[2024] Week 1 - Matchup Of the Week

[SageBow]

An awesome showdown in Week 0 as our previously highlighted stars battled in an extremely tight 21-20 Notre Dame victory over Navy. Vote for who you think won, and we'll look at our option for Week 1

Week 1 Matchup of the Week

RB James Livingston, SO, VT vs ILB Austin Rosario, SR, TEX

  

 

Another huge game between two excellent players. We're going to Austin, Texas to see the ACC's Virginia Tech Hokies take on the SEC's Texas Longhorns. On one hand, Texas's Coach @joopear has one of the top linebackers in the nation with senior Austin Rosario. Just a dominant player standing at 6'-1" and weighing 227 lbs, Rosario had 78 tackles and 13 TFLs last season in full action as the leader of this Longhorns defense and looks to improve in his final season. Meanwhile, Virginia Tech Coach @Zz3DWAFFLEzZ has a young dynamo in James Livingston leading the way for his Hokies offense. A highly recruited kid, Livingston racked up 631 yards in 156 carries as a true freshman, tacking on 5 touchdowns through the ground while also catching 22 passes out of the backfield for 167 yards and 2 scores. He's an all-purpose back that can be dynamic running behind his line or being an option in the passing game. Now that RB Rob Joseph has graduated, Livingston should be the focal point of the Hokies offense.

 

On paper, this is not even fair. Rosario is one of the top athletes in the country playing this linebacker position, where Livingston is a player that is growing into his own. But the game of football is not played on paper. Rosario may be bigger and faster, but there's something about what Livingston does that makes this an electric matchup to watch. He's great both rushing and receiving, and the ability for Virginia Tech to put Livingston in places he can succeed will have Texas's DC scrambling to find answers. And as much as I love Rosario, through his career he has yet to show us on-field play that one would expect from a guy with his physical talents.

 

Prediction - Livingston gets at least 2 touchdowns this week to lead the Hokies in an upset victory over Rosario and the Longhorns. Rosario contributes with tackles, but just doesn't find the opportunity to make the big plays to grab a win for his team.

 

[Bingo415]

Damn good media. Seeing the cards on these Uber-matchups is awesome.