Write On Sports LLC - "Football Week 18" by Tom Zuck

Football Week 18

2008-01-07 20:49:23 | By: Tom Zuck

There has been a lot of talk from Big 10 fans telling anyone who would listen that the "SEC is faster than the Big 10" is a myth. Well, is it? I think in some respects it is and in some it isn't. I think that everyone has team speed at the skill positions. In the 1990's Pitt had some of the fastest guys around at the skill positions. Guys like Anthony Dorsett, Dietrich Jells and Curtis Anderson. These guys could run with anyone no matter what team it was.

At a mini-combine on campus at the old indoor facility I witnessed Anthony Dorsett run two consecutive 4.29 40s on what is a terrible surface. The NFL guys all stood and stared at their watches and asked each other what they got. Young Anthony was really fast, especially when I thought that I could run a 4.29 in the 25.

But what then do people mean about the SEC speed? I think it has to do with overall team speed, especially at the defensive and offensive line positions and linebacker as well.

If you watched the UF-OSU title game last year you saw James Laurinaitis and the rest of the Buckeye linebackers "attempt" to cover UF's skill players. They couldn't do it. No matter how many days there were between games it would not have mattered. The speed difference was also a huge reason the UF defensive ends had five sacks. The HUGE Buckeye OTs couldn't touch the speed. So what does all this mean to this game?

I don't think that anyone who watches football on a regular basis says that Ohio State and Michigan or Wisconsin do not have extremely talented players. Back in the 1990s when Cornell Brown was at Virginia Tech he began the transformation of the defensive line. At his end position Brown was about 215 pounds soaking wet. NOBODY could touch him and he was terror in the backfield.

Last year you saw how that position has changed in 15 years. The offensive tackles are gigantic and the defensive linemen weigh about 50 to 70 pounds less. You even saw what Pitt's defensive ends did against WVU, they speed really disrupted the WVU spread. So the defensive ends from Florida weighed in at about 250-260 pounds and they could run like crazy. The linebackers were pretty much the same.

So that is what people are talking about when they say the SEC has more speed than the Big 10.

So now we see if I am full of it! Let's head to the games.

Outback Bowl
#16 Tennessee (9-4) vs. #18 Wisconsin (9-3)
Tampa, Fla.
Tuesday, 11 a.m., ESPN

How many times have I been burned by Kimmy Elder's UT Vols? A lot! But if I lean towards UT then Cousin Mike Stobba will be mad at me since he is a Badger. Both teams have been disappointing at times this season. One key for this game is that Wisconsin's P.J. Hill is not likely to play. He's a game-changer. Wisconsin's defense will have to play the best game of the season to stop what is an improving UT offense. The Vols have three starters out due to grades. UT QB Erik Ainge MUST play mistake free, unlike in the SEC title game and Arian Foster needs to get 100+. I think UT's defense will rise to the occasion and reward me for my perceived UT loyalty. Wish that I was on 'ol Rocky Top, Vols win.

Cotton Bowl
#25 Arkansas (8-4) vs. #7 Missouri (11-2)
Dallas, TX.
Tuesday, 11:30 a.m., Fox

Other than Darren McFadden and Felix Jones what does the Arkansas offense bring to the table? I'd say probably not enough to beat a really good Missouri team. Casey Dick is just kind of there for the offense, whereas Missouri's Chase Daniel makes plays by the bushel. Throw in another interim head coach for Arkansas and Missouri seems to be the safe choice. The offense starts with Daniel who has thrown for over 4,170 yards and 33 touchdowns this year. He has only thrown 10 INTs in an incredible 534 passes. I'd still like to see more of a running game though. Tony Temple is the leading rusher for Missouri with 758 yards. You all know I have a bias towards the SEC but there has been too much turmoil around the Hogs. In this one I am going to go with Missouri. Show me Missouri, Tigers win.

Gator Bowl
Texas Tech (8-4) vs. #21 Virginia (9-3)
Jacksonville, Fla.
Tuesday, 12 p.m., CBS

You have two completely different styles of ball here. If you have not watched Tech play this year give this game a look. Tech's QB Graham Harrell is outstanding and he throws A LOT; how about 644 times this season. He has 5,298 yards and 45 TDs and just 14 INTs. Then there is Michael Crabtree with 125 catches and Danny Amendola with 103 catches. So Virginia's defense, which has been very good, has to play its best game of the year. UVA beat Pitt and Wake Forest this year. Wake is one of just two ranked teams on the UVA schedule, Va. Tech is the other and they blasted the Cavs. Don't blink during this one, Red Raiders win.

Capital One Bowl
#9 Florida (9-3) vs. Michigan (8-4)
Orlando, Fla.
Tuesday, 1 p.m. ABC

Michigan has lost four straight bowl games. The last one Big Blue won was after the 2002 season against...Florida in this same game. Things did not go the way either of these teams wanted this season. UM's 0-2 start doomed them before they even got to conference play. Florida's national title defense was sidetracked during a brutal four-game stretch with losses to Auburn, LSU and Georgia. This is Lloyd Carr's last game as coach of Michigan. The staff has basically been dismissed. And the players have to be wondering what their futures hold. Those are a lot of internal distractions. Florida has Superman at QB. But I still don't like that Tebow is UF's leading rusher. And UM has some guys on defense who can hit ya hard. Look for Florida's defense to get to QB Chad Henne and to do enough to not allow Mike Hart to run wild. Gators win.

Rose Bowl
#13 Illinois (9-3) vs. #6 Southern California (10-2)
Pasadena, Calf.
Tuesday, 4:30 p.m., ABC

I have said before that the team I would not want to play right now is USC. The Trojans are healthy. This is a great match-up game. The USC defense does not allow rushing yards. Illinois can run on just about anyone. That makes for a great game. The key could be if Illinois QB Juice Williams can find room to run instead of just depending on Rashard Mendenhall. If the Trojans stop Williams that will tip the scales to USC's favor because it will be nearly impossible to stop the Trojan offense. This will be a fun game but in the end it will be Tommy Trojan riding to victory. Fight on, For Victory. USC wins.

Sugar Bowl
#4 Georgia (10-2) vs. #10 Hawaii (12-0)
New Orleans, La.
Tuesday, 8 p.m., Fox

If Rich Rodriguez is still living off the first half of WVU's HUGE Sugar Bowl win a few years back then that game still haunts the Bulldogs. My main issue with Georgia the past few years has been the lack of a dependable running game. They have that this year so the success is not a surprise. Knowshon Moreno has made a huge difference for UGa and so has the more mature Matt Stafford. Moreno is just the second freshman in UGa history to rush for 1,000 yards; Herschel Walker is the other. Then there is the Hawaii offense led by Colt Brennan. It's 4,000 miles from Hawaii to New Orleans; Brennan has thrown for over 4,000 yards this year with an INCREDIBLE completion percentage; 71.4%! The Warriors don't run much, why would you. That could free the Bulldogs to unload on Brennan. It will be interesting. But in the end I see UGa winning.

Fiesta Bowl
#3 Oklahoma (11-2) vs. West Virginia (10-2)
Glendale, AZ.
Wednesday, 8 p.m., Fox

You hate to kick someone when they are down, but this is West Virginia. And I have an axe to grind with them since their fans cheered when a Pitt player was hurt at the Big East Tournament. So other than Big East Conference loyalty I have not much of a reason to pull for the Hoopies. After the Pitt loss and subsequent meltdown WVU is in a terrible state. They too have an interim coach for this game. Oklahoma is just good. Defensively the Sooners will do exactly what Pitt did to Pat White and the incredible disappearing Steve Slaton; only to a higher degree. And don't look for WVU's secondary to stop Sam Bradford from throwing at will. Mix in a little Allen Patrick and DeMarco Murray and it will be a long night for the Mounties. Boomer Sooner, OU wins.

Orange Bowl
#8 Kansas (11-1) vs. #5 Virginia Tech (11-2)
Miami, Fla.
Thursday, 8 p.m., Fox

Defense against offense here; pick your poison. This is a tough one because Va. Tech's offense has not really been great all year but they have defense, in spades. Kansas is exceptional on offense and very good on defense. Todd Reesing is a little guy but he has put up great numbers; 3,259 yards passing with 32 TDs and just six INTs. But Va. Tech forces turnovers; 21 INTs with five returned for TDs. This could be a toss the coin game. Brandon Ore must sit out the first quarter and that means Kenny Lewis will start at running back. Look for backup QB Tyrod Taylor to make a BIG difference in this game. With Taylor as the wildcard I am going with Va. Tech; Hokies win.

International Bowl
Ball State (7-5) vs. Rutgers (7-5)
Toronto, Canada
Saturday, 12 p.m., ESPN2

Ball State scores a lot of points. Rutgers defense does not allow a lot of points. Plus the Scarlet Knights have Ray Rice in the backfield. The Cardinals put up over 600 yards on Nebraska, and lost. Ball State doesn't run much so the line must give Nate Davis time to pass. Rutgers can get to the passer so that will be interesting. I am going to stick with the Big East in this one. Rutgers wins.

GMAC Bowl
Bowling Green (8-4) vs. Tulsa (9-4)
Mobile, Ala.
Sunday, 8 p.m., ESPN

I was at Bowling Green once. Pitt played there and before the game I ate at the Waffle House. It was good, much better than the game, even though Pitt won. Bowling Green has played some big names this season, Mich. St., BC and Minn. And they lost two of those. The Falcons have won four straight to end the season. In its four losses this season Tulsa was smoked for a lot of points, 62, 48, 44 and 44. I'm going to flip a coin on this one...it's heads, Bowling Green wins.

BCS Championship Game
#2 Louisiana State (11-2) vs. #1 Ohio State (11-1)
New Orleans, La.
Jan. 7, 8 p.m., Fox

The Buckeyes are very strong up front on offense. And LSU can be run on up the middle. That means the linebackers for LSU must play great. A healthy Glenn Dorsey will help the LSU defense. This game should be much better than last year's UF-OSU game. LSU needs to get to OSU QB Todd Boeckman. Boeckman has had a great year and Chris Wells has run on everyone. Both offenses score a lot. Both teams owe an awful lot to Pitt! Without the Panthers this game would not be played. Ohio State is 0-8 against SEC teams in bowl games. Until they prove me wrong I am going with the best conference in football. Geaux Tigers; LSU wins!

Editor's Note: Tom submitted this article on December 30th and concluded his great college football coverage. It was posted late because the site did not update for over a week due to the holidays. Thanks Tom for another great season of college football insights. -- WOS Staff