Jabbering JAG (Championship Edition)
What a season we have had. I know it seems like all of the media is saying it every season but wow, this season sure has been a good one. We are finally to the part of season 135 where we get to crown our national champions! DIAA gave us some surprises this season for sure but the two teams who made the championship game are very deserving and this game should be a dandy. Thank you for those of you who submitted votes for your Wilkinson Bud Award winners. Huskerfan and that group of coaches try to bring you something different and add another dimension to this world and I know they appreciate your participation. Now, without further ado.
S-Jacksonville State vs E-Texas Southern
Jacksonville State comes in as the champions of the South bracket where they entered as the #6 seed! On the season JSU is 5-3 against top 25 opponents and the Gamecocks went through the 10th ranked SOS.
Texas Southern comes into the game as champions of the East bracket where they were the #1 seed. The Tigers come in as SWAC conference champions and the 5-time defending National Champions! TSU is 6-1 against top 25 opponents this season and they had the 11th ranked SOS.
THE SEASON
Jacksonville State cruised through their first two games before stumbling in game 3 against Northern Iowa. JSU was behind pretty much that entire game but the team showed their resiliency as they were able to tie the game early in the 4th quarter, only to see UNI retake a 10-point win to seal the deal. The Gamecocks would then go on to win 7 of their next 8 games before limping into playoffs following two straight losses.
Texas Southern started off destroying people. 3 of their first 4 games were against humans who didn’t provide much of a challenge. TSU then hosted Northern Iowa in week 5 where they met their match. TSU suffered their first loss in 80+ games. The Tigers were on a mission after that as they cruised through the regular season and capped it off with an impressive win in their conference title game.
THE ROAD
Jacksonville State naturally had a tough road to get to the NC game since they were a 6-seed. This team didn’t let the rankings tell the tale, this team was going to write their own story. JSU was outgained in 3 of their 4 post-season games but the team still found a way to win, which good teams often do. After a close game against Drake, a game that saw the Gamecocks rock off 20 unanswered points in the 4th quarter, JSU met a team who had beaten them this season in UNI. JSU clearly made adjustments as they got their sweet sweet revenge. JSU then squared off against two straight top 5 teams, teams known for their ability to win big games but JSU wouldn’t be denied.
Texas Southern had a much easier road, at least at first. It wasn’t until the 3rd round when Texas Southern finally got legitimate competition. TSU butted heads with perennial contender and OVC powerhouse Marist. TSU got off to a very slow start as they trailed most of the 1st quarter but once things got rolling the Tigers never looked back. TSU put up nearly 700 yards of total offense in the game. TSU then met my surprise team of the playoffs in Georgia Southern. GSU fought with all of their might but it wasn’t enough, the game was pretty much over by the 4th quarter but GSU tried to mount a comeback but fell 7 points short.
THE NUMBERS
Series: 5-5
Huskerfan111 vs Vikesrul69: 3-3
Jacksonville State
Record: 13-4
Rank: 21
Offense: 7 (51 ppg)
Defense: N/A (28 oppg)
Texas Southern
Record: 17-1
Rank: 3
Offense: 2 (58 ppg)
Defense: 4 (14 oppg)
PREDICTION: Texas Southern’s offense gets it done against a weaker defense. This game is going to be an offensive slugfest. TSU 45-35
