LOUISVILLE vs. HOUSTON ? November 20th, 5:00 pm
There is a good reason that Louisville is leaving Conference USA for the ACC at the end of this season; it doesn?t appear that there is anyone in the CUSA capable of even slowing them down, much less stopping them as the Cards? have looked like an offensive machine this year. Nothing against The University of Houston, as I have a lot of friends and family that are alumni and I have watched this school?s various sports teams most of my life, but the Cougars are way out of their league in this game against Louisville.
Louisville is absolutely rolling as they lead the nation with 528 yards per game and are ranking 3rd in scoring with 45.38 points per game. Between QB Stefan LeFors leading the nation in passing efficiency, a deep running game behind a solid line and a talented receiving corps, the Cardinals have been stopped only by Miami this year and in that game they were beating the Canes going into the 4th quarter. However, the Cardinals' biggest improvement this season has come on defense, with a group that leads CUSA in scoring and total defense, allowing only 19.4 points and 323.8 yards per game.
Cougar High on the other hand is averaging only 20.3 points per game and 384.1 total yards on offense in 2004. They have only three wins this season against Army, Tulane and East Carolina. This school is simply not ready for the No. 8 team in the country as they have not hosted a team ranked this high since UCLA in 1988. This game is Houston?s last of the season while Louisville will still face Cincinnati and Tulane before it is decided which bowl game they will be playing in. It has been ten days since their 55-28 win over TCU and the Cardinals will be well rested and looking to make a statement on their way out.
The Verdict: Louisville (-21)
FLORIDA vs. FLORIDA STATE ? November 20th, 7:45 pm
As far as NCAA rivalries go, this one is right up there with the best of them. While some of the hoopla that usually surrounds this game is diminished by both teams having off years, make no mistake that the players and coaches take this game very seriously. As Florida State HC Bobby Bowden said; ?The winner gets to brag; the loser has to hide all year.?
The Florida State Seminoles are not accustomed to having the national championship debated without having their name in the mix and strangely enough, the fact that they are not in it this year does not appears to really be bothering Papa Bowden. It almost seems like Bobby is just biding his time, waiting for Joe Paterno to retire so he can lay sole claim his spot in the record book. It has been uncharacteristic of him to stubbornly stick with QB Chris Rix for so long this season when it was clear to everyone that Rix just didn?t have what it takes to cut it in the ACC, or anywhere else for that matter. At times, Soph QB Wyatt Sexton has played well since taking over, especially at home although his confidence has looked very shaky. The Noles 8-2 record is a little misleading as they have squeaked by in wins over Syracuse and Wake Forest and were beaten by Maryland two weeks ago.
Florida HC Ron Zook has been told that his services will not be required after this season is over and the Gator players seem to have taken it more personally than Zook has. They responded the week of the firing announcement by battling back in the 2nd half of the Georgia game to pull within 3 points and then severely outplayed Vandy and South Carolina in the next two games. Gator QB Chris Leak and a talented receiving corps have Florida at the top of the SEC in scoring, total and passing yards, with 35.2 points, 434 total yards and 275 passing yards per game. They are averaging over 35 points per game and have allowed an average of just over 21 but remain unranked due to their 6-4 record. Those losses did however come against some pretty tough competition in Tennessee, LSU, Mississippi State and Georgia.
This game is more easily analyzed if you look at what these two teams have done lately. The Seminoles had only 121 total yards last week at NC State, as Sexton completed just 5 of his 18 passes and was sacked 5 times. In Florida?s 48-14 trouncing of South Carolina last week, Leak threw 6 touchdown passes for the Gators in an 18 of 31 passing display for 319 yards. Mix in a wicked secondary (14 interceptions on the season) along with LB Channing Crowder leading a solid run defense and Sexton and Co. may be in for a long evening in Tallahassee.
The win last week made Florida bowl eligible for the 14th straight year and the Florida AD has asked Zook if he would mind sticking around long enough to coach the Gators in a bowl game. His boys never quit playing for him after the news of his dismissal and if they can upset Papa Bowden this Saturday, how could he say no? No shock here, if they are able to pull out one last win for ?The Zooker?.
The Verdict: Florida (+7)
There is a good reason that Louisville is leaving Conference USA for the ACC at the end of this season; it doesn?t appear that there is anyone in the CUSA capable of even slowing them down, much less stopping them as the Cards? have looked like an offensive machine this year. Nothing against The University of Houston, as I have a lot of friends and family that are alumni and I have watched this school?s various sports teams most of my life, but the Cougars are way out of their league in this game against Louisville.
Louisville is absolutely rolling as they lead the nation with 528 yards per game and are ranking 3rd in scoring with 45.38 points per game. Between QB Stefan LeFors leading the nation in passing efficiency, a deep running game behind a solid line and a talented receiving corps, the Cardinals have been stopped only by Miami this year and in that game they were beating the Canes going into the 4th quarter. However, the Cardinals' biggest improvement this season has come on defense, with a group that leads CUSA in scoring and total defense, allowing only 19.4 points and 323.8 yards per game.
Cougar High on the other hand is averaging only 20.3 points per game and 384.1 total yards on offense in 2004. They have only three wins this season against Army, Tulane and East Carolina. This school is simply not ready for the No. 8 team in the country as they have not hosted a team ranked this high since UCLA in 1988. This game is Houston?s last of the season while Louisville will still face Cincinnati and Tulane before it is decided which bowl game they will be playing in. It has been ten days since their 55-28 win over TCU and the Cardinals will be well rested and looking to make a statement on their way out.
The Verdict: Louisville (-21)
FLORIDA vs. FLORIDA STATE ? November 20th, 7:45 pm
As far as NCAA rivalries go, this one is right up there with the best of them. While some of the hoopla that usually surrounds this game is diminished by both teams having off years, make no mistake that the players and coaches take this game very seriously. As Florida State HC Bobby Bowden said; ?The winner gets to brag; the loser has to hide all year.?
The Florida State Seminoles are not accustomed to having the national championship debated without having their name in the mix and strangely enough, the fact that they are not in it this year does not appears to really be bothering Papa Bowden. It almost seems like Bobby is just biding his time, waiting for Joe Paterno to retire so he can lay sole claim his spot in the record book. It has been uncharacteristic of him to stubbornly stick with QB Chris Rix for so long this season when it was clear to everyone that Rix just didn?t have what it takes to cut it in the ACC, or anywhere else for that matter. At times, Soph QB Wyatt Sexton has played well since taking over, especially at home although his confidence has looked very shaky. The Noles 8-2 record is a little misleading as they have squeaked by in wins over Syracuse and Wake Forest and were beaten by Maryland two weeks ago.
Florida HC Ron Zook has been told that his services will not be required after this season is over and the Gator players seem to have taken it more personally than Zook has. They responded the week of the firing announcement by battling back in the 2nd half of the Georgia game to pull within 3 points and then severely outplayed Vandy and South Carolina in the next two games. Gator QB Chris Leak and a talented receiving corps have Florida at the top of the SEC in scoring, total and passing yards, with 35.2 points, 434 total yards and 275 passing yards per game. They are averaging over 35 points per game and have allowed an average of just over 21 but remain unranked due to their 6-4 record. Those losses did however come against some pretty tough competition in Tennessee, LSU, Mississippi State and Georgia.
This game is more easily analyzed if you look at what these two teams have done lately. The Seminoles had only 121 total yards last week at NC State, as Sexton completed just 5 of his 18 passes and was sacked 5 times. In Florida?s 48-14 trouncing of South Carolina last week, Leak threw 6 touchdown passes for the Gators in an 18 of 31 passing display for 319 yards. Mix in a wicked secondary (14 interceptions on the season) along with LB Channing Crowder leading a solid run defense and Sexton and Co. may be in for a long evening in Tallahassee.
The win last week made Florida bowl eligible for the 14th straight year and the Florida AD has asked Zook if he would mind sticking around long enough to coach the Gators in a bowl game. His boys never quit playing for him after the news of his dismissal and if they can upset Papa Bowden this Saturday, how could he say no? No shock here, if they are able to pull out one last win for ?The Zooker?.
The Verdict: Florida (+7)
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