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**wayne1218** · 09-10-2004, 09:38 PM

Another ESPN Insider prediction............

By Todd McShay
Scouts, Inc.

These two football programs have not been conference foes since the Southwest
Conference disassembled following the 1995 season, but the rivalry is as bitter
as ever. During the waning moments of a 27-6 Arkansas victory over Texas in the
2000 Cotton Bowl, Razorbacks' head coach Houston Nutt was seen flashing a
downward "hook 'em horns" sign. It infuriated Longhorns' fans but not as much as
Arkansas' post-game celebration following last season's 38-28 upset at No. 6
Texas when the Razorbacks planted an Arkansas state flag near the north end zone
of Royal-Memorial Stadium and took a team picture. Less than one year later, the
Longhorns are looking to repay the favor at Razorback Stadium in front of ESPN's
Primetime national audience.
Game Information

vs.

Who: Texas (8) vs. Arkansas
When: Sat., 8:45 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Where: Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville, Ark.

Mack Brown's Longhorns are once again loaded with talent and overwhelmed by
expectations. While beating Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry is the ultimate,
the Longhorns know they must snap a three-game losing streak in Arkansas in
order to remain in the national title hunt.
RB Cedric Benson returns to carry the load and QB Vince Young is a huge running
threat. But the Longhorns must replace three starting receivers, including Roy
Williams. Young must also become a more consistent passer. The defense returns
seven starters, including massive DT Rodrique Wright and WLB Derrick Johnson,
who is the most athletic player at his position in the country. Greg Robinson,
fired as defensive coordinator with the Kansas City Chiefs, was brought in to
add some toughness to the group as a co-defensive coordinator.
Arkansas, which opened up the season with a blowout win over New Mexico State,
has 17 new starters from the 2003 season. Because of the strong job Nutt has
done in recruiting high school and junior college talent, the Razorbacks aren't
exactly starting over. But it is safe to say that 2004 projects as a rebuilding
year for the program.
QB Matt Jones is the Razorbacks only returning offensive starter from a season
ago. While he is experienced and athletically gifted, he can't do it on his own.
RBs DeCori Birmingham, De'Arrius Howard and Kyle Dickerson will all have to grow
up quickly against Texas' defense. The defensive front seven is the strength of
the team, which gives them a chance to keep Benson and Young in check. With four
new starters in the secondary, a big key to the outcome of Saturday night's
meeting will be the Razorback's ability to prevent the big play in the passing
game.
Key individual matchups

Derrick Johnson could be a disruptive force against the Hogs.
1. Arkansas RB DeCori Birmingham vs. Texas WLB Derrick Johnson
Johnson, who forced three first-half North Texas fumbles last week, is the best
all-around linebacker in college football. He has a big frame, is a powerful
tackler and has great range. Birmingham is a versatile back who has experience
as a receiver and return specialist.
Unfortunately for Arkansas, Johnson's rare athletic ability should negate
Birmingham's effectiveness. Not only is Johnson fast enough to limit Birmingham
from sideline-to-sideline in the running game, but he is also more than capable
of locking on to Birmingham in coverage and minimizing his role as a receiver
out of the backfield.
2. Arkansas WR Steven Harris vs. Texas RCB Cedric Griffin
Harris had only two receptions in last week's win over NMSU, but averaged 29.5
yards per catch. Harris lacks great size (5-11, 180) but has very good speed and
acceleration when the ball is in the air. Under Robinson, the Longhorns will
play more zone coverage than in the past but they still remain a primarily
man-coverage defense.
Griffin is a tall cornerback with good overall size and strength. He should do a
good job of pressing Harris and taking him out of his routes. However, because
Griffin lacks great hip fluidity and doesn't have Harris' deep speed, this could
be a matchup the Razorbacks target vertically.
3. Texas TE David Thomas vs. Arkansas SS Lerinezo Robinson
After losing all three starting receivers (Roy Williams, B.J. Johnson and Sloan
Thomas) from a season ago, Thomas is the teams' top returning receiver in terms
of receptions. The undersized tight end has developed into a consistent target
over the middle of the field. While Young works to develop a rapport with his
young wideouts, Thomas will act as a security blanket for the sophomore
quarterback.
Robinson was not a starter last season but is the most experienced returning
player in the secondary. He is often allowed to cheat up as an extra linebacker
and his ability to support the run could be invaluable. Robinson also flashed
coverage skills with his two interceptions in last season's Independence Bowl
win over Missouri. A big key to this matchup will be Robinson's discipline. With
such an emphasis being placed on supporting the run, it will be easy to get
caught taking false steps versus the play-action. If Robinson makes a few of
those mistakes, the Longhorns have the right weapon in Thomas to take advantage.

Texas' keys to success
1. Cedric Benson's workload
Benson doesn't have great speed and isn't a huge homerun threat. His strength is
his ability to get the tough yards between the tackles. The Razorbacks' starters
are strong up front, but their lack of depth is a concern. Running behind an
offensive line that averages 305 pounds, Benson could wear down Arkansas'
defense by the end of the third quarter.
2. Vincent Young's deep ball
Young is one of the most dynamic talents at the quarterback position in college
football. He has terrific athleticism, vision and speed as a runner. He also has
excellent arm strength. But Young needs to be more efficient as a passer,
particularly on his deep throws. Until Young is able to exploit the man-to-man
coverage afforded to him as a result of Benson, the Longhorn will fail to reach
their potential offensively.
3. Keep QB Matt Jones bottled up
Jones can be an adequate pocket passer but he's a much bigger threat when he
breaks contain and is able to force opponents to defend the run/pass option. One
important element limiting Jones' room to run is the discipline of DE's Tim
Crowder and Brian Robinson.
In addition, Robinson has worked in the offseason to install more zone coverage,
which are effective against athletic quarterbacks. In zone coverage, defensive
backs and linebackers will almost always be facing the quarterback, which allows
them to break on the quarterback quicker when he pulls the ball down to run.
Arkansas' keys to success
1. Running back rotation
In Arkansas' 63-13 win over New Mexico State last week, Kyle Dickerson, DeCori
Birmingham and De'Arrius Howard split the majority of the carries. The three
backs will continue to share the spotlight until one clearly emerges from the
pack. Birmingham is listed as the starter but the former wide receiver possesses
great speed and hands at the position.
The Razorbacks led the SEC in rushing with 241.9 yards per game in 2003. Nutt
must find the right balance between Dickerson, Birmingham and Howard as this
team moves forward -- and it won't necessarily be a consistent rotation. Against
such an athletic front seven as the one Arkansas will face on Saturday night,
bigger and stronger backs like Howard and Dickerson could prove to be more
effective.

Arkansas must be ready for Vince Young's scrambling ability.
2. "Spy" Vincent Young
Defensive coordinator Dave Wommack is known for his elaborate schemes and it
wouldn't be surprising if he implemented one that focused on keeping the
athletic Young in check. Look for the Razorbacks to play more two-gap techniques
up front in order to limit Young's running opportunities.
Much like the situation for Texas' defense against the athletic Matt Jones,
Arkansas is also likely to play more zone-coverage in order to put their
defensive backs and linebackers in better position to break on Young when he
tucks the ball to run. With good athletes at the team's "Husky" linebacker
position and "Rover" safety position, Wommack could assign one of those two to
Young in a "Spy" role.
3. Big play on special teams
It's no secret the Razorbacks are out-classed in terms of talent and experience
in this matchup. One of the great equalizers in college football is special
teams' play. If the Hogs have any chance of pulling off the upset, they need big
plays from their special teams unit. NT Jeremy Harrell blocked a kick in the
opener last week. The team wants to limit Birmingham's role in the return game
because of his increased carries on offense, but this may be a game that coach
Nutt makes an exception.
When Texas has the ball
Once Brown turned the keys to the offense over to the athletic Young midway
through the 2003 season, the offense changed from what historically had been a
balanced scheme to practically a one-dimensional running unit. With Young at the
helm and Benson making the surprise decision to return for his senior season,
expect the Longhorns to feature the ground attack in 2004.
Young needs to improve his overall accuracy and ability to read coverages as a
passer (completed just 58.7-percent and threw 7 INT's compared to just 6 TD's).
However, he has a strong arm and is one of the most athletically gifted
quarterbacks in the nation. His scrambling ability leads to many opportunities
for big plays in the passing game. If he can combine his running production with
more consistency on his deep throws, the Longhorns will be tough to stop on
offense.
The Longhorns should be able to line up in their two-back sets and feed the ball
to Benson, who averaged 5.3 yards on 258 carries a season ago. Not only is
Benson reportedly in the best shape of his life, he also will be running behind
an offensive line that returns four starters from a season ago and his personal
protector in senior FB Will Matthews.
The Razorbacks are inexperienced on both sides of the ball but their front seven
is the most battle-tested group on the team. DT Arrion Dixon could be one of the
most disruptive interior defensive linemen in the nation as a senior. With
Dixon, NT Jeremy Harrell, DE Marcus Harrison and DE Huckeba, the Hogs are strong
enough up front to hold their own against the explosive Texas running game. The
big question is whether the unit has enough depth to remain stout throughout the
game. If the front-four begins to wear down, the Razorbacks are in trouble.
The secondary is extremely inexperienced with all four starters gone from a
season ago. The only player with any experience is Robinson. His versatility is
critical to the Razorbacks' scheme because he can be the defensive back that
cheats up near the line to act as a fourth linebacker. DCs Michael Coe (So.) and
Darius Vinnett (Jr.) are new starters, as is FS Vickiel Vaughn (Jr.). What once
used to be an aggressive man-to-man scheme under Wommack will now feature more
"soft" zone coverage looks in order to prevent the big play.
Texas special teams
The Longhorns project to be solid but unspectacular on special teams this
season. Incumbent PK Dusty Mangum, who battled a quad injury late last season,
held off David Pino in a preseason battle for the starting job. Mangum missed 20
field goals the previous three seasons, but is healthy and hit all three of his
attempts (37, 23, 48) last week.
PT Richmond McGee is also a returning starter, but he is in jeopardy of losing
his job to Vanderbilt transfer Greg Johnson. McGee had one attempt for 27 yards
last week, while Johnson averaged landed both of his attempts inside North
Texas' 20-yard line. Backup RB Selvin Young inherits the punt return duties.
Young and backup DC Tarell Brown will split the kickoff return duties.
When Arkansas has the ball
Arkansas' offense must simplify things with 10 new starters around Jones. Nutt
has always run a multiple formation offense that emphasizes establishing the run
in order to set up the pass. His favorite formation it is the I-formation, which
will likely be used more this season than it has in the past.

Matt Jones must avoid turnovers against a very active Longhorns' defense,
The Hogs have a three-headed monster at the tailback position in Birmingham,
Dickerson and Howard. Birmingham is the most versatile, explosive and
experienced of the three. He can be used as a traditional tailback or he can
provide the Razorbacks with a potential mismatch as a receiver. Dickerson is a
shorter, squattier runner who shows good burst, vision and toughness. He doesn't
have Howard's size or overwhelming power. Dickerson did get the most carries of
the group last week and finished with 34 yards and one touchdown. The other
running threat is obviously Jones, who rushed for 707 yards and eight touchdowns
last season.
Needless to say, the Razorbacks have an array of weapons to choose from and
various ways of distributing the football on the ground. There are, however, two
big questions that remain: 1) Can the offensive line that features just one
player with a previous career start (ROT Zac Tubbs) pave the way for all of the
aforementioned rushing weapons? 2) Do the Razorbacks have enough of a passing
offense to keep opponents honest?
Opening holes for all the running backs and protecting Jones won't be an easy
task against a Texas. The Longhorns don't have great size up front at several
positions so the Razorbacks could do an effective job of wearing this group down
throughout the course of the game. But the biggest difference between the
Longhorns' defensive front and the Razorbacks' defensive front is depth.
While the Razorbacks will eventually wear down against a bigger Texas offensive
line, Texas can make mass substitutions with DEs Kaelen Jakes and Naele Tweedie,
and DTs Larry Dibbles and Frank Okam in order to keep its starters fresh. The
difference will show up in the play of the linebackers, as Johnson and Harris
will be much better protected for four quarters.
The Longhorns have a big hole to fill thanks to the departure of shutdown DC
Nate Vasher. They also will be without last year's quarterback of the unit, FS
Dakarai Pearson. As a result, the team cannot afford to be as aggressive.
Against a quarterback like Jones, who is such a running threat, playing more
zone coverage in the back seven will allow the Longhorns to keep everything in
front of them.
LDC Griffin is the most experienced and consistent member of the group. If the
team wants to take some chances with one cornerback locked on man-to-man, he
will get the call. The left cornerback position is still basically up for grabs
between two sophomores, Aaron Ross and Tarell Brown. Phillip Geiggar and Michael
Huff both have starting experience and are strong versus the run.
Arkansas special teams
The Razorbacks have very few advantages in this game but they might have a
slight one on special teams. The unit is experienced in the kicking game with PK
Chris Balseiro and PT Jacob Skinner returning as starters. Balseiro missed his
only attempt last week but it was from 47 yards. After averaging 39.9 yards per
punt as a freshman last season, Skinner got off to a decent start with an
average of 35.7 yards on three punts last week.
The team also gets a boost with the return of kicker David Carlton, who has a
strong leg on kickoffs and also can provide insurance should Balseiro stumble.
Birmingham has the speed and explosiveness to make a major impact in the return
game, but the Razorbacks will use him cautiously. If last week was any
indication, Michael Grant and Peyton Hillis will split some of the kickoff
return duties, while Carlos Ousley and Kevin Woods will pick up the slack in the
punt return game.
Bottom line
This game has all the makings of a blowout. The Longhorns have one of the
nation's most potent 1-2 backfield combinations. With four returning starters
along their offensive line, the Longhorns should bulldoze through the
Razorbacks. The defense could eventually become even better than the 2003
version. Furthermore, the Longhorns are out for blood after witnessing the
free-for-all that was Arkansas' post-game celebration inside Memorial Stadium a
year ago.
However, don't mistake the Razorbacks' inexperience for a lack of talent. The
cupboard is by no means bare in terms of potential playmakers on both sides of
the football. While the Longhorns are motivated by revenge, the Hogs will have
nearly 70,000 Hog fans backing them on Saturday night.
The Longhorns edge in talent might not be as large as most people think. With
versatile weapons on offense, Arkansas should produce big plays. While the
Razorbacks will eventually wear down on defense, don't expect them to get rolled
over in the first two or three quarters. If the secondary can keep everything in
front of them, the Longhorns' offense will have tougher sledding than it
expects.

Prediction: Texas 33, Arkansas 24

**wayne1218** · 09-10-2004, 09:41 PM

By Steve Muench
Scouts, Inc.

It's the 31st meeting between two pillars of college football. Michigan and
Notre Dame are ranked one-two in NCCA in all-time victories and winning
percentage. The Wolverines took over the lead with a win against Miami of Ohio,
combined with the Fighting Irish's loss to BYU last week. Notre Dame played its
first varsity football game against Michigan in 1887. The game took place in
South Bend with the Wolverines winning 8-0.
Game Information

vs.
Who: Michigan (7) vs. Notre Dame
When: Sat., 3:30 p.m. ET (NBC)
Where: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN

Michigan comes into this game ranked No. 8 in the Associated Press. This will be
the 15th consecutive meeting between these two programs with at least one team
ranked in the top 10 in the AP poll. At least one of the two schools has been
ranked in every Notre Dame-Michigan matchup since the start of the poll in 1936.

Michigan heavily recruited QB Brady Quinn when he was a senior at Coffman High
School in Dublin, Ohio, but he chose to attend Notre Dame.
When Michigan has the ball
UM run offense vs. ND run defense
David Underwood rushed for two touchdowns last week and appears to be Michigan's
primary back. However, he averaged just 2.8 yards a carry and head coach Lloyd
Carr acknowledged the Wolverines didn't run the ball as well as he had hoped
last week. While Underwood certainly isn't the only one to blame, expect to see
backup Jerome Jackson get more carries in relief. Jackson is faster than
Underwood and gives Michigan more of a big-play threat.
The Wolverines should have success running between the tackles. ROG David Baas
is an excellent run blocker that has the power to drive DT Greg Pauly and
undersized NG Greg Landri off the ball. In addition, FB Kevin Dudley is a
physical lead blocker who rarely gets pushed back at the point of attack. He
should get the best of his matchup with ILB Mike Goolsby, who missed all of last
year with a broken collarbone.
Advantage: Michigan
UM offense vs. ND pass defense
True freshman QB Chad Henne helped lead Michigan to a 43-10 victory last week.
However, he faces a much stiffer test this week. Notre Dame fans will be out in
full force and Henne will have to adjust to the elevated noise level. The
Wolverines can help Henne by getting out of the huddle quickly. Getting to the
line early in the play clock gives Henne time to change the play if he doesn't
like the defensive front.
The Fighting Irish gave up some long pass plays last week including a 42-yard
touchdown. Michigan has one of the most talented receiving corps in the nation
and Braylon Edwards is a difference-maker. Notre Dame's secondary will have to
play with great discipline or they could get scorched deep again. It's easier
said than done because Michigan does an excellent job of running play action.
Advantage: Michigan
When Notre Dame has the ball
ND run offense vs. UM run defense
One of the best ways to prevent Henne from getting into a rhythm is to keep him
on the sidelines for long periods of time. An excellent way to accomplish this
is to establish an effective running game that allows the Fighting Irish to
control the clock. Notre Dame, which finished with just 21 rushing attempts last
week, should show a greater commitment to the ground attack this week.

Notre Dame will need to contain Michigan's receivers.
Notre Dame's offensive line appeared hesitant at times last week and it will
have to be far more aggressive against a talented front seven. Michigan has the
size at defensive tackle to clog up the middle and keep blockers off the
linebackers. The Wolverines also have two ends capable of making plays in the
backfield and running plays down from behind. If Notre Dame is unable run the
ball effectively and the offense becomes one-dimensional, there will be even
more pressure on Quinn to perform well.
Advantage: Michigan
ND pass offense vs. UM pass defense
Michigan defensive coordinator Jim Herrmann uses a variety of coverages and
alignments. He will look to keep Notre Dame's off-balance throughout this game
and force Quinn to rush some of his decisions. It doesn't hurt that CBs Marlin
Jackson and Markus Curry have the cover skills to hold up on an island. Notre
Dame's backs do a good job of picking up the blitz to give Quinn enough room to
step into his throws.
Quinn cannot get caught trying to force passes into coverage in an effort to
spark his teammates. The Wolverines clearly have the playmakers to turn any of
his mistakes into turnovers, as they intercepted five passes last week.
Quinn can keep Michigan's aggressive front seven on its heels by using some hard
counts. Effective hard counts prevent the defensive line from anticipating the
snap count and could result in some offsides penalties.
Advantage: Michigan
Special teams
Miami of Ohio return man Ryne Robinson returned a punt 70 yards and had a punt
return for a touchdown called back against Michigan last week. Notre Dame PR
Rhema McKnight had a difficult game last week, but he is dangerous. The
Wolverines don't want to help the Fighting Irish by giving then quality field
position. The consistency on point after attempts is also a concern, as PK
Garrett Rivas missed two last week.
Notre Dame PK/P D.J. Fitzpatrick connected on his only field goal attempt last
week. While he doesn't have great leg strength, he is accurate on field goal
attempts and does a good job as a punter.
Advantage: Notre Dame
Bottom line
Michigan is the far more dominant team on paper but these games aren't played on
paper. Notre Dame should give the Wolverines a good scare. Expect the Fighting
Irish to do a much better job of protecting the ball than Miami of Ohio did a
week ago and to limit Michigan's big plays. Although Henne will struggle at
times, a running game that features two quality backs and a strong offensive
line will bail him out in the end.

Prediction: Michigan 24, Notre Dame 20

**wayne1218** · 09-10-2004, 09:42 PM

By Tony Granieri
Scouts, Inc.

The Sylvester Croom era began well last weekend, as Mississippi State dismantled
Tulane 28-7. Things will get a much tougher for MSU, who will play host to
heavily-favored Auburn in a battle for the early lead in the SEC Western
Division.
Game Information

vs.
Who: Auburn (19) vs. Mississippi State
When: Sat., 12:30 p.m. ET (Gameplan)
Where: Scott Field, Starkville, MS

When these two teams met last year, Tigers RB Carnell "Cadillac" Williams etched
his name in Auburn's record books by running for a school-record six touchdowns.
Can the Bulldogs keep Williams from running wild this time around or will the
Cadillac run his way into the Heisman race?
When Auburn has the ball
Auburn run offense vs. Mississippi State run defense
New offensive coordinator Al Borges would like to get RB Ronnie Brown more
involved in the offense this week, especially with all of the attention the
defense will be giving Williams. The running styles of the two backs should
blend nicely, as Brown has good speed and Williams runs with power.
Last week, against a far-less talented Louisiana-Monroe team, the front five
struggled. Although this group has two new starters, they'll have to gel quickly
and play at a higher level. DT Ronald Fields is massive and could force the
Tiger backs to bounce their runs outside throughout this game.
Advantage: Auburn
Auburn offense vs. Mississippi State pass defense
Jason Campbell looked good in his first game in the West Coast offense,
completing 61% of his passes and throwing for two scores. He hit his check down
receivers, didn't force the ball into tight spots and avoided turning the ball
over.
This week, he'll face Mississippi State's blitz-happy defense. Campbell must get
rid of the ball quickly. WR Courtney Taylor could have a big day working against
a steady diet of man-to-man coverage. Getting Taylor off to a strong start will
force the Bulldogs to play more conservatively.
Advantage: Auburn
When Mississippi State has the ball
Mississippi State run offense vs. Auburn run defense

If the Tigers can establish a running game, Jason Campbell will have time
to throw.
The Bulldogs' West Coast offense is predicated on controlled passing and a
strong running game. RB Jerious Norwood doesn't have blazing speed but rarely
gets tackled for a loss. He is coming off his fourth career 100-yard rushing
performance. He will have a hard time repeating that feat against the Tigers.
Despite losing a number of quality players to the NFL, Auburn didn't seem to
miss a beat defensively last week. The base defense is a 4-3 and defensive
coordinator Gene Chiznik likes to blitz. Keep an eye on OLB Travis Williams, who
has some explosive pas rushing qualities and the speed to make plays from
sideline-to-sideline.
Advantage: Auburn
Mississippi State pass offense vs. Auburn pass defense
QB Omar Conner has a strong arm but isn't very accurate. He could struggle
against the blitz-happy Tigers. The Bulldogs have a decent receiving corps,
headlined by McKinley Scott and Joey Sanders. However, the team lacks size on
the perimeter.
The loss of Justin Jenkins to the NFL limits this group's big-play ability. Look
for CBs Carlos Rogers and Montavis Pitts to play lots of "press" technique
behind the Tigers' blitzing front seven.
Advantage: Auburn
Special teams
Auburn PKs Phillip Yost and John Vaughn have strong legs but both have been
inconsistent. Vaughn has apparently won the job though, but that could change.
PT Kody Bliss gets good hangtime on his kicks and did a great job of pinning the
Tigers' opponents inside the 20-yard line last year. He should only get better
with more experience. Although Williams will see time fielding punts, Pitts is
the safer option for the Tigers.
PT Jared Cook is the strength of the Bulldogs' special teams unit. Cook has a
career average of 42.1 yards per attempt. PK Keith Andrews has a strong leg but
has never attempted a field goal. Backup RB Fred Reid handles the kick return
duties and has some big-play potential.
Advantage: Auburn
Bottom line
Although the Bulldogs look much-improved under Croom, it will take some time
before their ready to compete with quality SEC teams. MSU simply lacks the
personnel on the defensive side of the ball to slow down Williams and the
Tigers' running game. Things could get ugly if Campbell continues his solid-play
from last week. Auburn's aggressive defense will likely pressure the
inexperienced Conner into making some critical mistakes.

Prediction: Auburn 34, Mississippi State 13

**wayne1218** · 09-10-2004, 09:44 PM

By Tony Granieri
Scouts, Inc.

With most of their marquee players from last season back, Georgia is a
fashionable pick to compete for the national championship. However, the Bulldogs
will have to endure a tough SEC schedule which kicks off this weekend in
Columbia, South Carolina.
Game Information

vs.
Who: Georgia (3) vs. South Carolina
When: Sat., 5:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Where: Williams-Brice, Columbia, S.C.

The Gamecocks are coming off a big win. For the first time in two years, the
pieces are in place for Lou Holtz to return to a bowl. Will the Bulldogs live up
to the hype or will Holtz have his team ready to pull off the upset?
When Georgia has the ball
Georgia run offense vs. South Carolina run defense
South Carolina must control the Georgia running game and look to force the
Bulldogs into a one-dimensional offense. However, that task is much easier said
than done. All five starters along Georgia's offensive line are back. The unit
paved the way for RB Danny Ware's 135 yards and three scores last week.
Defensively, South Carolina operates out of a 4-3. While they have speed in the
linebacking corps, with senior Marcus Lawrence and junior Lance Laury, they lack
size up the middle. The Gamecocks will try to crowd the line of scrimmage by
moving their safeties into the box, but they'll open up some big-play
opportunities in the passing game.
Advantage: Georgia
Georgia offense vs. South Carolina pass defense
While David Greene has little mobility, he is very accurate and makes great
decisions. Georgia allowed 47 sacks last season, which hurt Greene's overall
production. OTs Max Jean-Gilles and Daniel Inman could develop into the best
starting tackle tandem in the SEC if they improve their technique.
WRs Fred Gibson and Reggie Brown are flashy but have become increasingly less
productive. The biggest problem has been dropped passes. Gibson has the best
separating burst in the SEC and should be able to get downfield against the
Gamecocks. However, both receivers will need to show better concentration.
Advantage: Georgia
When South Carolina has the ball

David Greene could increase his Heisman hype on Saturday.
South Carolina run offense vs. Georgia run defense
The Gamecocks have three explosive running backs and one of the conference's
best offensive lines. Holtz has dumped the spread offense and will look to run
the football. However, the Gamecocks may have a hard time doing so against an
extremely talented Georgia front seven.
DE David Pollack is a two time All-American and will be helped by a strong
supporting, including 325-pound DT Gerald Anderson and speedy SLB Arnold
Harrison. This is a strength vs. strength matchup but if the Bulldogs are to
contend for a national title, it's the kind of matchup they'll need to win this
year.
Advantage: Georgia
South Carolina pass offense vs. Georgia pass defense
Pinkins is a good athlete and can create second chances with his feet. But his
accuracy and leadership have been questioned in the past. He'll need to bring
his game to a new level. WRs Matthew Thomas and Troy Williamson have good speed
but, much like the Bulldogs' receivers, they need to catch the ball with more
consistency.
Although the Gamecocks should only throw the ball about 20 times, they'll need
to be efficient in the passing game. Georgia boasts one of the best secondaries
in the country. FS Thomas Davis is an NFL prospect and CB Tim Jennings has
tremendous speed. The secondary is also helped by one of the strongest pass
rushes in college football, which is led by the relentless Pollack.
Advantage: Georgia
Special teams
Georgia PK Andy Bailey looked strong last week, connecting on both field goal
attempts. Bailey isn't as talented as his predecessor, Billy Bennett, but he
should only get better with more experience. KOS Brandon Coutu has a strong leg
and had three touchbacks last week. But he also kicked two balls out of bounds
so he too needs to be more consistent.
The return duties are handled by the explosive Tyson Browning and backup RB
Thomas Brown. Last week, Browning averaged 44.5 yards per punt return, including
a long of 72 yards that went for a score. As a team, the Bulldogs have excelled
in special teams under Mark Richt, blocking eight punts, eight field goals, two
extra points and scoring seven special teams touchdowns in his three-plus years.

Josh Brown handles both the punting and placekicking duties for the Gamecocks.
He has a strong leg and gets good hang time as a punter. He did miss two field
goals last week. Williamson and backup WR Noah Whiteside handle the return
duties for South Carolina. Both have good speed and can be dangerous in the
open-field.
Advantage: Georgia
Bottom line
Georgia has enough playmakers on its roster to win the SEC championship and
could find themselves playing for the BCS title. However, the offense still
needs more consistency from its line and receivers. The defense will be forced
to carry the team. The Bulldogs finished third in the country in scoring defense
(14.5) and fourth in total defense (276.9) in 2003. This year's group could be
better.
The Gamecocks will try to run the ball and keep Georgia on its heels. We don't
see them having much success against the Bulldogs' talented front seven.
Although the Georgia offense won't be hitting on all cylinders this early in the
season, they'll have enough firepower to get past South Carolina.

Prediction: Georgia 30, South Carolina 17

**wayne1218** · 09-11-2004, 10:31 AM

By Tony Granieri
Scouts, Inc.

The Wildcats have won the last two meetings between these two teams. However,
what appeared to be a blown call in the waning seconds of the 2002 contest cost
Utah the tying touchdown. The Utes will look to settle the score.
Game Information

vs.
Who: Utah (16) vs. Arizona
When: Sat., 10:00 p.m. ET
Where: Arizona Stadium, Tucson, AZ

QB Alex Smith passed for three touchdowns and ran for two scores against Texas
A&M last Thursday night. The junior completed 21 of 29 passes for a career-high
359 yards and also rushed 13 times for 76 yards. Utah will need a similar
performance out of their star quarterback this week. Can Wildcats head coach
Mike Stoops devise a game plan to slow Smith down, or will Utah escape the
desert heat with a win?
When Utah has the ball
Utah run offense vs. Arizona run defense
The Utes ran for 212 yards against A&M last week and they seem poised to have
another solid outing. RBs Marty Johnson and Quinton Ganther provide Utah with a
versatile ground game that will feature some option out of the Utes' shotgun
formation.
Arizona will run a multiple 4-3 scheme under Stoops, but Utah's offensive line
is experienced and should handle any wrinkles the Wildcats throw at them.
Without much speed at the linebacker position, Arizona could give up some big
plays on the ground.
Advantage: Utah
Utah offense vs. Arizona pass defense
Smith looked poised last week and showed great command over Urban Meyer's
offense. He spread the ball around to five different receivers and he did a
great job of creating with his feet. The Wildcats will run more zone schemes
than the Aggies did last week which may limit Smith's ability to take run.
However, Smith can still be effective because he is an accurate passer and
shouldn't have much trouble finding holes in the coverage.
Arizona is playing with two inexperienced corners in its secondary, which bodes
well for Utah's speedy WR Paris Warren. Look for Meyer to spread the field with
three and four receiver sets. Smith should have a big game working against the
Wildcats' corners.
Advantage: Utah
When Arizona has the ball
Arizona run offense vs. Utah run defense

Can Mike Stoops devise a plan to slow down Alex Smith?
Junior RB Mike Bell carried a career-high 31 times for 118 yards and two
touchdowns last week. With Utah's offensive firepower, Bell probably won't get
the opportunity to carry the ball 30+ times this week. He won't be all that
productive when he gets the chance. Once Utah opens up a lead, Arizona will have
to throw in order to catch up.
Defensively, Utah will also run a 4-3 and are is by LBs Spencer Toone and Corey
Dodds. Both have great range and always seem to be near the ball. Bell is a
tough runner, but the Utes' linebackers won't allow him to run the corner so he
shouldn't be all that productive.
Advantage: Utah
Arizona pass offense vs. Utah pass defense
QB Kris Heavner looked great in the opener, completing 18-of-23 passes for 171
yards. He showed tremendous accuracy and did a great job spreading the ball
around to eight different receivers. Arizona will need more big plays from its
passing game this week if the Wildcats are to keep pace with the explosive Utes.
While WR Syndric Steptoe has great speed, he may have a hard time finding room
against one of the best secondaries in the Mountain West Conference. The
Wildcats will be without their best receiver as Biren Early is still nursing a
foot injury.
If Utah opens things up and scores some points early, Heavner may start to force
some things down the field. He must be careful because he cannot afford to give
Utah quality field position by turning the ball over.
Advantage: Utah
Special teams
The Wildcats' special teams finished dead last in the Pac-10 in punt returns
last season and next to last in kick returns. They're hoping that Steptoe and
Ryan Edison can improve these areas in '04. PT Danny Baugher averaged 42.6 yards
per attempt last year, but PK Nick Folk is inexperienced.
Bryan Borreson handles the place kicking duties for the Utes and finished 11 of
14 last year. P Matt Kovacevich has one of the strongest legs in the Mountain
West. Warren, Morgan Scalley, and Bo Nagahi give Utah one of the strongest
kickoff and punt return units in the country.
Advantage: Utah
Bottom line
The Wildcats made the right move by bringing in Mike Stoops but the dividends
from that investment won't be realized until next year, at the earliest. There
are issues along the defensive line, the linebackers lack speed and the special
teams unit needs to be revamped.
Look for the difference in talent between these two teams to become apparent
early. Utah may jump out to a big first-quarter lead. Once the Wildcats are
forced to become one-dimensional, Utah's defense should force Heavner into
making some mistakes. Stoops will have his team well prepared but Arizona just
doesn't have the firepower to stay with the Utes.

Prediction: Utah 34, Arizona 17

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