BBVA Compass Bowl
Vanderbilt (8-4) vs. Houston (8-4)
January 4, 10:00 a.m.
You wouldn’t think this was a matchup of two teams from
AQ-conferences by looking at the players on the field, but surprise! To be
fair, Vandy has traditionally struggled to compete in the rough SEC but has
improved greatly in recent years. Houston, meanwhile, was a semi-powerhouse in
its Southwest Conference days, but has been up-and-down since its banishment to
mid-major status. I was impressed with what I saw of the Cougars this year; as
usual, the team is explosive offensively and plays with that classic,
freewheeling Texas style. However, as usual there’s danger when facing an SEC
team. Though the days of the SEC boasting all the most elite defenses may be
over, it’s hard to argue with the athletes from the region. It’s also tricky to
trust a team like Houston that relies so heavily on forcing turnovers. I’ll
take the less-flashy but ultimately safer Commodores in this one.
Watchability: 2. This game should not be played in January.
GoDaddy Bowl
Arkansas State (7-5) vs. Ball State (10-2)
January 5, 6:00 p.m.
There’s not much intrigue with this contest. Ball State not
only achieved a better record than Arkansas State, the Cardinals did so in a
much better conference. Improved though the Sun Belt might be, 7-5 isn’t going
to impress anyone. The Red Wolves boast a fairly balanced run-pass attack, but
it’s not particularly explosive. Ball State, on the other hand, could become
the rare college offense that goes 4-1-1-1: a 4,000-yard passer, a 1,000-yard
rusher and two 1,000-yard receivers. Quarterback Keith Wenning and running back
Jahwan Edwards each need less than 100 yards, while WR’s Willie Snead and
Jordan Williams have already both eclipsed the thousand-yard mark. All this is
to say, the Cardinals are really good. Neither team plays much D (Ball State is
slightly less mediocre), so the pick is easy.
Watchability: 3. Ball State’s offense is worth seeing.
Vizio BCS National Championship
Florida State (13-0) vs. Auburn (12-1)
January 6, 5:30 p.m.
It seems like an obvious choice, but I’ll look deeper to
make sure I’m not prejudiced against Auburn. The Tigers do run the ball
exceptionally well, especially the past six games, ending the season as the
nation’s leading rushing team. Gus Malzahn has yet again put together a
brilliant and innovative package of plays that maximizes his offenses’ strengths
and minimizes its weaknesses. Auburn has dramatically improved since a shaky
start to the season, when the Tigers should have lost to a mediocre Washington State
team. However, despite those qualities, I still feel Auburn is overmatched in
this game.
AU’s defense is merely average and has given up points to
every quality offense the team has faced. Lazy writers have dubbed this a “team
of destiny,” but that’s mythmaking of the worst kind. Anyone who has watched
Auburn this season knows the absurd luck the Tigers have had, from the missed
horsecollar penalty against Texas A&M to the tipped Hail Mary on fourth and
a million to beat Georgia to the field goal return against Alabama. That kind
of fortune simply can’t continue against another good opponent. And that’s
exactly what Florida State is.
The Seminoles could go down as the most dominant team in the
BCS era, which is really saying something. FSU leads the nation in points
scored (53) and points allowed (10.7) per game and has not won a single game by
fewer than 14 points. They boast the Heisman trophy winner in QB Jameis
Winston, who has been the most consistently great player in all of football in
2013. The ‘Noles are loaded with as much, if not more, next-level talent as the
Tigers and have been better this season utilizing it. Auburn’s anemic passing
attack (107th in the country) should not be enough of a threat to
stop FSU from loading up on the run. After a month of preparation, I don’t see
the Seminoles allowing a team to run wild on them.
After Florida State’s stunning blowout of Clemson I said FSU
might be the best team in the country and deserved to be ranked first.
Throughout the rest of the 2013 season the team has consistently proved that to
be the case. There’s no way I can go against a group this dominant now. Florida
State will win the BCS Championship.
Watchability: 5.
And that’s it. Another delightful year of college football
has ended and this time, the BCS along with it. It’s been a long time – too long
– coming. 2014 brings the new light of a rudimentary playoff and some real
closure for fans for the first time. Onward and upward.
