Thursday Dec.27 Shreveport, LA 1:30PM/ET ESPN
Independence Bowl Independence Stadium
TEMPLE (8-4) vs. DUKE (7-5)
The two teams in this one were at opposite ends of the spectrum when the regular season ended. Temple started the season slowly with QB injury iissues, going 2-3 in September, But they settled in and went 6-1 the rest of the season, and were a very tough out. The Blue Devils took the opposite route, by going 5-1 to start, but then 2-4 down the stretch. Overall, Temple wins when that D gets cranking, while Duke counts on their Offense, headed by pro prospect DANIEL JONES/QB, #17. I look for Temple’s D to set the tempo early, but never count out a Cutcliffe team when the coach has extra time to game plan. Look for a close one here.
TEMPLE prospects to watch include:
#7 RYQUELL ARMSTEAD RB 5’11/215 SR BOWL
#19 VENTELL BRYANT WR 6’3/200
#77 JAELIN ROBINSON OT 6’6/325
#2 DELVON RANDALL SS 6’1/215 SHRINE
#29 ROCK YA-SIN CB 6’2/190 SR BOWL
#98 MICHAEL DOGBE DL 6’3/280 SHRINE
DUKE prospects include:
#17 DANIEL JONES QB 6’5/215 JR
#5 JOHNATHAN LLOYD WR 6’0/190
#80 DANIEL HELM TE 6’4/255 SHRINE
#34 BEN HUMPHRIES LB 6’6/225
#28 MARK GILBERT CB 6’1/175 JR INJ
#9 JEREMY McDUFFIE SS 5’11/175
—————————————————–
THURSDAY SEPT. 27TH NEW YORK CITY 5:15PM/ET ESPN
PINSTRIPE BOWL Yankee Stadium
MIAMI (7-5) vs WISCONSIN (7-5)
These two teams have more in common that their 7-5 records. They both suffered from mediocre to poor QB play last season, and both depend on their Defense to carry the day. I would project that the team whose Offense can actually move the ball and run the clock, should win. But their D’s could swing that momentum pendulum with takeaways. This is a repeat match-up from last bowl season, when Wisconsin took the Hurricanes out behind the shed for a whipping. Miami is likely looking for some major revenge here. Though he is not Draft eligible, keep your eyes on Badgers RB JONATHAN TAYLOR, #23, one of the nation’s leading rushers.
MIAMI prospects include:
#81 DARRELL LANGHAM WR 6’4/220
#74 TYLER GAUTHIER OC 6’3/305
#78 TYREE ST. LOUIS OT 6’5/305 SHRINE
#9 GERALD WILLIS DT 6’3/300 SR BOWL
#99 JOE JACKSON DE 6’5/260 JR
#28 MICHAEL JACKSON CB 6’1/200 SHRINE
#4 JAQUAN JOHNSON S 5’11/190
#22 SHELDRICK REDWINE FS 6’1/195 SHRINE
WISCONSIN prospects to watch:
#66 BEAU BENZSCHAWEL OG 6’6/322 SR BOWL
#79 DAVID EDWARDS OT 6’6/320 JR
#63 MICHAEL DEITER OG/C 6’6/320 SR BOWL
#17 ANDREW VAN GINKEL OB 6’3/235 SHRINE
#43 RYAN CONNELLY OB 6’3/235 SHRINE
#53 T.J. EDWARDS IB 6’1/245
—————————————————
THURSDAY DEC. 27TH Houston, TX 9PM/ET ESPN
TEXAS BOWL NRG STADIUM
BAYLOR (6-6) vs VANDERBILT (6-6)
This is clearly very near the bottom of the Bowl Game ladder, but it marks the return of Baylor from the NCAA imposed purgatory, resulting from the Briles era in Waco. I will confess that I did not see Baylor play this season, my choice. Vandy won the games they should have, and lost the rest against higher ranked opponents. Ditto pretty much for Baylor. This is almost a toss up, because the “almost” home game should help Baylor, but overall, I like the Vandy roster better this season. I also happen to think that QB KYLE SHURMUR is a legit NFL prospect, albeit late Round at best. Let’s see how he does against a pretty athletic Baylor secondary.
BAYLOR prospects to watch:
#84 JALEN HURD WR 6’4/229 INJ SR BOWL
#77 PATRICK LAWRENCE OT 6’5/305
#9 IRA LEWIS NT 6’3/295
#52 GREG ROBERTS DE 6’5/275
VANDERBILT prospects to watch include:
#14 KYLE SHURMUR QB 6’4/225
#23 KHARI BLASINGAME RB 6’1/235
#80 JARED PINKNEY TE 6’4/255 JR
#58 JUSTIN SKULE OT 6’6/315 SHRINE
#11 CHARLES WRIGHT OB 6’3/240 INJ
#5 LaDARIUS WILEY SS 6’1/216
