Wednesday, September 29, 2010

College Football Week 5

Wow! What a amazing weekend of College Football. What more could we ask for as fans? I am heading to Illinois to watch my Buckeyes take on the Illini in Champaign but I can assure you I will get home by 8 to watch some amazing match ups. Through the first couple of weeks I have predicted the winners in all the big games and I feel good about my picks this week.

Game of the Week:

#7 Florida @ #1 Alabama

The last time these two teams met was in the 2009 SEC Championship Game that Alabama won and sent them on to a National Championship. This time around there is a new QB John Brantley in charge of the Gators. This will by far be the biggest challenge of young Brantley’s collegiate career on the road in Tuscaloosa. The Gators have struggled offensively ranking in the bottom third in passing and in the middle of division 1 in rushing. The defense has not ranking 15th in the country in points against. The Gators will need the running game to step up in order to help young Brantley, we saw the struggles that one of the top QBs Ryan Mallett who struggled in the second half against a strong Alabama defense. RB Jeffrey Demps is out of his walking boot and should be good to go for the game Saturday.

Alabama enters the game coming off an emotional come from behind victory over Arkansas last week. The Tide proved that even with a young defense they can cause chaos for even the best of quarterbacks. This week will be no different as the Tide bring the #1 points against defense in the country back home. The Alabama defense caused 3 INTs last week. As good as the defense the best thing going for Alabama has to be the running attack. I’ve talked about this for three weeks and I will again today. I still think that RB Trent Richardson could be a #1 back on just about any team in the country but there is no replacing Mark Ingram. Ingram has come back bigger and stronger than before and is proving that he could have a shot at back to back Heisman Trophies. Ingram will once again head up the running game that I feel will wear down the Florida defense.

My Prediction:

I think the Tide are hands down the best team in the country and Florida will just be another team in the way. The running game of Tide is what separates them from most of the country. The physical nature that the Tide play with will control both sides of the ball. The defense will cause young Brantley to struggle and the Tide roll fairly easy at home 34-17.
 
#9 Stanford @ #4 Oregon

The Cardinal enter the game doing something they are not use to that’s scoring a lot of points through the first four weeks. The Cardinal are 4th in the country averaging 48 points a game and they are doing it on the ground more so than through the air. I think most of else felt with Toby Gerhart moving on to the NFL that the Cardinal would struggle a little running the ball. Not so fast as my friend Lee Corso would say the Cardinal are averaging 223 yards a game on the ground. The Cardinal still have the big play ability with first round pick QB Andrew Luck. Head Coach Jim Harbaugh continues to implement a hard nosed physical type of team out in Palo Alto. The Cardinal even went for two up two touchdowns last week against Notre Dame. This will be the best offense the Cardinal have faced this season. You have to wonder if they have the speed to keep up with the Oregon Ducks.

Oregon enters the game coming off a nice win in their Pac-10 opener over Arizona State on the road. The Ducks as always are based around the spread attack of Head Coach Chip Kelley. The Ducks lead the country in scoring points 57 per game and 4th in rushing at 316 yards per game. The numbers could be a little skewed with two games against Portland State and New Mexico. The top running back for Oregon is LaMichael James who served a one game suspension but since then has racked nearly 500 yards through 3 games. This may be the first time where the Ducks need their QB Darron Thomas to make big plays to keep drives arrive. The Sophomore Thomas is completing 50% of his passes and has accounted for 10 TDs on the season.

My Prediction:  I know this game is @ Oregon, which means one of the loudest small stadiums in the country Autzen Stadium, but I like the upset. The Cardinal are the type of team that I think will give the Ducks trouble. A running hard nosed team that will not be affected by the atmosphere. The Cardinal carrying the same personality as their head coach and I fully expect them to control the ball and limit the possessions of the Oregon Ducks. Stanford wins 31-28.

Other Notable Games:

#21 Texas vs. #8 Oklahoma: The Annual Red River Shootout lost some luster with the loss by Texas last week. This is one of those rivalries that we can throw out the records. Oklahoma has not been a great road team which is good because this is a neutral site game in Dallas. The Sooner’s offense has definitely been the better side of the ball for Oklahoma over the first four weeks. I expect Landry Jones to exploit a very young Texas defense. Texas needs to figure out what type of team they want to be this season. They still have not been able to establish a running game nor has Gilbert been very good. The offense of Oklahoma will allow the Sooner’s to score to many points for the Longhorns to handle, Sooner’s win 35-24.

#11 Wisconsin @ #24 Michigan State: The Badgers have not been overly impressive so far this season but the Badgers can do one thing well and that is run the ball with RB John Clay. Clay has accounted for 6.5 yards per carry and six touchdowns. The Badger defense has held opponents to an average of 14 points per game. The Spartans will have an emotional return of Head Coach Mark Dantonio who will coach from the box for the first time since his heart attack. Like the Badgers, the Spartans have relied heavily on the running game with two back Edwin Baker and Le’Veon Bell. The backs have the Spartans ranked 17TH in the nation in rushing. This is going to be a classic Big Ten battle with two teams that want to establish the run. I like the Badger’s QB Scott Tolzien to make a difference, Badgers win 24-17.

#22 Penn State @ #17 Iowa:

Both teams are looking for a big win after suffering early season defeats in non-league action. The home field advantage will be huge for the Hawkeyes. Once again this will be a tough road game for Penn States Freshman QB Robert Bolden. Bolden will face another tough defense in Iowa. For Iowa Rickey Stanzi needs to bounce back from a rough game @ Arizona. Iowa will look to run the ball more than they did against the Wildcats. I think Iowa uses the home field advantage and a stingy defense against a young QB to beat the Nittany Lions 28-17.


Sunday, September 26, 2010

Week 3 NFL Picks

Tennessee @ NY Giants:  Giants
Pittsburgh @ Tampa Bay:  Steelers
Cincinnati @ Carolina:  Bengals
Cleveland @ Baltimore:  Ravens
Dallas @ Houston:  Texans
San Francisco @ Kansas City:  Chiefs
Detroit @ Minnesota:  Vikings
Buffalo @ New England:  Patriots
Atlanta @ New Orleans:  Falcons
Washington @ St. Louis:  Redskins
Philadelphia @ Jacksonville:  Eagles
Oakland @ Arizona:  Cardinals
San Diego @ Seattle:  Chargers
Indianapolis @ Denver:  Colts
NY Jets @ Miami:  Dolphins
Green Bay @ Chicago:  Packers

Thursday, September 23, 2010

CFB WEEK 4

Game of the Week:

#1 Alabama @ #10 Arkansas
This sets up to be the first huge match up in the SEC West Division, as the Tide invade Fayetteville for a confrontation between two Top 10 teams. Alabama has won the last three meetings in this series. The key to this game will be the ability of the Hogs offensive line to keep QB Ryan Mallett upright. In last seasons game Mallett was 12/35 for 160 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT. The Tide only return two starters from last years team but have not lost a step in 2010. Through three games Alabama has only allowed a little over 6 points per game. Arkansas will have to get something out of their running game to keep some pressure off of Mallett. Running is something the Hogs have not been able to do so far this season ranking 98th in the country through 3 weeks. Mallett will be the focus and he should be but if the Razorbacks expect to pull the upset they need some help around the star QB.

Alabama will be looking to do what Bama does and that is use the dual threat of RB Trent Richardson and RB Mark Ingram. Ingram returned last week for his first action of the season against Duke. He did not miss a beat running 9 times for 151 yards. The Hogs were able to stiffen the Tide last season only giving up 134 yards on 41 carries. The Razorbacks will hope to make the Tide rely on QB Greg McElroy to beat them down the field. McElroy has been extremely efficient through three weeks completing almost 72% of his passes on the season. The Hogs do return 7 starters from last years team and the secondary will have to be strong to slow down WR Julio Jones.

My Prediction:  I know that Arkansas is playing at home and those fans will be going nuts with the #1 team in the country in town. BUT the running game of Ingram and Richardson will be to much for the Hog defense to handle. Alabama will also control the one-dimensional offense of Arkansas, harassing Mallett all day. Roll Tide Roll 31-17. 



#12 South Carolina @ #17 AuburnThis will be a telling sign of the maturity level of Auburn after a huge win in dramatic fashion over Clemson last weekend. Auburn QB Cameron Newton has been sensational throwing 7 TDs and rushing for 2 more. The offense is relying heavily on Newton as well as the running game, the Tigers are 12th in the country averaging 259 yards per game.

The Gamecocks have been doing something that is unfamiliar with the Ole Ball Coach Steve Spurrier and that is running the ball. The Gamecocks like the Tigers have used the teams ability to run the ball to get victories so far this season. The main threat for the Gamecocks have been true freshman Marcus Lattimore who through three games is average 111 yards per game.

My Prediction:  In my opinion QB play is the key to any success in football at any level. Even though Newton is less experienced than Garcia I believe the home crowd plus the dual threat capability of Newton will give the edge to the Auburn Tigers. Tigers win 21-17.


#22 West Virginia @ #15 LSUWest Virginia has always been a team that relies on speed and angles to produce a prolific rushing attack but this season has been a little different. The Mountaineers are using the right arm of QB Geno Smith who has thrown for 800 yards and completed 70% of his passes so far. The running game is still dangerous as the electric RB Noel Devine is averaging nearly 5 yards a carry. West Virginia has not faced a team at the caliber of LSU with wins over Coastal Carolina, Marshall and Maryland. History is not going to be on the Mountaineers side as West Virginia is trying to become the first non-SEC team to beat LSU in Death Valley since UAB did it in 2000.

The Mad Hatter Les Miles is under scrutiny down in the Bayou as the Tigers are coming off back to back sub par seasons. The Tigers only returned 10 starters going into the season. LSU QB Jordan Jefferson has been a model of the team as a whole, very inconsistent. The Tigers will need help from RB Stevan Ridley who has 318 yards on 55 carries this season. The Tigers defense struggled in the opening game against North Carolina giving up over 400 yards through the air. Since then they have held opponents to 14 points total. LSU will need their young defense to grow up quickly if they expect to get a victory over the Mountaineers.

My Prediction: College teams can be heavily influenced by home crowds and I do not know if there is a tougher place to play than LSU Tiger Stadium at night. I am not a huge fan of Jordan Jefferson but I believe the Tigers will be able to establish a running game against a smaller WVU defense. I like the Tigers to get a much needed win for their head coach 35-31 Tigers.

Other Predictions:

Boise State 42 Oregon State 21:
I am not sure why this game is getting so much pub! Oregon State is an average PAC 10 team and does not have the defense to slow down Kellen Moore and the Boise offense. I fully expect this game to be a blowout and Bronco nation will be clamoring for their invite to The National Championship Game.

Stanford 35 Notre Dame 31: The Cardinal are led by Heisman hopeful QB Andrew Luck who has been extremely impressive through three games.  The Cardinal are 14th in the country in rushing and I fully expect them to continue that trend Saturday. Notre Dame has shown no signs over being able to slow down an effective running game.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Pinch Hits 9/22/10

Chael Sonnen: The former #1 challenger for the middleweight UFC Championship was busted for Performance Enhancing Drugs following his fight with Anderson Silva at UFC 117. This has to be disconcerting for UFC President Dana White and the sport of MMA. Sonnen was one round away from becoming a UFC title-holder. The UFC has kept their nose clean of PEDs but no sport is perfect and every athlete is willing to challenge the rules to get an advantage. Obviously the instant rematch with Anderson Silva is now off as Sonnen will be facing a fine and suspension. No sport is clean and we should not be surprised by the revelation but now Dana White has to find a way to keep his title matches clean and pure for the rising sport of MMA.


Braylon Edwards: Early into Tuesday morning WR Braylon Edwards of the N.Y. Jets was busted for DWI in New York. This is definitely another strike against Edwards who was already on probation for a fight outside a Cleveland night club last summer. The Jets have been proactive addressing the situation before the league has even commented. Obviously with Santonio Holmes already being suspended for the first four games the Jets need Edwards to play. This is the part I never understand though if you are a million dollar athlete is that hard to pay for a cab? Edwards has always wanted the spotlight but in the last year the spotlight has been more negative than positive.


Michael Vick vs. Kevin Cobb: The QB debate is the hot topic in the city of Brotherly Love these days. Michael Vick was outstanding this past week in Detroit and also played very well last weekend versus Green Bay. Coach Andy Reid has stood by his opening day starter Kevin Cobb, but in my opinion Reid needs to ride the hot hand. Vick gives Defensive Coordinators headaches with his ability to run the ball as well as his quick strike throwing. Without a doubt the most impressive part of Vicks game has been his throwing ability it looks very familiar to his days in Atlanta.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

CFB Week 2 Analysis

Iowa @ Arizona

On Saturday night Arizona finally got the win that solidified them in the national spotlight over Iowa 34-27 in Tucson. The focus before the game was the heat which reached 105 degrees and the struggles Iowa has had going west losing their last five games past the Rockies. The struggles continued especially early giving up a punt block that led to a score, a 100 yard kickoff return for a TD and a pick 6. The Hawkeye’s were resilient battling back from a 27-7 hole to tie the game with 9 minutes to go in the fourth quarter. But Nick Foles would lead a drive at the end of the game to give the Cats the victory. The key to the game besides the big plays had to be the impressive play by the Arizona defense. We heard all week about the defensive line for Iowa but it was Arizona’s dline that shutdown the Iowa running game and harassed Ricky Stanzi all over the field. Iowa’s line gave up a team high six sacks and could only produce 29 yards rushing. On offense, Nick Foles was efficient especially late in the game going 28/39 for 303 yards and 2 TDs. The night belonged to the U of A and their fans getting a win over a highly ranked non-league opponent and in the process showing the country the Pac-10 title may go through Tucson.


Notre Dame @ Michigan State

This may have been one of the best games of the day. As, Michigan State defeated Notre Dame 34-31 in OT. This game had it all explosive offensive plays, tough defense in the first half, back and forth on the scoreboard and a trick play that even Boise State would enjoy. The game was tied 7-7 at half but then the offenses got going in the second half. The Spartans were able to run the ball up and down the field as Bell and Baker combined for 31 carries for 204 yards and 2 TDs. Notre Dame countered with Dayne Crist who was 32/55 for 369 yards with 4 TDs. This game will be remembered for one play the fake field goal in OT. Notre Dame was able to kick a field goal that gave them the lead in OT. Michigan State went three and out and prepared for their own kick. The Spartans decided to go with a gutsy call running a fake field goal executed to perfection for TD to send East Lansing into a frenzy. This was an unbelievable game that had a the aspects of an instant classic.


Nebraska @ Washington

We knew going into the game it would be a clash between the stingy Nebraska defense and the playmaking ability of Washington QB Jake Locker. Nebraska’s defense would overwhelm Locker and the Huskies 56-21 in Seattle. Locker had a miserable day completed just 4 of 20 passes for 71 yards with 1 TD and 2 INTs. The spotlight was taken by Redshirt Freshman QB Taylor Martinez and the Nebraska rushing attack. Martinez completed 7 of 11 passes for 150 yards and 1 TD, but ran the ball 10 times for 137 yards and 3 TDs. Nebraska offense rushed for 383 yards on this day. Nebraska was more than impressive and with Martinez at the helm defensive coordinators will not only have to worry about Martinez’s arm but his ability to run and run.


Top Performances:
  1. Brandon Weeden (Oklahoma State): Weeden completed 23/32 for 409 yards with 6 TDs vs. Tulsa
  2. Nebraska Defense: The Black Shirts held Heisman hopeful Jake Locker to 71yards passing, 2 INTs and scored once on defense vs. Washington
  3. LaMichael James (Oregon): Rushed 14 times for 227 yards with 2 TDs vs. Portland State
  4. Mark Ingram (Alabama): Ingram rushed 9 times for 151 yards and 2 TDs in his first game back from injury vs. Duke
  5.  
What was that Performance?!
  1.  Jake Locker (Washington): Completed 4/20 passes for 71 yards with 1 TD and 2 INTs. The sad part is 45 of his 71 yards was completed in one pass play. Guess we can scratch Locker’s name of the Heisman Hopeful Watch List. 
  2. Ohio University Offense: The OU offense could only manage 182 yards against Ohio State. They committed 5 turnovers and used two QBs. I know its OU vs. OSU but come on Bobcats at least make the hour and half drive worth the gas money.
  3. Wake Forest Defense: The Demon Deacons gave up 41 points in the first half to Stanford. The Cardinal produced over 300 yards of offense on the ground. Wake Forest would give up 68 points total. Wake Forest will have plenty of time to review this tape on their 3.000 mile flight back to Winston-Salem.
  4. Portland State Defense: PSU gave up 668 yards of total offense to Oregon, with 528 yards coming on the ground. The Ducks scored 69 points and 9 TDs. The positive for PSU is they did get 5 turnovers. Don’t worry PSU fans basketball season is only two months around the corner.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Week 2 NFL Picks

Last week I went 9-6 not my greatest effort.  Here are my picks for week 2:

Pittsburgh @ Tennessee: Titans
Miami @ Minnesota: Vikings
Arizona @ Atlanta: Falcons
Baltimore @ Cincinnati: Ravens
Kansas City @ Cleveland: Browns
Chicago @ Dallas: Cowboys
Philadelphia @ Detroit: Eagles
Buffalo @ Green Bay: Packers
Tampa Bay @ Carolina: Panthers
Seattle @ Denver: Seahawks
St. Louis @ Oakland: Raiders
Houston @ Washington: Texans
New England @ N.Y. Jets: Patriots
Jacksonville @ San Diego: Chargers
N.Y. Giants @ Indianapolis: Colts
New Orleans @ San Francisco: Saints

Friday, September 17, 2010

College Football Week 2 Predictions

#9 Iowa @ #24 Arizona 10:30 PM ESPN
Iowa will travel west to take on Arizona in a game that both teams want to use to springboard themselves into the national spotlight.  Iowa got the better of Zona last year 27-17 in Iowa City.  This year the Hawkeyes look to break a tough streak going out west where they have lost six in a row.  The Hawkeyes are a senior laden team that relies on the running game and a punishing defense to win close games.  At QB is Rickey Stanzi a steady senior that is 18-4 as a starter for the Hawkeyes.  As usual Iowa has been impressive on the ground averaging 227 yards per game so far this season.  The defense has been nearly perfect only allowing 14 points thru two games.  DE Adrian Clayborn is a future first round draft pick that anchors a deep and stingy defense.  The Hawkeyes will be missing their defensive coordinator Norm Park for the second consecutive week.
Arizona enters the game coming off of two runaway victories over Toledo and FCS The Citadel.  The Wildcats will put on display their junior QB Nick Foles who has been nothing short of spectacular for two games.  He has completed an outstanding 83% of his passes.  Foles will get his first true test of the season against the Hawkeyes who he has experience against nearly leading the Wildcats back against the Hawkeyes in the fourth quarter last season.  Once again Foles will look for WR Nic Grigsby the combination has combined for 5 TDs on the young season. 
My Prediction:  The Hawkeyes are a senior driven team that will not be affected by the large crowd in Tucson.  The Hawkeyes will rely heavily on their physical running and timely throwing of Rickey Stanzi to control the ball.  Nick Foles will be swarmed and stymied by the Hawkeyes defense: Hawkeyes win a tight one 20-17.

Notre Dame @ Michigan State 8:00 PM ABC or ESPN2
Michigan State is certainly looking for redemption after a tough defeat at the hand of Notre Dame last season.  MSU committed a turnover in the red zone and lost to the Irish 33-30.  The Spartans enter Saturdays contest after cruising to two easy victories over Western Michigan and Florida Atlantic.  Kirk Cousins once again leads the MSU offense but has been less than impressive only producing two touchdowns in two weeks.  The Spartans have relied heavily on a 1-2 punch at running back with Sophomore Edwin Baker and true freshman Le’Veon Bell.  That name should sound familiar to Central Ohio high school football fans as Bell was a force at Groveport-Madison High School last year. 
Notre Dame enters the game coming off its first defeat of the season, losing at home to Michigan.  The Irish will be hoping that QB Dayne Crist will be able to exploit a very weak MSU secondary.  The back half has been a concern for Spartans all off season and through the first two weeks of the season.  I highly expect the Irish to find openings for WR Michael Floyd and highly touted TE Kyle Rudolph.  On defense I fully expect the Irish to load up defenders in the box and stop the running game of the Spartans.  The Irish come into Saturday defeating the Spartans two of the last three times in East Lansing.
My Prediction:  I have not been impressed with the ND defense the first two weeks and I fully expect the Spartans to flex their muscles in the running game.  I like the Spartans 21-17. 

#8 Nebraska @ Washington 3:30 PM ABC
Nebraska entered the season with a new QB Taylor Martinez who has been productive through his first two home games against much weaker opponents.  Saturday will mark the first time Martinez starts a game on the road in Washington.  The biggest key for the Cornhuskers will be controlling the noise level inside Husky Stadium which only holds 72,000 fans but has produced 130 decibels on a noise machine.  The major part of the Cornhuskers is their defense.  Head Coach Bo Pelini allowed the team to bring back the black shirts late last season and that effort has carried over into this season.  The Cornhuskers produced five turnovers last week against Idaho.
The Huskies enter the game with maybe the No. 1 NFL Draft pick in QB Jake Locker.  In fact the Huskies chances in big game will be based around what Locker is capable of doing.  So far Locker has the team off to a (1-1) start; he has thrown for 555 yards and 5 TDs and no interceptions.  Locker will have to use both his arm and feet to elude an extremely well versified Cornhusker defense.  The Huskies need to get off to a decent start and keep the crowd involved to give them a chance.
My Prediction:  The Huskies will keep them game close in the first half but the Cornhuskers will produce the first turnovers by Locker this season.  The defense wins this one for the Huskers 24-10.


Thursday, September 16, 2010

Is Derek Jeter a Cheater?

There has been an outcry over the Derek Jeter incident from the Yankees/Rays game Wednesday night; I wanted to give my point of view on the incident.  Jeter was apparently hit on the wrist by a pitch and awarded first base by the umpire.  Video replay showed that the ball hit the knob of the bat.  Jeter was attended to by the trainer and seems to sell the injury all the way to first base. Tampa Bay Manger Joe Madden came to argue the call and was thrown out of the game.  What Jeter did I am all for and I see absolutely nothing wrong with what he did.  If you do not like my stance Tampa Bay Manager Joe Madden said he would expect the same thing from his players.  Jeter said it best after the game it is his job to get on base, end of story.  You’re in a pennant race against your closest competition the Rays you need to win and win now.  My question is if this was some nobody player for the Pittsburgh Pirates would anyone care or is it because it’s Jeter?  My guess is because it’s Jeter.  Players in every sport will do whatever it takes to get a competitive advantage over their opponent.  We can keep the examples to baseball even going to the high school level.  When a player slaps a tag on an opponent we were always told to come up and show the ball to the umpire rather we touched him or not.  Is that not deceiving the umpire to get an advantage, Yes it is.  When a catcher catches a ball on the outside of the plate but he moves it back to try to get a strike is that not deception, Yes it is. For crying out loud hundreds of players took steroids and HGH in the game of baseball during the 90s to get an advantage.  And we want to yell at Jeter for selling being hit by a pitch.  What did you want him to do turn around to the umpire and say no, I did not get hit by the ball I want to stay right here? Nobody would do that at any level if the umpire misses the call that’s on him not the player to correct the mistake.  Jeter was in the right and he did what any other player would have done to get a competitive advantage over an opponent.


Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Personal Seating License (PSLs)

I want to talk about the one thing going on in sports that is truly giving me an aneurism every time I hear these three little words, Personal Seating License.  The way I understand this is that as a fan not only do I have to pay for the season tickets to watch my favorite team I have to pay for the seat I am sitting in.  Unless my name is put in gold and placard on this plastic seat which the majority of us do not truly fit in anyways I refuse to pay the bill.  Personal Seating Licenses are absolutely out of control.  As we all know the Giants and Jets built a brand new billion dollar stadium in New Jersey this past off season.  From the articles I have read there are some seats that the Personal Seating Licenses (PSLs) are almost $20,000 in that stadium.  Let me get this straight these two teams work as separate entities but share the same home.  So, if I am a Jets fan I pay $20,000 for section 208 row 8 seat 1 and if I am a Giants fan I pay $20,000 for section 208 row 8 seat 1.  Wow I put a down payment on a seat that technically I share with an arch rival fan!  How does this make any sense to you fans?  These billion dollar owners are asking business men, teachers, electricians and others to put this kind of money down in order to pay for the players and to see their favorite teams live.  Has Woody Johnson the owner of the Jets as well as Johnson and Johnson not sold enough baby powder and toothpaste to sign Darrelle Revis that he needs his devoted fans to help financially with acquisitions.  Well, congratulations fans you have always wanted to be a part of your favorite team and now your hard earned money is doing exactly that.  At what point do we as fans stand up and say these prices are outrageous and stop these billion dollar owners from using our hard earned money in difficult times to supply their own franchises.  Why should I pay thousands and thousands of dollars towards a franchise in my hometown of Columbus, OH, the Columbus Blue Jackets who in 11 years of existence have only made the playoffs one time? Do not get me wrong I love the Blue Jackets but there is no way I would pay for a PSL in Nationwide Arena with the effort put forth by this team on a consistent basis over the past ten seasons.  But it is up to me to put my money down or I hear threats of leaving town or not having the money to support the franchise. The fans should not have to do this; we should only have to pay for the tickets that get us in the turn stiles not for the seat that we sit in. YOU the owners need to support the franchises you have bought and stop charging the fans for PSLs.  These are the fans that come to your stadiums during the rain, the cold and the losing seasons to support your product.  The owners need to stop raiding our pockets to merely stuff their own!

Monday, September 13, 2010

Out of Left Field

From time to time I plan on giving my views on something that may be an outside the box theory to do with sports or may not have to do with sport’s at all.  The beautiful thing about your own blog is “ITS YOURS” so I am able to talk about anything.  These entries will be called “Out of Left Field”.  This is my first one I hope you enjoy!

This goes out to all the guys out there that are currently reading this post.  Fellas as you get older and you have another person living in your home albeit a girlfriend or wife or whatever the case may be it can be difficult to spend an entire Saturday afternoon watching football.  You hear it constantly that there are chores to do, errands to run or start acting your age and get off the couch.  So you must prioritize your Saturdays during College Football season.  Now we all can get away with Week 1 and most of the time Week 2, but it is after that you start to hear the voice from the kitchen.  For most of us we are not in college anymore and a weekend on the couch is a lot tougher to get away with.  As a fellow guy I am telling you to use this weekend as a weekend to let your significant other have their way.  Watch your favorite team of course but after that do whatever they want you to and use it for leverage in about 2 weeks.  This weekend on the slate is only one top 25 matchup and that is #9 Iowa @ # 24 Arizona  which does not even start till 10:30 Eastern Time.  Take her out to her favorite restaurant get her a martini or margarita and she will be asleep by that time anyway. Trust me guys this will earn you at least one additional week of nothing but College Football on a Saturday.  The weekend of Oct. 2 there are multiple big time games with Florida @ Alabama, the annual Red River Shootout Oklahoma vs. Texas and Penn State @ Iowa.  This, my friends is an all day football extravaganza!  If you get nothing else out of this site at least take in these words of advice.  Prioritizing is not only the key to your own College Football sanity but the sanity of your significant other. We all know fellas if she is happy you are happy!


Good Luck Boys!

NFL Week 1 Quick Hits

Atlanta @ Pittsburgh:



Even without Big Ben the Steelers still have an aggressive playmaking defense which led to a 15-9 win over the Falcons in OT. This is the third consecutive time these two teams have gone into overtime. As I stated in my NFL Preview the Steelers need Troy Polamalu to be healthy in order for this defense to get back to its stingy roots. This was the case today as the game was based around field position, punts and six combined field goals. Dennis Dixon gets his first win with a decent effort going 18/26 for 236 yards and 1 INT.


Lions @ Bears:


The Bears defeated the Lions 19-14 in Chicago. The game came down to a controversial call late in the game as the referees decided that Lions WR Calvin Johnson failed to finish a catch in the end zone that would have given the Lions the lead. Johnson made the TD catch but on his way up he released the ball and the replay booth confirmed the catch was not completed. The Lions may be without QB Mathew Stafford who suffered a shoulder injury in the second quarter.


Colts @ Texans:


The Texans got their second win all time versus their divisional rival the Indianapolis Colts 34-24. The Texans dominated the Colts defense on the ground as Arian Foster rushed 33 times for 231 yards with 3 TDs. Peyton Manning put up a valiant effort going 40/57 for 433 yards with 3 TDs. This day belongs to Houston who hopes today’s win makes a statement that they are ready to contend for the AFC South Title.

source
Dolphins @ Bills:


The Dolphins got an ugly win over the Bills 15-10. Neither team was particularly good on offense, but the Dolphins were able to muster up enough of a running attack. The combination of Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown combined for 31 carries for 137 yards. The Bills offense was anemic all day only producing 166 total yards.


Raiders @ Titans:


RB Chris Johnson is out to prove he can go back to back years with 2,000 yards rushing and he got off to an excellent start Sunday. Johnson rushed 27 times for 142 yards with 2 TDs. Johnson led the Titans to an easy 38-13 victory over the Raiders. The running back coming off an off season that included a new contract was simply explosive! The Titans used 24 unanswered points to take a commanding lead of the Raiders.


Bengals @ Patriots:


The Patriots defeated the Bengals 38-24 behind WR Wes Welker. Welker in his first game since having knee surgery was back in a huge way for QB Tom Brady as the combination hooked up twice on Sunday. Brady was brilliant with all his weapons healthy as he completed 25 of 35 passes for 258 yards with 3 TDs. The Bengals were down from the very beginning and at one point trailed 31-3.



Panthers @ Giants:


The combination of Eli Manning to Hakeem Nicks connected three times and the Giants cruised to a 31-18 victory. The game was overshadowed by 9 combined turnovers between the two teams. The Panthers had the lead at half time but was only able to produce 2 points the entire second half.


Browns @ Buccaneers:


The Browns were in control up 14-3 with 45 seconds on the clock before the half and the ball on the Bucs 39 yard line. But QB Jake Delhomme committed a turnover that has become accustom to the fiery signal caller. The interception led to a Buccaneers TD right before half time. That’s all the Buccaneers needed to gain momentum in the game. QB Josh Freeman helped the Bucs overcome and 11 point deficit to defeat the Browns 17-14. The Browns had 3 costly turnovers including two in Tampa’s end of the field.


Broncos @ Jaguars:


The story before the game was the homecoming of Tim Tebow but it was Jaguars QB David Garrard that stole the spotlight. Garrard completed 16/21 for 170 yards and 3 TDs. Tim Tebow only saw the field twice for 2 yards.


49ers @ Seahawks:


In was an impressive debut for Pete Carroll in his first game with the Seattle Seahawks since leaving USC this past off season. The Seahawks defeated a trendy pick in San Francisco 31-6. The story of the day was the defense for Seattle. They completely harassed Alex Smith all day long causing two turnovers and 263 total yards of offense. Seattle shut out the 49ers in the second half of the game. Matt Hasselbeck was very solid as he threw for two TDs and ran for another.



Packers @ Eagles:


The Packers came into Philly on opening day and left with a 27-20 victory. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers came in with the hopes of being an explosive offense but it will have to wait for another day. Rodgers was 19/31 for 188 yards with 2 TDs and 2 INT not his most impressive outing. But the Packers did build a 27-3 lead and held on late as Michael Vick lead a late charge by the Eagles. Kevin Kolb’s first game since the exit of Donovan McNabb only lasted one half after he was knocked out with a concussion in the second quarter.


Cardinals @ Rams:


It was the first career start for Rookie QB Sam Bradford who had an up and down game completing 32/55 for 253 yards with 1 TD and 3 INT. The game was not a thing of beauty as the two teams combined for eight turnovers. QB Derrick Anderson was effective throwing for 297 yards with 1 TD. WR Steve Breaston was Anderson’s top target catching the ball 7 times for 132 yards. Bradford tried to lead the Rams for a final score at the end of the game but the pass was intercepted in the end zone.


Cowboys @ Redskins:


This was your typical NFC East slugfest between two long time rivals. The Redskins defeated Dallas 13-7. It was the home opener for new QB Donovan McNabb and one I am sure he would want to have back. The Redskins produced less than 300 yards offense as a unit. McNabb however, did win his first career start for the Redskins and ended the game 15/32 for 171 yards. Most of the contest was contested between the 20s with numerous penalties. The turning point was Tashard Choices’ fumble as time expired in the first half only to be picked up by DeAngelo Hall and returned for a TD. Why the Cowboys would not take a knee is beyond me. QB Tony Romo could not get a sputtering Cowboys offense clicking at all on Sunday night. The highlight for the Cowboys was receiver Miles Austin who finished with 10 catches for 146 yards and 1 TD.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Week 2 College Football Analysis

Florida State @ Oklahoma


This game was built as the rematch from the 2001 BCS Title Game which Oklahoma won 13-2. Saturday’s result also favored the Sooners 47-17. Florida States QB Christian Ponder was supposed to have a coming out party towards a Heisman type season but the spotlight was stolen by Oklahoma QB Landry Jones. Jones was dynamic completing 30/40 for 380 yards and 4 TDs. Sooners WR Ryan Broyles caught 12 catches for 124 yards 1 TD and RB DeMarco Murray chipped in with 2 rushing TDs. Oklahoma Head Coach Bob Stoops’ offense stayed one step ahead of younger brother and Florida State Defensive Coordinator Mark Stoops. The Sooners scored touchdowns on their first four possessions of the game. Obviously the Sooners wanted to make a statement not only to their fans but the country by proving last week’s struggle with Utah State was a mere aberration. Ponder struggled all day only completing 11 of 28 for 113 yard with 2 INTs. This was no Samford the Noles faced. This victory helped Stoops improve to 14-0 since 1999 against ranked opponents at home. Sooner fans I told you last week to take a deep breath and give this team a chance. As I already stated last week was merely an aberration of the true Sooners.


Penn State @ Alabama

Roll Tide Roll! I never understood why Gameday chose Tuscaloosa nor did I understand the hype surrounding this game. If you saw my predictions on Thursday I felt that Bama would cruise to an easy victory over an overrated Penn State team. That is exactly what happened as the Tide rolled 24-3. I also stated that Alabama would not miss Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson proved me right. All you die-hards in Alabama know Richardson is an amazing back you do not need to hear it from me. Richardson bullied, plowed and manhandled the Penn State defense all night. He had over 100 yards in the first half and finished the game with 22 carries for 144 yards and 1 TD. Greg McElroy was extremely efficient going 16 for 24 with 229 yards and 2 TDs. On the other side of the ball we knew that this would be a tough road test for Freshman Penn State QB Robert Bolden in front of 108,000 at Bryant-Denny Stadium. And it was, the Tide defense harassed Bolden all night as he completed just 13 of 29 for 144 yards and 2 INTs. What’s amazing is this is a Bama defense that returns just two starters from last season. As expected the Tide rolled and the SEC gave another woodshed beating to the Big Ten.


Michigan @ Notre Dame

If the Downtown Athletic Club presented the Heisman Trophy tomorrow the award would surely head north to Ann Arbor and Michigan QB Denard Robinson. In two games the dual threat QB nicknamed Shoelace has produced over 800 yards in total offense. And in the second consecutive week Robinson breaks the Michigan single game QB rushing record. Saturday at Notre Dame Robinson had a day for the ages completing 24/40 passes for 244 yards and 1 TD and also rushed 28 times for 258 yards and 2 TDs. Not to mention he led a 12 play 72 yard winning drive in the final 3 minutes of the game to beat Notre Dame 28-24. Robinson nearly accounted for all of the Wolverines 532 total yards on offense. Notre Dame battled and were led by a gutsy effort by their QB Dayne Crist. Crist was knocked out of the game in the second quarter after experiencing dizziness. Crist finished the game completing 13/25 passes for 277 yards with 1 TD and 2 INts. The Irish briefly took the lead in the fourth quarter after Crist connected with TE Kyle Rudolph for 95 yards. Rudolph finished the game with 8 receptions for 164 yards and 1 TD. Even with a valiant effort by the Irish this day belonged to Denard Robinson and the Wolverines who will surely crack the Top 25 come Monday afternoon.


Miami (FL) @ Ohio State

All I heard leading up to the clash at the Shoe was that even though Jacory Harris committed 17 INTs last year a vast majority of them were after he suffered a thumb injury. Well the Buckeyes Silver Bullet defense exploited the interception happy Harris four times on Saturday. The Buckeyes beat the Hurricanes 36-24 in front 105,000 in Columbus. This was not a game of beauty with several penalties, turnovers and missed tackles. But, the Buckeyes were led by Terrelle Pryor who completed 12 of 27 passes for 233 yards and 1 TD and also rushed 20 times for 113 yards and 1 TD. It was not Pryor’s most impressive outing but he had timely drives and several big passing plays throughout the game. The Buckeyes also had a record tying day by PK Devin Barclay who made 5 field goals on the day. Miami (FL) kept the game close in the first half by returning a kickoff 88 yards and a punt return 79 both for TDs. This is becoming a bad theme for Ohio State Head Coach Jim Tressel , who always expects to excel in the special teams department. Last week the Buckeyes had a blocked field goal by Marshall that led to seven points. Ohio State’s defense was the definition of a rubber band defense. Several times the Hurricanes worked the ball down the field on the Buckeyes until Jacory Harris threw it away. Miami (FL) had no answer for Pryor when he ran. The 6’6 240 pound QB was able to elude the pocket and pick up several first downs in the fourth quarter to help the Buckeyes keep their eyes on a National Championship. GO BUCKS!


Top Performances:

1. Denard Robinson (Michigan): Compiled 502 total yards of offense with 3 TDs vs. Notre Dame

2. Dante Warren (South Dakota): Completed 21/30 for 352 yards 3 TDs and rushed 10 times for 81 yards with 2 TDs vs. Minnesota

3. Landry Jones (Oklahoma): Completed 30/40 for 380 yards 4 TDs vs. Florida State

4. Duke and Wake Forest: Combined for 102 points. 957 total yards of offense with 46 first downs. 14 total touchdowns.

5. Nebraska Defense: The Black shirts produced 5 interceptions 1 fumble recovery and 7 sacks. They only allowed 60 yards rushing vs. Idaho

What was that Performance!?

1. Virginia Tech: After letting the country down by losing to Boise State you turn around and lose to FCS James Madison 21-16 at home in Blacksburg. Congratulations Hokies way to prove that your always overrated in the early season polls.

2. ACC Conference: You want respect across the country but you have a brutal Saturday. Georgia Tech, Florida State, Miami (FL), Virginia Tech all lose. At least Clemson beat Presbyterian.

3. Ohio State Special Teams: Tressel Ball is based around being perfect on Special Teams. On Saturday you give up a kickoff for a TD, a punt return for a TD, a kickoff out of bounds and a missed field goal. I doubt the sweater vest is very happy .

4. Minnesota: This goes to the University! You fire former Head Coach Glenn Mason who won 8 or 9 games every year and got a below average program to a Bowl Game consistently. Then you hire crazy Tim Brewster who suffered his second defeat to an FCS school in three years are you kidding me? I would head to the Big Ten Studios and beg Coach Mason to come back to walk the sidelines again for your dreadful football program.

Friday, September 10, 2010

College Football Preview

I wanted to give my thoughts on the big games this week in College Football:


Florida State @ Oklahoma: The last time these two powers met was in 2001 for the BCS Championship. Oklahoma won that game 13-2. Both teams enter the games coming off vastly different week ones. The Seminoles destroyed Samford 59-0 while Oklahoma struggled with Utah State. Christian Ponder will try to exploit the OU secondary that gave up 341 yards passing to Utah State. FSU has an experienced line and will try to dominate the line of scrimmage. Oklahoma will hope that Landry Jones bounces back this week against the Seminoles. Expect the Sooners to once again lean heavy on RB DeMarco Murray who rushed for over 200 yards last week. A huge key to the game could be PR Willie Reid for FSU whose one of the best returners in College Football. My prediction is that Oklahoma takes care of business at 34-21.


Penn State @ Alabama: These two storied programs have not met since 1990, but this game is full of tradition. Alabama enters the game #1 but will be without their Heisman trophy winner Mark Ingram. This should not slow the Tide down to much with RB Trent Richardson and WR Julio Jones on the outside. The Tide held San Jose State under 200 yards last week. Penn State brings in Freshman QB Rob Bolden to make his first career road start in Tuscaloosa. Bolden was impressive in Week 1 but that was against the mighty Penguins of Youngstown State. RB Evan Royster needs to have a better week if the Nittany Lions expect to compete. Will Penn State have enough defensive speed to keep up with the Tide? Interesting stat Bama is 0-5 when Gameday is live from Tuscaloosa. That changes this week 34-17 Roll Tide Roll.


Michigan @ Notre Dame: This rivalry series got even more interesting with both teams winning in Week 1. Michigan coming off an impressive win over UCONN will rely heavily once again this week on QB Denard Robinson. Shoelace produced over 350 yards of total offense last week. The Wolverines will need to establish some type of running game from someone other than Robinson in order for him to stay injury free. The Irish hope that QB Dayne Crist can have a better week against a struggling but timely Michigan defense. The best player on the field will be WR Michael Floyd for the Irish. Crist must find a way to get him involved. Neither team plays great defense but I think the Wolverines can slow down the Irish enough to steal the game on the road. Expect another huge game from Robinson, Michigan 21-17.


Miami (FL) @ Ohio State: Miami (FL) needs to have a great game by QB Jacory Harris in order to compete at the SHOE. Harris was a victim of 17 interceptions last season and will need to be more efficient than that without top RB Graig Cooper. The Hurricanes have struggled in true road games over the past three seasons. Ohio State enters the game with the best player on the field in QB Terrelle Pryor. The Buckeyes do not need Pryor to be outstanding with the running attack of Boom Herron and Brandon Saine. If the Ohio State line can keep Pryor on his feet this could be a breakout game for the Heisman candidate. There is a crazy stat going around the Miami is 138-0 when they score more than 34 points. That will not happen on the road against the Silver Bullet defense of the Buckeyes. GO BUCKS 28-20.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Week 1 NFL Picks

I wanted to put a challenge out to all the readers each week predicting NFL winners.  Submit your winners in the comment section and I will choose one reader to compete against.  If you beat me you will be able to rant about any sports topic you want in my Wednesday Blog.  Readers will have till Saturday @ noon to submit their picks before i choose a reader.
Week 1 Picks

1.Carolina @ N.Y Giants:  Giants
2.Atlanta @ Pittsburgh:  Falcons
3.Cleveland @ Tampa Bay:  Browns
4.Denver @ Jacksonville:  Jaguars
5.Indianapolis @ Houston:  Colts
6.Miami @ Buffalo:  Dolphins
7.Detroit @ Chicago:  Bears
8.Oakland @ Tennessee:  Titans
9.Cincinnati @ New England:  Patriots
10.Arizona @ St. Louis:  Cardinals
11.San Francisco @ Seattle:  49ers
12.Green Bay @ Philadelphia:  Packers
13.Dallas @ Washington:  Cowboys
14.Baltimore @ N.Y. Jets:  Ravens
15.San Diego @ Kansas City:  Chargers

*Thursday Nights game between the Vikings/Saints will not be included this week