Prima Guide:

NCAA Football 07 Online Tips

Playing NCAA Football 07 online is a totally different animal than playing against a CPU opponent. That's what makes playing online such a challenge and why so many players tend to prefer playing against another live human once they start consistently beating the CPU.

Here are some proven online gaming tips that will help lessen the learning curve if you decide to venture into the world of college football online.

• The first thing you will want to do before going online is to set your offensive and defensive audibles. Once online, you will not be able to change these. Make sure you set the audibles to the plays you like on both sides of the field. Also, be sure not to set the same audibles as the four preset audibles on the right thumbstick.
• Select a team that fits your style on both sides of the ball. If you like to run an option attack, don't select Notre Dame, instead choose teams such as West Virginia or Ole Miss. Both of these teams have fast, athletic quarterbacks who can make the option work. If you plan on blitzing a lot, look for teams with cornerbacks who can handle receivers in one-on-one coverage.
• While selecting a team is important, you also need to select the type of playbook that fits your style best. EA has gone to great lengths to create the most in-depth offensive and defensive playbooks that have ever been seen in a football video game. There are so many types of playbooks, it can be a daunting task to try to figure out what type of playbook you want run. Once you do find a playbook that fits your style, you will want to work with it for several hours before going online. Learn the ins and outs of the formations and plays. Run the plays against all types of man and zone coverage. Also, be sure to run plays against bump-n-run man coverage. Most players online will use this coverage to try and disrupt your passing game.
• One of the bigger trends we are seeing online in the early stages of NCAA 07 football, is a lot of players like to sprint their quarterbacks 15-20 yards back and then throw a bomb deep down the field. If you run into this type of style, you will need to bring the heat on the quarterback. Look at your opponent's quarterback speed rating. If his speed rating is an 80, then you will want to blitz with defenders who have a speed rating at least five points higher. That way, they can catch up with the quarterback to put pressure on him. It would not make any sense to blitz a linebacker with a 78 speed. He will have no chance at even getting close to the quarterback before the ball is thrown.
• If you are looking to gain an advantage over your opponent before the game even starts, make sure you are the home team at the Team Selection screen. Next, choose a team that is known for having a loud stadium. Teams such as Florida, Ohio State, and LSU are the top three teams with the loudest stadiums in the game. When your opponent tries to call hot routes or audibles to another play, he will have a hard time. A lot of times the receivers won't even hear the hot routes being called. Once the ball is snapped, your opponent may be looking to throw to one of the hot route receivers, and the ball could end up being thrown on target and missing the receiver, since they didn't hear the call. This often leads to both interceptions and the momentum meter swinging in your direction.
• Before playing your opponent, take the time to look over his scouting report. Often you can get a pretty good idea of what type of player he is. Does he like to blitz? Does he use the run option? Does he call plays from the Shotgun formation most of the game? All that information is there, so don't overlook it.
• If you are really serious about getting better at NCAA 07 online, hook your game console to a VCR. That way, after the game you can go back and look at what you did right and wrong. You also can see what your opponent did and learn their style. Taping can be very useful, especially against some of the top players online. If you go against a top player, he may reveal a few tricks or pointers that will help your overall game.
• While playing defense, your first objective is to prevent a score. Big hits are great, sacks are great, but if you keep your opponent out of the end zone, you will win games. Don't get hung up on stats. If your opponent throws for 400 yards and never gets in the end zone, you will beat him easily.