The Dawgs Ramblings

Thoughts

--- I have a rooting interest in the Ohio St - Michigan game. As a few friends can confirm I picked Michigan to win it all back in September. Unlike some of my recent picks this prediction has a chance of coming true. Michigan has not been tested this season but has not been as impressive as a number 2 team should be in the final weeks of the season. A home scare to Ball St. was unexpected but may have refocused the team as they trounced Indiana the next week. Michigan's offense was hitting on all cylinders before the injury to Manningham and his ability to get open this week will be neccesary for Michigan to win.

On the other side it seems every time a team has a chance to hang in a game with Ohio St., Troy Smith does something that energizes his team and catapults them to victory. Whether it is with his arm or legs he seems to have a knack for making the right play at the right time. With Gonzalez and Ginn to throw to, he has two top targets at all times. If I could focus on one thing in this game, it would be Michigan's standout corner Leon Hall. How will he be used all game? Dedicated to Ginn or a little of both? If he truly is a lockdown corner than I expect more three wide sets from the Buckeyes and a third receiver to have to step up for the victory.

Staying true with my prediction. Wolverines 24-23.

--- North Carolina landed their big name coach in Butch Davis. A proven collegiate winner, Davis would have had his choice of schools over the next couple of years but decided on the fertile recruting grounds of North Carolina. Mack Brown made a name there before taking the Texas opportunity. Brown was on the verge of building a consistent winner at North Carolina with the likes of Dre Bly and Ronald Curry before he bolted. Now Davis gets to build on proven success a decade later. North Carolina is now in a prime position to become one of the elite teams in the ACC if Davis retains his magic. He should be able to capitilize on the coaching turbulences at Miami and Florida St to jumpstart his program. The Tar Heels have a young team and with a solid recruiting class headed by Mike Paulus at QB they appear to have the talent to compete almost immediately. Watch for Carolina to be competing for the ACC title sooner rather than later.

-- Central Michigan sits atop the MAC with 5 wins in a row with the smallest margin of victory being 11 points. It would be nice to see the MAC winner take on a BCS school in a bowl game. BC's narrow escape also does not appear to be too bad. John Beck anyone?

-- How is Hawaii not in the Top 25? They have scored 60 points in 4 of their last 5 games. Their 2 losses occurred early in the season at Boise and at Alabama by a combined 15 points. Good thing they are not on Bama's schedule now. Hawaii appears to have only gotton better.

-- West Virginia may just be peeking. Not this year but the next couple. The entire offense runs through White and Slaton and those guys will be around for another year minimum. The rest of the offensive cast is replaceable on the skill positions and the Mounties are always physical upfront. If their defense improves and matures, next year could be the year in Morgantown.

-- Tim Tebow can do no wrong. He comes in the game and he runs for a first down. He gets up and leads the cheers and the crowd adores him. I assume he can throw too so the job is all his once Chris Leak leaves town. Leak and Tebow in a room together by themselves has to be pure comedy.

posted by oceanjay @ 11:49 PM