3 ypg (11th), 5.7 ypa (6th), 57.5|PERCENT| comp. (52nd), 10 TDs, & 12 INTs
Run: 85.1 ypg (2nd), 2.73 yards/carry (3rd), & 3 TDs
Insight Bowl
10:00 PM ET ESPN: #12 Missouri 10-2 (-2.5) vs. Iowa 7-5 - These two teams are from the same part of the country, but couldn't be farther apart when it comes to momentum. Missouri won its last three games to cap off a ten win regular season which saw them beat the then #1 BCS ranked team Oklahoma. Iowa, on the other hand, lost its last three games to cap off a seven win regular season which saw them fall out of the top 25 and lose to a three win Minnesota team. To make matters worse, WR Derrell Johnson-Koulianos (drugs) and RB Adam Robinson (team policies) were suspended from the team going into this game. Without their top WR and RB, Iowa may find it tough to move the ball. QB Ricky Stanzi, 10th in the nation in QB passer rating (160.5), will have to go to WR Marvin McNutt and TE Allen Reisner much more often than he is used to. Replacing Robinson will be frosh Marcus Coker, who played in only 6 games this season. Expect this Mizzou defense that was gashed for rushing yards down the stretch (192.2 ypg over last 5 games) to commit to stopping Coker. For Mizzou offensively, QB Blaine Gabbert just needs to continue to play at the level he showed in the regular season. The Hawkeyes have a talented defensive line and will likely shutdown the likes of RB De'Vion Moore, Henry Josey, and Kendial Lawrence. Their secondary doesn't do well against QBs with accurate arms, which should help as Gabbert's accuracy can get shaky at times. If he can avoid the pass rush and find his WRs T.J. Moe & Jerrell Jackson along with TE Michael Egnew, the Tigers should be able to move the ball. This Hawkeyes pass defense will likely drop everyone into coverage and try to get pressure with just their front four. If this proves successful, it could be a long night for Gabbert and company. Gary Pinkel is 4-3 in bowl games for Mizzou, while Kirk Ferentz is 5-3.
Tigers Offense: 401.1 ypg (45th), 5.7 yards/play (46th), & 36.7|PERCENT| 3rd Down (83rd)
Pass: 238.2 ypg (43rd), 6.6 ypa (87th), 62.6|PERCENT| comp. (36th), 16 TDs, & 8 INTs
Run: 162.9 ypg (48th), 4.77 yards/carry (31st), & 26 TDs
Hawkeyes Defense: 317.1 ypg (15th), 4.8 yards/play (16th), & 38.7|PERCENT| 3rd Down (51st)
Pass: 213.6 ypg (55th), 6.1 ypa (14th), 60.9|PERCENT| comp. (79th), 11 TDs, & 17 INTs
Run: 103.5 ypg (6th), 3.29 yards/carry (11th), & 11 TDs
Hawkeyes Offense: 379.4 ypg (61st), 6.1 yards/play (28th), & 45.6|PERCENT| 3rd Down (26th)
Pass: 237.4 ypg (45th), 8.5 ypa (18th), 64.0|PERCENT| comp. (27th), 26 TDs, & 4 INTs
Run: 142.0 ypg (77th), 4.14 yards/carry (65th), & 14 TDs
Tigers Defense: 350.7 ypg (42nd), 4.9 yards/play (25th), & 39.1|PERCENT| 3rd Down (55th)
Pass: 203.8 ypg (38th), 5.8 ypa (8th), 56.7|PERCENT| comp. (36th), 13 TDs, & 16 INTs
Run: 146.9 ypg (55th), 3.94 yards/carry (47th), & 10 TDs
Wednesday
Texas Bowl
6:00 PM ET ESPN: Illinois 6-6 vs. Baylor 7-5 (-1.5) - This bowl game features two programs on the way back up. For Illinois its been two years since they were in a bowl game. Their offense with QB Nathan Scheelhaase and RB Mikel Leshoure should have no trouble carving up Baylor's 98th ranked defense. Scheelhaase has a 13/1 TD/INT ratio over his last six games, but it should hardly matter as the Bears pass defense is down right awful. More importantly, the Baylor defense is ranked 72nd against the run, an area where the Illini offense excels. Over their last three games Illinois was 3rd in the nation in rushing attempts per game (58.0) with a whopping 345.0 yards per game in those contests. For Baylor, this is their first bowl game in 16 years, since they played in the '94 Alamo Bowl. QB Robert Griffin III is the biggest reason for their success as he was 7th in the nation in total offensive yards per game (315.5) and 13th in the completion percentage (66.3|PERCENT|). The Illini pass defense was decent for most of the season, but struggled in their last three games with a 5/1 TD/INT ratio. The Bears have five WRs who all average over 30 ypg, so its not like they can key on stopping just lead WR Kendall Wright. The Illini run defense allowed 9 rushing TDs over their last four games, a fact that should benefit RB Jay Finley and Griffin. Expect a high scoring affair in what should be a home game of sorts for Baylor. Both Ron Zook and Art Briles are 0-3 in bowl games.
Illini Offense: 385.8 ypg (57th), 5.6 yards/play (54th), & 40.5|PERCENT| 3rd Down (56th)
Pass: 143.4 ypg (115th), 6.6 ypa (87th), 56.3|PERCENT| comp. (83rd), 18 TDs, & 12 INTs
Run: 242.3 ypg (13th), 5.11 yards/carry (17th), & 25 TDs
Bears Defense: 427.3 ypg (98th), 5.7 yards/play (70th), & 43.2|PERCENT| 3rd Down (94th)
Pass: 267.0 ypg (114th), 7.2 ypa (64th), 65.5|PERCENT| comp. (113th), 16 TDs, & 10 INTs
Run: 160.3 ypg (72nd), 4.20 yards/carry (64th), & 23 TDs
Bears Offense: 478.5 ypg (13th), 6.6 yards/play (14th), & 41.2|PERCENT| 3rd Down (52nd)
Pass: 278.0 ypg (20th), 7.8 ypa (30th), 65.9|PERCENT| comp. (13th), 22 TDs, & 8 INTs
Run: 200.5 ypg (23rd), 5.48 yards/carry (9th), & 24 TDs
Illini Defense: 344.2 ypg (38th), 5.3 yards/play (50th), & 37.4|PERCENT| 3rd Down (40th)
Pass: 212.8 ypg (54th), 6.9 ypa (53rd), 57.0|PERCENT| comp. (40th), 19 TDs, & 11 INTs
Run: 131.3 ypg (29th), 3.89 yards/carry (43rd), & 13 TDs
Alamo Bowl
9:15 PM ET ESPN: #14 Oklahoma State 10-2 (-5.5) vs. Arizona 7-5 - This game features two of the better passers in the nation, OK State's Brandon Weeden and Arizona's Nick Foles. Both are top ten in passing yards per game and completion percentage. What separates the two offenses is the fact that the Cowboys have a good running game to compliment Weeden. RB Kendall Hunter ranks 8th in rushing ypg (126.3) and 11th in rushing TDs on the season (16). The other big part to their offense is Biletnikoff award winner, WR Justin Blackmon, who led the nation in receiving ypg (151.4) and receiving TDs (18). It should come as no surprise that OK State is 1st in the nation in offensive yards per game. The Arizona defense will have a hard time slowing this unit, especially Hunter. Over their last four games, all losses, the Wildcats run defense allowed 11 TDs and 233.3 ypg. Offensively, Foles will be going up against a pass defense that ranks 115th nationally. That ranking is somewhat misleading as teams pass against OK State almost exclusively as they try to come back. In the first half of games the Cowboys rank 45th in opposing QB passer rating, 72nd in completion percentage allowed, and 34th in pass plays of 15 yards or more. Still, Foles and WR Juron Criner should have big games. On the ground, RBs Nic Grigsby and Keola Antolin will need to average more than 3 yards per carry, something they weren't able to accomplish in their last three games. These two teams will play a home-and-home starting next season, so this is a preview of sorts for the 2011 and 2012 seasons. Mike Gundy is 2-2 in bowl games, while MIke Stoops is 1-1.
Cowboys Offense: 537.6 ypg (1st), 7.0 yards/play (6th), & 44.4|PERCENT| 3rd Down (34th)
Pass: 354.7 ypg (2nd), 8.7 ypa (13th), 67.6|PERCENT| comp. (7th), 34 TDs, & 14 INTs
Run: 182.9 ypg (29th), 5.10 yards/carry (18th), & 25 TDs
Wildcats Defense: 342.8 ypg (37th), 4.9 yards/play (25th), & 42.1|PERCENT| 3rd Down (80th)
Pass: 206.1 ypg (43rd), 6.6 ypa (41st), 55.9|PERCENT| comp. (29th), 16 TDs, & 9 INTs
Run: 136.7 ypg (39th), 3.56 yards/carry (25th), & 15 TDs
Wildcats Offense: 445.2 ypg (23rd), 6.1 yards/play (28th), & 49.1|PERCENT| 3rd Down (13th)
Pass: 310.0 ypg (9th), 7.8 ypa (30th), 68.6|PERCENT| comp. (6th), 24 TDs, & 9 INTs
Run: 135.2 ypg (85th), 4.09 yards/carry (71st), & 20 TDs
Cowboys Defense: 412.8 ypg (90th), 5.0 yards/play (31st), & 43.6|PERCENT| 3rd Down (97th)
Pass: 275.5 ypg (115th), 6.4 ypa (29th), 62.3|PERCENT| comp. (93rd), 23 TDs, & 16 INTs
Run: 137.3 ypg (41st), 3.57 yards/carry (27th), & 15 TDs
Thursday
Music City Bowl
6:40 PM ET ESPN: North Carolina 7-5 (-2) vs. Tennessee 6-6 - After losing 6 of their first 8 games, it's pretty impressive that Tennessee was able to get bowl eligible under first year coach Derek Dooley. What makes this game a little more interesting is that Dooley canceled two upcoming games against this UNC team, so that the Vols could soften up their out of conference schedule. That fact wasn't lost on the Music City Bowl committee as they decided pit the two against each other. The Tar Heels have had a season marred by off the field issues and multiple suspensions, but QB T.J. Yates has been there through it all and had a very productive season. He was 2nd in the ACC in passing ypg (265.3), 2nd in QB passer rating (148.8), and 1st in completion percentage (67.6|PERCENT|). If you take out the games against Miami and Virginia Tech, he has an 18/1 TD/INT ratio. He'll have to carry most of the load in this game as lead RB Johnny White is out with a broken collarbone. The Vols pass defense played well down the stretch with a 4/10 TD/INT ratio in their last four games, but they never faced a QB of Yates caliber. Offensively for the Vols, Tyler Bray has been inconsistent at the QB spot with a 54.7|PERCENT| completion rate. Though, to his credit over his last four games he passed for over 300 yards a game with a 12/4 TD/INT ratio. RB Tauren Poole is the main rusher for a Tennessee run game that struggled throughout the season. He did get hot at the end of the season with 5 rushing TDs and over 90 yards rushing per game in his last four games. Butch Davis is 4-2 in bowl games, while Derek Dooley is 1-0.
Tar Heels Offense: 390.1 ypg (51st), 5.9 yards/play (35th), & 39.5|PERCENT| 3rd Down (66th)
Pass: 266.5 ypg (25th), 8.3 ypa (21st), 67.5|PERCENT| comp. (8th), 18 TDs, & 8 INTs
Run: 123.6 ypg (95th), 3.61 yards/carry (93rd), & 16 TDs
Volunteers Defense: 381.9 ypg (70th), 5.4 yards/play (56th), & 39.8|PERCENT| 3rd Down (64th)
Pass: 229.3 ypg (82nd), 6.9 ypa (53rd), 57.4|PERCENT| comp. (50th), 13 TDs, & 17 INTs
Run: 152.7 ypg (63rd), 4.12 yards/carry (61st), & 21 TDs
Volunteers Offense: 365.8 ypg (74th), 5.8 yards/play (38th), & 36.4|PERCENT| 3rd Down (88th)
Pass: 249.8 ypg (35th), 8.0 ypa (26th), 56.4|PERCENT| comp. (81st), 22 TDs, & 12 INTs
Run: 116.1 ypg (100th), 3.68 yards/carry (89th), & 14 TDs
Tar Heels Defense: 338.5 ypg (32nd), 5.1 yards/play (36th), & 39.4|PERCENT| 3rd Down (59th)
Pass: 204.7 ypg (39th), 6.4 ypa (29th), 60.1|PERCENT| comp. (72nd), 19 TDs, & 16 INTs
Run: 133.8 ypg (36th), 3.91 yards/carry (44th), & 10 TDs
Holiday Bowl
10:00 PM ET ESPN: #18 Nebraska 10-3 (-14) vs. Washington 6-6 - Jake Locker vs the "Blackshirts" part 2 is more or less what this bowl game amounts to. In round 1 he was 4/20 for 71 yards, 1 TD, and 2 INTs. He'll play better in this game because there's almost no way he can play any worse than he did the first time around. If he can play much, much better there's a chance that he can improve his stock in the upcoming NFL draft. One thing Locker and Huskies can be confident about is their ability to run the ball against this Nebraska defense. They ran for 175 yards and 2 TDs in round 1 and since then the "Blackshirts" have yet to show real improvement in their run defense. What teams have trouble doing against Nebraska is passing. They've allowed only two teams to pass for more than 225 yards against them all season. CB Prince Amukamara will give any WR fits and it's likely that Jermaine Kearse will have a quiet game matched up against him. One player that is virtually certain to not have a quiet game is Nebraska QB Taylor Martinez. Martinez should be over the ankle injury that plagued him at the end of the regular season and back to the form he showed in Round 1 (150 yards passing, 137 rushing, & 4 total TDs). WR Niles Paul broke his foot over a month ago, but hopes to play in this game. Either way, it's likely that the Cornhuskers keep the ball on the ground with RBs Roy Helu Jr. and Rex Burkhead, who combined for over 200 yards and 3 TDs in that first game. Bo Pelini is 3-0 in bowl games, while this will be Steve Sarkisian's first bowl game as a head coach.
Cornhuskers Offense: 414.2 ypg (35th), 6.3 yards/play (21st), & 42.1|PERCENT| 3rd Down (49th)
Pass: 154.6 ypg (109th), 7.7 ypa (35th), 58.6|PERCENT| comp. (64th), 15 TDs, & 7 INTs
Run: 259.6 ypg (9th), 5.69 yards/carry (5th), & 32 TDs
Huskies Defense: 401.2 ypg (84th), 5.8 yards/play (77th), & 41.6|PERCENT| 3rd Down (76th)
Pass: 202.4 ypg (37th), 7.2 ypa (64th), 60.9|PERCENT| comp. (79th), 14 TDs, & 11 INTs
Run: 198.8 ypg (103rd), 4.88 yards/carry (100th), & 32 TDs
Huskies Offense: 364.4 ypg (75th), 5.6 yards/play (54th), & 31.4|PERCENT| 3rd Down (113th)
Pass: 200.3 ypg (77th), 6.7 ypa (80th), 55.7|PERCENT| comp. (93rd), 19 TDs, & 9 INTs
Run: 164.2 ypg (45th), 4.59 yards/carry (41st), & 13 TDs
Cornhuskers Defense: 304.2 ypg (10th), 4.6 yards/play (9th), & 29.2|PERCENT| 3rd Down (3rd)
Pass: 159.9 ypg (7th), 5.6 ypa (5th), 49.6|PERCENT| comp. (3rd), 13 TDs, & 19 INTs
Run: 144.3 ypg (52nd), 3.77 yards/carry (40th), & 11 TDs