BBVA Compass Bowl staff picks and predictions
The Houston Cougars take on the Vanderbilt Commodores in the BBVA Compass Bowl on Saturday afternoon. Here’s a look at who theScore’s staff is picking in the thirty-third matchup of the bowl season.
Chris Battaglia: If both teams were completely healthy, my pick would be Vanderbilt, but the Commodores are missing starting quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels and backup Patton Robinette has not looked impressive in his place. Vanderbilt will be in tough to score points without a consistent passing game, putting extra pressure on its defense to slow Houston’s potent offense. The Cougars averaged over 284 passing yards during the regular season, led by freshman quarterback John O’Korn, and their weak pass defense won't be much of a factor unless Robinette can improve his completion percentage. Houston +3 (BoDog)
Gino Bottero: Vanderbilt picked up their play in a big way down the stretch, particularly on defense, allowing just 13.5 points per game in winning their final four games of the regular season. There's concern about redshirt freshman Patton Robinette going against the ball-hawking Houston secondary, but he showed enough in limited action for the offense to feel confident in him. Houston lost three of four to close out their regular season. Vanderbilt -2 (5 Dimes)
Mike Dickson: Coming out of the SEC the Commodores certainly faced stiffer competition this season than the Cougars did in the American Conference and with both teams finishing the year 8-4, the edge would look to belong to Vanderbilt. However, the Commodores will be playing without quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels who underwent surgery for a torn ACL; Patton Robinette will start in his place. Robinette started twice earlier this season going 21-of-40 for 273 yards with a touchdown and two picks while Vandy won one and lost one. The freshman Robinette will be put in a tough spot and I just see Houston scoring too much for the Commodores to keep up. Houston +3 (BoDog)
Scott Lewis: Freshman Patton Robinette will start at QB for Vanderbilt in place of the injured Austyn Carta-Samuels. Robinette's ability to get the ball to WR Jordan Matthews is the biggest question mark for the Commodores. Matthews averaged 8.9 catches per contest in 2013, but he totaled 13 in the two games in which Robinette started. Houston's 116th pass defense allowed 276.2 yards per game could get a workout if Matthews gets involved. Carta-Samuels averaged 28.1 pass attempts per game. Robinette averaged 20 in his two starts earlier this season, and Vanderbilt will look to establish the run to help him out. Even though Houston allowed just 20.2 points per game, they're meeting a Vanderbilt team that finished the season on a 4-0 straight up run. Vanderbilt -2 (5 Dimes)
Rob Pizzola: This is a nightmare matchup for Vanderbilt quarterback Patton Robinette. The freshman has been poor in his first two starts, throwing for just two touchdowns and three interceptions, and now has to take on an extremely opportunistic Cougars’ defense. Houston has forced a whopping 23 interceptions this season. Meanwhile, the Commodores’ defense regressed heavily this year, allowing 25 points per game; a far cry from the stingy 19 ppg they allowed last season. The wrong team is favored here. Houston +3 (BoDog)
Staff picking Houston: Battaglia, Dickson, Pizzola
Staff picking Vanderbilt: Bottero, Lewis
Staff picking the over: None
Staff picking the under: None