Rolling along toward the big time games we come across out first real match up in the Orange Bowl, but first let’s check everything on the 30th.
GEORGIA (7-5) Vs. Texas Christian (6-6); LIBERTY BOWL; NOON PM ET; ESPN … Somewhat down years for both programs in 2016. But both teams have solid talent and look to be better in 2017. The future for UGA begins with Frosh QB/JACOB EASON #10, who is clearly the best QB in Athens since MATTHEW STAFFORD. Expect UGA to pound the ball with the best pair of RB in college ball, who should be reasonably healthy for this contest: NICK CHUBB/#27 & SONY MICHEL #1. Can a very young Defense handle a dynamic TCU Offense? The TCU O improved as the season progressed with transfer KENNY HILL #7 at QB. On D watch for the Horned Frogs senior bookend DE CARRAWAY & McFARLAND, who can both pass rush and drop into zone coverage to confuse a young QB like EASON. Players to watch:
GEORGIA TEXAS CHRISTIAN
#20 QUINCY MAUGER/S 6’0/200 #21 KYLE HICKS/RB 5’10/200 JR
#54 BRANDON KUBENOW/OC 6’3/296 #30 DENZEL JOHNSON/S 6’2/205
#72 TYLER CATALINA/OT 6’5/303 #40 JAMES McFARLAND/DE 6’3/255
#73 GREG PYKE/OT 6’6/313 #94 JOSH CARRAWAY/DE 6’4/250
NORTH CAROLINA (8-4) Vs. STANFORD (9-3); SUN Bowl; 2 PM ET; CBS … Look it’s an actual bowl game that is not on an ESPN Network station. Pretty amazing ain’t it. And it should actually be a pretty good quality game with lots of pro prospects to watch. UNC is led by QB/MITCH TRUBISKY, who some think will be the first QB drafted if he declares for the 2017 Draft. Lack of a top notch QB is actually the key issue that kept Stanford from making more noise in the PAC-12 this past season. Sad note is that CHRISTIAN McCAFFREY is bypassing this one to get ready for Combine and NFL Draft. Based on his absence I’d put my $ on the Tar Heels if i was a betting man. UNC will try to open this up into a track meet, while Stanford will attempt to play smash-mouth on both sides of the ball. Players to watch:
NORTH CAROLINA STANFORD
#2 DES LAWRENCE/CB 6’1/185 #3 MICHAEL RECTOR/WR 6’1/185
#3 RYAN SWITZER/WR/RS 5’10/185 #10 ZACH HOFFPAUIR/S 6’1/197 ?INJ
#10 MITCH TRUBISKY/QB 6’3/220 JR #24 DALLAS LLOYD/SS 6’2/213
#71 JON HECK/OT 6’6/300 #34 PETE KALAMBAYA/OLB 6’3/245
#68 LUKE CROWLEY/OC 6’3/290 #57 JOHNNY CASPERS/OG 6’4/296
#84 BUG HOWARD/WR 6’5/210 #99 LUKE KAUMATULA/DE 6’7/295
#90 NAZAIR JONES/DT 6’5/295 RSO
TENNESSEE (8-4) Vs. NEBRASKA (9-3); MUSIC CITY Bowl; 3:30 PM ET; ESPN … Another interesting match-up of contrasting styles of play. The Huskers like to play D and run the clock with a balanced offense which eventually relies on pounding the rock and shortening the game. The VOLS have been defensively challenged and that has cost them some late game comebacks by opponents. In their defense the VOLS have been plagued by injuries all over the roster. QB DOBBS could decide this contest with a clutch late drive. Keep your eyes peeled for
#6 KAMARA, who is a human highlight film with the ball in his hands. Many Tennessee followers expect him to declare for the 2017 NFL Draft. Expect the VOLS to win a tight contest. Players to watch:
TENNESSEE NEBRASKA
#6 ALVIN KAMARA/RB 5’10/215 JR #1 JORDAN WESTERKAMP/WR 6’0/200
#9 DEREK BARNETT/DE/ER 6’3/257 JR #11 CATHAN CARTER/TE 6’4/240
#11 JOSHUA DOBBS/QB 6’3/207 #25 NATE GERRY/SS 6’2/210 ?INJ
#23 CAMERON SUTTON/CB 5’11/186 #34 TERRELL NEWBY/RB 5-10/200
#24 TODD KELLY/FS 5’11/208 JR #52 JOSH BANDERAS/LB 6’3/240
#50 COREY VEREEN/DE 6’2/249 #55 KEVIN MAURICE/DT 6’5/300
SOUTH ALABAMA (6-6) Vs. AIR FORCE (9-3); ARIZONA Bowl; 5:30 PM ET; NO NATIONAL TV … Welcome to the Nothing Bowl that you might have to watch on your laptop, tablet or phone…. if you care. These are two competitive teams and it may actually be a tight battle, but I look for the Falcons to soar. NO. 8 for the AIR FORCE gets my NAME OF THE YEAR.
SOUTH ALABAMA AIR FORCE
#12 GERALD EVERETT/TE 6’4/240 #8 WESTON STEELHAMMER/SS 6’2/200
#72 CURTIS WILLIAMS/OT 6’5/308 #9 KALEN ROBINETTE/WR 6’4/215
MICHIGAN (10-2) Vs. FLORIDA STATE (9-3); ORANGE BOWL; 8 PM ET; ESPN … Now for the feature bout of the evening! Both teams had their moments in the sun, as well as some letdown games. Two of the best players in the country will be featured on he field at the same time in this contest. With FSU on Offense RB/DALVIN COOK WILL lead the charge, while All-Athlete JABRILL PEPPERS/OLB #5 tries to contain him. FSU is it’s usual wide open O, while MICHIGAN under HC HARBAUGH tries to pound his opponents into the ground. The amount of talent on the field at any given time will be overwhelming to your eyeballs. This is a nail-biter toss up contest in my eyes. South Florida will be rocking on this evening. Players to watch:
MICHIGAN FLORIDA STATE
#4 DE’VEON SMITH/RB 5’11/228 #4 DALVIN COOK/RB 5’11/206 JR
#5 JABRILL PEPPERS/OLB 6’1/208 RSO #15 TRAVIS RUDOLPH/WR 6’1/190 JR
#26 JOURDAN LEWIS/CB 5’10/175 #18 RO’DERRICK HOSKINS/ILB 6’2/245
#33 TACO CHARLTON/DE 6’6/285 #27 MARQUEZ WHITE/CB 6’0/181
#43 CHRIS WORMLEY/DL 6’5/303 #29 NATE ANDREWS/S 6’0/210 INJ
#78 ERIC MAGNUSON/OT 6’6/305 #44 DeMARCUS WALKER/DE 6’3/273
#82 AMARA DARKWA/WR 6’2/215 #72 KAREEM ARE/OG 6’6/330
#86 JEHU CHESSON/WR 6’3/200 #77 RODERICK JOHNSON/OT 6’7/307 JR
#88 JAKE BUTT/TE 6’6/250
