Oklahoma's Offense vs. Florida's Defense

Thursday's BCS National Championship will feature 2 great offenses and 2 suspect defenses that will decide the game.

What Oklahoma wants to do: Oklahoma's trademark thorughout the year has been their offense, but particulary their hurry-up offense. Every snap is quick. Every formation is quick. And every substitution is quick. In addition to wearing down the Gator defense, they plan to establish the run with 1,000-yard rusher Chris Brown. Without DeMarco Murray, Brown and Mossis Madu will have to carry the load against the fast Florida defense. Heisman winner Sam Bradford will get his stats, get his points and get his touchdowns. That is a given. Bradford, Jermaine Gresham, Joaquin Iglesias and Manny Johnson will contribute to the high-octane offense of OU. The Sooners also must protect Bradford in the pocket.

What Florida wants to do: Florida only has to do one this on defense: pressure Sam Bradford. When Bradford has been pressured (as he was against Texas), the Sooners have not been as successful. Brian Orakpo had a few sacks that games and they held OU to 35 points, only 14 in the second half.

How Florida stops Oklahoma: Florida should start out by placing 8 men in the box to stop the run that Oklahoma will try to establish early. Later in the game, when the Sooners go back to their bread-and-butter, the pass, the Gators should try t bring 6 or 7 guys to pressure Bradford into bad throws and sacks. And with Florida's speed, zone blitzes may work well, dropping defensive linemen into converage and blitzing with linebackers.

Florida's Offense vs. Oklahoma's Defense

Thursday's BCS National Championship will feature 2 great offenses and 2 suspect defenses that will decide the game.

What Florida wants to do: Florida wants to establish the run with Percy Harvin, Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps before opening up the pass for Harvin, Louis Murphy and tight ends Aaron Hernandez and Cornelius Ingram. Quarterback Tim Tebow will actually look to pass first rather than take off a bulldoze the Sooners. Tebow, although wanting to the win the title, will also want to prove to the NFL that he can be a quarterback in the pros. Florida's spread and speed will be their main weapons and advantages, using space to get the ball to their playmakers. Florida's offensive line keeps with this principle, while being lean but not fat. Florida's offense is built for screens with speed at skill positions and agility on the line.

What Oklahoma wants to do: Oklahoma wants to (like every other team in every other game) wants to make Florida one-dimensional, preferably primarily using the pass as the first option. All-American Oklahoma defensive tackle Gerald McCoy is a key cog that clogs up the middle against the run for the Sooners. The OU defense also has been defending the pass most of the year, as the opposing offenses have been a) from the Big 12 and b) playing from behind. On the ground, Oklahoma has held Oklahoma State's Kendall Hunter and Missouri's Derrick Washington in check, both outstanding players. If Oklahoma does what they want to, stop the run, they may be able to somewhat control the Gator offense.

How Oklahoma stops Florida: Oklahoma should go nickel (5 defensive backs) every series to match up with Florida wide reveivers and tight ends and only keep in 2 linebackers. The linebacking corps of OU has been continually dessimated and weakened, pushing freshman Austin Box into the spotlight. From the 4-2-5 formations on defense, Oklahoma should try to bring 5 or 6 guys to put pressure on Tebow to make a quick decision. If necesary, a QB Spy may be needed. When UF played Miami, the 'Canes were able to limit Tebow by bringing blitzes up the middle into his face. OU should try to do the same to stop it.

Will Ferrell = Playoff Football

With the beginning of the playoffs and the elimination of four more teams, I thought it fitting for a comparison...to Will Ferrell characters. Ferrell, along with Seth Rogen and vintage Adam Sandler, is in the top tier of gloriously funny actors. The teams should feel honored to be compared to Mr. Will Ferrell.

-Talladega Nights' Ricky Bobby
Cocky, confident race-car driver gets stiff competition from a man from a foreign culture (France).
-Tennessee Titans
Cinfident, resilient Titans face stiff competition from a foreign culture (Pittsburgh).

-Step Brothers' Brennan Huff
Remains tough and friends with Dale, his newfound rival, even after getting beat up.
-Pittsburgh Steelers
Tough attitude remains from Cowher era and after the Titans' late season beatdown.



-Blades of Glory's Chazz Michael Michaels
The flashy ice skater's late injury forces him to try the other role of the Iron Lotus, and succeeds.
-San Diego Chargers
Chargers' star running back LaDanian Tomlinson's injury forces Darren Sproles into the spotlight, and succeeds.

-Wedding Crashers' Chazz
While trying to teach novice wedding crasher John his ways, all he wants his mom's meatloaf.
-Baltimore Ravens
While trying to teach rookie quarterback Joe Flacco the ropes, all they want is a title.

-Kicking & Screaming's Phil Weston
Phil's team, the Tigers were soft and horrible before the arrival of Mike Ditka.
-New York Giants
Giants were horrible and soft before the arrival of tough disciplinarian Tom Coughlin.

-Old School's Frank the Tank
Name says it all for Frank.
-Carolina Panthers
Jonathan Stewart and defense fit "tank" role for the Panthers.







-Elf's Buddy
Unexpected surprise visitor from North Pole brings originality and spirit to New York.
-Arizona Cardinals
Unexpected surprise visitor from Phoenix brings cute and original passing offense not seen before in Arizona.




-Anchorman's Ron Burgundy
The best ever before stumbling on a broadcast, insulting the city around him. Later rebounds to cover the panda story.

-Philadelphia Eagles
Started strong while looking like Super Bowl contenders but midseason swoon almost caused them to miss playoffs, but they made it.

Chargers, Cardinals Prove Playoff Structure Is Right

Okay, so the 11-5 New England Patriots got left out. Go cry me a river.

Okay, so the 9-7 Arizona Cardinals made the playoffs. Congratulations to them.

Okay, so the 8-8 San Diego Chargers advanced to the postseason. They took care of business.

And while many have been clammoring for a different playoff format, even proposing to combine the conferences for the playoffs. But like any other playoff talk (college football and baseball), this argument holds no water.

By virtue of the "mediocre" Cards and Bolts wins on Saturday, they defied the critics and proved the the playoff structure is fine. They took down the mighty darling Falcons and red hot MVP-led Colts, respectively.

And while the AFC East is obviously tougher than both the AFC and NFC West, its not Arizona's and San Diego's fault that the NFL divided the regions and divisions that way. They took care of business to secure spots in the playoffs.

The Cardinals clinched in midseason, the first team to clinch actually, and subsequently took the rest of the season off.

The Chargers on the other hand finished furiously after a slow start and with help from the Broncos, made the playoffs.

And nothing is wrong with any of this.

Why? Because if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

And it ain't broke.

How Good Are Mid-Majors?

I'm not talking about Villanova or George Mason or Davidson. I'm not talking about the Missouri Valley Conference or the Colonial Athletic Conference.

But I am talking about Utah and Boise State and Hawaii. I am talking about the Mountain West and the WAC. And, yes, I am talking about mid-majors.

Mid-majors, by name are only half a major, and thus only half a good, right? Right? Wrong.

Just ask Alabama or Oklahoma or even Michigan. And Nick Saban, Bob Stoops and Lloyd Carr will tell you that these litte "Davids" are Goliaths.

Many viewed these small little schools as just another win on the schedule, a mere bump in the road rather than a ten-car pile-up. But as Utah has proved, that is wrong.

Utah absolutely manhandled and outplayed and outphysicaled Alabama, known for their toughness and physical play. They never trailed in an easy Sugar Bowl win over the vividly and obviously overmatched SEC team. Alabama never could get on track while the Utes' constant rush pressured John Parker Wilson into sacks and bad throws. So maybe not all the speed is in the SEC.

And while Utah and Boise State are nice stories, lets still remember Hawaii. Hawaii's Sugar Bowl flop last year against the SEC's Georgia still reminds us not all schools are created equal.

Even darling TCU, who defeated this year's undefeated Boise State, got blown out by powerhouse Oklahoma. So even if these mid-majors are a nice story, they still aren't in the top tier of the college football.

Because that tier is reserved for the Big East, Big Ten and ACC.

Should USC Win The National Title?

"I don't think anybody can beat the Trojans. I think we can beat anyone we play," declared USC head coach Pete Carroll.

And who's to say he's wrong?

After dismantling Big Ten champion Penn State in the Rose Bowl, the Trojans look as impressive as ever. The USC defense, the best in the nation, held the Spread HD of Penn State to only 7 points inthe first half while virtually eliminating playmaker Derrick Williams. The Trojan offense was nearly unstoppable, led by Mark Sanchez's 4 touchdowns and Damian Williams' stellar receiving game, racking up 474 total yards of offense.

If anyone questioned the Trojans, all doubt should be gone now. But a new question should be raised: Do the Trojans deserve the #1 spot?

The big knock on USC throughout the season was that the Pac-10 was having a down year and wasn't as strong as power conferences SEC and Big 12. But in the bowl season, the Pac-10 went 5-0, with wins over the media darling Mountain West and the high-powered Big 12.

Now with the conference's perceived weakness debunked, shouldn't USC receive more credit for their conference wins? USC's 34-point win over Oregon is the shining moment in USC's season (other than their 32-point win over Ohio State).

The Trojans lone blemish was their road loss to Oregon State on an electric Thursday night in Corvallis. An early season road Thursday night conference game against a hungry team is far better than a home loss to Ole Miss (Florida).

I still believe that Oklahoma is the best team in the nation and if they win the BCS Championship game on Thursday, they should be #1. And if they don't, USC should be.

And if you disagree, ask Pete Carroll.

10 Bold Predictions for 2009

With the new year comes new faces, games and championships. This is what I expect from 2009.

· The BCS will cause controversy.

· Brett Favre will retire, I think.

· The New York Giants will win their second consecutive Super Bowl title.

· The Yankees big payroll will get them in the playoffs, but will not win the championship.

· The Spread offense will produce another Heisman winner.

· Chris Paul and Deron Williams will cement their spot among the elite with LeBron, Kobe and D-Wade.

· A game-winning shot will not be needed in the NCAA Basketball title game because North Carolina will be in it.

· Mixed Martial Arts will replace hockey and NASCAR in the "Big Four" of sports.

· John Daly will never win another PGA Tour event.

· Sean Avery will find another team, until he comments on his teammates fashion style.

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Note: I took off the entire month of December because of more pressing issues. Thanks.