Emerald Bowl: Prospect Watch

By Justin Van Fulpen

Here are the following players to keep your eye for the 2010 NFL Draft in the EMERALD BOWL.

Boston College:

C Matt Tennant – One of the better all around centers in college football, Tennant has a chance to be the first center drafted in the 2010 NFL Draft and should be picked in the 2nd or 3rd round.

LB Mike McLaughlin – McLaughlin has decent size and athleticism, but many expected him to play better this season. He had an underwhelming performance and is now is a free-agent type.

S Marty Bowman – Bowman has great size for a safety at 6'2" and 225 pounds, but just hasn’t made enough plays to look at him as anything more than a free-agent at this point.

USC:

WR Damian Williams – Williams is a big athletic wide receiver who is expected to declare for the 2010 NFL Draft and should be a first round pick. USC has had a number of high draft pick wide receivers not live up to the hype, but many think that Williams will be different.

OT Charles Brown – Brown is an athletic left tackle that NFL teams love and should be a late first round pick because of it.

OG Jeff Byers – Byers is a hard working offensive guard who is a good, but not great player. He lack athleticism, but still could be a late draft pick.

OG Alex Parsons – Parsons isn’t as good as Byers but is still a player that will get a chance to play in the NFL; more of a free-agent type.

DE Everson Griffen – Griffen is a junior that many people believe will declare early and could end up being a first round pick because he has the size and athleticism to be a great player at the next level.

CB Kevin Thomas – Thomas has good size at 6'1" and 190 pounds, but he has taken that physical ability and turned it into big-time plays on a consistent basis. He could be a late round pick or priority free-agent.

S Taylor Mays – What else is there to say about Mays? He is just a phenomenal physical talent that should light up the combine and could end up being a top 10 overall pick.

S Josh Pinkard – Pinkard is a good player in the secondary that has played both cornerback and safety at USC, but knee injuries will be a question mark around draft time. Nevertheless, he should hear his name called around the 5th round.

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

Photo Courtesy of College Press Box

All Access Staff BCS Championship Picks

FedEx BCS National Championship Game Oklahoma vs. Florida

By RALPH MANCINI

January 8, 2009 * 8:15 * FOX

Coach Bob Stoops and his Oklahoma Sooners will be marching into Miami’s Dolphin Stadium to capture the program’s eighth national championship, but to do so they must rein in a high-powered Florida squad known as the “fastest team in America.” Both offenses can light up the scoreboard in the blink of an eye. While Urban Meyer’s crew leads the Southeastern Conference in scoring (45.2 ppg) and total offense (442.4 ypg), the Sam Bradford-led Sooners are a point-a-minute machine that has produced 18 scoring drives of 60 seconds or less during the regular season and is riding a five-game streak in which their offense has scored 60 or more points.

When Boomer Sooner Has the Ball

Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford has the perfect blend of size, arm strength, accuracy and on-field intelligence. The 6’4” signal caller completed 68 percent of his passes in 2008 for 4,464 yards with a ridiculous 48-to-6 touchdown-to-interception ratio. But for all his throwing skills, Bradford’s ability to move in the pocket and side step pressure make him nearly impossible to contain. The 21-year-old’s job is made that much easier by his fearsome group of bodyguards led by mammoth left tackle Phil Loadholt. The 6’8”, 338-pounder regularly engulfs defenders with his long arms and powerful hands that also allow him to steamroll all those who dare cross his path. Playing alongside Loadholt is guard Duke Robinson, who at 6’5, 335 lbs. is a road grater in the running game, but is also versatile enough to move over to tackle if necessary. Robinson’s athleticism as a pull blocker and the quickness with which he fires off the line make him arguably the best player at his position. Center Jon Cooper may not be as big as his gargantuan line-mates, but the Colorado native always plays with a high motor and has tremendous foot speed, which allows him to perform as an effective drive blocker. Oklahoma’s 1,000-yard rushing duo of DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown was instrumental in supporting Bradford this season with consistent production that took some pressure off the quarterback. Brown may not be as flashy as his backfield partner, but he often uses his balance and good feet to get around tacklers and run to daylight. Despite his lack of bulk, the 190-lb. back is very reliable as a short-yardage runner. The fast and agile Murray, on the other hand, won’t be seeing any action versus Florida due to a partially ruptured hamstring that will reportedly take months to heal. All purpose back Mossis Madu will be filling in for the hobbled star. The unheralded backup showed his wares by rushing for 115 yards and three scores in the Big 12 Championship game versus Missouri. In addition to being able to make people miss, Madu is an excellent receiver that can also line up in the slot, as well as return kicks. Juaquin Iglesias, Manuel Johnson, Ryan Broyles and Quentin Chaney make up OU’s top-notch receiving corps. Iglesias, in particular, is especially quick off the line of scrimmage. The senior wide out combines his silky-smooth route running with the willingness to make catches in traffic. Defensive backs often fall prey to Iglesias’ head nods and quick double moves. Tight end Jermaine Gresham’s size, speed and penchant for hauling in spectacular catches make covering the 6’6” tight end a Herculean task.

Florida’s cohesive all-for-one and one-for-all defense uses a straight-up 4-3 scheme that primarily relies on individuals winning one-on-one match-ups up front. While there’s no one standout along the defensive line, the 6’6” Carlos Dunlap is a freakish competitor with long arms and 4.7 speed that he uses to disengage from blockers and run down plays from the backside. A bit of consistency is all that’s preventing Dunlap from being one of the elite defensive ends in college football. Playing opposite the sophomore is defensive end Jermaine Cunningham, who also gets off the line very quickly and confounds blockers by changing directions very well. Some added bulk to his 250-lb. frame should help this pass rusher overpower offensive linemen, not just outmaneuver them. Interior linemen Terron Sanders and the much-improved Lawrence Marsh have helped hold down the fort versus the run despite injury to the front four. Middle linebacker Brandon Spikes sets the tone for the Gator defense with his toughness and instincts, which often put him in the right position to disrupt the opposition. While the 6’3”, 245-lb. Spikes is a bigger linebacker that can drop back into coverage, it’s his ability to inspire his teammates and urge them to work harder that makes him a special athlete. Brandon Hicks is a hard-hitting linebacker with blazing speed. The workout warrior took over for the injured A.J. Jones in mid-November and forced South Carolina into two first-quarter interceptions during Florida’s 56-6 whitewash of Steve Spurrier’s group. Red-shirt junior Ryan Stamper is versatile enough to play all three linebacker positions and is an all-out hustler. Backup Dustin Doe keeps Stamper on his toes with his athleticism and aggressive pursuit of ball carriers. Strong safety Ahmad Black is a whiz at reading quarterbacks, as evidenced by his six interceptions. Free safety Major Wright is a heat-seeking missile, always ready to deliver the knockout blow, while over at corner, freshman Janoris Jenkins is a confident, if not cocky, impact player with superior anticipatory skills.

When the Gators Have the Ball

Florida’s athleticism at multiple positions gives them the upper hand over most defenses, and it all starts with quarterback Tim Tebow--the perfect fit for Urban Meyer’s spread-option attack. The sturdy passer is a dual threat who can pound the ball between the tackles like a fullback, or put the ball in the hands of one of his many playmakers. Jeff Demps, Chris Rainey and Percy Harvin are all blessed with mesmerizing speed and all three can catch the ball, as well as run it out of a variety of formations. Freshman running backs Demps and Rainey, in particular, have been the driving force behind Florida, averaging 263.6 rushing yards per game and 6.6 yards per carry. Harvin is technically a wide out, but he can also be seen lining up at quarterback. The 5’11” speed merchant is a dynamic weapon who specializes in making defenders miss, and is very dangerous in the red-zone. Louis Murphy is Robin to Harvin’s Batman at wide receiver with his ability to use his own speed on both downfield routes and shallow gadget plays. Complementary wide out Deonte Thompson can also flash track-star velocity when given the opportunity and his acceleration off the ball is hard to contain. One component who’s frequently overlooked is Bristol, Connecticut’s own Aaron Hernandez, who ranked third on the team in receptions with 29 this season. The solid tight end combines an aggressive demeanor with the ability to produce big yardage after the catch. The Gator offensive line features the superb run blocking of the Pouncey twins, Maurkice and Michael, at center and guard. Maurkice is a drive-blocking center who explodes out of his breaks. He usually takes his defender out of the play when he keeps a solid base and keeps his feet moving. Maurkice’s brother, Mike, also packs a punch by moving his adversaries off the ball. New Jersey native Phil Trautwein is an excellent technician at left tackle.

Oklahoma’s strategy on defense will be to create pre-snap confusion and force Tebow to throw more often than he wants to. In order to accomplish that feat, the Sooners will need to apply constant pressure with similarly-built defensive ends Frank Alexander and Jeremy Beal. Alexander has proven to be lethal at times off the edge, while the 6’3”, 253-lb. Beal is the team sack leader (8.5), who defensive coordinator Brent Venables often employs as a chess piece by lining him up in a three-point stance, as well as dropping him in underneath coverage. End Auston English should also be active in this year’s title game with numerous reports indicating that he has fully recovered from a mid-season knee injury. English is arguably OU’s fastest lineman. Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy is the glue of the unit with the way he ties up blockers and frees up teammates. The sophomore combines with nose tackle Adrian Taylor to push the pocket and disrupt offenses all game long. McCoy is always drawing comparisons to former Sooner interior lineman Tommie Harris, who was probably the best, if not quickest, OU player of all time at his position. Oklahoma’s linebackers may not be as big as they’ve been in the past, but they more then compensate for that with quickness and playmaking ability. Austin Box has done yeoman’s work in his replacement of injured middle linebacker Ryan Reynolds. The former quarterback is smart enough to read the play in front of him, and quick enough to cover plenty of ground defending the run. Box sprained his knee late in the season, but is expected to play. If he doesn’t, the hard-hitting 250-lb. Mike Balogun will take his place. Weakside linebacker Travis Lewis is the most athletic OU performer at the position. The 235-lb. former running back is extremely quick to the ball, a fundamentally sound tackler, and reliable in pass coverage. The 6’3” Nic Harris headlines the secondary due to his hitting prowess and on-field smarts which allow him to constantly be around the ball. Corner Dominique Franks joins the senior safety as being a difference-making performer. The sophomore has shutdown or contained some of the best receivers in the country this year. OU’s ability to generate pressure with its front four has also played a role in preventing the Sooner secondary from getting torched too often.

Final Analysis

In a battle of high-flying offenses, Florida’s firepower will prove to be too much for OU to keep under wraps. With a healthy Harvin in the fold, the 65th ranked Sooner defense is no match for Urban Meyer’s spread-option attack. OU has allowed 5.06 yards a play and a total of 42 touchdowns to the opposition this season and will be hard pressed to hold the Gators to under 40 points. In addition, Florida holds a sizable edge in the special teams department as top-ten team in punt returns and net punting. Combine all of that with the supernatural powers of Tebow, and the Blue and Orange will bring home their second national title in three seasons.

Prediction: Florida 48 Oklahoma 33

Photo Credit: College Press Box, OU Athletics Department, SEC Sports Media

O'Brien Quarterback Award National Championship Match-up

FORT WORTH, Texas (January 6, 2009) - The 2009 BCS National Championship game will feature a match-up between the current and previous Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award® (The O'Brien) Winners. Sam Bradford, the 2008 O'Brien Winner, and the Oklahoma Sooners will square off against the Florida Gators led by the 2007 O'Brien Winner, Tim Tebow, Thursday night in Miami, Fla.

Oklahoma Sooners vs. Florida Gators
Thursday, Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. (CST) on FOX

Bradford was named the 2008 O'Brien Winner on The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show which aired live from Orlando, Fla. on December 11, 2008. He is only the second sophomore to win the award after Tebow won The O'Brien in 2007. The Oklahoma signal caller threw for 4,464 yards and 48 touchdowns this season and only six interceptions, leading the Sooners to a 12-1 record and Big 12 Conference Championship Title. In addition to completing more than 68 percent of his passes, Bradford led the nation in passing touchdowns (48) and quarterback rating (186.29). After only his second season as a Sooner starter, his 84 career touchdowns established a new school record, breaking the previous record held by 2003 and 2004 O'Brien Winner, Jason White.

Tebow was named The O'Brien Winner in 2007, becoming the second Florida Gator to win the award after Danny Wuerffel received back-to-back honors in 1995 and 1996. Tebow and the Gators also enter the National Championship game with a 12-1 record and SEC Championship Title. Thursday's game will not be the first National Championship experience for Tebow, as Florida won the 2006 National Championship Title during his freshman season. Tebow accounted for 3,079 yards (2,515 passing, 564 rushing) and 40 touchdowns (28 passing, 12 rushing) this season. He is the SEC's season leader in passing touchdowns (28) and quarterback rating (176.74). As a junior, his 43 career rushing touchdowns top the Florida record books.

Thursday's game will be hosted by the Orange Bowl at Dolphin Stadium in Miami, Fla. The Sooners enter the match-up with the No. 1 (BCS) ranking, while Florida holds the No. 2 position. These two O'Brien quarterbacks will battle head-to-head as their seasons culminate in the year's most-anticipated game.

About The Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award®
The O'Brien honors the nation's best college quarterback of the year and inspires student-athletes to triumph both on and off the field. By recognizing and honoring athletes who excel in both sports and academics while exhibiting strong character and leadership, The O'Brien aims to help instill a lifelong moral fiber in each candidate. The O'Brien is overseen by the Davey O'Brien Foundation, which was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. The Foundation has given away more than $750,000 in scholarships and university grants to help high school and college athletes transform leadership on the field into leadership in life. For more information, visit www.DaveyOBrien.org.

Photo Credit: College Press Box (Oklahoma), SEC Sports Media

GMAC Bowl: Ball St. vs. Tulsa

January 6, 2009 * 8:00 * ESPN

You can call this one the redemption bowl. After a perfect regular season – 12-0 – it appeared the Ball St. Cardinals going bowling undefeated was a mere formality. Winners of the MAC West – think the Big 12 South of the BCS Buster schools – they were expected to roll over the East representative, Buffalo…until headman Turner Gill’s Bulls played spoiler. Ball State’s junior signal caller Nate Davis completed 31-of-48 passes for 351 yards but couldn’t overcome five Cardinal turnovers. Davis, who says he will return for his senior campaign, saw his completion rate leap by 10 percent from his sophomore season (56.4 percent to 55.9). He’s always had the arm and he really put it all together in 2008. The junior has benefited from a more balanced offense with the emergence of tailback MiQuale Lewis, who rumbled for a school-record 1,701 yards and 22 touchdowns. Donte Love, whose football career was ended early this year, will be up in the coach’s box for the game. Also keep an eye on freshman free safety Sean Baker, who is the most talented defender on either side.

Tulsa saw their chance at perfection rubbed away much earlier in the season when they went into Fayetteville to take on the Arkansas Razorbacks of the SEC. The Golden Hurricane lost the next one as well at Houston, but recovered to win their next two and advance to the Conference USA Championship, which they played host to. Like Ball St., Tulsa was a prohibitive favorite – after all, they were 6-0 on their home field, where they averaged 60 points per game. That explosive offense was shutdown by the East Carolina Pirates and, like the Cards, the ‘Canes fell short of their goal. They will look to bounce back behind the big right arm of senior quarterback Doug Johnson. Johnson had to wait his turn behind Paul Smith, but made the most of his lone season at the helm, throwing 43 touchdown passes this season. He may not have the fastball Davis has, but not many in college football throw a prettier deep ball. When they look to stretch the field, the go-to man has been Brennan Marion who averaged an eye-popping 25.9 yards per catch on his 43 receptions. Tulsa also has balance as Tarrion Adams turned in his second straight 1,000-yard season.

Conference USA is 3-2 thus far in the bowl season, while the MAC needs Ball St. to come though. If they don’t, the mid-major conference out of the Midwest will be winless this bowl season – not exactly the way to garner national respect. Not only will the Cardinals represent the MAC, they will bring home the first ever bowl victory in the program’s history behind the arm of Davis and an improved defense.

CFI Prediction: Ball St. 38, Tulsa 28

Photo Credit: College Press Box (Ball St.)

Fiesta Bowl: Ohio St. vs. Texas

By JOHN SEARS - BIG TEN INSIDER

January 5, 2009 * 8:00 PM * FOX

In this year’s Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, Ohio State (10-2) and Texas (11-1) will revisit their brief home-and-home rivalry from 2005-06, where the visiting team each contest. Despite their recent pairings potentially serving a backdrop for this showdown, we again face the BCS nightmare of controversy and potential mismatch. The Longhorns are suffering from some form of elimination by advanced calculus, which ruled them (and Texas Tech for that matter) out of contention for the Big 12 Championship game and potentially, the National Title game. Ohio State, likewise receiving an at-large bid to the Fiesta Bowl, was selected over undefeated Boise St. despite being completely overmatched in their last two BCS games and an early season match-up with 11-1 USC. The Buckeyes’ only other loss this year came at the hands of another BCS-qualified team, Penn State. In Columbus, the scarlet and gray stood toe-to-toe with the eventual Big Ten champions, but fell short on a late game interception. Will we be reflecting on this game as the mismatch of teams undeserving of the BCS equation? Or will we be pleasantly surprised?

When the Buckeyes Have the Ball

The one word that would describe Ohio State’s 2008 regular season would be: adjustment. Boring, perhaps…but appropriate. The keys to the offense at the beginning of the season were handed to sixth-year senior Todd Boeckmann, an efficient field general who took the Buckeyes to the National Title game last year. But he was ousted midstream against USC, when head coach Jim Tressel pulled the trigger on true freshman, dual threat quarterback, Terrelle Pryor. The Buckeyes never looked back. The offense, originally pro-style and founded on power running by Beanie Wells, was quickly converted to a shotgun spread, with the focus coming from the arm and rushing of their quarterback. As Pryor was adjusting to his role as starter, a running back-by-committee approach was utilized until Wells recovered from a foot injury. With Wells healthy again, the conundrum of how the offense would be structured arose – shotgun zone read (befitting Pryor) or pro-style I-formation (befitting Wells). How about both? The Buckeyes have lined up in everything from a double-tight end formation to a variation of the pistol, eventually holding the 28th-best rushing offense in the FBS (3rd in the Big Ten, 193 yards/game). What’s so dynamic is the Buckeyes’ ability to bruise defenses between the tackles with the 6‘ 1”, 237 pound Wells or have them chasing tread marks made by Pryor’s graceful speed. Despite Wells’ injury, Boeckmann’s benching and Pryor’s inexperience, Ohio State still managed to keep the offense churning enough to take a share of the Big Ten title.
An area of concern for the Buckeyes, however, is their diminished passing attack. It is not at all a reflection of their flashy receiving duo, Brian Hartline and Brian Robiskie, that Pryor’s maturation as an efficient passer is an ongoing process. Ohio State has fallen to 105th in the FBS in passing with 148 yards/game, but this may be aided somewhat by the Longhorns’ inability to stop the pass.

Texas has surrendered 266 yards/game through the air (albeit generally against the pass-heavy Big 12 conference). Just as misleading could be Texas’ 2nd ranked rushing defense in the FBS (74 yards/game) although they were able to hold Big 12 Champion Oklahoma to just 1.8 yards/carry. Further, their top tacklers come from not only their linebackers (Roddrick Muckelroy first in team tackles with 96 total), but also the safety positions – Earl Thomas and Blake Gideon are the next top tacklers behind Muckelroy. While safety play is often associated with managing the pass defense, their utility and required expertise has grown substantially with the evolution of running quarterbacks – you can’t contain rushing quarterbacks off the edge with poor safety play. Thus, it may come in handy for Texas that their safeties already possess the ability to find the ball and bring the rusher down. With that being said, one could argue that senior defensive end Brian Orakpo may prove to be the playmaker needed to slow down Ohio State’s attack. He’s sacked quarterbacks 10.5 times and also leads his defense in tackles-for-loss with 15. In passing situations Pryor has shown a tendency to either hold on to the ball too long or scramble too much before taking off down field, causing numerous drive-killing sacks. If Orakpo has a big day, he may all but eliminate Ohio State’s passing ability single-handedly.

When the Longhorns Have the Ball

As everyone knows, Texas boasts an elite quarterback in junior Colt McCoy, and not surprisingly, he is the anchoring point of their offense. This Heisman Trophy finalist made his job look simplistic while accumulating statistics a sixteen-year-old would be proud of coming from his Xbox: 3,445 yards, 32 touchdowns and only seven interceptions while completing 78 percent of his passes for an astronomical rating of 179. Not enough? How about the fact that McCoy also leads his team in rushing with 576 yards (4.5 average) and 10 touchdowns? The task sounds simple enough–stop McCoy and you win. But the Longhorns receiving corps won’t make that an easy task for the Buckeyes. Jordan Shipley and Quan Cosby have been found by McCoy almost equally this year and have combined for 157 receptions, 1,934 yards and 19 touchdowns. Both are less than six feet tall, but what they lack in size, they make up for by possessing great speed and hands. Shipley also just happens to double as a playmaker in the return game, posting touchdowns from a kickoff and punt return against Oklahoma and Texas Tech, respectively. Altogether McCoy and company finished 11th in the FBS with 300 yards/game passing, which will be directly in the crosshairs of the Buckeyes’ 7th ranked pass defense (164 yards/game).

This may be another case of statistical inflation as the Buckeyes saw only one passing offense in the Big Ten that was in the top 20 in passing offense (Illinois).
Less of a statistical anomaly would be their stoutness against the run, as they surrendered only 115 yards/game on the ground. The Ohio State defensive leadership comes from their all-everything middle linebacker James Laurinaitis, who led the team in tackles and sacks (four) and combined with outside linebacker Marcus Freeman for 197 tackles and 7.5 sacks. Yet, as they are stronger against the run, it is plausible to see Texas in the shotgun, passing for 80 percent of their plays. This will call for senior (and leader of the secondary) cornerback Malcolm Jenkins to step up against the strength of Texas’ passing game. Jenkins and fellow defensive back Kurt Coleman combined for seven interceptions and 14 pass-breakups. Their ability to lockdown on Cosby and Shipley could be the match-ups which dictate how well the Longhorns can move the ball.

Final Analysis

This match-up seems to favor Texas on paper – great leadership and ability from their quarterback and defense. Ohio State is suffering a minor identity crisis in its passing game and may have to rely on Beanie Wells for 200 yards rushing to stand a chance. However, recent reports are sprouting suggesting that Ohio State may come out in offensive sets where both Boeckmann and Pryor are on the field at the same time. I am reticent in believing a gimmick offense (which has been employed in high school offenses as the “A11” set) would be the answer for a team that has confidence to beat their opponents outright. But is that not exactly what happened a few years ago when David (Boise St.) took down Goliath (Oklahoma) in this very same Bowl game? And, what about the emotional preparation on the Texas sideline as they went from National Title contenders to Big 12 contenders, to hopes for an at-large BCS bid? That has to be deflating. And that’s why the nod has to go to…the Longhorns. Why? The one word that describes what Ohio State has been lacking when facing tough opponents in the big game the last two years? Adjustment.

CFI Prediction: Texas 37, Ohio State 27

Photo Credit: College Press Box, University of Texas Athletics, OSU Athletics

International Bowl: Connecticut vs. Buffalo

By CHRISTOPHER MOGOLLON

January 3, 2006 * 12:00 * ESPN

The Buffalo Bulls will have their hands full defending Connecticut’s rushing attack led by the nation's leading rusher Donald Brown. The junior finished the regular seasons with 1,822 yards and 17 touchdowns. Brown is a big play back who averaged 5.4 yards per carry and has been dominant throughout most of the season, finishing ten games with 100+ yards. Expect him to get his yards against Buffalo’s 83rd ranked rush defense. A key in the game will be the young defense’s ability to limit big plays. Sophomore linebacker Justin Winters leads the team in tackles; he will play a major role in containing the Huskies running game.

Connecticut has struggled down the stretch losing three of there last four (only win at Syracuse). A big part of it has been the offense and an inefficient passing game. Tyler Lorenzen was successful completing most of his passes and limiting his turnovers, but since coming back from his injury he hasn’t looked good. In his last game versus Pittsburgh he threw two interceptions and his completion percentage was a career low 22.2 percent. When he is completely healthy Lorenzen is confident, efficient and spreads the ball around.

Unlike Connecticut, Buffalo finished the season strong winning six of there last seven – including an upset over previously undefeated Ball St. in the MAC Championship Fame. Their offense which is ranked 31st in the nation in scoring has been clicking – scoring at least 40 points in three of their last four games. Quarterback Drew Willy has thrown for at least 200 yards in his last five games including a 297-yard performance at Bowling Green. He has been on a roll in the second half of the season having thrown 13 touchdown passes to only one interception. Wide Receiver Naaman Roosevelt has emerged as the big play threat during Buffalo’s winning streak. He has put up five straight games with at least 100 yards and in is on a steak of seven games with a touchdown. He leads the team with 1,312 yards and 13 touchdowns on 96 receptions. Keep an eye out for running back James Starks who is a big play back averaging 5.1 yards per carry. He can break out for a 50-yard plus run at any point in the game (four times this season) and is a scoring threat. The Buffalo offense has been clicking in the second half of they season and they possess the players to put up points against the Big East Goliath.

The Huskies have a top rush defense ranked 20th in the country allowing only 116.4 yards per game on the ground. Senior Darius Butler is a shut down corner; defending Roosevelt will be a key match up in the game. Defensive end Cody Brown an effective pass rusher leading the team with nine sacks. Also, watch out for Connecticut sophomore cornerback Jasper Howard, who has returned one of his four interceptions for a touchdown. He is the conference leader in punt returns and has taken one back for a touchdown this season.

CFI Prediction: UConn 33, Buffalo 21

Photo Credit: UConn Athletic Communications

Sugar Bowl: #6 Utah vs. #4 Alabama

By RALPH MANCINI

January 2, 2009 * 8:00 PM * FOX

The Utes and the Crimson Tide lock horns on Friday, Jan.2 in a battle that pits Utah’s prolific offense against Nick Saban’s powerhouse defense. It is a Tide defense which routinely keeps opponents’ yardage to a minimum and creates game-changing plays. On offense, Alabama will try to establish its punishing running attack with a road-grating offensive line which opens gaping holes for the two-headed rushing tandem, either of whom can take it the distance. Gaining yards versus a stingy, run-stuffing Utah defense, however, will be no easy chore. The undefeated Utes own the longest winning streak in the nation at 13 games. Both Utah and Alabama were tied at 13 before the Tide’s Dec. 6 loss to Florida. Utah also holds the distinction of being the first Bowl Championship Series buster in 2004 by beating Pittsburgh in the 2005 Fiesta Bowl.

When the Utes Have the Ball

The Utes ran roughshod over their Mountain West Conference schedule thanks in large part to their senior quarterback Brian Johnson. The Texas native isn’t your classic pocket passer, but he’s a clutch performer who can make plays with both his arm and legs. The shoulder injury he suffered last season has turned him into less of a runner but his ability to make game-winning throws in the fourth quarter has been a big factor in his team’s recent success. Johnson often has a plethora of options to throw to due to Utah’s frequent use of four- and five-receiver sets. One receiver who’s clearly emerged as Johnson’s go-to target is Freddie Brown. The 6’3” senior is an acrobatic performer, who’s really come on after three quiet seasons with the Utes. Brown leads the team in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns. Wide out Brent Casteel is another weapon that puts defenses on their heels. His strength, instincts and explosive running skills make this Bay Area product a real San Francisco treat. The running back duo of Matt Asiata and Darrell Mack is also a force to be reckoned with as evidenced by their combined 4.7 yards-per-carry average. The 235 lb. Asiata is a load who excels at running downhill and bowling over defenders. The junior back isn’t as effective when forced to run horizontally. Mack is a dangerous runner in his own right, but has seen a decrease in carries after last year’s 1,000-yard season. The unselfish Mack has even proved to be a strong blocker for Asiata when called upon. The most vulnerable part of this offense is the offensive line, which doesn’t move defenders off the ball in the running game and also has some holes in its pass protection. Left tackle Zane Beadles is the line’s most athletic component, while right guard Robert Conley is both physically powerful and consistent. Expect Alabama to bring the blitz in an effort to disrupt Johnson’s timing and making him throw early. Louie Sakoda is the first Ute to win first-team All-America honors as a kicker and punter.

The Crimson Tide’s fourth-ranked run defense will pose an almost impossible challenge for Utah’s running attack. Opposing teams have averaged a meager 78.8 rushing yards per game against Alabama’s brick-wall unit, which features larger-than-life nose tackle Terrence Cody. The 385-lb. colossus often fights off double and triple-teams with ease on his way to dropping helpless ball carriers for a loss. The smaller Josh Chapman has filled in admirably for Cody during the year by maintaining a solid base versus the run when needed. The 6’5” Bobby Greenwood is also beast against the run, as well as being a standout special teams player that can block field goals. Fellow 3-4 end Brandon Deadrick is cut from the same mold. Neither Deadrick nor Greenwood are asked or expected to post gaudy sack numbers. Outside linebackers Cory Reamer and Brandon Fanney will often spread out to create a 5-man front line, which opens up lanes for middle linebacker Renaldo McClain and weakside linebacker Don’ta Hightower. The ability to take on lead blocks and still tackle his adversaries makes the 6’4” McClain a force of nature. This former tight end is versatile enough to read offenses and call plays from his traditional position. In addition, he can also provide some heat as an outside pass rusher. Free safety Rashad Johnson is a lethal weapon in the secondary, who flashes remarkable anticipatory skills that allow him to break on the ball early. The intimidating senior is one of the best open-field tacklers at the collegiate level. Cornerback Javier Arenas has outstanding speed and rarely gets beaten deep. Arenas’ return skills are second-to-none.

When the Tide Has the Ball

Alabama’s ground game is a big red machine that simply pummels teams to death behind a veteran line that will be without big nasty left tackle Andre Smith, the leader of this group. Center Antoine Caldwell is a punishing run blocker, who’ll run great distances when clearing the way for his runners downfield. Right tackle Drew Davis has also come into his own this season as an overpowering battering ram. Running backs Glen Coffee and Mark Ingram do an excellent job of taking advantage of the sizable holes before them. In addition to averaging over five yards per carry apiece, Coffee and Ingram have each scored over 10 rushing touchdowns. Coffee, in particular, is a master at setting up his blocks and turning on the jets with his breathtaking burst, which enables the fleet-footed Floridian to author numerous game-breaking runs of 40 yards or more. Ingram, on the other hand, has shown toughness with his willingness to pound the ball inside, but is also quick and shifty enough to break it to the outside. Ingram’s perpetual motion makes him a handful to contain. Over at quarterback, John Parker Wilson will never strike fear into the hearts of opposing defenses with his ordinary arm, but he’s very capable of moving his team when given enough time to throw. Wilson can often be seen playing catch with rookie receiver Julio Jones. The physical wide out has come storming out of the gates in his first season, setting Alabama rookie records for receptions (51), receiving yards (847) and touchdown catches (4). The 6’4” Jones is just as adept at making tough catches in traffic as he is gaining separation from tight coverage. Marquis Maze is an explosive and versatile red-shirt freshman, while Nick Walker is Parker’s reliable safety valve at tight end.

Utah’s defense has made a living creating turnovers and converting them into big plays. This unit is difficult to penetrate by running to the perimeter due to its speed. Without having to deal with the likes of Smith, defensive end Paul Kruger could very well have an impact in the outcome of this year’s Sugar Bowl. Much like Freddy of Nightmare on Elm Street fame, Kruger has been a haunting presence for quarterbacks all season with his uncanny speed off the edge, athleticism and non-stop motor. The former quarterback registered 7.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for a loss during his sophomore campaign. The other defensive end, Koa Misi, similarly pressures quarterbacks off the edge with great tenacity. Stevenson Sylvester is the one shining star among a linebacking corps that isn’t particularly big or fast. The roving 'backer sets the tone with his bone-crunching hits and inspirational vocal leadership. The 224-lb. play-maker can take over a game by racking up tackles from sideline to sideline. Sylvester will have his hands full versus Alabama as Nick Saban’s bunch will surely try to soften the Utes up the middle. The return of nose tackle Kenape Eliapo, who missed seven games due to a broken foot, may help shore up his squad’s overmatched run defense. Utah’s secondary brings a lot to the table in terms of size and speed along with their tendency to get into receivers' faces. King-sized cornerback Sean Smith is the unquestioned ballhawk of the defensive backfield with five interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown. Free safety Deshawn Richard also chipped in by converting two of his three picks into scores.

Final Analysis

The Tide’s firepower in the trenches will be too much for Utah to stop over the course of four quarters. The Utes are good enough to keep this contest close for a half…maybe. Look for Alabama’s size and talent to eventually cause the dam to break. Whatever the outcome, coach Kyle Whittingham should be commended for continuing to run the spread offense like a well-oiled machine and instilling his Utes with a never-say-die attitude.

Final score: Alabama 34 Utah 14

Photo Credit: SEC Sports Media, College Press Box

Liberty Bowl: East Carolina vs. Kentucky

By J.J. PESAVENTO

Memphis, TN * January 2, 2009 * 5:00 PM * ESPN

The East Carolina Pirates began the season 3-0 and in the process knocked off a pair of bowl teams in Virginia Tech and West Virginia. But they lost their next three games before winning six of their final seven contests including an upset win over Tulsa to win the Conference USA title and finish 9-4 on the season. Kentucky also got off to a fast start by winning their first four games but then faced a losing battle - SEC play. The Wildcats went 2-6 in against conference foes and dropped their final four to finish 6-6 on the season.

When the Pirates Have the Ball

East Carolina will throw a two back attack at Kentucky with Norman Whitley and Brandon Simmons doing the work. Whitley led the club in rushing yardage with 667 yards (four touchdowns) and Simmons led the team in rushing touchdowns with six. The pair will be running behind an offensive line that is led by Sean Allen, an All-Conference performer this season. The Pirates don't run the ball exceptionally well but they ran more than they threw during the season. Quarterback Patrick Pinkney will lead the passing attack after throwing for 2,379 yards and 12 touchdowns during the season. His primary targets during the season were Dwayne Harris (who missed the last three games of the season), Davon Drew and Alex Taylor. Simmons also plays a key role in the passing attack as he is third on the team in receptions (24) and tied for the team lead with three touchdown receptions (three) with Drew and Jamar Bryant. While their record doesn't show it, Kentucky has a better than average defense. Linebackers Micah Johnson, who led the team in solo tackles (57) and tackles for loss (11.5), Braxton Kelley and defensive lineman Myron Pryor lead the defense. The Wildcats also possess two fine defensive backs in Trevard Lindley and Marcus McClinton, each of who have four picks on the season and have combined for 19 pass breakups.

When the Wildcats Have the Ball

The Wildcats are not a juggernaut on the offensive ball to say the least. Their leading rusher, Tony Dixon, had 341 yards this season. Dixon and quarterback Randall Cobb (316 yards) each scored seven rushing touchdowns to lead the team. Cobb had taken over the duties at quarterback but is doubtful for the bowl game after undergoing knee surgery following the Tennessee game. This means Mike Hartline, who started the first eight games for the Wildcats, will get the call for Kentucky. Hartline threw for 1,462 yards with eight touchdowns. The Kentucky offense may not be threatening, but they do protect the quarterback well, allowing only 12 sacks all season to lead the SEC. This is good considering they will be facing an East Carolina defense that had several players receive all conference honors in 2008. Defensive lineman C.J. Wilson led Conference USA with 18.5 tackles for loss. He also led his team with 10.5 sacks. Linebackers Pierre Bell and Nick Johnson and defensive back Van Estridge all were around 90 tackles this year. Estridge and super freshman Emanuel Davis both had four picks with in 2008 and each returned one for a touchdown.

Final Analysis

This game will likely be a battle of two defenses. Neither team has a great offense as both Kentucky and East Carolina average around 23 points per game. One difference is that Kentucky does not allow many sacks, whereas East Carolina ranks around the middle of the pack. Kentucky also has an edge on punt returns but they will be facing Matt Dodge, who is one of the best punters in the country for East Carolina. The Pirates are coming in sky high after winning their conference title and in the end, they'll be the better team.

CFI Prediction: East Carolina 24, Kentucky 17

Photo Credit: SEC Sports Media, East Carolina University Athletic Media Relations

Rose Bowl Picks

Pac-10 Insider Andrew Garda Says USC will win because....

For sure, both the Penn State Nittany Lions and the University of Southern California Trojans bring potent offenses and powerful defenses to the 2009 Rose Bowl. USC’s offense is ranked 14tt in total yards with Penn State right behind them at 15th. The Nittany Lions are ranked 10th in total points with 40.2 per game and while USC is a few spots behind with 37.5, they have been on a tear the last eight weeks, routing opponents 342 to 56. Both defenses are ranked high and stingy with points to the opposing team.

It’s the intangibles that may make the difference and only USC brings to the table a tremendous amount of experience in big games. USC has played in the national spotlight often--not just this season but seemingly every season this group has played for Coach Carroll. This will be the fourth straight BCS Bowl game this Trojan squad has been to – all Rose Bowls. This will be the seventh year in a row that USC has gone to a major Bowl game, including several for the National Championship.

Yes, Penn State Coach Joe Paterno has coached big games many times before, but it’s his players who will have to be the ones to perform under the pressure of a national spotlight, something they just have not done as often as the athletes on USC’s sideline.

When two teams are as close as USC and Penn State are on the field, it’s the intangibles that can make the difference in winning and losing. As I see it, many of the most important ones will land on USC’s side of the field and that will make all the difference in the end.

Plus, John Sears is picking Penn St. and he thought Northwestern was going to beat Missouri.

Big Ten Insider John Sears Says Penn State Will Win Because...

The Trojans’ only loss this year came at the hands of Oregon State, two weeks after Penn State had their way with the Beavers in a 45-14 romp. USC proved vulnerable when their between the tackles running was contained and when they were unable to control the time-of-possession (TOP) battle…both of those areas happen to be where Penn State thrives (first in the Big Ten in 32:02 TOP and rushing 212 yards/game). Unlike Ohio State, Penn State has complementary (and healthy) rushers with Royster and Green inside, as well as Daryll Clark and Derek Williams outside. Yes, the Trojans may be fast, but if the Nittany Lions can spread the field horizontally, they may find enough passing creases for their senior receiving corps to move the ball methodically. The question mark for Penn State will be their defense’s reaction to the Trojans’ run/pass balance and speed at the skill positions. Despite being built similarly to Ohio State defensively in their 4-3 scheme with strength at the linebacker position, Penn State can have success getting pass pressure without needing to blitz their linebackers (unlike Ohio State). So if Aaron Maybin, Josh Gaines and Maurice Evans are in Mark Sanchez’s earhole, Penn State will be in great position to maintain discipline with their linebackers and safeties in pursuit of USC’s talented backfield and receivers.

Easy call – while USC is already pushing the snooze button before kickoff, the all-time winningest coach is ready to tally one more victory onto his already-brilliant legacy.

Plus, Andrew Garda is picking USC and he thought Boise St. was going to beat TCU.

Photo Credit: College Press Box, USC, Penn St.

CFI Radio: Player Spotlights: Bowl Special

January 1, 2009 * 10:00 A.M.

CFI Co-Founder DANIEL MOGOLLON talks football and life with three of the top senior college football players in the America.

*** CLICK TO LISTEN OR DOWNLOAD **

Mississippi's MICHAEL OHER is an All-American Tackle who's off-field story is so compelling, he is the focus of "The Blind Side", a New York Times best seller written by Michael Lewis. Oher is playing the in the Cotton Bowl on January 2.

Georgia's MOHAMED MASSAQUOI is looking to break 1,0000 yards when his Dawgs take the field against the Michigan St. Spartans to break in the New Year. The son of Liberian immigrants talks about maturing as a leader during his time in Athens.

ECU's PATRICK PINKNEY has overcome two shoulder surgeries to earn the starting quarterback for the Pirates, leading East Carolina to a Conference USA Championship.

Photo Credit: SEC Sports Media

Rose Bowl: Penn State at USC

By JOHN SEARS/BIG TEN INSIDER & ANDREW GARDA/PAC-10 INSIDER

January 1st 2009* 4:30pm EST * ABC

In this year’s New Years Day match-up, #5 USC welcomes #6 Penn State to Pasadena for the 2009 Rose Bowl. Penn State hasn’t been here since 1995 while USC has played in the "Granddaddy of Them All" five times in the last six years. Both teams had overall great seasons, but fell short due to a single disappointing loss on the road and the fact that neither the Pac-10 nor the Big Ten were perceived as top conferences.

Head Coach Joe Paterno, already brandishing a legendary post-season legacy, visits Pasadena for the second time in his 43rd season with his sights set on an unprecedented 24th bowl game victory. But Penn State’s (11-1) decorated regular season as Big Ten co-champions somehow feels tarnished after a heart-breaking loss at Iowa, which all but eliminated the Nittany Lions’ hopes for a National Championship. If a Rose Bowl bid could ever be considered a wounded season, USC’s camp is finding its way to bring a little salt to the table, citing their desires to face steeper competition in the bowl season (eg, not the Big Ten). So this bowl game pits the Nittany Lions against an 11-1 USC in a classic Big-Ten/Pac-10 showdown – with both teams steeped in the tradition of winning (especially the big game) and coached by two college greats. And for Penn State, a little additional pressure is slowly converting into the 800-pound elephant in the room, which the Trojans attempted to address already on their own – the Big Ten’s diminishing reputation.

When the Trojans Have the Ball

Led by junior quarterback Mark Sanchez, the USC passing offense was 32nd in the nation in passing yards. Rumors abound that Sanchez may throw his name into the ring for this April’s NFL Draft and a good performance on this nationally televised stage would make his decision to depart a bit easier, and a lot more lucrative. Sanchez has played well this year but will need to bring his ‘A’ game against the 22nd ranked Nittany Lions defense, which has 16 interceptions to date. The Trojan quarterback is 11th in the nation with 30 touchdowns. His leading target is sophomore Arkansas transfer Damian Williams, who has 48 receptions for 707 yards with eight touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Patrick Turner is not far behind him with 45 catches for 667 yards and ten touchdowns. When USC isn’t moving the ball through the air, they'll be just fine utilizing the 17th ranked rushing offense in the nation. Lacking one single stud back, USC rotates tailbacks, often rolling with the hot hand. Sophomores Joe McKnight, CJ Gable and junior Stafon Johnson-all of whom totaled over 600 yards—are a formidable trio of toters. Gable has made some remarks about leaving USC for the NFL (Gable is a red-shirt sophomore and can enter the draft as he has been out of high school for three years) and like Sanchez, his decision may hinge upon putting forth a solid performance on a national stage. But with so many backs, USC’s run game sometimes seems to slip out of rhythm since no single back gets the bulk of the carries. Still, they move the ball well enough on the ground that Penn State’s solid defense will be unable to focus solely on the pass game. Given enough time, Sanchez and the offense can cut an opposing secondary to pieces and have outscored their opponents 342-56. Penn State coach Joe Paterno will need to make sure he keeps the adjustments coming in order to slow this offense down.

This year’s lesson learned for Penn State can come from Ohio State’s early season devastating loss at the hands of the Trojans. It was evident that USC held a superior advantage in team speed, which seems to be concentrated in their backfield. To this end, Penn State boasts the 9th ranked rush defense (98 yards/game) in the FBS, coming out of the run-focused Big Ten conference. The Nittany Lions’ front seven is anchored by playmaking defensive end (and Chuck Bednarik Award finalist) Aaron Maybin. Maybin obviously terrorizes offenses with his pass-rushing abilities, but also notched 19 tackles-for-loss and three forced fumbles. The best depth certainly comes from the end position, as Maybin was backed up by Maurice Evans and complemented on the left side by senior Josh Gaines. But Penn State’s 4-3 style defense tactically funnels runners to their ball-hawking linebacking corps -- the top three tacklers are the starting linebackers. Linebacker Navorro Bowman held mop up duty well, leading Penn State in tackles with 98 while stopping runners in the backfield with 11.5 tackles-for-loss. The captain of the secondary is undoubtedly senior free safety Anthony Scirrotto, placing fourth in tackles, but senior Lydell Sargeant leads the defense with four interceptions. The Nittany Lions’ secondary plays second-fiddle to the line and linebackers, and in order for defense to take control of USCs balanced pro-style offense, the front seven must be successful bringing down the Trojans’ ball carriers close to the line of scrimmage and pressuring Mark Sanchez with their front four.

When the Nittany Lions have the Ball

Penn State’s perfect storm of player development and seniority has led to an offensive as explosive as their celebrated 1994 campaign. The Nittany Lions took home number one honors in the Big Ten in scoring (11th in FBS), rushing (13th in FBS) and total offense (14th in FBS). Any preseason quarterback uncertainty quickly converted into production and efficiency right from Daryll Clark’s week one start. Clark’s development from athlete to passer was timely, and he has more than proved his efficiency with 26 total touchdowns versus only four interceptions. His ally has certainly been the ability of Evan Royster and Stephon Green to churn out over 1,700 yards on the ground, keeping defenses off balance. Royster’s style is based on consistency and slippery running between the tackles whereas Green is the home-run, breakaway vertical speed back. When Clark is charged with passing, his targets are plenty: the senior receiving crew consists of all-time school leader in receptions Deon Butler, the dependable route-runner Jordan Norwood, and the do-it-all playmaker Derrick Williams. Williams lines up at every skill position on offense, and provides game-breaking ability returning kickoffs and punts. Notwithstanding the playmakers and passing ability, the offense is still founded on solid rushing – if they can win without making a pass, despite lining up in the spread, they probably would.

USC’s defense is no slouch however—they've had three shutouts and have allowed more than ten points only once in the last nine games. The linebacker corps is led by Rey Maualuga and Brian Cushing who are both likely to be top picks in the NFL Draft this April, not to mention fellow senior Clay Matthews, one of the natino's most improved players. This trio will be a tough match-up for Royster and Clark. Not only does the USC defense smother the run, but they can also be tough on the pass game. However Clark’s ability to effectively run the ball as well as pass, might give USC some troubles and if they fail to adjust, could open things up for the Nittany Lions. Not many teams can throws safeties the ilk of junior free safety Taylor Mays, a Thorpe Award finalist and senior strong safety Kevin Ellison. Both check in at 230 pounds, can run and lay the lumber. Leading the line in the trenches is senior
Fili Moala, an immovable force who can also make plays with his ability to penetrate.

Final Analysis

These two teams will both come in with a chip on their shoulders as both feel they had a legitimate shot at the title game and have been hampered by the perception their conferences are nowhere near as good as the SEC and Big XII. In the end, though they are pretty evenly matched, USC has far more big game and major bowl experience and will likely find a way to stand up under pressure and come away with the win. Or... has USC is already pushing the snooze button before kickoff, the all-time winningest coach is ready to tally one more victory onto his already-brilliant legacy.

Penn State Nittany Lions (11-1, 7-1)
Pass: Daryll Clark – 2,319 yards, 17 TDs
Run: Evan Royster – 1,202 yards, 12 TDs
Catch: Deon Butler – 713 yards, 7 TDs

USC Trojans (11-1, 8-1)
Pass: Mark Sanchez – 2,794 yards, 30 TDs
Run: Joe McKnight – 646 yards, 2 TDs / Stafon Johnnson 642 yards, 9TDs
Catch: Damian Williams – 707 yards, 8 TDs

Photo Credit: College Press Box (Penn St. University, USC), Kirby Lee

Gator Bowl: Clemson vs. Nebraska

By JOSH BUCHANAN
January 1, 2009 * 1:00 PM * CBS

Clemson and Nebraska enter the Gator Bowl in an unexpected match-up as most felt Clemson would be in a BCS bowl before the season started. Clemson finished 7-5 overall and 4-4 in league play while Nebraska comes in 8-4 overall and 5-3 in the Big 12. After rollercoaster regular seasons, both schools need strong finishes to boost their programs heading into next season. Clemson enters this game unranked in both polls but is 19th in the Sagarin Rankings, while Nebraska is unranked and ranked 29th in the Sagarin.

When the Cornhuskers Have the Ball

The Cornhusker offense has been solid, led by senior QB Joe Ganz (3,332 yards, 23-10 ratio) and HM All-Big 12 RB Roy Helu (804 yards, seven touchdowns). While the offense has been fairly well-balanced, they are still a run first team anchored by 2nd team All-Big 12 RG Matt Slauson (6-5, 320) and HM All-Big 12 C Jacob Hickman (6-4, 290). Perhaps the biggest playmaker is senior WR Nate Swift (909 yards, nine touchdowns) who led the team in receiving. Senior WR Todd Peterson (690 yards, three touchdowns) was the #2 receiver and gave Ganz another solid target. Don’t be surprised to see Ganz, Slauson, Swift, Peterson, and backup RB Marlon Lucky (550 yards, seven touchdowns) in NFL training camps next fall. The Tiger defense has been a strong point giving up just 16.6 points, and less than 295 total yards per game. With two safeties likely to get drafted and two junior corners who have inquired about their draft status, it is no wonder that they have given up just 167.2 ypg passing this season. 1st team All-ACC SS Michael Hamlin (91 tackles, 6 INT, 7 PBU) brings great leadership and ball skills to the secondary. He is joined by FS Chris Clemons (2 INT, 3 PBU) and a pair of shutdown junior cover corners in Chris Chancellor (32 tackles, 4 INT, 3 PBU) and Crezdon Butler (40 tackles, 3 INT, 3 PBU). The defensive front has been a disappointment due to injuries to DE Ricky Sapp (25 tackles, 9.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks) who is out for the bowl game, DT Rashaad Jackson (8 tackles, 4 TFL, 2 sacks), and Jamie Cumbie. Their linebackers are young but could have a couple of potential stars in junior WLB Kavell Conner (91 tackles, 5.5 TFL) and freshman MLB Brandon Maye (66 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 2 sacks). Conner led the team in tackles and Maye has been mentioned as one of the top freshmen in the nation.

When Clemson Has the Ball

Clemson’s rushing attack is led by thunder and lightning. Second team All-ACC running back C.J. Spiller finished with 612 yards rushing and seven touchdowns in 11 games and James Davis (725 yards, 11 touchdowns) enters the postseason with a solid, but somewhat disappointing season compared to pre-season projections. Quarterback Cullen Harper has been bothered by injuries all season and finished with just 2,395 yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. His top target, 2nd team All-ACC wide out Aaron Kelly (61 catches, 648 yards, three touchdowns), didn’t quite live up to his preseason billing, but still had a solid season for the Tigers. Speedy slot wideout Jacoby Ford (50 catches, 598 yards, three scores) provides Harper with a secondary threat as he is able to take it to the house at any time. The offensive line is anchored by 2nd team All-ACC center Thomas Austin who, like Ford and Spiller, has sent his name to the NFL Advisory Board to inquire about his draft prospects. For the Nebraska defense, the strength is on the line where the Huskers boast three All-Big 12 performers in NT Ndamukong Suh (68 tackles, 15 TFL, 5.5 sacks), DE Zach Potter (43 tackles, 14 TFL, 5.5 sacks, 6 hurries), and DT Ty Steinkuhler (6 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 3 hurries). One of the underrated performers is sophomore DE Pierre Allen (50 tackles, 9 TFL, 4 sacks), who played just 10 games. The linebackers are considered the weak link on paper and must step up in order to help keep Spiller and Davis in check. Honorable Mention All-Big 12 SS Larry Asante (64 tackles, 1 INT, 4 PBU) headlines a secondary that finished #2 in the Big 12 (235.7) in pass defense in a year where the Cornhuskers finished in the middle of the pack in almost every other category.

Final Analysis

Something has to give in this game as Nebraska enters averaging 36.2 ppg while Clemson leads the ACC in scoring defense (16.6). Nebraska also boasts a solid run defense (125.8) and while you would think Clemson would expose it on paper, the Tigers only put up 120.5 ypg this year. Since the firing of Tommy Bowden, Dabo Swinney has led the Tigers to a 4-2 record, including three straight wins and a romping of rival South Carolina. Nebraska won their last three games after a loss to Oklahoma on November 1st. With two hot teams, this is an intriguing Gator Bowl that you just shouldn’t miss.

Nebraska Cornhuskers (8-4, 5-3)
Pass: Joe Ganz – 3,332 yards, 23 TDs
Run: Roy Helu Jr. – 804 yards, 7 TDs
Catch: Nate Swift – 909 yards, 9 TDs

Clemson Tigers (7-5, 4-4)
Pass: Cullen Harper – 2,395 yards, 11 TDs
Run: James Davis – 725 yards, 11 TDs
Catch: Aaron Kelly – 648 yards, 3 TDs

Photo Credit: Collegiate Images

Capital One Bowl: Georgia vs. Michigan State

By JOHN SEARS - BIG TEN INSIDER

January 1, 2008 * 1:00 * ABC

Both teams were impressive in their own right this year, but both fell short against elite competition. The Spartans’ were impressive, starting off with six wins in their first seven games, but Ohio State dominated them in East Lansing 45-7. Still, the Spartans had a chance to win the Big Ten title heading into the contest against Penn State to close the season. Destiny was dashed as the Nittany Lions rolled 49-18. Georgia failed to live up to lofty expectations and pre-season hype. Despite their strong start (4-0), the Bulldogs looked completely outmatched in a lopsided 41-30 (31-0 at half-time) loss to Alabama and were squashed 49-10 by Florida. Which of these teams seeking redemption will take home a quality win to polish up their tarnished season?

When the Bulldogs have the ball

Georgia finished 21st in the FBS in total offense, relying on the one-two punch of Matthew Stafford's passing and Knowshon Moreno's rushing. The Bulldogs are averaging 280 yards/game passing, yet Stafford only managed to find the end zone 22 times through the air. This speaks perhaps to the quarterback’s efficiency as he was near the top of the nation in passer rating (15th, 153.2). Stafford’s efficiency can be attributed to his ability to locate his tall receivers slicing through the opposing secondary – Georgia’s receivers average 6’2”. Mohamed Massaquoi and A.J. Green are Stafford’s top targets, and have combined for 112 receptions, 1,861 yards and 16 touchdowns in a pro-style offense. Both are athletic, gifted play-makers once they break into the secondary. Georgia is likewise blessed with play-making ability on the ground with sophomore star Moreno. He has demonstrated prototypical traits of a big-time running back, combining explosiveness, toughness, speed and agility to carve up defenses for 1,338 yards and 16 touchdowns this year.

When the Spartans have the ball

The outcome of any given contest for the Spartans weighs on the shoulders of running back Javon Ringer. He accounted for over 92% of the team’s rushing offense, which also accounted for nearly 65% of Michigan State’s total yards from scrimmage. Despite being undersized in frame (5’9”, 202 lbs), Ringer proved his durability as the focal point of the offense – he rushed an FBS leading 370 times, mostly between the tackles, while tallying 1,590 yards and a conference-best 21 touchdowns. Senior signal caller Brian Hoyer’s was disappointing (51% completion, 2,235 yards, nine touchdowns, eight interceptions) compared to his junior campaign. But the Spartans will not be out to fool Georgia in this one – Ringer and the rushing attack will remain the focal point right to the final whistle.

Final analysis

Georgia’s road to the Capital One Bowl seems much more impressive with victories over five bowl teams, and coming out of the tougher SEC. Michigan State does hold quality wins (Iowa, Northwestern, Wisconsin), but statistically shows neither the offensive nor defensive firepower to keep up with the Bulldogs. With Ringer and Moreno potentially canceling each other out on the ground, victory may simply come down whose quarterback plays better. Stafford gets the vote in the beauty contest, but is also favored heavily going against a mediocre Spartan pass defense which has given up 210 yards/game through the air so far this season.

Georgia Bulldogs (9-3, 5-3)
Pass: Mathew Stafford – 3,209 yards, 22 TDs
Run: Knowshon Moreno – 1,338 yards, 16 TDs
Catch: A.J Green – 951 yards, 8 TDs,
Mohamed Massaquoi – 910 yards, 8 TDs

Michigan State Spartans (9-3, 6-2)
Pass: Brian Hoyer – 2,235 yards, 9 TDs
Run: Javon Ringer – 1,590 yards, 21 TDs
Catch: Blair White – 628 yards, 1 TD

CFI Prediction: Georgia 36, Michigan State 20

Photo Credit: College Press Box (Michigan St.), SEC Sports Media