BCS National Championship Game Preview

Oregon vs. Auburn  

                I’m not really sure what I can say about these hasn’t already been said, but to me this game basically boils down to this: Can the Auburn defense slow down the Oregon offense enough for Auburn to win the game? Oregon likes to run their offense at warp-speed, getting up to the line and snapping the ball as fast as possible, by doing this, they limit the number of substitutions their opponents can make. This allows young quarterback Darron Thomas to make simple reads and decisions about whether or not he keeps the ball in the zone read option. Thomas is a dangerous runner, but the big play threat that got Oregon here has been LaMichael James and Kenjon Barner. Both of whom have excellent speed and are difficult to tackle in the open field. The Auburn defensive backs and linebacker must be able to wrap up James and Barner when given the opportunity. Also, as odd as it sounds, the linebackers and defensive backs cannot simply maintain their gap assignments and wait for the ball to come to them, because of the speed of the Oregon runners. Instead they must attack the running lanes before the runners have a chance to get the edge. However this means that the defensive backs must also be strong in coverage, as Oregon likes to use misdirection and play-action to help open up the passing game. Man coverage will help limit communications breakdowns in the secondary, but the misdirection plays will be difficult for the Auburn corners not to bite on. Auburn does have one major advantage in the play of Nick Fairley, who is almost unblockable one-on-one. He should be able to slow down the rushing offense by penetrating along the interior and forcing runs to bounce further outside than they should. This will give the linebackers and defensive backs more time to determine who has the ball and pursue that ball carrier.

Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl Preview

Nevada vs. BC

                On the eve of the BCS national title game, one of the best match-ups of offense versus defense that has been seen all year.

                Nevada, while known more for their upset of Boise State, has been a solid team for a number of years. They like to build their offense around the running of both Vai Taua and Colin Kaepernick; the zone read option being their play of choice. The thing that makes this unique as compared to every other team running the zone-read option, is the fact that they run out of the pistol formation. Nevada head coach Chris Ault was the innovator of the Pistol offense and has found numerous different ways to exploit opponents and get the absolute most out of his players when running in this offense. Taua provides a great deal of power and downhill running potential which is a great compliment to Kaepernick’s deceptive speed from the quarterback position. Both have rushed for over one thousand yards and combined for 39 touchdowns. However they will be challenged by the best run defense in the country. The Boston College defensive line is great at occupying blocks and allowing Luke Kueckly, Mark Herzlich and Kevin Pierre-Louis to roam and run freely to the ball-carrier. While they will need to be disciplined against the zone-read option they must also be disciplined against the play-action. Kaepernick is very good at ball-faking and has a strong enough arm to stretch the ball downfield. Nifty receiver Rishard Mathews and tight end Virgil Green are good at stretching the field and the Boston College secondary is prone to biting on play-fakes.

                The Boston College offense will be benefitted by the return of runningback and offensive focal point Montel Harris. Harris and backup Andre Williams need to see a lot of carries in this game because true freshman quarterback Chase Rettig is far from the best decision maker. Also, while Nevada’s secondary occasionally has issues locating the ball in flight, Boston College receivers aren’t particularly athletic and will need to use their moves to create separation. Even then, the pass should be used only to move the chain on third downs. Though Harris and Williams have been effective, they may have a hard time moving the ball against the athletic and active Nevada defense.

Prospects to Watch

                Nevada

                                Dontay Moch – Defensive End/Outside Linebacker: Moch has really been an underrated story through the course of the season in college football. In the past three years (2008-to this game), Moch has racked up 59.5 tackles for loss (63 for his career) and 26.5 sacks. That kind of production is just plain great. While he may not wow anyone with his size (though he is the prototypical size you’d like to have for an outside linebacker/defensive end), his speed off the first step is top-notch. He has a great motor when pursuing the quarterback and has great range against the run. He’s the kind of player who can who can chase a runningback out of bounds when they try to break their run to the outside. However, he is not a particularly strong player. He struggles to anchor himself against runs and can be locked out by bigger tackles. He will probably need to be moved to outside linebacker regardless of which team drafts him. He has the range to be a good coverage player, but is inexperienced in that role and would fit better in a 3-4. Look for him to go between the 3^rd and 5^th round.

                BC

                                Anthony Castonzo – Offensive Tackle: While Castonzo lacks ideal bulk and may never be the kind of mauler in the run game that some teams may want; he is still a top-end pass protector. His long arms make it difficult for opposing rushers to get around him and he has the ability to move and engage those rushers if they don’t try a double move. He generally uses good technique and has great awareness to pass off rushers and identify blitzers. However he does occasionally over-extend and will engage the first rusher he sees, making him a bit more vulnerable to delayed blitzes. His run blocking is less than stellar and he can stop his feet on occasion. He’ll need to work on these technique flaws, but has shown that he is a hard enough worker to correct these mistakes. He is projected to go between the late first and early second round.

Final Pick

                Nevada – Colin Kaepernick is a great asset within Nevada’s offense while Craig Rettig is still a detriment to the Boston College offense. 

BBVA Compass Bowl Preview

Pittsburgh vs. Kentucky  

                Kentucky’s offense has to go through runningback Derrick Locke if they want a chance to win this game. Regular starting quarterback Mike Hartline has been suspended for an off-the-field incident that took place in early December and now the Wildcats have to count on Morgan Newton to lead their passing offense. Newton is nowhere near the kind of passer that Hartline is. His accuracy is not where it should be to face this kind of defense, which does well against the pass by rushing the passer and forcing the opposing quarterback into making bad decisions. If the Wildcats passing offense is going to get into into any sort of a rhythm, they’re going to need to get Newton some easy completions early and protect Newton from the pass rush of Pittsburgh. This will mean limited touches down the field for talented wideout Randall Cobb. Kentucky offensive coordinator Randy Sanders will need to find creative ways to get the ball into Cobb’s hands to pull some of the pressure off of Locke and Newton, who is a good runner. If they can find ways to get Locke and Cobb in space with the ball, Kentucky may be able to find a way to move the ball consistently against a less than stellar tackling secondary of the Pittsburgh Panthers.

                On the other side, Pitt has a pair of small, but dangerous runners in Dion Lewis and Ray Graham. Both have the ability to find lanes behind their big offensive line. Also the Kentucky defenders have a hard time gaining leverage and getting off blocks. They need to be able slowdown that running game, because they would have a better chance of forcing turnovers against starting quarterback Tino Sunseri, who has made questionable decisions in the past and is young enough to be confused by rotating coverage looks. However that may not be enough against the talents of Johnny Baldwin, who can knife through zone coverage like no-one else and is difficult to match-up with man-on-man. Corners Randall Burden and Anthony Mosley are also going to need to show great discipline against the passing game, because the Panthers like to use double moves to take advantage of the great speed of Baldwin.

Prospects to Watch

                Pittsburgh

                                Johnny Baldwin – Wide Receiver: While Baldwin still needs to work a bit on his separation skills; he is an elite prospect who reminds me a little bit of Randy Moss in his skill set. He has natural hands and dominant long speed, made easier by his long striding legs. He effortlessly tracks the ball in the air and is big enough to win 99% of the jump ball. He is also a strong competitor and has the frame to eat-up opposing corners in run blocks. He could be more consistent in this area, but with his ability to just quickly eat up off-coverage, this is a minor issue. Baldwin should go solidly in the first round, as long as he comes out.

 

                Kentucky

                                Derrick Locke – Runningback: Locke is woefully undersized, but he brings great speed and open field talents. He also has great explosiveness and quickness that should help any team looking for a good change of pace back. Locke also has experience returning kicks and is dangerous in that aspect of the game as well adding to his stock. He may never be a starting runningback, but he can certainly contribute to special teams and give an occasional big play to the offense. He could go in the 7^th round if he tests well.

Final Pick

                Pittsburgh – Regardless of how many times I am wrong, I think losing the starting quarterback is just too damaging for a team to make up for. Pittsburgh will take advantage of that fact to beat down on Newton and the Wildcats. 

Cotton Bowl Preview

LSU vs. Texas A&M  

                LSU’s offense is fairly one-dimensional, relying on the run far more than the pass. Stevan Ridley is their most complete back and is generally the focus of the grind-it-out running game. However, Texas A&M has had one of the best run defenses in the country, led linebackers Michael Hodges and Garrick Williams, both of whom are great wrap up tacklers. Playing the straight power game may not be enough to wear out the Aggies defense. LSU will need to mix up the power and speed game in order to keep the Aggie defense on its heels. Explosive utility man Russell Shepard should see more carries in this game. LSU could also use wide receiver screens, jet sweeps and designed quarterback running plays (with either Jordan Jefferson or Jarrett Lee) to keep the Aggie defense confused. However, they can’t be forced into throwing the ball too much. Jefferson and Lee have struggled when asked to put the ball into the air too much and either one struggle further if forced to read where Von Miller is coming from. Additionally, the Texas A&M secondary is opportunisitic and can take advantage of any mistakes the Lee, Jefferson and their receivers (Terrence Toliver, Rueben Randle and tight end Deangelo Peterson) make. All of the receivers will need to make a point of hanging on to the ball when it gets to them.

                The Texas A&M offense faces perhaps their toughest test of the season against the tough and athletic LSU defense. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill is quick and fast enough to be a threat with his legs, complimenting the effective running of runningback Cyrus Gray. However they face an athletic front seven in LSU’s defense and they may have a hard time outrunning both the defensive line and the linebackers. In their favor though, those athletic defensive lineman and linebackers are often overrunning their assignments, leaving gap for the runners of Texas A&M to exploit. The real wildcard in this running game will be the Aggies ability to get wide receiver Ryan Swope involved in the option game. Swope is a dangerous runner when given space. He’s also not afraid to work the middle of the field in the passing game. He is complimented on the outside by Jeff Fuller, who is really good at getting behind the defense and getting big plays there. However, the Aggies shouldn’t plan on a lot of big plays. They’re facing one of the most dominating secondarys in college football. Corners Patrick Peterson and Morris Claiborne are able to shut any wide receiver down through use of their strong man-to-man coverage. Both are also a threat to turn any turnover into six at any time. When you add this to the strong pass rush of the Tigers defensive line, you have a dangerous combination that Tannehill must be aware of.

Prospects to Watch

                LSU

                                Patrick Peterson – Cornerback: Arguably the premier corner prospect in this year’s draft, Peterson combines great size and speed. He is better in press man coverage than zone, however he has the range and ability to turn that allows him to be complete a corner. Probably his best asset is his ability to locate and make plays on the ball. He has above average hands and is a dangerous threat when he has the ball in his hands. He also is a pretty good run defender, though he needs to do a better job protecting his feet from cut blocks. He is likely a top fifteen (possibly top five) pick.

                Texas A&M

                                Von Miller – Defensive End/Outside Linebacker: Miller is an outstanding 3-4 outside linebacker prospect. His great talent to going forward, rushing the passer. He has an explosive first step and is great at anticipating the snap count. He can bend his hips and rip under the outstretched hands of offensive tackles and has a dangerous spin move. His size does leave him a bit lacking in his ability to anchor against the run, but he can run down most plays from behind and has great range going sideline to sideline. He can occasionally take poor angles, but is otherwise a solid tackler. He is ok is short zone coverage, not someone you want matched-up man-to-man against tight ends or slot receivers. His pass rush ability will get him drafted in the top 20 picks.

Final Pick

                LSU – Their defense is just too dominating in my opinion to get beat by the younger offense of the Aggies. 

GoDaddy.com Bowl Preview

Middle Tennessee State vs. Miami (Ohio)

                Considering the explosive players that each team brings to the table, this game will probably be surprisingly low scoring and defensive.

                Miami (Ohio) has been the turnaround story of the year in college football, having gone from winning just one game last year to winning the Mid-American conference this year. However, this season has also been littered with changes. Regular starting quarterback Zac Dysert was lost with three games left in the season to a lacerated spleen and backup Austin Boucher had to step in to take the reins. He did a good job, limiting his mistakes and letting Thomas Merriweather pound the rock, which helped lead the Redhawks to their MAC title. In this match-up against an opportunistic Middle Tennessee State secondary, that running game has to be the focal point of the Redhawks offense. They did finish the season 114^th in the country in rushing offense, but in their last three games they rushed for 537 yards. They should be able to keep the roll up against the undersized Blue Raider’s rush defense. Defensive Tackles Dwight Smith and Jarrett Crittenton struggle to play with good pad level and get driven off the ball with relative ease. If the Redhawks can drive those defenders off the ball consistently and keep the excellent pass rushers, featuring defensive end Jamari Lattimore, hesitating, they’ll allow Austin Boucher to throw the short and intermidate passes with little trouble. However, that pass rush is formidable and will be facing a less than stellar pass blocking offensive line. There is a very high probability that if the Redhawks try to rely too heavily on the pass, that Boucher will have defenders in his face all night. Not matter how good receivers Nick Harwell and Armand Robinson are, they will not be effective if Boucher is on the ground the whole time.

                On the other hand, Middle Tennessee State’s quarterback Dwight Dasher has been a dangerous force both on the ground and through the air since returning from the four game suspension he started the season serving. He and Phillip Tanner have combined to be a dangerous rushing combination, taking advantage of their speed to make teams pay when they get to the outside. They face a tough battle in this game against the nation’s nineteenth best run defense. Defensive tackles Austin Brown and Jordain Brown are great at maintaining good pad level and redirecting blocks through good hand use. Their good play also gives instinctive and athletic linebackers Evan Harris and Jerrell Wedge space to move to attack the outsides. The Blue Raiders have to be able to cover up their defenders and give Dasher and Tanner space to maneuver. Short and intermediate pass will help loosen that stingy Redhawks run defense. However in order to do that, they’re going to need to be able to protect Dwight Dasher and design plays that can get him out of the pocket. Dasher is 5-10 and when he is confined to the pocket, his decision making has suffered. If the Redhawks are able to hem him into the pocket and make him read the coverage from there, they’ll have an opportunity to cause turnovers. Though they will need to make sure that they can tackle well in the open field because the Blue raider receivers have shown the ability to break tackles and create after the catch.

Prospects to Watch

                Middle Tennessee State

                                Jamari Lattimore – Defensive End/Outside Linebacker: Lattimore doesn’t have the size to lineup along the line, but he has shown more than enough quickness and agility to survive in the NFL as a 3-4 outside linebacker. His 14 tackles for a loss and 11.5 sacks earned him Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year honors. I am aware that doesn’t count for much in the NFL, since the level of competition wasn’t that great. However, being a good pass rusher garners plenty of attention for teams that use a rotation at outside linebacker. He has elite quickness, but relies heavily on that quickness and his ability to and bend around blockers. He may have trouble if he gets locked out by bigger tackles. He has a chance to get drafted in the 6^th or 7^th round.

                Miami (Ohio)

                                Armand Robinson – Wide Receiver: While his size and strength are average, Robinson has above average speed and amazing consistency. Level of competition hurts his stock, but teams are always looking for consistent, fast receivers. He has chance in the last day of the draft, between rounds 6-7.

Final Pick

                Middle Tennessee State – There has just been more stability with this team and they are able to counter what Miami does well. 

Sugar Bowl Preview

Ohio State vs. Arkansas

                When you really sit down and think about it, this quarterback could’ve happened at the end of every Big Ten season. Remember that Ryan Mallett started his career at Michigan. However, sadly for the Michigan fans, Mallett decided to leave with Lloyd Carr. Now they get to see what could have been.

                Ohio State has a good thing going for them with Terrelle Pryor at quarterback. Pryor is a good runner and can be an excellent passer. If he is given a crease to run, he’ll burn a defense that way, but if the box is stacked to prevent his running, he’ll pick apart the opposing defense with solid passing. Having DeVier Posey and Dane Sanzenbacher at receiver is a great help, since both are solid receivers who can break big plays if left in single coverage. The times when Pryor has struggled are when he feels like he is being pressured but he actually isn’t. It’s not so much a matter of needing to sack him on every other play, but Arkansas needs to make him feel like he is being pressured without actually sacrificing players in coverage to pressure him. Using defensive line stunts and zone blitzes should accomplish this goal. However, the Razorbacks still need to be able to account for Dan Herron, the Buckeyes runningback. Ohio State has done a good job running the ball out of multiple sets and formations making their run offense very difficult to scheme against. This is a major advantage that the Ohio State has over the less than stellar run defense of Arkansas. Arkansas does have a good secondary and could limit the passing game, however if Ohio State is pounding the rock for the majority of the game, they may not matter. They also have an advantage in special teams, where they feature dynamic returner Jordan hall, facing the 111^th ranked kick return defense. Expect the Buckeyes to have a field position advantage for most of the game.

                 Ryan Mallett really isn’t that different from Pryor as a passer. Yes, Mallett can certainly be a more polished passer than Pryor, however much like Pryor, Mallett struggles to adjust to the blitz and makes mistakes when he is pressured. Ohio State does a good job pressuring the quarterback and picking off passes with a veteran secondary. The Arkansas offense needs to be able to back the pressure off with quick short passes and strong running before trying to take shots downfield. Knile Davis, a big 220-pound runner needs to be the focal point of the offense early. Arkansas has a bit of a size advantage on the slightly smaller Ohio State run defense and the Ohio State linebackers, most notably Ross Homan have a hard time getting off blocks. If Arkansas can get physical up front and ram the ball down Ohio State’s throat, the way Bobby Petrino used to set up the pass at Louisville, then they can use play-action passes to open the field and give receivers like Cobi Hamilton, Jarius Wirght and Joe Adams a chance to make plays down field. Tight end DJ Williams will also be a great asset over the middle. It won’t as easy as it sounds though, Ohio State does a good job anchoring against the run and allowing their linebackers to attack runningbacks untouched.

Prospects to Watch

                Ohio State

                                Cameron Heyward – Defensive End: Considered one of the better defensive end prospects coming into the year, Heyward has fallen some during the course of the season. He hasn’t shown the kind of speed he needs to consistently pressure the passer and he has been inconsistent in his level of play, though not apparently due to lack of effort. To his credit he does have very good measurable, though he could stand to add some bulk. He plays with sound technique and is good at anchoring against the run. He is also good at using his hands and change of speed to exploit creases in the offensive line. He doesn’t have the versatility to play outside linebacker in a 3-4, which really hurts his value, but he does have the techinique advantage to play as complete defensive end in a 3-4. He will likely go between the late first and early second rounds, in spite of the flaws in his pass rush technique.

                Arkansas

                                Demarcus Love – Offensive Tackle:  While Love has shown the ability to play both on the right and the left, his athleticism lends itself more to playing right tackle than left. He can be beat by elite pass rushers, but otherwise is instinctive and has sound technique in pass blocking.  He is also a good run blocker, as long as he stays in-line. He often whiffs on blocks at the second level (linebackers). Teams that use a zone blocking scheme are not going to be high on him, but he can fit in with a team that prefers to maul opposing defenses. His sound technique in both run and pass blocking are difficult to ignore, though the same is true for his lack of ideal athleticism. He’ll probably go between the middle second round and the 5^th round, depending on his testing results.

Final Pick

                Arkansas – The Big Ten is an old school conference, which has led to its terrible bowl record this year. Big Ten teams are built to play other Big Ten Teams, not the more athletic and cutting edge teams from other conferences. SEC teams are especially good at beating on teams like Ohio State. I’m not going to try and get cute here. The more athletic Arkansas team wins. 

Orange Bowl Preview

Stanford vs. Va. Tech  

                This game features two of the best quarterbacks in college football right now; Andrew Luck and Tyrod Taylor. While both will get a lot of publicity and are important to their respective team winning the game, they aren’t the key to their respective team winning the game. That would be the running game, which both teams excel at.

                Andrew Luck may get a lot of the publicity for Stanford, but everything he does is based off the balanced provided by Stanford’s potent running game. Stepfan Taylor and Anthony Wilkerson have done a good job of making the loss of Toby Gerhart not hurt as much as it would hurt other teams. Both are very effective in the scheme that offensive coordinator David Shaw likes to use. Shaw likes to use multiple formations and shifts to dictate what how the defense needs to defend against the Stanford attack, notable using a lot power and weak counter plays (A weak counter is when an offense loads up one side of the offensive line with extra blockers like tight ends, then runs a counter play to the opposite side). This philosophy could make it difficult for the Virginia Tech Hokies to accurately predict where the ball is going and attack the ball with their athleticism. Defensive Ends Steven Friday and Chris Drager have had a hard time setting the edge and anchoring against the run. They’re much better at rushing the quarterback. Due to this deficiency, it could be hard for Va. Tech defensive coordinator to stick to his normal defensive scheme of allowing his safeties to play back to prevent big plays. He may have to push them closer to defend the run, though blitzing his linebackers to the weak side of the offensive line may work just as well. Either way he may need to leave his corners on islands to defend against the pass. That could end up working out fairly well though, as corner Rashad Carmichael and Jayron Hosley have shown that are quite capable of playing on islands. This should be doubly true against wide receivers Doug Baldwin and Ryan Whalen, who are good at route running, but not game breakers. It also won’t Stanford that Virginia Tech is very good a rushing the quarterback and forcing throws. However, Andrew Luck doesn’t have the publicity for nothing. He does a good job going through his reads and knows how to react to pressure. The Hokie pass rush must rattle him in the pocket so make force throws into coverage.

                The Virginia Tech offensive line may not be the most physical line in the country, but they play sound assignment football. They are able to locate and cover up opposing defenders with little problem. This helps the runningback trio of Ryan Williams, David Wilson and Darren Evans, all of whom have great vision and quickness in finding at hitting a hole at full tilt. Stanford runs a 3-4 defense with overly enthusiastic outside linebacker/defensive ends, Chase Thomas and Thomas Keiser, who have a tendency to get too far upfield in run defense, which leaves a crease between them and their defensive linemen. Giving these runningbacks a crease is a bad idea, because they can rip off big chunks of yards in any given play. The dual-threat that is Tyrod Taylor helps out that running game by drawing at least one defender to spy him. In a pinch the Hokies can use a zone-read option to make opponents pick between stopping him and stopping the runningback. Taylor’s only real weakness is that he doesn’t throw as well from inside the pocket. Stanford needs to be able to contain him in the pocket in order to reduce his effectiveness in the passing game, making the Va. Tech offense one dimensional. However with Keiser and Thomas over-running the run, there will be a lot of opportunities for Taylor to break contain and make throws on the run. If he is on the outside, it will be hard for the Stanford secondary to simply stay with their receivers and not leave their assignments to come up in run support. However if he is kept within the pocket, the secondary can stay with their assignments and take advantage of a less than perfect pocket passer.

Prospects to Watch

                Stanford

                                Andrew Luck – Quarterback: While I have many doubts about his ability to succeed at the next level with so little experience, Luck certainly has a lot of tangibles going in his favor. He has good arm strength and touch, displays an ability to look off safeties and make proper reads. His best asset is his ability to make subtle moves in the pocket that extends plays, the same thing Tom Brady is praised for. However he is not a prefect prospect. He also has a tendency to throw the ball of balance and place too much trust in his arm strength. That last one is probably the most dangerous thing that a quarterback prospect can do. It leads to those quarterbacks forcing the ball into coverage believing that they can just out-throw the coverage, but it doesn’t work in the NFL. Mark Sanchez is a quarterback I saw do this a lot in college and, while he is winning in the NFL, he’s also on a team that can make up for his mistakes while he grows out of those tendencies. Luck may not get on a team that can make up for those mistakes. Luck’s physical talents make him a top 5 pick, and he is likely to come out since there is  good chance Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh will be leaving following this game, but I’m not entirely convinced that he’ll be successful in the NFL.

                Va. Tech

                                Rashad Carmichael – Cornerback: Rashad ‘Rock’ Carmichael follows DeAngelo Hall, Jimmy Williams, Brandon Flowers, Victor “Macho” Harris and Stephen Virgil in a line of solid cornerback prospects to come out of Virginia Tech. While Carmichael is under-sized and needs to work on his tackling technique, he is also very fast and has good ball skills. He has experience in both zone and man coverage, though he is better in man than zone. That goes a long way to getting him drafted because he can fit into any scheme, though you don’t want him to be matched up against bigger receivers in the end-zone. He also has good change of direction skills, good acceleration and is willing to mix it up in run defense. He should be drafted in the third round, but definitely has second round skills.

Final Pick

                Virginia Tech – Since losing to James Madison in their second game of the season, Virginia Tech has been underestimated. I think the staples of Beamer ball, strong defense, strong running and good special teams will be on show in this game and the athleticism of Virginia Tech will be more than enough to counter the trickery of Stanford. 

Fiesta Bowl Preview

UConn vs. Oklahoma

                UConn’s offense goes through their running game. Jordan Todman is one of the more underrated runningbacks in the country and works well within the offensive scheme that UConn runs. UConn likes to use a lot of plays that involve a pulling guard and power fullback to open up holes to the outside and give Todman a lot of space to run. This type of offense does give the fast Oklahoma defensive front a chance to shoot through the holes created by those pulling guards and disrupt the play in the backfield. UConn needs to be able to dial up other plays that takes advantage of the over aggressiveness of the Oklahoma defense, allowing those defenders to overrun the play, leaving a seam for Todman to exploit. If the running game is going strong, it gives Zach Frazer, who doesn’t play well under pressure a chance to utilize play-action passes and open up opportunities for Michael Smith down the field. Smith can beat the Oklahoma safeties when they bite on play-action so the running game has to be there. If not, Zach Frazer will have a long day with a lot of pressure in his face.

                Oklahoma uses a wide range of formations and motion to try and locate the best match-up to exploit in their passing and rushing game. They should have a relatively easy time locating those types of mismatches playing against Connecticut, who favors keeping their base defense in against spread looks. The logic in that move is that if Oklahoma starts runningback DeMarco Murray out at receiver then motion him back into the backfield, they won’t be short a solid run defender when he is given the ball. However this strategy gives the Sooners a huge advantage if they just choose to play their spread offense as a straight passing offense. The UConn linebackers don’t have the range or speed to match up against DeMarco Murray or Ryan Broyles in space. The only chance UConn has at disrupting this potent passing attack is to bring consistent and constant pressure at Landry Jones. The Oklahoma offensive line has had hard time gelling this season and is prone to blowing their assignments and letting free rushers loose. If UConn doesn’t let themselves get caught up in the misdirection plays Oklahoma uses to try and mask this weakness, they should be able to force Jones’ hand. Hopefully they can get turnovers off this because they aren’t going to succeed by just dropping seven.

Prospects to Watch

                UConn

                                Lawrence Wilson – Linebacker: Wilson is an athletic linebacker who uses his speed to roam from sideline to sideline. He does a good job locating the ball and wrapping up when he tackles. However his athleticism is somewhat limited by NFL standards and he isn’t likely to be seen running down the seam with an athletic tight end. He doesn’t have the strength to shed in phone booth (close quarters) situations and can be overwhelmed. However his has active hands and quick feet which he can use to help him slip blocks and make plays in the backfield. He’ll be drafted on the last day; the athleticism makes him a good candidate to be a special teams ace.

                Oklahoma

                                Quinton Carter – Safety: While not someone you want to line up near the line of scrimmage, Quinton Carter is a rangy safety who can change direction easily and isn’t afraid to mix it up with bigger runners or receivers. He has good closing burst, which helps him when he plays man-to-man against wide receivers or tight ends. His ball skills are just average. He should be drafted sometime between the second and third round.

Final Pick

                Oklahoma – I’ll be routing for UConn, however it’s just not the smart pick here. Oklahoma has a huge speed advantage on UConn and that goes a long way to securing wins in the college game. 

Rose Bowl Preview

Wisconsin vs. TCU

                Wisconsin loves to use their physicality to push opposing defense around. They excel to isolation blocking and use their size advantage to maul opposing defenses into the ground. The runningback trio of John Clay, James White and Montee Ball provide a good mix of talents and game breaking ability.  Clay is a pounder, White is more of a burner (though a tough runner in his own right) and Ball is a bit of a mix between the two. Wisconsin hopes to run right at the undersized defensive front of the Horned Frogs. However, the Wisconsin offensive line has had problems protecting their legs and the athletic TCU defenders can run past the mauling offensive linemen if they aren’t sound in their assignments. This makes the play calling of offensive coordinator Paul Chryst all the more important. Chryst usually does a good job of mixing the passing game into the running game that Wisconsin uses. That most often comes in the form of screens and quick passes that favor the skills of their wide receivers most notable Nick Toon. Quarterback Scott Tolzien is very effective at working those routes and works well within his skills set.

                TCU also focuses heavily on their running but they prefer to use the zone-read option to open up holes for the athletic Andy Dalton and speedy Ed Wesley and Matt Tucker. Wesley is a slippery and dangerous open field runner, while Tucker pounds the rock in the middle. Dalton is a good runner, but not an elite running quarterback. It’s enough, however to help open up the underneath passing route that Dalton excels at exploiting. If he can get passes off to Jeremy Kerley in space, then the Wisconsin defense will be in trouble because Kerley excels in space and is also one of the most dangerous return men in the country. Kerley’s explosiveness in both passing game and (especially) in the return game should give TCU the field position advantage. Wisconsin is one of the worst punt and kick coverage teams in the country. Wisconsin does feel like they have an advantage defensively however, because their defensive ends play disciplined football and it allows them to just drop seven into coverage, where they feel like they can take away Dalton’s ability to throw the ball. However Dalton can take the ball up the middle in those cases and keep the chains moving.

Prospects to Watch

                Wisconsin

                                Gabe Carimi – Offensive Tackle: The guy who replaced Joe Thomas at Wisconsin, Carimi has been a solid replacement and he is a solid prospect. He drives defenders off the ball consistently in the run game and knows how to adjust to blitzers in the passing game. He does show some fundamental weaknesses though, like not sinking his hips enough to gain leverage, not staying low when run blocking and getting too much depth on his stick step, allowing pass rushers to build steam getting to him. However a lot of this can be coached away and his consistent durability should be enough to get him drafted. The only real question will be whether he goes in the late first round or in the early second round.

                TCU

                                Marcus Cannon – Offensive Tackle/Guard: this is a definite case of having all the tools but appearing to not have the ability to use them properly. Cannon has the ability to mirror most pass rushers, maul defenders in run blocking and knows how to lock out defenders once he gets set. However more elite pass rushers can beat him and he occasionally gets lost in picking up blitzes and stunts. He doesn’t adjust well when he gets surprised and there are questions about how well he’ll be able to pick up complex NFL schemes. He’ll get drafted because he’s a work hard guy with talent, but those questions about his ability to handle the mental side of the game will keep him in the late third or early fourth round of the draft.

Final Pick

                TCU – The best defense in the country is not an illusion. They will be able to shut down everything Wisconsin throws at them. 

Gator Bowl Preview

Mississippi State vs. Michigan

                Mississippi State’s offense is built off their strong running game. Runningbacks Vick Ballard and LaDarius Perkins are both quick runners with the ability to turn the corner and shift into another gear once they find some space. They also do a good job pressing the line and bouncing the ball to the outside once linebackers and safeties have been sucked to the middle. They’re helped by quarterback Chris Relf’s own athleticism and ability to punish a defense and designed quarterback runs. Mcihigan’s run defense gets a boost with the return of nose tackle Mike Martin, but he relies heavily on his quickness to penetrate and disrupt plays in the backfield. Against the mauling offensive line of Mississippi State, he could have a problem finding success. Michigan’s linebackers also have some problems in getting swept up in blocks and staying in their lanes. Mississippi State is not a great passing team, but Michigan can’t simply stack the box with a safety to stop the run. Relf tends to lock on his receiver when in the pocket but he excels in getting out from the pocket and zipping the ball into his receivers from there. He will be without his top two receivers (both of whom are injured) but slot receiver Brandon Heavens is good enough to produce against an undisciplined and inexperienced Michigan pass defense. If the linebackers for Michigan don’t get deep enough in their drops, they’ll have a hard time contain Heavens, Chris Smith and Arceto Clark. Ballard and Perkins are also good pass catchers and could be featured to help draw the defense up and give more space for Heavens. The Mississippi State offensive line matches-up well against the Michigan pass rush.

                On the flip side, Michigan’s offense depends almost entirely on the play of quarterback Denard Robinson, who should be healthy for this game. Robnison’s running is the ey to the Michigan offense and he needs to be able to break off a few big runs against a tough Mississippi State defense. If he can do that through the use of the zone read option, then Michigan’s offense can open up somewhat. Runningbacks Michael Shaw and Vincent Smith are capable runners and compliment Robinson’s talents very well. They should be able to keep the Mississippi State defense spread thin when Robinson is running the ball. However, The Bulldog linebackers, Chris White and KJ Wright are very athletic who are good at wrapping up on tackles. Also, the offensive line of Michigan is inconsistent in their blocking assignments, a trait they have to overcome when facing the powerful defensive line of Mississippi State. Robinson has a group of receivers who should be able to find the seams in the Bulldogs zone defense; however that won’t be of any help if Mississippi State is pushing the pocket with their front four and not overcompensating for Robinson’s ability to run. Like I said earlier, Robinson needs to break off a few big runs for this offense to take off.

Prospects to Watch

                Mississippi State

                                Pernell McPhee – Defensive End: Pernell McPhee is a prospect to watch going into the evaluation season following the end of the regular football season. He is a JUCO transfer that has amazing strength and pretty good speed. He’s not fast enough to consistently beat blockers around the edge, but his strength is so great that he can shove the offensive tackle back into the quarterback. He doesn’t have a large variety of pass rush moves and doesn’t have the versatility to be successful standing up. He anchors well against the run and knows how to set the edge against the run. He may be a bit behind in terms of technique, but he has played elite competition and can play defensive end in either 4-3 or a 3-4. That kind of versatility solidifies him as a 3^rd round talent for next year’s draft.

                Michigan

                                Steve Schilling – Offensive guard: Schilling has solid pass blocking technique. He has shown a good feel for when he needs to pass off pass rushers and has a good punch to stop the momentum of on-coming pass rushers. However he isn’t very bulky and struggles to run block. He gives up too much leverage and doesn’t drive defenders off the ball. His awareness also seems to drop, once he is asked to go on the move and drive a defensive lineman off the ball. He is likely to be drafted in the fourth to sixth round.

Final Pick

                Mississippi State – Robinson is a dangerous force, in the Big Ten. I don’t think he’ll do enough of what he needs to do to beat Mississippi State. 

Capital One Bowl Preview

Alabama vs. Michigan State

                Alabama’s offense has a major fundamental flaw in their game, the inconsistency of their offensive line. So much of what the Crimson Tide has done offensively is dependent on their offensive line playing well. They certainly have the ability to run the ball well whether their offensive line is play well or not, but the threat of passing is lessened when the offensive line can’t protect well against blitzes or active defensive lineman. That allows the defense to stack the box against the run, regardless of how talented the receivers are. Alabama runningbacks Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson are good at running behind their pads and punishing opposing tacklers. However their top end speed can be beat by the quick, athletic linebacker and defensive lineman that Michigan State has. However, Michigan State’s linebacker shave a tendency to overrun plays, which allow seams that Ingram and Richardson can take advantage of. Greg McElroy is still an effective quarterback, but he has always been more of a game manager than a game changer. He knows how to work the underneath routes and keep the chains moving on short passes, but if he is getting pressured consistently, he’ll have a hard time not floating the ball on his passes over the middle. It also doesn’t help that Michigan State defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi likes to mix up the looks he gives opposing quarterbacks.

                Michigan State’s offense revolves around the strong running of runningbacks Edwin Baker, Le’Veon Bell and Larry Caper. Baker is explosive and has a low center of gravity, making him tough to take down, while Bell has good size and speed and Caper is a reliable role player. However they face one of the best run defense in the country, with talented players like Marcell Dareus and Don’t’a Hightower leading the charge against the opposing runningbacks. Dareus is great at controlling the line of scrimmage and allowing Hightower and CJ Mosley to run to the ball. However if Alabama becomes too overzealous in their pursuit of the running game, they’ll allow a good quarterback in Kirk Cousins to pick apart their secondary. While Alabama did have the third most interception in the country this past year and has a ball-hawking safety in Robert Lester, they are also missing their other great safety, Mark Barron. With Barron gone, Lester is the most consistent defensive back they have playing right now and that cause problems against Cousins, who can find the seams against zone coverage. Alabama needs to be able to pressure Cousins into making mistakes.

Prospects to Watch

                Alabama

                                Julio Jones – Wide Receiver: Julio Jones is the definition of a big play waiting to happen. Jones has great speed and a long stride that helps him accelerate quickly. He also has good hands, but he can be inconsistent when trying to catch in traffic. He needs to be more disciplined in catching the ball away from his frame and tracking the deep ball. Also, his route running is not as crisp as it could be. He’s not afraid to work over the middle, but he may drop the ball and struggle to gain separation on short routes. His rare speed and strong (if inconsistent) hands are difficult to ignore. Another year in school would help him, but with his senior quarterback leaving, it makes more sense for him to leave while his stock is high. Should he leave, he’ll probably find himself being drafted in the middle to late first round, early second round at the latest.

                Michigan State

                                Greg Jones – Linebacker: Jones is an athletic sideline-to-sideline defender that has good enough range to be a three-down linebacker. He shows a great ability to pursue the ball and knows how to rush the passer from his inside linebacker position. He can stop a runningback’s momentum and doesn’t back down when facing a blocker. However, he also can get over-aggressive in pursuing the ball and can be overwhelmed by big, strong offensive lineman. He may be undervalued because of his lack of ideal athleticism, but he is a solid linebacker who should be a starter within his first two years in the league. He’ll probably go between the second and third round.

Final Pick

                Michigan State – The last time Alabama faced a team with an active defensive front and a strong running game, they lost. I think similar results will come in this game. 

Outback Bowl Preview

Florida vs. Penn State

                Florida has fallen on hard times. While everyone knew that losing Tim Tebow was going to hurt their offense, I don’t think anyone expected to see this kind of drop-off in their offensive production. Fortunately for Florida, they look like they’re going to have a full complement of runningbacks for the first time in what feels like months. Emmanuel Moody and Mike Gillislee are strong runners, but the key to the Gators rushing game is to get the ball in the hands of smaller but faster runners Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey. Both are fast enough to beat Penn State linebackers, most notable middle linebacker Chris Colasanti. John Brantley, the guy who was supposed to be better than Tim Tebow, has struggled mightily in Florida’s offense and has shown an, at best, erratic arm and has been pounded on through the whole season. The pass protection of the current Florida offensive line simply hasn’t been good enough to justify them going to the air very often during the course of this game. They will probably mix in back-up quarterbacks Trey Burton and Jordan Reed a lot and focus on using the zone-read option to help open up the offense in the running game. This helps Penn State’s defense since they will be able to predict the play-calling of the Florida offense with relative ease. If they can play disciplined gap-sound defense, they should be able to limit Florida’s success on the ground.

                Penn State’s offense is not so lucky though. Florida defense is what got them here and it’s what is going to give them the best chance to win this game. Penn State’s young quarterback Matt McGloin has shown well in his six starts to end the regular season and can carve up a defense when he is allowed to play within his skill set. He doesn’t have a strong enough arm to threaten a defense deep, but is good at spreading the ball around in underneath routes. However Florida’s defense excels at rushing the passer and forcing bad throws to their ball hawking secondary. Penn State will look to Evan Royster and their offensive line to provide balance and take pressure off of McGloin. However Florida’s defense is very athletic and should be able to push around the Penn State offensive line. Royster is not the kind of runner who can create completely on his own and he will struggle if his running lanes are closed down by the Florida defensive line.

Prospects to Watch

                Florida

                                Ahmad Black – Safety: Ahmad Black is yet another in a continuing line of strong secondary players coming out of Florida from the past few years. The main knocks on him are that is a bit short, he can’t make highlight reel catches and that he can be swallowed up by big offensive lineman. None of these are deal-breakers in my eyes and most can be game planned away. He has great athleticism and range allowing him to cover half the field. He has enough speed to recover from a false-step and still shut down a receiver. His man-to-man coverage skills are not as good as his zone coverage skills, but he has all the tools he needs to excel in the aspect of the game as well. He has good instincts and knows how to read the quarterback’s eyes. Additionally, he is a sound tackler who takes good angles to coverage and tackles. His size may hold him back, but he is going to be drafted no later than the third round.

                Penn State

                                Stefen Wisniewski – Offensive Center/Guard: Wisniewski comes from a football family. Both his father Leo and, more famously, his uncle Steve played in the NFL. Stefen has enough skills to be drafted, but is not the best option at the interior line. He hasn’t shown the kind of strength he needs to be a successful interior lineman at the NFL level. He also has shown the tendency to lean into blocks on pass protection and stop driving his feet in run blocking. These kinds of tendencies lead to spots as special team’s blockers, not as starters. He does a good job with most of the fundamentals and shows good awareness as a center. However, that’s not enough to overcome his deficiencies. For a player who will need to play catch-up with some of the fundamentals to be a viable option in the starting lineup, being picked in the 4^th or 5^th round would be appropriate.

Final Pick

                Florida – In Urban Meyer’s final game as head coach of the Gators, his players will be extra motivated to send their coach out with a win. Then you add in the speed advantage the Gators have and you have yourself a victory. 

TicketCity Bowl Preview

Northwestern vs. Texas Tech

                Northwestern’s offensive coordinator Mick McCall must do a good job in his play calling. Northwestenr has lost their starting quarterback Dan Persa and is not likely to have starting runningback Mike Trumpy. In an offense that features a spread passing attack and a zone read rushing game, losing experienced players at those two positions severely handicaps the offense. McCall needs to counter that by giving backup quarterback Evan Watkins a few easy passes to get him comfortable and confident. If Watkins can settle down, he’ll have opportunities against the worst pass defense in college football this year. Texas Tech’s safeties (Cody Davis and Tre’ Porter) are often out of position and the linebackers aren’t fast enough to match-up man-to-man against underneath coverage. Northwestern has the advantage there with wide receiver Jeremy Ebert and athletic tight end Drake Dunsmore being able to work the middle of the field with their speed and savvy route running. Northwestern will likely not focus on the running game much, with backup runningback Stephen Simmons lacking elite quickness and speed, which is necessary to produce well in this offense.

                Texas Tech quarterback Tyler Potts is very experienced in the spread offense that Texas Tech runs. That spells a lot of trouble for the Northwestern defense. Potts knows where to go with the ball and, if not pressured, will carve up the Northwestern secondary. Northwestern will have to pay especially close attention to wide receiver Lyle Leong, who has caught 217 touchdowns this year. He has good ball skills and stretches the field well. Texas Tech barley runs the ball, but Baron Batch and Eric Stephens work well within their system and can be problematic if Northwestern simply ignores them. Northwestern defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz is caught in a bit of a catch-22 when trying to defend this offense. The best way to disrupt the Texas tech offense is to bring a lot of pressure, to which Tyler Potts does not react well. However if he does it too often, he opens up the possibility of the big play being hit behind the blitz. The best way he could handle this is too bring five or six during the first quarter and gauge how well Potts reacts. If their defense is being picked apart, then they need to address the matter a different way. If they are consistently hitting Potts and forcing him into making bad throws, then stick to the blitz.

Prospects to Watch

                Northwestern

                                Quentin Davie – Linebacker: Davie is an athletic linebacker with good range and a tall frame. He can rush the quarterback and has shown a nose for the ball. However he doesn’t do any of this exceptionally and he has problems with his footwork. He might get shot in the 6^th or 7^th round, but at that point, it’s anyone’s guess who will go where.

                Texas Tech

                                Baron Batch – Runningback: Batch is the proto-typical spread runningback; great at catching the ball and working in space, but is not able to succeed in pro offense. He doesn’t have the strength to pound the middle nor does he have consistent vision, so he will occasionally run right past the holes his offensive line opens up for him. He isn’t someone you want trying to trying to block on-coming pass rushers, but his pass-catching abilities are outstanding. He also has good quickness and lateral vision. He may not break a long run, but he is elusive enough to get first downs when thrown the ball. He’s got a chance to be drafted in the 6^th or 7^th round.

Final Pick

                Texas Tech – As bad as the Texas Tech pass defense has been, I have less faith in a backup quarterback who has struggled in his few starts. 

Hyundai Sun Bowl Preview

Notre Dame vs. Miami (Fl.)

                Notre Dame has had issues at quarterback and those issues could hurt the Fighting Irish in this game. Freshman Tommy Rees has been pretty good since regular starter Dayne Crist went down with a knee injury. His lack of experience is going to be a challenge to overcome in part because of the great Miami pass defense. A lot of Notre Dame’s passing offense is based around moving receivers around to create match-up problems. However Miami’s secondary is pretty deep and can match-up well against spread offenses like the one Brian Kelly uses. Notre Dame’s biggest weapon in the passing game is Michael Floyd, who relies heavily on his size and speed to succeed as a playmaker. Miami has the corners that should be able to neutralize those key skills. Ryan Hill and Demarcus Van Dyke are both big corners who can cover Floyd in red zone situations, neutralizing the height advantage, while Brandon Harris can run with Floyd between the 20s. Rees needs to be able to take advantage of the attention that Floyd gets and spread the ball around to numerous receivers. That’s going to be a problem if the Notre Dame offensive line can’t at least slow Allen Bailey and company. Bailey leads a talented Miami defensive line that helped the Hurricanes defense rack up 37 sacks on the season. Even if they can stop the front four, Miami does a good job blitzing and has enough confidence in their secondary to leave their receivers in one-on-one coverage. How Rees handles this pass rush is going to go a long way to determining the winner of this game. One thing that the Notre Dame coaching staff can do to help ease that pressure, is keep the running game going with a certain amount of consistency. While main running back Armando Allen is out, Cierre Woods and Robert Hughes have worked well as a combo. Woods is fast and Hughes is a physical, downhill runner that can keep the Miami defense off-balance and keep the pressure off of Tommy Rees. However, for this to work Notre dame’s offensive line still needs to be able to control the Miami defensive line.

                Miami’s quarterback situation is not much better than Notre Dame’s. Jacory Harris is getting his first start in several weeks and while has the arm strength to make plays down the field, he also has a tendency to sail the ball, leaving it up for grabs. It was this tendency that led Miami’s coaching staff to leave him on the bench after he recovered from a concussion. He’ll be helped by the running game, which is split between a four runningbacks, most notably Greg Cooper and Damian Berry. Though none of the runningbacks who are likely to get carries in this game are players you should be terrified of, Cooper and Berry are tough runners who can help wear down the clock when the time is right. The real threat on the Miami offense is Leonard Hankerson. He is the first Hurricane wide receiver to have double digit touchdown catches since the great Michael Irvin and he has big play ability.  The offensive coaching staff likes to move him around the formation, finding match-ups they like that will allow him to make big plays. It makes it difficult to roll coverage toward him, but Notre Dame will clearly be focused on keeping him contained and forcing Harris into throwing ill-advised passes.

Prospects to Watch

                Notre Dame

                                Michael Floyd – Wide Receiver: Floyd came into this season as one of the best wide receiver prospects in the country. Given the inconsistency and inexperience at quarterback this year, he proved that he is certainly worth that kind of praise. He has excellent measurable, with the exception of long speed. Sadly, Floyd falls into the group of receivers who are faster than most college secondaries but not fast enough to consistently beat NFL coverage. That being said, he still has great hands and enough speed to challenge the secondary deep if they leave him uncovered. His size can help create mismatches on smaller corners and in the endzone, but he’s not the type to catch the ball and make a defender miss. He is also willing to go over the middle, but he isn’t a great blocker so teams that favor the run may not give him a chance. He has had his fair share of injuries, but he has also fought back from them to produce consistently. Should he declare, he’ll likely go somewhere between rounds 2 and 3.

                Miami (Fl.)

                                Allen Bailey – Defensive End/Tackle: Bailey reminds me of former Hurricanes defensive end, Calais Campbell. He is highly productive as a defensive end, using a variety of power moves to get into the backfield and be disruptive. He has experience playing both on the edge and along the interior and is a disciplined run defender. However, like Campbell, he is a defensive end/defensive tackle tweener, size-wise. He is too big and not fast enough to be a regular 4-3 defensive end (let alone a 3-4 outside linebacker) and too small to be a regular defensive tackle. But also like Campbell, he can fit into a defensive line rotation, probably start as a 3-4 defensive end if he adds some bulk. His experience and power are difficult to ignore, however he’s probably going to slip to the second round because of his size.

Final Pick

                Notre Dame – While I’m not confident in Tommy Rees, I’ll take a freshman quarterback who has been playing consistently the past few weeks, over a rusty veteran like Jacory Harris. 

Autozone Liberty Bowl Preview

Georgia vs. Central Florida

                This game could very well feel like a mismatch when Georgia’s offense is on the field. UCF’s defensive front is based on speed, which is needed to compete with the spread offenses that dominate Conference USA’s top teams. However, in this matchup that strength could become a weakness. The Georgia offensive line is massive and, if given the opportunity, will drive the UCF defensive front off the ball. They’re going to rely on Washaun Ealy and Caleb King having a good game to pull the secondary up, giving AJ Green and Kris Durham (especially Durham) less attention. UCF needs Bruce Miller to have a good game, to knock freshman quarterback Andy Murray off-balance. That way when Murray does put the ball in the air, there is a better chance of him trying to push the ball into coverage.

                UCF’s offense is also going to need to be at its best to ensure that they aren’t falling too far behind. Dual threat quarterback Jeff Godfrey and runningback Latavius Murray are dangerous runners that are going to keep the Georgia defensive front on guard. However the UCF offensive line is big and heavy footed. They’re not going to be able to consistently adjust to a fast moving linebacker corp. like the one that Georgia likes to use. If the Georgia defense can slow the rushing game, they have a definite advantage against the UCF passing game. While wide receivers Quincy McDuffie, Brian Watters, Kamar Aiken and Jamar Newsome are all quick and dangerous when they have the ball in their hands, Godfrey is not the best decision maker in the passing game and is likely to force the ball into coverage. This is going to give Georgia numerous opportunities to grab turnovers.

Prospects to Watch

                Georgia

                                Clint Boling – Offensive Guard: While Boling has a great frame; he lacks the bulk and strength that most teams look for in a starting guard. He has great awareness and has shown a lot of versatility, playing both tackle positions as well as guard. He is athletic and would fit better with a team that uses a zone-blocking scheme, but even then he isn’t an elite athlete for his position. A team will give him a chance, but that chance will probably come in the 5^th round or later.

                Central Florida

                                Bruce Miller – Defensive End/Outside Linebacker: Miller has shown good quickness and moves as a defensive end at UCF. He also shows that ever important quality of relentlessness that good pass rushers need to stay in games, especially when they’re outsized. He struggles to anchor against the run and can be overwhelmed by bigger offensive linemen. Still he has been a good pass rusher for a number of years, and that by itself will get him drafted, probably around the 4^th round.

Final Pick

                Georgia – This game is just not a good match-up for UCF. 

Chick-fil-a Bowl Preview

South Carolina vs. Florida State

                Steve Spurrier probably studied Florida State’s game against Virginia Tech a lot before this game. Va. Tech exposed a lot about Florida State’s defense when they ripped into that defense. South Carolina has a lot of what Virginia Tech has during that game. Athletic, dual threat quarterback: Check. Strong runningback with a lot of toughness: Check. A strong defense that can pressure the quarterback: Check. The Gamecocks also have one thing that Virginia Tech really lacked; an elite, game-breaking wide receiver. While the Florida State defense has gotten better in the secondary, Alshon Jeffery is the kind of receiver who can take a small weakness and turn it into a major hole. Florida State has to be able to pressure Stephen Garcia into making mistakes. Their front four is fairly good at causing pressure, however they have a harder time shutting down running lanes and if they don’t do a good job of tackling Garcia, he can hurt them with his legs.

                Florida State should be able to find ways to move the ball if the mix their play calling up enough. South Carolina’s defense has really faced a zone-blocking team like Florida State this season and has a somewhat suspect secondary. If Florida State can run the ball effectively with Ty Jones, Chris Thompson and Jermaine Thomas, it’ll open up passing lanes down the field for (likely starting) Christian Ponder. Ponder has very good awareness of what’s going on around him so he should be able to exploit any mistakes that the South Carolina secondary makes. The Gamecocks may have to just keep their safeties deep regardless of what Florida State is doing offensively because Seminoles receivers Bert Reed and Taiwan Easterling are speed demons that are at their best when working deep routes. Look for a lot of play-actions passes from Florida State in this game.

Prospects to Watch

                South Carolina

                                Cliff Matthews – Defensive End: Cliff Matthews like a lot of other college defensive ends, good enough to be successful in college but lacks the physical tools to be thought of as a consistent NFL player. He is a work-hard player with adequate explosion who knows what moves to use to rush the quarterback. He has a good frame and experience playing form a 2-point stance. That being said, he doesn’t have the explosion to consistently beat more elite left tackles nor does he have the strength to anchor against bigger run blocking tackles. He could work as a third-down pass rusher in a 3-4, which will get him some play in the 6^th round.

                Florida State

                                Rodney Hudson – Offensive Guard/Center: Hudson doesn’t have elite strength and is a touch shorter than is ideal for a guard. However, those are about his only flaws, and you wouldn’t be able to tell those by watching his game. He knows what his assignment is, knows how to communicate with his fellow offensive lineman and is able to effectively pick up stunts. He has shown excellent ability to drive defenders off the ball and lock them out in pass protection. Hudson is perhaps the best guard prospect coming into this year’s draft and could find himself going in the first round, thought he second round is more likely for interior lineman.

Final Pick

                South Carolina – The Gamecocks have been up for every game they’ve played this year and Virginia Tech gave them the blue print to beat Florida State. I think they follow that blue print.