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| Robbie Rouse looks to carry Fresno State to a win in the Humanitarian Bowl |
It's that most wonderful time of the year! Bowl Season!
While the games to open up the bowl season are not exactly what you would call "sexy" they are still some great match ups.
Along with my picks I will post my offensive and defensive power rankings and their match-ups in the bowl games, along with who the Bowl Pick 'em contestants think will win.
Anyway guys without further ado, here are my bowl picks!
New Mexico Bowl
BYU vs. UTEP
BYU #52 Offense vs. UTEP #100 Defense
BYU #24 Defense vs. UTEP #90 Offense
BYU has been playing really well to end the season, winning four of their last five contests, with their only loss coming to Utah, in which they blew a lead in the fourth quarter. They have a true frosh at QB in Jake Heaps (171.0 yds/gm; 55.4%; 5.9ypa; +3 TD/Int ratio; 110.48 QB Rat) and they have had to deal with his growing pains this season, though he has finally begun to show why he was so highly recruited. In the last four games of the season Heaps threw for 242.5 yds/gm completing 61.7% of his passes for 9tds and only 1int. Junior RB JJ Di Luigi is both the
UTEP has really struggled this season, and of their six wins, only one of them has a winning record (SMU). The Conference USA seems to be having a down year this season, with Houston being down (two QBs hurt), Memphis, Marshall, and Rice also not being as competitive as they usually are, and just a poor out of conference record. Offensively there really has been no standout for the Miners, though WR Kris Adams (76.4%; 20.1yds/rec!; 11td) has been great this season. QB Trevor Vittatoe has really struggled over their last three games (144.7 yds/gm; 53.5%; 3tds 2int) and if his play does not improve than the Miners are going to be in for a long game. A big problem has been the protection of the QB, and the Miners offensive line really hasn't seen much consistency this season, having started 9 different combinations up front. On defense they have not been much better though CB Travaun Nixon, has really played well after not starting to begin the season.
UTEP has lost five of their last six, while BYU has won four of their last five. I think the Cougars are coming into their own, and their young talent is finally starting to come together and produce. I think the Miners will make this a game for about a quarter before the Cougars take control.
My Pick: BYU 31 UTEP 17
Proj Pass: BYU 237.7 yards (6.6 ypa) / UTEP 199.5 yards (6.5 ypa)
Proj Rush: BYU 201.0 yards (4.8 ypa) / UTEP 132.0 yards (4.2 ypa)
Fans pick: BYU 95%
uDrove Humanitarian Bowl
Fresno State vs. Northern Illinois
Fresno State #59 Offense vs. Northern Illinois #44 Defense
Fresno State #54 Defense vs. Northern Illinois #14 Offense
Fresno State comes into this game having won their last two, by a total margin of five (23-20 vs Idaho; 25-23 vs. Illinois), but they did play Nevada to a one point loss four weeks ago. Offensively they have been pretty decent this season, and that is mostly because of RB Robbie Rouse (99.7 yds/gm, 5.7 yds/att; 8td) and WR Jamel Hamler (65.9 yds/gm; 15.4 yds/rec; 5td). QB Ryan Colburn is accurate, completing 61.9% of his passes, but he has not been as dominant at times this season as the coaches would have hoped. Defensively they are led by an outstanding defensive line that features DE Chris Carter (55 tkls 16 tfl 10 sks) and DT Logan Harrell (41 tkls 14 tfl 10.5 sks). FS Phillip Thomas has also had an impressive season (61 tkls 8 passdef 3picks) as well. They have some outstanding players, but they have also been torched at times this season, because they are not really strong at CB, and don't have an outstanding presence at LB.
Northern Illinois was by far the most dominant team in the MAC this season, as they beat up other MAC opponents by an average of 44.8 - 17.0. But it all came falling apart at the end of the season. First they lost to upstart Miami (OH) in the MAC Championship game, and then their head coach, Jerry Kill, was hired at Minnesota. It will be very interesting to see how they rebound. But the talent is there. RB Chad Spann (99.5 yds/gm, 5.3 yds/att; 20td) has been absolutely outstanding this season, and QB Chandler Harnish has done extremely well (171.5 yds/gm; 64.7%; 8.9 yds/att; +15 TD/Int; 156.13 QB Rat) this season, really playing in Spann's shadow. On defense they have an outstanding set of DE's in Jake Coffman (40tkl 11.5tfl 6sk) and Sean Progar (36tkl 9.5tfl 3.5sk). They have a shut down CB in Chris Smith, and a solid Sr. LB in Alex Lube (77tkl 5.0tfl 1.0sk).
To me I really believe this game will come down to how motivated Northern Illinois is, because they SHOULD win this football game. In the end though I think they have had too much going on since the end of the regular season to really be focused enough. Fresno for the win.
My Pick: Fresno St 34 N. Illinois 24 <---- UPSET
Proj Pass: Fresno St 204.8 yards (6.4 ypa) / N. Illinois 187.4 yards (7.6 ypa)
Proj Rush: Fresno St 171.6 yards (4.2 ypa) / N. Illinois 207.5 yards (5.0 ypa)
Fans pick: Fesno State 64%
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Ohio vs. Troy
Ohio #85 Offense vs. Troy #81 Defense
Ohio #52 Defense vs. Troy #69 Offense
Ohio comes into this game having won six of their last seven, the loss however was a poor defeat to Kent State, when the Bobcats needed a win to play for the conference championship. This team really isn't full of stars, but they are very well coached under former Nebraska HC Frank Solich. QB Boo Jackson won't ever beat you with his arm, but he is mobile enough to make you worry about him running the football. The Bobcats use a running back-by-committee approach, and don't really have any receivers worth nothing, except maybe WR Terrence McRae (40.1 yds/gm; 15.0 yds/rec; 9td). Up front though they have a fantastic offensive line, that includes all-conference performers Joe Flading and A.J. Strum. For the Bobcats if they are going to be successful offensively they just need to focus on holding onto the football, as they turned the ball over 30 times this season (just over 2 times a game). Troy's defense has struggled this season, so if they can do that they should find the endzone every once in a while. Defensively the Bobcats are very good, Solich's teams usually are, and they have consistently finished near the top of the MAC in scoring and total defense in each of his six seasons at the helm. Like the offense they don't really have any "stars" per say but DE Stanford Gatlins (49tkl 13.5tfl 6.5sk) has really burst onto the scene this season.
Just like Solich is a defensive minded head coach, Troy head man Larry Blakeny is an offensive minded HC. I expected a down year passing this season after the loss of outstanding QB Levi Brown, but freshman Corey Robinson has really had a great season, throwing for 276.7 yds/gm, completing 62.3% of his passes, for 24tds and 15ints. But the real star of the Troy offense, and the team for that matter, is do-it-all WR Jerrell Jernigan who has thrown for a TD, rushed for two TDs, caught five TDs, returned a punt for a TD, and returned a kick for a TD. I'm just waiting for him to play some defense and take a pick to the house. Speaking of defense they could use some help in the secondary where they have been torched at time this season. They do have a solid LB in Xavier Lamb (87tkl 8tfl) and have some great DE's in Jonathan Massaquoi (68tkl 17.5tfl 10sk) and Mario Addison (45tkl 14tfl 9sk), but if Ohio can get the ball moving in the air it could be a long day for the Trojans.
I am a big fan of the battle in the trenches, and of defense. Call me old-fashinoned. But I give both of those advantages to Ohio, and I think they end the season with a win.
My Pick: Ohio 31 Troy 20 <---- UPSET
Proj Pass: Ohio 201.1 yards (7.7 ypa) / Troy 260.7 yards (7.1 ypa)
Proj Rush: Ohio 194.9 yards (4.5 ypa) / Troy 122.3 yards (3.4 ypa)
Fan's pick: Troy 74%
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Aight guys well I hope you enjoy the bowl season,
thanks for reading again this season.
BATTEMAN
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