[Mick]

If Love is headed to the NFL as most seem to think, any chance he will skip the bowl game to ensure his ankle is 100% for the pro workouts? What does everyone think?

Depends on what he's heard from NFL sources.  If he gets assurances that he's in the first round, even at the bottom, I think he's gone.  Second round...closer call.  Third round, I think he returns to Stanford.

So let's say that the reports are right and he's a second round pick.  It also depends on how close to 100% he is.  If he's less than 80% or 85%, I don't think he plays.  Period.  I think if he was healthy, he'd have torched USC's run defense.

So, if we make the Holiday Bowl assumption, the opponent will be either Iowa or Michigan.  Supposedly the Holiday Bowl prefers Iowa, but UMich's other choice would be the Outback Bowl in Tampa, and UMich has gone to Florida two straight years.  I don't know that the Big 10 wants them in the same place three years in a row.  At any rate, UMich gives up 3.56 yards per rush, #21 in the country; Iowa gives up 4.14 ypc, #36 in the country.  If he plays and rushes for 160+ against either, that may rise his stock.

[Mick]

If Love is headed to the NFL as most seem to think, any chance he will skip the bowl game to ensure his ankle is 100% for the pro workouts? What does everyone think?

Depends on what he's heard from NFL sources.  If he gets assurances that he's in the first round, even at the bottom, I think he's gone.  Second round...closer call.  Third round, I think he returns to Stanford.

So let's say that the reports are right and he's a second round pick.  It also depends on how close to 100% he is.  If he's less than 80% or 85%, I don't think he plays.  Period.  I think if he was healthy, he'd have torched USC's run defense.

So, if we make the Holiday Bowl assumption, the opponent will be either Iowa or Michigan.  Supposedly the Holiday Bowl prefers Iowa, but UMich's other choice would be the Outback Bowl in Tampa, and UMich has gone to Florida two straight years.  I don't know that the Big 10 wants them in the same place three years in a row.  At any rate, UMich gives up 3.56 yards per rush, #21 in the country; Iowa gives up 4.14 ypc, #36 in the country.  If he plays and rushes for 160+ against either, that may rise his stock.