Music City Bowl Preview

Franklin American Mortgage Company Music City Bowl

Time: 6:30

Channel: ESPN

Weather: 50 ° with a 50% chance of rain.

Commentators: Sean McDonough, Matt Millen & Holly Rowe

The Tennessee Vols look to cap off an improbable season with a bowl victory in the Music City Bowl. Its fitting that they landed in Nashville for a showdown with the North Carolina Tar Heels, as both teams have fought off obstacles to just make it to a bowl game. Tennessee started the year off a disheartening 2-6 under first year coach Derek Dooley but upon inserting freshman sensation QB Tyler Bray for Matt Simms, the Vols and their once anemic offense took off. Bray would spark a unit that was previously ranked near the bottom of all the major passing categories in the SEC. Bray was just sensational in his 4 start as he took home freshmen of the week honors in two of his starts. Tauren Poole and the run game also benefited from Bray’s presence in the pocket. The Vols rolled to four straight victory earning them there second consecutive bowl berths. This is basically a home game for the Vols as the expected crowd is predicted to be 90% in Vol Orange. Local players like Eric Gordon, James Stone and Marsalis Teague will have to find a lot of tickets to accommodate family and friends. Although this should make for a familiar atmosphere, it can sometime become a distraction before the game itself. Coach Derek Dooley will be participating in just his second bowl game and is also learning the ropes of the bowl game aura as this basically amounts to a home bowl game in Nashville.

The North Carolina Tar Heels season has been mired in controversy. They started off the season suspending thirteen players including standouts defensive end Marvin Austin and Michael McAdoo, starting cornerbacks Kedric Burney and Charles Brown, wide out Greg Little, Tailbacks Shaun Draughn and Ryan Houston; safeties Brian Gupton, Da'Norris Searcy and Jonathan Smith; and defensive end Linwan Euwell for receiving improper benefits. And yet another scandal rocked Chapel Hill as the NCAA investigated a former tutor who was employed by the University committed academic misconduct by performing players’ papers for class. And lastly (I promise you North Carolina I’m not trying to pile on your guys) assistant John Blake was accused of setting up a meeting between an active college athlete and an agent could be a major NCAA violation. Blake resigned as the defensive line coach at UNC amid allegations that he was siphoning Tar Heel players to an agent. That is just the type of year it has for the guys in powder blue. Even with all the off-field distractions Coach Butch Davis and his team have weathered the storm though and finished up with a 7-5 record and were in contention for the ACC Coastal division to very end. While speaking of suspension, yet another was handed down for the Tar Heels as starting running back Anthony Elzy was suspended for as Coach Butch Davis termed it “Failure to meet his obligations as a student-athlete”.



Keys to the game:

1. T.J Yates vs. Tennessee defense: Yates was the glue that held this ravaged roster together as he finished the regular season with 3,184 yards and 18 touchdowns. His 148.78 passer efficiency was good enough for second in the conference. Tennessee will have to find a way to counter Yates. The Vols secondary actually is best unit they have on defense with the likes of Janzen Jackson and Prentiss Waggner. If the Vols can frustrate Yates it could lead to turnovers as Yates has been prone to interceptions. Who ever win this match-up will have the inside track to winning the game.

2. Tyler Bray’s Poise vs. North Carolina’s Pass Rush: North Carolina came into this year boasting a defensive line that featured two projected NFL draft picks in Mario Austin and Michael McAdoo but due to the suspensions at the beginning neither player has played a down for the Tar Heels this year. Even without those two they’ve managed 25.0 sacks. Bray has stood tall all year since he was handed the keys to the Vols offense but he is still a freshman. The Tar Heels must get pressure on him if they expect to have chance in this one.

3. Turnover battle: The team that usually wins the turnover battle wins the game and both North Carolina and Tennessee prove that theory to be true. North Carolina is +6 in that department this year and UT is +2 so neither team is terrible at this statistic. When teams are this evenly matched as they are in this one, it’s the little mistakes that lead to turnovers that so often determine the game.



Prediction: This is a game of evenly matched teams. Both have good passing games and decent running attacks. The difference in the game will be which defense can apply pressure to the opposing QB. UT will also have the crowd on their side and should use that to their advantage. I can’t go against the “home” team on this one. UT 28-24

College Football Weekend Setup

Week 7 in college football is upon us, and after a topsy turvy week 6 things are getting interesting now. With top ranked Alabama going down, it has opened the door for other teams to get into the national championship. The most benefiting will be the non AQ schools Boise State and TCU. It’s a shame because Bama just had an off day. Even with the lost, if you gave me the Crimson Tide on a neutral field against any team in country, I would still take Bama. And now to the weekend’s best games and upset special’s.

Ohio State vs. Wisconsin – This is the game of the year so far in the Big Ten. Ohio State has not been really tested so far this year playing the likes of Marshall, University of Ohio, Eastern Michigan and Illinois. That schedule is not scaring anyone. The Buckeyes do have enough talent to make it to the National Championship but they only will go as far as Terelle Pryor will take them and so far this year that has been a very good place. The Badgers come in to this game knowing that for them to have any shot at the Rose Bowl or better they will have to win this game with the one loss they already have courtesy of Sparty. This will be a slugfest featuring the Badgers power run game led by John Clay vs. the electric Pryor and his plethora of options for the Buckeyes. The Pick: Ohio State



Arkansas vs. Auburn – The SEC showdown of the week features two SEC west teams vying for a claim to the SEC west title. Auburn, the beneficiaries of Bama’s stumble in Columbia, has the inside track to the division. They must first deal with a Razorback team with Ryan Mallet at the helm. He is a proven leader and has to attest the bad performance down the stretch against Alabama wasn’t the best he has to offer. The Tigers have been a pleasant surprise to most and seem to rolling on all cylinders. The play of Cam Newton has brought a sort on energy and swagger to this team. I just don’t see any answers for him in Arkansas’s defense. The Pick: Auburn

Texas vs. Nebraska – It’s hard to get a good read on the Longhorns. One week they are flat getting run over by UCLA and the next week they are playing Oklahoma to the last down. I think this is exactly what they are, an inconsistent team that will have its good and bad games. This is what happens when you don’t have a reliable run game; teams can just worry about your passing. Garrett Gilbert can only be expected to do so much with so little. I don’t see the athletes at Texas that they’ve had in years past. The Huskers will present a big challenge because they run the ball so effectively. Taylor Martinez will run wild on you if you let him and so far every team he has faced has. Martinez also has a better than advertised arm, so if you do go for one of those play-action fakes he will burn you over the top. The Blackshirts of yester year are also back. The defense is loaded and don’t think that Nebraska has forgot what happen last year in the Big 12 championship game. If you don’t believe me just go to there website, they have been waiting on this one since the clock stopped in that game. Bo Pellini will have that motivation for his boys on his side. The Pick: Nebraska



Game of the Week – Ohio State vs. Wisconsin: Can Ohio State beat up on Wisconsin the way it has on all its other opponents?

Most Intriguing game- Iowa vs. Michigan: Can Denard Robinson bounce back from a sub par game and can Iowa avenge its first lost of the season?

Rivalry Game of the week- Cal vs. USC: Who needs this win more Lane Kiffin or Jeff Tedford?

Under the radar game- Oklahoma State vs. Texas Tech: Ok State is undefeated but hasn’t really played a good team yet.

Coach better get it right game- North Carolina vs. Virginia: Amid all the allegations involving his program, Butch Davis has a lot of explaining to do but if he wins and continues to win the chatter may simmer down a bit.