Jim
11-16-2008, 02:41 PM
Rose Bowl presented by CitiBank
Projection: USC vs. Penn State
An intriguing game and actually the preferred game by the Pac Ten, Big Ten and Rose Bowl itself. This year, Penn State actually has an offense. However games vs. Ohio State and Iowa clearly demonstrated it can be handled by teams with a solid defense. If anything is certain this year with Pete Carroll’s Trojans it is that they clearly have a very capable defense. They might have some issues with their offense however the Trojan offense hasn’t been called upon as absolutely necessary to win games. And we can all agree that the Pac Ten isn’t rocking the party this year with a gaggle of offensive juggernauts as in times past. Like Penn State, USC prepares well for the post season. They will know all of the tendencies of a Joe Paterno coached team. It is interesting to note, though a while back, the Penn State has fully contained USC in two minor bowl games with double digit wins in both. But we’re talking back when the current seniors for both teams were still in diapers. Each would have two common opponents in Ohio State and Oregon State. USC went 1-1 and the Nittany Lions 2-0. Both routed one of those common opponents but Oregon State, crushed by Penn State two weeks previously, stuffed USC in Corvallis. I think Penn State would not allow a good day for USC rushers but the passing game by USC would prove to be successful. Penn State would require ball control and I think at time this might work. I do feel that USC’s defense would work against Penn State just a bit more than Penn State’s vs. USC. The Trojans love the Rose Bowl and it has been good to them and USC to it in the usual Pac Ten tradition. I see late scoring spelling the difference in a 30-24 USC win.
Allstate Sugar Bowl
Jan. 2 / 8:30 p.m. ET New Orleans, La. FOX
BCS vs. BCS (SEC Champion, if available)
Projection: Alabama vs. Ohio State
Sorry Buckeye fans but if this game occurs you can bank on being 0-10 vs. the SEC. Yes, Ohio State has a very good defense and a star freshman at QB. Alabama has Nick Saban and I know you’re getting tired of me paying this guy so much respect. He came into Tuscaloosa and took over a failing program much like Bob Stoops did at Oklahoma. The result is a total transformation with a lot of the players recruited by his predecessor. They are a year or so ahead of schedule. The Alabama offense, while not proving to be consistent in dominating the opposition, is a cool, calculating machine. They do not panic. The defense has the necessary speed and muscle to contain the outside and crush runners inside. Ohio State plays a weaker schedule. In major tilts they are 2-2 this year losing to USC and Penn State while routing Michigan State and Northwestern and winning over then unbeaten Minnesota. The Buckeyes are methodical but this mindset has proven not to work in the last two BCS National Championship games Ohio State has lost in. I’d expect a 10 point win for the Crimson Tide in this game, say 23-13.
Tostitos Fiesta Bowl
Jan. 5 / 8 p.m. Phoenix, Ariz. FOX
BCS vs. BCS (Big 12 Champion, if available)
Projection: Texas vs. Utah
A very interesting game, this one. While Utah would only make this trip if they remain unbeaten I think holding on to a 2-point win over a pretty bad 3-8/3-9 Michigan, a 3-point win in the last few seconds vs. a pretty good Oregon State and a 3 point win in the last minute against a solid TCU makes this team appear better than they really are. I actually think TCU is the best in the Mountain West but losing to Utah eliminated any chance the Horned Frogs had of claiming the top spot. Utah wins close but Texas has shown a clear total preparation for their bowl opponents this entire decade (going 6-2 an winning four straight through 2007). Utah has a solid defense but Texas has superior athletes and a QB they have yet to face who can clearly get it done. I can envision a 35-24 win for Texas if this game were to occur.
FedEx Orange Bowl
Jan. 1 / 8 p.m. Miami Gardens, Fla. FOX
BCS vs. BCS (ACC Champion, if available)
Projection: Pitt vs. Virginia Tech
Clearly not a very exciting Orange Bowl from the national viewers perspective. The Hokies will not have a problem bringing in their faithful. Pittsburgh will sell out their allotment but the locals will not be too keen on this one. I’m actually not sure if Virginia Tech will win their division but the “experts” at CFN seem to feel this is the probably ACC outcome. I’m actually more inclined to think Cincinnati will pull it off. Pitt travels to Cincinnati next week then goes to Syracuse and finish off in Honolulu with Hawaii. But sticking with their projection, I think Pittsburgh wins this one in a close game, less than seven points – something like 24-20.
BCS National Championship: FedEx Orange Bowl
Jan. 8 / 8 p.m. Miami Gardens, Fla. FOX
BCS #2 vs. BCS #1[/font]
Projection: Oklahoma vs. Florida
Almost one thing is for certain if this matchup actually takes place. Any Oklahoma turnover will result in Florida points and especially so if it occurs in Sooners’ territory. Florida’s merciless cashing in capability was demonstrated in just the first quarter alone vs. South Carolina as the Gamecocks’ nation leading defense was nullified from the get-go.
The only chance Oklahoma will have is if the Sooners are able to corral Tim Tebow. The Gator receivers are awesome as are Oklahoma’s collectively but Tebow’s running ability will keep the Sooners secondary and LBs honest. I might point out that other than the defensive line, OU is vulnerable on defense as has been shown week in and week out. OU’s offense is winning the games as their defense has been punched often and special teams have to be among the worst in the nation especially in kick coverage.
If the Sooners end the season with wins over Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and Missouri (presently a combined 28-4) they probably deserve to be in this game. The downside for OU is their exploited defense, Even Kansas State, losing 58-35 put up around 500 yards on Oklahoma. Texas moved almost at will on them. But it got worse when defensive standout and leader Ryan Reynolds, went down for the season Kansas had a similar almost 500 yard day vs. OU.
It has been clearly demonstrated that the more highly ranked an opponent is for Florida, either in polls or in NCAA statistics, the more soundly the Gators obliterate them. The Gator defense is awesome and nobody, except Ole Miss, has figured out a way to neutralize Tebow yet. Florida’s next opponent, Citadel, might result in the Gators not even having to show up for practice this week and to just focus entirely on taking that trip to play arch-rival, Florida State.
With a month to prepare for a title game, combined with OU’s recent history of plummeting in the post season, I’d have to go with Florida to win by double digits. This would result in the SEC winning its third straight national championship and fifth in five tries. If this game occurs, I see a 42-31 win by Florida to include either a kick return or a returned interception (or both) for touchdowns.
Projection: USC vs. Penn State
An intriguing game and actually the preferred game by the Pac Ten, Big Ten and Rose Bowl itself. This year, Penn State actually has an offense. However games vs. Ohio State and Iowa clearly demonstrated it can be handled by teams with a solid defense. If anything is certain this year with Pete Carroll’s Trojans it is that they clearly have a very capable defense. They might have some issues with their offense however the Trojan offense hasn’t been called upon as absolutely necessary to win games. And we can all agree that the Pac Ten isn’t rocking the party this year with a gaggle of offensive juggernauts as in times past. Like Penn State, USC prepares well for the post season. They will know all of the tendencies of a Joe Paterno coached team. It is interesting to note, though a while back, the Penn State has fully contained USC in two minor bowl games with double digit wins in both. But we’re talking back when the current seniors for both teams were still in diapers. Each would have two common opponents in Ohio State and Oregon State. USC went 1-1 and the Nittany Lions 2-0. Both routed one of those common opponents but Oregon State, crushed by Penn State two weeks previously, stuffed USC in Corvallis. I think Penn State would not allow a good day for USC rushers but the passing game by USC would prove to be successful. Penn State would require ball control and I think at time this might work. I do feel that USC’s defense would work against Penn State just a bit more than Penn State’s vs. USC. The Trojans love the Rose Bowl and it has been good to them and USC to it in the usual Pac Ten tradition. I see late scoring spelling the difference in a 30-24 USC win.
Allstate Sugar Bowl
Jan. 2 / 8:30 p.m. ET New Orleans, La. FOX
BCS vs. BCS (SEC Champion, if available)
Projection: Alabama vs. Ohio State
Sorry Buckeye fans but if this game occurs you can bank on being 0-10 vs. the SEC. Yes, Ohio State has a very good defense and a star freshman at QB. Alabama has Nick Saban and I know you’re getting tired of me paying this guy so much respect. He came into Tuscaloosa and took over a failing program much like Bob Stoops did at Oklahoma. The result is a total transformation with a lot of the players recruited by his predecessor. They are a year or so ahead of schedule. The Alabama offense, while not proving to be consistent in dominating the opposition, is a cool, calculating machine. They do not panic. The defense has the necessary speed and muscle to contain the outside and crush runners inside. Ohio State plays a weaker schedule. In major tilts they are 2-2 this year losing to USC and Penn State while routing Michigan State and Northwestern and winning over then unbeaten Minnesota. The Buckeyes are methodical but this mindset has proven not to work in the last two BCS National Championship games Ohio State has lost in. I’d expect a 10 point win for the Crimson Tide in this game, say 23-13.
Tostitos Fiesta Bowl
Jan. 5 / 8 p.m. Phoenix, Ariz. FOX
BCS vs. BCS (Big 12 Champion, if available)
Projection: Texas vs. Utah
A very interesting game, this one. While Utah would only make this trip if they remain unbeaten I think holding on to a 2-point win over a pretty bad 3-8/3-9 Michigan, a 3-point win in the last few seconds vs. a pretty good Oregon State and a 3 point win in the last minute against a solid TCU makes this team appear better than they really are. I actually think TCU is the best in the Mountain West but losing to Utah eliminated any chance the Horned Frogs had of claiming the top spot. Utah wins close but Texas has shown a clear total preparation for their bowl opponents this entire decade (going 6-2 an winning four straight through 2007). Utah has a solid defense but Texas has superior athletes and a QB they have yet to face who can clearly get it done. I can envision a 35-24 win for Texas if this game were to occur.
FedEx Orange Bowl
Jan. 1 / 8 p.m. Miami Gardens, Fla. FOX
BCS vs. BCS (ACC Champion, if available)
Projection: Pitt vs. Virginia Tech
Clearly not a very exciting Orange Bowl from the national viewers perspective. The Hokies will not have a problem bringing in their faithful. Pittsburgh will sell out their allotment but the locals will not be too keen on this one. I’m actually not sure if Virginia Tech will win their division but the “experts” at CFN seem to feel this is the probably ACC outcome. I’m actually more inclined to think Cincinnati will pull it off. Pitt travels to Cincinnati next week then goes to Syracuse and finish off in Honolulu with Hawaii. But sticking with their projection, I think Pittsburgh wins this one in a close game, less than seven points – something like 24-20.
BCS National Championship: FedEx Orange Bowl
Jan. 8 / 8 p.m. Miami Gardens, Fla. FOX
BCS #2 vs. BCS #1[/font]
Projection: Oklahoma vs. Florida
Almost one thing is for certain if this matchup actually takes place. Any Oklahoma turnover will result in Florida points and especially so if it occurs in Sooners’ territory. Florida’s merciless cashing in capability was demonstrated in just the first quarter alone vs. South Carolina as the Gamecocks’ nation leading defense was nullified from the get-go.
The only chance Oklahoma will have is if the Sooners are able to corral Tim Tebow. The Gator receivers are awesome as are Oklahoma’s collectively but Tebow’s running ability will keep the Sooners secondary and LBs honest. I might point out that other than the defensive line, OU is vulnerable on defense as has been shown week in and week out. OU’s offense is winning the games as their defense has been punched often and special teams have to be among the worst in the nation especially in kick coverage.
If the Sooners end the season with wins over Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and Missouri (presently a combined 28-4) they probably deserve to be in this game. The downside for OU is their exploited defense, Even Kansas State, losing 58-35 put up around 500 yards on Oklahoma. Texas moved almost at will on them. But it got worse when defensive standout and leader Ryan Reynolds, went down for the season Kansas had a similar almost 500 yard day vs. OU.
It has been clearly demonstrated that the more highly ranked an opponent is for Florida, either in polls or in NCAA statistics, the more soundly the Gators obliterate them. The Gator defense is awesome and nobody, except Ole Miss, has figured out a way to neutralize Tebow yet. Florida’s next opponent, Citadel, might result in the Gators not even having to show up for practice this week and to just focus entirely on taking that trip to play arch-rival, Florida State.
With a month to prepare for a title game, combined with OU’s recent history of plummeting in the post season, I’d have to go with Florida to win by double digits. This would result in the SEC winning its third straight national championship and fifth in five tries. If this game occurs, I see a 42-31 win by Florida to include either a kick return or a returned interception (or both) for touchdowns.