BCS, Latest Sports News, NCAA Football, NCAA Football Bowl Games NEWS
2010 FedEx Orange Bowl The Forgotten BCS Game
Published by MoonDog on January 5, 2010
With all the hype surrounding the BCS national championship, the Allstate Sugar Bowl, the Rose Bowl and the Fiesta Bowl, no one seems too interested in the FedEx Orange Bowl, the forgotten BCS game during the 2009-10 college football bowl season.
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, champions of the ACC and the Iowa Hawkeyes of the Big Ten will square off in Miami on January 5.
The Georgia Tech and Iowa contest hasn’t garnered a lot of national attention.
Iowa was on the verge of winning the Big Ten title and an automatic berth in the Rose Bowl until a 27-24 overtime loss to Ohio State sent the Buckeyes to Pasadena.
The Yellow Jackets were in the hunt for the BCS national championship game until a late season loss to in-state rival Georgia ended their hopes.
Iowa (10-2) isn’t going to dazzle opponents with a high-powered offense. The Hawkeyes rank 93rd nationally among all FBS teams, averaging 330.4 yards per game.
Iowa is led by quarterback Ricky Stanzi, a 6-4 junior whose numbers are much like the Hawkeyes offense in general.
Stanzi completed just 56% of his passes (154 of 275) for 15 touchdowns while throwing 14 interceptions. He was also sacked 22 times this season.
On November 7, Iowa was defeated for the first time and lost Stanzi for the remainder of the regular season during a 17-10 loss to Northwestern. Stanzi sustained a severe ankle sprain in the second quarter.
Backup James Vandenberg took over for the injured Stanzi in the second half against Northwestern, but was unable to generate much offense.
The following week against Ohio State, he performed admirably, completing 20 of 33 passes for 233 yards and two touchdowns.
But his three interceptions against the Buckeyes cost Iowa dearly, ultimately leading to an Ohio State victory.
Where the Hawkeyes excel is on the defensive side of the ball. Iowa is ranked 10th nationally in total defense, allowing 286.7 yards per game.
Iowa’s defense forced 29 turnovers this season and registered 27 sacks. The Hawkeyes also did a respectable job of limiting their opponents on third down, allowing only 35.8% third down conversions.
Iowa’s defense will have one of it’s sternest tests of the season against the Yellow Jackets.
Georgia Tech ranked 12th nationally in total offense, gaining 442.7 yards per game. The Yellow Jackets were second nationally in rushing offense, rolling up 307.1 yards a game on the ground.
Georgia Tech has four players that ran for better than 300 yards this season, led by Jonathan Dwyer with 1,346 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Quarterback Josh Nesbitt triggers coach Paul Johnson’s triple option attack. The 6-1 junior rushed for 991 yards and scored 18 touchdowns.
The Yellow Jackets don’t throw the ball much, but when they do, Nesbitt is very effective. He completed 73 of 153 passes for 1,689 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Georgia Tech is 13th nationally in scoring offense, averaging 35.3 points per game. The Yellow Jackets need to pile up the points because their defense, while decent, allows 24.8 points per game.
Georgia Tech ranks 52nd nationally in team defense, allowing 357 yards per game, but they have forced 24 turnovers this season which led to a +7 turnover margin.
The key to this game is the same for every opponent that’s faced Georgia Tech. If Iowa can stop the Yellow Jackets from running the ball, they’ll win the game.
Of course the problem Iowa has is the fact only Miami effectively stopped the Yellow Jackets ground game this season, giving up just 95 yards rushing in their win over Georgia Tech on September 17.
Miami was able to take an early 17-3 lead over Georgia Tech in that game and forced the Yellow Jackets to throw the ball, something they don’t do well in come from behind situations.
Despite Iowa’s anemic offense, they can win if they’re able to limit turnovers and sacks. Stanzi has recovered from his ankle injury but hasn’t played in two months, so the Hawkeyes will need to run the ball, control the clock and keep the Yellow Jackets offense off the field.
Even though Iowa’s defense is solid, they haven’t faced an offense like Georgia Tech’s all season. Look for the Yellow Jackets to come away with a victory in the FedEx Orange Bowl, the forgotten BCS game.
For more great coverage of the FedEx Orange Bowl, take a moment to visit the Gunaxin Blog Bowl.
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...303 views
3 so far
Tagged with: 2009-10 College Football Bowl Season, ACC Football, Atlantic Coast Conference, BCS, BCS Bowl, BCS Game, Big Ten Conference, Big Ten Football, Bowl Championship Series, Buckeyes, College Football, College Football Bowl Games, College Football Statistics, FedEx Orange Bowl, Football, Georgia Tech, Gunaxin Blog Bowl, Hawkeyes, Iowa, James Vandenberg, Jonathan Dwyer, Josh Nesbitt, Miami, Ohio State, Pasadena, Paul Johnson, Ricky Stanzi, Rose Bowl, Stats, Yellow Jackets
Straitpinkie.com Presents the Best Links From Around the Web | straitpinkie.com on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 09:57
[...] 2010 FedEx Orange Bowl The Forgotten BCS Game (MoonDog Sports) [...]
Link Love: Erotic Conventions, the Orange Bowl & Kazoo-playing hoo-has on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 17:14
[...] MoonDog Sports breaks down the 2010 FedEx Orange Bowl, otherwise known as the forgotten [...]
Orange Bowl - Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets | Gunaxin Sports on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 18:36
[...] Orange Bowl The Forgotten BCS Game (MoonDog Sports) [...]