Big Ten, ACC aim for bragging rights in Orange Bowl clash
By Bud L. Ellis
It’s a classic case of strong offense vs. strong defense in this year’s Orange Bowl.
Iowa brings its stout defense from the Big Ten conference into the matchup against Georgia Tech’s high-octane triple-option offense. Needless to say, which team fares well in this matchup figures to walk out of Land Shark Stadium on Jan. 5 with a victory.
It won’t be the Yellow Jackets’ first time playing in this venue this season, although Tech certainly hopes for better results. On Sept. 17, Tech sputtered on offense throughout the evening, losing to Miami for the first of only two losses the Yellow Jackets would suffer in 2009.
The Hawkeyes, who had designs of playing for the national championship until losses in two of their final three games derailed an undefeated season, bring to Miami a tremendously stingy defense. Iowa finished the season ranked No. 11 in the nation in total defense and 10th in scoring defense.
On the other side of the ball, the Jackets bring the 11th best offense in terms of total offense and scoring offense to the Orange Bowl. Tech, which won the ACC championship, led the conference in scoring at 35 points per game, and also paced the ACC in total offense, rushing offense and passing efficiency.
Oh, and the coaches aren’t too shabby, either. Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson won ACC coach-of-the-year honors for the second year in a row. Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz earned Big Ten coach-of-the-year honors this season.
And if this game is anything like the only other Orange Bowl in history to pit the Big Ten against the ACC, it will be a barnburner. Back in 2006, Penn State edged Florida State 26-23 in triple overtime.
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Wednesday, December 16, 2009 at 9:31 pm by bud
Tags: ACC, Big Ten, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Iowa, Kirk Ferentz, Land Shark Stadium, Miami, Orange Bowl, Paul Johnson, Penn State
