The Sports Corner

2008 Champs Sports Bowl Preview

Wisconsin 7-5 (3-5) vs. Florida State 8-4 (5-3)

Saturday, December 27, 1:30 p.m. PST.

Citrus Bowl, Orlando, Florida.

Big 10 #6 vs. ACC Atlantic #2

Coaches: Bret Bielema (28-10) vs. Bobby Bowden (308-91-4) <-Ties!!!

Quarterbacks: Dustin Sherer vs. Christian Ponder

The line: FSU -5

Payout: $2.125 million

This is the first game in history between these the two once-proud football programs. Wisconsin is dealing with their first down year of the A.B. (After-Barry Alvarez) era. They need to stick with Bret Bielema, even after a close game against FCS Cal Poly to close out the season. Wisconsin isn’t a program that can afford to recycle coaches every three or four years. Alvarez, now the athletic director, should know that more than anyone. During his 16-year reign as Badgers head coach there were bumps in the road, but the administration stuck with him and they won three Rose Bowls during that span. Now in this crucial sequence of Wisconsin football history, Alvarez needs to show the patience that was afforded him.

Who better an opponent to help embody that than Florida State and Bobby Bowden, who has just completed his 33rd season as Seminoles head coach. Bowden has a successor lined up, and I’m sure Seminoles fans are giddy at the thought of offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher taking over someday. After all, their offense is about as powerful as the Canadian army. 

It shouldn’t be a shock that this will be a defensive game, that’s where these two teams thrive. Florida State junior defensive end Everette Brown will probably be a first round pick in the upcoming draft. Defensive backs Myron Rolle and Tony Carter were both named second team all conference. Rolle would be a first round pick eventually, but he was awarded the Rhodes Scholarship and has decided to take the next year off football.

Wisconsin has a strong offensive line that paves the way for two talented backs in PJ Hill and John Clay. They’ve combined for 1,866 yards rushing and 22 TDs. If they’re to have any success against the Florida State front seven, quarterback Dustin Sherer must prove they can move the ball through the air. Unfortunately the only real threats they have are receiver David Gilreath and tight end Garrett Graham as All-American tight end Travis Beckum was lost for the season with a broken leg at homecoming against Illinois. If Florida State can put eight defenders in the box to stop the Badger running attack while still keeping Gilreath and Graham under wraps, Wisconsin doesn’t stand much of a chance. 

Florida State may not have that much luck on offense either. Poor quarterback play has been the bane of their existence since Chris Weinke left in 2000. There’s been Chris Rix, Adrian McPherson, Drew Weatherford, Xavier Lee and now some combination of Christian Ponder, EJ Manuel and D’Vontrey Richardson. Then again the state of Florida hasn’t done a great job of churching out great college QB’s recently. Since 2002, the only in-state recruits FSU may have been better off with are: Omar Jacobs (2002, Bowling Green), Matt Grothe (2005, South Florida) and Tim Tebow (2006, Florida). 

FSU, like Wisconsin in this game, will need to get some form of a passing game going to keep Wisconsin from stacking the box. Running back Antone Smith operates far better in space, though he is a good between the tackles runner. If FSU can spread the field it will give him the opportunity to make plays. Wide receivers Preston Parker, Greg Carr and Taiwan Easterling should have success against the Wisconsin secondary.

The only player of note among the UW back four is corner Allen Langford, but he’s one of the best in the Big 10. Wisconsin’s front seven is formidable. Between senior linebackers DeAndre Levy and Jonathan Casillas, and defensive linemen Matt Shaughnessy and Mike Newkirk they should be able to limit Antone Smith on the ground. 

Whichever team makes the most plays through the air will win this game, and because of the talent in FSU’s secondary, I’m betting Bobby Bowden’s is better suited for that.

FSU knocks Wisconsin down a peg on the back of star place-kicker Graham Gano, 15-7.