cowboyjoe
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Championship week preview ... Its championship weekend in college football with some super games on the schedule with national implications including a couple of virtual BCS title elimination games. Here's a quick preview of who to watch in this weekend's games with a eye toward the 2011 draft.
December 3-4
http://www.gbnreport.com/gameoftheweek.htm
Its championship weekend in college football with 3 big conference championships, including one which is a virtual BCS title elimination game, as well as one last huge regular season contest that also rates as a BCS national championship elimination. The only issue for fans across the country is that there is a lot of overap in the key games go get those clickers warmed up. For now, here’s a quick preview of who to watch in this weekend’s big college games, especially with an eye toward the 2011 draft.
Oregon at Oregon State; Saturday, 3:30 PM ET; ABC … It all gets started in the annual Civil War in the northwest which is always one of the great traditional rivalry ganes in the country, but this year has the added appeal of being the final hurdle in Oregon's run at the national championship. For good measure, Oregon, which has as much team speed as any team in the country, is just plain fun to watch, although the unbeaten Ducks don’t necessarily have any true elite prospects for the 2011 draft. Indeed, the team’s best player is redshirt sophomore RB LaMichael James (#21, 5-8, 180) who isn't all that big, but brings new meaning to the term slippery scatback. The elusive James, a likely Heisman finalist, has run for over 1,500 yards and 19 scores to date, despite sitting out the team’s opener for disciplinary reasons. Oregon also has a small army of solid second-tier prospects for the 2011 draft including LBs Casey Matthews (#55, 6-1, 235), Spencer Paysinger (#35, 6-2, 230) and Kenny Rowe (#58, 6-2, 235), DT Brandon Bair (#88, 6-6, 285), CB Talmadge Jackson (#37, 5-9, 185), OTs Bo Thran (#69, 6-5, 295) and C.E. Kaiser (#6-3, 300), and WRs Jeff Maehl (#23, 6-0, 175) and D.J. Davis (#10, 6-0, 210).
While it has been something of a down year at Oregon State (5-6) which needs a win against their cross-state rivals just to be bowl eligible this season, the Beavers may actually have the best pro prospect - at least for the 2011 draft - in DT Stephen Paea (#54, 6-1, 310), a strong inside run stuffer with the upfield quickness to have posted 6 sacks this fall. The Beavers also have there own entry in the scatback sweepestakes in junior Jacquizz Rodgers (#1, 5-7, 190). The 'Quizz' has run for 1,100 yards and 14 scores of his own this season. Meanwhile, other Oregon State players to watch with later round or free agent potential include C Alex Linnenkohl (#60, 6-2, 300), DE Gabe Miller (#99, 6-2, 240), LBs Dwight Roberson (#59, 6-0, 230) and Keith Pankey (#35, 6-0, 225), CB James Dockery (#4, 6-1, 180) and SS Suaesi Tuimanei (#28, 6-0, 210)..
SEC Championship; Auburn versus South Carolina, Atlanta; Saturday; 4 PM ET; CBS … That loud 'whoosh' heard round the country is the collective sound of Auburn exhaling. First, the Tigers rebounded from a 24-0 deficit to beat in-state rival Alabama in last weekend's Iron Bowl to keep their BCS national championship hopes alive. Then this week the NCAA cleared both the program and star junior QB Cam Newton (#2, 6-5, 240) of any wrongdoing in his recruitment at least for now. No question, though, that Newton, the leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy, is a multi-talented athlete who has been moving up draft boards around the NFL, although his mechanics are still unpolished. Newton, though, has a very strong arm and a quick release and has completed 68% of his pass attempts this fall while throwing for 2,200 yards and 24 scores. Of course, Newton is an even more dynamic open-field runner who has run for over 1,300 yards and another 18 TDs. While Newton is the leading contender for the Heisman, emerging junior DT Nick Fairley (#90, 6-3, 295), an intense interior pass rusher, is very much in the running for defensive player honors. The Tigers also feature one of the better OTs in the country in veteran Lee Ziemba (#73, 6-7, 320), while LBs Josh Byrnes (#17, 6-1, 240) and Craig Stevens (#46, 6-2, 235) and SS Zac Etheridge (#4, 5-11, 210) head a defense that has given up some points this year.
Meanwhile, South Carolina remains something of an enigma. Put the Gamecocks in the SEC West and they'd likely be in a battle with the likes of Mississippi State for 5th place in the division. Instead, they were the survivor of this year's very disappointing SEC crowd, but still could turn the BCS on its head with a win Saturday against Auburn. The Gamecocks, though, will have to keep starting QB Stephen Garcia (#5, 6-2, 230), who comes into the game banged up, reasonably upright. If they can do that Garcia has a couple of the best young weapons in the country to work with in true freshman RB Marcus Lattimore (#21, 6-0, 220) and sophomore WR Ashlon Jeffrey (#1, 6-4, 235). The Gamecocks also have a solid veteran DE in Cliff Matthews (#83, 6-3, 260), a second-day prospect for the upcoming draft, however, CB Chris Culliver (17, 6-0, 200) arguably the team's best prospect for 2011 will not play because of a shoulder injury. Meanwhile, OT Jarriel King (76, 6-5, 315) and DT Lado Ajiboye (#91, 6-1, 290) are later round types.
ACC Championship; Florida State versus Virginia Tech; Charlotte; Saturday; 7:45 PM ET; ESPN ... Saturday's ACC title game features a couple of teams that have kind of flown under the national radar late in the season, but Virginia Tech, in particular, which has won ten straight after stumbling out of the gate, is one of those teams that nobody would really want to meet up with in the bowls. The Hokies are led by athletic QB Tyrod Taylor (#5, 6-1, 220) who is an outstanding athlete, but likely lacks the prototype size and arm strength to figure as more than a fringe draft prospect at the position, although the CFL may come calling. The Hokies also have potentially one of the best backfields in the country with sophomore RB Ryan Williams (#34, 5-10, 210) and junior Darren Evans (#32, 5-11, 220), however, injuries have clouded their immediate football futures. Williams, a slasher who erupted for almost 1,700 yards in 2009 when he scored 16 times and was considered a possible first rounder this coming April, missed much of the season with a hamstring injury. For his part, Evans, who had 1,300 yards in 2008, missed the entire season with a torn ACL and while he has come back to lead the Hokies in rushing this fall still isn't as explosive as he was earlier in his career. Meanwhile, the Hokies are hoping to have steady CB Rashad Carmichael (#21, 5-10, 190), a decent second day type cover corner, in the lineup against FSU after he missed last week's game with a high ankle sprain. Other Hokies to watch include C Beau Warren (#60, 6-2, 295), TE Andre Smith (#88, 6-5, 275), DT John Graves (#91, 6-3, 285), DE Steven Friday (#82, 6-3, 235), and S Davon Morgan (#2, 5-11, 200) each of whom is a later round or free agent types, while junior WR Jarrett Boykin (#81, 6-2, 215) has some big-play abilit.
The date with the swarming Virginia Tech defense should give Florida State QB Christian Ponder (#7, 6-3, 230) one last opportunity to get back into the national debate about the top prospects at the position for the coming draft. Ponder hasn’t been bad this fall completing 62% of his pass attempts, including 20 for scores against just 8 picks, but his 2,000 total passing yards pale in comparison to figures posted by most of the other top-rated passers in the country. Still, Ponder figures to be one of the first half dozen or so players off the board at the position this coming spring. Same story for OG Rodney Hudson (#62, 6-2, 285) who isn't all that big, but is very quick and is a superb technician as is veteran C Ryan McMahon (60, 6-1, 285). Meanwhile, junior LB Nigel Bradham (#13, 6-2, 245) is also a good one, while, DE Markus White (#98, 6-4, 265) is a solid enough veteran, although the team's best player on defense is actually sophomore DE Brandon Jenkins (#49, -2, 235), disruptive edge rusher who erupted for 12 sacks this season.
Big XII Championship; Oklahoma versus Nebraska; Dallas; Saturday; 8 PM ET; ABC … It seems entirely fitting that Nebraska's final Big XII game will be against old-rival Oklahoma. In a perfect world, though, wouldn't it be great if the two were actually playing for something that meant something like a spot in a BCS playoff. As a minor consolation, though, this game probably features the most talent for the 2011 draft of any conference championship match-up. It also should feature the weekend's best one-on-one match-up when Nebraska CB Prince Amukamara (#21, 6-0, 200) covers Oklahoma junior WR Ryan Broyles (#85, 5-10, 180). Oklahoma is also hopeful that RB Demarco Murray (#7, 6-0, 215), who could sneak into the latter part of this year's opening round if he can stay healthy, is able to play after getting dinged in last week's Bedlam bowl against Oklahoma State. DE Jeremy Beal (#44, 6-3, 265) and junior OLB Travis Lewis (#28, 6-2, 235) also have late first, early second round potential, while DT Adrian Taylor (#86, 6-4, 295), SS Quinton Carter (#20, 6-0, 195) and OT Cory Brandon (#70, 6-6, 310) are solid second-day prospects.
CB Amukamara (#21, 6-0, 200), who is likely to be the first senior corner off the board this coming April, is easily the Huskers best prospect for 2011. Nebraska was also expecting big things this year from junior DT Jared Crick (#94, 6-4, 285) who took over the mantle of leadership up front on defense from Ndamukong Suh, the second player picked overall this past April, however, Crick has struggled without Suh eating up a lot of opposing blockers. Meanwhile, WR Niles Paul (#24, 6-1, 215) and DE Pierre Allen (#95, 6-4, 265) are solid second-day prospects, while RB Roy Helu (10, 5-11, 210), WR/TE Mike McNeill (#44, 6-3, 245), and PK Alex Henery (#90, 6-2, 175) are later round candidates and rover Eric Hagg (#28, 6-1, 205) could be something of a sleeper.
Bonus coverage: Not sure why Illinois is closing out the season at Fresno State (Friday; 10:15 PM ET; ESPN2) but it offers folks a chance to watch two of the best underclassmen in the country in Illini RB Mikel Leshoure (#5, 5-11, 230) and MLB Martez Wilson (#2, 6-3, 250). Leshoure is on pace to rush for over 1,500 yards this fall, while Wilson, who reportedly runs under 4.6 seconds, has been all over the field posting 100 tackles, 4 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and 5 pass breakups... The ACC, Big XII and SEC are not the only D1A conferences holding league championship games this weekend as both Conference USA and the Mid-American Conference are also in on the act. Central Florida (9-3) will host Southern Methodist (7-5) in the CUSA title game (Noon ET; Saturday; ESPN). The player to watch in this one is UCF DE Bruce Miller (#49, 6-2, 250) a disruptive tweener with 27 career sacks although he only has 5 in 2010 to date. Meanwhile, SMU WR Aldrick Robinson (#24, 59, 180) is a big-play threat with 4.4 type speed who averaged over 20 yards per catch this fall while piling up almost 1,200 receiving yards and 12 scores.... Meanwhile, the best reason to tune into the MAC title game between Northern Illinois (10-2) and Miami of Ohio (8-4) (7 PM ET; Friday; Deroit) is NIU RB Chad Spann (#28, 5-9, 200), a neaky quick slasher who ran for over 1,200 yards and 20 TDs this fall. Meanwhile, Miami's best player is veteran possssion receiver Armand Robinson (#11, 6-0, 200).
Have a great weekend!!!
December 3-4
http://www.gbnreport.com/gameoftheweek.htm
Its championship weekend in college football with 3 big conference championships, including one which is a virtual BCS title elimination game, as well as one last huge regular season contest that also rates as a BCS national championship elimination. The only issue for fans across the country is that there is a lot of overap in the key games go get those clickers warmed up. For now, here’s a quick preview of who to watch in this weekend’s big college games, especially with an eye toward the 2011 draft.
Oregon at Oregon State; Saturday, 3:30 PM ET; ABC … It all gets started in the annual Civil War in the northwest which is always one of the great traditional rivalry ganes in the country, but this year has the added appeal of being the final hurdle in Oregon's run at the national championship. For good measure, Oregon, which has as much team speed as any team in the country, is just plain fun to watch, although the unbeaten Ducks don’t necessarily have any true elite prospects for the 2011 draft. Indeed, the team’s best player is redshirt sophomore RB LaMichael James (#21, 5-8, 180) who isn't all that big, but brings new meaning to the term slippery scatback. The elusive James, a likely Heisman finalist, has run for over 1,500 yards and 19 scores to date, despite sitting out the team’s opener for disciplinary reasons. Oregon also has a small army of solid second-tier prospects for the 2011 draft including LBs Casey Matthews (#55, 6-1, 235), Spencer Paysinger (#35, 6-2, 230) and Kenny Rowe (#58, 6-2, 235), DT Brandon Bair (#88, 6-6, 285), CB Talmadge Jackson (#37, 5-9, 185), OTs Bo Thran (#69, 6-5, 295) and C.E. Kaiser (#6-3, 300), and WRs Jeff Maehl (#23, 6-0, 175) and D.J. Davis (#10, 6-0, 210).
While it has been something of a down year at Oregon State (5-6) which needs a win against their cross-state rivals just to be bowl eligible this season, the Beavers may actually have the best pro prospect - at least for the 2011 draft - in DT Stephen Paea (#54, 6-1, 310), a strong inside run stuffer with the upfield quickness to have posted 6 sacks this fall. The Beavers also have there own entry in the scatback sweepestakes in junior Jacquizz Rodgers (#1, 5-7, 190). The 'Quizz' has run for 1,100 yards and 14 scores of his own this season. Meanwhile, other Oregon State players to watch with later round or free agent potential include C Alex Linnenkohl (#60, 6-2, 300), DE Gabe Miller (#99, 6-2, 240), LBs Dwight Roberson (#59, 6-0, 230) and Keith Pankey (#35, 6-0, 225), CB James Dockery (#4, 6-1, 180) and SS Suaesi Tuimanei (#28, 6-0, 210)..
SEC Championship; Auburn versus South Carolina, Atlanta; Saturday; 4 PM ET; CBS … That loud 'whoosh' heard round the country is the collective sound of Auburn exhaling. First, the Tigers rebounded from a 24-0 deficit to beat in-state rival Alabama in last weekend's Iron Bowl to keep their BCS national championship hopes alive. Then this week the NCAA cleared both the program and star junior QB Cam Newton (#2, 6-5, 240) of any wrongdoing in his recruitment at least for now. No question, though, that Newton, the leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy, is a multi-talented athlete who has been moving up draft boards around the NFL, although his mechanics are still unpolished. Newton, though, has a very strong arm and a quick release and has completed 68% of his pass attempts this fall while throwing for 2,200 yards and 24 scores. Of course, Newton is an even more dynamic open-field runner who has run for over 1,300 yards and another 18 TDs. While Newton is the leading contender for the Heisman, emerging junior DT Nick Fairley (#90, 6-3, 295), an intense interior pass rusher, is very much in the running for defensive player honors. The Tigers also feature one of the better OTs in the country in veteran Lee Ziemba (#73, 6-7, 320), while LBs Josh Byrnes (#17, 6-1, 240) and Craig Stevens (#46, 6-2, 235) and SS Zac Etheridge (#4, 5-11, 210) head a defense that has given up some points this year.
Meanwhile, South Carolina remains something of an enigma. Put the Gamecocks in the SEC West and they'd likely be in a battle with the likes of Mississippi State for 5th place in the division. Instead, they were the survivor of this year's very disappointing SEC crowd, but still could turn the BCS on its head with a win Saturday against Auburn. The Gamecocks, though, will have to keep starting QB Stephen Garcia (#5, 6-2, 230), who comes into the game banged up, reasonably upright. If they can do that Garcia has a couple of the best young weapons in the country to work with in true freshman RB Marcus Lattimore (#21, 6-0, 220) and sophomore WR Ashlon Jeffrey (#1, 6-4, 235). The Gamecocks also have a solid veteran DE in Cliff Matthews (#83, 6-3, 260), a second-day prospect for the upcoming draft, however, CB Chris Culliver (17, 6-0, 200) arguably the team's best prospect for 2011 will not play because of a shoulder injury. Meanwhile, OT Jarriel King (76, 6-5, 315) and DT Lado Ajiboye (#91, 6-1, 290) are later round types.
ACC Championship; Florida State versus Virginia Tech; Charlotte; Saturday; 7:45 PM ET; ESPN ... Saturday's ACC title game features a couple of teams that have kind of flown under the national radar late in the season, but Virginia Tech, in particular, which has won ten straight after stumbling out of the gate, is one of those teams that nobody would really want to meet up with in the bowls. The Hokies are led by athletic QB Tyrod Taylor (#5, 6-1, 220) who is an outstanding athlete, but likely lacks the prototype size and arm strength to figure as more than a fringe draft prospect at the position, although the CFL may come calling. The Hokies also have potentially one of the best backfields in the country with sophomore RB Ryan Williams (#34, 5-10, 210) and junior Darren Evans (#32, 5-11, 220), however, injuries have clouded their immediate football futures. Williams, a slasher who erupted for almost 1,700 yards in 2009 when he scored 16 times and was considered a possible first rounder this coming April, missed much of the season with a hamstring injury. For his part, Evans, who had 1,300 yards in 2008, missed the entire season with a torn ACL and while he has come back to lead the Hokies in rushing this fall still isn't as explosive as he was earlier in his career. Meanwhile, the Hokies are hoping to have steady CB Rashad Carmichael (#21, 5-10, 190), a decent second day type cover corner, in the lineup against FSU after he missed last week's game with a high ankle sprain. Other Hokies to watch include C Beau Warren (#60, 6-2, 295), TE Andre Smith (#88, 6-5, 275), DT John Graves (#91, 6-3, 285), DE Steven Friday (#82, 6-3, 235), and S Davon Morgan (#2, 5-11, 200) each of whom is a later round or free agent types, while junior WR Jarrett Boykin (#81, 6-2, 215) has some big-play abilit.
The date with the swarming Virginia Tech defense should give Florida State QB Christian Ponder (#7, 6-3, 230) one last opportunity to get back into the national debate about the top prospects at the position for the coming draft. Ponder hasn’t been bad this fall completing 62% of his pass attempts, including 20 for scores against just 8 picks, but his 2,000 total passing yards pale in comparison to figures posted by most of the other top-rated passers in the country. Still, Ponder figures to be one of the first half dozen or so players off the board at the position this coming spring. Same story for OG Rodney Hudson (#62, 6-2, 285) who isn't all that big, but is very quick and is a superb technician as is veteran C Ryan McMahon (60, 6-1, 285). Meanwhile, junior LB Nigel Bradham (#13, 6-2, 245) is also a good one, while, DE Markus White (#98, 6-4, 265) is a solid enough veteran, although the team's best player on defense is actually sophomore DE Brandon Jenkins (#49, -2, 235), disruptive edge rusher who erupted for 12 sacks this season.
Big XII Championship; Oklahoma versus Nebraska; Dallas; Saturday; 8 PM ET; ABC … It seems entirely fitting that Nebraska's final Big XII game will be against old-rival Oklahoma. In a perfect world, though, wouldn't it be great if the two were actually playing for something that meant something like a spot in a BCS playoff. As a minor consolation, though, this game probably features the most talent for the 2011 draft of any conference championship match-up. It also should feature the weekend's best one-on-one match-up when Nebraska CB Prince Amukamara (#21, 6-0, 200) covers Oklahoma junior WR Ryan Broyles (#85, 5-10, 180). Oklahoma is also hopeful that RB Demarco Murray (#7, 6-0, 215), who could sneak into the latter part of this year's opening round if he can stay healthy, is able to play after getting dinged in last week's Bedlam bowl against Oklahoma State. DE Jeremy Beal (#44, 6-3, 265) and junior OLB Travis Lewis (#28, 6-2, 235) also have late first, early second round potential, while DT Adrian Taylor (#86, 6-4, 295), SS Quinton Carter (#20, 6-0, 195) and OT Cory Brandon (#70, 6-6, 310) are solid second-day prospects.
CB Amukamara (#21, 6-0, 200), who is likely to be the first senior corner off the board this coming April, is easily the Huskers best prospect for 2011. Nebraska was also expecting big things this year from junior DT Jared Crick (#94, 6-4, 285) who took over the mantle of leadership up front on defense from Ndamukong Suh, the second player picked overall this past April, however, Crick has struggled without Suh eating up a lot of opposing blockers. Meanwhile, WR Niles Paul (#24, 6-1, 215) and DE Pierre Allen (#95, 6-4, 265) are solid second-day prospects, while RB Roy Helu (10, 5-11, 210), WR/TE Mike McNeill (#44, 6-3, 245), and PK Alex Henery (#90, 6-2, 175) are later round candidates and rover Eric Hagg (#28, 6-1, 205) could be something of a sleeper.
Bonus coverage: Not sure why Illinois is closing out the season at Fresno State (Friday; 10:15 PM ET; ESPN2) but it offers folks a chance to watch two of the best underclassmen in the country in Illini RB Mikel Leshoure (#5, 5-11, 230) and MLB Martez Wilson (#2, 6-3, 250). Leshoure is on pace to rush for over 1,500 yards this fall, while Wilson, who reportedly runs under 4.6 seconds, has been all over the field posting 100 tackles, 4 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and 5 pass breakups... The ACC, Big XII and SEC are not the only D1A conferences holding league championship games this weekend as both Conference USA and the Mid-American Conference are also in on the act. Central Florida (9-3) will host Southern Methodist (7-5) in the CUSA title game (Noon ET; Saturday; ESPN). The player to watch in this one is UCF DE Bruce Miller (#49, 6-2, 250) a disruptive tweener with 27 career sacks although he only has 5 in 2010 to date. Meanwhile, SMU WR Aldrick Robinson (#24, 59, 180) is a big-play threat with 4.4 type speed who averaged over 20 yards per catch this fall while piling up almost 1,200 receiving yards and 12 scores.... Meanwhile, the best reason to tune into the MAC title game between Northern Illinois (10-2) and Miami of Ohio (8-4) (7 PM ET; Friday; Deroit) is NIU RB Chad Spann (#28, 5-9, 200), a neaky quick slasher who ran for over 1,200 yards and 20 TDs this fall. Meanwhile, Miami's best player is veteran possssion receiver Armand Robinson (#11, 6-0, 200).
Have a great weekend!!!
