Cbs Sports Network analyst and former UCLA great Randy Cross talks up the big bowl games of the week with The Post’s Justin Terranova.
Q: Of the two big BCS underdogs, who has a better chance at an upset — Northern Illinois (vs. Florida State) or Louisville (vs. Florida)?
A: I could see Northern Illinois giving them a hell of a game. They are not just a fluky MAC team. They’ve got several players, obviously led by the quarterback (Jordan Lynch), who are really good football players. They have a big, physical line and a pretty decent defense.
Q: Rutgers takes on Virginia Tech this week, but what do you think of their chances of success in the Big Ten?
A: They are going to see the same thing that Missouri saw in moving from the Big 12 to the SEC. A team that is very well-suited for where they are at and when they get to the next level they are going to have issues. This will be a pretty good reminder. As much as Virginia Tech has struggled, they are a tough matchup in a bowl game.
Q: Thoughts on the Pinstripe Bowl and the chances of NFL success for West Virginia’s Geno Smith and Syracuse’s Ryan Nassib?
A: Syracuse is more of a complete team than West Virginia. Anyone that plays West Virginia knows it can keep pace with Smith because that defense is open for business. Smith is a sharp guy who throws it extremely well, really good with the long ball, excellent accuracy. He’s been spoiled a little bit having the receivers he’s had, but that’s not his fault. Nassib is a guy who will have to work a little bit harder from this point.
Q: What does Kansas State have to do to slow down Oregon’s fast-paced attack?
A: It’s not hard to figure out what Kansas State wants to do. They want to hold on to the ball and make every single possession Oregon has count. If Oregon has to punt — or anything that is off their usual style — Kansas State has the ability to make them play the same type of game that Auburn did in the national championship a couple of years ago.
Q: Do you think Johnny Manziel will keep rolling against Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl?
A: He’s going to do real good. I think people are going to start appreciating how special this kid is over the next year or so. Not only because of his mobility, he can throw the ball extremely well. He’s only going to get better at that. It’s all a product of what they are doing at Texas A&M.