Happy New Years Eve everyone!
The new year brings in the start of upcoming challenges, perhaps a brand new gym membership that will soon be forgotten by February. It also brings the end of college football as top ranked teams battle each other through the holiday weekend. Take a look at the top four college bowl games you should watch:
Chick-fil-a: Peach Bowl
Houston Cougars vs Florida State
ESPN: Thu, Dec 31 11:00 AM CST
Houston has never faced a defense like FSU. If this were a shootout I would pick the Cougars hands down, but this is not the case. The Cougs’ rush defense is going up against Dalvin Cook, one of the most exciting running backs in college football. Cook will be going up against an impressive rush defense who has limited opponents to 116 rushing yards per game and 3.3 yards per carry. This might prove to be a heavy load for Houston as they’ve never faced a running back of this caliber. If the defense doesn’t stop the run its going to put a lot of pressure on Houston’s offense. The teams biggest weapon, quarterback Greg Ward Jr., will have to carry the offense against FSU’s defense.
College Football Playoff: Orange Bowl
Oklahoma Sooners vs Clemson Tigers
ESPN: Thu, Dec 31 3:00 PM CST
When you have AP Coach of the Year Dabo Swinney, and Heisman Trophy candidate Deshaun Watson, going up against Bob Stoops’ Sooners how could you not watch?! Oklahoma is one of the hottest teams in the NCAAF, with its defense going up against undefeated Clemson. Everyone predicts the Tigers to be the first undefeated team in college football history and win the CFP Championship, but it wont be easy. Clemson will have to play a flawless game that nearly equals their perfect season (don’t count their near loss against Notre Dame) in order to beat Oklahoma. Mistakes can prove costly for both teams. Each opposing defense will take advantage of an opportunity to make a big play if it presents itself.
Rose Bowl
Stanford Cardinals vs Iowa Hawkeyes
ESPN: Fri, Jan 1 4:00 PM CST
The Rose Bowl is the most legendary bowl game in all of college sports. Both teams eyed a chance at playing for the College Football Championship, unfortunately where respectively beat out by Clemson, Michigan State, Oklahoma and Alabama. Yet this could prove to be the best bowl game out of the holiday weekend. Stanford made it by beating some of the top ranked teams in USC, UCLA, and Notre Dame. This also makes it the Cardinals third Rose Bowl in four years. Iowa is the surprise team, not necessarily a Cinderella team but a team that nearly came out with a perfect record. Their loss to Michigan State cost the Hawkeyes an entry into the CFP. Nevertheless, its hard not to like Iowa in this bowl game because, like an RKO, it came out of nowhere. I’m hoping for an Iowa win but experience goes a long way, and Stanford’s got a lot of it.
Fiesta Bowl
Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs Ohio St. Buckeyes
ESPN: Fri, Jan 1 12:00 PM CST
It was so close! Notre Dames two point loss to Stanford left a bitter taste in their tongue as they not only lose the chance at the playoffs but a chance at the Rose Bowl, which Stanford is playing in. The defending national champions, Ohio St. on the other hand were beat by Michigan State by three points. The loss dropped Ohio St to seventh in CFP standing and put Michigan State in third, guaranteeing them a chance at the championship. Its a tough pill to swallow for the Fighting Irish who have faced injuries throughout the season but have managed to pull through with a 10 – 2 record. They now face an extremely tough Buckeyes team who has seven first team selections in the Big 10 conference.
From the BackstageOL crew, Happy New Year!
