NEW ORLEANS — There is nothing like the real thing.

The Hawai'i football team can recreate its home environment by staging early practices and offering the same meal plan.

It can simulate the Louisiana Superdome by practicing in the New Orleans Saints' indoor practice facility, and cranking up "The 12th Man," the ultimate boom box that produces noise as loud as an SRO crowd.

But there is no way to prepare for the school's first appearance in a Bowl Championship Series game, nor a way to match Georgia's fast-as-a-blur team speed.

Those intangibles will be untangled today, beginning with the 3:47 p.m. (Hawai'i time) kickoff.

Here's a look at the matchups:

HAWAI'I OFFENSE

Outlook: Sure, Brennan is accurate, last year producing the best statistical season by a quarterback in NCAA history. And he is agile, running for 585 yards in his 37-game UH career despite not having a single rushing play called for him. But more than his right arm or feet, what makes Brennan difficult to defend is his eyes. It is not apparent from the stands or, often, the videos. But Brennan can freeze a linebacker or move a safety out of coverage with a slight glance. One of the Warriors' staples is the shuffle play, in which Brennan rolls to a side and then shovels a pass to an in-motion running back. Even though defenders might know it's coming, it is difficult to stop when Brennan looks one way, as if to pass downfield, and then shovels to Pilares. The shovel has failed six times this season, five coming on drops. Brennan had only one bad shovel pass in 2006.

In its simplicity, the four-wide offense is a scheme designed to create — and then take advantage of — mismatches. When the poker-faced Brennan has no tell signs — and, in fact, his eyes are the most deceptive bluffs — the defenses can't cheat up to double a receiver or running back.

In a related philosophy, the equal-opportunity offense also leads to mismatches. Bess (101 catches for 1,213 yards), Grice-Mullins (100 for 1,335) and Rivers (82 for 1,069) were all 1,000-plus-yard receivers during the regular season. Because each is a potential target, a UH receiver becomes an excellent decoy. Often a receiver will run a route not to get open, but to pull a defender away from another receiver. But the decoy receivers are convincing because they run hard every play.

"In some other (teams') offenses, guys run routes halfway because they know they're not going to get the ball," Bess said. "For us, we know — and the defenses know — we might get the ball any play. We're always running hard."

The four starting receivers have made the most of their opportunities. Each has caught at least 70 percent of the passes thrown in his direction, led by Bess' completion rate of 75 percent. Bess, Grice-Mullins and Rivers have been effective in post-catch runs.

"Catching the ball is only half of the play," said Grice-Mullins, who has a yards-after-catch (YAC) average of 6.43. "You have to do something after you catch it. The play isn't over just because you make the catch."

The four receivers have perfected the "noose" technique, in which their open palms face the quarterback, with the thumbs and index fingers touching to create a noose. The technique allows them to catch passes only with their hands, which, in turn, allows them to make the reception without breaking stride. "We're always thinking, 'move forward,' " Bess said. Another boost is each receiver is a physical blocker.

"The key is to be unselfish, play for your teammates," Bess said. "A good block is as important as a good catch."

Pilares and Libre have emerged as sure-handed receivers. Against Washington, Pilares caught a pass on a middle screen — an area that had been open the entire season. Pilares said he has fully healed from a knee injury. Libre has improved thanks to twice-daily workouts that focus on leg-strengthening drills.

HAWAI'I DEFENSE

Outlook: It's a good thing the trainers don't work by commission. Nearly every Warrior in the top defensive rotation has endured some sort of an injury. On the defensive line, Purcell and Noa have traded sides; Noa, who has an injured left hand, is more effective at left end, where he can plant his right hand when he goes into a three-point stance. Leonard has played the entire season with a fractured right hand, which makes it difficult to sign autographs but has not been a problem in leading the team in tackles for losses (11.5), quarterback hurries (six) and interceptions (four). Thomas (hip flexor) and Patek (high-ankle sprain) have been declared physically fit.

Good health is part of the solution; the rest is stopping the Bulldogs' running game. The coaches have stressed the three basic assignments: force (contain the perimeters), fill (defend inside the force), and cutback (watching the back side). "If you don't have good force, their running backs can beat you on the corner," defensive line coach Jeff Reinebold said. "If you don't get fill, they can cut up. If you don't have cutback, they can beat you way out the backdoor."

To gauge the Warriors' success, watch the bouncing running back as he searches for the on-ramp to the rush lane. "If it appears he's going bounce-bounce-bounce trying to find a place, that means we're playing well on defense," Reinebold said. "If he's able to make one cut and get up the field, then somebody's not getting where he's supposed to be."

All season, the players have talked about playing "Warrior defense," which translates roughly into being the aggressors. The tackles are supposed to create push, resetting the line of scrimmage. The ends either rush the passer or bracket an offense by narrowing the tackle box. The linebackers fill the gaps.

"The main thing is to play hard, come out with intensity," Lafaele said.

HAWAI'I SPECIAL TEAMS

Outlook: Kelly said he looks forward to playing inside the Superdome's windless conditions. "Wind," Kelly said, "can be good half the time. It's not so good the other half."

Kelly has been placed on light duty after enduring a tender right (kicking) foot during the second half of the season. He said his foot is fine, as evidenced by his easy field-goal kicking of 50-plus yards during a practice at the New Orleans Saints' indoor facilities.

Grasso has been bothered by a tight right hamstring. He wears leg warmers in practices and games to prevent further problems. He said he expects to punt well tonight.

Ryan Mouton and Jason Rivers are the best kick-returners, but neither will be used on special teams, enabling them to focus on their starting jobs.

GEORGIA OFFENSE

Outlook: The Southeastern Conference's Freshman of the Year, Moreno, is recovering from a sprained ankle that has limited him in bowl practices. Brown, who opened the season as the No. 1 tailback, will start tonight. But Moreno should play extensively.

Brown had ceded the starting job after suffering a midseason injury. Moreno then produced five 100-yard games in a row. Against Florida, when the two other top backs were injured, Moreno had 33 carries. "He's a great running back," UH coach June Jones said.

Georgia coach Mark Richt recognized that in training camp. Moreno opened the season as the third-string tailback but still managed 20 carries in the season opener. He has received valuable advice from Brown, who serves as a mentor.

"We're good friends," Brown said. "It's not a cut-throat competition. It's a friendly competition. We go at it everyday, but at the end of the day, we're friends."

Moreno said: "Whatever I do, it's for the team. It's not about myself."

Moreno, who can run 40 yards in 4.45 seconds, excels on quick cuts. He leads the Bulldogs with 1,273 rushing yards, 106.1 per game. But Brown has a better yards-per-average mark, 5.5 to Moreno's 5.3, and has run a faster 40-yard dash (4.38 seconds).

"We're confident with whoever's back there," Adams said. "During each practice, we motor with each running back. We swap running backs out throughout the week."

Richt said the tailback has to be an effective blocker. He acknowledged Moreno has grown into that role.

"You have to block or you won't play," Brown said. "That's one thing I learned as a freshman. If you're not going to protect the quarterback, you're not getting on the field."

That's particularly true this season, with three freshmen starting on the offensive line.

For all of the posturing about the SEC's run-oriented offense, the Bulldogs are comfortable with three-wide sets. In their first eight plays in the regular-season finale against Georgia Tech, Stafford was in the shotgun four times.

"I was always running around and throwing it," said Stafford, who can throw a football 80 yards. "I've always had a football in my hands."

GEORGIA DEFENSE

Outlook: The Bulldogs have crunched the numbers, and come up with the two-second rule.

"We've got two seconds before (Brennan) gets rid of the ball," Howard said. Getting to Brennan in that amount of time is "pretty hard to do. They've got an NFL-style offense. We're going to try and bat some balls down, and go after him basically."

Against a spread passing attack, there are two options: Retreat into coverage or turn loose the 'Dogs. "Colt is a very good quarterback," middle linebacker Marcus Washington said. "He's really smart. He sees defenses really well. If we sit back there and give him time, he's going to pick us apart."

The Bulldogs certainly have the quickness. Howard can run 40 yards in 4.4 seconds; in contrast, no UH player ran better than 4.45 seconds in team testing in April. Battle has run a 4.73 40; Atkins has run 4.95.

GEORGIA SPECIALISTS

Outlook: The Bulldogs will be without long-snapper Jeff Hensen, who was suspended following a DUI arrest in November.

Henderson, who can sprint 40 yards in 4.36, is an exciting returner.

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.

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