Bowls: 7-1 Season: 118-42
Virginia lost to Florida, 36-28, in the Orange Bowl on Monday night, but acquitted itself well, showing it belonged on the big stage. But how has the ACC performed so far? After the Cavaliers lost and Louisville won Monday, the conference is 4-3 in bowls, with the other wins coming from Clemson, North Carolina, and Pittsburgh, while the other losses have come from Miami and Wake Forest. Today, there are two more ACC games, and there's one on Jan 2. Let's look at these games:
Today's games
Belk Bowl in Charlotte
Virginia Tech (8-4) vs. Kentucky (7-5), Noon, ESPN
This should be a good game, as both teams have been jawing at each other this week. The Hokies want to send out longtime defensive coordinator Bud Foster the right way, but they'll have to slow down Kentucky QB Lynn Bowden Jr. to do it. Bowden is a converted wideout who became the Wildcats' starter in the fifth game of the season after injuries took out No. 1 QB Terry Wilson and No. 2 QB Sawyer Smith. It might be an understatement saying the Wildcats don't pass much. Bowden has
completed only 29 of 62 passes for 330 yards, two TDs, and two picks, but he's rushed for 1,235 yards (8.2 ypc) and 11 touchdowns. Wahoo fans may recall that the Hokies struggled against Bryce Perkins' ability to run in the first half of Virginia's 39-30 win on Black Friday. But given the fact that Kentucky runs all the time, and the Hokies have had a month to prepare, makes me think they'll be more ready this time. Tech must also be ready for a strong defense. Kentucky was able to stay in plenty of games this season because of its defense, which ranks 12th in the nation in points allowed. Both of these teams finished the year strong. Virginia Tech won three of its final four games and almost won at Notre Dame, and Kentucky has won three in a row and crushed a rapidly improving Louisville team, 45-13, during rivalry week. I do think the Hokies will do just enough against Bowden and come out with the win as they play hard for Foster in his final game.
Virginia Tech 27, Kentucky 23
Sun Bowl in El Paso
Florida State (6-6) vs. Arizona State (7-5), 2 p.m. CBS
The Seminoles fired Willie Taggart late in the season after a 27-10 loss to Miami but rallied around interim coach Odell Haggins to finish 2-1 and get to a bowl game after missing out in 2018. Memphis coach Mike Norvell (who was Arizona State's offensive coordinator from 2014-15) will be the Seminoles' coach next season and will keep Haggins, a longtime 'Nole, on his defensive staff. In this game, the 'Noles will be without running back Cam Akers, who is preparing for the NFL draft, and backup running back Khalan Laborn is out with an injury. But James Blackman will play at QB after a decent season, and star wideout Tamorrion Terry will also suit up and announced this week he is returning to FSU for his redshirt junior season. I think the Seminoles will have a tough time with the Sun Devils, who are in their second season under former NFL coach Herm Edwards. Last year, ASU went 7-5 and lost to Fresno State in the Las Vegas Bowl. ASU has a strong offense led by true freshman QB Jayden Daniels, who has completed 62.3 percent of his passes for 2,748 yards, 17 touchdowns, and just two interceptions. He's gone 129 straight passes without a pick, and he's also rushed for 319 yards and three TDs. Like FSU, ASU will be missing a couple of weapons in tailback Eno Benjamin and wideout Brandon Aiyuk, who are also prepping for the draft. But the Sun Devils finished the season with a 31-28 victory at home over No. 6 Oregon, knocking the Ducks out of College Football Playoff contention, before downing rival Arizona. ASU also has a stronger defense than FSU, and so I'm taking the Sun Devils to notch a win for the Pac-12 over the ACC.
Arizona State 30, Florida State 27
Thursday's game
Birmingham (Ala.) Bowl
Boston College (6-6) vs. No. 21 Cincinnati (10-3), 3 p.m. ESPN
Like last season, a 10-win Bearcats team draws a 6-6 ACC team in their bowl game. I wonder if Cincy is feeling slighted by these postseason selections? In 2018, Cincinnati faced Virginia Tech in the Military Bowl and held on for a 35-31 victory. This time, they get the Eagles, who were able to upset Pittsburgh in the regular-season finale to become bowl eligible. Despite that victory, BC fired coach Steve Addazio, who subsequently took the top job at Colorado State. Wideouts coach Rich Gunnell, a former WR for BC who played with Matt Ryan when the Falcons QB was throwing passes for the Eagles, is the interim coach for this game. Ohio State co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach Jeff Hafley will be the Eagles' head coach in 2020. BC will be without star running back AJ Dillon, who is prepping for the NFL draft, but backup David Bailey is solid in his own right, with 811 yards and seven scores. The Eagles are also playing with their backup at QB, Dennis Grosel, who became the starter when Anthony Brown went down with a season-ending leg injury in October. Grosel has completed 48.6 percent of his passes with nine TDs and three INTs and rushed for 203 yards and a pair of scores. The Bearcats, in their third year under Luke Fickell, are led at QB by Desmond Ridder, who has completed 54.8 percent of his passes for 2,069 yards, 17 TDs and nine INTs. He's ran for 545 yards and two scores. In the backfield is Michael Warren, who's compiled 1,160 yards and 14 touchdowns. Cincinnati was close to being the Group of Five representative in the Cotton Bowl, falling 29-24 at Memphis in the AAC championship game a week after also losing to the Tigers in the regular-season finale, 34-24. The Bearcats have no other losses besides a 42-0 shutout against Ohio State, and there's no shame in that. I think BC will play hard for its interim coach, but Cincinnati will want to make a statement against a Power Five team even though it is favored by a touchdown.
Cincinnati 34, Boston College 24
Virginia lost to Florida, 36-28, in the Orange Bowl on Monday night, but acquitted itself well, showing it belonged on the big stage. But how has the ACC performed so far? After the Cavaliers lost and Louisville won Monday, the conference is 4-3 in bowls, with the other wins coming from Clemson, North Carolina, and Pittsburgh, while the other losses have come from Miami and Wake Forest. Today, there are two more ACC games, and there's one on Jan 2. Let's look at these games:
Today's games
Belk Bowl in Charlotte
Virginia Tech (8-4) vs. Kentucky (7-5), Noon, ESPN
This should be a good game, as both teams have been jawing at each other this week. The Hokies want to send out longtime defensive coordinator Bud Foster the right way, but they'll have to slow down Kentucky QB Lynn Bowden Jr. to do it. Bowden is a converted wideout who became the Wildcats' starter in the fifth game of the season after injuries took out No. 1 QB Terry Wilson and No. 2 QB Sawyer Smith. It might be an understatement saying the Wildcats don't pass much. Bowden has
Virginia Tech 27, Kentucky 23
Sun Bowl in El Paso
Florida State (6-6) vs. Arizona State (7-5), 2 p.m. CBS
The Seminoles fired Willie Taggart late in the season after a 27-10 loss to Miami but rallied around interim coach Odell Haggins to finish 2-1 and get to a bowl game after missing out in 2018. Memphis coach Mike Norvell (who was Arizona State's offensive coordinator from 2014-15) will be the Seminoles' coach next season and will keep Haggins, a longtime 'Nole, on his defensive staff. In this game, the 'Noles will be without running back Cam Akers, who is preparing for the NFL draft, and backup running back Khalan Laborn is out with an injury. But James Blackman will play at QB after a decent season, and star wideout Tamorrion Terry will also suit up and announced this week he is returning to FSU for his redshirt junior season. I think the Seminoles will have a tough time with the Sun Devils, who are in their second season under former NFL coach Herm Edwards. Last year, ASU went 7-5 and lost to Fresno State in the Las Vegas Bowl. ASU has a strong offense led by true freshman QB Jayden Daniels, who has completed 62.3 percent of his passes for 2,748 yards, 17 touchdowns, and just two interceptions. He's gone 129 straight passes without a pick, and he's also rushed for 319 yards and three TDs. Like FSU, ASU will be missing a couple of weapons in tailback Eno Benjamin and wideout Brandon Aiyuk, who are also prepping for the draft. But the Sun Devils finished the season with a 31-28 victory at home over No. 6 Oregon, knocking the Ducks out of College Football Playoff contention, before downing rival Arizona. ASU also has a stronger defense than FSU, and so I'm taking the Sun Devils to notch a win for the Pac-12 over the ACC.
Arizona State 30, Florida State 27
Thursday's game
Birmingham (Ala.) Bowl
Boston College (6-6) vs. No. 21 Cincinnati (10-3), 3 p.m. ESPN
Like last season, a 10-win Bearcats team draws a 6-6 ACC team in their bowl game. I wonder if Cincy is feeling slighted by these postseason selections? In 2018, Cincinnati faced Virginia Tech in the Military Bowl and held on for a 35-31 victory. This time, they get the Eagles, who were able to upset Pittsburgh in the regular-season finale to become bowl eligible. Despite that victory, BC fired coach Steve Addazio, who subsequently took the top job at Colorado State. Wideouts coach Rich Gunnell, a former WR for BC who played with Matt Ryan when the Falcons QB was throwing passes for the Eagles, is the interim coach for this game. Ohio State co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach Jeff Hafley will be the Eagles' head coach in 2020. BC will be without star running back AJ Dillon, who is prepping for the NFL draft, but backup David Bailey is solid in his own right, with 811 yards and seven scores. The Eagles are also playing with their backup at QB, Dennis Grosel, who became the starter when Anthony Brown went down with a season-ending leg injury in October. Grosel has completed 48.6 percent of his passes with nine TDs and three INTs and rushed for 203 yards and a pair of scores. The Bearcats, in their third year under Luke Fickell, are led at QB by Desmond Ridder, who has completed 54.8 percent of his passes for 2,069 yards, 17 TDs and nine INTs. He's ran for 545 yards and two scores. In the backfield is Michael Warren, who's compiled 1,160 yards and 14 touchdowns. Cincinnati was close to being the Group of Five representative in the Cotton Bowl, falling 29-24 at Memphis in the AAC championship game a week after also losing to the Tigers in the regular-season finale, 34-24. The Bearcats have no other losses besides a 42-0 shutout against Ohio State, and there's no shame in that. I think BC will play hard for its interim coach, but Cincinnati will want to make a statement against a Power Five team even though it is favored by a touchdown.
Cincinnati 34, Boston College 24
Comments
Post a Comment