Read the arguments from Loyal Homer and Bleacher Fan about which games they believe are the best of the upcoming weekend or next week.
I am reaching beyond the confines of the upcoming weekend into Tuesday for what I believe will be the next best, must-watch game between the Cougars of BYU and the Beavers of Oregon State in the 2009 Las Vegas Bowl.
First, if you are a loyal TSD reader you know I am a big fan of the bowl games. No, the bowl system is not perfect, but it is great for the true college football game. Weird matchups, star players showcased, and every play in the playbook are on display during bowl games. Playing in a bowl game is the equivalent of a championship game for everyone of these teams, and while the teams do not have a home crowd to play in front of, each team plays with a passion and intensity found only in games with big implications.
These two teams present a great matchup for any offense-loving college football fan. BYU is ranked 18th in the country in offense while Oregon State comes in at number 28. The Beavers boast an excellent running game with Jacquizz Rodgers while the Cougars feature one of the more accomplished quarterbacks in the entire country in senior Max Hall.
Of the two offenses, BYU has an edge. Hall has completed nearly 68 percent of his passes on the season and tossed 30 touchdowns, including two – and a last second, game-winning drive – against then-third ranked Oklahoma to begin the season. Hall is capable of having a big game throwing to his favorite targets tight end Dennis Pitta, who has seven touchdowns and 51 receptions on the year, and receiver O’Neill Chambers who has added another 31 receptions.
While BYU has a great offense, Oregon State’s defense is also good, and has gotten progressively better as the season continued. Also, having navigated the offense-happy Pac-10 and still preserved a top 50 spot in total defense nationally is impressive. The key for Oregon State is putting pressure on Max Hall. The pressure mostly likely will come from defensive lineman Stephen Paea and Gabe Miller – who have four sacks between them – and linebacker Dwight Roberson on the blitz. Because Hall is so proficient at getting the ball out of his hands quickly and identifying the defensive weakness due to blitz, blitzes will have to come up the middle of the field, making Roberson the most likely blitzer of the bunch.
For once in a bowl game no coach is coaching his last game with a university and no interim head coach is at the helm. As a result, fans will witness two very well prepared teams compete at a high level in every aspect of the game. What more could a fan want?
The 2009 Las Vegas bowl will mark BYU’s fifth appearance in the last five seasons, with a record of 2-2. Max Hall’s personal record under center in this game is 1-1. To break the tie favorably Hall will have to handle the blitz, and the Cougars will have to contain a powerful offensive attack from the Beavers. The strong matchups, the lack of coaching drama, and the history in this game for Hall and the Cougars make this the best game of THIS week to watch!
