HEAVYWEIGHT FIGHT
| Matchup Preview | January 9, 2013 |
 | @ |  |
#2 UAB Blazers
(13-0, Away) |
| #1 TCU Horned Frogs
(12-0, Home) |
| Offensive Stats Comparison | | 43.5 | Points Per Game | 39.3 | | #9 | Total Offensive Yards | #23 | | #58 | Rushing Yards | #16 | | #6 | Passing Yards | #37 |
| Defensive Stats Comparison | | #11 | Total Yards Allowed | #6 | | #1 | Rushing Yards Allowed | #6 | | #98 | Passing Yards Allowed | #27 |
| Injury Report | WR R. Rawls
prb |
| CB D. Doyle
sea | HB M. Scottt
sea |
| HB T. Crosby
prb |
|
MIAMI, FLORIDA--- Its finally gameday here in Miami. After 33 bowl games and a long week of player interviews and sporting shows and whose picking who, everybody will have there answers tonight. #1 TCU takes on #2 UAB in the Citi BCS National Championship here at the Orange Bowl.
MEET THE TEAMS:
TCU: It's no secret what TCU intends to do and thats to give Heisman trophy winning running back Chris Herron the ball weather he runs or catches it. Herron has helped lead TCU through the BigEast in nonchalant fashion. Led by three All America selections on the offensive line TCU will try and give UAB a heavy dose of wear and tear football. Junior Quarterback Jason Hill leads a superb passing attack as he and fellow first team All Big East receiver Roger Moore connected for 15 touchdows this season, Hill has thrown 33 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions. Defensively for TCU they bring in 5 first team all Big East players at defensive line and linebacker. Brent Fountain leads this defensive unit with 7.5 sacks at defensive and is a major reason why they have the #6 ranked defense in the country.
UAB: The Blazers are led by the nations stingiest defense having taking the ball away 32 times (23 interceptions, 9 fumbles) they also lead the country recording 72 sacks, to understand how great of a stat that is the #2 team in the country has 53. With 33 sacks in between them MLB Tom Slaughter and DE Jerry Bowser lead the mean upfront with 16.5 sacks a piece. Free Safety and Thorpe award winner Mark Parrish has 8 interceptions on the year. Offensively UAB was led by tailback Matthew Scott, but a nasty elbow injury ended his season. Recievers Ian Wilson and James Moses lead the way now and both have over 1,000 yards receiver. Freshmen receiver Matt Ford has also caught 11 touchdown passes.
KEYS TO VICTORY:
TCU will need to wear down this aggressive defense. If they can sustain long drives and tire this defense with the run game of Chris Herron TCU could run away with it. But if UAB gears to stop the run quarterback Jason Hill will need to make smart decision in the air and keep this UAB defensive unit on the run. The defensive ends for TCU will be huge, and im talking about Fountain and Baldwin. It will be key if they can force Wayne Smith out the pocket as he has shown to be inaccurate on the run. Mixing up coverages will also help.
UAB will need Wayne Smith to play confident football like he did against Houston in the conference championship. Quick smart decision and dont allow his self to take unnecessary hits in the pocket. With the pass defense struggling a bit the last few games UAB may want TCU and the Heisman Herron to run the ball, and play a run blitz scheme but heavily play the pass. Herron gets all the love but TCU's Hill has passed for over 3,000 yards this year.
Prediction: Two very good teams playing for the title and rightfully so, This may be a bend but dont break game. UAB is battle tested winning games at Auburn, Virginia Tech, and Central Florida, then winning three straight road games to end the season. Not to mention they play a month ago and TCU hasn't played in little over a month. But TCU is very skilled and talented and needed a tough win to end the season against Notre Dame to get here. With all the senior leadership on the field tonight Im leaning toward UAB in a 24-21 type of game.