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!!!