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Friday, December 13, 2002
Michigan and Florida go on the road
By Mike Diegnan
BCSfootball.com
Going on the road can be hazardous to one's national championship hopes (see Alabama, Georgia and Miami). This weekend, Michigan and Florida will test the waters on the road, led by inexperienced (John Navarre) or unappreciated (Jesse Palmer) quarterbacks. The result will either be a long plane ride home or plans for a January trip to Miami.
Here are the five games that should impact the Bowl Championship Series the most this weekend:
No. 3 Michigan at No. 17 UCLA (ABC, 3:30 p.m.)
| Why to watch: |
Who to watch: |
What to expect: |
| A mid-September Rose Bowl. UCLA has already knocked off a Top 5 team this season, and the Bruins have shown that the program is rejuvenated with the return of DeShaun Foster and Brian Poli-Dixon. |
John Navarre: Games against Bowling Green and Rice don't make a career, but Navarre's sudden rise is similar to that of Kurt Warner in the NFL, a no-name backup who starred when the starter is injured in the preseason. Against Kenyon Coleman and Co., we'll find out if Navarre's first two games were a fluke or if Ann Arbor has the makings of another Brian Griese or Jim Harbaugh. |
With both teams sending out backup quarterbacks -- UCLA will start Ryan McCann -- the Wolverines and Bruins will step up the pressure on the QBs. The team that can get more of out its big running back (Foster and Michigan's Anthony Thomas) should prevail. |
No. 4 Florida at No. 9 Tennessee (3:30 p.m.)
| Why to watch: |
Who to watch: |
What to expect: |
| It's always interesting when Steve Spurrier is on the sideline; you never know what he's going to do. In a 55-0 rout of Middle Tennessee State last week, Spurrier said he was displeased with QB Jesse Palmer's play. With the SEC East on the line, Spurrier will have to stick with Palmer or he could be playing with his team's hopes of staying in the Top 5. |
Michael Muņoz: Alex Brown became an instant All-American last year with his five-sack, one-interception effort against Tee Martin and the Vols. In the first two games this season, Brown already has five quarterback hurries and a sack. The defensive end will attack from both sides, but when he lines up on the left side, he'll match up with the son of Hall of Famer Anthony Muņoz. The 6-foot-6, 310-pound freshman Michael started the season opener, but was pulled after a poor start. |
Palmer directed Florida to a win in Knoxville two years ago. The only thing preventing him from leading the Gators to another is Spurrier's quick hook. Florida's defense should do its part against freshman A.J. Suggs, who will make his first start for the Vols. |
Cincinnati at No. 5 Wisconsin (2 p.m.)
| Why to watch: |
Who to watch: |
What to expect: |
| The month of September is going to be memorable in Madison. First, Shoegate has created tension leading into each contest as Barry Alvarez must pick and choose his lineup carefully. Plus, on Saturday, the Badgers can enact revenge on a Cincinnati team that ended Wisconsin's hopes of a BCS championship and defeated Syracuse last week. |
Willis Edwards: Replacing Eddie Johnson at middle linebacker of the Bearcats 4-3 defense, Edwards is making his second career start and the sophomore couldn't have asked for a bigger assignment against Wisconsin's offensive line of Casey Rabach, Bill Ferrario, etc. |
Ron Dayne fumbled away Wisconsin's last shot in the '99 meeting. Although he still must serve a one-game suspension this week or next, Michael Bennett is coming off a 290-yard performance against the Ducks and the 205-pound back is possibly more explosive than the Great Dayne. Cincinnati will be a good judge after Saturday. |
No. 10 Washington at Colorado (ABC, 3:30 p.m.)
| Why to watch: |
Who to watch: |
What to expect: |
| They say the animosity is lost. Maybe with the players, but definitely not the fans. With the Rockies' season long over and Terrell Davis limping, Rick Neuheisel's return is the event of the week in Colorado. |
Nate Wright. With the loss of CB Ben Kelly to the NFL, the weakness of the Colorado defense is the secondary. Marques Tuiasosopo is famous for his legs, but the Husky quarterback can be just as dangerous with his arm. Wright will have to shut down Jerramy Stevens, who had seven catches and a touchdown against Miami. |
Emotions will be high. The Buffaloes should be fired up due to that raucous crowd, and many expect the Huskies to be spent after last week's upset of then-No. 4 Miami. Washington won a back-and-forth contest last year in the final minutes. This year's battle in Boulder should be just as tight. |
No. 12 Purdue at No. 23 Notre Dame (1 p.m.)
| Why to watch: |
Who to watch: |
What to expect: |
| Heisman voters are going to give this game close attention. Eric Crouch took his shot at the Notre Dame defense and delivered an overtime-winning score. Now it's Drew Brees' turn and the Boilermaker has the ability to shred the Irish secondary. |
Gary Godsey: The last time Notre Dame didn't have an athletic/option-type quarterback leading the offense, his name was Ron Powlus. With Arnaz Battle out indefinitely, the Irish will throw better, but whether or not the offense will run smoothly under Godsey's watch is another question. |
The Fightin' Irish had a visit to the Top 15 (if not Top 10) in their grasp, but Crouch delivered on the final two plays. Now, ND -- which is hoping to have a pro-Irish crowd this week -- must pick up the cracked pieces against a Purdue team that is confident and on a roll. The Irish's promising start could be headed for a freefall very quickly. |
All game times Eastern
Mike Diegnan is the editor of BCSfootball.com.
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NFL Hall of Famer Anthony Munoz talks about his son (Michael) and the Tennessee Volunteers going up against Florida on Saturday.