2010 Bowl Matchups: 50 Burning Questions Heading Into Bowl Season
The 2010 bowl games have been announced now that the college football regular season is finished. Many of the predicted games fell into place. We all saw an Auburn-Oregon title game coming, as well as a Wisconsin-TCU Rose Bowl matchup, among others.
Other matchups, however, took us by surprise. Boise State versus Utah in an early bowl game? How about 7-5 Michigan managing to get in a January bowl game and two teams, both from the MAC, ending up being the ones left out.
With the bowl picture set, many questions can emerge, not only with the BCS system—which will happen pretty much every year—but with each bowl game. Which matchups will be great to watch? Which ones will be blowouts? Which ones will be defensive lockdowns? The answers to these and more are among the 50 questions heading into bowl season that will be broken down in this slideshow.
Will Boise State Show Up Against Utah?
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With how bummed they have to be feeling after how far they fell, the question is if if the Broncos will show up. Utah struggled badly in the final four games of the season and did not look like the same team from earlier in the season. As a result, Boise State might just go out, throw some points on the scoreboard, and play some very uninspired football, and I wouldn't blame them. The Broncos keep getting the shaft.
How Impressive Is Utah's Bowl Win Streak?
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I do have a strong reason Boise needs to step up, though: Say what you want about Utah, but the Utes winning streak in bowl games is very impressive. Some of the wins were less impressive, such as the ones against Tulsa and 6-6 USC, but since their last loss in 1996, they have won nine straight bowl games.
The most impressive one of the bunch? A win against 12-1 SEC champs Alabama, 31-17. Utah may have struggled and it may not be the matchup either wants, but both sides need the win and it'll be a hard-fought game.
What Could Temple Have Done To Get in a Bowl Game?
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With 72 teams bowl eligible, two ended up getting the shaft. One was 6-6 Western Michigan, which squeaked into the picture when no one saw it getting into a game. The other was fellow MAC team Temple, which went 8-4.
So basically an 8-4 team doesn't get in while a myriad of 6-6 teams, including one like Middle Tennessee State, get in. This is a team that beat BCS bowl invitee Connecticut, so it's not as if the Owls only beat nobodies. They at least should have went in over a Sun Belt team.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Why Three MAC-Sun Belt Matchups?
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The MAC had four teams invited and the Sun Belt had three. Yet, despite the variation that the bowl games allow, three games pit these two conferences together. The GoDaddy.com Bowl was the only one which required a MAC/Sun Belt matchup, so I'm not entirely sure what happened with the other two.
Want my explanation for why they pitted Ohio against Troy, Miami of Ohio against Middle Tennessee, and Toledo against Florida International? There are 35 bowl games so even sportswriters need a couple breaks in there. I'll still be watching the MAC, though. Anyone who signs up to face Ohio State year in and year out you have to give a bit of respect to.
How Mad Should Boise State Be?
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The mid-major's curse, especially Boise State's, is that the Broncos are not playing major teams. Bowl games are designed to fix this, yet the past two years they faced TCU. This year? They're playing Utah, a team from the Mountain West with about the same credentials as them. Again.
They'll be playing in the Las Vegas Bowl after looking to have the inside track to a tough bowl matchup. Instead, a loss to Nevada apparently makes them a bad team to those that select the bowl games. It leads to another question about Boise.
What Programs Will Be Bowling Next Year?
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When over half the teams in the country get invited to a bowl game, it makes those left out only want to work harder to get in next year. Of those teams, a couple stand out that will be back next year. California is coming off its first losing season since 2001, and with the Pac-10's struggles, the Bears should not have a problem getting over .500.
Temple, per the reasons I've already stated, is another that will be in next year. A third one that looks to bounce back is Houston. The Cougars air-it-out-offense is usually able to get a winning record, and should be able to get back over the hump next year.
Which Teams Have Home-Field Advantage?
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Even though bowl games are situated throughout the United States, many teams still get some form of home-field advantage due to proximity. The Poinsettia Bowl takes place in San Diego, with Navy facing San Diego State, and, as usual, the Hawaii Bowl sets up Hawaii in a home matchup against Tulsa.
The Little Caesars Pizza Bowl could be a proximity advantage, as nearby Toledo faces Florida International. Beyond that, the Maryland-ECU matchup is in DC, the Illinois-Baylor matchup is in Houston, the Kansas State-Syracuse matchup is in New York, and there are many others beyond that. We will see how much of an impact any of these have.
Which Game Will Be The Biggest Shootout?
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This one's easy. In the Hawaii-Tulsa match, you have two top-10 offenses, and Hawaii in particular is all about throwing the ball. On top of that, Tulsa's defense is near the bottom of the league, allowing almost 450 yards a game. These two teams could very well break 100 combined points.
It's a shame it's on Christmas Eve so the game won't get as many viewers as it should.
Will Yankee Stadium Hosting a Bowl Work?
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Yankee Stadium is hosting the Syracuse-Kansas State game in the Pinstripe Bowl. Syracuse has a top-five defense, allowing under 300 yards a game, but its offense only averages just over 300 and it is dead last when you take out teams not in bowl games. Kansas State's defense isn't very good, but the offense can work at times.
In a classic battle of offense versus defense, most likely being played in snowy conditions, it should be great fun in the stadium. Yankee Stadium worked fine in the Army-Notre Dame game. No reason why it wouldn't here.
Can The Big East Surprise Us?
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Looking past the UConn-Oklahoma game, the Big East has a pretty favorable schedule and could surprise us as a result. Pittsburgh shouldn't have problems against 6-6 Kentucky, West Virginia has a competitive matchup against NC State and, as well as the Syracuse-Kansas State game, South Florida faces another 6-6 team, Clemson.
Despite the conference's struggles this year, it could easily go 4-2 with those matchups.
Most Competitive December Bowl Game?
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If I have to pick one in the myriad of December bowl games which would be the most competitive, I'd go with West Virginia against NC State. Both teams have something to prove, and it will be enjoyable to see if NC State can break through West Virginia's lockdown defense. West Virginia easily beat its ACC opponent in the regular season, and NC State easily beat its Big East opponent.
What Bowl Will Be The Biggest Blowout?
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The Alamo Bowl will be a blowout, no question. Arizona, at 7-5, is lucky to be in a bowl game at all after losing four straight, and Oklahoma State has the best offense in the country. If you want to see a team humiliate another on the national stage, here's your matchup.
Which 6-6 Team Will Win a Bowl Game?
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The team most likely to win would be in the first matchup, naturally, as it pits 6-6 Brigham Young against 6-6 UTEP. Based on the matchup here, I like BYU winning, as the Cougars have held their own against some tough teams and are looking to win one more bowl game in the Mountain West before becoming independent. UTEP hasn't faced the caliber of teams BYU has.
Sun Bowl, Miami Vs. Notre Dame, Which Program's Fallen Further?
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When you think of Miami and Notre Dame, you think of football dominance. Put the two in a bowl game 10-to-20 years ago and you'd instantly assume it was the national championship game. Alas, both are 7-5 and are playing in the Sun Bowl on December 31.
Notre Dame seems to be rebounding a bit under Brian Kelly, but, then again, Ty Willingham and Charlie Weis had good first years as well. That doesn't tell us anything. Miami, meanwhile, just fired its latest coach and seems to be getting worse. People knew Notre Dame would struggle another couple years, but Miami's expectations were so much higher that it has fallen farther of late.
Will The Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl Be a Good Lead-in To The Title Game?
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The short answer to this is: not really. The longer one is rather complicated. Nevada is, like Auburn and Oregon, a dynamic offensive team that has just enough defense to win. Boston College, on the other hand, is nothing like those three; the Eagles have a good defense but very little offense, and, as such, this will be a game to determine which breaks.
Given Nevada's win over Boise State, this game is easy to predict, unlike the title game the following day.
Will The Gator Bowl Be Rich Rodriguez's Last Game As Michigan Coach?
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Michigan, despite its 7-5 record, pulls into a January bowl game, facing Mississippi State in the Gator Bowl. If Rodriguez loses, and even if he wins, it seems like this will be his last game. He never got on the fans' good side there since he was never a Michigan guy. Continued losses to Ohio State are inexcusable, no matter how good or bad a team may be otherwise.
Will ESPNs Coverage Surpass Fox?
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Starting this year, ESPN is taking over all bowl games. Only three will be broadcast elsewhere, including the Notre Dame-Miami game on CBS. I'm optimistic that it will work out, hoping that there isn't any burnout by discussing every bowl game and providing commentary.
The only people that may be annoyed are fans of Northwestern and Texas Tech. That game is on ESPNU, which not many people have.
How Bad Will Maryland Exploit ECU's Defense?
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This isn't saying anything on Maryland's offense so much as East Carolina's defense. It is dead-last nationally and Maryland has put up 60 points against struggling defenses before (Wake Forest). It's a game that could potentially get very ugly very quickly.
Why Is The Big Ten Playing Everywhere But The Midwest?
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For places to go, the bowl games have somewhere for everyone; games in DC, New York, Florida, Texas, California, etc. If you're a Big Ten fan, though, you're out of luck. There are no bowl games even close to any Big Ten schools, with the closest ones probably in Louisiana or Florida. I know that home-field advantage is trying to be avoided, but surely we could put one Big Ten bowl game in Chicago, Pittsburgh, or somewhere, and give them some love?
Which Bowl Newcomer Will Play Best?
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There are several teams that have not played a bowl game in some time, such as Army. Of these teams, the one to watch will be the Baylor Bears. They've played tough all year and face 6-6 Illinois in what looks to be a perfect matchup for them. It helps that the game is in Texas.
How Does Oklahoma Get Excited About Playing UConn?
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After a tough Big 12 season ended, Oklahoma emerged as the champions and got a BCS bowl bid. It ends up facing UConn, which did not have that great a season, but did win the Big East and, therefore, got a default bid. It's the easiest game to hand to a team and the least likely to get interesting, so how does Oklahoma get excited about it?
All I can say is that it has to. The last time the Sooners slept on a BCS bowl team, it began the Boise State legacy.
Could Connecticut Pull a Boise State?
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There's no doubt that Connecticut is feeling the heat of not deserving to be in this game. Boise State was there in the Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma years back, and ended up winning in an all-time classic game. Connecticut would love nothing more than to pull this off?
I don't think the Huskies have the tools to do it against a tough Oklahoma team, but fans of football would have to watch just in hopes of seeing that happen again.
Can Wisconsin’s Offensive Line Push Around the Stout TCU Defense?
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If there's one game that gives us the classic offense-defense attack, it's Wisconsin against TCU. Running back John Clay is one of the best in the nation, and the Badgers offensive line is always tough. That being said, TCU easily has the best defense in the nation, only allowing 11 points a game. If Wisconsin wants to win, the o-line is probably going to be the deciding factor.
If TCU Wins in a Blowout, Could It Grab Some First Place Votes?
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TCU is the undefeated team left out this year, but if it blows Wisconsin out, then the Badgers are likely to get first-place votes as Auburn did the year it was left out. If the Auburn-Oregon game is full of errors and problems, then a movement could very well emerge to make TCU the No. 1 team.
Does a Wisconsin Win Prove The Big Ten Is A Tough Conference?
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This one is harder to prove, but it's no doubt that the Big Ten was a lot tougher this year, with Wisconsin, Ohio State, and Michigan State all grasping for that top spot. While Ohio State has choked in the title game in the past, if Wisconsin can win against TCU, that could help prove that the conference is not as weak as SEC fans may lead you to believe.
Who Will Win the Ryan Mallett Vs Ohio State Reunion?
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It may seem like ancient history, but Mallett was once the quarterback at Michigan and, as such, may carry a bit of the inherent Ohio State dislike into his bowl game. Ohio State, conversely, has never played Arkansas before, but can use Mallett's Michigan roots to create a spark.
Arkansas and Ohio State have both played tough football all season, but Ohio State's defense is good enough that it could very well shut down Arkansas' passing attack. If that happens, the Razorbacks won't get the win.
Can Ohio State Finally Beat The SEC in a BCS Game?
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On paper, Ohio State has an advantage over Arkansas, but once you factor in the bowl struggles, it looks a lot more even. After all, when's the last time that Ohio State beat an SEC team on this stage? The Buckeyes lost to LSU and Florida recently, and South Carolina twice in a row before that.
They can win bowl games no problem, just never against the SEC. If they want to break that streak, this matchup against Arkansas is as good as they're going to get.
Who Will Win the Saban Vs MSU Reunion?
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In what may be ancient history, Nick Saban was head coach of the Michigan State Spartans from 1995 to 1999, struggling with the team. As head coach of Alabama, he's facing the Spartans in a fairly even SEC/Big Ten matchup. While the SEC may inherently have the advantage, Michigan State has something to prove, being the odd one-loss team out in the Big Ten.
Alabama may have the better team on paper, and Saban probably has the advantage, but you can't count the Spartans out either.
Can Bob Stoops Break His BCS Curse?
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Bob Stoops may be great in the regular season, but in BCS bowl games he has struggled. He won the 2003 Rose Bowl but he is 0-5 in BCS games since. If he's going to break his curse, against Connecticut is as good a time as any, just as long as he makes sure not to sleep on the Huskies.
Could Virginia Tech's Tyrod Taylor Play Himself Into The First Round?
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Andrew Luck is considered by most to be the top player for the upcoming draft. When this bowl game is over, he may end up not being the best player in that game. Tyrod Taylor erupted this year, as the ACC Player of the Year threw 23 touchdowns and threw for 2,500 yards. Taylor isn't very high on draft boards now, but a great performance here could shoot him up the rankings.
Will Stanford Be Distracted by Jim Harbaugh Rumors?
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Two days before Stanford plays its bowl game, Michigan will have played and, by then, Rich Rodriguez could be gone as Michigan coach. If this happens, the rumors with Jim Harbaugh becoming Michigan coach will be all over, no matter how hard Stanford tries to prevent them. All the Cardinal can do is try to tune them out as they play Virginia Tech.
Will Cam Newton Throw an Incompletion on the Opening Drive of BCS Championship?
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When Cameron Newton steps onto the championship stage, presumably after winning the Heisman, it wouldn't look too good if he threw a pick on his first drive, no?
Luckily, he won't. Oregon will probably try blitzing a few times to put him off guard, but he has thrown zero picks when blitzed, so that would end up not working.
SEC Vs. Pac-10: Will This Finally Prove Which Conference Is Better?
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The short answer to this question is no, at least not by this year's standards. The Pac-10 was rather weak outside of Stanford and Oregon, while the SEC had multiple teams competing for the title until late in the year. At least this year, the SEC was better, even if Oregon wins.
Who's a Better Offensive Mind: Chip Kelly or Gus Malzahn?
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Chip Kelly is one of the top offensive-minded coaches in the game today, having served as offensive coordinator and head coach at Oregon the past few years. While Gene Chizik is great as well, he's a defensive-minded coach and the offensive prowess of the team is left to Guz Malzahn, perhaps the best coordinator in the game today.
Before taking over at Auburn, Malzahn was offensive coordinator at Tulsa, back when their offense was the best in the nation, and his offense is going to mess with Oregon's defense. At the same time, Chip Kelly's offense will do the same to Auburn. Oregon's recent offensive prowess is no fluke.
Over Or Under: 100 Combined Points For Auburn/Oregon?
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With the offensive minds of Kelly and Malzahn, the two teams could very well surpass 50 points each. Their defenses are good enough for them, but could they stop each other's offenses? I doubt that, and it will probably end up being a shootout. Exciting to watch for the casual fan, though, more serious fans may be turned off by the scoreboard constantly lighting up.
Oregon Vs. Auburn: Which School Will Gain a Bigger Recruiting Advantage?
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Between Oregon and Auburn, the one that may get the most help recruiting wise would be Oregon. Auburn is in the heart of the SEC and would get a lot of recruits either way, but with the decline of USC and being far away from many players, this appearance could make Oregon a lot more appealing to prospective athletes.
Could The Defenses Of Oregon and Auburn Surprise Us?
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The offenses will be the story going into the football game, but the defenses could end up playing well. Nick Fairley leads an Auburn defense that allowed an average number of yards, but that is able to make plays when it matters. Oregon's defense is in the top fourth of the nation, and you can't discount John Boyett's five interceptions on the year. The score could end up being a lot lower than we're expecting.
Will a Heisman Win Help Or Hurt Newton?
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Let's assume that Cam Newton wins the Heisman. Will the victory take pressure off him that he could use, resulting in him struggling, or will it increase his drive and make the title game his best one to date? It's not clear which it will be just yet, though I would like to think it's the latter. Many end up struggling in the national title game after winning it, but Mark Ingram may have broken that jinx last year.
Can Darron Thomas Outplay Newton?
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Compared to the amount of press Newton has gotten, Darron Thomas has flown under the radar pretty much all year despite quarterbacking a team that's in the national title game. He could very well outplay Newton as his game isn't all that much different and, while he doesn't make as many plays with his legs, he's proven to be a good quarterback this year.
Which Bowl Game Has the Most Interesting Matchup of Coaches?
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Aside from the national championship, which has a great coaching matchup, I have to give it to Jim Harbaugh versus Frank Beamer. Both have contrasting roads, with Harbaugh coming in and building the team up to where it is, while Beamer has been with the team seemingly forever and has been in this situation many times before. Which would you pick to coach your team?
Which Bowl Game Will Have the Most NFL Talent?
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When everything's all said and done, I think Arkansas and Ohio State will see the most NFL talent. Ryan Mallett's certainly a first rounder, and defensive end Cameron Heyward can easily launch himself back into the first round. For Ohio State, Brandon Saine and Dane Sanzenbacher could be mid-round picks, and for Arkansas, DeMarcus Love is likely a second-round pick who could always move up.
Which Bowl Game Will Be a Defensive Struggle?
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The game that will probably have a low scoring total is South Florida versus Clemson. Both teams have top 25 defenses, yet they have fairly anemic offenses. As a result, the Meineke Car Care Bowl could end up being a very careful game.
Which Conference Will Win the Most Bowl Games?
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The easy pick would be the SEC on this, but I'm going out on a limb and saying the Big 12. Oklahoma and Oklahoma State have easy wins, Texas A&M will most likely win the Cotton Bowl in Texas, and Nebraska has an easy win against Washington. That's four wins right there.
The other four matchups pit Missouri against Iowa, Texas Tech against Northwestern, Baylor against Illinois and Kansas State against Syracuse. None of those are unwinnable and there's a small chance the Big 12 could go 8-0.
Was Auburn's Five Wins over Ranked Teams the Most Impressive Regular Season?
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This year? No question about that, it certainly was the most impressive. Even in recent history, it is probably the most impressive run we've had in some time. For a comparable one you'd likely have to look at the dominance of the 2001 Miami Hurricanes. Needless to say, that's great company to be in.
Which Underdogs Do We Want to Cheer for Most?
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On this question, there are two that come to mind. The first is Connecticut, whose program has continued to improve and needs the win to make the Big East not look as weak as it seems this year. The other is Army. It hasn't been in a bowl since 1996 and it's a team you'd have to support. What's more, if you're an anti-system offense person, then rooting against SMU and June Jones makes that easier.
Who Will Put Their Name Out There?
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The bowl games are meant for those to break out into national stardom. For example, everyone who follows the Big Ten knows who Wisconsin's John Clay is, but others may not. If he has a big game against TCU, that is a huge boost for him. Likewise, Jacory Harris has struggled at Miami this year. A big win against Notre Dame could help right the ship for him.
Can Miami Win Without Randy Shannon?
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Well, the Hurricans could, so the more accurate question is, will they? They did not win any bowl games under his leadership, so having someone else go in as coach against Notre Dame could very well do the trick. Then again, they could be blown out due to the changes.
Which Team Needs a Bowl Win Most?
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As crazy as this sounds, my vote here goes to Notre Dame. Brian Kelly is in his first year as head coach, and he is playing a struggling Miami team that just fired its head coach. A loss in a coach's inaugural bowl game will put Kelly immediately on the hot seat, somewhere you do not want to be at Notre Dame.
Will The Army-Navy Game Set The Pre-Bowl Game Mood?
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The Army-Navy game is always a sight to see. Even when both teams are bad, the back and forth between the teams is exciting to watch. This year, both teams are very good and will be attending bowl games, so a win here will give either side a lot of momentum heading into bowl season.
Who Will Win The National Championship?
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This is, needless to say, something everyone will have an opinion on. Will Cam Newton topple Oregon's defense? Will LaMichael James run rampant on Nick Fairley? Whoever does win will be the champions of what will hopefully be a great bowl season.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
