We come full circle with the final bowl game of the Big Ten conference…the granddaddy of them all. Of course if Michigan and Ohio State hadn’t blown it, we would’ve had another game to preview but TCU and Georgia got it done. Let’s see if Penn State can do what their fellow B1G East powers didn’t do…win their bowl game.
How did Penn State get here?
Being the third best team in the Big Ten but sharing their division with the two best. Penn State ran the tables in the non conference, their crossover games, and all their B1G East games but two…you know who, too…Michigan and Ohio State. They got here by having an improved defense under Manny Diaz, which yeah, color me shocked, and a VASTLY improved rushing attack led by two outstanding freshman: Nicholas Singleton (1,061 yards, 6.8 avg, 12 TDs) and Kaytron Allen (867, 5.9, 10). Senior QB Sean Clifford also had his best season thanks to the reliable running game. Yes, he threw for fewer yards this year but all his other numbers were up and the yards were down due to, you guessed it, the ground game being so much better.
How did Utah get here?
Sweeping USC and getting a lot of luck at making the Pac 12 Title game. Utah lost to Oregon in their penultimate regular season game. Due to losing to UCLA earlier in the season, they finished 7-2 in league play. Washington was also 7-2 and had two impressive wins (Oregon State and Oregon). Seeing them against USC, who they didn’t play in the regular season would have been fun, but thanks to losing to UCLA and bizarrely Arizona State, UW was also stuck with Utah at 7-2. Then we get to Oregon. All they had to do in their finale was beat archrival Oregon State and they were off to the Pac 12 Title Game. They didn’t. Thanks to their second half collapse – and losing to Washington two weeks earlier – the Ducks were also at 7-2. Despite the head-to-head over Utah, the math didn’t work in OU’s favor and it was Utah who got to go against USC. Just like they did earlier in the season, the Utes offense scored whenever and however they wanted against the soft-as-Charmin Trojan “defense.” Like PSU, the Utes have an extremely dangerous offense. Utah’s Cam Rising tossed for over 3,000 yards and a trio of backs all with over 500 yards mean this team can seriously move the ball. Like a good Big Ten team, Utah loves to get their Tight Ends involved. Although hurt and not playing this game, TE Austin Kincaid lead the Utes in receiving. Finally, coach Kyle Whittingham has coached many a good defensive teams and this one is no different. For example despite losing to Oregon, they held the explosive Ducks to just 20 points.
Why should we watch?
It’s the freaking Rose Bowl! Okay, well, there’s more than that. Cam Rising and Sean Clifford are both playing plus PSU’s stable of young backs are freshman so they have no reason to sit out. Expect a lot of points in this one.
Who should win…and should you bet?
Vegas predicts it to be close as PSU is a one point favorite. I have no read on who will win but the over is 55. I think both teams are capable of scoring four touchdowns. I’d take the over and ignore the spread.
How to watch?
- Date: Monday, January 2nd
- Time: 4:00 pm, central
- TV: ESPN
- Location: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California
Random Tidbit:
This is Utah’s second straight Rose Bowl. They join a surprisingly large group of teams to make consecutive appearances:
- 1918-1919: Mare Island – USMC (1-1)
- 1921-1922 California (1-0-1)
- 1926-1927 Alabama (1-0-1)
- 1927-1928 Stanford (1-0-1)
- 1932-1933 USC (2-0)
- 1934-1936 Stanford (1-2)
- 1939-1940 USC (2-0)
- 1944-1946 USC (2-1)
- 1949-1951 California (0-3)
- 1960-1961 Washington (2-0)
- 1961-1962 Minnesota (1-1)
- 1967-1970 USC (2-2)
- 1971-1972 Stanford (2-0)
- 1973-1975 USC (2-0)
- 1973-1976 Ohio State (1-3)
- 1977-1979 Michigan (0-3)
- 1979-1980 USC (2-0)
- 1981-1982 Washington (1-1)
- 1983-1984 UCLA (2-0)
- 1988-1990 USC (1-2)
- 1991-1993 Washington (2-1)
- 1992-1993 Michigan (1-1)
- 1999-2000 Wisconsin (2-0)
- 2004-2005 Michigan (0-2)
- 2005-2006 Texas (2-0)
- 2006-2009 USC (3-1)
- 2011-2013 Wisconsin (0-3)
- 2013-2014 Stanford (1-1)
- 2022-2023 Utah (TBA)
Big Ten and Counting 