Preview: #7 Florida @ #1 Alabama

2009 Heisman Winner Mark Ingram

Florida Quarterback John Brantley hasn't been tested by a top notch defense yet. That will all change this week. The #7 Florida Gators (4-0, 2-0) will travel to Tuscaloosa, Alabama to the defending national champions in a rematch of the last two SEC title games. The Alabama Crimson Tide (4-0, 1-0) have been tested this year, with wins over Penn St. and an impressive 24-20 win over instate rival #10 Arkansas last weekend. Mark Ingram was able to set the tone in the victory, carrying the ball 24 times for 157 yards while finding the end zone twice. Ingram and Trent Richardson combine for one of the best one two punches in college football. Richardson, who would be a featured back on any other team in America, gathered 85 yards of his own on 8 carries. If the Gators are going to pull the upset they will have to stop the run, but the Gators can't put all their focus on the ground. When not giving the ball to their halfbacks, the Tide will try to get the ball to standout wide receiver  Julio Jones. Jones will be a high draft pick in next year's NFL draft, and should be a handful for the Gators secondary. It may be a pick your poison kind of situation for Florida.

Florida comes into this SEC clash relatively untested. Tennessee has not returned to national prominence, and Kentucky, USF, and Miami (OH) are cupcakes for the Gators. John Brantley has looked solid in his first four starts as a Gator. He does not have the same type of running threat that former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow did, but he certainly has a better arm. The Gators have a pretty crowded backfield themselves. Jeffrey Demps is an absolute game breaker, and may be the fastest player in America. He has already racked up runs of 72 and 62 yards. Florida also have halfbacks Mike Gillislee and Emanuel Moody who add a different style of running in the backfield. Florida does not have any star wide receivers, which may be a plus for the Gators offense. Five Gators have 8 receptions or more this season, so the Alabama defense will have to be on their toes the entire time on defense.

Florida Quarterback John Brantley

Keys To The Game


Alabama: Quarterback Greg McElroy needs to be a game manager, not try to be a playmaker. The Crimson Tide have plenty of playmakers in the backfield and at wideout with Julio Jones.  A heavy dose of the halfbacks with McElroy playing it conservatively and allowing Julio Jones to do his thing running after the catch should present Alabama with the best chance to win.

Florida: Florida has to find a way to slow down the Alabama running game and force Greg McElroy to beat them through the air. They will have to blitz successfully and force Greg McElroy into some poor decisions. Florida has to get their ground game going in order to relieve some pressure off Brantley.

Predictions:  
Alabama 27 Florida 14


I don't think Florida is ready to compete with the big boys in the SEC. Their high rating is simply a result of last season's success and have not been tested. If you want to see some running backs that you might be drafting in your fantasy football draft in a couple years, be sure to check out this game.

Can Boise St. Be Beaten?

In the 80's SMU was close to winning a national championship. However, the college football world still has not seen a non-power conference team win a national championship. It's happened in basketball in the 50's and 60's with schools such as Texas Western and La Salle. It happened just two years ago in college baseball when Fresno St. miraculously won the College World Series. Now maybe it's football's turn for a mid major team to pull of the great feat. Boise St. certainly has the best chance any small conference school has ever seen. Boise started in the polls ranked 4. They took care of business in their opening game with a win over #9 Virginia Tech. However that win no longer looks as good, after Virginia Tech fell flat on their faces against in-state FCS power James Madison. To get into the BCS championship game Boise is going to need help, and probably will need losses by Alabama, Ohio St, and Oregon. However before Boise starts worrying about everyone else, they must take care of their own business.

Heisman Hopeful Kellen Moore

In general, the WAC does not provide much of a threat to the high powered Broncos. A lot of the programs such as San Jose St. are just trying to maintain the funds to keep their programs alive. However, all road games have some degree of danger. A win against Boise St. would be monumental win for any program. For these schools it will probably be the only time all year the stadium will be packed. We will take a look at Boise's remaining schedule to see what teams provide a formidable opponent.

You can pretty much assume all games played in the state of Idaho are going to be wins. Oregon St. went as far as to change the color of their own practice field, and they still left Boise feeling blue. Left on the home schedule is Toledo, Louisiana Tech, Hawaii, Fresno St, and Utah St. Toledo is an interesting team, as they hung around with Arizona before getting blown out at home. Last Saturday they went into West Lafayette and beat Big Ten opponent Purdue fairly easily. Louisiana Tech and Utah St. will undoubtedly be blowouts. Those teams do not have the personal to keep the game close. Hawaii can probably be throwin into that category as well, however their offense can keep them in games. The high octane run-and-gun offense will put up points and if quarterback Bryant Moinz is making good decisions the Warriors may be able to hang around. Fresno St. is always a formidable opponent in the WAC, and at the time posted an impressive win over Cincinnati at home. Realistically though the Broncos are not losing at home. So can anyone trip them up on the road?

Nevada Quarterback Colin Kaepernick

Boise has four road games left on the schedule. New Mexico St. and San Jose St. both should be blowouts, however the Broncos can not look past San Jose St. Even in their down years, the Spartans play big time team's tough. They lost in overtime to the Colt Brennan led Hawaii team that made the sugar bowl in 2007. They also upset LaDainian Tomlinson's TCU team when TCU was still in the WAC. Regardless, the Broncos will survive that game. That leaves a rivalry game at Idaho. The Broncos made news this year when coach Chris Peterson told IdahoStatesman.com that the Broncos will no longer travel to Moscow, Idaho once the Broncos bounce to the Mountain West next season. "Why would we (go to Moscow)?" he said. "I don't think our fans even like to go up there. Most of Idaho's fans are in Boise anyway." This will certainly have the Vandals fired up for the Broncos.

The game of the year in the WAC will be when Boise St. visits Nevada. You know the WAC must be kicking themselves, as this will be the last time the two teams meet in the WAC before both of them jump to the MWC. Nevada is ranked in the AP poll for the first time since 1948. This will be most high profile game the WAC has seen since Boise St. visited Hawaii for the WAC conference championship and a chance at Hawaii claiming a BCS bid on the line in 2007. Nevada is led by duel threat quarterback Colin Kaepernick who has racked up almost 5,000 yards passing and over 2,000 yards rushing the past two seasons for the WolfPack. Nevada already boasts wins over Cal and BYU, and could be just the win Boise St. needs to bolster their appeal to pollsters. 

2010 is going to be a roller coaster for Boise St. and their fans. Every minute counts, as even a close game could damage the Broncos chances at claiming the 2010 BCS championship!

Preview: #9 Stanford @ #4 Oregon

Chris Owusu carries two Ducks in Stanford's 51-42 win last season

ESPN's College Gameday will be in Eugene, Oregon this week for a PAC 10 Clash between #9 Stanford and #4 Oregon. Stanford comes off an emotional 37-14 romping of rival Notre Dame. Stanford (4-0, 1-0) snapped a seven game losing streak in South Bend, Ind. dating back to 1992. The Cardinal are off to their best start since 1984. The game was highlighted by Owen Marecic scoring an offensive and defensive touchdown only 11 seconds apart. Notre Dame put up lofty totals through the air, but the Cardinal defense came up with timely interceptions when it mattered the most.

Oregon is off to it's best start since Dennis Dixon had the Ducks in the National Championship picture a couple years back. Last weekend in Tempe, Arizona the Ducks had a tremendous 42-31 come back victory over the Sun Devils. Lemichael James tore it up on the ground, running for 140 yards. The Ducks have not missed a beat since Jermiah Masoli was kicked off the team earlier this year. Darron Thomas has filled in tremendously, and threw for 260 yards and two scores. The Oregon defense did look suspect at times, and that is something to watch for against the potent Stanford passing attack.

Autzen Stadium is a game changer for the Ducks

Keys To The Game

Stanford: Stanford must contain the speed of Oregon. Lemichael James will be a handful for the Stanford defense, which is tactically sound but does lack speed in the linebacking core. In addition the Stanford offense better be working on dealing with the sound of Autzen Stadium this week in practice because Autzen will be rocking Saturday night.

Oregon: As long as Oregon limits it's turnovers, and keeps the ball in James's hands they should be fine. The Ducks have more speed on the field, and if we have learned  anything from the SEC's success in the past couple years it's that speed wins ballgames. The Ducks defense must contain Stanford's passing game. They were exposed in  Tempe last weekend, giving up 387 yards through the air to Steven Threet, who is no Andrew Luck.

Prediction: Oregon 42 Stanford 38

The game will be close, but the Ducks will continue their 12 game winning streak at home. Tune in to ABC Saturday night if you enjoy offense!