JimBob
12-31-2007, 08:50 AM
Insight Matchups
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
12/31/2007
QUARTERBACK
Each team starts a third-year sophomore. This season,OSU’s Zac Robinson had five of the top 18 single-game total-offense performances in school history.He broke schools records for singleseason total offense (3,299), single-game total offense (486 against Texas) and single-game passing yards (430 against Texas).Robinson has thrown for 2,522 yards and rushed for 777. Lewis has thrown for 26 TDs against 10 interceptions, and he also leads the Hoosiers in rushing (653 yards).
Advantage: OSU
RUNNING BACK
In eight starts this season, Indiana junior Marcus Thigpen has rushed for 512 yards (4.0 per attempt).He is an effective pass-catcherwith 69 career receptions.OSUcounterswithAll-Big 12 senior Dantrell Savage,who enterswith 1,172 rushing yards and a nine-game streak of 100-yard performances. Savage’s career average of 6.1 yards per carry is the second-best in school history, trailing only Barry Sanders’ 6.8 average.
Advantage: OSU
OFFENSIVE LINE
TheHoosiers have allowed 30 sacks while averaging 4.2 yards per rush attempt. The Cowboys have allowed only 11 sacks while averaging 5.4 yards per rush attempt. Recovering nicely from the early season injury of its anchor, centerDavid Washington,OSUranks seventh nationally in rushing offense.
Advantage:
OSU
WIDE RECEIVER
James Hardy, a 6-foot-6 junior, is anAll-Big Ten performer for the Hoosiers. This season, he has 74 catches for 1,075 yards and 16 TDs.He is destined to play in the NFL, as isOSU’s 6-4 seniorAdarius Bowman (61 receptions, 932 yards, seven TDs).Bowman returns after missing two games with a knee injury.While OSU’s only other consistent big-play target is freshman Dez Bryant, Indiana has three additional receivers—Ray Fisher, Andrew Means and James Bailey — who have a combined total of 115 catches.
Advantage: Indiana
TIGHT END
In their spread passing attack, theHoosiers frequently do not have a tight end on the field. Nick Sexton and TroyWagner have a combined total of only four receptions. OSUjunior Brandon Pettigrew ,who is considering early entry into the NFL draft, scored on big fourth-quarter plays in the Cowboys’ victories over Texas Tech and Kansas State.He has 32 catches for 501 yards.
Advantage: OSU
DEFENSIVE LINE
Indiana sophomore end GregMiddleton leads the nation with 16 sacks. The Hoosiers have a team total of 42 —exactly twice as many as OSU’s sack total of 21.Both teams are average against the run. The Cowboys are 60th nationally in rushing defense,while the Hoosiers are 61st.
Advantage: Indiana
LINEBACKERS
Indiana has had the same starting trio all season, with Adam McClurg in the middle andWill Patterson andGeno Johnson at the outside positions. The Hoosier linebackers are the veterans of a combined total of 67 starts. OSU’s linebackers are inconsistent tacklers and occasionally get lost in pass coverage.
Advantage: Indiana
DEFENSIVE BACKS
OSUcornerback Perrish Cox has improved in pass coverage and Jacob Lacey has five interceptions. But the Cowboys, primarily because of their inability to pressure opposing QBs, rank 116th nationally in pass defense. For Indiana, All-Big Ten senior Tracy Porter is a playmaking cornerbackwith 75 tackles and six interceptions.
Advantage: Indiana
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kickoff and punt returns have been a Cowboy strength during this decade, but not this season. OSU’s return game has been average.Onfield goals, OSU’s Jason Ricks and Dan Bailey are a combined 1-of-8 on field goal attempts of 30 yards or longer.As All-Big Ten selection and Groza Award finalist, Indiana’sAustin Starr has connected on 19-of-21 field goal attempts. From40 yards or longer, he is 10-of-11. Indiana’s James Bailey averages 26.9 yards on kickoff returns.
Advantage: Indiana
COACHING
With offensive coordinator Larry Fedora nowhead coach at SouthernMiss, Oklahoma State’s game-planning has been formulated in large part by head coach Mike Gundy.OSU’s performance will be a direct reflection of Gundy’s comprehension of the Fedora offense. Through three seasons as the head man,Gundy is 17-19. In his first season as the Indiana head coach, Bill Lynch led the Hoosiers to their first bowl berth since 1993.But while the NCAA ranks OSU’s 2007 schedule as having been the nation’s second-toughest (behind Virginia Tech’s), Indiana’s strength-of-schedule ranking is No. 64.
Advantage: Even
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
12/31/2007
QUARTERBACK
Each team starts a third-year sophomore. This season,OSU’s Zac Robinson had five of the top 18 single-game total-offense performances in school history.He broke schools records for singleseason total offense (3,299), single-game total offense (486 against Texas) and single-game passing yards (430 against Texas).Robinson has thrown for 2,522 yards and rushed for 777. Lewis has thrown for 26 TDs against 10 interceptions, and he also leads the Hoosiers in rushing (653 yards).
Advantage: OSU
RUNNING BACK
In eight starts this season, Indiana junior Marcus Thigpen has rushed for 512 yards (4.0 per attempt).He is an effective pass-catcherwith 69 career receptions.OSUcounterswithAll-Big 12 senior Dantrell Savage,who enterswith 1,172 rushing yards and a nine-game streak of 100-yard performances. Savage’s career average of 6.1 yards per carry is the second-best in school history, trailing only Barry Sanders’ 6.8 average.
Advantage: OSU
OFFENSIVE LINE
TheHoosiers have allowed 30 sacks while averaging 4.2 yards per rush attempt. The Cowboys have allowed only 11 sacks while averaging 5.4 yards per rush attempt. Recovering nicely from the early season injury of its anchor, centerDavid Washington,OSUranks seventh nationally in rushing offense.
Advantage:
OSU
WIDE RECEIVER
James Hardy, a 6-foot-6 junior, is anAll-Big Ten performer for the Hoosiers. This season, he has 74 catches for 1,075 yards and 16 TDs.He is destined to play in the NFL, as isOSU’s 6-4 seniorAdarius Bowman (61 receptions, 932 yards, seven TDs).Bowman returns after missing two games with a knee injury.While OSU’s only other consistent big-play target is freshman Dez Bryant, Indiana has three additional receivers—Ray Fisher, Andrew Means and James Bailey — who have a combined total of 115 catches.
Advantage: Indiana
TIGHT END
In their spread passing attack, theHoosiers frequently do not have a tight end on the field. Nick Sexton and TroyWagner have a combined total of only four receptions. OSUjunior Brandon Pettigrew ,who is considering early entry into the NFL draft, scored on big fourth-quarter plays in the Cowboys’ victories over Texas Tech and Kansas State.He has 32 catches for 501 yards.
Advantage: OSU
DEFENSIVE LINE
Indiana sophomore end GregMiddleton leads the nation with 16 sacks. The Hoosiers have a team total of 42 —exactly twice as many as OSU’s sack total of 21.Both teams are average against the run. The Cowboys are 60th nationally in rushing defense,while the Hoosiers are 61st.
Advantage: Indiana
LINEBACKERS
Indiana has had the same starting trio all season, with Adam McClurg in the middle andWill Patterson andGeno Johnson at the outside positions. The Hoosier linebackers are the veterans of a combined total of 67 starts. OSU’s linebackers are inconsistent tacklers and occasionally get lost in pass coverage.
Advantage: Indiana
DEFENSIVE BACKS
OSUcornerback Perrish Cox has improved in pass coverage and Jacob Lacey has five interceptions. But the Cowboys, primarily because of their inability to pressure opposing QBs, rank 116th nationally in pass defense. For Indiana, All-Big Ten senior Tracy Porter is a playmaking cornerbackwith 75 tackles and six interceptions.
Advantage: Indiana
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kickoff and punt returns have been a Cowboy strength during this decade, but not this season. OSU’s return game has been average.Onfield goals, OSU’s Jason Ricks and Dan Bailey are a combined 1-of-8 on field goal attempts of 30 yards or longer.As All-Big Ten selection and Groza Award finalist, Indiana’sAustin Starr has connected on 19-of-21 field goal attempts. From40 yards or longer, he is 10-of-11. Indiana’s James Bailey averages 26.9 yards on kickoff returns.
Advantage: Indiana
COACHING
With offensive coordinator Larry Fedora nowhead coach at SouthernMiss, Oklahoma State’s game-planning has been formulated in large part by head coach Mike Gundy.OSU’s performance will be a direct reflection of Gundy’s comprehension of the Fedora offense. Through three seasons as the head man,Gundy is 17-19. In his first season as the Indiana head coach, Bill Lynch led the Hoosiers to their first bowl berth since 1993.But while the NCAA ranks OSU’s 2007 schedule as having been the nation’s second-toughest (behind Virginia Tech’s), Indiana’s strength-of-schedule ranking is No. 64.
Advantage: Even