Pacific Life Holiday Bowl

Nebraska vs. Arizona

Robert Guliano on why Nebraska will win: Because Ndamukong Suh is tougher than Al Sharpton’s comb. He is craftier than Martha Stewart’s throw pillows. He is more disruptive than Senator Joe Wilson’s index finger. He has proven that he can basically win a game by himself against the nation’s best, so Arizona should be no problem.

Nebraska players to watch:

3. QB Zac Lee- If you gave him a shoe and sent him to a presidential news conference, security wouldn’t even blink. He is awful. Seven of his thirteen touchdowns came against mid-level Sun Belt teams. He should contrast Suh’s impact well and give the Huskers a chance to lose this one.
2. Bo Pelini- Watch him grimace when his team is on offense, is about to be on offense, or is in danger of putting themselves in a position in which the offense has to enter the field of play.
1. Ndamukong Suh- He is scary good. I haven’t seen anyone this dominant since I saw a scantily clothed and computerized Gerard Butler in 300.

Brandon Hickey on why Arizona will win: Arizona’s season looked to be in shambles after a loss at Iowa in the third week of the season where their star tight end and best player Rob Gronkowski injured his back and was out for the season. Arizona responded nicely though with wins over Pac-10 rivals Stanford and Oregon State and rounded out the season with a huge win over USC. The lesser known coaching Stoops, Mike, is turning around a program that hadn’t been to a bowl in ten years until last year’s victory in the Las Vegas Bowl. This year’s appearance in the Holiday Bowl is a definite improvement.

3. QB Nick Foles-A Michigan State transfer, Foles has stepped nicely into departed four-year starter Willie Tuitama’s shoes. He is said to have a big arm, which sounds like a personal problem to me.
2. WR Juron Criner-Criner is Foles’ favorite target in the endzone, catching almost half of Foles’ touchdown passes. Criner? I barely even know her.
1. History-The Wildcats have history on their side. They beat Nebraska 23-20 in the 1998 Holiday Bowl in a game that featured prominent pros such as Chris McAlister, Edwin Mulitalo, Eric Crouch, and the kicking Brown brothers Josh and Kris.

The Compromise: Nebraska celebrates the Holiday with a 24-14 win.