The FedEx Orange Bowl#12 University of Cincinnati
vs.
#19 Virginia Tech University
Thursday, January 1, 2009 - 8:30PM EST
The Orange Bowl - Miami, FL
FOX-TV
Probably the most boring BCS bowl matchup of the year. Really not a big draw for the Orange Bowl. I have to think that even from a ticket sales perspective...no one is really satisfied with this game. Although, Virginia Tech and Cincinnati are both schools that have to be totally stoked to have made it to a BCS bowl. I feel though that this game could end up being a really good one.
Cincinnati has had one helluva season. They play in the less than great Big East. But that aside, they had three wins over ranked teams, #23 S. Florida, #25 W. Virginia and #20 Pitt. They also were trounced by a very good Oklahoma team on Sept. 6. But 11-2 is good for any BCS conference team.
VT had a slightly worse season at 9-4. They did win the ACC title against BC...but that aside, they really don't deserve to be here. BC, Georgia Tech, Florida State and even North Carolina are all superior ACC teams...at least in my opinion. But they won the ACC Coastal division fair and square with a win head-to-head against Georgia Tech on Sept. 13 for the tie-breaker to get into the conf. title game.
There are no common opponents to help us judge these two schools by, unfortunately. So we'll have to simply go by season averages/totals. And of course, numbers courtesy of cfbstats.com.
I cannot say that I am totally swayed by the stats. I still think the Bearcats are going to win. It is clear they have much more offense than VT does. But it is also clear that they turn the ball over much more often that VT does too.
Virginia Tech has a better rushing attack, but the passing game could be where UC really comes out ahead. Not only do they have almost twice as many yards passing, but a 25 to 6 TD advantage is HUGE!
I will certainly be watching this game. If for no other reason that it is on New Years Day and there are no other bowls to watch that night. Odds makers are calling this one pretty much even. Maybe a point or so either way depending on who you read. The over/under is set at 40...which seems about right. I'd probably take the over, and I see UC winning by 10 points.
Cincinnati has had one helluva season. They play in the less than great Big East. But that aside, they had three wins over ranked teams, #23 S. Florida, #25 W. Virginia and #20 Pitt. They also were trounced by a very good Oklahoma team on Sept. 6. But 11-2 is good for any BCS conference team.
VT had a slightly worse season at 9-4. They did win the ACC title against BC...but that aside, they really don't deserve to be here. BC, Georgia Tech, Florida State and even North Carolina are all superior ACC teams...at least in my opinion. But they won the ACC Coastal division fair and square with a win head-to-head against Georgia Tech on Sept. 13 for the tie-breaker to get into the conf. title game.
There are no common opponents to help us judge these two schools by, unfortunately. So we'll have to simply go by season averages/totals. And of course, numbers courtesy of cfbstats.com.
 |  | |
| Scoring: Points/Game | 27.3 | 22.2 |
| Scoring: Games - Points | 13 - 355 | 13 - 289 |
| First Downs: Total | 258 | 220 |
| First Downs: Rushing - Passing - By Penalty | 96-144-18 | 121 - 77 - 22 |
| Rushing: Yards / Attempt | 3.63 | 3.70 |
| Rushing: Attempts - Yards - TD | 434 - 1576 - 15 | 590 - 2183 - 21 |
| Passing: Rating | 139.40 | 108.89 |
| Passing: Yards | 3303 | 1667 |
| Passing: Attempts - Completions - Interceptions - TD | 439 - 274 - 11 - 25 | 268 - 154 - 11 - 6 |
| Total Offense: Yards / Play | 5.6 | 4.5 |
| Total Offense: Plays - Yards | 873 - 4879 | 858 - 3850 |
| Punt Returns: Yards / Return | 9.44 | 9.35 |
| Punt Returns: Returns - Yards - TD | 34 - 321 - 0 | 26 - 243 - 0 |
| Kickoff Returns: Yards / Return | 24.18 | 20.86 |
| Kickoff Returns: Returns - Yards - TD | 50 - 1209 - 2 | 44 - 918 - 0 |
| Punting: Yards / Punt | 44.46 | 39.07 |
| Punting: Punts - Yards | 57 - 2534 | 67 - 2618 |
| Interceptions: Returns - Yards - TD | 16 - 333 - 2 | 16 - 325 - 3 |
| Fumbles: Number - Lost | 28 - 15 | 15 - 8 |
| Penalties: Number - Yards | 96 - 873 | 67 - 468 |
| Time of Possession / Game | 30:39.31 | 32:29.54 |
| 3rd Down Conversions: Conversion % | 33.94% | 37.31% |
| 3rd Down Conversions: Attempts - Conversions | 165 - 56 | 193 - 72 |
| 4th Down Conversions: Conversion % | 42.11% | 35.71% |
| 4th Down Conversions: Attempts - Conversions | 19 - 8 | 14 - 5 |
| Red Zone: Success % | 85.11% | 74.07% |
| Red Zone: Attempts - Scores | 47 - 40 | 54 - 40 |
| Field Goals: Success % | 72.7% | 80.8% |
| Field Goals: Attempts - Made | 22 - 16 | 26 - 21 |
| PAT Kicking: Success % | 92.9% | 93.8% |
| PAT Kicking: Attempts - Made | 42 - 39 | 32 - 30 |
| 2-Point Conversions: Success % | 0% | - |
| 2-Point Conversions: Attempts - Made | 1 - 0 | 0 - 0 |
I cannot say that I am totally swayed by the stats. I still think the Bearcats are going to win. It is clear they have much more offense than VT does. But it is also clear that they turn the ball over much more often that VT does too.
Virginia Tech has a better rushing attack, but the passing game could be where UC really comes out ahead. Not only do they have almost twice as many yards passing, but a 25 to 6 TD advantage is HUGE!
I will certainly be watching this game. If for no other reason that it is on New Years Day and there are no other bowls to watch that night. Odds makers are calling this one pretty much even. Maybe a point or so either way depending on who you read. The over/under is set at 40...which seems about right. I'd probably take the over, and I see UC winning by 10 points.
Gee, all those stats and no mention of Va. Tech's defense. You need to go back to the drawing board.
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