Breaking Down the bowls: #10 Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl Kentucky vs Clemson
Posted by qc at 12/26/2009 7:59 AM 
Categories: College Football 2009
Tags: CJ Spiller Football Dabo Swinney Kentucky Clemson Rich Brooks
Categories: College Football 2009
Tags: CJ Spiller Football Dabo Swinney Kentucky Clemson Rich Brooks
Not quite a third of the way through and my record of picking them stinks. We'll see if this is redemption Saturday.
#10 Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl, Dec 27th 7:30 ESPN
Nashville, Tn
Kentucky vs Clemson
Nothing like a good cat fight. Both teams are on a post season bowl streak of three in a row. Kentucky has won 3 in a row (starting with a victory in the same bowl against Clemson 3 years ago) and Clemson has lost 3 in a row. Says something about coaching/preparation and Dabo Swinney is wrapping up his first year as the head coach of Clemson while the Old Bull Rich Brooks is on the downhill side of his career at Kentucky.
When Kentucky has the rock, we're not sure if starting QB Mike Hartline will be playing or if it will be Freshmen backup Morgan Newton who is 5-2 as a starter but either way expect a healthy dose of Derrick Locke (59th ranked rusher) running the ball. Not a lot of passing going on for the Wildcats with their 114th ranked passing offense. Clemson will try to stop the run with their 69th ranked rushing D and by getting penetration with their front 4 who are 12th in tackles for loss and 25th in sacks this season. Everyone's' talking about CJ Spiller and kick returns but Derrick Locke is 8th in the nation in kick returns and Randall Cobb is 15th in punt returns so Kentucky has some special teams going for them too.
When Clemson has the ball All World Superman CJ Spiller is the key to their success. He's 4th in kickoff returns and all-purpose yards and 39th in the country in total rushing. The Wildcats haven't allowed a kickoff return for a TD all year but they do have the 100th ranked rushing D in the country and their front four is underwhelming with a ranking 92nd and 104th in TFL and sacks respectively.
Pick: Clemson is favored by 7. I'm taking the Tigers to cover against the Wildcats.
#10 Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl, Dec 27th 7:30 ESPN
Nashville, Tn
Kentucky vs Clemson
Nothing like a good cat fight. Both teams are on a post season bowl streak of three in a row. Kentucky has won 3 in a row (starting with a victory in the same bowl against Clemson 3 years ago) and Clemson has lost 3 in a row. Says something about coaching/preparation and Dabo Swinney is wrapping up his first year as the head coach of Clemson while the Old Bull Rich Brooks is on the downhill side of his career at Kentucky.
When Kentucky has the rock, we're not sure if starting QB Mike Hartline will be playing or if it will be Freshmen backup Morgan Newton who is 5-2 as a starter but either way expect a healthy dose of Derrick Locke (59th ranked rusher) running the ball. Not a lot of passing going on for the Wildcats with their 114th ranked passing offense. Clemson will try to stop the run with their 69th ranked rushing D and by getting penetration with their front 4 who are 12th in tackles for loss and 25th in sacks this season. Everyone's' talking about CJ Spiller and kick returns but Derrick Locke is 8th in the nation in kick returns and Randall Cobb is 15th in punt returns so Kentucky has some special teams going for them too.
When Clemson has the ball All World Superman CJ Spiller is the key to their success. He's 4th in kickoff returns and all-purpose yards and 39th in the country in total rushing. The Wildcats haven't allowed a kickoff return for a TD all year but they do have the 100th ranked rushing D in the country and their front four is underwhelming with a ranking 92nd and 104th in TFL and sacks respectively.
Pick: Clemson is favored by 7. I'm taking the Tigers to cover against the Wildcats.
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