So the College Football Awards Show is tomorrow night on ESPN at 6 p.m. Since there are no games going on this weekend (aside from Army vs. Navy) I figured I would give my pick for each award that will be presented in Orlando Thursday. Here goes.
Maxwell Award: Colt McCoy. Given to the nation's "best" player. The three finalists are Mark Ingram, Tim Tebow and Colt McCoy. I'm not sure when the voting ended for this award as the finalists were named before last weekend's games. For that reason I think I'll have to go with McCoy. Its a good possibility that his evening in Ndamukong Suh's arms did nothing to hurt his chances.
Bednarik Award: Ndamukong Suh. Given to the nation's best defensive player. Suh has already won the Nagurski Award which is a similar award. While Bama's Terrance Cody had a great year and Florida's Brandon Spikes came into the season with the hype, Suh walks away with the hardware.
Biletnekoff Award: Notre Dame's Golden Tate. Given to the nation's best wide receiver. The finalists are Tate, Jordan Shipley and Bowling Green's Freddie Barnes. Since most voters wouldn't know Barnes if he walked in the room in a Freddie Barnes sweater and Shipley was shut down by Nebraska, I have to go with Tate. His big play production this season was amazing.
O'Brien Award: Colt McCoy. Given to the nation's best quarterback. The finalists are McCoy, Tebow and Houston's Chase Keenum. Once again I doubt McCoy's slump against Nebraska will factor into the decision for this award and Colt walks away the winner. But look for Keenum to possibly grab the similar Sammy Baugh award.
Outland Trophy: Ndamukong Suh. Given to the nation's best interior lineman. The finalists are Suh, Oklahoma State's Russell Okung and Idaho's Mike Iupati. While this award generally goes to an offensive lineman, expect the Outland to shirk that and give the honor to Suh who should steamroll the defensive/lineman awards.
Thorpe Award: Tennessee's Eric Berry. Given to the nation's best defensive back. The finalists are Berry, Florida's Joe Haden and Texas' Earl Thomas. I expect the Longhorns shaky pass defense against Texas A&M to cost Thomas. In a toss up between Berry and Haden, expect Berry to come out with the award because of they hype he came into the season with.
Doak Walker Trophy: Stanford's Toby Gerhart. Given to the nation's best running back. The finalists are Gerhart, Alabama's Mark Ingram and Clemson's C.J. Spiller. Spiller's performance in the ACC title game was huge (230+ yards) and Ingram seems to be the Heisman frontrunner but I've got to go with Gerhart here who ran over opposing defenses all season.
P.S. - I didn't give my pick for the Lou Groza (kicker) or Ray Guy (punter) awards because I don't care who wins.
So did the Nebraska game hurt the Texas guys or not?
ReplyDelete"Shipley was shut down by Nebraska"
"For that reason I think I'll have to go with McCoy. Its a good possibility that his evening in Ndamukong Suh's arms did nothing to hurt his chances."
"Once again I doubt McCoy's slump against Nebraska will factor into the decision for this award and Colt walks away the winner."
If you'll notice I prefaced the remarks about McCoy's chances for the O'Brien and Maxwell not being hurt by saying that most of those votes came in before the Big 12 Championship. So since the votes were already in playing like ass didn't hurt McCoy.
ReplyDeleteWere the votes for the Biletnekoff in after the Nebrasska game?
ReplyDeleteProbably not. But Golden Tate would have won it regardless.
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