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No. 9 Penn State faces No. 12 Washington in Fiesta Bowl
December 29, 2017

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) No. 9 Penn State (10-2) vs. No. 12 Washington (10-2), Dec. 30, 4 p.m. EST

Line: Penn State by 2 1/2

Series Record: Penn State leads 2-0.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

Two teams that were early-season contenders for a national title look to close out an 11th win on the season and earn a major bowl title.

KEY MATCHUP

Penn State RB Saquon Barkley against Washington's defense. Saquon Barkley. Once a top contender for the Heisman Trophy, Barkley rushed for 1,134 yards and 16 touchdowns. He'll be going against a Washington defense that was No. 1 in the FBS against the run, allowing 92.3 yards per game.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Penn State: QB Trace McSorley. The senior threw for 3,228 yards and 26 touchdowns with eight interceptions while completing 65 percent of his passes.

Washington: QB Jake Browning. The prolific junior holds numerous school records and threw for 2,544 yards and 18 touchdowns with five interceptions this season.

FACTS & FIGURES

Penn State has never lost in six appearances in the Fiesta Bowl. ... Washington WR Dante Pettis holds the NCAA record with nine punt returns for touchdowns, including four this season. ... Penn State beat Washington 13-10 in the 1983 Aloha Bowl in the teams' last meeting. ... Washington is making its first appearance in the Fiesta Bowl.

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Fiesta Bowl Notes
December 29, 2017

There was a time in this season when the Penn State Nittany Lions were the third-favorites to win the National Championship. At that point, PSU was ranked No. 2 in the country, and Saquon Barkley was the odds-on favorite to win the Heisman Trophy.

The Nittany Lions were beaten twice in short order thereafter, ending their title dreams while Barkley ultimately didn't even end up being a Heisman finalist.

Still, James Franklin can bag an 11th win for a second straight season if the Nittany Lions can beat the Washington Huskies in the 2017 Fiesta Bowl.

Mr. Do-It-All

Barkley didn't deserve the Heisman Trophy this year, but we think he belonged in New York nonetheless.

Barkley busted onto the scheme last year in the Rose Bowl when he rushed for 194 yards and caught five passes for 55 yards, accounting for three touchdowns.

Barkley had 1,134 rushing yards, 594 receiving yards, 426 return yards and 36 passing yards this year, accounting for 22 total touchdowns.

Washington's Big Play Star is Back

Some team is going to be really lucky to get Dante Pettis next year. He's one of the most explosive special teams players we've ever seen come out of college, and he's a pretty darn good wide receiver, too.

Pettis owns the all-time FBS record for career punt return touchdowns. He's also scored 22 touchdowns as a receiver in the last two seasons.

But Pettis sprained his ankle in the Apple Cup against Washington State, taking him out of the biggest game of the season. The Huskies won the game anyway, but they're going to have a tough time doing so if Pettis isn't playing at full strength.

Sprained ankles could be weird, especially for men who base their game off of their elusiveness and their ability to cut on a dime.

Nittany Lions' ATS Dominance

Penn State went 3-0-1 ATS this year in non-conference games, but that's only the beginning for why it has been one of the best teams to wager on, game in and game out.

The Nittany Lions are 9-2-2 ATS in their last 13 games against teams with winning records and are 16-4-2 ATS in their last 22 games overall.

Even last year in the Rose Bowl, Penn State covered USC in spite of the fact that it lost the dramatic game.

A Fiesta for Favorites

There are some memorable moments of incredible upsets in the Fiesta Bowls of yesteryear. UCF upsetting Baylor in 2014 comes to mind while the most-recognizable game in Fiesta Bowl history was Boise State's victory over Oklahoma.

However, if you go back and look at the recent history of this game, it's been all about favorites. Last year, Clemson was a short favorite in the Fiesta Bowl. The Tigers beat up Ohio State 31-0 in that game, marking the third-straight season the favorite both won and covered the Fiesta Bowl.

This is even better news for Penn State backers.

Fiesta Bowl Game Odds for Saturday, December 30
Washington vs. Penn State (-1.5, 55.5)

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Orange Bowl Notes
December 29, 2017

The Miami Hurricanes and Wisconsin Badgers were both on the verge of the College Football Playoff heading into conference championship week. Neither one ultimately got the job done in their biggest games of the season, but the fact that they're both getting a chance to play in the New Year's Six isn't a bad consolation prize.

"The U" is Back

Mark Richt has done a remarkable job with his alma mater. The Hurricanes have won 10 games for the first time since 2003. This is also their first trip to a New Year's Six/BCS game since '03 as well.

The biggest problem Miami had in the Al Golden and Randy Shannon eras was that it couldn't win a bowl game. The Hurricanes went 0-6 SU and ATS in six bowl games under their two previous coaches.

Richt won his first bowl game with the Canes in last year's Russell Athletic Bowl.

The Turnover Chain

Miami enters the bowl season No. 4 in the nation in forced turnovers. The Hurricanes have found ways to turn over even the most careful teams in America, and they're going to have their work cut out for them against Wisconsin.

The Badgers did play one more game than most teams this year, but they ranked No. 105 in turnovers lost.

Alex Hornibrook is a decent game manager, but when he's forced to put the ball in air, there are problems. He was picked off twice in the Big Ten Championship Game. When he needed to drive the ball down the field to win the Big Ten and get into the CFP, it never felt like he had a shot against the Ohio State defense.

Spreading Sunshine at the Orange Bowl

Florida teams have a great history of playing in the Orange Bowl. Last year, Florida State was an underdog against Michigan and pulled off a 33-32 upset. The last time a Florida team was beaten in the Orange Bowl was in 2006.

Miami last played in the Orange Bowl in 2004, a 16-14 win over hated FSU.

Meanwhile, Big Ten teams haven't had any luck in South Beach. Iowa was the last Big Ten team to win the Orange Bowl in 2010. Since then, Ohio State and Michigan have both lost this game.

Bouncing Back

The Badgers went 8-5 ATS this year. Every time they failed to cover, they bounced back the very next game and posted an ATS victory.

Wisconsin's fifth failed attempt at beating the spread came in the Big Ten Championship Game. Just remember that last season, the Badgers were in the same boat. They were beaten in the Big Ten title game and played in a New Year's Six bowl game. They did beat Western Michigan but ultimately didn't cover the spread.

Miami, meanwhile, is 0-4 ATS in games after scoring fewer than 20 points in its previous game.

The Hurricanes have had a history of slacking in games where things either start to go wrong or aren't all that important. They were beaten up badly by Pittsburgh in the last game of the regular season when they knew they would reach the College Football Playoff with a win over Clemson. Then when the ACC Championship Game started to go south, there was no pulse shown the rest of the way.

Considering the downgrade from the CFP to the Orange Bowl, Richt is going to have a tough time keeping his team motivated.

Orange Bowl Game Odds for Saturday, December 30
Wisconsin vs. Miami (+5.5, 45)

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After the storm: Wisconsin, Miami find way to Orange Bowl
December 29, 2017

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) The only common opponent for Wisconsin and Miami this season has no home stadium, made no bowl game and most assuredly has no fan base.

It wasn't even a football team.

Hurricane Irma hit Miami, not Madison, though the devastating storm left a lasting impact on both programs. Miami was forced from its campus for more than a week because of the storm - as was Florida Atlantic, which played at Wisconsin on Sept. 8 and became the Badgers' guests for several days afterward until it was safe for the Owls to return to their storm-struck home.

So maybe it's fitting that No. 6 Wisconsin (12-1) and No. 10 Miami (10-2) were paired for the Orange Bowl, which will be played on the Hurricanes' home field on Saturday night.

''I think any time you're around other people and you get a chance to learn, you're appreciative of what you've got,'' said Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst, whose team will vie for a school-record 13th win on the season. ''It was just college kids being good to other college kids. It was pretty cool.''

Most of Miami's coaches and players ended up riding out Irma in Orlando, since that was the nearest spot where the Hurricanes could both escape the storm's wrath and find enough hotel space to have everyone together.

The time made Miami get closer as a team, and coach Mark Richt said that clearly helped during the season. And he also has great respect for what Wisconsin did, opening its home to FAU.

''There's good people everywhere in America, and everybody knows when there's an issue and some type of catastrophic storm coming or whatever it may be, everybody is like what can we do to help?'' Richt said. ''What can we do to help?''

Irma cost Miami a bye week and necessitated a change in the date of the Florida State game, so the Hurricanes played on 11 consecutive weekends - and it took a toll. Miami's worst two games, and its only losses, were on the last two weeks of that grind. Miami limped to the finish line, and was simply overmatched in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game against Clemson.

''There's no doubt that we paid the price,'' Miami defensive coordinator Manny Diaz said.

But they're fresh now after basically a month off, and will need to be against the Badgers - a team that was one win from the College Football Playoff.

''You know, we could obviously finish in the top 10. That would be big,'' Richt said. ''Get 11 victories, which would be nice. So I mean, there's a lot of things. But if you look at the things that Wisconsin is playing for, they've got some pretty strong motivation, as well.''

---

Here's some of what to know going into Saturday's Orange Bowl:

TIES THAT BIND: Miami offensive coordinator Thomas Brown was on Chryst's staff at Wisconsin - briefly. Chryst was hired in December 2014 and initially retained Brown, who ended up leaving in February 2015 to join Richt at Georgia. ''I have great respect for him and the way he runs his program,'' Brown said of Chryst. ''Obviously I met with him a little bit before I left, and he's a great offensive mind. ... It'll be a tough matchup for us.''

RARE TRIP: Wisconsin is the fifth Big Ten school to appear in the Orange Bowl. Teams from that conference are 4-4 in eight previous appearances, the last win being Iowa's 24-14 victory over Georgia Tech in 2009.

BACK IN ORANGE: Miami is in the Orange Bowl for the 10th time, going 6-3 in its previous appearances. The last came to end the 2003 season, when the Hurricanes topped Florida State 16-14. And although this will be called a neutral-site game, Miami is 7-0 at Hard Rock Stadium this season.

SEEKING 13: Granted, teams for decades didn't play as many games as teams do now - but Wisconsin still has a shot at a Big Ten rarity. The Badgers could become the fifth team in conference history to win at least 13 games, joining Ohio State (14 in 2014), Michigan State (13 in 2013), Ohio State (14 in 2002) and Minnesota (13 in 1904).

PLAYOFF IN 2018: Wisconsin and Miami would be well-served to strive for a return appearance in the Orange Bowl next season, since it'll again be one of the two College Football Playoff semifinal games.

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Wisconsin, Miami match up in Orange
December 29, 2017

No. 6 Wisconsin (12-1, CFP No. 6) vs. No. 11 Miami (10-2, CFP No. 10), Dec. 30, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Line: Wisconsin by 4 1/2.

Series record: Tied, 2-2.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

Wisconsin is bidding for the first 13-win season in school history, and possibly its best year-end finish in the AP Top 25 since ending No. 4 in 1999. Miami is looking for its first 11-win season since 2003, and a second consecutive bowl victory.

KEY MATCHUP

Miami RB Travis Homer vs. Wisconsin front seven. The Hurricanes must be able to run the ball in this game, in order to give a depleted receiving corps a chance. Wisconsin is giving up 3.0 yards per carry and has allowed five rushing touchdowns all season.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Wisconsin: RB Jonathan Taylor. The freshman is for real, with 1,847 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. He's had at least one carry of 40 or more yards in seven of the Badgers' 13 games. But he's coming off a Big Ten title game where Ohio State found a way to keep him bottled up, and it'll be interesting to see how he rebounds.

Miami: WR Braxton Berrios. He's going to be seriously missed by the Hurricanes next season. He graduated with a 3.96 GPA, leads Miami in catches and is one touchdown catch from becoming the fifth Hurricane since 2000 with 10 TD grabs in a season. The others were Leonard Hankerson, Phillip Dorsett, Andre Johnson and Reggie Wayne.

FACTS & FIGURES

Miami is the second school to take a two-game losing streak into the Orange Bowl; LSU did it in 1943 and 1973. ... Wisconsin has finished the year as an AP top-five team three times (No. 3 in 1942, No. 2 in 1962, No. 4 in 1999). ... Miami will be the ''home'' team and on the ''home'' sideline in its home stadium, but the game is defined as neutral-site. ... Wisconsin has nine Floridians on its roster. ... Miami's Mark Richt was tabbed as the Atlantic Coast Conference coach of the year; Wisconsin's Paul Chryst was the consensus pick as the Big Ten's top coach. ... Both teams have been in every AP poll this season.

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Saturday's Early Bowl Tips
December 28, 2017

**Louisville vs. Mississippi State**

Taxslayer Bowl History

-- The Louisville Cardinals (8-4 straight up, 5-7 against the spread) of the Atlantic Coast Conference meet the Mississippi State Bulldogs (8-4 straight up, 7-5 against the spread) of the Southeastern Conference in a Power 5 matchup at EverBank Field in the Taxslayer Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla. Or, as old school football fans like to call it - The Gator Bowl.

-- The Cardinals had defending Heisman QB Lamar Jackson back under center to start the season, and things were looking up after a neutral-site win over Purdue and a road win at North Carolina to kick off the conference schedule. However, things went off the rails in a 47-21 thrashing from Clemson on Sept. 16 in the home opener. After rebounding with victories against creampuffs Kent State and FCS Murray State, it was North Carolina State humbling the Cards 39-25 in Raleigh on a Thursday night to effective change the dreams of Louisville. They didn't wake up, even with nine days to prepare for a home game against Boston College, losing 45-42. They rebounded with a nice win at Florida State on Oct. 21, and they finished with three straight wins and covers to close out the season, ending on a high note, including a 44-17 spanking of rival Kentucky in Lexington.

-- Offense is not a problem for Louisville. They ranked third in the nation in total yards per game (560.5), while checking in 13th in passing yards per game (310.6) and 14th in rushing yards per contest (249.9). They were also 11th in the country in scoring offense (39.0), while converting 88.2 percent of their field-goal tries to rank seventh overall in that category. The problems for the Cards are on the defensive side of the ball. They allowed a rather average 386.8 yards per game to rank 61st in the country. That's not terrible, but they allowed 232.8 yards per game through the air to rank 78th, while allowing 153.9 yards per game on the ground to check in 52nd. They allowed 27.1 points per game, which was only good for 70th in the land.

-- Jackson fell short in his pursuit to join Ohio State's Archie Griffin as the only back-to-back Heisman winner, but he did get invited to the ceremonies and ended up third overall. The quarterback had another stellard season, completing 60.4 percent of his pass attempts for 3,489 yards, 25 touchdowns and six interceptions, while leading the team with 1,443 rushing yards and 17 scores while gobbling up 6.9 yards per attempt. While his numbers were slightly down from his Heisman campaign, his completion percentage and yards per rush were actually much better. However, the fact that his team suffered four losses, and a couple of them ugly losses, hurt his chances to win the award.

-- When Jackson isn't running the ball, RB Malik Williams or former QB Reggie Bonnafon is toting the rock. Williams averaged 8.4 yards per carry with 518 rushing yards, while Bonnafon logged 446 yards and seven touchdowns, second only to Jackson. He also caught a touchdown out of the backfield. WR Jaylen Smith led the team with 53 receptions and 873 yards, and he found the end zone six times. Freshman WR Dez Fitzpatrick led the team in his initial campaign with nine touchdowns while averaging 15.5 yards per reception.

-- Unlike Louisville, it was Mississippi State starting out fairly well and then limping to the finish line. And, the Bulldogs are in a coaching transition, as Dan Mullen bolted for the head coaching job at Florida. The Bulldogs did record an impressive 37-7 win over Louisiana State back on Sept. 16, starting out 3-0 SU/ATS. They found out how good Auburn and Georgia were in the following two weeks, however, getting outscored 80-13 in two losses. They bounced back with four wins in a row to head into the Alabama game on a high note, and they gave the Crimson Tide a scare. However, Alabama came away with a 31-24 win in Starkville, although Mississippi State covered. The Bulldogs wrapped up their season with a 31-28 setback at home Thanksgiving night against rival Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl.

-- The Bulldogs do a lot of things well on offense, but passing isn't one of them. They ranked 45th in total yards per game (419.8), 15th in rushing yards per game (249.6) and 38th in scoring offense (32.1 PPG), and their kicking game is sound. However, they ranked just 110th in the country by posting 170.2 yards per game through the air. On defense, Mississippi State can hang with anyone, ranking 10th in total defense with just 302.0 yards per game allowed, 12th in the country in passing defense (175.0) and 23rd in rushing defense (127.0). They were also 25th in scoring defense (20.4).

-- QB Nick Fitzgerald led the charge through the air, completing 55.6 percent of his passes for 1,782 yards, 15 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, while also rushing for 984 yards and 14 touchdowns. He's like a poor man's Lamar Jackson, and he is sure to want to elevate his game in this showcase against the former Heisman winner. RB Aeris Williams can also rush the football well, going for 1,019 yards and five scores. No player had more than 275 receiving yards, but nine players had 128 or more receivng yards for the season. Again, passing isn't the team's strong suit, but there are several players capable of stepping up. WR Deddrick Thomas posted five touchdowns combined, and can be a threat.

-- The Cardinals have four of their past five overall, but they're just 2-7 ATS in the past nine against teams with a winning record and 1-6-1 ATS in the past eight games against teams from outside of the ACC.

-- The Bulldogs have covered five of their past seven against teams with a winning record, but they're 2-5 ATS in their past seven following a straight-up loss and 1-4 ATS in their past five tries against an ACC foes.

-- The under has cashed in four straight bowl games for Louisville, while going 5-0-1 in their past six neutral-site battles. The under is also 4-1 in their past five when stepping outside of the conference.

-- The under is 5-2 in Mississippi State's past seven games overall, but the 'over' is 4-1 in their past five tries against ACC teams while going 6-2 in their past eight following a non-cover in the previous outing.

-- Louisville was humbled by LSU in the Citrus Bowl last season, falling 29-9, but they are a respectable 3-2 SU in five bowl games overall against the SEC, including wins over Alabama in the 1990 Fiesta Bowl, Florida in the 2012 Sugar Bowl (a BCS game) and Texas A&M in the 2015 Music City Bowl.

-- Mississippi State has been very successful in bowl games dating all the way back to 1999. They won the St. Petersburg Bowl last season against Miami (Ohio), and they're 8-2 SU over the past 10 bowl games appearances. They lost in Jacksonville in their last appearance in the 2013 Gator Bowl to Northwestern, 34-20, but won the game on Jan. 1, 2011 against Michigan by a 52-14 score.

-- This is the first-ever meeting on the football field between these two schools.

-- Kickoff is slated for 12:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.

**Iowa State vs. Memphis**

Liberty Bowl History

-- In the Liberty Bowl, it's a home game for the Memphis Tigers (10-2 straight up, 7-4-1 against the spread) of the American Athletic Conference. They'll face the Iowa State Cyclones (7-5 straight up, 10-1-1 against the spread) of the Big 12 Conference.

-- There weren't a lot of people who pegged the Cyclones for a bowl game before the season began. They opened with a sound 42-24 win over FCS Northern Iowa, but Vegas didn't even think much of them by favoring them by just 10 points in that one. They lost a heartbreaker to Iowa in overtime, blowing a late 10-point lead to fall 44-41. They 'Clones were able to bounce back at Akron for a 41-14 win, but they fell at home to Texas on a Thursday night, 17-7, and appeared destined for mediocrity and/or a losing season. So not much was expected from Iowa State when they hit the road for Norman, Okla. on Oct. 7, and they were facing a huge mountain as 31-point underdogs. But Iowa State shocked the college football world with a 38-31 road win, and they went on to rattle off four wins in a row against Kansas, at Texas Tech and at home against Texas Christian, another college football heavyweight. They were cooled off a bit in a loss at West Virginia on Nov. 4, and at home against Oklahoma State in a controversial finish the next week. They also suffered a heartbreaker at Kansas State, 20-19, on Nov. 25. If things break a certain way late, perhaps with a more experienced team, this is a nine- or 10-win club.

-- The strength of Iowa State is the pass game. They ranked 33rd in the nation with 269.5 yards per game, but they were dismal in the run game with just 120.8 yards per game on the ground, good for 112th in the country. They were marginal in points scored, averaging 29.9 per outing. The field-goal game is good when it has to be, hitting 81.0 percent of their attempts to rank 35th in the country. On defense, Iowa State was 45th in total defense, allowing just 368.4 yards per outing. They were soft against the pass at times, allowing 234.2 yards per game, but 30th against the run (134.2) while yielding just 21.0 points per contest, good for 28th in the land.

-- QB Jacob Park needed to take a personal leave from the team earlier in the season, and he wasn't playing poorly. But QB Kyle Kempt stepped in and took things to a while new level, completing 66.8 percent of his pass attempts for 1,473 yards, 13 touchdowns and three interceptions. QB Zeb Noland also proved capable if needed, and with the writing on the wall in Ames, Park was released from his scholarship and allowed to transfer.

-- RB David Montgomery is a threat on the ground, amassing 1,095 yards with 11 touchdowns on his 234 attempts. Sheldon Croney Jr., a sophomore plucked from Southern California, showed glimpses of brilliance with 5.2 yards per carry, and is next in line. WR Allen Lazard posted 799 yards with nine combined touchdowns this season, and he had 13.1 yards per catch. He is the big-play guy for the Cyclones, and he has the size (6'5 and 222 pounds) to take it to the next level. WR Hakeem Butler posted 16.3 yards per catch with six touchdowns, and senior WR Marchie Murdock was a nice tertiary option in the pass game with 475 yards and five scores.

-- Hopefully the Iowa State secondary packed their track shoes, because they're going to be forced to run. Memphis ranked fourth in the country in total yards per game (548.2), ranking eighth in the nation in passing offense (339.1) and second in points scored (47.7). Their run game is often overlooked as a result, but they posted 209.1 yards per game on the ground to check in 29th. On defense, well, the Tigers didn't have much. They allowed 476.2 yards per game to rank 121st in the country, they allowed 279.4 yards per game through the air to rank 122nd, and they were just a tick better against the run, allowing 196.8 yards per game on the ground, good for 99th.

-- QB Riley Ferguson is the field general, and an underrated one as far as national attention is concerned. He completed 63.0 percent of his pass attempts for 3,971 yards, 36 touchdowns and just nine interceptions. He also ran for six touchdowns, but don't confuse him for a dual-threat option. RB Darrell Henderson was the lead back of a two-headed monster, posting 1,161 yards with nine touchdowns and 8.9 yards per attempt. When they need a little more muscle it's Patrick Taylor Jr., who bulled into the end zone 13 times with 5.8 yards per try. WR Anthony Miller has the potential to be a great one at the next level, similar to former Tigers WR Isaac Bruce. He posted 92 receptions for 1,407 yards and 17 touchdowns while averaging 15.3 yards per reception. WR Tony Pollard is overlooked, but he had a solid 14.7 yards per game with four scores, and senior WR Phil Mayhue was good for 30 grabs for 436 yards and a pair of scores.

-- Iowa State was an impressive 10-1-1 ATS in 12 games this season, including 5-0-1 ATS in six games on the road. They're 4-0 ATS across their past four non-conference games, 19-7-1 ATS in the past 27 overall and 10-1-1 ATS in their past 12 against teams with a winning overall record.

-- Memphis was no slouch against the number this season, either. They're 3-0-1 ATS in their past four at home and 6-1-1 ATS in the past eight overall. However, they are just 4-10-1 ATS in the past 15 against teams with a winning record, 1-4 ATS in the past five bowl games and a dismal 0-3-1 ATS in the past four home games against a team with a winning road record.

-- It's a tale of two teams as far as the totals are concerned. The 'under' is 6-1 in Iowa State's past seven. The 'over' is 5-1 in the past six for Memphis. The 'under' is 4-0 in Iowa State's past four road games. The 'over' is 19-7 in the past 26 at home for Memphis. The 'under' is 4-0-1 in the past five bowls for Iowa State. The 'over' is 5-2 in the past seven bowl games for Memphis. The 'under' is 4-1 in the past five against a winning team for ISU. The 'over' is 10-2 in the past 12 vs. a winning team for Memphis. Anyway, you get the picture.

-- Iowa State is back in a bowl for the first time since Dec. 31, 2012, when they fell 31-17 to Tulsa in the Liberty Bowl. They're 0-2 SU all-time in the Liberty Bowl, also falling 31-30 to Georgia Tech in the 1972 installment of the game when Johnny Majors was their head coach. Iowa State is just 3-9 SU all-time in bowls. This is their first trip with Matt Campbell at the helm.

-- Memphis has been to a bowl in four straight seasons, but they have dropped two in a row. They fell to Western Kentucky in the Boca Raton Bowl last season by a 51-31 count, and have dropped their past two bowl games by an average of 20.5 points. This will be the first-ever meeting against a Big 12 opponent in a bowl, and it's their first-ever appearance in the Liberty Bowl in their home stadium.

-- This is the first-ever meeting on the football field between these two institutions.

-- Kickoff is slated for 12:30 p.m. Eastern on ABC.

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CFB notebook: Swinney back at Sugar Bowl after 25 years
December 29, 2017

It has been 25 years, but Dabo Swinney is back in the Sugar Bowl.

Swinney, who is in his ninth season as head coach at Clemson, made his Sugar Bowl debut while a player at Alabama in 1992.

And, ironically, Clemson is playing Swinney's alma mater, Alabama, for the right to advance to a third consecutive national championship game.

Alabama defeated Clemson 45-41 two years ago, but Swinney's team gained a measure of revenge with a 35-31 victory against the Crimson Tide last year.

The Tigers are the No. 1 seed this time while Alabama is No. 4, but the game is expected to be close once again; in fact, Alabama is a three-point favorite.

"This will be a dandy, that's for sure," Swinney said.

--Tennessee running back John Kelly announced on his Instagram account he will bypass his senior season and enter the NFL draft.

Kelly rushed for 778 yards and nine touchdowns as a junior. Kelly rushed for 630 yards as a sophomore on just 98 carries.

Kelly projects as a third-round pick who could move higher based on his showing at the NFL combine. Here is a list of underclassmen who have announced their intention to enter the 2018 draft. The deadline to declare is Jan. 15.

--Nebraska quarterback Tanner Lee announced he will enter the NFL draft after a disappointing junior season.

Lee, who played his first two seasons at Tulane, generated preseason buzz as an NFL prospect, given his stature (6-foot-4, 220 pounds) and big arm. But while he seemed to be a good match for coach Mike Riley's pro-style system, Lee completed just 57.5 percent of his passes and was intercepted 16 times, tied for the second-highest total in the nation.

Lee, who passed for 3,143 yards and 23 touchdowns this season, could certainly intrigue scouts because of his raw physical tools, but he projects as a free-agent prospect for now, according to NFLDraftScout.com.

--NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Northwestern quarterback Clayton Thorson left the Music City Bowl on the second play of the second quarter Friday with a right knee injury.

Kentucky also lost a key player when its top running back, Benny Snell, was ejected for pushing Pac-12 referee Chris Coyte. Northwestern linebacker Paddy Fisher also was ejected in the first half when he was called for targeting.

Thorson caught a 24-yard pass from backup running back Jeremy Larkin and was tackled by linebacker Jordan Jones near the left sideline. Thorson immediately came up and grabbed his knee in obvious pain.

The 6-4, 225-pound junior was carted off the field. Thorson completed 4 of 8 passes for 35 yards before departing. He was replaced by senior Matt Alviti.

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2017 CFB Bowls Record:..............( BASED ON 5 UNITS )

DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD

12/29/2017 5-5-0 50.00% -2.50
12/28/2017 7-1-0 87.50% +29.50
12/27/2017 4-4-0 50.00% -2.00
12/26/2017 4-2-0 66.67% +9.00
12/23/2017 2-4-0 33.33% -12.00
12/22/2017 2-2-0 50.00% -1.00
12/21/2017 1-1-0 50.00% -0.50
12/20/2017 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00
12/19/2017 0-2-0 0.00% -11.00
12/16/2017 5-5-0 50.00% - 2.50

Totals...............32 - 26.........57.14%.....+17.00


Best Bets:..............ATS...............Units........ ..... .....O/U..................Units

12/29/2017....................2 - 3.................-6.50..................3 - 2................+4.00
12/28/2017....................4 - 0................+20.00................1 - 1.................-0.50
12/27/2017....................1 - 3.................-11.50................3 - 1.................+9.50
12/26/2017....................3 - 1.................+15.00...............0 - 1.................-5.50
12/23/2017....................1 - 2..................-6.00.................1 - 2.................-6.00
12/22/2017....................1 - 1..................-0.50.................1 - 1.................-0.50
12/21/2017....................0 - 1..................-5.50.................1 - 0................+5.00
12/20/2017....................1 - 0.................+5.00.................1 - 0................+5.00
12/19/2017....................0 - 1.................- 5.50.................0 - 1.................-5.50
12/16/2017....................3 - 2............,....+4.00.................2 - 3.................-6.50

Totals.............................16 - 13..............+10.50..............10 - 11...............-1.00

[StarDust Bum]

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

LOU at MSST 12:00 PM
MSST +7.0
O 63.5

ISU at MEM 12:30 PM
ISU +4.0
U 68.0

WASH at PSU 04:00 PM
PSU -2.5
O 54.0

WIS at MIA 08:00 PM
MIA +6.0
U 45.0

[StarDust Bum]

Bowl roundup: Penn State edges Washington
December 30, 2017

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Saquon Barkley had 137 yards rushing, including a Fiesta Bowl-record 92-yard touchdown run, and No. 9 Penn State continued its mastery in the desert with a 35-28 victory over No. 11 Washington on Saturday.

Trace McSorley completed 32 of 41 passes for 342 yards and two touchdowns, and Barkley had two touchdown runs as the Nittany Lions (11-2) remained perfect in seven Fiesta Bowl appearances. McSorley also rushed for 58 yards.

Myles Gaskin rushed for 98 yards and two touchdowns, and his 69-yard run with 6:52 remaining brought the Huskies (10-3) within seven 35-28.

Penn State, which had a bowl record 545 yards total offense, ate up more than six minutes on the clock before Tyler Davis' 45-yard field goal attempt was wide. But Washington's last-ditch hook-and-ladder play ended with an interception.

Iowa State 21, Memphis 20

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Allen Lazard tied a Liberty Bowl record with 10 catches for 142 yards as Iowa State capped off a turnaround season with a victory over No. 20 Memphis.

Lazard's most important reception was one that put the Cyclones (8-5) ahead for good. He grabbed a 5-yard touchdown pass from Kyle Kempt with 4:28 left in the third quarter to make it 21-17. The ball was tipped just before it reached Lazard, who came back in from out of bounds to make the tumbling catch.

Riley Ferguson completed 21 of 33 passes for 286 yards for the Tigers (10-3), who entered with the nation's second-highest scoring offense at 47.7 points per game. Iowa State notched six sacks and held Memphis to 53 yards rushing.

No. 23 Mississippi State 31, Louisville 27

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Mark McLaurin intercepted Lamar Jackson three times as Mississippi State batted down a Hail Mary pass to preserve its victory over Louisville in the TaxSlayer Bowl.

Jackson, the 2016 Heisman Trophy winner, accounted for 158 of the Cardinals' 187 rushing yards but was intercepted four times. Jaylen Smith caught seven passes for 107 yards and a touchdown for Louisville (8-5).

Freshman Keytaon Thompson rushed for 147 yards and three touchdowns while passing for 127 yards for the Bulldogs (9-4).

Aeris Williams ran for 88 yards and a score for Mississippi State.

********************

Meltdown by Richt, Hurricanes in 34-24 loss to Wisconsin
December 31, 2017

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) The Miami Hurricanes took an early 11-point lead over Wisconsin in the Orange Bowl and lost it.

Then coach Mark Richt lost it, too.

Angry that Wisconsin wasn't flagged for holding on a pivotal play, Richt drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and grabbed head linesman Gus Morris by the arm during a sideline tirade. The Badgers scored on the next play en route to a 34-24 victory Saturday night.

Richt yelled at length at three officials, even after being restrained by Miami strength coach Gus Felder. Referee Matt Loeffler stepped in to separate Richt from Morris.

Richt was still yelling as he walked through the tunnel at the end of the first half, and his mood didn't improve thereafter. The No. 10 Hurricanes (10-3) finished the season with three consecutive losses and were dominated in time of possession on their home field by No. 6 Wisconsin (13-1).

''I know I lost my cool,'' Richt said, ''I thought rightfully so as far as being mad, but not rightfully so using some of the language I used. I'm not particularly proud of myself there. I apologize to anybody that can read lips. ...

''I didn't agree with a lot of things that were called or not called ... to the very end of the game as well. It was a shame, in my opinion.''

The play that triggered Richt's outburst came with Wisconsin leading 17-14 but facing a third and 11 in the final minute of the first half. Right tackle David Edwards grabbed defensive end Trent Harris' right arm, giving Alex Hornibrook time to throw a 21-yard completion to the 10.

Richt drew the penalty before he touched Morris.

''That was not a factor whatsoever,'' Loeffler said. ''It was an unsportsmanlike conduct foul when he came out onto the field to argue the call. We went back to the sideline, and it was over.''

Following the penalty, Hornibrook threw a touchdown pass on the next play to make it 24-14. Again Edwards appeared to hold Harris, and again there was no flag.

Another non-call came in the third quarter, when Miami's Malik Rosier's pass was intercepted in the end zone by Derrick Tindal. The cornerback appeared to hold intended receiver Lawrence Cager before the ball was thrown.

''Let's just be hypothetical, OK?'' Richt said, still steaming half an hour after the game. ''When the ball's in the air, the defender's not supposed to be able to have a lot of contact before the ball gets there. That's not supposed to be legal. When a guy is rushing the passer and is about to get to the quarterback and somebody grabs him and keeps him from getting there right in front of the official - again, this is a hypothetical situation - that's not supposed to be allowed either, over and over and over, in my opinion.

''That's about how I feel right this minute. I'm sure I'll cool down in a minute.''

The officiating crew was from the Southeastern Conference, where Richt coached at Georgia in 2001-15.

Richt's sideline tantrum was part of a meltdown by the Hurricanes, who led 14-3 after 13 minutes. They totaled 153 yards in their first three possessions, and 3 yards in their next four series.

Rosier threw an interception in the second quarter that jump-started the Badgers' comeback. The Hurricanes' last chance to rally ended when Michael Badgley's 24-yard field goal attempt clanked off the right upright with 4:34 left and Wisconsin leading 34-24.

[StarDust Bum]

2017 CFB Bowls Record:..............( BASED ON 5 UNITS )

DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD

12/30/2017 5-3-0 62.50% +8.50
12/29/2017 5-5-0 50.00% -2.50
12/28/2017 7-1-0 87.50% +29.50
12/27/2017 4-4-0 50.00% -2.00
12/26/2017 4-2-0 66.67% +9.00
12/23/2017 2-4-0 33.33% -12.00
12/22/2017 2-2-0 50.00% -1.00
12/21/2017 1-1-0 50.00% -0.50
12/20/2017 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00
12/19/2017 0-2-0 0.00% -11.00
12/16/2017 5-5-0 50.00% - 2.50

Totals...............37 - 29.........56.06%.....+25.50


Best Bets:..............ATS...............Units........ ..... .....O/U..................Units

12/30/2017....................3 - 1.................+9.50.................1 - 2................-6.00
12/29/2017....................2 - 3.................-6.50..................3 - 2................+4.00
12/28/2017....................4 - 0................+20.00................1 - 1.................-0.50
12/27/2017....................1 - 3.................-11.50................3 - 1.................+9.50
12/26/2017....................3 - 1.................+15.00...............0 - 1.................-5.50
12/23/2017....................1 - 2..................-6.00.................1 - 2.................-6.00
12/22/2017....................1 - 1..................-0.50.................1 - 1.................-0.50
12/21/2017....................0 - 1..................-5.50.................1 - 0................+5.00
12/20/2017....................1 - 0.................+5.00.................1 - 0................+5.00
12/19/2017....................0 - 1.................- 5.50.................0 - 1.................-5.50
12/16/2017....................3 - 2............,....+4.00.................2 - 3.................-6.50

Totals.............................19 - 14..............+20.00..............11 - 13...............-7.00

[StarDust Bum]

Monday's Early Bowl Tips
December 31, 2017

**Michigan vs. South Carolina**

Outback Bowl History

-- The Michigan Wolverines (8-4 straight up, 5-6-1 against the spread) of the Big Ten Conference meet the South Carolina Gamecocks (8-4 straight up, 6-4-2 against the spread) of the Southeastern Conference in a Power 5 matchup at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. for the Outback Bowl. While this isn't a playoff game, or even a premier bowl like the Orange or Cotton, let's face it...there is a lot at 'steak'. Get it? OK. It's been a long bowl season writing these columns. Let's move on - ha.

-- The Big Ten is a perfect 7-0 SU/6-1 ATS, so the Wolverines are looking to cap off the bowl season in style for their conference. Michigan fired out to a 4-0 SU/2-2 ATS start this season, including a neutral-site win over Florida on Sept. 2, and a 28-10 victory at Purdue on Sept. 23. Their first loss came on Oct. 7 at home against rival Michigan State, but they rebounded the next week with an overtime win at Indiana. After a beatdown from Penn State in Happy Valley on Oct. 21, the Wolverines rattled off three straight victories. However, they stubbed their toe at Wisconsin and at home against Ohio State to close out their season.

-- Michigan struggled on offense, particularly in the passing game, finishing 100th in total yards per game (354.9) and 111th in rushing yards per outing (168.6). When they were successful on offense it was in the run game, going for 186.3 yards per game to check in 39th. They averaged just 25.8 points per game to finish 84th in the country. Defense was the specialty of the Wolverines, allowing just 268.6 yards per game to rank third in the nation, and they were first in the country against the pass, allowing just 142.7 yards per contest. They weren't too shabby against the run, either, allowing just 125.9 yards per game to rank 20th. They also gave up just 18.2 points per game to finish 12th in the nation.

-- Wilton Speight is out with fractured vertebrae, so Brandon Peters will make the start under center. He was battling concussion, but he has been cleared to go. He completed 57.8 percent of his pass attempts to finish with 486 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions in his brief work this season. Karan Higdon led the charge with 929 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns, while averaging 6.3 yards per carry. Chris Evans was a nice change of pace back, posting 661 yards and six scores, while Ty Isaac was good for 548 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 6.2 yards per attempt. The team's leading receiver was Grant Perry with 25 grabs for 307 yards and a touchdown. That's a far cry from the days of Anthony Carter, Braylon Edwards or Desmond Howard. It's even a far cry from the halcyon days of Devin Funchess or Amara Darboh.

-- South Carolina opened the season with an impressive 35-28 win in Charlotte in a neutral-site contest, and they followed that up with a win against another bowl team, Missouri, by a 31-13 score. They lost two of three games, falling to bowl teams Kentucky and Texas A&M, but rebounded with five wins in their final seven appearances with only losses to playoff teams Georgia and Clemson. They enter the game having failed to cover in each of the past two while the 'under' connected in each outing.

-- Like Michigan, South Carolina struggled on offense. The Gamecocks ranked 108th in the nation with 341.1 total yards per game. They also posted 212.9 passing yards per game to rank 80th, while rushing for 128.2 yards per outing to check in 128th in the nation. They were also 100th in the country with 24.1 points per game. The field-goal unit was a disaster, too, as they made just 52.0 percent of their kicks to rank 123rd in the country. On defense, the Cocks were rather middling. They allowed 374.6 total yards per game to rank 51st, they allowed 227.9 yards per game through the air to finish 70th and they were 43rd in the country against the run, yielding 146.7 yards per outing. Somehow they had a bend-don't-break defense, yielding just 20.8 points per game to rank 25th in the land.

-- QB Jake Bentley was adequate at times in the pass game, completing 62.4 percent of his pass attempts with 2,555 yards, 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while rushing for six scores. A.J. Turner led the way on the ground with 517 yards and three scores, averaging 5.6 yards per attempt. Ty'Son Williams averaged 5.0 yards per run, posting 460 yards and a touchdown. WR Bryan Edwards led the way with 705 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 11.9 yards per catch. Hayden Hurst was also fairly effective in the pass game, posting 12.6 yards per catch with 518 yards and a pair of scores. Freshmen WR Shi Smith and OrTre Smith each made splashes in their initial campaign and look to use the bowl game to springboard into 2018.

-- The Wolverines have posted a 2-6-1 ATS mark over the past nine games against teams with a winning record, while going 1-4 ATS in their past five non-conference tilts. They're also 1-8 ATS over the past nine following a cover in their previous outing.

-- The 'over' is 23-9-1 in the past 33 games for Michigan, and 6-0 in their past six games against SEC opponents. The over is also 10-2 in their past 12 neutral-site games, and 8-2 across their past 10 bowl appearances.

-- South Carolina is a perfect 5-0 ATS in their past five neutral-site games, and 4-1 ATS in their past five bowl appearances. However, they're just 2-6 ATS in the past eight outside of the conference.

-- The 'under' is 8-3 in the past 11 games for the Gamecocks, and 35-17 in the past 52 games against teams with a winning overall mark.

-- Michigan has the most wins all-time in college football history (943), but they're just 21-24 all-time in bowl games. They lost the Orange Bowl last season by a 33-32 score, and they're just 3-8 SU over the past 11 bowl appearances. They faced South Carolina in the Outback Bowl on Jan. 1, 2013, falling 33-28. They're 3-2 all-time in the Hall of Fame Bowl/Outback Bowl in Tampa.

-- South Carolina fell last season in overtime at the Birmingham Bowl, losing 46-39 to South Florida. However, they're 4-1 over their past five bowl appearances, including the 2013 win over Michigan. They're 3-2 SU all-time at the Hall of Fame Bowl/Outback Bowl.

-- Kickoff is slated for 12:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN2.

**UCF vs. Auburn**

Peach Bowl History

-- In the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. it will be the UCF Knights (12-0 straight-up, 7-4-1 against the spread) looking to prove they belong among the big boys against the Auburn Tigers (10-3 straight up, 6-5-1 against the spread) from the Southeastern Conference.

-- UCF ran the table this season, including wins against Memphis (twice), Navy, Southern Methodist, Temple and South Florida, all bowl teams. The Knights started out 5-0 ATS over their first five games, but once Vegas made adjustments to their success, the lines went higher and they managed to go just 2-4-1 ATS in their final seven outings. The 'over' has connected in each of their final four outings, including the AAC Championship Game on Dec. 2 against Memphis.

-- UCF enters this game with the No. 1 scoring offense in the nation, posting 49.4 points per game. They also ranked fourth in the country with 540.9 yards per game, seventh in the nation in passing yards (339.2) and 32nd in the run game (201.7). They also had a decent field-goal kicking unit, converting 78.6 percent of their field-goal attempts to rank 44th in the country. Defense is where UCF had trouble, ranking 94th in the nation with 428.5 total yards per game allowed, 111th in passing yards allowed (262.8), 64th in rushing yards allowed (165.7) and 25.2 points per game allowed to rank 52nd.

-- QB McKenzie Milton completed 69.2 percent of his pass attempts while rolling up 3,795 yards, 35 touchdowns and nine interceptions, and he rushed for 497 yards and seven scores. When Milton wasn't running it was Adrian Killins Jr., who racked up 6.7 yards per attempt to lead the team with 762 yards and 10 touchdowns. Taj McGowan punched in eight rushing touchdowns to rank second on the team. WR Tre'Quan Smith was good for a team-high 1,082 yards and 13 touchdowns, while WR Dredrick Snelson managed 42 grabs, 656 yards and seven touchdowns. TE Jordan Akins checked in with 30 receptions for 459 yards and four scores.

-- Auburn ranked 27th in the nation in total yards per game, posting 454.0 yards per contest. They were rather average in the pass game, posting 225.8 yards per game to check in 69th in the country, but they posted 228.2 yards per game on the ground to finish 21st. Their 34.4 points per game were good for 25th in the country. On defense the Tigers ranked 13th, yielding 317.3 yards per game overall. They were 19th against the pass, giving up just 182.8 yards per contest. They were 30th against the run (134.5), while allowing just 17.3 points per game to rank ninth in the country.

-- The big question for Auburn is the health of RB Kerryon Johnson (shoulder). He sounds like he will be back toi 100 percent, but you're never quite sure with the tight-lipped news you receive from college teams, unlike the more forthcoming reports in the pros. Johnson led the team with 1,320 yards and 17 touchdowns, while adding two more scores through the air. Former Baylor QB Jarrett Stidham completed 66.7 percent of his pass attempts for 2,827 yards, 17 touchdowns and just four interceptions whille adding four rushing scores. RB Kamryn Pettway was a nice change of pace back, going for 305 yards and six touchdowns.

-- WR Ryan Davis led the way with 76 catches for 768 yards and five touchdowns, while WR Darius Slayton was good for 23.9 yards per catch while totaling 574 yards and five touchdowns. WR Will Hastings finished with 408 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 20.4 yards per catch. The Tigers have a handful of playmakers and plenty of depth in the receiving game.

-- The Knights have posted a 1-3-1 ATS mark over their past five games against a team with a winning record while going 2-5 ATS over their past seven matchups against SEC foes. The 'over' is 4-0 in their past four games overall and 6-0 in their past six eight games on a grass surface. The 'under' is 7-0-1 in their past eight against SEC opponents, though.

-- The Tigers are 1-4 ATS in their past five neutral-site affairs, while going 0-4-1 ATS in their past five non-conference tilts. The 'under' is the trend for Auburn, going 3-0-1 in their past four bowl games, 4-0-2 in their past six neutral-site games and 14-5-1 across the past 20 against teams with a winning overall record. The 'under' is also 6-0 across the past six non-conference battles.

-- UCF doesn't have an extensive bowl history, and they're just 3-5 SU in their eight previous appearances. Scott Frost, who is leaving for the Nebraska job, will coach his team in his second-ever bowl game. They lost 31-13 to Arkansas State in the Cure Bowl in Orlando last season, and they haven't won since Jan. 1, 2014 in the Fiesta Bowl against Baylor. They're 1-1 SU in two previous bowl appearances against SEC foes in a bowl game.

-- Auburn is 23-16-2 in 41 total bowls. They fell to Oklahoma last season in the Sugar Bowl, 35-19, and they're 1-3 SU over their past four bowl outings. The last time they appeared in the Chick-Fil-A/Peach Bowl, they topped Virginia 43-24 on Dec. 31, 2011, and they're 4-1 SU all-time in the Peach Bowl.

-- Kickoff is slated for 12:30 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.

**Notre Dame vs. Louisiana State**

Citrus Bowl History

-- The Citrus Bowl takes place at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla., or the Citrus Bowl. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish (9-3-0 straight up, 7-5-0 against the spread) will meet the Louisiana State Tigers (9-3-0 straight up, 7-4-1 against the spread).

-- Notre Dame opened the season wtih a 49-16 win against Temple in their opener, before being tripped up 20-19 against Georgia in South Bend on Sept. 9. The Fighting Irish also racked up wins against bowl teams Boston College, Michigan State, Southern California, North Carolina State, Wake Forest and Navy this season. In their last visit to the state of Florida they Fighting Irish were annihilated by a 41-8 score in Miami on Nov. 11.

-- Notre Dame wasn't terribly balanced this season, but they were effective on offense. The Irish averaged 454.9 total yards per game, ranking 25th in the nation, while checking in seventh in the nation with 279.1 yards per game on the ground. They were 21st in the country with 35.3 points per game, but they ranked 105th in the country with just 175.8 yards per outing. On defense, they were 44th in total yards allowed (366.7), 51st in passing yards allowed (213.5), 49th against the rush (153.2) and 31st in scoring defense (21.8 PPG).

-- QB Brandon Wimbush completed just 49.8 percent of his passes for 1,818 yards, 16 touchdowns and six interceptions while running for 766 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground. When Wimbush wasn't running the ball it was Josh Adams toting the mail. He posted 1,386 yards with nine touchdowns, averaging 7.3 yards per game on the ground. Deon McIntosh and Dexter Williams also combined for nine more rushing touchdowns, as the Irish have plenty of bodies capable of doing big things on the ground. In the receiving game, Equanimeous St. Brown led the way with 468 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 15.1 yards per grab. WR Chase Claypool, by way of Abbottsford, British Columbia, was second on the team with 402 yards and a pair of scores.

-- LSU wasn't nearly as formidable as past seasons, but they were still pretty dangerous. They were 3-1 SU heading into what should have been a tune-up game on Sept. 30 against Troy. They lost 24-21, and that game really seemed to serve as a wake-up call for the Bayou Bengals. They rattled off wins over Florida, Auburn and Ole Miss, before falling 24-10 at Alabama on Nov. 4. They capped off the season with victories against Arkansas, Tennessee and Texas A&M to get to nine victories.

-- The Tigers ranked 54th in the country in total yards (412.1), 86th overall in passing yards per game (201.3), 28th in the land in rushing yards (210.8) and 71st in points scored per game with 28.1 PPG. On defense, the Tigers yielded just 311.7 yards per game to rank 11th, while finishing 20th against the pass (185.2), 21st against the rush (126.4) and 14th in scoring defense with 18.8 PPG allowed. He also caught 15 balls for 100 yards. RB Darrel Williams was good for 776 yards and nine touchdowns, filling in for Guice when he needed a breather or was injured.

-- On offense, QB Danny Etling showed some improvement with 60.3 percent of his pass completed, throwing for 2,234 yards, 14 touchdowns and just two interceptions while running for two more scores. RB Derrius Guice wasn't quite Leonard Fournette, but he was pretty damn good. He rolled for 1,153 yards on 5.3 yards per carry, finding the end zone 11 times. WR D.J. Chark topped the charts with 811 receiving yards and three touchdowns, averaging 23.2 yards per reception. Williams was second on the team with 327 receiving yards out of the backfield. Foster Moreau also finished with three touchdown receptions.

-- The Fighting Irish have failed to cover in each of their past four games overall, while going 0-4 ATS in their past four against teams with a winning overall mark. They also 0-4 ATS in their past four non-conference games, while going 1-4 ATS in their past five bowl outings.

-- The Tigers have posted a 6-0 ATS mark across their past six outings while going 5-0 ATS over their past five following a straight-up win.

-- The 'under' is 4-1 in the past five overall for the Irish, while going 4-1 in their past five non-conference games. They're also 4-1 in their past five against teams with a winning overall record. The 'over' is 5-2 in their past seven bowl appearances, however.

-- The 'under' is 19-8-2 in their past 29 games overall, 5-2-1 in their past eight non-conference games and 13-6-1 across the past 20 against teams with a winning overall mark.

-- The Irish have posted a 17-18 record in 35 total bowl games. They fell 44-28 to Ohio State in their last appearance Jan. 1, 2016 in the Fiesta Bowl. They're just 4-12 SU over their past 16 appearances in a bowl. This will be their first time playing in the Citrus Bowl.

-- The Tigers appeared in the Citrus Bowl on Dec. 31, 2016, pounding Louisville by a 29-9 score. They 1-3 SU all-time in the Capital One Bowl/Citrus Bowl, with a win in Orlando in the Tangerine Bowl in 1979.

-- Notre Dame and LSU met in the Music City Bowl on Dec. 30, 2014, with the Irish coming out on top 31-28. LSU won 41-14 in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 3, 2007, and 27-9 in the Independence Bowl on Dec. 28, 1997.

-- Kickoff is slated for 1:00 p.m. Eastern on ABC.

[StarDust Bum]

Bowl Tech Trends - Week 3

MONDAY, JANUARY 1

Matchup Skinny Edge

SOUTH CAROLINA vs. MICHIGAN (Outback Bowl)...Teams met in this same game five years ago won by SC, 33-28. Harbaugh only 7-11-1 vs. spread last 19 on board, meanwhile Muschamp on 8-4-1 spread uptick since late LY. Gamecocks 7-0-1 last 8 as dog as well.
South Carolina, based on team trends.

UCF vs. AUBURN (Peach Bowl)...UCF 15-9-1 vs. line since last season (counts Cincy TY as win), 8-3 last 11 vs. line away from home. Malzahn 1-2 SU and vs. line last three bowls, only 6-12 last 18 on board overall (6-7 TY).
UCF, based on team trends.

LSU vs. NOTRE DAME (Citrus Bowl)...Ed Orgeron covered last six this season and is 13-6-1 vs. points since taking over Tigers just before midseason LY. Also 7-1-1 vs. line away from Baton Rouge. Irish faded down stretch TY with no covers last four, and Brian Kelly just 1-4 vs. line last five bowls.
LSU, based on team trends.

GEORGIA vs. OKLAHOMA (CFP Rose Bowl)...Sooners just 4-7 vs. spread last 11 bowl games. OU also only 3-4 vs. spread away from Norman TY. Georgia on 10-4 spread uptick for Kirby Smart since late LY. Also 8-1 vs. spread last nine away from Athens.
Georgia, based on team trends.

ALABAMA vs. CLEMSON (CFP Sugar Bowl)...Clemson has covered this matchup in playoffs past two years. “Big Game” Dabo now 9-1 vs. line last ten in bowls/conference title games. Tigers covered last four down stretch and now on 11-4-1 spread run since late LY. Saban only 5-8 vs. points last 13 on board.
Clemson, based on team trends.

[StarDust Bum]

Michigan, South Carolina eye 9 wins, solid finish in Outback
December 31, 2017

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Don't try to sell Jim Harbaugh or Will Muschamp on the notion that New Year's Day games that are not part of the College Football Playoff are irrelevant.

The coaches for Michigan (8-4) and South Carolina (8-4) expect to contend for national championships moving forward, but they also feel it's important to finish this season strong in the Outback Bowl.

''I'm for the bowls. I'm for postseason play,'' Harbaugh said. ''I don't think bowl games are meaningless, and I would like to see an expanded playoff to 16 teams.''

Michigan was ranked as high as No. 7 following a 4-0 start but wound up going 5-4 with losses to Michigan State, Penn State, Wisconsin and Ohio State in Big Ten play.

The Wolverines lost two straight to end the regular season and head into Monday's matchup against South Carolina trying to avoid their first three-game skid under Harbaugh.

Muschamp agrees with Harbaugh that bowl games matter, regardless of where a team plays.

''First of all, anytime you hit the football field, it's meaningful,'' said Muschamp, finishing his second season at South Carolina.

''This is a huge game for our program, an opportunity to win nine games, an opportunity to play Michigan, a team that we've got great respect for,'' Muschamp added. ''But I think the bowls are really important to college football.''

It's just the fourth meeting between the Wolverines and Gamecocks, the first since the 2013 Outback Bowl.

South Carolina won that matchup 33-28 and leads the series 2-1, with Michigan's win coming in 1985.

Muschamp concedes that winning Monday would give his bid to rebuild the Gamecocks a boost because Michigan is, well, Michigan.

''Absolutely,'' the coach said. ''I think you see the progress we've made in Year 2 and continue to move forward in the culture of our program.''

Some things to know about the Outback Bowl:

UNDER CENTER: Michigan quarterback Brandon Peters has a chance to make it more difficult for Harbaugh to replace him next season - even if Shea Patterson is also one of his options . Peters is expected to face South Carolina after missing the last game, a loss to Ohio State, with a concussion. When the Wolverines open the 2018 season at Notre Dame, he may have to hold off Patterson to keep his job. Patterson plans to transfer to Michigan from Mississippi, a program hit with sanctions, and to petition the NCAA to allow him to be eligible immediately. He will enter a competition along with Dylan McCaffrey, son of former NFL player Ed McCaffrey and brother of Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey, after he redshirted as a freshman with the Wolverines.

NEW PLAYCALLER: South Carolina fired offensive coordinator Kurt Roper on Dec. 6 and co-offensive coordinator/receivers coach Bryan McClendon will call plays Monday in what essentially is an audition for next season. ''I think the preparation has been really good, No. 1, by Bryan, but our entire offensive staff, as well. ... I think he's done a really good job,'' Muschamp said. ''Obviously game day is important, from a calling standpoint, from an adjustment standpoint. Certainly if you make the right calls and the right adjustments, you're going to be productive, so that is important. But I've been very pleased with his progress.''

ONE MO TIME: All-America defensive tackle Maurice Hurst is expected to play one more time for Michigan , accepting the risk of an injury that could affect his stock in the NFL draft. In early December, Hurst acknowledged he wasn't sure if he would play in the Outback Bowl in part because he saw former Wolverines tight end Jake Butt slip to the fifth round after injuring his knee a year ago in the Orange Bowl.

CHADTOUGH: Some Michigan players are wearing their hair orange for the game as part of a fundraiser in honor of Chad Carr, the late grandson of former Wolverines coach Lloyd Carr. DE Chase Winovich announced on Dec. 20 that he would dye his hair if donations, which are being directed to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Initiative at Michigan Medicine, totaled $15,000. The drive quickly reached that total and continues to grow. The ChadTough Foundation later announced that University of Michigan Regent Ron Weiser will match donations made through the fundraiser up to $1 million. ''I know the guys were hoping to raise a couple thousand dollars, and they were really excited that it was going to be up to $10,000,'' Harbaugh said. ''Seeing that it's up to $200,000, I think it's just phenomenal.''

[StarDust Bum]

Auburn, past 'sad' SEC loss, faces UCF in Peach Bowl
December 31, 2017

ATLANTA (AP) No. 10 Central Florida will be playing for a perfect season - and respect for the team and its conference - when it faces No. 7 Auburn in the Peach Bowl on Monday.

If not for a loss in its last visit to Mercedes-Benz Stadium one month ago, Auburn might have been playing for even more.

A loss to Georgia in the SEC championship game kept Auburn out of the College Football Playoff.

''We knew that it was an opportunity to play for the playoffs and potentially a national championship,'' Auburn linebacker Deshaun Davis said. ''It was definitely a slump that we had to get over.''

Davis said he and other leaders ''let our team be sad for a minute, let them get the taste in their mouth so the guys that come next year, they know how it feels.''

Davis said the Tigers (10-3) then were prepared to shift focus to Central Florida (12-0).

Coach Gus Malzahn says his players returned to practice with a more serious approach than for other bowl games.

''Our mindset is more of a business trip probably than it has been in the past with a bowl,'' Malzahn said, adding the approach was the ''design'' of the team's seniors.

''That's what they want, that's what they expect,'' he said.

A win over Auburn would give Central Florida its undefeated season and give the school and the American Athletic Conference respect. The Knights feel insulted they weren't given serious consideration to be part of the playoff.

''Our guys want to send a message they can play with anybody,'' Central Florida quarterback McKenzie Milton said.

''I think we all kind of know what's at stake. We know we've had a special year so far, and we know we've got a tall task ahead of us. But I think we're definitely up to it.''

The Knights lead the nation in scoring, averaging 49.4 points per game. They have scored 30 or more points in every game this season.

Here are some more things to know about the Peach Bowl:

FROST'S FAREWELL: Central Florida coach Scott Frost chose to stay with the team through the bowl game after accepting a job to move to Nebraska, his alma mater. Frost will bring most of his assistants with him to Nebraska. Former Missouri offensive coordinator Josh Heupel is Central Florida's new coach and is expected to watch the game from a private box.

''It will be bittersweet tomorrow,'' Frost, the AP coach of the year , said Sunday. ''This certainly isn't an ideal situation for the players or for me or for my staff, but we all care about each other, and I don't know what the alternative would have been.''

CARRY ON AT RB: Auburn running back Kerryon Johnson said Saturday he feels close to fully recovered from injuries to his right shoulder and ribs. Johnson led the SEC in rushing, scoring and all-purpose yards per game and was the Southeastern Conference offensive player of the year and second-team All-American.

ILLNESS: Auburn cornerback Carlton Davis, one of the team's defensive leaders, has an illness and won't play in the game, Malzahn said Sunday.

RESPECT FOR GRIFFIN: Auburn players have respect for Central Florida senior outside linebacker Shaquem Griffin, who leads the Knights with 5+ sacks and 10 tackles for losses.

''My opinion, (Griffin) is probably the best pass rusher I'll go against all year,'' Auburn left tackle Austin Golson said. ''I think he's a very good player. I have a lot of respect for the style of football that he plays.''

PEACH BOWL VETERAN: Auburn defensive coordinator Kevin Steele coached in the Peach Bowl in 1982 when the game was played in its first of three Atlanta homes. Steele was Tennessee's linebackers coach and the Vols lost to Iowa at old Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. The game moved to the Georgia Dome in 1993.

This is the 50th anniversary of the Peach Bowl and its first game in new Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which also will be home to next week's national championship game.