Liberty Bowl
Streak:
Central Florida is on a 7 game win streak
Mississippi State won it's last game, it was the Egg Bowl against Ole Miss
Central Florida Advantages:
Let's see, I hear this Kevin Smith guy is alright. He's put together a modest 188 YPG and 30 TDs this season. In all seriousness, this gut should've been watching the Heisman ceremonies from New York. I'd be pissed, but is he? Let's ask Kevin. "We've got a conference championship. I'll take that over a Heisman any day. The conference championship trophy doesn't have anybody's individual name on it -- it only has the name of your team." Seems well grounded to me.
They absolutely tore through Conference USA, winning their last 7 by an average of 17 points per game.
Central Florida Disadvantages:
Pretty one dimensional on the offensive side of the ball.
The pass defense has been bad, giving up almost 250 yards a game.
The competition in Conference USA has been a lot better than it is this season.
Haven't seen an SEC quality defense all season, except maybe when they played USF, a game in which they were crushed.
Mississippi State Advantages:
The defense is very salty, 10th in the nation in pass defense and 28th in total defense.
I really think that Sylvester Croom is a top notch coach. Evidence A) Mississippi State is actually in a bowl, B) his name is Sylvester (OK, so I made up B)
Were able to somehow survive the bloodthirsty SEC with a .500 record in conference
Mississippi State Disadvantages:
Little (as in none at all) bowl experience by anyone on the team.
I just got a call from Rex Grossman, and he says that this offense is disgusting. That means it must be bad, and it is. Barely over 300 yards per game on offense.
Writer Predictions:
okluschen: UCF. I like MSU, but I think the Bulldogs are outmatched by UCF here. Kevin Smith is a once in a lifetime player, and Miss State couldn't move the ball out of a paper sack.
Zorgon: Mississippi State. Whenever faced with a stout defense, UCF has, put simply, crumbled like a bun in the hands of Arnold Schwarzenegger. Meanwhile, MSU has faced ranked opponents in HALF of their games, has quality wins over Auburn and Kentucky, and only has one loss to a non-ranked opponent (Auburn). Defense wins championships, and Mississippi State wins handily over the Conference USA creampuffs who barely lost to a poopoo Texas team and to run-reliant ECU.
Jason Frost: TBA
Bottom Line: UCF 1, Mississippi State 1
