Texas Shootout | Ncaa College Football Handicappers

It feels like we’ve been here before. While the Texas Longhorns have never been a #1 team facing a top 10 Texas Tech team, it seems each year the Horns have entered a Tech game undefeated, the whispers have begun. “Maybe this is the year Tech upsets Texas and spoils their season.” The more things change, the more they stay the same.
 
After running through a gauntlet of #1 Oklahoma, #11 Missouri and #6 Oklahoma State, the chattering class seems to think that there is no possible way the Horns have enough fight left in them to withstand the offensive assault of Mike Leach’s Red Raiders. Not this year, not with the young Longhorns secondary. But is there really any hard evidence to suggest that the Raiders have the Longhorns number this season?
 
Shouldn’t the amazing test the Longhorns have just passed in their previous games be testament to how good they are? Since when does beating three top 10(ish) teams in a row mean that you are primed for an upset? Can’t a team just be really good? Is it just a case of us needing to find some kind of compelling storyline for this, their 3rd game presented by ESPN’s College GameDay in the past four weeks?
 
But could this year really be different? The Horns don’t have All-American corners the way it has in the past. Tech is learning to run the ball a little and actually seem to care about playing defense. But isn’t that argument just putting lipstick on a pig?
 
There is no arguing the fact that Graham Harrell  has slaughtered the Horns through the air the past two years, throwing for almost a thousand yards and completing 70% of his passes. But if it wasn’t enough in 2006 and 2007, why should it be enough now? Some think he may have an even bigger day (night) Saturday in Lubbock, considering the Horns will be running out two defensive backs who are so we behind the ears that their helmets even look extra shiny. But Deon Beasley and Curtis Brown kept OSU all-world receiver Dez Bryant to less than a hundred yards last week, and he didn’t even sniff the end zone. Michael Crabtree is just as good as Bryant, no doubt, but what makes people think he can double or triple the production of Bryant?
 
I think a lot of the love for Tech is coming simply from their scores last week. The Raiders had not beat anyone all year until getting over on Kansas in a big way last weekend, but that score was not really indicative of the game. Todd Reesing threw three interceptions in the span of just a few minutes, making the final a foregone conclusion. And had Texas been able to punch the ball in on their final 4th and goal, they would have won by double digits against a good OSU team, and people would probably be thinking the Longhorns were unstoppable. Greatness is in the eye of the beholder.
 
While Tech has done a better job of pressuring the quarterback and playing man coverage, they have not faced anyone on the level of Colt McCoy. They won’t be getting gift-wrapped interceptions from the Heisman front-runner. If they do, then this game will probably fall to Tech. But, again, what makes us think we will see anything different this week than we have seen all season, or the past decade?
 
Over the past three weeks, against that brutal schedule, McCoy averaged 335 yards in the air and completed 85 percent of his passes, moving him up to second in the nation in passing efficiency. And during that time he has only thrown one interception. And I can tell you that Tech’s defense does not come close to the level of OU’s, which McCoy carved to pieces. Offensive coordinator Greg Davis is running four receiver sets, spreading the field and using slashing routes over the middle. The passing game for Texas still isn’t vertical, but gone are the days of 10 wide receiver screens in one half.
 
The Horns have looked amazing on defense, under the crazed enthusiastic leadership of Will Muschamp but did fall off a bit on the tackling department against the Cowboys, giving up 125 extra yards after missed tackles last week. But that slip-up could not have come at a better time. You can bet your house on the fact that Muschamp has been coaching his guys up all week, getting in their faces, letting them know about their failures against OSU. He knows how to relate to players, and you can guarantee they will step up to try and make their coach proud.
 
The Raiders are as good as they have ever been. But so are the Longhorns. While it seems sexy to take the Raiders in an upset in the biggest game in school history, my feeling is that you don’t bet against the best until they have been proven to be not the best.

July 13th, 2010 by admin
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NCAA Football 10: Newest Video Game Genre

Electronic Arts or EA Inc. set the launch of NCAA Football 2010 for X-box 360 just recently. Avid gamers would surely be happy since the date is already set on July 14, 2009. This will be a sure hit, and everyone is expected to have their online reservations as early as now.  EA Sports also announced that NCAA Football 2010 will provide one of the longest running football video game. It will be available for X-box 360 first and will then be available with game consoles such as PS2 and PS3.  

The upcoming NCAA 2010 Football is the newest in the football video game genre. But what is its difference with NCAA 2009? There are new features available, like the “create a school” which lets you create your team. You can pick the players, the plays, and even their uniforms.  NCAA 2010 also has the “pregame information” which presents the players and their stats. The game also has enhanced battle in the trenches. Halftime game highlights and “in game information” are also available. You can see the stats and scores of all the players. Another feature is the “post game highlights” which lets you view the highlights of the whole game.

This video game is being updated every now and then, and the strategies are always evolving. There are some tips indicated by EA Sports to make this video game more exciting. Number 1 is to go for interceptions; number 2 strategy is to build the run threat. The third strategy is to throw the running back and the last strategy is to recruit.  Read more... (423 words, estimated 1:42 mins reading time)

July 2nd, 2010 by admin
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What Differentiates Ncaa 09 Football Video Game From Its Older Versions

Fans anticipating the release of NCAA 09 probably won’t be disappointed when they finally get to play the game. EA seems to have focused on refining options and feel of the running game, certainly what you’d expect from a NCAA game. Also, NCAA 09 comes with a new Break Away Animation Engine to provide larger cutback lanes and bigger holes for the offense and greater opportunities for players in the clear.

Screens and Stadiums

Many have compared and contrasted the screens and stadiums of both NCAA Football 08 and its 09 version. The lighting, texture, colors and other details have contributed to a more authentic look for the NCAA 09.

Playing to the Crowds

One change that EA is probably hoping fans would love is the enhanced crowd system. Now players can customize stadium music and sounds, choose the crowd’s reaction to breakaways, and of course, expect to have mayhem and confusion cloud decisions of the teams. Visuals for the crowds have also been improved. You’ll notice that there are more people in the sidelines, from mascots to cheerleaders to backup players, and lighting and texture for the fields had also been improved.

Mascot Mode

Acknowledging the importance of team mascots, NCAA 09 now allows players to customize celebrations whenever a touchdown is scored. NCAA 09 also allows for several mascot games, but the jury’s still out on this one since it’s too early to tell how NCAA fans will react to this.  Read more... (542 words, estimated 2:10 mins reading time)

June 15th, 2010 by admin
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NCAA 10: Football Video Game Features

A new NCAA Football game from EA is up and coming. The game NCAA Football 2010 is hitting the shelves on July and we are dying to know what new features they have added to this great game. There has been a lot of talk on online forums and blogs. And the hype just keeps growing.  Here are features you could expect from this new game.

One feature that most NCAA fans will appreciate is the “Create a School” feature. Fans will surely enjoy creating their own schools which will keep them asking for more. Build their team to be the best. This will keep the game fresh and open for new possibilities. Together with this feature is the “Team Builder” feature. This will include pre-loaded logos as well as allow players to upload their own.

Another feature you should look out for is the “Procedural Awareness” feature. This feature gives players the ability to turn their head. The engine automatically focuses on what the player is looking at and calculates the amount of time it takes before the action the player plans to do actually happens. This makes the game a lot more realistic.

Another feature is the “Adaptive AI” feature. One of NCAA Football 2010’s best features is Adaptive AI. This feature will mix things up instead of doing the same plays over and over again. For example, you do a play over and over; the AI of the opposing team will change plays to counter yours. If you pass a lot at the same position they will counter you by putting a man there. This feature is really a blessing. It will not only give us more of a challenge, it will be like playing in the real game.  Read more... (406 words, estimated 1:37 mins reading time)

April 22nd, 2010 by admin
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