CFI Recap: Las Vegas Bowl – BYU 44, Oregon State 20

On the first series of the second half, down 23-7, Oregon State called a fake punt. Their two previous punts into the wind traveled a total of 12 yards, so why not? Punter Johnny Hekker connected with Lance Mitchell, who had room to run and pick up the first down. However, the safety slipped as he turned to run. Had he converted, the play would have been called back on illegal shift anyway; it was that kind of night for the Beavers. You can blame it on the wind, a defensive scheme adjustment by BYU (far more man-to-man coverage than was expected) or a letdown for Oregon State (the loss to rival Oregon in their final game cost them a Rose Bowl bid)—any way you slice it, the Cougars dominated the Beavers.

* The Quarterbacks: Max Hall outplayed Sean Canfield: The BYU quarterback completed 19-30 passes for 192 yards and three touchdowns (no interceptions), while the left-handed Beaver was just 19-40 for 168 yards and an interception (no touchdowns).

The undersized Hall offers much more than meets the eye. Not only has no BYU quarterback won more games than the senior field general, but he’s also an accurate passer that can tuck it and run in the face of heavy pressure. It took some time for Hall to brave the howling Las Vegas winds, as a couple of early throws floated on him. Once the 6’1” Cougar adapted, however, he began throwing darts in those same windy conditions on rollout plays to elude the rush. Hall primarily lined up in the shotgun and put good touch on a few of his throws in the red zone by placing the ball to where only his receiver had a chance of coming down with it. The heady quarterback immediately recognized a wide-open Dennis Pitta running to the end zone on a well-timed post pattern, which put the Cougars up 30-7 in the third quarter. While Hall doesn’t quite have the arm to consistently fire the ball in tight windows over the middle, he displays a quick, compact delivery and impeccable accuracy in the short and intermediate passing game.

From the first possession it was evident Canfield was off his game. The senior did not make good decisions with the football and appeared confused at times, which caused him to be hesitant. He rushed his throws and sometimes flat-out missed his target, often by a wide margin. The wind could have played a role, but even with the wind at his back in the first quarter he only completed one pass. Moreover, when he was right, his passes cut through the wind. So to blame his performance on the conditions would be too simplistic.

When he is at his best, the southpaw signal caller displays touch, accuracy and anticipation, which he did from time to time against BYU…but not nearly often enough. The way this game went for OSU it’s not surprising that Canfield’s best pass of the night was an incompletion that fell harmlessly in the end zone. Just before the half he hit H-Back Joe Halahuni in the hands, but the sophomore dropped the ball. Halahuni took a big hit from a BYU defender but should have caught it. The throw showed Canfield’s great touch, and that’s what the scouts came to see.

Despite the lopsided performance, we still rate Canfield ahead of Hall on the list of senior quarterbacks for the 2010 Draft. Canfield has the better size and arm-strength, and was a consistent performer for the Beavers throughout the season. In his first campaign as a full-time starter, the California native was impressive enough to earn first team All-Pac-10 honors. One game shouldn’t wipe that all out, although it will make his performance in the Senior Bowl more important. As for Hall, he did the most he could with his last opportunity as a collegian to impress the scouts. Although the aspiring pro probably won’t follow in his uncle’s footsteps as an every-week starting NFL quarterback (see White, Danny), he has the physical and mental tools to be a fine backup at the next level.

* Best Pro Prospect OSU: DT Stephen Paea – 2 Tackles, 1 Tackle for a Loss

The game’s first series was an example of why stats can be deceiving when it comes to defensive tackles. Junior Stephen Paea recorded a tackle for a loss on the first play of the game, but came in virtually unblocked—he displayed great quickness to get into the backfield, but it didn’t take much effort for the man from the Tongan Islands. BYU learned quickly that it would be smart to double-team the All-Pac-10 performer, which they did on the very next play. The result? The other defensive tackle, Brennan Olander, made a tackle for a loss. That is what the top defensive tackles do…they make the players around them better.

OSU used wide splits on their defensive line and moved Paea around—he lined up on the right side and the left side. He also showed the ability to play on the inside shoulder of the guard, as well as the outside shoulder. When he was closer to the center (guard’s inside shoulder), Paea displayed the ability to bull rush and overpower the blocker. When he was closer to the tackle (guard’s outside shoulder) the junior used his speed and quickness, almost like a defensive end coming off the edge.

Paea is quick off the snap and is also able to power through to split double-teams. He is very tough to block one-on-one; he tossed the BYU left guard out of his way and nailed BYU’s Hall as he threw the football. That’s what happens when one man is asked to block him.

There is speculation that Paea could declare for the 2010 Draft and should he choose to do so, expect the Beaver to be a second-round selection. He is a bit undersized for a defensive tackle at 6’1” and 285 pounds, but should be an effective three-down player. He also could be an intriguing talent for teams searching for a 3-4 end, adding to his value come draft weekend (either in 2010 or 2011).

* More Oregon State Defense: Other than Paea, not many Beavers stood out. Senior linebacker Keaton Kristick had a solid game, recoding eight tackles. He was active, but the BYU offense lacks speedy playmakers so Kristick’s lack of speed was not an issue. The SAM had Hall in his sights on a third down draw, but missed the open field tackle on the BYU signal caller, who is not exactly a great running quarterback.

Junior cornerback James Dockery struggled. He was beaten more than once in one-on-one coverage and was also flagged for a pass interference penalty. On a BYU touchdown, Dockery gave ground to Luke Ashworth and was out of position, with no chance to make a play on the ball. Add a slip and he whiffed on the tackle as well, which allowed Ashworth to waltz into the end zone.

Young safeties Lance Mitchell and Cameron Collins, a pair of sophomores, appeared to be a step too slow for most of the game. On third and goal from the 17-yard line, Pitta spilt the two and neither was really that close to making a play.

But have no fear Beaver faithful—Kristick is the only senior starter on the defensive side of the ball and players like Dockery, Mitchell and Collins do have ability. Expect this unit to bounce back and be among the best in the Pac-10 conference, if not the nation in 2010.

* Best Pro Prospect BYU: TE Dennis Pitta – 5 receptions, 45 yards, 1 TD

The athletic tight end was every bit the showstopper everyone expected him to be versus Oregon State. The facility with which he extended to make a one-handed diving catch in the first quarter, while also keeping the ball away from his nearest defender, was truly a sight to behold. While Pitta did also drop a couple of easy throws, he also exhibited the ability to consistently beat man coverage by running precision routes. The senior playmaker was particularly at ease executing curl patterns. Pitta, moreover, has a little toughness in his game, as evidenced by a couple of second-half plays in which he pushed off smaller defenders to create space for himself downfield. In addition, the John Mackey Award finalist gained tough yards in traffic on underneath screen passes. In the running game, Pitta is a willing and sometimes effective blocker, but isn’t quite big or strong enough to be utilized as a lead man. The 6’5” weapon seems to have a good grasp of offensive schemes, which allows him to often be at the right place at the right time. His ability to play through pain will also endear him to NFL talent evaluators. Pitta definitely has the talent to be a starting tight end at the next level.

* More BYU Offense: Harvey Unga (24 carries, 71 yards, 1 TD) pounded Oregon State’s defense into submission by making deft moves in tight spaces, displaying great vision along with his overall shiftiness. The big 239-pound back set the tone early in the contest by spinning his way out of tackles, changing directions, and carrying a pile of players with him when necessary. The only blemish on the underclassman’s performance was his fourth-quarter fumble that came about as a result of him pumping his legs and twirling for extra yardage. Unga’s ability to run block allows BYU to line him up in tandem with fellow back Manase Tonga.

Pitt isn’t the only BYU tight end who might be playing on Sundays in 2010, as fellow senior Andrew George recorded four receptions for 46 yards. The unheralded second-team tight end is a big, mobile target that catches the ball in his hands and masterfully uses his body to shield defenders away from the football. Much like Pitta, George ran crisp routes all night.

Sophomore Matt Reynolds manhandled his adversaries all game long. In the pass protection, the gifted left tackle took good angles to neutralize pass rushers trying to get by him on the edge. The sophomore trenchman showed off his good mechanics by adjusting to the pass rusher’s moves and using his long arms to keep his opponent at bay. In the running game, Reynolds kept his feet moving to clear the path for Unga and Tonga.

* The Rodgers Boys: You hate to say it, but this was the worst performance we’ve seen from Jacquizz and James Rodgers. Neither brought their A-game to Las Vegas. They were not the playmakers we expected to see and for the most part, they were bottled up by the BYU defense. On the first two plays of the second half, Canfield connected with both James and Jacquizz on completions, yet the Beavers were still left facing a third down and 10; two completions for a net gain of zero yards…that tells you the whole story.

As did a backwards pass to Jacquizz Rodgers. He failed to pick it up, assuming it was an incomplete pass and the lateral was returned for a touchdown by BYU. He simply didn’t have the same sense of urgency as the BYU players did in going after the football. Quizz also needs to do a little less dancing; he’s at his best when making a quick decision with the football. You can understand the sophomore back was trying to make something happen, but there’s a little too much “Barry Sanders” at times and he ends up losing big yards—in the second half he turned a 3rd & 3 into a 4th & 10 in an obvious four-down situation.

That is not to say the 1,000-yard back didn’t have his moments. He always makes the first man miss in the open field and you have to love the way he runs between the tackles—quick cuts, moving up-field. His 29-yard third quarter run was a thing of beauty and displayed his speed, quickness, vision, balance and power—everything it takes to be a great back.

James Rodgers didn’t make plays on balls you’d expect him to catch and was a non-factor in the passing game—four receptions for 30 yards. His best play came on a fly sweep for 17 yards. The junior receiver is a very effective runner and like his little brother, is stronger than you might think.

* More OSU Offense: Senior wide receiver Damola Adeniji had a solid game, grabbing seven passes for 102 yards and a score. Many of his numbers came after BYU had jumped out to a big lead, but that’s not his fault. At 6’3” and 213 pounds, the Eugene native has an NFL frame and knows how to use it to shield off defenders. He doesn’t need much separation to make the catch and displayed the ability to make plays with defensive backs draped all over him. Adeniji was also very comfortable catching the football on the move. Due to his lack of separation and game-breaking speed, the senior may not get drafted come April, but should find himself in an NFL camp with a chance to make a roster.

Halahuni, the Beavers’ H-Back, made a nice grab near the sidelines as he went up and caught the football with his hands and got his foot down in bounds—impressive athleticism for a man of his size (6’2”/249 pounds). He also had the aforementioned drop in the end zone. The Washington native is just a sophomore and figures to play a bigger role in the Beavers’ passing game in the years to come. It is unclear where he will ultimately end up—H-Back, fullback or tight end—but he has two more seasons to polish his game.

Canfield, Adeniji and right guard Gregg Peat are the only senior starters on the offensive side of the ball. If they can replace Canfield—be on the look out for red-shirt freshman Ryan Katz—Oregon State could be even better on offense next season. The offensive line will return four starters and true freshman left tackle Michael Philipp could be ready to be one of the premier linemen in the Pac-10.

The BYU Defense: Defensive end Jan Jorgensen packed his lunch and came ready to rumble in this one, as the high-effort lineman used an assortment of spin moves to prevent blockers from moving him off the ball. He maintained good gap discipline throughout the night and helped keep Oregon’s running attack in check. The stay-at-home end doesn’t possess the quickness to get around tackles and consistently rush the passer, but he did do a phenomenal job of tracking down Jacquizz Rodgers on one running play in which the senior defender ran from one side of the line to the other in pursuit of his man.

From the outset it was pretty evident that SAM Jordan Pendleton was the fastest player in BYU’s front seven. Early in the first quarter, Pendleton made his presence felt by blitzing Canfield and forcing him to get rid of the ball. At the end of the quarter, he instinctively recognizes a screen play and alertly jumps all over Jacquizz Rodgers, and separates the player from the fumbled ball, allowing teammate Matt Bauman to scoop it up and run it in for a score. The promising sophomore is a sideline-to-sideline difference maker who can also cover backs and tight ends.

Scott Johnson is an intelligent defender that reads the quarterback eyes and anticipates passes, which allows him to constantly be around the ball. In the second quarter, the 6’2” free safety perfectly times his deflection when helping a teammate in breaking up a pass into the end zone. He’s also a headhunter when coming up to lay the wood on helpless backs in the running game. Johnson does occasionally get overaggressive by leading with his head (as he did one play, which resulted in an unnecessary roughness penalty in the fourth quarter), but he’s always willing to put his body on the line to prevent his opponents from catching the ball.

Photos Courtesy of Jaren Wilkey/BYU Photo, College Press Box, Dennis Wolverton/Oregon State, Dave Nishitani/Oregon State, Mark A. Philbrick/BYU Photo

MAACO Bowl Prospect Watch

By Justin Van Fulpen

Here are the following players to keep your eye for the 2010 NFL Draft in the MAACO Bowl.

Oregon State Beavers:

QB Sean Canfield – Canfield has really turned it on this season with a great performance in his first full year of starting exclusively. He is a pocket passer who can move around, but won't beat you with his feet. The southpaw has improved his draft stock this season-coming into the season Canfield had a free-agent grade and has moved up to the 4th-5th round range.

WR Damola Adeniji – Adeniji has good size at 6'3" and 213 pounds, with good hands. He needs to improve his route running and we need to see how fast he really is. Right now he is likely an undrafted free-agent.

DT Stephen Paea - Paea is a junior and might declare early. He has a rugby background from his youth in Tonga. The Beaver is very strong and a disruptive force on the defensive line. At 6'1" and 285 pounds Paea is slightly undersized for a defensive tackle but uses his athletic ability and strength to make plays in the backfield. Right now the junior looks like a late 2nd round pick if he does declare for the 2010 NFL Draft.

Brigham Young Cougars:

QB Max Hall – Hall is a good college quarterback, but doesn't wow you in any specific aspect of his game. He doesn’t have great size or a big arm required to be a starter at the next level, but may possess enough ability to be a back-up quarterback in the NFL, because in part he a very smart player. Right now looks to be a 7th round pick or an undrafted rookie free-agent.

TE Dennis Pitta – Pitta has good size and great hands, he is a pass catching tight end with the ability to block. The Cougar has decent speed, but needs to improve in the blocking aspect of playing along the line of scrimmage to be an all around tight end at the next level. Right now he deserves a 4th round grade.

RB Harvey Unga – Unga is only a junior but there is some thought that he will come out early. While, he is a big physical running back, the junior running back should probably go back to school. If he decides to declare, don't expect him to go higher than the 4th or 5th round pick.

For more NFL, NFL Draft news, you can follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jvanfulpen

Photos Courtesy of Ethan Erickson & College Press Box

BCS Buster: Week 12 Preview

By KENNY FRANEK

Game of the Week - Northern Illinois @ Ohio

This game is a big one as far as the MAC standings are concerned. The loser will virtually be ousted from MAC championship contention as both teams sit at 5-1 in conference play. Ohio is in second place behind Temple (6-0) in the East standings and Northern Illinois is behind Central Michigan (6-0) in the West. Ohio must win this game and their season finale against Temple to make it to the MAC championship, while Northern Illinois must win this game and their finale against Central Michigan to make a MAC championship appearance.

Ohio will have to deal with the two-headed backfield monster of the Huskies consisting of Chad Spann (pictured) and Me’Co Brown. The two have coined themselves “bolt and jolt”, an allusion to one being quick and elusive (Brown) and the other being a power runner (Spann). Spann has 16 touchdowns on the season to go along with an impressive 6.3 yards-per-carry average. Brown averages 4.6 yards-per-carry and can explode for a long gain at any moment. Containing both will be a tough assignment.

On the flip side, Northern Illinois will have to focus on containing receivers LaVon Brazill and Taylor Price. Neither has eye-popping numbers, but both have the talent and athleticism to beat their opponent on any given play. Price is 6’1” 212 pounds and has the ability to go get the ball if it is not on target while Brazill can beat you with his speed and agility. Since the Bobcats’ running game has been inefficient this season, expect the Huskies to key in on these receivers and force Ohio to run the ball.

Both teams excel at different aspects on offense which makes this such an intriguing match-up. If one team can stop the other’s strength on offense they should walk away victorious. But if neither is successful, it could turn into a back-and-forth slugfest. With so much at stake in this game you can expect both teams to come out fired up, ready to play as if it were the National Championship. Prediction: Northern Illinois 24; Ohio 21

Players to Watch: Northern Illinois: RB Chad Spann, RB Me’Co Brown, QB Chandler Harnish, LB Cory Hanson, DE Jake Coffman, Ohio: WR LaVon Brazill, WR Taylor Price, RB Chris Garrett, LB Noah Keller, DT Dak Notestine

Other Games to Watch

Southern Methodist @ Marshall: With the Mustangs now controlling their own destiny in C-USA, Marshall will be their last true hurdle to claiming a spot in the conference title game. Prediction: Southern Methodist 28; Marshall 20

Air Force @ BYU: Quarterback Max Hall looks to break Ty Detmer’s record for most wins by a BYU quarterback in this match-up against the Falcons. Prediction: BYU 34; Air Force 20

UAB @ East Carolina: This is a must-win game for the Blazers if they hope to stay in the hunt for a berth in the C-USA title game. The Pirates will need a win to stay atop the East standings with an upcoming visit from West division-leading Southern Methodist in their season finale. Prediction: East Carolina 21; UAB 17

Photo Courtesy of MAC/Northern Illinois

BCS Buster: Week 10 Preview

Game of the Week - Virginia Tech @ East Carolina

The Hokies are looking to rebound after losing two-straight and having their national title hopes dashed. They haven’t lost three in a row since dropping their final two regular-season games and then losing to Cal in the 2003 Insight Bowl. One must remember that the Hokies were 5-3 at this point last year, but went on to end the season 10-4 and win the ACC Championship. East Carolina upset Virginia Tech last season on its home turf and will look to do it again.

Both quarterbacks have been struggling of late and have leaned on their ground game for success. The Hokies average 190 yards rushing per game thanks in part to running back Ryan Williams, who has 930 yards and 10 touchdowns on 163 attempts (5.7 yards-per-carry). The Pirates have a solid ball-carrier as well, Dominique Lindsay, who has rushed for 570 yards and three scores on 99 attempts this season despite missing two games (5.8 yards-per-carry). Look for both teams to focus on their run games come Thursday.

Tyrod Taylor and Patrick Pinkney are both trying to turn their seasons around with solid performances. Taylor has completed just 56 percent of his passes to date, but does have a silver lining as he’s only thrown three interceptions. Pinkney, on the other hand, has thrown nine interceptions and only eight touchdowns, a ratio no quarterback wants to see. With the game being nationally televised and both teams trying to make a statement, this should be an exciting game to watch.
Prediction: Virginia Tech 24; East Carolina 13

Players to Watch: ECU: QB Patrick Pinkney; RB Dominique Lindsay; WR Dwayne Harris; DB Van Eskridge; DL Linval Joseph; Virginia Tech: QB Tyrod Taylor; RB Ryan Williams; WR Jarrett Boykin; DB Rashad Carmichael; DL Jason Worilds

Other Games to Watch

Western Michigan @ Michigan State
In-state battles are always fun to watch and this game will be no different, especially with the Spartans having already lost at home to a non-BCS school in the state of Michigan (Central Michigan). Prediction: Michigan State 20; Western Michigan 10

BYU @ Wyoming
With the Cougars coming off of a bye, look for quarterback Max Hall and the offense to come out with guns blazing in this conference match-up. Prediction: BYU 40; Wyoming 23

Houston @ Tulsa
Both teams can score in bunches and have porous defenses, so there should be points a-plenty. We know Houston quarterback Case Keenum will come to play, but will Tulsa’s G.J. Kinne show up to the party? Prediction: Houston 41; Tulsa 28

Fresno State @ Idaho
With both teams trying to keep their conference championship hopes alive, this is an intriguing contest. Idaho is still trying to find their identity after giving up 70 points to Nevada two weeks ago and squeaking out a win at home against Louisiana Tech this past week. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs seemed to have found their swagger, winning four straight games after dropping their previous three. Prediction: Idaho 23; Fresno State 20

Photos Courtesy of East Carolina University Athletic Media Relations, University of Wyoming Photo Service

BCS Busters: Week 5 Preview

By KENNY FRANEK

Game of the Week: Utah State @ BYU
You’ve got to love an in-state rivalry. BYU has won nine-straight against the Aggies since 1994 by an average of 18.8 points. But Utah State is coming off a monster offensive game against Southern Utah where they piled up 53 points and 604 yards of total offense. With that said, BYU is no Southern Utah. They came back after a beat-down by Florida State to pummel Colorado State and now have their sights set on starting up another win streak against the Aggies. Quarterback Max Hall and running back Harvey Unga will need to put on an offensive display to combat the Aggies’ offense. The Cougars’ defense will have their hands full trying to contain running back Robert Turbin and quarterback Diondre Borel. Turbin ran for 104 yards and caught four passes for 116 yards while scoring three touchdowns against Southern Utah. In the same game, Borel went 15-of-21 for 316 yards and three touchdowns. This game will lie heavily on defense; the team that can create the most stops and turnovers should come out the victor. As porous as the BYU defense has been in its last two games, the Aggies have a chances, albeit a slim one. But in the end, there will be too much Hall, Unga, and Dennis Pitta for them to overcome.
Prediction: BYU 42, Utah State 28

Players to Watch
BYU: Max Hall (QB); Harvey Unga (RB); Dennis Pitta (TE); Jan Jorgenson (DL); Brian Logan (CB); Utah State: Robert Turbin (RB); Diondre Borel (QB); James Brindley (S); Paul Igboeli (LB); Bobby Wagner (LB)

Other Games to Watch:

Air Force @ Navy
The Falcons take their solid rush game on the road the play the Midshipmen of Navy. Navy has shown signs of promise, nearly pulling off a monumental upset in their season opener at Ohio State. They will need more from their quarterback Ricky Dobbs if they have a chance at pulling out a win at home.
Prediction: Air Force 26, Navy 17

Southern Methodist @ TCU
The Frogs look to beat the Mustangs for the ninth time in their last 10 meetings. Both teams put up similar numbers in terms of offense, but it is TCU’s defense that will be the difference maker in this one. Not to mention quarterback Andy Dalton has been playing his best ball as of late. The Frogs continue to hop along.
Prediction: TCU 24, Southern Methodist 10

Colorado State @ Idaho
The Rams will try and bounce back after losing to BYU while outgaining them on offense. Quarterback Grant Stucker must protect the ball this week in order to give his team a chance to win. The Vandals escaped with a win at Northern Illinois after nearly blowing an 18 point lead. Vandals’ running back DeMaundray Woolridge will need a repeat performance of last week to keep the modest Rams defense on the field and keep their defense fresh.
Prediction: Colorado State 34, Idaho 23

Arkansas State @ Iowa
The Red Wolves will have their hands full against an amped-up Hawkeye team coming off a huge upset in Happy Valley. Running back Reggie Arnold has been outstanding thus far, averaging 6.3 yards-per-carry with seven touchdowns. They will need to get the ground game going early and limit their turnovers to pull off an incredible upset on the road.
Prediction: Iowa 36, Arkansas State 10

Photos Courtesy of USU Athletic Media Relations

BCS Busters Week Three Preview

By KENNY FRANEK

Game of the Week: Texas Tech at Houston

Both teams are coming off big time games and have offenses that can put a ton of points on the board. Houston ranks fifth in the nation in total yards-per-game (525) and third in points-per-game (50). Both quarterbacks are playing extremely well; Taylor Potts has already thrown for 1,281 yards, 12 touchdowns, and four interceptions while Case Keenum is playing as well as anybody right now with 725 yards passing, seven touchdowns and only one interception. He’s putting up these great numbers while completing 72.4 percent of his passes. This game should produce fireworks as the Cougars look to make it two straight against Big XII opponents and prove their win over Oklahoma State was no fluke.
Prediction: Houston 37, Texas Tech 33

Others to Watch

Louisville at Utah: The longest winning-streak in the country was snapped at 16 games, and now the Utes look to start another one up against a formidable Louisville team. If they allow the Cardinals to run all over them like the Oregon Ducks did, they could be starting a losing-streak instead.
Prediction: Utah 24, Louisville 13

Colorado State at BYU: This should be a fun one. Fans will get to see if Colorado State is for real and if BYU is going to collapse completely after getting walloped by Florida State. I’m sure if they drop this one, their biggest upset in school history against Oklahoma in the first game of the season will be a distant memory for Cougar fans.
Prediction: BYU 30, Colorado State 14

Boise State at Bowling Green: Another good match-up of a pass-happy offense versus a solid pass defense. Bowling Green averages 50 passes a game, so look for them to try and get the ground game going first to open up the passing against the Broncos strong secondary. Oh, and watch for Kellen Moore to keep doing what he does best, winning ball games.
Prediction: Boise State 40, Bowling Green 20


TCU at Clemson: TCU plays its second ACC opponent in three games. They already beat Virginia handily and aim their sights on a much tougher Clemson team in Death Valley. The Frogs are averaging 244.5 yards rushing this season and will need to continue to run the ball well this week if they have a shot at winning this game.
Prediction: Clemson 23, TCU 17

Photo Courtesy of University of Houston

BCS Buster: Week Three Preview

By KENNY FRANEK

Game of the Week: Florida State @ BYU

BYU gets their first home game of the season against a Florida State team that survived a scare against Jacksonville St. Max Hall will attempt to add his name to the short list of Heisman Trophy candidates by beating a second storied program in three weeks. He has thrown for more than 300 yards in his first two games of the season and will look to continue that streak against an inexperienced Seminoles’ secondary that has given up more than 200 yards passing in both of their games this season. It will be running backs Bryan Kariya, J.J. Di Luigi and hopefully Harvey Unga who will need to get the ground game going to control the clock and wear down the solid run defense of the 'Noles, who have yet to allow either team they have faced to rush for more than 100 yards. Although the Seminoles looked rusty in their second game, they are not a team to be taken lightly. They have enough offensive firepower to put points on the board with veteran quarterback Christian Ponder and wide receiver Richard Goodman breaking out of his shell. The Cougars will also have to contain Florida State’s explosive return man Greg Reid, who can be a Devin Hester-like game changer. If the Cougs’ defense can be as strong as they have shown in their first two games, then the offense will do the rest. If they fail to contain the Seminoles’ offense, this could turn into a shoot-out. I believe the defense will come through again.

Players to Watch - BYU: QB Max Hall, TE Dennis Pitta, RB Bryan Kariya, RB J.J. Di Luigi

Players to Watch - FSU: QB Christian Ponder, WR Richard Goodman, CB/KR Greg Reid

Prediction: BYU 26, FSU 19

Other Games to Watch:

Boise State @ Fresno State:

Kellen Moore leads the Blue Turf Darlings to Fresno for their first road game of the season. He has turned into the leader of this team in the season’s early going and will be the key to a Boise St. victory. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs look to get back on track after letting a 14-point lead slip away and losing in overtime at Camp Randall against the Badgers. This will be a fun match-up to watch as the high-powered Bulldog offense looks to put a dent in the physical Broncos’ defense.
Prediction: Boise State 34, Fresno State 24

Tulsa @ Oklahoma:

In-state rivals collide as the Sooners look to make it two straight wins after the injury to Sam Bradford. Red-shirt freshman quarterback Landry Jones will try to repeat his performance of last week where he was 18-of-32 for 286 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. The Sooners’ defense will have its hands full against the high-powered Tulsa offense, which has led the nation in total offense the past two seasons. They have averaged 450 yards in their first two games this season and this battle will come down to the Golden Hurricane offense versus the Oklahoma defense.
Prediction: Oklahoma 45, Tulsa 31

TCU vs. Texas State:

The Frogs’ defense looked sharp in their season opener in Virginia and will hope to build on that momentum. Their offense looked stagnant at times and will try and get it together against a Texas State defense that allowed 28 points to Angelo State in their season opener.
Prediction: TCU 30, Texas State 10

Utah @ Oregon:

The Utes will take the nation’s longest current winning streak to Eugene to take on the Ducks. Quarterback Terrance Cain and running back Matt Asiata look to get the offense back on track after a mediocre performance last week against San Jose St. The task will not be easy, though, as the Ducks are 5-0 against ranked opponents at Autzen Stadium since 1995.
Prediction: Utah 27, Oregon 23

Photos Courtesy of Jaren Wilkey/BYU, Boise St. University