The college season is going to be officially over when Notre Dame meets Alabama in the BCS “Championship” game in Miami, Florida later tonight. I know everyone is hyped up because this is the first time Notre Dame has been in championship contention in almost two decades, and Alabama is going for their third title in four years (dynasty?).

But over here at MDHQ we are all about that NFL Draft so let’s talk about some of the prospects you’ll see in tonight’s game plus a prediction:

Notre Dame

Everyone knows about the defense, so let’s start there. Of course the #1 prospect is Manti Te’o the middle linebacker. He almost won the Heisman this year, with good reason. He notched almost 100 tackles and 7 interceptions on the year. While I personally think Luke Kuechly was a better prospect just a year ago, Te’o should be picked in the top 10 as well and will be a tackling machine in the middle of a pro defense for the next 15 years.

Notre Dame also has the big nose tackle which people don’t really talk about. At 6’3 and 320+ pounds, Louis Nix was the anchor all year and helped keep defenders off Te’o. Te’o himself has said candidly in interviews that this defense’s weakness is when he’s blocked out of plays. Expect to see Nix picked around the fourth round.

On offense of course we have to talk about Theo Riddick the WR/RB. His season was above average and he climinated with 880 yards rushing and 364 receiving. He’s an interesting prospect for the later rounds as a hybrid WR/RB.

I don’t have to tell you about the last guy we’ll profile here, Tyler Eifert. He is the oil that makes the whole machine run. Without Eifert’s ability to stretch the defense and provide reliable hands for freshman QB Everett Golson, the Irish wouldn’t even be in this game. He’s also a good in-line blocker which isn’t said about many tight ends coming straight out of college. Eifert can go as high as the top 15 in this draft. Remember who said it first. He’s that good, and this is a copycat league. Every team is looking for their Gronkowski/Hernandez /Graham, and come draft day Eifert’s value is going to be realized much sooner than many of us have him in our mock drafts.

Alabama

When you talk about Bama there is one unit that simply leads this team: the entire offensive line. It is odd that your team would be lead by a group of superstar linemen but that is exactly the case at Alabama. Chance Warmack, DJ Fluker, and Barrett Jones are all going to be no worse than second round picks in the 2013 draft.

In the backfield there is QB AJ McCarron who is steadily growing as a passer. He is likely going to be picked in the top 40 picks if he decides to enter the 2014 NFL Draft. However the guy you will see in 2013 is running back Eddie Lacy. He’s no Trent Richardson or Mark Ingram but he had a good year behind that all-world line (1182 yards, 16 touchdowns) and shows a great burst on his runs. He should be a second to third round pick in the NFL, and could wind up being a way better pro.

Defensively, you have a bunch of terrific talent starting in the front seven with outside linebacker CJ Mosley who claims he is coming back to college for another season (Don’t do it! Reconsider! Read some litera-ture on the subject!). The draft eligible DBs on this unit Robert Lester and Dee Milliner are also among the nation’s best at their positions with Milliner a potential top 10 overall selection. I could talk about how good Alabama’s defense is all day, but the fact of the matter is they have NFL talent for the next three years at pretty much every position.

So who is going to win this thing?

I put it to you like this. In life there are situations where you see things coming, but don’t want to believe it. It’s like when your friend starts talking to that clingy chick and you know she is going to pull him down the aisle… and as much as you don’t want to see it, suddenly one day you wake up and realize you’re in a fitting room trying on a tuxedo.

We all know there couldn’t be a more perfect story for sports media if Notre Dame was to ride this thing all the way out, but Alabama isn’t trying to have that. The Tide and that all-universe offensive line are just going to drag the Irish and their fans to all over the field. It’s probably not going to be really pretty either. As much as it would be a Cinderella story for Manti Te’o and crew to hold that crystal football; fact-of-the-matter is that Bama is just too big and too fast.

I’m sorry but Notre Dame it might be time or you to turn your player cards in and write those vows… the Tide are getting a ring tonight.

Bama by 14.

Last night the game was decided by who could get across the 50 yard line more and attempt more field goals. Ultimately, that ended up being the Tide who prevailed after having an early kick blocked and missing another. Despite the pretty good play from LSU’s defense their offense just could not manage yards. Courtney Upshaw and Donta Hightower proved why they are two of the most coveted defenders in the 2012 NFL Draft. There was no where for LSU to run, and there was no where to go deep with the football.

Oddly Jordan Jefferson still finished a respectable 11-17 but only managed 53 yards. People were clamoring for Jarrett Lee but after seeing his very “Tebow like” stat line (below 50% passing and 1 td to 7 ints) I don’t think Coach Miles really had a chance either way.

Coach Nick Saban is one of the best recruiters in the nation, and that was very apparent last night. His defense is stocked with NFL talent on all three levels, and his running back is probably the best in the nation at the position right now. With two out of three titles in three years the discussion for “best coach in America” might can start and end at Alabama.

News and Notes:

• Robert Griffin III is reportedly going pro
• Peter Knoz is going pro
• Knile Davis will return to Arkansas for a Senior Season
• Auburn RB Michael Dyer will transfer to Arkansas State

Beginning today, the Heath Evans Foundation is raffling a fantastic package for football fans featuring four premium tickets to the sold-out BCS Championship Game between LSU and Alabama in New Orleans on Monday, January 9, 2012.

Raffle tickets are only $2 each and a minimum purchase of 5 tickets is required.

For more information about the raffle and purchasing tickets, please visit www.HeathEvans.org. Sales end at noon EST Tuesday, January 3, 2012 and the drawing for the winning ticket will be held shortly thereafter.

The package includes up to $3,500 for travel expenses (not including airfare), two rooms for two nights at a local hotel and dinner at one of Chef John Besh’s renowned restaurants. The package is valued at more than $10,000.

Proceeds from the raffle will benefit the not-for-profit 501(c)(3) Heath Evans Foundation, which is dedicated to fostering hope and healing in the lives of children and families affected by childhood sexual abuse.

“This is a great opportunity for college football fans to see the best game of the season and to help victims of childhood sexual abuse, which has been brought to the forefront in light of the scandals at Penn State and Syracuse,” said Evans, a fullback who played 10 years in the NFL, including the last two with the New Orleans Saints. “This is a win-win for the fans, the Heath Evans Foundation and the victims we help.”

Evans said the money will help his foundation provide a variety of programs, treatments and services to victims with great need and scarce resources, including New Orleans, LA and Palm Beach County in Florida, where he grew up and attended high school before going to play at Auburn.

“The Foundation is very involved in the West Palm Beach area and the Greater New Orleans community,” said Evans. “There is a great need in both places and we will do our best to help as many people as we can.”

Evans is personally committed to the Foundation because his wife, Beth Ann, was sexually abused as a third-grader.

“We bring hope and healing to victims of childhood sexual abuse,” said Evans. “This is personal for Beth Ann and me and something that we are totally committed to. We want to break the cycle of abuse through healing the psychological, physical and spiritual wounds.
“Being in the NFL gave me a platform,” added Evans. “When people hear about it and learn more about it, hopefully they become motivated to help sexually abused children and their families. This is an emotional cancer that can affect victims their entire lives if they don’t receive help.”

For information about the Heath Evans Foundation, visit the website at www.HeathEvans.org.