NCAA Bowl Preview 2012

 It's that time of the year again. The time where we hear words like Famous Idaho Potato, Beef O'Brady and San Diego Country Credit Union. I'm talking about bowl season. It seems like every year, a new batch of bowls come, each with its own special slice of mediocracy. This blog isn't for those bowls. This is for the ones that matter. The ones we'll be watching, investing our time to.

Let's get it going:

       First, here are some games I didn't think you would want to read about:

       Valero Alamo- Texas V. Oregon St- Texas 24-21
       Music City Bowl- NC St V. Vanderbilt-Vandy 31-24
       Sun Bowl-USC V. Georgia Tech-USC 45-26
       Chick Fil A- LSU V. Clemson-LSU 28-21
       Capital One- Georgia V. Nebraska-Georgia 35-21
       Sugar-Florida V. Louisville-Floirda 40-21
       Holiday Bowl: Baylor V. UCLA- From a distance, you might be saying "Jake, who the hell cares?

Well, you should if you like offense and pretty decent D. UCLA trots out freshman stud Brett Hundley and senior (if it wasn't for Kenjon Barner at Oregon, First Team Pac-12) Jonathan Franklin. Franklin is 5th in FBS in rushing this season, and along with Hundley, anchor the 11th best offense in the country. Baylor comes with QB Nick Florence, who has done a pretty decent job replacing RGIII. How decent you ask? O, they just have the number one offense in the country, averaging 578.8 yards a game. This game isn't all offense, as UCLA is 4th in sacks in the country, with Anthony Barr leading the way with 14.5. UCLA will stop the high potent Baylor attack, winning 30-21.
       Russell Athletic: Rutgers V. Virginia Tech- Good news is Rutgers made it to Florida. Bad news is they are in Orlando, not Miami. No matter, as they take on Logan Thomas and the Hokies, who apparently decided not to show up this season. A definite off year for Frank Beamer's squad, Va Tech might be a little less motivated in this game. Rutgers on the other hand, on the heels of their disappointing finish, losing to Pitt and then Louisville, will want to prove they are a contender, as they ready for their Big 10 move. Jawan Jamison will have a tough time, but the RU D will hold strong. Rutgers in a tight one, 24-21.
       New Era Pinstripe: West Virginia V. Syracuse- In October, Geno Smith was already being given the Heisman and WVU was on its way to dominating the Big 12. Then reality set it. Their "defense" gave up too much of everything, and they are now playing in the Bronx. Syracuse, led by senior Ryan Nassib, will look to stop that WVU O, which has the sixth best pass atack in the land. Geno Smith, Tavon Austin and the guys won't go down this season with an L. Get ready to burn some couches, WVU 45-35.
       Outback: South Carolina V. Michigan- The southern USC was on track to win the SEC East this season, until they lost to LSU and lost Marcus Lattimore to a nauseating injury. Conner Shaw still brings a dual threat aspect to the QB position for the Gamecocks, and the same goes for the other side. Denard Robinson, in his final game, will have to go against a fierce SC defense including super stud Jadeveon Clowney, who is 2nd in the nation in sacks, and who will be a #1 pick in the draft a year or two from now. Too many inconsistencies for Michigan, even with the top passing defense out. South Carolina takes it 38-31.
       Rose Bowl: Wisconsin V. Stanford-Some (ok, many) people think Wisconsin shouldn't be here, and wouldn't if Ohio St and Penn St weren't on probation. Monte Ball will go down in history as one of the top backs to play records wise, and his swan song will come against the hard hitting Stanford D, which includes ball hawk Ed Reynolds. Stefon Taylor, Stanfords back, will have similar trouble against an always decent Wisco attack. What this game will come down to is turnovers and clock management (but all games come to that you say, well shut it you aren't writing this). Stanford outsmarts and outplays the Badgers, 34-23.
       Orange Bowl: Northern Illinois V. Florida State-If FSU's bus doesn't get lost to the stadium, they win by two or more touchdowns. FSU 35-14.
       Fiesta Bowl: Oregon V. Kansas State- It was only a few weeks ago that these two were squared off to play in the National Championship. Then they both lost on the same day. Oregon and their insanely talented O (wonder what jerseys they will wear) will take on Heisman hopeful Colin Klein. I'm going to lean towards Oregon. Yes, they have a not-so-fresh defense, but seriously, can anybody besides Stanford stop Barner, Marcus Mariota, and The Original Black Mamba, De'Anthony Thomas? High scoring affair, Oregon takes it 50-41.
       Cotton Bowl: Texas A&M V. Oklahoma-Many were expecting more from Oklahoma QB Landry Jones this season. He has a good year, but not the stats we are used to seeing him put up. Could it be Ryan Broyles was that important to him? Meanwhile, we were not expecting ANYTHING like we are seeing from (Heisman winner this season and one more in his career) Johnny Manziel. He is Tim Tebow and Cam Newton if they were genetically mixed. They also bring a solid D to the table including Damontre Moore, a sack machine. The Cotton Bowl could not have asked for a better matchup for their football crazy area, and Johnny Football will not disappoint. Aggies bring their 12th man with them, and win 35-28.
       The BCS National Championship-Alabama V. Notre Dame- This is it. The two most historic teams in college football going at it. Ed Lacy and TJ Yeldon are the best 1-2 punch in the country in terms of the rush, and the nations #1 QB rating wise AJ McCarron, will have to go against the vaunted ND defense led by Manti Te'o. Freshman Everett Golson, NJ native Theo Riddick and the Irish will look to go against some say an even more vaunted Tide defensive front. This game will come down to who can run the ball better and keep turnovers from occuring. Bama has been here before, as in last year with some of these guys. Lacy and Yeldon never even fumble. Golson, the redshirt frosh, might be startled a bit, and the moment might overtake these Irish players. Not to say they don't have a shot, because they do after all have the luck of the Irish. I just see the Tide continuing to roll. Alabama 28-20.