Football Friday

Back at it for a regular Football Friday previewing the weekends games.

Ohio State has played well - keeping the pedal to the metal in each of its first 3 games. Goal for this week - dont get hurt. It's a glorified exhibition game getting us ready to go to Illinois next week nothing more. Look for a similar result to last weekends game - minus the Bobcat tackling Brutus. Im calling for the shutout this week. Buckeyes 41 EMU 0

Quite a few exciting college games this weekend. Alabama starts its SEC season playing at Arkansas - an upstart team with high expectations. I have to be honest, I dont see many teams competing with Alabama just too many weapons on offense (Just when we were about to forget about Mark Ingram he comes back and rips off a 50 yarder on his 1st play of the season - effectively reminding everybody why he won the Heisman a year ago) and Nick Saban will get his athletes to make plays when it matters on D. Im not saying Arkansas QB Ryan Mallet will look silly but I expect a few turnovers and Bama wins 27 - 14.

Standford travels to Notre Dame. It always seems that Notre Dame is involved in a competitive game every weekend. It always seems I dont give ND enough credit. Well - I think a lot of the Pac 10 this year and not highly of ND - Standford 45 - 14

Oregon State practicing on painted grass just wont be enough to beat Boise in Boise. The season of dreams live on for the Broncos 27 - 20.

WVU will give LSU a closer game than people think - but I still think the Tigers are more talented and ultimately will win the game 33-31.

NFL Week 3

STONE COLD STEVE AUSTIN LEAD PIPE LOCK OF THE WEEK: I start with my lock this week since I missed the first 2 weeks and my locks did so poorly last season so lets shake it up. I see 3 games that entice me to pick them - 3 home teams I thought would make the playoffs before the season listed as double digit favorites. So who am I going to take? Ravens against Browns? Pats at Home? Vikings because they cant go 0-3 right? Nope I'm not taking any of them. In fact, Im taking Indianapolis on the road in Denver giving 5.5. I liked the way the Colts bounced back after getting thumped week 1. I like how the Colts got in their rhythm offensively and I dont see Denver slowing them down (especially with pass rusher Elvis Dumervil lost for the season). Denver is not a good team - and I hate to be that guy but Denver is dealing with a off the field tragedy this week and I think it will serve as a distraction more than a motivator for this team. Colts -5.5 is my lock of the week.

Browns go on the road to Baltimore and while I think the Browns will lose I dont project the embarrassment everybody else does. Baltimore's offense has stalled in their first 2 games and Cleveland's D is no laughing matter. Still, there is no way this team can score points unless Josh Cribbs does it for them.

I almost took Pittsburgh as my lock of the week, knowing their D is so good they could win with me at QB, but I didnt so Ill just pick them to start 3-0 here.

Dallas will fall to 0-3 after playing Houston who has the swagger - a team wanting to make a statement each week.

UPSET SPECIAL - Atlanta over New Orleans. The Falcons are looking to make a statement and while they couldnt figure out Pittsburgh's D, they got on track last week. Look for more of the same from Matt Ryan and company as the champs will lose their first game of the season.

Lastly, I'll pick the Dolphins at home on Sunday night and not because of Braylon Edwards controversy, but because I think the Dolphins are a better team.

Enjoy the weekends games should be a lot of fun.

Weekend Wrapup

I did not get the opprotunity to blog my thoughts on the first full football weekend but I am contributing to another blog - see it here - http://thegreatohstate.wordpress.com/


Here are some of my thoughts on this past weekend's action:

OSU/Miami
OSU probably should have won by at least 5 tds. Im gonna be the Ohio State fan that wakes us up from reality - there were plenty of problems that I saw. Starting with the obvious - this is the worst special teams performance of the Tressel era (this is year 10 folks!). Last week agianst Marshall they not only allowed a blocked kick but the kick coverage was poor. Against Miami, the kick coverage was nonexistent. 1st I must say, maybe Ohio State has always been bad with kick coverage we have just had exceptional kickers who boom kicks for touchbacks every trip down. This kicking game is pathetic and needs to get cleaned up or it will cost us.


Offensively, I think this team is talented but it always seems to come down to offensive line play. They could not generate a push to save their lives. Can this team run the ball when the defense knows its coming? I know the schedule is favorable from here on out but I dont know if they can...


Pryor certainly saved us by making plays with his legs. I could care less about his completion %, but some of his decision are still questionable. Miami certainly did us some favors by not capitalizing on the mistakes Pryor made the way that OSU capitalized on Harris' mistakes. He needs to stop caring about his NFL draft stock and just focus on winning games. My opinion is hes playing like hes wants to (needs to?) leave after this year (which would undoubtedly be a mistake).


Coaching wise - I was not surprised but I wished Ohio State would have had the same killer mindset that they seemed to have against Marshall where we out to bury them. The coaching staff seemed ok with settling for field goals which is definitely better than no points, but sometimes settling hurts you in a close game. If OSU doesnt force all the turnovers it would have been a different game.


Bottom line - OSU is the #2 ranked team in the country and with the schedule they have nothing will change that no matter how unimpressive we are as long as we win every game on our schedule. In a sport where each win is not counted equally OSU is afforded that luxury to just win baby.


Elsewhere in college football:

BYE BYE BOISE!!! Withouth playing a game you lost! Cant hang your hat on that Va Tech win UHOH! ACC is garbage - FSU is still giving up points to Oklahoma. The U should have lost by 40. Va Tech loses to 1AA school. Ga Tech loses to Kansas. UNC has players still suspended. Conference play should be fun.


Michigan beat Notre Dame. Why is this game such a big deal? Yes UM's QB is fast. If he does what he has been doing against Michigan St, Iowa, Penn St I will be impressed. Right now, they are playing nobody's. Sorry ND fan, maybe Brian Kelly isnt Christ reincarnated.


NFL Thoughts

Jake Delhomme is who we thought he was - a turnover prone QB at the end of his career. He will most likely cost us more games than he will win us. Strong defensive performance ruined by turnovers. This team is built on the run - where was Jerome Harrison? 9 carries isnt enough. Browns will still be competitive because of D but must avoid turnovers.


Steelers and Falcons were 2 solid teams playing each other. If Pitt can grind out wins like that without Roethlisberger they will be tough down the strech.

The Bengals are who I thought they were - BAD. I know its 1 game, against a good team but they had no answer defensively and they didnt do anything offensively until the game was already decided. It is back to business as usually in Cincy.

The Ravens looked great last night - better than I expected. Offense made mistakes and the D still picked them up, even withouth Ed Reed. Jets D played great too, but their offense isnt ready to take that step forward.

Cant wait for more football action the rest of the way.

2010 NFL Preview

The countdown to Super Bowl XLV can officially begin tonight as the New Orleans Saints begin their championship defense against the Minnesota Vikings. Recent history suggests that the Super Bowl winner does not have as strong of a season following the championship but they open the season strong(Pittsburgh missed the playoffs last year but won week 1 opener). Minnesota is out for revenge and who knows how well New Orleans defense will play, but I have a feeling the Saints will pull it out tonight, 34 - 24.

As for the full season predictions here are my divisional winners and wildcards for the AFC
AFC East - New England
AFC North - Pittsburgh
AFC South - Indianapolis
AFC West - Oakland
Wild Card - Baltimore
Wild Card - San Diego

Notes - Indy is as safe a bet as anybody to win their division...AFC North is probably the closest division in the NFL...The east will be entertaining but at the end of the day I like the Pats because their system doesnt need superstars with the big egos like the Jets... Speaking of Hard Knock Jets' I think Sanchez does not take the step forward everybody is expecting and I look for them to go 8-8....Houston wont take the step forward everybody is predicting... I almost put the Jags in the playoffs thats how much I like them....The Raiders in the west is bold, but the defense has been there. They played really well last year in November and December when the team gave up on JaMarcus Russell. Id be surprised if they dont keep it going this year.... How much will the Chargers miss their holdouts? More than they are letting on...I think the Browns will be very competiive in every game, but I have them going 7-9.... The worst team in the league will be Buffalo closely followed by Denver.

NFC:
NFC East - Dallas
NFC North - Minnesota
NFC South - Atlanta
NFC West - Seattle
Wild Card - Carolina
Wild Card - Green Bay

Notes - The East is always an entertaining division but I see a lot of questions marks which is why I only have 1 team making it to the playoffs. I like the Cowboys, but this is the same team that has been in place the last 3 years - Romo needs to show me something more. I like Kolb in Philly, but I think they will have growing pains. I like McNabb but will he have enough playmakers or will the defense make enough stops? I like Eli and the G Men but what about the O Line and the run game? What about their LBs - can they stop anybody?...Lions will give every team a game, their defense is respectable it will be about not making turnovers offensively... GB is a trendy pick for the super bowl but they need to find a way to keep Rodgers upright or they will be out of they will be going home in January.... The Saints will still be the Saints, but I see a drop off in their performance defensively and I think it will cost them - maybe 8-8, 9-7 type record.... Arizona will compete with St Louis for worst team in the league.... Dont sleep on Carolina, they have a punishing run game...Seattle is my pick for the west, but nobody impresses me out there. Pete Carroll will find a way to win 8 games and that will get them in...

AFC Championship
Pittsburgh over Indy

NFC Championship
Atlanta over Dallas

Super Bowl 45
Atlanta over Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh D gets them there and improved running game takes pressure off Big Ben. But Matt Ryan and Michael Turner find a way to score enough to beat the Steel Curtain the the Defense holds Ben, who cant make a Super Bowl winning drive.

Postseason Awards:
NFL MVP
Adrian Peterson

Defensive Player of the year
Jon Beason, Carolina

Rookie of the year
Rolando McClain - Defense
CJ Spiller - Offense

FOOTBALL WEDNESDAY

What a great time to be alive!!! The weekend starts on Thursday as football season will be in full swing starting on Thursday night. I was excited that Ohio State was going to kick off the season on a Thursday night, until I realized they were sharing the night with 17 other games including 2 games I would like to see (Pitt @ Utah and USC @ Hawaii). Regardless, the first football weekend is upon us and I could not be any more excited. Here is a look at this weekends games:

Marshall visits the Shoe for the 2nd meeting between the schools and even though I do not know anything about Marshall I am nervous. Ohio State does not start well under Jim Tressel (remember Navy a season ago), and he usually doesnt help the cause by inserting the 2nd team in the first half before the game is no longer in doubt. 28.5 points is alot to cover even for the best of Tressel's teams, I can not endorse playing Ohio State as I think OSU wins 24-13.

Pittsburgh plays at Utah in what may be the weekends most intriguing game. Pitt is coming off their best in the Wannstedt era and they have a dark horse Heisman candidate in Dion Lewis. But making the cross country trip to Utah is not easy. Im going with my gut and picking Utah at home.

USC probably would be a top 5 team had the sanction hammer not hit them in the head. However, the hammer did come down and they are down on the depth. I am excited to see how this team responds under new coach Lane Kiffin. But they still have more than enough playmakers to defeat Hawaii.

Tim Tebow-less Florida takes on Miami.... of Ohio. Urban is too scared to do what the Buckeyes are going to do, play the U. Regardless look for Florida to put up ridiculous numbers against Tim Reynolds alma mater.

Purdue plays at Notre Dame. Tough to call. On one hand, you have better talent on Notre Dames sideline, but you have more victories on the other. Ill go with Purdue to start the Brian Kelly era off on the wrong foot.

UConn has built a nice football program. Going into the Big house and getting a victory isnt what it used to be, but it would be a nice feather in the cap for UConn. Michigan plans to play 3 quarterbacks (who knows the old saying - when you have 2 QBs you really have none? - well what does having 3 mean?!?!) which can not be a good sign. There defense was abismal at best last year and they lost there best defender to the NFL (Brandon Graham) and 4 of their would be starting DBs for 1 reason or another are no longer with the program. Michigan has 9 freshman on their defensive 2 deep. This reeks of a desperation. I pick UConn to win on the road.

I will pick LSU over UNC because I believe LSU has a ton of talent and I think they will really surprise the people who are doubting them. I believe they will be a top 10 team by the end of the year. And that is no disrespect to my man Butch Davis (your still my pick to win the ACC Butch!), but with eligibility issues surrounding the program I think LSU gets it done.

Oregon State travels to Dallas to play TCU (sidenote: props to Oregon State for having non conference games @ TCU and @ Boise). This game should be a great one. The Rodgers brothers for Oregon State will have trouble making plays against Gary Patterson's defense. I think Andy Dalton and the offense should roll, so Ill take TCU.

The big question of the football season - does Boise deserve to play for a national championship? Well lets see how the season plays out before we put Boise in any game because Boise is actually leaving the smurf turf and heading to Washington DC to play Virginia Tech. Boise, not known for its defense will need to show that it can pack a punch as it goes up against one of the nations strongest rushing attacks. I like Beamer Ball, I hope they get it done, but I have a feeling Boise will be ready for this game and get the win.

Thats it for now, enjoy the long weekend and good luck in your fantasy drafts!!!

AFC East Preview

The AFC East has a dynasty on the fall, a team on the rise, and a trendy sleeper pick to make the postseason. The division should come down to the final weeks and should be 1 of the leagues closer battles. Here are my thoughts:

1. New England - This could be the last year for the Patriots as we know them as Tom Brady and Randy Moss enter the final years of their contracts. With a coach like Belichick the Patriots will always be in contention. They don't seem to be the heavy favorites they have been in the past and that might just be right where they want to be. I expect the defensive draft picks to play well and this team should be right around 11 wins and atop this division.
Fantasy stud - Tom Brady, QB. Right now, people are viewing him as the #4-6 QB depending upon the rankings and that is steal in my opinion.
Fantasy sleeper - Julian Edelman, WR. Even though he is playing in the preseason, Wes Welker's status could be up in the air and Edelman could develop into a similar type player.
Fantasy Lame - Any Patriot RB. They are the ultimate committee, cannot be trusted for consistent fantasy production.

2. Miami Dolphins - The Dolphins have quietly built a solid team in Miami. The innovative Wildcat took the league by storm a few seasons ago, but now they might have a more traditional look as WR Brandon Marshall gives the Fins a legitimate target. This team struggled with closing out games last year (see Colts and Saints games) but this year I feel like they might put it together - I see 10 wins and a playoff berth for this team.
Fantasy stud - Brandon Marshall, WR. He has been able to take over a game like very few wideouts can - he is almost a lock for 100+ catches and 10 TDs.
Fantasy sleeper - Brian Hartline, WR. While Marshall will get a majority of focus from opposing defenses, Hartline could find himself with room to move.
Fantasy Lame - I don't hate Chad Henne, but I am going to make him prove his worth before I endorse him.

3. New York Jets - All the expectations are on the Jets after a surprise run to AFC title game last year and a an off season where they seemingly added every big name free agent available. I like the team but I see flaws. QB Mark Sanchez seems to be getting praise for handing the ball off. More will be expected of him this year and I don't know if I believe in him. Braylon Edwards is supposed to be a pro bowl wideout, yet he still hasn't learned to catch the ball. LaDanian Tomlinson probably isn't an upgrade over Thomas Jones at this stage of his career. The defense looks solid but they are not the top unit without Revis. Bottom line, this team is good but not great and I think 8 wins is what I am going to give them.
Fantasy stud - Shonn Greene, RB. This team will pound the football and Greene will be the lead man even with LT in the backfield.
Fantasy sleeper - Santonio Holmes, WR. He will be the clear cut #1 option for Sanchez when he returns from suspension and you can get him at a bargain considering where he is going.
Fantasy lame - Edwards, WR. The guy has had the drops every since he got into the league, but because of a uniform change things are going to change? Unlikely.

4. Buffalo Bills - Things could get ugly in Buffalo. This team might be on the clock come next January. Play making rookie CJ Spiller is the lone bright spot on the offensive side of the ball. I see 2 games this team can possibly win. Not looking good.
Fantasy stud - CJ Spiller, RB. Go draft him, hell be a home run hitter.
Fantasy lame - anybody not named Spiller.

AFC North Preview

I could not be any more excited for football season and what better way to do that than by breaking down each division. As football season approaches I will try and keep my updates more regular, at least 2 or 3 a week. Something else I am preparing for is fantasy football so with each team preview I will give you a fantasy stud (a player you want and need), a fantasy sleeper (a player you can target in the middle to late portion of your draft but has big potential), or a fantasy lame (you want to stay away from lames unless you, yourself, are lame).

But for now, I will start with a division near and dear to my heart, the AFC North. Each team has intriguing story lines as we look ahead at the 2010 season. Here they are in my predicted order of finish.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers - I know Big Ben is out for at least 4 games. I know they lost a big time playmaker in Santonio Holmes and the offensive line has question marks, but I believe in this defense. Injuries to star safety Troy Polamalu made the Steel Curtain defense breakable during 2009 and I dont see it breaking in 2010. I view this team as a 11-13 win football team.
Fantasy Stud - Rashard Mendenhall, RB. He'll be a late 1st early 2nd round target, but I believe the Steelers will get back to the smash mouth running game we associate with them. Mendenhall has a chance to bust out of the gate early with some big numbers because he will likely be the person who produces in Big Ben's absence.
Fantasy Sleeper - Steelers D. This is 1 of the D's I am coveting. They will sack the QB, they will cause turnovers, they will go back to being a top defensive unit
Fantasy Lame - I think Ben Roethlisberger can have a nice season, but he misses at least 4 games and it will take time for him to gel with his WR. He is no longer a top 10 QB and should be considered a late round backup at best.
2. Baltimore Ravens - As long as Ray Lewis is in Baltimore, the Ravens will be known for defense. But this year, things might change as the Ravens have plenty of weapons on offense. Joe Flacco will need to continue to develop and he has the receivers around him. This team has Super Bowl expectations, and I think they have the formula to win in January but I am predicting 9-10 wins and a playoff berth for this team.
Fantasy Stud - Anquan Boldin, WR. I know Ray Rice gets all the love, but he has to share with 2 other RBs. I can see Boldin putting up numbers similar to his rookie season when he busted on the scene with 101 catches and 1300 receiving yards now that he doesnt have to share the ball with Larry Fitzgerald.
Fantasy Sleeper - Willis McGahee, RB. He scored 14 total TDs last year and everyone is in love with Ray Rice, I dont understand it.
Fantasy Lame - Ray Rice, RB. Look, hes going to have a fine season but I am not going to be the person who drafts him in the top 5. He has to share touches with Willis McGahee (a former 1st round pick making big $) and Leron McLain who can be a punishing runner himself.
3. Cleveland Browns - What, not dead last! Go ahead and leave your homer comments, but I think the players have bought in to what Mangini is selling and this team will surprise people. Things change so fast in the NFL, and I feel like the Browns will be able to be competitive in almost every one of there games. The defense should be improved seeing that they made a few significant additions in the off season to shore up the defense. I am predicting 6-8 wins for this 2010 Browns team.
Fantasy Stud - Jerome Harrison, RB. He finished strong last year and the team rewarded him by drafting a running back in the 2nd round. But fortunately for Harrison, Hardesty is injury prone and is already injured, likely out for all of preseason. Harrison will benefit from a solid offensive line and lack of a passing attack.
Fantasy Sleeper - Brian Robiskie, WR. Everyone is saying he has made great strides in the off season. He could be a worthy last pick addition if he is able to catch a few TD passes.
Fantasy Lame - Josh Cribbs, WR/RB/Wildcat QB/Punt Returner/Kick Return/Safety?. This do it all player has real value to a real football team. For your fantasy team, Cribbs has little upside unless your league counts return yardage.
4. Cincinnati Bengals - Somebody has to lose. I know they picked up T.O. But Im still not a fan of there passing offense. The Bengals won a lot of close games last year and could have easily had a double digit loss season instead of 10 wins. This year, I think luck balances out and the Bengals lose more than they win. Im giving this team 5-6 wins.
Fantasy Stud - I really dont want to call him a stud but there is nobody else I like besides Cedric Benson. He is a talented back, who runs hard, but is also injury prone. Invest at your own risk with him.
Fantasy Sleeper - Bernard Scott, RB. He is an exciting football player and if given an opportunity he could be an explosive fantasy player. Take a flyer on him you might be surprised.
Fantasy Lame - Carson Palmer, QB. He lost the ability to throw because he didnt want to have Tommy John surgery. If a QB cant get the ball down field, it will be difficult to produce big time numbers even with big name WR.

JILTED

Can Lebron be any more modest? I mean really, I feel like he didnt do himself justice the way he was talking tonight. Does he think hes a Kardashian? Is he "taking" Miami? Is he Kortney or Khole? Maybe hes Scott.

I never thought I would say this, but I am more of a Cavs fan right now than I was 2 months ago. That is because of our badass owner, Dan Gilbert, talking about betrayal and sending the curse of Cleveland with Lebron. Awesome, dude. Personally guarenteeing a title before Lebron wins 1, you rock.

Full text here: http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/news/gilbert_letter_100708.html

Look, do I think Miami is a good team, of course. Do I think they are the favorite to win there division - NO. Orlando is much more complete and better. Can Miami beat Boston, maybe in a year or 2 but not next year. I actually like the Bulls better than the Heat. We can make full predictions once the roster is filled out.

This hurts, Cleveland fans. I know it. Having a native son use us as toilet paper hurts. Having the national media praise Lebron hurts, especially after his selfish, self promoting stunt that he pulled tonight. But just like a bitter divorce, the sun will rise tomorrow. The world does not end. Now lets hope that the oil spill ruins South Beach.

Pre "Decision" Thoughts

Listen, no matter what team Lebron picks life will go on. The universe does not revolve around Lebron James, much to his and ESPN's dismay.

I personally do not believe any of the reports I have heard. A week and a half ago, all 3 players were heading to Miami. Then, Wade and Bosh were seriously considering Chicago. Then it was Lebron and Bosh heading to Chicago. Then it was Lebron staying in Cleveland. And yesterday, for some bizarre reason MSG (Knicks parent company) stock rose 20% in the day (insider trading perhaps?). Nobody besides Lebron knows and that will remain like that until 9pm. He is trying to get ratings for his special (even though its for charity he should not be given a pass on this - calling yourself the king is one thing hijacking an entire television network is hilarious - the oil spill thinks this coverage is overblown). And lets be honest, what ratings are there if it leaks he is coming back to Cleveland? Nobody wants to hear that. The national media's disdain for Cleveland has never been more evident. I for one, choose to disregard the rumors pumped out by ESPN.

Why does he need an hour anyway? This should be 8 seconds tops. Put it in the middle of sportscenter? That would be too practical. What will he talk about for a full hour anyway? How great he is by giving money to charity? Get over yourself, Lebron.

Here are reasons why I believe Lebron will stay - If he goes to Miami, he is saying that he is not Jordan rather he is Pippen. Is he really going to have us believe he idolized Jordan and he has built himself to be in that image only to now admit that he is really Pippen? Pippen is not a brand. Are you serious, Lebron? Trying to sell yourself as a "global icon" as a #2 on your own team? Get out of here. Is this move about winning? No, I think his best chance to win would be in Chicago or Cleveland because the Miami Thrice is a nice concepts but seriously lacks role players. Ask Robert Horry or Derek Fisher or Steve Kerr how important role players are to winning a championship. I mean at least when Boston had there big 3 they had a center and point guard who were 1st round picks, who were young but both had potential. That turned out nicely. Miami will have nothing, D Leaguers and career backups playing significant minutes. Good luck stopping Orlando when Dwight Howard is rocking the rim every trip down. Bosh cant defend a folding chair. Wade will always have 1 more than him and this is DWades town, just like MJ would have 6 more in Chicago. What does being in Miami do for his "brand" anyway? If he wants to pursue his brand, wouldnt New York be the best spot? Erik Sweress says it best, "I want Lebron to go to New York, because he cant handle the pressure. That city will turn on him so quickly, he will long for the days of being in Cleveland where everybody has his back."

The point needs to be brought up, is Lebron a big enough asshole to junk punch the city of Cleveland on national TV? Maybe Lebron doesnt care about the fans. Maybe he could care even less about the city, which is fine, but does he have to be so disrespectful and rub our faces in it for a whole hour? This whole hour long special is unbelievable. When will the self glorifying end? Maybe the writing has been on the wall and we chose to ignore it. I do have to remind you he quit on his team in game 5 of the eastern conference semi's. But wiping your ass with an entire city is the cruelest thing since what Hitler did to the Jews. His entourage has ruined his image so much in a matter of a month. Thats what you get when you let you uneducated pals run your business Lebron. This is Cleveland's best/only chance at a championship. I understand the fan's desperation. This team can win a championship and call me a homer or not I believe they have enough pieces and parts to make 1 or multiple significant trades. If Lebron stays, maybe the city shouldnt be so supportive of him. Maybe somebody should actually call him out for quitting on his team in the middle of a playoff series. He has embarassed this town that has endured enough embarassment. When is enough, enough?

If Lebron leaves, Cleveland basketball goes back to being irrelevant. But this is by no means the darkest day in the sports history when Art Modell stole the Browns away from Cleveland. That town loves that team more than anything. The Browns will continue to lose. Continue to change football czars every other year, people will pack the stadium literally believing this is our year. If Lebron leaves, the Cavs will average 5,000 fans at most.

In a few hours we will all know the truth, and fans will be left asking what did we just witness?

So Long, Farewell LBJ

Get used to that Yankee hat, Cleveland fans.

Here is my question: Why is Lebron James given the Tiger Woods treatment by the media? Will somebody take a shot at this guy? He quit. Whether he was in on the take or this is his master plan to leave the city of Cleveland he quit on his teammates, coaching staff, and most especially the city of Cleveland. "The only person with the stones large enough to talk shit to Lebron is Shaq. Let the bridges be burned," said Erik Sweress following a disturbing game 5 loss.

If by some miracle, the Cavs force game 7 - and they wont - there is no way I would root for Lebron James or self respecting Cavs fan for that matter should root for this guy. He is a quitter. A true loser. Enjoy those MVPs Lebron, because those are the only trophies his ass will ever win unless he sells his soul a la KG, or Paul Pierce (who has never met a sandwich he didnt like). Look I didnt come here to call Paul Pierce fat. I just want to express my feelings for Lebron James. He has been blessed with many skills and talents very few people on this earth have ever had. But what bothers me the most is that he just doesnt take shots. Not that he misses, but he doesnt take them. How does Lebron sit back so calmly acting like this was a game in the middle of January? No other great player would have stood for this type of performance by himself or his teammate.

Lebron is not totally at fault. We all know Moesha Williams is doing his now patented May disappearing act. The guy played 1 too many seasons with the Bucks because he got too used to the season ending in April. The he-she is really killing us on both ends of the floor. Rondo is becoming a superstar because he does not have to work at either end of the floor to do anything. The only thing Rondo cant do is shoot the basketball, a pretty necessary skill for a player 6'1". But it doesnt matter when you have skirt wearing Moesha out there.

MEMO to MO: This isnt the WNBA, pal.

Mike Brown hasnt inspired anybody to do anything. If I am Mike Brown and the Celtics are beating me, I am going Bobby Knight on everybody. My team, there team, the refs. Try and find a spark with somebody. Instead, Mr. Potatohead sits calmly as the leads grow larger, choosing to spit into a cup instead of yell offensive plays at his team.

MEMO to MIKE BROWN: Because it is not a matter of if, but when you lose your job here is a hint for success: Learn to draw up some offensive plays. The stand around until 3 seconds left on the shot clock offense doesnt work. It has never worked except for that once in a lifetime game when Lebron beat the Pistons in Game 5 of the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals (and I do say Lebron becaue he scored the final 25 points for the Cavs that night). And dont be afraid to bench Mo Williams too.

Danny Ferry has done a great job improving the roster from a year ago. But I can not let him excape my wrath. Not getting Amare Stoudimire was and is a mistake. I know he plays no defense. Who cares? KG has owned Jamison. Amare would give Lebron a teammate he could rely on for 25 points a night, so if Lebron wanted to put pressure on somebody else he could. Instead of him, we are waiting on the development of JJ Hickson and while Hickson is a fine player, he will never be the elite superstar that Stoudimire is.

MEMO to Ferry: 1st priority this off season is finding some sorry sap to take Mo Williams. 2nd priority is finding a way to trade for expiring contracts, because the NBA expiring contracts trump anything.

But alas, I am back at Lebron. This loss, is squarely on his broad, linebacker like shoulders. He surely must have something wrong with this elbow. Must be much worse than what Tommy John had wrong with him. I bet you he has a procedure done and all basketball players will get it done and wear those sleeves and it will be the Lebron surgery.

Here is what I believe: The elbow is an excuse for Lebron. I dont want him on my team, I dont care how talented he is. I never see Kobe take a single night off, and thats when he has broken fingers on his shooting hand (something that would actually effect your shot). Kobe has a bad knee, and back, and a bad elbow. I think Michael Jordan gets sicker each time the story is told but we've all been there with the flu, 105 degree fever, cant get out of bed and Jordan found a way to not only will his team to victory but hit the winning shot in the deciding NBA finals game no less. Lebron is too busy trying to make an image for himself. He is too worried with off the court distractions, like what to wear, what products to market, what to say at his press conference. Lebron is talented no question, but he leaves a bad taste in the mouth of the city of Cleveland and I hope this was the last time he played as a home player at the Q.

Post Round 1 thoughts

Heres how I feel about the Browns pick - Yes Joe Haden might turn out to be a "shut down" corner, but I feel like this was a forgettable pick. 3 years from now when I am watching the draft, and ESPN shows the Browns last 5 draft picks I will say "OO yea i remember Joe Haden." Holmgren did not go out and put his stamp on the team and make a big splash or a pick that makes you stop and go WOW! I cant believe the Browns got THIS player. You can find flaws in any player so I am not going to say he is too slow (he ran a 4.6 at the combine) or too small (he is 5'10"), and I hope Haden turns out to be a fine player but rarely do corners drafted this high turn out to be superstars. Prove me wrong, Joe.

Note to Browns fans: Even though I am against this pick, we have to give him some time. Yes he will get beat. How quickly everyone forgets that Jets CB Darrelle Revis got beat like Rodney King his rookie year. It happens, especially to DBs. Lets hope that Haden can learn from Sheldon Brown and Eric Wright and be mainstay on a defense for years to come.

Picks I loved -
Raiders - Rolando McClain. All he did was dominate the SEC for 3 years. He learned in a pro style defense and he is just plain mean and I love that about him. By taking the best defensive player in the draft Al Davis proves he hasnt completely lost his mind.
Cowboys - Dez Bryant. Mr. Romo meet the new playmaker! Bryant's fall was similar to that of Randy Moss and Jerry Jones wasnt going to make the same mistake twice. Great Pick Cowboys!
49ers - Athony Davis, OT and Mike Iupati, OG. Drafting both these players will pay dividends in the years to come as I believe San Francisco will feel very comfortable getting the QB of the future in next years draft.
Lions - Suh and Javid Best, RB. Suh played like King Kong for Nebraska so Detroit hopes they are getting a dominant defensive player. But by adding Best, the Lions are helping Matthew Stafford more than any team has helped a #1 QB since Peyton Manning. Stafford already had WR Megatron (Calvin Johnson), Nate Burleson, RB Kevin Smith, and TE Brandon Pettigrew and Tony Sheffler. If nothing else this will be an exciting offense.
New England - They showed why they are better than everyone else, by trading back twice they were able to add a 3rd and a 4th round pick and they drafted a player that will help the defense that got shredded last year. Oh by the way they have 3 2nd round picks. This is why the Patriots are consistently good.
Picks I Hated -
I really didnt hate too many picks. I felt like a lot of teams picked players in areas of need for there team. That being said, I still dont know who Jacksonville picked. That is not the way to sell tickets, Jacksonville. Who is Aluala? Is he related to the guy the Cavs drafted last year?

I guess I will comment on the other big story lines from draft day -
Tim Tebow went to Denver. This pick if anything, shows me that Josh McDaniels values character over all else. He could have drafted Dez Bryant, but passed. He could have taken Clausen or McCoy but choose to pick Tebow. Its easy to pile on and say that this is the worst pick of all time but Denver does not need a QB and they are in a position to let Tebow develop slowly. Give this pick some time before final judgement.
Ben Roethlisberger did not get traded. No surprise here. Super Bowl winning QBs dont grow on trees.
Jimmy Clausen did not get picked - Oh my God. How did a Notre Dame QB not get drafted?!??!!? Look Clausen has a big arm, but he couldnt beat Navy and thats a red flag to me. By the way, QBs that leave school early have not had the history of success as if he would have stayed the extra year. This blogger is not mad that Clausen did not get picked.

Looking forward to round 2 my hope is the Browns add another defensive presence - LB Sergio Kingle from Texas, S Taylor Mays from USC, DE Carlos Dunlap from Florida, or S Major Wright from Florida. I do not feel like this Browns team is a QB away and McCoy and Clausen both need time to develop. Next years QB class could be stocked especially at the top of the draft with Jake Locker, that is who I would have my eye on.

Happy Drafting!

NFL Draft Thoughts

As the draft is upon us, I must share with you my thoughts on the NFL Draft. I will give you some thoughts on the Browns, Big Ben, and some other players/teams of interest and I will mock the top 10 picks for tonights draft. But what makes the draft good for TV is that nobody knows what will happen. As much as Mel Kiper pretends to know, he really has no idea what teams will do usually after pick 3. So before you come back and grade my top ten picks, ask yourself did anybody know?

The Browns: I believe the Browns will not target 1 of the QBs in this years draft. They just cant do it. It would cost too much to get Sam Bradford and the town would run Holmgren out of town if he got rid of Brady Quinn if only to bring in Jimmy Clausen. I do believe the Browns are targeting Eric Berry or Earl Thomas, 2 stud safeties. I do not think it is out of the question for the Browns to trade up to take Eric Berry at pick 4 with Washington. It is not out of the question the Browns take CJ Spiller at #7. He is a game breaker, but considering the Browns needs, I do not think it will happen.

Big Ben: Look the guy seems toxic right now, but when he wins some games come October and November everyone will love him again. What he did was beyond disgusting, but NFL teams are only interested in winning games. Therefore, it is nonsense that the Steelers are even thinking about trading Roethlisberger. I will be the 1st person to say that the Steelers organizational structure won those Super Bowl titles, but you can only trade players that are replaceable and franchise QBs are a rare breed. Big Ben stays in Pittsburgh.

Random draft thoughts:
Jimmy Clausen - the guy should not be drafted high. He has a strong arm, but everything else just doesnt seem to be there.
Tim Tebow - Gruden loves him, therefore I must love him. That being said I think all the changes Tebow has made are fine during practice but once the real thing starts and NFL defenders are coming at him I believe he will revert back to his old form which is not a typical NFL delivery. He will work hard and be great in whatever community takes him, but I do not think he will be a great NFL QB.
Dez Bryant - what exactly did this guy do to be falling on NFL draft boards? He became friends with Deon Sanders. Why is that a crime? I personally dont understand why the NCAA suspended him. If the guy is a home run threat why not take him? It makes no sense to me. That being said I dont want the Browns to take him, go Defense Holmgren PLEASE!
Offensive Tackles - Trent Williams, Russel Okong, Anthony Davis, and Bryan Bulaga could go in the top 10. This could have teams trading up and down in the top 10 which will make for excitement.
Defensive Tackles - typically not a glam position, but this will feature picks 2 and 3 in the draft. Both should be studs.

TOP 10 Mock:
1. Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
2. Suh, DT, Nebraska
3. McCoy, DT, Oklahoma
4. Berry, DB, Tennessee (Washington trade down?? Cleveland trade up??)
5. Okung, OT, Oklahoma St
6. Spiller, RB, Clemson
7. Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech
8. Bryant, WR, Oklahoma St
9. Williams, OT, Oklahoma
10. Thomas, DB, Texas

very heavy on prospects from the state of Oklahoma. Lets watch the drama unfold.

NBA Playoff Predictions

EAST
Round 1
Cavs over Bulls in 4. No real series here just a few tune up games before the real thing starts.
Celtics over Heat in 6. The C's must be disappointed to see D Wade coming to town. Fortunately for them, the Heat have assembled a worse supporting cast than the 1 the Cavs had around LBJ in 07 when they went to the finals.
Hawks over Bucks in 5. Hawks are athletic and without Bogut Bucks dont stand a chance.
Magi over Bobcats in 6. This will surprising be a series.
Conference Semi's
Cavs over Celtics in 5. Another yawner for the Cavs as King James rips through an old tired Celtics team.
Hawks over Magic in 7. Call this a gut feeling but I believe that the Magic will lose its magically 3 point touch it had in the playoffs last year against Cleveland and Atlanta will display the athletism and beat the Magic.
East Finals
Cavs over Hawks in 6. It will be a close back and forth series but when all is said and done this Cavs team is head and shoulders above the rest in the East. The difference between this years team and last years team is HUGE. This blogger will be very shocked if any team knocks the Cavs from the playoffs before the NBA finals.

WESTERN CONFERENCE
Round 1
Lakers over Thunder in 4. Kevin Durant, twinning 50 games is nice but his is your welcome to the NBA moment.
Nuggets over Jazz in 7. This might be the best series in the playoffs. Deron Williams is a great player, if only he had a little bit more help.
Suns over Blazers in 5. Suns are on fire and the traditional post season meltdown will wait a series or 2.
Spurs over Mavs in 7. Another classic series. Spurs have too much talent to lose it.
Semi's
Lakers over Nuggets in 7. Nuggets can win this series. But the Lakers are the champs, and they have come out of the West the last 2 seasons for a reason. I believe in the Lakers veterans.
Spurs over Suns in 6. Same old result here - Suns had a great regular season only to see the Spurs in the playoffs, sorry about your luck Steve Nash.
West Finals
Spurs over Lakers in 6. Call it a gut feeling but I think this Spurs team has 1 more run in them. Manu is playing his best ball and Tim duncan is always a beast.

NBA FINALS
CAVS over Spurs in 7. The CAVS will win the first sporst championship for Cleveland since 1964. Lebron will have an epic series vaulting him into the greatest of all time discussion.

Opening Day Predictions!

I am back to blogging! It feels great, I have missed it. After a long hiatus, I have a lot of thoughts that I want to share with the world. This post is especially dedicated to Nick Pozek who did not believe that I would ever blog again.

First to my predictions for the 2010 Baseball Season:

AL East - Boston
AL Central - White Sox
AL West - LAA
Wild Card - Tampa Bay
AL MVP - Miguel Cabrera
AL Cy Young - Felix Hernandez
Cleveland Indians - 78 - 84 3rd in the AL Central. Good lineup, questionable pitching leads to mediocre season - but they will contend in the division with no real front running team.
NL East - Philadelphia
NL Central - St Louis
NL West - Arizona
Wild Card - Florida
NL MVP - Albert Pujols
NL Cy Young - Dan Haren
Playoffs:
ALCS - Boston over LA
NLCS - Philadelphia over Arizona
World Series - Phillies over Red Sox in 5

Have at it on my baseball predictions. Here are some random bonus thoughts on the sports world:
1. I am sure we all remember that legendary question we would ask as kids, If Tiger Woods slept with a women and noone was around to see it, would the world find out? Tiger answered that for all of us over the last few months, yes in fact we would find out about it. Non stop coverage in fact. But he is back to playing competitive golf and we will all be sure to get the analysis of whether the commentators think he is focusing on his birdie putt, or if he is thinking about that women in the 3rd row of the grandstands. You know where his head is at. No chance Tiger wins this week at Augusta, but I believe he will win a major this year.
2. Never have I ever been less excited for a college basketball championship game as I am this year. 2 similar teams, that took similar paths to get there - white boys, no NBA potential on either team, and neither team played a team with any real athletes or at least NBA potential this tournament. Duke should win, but I wont pick them in my blog. I pick Butler, if only because Duke struggled so mightily on the road this year and this is a home game for Butler. But let me make clear that I am not rooting for Butler because they are a "Cinderella." They are not. Butler is similar to Gonzaga. Gonzaga is a top 25 program, no longer the surprise pick. Butler is not George Mason. Actually I take back my Butler pick and I refuse to pick and watch. I want nothing to do with this game.
3. Bring on the real athletes. Watching the Cavs v. Celtics could not help but get you fired up for the NBA playoffs. What the NBA does is it markets its superstars better than any other league. It wasnt Cavs v. Celtics - it was Lebron v. Garnett. Garnett may have won yesterday, but no doubt about it Lebron was never more fired up than he was in that 4th quarter and the Cavs will own the C's come playoff time. More NBA playoff predictions at a later date.
4. Be sure to check back with more NFL draft thoughts, but the news of the day is that the Eagles traded Donovan McNabb to division rival Washington. Lets call this what it was, a salary dump. Kevin Kolb does not give Philadelphia a better chance to win this year. In fact, expect the Eagles to be drafting in the top 10 in next years draft. I dont think its the greatest move for Washington either, but they will be competitive with McNabb and Shanahan. The NFL is a quarterback league and Philadelphia threw the only chance they ever had at a Super Bowl out the window.

SUPER BOWL SUNDAY!!!

I love the Super Bowl. And not because its the best football game of the year (it's usually not). I love the Super Bowl because it is a degenerates holiday. Millions are won and lost on the coin toss and they never even show the results on TV (the real coin toss is done in the tunnel during pregame and the official just recites the results, the actual toss is just for show - by the way, ill take tails, the Colts to win the toss, and the Saints to receive the ball first). The Super Bowl comes with great prop bets like how long will it take Carrie Underwood to complete the National Anthem (1:42 is the time this year - ill take the under). You can bet on how many times they will show Archie Manning (Peyton's father, former New Orleans Saint), or Kim Kardashian (reality star, girlfriend of Reggie Bush), or how many times Pete Townsend will do his windmill guitar move (ill take under 5) or how many times the broadcasters refer to Hurricane Katrina or the 'Aints. Heck, you can bet on what color Gatorade they hit the winning coach with (Ill take blue). When else can you get this kind of action except for the Super Bowl???

Lets not forget that the Super Bowl is also know for its great eating. You have to have a great spread to properly enjoy the games. Get some brats, some pizza, some wings, some chips. Wash it down with a few refreshments, not mad. You have to thoroughly enjoy the game, do it the right way.

Of course, most people might tune in just solely to watch the commercials. I have to say they have been disappointing to say the least over the last few years with only a handful being watchable. If I had to guess, Id say this year will continue that trend, but lets hope I am wrong.

The fact is, I dont have a dog in this race, I have no rooting interest. But I think the Saints and Colts have been the 2 best teams all year and its appropriate that these teams play in the Super Bowl. The fact that we have heard so much about Dwight Freeny's ankle and so little about the Saints (minus Drew Brees) is a complete joke. Yes, Brett Favre and Adrian Peterson are a little more careless than others with the football but the Saints D forced those 5 turnovers. This is a ball hawking unit and I am going to give them props. Here is a list of QBs that are sure fire Hall of Famers they made look like they jabronis: Brett Favre, Kurt Warner, Tom Brady, and Eli Manning. Neither of these QBs had a chance against the Saints relentless pressure and could not avoid turning over the football. Lets not forget that the Saints, not the Colts had the leagues #1 offense (in terms of total yards per game and points per game). So I have to ask - WHERE U @ WHO DAT??? Lets give some love to NAWLINS! Drew Brees has some nasty weapons on offense - Marcus Colston, Devery Henderson, Robert Meachem, Reggie Bush, Pierre Thomas, and Lance Moore (L MEEEEEZE!!!)

Of course, the Colts do have Peyton Mannning. If you locked up 10 of the best scientists in the world and you told them to create a QB, Peyton would be better. The guy is a freak at how good he is. Nothing rattles him. This was not always the case, it did take Peyton a long while to get this good. Meanwhile, the Colts D stepped up to the challenge during their postseason run stuffing some of the best run offenses in the Jets and Ravens proving they, themselves, have been underrated all year long.

So my pick?

SAINTS 31
COLTS 20

MVP: DREW BREES (going off at 2 to 1)

That would be Saints +5, Saints +175 (money line), and under 56.5 for those scoring at home.

Its been a great season, I have enjoyed blogging about it and I hope for a great Super Bowl. Enjoy the game!

NFL Divisional Playoffs

Cardinals @ Saints - Will we see any defense in this game? Both offenses are capable of scoring at rates that only seem possible on video games. Drew Brees lead America's new team, the Saints, to a 13-0 start before losing to the Cowboys, Buccaneers, and Panthers to close out the season. The Colts are worried that the Saints dont have any momentum going into the playoffs. Maybe the Cardinals defense is all that they need to get going. After holding the Packers to 10 first half points last Sunday, they allowed 35 in the 2nd half. Which defense shows up? I believe the key to this game is which team can run the football better. Arizona drafted Beanie Wells in part because he does run his hardest in big games. The Saints have a stable of backs that can run and catch lead by Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas. I hope for a repeat of last weeks Cards/Pack shootout - Saints 42 Cardinals 35.

Ravens @ Colts - Jon Gruden told on funny joke when the Ravens played the Browns on Monday Night Football - if the Ravens wore throwback jersey's they would be the Browns. Well if the Colts wore throwback uniforms, they would be the Baltimore Colts.
This game does not lack star power. Peyton Manning on offense. Ray Lewis on defense. The best offensive player of the decade against the best defensive player of the decade. It doesnt get much better.
The Ravens have been playing "big boy" football lately and they raised plenty of eyebrows with there dismantling of the Patriots on Sunday. Plenty of people think that the Colts have some magical formula to get to the Super Bowl by resting there starters, well the reality is they dont - they have lost 3 straight postseason games after they have a bye. I know the Ravens have never beaten the former team from Baltimore, but I gotta feeling on this one - Ravens 27 Colts 10.

Cowboys @ Vikings - I have not hid the fact that I am not a Brett Favre fan. My biggest fear is that the Vikings will win (not because of Favre, obviously) and the people at ESPN will get full blown erections because they get to talk about Brett Favre for another week. Did I mention Brett Favre is playing? Brett Favre Brett Favre Brett Favre.
Heres the real story. The Cowboys have been playing better than anybody, except for the Chargers the last 2 months of the season. And while the Vikings got off to the 10-1 start they have not looked good down the stretch, getting there noses bloodied by the Cardinals, and getting embarrassed by Carolina and Chicago (teams that didnt make the playoffs). If the Vikings do win the game, it will be because of a great defensive effort to shut down the Cowboys offense that is able to run and pass, probably led by Jared Allen and Antoine Winfield (by the way, there is not a better cornerback playing this weekend than Winfield, just saying). But I like the Cowboys in this game because they can run and they can rush the passer. Heres hoping Flozell Adams keeps Tony Romo upright - Cowboys 33 Vikings 16.

Jets @ Chargers - Mark Sanchez made me eat my words last week when he was the one that delivered the plays that Carson Palmer couldnt. Beating the Bengals is one thing, if the kid is able to beat the Chargers Eric Mangini may get fired instantly for letting him get away. All the talk has been about how good the Jets D is. And they are very good. But Darrelle Revis is only 5'11". He will be primarily covering WR Vincent Jackson who is 6'5". Advantage Chargers.
One thing the Jets did very well last week was blitz the passer. Expect those blitzes to be tamed down this week because San Diego is the best screen passing team, especially to Darren Sproles who I expect to have a big game. The Chargers will get an early lead, and the Jets will never be able to recover. Chargers 31 Jets 13.

Here's hoping for a weekend of fun and exciting games!

2010 College Football Top 10

I am glad that I waited to unveil my rankings because with Pete Carroll bolting to the NFL and Lane Kiffin taking over at USC there was a big shake up in the college football world. When looking to next season, there is a lot to consider. No team is perfect. Here is my look at the 2010 top 10:

1. Alabama - They almost everybody including the Heisman winner Mark Ingram, but certainly losing key defensive players will hurt them some. But Nick Saban is a great recruiter and I am sure he will find some athletes to replace the departing players. Bama has key games vs. Penn St and Florida early in the season so we should know how focused and ready they are to defend their title early.

2. Ohio St - Terrelle Pryor is the key to the season. The schedule sets up nice with Miami (Fl), Penn St, and Michigan at home and key road games @ Wisconsin and Iowa. If Pryror can be the caretaker he was down the stretch I like Ohio St's chances of running the table. If he has a slip up, I dont think the media will be forgiving with Ohio State.

3. USC - For a program that is under NCAA investigation, hiring Lane Kiffin was a bold move. They get rewarded for this bold move by a high ranking in this poll. Kiffin is inheriting a much better situation that the one he had at Tennessee. Even with the better competition in the PAC 10, Kiffin will be able to win from day 1. He is bringing a "dream team" of coaches so I trust the players will be ready to go(his father, Monte, will be defensive coordinator, Norm Chow as offensive coordinator, and recruiting genius Ed Orgeron).

4. Boise St. - Matt Tramba has them ranked @ #1! With 21 of 22 starters returning from an undefeated season, I understand why. Boise will get its chance to prove it belongs by playing Oregon St and traveling to Virginia Tech, teams that will be ranked in the top 25. But my problem with Boise is that they only have to win 2 games because the rest of there schedule is filled with essentially 1AA opponents.

5. Florida - Gator fans will miss Tim Tebow. But Florida is getting all the best players and Im sure Urban will have this team ready to eat nails when they rematch with Bama on October 2nd.

6. Nebraska - The Black Shirts are backs! Certainly losing King Kong from your defense will hurt, but they had a young offense and I trust Bo Pelini's ability to coach 'em up on the defensive side.

7. Pittsburgh - RB Dion Lewis is a stud. I expect the Panthers will be able to replace Bill Stull at QB because of Lewis and WR Jonathan Baldwin.

8. Wisconsin - RB John Clay goes into beast mode every game. QB Scott Tolzien was improving. This team really impressed me in there bowl game against Miami.

9. Texas - QB Garrett Gilbert got his baptism by fire in the National Championship game, but he got his feet under him in the second half. Texas has been able to recruit top players, so I think they will be able to surround Gilbert with enough players to compete in the Big 12.

10. Oregon - They have almost everybody coming back from a video game offense. But the defense will have to be improved in order for them to compete with USC and Oregon St for the PAC 10 title.

Playoff Preview

As I look ahead at the NFL playoffs, I think a legitimate case can be made for any team to win as evident by the Cardinals' playoff run last season. Each of the games this weekend is a rematch from the regular season, with 3 out of 4 being rematches from last Sunday so kudos to the NFL schedule makers for the playoff previews. Lets breakdown the games individually:

Jets @ Bengals - The Jets dominated the Bengals in New York on Sunday night, 37-0. The Bengals were resting several starters on Sunday, mainly RB Cedric Benson. The Jets do have the leagues #1 defense and #1 rushing attach - 2 very important aspects of winning in the playoffs. The Bengals also have a very improved defense and running game, but they have not had the same explosiveness on offense since WR Chris Henry was injured in the second Pittsburgh game. The determining factor for me is who will make the fewer mistakes. If your choosing a QB to make a play, you will pick Carson Palmer over Mark Sanchez especially in the windy cold weather in Cincinnati. Much has been hyped about how god Jets CB Darrell Revis is, but what should be noted is how well the Bengals CBs have played this season (Leon Hall and Jonathan Joseph). This will allow the Bengals to load up the box and stop the Jets rushing attack. My pick is Bengals 9 Jets 7.

Eagles @ Cowboys - This rematch from last Sunday is the one game that actually did have meaning. Many people want to say the Eagles packed it in, but if they won that game they would have not only won the division but gotten a bye week. The Cowboys have been telling us all year that this is a different team. And it has, because this team finished strong. I think the Cowboys will be able to run the football like they have in there other 2 victories over the Eagles and Romo will not make the big mistakes. I know Eagles coach Andy Reid has never lost on wildcard weekend (7-0), and Dallas coach Wade Phillips has never won a playoff game (0-4), but I believe this Cowboys team is different. Cowboys 38 Eagles 23

Ravens @ Patriots - What a set up - Ravens are 5-2 all time on the road in the playoffs, Patriots have not lost a home playoff game since the 1970s. Unfortunately for the Patriots, they will be without WR Wes Welker who injured his knee last weekend. This is a rematch from Week 4 - the Patriots beat the Ravens 27-21 after some controversial penalties kept the Patriots drive alive and allowed them to win the game. The Ravens are very capable of pulling this upset, but I am picking Brady and Belichick because they I trust in them to make the play when it matters. Patriots 21 Ravens 17.

Packers @ Cardinals - Nobody gave the Cardinals a chance to win 1 game in the last postseason and they ended up winning 3 and came within seconds of winning the Super Bowl - so take this as a lesson that any team can truly win the Super Bowl. This team is very dangerous and does seem to have a proverbial switch that they can flip when they have to win a game. But this a good Packer team, who would have won its final 8 games if not for a miraculous catch by the Steelers. The key has been keeping Aaron Rodgers upright and playing good defense (LB Clay Matthews Jr. has my vote for defensive rookie of the year). The Cardinals are banged up - with injuries to WR Anquan Boldin, CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, and DL Calais Campbell. My pick is the Packers 28 Cardinals 24.

So what do I predict for the rest of the playoffs?

Divisional Playoffs:
Colts over Bengals
Chargers over Patriots
Cowboys over Vikings
Saints over Packers

Conference Championships:
Chargers over Colts
Cowboys over Saints

Super Bowl XLIV:
Chargers 31 Cowboys 28

Enjoy watching the games - it should be a fun and exciting month!

The Tide Rolls!

Congrats to the Alabama Crimson Tide on winning the national championship.

But I have to say, the whole game had an odd feel to me. Alabama won the coin toss and elected the to receive (very odd choice for a defensive team). They came out flat on offense, while Texas' defense looked ready. Than Alabama tried what has to be the worst fake punt play ever that was intercepted by Texas. On the 5th play of the game, Alabama's defense knocked Texas QB Colt McCoy out of the game with what looked like a routine tackle. After Texas kicked a field goal, Alabama players seemed to run away from football and gave Texas great field position and another field goal.

Alabama then settled in on both sides of the ball, featuring Heisman trophy winning running back Mark Ingram on offense and attacking Texas freshman QB Garrett Gilbert who just seemed over matched. As Alabama kicked a field goal to go up 17-6 with :29 left in the 1st half, Texas in explicitly tried a shovel pass which was intercepted and returned for touchdown by Alabama, putting the Tide up 24-6 at the half.

The second half was a little more normal. Nick Saban came out with a very conservative game plan. Jim Tressel called his game plan conservative. Texas took advantage of that by chipping away at the lead, eventually making the score 24-21 in the 4th quarter led by the freshman QB Gilbert. But Alabama flipped the switch again, and the freshman once again looked over matched and ended up winning 37-21.

After the game, you can see the Nick Saban gatorade bath here - http://www.bustersports.com/blog/buster-blog/2010/01/08/nick-saban-takes-a-gatorade-jug-to-the-face-video/
- where Saban's players seemed to attack him more than lovingly dump water on him. How about Nick Saban after the game? I dont think I saw the guy smile. He seemed upset to win. Hey Nick, you just won the biggest prize in your profession how about 1 little smile? This begs the question, what does make Nick Saban happy? Because it clearly seems that winning does not.

All in all, I have to say I felt bad for Colt McCoy. I would have liked to watch the whole game with him playing in it. I felt bad for Texas' freshman QB Garrett Gilbert, he just seemed like he was walking on the highway. But Congrats to Alabama for taking advantage of the situation and winning the game, in my opinion they were the best team in the nation.

BCS Bowl Breakdown

Another blog update, another pic of T looking good!

Let me give credit where it is do, Matt Tramba correctly said that Georgia Tech is soft and Iowa would roll. He also said that Boise would win and he said Boise will run the table and be national champions next season, so he is on the hook for a bold prediction in 2010!

BCS National Championship game tonight. I like the Tide, I think they will roll, even if they have the Heisman jinx on there side. But make no mistake Texas has a tough D capable of shutting down the Bama run game which would force Bama's QB Greg McElroy to win the game, which he was able to do against Auburn and Florida. I expect this to be a low scoring defensive battle with Bama taking care of the football and winning the game in the 4th quarter.

Predicted score: Alabama 19 Texas 10

10 BOLD Predictions for 2010

Let me be the last to wish you a Happy New Year! As I look forward to the year ahead I have alot of predictions, some of the bolder than others and I want to share them with you.

10. The Tide will roll. Alabama will win by double digits over a Texas team that has struggled playing against the top defenses (and we all can agree Alabama is the top defense).
9. Jimmie Johnson will NOT win the Sprint Cup. The streak ends @ 4. This will be the extent of my NASCAR posts, sorry Big Poz.
8. Gilbert Arenas will go to jail. This has to be the stupidest thing I have ever heard of, but Arenas allegedly brought 3 unloaded guns into the arena and placed them on a chair to "play a joke" on a teammate. Washington DC has similar gun laws to New York City, the place that put Plaxico Burress away for shooting himself in the leg. At the very least, Arenas will be suspended for double digit games.
7. FANTASY ALERT - Breakout stars for Baseball - Julio Borbon, OF, Tex. Gordon Beckham, 3B, CHW. Carlos Gonzalez, OF, Col. I also think Dan Haren will be the top fantasy pitcher.
6. Michigan will win 9 games. Interesting schedule, best games - vs. UConn (to open season), @ ND, @ Penn St, @ Ohio State. If they ever are going to work under RichRod this will be the year. I think they may slip up once or twice, but this will be a better team all around.
5. The Indians will contend for the Central division. Maybe its not that bold, but I think the lineup will come together and keep them in it but too many soft tossing lefties will force them to lose the big games.
4. The Cavs will make it to the NBA finals, but lose to the Lakers in a 7 game series. The Cavs will dominate the Celtics in a 5 game series. But the Lakers will prove to be too much and Kobe will be the one asking Shaq how his ass tastes.
3. Ohio State will run the table in the regular season. I really dont think its that bold but they do have to make a trip to Wisconsin and Iowa, both tough places to play. Maybe its not that bold because they should be favored in every single game.
2. The San Diego Chargers will come from behind and beat the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl 44. Tony Romo will have a great playoff run. Pip Rivers, who has been hot all year will lead them to a convincing victory over the Colts and than the Cowboys.
1. Whats the boldest prediction of the year? The New York Yankees will NOT make the playoffs. The Rays will be better than a year ago. And I have a feeling that the Red Sox pitching staff will be enough to make it over the Yanks.

Rose Bowl Reaction

I was very impressed with Ohio State this afternoon. This win capped off a great day by the Big 10, but also was a huge win for the program because they were able to get the proverbial monkey off their back.

I really liked the game plan by the coaches. They were able to get Pryor comfortable early by completing a lot of high percentage passes (they called a pass play 9 of there first 10 plays!) and were able to play keep away from the high powered Oregon offense. And when Oregon was on offense they never

Ohio State's defense stepped up to the challenge as well. As suspected, Oregon was able to get a few big plays but Ohio State always tightened down in the red zone. Ohio State never allowed Oregon QB Jeremiah Masoli to get comfortable and forced them into several 3 & outs (Oregon converted 2 of 11 3rd downs).

My only complaint is that Oregon won the special teams battle - they always seemed to get a great field position from their return man Kenjon Barner. But that was only a blip.

The best part of this game, for me, was when Oregon tied the game at 10-10. I asked the question - how would Ohio State respond? Because they had gotten off to quick starts in past BCS games that did not end so favorably. But they had a very nice drive that turned into a field goal and than the defense forced a turnover that got us an additional 3 points before the half. Ohio State also answered the bell in the second half when Oregon came down and scored to begin the 2nd half.

Overall, it was a great effort. This Ohio State senior class had been in so many big games and never won, it was nice to send them out on top!