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MOTOR CITY BOWL
When Memphis has the ball, there is no question what the game plan is: handoff to DeAngelo Williams bunches of times. Memphis ranks 115th in the nation in passing and 6th in rushing, and the vast majority of their offense runs through Williams, who has 1750 yards and 15 TD this season. The Memphis quarterbacks are not highly efficient, which has spelled trouble against teams who can stack eight guys in the defensive front and hold their own in the backfield. Akron is not great against the run, but their defense may have a shot considering how one-dimensional Memphis is. If Memphis gets out to a lead, then Akron is in trouble, with the defense getting more and more tired with every Williams carry. Akron is the flip side of Memphis, as their mediocre offense is driven by their passing game instead of the running game. Luke Getsy has shined this season, throwing for exactly 3000 yards. WR Domenik Hixon makes most of the big yardage plays, but Jason Montgomery has just as many touchdowns this year and cannot be ignored. Their running game is not terrible, but the offensive line will have trouble opening holes as they have all year. Memphis has a good defensive backfield, but they will be tested by the high-powered passing offense. This could come down to whoever has the ball last because it will probably be a high scoring game.
CHAMPS SPORTS BOWL
Charlie Whitehurst leads a good Clemson passing attack into this game, assuming he can get over his injury. The backup QB Will Proctor is competent, and Clemson will still be fine with him running the offense. The Tigers are a show of balance between run and pass, and their rushing attack is a close split between fantastic freshman James Davis and his co-rusher Reggie Merriweather. These guys bring a nice one-two punch to the Clemson offense, and Colorado will have to be ready for different running styles depending on who is in the game. Clemson might not put up huge numbers, but Colorado will have trouble stopping their balanced attack. For Colorado, the balanced attack is led by QB Joel Klatt and RB Hugh Charles. These guys put up some good numbers early in the season, but as mentioned previously, the offense has not seen a touchdown in a month and a half. Clemson has a strong defense which has not been picked apart by any of the great ACC teams this season, and Colorado should not be much of a challenge. Sometimes a cornered team or offensive unit puts up a huge surprise when everything is falling apart around them, so you cannot count out Colorado until they lose on the field. One thing Colorado has going for them is Mason Crosby, arguably the best kicker in the country, and in a close game, the special teams advantage will help the Buffaloes.
INSIGHT BOWL
Arizona State lost a good starter in QB Sam Keller at midseason, but they found a future crown jewel in freshman Rudy Carpenter. Keegan Herring, another freshman, leads the Sun Devil rushing attack. These guys will keep Arizona State in Pac-10 contention for years to come, and their experienced offensive linemen help lead the unit. We also cannot forget about Derek Hagan, the great ASU receiver ending his career at home in this bowl game. The Sun Devils have the third best offense in the country, and Rutgers will be on their heels all day trying to stop this attack. What Rutgers gives up on defense, they more than make up for on offense. Rutgers freshman RB Ray Rice will carry most of the weight in this game, but he has a capable backup in Brian Leonard and a decent passing attack to complement his game. The Arizona State defense has given up tons of points in the Pac-10 this year, so Rutgers may surprise with a lot of offense in this game. If the Scarlet Knights can dominate the time of possession and keep ASU's offense off the field, they have a good chance to bring back the victory to chilly New Jersey.
MPC COMPUTERS BOWL
Boise State scores a lot of points, and it all starts with their strong rushing attack of Lee Marks and Ian Johnson. Despite throwing a lot of interceptions in big games, QB Jared Zabransky is a solid starter who leads the high powered Bronco offense. Zabransky has some tall receivers to throw to, and Boston College will have trouble covering them. I expect Boston College to bring a lot of pressure to try and disrupt the passing game, so this is another game where the quick passes will be important to success. Boston College is led by two signal-callers who split time, senior Quinton Porter and sophomore Matt Ryan. Both have been about as effective as the other, but Ryan led BC to a couple of late-season wins when they desperately needed them. L.V. Whitworth and Andre Callender split time rushing the ball, so Boise State has a few weapons to prepare for. The key to this game will be the battle in the trenches. Boise State has only lost games when they were knocked around by more athletic and bigger offensive and defensive lines (see Georgia game, for example), and BC has the right personnel to win that battle and perhaps the game.
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