USC’s slip has been restricted, the vacation spot in Utah is understood, and the state of Oregon is heading to Sin Metropolis to have fun breakout season.
These had been the highlights of Pac-12 Bowl Choose Day, which concurrently skilled time journey and a reminder of its disappointing current.
The convention positioned two groups within the prestigious New 12 months’s Six for the primary time because the 2017 season. The Cotton Bowl will tackle Tulane after shedding the convention championship.
However for the sixth yr in a row, the Pac-12 failed to steer the staff to the faculty soccer playoffs. Regardless of all of the enhancements on the prime, all of the proof that Pac-12 was the second-best convention within the nation (behind the SEC), it once more didn’t construct an unbeatable or one-loss staff.
Different groups eligible for the Pac-12 Cup obtained assignments that matched expectations:
— Washington heads to the Alamo Bowl, the place the primary roster was chosen after New 12 months’s six video games.
– The Vacation Bowl took over Oregon, which has misplaced two of its final three tournaments to remain out of the Pac-12 title problem.
– The Las Vegas Bowl selected Oregon State, giving the Beavers probably the most prestigious spot since they competed within the Alamo ten years in the past.
“That left UCLA on the Solar Bowl, a disappointing place for the Bruins, who gained 9 video games and spent many of the season within the prime 25.
— The seventh and ultimate bowl-eligible staff, Washington State, heads to the LA Bowl.
Except for lacking the playoffs, the Pac-12 bowl roster displays the perfect common season in years.
The convention positioned six groups within the ultimate choice committee rankings: No. 8 Utah, No. 10 USC, No. 12 Washington, No. 14 Oregon State, No. 15 Oregon, and No. 18 UCLA.
Solely the SEC (six) has been in a position to meet this submission.
“How a couple of six-team ranked Pac-12?” ESPN analyst Jesse Palmer stated on the bowl choose present.
“Historically (these are) the weakest Energy 5, they’ve missed the Faculty Soccer playoffs for six years in a row due to what occurred within the Pac-12 championship sport with the USC loss.
“However there are a whole lot of good groups on this convention with numbers (rankings) subsequent to their names.”
Here’s a temporary overview of the seven video games (in chronological order).
All PacificLines time offered by Motion Community
Los Angeles Bowl: Washington State (7-5) vs. Fresno State (9-4)Kick off: December 17 (12:30 p.m. on ABC)Line: APU +1Remark: The Cougars are eligible for the cup for the seventh straight season (excluding 2020) and can face an opponent acquainted to Pac-12 colleges. Led by former Washington quarterback Jake Haner, Fresno State gained eight consecutive video games and defeated Boise State within the Mountain West Championship. One other powerful check for the WSU protection, which scored 51 factors and 703 yards within the Apple Cup.
Las Vegas Bowl: Oregon State (9-3) vs. Florida (6-6)Kick off: December 17 (4:30 p.m. on ABC)Line: Oregon -1Remark: The Beavers had been chosen forward of UCLA, a testomony to their success and the keenness of the followers. The Gators beat Utah within the season opener however completed 3-5 within the SEC and misplaced in a row (to Vanderbilt and Florida State). Oregon State’s 2021 postseason efficiency was an outright flop (double-digit loss to Utah State within the LA Bowl). This is an opportunity to make amends.
Festive bowl: Oregon (9-3) vs. North Carolina (9-4)Kick off: December 28 (5 p.m. on Fox)Line: Oregon -8Remark: The Vacation Bowl reportedly needed Notre Dame however misplaced the Irish to a different ACC-related bowl (Gator) and settled on the Tar Heels, who misplaced the convention title sport to Clemson. Oregon has made its first look on the festivities because the 2008 season. Each defenses are severely flawed and UNC has misplaced three matches in a row. However the consequence might rely upon which squad suffered probably the most from participant abandonment.
Alamo bowl: Washington (10-2) vs. Texas (8-4)Kick off: December 29 (6:00 p.m. on ESPN)Line: Washington +4.5Remark: The Huskies make their first look on the Alamo Bowl because the 2011 season underneath then-coach Steve Sarkeesian, who’s ending his second yr in Texas. The Longhorns pushed Alabama to their limits in September however completed third in a mediocre Huge 12. One other sport that will rely upon opt-out. We count on UW quarterback Michael Penix to play, however the standing of Texas guard Bijan Robinson is unclear.
Photo voltaic bowl: UCLA (9-3) vs. Pittsburgh (8-4)Kick off: December 30 (CBS, 11:00 a.m.)Line: UCLA -2.5Remark: The Bruins have fallen within the Pac-12 pecking order after shedding two of their final three video games. (Vacation has at all times been an unlikely landing spot after UCLA withdrew from the bowl final yr.) In consequence, they head to El Paso for the primary time in 9 years and can face an opponent who put Tennessee into time beyond regulation to start with of the season. season and gained the final 4 video games. As with every Bruins sport, we’re anticipating a whole lot of factors.
Cotton bowl: USC (11-2) vs. Tulane (11-2)Kick off: January 2 (ESPN, 10:00 a.m.)Line: USK -4.5Remark: The Trojans had been in Cotton on the finish of the 2017 season (a 24-7 loss to Ohio State), whereas the Inexperienced Wave, who completed prime of the Group of 5 after beating the American, makes their first massive bowl look since 1939. USC’s at-large efficiency is value $4 million Pac-12 and can be equally divided amongst 12 colleges.
Pink bowl: Utah (10-3) vs. Penn State (10-2)Kick off: January 2 (ESPN, 2:00 pm)Line: Utah +1.5Remark: A yr after their epic 48-45 loss to Ohio State, the Utahs return to Pasadena in quest of their first ever win at Granddaddy. The Nittany Lions misplaced to Michigan and Ohio State by double digits, haven’t any wins towards groups within the ultimate CFP rankings, and are nowhere close to as proficient because the Buckeye a yr in the past. PSU’s final look in Granddaddy was unforgettable: a 52–49 loss to USC in January 2017.
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