Mike's Prediction:
In most areas you will hear the stories about the small schools that are good programs but are not considered elite because they don't play the big boys. Well, give Coach Mack of St. Bonaventure credit as he has accepted the widely refused challenge of Coach Redell's D-XI (11) Lions of Oaks Christian. The result is one of the most intriguing games you will find as the little guys get their chance to finally prove themselves against the best of the best. The years of questions and debate will finally be over after 4 quarters are played tonight.
The problem for powerhouse St. Bonaventure is that the "little guys" feature a team that has caused Charlie Weis and Pete Carroll make personal recruiting visits. The best way I can explain the talent of Oaks Christian is the story of Marshall Jones, an Oaks senior who is projected to possibly be a running back at USC, but gives away most of the carries to fellow USC recruit Marc Tyler. It must be tuff job to decide which USC bound back to give the ball to. but I guess you could always opt to chuck it with QB Jimmy Clausen, who just happens to be ESPN's number 1 recruit in the nation. Needless to say, St. Bonaventure's powerful defense will have their hands full with this offense.
St. Bonaventure's massive O-line will look to make holes for Michael Lee who spearheads the heralded Bonaventure run attack. While Lee's future college prospects are good but not as glamorous as Tyler or Jones, he has been getting the job done just fine against tough southern California competition every Friday night. Which brings me to my biggest question of the night, how will the Oaks D respond to the best offense they have ever matched up against?
The run game of Bonaventure will be able to slow down the pace of the game. However as Oak's puts 8 in the box, Coach Mack's QB may be forced to take his chances against Oak's star-studded secondary. I believe the Oak's D, which relies on multiple two-way starters, will bend but not break, and give enough room for the Oak's offense to do what they do best, score early and often.
Chris' Prediction:
Last week I went with the team that didn't have the most D-1 talent, but they had heart, and in the end I lost. This week I am not going to go against the more talented team. Oaks Christian will win because they will be able to score with the pass and the run, while St. Bonaventure won't be able to run the ball like they have become accustomed to. You can say that stamina will be an important role in this game for an Oaks Christian victory, but I equate it to being like staying up all night. After the first night, you don't feel tired the next day, but when you do it two nights in a row, then that is when the lack of sleep starts to wear on you. Saying this, I think that the adrenaline of these boys will be pumping, and they won't get as tired as everyone thinks, but next weeks game against Venice is when the stamina will catch up to Oaks Christian, and they will start out more sluggish because of it.
St. Bonaventure can win this game if they stop not only Tyler and Jones, but also a quarterback by the name of Jimmy Clausen. They also need their 5-7, 165 pound running back by the name Michael Lee to have a dominating performance against an eight man front, because St. Bonaventure's passing game is not the brightest star in their football galaxy.
The game is not going to be a blowout for either team, there is too much pride at stake, but Oaks Christian will win the game by the score of 35-24.