For the first time since the 2006 Rose Bowl, two undefeated teams will square off in the BCS national championship game when No. 1 Alabama takes on No. 2 Texas on January 7. To conclude our 2010 BCS Bowl Preview, here are five things to watch for in the 2010 title game.

1. Can McCoy rebound?
Senior quarterback Colt McCoy hasn’t had many bad outings throughout his collegiate career, but Nebraska’s defense dominated him in the Big 12 title game. He completed 20 of his 36 pass attempts but it went for only 184 yards and zero touchdowns. He also threw three interceptions as he struggled with his decision-making and his pre-snap reads. It’s not a total shock that McCoy had problems moving the ball on the ninth best defense in the nation, but how will he fair against an Alabama D that ranks second in the country? The Crimson Tide have allowed just 11 points per game this season (best in the NCAA) and just 163.77 passing yards per game. There’s no doubt ‘Bama will study what Nebraska did against McCoy and employ similar tactics to slow him and Texas’ offense down. Can the senior QB overcome his poor outing in the Big 12 championship and lead his team to victory or will the Tide defense abuse him just like the Cornhuskers did?

2. The Heisman winner vs. the No. 1 run defense in the nation
One of the marquee matchups of the bowl season will pit Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram against the Longhorns’ No. 1 run defense. Texas has allowed just 62.15 rushing yards per game this season, while Ingram has averaged 118.62 YPG. At times, Ingram has been the Tide's only offense this season. But what happens if the Longhorns limit Ingram's effectiveness and force quarterback Greg McElroy to beat them through the air? More on that question…

3. Can McElroy continue his late season production?
…now. For most of the season, Alabama has relied on two things to win games: Its defense and its running game. And given how good their defense and Ingram have been this season, it’s hard to argue with the way the Tide does things. But it was evident in the team’s win over Florida in the SEC title game that McElroy has made strides as a passer. He played with more confidence and made the most out of his throws while completing 12 of 18 passes for 239 yards and a touchdown. But keep in mind that Florida couldn’t slow down Ingram or the Tide’s running game, which helped stay ‘Bama balanced and allowed McElroy to take advantage of open receivers in the passing game. If the Tide try to establish the run early on and the Longhorns shut it down, can McElroy win a game if he has to throw the ball vertically? That question won’t have to be answered if ‘Bama can stay balanced throughout the game. But UT defensive coordinator Will Muschamp will scheme to stop Ingram and Alabama’s running game and force McElroy to go down field.

4. Can either team stop each other’s X-factors?
This season, there was only one team that could honestly say it slowed down receiver Jordan Shipley and that was Oklahoma. In their 16-13 loss to Texas in mid October, the Sooners held Shipley to only 22 yards on four receptions. It was the lowest catch and yardage total for Shipley this season, as he racked up 106 receptions for 1,363 yards and 11 touchdowns. Shipley has also proven to be a playmaker in the return game, so the Tide must protect against him making a big play on special teams too. For ‘Bama, Julio Jones compiled just 42 catches for 573 yards and four touchdowns, but even though his numbers pail in comparison to Shipley’s, the sophomore wideout proved against LSU (four catches, 102 yards, 1 TD) that he’s a playmaker. Both of these teams have solid pass defenses (Alabama ranks 7th in the nation in that category, while Texas ranks 23rd), but Shipley and Jones will test them from start to finish.

5. Will ‘Bama start to read its own press clippings?
By the time the Crimson Tide and Longhorns square off on January 7, Alabama will have heard plenty of times how it should roll over a Texas team that struggled mightily against Nebraska in the Big 12 Championship. After somewhat flying under the radar by being in Florida's shadow all season, the Tide has already received plenty of recognition for the way they thumped the Gators in the SEC title game. Can Nick Saban keep them grounded? Or will ‘Bama start believing its own hype now that they’re the ones receiving all the attention?

2010 National Championship Game Information:
Matchup: Alabama (13-0) vs. Texas (13-0)
Kickoff: 8:00PM ET
TV: ABC
Odds: Alabama -7

Talk trash about the game at our official BCS National Championship Smack Talk Thread.

No. 1 in the ACC will take on No. 2 in the Big Ten when No. 9 Georgia Tech battles No. 10 Iowa in the Orange Bowl on January 5. As part of our 2010 BCS Bowl Preview, here are five things to watch for in the 2010 Orange Bowl.

1. GA Tech’s spread option attack vs. Iowa’s stiff run defense
Thanks to a three-headed monster in Jonathan Dwyer, Josh Nesbitt and Anthony Allen, the Yellow Jackets had the second best rushing attack in the nation this season. They averaged 307.15 yards per game, 35.31 points per game and 442.69 total yards of offense per game. There was only one time this season where Tech didn’t rush for over 200 yards on the ground, which came in a 33-17 loss to Miami in mid September. There’s no doubt Iowa has watched countless film on how the Hurricanes attacked the Jackets’ triple-option, remarkably holding them to just 97 yards on the ground. The Hawkeyes rank 11th in the nation in total defense and eighth in pass defense, but it’ll be their run defense (ranked 33rd in the country) that will be tested in the Orange Bowl. Miami succeed because it had the athletes in the front seven to penetrate the gaps and consistently wreck havoc in Tech’s backfield. Led by linebackers Pat Angerer and Jeremiha Hunter, the Hawkeyes have the tools to slow down Tech’s rushing attack. But will they execute come January 5?

2. Does Iowa have any late season magic?
Even though they would have rather won in less dramatic fashion, the Hawkeyes were kings of the comeback early in the season. They needed two blocked field goals to beat Northern Iowa in Week 1, a 16-point forth quarter to beat Penn State on the road, an interception in the final minutes to defeat Michigan at home, a come-from-behind second half win over Wisconsin and a last-second, fourth-down miracle to beat Michigan State in East Lansing. While some may point out that Iowa had a little luck running through its veins this season, there’s no doubt the Hawkeyes had some magic sprinkled in there too. It wasn’t until quarterback Ricky Stanzi got knocked out of a game against Northwestern in early November that things started to go wrong. Back to back losses against Northwestern and Ohio State knocked Iowa out of national title contention, but a 12-0 win over Minnesota in their final game of the season helped the Hawkeyes reach a BCS bowl. Did they save any magic for Georgia Tech?

3. Can Stanzi overcome the long layoff and quiet his critics?
For all intents and purposes, Iowa QB Ricky Stanzi wasn’t statistically great over the course of the season, which is why many fans criticized him mercifully earlier in the year. It wasn’t until he got hurt in a loss to Northwestern in November that fans realized what they had in Stanzi: A winner. While subbing for Stanzi, freshman James Vandenberg struggled mightily against the Wildcats and while he played much better against Ohio State the following week, his three interceptions aided in a 27-24 Buckeyes’ victory. Stanzi says his ankle has healed and that he’ll play against Georgia Tech. But by the time he steps on the field for the Orange Bowl, it’ll be 59 days since his last snap against Northwestern. While he’ll certainly have enough preparation time for the game, can he shake off the rust? Can he re-establish the chemistry he had with his offense? With his 17-4 record as a starter, there’s no doubt that Stanzi gives the Hawkeyes the best chance to win on January 5. But questions linger about whether or not he can overcome the obstacles that are before him and lead Iowa to a BCS bowl victory.

4. Can the Yellow Jackets’ run defense hold up?
All the focus of this game will be rightfully paid to the matchup between Georgia Tech’s offense and Iowa’s defense, but there’s another matchup brewing under the surface that could help the Hawkeyes earn a victory. Georgia Tech ranks 67th against the run, allowing over 150 yards per game on the ground this season. Iowa’s running game has not been great (they rank No. 103 in that category, averaging just 109.42 YPG on the ground), but freshman running back Adam Robinson is back to full strength, which will give the Hawkeyes a big boost. He rushed for 3.7 YPC against a very good Ohio State defense on November 14, and 6.0 YPC against Minnesota in the season finale. The extra time off should help him get back to 100% and if Iowa’s offensive line can help open holes for Robinson and company, then the Hawkeyes might be able to seize control and keep GA Tech’s triple-option on the sidelines.

5. That said, the Yellow Jacket defense is no pushover
Statistically, Georgia Tech hasn’t been great against the run this year, but that doesn’t mean they’re not a good unit as a whole. The Yellow Jackets use a base 4-3 defense, but they also utilized a 3-4 front to help them beat Clemson in the ACC title game. Their pass-rush is led by defensive end Derrick Morgan, who totaled 18 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in 13 games this season. If Iowa can’t get Morgan blocked, he’s the type of game-changer that can help produce three-and-outs for the Jackets in order to get their triple-option onto the field as much as possible. The Hawkeyes need to run the football in order to stay balanced and keep the Jackets’ on their heels or else it could be a long night for Stanzi.

2010 Orange Bowl Game Information:
Matchup: Georgia Tech vs. Iowa
Kickoff: 8:00PM ET
TV: FOX
Odds: Georgia Tech -4

Talk trash about the Orange Bowl on our official smack talk thread.

Photo from fOTOGLIF

One of the more intriguing matchups of the 2009-2010 bowl season takes place in Glendale, Arizona when No. 4 TCU takes on No. 6 Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl on January 4. As part of our 2010 BCS Bowl Preview, here are five things to watch for in the 2010 Fiesta Bowl.

1. The most controversial matchup of the bowl season
The TCU-Boise State matchup represents everything that’s wrong with the current BCS system. Instead of these two teams having the opportunity to prove themselves against BCS conference teams, the Horned Frogs and Broncos will play each other…again. These same two teams squared off last year in the Poinsettia Bowl and while it was a tightly contested game, true college fans would rather see how TCU and Boise would fair against a program like Florida or Georgia Tech. Instead, neither team will be able to prove much, which is exactly how the BCS wants it. Nevertheless, this is an exciting matchup that comes fully stocked with plenty of intrigue and drama associated with the game.

2. TCU’s No. 1 defense vs. Boise’s No. 1 scoring offense
It doesn’t get any better then when the No. 1 defense in the country gets to take on the No. 1 scoring offense. Along with being first in the nation in total defense, the Horned Frogs have the sixth best scoring defense, the third best run defense and the fourth best pass defense. Thanks to Jerry Hughes, Daryl Washington, Tank Carder and a host of others, TCU arguably has the fastest and most aggressive defense in the nation. But don’t expect the Broncos to cower to the Frogs’ dominant defense. Led by quarterback Kellen Moore, Boise ranks first in scoring, 20th in rushing and 30th in passing. They average over 44 points per game, are No. 1 in sacks allowed and 8th in total offense. But if there was one thing they struggle with, it’s red zone efficiency. Thanks to their spread offense, Boise can score quickly with big plays. But the closer they get to the end zone, the harder it becomes for them to score because they lack a power running game. Can Boise improve in that area in order to beat TCU?

3. Will the level of competition play a factor in this game?
TCU was a juggernaut this season, racking up victories against ranked conference foes BYU and Utah by a combined 58 points, as well as ACC Atlantic Division champion Clemson on the road. Meanwhile, Boise beat Oregon in the first game of the year, but didn’t face a Top 25 team the rest of the season. Despite playing a relatively easy WAC schedule, three of the Broncos’ wins came by 11 points or less as they struggled to put teams away. Considering the level of competition the Frogs played compared to the Broncos, did Boise get enough of a test during the season to get them ready to take on TCU in a BCS bowl?

4. Can TCU get to Moore?
TCU ranks 21st in the nation with 2.67 sacks per game, but it’ll face an opponent on January 4 that has only allowed five sacks all season. Five! Moore, the nation’s top-rated passer, is outstanding at reading the defense and getting the ball out of his hand quickly. If the Frogs want to have any success disrupting the Broncos’ passing game, they’ll have to disguise their looks and force Moore to hang onto the ball. Can Jerry Hughes continue to wreck havoc on opposing quarterbacks or will Boise’s O-line neutralize TCU’s pass-rush and keep Moore upright?

5. Can Boise’s defense slow down TCU’s high-powered offense?
The Horned Frogs get plenty of well-deserved attention for their defense, but their offense has been equally impressive this season. Thanks to a backfield comprised of quarterback Andy Dalton and a trio of running backs in Joseph Turner, Matthew Tucker and Ed Wesley, TCU ranks fourth in total offense and scoring, fifth in rushing and 67th in passing. Dalton might find it difficult to pass on Boise’s 13th ranked pass defense, but the Broncos are allowing over 125 rushing yards per game this season, which means TCU might be able to control this game on the ground from the onset. Chris Petersen certainly has his work cut out for him trying to game plan on both sides of the ball.

2010 Fiesta Bowl Game Information
Matchup: Boise State (13-0) vs. TCU (12-0)
Kickoff: 8:00PM ET, January 4
TV: FOX
Odds: TCU -7

Talk smack about the 2010 Fiesta Bowl.

Big Ten champion Ohio State will square off against Pac-10 champ Oregon in the 2010 Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day at 4:30PM ET. Here are five things to watch for when the No. 8 Buckeyes clash with the No. 7 Ducks.As part of our 2010 BCS Bowl Preview, here are five things to watch for in the Sugar Bowl.

1. Oregon’s dynamic backfield vs. Ohio State’s physical defense
The Ducks’ offensive backfield features a running back in LaMichael James that rushed for 1,476 yards and 14 touchdowns while averaging 6.9 YPC, as well as a quarterback in Jeremiah Masoli that rushed for 659 yards and 12 TDs, while also completing 58.9 percent of his passes for 2,066 yards and 15 scores. Oregon can beat opponents in a variety of ways, but Ohio State’s defense limited the opposition to only 12.2 points and 262.5 total yards per game this season. The Buckeyes are one of five FBS teams that did now allow a 100-yard individual rushing performance this year and will test the fortitude of James, Masoli and one-time Hesiman candidate LeGarrette Blount. This should be a classic battle.

2. Terrelle Pryor’s (lack of) development as a passer
Pryor was considered the top high school recruit coming into the 2008 season and was supposed to quickly transform into one of the best college football players in the nation. But after showing flashes of brilliance as a freshman last year, Pryor has been criticized more than he’s been praised this season. Among other things, he started struggling with his accuracy and decision-making and some in the media wondered if he should move to another position due to his lack of development as a quarterback. Things came to a head in mid October when he lost two fumbles and threw two interceptions in an embarrassing loss to Purdue. But in his final five games, Pryor led the Buckeyes to five straight wins (including victories over Penn State, Iowa and rival Michigan) while tossing six touchdowns and only two interceptions. The problem is that he wasn’t asked to do too much either. If Oregon’s high-powered offense starts lighting up the scoreboard, can Pryor keep Ohio State in the ballgame with his arm or will his issues as a passer bury him and the Buckeyes? Better yet, can coach Jim Tressel figure out how to best use his athletic QB?

3. Masoli vs. the Buckeyes’ front four
Oregon’s massive offensive line has only allowed 12 sacks this season, which is only one reason why the Ducks have had so much success this year. But the low sack total can mostly be attributed to Masoli, who rarely stays in the pocket on passing downs. Ohio State’s aggressive front four has produced 22 sacks this season, but even when they don’t get to the quarterback they’re in his face creating pressure. Oregon loves to use the no-huddle in order to confuse the defense and create matchup problems all over the field. But the Buckeyes do an excellent job rotating their defensive line, which will be an advantage when facing the Ducks because they shouldn’t wear down. If OSU can keep Masoli in the pocket, it’ll be interesting to see if the signal caller can adjust.

4. Ohio State loses four players to academic issues
The Buckeyes suffered a huge blow when it was discovered that freshman receiver Duron Carter, sophomore running back Bo DeLande, defensive lineman Rob Rose and returner/receiver Ray Small were all declared ineligible for the Rose Bowl. Losing Small is crucial because of what he brings to the return game, but Rose also provided depth to the defensive line. Small was also the team’s No. 3 receiver, so losing both him and Carter (OSU’s No. 4 wideout) cripples the Buckeyes’ depth at the position. That said, the No. 3 receiver in Tressel’s offense doesn’t usually play a key role, so maybe these losses won’t hurt the Buckeyes in the end. Still, the situation will be something to follow leading up to the game and it’ll be interesting to see how Taurian Washington does in the return game.

5. Can the Buckeyes get over their BCS slump?
OSU’s 24-21 loss to Texas in last year’s Fiesta Bowl marked the Buckeyes’ third straight BCS bowl loss. Florida beat Ohio State in the 2007 national championship game and LSU knocked the Buckeyes off in the ’08 title game. Their three-game bowl losing streak marks the Buckeyes’ longest such streak since they lost four straight bowls from 1989-92. While this isn’t the most talented team Tressel has had during his OSU tenure, supporters are desperate for the Buckeyes to end the streak and quiet Big Ten critics. Tressel has been highly criticized for his conservative play calling and game plans during big games; will he be on the hot seat if OSU flounders again in a bowl?

2010 Rose Bowl Game Information
Matchup: Ohio State (10-2) vs. Oregon (10-2)
Kickoff: 4:30PM ET
TV: ABC
Odds: Oregon –3.5

Talk smack about the 2010 Rose Bowl.