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Friday, December 13, 2002
Weekend preview: Standing on one foot
By Mike Diegnan
BCSfootball.com
Overcoming gimpy ankles will be the key this weekend. Michael Vick is obviously the most famous patient in the training rooms this week, but on the other side of the field, Miami's Dan Morgan has the same injury.
In the weekend's other big game, Clemson QB Woody Dantzler has left the last two Tigers games because of a sprained ankle.
Here's a preview of what to expect in the five games that will have the most impact on the Bowl Championship Series.
No. 2 Va. Tech at No. 3 Miami (12 p.m.)
| Why to watch: |
Who to watch: |
What to expect: |
| The Big East has arrived. This is the type of matchup that all conferences seek -- a battle between Top 3 teams for the conference championship. The winner has the inside track for the FedEx Orange Bowl. How Va. Tech handles Michael Vick's ankle injury will be the key. |
Dave Meyer: Before this week, Meyer was as well-known as the No. 3 cross country runner at Idaho State. Meyer is going to make his third career start. Last week, he made a season-high 13 pass attempts. While the Hokies will not forego their typical offensive game plan, look for the Hokies to throw the ball more and maybe a few screen passes to try to diffuse the 'Canes' aggressiveness on the inexperienced QB. |
Conventional wisdom says that Va. Tech has no chance. Even with a healthy Vick, Miami was going to be the favorite. But Beamer Ball was famous before Vick showed up in Blacksburg. Look for the Hokies to block a kick en route to another Big East championship. Virginia Tech 31-28. |
No. 10 Clemson at No. 4 Florida St. (ESPN, 7:30 p.m.)
| Why to watch: |
Who to watch: |
What to expect: |
| Bowden Bowl II. Last year, Clemson gave Florida State its toughest challenge. With a more experienced squad this season, Tommy Bowden is looking to upstage his father in his own backyard. Which Bowden will pull off the game's biggest trick? |
Anquan Boldin: The exciting sophomore receiver will get more playing time with Robert Morgan out with a broken toe. Boldin is third on the team with 28 receptions and has scored four times. Look for Chris Weinke to look for the 6-foot-2, 205-pounder more often. |
Many worried that FSU would blow out the Tigers last season. Instead, the Seminoles didn't kick the game-winning field goal until there was less than six minutes remaining. Again, everyone is picking the 'Noles to win handily. The Tigers were caught napping against Georgia Tech last week. They've been woken, but it still won't be enough. Florida State 34-20. |
No. 12 Michigan at No. 23 Northwestern (ABC, 3:30 p.m.)
| Why to watch: |
Who to watch: |
What to expect: |
| If Purdue stumbles against Michigan State or Indiana, the winner of this game would have the inside track for a date in Pasadena on Jan. 1. That's nothing new for Michigan, but any time that Northwestern can be mentioned in the same breath as the Rose Bowl, it's a big deal. |
Zak Kustok: All of a sudden, the Big Ten is the home to the most exciting offensive football geniuses in the country. Running Randy Walker's show is Kustok, who is putting up big numbers in the air and on the ground. He'll face a Michigan defense that struggled against Drew Brees, but stifled Antwaan Randle El. |
The Wildcats scored four TDs on fourth down last week. It's an offense that is fun to watch and playing very well. Michigan is coming off a bye week and has shut out its last two opponents. Edge goes to the home team. Northwestern 30-28. |
Arizona at No. 7 Washington (ABC, 3:30 p.m.)
| Why to watch: |
Who to watch: |
What to expect: |
| Just like Michigan and Northwestern, Washington needs help to get to the Rose Bowl. The first step is for the Huskies to beat one of the Pac-10's top defenses. Washington hasn't won pretty this season, but QB Marques Tuiasosopo somehow finds ways to win each week. |
Ortege Jenkins: In his first season as the full-time starter, Jenkins has been hot and cold. After a 53-point, triple-overtime victory over Washington State, the Wildcats have put up just 34 points combined the past two weeks in losing efforts. Jenkins needs to get the offense rolling again for 5-3 Arizona to stay in position to go bowling in December. |
A trip to Husky Stadium is not a pleasant day for opposing teams. Miami QB Ken Dorsey was rattled in Seattle; look at what he's doing now. Jenkins won here in 1998 when he was splitting the position with Keith Smith. Washington has forced 21 turnovers so far this year. A few by Jenkins on Saturday could doom the Wildcats' season. Washington 24-17. |
Alabama at LSU (3:30 p.m.)
| Why to watch: |
Who to watch: |
What to expect: |
| Here's how things are in Alabama -- if the Tide win their last three, they win the SEC West and play in the SEC Championship Game. Win that, and make a BCS bowl. Of course, a loss in the SEC Championship Game eliminates Alabama from any bowl. More importantly, how will the Tide react to Mike DuBose's firing? |
Josh Reed: LSU's sophomore receiver is coming off a dynamite game (10-113, 1 TD) in the Tigers' upset of Mississippi State. He can put up even more numbers against a 'Bama defense that is shell-shocked after last week's loss to former D-II school Central Florida. |
All the emotion in the world can't rescue this Alabama team. The graduation of Chris Samuels and Shaun Alexander are felt more and more every day. Of course, the loss of Bear Bryant is still a state of mourning in Tuscaloosa. LSU 28-20. |
All game times Eastern
Mike Diegnan is the editor of BCSfootball.com.
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