|
| You are not authorized to post a reply.
|
|
| Author |
Messages |
|
wscsuperfan
Posts:230
 |
| 10/09/2008 10:13 AM |
 Alert
|
BIG 12 GAME OF THE WEEK
Oklahoma (5-0) vs. Texas (5-0) (at Dallas)
Saturday, Oct. 11 - 11:00 a.m. (ABC)
Why to Watch
This one sort of snuck up on everyone. Texas vs. Oklahoma never quite became heyday Miami vs. Florida State or Ohio State vs. Michigan when it came to gripping the national consciousness, but it was always a circle game on the college football calendar. Either the Longhorns or the Sooners have represented the South in the Big 12 title game in each of the last nine seasons, and the winner play for the national title four times over that span. But even with the history of these two great rivals, and with all the recent success as the Big 12's two powerhouses, this game was little more than an afterthought this preseason when it came to looking ahead at the schedules, and it was certainly supposed to take a backseat this weekend with Florida and LSU battling.
Missouri is ranked No. 2 in the country, and teams like Kansas, Texas Tech, and this year, Oklahoma State, have horned in on the Texas spotlight a bit to take the preseason luster off this showdown.
And then there's the Oklahoma factor.
It takes two to make a rivalry, but outside of the Vince Young-led 2005 season, the Big 12 has been Oklahoma's world and everyone is paying rent. That includes Texas.
OU has played in five of the last six Big 12 title games, with 2005 the lone blip on the map, and won four of those. Texas, for all its pomp and circumstance, won the one Big 12 title in 2005 and won its only other championship in 1996 when John Mackovic was the head coach.
So while everyone expected Oklahoma to be 5-0 and dominant coming into this week, getting a preseason No. 4 ranking in the Coaches' and AP polls, Texas wasn't expected to do too much. Handed a courtesy your-name-is-Texas ranking of 11th in the preseason AP poll and 10th n the Coaches', it has had to earn its way into national respect. Even with a great five games, led by a scintillating season so far from QB Colt McCoy, Texas is still not even seen as the second star in its own league. That can all change with one big win.
When it comes to the national title pecking order, the SEC gets first dibs over everyone else if all things are equal, but the Big 12 gets the second slot. It's this simple for Texas, as well as Oklahoma: win your next eight games and you'll be playing for the national title. Actually, one loss, unless it comes in the Big 12 title game, could still mean a spot in Miami on January 8th.
But for now, Miami isn't even a thought for the Texas and OU teams, coaches and fan bases. This is the Super Bowl of the Big 12 season for the fans. Both teams are national title good, both teams have Heisman caliber star power, and both teams are playing well. Really, really well.
There's no limping into this week. There was no hiccup of a lookahead performance. Oklahoma has obliterated everything in its path with cold, ruthless efficiency averaging 49.6 points per game and allowing just 13.8 per outing. Cincinnati threw a mini-scare into the Sooners for a half, but that was quickly dismissed by a breathtaking Sooner scoring run in the third quarter.
Meanwhile, Texas has been even more dominant. The Colorado game last week wasn't as close as the 38-14 final might suggest, while the Longhorns won three of their first four games 52-10. The other win was a 42-13 pasting of UTEP.
So welcome back to the Red River Rivalry. You weren't planning on it and you weren't prepared for it, but you got a nice gem of a game from out of the blue
Oklahoma will win if.....
Bradford doesn't get touched. Last year, when Bradford was pressured, more often than not he was a bit off. When he gets time, and when his receivers are able to use their speed to run their deep routes, they're unbeatable. Texas has been able to hide its shaky secondary with a pass rush that's been hitting every quarterback early and often. Bradford will have to eat a few sacks, but as long as his internal clock isn't moving things up a half-tick, the offense should be solid. Defensively, the OU pass rush has been fantastic and the secondary has benefitted. No, the Sooners haven't played Texas Tech yet, but it's not like Cincinnati can't throw.
Texas will win if......
It keeps OU's big plays to a minimum. If this turns into any sort of a tight defensive battle, the edge might go to Texas because of the field position factor. The Longhorn punting game has been fantastic so far, netting a Big 12-best 40.59 yards per boot, while the return game has been fine, but nothing special. Meanwhile, OU has been awful punting the ball and has surprisingly gotten little pop from the punt return game. As long as Texas isn't giving up home runs and is forcing the Sooners to start deep in their own territory time and again, it'll be in control of the game.
What Will Happen
Texas will be better than you think, but it'll need to prevent the type of run OU has come up with game after game to put games away. The Sooner defense will tee off on Colt McCoy and dare the Longhorns to win with someone else. RB Fozzy Whittaker is struggling to get back from a knee injury, Chris Ogbonnaya isn't consistent, and the receivers, even Quan Cosby, aren't going to scare the OU defense. Texas will hang around for more than a half, but will start to give up a few big pass plays in the third quarter. The Sooners will get up by double-digit points, and then McCoy will find a groove and make it interesting late. In the end, OU will have too much on both sides of the ball.
Latest Spread
Oklahoma is favored in this neutral site game by 7 points.
Prediction
Oklahoma 26, Texas 17
===================================================
Colorado (3-2) at Kansas (4-1)
Saturday, Oct. 11 - 11:30 a.m. (ESPN2)
Why to Watch
Colorado has made a few nice strides under head coach Dan Hawkins, who was just awarded a contract extension this week, but after beating Oklahoma in the 2007 Big 12 season opener, the program hasn’t been able to build on anything else big. This year, the team appeared to be on its way with an ugly overtime win over West Virginia, but back-to-back blowout losses to Texas and Florida State changed all of that. Now, the Buffs have to try to revive their season with a tough stretch of three road games in four weeks starting with this trip to Lawrence. Last year, the Jayhawks had their toughest battle in Boulder until the regular season-ending loss to Missouri. This year, KU is trying to find its groove. At 4-1, the season has hardly been a disappointment, but after blowing a lead to lose late at South Florida, and with an ugly first half against Iowa State last week, the season appeared to be slipping away. And then came the comeback as the Jayhawks scired 35 second half points to get by the Cyclones. With Oklahoma and Texas Tech coming up after this week, the team needs to get sharp in a big hurry.
Why Colorado might win
The KU running game hasn’t been able to get on track yet. 117 rushing yards against Iowa State. 61 against South Florida. This hasn’t been the type of offense KU was hoping for coming into the season. The lack of a running game has killed any consistency, while it made it hard to hold a lead against South Florida. Colorado has been having major problems against the run, but that shouldn’t be a problem this week. The secondary has been solid, and while the D is hardly a brick wall, it’s a good fit to slow down Todd Reesing and the Jawyhawk midrange passing game.
Why Kansas might win
Colorado isn’t exactly setting the scoreboard on fire. The Buffs are averaging just 24 points per game, and that’s a bit misleading as the special teams helped out against Colorado State and 31 of the points came against Eastern Washington. If the offense isn’t getting good field position off turnovers, it’s having problems scoring points. Outside of a great first few minutes against West Virginia, with 14 points right away, the attack isn’t working. Kansas can put this away with a good first quarter.
Who to Watch
Is Jake Sharp finally going to be the key cog in the Kansas running game? He was supposed to take over last year, but he was relegated to a No. 2 role. With no one stepping up so far this year to take over, Sharp was given the reins last week and ran for 79 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries, and he took three passes for 107 yards and a touchdown. He should be used as more and more of a playmaker.
What Will Happen
Colorado will get the pass rush rolling just enough to give Kansas a problem for a half. The Buffs will tee off on Reesing, but for one of the first times this year, the Jayhawk running game will get going. Colorado’s offense will continue to sputter.
Latest Spread
Kansas is favored by 14 points at home.
Prediction
Kansas 31, Colorado 20
===================================================
Kansas State (3-2) at Texas A&M (2-3)
Saturday, Oct. 11 - 1:05 p.m.
Why to Watch
Which disappointing Big 12 team is the bigger mess? Kansas State might have three wins, but they came against North Texas, Montana State and UL Lafayette. The defense couldn’t handle the run against Louisville, and it couldn’t handle the pass against Texas Tech. Now it might get a week off against all things offense. Texas A&M has been a disaster over the first five games of the Mike Sherman era, but it still has two wins. Oklahoma State ripped the doors off the Aggies last week, while it took way too much effort to get by Army in a 21-17 win. Things can quickly change for A&M with a win over the Wildcats, and it’s a must-win to keep bowl hopes alive with Texas Tech coming next week and Oklahoma and Texas still to play.
Why Kansas State might win
Texas A&M’s defensive line is getting blasted. The great Oklahoma State offensive line had its way with the Aggie front last week, and Kansas State’s offensive line should be able to control the game. There’s no A&M pass rush, the run defense has been non-existent, and the offense isn’t doing nearly enough to keep up when pushed.
Why Texas A&M might win
It’s not like Kansas State’s defense is stopping anyone. A&M’s run defense is currently the worst in the Big 12, but Kansas State’s isn’t far behind giving up 335 yards to UL Lafayette and 303 yards to Louisville. Texas Tech, not exactly a power running team, was able to rumble for 136 yards and two touchdowns to go along with 490 passing yards and six scores. If the Texas A&M running game is ever going to get rolling, this has to be the week.
Who to Watch
Josh Freeman has been fine, but he needs to be better. The Kansas State junior has thrown well at times so far this year, but he hasn’t been able to lead the way in firefights and when things get tight. He only completed 13-of-28 passes for 170 yards and a touchdown against Texas Tech, but he ran for two touchdowns. He has rushed for two scores in four of the five games this season. Basically, he’s been the quarterback Texas A&M has been looking for, but with little help around him, he needs to do even more for the Wildcat offense.
What Will Happen
Texas A&M wil start to pound away for the first time all year. The running game will be just effective enough to overcome a decent day from Freeman and the Wildcat offense, and Sherman will have his first big win as the Aggie head man.
Latest Spread
Kansas State is favored on the road by 3 points.
Prediction
Texas A&M 31, Kansas State 27
===================================================
Nebraska (3-2) at Texas Tech (5-0)
Saturday, Oct. 11 - 2:00 p.m. (FSN)
Why to Watch
Nebraska used to own Texas Tech. Nebraska used to own everyone. The Huskers had beaten the Red Raiders seven straight times, and then came a 70-10 Texas Tech destruction in 2004 that showed just how much times had changed in Lincoln. The two teams only played once since then, a 30-17 Red Raider win in 2005, and now the gap has really widened. This is the strongest Texas Tech team head coach Mike Leach has ever fielded, while Nebraska is floundering in year one under Bo Pelini. The Huskers closed out a five-game homestand with back-to-back losses to Virginia Tech and Missouri. Now the real work begins with three road games in the next four, finishing up with a trip to Oklahoma. Meanwhile, Texas Tech has yet to be given any sort of a shove. Last week's trip to Kansas State was supposed to be a battle, but a 58-28 win showed otherwise. This game against Nebraska was supposed to be a trap, as is next week's date at Texas A&M, but neither will be if the Huskers and Aggies play like they have over the first part of the year. The key is to keep tuning up without blowing up. Tech is always good for one or two out-of-the-blue clunkers a year, and with Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State still to deal with, this can't be one of those games.
Why Nebraska might win
Texas Tech has faced only one team with any semblance of a running game, Nevada, and it got ripped up for 224 yards despite the loss of Wolf Pack star RB Luke Lippincott to a knee injury. Mike Rozier, Ahman Green, and Lawrence Phillips aren't exactly hanging around Lincoln lately, and while Marlon Lucky is a good, strong back, he's not being used enough. This is the game for the Nebraska running game to take charge, and with a good pass rush that should be able to generate a little bit of pressure, the combination of a ground game and a sack or two could get the job done. However.......
Why Texas Tech might win
....that same formula was supposed to be used last week against Missouri. Chase Daniel completed 18-of-23 passes for 253 yards and three touchdowns, and the Huskers got down so quickly that they only finished with 76 yards. The Nebraska secondary is a nightmare, and if QB Graham Harrell gets a little time to work, he'll have a field day.
Who to Watch
This time last year, after five games, Harrell had thrown for 2,301 yards and 24 touchdowns. This year, so far, he has thrown for 2,027 yards and 18 scores. While the numbers might be a bit down next to the astronomical stats of last year, he has still be solid and decisive. This is year three running the offense; he gets it. He hasn't thrown an interception in the last three games, he isn't forcing his throws, and he's using his running backs more and more in all phases. He'll be under pressure this week, and he'll have to be a bit sharper.
What Will Happen
It won't be 70-10, but it won't be far off. Pelini is a defensive wizard who simply doesn't have the horses to do everything he wants to. Missouri rolled at will, and so will Texas Tech.
Latest Spread
Texas Tech is favored at home by 21 points.
Prediction
Texas Tech 48, Nebraska 24
===================================================
Iowa State (2-3) at Baylor (2-3)
Saturday, Oct. 11 - 6:05 p.m.
Why to Watch
This isn’t exactly a preview of the Big 12 Championship, but these two aren’t the doormats of the past, either. Iowa State head coach Gene Chizik and his Cyclones had Kansas on the ropes last week with a 20-0 halftime lead, only to see it go up in smoke in a rough 35-33 loss. That loss, on top of a heartbreaking overtime loss to UNLV and a clunker of a rivalry game against Iowa has made for a tough month around Ames. However, a win in Waco can turn things around. With winnable home games against Nebraska and Texas A&M up next, Iowa State can honestly dream of a bowl game with a win this week. Baylor has sparked up with the emergence of freshman dynamo Robert Griffin at quarterback under the direction of new head coach Art Briles. The Bears got blasted at Oklahoma last week, but that’s hardly anything to cry over. They battles in a good road loss to Connecticut and lost to Wake Forest in the opener before Griffin took over. Now the team is in need of a real win. Beating Washington State doesn’t really count. With only two road games left and with Oklahoma State, Texas, Missouri and Texas Tech still to deal with, any hope for a winning season starts with a win over the Cyclones. Iowa State holds a 4-3 edge all-time.
Why Iowa State might win
The Cyclones are tied with Minnesota and Wake Forest with the most takeaways: 17. Chizik’s defense might give up yards in bunches, but it wins its share of drives by forcing the big play. Baylor has a tremendous offensive line with some next level talent, but it’s having a hard time in pass protection. Part of the problem is having a mobile, freshman quarterback to work in front of, but there are also some consistency issues. If Chizik and his staff can find a way to get into the backfield on a regular basis, the BU attack will shut down.
Why Baylor might win
Iowa State has had problems against the run, and against running quarterbacks. UNLV’s Omar Clayton is more of a passer than a runner, but he was able to get moving a little bit while Frank “The Tank” Summers barreled for 109 yards. Kent State’s Julian Edelman ran for 65 yards while RB Eugene Jarvis ran for 139 yards and a score. Basically, Iowa State’s defensive front can be run on. BU might have been blasted by OU, but Griffin got his 102 yards and two touchdowns in. However, if Baylor is going to win, it also needs …
Who to Watch
… sophomore RB Jay Finley to get going. He ran for 119 yards against Washington State and 85 yards against Connecticut, but Griffin is the running offense. Finley hasn’t rushed more than 11 times, but that needs to change. Griffin isn’t a big guy and might not last a full season if he’s running 20+ times a game.
What Will Happen
It'll be the Griffin show. He'll bounce back from a shaky passing day against Oklahoma to keep the Baylor offense moving both through the air and on the ground, but Iowa State will get its licks in. QB Austen Arnaud can move, too. The two quarterbacks, and throw in a third, ISU's Phillip Bates, who should see more work this week, will combine for close to 200 rushing yards.
Latest Spread
Baylor is favored at home by 4 points.
Prediction
Baylor 33, Iowa State 27
===================================================
Oklahoma State (5-0) at Missouri (5-0)
Saturday, Oct. 11 - 7:00 p.m. (ESPN2)
Why to Watch
Get your popcorn ready. While the rest of the Big 12 world will be focusing on Texas vs. Oklahoma, and rightly so, this should be the best showdown of the weekend. Missouri has the nation’s second best scoring offense. Oklahoma State is third. The Cowboys are sixth in the nation in total offense, second in rushing offense, and third in passing efficiency. The Tigers are third in the nation in total offense, third in passing offense, and fifth in passing efficiency. The two teams combine to average 106 points and 1,100 yards per game, and it’s not crazy to think that they’ll do just that against each other. Missouri, ranked second in the nation, will finally be tested for the first time since beating Illinois in a thrilling opening day shootout, while Oklahoma State will finally be tested, period. A win for the Cowboys will propel the Mike Gundy era to a whole other level, while Missouri, after blasting Nebraska 52-17 last week, needs this win before going to Texas. This will be fun.
Why Oklahoma State might win
The Tiger secondary continues to have issues. The yards are coming from teams in desperate comeback mode, but still, the pass defense is giving up too many big yards. The Mizzou run defense might be 15th in the nation, allowing 95 yards per game, but it hasn’t seen a team that’ll run the ball like Oklahoma State. Nebraska had to start throwing early on, Nevada was without star RB Luke Lippincott but still ran for 182 yards, and Illinois gave up on the run early on. The Tiger defensive line is about to get hit in the mouth by an Oklahoma State offensive line playing at the top of its game, but …
Why Missouri might win
… the Mizzou offensive line is playing just as well. OSU has allowed two sacks all year, and so has Missouri. The running game works when the Tigers want it to, but the difference will be on the other side. Missouri’s defensive front is devastating when it comes to getting into the backfield. This group makes a living off of tackles for loss, and the pass rush is steady and efficient. Oklahoma State’s defensive front is the worst in the Big 12, and among the worst in the nation, when it comes to generating a pass rush. Chase Daniel will get all the time he needs to throw.
Who to Watch
While Daniel, Jeremy Maclin and Chase Coffman are college football household names, sophomore RB Derrick Washington continues to fly under the radar. The nation’s leading scorer has rushed for two touchdowns in each of the first five games and has caught two touchdown passes. He was the best back in spring ball, and he has exceeded all expectations from the start with 130 yards against Illinois and 139 vs. Nebraska. Averaging 7.46 yards per carry on just 67 tries, he makes the most of his chances. On the other side, OSU sophomore RB Kendall Hunter has been terrific. He’s fifth in the nation in rushing with 708 yards. He ran for two scores in each of OSU’s first four games, but was kept out of the end zone last week against A&M.
What Will Happen
It'll be a tremendous firefight with several big plays, 1,000-plus yards of total offense, and several big highlights. Missouri's defensive front will make a few plays, while Oklahoma State's won't do much of anything. That'll be the difference.
Latest Spread
Missouri is favored at home by 13.5 points.
Prediction
Missouri 48, Oklahoma State 40
===================================================
Iowa (3-3) at Indiana (2-3)
Saturday, Oct. 11 - 11:00 a.m. (Big Ten Network)
Why to Watch
It's fight-for-survival time. Wisconsin is 0-2, but it's a strong 0-2. Iowa and Indiana are 0-2 with losses to teams like Northwestern, Minnesota, and Michigan State. By comparison, Indiana lost to the Spartans 42-29 while the Hawkeyes lost 16-13 last week in East Lansing. Iowa has had a frustrating three week stretch with losses to Pitt, Northwestern, and Michigan State by a total of nine points. All three games could've gone either way, but the offensive consistency isn't there, particularly at quarterback, to win the tight ones. Meanwhile, Indiana's three-game losing streak hasn't exactly inspired confidence that there will be a repeat of last year's bowl campaign. The Hoosiers have yet to beat a Division I-A team.
Why Iowa might win
The Iowa defense has been solid. The defensive front did a great job of keeping Michigan State star Javon Ringer in check, while the secondary has the potential to be the best the program has had in a long time. Indiana has had to rely on the passing game way too much.
Why Indiana might win
Kellen Lewis won’t be under much pressure. Iowa’s defensive line might be terrific, and it’s doing a great job against the run, but it’s not getting into the backfield nearly enough. Lewis is the type of playmaker who can make things happen on his own. If he’s not being pushed around and if he gets time, he can rip apart a defense. The IU defensive front is way, way overdue to come up with a killer performance. The Hawkeye offensive line isn’t a rock in pass protection.
Who to Watch
Is this the game Iowa WR Andy Brodell breaks out? He caught eight passes for 126 yards and a touchdown against Northwestern, but he hasn’t been consistent since coming back after missing most of last year hurt. The quarterbacks haven’t given him much help, but against a patchwork IU secondary with safeties that’ll be focused almost exclusively on stopping RB Shonn Greene, he should be able to break free for a few deep plays.
What Will Happen
Iowa's defensive line will play better than Indiana's defensive front. Kellen Lewis will be bottled up, while Greene will come up with his seventh straight 100-yard game.
Latest Spread
Iowa is favored by 5.5 points on the road.
Prediction
Iowa 26, Indiana 17
===================================================
Toledo (1-4) at Michigan (2-3)
Saturday, Oct. 11 - 11:00 a.m. (Big Ten Network)
Why to Watch
What the heck has happened to Toledo? Once one of the MAC’s brightest stars, the program has gone in the tank with three brutal losses in three different ways. There was the double-overtime shootout loss to Fresno State. There was the stunning 35-16 home loss to a FIU team that hadn’t put up points in years, and there was last week welcome-to-your-place-in-the-world 31-0 loss to Ball State. Michigan came up with one of the greatest comebacks in the program’s long and storied history to stun Wisconsin 27-25, and then it fed off the momentum by coming up with a 45-20 clunker of a loss to Illinois. With big, emotional matchups against Penn State and Michigan State ahead, the program desperately needs a walk-in-the-park win where everything works.
Why Toledo might win
The Michigan offense stinks. It came up with one really big run against the Badgers, and so far, that’s been about it. It’s the worst in the Big Ten averaging a paltry 20.6 points and 292 yards per game. As a comparison, the Wolverines faced a MAC team in Miami University and came up with a mere 281 yards in total offense. Toledo’s defense has been awful lately, but Michigan isn’t likely to hang 50 on the board.
Why Michigan might win
MiQuale Lewis. The Ball State back ran for 157 yards and two touchdowns against the Rockets last week. FIU’s Julian Reams ran for 75 yards and three touchdowns. Arizona’s Nic Grigsby motored for 135 yards and three scores. Michigan has tried to get the spread working, but it hasn’t been able to line up and blast anyone off the ball yet. This needs to be the game for Sam McGuffie to take control of the game early on. He’s the team’s most dangerous rushing threat and he needs to be the focal point of the offense.
Who to Watch
Greg Mathews might be Michigan’s best receiver, but he has taken a back seat to freshman Martavious Odoms, who is leading the team in receptions. The smallish, quick target is a bit of a departure from the tall, tough targets the Wolverines have thrived with over the past few years, but Odoms is finding his role. He has yet to find the end zone, but he caught seven passes for 129 yards last week against Illinois. A bit banged up, he's questionable this week meaning the passing game will likely fall back on Mathews shoulders. He has been hurt, too, but he should use this game to reestablish himself as the No. 1 target.
What Will Happen
Michigan will once again struggle to blow up, even if Toledo fails to show up. The Wolverine defensive line will destroy the Rocket running game, while the offense will take advantage of the opportunities and good field position to get by in a blowout win.
Latest Spread
Michigan is favored by 17 points at home.
Prediction
Michigan 34, Toledo 0
===================================================
Notre Dame (4-1) at North Carolina (4-1)
Saturday, Oct. 11 - 2:30 p.m. (ABC)
Why to Watch
While it’s going to get dwarfed by some of Saturday’s higher-profile games, Notre Dame traveling to Chapel Hill shapes up as one of the sneaky good match ups of the weekend. Both schools have exceeded expectations in the first month of the season, and are on the brink of garnering more national attention. Carolina followed up its heart-pounding upset of Miami with a total domination of previously-unbeaten Connecticut that catapulted it into the AP Top 25. The Tar Heels are getting contributions from everywhere on the roster, another sign of progress in Butch Davis’ second season with the program. With a manageable schedule the rest of the way, 10 wins could be within reach for the upstart Heels. Just how good is Notre Dame? It’s clearly light years better than last year, but we’ll get a much better read on the Irish as they head on the road for just the second time all year. QB Jimmy Clausen is a transformed player in his second season, having already tossed a dozen touchdown passes, including three apiece in recent wins over Purdue and Stanford. A win at North Carolina will earn Notre Dame some of the respect it’s lacking at this time.
Why Notre Dame might win
While there’s been a fair amount of bending, the Irish defense hasn’t broken much this season. It’s yet to allow more than 23 points in a game, a trend it’ll continue against an average Carolina offense. DE Pat Kuntz and safeties David Bruton and Kyle McCarthy have been the sparkplugs of a unit that’s played considerably better than a year ago. When the Tar Heels aren’t getting from the special teams, the offense has struggled to sustain drives or have much success on the ground. If Clausen can stay hot, with the help of freshmen pass-catchers Michael Floyd and Kyle Rudolph, Notre Dame will soar past Carolina.
Why North Carolina might win
Clausen likely won’t stay hot. This will be the toughest test of the year for the young quarterback, who’ll be leaving the cozy confines of South Bend to face the nation’s 19th-ranked pass efficiency defense. Led by four from S Trimane Goddard, the Tar Heels already have a dozen picks and will continue getting support up front from one of the ACC’s top defensive lines. The Irish have played better along the offensive line, but could regress when going up against tackles Marvin Austin, Aleric Mullins, and Cam Thomas. If Clausen is kept in check, Notre Dame lacks the consistency in the running game to change gears on offense.
Who to Watch
If Notre Dame hopes to leave Kenan Stadium with an upset win, it better know where No. 54 in baby blue is at all times. Carolina LB Bruce Carter had one of the great quarters in special teams history, blocking three consecutive punts in the second frame, one of which was recovered for a touchdown. He’s also been disruptive on defense, a speedy playmaker who’s evolving into a star in his second season.
What Will Happen
This is a fork-in-the-road type game for a pair of burgeoning schools still unsure how far they can go this season. Carolina will knock Notre Dame down a peg by controlling the line of scrimmage and picking off a couple of Clausen's passes. The Heels will get enough from QB Cam Sexton and RB Shaun Draughn to hold off the Irish and pull within a win of bowl eligibility.
Latest Spread
North Carolina is favored at home by 7 points.
Prediction
North Carolina 27, Notre Dame 16
|
|
|
|
|
egami
Posts:5397
|
| 10/09/2008 10:39 AM |
Alert
|
| I also like K State on the road this week. |
|
Posted By Omahan on 11/04/2008 2:24 PM
I've worked very hard to become your friend egami. |
|
|
|
| You are not authorized to post a reply. |
|
|
|
ActiveForums 3.6
|
|
|
|