Thursday, April 19, 2007
A singular draft comment, for the time being.
In case I wind up posting nothing else. Michael Bush is my #2 running back, and will probably wind up being the steal of the draft. I CALLED IT!
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
I am not dead.
Just very busy during this (my final) semester. Once things clear up, expect all sorts of new delicious content, including something fairly big that I'm hoping to get off the ground. Thanks for bearing with me. And if you're not bearing with me, then hey, thanks for reading this blog anyway.
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Whoops.
Florida obviously deserved the win, if I still stick by them not deserving to be there. Hindsight's 50/50 and all. I still hate Urban Meyer, and I hate Thom Brennaman even more. I'll do a bowl rundown sometime within the next while, then season recaps. If anyone has any comments, ideas, suggestions, etc. about off-season content that can be done before previewing the next season, by all means let them be known.
Sunday, January 07, 2007
BOWLNANZA!: The BCS Title Game
#3 Florida (12-1) vs. #1 Ohio State (12-0)
Florida was one of the three national title contenders coming out of the SEC, but most figured the Gators' difficult schedule would prevent them from making it there. And, well, it probably should've. There was the loss to Auburn, but games against Alabama, LSU, Vanderbilt, and of course, South Carolina were pretty close statistically, if not in score during the former two. The offense, #21 in yardage nationally, is led by senior QB Chris Leak (2729 yards, 22/13 TD/INT) and frosh QB Tim Tebow (430 rushing yards, 7 rushing TD.) The Gators don't really have any outstanding running backs, but between, Tebow, RB Deshawn Wynn, and speedy frosh WR Percy Harvin, the Gators rank top-35 in rushing yards per game. The defense is stout, at #6 in scoring and #10 in yardage.
There were concerns about Ohio State's young defense, but voters had enough confidence to vote the Buckeyes the preseason #1. Four months later, there's still there. Heisman-winning QB Troy Smith didn't have an eye-popping season statistically, but was efficient as any QB in the country (2507 yards, 30/5 TD/INT.) Plus, after Smith's games against Texas (17/26, 269, 2 TD) and Michigan (29/41, 316, 4/1 TD/INT,) it's pretty safe to say he's the best big-game quarterback in the NCAA. Oh, and the Buckeyes have some good running backs in Antonio Pittman (1171, 13 TD) and Michigan-gashing superfrosh Chris Wells (567, 7 TD,) and big-play WR Ted Ginn (781, 9 TD.) There's an embarrassment of riches on that side of the ball. Defensively, OSU's lived up to their potential, at #13 in yards allowed, and with a scoring defense better than everyone except Virginia Tech. The Buckeyes have a top-2o rushing defense, but as I said in my OSU-Michigan breakdown, I have some concern about the team against upper-echelon running backs. But the Ohio State defense is balanced, as they're also tied for #30 against the pass.
Michigan looks worse after that Rose Bowl loss, but if Ohio State can do what they did there, I think they can take Florida. Ohio State outgained everyone they faced this year, and really, the only team close to that dominant during the regular season was Michigan. Remember, we're one blocked field goal away from...well, probably having LSU or Wisconsin leapfrog Michigan into the national title game. Anyway, Florida definitely has a shot, and I could see Percy Harvin gashing that defense, but in the end, I'd be surprised if it was a blowout, and I'd be surprised if it was close. 31-21 Buckeyes sounds about right.
My Pick: Ohio State
Confidence (out of 5): 2
Florida was one of the three national title contenders coming out of the SEC, but most figured the Gators' difficult schedule would prevent them from making it there. And, well, it probably should've. There was the loss to Auburn, but games against Alabama, LSU, Vanderbilt, and of course, South Carolina were pretty close statistically, if not in score during the former two. The offense, #21 in yardage nationally, is led by senior QB Chris Leak (2729 yards, 22/13 TD/INT) and frosh QB Tim Tebow (430 rushing yards, 7 rushing TD.) The Gators don't really have any outstanding running backs, but between, Tebow, RB Deshawn Wynn, and speedy frosh WR Percy Harvin, the Gators rank top-35 in rushing yards per game. The defense is stout, at #6 in scoring and #10 in yardage.
There were concerns about Ohio State's young defense, but voters had enough confidence to vote the Buckeyes the preseason #1. Four months later, there's still there. Heisman-winning QB Troy Smith didn't have an eye-popping season statistically, but was efficient as any QB in the country (2507 yards, 30/5 TD/INT.) Plus, after Smith's games against Texas (17/26, 269, 2 TD) and Michigan (29/41, 316, 4/1 TD/INT,) it's pretty safe to say he's the best big-game quarterback in the NCAA. Oh, and the Buckeyes have some good running backs in Antonio Pittman (1171, 13 TD) and Michigan-gashing superfrosh Chris Wells (567, 7 TD,) and big-play WR Ted Ginn (781, 9 TD.) There's an embarrassment of riches on that side of the ball. Defensively, OSU's lived up to their potential, at #13 in yards allowed, and with a scoring defense better than everyone except Virginia Tech. The Buckeyes have a top-2o rushing defense, but as I said in my OSU-Michigan breakdown, I have some concern about the team against upper-echelon running backs. But the Ohio State defense is balanced, as they're also tied for #30 against the pass.
Michigan looks worse after that Rose Bowl loss, but if Ohio State can do what they did there, I think they can take Florida. Ohio State outgained everyone they faced this year, and really, the only team close to that dominant during the regular season was Michigan. Remember, we're one blocked field goal away from...well, probably having LSU or Wisconsin leapfrog Michigan into the national title game. Anyway, Florida definitely has a shot, and I could see Percy Harvin gashing that defense, but in the end, I'd be surprised if it was a blowout, and I'd be surprised if it was close. 31-21 Buckeyes sounds about right.
My Pick: Ohio State
Confidence (out of 5): 2
Saturday, January 06, 2007
BOWLNANZA!: The GMAC Bowl
Ohio (9-4) vs. Southern Miss (8-5)
In ex-Nebraska coach Frank Solich's second year, Ohio's probably been the biggest surprise in the MAC, going from 4-7 to a MAC East title. Much like Nebraska under Solich, Ohio's getting it done with the run, evidenced by the leading rusher (Kalvin McRae, 1215) gaining more yards than the starting QB (Austin Everson, 1181.) Still, the Bobcats' offense has been more or less the opposite of effective, finishing just outside the bottom 10 in yardage and easily being the worst of any bowl team. The defense is a better story, however, finishing #31 in yardage and just outside the top 20 against the pass. Ohio may be lucky to be here, but there are less deserving teams.
Southern Miss is usually a defensive power year-in year-out, but the Golden Eagles have been somewhat mediocre on that side of the ball, finishing at only #40 in yardage. USM's main strength has been the play of freshman RB Damion Fletcher, who racked up 1330 yards (2nd among freshmen) en route to 9 touchdowns. Still, that defense is getting things together -- after being torched by Florida, Tulsa, Houston, and Virginia Tech early in the year, USM's held their last three opponents under 300 yards, including annihilating the Tulane D and holding them to 85.
USM's defense, again, is getting things together, and with the ineffective Ohio offense, that matchup probably won't be pretty. Ohio could win a defensive struggle, but while the Bobcats' defense isn't half bad, their strength is against the pass, and USM's star is a running back. Fletcher will probably be the player of the game, but I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't have a huge game by any means. This could be one of those games where neither offense gets anything done, either on the field or for the viewer. But I could be wrong.
My Pick: Southern Miss
Confidence (out of 5): 2
In ex-Nebraska coach Frank Solich's second year, Ohio's probably been the biggest surprise in the MAC, going from 4-7 to a MAC East title. Much like Nebraska under Solich, Ohio's getting it done with the run, evidenced by the leading rusher (Kalvin McRae, 1215) gaining more yards than the starting QB (Austin Everson, 1181.) Still, the Bobcats' offense has been more or less the opposite of effective, finishing just outside the bottom 10 in yardage and easily being the worst of any bowl team. The defense is a better story, however, finishing #31 in yardage and just outside the top 20 against the pass. Ohio may be lucky to be here, but there are less deserving teams.
Southern Miss is usually a defensive power year-in year-out, but the Golden Eagles have been somewhat mediocre on that side of the ball, finishing at only #40 in yardage. USM's main strength has been the play of freshman RB Damion Fletcher, who racked up 1330 yards (2nd among freshmen) en route to 9 touchdowns. Still, that defense is getting things together -- after being torched by Florida, Tulsa, Houston, and Virginia Tech early in the year, USM's held their last three opponents under 300 yards, including annihilating the Tulane D and holding them to 85.
USM's defense, again, is getting things together, and with the ineffective Ohio offense, that matchup probably won't be pretty. Ohio could win a defensive struggle, but while the Bobcats' defense isn't half bad, their strength is against the pass, and USM's star is a running back. Fletcher will probably be the player of the game, but I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't have a huge game by any means. This could be one of those games where neither offense gets anything done, either on the field or for the viewer. But I could be wrong.
My Pick: Southern Miss
Confidence (out of 5): 2
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