Now that the first three games for today are all finished, we have two rather big bowl games this evening in The Rose Bowl and The Allstate Sugar Bowl.
The Rose Bowl has for the most part always held exciting game and hopefully the same goes for today. Both team that will play against each other finished the season ranked and in 1st place in each of their respective conferences. The (10-2, 8-1) Oregon Ducks are currently ranked # 7 in the Nation and The (10-2, 7-1) Ohio State Buckeyes are ranked # 8 in the Nation.
The Allstate Sugar Bowl will be the final game of the day and also will feature two highly ranked teams. The Florida Gators are ranked # 5 in the nation while the Cincinnati Bearcats finished ranked # 3 overall in the Nation. The Gators finished with a (12-1, 8-0) record which placed them 1st in the SEC - East. The Bearcats finihed their season with a (12-0, 7-0) record which also placed them first in the Big East.
Below the jump we take a look at each team, their key-players, the coaches and coaching records, and other key information.
# 8 OHIO STATE BUCKEYES VS # 7 OREGON DUCKS
# 5 FLORIDA GATORS VS # 3 CINCINNATI BEARCATS
THE ROSE BOWL PREVIEW
I expect this to be a close hard fought game with high emotion and high stakes for each side. Both teams have pretty balanced offenses and defenses. So, I think this will come down to whoever wants it more. There will be a few prospects that will be playing on Sunday's next year coming out of this game and there seems to be more and more every year for each of these teams.
OHIO STATE BUCKEYES (Click here for teams website)
Key players to watch for the Buckeyes:
Terrelle Pryor QB
Brandon Saine RB
Daniel Herron RB
DeVier Posey WR
Kurt Coleman SS
Ross Homan DB
Led by Coach: Jim Tressel (9th year, 93-21)
OREGON DUCKS (Click here for teams website)
Key players to watch for the Ducks:
Jeremiah Masoli QB
LaMichael James RB
LeGarrette Blount RB
Jeff Maehl WR
Ed Dickson TE
Talmadge Jackson DB
Led by Coach: Chip Kelly (1st year, 10-2)
WHEN: 4:30 PM ET, 1:30 PM PST
WHERE: WALLACE WADE STADIUM, PASEDENA, CA.
TV: ABC
THE ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL PREVIEW
With the current coaching situations for each team, I wouldn't expect anything less than high emotions and high energy for each side. This will be Tim Tebow's last game as a Gator and as much as I don't think of him as a true quarterback, I think he seems to find a way to will his team to victories. He will have his work cut out against a fierce and competitive natured Bearcat defense. There will be a bunch of prospects leaving their respective schools to go pro next year. This is one of those games that I would find it hard to bet on because it could go either way.
THE FLORIDA GATORS (Click here for teams website)
Key players to watch for the Gators:
Tim Tebow QB
Riley Cooper WR
Aaron Hernandez TE
Mike Pouncey G
Carlos Dunlap DE
Jermaine Cunningham DE
Brandon Spikes LB
Joe Haden CB
Major Wright S
Led by Coach: Urban Meyer (5th year, 56-10)
THE CINCINNATI BEARCATS (Click here for teams website)
Key players to watch for the Bearcats:
Tony Pike QB
Isaiah Pead RB
Mardy Gilyard WR
Armon Binns WR
D.J. Woods WR
Aaron Webster DB
Led by Coach: Butch Jones (1st year, 0-0)
WHEN: 8:30 PM ET, 5:30 PM PST
WHERE: LOUISIANA SUPERDOME, NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.
TV: FOX