FRIDAY FACE-OFF: WHAT'S THE BEST BOWL MATCHUP?
Cotton Bowl
No. 6 Missouri Tigers (11-2, Big 12 North champions) vs. No. 24 Arkansas Razorbacks (8-4, third SEC West)
This year’s BCS matchups are some of the most boring in recent bowl history. But if fans are willing to look past ranking and prestige they’ll see a great matchup in the Cotton Bowl featuring Missouri against Arkansas.
The Cotton Bowl is usually an afterthought compared to the BCS bowl games, but this year’s game has many storylines.
When two of the nation’s best are on display, headlines are made. Arkansas junior running back Darren McFadden and Missouri junior quarterback Chase Daniel are two of the four Heisman Trophy finalists.
Missouri is ticked after being snubbed by the Orange Bowl for Kansas, a team Mizzou beat and finished ahead of in the Big 12 standings.
Arkansas’ season had highs and lows. One of those highs came last week with a triple-overtime victory over LSU, and the Razorbacks want to prove that was no fluke.
The game will feature two of the best offenses in the nation. Arkansas ranks ninth in scoring and third in rushing yards per game while Missouri is seventh both in scoring and passing offense.
Of all the bowl games, the Cotton Bowl’s matchup guarantees an exciting, high-scoring game.
Corey DeMoss is a journalism junior.
Capital One Bowl
Michigan Wolverines (8-4, third Big Ten) vs. No. 12 Florida Gators (9-3, third SEC East)
Michigan and Florida were preseason top ten teams that were supposed to be contending for the national championship this year, but they’ll have to settle for a lower-tier bowl to end the season.
Despite that, the Capital One Bowl arguably has the most NFL prospects playing in its bowl game than any other, including any BCS bowl games. The Gators and Wolverines both have multiple potential first-day draft picks playing on offense, and turnover-causing playmakers on defense.
Everyone loves the new poster boy for college football — Heisman Trophy award-favorite Florida sophomore quarterback Tim Tebow. But nobody has a bigger heart-to-height ratio than 5-foot-9 Michigan senior running back Mike Hart. Both will be featured prominently.
Let’s face it. This was a rebuilding year for both teams, yet they both played well most of the year and have young talent. Is there anything better than getting a glimpse of next year’s championship contenders? No, just like there’s nothing better than seeing next year’s sophomore stud, Michigan freshman quarterback Ryan Mallett, or the 2008 Heisman Trophy frontrunner Tebow on both sidelines.
MJ Casiano is a University College freshman.
Sugar Bowl
No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs (10-2, second SEC East) vs. No. 11 Hawaii Warriors (12-0, WAC champions)
First, Georgia and Hawaii are out to prove the BCS wrong. Georgia, ranked higher than LSU going into the final week of the regular season, feels they were snubbed out of the national championship game. Hawaii feels they didn’t even get a chance to play for the national title despite being the last undefeated team. These two will be playing their hearts out.
Second, Hawaii will be in the same situation another non-BCS conference team was in last year. The all-too-familiar “Statue of Liberty” play Boise State ran against OU to win in overtime made a strong case that the Bronchos deserved an even higher BCS bid. Hawaii could strengthen that argument by beating a strong SEC team. If Hawaii wins, all “minor” conference-level teams will call for an even playing field within the BCS Standings.
Finally, you will want to watch because of Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan. Colt Brennan holds the NCAA records for career touchdowns (146) and touchdown passes (131). Colt Brennan also is a Heisman finalist and it’ll be fun watching the Hawaii offense match up against Georgia’s stingy defense.
Kyle Burnett is a journalism sophomore.
Orange Bowl
No. 3 Virginia Tech Hokies (11-2, ACC champions) vs. No. 8 Kansas Jayhawks (11-2, second Big 12 North)
Virginia Tech slightly fell off the national map after its nail-biter loss to Boston College on Oct. 25 ,and most people think Kansas is the wrong Big 12 north team making the trip to Miami.
But that doesn’t mean this game won’t have fans glued to their seats.
Sure, Kansas lost to the only ranked team it played this year against Missouri, but the Jayhawks had possession in the final seconds with an opportunity to at least tie, and possibly win the game.
The Hokies will be looking to prove the Virginia Tech team now is different than the one that lost by 41 to LSU in September.
This is the best bowl game because it pits a high-scoring KU offense averaging 44 points per game against the always-fast Virginia Tech defense, which allows just 15 points per game.
The matchup of KU receivers Marcus Henry and Dexton Fields against one of the best cornerback tandems in Brandon Flowers and Victor Harris is one to watch.
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