Cup O' Joe - First Round Predictions
Cup O' Joe - First Round Predictions
by Joe Simpson
With the playoffs in full swing, let's take a look at the matchups, and who I think will win.
#1 Georgia (12-0, SEC Champs) vs #16 UTEP (6-6, CUSA Champs)
Georgia is the unquestioned top team in the nation, and they get a team that shocked Marshall in the Conference USA Championship Game. The Miners simply don't match up well with this group. Ramon Shipp rushed for nearly 1200 yards, but with only three TD. He hasn't faced a defense like Georgia's; meanwhile, Georgia hasn't faced a team as scatterbrained as UTEP. Ian Allen, Jared Bingaman, and Erik Hargett are better than anyone UTEP has. I think Georgia could field their second string and win by three touchdowns. UTEP pulled off a big upset to get here, but this one is way too much for them to handle.
Pick: Georgia 48, UTEP 10
#2 Minnesota (10-1, At Large) vs #15 Troy (8-3, Sun Belt Champs)
Another overmatched opponent. These playoffs, in the long run, are good for the game. I think the overall sport will be enhanced by these small schools making the playoffs, getting to play with the big boys...and, over time, those smaller schools, like Troy, UTEP, and Miami (OH) be able to compete with the best. But, for now, they're going to take their knocks. Minnesota has Art Webb, and an aggressive defense led by Harry Diamond. That is more than enough to overwhelm the Trojans, who had quite a great year. The Sun Belt champs will need a monster game from QB Jared Uwaezuoke just to be in the game. They're young everywhere else, and without much of a rushing attack, they're going to be forced to win the game through the air. Good luck with that.
Pick: Minnesota 38, Troy 6
#3 Ohio State (10-1, Big Ten Champs) vs #14 Louisville (10-2, Big East Champs)
Ohio State got a bad draw in this field. The Big Ten champs have to face the Big East champs, and while the Big East was down this year, Louisville can hang with the Buckeyes. This could go either way. I think Ohio State will wear down the Cardinals, who peaked in midseason, beating Pittsburgh and West Virginia to secure tiebreakers in the conference. They would need the tiebreaker on WVU, as Rutgers routed them in the Big East finale. The Cardinals stumbled to wins over Florida International and Kentucky, and have limped to this spot. But, despite all of that, they are dangerous. I expect the Buckeyes to stack nine in the box on Louisville RB Eddie Scifres (1,042 yards, 6 TD), and force senior QB Boo Krutko to beat them. The problem for Louisville is, Krutko only threw four TD passes this year. Louisville is going to have a hard time holding JR Neumann (2,087 yards, 15 TD) from breaking big runs. And if they try to stack the box on him, QB Elmer Tennell (2,573 yards, 22 TD, 170 RAT) is ready to throw over the top. Ohio State has balance Louisville hasn't seen, and that will be their downfall. Expect it to be real close, and an upset isn't out of the picture.
Pick: Ohio State 28, Louisville 27
#4 Florida State (12-1, ACC Champs) vs #13 Miami-OH (9-3, MAC Champs)
Florida State has Heisman Trophy winner Ronde Samuels and Wes Baniewicz on offense. They have Maxie Samuel on defense. Miami does not. Miami does have running back Dainon Simmonds (1412 yards, 8 TD). But that's not enough to ward off the ACC champs, who many consider to be the favorites to win the national title. Miami should, however, take solace in the fact that they were, far and away, the best Miami team in the nation this year.
Pick: FSU 34, Miami OH 13
#5 Florida (10-2, At Large) vs #12 Boise State (10-2, WAC Champs)
This is the toughest game, I think, out of all to predict. Boise State can flat out play. They have a solid offense, led by redshirt junior QB Orson Shehee (3129 yards, 24 TD, 10 INT) and senior RB Roy Dess (1583 yards, 9 TD). The defense, led by LB Lou Wheatley and DE JJ Bowen, is very underrated. They're scrappy. They somehow find a way to win. Florida has been susceptible to sloppy play at times this year. But then Moe Levcik (1696 yards, 10 TD), Vyto Laing (2791 yards, 24 TD, 7 INT), and company turn around and beat a team like Florida State. So the question is, which team will show up? If it's the team that beat Florida State, the Broncos don't stand a chance. I'm not sure Florida can duplicate that effort; but I also think they won't duplicate the 7-0 effort against Kentucky. In short, I think Florida has the upper hand, behind Levcik and their pair of stud wideouts, Laurie Swartz and Jim Hawkes. But, if they stumble, Boise State will make them pay, quite possibly, perhaps, with their tournament life.
Pick: Florida 33, Boise State 27 (OT)
#6 Air Force (11-0, MWC Champs) vs #11 USC (8-3, Pac 10 Champs)
Air Force got a bad draw after such a good year. USC is more talented than anyone Air Force has seen, and while they are inconsistent (especially on defense), they're going to pose matchup problems that the Falcons have not have had to gameplan against. I expect this to go down to the wire, but behind RB Jason Spurrier, I think the Trojans pull this out.
Pick: USC 23, Air Force 20
#7 Colorado (9-3, At Large) vs #10 Texas A&M (10-2, At Large)
Marion Songin, meet the Buffaloes. These two teams didn't meet in the regular season, but this is as much of a toss-up as you can get. Ethan Kiick is as talented as Songin, but his line isn't quite as strong, and he got less publicity as a result. He rushed for 1951 yards and 13 TD, and he will pose all sorts of headaches for the Aggies. Kynan Stamer should have a field day against an Aggies defense that will have to pick its poison, and try and stop one of them. On the other side, Samari Dennison will have to step up if the Aggies are going to win. It's not out of the question. He did throw for 2635 yards and 21 TD. But 13 INT came up with that, and he has had long stretches of inconsistency. That said, he could be up for this challenge. Colorado's pass defense is not that strong. I think this game will go back and forth, and it could come down to whoever has the ball last. Songin will do everything he can to ensure that this is not his swan song, and I think the Aggies will move on...by the skin of their teeth.
Pick: Texas A&M 30, Colorado 27
#8 Clemson (10-2, At Large) vs #9 Missouri (10-2, Big XII Champs)
Missouri peaked in the Big XII Championship Game upset of Oklahoma. Kurt Laird is ready to throw all over this team. I think this is going to be a shootout, one that screams "Clemson victory!" Missouri has The Monster (Cookie Overstreet) and Cannonball Neighbors at RB...but they don't have Laird, RB Art Bedsole, or CB Buford Bruer. All signs point to Clemson for a big victory, and a showdown with Georgia in the quarterfinals.
Pick: Clemson 41, Missouri 27
by Joe Simpson
With the playoffs in full swing, let's take a look at the matchups, and who I think will win.
#1 Georgia (12-0, SEC Champs) vs #16 UTEP (6-6, CUSA Champs)
Georgia is the unquestioned top team in the nation, and they get a team that shocked Marshall in the Conference USA Championship Game. The Miners simply don't match up well with this group. Ramon Shipp rushed for nearly 1200 yards, but with only three TD. He hasn't faced a defense like Georgia's; meanwhile, Georgia hasn't faced a team as scatterbrained as UTEP. Ian Allen, Jared Bingaman, and Erik Hargett are better than anyone UTEP has. I think Georgia could field their second string and win by three touchdowns. UTEP pulled off a big upset to get here, but this one is way too much for them to handle.
Pick: Georgia 48, UTEP 10
#2 Minnesota (10-1, At Large) vs #15 Troy (8-3, Sun Belt Champs)
Another overmatched opponent. These playoffs, in the long run, are good for the game. I think the overall sport will be enhanced by these small schools making the playoffs, getting to play with the big boys...and, over time, those smaller schools, like Troy, UTEP, and Miami (OH) be able to compete with the best. But, for now, they're going to take their knocks. Minnesota has Art Webb, and an aggressive defense led by Harry Diamond. That is more than enough to overwhelm the Trojans, who had quite a great year. The Sun Belt champs will need a monster game from QB Jared Uwaezuoke just to be in the game. They're young everywhere else, and without much of a rushing attack, they're going to be forced to win the game through the air. Good luck with that.
Pick: Minnesota 38, Troy 6
#3 Ohio State (10-1, Big Ten Champs) vs #14 Louisville (10-2, Big East Champs)
Ohio State got a bad draw in this field. The Big Ten champs have to face the Big East champs, and while the Big East was down this year, Louisville can hang with the Buckeyes. This could go either way. I think Ohio State will wear down the Cardinals, who peaked in midseason, beating Pittsburgh and West Virginia to secure tiebreakers in the conference. They would need the tiebreaker on WVU, as Rutgers routed them in the Big East finale. The Cardinals stumbled to wins over Florida International and Kentucky, and have limped to this spot. But, despite all of that, they are dangerous. I expect the Buckeyes to stack nine in the box on Louisville RB Eddie Scifres (1,042 yards, 6 TD), and force senior QB Boo Krutko to beat them. The problem for Louisville is, Krutko only threw four TD passes this year. Louisville is going to have a hard time holding JR Neumann (2,087 yards, 15 TD) from breaking big runs. And if they try to stack the box on him, QB Elmer Tennell (2,573 yards, 22 TD, 170 RAT) is ready to throw over the top. Ohio State has balance Louisville hasn't seen, and that will be their downfall. Expect it to be real close, and an upset isn't out of the picture.
Pick: Ohio State 28, Louisville 27
#4 Florida State (12-1, ACC Champs) vs #13 Miami-OH (9-3, MAC Champs)
Florida State has Heisman Trophy winner Ronde Samuels and Wes Baniewicz on offense. They have Maxie Samuel on defense. Miami does not. Miami does have running back Dainon Simmonds (1412 yards, 8 TD). But that's not enough to ward off the ACC champs, who many consider to be the favorites to win the national title. Miami should, however, take solace in the fact that they were, far and away, the best Miami team in the nation this year.
Pick: FSU 34, Miami OH 13
#5 Florida (10-2, At Large) vs #12 Boise State (10-2, WAC Champs)
This is the toughest game, I think, out of all to predict. Boise State can flat out play. They have a solid offense, led by redshirt junior QB Orson Shehee (3129 yards, 24 TD, 10 INT) and senior RB Roy Dess (1583 yards, 9 TD). The defense, led by LB Lou Wheatley and DE JJ Bowen, is very underrated. They're scrappy. They somehow find a way to win. Florida has been susceptible to sloppy play at times this year. But then Moe Levcik (1696 yards, 10 TD), Vyto Laing (2791 yards, 24 TD, 7 INT), and company turn around and beat a team like Florida State. So the question is, which team will show up? If it's the team that beat Florida State, the Broncos don't stand a chance. I'm not sure Florida can duplicate that effort; but I also think they won't duplicate the 7-0 effort against Kentucky. In short, I think Florida has the upper hand, behind Levcik and their pair of stud wideouts, Laurie Swartz and Jim Hawkes. But, if they stumble, Boise State will make them pay, quite possibly, perhaps, with their tournament life.
Pick: Florida 33, Boise State 27 (OT)
#6 Air Force (11-0, MWC Champs) vs #11 USC (8-3, Pac 10 Champs)
Air Force got a bad draw after such a good year. USC is more talented than anyone Air Force has seen, and while they are inconsistent (especially on defense), they're going to pose matchup problems that the Falcons have not have had to gameplan against. I expect this to go down to the wire, but behind RB Jason Spurrier, I think the Trojans pull this out.
Pick: USC 23, Air Force 20
#7 Colorado (9-3, At Large) vs #10 Texas A&M (10-2, At Large)
Marion Songin, meet the Buffaloes. These two teams didn't meet in the regular season, but this is as much of a toss-up as you can get. Ethan Kiick is as talented as Songin, but his line isn't quite as strong, and he got less publicity as a result. He rushed for 1951 yards and 13 TD, and he will pose all sorts of headaches for the Aggies. Kynan Stamer should have a field day against an Aggies defense that will have to pick its poison, and try and stop one of them. On the other side, Samari Dennison will have to step up if the Aggies are going to win. It's not out of the question. He did throw for 2635 yards and 21 TD. But 13 INT came up with that, and he has had long stretches of inconsistency. That said, he could be up for this challenge. Colorado's pass defense is not that strong. I think this game will go back and forth, and it could come down to whoever has the ball last. Songin will do everything he can to ensure that this is not his swan song, and I think the Aggies will move on...by the skin of their teeth.
Pick: Texas A&M 30, Colorado 27
#8 Clemson (10-2, At Large) vs #9 Missouri (10-2, Big XII Champs)
Missouri peaked in the Big XII Championship Game upset of Oklahoma. Kurt Laird is ready to throw all over this team. I think this is going to be a shootout, one that screams "Clemson victory!" Missouri has The Monster (Cookie Overstreet) and Cannonball Neighbors at RB...but they don't have Laird, RB Art Bedsole, or CB Buford Bruer. All signs point to Clemson for a big victory, and a showdown with Georgia in the quarterfinals.
Pick: Clemson 41, Missouri 27
posted by The Incoherent | 3:48 PM
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