The road to the national championship took a few interesting turns this weekend. Several of the favorites dominated while a southern team upset a favored opponent. We are now down to the Elite 8 of the playoffs.
LSU and Louisiana Tech started a close first half but in the second half, LSU turned on the gas winning 52-38 at the Taxslayer.com Gator Bowl.
Alabama had all it could handle against Northern Illinois in a low scoring defensive battle. The Crimson Tide took a touchdown lead into the locker room at the half and managed a field goal in the second half to win 17-7 at the Outback Bowl.
Arkansas State had multiple opportunities in the red zone but the Oklahoma State defense was the story of the day as they did not allow the Red Wolves into the end zone. The Cowboys won the Ticket City Bowl in impressive fashion 26-3.
West Virginia and Stanford played the sloppiest game of the opening round of the tournament. But it was Stanford that made the lest amount of mistakes winning the Chick-Fil-A Bowl 25-19.
The TCU vs Arkansas at the Hyundai Sun Bowl was sloppy as well as both teams missed PATs. The game came down to an Arkansas TD after a late touchdown. After going the whole game without any body being able to kick in the still El Paso breeze Arkansas’ kicker made his PAT count, winning 13-12.
It was a closely fought game but Clemson added a late TD to solidify their upset win over Boise State 21-7 at the Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas
No. 9 and 8 seeds went at it at the Insight Bowl. It was a tight game until Wisconsin with no time left on the clock scored on the last play of the third quarter and held on to win 14-10 over Kansas State.
The AutoZone Liberty Bowl always delivers a good game and did so again this season as So Miss came back scoring TDs in the 4th quarter to take the game into overtime. From there Oregon scored first but missed their PAT. So Miss then scored a TD to tie the game and then made their PAT for the upset win 40-39.
Next weekend in the Elite 8:
Clemson vs Alabama at the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl
Wisconsin vs LSU at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Vizio
Arkansas vs Oklahoma State at the AT&T Cotton Bowl
Southern Miss vs Stanford at the Capital One Bowl
