2015 Bowl Preview: December 28-January 2

Posted on December 27, 2015 Updated on January 15, 2016

The 2015 bowl season debuted on December 19, but this coming week features some quality matchups of top ranked opponents  participating in a variety of bowls from the Russell Athletic Bowl to the College Football Playoff semifinals. These 10 games have their share of impact players who will carry their team against quality defenses.

1. December 28: Military Bowl-Pitt vs #21 Navy Keenan Reynolds, Navy’s star senior quarterback who sparked questions after not being named a Heisman finalist, will play his final home game against the Pittsburgh Panthers in the Military Bowl. He is going up against the 20th ranked rushing defense in the country in Pitt. Ejuan Price, the Panther’s star linebacker, is a threat to opposing quarterbacks, he ranks sixth in the nation averaging over 2 sacks per game. Navy’s offensive line will have to protect Reynolds, who likes to run on the outside, where Price would be camped out. Expect Navy’s coach Ken Niumatalolo to integrate some pass plays against a solid Pitt rushing defense, to throw them off.
2. December 29: Russell Athletic Bowl-#10 UNC vs #17 Baylor This 2015 Russell Athletic Bowl pits two quality offense against each other. Marquise Williams quarterbacks the no. 10 Tar Heels. He threw for 224 passing yards in UNC’s loss to Clemson in the ACC Championship game. Baylor’s secondary will have a test as Williams likes to throw the deep ball, something the Bears’ cornerbacks especially have difficulty defending. On the Baylor side, star wideout Corey Coleman, the winner of the Fred Biletnikoff award, will miss the Russell Athletic Bowl, as he underwent a sports hernia surgery. Jay Lee will step up for Baylor. The senior wideout is averaging more than 20 yards per reception. The only problem is the Bears lack a strong quarterback. Seth Russell injured his neck in late October, and true freshman Jarett Stidham, who also went season-ending surgery. Junior Lynx Hawthorne will be under center for Baylor. UNC’s defense will have to step up and cover Lee heavily.

   

3. December 30: Birmingham Bowl-Auburn vs. Memphis Memphis (9-3) is a surprise entering the post-season. The Tigers have defeated opponents such as Ole Miss and Navy. The Tigers’ quarterback, Paxton Lynch, was a legitimate Heisman candidate in the beginning of the season. He has only thrown 3 interceptions this season. Lynch has received extensive blocking from his offensive line. Auburn’s passing defense is mediocre, they lack a strong secondary. However, their running game can make up for these lapses. Auburn’s Peyton Barber has had a quiet, but productive year. He is averaging almost 5 yards per carry, with 13 TDs. AU’s offense specializes in short runs, preferably on second downs.
4. December 30: Holiday Bowl-#25 USC vs. Wisconsin USC is no stranger to the Holiday Bowl as they defeated Nebraska last year 45-42. This will be Wisconsin’s first time in the Holiday Bowl. The Trojans have not lost to the Badger in bowl competition, recording 6 wins, most notably the 1963 Rise Bowl. For USC, quarterback Cody Kessler has been sacked 35 times, the most sacks allowed to a QB in the PAC-12. However, the Trojans have a reliable threat at receiver in JuJu Smith-Schuster. The sophomore wideout ranks sixth in the nation in total yards, and averages 16.3 yards per reception. The Badgers’ defense will have to play tight man civerage on Smith-Schuster. Another threat on the Trojans side, is running back Ronald Jones II. Jones is a threat on short runs, he is averaging 6.5 yards per carry. He is more of a goal line back, than an I-Form back. Despite quarterback Joel Stave and Wisconsin’s successful deep ball offense, their defense will have to challenge USC’s passing and running game. The Badgers will have to match the Trojans’ offensive performance if they are going to win.
5. December 31: CFP Semifinal(Orange Bowl)-#4 Oklahoma vs. #1 Clemson The Orange Bowl features two great quarterbacks in Clemson’s Deshaun Watson and Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield. Watson threw for 289 yards and 3 touchdowns in the ACC Championship win over UNC. The sophomore QB has lead the Tigers to a perfect season at 13-0. Oklahoma’s star cornerback Jordan Thomas looks to challenge Watson’s receivers. The Sooners’ sophomore cornerback ranks seventh in the nation with 5 interceptions for 153 yards. Oklahoma’s coach Bob Stoops likes for Thomas  to play tight man coverage. On the other side of the ball, Baker Mayfield is going up against the 12th ranked passing defense in Clemson. The Tigers have sacked opposing quarterbacks 38 times. While Mayfield’s offensive line usually does a solid job of protecting him, the Tigers will look to put pressure on Oklahoma’s passing-oriented offense.

   

6. December 31: CFP Semifinal(Cotton Bowl)-#3 Michigan State vs. #2 Alabama Both Michigan State and Alabama are 12-1 teams vying for a spot in the College Football National Championship. The Crimson Tide’s Derrick Henry took home the Heisman trophy, the first time a running back took home the Heisman trophy, college football’s most prestigious award since Mark Ingram in 2009, another “Roll Tide” product. Michigan State’s rushing defense ranks 15th in the nation, allowing opposing running backs under 4 yards per carry. The only power running back the Spartans have faced this season is Ohio State’s Ezekiel Elliott. MSU held Elliott to 33 yards and a touchdown in a win over the Buckeyes. Shilique Calhoun anchors Michigan State’s defense. The Middletown, NJ native fights in the “trenches” and finds open gaps. On the other side of the ball, MSU’s Connor Cook is considered an NFL draft sleeper. He has only thrown 5 interceptions this season. However, Alabama’s defensive back, Eddie Jackson, ranks second nationwide with 230 yards off 5 picks. His assignment in the Cotton Bowl will be the Spartans’ star receiver, Aaron Burbridge, who averages 15 yards per reception, leading all receivers in the Big 10. I strongly advise you to ring in 2016 with this key matchup of high-powered offenses and strong defenses.

   

7. January 1: Fiesta Bowl-#8 Notre Dame vs. #7 Ohio State The reigning national champions did not book a plane ticket to the College Football Playoffs this season, but they face a contender-like team in no.8 Notre Dame. Quarterback DeShone Kizer has filled in nicely for Malik Zaire, who is out for the season. The sophomore play caller threw for 234 yards in ND’s loss to Stanford. Kizer has been sacked 19 times. Running back C.J. Prossie is a threat as an explosive back and is a target for the Irish’s passing game. Prossie lines up in the slot, when submitted in shotgun plays. Ohio State’s defense must react quickly to Kizer’s audibles, and star defensive end, Joey Bosa, must break through a strong Notre Dame offensive line. On the other side of the ball, OSU’s Ezekiel Elliott has had an other solid year. The junior running back is averaging almost a first down every carry, and has tallied 19 TDs. He presents a challenge to a decent Irish running defense. They will also have to cover dual-threat halfback, Braxton Miller. If the Irish can pressure the Buckeyes’ two quarterbacks, J.T. Barett and Cardale Jones, then Notre Dame will have a better chance of defeating Ohio State.
8. January 1: Rose Bowl-#6 Stanford vs. #5 Iowa Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey was a Heisman finalist, and is an all-around star running back. The sophomore ranks second in the nation in rushing yards this season (1847) and averages 5.8 yards per carry. Stanford utilizes McCaffrey for short runs, usually on second down and goal line I-Formations. Iowa has a strong rushing defense, allowing opposing backs to 3.4 yards per carry. In the Big 20 Championship game against no. 5 Michigan State, the Hawkeyes gave up 73 rushing yards and a TD to the Spartans’ freshman running back, LJ Scott. The key for Iowa to win the Rose Bowl is do limit McCaffrey’s numbers by spreading out the secondary. This would allow for Kevin Hogan, Stanford’s senior quarterback to pass more. Hogan is one of the best passers in the PAC-12, with a 85.4 QBR, a career best. Either with McCaffrey or with their quarterback’s impressive mix of throwing for short and long gains, Stanford has valuable assets against a strong Iowa defense.
9. January 1: Sugar Bowl-#16 Oklahoma State vs. #12 Ole Miss The nephew of Buffalo Bills great Jim Kelly, Chad Kelly faces a weak Oklahoma State secondary in the 2016 Sugar Bowl. The Cowboys’ defense gave up almost 200 passing yards and 2 TDs to Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield in their last game. OSU’s defensive line is a rotation system, where each defender shifts positions after each down. This is supposed to confuse the offensive linemen, but has not been successful in their recent games. On the other side of the ball, Mason Rudolph leads an underrated passing offense in the Cowboys. Wideout James Washington has 10 TDs and is Rudolph’s favorite target. The Rebel’s secondary is worse than the Cowboys’. They have given opposing quarterbacks an average of 200 yards per game. Ole Miss could use a 4-3 defensive scheme when pressuring Rudolph. The secondary must limit Washington’s receptions, as well.

   

10. January 2: Taxslayer Bowl-Penn State vs. Georgia WIthout star running back Nick Chubb, Georgia (9-3) was dropped from the AP Top 25 rankings by the middle of October. Bulldogs quarterback, Greyson Lambert, has thrown 11 TDs and was picked off twice this season. Backup running back Sony Mitchel has run for 7 TDs, a career high for the sophomore. Defensive backs, however, have been successful in bringing him down. Opposing quarterbacks fear Penn State’s Carl Nassib. The 272 lbs senior leads the nation in sacks (16) and has picked off one pass this season. Georgia’s offensive line has their work cut out for them with the star defensive end. On the other side of the ball, the Nittany Lions’ Christian Hackenberg threw for 257 yards in PSU’s most recent loss to Michigan State, on November 28. The Bulldogs have the best passing defense in Division 1-A, allowing an average of about 6 yards per completion. Hackenberg averages about 5 yards per completion. Penn State will have to throw more shotgun plays against a great Bulldogs secondary if they are going to win.