Jabbering JAG 131.9 (The Championship Game)
What a pair of games we had today! One game saw over 110 combined points put up on the scoreboard, the other game had a combined score that was barely more than the winner of the other game. This should make for an extremely interesting championship game!
First, let's take a look at the "favorites" and the defending National Champions. The Texas Southern Tigers come in with a perfect 18-0 on the season and they sport the #34 strength of schedule. Texas Southern has a 4-0 record against top 25 opponents this season.
TSU has an interesting roster. They are stacked at the top with 16 seniors but they also 17 freshman and some of those are at key positions. On paper it looks like inexperience in the secondary as well as on both lines would inhibit this teams production but we have seen no signs of that happening all season.
Texas Southern's closest game was in the SWAC title game and the margin of victory was 28. That's four scores ladies and gentlemen! It really wasn't even until the semi-finals that the Tigers were truly challenged. This game was close for pretty much three quarters but in the end we saw TSU pull away and hang on for the win. Texas Southern has put up over 600 yards of total offense 13 times this season and over 700 total yards of offense 6 times! TSU will definitely rely on RS JR QB, James Burns to do most of the work on offense. Burns has piled up over 8500 passing yards, 88 touchdowns to just 3 interceptions all while maintaining nearly a 67% completion percentage. Not to mention they have a SR RB in Steven Barrera who has over 2500 rushing yards and 63 touchdowns. All offense and no defense right? Well not necessarily, TSU also has a top 5 scoring defense who is allowing just over two scores a game.
Next, lets take a look at the "underdog" and challenger to unseat the defending champs. The Maine Black bears come in 17-1 on the season, they have the 83rd ranked strength of schedule. Maine has a solid 5-1 record against top 25 opponents this season.
Who says youth can't win? Definitely not UM! This roster only has 10 seniors on the roster and 30 underclassmen including 18 freshman. Maine has youth sprinkled throughout their roster but primarily with their TE core, offensive line as well as the defensive secondary. That youth hasn't slowed this team down though.
Maine had a fantastic regular season where they went undefeated and their closest game was a 10-point win in the first game of the season against Northern Iowa. The Black Bears suffered their first loss in a 2-point heartbreaker to William and Mary in the A-10 title game. Through playoffs Maine has definitely been consistent. The margins of victory aren't anything to write home about but Maine is consistently handling their business and not getting caught up in anything other than what they need to do to win the game at hand. Maine has a stout defense but their offense is pretty solid in it's own right. They average nearly 60 points per game and RS JR QB, Joseph Chavez has wracked up over 6500 passing yards and he has 74 touchdowns to 0 interceptions. Maine uses a bend but don't break defense and a very efficient offense that, on top no interceptions, also has one of the lowest fumble rates in the country.
Something has got to give in this one, will the high powered offense prevail or will stout defense and the saying "defense wins championships" hold up?
I first, want to congratulate everyone who made the playoffs on a great season! I also want to thank everyone for making this world so amazing and the playoffs so interesting again this season! Finally, to our national title contenders, congratulations on amazing seasons and for making it to the title game. I wish you both the best of luck!
TEXAS SOUTHERN vs MAINE: 34-24 Texas Southern
