BCS National Championship Preview

            How fitting is it that the team that can end the SEC’s vise grip on the college football world can be Notre Dame? The University of Notre Dame, a place where academics always come first and athletics are second. Notre Dame, a name that conjure up emotions that varies from hatred to never-quit loyalty. Notre Dame, the greatest college football program in the 20^th century. Notre Dame, a school that refuses to join a conference and remain independent. How fitting is for Notre Dame that they get to play perhaps the best football program so far in the 21^st century? The Crimson Tide has won two championships in the last three years and are going for back to back championships. If you want to be the best then you have to beat the best, and that’s Alabama.

            When Notre Dame and Alabama take the field in Miami, the entire sports world will be watching. Fans from every region will have a rooting interest. Fans who hate Nick Saban, Alabama, and the media’s love for the SEC will root for the Irish. Fans who hate Notre Dame will be rooting for the  Tide. Many have said this will be highest watched championship game ever and I believe this is the most anticipated championship game ever. Of course, that’s easy for me to say since I’m an Irish fan.

Keys to Victory

Pressure A.J. McCarron: McCarron is the Tide’s junior quarterback and leader on offense. He led the team to a championship last year and now he’s back looking for a second. McCarron threw for 2,600 yards and 26 touchdowns with a 66% completion percentage. He only threw three interceptions during the season as well. The Irish need to force McCarron to make plays. Push him out of the pocket and make him find the open receivers. That goal sounds simple until you realize Alabama has one of the best offensive lines in the country. It will be up to Louis Nix, Stephon Tuitt and Kapron Lewis-Moore to draw double teams and allow the linebackers into the backfield.

Rushing Attack: Notre Dame has long been known for its famous backfields and running backs. This year they have relied heavily on the running game too. Seniors Theo Riddick and Cierre Wood have split the carries and have combined for over 1,500 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. The Crimson Tide have the 2^nd ranked defense but gave up more than 100 rushing yards against Georgia, Texas A&M and LSU. That means they are vulnerable and the Irish have to take advantage. Riddick will also be key in the passing game. He is my “player to watch” in the game.

Everett Golson: Alabama’s lone loss came at the hands of Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel. The eventual Heisman winner beat ‘Bama by using his arm as well as his legs. Golson will have to do the same Monday night. He cannot stand in the pocket and wait for receivers to get open. He will have to move around, scramble out of the pocket and possibly run for yards when receivers are not open. Fortunately he has done already done this numerous times during the season. 

           When Oregon and Auburn played for the national championship, everybody expected it be a score fest. The final score was 22-19. When LSU and Alabama played last year many expected it to be close to the score of their previous meeting in the regular season. The final score was 21-0. Notre Dame and Alabama have the two best defenses in the country and many are expecting this to be a low scoring game. I'm not buying it. Each team will score at least one touchdown.

            Notre Dame is playing for more than a national championship and a year of bragging rights. They are playing for everybody who bleeds blue and gold. For everybody who has prayed for victory at the Grotto. For everybody who has been to the Basilica of Sacred Hearts but knows the real cathedral is Notre Dame Stadium. For everybody who cried during “Rudy”. For everybody who has won one for the Gipper. For everybody who plays like a champion. For everybody who knows the Four Horsemen didn’t ride horses. For everybody who has been inspired by the Golden Dome on a crisp, autumn day. For everybody who believes that nowhere else but Notre Dame is football is more than a game.

Go Irish. Beat ‘Bama.

Predicted score: Notre Dame-23. Alabama-13

Wild Card Preview

            The impossible-to-believe season for the Indianapolis Colts continues into the playoffs where their first round matchup takes them to the city we take everything from, Baltimore. The Irsay’s moved the Colts to Indianapolis from Baltimore in 1984 and before this season started we took Chuck Pagano and defensive lineman, Cory Redding. They got Jim Caldwell and Curtis Painter (fair trade, right?).

            The Colts are seen as underdog in the matchup and that’s understandable. However, you want to be playing your best football late in the season and the Colts played what I believe was their best game of the season last week against Houston. The Ravens, on the other hand, have gone 1-4 in their past five games and look very vulnerable.

It seemed as if the Colts would have the emotional advantage in the game with Chuck Pagano on the sideline but then Ray Lewis announced earlier this week that this is his final season. There is nobody in Baltimore who wants to see Ray Lewis retire. The Ravens are going to be playing inspired football in all aspects and nobody is going to give up.

             Before the Ray Lewis announcement, I figured the Colts could win this game by a touchdown. Now, I am not so sure. This game is going to be a dog fight but that plays into the Colts’ favor. Indy is a remarkable 9-1 in games decided by 7 points or less. The Ravens are 6-4 in the same circumstance.

The Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco could be considered a seasoned veteran but he has yet to claim a spot on the “elite” level. Flacco is 6-4 in the playoffs but has lost to the Steelers twice and the Patriots once. This is a game that could push Andrew Luck to that level while putting Flacco on the same level as Tony Romo. It is vital that Luck withstand the Raven’s pass rush and limit his turnovers. If he throws a couple interceptions and fumbles then the Colts will lose. Luck will also need production from rookie running back, Vick Ballard, to help in the cause and reduce the amount of blitzing Baltimore does.

As for the Colts defense, they really stepped it up against Houston in Week 17. In a game that Houston needed to win, our defense held them to only 16 points. We picked off two of Matt Schaub’s passes and held Arian Foster to 96 rushing yards. Many are worried about Ray Rice putting up huge numbers against our defense but I am not one of those. The Colts are gonna bring their “A” game against Baltimore just like they did against Houston. If they can force Flacco to make plays then we will have the advantage.

Predicted score: Colts-20. Ravens-13.