gpikeA look at Tuesdays bowl games
December 27th 2010 02:37
Finally, multiple bowl games are back until the NFL is back, next week on Sunday. Two games are featured for Tuesday. The Champs Sports Bowl with North Carolina State versus West Virginia is the opener. Then the Insight Bowl takes place with Missouri and Iowa facing off. Both games on the surface should be good matchups.
First off, the Champs Sports Bowl. West Virginia (9-3) made headlines this last week by forcing coach Bill Stewart to step down after next season, and naming Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen as the coach in waiting. West Virginia was one game away from making a BCS bowl appearance, instead Connecticut won the Big East with their season ending victory over South Florida. The Mountaineers are lead by quarterback Geno Smith who has 23 touchdowns on the season. Smith has thrown for 2,567 yards on the season, second in school history behind Marc Bulger. Running back Noel Devine, was on the preseason Doak Walker award list for best running back, hasn't lived up to that billing, this season. He leads the team with only 886 rushing yards. West Virginia is known for a strong defense this year, one that has given up only an average of 12 points a game. This squad will face an strong offense in North Carolina State (8-4).
Quarterback Russell Wilson can beat you with his arm or feet. Wilson has 26 touchdowns on the season through the air, and 394 yards rushing. The offense begins and ends with Wilson. If you can neutralize him, then the Wolfpack are in trouble. Mustafa Greene is number one on the team with 594 yards on the ground. Wilson will test the Mountaineers corners with senior Owen Wilson his favorite target.
West Virginia's defense continues to dominate, as they contain Wilson and win here. The Mountaineers won in an early season matchup this year, 31-17 over the Wolfpack. This makes two for two.
Now a look at the Insight Bowl. Both teams have had quite a share of ups and downs this season. Now one team can finish off on the right foot. Both teams are carbon copies of one another, a dominating defense, and opportunistic offenses.
Missouri (10-2) started the year on the outskirts of the top 25, then something began happening. The team won, and won more. Then a victory over top-ranked Oklahoma pushed the Tigers into the top ten. Two losses after that famed victory hurt the Tigers, before a three game winning streak ended the season. Missouri is a pass first team with Blaine Gabbert as the main focus. Gabbert has 2,752 yards on the season passing. He has two main targets in tight end Maurice Egnew and T.J. Moore. Egnew has 83 receptions on the season, Moore right behind him with 77. Missouri defense is one of the best in the country, giving up only 15 points a game.
Iowa (7-5) counters with a quarterback in the Gabbert mold, Rickey Stanzi, who has 25 touchdowns on the year with only four interceptions. Stanzi will need to be on his game with Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz suspending top receiver Derrell Johnson-Kouilanos and benching top running back Adam Robinson for the game. Now unproven guys will need to step up for the Hawkeyes. Wideout Marvin McNutt will be the go-to receiver and Marvin Coker, the running back. The Iowa defense led by defensive lineman Adrian Clayborn, better hope to force turnovers or this could be a long night for the Iowa.
Two similar teams with very opposite seasons face off here. The game will be a low-scoring, drag it out showcase with both defenses making an impact. Iowa comes into the game with too many question marks. Stanzi is a great quarterback, but he can't do it all. Missouri wins.
First off, the Champs Sports Bowl. West Virginia (9-3) made headlines this last week by forcing coach Bill Stewart to step down after next season, and naming Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen as the coach in waiting. West Virginia was one game away from making a BCS bowl appearance, instead Connecticut won the Big East with their season ending victory over South Florida. The Mountaineers are lead by quarterback Geno Smith who has 23 touchdowns on the season. Smith has thrown for 2,567 yards on the season, second in school history behind Marc Bulger. Running back Noel Devine, was on the preseason Doak Walker award list for best running back, hasn't lived up to that billing, this season. He leads the team with only 886 rushing yards. West Virginia is known for a strong defense this year, one that has given up only an average of 12 points a game. This squad will face an strong offense in North Carolina State (8-4).
Quarterback Russell Wilson can beat you with his arm or feet. Wilson has 26 touchdowns on the season through the air, and 394 yards rushing. The offense begins and ends with Wilson. If you can neutralize him, then the Wolfpack are in trouble. Mustafa Greene is number one on the team with 594 yards on the ground. Wilson will test the Mountaineers corners with senior Owen Wilson his favorite target.
West Virginia's defense continues to dominate, as they contain Wilson and win here. The Mountaineers won in an early season matchup this year, 31-17 over the Wolfpack. This makes two for two.
Now a look at the Insight Bowl. Both teams have had quite a share of ups and downs this season. Now one team can finish off on the right foot. Both teams are carbon copies of one another, a dominating defense, and opportunistic offenses.
Missouri (10-2) started the year on the outskirts of the top 25, then something began happening. The team won, and won more. Then a victory over top-ranked Oklahoma pushed the Tigers into the top ten. Two losses after that famed victory hurt the Tigers, before a three game winning streak ended the season. Missouri is a pass first team with Blaine Gabbert as the main focus. Gabbert has 2,752 yards on the season passing. He has two main targets in tight end Maurice Egnew and T.J. Moore. Egnew has 83 receptions on the season, Moore right behind him with 77. Missouri defense is one of the best in the country, giving up only 15 points a game.
Iowa (7-5) counters with a quarterback in the Gabbert mold, Rickey Stanzi, who has 25 touchdowns on the year with only four interceptions. Stanzi will need to be on his game with Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz suspending top receiver Derrell Johnson-Kouilanos and benching top running back Adam Robinson for the game. Now unproven guys will need to step up for the Hawkeyes. Wideout Marvin McNutt will be the go-to receiver and Marvin Coker, the running back. The Iowa defense led by defensive lineman Adrian Clayborn, better hope to force turnovers or this could be a long night for the Iowa.
Two similar teams with very opposite seasons face off here. The game will be a low-scoring, drag it out showcase with both defenses making an impact. Iowa comes into the game with too many question marks. Stanzi is a great quarterback, but he can't do it all. Missouri wins.
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