2011 College Football Bowl Predictions: 5 Games Setting Up to Be Letdowns

Every year the college football bowl season gives us some of the best looking matchups we could ask for. Whether it’s two crazy offenses battling it out or two of the best players or coaches dueling for supremacy, there is always something fun to watch in December and January.

But some of the matchups that get a lot of hype end up being major duds when the game is actually played.

Here are the five most likely candidates for bowls that are going to be a major letdown.

MAACO Bowl Las Vegas

It is Kellen Moore’s final game, and it is the only reason why anyone would want to watch this game. As nice of a sentiment as it would be to watch one of college football’s greatest and most polarizing quarterbacks play his last game, the rest of the game will be absolutely painful to watch.

Arizona State has shown that it isn’t interested in playing a bowl game, and Boise State probably won’t be interested either after getting snubbed by the Sugar Bowl. Expect a lot of sloppy play and a lopsided score going the Broncos’ way.

Champs Sports Bowl

The problem all year for Notre Dame has been turnovers—the Fighting Irish could be playing in a BCS Bowl if they could just hold onto the football. Florida State ranks right in the middle nationally in turnovers forced, but its defense as a whole is the most underrated unit in college football.

The problem all year for Florida State has been solid play from the offensive line. Notre Dame ranks 79th in sacks, 86th in tackles for a loss and 58th against the run.

The Seminoles could not have gotten a better matchup in this bowl, and they should cruise to a win.

TicketCity Bowl

Did you know that Southern Miss had the best defense Houston had faced all season? There’s a reason why Case Keenum and company were held to a season-low of 28 points.

Penn State’s defense has kept its season alive and is allowing less than 16 points per game. Plus, the Nittany Lions’ only offensive weapon, running back Silas Redd, matches up really well with an undersized Cougar defensive front seven, which allows 171 yards per game.

Penn State rolls to an easy win in this one.

Capital One Bowl

Nebraska simply cannot defend a mobile quarterback, and it’s been the downfall of the team. Connor Shaw is the best mobile quarterback the SEC has to offer.

At the end of the day, that is all this game comes down to—the Huskers lost 28-25 at home to Northwestern when Kain Colter and Dan Persa combined for 92 rushing yards. South Carolina’s defense is certainly talented enough to keep Taylor Martinez in check.

Should be a long day for the Sea of Red.

Discover Orange Bowl

Clemson has become notorious for randomly failing, but West Virginia has really made a push this year to challenge them. The Mountaineers did not look like a team that wanted to go to the BCS in the past two weeks and needed monumental collapses from Pitt and South Florida to get here.

Clemson has shown it can play a complete game of football and has some of the best athletes in the country in space, and West Virginia can’t tackle. This game will either be a Tiger romp or a massive “who-wants-to-lose” fest.