NCAA 08 Rundown: The End.

Final thoughts on NCAA 08:

Well, since I no longer have an xbox360 (or at least not for another month), I might as well call an end to this preview, and publish my findings. But before I begin, I do also need to recommend Gamespot.com's subscription service. It's $30 a year and with full movies, patches, game guides (the one I'm using here came from the pay service) and all of it for speedy downloads. I feel it's a pretty good deal.

BEST PLAYBOOK, BALANCED OFFENSE:
I’m a homer, yes, but I’ve also played with a lot of different teams on NCAA, and I’d honestly have to say that the Gamecocks have the best balanced offensive playbook in the game. Numerous single back and shotgun sets, about four I formations of various appearances, and one split back set with 3 wideouts (that incidentally, I do not like). Also, under the Single Back, “Big” set and all the way to the right you will find the Emory and Henry plays. There are also a decent number of option plays if you want to change off of a predominantly option offense to a more passing based offense (I’m looking at you, Florida fans). But if you’re looking for the…

BEST PLAYBOOK, OPTION:

then you have to go with Florida. The “Gator” shotgun formation is amazing with Tebow. When I played as UF, I used this formation to bludgeon my opponents with straight ahead runs by QB #15. For the uninitiated, it has Tebow deep in the ‘gun and he has two running backs closer to the line of scrimmage as potential blockers or as option runners. There is one wideout split wide, and the formation has two tight ends. It looks like something the Four Horseman would run, and it’s just as effective. I’m just pissed they don’t have the all-time teams in this game anymore because I’d love to try this formation out with 1946 Army or 1995 Nebraska or something like that.

COOLEST “TRICK” FORMATION:

Definitely goes to Arkansas for the Wildcat. McFadden with a run/throw option=awesome. OH and huge tip…you have to press X on the 360 until you get the “HB QB Sub” package to run the plays correctly. Big tip from Gamespot.com.

You probably know the best team in the game. That is obviously USC…and I didn’t even play as them. It just seems unfair. But I did play as LSU and they are incredible. So much speed on defense, and a solid running attack. Don’t make mistakes in the air (and it is easy to do this year) and you’re assured of victory.

So the last category that I have is the “sandbag” category. This is the thing where you pick an unranked team and your buddy picks another unranked team. Sometimes these teams are better than some of the ranked ones, so it helps to know which ones to pick. Here are some examples.

BEST “SHITTY” TEAM TO SANDBAG YOUR FRIENDS WITH:

I know, I know…I’m a homer…but I have to go with South Carolina again on this one. The Gamecocks have a solid defense led by Jasper Brinkley (who is a monster), Blake Mitchell is an 89(!), Kenny McKinley is amazing and so are Cory Boyd (90 rtg) and Mike Davis (88 rtg). Chris Culliver (WR #80, true frosh) is also in this game and his speed rating is a 95. So put him in as your 3^rd WR. Ryan Succop is an absolute monster in the kicking game and if you’re accurate, he’ll nail anything closer than the 35 yard line.

But in a twist, I’m going to also recommend Clemson. They have two amazing backs and James Davis (94 spd, 88 break tackle, 91 truck, 94 acceleration & agility) cannot be tackled in the game…it’s seriously almost impossible. Add to this a defense averaged to 89 by Gamespot.com and they are a legit sandbag team.

If you like high powered offenses with little to no defense, then Missouri is your squad. Chase Daniels (84 spd, 89 throw power & accuracy) leads a potent offense, but you better put up points because the Mizzou defense is pretty weak—Gamespot.com gives them an average of 77 while their offense gets an average of 92.

So that’s that. Have fun with the game…and remember, the object of this game is one thing: “Shit Talking.”

NCAA 08 First Thoughts...

...I need to work on my passing game. So I got it at 12:30, got a twelve pack, came home and booted it up in the ol' Xbox 360. Fowler breaks down some new features while you see badass trick plays play through on the screen. This new save your replay thing is either the coolest thing ever or the dorkiest thing ever--basically, you can save replays and upload them to the internet. On the one hand, it'd be cool to beat your friend's ass, save replays and then send email them to him with subject lines like "holy shit scarlett johansson nip slip!" and then some nice play on the other end of that nondescript youtube html. But then again, who the fuck sends NCAA clips of themselves over the internet? Bottom line is, I hope reallyboredugafan gets this game quickly.

So after that, I start up with a Carolina-Clemson game. At this point, I started taking notes, and I'm kinda drunk, so I'll just start to list those notes right now.

--The Gamecock helmets are authentic down to the SC State flag stickers on the back of them.

--Gamecock unis are Under Armour. Click mothafuckin clack.

--CJ Spiller=untackalable. And fast. Probably much more untackalabe than in real life. If you like to run the ball, go with Clemson.

--Blake Mitchell=the most perfectly modeled QB in the game. First drive, he goes 4-4, 58yds, 1td. He then proceeds to go 0-12 with FOUR PICKS over the next two and a half quarters. I benched him in favor of Garcia, who led the Gamecocks to a close 27-24 win over the Tigers. Late Succop field goal was the factor.

--Succop=dominant kicker.

--More on Mitchell-My roommate comes home from the bar and so we play Gators-Gamecocks. Blake torches the UF defense for about 295yds, 3tds.

--The whole game just looks a lot better from EA's last effort on the 360.

--Tebow+Gator playbook=potentially the best option team in the game.

--Passing is more difficult, you need to switch it up a lot, runs with the pass, draws, etc.

--DB's have much better hands.

--Clemson could not cover Kenny McKinley to save their lives.

--I played next as LSU, roommate was Auburn. Two teams with "Tiger Rag" for their fight songs was torture.

--LSU's defense is fucking incredible. Fast and can hit the shit out of people. I picked Cox off seven times. Two picks to the house, one more called back on clipping call.

--Auburn's #44, Ben Tate(?) is pretty fucking good.

--LSU's Alley Broussard is better. The game came down to a defensive stalemate, whereas I could barely complete any passes at all (1-11), I could kinda run the ball. My roommate completed passes all over the field, to me and his own players. Final: LSU takes it, 20-10.

--There is a lot of shit going on in the pre-snap screen now. Audibles for the o-line, WRs, RBs, play switching, etc. Similar things for the defense.

--I am addicted. More info tomorrow here...in the mean time, back to it.