شاهد الفيديو
The Front Seven tackles the weekend's top games
7:56PM EST November 16. 2012 - The Front Seven couldn't help but notice a certain conference's conspicuous absence of big games this week.
1. SECtional I: Colossal contests in both divisions of the Pac-12 top the marquee this week. No. 1 Oregonhas arguably the toughest finishing stretch among the remaining Bowl Championship Series title contenders, beginning this week at home against No. 13 Stanford(8 p.m. ET, ABC). Stanford's power game that aims to give RB Stepfan Taylor room to operate will pose a serious challenge for the Ducks' banged-up defensive line. The Ducks are hopeful that DE Dion Jordan can return to action, but the Oregon secondary has been hit equally hard by the injury bug with S Avery Patterson (knee) joining the casualty list at California last week. Cardinal TE Zach Ertz will try to take advantage and provide QB Kevin Hogan a big target. QB Marcus Mariota and his speed-laden Oregon offense featuring RB Kenjon Barner and WR Josh Huff aren't concerned with possession time, but they'll need to take as many big gainers as they can all the way to the end zone. Stanford's active linebacker corps of Shayne Skov, Trent Murphy and Chase Thomas is well-equipped to keep the Ducks' speed bottled.
2. SECtional II: The Pac-12 South, meanwhile, has come down to the battle for the Victory Bell in Los Angeles, as No. 21 Southern California, the preseason favorite, heads to the Rose Bowl to meet one of the season's biggest surprises in No. 16 UCLA (3 p.m. ET, Fox). The good news for USC is its offense is functioning at the high level that was anticipated at the beginning of the season, thanks to QB Matt Barkley and WR Marqise Lee providing a constant big-play threat. WR Robert Woods on the other side along with RB Silas Redd back in action will make the Trojans hard to stop, but Bruins LB Anthony Barr blitzes often and could be a disruptive force. USC's defense has struggled against dynamic spread attacks, and UCLA's is working well with the backfield tandem of QB Brett Hundley and RB Johnathan Franklin. The Trojans' top tackler is S T.J. McDonald, who is going to need better gap support in front of him.
3. SECond tier: No. 24 Oklahoma State hosts No. 25 Texas Tech (3:30 p.m. ET, FSN) in what likely will amount to a fight for third place in the Big 12. The Cowboys offense has remained remarkably consistent despite needing to use three different QBs this season. Wes Lunt might be available this week, but Clint Chelf showed he could handle matters in his start last week against West Virginia. The presence of RB Joseph Randle and WR Josh Stewart also helps, though Texas Tech DT Kerry Hyder could cause trouble in the backfield. Red Raiders QB Seth Doege has produced plenty of yardage as well, with help from WR Eric Ward. Cowboys LBs Shaun Lewis and Keith Elkins will try to keep them out of sync.
4. SECond bid: No. 9
Clemson's loss to Florida State will almost certainly keep the Tigers out of the ACC championship game. But the Tigers and QB Tajh Boyd appear to be well positioned for an at-large BCS bowl invitation. To stay there, they'll have to take care of business against North Carolina State (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC). The Wolfpack have been maddeningly inconsistent this season — a trait often associated with Clemson in recent years. Boyd has more weapons at his disposal, including WRs Sammie Watkins and DeAndre Hopkins as well as RB Andre Ellington, but he will have to keep his throws away from Wolfpack CB David Amerson. QB Mike Glennon is capable of keeping N.C. State in the game if he can avoid heat and if WRs Quintin Payton and Bryan Underwood take care of their end. Clemson DE Vic Beasley will come after him.
5. SECured:Ohio State's date with Wisconsin in Madison (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC) won't factor in the Big Ten title hunt with the Buckeyes ineligible and the Badgers' place in the championship game secured. But it will provide a spotlight for two of the league's top stars, Ohio State QB Braxton Miller and Wisconsin RB Montee Ball. Miller has a conference-high 2,919 yards of total offense, 1,753 by air. RB Carlos Hyde gives him another option out of the backfield. Ball started the season slowly but has exploded in recent weeks and now has 16 rushing TDs while improving his average to 122.6 yards a game. The Badgers' QB position has been depleted by injuries; Curt Phillips might have to go to the air more in his second start.
6. SECond-to-last: No. 19 Louisiana Tech has two games left in the disbanding Western Athletic Conference. The Bulldogs' toughest assignment might be this week's home tilt with Utah State (4 p.m. ET, check local listings). The Bulldogs are second to Oregon in the nation at 53.4 points a game. The triggerman is QB Colby Cameron who has 27 TD passes in 403 attempts this season without an interception. WR Quinton Patton is his main target, but the arsenal also features WR Myles White and freshman RB Kenneth Dixon, who has 24 rushing TDs. But the Aggies have the WAC's stingiest defense, with LB Zach Vigil and CB Will Davis always on the prowl for takeaway opportunities. Utah State also has its share of offensive producers, most notably QB Chuckie Keeton and RB Kerwynn Williams. Louisiana Tech surrenders its share of yards but also relies on creating turnovers, with SS Jamel Johnson often serving as the final stopper.
7. SECondary: OK, we don't normally do this, but the Front Seven is going to sneak an extra safety into the box this week. There are two games in Ohio worthy of attention. Both kick off at noon ET, and you'll have to check local listings or the web to find them. The first is a key Big East showdown as No. 20 Rutgers visits Cincinnati. The Scarlet Knights have a date with Louisville remaining on their slate and must get past this road trip to make that one meaningful. But the Bearcats, who spent time in the top 25, are eager to get back. Cincinnati has switched to senior Brendon Kay at quarterback in place of interception-prone Munchie Legaux. But it will be up to RB George Winn to produce on the ground and keep S Khaseem Greene, the top playmaker on Rutgers' stingy defense, busy. Scarlet Knights QB Gary Nova must also focus on error prevention, particularly if RB Jawan Jamison (ankle) is unable to go. LB Greg Blair does a bit of everything for the Cincinnati defense.
Finally, Kent State plays at Bowling Green in a Mid-American East clash that almost certainly will determine who will face Northern Illinois in the conference title game. The Golden Flashes can lock up the division with a win, while the Falcons would need only to get past Buffalo next Friday to punch their ticket to Detroit. Kent State features exciting RB/KR Dri Archer, who has a league-high 19 TDs and would be a lock for MAC player of the year if it weren't for Northern Illinois QB Jordan Lynch. QB Spencer Keith will have to provide some aerial cover against Falcons DT Chris Jones, who fronts the top group of stoppers in the conference. Bowling Green also prefers to keep it on the ground with RB Anthon Samuel, who is sure to encounter Golden Flashes LB Luke Batton regularly. Falcons QB Matt Schilz must be careful if he has to go to the air.
0 التعليقات
