The Bison are Making Themselves Herd Once Again

North Dakota State won eight NCAA Division II Championships, the last of which was in 1990, before moving up a division to the FCS in 2004. Today was the Bison's first title game since the move. They faced an undefeated Sam Houston State team. The Bearkats were an offensive machine prior to this game, putting up 39 points per game on average.

The offenses weren't the highlight of this game. Both teams struggled throughout the first half as Sam Houston State led 6-3, despite not capitalizing on two North Dakota State turnovers. The first possession of the second half led to what appeared to be yet another North Dakota State three-and-out on offense. However, the Bison decided they might need to try something unconventional to get a first down. Head coach Craig Bohl explained his decision, "We had not run a fake all year. It was something we kept in our hip pocket. We needed to establish some momentum." So on fourth down, Bison punter Matt Voigtlander hiked the football and immediately saw an open lane on the outside, so he took off and ran for 27 yards. On the next play, Bison quarterback Brock Jensen threw a screen pass to D.J. McNorton, who ran it 39 yards for the touchdown, giving them a 10-6 lead.

The defense dominance returned to the game, until North Dakota State made another big play, this time on defense. Midway through the fourth quarter, Sam Houston State quarterback Brian Bell underthrew a pass that hit Bison linebacker Travis Beck in the chest. Beck held on to the interception and ran it to the one yard line before being tackled despite his diving effort. On the next play, Jensen found the endzone again this time on a quarterback keeper, putting the Bison up 17-6. The North Dakota State defense shutdown any more efforts the Bearkats had in them, including one more interception of Bell.

The state of North Dakota usually isn't in the national sports spotlight, but the North Dakota State players, coaches, and fans deserve it. The Bison are champions again. After the game, Coach Bohl stated that, "There was a real resolve and determinism, especially by our seniors. We had a couple of tough years here. Our guys wanted to make sure we returned Bison football to national prominence. It's not easy to do. I want to thank them because today we returned Bison football to national prominence."

In case you missed the game, highlights can be seen here: http://www.ncaa.com/video/football/2012-01-07/fcs-championship-shsu-ndsu

NFL Wild Card Preview & Predictions

Cincinnati Bengals (9-7) @ Houston Texans (10-6) - Saturday, 4:30 PM EST, NBC

Both of these teams got to this game in unexpected ways. The Houston Texans have been plagued by injuries all season, but managed to overcome it and earned their first playoff berth in franchise history. At quarterback, the Texans have been relying on third-string rookie T.J. Yates. Yates was injured last week, but the team says he will be ready to play. The Cincinnati Bengals went through an offensive makeover when they let wide receivers Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens leave and traded away quarterback Carson Palmer. This meant that the Bengals too turned to a rookie quarterback, theirs being Andy Dalton. Dalton has done a good job and especially likes to get the ball to fellow rookie A.J. Green. Both teams' defenses are much improved and have helped to carry their teams at times this season. The trendy pick here is the Bengals, but I like the Texans to win. This is primarily because they have the two best players on the field in wide receiver Andre Johnson and running back Arian Foster. While Foster didn't quite live up to the monster year he put up last year, I think he'll be the difference in this one. Prediction: Texans 20 Bengals 16

Detroit Lions (10-6) @ New Orleans Saints (13-3) - Saturday, 8:00 PM EST, NBC

Just like the previous game, this is a rematch from the regular season, a game the Saints won by two touchdowns. The New Orleans Saints had another season of offensive dominance with Drew Brees wreaking havoc and setting records all over the field. Brees and company put together yet another excellent regular season. However, the Saints don't want a playoff repeat of last year, when they were upset by the Seattle Seahawks. On the other side of the ball, head coach Jim Schwartz has done a marvelous job transforming the Detroit Lions from a 0-16 team in 2008 to a ten-win playoff team in 2011. The main reasons include an improved defense and impressive offensive displays by quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Calvin Johnson. Just like Brees, Stafford threw for over 5,000 passing yards. Johnson is a nightmare matchup for any secondary. The Lions are whining (something they excel at) that they are not getting the respect they deserve. They are probably right, but I think the Saints will dominate the Superdome once again. Prediction: Saints 41 Lions 27

Atlanta Falcons (10-6) @ New York Giants (9-7) - Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, FOX

These teams are both thinking about history, but in opposite ways. The Atlanta Falcons have seen the last two seasons end in opening losses in the playoffs. On the other hand, the New York Giants are trying to draw comparisons to their Super Bowl winning run of 2007. Here's my problem with this: none of it matters. However, if the players let it matter and it gets in their heads, then it certainly could. There is no denying the mental edge in sports. The Atlanta Falcons put together a solid season, but were never capable of coming up with a big win over a top team. Quarterback Matt Ryan, running back Michael Turner, and wide receiver Roddy White still lead the way on offense, but the new threat is rookie wideout Julio Jones. Everyone, myself included, thought the Giants were going to have another meltdown and miss the playoffs, but in two must-win games the last two weeks, the Giants got it done. Quarterback Eli Manning and many of the mainstays are the same, but the Giants saw some of their youth step up big this season. On offense, Victor Cruz has become Manning's new favorite target. On defense, Jason Pierre-Paul had a breakout season that earned him a spot on the All-Pro team. Prediction: Giants 31 Falcons 17

Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) @ Denver Broncos (8-8) - Sunday, 4:30 PM EST, CBS

Everyone is considered about the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive injury woes, with losing running back Rashard Mendenhall for the entire playoffs and quarterback Ben Roethisberger nursing a severe ankle sprain. However, being a Steelers fan myself, I would say that the team isn't giving it much thought. Head coach Mike Tomlin and his players are focused on how they are going to win this football game. The Denver Broncos and quarterback Tim Tebow are the favorite topic of discussion for the media. Everyone has an opinion, and they are convinced they're right. While I do have an opinion, I will avail you of listening to that. What I will tell you is the facts. The Broncos have backed into the playoffs on a three game losing streak. In those games, Tebow has played poorly. For them to have any chance, he is going to have to play well against what is a tough Steelers defense. While it probably won't be a pretty game, I think the Steelers will do enough to win and live to play another day. Prediction: Steelers 20 Broncos 3

Wrestling in Iowa Isn't Just Political

While there has been a lot of political wrestling going on because of the state's recent caucus, the sport of collegiate wrestling has had a foothold in the state of Iowa for a long time. The state's very first title was won by little Cornell College in 1947. Many of the state's schools today still have fine wrestling programs. In fact, the state of Iowa collectively has an opportunity to do something a state has never done in NCAA history before. That is having the number one ranked team in the Division I, Division II, and Division III polls in the same sport.

Call Iowa stubborn if you wish, but Iowans are proud of their wrestling. "Wrestling is part of the culture. In just about every small town in the state wrestling is the top program. A lot of the sport's icons come from Iowa," commented Cornell coach Mike Duroe. The legend of state lore is Dan Gable. Gable won two NCAA titles for Iowa State, an Olympic gold medal in 1972, and coached Iowa to 15 team championships. In regards to this, Wartburg head coach Jim Miller said, "I think the state of Iowa has always taken pride in college athletics. You can drive across the state and see school emblems on barns, see the schools they are supporting. It really blew up with Gable. He raised the awareness of the non-wrestling fans and made them acknowledge that we weren't just seeing the best in the country but the best in the world."

Let's begin are look at Iowan collegiate wrestling today with the small schools, Division III. But just because they are small does not mean, they don't take it seriously. In case you didn't know, NCAA Division III schools aren't allowed to give athletic scholarships, which means that all these guys are wrestling because of their love for the sport. Five Iowan schools are currently in the top 16 of the NWCA rankings, led by #1 Wartburg. This comes as no surprise as the Knights have won eight DIII titles since 1996, including three of the last four. The state's other ranked schools are #5 Coe, #6 Cornell, #11 Luther, and #16 Dubuque.

The only Division II school in Iowa is Upper Iowa. Since joining DII in 2005, the Peacocks have been flexing their muscle on the mat. They are currently #2 in the DII polls. Upper Iowa head coach Heath Grimm understands the importance of maintaining success no matter who you are competing against. Grimm stated that, "Coaches have a big responsibility to continue with that tradition."

Then, there are the big boys of Division I, University of Iowa, Iowa State, and Northern Iowa. The Iowa State Cyclones are currently on the outskirts of the rankings looking in. Everyone in DI though is looking up at the #1 Iowa Hawkeyes. The Hawkeyes are 6-0 as a team so far and have been wrestling very well.

Now, let's look at what this means in retrospect to this weekend. DIII #1 Wartburg looks to hold its spot atop the rankings when they travel to Springfield, Illinois to North Central College to take on the hosts, Dubuque, and other schools. DII #2 Upper Iowa hopes to surpass #1 Newberry with a win at the National Duals. DI #1 University of Iowa plays host to #2 Oklahoma State on Saturday night. This means that if the Knights, Peacocks, and Hawkeyes all win this weekend, the next NWCA polls to be released will feature an Iowan school atop each of their respective divisions.

Canadians...and Russians...and Americans...Oh My! [International College Hockey Adds An Exciting Twist]

It's a unique challenge for everyone involved; no matter if they represent the stars and stripes, salute the maple leaf, or wear red as they cross the Pacific. 


Face it. When American college hockey meets a Russian select team or takes on a neighboring Canadian squad, things can get exciting. Even in exhibition match-ups.


An "all-star team of Russia's junior league"; that's how one online article accurately described just who these Russian Red Star players actually are (http://rt.com/sport/hockey/mhl-red-stars-hockey/). These outstanding players from the junior level have been pooled together and shipped to the United States to play eight games, with six games against NCAA opponents, the finale being tonight's game against UMass-Lowell.

Thus far, the Red Stars have played well, yet can only claim a single victory to date.
     Loss: 1-5 (North Dakota)
     Win:  6-1 (Vermont)
     Loss: 4-6 (Yale)
     Loss: 2-3 (Northern Michigan)
     Loss: 1-2 (Notre Dame)

Despite the 1-4 record, the Russian Red Stars have only been outscored 17-14. They have a chance to leave a good taste in their mouth tonight, as they close out their trip at 7:00pm in Massachusetts.

                                                                   *    *   *
The Western Ontario Mustangs hold a solid record back in Canada: 13-7 overall, with a 13-3 conference record. Unfortunately for the Mustangs, that record has not translated well across the border.
   
     Loss: 0-4 (Notre Dame)
     Loss: 1-6 (Michigan State)
     Loss: 4-7 (Harvard)
     Loss: 2-4 (Dartmouth)
     Loss: 2-3 (Lake Superior State)

Despite being outscored 24-9 in five games, the Mustangs can hope that the experience will only boost their season as they re-start collegiate play back in Canada. These are college kids, after all; it doesn't take rocket science to look at the results, find the film tape, and learn how to improve. The Mustangs should be ready for a big second half of the season.

When international teams face off at the rink, it provides a bit of incentive for exhibition games.
There is the opportunity to improve skills.
There's the chance to tune-up for the weekends conference game.
There the possibility for the third and fourth lines to get some extra time on the ice.

And, of course, there's national pride.


http://www.westernmustangs.ca/index.aspx?path=mhockey (Western Ontario)
http://rt.com/sport/hockey/mhl-red-stars-hockey/  (Article on Red Stars)
http://www.uscho.com/   (US College Hockey Online)

Murray State Races Out to 15-0 Start

Basketball in Kentucky has been dominated by the University of Kentucky for a long time. But right now the Wildcats don't have the best record in the state. That belongs to Murray State. Tonight, the Racers beat Eastern Kentucky 76-67 to improve to 15-0 on the season. They are now one win away from tying the school's all-time best start which was set in 1935-36. This is the same Murray State team that pulled an upset of Vanderbilt at the buzzer in last year's NCAA tournament.

So how are they getting it done? Murray State has been shooting the ball very well and playing some great defense. As a team, their field goal percentage is .488, which is 17th best in the country. The team does need to work on their rebounding though, especially if they can't keep the hot shooting up. They rank 270th in the nation when it comes to grabbing boards.

The Racers have three main guys leading the way. Tonight, junior Isaiah Canaan scored his 1,000th point. Canaan is dual-threat guard based in the fact that he is both the team's leading scorer and assist man. Senior Donte Poole likes the three ball and connected on three tonight. He was the leading scorer in the game with a season-high 22 points. Tonight's game also showed that the Racers have some depth as they were without senior Ivan Aska. The team is not sure how long Aska will be out with a broken bone in his hand. While he is out, the team will miss his 6-7 frame. At times during tonight's game, Murray State was playing four guards. It is clear that they need Aska to return as soon as possible.

Now, let's look at their schedule. How good really is their record? They've beaten three Conference USA teams. That includes a double overtime win over a 14-2 Southern Miss team and a four point win over a ranked Memphis team. They also beat Dayton, a team that has been in the national conversation, by a convincing 17 points. While their schedule isn't overwhelming, it still has some quality wins so far.

So I know what you are thinking. Is Murray State capable of running the table? It is definitely possible. They are already 3-0 in conference play. None of the other Ohio Valley Conference teams have looked particularly tough. But that doesn't mean all those teams won't be pumped to try and be the team that ends the perfect season. Murray State's next game is Saturday at Austin Peay. The Racers have passed the half-way point of their season-long marathon. Now what remains to be seen is whether or not they can finish it perfect.

Orange You Glad There's More Bowl Games

What a week of bowl games we've had so far this week! The Orange Bowl is the next in line. The Clemson Tigers look for their first win in Orange Bowl since 1981, when they won the game and their first and only national championship. The West Virginia Mountaineers look to improve to 3-0 in BCS bowl games.

Everything seemed to be going right for Clemson. The Tigers were 8-0 and eyeing a chance at the BCS title game. They had already hammered Virginia Tech 23-3 in Blacksburg, a feat that has rarely happened during the Frank Beamer era. But then all of a sudden everything started going wrong. They lost three out of four games, and the only one they won they had to come from behind in. However, they still managed to back into the ACC Championship Game, a rematch with a Virginia Tech team hungry for revenge. Almost everyone picked the Hokies to win, but Clemson shocked us once again. They looked like the team of the first-half season in a convincing 38-10 rout. It was still a great overall season for Clemson. It was the Tigers first ACC title since 1991 and first ten win season since 1990.

West Virginia has had an up-and-down season. The Mountaineers were 3-0 before getting crushed by LSU. They won two more games, but then lost two out of three in Big East play. West Virginia finished conference play with three straight wins and got some help from Cincinnati to earn the conference's automatic bid to earn a BCS bowl. Fans have complained and experts have critiqued that the Mountaineers don't deserve to be playing in a BCS bowl because of how supposedly soft the Big East is. I don't buy it. Yes, they lost to LSU, but they beat Maryland. Sure they lost some conference games, but so did every other team not in the BCS title game. The Big East is 2-1 in bowl games so far. The ACC and Pac 12 are 2-5 in bowl games so far. Why haven't I heard that Clemson doesn't belong in this game? West Virginia is in this game and will have a point to prove. They have won these games before and have showed the supposed experts then too.

Okay, I will stop ranting now. Let's look at the on-field matchup of the two teams. This one should be another offensive juggernaut of a game. Both teams have averaged at least 33 points per game. The quarterback matchup is a great one between Clemson's Tajh Boyd and West Virginia's Geno Smith. Smith has the edge in passing yards, while Boyd threw for six more touchdowns. Boyd's favorite targets include two AP All-Americans in tight end Dwayne Allen and freshman wide receiver Sammy Watkins. Smith's go-to man has been Stedman Bailey, who caught 67 passes for a school-record 1197 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. He also has Tavon Austin, who is often used in the slot and is one of the most dangerous return men in the nation. Austin's 191.2 all-purpose yards a game is second best in the country.

I think this game is going to be another stellar bowl game. Before the bowl season began, I picked Clemson to win, but I would be the first to say that West Virginia has an excellent chance of competing in and possibly winning this game. The offenses should have no trouble racking up the yards and points. This game might come down to which one of these defenses can get the key stop late in the game.

Denard Robinson's Transformation From Quiet Southern Boy to Michigan's Magnificent Magician

Denard Robinson had guts, but lacked some confidence. He grew up in a tough section of Deerfield Beach, a Fort Lauderdale suburb. But even he doubted he could play quarterback at a major college football power like Michael Vick did, they player he modeled his play after. He said, "When I got to high school, I was like, 'Hopefully, I can get to a Division II school.' I was undersized and I didn't know anyone would look at me. I was like, 'Hopefully, I can just get out of the city of Deerfield.'"

Most scouts and coaches saw Robinson as a stellar athlete, but few thought he could play quarterback at the next level. One man, named Rich Rodriguez, believed in him as a quarterback. Rodriguez had taken over as the head coach of the University of Michigan. He was in the process of instilling his spread offense and thought Robinson would be a great fit at the helm.

When Robinson walked into the Michigan locker room his freshman year, his teammates took a look at his dreadlocks and untied shoelaces and didn't know what to think. Denard says he is shy by nature and was a bit nervous and unsure at first. Michigan center David Molk said of Robinson at this point he was "a scared little kid who didn't know what to do." When they finally got him to talk, his words seemed to come out as fast as he ran. His teammates called his fast-talking southern drawl "Talking Florida." Once he got on the field, Molk knew they were in trouble. Molk gave Robinson some advice. "I told him to take out his mouthpiece when he talked. I couldn't understand anything."

Once that got straightened out, Coach Rodriguez decided Robinson was simply too talented to redshirt. In fact, he gave his true freshman quarterback his first shot under center in a game against Western Michigan. During Robinson's first play, he fumbled the snap before picking it up and maneuvering around and then outrunning everyone to the endzone. The now famous play can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1402kDBdTU. As a freshman, Robinson was obviously a great runner, but had a hard enough time catching snaps, let alone completing passes. As a result, he was forced to split time with fellow freshman quarterback Tate Forcier.

Many Michigan fans were surprised when Robinson won the starting job over Forcier their sophomore year. In the second game of the season against Notre Dame, he began to show why. In that game, he accounted for 502 of the Wolverines' 532 offensive yards. Everyone realized he had improved in the pocket and developed a passer's touch. But now people began to question his toughness and whether or not he was to frail. He didn't seem to have the comeback, playmaking that Forcier seemed to be able to produce. But Coach Rodriguez still believed in him.

However, Robinson's breakout season on the field wasn't enough to save his coach's job. The worst three-year span of football in University of Michigan history culminated in an embarrassing 52-14 dismantling by Mississippi State in the Gator Bowl. Coach Rodriguez was promptly fired. This concerned Robinson because he knew a new coach most likely meant a new system. He didn't know how he would fit into that new system. Robinson considered leaving, but realized his teammates were like his second family and he simply couldn't. It was a risky decision.

When new coach Brady Hoke came to Michigan from San Diego State, he brought offensive coordinator Al Borges with him. Borges ran a pro-style offense and let Robinson know he was in for a change right away. He said, "I told him from day one he wasn't going to rush for 1700 yards because we had to keep him in one piece if it killed us." Robinson clearly struggled at first. It could especially be seen in his footwork, which resulted in him throwing a career-high 14 interceptions. Whether or not Robinson liked it, he realized he was emerging as a leader on the team, and he embraced it. Even with Borges' more conventional approach, Robinson still struggled with injuries, the most serious of which was a staph infection his throwing arm, which hospitalized him for a night.

Robinson never complained though. He said, "There was a lot going on, but we had to fight through it. We just had to keep fighting. The Wolverines responded to Robinson's toughness and followed their leader's example to Michigan's first ten win season since 2007. Most importantly for Michigan fans, the season was capped off by their team's first victory over rival Ohio State since 2003. Not only did the Wolverines achieve that, but they earned an at-large bid to a BCS bowl, the Sugar Bowl.

In the Sugar Bowl, Robinson and the Wolverines take on the Hokies of Virginia Tech, the team his childhood idol Michael Vick played for. Not only that, but this game is taking place in the same building where Vick had his most memorable college moment as he played against Florida State in the BCS title game. While all eyes will be watching Robinson tomorrow night, he won't want any of the credit. Robinson said, "Everyone is praising me at that time. I want to give God the praise because He is the one who put me in the position to do what I do." Oh and if you are wondering if he will back for his senior season year at Michigan, Robinson flashed his smile and said, "Oh yeah. I expect to be back." Denard Robinson, affectionately nicknamed Shoelace, has matured a lot during his Michigan career so far, and you might even be able to understand what he says in the post-game interview thanks to his second family, his teammates.

BCS Bowls Burst on the Scene Among a Full Slate of Monday Matchups

There are six big bowl games being played on Monday, January 2, 2012. Here are some previews and predictions. Games are listed in order in which they will take place chronologically.

TicketCity Bowl - #19 Houston (12-1) vs. #22 Penn State (9-3) - 12:00 PM EST, ESPNU

This bowl game isn't where either of these teams hoped they would end up. As a result, motivation might be a struggle for both teams. The Houston Cougars were 12-0 entering the Conference USA Championship Game. All they needed was to win the game, and they would get the berth to a BCS bowl. However, Southern Miss pulled the upset, so the Cougars have to settle for this bowl. Normally, a nine win season for a Big Ten team would earn them one of the conference's more desired bowl games. Unfortunately for Penn State, many bowl committees passed them up because of the scandal that devastated the program. Just when you thought things couldn't get any worse for the Nittany Lions, they did. The team has ruled out starting quarterback Matt McGloin, with a concussion from a fight with a teammate in their locker room. Houston is of course known by their record-setting quarterback Case Keenum. He will have a tough matchup against a Penn State defense that ranks #5 in the nation against the pass. Prediction: Houston 27 Penn State 16

TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl - Ohio State (6-6) vs. Florida (6-6) - 1:00 PM EST, ESPN2

In most seasons, this matchup would most likely be a regular season headliner or BCS bowl, but this year isn't a typical year for either team as both finished a disappointing 6-6. Ohio State lost their last three games of the season. In fact, the Buckeyes finished with a losing record in Big Ten play for the first time since 1999. Florida lost six of their last eight. The storyline of this game is that it pits coach Urban Meyer's former team against his future team. While he will have no actual role in the game, most of the talk surrounding the game will be about him, rather than the mediocre football being played on the field. Prediction: Florida 27 Ohio State 24

Outback Bowl - #17 Michigan State (10-3) vs. #16 Georgia (10-3) - 1:00 PM EST, ABC

Both of these teams look to bounce back from disappointing losses in their respective conference championship games. Michigan State lost a hard fought battle against Wisconsin 42-39. Georgia, which entered their game with #1 LSU on a ten game winning streak, saw their streak snapped as they were manhandled by a far superior Tigers team, 42-10. The quarterback matchup should be a good one. The Spartans' Kirk Cousins finished his senior season strong, throwing 13 touchdowns and only 2 interceptions during a five game span. The Bulldogs' sophomore quarterback, Aaron Murray, had a strong season as well, but struggled against LSU's stringent defense to end the season. While both of these offenses are capable of putting points on the scoreboard, I expect this game to be a lower scoring one because of the dominance of both of these defenses. Both finished in the top five in of the FBS in total defense. Prediction: Georgia 20 Michigan State 10

Capital One Bowl - #20 Nebraska (9-3) vs. #9 South Carolina (10-2) - 1:00 PM EST, ESPN

South Carolina is one win away from its winningest season in school history. In order to achieve that, they are going to have to overcome a few things. One would be their own history in bowl games, having lost their last three. They are also going to have to slow down Nebraska's challenging offense, led by dual-threat quarterback Taylor Martinez and running back Rex Burkhead. The Huskers' offense won't have an easy task themselves either as they match up against a Gamecocks defense that ranks #4 in the FBS in total defense and is led by first-team All-American defensive end Melvin Ingram. Nebraska has to be a little disappointed on not making it to a BCS bowl in their first year in the Big Ten, but overall it was a solid year for the team. They would love to cap it off with a bowl win. Prediction: South Carolina 20 Nebraska 17

Rose Bowl - #10 Wisconsin (11-2) vs. #5 Oregon (11-2) - 5:00 PM EST, ESPN

Both these teams are familiar to BCS games in recent years, but both are looking for their first win. Wisconsin was in the Rose Bowl last year, but lost to an undefeated TCU team. Oregon is making their third straight BCS bowl game appearance. The Ducks lost to Ohio State in the Rose Bowl two years ago and to Auburn in the BCS title game last season. This year's matchup might result in the highest scoring Rose Bowl ever. Both offenses rank in the top five in total offense in the nation and neither have scored less than 27 points in a game all season. Both offenses feature standout quarterbacks and running backs. Wisconsin's quarterback Russell Wilson is one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the country, completing 72.5% of his passes while throwing 31 touchdowns and only 3 interceptions. The Badgers' running back Montee Bell finished the season as a Heisman finalist with a total of 1759 rushing yards and 32 touchdowns. Oregon's quarterback Darron Thomas finished with 2493 passing yards and 30 passing touchdowns. The Ducks' explosive running back LaMichael James averaged 7.4 yards per carry, while rushing for 1646 yards and 17 touchdowns. This one seems set to be a shootout. Prediction: Wisconsin 38 Oregon 35

Tostitos Bowl - #4 Stanford (11-1) vs. #3 Oklahoma State (11-1) - 8:30 PM EST, ESPN

The Tostitos Bowl this year is all about teams trying to prove a point. Stanford wants to showcase quarterback Andrew Luck and let everyone know that they have a complete football team. Luck is being hailed as the greatest quarterback prospect since John Elway. Oklahoma State wants the NCAA and viewers to realize that the BCS is a screwed up system and that they should be playing in the national championship game. This game obviously features two prolific, high scoring offenses. The Cardinal offense revolves around Luck, who threw for 35 touchdown passes during the season, and tight end Coby Fleener, who is the most productive tight end in the nation. The Cowboys offense features quarterback Brandon Weeden, who threw for 34 touchdown passes, and wide receiver Justin Blackmon, who caught 113 passes for 1336 yards and 15 touchdowns. If you thought that wasn't enough offense, Cowboys running back Joseph Randle also ran for 1193 yards and 23 touchdowns. You thought the Rose Bowl was going to be high scoring, but this one might be even higher scoring. It might me a shootout between the bowls to see who can score the most combined points. Prediction: Oklahoma State 48 Stanford 31