First meeting between these two teams and this will be the final game for Maryland HC Ralph Friedgen as he was fired a couple of weeks ago despite winning the ACC COY award. East Carolina dropped the final 2 games of the regular season by a 107-76 mark finishing at 6-6 and narrowly reaching the postseason while Maryland is very disappointed as they went from a 2-10 tm, to 8-4 but were relegated to the 8th seeded ACC bowl. These two both played Navy and NC State with EC going 1-1 as they knocked off NCSt in OT before being blasted at home vs Navy 76-35 (all’d 521 rush yds). MD went 2-0 stopping Navy twice at the GL to preserve a 3 pt win in the opener and they fought off an NC State comeback bid in the finale.

East Carolina’s success TY can be solely credited to their offense (#26) led by JC transfer Davis who broke Jeff Blake’s school TD pass record with 36 as EC avg’d 38 ppg and 445 ypg. The defense is ranked #119 all’g 43 ppg and an FBS worst 479 ypg on the year including dismal performances vs Navy (76 pts, 521 rush) and Rice (62 pts, 639 yds). The secondary all’d 258 ypg (60%) with a 30-9 ratio placing them #102 in my pass D rankings. EC also has my #98 ST unit.

Many MD fans were up in arms when backup QB O’Brien saw the field vs Navy (fmbl’d his 1st college att). Now those same fans are singing his praise. O’Brien was thrust into the spotlight vs FIU and remained the starter even after option runner Robinson ret’d from injury. The top receiver, Smith, is the first 1,000 yd receiver here S/’92. The Terps have scored 6 non-off TD’s TY and 4 have come by the #44 rated D. MD ranks #24 in my pass eff D all’g 221 ypg (53%) with a 15-17 ratio and MD has my #5 ST’s unit with PR Logan finishing #3 NCAA and avg nearly as much as the top KR. MD is also +4 in the punt block department.

EC has been one-dimensional as they have my #119 D and have allowed 40+ pts 9 of 12 games but MD is not an offense that sustains long drives. EC’s offense has been dynamic and they have topped 32 pts in their L/8 gms and this game should feature a lot of points but the Terps might have the emotional edge sending their coach off with a win in his final game after a pretty successful tenure.

Baylor is off to its 1st bowl since 1994 facing an Illini team which will play in its first non-BCS bowl since 1999 and just its 3rd bowl in the last 10 years. The teams have played just once before, a 34-19 Illinois home win in ‘76. While both are excited to be in the posteason Waco is about 190 miles away from Houston which should give the Bears a large crowd edge and more than 60,000 tickets have been sold here. Both teams struggled down the stretch as the 7-2 Bears were ranked for the 1st time since 1993 before losing their last 3, all to ranked teams, while Illinois lost 3 of its last 4. The Bears last played on Nov 20th while Illinois finale came 13 days later on Dec 3rd so they should have less rust to knock off.

After B2B losing seasons Illinois went the unusual route of keeping HC Zook but making wholesale staff changes. Six new assistants were hired including OC Petrino from Ark and DC Koenning from Kansas St and Zook now has more of an advisory role. IL had just one 1st Tm All-B10 RB in the L/25Y but Leshoure changed that as he led B10 RB’s in rushing including a school record 330 (FBS best in ‘10) vs Northwestern. The Illini looked to have 1 of the most improved D’s in the country before allowing 39.3 ppg and 430 ypg in the L/4 vs spread offenses. Zook attributed ST improvements to using more starters as IL finished #50 (#110 in ‘09). Both K’s rec’d All-Conf recognition with P Santella #2 B10 avg with a 37.9 net while K Dimke has hit 26-31 in his career.

The Bears big season came courtesy of dynamic QB Griffin who sparked a big play offense (26 plays of 30+ incl 18 TD). Griffin was #7 NCAA total offense just 1 year removed from ACL surgery which ended his ‘09 season after 3 games. “RG3” picked up where he left off earning 2nd Tm B12 honors and becoming the Bears 1st 3,000 yd passer. In the off season Briles called the D his speediest and deepest unit yet but the Special Teams finished just #95 although P Epperson was #19 NCAA in avg with a respectable 37.8 net. K Jones started off on fire hitting 18 of his 20 before missing 2, having 1 blk’d and also missing an xp in a loss to A&M.

While Illinois has the big edges on both defense and special teams, Baylor has the big crowd edge and has the best overall player on the field in QB Griffin. I do expect both teams to play loose as they are both excited to be bowling but in the end the Bears win a shootout.

Both of these teams were thinking BCS bowls after hot starts but wound up here instead for the school’s 7th ever meeting (1st S/’42). Arizona was 7-1 and ranked #13 but a 4 game slide KO’d them from the Top 25. Oklahoma St’s 10-1 start marked the 1st time in program history they tied for the B12 South Title and won 10 games in a season. OSU was blitzed by OU for 588 yds in a 47-41 loss which landed them here for the 3rd time. This is the 3rd straight bowl game that Stoops has guided his team to but they did catch a break with a lack of bowl bids in the conf (USC inelig) to get what is normally the #2 P10 bowl while Gundy has led his program to a record 5th consecutive bowl. Both beat Washington St with OSU winning the opener 65-17 at home while Arizona got a 24-7 road win.

AZ’s #23 ranked off avg’d 30 ppg and 445 ypg. QB Foles answered his ‘09 campaign with an equally as impressive 2nd year despite missing 2 games mid-year with a dislocated kneecap. Scott took over and picked up 2 important conf wins (Wash, UCLA) as the off avg’d 520 ypg in his 2 gm stint. The Wildcat D all’d 22 ppg and 343 ypg ranking them 23rd. The unit actually held 6 of their first 7 opp under 310 yds (455 ypg all’d over L/4, all bowl eligible tms). The ST unit earned my #58 rating with All-P10 K Zendejas best known for the 2 missed xp’s in the finale vs ASU.

Gundy probably earned his Big 12 COY award by giving up play calling duties after LY’s bowl loss and hiring ex-Houston OC Holgorsen. However Holgorsen was hired as the coach in waiting at West Virginia and you have to think that may be a distraction here. The Pokes did exploe to become my #3 offense thanks to the 1st Tm Big 12 triplets of QB Weeden, RB Hunter and WR Blackmon. Weeden became the 1st QB ever to be named 1st Tm All-Conf in OSU history leading the conf in pass efficiency and #3 nationally in pass ypg. His main weapon was Big 12 OPY Biletnikoff winner WR Blackmon who had 100 yd receiving and at least 1 TD in 11 gms while RB Hunter led the Big 12 in rushing after an inj-plagued ‘09. Despite replacing 9 st’rs, OSU finished with my #48 D as DC Young knew the challenge of fielding a capable stop unit along side a quick strike offense was to build up the depth. OSU usually has 1 of my best ST units thanks to 1 of the NCAA’s best ST coord DeForrest. Groza winner Bailey hit 8-10 from 40+ and P Sharp’s 41.0 net was #3 NCAA and his 53 TB led the nation.

On Nov. 1st, both teams were 7-1 with Arizona ranked #13 and Oklahoma St was ranked #19. Now six weeks later, Arizona is off 4 straight losses while OKSt was hoping for a Big 12 Championship but lost to their Bedlam Rivals. I certainly appreciate the job that HC Gundy has done but with the distraction of Holgorsen leaving has me thinking Arizona will keep this game closer than what many expect. However, the Pokes do get their first 11 win season in school history.