More Jackets To Leave The Hive?

Three days after Georgia Tech junior wide receiver Demaryius Thomas declared for the NFL Draft, Yellow Jackets Morgan Burnett, Jonathan Dwyer and Derrick Morgan will meet with the media.

At 1:00 on Monday, the University will make trio of juniors available to the media. It would not be a surprise if all three followed the lead of Thomas and give up their final year of eligibility for the chance to play on Sundays.

Morgan is projected as a potential top ten pick should he decide to make the jump. The defensive end is coming a spectacular season in which he recorded 55 tackles, 18.5 tackles for a loss, 12.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumbles recoveries on his way to ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Joining Thomas and Morgan on the All-ACC first team was Dwyer, who ran for 1,395 yards to lead the team. He found the end zone 14 times as a junior and averaged 5.9 yards per carry. Burnett was a second team All ACC selection after snagging four interceptions to lead the Yellow Jackets. The safety registering 85 tackles (four tackles).

Dwyer is a potential first round pick and would be competing with fellow underclassman Jahvid Best and Ryan Mathews to be the number two running back prospect after Clemson’s C.J. Spiller. Like Thomas, Burnett is more likely to go in round number two should he decide he is ready to play in the league where they play for pay.

Georgia Tech is coming off of an 11-3 season, which included an ACC title. The Ramblin' Wreck defeated the Clemson Tigers in the ACC Championship game 39-34 before falling 24-14 to the Iowa Hawkeyes in the 2010 Orange Bowl.

Check for updates on this story.

Photo Courtesy of Georgia Tech Sports Information Office

Jahvid Best Discusses Decision To Turn Pro

By Ralph Mancini

In a Saturday teleconference call, University of California standout Jahvid Best described the process he went through in making the final decision to enter the upcoming 2010 NFL Draft.

While the running back consulted with head coach Jeff Tedford and former teammate Justin Forsett (now a member of the Seattle Seahawks) on the pros and cons of leaving college as a junior, it was a “gut feeling” that ultimately pointed him in the direction of the NFL.

“During the past couple of months, me and my family have been offered the opportunity to join the NFL…I plan to finish my education after football, but this is an opportunity I can’t pass up,” he reasoned.

Best had no doubts that he would be healthy enough to perform at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. But when asked what 40-time he would be targeting, he couldn’t come up with a specific number.

“I never ran a legit 40 [yard dash] before. I’ve only ran track,” he said while also adding that he himself is very curious to see how he measures up with his peers.

On the subject of the work he needs to accomplish to make himself 100-percent ready for pro ball, Best told the NFL Draft Bible that he’s determined to increase his overall physical strength to handle the more physical nature of the NFL.

The 5’10” playmaker further mentioned that he has yet to enlist the services of an agent and also communicated that no decision has been made on where he’ll be working out in preparation for the combine.

Coach Tedford joined in the question and answer session, and had no doubts about Best’s potential at the next level.

He described his player as an athlete who possesses great balance, excellent lateral movement, strength and the ability to catch the ball.

From a maturity level, Tedford lauded the junior phenom as a soft-spoken, level-headed individual who has always handled the attention surrounding him very well.

“He’s not a verbal leader, but he’s well respected in the locker room,” observed the head coach.

Regarding Best’s durability, Tedford focused on the way he recently bounced back from a dislocated elbow in a two-week time frame.

When the topic of the running back’s concussion was broached, however, the coach didn’t believe the future pro had any proneness to head injuries. In relation to the play in which he suffered the concussion versus Oregon State, he called it “a part of playing football.”

Tedford concluded the discussion by pointing out the similarities between Best and his successor Shane Vereen by commenting that they both have very similar characteristics.

Going forward, he continued, his Golden Bears offense will look to carry on with a two-man committee at the running back position.

Photo Courtesy of University of California

CFI Recap: Poinsettia Bowl – Utah 37, California 27

The bowl juggernaut that is Utah football could not be stopped, not by an early 14-0 deficit, not by a true freshman quarterback and certainly not by Pac-10 foe California. The Utes have now won nine straight bowl games, which matches USC’s streak from 1923-45. They are two away from Florida State’s all-time streak of 11, which they achieved from 1985-96.

* Just Wynn Baby: Utah’s true freshman quarterback Jordan Wynn had a happy holiday homecoming—the California native completed 26-36 for a career-high 338 yards and three scores (one interception). It was the first 300-yard game of his career.

As good as the final numbers were, his night didn’t get off to a good start. Already trailing 7-0, Utah took the field for their third possession of the game when Wynn threw an unacceptable interception, which Cal’s Eddie Young returned for a touchdown putting the Utes in a 14-0 hole. The freshman didn’t see the Cal linebacker and threw the ball right to Young. Wynn was locked in on his receiver, who was running a slant behind the linebacker. You can put that one in the vault on label it “freshman mistake”.

At that point many might have thought the stage was too big for the rookie, but on the very next possession Wynn led the Utes on a scoring drive. Wynn’s first touchdown pass of the day was a thing of perfection, connecting with his target in the back right corner of the end zone. During the play, he put the ball right on the hands of his man and just out of the reach of the Cal defender. On his second touchdown pass, a Cal linebacker had excellent coverage on Utah freshman Kendrick Moeai running down the middle of the field—with very little room for error—and Wynn dropped it right into the hands of his tight end to give Utah its first lead of the day, 17-14. The first-year signal caller displayed timing, touch and accuracy throughout the contest, and the kid throws a beautiful spiral. The future is bright in Salt Lake City, with three more years of Wynn(ing) ahead.

* Ready, Set, Go: John Wooden once said, “Failing to prepare, is preparing to fail.”

Too often coaches are unprepared and it costs their team. Facing a fourth and less than one yard, the Utes went right to the line of scrimmage, snapped the football and converted. You love to see that—a coach with a plan. There was no debating, no looking over the play chart—head man Kyle Whittingham already knew what he was going to do and what play he was going to call. Why don’t they all? These situations will come up and they should be prepared for. Also, big ups to coach for calling a hook-and-lateral in the red zone, one of the prettiest plays in football, which is not used often enough and usually only in desperation.

* More Utah Offense: In the fourth quarter, Utah’s senior wide out David Reed made the first man miss on a short pass, which he turned into a 39-yard gain, setting the single-season school record for both receptions & receiving yards (81 receptions for 1,188 yards). Reed has very quick feet and is more of a playmaker than many anticipated—he’s elusive and has good balance. Reed also has reliable hands and does a good job of floating to an open spot against zone defenses, to give his quarterback a nice target. Where the Connecticut native comes up short is in the measurables—he’s not very big (6’0”/190 pounds) or fast.

As good as Reed was, Jereme Brooks may be even more dangerous after the catch. The junior caught seven passes for 76 yards and a touchdown, his seventh scoring snag of the season. Freshman wide out Luke Matthews caught three passes on the day and the aforementioned Kendrick Moeai, their freshman tight end, caught his first two touchdown passes of his career. Moeai is an impressive looking athlete at 6’5” and 235 pounds.

Another playmaker Utah will have back for 2010 is all-purpose talent Shaky Smithson…that’s right Shaky Smithson, an announcers dream. Smithson’s season best 61-yard kick return set the Utes up for good field position on their first touchdown of the day. With Matt Asiata out, Smithson has emerged as their Wildcat quarterback. Not only can he run, but Smithson possesses a decent arm and Utah let him air it out twice. A would be touchdown was called back because of illegal formation. While the arm strength is there, Shaky needs to show a little more discretion—on both plays it appeared he was throwing it up no matter what. Smithson also caught two passes and he can make things happen after the catch.

Along the line, we were disappointed with the play of senior left tackle Zane Beadles who had trouble with the Cal defensive ends. At times, Beadles was knocked back, tossed aside and run by. He made his share of blocks, but the negative plays are why he will probably shift inside to play guard at the next level. The senior still should receive a mid-round grade for the 2010 draft.

* Best Pro Prospect – Utah: FS Robert Johnson – 4 tackles, 1 INT, 2 Pass Breakups

The LA native let it be known, you don’t want to come into his hood when he laid out Cal receiver Verran Tucker—the ball was already dropped by Tucker, but Johnson’s message was sent. If you come across the middle of the field, expect to get hit…hard. On the next possession, Johnson and Tucker met again at just about the same spot and while the safety didn’t come up with a devastating blow, he did knock the ball away from the Cal wide out. In the third quarter, Cal’s tight end dropped a pass and may have heard Johnson’s footsteps–who could blame him?

Johnson is more than a big hitter, he plays the ball very well, along with putting his anticipatory skills and speed to good use. On consecutive second-half possessions, Johnson made great reads on the football—the first one he deflected setting up his teammate to intercept the ball. On Cal’s next offensive play, Johnson made the pick himself, as he displayed his excellent hands—most DBs would not have come down with that INT. The interception was Johnson’s sixth of the season and 13th of his career.

* Senior Linebackers: Joining Johnson as Utah’s top defenders are seniors Koa Misi and Stevenson Sylvester. Misi is listed as a defensive end on Utah’s depth chart, but he played much of the game standing up rather than with his hand on the ground. While he looks comfortable doing both, at the next level Misi is best suited to play outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme. At times he had trouble getting off blocks when he engages his opponents, so playing in space would suit him well. He has enough speed and quickness to get into the backfield even when he’s lined up at the second level. Misi also dropped back in coverage; a skill scouts will want to see more of. He plays with good effort and if he can’t get to the quarterback, the senior will get his hands up and look to close off the quarterback’s passing lane; he’s always looking to make something happen. Misi finished the game with six tackles, 1.5 tackles for a loss and a half a sack. Bottom line—he is a good outside pass rusher, who can play with his hand on the ground or in a two-point stance. The California native possesses good athleticism and size (6’3”/263 pounds), but he needs to improve his technique if he is going to fulfill his potential at the next level. He could provide great value in the mid-rounds.

A more traditional outside linebacker, Sylvester, also hopes to play on Sundays next year. Recording a game-high eight tackles (0.5 TFLs, 1 INT, 1 Pass Breakup), the senior may have played his best game of the season, which also might be the healthiest he’s been all year. Sylvester showed good recognition of screen passes, either blowing them up before the play developed or making the tackle immediately after the catch. When he’s allowed to run free, Sylvester is a playmaker who can cover ground, and a sure tackler to boot. In space, it’s important he avoid blockers using his quickness, because he is going to have trouble when engaging with offensive linemen at the line of scrimmage. Sylvester is good with the ball in his hands, retuning his interception for a touchdown off of a deflected pass by Johnson. This was only his second career interception, but he also returned his first to paydirt (2006 versus Utah State). Some people believe Sylvester may go undrafted, but he is worth a late round selection. The Las Vegas native is an instinctive and passionate player, who could be effective with a strong defensive line to protect him.

* Stars of Tomorrow: Utah has several young players emerging on the defensive side of the ball, beginning with defensive linemen Sealver Siliga and Dave Kruger. Siliga made his presence felt from his defensive tackle position—you have to double-team him, otherwise he’s going to wreck havoc. The sophomore blew passed Cal’s center on his way to the quarterback, proving that he can really move for a big man (6’3”/300 pounds). Even when he doesn’t make the play himself, he can blow things up by getting into the offensive backfield, allowing his linebackers to come in unmolested and clean up. We really like what we saw from the Utah native. He is powerful and quick, allowing him to play both tackle and nose guard over the center. Siliga registered six tackles, including his sack. Not as active, but providing some potential for the future is Kruger, who is also versatile, able to play at the nose or defensive end. If the name is familiar it should be, Dave is the younger brother of former Ute Paul Kruger, who was a second round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in the 2009 NFL Draft. The younger Kruger only made one tackle, but it was for a loss. He also did an excellent job of reading and recognizing a screen pass, dropping back in the passing lane, preventing Cal from executing the play called.

Utah really trusts their defensive backs, as they often played eight and nine defenders near the line of scrimmage and blitzed on a regular basis. Much of that faith was bestowed upon coverman Brandon Burton. The sophomore blanketed Cal receivers throughout the contest. On one play, he ran a better route than the Golden Bears’ receiver and positioned himself in between the wide out and the spot he was running to (where the football was being thrown). He was excellent in coverage throughout, mostly in man-to-man. He also isn’t afraid to mix-it up against the run, a good open field tackler, making him a complete football player. Burton made four tackles, two for a loss and broke up a pass.

* Best Pro Prospect – Cal: DE Tyson Alualu – 5 tackles, 1.5 TFLs

For the first 20 minutes of the game, Tyson Alualu was unblockable. He was all over the place, lining up as both the left defensive end and right defensive end, with his hand on ground on or in a two-point stance. The senior even dropped back into coverage on occasion. Early on he had has way with Beadles, Utah’s left tackle, even beating double teams. He displayed strength, explosiveness, quickness and speed. He has the ability to shed blocks and once he gets his hands on the ball carrier, the tackle is as good as made. Alualu also has the lateral quickness to make plays moving down the line of scrimmage and the closing speed to finish. At times, the defensive end went through and around linemen at will. He is an effort player as well, showing good hustle by making the tackle on Utah wide receiver Brooks down the field. When the Utes went to the quick passing game, it neutralized Alualu’s effectiveness. He also appeared to wear down some as the game went on, which makes one wonder about his stamina. To be fair, the tempo of the game and the fact Utah dominated the time of possession could have played a role as well. At 6’3” the Hawaii native possesses the measurables to play either 3-4 defensive end or 4-3 defensive tackle, which increases his value on draft day. His versatility should make a player of particular interest for teams that like to use both schemes. He will likely be a second round pick.

* More Cal Defense: If Alualu isn’t the Golden Bears’ top prospect, then Syd’Quan Thompson is the man. It’s close, as Thompson also projects to go sometime in the second round. The senior corner made two tackles and broke up two passes, but really wasn’t given many opportunities to make plays. Utah did not throw Thompson’s way much. On one pass thrown to Thompson’s area (to Reed), the corner got his hands on the football. Later in the game, despite playing with bad ankle, the Sacramento native used his make-up speed to knock away a pass down the field. The only criticism of Thompson’s game was his tackling technique against the run—we’d like to see him be more fundamental with his tackling. Too often he just propels himself at the ball carrier. That’s not going to work on Sundays.

On the other side, junior cornerback Bryant Nnabuife is not afraid to make mix it up. He didn’t allow many yards after the catch and also came to play against the run. Nnabuife had five tackles, including a half a tackle for a loss.

Safety Sean Cattouse made eight tackles (1 TFL), but had his share of missed tackles throughout the game both against the pass and run. He was also beat by Brooks for a touchdown. The sophomore appeared to have decent straight-line speed, but didn’t move as well laterally.

Alualu wasn’t the only Golden Bear linemen to show promise. Fellow defensive end, Cameron Jordan (6’4”/287 pounds) has the classic build of a 3-4 end and may have the frame to put on a few more pounds. Not as quick as Alualu, Jordan is strong at the point of attack, with a good bull rush. The junior also used a swim move to get around Utah’s Beadles.

Freshman nose guard Kendrick Payne is another active big man. The 300-pounder beat a solid lineman in Utah left guard Caleb Schlauderaff on his way to a sack of Wynn. Of his three tackles, Payne recorded two tackles for a loss. The freshman can move well and is a player to watch for years to come for the Golden Bears.

At linebacker, Mychal Kendricks was a force. Listed as a second teamer on Cal’s depth chart, Kendricks was their most effective player in the back eight. The sophomore made seven tackles, three for a loss, one sack and he broke up a pass. He was explosive and made several big hits, both against the run and in the passing game. Kendricks did a great job in the open field, using sound technique to make the play in one-on-one situations. Utah doesn’t have a real speedster coming out of the backfield, so it bears watching down the road how Kendrick fairs in open field situations against quicker players.

Mike Mohamed also made seven tackles, but didn’t make the same type of impact. He is an excellent tackler and runs to the ball well, able to navigate through the muck to get to the ball carrier. The junior OLB was solid, but we’ve seen him play better.

* Shane Vereen At His Best: Even without Jahvid Best, the Cal running game wasn’t the problem. Shane Vereen ran for 122 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries. While he may not have the speed or explosiveness of Best, Vereen is a big-play back in his own right, as evidenced by his 36-yard touchdown run. His ability to cut back on a play designed to go right opened things, given the fact that there wasn’t much room for him where the play was designed to go, Vereen saw the opening to the left and was gone. Nice burst. Vereen also showed strength on one particular play where he was caught in the backfield, but then broke away from a tackle to pick up five yards. It was as impressive as his long runs.

* Inconsistent Passing Game: The ups and downs begin with quarterback Mike Riley. He is such a momentum player. When he gets in rhythm, he can look impressive, but then other times he looks very uncomfortable with all his movements. Riley has a good arm and can put some zip on his passes when need be. He’s also capable of putting the ball on the money with a small window to get it in, which he did on occasion, as well as showing perfect touch. But when he overthrows the fullback wide open in the flat it makes you ask: how can he miss by that much? At times, he doesn’t set his feet before making the throw. Ball security is also an issue. In fact, Riley needs to protect the ball better after bringing it back down, which led to a fumble against the Utes. Frustratingly inconsistent describes Riley well.

Of course, it’s not all on Riley. The junior signal caller threw a rope to senior Verran Tucker—a quick throw on the money—which was flat out dropped by the senior pass catcher. Sophomore wide out Marvin Jones wasn’t much of factor until late in the game.

Another sophomore, tight end Anthony Miller (five receptions, 55 yards) displayed glimpses of potential stardom down the road, but he too fell in line with the yo-yo that was Cal’s passing game. Miller made some tough catches, even after taking a big hit from Johnson. He also dropped a pass (footsteps) and saw another bounce right off his hands. He can stretch the field and is very dangerous running down the middle. Miller made the catch of the day with a full extension one-handed grab. He is an impressive athlete for a tight end, who is more developed as pass-catcher than blocker at this point.

Photos Courtesy of Dennis Hubbard & University of California

Poinsettia Bowl: NFL Draft Prospect Watch

By Justin Van Fulpen

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

Utah Utes:

OT Zane Beadles – Beadles has played left tackle since his sophomore season after moving from guard and has only missed one game due to injury. He is a good overall athlete who just needs to get stronger at the point of attack. Right now he looks like a 4th round pick. He could be asked to move to guard at the next level.

DE Koa Misi – Misi plays defensive end but is a player who could be a outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense and rush the passer in the NFL. Because he has good size at 6'2" and 263 pounds, and is a good overall athlete he should provide versatility to whatever team selects him. Right now Misi is likely a 5th round pick.

OLB Stevenson Sylvester – Sylvester has been some what of a disappointment this season. Many thought that he would have an outstanding season and increase his draft stock, but as of right now it has gone the other way. He has good size and is a good athlete, but the senior needs to make more plays. Currently, he holds a 7th round pick-to-undrafted rookie free-agent grade.

S Robert Johnson - Johnson has great size at 6-2 200 pounds and should run in the 4.5 rang at the NFL Combine. He has the ability to match up with tight ends and running backs and can even coverage wide receivers if he is asked to. He stock has been moving up, right now he has a 3rd-4th round grade for the 2010 NFL Draft, but that could change.

Other Players to Watch: WR David Reed, ILB Mike Wright

Stars of Tomorrow: OC Zane Taylor (JR), OG Caleb Schlauderaff (JR), CB Brandon Burton (SO)

California Golden Bears:

RB Jahvid Best – Best is a junior and will not play in this game because of a concussion and there are thoughts that he will still declare early for the NFL Draft. He could be a late first round pick if he does declare because of his speed and agility. We will keep you updated on his decision.

OT Mike Tepper – Tepper has played both right tackle and left tackle in his college career, but should play right tackle in the NFL. Last season missed the entire season with a pectoral injury. Currently, he looks to be a 7th round pick.

DT Tyson Alualu – Alualu is a very athletic defensive tackle who will fit in very nicely in a 4-3 defense in the NFL. He has very good quickness and uses that ability along with his pass rushing moves to get to the quarterback. He isn't just a pass rusher, capable of playing the run as well. Right now he has a 2nd round grade for the NFL Draft.

CB Syd'Quan Thompson – Thompson doesn’t have great size as a cornerback, but uses his speed and quickness to make up for his lack of size. He shows a good ability to play man to man coverage, but needs to get better in zone coverage. He should be drafted in the 2nd round in the NFL Draft.

Other Players to Watch: WR Verran Tucker, WR Nyan Boateng

Stars of Tomorrow: QB Kevin Riley (JR), ILB Mike Mohamed (JR), DE Cameron Jordan (JR), DT Derrick Hill (JR), CB Darian Hagan (JR), WR Marvin Jones (SO), RB Shane Vereen (SO), TE Anthony Miller (SO), OG Matt Summers-Gavin (FR), NG Kendrick Payne (FR)

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

Photo Courtesy of Dennis Hubbard & University of California

Bowl Projections

Breaking Down the Bowl Game schedule, and some potential match-ups

THE TITLE GAME:

1.7.10 - Citi BCS Championship Game (BCS #1 vs. BCS #2) Texas vs. Alabama - A very satisfying Championship: Two coaches with rings and 13-0 squads. What’s not to love?

THE BCS BOWLS:

1.1.10 - Rose Bowl presented by Citi (BCS/Big Ten Champ If Available vs. BCS/Pac-10 Champ If Available) Ohio State vs. Oregon - Only thing you’d need is Keith Jackson to make it complete.

1.1.10 - Allstate Sugar Bowl (BCS/SEC Champ If Available vs. BCS) Florida vs. Cincinnati - An undefeated Bearcats team could prove themselves to all the Big East haters out there by knocking off the SEC runner-up.

1.4.10 - Tostitos Fiesta Bowl (BCS/Big 12 Champ If Available vs. BCS) Boise State vs. Iowa - Some other candidates for this bowl game would be…Oklahoma State, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Stanford or USC.

1.5.10 - FedEx Orange Bowl (BCS/ACC Champ If Available vs. BCS) Georgia Tech vs. TCU - Perhaps one of the most entertaining potential match-ups of any of the BCS games, it features pass rushers, quirky offenses and a galore of speedsters.

THE REST OF THE BOWL SCHEDULE:

12.19.09 - New Mexico Bowl (WAC vs. Mountain West) Nevada vs. Ohio - These are the glory years for Wolf Pack football…this would be their fourth consecutive bowl game.

12.20.09 - R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl (C-USA vs. Sun Belt) Southern Miss vs. Troy - The Troy Trojans have been sort of a dynasty in the Sun Belt.


12.19.09 - St. Petersburg Bowl (Big East vs. C-USA) South Florida vs. Central Florida - The winner will take home a trophy and an edge in the recruiting battle. Not to mention the right to talk smack all off-season.

12.22.09 - Las Vegas Bowl (Mountain West vs. Pac-10) Utah vs. Arizona - Could the Wildcats make it back-to-back Vegas Bowl wins?

12.23.09 - San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl (Mountain West vs. Pac-10 or WAC) BYU vs. California - Could feature two pre-season Heisman candidates in Max Hall and Jahvid Best. Get your scoreboard ready!

12.24.09 - Sheraton Hawaii Bowl (WAC vs. C-USA) Fresno State vs. East Carolina - Christmas Eve football is always fun.

12.26.09 - Meineke Car Care Bowl (Big East vs. ACC) North Carolina vs. Pittsburgh - Head Coaches Dave Wannstedt and Butch Davis once hooked up in the NFL when the Dolphins defeated in the Browns. One of the two will get their first bowl victory at their current school.

12.26.09 - Little Caesars Bowl (MAC vs. Big Ten) Central Michigan vs. Iowa State - There’s a chance a Big Ten team would be in this one, imagine Michigan? We can’t either…

12.26.09 - Emerald Bowl (Pac-10 vs. ACC) Boston College vs. Stanford - Two of the more surprising teams of the year.

12.27.09- Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl (ACC vs. SEC) Clemson vs. Auburn - Getting your money’s worth. These two teams could be ranked coming in.

12.28.09 - AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl (SEC vs. Big 12) South Carolina vs. Kansas State - Two coaches who’ve seen better days (Steve Spurrier and Bill Snyder).

12.29.09 - EagleBank Bowl (ACC vs. Army/Conference USA) Duke vs. Marshall - The Blue Devils are one win away from becoming eligible, an amazing turn around from 1-11 in 2007.

12.29.09 - Champs Sports Bowl - (ACC vs. Big Ten) Florida State vs. Michigan State - Could be Head Coach Bobby Bowden’s final game.

12.30.09 - Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl (WAC vs. Mountain West) Idaho vs. Middle Tennessee State - Idaho A.D. Rob Spear refused to fly on Horizon airlines because their planes featured Boise State colors (and logo), now his team is likely to play on the Smurf Turf. Can anyone offer him a ride?

12.30.09 - Texas Bowl (Big XII vs. Navy) Texas Tech vs. Navy – Would Coach Mike Leach be more likely to twitter on the sidelines or run Navy’s triple-option?

12.30.09 - Pacific Life Holiday Bowl (Pac-10 vs. Big XII) USC vs. Oklahoma - Pete Carroll vs. Bob Stoops.

12.31.09 - Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl (Mountain West vs. C-USA) Air Force vs. Southern Methodist – Classic contrast: Run and Shoot vs. Triple Option.

12.31.09 - Burt Sun Bowl (Pac-10 vs. Big 12/Big East/Notre Dame) Oregon State vs. Notre Dame - A Notre Dame coach once got fired right before a bowl game facing Oregon State. Tyrone Willingham right before the 2004 Insight Bowl.

12.31.09 - Insight Bowl (Big 12 vs. Big Ten) Missouri vs. Minnesota - Gophers looking to end their Insight Bowl woes – lost in both 2006 and 2008.

12.31.09 - Chick-Fil-A Bowl (SEC vs. ACC) Tennessee vs. Virginia Tech – Expect bigger things in 2011…

1.1.10 - Outback Bowl (Big Ten vs. SEC) Wisconsin vs. Georgia - Two underrated teams, two hardnosed running games.

1.1.10 - Capital One Bowl (SEC vs. Big Ten) LSU vs. Penn State - Daunting defenses and classic jerseys, however a potential one-sided match-up.

1.1.10 - Konica Minolta Gator Bowl (ACC vs. Big 12/Big East/Notre Dame) Nebraska vs. Miami (FL) - 1984, 2001, 2010?

1.2.10 - International Bowl (Big East vs. MAC) Rutgers vs. Temple - It used to be a battle for the basement in the Big East, now is a contest between programs on the rise.

1.2.10 - Papa John.com Bowl (Big East vs. SEC) West Virginia vs. Kentucky - Sounds more like this year’s Elite Eight in the NCAAs.

1.2.10 - AT&T Cotton Bowl (Big 12 - SEC) Oklahoma State vs. Ole Miss - Features two exciting quarterbacks in Jevan Snead and Zac Robinson. Remember, in the pre-season these two teams were considered to be national title sleepers…

1.2.10 - AutoZone Liberty Bowl (C-USA vs. SEC) Houston vs. Arkansas - Over/Under around 83?

1.2.10 - Valero Alamo Bowl (Big Ten vs. Big 12) Northwestern vs. Texas A&M - For only the second time in school history Northwestern will be heading to back-to-back Bowl games. Now can they get their first post-season win since 1948?

1.6.10 - GMAC Bowl (ACC or WAC) Northern Illinois vs. Wyoming - The Wyoming Cowboys are just one win away from being bowl eligible.

Photos Courtesy of SEC Sports Media, Jaren Wilkey/BYU, FSU Sports Information, Dave
Stluka/Wisconsin

College Football Insiders Radio - Week 10

The voice of college football is here as CFI Founder Daniel Mogollon brings you coast-to-coast coverage of all the football action from across the nation, every Thursday at 5:00pm ET. 60 min.

Special Guests:

* RB Jahvid Best, California - Talks about choosing California and the legacy of Golden Bear running backs.

* DE Robert Quinn, North Carolina - Talks about overcoming a brain tumor in his senior year of high school to become one of the nation's top pass rushers.

* Editor Kirk McNair of 'BAMA Magazine - Joins us LIVE to talk Alabama Crimson Tide football and preview the upcoming game against the LSU Tigers.

* Super Scout Kelron Sykes - The former Oregon State Beaver will tell us what happened to USC, how good Oregon is and preview this weekend's big games coming out of the Pac-10.

* Those topics and more in this week's edition of College Football Insiders Radio.

CLICK TO LISTEN

Call-in Number: (347) 945-6275

Photo Courtesy of Alabama Media Relations

Gophers vs. California: Summary & Analysis

By KENNY FRANEK

First Quarter:
The first quarter belonged to the Bears, as they recorded 159 yards of offense compared to the Gophers’ 39. Jahvid Best scored twice in the first quarter while rushing for 69 yards on just six carries. Penalties caused the Minnesota offense to stagnate; it wasn’t until the final drive of the quarter that the Gophers started clicking and Eric Decker began to get involved in the passing game.
Score: Cal 14, Gophers 0

Second Quarter:
Adam Weber got Minnesota on the board on the first play, hooking up with Decker who made an incredible catch while getting drilled by a Cal defender. Best answered later in the quarter with an impressive 27-yard touchdown run to put the Bears up 21-7. After a personal foul and a pass interference call, the Gophers had great field position with 1:11 left in the half. A few plays later, Weber found Decker again wide open in the end-zone for a twelve-yard score to cut the lead to 21-14. Even though the Bears dominated time of possession 12:03 to 2:57, the Gophers were able to make plays and build some momentum going into halftime.
Score: Cal 21, Gophers 14

Third Quarter:
The Gophers defense came out of the locker room firing on all cylinders. They held Best at bay and didn’t allow a single first-down to the Bears offense, holding them to 22 yards in the quarter. The Gophers showed their offense truly does run through Decker as he completed a seven-yard touchdown pass to freshman MarQueis Gray to tie the game at 21.
Score: Cal 21, Gophers 21

Fourth Quarter:
Things were looking up for the Gophers when they had the Bears pinned on their own 22 yard-line facing 3rd and 16. But Kevin Riley had other plans as he hooked up with Jeremy Ross for a 35-yard pass, keeping the drive alive. Five plays later, Best found the end-zone again for his fourth score of the day to put the Bears up for good, 28-21. Weber tried to make something happen on the very next play, but ended up throwing a crucial interception. That was that, as Best ended up adding another score to make it 35-21, ending the comeback attempt.
Final Score: Cal 35, Gophers 21

The Turning Point:
Facing a 3rd and 16 on their own 22 yard-line, Riley connected with receiver Ross for 35 yards to keep the drive going. Five plays later, Best punched in the decisive score.

Analysis:

Gophers coach Tim Brewster proved that he has turned this program around and has them heading in the right direction. They fought back numerous times against a good Cal football team and sent a message to the powers of the Big Ten that they aren’t to be taken lightly. Although Brewster was pleased with how his team played, he was disappointed that they didn’t find a way to come out with a victory.

“It’s hard. You know, you pour your heart and your soul into an effort…every player and every coach poured their heart and soul into this game and we weathered an early storm and our kids really showed some resilience and resolve," Brewster said following the game. "I’m extremely proud of our football team, the way that they competed against the #8 ranked team in the country. What I’m really disappointed in is that we didn’t find a way to win the game. We didn’t make the plays at the end of the game…we had opportunities on the defensive end, had some opportunities on the offensive end. When you’re playing a great opponent like we were playing today, the team that’s going to win is the team that makes the plays at the end of the football game.”

The score was not indicative of how the game was played. The Gophers fought hard and battled all game and seemed to answer every Cal score, but the lack of a ground game was too much to overcome in the end. They only managed 37 yards rushing which allowed the defense to put pressure on Weber the majority of the game. If the Gophers plan on contending against Ohio State and Penn State in the Big Ten, this needs to be corrected. Decker can only do so much on offense and the ground game needs to be there to take pressure of Weber when he drops back to pass.

On the other side of the ball, the stout Cal defense looked shaky against the pass, allowing 233 yards through the air. Decker was a one-man wrecking crew who had the challenge of going up against potential All-America corner Syd’Quan Thompson. He stepped up to the challenge, catching eight passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns and had Thompson scratching his head for most of the game. The Bears run defense bottled up the Gophers rushing attack, allowing them to blitz Weber and force him into mistakes which proved costly for the Gophers at the end of the game.

Best showed why he is considered the best running back in the country, rushing for 131 yards on 26 attempts and scoring five touchdowns. The Gophers shut down the Cal passing game for most of this contest and forced Best to beat them, which he did. Gopher linebacker Lee Campbell said this of Best, “He’s fast. He’s probably one of the fastest running backs I’ve ever played against. You just have to try and keep him corralled and you saw what happens when he gets to the outside.” He ran through and around the Gophers defense and was the reason the Bears won this football game.

It was a hard fought game for both teams and they both should be proud of the effort they put forth. For the Gophers, it’s about taking that next step to become a contender in the Big Ten. For Cal, it’s about shutting teams down when they have their foot on their throat.

Photos Courtesy of University of Minnesota Athletic Communications, University of California

CFI Countdown: #11 California Golden Bears

2008 Record: 9-4 (Pac-10 6-3)
Bowl Game: Won Champs Sports Bowl vs. Miami, 24-17
Location: Berkley, California
Stadium: California Memorial Stadium (72,516)
Head Coach: Jeff Tedford
Overall: 59-30 (8th season)
@ California 59-30 (8th season)
Link to Cal Football Page

Outside of USC—first in scoring defense, second in scoring offense—the 2008 Cal Golden Bears were the most balanced club in the Pac-10 with the second-ranked scoring defense and fourth-ranked scoring offense. Obviously that wasn’t the case when they gave up 42 in the Arizona desert to the Wildcats and were held to three points in Sunny Southern California by the Men of Troy. If they can avoid those mishaps, the third ten-win season and maybe even the first Pac-10 title of the Jeff Tedford era could be in the offing.

When the Bears Have the Ball

Offensive Coordinator: Andy Ludwig (1st season)
Scheme: West Coast Offense
Starters Returning: Seven
Key Losses: C Alex Mack, TE Cameron Morrah, FB Will Ta’uf’ou, OG Norris Malele, QB Nate Longshore

Before we get to all-everything junior tailback Jahvid Best, let’s discuss the quarterback situation. After working wonders with gunslingers (and future first round picks) Kyle Boller and Aaron Rodgers, quarterback guru Tedford has seen ups and downs at the critical position. Junior Riley Skinner won a three-way battle for the starting nod and the best thing that could happen to the Golden Bears is he stays there all season long. Skinner doesn’t lack talent, but has yet to put it together on a consistent basis. Of course, the best pass he may make this season is the shortest one—a hand-off to the explosive Best. The diminutive back needs only a sliver of space to take one to the house as his great moves in the open field and breakaway speed strike fear in opponents. Sophomore Shane Vereen is a very solid backup and should be able to give Best a breather when needed. Their backs can’t be the only playmakers which means they need someone at receiver to step up—whether it is returning starter Verran Tucker, leading returning receiver Nyan Boateng, or talented sophomore Marvin Jones. The line loses center Alex Mack but could be better as a unit in 2009.

Top Pro Prospects: 1) RB Jahvid Best (JR), 2) WR Nyan Boateng (SR), 3) OT Mike Tepper (SR)

When the Other Team Has the Ball

Defensive Coordinator: Bob Gregory (8th season)
Scheme: 3-4
Starters Returning: Eight
Key Losses: LB Zack Follett, LB Anthony Felder, LB Worrell Williams, DE Rulon Davis

Even though they lost three of their four starting linebackers, junior Mike Mohamed—who can play inside or out—may have been the best “sub” in the country. Off the bench as a sophomore, he delivered enough tackles to finish second on the team in that department. His speed and athleticism should make him the top playmaker on the Golden Bears defense. If Mohamed doesn’t emerge as the number one weapon, don’t be surprised if it is super sophomore Mychal Kendricks, another speedy playmaker primed to bust loose. At 300 pounds Derrick Hill anchors the line from the nose position, flanked by big and powerful ends Tyson Alualu and Cameron Jordan. Both bring the size necessary for this scheme, as well the ability to get into the backfield. Saving the best for last, Cal’s secondary will rival any in the Pac-10. Senior corner Syd’Quan Thompson has gotten better each season since his rough freshman campaign, while junior Darian Hagan could be just as good.

Top Pro Prospects: 1) CB Syd’Quan Thompson (SR), 2) LB Mike Mohamed (JR), 3) DL Tyson Alualu (SR)

The Schedule

The Golden Bears have a pair of interesting out of conference games. At home, they’ll try to avenge last season’s eight-point loss to Maryland, while on the road the Bears will venture into Big Ten country to take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers in their new stadium. If Cal is going to be a challenger to USC, these are games that shouldn’t give them too much trouble. They follow up their Minneapolis road trip with a one to the great northwest to take on the Oregon Ducks, with USC at home the week after that. Can they avoid looking past Minnesota to Oregon and looking past Oregon to USC? If they can split the two Pac-10 games, the Bears will have done well. Other games of interest include home contests against Oregon St. and Arizona, as well road games at UCLA, Arizona St., and Stanford. Other than the Evergreen state (Washington, Washington St. & Eastern Washington), the schedule is challenging.

Pivotal Point

If the Golden Bears are to improve on their nine wins from a year ago they must become road warriors, or at least stop being road pushovers. Cal was a perfect 7-0 at home in 2008, but an abysmal 1-4 on the road, dropping games at USC, Arizona, Oregon St., and Maryland. Their lone win away from home was against a 1-11 Washington St. squad. This year they face six road tests, playing more than half of their conference games away from home. In 2006 they lost at Washington, Stanford, UCLA, and Arizona—four of the sites for this year’s trips. The last time they won more than half their road games came in 2005, when they went 3-2.

CFI Final Analysis

Headman Jeff Tedford built his reputation as a quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator, both at Fresno St. and Oregon where he tutored several quarterbacks to the pro ranks before taking over as the head coach for the Golden Bears. He basically picked up where he left off, building a strong offense in Berkeley. This year it is the defense that is the sure thing, as Cal should be strong against both the run and the pass with playmakers at every level. But will they get enough offense? Is Riley the answer at quarterback? Will a number one wide receiver emerge? Is the O-Line going to step up? The 2009 Golden Bears will get enough affirmative answers to give USC a run for their money.


College Football Insiders Top 25 Countdown:
The Next 25 (26-50) Plus 18 Bowl Teams
#25 West Virginia Mounainteers
#24 Tennessee Volunteers
#23 Clemson Tigers
#22 Pittsburgh Panthers
#21 Michigan St. Spartans
#20 Utah Utes
#19 Oregon Ducks
#18 Florida St. Seminoles
#17 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
#16 Boise St. Broncos
#15 North Carolina Tar Heels
#14 Penn St. Nittany Lions
#13 Mississippi Rebels
#12 Oklahoma St. Cowboys

Photos Courtesy of GoldenSports.com

College Football Insiders Preview: Pac-10

The Pac-10 conference looks to bounce back after what was an extremely disappointing season as a whole. The lone bright spot, USC, shouldn’t be the only team shining in 2009. Several other teams look poised to having promising years and are looking to be crowned the new Pac-10 champs. This conference is loaded with talent and should be an exciting conference to watch this upcoming season.

The Favorite: USC: No surprise here. USC has been the perennial powerhouse of the Pac-10 for years and has not finished second in the conference standings since 2001. That will likely not change this year even though the Trojans will have a couple of tough conference contests. They play all of the other contending teams, Cal, Oregon, and ASU away from the Coliseum. They also have to travel to Columbus to play the Buckeyes on September 12th and South Bend on October 17th to play Notre Dame. Even though they lost many key players in the draft last season, notably Mark Sanchez, Clay Matthews, Rey Maualuga, and Brian Cushing, they seem to always have a new crop of incredible athletes to replace them. Pete Carroll is the best in the business at recruiting players that will fit nicely into his system. He is always thinking ahead and this season’s group will be the poster child of that concept. He has only nine seniors on offense and defense combined, but just about every position seems to be stacked with talent. Tailback, for example, has Stafon Johnson as the starter. But if he needs to be spelled or replaced due to performance then he can bring in Joe McKnight, who is like trying to catch lightning in a bottle. Therefore, injuries shouldn’t be too much of a factor for this Trojan team. The offense will be run by true freshman Matt Barkley, who was the prize quarterback coming out of high school. He has made great strides in learning the intricacies of the offense and was rewarded with the starting job. The fact that a true freshman is running the offense may worry some, especially after Jimmy Clausen came to Notre Dame and had little success in his first season. But one must remember that Notre Dame didn’t have the same talent surrounding Clausen as Barkley now has with the Trojans. He should be able to settle in nicely and utilize the weapons he has on offense. On the other side of the ball, their stout defense shouldn’t miss a step. Taylor Mays, arguably the best defensive back in the country, will control the secondary while defensive linemen Everson Griffen and Averell Spicer will look to control the line of scrimmage. The only way the Trojans don’t win the conference is if they have a collective mental lapse, but with Pete Carroll running the show, that would be a stunner.

The Contender: California: California looks to be the top contender to knock off the mighty Trojans this season. Tailback Jahvid Best may be the top playmaker in the country and will be a vital part of the Golden Bears’ offensive success. The Trojans have had a tough time dealing with smaller tailbacks, shown last season when Oregon State’s Jacquizz Rodgers tore up USC’s defense for 186 yards and two scores in the Beavers’ upset victory. Senior wide out Nyan Boateng will be the primary receiver for quarterback Kevin Riley and that could be the combination needed to slice up the strong Trojan secondary. Cal does have more experience than the Trojans, with seven returning starters on offense and eight on defense. This could play a large role if their October 3rd matchup with USC becomes a tight contest. If Cal truly wants to play the dark horse of the conference and upend USC, they need to get the running game going with the best back in the conference. They would then end the Trojans’ seven-year run as Pac-10 champs.

The Sleepers: ASU & Oregon: ASU is a veteran squad that could be the surprise of the conference. With 14 returning starters on both offense and defense experience runs deep with the Sun Devils. The entire offensive line is back from 2008 and should be able to protect quarterback Danny Sullivan long enough to keep him from forcing the ball and making mistakes. They have good possession receivers in Kyle Williams and Chris McGaha and should be able to control the clock and tempo of the game. But their defense will have to step up for them if they are to make a move in the conference. Having only five seniors on defense and five players getting their first full-time gigs could prove costly, but if they can force turnovers and have their offense hold on to the ball, ASU could be the ones to take the title away from USC. This year’s Oregon squad looks ready for the challenge. Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli and running back LeGarrette Blount could prove to be the lethal dose that downs the Trojans. Blount is built like Brandon Jacobs, at 6’2” and 229 pounds he can absorb contact and run over just about any defender that gets in his path. Masoli started settling in nicely toward the end of last season, throwing for 572 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions in his final two regular season games. The veteran defense knows what is expected of them and they should be one of the most solid units in the conference. If all these pieces come together, this will be a team no one wants to deal with.

Offensive Player of the Year: RB Jahvid Best (California) vs. RB LeGarrette Blount (Oregon): Everyone loves a good running back battle and this conference brings one, featuring two of the best college football has to offer. One back offers speed and finesse, while the other offers brut power and a downhill running style. The different style of these two backs is what makes this matchup so appealing. Fans will get to see which (if either) can take down mighty USC. Jahvid Best is a complete back in a small package. He managed 1,580 yards on just 194 carries—that’s a tremendous 8.1 yards per carry. He also grabbed 27 catches for 246 yards, showing he can be a receiving threat out of the backfield. He will be the player defenses key in on, but may end up leaving them with one mighty headache. LeGarrette Blount played back-up to Jeremiah Johnson last season, but still managed 1,002 yards rushing on just 137 attempts. He also served as the Ducks’ goal line back, scoring 17 touchdowns. He takes over the starting role this season and will showcase his skills as a punishing runner, one who never shies away from contact and requires several players to bring him down. Both backs can get yardage and score with ease, but the question here is—which style is best suited to take down a giant? If one back can have their way with the Trojan defense like Rodgers did a year ago, then they will be the front runner of this matchup.

Honorable Mention: QB Jeremiah Masoli (Oregon), QB Jake Locker (Washington), RB Jacquizz Rodgers (Oregon State), RB Stafon Johnson (USC)

Defensive Player of the Year: S Taylor Mays (USC) vs. CB Syd’Quan Thompson (California): Two of the most exciting defensive backs in college football will go head to head for this honor. Both have incredible speed, athleticism, and playmaking ability that have opposing quarterbacks aware of their presence on nearly every play. Taylor Mays is considered by many to be the best overall defensive player in the country. He had 53 tackles and eight pass deflections last season, but failed to register an interception. This year, with all of the defensive stars of 2008 gone to the NFL, he should thrive in the secondary and feast on shorter pass plays. Syd'Quan Thompson is considered to be one of the best shut-down corners in football. He totaled 70 tackles to go along with four interceptions and two sacks. If teams get smarter this season, they will stay away from Thompson at all costs. Both players will be stars in the secondary, but total team defense and their head-to-head matchup will be the determining factors on who brings home this award.

Honorable Mention: DE Dexter Davis (Arizona St.), DE Everson Griffen (USC), LB Reggie Carter (UCLA), Alterraun Verner (UCLA), CB Walter Thurmond (Oregon)

Breakout Seasons: RB Jeremiah Masoli (Oregon), RB Joe McKnight (USC), QB Matt Barkley (USC): Jeremiah Masoli will be let loose this season after playing a more conservative role in 2008. He is a dual-threat quarterback with great instincts, gaining 718 yards on the ground last season. His ability to throw an accurate ball or tuck it and run makes Masoli a nightmare for opposing defenses. During the final four games of last season, he totaled 14 touchdowns (rushing and passing), only one interception, and posted a 170.75 efficiency rating. He has the offensive skill set and the smarts to be a top quarterback in the conference and will likely turn the tables on an abysmal 2008 season. Joe McKnight is a speedster with good change of direction. He will play the backup role to Stafon Johnson, but that doesn’t mean he won’t get his touches. Pete Carroll likes a two-back system (think Reggie Bush and LenDale White), especially when he has runners with two different styles. McKnight can be utilized as a third-down back thanks to his pass catching ability. He has totaled 44 receptions for 396 yards and two touchdowns in his short two-year career. He has yet to crack the 100 carry mark in his two seasons with the Trojans, but look for that to change in 2009 and for McKnight take full advantage of the increased workload. Matt Barkley steps in as USC’s starting quarterback after the departure of Mark Sanchez. He is a true freshman running one of the most prestigious programs in football, but the Trojans’ coaching staff is great at turning good quarterbacks into great ones. He also has good wide receivers and a two-headed monster in the backfield to work with so he will not be short of offensive weapons. Barkley will have to become the leader of the group immediately, but should pick up where seemingly all recent USC quarterbacks have left off…leading his team toward a national title.

Best Pro Prospect: S Taylor Mays (USC): At 6’3” and 235 pounds, Mays possesses the size NFL teams would kill for at the safety position. He is one of the best, if not the best, defensive playmakers…and that was said about him in 2008. Now he will have another season to fine tune an already-potent skill set. He has incredible closing speed and hits like a Mack truck. It is his lack of interceptions that worry some, but when you have played on a dominant defense that is so good at getting to the quarterback, there is really not much you can do when the opportunities aren’t there. Those skills will be there when the NFL comes knocking, and if they aren’t then that is why there are coaches and practices. Either way, he was NFL-ready last season so there shouldn’t be many questions remaining about him when he enters the 2010 draft.

College Football Insiders' Picks:

Conference Champion: USC Trojans: (Yawn)…Yes the Trojans will win another Pac-10 title this year to make it eight straight. There is too much talent and athleticism here to go with a different team in a conference that was criticized a year ago for being weak. The fact that a true freshman will be running the show on offense shouldn’t scare you, mainly because Pete Carroll knows what he is doing and if things start to get dicey, he has two very capable quarterbacks waiting in the wings. It may not look as easy for them this year, but the ending is inevitable.

Offensive Player of the Year: RB Jahvid Best, California: Jahvid Best is too quick to defend and always seems to make something out of nothing. This year will be no different, except the size of his workload. He will receive more touches on offense, thus eclipsing his stats from 2008.

Defensive Player of the Year: S Taylor Mays, USC: Whoever didn’t see this one coming must have skipped this entire preview…or been hiding under a rock for the past year.

* Click To Read CFI’s ACC Preview
* Click To Read CFI’s Big East Preview
* Click To Read CFI's Big Ten Preview
* Click To Read CFI's Big XII Preview

Photos Courtesy of GoldenSports.com and College Press Box

Emerald Bowl: Miami vs. California

By ANDREW GARDA - PAC-10 INSIDER

December 27, 2008 * 8:00 * ESPN
AT & T Park * San Francisco, California

After a one-year hiatus from going bowling, the ‘Canes are back and second year headman Randy Shannon is looking for his first bowl win at the helm. Miami is not all the way back, but this youthful squad is full of potential and a bowl win could provide a solid building block. The Golden Bears start eight freshmen or sophomores themselves, but have a veteran core leading the way with the likes of center Alex Mack on offense and three senior starters at linebacker on defense.

When the Bears Have the Ball

After an overall disappointing season, the Golden Bears will have the opportunity to end on a high note. They have to be salivating over a Miami defense, which collapsed in its last two games and surrendered 691 yards on the ground. Jahvid Best will certainly be eager to continue his outstanding season (1,394 yards and 13 TDs) against that defense and California coach Jeff Tedford will likely test Miami early on the ground. However, the Hurricanes do have some very fast linemen and can adjust on the fly. On top of that, the Golden Bear offensive line has struggled due to injury and has had problems opening lanes for Best as well as protecting whichever quarterback is behind center. Both senior Nate Longshore (starter) and sophomore Kevin Riley took some snaps in the last game but neither one has been prolific the last few games. Riley has been the lead horse in this stable but has turned the ball over in four of the last five games. Often the California pass game will throw for no more than 100 yards so it is hardly surprising that they have no marquee wide receivers, utilizing instead a group of solid athletes who can catch the ball, run crisp short routes and help move the chains. But their ability is limited both by who they are as well as by the problems at the quarterback position. If Best stalls running the pigskin the Golden Bears could very well struggle to move the ball.

When the ‘Canes Have the Ball

Like California, Miami has flopped quarterbacks to little effect. Neither Robert Marve nor Jacory Harris has played particularly well. Marve, who has more yards but has also thrown 13 interceptions, is suspended for the contest. Meanwhile Harris has thrown 10 touchdown passes but has only barely crossed the 1,000-yard mark. Overall the Hurricanes have turned the ball over a stunning amount and rank 101st in the nation in turnovers. This could be a major problem – Miami throws interceptions and the Golden Bears are ranked third in the nation in interceptions with 23 and are second in the Pac-10 in defensive scoring. With the turnover problems, Miami may be best served by handing the ball off to their tandem of Graig Cooper and Javarris James. Neither of the tailbacks is in Best’s category in terms of game-breaking ability, but when the Hurricanes can get them going, it helps the offense stay moving. Both backs can move the chains and would keep the defense honest.

Final Analysis

Another potential factor could be the long trip to the Bay Area from Florida. California only has to hop a bus to the stadium while Miami must fly across the country. After completing the regular season with a two-game skid, the Hurricanes could struggle to get going after the long trip.

Inside the Numbers – Pass, Run & Catch

Miami Hurricanes (7-5, 4-4)
Pass: Jacory Harris – 1,001 yards, 10 TDs
Run: Graig Cooper – 778 yards, 4 TDs
Catch: Aldarius Johnson – 321 yards, 3 TDs

California Golden Bears (8-4, 6-3)
Pass: Kevin Riley – 1,360 yards, 14 TDs
Run: Jahvid Best – 1,394 yards, 13 TDs
Catch: Nyan Boateng – 412 yards, 5 TDs

The CFI Prediction: California 27, Miami 17

Photo Credit: Collegiate Images, University of Miami Sports Media Relations Office

Inside the Pac-10 - Week Fifteen

By ANDREW GARDA - PAC-10 INSIDER

No. 5 USC @ UCLA

While it is clear that Bruin Coach Neuheisel has a great deal of work to do, the Bruins showed that they have the will to play hard. However hard work alone cannot win conference championships and the Bruins are clearly lacking in the talent department compared to their cross-town rivals. UCLA was unable to repeat their stunning upset victory of two years ago and were run over by a Rose Bowl-bound Trojan squad, 28-7.

UCLA quarterback Kevin Craft did a better job protecting the ball than he did in previous weeks. However he and the rest of Norm Chow’s crew were unable to generate any offense against the smothering USC defense.

The Trojan offense had no such issues, piling up nearly 500 yards of offense. UCLA could not stop either phase of the USC attack as quarterback Mark Sanchez compiled 269 yards and a pair of touchdowns while the ground attack was led by Joe McKnight’s touchdown and 99 yards. Overall the rushing attack

With the win, USC secured its seventh straight 11-win season and a slot in the Rose Bowl for the fourth year in a row. While the Trojans had hopes for a National Championship, they will have to settle for a second trip to Pasadena and a battle against a much tougher opponent.

Washington at California

With their 48-7 annihilation at the hands of the California Golden Bears, the Washington Huskies have just finished one of the worst seasons in their school’s history, becoming the first Pac-10 team to ever go winless. They have now lost 14 straight games going back to last season. The winless Huskies allowed California running back Jahvid Best to run up a stunning 311 yards and four touchdowns. Best galloped for186 of those yards and three of his TDs before halftime.

Best’s record broke the old record of 283 yards and will add to his overall season total --already the fourth best in school history--when the Golden Bears head to the Emerald Bowl on December 27th.

Coach Tyrone Willingham finished his tenure as coach of the Huskies with yet another loss and the school is expected to announce on Monday that USC Offensive Coordinator Steve Sarkisian will be their next Head Coach.

Arizona State at Arizona

With their victory over the Arizona Sun Devils, the Arizona Wildcats secured their first winning season since 1998.

Led by a superb game from senior quarterback Willie Tuitama, who totaled 284 yards and a pair of touchdowns, the Wildcats inflicted a 31-10 beating on their in-state rivals. Running back Nic Grigsby continued his solid play as well, contributing 114 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

The Arizona defense stepped up, with cornerback Marquis Hundley intercepting a Rudy Carpenter pass and returning it all the way to the Arizona State 34 to set up Grigsby’s touchdown. Special teams contributed to the win as well. Mike Thomas’ dynamite 52-yard punt return for a touchdown highlighted their efforts.

Still, both teams looked relatively sloppy for much of the night, especially in the first half where they committed an excessive amount of penalties and made numerous physical errors .

As has often been the case during his career, Carpenter was under constant pressure and the Arizona State running game was nonexistent, unable to top more than 38 yards.

Photo Credit: College Press Box (USC)

#16 California (4-1, 6-2) @ #7 USC (5-1, 7-1)

By ANDREW GARDA - PAC-10 INSIDER

USC is playing like a Pac-10 Champion – six weeks after dropping its conference opener, the Trojans have dominated for the most part, winning five straight by a 207 to 27 margin. They always heat up in November (24 straight wins), so it’s going to be a tough fight for anyone to hand them a second blemish to their record from here on out. That’s just what the Golden Bears aim to do this weekend at the Coliseum. California is one of several teams deadlocked and looking for a shot at wresting the conference title from USC.

Marc Sanchez leads the Pac-10 with 22 touchdown passes, 1,884 yards and a 163.3 passer rating. Any one of USC’s stable of running backs could get hot, making it hard for opponents to game plan. The defense has also been stifling, only allowing 211 yards and one touchdown per game.

At press time, California coach Jeff Tedford has still not named a starter at quarterback. It is unclear whether sophomore Kevin Riley will be healthy enough to play or if senior Nate Longshore will get the nod. Riley tends to protect the ball a little better and that would be key against an opportunistic USC pass defense, even without safety Kevin Ellison.

Sophomore running back Jahvid Best has played well since returning from injury, showing the ability to break long runs and find the end zone. Best will have his work cut out for him against the usually tough USC run defense.

As is the case nearly every week, this is a critical game and will either give the Trojans another leg up on the rest of the conference or close ranks a little more and make things even foggier in the Pac-10.

Photo Credit: Collegiate Images

Inside the Pac-10 - Week Nine

By ANDREW GARDA - PAC-10 INSIDER

#5 USC @ Arizona

For most of the game, the Trojans’ offense couldn’t get the job done, so it was up to Rey Maualuga and the USC defense to hold the fort in USC’s 17-10 victory in the desert. USC kept normally solid Wildcat quarterback Willie Tuitama to a mere 88 yards with no touchdowns and an interception thrown in for good measure. Trojan quarterback Mark Sanchez moved the ball between the 20s well and compiled 216 yards, but only threw for one touchdown (one interception), as USC scored a season low 17 points. It was USC’s defense that was the story, stopping the Wildcats several times late in the game, including a critical fourth-and-one in the final quarter.

Maualuga knew it was big, telling ESPN, "Guys were out there saying, 'This will determine who we are.' " While the offense didn’t seem sure, the defense made sure people knew who they were loud and clear….

UCLA @ California

For three quarters, the Bruins held their own against the Golden Bears, as both teams struggled offensively. But UCLA quarterback Kevin Craft threw four interceptions for the second time this season, a mistake his counterpart Kevin Riley did not make. In Craft’s defense, two interceptions were tipped and he wasn’t getting any help from his teammates.

Golden Bear running back Jahvid Best got back on track, rushing for 115 yards and a score. That performance, coupled with fellow tailback Shane Vereen’s 99 yards on 14 carries helped trigger a fourth quarter deluge of scoring that turned a close game into a 41-20 blowout.

Notre Dame @ Washington

It’s one thing to lose. It’s an entirely different thing to lose big. And it’s a concerning thing when you lose in a humiliating fashion in your own house.

With a significant lead, Notre Dame not only kept their foot on the gas, the threw a little sand in the face of former Fighting Irish Coach Ty Willingham’s face with five receiver sets and a fake punt. It’s not a crime against humanity, but is cold-hearted. The crowd certainly made their feelings known, booing loud and long after the fake.

Notre Dame certainly didn’t need trickery, as their defense held Washington to 124 yards total offense and only let up a score when things were well in hand late, winning 33-7. Husky quarterback Jake Locker was still sidelined with a broken thumb and his replacement Ronnie Fouch was ineffective, with five first half passing yards.

Charlie Weis defended his play calling after the game, saying to ESPN.com, “It's the third quarter. It's not 50-0. I'm not that type of guy. We yanked guys at the start of the fourth quarter. Their only touchdown at the end was against guys who never play.”

Having said that, it would be hard to find anyone who would argue they needed a fake punt up 24 points against one of the worst teams in the nation. If the above statement had come from USC, Ohio State, Texas or Alabama, people would likely be swinging from the rafters in outrage.

Oregon @ Arizona State

It’s not often a game is lost inside of the first two minutes, but when Oregon scored with 12:54 left in the first quarter, that was the case. Duck running back Jeremiah Johnson broke off a 43-yards touchdown run and Oregon never looked back, defeating the reeling Sun Devils 54-20.

Sun Devil quarterback Rudy Carpenter continued his struggles this weekend, throwing a pair of interceptions and compiling just 146 yards. The run game was again nonexistent, barely topping 100 yards and only contributing a touchdown, which Carpenter ran it in himself.

Meanwhile the Ducks dominated on the ground, led by a pair of Johnson touchdowns and quarterback Jeremiah Masoli’s 85 yards (one touchdown). The other half of the productive running back combo, LeGarrette Blount, added a couple of scores as well.

Arizona State’s offensive line got Carpenter hammered—again, allowing numerous pressures and hits on top of three sacks. They will not be able to turn things around if they do not straighten out their offensive line.

Photo Credit: Sam Haythorn (USC)