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 Friday, December 13, 2002
Showcase of running backs
By Brent Musburger
Special to BCSfootball.com
Each Tuesday throughout the season, ABC's Brent Musburger will give his five things to watch for the coming weekend.
1. Wisconsin at Michigan
The Badgers must bounce back against the Wolverines, or else they can forget about that Rose Bowl three-peat. The Wolverines seem primed for a title run now, behind quarterback Drew Henson.
|  | | The "A-Train" has been a premier player for Michigan this season. |
This game features a running back shootout. The Badgers' Michael Bennett might as well be called "The Blur." A Big Ten sprint champion, he has rushed for 711 yards in just three games. His 237-yard per game average is up there in Barry Sanders territory. The Wolverines' "A-Train" is almost as productive: For Anthony Thomas, 649 yards and six touchdowns in four games. Thomas gained 228 yards Saturday night as the Wolverines rallied from a 21-7 deficit to beat Illinois in Champaign.
The winner of this running back duel Saturday emerges as a solid Heisman Trophy candidate, and the winner of the game takes dead aim at the Rose Bowl.
2. The BCS Title Picture
For the time being, the BCS title run has narrowed to five teams: Nebraska, Florida State, Florida, Virginia Tech and Kansas State. Florida State plays Thursday night against Maryland, and Nebraska should have no trouble beating Missouri Saturday in Lincoln, so No. 1 and No. 2 figure to stay the same. Now let's talk about the pursuers.
3. No. 3 Florida
The Gators play Saturday in Starkville, Miss. against Mississippi State. Yes, the SEC registers as the toughest of the conferences this season, but the road looks pretty smooth for Florida until Nov. 18 -- that's when they're due in Tallahassee to play Florida State. Write it down now. Under the lights, Tallhassee, Florida-Florida State, that game may decide the BCS Championship.
4. No. 4 Virginia Tech
Last year's Cinderella plays Saturday at Boston College. Quarterback Michael Vick remains the Heisman Trophy frontrunner, and this team just keeps winning. Their big date ahead is Nov. 4 down in Miami.
5. No. 5 Kansas State
Cupcake City is over. Saturday, the Wildcats open Big XII play in Colorado. The schedule favors this Bill Snyder team to challenge for No. 1or No. 2 before this season is over. Both Oklahoma and Nebraska visit Manhattan, Kan., and the Texas Longhorns are not on their regular season schedule. To top it off, the Big XII Championship Game will be played under the lights at Kansas City. If the Wildcats make it, do you think there will be a few K-State fans in the stands that night?
Now, folks, my crystal ball has been a little cloudy this season, but right now I see the winner of the Florida-Florida State game playing the survivor of the Nebraska-Kansas State contest in the FedEx Orange Bowl.
Brent Musburger a regular contributor to BCSfootball.com.
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