Your Predictions Are As Good As Mine
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Mark [email protected]
Fear not, for I won’t try it, either. Instead, I’ll run a week’s worth of predictions at a time, and see how things go from there.
I’m also wondering what in the world others out there in Times-Union Land are thinking. That being said, there’s a place on our website for you to pick your games. Just look for “NCAA Bowl Survey” at the top of our home page, www.timesuniononline.com
You need not be a subscriber to participate, and we’re not gathering any personal information.
All the games picked here in today’s article will be played Saturday, except Monday’s Miami Beach Bowl.
New Orleans Bowl – Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns vs. Nevada Wolfpack
Both teams like to run the ball, and each takes pretty good care of the ball. Nevada has 13 interceptions, and Ragin’ Cajun quarterback Terrance Broadway isn’t exactly lighting up the stat sheet.
Broadway is the third leading rusher on the team (634 yards), behind running backs Elijah McGuire (1,165 yds and 14 touchdowns) and Alonzo Harris (737 yds, 12 TDs). On the other hand, Nevada could have quarterback Cody Fajarado and running back Don Jackson eclipse the 1,000-yard barrier for the season Saturday morning.
Honestly, this could be the best of the bowl games among teams you’ve never heard of, and gets my nod for “Game Most Likely To Be Completed In Less Than 3-1/2 Hours.” Nevada is favored by one, but I’m taking the defacto home team by four.
New Mexico Bowl – UTEP Miners vs. Utah State Aggies
The Aggies of Utah State are working on offense with a fourth-string quarterback, Kent Myers, and USU’s top three rushers have less than 1,500 yards between them.
The key for Utah State will be stopping UTEP’s running attack, get them in some third down and long situations, thus forcing the Miners to throw. Aaron Jones leads the Miners with 1,233 yards and 11 touchdowns.
UTEP quarterback Jameill Showers has only 1,732 passing yards this season, but has only been sacked 12 times. Utah State’s defense is ranked 29th in the Football Bowl Subdivision against the run, and has 18 interceptions to its credit.
Utah State is favored by 11, and should cover easily.
Las Vegas Bowl – Colorado State Rams vs. Utah Utes
This meeting of former Mountain West Conference foes looks to be a shootout with the Rams having a top 15 passing attack and the Utes featuring a strong ground game.
Utah quarterback Travis Wilson had a solid but not spectacular year, passing for just over 2,000 yards, but tossing only four interceptions. The passing game should be enough of a compliment to Utes running back Devontae Booker, who rushed for 1,350 yards in 2014.
Colorado State’s Garrett Grayson has passed for almost 3,800 yards and 32 touchdowns, and the Rams also have running back Dee Hart (1,254 rushing yards, 16 TDs). The rushing statistics may be a little deceiving, as everyone in the current Mountain West has some trouble stopping the run.
The difference with be the Utes’ ability to rush the passer. They lead the country with 52 sacks, and if they can get to Grayson consistently, they will win. I’m taking Utah, but it’ll be a final possession type of game.
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl – Western Michigan Broncos vs. Air Force Falcons
In this situation, a fan has to be careful. You may want to see a bowl game real bad, but this may be a real bad bowl game. Neither team has done much offensively, stopped anybody on defense, and both teams have qualified for postseason play based on a relatively easy schedule.
Each team has a 1,000-yard rusher, and Western Michigan has a passing attack that, ironically, the Air Force doesn’t. Whether or not the Broncos can throw the ball in Boise will be the difference in the game.
I’m taking Western Michigan to win, but only because I said I’d pick every game.
Camellia Bowl – South Alabama Jaguars vs. Bowling Green Falcons
First of all, a camellia is a red flower commonly found in Alabama. Just so you know.
The irony of a 9:15 p.m. start time isn’t lost on me; it’ll insure the die-hard sports fan who promised to watch every play of every bowl game feels the same way Meat Loaf did when he prayed for the end of time.
South Alabama is playing in its home state, and Bowling Green can throw the ball a little bit. Falcon signal caller James Knapke has thrown for 2,800 yards, 13 touchdowns and 12 picks.
Speaking of picks, I’ll choose Bowling Green to win this game in triple overtime, when the Falcons run a botched field goal attempt back for a touchdown.
Miami Beach Bowl – Memphis Tigers vs. Brigham Young Cougars
BYU is the streakiest team of the 2014 season. The Cougars won their first four, lost the next four, then won their final four games. They can still throw the ball, but not quite like the BYU teams we’ve known in the past.
The Tigers tend to use a running back by committee approach, and that could help them stay fresh in the Florida heat.
My expectation is this will be a fairly high-scoring game that, given the 2 p.m. kickoff time, might still be on after you get home from work. The deciding factor will be who gets the biggest break, likely coming from special teams. I’ll take Memphis.[[In-content Ad]]
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Fear not, for I won’t try it, either. Instead, I’ll run a week’s worth of predictions at a time, and see how things go from there.
I’m also wondering what in the world others out there in Times-Union Land are thinking. That being said, there’s a place on our website for you to pick your games. Just look for “NCAA Bowl Survey” at the top of our home page, www.timesuniononline.com
You need not be a subscriber to participate, and we’re not gathering any personal information.
All the games picked here in today’s article will be played Saturday, except Monday’s Miami Beach Bowl.
New Orleans Bowl – Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns vs. Nevada Wolfpack
Both teams like to run the ball, and each takes pretty good care of the ball. Nevada has 13 interceptions, and Ragin’ Cajun quarterback Terrance Broadway isn’t exactly lighting up the stat sheet.
Broadway is the third leading rusher on the team (634 yards), behind running backs Elijah McGuire (1,165 yds and 14 touchdowns) and Alonzo Harris (737 yds, 12 TDs). On the other hand, Nevada could have quarterback Cody Fajarado and running back Don Jackson eclipse the 1,000-yard barrier for the season Saturday morning.
Honestly, this could be the best of the bowl games among teams you’ve never heard of, and gets my nod for “Game Most Likely To Be Completed In Less Than 3-1/2 Hours.” Nevada is favored by one, but I’m taking the defacto home team by four.
New Mexico Bowl – UTEP Miners vs. Utah State Aggies
The Aggies of Utah State are working on offense with a fourth-string quarterback, Kent Myers, and USU’s top three rushers have less than 1,500 yards between them.
The key for Utah State will be stopping UTEP’s running attack, get them in some third down and long situations, thus forcing the Miners to throw. Aaron Jones leads the Miners with 1,233 yards and 11 touchdowns.
UTEP quarterback Jameill Showers has only 1,732 passing yards this season, but has only been sacked 12 times. Utah State’s defense is ranked 29th in the Football Bowl Subdivision against the run, and has 18 interceptions to its credit.
Utah State is favored by 11, and should cover easily.
Las Vegas Bowl – Colorado State Rams vs. Utah Utes
This meeting of former Mountain West Conference foes looks to be a shootout with the Rams having a top 15 passing attack and the Utes featuring a strong ground game.
Utah quarterback Travis Wilson had a solid but not spectacular year, passing for just over 2,000 yards, but tossing only four interceptions. The passing game should be enough of a compliment to Utes running back Devontae Booker, who rushed for 1,350 yards in 2014.
Colorado State’s Garrett Grayson has passed for almost 3,800 yards and 32 touchdowns, and the Rams also have running back Dee Hart (1,254 rushing yards, 16 TDs). The rushing statistics may be a little deceiving, as everyone in the current Mountain West has some trouble stopping the run.
The difference with be the Utes’ ability to rush the passer. They lead the country with 52 sacks, and if they can get to Grayson consistently, they will win. I’m taking Utah, but it’ll be a final possession type of game.
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl – Western Michigan Broncos vs. Air Force Falcons
In this situation, a fan has to be careful. You may want to see a bowl game real bad, but this may be a real bad bowl game. Neither team has done much offensively, stopped anybody on defense, and both teams have qualified for postseason play based on a relatively easy schedule.
Each team has a 1,000-yard rusher, and Western Michigan has a passing attack that, ironically, the Air Force doesn’t. Whether or not the Broncos can throw the ball in Boise will be the difference in the game.
I’m taking Western Michigan to win, but only because I said I’d pick every game.
Camellia Bowl – South Alabama Jaguars vs. Bowling Green Falcons
First of all, a camellia is a red flower commonly found in Alabama. Just so you know.
The irony of a 9:15 p.m. start time isn’t lost on me; it’ll insure the die-hard sports fan who promised to watch every play of every bowl game feels the same way Meat Loaf did when he prayed for the end of time.
South Alabama is playing in its home state, and Bowling Green can throw the ball a little bit. Falcon signal caller James Knapke has thrown for 2,800 yards, 13 touchdowns and 12 picks.
Speaking of picks, I’ll choose Bowling Green to win this game in triple overtime, when the Falcons run a botched field goal attempt back for a touchdown.
Miami Beach Bowl – Memphis Tigers vs. Brigham Young Cougars
BYU is the streakiest team of the 2014 season. The Cougars won their first four, lost the next four, then won their final four games. They can still throw the ball, but not quite like the BYU teams we’ve known in the past.
The Tigers tend to use a running back by committee approach, and that could help them stay fresh in the Florida heat.
My expectation is this will be a fairly high-scoring game that, given the 2 p.m. kickoff time, might still be on after you get home from work. The deciding factor will be who gets the biggest break, likely coming from special teams. I’ll take Memphis.[[In-content Ad]]
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