College Bowl Game Previews - Part Six

By Ben Malley and Matt Smith

Orange Bowl- Kansas (11-1) vs. Virginia Tech (11-2), Jan. 3: We know this has nothing to do with the game, but is anyone else tired of 5 hour BCS games? More commercial breaks, and longer commercial breaks on FOX. Kansas doesn't belong here. Missouri beat them. Unfortunately for Kansas they didn't get a chance to prove themselves against Oklahoma or Texas during the regular season. But here they are taking on a Virginia Tech team that we have had down as overrated from day one. The ACC is the weakest of the BCS conferences, and that is saying something knowing what we know about the Big 10. It will probably be a close game and the FOX announcers (tools) will say both teams deserved to be here.

Whenever VT plays special teams is always key. If Kansas is going to win, they will have to neutralize this part of VT's game, after all, it's what compensates for their pathetic excuse for an offense. To put this into numbers the Hokies are 96th in the nation in total yards, yet 51st in points scored. Those points are coming from the special teams and defense which is the 2nd best in the nation. They will certainly be the best defense Kansas' number one ranked scoring offense has seen this year. Kansas will look to get their running game of big Brandon McAnderson and Jake Sharp going to take the pressure off young Todd Reesing who struggled early in the big game against Mizzou.

On the other side of the ball VT's offense stalled this year along with the regression of junior tailback Brandon Ore. Sean Glennon improved over the course of the year and has been taking more snaps than Tyrod Taylor who looked like he had stolen the starting job after the first few games. Glennon ended the season with only 3 INTs, down from 11 last year. He seems to have learned his limitations and prefers shorter passes rather than deep balls.

Predictions:
Ben- Virginia Tech
Matt- Kansas
Mike- Virginia Tech

International Bowl- Rutgers (7-5) vs. Ball State (7-5), Jan 5: I hope this isn't the last collegiate game for Ray Rice, because I love watching him carry the ball 76 times a game, racking up hundreds of yards and bowling people over along the way. But, if it is his final game, expect it to be a doozy.

The Cardinals defense against the run is not very good, and running the ball is what Rutgers does best. Rice has gone over 110 yards inseven straight games and is currently fourth in the nation with 1,732 yards. With just 99 yards, he will run for more yards than Darren McFadden and finish third in the nation, behind only Kevin Smith of Central Florida and Michael Forte of Tulane. Expect Greg Schiano to not put the game in quarterback Mike Teel's hands, because when he does, he fails miserably. Schiano got away from Rice in the season finale against Louisville, and that allowed the Cards to come back because Teel is horrible.

If this were NCAA football on PS2, Rice would come back and rush for 5,000 yards because I would talk him into staying and he would carry the ball on every single play.

Ball State quarterback Nate Davis has thrown for 3,376 yards this year, so he will have to have a good game for the Cardinals to have any chance. Expect Rutgers to gear up for the pass because Ball State will probably not have much success in the running game. They have been so beaten up that a walk on, Ray Winkler, started in their regular season finale. Not playing since mid-November will help them get healthy, but how healthy is a big question.

Predictions:
Matt- Rutgers
Ben- Rutgers
Mike- Rutgers

GMAC Bowl- Bowling Green (8-4) vs. Tulsa (9-4), Jan 6: Nobody cares. Not only is this in our opinion the worst bowl game of the season, it's also in January, the night before the Championship game. Play this on December 23rd and maybe we'll watch (because we're true junkies), but not now.

Expect a lot of points from the nation's number one offense in Tulsa led by quarterback Paul Smith. Junior tailback Tarrion Adams (from Japan) has benefited from the successful passing attack racking up 1113 yards of his own.

Bowling Green's strength is on the ground with 5 different running backs totaling 1501 yards for the year. Do yourself a favor and don't watch.

Predictions:
Matt- Tulsa
Ben- Tulsa
Mike- Tulsa