Auburn @ Florida State preview

BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME STORYLINES

1. Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston leads top-ranked Florida State into battle against No. 2 Auburn in the Vizio BCS National Championship Game on Jan. 6 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. Winston because the youngest Heisman winner (19 years, 342 days) in history after a superb freshman campaign in which he passed for 3,820 yards and 38 touchdowns. Auburn got itself into the title game with a superb final three-game run that included miraculous late-game victories over Georgia and Alabama before beating Missouri in the SEC title game.

2. Both teams have prolific offenses with the Seminoles leading the nation with 90 touchdowns while ranking second in scoring at 53 points per game with a low output of 37 points. The Tigers have the nation’s top rushing attack (335.7) and scored 69 total touchdowns while tied for 11th in the nation in scoring at 40.2 points.

3. The difference in the game could be on the defensive side as Florida State has a ferocious unit that ranks first nationally in scoring defense (10.7) and passing defense (152 per game) and third in total defense (268.5). Auburn is suspect on this side of the ball, allowing 24 points per game and ranking 88th in total defense (423.5) and 104th in passing defense (260.2).

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Florida State -8.5

ABOUT AUBURN (12-1, 7-1 SEC): Tre Mason finished sixth in the Heisman balloting after a superb regular season that included 1,621 yards and an SEC-record 22 rushing scores. Mason forms an explosive trio with multipurpose quarterback Nick Marshall (12 passing scores, 1,023 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns) and receiver Sammie Coates (22.1 average, seven TDs). Cornerback Chris Davis – famous for providing the winning points with the game-ending missed field goal return against Alabama – has a team-high 69 tackles and teams with other defensive standouts like safety Robenson Therezie (four interceptions) and defensive end Dee Ford (8.5 sacks).

ABOUT FLORIDA STATE (13-0, 8-0 ACC): The Seminoles have a plethora of skill players as three players have compiled more than 500 rushing yards and three receivers have more than 900 receiving yards. Devonta Freeman (943 yards, 13 touchdowns) is the primary back while Rashad Green had a team-best 67 receptions with Kelvin Benjamin hauling in 14 scoring receptions. Cornerback Lamarcus Joyner (five sacks, two interceptions) and outside linebacker Telvin Smith (three interceptions, team-best 75 tackles) lead a strong defense that intercepted 25 passes, including a team-high four from safety Nate Andrews.

PREDICTION: Florida State 41, Auburn 33