December 27th 6:00 PM (Eastern)
Houston, Texas (Reliant Stadium)
Syracuse Review
It wasn't always pretty, but Syracuse rebounded from an 0-2 start to finish 6-6 under first-year head coach Scott Shafer and snuck into a bowl game after a 34-31 win over Boston College to end their season. The orange are in a transition year under new coach Shafer as they ranked just 98th in scoring offense with sophomore Terrel Hunt under center. Hunt started his season against Toledo with a bang scoring five total touchdowns, but quickly fell into an ugly slump throwing seven interceptions with zero touchdowns in his next six games.
Syracuse's strength is running the ball effectively (ranks 39th nationally in rushing yards per game) and playing solid defense (ranked 59th in the country in points allowed). Running back Jerome Smith led the Orange with 840 yards and 11 touchdowns as he helped his team average 193.8 rushing yards per game. Their 59th ranked defense has bend but don't break written all over them. When opposing offenses break them they snap them like a twig as they gave up point totals of 48, 49, 56, 59, and 31. However, when they are playing well they're as solid as an oak tree allowing just 16 points to Pittsburgh and just three total points to Maryland and Wake Forrest.
Minnesota Review
One of the best feel good stories of the college football season, the Gophers looked like a lost cause when their head coach Jerry Kill took a leave of absence to battle health problems. Following the move the Gophers ripped off four straight Big Ten victories for the first time since 1973 including wins over Nebraska and Penn State. Physical play in the run game and on defense is their recipe for success. The Gophers average an impressive 200.9 yards rushing per game with running back (and Texas native) David Cobb leading the way. Cobb ran for 1,111 and seven touchdowns this year and has eclipsed the 100-yard mark in his last five of six games.
Minnesota has a "plug and play" approach when it comes to their quarterback as sophomore Philip Nelson and redshirt freshman Mitch Leidner have subbed in for one another through out the season and it's easy to see why. Both are running threats as they've combined for 13 rushing touchdowns on the year while averaging less than 20 passing attempts per game.
Defensive tackle Ra' Shede Hageman has been the difference maker on defense this year for the Gophers. A projected first round pick in next years draft, Hageman is a bowling ball with knives attacking opposing offensive lineman with his brut strength and quickness. Hageman has lined up at every position on the defensive line showing off his versatility, which is arguably one of his best attributes.
Game Matchup
I can't sugar coat it, Minnesota is the better team up and down and has been all year which is why they will win this game convincingly. Syracuse stumbled into this bowl game with a late season win over Boston College 34-31, but before that looked like a team in transition under first year head coach Scott Shafer. Both teams rely on their running attack, but for different reasons. The Gophers hand the ball off to David Cobb who went five straight games with over 100-yards at the end of the season and balances well with running quarterbacks Phillip Nelson and Mitch Leidner. The Orange run the ball because, well, they have no other options.
Quarterback Terrel Hunt showed promise early on but had a stretch of six straight games with out a passing touchdown and has thrown for multiple touchdowns in a game just once since September. The Gophers will send eight men in the box to stop Syracuse's rushing attack and suffocate them to death forcing Hunt to beat them which won't be pretty. Another reason the Orange may have to throw the ball early and often is the fact that Minnesota loves to get out to quick early leads. In their two latest Big Ten wins the Gophers scored all 24 points in the first half against Penn State and 28 points in the first half against Indiana. From there they turn to their bread and butter by churning out long drives and milking the clock with Cobb and the run game.
If the Orange want a fighting chance they must find a way to have success in their running game. This will allow them to play ball control and keep the Gophers offense off the field while wearing down an aggressive defense. However, with Ra'Shede Hageman, one of the best defensive tackles in the country reeking havoc in the trenches things will be difficult all day for them no matter how you slice it and dice it. Minnesota has a major edge on the offense and defensive lines. In a game where running the ball and playing good defense will be key, the Gophers have too much of an advantage to bet against.
Draft Impact
Defensive tackle Ra'Shede Hageman's name will be echoed threw your television set through out the game and for good reason. Hageman is one of the biggest athletic freaks there is when talking about defensive line prospects. A former basketball player, Hageman was recruited as a tight-end until the Gophers moved him to the defensive line when they saw his power and potential. Hageman did not disappoint making splash plays immediately on the defensive front. Hageman is still very raw when it comes to his position but has every single tool imaginable mixed with freakish athletic ability to dominate at the next level with the right coaching.
Measuring in a 6'6" 311 pounds, Hageman possesses rare ability for a man his size. His size combined with his long arms, explosive first step and overall quickness has scouts drooling at what could be for the Golden Gopher. The defensive tackle who can do it all from benching 465 pounds to throwing down a 360 degree jam on the basketball court is rumored to be the first player taken at his respective position. As of now he is being projected near the middle of the first round, but his versatility could catapult him even higher.
Having so much athletic potential and having played so little at the position, teams will be able to find a position on the line to plug him into no matter their specific defensive scheme as he has experience at every spot of the Gophers line in their 4-3 defense. In a 4-3 defense, Hageman would most likely be used as the 3-technique defensive tackle position and in a 3-4 he would most likely kick out to defensive end as the 5-technique.
He isn't polished by any means and will have plenty of work to do once in the NFL. For example, although he is more powerful and has longer arms than his opponents, Hageman's struggle to use his hands effectively often get him locked up with defenders at the point of attack. He also hasn't had the time to learn any arsenal of pass rushing moves due to the lack of consistent playing time at one position.
Nontheless, Hageman is as athletically gifted as they come and has shown the potential to dominate at the next level, which is why you will hear his name called very early in next years draft.