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WhatIfSports December Madness: Round 3 Results
Jake WestrichJan 2, 2009
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Oklahoma 24
USC 30
And down goes the top seed. It’s not necessarily an upset, as USC would actually be favored in this game, but it’s definitely an interesting outcome.
Oklahoma has a record-breaking offense that may be the best the college game has ever seen. USC has a record-breaking defense that may be equally as talented and impressive.
When great strength collides with great strength, look at the weaknesses to find the winner. The team that can best expose an opponent’s downfall is generally the victor.
When great strength collides with great strength, look at the weaknesses to find the winner. The team that can best expose an opponent’s downfall is generally the victor.
Oklahoma’s defense is the much weaker of the remaining groups, ranking 57th in scoring defense overall, 66th in the nation in yards per pass against (6.6 ypp) and 18th in yards per carry allowed (3.23 ypc...that may not sound bad, but these two programs are in the top ten in just about every other relevant statistic).
With the likes of leading December Madness MVP candidate Joe McKnight, smooth quarterback Mark Sanchez, veterans C.J. Gable, Patrick Turner, and Stafon Johnson and deep threat Ronald Johnson on offense, the Trojans have plenty of talent on that side of the ball to match the defense.
USC uses that talent to exploit Oklahoma for big plays like Ronald Johnson’s 37-yard gain that immediately precedes Stafon Johnson’s 46-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
With the likes of leading December Madness MVP candidate Joe McKnight, smooth quarterback Mark Sanchez, veterans C.J. Gable, Patrick Turner, and Stafon Johnson and deep threat Ronald Johnson on offense, the Trojans have plenty of talent on that side of the ball to match the defense.
USC uses that talent to exploit Oklahoma for big plays like Ronald Johnson’s 37-yard gain that immediately precedes Stafon Johnson’s 46-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
As could be imagined in a six-point game, that sequence by fellow Johnsons is the most crucial in the game and the most important in the December Madness tournament up to this point.
The score puts USC up 27-10 with 7:41 to go, meaning that Oklahoma, which was within three points just four minutes earlier, has to score at least three times to close the gap.
Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford leads a couple of good drives against a slowing Trojan defense that has worked extra hard to keep the Sooners’ offense in check. But it’s all for naught as USC is essentially able to run the clock out before a final-minute field goal that seals the 30-24 win.
As was discussed in the previous game, the Trojans need to clean up their game a little bit if they want to win this whole thing.
Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford leads a couple of good drives against a slowing Trojan defense that has worked extra hard to keep the Sooners’ offense in check. But it’s all for naught as USC is essentially able to run the clock out before a final-minute field goal that seals the 30-24 win.
As was discussed in the previous game, the Trojans need to clean up their game a little bit if they want to win this whole thing.
The games keep getting harder and USC cannot afford the lost fumble, the two missed field goals, or the amount of penalties that it has in this Final Four game.
Either way, this is just another game of the Madness that lives up to the hype. Who wouldn’t watch these matchups?
Either way, this is just another game of the Madness that lives up to the hype. Who wouldn’t watch these matchups?
The fifth-seeded Trojans will now play for it all in the December Madness Championship against either the No. 2 Florida Gators or No. 3 Texas Longhorns.
Player of the game: Joe McKnight (86 total yards, 1 TD)
Winning Percentage of 1,001 Simulations: USC 59% - Oklahoma 41%
Player of the game: Joe McKnight (86 total yards, 1 TD)
Winning Percentage of 1,001 Simulations: USC 59% - Oklahoma 41%
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It’s official. Neither of the teams in the December Madness Championship is represented in the BCS title game. We need a playoff like this.
Texas, which arguably has the best resume of any team going into this playoff, takes the second-seeded Florida Gators to overtime...and wins.
With exactly one field goal attempted per game on average for both teams, few thought this game would come down to the kicking game, but it does.
With exactly one field goal attempted per game on average for both teams, few thought this game would come down to the kicking game, but it does.
Following a relatively tame first half that sees "just" 24 points scored, the Gators and Longhorns trade touchdowns throughout the third and fourth quarters.
The last of those scores is a Colt McCoy 16-yard scamper to put the Longhorns up 34-31 with 1:01 remaining. In Lubbock, that was too much time.
The last of those scores is a Colt McCoy 16-yard scamper to put the Longhorns up 34-31 with 1:01 remaining. In Lubbock, that was too much time.
This time? Tim Tebow and Co. cram eight plays into the final minute of the game, giving senior kicker Jonathan Phillips a chance to tie the game from 42 yards as time expires.
Phillips, who has never made a kick longer than 40 yards, and was not even needed by Florida in six of its 13 regular season games, knocks the kick through the uprights. Overtime.
In the extra session, Florida gets the ball first...and flounders. A one-yard loss, a nine-yard gain and a stuffed run lead to a 34-yard field goal attempt.
In the extra session, Florida gets the ball first...and flounders. A one-yard loss, a nine-yard gain and a stuffed run lead to a 34-yard field goal attempt.
This time, Phillips misses the kick (just his third miss on the year) and the ball goes to the underdogs.
Knowing it only needs a field goal, Texas runs six consecutive times and sets up for the game-winning 27 yard kick.
Knowing it only needs a field goal, Texas runs six consecutive times and sets up for the game-winning 27 yard kick.
Junior kicker Hunter Lawrence bests his counterpart by making the biggest kick of his life and celebrating the Longhorns’ berth in the biggest college football game ever played... one that actually counts.
Colt McCoy wins the player of the game with 283 passing yards, 32 rushing yards, three total touchdowns and no turnovers.
Colt McCoy wins the player of the game with 283 passing yards, 32 rushing yards, three total touchdowns and no turnovers.
He wins the matchup of Heisman finalists, yet it probably would have gone the other way if the result were different. Tebow completes 74 percent of his passes for 270 passing yards, 19 rushing yards, three total TDs, and no turnovers.
It’s McCoy and Texas facing USC and its historically great defense in the December Madness Championship Jan. 6. Enjoy the Madness.
Player of the game: Colt McCoy(283 passing yards, 32 rushing yards, 3 TDs)
Winning Percentage of 1,001 Simulations: Texas 69% - Florida 31%
It’s McCoy and Texas facing USC and its historically great defense in the December Madness Championship Jan. 6. Enjoy the Madness.
Player of the game: Colt McCoy(283 passing yards, 32 rushing yards, 3 TDs)
Winning Percentage of 1,001 Simulations: Texas 69% - Florida 31%
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