Pacific Life Holiday Bowl
San Diego, California
December 30, 2008, 5pm Pacific
#13 Oklahoma State Cowboys (9-3) vs. #17 Oregon Ducks (9-3)
Television: ESPN
The Big 12 Conference attempts to go 2-0 in the bowl season as Okie Lite heads out to San Diego for the Holiday Bowl. This bowl has a history of high-scoring games with exciting finishes, and I don’t expect this year’s to be any different, with two rather evenly matched teams in Oklahoma State and Oregon. It could be the best bowl game of the season, so don’t miss it.
Unlike most of the NCAA, both teams tonight have strong running games.
Oklahoma State’s Kendall Hunter led the Big 12 Conference in rushing with 1,518 yards on 228 carries. He’s scored 14 touchdowns.
Oregon’s senior Jeremiah Johnson and junior LeGarrette Blunt are trying to become the second duo in school history to each break 1,000 rushing yards in a season. Johnson has 1,082 yards and Blount has 928 yards.
The Cowboys add All-American wide receiver Dez Bryant to the mix. Bryant has 74 catches for 1,313 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Neither team has a defense to be proud of.
OSU’s only impressive win came at Missouri, who was ranked #3 at the time. They also almost stole a win from the Longhorns in Austin. They were pummeled by Texas Tech 56-20 and were beat by twenty points by the Sooners, although they did hang 41 on the OU defense.
Oregon lost to Boise State, USC and Cal, but ruined Oregon State’s Rose Bowl dreams by stomping them 65-38 to finish the season.
Prediction: A final score in the range of 42-41, with the final team to get the ball winning.