Game Preview: Peach Bowl

Paul Perdichizzi Posted On December 31, 2015

Chick fil-A Peach Bowl

#18 Houston Cougars (12-1) vs #9 Florida State Seminoles (10-2)

12:00, ESPN

[am4show have=’g1;’ guest_error=’sub_message’ user_error=’sub_message’ ]

New Year’s Eve is the most anticipated day of college football this season. While both playoff games will garner most of the attention, it is the other game, which will start the day, that I think is the most intriguing matchup. The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl will feature one of the most storied programs in college football, the Florida State Seminoles versus the non-power five conference team, the Houston Cougars. The Seminoles will enter the matchup with a 10-2 record, with their only two losses coming against the number one team in the country, the Clemson Tigers and against Georgia Tech, on a last second blocked field goal returned for a touchdown. The Cougars enter the game with a 12-1 record and were the American Athletic Conference champions with big wins during the season against Vanderbilt, Louisville, Memphis, Navy and Temple.

Houston is led by their first year head coach Tom Herman, who has become one of the hottest coaching names in college football. From 2012 through 2014, Herman was the offensive coordinator for Ohio State. Before recently signing an extension with Houston, there was talk that Herman would have been in high demand for some of the top college football jobs in the country that were looking to potentially make a head coaching change such as LSU, USC, or Texas. On the field Houston has their own big three of quarterback Greg Ward Jr., running back Kenneth Farrow, and wide receiver Demarcus Ayers.

Ward, a junior, had one of the best seasons of any quarterback in college football this season, passing for 2,590 yards and 16 touchdowns, while also rushing for 1,041 yards and 19 touchdowns. Next year Ward will return as a potential dark horse Heisman contender, in his second season running Herman’s offense. At 5’11” and only 178 pounds with limited passing ability, Ward does not project to be an NFL quarterback in the future. To make an impact in the NFL, Ward will have to switch back to wide receiver or become a running back, in the mold of Denard Robinson. Ward’s athletic ability makes me believe he can make the transition and become a role player that can have an impact on an offense at the next level.

Farrow, is a 5’10”, 210 pound, power running back that is having his second consecutive successful season. Farrow has 949 yards and 12 touchdowns as he enters his final collegiate game. Last season, Farrow rushed for 1037 yards and 10 touchdowns. He moves well for his size and displays good power running between the tackles. Farrow has a chance to be a late round pick and fill a role as a short yardage or power back in an NFL backfield. While he had more success in the college ranks, I think Farrow projects to be similar to Jonas Gray at the NFL level.

In terms of NFL potential, I think it is Ayers that could have the most success in the future of any of the Cougars. While Ayers is only 5’10” and 178 pounds, if he can transition inside to mostly play slot receiver, he will have an opportunity to carve out a role for himself at the next level. Ayers should return for his final season at Houston before looking towards the NFL. Ayers, enters the bowl game with 89 receptions, 1,140 yards and six touchdowns. He displays good speed, change of direction skills and is a playmaker with the ball in his hands. The one area he needs to continue to work on is his route running skills. The offensive system limits what they ask of him, so he will have to show more diversity in his routes next season or in the pre-draft process, to answer those questions.

The Seminoles are led on the sidelines by Jimbo Fisher, one of the top coaches in all of College Football. After some rumors came out that LSU was perusing him to replace Les Miles, Fisher announced that he was not going anywhere. If Fisher is going to leave Florida State, I see him setting his sights on the NFL, and not leaving for another college position. On the field Florida State is led by an elite defense and their running game. That running game is led by Dalvin Cook, the electrifying sophomore running back.

When watching this game, make sure you have your eyes glued to Cook, as he is the one offensive player on both teams that has a chance to be a first round pick and a future elite fantasy asset. Cook is the type of running back that can be the foundation of any offense. At 6’0”, 203 pounds, Cook is the total package. He runs with power, speed, balance, and quickness. In addition, Cook can be a weapon out of the backfield receiving as well. This season, Cook has 1,658 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns, with an additional 22 receptions for 218 yards receiving. Cook will return for his junior season next year and be one of the front runners for the Heisman Trophy Award. While Nick Chubb of Georgia and Leonard Fournette of LSU have gotten more national attention, Cook is regarded by some, as an equal talent to both of those backs. Lance Zierlein of NFL.com said “It’s a matter of what you’re looking for. Fournette is a straight-line runner with long speed, but he won’t create as much for you as Cook. If you want a downhill guy in a power scheme, Fournette is your guy. If you’re looking for more of a guy who can fit into any scheme, create yards, Cook is more elusive with better burst. I think it makes him an every-down back.” I think Cook will be a first round pick in the 2017 NFL draft and has more upside than Melvin Gordon, who went 15^th last year in the 2015 draft.

When you take your eyes of Cook, be on the lookout for two of the Seminoles wide receivers; Travis Rudolph and Kermit Whitfield. Rudolph is only a sophomore and at 6’2”, 187 pounds, has the size to play on the outside. He enters the game with 52 receptions, 715 yards and six touchdowns. Rudolph came to FSU as a four star recruit and has the skill set to be a future NFL wide receiver. Whitfield, at only 5’8”, 184 pounds, projects more as a future special teams player or backup slot receiver, but has developed into a solid weapon for the Seminoles this season. He has caught 53 passes for 742 yards and six touchdowns.

[/am4show]