Cup O' Joe - 2005 Quarterfinal Predictions
Cup O' Joe - Quarterfinal Predictions
Last Round Record: 7-1
Clemson vs Georgia: I expect the Bulldogs to run over Clemson in this one. Clemson's pass-happy offense will serve them well; however, you can't score if you don't have the ball. I think Isaac Allen, Jared Bingaman and company will hold onto the ball, and I also expect the blitzing of Georgia to be a key. Kurt Laird has proven to be off when he's forced to make decisions quickly; Georgia's front seven can get after Laird and force some decisions he doesn't want to make. This is the key to the victory, I believe. Statistically, these two teams are close. But if Allen is not forced to win the game for the Bulldogs through the air (he is capable, but Clemson's pass defense is fourth in the nation), I think Georgia takes this one.
Pick: Georgia 27, Clemson 20
Texas A&M vs Minnesota: This one just screams Marion Songin. Yes, Minnesota's run defense is incredible, at seventh in the nation. They're led by LB Harry Diamond, who plays like a maniac after the ball. But this is Marion Songin. He led the nation in rushing. Scored 18 touchdowns. Created his own runs when the play was busted. He averaged 213 yards a game. Something is going to give, and I'll tell you what...it won't be Songin. Nobody has stopped him this year, and I don't expect the Golden Gophers to be the first. Art Webb may have a great game to keep the Gophers in it, but I think this one is going to A&M.
Pick: Texas A&M 24, Minnesota 21
Louisville vs USC: USC's suddenly magical run continues. This team is peaking at the right time. Granted, Air Force was overmatched by their talent. Louisville will be better equipped to handle them. But USC is still the better team here, especially defensively (which, at one point this season, would have been ludicrious to say). Eddie Scifres will have some difficulty against this front seven, and while Boo Krutko had the game of his life against Ohio State (3 TD), he'll be hard-pressed to do it two games in a row. I expect Jarmar McCloughan and Jasen Spurrier to lead USC with balanced offense, much like they did in the Air Force game. This should be a Trojan victory, which will set up an unlikely showdown with Texas A&M in the national semifinals.
Pick: USC 31, Louisville 21
Florida State vs Florida: A rematch from a few weeks ago, won by Florida, this game should go entirely different than their first encounter. The Seminoles will be looking for blood, and Ronde Samuels will be their go-guy guy to get the job done. Samuels was held to just one touchdown pass in their first encounter. I don't expect that to happen again. Look for some gameplan adjustments by the 'Noles coaching staff to be the difference. I look for a lot of playaction, a lot of scrambling plays by Samuels, and a lot of different looks on defense by FSU. Then I look for a runaway victory by Florida State. The only way Florida wins this game is by ball control, in my view. I don't see Moe Levcik and Vyto Laing having the kind of game they had the first time, though. This one is all Florida State.
Pick: Florida State 38, Florida 24
Last Round Record: 7-1
Clemson vs Georgia: I expect the Bulldogs to run over Clemson in this one. Clemson's pass-happy offense will serve them well; however, you can't score if you don't have the ball. I think Isaac Allen, Jared Bingaman and company will hold onto the ball, and I also expect the blitzing of Georgia to be a key. Kurt Laird has proven to be off when he's forced to make decisions quickly; Georgia's front seven can get after Laird and force some decisions he doesn't want to make. This is the key to the victory, I believe. Statistically, these two teams are close. But if Allen is not forced to win the game for the Bulldogs through the air (he is capable, but Clemson's pass defense is fourth in the nation), I think Georgia takes this one.
Pick: Georgia 27, Clemson 20
Texas A&M vs Minnesota: This one just screams Marion Songin. Yes, Minnesota's run defense is incredible, at seventh in the nation. They're led by LB Harry Diamond, who plays like a maniac after the ball. But this is Marion Songin. He led the nation in rushing. Scored 18 touchdowns. Created his own runs when the play was busted. He averaged 213 yards a game. Something is going to give, and I'll tell you what...it won't be Songin. Nobody has stopped him this year, and I don't expect the Golden Gophers to be the first. Art Webb may have a great game to keep the Gophers in it, but I think this one is going to A&M.
Pick: Texas A&M 24, Minnesota 21
Louisville vs USC: USC's suddenly magical run continues. This team is peaking at the right time. Granted, Air Force was overmatched by their talent. Louisville will be better equipped to handle them. But USC is still the better team here, especially defensively (which, at one point this season, would have been ludicrious to say). Eddie Scifres will have some difficulty against this front seven, and while Boo Krutko had the game of his life against Ohio State (3 TD), he'll be hard-pressed to do it two games in a row. I expect Jarmar McCloughan and Jasen Spurrier to lead USC with balanced offense, much like they did in the Air Force game. This should be a Trojan victory, which will set up an unlikely showdown with Texas A&M in the national semifinals.
Pick: USC 31, Louisville 21
Florida State vs Florida: A rematch from a few weeks ago, won by Florida, this game should go entirely different than their first encounter. The Seminoles will be looking for blood, and Ronde Samuels will be their go-guy guy to get the job done. Samuels was held to just one touchdown pass in their first encounter. I don't expect that to happen again. Look for some gameplan adjustments by the 'Noles coaching staff to be the difference. I look for a lot of playaction, a lot of scrambling plays by Samuels, and a lot of different looks on defense by FSU. Then I look for a runaway victory by Florida State. The only way Florida wins this game is by ball control, in my view. I don't see Moe Levcik and Vyto Laing having the kind of game they had the first time, though. This one is all Florida State.
Pick: Florida State 38, Florida 24
posted by The Incoherent | 2:09 PM
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