College bowl BLOWOUT!!!!!

Yes… It’s been a long time. Too long a time… But now I’m back, with a set of bowl predictions that everyone should keep their eye on…

By Peter LeGrand

*Bowls are listed from least intriguing to most

Little Caesars: Marshall (6-6) vs Ohio (9-4)- Ohio: While Marshall has a great talent in running back Darius Marshall (who rushed for over 1,000 yards), the Herd has given up more yards and points per game then their offense is averaging, and the Bobcats of Ohio are good at winning the tight games. Especially with former Nebraska coach Frank Solich leading the team. This game could easily go either way, but Ohio has a huge coaching advantage.

New Mexico: Fresno State (8-4) vs Wyoming (6-6)- Fresno State: Yes, last season I was burned by the Bulldogs, who gave up over 250 yards rushing to Colorado State’s Gartrell Anderson in this same bowl… still, I have to go back to Fresno, who is just too talented to let up such big plays to Wyoming- a young team who was extremely fortunate to make a bowl game. I cannot see Pat Hill not getting his troops ready for this one, but expect a close game.

Eaglebank: Temple (9-3) vs UCLA (6-6) or Army (will make this bowl with a victory against Navy that was not yet played at the time article was written… if they win, they will be 6-6)- Temple: I’m going with the Owls whoever plays in this game. If Army gets in, it’ll be a massacre, and if it’s UCLA, then Temple will have gotten the upset, but they’ve been one of the better offensive teams all year while playing surprisingly sound defense. UCLA has struggled a little at quarterback again this year, and I think Temple can take advantage. Not to mention it’s their first bowl game in 30 years.

New Orleans: Middle Tennessee (9-3) vs Southern Mississippi (7-5)- S.Miss: The Golden Eagles are 3-0 in their last three New Orleans bowl trips (all in the last five seasons) and I do not think as talented team as they are can lose this time either. They have one of the best offenses around and that’ll be enough to overwhelm Middle Tennessee, who quietly is posed to possibly get it’s first ten win season in… well, a long long long time.

Armed Forces: Houston (10-3) vs Air Force (7-5)- Houston: I learned my lesson last year… which makes me wonder yet again? Why have a bowl game rematch? The contrasting styles of offense will be interesting, but Houston’s high powered offense will be huge again. Although there is definitely a chance that they will not be up to their full potential in this game A) because they beat Air Force twice last year and will underestimate them and B) because they will not be satisfied with such a crappy bowl berth. If either of these two things effect them, don’t be too shocked if the AFA takes home their first bowl win since 2000.

Humanitarian: Idaho (7-5) vs Bowling Green (7-5)- Bowling Green: If you’ve never heard of Freddie Barnes, watch this game and observe one of the top three wide receivers in the college game. I’m quite excited that Idaho FINALLY made a bowl game (in middle school, they were my dynasty team in NCAA football for a while, so I’m attached), but Bowling Green has far too much firepower. Expect lots of points.

International: USF (7-5) vs Northern Illinois (7-5)- USF: As much as I’d like to pick the local Huskies, the fact is that USF has way too much talent on both sides of the ball. And the Bulls never seem to lay an egg in a bowl game against a non BCS school, beating East Carolina by 17 in 2006 and Memphis by 27 last year.

St. Petersburg: Rutgers (8-4) vs UCF (8-4)- UCF: The Knights are close to home, have the top ranked scoring and yardage defense in the CUSA and Rutgers have a freshman quarterback who’s struggled against good defenses. This will probably be a fairly low scoring affair, and I expect the home crowd to push UCF to victory.

Insight: Minnesota (6-6) vs Iowa State (6-6)- Iowa State: Paul Rhodes has done one of the best jobs in college football by getting ISU to a bowl game. Though his coaching excellence isn’t enough to support giving them the nod over the more talented Gophers. A)Austin Arnaud- if he’s healthy- is one of the best quarterbacks in the country and B) Minnesota always seems to find a way to lose their bowl games. Not to mention teams coming off a large bowl drought seem to play a tad better than the one’s that consistently get there and lose. Iowa State in an upset.

Alamo: Michigan State (6-6) vs Texas Tech (8-4)- Texas Tech: Not only is Michigan State ill-equipped in the secondary to deal with the Red Raiders pass attack, but they have nine key players suspended for the game as well. Could be one of the uglier bowl games.

Texas: Missouri (8-4) vs Navy (8-4)- Missouri: Mizzou tends to struggle against lesser opponents in bowl games, and Navy always seems to play up. And Navy has the oh-so difficult to defend triple option offense. However, Mizzou’s Danario Alexander is a top notch receiver, and Navy has no one who’ll be able to cover him. Expect a high scoring, high excitement game that comes down to the finish- I’m betting on talent to triumph in this one.

Hawaii: SMU (7-5) vs Nevada (8-4)- SMU- This is the first bowl game for SMU since the “Death Penalty” was handed down to them in 1984. This will also mark the return to Hawaii for former head coach June Jones, who led the Warriors for nine seasons. I think all the excitement, energy, and pure emotion can get the Mustangs (and their high flying pass attack) past the most lethal running game ever witnessed in college football. Nevada is the first team EVER to have three 1,000 runners in the same season, but I don’t think it’ll be enough in this game, especially with their history of falling flat in bowl games. (0 for their last 3)

Independence: Georgia (7-5) vs Texas A&M (6-6)- Texas A&M: Georgia is more talented, but they are in disarray. Coach Richt just fired their entire defensive staff, they lost to Kentucky, and the quarterback play has been shaky all season. Meanwhile, A&M has one of the better quarterbacks you’ll find in Jerrod Johnson, and I have a feeling they’ll be much more motivated to win Mike Sherman’s first bowl game than the Bulldogs, who expected to be in a New Year’s Bowl at the beginning of the year.

GMAC: Central Michigan (11-2) vs Troy (9-3)- Central Michigan: The Chippewas are coming off yet another MAC championship (3rd in 4 years), and this will be program defining superstar quarterback Dan LeFevour’s last game as a college quarterback. Troy will be a tough test, but the emotion for a proper LeFevour send-off will catapult the Chippewas to victory.

Poinsettia: Utah (9-3) vs Cal (8-4)- Utah: The Utes are a very balanced team that traditionally does well in bowl games and is coming off a very tough overtime loss to their arch rival. Meanwhile Cal is coming off a blow-out loss to a non-bowl team and is may not have their stud running back Jahvid Best. However, the Golden Bears are 4-0 in their past four bowls… But I just think the Utes superior offensive balance and a stronger motivation for some vengeance will push them to victory.

Papajohns.com: South Carolina (7-5) vs UCONN (7-5)- UCONN: The ole ball coach has lost both bowl games at South Carolina against BCS conference opponents- I don’t expect that to change. UCONN has a punishing running game, but more than that is their drive to win. Cornerback Jasper Howard was stabbed to death early in the season, and that should be more than enough to motivate the already scrappy Huskies past a team that tends not to show up in bowl games.

Emerald: USC (8-4) vs Boston College (8-4)- USC: Pete Carroll is angry. USC had it’s worst season in eight years… their first non-BCS season in eight years. They are embarrassed, and I do not think they are going to hold anything back against the Eagles, who are one of the greatest surprises of the year, but just do not match up to the Trojans. This could be very, very, very ugly.

Liberty: Arkansas (7-5) vs East Carolina (9-4)- Arkansas: The ECU Pirates are a very scrappy bunch who’ll compete, but they never seem to really keep their streaks going against the good teams. They survived against the cannon arm of Case Keenum in the CUSA championship game, but I don’t think they’ll be able to withstand future first round draft pick Ryan Mallett and an SEC defense. Will be a close game score wise however.

Meineke: Pittsburgh (9-3) vs North Carolina (8-4)- Pitt: The Panthers were one point, one missed extra point in fact, from a trip from going to a BCS bowl. Actually, if they could’ve held onto a 31-10 lead, they would’ve gone to a BCS bowl. But they blew it against Cincinnati in one of the most entertaining games of the year, and I expect superstar freshman running back Dion Lewis and extremely productive and consistent senior quarterback Bill Stull to extract a small amount of revenge against a North Carolina team that’s played excellent defense all year. However, they were exposed by NC State in their last game, and their offense just is not quite what the Pitt defense is… or maybe what they were after their embarrassing collapse. Should be a high flying game that’s very exciting. But NC doesn’t have Hakeem Nicks at WR anymore (he had over 200 yards in last year’s Meineke bowl), and therefore I’m giving it to Pitt.

Outback: Northwestern (8-4) vs Auburn (7-5)- Northwestern: Pat Fitzgerald is the best coach in the Big 10, making the Wildcats a scrappy bunch of bowl qualifiers constantly on a yearly basis, and giving him a month to prepare is dangerous. He almost led the ‘Cats to a win against high powered Mizzou last season, and I believe this year he gets the job done against an Auburn team that is highly successful running the football.

Music City: Clemson (8-5) vs Kentucky (7-5)- Clemson: CJ Spiller is the most dynamic player in college football, and I believe he will be all over the field in every way in this re-match of the 2006 Music City Bowl. Kentucky has a great defense, but I think that they skill position talent and sheer will of Spiller will drive Clemson to a victory.

Gator: West Virginia (8-4) vs Florida State (6-6)- West Virginia: In absolutely no way did Florida State deserve the #2 ACC bowl berth, but with it being Bobby Bowden’s last game, I suppose it makes sense they would honor the greatest coach in ACC history. However, I do not think this will be a pleasant exit for the great coach, because West Virginia simply has too much speed for this Florida State team. They were torn apart by the Florida Gators rushing game, and they did not have Noel Devine, one of the top backs in the game. WVU despite the FSU players wanting to make Bowden’s exit special

Las Vegas: BYU (10-2) vs Oregon State (8-4)- Oregon State: This’ll be a shoot-out between two of the highest powered attacks in the game. However, BYU has struggled in this bowl the past two seasons, both times they were lead by senior QB Max Hall. I don’t know if the blame can really be placed on him, but until I see a change- I’m going with the Rodgers brothers and an Oregon State team that nearly played in the Rose Bowl.

Capitol One: Penn State (10-2) vs LSU (9-3)- Penn State- Yes, LSU is a SEC team. Yes, they are ranked high. And they have been so vastly overrated all season! They had an atrocious offense with star running back Charles Scott- and he’s hurt. Penn State has a team that could’ve won the Big 10, and nearly made a BCS game. If the Big 10 wants to prove that they are closer to the SEC than people give them credit for, then they had better win this game… BECAUSE THEY SHOULD WIN!!!

Cotton: Oklahoma State (9-3) vs Ole Miss (8-4)- Ole Miss: This is definetly the game for disappointments of the year, compared to last year’s surprise team bowl game. Last year, Texas Tech just missed out on a BCS berth and then got blown out by Ole Miss. This season, Oklahoma State lost their final game and missed a BCS berth… I smell a little of the same coming their way. Especially with the Cowboys lacking uber wide receiver Dez Bryant and superstar running back Kendall Hunter so banged up.

Sun: Stanford (8-4) vs Oklahoma (7-5)- Oklahoma: Tony Gerhart is my favorite player in college football, and I have really loved the way Stanford’s been playing all season. Especially when they massacred USC. However, the reported injury to Andrew Luck, the stud freshman quarterback, concerns me. As does Bob Stoops outstanding record for getting the Sooners to beat up on higher ranked opposition in non-BCS bowl games. And Landry Jones has really started hitting his stride recently at quarterback for the Sooners. This should be an excellent game to watch though.

Holiday: Nebraska (9-4) vs Arizona (8-4)- Nebraska: Yes, Arizona has a great spread offense, a coach who instills a good defense all the time, and Arizona has beaten Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl before. But Nebraska has Ndamukong Suh- the defensive tackle who should win the Heisman.

Champs Sports: Wisconsin (9-3) vs Miami FL (9-3)- Wisconsin: This is going to be one of the most entertaining bowl games, and the different styles between the two teams on offense will be fun to watch. Wisconsin brings in the Big 10 OPOY, sophomore running back John Clay, while Miami FL brings to the table a star sophomore as well in quarterback Jacory Harris. Both of these players will be looking to launch off their Heisman campaigns for 2010; but I think this game will be decided on defense. And Wisconsin always plays great D in the bowl game… except for last year. 

Orange: Iowa (10-2) vs Georgia Tech (11-2) – Iowa: With the return of Ricky Stanzi, the fourth quarter magic will return for the Hawkeye offense, which will score with 15 seconds or less remaining to win the game in a low scoring affair, because the Tech option attack will be well contained by Iowa defensive coordinator Norm Parker, who’s one of the best in the business. Expect this to be a blue-collar slugfest.

Sugar: Cincinnati (12-0) vs Florida (12-1)- Florida: Say what you want about Cincinnati running the table, being the undefeated team, and proving it’s resiliency against Pitt in the second half of that game. It won’t matter. This is Tim Tebow’s final game. That loss to Alabama was embarrassing to the Gators, who had their eye’s set on the national title game all season. If they had any other quarterback besides Tebow, I would say that their focus would be off and the disappointment of that Alabama loss would linger. But with Tebow in command, this will not be so. Expect them to lay the hammer down and not stop pounding. May be an utter annihilation. 

Rose: Ohio State (10-2) vs Oregon (10-2)- Oregon: The Ducks are a great story- overcoming such early season drama with running back LeGarrette Blount’s punch of a Boise State lineman after a humiliating loss to the Broncos in the opening game, all with a new coach as well. Their new school uniforms and offense against the traditional (although now they have a form of the spread offense) Ohio State Buckeyes. This will be the Rose Bowl at it’s best. In the end, OSU’s Terrelle Pryor is the most overrated player in the country and will probably have to throw the football at the end of the game. I think that will be the difference in the end, and the Duck’s will get their first Rose Bowl win since 1917.

Fiesta: TCU (12-0) vs Boise State (13-0)- Boise State: Yes, I also wanted both of these “BCS busters” to get a shot against a BCS school. But hey, this was a great bowl game last season, and I feel it will be again; just on a much bigger scale. TCU won last year in a great game, and this year they’ll be favored again. There’s a lot of talk that TCU is actually the second best team in the nation as well, along with being the most balanced on both sides of the ball of all the undefeated teams. They also have the #2 yardage and #6 scoring defense in the country. But I’m going with Boise State. Crazy? I have three reasons… 1) Kellen Moore is the most efficient quarterback in the country and is possibly the best equipped quarterback in the nation to do damage to TCU’s defense. 2) When two teams play the year before in a bowl, the team that wins usually stays with what they have, while the loser makes radical adjustments, not to mention wants revenge. TCU ruined Boise’s quest to be undefeated last year… Boise will be better prepared in this game. And 3) The Broncos have Fiesta Bowl magic. How couldn’t they after that comeback in 2006 in the Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma?

National Championship: Alabama (13-0) vs Texas (13-0)- Alabama: I’ve picked against the SEC participant in the National Championship game for three straight years now. The SEC team has won all three of those games. This year, I’m taking the SEC squad, which means Alabama. Besides being from the SEC, the Tide has the best running back in college football in Mark Ingram, a stud at wide receiver in Julio Jones, and an offensive line that has allowed quarterback Greg McElroy to develop into a terrific distributer. But Alabama is the favorite here because of it’s defense. Colt McCoy and the Longhorn’s nearly lost to Nebraska, which while having a stingy D, is no Alabama. The Tide have the #3 yardage and #2 scoring defense- giving up just over 10 points a game. McCoy has struggled against the elite defense’s (Nebraska and Oklahoma), and I see the Tide forcing him into some turnovers.

However- the past four Heisman winners (and past 7 out of 9) have lost their bowl games. Including 6 of the 7 who played for the national championship losing. So if either Mark Ingram of Alabama or Colt McCoy of Texas win the award (both received invites to NYC and are the two favorites), my vote will lean towards the other team.

Week 2 Review

By Peter LeGrand; college football expert

 

New Top 15

 

1. Florida (2-0): The Gators rolled again, this time over Troy. Tim Tebow had five more touchdowns… I would be shocked if they did not put up at least 56 on the Vols next week
2. Texas (2-0): Longhorns did start out slow against the Cowboys, but turned it on big time late in the game. Next weeks revenge game against Texas Tech should be interesting. I have a feeling McCoy and company are going to be out for blood.
3. Alabama (2-0): Crushed FIU, look forward to North Texas next week… It looks like the Tide are going to be as good in the regular season as last year. Remember Greg McElroy…
4. USC (2-0): Barkley honestly didn’t impress me too much, until that final drive. He looked like a true leader and did a tremendous job in such a hostile environment. USC better not sleep on Washington this week… The Huskies are improved and almost upset LSU
5. Penn State (2-0): They didn’t beat Syracuse as impressively as expected; but the D looked good and so did the wide receiving core. Another tune-up this week against Temple
6. California (2-0): Another blow-out win for the Golden Bears… they will have to come prepared to Minnesota though; the Gophers are a tough team
7. Boise State (2-0): The Broncos hammered the MAC Miami 48-0… I don’t know if the schedule will hold up enough weight to get them to a BCS game; but I personally believe they deserve this rank for now. They’d better not lose a game this year…
8. BYU (2-0): They killed hapless Tulane last Saturday; now they prepare for what was a highly anticipated game against Florida State… until FSU barely beat Jacksonville State at home. Still should be an extremely challenging test for the Cougars
9. Ohio State (1-1): The Buckeyes came sooo close to pulling off the upset!!! I could almost feel their pain of letting a freshman lead USC down the field at the end of the game like that. They did play a tremendous game though, and I wouldn’t have put them at 9 if not for Pryor’s performance… statistically he may not have been that bad. But his footwork was horrendous and his decision making was not always top notch. He did make some tremendous passes down the seam, but it more the exception to the norm
10. LSU (2-0): An unimpressive win over Vanderbilt… I hope, for their fans sake, that they kick it up a notch when they start playing the other SEC juggernauts
11. Ole Miss (1-0): Easy game vs a FCS team next weekend… the game against South Carolina, on the next Thursday, should NOT be overlooked
12. TCU (1-0): The Frogs jump into my top 15 after an impressive victory at Virginia. Yeah, the Cavaliers lost to William and Mary, but dominating an ACC team 30-0 before garbage time is an impressive opener 
13. Oklahoma State (1-1) The SI cover jinx lives on!!! Well, so much for a defense that looked like it’d be able to compete. Look for them to rebound and compete later in the year. They could still pull off some surprises; especially now that they’re under the radar
14. Nebraska (2-0) Another big blow out victory… it’ll be an interesting test next week at Virginia Tech. A win there would really elevate them in many peoples eyes and really set them up to make a run at the Big 12 north crown
15. Michigan (2-0): Yes, Virginia Tech and Oklahoma are better teams; but for this week I’m going to give Michigan a spot in the limelight, they deserve it after such an embarrassing season last year. Not to mention they played a great game last week against Notre Dame, and Forcier looked extremely good. They get some props here

 

Dropped out: #13 G.Tech (2-0) (played like garbage against weak Clemson)

                    #12 Notre Dame (1-1) (lost to Michigan)

 

On the Verge: Virginia Tech, Oklahoma, Georgia Tech, Cincinnati, Miami (FL), Kansas, West Virginia, Oregon State, Wisconsin

 

!!!Heisman Watch!!!

1. Tim Tebow (Florida): 5 more touchdowns last Saturday… Looked every bit of the legend he’s portrayed to be. (prev week: 2)
2. Colt McCoy (Texas): Fell a notch after a slooooow start against Wyoming. When you play Wyoming, there’s no reason for that! Expect him to put up big numbers against a suspect Texas Tech D (prev week: 1)
3. Jahvid Best (Cal): The nations most talked about running back had another huge game last Saturday, racking up 144 yards. He’ll have a chance to make a statement on the road this weekend in Minneapolis against Minnesota. (prev week: 3)
4. Max Hall (BYU): Deadly efficient for the nation’s new underdog darling, Hall could become another Cougar quarterback to claim the Heisman. He’s been extremely efficient thus far; completing 50 of 70 passes… If he leads BYU to an undefeated record and a BCS bowl, or the BCS title game; he could take home the hardware (prev week: NR)
5. Daryll Clark (Penn State): Who would’ve ever thought that Penn State would be slinging the ball around this much? Well, they are, and Clark is doing a great job running the HD spread; he’s almost average 300 yards a game, and he already has 6 touchdowns. (prev week: NR)

 

Observations of Week 2

3. Matt Barkley is going to be a great USC quarterback: yes, it may be much too soon to ordain him as their next Heisman winner; but that final drive was extremely impressive. Expect great things in his future

 

2. Oklahoma State had much too much hype after the Georgia game: Yes, it was against Houston, a pass happy, possibly gimmicky offensive team; but come on; when you’re making a case to contend for the national title, you’ve GOT TO do more than that. Extremely disappointing.

 

1. Michigan and the spread might actually have a future: I won’t lie, I was extremely skeptical following their game against Western Michigan that Forcier’s great performance wasn’t just a fluke. He looked special against ole Notre Dame. I wouldn’t be too surprised if in two seasons, he and Barkley were the Heisman frontrunners coming into the season

 

My Upset Alerts for Week 3

 

I send this alert out to BYU and Boise State… both of these teams are being touted as high favorites the rest of the way and both teams should run the table. However, both face tough tests this week; BYU against Florida State and Boise State goes on the road against fierce WAC rival Fresno State. Neither of these teams can afford to overlook these roadblocks!

 

On a final note: tune in for Georgia Tech vs. Miami(FL) on Thursday night. Both of these teams wants to be considered the frontrunner in the ACC, and both have a chance to prove it. Expect a hard fought and intensely heated game between these two teams. I am personally intrigued to see if Hurricane QB Harris can duplicate the kind of night he had in week one against Florida State

Bold Predictions For NFL Season

With Week 1 coming to a close tonight with Monday’s games, some things have been made evident about the forthcoming season.  For instance, The Eagles defense will remain aggressive under new D-Coordinator, Sean McDermmott, Jay Cutler will need to ease into his role, and The Packers have a much improved defense.  But, for every clear proven point, there is a bold prediction.  With that said, here, are The Sports Unit’s Five Bold Predictions For the 2009 NFL Season. 

 

1)  Kyle Orton will have a more successful season in Denver than Jay Cutler will have in Chicago.  This prediction is slightly based off of the horrid performance that Cutler had in Week 1, throwing four interceptions, but it also has to do with the current systems they are playing in.  Orton is set up to succeed in an offense that does not rely on him, while Cutler is expected to be, however unfair it may be, the savior for the Bears franchise who haven’t had a steady QB in forever.

2) Favre’s Season As A Viking Will Be A More Than Successful One.  Expect Brett to have a superb showing in Minnesota, and do not be surprised when they make a strong push in the playoffs.  Unlike his past couple seasons, his team only needs him to be serviceable.  And contrary to popular belief, if Favre was coming back to win a title, this was the palce to go.  Putting rival feelings aside, Favre made the smart decision as he will join the dynamic Peterson and Vikings defense to make one of the more complete teams in the NFL.

3)  The Texans will struggle… mightily.  The Texans have been a trendy sleeper pick for the last couple years, but have never been able to get over the hump, let alone reach the playoffs.  In their first game against the Jets and rookie Mark Sanchez, the Texans showed signs of having a Lions-esque season.  With little to no running or passing game, their defense was left with a tough job.  Matt Schaub is going to need to have a great season to dig the Texans out of the big hoel they are in right now. 

4)  Jake Delhomme’s Career Is Over.  With nine turnovers in his last two games, Delhomme has been last than stellar of late.  Although he will most likely get the start in Week 2, he will have a short leash and much less room for error.  He’s not getting any younger, and the Panthers impatience is growing as shown by Fox’s decision to bench him.  Basically, if you have a fantasy team and haven’t released him previously, do it now.

5) The Cardinals Will Struggle As Warner’s Career Tails Off.  Warner has been able to prolong his career thanks to his great performance last season, but after a sub-par first game and growing signs of age and weakness. the Cardinals offense will need to come more from their non-existant running game.

Week 1 review

By Peter LeGrand; College football expert 

New Top 15

1. Florida (1-0)- still undisputed numbero uno until they are beaten in my eyes. Yes, I realize that they played a FCS team, but still, the offense didn’t seem to miss Harvin at all and the defense remained stellar
2. Texas (1-0)- rolled once again… They get Wyoming next week as a tune up for Texas Tech; a game I guarantee will have the Longhorns revved up. Vengeance is a big motivation.
3. Alabama (1-0)- And folks were worried that John Parker Wilson’s departure would be a problem! Over 500 yards and 34 points against a very, very stellar Virginia Tech defense, while the defense looked pretty stout as well; less than 200 yards allowed
4. USC (1-0)- Never, at least in my memory, has a team been this blessed with their stable of running backs. The Trojans shouldn’t ever have to throw! But if they ever do, the young freshmen Barkley looked exceptional in his first game. Next weeks contest vs. OSU should show if he really is for real
5. Penn State (1-0)- The Nittany Lions had many concerns at wide receiver going into week 1… after the aerial display they put up, the concerns are pretty much all for naught in my mind… Still, I’ll be looking forward to their first test, Iowa
6. Oklahoma State (1-0)- The Cowboys actually showed they can play defense! Their 24-10 win over Georgia may have lacked offensive fireworks, but we all know that they’re there. What was much more impressive was the D shutting the SEC powerhouse down to only 10.
7. California (1-0)- A trendy pick to upset USC this year and win the Pac-10… I never really bought into it. But boy oh boy, they dismantled Maryland!
8. Boise State (1-0)- Their dominant win over Oregon was unfortunately overshadowed by “the punch” and BYU’s upset over Oklahoma; but mark my words, Boise will enter the picture again and crash the BCS
9. BYU (1-0)- Many folks are jumping the Cougars waaaaay up in their rankings, and I obviously have too. I saw them winning every game but Oklahoma, and after the upset, an unbeaten season seems likely. However, I doubt it now… To me, yes, they still did beat Oklahoma, but they beat them without Bradford… If they beat up on Florida State, TCU, and Utah too, then we can start talking about a national championship game berth
10. LSU (1-0)- Seriously, Washington could’ve, if not should’ve, won the game between the two schools. However, I see the semi-scary game as a motivational tool, and LSU will only get better, especially on the defensive side of the ball
11. Ole Miss (1-0)- Why so low? Because I wasn’t impressed by their first half performance and I do believe that all this big-shot talk about the Rebels will lead to a cataclysmic upset in their future… I’m not sure when, but it will happen
12. Ohio State (1-0)- Hard for me to put them above Georgia Tech, especially after they handled Navy’s triple option attack… but I did anyways. USC should be favored by at least a touchdown, and for good reason. But I’ll give all that talent that they have a chance at redemption and leave them in my top 12
13. Georgia Tech (1-0) – The option is still working smooth! Dwyer still looks like a top notch back, and the defense should be stout again… Probably the frontrunners in the ACC
14. Notre Dame (1-0)- Excessive after they threw all over the worst pass defense in all of the FBS? Probably… but not many quarterbacks can put up the numbers Clausen did against a middle school secondary, and the defense looked extremely stout. An impressive debut, we’ll see how they handle the new freshmen at Michigan
15. Nebraska (1-0)- Now obviously, this is a spot that many would argue belongs to a team like Oklahoma, Virginia Tech, even Georgia; but quite frankly I’d rather reward teams in my poll early in the year. Futhermore, TCU hasn’t played a game so I’m not putting them. This left me w/putting the Cornhuskers in this spot. Why? Because the offense was clicking against FAU, and the defense held Rusty Smith, one of the best quarterbacks not overly talked about, to less than 250 yards passing. An impressive 49-3 victory and I’m hoping that Bo Pelini can bring the Big Red back to national prominence again soon (though I seriously doubt that’ll be this season)

Just missed out: Virginia Tech, Oklahoma, Cincinnati, Miami (FL), Mizzou, North Carolina, Georgia, and Wisconsin

 

TOP 5 in THE HEISMAN WATCH!!!

(I know what you’re thinking… and to answer your question, NO, it’s NEVER too early to start making Heisman top 5’s!)

1. Colt McCoy (Texas)- Yes, he played against UL-Monroe; but the gun slinging Texas quarterback started right where he left off last season. 72.4 completion % , a pair of touchdown throws and 317 yards. His one pick was his only blemish, but he once again looked like a true leader out there.
2. Tim Tebow (Florida)- I know lots of people are sick of all the attention and praise that Tebow is getting, but wowza, he can play in the college game! Nothing all too spectacular in game one against a FCS opponent, but another game with a TD pass and rushing TD… what a shocker
3. Jahvid Best (Cal)- This RB was getting a lot of hype in the off-season, and he lived up to the billing in game one. One game in and he’s averaging 13.7 yards per carry. And one touchdown every 5 carries… simply ridiculous
4. Jimmy Clausen (Notre Dame)- The Fighting Irish quarterback may be laughed at by most, but he looked absolutely fantastic in the opener. If he continues to post these type of numbers and leads Notre Dame to double digit wins, don’t be surprised to see him go to New York
5. Dez Bryant (Oklahoma State)- Yes, he did only have 3 receptions in the Cowboys win over Georgia. But 2 of them were for touchdowns. Key touchdowns. Those are the things that voters remember

 

My Key Observations from the previous week

 

5.  Greg Paulus starting was not a ploy: Yeah, I know that Syracuse is irrelevant and will be lucky to win 4 games. But Paulus did not look bad at all! A little rusty early on, but as he settled down, he looked really good out there for a guy who’s been out of the game for 4 years. And seriously, who thought the Orange would keep the final score under 24 points, let alone force OT? I was impressed.

4. Greg McElroy is a great replacement for JP Wilson: Wow, most pundits, including myself, thought that McElroy would struggle early in the year and could be the weak link in the Tide (along w/a youthful OL) that keeps them from repeating as SEC West champs. Well, they were wrong! A very impressive first start against a tough V. Tech defense!

3. Miami (FL) looked somewhat relevant again- The game against FSU was intense!!! And Harris looked pretty darn good w/nearly 400 yards passing. It would be great to see them getting back into the national scene… and w/Oklahoma so far down, who knows? That could easily end up being a Hurricane win

2. Cincinnati will once again be a top flight competitor in the Big East- The game against Rutgers was being viewed as a smackdown; and lots of different publications (including myself) had Rutgers winning or sharing the Big East title this season. And Cincy throttled them on their home field. Tony Pike may be creeping into Heisman discussions…

1. The injuries that have struck Oklahoma will relegate them to at least third in the Big 12 south, if not farther down- Yes, it’s hard to believe. Oklahoma not finishing in at least second? But let us be honest: Texas and Oklahoma State are legitimate title contenders… Then Texas Tech has unbelievable offensive fire power again and Baylor has an incredible amount of playmakers all around. THEY COULD END UP 5TH!!! However, I seriously doubt they fall that far. But none-the-less, the Sooners will struggle mightily all year long

 

TOP GAMES OF NEXT WEEK

3. UCLA vs Tennessee- So we know that Lane Kiffen can hammer down Sun Belt new-comers; let’s see  how he handles his first big game. Yes, the Bruins are still young and struggle to throw the ball, but it should be an interesting tune-up game for Tennessee before Florida. And remember, despite 4 INT’s, UCLA did engineer an upset last season

2. Notre Dame vs. Michigan- Are these teams on the verge of once more reclaiming their status as top-tier programs? No. But they are taking steps towards doing so, and the winner of this game takes another leap forward in confidence and, possibly more importantly, positive perception of the public and voters

1. USC vs. Ohio State- the Buckeyes are reeling from their near-disaster of a loss to Navy and USC is coming off a clobbering of San Jose State. Both are ranked in the AP top 10 and both have national title aspirations. Will be a blockbuster showdown at one of college footballs most treasured stadiums, between two of the most storied programs, in primetime. Should be a great game  (Even though USC could very easily win in a blow-out)

2009 All American Predictions (and top Freshman to watch)

By Peter LeGrand

All American Teams
1st team
QB: Tim Tebow- Florida: Tebow won’t put up the best passing stats, but bet your bottom dollar that he will have a terrific TD-INT ratio and manage to put up a very high completion %. More important than that is his impact on his team, as Tebow will be the undisputed leader on what should be the best team from start to finish this year. His leadership ability is unparalleled and I look for him to win his second Heisman Trophy this year
RB: Jahvid Best- California: The junior running back put up huge numbers last season, rushing for over 1500 yards and 8.1 ypc!!! He also scored 15 touchdowns. He’s reportedly improved his speed and he’s in a better situation this year as the Cal offense will have a stable quarterback this year. 2,000 yards is not out of the question.
RB: Kendall Hunter- Oklahoma State: Hunter was a first teamer last year and returns to the most balanced offense in all of college football hungry to improve on his numbers from last season. I see Oklahoma State contending in the Big 12 South and Hunter will get lots of national recognition, though he will have to battle with teammates Zac Robinson and Dez Bryant in the Heisman Race, but that shouldn’t affect his odds at back to back All American years
WR: Arrelious Benn- Illinois: Benn may be the most physically gifted wide reciever out there and with the improvements that Juice Williams has made at quarterback, the Illini will be passing more than ever; expect most passes going Benn’s way. Adding to his dynamic receiving talents is his amazing skill returning kick-offs. Don’t be surprised to see him be the first wide receiver taken in the next NFL draft.
WR: Dez Bryant- Oklahoma State: Bryant caught 87 receptions for 1480 yards last season, along with 19 touchdowns. It may be hard for him to match that sort of production, but it’s hard to doubt he’ll come close. The Cowboy offense will be potent and Bryant will be a huge part of their sensational production.
TE: Jermaine Grisham- Oklahoma: Grisham had 14 touchdowns and over 900 yards last season and looks to be QB Sam Bradford’s top target this season. As a 6′6” target he’s almost impossible to guard near the goal line and I expect him to surpass his 14 touchdown’s from last year.
T: Russell Okung- Oklahoma State: Already being touted as a top 5 prospect for next year’s draft, Okung guards the blind side for quarterback Zac Robinson. He started all 26 games at LT the past two seasons and it will be hard for any defenders to get past him
G: Brandon Carter- Texas Tech: This 6′7” behemoth is a stout protector on this offensive line, and will lead this line in protecting what should be another top 5 passing attack.
C: Kristofer O’Dowd- USC: O’Dowd will have extra responsibility this year, trying to help whichever young QB USC settles with develop. I see him doing a fabulous job and the Trojans getting back to the Rose Bowl for the 5th straight year.
G: Sergio Render- Virginia Tech: Render has had 26 starts for the Hokies at RG the past two seasons and will be the one that super RB Darren Evans will often follow to daylight this season. I see V. Tech winning the ACC and Render will get rewarded for his great work in the trenches with an All American nob
T: Sam Young- Notre Dame: Young is a 6′8”, 330 lb mountain of blocking skill. I expect the Irish to do very well this year, and Clausen to put up much improved passing numbers. This will reflect on the great protection he gets from his offensive line, who are lead by this guy.
DE: Carlos Dunlop- Florida: A junior DE who recorded 9.5 sacks last year, Dunlop is a physical beast. At 6′6” and 290 lbs, he is nearly impossible to block and I see him being one of the biggest stars rushing the passer next year.
DT: Terrence Cody- Alabama: Cody is the anchor to the Alabama run defense, which gave up only 74 yards per game last season. He should continue to keep up his success clogging the middle and I see him earning a second straight nod on the All America team.
DT: Ndamukong Suh- Nebraska: Suh led the Huskers in tackles, sacks, and takles for loss last season, while tying for the team lead in interceptions too. And he played defensive tackle! He is a fabulous player and the Huskers should be a top 25 team, expect him to earn many postseason awards for his Hercules like efforts.
DE: Jerry Hughes- TCU: This senior DE was a 1st teamer last year while recording an unbelievable 15 sacks and could very well repeat that feat. The Horned Frogs have a very dangerous team and could easily crack the BCS this year. With all that national attention, their staunch run defense (47 ypg surrendered last season!!!), Hughes will once again find himself on the AA team
LB: Sergio Kindle- Texas: Kindle is an interesting player, playing the SLB position and rushing the passer from that position better than any other player in the NCAA. It’s very possible that he will improve on his 10 sacks from last season. I see Texas reaching the National Title game this year, and Kindle will get lots of national attention and a spot on the All-American team.
LB: Brandon Spikes- Florida: This senior linebacker returns to once again lead the Florida defense. They led the SEC in scoring defense last year, and return all 11 starters. It will be impossible to keep their star player off of the All American squad
LB: Rolando McClain- Alabama: The junior linebacker led the Tide defense with 95 tackles last year and returns with 8 other starters from last year. Alabama should be one of the best defenses again, and I expect McClain to pile up the tackles for them.
CB: Trevard Lindley- Kentucky: The senior CB was a 2nd team All-American last year and I expect him to make the jump up to the 1st team this year. He’ll get challenged often this year against star WR’s Julio Jones (Alabama), AJ Green (Georgia), and against stud QB Tim Tebow. However, I see him holding his own, and even improving on his 11 passes broken up from last year and his 4 INT.
CB: Joe Haden- Florida: The Gators garner 3 first team All-American’s on the defensive side of the ball, and Haden will not be undeserving of his spot. He had 87 tackles and 12 passes broken up last season, and I see his numbers rising after another year of experience. He’ll be one of the biggest impact corners in all of college football next year.
FS: Taylor Mays- USC: Mays turned down the NFL draft last year, and what probably would have been a top 10 selection, to return to the USC defense as the undisputed leader. With the body of a linebacker and speed of a corner, Mays punishes opposing offenses in so many ways. I expect the USC defense to once again by extremely stout, and Mays will gain a ton of recognition for his great play.
SS: Eric Berry- Tennessee: The lone bright spot last year for the Volunteers, Berry is a phenomenal talent and should put up eye-popping numbers… if opposing teams throw the ball near him. Otherwise, we’ll just watch him pulverize a few running backs and make the field half the size for the oppositions passing game.
K: Alex Henry- Nebraska: Henry hit 18-21 FG’s last year, including a 57 yarder. Furthermore, two of those misses were from over 50 yards. I look for improved numbers and a great year.
P: Bryan Anger- Cal: The sophomore punter was a 1st team Freshman All American last year, putting 26 balls inside the 20 yard line and having a 43.1 ypp average. I look for him to improve on those numbers and earn a 1st team nod.
2nd team
QB: Colt McCoy- Texas
RB: Darren Fletcher- Southern Mississippi
RB: Evan Royster- Penn State
WR: Julio Jones- Alabama
WR: DeAndre Brown- Southern Mississippi
TE: DJ Williams- Arkansas
T: Bryan Bulaga- Iowa
G: Mike Johnson- Alabama
C: Chris Hall- Texas
G: Jeff Byers- USC
T: Ciron Black- LSU
DE: George Selvie- USF
DT: Gerald McCoy- Oklahoma
DT: Vince Oghobaase- Duke
DE: Dexter Davis- Arizona State
LB: Sean Lee- Penn State
LB: Joe Pawelek- Baylor
LB: Sean Weatherspoon- Missouri
CB: Myron Lewis- Vanderbilt
CB: Walter Thurmond- Oregon
FS: Jordan Lake- Baylor
SS: Morgan Burnett- Georgia Tech
K: Kai Forbath- UCLA
P: Zach Johnson- Eastern Michigan

And… top freshmen to watch
1. QB Tate Forcier: Michigan- He may not be the most highly touted QB coming into this season, but this guy will be handed the keys to the Wolverine offense. How he plays will decide whether or not Michigan will return to a bowl game.
2. RB Bryce Brown: Tennessee- Lots of controversy swirled around the #1 running back prospect due to his sudden de-commitment to Miami (FL), and his performance this year will be watched carefully. Expect him to get significant playing time in his first season.
3. QB Matt Barkley: USC and QB Russell Shepard: LSU- The two highest regarded quarterbacks of 2009 will probably be back-ups at the start of the year, but will contend to earn the starting roles at these two top 10 caliber teams. Their performance and growth will be interesting to watch.
4. RB Edwin Baker: Michigan State- Baker will come in and attempt to replace Javon Ringer, a Spartan fan favorite. His ability to continue Michigan State’s ability to run the football will decide whether MSU goes to a lower-tier bowl or contends for the Big 10 title.
5. LB Manti Te’o: Notre Dame- The #1 LB recruit should start right away, and if he can make his presence felt enough, there’s a possibility that the Irish could have a top notch defense and possibly contend for a BCS berth.

The Diesel’s Impact On The Cavs

By: Chandler Fraser – Pauls (NBA Staff Writer)

 

Shaquille O’Neil is and has been one of the most dominant players in the long and great history of basketball.  His combination of his size, skill, swagger, and drive has caused him to become one of the best players in the history of the NBA.  While at LSU people knew Shaq was a special player but no one realized just how good he would be.   He started his career with the Magic and made his name as one of the premier young stars of the game but the place he really made his name was with the Los Angeles Lakers.  He teamed with Kobe Bryant to make one of the most dangerous duos ever in the game.  They won three championships together but then had a falling out.  Shaq was then sent to Miami where he teamed with Dwayne Wade to win another NBA championship in 2006.  After that season it has been up and downs for the Diesel because of injuries after he was shipped to the Phoenix Suns.  Shaq never found his groove for the Suns because of their up tempo style of play and so many thought it was tine for a change in scenery for the Diesel and it finally happened a few weeks back.  Shaq got traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers and now is going to team with, in my opinion, the best player in the game in LeBron James.  Is the Diesel the missing piece for the Cavs?  Will the 2009-10 season give Shaq a fifth NBA championship?  

The trade for Shaq by the Cavs has had mixed reviews by many analysts and people around the world.  Shaq in the end will get the Cavs to the finals though, and potentially bring Cleveland home an NBA championship.  The Cavs have had always had a weakness at the center position.  Zydrunas IIgauskas, the starting center for the past several year for the Cavs, is a solid center but is not a dominant or game-changing center like O’Neil is.  Shaq also brings even more confidence to an already confident squad in the Cavs.  The only issue is can the Cavs not become over confident and play with a chip on their shoulder for the whole season.  LeBron James will not let that happen so that should not be an issue.  The other problem is Shaq’s defensive mobility.  Mike Brown must find a way to help Shaq defend the pick and roll because in past seasons the pick and roll has killed the Cavs, for example the Magic this year with Hedo Turkoglu.  While this could end up being an issue come playoff time,  LeBron and the Cavs will find a way to make for Shaq defensive liabilities.

The combination of LeBron and Shaq will only bring good things to the Cavs.  Shaq is itching for another NBA championship and we all know LeBron James NEEDS an NBA championship to cement himself as one of the top players in the history of the game.  The returning cast for the Cavs mixed in with the introduction of Shaq and any others that the Cavs sign or trade for will only lead to more success for this team.  Any team with LeBron James is a championship contender and coupled with the dominance and leadership of the great Shaquille O’Neil I see an NBA championship in my crystal ball for the Cleveland Cavaliers next year.

 

Much Love,

C-$ick

Mariano Rivera: Simply The Best

By: Cole Gargione (MLB Executive)

 

      As Mariano Rivera notched his 500^th save earlier this week it seems like a good time to discuss this truly amazing career and where Mariano ranks among the all-time greats.  As Rivera saved his 500^th game of his career on June 28^th against the cross-town rival Mets, a game in which he recorded his first career RBI via a walk against Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez, he put himself in a league that now consists of two pitchers.  Rivera is only the second pitcher to reach this major milestone of 500 saves, first being longtime Padres and current Brewers closer Trevor Hoffman.  Rivera’s path to this astronomical number of 500 saves did not come easy.  The Panama native broke into the majors at age 25 with the Yankees as a starter working to fill an injury to the Yankee’s rotation at that time.  In 1996, however Rivera was moved to the bullpen with the intention of having him be a setup man to Yankees closer John Wetteland.  As the Yankees made a playoff push and became legitimate contenders, Rivera was the usual 7^th and 8^th inning man, fulfilling his role as the bridge from the starters to Wetteland.  The Yankees went on to beat the Atlanta Braves in the ’96 World Series, and from that point on it was known around baseball that Mariano Rivera was here to stay.  In that 1996 season, Rivera’s first full season as a major leaguer, he set a Yankees franchise record for strikeouts as a reliever with 130.  The Yankees were more than impressed with Rivera, so they decided not to resign Wetteland, the 1996 World Series Most Valuable Player, and in doing so made Mariano the closer beginning in the 1997 season.  From his first season as a closer through present day it is safe to say that “The Sandman” has been the single most dominating relieving presence in all of baseball.  Of course the 500 saves speak for themselves, but it’s the postseason dominance which truly sets him apart from literally every other closer to ever play the sport.  Rivera has an utterly astounding postseason record of 8-1 with an unhittable ERA of 0.77.  When you put together a 14+ year body of work consisting of at least 502 saves, a career ERA of 2.30, with a 8-1 postseason record and 0.77 ERA you get a rather nice resume.  On top of that the man is a nine time All-Star with four World Series Champion, one of which he owns the MVP trophy, and a three time saves champion, you truly are left with the best closer of all-time.  Oh and one more thing: his career isn’t even over yet.  

College Football Preseason Top 25

By: Peter Legrand (College Football Executive)

 

*A brief word to all readers before you dive into my preseason Top 25. My 25 teams are not ranked in order of the top 25 talented or skilled teams. They are ranked in the order I project they will be in at the end of the regular season before the bowls begin. This may not seem like a big difference, but to those who regularly follow college football, you know that the #5 team is many times worse than the #7 or 8 team. For instance, I wouldn’t give #5 Boise State a prayer against my #10 team; LSU. However, I do list the team’s talent ranking in parenthesis along side their name… enjoy the preview

1. Florida (1)- projected regular season record: 13-0 The Gators figure to be the consensus #1 pick at the start of the year, and for good reason. The defending champs bring back all 11 defensive starters from the squad that gave up the fewest points per game in the SEC last season. They also return legendary quarterback Tim Tebow, who may end this season as the second two time Heisman winner. Add all the top-notch recruits that make up the Gators receiving and running cores, along with their sturdy offensive line, and you get a team that will be favored by at least a touchdown in every game this season

2. Texas (2)- proj. record: 12-1: The Longhorn’s were viewed by many as the team that deserved to play in the Big 12 and National title last season, and are hungry to prove this season that they belong. They return 16 starters from last years 12-1 team, including quarterback Colt McCoy, who completed a record 76.7% of his passes! They will have to face my #3 team Oklahoma at a neutral venue and #8 Oklahoma State on the road, but an unbeaten season is certainly within reach.

3. Oklahoma (3)- pr: 11-1: Oklahoma put up record offensive numbers last year in route to a flashy 12-1 regular season. However, it was not enough to beat the Gators, who clamped down on their passing assault, holding Heisman winning QB Sam Bradford to only 256 yards passing. However, a chance for redemption is certainly plausible this year, as the Sooners return Bradford, who set a NCAA record for passing efficiency, and their two stud running backs, Murray and Brown, who both rushed for over 1,000 yards. They also return 9 starters on defense. I don’t think they will be able to top Texas this year though, and if they tie atop Big 12 south again w/the Longhorns, they will not get the nod.

4. Alabama (4)-pr: 12-1: The Tide rolled through the SEC last year, getting off to a 12-0 record before dropping the SEC title game and the Sugar Bowl. They were thought to be a year ahead of schedule. This year they bring back 9 starters from a dominating defense that held opponents to 189 passing yards and 74 rushing yards a game. Their offense will be lead by a pair of super sophomores. On the ground by bruising running back Mark Ingram and in the air by playmaking wide-receiver Julio Jones. I expect them to get through the season unscathed again, but this is a call I’m extremely wary of, as they have some extremely tough tests against Virginia Tech in Atlanta, Ole Miss on the road, and LSU at home. I don’t think they can take Florida in an SEC title game rematch, but this is a definite National Title contender.

5. Boise State (14)-pr: 13-0: The Bronco’s from Boise are not in my top 10 most talented teams, but they have the schedule and enough skill to run through the year unbeaten. Lead by sophomore QB Kellen Moore, the offense should once again put up huge numbers. Their season will likely be decided early on in two important games: one against Oregon at home and on the road against Fresno State. The other test will be the home game late in season against under-rated Nevada in what could be a battle of unbeatens. However, I see Boise going all the way to an unbeaten season and being the “BCS buster team” of 2009.

6. USC (5)- pr: 11-1: The Trojans come into the 2009 season with only 3 returning starters on defense and a brand-new quarterback. However, it won’t stop them from contending for the national title. Their defensive holes will be filled by more highly valued recruits, and of course they have Taylor Mays, a safety who looks like a linebacker and runs like a cornerback, leading them. Their offense can be lead by the stable of great talents they have at running back until the new quarterback, whether it be sophomore Aaron Corp or freshman Matt Barkley, adjusts to being a starting college quarterback. A fifth straight trip to the Rose Bowl seems very likely.

7. Penn State (7)-pr: 11-1: The Nittany Lions were one last second FG from playing in the national title game last season. This year, they could be even better. The HD offense returns Daryll Clark and Evan Royster. Both have All-American talents. The defense will again be strong, especially since they get back MLB Sean Lee, who redshirted due to a torn ACL last season. They also face a very weak schedule. Though it makes sense for them to run the table, they’ll probably be favored in every game, I see at least one hiccup from this team like last year, and a rematch with USC in the Rose Bowl.

8. Oklahoma State (10): 11-1: The triplets of QB Zac Robinson, RB Kendall Hunter, and WR Dez Bryant make the Cowboys offense one of the most balanced and potent scoring threats in the nation. Balance is probably the best word to describe it. Last year the Cowboys averaged 242 passing yards and 245 rushing yards a game. That makes them almost impossible to stop. Just like Texas Tech pulled a stunning upset last year to make a three way tie atop the Big 12 south, I see Oklahoma State pulling a similar stunt this season. They won’t be near as good defensively as either Oklahoma or Texas, but they’re a scoring machine. They will get a good test in the first week of the season, when they host #18 most talented team, Georgia.

9. Virginia Tech (8): 11-2: The Hokies were fortunate to win the ACC last year, but this season I believe they will be the undisputed best team. They will once again have a top notch defense, along with a strong offense, lead by play-making quarterback Tyrod Taylor and running back Darren Evans. They will get some early season challenges against Alabama and Nebraska, and how they deal with those games will probably effect the way they develop later in the season. This is a team that could very well challenge for a national title if they can pass their early tests.

10. LSU (6): 10-2: The Tigers have one of the most difficult schedules in the land, having to play Georgia, Florida, Ole Miss, and Alabama, along with a road game against a much improved Washington Huskie team. However, I still see them getting to double digit wins. They have one of the best wide receiving cores in the country and an All-American caliber running back in Charles Scott. Their defense returns 7 starters and adds Craig Loston, rated by Phil Steele as the top defensive back recruit this season. The key to their season will be young quarterback Jordan Jefferson. He started the last two games, and while he showed flashes of greatness, only completed 49.3% of his passes. If Jefferson can manage the game well and keep the ball in their hands, LSU could definetly challenge for the SEC West title.

11. Ohio State (9): 10-2: The Buckeye’s will have another good defense and an offense with explosive possibilities. Young QB Terrelle Pryor reminds many people of Vince Young, and for good reason. He has the ability to keep the Buckeye’s in every game. The way he handles the USC defense will define Ohio State this year. Ohio State’s inability to win the big games has made them somewhat of a laughing stock to many people, and Pryor and company are out to prove that they belong in the discussion for another national title. However, I believe they are at least one more year away from that, but will call for a double digit win season.

12. Notre Dame (12): 10-2: Call me crazy, but the Golden-domers are back! Led by Jimmy Clausen, I see their offense being very formidable. They also bring back 6 starters on defense, and bring in the top-rated LB, Manti Te’o, who they expect to make an immediate impact. Most important is the weak schedule. Notre Dame will most likely be favored in 11 of their games, and they get USC at home and on a down year (or at least as most like a down year as you ever see from USC)… I could definitely see the Irish running the table, but think the pressure will get to the Irish late in the year. However, 10 wins will be seen as a huge success, and I see them getting an opportunity for making a BCS bowl.

13. BYU (16): 11-1: If the Cougars didn’t have to travel to Norman to face Oklahoma the first week of the season, they would be in my top 10. That’s not their sole test however, as they must face Florida State and TCU as well this year. Luckily, they get both of them at home and have one of the nation’s top QB’s in senior Max Hall. They return 8 starters on defense too, and if they somehow upset Oklahoma, not only could they contend for a BCS berth but a berth in the National Title!

14. Ole Miss (11): 10-2: The Rebels jumped into the national spotlight for the first time since Eli Manning played for them by upsetting LSU and Texas Tech. This year they will not sneak up on anybody, and have an excellent shot at reaching the SEC title game. Their schedule aligns perfectly with success, as they avoid the top teams from the SEC east and get their rivals for supremacy in the West at home. They return 16 starters overall and junior QB Jevan Snead is a Heisman candidate. It really does worry me to put them all the way at 14, but I don’t think they are ready yet to handle the hype.

15. Cal (13): 10-2: Jeff Tedford has his best team yet this year, led by Heisman candidate running back Javid Best. Best rushed for 1580 yards last year, and there’s no reason he can’t improve on that. They return 8 starters on defense and play USC at home this season. I would not be surprised at all if Cal wins that game. However, they have 5 Pac-10 away games this season, and I see them dropping at least one of them. It would not be a surprise if they made a trip to the Rose Bowl.
The Rest of the top 25…

16. (17) TCU projected record in parenthesis: (11-1)
17. (24) West Virginia (10-2)
18. (15) Georgia Tech (9-3)
19. (18) Georgia (9-3)
20. (20)Nebraska (9-4)
21. (NR)Rutgers (10-2)
22. (22)Oregon (9-3)
23. (21)Illinois (9-3)
24. (NR) Southern Mississippi (11-2)
25. (25) Pittsburgh (9-3)

Just missed it: Iowa (Iowa is #19 in the power poll though), NC State, North Carolina, Nevada, Wake Forest, Central Michigan, USF, Cincinnati, Houston, Florida State (#23 in the power poll)

What Teams Are Not “Sick of Vick?”

By: Billy Hawkey (NFL Chief Executive)

 

  

 

Miami Dolphins- One simple compound word completely explains why Michael Vick would be perfect in Miami… Wildcat. The explosive wildcat offense under coach Tony Sparano led the Dolphins to an 11-5 record and their first playoff appearance since 2001.  The wildcat offense caught teams by surprise early on in the season, with trick plays and double running back sets, with the quarterback set up in the slot, and other unconventional styles. Later in the season the trademark wildcat offense was detected by other teams, but knowing about it and stopping it were two completely different things. The Dolphin’s drafted WVU QB Pat White in hopes that White will provide explosiveness to the already powerful wildcat. But imagine if you put three time pro bowler Mike Vick in the mix. Vick who owns several NFL records, including the most rushing yards by a quarterback in a single season (1,039 in 2006), highest average per carry in a single season (8.45 in 2006), and the most 100-yard career rushing games by a quarterback (eight), would be unstoppable. Years back Vick and teammate RB Warrick Dunn became the first quarterback/running back duo to each surpass 1,000 rushing yards in a single season. Now in Miami, if Vick were to team up with Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams, one can only assume that these RB’s will have success. The Wildcat offense will be hard to stop with Vick at the helm, which opens up the doors for so many more things you can do with his ability to scramble as well as throw the deep ball. And hey, maybe with Vick running the show in Miami, the term “Wildcat” changes to “Wilddog”. And im pretty sure that when Miami visits Atlanta in Week 1 of the 2009 season, a lot of people will be tuning into watch Vick go back home in what should be a true “dogfight”. 

 

 

2. Cleveland Browns- The Cleveland Browns finished the 2008 regular season ranked 31^st in the league for pass yards per game with 148.8, ranked 30^th in points per game with a mere 14.5, and were ranked 31^st in yards per game with only 249.1. They finished the season at 4-12, going 1-5 in their division. The Browns were plagued by injurers at key positions, with their biggest problem coming and the quarterback position. Neither Derek Anderson or Brady Quinn could stay healthy, and there performance on the field was abysmal. The Browns lack a superstar on either side of the ball, and Mike Vick could provide that star power to the team. The Browns have no explosive threat,  but Vick is just that. Playing in a division with two of the leagues top defenses (Pittsburgh, Baltimore) a solid quarterback is needed if you want to win. The Browns allowed 14 sacks against to the three teams in their division, mainly because the quarterback, whoever it was at the time, never stood a chance. With Vicks athleticism, quickness, and ability to keep the play alive and elude a pass rush, the sack count is sure to drop. With Vick’s explosiveness, and versatility, Vick could line up in the slot and provide a new look for the Browns offense. He could open up the stagnant running game and would work well with tall receivers such as Braylon Edwards and Pual Hubbard. Picture the Browns in a two wide, single-back set with Joshua Cribbs and Vick in the slot. Yea, it’s scary. Cleveland could use a game breaker as the Browns have an inventive coach who could turn the team around. And there is a little bit of sweet irony to see Vick rush for a touchdown then go diving into the Brown’s fan section behind the endozone known as the “Dawg Pound”

 

3. Oakland Raiders- The Raiders finished the season dead last in passing yards per game with an embarrassing 142.1. They were 29^th in the league for yards per game and points. Jamarcus Russell’s time has not yet come, and it will take him a few more seasons for him to be a successful NFL quarterback. Being the backup to Vick for a few seasons would be the best thing for him. It would be a great learning experience for him, as there are many parallels between Vicks game and Russell’s game. Both have the big arm, and have the ability to move around in the pocket and keep the play alive.  Vick has the experience of being an NFL quarterback and will provide the needed experience to help a young Raider team. The west coast style of offense the Raiders currently have is a perfect fit for Vick’s cannon arm and pair of wheels. Vick will provide the Raiders with a much-needed spark and can only make the team better. With a solid receiving corps for Vick to work with, with the addition of Darius Hayward Bay, and an already explosive running game in Darren McFadden, the only thing missing is an experienced quarterback. Vick could be the solution for the Raider’s problems and put the team back to being competitive. 

 

4. Minnesota Vikings- The Vikings have great players and a solid foundation to their team, but the one thing they are missing is what is keeping them from being among the leagues best. They lack a consistent quarterback, with the ability to win ballgames. They were 5^th in the league for rushing yards per game with superstar, former rookie of the year, Adrian Peterson. They put up 23.7 points per game which was ranked 12^th in the league. They had one of the leagues best defenses which finished first in the league in run defense, allowing only 76.9 yards per game. But the big problem was at quarterback and the passing game. The Vikings finished the season ranked 25^th in the league with less than 200 yards of passing per game. They added Florida WR Percy Harvin in this year’s draft, which looks to be a promising addition. But without a decent quarterback, it doesn’t matter how good your receivers are. Tavaris Jackson plain and simple cannot be the starting quarterback if the Vikings want to make a run deep into the playoffs. He does not have enough big game experience, or the talent to lead the Vikings to the level that they are capable of being at. Gus Ferrote surely isn’t the answer either. With the explosive running game in Adrian Peterson, a strong passing game would only open up the run even more. With out a passing attack, defenses fail to respect the throwing game, and tend to crowd the box to stop the run. Then the team becomes one-dimensional and very predictable, and it makes it very hard to win. Peterson would benefit from having some of the load taken off with Vick’s ability to throw the ball deep downfield, as well as tuck it in and take off. The Astroturf at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome is perfect for Vick’s game, and what he was used to back in Atlanta.

 

 

 

Other teams in the mix: Seahawks, Bengals, Rams, Cheifs 

Interview With John Robic, Assistant Coach of Kentucky Men’s Basketball

University of Kentucky made news recently by hiring coach John Calipari, luring him out of Memphis.  This resulted in a mass uproar, as recruits followed him and his staff to UK and Memphis was left with next to nothing.  About two months later, the stir has died down, but the Kentucky faithful is just as excited as ever.  Assistant coach John Robic answered some intriguing questions for us regarding how the University of Kentucky basketball experience has been to this point.

 

What has been the most difficult part of your transition from Memphis to the University of Kentucky?

 

The hardest part of the transition moving from Memphis to Lexington is having my family staying in Memphis for another year because of my oldest daughter being a high school senior next year.  We don’t get to see each other very often but we are making the most of it.

 

What are your primary duties under Coach Calipari? 

 

  All of our duties are pretty much the same.  We all recruit and coach on the floor.  I am responsible for all of our scouting and game preparation.  We run our summer camps and coaching clinics.  I also assist Coach Calipari in our scheduling of games.  He wants us all to be well rounded and participate in all aspects of coaching.

 

Everyone knows that you got a talented team next year, is their anything about the team, whether it be a player or a team characteristic, that will surprise the public? 

 

          I think that the biggest surprise for next year’s team will be how fast we will be able to play with the talented team that we could put on the court.  We hope to be a deep team that if we play how we are supposed to can eventually wear a team down.     

          

   

What is the most pleasant surprise about being a part of the Kentucky faithful? 

 

      The amazing thing about being at UK is the total support of everyone in the state or Commonwealth.  Every where  that you go around here all that is spoken about is UK Basketball.  Its neat to hear that from all of the fans.  We are looking forward to seeing 24,000 fans at Big Blue Madness on October 16^th.

 

As a coach at UMASS and Memphis, you and your staff made winning an expectation bringing both schools to the Final Four.  What was the most important aspect in building those programs and what were the hardships that your staff faced in your attempt to do so? 

 

The biggest aspect of building a winning program is recruiting very good players.  We have always said that it takes 3 players with professional potential on your team to have the opportunity to win a National Championship.  If you look at the past National Champions that is what comprised their roster.  We also want good kids and student-athletes that will obtain their degrees.  We have had very good success with our players both on the court and in the classroom.

 

Having already had a stint as a head coach, do you aspire to finish your career as an assistant, or will you be trying to find a head coaching position in the future?

 

      At this time I am not sure if I will have another opportunity to become a head coach but if there is a good       opportunity that I believe has a chance to win I will look in to that program.  I have one of the best jobs in the country here at Kentucky and want to be a part of something special here and hopefully accomplish our goal of winning the 8^th National Championship in the program’s history.

 

 

 

Interview Was Conducted By: Danny Connors

 

The Sports Unit… Over&Out