2011 Bowl Predictions: 5 Stars Who Will Fizzle on the Big Stage of the BCS

The BCS games are almost here, and as is the case every year, the BCS is a golden opportunity for the best players on the best teams to show how good they are. 

But not all of them are going to thrive.

No—for different reasons, some are going to struggle. Maybe it's because they're just not that good, their teammates won't give them any help or their matchup is just especially bad.

At any rate, don't tune in to these games with the hopes of seeing a lot of greatness from these players, because it's not going to happen.

Follow Michael on Twitter.

Denard Robinson, QB (Michigan)

Against Virginia Tech's perennially good defense, Denard Robinson will struggle—and he will struggle a lot.

As dynamic as he is on his legs, Robinson is a terrible passer.

More than that, he doesn't have a lot of receivers to throw to. 

That's not a good combination.

That will put the responsibility on Robinson's legs, and that strategy is not going to work in a BCS game against a team like Virginia Tech. The Hokies are eighth in the country in points allowed—that will overwhelm Robinson.

Michigan's best chance in the Sugar Bowl is with their defense. This game will not feature many points.  

David Wilson, RB (Virginia Tech)

While I don't have a lot of confidence in their quarterback, Michigan's defense is another story. They actually allow fewer points per game than Virginia Tech, which is an accomplishment to be proud of. 

The bigger problem for David Wilson is that Michigan doesn't have to respect the passing threat of Logan Thomas in a big way. The Hokies' passing attack is middle of the road, at best, which means the Wolverines can bring up extra men to take the run away from Wilson.

And they'll do just that. 

The Sugar Bowl will certainly be a low-scoring game. Wilson will be relied on to pick up clutch yards, but his overall output will not be stellar at all.

Tajh Boyd, QB (Clemson)

Clemson may have Virginia Tech's number in a big way, but the second half of their season gives me little reason to be confident that the Tigers will beat anyone else.

West Virginia is a good team that will put up points—and Clemson won't match that output.

In a four-game stretch against Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, North Carolina State and South Carolina, Boyd threw seven of his overall 10 interceptions. That's not going to cut it. 

From the outside looking in, this game looks like a shootout. But Clemson will have a hard time putting up points when Boyd's throwing the ball to the guys in the other jerseys. 

Boyd is still young, so there's certainly time for him to develop, but that's not going to come before the Orange Bowl.

Marquis Maze, WR (Alabama)

A person going against the LSU secondary with A.J. McCarron throwing the ball and Trent Richardson on his team will not get much in the way of stats.

Maze is an absolute star, but his numbers have not been there all year—largely because he's had to go against elite defenses with a poor quarterback and Richardson toting the ball. 

That's certainly not going to change against LSU. The Tigers held Maze to 61 yards, and I can't even believe he will get to that total again. 

What Alabama clearly had in the first game was an advantage with Richardson. He was, hands-down, the best athlete on the field, so it only makes sense that they will exploit that more.

In turn, the rest of the Crimson Tide players won't get a lot of attention.

Jordan Jefferson, QB (LSU)

LSU is going to have to win this game against Alabama the same way they won the first meeting between these two teams: with their defense. 

Alabama's defense is loaded with future first-round talent, and Jefferson is not a good enough quarterback to combat them. The Tigers were slightly better with him than they were with Jarrett Lee against Alabama, but the Crimson Tide defense overwhelmed both. 

If Alabama scores as many as 14 points in this game, LSU will have a hard time keeping up. They will need some big plays from their defense and special teams, because a Jefferson-led offense will not score many points against Alabama.