12/3/08
#1 Alabama Crimson Tide (12-0, 8-0 SEC) VS #4 Florida Gators (11-1, 7-1 SEC)
The winner of the SEC championship game will decide one piece of the puzzle that is the Football Bowl Subdivision national title game.
Where do I begin with this game. Both teams are talented on both sides of the ball, with Florida have a slight edge offensively because of how explosive they have been since their 31-30 loss to Ole Miss in late September.
Tim Tebow, the defending Heisman trophy winner, started the season slow, but picked up after the Gator’s one and only loss this season. In his last seven games, the junior quarterback has 27 combined scores.
Tebow is not the only offensive source on the team. Percy Harvin, the versatile running back is second on the team in rushing yards, but leads the team with receiving yards. He also has 16 combined touchdowns.
Florida’s offense has become hot of late, ranking third in the FBS in points scored, but their defense is much improved from last year.
The Gators defense is ranked in the top 10 in scoring defense, averaging 12.3 points per game; total defense, averaging 275.7 yards per game; and third in turnovers with 32.
Although the Gators offense is rocking, it is Alabama’s defense that has been the key for the Tides success and undefeated record so far this season.
The Crimson Tide rank third in the country in scoring defense and total defense. They have only surrendered double digit points six times this season.
Even though their defense has been the vocal point of this season, their offense has also been in impressive.
Quarterback John Parker Wilson looks more poised in his third year as starter than in years passed. Wilson threw 22 combined interceptions in his first two years, compared to only five this season.
Freshman receiving Julio Jones has been a great new weapon for Wilson as Jones is fourth in the SEC in receiving yards, but majority of their offense comes from their running game.
Junior running back Glen Coffee has over 1,200 yards on the ground and has found the end zone nine times.
Florida may be favorites in this game, but Alabama has been the quiet team no one has really talked about.
Prediction: Alabama 23 - Florida 17
#20 Missouri Tigers (9-3, 5-3 Big 12) VS. #2 Oklahoma Sooners (11-1, 7-1 Big 12)
If Oklahoma can defeat Missouri for a second straight year in the Big 12 championship game, there’s a good chance their next game will be for a national title.
With as crazy as the BCS is, Oklahoma, if they win their third straight Big 12 title, could get into the national title and will be raked over number three Texas, the team the Sooners lost to.
Otherwise, if Missouri pulls off the upset, Texas may jump over the Sooners and try to win their second national championship in four years.
For Oklahoma to win, they need great plays out of their quarterback Sam Bradford who will be playing with a soft cast on his non-throwing arm.
Bradford tore ligaments in his hand in last Saturday’s beat down of Oklahoma State. He will be receiving surgery after the game.
The sophomore has been a key part in the Sooners explosive offense. He is ranked third in passing yards with 4,080, first in touchdown passes with 46 and second in QB rating with 190.48.
Much of Bradford’s success has come from his deep wide receiving core. Six receivers have caught over 300 yards and have caught a combined 41 of the teams 47 touchdowns.
Oklahoma’s running game has also been impressive. DeMarco Murray already has 1,002 yards on the ground, but the Sooners have a chance to produce two 1,000 yard rushers.
Junior running back Chris Brown has 988 rushing yards. The two backs have combined for 31 scores.
Missouri’s offense is just as talented as Oklahoma’s, just like many Big 12 schools have been this season.
The Tigers quarterback Chase Daniels is also putting up strong numbers and is ranked in the top ten in most quarterback statistics.
Both defenses are weak, which has been typical of most Big 12 schools this season, but if the Tigers defense can stop the run and if Bradford’s hand plays a role in his performance, Missouri could pull off the upset.
Prediction: Missouri 48 - Oklahoma 35
#17 Boston College Eagles (9-3, 5-3ACC)VS. #25 Virginia Tech Hokies (8-4, 5-3ACC)
The ACC championship game is a rematch of last year’s with the winner most likely playing in the Orange Bowl against Big East champs Cincinnati.
Boston College and Virginia Tech are like the opposite of the talented schools in the Big 12. Instead of having explosive offenses and no defense, The Eagles and the Hokies have no offense and strong stopping defenses, and is one of the reasons why they are playing each other in the ACC championship game again.
This will be the Hokies, the defending champs, third visit to the conference championship game in the last four years.
Virginia Tech started the season ranked 17 in the nation, but fell immediately from the rankings when they lost their season opener to East Carolina. After winning five straight games, the Hokies dropped the next three out of four games before finishing the season on a two game winning streak and getting back to the championship game.
The Hokies defense is strong, much like they have been in years past, ranking sixth in the FBS in total defense.
Boston College’s defense is ranked eighth surrendering an average of 276.7 yards per game.
BC won the game versus the Hokies back in mid October, but the Eagles turned the ball over five times. If they do the same Saturday, the Hokies defense may not need their offense to get the points, they will be able to score it themselves.
Prediction: Virginia Tech 31 - Boston College 20
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