Bowl Pics 2007-2008

This will be the last post for the college football season. It has been a fun, exciting year to say the least. The App State upset over Michigan, the Stanford win over So. Cal, the good season by Kansas, and the good season by Indiana. The way that being #2 was the worst thing to happen. No doubt, one of the most unpredictable seasons in recent memory, if ever.

I'll be breaking down the National Title game with LSU and Ohio State, the Sugar Bowl with Georgia and Hawaii, and the Clemson vs Auburn game.
I'll also predict the rest of the bowl winners, and the winners of the lower division title games.

National Title game

LSU
The Bayou Bengals got here with a tough defense, powerful offense, and some gutsy, and questionable, coaching decisions. After a heartbreaker against West division rival Arkansas (or Ar-Kansas as Les Miles put it), the Tigers were able to come back and beat Tennessee in the SEC Title game.

The offense puts up about 39 points per game, nearly 220 yards rushing and 180 yards passing. The offense is led by QB Matt Flynn (183-332-10, 2,233 yards, and 17 TDs) and RB Jacob Hester (204 carries, 1,017 yards and 11 TDs) and WR Early Doucet (50 catches, 474 yards and 4 TDs…also didn’t start playing till later in the season).

The defense is tough. They are giving up about 20 points per game, on 103 yards rushing and 180 passing.

They are led by All-American DT Glenn Dorsey (64 tackles, 6 sacks), FS All-American Craig Steltz (97 tackles, 6 INTs, 1 sack), DE Kirston Pittman (7 sacks, 70 tackles) and LB Ali Highsmith (93 tackles, 1 sack).

Ohio State
The Buckeyes won the Big 10 this year with a tough defense led by All-American linebacker James Laurenitis, and a tough offense headed by running back Chris Wells. To get to the National Title game, the Buckeyes ran through pretty much everyone, everyone except Illinois (who is in the Rose Bowl). They also squeezed out a tough win over arch rival Michigan…again.

The offense is averaging about 32 points per game, on 200 rushing yards, and 196 passing yards.

The Buckeye offense is led by Wells (254 carries for 1,463 yards and 14 TDs) and an out-of-nowhere Quarterback in Todd Boeckman (176-273-12 for 2,171 yards and 23 TDs). Boeckman’s favorite target has been WR Brian Robiskie (50 catches, 885 yards, 10 TDs).

The defense is giving up about 11 points per game, 77 yards on the ground and 148 through the air. The D is led by Laurenitis (103 tackels, 5 sacks, 2 INTs), DlinemanVernon Gholston (13 sacks, 34 tackles), and CB Malcolm Jenkins (3 INTs, 44 tackles).

The Low-Down
This is a game will answer two questions: 1) Does power win titles, or is it team speed, and 2) Can Ohio State hand with SEC teams, and can they help erase the embarrassing loss to Florida last year.

LSU is going in proving that they deserve to be there, since they lost 2 games, and will be looking to make Les Miles’ decision to stay look like a genius one.

My Prediction
My think the winner of this game will have the running game to think. Ohio State has Chris Wells, as well as Maurice Wells. LSU will rely on Hester, Keiland Williams, and Trindon Holliday.

The winner will also have the QB that makes zero mistakes, and makes 1-2 big plays; also, for LSU, Ryan Perriloux may play a big role in this one, and will try to prove the theory that Big 10 teams, like Ohio State, can’t cover a mobile QB (the way Illinois used Juice Williams in their win over OSU).

Also, the prim and proper style of Jim Tressle against the outspoken, brash, gambler style of Les Miles will be another thing to watch.

This should be an entertaining game to say the list…sit back, relax, and enjoy.

LSU 34

OSU 21

Sugar Bowl

Hawaii
The Warriors are the only team in football that is undefeated, with their biggest wins coming against WAC rival Boise State and PAC-10 up-and-coming Washington. You could also add the San Jose State football field as stiff competition, since that did slow their offense down.

The offense is averaging about 46 points per game on 450 yards passing and a non existent running game (79 ypg). The Run n Shoot is led by gunslinger, and Heisman finalist, QB Colt Brennan (337-472-14, 4,174.yards and 38 TDs). Brennan has a threesome of wideouts to choose from; Davone Bess (101 catches for 1,213 yards and 12 TDs), Ryan Grice-Mullen (100 catches, 1,335 yards and 12 TDs), and Jason Rivers (82 catches, 1,069 yards and 13 TDs).

The defense is giving up about 24 points per game, 132 yards on the ground and 217 yards through the air. The D is led by Solomon Elimimian (127 tackles, 1.5 sacks), Adam Leonard (100 tackles, 2 sacks, 4 INTs), Myron Newberry (4 INTs), and DavidVeikune (7 sacks).

Georgia
The Bulldogs have gotten to the Sugar Bowl by winning their last 6 games, and having LSU go to the title game.

The offense is averaging 32 points per game, 180 yards on the ground and 200 through the air. The O is led by freshman phenom RB Knowshon Moreno (239 attempts, 1,273 yards and 12 TDs) and QB Matthew Stafford (180-325-9 for 2,348 yards and 18 TDs), and WR Sean Bailey (37 catches, 597 yards and 4 TDs).

The defense is giving up 21 points per game, 120 yards on the ground and 205 through the air. The young Bulldog defense is led by LB Danell Ellerbe (85 tackles, 4.5 sacks), DE Marcus Howard (37 tackles, 7.5 sacks), and S Kelin Johnson (45 tackles, 4 INTs).

The Low-Down

This is a repeat of the Fiesta Bowl of last year, or at least that is what it is billed as. A question will be answered; is it a fast, high powered offense that can score at will compete with a team that has team speed on defense, and can pound it with the running game?

Hawaii is looking to prove that they are for real, and that lightning can strike twice. Georgia is looking to cap off a good season with a major bowl win to carry momentum into next year.

My Prediction

I just don’t think Hawaii has the defense to withstand the running game of Moreno, Thomas Brown, and Kregg Lumpkin (watch for him, I have a funny feeling he may have a big game). Also, Stafford tends to play well in bowl games, look at his performance last year.

Hawaii I think will keep it close, but I don’t think they have the defense, plus, they have yet to go up against an athletic defense like this.

Georgia 35

Hawaii 21

The other bowls
Navy over Utah
Fla. Atl. over Memphis
Cincinatti over S. Miss.
Nevada over New Mexico
BYU over UCLA
E. Carolina over Boise State
C. Mich. over Perdue
Texas over Arizona State
BC over Mich. State
Houston over TCU
Oregon State over Maryland
Wake Forest over UConn.
Miss. State over UCF
Penn. State over Texas A&M
Colorado over Alabama
Air Force over Cal
Fresno State over GT
S. Florida over Oregon
Kentucky over FSU
Okl. State over Indiana
Auburn over Clemson
Wisconsin over Tenn.
Arkansas over Mizzou
Texas Tech over UVA
Florida over Michigan
S. Cal over Illinois
Oklahoma over W. Va.
VT over Kansas
Rutgers over Ball State
Tulsa over Bowling Green

and for the lower division titles
App State over Delaware
Valdosta State over NW Mizzou State
Mount Union over Wis.-Whitewater



Previous 14 Weeks: 100-39 (72%)
Week 1: 8-3
Week 2: 9-0
Week 3: 6-3
Week 4: 7-1
Week 5: 7-2
Week 6: 7-2
Week 7: 6-3
Week 8: 8-4
Week 9: 7-4
Week 10: 8-4
Week 11: 7-5
Week 12:8-4
Week 13: 9-5
Week 14: 12-4