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| Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich |
The Case for Watching All Five Games of the First Day of Bowl Season
The bittersweet arrival of the first day of bowls reminds us all
that only 40 games remain in the college football season, but it also sets the
table for what figures to be a thrilling College Football Playoff finale. All
month long in the Daily Bowl Digest, we’ll be setting the table for each day of
bowl action, with game-by-game previews and a quick look back at what happened
last night. First up: A marathon Saturday highlighted by one of the most
intriguing matchups of the first half of the slate.
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl: Troy vs. North Texas (1 p.m. ET,
ESPN)
Why you should watch: With all due respect to the Celebration
Bowl, the annual showdown between the MEAC and SWAC champions that is entering
its third year of existence, the New Orleans Bowl is the official start of the
bowl season, and the Sun Belt traditionally plays into the fanfare by sending
its conference champion to the Superdome. This year, that’s Troy, which only
lost to Mountain West champ Boise State on the road and South Alabama in a
midweek letdown game. Conference USA runner-up North Texas was certainly
outclassed by Florida Atlantic in the conference title game, but the Mean Green
will be playing for the school’s first 10-win season ever.
This is the first time since 2010 that the game hasn’t featured
at least one team from Louisiana, but it’s safe to expect a high-energy contest
just the same as two dangerous offenses trade possessions in the Superdome’s
fast track.
Most interesting
player on the field: Troy RB Jordan Chunn. ?The last time the college football world was focused on
Chunn, he was rumbling through LSU’s defense on the way to a 30-carry, 190-yard
night that keyed the Trojans’ upset win in Tiger Stadium. The next game against
South Alabama, Chunn suffered a leg laceration that required 18 stitches and
sidelined him for the next two weeks. Now back at full strength, Chunn enters
his college finale one touchdown shy of the Sun Belt’s all-time record (48,
held by Tyrell Fenroy of Louisiana-Lafayette) with a juicy matchup against
North Texas’s 107th-ranked run D.? — Eric Single
Autonation Cure Bowl: Western Kentucky vs. Georgia State (2:30
p.m. ET, CBSSN)
Why you should watch: Passing enthusiasts, pull up a chair.
Western Kentucky and Georgia State both field putrid running games, so taking
to the air might be the only way the ball moves up and down the field. Western
Kentucky finished dead last in FBS in rushing offense, and Georgia State sits
116th. This game was built for fans who don’t have time for trench battles.
Most interesting
player on the field: WKU LB Joel Iyiegbuniwe. Iyiegbuniwe (pronounced ee-yay-boo-nee-way)
led the Hilltoppers in tackles and forced three fumbles on his way to
all-Conference USA honors. The Bowling Green native has become a team captain
for a Hilltoppers team that can’t always lean on a high-powered offense the way
it has in recent years. — Scooby Axson
Las Vegas Bowl: Boise State vs. Oregon (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Why you should watch: No Willie Taggart, no problem for
Oregon? We’ll see in the Ducks’ first game after Taggart bolted for Florida
State with former offensive coordinator Mario Cristobal serving as the team’s
head coach. Cristobal does have prior experience as a head coach with FIU, but
it will be interesting to see if there are any bumps in the transition and how
the team responds to the switch.
The good news for Cristobal is that the Ducks were one of the
top offenses in the country with a healthy Justin Herbert under
center, and Herbert is good to go against Boise State. Herbert and an explosive
Oregon rushing attack featuring Royce Freeman, Kani Benoit and Tony
Brooks-James will certainly be a challenge for Boise State to try to stop. But
the Broncos also boast an intriguing offense of their own, with quarterback
Brett Rypien a key reason behind Boise State’s status as one of the top passing
offenses in the Mountain West Conference.
Most interesting
player on the field: Oregon QB Justin Herbert. The Pac-12 has a couple quarterbacks
vying for top draft pick honors in the 2018 NFL draft, but Herbert could end up
as the crown jewel of the 2019 class. Oregon’s offense was among the best in
the country with a healthy Herbert under center. With senior running back Royce
Freeman deciding to skip the bowl game, Herbert has a good chance to showcase
his arm talent.? — Max Meyer
thanks for writer
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