2012-2013 Bowl Preview Part 2
Now that we got most of the “appetizer” games out of the way, last night’s Russell Athletic Bowl was a perfect example; we can get to the good stuff, The “Main Course”. I was 9-5 while Michael was 8-6. Now to the games.
Kraft Fight Hunger 12/29 – 4 PM
Navy (8 – 4) [Independent] vs. Arizona State (7 – 5) [Pac 12]
Three of Navy’s four losses were to #1 Notre Dame in Ireland, Penn State, and to #24 San Jose State (12-0). They boast a good running game in which they have two running backs with over 600 rushing yards for the season. Arizona State started the season off 5-1 before losing four straight to all bowl eligible opponents. They finished the year off with a solid win at #24 Arizona.
Travis: Navy / Michael: Arizona State
Valero Alamo 12/29 – 6:45 PM
#23 Texas (8 – 4) [Big 12] vs. #13 Oregon State (9 – 3) [Pac 12]
Of Texas’s four losses, three of them came to Top 15 teams at the time. They did beat #18 Texas Tech for their only ranked victory. They face another Top 15 team in Oregon State, who upset Rose Bowl Bound Wisconsin in their first game of the season. Their last victory was a 77 – 3 thrashing of Nicholls State, a rescheduled game from Sept.
Travis: Oregon State / Michael: Oregon State
Buffalo Wild Wings 12/29 – 10:15 PM
TCU (7 – 5) [Big 12] vs. Michigan State (6-6) [B1G]
Four of TCU’s five losses were of two scores or less (14 to Iowa State, 3 to Texas Tech, 13 to Kansas State, 7 to Oklahoma). They did beat West Virginia in OT in Morgantown as well as a victory over Texas. Michigan State lost four of their final six games (1 win to a Monte Ball-less Wisconsin team) and squeaked into a bowl with a final week victory over Minnesota.
Travis: TCU / Michael: TCU
Franklin American Mortgage Music City 12/31 – Noon
NC State (7 – 5) [ACC] vs. Vanderbilt (8 – 4) [SEC]
Three of NC States four conference losses were to teams in the top two in each division; they also lost to Tennessee on opening night. Their bright spot was a one point upset of then #3 Florida State. Vandy has run off six straight victories after starting off 2 – 4. Three of their losses were to then Top 10 teams (South Carolina, Florida, Georgia).
Travis: NC State / Michael: NC state
Hyundai Sun 12/31 – 2 PM
USC (7 – 5) [Pac 12] vs. Georgia Tech (6 – 7) [ACC]
USC started off the season 6 – 1 with their only loss being to Stanford by 7. They would then go 1 – 4 the rest of the way (All four losses were 11 points or less). Georgia Tech gets bowl eligible due to the fact that they were at .500 when they entered their Conf. Title game. They defeated only two teams with a record of .500 or above (North Carolina and Duke).
Travis: USC / Michael: USC
AutoZone Liberty 12/31 – 3:30 PM
Iowa State (6 – 6) [Big 12] vs. Tulsa (10 – 3) [Conf. USA]
Iowa State started off the season 4 -1 with an upset of then #15 TCU. They would finish the season 2 – 5 to stumble into a bowl. Tulsa started the season 7 – 1 and won the Conf. USA title over UCF. This is the second meeting of the season with Iowa State winning 38 – 23 in week 1.
Travis: Tulsa / Michael: Iowa State
Chick-fil-A 12/31 – 7:30 PM
#8 LSU (10 – 2) [SEC] vs. #14 Clemson (10 – 2) [ACC]
LSU lost twice by a combined 12 points (Florida and Alabama)and took Alabama to the wire at home. Clemson lost to Florida State in week 4 which knocked them out of the ACC title game. Their other loss came to South Carolina in the final week of the regular season.
Travis: LSU / Michael: LSU
TaxSlayer.com Gator 1/1 – Noon
Mississippi State (8 – 4) [SEC] vs. #20 Northwestern (9 – 3) [B1G]
Mississippi State started off 7 – 0 before losing four of five to the meat of their schedule (3 ranked teams in a row). Northwestern started 5 – 0 before losing to three teams in the top 2 of their divisions.
Travis: Northwestern / Michael: Mississippi State
Heart of Dallas 1/1 – Noon
Purdue (6 – 6) [B1G] vs. Oklahoma State (7 – 5) [Big 12]
Purdue did not beat an opponent with a record of .500 or above. Three of Oklahoma State’s losses were to Top 13 opponents by 14 points or less.
Travis: Oklahoma State / Michael: Oklahoma State
Outback 1/1 – 1 PM
#10 South Carolina (10 – 2) [SEC] vs. #18 Michigan (8 – 4) [B1G]
South Carolina lost their only two games in back-to-back weeks to then #9 LSU and #2 Florida. Michigan lost two games to the teams in the BCS Title game, undefeated Ohio State, and B1G Title game participant, Nebraska.
Travis: South Carolina / Michael: South Carolina
Capital One 1/1 -1 PM
#7 Georgia (11 – 2) [SEC] vs. #16 Nebraska (10 – 3) [B1G]
This is a matchup of conference title game runners-up. Georgia took Alabama to the wire in the SEC title game before falling short at the 5 yard line. Nebraska got blown out against Wisconsin in the B1G title game.
Travis: Georgia / Michael: Georgia
AT&T Cotton 1 / 4 – 8 PM
#9 Texas A&M (10 – 2) [SEC] vs. #11 Oklahoma (10 – 2) [Big 12]
A&M, who boast Johnny Heisman, dropped their only two losses by a combined 8 points (LSU, Florida). Oklahoma got handled easily by Notre Dame at home and dropped an earlier contest to Kansas State by 5.
Travis: Texas A&M / Michael: Oklahoma
BBVA Compass 1/5 – 1 PM
Pittsburgh (6 – 6) [Big East] vs. Ole Miss (6 – 6) [SEC]
Pitt upset then #13 Va. Tech in mid-September, then was a missed field goal away from knocking off undefeated Notre Dame on the road. Ole Miss lost three of its final five games and needed a final week victory against Mississippi State to become bowl eligible.
Travis: Ole Miss / Michael: Pitt
GoDaddy.com 1/6 – 9 PM
#25 Kent State (11 – 2) [MAC] vs. Arkansas State (9 – 3) [Sun Belt]
Kent State lost out on a BCS bid by falling to No. Illinois in 2 OT. Their other loss was in week 2 to Kentucky. Arkansas State is the Sun Belt Champs.
Travis: Kent State / Michael: Kent State
That does it for this edition of the Bowl Preview. Look for a BCS preview in the next couple days followed by the BCS Title Preview early in the New Year. Until then, Happy Bowling!
