The biggest Saturday in the ACC is on the horizon. And there are many matchups around the country that will give us more clarity on the fluid BCS projections.
Here is CFB Kings best prediction as to what teams will land where in the BCS Bowl Games:
BCS Championship Game: Auburn vs. Oregon
Orange Bowl: Virginia Tech vs. Pittsburgh
Fiesta Bowl: Ohio State vs. Oklahoma
Rose Bowl: Wisconsin vs. TCU
Sugar Bowl: LSU vs. Boise State
Showing posts with label LSU Tigers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label LSU Tigers. Show all posts
Monday, November 8, 2010
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
We're Asking the Wrong Question
Ever since 2004, I have been amongst the BCS-Elitists whose slogans represent something to the effect of “Just Say No to the Non-AQ!!!” Sure, I have respected the success of Utah, Boise State, BYU, Hawaii and TCU over the past 6 years, but I was strongly against their inclusion in the BCS Bowls and in particular the National Championship discussion. So many people that argue with me on the subject continue to ask me some variation of the following question: “What… you don’t think that Boise or TCU could beat Mississippi State, Clemson, South Carolina, LSU, Arkansas, Georgia, or Alabama?”
And there within lies my problem with the entire discussion. We’ll come back to this.
Even in this season, the 3 Non-BCS powerhouses have proven their capability. TCU beat a Baylor team that now sits atop the Big 12 South. Boise beat a Virginia Tech team who is currently undefeated in the ACC. And Utah beat a Pittsburgh team which has started 3-0 in Big East league play. Right now you’re probably thinking… “exactly, so they should have the chance to play for the title.” Keep dreaming (and reading).
There is NO DOUBT in my mind this year that Boise State, Utah, and TCU could beat any team in the country on a neutral field. Heck, I even think that they could go into some of the most hostile road environments, including SEC venues, and come away with victories. But let’s change that “or” to “and” and re-ask the aforementioned question.
“Do you think that Boise or TCU could beat Mississippi State, Clemson, South Carolina, LSU, Arkansas, Georgia, and Alabama?”
The answer to that question… is an emphatic NO.
But, that is what Auburn has been asked to do this year… and so far (with a 9-0 record) they have done it.
Ohio State has been asked to beat Miami, Wisconsin, Iowa, Penn State, Michigan, Illinois, and Purdue.
Oklahoma has been asked to beat Florida State, Cincinnati, Air Force, Texas, Missouri, Iowa State, Baylor, and Oklahoma State.
Even though Oklahoma and Ohio State both slipped up once, the fact that they are attempting to navigate such a difficult schedule is the point. Week-in and week-out, the BCS conference members have to play a schedule that requires their best effort. The Non-BCS schools do not have nearly the challenge that the BCS schools do. BCS teams are asked to beat more than 1 or 2 tough opponents every year, unlike the non-BCS teams.
Ponder this. In the heart of the season (October):
Boise State played New Mexico State, Toledo, San Jose State, and Louisiana Tech.
TCU played Colorado State, Wyoming, BYU, Air Force, and UNLV.
Now, during that same stretch:
Alabama played Arkansas, Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Ole Miss.
LSU played West Virginia, Tennessee, Florida, and Auburn.
Oregon played Stanford, UCLA, Washington State, and USC.
The bottom line is that these non-BCS schedules are not on par with their BCS brethren, so why should the non-BCS teams play for the same reward? Even the title of the game itself should be enough to drive home that point. It’s not called the “College Football Championship” or the “FBS National Title”. It’s called the “BCS Championship Game”. It is a reward for the top teams that come out of the BCS conferences. It’s not a reward for teams that play schedules with a strength ranking below 90th.
I have softened my stance on allowing the Non-BCS teams to participate in some of the BCS games. It is entertaining to see how a Boise or TCU matches up with some of the BCS powers every now and again. But the BCS Championship should remain reserved for schools that reside in BCS conferences. That is a question that is easy to answer.
And there within lies my problem with the entire discussion. We’ll come back to this.
Even in this season, the 3 Non-BCS powerhouses have proven their capability. TCU beat a Baylor team that now sits atop the Big 12 South. Boise beat a Virginia Tech team who is currently undefeated in the ACC. And Utah beat a Pittsburgh team which has started 3-0 in Big East league play. Right now you’re probably thinking… “exactly, so they should have the chance to play for the title.” Keep dreaming (and reading).
There is NO DOUBT in my mind this year that Boise State, Utah, and TCU could beat any team in the country on a neutral field. Heck, I even think that they could go into some of the most hostile road environments, including SEC venues, and come away with victories. But let’s change that “or” to “and” and re-ask the aforementioned question.
“Do you think that Boise or TCU could beat Mississippi State, Clemson, South Carolina, LSU, Arkansas, Georgia, and Alabama?”
The answer to that question… is an emphatic NO.
But, that is what Auburn has been asked to do this year… and so far (with a 9-0 record) they have done it.
Ohio State has been asked to beat Miami, Wisconsin, Iowa, Penn State, Michigan, Illinois, and Purdue.
Oklahoma has been asked to beat Florida State, Cincinnati, Air Force, Texas, Missouri, Iowa State, Baylor, and Oklahoma State.
Even though Oklahoma and Ohio State both slipped up once, the fact that they are attempting to navigate such a difficult schedule is the point. Week-in and week-out, the BCS conference members have to play a schedule that requires their best effort. The Non-BCS schools do not have nearly the challenge that the BCS schools do. BCS teams are asked to beat more than 1 or 2 tough opponents every year, unlike the non-BCS teams.
Ponder this. In the heart of the season (October):
Boise State played New Mexico State, Toledo, San Jose State, and Louisiana Tech.
TCU played Colorado State, Wyoming, BYU, Air Force, and UNLV.
Now, during that same stretch:
Alabama played Arkansas, Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Ole Miss.
LSU played West Virginia, Tennessee, Florida, and Auburn.
Oregon played Stanford, UCLA, Washington State, and USC.
The bottom line is that these non-BCS schedules are not on par with their BCS brethren, so why should the non-BCS teams play for the same reward? Even the title of the game itself should be enough to drive home that point. It’s not called the “College Football Championship” or the “FBS National Title”. It’s called the “BCS Championship Game”. It is a reward for the top teams that come out of the BCS conferences. It’s not a reward for teams that play schedules with a strength ranking below 90th.
I have softened my stance on allowing the Non-BCS teams to participate in some of the BCS games. It is entertaining to see how a Boise or TCU matches up with some of the BCS powers every now and again. But the BCS Championship should remain reserved for schools that reside in BCS conferences. That is a question that is easy to answer.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
#8 North Carolina Tar Heels
A lot of people will say that I have this team too highly ranked because of the NCAA Investigation, the lack of a star QB, the lack of star offensive skill position players, etc. But to those skeptics, I would simply say one thing:
DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS!!!
Head Coach Butch Davis brings back by far the best Defense in America in Chapel Hill. On most of these previews, I have started with the offense, but when a defense is as good as this, they deserve the headlines.
In all, the Heels return 6 All-Conference players on defense. Defensive Linemen Robert Quinn and Marvin Austin highlight the trenches. Austin finished 2009 with 6 Tackles for Loss and 4 sacks. LBs Bruce Carter and Quan Sturdivant anchor the 2nd level. Carter has started in 26 consecutive games while Sturdivant led the nation in unassisted tackles in 2008 with 87. In the secondary, Safety Deunta Williams was a standout in 2009 with 47 tackles, 6 ints, and 8 pass break-ups. Joining him as a First-Team All-ACC member in 2009 was CB Kendrick Burney who has started all 38 games since he stepped foot on the UNC campus. Believe it or not, all 6 of the aforementioned players are projected as first-rounders in the 2011 NFL Draft. They are joined by 4 other returning defensive starters that make up a unit that has the potential to hold ALL of their opponents to single digits.
While the defense highlights the squad, the offense has made strides in the Spring and QB TJ Yates has gotten much respect for the way he fended off the challenge of Freshman 4-star recruit Bryn Renner. Generally, Yates was not bad last year, throwing for 2,100 yards and 14 TDs. But his 15 Ints has Tar Heel nation wary.
Yates, however, will benefit from the return of all 10 starters (other than himself) on Offense, giving the Tar Heels undoubtedly the most experienced group in the conference, if not the country. Starting RB Shaun Draughn will enjoy the familiarity of running behind the veteran Carolina Offensive Line while backup Ryan Houston should expect at least 150 touches as well. At WR, Senior Greg Little’s 724 yards receiving and 166 yards rushing leads the pack. His playmaking ability is unmatched on the team, but his attitude has come into question following several on and off-field incidents in 2009. Maturity will be the key to his level of contribution this year.
All-ACC Kicker Casey Barth also returns. He is considered one of the best in America at his position and his 80% accuracy on Field Goals over 40 yards last year corroborates those claims. His consistency will be key for the Heels in close games throughout the year.
The schedule is going to be a grueling one. In the opening week, the Tar Heels face SEC Powerhouse LSU in Atlanta. They follow that with back to back games against Defending ACC Champion Georgia Tech and Big East stalwart Rutgers. October brings tough matchups with Clemson and Miami, while November brings back to back clashes with Florida State and Virginia Tech.
On Paper, the Tar Heels would be my pick for the National Title. The one thing that I feel they are missing is the experience of being a favorite. This recent Football success is new for the program, so until they can navigate their way through the first 5 games unblemished, I will hold judgment. However, it would not surprise me one bit to see Butch Davis’s crew in Glendale, AZ on the night of January 10th playing for the Championship.
Key Returning Players:
DT Marvin Austin
DE Robert Quinn
LB Bruce Carter
LB Quan Sturdivant
S Deunta Williams
CB Kendrick Burney
QB T.J. Yates
WR Greg Little
RB Shaun Draughn
OT Greg Elleby
Key Games:
Sept 4 - LSU (in Atlanta)
Sept 18 - Georgia Tech
Sept 25 - @ Rutgers
Oct 9 - Clemson
Oct 23 - @ Miami
Nov 6 - @ Florida State
Nov 13 - Virginia Tech
DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS!!!
Head Coach Butch Davis brings back by far the best Defense in America in Chapel Hill. On most of these previews, I have started with the offense, but when a defense is as good as this, they deserve the headlines.
In all, the Heels return 6 All-Conference players on defense. Defensive Linemen Robert Quinn and Marvin Austin highlight the trenches. Austin finished 2009 with 6 Tackles for Loss and 4 sacks. LBs Bruce Carter and Quan Sturdivant anchor the 2nd level. Carter has started in 26 consecutive games while Sturdivant led the nation in unassisted tackles in 2008 with 87. In the secondary, Safety Deunta Williams was a standout in 2009 with 47 tackles, 6 ints, and 8 pass break-ups. Joining him as a First-Team All-ACC member in 2009 was CB Kendrick Burney who has started all 38 games since he stepped foot on the UNC campus. Believe it or not, all 6 of the aforementioned players are projected as first-rounders in the 2011 NFL Draft. They are joined by 4 other returning defensive starters that make up a unit that has the potential to hold ALL of their opponents to single digits.
While the defense highlights the squad, the offense has made strides in the Spring and QB TJ Yates has gotten much respect for the way he fended off the challenge of Freshman 4-star recruit Bryn Renner. Generally, Yates was not bad last year, throwing for 2,100 yards and 14 TDs. But his 15 Ints has Tar Heel nation wary.
Yates, however, will benefit from the return of all 10 starters (other than himself) on Offense, giving the Tar Heels undoubtedly the most experienced group in the conference, if not the country. Starting RB Shaun Draughn will enjoy the familiarity of running behind the veteran Carolina Offensive Line while backup Ryan Houston should expect at least 150 touches as well. At WR, Senior Greg Little’s 724 yards receiving and 166 yards rushing leads the pack. His playmaking ability is unmatched on the team, but his attitude has come into question following several on and off-field incidents in 2009. Maturity will be the key to his level of contribution this year.
All-ACC Kicker Casey Barth also returns. He is considered one of the best in America at his position and his 80% accuracy on Field Goals over 40 yards last year corroborates those claims. His consistency will be key for the Heels in close games throughout the year.
The schedule is going to be a grueling one. In the opening week, the Tar Heels face SEC Powerhouse LSU in Atlanta. They follow that with back to back games against Defending ACC Champion Georgia Tech and Big East stalwart Rutgers. October brings tough matchups with Clemson and Miami, while November brings back to back clashes with Florida State and Virginia Tech.
On Paper, the Tar Heels would be my pick for the National Title. The one thing that I feel they are missing is the experience of being a favorite. This recent Football success is new for the program, so until they can navigate their way through the first 5 games unblemished, I will hold judgment. However, it would not surprise me one bit to see Butch Davis’s crew in Glendale, AZ on the night of January 10th playing for the Championship.
Key Returning Players:
DT Marvin Austin
DE Robert Quinn
LB Bruce Carter
LB Quan Sturdivant
S Deunta Williams
CB Kendrick Burney
QB T.J. Yates
WR Greg Little
RB Shaun Draughn
OT Greg Elleby
Key Games:
Sept 4 - LSU (in Atlanta)
Sept 18 - Georgia Tech
Sept 25 - @ Rutgers
Oct 9 - Clemson
Oct 23 - @ Miami
Nov 6 - @ Florida State
Nov 13 - Virginia Tech
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
#9 LSU Tigers
Even though the LSU Tigers have won 17 games in the past 2 seasons, the Mad Hatter (aka Head Coach Les Miles) has had to answer the “what’s wrong with your program” questions from outsiders and insiders alike. I guess that’s the type of spoiled following that is produced from three Top 5 finishes from 2005-2007.
But this year provides much reason for optimism amongst the Tiger Faithful. Last year, the LSU offense struggled mightily, particularly against the tougher competition (the Tigers averaged only 15 ppg against ranked opponents). The defense overall played well, but couldn’t overcome the lack of production by their offensive counterparts. QB Jordan Jefferson took much of the blame, and rightfully so. The True sophomore showed his immaturity at crucial points throughout the season, and his good moments were overshadowed greatly by his bad ones. But after a strong Spring and Summer, in which he held off formidable challenges from backup QBs Russell Sheppard and Jarrett Lee, Jefferson comes into 2010 as one of the most intriguing prospects in the conference. If he has matured the way he was projected to, then he has a chance at leading one of the more potent attacks in the SEC.
LSU returns a stable of solid RBs led by Stevan Ridley and Richard Murphy. Both were eclipsed by the strong play of departed senior Charles Scott, but the 2 former Blue Chip recruits have Coach Miles excited about the 1-2 punch they will bring.
Out wide, Jefferson will throw to pre-season All-SEC WR Terrance Tolliver, who is atop many experts’ draft boards as one of the elite WRs in America. Sophomore Rueben Randle will get a chance to show why he was one of the Top 2009 WR recruits. The most intriguing offensive weapon for LSU will undoubtedly be former QB turned WR Russell Sheppard. Sheppard was the #1 QB recruit in America in 2009 and as we mentioned he lost out in the battle for the starting QB job this spring… but instead of letting him sit on the bench, the Tiger Coaching Staff has moved him to what they are calling “The Percy Harvin Position”. They plan on using Sheppard the same way that Florida used Harvin in 2007-08 when he combined for 1,500 yards receiving, 1,300 yards rushing and 27 TDs. To aid them in this endeavor, Miles has hired former Florida Gator Assistant Coach Billy Gonzales to be the Passing Game coordinator as they hope he can bring his knowledge of getting playmakers the ball to Baton Rouge.
Defensively, LSU was stellar the entire decade of the 2000’s and that does not look to change in 2010. Defensive Coordinator John Chavis should continue his aggressive style and expect Senior LBs Kelvin Sheppard and Jai Eugene to flourish in the system. Junior CB Patrick Peterson is a returning All-conference selection and he is viewed as possibly the best CB in America. His ability to shut down an entire side of the field has earned him comparisons to such greats as Charles Woodson and Dre Bly. Defensive Lineman Drake Nevis and Lazarius Levingston anchor a front four that should wreak havoc on opposing QBs.
The LSU Schedule, as do all SEC schedules, provides a great challenge for the talented Tigers. They open up the season with the College Football game of the week against North Carolina and two weeks later they start a 4-game stretch where they face Mississippi State, West Virginia, Tennessee, and Florida in consecutive weeks. A late October matchup against Auburn precedes the always entertaining showdown with Alabama and they end the season a few weeks later with their rivalry game at Arkansas. The difficulty of the schedule makes this LSU team tough to predict, as they can be anywhere between 7 and 11 wins. The talent is there, but we will have to wait to see if they have the maturity to prepare for showdowns against the nations elite.
Key Returning Players:
QB Jordan Jeffeson
WR Terrance Tolliver
WR Russell Sheppard
DE Lazarius Levingston
DT Drake Nevis
CB Patrick Peterson
Key Games:
Sept 4 - North Carolina (in Atlanta)
Sept 25 - West Virginia
Oct 2 - Tennessee
Oct 9 - @ Florida
Oct 23 - @Auburn
Nov 6 - Alabama
Nov 27 - @ Arkansas
But this year provides much reason for optimism amongst the Tiger Faithful. Last year, the LSU offense struggled mightily, particularly against the tougher competition (the Tigers averaged only 15 ppg against ranked opponents). The defense overall played well, but couldn’t overcome the lack of production by their offensive counterparts. QB Jordan Jefferson took much of the blame, and rightfully so. The True sophomore showed his immaturity at crucial points throughout the season, and his good moments were overshadowed greatly by his bad ones. But after a strong Spring and Summer, in which he held off formidable challenges from backup QBs Russell Sheppard and Jarrett Lee, Jefferson comes into 2010 as one of the most intriguing prospects in the conference. If he has matured the way he was projected to, then he has a chance at leading one of the more potent attacks in the SEC.
LSU returns a stable of solid RBs led by Stevan Ridley and Richard Murphy. Both were eclipsed by the strong play of departed senior Charles Scott, but the 2 former Blue Chip recruits have Coach Miles excited about the 1-2 punch they will bring.
Out wide, Jefferson will throw to pre-season All-SEC WR Terrance Tolliver, who is atop many experts’ draft boards as one of the elite WRs in America. Sophomore Rueben Randle will get a chance to show why he was one of the Top 2009 WR recruits. The most intriguing offensive weapon for LSU will undoubtedly be former QB turned WR Russell Sheppard. Sheppard was the #1 QB recruit in America in 2009 and as we mentioned he lost out in the battle for the starting QB job this spring… but instead of letting him sit on the bench, the Tiger Coaching Staff has moved him to what they are calling “The Percy Harvin Position”. They plan on using Sheppard the same way that Florida used Harvin in 2007-08 when he combined for 1,500 yards receiving, 1,300 yards rushing and 27 TDs. To aid them in this endeavor, Miles has hired former Florida Gator Assistant Coach Billy Gonzales to be the Passing Game coordinator as they hope he can bring his knowledge of getting playmakers the ball to Baton Rouge.
Defensively, LSU was stellar the entire decade of the 2000’s and that does not look to change in 2010. Defensive Coordinator John Chavis should continue his aggressive style and expect Senior LBs Kelvin Sheppard and Jai Eugene to flourish in the system. Junior CB Patrick Peterson is a returning All-conference selection and he is viewed as possibly the best CB in America. His ability to shut down an entire side of the field has earned him comparisons to such greats as Charles Woodson and Dre Bly. Defensive Lineman Drake Nevis and Lazarius Levingston anchor a front four that should wreak havoc on opposing QBs.
The LSU Schedule, as do all SEC schedules, provides a great challenge for the talented Tigers. They open up the season with the College Football game of the week against North Carolina and two weeks later they start a 4-game stretch where they face Mississippi State, West Virginia, Tennessee, and Florida in consecutive weeks. A late October matchup against Auburn precedes the always entertaining showdown with Alabama and they end the season a few weeks later with their rivalry game at Arkansas. The difficulty of the schedule makes this LSU team tough to predict, as they can be anywhere between 7 and 11 wins. The talent is there, but we will have to wait to see if they have the maturity to prepare for showdowns against the nations elite.
Key Returning Players:
QB Jordan Jeffeson
WR Terrance Tolliver
WR Russell Sheppard
DE Lazarius Levingston
DT Drake Nevis
CB Patrick Peterson
Key Games:
Sept 4 - North Carolina (in Atlanta)
Sept 25 - West Virginia
Oct 2 - Tennessee
Oct 9 - @ Florida
Oct 23 - @Auburn
Nov 6 - Alabama
Nov 27 - @ Arkansas
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