New Years Day Bowl Games

There were three bowl games that received the early game slot. They were staggered in the their kick offs by thirty minutes. The first game to kick off was the Outback Bowl, which featured #18 Wisconsin from the Big Ten versus #19 Auburn from the SEC. The second game to kick off was the Cotton Bowl, which featured #5 Baylor from the Big XII versus #8 Michigan State from the Big Ten. Then the third game to kick off was the Citrus Bowl, which featured #16 Missouri from the SEC versus #25 Minnesota from the Big Ten.

In this review, we will take a look at the strengths and weaknesses of each team during the bowl and what we believe was the tipping point for the game that caused one team to win and one team to lose.

The Outback Bowl

Wisconsin and Auburn played a fantastic bowl game. It was truly a fun game to watch. Both teams put it on the line and put on a show for the fans. In the end, Wisconsin edged out Auburn in OT with a 34-31 victory. The game went back and forth all day with score changes numerous times.

Wisconsin Strength:

The running game of the Wisconsin Badgers

Melvin Gordon was not feeling well early in the week as he was dealing with the flue. However, he wanted to prove that he could run against the SEC. He started the game off strong. In addition to Gordon, Corey Clement came in numerous times to give Gordon a break and when he came in he produced.

Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon (25) stiff arms Auburn defensive back Johnathan Ford (23) on a run during the second quarter of the Outback Bowl NCAA college football game, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

Melvin Gordon was a work horse. They gave him the ball 34 times and on those 34 carries he mustered 251 yards and scored 3 TDs.

Jan 1, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Corey Clement (6) runs the ball in for a touchdown as Auburn Tigers linebacker Cassanova McKinzy (8) attempts to defend during the first quarter in the 2015 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. (Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)

 

Corey Clement came in to give Gordon much needed rest. He carried the ball 15 times for 105 yards.

 

Wisconsin Weakness:

Joel Stave struggled

The Auburn team was able to put the pressure on him and that pressure caused him to lose his poise and his effectiveness. However, to his credit, he made a few key plays on the last drive to set up the game-tying field goal. He also made a great pass to ensure a shorter field goal in overtime which was the game winner.

Jan 1, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Joel Stave (2) throws the ball as Auburn Tigers defensive lineman Gimel President (42) defends during the first quarter in the 2015 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. (Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)

For the game, he was 14 of 27 for 121 yards with 1 TD and 3 costly INTs.

 

Auburn Strength:

A well balanced game that featured the passing of Nick Marshall and the running of Cameron Artis-Payne

Marshall was poised and played a great game, especially when the Auburn defense gave their offense a short field. Artis-Payne may have started slow but the Tigers wore down the Badgers defense and he gained yards.

Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall throws a pass against the Wisconsin during the first quarter of the Outback Bowl NCAA college football game, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

Nick Marshall finished the game with 217 yards on 15 of 22 passing. He also had 2 TDs and 0 INTs.

Jan 1, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Auburn Tigers running back Cameron Artis-Payne (44) runs the ball against Wisconsin Badgers cornerback Peniel Jean (21) during the first half in the 2015 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. (Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports)

Artis-Payne carried the ball for 126 yards on 26 carries.

The Auburn Tigers finished the game with 435 yards and were balanced to the tune of 219 yards running and 216 yards passing.

 

 

Auburn Weakness:

Their run defense

They gave up 400 yards and did so with the game plan of stopping the run and making Stave beat them. They were right in the fact that Stave could not and would not beat them but they came no where close to stopping the run.

The Tipping Point:

There were many plays that could be pointed to the tipping point. However, there was one series that may have changed the game. It was a two play series at the end of the 3rd quarter. On third down, Clement caught a pass and looked liked he was stopped but he fought hard for 5 yards to make it 4th and 1 from their own 48. Alverez rolled the dice and went for it and gave the ball to Gordon. Gordon not only got the first down but a touchdown.

The Cotton Bowl

Wow! What a game and what an unbelievable finish. Michigan Spartans were down by 20 late, yet they regained their composure and took it to Baylor and out scored them 21-0 in the 4th quarter to take the win 42-41.

Michigan State Strength:

Spartans Composure 

Connor Cook and Jeremy Langford definitely stood out from a statistical standpoint and we will focus on those but the ultimate strength for the Michigan State Spartans was their “no-giving-up” attitude.

ARLINGTON, TX – JANUARY 01: Connor Cook #18 of the Michigan State Spartans passes against the Baylor Bears during the first half of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium on January 1, 2015 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Cook was 24 of 42 for 324 yards. He also threw for 2 TDs. He did have 2 INTs  but in the end, his play led them to victory.

Michigan State running back Jeremy Langford (33) celebrates a touchdown during the first half of the Cotton Bowl NCAA college football game against Baylor, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)

Langford was a beast in the game. He ran the ball 27 times for 162 yards. The rest of the Michigan State staff ran the ball 19 times for 76 yards.

 

 

Michigan State Weakness:

Pass Defense

Bryce Petty has put up many yards on many teams, but the Spartans gave up over 600 yards. The defense bent and broke but their offense and special teams bailed them out.

Baylor Strength:

Bryce Petty

Bryce Petty played a fantastic game. The numbers that Baylor and him put up in the air was extremely impressive. the Baylor Bears and himself seemed to want to prove that the Big XII “co-champions” were for real.

JANUARY 01: Bryce Petty #14 of the Baylor Bears passes against the Michigan State Spartans during the first half of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium on January 1, 2015 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Petty’s numbers could have been mistaken for video game numbers. He was 36 of 51 for 550 yards. He had 3 TDs and 1 INT. However, without a running game, erratic special teams and a defense that broke down in the 4th quarter; his performance; no matter how great, simply was not enough.

 

Baylor Weakness:

Baylor Rushing Attack 

The running game by far was their weakness and it was the downfall for them in this game. They attempted to carry the ball 22 times. In those 22 carries, they finished with a NEGATIVE 20 yards.

ANUARY 01: Bryce Petty #14 of the Baylor Bears and Shock Linwood #32 of the Baylor Bears celebrate after the Bears scored against the Michigan State Spartans during the second half of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium on January 1, 2015 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Linwood who had 1,226 yards during the regular season was held to a woeful 26 yards on a 11 carries.

However, in addition to the running game; Baylor has to once again look at their defense. They gave up over 550 yards and 42 points. Proving once again that the BIG XII needs defensive help.

 

The Tipping Point:

With a minute left in the game, Baylor was up by 6 and attempting a field goal to make it a 2 possession game and to seal the victory. However, the field goal was blocked and returned into Baylor’s territory that set up Michigan State’s game winning drive.

ARLINGTON, TX – JANUARY 01: Marcus Rush #44 of the Michigan State Spartans blocks the field goal attempt by Chris Callahan #40 of the Baylor Bears during the second half of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium on January 1, 2015 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

 

The Citrus Bowl

The Citrus Bowl was the only game of the three that did not go down to the final buzzer. However, the first three quarters were very competitive until Missouri took over and defeated Minnesota by a score of 33-17.

Missouri Strength:

Mizzou Running Scheme 

The running game of the Missouri Tigers gave them the victory. It was an impressive showing and there were two individuals that propelled the attack. The Tigers finished the game with 337 yards on 45 carries.Those players were Marcus Murphy and Russell Hansbrough.

Jan 1, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Missouri Tigers running back Marcus Murphy (6) breaks free following a block by offensive lineman Evan Boehm (77) during the first half in the 2015 Citrus Bowl agains the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Florida Citrus Bowl. (Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports)

Marcus Murphy only carried the ball 12 times but he made the most of every carry. He racked up an amazing 157 yards. He had a 69 yard long run to help with those yards.

Jan 1, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Missouri Tigers running back Russell Hansbrough (32) is wrapped up by Minnesota Golden Gophers defensive back Derrick Wells (3) and defensive back Cedric Thompson (2) during the first half in the 2015 Citrus Bowl at Florida Citrus Bowl. (Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports)

Hansbrough had 114 yards on 15 carries. Most of them did come on one carry. He had a game long run of 78 yards.

 

 

Missouri Weakness:

Passing Attack 

Due to many factors, we will place the weakness on the passing game. Maty Muck started off with a rough start. He threw two interceptions on the first two possessions. However, he settled down and did not make any more errors and then relied on the running game to get them through.

Missouri quarterback Maty Mauk (7) scrambles for yardage as he tries to get away from Minnesota linebacker Damien Wilson (5) during the first half of the Citrus Bowl NCAA college football game in Orlando, Fla., Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

 

Minnesota Strength:

WR Maxx Williams 

Maxx Williams played a great game and might have had the best play of the bowl game with a double hurdle on one play. For the game, he had 7 receptions for 98 yards and his play had Missouri focusing on him which helped David Cobb get tough yards and allowed Mitch Leider to find other receivers.

Jan 1, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers tight end Maxx Williams (88) makes a reception and is stopped by Missouri Tigers safety Ian Simon (21) during the first half in the 2015 Citrus Bowl at Florida Citrus Bowl. (Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports)

 

Minnesota Weakness:

Stopping the Run

The Minnesota Gophers weakness is the opposite of the strength of the Tigers. The Gophers gave up 337 yards on 45 carries.

The Tipping Point:

The fake punt helped spark a fire for the Tigers.

Missouri defensive lineman Harold Brantley (90) runs with the ball for a first down past Minnesota defensive back Jalen Myrick (28) on a fake punt play during the first half of the Citrus Bowl NCAA college football game in Orlando, Fla., Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

The three games definitely gave fans a lot of wonderful football to watch and if you only had one tv available to you, the remote control was in overdrive.

 

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