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**StarDust Bum** · 12-27-2008, 03:49 PM

Cal eager to test Miami mystique
December 26, 2008

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -When Worrell Williams was a star high school linebacker in Sacramento, his college choice came down to nearby California or exotic Miami, where his older brother was a star.

Although he decided to stay close to home, Williams knows more than most of his fellow Golden Bears about the unique Miami mystique they'll face in the Emerald Bowl.

``That's an amazing program,'' Williams said. ``With the history they have there, and just the whole atmosphere around the University of Miami, it's an honor to be on the same field with them. But still, we also think we can beat them. We're going in expecting to win.''

A baseball stadium packed with shivering Cal fans will have much the same thoughts Saturday night when the Golden Bears (8-4) essentially host Miami (7-5) in the seventh edition of the game, but the first featuring one of the Bay Area's two Pac-10 schools.

The Bears traversed the Bay Bridge repeatedly this week, going from a hotel in the city to their regular practice fields in Berkeley to prepare for their sixth straight bowl appearance under coach Jeff Tedford. Yet Tedford doesn't see a huge advantage in being home, aside from a free trip to Alcatraz and the support of Cal's fans, who snapped up every available ticket - including roughly half of Miami's allotment.

``These are two very evenly matched teams, actually,'' said Tedford, who's 4-1 in bowl games. ``Both of them have a lot of speed. All the speed that's on the field is going to be very exciting for our fans.''

After missing the postseason in 2007 in head coach Randy Shannon's debut campaign, Miami was eager to get back into bowl action, even if it meant traveling across the country for the holidays and practicing at City College of San Francisco in the bone-chilling rainy weather for which the city is known.

The Hurricanes lost their last two games and missed the chance to play for the ACC championship, but Cal's mix of speed and experience - along with its 3-4 defense - provides plenty of challenges to a program hoping to take its biggest step forward in Shannon's rebuilding project.

``I watch football late at night, and I see a lot of Pac-10 games,'' Shannon said. ``We know about Cal. They're a very run-oriented team, but they can take shots downfield as well. There's going to be a lot of speed on both sides, but you'll also see two tough teams. I know it's going to be a great TV game, that's for sure.''

Miami hasn't played in California since the 2002 Rose Bowl victory that completed its national championship run in the 2001 season, and the Hurricanes haven't faced Cal since 1990. Yet the Bears know all about them, with linebacker Zack Follett clearly remembering Clinton Portis, Jeremy Shockey, Ed Reed and various other stars of that title team.

``They signify college football, basically,'' Follett said. ``I remember when they won that championship, I had my Miami sweat shirt on. I'm sure every kid did at that time, even out here in California. They're just cool.''

The current Hurricanes' biggest concern might be at quarterback, where baby-faced freshman Jacory Harris will make his second career start. Harris played extensively this season behind Robert Marve, who was suspended for the Emerald Bowl for missing classes and is believed to be weighing his transfer options since it's probable he wouldn't be Miami's starter next season.

But it's tough to rattle Harris, who hasn't lost a start in his last three years of high school and college ball.

``I'm not worried about the game, not having any butterflies,'' Harris said. ``There's a standard to live up to, but it's also just a game, and it's going to be fun.''

Cal also made a change in its never-ending quarterback competition when Nate Longshore was promoted past Kevin Riley for the final time this week. Longshore, the often-booed senior, spent most of the regular season behind Riley, although Longshore started three games and played most of the finale against Washington.

With Tedford unable to settle on a quarterback this season, the Bears' offense has excelled because of running back Jahvid Best, the fleet-footed sophomore who hopes to nail down the Pac-10 rushing title with one last big game. Best averages 8.0 yards per carry after inflating his stats a bit with 311 yards during the blowout finale against the Huskies, but his speed and elusiveness are entirely real.

Miami might be better equipped than most defenses to slow down Best. Team speed is among the Hurricanes' greatest assets, much of it a product of Shannon's recruiting efforts in South Florida. They'll need every bit of it to keep up with Best and fellow running back Shane Vereen, who also can burn up the turf.

``We take pride in our pursuit of the ball,'' Miami linebacker Glenn Cook said. ``We may not be one of the bigger defenses a team will face, but the way we pursue sets us apart.''

**StarDust Bum** · 12-27-2008, 03:50 PM

Champs Sports Bowl

The Seminoles and Badgers expected to have seasons this year that would put them back at the top of the college football rankings. Instead, they find one another at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida for a date in the Champs Sports Bowl.

Wisconsin felt like it was building up to something big this year after playing well in a 21-17 defeat to the Volunteers in last season’s Outback Bowl. After all, they would be returning 15 starters from a squad that went 9-4 in 2007.

Bret Bielema’s strategy is no secret in that he wants to run the ball with a stud like redshirt junior P.J. Hill in the backfield and a starting offensive line that averages 316.2 pounds per man along with three seniors. Statistically, that gameplan has worked out for Wisky as they rank 14th in the nation with 212.0 yards per game on the ground. The Badgers even found a capable rusher in waiting this season with redshirt freshman John Clay, who ran for 845 yards and nine touchdowns on 144 carries.

Unfortunately for the Badgers, they couldn’t run it every play…No, Wisconsin had to mix in a few pass plays with senior transfer Allan Evridge from Kansas State. Evridge proved he couldn’t make the plays when they counted by getting picked off late in matches against the Wolverines and Buckeyes where Wisky could have either put the game away or went back out ahead. Dustin Sherer eventually took over under center and managed to do well enough by completing 54.3 percent of his passes for 1,257 yards with just as many touchdowns as he had interceptions (five).

What that inconsistency in the passing game created did was help bring what was once expected to be a team poised to maybe make the Rose Bowl, fall to 7-5 in 2008. As mediocre as that record is, VegasInsider.com expert handicapper Scott Rickenbach still buys into them to a point. “I do think the Badgers are better than you would think based on the 7-5 record they have this season.” Rickenbach concludes, “However, I do not think that they match up very well with Florida State…especially against the run”

Rickenbach makes a valid point as the Seminoles are one of the best defensive programs in the country. Florida State’s d-unit has allowed 291.8 YPG this season, which ranks them 14th national in total defense. And the ‘Noles have the 33rd ranked rush defense, surrendering 126.8 YPG on the ground. While you might think that is a lot of yardage, consider the fact that FSU is 2nd in the nation with an average of 8.6 tackles for loss per game in 2008.

While Florida State is more than capable to snuff out the opposition, its offense doesn’t exactly strike fear. Bobby Bowden’s Seminoles are averaging 368.7 YPG on the attack this year…good enough to be 55th in the country. While the running (182.8) and passing (185.8) games are about equal, the ‘Noles rely more on the ground game to help move them along. So for FSU to make things happen, they’ll need a solid effort out of Antone Smith. The senior from Pahokee, Florida leads the program with 753 yards and 14 touchdowns on 161 carries this season.

If Smith can’t make any headway via the ground game, then Christian Ponder will be put to task. Ponder may have thrown more interceptions (13) than he had touchdowns (12), but he still was named the team’s offensive MVP this year. Partly because of the promise he showed in games like he had against the Terrapins on Nov. 22 in which he completed 19 of 24 passes for 143 and a score. But this sophomore has shown to wilt under pressure as evidenced by his nailing just five of 14 passes for 60 yards and two picks in a monsoon against the Gators in Tallahassee to close out the regular season.

The ‘Noles will have some work cut out for them this Saturday against a Badgers’ defensive unit that is 32nd in the nation by giving up 322.3 YPG. While those numbers look good, they never played up to the level of the better squads in the Big Ten this season. In the last four defeats Wisconsin had this year (Ohio State, Penn State, Iowa and Michigan State), they gave up an average of 347.8 YPG and 32.8 points per game as well.

Most betting shops have listed the Seminoles as five-point favorites with a total that is holding steady at 52. Bettors can take Wisconsin to win outright for a plus-180 return (risk $100 to win $180).

Normally you’d look at history between teams to get an idea of how to bet. Well, that’s not happening here as this is the first meeting between Florida State and the Badgers.

As far as favorites go in the history of the Champs Sports Bowl itself, they’ve gone 10-7 straight up and 8-9 against the spread since the game was known as the Blockbuster Bowl in 1990. While the “chalk” might look like a good play here, keep in mind that they have posted an 0-3 mark in their last games ATS.

The Seminoles are good when tabbed as favorite as noted by an 11-5 SU record. Yet, the gamblers are flipping a coin when it comes to them covering the number by going 8-8 ATS.

Wisconsin hasn’t fared well against non-conference opponents when installed as an underdog with a SU record of 3-4. Yet they’ve cashed in nicely as we can see by them going 5-2 ATS since 2000.

You can catch this game on ESPN at 4:30 p.m. EST.

**3ebRocks** · 12-27-2008, 04:38 PM

Great reads and I love your picks on the two later bowls. May be posting Cal myself but that line just keeps climbing. Regardless, best of luck today and thanks.

**jt4545** · 12-27-2008, 04:44 PM

Good luck bum

**Kaptain** · 12-27-2008, 04:45 PM

gl today BUM

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