FSU Bowl Preview

While most Florida State fans are not enthusiastic about playing in the Emerald Bowl, it does provide an opportunity for the Seminole program. Unlike the school to the southeast by 150 miles, Florida State has a history of recruiting nationally and playing a national schedule. The opportunity to play a Pac 10 team on national TV isn't the worst thing in the world for recruiting. Besides FSU has more talent than just about any other 6 win team in the recent history of the sport. This is an opportunity for the program, not a just punishment like Miami's trip to Boise.

This will be the last game for offensive coordinator Jeff Bowden. The Seminoles certainly have the weapons to cause UCLA's vaunted (and highly over rated) defense trouble. Lorenzo Booker who has suffered from four years of under utilization at FSU is dangerous and should get some touches. Antone Smith has been hobbled by injuries but if he plays- and he should, he can pound the ball right at UCLA's defense.

Gregg Carr, Chris Davis and D'Cody Fagg continue to give FSU's QBs a target to throw to. However, the QB play for FSU and the O-line play has been erratic to say the least.

UCLA's offense has been ineffective much of the season. The Bruins use multiple QBs, but the best is Patrick Cowan. Expect Buster Davis, Geno Hayes and Lawrence Timmons to be zeroed in on him. Ben Olsen should also get some snaps. Perhaps no player in America is missed by his former team as much as the former Maurice Drew (now Maurice Jones-Drew) has been by UCLA. Drew did it all for the Bruins, and last year's 10-2 record could have easily been 5-6 with no bowl game if not for Drew's repeated heroics late in close games. Chris Markey has had a good year for UCLA but he lacks Drew's explosiveness.

Florida State has far superior talent to UCLA and should win easily. However the rough trip out west and the downer of a 6-6 season could make the game tougher than it should be. Still, do not be fooled by UCLA's win over USC. The Trojans were finishing a three week gauntlet that any college football fan (even those who think no good teams play outside the SEC) must admit was murderous, and UCLA was psyched up for a rivalry matchup. The Bruins simply aren't very good. They are one of the worst major conference teams to make a Bowl game, and for all the talk from the national press that FSU may not get across the 50 yard line in this game, I feel UCLA's offense may create more points for FSU with turnovers than it creates for itself.

PREDICTION: FLORIDA STATE 28 UCLA 6