2006 Las Vegas Bowl Preview

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BYU Cougars (10-2) vs. Oregon Ducks (7-5)

This game features one of the better storylines out there, as far as the bowl games are concerned. Oregon offensive coordinator Gary Crowton will face the team that fired him as its head coach just a couple of years ago and should have a big impact on this game, giving Oregon a decided advantage because of knowing BYU's personnel so well; the tendencies of his former defensive coordinator and current Cougars head coach, Bronco Mendenhall. Whether Crowton's knowledge of BYU's system is enough to help the slumping Ducks get their first victory after three consecutive losses is another thing altogether.

Here is a look at both teams and the match-up:

BYU Cougars (10-2)

The Cougars pro-style spread offense is downright explosive. In fact, there are only five Division I-A teams that average more points per game than the Cougars and only three teams that average more passing yards per game. QB John Beck, the Mountain West offensive player of the year has reduced his interceptions from 13 to six this season. He also completed more than 70 percent of his passes and finished among the country's top 10 in passing yardage (3,510) and touchdown passes (30). Beck makes wise decisions and gets rid of the ball quickly, making him the perfect quarterback for this type of system. TE Jonny Harline has good size and athletic ability, making him an effective red zone target, and the Cougars receivers as a whole have done an excellent job all season. Running back Curtis Brown gives the offense great balance; he is also the Cougars' leading receiver.

Defensively, the Cougars have stumbled down the stretch, although they have done a good job of keeping opponents out of the end zone. BYU runs a 3-4 defense and allows talented linebacker Cameron Jensen to make plays all over the field. Safety Dustin Gabriel is a big hitter and does especially well in run support.

Oregon Ducks (7-5)

Although the Ducks ended the regular season with three consecutive losses, it still has one of the most potent ground games in the nation. Running back Jonathan Stewart has provided some stability for the Ducks offense by rushing for 960 yards and 10 touchdowns this season.

QB Dennis Dixon is accurate and a dangerous open field runner, but he has thrown more interceptions than touchdowns and head coach Mike Bellotti replaced him with Brady Leaf, who is more of a pocket passer. Though Leaf played fairly well, it's unknown who will start this game, which is never a good sign for a team. No matter who is taking the snaps, Oregon needs to get the ball into the hands of WR Jaison Williams, their athletic playmaker.

Oregon's defense can get to opposing quarterbacks in passing situations and defensive lineman Jairus Byrd is definitely a playmaker. However, the Ducks have had their share of problems stopping the run this season and, making matters worse, LB Blair Phillips, who leads the team in tackles, will likely miss this game because of a knee injury. The Ducks have also been one of the most penalized teams in the nation.

The line: BYU -3 Over/Under 62

On paper, it looks like BYU will win this game handily. However, the Ducks did finish with the best pass defense in the Pac-10, allowing only 156.7 yards per game. Still, their unsettled quarterback situation, when combined with their untimely ability to turn the ball over at exactly the most inopportune time, should scare away anyone thinking of taking them in this game. Take Beck and BYU to win this game and cover outright.

As far as the over/under is concerned, this is a pretty high line. Sure, both of these teams could easily combine to score 62-plus, but it is not an attractive line. If forced to make a decision, the over looks quite tempting, but not good enough to take with money on the line.

Get the latest odds and props on this and every NCAA football bowl game in the BetUS.com Sportsbook.

Eric Williams is a sports columnist for the Philadelphia Sunday Sun and nationally syndicated freelance writer. Contact Eric at eklass66@yahoo.com.

History of the Las Vegas Bowl

Organized by community leaders, the first Las Vegas Bowl kicked off on 18 December 1992, originally pitting the Big West and Mid-Western Conference champions against each other. The Las Vegas Bowl now is a matchup between teams from the Pac-10 Conference and Mountain West Conference.

From 2001 to 2002 the game was known as the SEGA Sports Las Vegas Bowl. The game is now sponsored by Pioneer, and is officially known as the Pioneer PureVision Las Vegas Bowl.

The 1992 Las Vegas Bowl was an exciting affair voted one of the best bowl games of the year by ESPN and the Los Angeles Time. The key play of the game was a pass from Bowling Green's Erik White (eventual game MVP) to Dave Hankins, which resulted in a Falcons victory with only 00:22 left on the clock.

The 1993 Las Vegas Bowl was not as close, with Utah State taking an early 14-point first quarter lead, and eventually triumphing over Ball State by a score of 42-33. This offensive match of wits saw the Cardinals and Aggies combine for 75 points and 804 yards of offense in total.

1994 marked the first appearances of UNLV and Central Michigan at the Las Vegas Bowl in another high-scoring affair. UNLV dominated the matchup from the first touchdown scored by Henry Bailey on a pass from Jared Brown. The Rebels went on to crush the Chippewas 52-24.

The 1995 Las Vegas Bowl saw home town favorites Nevada against the Toledo Rockets. This became the first-ever overtime game in Las Vegas Bowl history, with the Rockets eventually nudging out the Wolf Pack by a score or 40-37.

Nevada returned to the field in 1996, with happier results. After posting a 9-0 lead in the first quarter, the Wolf Packs' defense kept Ball State to 218 yards total offense in the game, and went on to win 18-15.

The 1997 Las Vegas Bowl was the first visit for both Air Force and the Oregon Ducks. Despite the Academy's vaunted defense, the Ducks set the pace with a first quarter 69-yard reception by game MVP Saladin McCullough, and eventually went on to a lopsided 41-13 victory over Air Force.

In 1998 winds were blowing through Sam Boyd Stadium at more than 45 m.p.h. as UNC hit the field against San Diego State. Defense was the name of the game as North Carolina prevailed by a touchdown in an eventual 20-13 win over San Diego.

1999 saw Utah return to the Las Vegas Bowl in a tight 17-16 victory over Fresno State. The game's MVP, Mike Anderson, made a 76-yard run the first time he got his hands on the ball, and eventually created new school and game-records with 254 yards and two touchdowns.

In 2000, John Robinson's UNLV Rebels beat Arkansas by a score of 31-14. Jason Thomas threw two touchdown passes to Nate Turner in the first half, and then secured UNLV's win with a 54-yard touchdown strike late in the third quarter.

The 2001 Las Vegas Bowl, played on Christmas day, was the lowest scoring matup in Las Vegas Bowl history, with Utah and USC combining for only 16 points. USC's only score came in the third quarter on an unconverted run, and the total lack of scoring in the fourth quarter sealed USC's fate as the Utes prevailed in their 10-6 victory.

The 11th Las Vegas Bowl, played on Christmas Day 2002, saw the University of New Mexico - making only its second bowl appearance in 41 years - taking on the UCLA Bruins. With the two teams scored at halftime, the Bruins scored on a 74-yard punt return by game MVP Craig Bragg early in the third quarter. This sealed UNM's fate, as UCLA went on to an eventual 27-13 victory.

The 2003 Las Vegas Bowl game, played on Christmas Eve, saw New Mexico return against Oregon State. In an unhappy result for the Lobos, the Beavers' Steven Jackson matched a bowl record with five touchdowns, leading Oregon to a definitive 55-14 rout of New Mexico.

2004 marked the Wyoming Cowboys' first trip to a bowl game in 11 years, as they faced off in the Las Vegas Bowl against UCLA. The trip seemed worth the wait as Corey Bramlet's two touchdown passes - including a 12-yard strike to John Wadkowski with only 57 seconds remaining in the game - cemented the Cowboys 24-21 victory.

Posted on 12/19/2006 12:48:49 PM
NCAA Football Bowl Betting - Las Vegas Bowl
By Eric Williams

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