Champ vs Champ

Twenty-two of the most talented players in college football and the NFL represented the BCS National Championship during the 2000's.
The 2005 Texas Longhorns defeated the USC Trojans 41-38, in dramatic fashion, erasing a twelve-point fourth quarter deficit to capture the title. Two years later, the 2007 Florida Gators suffocated a high-powered Oklahoma Sooners offense to claim the crown by a score of 24-14.

Hypotheticals play the starring role in this scenario as two of the most talent-laden rosters of the BCS era square off on the field of -- TazSports.
As luck would have it, the '07 Gators win the coin toss and elect to go on offense first.

MATCHUPS:

QB - Vince Young vs Tim Tebow
Vince Young, Pro Bowler with the Tennessee Titans has a better winning percentage than quarterbacks Tony Romo, Eli Manning and Drew Brees. Tebow simply refused to lose during his Heisman-winning season.

RB - Chris Ogbonnaya, Selvin Young, Jamaal Charles vs Chris Rainey, Jeff Demps
The backfields were full of speedsters on both teams. Pro Bowl tailback Jamaal Charles was a freshman with the 2005 Longhorns.

WR/TE - Limas Sweed, Quan Cosby, Jordan Shipley vs Percy Harvin, Louis Murphy, Riley Cooper, Aaron Hernandez
The consensus will just award this match up to the Gator receiving corp of 2007. Anyone disagree?

DL - Brian Orakpo vs Brandon Spikes
When he's not appearing in Geico commercials, Brian Orakpo is collecting awards for All-Rookie squads (2009), sacks and Pro Bowl invitations. Brandon Spikes has 200 total tackles and five forced fumbles in his five seasons in the NFL.

CB - Cedric Griffin, Aaron Ross vs Janoris Jenkins
Griffin has been a productive defensive back for two NFL teams while Aaron Ross is a two-time Super Bowl champion. Jenkins had 64 total tackles and 4 interceptions with three returned for touchdowns in 2012.

S - Michael Huff vs Major Wright
Michael Huff went to the Pro Bowl in 2010 and has 11 total career interceptions. Wright has increased his performance in tackles and interceptions in each of his three NFL seasons. Wright seems to edge out the eight-year veteran Huff with half the NFL experience.

'05 Texas     31
'07 Florida  45  F

Glass Slipper Madness

How hard would it be to dribble-drive to the right side baseline, crossover to the lane and pull up to drain a fourteen-foot jumper in clear pumps? Easy. As long as it's before midnight.

The quest to win six consecutive games in the grandest tournament on the planet begins on March 19 and will end with the Final Four in Atlanta on April 8.
Some teams will have an inside track on the 2013 NCAA tournament. Here's the inside track on some of those teams:

Michigan Wolverines

Sophomore point guard Trey Burke is said to be one of the nation's best. His seven assists per game is the result of having talented players like junior guard Tim Hardaway, Jr. and Glenn Robinson, III as teammates. The Wolverines are explosive, although they lack size, this group is the best since the Fab Five of the nineties. Michigan will be a No. 1 seed in the big dance.

Indiana Hoosiers

Briefly, the Hoosiers are officially back. They can defend in transition, run the floor and they have size and some depth. Seven-foot sophomore Cody Zeller is a problem, averaging 16.6 points per game. Junior guard Victor Oladipo is easily the solution. Indiana will be hard to defeat in any tournament.

Duke Blue Devils

Some say senior forward Mason Plumlee is campaigning for Player of the Year, posting 17.6 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. Who can argue otherwise? Meanwhile, senior guard Seth Curry is shooting nearly 42 percent from three-point range as he takes aim from the logo and beyond (16.9 ppg). Duke's 'X' factor is head coach Mike Krzyzewski, as it is every season. Good luck to the rest of the field.

Miami Hurricanes

Head coach Jim Larranaga has put together the best unit in the program's history, climbing atop the ACC and the nation. Sophomore Shane Larkin shoots three-pointers at the rate of 43.7 while senior guard Durand Scott leads the 'Canes, scoring 14 points per contest. Need size? How about 6' 10", 292 pound senior Reggie Johnson? We shall see, apparently.

This year's NCAA tournament should bring excitement, disappointment and intrigue. Most of all, there will be upsets. Hopefully, no one's horses will turn into mice at the stroke of midnight. Unfortunately for many teams, this will be the case.

Who Has It Better Than Us?

From 49ers corner back Chris Culliver's comments on gay athletes to accusations of deer-antler spray consumed by Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, there's one small detail that's being overlooked - a rather important game is to be played and no medium clip will matter on Sunday evening at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.

Numbers such as Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco's eight touchdown playoff campaign without an interception or San Francisco signal-caller Colin Kaepernick's 200-plus rushing yard performance during the playoffs won't make much of a difference. Even the glaring fact that the 49ers finished second in the NFL in defense while the Ravens found themselves outside the top ten (12th) by season's end will be an afterthought once the ball is booted from the tee.

In a match up where both defenses are sound, (one more than the other) components such as special teams play and turnovers will play a contributing role in the outcome.
Will veteran receiver Randy Moss prove that he is truly the (2nd or 3rd) greatest in NFL history? Will safety Ed Reed experience his first Super Bowl victory? Perhaps the real question is will a game plan be implemented for Kaepernick? And if so, will it be successfully executed?

Harbaugh Bowl? Maybe. Jim and John (18 months apart) can only do so much from the sidelines with headsets being the only equipment each coach will sport. It will be up to the players to decide which brother will receive the multi-colored confetti shower while hoisting the Lombardi trophy.

49ers     27
Ravens  20  Final
Maybe.

Immediately after the Super Bowl has ended, we will collectively take a look ahead to the 2013 season. Here at TazSports, you'll get a small preview with a list of 2012's top Fantasy performers.

 

 

 

 

  

QB
1.  Drew Brees (NO)

2.  Aaron Rodgers (GB)

3.  Tom Brady (NE)

* Russell Wilson (Sea)

RB
1.  Adrian Peterson (Min)

2.  Doug Martin (TB)

3.  Arian Foster (Hou)

* Daryl Richardson (StL)

WR
1.  Calvin Johnson (Det)

2.  Brandon Marshall (Chi)

3.  Dez Bryant (Dal)

* T. Y. Hilton (Ind)

TE
1.  Jimmy Graham (NO)

2.  Tony Gonzalez (Atl)

3.  Jason Witten (Dal)

* Kyle Rudolph (Min)


DEF

1.  Chicago

2.  Seattle

3.  Denver

* St. Louis

* Denotes top sleeper for 2013

High Dez-inition

Some may consider the Dallas Cowboys (8-7) as super mediocre. Others may see the 'boys through cowboy-colored bifocals and look at them as the best team since the 1995 Dallas squad. The subject is definitely debatable. However, one component is not - Dez Bryant.
 The ex-Oklahoma State Cowboy-turned Dallas Cowboy has reached heights everyone knew he could achieve but weren't fully confident he would. After so many proverbial blue screens and snow-filled channels with white noise, pixels should be crystal clear across the board about the 6' 2", 220 pound native of Texas. Bryant left no doubt of his worthiness of wearing the #88 jersey Sunday during the Cowboys' 34-31 overtime defeat to New Orleans (7-8), as he hauled in 9 receptions for 224 yards and two touchdowns underneath the gigantic scoreboard in Arlington.
The twenty-four year-old star has recorded five 100-plus-yard games as the Cowpokes mosey into Washington (9-6) for the NFC East title and a playoff berth in the final regular season game of 2012.
Do not attempt to adjust your (mind)sets, for this is not a test.

Now, on to week seventeen - championship Sunday (for some).

 

 

 

QB
Aaron Rodgers (GB @ Min)
RB
Darren Sproles (NO vs Car)
WR
Brandon Marshall (Chi @ Det)
Wes Welker (NE vs Mia)
TE
Dallas Clark (TB @ Atl)
DEF

New England vs Mia

 

QB

Andy Dalton (Cin vs Bal)

RB

Doug Martin (TB @ Atl)

WR

Michael Crabtree (SF vs Ari)

TE

Antonio Gates (SD vs Oak)

DEF

Chicago @ Det

 



Russell Wilson is Too Small for QB

Measurables always seem to lurk when evaluating NFL talent. At some point, a memo went out to executives and scouts that the prototypical quarterback must meet a certain height requirement to be successful in the NFL. Apparently, Seattle Seahawks (9-5) rookie quarterback Russell Wilson didn't receive the memo.
At 5' 11" and barely 200 pounds, the NC State and Wisconsin grad has had to prove himself over and again to experts who have yet to figure out heart and desire can't be measured.
Is he good enough? Meaning, is he NFL ready? Ask the Buffalo Bills (5-9) about Wilson's readiness.
Wilson embarrassed the hapless Bills by rushing for 92 yards and three touchdowns while throwing for another score Sunday in Toronto, ending with a 50-17 victory. He currently has thrown 21 touchdowns and nine interceptions with two games remaining, despite not meeting the idealized height requirement.
Concluding where we began, Russell Wilson is too small to play quarterback in the NFL. Just ask the experts.

QB
Ryan Tannehill (Mia vs Buf)
Nick Foles (Phi vs Was)
Sam Bradrord (StL @ TB)
RB
Vick Ballard (Ind @ KC)
BenJarvus Green-Ellis (Cin @ Pit)
DeAngelo Williams (Car vs Oak)
WR
Lance Moore (NO @ Dal)
Leonard Hankerson (Was @ Phi)
Brandon Lloyd (NE @ Jac)
TE
Dallas Clark (TB vs StL)
Greg Olsen (Car vs Oak)
Owen Daniels (Hou vs Min)
DEF

Indianapolis @ KC
New England @ Jac
Carolina vs Oak

 

QB

Andy Dalton (Cin @ Pit)

Eli Manning (NYG @ Bal)

RB

Ahmad Bradshaw (NYG @ Bal)

Chris Johnson (Ten @ GB)

WR

Larry Fitzgerald (Ari vs Chi)

A.J. Green (Cin @ Pit)

TE

Vernon Davis (SF @ Sea)

Jacob Tamme (Den vs Cle)

DEF

Seattle vs SF

Atlanta @ Det

 



Flying Low: The Playoff Run

Birds have hollow bones which enables them to soar through the air without crashing to the ground. With the help of the 12th Man, the Seattle Seahawks (8-5) soared while the Arizona Cardinals (4-9) crashed, burned and washed away, 58-0, into the Pacific Ocean in the form of ashes.
12:00 1st quarter:
Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner intercepts Cardinals quarterback John Skelton's plans for a completion.
11:25 2nd quarter:
Seahawks defensive end Chris Clemons sacked Skelton, forced him to fumble and recovered.
10:12 2nd quarter:
Seahawks corner back Richard Sherman picked off Cardinals quarterback John Skelton and returned it for a 19-yard touchdown.
2:33 2nd quarter:
Richard Sherman records his second interception of the game on a third down play near midfield.

At halftime, Arizona found themselves down 38-0 with their feathers starting to feel uncomfortably warm.
10:19 3rd quarter:
Bobby Wagner intercepted Skelton inside the Cards' own twenty-yard line. Skelton was yanked from the pillage and rookie Ryan Lindley was inserted.
4:49 3rd quarter:
Lindley fumbled while being sacked and Richard Sherman recovered. Has anyone lost count?

In a nest egg, some birds were only meant to fly and not attempt to play quarterback in the NFL. For Seattle, it's off to Toronto to face Buffalo (5-8). For Arizona, it is simply off.
Good luck, for anything can (and will) happen in the playoffs.

QB
Josh Freeman (TB @ NO)
Jake Locker (Ten vs NYJ)
Russell Wilson (Sea vs Buf in Toronto)
RB
DeAngelo Williams (Car @ SD)
Jonathan Dwyer (Pit @ Dal)
Reggie Bush (Mia vs Jac)
WR
Eric Decker (Den @ Bal)
Josh Gordon (Cle vs Was)
Mike Williams (TB @ NO)
TE
Coby Fleener (Ind @ Hou)
Tony Moeaki (KC @ Oak)
Brandon Pettigrew (Det @ Ari)
DEF

San Diego vs Car
Mia vs Jac
Ten vs NYJ

QB
Joe Flacco (Bal vs Den)
Mark Sanchez (NYJ @ Ten)
RB
Stevan Ridley (NE vs SF)
Beanie Wells (Ari vs Det)
WR
Julio Jones (Atl vs NYG)
Kenny Britt (Ten vs NYJ)
TE
Jermichael Finley (GB @ Chi)
Heath Miller (Pit @ Dal)
DEF
San Francisco @ NE
Pittsburgh @ Dal

WR Comparison
                                  REC     YDS    TD
Jeremy Maclin               57        719        5
Cecil Shorts                     43        824        7

Good Luck

 

Luck is when preparation meets opportunity. If and when opportunity comes your way and you have failed to prepare, then you've prepared to fail. Non preparers call this bad luck. The truth is we create our own, whether good or bad.

 

Sometimes it may be better to simply be Luck. Andrew, that is. The top-drafted rookie from Stanford found himself in a  twelve-point deficit (33-21) to the Detroit Lions (4-8) with 8:41 left in the fourth quarter at Ford Field Sunday afternoon. He threw an interception during the drive. Luck then put together an eight-play, 85-yard drive for a score to cut the Lions' lead to five (33-28) with 2:39 left on the clock. Luck, as he would have it, got the ball back with only 1:07 to go with no timeouts. The 6' 4" back-to-back Heisman runner-up drove the field with an eleven-play, 75-yard drive for the game-winning touchdown pass to Donnie Avery as time expired to complete his 424 total yard and four touchdown performance. Lucky? No. Luck bows and exits stage right.

 

 

 

QB
Sam Bradford (StL @ Buf)
Brandon Weeden (Cle vs KC)
Russell Wilson (Sea vs Ari)
RB
Joique Bell (Det @ GB)
Vick Ballard (Ind vs Ten)
Shonn Greene (NYJ @ Jac)
WR
Chris Givens (StL @ Buf)
Antonio Brown (Pit vs SD)
Anquan Boldin (Bal @ Was)
TE
Kyle Rudolph (Min vs Chi)
Dustin Keller (NYJ @ Jac)
Heath Miller (Pit vs SD)
DEF

Miami @ SF
Indianapolis @ Ten
Green Bay vs Det

QB
Philip Rivers (SD @ Pit)
Colin Kaepernick (SF vs Mia)
RB
Beanie Wells (Ari @ Sea)
Reggie Bush (Mia @ SF)
WR
Stevie Johnson (Buf vs StL)
Larry Fitzgerald (Ari @ Sea)
TE
Antonio Gates (SD @ Pit)
Vernon Davis (SF vs Mia)
DEF
Baltimore @ Was
NY Giants vs NO