Holiday Bowl Texas (7 5) vs. California (7 5) Date: Dec. 28, 2011 at 8-10 p.m. ET Location: Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, Calif.
Will that Holiday Bowl be Mack Brown ersus previous activity since mind discipline at Texas? Following back-to-back not very good seasons, the supplemental strain on the ESPN Longhorn Network project and also no near- or long-term remedy at quarterback, Brown pensionable rumors are actually whirling all around used lime land lately.
Those rumors are not true, however, relating to help Texas specific sport overseer DeLoss Dodds. Anything you are hearing, very little to sort it out is true, Dodds explained to The Associated Press. I ve never noticed him more focused as well as anxious about the actual future.
The 60-year-old former BCS national champ offers some sort of a couple of 1 record while in the Holiday Bowl since taking over at Texas inside 1998 defeating Washington, 47 43, around 2001; sacrificing that will Washington State, twenty-eight 20, within 2003; and using decrease Arizona State, 52 34, throughout 2007.
On other side, Jeff Tedford is one particular a single within the Holiday Bowl since arriving at Cal in 2002 falling to Texas Tech, 45 31, in Aaron Rodgers past collegiate video game around 2007 in addition to dominating Texas A&M, 45 10, around 2006.
WHEN TEXAS HAS THE BALL:
Neither Case McCoy (1,034 yards, 7 TDs, 4 INTs) nor David Ash (937 yards, three or more TDs, seven INTs) can make anyone put aside related to Vince Young as well as Colt McCoy a set of UT gunslingers which spoiled your buff foundation during their particular incredible BCS bowl-laden seven-year reign. The Horns hold the nation ersus 85th-ranked missing out on criminal offense and, as being a team, have got thrown more INTs (15) compared to TDs (14) this kind of season.
Texas most threatening playmakers are usually legitimate freshmen. Running back Malcolm Brown (707 yards, 5 TDs) may be the workforce s foremost rusher. But grass toe tackled Brown late with the actual season, producing the particular frosh to miss about three of the remaining several game titles plus limiting your pet that will just 72 back yards inside a couple mmorpgs he have play. Receiver Jaxon Shipley Jordan azines minor buddy in addition have missed a few of the last five shows with a knee injury. But he bounced back again which includes a four-catch, 121-yard efforts in a decline in order to Baylor while in the year finale plus needs to be good to go inside bowl.
Cal provides that 36th-ranked speed defense, allowing 130.33 yards every activity and 16 rush TDs this specific season. Texas terrain strike contributed by way of Brown, Joe Bergeron (454 yards, your five TDs), Fozzy Whittaker (386 yards, some TDs), D.J. Monroe (326 yards) and Cody Johnson (5 TDs) could provide the actual Golden Bears trouble. Linebacker Mychal Kendricks in addition to end Trevor Guyton lead some sort of Cal safeguard that held some Pac-12 opponents for you to eight as well as lesser number of points.
WHEN CALIFORNIA HAS THE BALL:
Tedford is recognised pertaining to his or her quarterbacks women and men unpleasant guru additionally preserves a top-flight going back on their roster in any respect times. Isi Sofele (1,270 yards, 9 TDs) follows from the fast actions connected with Jahvid Best, Justin Forsett in addition to Marshawn Lynch.
The one-two value connected with Sofele and also C.J. Anderson (343 yards, 8 TDs) often have a challenging time running alongside Texas 11th-ranked speed defense, which allows only 103.67 back yards per game. First-year UT shielding coordinator Manny Diaz is actually one of many best small assistants inside game and their stop-unit is going to be mentioned about to help take that Longhorns. Take apart Texas a few blowout deficits to help Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and also Baylor as well as Diaz s safeguard allowed a typical regarding merely 15.3 points within their eleven alternative games.
But Texas was vunerable to the actual pass O-State, OU and also Baylor were being the nation azines second-, fourth- along with fifth-best moving offenses. First-team All-Pac-12 receiver Keenan Allen (1,261 yards, 6 TDs) could be the X-factor. If quarterback Zach Maynard (2,802 yards, 17 TDs, 11 INTs) will find Allen as well as Marvin Jones (758 yards, three or more TDs) affordable the particular field, your Bears could claw this Horns safeguard and damage out a win inside the Holiday Bowl.
Special Teams
Texas neon-Nike d kicker plus punter Justin Tucker has been a main character all months prolonged and was took off the actual domain subsequent his 40-yard game-winning boot to help whip Texas A&M seeing that occasion expired while in the Aggies remaining Big 12 video game prior to joining this SEC. Tucker is actually 17-of-20 about discipline goals, having a extended involving 52. If the experience happens decrease to help a kick, that crazy infant senior citizen provides proven able of arriving as a result of in the clutch.
Cal punter Bryan Anger is a best from the west, using a 44.6-yard ordinary along with 18-of-46 punts giving up in the 20-yard-line. With field location being vital to Texas plodding offense, Anger ersus ability to help flip this field might make him or her your MVP.
Prediction
Texas stingy, swarming safety preserves your Longhorns amongst players until your end, putting Tucker around position to be able to nail plate yet another game-winning field goal. Brown will conclude 2011 using a win. The dilemma will be regardless of whether the Holiday Bowl shall be his last triumph putting on burnt orange and also major Longhorn Nation?
Texas 26, California 24
by Nathan Rush
Athlon previews your 2011 Holiday Bowl: California vs. Texas.
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