Bowl Preview (Dec 27th)

Marshall Thundering Herd vs Maryland Terrapins

Out of all the bowl games, this one might be the biggest dud.  There really isn't anything that really makes this game stand out.  Marshall won the Conference USA East Division, but was unable to win the conference.  Maryland is bowl eligible for the first time under Randy Edsall, but their reward is going less than thirty miles from their campus.  The Terrapins will be motivated playing in a bowl, but the Herd might be the better team and have the motivation to beat an ACC team.
Prediction:  Marshall 20 Maryland 21

Draft Eligible Players to Watch

Marshall	Maryland
#1 WR Tommy Shuler #76 OT Garrett Scott	#41 LB Marcus Whitfield    #25 CB Dexter McDougle

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Syracuse Orange vs Minnesota Golden Gophers

The story of this game will be the Golden Gophers and the way they rallied after another Jerry Kill's latest seizure.  Their 4-2 end of the season put a cap to a 8-4 season and this bowl would be another step forward to a program that wants to be on the rise.  To do so they'll have to go against a Syracuse team that also surprised many in their first season in the ACC.  This will be a battle of rushing attacks and that could favor Minnesota whose run game behind all world DT Ra'Shede Hageman and unheralded LB Damien Wilson.
Prediction:  Syracuse 13 Minnesota 23

Draft Eligible Players to Watch

Syracuse	Minnesota
#60 LT Sean Hickey     #96 DT Jay Bromley	#99 DT Ra'Shede Hageman  #5 LB Damien Wilson

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BYU Cougars vs Washington Huskies

Going into this game it will be interesting to see how Washington plays without head coach Steve Sarkisian.  But what we do know is that both teams are ranked in the top fifteen in total offense, so this should be an up and down back and forth game.  The running game is where most of the damage is down with Washington RB Bishop Sankey rushing for 1,775 yards while both QB Taysom Hill and RB Jamaal Williams each rushed for over 1,000 yards.  This game should come down to who gets the timely stop and really watch out for BYU LB Kyle Van Noy who is a real difference maker.  Expect a big game from him as he tries to sneak into first round consideration.
Prediction:   BYU 39 Washington 35

Draft Eligible Players to Watch

BYU	Washington
#3 LB Kyle Van Noy #2 WR Cody Hoffman  #82 TE Keneakua Friel  #55 DT Eathyn Manumaleuna   #41 LB Uani Unga	#88 TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins (#32 Overall)  #25 RB Bishop Sankey (#45 Overall)  #17 QB Keith Price (#13 QB) #71 DT Danny Shelton (#10 DT) #1 S Sean Parker (#10 S)