Monday, January 1, 2007
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Tennessee-Penn State
Mercury News
They’ve given up 26 points in the last four ballgames,” said Philip Fulmer, the head coach of PSU’s Outback Bowl opponent, Tennessee. For the third straight season, the Lions fielded a top-20 defense, limiting opponents to an average of 279 yards per game. Only 15 defenses in the nation surrendered less. The unit had just one lackluster outing—in a 41-17 setback at Notre Dame in September—but kept Penn State in every other game, routinely overcoming bad field position and long stretches of work brought on by a struggling offense. And the defense continued to improve, allowing just two touchdowns in the final 21 quarters of the regular season. The unit wound up ranking among the nation’s top 11 in four important categories: scoring defense (14.8 points per game); rush defense (87.8 yards per game); pass efficiency defense; and sacks (38). Even in PSU’s three Big Ten Conference losses—against top-ranked Ohio State, No. 3 Michigan and No. 7 Wisconsin—the defense managed to make statements. After watching Michigan and Ohio State roll up a combined 81 points and nearly 1,000 yards of offense against each other, Sports Illustrated marveled that the Lions’ defense managed to limit each to just two touchdowns.
Michigan-USC
Associated Press
There was no celebrating a traditional matchup in the Rose Bowl - at least by the participants. Southern California of the Pac-10 and Michigan of the Big Ten will meet New Year’s Day in the granddaddy of ‘em all, with each playing in the game for the third time in four years. Both had hoped to be in Glendale, Ariz., a week later, playing for the national title. That honor goes to Ohio State and Florida - ranked 1-2 in the final Bowl Championship Series standings released Sunday. USC and Michigan had their chances. The Trojans (10-2) entered the weekend with the inside track toward facing the unbeaten Buckeyes, but a 13-9 loss to crosstown rival UCLA on Saturday knocked them out.
No. 3 Michigan (11-1) was overtaken by Florida (12-1) on the strength of the Gators’ 38-28 triumph over Arkansas in the Southeastern Conference championship game later Saturday. The Wolverines didn’t get their hoped-for rematch with the Buckeyes, who beat them 42-39 on Nov. 18 in the final regular-season game for both teams. USC has played in 30 previous Rose Bowl games, going 21-9, while Michigan has played in 23, going 11-12.
Boise-Oklahoma
Kitspan Sun
The Jan. 1 contest between his ninth-ranked Broncos (12-0) and No. 7 Oklahoma (11-2) arguably is the biggest game in Boise State history and certainly the biggest in Petersen’s six seasons at the school — five as offensive coordinator and one as head coach.
Georgia Tech-West Virginia
Florida Times-Union
West Virginia’s two offensive leaders are both slowed by injuries but are expected to play in Monday’s Gator Bowl. Quarterback Pat White, who missed WVU’s regular-season finale against Rutgers with a sprained ankle, practiced Tuesday, as did running back Steve Slaton, who is battling a thigh bruise suffered in a bowl practice n Morgantown, W.Va., before Christmas. The obvious matchup in the Gator Bowl will be West Virginia’s spread offense against Georgia Tech’s blitzing, stunting defense. Tech coach Chan Gailey said the Mountaineers’ ball-handling and misdirection might keep the Yellow Jackets’ defense back on its heels a bit and curtail the all-out pressure the unit favored most of the season. But Gailey said he believes the Jackets still have enough team speed to make big plays, once they figure out who has the ball and where they’re going.
Nebraska-Auburn
Associated Press
The No. 22 Cornhuskers (9-4) are in a January game for the first time in five seasons. The New Year’s Day game will be only their fourth Cotton Bowl - and first since 1980.
Huskers.com
Nebraska players and coaches have been talking all week about the significance of notching their 10th victory of the season. They say that recognizing the challenge presented by a tough Auburn team, one that Bill Callahan had pegged early on as a national championship contender. The Tigers have beaten two top-10 teams this season (LSU and Florida) while the Huskers went 0-3 against top-10 teams (USC, Texas and Oklahoma).
Arkansas-Wisconsin
Fox Sports
How does a team win 11 games, climb into the top 10 - and still remain under the radar?
Ask Wisconsin, which is having one of its best seasons but has been overshadowed by Big Ten rivals Ohio State and Michigan.The No. 6 Badgers (11-1) face No. 12 Arkansas in Monday’s Capital One Bowl. Wisconsin has won eight straight since losing at Michigan in September, and a victory will give the school its first 12-win season.
The Razorbacks (10-3) bounced back from two straight losing seasons, winning 10 in a row at one point before losses to LSU and then Florida in the Southeastern Conference title game. Arkansas is led by Heisman Trophy runner-up Darren McFadden, who has rushed for 1,558 yards this season. Redshirt freshman P.J. Hill has run for 1,533 for Wisconsin.The Badgers have faced only one ranked team this season - Michigan. Ohio State was not on their conference schedule. Arkansas is trying to avoid finishing with three straight losses. “You want to leave out on a good note,” said Razorbacks receiver Marcus Monk, who has 949 yards receiving this season. Wisconsin quarterback John Stocco missed his last two starts of the regular season with a shoulder injury, but he’s back now. Arkansas has its own injury concern - McFadden hurt his ankle in the SEC title game, although he stayed in the game and has had plenty of time to heal.
The Badgers have allowed only 243.5 yards per game on defense.
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