The Orange Bowl Thread, Take 2

[Art Sandusky 0]

4 wins against eventual 9-win teams.

1 game decided by seven or less.

The least points allowed by any team in the nation.

Went undefeated in the toughest conference in all of football.

 

Virginia Tech just handed them the Sugar Bowl? I'm sure that driving three times into the #9 team's red zone can be called handing them the game, including one that started on their own one yard line. Virginia Tech didn't hand them shit, they went into what I'd call a calm panic mode. They're no slouches and you can't win the ACC by sucking, so they managed to come back as much as they could but the vaunted Beamer-ball special teams play couldn't get ONE onside kick to work out of two that they tried, plus a missed field goal. That's Auburn pressuring a team into fucking up by their play in the rest of the areas game.

 

And the only, ONLY reason that they aren't in that ESPN/USA Today title game tonight is because of preseason rankings.

[Art Sandusky 0]

Oh yeah, I'm leaving it at that. I'll play nice. Just wanted to put that out there since the #1 talk's in this thread. No SECsault stuff here.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Look Kotz, I'm not trying to flamebait you here. I like Auburn (obviously not as much as USC but still...), but of the BIG THREE undefeateds, USC and OU deserves to be in the game... because they were in this position the same time last year... Auburn wasn't. So yes the preseason ranking screwed Auburn up, but it's not like USC and OU gave them any reason NOT to vote them 1 and 2 respectively.

[Art Sandusky 0]

Oh, I'll still recognize the winner of tonight's game as a national champion (although the "they were here last year so they deserve it" logic is flawed since it says that a team's previous season means jacknanny in relation to a current season), but more like an personal version of what happened last year I'll end up calling Auburn the co-champs whenever I talk about it with people.

 

It's been really hard to defend the BCS the last two years, but I still stand by it. OU and USC are certainly deserving contenders, but one (arguably two) other was left out.

 

My beef's really with preseason rankings more than anything, to be honest. As I said in the December 31st bowl thread, no polls until the first week of October. They don't start the BCS rankings until mid-October anyway. Letting all the teams go out and play a few games before saying who's 1, 2, 3, and so on is much more prudent than just conjecturing based on recruits and returning players, where, unlike the professional ranks, the rankings are really life or death for a team.

 

As for the game tonight, it is going to have to be awfully good to live up to the hype it's gotten. Blowout snoozefest or heated epic game, it'll be one of the two. I'm still picking USC to win.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

And you know, I do feel bad for you and the other SEC supporters, after all I know how it feels to be left out of the title game (USC last year), and when I first knew about the controversy between USC/OU/Auburn and the strong probability that it'd be USC/OU, I did think they were stupid and insane, considering how OU failed to live up to their ranking in the Sugar Bowl last year. I originally wanted it to be USC/Auburn and OU/Utah... but it was not to be. Sorry Kotz....

 

 

Oh for those OU fans, you better hope OU wins this time, or they will have a huge egg on their face for losing two straight title games when there were another team that could have stepped up (USC last year and Auburn this year).

[Art Sandusky 0]

Yeah, last year was okay because it vindicated what people had been saying except the voters (LSU v. USC in the title game).

 

Is it just me, or does USC just look like a college team? The colors and uniform style just scream it, to me. As the opposite, Miami(FL) looks like a professional team 'cept the exposed legs on the uniforms. Speaking of Miami, I'm glad they don't play the Orange Bowl in the actual Orange Bowl anymore. I can't STAND stadiums that are open on one end like that.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Well I ran three simulations of the Orange Bowl match between USC/OU on NCAA 2005:

 

USC won every game 42-28, 35-14 and 35-7...

 

And just to see how OU/Auburn and USC/Auburn would have done,

 

OU/Auburn: Auburn wins 28-21

USC/Auburn: USC wins 21-17

 

Obviously this will likely not reflect the actual game, but I just found it interesting.

[Damaramu 0]

Oh for those OU fans, you better hope OU wins this time, or they will have a huge egg on their face for losing two straight title games when there were another team that could have stepped up (USC last year and Auburn this year).

Yeah we'll have egg on our face but you won't have to worry about us in the title game for a couple of years.

 

Honestly we're losing like 18 starters and the only offensive weapons we'll have back are Adrian Peterson and Travis Wilson. So it's not like we're going to be in a position to play for the title until probably 2007 or so.

 

Sure we'll win 10 games every year and go to a BCS bowl or the Cotton Bowl those years but I doubt we won't escape without at least 1 loss.

[Damaramu 0]

Hey this might be fun to do. Make everyone step outside who they're rooting for. And look at the other team from the standpoint of the others fans.

 

Everyone that picked USC. Tell me why you think OU will win.

 

Everyone that picked OU. Tell me why you think USC will win.

 

I think USC will win b/c the special teams are just flat out better than OU's. OU has missed several easy field goals and the punter has fumbled 2 punt snaps. USC's special teams are so fast and good they will jump on any of these mistakes.

OU has been shown to be weak against short passes. Since Perkins came back and Walker was pulled from redshirt they haven't given up the deep ball but they still give up short passes. With Leinart's quick release he can have a field day throwing over the middle to his tight end.

Adrian Peterson has shown he can be stopped in the open field if you're fast enough and can get to his ankles. USC will be hoping to pounce him in the open field and he may not get a chance to break one and go forever.

USC has faced adversity. OU has not. OU has never trailed in the 4th quarter nor have they trailed for very long in the second half. USC has had to fight back from huge deficits.

 

That's why USC will win.

 

So if you're pulling for OU tell us why USC will win.

If you're pulling for USC tell us why OU will win.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

OU will win because USC has never faced a defense of OU's magnitude. Knowing Stoops and his defensive coaches, they will devise blitzes or coverage matchups that really handicaps USC's explosive offense. Making USC look like Vanderbilt in comparison.

[Art Sandusky 0]

OU's edge lies in their defense. An amazing marriage of power and speed. Their linebackers are faster than some teams' receivers and will be very handy in cutting off the short/intermediate passing game or stopping rushes from going for more than medium gains. The secondary can get blazed, but the seven in the box by themselves could probably fare better than most teams' entire eleven men. USC may have to end up relying on the big play, which is a huge mistake (even though they're capable of it, big plays I mean). A real national championship team can be consistent in every phase of the game and win in a methodical manner to assert their own superiority and wear down the other team's morale and stamina. Any attempts to wear down either side won't work, as each side of the ball is covered with tremendous athleticism (although I feel USC is more of a pure athlete team while OU is a pure football team, if that makes any sense).

 

OU could also torch the secondary of USC, which has improved since last year (and a big reason I consider them a real #1 this year) but still might not be able to match the Sooner passing game. Then again, to say there's a weak link on either team is relative.

[Secret Agent 0]

Honestly, I think the team who wins will be the team with the least amount of penalties/mistakes. I don't see a blowout, and it could easily go either way if one team gives up a bunch of yardage with penalties.

[Secret Agent 0]

Damn double post.

[Guest Vitamin X]

You people know nothing about Miami. People here don't give a shit about any other team besides the Dolphins and the `Canes. And the Marlins, obviously.

I thought they were apathetic to the Marlins?

Only when they weren't doing well...

 

Miami is the most shallow, materialistic, trendy city in the United States, hands down. Everything here is about a fad, and that includes sports, the only team which they'll support through the good and bad has been the Dolphins. Not just from my point of view either, I know plenty of people who've grown up their entire lives here and said that besides the Dolphins, the rest of the sports world they could give a fuck about. And that includes the Heat, no matter how well they're doing.

 

But there was a tremendous party in Little Havana the week the Marlins won, and there are tons of cars with stickers/pennants on them that say 2003 World Champions on them left over.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

I thought you lived in Los Angeles?

[Guest Vitamin X]

I've been living here for the past 9 months or so.

[Damaramu 0]

God just an hour and a half away. I'm getting pre-game jitters. I feel like I'm going to puke?

What if we lose? Then what will I do? I'll have to hang myself.

I can't handle the pressure!

[Vern Gagne 0]

My sister lives in Miami. She hates it, and is moving back to Minnesota sometime in April.

 

The game itself. I think OU is slightly better, and will win. But, I want USC to win. Nothing against OU. I just love Pete Carrol's coaching style. He has fun with his players, and proves you don't need to be a hardass in order to win.

[Precious Roy 0]

I'm rooting for USC because Carroll used to coach in New England, and because I love to see Jim Ross suffer

[Damaramu 0]

Yeah Carroll likes to have fun but I wouldn't say Bob Stoops is a total hardass. He is a little bit more business like but Stoops tries to come off as a father figure to his players.

[Vern Gagne 0]

Not at all. I was nice seeing the story about Stoops, being able to differentiate between job and family. So many times you see coaches forgetting about family.

[Damaramu 0]

Yeah Stoops is a family man.

According to a friend of mine on the Rugby team that used to play OU football, he made Mike Stoops get married and settle down.

Well he didn't out and out make him but he pressured him. Apparently Mike was a pretty big player.

My friend who's name was Kerry Salesman says he remembers seeing Mike one night heading to his hotel room with a woman on each arm. Haha.

[Damaramu 0]

God damn I think I'm going to puke. I can feel something coming up. My stomach is in knots.

I'm getting pre-game jitters. You know the jitters where you start doubting your team and everything related to it!

 

Whereas before I was like "Yeah we'll win!"

Now that it's so close to game time I'm like "OH GOD! WE'RE GOING TO LOSE BY 30!!!!!!"

[Guest The Shadow Behind You]

My stupid meaningless prediction.

 

First half is a Offensive explosion and USC leads 27-17 but OK has the snazzy "Momentum" and capitlize quickly at the start of the 2nd half to bring it 27-24. However, Defense becomes the game. USC adds a FG at the close of the 3rd quarter. 30-24. Oklahoma goes for a 36 yard FG early in the 4th but it's wide right. USC runs down the ball for another FG. 33-24. Oklahoma gets a Kickoff return TD bringing the score 33-31 with 4 minutes to go. USC goes into deep freeze mode and run it. 2 Minutes left. USC has 2 timeouts. 'Homa with 2.

 

USC gets into FG range but with 1:26 to go; USC fumbles the ball on a 3rd down and it's recovered by Oklahoma. Oklahoma only needs a FG to win. they have only one time out and need about 45 yards to get in range. They save their Timeout. Pass attempt, White gets DRILLED with 0:38 left. Oklahoma is forced to call a TO while White limps off the field. At this point it's a 52 yard attempt. They need to get a 12-15 yard reception to get a more manageable FG shot but also need to step out of bounds. They get a pass off for a gain of 8 yards and manage to get out bounds with 0:27 left. Next play, White steps back and gets a second sack on him. They scramble to spike the ball and it's 3rd down and 2 and 0:10 left. It's roughly a 45 yard attempt.

 

They decide to try to get a couple more yards so they go for a quick strike to the side but it's tipped out of bounds by USC Corners. 0:05 left. They have to go for a FG. They set it up and it hits the crossbars for a lost.

 

USC 33

Oklahoma 31

[Cartman 0]

This is the type of game that definitely won't be decided by more than 20 points so no worries.

 

I can't wait for this game, no matter who wins they will be UNDISPUTED National Champs in my opinion.

[Vern Gagne 0]

That was a sad story about that Sooner fan who is terminally ill. Brought a tear to my eye.

[iggymcfly 0]

OK, I did it. I put $100 on USC.

 

Given that, I really don't even feel like thinking about why OU might win right now, although Lendale White not being 100% makes it a little less of a slam dunk than it might otherwise be.

 

Also, if anyone's interested OU's gone all the way from a three point underdog to a one point favorite.

[nogoodnick 0]

This looks to be a great game. Lee Corso calls this the best talent EVER assembled on a college football field. I'm hoping USC wins but it really could go either way.

 

Nice to see Shaq came out for the game.

[Guest Failed Mascot]

they should have called him "Mr. Shaq".

[Vern Gagne 0]

27-21 OU

 

MVP-What the hell someone different, Mark Clayton.