Blitz Week Thursday

 

Blitz Week Updates

Here is what is on tap for today's update:

BCS Championship Picks

A Brief Look at the Nebraska Cornhuskers

Two Minute Drill with Reader Questions

 

 

  Let's get right into it.  I will give my three matchups that I think could happen this season. It's hard to read my blog and not be able to see what my BCS Championship picks look like, especially since I already disclosed USC.
 

 
  Leading the way has to be USC.  My first matchup is USC taking on FSU. Who will be #1 and #2 going into that game? USC, seeing as they are already ranked ahead in the polls. I don't see FSU jumping them. USC has a good schedule and has a very loaded offense. The question for USC will be on the defensive side. FSU, on the otherhand, has the exact opposite question. How will the offense be this year? There has been a lot of buzz surrounding the offensive line and that's the missing piece, as of right now. The defense is as talented, if not better, than any other defense out there. Yes, I went there.... BAMA and LSU. The other very strong factor that weighs heavily in favor for the Seminoles, is the fact they only play three regular season games outside the state of Florida.

 

 
  My second matchup? Alabama vs USC. You already know about USC, but just how good can Alabama be? Are they built for a back-to-back run? They may have some great pieces on offense but, again, the question remains on defense. This isn't going to be a defense that plays terrible by any means. But we just don't expect them to be as good as last year's, and how could they be? They lost so much.

Isn't this the matchup what we all want to see, though? The SEC taking on the PAC12? Trojan fans are tired of hearing the SEC talk. Sorry Trojan fans, but you haven't had a team from your conference win the last SIX championships, so get used to it.

 

 

                          

 

   My third and final matchup is a bit of a stretch for one of the two teams. The Oklahoma Sooners vs Florida State. This may be the least likely of all my picks but I am going to stick to it. Oklahoma has a pretty strong offense returning but with some questions. Landry Jones has to prove himself. The defense will be adjusting to a new Defensive Coordinator. The Sooners have a couple of tough games but this could be the year the Sooners could put it all  together. And, in the scenario where USC screws up when they have to play Oregon two times, who will be there ready to take their spot? LSU? Maybe. But if there are only two undefeated schools left, and one is FSU and the other is Oklahoma.....That's the matchup you will see.

 

 

The Nebraska Cornhuskers

 

 
  Now on to a school still looking to get back to what they used to do all too well. Winning Championships! The Nebraska Cornhuskers have been dormant now for a decade. Much like FSU. However, FSU has at least been to a BCS bowl game in the last decade. And they are showing much more promise of getting back before the Cornhuskers.


 A couple of seasons ago they looked like the Cornhuskers of old. Blackshirts and all. The coaching staff has done well. They have Nebraska back to winning eight, nine, and ten games (ten being a great season). But they are still trying to get back in the mix for a championship run.

 

 How about recruiting? That's an area that is still not up to what it needs to be if they are going to compete in today's college football. It might have worked really well in the 80's and 90's......but this is a different era in college football. You can only scheme so much before the more skilled players start making up ground on your game stategy.

 

  The 2012 class? It had ONE player in the ESPN 150. It had only TWO in the ESPN 300. Two 4 star players and 12 three star players is all they could pull this past recruiting season. The 2010 and 2011 class? (these are the classes we should be seeing make the difference this season) Well, 2011 was a good year for them. That means we should see some sophomores contribute. But what about 2010? Where we should see some redshirt sophomores and juniors show their abilities.....you have to look really close this season. Just ONE ESPN 150. One 4 star recruit. The rest of the 22 commits?Mostly 3 star guys.

 

  Stars aren't everything in recruiting. They could turn out to be a lemon sometimes. But ask the Alabama, LSU, Florida, or USC if they think it's important to get those 5 star prospects. Nebraska has had ONE 5 star recruit commit in the last THREE recruiting cycles. Only TEN 4 star recruits in the same cycles. These numbers have to improve if Nebraska ever wants to get back to a championship game. It is as simple as that.

 

Reader Questions (Two Minute Drill)

 

 Shane, from Alabama asks:
"What do you think the chances of another SEC school bringing home the 7th straight championship for the SEC?"
 
Well, as you can see in my picks, I only have one SEC school making the cut in three scenarios. Doesn't mean I'm right. But it will be much tougher for the SEC this year because one side of the conference has THREE teams in the mix that all have to play eachother. Arkansas, LSU, and BAMA will have a tough time getting through, even with one loss....then you have multiple out of conference schools that have a great chance at going undefeated.
 
Jason, from North Carolina:
"Why are you on the band-wagon with the Seminoles? Media shows them all this attention for what? Another 9-4 type season?
 
This one is easy. I am a Florida State fan.....But all fan stuff aside for a minute. I will admit FSU got way too much attention last season. Even members of the media would say that. I am a fan and I say that. But if you are a fan of College football and you keep up with it like some do (myself included), you have to be blind to not be able to see what Jimbo Fisher has done in his first two seasons following Bobby Bowden. Recruiting has been top 5 and being in games all the way to the end is why the Seminoles look to be like they are ready to make a come-back. Make no mistake about it, though.....If FSU turns up another 9-4 type season, you won't see them get the attention like they are getting, for a long time.

 Thanks for the questions, and as always, keep them coming.
jeremy.cf2d@yahoo.com
 Just a week left before college football! One more post for Blitz week. The Facebook page is coming soon. Thanks for reading.