Bowl Schedule 2010: 25 Bold Predictions, Shockers and Surefire Upsets
College Bowl Season is well underway and things are about to start coming fast and fierce. There have been 18 bowl games played up to this point. There are four more to be played today on New Year's Eve, including the Sun Bowl between Miami and Notre Dame. Tomorrow is when the big BCS games start, led by The Rose Bowl between TCU and Wisconsin, which kicks off at 4:30 ET.
So with 17 bowl games left, what is going to happen?
Who will pull off the biggest upsets?
What will be the biggest shockers?
Can TCU do the non-automatic qualifying schools proud and knock off the powerful Badgers from Wisconsin?
Can Virginia Tech keep its winning streak going against Stanford in what could be Andrew Luck's final college game?
There are still a number of big questions that have to get answered in the next 11 days. Here are 25 bold predictions, shockers and upsets to be on the look for in these next 17 bowl games.
Miami QB Jacory Harris Will Have A Big Day Against Notre Dame
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Jacory Harris has been a microcosm of the Miami Hurricanes in 2010. He started the year with such high expectations, like Miami. He started the year with a big performance against an overmatched team. After that he struggled until getting benched for three games in November.
He will likely play in the Sun Bowl because of an injury to Stephen Morris. He will have a big day against a pretty good Notre Dame defense and lead Miami to victory over the Irish.
Notre Dame Will Miss QB Dayne Crist In The Sun Bowl
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If you were to think of Miami and Notre Dame playing in a bowl game, you would typically think of a game like the Sugar Bowl or the National Championship game. But in this day and age, the two meet in the Sun Bowl on New Year’s Eve.
The Irish will miss their starting quarterback Dayne Crist in this game. The team has rallied around Tommy Rees but Miami’s defense will confuse the freshman into making a number of mistakes.
Georgia WR AJ Green Will Show Why He Is the Best Talent Going Into the Draft
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Georgia’s wide receiver AJ Green is not likely to be the first player taken in the 2011 NFL Draft. However, he might have the most pure talent of any player in that draft class.
He will look to make a big impression for pro scouts in his final game against UCF in the Liberty Bowl. Look for a monster day from the Bulldogs receiver on New Year’s Eve.
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The Capital One Bowl Is the Best Non-BCS Game
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Michigan State could easily have gotten into a BCS game—they were tied with Wisconsin and Ohio State in the Big Ten and lost the BCS tiebreaker.
Alabama started the year as the top ranked team in the country. They are one of the most physical teams in the country and had the SEC champion Auburn Tigers on the ropes before losing a heartbreaker.
This game will be the best non-BCS game of the bowl season.
Alabama RB Mark Ingram’s Final College Game Will Be Jan. 1
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Mark Ingram is only a junior so he could come back for a senior season at Alabama and take another shot at winning a National Championship.
However, given the fact that he missed time this year with knee surgery and the longer guys stay in college the more their stock tends to go down. Ingram will make the Capital One Bowl his final game in an Alabama uniform.
Rich Rodriguez’ Final Game As Michigan Coach Will Be Jan. 1
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If Rich Rodriguez were to be fired before Jan. 1 he would be owed a huge buyout. If he is fired after that, the buyout goes down significantly. The Wolverines have been mediocre under Rodriguez and that is starting to wear on the fans and alumni.
He wasn’t able to turn the Wolverines program into a contender and the number of embarrassing losses, especially against Ohio State, will force the athletic director’s hand on this one. His final game will be against Mississippi State in the Gator Bowl.
The Cotton Bowl Will Be the Lowest Scoring Game Of Bowl Season
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When LSU and Texas A&M meet in Arlington, Texas on January 7th it will be one of the best defensive games that you will see all year long. These teams have two of the best defenses in the country and that will show in the Cotton Bowl.
LSU and Texas A&M will be a defensive struggle that will likely be decided by special teams. Expect no more then 30 points combined between these two teams.
Joe Paterno Will Send Urban Meyer Out A Loser
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You talk about the Yin and Yang of college football coaches, you have it in the Outback Bowl. Joe Paterno is 84 years old and shows no signs of slowing down. He will probably coach until he is 100.
Urban Meyer is 46 years old and has been one of the best coaches in college football for the last five years. Here he is in the prime of his coaching career and he is stepping away. It’s hard to begrudge him for wanting to spend time with his family.
The old man will get the best of the young man in this game. Penn State will sneak by Florida in a very close game in Orlando on New Year’s Day.
Steve Spurrier Will Remain Florida State’s Public Enemy No. 1
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Steve Spurrier and the Seminoles have a hate-hate relationship stemming from his days at Florida. He doesn't like them, they don't care for him. Granted, since Bobby Bowden left a little of the fire is gone, but it still burns deep inside both the old-ball coach and the school.
Spurrier’s South Carolina Gamecocks are a better team than the Seminoles, and they will show it in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl.
Marcus Lattimore Will Enter His Name Into the 2011 Heisman Race
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When South Carolina plays Florida State in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl, all eyes will likely be focused on the rivalry between Steve Spurrier and the Seminoles. However, once the game gets going South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore will be the story.
He has had a very good freshman year, rushing for nearly 1,200 yards and 17 touchdowns. He will enter his name into the 2011 Heisman Trophy race with a big performance against Florida State.
The Rose Bowl Is the Most Intriguing BCS Game
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This is TCU's chance to show that they are more than just “the best of non-automatic qualifying schools.” Last year they matched up with Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl, which was an epic failure because it put the two non-AQ schools against each other.
Now, TCU gets to play in the most prestigious bowl game against the best team in the Big Ten this year, Wisconsin.
Wisconsin has been beating on bad teams and they were able to beat Ohio State early in the year. They are one of the most physical teams in the BCS this year.
Can TCU’s speed on defense control the Badger’s pounding running attack?
TCU Will Knock Off Wisconsin In the Rose Bowl
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TCU is going to make a statement on January 1st in Pasadena in “The Granddaddy of Them All.” They will use their speed on defense to shut down the Badgers running game and force them into throwing the ball.
Wisconsin quarterback Scott Tolzien is effective when the running game is going good. TCU will force him to beat them and they will be able to create turnovers as a result.
The Horned Frogs will take down the Badgers in the Rose Bowl.
Ryan Mallett Will Outplay Terrelle Pryor
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Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett and Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor are two very different quarterbacks.
Mallett is a traditional drop back passer who uses his arm to pick apart defenses.
Pryor is a hybrid athlete, who happens to play quarterback.
Mallett will have the better numbers in the Sugar Bowl against Ohio State. He will use a quick, precise passing game to try and beat the Ohio State defense.
Ohio State’s Off-Field Issues Won’t Be a Problem in the Sugar Bowl
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With the recent issues that have faced Ohio State’s football program it’s easy to think that they will be distracted in their bowl game.
That won’t be the case since the Buckeyes have more talent overall then Arkansas. They will use their speed and talent to overcome whatever mental block the players might have.
It’s a joke that the five players get to play in this game, but that’s another story for a different article.
Ohio State Will Win the Sugar Bowl
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Ohio State has not fared very well against SEC teams in the BCS. They have lost their last two BCS games to SEC teams and they haven’t been close. They were outscored 79-38 in those two games.
However, they were playing teams that were superior to them in terms of talent (although we didn’t know that at the time with the 2007 Florida team).
That streak will come to an end this year when Ohio State upends Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl on January 4th.
Stanford QB Andrew Luck Will Shred Virginia Tech’s Defense
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Andrew Luck is already the consensus top pick in April’s NFL Draft. He has all the physical tools to be great and his performance with Stanford has inspired a ton of confidence that he can be great at the next level.
In what will be his final college game, Luck will pick apart that vaunted Frank Beamer defense leading Stanford to a victory over Virginia Tech. He will then march into the NFL and be the next quarterback of the Carolina Panthers.
Jim Harbaugh Will Leave Stanford For the Riches of the NFL
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Stanford Coach Jim Harbaugh has done a fantastic job with that program. He has completely turned around a disaster situation and has them playing in the Orange Bowl against Virginia Tech.
That will be his last game as the Stanford head coach. He will take his talents to San Francisco and become the next head coach for the 49ers.
Stanford Will Beat Virginia Tech In the Orange Bowl
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Stanford might be the third best team in the country. They have one of the best quarterbacks in the country, Andrew Luck. They have one of the fastest rising head coaches in football, Jim Harbaugh. They have a potent offense and an underrated defense.
They are just flat out better then Virginia Tech and they will prove it in the Orange Bowl. Look for the Cardinal to bring Tech’s 11-game winning streak to an end.
The Fiesta Bowl Will Be the Worst BCS Game
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On the one side there is the Big 12 juggernaut, the Oklahoma Sooners. On the other side there is the Big East Champion....the Connecticut Huskies. No disrespect to UConn, but the fact that the Big East still has an automatic qualifier spot in the BCS is a total joke.
Does anyone think that Boise State is worse than Connecticut?
I would much rather see a Boise-Oklahoma game but because Boise plays in the WAC and must win all their games just to get a shot while the Huskies play in the Big East, Uconn can be mediocre and get into the BCS.
This game will be an absolute blowout—the starters for the Sooners will not even have to play in the fourth quarter it will be so bad.
LaMichael James Will Have A Big Game, But Darron Thomas Will Be the Key
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Darron Thomas has gotten a lot better as the year has gone on. His accuracy has slowly increased all year. He completed over 60 percent of his passes and threw for over 2,500 yards for the Ducks this season.
Thomas isn’t the athlete that Cam Newton is but he will have a big game and be the biggest reason that Oregon wins, or loses, the National Championship.
The BCS Title Game Will Be a Shootout
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This probably isn’t going out on much of a limb given that Auburn and Oregon combined to average over 91 points per game.
This game will be played at a fast, frenetic pace with a ton of points scored and it could come down to whoever has the ball last wins.
Chip Kelly Will Frustrate Auburn’s Defense
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If there’s one thing that Chip Kelly knows how to do it’s confuse a defense. His offense is so fast and so unique that opposing defenses can’t keep up with them.
Going against Auburn, Kelly will have to frustrate its defense in order to be able to keep up with Cam Newton and Co.
Look for a variety of new and unique formations from the offensive innovator in the National Championship game.
Cam Newton Will Not Be the Best Player On the Field Jan. 10th
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Auburn quarterback Cam Newton has won every major award in college football this year. He has been the best player in college football from the start of the season.
However, January 10th will be about LaMichael James.
James will have a monster day against Auburn’s vulnerable defense. He will lead the Ducks offense against Auburn in the National Championship game. Darron Thomas is the difference, but James needs a big day to set up Thomas.
Auburn’s Defense Will Cost Them Against Oregon
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Auburn has had a terrific year, led by Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton. However, if you look at their games they have given up a lot of points to a lot of really mediocre teams.
The Tigers have given up 34 points to Kentucky, 24 against Clemson, 26 against Arkansas State and 31 against Mississippi.
That’s 115 points in four games to four less then stellar teams.
Some of those were given up when Auburn was winning by 50 and they weren’t playing their first string guys. That’s all well and good but going against an Oregon team that can actually score with this Auburn team, their defense will have to make a key stop or two.
Can they do it?
I don’t think so.
Oregon Will Win Its First National Championship
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All the talk about Cam Newton and how great Auburn has been this year will go up in smoke as the Ducks fly over the Tigers (I know it's cheap but I am OK with it).
Oregon's offense is as good, if not better, than Auburn's. Their defense is fast and attacking, while Auburn's defense has a lot of holes in it that a fast offense, like Oregon’s, can exploit.
The Pac-10, while it had a down year as a whole, had two of the top five teams in college football (Stanford the other) and Oregon beat them by 21 points. The Ducks will win and earn their first ever National Championship.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
