Once again, here are my picks for this weekend's football "final four", the Division I Football Championship, the only NCAA-sanctioned national champion for Divsion I football. (P.S. Did you order yourself a Lehigh Football Nation hat recently - a perfect Christmas gift for that Lehigh football fan on your list?)
Montana over UMass. It's not easy to pick against UMass, especially after their come-from-behind, denying QB Ricky Santos in the final minute, 24-17 victory. But in a very even matchup, you can't deny the fact that the Griz at home have been absolutely dominating. Holding Southern Illinois to 136 TOTAL yards really made me stand up and take notice. If Montana can shot down Minuteman RB Steve Baylark the same way they stopped Saluki RB Arkee Whitlock - and I have every faith that they can - I don't think QB Liam Coen can carry the Minutemen with his arm. In contrast, Montana QB Josh Swogger and the Montana offense have gotten better, not worse, as the playoffs have gone along. At home, it's got to be the Griz. Gleeful Griz 21, StewMass 10.
Youngstown State over Appalachian State. I may get flamed for this one, but I think the "Boone magic" simply isn't going to work against a thoroughly tested Youngstown State team. Like Swogger, Penguin QB Tom Zetts is coming of age at the exact right moment while RB Marcus Mason is hitting his stride, which should prove to be difficult to stop. As for the defense, you can get yards against them, but you had better be careful - the sure-handed unit which forced 4 turnovers last week were a huge difference-maker. Although the Mountaineers have a massive running attack with QB Armanti Edwards and RB Kevin Richardson, they haven't always been sharp, though they haven't needed to be. I get a strange feeling that the Penguins can get the upset here by capitalizing on Mountaineer mistakes. The champions' crown from 2005 is heavier than most people think, and I think the weight of the champion will cause just enough errors on the Mountaineer side to lose this game. Perilous Penguins 37, Morose Mountaineers 31, OT.
Montana over UMass. It's not easy to pick against UMass, especially after their come-from-behind, denying QB Ricky Santos in the final minute, 24-17 victory. But in a very even matchup, you can't deny the fact that the Griz at home have been absolutely dominating. Holding Southern Illinois to 136 TOTAL yards really made me stand up and take notice. If Montana can shot down Minuteman RB Steve Baylark the same way they stopped Saluki RB Arkee Whitlock - and I have every faith that they can - I don't think QB Liam Coen can carry the Minutemen with his arm. In contrast, Montana QB Josh Swogger and the Montana offense have gotten better, not worse, as the playoffs have gone along. At home, it's got to be the Griz. Gleeful Griz 21, StewMass 10.
Youngstown State over Appalachian State. I may get flamed for this one, but I think the "Boone magic" simply isn't going to work against a thoroughly tested Youngstown State team. Like Swogger, Penguin QB Tom Zetts is coming of age at the exact right moment while RB Marcus Mason is hitting his stride, which should prove to be difficult to stop. As for the defense, you can get yards against them, but you had better be careful - the sure-handed unit which forced 4 turnovers last week were a huge difference-maker. Although the Mountaineers have a massive running attack with QB Armanti Edwards and RB Kevin Richardson, they haven't always been sharp, though they haven't needed to be. I get a strange feeling that the Penguins can get the upset here by capitalizing on Mountaineer mistakes. The champions' crown from 2005 is heavier than most people think, and I think the weight of the champion will cause just enough errors on the Mountaineer side to lose this game. Perilous Penguins 37, Morose Mountaineers 31, OT.
Comments
App State will win because of homefield advantage but I think UMASS will overcome the homefield and the long trip because they are an amazing team.
Baylark will run wild. 150+ yards.
Don't quit your day Job!!!
I will wait to see who Chuck picks and I will pick my winner accordingly.
UMASS 24-13
To other bloggers post-1) You are not an App fan if you call them Appy State 2) If you say the North will do it again, it must be App from North Carolina. We did win it last year, not "The North"
Appalachian State is the best ASU.
posted by Appoholic
posted by Appoholic
posted by Appoholic