WholeHogSports
NCAA NUGGETS : Nine SEC squads go bowling
Posted on Monday, December 24, 2007
URL: http://www.wholehogsports.com/nwat/60552/
Nine Southeastern Conference teams will participate in 2007 postseason bowl games. That ties for the most ever in league history.
Nine teams qualified for bowls in 2000 and 2006 as well. The conference went a respectable 6-3 in bowls last season, and this year I expect it to do just as well, maybe even a little better. Liberty Bowl Mississippi State (7-5 ) vs. UCF (10-3 ) Dec. 29, 3: 30 p. m., ESPN
Sylvester Croom’s Bulldogs are a rough-and-tumble bunch and deserving of a bowl game. MSU’s defense is stout, but I just don’t think its offense will be able to keep up with UCF.
Led by the nation’s leading rusher, Kevin “ 24 K” Smith, the Golden Knights can pile up the yards and the points.
UCF 30, Mississippi State 20. Independence Bowl Colorado (6-6 ) vs. Alabama (6-6 ) Dec. 30, 7 p. m., ESPN
Here’s my upset special. Alabama may be favored in this game, but the Crimson Tide were not too impressive down the season stretch. Nick Saban’s team lost its last four games, including falling to Mississippi State (17-12 ) and Louisiana-Monroe (21-14 ).
It’s too bad for Arkansas fans that Alabama lost its offensive groove late in the season, rather than early.
Colorado 27, Alabama 17. Music City Bowl Florida State (7-5 ) vs. Kentucky (7-5 ) Dec. 31, 3 p. m., ESPN
It looks like a number of Seminoles won’t be playing in the bowl game because of some academic hijinks. You’d think if Florida State was going to cheat it could have at least got some better players out of the deal.
I didn’t think very much of Florida State’s defense in the first place. Look for Kentucky QB André Woodson to shred FSU like Florida’s Tim Tebow did in the regular-season finale.
Kentucky 41, Florida State 21. Chick-fil-A Bowl Clemson (9-3 ) vs. Auburn (8-4 ) Dec. 31, 6: 30 p. m., ESPN
This one’s going to be all defense. As Arkansas fans know, Auburn can play some defense.
Since Clemson’s actually favored, I guess this is an upset pick, too.
Auburn 17, Clemson 14. Outback Bowl Wisconsin (9-3 ) vs. Tennessee (9-4 ) Jan. 1, 10 a. m., ESPN
Wisconsin was very lucky to survive last year’s Capital One Bowl encounter with Arkansas. The Badgers won’t be so lucky against the Volunteers, who will be minus offensive mastermind David Cutcliffe.
Tennessee 24, Wisconsin 20. Cotton Bowl Missouri (11-2 ) vs. Arkansas (8-4 ) Jan. 1, 10: 30 a. m., FOX
When I pick games, I put a lot of weight on recent performances. Last time out, Missouri got thumped in the Big 12 Championship by Oklahoma. In Arkansas’ last game, the Hogs upset No. 1-ranked LSU on the Tigers’ home field.
And, as we all know, LSU’s likely to win the national championship.
I foresee Arkansas RB Darren McFadden ending his wonderful college career with a bang. Like 200 yards worth of bang.
Arkansas 31, Missouri 24. Capital One Bowl Michigan (8-4 ) vs. Florida (9-3 ) Jan. 1, 12 p. m., ABC
After an awful start to the 2007 season, Michigan is fortunate to land in such a prestigious bowl. However, the Wolverines aren’t so lucky to be facing one of the SEC’s powerhouses.
Led by Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow, the Gators are likely to put a double-digit beatdown on the boys in maize and blue. Could be hard to watch.
Florida 35, Michigan 20. Sugar Bowl Hawaii (12-0 ) vs. Georgia (10-2 ) Jan. 1, 7: 30 p. m., FOX
Hawaii is the only undefeated team playing in the bowls this year. That will change when the Warriors face Mark Richt’s red-hot Bulldogs, though I don’t see Colt Brennan and Co. going down without a fight.
Georgia 41, Hawaii 35. BCS National Championship Ohio State (11-1 ) vs. LSU (11-2 ) Jan. 7, 7 p. m., FOX
In my view, this is yet another titlegame mismatch. Ohio State, of the Big Ten Conference, slogged through its soft 2007 schedule and might be the fourth-or-fifth-best team in the country. Might be.
But after getting smashed by Florida in the national championship last year, maybe the Buckeyes will be so fired up that they pummel LSU. Nah, probably not.
LSU is faster, more athletic, and just plain better than Ohio State. I foresee another blowout. Sorry, viewers.
Playoffs, anyone ?
LSU 38, Ohio State 13.
Joe West is the assistant sports editor of the Northwest Arkansas Times.