GMAC BOWL
MEMPHIS vs. BOWLING GREEN
Dec-22 8:00/ESPN
SO WHAT’S THE STORY WITH THIS ONE?
Offense. Offense. Offense. Two of the more prolific offenses will go at it in what could be a 100 point barn burner. Now, that we’ve said that the score will probably be 10-7.
WHAT THE HELL ARE THESE TEAMS?
Bowling Green didn’t make any surprises this year either positively or negatively. Most thought they would end up third place in the MAC West behind Toledo and Northern Illinois and that’s exactly where they landed. Outside a cup of coffee in the Top 25, the Flacons 8-3 record isn’t that impressive. The only win they have against an over 500 team is against a rebuilding Marshall. Losses against Northern Illinois and Toledo have some thinking this team can’t seem to win against competitive teams. The paradigm is that the talent is there on defense and they have one of the most potent offenses in the NCAA. One that is led by Quarterback Omar Jacobs who threw for 36 TDs and only 3 INTS. That’s not a typo. A 36/3 ratio plus 4 rushing touchdowns equalling the 40 mark set in the MAC by previous studs such as Josh Harris, Ben Roethlisburger and Chad Pennington. He also spreads the bowl around with 5 different receivers having more then 20 receptions. The offense will also keep opposing teams honest with three different rushers (including Jacobs) accumulating over 1500 yards.
The bad news for Memphis is that they were hoping for a Liberty Bowl season, with most experts saying it’s their conference to lose. Well, they lost. And not just because of Louisville but couldn’t get it done against other USA teams as well. They also only have win against a 1-A team with a winning record, that being Southern Miss. The good news is that this is the first time in their history they are playing in two post-seasons back to back. They player your going to have to watch is DeAngelo Williams who rushed for 1,828 years this season. Again, not a typo. Their quarterback Danny Wimprine has had an up and down year, so he might be the key player in this bowl.With both teams having put up 40, 50, even 70 spots on opponents, this is going to be a utopia for offense lovers.
WHAT THE HELL IS THE GMAC BOWL?
In 1999, the town of Mobile Alabama decided to self-sponsor a bowl game and call it the Mobile Alabama Bowl! Then the year 2001 hit and the town went broke like the rest of America. So along came General Motors financial division to the rescue and not only sponsored the bowl but decided to completely take it over. Two years ago, the GMAC Bowl consisting of Marshall and Louisville is the highest rated sporting event on ESPN2 ever!
BOWLING GREEN-52
MEMPHIS-35
MVP-OMAR JACOBS
WHAT HAPPENED?
Omar went nuts. He went 24/44 for 365 yards, 5 touchdowns and an intecerption. P.J. Pope ran for 151 yards and 2 touchdowns. Bowling Green came out of th gate scoring a touchdown, getting an onside kick, and socring another touchdown. Memphis probably should have stuck to their guns and kept with the running game but Williams only found the ball 18 times. They were just so freaked out by what Bowling Green was throwing at them, they tried to compete with the pass. Wimprine actually had a good game and was able to keep up throwing for 324 yards and 4 touchdowns but his receivers just were not talented enough to break free and make plays. After a 35-28 half, it looked like this may be a repireive of the 2001 GMAC bowl where 125 points were scored but things settled down and Memphis just couldn’t keep the momentum going for four quarters.
WHAT DID WE LEARN?
That Omar Jacobs is the next big thing in the college football, possibly the NFL. Memphis wasn’t as good as most people thought they were, and it’s more evident then ever that the MAC just doesn’t believe in defense. The GMAC Bowl is also developing quite the cult due to all these ridiculous games they’ve been hosting.
