Week 14 – CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK
University of Tulsa Golden Hurricanes @
University of Central Florida Knights
Bright House Networks Stadium – Orlando, FL
Capacity: 45,301
Kickoff: 12:00pm ET
Line (As Of 11/28) : UCF -6.5 to -7.5
Television: ESPN and ESPN HD
Radio: AM 740 (Orlando), 1350 (Cocoa & Dade City), 1340 (Daytona) 1240 (Melbourne)
UCF Record: 9-3 (7-1), last win against UTEP. Last loss against USF.
Opponents Record: 9-3 (6-2), last win against Rice. Last loss against UCF.
Series Record: The series is now tied 1-1.
UCF Depth Chart:Click Here To See
Tulsa Depth Chart:Click Here To See

Analysis by: punk0mi of the ucflj community.

Needless to say…
WELCOME TO CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK PEOPLE!!!

UCF has done it. UCF will be hosting its second C-USA title match in three years. The irony of the whole even is that is seems to be 2005 all over again. Tulsa @ UCF for the championship…except I am betting the outcome will be different this season.

BE THERE! WEAR BLACK! BE LOUD AS HELL AND LOSE YOUR VOICE!

On to the pre-game analysis…

What can we expect from Tulsa?
Another dose of this heavy pass team. Also, expect a little bit of a different Tulsa team to show up. Perhaps one who is ready to put up a better fight than the one earlier this season. Just know Paul Smith has turned it up a notch or two in the passing game since his last visit to Orlando. Try 4,327 passing yards and 39 TD’s on the season. That is pretty darn good.

What can we expect from UCF?
Expect UCF to be fired up. This is a bit of a historic game for UCF. Not only did UCF open the new stadium this year, but they are getting host the conference championship in it too. There is no better way to finish out this year than playing in this game on Saturday. The players know that, the coaches know that, and most importantly the fans and students know that. Expect UCF to play harder than the past 2 game, and expect it to show. Expect The Kingdom to be louder than it was during the Texas game…expect it to be a lot more rowdy too.

Who, What, Where, Why, When, How?
Once again, at front and center is Senior Quarterback Paul Smith. Smith is a passing beast. As I mentioned earlier he has thrown for 4,327 yards and 39 TD. He is 272 for 444 (or 61.3%) on passes and has 16 INT’s on the season. Smith also is touting a QB rating of 164.9, that is the third highest in the nation behind no other than Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford and Florida’s Tim Tebow. Also, Smith is making about 9.7 yards per throw which is a great average. Also, Smith’s favorite target is WR Brennan Marion (Jr.). Marion has 32 receptions for a whopping 1,148 yards and 11 TD’s – and for you statistics people that is 35.9 yards per catch! Other WR’s too look for include Trae Johnson (Fr.), Jesse Meyer (So.), and to freshman Fullback Charles Clay as he is a better receiver than a rusher. RB Tarrion Adams (Jr.) does the running game pretty well as he has accumulated 1,072 yards and 7 TD’s on the season. UCF DEFENSE: This game belongs to the backfield, once again. Simply put it is going to be Clay, Johnson, and Marion versus Joe Burnett and Johnell Neal. These guys need to focus on breakup passes instead of making picks (unless they are easy picks of course). If the UCF backfield cannot kill the passing game, then Tulsa will score. Additionally, putting heat on the QB is a must as well. The D-Line must make it through Tulsa O-Line to make Paul Smith sweat.

Tulsa looked as if the defense had tightened up their game a bit, until the last two games in which they allowed 700 yards of offense. Nasty, nasty, nasty. Some may believe that it is because QB Paul Smith moves the ball down field too quick, and that doesn’t give the D anytime to rest up. Who knows. Tulsa has tightened up the D a little bit, only allowing an average of 471 yards of offense a game instead of 490.3 when Tulsa came to Orlando last time. The major players for the Hurricane are LB Chris Chamberlain (with 149 total tackles, 7 TFL’s, 1.5 sacks, and 3 INT’s), LB Nelson Coleman (with 129 total tackles, 7.5 TFLs, 2 Sacks, and 1 INT), and Alain Karatepeyan (with 93 total tackles, 15.5 TFL’s, 6 sacks, and 1 INT). The Tulsa backfield hasn’t changed too much from last time in defending against the pass as they are allowing an average of 285.2 yards per game. UCF OFFENSE: The game rests in the hands of Kyle Israel, Kevin Smith, and Michael Torres. Israel will need to spread the ball around smart. Check his receivers and make the best throw. Honestly, the Tulsa D never gets a chance to rest, so this tells me to just nickel and dime the heck out of Tulsa with the pass play until they are too tired to run then bust a big one on them. Tulsa also better bring their stickiest gloves, because they will need them to stop Kevin Smith. The Tulsa’s D has proven that they aren’t too good at defending the rush by allowing 186.6 yards per game on the ground…and that stat probably would be worse if Tulsa faced RB’s like Smith every week. So, why did I say Michael Torres? Simply because his “golden” feet need to be ready to kick the ball for FG’s or PAT’s. The O-Line will do just as good as they did with Tulsa earlier this season, so no expected troubles there. If UCF can move the ball and exhaust the Tulsa D, UCF will score often.

Other Contributing Factors: There are many contributing factors that will affect Tulsa. Home Field Advantage - DUH! I seriously expect this to be the loudest game to date. Expect a sell out! Expect the students to be rowdy as hell. Expect the place to be crazy all around. For the Pride of Florida - Let’s represent Florida as being one of the only team(s) in the state to win their conference. A win on Saturday will set us up nicely for a primetime showdown with a good team in a good bowl game! Not to mention every time UCF does well, we are getting attention somewhere which is priceless. We Beat Them Already - UCF has beat Tulsa already this season. In fact it was a good beating (44-23 lest we forget). Weather looks PERFECT for a game: - Forecast calls for a daytime high of 79 with a 10% chance of showers. Winds are expected to be out of the NNE at 7 MPH with a humidity of 69%. Sunrise is at 7:01 AM and the tail gating starts at 8 AM…what perfect timing for kegs and eggs people.

Summary:
This is it boys and girls. This is the culmination of our regular season. We are 9-3. We are playing for all the beans. A win this Saturday means we are the C-USA champions and will be going to the Liberty Bowl to play a team from the SEC. Do not down play Tulsa, this will not be like it was when we played them earlier this season. Expect them to want the title and shot at the Liberty Bowl just as much. But remember they are playing In our house, so let’s give em’ hell. If Israel and Smith get the ball moving and scoring, and our Defense stays charged, then there is no reason why we cannot be crowned this weekend.

Additionally….I personally want a reason to make the “leap of faith” on Saturday, don’t you? What is the leap of faith? The leap of faith is the distance from the student section to the field…yes…I am talking about storming the field if we win…and I am sure I wouldn’t be the only one to do it either!

So bring your biggest signs and banners, your voices, your painted bodies and faces, and let’s rock this joint like it’s never been rocked before!!!!

SEE YOU SATURDAY AT 8AM FOR KEGS AND EGGS!!!

Last but not least, I leave you with the Keys to the Game and Players to Watch.

Go Knights!
2007 C-USA EAST Division Champs!!!!