The Cotton Bowl once more brings focus to probably the most attention-grabbing bowl video games of the New Yr’s Six Cup video games as a No. 10 USC He takes quantity 16 Tulane on Monday. The sport incorporates a Pac-12 runner-up spot towards the American Athletic Convention champion with Inexperienced Wave incomes the New Yr’s sixth spot reserved for the best seeding of a Group of 5 convention champion.
First yr head coach Lincoln Riley made good on his promise to steer USC again into the higher echelons of the game, main the Trojans to an 11-2 file and never solely the New Yr’s first six-bowl look since 2017, however the first bowl bid for any post-game season since 2019. Willie Fritz, alternatively, has been at Tulane since 2016, however he equally will get credit score for a dramatic one-season turnaround. The Inexperienced Wave noticed their 9 wins improve from 2-10 in 2021 to 11-2 right here in 2022, and in profitable the AAC title, claimed this system’s first convention championship since profitable Convention USA in 1998.
This would be the first assembly between USC and Tulane in 76 years. The 2 groups had beforehand performed in 1931, 1942, and 1946. The assembly passed off through the 1931 Rose Bowl season, which noticed USC win and declare the nationwide championship. General, the Trojans maintain a 2-1 benefit within the all-time sequence.
Easy methods to watch the Cotton Bowl reside stream
Date: Monday, January 2 | time: 1 p.m. ET
location: AT&T Stadium – Arlington, Texas
tv: ESPN | Dwell broadcast: fuboTV (strive free of charge)
USC vs. Tulane: Must know
An opportunity for USC to place a greater end in 2022: The Trojans wish to end the season on the higher notice after a crushing defeat towards Utah in a Pac-12 main sport. USC was ranked #4 within the Faculty Soccer Playoff going into the sport, trying like they wanted only one win to make the playoffs with a 12-1 file. After falling to the Utes for the second time this season, the 11-2 Trojans crashed out of the highest 4 and earned themselves an at-large spot right here within the Cotton Bowl. The bowl sport gives a chance for USC to file its first bowl win because the finish of 2016…and Lincoln Riley to cap off what was an awesome first season with the Trojans with a win.
Victory lap for Heisman Trophy winner: USC quarterback Caleb Williams put collectively a stellar debut season with the Trojans, transferring from Oklahoma to comply with Riley by means of the 2022 season. Williams had 47 whole touchdowns (37 passing, 10 speeding) and solely 4 interceptions, breaking college single-season information for whole touchdowns and whole offensive yards. That is along with being the most efficient USC quarterback when it comes to speeding yards recorded. The results of that marketing campaign was a Heisman Trophy for Williams, the eighth for a USC participant and the third for a Riley-coached quarterback prior to now six seasons.
Williams will return to USC in 2023 as a result of he’s ineligible for the NFL Draft till 2024, so this sport serves as a victory lap for this Heisman win — and, just like the Trojans as an entire, a approach to end the season on a greater notice — but additionally an opportunity to ramp up the hype for subsequent season. With Jordan Addison chosen among the many USC gamers popping out of the bowl sport to arrange for the 2023 NFL Draft, Williams will probably be joined by underclass males who could assist the Trojans search the Pac-12 title once more subsequent fall.
Tulane’s offense might flip this right into a monitor meet: Whereas USC’s offense comes with loads of firepower and a Heisman Trophy winner, Tulane has the instruments to commerce paint with one-two quarterback Michael Pratt and operating again Tyjae Spears. Pratt’s 25 touchdowns to only 5 interceptions on the season, and eight.6 yards per try is tied for greatest within the AAC and 14th amongst all FBS quarterbacks. Spurs proved to be probably the most dynamic defenders in your complete nation through the second half of the season with 1,376 speeding yards and 15 speeding touchdowns on the yr, which ranks fifteenth nationally in each classes. Nevertheless, by means of six video games he averaged solely 52 yards per sport; Since October 15, the Spurs have run for at the least 120 yards per sport and scored 9 of 15 touchdowns within the final seven video games of the season.
Cotton pot prediction, picks
USC coach Lincoln Riley and Trojans defensive coordinator Alex Grinch took a very good have a look at Michael Pratt and the Tulane offense after they had been at Oklahoma. The Inexperienced Wave gave the shortstops every little thing they might take earlier than dropping 40-35 in a sport that noticed Pratt rating 4 touchdowns (three passing, one speeding), two of which got here within the fourth quarter as Tulane got here again from a 23-point halftime deficit. I feel Pratt and Tulane will not be going to interrupt by means of this time, and the USC protection may have a tough time getting shortstops. Prediction: Tulane +2
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