14A - The Michigan Daily - Thursday, November 18, 1999
Enemies clash in Rivalry Week as BCS waits on outcomes
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By Rohit Bhave
and Joe Smith
Daily Sports Writers
Four of the top 10 teams in the Bowl
Championship Series rankings blew it
this past Saturday. The entire bowl pic-
ture is now in the air going into the final
week before the conference champi-
onships.
Tennessee's surprising loss to
unranked Arkansas and Nebraska's dom-
inance over then-No. 5 Kansas State have
left only two top teams other than No. I1
Marshall undefeated.
Florida State controls its own destiny.
A victory over Florida this Saturday and
a win in the Sugar Bowl would guarantee
the Seminoles a national title.
Michael Vick and surprising Virginia
Tech positioned themselves at the No. 2
spot going into this week's game at
Temple. But Florida, with only one loss,
has title aspirations of its own. The
Gators could ruin Florida State's plans
when the two teams meet on Saturday in
the annual battle between these two
Sunshine State rivals.
No.1 FLORiDA STATE (8-0 ACC,10-0
OVERALL) AT No. 3 FLORIDA (7-1 SEC
EAsT, 9-1)
In this year's tussle in the Swamp,
Florida State defensive coordinator
Mickey Andrews must decide whether to
attack the Florida quarterbacks or to sit
back in the passive 3-8 defense that sti-
fled the Gators last year, allowing them
just 12 points.
Florida State may have the luxury of
dropping linebackers into coverage if the
defensive line, led by defensive tackle
Corey Simon, can penetrate the Florida
backfield without blitzing.
There is question whether Florida
State corners Mario Edwards and Tay
Cody can play man-to-man against
receivers like Florida's Darrell Jackson
17.5 yards per catch, nine touchdowns).
They will not have to if Andrews decides
o mix zone coverages and confuse
whichever inept quarterback Florida
coach Steve Spurrier decides to throw
out.
Offensively, Florida State will count
>n Weinke to continue his hot play of
ecent weeks. He has two very capable
weapons in Ron Dugans and Peter.
Warrick. As he did last year off a tipped
tass from backup Marcus Outzen in last
.eason Florida-Florida State game,
Varrick can create touchdowns out of
>roken plays.
At the same time, Florida has become
nemic on offense. Built for a big-play
>assing game, the Gators have complet-
d a very low percentage of their passes
n recent weeks, and have not sustained
ffense with first downs.
Chris Weinke hopes to lead his Seminoles into the Sugar Bowl by beating Florida.
South Carolina last week (15-33, 161 shown the ability to singlehandedly win
yards) should concern the Florida faith- games, shown by his four-touchdown
ful, as well as the measly 300-yard output effort against Florida.
against the winless Gamecocks. Spurrier Quarterback Andrew Zow must sup-
has been content to smash running back plement Alexander's running with some
Earnest Graham between the tackles, and efficient passing, much as he did against
he has been able to generate a solid the Gators. The Tide has shown a tremen-
ground game. dous ability to control the ball. Their
However, the Gators have lost the rugged style can wear down Auburn.
time-of-possession battle too often. An Auburn marches in having played its
offense that can't score, and an offense best game of the season. Coming in,
that can't control the ball means that the quarterback Ben Leard and wide receiv-
Florida defense must play heroically to er Ronney Daniels had career days
win against the Seminoles. against a very good Georgia team.
If the Florida defense can force a lot of Auburn has both a poor defense and a
three-and-outs and keep the Seminoles poor running.game, so the only chance
off the field, they have a chance. Florida the Tigers have against the Tide is if the
needs to generate a large turnover and two ignite.
points-off-turnover advantage in the Despite the home-field advantage, and
game, as well as make touchdowns out of a hot streak, Auburn will not be able to
Spurrier's trick plays. That said, Florida handle a complete Alabama team. The
State could destroy the Gators' with an Tigers will throw often, and may net
explosive first half - Florida's offense some impressive yardage on the
can't match the Seminoles in a shootout. Alabama defense, but the Tide will be
Florida State 37, Florida 21 able to answer Auburn's passing game
ALABAMA (6-1 SEC WEST, 8-2 OVER- with a balanced, possessive offense. This
ALL) AT AUBURN (2-5, 5-5) will be a dogfight, but Alexander and
Amid the raucous chants of "Warrrrr company will prevail.
Eagle" and "Roll Tide," Auburn's Jordan- Alabama 24, Auburn 17
Hare Stadium will play host to this year's CALIFORNIA (3-4 PAC-10, 4-6 OVER-
Iron Bowl, the site of the state of ALL) AT STANFORD (6-1, 6-3)
Alabama's premier sporting event. The annual Big Game between Bay
Played under the lights on national tele- Area schools finally has meaning this
vison, this game's intensity will rival that year. Played in Palo Alto, Stanford fans
of any game played this year. may have the opportunity to possibly wit-
Alabama running back Shaun ness the Cardinal's first Rose Bowl sea-
Alexander leads the potent Tide offense. son since 1972. Stanford's roller-coaster
Look for Alabama coach Mike Dubose season finally has landed the team in a
over the rival Golden Bears.
This game features a matchup between
the Pac-10's best offense (Stanford) and
the Pac-10's stoutest defense (California)
- if any defense in the Pac-10 can be
considered strong.
Look for the game-breaking passing
tandem of Stanford quarterback Todd
Husak and wide receiver Troy Walters.
Walters must contend with cornerback
Deltha O'Neal of California, who leads
the NCAA in interceptions this season.
This matchup could be determined by
the success Stanford has on offense. If
California can slow the Cardinal's
offense, they may be able to strike for
some cheap touchdowns.
Despite their weak defense, a deter-
mined Stanford team should roll to its
first Rose Bowl in 27 years.
Stanford 45, California 35
No. 13 PENN STATE (5-2 BIG TEN, 9-2
OVERALL) AT NO. 15 MICHIGAN STATE
(5-2,8-2)
Starting the season 9-0, with two
straight home games ahead, Penn State
was already making travel arrangements
for New Orleans, where it expected to
play for the national title. But two games
and two blown fourth-quarter leads later,
the Nittany Lions are now tied for second
in the Big Ten and need a victory to
secure a Citrus Bowl berth.
Penn State cannot afford to beat them-
selves against Michigan State like they
did against Michigan and Minnesota.
The Spartans beat several quality teams
this year, including Notre Dame,
Michigan and Ohio State, on their way to
their first eight-win season since 1987.
The Michigan State rushing defense,
anchored by Robaire Smith and T.J.
Turner, is ranked No. 2 in the country,
surrendering just 69 yards per game. The
defensive duo will aim their sights at
stopping a Penn State ground game that
fated poorly against Michigan.
The Spartans are led offensively by
explosive wide receiver Plaxico Burress,
who has consistently made big plays.
Senior quarterback Bill Burke left last
week's game with a bruised pectoral
muscle, but will probably start in his final
game at Spartan Stadium.
A victory over Penn State would give
the Spartans sole possession of second
place in the Big Ten and a chance to play
in a New Year's Day bowl.
Expect Penn State coach Joe Paterno
to empty his bag of trick plays after los-
ing two consecutive games, and defen-
sive coordinatorJerry Sandusky to chan-
nel out his frustration and propose a
highly aggressive game plan. They will
try to shake up the Spartans by creating
turnovers and making big plays on both
sides of the ball, in order to quiet the
Penn State 21, Michigan State 17
No. 17 MINNESOTA (4-3 BIG TEN, 7-3
OVERALL) AT IOwA (0-7, 1-9)
The Golden Gophers have certainly
been the surprise of the Big Ten this year.
Winning seven games for the first time
since 1985, and ruining Penn State's
national championship hopes with one
swift kick, they showed the country that
Minnesota is no longer a pushover.
In fact, its passing defense and total
defense are the best in the Big Ten, giv-
ing up just 155 yards in the air and 293
yards overall.
Led by the one-two combination of
quarterback Billy Cockerham and run-
ning back Thomas Hamner, the Gophers
are an explosive offense and should con-
tinue to succeed against Iowa - owner
of the worst defense in the Big Ten.
Hamner is 11 th in the nation in rush-
ing, averaging 123 yards a game (1,279
for the season). He needs just 165 yards
to set the school record. This would nor-
mally be a difficult feat, but considering
he is facing the Hawkeyes, he should
have no problem.
Iowa gave up 216 yards last weekend
to the new career rushing leader, Ron
Dayne, in an embarrassing 41-3 defeat to
Wisconsin. Consistent dwellers of the
Big Ten basement, the Hawkeyes are
losers of seven straight. Make it eight.
Minnesota 35, Iowa 6
No. 19 PURDUE (3-4 BIG TEN. 6-4
OVERAl..) AT IN1ANA (3-4, 4-6)
The Boilermakers have been an excit-
ing team to watch. Heisman candidate
Drew Brees leads the Big Ten in passing
efficiency, yards. touchdowns and
attempts in coach Joe Tiller's oltunse.
After starting the season 4-0. Purdue
faltered in a horrendous stretch of sched-
ule, dropping contests to Michigan. Ohio
State, Penn State and Wisconsin. Purdue
is already eligible for a bowl game, but
beating the Hoosiers would definitely
help their chances.
The Purdue defense has been suscepti-
ble to the big play this season, giving up
38 points to Michigan, 31 to Penn State
and over 25 points to both Minnesota and
Wisconsin. Teams exploited Purdue's
weak secondary by mixing up the run
and the pass, and Indiana has the person-
nel to do just that.
Led by the exciting Antwaan Randle
El, one of the more versatile quarterbacks
in the country, the Hoosiers have kept
themselves in many games. Randle El has
2,463 total yards in offense and leads his
team in both rushing and passing.
As good of a playmaker Randle El is,
he is no match for the explosive Purdue
offense, which is well-rested after a bye
week. Expect to see Brees and the Big
Ten's top receiver, Chris Daniels (108
catches for 1,117 yards), to hook up early
and often in this matchup.
Purdue 34. Indiana 17