Cotton Bowl and Orange Bowl

Because of my long workday, this update about tonight's upcoming bowls will have to be fairly brief.  So, we will start with tonight's first game, the AT&T COTTON BOWL, which kicks off at 7:30 PM Eastern on FOX.  The game may be in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area, but it is taking place at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, rather than at the bowl game's namesake stadium.  By the way, excluding standing room and temporary seating, AT&T Stadium actually seats less people (80,000) than the post-renovation Cotton Bowl Stadium (92,100).  This year's game pits two schools that had legitimate opportunities for a berth in either the National Championship or in a BCS-level bowl game.  #13 Oklahoma State (BIG XII) was on its way to a berth in the Fiesta Bowl until its loss to Oklahoma in the Bedlam Series.  The Cowboys will play the #8 Missouri Tigers (SEC).  In only its second year as a member of the SEC, Missouri clinched the conference's East division title, and with it, came a potential berth in the final BCS National Championship game until they lost to Auburn.  Tonight's game is, more or less, a reunion of two former BIG XII rivals.  I am not sure when these two teams will play each other again, but it should be a very competitive game.  ESPN's Mark Schlabach gives Missouri a one-point advantage.  Projected final score:  31-30.

Tonight's second game, the DISCOVER ORANGE BOWL, is the last of the four BCS-level bowls before the National Championship game.  This year's game features two teams that have only met once before:  #12 Clemson (ACC) vs. #7 Ohio State (Big Ten).  Tonight's edition of the Orange Bowl may be a game between standout quarterbacks:  Clemson's Tajh Boyd threw for 3,473 yards with twenty-nine touchdowns and nine interceptions, while Ohio State's Braxton Miller threw for 1,860 yards with twenty-two touchdowns and five interceptions.  Despite the substantial difference between the two players in passing yards, Ohio State's offense has emphasized the rushing game:  the Buckeyes are third in the country in rushing with an average of 317.5 yards per game.  Ohio State's star running back, Carlos Hyde, has had 183 carries with 1408 yards and fourteen touchdowns.  As for defense, both teams have averaged roughly twenty-one points per game.  If the game does turn into a shootout, the Buckeyes may have the advantage:  their offensive line is the ranked 3rd overall in scoring with 46.3 points per game  (Clemson has averaged 40.2).  But, if the Buckeyes defense falters like it did in the Big Ten Championship against Michigan State, then Clemson could get the win.  Mark Schlabach gives the Tigers a 3-point advantage over the Buckeyes.  Projected Final Score:  27-24.  As for me, I agree that this Orange Bowl is anybody's game.  For Clemson's sake, one has to wonder if they will avoid a repeat of the last time they went to the Orange Bowl, which was a 70-33 rout courtesy of the West Virginia Mountaineers back in 2012.  Enjoy tonight's games, Everybody!