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I got this from the sportsnetwork.com.
He nailed it with last week 1st bowl game.
Hope he can help you make your decision.
The Sports Network
By Pat Taggart, College Football Staff Writer
GAME NOTES: The Syracuse Orange and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets are set to
square off in the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando. Syracuse completed the
regular season with a 6-5 overall record and won a share of its fourth Big
East championship with a 4-2 league mark. Four of the team's five losses came
against opponents that were ranked in the top 10 at some point during the
season, and eight of the 11 opponents faced have earned bowl bids. The Orange
have played in 21 bowl games in program history, and this matchup with Georgia
Tech marks the ninth bowl appearance for the Orange under head coach Paul
Pasqualoni. The coach, now in his 14th year, is 6-2 all-time in bowl games,
the most bowl victories of any coach in school history. As for Georgia Tech,
it also won six games during the regular season, the minimum number required
to participate in a bowl game. All five losses suffered by Tech came at the
hands of bowl-bound teams, including three defeats by teams currently ranked
in the Top 10. The Yellow Jackets have now earned a bowl bid in eight
consecutive seasons, proof of the program's tremendous consistency. Georgia
Tech won the only previous meeting with Syracuse, a 13-7 triumph at the
Meadowlands in the 2001 Kickoff Classic.
Through the first seven games of the season, Syracuse owned a 3-4 record and
had been held to fewer than 20 points on five occasions. The team turned
things around with victories in three of the final four outings, and the
Orange scored no fewer than 24 points in those four tilts. Offensively, the
squad averaged a lackluster 355.2 ypg during the regular season, but it is
important to remember that Syracuse played its best ball down the stretch.
Paul Patterson will be under center against Georgia Tech, and the Orange
signal caller completed 57.6 percent of his passes during the regular season
for 1,632 yards with six touchdowns and nine interceptions. While those
numbers aren't flashy, he finally appears to be in full control of the
offense. Jared Jones is the top option at the receiver position, as has 37
catches to his credit for 560 yards and three touchdowns. The running game is
clearly the strength of the SU attack, as the team possesses a tremendous
backfield duo. Damien Rhodes has run for 856 yards and 10 touchdowns while
averaging a gaudy 5.9 ypg, and teammate Walter Reyes has chipped in 800 yards
and seven scores while gaining 5.6 ypc. The Orange allowed an acceptable total
of 19 sacks in 11 games during the regular season, and protection up front
will be key against the opportunistic Yellow Jacket defense.
Defensively, Syracuse has its share of problems. The team surrendered 26.6 ppg
and 418.9 total ypg during the regular season, numbers that aren't typical of
a conference co-champion. Stopping the run has proven to be problematic, as
the Orange are surrendering 177.6 ppg on 4.3 ypc. They haven't been
particularly impressive against the pass either, as they are allowing 241.3
ypg through the air. Also, the 12 interceptions that they have managed are
overshadowed by 21 passing touchdowns surrendered. Syracuse posted 17 sacks in
11 regular season tilts, a decent total that certainly won't scare the
opposition. Leading the way for the defense is sensational linebacker Jerry
Mackey who has 97 total tackles to his credit. Diamond Ferri is second on the
team with 91 stops and tops in interceptions with four. James Wyche is another
big-time performer, as he leads the pack with 15.0 TFLs.
Georgia Tech has struggled to move the ball and score points this season, as
it is averaging only 19.4 ppg and 331.2 total ypg. While the Yellow Jackets
are gaining a solid 151.0 rushing ypg, their average of 3.8 ypc is lackluster
at best. P.J. Daniels battled has battled through injuries, and that fact is
reflected in his numbers. The talented tailback has posted 595 yards and six
touchdowns to date, but he is certainly capable of huge day. Tech hoped to see
plenty of big days from sophomore quarterback Reggie Ball this year,
especially considering that he flashed signs of brilliance last season as a
rookie. Ball has fallen short of expectations, however, as he has completed
only 48.9 percent of his passes for 1,940 yards with 14 touchdowns and 19
yards. Many of those picks have come at terrible times, costing the Yellow
Jackets opportunities to win. The most exciting player for the offense is
undoubtedly rookie wideout Calvin Johnson, as he has caught 46 balls for 776
yards and six scores.
To offset the lackluster play of Ball and the offense, Georgia Tech has been
forced to play strong defense. As a result, opponents are averaging only 19.4
ppg and 299.5 total ypg. Running the ball against the Yellow Jackets has
proven difficult to say the least, as they are surrendering 109.5 ypg on the
ground on an average of 3.2 ypc. Considering that opposing quarterbacks are
averaging 10.8 yards per completion, it can be inferred that Tech has done a
solid job of defending against big plays. While the Jackets have forced only
14 turnovers in 11 games, they have registered an impressive total of 33
sacks. Gerris Wilkinson has 113 tackles, including 14.5 for lost yardage, and
Chris Reis, who has also made 14.5 TFLs, is tops with eight sacks. Considering
that 11 players have been in on at least one sack, it is fair to say that Tech
has several players on the defensive side of the ball capable of making a big
play.
Syracuse played its best ball down the stretch as mentioned above, and
although more Tech fans will likely be in the stands because of the location,
expect the Orange faithful to leave happy.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Syracuse 27, Georgia Tech 17
He nailed it with last week 1st bowl game.
Hope he can help you make your decision.
The Sports Network
By Pat Taggart, College Football Staff Writer
GAME NOTES: The Syracuse Orange and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets are set to
square off in the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando. Syracuse completed the
regular season with a 6-5 overall record and won a share of its fourth Big
East championship with a 4-2 league mark. Four of the team's five losses came
against opponents that were ranked in the top 10 at some point during the
season, and eight of the 11 opponents faced have earned bowl bids. The Orange
have played in 21 bowl games in program history, and this matchup with Georgia
Tech marks the ninth bowl appearance for the Orange under head coach Paul
Pasqualoni. The coach, now in his 14th year, is 6-2 all-time in bowl games,
the most bowl victories of any coach in school history. As for Georgia Tech,
it also won six games during the regular season, the minimum number required
to participate in a bowl game. All five losses suffered by Tech came at the
hands of bowl-bound teams, including three defeats by teams currently ranked
in the Top 10. The Yellow Jackets have now earned a bowl bid in eight
consecutive seasons, proof of the program's tremendous consistency. Georgia
Tech won the only previous meeting with Syracuse, a 13-7 triumph at the
Meadowlands in the 2001 Kickoff Classic.
Through the first seven games of the season, Syracuse owned a 3-4 record and
had been held to fewer than 20 points on five occasions. The team turned
things around with victories in three of the final four outings, and the
Orange scored no fewer than 24 points in those four tilts. Offensively, the
squad averaged a lackluster 355.2 ypg during the regular season, but it is
important to remember that Syracuse played its best ball down the stretch.
Paul Patterson will be under center against Georgia Tech, and the Orange
signal caller completed 57.6 percent of his passes during the regular season
for 1,632 yards with six touchdowns and nine interceptions. While those
numbers aren't flashy, he finally appears to be in full control of the
offense. Jared Jones is the top option at the receiver position, as has 37
catches to his credit for 560 yards and three touchdowns. The running game is
clearly the strength of the SU attack, as the team possesses a tremendous
backfield duo. Damien Rhodes has run for 856 yards and 10 touchdowns while
averaging a gaudy 5.9 ypg, and teammate Walter Reyes has chipped in 800 yards
and seven scores while gaining 5.6 ypc. The Orange allowed an acceptable total
of 19 sacks in 11 games during the regular season, and protection up front
will be key against the opportunistic Yellow Jacket defense.
Defensively, Syracuse has its share of problems. The team surrendered 26.6 ppg
and 418.9 total ypg during the regular season, numbers that aren't typical of
a conference co-champion. Stopping the run has proven to be problematic, as
the Orange are surrendering 177.6 ppg on 4.3 ypc. They haven't been
particularly impressive against the pass either, as they are allowing 241.3
ypg through the air. Also, the 12 interceptions that they have managed are
overshadowed by 21 passing touchdowns surrendered. Syracuse posted 17 sacks in
11 regular season tilts, a decent total that certainly won't scare the
opposition. Leading the way for the defense is sensational linebacker Jerry
Mackey who has 97 total tackles to his credit. Diamond Ferri is second on the
team with 91 stops and tops in interceptions with four. James Wyche is another
big-time performer, as he leads the pack with 15.0 TFLs.
Georgia Tech has struggled to move the ball and score points this season, as
it is averaging only 19.4 ppg and 331.2 total ypg. While the Yellow Jackets
are gaining a solid 151.0 rushing ypg, their average of 3.8 ypc is lackluster
at best. P.J. Daniels battled has battled through injuries, and that fact is
reflected in his numbers. The talented tailback has posted 595 yards and six
touchdowns to date, but he is certainly capable of huge day. Tech hoped to see
plenty of big days from sophomore quarterback Reggie Ball this year,
especially considering that he flashed signs of brilliance last season as a
rookie. Ball has fallen short of expectations, however, as he has completed
only 48.9 percent of his passes for 1,940 yards with 14 touchdowns and 19
yards. Many of those picks have come at terrible times, costing the Yellow
Jackets opportunities to win. The most exciting player for the offense is
undoubtedly rookie wideout Calvin Johnson, as he has caught 46 balls for 776
yards and six scores.
To offset the lackluster play of Ball and the offense, Georgia Tech has been
forced to play strong defense. As a result, opponents are averaging only 19.4
ppg and 299.5 total ypg. Running the ball against the Yellow Jackets has
proven difficult to say the least, as they are surrendering 109.5 ypg on the
ground on an average of 3.2 ypc. Considering that opposing quarterbacks are
averaging 10.8 yards per completion, it can be inferred that Tech has done a
solid job of defending against big plays. While the Jackets have forced only
14 turnovers in 11 games, they have registered an impressive total of 33
sacks. Gerris Wilkinson has 113 tackles, including 14.5 for lost yardage, and
Chris Reis, who has also made 14.5 TFLs, is tops with eight sacks. Considering
that 11 players have been in on at least one sack, it is fair to say that Tech
has several players on the defensive side of the ball capable of making a big
play.
Syracuse played its best ball down the stretch as mentioned above, and
although more Tech fans will likely be in the stands because of the location,
expect the Orange faithful to leave happy.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Syracuse 27, Georgia Tech 17