Alabama Crimson Tide are the 2012 BCS National Champions

 The Alabama Crimson Tide beat the LSU Tigers 21-0 Monday to claim the 2012 BCS National Championship. Alabama dominate this game. LSU was shutout for the first time since November 16, 2002 against Alabama. They lost 31-0 in that game. Alabama scored 5 field goals and a touchdown but missed the PAT for the TD. Jeremy Shelley's five field goals tied the record for most in a bowl game. His seven attempts set a bowl record. I thought LSU was going to win because they looked so good vs. everyone. Yesterday Alabama defense was amazing. LSU just couldn't get anything going. LSU only had 92 yards of offense compared to 384 by Alabama. LSU only 5 first downs compared to 21  by Alabama. They only had 4 plays passed the 50 yard line. Jordan Jefferson throw an interception and had a lost fumble compared to Alabama's 0 turnovers. LSU had 5 penalties for 35 yards, Alabama only had 1 for 5 yards. A.J. McCarron was the offensive MVP, completing 23 of 34 for 234 yards. Trent Richardson added 96 yards on 20 carries and the only TD of the game. The Defensive award was presented to Courtney Upshaw, who had seven tackles, including a sack.
Alabama ended the season only allowing teams to score an average of 8.2 points per game which is crazy. The defense only allowed 12 TDs in 13 games which is the best in the nation. Alabama with 12 wins this has 4 staright seasons with 10+ and 12+ in all but 2010.
Nick Saban won his 3rd BCS National Championship. 2 with Alabama in 2010 and 2012 and one with LSU in 2003. He is the first coach in BCS era to win 3 National Championship. This game gives the SEC 6 straight BCS National Championships. They are now 8-1 in the BCS National Championship Game. The SEC is 1-0 vs. the ACC, 3-0 vs. the Big 12, 2-0 vs. the Big Ten and 1-0 vs. the Pac-12 in BCS National Championship with the only loss vs. the SEC in this game. Alabama is the first team in BCS era to win National Championship and be a non-conference champion. Also this gives 3 straight National Championship from the state of Alabama with Alabama winning in 2010 and 2012 and Auburn in 2011. Alabama defense forced the first shutout in a BCS Bowl. Also it is the first time in 20 years the National Champion shutout their bowl game opponent. #1 Miami (FL) beat # 11 Nebraska 22-0 in the 1992 Orange Bowl. Another crazy thing that happen is that the #1 team was shutout in their bowl game first time 58 years. #4 Oklahoma beat #1 Maryland 7-0 in the 1954 Orange Bowl. #1 team in the BCS National Championship game is now 7-7 in BCS National Championship games after winning the first 4. In the final AP poll Alabama got 54 of 59 first place votes, Oklahoma State got 4 and LSU got 1.
I highly expect these teams to be great again. Alabama will mostly likely be preseason #1 with their great defense they have every year and with AJ McCarron continuing to improve and being a Jr. next year. Barrett Jones and Dont'a Hightower will both be Sr. if they wish to return and they are they both will be great with they return. LSU still will be be very good probably the #2 team in preseason. With Tyrann Mathieu returning and maybe also Morris Claiborne. With Gunner Kiel the #2 QB recruit coming LSU in the fall LSU should be great again because QB was their only weak spot.

2011-12 NFL Playoffs Predictions

2011-12 NFL Playoffs Bracket:

AFC:
                         1 New England

                                                    } New England
3 Houston
                         } Cincinnati
6 Cincinnati
                                                                                } New England                                                                                
                         2 Baltimore

                                                    } Baltimore
4 Denver
                         } Pittsburgh
5 Pittsburgh
                                                                                                             } New Orleans
NFC:
                         1 Green Bay

                                                    } Green Bay                                                              
4 New York
                         } Atlanta
5 Atlanta
                                                                                }New Orleans

                         2 San Francisco
                                                  
                                                    } New Orleans
3 New Orleans
                         } New Orleans                       
6 Detroit

NFL Wild Card Round: 

AFC: 

#6 Cincinnati Bengals @ #3 Houston Texans:

Date: 1/7/2012

Final Score: Cincinnati 19, Houston 13.

#5 Pittsburgh Steelers @ #4 Denver Broncos:

Date: 1/8/2012

Final Score: Pittsburgh 24, Denver 13.

NFC: 

#6 Detroit Lions @ #3 New Orleans Saints:

Date: 1/7/2012

Final Score: New Orleans 42, Detroit 31.

#5 Atlanta Falcons @ #4 New York Giants:

Date: 1/8/2012

Final Score: Atlanta 23, New York 20.

NFL Divisional Round:

AFC: 

#6 Cincinnati Bengals @ #1 New England Patriots:

Date: 1/14/2012

Final Score: New England 38, Cincinnati 30.

#5 Pittsburgh Steelers @ #2 Baltimore Ravens:

Date: 1/15/2012

Final Score: Baltimore 20, Pittsburgh 17.

NFC: 

#3 New Orleans Saints @ #2 San Francisco 49ers:

Date: 1/14/2012

Final Score: New Orleans 21, San Francisco 17.

#5 Atlanta Falcons @ #1 Green Bay Packers:

Date: 1/15/2012

Final Score: Green Bay 31, Atlanta 24 .

AFC Championship:

#2 Baltimore Ravens @ #1 New England Patriots:

Date: 1/22/2012

Final Score: New England 30, Baltimore 27.

New England Patriots are 2011 AFC Champions. 

NFC Championship:

#3 New Orleans Saints @ #1 Green Bay Packers:

Date: 1/22/2012

Final Score: New Orleans 28, Green Bay 24.

New Orleans Saints are 2011 NFC Champions.    

Super Bowl XLVI:

 

NFC #3 New Orleans Saints vs. AFC #1 New England Patriots:

Date: 2/5/2012

Location: Indianapolis, IN

Final Score: New Orleans 38, New England 33.

New Orleans Saints are Super Bowl XLVI Champions.   

Drew Brees is Super Bowl XLVI MVP. 16 for 19, 246 Passing Yards, 3 TDs and 0 INTs.

Drew Brees and Tom Brady Both Broke the NFL Record for Passing Yards In A Season

Drew Brees and Tom Brady both broke Dan Marino's record for 5084 passing yards in one season. Before this season only 2 guys had 5000 or more passing yards in a season. Drew Brees had 5069 passing yards in 2008 and Marino had 5084 in 1984. This year 3 guys broke 5000 yards. Brees holds the record now with 5476 passing yards, Brady had 5235 which also broke the old record and Matthew Stafford had 5038 passing yards. 

Drew Brees: Drew Brees broke the record in Week 16 for passing yards in a season. Brees passed for 5476 passing yards in this season, 392 more than Marino had in 1984. Brees also broke his he set in 2009 and Ken Anderson completion percent on the season. Brees had a completion percent of 71.2%, .6 more percent than the old record. He also had more completions than anyone in one season in history. He broke Peyton Manning record of 450 which was set last year with 468 completions this year. He is on his way to break Johnny Unitas record of 47 straight games with at least one TD pass. He currently has 43 games in a row and would probably break it in the 5 game next year. He passed for 46 TDs this season which is 4th most all-time and only 4 behind Tom Brady's record of 50 set in 2007. He helped the Saints win 13 games and win the NFC South for the 3rd time and 4th playoff appearance since 2006 when he came in New Orleans. He and the Saints have another chance to win the Super Bowl this year. I expect him to play hard to try to capture that second Super Bowl Title. 

Tom Brady: Tom Brady broke the old record in Week 17 for passing yards in a season. Brees passed for 5235 passing yards in this season, 151 more than Marino had in 1984 and 241 yards behind Brees. He is on his way to break Johnny Unitas record of 47 straight games with at least one TD pass. He currently has 32 games which if he has at least one TD pass in each game next he would break the old record but Drew Brees probably will have already broke it.  He passed for 39 TDs this season. He had 401 completion this season which is tied with Kurt Warner for the 9th most all-time. His last TD pass of the season was his 300th of his career. He tied John Elway for 5th all-time to become on the 6th player ever to pass for 300 TDs. He is still 208 TDs passes short of Favre's record.  He helped the Patroits win 13 games and win the AFC North for the 9th  time since 2001 when he started his career. He and the Patriots have another chance to win the Super Bowl this year. I expect him to play hard to try to make it back to the Super Bowl for the 5th time and win the 4th Super Bowl Title in his career. He needs to step up this year after losing the first game of the playoffs the last two years. 

2012 BCS Bowl Previews & Predictions

2012 BCS National Championship Game:

#1 LSU Tigers 13-0 (SEC Champions / BCS #1) vs. 

#2 Alabama 11-1 (BCS #2).

Information: Date: 1/9/2012. Location: New Orleans, LA. Payout: $21,200,000.

Preview: This is the first time since 2004 that an non-conference champion as made, first time since 2007 that an undefeated played a one loss team, first time since 2008 the reigning Heisman Winner didn't play in the game and first time ever the BCS National Championship featured a rematch from the regular season. Also the SEC is will win its 6 straight BCS National Championship. The SEC is 7-0 which it will be 8-1 but their only loss will be against its self. LSU is 2-0 in National Championship Games beating Oklahoma in 2003 and Ohio State in 2007. Alabama is 1-0 in National Championship Games beating Oklahoma in 2003 LSU went 13-0 and won the SEC Championship. They went to Alabama won 9-6 thanks to 4 missed field goals by Alabama. LSU looks too good for anyone. Besides Alabama LSU closes game was vs. Oregon. When they won by 13 points. Alabama went 11-1 this season only losing to LSU. Alabama closes game besides the lose, was when the beat Penn State by 16. They never allowed more than 21 points all year. Alabama has the least amount of points given up at 8.8 PPG. LSU  has the 2nd least amount of points given up at 10.5 PPG. Trent Richardson was great this year. He had 1583 rushing yards and 20 TDs. He finished 3rd in the Heisman. LSU uses 3 RBs to get it done. Between Ford, Ware and Blue they have 1994 rushing yards and 22 TDs. LSU has the best two CB in the nation. Tyrann Mathieu, who is also a great punt returner, who won the Chuck Bednarik Award and finished 5th in the Heisman. They also Morris Claiborne who won the Jim Thorpe Award.

Prediction:  I think we will see a lot of defense again. I think though we will see someone get into the endzone. Either Richardson scoring a TDs or Mathieu returning a punt. I think we might see overtime again because these teams are so good and close. Which would only be the 2nd in the BCS National Championship Game history the other time was in 2003. This game is so hard to pick. I think LSU somehow finds a way to win close just because they look to good even against a team like Alabama. I think will call the LSU Tigers the 2012 BCS National Champions and maybe one of the best teams ever. I think LSU wins 16-10. A touchdown for each team and 3 field goals for LSU and one for Alabama.

2012 Rose Bowl:

#5 Oregon Ducks 11-2 (Pac-12 Champions) vs. 

#10 Wisconsin Badgers 11-2 (Big 10 Champions).

Information: Date: 1/2/2012. Location: Pasadena, CA. Payout: $22,300,000.

Preview: There will be two major thinks to watch for all the points that will be scored and LaMichael James vs. Montee Ball. Oregon won the Pac-12 Championship Game by beating UCLA 49-31 to earn the Pac-12's bid in this game. Oregon went 11-2 this year only losing to LSU and USC. Wisconsin won the Big 10 Championship Game by beating Michigan State 42-30 to earn the Big 10's bid in this game. Wisconsin also went 11-2 only losing to Michigan State and Ohio State. There are 3 Heisman vote getter  in this game. James for Oregon who placed 10th. Also Ball and Russell Wilson from Wisconsin who placed 4th and 9th. Both offensive in this game are amazing. Oregon averaged 46.2 PPG which was 3rd best in the nation and Wisconsin averaged 44.6 PPG which was 5th best in the nation. Oregon averaged 295.7 rushing yards per game which was 5th best in the nation, Wisconsin averaged 237.4 rushing yards per game which was 11th best in the nation. This is Oregon 3rd straight BCS Bowl and 2 Rose Bowl in 3 years. Wisconsin also played in last year Rose Bowl losing to TCU. 

Prediction: I think Oregon and Wisconsin go at it and could set a Rose Bowl record for points. Ball and James should both dominate. With 3 TDs Ball would break the record for rushing TDs in a season. I think Oregon's speed and slightly better offensive wins the game. Chip Kelly is 0-2 in BCS bowl games and he wants to win this year. I think Oregon wins 42-37.

2012 Fiesta Bowl:

#3 Oklahoma State Cowboys 11-1 (Big 12 Champions) vs. 

#4 Stanford Cardinal 11-1 (BCS At-large).

Information: Date: 1/2/2012. Location: Glendale, AZ. Payout: $17,000,000.

Preview: Oklahoma State won the Big 12 Championship going 8-1 in conference to earn the Big 12's bid in this game. Stanford was the best at-large besides Alabama and earned a bid to this bowl. They finished 2nd in the Pac-12 North behind Oregon. Oklahoma State only lost to Iowa State in double overtime or they would probably be in the National Championship. Stanford only lost to Oregon or they too would probably be in the National Championship. Both QB and offensive in this game will be great. Oklahoma State averages 49.3 PPG, 2nd best in nation and Stanford averages 43.6, 7th best in the nation. Andrew Luck was very good this year finishing 2nd in the Heisman voting again. Justin Blackmon won the Biletnikoff award for the 2nd year in a row. He was 9th in yards, 4th in TDs and 3rd in catches.

Prediction: With out Chris Owusu for Stanford, Brandon Weedon, Justin Blackmon and the Cowboys' offense should be able to out match Stanford's. With some help Joseph Randle the Cowboys should win. Also compare their two losses. Oklahoma State lost on the road by 6 in double overtime. Stanford lost by 23 at home. Even if this maybe being the last time Andrew Luck is in a Cardinal uniform and Luck and Stanford did great in the Orange Bowl last year winning by 28. I think Oklahoma State wins 51- 45 and proves to everyone they should have gotten a chance a LSU for the National Title.  

2012 Sugar Bowl:

#11 Virginia Tech Hokies 11-2 (BCS At-large) vs. 

#13 Michigan Wolverines 10-2 (BCS At-large).

Information: Date: 1/3/2012. Location: New Orleans, LA. Payout: $17,000,000.

Preview: Both teams might not deserve to be here, but it should be a good battle of the dual threat QBs. Virginia Tech went 11-2, losing in the ACC Championship Game. They lost twice to Clemson this year. Michigan went 10-2 and finished 2nd in the Big 10 Legends Division. They lost to Michigan State and Iowa both on the road. Virginia Tech's dual threat QB is Logan Thomas he passed for almost 2800 yards with 19 TDs and 9 INTs. He also had over 400 rushing yards and 10 TDs. Michigan's dual threat QB is Denard Robinson he passed for 2056 yards and had 18 TDs and 14 INTs. Amazingly he also had 1163 rushing yards and 16 TDs. David Wilson also was great this year rushing 1627 yards which was 5th most in the nation. Both don't give a lot of points. Virginia Tech only gave up an average of 17.2 and Michigan only 17.2 too good for 7th and 8th best in the nation.

Prediction: Denard Robinson could give the Hokies' defense some problems like Tajh Boyd did for Clemson. I think thought Hokies had a month to prepare and will be ready. Wilson and Thomas be able to keep Michigan's defense off balance. Virginia Tech was embarrassed last in the Orange Bowl vs. Stanford and they want to show they can play. I think Virginia Tech wins 27-24. 

2012 Orange Bowl:

#15 Clemson Tigers 10-3 (ACC Champions) vs. 

#23 West Virginia Mountaineers  9-3 (Big East Champions).

Information: Date: 1/4/2012. Location: Miami Gardens, FL. Payout: $17,000,000.

Preview: Clemson started 8-0, but then lost 3 of the last 4. The still earn a spot in the ACC Championship where they upset and beat Virginia Tech to earn the ACC's spot in this game. All 3 loses of Clemson's were on the road. West Virginia went 9-3 and 5-2 in the Big East. They lost to LSU, Syracuse and Louisville. They tied with Cincinnati and Louisville for the Big East Crown. They won the Big East by being the highest ranked team of the three teams that tied. Since the Orange Bowl had the last at-large pick they were stuck with West Virginia. Tajh Boyd was very good for Clemson. He had over 3500 passing yards, 31 passing TDs and 5 rushing TDs. Sammy Watkins also was very good with over 1100 receiving yards and 11 TDs. For West Virginia Geno Smith had 3978 passing yards and 25 TDs. He was 8th in the nation in passing yards. Stedman Bailey was very good too with almost 1200 receiving yards and 11 TDs.

Prediction: I think both teams are very similar. A good QB and WR. I think game will be close and very competitive. I think Geno Smith and West Virginia's slightly better offensive should be able to win. I think West Virginia wants to prove the Big East can still play with the other BCS Conferences. I think West Virginia win 24-20.