College Football's Last Game of 2012 Season

Well, the end of a somewhat tumultous 2012 season is here, for now.  We're just 4 weeks from national letter of intent day.  Spring ball starts a little bit after that.  So the break won't be for long.  But alas, this is the last game for nearly 8 months.

So, what's going to happen tonight in Miami?

Most people believe the SEC will continue to exert its dominance.  Many say ND is overrated, lucky to be playing in the game at all, and going to get outmanned, outhustled, and outcoached.  I say, an undefeated team that beat the Pac 12 champ, the Big XII co-champ, one of the top 4 teams in the Big Ten, and the preseason #1 doesn't support that logic.  10 of their 12 opponents were bowl-eligible (though Miami excluded itself from the postseason).

The manner in which they won some of those games was absolutely lucky.  Some of it came as a result of questionable, or straight bad, officiating.  But any team that can go 12-0 against that kind of schedule is more than lucky or a beneficiary of poor officiating.

First off, Notre Dame is NOT any of the previous 6 runners-up in National Championship games.  The most recent was an SEC team, so, the SEC was guaranteed that one.  Prior to that was a timing-oriented wide open rushing attack in Oregon.  Other losers included pass-heavy Oklahoma and Texas and a balanced (but not elite) offense in Ohio State.  From a defensive standpoint, OU and Ohio State didn't bring top 10 defenses to the game.  Texas did have a great D, but they had an unproven back-up QB when Colt McCoy got hurt.

Notre Dame does not have an elite offense like Texas did in 2009.  However, unlike Texas, Notre Dame has a much more SEC-style offense: power running, followed by play-action passing, run by a mobile QB.  Texas had a more gimmick-style attack.  And again, the back-up QB, who was forced into action for 3 quarters, was unproven.  ND has two backups with significant playing experience.

Notre Dame also brings an SEC-style defense: three big, strong, fast defensive linemen; athletic and physical linebackers; and a secondary that can cover long enough and hit hard enough to back up from their front 7.  They can line up in a 3-4 or 4-3 with their OLBs size and strength.

Notre Dame stands a better chance than the 5 previous non-SEC teams during this recent SEC-dominant stretch (which I believe is aided by a fact that their champion is guaranteed a CHANCE at the title, which is not afforded to any other league champion).  A&M exposed a myth of the SEC this season, in my opinion.  The reason SEC defenses look so dominant is b/c the SEC has poor offenses.  Enter A&M with a dynamic QB and a wide open, no-fear offensive philosophy and they fared just fine in the SEC.  A backfield with Mark Engram and Trent Richardson could run through the SEC.  Cam Newton could run through the SEC without slowing down.  Good offenses can beat SEC defenses.  Can Notre Dame's trio of talented backs, mobile QB, and All-American Tyler Eifert beat a good SEC defense?

Possible.  This is not one of the Alabama defenses of the previous few years.  There are chinks in the armor.  If ND can get the power-running attack going, there are opportunities for big plays in the passing game.  Theo Riddick can be a game-changer both running the ball and catching it out of the backfield.

Obviously I'm biased, but I really believe ND has a legitimate chance tonight.  I think they shock the world, continue to expose the SEC myth, and bruise Bama physically, mentally, psychologically, and pride-ologically.  ND 16, Bama 13 (Bama scores late to close the gap, which is 16-6 heading into the final minutes).