2011 Bowl Predictions: Mark Dantonio and Coaches Who Need a Bowl Game Win

The bowl season is here. Most of the battle is done, but these coaches need wins the the advancement of their programs. 

The run programs that are in different spots and different bowls, but are eerily similar in that a loss would be at best moving in place. A win from any of these teams keeps momentum building in the right direction.

Bob Stoops 

Oklahoma came into this season with a roster of returning talent, on a very short list of National Championship favorites. Not only are they not in the National Championship game, but the Sooners didn't even qualify for a BCS game.

Stoops won the Fiesta Bowl a season ago, but the program can't regress with a loss to Iowa in the Insight Bowl. This is far from the Hawkeyes' best team of the Kirk Ferentz era.

A loss to this team would be a real hit to the program and Stoops' reputation. He's been streaky in bowls during his tenure at Oklahoma. Right now, he's on a good streak.

Despite the disappointing season, a win here would put the Sooners in the right direction heading into next season. A loss and they're looking vulnerable in an expanding Big XII.

Mark Dantonio

Dantonio has made four bowl games in his four years at Michigan State, but his success there has been limited. Actually, it's been nonexistent. 

Season	Bowl	Opponent	Result
2007	Champs Sports Bowl	Boston College	L-24-21
2008	Capital One Bowl	Georgia	L-24-12
2009	Valero Alamo Bowl	Texas Tech	L-41-34
2010	Capital One Bowl	Alabama	L-49-7

While Michigan State's program has gotten better, their bowl success has gotten progressively worse. 

They need to win this game. If Michigan State is really going to evolve to the next level and become a BCS caliber team, they will need to beat big name programs in a bowl. They have that opportunity in the Outback Bowl against Georgia. 

Dantonio has raised the level of Michigan State's program, but there are more rungs to climb. He needs a win to do that. 

Dabo Swinney 

While Clemson had a tumultuous season, it did end in an ACC Championship. But when you consider that this team played a tough early season schedule and was undefeated going into their last game of October, their 10-3 record doesn't look all that great.

This is a familiar song at Clemson. They have a lot of talent, but can't close the deal on the season. Now, they've done some of that in getting to a BCS game. They need to take the next step and win that BCS game. 

Swinney is 1-2 in bowl games in his time at Clemson. A win here not only evens his bowl record, but also shows that Clemson is a BCS team going into the 2012 campaign.

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