2013 FCS Playoff Preview: Three Teams To Watch

North Dakota State

Brock Jensen
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The Bison are the number one seed in the tournament and that is well deserved. Not only are they the only undefeated team in the FCS, they have won the last two FCS titles and have not lost a game since October 13th, 2012. Some of their notable wins this season have been against Kansas State, an FBS team, Northern Iowa, and rivals South Dakota State. They have outscored their opponents by at least ten points in all but two games. Their offensive strength is their outstanding run game. Sam Ojuri averages 6.6 yards per run and John Crockett averages 6.1 yards. Their average rushing yards per game is 237.2 yards. QB Brock Jensen is highly-efficient; he has a 26-6 TD-INT ratio. Their defense allows under twelve points per game, which is best in the country, and is in the third in yards allowed per game with 243.0. They are not only stout on both sides of the ball, the Bison are great on special teams. Christian Dudzik has two punt returns for touchdowns while Ryan Smith has one. North Dakota State are the best team in the FCS and probably are better then some teams in FBS-AQ conferences. It is their title to lose.

Southeastern Louisiana

The Lions are the four seed in the playoffs and are destined to go far. They went undefeated in the Southland Conference that featured the FCS runner-up two years in a row, Sam Houston State, and 10-2 McNeese State. The offense is based around a extraordinary running game. Duel Threat quarterback Bryan Bennett leads the team in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, passing yards, and passing touchdowns. Rasheed Harrell and Xavier Roberson are both high-quality players. On the defensive side of the ball, LB Isiah Corbett has sixteen tackles for a loss and seven sacks and DL Jacob Newman has 13.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks. Southeastern Louisiana is going to make a run.

Fordham

Michael Nebrich
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Two years ago, the Fordham Rams were 1-10 and one of the teams in college football. Now, they are 11-1 and in the FCS Playoffs. The team's only loss was to Lafayette on November 16th. The offense is passing-based and they have a great quarterback in Michael Nebrich. Nebrich leads the FCS in completion percentage at 74.9%, is second in passing efficiency at 175.4, and is in the top five in passing yards per game with 325.1. He also has 28 touchdowns to only six picks. The running game is pretty good as well. It is headlined by Carlton Koonce, who averages over 111 rushing yards per game. Fordham is a sneaky team that may surprise some people and make a run behind their star signal-caller. 

2013 Champions Classic Preview

Promotion for 2013 Champions Classic
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The State Farm Champions Classic this year is incredible. Four of the top five teams in the nation will be facing off against each other today at the United Center in Chicago. The Kentucky Wildcats (#1 in the AP Poll/#1 in the USA Today Coaches Poll) will face off with the Michigan State Spartans (#2/#2) in the first game. Then, the Duke Blue Devils (#4/#4) go up against the Kansas Jayhawks (#5/#6).

KENTUCKY vs. MICHIGAN STATE

What makes the Kentucky-Michigan State match-up even more exciting is that it is between a team with freshman stars against a team of upperclassmen stars. Kentucky's freshman class this year is outstanding. They have five of the top nine recruits in brothers Aaron and Andrew Harrison, Dakari Johnson, Julius Randle, and James Young. Michigan State is based around their core of upperclassman including Keith Appling, Brandon Dawson, Adreian Payne, and Denzel Valentine. This game is going to be great. 

Julius Randle
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Player to Watch: Wildcats F Julius Randle: Randle has been very impressive through two games. He had a double-double in both games. He had 23 points and 15 rebounds against UNC-Ashville 22 points and 14 rebounds against North Kentucky. While he put up those numbers against teams that are not very good, it does show he has the potential to constantly to put up twenty and ten. The stat that I think is most telling is the amount of times he got to the line. He went to the 27 times and made 21 free throws. For him to keep up the success, he will need to keep getting to the line.

Match-Up to Watch: Spartans C Adreian Payne vs. Wildcats C Willie Cauley-Stein: I think Payne is an excellent player. If the Spartans can work the ball to him in the post and work through him, they will be successful. To stop him, Kentucky will need a good game from Willie Cauley-Stein. If Payne is not stopped, it will be a long day for the Wildcats.

Key to the Game: How will the Freshman of Kentucky play in their First Big Game: The question also surrounding young teams in any sport is how will they handle stressful and high pressure situations. This game will show us how resilient the Wildcats are and how they can handle pressure.

And The Winner Is: Kentucky: This game will be tight and will go down to the final minutes. In the end, Kentucky will make a defensive stop. 

DUKE vs. KANSAS

Again, there is more to this match-up then the fact that it involves top five teams. Kansas had the #1 player in this freshman class, Andrew Wiggins, while Duke has the #2 player in Jabari Parker. Both players are superstars. This game may be a Final Four match-up. 

Roodney Hood
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Player to Watch: Blue Devils F Rodney Hood: Hood sat out last season after transferring from Mississippi State. In his first game since March 13th, 2012, Hood played great in a 111-77 win over Davidson. He had 22 points, nine bounds, and went nine-for-ten from the field. If this is not fluke and Hood can put up numbers like that every game, him and Parker could make up the best frontcourt  in college basketball. 

Match-Up to Watch: Duke Guards vs. Jayhawks G Andrew Wiggins: Wiggins is the biggest scoring threat on this Kansas team. He was the #1 recruit for a reason. The Blue Devils need to  stop him from scoring and that job will most of the time fall to the Duke guards. Jabari Parker may also guard him, but no matter who is on him, they need to shut him down. 

Key to the Game: Duke from Beyond the Arc: Duke's offense depends on high-percentage three point shooters. Last season, the Blue Devils were 6th in the nation in three point percentage at 39.9%. They rely on the three to open up the floor for their post players and slashers. If they take and make the three, they will be in a prime position to win. 

And The Winner Is: Duke: Duke is the better team. Kansas still needs to work out some kinks and get into a rhythm. This game will not be as close as the first game of the night, but it should be competitive heading into the final ten minutes.