Auburn Host Alabama in an Iron Bowl for the Ages

College football fans gearing up for Saturday have every reason to be excited.  While nearly all the colleges engage in their major rivalry games, one match will certainly be the most watched game in the country: Alabama Crimson Tide versus Auburn Tigers.  Never have the stakes been this high for both teams in the Iron Bowl, and never has the Crimson Tide had to deal with such a high profile opponent in this rivalry during their recent spell of dominance.

Ever since Cam Newton led Auburn to a BCS National Championship in 2010 and departed, Alabama has pounded the Tigers, winning both the 2011 and 2012 affairs by large margins.  Those Auburn teams were not very competitive, but this year it has all changed.  While Alabama is ranked number 1 and undefeated, Auburn is 10-1 and ranked number 4 in the nation.

This game has massive title implications.  The winner will head to the SEC Championship and potentially the BCS National Title game.  The loser will still reach a major bowl game, but will surely be disappointed in seeing their championship hopes denied by their fiercest rival.  This is truly a match for the ages!

So how will it play out?  The stats and history all point to a victory for Alabama.  They have earned the past 2 National Titles and have been ranked number 1 all season long.  This program has gotten ridiculously good in the past 3 years.  Their defense is the best in the country, allowing just 90 rushing yards per contest.  Led by senior linebacker and tackling machine C.J. Mosley, and the exciting freshman defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson, the Crimson Tide run defense is exceptional and has enabled their success.

Meanwhile, Auburn finds most of its offensive success through rushing the ball.  Something has got to give!  Ranked second in the nation with over 300 ground yards per game, the Tigers’ rushing attack is a 4-headed monster, led by exciting junior tailback Tre Mason.  Additionally, versatile quarterback Nick Marshall likes to run and has 9 rushing touchdowns on the year, while Cameron Artis-Payne also gets in on the action with over 6 yards per carry on his touches.  And then there is Corey Grant, a former Alabama player who crossed a serious line in joining the Tigers.  A dynamic playmaking threat with the ball who is an excellent return man, Grant can be the X-factor in this game.

So what should happen with this key matchup?  No one knows for sure, but if Alabama can halt this rushing attack they will win easily.  Should Auburn run for several hundred yards, they will have every chance to snatch the victory in a tight game.

In the air, Alabama’s senior quarterback A.J. McCarron is a Heisman frontrunner who has made countless throws and smart decisions this year, limiting himself to just 5 interceptions.  However, Auburn’s defense features two safeties known for interceptions in Ryan Smith and Robinson Therezie.  With the deep ball likely to be a dangerous proposition, McCarron will be looking to his own ground game for support and tossing shorter throws.  Crimson Tide tailbacks T.J. Yeldon and Kenyan Drake will be keys to the game.  Against a rather average Auburn rush defense, they will certainly be able to gain yards.  The big question is whether or not Auburn can counter that with a successful ground game of their own.

Now, in reality this is a game that looks to heavily favor Alabama.  Most the stats sway in their favor, they are seeking a 3^rd straight BCS National Championship, and they are the most feared team in college football with a menacing defense.  But in some weird way, I see this as exactly the game they may lose.  College football games (especially rivalry games) are always tensely fought.  Upsets happen a lot.  And as we saw two weeks ago with the ridiculous last minute touchdown pass of destiny over Georgia, Auburn has good fortune on their side this season.  And after suffering two brutal defeats at the hands of Alabama the last two years, the Tigers will surely be up for a fight in front of their home fans.  Against the odds, I think Auburn will manage to gain some yardage on the ground and might just even escape with a last second field goal to win: 20-17.

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Is College Football Set For 1 Last BCS Championship Controversy?

 With the NCAA college football season heading down its final stretch, the time has come for preparations for the BCS National Championship match.  2013 is the final year in which there will be a single game that determines the winner, as in 2014 a 4-game playoff will be adopted by the NCAA.  But as it stands, this year could end up being quite controversial, as 5 major national contenders are undefeated and could potentially finish the year as so, leaving one final major controversy in the old BCS system that has plagued the game for so many years.

Right now the Alabama Crimson Tide, Florida State Seminoles, Ohio State Buckeyes, Baylor Bears, and the Oregon Ducks have yet to lose a game.  They each have a legitimate case for being the nation’s best team, and yet each is still facing major challenges up ahead.  By the end of the season, which of these teams will still be hanging strong and ready to win a BCS title?  Or will they all lose, opening the floodgates for numerous other team’s faint hopes?  Or will we be facing a final controversy with 3 or 4 teams equally qualified for that title match?

Fortunately, there are countless big games ahead for all these teams, meaning someone will surely slip up.  Baylor has had the softest schedule so far this year and haven’t played a top 25 opponent all season, but are facing a make-or-break section of their schedule ahead.  They face 10^th ranked Oklahoma Sooners on Thursday, and then have games against the Texas Tech Raiders and Oklahoma State Cowboys (both ranked).  Texas also looms large at the end of their season.  I foresee at least one loss for the team that currently has the nation’s best offense.

Another team with a tough road ahead is Alabama, who faces LSU and Auburn in addition to another SEC force should they make the SEC Championship.  If anyone is prepared for such a challenge Alabama surely is, as Nick Saban is vying for his 3^rd straight national title with quarterback AJ McCarron.

Oregon has been a usual national contender in recent years.  With a formidable rushing attack and a strong defense, they have every chance to be in the title game.  Up ahead though will be a major task against Stanford that could decide their fate this weekend, though the rest of their schedule is favorable.

Ohio State has probably the easiest run-in, with their massive rivalry against Michigan looking to be the toughest test.  Ohio State went undefeated last year but was ineligible for the postseason.  Head coach Urban Meyer looks to have righted the ship and could well see this team through to the big match.  However, the soft Big Ten has presented favorable matchups for the Buckeyes and it would be curious to see how they would fare against an Alabama or Oregon.

Lastly, there is Florida State, with freshman quarterback Jameis Winston. The team looks a major force and to me to be the best team in the nation.  They have already passed major tests against Clemson and Miami, though they may have to play Miami once more in the ACC title game and still must play rivals Florida.  Nevertheless, their dominance in those games suggests they can handle another test.

So how will it all play out?  The beauty of college football is that we really don’t know.  Games can always go either way, and chances are some of these losses may even occur against teams not deemed that big of a threat.  However, my money is on a Florida State – Alabama title game, with Alabama’s experience pulling them through.  However, I also have a hunch that the old BCS format will go out with a bang, and that either Ohio State or Oregon could get frustrated and left out.  Either way, it will surely be an interesting final month of college football to determine who plays in that glorious BCS Championship game!

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Will Anyone Be Able to Dethrone the Alabama Crimson Tide this Year?

Although there are still quite a few undefeated schools at this midpoint in the college football season, there is one university that stands head and shoulders above all the others: Alabama.  The Alabama Crimson Tide has won the last two BCS National Championships and looks just as capable of winning it again this year.  While some people predicted that the team would suffer after losing 9 key players to the NFL Draft, including the majority of their offensive line, the team just keeps rolling along with big victories.

Although Alabama plays in the dreaded SEC, their schedule is looking quite soft.  If they can win a major matchup against LSU in a couple weeks, and win the SEC Championship in December, Alabama will likely be headed to another BCS National title game.  And who would possibly be talented enough to stop this team from a third straight title?

Oregon looks capable offensively, but everyone knows what typically happens when they go up against a legitimate SEC defense.  Clemson is a strong team, but we’ve all witnessed their slip-ups against minor colleges.  Ohio State may return to the title game as well, though I still don’t see them as really being able to beat the Crimson Tide.  Nick Saban has instituted a program that is unstoppable.

Losing leading running back Eddie Lacy was supposed to cause a disruption in the team’s offense.  Enter TJ Yeldon, Kenyan Drake, and Jalston Fowler.  The defensive backfield was supposed to become problematic following Dee Milliner’s departure to the NFL.  Well, now safety Vinnie Sunseri sparks fear into opposing quarterbacks, having returned 2 interceptions for touchdowns, including a game-clincher from Johnny Manziel.

The team simply reloads every year, and their coaches get every recruit trained to the fullest of their capabilities, making Alabama the most fearsome and talented college football team in America.  And after so much success, teams now legitimately fear this team, which further adds to their strength.  They play with confidence and dominance, and haven’t been challenged since their thriller against Texas A&M.

Looking ahead, their schedule really is quite soft.  Perhaps the game at Auburn to close out the season could be a potential slip-up, but I would be greatly surprised.

Another factor going in the team’s favor is the leadership under senior quarterback AJ McCarron.  While some critics point to the fact that the talent around him boosts his stats, McCarron has done everything that has been asked of him and makes very few mistakes.  He can make all the necessary throws and is surely going to be given an opportunity in the NFL.

Therefore, I really don’t think anyone is capable of dethroning Alabama this year.  But I could be wrong.  College football is all about strange upsets, and the team might even fall to Arkansas this week.  But this is where Saban’s coaching comes in to play.  Alabama players always come into games focused and ready to win, no matter who is the opponent.  They never seem to slip up against the teams they should beat, and their success stems from this intensity.  Something tells me Alabama might just be celebrating another National Championship at the end of this season yet again.

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Top 5 2013 NFL Draft Prospects: Big Guys Dominate the Board

As much as last year’s draft was dominated by talented quarterbacks like Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III, the 2013 NFL draft looks to be spearheaded by a group of grunts: players who reside deep in the trenches of offensive and defensive lines in professional football. I suppose as important as the quarterback position is, so are the lines, and having the players to either defend or attack those quarterbacks can make a huge difference for any football team. Also, based on the players available this year, it just looks to be a group of big guys who are bringing the most talent to the NFL.

Here are my top 5 NFL draft prospects for 2013, and with no surprise, big guys are taking the lead:

5. Jonathan Cooper – Offensive Guard – North Carolina Tar Heels – Great with his hands, Cooper is explosive as a run blocker and helped his running back, Geovani Bernard, average over 120 yards per game last year. Cooper has great size and mobility. Issues concerning him at the professional level come with his overall strength, but under an NFL training regimen, should make the transition smoothly. Although guards are rarely chosen near the top of the draft, Cooper is talented enough to be in consideration.

4. Star Lotulelei – Defensive Tackle – Utah Utes – A true dream of a big man at the heart of an NFL defense, Lotulelei will be a monster at the professional level. Although nose tackles typically fail to make too much of an impact and dramatic plays, his strength will help his team to break apart opposing run games and stuff his opponents. Another benefit to his talents is his agility and usefulness to be deployed at several positions across the defensive line including nose tackle and defensive end. This decision will largely fall upon the particular team that drafts him.

3. Dee Milliner – Cornerback – Alabama Crimson Tide – He is the prototypical cornerback and will be an immediate starter. With ideal size and speed, he has all the attributes to match NFL wide receivers in both physicality and speed. He also has impressive jumping ability and was able to defend high numbers of passes. This should translate well to the professional game. He will have to become a better tackler, though Milliner has already shown hints of becoming a big-time hitter. Any defense would be happy to have him.

2. Luke Joeckel – Offensive Tackle – Texas A&M – One of several premier left tackle prospects available in this year’s draft, Joeckel has all the physical attributes to dominate NFL defensive ends. Both agile and smart, Joeckel excels at reading the blitz and can contain a defensive lineman to give his quarterback adequate time. His hands are excellent but he may struggle in the run game a bit, as he lunges and struggles to engage defenders. He may have benefitted a bit from the agility of his quarterback, Johnny Manziel, but Joeckel has the talent to become a premier left tackle in the NFL.

1. Eric Fisher – Offensive Tackle – Central Michigan – Another legitimate offensive left tackle prospect is competing with Joeckel for the highly prized overall top pick. Where Fisher stands out on top is with his excellent run game blocking. He has great speed and drive to get through multiple levels of the defense, which will have his team’s running back consistently following his stride. With solid speed and agility, Fisher will also hold back opposing rushers in pass protection quite well. His struggles will be his hand placement, where Joeckel is slightly better. Also, coming from a smaller school, he will face a stern test in the NFL. Nevertheless, he will be a fortress at left tackle for one of the first teams to pick in the draft.

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