Game 17: #7 Boise St at #2 Alabama

If you missed the introduction post about the Playoff, no problem! Read it here: http://short-sideoption.blogspot.com/2012/02/ok-cowboy-cardinal-and-duck-fans-this.html

The first game of the 3^rd Round is coming up, but here are today’s reality bites:

Brett McMurphy of CBS talks about the possible long term consequences of implementing a ‘champions only’ playoff, he tweeted yesterday:  “If Plus-1 only has conference champs, look for Bama to join the Sun Belt, Georgia to join the Big East, Arkansas to join the WAC, and South Carolina to join the MAC.”  He has a point.

The Big Ten is back in realignment news; there is a lot of smoke to the talk in Atlanta that the Big Ten is exploring adding Georgia Tech, Maryland, Rutgers, and Notre Dame.  ESPN supposedly is willing to make them a massive TV deal if this expansion is carried out by 2016.  Read more here:  http://www.fromtherumbleseat.com/2012/3/5/2846545/monday-afternoon-rumor-mill-where-i-guarantee-that-you-didnt-see-this

Missouri will be the crossover rival for Arkansas in the SEC; Texas A&M will be the crossover rival for South Carolina.  This makes sense, read more here:  http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2012/3/5/2846069/texas-am-south-carolina-sec-football-rivals

Lane Kiffin and Urban Meyer are leading the charge against 7 on 7 tournaments that are starting to take over College Football much like the AAU has taken over College Basketball.  Read more about the summit here:  http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/59734/3-point-stance-seven-on-seven-summit

Now on to the 3^rd Round!

Game 17:  #7 Boise St at #2 Alabama

December 31, 2011

Kickoff:  2:30 pm

Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Weather: 43 degrees, clear, 0 mph wind

EA Sports Ratings:        Alabama, Overall: A+, Offense: A, Defense: A+

                                       Boise St, Overall: A, Offense: A+, Defense: B+

Here is another example of a game people have been clamoring to see.  Can Boise St really hang with the big boys?  No better way to find out then to see them head to Tuscaloosa for a playoff game.  Alabama’s defense is superb, will Kellen Moore have enough time to dissect the complex scheme that Nick Saban produces?  Our virtual answer is coming up.  The best of the Non-AQ takes on Alabama.     

1^st Quarter:

            -Alabama opens the game with a drive resulting in a Jeremy Smelley 26 yard FG.           (3-0 Bama)

            -Midway through the qtr, Doug Martin breaks loose for a 47 yard TD run.                         (7-3 BSU)

2^nd Quarter:

            -Alabama opens the 2^nd qtr with a 33 yard FG from Jeremy Smelley.                               (7-6 BSU)

            -On the ensuing drive, Boise St finds the endzone with a 5 yard TD pass from

 Kellen Moore to Doug Martin.                                                                                            (14-6 BSU)

            -Alabama comes right back with a 7 yard TD pass from AJ McCarron to

 Brandon Gibson.  Trent Richardson runs in the 2 pt conversion.                                     (14-14 Tied)

            -Boise St’s defense intercepts AJ McCarron after their offense is forced to a 3 and out,

            Kellen Moore and the Bronco offense capitalize with a 41 yard FG from Jimmy Pavel.    (17-14 BSU)

            -Alabama makes a late drive that results in points with a 24 yard FG from Jeremy Smelley.  (17-17 Tied)

3^rd Quarter:

            -The defenses control the 3^rd qtr, but late in the qtr Kellen Moore finds Doug Martin on a

 screen pass that goes 79 yards for a TD.                                                                      (24-17 BSU)     

4^th Quarter:

            -Alabama intercepts Kellen Moore which sets up the first points of the qtr when

             AJ McCarron finds Marquis Maze for a 8 yard TD pass.                                                 (24-24 Tied)

            -Alabama forces Boise’s offense to a 3 and out, then drives the field and scores

             with a 13 yard TD pass from AJ McCarron to Brandon Gibson.  The XP is missed.      (30-24 Bama)

            -Alabama again forces Boise St to punt, Marquis Maze takes the punt return 91 yards

             for a TD.  Trent Richardson scores the 2 pt conversion.                                                 (38-24 Bama)

                       

Boise St Stats:

Passing:           Kellen Moore, 29/53, 416 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT

Rushing:           Doug Martin, 19 att, 119 yards, 1 TD

Receiving:        Tyler Shoemaker, 9 rec, 139 yards

                         Chris Potter, 9 rec, 120 yards

Defense:           2 Sacks, 1 INT

Total Offense:   548 yards

Passing:            416 yards

Rushing:            132 yards

Alabama Stats

Passing:           AJ McCarron, 21/32, 311 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT

Rushing:           Trent Richardson, 29 att, 127 yards

Receiving:        Marquis Maze, 9 rec, 161 yards, 1 TD

                         Brandon Gibson, 4 rec, 51 yards, 2 TD

Defense:           3 Sacks, 2 INT

Total Offense:   481 yards

Passing:            311 yards

Rushing:            170 yards

Box Score

           

                                    1Q        2Q        3Q        4Q        T 

Boise St                         7        10         7           0        24

Alabama                        3        14         0          21       38

Next Game:  #6 Arkansas at #3 Oklahoma St

I will post a new game every weekday before noon.