Wisconsin vs Florida State, Prediction, 2008 Champs Sports Bowl
Posted on | December 23, 2008 | 1 Comment
Wisconsin vs Florida State, Prediction, 2008 Champs Sports BowlThe Champs Sports Bowl can easily be renamed the Disappointment Bowl. Orlando is hosting two teams that really seemed to be on their way to having great seasons only to watch the bottom fall out. What is essentially a home game for the Seminoles, has some interesting matchup potential as well as an up and coming coach for Wisconsin (Brett Bielema) vs one of the best ever for Florida State (Bobby Bowden).
Wisconsin was ranked in preseason polls and climbed all the way up to the ninth spot before everything fell apart. All-American TE Travis Beckum was lost for the year, there was a switch at quarterback, and nothing was going right for the Badgers. They lost five of their last six games and were fortunate to sneak by Cal-Poly (obscure by all standards except it is where Tom Cruise went on scholarship in the film “All The Right Moves”). The brightest star on the team is running back T. J. Hill. Hill went over the 1,000 yard mark this season and the Badger rushing attack averaged over 200 yards per game, good enough to be ranked fourteenth nationally.
Florida State’s biggest goals are to keep everyone eligible and out of trouble. Last year about half the team was ineligible for bowl play due to “academic cheating”. This year has been much tamer, only losing a few receivers for a game. This will be the Seminoles 27th consecutive bowl appearance, best in the nation with Michigan collapsing this year. Florida State is trying to keep Jimbo Fisher in the fold to take over when Bobby Bowden has had enough. Rumored to be tapped for the Auburn job, Florida State locked in Fisher with an incentive laden two year contract stating that if he is not the coach by 2010 than FSU owes him extra money. Quarterback Christian Ponder is as inconsistent as they come at this level. His thirteen touchdown to twelve interception ratio backs up the mediocrity tag. Florida State has a solid run defense. They only gave up 125 yards per game and were stubborn all year.
This game is going to come down to mistakes and penalties. If Bowden can keep Florida State below 110 penalty yards, the Seminoles should win the game easily. However, the Badgers can run clock and eat minutes. If it is a very low scoring game, look for Wisconsin in the upset. I see Florida State winning the game by a couple of touchdowns. The bad momentum Wisconsin finished on should carry them nowhere but downward for at least the first half.
Champs Sports Bowl Preview December 27 4:30 PM EST ESPN
(formerly the Citrus Bowl for the non-corporate college football fan)
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One Response to “Wisconsin vs Florida State, Prediction, 2008 Champs Sports Bowl”
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December 23rd, 2008 @ 6:10 pm
This may be the most boring bowl of the season. I wouldn’t be surprised if the the final is 7-3.