From ESPN
Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2009 11:53 pmSheraton Hawaii Bowl: Nevada (8-4) vs. SMU (7-5)
by Grahm Watson
December, 23, 2009 Dec 2311:00AM ETEmail Print Share By Graham WatsonSMU is playing in its first bowl game since 1984 after being the most improved team in the country with a 7-5 record this season. The Mustangs were 1-11 last season. Nevada has won eight of its last nine games, but lost its final game of the season and will be without two of its three 1,000-yard rushers.
WHO TO WATCH: Colin Kaepernick, QB, Nevada
Kaepernick will be relied upon to carry the bulk of the offense with star running backs Vai Taua and Luke Lippincott out. Taua will miss the game because of academic ineligibility and Lippincott suffered a season-ending toe injury. Kaepernick ranked second on the team in rushing with 1,160 yards and 16 touchdowns, but he struggled early in the year when he didn’t have Taua and Lippincott in the backfield.
WHAT TO WATCH: SMU’s special teams
SMU’s Margus Hunt, a 6-foot-8, 267-pound redshirt freshman defensive end from Estonia, has blocked seven kicks this season. If he gets either a blocked field goal or point-after attempt, he’ll tie an NCAA record.
WHY TO WATCH: This is June Jones homecoming to Hawai’i after leading the Warriors to a BCS bowl in 2007 and then leaving for more money. Jones made the Hawaii Bowl a goal for his team and told the Mustangs that if they got six wins that it would likely play there. It’s a fitting place for the Mustangs to play their first bowl game since 1984.
PREDICTION: A lot of people liked Nevada to run away with this game, but with Taua and Lippincott out, that puts a lot of pressure on Kaepernick, who didn’t handle that pressure well early in the season. SMU will be amped for this game and that will propel them to 35- 24 win.
by Grahm Watson
December, 23, 2009 Dec 2311:00AM ETEmail Print Share By Graham WatsonSMU is playing in its first bowl game since 1984 after being the most improved team in the country with a 7-5 record this season. The Mustangs were 1-11 last season. Nevada has won eight of its last nine games, but lost its final game of the season and will be without two of its three 1,000-yard rushers.
WHO TO WATCH: Colin Kaepernick, QB, Nevada
Kaepernick will be relied upon to carry the bulk of the offense with star running backs Vai Taua and Luke Lippincott out. Taua will miss the game because of academic ineligibility and Lippincott suffered a season-ending toe injury. Kaepernick ranked second on the team in rushing with 1,160 yards and 16 touchdowns, but he struggled early in the year when he didn’t have Taua and Lippincott in the backfield.
WHAT TO WATCH: SMU’s special teams
SMU’s Margus Hunt, a 6-foot-8, 267-pound redshirt freshman defensive end from Estonia, has blocked seven kicks this season. If he gets either a blocked field goal or point-after attempt, he’ll tie an NCAA record.
WHY TO WATCH: This is June Jones homecoming to Hawai’i after leading the Warriors to a BCS bowl in 2007 and then leaving for more money. Jones made the Hawaii Bowl a goal for his team and told the Mustangs that if they got six wins that it would likely play there. It’s a fitting place for the Mustangs to play their first bowl game since 1984.
PREDICTION: A lot of people liked Nevada to run away with this game, but with Taua and Lippincott out, that puts a lot of pressure on Kaepernick, who didn’t handle that pressure well early in the season. SMU will be amped for this game and that will propel them to 35- 24 win.