Holiday Bowl Preview

Pacific Life Holiday Bowl
Oklahoma State vs Oregon
Tuesday, December 30, 8:00
on ESPN
Qualcomm Stadium - San Diego

Why you should watch:

• Traditionally one of the best bowl games of the season
  
• 2 of the best rushing offenses in the country
  
• 2 of the highest scoring offenses in the country
• 2 horrible pass defenses
  

Why you shouldn't watch:

• You are watching the Texas Bowl shootout on NFL network
  
• That is the only legitimate excuse...TURN ON THE TV!
  

Streaks and Scheduling Notes:
Oklahoma State:

• 9-3 (5-3)
  
• 6th bowl game in the last 10 years (3-2)
  
• Lost 3 of their last 5 games (losses to Texas, Texas Tech, and OU)
  
• 3-2 away from home this season
  

Oregon:

• 9-3 (7-2)
  
• 4th straight bowl game (1-2)
  
• Won 5 of their last 6 games
• 4-2 away from home this season
  

Key Stats, Figures, and Players:
Oklahoma State:

• They average 256 yards rushing per game which is good for 7th in the country. They also average 233 yards passing.
  
• Defensively they are decent against the run allowing only 124 yards per game. But they are 110th against the pass.
  
• QB Zac Robinson has thrown for 2,735 yards and 24 touchdowns against only 8 picks. He has also rushed 130 times for 508 yards and 7 touchdowns.
• RB Kendall Hunter has 1,518 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns.
• WR Dez Bryant has 74 receptions for 1,313 yards and 18 touchdowns.
  

Oregon:

• Another great running team averaging 278 yards per game and over 200 passing yards per game.
  
• Defensively they are good at stopping the run (119 per game) but against the pass they are weak (108th in the country).
  
• QB Jeremiah Masoli isn't a terrific passing threat with only 1,486 yards and 12 touchdowns but he has also ran for 612 yards and 7 touchdowns.
  
• RB Jeremiah Johnson has ran for 1,082 yards and 12 touchdowns this season.
• RB LeGarrette Blount has 928 yards and 16 touchdowns this season.
  

Who Wins:

Oklahoma State....This should be an excellent game but I think the Cowboys ability to pass the ball will end up being the difference. The strengths of both teams are their rushing offenses and rushing defenses. And the weakness for both teams is their pass defense. But the Cowboys pass offense is actually able to attack through the air while the Ducks stick to the ground.