Saturday Night Bowl Games: Texas vs. Oregon State, Michigan State vs. TCU
By Ty Duffy
Alamo Bowl: The Longhorns were a disappointment. Oklahoma obliterated them. They lost two games to mediocre teams at home. The discord was palpable. Offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin left for Arkansas State. Manny Diaz considered following him out the door. Texas hoped an Alamo Bowl win will provide a palliative for Mack Brown heading into 2013. The program may have graver concerns than wins and losses. Oregon State surprised most, fighting off a quarterback controversy and going 9-3 through a tough Pac 12 schedule and finishing in the Top 15.
Torn on this game. The spread seems about dead on. Texas has huge bust potential and a lot more talent. Oregon State seldom distances themselves from their opponent. Unsure, we’ll take the points. Recreational Prediction: Texas [+3.5]
Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl: Michigan State had an unfortunate year. They were No. 4 nationally in yards per play defense and 105th in yards per play offense. They lost five Big Ten games by a combined 10 points in regulation. Had their offense been merely bad instead of awful, the Spartans might have finished 10-2 instead of 6-6. TCU had a better season. Despite losing quarterback Casey Pachall to internal demons, the Horned Frogs finished a solid 7-5. Importantly, they won at Texas on Thanksgiving.
LeVeon Bell with rested legs should be a bad matchup for TCU. The Horned Frogs should have a hard time moving the ball. Michigan State wins an ugly one. Recreational Prediction: Michigan State [+2]
[Photos via USA Today Sports]