GMAC Bowl (Pronounced Gee-Mack, not Gee-emm-ay-cee)
Background:
Tulsa leads the all-time series, 1-0. The game was a 45-10 win at home in 1989.
Tulsa: Loss to UCF after 5 game tear through Conference USA
Bowling Green: 4 Game tear through the Mid-American Conference
Tulsa Advantages:
Tulsa has the best offense in the nation yards per game wise.
QB Paul Smith may be a midget, but 42 TDs and 4,753 yards don't lie. And yes, that's more than Colt Brennan, and tied with Graham Harrell.
They lead Oklahoma 7-0 in the first quarter.
They aren't pass-exclusive, like Hawaii. They have Tarrion Adams (1,113 yards, 9 TDs).
They crushed Houston.
There is a distinct possibility that they could use their decent running game against Bowling Greens 107th ranked run defense, not ot mention Paul Smiths speedy legs.
Tulsa Disadvantages:
Conference USA had gone an atrocious 1-4 in bowl games this year.
They haven't beaten a good opponent all season, and even lost to UTEP by a point.
They have shown little adaptibility, losing to UCF twice by virtually the same score.
I'd daresay they have less depth than BGSU, simply because they haven't been as good for as long.
Their defense is ranked 111th.
Bowling Green Advantages:
They've beaten a Big Tenn opponent in Minnesota, and played respectably against Michigan State and Boston College.
Their defense is ranked 78th, and while not spectacular, is much more respectable than Tulsas.
Their QB, Tyler Sheehan, has 3,123 yards and 23 TDs. Not quite Paul Smith numbers, but very good nonetheless.
They are 29th in Pass Defense, with their Safety, P.J. Mahone, having 220 INT return yards, tied for first in the nation.
Bowling Green Disadvantages:
The Mid-American Conference only submitted 3 teams to bowls, and the other two (Ball State and Central Michigan) have lost handily.
Lost a couple crappers at Ohio and Miami of Ohio.
Sheehan relies a lot on Freddie Barnes, so if he goes out, so may Bowling Greens chances of victory.
Almost no running game to speak of, with 2 Running Backs who have about 500 yards a piece.
Writer Predictions:
Jason Frost: TBA
OKLueschen: TBA
Zorgon: Tulsa. While both are very similarly styled teams, and played very similar conference schedules, the fact is that Tulsa just played that much better. They had better numbers offensively, only have one bad loss (rather than two, like Bowling Green) and actually have a running game to speak of. Even in a bad conference, 42 TDs don't lie, and Bowling Greens balence just may be their demise. And hey, as I mentioned earlier, Tulsa could open it up a lot on the ground against the atrocious Bowling Green run defense. As for Bowling Green taking advantage of Tulsa's defense, well, they've been facing those defenses all year, and couldn't light it up as good as Tulsa has. Tulsa in a 50 pointish game that ends in the 3rd quarter.
Bottom Line: Tulsa 1, Bowling Green 0
