Tsn's Bowl Preview

Sporting News, The, Dec 25, 2000 by Tom Dienhart

In case you're wondering

You've got questions. We've got answers.

Q: Which notable teams are missing from the postseason party?

A: The biggest no-show is Penn State, which last missed a bowl after the 1988 season. Alabama and USC, consensus preseason top-25 teams, also are home muttering to themselves in the weight room.

Q: What teams figure to use a bowl as a launching pad for a run at the 2001 national championship?

A: Tennessee rolls into the Cotton Bowl on a six-game winning streak with lots of young talent. There might be a lot of babies in Knoxville named Casey in a few years if freshman quarterback Casey Clausen turns out to be as good as the early peeks he has given us. Florida, Florida State, Miami, Nebraska and Georgia Tech also are looking to punctuate this season with an exclamation point to serve as a springboard toward 2001.

Q: Can we expect any upsets?

A: Yes. Chief among them could be Oklahoma over Florida State. That's right, the No. 1 team in the land isn't supposed to win the Orange Bowl. Just like the Sooners weren't supposed to beat Texas, Nebraska and Kansas State. Also, don't be shocked if Oregon State topples Notre Dame and Northwestern knocks off Nebraska.

Q: If TSN could have made any matchups it wanted with the 2000 bowl teams, which would have been some of the best?

A: How about a South Carolina-Notre Dame game? The over/under on fake pregame smiles exchanged between Lou Holtz and Bob Davie would be 23. A Tennessee-Texas game would have allowed us to see earth-moving Longhorns offensive tackle Leonard Davis battle humongous Volunteers defensive tackle John Henderson. And, lastly, what about Miami-Florida State? After all, those are arguably the Nos. 1 and 2 teams in the nation.

Q: Which is the worst team in a bowl?

A: There are seven 6-5 teams: Arkansas, Virginia, Boston College, Arizona State, West Virginia, Minnesota and UCLA. They all look ugly, but the ugliest is Boston College. The Eagles beat one team that finished with a winning record. And that was 6-5 Syracuse, which somehow got left out of the bowl picture. B.C.'s five other wins? Army, Navy, Connecticut, Rutgers and Temple. Marshall, Texas Tech, Southern Miss, Fresno State and Boise State are the other bowl teams that failed to beat a team that made it to the postseason.

RELATED ARTICLE: Games within the games

The best individual matchups of the bowl season? Let's break 'em down.

The matchup: Clemson LB Keith Adams vs. Virginia Tech QB Michael Vick.

The game: Gator Bowl, January 1.

The skinny: At 5-11, Adams can get lost easily in the crowd. Here's a hint to help Vick pick him out: Adams will be the orange-and-white whirling dervish snapping at his heels until every whistle.

The matchup: Miami WR Santana Moss vs. Florida CB Lito Sheppard.

The game: Sugar Bowl, January 2.

The skinny: This battle could serve as a public-service announcement: Speed kills. To fully appreciate these burners and their skills, you'll want to tape the game and watch their duels in slow motion.

The matchup: Nebraska LB Carlos Polk vs. Northwestern RB Damien Anderson.