Pac-10 Bowl Projections
December 14, 2009 at 5:37 am
Written by Dennis Greenfield
MAACO Bowl Las Vegas
No. 18 Oregon State Beavers vs. No. 14 BYU
Why you should watch: This will be one fun game to watch. I don’t see the score getting out of hand, but these teams will trade back-and-forth touchdowns.
BYU finished strong winning their last four games including a 26-23 win against their rival Utah. Oregon State always plays well late in the season and into the bowl games, but they’ve got to be disappointed losing to Oregon and missing out on a trip to the Rose Bowl for the second year in a row. I’m curious how this second blow will affect them come bowl time.
Jacquizz Rodgers is always fun to watch, but if BYU can contain him the Beavs might not make it out on top.
On the opposite side you’ll get to see BYU QB Max Hall who threw for over 3,300 yards, 30 touchdowns and only 14 interceptions this season.
Prediction: Oregon State 34, BYU 31
Poinsettia BowlNo. 23 Utah vs. California
Why you should watch: Hmmmm…. well, if Jahvid Best plays then you may get to see a really good running back in motion. Other than that, quite frankly, this is one of the snoozer bowls for me. Best had a real scary fall at the end of a touchdown run against Oregon State. He suffered a severe concussion and and injured his back and missed Cal’s final three games. He has been cleared to resume workouts and practice and will be evaluated daily.
Best, a junior, could very well make the jump to the NFL and one final showing in the Poinsettia Bowl would serve him well before draft time.
Cal just did not live up to expectations this season — and really has been the case for the past several years. They seem really lack luster when things aren’t going their way.
Prediction: Utah 34, Cal 28
Emerald BowlBoston College vs. No. 24 USC
Why you should watch: Look, don’t you just want to see how USC will play in a non-BCS bowl. Aren’t you interested to see how they’ll do against Boston College. I mean, seriously, I’m wondering just well QB Matt Barley will play, if the Trojans will step up and play or have they already given up on this season.
The USC isn’t careful Boston College just might surprise them and flat out beat them. I don’t see that happening, though. I think USC comes in looking to avenge much of their season.
Prediction: USC 31, Boston College 17
EagleBank BowlUCLA vs. Temple
Why you should watch: This is Temple’s first bowl appearance in 30 years, so you know these kids will be playing their hearts out. UCLA is happy to have slid in to the EagleBank Bowl thanks to Navy beating Army on December 12th. They’ll be playing to win as well knowing they could have just as easily been sitting at home.
UCLA does have a descent defense; especially their secondary. Temple running back Bernard Pierce is a pretty good back.
Prediction: UCLA 31, Temple 17
Holiday BowlNo. 20 Arizona vs. No. 22 Nebraska
Why you should watch: If you like defense this is the game for you. Both Arizona and Nebraska play some good D. Nebraska standout and Heisman candidate defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh is well worth watching himself. And he’s from right here in Pac-10 country having attended Grant High School in Portland, Oregon.
Nebraska really finished the season strong having won five of their last six games. And, oh yeah, that game they lost was to Texas in the Big 12 championship. We all know how that ended. The Cornhuskers were so close to winning that game. They did out play Texas and really feel like they should have won. I don’t think that bodes well for Arizona.
I look for Nebraska to be ready for some redemption — even if it has to be at the mercy of the Wildcats.
Prediction: Nebraska 27, Arizona 24
Oklahoma vs. No. 21 Stanford
Why you should watch: The Stanford Cardinal will be led by their Heisman candidate Toby Gerhart (he finished second to Mark Ingram in the Heisman race). Gerhart led the nation in rushing yards and touchdowns. Stanford QB Andrew Luck may not play because he recently had surgery on a finger on his throwing hand due to an injury he suffered in Stanford’s win over Notre Dame. If cannot go it may be a long day for the Cardinal.
Oklahoma really needs this bowl win. I know, it’s not a BCS bowl, but the Sooners need to get some kind of win in the post-season. They’ve lost five of the last six bowls they’ve been in.
This will be a grind-it-out punishing game that just might come down to special teams.
Without Luck playing I give the edge to Oklahoma. If Luck gets in, the edge swings the other way. Unfortunately at this point it looks like he’s out.
Prediction: Stanford 17, Oklahoma 24
Rose BowlNo. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 7 Oregon
Why you should watch: Aside from seeing a No. 7 team play a No. 8 team, there’s plenty of reasons to watch this one. This will be the first time Ohio State has been to the Rose Bowl since the 1997 game when the Buckeyes beat Arizona State 20-17. This will also mark the first time the Buckeyes have been to the Rose Bowl under head coach Jim Tressel.
Oregon hasn’t been to the Rose Bowl since the 1995 game when they lost to Penn State 38-20.
This game really seems like the Jekyll and Hyde of bowl games. If either team gets rolling and in sync they can be very good. But if not, they’re pretty bad. It’s just going to come down to which team gets it going.
Oregon has only allowed 127 rushing yards per game. Ohio State just doesn’t pass well. Advantage to the Ducks.
Ohio State’s defense has played well, but I’m not sure they’ll be able to keep pace with Oregon’s spread attack — not many have.
Prediction: Oregon 37, Ohio State 27
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Pac-10 Bowl Schedule
December 7, 2009 at 9:51 pm
Written by Dennis Greenfield
MAACO Bowl Las Vegas
www.lvbowl.com
No. 18 Oregon State Beavers vs. No. 14 BYU
Tuesday, December 22nd – 5:00 pm PDT – ESPN
San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowlwww.poinsettiabowl.com
No. 23 Utah vs. California
Wednesday, December 23rd – 5:00 pm PDT – ESPN
Emerald Bowlemeraldbowl.cstv.com
Boston College vs. No. 24 USC
Saturday, December 26th – 5:00 pm PDT – ESPN
EagleBank Bowlwww.eaglebankbowl.org
UCLA vs. Temple
Tuesdaym December 29th – 1:30 pm PDT – ESPN
Pacific Life Holiday Bowlwww.holidaybowl.com
No. 20 Arizona vs. No. 22 Nebraska
Wednesday, December 30th – 5:00 pm PDT – ESPN
Brut Sun Bowlwww.sunbowl.org
Oklahoma vs. No. 21 Stanford
Thursday, December 31st – 11:00 am PDT – CBS
Rose Bowlwww.tournamentofroses.com/rosebowlgame
No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 7 Oregon
Friday, January 1st – 1:30 pm PDT – ABC
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Cal edges Miami for Emerald Bowl win
December 29, 2008 at 11:41 am
Written by Dennis Greenfield
photo via nydailynews.com
With 3:28 left in the game, Zack Follett forced a fumble by Miami quarterback, Jacory Harris. Moments later, Anthony Miller found himself on the receiving end of his first ever reception—and the freshman tight end made it count. Miller, playing only his third snap of the ball game, caught the game winning touchdown and sealed a Cal victory for the 2008 Emerald Bowl.
Cal running back Jahvid Best turned in bowl record performance rushing for 186 yards and two touchdowns. His 229 all-purpose yards moved him past J.J. Arrington for a new Cal record with 2,247 total all-purpose yards.
Quarterback Nate Longshore was average at best, but the game-winning touchdown to Miller superseded his average play.
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Pac-10 Links: Cal’s Nate Longshore gets starting nod, USC defense the best ever?
December 27, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Written by Dennis Greenfield
Cal head coach Jeff Tedford had decided to give the starting job to quarterback Nate Longshore for today’s Emerald Bowl against the Miami Hurricane’s. Longshore has had an up-and-down career at Cal, but will end it as the starter in his final game.
Arizona State’s best get from the 2008 basketball class will be transferring to Kansas next semester. Once head coach Lute Olsen retired, Jeff Withey requested the release from his scholarship. He has not played at all this season.
Jacquizz Rodgers is ever the optomist! On Friday he told a local El Paso reporter there is still a chance for him to play in the Sun Bowl against Pitt. Hmmm… Hey Quizz, isn’t your arm still in a sling with a broken scapula?
Michael Lev of the OC Register makes his case for why the Trojans’ defense should be considered the best ever. The only problem is he might be the only one who thinks that.
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Pac-10 Links: Beavers get help at RB, Stanford women in volleyball championship, more
December 20, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Written by Dennis Greenfield
Former Sacramento and New Mexico State head coach Reggie Theus recently told the Arizona Republic that he would be interested in being the head coach at Arizona.
That’s not to say there is actually going to be a vacancy at Arizona. Current interim coach Russ Pennell has the Wildcats sitting at 7-3—including a win over then #4 Gonzaga last Sunday.
Yesterday the Oregon State Beavers received some good news from head coach Mike Riley; running back Jeremy Francis will, in fact, join the team for the Sun Bowl. This adds a little more depth to the Beavers depleted running back corp. If you recall, Francis had taken an indefinite leave of absence from the team in order to tend to his ailing mother.
The Cal Bears are facing the Miami Hurricanes in the Emerald Bowl, but they will not be facing Miami’s starting quarter back. Starting QB Robert Marve will not be playing because of a violation of team academic rules. It seems as though Marve missed more than four classes.
Stanford women’s volleyball team held off Texas and will face Penn St. this evening in the championship game! Penn St. remains unbeaten while Stanford is 31-3.
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