As Terry said in another topic the SEC so called speed advantage has been a myth so far. Big 10 - 2 SEC - 0 I would have to agree that this doesn't bode real well for the Gators. However I'll maintain my optmisim until proved otherwise. :roll: :roll: But congratulations Big 10 fans.
Arkansas looked faster and more talented than Wisconsin. But, Wisconsin defense is a tough, really well coached unit, does not beat itself, and Stocco did enough offensively in the first half to allow the Badgers to win a nailbiter. Bielema is certainly one of the best young coaches in college football. This is two years in a row for the Badgers over an SEC team in a bowl game.
Someone please tell me Stocco has graduated this year! It seems like he has been playing for the last six years. Bill, The way the games have gone today, the favorites have not always come thru. Don't count your Gators out prematurely!
Stocco is a senior. But the Badgers do have a very good QB in reserve. Stooco was hurt late in the season and the backup-whose name slips my mind, did a nice job running the team for several games
Bill, I think the SEC speed argument has been a myth for some time. Surely it was exposed when we beat Miami for the NC a few years back. The quickest defense on the field was "from the land of ice and snow"! In this day and age, none of the great teams are without great speed....if you can't run, it likely will have been exposed at some point during the season. Both the SEC-Big 10 matchups have been entertaining. I was a bit surprised at PSU beating Tennessee but I was not at all surprised at Wisky taking Arkansas. Wisky is a solid football team who had great success this year and a better football team than the one that beat Auburn last year in the bowl game. How soon we forget, huh? I do think the Irish are going to have their hands full tonite with LSU and, imho, we will see - sorry Irish fans - a material difference in overall team speed and athleticism, particularly amongst the front seven. Charlie will need all his magic and a little bit of luck of the Irish to pull this one out.... Looking forward to a great match-up Monday night. Best of luck to your Gators.
Terry, Miami is not in the SEC! :lol: :lol: But I agree that the speed thing is largely a myth. Like an announcer during this bowl season said, all these teams are fast. And I haven't given up on my Gators. The two SEC losses made me a little pessimistic, but since Michigan was supposed to be so good and floundered I've decided that each game takes on it's own character and we will see next monday whether the Gators belong on the same field as the Buckeyes.
So was I. I think Ainge is an excellent QB, but I was surprised at UT's lack of sophistication in the passing game. I thought they would rip apart the PSU D considering that our pass rush from the front 4 is not so great especially losing suspended DT Johnson. Penn State did mix up their coverages , but ND's passing game is far superior and I think they will surprise the LSU defense. I was also surprised that they didn't make a better effort to take Hunt out of the game and force Morelli to beat them. It looked to me like PSU was better prepared than UT. Don't count out ND. If they can put consistant offensive pressure on LSD, they can win this game. I don't think LSU will pressure ND as much as GT did, nor do I think their athletes play as quickly as the smaller GT, who blitzed the heck out of them in the 1st half. Don't forget ND has faced better defenses than LSU, so they are more equipped to handle what LSU throws at em. LSU has the home field advantage so the noise factor will be against ND. Smardjza needs to step up under pressure take a few hits and hold onto the ball. Notre Dame does not have to play a perfect game on defense to win. No one expects their D to shut LSU down, but if they can get a few key 3rd down stops, have LSU make a few mistakes, then they are in the game.
You can not argue with the success that the SEC teams have enjoyed in the bowl games to date. While I think Ohio State will win Monday night, I do look for Florida and Urban Meyer to be a very formidable opponent.