Well its time to make my big play of the bowl season. I looked at this game extensively, and feel that OSU should definately win and cover, barring any mistakes.
Insight Bowl @ Phoenix, AZ
Weather: 58 degrees, showers with 40% chance of rain, winds blowing about 6 mph
Oregon State:
QB: Derek Andersen 53% comp, 3257 yds, 25 TDs, 17 INTs
WR: Mike Hass 1274 yds & 7 TDs, Joe Newton 602 yds & 5 TDs, Marcel Love 486 yds & 4 TDs
RB: Dwight Wright 760 yds, 3.8 avg, 5 TDs, 229 rec yds, 2 rec TDs
All PAC-10: DE Bill Swancutt (co-defensive player of the year) WR Mike Hass, OL Doug Nienhuis, DB Mitch Meeuwsen.
Notre Dame
QB: Brady Quinn 54% comp, 2372 yds, 15 TDs, 9 INTs.
WR: Rhema McKight 520 yds & 2 TDs, Anthony Fasano 354 yds 3 TDs, Maurice Stovall 313 yds 1 TD, Matt Shelton 518 yds, 27 ypc, & 6 TDs
RB: Darius Walker 743 yds, 4.3 avg, 6 TDs/ Ryan Grant 496 yds, 4.4 avg, 5 TDs
Injuries:
Notre Dames career sacks leader and season MVP DE Justin Tuck is doubtful with a knee injury that he suffered in the last game of the season. To top that off Notre Dame also may be without WRs Maurice Stovall and Matt Shelton who are listed as doubtful. Shelton was ND's deep threat all year, without him OSU's good secondary should have an easy day.
As far as OSU is concerned, OG Roy Schuening is okay after getting over the flu and practiced some on Sunday the 26th. K Alexis Serna had a foot infection, he lost a little on his rhythm, but he's back (after that set back in LSU, he has been accurate. RB Dwight Right is not 100%, he hasn't missed a practice, so he's around 90%. DT Sir Henry Andersen is out but George Gillet filled in nicely vs Oregon. Sr LB Pollard is listed as questionable, but he looks at this as a huge game for him and a chance to shine. He has been hampered by injuries this season, but now has a chance to top it off with a huge game.
Analysis:
Oregon State's offense is avgeraging 304.4 passing ypg and 75.3 rushing ypg. This greatly favors OSU well with a Notre Dame defense that is 9th best in rush defense at 94.4 ypg, but allows 274.3 passing ypg which ranks 114 out of 117 Division 1-A teams. In fact in all of Notre Dame's losses this season, the team allowed the opponent to throw for 300+ yards. The only thing that worries me is Andersen is the interception king, but I have a feeling he will have a good game as he will try to finish his college career with a bang. Manyh of NFL scouts like Andersen because of his potential at 6'6 240 and a good arm.
Oregon State also has a good defense with DE Swancutt (NFL bound), S Mitch Meeuwsen (NFL probable) and LB Pollard (NFL probable).
Overall I see a team anchored by many seniors trying to make it into the NFL, most notably QB Andersen should have a big game. They would want to leave their college career off on a good note. I see alot of talk on how Notre Dame has nothing to lose and want to win this one for Willingham, but why play for him when he's not even there anymore. Also there was some talk that SOME (not all) of the Notre Dame players didn't even want to be in the bowl game. Ialso hear alot of talk how this game is too good to be true so watch out for it. I feel the only hope of Notre Dame is the weather and the luck of the Irish, other than that it looks like all OSU. Do I smell a repeat of the 2001 Fiesta Bowl in which the Beavers romped the Irish 41-9?
5 Units: Oregon State -4
if I seemed to overlook anything please fill me in. What can I say, i'm a BEAVER BELIEVER!! they have won me alot of money this season and the past seasons, I may also be biased since i went there, but I tried to look at all the angles on this one. LETS GO BEAVS!!!
Insight Bowl @ Phoenix, AZ
Weather: 58 degrees, showers with 40% chance of rain, winds blowing about 6 mph
Oregon State:
QB: Derek Andersen 53% comp, 3257 yds, 25 TDs, 17 INTs
WR: Mike Hass 1274 yds & 7 TDs, Joe Newton 602 yds & 5 TDs, Marcel Love 486 yds & 4 TDs
RB: Dwight Wright 760 yds, 3.8 avg, 5 TDs, 229 rec yds, 2 rec TDs
All PAC-10: DE Bill Swancutt (co-defensive player of the year) WR Mike Hass, OL Doug Nienhuis, DB Mitch Meeuwsen.
Notre Dame
QB: Brady Quinn 54% comp, 2372 yds, 15 TDs, 9 INTs.
WR: Rhema McKight 520 yds & 2 TDs, Anthony Fasano 354 yds 3 TDs, Maurice Stovall 313 yds 1 TD, Matt Shelton 518 yds, 27 ypc, & 6 TDs
RB: Darius Walker 743 yds, 4.3 avg, 6 TDs/ Ryan Grant 496 yds, 4.4 avg, 5 TDs
Injuries:
Notre Dames career sacks leader and season MVP DE Justin Tuck is doubtful with a knee injury that he suffered in the last game of the season. To top that off Notre Dame also may be without WRs Maurice Stovall and Matt Shelton who are listed as doubtful. Shelton was ND's deep threat all year, without him OSU's good secondary should have an easy day.
As far as OSU is concerned, OG Roy Schuening is okay after getting over the flu and practiced some on Sunday the 26th. K Alexis Serna had a foot infection, he lost a little on his rhythm, but he's back (after that set back in LSU, he has been accurate. RB Dwight Right is not 100%, he hasn't missed a practice, so he's around 90%. DT Sir Henry Andersen is out but George Gillet filled in nicely vs Oregon. Sr LB Pollard is listed as questionable, but he looks at this as a huge game for him and a chance to shine. He has been hampered by injuries this season, but now has a chance to top it off with a huge game.
Analysis:
Oregon State's offense is avgeraging 304.4 passing ypg and 75.3 rushing ypg. This greatly favors OSU well with a Notre Dame defense that is 9th best in rush defense at 94.4 ypg, but allows 274.3 passing ypg which ranks 114 out of 117 Division 1-A teams. In fact in all of Notre Dame's losses this season, the team allowed the opponent to throw for 300+ yards. The only thing that worries me is Andersen is the interception king, but I have a feeling he will have a good game as he will try to finish his college career with a bang. Manyh of NFL scouts like Andersen because of his potential at 6'6 240 and a good arm.
Oregon State also has a good defense with DE Swancutt (NFL bound), S Mitch Meeuwsen (NFL probable) and LB Pollard (NFL probable).
Overall I see a team anchored by many seniors trying to make it into the NFL, most notably QB Andersen should have a big game. They would want to leave their college career off on a good note. I see alot of talk on how Notre Dame has nothing to lose and want to win this one for Willingham, but why play for him when he's not even there anymore. Also there was some talk that SOME (not all) of the Notre Dame players didn't even want to be in the bowl game. Ialso hear alot of talk how this game is too good to be true so watch out for it. I feel the only hope of Notre Dame is the weather and the luck of the Irish, other than that it looks like all OSU. Do I smell a repeat of the 2001 Fiesta Bowl in which the Beavers romped the Irish 41-9?
5 Units: Oregon State -4
if I seemed to overlook anything please fill me in. What can I say, i'm a BEAVER BELIEVER!! they have won me alot of money this season and the past seasons, I may also be biased since i went there, but I tried to look at all the angles on this one. LETS GO BEAVS!!!
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