College Football Bowl Preview: Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden Will Struggle
College Football Bowl Preview: Military Bowl, Texas Bowl, Alamo Bowl
College football bowl season continues tonight with the East Carolina Pirates taking on the Maryland Terrapins in the Military Bowl, the Illinois Fighting Illini facing off against the Baylor Bears in the Texas Bowl and Oklahoma State challenging the Arizona Wildcats in the Alamo Bowl.
These aren't BCS-quality games, but Oklahoma State is ranked No. 14 and brings a BCS-caliber squad to San Antonio, and each of these teams has a lot of talent.
Make sure you don't miss any of these games, because as Marcus Coker and Iowa proved against Blaine Gabbert and Missouri, these lesser bowl games can be pretty exciting.
Here's a breakdown of what you need to know for tonight's NCAA football bowl games.
Military Bowl: When East Carolina Is on Offense
1 of 10
East Carolina (6-6, 5-3 C-USA) isn't exactly a household name, but this team can put up points with anyone in the country.
The Pirates have the nation's seventh-best passing offense (319.3 ypg), and they are 12th in scoring offense (38.2 ppg).
They struggled against tough competition but managed to put up a lot of points in nearly every game (with the lone exception being a 17-point performance against UNC). They even put up 27 on Virginia Tech.
Maryland is a solid defensive team (39th, 22.3 ppg) that looked a whole lot more solid before giving up 61 points in its last two games (albeit to FSU and NC State, two of the best teams in the ACC).
It's safe to say that while Maryland's defense is good, ECU should have some success on offense (like it did against Virginia Tech).
Advantage: East Carolina
Military Bowl: When Maryland Is on Offense
2 of 10
You might not think it, but Maryland (8-4, 5-3 ACC) can score.
The Terps are 41st in the nation in scoring at 30.7 ppg.
They've struggled against the best defenses on their schedule (Clemson, Florida State, Miami, WVU, Navy), but other than that, they've excelled.
ECU's defense doesn't deserve to be in the same sentence as those schools'.
The Pirates are 118th in scoring defense, allowing 43.4 ppg.
Advantage: Maryland
Military Bowl: Prediction
3 of 10
Maryland is the heavy favorite here with a -7.5 line.
But East Carolina will be able to keep up with the Terps in a shootout, and it's questionable how Maryland will respond to its coach being fired.
Maryland might overlook this 6-6 Conference USA squad, and if it gives East Carolina any type of gift on defense, those couple of stops could be all the Pirates need.
I see an upset.
East Carolina 41, Maryland 34
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Texas Bowl: When Baylor Is on Offense
4 of 10
Baylor (7-5, 4-4 Big 12) is led by dual-threat quarterback Robert Griffin III, who directs the nation's 20th-ranked passing offense (278.0 ypg), 23rd-ranked passing offense (200.5 ypg) and 29th-ranked scoring offense (32.6 ppg).
The Bears have struggled since their 7-2 start, but they still have put up a respectable 82 points in their three straight losses. The only team that truly shut them down was TCU, which boasts the nation's best defense. Baylor only managed three points against the Horned Frogs.
Since Illinois' 67-65 three-OT loss against Michigan, their formerly praised defense has broken down, and they've also given up 38 points to Minnesota, 27 to Northwestern and 25 to Fresno State.
None of those teams (except Michigan) can compete with Baylor.
Advantage: Baylor
Texas Bowl: When Illinois Is on Offense
5 of 10
Illinois (6-6, 4-4 Big Ten) doesn't do much through the air (115th-ranked passing offense), but they can run it.
Dual-threat QB Nathan Scheelhaase and 1,500-yard rusher Mikel LeShoure lead the nation's 13th-ranked rushing offense (242.3 ypg).
Baylor gives up over 160 rushing yards per game (as well as 29.8 points per game) and won't have an answer for LeShoure.
Advantage: Illinois
Texas Bowl: Prediction
6 of 10
If the Illinois defense that showed up against Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan State shows up in Houston, the Illini should be able to win.
But those games were about two months ago, and Illinois hasn't shown that it still has that type of defense.
While they might be able to control the game on the ground, they won't be able to keep up with Robert Griffin and Baylor's high-scoring offense.
Baylor 36, Illinois 20
Alamo Bowl: When Oklahoma State Is on Offense
7 of 10
Oklahoma State (10-2, 6-2 Big 12) boasts the nation's third-ranked scoring offense (44.9 ppg) and its second-ranked passing offense (354.7).
Quarterback Brandon Weeden and receiver Justin Blackmon form arguably the best QB-WR combination in the country, at least from a statistical standpoint.
Arizona did have one of the country's best defenses in starting 7-1, but in their four consecutive losses, the Wildcats have given up a total of 144 points.
This Arizona defense isn't as good as its No. 34 ranking (21.6 ppg).
Advantage: Oklahoma State
Alamo Bowl: When Arizona Is on Offense
8 of 10
Behind Nick Foles, Arizona has held one of the nation's top passing offenses (ninth in the country, 310.0 ypg).
Oklahoma State's defense isn't exactly ironclad, as they give up over 275 yards through the air and 27.8 ppg.
Advantage: Arizona
Alamo Bowl: Prediction
9 of 10
Both teams are going to go wild through the air.
But Arizona's defense, while struggling, is much better equipped than Oklahoma State's to stop the pass.
This should be a shootout, but Arizona's defense gives it the edge.
Arizona 52, Oklahoma State 41
Comments
10 of 10
What do you think?
Who will win tonight's matchups?
Voice your opinion in the comments.
Matt Rudnitsky is a student at the University of Michigan and a Featured Columnist/writing intern at Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Mattrud
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
