Region 4 - 2nd round:
16 Clemson vs 71 Nebraska
Yes, Deshaun Watson will get his yards and points, but this Husker D is special. Clemsson's relative weakness is run defense - uh oh. Not a good team to face in that case. Back-and-forth game, but the lockdown D wins out.
71 Nebraska over 16 Clemson
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08 Florida vs 04 USC
Yeah, I don't know. If it's a shootout, I lean USC. If it's lower-scoring, Florida. Trojans have Bush, Gators have Harvin. Similar total O and D numbers. Both with great punt returners. Both cause plenty of turnovers. I guess if I had to find an edge here, there's kicking game (adv Florida) and offensive balance. USC is more pass-heavy, and the Gators showed what they could do vs OU's big pass game. Florida's attack is more balanced, harder to key on any one thing. That'll tip the scale in a CLOSE game.
08 Florida over 04 USC
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01 Miami vs 97 Michigan
I see this one similar to the 95 Neb/91 Miami game - one team reliant on defense limiting their superior opponent, but unable to muster much of a threat on the scoreboard. Portis, McGehee, Gore, Johnson, Shockey...Woodson can't cover all of them. I don't think the UM offense does much of anything here, and while the defense plays valiantly, it's just not enough.
01 Miami over 97 Michigan
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87 Miami vs 91 Washington
Great Cane team - great defense, good offense - all that. Big names on both sides of the ball....but the Huskies! You could not run on them. At all. That's okay, because they didn't let you pass, either. Very balanced offense. Honestly, I'm not sure who I'd pick to beat this UW team. We'll see, but not here - and not close.
91 Washington over 87 Miami
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Region 4 - Sweet 16
71 Nebraska vs 08 Florida
01 Miami vs 91 Washington