The Sports Rumors

The BCS National Championship Game

Jan 7, 8:30pm FOX, The BCS National Championship Game, #1 Ohio State (11-1) vs #2 Louisiana State (11-2)

Well, its here folks. The mythical national championship game is upon us. OSU vs LSU for all the marbles. In a season that did nothing but prove that a playoff is needed to crown a championship, we are given this game for all the marbles. Who’s gonna take home the trophy? Let’s take a look…

OFFENSE: The edge here goes to LSU. They have athletes coming out the wazoo on offense, and we already know Les Miles won’t hesitate to make the gutsy call. They have a rotating qb system led by SR Matt Flynn and Ryan Perrilloux and a whole slew of running backs that can get it done, with Jacob Hester being the main horse. In a defensive struggle, I give them the nod. Ohio State is too vanilla on offense for my taste. Beanie Wells is an okay back, but nothing overtly special, just another typical Big 10/11 back. Todd Boeckman, despite being hyped by Jessie Palmer and ESPN, is nothing special at all; his saving grace is that he isn’t known to make dumb decisions.

DEFENSE: This is where the NFL calibur talent exists in this game. Glenn Dorsey, despite being injured by a cut block by Auburn, is a beast; look for him to take at least a double-team all game, he is an impact player. James Laurinitis is the main man on the Ohio State defense, he is very good but not great; I suspect if he played for anyone other than Ohio State that he would not be an all-american, but I digress. At any rate, this will be a defensive struggle with LSU having the ever-so-slight edge.

SPECIAL TEAMS: The edge clearly goes to LSU. Les Miles will pull out all the stops in this area (see: USC game). OSU isn’t bad on special teams but LSU is coached up much more and executes better.

Look for LSU to celebrate in their home away from home tonight.

Pick: LSU 28 - OSU 24

The Orange Bowl

I missed my preview of the Orange Bowl because I was traveling there and never got to it. I have many thoughts about that abortion of a game. Sit down, this is going to get ugly:

• Bryan Stinespring is *the worst* offensive coordinator in college football today, period. Brandon Ore was dominating on the ground… one of the only times this season he has done so and we just stop handing the ball off and turn into Hawaii on offense. Inexcusable. If I were to be that inept at my job, I would be fired.
• Frank Beamer. What were you doing this past month? It was apparent in the stands Thursday night that focusing on football was not in the Hokies’ itinerary. It looked like the players were sluggish and complacent and, to be frank, they looked like they were just happy to be there and wanted no part in that game. For Shame Frank, this is why Hokie football gets disrespected.
• The weather was horrible. I thought I was going to Miami. This has nothing to do with VT football, but it still angered me when I arrived that it was 45 degrees and raining.
• Back to Frank Beamer. Shaun put it best with his phone call after the game: “I didn’t think there was any way we would lose to Kansas but I’m really not surprised.” Virginia Tech is 1/5 in the last 5 bowl games we have been in. Pathetic. Only UNC and Dook have worse Bowl records in the ACC. You are starting to lose your touch, Frank. I love what you have done with the team but I can’t stand to see any more games like this. How VT can lose national games in which we are favored is beyond me. Is the stage too big? Is the seat too hot? Perhaps it is time for you to move on to AD and hand the reins to Bud Foster.

I paid all that hard-earned money to go down to Miami in crappy weather and watch my favorite team in any level, any sport crap the bed. I am not amused.

BCS Bowl Predictions 3/5

Jan 2, 8:30pm FOX, The Fiesta Bowl, #9 WVU (10-2) vs #4 Oklahoma (11-2)

Here’s all you need to know about this game.  It’s not going to be pretty.  Oklahoma had all year to think about how Boise State embarrassed them last year with the 43-42 thriller.  In case they began to forget, Boise State’s quarterback grazed the cover of NCAA 2008.  That can’t be a good feeling for Oklahoma players or fans.  The Sooners offense will be too much for WVU’s 3-3-5 defense to handle.  Furthermore, the WVU offense won’t rack up the yards on the ground the way they did against other teams this year.  We’re talking about Oklahoma… not Louisville or Rutgers.  These players are big, fast, ferocious, and will sniff out the run early.  That means Pat White will have to win this game with his arm.  The chances of that happening aren’t slim… the chances of that happening are NONE.  With Rich Rodriguez being gone, the special teams will probably not have the intensity it had all season. 

In short, Oklahoma will blow out WVU and you might want to find something else to watch by 9:30pm.

WVU 17  Oklahoma 38

BCS Bowl Predictions (2/5)

Jan 1, 8:30pm FOX, The Sugar Bowl, #4 Georgia (10-2) vs #10 Hawaii (12-0)

I know I said that I would provide a more in-depth preview for the BCS games but, honestly, this game doesn’t deserve it. To quote a friend’s father: “Hawaii is a paper tiger only, they fattened themselves up by playing St. Mary’s school for the blind.”

Hawaii is good on O but, once again, we have no idea just how good they are because they have played literally nobody. Even at that, their D is suspect. Look for Knowshon Moreno to continue to remind folks in Athens of a man named Herschel.

Pick: Georgia 31 - Hawaii 21

BCS Bowl Predictions (1/5)

Now that the lower-tiered bowls are out of the way, I can focus on the BCS previews. For these, I will go a little more in-depth than the previous picks.First up, “The Granddaddy of them All.”

Jan 1, 4:30pm ABC, The Rose Bowl, #6 Southern California (10-2) vs #13 Illinois (9-3)

When this matchup came up, I was very puzzled to say the least. Although Illinois had a very good year, especially considering their previous years, the Big10/11 was A-W-F-U-L this year. I understand the “tradition” of the Rose Bowl dictates a Pac10 vs Big10/11 showdown, but seriously the Rose Bowl needs to get over itself and start playing nicely with others. They need to give people games they want to see, and not be so locked into mindless tradition.

At any rate, when Southern California (notice how I do not say USC because that team resides in Columbia, SC) has the ball, look for them to lull Illinois to sleep with their stable of dominating running backs, then strike quick with the play action. Look for TE Fred Davis to have a good day against the Illini.

On the Illinois side of the ball, they have some definite playmakers. Rashard Mendenhall is an absolute monster, gaining 1526 yards on 245 carries this season, with QB Juice Williams sitting at 774 yards rushing and 1498 yards passing. Although the Illini are the definition of 1-dimensional, that one demension is utilized very well in the spread option scheme. Most importantly, they do not turn the ball over very much. Southern California is 4th in the nation in rushing defense, but they will still have their hands full with Illinois. The Zooker will be studying copious tapes of SoCal’s game against Oregon for inspiration.

Special teams seem to be a wash, with maybe a slight edge given to Illinois.

Pick: Southern California 34 - Illinois 17

Week 8 College Rankings

South Florida people are going to hate me but I really couldn’t care less.  I said they play sloppy and wouldn’t last a whole season and guess what, they didn’t.  I’m in love with Florida and am more impressed with them as they mature more and more each week.  Glad to see Michigan on the upswing again.  That Ohio State-Michigan game will be a big one.  I would love to see Michigan come back and stick it to the Buckeyes who mocked them when they lost to Appalachian St.  Enjoy the rankings…