As part of Last Word on College Football’s commitment of previewing every bowl game, today the focus is on sunny San Diego. It is time for the 2016 National Funding Holiday Bowl Preview. This year’s match-up features Minnesota versus Washington State, on Dec. 27 at 4pm.
2016 National Funding Holiday Bowl
Since its inception in 1978, the Holiday Bowl has had its share of memorable games. In 1980, the heroics of Jim McMahon led BYU to a win in what was dubbed the “Miracle Bowl”. Fast forward four years — the school won its only National Championship beating Michigan. Finally two seasons ago, USC beat Nebraska 45-42 in a game featuring almost 1,100 yards of total offense.
Back to this year’s contest, the game has been making headlines, unfortunately not for anything on the playing field.
The Minnesota Storyline
The Golden Gophers have dominated the talk concerning this game, and for a while it looked as if the team would not play. Suspensions to ten players stemming from an alleged sexual assault led to the rest of the team saying they would boycott the Holiday Bowl.
Minnesota Gophers Football Team Boycott Until Suspensions Are Lifted – https://t.co/Cy5tvfSvBM pic.twitter.com/qWgFY2VHp7
— 🏈LastWordOnCFB🏈 (@LastWordOnCFB) December 16, 2016
Two days later, the players decided not to boycott and play in the game. Had Minnesota skipped the game, Northern Illinois would have gotten their bid.
Minnesota football team has ended its boycott and will resume preparations to play in the Holiday Bowl. https://t.co/E0vpJ6i0d7
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) December 17, 2016
With that settled, let’s look closer at the Minnesota program. The school finished 8-4 on the season and will be playing in its fifth straight bowl game. Tracy Clayes’ club does most of its damage on the ground.
Sophomore Rodney Smith rushed for 1,084 yards and 15 touchdowns. Back-up Shannon Brooks added 599 yards and five touchdowns.
However, if the Gophers have to go to the passing game that is where they have struggled. Quarterback Mitch Leidner threw for only seven touchdowns with 12 interceptions. Leidner was much stronger on the ground rushing for 340 yards and ten touchdowns.
How Washington State Got To San Diego
While the Cougars finished the season 8-4 under Coach Mike Leach, they had much higher aspirations for the season.
Washington State started the season 0-2, then won eight straight and was eyeing a Rose Bowl bid. However, back-to-back losses to Colorado and Washington ended their hopes of a trip to Pasadena.
Per the norm, as one of the founders of the “Air Raid” offense, Leach’s Cougars are second in the nation with 370 yards passing per game. Junior quarterback Luke Falk spearheads the attack throwing for over 4,200 yards and 37 touchdowns. He also completed an amazing 71 percent of his passes.
Falk’s favorite target is Gabe Marks who had 85 receptions for 857 yards and 13 touchdowns. However, they will be without one of their top weapons for the game. Wide receiver River Cracraft suffered a torn ACL on November 12th in a win against California. Cracraft had 53 catches for 705 yards and five touchdowns.
Series History
The Holiday Bowl is the sixth all-time meeting between these two schools and the first since 1988. Though every game has been played in Minnesota, the Cougars led the all-time series 3-2.
Another #tbt to the last meeting against Minnesota in 1988! #GoCougs #HolidayBowl2016 pic.twitter.com/fXGikfzA5c
— Washington State Football (@WSUCougarFB) December 15, 2016
One of the most exciting bowl games in history happened the last time the Gophers played a Leach-coached team.
After Minnesota raced out to a 38-7 over Texas Tech, the Red Raiders scored 31 unanswered points to send the game into overtime. Following a field goal by the Gophers, Tech responded with a touchdown to win 44-41.
The win in the 2006 Insight Bowl held the record for biggest comeback in bowl history, until Oregon tied it last season against TCU in the Alamo Bowl.
Prediction Time
Between the off the field distractions for Minnesota and the late season collapse by the Cougars, it is difficult to gauge how either team will play.
Two of the ten players suspended by Minnesota are in the secondary, and on paper, Falk and company should have a field day against a depleted defense.
Ranking 21st in the nation in sacks, the best hope for the Gophers is to put pressure on the Cougar offense and force turnovers.
As with most games involving Washington State a shootout appears likely. The Cougars pick up the win and back to back nine win seasons.
Washington State 41-27
Thanks for reading and we will see you next time here at Last Word on College Football.
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