NFL
By: George Lopez
When: Wednesday, December 28th, 5pm on FOX
Where: Petco Park, San Diego, California
In its history, the Holiday Bowl has produced many highly entertaining games for college football fans. This year’s matchup between #15 Oregon (9-3) and ACC Coastal Division champs North Carolina (9-4) looks to continue that legacy, The Ducks and Tar Heels both look to rebound from losses in their last game as Oregon. led by Coach Dan Lanning, dropped a heartbreaking 38-34 game to in-state rivals Oregon St. that knocked the Ducks out of the PAC12 Championship game and a possible CFP appearance. The Tar Heels, led by Coach Mack Brown, were soundly defeated 39-10 by Clemson in the ACC Championship game.
The Oregon Ducks offense used a balanced attack this season, averaging 291 yards passing and 216 yards rushing while scoring an average of 39 points per game. The offense is led by quarterback Bo Nix. The transfer from Auburn threw for 3389 yards with 27 touchdowns and 6 interceptions while completing nearly 72% of his passes. Nix was also a threat running the ball, accounting for 508 yards and 14 touchdowns. The Ducks offensive line has done a tremendous job in pass protection, allowing 4 sacks all season. The skill players for the Ducks have taken care of the football, committing only 8 turnovers for the season. The top two running back the Tar Heels defense will need to contend with are Mar’Keise Irving (903 yards and 3 touchdowns) and Noah Whittington (754 yards and 5 touchdowns).
WR Troy Franklin was the Ducks leading receiver this season with 56 receptions for 867 yards and 8 touchdowns. The Ducks #2 receiver, Kris Hutson accounted for 42 receptions for 463 yards. Nix did spread the ball around as he completed passes to 17 different players on the year. The Tar Heels will place a focus on both Franklin and Hutson. However, with Nix spreading the ball around, their entire focus cannot be on Franklin and Hutson.
Defensively, the Ducks allow 266 yards passing and 128 yards rushing while giving up 27 points per game. The Ducks pass rush had 16 sacks on the season led by LB DJ Johnson with 6 sacks. A concern for the Ducks defense is their 4 leading tacklers are defensive backs. Their defensive line and linebackers are not getting off their blocks as quickly as possible to plug up running lanes, allowing backs on the opposing team to get to the 2nd level of the Ducks defense.
Like most teams this time of year, the Ducks have had players opt of out the bowl game. The biggest loss for the Ducks is All PAC12 1st team defensive back Christian Gonzalez, who declared for the NFL draft. Gonzalez led the team with 4 interceptions. His loss will be greatly missed in the secondary. DB Trikweze Bridges will be looked upon to lead the Ducks secondary with Gonzalez opting out of the game. LB Noah Sewell recently announced he will opt out of the bowl game and declared for the NFL draft. The Ducks also had 8 players opt out when they entered the transfer portal. Oregon will rely on a total team effort on defense to contain North Carolina’s offensive attack.
The Tar Heels offense is led by quarterback Drake Maye. This season, Maye passed for 4115 yards with 35 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. Maye also led the Tar Heels on the ground, rushing for 653 yards and 7 touchdowns. Pass protection was an issue throughout the season as the Tar Heels offensive line allowed 38 sacks. Maye lost a big weapon in the passing for the Holiday Bowl as All ACC receiver Josh Downs has declared for the NFL draft and opted out of the bowl game. The Tar Heels will look to replace the production Downs had on offense as he led the team with 94 receptions for 1029 yards and 11 touchdowns. The decision by Downs to opt out of the game does negate the decision of Oregon’s DB Christian Gonzalez to opt out. Antoine Green will bar looked upon to step in for Downs. On the season, Green had 43 receptions for 798 yards and 7 touchdowns. Maye will also look to TE Bryson Nesbit, who caught 32 passes for 470 yards and 3 touchdowns.
In the Tar Heels backfield, Elijah Green leads the running backs with 508 yards and 8 touchdowns. Spelling Green will be Omarion Hampton, who accounted for 397 yards and 6 touchdowns. With the absence of Downs, the perception would be the Tar Heels relying more on their running game against Oregon. The Tar Heels used their passing game more during the season and Oregon should expect them to continue with their offensive philosophy.
Defensively, the Tar Heels gave up an average of 31 points a game during the season and figure to be tested by Oregon’s offense. The Tar Heels secondary enters this not at full strength as 3 starters, Storm Duck, Tony Grimes, and Cam’Ron Kelly will not play for the Tar Heels as they have entered the transfer portal. CB Ladaeson DeAndre Hollins initially entered the transfer portal but has since removed himself from the portal and is expected to see significant playing time against Oregon. With 3 starters not playing for the Tar Heels, look for Oregon to test the coverage capabilities of the Tar Heels secondary.
In the front 7 of their defense, the Tar Heels are led by LB Cedric Grey and Power Echols, with 97 and 76 tackles respectively. The Tar Heels did not put a lot of pressure on opposing quarterbacks during the season, as they had 16 sacks through 13 games. Coach Gene Chizik and his defensive staff will need to come up with a game plan to put pressure on Bo Nix and to do so against an offensive line that allowed 4 sacks the entire season. In bowl games, coaches do like to throw in a wrinkle to their game plan that they have not used all season and this game should be no different.
Both Oregon and North Carolina will be without their offensive play callers. Oregon’s OC Kenny Dillingham has left to take the head coaching job at Arizona St. Offensive assistants Junior Adams and Drew Mehringer have been given the assignment of play callers for the Holiday Bowl. North Carolina’s OC Phil Longo has left to become Coach Luke Fickell’s new OC at Wisconsin. Coach Mack Brown has named WR coach Lonnie Galloway the passing game coordinator and TE Coach John Lilly the running game coordinator for the bowl game. With these coaches having been on their respective teams staff during the season, there should not be too much of a change in the offensive philosophy of either school.
The Holiday Bowl has traditionally given college football fans exciting games. North Carolina and Oregon come into this game looking to carry on the Holiday Bowl tradition. With players opting out of the game on both teams, the opportunity for an unexpected player to have the game of their life presents itself. The weather could play a factor as there is a possibility of rain during the game. This game has the makings to be a classic chess match between Coach Brown and Coach Lanning.
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