College Football Playoffs 2004 - Second Round
For those who haven't been following, this is basically the next edition of this thread right here. It's a little late to vote there now, but feel free to jump in right here.
The first round is finished, and it was pretty interesting to see what everyone thought. Some of the matchups looked like no-brainers (Michigan, Wisconsin and Iowa; RSL would be proud), while others were very very close. Only two lower seeds, Wisconsin and Florida State, would've advanced. Now, we're on to the next degree of separation, where the best of the best in the regular season emerge from their byes.
#1 USC vs. #5 Wisconsin - Memphis, Tennessee
After their smothering defense led the way to a convincing victory against North Texas, the Badgers will definitely have their hands full against the defending champions. The Trojans, with two freshly minted Heisman finalists in RB Reggie Bush and QB Matt Leinart, didn't do anything this year to convince anyone they weren't the best team in the country. However, they have started slow on several occassions, and have barely escaped with wins more than once (Cal, UCLA, Stanford).
#2 Louisville vs. #3 Michigan - Jacksonville, Florida
The Wolverines didn't have much trouble taking out Navy, but Michigan could sink in a hurry against the Cardinals. Led by QB Stefan LeFors, Louisville crushed their Conference USA opponents with the highest-scoring offense in the nation. In their last four games, they became the first team ever to score 50 points in four straight games. Michigan has no slouches on defense, though, so this promises to be an exciting matchup.
#1 Auburn vs. #5 Florida State - San Francisco, California
After a close call with the Toledo Rockets, the Seminoles face a great task in cracking the stingiest scoring defense in the nation. Allowing just over 11 points a game, the Tigers rode their D and the three-headed offensive attack of QB Jason Campbell and RBs Carnell Williams and Ronnie Brown to the SEC title. They've had only one close call all year, against LSU, so can Florida State make it two? The best run defense in the nation against the best run offense in the SEC will be a big factor.
#2 Texas vs. #3 Iowa - El Paso, Texas
The Hawkeyes rubbed out Boston College in round one, but now face a Longhorn team looking to finally earn some respect. After a 10-1 season largely muted by yet another loss to Oklahoma, Texas wants to be recognized as the cream of the crop. RB Cedric Benson will help that end, but QB Vince Young will need to pick up some slack with a passing attack ranked near the cellar of Division I-A to beat this Iowa defense.
#1 Utah vs. #4 Pittsburgh - Las Vegas, Nevada
What can QB Alex Smith do for an encore, after scoring 38 touchdowns and leading the Utes to the best season in school history? Beating the upstart Panthers would be a start. Pitt's QB Tyler Palko had no trouble against LSU, and this matchup has all the makings of a shootout between two young guns.
#2 California vs. #3 Tennessee - Houston, Texas
The Volunteers didn't let a disappointing loss to Auburn in the SEC title game get them down, dispatching Virginia in a hard-fought battle. California, though, is a different story. Led by RB J.J. Arrington and QB Aaron Rodgers, the Golden Bears nearly ran the table in 2004. Their receiving corps has been thinned in recent weeks, however, so it remains to be seen whether the shaky Tennessee secondary can take advantage.
#1 Oklahoma vs. #4 Miami - New Orleans, Louisiana
Brock Berlin and the Hurricanes shook off a disappointing 2004 campaign to beat Georgia in the first round, and the offensive momentum from that game may help them against the Sooners. Stopping RB Adrian Peterson will be the key, obviously, as he's run wild against every defense this year. The Miami defense has slipped some this year, but the offense could keep them in the picture.
#2 Virginia Tech vs. #3 Boise State - Atlanta, Georgia
Beamerball and the Broncos. Boise State dispatched short-handed Arizona State in short order, and now face a Virginia Tech team that no one expected to be so good in 2004. Head coach Frank Beamer turned back the clock this year and it paid off with an ACC title in the Hokies' first year there. Riding the third-best defense in the nation (and an offense that never failed in the clutch), VT may have the perfect answer to a Bronco offense that averaged nearly 50 points a game.
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