Sunday, December 16, 2012

LSU Tigers are OK with Chick-fil-A Bowl


Tinker Town: "Greatness in a sport like college football becomes a very rewarding thing to men competing on a college football field. The game is where all the action is. Say what you will about the post season 2012 college football Bowl games match ups. Buy to me, we still get to see some more college football games before it is all over with this year. I like that a lot, lets play ball!"
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http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20121213/SPORTS0202/121213037/
Shreveporttimes.com


LSU Notes: Chick-fil-A Bowl eyes more top TV ratings

LSU is 9-1 between SEC Championship Games and Chick-fil-A Bowls played in Atlanta.

LSU is 9-1 between SEC Championship Games and Chick-fil-A Bowls played in Atlanta. / AP

Written by
Glenn Guilbeau
BATON ROUGE — One of the strongest selling points of several pre-New Year’s Day bowl games, such as the Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta, is being the only game in town, so to speak.

When No. 8 LSU (10-2) and No. 14 Clemson (10-2) kick off at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN on New Year’s Eve — 30 minutes from prime time — no other game will be on television. That and similarly high poll rankings were two reasons the 2005 Chick-fil-A Bowl did so well in the ratings — at least in the first half — when No. 10 LSU defeated No. 9 Miami 40-3.


That game’s television ratings remain in the top 10 of all bowl games televised by ESPN, Chick-fil-A Bowl chief executive officer Gary Stokan said.
“Our game this year has been rated as one of the top three or four bowl matchups in the country going in,” Stokan said. “That includes the BCS bowls.”

ESPN analyst Mel Kiper said Thursday the LSU-Clemson pairing is one of the better bowls as it matches one of the nation’s top defenses in LSU against the explosive offense of Clemson with junior quarterback Tajh Boyd, the Atlantic Coast Conference offensive player of the year.

Clemson is ninth in the nation in total offense with 518 yards a game, while LSU is eighth in the nation in total defense with 296 yards allowed a game. Clemson is sixth in the nation in scoring with 42.3 points a game, while LSU is 11th in the nation in fewest points allowed with 16.9 a game. Read more...http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20121213/SPORTS0202/121213037/
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http://theadvocate.com/sports/lsu/4677129-123/lsu-tigers-are-ok-with

LSU Tigers are OK with Chick-fil-A Bowl

Advocate staff photo by TRAVIS SPRADLINGLSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger throws against Ole Miss earlier this season. 
by Les East
Advocate sportswriter
December 14, 2012

LSU returned to the practice field Thursday for the first time since it finished the regular season with a 20-13 victory at Arkansas three weeks ago.
Afterward the Tigers spoke publicly for the first time about winding up in the Chick-fil-A Bowl against Clemson on New Year’s Eve night in the Georgia Dome.
They entered the final third of the season controlling their own fate for a berth in the BCS Championship Game, but a 

21-17 loss to Alabama on Nov. 3 essentially removed them from that picture.

A berth in a BCS bowl, most likely the Allstate Sugar Bowl, went by the wayside a day after LSU beat Arkansas when Florida defeated Florida State and guaranteed itself the Southeastern Conference’s at-large BCS bid.

A possible trip to the AT&T Cotton Bowl also vanished as the Tigers, ranked ninth in the country, wound up sixth in the SEC bowl pecking order.

“It’s definitely not what we wanted,” quarterback Zach Mettenberger said. “We definitely wanted to be in a BCS bowl. Unfortunately the teams we needed to lose didn’t lose. But this is still a very good bowl.”

Wide receiver Jarvis Landry said the players expected to hear that they were headed to the Cotton Bowl when head coach Les Miles called a team meeting Dec. 2 to tell the team where it was going.

“We weren’t expecting it to be the Chick-fil-A Bowl,” Landry said. “But we started to get excited when coach Miles told us how excited he was. This is a great opportunity for us. It’s two great teams. It’s the only game that night so the whole world will be watching.”

This game represents a trip home for five prominent Tigers from Georgia — Mettenberger, linebacker Kevin Minter, fullback J.C. Copeland, tackle Vadal Alexander and long snapper Reid Ferguson.
“I’m excited,” Mettenberger said. “It’s definitely convenient for me and the others from the Atlanta area.”

Copeland said he has about 30 relatives and friends hitting him up for tickets to the game, though he probably can’t accommodate more than 12.
“I get to see a lot of people I don’t get to see during the season,” Copeland said. “A lot of teams aren’t even going to a bowl game, so it’s an honor to be in this game. I just like the opportunity to play football. It’s another chance for us to show how dominant we are.”

Guard Trai Turner, who redshirted as a freshman while LSU went to the BCS Championship game last season, said he’s excited for his first opportunity to play in the post-season.

“I’m ready to go there and be able to play in a bowl game for the first time,” Turner said. “Everybody wants to be in a BCS bowl game, but at the end end of the day we made our bed and we have to lay in it. We’re going to play hard.
“This is the last game for the seniors. We want to send them out with a win.”


Read more...http://theadvocate.com/sports/lsu/4677129-123/lsu-tigers-are-ok-with
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 http://theadvocate.com/sports/lsu/4677172-123/lsu-recruiting-still-going-strong

theadvocate.com

LSU recruiting still going strong

By MARK CLEMENTS
Special to The Advocate
December 14, 2012

LSU bowl practices and the holiday season may be in full swing, but there’s never a bad time for a big recruiting weekend in college football.
The Tigers are hoping to fill their stocking with three big-time prospects who are taking their official visits starting Friday: Tempe (Ariz.) Marcos de Niza defensive back Priest Willis, Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) University defensive tackle Maquedius Bain and safety/athlete Jamal C arter of Miami Southridge.
After trying and failing to entice Willis (6-foot-2, 199 pounds) into making a visit during the regular season, the five-star prospect finally flies in this weekend.
Willis is listed as a cornerback by Scout, 24/7 Sports and Rivals and a safety by ESPN. Either way all have him nationally ranked: Scout at No. 23 (five stars), 24/7 Sports at
No. 27 (five stars), ESPN at
No. 50 (four stars) and Rivals at No. 105 (four stars).

Willis is also considering Florida State, Nebraska, Notre Dame and staying in state with Arizona State.
Bain (6-5, 285)’s biggest other offers are from Oklahoma (where he visited Nov. 23) and Louisville, though he is also considering Marshall (Nov. 2 visit).
Bain’s ratings vary widely. ESPN and Scout give him four stars, rating him No. 43 and No. 245, respectively. Rivals and 24/7 Sports give him three stars.
Carter (6-1, 190) is a Miami commitment but has continued to take visits. He’s ranked
No. 197 by 24/7 Sports, No. 232 by Rivals, No. 248 by Scout and has four stars (unranked nationally) from ESPN.

LSU is also expected to get official visits from a number of its 23 commitments, including Westgate-New Iberia offensive guard Josh Boutte (6-4, 305), Lemont (Ill.) offensive tackle Ethan Pocic (6-7, 280), Neville-Monroe wide receiver John Diarse (6-0, 205), Lindale (Ga.) Pepperell offensive guard Andy Dodd (6-4, 325), Marietta (Ga.) quarterback Anthony Jennings (6-2, 200) and Cedar Creek-Ruston offensive lineman Karl Malone Jr. (6-4, 290).

Preparing for the offseason

There’s still one game left on the docket for 2012, but the LSU coaching staff has already begun implementing some new pieces in preparation for the offseason.
Junior fullback J.C. Copeland said the team began a new warmup that they plan to implement in 2013 before practice this week, with more of an emphasis on the lower body.
“Tuesday was a squat day,” Copeland said. “We did a lot of lunges and stuff to work our legs. They wanted to change it up and … see what techniques we can do out here that will help us get faster and more explosive. He really is just introducing it to us now, so when we get to the offseason, it won’t be as bad for us.”
After about three weeks off, LSU kicked back up its practices with workouts Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by its first full practice Thursday night.
“Everybody was kind of really, really sore,” Copeland said. “At first we started dragging, but when we started warming up, we were just like we’ve been practicing for the past couple weeks.”
Sophomore wide receiver Jarvis Landry said the new workout is the hardest strength and conditioning coach Tommy Moffit has pushed the team all season.

Eat Mor Chikin

A Chick-fil-A sponsored bowl game means a whole lot of chicken for everyone.
Les Miles’ news conference on Wednesday was catered by Chick-fil-A, which was just a preview of what is come for the football team.
“We’re going to be getting a lot of those breakfast sandwiches and a lot of those milkshakes,” senior offensive lineman Josh Dworaczyk said. “We’re definitely excited about that.”
Chick-fil-A is nothing new to Dworaczyk, who said he grew up eating it with his family on trips to the mall.
But the sixth-year senior was very diplomatic in his chicken loyalties, expressing his support for Raisin’ Canes, the official chicken sponsor of LSU football.
“That’s a different style with their sauce,” Dworaczyk said. “I definitely enjoy Raisin’ Canes too.”

What’s in a name?

For his birthday Nov. 28, Landry took to Twitter in search of a nickname. It hasn’t quite stuck the way he had hoped, but the moniker, “juice” is slowly beginning to gain steam around the locker room.
“Guys like Josh Dworaczyk, being as old as he is, he calls me ‘Juice’ because of the energy I bring to practice,” Landry said. “It’s just one of those things he said he’s never been around. I think Coach Miles overheard him one day and he started calling me ‘Juice,’ then Coach Kragthorpe started calling me ‘Juice,’ then (quarterback) Zach (Mettenberger) and it kind of spiraled after that.”
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http://www.ncaa.com/news/football/fbs-notebook/2012-12-12/top-bowls-keep-eye

fbs notebook


Top bowls to keep an eye on

From Gator Bowl to national title game, great matchups await


Brian Burnsed, NCAA.com

Last Updated - December 13, 2012 2:27 GMT

The holidays can be tough. The specter of gift-shopping – and having your eyes repeatedly spritzed with perfume at every turn while being forced to listen to Justin Bieber Christmas songs on repeat in the dreaded, marble-floored monolith known as the mall – looms over nearly every waking moment. Plus, what are you going to do with the dog before you head home to see your parents? There are logistics to juggle, casseroles to make and gifts to try to wrap then take back to the store to have them gift-wrapped for you because you could never really grasp the concept of a crease. And amid all of this, there are 35 bowl games to watch.
Though there seemed to be a bevy of teams with big wins this season, finding quality bowl matchups was tricky. These are the 10 you should watch, carefully ranked by a committee of me. In ranking these, I didn’t factor in whether it was a BCS bowl or a bowl that history (meaning old dudes) tells you you’re supposed to care about. Instead, I had two simple criteria: How good were the two teams this season? And how much fun will it be to watch?


 Miami — Jan. 7 – 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Preview  Season Statistics Series Record: Notre Dame 5-1 Last: 1987 — Notre Dame 37-6
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Season Record: 12-0 Conference: Independent Coach: Brian Kelly All-Time Bowl Record (Last): 15-16 (2011)
Alabama Crimson Tide
Season Record: 12-1 Conference: Southeastern Coach: Nick Saban All-Time Bowl Record (Last): 34-22-3 (2011)
If the other 34 games are merely ornaments on the Christmas tree this is the biggest, heaviest present underneath it. This is the only one that’s got substance; it’s more than just something pretty to look at. If you have to, go ahead and skip the other 34 while you visit family and accidentally leave Kevin home alone, but do not, under any circumstances, miss this one. Can you remember another time when two programs so polarizing, so steeped in history – the teams have combined for 17 national championships in the polling era – have collided with a title on the line? And the SEC’s streak of six consecutive national championships is at stake, too. Will it end at the expense of a program that had slipped mightily on the gridiron during the past decade?
The teams enter the game a combined 24-1, with five of those wins coming against teams that finished the season ranked in the BCS top 25. They rank first and second nationally in scoring defense, both holding opponents under 11 points per game. They’re both in the top six in total defense. They’re both in the top four against the run and both teams’ offensive attacks happen to revolve around the ground game. That’s a bad combination for those of you who enjoy watching the chains move and repeated commercial breaks. But for the people who enjoyed LSU 9, Alabama 6 last year, you’re in for a treat. I give Alabama the edge, but, given how close it came to losing to Georgia and Notre Dame’s propensity for miracles on the field this year, it should come down to the wire.


Glendale, Ariz. – Jan. 3 – 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Preview  Season Statistics Series Record: First Meeting
Kansas State Wildcats
Season Record: 10-1 Conference: Big 12 Coach: Bill Snyder All-Time Bowl Record (Last): 6-9 (2011)
Oregon Ducks Season Record: 11-1 Conference: Pacific-12 Coach: Chip Kelly All-Time Bowl Record (Last): 10-15 (2011)
This is clearly the second-best offering of bowl season. In fact, it’s no contest. And it’s fitting that these two teams drew each other. After Alabama lost to Texas A&M, it seemed Oregon and Kansas State were on a certain collision course for the national championship, with each team playing winnable games the rest of the way. That certainty lasted all of one week; K-State got blown out by Baylor and, minutes later, Oregon succumbed to Stanford in overtime. The losses opened the door for Notre Dame, which likely would’ve been left out if all three had stayed undefeated, and gave the Tide a quick reprieve after the shocking upset. This will be the exact opposite of the national title game; both teams are in the top 10 in scoring – the Wildcats averaged 40.7 PPG this season and the Ducks clocked in at 50.8.   


Arlington, Texas – Jan. 4 – 8 p.m. ET, FOX
Preview  Season Statistics Series Record: Oklahoma 19-10 Last: 2011 — Oklahoma 41-25
Texas A&M Aggies
Season Record: 10-2 Conference: Southeastern Coach: Kevin Sumlin All-Time Bowl Record (Last): 14-19 (2011)
Oklahoma Sooners
Season Record: 10-2 Conference: Big 12 Coach: Bob Stoops All-Time Bowl Record (Last): 27-17-1 (2011)
Welcome back to the Big 12, A&M. Oklahoma split the conference championship this year with K-State; I like the fact that the conference’s most notable, and recent, expat has a shot to take on a conference co-champion and justify its departure. A&M flourished in the SEC this year, nearly knocking off No. 8 LSU and No. 3 Florida and toppling then-No. 1 Alabama, so if the Sooners can get the best of the Aggies it’ll provide quite an infusion of pride not only for folks around Norman but for the conference that A&M spurned. But, just in case you need a reminder, this isn’t the Aggie team that the Sooners thumped 41-25 last season. The Sooners have yet to feel the wrath of redshirt freshman Johnny Manziel. If Manziel averaged 285 yards passing and 98 on the ground against SEC defenses all year, what might he have in store for the Sooners, who gave up 380 yards and 25 points per game? It’ll be up to Landry Jones – playing in his 53rd, and final, game for the Sooners – to match blows with the otherworldly freshman if the Big 12 is to get the last laugh against its most prominent defector. 


Atlanta – Dec. 31 – 7 p.m. ET, ESPN
Preview  Season Statistics Series Record: LSU 2-0 Last: 1996 — LSU 10-7
Clemson Tigers Season Record: 10-2 Conference: Atlantic Coast Coach: Dabo Swinney All-Time Bowl Record (Last): 16-18 (2011) LSU Tigers Season Record: 10-2 Conference: Southeastern Coach: Les Miles All-Time Bowl Record (Last): 23-20-1 (2011)
Given the head coaches we’re dealing with here, this should be entertaining. Les Miles and Dabo Swinney are good for a sound bite and a trick play at any moment. Unlike the three aforementioned contests, this will be a stark contrast in styles. LSU doesn’t score much and beats you with its defense. Clemson has heard of defense, but is not too fond of practicing it. But what’s the need for defense when you’re scoring more than 42 points per game, and scored 37 points or more in all but two games this season? Unfortunately for Clemson, those two low-output games came against SEC opponents. In the season opener, a win, they managed only 26 against Auburn and in its loss to South Carolina they were held to 17. And, yes, LSU is in the SEC. Based on that trend alone I think the purple-and-yellow Tigers have an advantage over purple-and-orange ones.

Orlando, Fla. – Jan. 1 – 1 p.m. ET, ABC

Read more...
http://www.ncaa.com/news/football/fbs-notebook/2012-12-12/top-bowls-keep-eye
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LSU Football - Geaux Tigers!!!

NESN Alabama, LSU lead favored SEC into college football bowl season

Tennessee Sports Butch Jones announces Tennessee's coaching staff

Houston Chronicle Staff changes are price A&M pays for success

Monroe News Star *1 LA Tech hires Skip Holtz as coach

Bloomberg News Is this the beginning of the end of the NCAA?
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http://games.espn.go.com/college-bowl-mania/en/story?pageName=bowlmania\2012picks



Harris: Picking all 35 college bowl games for 2012 season

By Will Harris
Special to ESPN.com
Archive
Here are my picks, in order of confidence points, for this season's bowls. For more on the bowl picks, check out my podcast with Phil Steele .
35 points: Utah State over Toledo

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Dec. 15; Boise, Idaho) PickCenter Matchup
Fast-starting Utah State has outscored its foes 244-54 in the first half and is the only team in the nation not to have allowed a first-quarter touchdown. The Aggies' explosive rushing offense matches up very well with Toledo defenders, and their top-20 defense is capable of handling the Rockets playmakers, especially since the early bowl slot means that backfield stars Terrance Owens and David Fluellen are not likely to be 100 percent healthy just yet. Utah State led this bowl the whole way last year before allowing a last-minute touchdown drive to fall to Ohio. A much better Aggies edition is determined to win it this time around.
Utah State 38, Toledo 17

34 points: Arizona State over Navy Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl (Dec. 29; San Francisco) PickCenter Matchup
The extra time that is always so valuable when facing an unfamiliar triple option team in the postseason will also help freshen up an Arizona State rush defense that was worn down by the end of the regular season. If the Sun Devils can get just a few stops, they could run away with this one, as a smallish Navy defense can neither exploit a suspect Arizona State offensive line nor slow the Devils' impressive array of backfield playmakers. Todd Graham's stellar bowl record is further cause for high confidence in this big favorite.
Arizona State 42, Navy 24

33 points: Oklahoma State over Purdue Heart of Dallas Bowl (Jan. 1; Dallas) PickCenter Matchup
Oklahoma State is the largest favorite of the bowl season, but given the Cowboys' precipitous drop to an undesirable bowl slot, there's an outside case for the streaking underdog. Mike Gundy's solid bowl track record is tough to ignore, though, especially in contrast to the postseason coaching chops of rapidly-promoted interim Boilermakers boss Patrick Higgins, a wide receivers coach who was just recently elevated to playcaller when coordinator Gary Nord suffered a back injury in November. The ostensibly rebuilding Pokes have used three novice signal-callers this year yet continue to churn out a healthy 45 points and 548 yards per game. That's likely more horsepower than Purdue can match, even if the Boilers catch something less than the favorite's best effort.
Oklahoma State 44, Purdue 28

32 points: Fresno State over SMU Sheraton Hawaii Bowl (Dec. 24; Honolulu) PickCenter Matchup
SMU sports a solid rush defense and a decent ground game led by workhorse Zach Line and the increasingly mobile Garrett Gilbert under center, but the Mustangs rely too heavily on collecting turnovers (that their bowl opponent isn't prone to committing) and will have trouble keeping pace with the potent Fresno State attack. Even if SMU manages to contain 1,400-yard rusher Robbie Rouse, the balanced Bulldogs will just bomb away, as demonstrated in the season finale when Air Force held the Fresno ground game to under three yards per carry only to see quarterback Derek Carr light up the secondary for 479 yards in a runaway victory.
Fresno State 45, SMU 21

31 points: Florida over Louisville Allstate Sugar Bowl (Jan. 2; New Orleans) PickCenter Matchup
Florida hasn't moved the ball with anything other than painful deliberation very often this year, but Mike Gillislee and the Gators will find some room against an underachieving Louisville defense that's currently so banged up it's having trouble practicing effectively. Cardinals triggerman Teddy Bridgewater may be the best player on the field, but the Florida defense has few weaknesses and the SEC entrant enjoys a monstrous special teams edge as well.
Florida 31, Louisville 14
 
30 points: Louisiana-Lafayette over East Carolina R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl (Dec. 22; New Orleans) PickCenter Matchup
Sun Belt juggernaut Louisiana-Lafayette's rush-first attack is both efficient and explosive, too much for an East Carolina team that's among the very weakest of this year's bowl entrants. The Pirates have rolled up some yards this year as well, but have done so against some truly awful outfits that are not the equal even of the Cajuns' modestly talented defense, a unit that at least generates a pass rush, avoids the big play and stands tall in the red zone. Mark Hudspeth's crew is easily the better team here, and it repeats as New Orleans Bowl champs in front of a partisan crowd.
Louisiana-Lafayette 45, East Carolina 31

29 points: Alabama over Notre Dame Discover BCS National Championship (Jan. 7; Miami) PickCenter Matchup
The championship game should live up to the hype, as Notre Dame is an extremely well-coached outfit with a rock-solid front seven that won't allow the Tide anywhere near the 350 rushing yards it hung on Georgia in the SEC title game. Alabama may have a few more horses overall, but quarterbacks as mobile as Everett Golson have hurt Nick Saban's defenses in the past and Notre Dame's offensive brain trust can manufacture enough yardage to make this a closely-contested affair. The Tide isn't the most vulnerable of this bowl season's bumper crop of double-digit favorites, but it certainly isn't the safest.
Alabama 17, Notre Dame 13

28 points: Florida State over Northern Illinois Discover Orange Bowl (Jan. 1; Miami) PickCenter Matchup
The Seminoles are one of the bowl season's largest favorites and have a huge talent advantage over a Northern Illinois team that played a much softer schedule and will be missing departed head coach Dave Doeren, who left for North Carolina State. Still, while there's no question that Jordan Lynch and the Huskies' high-powered offense won't zoom up and down the field on New Year's Day the way they did on most of their MAC brethren, it wouldn't be surprising to see the defense make this a four-quarter game. The Florida State offense is a heavily-penalized, turnover-riddled group that has a hard time protecting its passer and just getting out of its own way. The second-half goose egg in the ACC championship game was the cap on a really ugly two-game stretch for 'Noles quarterback EJ Manuel, who has managed just 316 total passing yards while committing six turnovers in his past two games. The Northern defense is an opportunistic group that notched 40 sacks and 15 interceptions, and we don't entirely trust an error-prone favorite that's lost a few coaches of its own.
Florida State 24, Northern Illinois 13

27 points: Northwestern over Mississippi State Taxslayer.com Gator Bowl (Jan. 1; Jacksonville, Fla.) PickCenter Matchup
Mississippi State's rush defense has slipped steadily since its 2010 trip to the Gator Bowl. Sans former coordinator Manny Diaz and first-round defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, this has become a unit that permits foes to steadily drive the length of the field, relying on takeaways and red zone stops to turn the opposition away. Northwestern is eminently capable of methodical rushing drives just like the ones the Bulldogs tend to allow, and the Wildcats have the ball security and drive-finishing profile to seal the deal. Quarterback Tyler Russell and ace wideout Chad Bumphis will surely gash the porous Northwestern pass defense for a few big strikes, but we'll side with the hungrier underdog with the more efficient offense.
Northwestern 31, Mississippi State 24

26 points: USC over Georgia Tech Hyundai Sun Bowl (Dec. 31; El Paso, Texas) PickCenter Matchup
The Yellow Jackets are certainly more fired up about this matchup than the Trojans, and it's very hard to see defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin's charges suddenly springing to life with what would be one of the first good performances of his tenure against a non-traditional offense. Tech will surely move the ball, and that would seem to give an underdog that's more enthusiastic about its bowl assignment a puncher's chance at an upset. We therefore won't entrust a ranking in the thirties to these Trojans, but the favorite does have some serious edges of its own. The Georgia Tech defense has shown no sign that it can keep up with the USC receivers, and that's as true in the return game for the Jackets' abysmal coverage units as it is for the Tech defense when Matt Barkley is bombing away.
USC 38, Georgia Tech 28

25 points: Mississippi over Pittsburgh BBVA Compass Bowl (Jan. 5; Birmingham, Ala.) PickCenter Matchup
The Panthers -- with the support of maybe dozens of fans -- are making their third postseason trip to Birmingham in as many years. A decidedly partisan crowd will root on the Rebels in a game they're far more excited about than the repeat Big East entrant. The favorite probably won't disappoint, as the Ole Miss defensive line, which ranks No. 13 nationally in sacks and No. 6 in tackles for loss, has a big edge over a Panthers offensive front that neither protects its quarterback well nor consistently opens holes for workhorse Ray Graham.
Mississippi 31, Pittsburgh 21

24 points: Louisiana-Monroe over Ohio AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl (Dec. 28; Shreveport, La.) PickCenter Matchup
Quarterback Kolton Browning and a talented set of receivers operate an up-tempo passing assault that produces right around 300 yards per game. An Ohio defense that's been thinned by injuries will have trouble countering the Warhawks' speed. Defensively, Monroe has been susceptible to big-play vertical passing attacks, but that's not the Bobcats' forte; none of Ohio's top seven pass-catchers average better than 12 yards per reception. The Warhawks undoubtedly would have preferred a matchup with Louisiana Tech, but they are still playing close to home in the school's first-ever bowl game against a program with a scant record of postseason success.
Louisiana-Monroe 38, Ohio 27

23 points: Oregon State over Texas Valero Alamo Bowl (Dec. 29; San Antonio, Texas) PickCenter Matchup
Mike Riley's 5-1 bowl record has us leaning with the Beavers, a complete team with few glaring weaknesses. Oregon State is both more efficient and more consistent than the opposing Longhorns, who have yet to settle on a starting quarterback and just lost offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin to Arkansas State. It's true that the Beavers prefer to move the ball via air and that Texas' defensive deficiencies have been more exposed by the run, but the 'Horns have few quality wins and were outgained in most of those.
Oregon State 31, Texas 24

22 points: Western Kentucky over Central Michigan Little Caesars Pizza Bowl (Dec. 26; Detroit) PickCenter Matchup
This game would've ranked substantially higher had Willie Taggart not bolted for South Florida, but the favorite is still the only side worth having despite the obvious advantages in geography and fan support for the Chippewas. Central Michigan is 2012's weakest bowl team. Outgained in 10 games, the Chips have played a soft schedule yet have allowed opponents to exceed their average net yardage margins by nearly 100 yards per game, worst among bowl squads. Even without Taggart, the Hilltoppers will be amped for the program's first-ever bowl appearance, and they have the defense to slow Central star Zurlon Tipton while the MAC entrant won't be able to contain Western's all-purpose ace Antonio Andrews.
Western Kentucky 38, Central Michigan 27

21 points: Boise State over Washington MAACO Las Vegas Bowl (Dec. 22; Las Vegas) PickCenter Matchup
Washington quarterback Keith Price has been on the run from opposing pass rushers all year, and it's doubtful that the beleaguered Huskies offensive line can hold a stout Broncos front at bay. That mismatch in the trenches is the critical trial in a game likely to be dominated by the defenses on both sides. It's hard to see an uncharacteristically pedestrian Boise State offense moving the chains much either, but the Broncs are more likely than error-prone Washington to make the one timely play -- or avoid the one key turnover -- that will decide the outcome of this closely-contested tilt.
Boise State 17, Washington 10

20 points: San Jose State over Bowling Green Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman (Dec. 27; Washington, D.C.) PickCenter Matchup
The Bowling Green defense is very good, but it's not as good as its numbers suggest as the Falcons have faced what may be the weakest slate of opposing offenses in the nation. This team has seen nothing even remotely like the David Fales and Noel Grigsby -led passing attack the Spartans possess, and the Falcons' own ham 'n' egg offense doesn't have the weapons to keep pace, especially if workhorse tailback Anthon Samuel can't make it back to 100 percent health by gametime. We'd rank this game higher if San Jose State wasn't sporting an interim coach, but even with the loss of Mike MacIntyre, the Spartans look like a legitimate favorite.
San Jose State 30, Bowling Green 17

19 points: Texas Tech over Minnesota Meineke Car Care of Texas Bowl (Dec. 28; Houston) PickCenter Matchup
Texas Tech is one of the biggest favorites of the bowl season, but given the circumstances, a wide range of outcomes are possible and we can't let the Red Raiders ascend too far up the list just yet. Minnesota's pass defense has been the best-looking part of its team for most of the year, so in a sense the Gophers match up pretty well, but Seth Doege and Co. are vastly more talented than a Minnesota offense that's managed just 272 yards and 18 first downs in its past two games combined and can't claim a receiver with even 20 catches. Tech, though, is not likely to be too excited about another trip to a third-tier in-state bowl to face another heavy underdog from the lower half of the Big Ten standings. The departure of head coach Tommy Tuberville -- along with that of playcaller Neal Brown -- makes this a messy game to predict.
Texas Tech 34, Minnesota 24

18 points: Duke over Cincinnati Belk Bowl (Dec. 27; Charlotte) PickCenter Matchup
Duke hasn't won since clinching bowl eligibility with a victory over rival North Carolina way back on Oct. 20, but a Cincinnati team whose staff is departing en masse for Knoxville will be easier prey than the who's who of the ACC the Devils faced down the stretch. The trying schedule wore down a Duke defense that had played fairly well earlier in the year, and we'll side with an underdog who not only rates as the hungrier team in this matchup, but also the one for which a long break to heal and freshen up provides the most benefit.
Duke 34, Cincinnati 31

17 points: Michigan over South Carolina Outback Bowl (Jan. 1; Tampa) PickCenter Matchup
Great red zone defenses collide in what should be a competitive low-scoring game, though a few factors have me leaning with the underdog. It's hard to see South Carolina moving the chains much. The Gamecocks' rushing game is not dynamic and the Wolverines haven't allowed 200 yards through the air all season, a remarkable feat despite the modest slate of opposing passers. Michigan won't score much either, but coordinator Al Borges does have the element of surprise, as it will be difficult for Carolina to game plan without knowing how its Big Ten foe will use quarterbacks Denard Robinson and Devin Gardner.
Michigan 24, South Carolina 17

16 points: Clemson over LSU Chick-fil-A Bowl (Dec. 31; Atlanta) PickCenter Matchup
Several edges have me leaning with an underdog Clemson team that has dramatically outperformed LSU in the red zone on both sides of the ball this year. A much-improved offensive line can stand up to LSU's tough defensive front in a way that past Clemson teams could not, while an LSU pass defense with fine season-long numbers has wilted down the stretch. A Clemson defense that is actually very effective on the majority of snaps has been hurt principally by the big play, and explosiveness is not the Bayou Bengals' forte this year. LSU had its sights set on a January bowl, and the ACC Tigers are far more excited about an opportunity for redemption against the SEC.
Clemson 27, LSU 24
 
15 points: Georgia over Nebraska Capital One Bowl (Jan. 1; Orlando, Fla.) PickCenter Matchup
We're loath to trust a Nebraska team whose latest debacle against Wisconsin was the ninth outright loss as a favorite under Bo Pelini, the eighth blowout by at least three scores and the 12th consecutive game with at least two turnovers committed. Still, we won't have Georgia too high up this year's list, as the senior-laden Huskers are bound to play better in search of redemption while the Bulldogs poured their soul into the SEC title game only to come up a play short.
Georgia 35, Nebraska 28

14 points: Texas A&M over Oklahoma AT&T Cotton Bowl (Jan. 4; Arlington, Texas) PickCenter Matchup
Both defenses figure to take the worst of it, as the Aggies are no match in the back end for the precision of Landry Jones and his excellent receivers, while Mike Stoops' charges are shockingly under-talented at linebacker and have been searching vainly for an identity all season. Oklahoma has played a considerably more difficult schedule, but the Sooners have taken one of this season's steepest 11th-hour bowl falls, and the postseason history of teams jilted by the BCS is very grim.
Texas A&M 38, Oklahoma 34

13 points: Ball State over Central Florida Beef O' Brady's St. Petersburg Bowl (Dec. 21; St. Petersburg, Fla.) PickCenter Matchup
We'd move this game down the list some if star quarterback Keith Wenning isn't cleared to suit up for Ball State, and we might even change sides if capable backup Kelly Page remains sidelined as well. But if Wenning is leading the troops, it's full steam ahead on this underdog despite a lack of bowl experience. Ball State is a rising MAC power coached by Pete Lembo, and this year the Cardinals have three losses to teams that combined for a 32-4 record in the regular season. Central Florida is the more talented team, but it's one that can't seem to play well on both sides of the ball in the same game, and the part of the season the Knights truly cared about ended two weeks ago with a controversial loss in the Conference USA title game.
Ball State 35, Central Florida 28

12 points: West Virginia over Syracuse New Era Pinstripe Bowl (Dec. 29; New York) PickCenter Matchup
Both teams finished the season hot, especially offensively, and this certainly has the look of one of those high-scoring, "last-team-with-the-ball-wins" kind of affairs. Syracuse does have a greater tendency to self-destruct, so we'll lean with a West Virginia squad that's displayed better ball security,which is always key in games where the defenses can't get many stops without benefit of turnovers. The Mountaineers are also playing their last game with Geno Smith and several other key seniors, which could provide some motivation to offset a disappointing tumble to a less desirable bowl slot than expected.
West Virginia 45, Syracuse 38

11 points: Iowa State over Tulsa AutoZone Liberty Bowl (Dec. 31; Memphis) PickCenter Matchup
This meeting of two well-coached teams that play above their talent level is the 2012 bowl season's only rematch. Iowa State took round one 38-23 in the season lid-lifter and are a slight choice to do so again in what shapes up as a defensive struggle. Neither side can claim many clear edges in this tossup, but the Cyclones sport the better special teams and have been battle-tested by a much tougher schedule.
Iowa State 20, Tulsa 17

10 points: Virginia Tech over Rutgers Russell Athletic Bowl (Dec. 28; Orlando, Fla.) PickCenter Matchup
Both teams feature excellent defenses and inefficient, self-destructive offenses. It's hard to see either side managing even 15 first downs, so we'll opt for the team with positive momentum and a coaching advantage. The Hokies ended the regular season by topping rival Virginia to keep Tech's 20-year bowl streak alive, while Rutgers choked away the biggest game in school history last time out.
Virginia Tech 21, Rutgers 10

9 points: UCLA over Baylor Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl (Dec. 27; San Diego) PickCenter Matchup
A definite candidate for the bowl season's highest-scoring game, this tilt features two offenses loaded with playmakers. Both offenses turn the ball over, both defenses take it away and both teams rack up penalties by the handful in all three phases. However, UCLA has a clear defensive edge, and while the current Bruins' staff has never prepared for a bowl before, we'll take that uncertainty over Art Briles' 1-4 postseason record.
UCLA 48, Baylor 42

8 points: Air Force over Rice Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl (Dec. 29; Fort Worth, Texas) PickCenter Matchup
The Falcons have topped 400 yards just once in the past six games, but backfield stars Connor Dietz and Cody Getz were banged up down the stretch and should be much more effective runners after the long layoff. The Air Force rush defense improved dramatically late in the year, and in a game where both sides will move the chains consistently, the Falcons should be able to get an extra stop against a capable Rice offense that struggles in the red zone.
Air Force 34, Rice 30

7 points: BYU over San Diego State San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl (Dec. 20; San Diego) PickCenter Matchup
San Diego State has thrived on a power rushing attack led by the one-two punch of Adam Muema and Walter Kazee. The passing game is adequate but lacks explosion, consistency and sufficient protection from the line. With Kazee out with an injury suffered in the season finale, Muema has to carry the team, and it's not certain he'll be able to get his yards against a BYU defense that's held all but one opponent to 118 yards or fewer on the ground this year. BYU isn't sure whether oft-injured veteran Riley Nelson or little-used senior James Lark will take most of the snaps at quarterback, but either way the Cougars' pedestrian offense figures to have trouble moving the ball against a capable Aztecs defense, especially since San Diego State can assign superstar cornerback Leon McFadden to primary receiving threat Cody Hoffman, whose 90 catches are more than the next three BYU receivers combined. This is a low-scoring tossup game that has us barely siding with BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall and his 5-2 bowl record.
BYU 17, San Diego State 14

6 points: Kansas State over Oregon Tostitos Fiesta Bowl (Jan. 3; Glendale, Ariz.) PickCenter Matchup
If the Oregon offense has any weaknesses, it is youth, fumbles, penalties, lack of physicality and a dearth of long pass plays, each of which plays right into the Wildcats' hands. The Oregon defense is the best of the Chip Kelly era, but the Ducks do allow long, clock-eating drives to physical rushing teams. The Quackers have logged more takeaways than any other team, but they're unlikely to get any from a Kansas State squad that's not as talented as the favorite but matches up very well.
Kansas State 31, Oregon 30

5 points: Nevada over Arizona Gildan New Mexico Bowl (Dec. 15; Albuquerque, N.M.) PickCenter Matchup
Both defenses figure to be at the mercy of the offenses, but the favorite is vulnerable as the Arizona defense is a banged-up bunch of undersized, inexperienced freshmen, walk-ons and underclassmen playing new positions in a yet-to-be mastered 3-3-5 scheme. Weather and altitude favor the underdog, as does an early time slot that provides just two weeks for the Arizona defense to prepare for Nevada's unique Pistol attack but allows that red-hot offense to stay in rhythm coming off its best half of the season. A probable shootout could come down to which team stops itself, and fumble-prone Arizona has had trouble finishing drives in the red zone all year. An outright upset is certainly possible, and Arizona backers should slide this heavy favorite way down the list.
Nevada 45, Arizona 42

4 points: Vanderbilt over North Carolina State Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl (Dec. 31; Nashville) PickCenter Matchup
Deposed Wolfpack boss Tom O'Brien was a sterling 8-2 in bowls, but it's hard to say how much of that culture of postseason emphasis has rubbed off on interim coach Dana Bible and his charges. The Pack defense -- like the Vanderbilt offense -- is good but not great, and the game will probably be decided on the other side of the ball. State hasn't gotten much from its running game, offensive line or most of its receivers, but triggerman Mike Glennon is a seasoned NFL talent, and he'll be firing into a Vanderbilt secondary that's seen one passing game with a pulse all year and is not nearly as sporty as its numbers suggest. O'Brien is gone, and the Commodores have the backing of the locals, but we'll leave this favorite near the bottom of the stack.
Vanderbilt 28, North Carolina State 24

3 points: Wisconsin over Stanford Rose Bowl Game presented by Vizio (Jan. 1; Pasadena, Calif.) PickCenter Matchup
The Rose is a game of many obvious similarities, with both teams earning conference titles on the strength of punishing downhill rushing attacks led by all-star workhorse tailbacks. Both also feature stingy defensive front sevens and quarterbacks who made their first career starts on Nov. 10 of this year. Stanford gets props for its superior special teams, but Wisconsin has the lone gamebreaking wideout on either side in Jared Abbrederis, while Hall of Famer and three-time Rose Bowl winner Barry Alvarez might just be the difference-maker.
Wisconsin 14, Stanford 13

2 points: Arkansas State over Kent State GoDaddy.com Bowl (Jan. 6; Mobile, Ala.) PickCenter Matchup
Kent State's Darrell Hazell is thus far the only departing head coach who will actually coach his soon-to-be-former charges in their bowl. Arkansas State, meanwhile, is one of at least eight schools led by interim coaches. In command of the Red Wolves is defensive coordinator John Thompson, who boasts just one career win over a team other than Army in 23 games as a head coach (while at East Carolina) -- and that was a two-point home escape over a Tulane squad that hadn't beaten an FBS opponent that year. The Wolves do at least temporarily retain the playcalling services of Gus Malzahn understudy Rhett Lashlee, which means that seasoned triggerman Ryan Aplin will probably still be comfortable guiding what has been a very potent offense against a Kent State defense that has struggled with no-huddle tempo attacks. Kent has weapons of its own in speedster Dri Archer and bruiser Trayion Durham, but what narrowly tips the scales in favor of the Wolves is a solid rush defense that's held its past five opponents under 100 yards and matches up well with the Flashes' one-dimensional ground attack.
Arkansas State 28 Kent State 27

1 point: TCU over Michigan State Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl (Dec. 29; Tempe, Ariz.) PickCenter Matchup
This defensive struggle seems one of the most difficult games to call, as neither team should be able to crack 300 yards or 15 first downs against the opposing defense. Games like this often come down to turnovers, but Michigan State has better offensive ball security while the Frogs defense garners more takeaways. Neither side will be able to sustain drives, and TCU does own more big-play athletes at the skill positions and in the return game.
TCU 10, Michigan State 9
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