Bowl Prediction Contest Game 2- The Nawlins' Bowl Open Thread

Thursday, December 21, 2006





BYU (10-2)
v. Oregon (7-5)

Date/Time: Dec. 21, 8 p.m. ET
Site: Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas


Network: ESPN

Weather: Mostly Cloudy, Low of 35 Degrees

Past Results (14):
Dec. 22, 2005 California 35, BYU 28
Dec. 23, 2004 Wyoming 24, UCLA 21
Dec. 24, 2003 Oregon State 55, New Mexico 14
Dec. 25, 2002 UCLA 27, New Mexico 13
Dec. 25, 2001 Utah 10, Southern California 6
Dec. 21, 2000 UNLV 31, Arkansas 14
Dec. 18, 1999 Utah 17, Fresno State 16
Dec. 19, 1998 North Carolina 20, San Diego State 13
Dec. 20, 1997 Oregon 41, Air Force 13
Dec. 19, 1996 Nevada 18, Ball St. 15
Dec. 14, 1995 Toledo 40, Nevada 37 (OT)
Dec. 15, 1994 UNLV 52, Central Michigan 24
Dec. 17, 1993 Utah St. 42, Ball St. 33
Dec. 18, 1992 Bowling Green 35, Nevada 34

Player(s) to Watch: Oregon's Soph Running Back #28- Jonathan Stewart
Has tailed off near the end of the season, but finished with 94 yards and 3TDs vs. Oregon State. Also posted 144 Yards and a TD vs. Oklahoma earlier in the year.

BYU's Quarterback- John Beck & Tight End- Johnny Harline
Beck is one of the top passers in Div-1 this year. He's ranked 6th in Passing Yards and Tied for 5th (with Troy Smith) for Passing TDs. Johnny Harline is his main target, and leads all Div-1 TEs with 11 TDs on the season.

Deciding Factor(s): This is by far one of the toughest games to call. Both QB's are very accurate and pick up a ton of yards. Both defenses are very average. Oregon's Run Defense is actually pretty bad, but their pass defense makes up for the deficiency. BYU's defense hasn't had a real test outside of Utah. They crush teams early in games, and offenses have to break out of their gameplans early. I think the difference maker is going to be Stewart in this one. If he puts up Oklahoma numbers and gets this into a shootout Oregon might be able to pull it out. If Jonathan puts up Cal numbers (18 rushes-25 yards) this will be over quick.

Crazy Stat: The Cougars have outscored their opponents 138-15 in the first quarter this season.

Spread: BYU-3, O/U 62

AA's Pick and Analysis:
I have a strong feeling that this one is going to be a shootout, and will possibly head into overtime. I am basing this pick solely on guess work as these teams are too damn close to decide between. BYU is probably scared to death that they are in hedonous Las Vegas for the week. The University has most likely imposed curfew after curfew on these kids. The only attractions they've probably seen is some Cirque D'Soelielielie Crap and the Pirate Show outside of Treasure Island. That and they haven't played in 4 weeks.

The Ducks on the other hand are stumbling into the Bowl Season after losing their last three games (USC, AZ, OSU).

So with that said, I'm heading to the Special Teams since I think this one will be decided by a FG, or in the return games. Oregon's kickers are flat out Awful. Their punter shanks left and right and averages 39 yards per attempt. And their Kicker is 16-25 on the year and has a range of about 40 yards. BYU's Kicking game has been much better as of late. McCaughlin has hit 8 of 9 since a poor showing against BC with the one miss being a 53 yarder.

Prediction BYU 36-30. You can't vote for a team that will be wearing these helmets......



Ducks Get Head Start On Bowl Season (Oregonian)

Good luck to all. Thanks for playing the game and stop by for analysis of the game and announcing.
______________

Posted by Awful Announcing- at 2:12 PM

16 Comments:

AA - give me Oregon +3... although I hate taking Pac-10 teams in bowl games...

WCT said...
Dec 21, 2006, 2:37:00 PM  

Please live-blog the New Mexico Bowl on the 23rd. Becasue someone needs to watch the game to prove that it actually happened

Marco said...
Dec 21, 2006, 3:10:00 PM  

Ok,

I am going with BYU -3 in this game. A tougher game to call, but BYU will get it done.

Enjoy the game,

Greg Schueler
Beat The Vegas Book!

(A heads up - This is the Las Vegas Bowl, the Nawlins' bowl is Friday)

Anonymous said...
Dec 21, 2006, 3:44:00 PM  

More great analysis dude. This is great cause now I don't have to watch ESPN's pre-game show. Ok, I wasn't gonna watch it anyway.

Hey, I emailed my picks to you. You did get them right?

Jay said...
Dec 21, 2006, 3:55:00 PM  

Give me the Ducks

BJ said...
Dec 21, 2006, 7:32:00 PM  

Mussberger: "Those helmets will Glow on ya..hahahahah"

-old white men chuckling it up is hilarious

BJ said...
Dec 21, 2006, 7:58:00 PM  

I picked the Ducks and this afternoon I started worrying about it. But, Lou Holtz and Mark May both took BYU. So, I'm feeling much better about this game now.

Jay said...
Dec 21, 2006, 7:59:00 PM  

God I love Oregon's helmets!

Jay said...
Dec 21, 2006, 8:00:00 PM  

Oy. Musberger just called Brady Leaf Brady Quinn...

I'm starting to regret that Oregon pick. Never pick uniforms that offensive...

Signal to Noise said...
Dec 21, 2006, 9:12:00 PM  

I was writing a quotes post and watching the game when this gem fell in my lap. After being asked what Oregon could do to get back in the game in the second half, Craig James answered:

“One play at a time, right, that’s how you eat an elephant, one bite at a time.”

Somebody's smokin' some reefer.

Dec 21, 2006, 9:56:00 PM  

GAH! I suck. I meant to get my pick in earlier (BYU) but circumstances prevented it. Dammit!

DCSportsChick said...
Dec 21, 2006, 10:06:00 PM  

This is really sucking. Oregon sucks dude.

Jay said...
Dec 21, 2006, 10:29:00 PM  

I could've sworn Tark just said something about a "bullshit offense".

The real word he used - "motion" - was much less exciting.

Dec 21, 2006, 10:31:00 PM  

hey AA - if you get a chance, shoot me an email at bmoynahan101@aol.com in the next couple of days.

Dec 21, 2006, 10:45:00 PM  

Does it hurt? Does 2-0 Hurt? No...it feels so so good!

SAMO said...
Dec 22, 2006, 8:48:00 AM  

I hear ya, Mini Me. This is the best I've started out in a bowl pick 'em in ages. Can't last though. I'm sure I screwed the pooch on something.

BoSox Siobhan said...
Dec 22, 2006, 9:42:00 AM  

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