Tag: Music City Bowl

Where Wisconsin lands in Action Network bowl projections after Week 13

Where Wisconsin lands in Action Network bowl projections after Week 13

The Action Network’s Brett McMurphy released his bowl predictions ahead of Week 14 of the 2024 college football season on Monday.

For the second time in three weeks, McMurphy predicts Wisconsin to return to the TransPerfect Music City Bowl against the LSU Tigers on Dec. 30.

A member of the SEC, the Tigers currently hold a 7-4 overall record and a 4-3 mark against conference opponents. Brian Kelly’s squad also received two votes in the AP top 25 hierarchy for Week 14.

While the Tigers have been ranked several times this season, LSU has dropped some tough conference games this season. Kelly’s team lost to USC in its season opener, No. 20 Texas A&M on Oct. 26, No. 7 Alabama on Nov. 9 and Florida on Nov. 16.

Still, LSU has defeated No. 16 South Carolina, No. 15 Ole Miss, Arkansas, South Alabama, UCLA, Nicholls and Vanderbilt this season. At this point in the season, McMurphy lists LSU as a six-point favorite against the Badgers.

Wisconsin, meanwhile, is 5-6 after Week 13 after losing its most recent game against Nebraska 44-25. Luke Fickell’s program is on a four-game skid after dropping its previous three games against No. 4 Penn State, Iowa and No. 1 Oregon, respectively.

If McMurphy’s prediction is accurate, this would be the first time Wisconsin appears in the Music City Bowl since it lost 28-14 to Auburn in 2003.

Before that can become a reality, the program needs a closing win over Minnesota in order to avoid missing a bowl game for the first time since 2001.

Where Wisconsin lands in Action Network bowl projections after Week 11

Where Wisconsin lands in Action Network bowl projections after Week 11

The Action Network’s Brett McMurphy released his bowl predictions ahead of Week 12 of the 2024 college football season on Monday.

For the first time in three weeks, McMurphy predicts Wisconsin to play in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl against the LSU Tigers on Dec. 30.

A member of the SEC, the Tigers currently hold a 6-3 overall record and a 3-2 mark against conference opponents. Brian Kelly’s squad also boasts the No. 21 position in the latest AP Poll.

Only No. 3 Texas, No. 6 Tennessee, No. 9 Alabama, No. 10 Ole Miss, No. 11 Georgia and No. 15 Texas A&M out of the loaded SEC land ahead of LSU in the most recent poll.

Despite dropping its past two games to No. 15 Texas A&M and No. 9 Alabama, LSU has defeated No. 23 South Carolina, No. 10 Ole Miss, Arkansas, South Alabama, UCLA and Nicholls this season.

Wisconsin, meanwhile, is 5-4 after Week 11 after losing its most recent game against Iowa by 32 points. The team was on bye during Week 12 and will suit up to play No. 1 Oregon at home on Nov. 16.

Luke Fickell’s program sits No. 8 in the Big Ten with a 3-3 conference record and wins against Purdue, Rutgers and Northwestern.

If McMurphy’s prediction is accurate, this would be the first time Wisconsin appears in the Music City Bowl since it lost 28-14 to Auburn in 2003.

Recap: Auburn blown out by Maryland in Music City Bowl

Recap: Auburn blown out by Maryland in Music City Bowl

The Auburn Tigers may have used all their bullets against Alabama in the Iron Bowl loss a month ago.

The Tigers team that took the field on Saturday in Nashville sleepwalked through the first quarter against a shorthanded Maryland Terrapins team, putting themselves in an early 21-0 hole they would never climb out of in a 31-13 loss.

Auburn’s defense which had been so good all regular season long allowed backup quarterbacks Billy Edwards Jr. and Cameron Edge to trade blows, as they each finished the first half with a passing touchdown. The former added a rushing touchdown as well.

In total, the Auburn defense gave up 24 points to the pair of backups, and it could have been much worse if not for the blowout nature of the game.

On the offensive side of things, quarterback [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] played arguably his worst game as a Tiger, completing just 13/27 passes for 84 yards, one touchdown, and one inexcusable pick-six that all-but ended any hope the Tigers’ had at making a comeback.

The Auburn running backs also looked more like terrapins like tigers in Tennessee, as Jarquez Hunter and Damari Alston combined for just 67 yards over 22 carries. The 3 yards-per-carry is nearly two whole yards lower than the season average of the two backs.

This is the first time Auburn has lost in the Music City Bowl after claiming victories in the prior two games it appeared in. The Tigers are now 24-21-2 all time in bowl games and but have won just two of their last 10.

Maryland and head coach Mike Locksley have now won three consecutive bowl games after a Pinstripe Bowl victory in 2021 and a Duke’s Mayo Bowl victory in 2022.

While Auburn head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] now heads into his second season leading the Tigers with a losing record, Auburn fans can take solace in the fact the Tigers have a stacked recruiting class heading into next season.

It’s a tough end to the season for Auburn, but the Tigers should come back more talented and experienced in 2024.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on  X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Brian on Twitter @TheRealBHauch

 

Tale of the Tape: Auburn vs. Maryland

The Tigers are a touchdown favorite to win the Music City Bowl, but could this game be closer than oddsmakers expect?

The 6-6 Auburn Tigers return to action for the first time since losing the Iron Bowl later this week when they take on the 7-5 Maryland Terrapins in the Music City Bowl on December 30.

Auburn finished the regular season with back-to-back losses but managed bowl eligibility in the first season under new head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag].

On the other side, Taulia Tagovailoa and Maryland had an up-and-down season in the Big 10, winning 7 games in 12 tries.

The all-time leading passer in Big 10 history has opted out of this game, giving Auburn a significant edge according to oddsmakers. The Tigers are currently a full touchdown favorite on BetMGM.

ESPN FPI believes this game should be much closer, as Hugh Freeze’s squad has just a 52.4% chance to win according to the model.

Will the tale of the tape show us this game will be a Dixieland Delight for Auburn fans, or will Maryland fans be singing the Victory song on Broadway after the Music City Bowl?

As always we’ll start with the quarterbacks.

Tigers quarterback [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] initial season on the Plains was much like a Sky Dog at 2 AM. The junior was a bit disappointing, but ultimately got the job done for the most part.

Thorne finished the regular season with 1,671 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions as Auburn’s QB1(a).

Hugh Freeze’s QB1(b), [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag], has joined thousands of other players in the transfer portal, leaving Thorne with the keys to the Honda Accord that is the Auburn offense.

With Ashford all but gone and incoming four-star recruit Walker White cooking in the background, Thorne has one final chance in game action to prove he can lead the Tigers into 2024.

As for the team up in Maryland, senior sensation Taulia Tagovailoa has chosen to opt out of this game, leaving sophomore quarterback [autotag]Billy Edwards Jr.[/autotag] and freshmen [autotag]Cameron Edge[/autotag] as the lone signal-callers on the Terps roster.

Both players combined for just 13 passing attempts this season although Edwards Jr. was used as a goal line quarterback, most notably rushing for 3 touchdowns against No. 1 ranked Michigan.

Maryland’s passing offense was explosive this season but the loss of Tagovailoa gives the edge to Thorne and the Tigers.

The skill positions across the offense are a different story. Auburn holds the edge at running back thanks to the electrifying [autotag]Jarquez Hunter[/autotag] but the wide receiver gap is larger than Old Line State’s obsession with Old Bay.

Maryland often employs three-reciever sets with [autotag]Jeshaun Jones[/autotag], [autotag]Tai Felton[/autotag], and [autotag]Kaden Pranther[/autotag]. Those three combined for nearly 500 more receiving yards than Auburn quarterback [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] had in passing yards this season.

The Terrapins fourth target, tight end Corey Dyches, would have paced all Auburn pass-catchers as well.

Auburn tight end Rivaldo Fairweather had a solid season but the edge clearly goes to Maryland, especially considering the Tigers will be without [autotag]Ja’Varrius Johnson[/autotag] in this one.

Auburn’s defense is clearly the better unit on that side of the ball, but defensive coordinator [autotag]Ron Roberts[/autotag] has some work ahead of him due to opt outs.

Cornerbacks [autotag]D.J. James[/autotag] and [autotag]Nehemiah Pritchett[/autotag] as well as defensive lineman [autotag]Marcus Harris[/autotag] won’t be availbile for this one, leaving the 21-ranked defense according to ESPN FPI shorthanded in Nashville.

James and Harris were arguably Auburn’s two best players on the defensive side of the ball this season. It helps that linebacker [autotag]Jalen McLeod[/autotag] and cornerback [autotag]Keionte Scott[/autotag] are staying on the Plains and will be playing, but the loss of Harris, James, and Pritchett will be felt.

Maryland’s defense on the other hand isn’t great but it’s not anemic either. The Terps were solid all year long, but did give up an average of over 30 points per game in losses this season.

Head coach [autotag]Mike Locksley[/autotag] isn’t dealing with any major opt-outs on that side of the ball, making the gap between these two teams closer than the stats say.

Still, Auburn gets the edge here.

There is a reason ESPN FPI has these two teams ranked next to each other in overall ranking. While the loss of Taulia Tagovailoa gives Auburn an edge in this game, the Music City Bowl could very well come down to the wire.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on  X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Brian on Twitter @TheRealBHauch

Current ticket prices for the TransPerfect Music City Bowl matchup between Auburn and Maryland

Looking for a last-minute holiday gift? Check out these great deals to watch the Tigers play in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl!

Are you considering visiting Nashville to watch Auburn take on Maryland in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl at Nissan Stadium? Currently, there are many tickets available for the game at affordable prices.

As of Monday evening, Seat Geek has affordable options for Tigers fans, ranging from $34-$879. The cheapest seat is in Section 303 Row X, while the most expensive seat is in Section 114 Row EE behind Auburn’s sideline.

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop Music City Bowl tickets at Seat Geek” link=”https://seatgeek.pxf.io/jrGYyZ”]

The Tigers have earned a bowl bid in their first season under Hugh Freeze and will look to end the regular season on a high note by defeating Maryland in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl.

Auburn will square off with Maryland on Saturday, Dec. 30 at 1 p.m. CT.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on  X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__

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Florida football still has a chance for a bowl game, according to ESPN

Take a look at what bowl game the Florida Gators are projected to appear in, according to ESPN.

Despite an overtime loss to the Arkansas Razorbacks and the upcoming gauntlet of three consecutive top-25 teams, the Florida Gators are somehow being projected to land a bowl game appearance.

Bowl game experts at ESPN released their weekly projections on Monday and staff writer Kyle Bonagura says the Gators will be making a trip to Nashville for the TransPerfect Music City Bowl.

Florida’s only bowl projection this week is a matchup with the Rutgers Knights, a team that was having a solid season until its recent run-in with the Ohio State Buckeyes, losing 35-16.

The Music City Bowl has been held in Nashville since 1999, and if the projections come true, it’ll be Florida’s first-ever appearance in the bowl game.

It’s shocking that the Gators are still being projected to have a post-season appearance after its best chance to clinch a winning record was blown on Saturday against Arkansas.

The Gators have stiff competition to end the season, with two road trips to battle the Missouri Tigers and LSU Tigers, followed by a home stance against the Florida State Seminoles, who are playing for a spot in the College Football Playoff.

LSU will host the Florida Gators on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET, broadcasting on the SEC Network.

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

The 12 most-watched bowl games of 2022-23

There is clearly no such thing as “too many bowl games”

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I feel sorry for those who would rather rain all over the parades than simply sit back and enjoy college bowl games.  Sure, if they aren’t part of the College Football Playoff, they ultimately mean very little, but the past few weeks have served as a great reminder of just how awesome college football is and how flat-out crazy bowl season can be.

The stadiums appear to lose a few thousand fans each year but that doesn’t mean folks aren’t still tuning in.  In fact, they’re watching in massive numbers nationally regardless of the “significance” of “all these bowl games”.

As we head into the national championship game, here is a look at the 12 most-watched bowl games of the 2022-23 postseason courtesy of Show Buzz Daily.

Big Ten bowl results tracker: Penn State clinches winning bowl record for Big Ten

Penn State’s Rose Bowl victory gave the Big Ten a winning record this bowl season

The Big Ten is sending two teams to the College Football Playoff for the first time in conference history, but the storylines this bowl season extend beyond Michigan and Ohio State continuing to play for a national championship. Wisconsin’s new head coach, Luke Fickell, already stepped in and led the Badgers to a postseason win and Minnesota took care of Syracuse in the Pinstripe Bowl to get the Big Ten off to a good 2-0 start with both wins coming against power conference opponents.

We are keeping tabs on every Big Ten bowl result to see just how the conference stacks up this postseason. This list of Big Ten bowl games will be updated throughout the bowl season once games go final.

The Music City Bowl’s board chair makes adorably awkward blooper during MVP presentation

Like any of us could’ve done better.

The difficulty of going on camera during any situation is high, much less a nationally televised college football game.

After Saturday’s Music City Bowl, its board chair Evette White joined the proud legion of people have had their own adorably awkward moment when put in front of the lens.

While awarding Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean the game’s MVP honor, White fumbled the recollection of DeJean’s stats during the victory.

ESPN’s Harry Lyles Jr. gave White a valuable assist during the presentation, and DeJean just looked happy to be there.

Not many of us could’ve done much better than White, but her on-camera flubs do make for a pretty funny blooper moment.

DeJean’s seven-tackle, one pick-six performance against Kentucky was very deserving of the game’s MVP honors. However, far, far more embarrassing than White’s goof is the fact that DeJean has more touchdowns this season than Iowa’s entire receiving core.

Iowa might’ve won the Music City Bowl, but they’ll need to work on the offense a bit next season.

Feature image courtesy of ESPN.

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Iowa brought its heartwarming Hawkeye Wave to the Music City Bowl, and the crowd loved it

Awww.

The Hawkeye Wave found its way to Nashville during Saturday’s Music City Bowl.

The beloved football tradition has always given those at Iowa’s Kinnick Stadium a chance to wave and give support to those watching the game right next door at UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital.

While Iowa’s bowl game against Kentucky was far away from home in Tennessee, those present at Nissan Stadium still found a heartwarming way to keep the tradition alive on the road.

As is custom at the end of the first quarter, everyone in Nashville waved from afar to all those watching on television at the children’s hospital. It’s just such a lovely sight to see to close your 2022.

Warm feelings abounded during that incredibly touching moment.

It’s always nice to see football fans come together and recognize something bigger than what’s happening on the field, which is what the Hawkeye Wave has always represented.

Nice job, everyone!

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