With Alabama going down in Titanic-like fashion, I am now at 19-10 with my bowl picks this season.
I wanted to take a second and thank my readers for putting up with some of my BS predictions this college football season. I try to pick the games right obviously, but if nobody seemed to care what I thought about football, then what would be the point of this blog? Thank you guys for taking the time out of your life to read my thoughts and help me encourage the pursuit of my dream of being a sportswriter.
Y'all are awesome. Point blank.
With this being said, let's get to the last of these picks!
AT&T Cotton Bowl
Arlington, Texas
AT&T Stadium
Tonight 7:30
(13) Oklahoma State vs. (8) Missouri
The pick: Missouri 44 Oklahoma State 20
This game will be close out the starting gates, but people don't take the physicality of Missouri's defense into consideration. This is a defense that hits just as hard as any team in the country and really reminded everybody that they could compete in the SEC. Their only slip in conference play came at the hands of South Carolina in a game that seemed to be Connor Shaw's destiny as a Gamecock. Gamecocks stuff aside now, Missouri puts a team on the field tonight that can compete with any team in the country. The only receiver you hear about for the Tigers is Dorial Green-Beckham, but watch out for Senior L'Damian Washington. Washington has the size and tools to be a very good NFL receiver, and a lot of scouts will be watching him work tonight. James Franklin will be trying to expand his options at the next level, and it's just not going to be in the cards for Oklahoma State tonight.
Discoverer Orange Bowl
Miami, Florida
Sun Life Stadium
Tonight 8:30
(12) Clemson vs. (7) Ohio State
The pick: Clemson 34 Ohio State 30
To me, this game presents a similar dynamic to the collapse of Alabama last night. Ohio State's mind will be in Pasadena, and they will have a tough time dealing with the final game Tajh Boyd and Sammy Watkins play together in a Clemson uniform. This game could go a lot of different ways, but if the Tigers can protect Boyd and let him make his progressions then it will be a long night for the Buckeyes' defensive backs. If Ohio State wants to win, they will have to pound the ball to Carlos Hyde many times. Sustaining long drives and converting third downs is crucial in the formula to defeating the Clemson Tigers, and the Buckeyes won't be able to do it tonight.
BBVA Compass Bowl
Birmingham, Alabama
Legion Field
Saturday 1:00
Vanderbilt vs. Houston
The pick: Vanerbilt 34 Houston 17
The Vanderbilt defense will be able to take a hold of this game quickly and prove why they are one of the top rising programs in the country.
GoDaddy Bowl
Mobile, Alabama
Ladd-Peebles Stadium
Sunday 9:00
Arkansas State vs. Ball State
The pick: Ball State 36 Arkansas State 14
Ball State is the better team, and they will finish with a fantastic 11-win season.
VIZIO BCS National Championship Game
Pasadena, California
Rose Bowl Stadium
Monday 8:30
(2) Auburn vs. (1) Florida State
The pick: Auburn 42 Florida State 38
On it's last year of reigning how we decide a champion, the Bowl Championship Series has selected perhaps the best championship game up to this point. Florida State has the most explosive player in the country in Heisman-winning Quarterback Jameis Winston. This is a guy that truly has the brightest future of any freshman athlete in the country. On the other hand, Auburn's uptempo, haymaker-throwing style of offense will be fun to watch against the solidity of Florida State's defense. Will it come down to another signature play for Auburn, or will the Tigers finally run out of luck? I have to pick the team that seems to have a horseshoe incorporated with it's season, kind of like they had in 2010 .
I will announce my final record after this game on my twitter account, @griffaldo if anybody is interested. Then we will go into basketball/draft/baseball season. Thanks for reading, and I hope everyone has an absolutely amazing 2014!
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