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Holiday Bowl

Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2016 10:02 pm
by Spence
A real barn burner so far.

Re: Holiday Bowl

Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2016 12:15 am
by Cane from the Bend
I kept waiting for Washington State to find their rhythm --- well they did finally seem to; you know, just, it took them until there was only 1 minute left in the game.

I don't think I had ever saw so many plays to decide a 2 point conversion before. And after 3 back & forth penalties, an unsuccessful try.

Minnesota truly came to play. They didn't lay down for anything. Their Defense was on point the game. Gotta give `em credit for putting themselves together, despite all of the distraction surrounding their program, regarding this Bowl.

I originally picked them in the predictions to win this game. But changed my pick to the Cougars once I heard about the suspensions --- The Gofers are sound defensively for sure. And tonight may have been the underclassmen coming out party.

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Re: Holiday Bowl

Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2016 12:19 am
by Spence
I didn't think Minnesota had a chance in the world. I picked Washington State as my 39 point pick. I am really tearing it up this bowl season.

Re: Holiday Bowl

Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2016 1:04 am
by donovan
WSU never found the sync.....and now I am watching Boise and talk about a rudderless ship in a storm tossed sea.

Re: Holiday Bowl

Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2016 9:18 am
by billybud
Boise did not look like a 10 win team. And Baylor didn't look like a team coming off six straight losses....

I watched the first half...put it on record...and watched the second this morning.

After watching Ryan Finley, a QB transfer from Boise, play the bowl for NC State...and beat Vandy 41-17, I thought.."wow, the guy he couldn't win the job from must be really good."

Re: Holiday Bowl

Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2016 11:32 am
by Spence
I know I don't have an idea of what is happening in the bowls this year. I'm not sure I have picked a game correctly in the bowls yet.

Re: Holiday Bowl

Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2016 8:32 pm
by Eric
Underdogs are 13-9 so far straight up and they are killing it against the spread. I'm not sure Vegas knows what is going on this year.

Washington State's issues stemmed from not being able to block. I can't explain why their receivers could never get open either since Minnesota was so hampered in the secondary. I guess there must not be a huge talent gap between the starters and the backups for Minnesota. Still, Falk was overthrowing people left and right all day as well. The receivers and the o-line weren't helping them out.

Boise's issues stemmed from a lack of execution. There's no reason why their offense couldn't have kept pace with Baylor, they just kept screwing up in the red zone. That was a game that got away. At the least, it should have been much closer than it turned out to be. Their defensive strategy I thought was kind of dumb early on by giving Baylor such a huge cushion. If you get burned once, whatever, but don't give them three free touchdowns because they pick up 7 yards every first down on little screen passes. Plus the longer those drives went, the less Boise's defensive line could hold up against the run since they kept getting gassed. A total screwup by the coaching staff on Boise's end. I also think Baylor had something to play for, at least the returning guys. The coaching staff probably hyped up the fact that this was your first audition for the new head coach, and it likely got a few of them actually excited to play.

Re: Holiday Bowl

Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2016 3:51 am
by Cane from the Bend
Eric wrote:Washington State's issues stemmed from not being able to block. I can't explain why their receivers could never get open either since Minnesota was so hampered in the secondary. I guess there must not be a huge talent gap between the starters and the backups for Minnesota. Still, Falk was overthrowing people left and right all day as well. The receivers and the o-line weren't helping them out.


Mainly, yes, it was the O-Line.

Minnesota played a game, defensively, that I do not believe Washington State expected. It felt as though Mike Leach's plan was to take advantage of the depleted secondary. The scheme was a heavy pass. But the open receivers just weren't there.

Minnesota played a 3 man rush and rotated a spy linebacker with a spy lineman to contain the run, and prevent the scramble. All of the other 7 dropped into coverage. So, even when the Cougars QB had time to throw the ball, he had nobody to throw it to. That created a situation, where the Gofers' D-line could push, finding mismatches, and hurry the QB into mistakes. Often, Minnesota got to him from the side, so he didn't see the pressure coming.

For Washington State to have played better, Leach would have needed to make adjustments --- I'm just not sure he knows how to do that.

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Re: Holiday Bowl

Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2016 3:49 pm
by Spence
Leach only knows one way to coach. I think his impact on the B12 is part of why they are so bad today.

Re: Holiday Bowl

Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2016 4:40 pm
by billybud
The Big 12's temperature was taken by Miami's win over WVU.

WVU was in the top 12 nationally in Total Offense and the Big 12's 10 game winner along with Oklahoma.

Miami's defensive line throttled the Eers. Held the rushing game to 2.4 YPC and was all over the WVU quarterback at every drop back.

Although WVU was supposed to have a good offense, the Canes had been giving up an average of 150 yards a game less than what the Mountaineers had been averaging.

Re: Holiday Bowl

Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2016 6:44 pm
by donovan
Spence wrote:Leach only knows one way to coach. I think his impact on the B12 is part of why they are so bad today.


Leach may not get a team over the top, but he has taken WSU a long way. I suspect he will get an extension.

Re: Holiday Bowl

Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2016 1:05 am
by Cane from the Bend
billybud wrote:The Big 12's temperature was taken by Miami's win over WVU.


:D

billybud wrote:WVU was in the top 12 nationally in Total Offense and the Big 12's 10 game winner along with Oklahoma.


:D :D

billybud wrote:Miami's defensive line throttled the Eers. Held the rushing game to 2.4 YPC and was all over the WVU quarterback at every drop back.


:D :D :D

Yes, I had a very pleasant day Yesterday. I wasn't posting anything out of respect for WoVeU ... but it makes me smile, that a `nole posted it in my stead.

The ACC is fairing well this Bowl Season ... Outside of Pitt's Turnoveritis, resulting in their sinking ship to Northwestern; I'd say we're doing pretty good.

If the Seminoles & the Tigers take care of business, the praise will be thick.

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Re: Holiday Bowl

Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2016 1:09 am
by Cane from the Bend
On a side note: Kansas State stood tall for the Big XII --- and Okie State is having their way with Colorado as I type this.

Maybe, the Cowboys are saying to the Buffaloes; "How green is that grass over on your side of the fence, there? --- That's what you get for being a turncoat."

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Re: Holiday Bowl

Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2016 2:57 pm
by Spence
billybud wrote:The Big 12's temperature was taken by Miami's win over WVU.

WVU was in the top 12 nationally in Total Offense and the Big 12's 10 game winner along with Oklahoma.

Miami's defensive line throttled the Eers. Held the rushing game to 2.4 YPC and was all over the WVU quarterback at every drop back.

Although WVU was supposed to have a good offense, the Canes had been giving up an average of 150 yards a game less than what the Mountaineers had been averaging.


I've been saying this all year about the B12. They are just horrible. That is why I don't put much stock in Ohio State beating Oklahoma. If could have Toledo we beat they are just as good if not better than Oklahoma.

Re: Holiday Bowl

Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2016 3:01 pm
by Spence
donovan wrote:
Spence wrote:Leach only knows one way to coach. I think his impact on the B12 is part of why they are so bad today.


Leach may not get a team over the top, but he has taken WSU a long way. I suspect he will get an extension.


He may get an extension , but the only way he will ever have a really good team is to have a defensive co-ordinator that can create a defense that will allow him to be the "offensive genius" he believes he is.