Sorry, Nebraska, Hokies belong in Sugar Bowl

Sporting News, The, Dec 13, 1999 by Mark Blaudschun

Saturday's action had none of the drama of a year ago, when UCLA played at Miami (Fla.) with an unbeaten season and shot at the national championship at stake; Kansas State fought Texas A&M for the Big 12 championship, an undefeated season and a BCS rifle game berth; and Tennessee played Mississippi State in the SEC title game for a chance to baffle for the national crown. It was high drama and perhaps the best weekend of the season.

In the SEC title game, Alabama put on a clinic in muting Florida, 34-7, proving the Tide, after a rocky start to its season, is back among the SEC's elite. Alabama will play Michigan in the Orange Bowl. Florida, meanwhile, is having a problem with its offense (the 114 yards and six first downs being the worst since Steve Spurrier arrived in Gainesville in 1990) and will try to work out its problems in the Citrus Bowl against Michigan State.

Texas-Nebraska in the Big 12 title game? Yawn. Sure, there was a modicum of drama, with Nebraska holding out hope that a win over Texas would boost it past Virginia Tech to the No. 2 spot in the BCS standings, thus affording the Huskers the chance to play Florida State in the Sugar Bowl for the national title January 4. But the Cornhuskers' 22-6 win over Texas didn't cut it--and Nebraska knew it. Instead of competing for their fourth national title this decade, the Huskers will settle for a trip to the Fiesta Bowl to play Tennessee. Texas, sure to be a Top 3 team in next year's' preseason polls, will meet Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl a matchup that awakens the echoes of the old Southwest Conference.

That's the gamble with league championship games; sometimes they can mean a great deal nationally, sometimes they don't. Nebraska had the most meaningful game. Huskers fans will argue that their one-loss (to Texas in Austin) shouldn't tarnish their feats, especially when the team that beat them out for the Sugar Bowl slot played just one Top 25 team and Nebraska battled through Kansas State, Colorado, Texas A&M, Southern Miss and Texas (twice).

Maybe Nebraska is as good as Virginia Tech. Maybe the Cornhuskers could shut down fabulous freshman quarterback Michael Vick and the Hokies the way they shut down Major Apple-white (three interceptions and just 164 yards passing) and the Longhorns offense (9 yards rushing on 29 attempts) Saturday. Said Huskers coach Frank Solich after the game, "We know as much as anyone how difficult it is to go undefeated. Florida State and Virginia Tech have done that. But I know we've got a great team that can play in that game and play well."

A Virginia Tech-Florida State matchup in the Sugar Bowl will be a competitive game despite what the critics of Tech and its schedule say. Vick is that good, and the Hokies defense is that impressive. If you think Florida State will roll over Virginia Tech, you are taking a huge gamble.

TSN's
Power Poll

     Team (last week)       W-L    Last week

 1.  Florida State (1)      11-0   Idle
 2.  Virginia Tech (2)      11-0   Idle
 3.  Nebraska (3)           11-1   W, 22-6 vs. Texas
 4.  Wisconsin (5)          9-2    Idle
 5.  Alabama (9)            10-2   W, 34-7 vs. Florida
 6.  Tennessee (6)          9-2    Idle
 7.  Michigan (7)           9-2    Idle
 8.  Kansas State (8)       10-1   Idle
 9.  Florida (4)            9-3    L, 34-7 vs. Alabama
10.  Marshall (10)          12-0   W, 34-30 vs. W. Michigan
11.  Michigan State (11)    9-2    Idle
12.  Mississippi St. (13)   9-2    Idle
13.  Penn State (14)        9-3    Idle
14.  Texas (12)             9-4    L, 22-6 vs. Nebraska
15.  Georgia Tech (15)      8-3    Idle
16.  Georgia (16)           7-4    Idle
17.  Southern Miss (17)     8-3    Idle
18.  Minnesota (18)         8-3    Idle
19.  Purdue (19)            7-4    Idle
20.  Texas A&M (20)         8-3    Idle
21.  Miami, Fla. (21)       8-4    W, 55-0 vs. Temple
22.  Mississippi (22)       7-4    Idle
23.  East Carolina (23)     9-2    Idle
24.  Stanford (24)          8-3    Idle
25.  Boston College (25)    8-3    Idle

     Team (last week)       Next up

 1.  Florida State (1)      vs. Virginia Tech, 1/4
 2.  Virginia Tech (2)      vs. Florida State, 1/4
 3.  Nebraska (3)           vs. Tennessee, 1/2
 4.  Wisconsin (5)          vs. Stanford, 1/1
 5.  Alabama (9)            vs. Michigan, 1/1
 6.  Tennessee (6)          vs. Nebraska, 1/2
 7.  Michigan (7)           vs. Alabama, 1/1
 8.  Kansas State (8)       vs. Washington, 12/29
 9.  Florida (4)            vs. Michigan State, 1/1
10.  Marshall (10)          vs. BYU, 12/27
11.  Michigan State (11)    vs. Florida, 1/1
12.  Mississippi St. (13)   vs. Clemson, 12/30
13.  Penn State (14)        vs. Texas A&M, 12/28
14.  Texas (12)             vs. Arkansas, 1/1
15.  Georgia Tech (15)      vs. Miami, 1/1
16.  Georgia (16)           vs. Purdue, 1/1
17.  Southern Miss (17)     vs. Colorado State, 12/31
18.  Minnesota (18)         vs. Oregon, 12/31
19.  Purdue (19)            vs. Georgia, 1/1
20.  Texas A&M (20)         vs. Penn State, 12/28
21.  Miami, Fla. (21)       vs. Georgia Tech, 1/1
22.  Mississippi (22)       vs. Oklahoma, 12/31
23.  East Carolina (23)     vs. TCU, 12/22
24.  Stanford (24)          vs. Wisconsin, 1/1
25.  Boston College (25)    vs. Colorado, 12/31

     Team (last week)       TV info (all times Eastern)

 1.  Florida State (1)      8 p.m., ABC
 2.  Virginia Tech (2)      8 p.m., ABC
 3.  Nebraska (3)           8 p.m., ABC
 4.  Wisconsin (5)          4:30 p.m., ABC
 5.  Alabama (9)            8 p.m., ABC
 6.  Tennessee (6)          8 p.m., ABC
 7.  Michigan (7)           8 p.m., ABC
 8.  Kansas State (8)       8 p.m., ESPN
 9.  Florida (4)            1 p.m., ABC
10.  Marshall (10)          1:30 p.m., ESPN
11.  Michigan State (11)    1 p.m., ABC
12.  Mississippi St. (13)   7:30 p.m., ESPN
13.  Penn State (14)        7:30 p.m., ESPN
14.  Texas (12)             11 a.m., Fox
15.  Georgia Tech (15)      12:30 p.m., NBC
16.  Georgia (16)           11 a.m., ESPN
17.  Southern Miss (17)     5 p.m., ESPN
18.  Minnesota (18)         2:15 p.m., CBS
19.  Purdue (19)            11 a.m., ESPN
20.  Texas A&M (20)         7:30 p.m., ESPN
21.  Miami, Fla. (21)       12:30 p.m., NBC
22.  Mississippi (22)       8:30 p.m., ESPN
23.  East Carolina (23)     7:30 p.m., ESPN2
24.  Stanford (24)          4:30 p.m., ABC
25.  Boston College (25)    1:45 p.m., ESPN

    Team (last week)       Comment

 1.  Florida State (1)      Seminoles ready to show why they're the
                            best.
 2.  Virginia Tech (2)      OK, this is the chance to answer ALL
                            doubters.
 3.  Nebraska (3)           Didn't make Sugar Bowl, but finally
                            ridded itself of `Horns' hex.
 4.  Wisconsin (5)          If it weren't for facial hair, Dayne
                            would be almost perfect.
 5.  Alabama (9)            And watch as the balance of power in the
                            SEC shifts dramatically.
 6.  Tennessee (6)          Season was a bit of a letdown after '98,
                            but Vols will take it.
 7.  Michigan (7)           Wolverines likely to have their hands
                            full with Shaun Alexander.
 8.  Kansas State (8)       K-State just can't catch a break come
                            bowl season.
 9.  Florida (4)            Would you believe Gators could end up
                            losing four games?
10.  Marshall (10)          Should have pounded Western Michigan but
                            still showed head.
11.  Michigan State (11)    Saban probably just didn't want to play
                            Florida.
12.  Mississippi St. (13)   Strong season deserved better than Peach
                            Bowl bid.
13.  Penn State (14)        Went from New Orleans to San Antonio in
                            three weeks.
14.  Texas (12)             Neither Major nor Simms had much hope
                            against Huskers.
15.  Georgia Tech (15)      One last chance for Hamilton to show
                            he's better than CFL QB.
16.  Georgia (16)           That end zone fumble call against
                            Georgia Tech will haunt them.
17.  Southern Miss (17)     Happy to visit Liberty Bowl for second
                            time in three years.
18.  Minnesota (18)         Gophers could fatten record against Pac-
                            10 team.
19.  Purdue (19)            Bleary-eyed Y2K revelers will be
                            awakened by Brees' bombs.
20.  Texas A&M (20)         Gets to play in Disappointment Bowl in
                            San Antonio.
21.  Miami, Fla. (21)       Easy to forget Hurricanes' were once
                            considered title contenders.
22.  Mississippi (22)       Rebels make it two trips in a row to
                            Shreveport. Oh, boy.
23.  East Carolina (23)     It's Pirates' turn to try to stop
                            Tomlinson.
24.  Stanford (24)          Heading to Rose Bowl on its highest note
                            of the year.
25.  Boston College (25)    Eagles can add another brick to a fast-
                            rising foundation.