Monday
Orange Bowl
8:30 PM ET ESPN: #4 Stanford 11-1 (-3.5) vs. #13 Virginia Tech 11-2 - Two of the better QBs in the nation will take the field in the Orange Bowl as both Stanford's Andrew Luck and Virginia Tech's Tyrod Taylor are top 10 in the nation in QB passer rating. Luck was a Heisman Trophy candidate and very accurate this season as he completed over 70|PERCENT| of his passes. He'll be going up against a very good VT pass defense. The Hokies finished the season ranked 3rd in interceptions (22), 4th in opposing QB completion percentage (50.7|PERCENT|), and 8th in opposing QB passer rating (105.7). Stanford's run game is another one of their strengths as their offensive line is experienced and talented. RBs Stepfan Taylor and Anthony Wilkerson should see the majority of the carries, but Luck also has to be accounted for as he was 3rd in the nation in rushing yards per carry (8.59). The Hokies run defense got gashed a few times this season, but finished strong allowing only 123 total yards in their last two games. Offensively, the Hokies run game is multi-faceted as they have three RBs (Darren Evans, David Wilson, and Ryan Williams) who all averaged at least 9 carries and at least 50 yards per game and that's not including Taylor who's very mobile himself. The Stanford run defense was excellent in the second half of the season allowing 93.7 yards per game and 2 total TDs in their last 6 games. Their run defense is another matter as they played poorly at times this season. Taylor should have no problem making plays as Stanford commits to stopping the run and keeping him in the pocket. As mentioned earlier, he's a very good passer with only 1 interception in his last 8 games. I expect this to be a very evenly matched game. Jim Harbaugh is 0-1 in bowl games, while Frank Beamer is 8-9.
Cardinal Offense: 466.8 ypg (14th), 6.5 yards/play (15th), & 57.8|PERCENT| 3rd Down (1st)
Pass: 255.8 ypg (30th), 8.6 ypa (17th), 69.7|PERCENT| comp. (4th), 28 TDs, & 7 INTs
Run: 211.0 ypg (17th), 5.02 yards/carry (21st), & 32 TDs
Hokies Defense: 348.2 ypg (40th), 5.4 yards/play (56th), & 35.0|PERCENT| 3rd Down (21st)
Pass: 199.3 ypg (31st), 6.4 ypa (29th), 50.7|PERCENT| comp. (4th), 15 TDs, & 22 INTs
Run: 148.9 ypg (58th), 4.46 yards/carry (82nd), & 16 TDs
Hokies Offense: 411.1 ypg (37th), 6.3 yards/play (21st), & 45.2|PERCENT| 3rd Down (28th)
Pass: 202.2 ypg (75th), 8.5 ypa (18th), 59.4|PERCENT| comp. (59th), 23 TDs, & 4 INTs
Run: 208.9 ypg (18th), 5.07 yards/carry (19th), & 30 TDs
Cardinal Defense: 325.8 ypg (24th), 5.1 yards/play (36th), & 36.6|PERCENT| 3rd Down (29th)
Pass: 200.3 ypg (32nd), 6.1 ypa (14th), 57.5|PERCENT| comp. (52nd), 15 TDs, & 17 INTs
Run: 125.4 ypg (24th), 4.05 yards/carry (57th), & 12 TDs
Tuesday
Sugar Bowl
8:30 PM ET ESPN: #6 Ohio State 11-1 (-3.5) vs. #8 Arkansas 10-2 - Despite the five game penalties handed down by the NCAA, Ohio State will take the field with all of their players in the Sugar Bowl. The penalties were a result of players selling their rings, awards, and jerseys in exchange for tattoos and money. One of the players involved was Buckeyes QB Terrelle Pryor, who had a somewhat disappointing junior season. He's ranked 11th in QB passer rating (157.97) and 17th in completion percentage (65.8|PERCENT|), numbers not good enough to contend for the Heisman Trophy like many thought he would. The Arkansas pass defense has really improved from last season, when they were ranked 99th in the nation and a huge liability to the team's success. Opposing QBs had a 3/6 TD/INT ratio in their last five games and only one QB has thrown for more than one TD against them this season. When Arkansas faced anyone with a serious run game, they were exposed, so expect them to have trouble with the Buckeyes 14th ranked run game. That run game is led by RB Dan "Boom" Herron, who was also one of the five players to be suspended. Herron and Pryor handle the majority of the carries in the Ohio State offense, but RB Brandon Saine must also be accounted for when he's on the field as he has top end speed. On defense, the Buckeyes are excellent against both the pass (4th ranked) and the run (also 4th ranked), which is helpful as they'll be tested in both areas. QB Ryan Mallet leads the Razorbacks offense, but it's RB Knile Davis that makes it go. Davis saw a limited number of carries early in the season and produced meek number, but when his carries went up in the second half his numbers sky rocketed. Over his last four games, Davis was the nation's 7th leading rusher with 157.8 ypg. So don't let the numbers fool you, this is a balanced Razorbacks offense. Like the Orange Bowl, I expect this to be a very evenly matched game. Jim Tressel is 5-4 in bowl games, while Bobby Petrino is 3-2. It should probably be added that Ohio State is 0-9 all time against SEC teams in bowl games.
Buckeyes Offense: 448.8 ypg (18th), 6.5 yards/play (15th), & 45.8|PERCENT| 3rd Down (23rd)
Pass: 229.2 ypg (55th), 8.5 ypa (18th), 66.0|PERCENT| comp. (12th), 28 TDs, & 13 INTs
Run: 219.7 ypg (14th), 5.25 yards/carry (14th), & 25 TDs
Razorbacks Defense: 339.8 ypg (34th), 5.1 yards/play (36th), & 32.0|PERCENT| 3rd Down (6th)
Pass: 182.3 ypg (16th), 6.9 ypa (53rd), 54.9|PERCENT| comp. (21st), 11 TDs, & 11 INTs
Run: 157.4 ypg (69th), 3.96 yards/carry (49th), & 19 TDs
Razorbacks Offense: 489.3 ypg (10th), 7.3 yards/play (4th), & 42.3|PERCENT| 3rd Down (46th)
Pass: 338.4 ypg (3rd), 9.7 ypa (5th), 66.3|PERCENT| comp. (11th), 34 TDs, & 14 INTs
Run: 150.8 ypg (65th), 4.64 yards/carry (38th), & 22 TDs
Buckeyes Defense: 250.3 ypg (2nd), 4.2 yards/play (3rd), & 30.1|PERCENT| 3rd Down (5th)
Pass: 156.3 ypg (4th), 5.5 ypa (3rd), 54.1|PERCENT| comp. (14th), 7 TDs, & 18 INTs
Run: 94.0 ypg (4th), 3.02 yards/carry (5th), & 9 TDs