2017 Bowl Previews – January 2nd, Part Two

Benton McDonald

Rose Bowl

USC vs. Penn State

ESPN, 5:00 PM, EST

The granddaddy of them all is shaping up to be one of the better bowl games on the slate this year. After two straight blowouts in Pasadena, first by Oregon in 2014 and then by Stanford in 2015, fans are hoping for some fireworks between two programs in the midst of major revivals. USC finished the regular season 9-3 in their first full season under Clay Helton, including victories over both Colorado and Washington. They come into the Rose Bowl hot, reeling off eight-straight victories and looking more like the USC teams of the mid 2000’s than the USC teams of the 2010’s. Penn State, arguably the biggest surprise in college football this season, is fresh off their first 11-win season since 2009. The Big Ten champs shocked the world by first knocking off Ohio State and then staging an improbable comeback to beat Wisconsin in the Big Ten championship game. Collectively, the two teams have won a combined 17 games in a row and both come into this game with a major chip on their shoulder.

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This game is going to come down to the skill players on each sideline. USC is led by redshirt freshman quarterback Sam Darnold and sophomore running back Ronald Jones. Darnold, who went from scout team to star after replacing the once-touted recruit Max Browne, has thrown for 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions with a 68 percent completion percentage which was good for sixth in the nation. The sophomore Jones rushed for an almost-quiet 1,027 yards, with an incredible 6.5 yards per carry. Like his team, he is coming into the Rose Bowl on a tear, racking up 742 yards over his final five games. Over in Happy Valley, sophomore quarterback Trace McSorley is setting the world on fire, passing for over 3,500 yards and 25 touchdowns with only five interceptions all season. He engineered the comeback in the Big Ten championship, passing for four touchdowns against the vaunted Wisconsin defense. A far cry from the often abysmal play of Christian Hackenberg, now a New York Jet. His rise is mirrored with the growth of the Nittany Lions star, Big Ten offensive player of the year Saquon Barkley. The sophomore racked up 16 touchdowns to go along with 1,302 yards on the year and cemented himself as one of the best running backs in the nation. The two duos will have to be at the top of their respective games if either team wants to remain competitive in the game.

While much of the national focus this season has been on Michigan’s do-it-all man Jabrill Peppers, Trojans cornerback Adoree’ Jackson has arguably been a better version of Peppers all season. His two kickoff and two punt return touchdowns complement his four interceptions and stellar defensive back play all season long. He certainly has that explosive potential that teams love to unleash in big games like this one.

The bottom line of who wins the Rose Bowl will come down to Penn States ability to pressure Darnold. The USC offensive line has been stellar, only giving up 11 sacks over the 12-game season. If they can continue this play up front, then expect both Darnold and Jones to continue their productive ways, daring McSorley and Barkley to match them.

No matter who ends up on top, expect fireworks. USC has been excellent this season at getting off to fast starts while Penn State excels in the art of the comeback. That in itself is a recipe for a good football game and both teams should deliver. “The Redemption Bowl” as some are calling it promises to be one of the best of the season.

Sugar Bowl

Auburn vs. Oklahoma

ESPN, 8:30 PM, EST

As with the Rose Bowl, the Allstate Sugar Bowl pits two teams against each other that come into the game rolling after lackluster starts to the season. Oklahoma, the Big 12 Champions for the second year in a row, faces off against Auburn, the second best team in the SEC behind Alabama. Both teams started off the season 1-2 but managed to turn it around thanks to their electric offenses that are sure to create some fireworks in New Orleans. Oklahoma, whose two loses came at the hand of Houston and Ohio State, has reeled off nine-straight victories en route to the Big 12 title. They have scored at least 34 points in each of those wins and defeated the two best teams in the conference by a combined 46 points. The Auburn Tigers, who also suffered one of their two early season losses to a team now in the College Football Playoff, have bounced back from a slew of injuries to post a respectable 8-4 record under Gus Malzahn. Both teams continually stockpile some of the best talent in the country and this game will be chocked full of NFL prospects. Defensive end Carl Lawson of Auburn is a fringe first round prospect who has explosive play ability every time his hand is on the ground. Oklahoma’s Dede Westbrook, who came out of nowhere and recorded 16 touchdown grabs and a 5th place finish in the Heisman standings, is quickly rising into the early rounds of the draft. The talent is undeniable on both sides of the field and the clash of these two teams promises to be a good one.

The winner of this bowl game could very well be decided by who wins the clash between Oklahoma’s offense and Auburns defense. The Sooners are averaging 523 yards per game and have four elite-level offensive players at their disposal. The Heisman finalist duo of Baker Mayfield and  Westbrook connected for over 1,400 yards and an incredible 16 touchdowns. Mayfield as a whole finished with 3,669 yards and 38 touchdowns on the season, shredding the Big 12 during Oklahoma’s nine-game win streak down the stretch. If those two weren’t enough, Joe Mixon and Samaje Perine create arguably the best backfield in college football. The two-headed monster combined for 2,712 yards from scrimmage and 25 total touchdowns, astronomical numbers even in the new age of offense. Yet, outside of Ohio State, Auburn is clearly the best defense they have played. The Tigers are only allowing 16 points per game and 348 yards per game, a far cry from the Sooners 43 PPG and 523 YPG. If Auburn is able to effectively limit Mixon and Perine, who each were held under 80 yards against Ohio State, and keep the explosive Westbrook in check, then the game shifts heavily in favor of them. Mayfield gets into trouble when he begins to force passes out of desperation, and his eight interceptions on the year smell like trouble for an ever opportunistic SEC defense. If both sides are at full health, then this clash of the OU offense vs. the Auburn defense is one of the best matchups college football has seen all season and whoever comes out on top here will likely be on top when the clock flashes three zeroes.

Yet, don’t count out the Auburn offense. Led by sophomore running back Kamryn Pettway, this offense has leaned heavily on their run game to grind out victories. Pettway, who only played in seven games if we discount the Alabama game (a meager 12 carries for 17 yards against the best defense in the country) still managed to rack up 173 carries for 1,106 yards and seven touchdowns, a pretty remarkable stat line for just seven games of work. The five-week dead period between games should give him time to heal from all of his nagging injuries and return to the dynamic playmaker this offense needs to have a fighting chance at the superdome. Fellow sophomore back Kerryon Johnson should also provide a spark to an offense that has an almost nonexistent passing game. Johnson, who appeared in every game, rushed 173 times for 862 yards and 11 scores. Those two will have to carry this offense, as quarterback Sean White has been nothing more than a game manager, throwing for a meager nine touchdowns and three interceptions. It will be a tell tale sign for the Tigers if we see the offense that dropped 38 and then 56 against Mississippi State and Arkansas or the offense that only managed 13 and 16 against Clemson and Texas A&M.

This game has a little bit of everything. Electric offenses are complemented with talented defenses and elite level talent across the field. Two Heisman finalists and a cohort of potential first and second round picks headline this clash in New Orleans. While the blowout potential is certainly there with the strength of this Oklahoma offense, any result is really conceivable with these two teams. Auburn is going to be the healthiest they’ve been since August and the hot Sooners could be cooled by the five week dead period in-between games. Regardless of what happens, you should watch this game, which promises to be one of the most exciting of bowl season. Enjoy!

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