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Post by donaufan on Sept 5, 2007 10:57:28 GMT -5
SEC Game of the WeekVirginia Tech (1-0) at LSU (1-0) 9:15 PM ESPNWhy to Watch: This is the non-conference game we've been waiting eight months for. It's a battle between two of the best defenses in America and two BCS Championship caliber teams in a game that'll go a long way to shaping the national title race. Virginia Tech has to show that the sluggish 17-7 win over East Carolina had more to do with the weight and emotion of the outside circumstances than the potential problems on offense, while the Tigers are looking for the type of early season victory that would cement them in the top two as long as they keep winning. The defenses will be flying around and doing lots and lots of hitting in what should be a heavyweight war for a full sixty minutes. It's a who's who of star defensive players from LSU's Glenn Dorsey and Tyson Jackson, to Virginia Tech's Vince Hall, Xavier Adibi and Brandon Flowers, and it should be your dream come true if you like low scoring slugfests. It's also a dream come true for everyone looking for great games. Why Virginia Tech Might Win: As long as the Hokies can win the turnover battle, they have a shot. Mississippi State didn't play all that poorly against LSU, considering it was a 45-0 blowout, but it couldn't hang on to the ball and it allowed the Tiger offense to fire away from close range. The LSU attack still needs to prove it can be consistent, and if the Hokies don't screw up, play ball control offense, and force LSU to go on long drives, this will be close throughout. Punter Brent Bowden had a good opening day and should do his part to pin the Tigers deep. Why LSU Might Win: The Virginia Tech offensive line struggled against East Carolina's defensive front, and LSU's is far better. The Hokie formula has been to play great defense, win the special teams battle, and run effectively, but LSU is all but certain to take RB Branden Ore out of the equation and make QB Sean Glennon try to win the game. Glennon can be effective if he gets time, but the LSU pass rush could be too much for a Hokie line that gave up four sacks last week. Who to Watch: Call this a validation game for two controversial figures. Glennon started off his season by throwing his first pass for an interception, and then went 22 of 33 for 245 yards and a touchdown against East Carolina. While he's been good at times, he hasn't been consistent, and many see him as the one piece of the puzzle that's holding the Hokies back and keeping them from being a true national title contender. He needs to be razor sharp in his decision making, and he has to be absolutely sure on his throws against a lightning fast Tiger D. For LSU, new offensive coordinator Gary Crowton has to prove to the Tiger faithful that his attack can generate points against a top flight defense. While the Tigers put up 45 points on Mississippi State, the offense was hardly smooth and was helped by a D that forced seven turnovers. Virginia Tech's defense is good at making offenses look bad, but if Crowton is the elite coach he's supposed to be, the LSU offense should still produce. What Will Happen: The Hokies won 26-8 in Blacksburg in the first and only meeting in 2002, but the Tiger program has progressed by leaps and bounds since then. The Tigers are a little better on defense, and a lot better on offense, so as long as they're patient and don't give the Hokies any big breaks, they'll come up with a tough, somewhat ugly win. CFN Prediction: LSU 20 ... Virginia Tech 13 ... Line: LSU -8Must See Rating: (5 Mad Men - 1 Chelsea Lately) ... 5 cfn.scout.com/2/651707.html
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Post by atldawg272 on Sept 5, 2007 11:31:37 GMT -5
DonAU, hate to always do this to you, but could you post the rest of the article. Scout is blocked for me.
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Post by donaufan on Sept 5, 2007 11:43:53 GMT -5
DonAU, hate to always do this to you, but could you post the rest of the article. Scout is blocked for me. Yep, give me a sec
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Post by donaufan on Sept 5, 2007 11:49:43 GMT -5
Alabama (1-0) at Vanderbilt (1-0) 12:30 PM GamePlan Why to Watch: The second game of the Nick Saban era might appear to be a breather before facing showdowns with Arkansas, Georgia and Florida State, but this isn't the same sort of Vanderbilt team you're used to. The Commodores are loaded with experience, and has more talent than you might think. After trouncing Richmond 41-17, this is a chance to make the biggest home statement yet under head coach Bobby Johnson, and would likely mean a 4-0 start with Ole Miss and Eastern Michigan to follow. For Alabama, anything less than a relatively easy win would send off panic alarms. This might not be a world-beater of a Tide team, but there's more than enough talent on both sides of the ball to be a factor in the SEC race, even if it's by picking off some of the top teams. Bama has won 19 in a row over Vandy, with the last loss coming in 1984, and a loss this year would quickly sour the Saban lovefest. Even in rebuilding years, Alabama isn't supposed to lose to Vanderbilt. Why Alabama Might Win: Vanderbilt's biggest issue all year will be the secondary. It's not awful, but it's certainly not going to be the team's strength. Despite a good showing against Western Carolina last week, Bama's offensive strength all season long will be throwing the ball. The O line did a great job in week one, and it shouldn't have too much of a problem with a Commodore defensive front that's not great at getting into the backfield. Bama QB John Parker Wilson should have all day to throw. Why Vanderbilt Might Win: Will Alabama be able to pressure Vandy QB Chris Nickson? Getting to the quarterback on a consistent basis was a problem last year for the Tide, and while Saban wants to turn up the heat, he might not have the players to do it against a good offensive line like Vandy's that can do just enough to give its mobile quarterback time to operate. Unlike last year when Vandy lost 13-10, this is a more balanced offense that likely won't make as many mistakes. Who to Watch: Coming into the year, VU junior receiver Earl Bennett was considering among the best in the nation and an All-America candidate by most, and he did nothing to disappoint against Richmond with 13 catches for 223 yards and three scores. Going back to last year, over his last five games, including a four-catch, 16-yard performance against Tennessee, Bennett has made 50 grabs for 800 yards and six touchdowns. For Alabama, the big story of the first week was the ground game that cranked out 313 yards and six touchdowns led by Terry Grant, who tore off 134 yards and three scores on 18 carries. He's a small, quick back who might not be a workhorse, but could be extremely effective for stretches. What Will Happen: Vanderbilt has the type of team that could pull off a win like this, and it might if Nickson is hot and there aren't a slew of turnovers. However, the Commodores won't generate enough pressure to throw off John Parker Wilson, and the expected return of WR Keith Brown from suspension to help out D.J. Hall will tear up the VU secondary. CFN Prediction: Alabama 23 ... Vanderbilt 17... Line: Alabama -5 Must See Rating: (5 Mad Men - 1 Chelsea Lately) ... 3 Final Score:
South Carolina (1-0) at Georgia (1-0) 5:45 PM ESPN2 Why to Watch: Georgia came up with a fantastic 35-14 opening day win over a dangerous Oklahoma State team with the type of weapons that can light up just about anyone. The defense was all over the field and answered several early questions, while the offense had one of the best overall performances in the young Matthew Stafford era. Now the real season begins for the Dawgs in what could amount to an elimination game in the SEC East race. South Carolina overcame a series of suspensions and a bizarre end of the off-season to beat UL Lafayette 28-14. With LSU the next SEC date, the Gamecocks can't afford to lose here. Georgia won last year's matchup 18-0 and has won five straight and eight of the last ten. Why South Carolina Might Win: The Gamecock linebacking corps, led by Jasper and Casper Brinkley, came up with a great first game against UL Lafayette, and it should be able to keep the Georgia running game from cranking out a huge day. While the Ragin' Cajuns don't have much in the way of a passing game, the USC secondary had a nice first game. It'll be tested against an improved Georgia receiving corps, but it likely won't give up the big plays OSU did. Why Georgia Might Win: The Gamecock offensive line is still a major work in progress. It didn't have a great game against an overmatched ULL defensive front, and it should get shoved all over the place, and blown past, but a Georgia defensive front seven that was all over the place against the Cowboys. Georgia can make plays in the South Carolina backfield, but South Carolina can't make plays in the Georgia backfield. Who to Watch: Who'll be under center for South Carolina? Blake Mitchell was suspended for the season opener after cutting classes, and while he'll be coming in rusty, he'll likely be the starter. Mitchell was solid in the loss to Georgia last year completing 16 of 22 passes for 156 yards, but he failed to generate any points. If Steve Spurrier changes his mind at the last minute, it'll likely be up to Tommy Beecher to take over after Chris Smelley, the starter against ULL, hurt his shoulder. For Georgia, RB Thomas Brown ran extremely well last week after suffering a bad knee injury. While he only ran for 48 yards, he scored twice and showed flashes of his old burst. What Will Happen: Can Georgia play well two weeks in a row? Consistency could be a problem for the relatively young team that had to reload, but its defensive pressure will make up for other problems. It won't be a pretty game, but it should be a good defensive thriller for at least three quarters. CFN Prediction: Georgia 17 ... South Carolina 13 ... Line: Georgia -6.5 Must See Rating: (5 Mad Men - 1 Chelsea Lately) ... 3.5 Final Score:
Kent State (1-0) at Kentucky (1-0) 6:00 PM GamePlan Why to Watch: Don't look ahead to Louisville .. Don't look ahead to Louisville. All Kentucky has heard about ever since its offense made the program relevant has been Louisville. After years of getting pounded by its in-state rival, losing four straight including an ugly 59-28 blasting last year, UK fans are dying to get the Cardinals in Commonwealth next week. But first, UK has to deal with a sneaky-tough Kent State team with a nice defense and a decent running game. The Golden Flashes spoiled Gene Chizik's debut at Iowa State with a 23-14 win in Ames, and they're not going to be freaked out by going on the road to face a BCS league team. Why Kent State Might Win: It can't be overstated; Kentucky's head is firmly on the Louisville game. Oh sure, the players and coaches are all paying lip service to Kent State, but the media has started looking ahead, and it's not letting UK forget about it. Kent State's secondary is good enough to keep the high-powered UK passing game from exploding, while the running game is strong enough to keep the Wildcat offense off the field. Why Kentucky Might Win: The Golden Flashes might be solid, but they're not explosive. If the Wildcats can get up early and force KSU to start throwing, this won't be pretty, even though the UK secondary is still suspect. To pull off an upset like this, KSU needs everything to go right, and it'll be badly outplayed on special teams and won't generate enough pressure on Andre Woodson to slow down the air show. Who to Watch: Kent State has one of the MAC's more interesting backs in sophomore Eugene Jarvis, a 5-5 speedster who can be a surprisingly durable workhorse. He ran for 113 yards and a touchdown against Iowa State, and will also have to be worried about coming out of the backfield in the passing game. He needs to run 20 times or more and keep the clock rolling. If UK can shut him down, this likely won't be a close game. What Will Happen: Edelman will keep KSU in the game for about a half with a few brilliant plays that'll make the UK fans shift in their seats, and then Woodson will come up with two big passes and the Wildcats will pull away in the third. CFN Prediction: Kentucky 35 ... Kent State 20 ... Line: Kentucky -14 Must See Rating: (5 Mad Men - 1 Chelsea Lately) ... 2.5 Final Score:
Troy (0-1) at Florida (1-0) 6:00 PM Why to Watch: The defending national champions did what they were supposed to do in the opener against Western Kentucky, winning 49-3, and now there's a slight upgrade before the showdown with Tennessee. Troy has just enough of a defense, and a good, veteran quarterback in Omar Haugabook, that it could provide a few problems if Florida is already mentally gameplanning for the Volunteers, but it didn't show much in the 46-26 opening day loss to Arkansas. The defending Sun Belt champions aren't just going to roll over and give up when they see the Gator uniforms and could make this a ball game for a little while. Why Troy Might Win: While the Trojans didn't necessarily look like world-beaters against Arkansas, they have a talented defensive line and a great secondary that'll provide a bit of a push. Florida might be ultra-talented and with superior athleticism, but this is still a very, very young team that's due to start making some rookie mistakes on both sides of the ball. Even with the blowout win over WKU, Florida's defense had several missed tackles and didn't play as well as Urban Meyer would've liked. Why Florida Might Win: The speed of the Florida defense should be too much for the Trojans. Haugabook had a great game against Florida State last year, but he struggled with his consistency and threw too many interceptions. Against Arkansas, he only completed 15 of 43 passes for 204 yards and a touchdown, along with an interception. The Gator pass rush should have him on the move all game long, while there likely won't be any semblance of a running game if the UF front seven is focused. Who to Watch: In search of a consistent running game for a few years, Florida might have finally found its back to work around in junior Kestahn Moore. While not a superior talent, at least compared to other, less experienced options, he's a plugger who ran for 91 yards and two touchdowns against WKU and will likely get the boatload of the carries. The less running Tim Tebow has to do early on, the better. What Will Happen: This will be the type of game that Florida wins in a walk, but does just enough things wrong to get the coaching staff yelling. Haugabook will complete fewer than half his passes and will toss three picks that'll make a close game a blowout. CFN Prediction: Florida 38 ... Troy 14 ... Line: Florida -27.5 Must See Rating: (5 Mad Men - 1 Chelsea Lately) ... 2
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Post by atldawg272 on Sept 5, 2007 11:52:30 GMT -5
Awesome. Thanks.
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Post by donaufan on Sept 5, 2007 11:55:20 GMT -5
Missouri (1-0) at Ole Miss (1-0) 6:00 PM Why to Watch: Which Missouri team will show up? Will it be the one that was on its way to a blowout over Illinois, or the one that almost choked it away in the 40-34 win? This is one of the most talented teams in the Big 12 North, and it needs to get as many confidence-boosting wins before facing Nebraska in early October. A loss to the Rebels wouldn't be a total disaster, but for a team that's as flaky as they come, it could set the wheels in motion for a disappointing year. Ole Miss hung on to pull out a tough 23-21 win over Memphis. A home win over the Tigers would be the biggest in the Ed Orgeron era and would be a huge boost going into the SEC season with Vanderbilt, Florida and Georgia coming up over the following three weeks. Consider this a bowl game for the Rebels. Why Missouri Might Win: The Ole Miss offense appears to be better than last year, but it's still not going to hang up 45 points on the board. This isn't an Illinois-like offense with a slew of young talent to come up with a big comeback; if Mizzou gets up early, it'll stay there. As Memphis tried to come back on the Rebels last week, QB Martin Hankins threw the ball at will. Tiger QB Chase Daniel should be able to do the same if ... Why Ole Miss Might Win: ... his offensive line doesn't get him killed. The Tigers couldn't run the ball on the Illini thanks to a lousy day from the offensive line, while Daniel was sacked twice and under pressure all game long. Ole Miss might not have the most disciplined, stout defense, but it can get into the backfield and it'll be disruptive. Mizzou has problems when it becomes one dimensional. Take away the ground game, and things become interesting. Who to Watch: The big question all off-season for Ole Miss was whether or not the passing game could be any better. Brent Schaeffer struggled way too much last year, and senior Seth Adams had the spotlight squarely on him going into this season. While he wasn't out of this world, he completed 19 of 30 passes for 201 yards and a touchdown against Memphis, doing enough to force teams to worry about more than just RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Against Missouri, he won't have to match Daniel yard for yard, but he'll have to be efficient and he can't make mistakes. What Will Happen: Missouri will have to withstand an early surge of emotion as the Rebel defense will come out roaring. After about 20 minutes, the Tigers will hit on a big pass play to change the momentum, and then will get a crushing score that Ole Miss won't be able to answer. CFN Prediction: Missouri 27 ... Ole Miss 17 ... Line: Missouri -5.5 Must See Rating: (5 Mad Men - 1 Chelsea Lately) ... 2.5 Final Score:
Mississippi State (0-1) at Tulane (0-0) 7:00 PM Why to watch: After failing miserably in its first crack at an opponent from Louisiana, Mississippi State gets a second chance with this week’s visit to New Orleans to play Tulane. Already in dire need of a win after getting stuffed 45-0 by LSU in a turnover-fest, the Bulldogs and Sylvester Croom can ill afford another sloppy effort. The head coach’s eventual fate in Starkville might depend on the progress of his feeble offense, specifically QB Michael Henig, who threw six picks to the Tiger defense last Thursday night. Tulane pops the cork on its 2007 season after being one of a handful of programs that was idle last weekend. The game marks the debut of Bob Toledo, best known for his offensive ingenuity and up-and-down stint as UCLA’s head coach. It’s been five years since the Green Wave finished above .500, and a win over any SEC team would give a much-needed boost to a wobbly program. Why Mississippi State might win: Dig beneath the Bulldogs’ 45-0 loss to LSU, and you’ll notice a defense that played surprisingly well, and only trailed 3-0 just before halftime. Strong up front with DE Titus Brown and solid in the secondary behind the playmaking of FS Derek Pegues, Mississippi State will frustrate new Tulane QB Scott Elliott and the flimsy Green Wave front wall. If the offense doesn’t put them in constant holes, Mississippi State has the defenders to shut down a Tulane offense that’s still digesting a new system. Why Tulane might win: If Mississippi State continues to struggle with turnovers, it’ll be tough to beat anyone. Henig’s confidence is clearly shaken after last week’s debacle, something the Green Wave will attack with a veteran and underrated front seven. When healthy, Tulane RB Matt Forte is the best offensive weapon in this game. Forte’s healthy, and capable of carrying an offense that’ll take some time breaking in Elliott and the new passing game. Who to watch: With the Bulldog staff looking to take some pressure off Henig this week, it’s an ideal opportunity for powerful RB Anthony Dixon to have a monster game. At 6-1 and 235 pounds, he’s a downhill runner, who’ll rumble for his first 100-yard game of the season after going over the century mark twice as a true freshman last November. What will happen: Dixon will go blow-for-blow with Forte for player of the game honors, pulling away with a career day and a Mississippi State victory. The Bulldogs defensive line will control the line of scrimmage, getting a bunch of quarterback hurries from Brown. CFN Prediction: Mississippi State 27 ... Tulane 13 ... Line: Mississippi State -6 Must See Rating: (5 Mad Men - 1 Chelsea Lately) ... 2 Final Score:
Southern Miss (1-0) at Tennessee (0-1) 7:00 PM GamePlan Why to watch: For just the second time in 16 years under Phil Fulmer, Tennessee has to get off the mat and bounce back from an opening day loss. With a trip to Gainesville waiting in the on-deck circle, this Saturday’s visit from Southern Miss already qualifies as a must-win if the Vols have any thoughts of a January bowl game. While the UT offense was in mid-season form in the 45-31 loss to Cal, the defense was brutal, allowing 471 yards and missing nearly as many tackles. Running the new hurry-up offense, Erik Ainge showed no ill-effects from his broken pinky, going 32-of-47 for 271 yards and three touchdowns. Southern Miss has the reputation as a giant killer, but hasn’t had many notable non-conference wins this decade. A trip to Knoxville gives the Eagles a chance to change that while taking an early lead in the race to become this year’s Boise State. USM hardly broke a sweat in last week’s win over Tennessee-Martin, relying on two fixtures, a potent running attack and a solid D. Why Southern Miss might win: An uncharacteristically vulnerable Tennessee defense must now move forward without top pass-rusher Xavier Mitchell, who’s out indefinitely with a concussion. Southern Miss certainly isn’t Cal, but the Volunteers had no answers for the Golden Bear running game or passing attack. The Golden Eagles will establish a ground game behind Freshman All-American Damion Fletcher and backup Tory Harrison, putting the onus on QB Jeremy Young to locate TE Shawn Nelson and WR Torris Magee in the passing game. Why Tennessee might win: Led by Eric Young and the entire left side of the line, the Vols have a borderline dominant interior that’s good enough to offset Southern Miss’ strength in the front seven. With time, Ainge will carve up a suspect and beatable Golden Eagle secondary. An already balanced Tennessee offense gets a lift from the return of last-year’s leading rusher RB LaMarcus Coker, who was suspended for the opener and will join Arian Foster in the backfield. Who to watch: It’s only a matter of time before Tennessee true freshman DB Eric Berry emerges into a full-fledged star on the Volunteer defense. Already on the doorstep of a starting assignment, he had seven tackles in his debut, and has the size and cover skills to play either safety or corner. What will happen: With something to prove, Tennessee will play with a sense of purpose, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. Southern Miss lacks the passing game to really damage the Vol D and the cornerbacks to effectively shut down Ainge and the passing game. CFN Prediction: Tennessee 33 ... Southern Miss 14... Line: -13.5Must See Rating: (5 Mad Men - 1 Chelsea Lately) ... 2.5 Final Score:
South Florida (1-0) at Auburn (1-0) 9:00 PM ESPN2 Why to watch: South Florida has traveled light years in just a decade, but to really garner national attention, the Bulls will need to gore a name brand, out of conference opponent. Auburn, for instance. Quite possibly looking ahead to this Saturday, USF was sluggish and inconsistent in its 28-13 victory over I-AA Elon. The Bulls will again be led by versatile sophomore QB Matt Grothe and an attacking defense. The wild card is true freshman RB Mike Ford, a former Alabama commit, who’s commanding more playing time after exploding for 84 yards and three scores on just seven touches. Auburn also had trouble in its opener, narrowly surviving with a 23-13 win over a feisty Kansas State team that had the game in hand, but blew it late. If the Tigers are going to compete for an SEC title, it’ll be on the backs of a defense that only allowed one touchdown and 27 rushing yards Saturday night. Offensively, on the other hand, they’ve got a serious shortage of reliable blockers and dangerous playmakers to support veteran QB Brandon Cox. Why South Florida might win: The Bulls have the defensive speed and tenacity to harass a young Auburn line that starts two freshmen and is really struggling in pass protection. In particular, they’ll have their hands full with speedy DE George Selvie, who began his sophomore season with a whopping six tackles for loss and four sacks. With corners Trae Williams and Mike Jenkins blanketing the Tiger receivers and Cox short on time, it’ll be up to a depleted backfield to move the ball on the South Florida defense. Why Auburn might win: If the USF offense executes this weekend like it did last weekend, it won’t score. Auburn’s defense is the fastest the Bulls will see all year, and there’s no one on the offensive line that can contain ends Quentin Groves and Sen’Derrick Marks. Without much help from the running game, Grothe will try to do too much and be forced into making poor decisions. Who to watch: The Auburn kickers. Starter Wes Byrum is nursing a badly injured ankle, meaning kicking duties could be handled by a couple of complete unknowns, either freshman Graham Sutter or sophomore Zach Kutch. In a low-scoring game that might be decided by the special teams, the Tigers’ fate could rest on the foot of a frighteningly inexperienced kicker. What will happen: While this is not a vintage Tommy Tuberville team, Auburn will escape with a close home win for the second straight weekend. Points will come at a premium, making the turnover battle even more critical than usual. CFN Prediction: Auburn 21 ... South Florida 13 ... Line: Auburn -6 Must See Rating: (5 Mad Men - 1 Chelsea Lately) ... 4
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Post by donaufan on Sept 5, 2007 11:56:34 GMT -5
Your quite welcome, just remember this "IF" Georgia happens to get lucky and beat AU.
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LSUKNUT
Decurion
Kiss My Ass!
Posts: 1,414
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Post by LSUKNUT on Sept 5, 2007 11:59:33 GMT -5
Why Vanderbilt Might Win:
What?!!! That would be bigger than the Mich. loss to App. St. to me. I still believe Miss St. has a better chance this year though.
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Post by donaufan on Sept 5, 2007 12:01:31 GMT -5
Why Vanderbilt Might Win: What?!!! That would be bigger than the Mich. loss to App. St. to me. I still believe Miss St. has a better chance this year though. Vanderbilt has all the smartest guys they got working on a formula to beat the Tide. GO DORES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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LSUKNUT
Decurion
Kiss My Ass!
Posts: 1,414
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Post by LSUKNUT on Sept 5, 2007 12:10:20 GMT -5
I'm sure you know the Vandy chant Don.......Hey, hey, he, he, one day you'll be working for me.
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Post by donaufan on Sept 5, 2007 12:11:44 GMT -5
I have heard that, and believe it is possible.
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Post by donaufan on Sept 5, 2007 12:16:08 GMT -5
Oregon (1-0) at Michigan (0-1) 3:30 PM ABC Why to Watch: If you weren't interested in this matchup before, you certainly are now. A national punchline after the epic loss to Appalachian State, this is the first game of the rest of Michigan's life. Call it Game One A.A.S. The entire program is on the line as a loss to the Ducks might speed up the Lloyd Carr retirement process, while further crushing the current reputation of the former Leaders and the Best. A loss would mark the first time since 1990 that the program has lost back-to-back home dates. Oregon also has a few reputation issues to deal with despite blowing past a decent Houston team in the opening weekend. The Ducks fell off the map over the final four games of last year, and a win over Michigan in the Big House, even a reeling Michigan, would still mean something special for the program as well as the Pac 10. Oregon won the last meeting between the two, a 31-27 thriller in 2003, but lost its following three games, while Michigan went on to play USC in the Rose Bowl. Why Oregon Might Win: If Appalachian State could do that with a mobile quarterback and speedy skill players, it's possible that Dennis Dixon and the Duck speedsters could blow past the Michigan defense like it was standing still. The Wolverines didn't tackle, were woefully out of position, and generally looked lost all game long. Dixon tore off 141 yards against the Cougars last week and will be sure to test the Wolverine front seven from the start. Defensively, the Ducks have a secondary just good enough to force Michigan to become one-dimensional for stretches, however ... Why Michigan Might Win: ... that one dimension will dominate. The Oregon front seven can be shoved around and blown past. Michigan might not have a blur of a runner like Houston's Anthony Alridge (who tore off 205 of Houston's 315 rushing yards), but Mike Hart will certainly get his share of carries to let the big Wolverine O line get into a lather. This will be a very, very angry team coming out of the tunnel, and it's sure to be physical from the opening snap. Oregon will have Michigan's full attention; there will be no looking ahead to Notre Dame. Who to Watch: LB Shawn Crable and SS Jamar Adams. These are two of Michigan's all-star caliber defenders, and they were supposed to be the leaders and stars to revolve the rebuilt defense around. Adams is a big hitter who seemed a step off time and again when it came to providing help last week, even though he came up with seven tackles, and Crable led the way with ten stops. These two must play better to keep Dixon and RB Jonathan Stewart from breaking off the long runs that ASU QB Armanti Edwards was able to tear off. What Will Happen: Now we really find out if Michigan is any good. There aren't any excuses now about focus or concentration. Either this was the team everyone thought belonged among the top five in America, or it gets further exposed as a mighty fraud. It's a combination of the two. The offense will make up for the defense's continued woes with Hart running for 200 yards on the way to a tight win. Expect plenty of fireworks on both sides of the ball. CFN Prediction: Michigan 38 ... Oregon 30... Line: Michigan -6 Must See Rating: (5 Mad Men - 1 Chelsea Lately) ... 4.5
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Post by donaufan on Sept 5, 2007 12:18:25 GMT -5
Notre Dame (0-1) at Penn State (1-0) 6:00 PM ESPN Why to Watch: Maybe Georgia Tech is simply really, really good. Notre Dame came up with one of its worst opening day performances in school history with a 33-3 loss to Georgia Tech. Nothing worked. There was no running game (netting -8 yards), little in the way of a passing attack (130 yards), and no run defense (allowing 265 yards). With Michigan (and yes, Michigan is actually good), a resurgent Michigan State, a high-octane Purdue, a road trip to UCLA, Boston College, and USC coming up, the Irish have to start making improvements right now. Good luck with that against a Penn State defense that appears to be as nasty as any in the Big Ten. The Nittany Lions throttled FIU 59-0 to start the season and can be 3-0, for all intents and purposes, (Buffalo is coming to town next week) by keeping the Irish slide going. Going back to last year, Notre Dame has gotten bombed 114 to 41 over a three game losing streak. Why Notre Dame Might Win: Penn State doesn't really have a running game. Yeah, yeah, it cranked out 236 yards and five touchdowns against FIU, but that was FIU. You could've run for 100 yards on that D if you got the ball 25 times. The Nittany Lion offensive line is good, but it's not as good as Georgia Tech's, and there's no Tashard Choice in the backfield to pound away. Austin Scott averaged a mere 4.2 yards per carry, while Rodney Kinlaw and Evan Royster aren't going to run for more than eight yards a crack again. Why Penn State Might Win: This is a far, far cry from the Notre Dame offense with Brady Quinn, Jeff Samardzija and Darius Walker. The Irish survived last year because Quinn was able to make quick reads and smart decisions despite getting popped every other play. The Irish quarterbacks aren't as good (at least not yet), and there's no talent at running back whatsoever to take the pressure off. Don't totally blame the skill players for the collapse against Tech; no one had time to operate. The offensive line is still a major problem, while Penn State's linebacking corps should be able to get into the backfield whenever it wants to. Who to Watch: O.K. hotshot, the team is yours. Hyped up freshman quarterback Jimmy Clausen will get the start for the Irish after the game of musical quarterbacks failed miserably against the Yellow Jackets. Clausen completed four of six passes for 34 yards and didn't move the offense at all, but it's going to be sink-or-swim for the franchise passer as long as he holds up. To have any success, he needs help from a running back. Any running back. The leading rusher last week was quarterback Demetrius Jones with just 28 yards. Armando Allen ran for 25 and James Aldridge ran for 19. Trying to establish a ground game against the Penn State linebacking corps isn't going to be easy. What Will Happen: Penn State got throttled 41-17 by the Irish last year. Considering Penn State is ultra-motivated to get revenge for the blowout, the Irish might be lucky if the score isn't reversed. CFN Prediction: Penn State 38 ... Notre Dame 17 ... Line: Penn State -14.5Must See Rating: (5 Mad Men - 1 Chelsea Lately) ... 3
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Post by raleighrebel on Sept 6, 2007 10:06:30 GMT -5
I like it. Of course, I want the Ole Miss and Mizzou score flipped, but besides that, it looked good.
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Post by nvajacketsfan on Sept 6, 2007 10:12:01 GMT -5
Does anyone else think the 17 points for ND is being optimistic? I would love to have them be more successful know that we pounded them, but I didn't really see anything in the game that makes me think they will have that kind of offense against PSU, Michigan maybe but not PSU.
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Post by loadtoad on Sept 6, 2007 10:13:44 GMT -5
It's football, anything can happen. But with a freshman QB starting in a white out in Happy Valley and lack of running game, I don't see it happening.
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Post by dawgsfan59 on Sept 6, 2007 10:23:29 GMT -5
Man talk about balls, predicting MI to take down Oregon. I just dont see that one happening.
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Post by nvajacketsfan on Sept 6, 2007 10:31:42 GMT -5
Man talk about balls, predicting MI to take down Oregon. I just dont see that one happening. They will sure as hell be motivated to take out their anger on Oregon. I think the normal vision may be correct, that they spent the off season preparing for THIS game instead of last week. Wouldn't surprise me if they beat the ducks.
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Post by dawgsfan59 on Sept 6, 2007 10:37:09 GMT -5
They very well may, however I just dont see it. Can you imagine what the ducks fans will through and everyone else this season that MI beats. Damn I am glad GA doesnt have to play these guys. lol
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Post by loadtoad on Sept 6, 2007 11:06:23 GMT -5
UM still does have a great offense so it is hard to say who show's up. We know the defense won't show up against a mobile QB
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Post by akbuckeye on Sept 6, 2007 13:56:36 GMT -5
CFN Prediction: LSU 20 ... Virginia Tech 13 ... Line: LSU -8
Wow! They are picking VT to cover the spread, I see LSU easily covering this one at home. I also think Michigan comes out with a chip on thier shoulder and beats Oregon and covers. I think Auburn wins a close one but does not cover the spread.
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Post by nvajacketsfan on Sept 6, 2007 13:59:59 GMT -5
CFN Prediction: LSU 20 ... Virginia Tech 13 ... Line: LSU -8 Wow! They are picking VT to cover the spread, I see LSU easily covering this one at home. I also think Michigan comes out with a chip on thier shoulder and beats Oregon and covers. I think Auburn wins a close one but does not cover the spread. I think the Hokie have a very good chance to cover because the spread is double digits. I don't see this game going over 40 points total.
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