2008 Woodie Awards
Smith looks to make history
Brian Murphy
Issue date: 12/10/07 Section: Sports
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So it has all come to this. One of the most historic seasons in UCF Football history will end on Dec. 29 at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tenn.
The Conference USA Champion Knights (10-3 overall, 7-1 in C-USA) will face the sixth-place team out of the Southeastern Conference in the Mississippi State Bulldogs (7-5 overall, 4-4 in SEC).
The Knights weren't supposed to be here after they won just four games in 2006 and were picked to finish third in C-USA's East Division during the preseason.
Much like the Knights, the Bulldogs have made an unexpected turnaround this year behind the leadership of head coach Sylvester Croom. They won just three games in each of the past two seasons, but put themselves in bowl contention this year with wins over Auburn, Kentucky and Alabama. Here is what to watch in the 49th AutoZone Liberty Bowl:
Magic number: 181
That's the number of rushing yards that UCF's All-American running back Kevin Smith needs to become the record holder for rushing yards in a season. For most running backs, that's a lot of yards, but for Smith, that's actually seven yards fewer than his per game average. He has run for at least 181 yards in four of his last five games.
He'll face one of his toughest tests this season in a Bulldogs defense that's pretty good against the run. They are known more for their pass defense, which is ranked 10th in the nation and allowing only 182 passing yards per game. But Mississippi State held the nation's second-leading rusher, Tulane's Matt Forte, and Heisman runner-up Darren McFadden to less than 100 yards this year.
The most rushing yards that the Bulldogs have allowed to one player in a game this year is 139 to Tennessee's Arian Foster on Oct. 13. So, Smith and his offensive line will have their work cut out for them, but they have produced all year. There is no reason why that would drastically change now.
An offense that depends on defense
When the Bulldogs defeated Auburn, Kentucky and Alabama, they held each team to 14 or fewer. That was the Bulldogs' only chance at victory as their offense is statistically weak.
The Conference USA Champion Knights (10-3 overall, 7-1 in C-USA) will face the sixth-place team out of the Southeastern Conference in the Mississippi State Bulldogs (7-5 overall, 4-4 in SEC).
The Knights weren't supposed to be here after they won just four games in 2006 and were picked to finish third in C-USA's East Division during the preseason.
Much like the Knights, the Bulldogs have made an unexpected turnaround this year behind the leadership of head coach Sylvester Croom. They won just three games in each of the past two seasons, but put themselves in bowl contention this year with wins over Auburn, Kentucky and Alabama. Here is what to watch in the 49th AutoZone Liberty Bowl:
Magic number: 181
That's the number of rushing yards that UCF's All-American running back Kevin Smith needs to become the record holder for rushing yards in a season. For most running backs, that's a lot of yards, but for Smith, that's actually seven yards fewer than his per game average. He has run for at least 181 yards in four of his last five games.
He'll face one of his toughest tests this season in a Bulldogs defense that's pretty good against the run. They are known more for their pass defense, which is ranked 10th in the nation and allowing only 182 passing yards per game. But Mississippi State held the nation's second-leading rusher, Tulane's Matt Forte, and Heisman runner-up Darren McFadden to less than 100 yards this year.
The most rushing yards that the Bulldogs have allowed to one player in a game this year is 139 to Tennessee's Arian Foster on Oct. 13. So, Smith and his offensive line will have their work cut out for them, but they have produced all year. There is no reason why that would drastically change now.
An offense that depends on defense
When the Bulldogs defeated Auburn, Kentucky and Alabama, they held each team to 14 or fewer. That was the Bulldogs' only chance at victory as their offense is statistically weak.