With bowl season moving along, we are just now getting into the real important games. In this article, I will preview the playoff matchups as well as the other NY6 games.

Cotton Bowl: Memphis vs Penn State

Betting Line: Penn State -7

Over/Under: 60.5

In their most recent game, Memphis locked up their first AAC Championship by beating Cincinnati for the second time in eight days. The Tigers are 12-1 on the season, and this is the best bowl game they have ever played in. Memphis’s offense has really proved to be a problem for their opponents as quarterback Brady White has taken a step forward this season. White has thrown for 3,560 yards and 33 touchdowns while completing 64% of his passes this season. White seems to play well in big moments and he needs to keep that up as this is surely the biggest game of his career. Freshman running back Kenneth Gainwell has been a pleasant surprise this season as he has amassed 1,425 rushing yards on 6.4 yards per carry as well as 532 receiving yards. Gainwell’s versatility has made him a tough matchup for opposing defenses. Gainwell’s ability to make White’s life easier will be largely important against a very strong Penn State run defense. Fellow running back Patrick Taylor Jr. is listed as questionable for the game with an ankle injury, but if he can play and contribute, it would be huge for the offense. Taylor ran for 1,000 yards last season as a secondary back but he has not been able to fully shake the injury bug this season. Receiver Damonte Coxie has been White’s favorite target this season and will also need to have a big game. Antonio Gibson is the best athlete on the offense and trying to set him up for a big play would be a good idea. Memphis’s offensive line also needs to hold off a very strong Penn State defensive front and five plays time to develop. The front seven is the strength of Penn State’s entire team and neutralizing that will be a massive step toward victory. On defense, the Tigers need to take a page out of the books of Minnesota and Ohio State as they beat Penn State and were able to get consistent pressure. Defensive ends Bryce Huff and Joseph Dorceus leads the team with 15 and 14.5 tackles for loss respectively. I think that Memphis needs to follow the blueprint set by Minnesota and Ohio State and force Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford to think quickly. Covering Penn State receiver KJ Hamler will also be a key task for the Tigers. Cornerbacks TJ Carter and Jacobi Francis can not get burned by one of college football’s faster receivers. Penn State does not seem to really trust their run game and I think if Memphis can force Penn State to resort to that, they will be in a good spot. It should also be noted that Mike Norvell, who has been Memphis’s head coach all through this season, will not be on the sidelines for this game after he took the head coaching job at Florida State. Ryan Silverfield has been promoted to head coach after serving as the offensive line coach and this will be a tough head coaching debut for him.

Penn State’s 10-2 finish was a bit disappointing after their 8-0 start, but I think they are positioning themselves well in the Big 10 arms race. This season, the Nittany Lions have been built on a strong run defense. Defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos leads an elite defensive line with 13.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks in just ten games. Gross-Matos and Shaka Toney make up a strong duo at defensive end and defensive tackle Robert Windsor does quite well at plugging up the middle. Linebacker Micah Parsons showed why he was a top five overall recruit in the class of 2018 as he racked up 95 tackles and 11 tackles for loss. I think that Penn State should be able to swallow up Memphis’s run game. While Memphis has carved up some of their AAC opponents, Penn State is a whole other animal. What I am a bit worried about for the Nittany Lions is pass coverage. Penn State was thrown on a bit by some of the better passing teams on their schedule. Memphis quarterback Brady White is a pretty prolific passer and I think Penn State’s cornerbacks need to make him work for his yards more. John Reid and Tariq Castro-Fields can make things a lot easier for the defense if they hold down their assignments well. Offensively, I think the Nittany Lions need to protect Sean Clifford and give him time to throw. Good offensive line play will also be key in developing the run game. Memphis has a pair of defensive ends that are both very strong playmakers and offensive tackles Rasheed Walker and Will Fries will need good games. Penn State has been pretty hit or miss in the run game. Journey Brown has been their lead back and they will need some contributions from him to keep Memphis balanced defensively. Sean Clifford has had a solid first season as a starter, but he will need to be accurate and be able to make some big throws. KJ Hamler has been Clifford’s favorite target this season and it will make life much easier for Clifford if he can get open.

Prediction:

Memphis keeps things interesting but Penn State pulls out a 28-24 win.

Orange Bowl: Florida vs Virginia

Betting Line: Virginia +14.5

Over/Under: 54

Florida has had a pretty strong 2019 season as this was their third 10 win regular season this decade. One surprise for this Florida team has been the strong play of quarterback Kyle Trask. Trask has thrown for 2,636 yards and 24 touchdowns while completing 67% of his passes this season. What Trask needs to try and do to be more effective this game will be test Virginia’s secondary deep. Trask does not have the strongest arm, it any deep throw he can connect on will be huge. It will also be important for the Gators to get a push against a strong run defense. Running back Lamical Perine has shown flashes, but a good game from him will be huge for Florida’s offense. The Gators also have established a reputation of spreading the ball around a lot offensively and while it has worked, it will be nice to see a receiver step up this game. The likely candidates are Van Jefferson and Trevon Grimes. Tight end Kyle Pitts leads the team in receiving yards and him getting open consistently will also be huge. On defense, the Gators really need to focus on stopping Virginia quarterback Bryce Perkins. Using a quarterback spy on him would be a good idea, especially on passing downs as Perkins is a very good scrambler. I expect defensive end Jonathan Greenard to have a field day in this game as I do not think Virginia has the offensive line talent to hold him off. Greenard has 15 tackles for loss, nine sacks, and two forced fumbles this season and I think he can create some real chaos in the backfield. I think the same goes for the entire defensive line as Virginia’s offensive line is far from great. Another player to look out for will be Virginia receiver Hasise Dubois. Dubois is Perkins’s favorite target and Virginia’s top playmaker outside of Perkins. Florida also does not have cornerback CJ Henderson for this game and he is sitting out to prepare for the NFL Draft. I think Marco Wilson and Kaiir Elam will be just fine, but they are a step down.

Virginia might have been blown out by Clemson in the ACC Championship, but I think it is hard to say this has not been a good season for the Cavaliers after they beat Virginia Tech for the first time since 2003 and won their division for the first time ever. Virginia’s offense is led and sometimes carries by quarterback Bryce Perkins. Perkins is a very good dual threat quarterback who has thrown for 3,215 yards and rushed for another 745. If Virginia wants this game to be close, Perkins has to have a good day. One way the Cavaliers can help out Perkins is by doing well in pass protection. Florida has the fourth most sacks of any team in the country and Virginia’s offensive line ranked 116th out of 130 FBS teams in sacks allowed, so the numbers do not favor Virginia. I think if Perkins can just have time to go through his progressions and set his feet, it will make a positive difference for Virginia. Setting up the run game with Wayne Taulapapa will help keep Florida’s defense honest. Receiver Hasise Dubois has emerged the last couple games and I expect Virginia to return to that well. On defense, the Cavaliers need to get after the quarterback. Linebackers Zane Zandier, Noah Taylor, and Charles Snowden all have at least 10 tackles for loss and I think Virginia should be aggressive in terms of using them on blitzes. I think the use of frequent blitzes is also a good tactic because it will force Florida’s offensive line to react quickly. It will also be important to try and neutralize Kyle Pitts as he is Florida’s leading receiver and like many tight ends, can play the role of the security blanket well. Having good coverage against him can make Florida be a bit less comfortable through the air. Safeties De’Vante Cross and Joey Blount will likely both have the task of covering Pitts at certain points and they sill both need to do well against him.

Prediction:

Florida proves to be too much for a Virginia as they win 34-17.

Rose Bowl: Wisconsin vs Oregon

Betting Line: Oregon +3

Over/Under: 51

Wisconsin got off to a good start against Ohio State in the Big 10 Championship, but ultimately fell short. Despite that loss, I think most Wisconsin fans will be very happy with the season if they come out on top here. This season has seen Wisconsin’s defense really take a step up as one of the best defenses in the country, especially against the run. This game will be tougher for Wisconsin as they are facing off against one of the best offensive lines in the country. The entire front seven needs to be able to make quick reads, get off their blocks, and get to the ball quickly (I have heard that is a bit easier said than done). Defensive ends Garrett Rand and Isaiahh Loudermilk will really have it tough whenever they line up against Oregon offensive tackle Penei Sewell who is widely considered to be one of if not the best offensive tackles in the country. Getting a push against this offensive line will be needed if Wisconsin wants to make Oregon work for their yards. Against the pass, I think that cornerbacks Rachad Wildgoose and Faion Hicks need to just play tight coverage and force Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert to throw into tight windows, which is something he often struggles with. On offense, the Badgers will need a good game from running back Jonathan Taylor. Taylor has carried this offense at times and is 91 yards away from hitting 2,000 rushing yards for the second straight season. If Taylor can have a good day just avoid the fumble issues he has had before, the run game should develop nicely. It will be a tremendous help for Taylor also if quarterback Jack Coan can make some plays through the air. Coan showed in the Big 10 Championship that he is tough as nails, but he needs to be able to make Oregon’s defense pay if they completely sell out to stop Taylor.

In their last outing, Oregon brought home their first Pac 12 Championship since 2014 in what some have considered a completion of their rebuilding process. Ole thing that has been interesting to see with Oregon is their total offensive rebrand in the last few years. The one strength of this team that has made the shift a pretty smooth process is their offensive line. Tackle Penei Sewell, guard Shane Lemieux, and center Jake Hanson are all elite players at their positions and are the main reason for Oregon’s offensive success. If the offensive line can play to their capabilities, the Ducks will have a much easier time making plays. Running back CJ Verdell had a huge performance in the Pac 12 Championship and will get a lot of looks in this game too. Wisconsin’s run defense is pretty tough, but If he can read his blocks and get to the hole quickly, then the Ducks will be in good shape. Quarterback Justin Herbert also needs to play well. Herbert’s accuracy has improved quite a bit this season, but he can not shy away from big moments, which is a knock on him that many people have had. This game will do a lot for Herbert in terms of his future as an NFL quarterback and if he can shine, Oregon will have a much better chance. On defense, the Ducks will need to slow down Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor. Taylor has faced loaded boxes all season and still seems to eat up yards and move the chained behind a solid offensive line. Oregon needs to win in the trenches if they want to slow down Taylor. Their chances to do that are definitely hurt by the fact that defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux is questionable for the game with a hand injury. Regardless of if he plays, the defensive line needs to do well. Oregon also should be a bit aggressive with blitzes. Linebackers Troy Dye and Isaac Slade-Matautia will need to pursue the ball quickly and make quick reads. In his last game for the Ducks, Dye will need to uphold his reputation as someone who has a nose for the ball. While Wisconsin is pretty run heavy, the secondary also cannot get caught off guard on a play action. Staying disciplined and sniffing out fakes will be important.

Prediction:

Wisconsin comes out on top in a hard fought game 27-21.

Sugar Bowl: Baylor vs Georgia

Betting Line: Georgia -5.5

Over/Under: 41

Baylor fought hard, but they ultimately could not come out on top against Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship. The Bears have definitely been a surprise team this season under head coach Matt Rhule. The Bears are led on offense by quarterback Charlie Brewer who has recently been cleared to play after he left the Big 12 Championship with a concussion. Brewer has thrown for 2,950 yards and 20 touchdowns this season while completing 65% of his passes. In this game, a key for Brewer will be to challenge Georgia’s defense downfield a bit. This can keep Georgia on their toes defensively and create a fear of a deep pass for Georgia. Receiver Denzel Mims has played quite well down the stretch and he will be looked to a lot. If Mims can continue to succeed in making contested catches, it will provide a nice security blanket for Baylor’s offense. Another key for Baylor’s offense will be to get a bit of a push on the ground. Georgia’s run defense might be the best in the country and if Baylor can not lose even a bit of a threat, Georgia can sell out to defend the pass and still be successful against the run with their defensive front. Solid run blocking from the offensive line can also help develop the run game. On defense, Baylor needs to provide some resistance against what I believe to be the best offensive line in the country. Georgia will be without their best offensive lineman, but they still have a tough unit up front. Georgia also has a stronger running back in D’Andre Swift who will not be easy to bring down. The Bears needs to play physical up front and not just get bashed by Georgia’s run game like many opponents have in the past. Defensive end James Lynch and defensive tackle Bravvion Roy lead the team in tackles for loss and if they can get some penetration on Georgia’s offensive line, it will be huge. Linebackers Blake Lynch, Terrel Bernard, and Jordan Williams also need to do well in pursuit. Against the pass, I think Baylor just needs to force Georgia to beat them on deep passes. Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm does not have a very strong arm. I think they might try to dink and dunk it through the air, but if Baylor can lock the short routes down, Georgia will have a tough time moving the ball through the air.

Georgia fell short in the SEC Championship for the second year in a row, only this time it was not too close. While they were blown out by LSU, this is still an elite team that does a lot of things well. Georgia’s defense has been absolutely elite, especially against the run as they still have only given up one rushing touchdown all season. I think Georgia can create chaos up front if they can bring pressure on Baylor. Baylor’s offensive line is not the greatest and can definitely be exploited by a strong defensive front. One matchup on defense that I am a bit concerned by is how Georgia will defend Baylor receiver Denzel Mims. Mims is taller, but is still fairly quick and can be a tough matchup for a lot of teams. Eric Stokes and Tyson Campbell are two regular starters in the secondary and are both listed as questionable for the game. Whoever of the two ends up covering Mims can take away Baylor’s best offensive weapon if the shut him down. On offense, I think Georgia should find success pounding the ball with D’Andre Swift. Offensive tackle Andrew Thomas is skipping this game to prepare for the NFL Draft, but the offensive line should still be solid. If Swift is still able to fight through tackles effectively and if backup offensive tackle D’Marcus Hayes can hold his own Thomas’s absence, then Georgia will be set up quite well. Through the air, Georgia needs a receiver to step up, as their receiver play in the SEC Championship was subpar. Drops definitely need to be limited. George Pickens, Demetris Robertson, and Dominick Blaylock will be the primary targets in this game and if one of them can emerge, it will make life much easier for quarterback Jake Fromm and it will make the offense run a lot more smoothly. I also think that while Fromm has struggled at times this season, that the coaching staff needs to trust him more and allow him to challenge Baylor’s defense a bit.

Prediction:

Baylor caps off their great season with an impressive 20-17 win.

Playoff Semifinal Peach Bowl: Oklahoma vs LSU

Betting Line: LSU -14

Over/Under: 76

After a win over Baylor to cap off their fifth straight Big 12 Championship, Oklahoma made the playoff for the third straight season and fourth overall. Despite this being their fourth time in the playoff, the Sooners are still looking for their first playoff win. Like all other Oklahoma teams in playoff era, this team is built around a high powered offense. Quarterback Jalen Hurts has thrown for 3,634 yards and 32 touchdowns while completing 72% of his passes while running for another 1,255 yards and 18 touchdowns. Hurts is one of the most dynamic players in the country, but while he can make terrific plays also can set Oklahoma’s offense back by forcing an errant turnover. While Oklahoma can overcome that against most opponents, LSU is not like most of their opponents. Hurts needs to eliminate those kind of errors if Oklahoma’s offense is going to keep up. Running back Kennedy Brooks is going to have a heavier weight on his shoulders for this game as the two running backs below him on the depth chart are hurt and suspended. Brooks has become more of a mainstay in the offense in recent games but I anticipate this game being his heaviest workload. Brooks will need to do well on the ground as it can take a lot of the heat off of Hurts. LSU has a very talented secondary and having a receiver other then CeeDee Lamb emerge would help significantly. Charleston Rambo is the most likely candidate to step up but Oklahoma is not lacking in receiver talent. On defense, the Sooners have the ultimate task of slowing down Joe Burrow and LSU’s passing attack. No team has truly stopped Burrow and he has yet to go a game without completing at least 70% of his passes. Oklahoma is also missing their best pass rusher in defensive end Ronnie Perkins as he is suspended for this game. I still think that Oklahoma should try to be a bit aggressive in getting a pass rush. Utilizing defensive line stunts worked well against Baylor in the Big 12 Championship as well as against Texas and I think they should try to use that again this game. LSU’s offensive line is very good but reading stunts can be tough. Linebacker Kenneth Murray has had another great season with 95 tackles and 16 tackles for loss and I think he needs to be a major contributor as well, especially against the run. Cornerbacks Tre Brown and Parnell Motley are going to have their hands full for this game, but I think pressing LSU’s receivers at the line and forcing Joe Burris to beat them deep is a formidable strategy. They also would likely need help over the top from free safety Pat Fields. LSU’s offense has yet to show any true cracks this season and I think Oklahoma should be a bit aggressive defensively while they try to look for cracks to exploit.

LSU really shushed a lot of their doubters in the SEC Championship as they blew out a very good Georgia team 37-10. The Tigers have had a real identity shift this season as their passing game has been unmatched this season. Joe Burrow has deservedly won the Heisman and his numbers this season are flat out ridiculous. He has thrown for 4,715 yards and 48 touchdowns while completing 78% of his passes and throwing for over 10 yards per attempt. Burrow’s efficiency through the air is unprecedented and he has shown very few cracks besides not having a very strong arm. If Burrow continues to make the right reads and limits turnovers, LSU will be hard to stop. Receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson are Burrow’s favorite targets and getting them open will obviously be another key to the game. One concern I have for the offense is that running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire is listed as questionable for the game with a hamstring injury. LSU does not have another running back with over 300 rushing yards and while Edwards-Helaire is likely going to play, he will be limited. The emergence of another rushing threat like Tyrion Davis-Prince or John Emery Jr. will be very beneficial to the offense and help keep things balanced. On defense, the Tigers will have the tough task of stopping Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts. Hurts is an elite dual threat quarterback that has caused problems for every defense he has faced, including LSU’s not long ago when he played for Alabama. The Tigers should employ a quarterback spy on passing downs to prevent Hurts from scrambling and should also force Hurts to beat their cornerbacks deep as many of his passes start to wobble after 20-25 yards. Cornerbacks Kristian Fulton and Derek Stingley Jr. will have to do well in coverage against Oklahoma receiver CeeDee Lamb. Lamb averages over 100 receiving yards per game and will be a tough guy to cover. Thankfully, Stingley was an All-American as a true freshman and Fulton has received some first round buzz in the upcoming NFL Draft. Safeties Grant Delpit and JaCoby Stevens are also very strong players and they will be quite helpful in pass coverage.

Prediction:

Oklahoma hangs tough, but LSU’s overall talent eventually prevails as they win 45-34.

Playoff Semifinal Fiesta Bowl: Clemson vs Ohio State

Betting Line: Ohio State +2

Over/Under: 62.5

Clemson capped off the regular season with a dominant ACC Championship win over Virginia and improved their win streak 28 games. Clemson’s offense this season has been a very strong and balanced attack. After a shakier start to the season, quarterback Trevor Lawrence has had a very impressive second half of the season. In the last eight games, Lawrence has completed 73.6% of his passes for 2,041 yards and a touchdown to interception ratio of 26/3. Lawrence needs to keep up bus recent form in this game and not revert back to some of his early season mistakes like forcing bad throws or being overconfident in his arm. I do not think he will, but any mistake like that can seriously hurt Clemson’s chances. Running back Travis Etienne had another strong showing this season with 1,500 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns on 8.2 yards per carry. For the run game to do well in this game, the Tigers need to have a good day on the offensive line. Tight end JC Chalk and tackles Carman Jackson and Tremayne Anchrum are going to have to face the very tough task of blocking Ohio State defensive end Chase Young. Young is a physical freak and I think he is the best player in college football. While he has been slowed down, it has been with double and even sometimes triple teams. Clemson needs to contain Young and do as much as they can to make sure he does not disrupt things against the run or rushing the passer. Receiver Tee Higgins will often be matched up with an elite cornerback in Ohio State’s Jeffery Okudah. If Higgins comes out on top in that, it will be a tremendous gain for Clemson offensively. On defense, the Tigers will need a good day from their front seven if they want to slow down Ohio State’s JK Dobbins. Dobbins is a physical running back who does well at fighting through initial tackles and maintaining his balance through contact. Linebacker Isaiah Simmons makes plays all over the field and I think he will be a key player in stopping the run along with defensive linemen Justin Foster, Tyler Davis, and Xavier Thomas. Clemson also needs to think up ways to slow down Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields. Fields has torn through many of the tougher defenses Ohio State has played and I think they can throw him off his game a bit if the defensive linemen I just mentioned can get a good pass rush or if cornerbacks AJ Terrell and Derion Kendrick can force Fields to take more time going through his progressions. I am sure that defensive coordinator Brent Venables will have something cooked up.

Ohio State had their fans worried for a bit in the Big 10 Championship, but they were able to rally and ended the regular season 13-0 and are the first team to go 9-0 in conference play and then win their conference championship game. Unlike last season, this Buckeyes team has an elite defense with tremendous talent. Defensive end Chase Young is an absolute monster with 21 tackles for loss, 16.5 sacks, and seven forced fumbles. If Young has a good game, Clemson will have some trouble. If Clemson sells out to take away Young, then it should be a prime opportunity for fellow defensive end Tyreke Smith to shine. I think that Ohio State needs to make sure Clemson is not running on them with ease as Travis Etienne averages 8.2 yards per carry. Young and the defensive line should be able to prevent the number from getting that big, but I think that number needs to be cut down a bit for the Buckeyes to really feel like they shut down Clemson’s run game. Against the pass, I think the matchup between cornerback Jeffery Okudah and Clemson receiver Tee Higgins will be huge for Ohio State’s defensive success. If Okudah can keep tight coverage on Higgins and make up for his height disadvantage, the Buckeyes will be in a very good spot. Fellow cornerback Damon Arnette also needs to hold his own against Justyn Ross. On offense, I think JK Dobbins will be the most important player for the Buckeyes. Dobbins is one of the best running backs in the country and if he can rumble forward for consistent yardage, it will immediately put Clemson in a bad spot. Quarterback Justin Fields has surprised me a lot this season with how often he makes the right reads and smart throws after I felt he struggled with his field vision at Georgia. Fields needs to be able to throw the ball into tight windows and make quick decisions. If Fields can be effective with his legs, it will be very helpful but that is not a guaranteed he is still nursing a knee injury. While Ohio State has been just fine without it, their lack of a star receiver is one problem I do worry about a bit with this team. If someone can step up in this game as a go to guy, it will add another gear to this offense.

Prediction:

Ohio State wins a thriller 34-31.

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