National Championship 2016: A Game for the Ages

#2 Clemson Tigers vs. #1 Alabama Crimson Tide 

Ever since Alabama's narrow defeat of Clemson in last year's National Championship Game, many football fans were longing for the opportunity to see a rematch.  After a season filled with many ups and downs in the championship hunt, that was exactly what we got.

Fans of the Tigers and the Tide were amped up down in Tampa, Florida and the events of the game would only get them into more of a frenzy.

The first half proved to be only the lead up to the thrilling events of the 2nd half.  Alabama put together two scoring drives that ended in 2 rushing touchdowns by star running back Bo Scarbrough.  Sound familiar?  Quarterback Deshaun Watson, and the entire Clemson offense for that matter, was rattled by a tenacious Alabama pass rush and coverage.  The Tigers finally broke through in a 2nd quarter drive that lasted 7 plays.  On the 2nd play of the drive, Watson threw a screen pass to wide receiver Deon Cain who weaved through defenders for a 43 yard gain.  A completion from Watson to tight end Jordan Leggett, followed by another to senior phenom Mike Williams, gave the Tigers the ball inside the 10 yard line.  A nifty run by Watson around the left side of the defense, in which he tip toed along the sideline, gave Clemson a desperarately needed touchdown.   That was all the scoring in the first half and the Tigers would get the ball after the break.

However, the Tigers would blow that opportunity by fumbling on the 4th play of that drive.

 Alabama defensive end Ryan Anderson scooped up the loose ball and returned it to the Clemson 16 yard line.  In response, the Clemson defense refused to let Alabama take control of the game.  Linebacker Ben Boulware and his teammates didn't allow the Tide to gain a single first down.  Senior kicker Adam Griffith converted the ensuing field goal, but the Tigers had staved off a disastrous turn of events.  Clemson's next drive was unsuccessful but a great punt by Andy Teasdall pinned Alabama deep in their own territory.  The Tide proceeded to go three-and-out and the ensuing punt by the usually reliable J.K Scott was downright bad.

Starting at Alabama's 42 yard line, Watson, running back Wayne Gallman, and a plethora of great receivers, had fantastic field position to work with.   A 14 yard completion from Watson to Cain started things off on the right foot.  Two plays later, Watson fired a short pass to top receiver Hunter Renfro, who dodged a total of 3 defenders and raced into the endzone.  Now trailing by a slim margin of 14-17, the Clemson sideline was alive with energy.

After the team traded punts, the Alabama offense found the big play that they had been searching for the entire 3rd quarter.  After Bo Scarbrough gained a first down with his brand of powerful running, newly minted Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian called for a cleverly designed pass to the tight end.  Alabama's freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts threw the ball to his wide open tight end O.J. Howard who sprinted for a 68 yard TD. 

Refusing to be disheartened by this, the Clemson offense responded in kind.  Within the next 7 plays, Watson continued to sling the ball around in completions to receivers Deon Cain, Artavis Scott, and Jordan Leggett.  Three plays later, it was 2nd and Goal at the 4 yard line.  Watson threw a perfect lob to Mike Williams for the touchdown.  The Tigers were back within three again!

Alabama couldn't muster another scoring drive on any of their next three possessions.  The root cause of this was the fact that Bo Scarbrough suffered a leg injury that kept him sidelined the rest of the game.  Additionally, a relentless Clemson pass rush kept Hurts from picking up the slack.  Two Clemson drives sandwiched in between resulted in no points, however, and the Tigers were quickly running out of chances to take the lead.  Then, with 6 1/2 minutes remaining, the Tigers pounced.  Starting at their own 12 yard line, the Tigers leaped out to the 43 yard line on a pair of rushes by Gallman and Watson and a 17 yard completion to Leggett.

On the next play, Watson threw a pass to Williams, who leaped up into the air while running backwards to come up with a sensational catch. 

An additional unsportsmanlike conduct penalty called on Alabama after the play moved the ball into the redzone.  Two plays later, Gallman punched the ball in from a yard out to give Clemson their first lead of the game.

Going along with their recent decline in effectiveness, the Tide were forced into a 3rd and 17 on the next drive after an exceptional tackle by Ben Boulware.  However, quarterback Jalen Hurts was fixing to throw a wrench into the works.  He lobbed a 16 yard pass to wide receiver Ardarius Stewart to set up a manageable 4th and 1.  A short gain by backup running back Damien Harris converted the ensuing attempt and Alabama was back in business.  On the next play, Hurts threw a backwards pass to Stewart who kept the ball moving by throwing down field to the tight end Howard.  Gashed by a big play, the Clemson defense was off balance.  Hurts took advantage of this by using his speed to slice through the defense on an improvised run.  Three Clemson defenders whiffed on potential tackles and Hurts was soon sauntering into the endzone at the end of a 30 yard run.

Trailing once again by three with 2 minutes left, Clemson knew what they had to do to bring home the trophy.  Kids playing football in the backyard imagine being the quarterback with the opportunity to lead their team to a victory in the final two minutes of the game.  Facing just such a scenario, Watson knew the outcome of the game rested on his shoulders.  But all that pressure seemingly didn't phase him at all. He encouraged the players in the huddle to finish what they started.  Emboldened by his words, the wide receivers and the offensive line played the best they had all game. 

Watson completed three passes in a row to start the drive, pushing the ball down to the Alabama 33 yard line.

I would be remiss if I failed to mention one of the those was another fantastic leaping grab by Mike Williams.  After a third down completion to Renfro, the Tigers were in field goal range.  Two plays later, with only 28 seconds remaining, Watson fired a pass where only tight end Jordan Leggett could catch it.   Leggett stretched his hands out to his right as far as he could and snagged a pivotal catch.  It was now 1st and Goal at the 9 yard line and the Tigers were eyeing the win.
 
A pass interference call on Alabama on 2nd and Goal put the ball at the 2 yard line with six seconds to go.  One more chance to win it all before the tight confines of overtime.  Renfro was lined up to the right and Watson was throwing his direction all the way.  Renfro took advantage of a crossing route to get wide open in the front corner of the endzone.  Renfro caught it with 1 second left and the Tigers mobbed him in celebration. 

Some Clemson fans cheered and pumped their fists, while others with overcome with shock that the Tigers actually were about to dethrone Alabama,

Although the final second on the clock took a long time to expire, due to penalties and an unnecessary review, the Tigers knew that an incredible victory had been achieved.  Coach Swinney provided his patented brand of emotional post game speech soon after, explaining that the love his players had for each other as teammates was the real cause of the victory.  Deshaun Watson was at a loss for words during his interview, but remembered to give thanks to God.  Even Ben Boulware had something to say right after Coach Swinney lifted the golden National Championship Trophy.  He mentioned all the well-known players who were a part of the Clemson program within the last 8 years, saying that their hard work was the foundation that this championship team was built on.  A wonderful championship win for a very well-deserving team!

What a game, what a team, what a season!  It has been wonderful writing this college football blog for the 3rd full year in a row.  Despite my bout with pneumonia, I persevered in finishing this season out strong through my faith in Jesus Christ.  Until next year, this is Jonathan Fry signing off.

Playoff Semifinals 2016

Playoff Semifinals 2016

1.  Peach Bowl: #1 Alabama Crimson Tide vs. #4 Washington Huskies

Many people including myself were worried this game wouldn't be close in the end and our fears were justified.  After a three and out by both teams to start the game, the Huskies got the ball in good field position at their 36 yard line.  Washington quarterback Jake Browning tore through the Alabama defense, passing for 33 yards and running for 13 in a span of 5 plays.  After a first down dash by running Lavon Coleman, Browning completed a 18 yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Dante Pettis.  Alabama used productive scampers by quarterback Jalen Hurts and running back Damien Harris to fuel a successful drive of their own.  Running back Bo Scarbrough ran it in from 18 yards out and the score was tied.  The score remained tied at the end of the 1st quarter but the game changed drastically in the 2nd.  A Washington fumble was turned into 3 points and it turned out the Huskies were still in a giving mood.  Towards the end of the first half, Browning threw a ill-advised pass that was intercepted and returned for a touchdown. 

The Huskies couldn't manage to score a single point in the 2nd half, while Alabama added 7 more points to their total on another rushing touchdown by Scarbrough.  Yet again, a quality opponent has thrown a pick 6 (interception returned for a touchdown) against Alabama. To keep it elementary school simple, DON'T THROW A PICK 6 IF YOU WANT TO BEAT ALABAMA!

Final Score: Alabama 24 Washington 7

2. Fiesta Bowl: #2 Clemson Tigers vs. #3 Ohio State Buckeyes 

Much to everyone's surprise the Fiesta Bowl was even more lopsided than the Peach Bowl.  At various points during the season, the Ohio State offense had found themselves in a serious funk, unable to move the ball effectively using passing or running plays.  The Buckeyes defense was the thing that truly saved them in their thrilling win over Michigan.  Against Clemson, things spiralled out of control quickly.  The Buckeyes offense seemed out of their element from the very start of the game and never found their groove.  Meanwhile, Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson and running back Wayne Gallman found their way through the Ohio State defense one step at a time.  Watson overcame an interception on their first drive to lead his team to ten points in their next two drives.  Watson threw a second interception in the 2nd quarter but showed his resiliency yet again.  Remaining confident in his abilities and his receivers Watson led another drive that ended in a 33 yard TD reception by wide receiver C.J. Fuller.  

The 2nd half was not much different as Clemson continued to score while Ohio State could hardly muster a first down.  The Buckeyes looked like they didn't deserve the playoff spot that they had earned.  It is very clear after this horrible showing that Clemson has a far better chance to take down the Tide.

Final Score: Clemson 31 Ohio State 0

Most Exciting Bowl Game of the Year (so far)

Since the other two games were so one-sided, I thought it would be a good idea to write about a different game that was far more exciting.

Orange Bowl: #6 Michigan Wolverines vs. #11 Florida State Seminoles 

At first, the only premier bowl game on New Year's Eve looked like it was going to be a blowout.  Florida State's offense, powered by the strong legs of running back Dalvin Cook, was making serious headway against the stout Michigan defense.  Eight minutes into the game, the Seminoles held a 10-3 lead.   The lead should have been 10-7 because Michigan recovered a muffed punt at the Florida State 1 yard line but was unable to score a touchdown.  At the polar opposite of things was Florida State's last possession of the first quarter.  Pinned back at their own 8 yard line, Seminoles quarterback Deondre François lofted a long pass to wide receiver Nyqwan Murray who was behind two defenders.  The pass caught up to Murray at just the right moment and he took it the rest of the way for a 92 yard touchdown.      

Michigan got the ball deep into the redzone in the 2nd quarter but yet again they only came away with 3 points.  Florida State added a field goal later in the 2nd quarter and went into the half leading 20-6.  

A good return at the start of the 3rd quarter gave Michigan a great opportunity to start the half off right.  Quarterback Wilton Speight tossed a pair of clutch passes that converted a 3rd down and a 4th down as well.  The Wolverines got the ball to the 10 yard line but once again the drive stalled and they only tallied a field goal.  Michigan's red zone ineptitude was getting ridiculous.

Four straight punts later, Florida State received a punt at their own 15 yard line.  Two plays later, François was rolling out to his right and I thought he was going to throw the ball away.  However, showing his freshman status, François threw a risky pass that was intercepted and returned for a touchdown by defensive back Mike McCray.

Coming back out onto the field soon after, the Florida State offense was faced with the challenge of overcoming this mistake.  At first, the offensive line failed by giving up a sack of François two plays after a holding penalty.  Now facing a 3rd and 22, it seemed the Seminoles would have to punt shortly. However, the offensive line opened up a big hole for a delayed handoff that allowed Cook to race down the left sideline for 77 yards.  Four plays later, Francois scored from 3 yards out on a designed quarterback run.

Now down by 12, and with no previous success in the redzone, Michigan looked they had run out of luck.  But college football is a fickle beast and it showed it yet again.  Michigan went three and out but then Florida State did the same.  After a short punt, the Wolverines got the ball in excellent field position at the Florida State 37 yard line.  A 18 yard completion by Speight to top receiver Amara Darboh got the ball into the redzone.  Wolverine fans began to get nervous. Two plays later they were really getting concerned.  But a third down completion by Speight to wide receiver Jehu Chesson gave the Wolverines their 1st first down in the redzone.  Facing another 3rd down two plays later, Speight scrambled away from the blitz and found running back Khalid Hill standing at the 1 yard line.  Hill caught the pass, spun to avoid the defender and dove into the endzone.  Michigan was back in it!

After a second straight three and out by the Seminoles, the Wolverines would strike again.  Michigan went 61 yards in only 5 plays, taking the lead on a 30 yard TD dash by running back Chris Evans (not to be confused with the actor who plays Captain America).  Wanting to go up by a field goal, the Wolverines went for two.  Speight fired the ball through a tight window to Darboh who caught it in the endzone for 2 points.

The ensuing kickoff was not uneventful.  Florida State returner Keith Gavin received the kick in the endzone and hesitated, considering kneeling down for a touchback.  But, against the advice of his teammate, he ran out of the endzone eyeing a potential route through the blockers.  Thrown off by Gavin's momentary hesitation, the Michigan blockers gave up a huge 66 yard kickoff return.  Michigan's Head Coach Jim Harbaugh was livid that his team gave up such a long return at such a crucial time in the game.

However, three plays later, it seemed like the Wolverines would limit the Seminoles to a field goal attempt.  Going up against the challenge of a 3rd and 9 play, François made the most important throw of his Florida State career.  He put the ball right over the head of a Michigan defender in the left end of the endzone, allowing wide receiver Nyqwan Murray, who was stationed behind the defender, just enough room to catch the ball.  Murray came down with a contested catch and the Florida State faithful cheered in awe and celebration.

Thirty-six seconds remained on the clock and things were about to get even more interesting.  Florida State kicker Ricky Aguayo's extra point was blocked and returned by Michigan defender Josh Metallus all the way to the other endzone, giving Michigan two points.  The Wolverines were now trailing by a single point and had plenty of time to set up a game winning field goal attempt.  However, the Florida State defense was done giving up 1st downs.  Two incompletions and a completion for no gain soon forced the Wolverines into a do or die 4th down and 10.  Speight's ensuing desperation pass was intercepted by Florida State cornerback Carlos Becker III, sealing the win.  A short time later, the Seminoles were celebrating a wild Orange Bowl win.

Final Score: Florida State 33 Michigan 32
 

National Championship Game

#1 Alabama Crimson Tide vs. #2 Clemson Tigers: Jan. 9 at 8 p.m. on ESPN  

Who will win?  The team that turns the ball over the least. 

Top 10 Bowl Games to Watch: 2016

1.  Fiesta Bowl (Playoff Semifinal): #2 Clemson Tigers vs. #3 Ohio State Buckeyes: Dec. 31 at 7 p.m. on ESPN 

Other than the national championship game, this Fiesta Bowl battle looks to be the most exciting game of bowl season.  Why?  One word.  Quarterbacks.   

On one side you have the ferocious Clemson Tigers led by quarterback Deshaun Watson.  The Tigers started off the season looking a little shaky in close wins over Auburn and Troy.  Then in week 5 in a thrilling game against the Louisville Cardinals, Clemson became a playoff caliber team.   Watson lit up the scoreboard enough to put the Tigers ahead by 6 late in the game. An excellent tackle by a Clemson cornerback Marcus Edmond on 4th down of Louisville's last chance drive sealed the win.  Clemson followed that up with a pivotal victory over rival Florida State four weeks later.  Their one slip up was a one point loss to Pittsburgh who won on a last second field goal.  But the Tigers rebounded well and finished the season with 3 straight wins over Wake Forest, rival South Carolina, and Virginia Tech in the ACC Championship Game.  With how well their offense is playing right now, they might be the most dangerous team in the playoffs.

Hoping to spoil Watson's championship dreams is highly experienced Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett.  Although not as productive a passer as Watson, his running abilities have kept the Buckeyes in the championship race.  Barrett played exceptionally well in a convincing out of conference victory over Oklahoma, a 45-24 win that was a big reason why they made it into the top 4.  After a come from behind victory over a very physical Wisconsin team, the Buckeyes charged headlong into a battle with Penn State.  Playing in front of a charged up home crowd, Penn State slowed down the Ohio State offense.  In the 4th quarter, Penn State blocked a field goal and returned it for a touchdown to take the lead.  Unable to overcome this, Ohio State fell in defeat.

But just like Clemson, Ohio State responded by correctly channeling that frustration into endeavoring to improve their play.  Back to back 62-3 beatdowns of Nebraska and Maryland proved they had certainly improved.  After a nail biting victory over Michigan State, the Buckeyes headed to Ann Arbor to take on arch rival Michigan.  After struggling mightily in the first half, the Buckeyes stormed back to win in double overtime.  This late season victory catapulted Ohio State over Penn State and into the playoffs.  

Who will win this game?  Probably whoever has the ball last!

My pick: Ohio State by a whisker

2.  Rose Bowl: #5 Penn State Nittany Lions vs. #9 USC Trojans: Jan. 2 at 5 p.m. on ESPN 

Penn State is arguably one of the hottest teams in college football.  Early season losses to Pittsburgh and Michigan now seem little more than distant memories.  Quarterback Trace McSorley and running back Saquon Barkley fuel a powerful offense, which is somewhat of a rarity in most years at Penn State.  The aforementioned upset of Ohio State combined with a comeback victory over Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game earned the Nittany Lions a coveted spot in the Rose Bowl.

USC had a similar season that started off rough but ended in superb fashion.  On opening weekend the Trojans were eviscerated by Alabama in an embarrassing 52-6 defeat.  USC would suffer two more losses in the next three weeks and head coach Clay Helton was definitely on the hot seat.  In a move that probably saved his job, Helton promoted backup quarterback Sam Darnold to starter.  Darnold provided just the spark the entire team needed, propelling the Trojan offense to become as productive as everyone thought it would.  USC won their last nine games in row, including impressive wins over Colorado and eventual playoff team Washington.    

Who will win this collision between two red hot teams?  The team that plays better on defense.

My pick: Penn State 

3.  Peach Bowl (Playoff Semifinal): #1 Alabama Crimson Tide vs. #4 Washington Huskies: Dec. 31 at 3 p.m. on ESPN  

As everybody knows (sigh) Alabama put together an undefeated season complete with an SEC Championship.  Although they deserve the credit due them for accomplishing that, I have discovered a small but unexpected weakness in their achievements.  

I looked for wins by Alabama over teams currently in the top 20 and found 4.  They beat USC, Auburn, Florida, and LSU.  But upon further scrutiny two of those wins have major asterisks next to them.  Alabama beat USC before the Trojans made Sam Darnold their starting quarterback.  USC was a disorganized team offensively when Alabama beat them handily in September.  If the Trojans were afforded a rematch, I have a feeling the game would be a lot closer And their defeat of Florida seems not that impressive when you realize how bad Florida's offense is. That leaves LSU and Auburn.  Alabama edged out LSU by a mere ten points, unable to score until a single point until the 4th quarter.  The only truly impressive top 20 win was against Auburn, a game that they won convincingly 30-12.  Considering that, I'm not willing to say that they are a lock for the national championship when Clemson or Ohio State will be standing in the way.  

You notice I didn't say that Washington is a threat to stop them.  I think that way because the Huskies have a startling lack of top 20 wins.  They just beat Colorado in dominating fashion in the PAC 12 Championship Game, but that's where the list ends.  The Huskies did face the Trojans, but lost by almost two touchdowns.  That's not to say the Huskies haven't had a great season.  They completely shook up the pecking order of the PAC 12, as quarterback Jake Browning, running back Myles Gaskin, and wide receiver John Ross sliced through opposing defenses.  A ball-hawking Huskies defense made life equally difficult for opposing offenses.  Plus, their blowout of Stanford and road victory over Utah are worthy of recognition.  I'm just afraid their luck is going to run out against you know who.       

My pick: Alabama.  Hard to believe, I know.

4. Sugar Bowl: #7 Oklahoma Sooners vs. #14 Auburn Tigers: Jan. 2 at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN  

The Oklahoma Sooners have been one of the most intriguing   teams this year.  The start of their season was terrible by all accounts.  They were 1-2 after losing to Houston in the season opener and suffering a blowout loss at home to Ohio State.  After that, everyone wrote the Sooners off, expecting their season goals to be toast.  However, Oklahoma proved them wrong by going undefeated through Big 12 Conference play, steamrolling West Virginia and rival Oklahoma State in their final two games.  Quarterback Baker Mayfield and running back Semaje Perine headline a dynamic offense that Auburn should be worried about.

The Tigers began their season in similar fashion.  In their first three games they beat Arkansas State and lost to Clemson and Texas A&M.  It appears as though Auburn was headed toward another disappointing season and head coach Gus Malzahn's seat was getting hotter.  Fortunately, the Tigers would start to turn things around in a narrow victory over LSU.  They would win their next 5 games in a row, recording big victories over Arkansas and Ole Miss along the way.  Then the wheels came off in a dismal loss on the road against Georgia, a game which took the wind out of their sails.  They simply did not have enough confidence to challenge Alabama in the Iron Bowl. 

My pick: Oklahoma 

5.  Alamo Bowl: #10 Colorado Buffaloes vs. #12 Oklahoma State Cowboys: Dec. 29 at 9 p.m. on ESPN 

It seems like the Alamo Bowl is on this list every year, doesn't it?  That's probably because there always seems to be a pair of high powered offenses going at it in San Antonio in late December.  This time the participants are the runners-up in their respective conferences. 

Colorado only tallied 4 wins last year, but they sure improved their record this year.  Following a road loss to then #4 Michigan, the Buffaloes stampeded their way through Oregon in a 41-38 win that proved Colorado was a team to be reckoned with.  Although they would falter in a close loss to USC two weeks later, the Buffaloes remained on a path to contend for the PAC 12 South Division title.  After a low scoring victory over Stanford and two home victories over Washington State and Utah, it was clear the Colorado football program has reached new heights.  The Buffaloes had earned a spot in the PAC 12 Championship Game but were handed a solid defeat by the Washington Huskies.  The game would have been more closer had Colorado quarterback Sefo Liufau not been injured.  With Liufau now recovered the Buffaloes should be much more formidable.

The Cowboys have one less win than the Buffaloes but they should have the same amount.  Due in large part to a major officiating error, Oklahoma State lost on the final play of the game to a scrappy Central Michigan team.  The Cowboys also lost to Baylor, but managed to crank out 7 straight wins through the heart of Big 12 Conference play.  This set up a de facto conference championship game between Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.  The Cowboys would go on to lose by 18 points to the Sooners, but their hard work and perseverance have earned them a spot in a quality bowl game.

My pick: Colorado 

6. Cotton Bowl: #8 Wisconsin Badgers vs. #15 Western Michigan Broncos: Jan. 2 at 1 p.m.

I have a certain affinity for teams from the non-power 5 conferences that make a name for themselves throughout the course of the season.  They don't possess the raw talent that teams from the power conferences have, but they more than make up for it with competitive drive and determination.  The undefeated Western Michigan Broncos are this year's version. 

With two victories over Big Ten Conference teams in their first three games, Western Michigan was poised to make waves in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). This was all the more surprising because of the program's recent history.  Three years ago, Western Michigan hired the youngest head coach in division I-A, the very energetic P.J. Fleck.  Fleck, a former wide receiver at Northern Illinois, went 1-11 in his first season, but began to instill in his players the phrase: "Row the Boat!"  It means keep improving practice after practice, keep doing your job, and eventually we will become a great football team.  Three years later the Broncos have made that dream a reality.

A big reason why is the truly remarkable quarterback-wide receiver tandem of Zach Terrell and Corey Davis.  After four years of playing together, Terrell and Davis have amassed enough yards to become the most productive quarterback-wide receiver duo in the history of college football.  A strong offensive line and a powerful running back in Jarvion Franklin provide an excellent complement to the record setting players.  The Broncos made short work of the MAC and added a conference championship game win over Ohio on top.  Despite all his team's success, Coach Fleck has decided to stay at Western Michigan, a classy move that is all too rare these days.

Their opponents in the Cotton Bowl are the formidable Wisconsin Badgers.  The Badgers possess a potent defense and a talented running back in Corey Clement.  Their only two losses in the regular season came to the two best teams in the Big Ten, Ohio State and Michigan.  A six game winning streak in the last half of the season propelled them to the Big Ten Championship Game which they lost to Penn State.  Still, the Badgers will be difficult for the Broncos to defeat.   But last year the non-power 5 conference darling of Houston defeated Florida State, so I can't pick against the Broncos!

My upset pick: Western Michigan

7. Citrus Bowl: #13 Louisville Cardinals vs. #20 LSU Tigers: Dec. 31 at 11 a.m. on ESPN 

The difference in styles of offense of this year's Citrus Bowl participants could not be more different.  The Cardinals have the talents of Heisman trophy winning quarterback Lamar Jackson at their disposal. Jackson had a monumental season, accumulating 3,390 passing yards, 30 passing touchdowns, over 1,100 rushing yards, and 21 rushing touchdowns. Five of those 51 total touchdowns came during Louisville's 62-20 smackdown of Florida State, one of the early season surprises of 2016.  After a narrow defeat to Clemson, Louisville went on a five game winning streak that appeared to have them on track for a spot in the Orange Bowl at least.  However, after a poor showing against Houston and a shocking loss to Kentucky, the Cardinals let the Seminoles snatch the Orange Bowl away from them.  I'm not sure how much motivation Louisville has to play in this game.

A different breed altogether are the Tigers of Louisiana State University.  After a nail biting loss to Auburn got their former head coach Les Miles fired, interim head coach Ed Orgeron took over.  Orgeron is a broad shouldered man with a thick Cajun accent that instantly gives away his Louisiana upbringing.  The players quickly rallied around their new coach and turned the direction of the program around.  Orgeron achieved victories over Missouri, Southern Miss, Texas A&M, and Ole Miss with a reliance on the dynamic running abilities of Darrius Guice and a downright scary defense.  The only blemishes on his resume being close losses to Alabama and Florida, Orgeron was made the official head coach at the end of the season.  Knowing their efforts secured their new head coach his job, the Tigers should play with enough energy to eat the Cardinals for brunch.  The game starts at 11 a.m. after all.

My pick: LSU 

8.  Pinstripe Bowl: #23 Pittsburgh Panthers vs. Northwestern Wildcats: Dec. 28 at 2 p.m. on ESPN 

Northwestern had an up and down season complete with an embarrassing loss and a couple of surprising victories.  The embarrassing loss came to FCS foe Illinois State, the type of team you put on your schedule to get an easy win.  However, Illinois State held Northwestern to a single touchdown and used a last second field to snag a 9-7 victory.   But thanks to win against the weakest teams in the Big Ten along with a victory over Duke and an upset of Michigan State got the Wildcats to six wins and bowl eligibility.  In my opinion, the reason for Northwestern's struggles has to do with the Wildcat players attempt to unionize a couple of years ago.  I admit that improving athletes' meal plan and providing an emergency cash fund for them was necessary, but trying to form a union, which is inherently a divisive strategy, was not the way to do it.  Thankfully, the unionization attempt was stopped by a judge's ruling, but a wedge had already been driven between the players and the coaches, something that will take years to fix in this program.

The Panthers are the complete opposite.  Their team spirit could not be higher.  Star running back James Conner was diagnosed with cancer late last year but defeated it with the help and support of his family, friends, and teammates.  Conner was even running drills with his teammates with a mask on while he was undergoing chemotherapy! A video of Conner's incredible determination to overcome cancer insprired countless others in their fight.  Conner has had a great season running and catching the ball and his teammates will be determined to make his final game as a Panther a good one.  Pittsburgh also has a huge advantage on the playcalling side of things.  Their use of the seldom used shovel pass carved up Clemson’s defense in Pittsburgh's upset victory.  Northwestern better be ready.

My pick: Pittsburgh 

9.  Russell Athletic Bowl: #16 West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Miami Hurricanes: Dec. 28 at 5:30 p.m. on ESPN  

West Virginia has continued to show improvement as a team and as a program the last few years.  A committment to recruiting speedy wide receivers every year has allowed the Mountaineers to fare well in a conference focused on scoring points.  Quarterback Skylar Howard has done a good job getting the ball to his receivers throughout the course of the season, which is a big reason why the West Virginia has reached a double digit win total this year.  Their only two losses came to the best teams in the Big 12, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.  I fully expect them to shred Miami's defense in this game.

However, the Hurricanes can put up bunches of points as well.  Longtime Georgia Head Coach Mark Richt, a solid coach and an upstanding Christian man, became Miami's new head coach last spring and has this program trending in the right direction.  The Hurricanes possess a good quarterback in Brad Kaaya, but he has a penchant for underperforming against ranked teams.  Kaaya could break that bad streak but I would be surprised if he did. 

My pick: West Virginia 

10.  Orange Bowl:  #6 Michigan Wolverines vs. #11 Florida State Seminoles: Dec. 30 at 8 p.m. on ESPN  

This Orange Bowl contest will be a good showcase of both of these teams' talented defenses.  Michigan's defense has been formidable all year and you can't fool around with Florida State's defense either.  The Wolverines have given up less than two touchdowns per game on average, a truly awe-inspiring number.  The Seminoles have serious talent on defense, but have given up on average more than twice the number of points Michigan has.  That translates to a big advantage for the Wolverines defensively.

On the other side of things, Florida State has a slight advantage.  Running back Dalvin Cook is the heart and soul of the Seminoles offense.  Putting up great numbers year after year, Cook has kept Florida State at or within reach of the top echelon of teams in college football even after the departure of Heisman winning quarterback Jameis Winston.  The Seminoles' current quarterback, freshman Deondre François, is a great athlete with quick feet and a strong arm.  The reason this doesn't translate into a huge advantage is Michigan's Jabrill Peppers.  This do-it-all sensation, whose eye-popping highlights earned him an invite to the Heisman trophy ceremony, plays kick returner, linebacker and running back.  Peppers will have a big impact on the game and the Michigan defense will eventually clamp down on Dalvin Cook.

My pick: Michigan