Cup O' Joe - National Title Game Prediction

And so, here we are.

The National Championship Game.

The game pits the Georgia Bulldogs (15-0, SEC Champs), who were a preseason possibility to get this far...

...against the Minnesota Golden Gophers (13-1, #2 Big Ten), who were predicted to make waves in the Big Ten, but not on the national scene (this writer had them listed as the fourth place team in the Big Ten, behind Ohio State and Purdue).

For the record, my national championship game was Ohio State vs. Florida State. Shows how smart I am.

All signs point to a Georgia runaway victory. They have all their weapons, healthy and running on all cylinders. They have a defense very capable of giving Minnesota fits all day. And their coaching staff is second to none.

But...that's why they play the game.

Let's break it down, shall we?

Minnesota offense vs Georgia defense: Minnesota is still without starting halfback June Grant. But they have been without him for awhile, so you would think that Po Olander would have a firm grip on the running game. He only rushed for 72 yards last week against an overmatched USC defense that has been ravaged with injuries. Therefore, the onus falls solely on the shoulders, and the arm, of Art Webb. And that's no easy task. Eight different Bulldogs intercepted passes this year, led by undersized but feisty corner Gerry Vinatieri. The cousin of kicker Adam Vinatieri, Gerry stands but just 5'9. But he is a lockdown corner, not afraid of getting dirty, and can hit. He had four INT, one for a TD, and led the team in passes defensed. The team also possesses a linebacker, Luke LoVetere, who has the capabilities of a corner. Webb has not faced a defense like this this season, and the complex schemes of Defensive Coordinator Pierson Trufant may give him more than he can handle. But Webb is sneaky, and Minnesota gave USC some looks they didn't see on film. It is possible that they will have something up their sleeve for Georgia. But, as it is, Georgia gets the nod.
Advantage: GEORGIA

Georgia offense vs. Minnesota defense: Minnesota's defense is well known. Harry Diamond. Brooks Lavelli. Wes Coia. Dorsett Gibron. While the media has stopped short of calling them The Four Horsemen, this quartet has wreaked havoc on opposing offenses all year. The question is, can they do it against Georgia? To be honest, I'm not sure they can. Looking at the offenses Minnesota faced, they played only one offense that's in the same realm as Georgia's multi-faceted attack, that being Penn State. Penn State's offense was ranked in the top five at the time, but was playing without starting wideout Sean Robertson. But that didn't stop the Nits from rolling up 445 yards and 28 first downs on the Gophers' vaunted defense. Minnesota won that game because Penn State could not stop big plays from Art Webb, as they were also without their starting corner, Kimo Tice. The Gophers did hold Sage Stith to 251 yards, but they gave up almost 200 yards rushing. Enter Jared Bingaman, the likely #1 pick in the NFL Draft in April. Bingaman is the most complete back in the nation, and he has a solid aerial passing attack behind him. So Minnesota will be forced to pick their poison. Do they lay back on the pass and let Bingaman run all over them? Or do they try and shut Bingaman down, and let Isaac Allen throw bombs to Erik Hargett and Wilber Womack (third-team All-SEC)? I'm not sure Minnesota has the secondary that can stop Allen's pinpoint passing attack. So they may have to roll the dice and see if the front four can stop Bingaman on their own. That is quite possibly too tall an order for this Gopher defensive front that has shown bouts of fatigue over the past three weeks. I don't think Georgia will be able to name their gain...but I don't think Minnesota will be able to consistently stop them.
Advantage: GEORGIA

Special Teams: Both teams are solid in their abilities here. Gern Claxton and Woody Cronin are as solid a specialist as you'll ever get for Georgia. Though, you do have to be concerned with Claxton's extra points percentage. Missing four of them isn't something you want out of your kicker. Cronin has learned, as the season has gone on, how to pin the ball deep. He was getting a lot of touchbacks early on, but has converted many of those to pins inside the 20. Vinatieri averaged 27.2 yards a kickoff return, which ranked 11th in the nation. Minnesota has relied on a true freshman, a 17-year-old in Hub Klever. Scouts rank him as being a 1 out of a possible 7 on a scale of 1-10 (with the 7 being his potential as a college kicker). But he has been solid in the eight games he's been in, going 16-of-21 on field goals, never missing a field goal, and having booming kickoffs. MC Scukanec is more a placement punter, but he averaged 41.2 yards a punt this year. His 35.3 NET is no slouch, either. Wes Coia was reputable on returns, averaging 23.6 on kickoffs and over 10 on punts. I think this area is a push, though having a freshman kicker is not really good for Minnesota, especially if it comes down to a late field goal. He was 4-of-7 on field goals 40 yards or more. So, I'll give the edge to Georgia. But it's a slight edge.
Advantage: GEORGIA (slight)

X-Factors:

Georgia: Peppi Bynum, WR. The redshirt sophomore tends to get lost in this offense. He's a starter, but Wilber Womack, the slot wideout, gets thrown to more. Womack earned All-SEC Third Team honors, which is unbelievable for a guy who does not start. If Bynum can get on track, and force the Gopher defense to pay attention to him, I think this game is over early. You can't give Isaac Allen three superb targets to throw to, and expect Minnesota to be able to shut down Jared Bingaman. I think it's imperative for Georgia to get their other wideouts active early, to keep the Gophers from shading Erik Hargett or stacking the line on Bingaman. Bynum is very capable of having solid numbers. He had over 100 receiving yards in five games this year, including seven catches for 138 yards against Florida.

Minnesota: Po Olander, RB. He's their key. If Minnesota can get solid gains out of him, it's going to prevent Georgia from going after Art Webb, or sitting back in coverage. Olander has had bouts of inconsistency as the starting back, but he is more than able to have a stellar game.

Keys to Victory:

Georgia
1. Use all of your weapons offensively. Minnesota has a great team defense, but Georgia has better personnel. In short, Georgia is an awful matchup for the Gophers' defense, if they use all of the weapons they have. There's no way Minnesota can beat this team if they're forced to stay in nickel defense for most of the game.
2. Go right after Art Webb. You have to rattle him early. He can't get confidence; if he does, he will hurt the Georgia defense. This was evident in the USC game, as well the Texas A&M game, where he threw for over 400 yards and 5 TD in what should have been an Aggie rout. Get after him, and don't let up.
3. Don't get overconfident. I don't expect this to be an issue with this Georgia team. They have an unbelievable focus, and an incredible team-first makeup. But they are the team that was expected to be here. They've had it put in their heads all week: they are favored, and Minnesota shouldn't be able to stay within three touchdowns of them. Georgia is by far the more talented team. But if they believe the hype, it may be their undoing.

Minnesota
1. Protect Art Webb. He's your key to victory. Olander gaining yards is key, but Webb's arm is going to dictate where this team goes in this game. So you have to protect him. Minnesota can run a lot of screens to offset the Georgia rush. If they're successful, it's going to take heat off of Webb. A lot of draws should also help. Webb is not a running QB, meaning he's going to be a sitting duck back there if he's forced to wait.
2. Make Georgia one-dimensional. Ideally, you want to take away the rushing attack, because Georgia can play ball control with Bingaman if Minnesota tries to shut down the passing game. Minnesota will have to time their rushes right, but shutting down Bingaman, and forcing Allen to beat them is very important. If they are able to hold Bingaman down, they can then go after Allen with their rushing attack, which is the best in the nation.
3. Don't panic. The Gophers are notorious slow starters. They have never rushed out of the gate and run off a ton of points. In half of their games, they did not score first. If they get behind early, they must remember that the game is sixty minutes long, and not to force the issue. If Minnesota becomes one-dimensional because they want to make this a track meet, it's over. There's no way they can get into a points battle with the Bulldogs.

Prediction: Of course, the game will be played on the field, and not on paper. And Minnesota is very, very capable of pulling off this win. But I don't see it happening. I think the matchups, the individual matchups, are very one-sided. Georgia has more weapons than the Gophers can handle, and there's not enough depth in the running attack to keep Georgia from disregarding it. I think Minnesota will keep it close on pure moxie by Art Webb. He's remarkably crafty, tough, and won't go down without a fight. But, in the end, Georgia's on my mind.

Too much Bingaman, too much Allen, too much Hargett. Georgia takes it.

Pick: Georgia 37, Minnesota 27
Player of the Game: Isaac Allen, Georgia QB

Cup O' Joe - Semifinal Previews, Other Bowl Predictions

Here are some news and notes out of our semifinal games, along with some other bowls:

USC at Minnesota: In the Trojans' rout of Louisville, the biggest piece of encouragement was the emergence of junior running back Dallas Hickey. He had rushed for over six yards a carry this season, but never had more than 11 carries in a game. Nobody was quite sure how he'd hold up to being the lead back for an entire 60 minutes. After his 28 carry, 126 yard performance against Louisville, doubts were eased. "I knew I could do it," said Hickey. "I have had fresh legs all year. A lot of these linebackers, defensive tackles, they've been going all year. I've been kept fresh. I like my chances against them." Head Coach Vai Laird backed up that theory. "Every time we put him in to spell Jasen (Spurrier), it was like the game was at a different pace. He's a much bigger back than Jasen, and he's able to bowl over these tired defenders." That much is true. Hickey is 6'1, 227 pounds; Spurrier, at 5'11, 195, is more a shifty back. Hickey will run into the lines, and push them forward. It gives USC a different dimension on offense, which may give the Minnesota front line fits.

One area of Minnesota's offense that poses a problem for USC is the emergence of a pass-happy offense. The Trojan secondary is a weak spot of the team, and it certainly does not bode well that Art Webb torched the Texas A&M defense for 407 yards and five touchdowns. Junior wideout Gil Hynoski had a career game, catching five balls for 178 yards and a pair of touchdowns. His second catch, an 85-yard streak, gave Minnesota its first lead. Texas A&M, which led 21-7 at the end of one quarter, was stunned, and never became a factor in the fourth quarter. "Of course, that's when we shine." said star linebacker Harry Diamond. The Aggies scored only one first down in the quarter, and Marion Songin rushed four times for -6 yards in the final fifteen minutes. With Art Webb using his passing game as ball control, the Gophers suddenly have a weapon to cope with the loss of June Grant. Po Olander has been spotty at best, though he did rush for 72 yards on 18 carries against the Aggies defense. "Po was mo' effective," said Olander.

"No mo' problems with Po."

Georgia vs Florida State: Many people thought this would be the National Championship Game. Alas, a late season loss to Florida cost the Seminoles their perfect record, #1 ranking, and a spot opposite the bracket of the Bulldogs. Instead, they get the SEC champs now, in the semifinals. And they're doing it with renewed focus.

"We were on cruise control until the Florida game," said FSU head coach Dom Curtin. "We got through the Clemson game, and a lot of our players thought we were out of the clear. Then comes Florida, and bam...we have to work a lot harder just to get to this spot.

"Now...we're ready for anything."

The 'Noles do have Heisman Trophy winner Ronde Samuels clicking on all cylinders. In their 30-29 win over Florida, Samuels was 20-of-28 for 387 yards, 2 TD, and an INT. The downfall of this was that Florida controlled the clock, holding it for 36 minutes. But it was FSU who moved on to face the Bulldogs, using quick-hitters...including the 52-yard bomb down the seams, from Samuels to Hewritt McCutcheon, that broke Florida's back.

"He just put it right there," said McCutcheon, who caught the ball in between two Florida defenders, in what may be the pass of the year. "I thought it was picked, and I was getting picked again...and then, there it was."

"That was a heck of a throw," said Curtin.

Now, Samuels, running back Wes Baniewicz, and their talented defense...are headed to what many people think is the real championship game.

Meanwhile, in Georgia, the #1 Bulldogs don't mind not having the spotlight.

"Let it stay in Tallahassee," said QB Isaac Allen, of the media circus that has developed on FSU's campus. "We're working hard here. We don't mind having the focus on the game, rather than giving soundbites."

Georgia has been overshadowed nearly all year. Florida was the team early in the year, before the focus shifted to Ohio State. Then Michigan. Then Minnesota and Penn State. Then Clemson, Florida State, Texas A&M, Texas, and Oklahoma.

In the meantime, Georgia has continued to win. And win. And win.

And now, the nation's only undefeated team is ready to show the nation just what they've been missing.

"Does the lack of recognition provide a chip on our shoulder?" asked coach Ulyssess Draft. "It does if we want it to. I'm not concerned that we've been overlooked all year. We're the top team in the nation, according to the polls. Obviously, someone has noticed us.

"But that's still doesn't matter. What matters is what we do on the field. I don't care if a piece of paper tells us we're #1. When we have a championship trophy that tells us that, well...that's a little more credible."

Georgia has a balanced attack, led by Allen and RB Jared Bingaman, who finished as a Heisman finalist after rushing for 2,018 yards and 16 touchdowns. Bingaman, like the rest of the Bulldogs, went through his year in someone else's shadow. In this case, it was Marion Songin, who finished second in the Heisman race after leading the nation in rushing.

"He's a great back. Incredible," said Bingaman. "He deserves the recognition. But we're still alive, playing for a chance in the title game. That's what matters to me."

Bingaman, like his teammates, have just one focus: Winning the title.

"We've overcome every test, hurdled every obstacle," said Allen. "We've faced every challenge and succeeded. We expect to do it. It's just the way things are."

Erik Hargett *did* get noticed. He won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation's top receiver. But even he has a simple, aw-shucks way of dealing with the hype.

"I just went out and did my job," he said of winning the award. "It's just a game. I love to play, and I love to win. That someone thought I did a good job, and decided to give me something for it...well, that's nice of them."

Where DID this team come from, exactly?

"They just love to play the game," said Draft. "It's amazing to be able to coach this group of young men.

"Now, if we can win this game, I'll get to coach them for one more game."

Predictions:

Last week: 3-1
Overall: 10-2

Minnesota vs Southern Cal: Minnesota got through Texas A&M and Marion Songin. USC's offense looks a lot simpler than A&M's, and the confidence gained in holding the nation's leading back when it counted--he actually lost six yards in the fourth quarter--may serve the Gophers well in this one. USC has had the emergence of Dallas Hickey, a bowling ball of sorts. But it'll be Jarmar McCloughan who makes the difference for Southern Cal. If he can be efficient, USC will have a wonderful shot. But if Minnesota's defense bears down on him, and forces decisions before he wants to make them, well...it will be a long day. And I think Minnesota will inevitably force the latter. Expect the Golden Gophers to control the line of scrimmage against the Trojans' offensive line, and expect Harry Diamond, Dorsett Gibron, and Bob Lavelli to get multiple shots at McCloughan. That, along with Art Webb's resurging passing attack, will be the difference. Minnesota, easily the best team in the Big Ten this year, gets to the National Championship game in a runaway.

Pick: Minnesota 30, USC 17

Georgia vs Florida State: And now, the real national championship game. Everyone wanted to see this matchup; just not in the semifinals. Well, that doesn't matter. We got it, and that's what really matters. This should be a slugfest. Georgia has the nation's best offense; FSU is next in line. Georgia has the nation's fourth-best defense; FSU is 26th, but vastly underrated. FSU has Ronde Samuels, the Heisman Trophy winner, Wes Baniewicz, and a pair of receivers that can do serious damage. Georgia has Isaac Allen, Jared Bingaman, and the nation's best wideout. Both have sluggers on defense. So...who wins? Expect this to go back and forth. It may come down to who has it last. In the end, I think Georgia has a little more, especially on the defensive end, to take this one. The Bulldogs have as many weapons as FSU, and while they don't have the best weapon (that is Samuels), they have enough complex schemes to confuse the 'Noles. As a result, I think Georgia moves on.

Pick: Georgia 35, FSU 34

Other bowl predictions:

Michigan 27, Tennessee 20 - Michigan is out to prove that they deserved an at-large bid. They should win this one going away behind Rae Hendrickson.

Texas 34, Alabama 16 - Kelvin Torgeson is the best player Alabama's seen all year. After one half, they'll have seen enough.

Penn State 31, LSU 30 - Penn State gets Sean Robertson back. That gives them one more weapon than the Tigers can handle. This should be one heck of a game.

Notre Dame 26, Georgia Tech 14 - The young Irish encounter a team that's as much an enigma as they were. I think Ty Sellers is enough to lead ND in this one.

2005 Award Winner Bios

2005 Gridiron Award Winners

Heisman Trophy - QB Ronde Samuels - Sr - Florida State Seminoles
There were several worthy candidates this season, but this one basically came down to a two horse race between Samuels and Texas A&M back Marion Songin. There was no wrong answer here, both had superb years. Songin began to "fizzle" at the end of the year, and that may have cost him the award. By fizzle I mean he only averaged about 180 yards a game down the stretch compared to the 230 he averaged earlier in the year. What a slump! Ronde Samuels led the Seminoles all year, completing an amazing 69.5% of his passes, passed for over 4000 yards, with 42 TD's against only 11 interceptions. He managed to throw for 300 yards 7 times and ended up with a passer rating of 176. His accolades don't end there, he also picked up the Davey O'Brien award, was named 1st Team All American, 1st Team ACC, and was the ACC Offensive player of the year.

Chuck Bednarik Award - DE Fred Chamblin - Sr - Auburn Tigers
There were several Linebackers who were very dominant all year who could have easily won the defensive player of the year, but this 300 Lb End grabbed the honor. With great speed and instincts he was a terror to offensive tackles throughout the SEC. Equally damaging against the run and pass he put up the interesting line of 15 sacks, 15 stuffs, and 15 hurries to go along with his 70 tackles. His finest hour came against conference foe LSU, when he picked up 5 sacks and 3 hurries. That'll give any QB nightmares. He also picked up the Outland Trophy as the nation's best defensive lineman and like Ronde Samuels cleaned up on 1st Team All American, 1st team SEC and SEC Defensive player of the Year. Both are projected as early first round draft picks, and we wish them well.


Davey O'Brien Award - QB Ronde Samuels - Sr - Florida State Seminoles

Doak Walker Award - RB Marion Songin - Sr - Texas A&M Aggies
If anyone else won this award as the nation's best back, there would have been a civil war. He clearly set the bar early in the season for everyone else. He massed an incredible 2558 yards rushing at 6.0 yards a clip, picking up 18 scores along the way. Another 34 catches for 309 receiving yards proved him to be a solid 3rd down back as well. That's nearly 3000 yards in total offense for one guy. Through his first nine weeks his lowest rushing total was an incredible 181 yards, and seven times he rushed for over 200, including a 300 yard performance against Baylor. Only twice all season did he rush for *under* 181 yards, and then it was 146 yards both times. His closest competitor was nearly 500 yards behind him. This man carried the Aggies to a surprise BCS playoff bid, and the numbers he put up this season will be hard for anyone to surpass. The sick part: he might not even be the best back on the club, his backup Grogan averaged 7.8 ypc.


Fred Biletnikoff Award - WR Erik Hargett - Jr- Georgia Bulldogs
When you go 12-0 like the Bulldogs did, you've probably got some good players on your team. Isaac Allen grabbed 2nd Tm SEC because he had Hargett to throw to. He tied Syracuses' Cid Conwell with 77 receptions on the year, and was second to him with 1189 yards and 12 TD's. He was an integral part in helping Georgia lead the nation in total offense at 523 yards a game. Along the way to this award he also picked up 1st Team All American and SEC as well. Its not a stretch to say Georgia sincerely hopes he comes back for his senior year!


John Mackey Award - TE Tarik Graff - Jr - Missouri Tigers
While the Aggies were the fan friendly story of the year in the Big-12, Missouri was the most solid team, winning the Big 12 championship with some stifling defense. Offensively they were a mediocre squad, but Tarik Graff stood out enough to pick up the award as the nation's best TE. 52 receptions and 659 yards, he was also a quality blocker as well.


Vince Lombardi Trophy - OT Wade Benson - Sr - Florida State Seminoles
One reason for Ronde Samuel's success this year was the quality play of their offensive line, and there was none finer on that squad then Benson. At the risk of seeming thin in my recognition, I need merely to point out four stats to show his greatness: 31 run blocks, 39 pancakes, 0 sacks allowed, and a resultant Heisman trophy winner in the backfield. Say no more.


Outland Trophy - DE Fred Chamblin - Sr- Auburn Tigers


Dick Butkus Award - ILB Alex Moriarty - Sr - Missouri Tigers
When you have as stifling a defense as Missouri had this year, it's usually backed up by a fantastic middle linebacker. There were a lot of high quality linebackers who had big seasons, and it will be a rich crop in the upcoming draft, but Moriarty separated himself with the sheer numbers he put up. 127 tackes, 94 solo, 11 sacks, 21 stuffs, 11 hurries, 2 force fumbles, 9 passes defended and 3 interceptions. He reached double figures in tackles 9 times in 12 games, was 5th in total tackles, and 1st in stuffs. Honorable mention I believe has to go to New Mexico's Dobie Sanderson, who led the nation with 144 tackles, including a league leading 113 solo tackles. Sometimes the smaller schools get overlooked in these awards, and Sanderson was well deserving of his 1st team selection as well.


Jim Thorpe Award - FS Maxie Samuels - Sr - Florida State Seminoles
Florida State cleaned up with the awards this season, and Samuels nabs this one as the nation's best defensive back. With 112 tackles and 4picks, his numbers were not necessarily breathtaking but his instinctive play separated him from the competition. With 14 tackles against North Carolina, it seemed he knew where the ball was headed before it was even snapped. Still, with 11 and 10 interceptions respectively, there was some debate that Tulsa's Antwan Briggs and Oklahoma State's Lomas Feacher should have won the Award instead.


Lou Groza Award - K Buck Robustelli -Jr- Florida State Seminoles
Surprise, another Seminole takes home a major award. Buck connected on all 57 extra points, though he was only 28 of 38 in field goal attempts. Khary Hazletine of Louisville should have won this award, he connected on 28 of 29 extra points but more impressive 32 of 36 field goals. Must have been a lot of Seminole Alumni voting for these awards, methinks.


Ray Guy Award - P Randall Fenderson - Jr - Texas Longhorns
Fenderson averaged 42 yards a kick, but was a league leader in kicks inside the twenty. There were oodles of punters more qualified to win this award, but then this is a punting award so who really cares about injustice here, except punters of course.


Mosi Tatupu Award - CB D'Wayne McCleskey -So- Missouri Tigers
When you average 25 yards a kickoff return, and no touchdowns like he did this year, nobody really gets excited. But when you average 20 yards a punt return, and return 4 for touchdowns people say put him in the hall of fame. The idea of average 20 yards per punt return is enough to make a punter just kick it into the stands.


All America First Team - Offense

QB Ronde Samuels - Florida State Heisman winners deserve to be first teamers, no surprise here.
RB Marion Songin - Texas A&M He set the bar so high for all other backs. Nearly approached deity status this year.
FB Luke Soward - Arkansas In the forgotten world of fullbacks, Luke was the man this year.
WR Erick Hargett - Georgia Some big numbers on an undefeated team.
WR Qadry Lemons - California 1000 yards, 11 touchdowns
TE London Standlee - Alabama Graf wins the John Mackey as nation's best TE, but Standlee makes first team.
OT Wade Benson - Florida State Big numbers, consensus All American
OT Curtis Gault - Miami (Oh) Nearly equal numbers to Benson, highly deserving.
OG Alyn Latin - Purdue The Big Ten gets some love for their linemen.
OG Martin Fontenot - Penn St. The Big Ten gets more love for their linemen.
C Forrest Germaine - Texas The "Black Forest" was impossible for pass rushers to get through.

Coach of Year - JoJo Hayes - Air Force Undefeated season at a small school, well deserved.


All America First Team - Defense

DE Fred Chamblin - Auburn Big numbers across the board from him this year.
DE Leland Stanback - Oregon The Duck of Wrath put a hurting on ball carriers.
DT Andrew Moriarty - Louisville A key player in the Cardinals' Big East Championship
DT Blanche Jolley - Connecticut Played well above expectations, despite being on a mediocre club.
LB Dobie Sanderson - New Mexico Good enough to be a Butkus finalist and should have won.
LB Lomas Feacher - Oklahoma State Ditto. A very rich crop this year.
LB Dimitrius LeJeune - Florida Atlantic Lets hear it for the little guys! Awesome season.
CB Robaire Schifino - Colorado State 25 passes defended, 7 picked off. First teamer.
CB Aubrey Keating - San Jose State The smaller schools have some awesome corners!
FS Maxie Samuel - Florida State I busted on him for the Thorpe Award, but he's an excellent safety.
SS Saint Conerly - Central Florida Another small school first teamer, ain't that sweet?
P Vai Abraham - New Mexico State Another punter award, hooray!

Honorable mention
QB Kurt Laird - Clemson 4169 yards, 40 touchdowns, the key behind a great Clemson season.
RB J.R. Nuemann - Ohio State Came on strong late in the year, over 2000 yards, 20 TD's
RB Jared Bingaman - Georgia 2000 yards rushing and 20 scores will always get you on this list.
RB Melvin Landry - Tennessee 2000 yards and 6.75ypc, perhaps the second best back.
LB Aundra Hotchkiss - Oklahoma The best player on a stout Sooner defense.
LB Glen Voight - Air Force Undefeated regular season for the Falcons, thanks largely to Glen.
FS LaVell Milan - North Carolina St. Big stats from this tall underclassman.

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