Las Vegas Bowl Preview

LAS VEGAS BOWL

Las Vegas, NV
December 20, 2008


BYU (10-2) vs Arizona (7-5)
(Saturday, 7 pm, ESPN)

The dynamic is interesting here between two western teams. One has plenty of recent bowl experience while the other is finally ending a decade-long bowl drought. The rub is that the team from a BCS conference is the one with no post-season experience.

BYU quarterback Max Hall isn't quite as good as his hype, but he is a solid player that can get on hot streaks. He has a trio of weapons at his disposal that will give Arizona's defense fits - running back Harvey Unga (1,061 rushing yards, 10 tds), wide receiver Austin Collie (95 receptions for 1,419 yards, 15 tds) and tight end Dennis Pitta (78 receptions for 1,025 yards, 6 tds). Arizona cornerbacks Devin Ross and Trevin Wade (combined 7 interceptions) will have their hands full with that group.

The key in this game is going to be coaching. In what should be a tight contest, I give a slight edge to BYU in the coaching department. I also think BYU has played more high profile games this season, which will give them an edge in terms of handling the pressure in the second half.

J.Pike's Pick: BYU 30, Arizona 20

WEEK ELEVEN - Gameday Preview

Michigan (+7½) over Minnesota
The Michigan defense was torched to the tune of 522 yards and 48 points a week ago against Purdue, but I still have faith in them. Defensive end Brandon Graham and the front seven are more than capable of corralling Minnesota quarterback Adam Weber when he runs, and Donovan Warren and Morgan Trent are solid corners who should be able to prevent Weber from throwing the ball all over the yard. I like Minnesota to find a way to win this game at home, but I don’t think it will be by more than a touchdown.

Wisconsin (-10) over Indiana
Wisconsin has their running game back, as evidenced by the 281 yards on the ground last weekend against Michigan State. That doesn’t bode well for Indiana, who ranks eighth in the Big Ten against the run. I expect John Clay and P.J. Hill to have big games in leading a Wisconsin rout.

Rice (-9½) over Army
Army is improving, but they still can’t match Rice’s firepower. Chase Clement and the gang shouldn’t have a problem scoring between 30 and 40 points on Army, which all but guarantees at least a ten point win.

Arizona (-39) over Washington State
Washington State has been generous all year. Despite huge spreads like this one, they have failed to cover in all 8 of their games against 1-A competition. In fact, the Cougars average margin of defeat in Pac-10 play this season is by a whopping 52.8 points! Arizona has scored over 40 points four times this season, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see them top 60 here.

Other games I like, but don’t feel good enough about to give them “Lock” status:
Purdue (+9½) over Michigan State
Tennessee (-25½) over Wyoming
Iowa State (+10) over Colorado
Penn State (-7) over Iowa
Virginia (+3½) over Wake Forest
N.C. State (+4½) over Duke
Florida Atlantic (-21) over North Texas High
Cincinnati (+8) over West Virginia

News & Notes

*An already thin Utah defensive line took another blow this weekend as Lei Talamaivao broke his fibula and will miss the rest of the season. He joins fellow lineman Kenape Eliapo in the operating room, who broke his foot in the first week of the season. It looks like top recruit Dave Kruger will be forced out of his planned redshirt to provide depth.

*Nebraska defensive end Barry Turner broke a bone in his left leg in the victory over San Jose State on saturday and will probably sit out the rest of the year. Pierre Allen stepped in and played well, but losing a leader like Turner off a defense that needs players won't help matters with loaded offenses at Missouri and Oklahoma looming on the schedule.

*As if things couldn't get any worse for Penn State, now comes word that defensive end Jerome Hayes has a torn ACL and is out for the rest of the season. A defensive line that has been decimated by suspensions and injuries already can't afford many more setbacks if the Nittany Lions are going to make a legitimate run at the Big Ten title.

*Arizona's sophomore wide receiver Terrell Reese has been suspended from the team indefinitely by coach Mike Stoops after a DWI arrest.

*Pittsburgh linebacker Adam Gunn will miss the rest of the season after suffering a broken neck. The senior collided with Scott McKillop (he tackles everybody!) in the season opening loss to Bowling Green.

Updates

* Oregon quarterback Nate Costa's knee is as seriously injured as the Ducks feared. He'll be out at least 8-10 weeks. Justin Roper will start in his place, but I'm sure JC transfer Jeremiah Masoli will get a shot at the job as well.

* Florida receiver Percy Harvin and linebacker Brandon Spikes, two All America candidates, are not expected to play in the season opener against Hawaii. Both are nursing foot injuries and will need an extra week to get back to full speed.

* Arizona will be without tight end Rob Gronkowski for the first couple weeks of the season. He has strep throat and possibly mono.