| Tostitos Fiesta Bowl | ||
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#5 Notre Dame (9-2) vs. #4 Ohio St. (9-2) Jan. 2, 3:30 p.m. (ABC) Favorite: OSU by 4.5 |
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Next to the Rose Bowl, this is definitely the bowl game I (and a lot of fans) have been looking forward to. Two of the college football’s most storied programs face off in the Fiesta Bowl and both programs are looking to end the season with a win that can provide momentum towards a national title run in 2006.
Ohio State has one of the nation’s best defenses and the best trio of linebackers around. Can A.J. Hawk, Anthony Schlegel, and company stop the Notre Dame rushing attack and force the Irish to be a one-dimensional offense? The Irish passing attack is one of the best, but can they have the same kind of success against the best defense they’ll face all season? Both teams should be able to score and the it will come down to how well Troy Smith protects the football and how well Darius Walker can run it.
Notre Dame has a 7 game bowl losing streak and if they lose today they’ll make history for the worst losing streak in bowl history. Why would a team lose so many bowl games in a row? That’s what happens when you’re constantly overrated by the national media, ranked where you don’t belong, and are put into bowl games you have no business being in. That’s the case again this season and we’ll find out if Charlie Weis can get the Irish to play over their heads and compete with the Buckeyes.
Players to Watch: ND QB Brady Quinn, ND WR Jeff Samardzija, OSU QB Troy Smith, OSU WR Santonio Holmes, OSU LB A.J. Hawk
Prediction: Ohio State 31, Notre Dame 17
If Texas was in the Fiesta Bowl…
Texas beat the Buckeyes in the Horseshoe at night to start the season and has gotten better and better since then. On a neutral field Vince Young and the rest of the Longhorn offense should be able to find success both on the ground and through the air. Troy Smith is playing well right now and his athleticism could hurt the Horns where they’re the weakest. More offense from both teams than in September but Texas protects the ball a little better this time around. Texas 35, Ohio State 21.
Oustide of USC, Notre Dame played essentially nobody all year long and still gave up their fair share of points. The Longhorn offense should be able to essentially score all game long against a very average Notre Dame defense. On the other side of the ball the Irish don’t match up too well against the Horns’ defense despite all their talent. They don’t run the option and are more of a pro style offense, they’ll score some points but they don’t scare me too much. Texas 42, Notre Dame 24.
reply to #1
Brian
January 2nd, 2006 at 4:54 pm
Maybe I should’ve mentioned Ted Ginn in my write up. Damn, good thing he didn’t show up like this against us. Looks like the Ginn of 2004 again out there with the ball in his hands, great run just now put Ohio State up.
reply to #2
Brian
January 2nd, 2006 at 6:36 pm
Jeff Samardzija is white. Name any white NFL receiver and you’ll be able to come up with the same great comparisons broadcasters think up.
reply to #3
Brian
January 2nd, 2006 at 7:39 pm
Troy Smith is really, really good.