(6) Ohio St. -3 vs. (8) Arkansas
The perception of the Big Ten has taken a severe hit since Ohio St. got blown out in the 2006 National Championship at the hands of Florida. The Buckeyes continued being the key contributors to the perception of the Big Ten not showing up in big games in the following years. They lost to LSU for the national title in 2007, and had losses to USC and Texas follow as well. More specifically the Big Ten has been accused of not being able to hang with SEC teams. This perception was not helped by the conference's 0-5 showing on New Year's Day that included 3 losses to SEC schools. Ohio St. gets the opportunity to face yet another SEC squad in Arkansas. This comes amidst all of the scandal that has been unveiled in the last week and a half in Columbus. Star players Terrelle Pryor, Boom Herron, and DeVier Posey were among 5 players that were suspended for the first 5 games of the 2011 season for selling items that included game jerseys and conference championship rings. Despite this the players were deemed eligible to play in the school's 6th consecutive BCS bowl game. On the other hand, QB Ryan Mallett leads the Razorbacks to their 1st BCS bowl in the program's history. Mallett entered college at Michigan with the belief that the Buckeyes would be a fierce rival. After transferring to Arkansas, he gets to end his college career by finally leading his team into a meaningful game against Ohio St. Expect Mallett to produce yards through the air, as the Buckeyes' secondary has been susceptible to some big plays. Ultimately this game comes down to how well the Buckeyes players have been able to focus with everything swirling around them. Call it a hunch, but I think Pryor will put together a game reminiscent of last year's Rose Bowl. The Buckeyes get a small piece of respect back for themselves as well as the Big Ten.
Prediction - Ohio St. 31 Arkansas 26
Monday, January 3, 2011
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Orange Bowl Preview
(4) Stanford -3.5 vs. (13) Virginia Tech
The Orange Bowl has one of the best quarterback matchups of all the bowl games. Stanford has Heisman runner-up Andrew Luck lining up under center. Luck is widely regarded as the top NFL prospect in college football. He is the prototypical NFL QB and will look to get the upper hand against Virginia Tech's Tyrod Taylor. Taylor may be the nation's top duel-threat QB not named Cam Newton. These are 2 of the hottest teams in the entire country. Stanford is one bad half of football away from being undefeated, while the Hokies have reeled off 11 straight wins after opening the season with losses to Boise St. and James Madison. Expect stellar play from both QBs, so this game will most likely come down to who does the little things better. This has been a staple of Frank Beamer coached teams for a couple decades, but Jim Harbaugh has instilled this into the Stanford program as well. I like the Cardinal to travel cross country and squeak out a win.
Prediction - Stanford 34 Virginia Tech 27
Ringer's Bowl Record
SU: 14-7
ATS: 13-8
The Orange Bowl has one of the best quarterback matchups of all the bowl games. Stanford has Heisman runner-up Andrew Luck lining up under center. Luck is widely regarded as the top NFL prospect in college football. He is the prototypical NFL QB and will look to get the upper hand against Virginia Tech's Tyrod Taylor. Taylor may be the nation's top duel-threat QB not named Cam Newton. These are 2 of the hottest teams in the entire country. Stanford is one bad half of football away from being undefeated, while the Hokies have reeled off 11 straight wins after opening the season with losses to Boise St. and James Madison. Expect stellar play from both QBs, so this game will most likely come down to who does the little things better. This has been a staple of Frank Beamer coached teams for a couple decades, but Jim Harbaugh has instilled this into the Stanford program as well. I like the Cardinal to travel cross country and squeak out a win.
Prediction - Stanford 34 Virginia Tech 27
Ringer's Bowl Record
SU: 14-7
ATS: 13-8
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Fiesta Bowl Preview
(7) Oklahoma -15 vs. UConn
This game is obviously the biggest mismatch amongst the BCS bowls. UConn makes its way to Glendale as the representative from the Big East, despite not even being ranked. The Huskies started off the season very slow, but won its last 5 games to win the Big East and finish the season 8-4. Oklahoma earned its trip by beating Nebraska in what looks to be the final Big 12 Championship game. The Sooners have struggled in big games ever since their national championship in 2000. They had a tendency to play down to their competition this season as well. Oklahoma clearly has more talent than UConn on their roster, with the likes of Landry Jones, DeMarco Murray, and Ryan Broyles. But Jordan Todman will gain some yards and keep the Huskies close throughout. Ultimately, Bob Stoops leads his team to a BCS bowl win for the first time since 2002.
Prediction - Oklahoma 34 UConn 21
This game is obviously the biggest mismatch amongst the BCS bowls. UConn makes its way to Glendale as the representative from the Big East, despite not even being ranked. The Huskies started off the season very slow, but won its last 5 games to win the Big East and finish the season 8-4. Oklahoma earned its trip by beating Nebraska in what looks to be the final Big 12 Championship game. The Sooners have struggled in big games ever since their national championship in 2000. They had a tendency to play down to their competition this season as well. Oklahoma clearly has more talent than UConn on their roster, with the likes of Landry Jones, DeMarco Murray, and Ryan Broyles. But Jordan Todman will gain some yards and keep the Huskies close throughout. Ultimately, Bob Stoops leads his team to a BCS bowl win for the first time since 2002.
Prediction - Oklahoma 34 UConn 21
Rose Bowl Preview
(3) TCU -3 vs. (5) Wisconsin
This is the game that I have been waiting to see more than any game minus the National Championship. TCU breezed through their schedule without ever really being tested. Wisconsin did much of the same, but suffered one setback at the hands of Michigan St. The Horned Frogs bring the nation's number 1 defense into Pasadena to face a vaunted Badger offense that scored 70+ points 3 times this season. TCU will have to prove that they are deserving of that number 1 defense title and that it wasn't just a product of facing mediocre competition in the Mountain West. To do so they will have to stop Wisconsin's stable of running backs in John Clay, Montee Ball, and James White. This will be no easy task because every starting offensive linemen for the Badgers made one of the All Big Ten teams. TCU will look to show Ohio St. president Gordon Gee that they can indeed play with the big boys. Look for Wisconsin to win this game in the trenches though.
Prediction - Wisconsin 30 TCU 27
Ringer's Bowl Record
SU: 10-5
ATS: 11-4
This is the game that I have been waiting to see more than any game minus the National Championship. TCU breezed through their schedule without ever really being tested. Wisconsin did much of the same, but suffered one setback at the hands of Michigan St. The Horned Frogs bring the nation's number 1 defense into Pasadena to face a vaunted Badger offense that scored 70+ points 3 times this season. TCU will have to prove that they are deserving of that number 1 defense title and that it wasn't just a product of facing mediocre competition in the Mountain West. To do so they will have to stop Wisconsin's stable of running backs in John Clay, Montee Ball, and James White. This will be no easy task because every starting offensive linemen for the Badgers made one of the All Big Ten teams. TCU will look to show Ohio St. president Gordon Gee that they can indeed play with the big boys. Look for Wisconsin to win this game in the trenches though.
Prediction - Wisconsin 30 TCU 27
Ringer's Bowl Record
SU: 10-5
ATS: 11-4
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