Hickman's Hunches On The Bowl Games

Rose Bowl. The unbeaten Buckeyes, champions of the Big Ten, meet the thrice-thwarted Trojans, runners-up to the mighty Bruins of UCLA for the Pacific Coast title, in the most hallowed of bowls. All signs say a sweeping victory for Ohio State. Dandoy, Arnett, Contratto & Co. could surprise. The Buckeyes have everything to lose, but won't... OHIO STATE.

Sugar Bowl. Navy vs. Mississippi. The Middies and Ole Miss have caught the public's interest. Navy, down only to Notre Dame 0-6 and Pittsburgh 19-21, has been aptly called a team named desire, but they may find out "way down yonder in New Orleans" that desire runs both ways. The Rebels, smarting under sneers of "soft schedule" and the surprising 0-6 lone loss to Arkansas, are bent on vindication. Psychology and the bigger tackles say Mississippi. But I still can't forget that Army game, so I say...NAVY.

Cotton Bowl. Georgia Tech vs. Arkansas. Two Tennesseans tangle in Texas. Robert Lee Dodd, dean of Southeastern Conference coaches, meets Bowden Wyatt, who, in his sophomore year as head coach, made Arkansas the surprise of the Southwest Conference. Rated near the bottom at the beginning of the season, amazing Arkansas won seven in a row before bowing to SMU 14-21. They were outgained by practically every opponent. But they won by a flawless kicking game coupled with an alert and sound defensive effort. Georgia Tech, hampered by early season injuries, finished strong for a 7-3 record. This Tech team is potentially better than their record shows, and the injured are healed. The Razorbacks have been opportunists all season, and Wyatt has gotten every thing out of them that is humanly possible. Maybe there is one more great effort left, but I'll have to take... GEORGIA TECH.

Orange Bowl. Duke vs. Nebraska. Last year through their affiliation with the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Big Seven, the Orange Bowl matched the 1-2 teams in the country, undefeated Maryland and Oklahoma. This year the luck of the draw was not as attractive from a national viewpoint but it could turn out to be one whale of a ball game. Both the Blue Devils and the Corn-huskers use the split T. Both are primarily running teams. Duke has been unbeatable in the South but Army and Navy have taken them, and they were tied by Purdue. Nebraska came through unexpectedly to gain the runner-up position in the Big Seven as Biff Glassford hushed his critics. Spiritually, the Cornhuskers—but the Blue Devils are wicked. DUKE.

Gator Bowl. Baylor vs. Auburn. This one might turn out to be the best of the bowl games. I started to say the best game of the day, but it will be played in Jacksonville on Dec. 31. Last year I saw the Gator Bowl game between Texas Tech and Auburn. It approached the Army-Navy game in pure offensive onslaught. Auburn, supposedly loaded, started slowly, gained momentum and finished by wrecking Georgia and Alabama. Baylor led the Southwest Conference in total offense and also was first in defense. In Quarterback Hooper and End Cremminger, the Bears boast the best passing combination in their conference. Nonetheless, a trembling vote for AUBURN.