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Topic: ELA Bowl Breakdown
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ELA · « **on:** December 18, 2019, 05:04:32 PM »

PINSTRIPE BOWL

Michigan State Spartans (6-6) vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (8-4)

December 27 @ 3:20 - New York, NY - ESPN

These are getting tougher to do, why anyone would gamble on them, I don't know. You always had the question of differing motivations which made these a bit wonkier than regular season games, but now you've got guys sitting out, with the redshirt rules, you've got coaches using it as a shot to give true freshmen some run, and depending on when a kid transferred, you can play a transfer who otherwise wasn't eligible all season. Last year you had a bowl game between West Virginia and Syracuse, where the Mountaineers' Heisman candidate quarterback didn't play, and the go ahead Syracuse touchdown was scored by Trishton Jackson, a transfer who technically became eligible at the end of the semester, and didn't burn the redshirt by playing in the bowl. So good luck predicting that game. Just listening to some of the Michigan State podcasts, the consensus seems to be to give Brian Lewerke one more run with the ones, and then give Lombardi (eh), redshirt freshman Theo Day, and true freshman Payton Thorne each a full a quarter. All I can do is call this as though the players who are able and willing to play will play, and the coaches coach it like a real game. Spartan fans seem to wish that Mark Dantonio was as open to change as Dave Clawson was, in reinventing his offense. Although in fairness, he also made changes on the fly, while retaining Warren Ruggiero as offensive coordinator. In 2016, the Deacons averaged 69.8 plays per game, in the bottom 30 of the FBS. Just two years later, in 2018, Wake Forest led the nation with 85 plays per game, and #3 at 2.89 plays per minute. Only Houston and Central Florida went faster. They repeated that in 2019. In 2018 they were just fast, now they are fast, but with improving efficiency. The Spartan run defense isn't what it was in 2018 or the early portion of 2019, but is still strong, and Wake Forest is only picking up 3.6 ypc on the ground, but that hasn't deterred the Wake Forest play calling, which is #50 in the nation in run play percentage, despite being just #85 in run yardage percentage. The loss of Sage Surratt, the team's best WR is a portion of that, and if quarterback Jamie Newman doesn't play, it could swing even more in their favor. I don't expect the Deacons to sustain drives, but the Michigan State defense, particularly late in the year, was way too susceptible to big plays. Michigan State ranked top 25 nationally in number of plays allowed over 10, 20 and 30 yards...then fell all the way to #65 in plays of over 40 yards. The Deacons also rank #12 nationally in turnovers created, whereas Michigan State is 0-6 when losing the turnover battle. Hmmmm, an offense that hits big plays, and dominates turnovers. If only we had seen the Spartans in a game like that recently...

WAKE FOREST 28, MICHIGAN STATE 27

HOLIDAY BOWL

#16 Iowa Hawkeyes (9-3) vs. #22 USC Trojans (8-4)

December 27 @ 8:00 - San Diego, CA - FS1

This will be the 10th all-time meeting between the Hawkeyes and Trojans, although they've never played in the Rose Bowl. Their last match up was in the 2003 Orange Bowl at the end of a 2002 season where both programs announced their return to college football relevancy at least, and dominance at times. It certainly has a different feel this time. In 2002 Kirk Ferentz planted his flag, attempting to replace Barry Alvarez as the Big Ten's top challenger to the big two. A 4th year head coach, who would be linked to NFL jobs and helmet college jobs for several more years. Now he is the dean of FBS coaches, in his 21st season in Iowa City. Hell, his son, who was a freshman on that 2002 team, is in his 8th year on Iowa's staff. USC, used that as a jumping off point for a 7 year run where they went 79-7, won 7 consecutive Pac 10 titles, 2 National Championships, and never finished the season ranked lower than #4 in the AP Poll. Now, they are on their 4th coach since Pete, and one of those coaches (Ed Orgeron), is closer to winning a national championship than USC is. The fact that Clay Helton is returning next year has to be a bit of a surprise. He did open with a pair of New Years Six Bowls, but went 5-7 last year, hasn't yet won the conference, and is primed to deliver USC's worst rated recruiting class in the 247 era, after recruiting was supposed to be his thing. The Iowa pass defense was probably second only to Ohio State within the Big Ten, but they haven't faced a passing attack like this. The Trojans are both efficient, and dangerous downfield. Freshman Kedon Slovis was never supposed to see the field this year, and early on just relied on a group of receivers that I would put up against Alabama or Clemson's. But he really came on as the season progress, finished the year 5th in the nation in completion percentage, and 13th in QBR. He threw for over 400 yards and 4 touchdowns in 4 of the Trojan's final 5 games, including averaging 451 ypg on 11.2 ypa (78.5%) with 12 touchdowns and 1 interception. None of those targets are skipping the bowl either, most surprisingly Michael Pittman. Pittman is a borderline 1st/2nd round talent, who couldn't have closed the year any stronger, with 37 receptions, 430 yards, and 3 touchdowns during that 3 game winning streak. USC probably won't run the ball once, but with Graham Harrell calling the plays now, it doesn't appear like that matters to him. The Hawkeyes' best chance is to win the turnover battle. Aside from the losses to Michigan and Penn State, Iowa did a good job protecting the ball, while USC was in the bottom 10 nationally at -0.6 per game.

USC 24, IOWA 23

COTTON BOWL

#10 Penn State Nittany Lions (10-2) vs. #17 Memphis Tigers (12-1)

December 28 @ NOON - Arlington, TX - ESPN

The Group of Five representative in the New Years Six has gone 3-2 during the first five years of the current setup, and disparate motivations are often cited as a reason for that. As far as SP+ goes, Memphis was the correct choice, finishing ranked #13, making them the highest rated mid-major in the six year period, and quite comfortably. So is Penn State ready? Because three times already, a worse Group of 5 team has pulled this game out. If you are looking to other intangibles where Memphis might have the advantage, for the first time all year, the Tigers will not have a decided special teams advantage. Memphis ranks #3 nationally in SP+ special teams, but Penn State sits at #7, so that's a wash. Memphis' offense against Penn State's defense should also be a lot of fun, both ranking #8 in SP+ respectfully. The Nittany Lions' defense hasn't been quite as good down the stretch though, nearly letting Michigan come back from 21 points down, and it was a dropped pass, not a defensive stand, that allowed them to hold on. The held Ohio State to "only" 28 points, but Ohio State played fast and loose with the ball. Indiana scored 27 on them, and Minnesota scored 31, even though they went into a shell in the fourth quarter. It's that Minnesota game that has me the most concerned, I still see Gopher receivers running free all over the field. The Tigers look to run a similar look, hitting deep strikes down field. The Gophers were #6 nationally at 15.9 yards per completion. Memphis will be the second highest that the Nittany Lions secondary has faced, #11 nationally at 14.7, so you'd hope they would have tightened that up, or it could be more of the same. It totally negates whatever advantage Penn State has up front if the secondary can't hold up a little. But whatever advantage Memphis' receivers might have, Penn State should be able to control the ground game on their side of the ball against a Memphis defense that was very average within the AAC. And when it comes to discipline, woah boy. The Tigers are one of the most penalized teams in the nation, and now you mix in a bowl game, with an in flux coaching staff? I think Memphis gets their yards through the air, but lacks enough balance offensively to move the sticks consistently, and shoot themselves in the foot too often to pull off the upset.

PENN STATE 31, MEMPHIS 24

FIESTA BOWL

#2 Ohio State Buckeyes (13-0) vs. #3 Clemson Tigers (13-0)

December 28 @ 8:00 - Glendale, AZ - ESPN

For two schools that have meant only three times ever, all in bowl games, this has been one hell of an interesting three game series. Obviously their first meeting was the 1979 Gator Bowl punch that ended the Woody Hayes era. The 2014 Orange Bowl was the first real signal that Dabo's Clemson had arrived, when they put up 40 points to beat the Buckeyes. Then they met three years ago, also in the Fiesta Bowl, also in the CFP Semifinals. That game represented perhaps the only time since the 2006 National Championship Game, where I saw an Ohio State team absolutely get manhandled. The Clemson defense held Ohio State's offense to just 215 yards (110 of which came from Curtis Samuel) and just 9 first downs. This Ohio State team is much better than the 2016 version, which went 2-1 against the three ranked Big Ten foes they faced, and needed OT and double OT to get those two wins. I'm most interested in watching Ohio State's pass rush against Clemson's offensive line. I've heard plenty of discussion about how this is the best offensive line Dabo has had at Clemson, and the numbers bear that out. They rank #1 nationally in line yards, standard line yards, passing down line yards, OL opportunity rate, #2 in stuff rate, and #4 in sack rate. Trevor Lawrence has only been sacked 8 times all year. Chase Young has more than double that himself...and he sat out two games. Plus, Clemson hasn't faced a top 40 defense this year, in terms of ypp allowed, and only three that ranked in the top 60. Ohio State is #1, along with leading the nation in sack rate at 12.41%. The highest ranked team Clemson has played in sack rate? Charlotte. Justin Fields was everything he was billed as, and more. But this still is not the aeriel attack that Ohio State had a year ago with Dwayne Haskins. Everything goes through the running game, which was increasingly the JK Dobbins show as the season progressed. Everyone knew this Clemson defense, as opposed to the past couple, was strong from the back up. And that secondary has not disappointed, leading the nation with just 5.1 ypa allowed, but the young line has played surprisingly well. They've also been a top 10 national run defense, with their starting line boasting a second team All-ACC player, a pair of third teamers, and an honorable mention. Clemson might be phenomenal. It's just so hard to know. But we've seen Ohio State play a number of top teams, and they've rolled. Penn State was able to make it sort of respectable by generating some turnovers, but that's been just about the only way anyone has slowed them down. Seeing Amir Riep step up against Michigan also gave me faith that Ohio State has the cover guys on the back end to be one of the few teams that can match up with Clemson's deep receiving group.

OHIO STATE 34, CLEMSON 27

REDBOX BOWL

Illinois Fighting Illini (6-6) vs. California Golden Bears (7-5)

December 30 @ 4:00 - Santa Clara, CA - FOX

Cal hasn't scored more than 28 points all season, Illinois has given up 30 or more points in half of their games. So, what happens when a very resistible force meets a very movable object? I'm looking at trends here, and Cal's offense seems to be somewhat figuring it out, while Illinois had all of the momentum in the world, got bowl eligible, and then took the last two weeks off. It wasn't a total fluke with Cal either, they got starting quarterback Chase Garbers back, who was knocked out back in September, when the Golden Bears were 4-0, with road wins over Washington and Ole Miss. In the six games where Garbers played the whole game, the Bears were 6-0, scoring 25.0 ppg. Without him, they were 1-5, averaging 15.2 ppg. So this is a much better Cal team than their record would indicate, assuming they have Garbers healthy. Cal has no running game, so Garbers having a completion percentage of nearly 10% higher, 2.4 ypa more, and 37 more pass attempts per interception. Now the Illini offense, which stormed back to make their game against Michigan close, and then won 4 in a row, culminated with a 25 point comeback win against Michigan State, 37-34, finished the season with a thud. Illinois scored 27 points in the 4th quarter alone in East Lansing, and then proceeded to score 20 points over their final two games combined. The one that really stung was losing to rival Northwestern, to give the Wildcats their lone Big Ten win of the year. It is assumed that Brandon Peters, who missed that finale against Northwestern with a concussion, will be back. And he better be, because this offense without him, woah boy. He's been boom or bust all season, with Illinois finishing 13th in the Big Ten in completion percentage, but 5th in yards per completion. But without him? Matt Robinson and blue chip true freshman Isaiah "don't call me Juice" Williams, combined to go 13-26 for 165 yards, no touchdowns, 1 interception, and -7 rushing yards. Perhaps even more importantly, they allow the defense to focus singularly on Reggie Corbin and the run game. Granted Corbin has not been in 2019, what he was in 2018, but against Northwestern, without Peters, he had NEGATIVE 10 rushing yards. I think Justin Wilcox, who saw he defense underwhelm compared to expectations this year, gets them back on track for the bowl game.

CALIFORNIA 28, ILLINOIS 19

CITRUS BOWL

#14 Michigan Wolverines (9-3) vs. #13 Alabama Crimson Tide (9-3)

New Years Day @ 1:00 - Orlando, FL - ABC

Does Alabama care? That's seemingly the only question anyone is asking. It's tough to say. Since Saban got things rolling in his second year in Tuscaloosa, the Crimson Tide have only been playing in a bowl game without the national title in play three times. They lost twice, and the other time the had multiple players say it was only Michigan State players flexing and talking crap to them before the game that got them ready to go. This is quite possibly the worst Alabama team since Saban's first year. It's only the second time (2010 being the other) that the Tide picked up multiple regular season losses. That 2010 team played 8 ranked teams, and beat 5 of them, by an average of 22.4, and had the Cam Newton national title team dead to rights, before a Mark Ingram fumble led to a massive collapse. This version of the Tide hasn't beaten anyone with a pulse, their best win being over a 7-5 Texas A&M team, and that was when they still had Tua. A decade ago? This game is outstanding, now, you just hope these teams care. There are a couple of reasons to be optimistic. First, Nick Saban has not hidden his disdain for Jim Harbaugh, dating back to at least the whole satellite camp thing. And while both have that midwest mentality, Saban would lock his team in the facility all week if he was allowed, and seems to detest any outside human interaction, while Harbaugh trots his team across Europe and gives quirky quotes. Second, these are two programs that absolutely pride themselves on defense, that's their identity. Yet, Alabama gave up 94 points in their two losses, and gave up 23 to South Carolina, 31 to Ole Miss, 28 to Texas A&M. The only teams this Crimson Tide defense shut down were Duke, New Mexico State, Southern Miss, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi State and Western Carolina. For their part, Michigan's defense had another year of getting shredded by Ohio State, who has scored 118 points in their last two games. Last year, Michigan followed the Ohio State bombing by letting Florida put up 41 on them. If they go another year of looking good all year, then turning into a sieve in the final two games, the talk will really heat up. Finally, you've got Josh Gattis, with all the early season drama of who was the key to Bama's historic 2018 offense. You know he wants to show his old boss he should have paid up to hold onto him. I know there's very little analysis in this breakdown, but this is the ultimate "where are their heads at" game, so trying to look beyond those intangibles seems pointless. I think it's close, and when Alabama and Michigan are playing a close game into the 4th quarter on New Years Day, maybe it'll feel like this would have felt a decade ago.

ALABAMA 30, MICHIGAN 27

OUTBACK BOWL

#18 Minnesota Golden Gophers (10-2) vs. #12 Auburn Tigers (9-3)

New Years Day @ 1:00 - Tampa, FL - ESPN

While the Citrus Bowl has the helmets, this is the New Years Day afternoon game I'm more excited for, between two teams that I think both want to be there. Auburn showed last year that they are going to be ready to show up for a second tier bowl, and unlike last year, this Minnesota team can probably give them a fight. While it technically occurred in 2018, Minnesota launched their 2019 season with a dominating win over Georgia Tech in the Quick Lane Bowl a year ago. While their early season momentum fell short of a first ever division title, and trip to Indianapolis, they still have a chance to have their winningest season in over a century, and the program's first New Years Day Bowl victory since the 1962 Rose Bowl. For their part, Gus Malzahn was able to use the Tigers' flat effort against UCF the year before to get their A+ game in the Music City Bowl last year. And this isn't a team that limped its way into the postseason. They played 5 top 10 teams, and beat two of them, including a season ending win in the Iron Bowl. Auburn ranks #10 in SP+, with a rating of 21.8, and can look to this game to launch them into their 2020 campaign, as the Gophers did this year. With Bo Nix returning as a true sophomore, and division rivals LSU and Alabama both looking to replace their starting quarterbacks, the Tigers look to perhaps be the SEC West favorite next year. For Minnesota's offense, who can dictate how the passing game plays out? The Gophers aren't going to pass often, but look to hit big downfield plays when they do. Auburn's secondary will give you the underneath stuff, but there is probably no secondary in the nation, outside of maybe Clemson, who has more sound tacklers. Can Tanner Morgan consistently complete the short passes and 3rd down conversions that will be there? Because as good as Bateman and Johnson are, the downfield targets typically aren't there against the Tigers. Auburn was 8th nationally in yards per completion allowed.

AUBURN 31, MINNESOTA 23

ROSE BOWL

#8 Wisconsin Badgers (10-3) vs. #6 Oregon Ducks (11-2)

New Years Day @ 5:00 - Pasadena, CA - ESPN

For the Badgers to kick off the 2020 right, both teams need to reverse some recent Pasadena trends. Oregon hadn't won a Rose Bowl since the third version of the game, back in 1917 against Penn, until winning their last two. Wisconsin, who had gone 3-0 in the 90s, lost three consecutive Rose Bowls this decade. As non-playoff Rose Bowls go in this CFP era, this is about as good as it gets. You've got a pair of top 10 teams, the Pac 12 champ, and the Big Ten runner up, both with things to prove, neither one disappointed to be here. To the winner, you can say you had a really good year, save one fluky result. Oregon would love to get that Arizona State game back, and just had a bad break against Auburn. Wisconsin would love that Illinois game back, and simply wasnt quite as good as an elite Ohio State team. You've also got a pair of singular talents in Oregon's Justin Herbert and Wisconsin's Jonathan Taylor, who, if you told me preseason, would have been in New York for the Heisman Trophy presentation, would not have surprised me at all. Taylor finished third in the nation in rushing, although both his total yardage and yards per carry were career lows. He improved in other areas though, to be a more complete back, becoming a bigger red zone threat, not just a home run hitter, and developed as a weapon in the passing game. Herbert has always been more about his NFL potential than his actual production. He actually had a lower Total QBR than Jack Coan, but did improve across the board from 2018. A big part of that was improvement from his receivers, who led the nation in dropped passes in 2018, but were rated by PFF as the #15 group this year, even with the loss of starting tight end Jacob Breeland to a season ending injury. Part of that was a scheme which emphasized downfield passing much less this year. In this case, that might play into what Wisconsin's defense does best, tight coverage to limit completions, but are susceptible to the big play. Only LSU held opponents below Wisconsin's 50.7% opponents completion percentage, but Bucky was 67th nationally in yards per completion allowed, and only three Big Ten teams allowed more 50+ yard passes. Time of possession doesn't matter much anymore, and you certainly would be hard pressed to find two programs with a wider mindset towards it, but this isn't quite the explosive Oregon offense we were used to the last time they were on top. Granted they still aren't looking to grind it out, ranking in the bottom 20 of the FBS in terms of third downs faced per game. Wisconsin is the second best third down defense in the country. If the Wisconsin defense can win first and second down, they'll win this game, because they dominate third down, and Oregon doesn't tend to even get there. This Duck offense is rolling right now, as we saw against Utah. Wisconsin looks a lot like Utah to me, although I don't see it getting ugly.

OREGON 27, WISCONSIN 26

GATOR BOWL

Indiana Hoosiers (8-4) vs. Tennessee Volunteers (7-5)

January 2 @ 7:00 - Jacksonville, FL - ESPN

I know that for most of the BCS era we had real, live BCS games in the days following January 1. But when pre-NYD playoff games even make New Years Day feel anti-climactic, a January 2 Gator Bowl really has that feel. You want to play Ohio vs. Nevada this weekend, fine. You want to play an Orange Bowl on January 2, cool. This is a pretty solid game, that would have been fun at 11 AM yesterday, or on December 30, or whatever. It's weird to think that Indiana and Tennessee could come into a mid-tier bowl, and it was the Vols who would be the ones more excited about it. But Indiana got to 7-2, with a pair of program defining games upcoming, against Penn State and Michigan, and lost both. They only played 4 bowl teams all year, and went 0-4. On the other hand, Rocky Top lost 5 of their first 6 FBS games, including losses to Georgia State and BYU. But something happened after that loss to Georgia. The Vols beat Mississippi State, then were inside the 1 trying to make the Alabama game a 1 score contest late, with 5 straight wins to follow. Jeremy Pruitt seems to be finally putting his mark on this defense. They gave up 36 ppg in their first four FBS games, but after that, gave up just 16.6 ppg over the final 7 games, 13.5 aside from Bama. The Hoosiers look to test that, scoring 31 or more points against everyone except Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan, the #14 offense in the nation by SP+. While losing their OC, Kalen DoBoer, to the Fresno State head coaching job will hurt, he also made the surprising decision to still coach the bowl game. And he's got Whop Philyor to work with, who, in fairness, did miss a chunk of the Penn State game, and didn't play at all against Michigan. He'll need him, because Stevie Scott seems to be a guy who piles up numbers against lesser opponents, and disappears against good defenses. The Hoosiers threw the ball 51.3% of the time, 2nd most frequently in the Big Ten, and I'd expect that to continue against a Tennessee defense that is certainly stronger up front, with a top 35 run defense, and the 2nd best sack rate in the SEC. The secondary gives up over 7.0 ypa, and ranks #41 in opponent passer rating. The Hoosier line has been uncharacteristically bad this year, and against Tennessee's elite pass rushers, I think the Vols put Indiana behind the sticks often enough to bail out their secondary. And the fact that Indiana's best win is...? Overtime against Purdue? Doesn't give me a ton of confidence there.

TENNESSEE 28, INDIANA 27

ELA · « **Reply #1 on:** December 20, 2019, 08:26:37 AM »

All pre-NYD bowls in

fezzador · « **Reply #2 on:** December 20, 2019, 08:40:00 AM »

Doesn't look good for the B1G this year - a projected 2-3 start, plus 2 likely losses in the Outback and Cotton Bowls, and 2 tossups (at best) in the Gator and Rose Bowls.

I guess that is a consequence of the B1G getting 3 NY6/playoff teams this year. I'd actually be satisfied with 4-5.

Cincydawg · « **Reply #3 on:** December 20, 2019, 09:45:33 AM »

A good conference will often have three teams in NY6/PO games, as well as one or two in the top lesser bowls. I stumbled across this review and was slightly surprised how often the B1G plays an SEC team, and of course we could have an LSU-OSU title match as well.

https://athlonsports.com/college-football/ranking-watchability-secs-bowl-games-2019

Auburn - Minnesota 9-3 vs 10-2
Alabama - Michigan 10-2 vs 9-3
Tennessee - Indiana 7-5 vs 8-4

OSU 14-0 v LSU 14-0 ???

ELA · « **Reply #4 on:** December 20, 2019, 11:08:49 AM »

Quote from: fezzador on December 20, 2019, 08:40:00 AM

Doesn't look good for the B1G this year - a projected 2-3 start, plus 2 likely losses in the Outback and Cotton Bowls, and 2 tossups (at best) in the Gator and Rose Bowls.

I guess that is a consequence of the B1G getting 3 NY6/playoff teams this year. I'd actually be satisfied with 4-5.

In fairness, that 2-3 start includes losing two games (Pinstripe and Holiday) that I think are toss ups

Abba · « **Reply #5 on:** December 20, 2019, 02:39:13 PM »

Just for reference, here is what the Big Ten has done in the playoff era in bowls.

2014 (OSU Playoff) 6-5
2015 (MSU Playoff) 5-5
2016 (OSU Playoff) 3-6
2017 (No Playoff) 7-1
2018 (No Playoff) 5-4

Hawkinole · « **Reply #6 on:** December 28, 2019, 12:11:05 AM »

Big Ten is now 2-0 in bowls. Iowa over USC was an upset. ELA who is usually reliable as a prognosticator, is now 0-2. Maybe these early results say something about the quality of Big Ten football in 2019-20. Time will tell.

FearlessF · « **Reply #7 on:** December 28, 2019, 04:19:03 PM »

Hawks were favored by 2 in Vegas

Corngrats!

10 wins is impressive

Hawkinole · « **Reply #8 on:** December 28, 2019, 07:12:38 PM »

Quote from: FearlessF on December 28, 2019, 04:19:03 PM

Hawks were favored by 2 in Vegas

Corngrats!

10 wins is impressive

I saw that after the game was over, and it surprised me. I thought I checked the line when the line first came out and that they were 2-3 point dogs. Maybe my memory is wrong, but 10 wins is impressive, and blowing out USC is very impressive.

Cincydawg · « **Reply #9 on:** December 28, 2019, 08:19:00 PM »

Very good season for Iowa, congrats. They were a tough team to play.

Hawkinole · « **Reply #10 on:** December 28, 2019, 11:41:29 PM »

I'd say thanks, but I had nothing to do with it. Well, I did sit in the first row of the north end zone for the Rutgers game, aiming my camera at the action. I contributed minimally to the historical record, and posted photos on this website. I am a bit too old to run onto the field and have any confidence I could have any positive impact.

ELA · « **Reply #11 on:** December 29, 2019, 03:18:25 PM »

All through NYD in

Hawkinole · « **Reply #12 on:** December 30, 2019, 12:37:46 AM »

Quote from: ELA on December 29, 2019, 03:18:25 PM

All through NYD in

Ouch! Those final three predictions if accurate, are hurtful to the Big Ten's reputation. I was thinking the Big Ten would be 4-5 in bowls but have been mostly pleasantly surprised. The Ohio State result was disappointing but I think Ohio State got played by the official in the booth who no one sees.

Hawkinole · « **Reply #13 on:** December 30, 2019, 01:19:17 AM »

The more I look at the targeting, the more I think Lawrence is not defenseless. If I am correct, the player affected must be considered defenseless. Lawrence defended, unsuccessfully. Look at the replays here:

https://youtu.be/WhUby8SOEbs

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Topic: ELA Bowl Breakdown

ELA

ELA Bowl Breakdown

ELA

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fezzador

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Cincydawg

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Abba

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ELA

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Hawkinole

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