gpikeQuick Look at Thursdays Bowls
December 28th 2010 20:46
Four bowl games are featured on Thursday. The Armed Forces Bowl, Pinstripe Bowl, Music City Bowl and Holiday Bowl.
Armed Forces Bowl: Army (6-6) and SMU (7-6) kick off the days action in this bowl. SMU will host the game. Both teams have contrasting styles of play. Army loves the running game, while SMU prefers the quick score and pass style.
Army is making their first bowl game appearance since 1996. The triple-option attack has Army tenth in the nation in rushing offense per game at 256 yards. Jared Hassin is the go-to guy leading the team at 931 yards. Quarterback Trent Steelman is right behind with 694 yards on the ground. Steelman also has 954 yards passing for the Black Knights.
SMU turns to quarterback Kyle Padron to make the team go. The somphomore has thrown for 29 touchdowns on the year to go with 3,526 yards of passing. Zach Line makes it a balanced attack with 1,321 yards rushing. Two 1000-yards receivers are Padron's favorite targets. Aldrick Robinson and Cole Beasley both topped the mark.
All signs point to a one-sided victory for June Jones and the Mustangs here. Army will need to establish the run to have a chance. SMU with the win.
Pinstripe Bowl: Syracuse (7-5) and Kansas State (7-5) both are returning to bowl play here. Syracuse last played in a bowl game in 2004, Kansas State 2008. Yankee Stadium will host the game in an interesting twist to the action makign it nearly a home game for Syracuse. Both teams had their ups and downs over the season.
Kansas State is a run first team led by Daniel Thomas who is second in Big-12 on the year 1,495 yards rushing. Quarterback Carson Coffman has taken his lumps on the year and won't be asked to do too much for the Wildcats. Coffman has thrown for 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions this year.
Syracuse features a little more balance on offense. Ryan Nassib leds the Orange onto the field with 16 touchdowns on the year. Running back Delone Carter just passed the 1000 yard rushing mark and will be asked to continue this action. Syracuse the better defense of the two teams which could be a factor.
Stopping Thomas will be the key for Syracuse to win this game. Their offense does not put up a ton of points, as the defense does most of the work. Look for a low scoring game with Syracuse winning.
Music City Bowl: North Carolina(7-5) and Tennesee (6-6) will square off in the Nashville classic. Both teams were expected to do much more this season so this game has to be a let-down. Being in Nashville may pose an advantage for the Volunteers. North Carolina dropped Tennesee from their schedule the next two years, which was seen as a slap in the face by Volunteers fans.
Tennessee rebounded after a slow start at 2-6 to win their final four games. Freshman quarterback Tyler Bray is the focal point of the offense for the team. Bray has thrown for 12 touchdowns during the four game winning streak. Tauren Poole has rushed for 974 yards on the season.
North Carolina had high hopes for the season but suspensions hampered the team's chances. T.J. Yates has thrown for 3,184 yards on the year with 18 touchdowns for the Tar Heels. Jonny White is the star rusher going for 784 yards.
North Carolina up and down season will end on another downer. The Volunteers are poised for a victory here in front of their home-state fans.
Holiday Bowl: A rematch is set for the night's finale. Washington (6-6) takes on Nebraska (10-3). Nebraska killed Washington earlier this year 56-21. Nothing has really changed since then with the Cornhuskers primed to dominate again.
Losing to Oklahoma in the Big-12 title game cost Nebraska a chance in the Fiesta Bowl. So a rematch is set. What Tyler Martinez shows up will be the key. The quarterback threw for nine touchdowns on the year and rushed for 942 yards. Running back Ryan Helu Jr. is the other vocal point of the offense going for 1,211 yards on the year on the ground.
Jake Locker needs to have the game of his life to finish his collegiate career. He is expected to be a first round pick in the upcoming NFL draft. Locker threw for 2,209 yards and 17 touchdowns this year. Chris Polk needs a big game in additon to Locker. The running back went for 1,238 yards on the year.
Washington has the tools for this game to be close. The Huskies defense, Locker and Polk all need to be at the tops of their game. Is revenge in order? Not likely as Nebraska wins, closer then the early season contest, but a win anyways.
Armed Forces Bowl: Army (6-6) and SMU (7-6) kick off the days action in this bowl. SMU will host the game. Both teams have contrasting styles of play. Army loves the running game, while SMU prefers the quick score and pass style.
Army is making their first bowl game appearance since 1996. The triple-option attack has Army tenth in the nation in rushing offense per game at 256 yards. Jared Hassin is the go-to guy leading the team at 931 yards. Quarterback Trent Steelman is right behind with 694 yards on the ground. Steelman also has 954 yards passing for the Black Knights.
SMU turns to quarterback Kyle Padron to make the team go. The somphomore has thrown for 29 touchdowns on the year to go with 3,526 yards of passing. Zach Line makes it a balanced attack with 1,321 yards rushing. Two 1000-yards receivers are Padron's favorite targets. Aldrick Robinson and Cole Beasley both topped the mark.
All signs point to a one-sided victory for June Jones and the Mustangs here. Army will need to establish the run to have a chance. SMU with the win.
Pinstripe Bowl: Syracuse (7-5) and Kansas State (7-5) both are returning to bowl play here. Syracuse last played in a bowl game in 2004, Kansas State 2008. Yankee Stadium will host the game in an interesting twist to the action makign it nearly a home game for Syracuse. Both teams had their ups and downs over the season.
Kansas State is a run first team led by Daniel Thomas who is second in Big-12 on the year 1,495 yards rushing. Quarterback Carson Coffman has taken his lumps on the year and won't be asked to do too much for the Wildcats. Coffman has thrown for 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions this year.
Syracuse features a little more balance on offense. Ryan Nassib leds the Orange onto the field with 16 touchdowns on the year. Running back Delone Carter just passed the 1000 yard rushing mark and will be asked to continue this action. Syracuse the better defense of the two teams which could be a factor.
Stopping Thomas will be the key for Syracuse to win this game. Their offense does not put up a ton of points, as the defense does most of the work. Look for a low scoring game with Syracuse winning.
Music City Bowl: North Carolina(7-5) and Tennesee (6-6) will square off in the Nashville classic. Both teams were expected to do much more this season so this game has to be a let-down. Being in Nashville may pose an advantage for the Volunteers. North Carolina dropped Tennesee from their schedule the next two years, which was seen as a slap in the face by Volunteers fans.
Tennessee rebounded after a slow start at 2-6 to win their final four games. Freshman quarterback Tyler Bray is the focal point of the offense for the team. Bray has thrown for 12 touchdowns during the four game winning streak. Tauren Poole has rushed for 974 yards on the season.
North Carolina had high hopes for the season but suspensions hampered the team's chances. T.J. Yates has thrown for 3,184 yards on the year with 18 touchdowns for the Tar Heels. Jonny White is the star rusher going for 784 yards.
North Carolina up and down season will end on another downer. The Volunteers are poised for a victory here in front of their home-state fans.
Holiday Bowl: A rematch is set for the night's finale. Washington (6-6) takes on Nebraska (10-3). Nebraska killed Washington earlier this year 56-21. Nothing has really changed since then with the Cornhuskers primed to dominate again.
Losing to Oklahoma in the Big-12 title game cost Nebraska a chance in the Fiesta Bowl. So a rematch is set. What Tyler Martinez shows up will be the key. The quarterback threw for nine touchdowns on the year and rushed for 942 yards. Running back Ryan Helu Jr. is the other vocal point of the offense going for 1,211 yards on the year on the ground.
Jake Locker needs to have the game of his life to finish his collegiate career. He is expected to be a first round pick in the upcoming NFL draft. Locker threw for 2,209 yards and 17 touchdowns this year. Chris Polk needs a big game in additon to Locker. The running back went for 1,238 yards on the year.
Washington has the tools for this game to be close. The Huskies defense, Locker and Polk all need to be at the tops of their game. Is revenge in order? Not likely as Nebraska wins, closer then the early season contest, but a win anyways.
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