SATURDAY, DEC. 29
CHICK-FIL-A PEACH
BOWL
TEAMS: Florida vs. Michigan
TIME: Noon ET
TV: ESPN
WHERE: Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta
WHY TO WATCH: Odds are that it will be more
competitive than the previous two meetings between the schools. Michigan won
the 2016 Citrus Bowl 41-7 and the 2017 opener 33-17.
WHOM TO WATCH: Gators defensive end Jachai Polite was
named second-team All-America by the Associated Press after leading the SEC
with five forced fumbles to go with 11 sacks and 16 tackles for loss.
MOTIVATING FACTOR FOR FLORIDA: The Gators have
never defeated the Wolverines, who are 4-0 against them since 2002. The Gators
can also win 10 games in Dan Mullen's first season, which would be one more
than Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer won in their first seasons at Florida.
MOTIVATING FACTOR FOR MICHIGAN: The Wolverines
can win 11 games in a season for only the 10th time in their 139-year history. They
can also bury some of the demons from their previous game, which I don't need
to mention.
PREDICTION: Michigan 27, Florida 24
BELK BOWL
TEAMS: South
Carolina vs. Virginia
TIME: Noon ET
TV: ABC
WHERE: Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North
Carolina
WHY TO WATCH: It's one of the SEC's best passing
games against one of the ACC's best pass defenses.
WHOM TO WATCH: Gamecocks quarterback Jake Bentley threw
for 2,953 yards, 27 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while completing 63.9
percent of his attempts. He threw for 510 yards and 5 scores in a 56-35 loss to
No. 2 Clemson.
MOTIVATING FACTOR FOR SOUTH CAROLINA: The
Gamecocks have won five of their past six bowl games after dropping four of
their previous five. They've also won eight of their past nine games against
ACC foes not named Clemson.
MOTIVATING FACTOR FOR VIRGINIA: The Cavaliers
are playing in a bowl game for the second straight season under Bronco
Mendenhall. They haven't won in the postseason since a 34-31 victory over
Minnesota in the 2005 Music City Bowl.
PREDICTION: South Carolina 28, Virginia 24
NOVA HOME LOANS
ARIZONA BOWL
TEAMS: Arkansas
State vs. Nevada
TIME: 1:15 p.m. ET
TV: CBS
WHERE: SN at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Arizona
WHY TO WATCH: If the Belk Bowl isn't exciting,
you'll need to kill a few hours before the CFP semifinals.
WHOM TO WATCH: Arkansas State quarterback Justice
Hansen was red-hot during the Red Wolves' four-game win streak
to close the regular season, completing 76.9 percent of his passes for 1,107
yards, 12 touchdowns and zero interceptions.
MOTIVATING FACTOR FOR ARKANSAS STATE: The Red
Wolves have eight consecutive winning seasons, but they're 1-3 in their past
four bowl games.
MOTIVATING FACTOR FOR NEVADA: The Wolf Pack
improved by four wins from Jay Norvell's first season (3-9) to his second
(7-5). They're seeking their first bowl victory since 2015.
PREDICTION: Arkansas State 35, Nevada 27
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
PLAYOFF SEMIFINAL
GOODYEAR COTTON
BOWL CLASSIC
TEAMS: Clemson vs. Notre Dame
TIME: 4 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
WHEREAT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas
WHY TO WATCH: It's Notre Dame playing for a spot
in the national championship game. Fighting Irish fans will be cheering for
them while the rest of the country roots for the Tigers.
WHOM TO WATCH: Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book threw
for 2,468 yards and 19 touchdowns after replacing Brandon
Wimbush following the third game of the season. He'll try to
expose a Clemson secondary that has been porous down the stretch.
MOTIVATING FACTOR FOR CLEMSON: The Tigers are
trying to reach the CFP championship for the third time in four years. They
fell short in the semifinals last season.
MOTIVATING FACTOR FOR NOTRE DAME: The Fighting
Irish finished the regular season undefeated for the first time since 2012,
when they lost to Alabama 42-14 in the BCS national championship.
PREDICTION: Clemson 38, Notre Dame 35
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
PLAYOFF SEMIFINAL
CAPITAL ONE ORANGE
BOWL
TEAMS: Alabama vs. Oklahoma
TIME: 8 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
WHERE: Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida)
WHY TO WATCH: It's Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray vs.
runner-up Tua
Tagovailoa. It's Alabama's defense vs. OU's offense and the Tide's
offense vs. whatever the Sooners call that.
WHOM TO WATCH: Murray's 96.0 QBR is the highest
entering bowl season in the 15 seasons ESPN has tracked the metric. He
completed 70.9 percent of his passes for 4,053 yards, rushed for 892 yards and
accounted for 51 total touchdowns.
MOTIVATING FACTOR FOR ALABAMA: Tagovailoa
probably lost the Heisman Trophy after a disappointing performance against
Georgia in the SEC championship. He'll look to bounce back against an OU
defense that ranks dead last in the FBS in pass defense.
MOTIVATING FACTOR FOR OKLAHOMA: The Sooners fell
short of reaching the national championship in 2017 by blowing a 17-point lead
in a 54-48, double-overtime loss to Georgia in the semifinal at the Rose Bowl
Game Presented by Northwestern Mutual.
PREDICTION: Alabama 54, Oklahoma 38
No comments:
Post a Comment