Weekend Football Preview....

Well well well...our first FULL football weekend....let's hit the highlights...First in college...

• USC/Ohio State - This game clearly leads the slate...2 of the conference standard bearers going head to head...add in Terrelle Pryor's ridiculous Vick comments (and his heisman talent), OSU's ugly start, Matt Barkley going on the road to a crazy environment, and about 100 other things...big-time game...I think USC wins...but not going away, I just don't think Barkley will be able to dominate in the way he'd need to for a blowout to go down...
• Notre Dame/Michigan - Jimmy Clausen ladies and gentlemen....coming out party on a national stage you say....I say no... Michigan's corners are an underrated unit and Jimmy's on the road.... Do I think ND wins the game? Yes, I actually do... the talent disparity (and maturity level) is actually fairly significant toward ND (especially on the O-line), Michigan will play big and hang around for 4 quarters...but I'm thinking ND 27-24 ish....
• Upset of the week? I really, really like South Carolina over Georgia....SC's defense has dominating potential and Joe Cox is clearly not healthy for Georgia....can they score 20 points against the Cocks? I say no... and Garcia is better than last year...if it wasn't in Athens, I'd be a little more confident in SC...but I still like them as my upset pick this week...

To the Pros...

• Here come the Redbirds.... and they draw the Dolphins at home...actually a pretty good matchup on paper...Miami's defense will still be a pretty good unit but a unit that is a year older and starting 2 rookie corners....not a good match vs. the Falcons.... Matt Ryan and Roddy White get off early here and make Chad "the Soft-throwing" Pennington try to beat them...he won't....
• Philly/Carolina - I can't tell you how much I dislike Carolina this year....Jake is back at QB....enough said right there....add in the ownership/GM turmoil...AND the fact that I love Philly this year (too much talent on both sides, and a real live receiving corps for the first time since TO)....
• Green Bay/Chicago - Rodgers vs. Cutler in a young QB battle...I can't overestimate my man-love for the Packers this year... I'm taking Aaron Rodgers in every fantasy league...I'm picking them to go to the Super Bowl....it never ends... I'm actually a big fan of what Chicago has done in the offseason as well and their defense still has elite talent on defense...the receiving corps is flat-out dreadful, but Hester has some upside... Green Bay holds Matt Forte down a little and wins this one...
• Skins/Giants - Everyone loves the Giants...nobody seems to love the Redskins....I'm in the middle on both counts... The Giants have no receivers (literally, although I like Domenik Hixon and Steve Smith as supporting guys) and a banged-up secondary...and the Skins have elite talent on defense especially when factoring Haynesworth and rookie Brian Orakpo... I like the Skins to cover (Giants by 6.5), but I'll stick with NYG in the game....
• Quick picks: Indy over Jax, NO over Det, Dallas over TB (closer than you think), Philly over Car, Balt. over KC, Houston over NYJ, Denver over Cincy (only if Orton plays, if not, switch these), Cleveland over Minny (upset of the week), SF over Arizona, Seattle over STL, NE over Buffalo, SD over Oakland (biggggg)

Enjoy the pigskin

2009 NFL Preview Part 9: Super Bowl, etc.

Real quick here...

Wild Card Round:

New Orleans over NY Giants

Seattle over Minnesota

Ravens over Colts

Steelers over Texans

Divisional Round:

Green Bay over New Orleans

Philly over Seattle

New England over Baltimore

Pittsburgh over San Diego

Championship Games:

Green Bay over Philly

New England over Pitt

Super Bowl:

New England over Green Bay

Enjoy the campaign folks

Thursday Night Football and Iverson

Real quick...with 2 games tonight, I gotta put something together...

• Tennessee and Pittsburgh kick off the NFL slate....and with a bang...two "upper-echelon" AFC teams go at it...not the BEST NFL matchup b/c of the low-scoring possibilities but a purist's delight and a game I'll thoroughly enjoy....the Steelers win this thing...thinking around 20-13 ish...Ben will play well, and I still don't trust Kerry Collins...Watch out for Willie Parker who has been anointed the "starter" and "not in a timeshare" with Moore or Mendenhall...
• Georgia Tech and Clemson play an underrated ACC tilt tonight...you won't hear a peep about it with the NFL game going on...but this one could be big in the ACC...I like GT playing at home at night and their ability to take advantage of a sparse Clemson linebacking corps should pay dividends... one advantage for Clemson? I've heard rumblings of an increased use of the tight end for the Tigers...and that tight end is one Michael Palmer of Parkview High School in Lilburn...enough said....
• Allen Iverson to the Grizz....I really...really...don't like this move from a basketball standpoint...they already have a ball-hogging undersized 2-guard (OJ Mayo) and a PG of the future who is a distributor and doesn't need AI to get in his path....that said...in a PERFECT scenario (which I don't think this is)...this could work wonders...Iverson has the skillset to back up at both spots (although they couldn't get away with playing AI and Conley together on defense), and could make their bench infinitely more effective....then I remember AI isn't exactly the most self-less guy on the floor and I add in guys like Rudy Gay and Zach Randolph (along with Mayo) that don't like to share the rock either...they may show glimpses...but this doesn't help them out of the cellar....

Full football previews up shortly...

College Football Week 1 Wrap...

A fairly wild weekend...

• Oklahoma goes down in a heap... Sam Bradford missed the entire 2nd half....we know this...but that team should never lose to BYU...not a slight against the Cougars who are (I believe) either the best or 2nd best Non-BCS team (with TCU)... but that defensive line, those running backs....they just shouldn't lose to them Bradford-less or not... My question is...when it comes time to evaluate a potentially 12-1 Oklahoma team at the end of the year? Is this loss weighted less? Questions abound....
• Alabama pulls away late...Va Tech was playing Beamerball throughout...until a HUGE fumble on a kickoff late (after VT had already returned one to the house early)...and the floodgates opened...that said, Alabama dominated this game...VT hung around but all the number indicators suggested this thing shouldn't have been that close....The VT offense still can't move the ball consistently, and Marc Ingram was everywhere for Bama...
• OK State sends a message....First of all...this game thrilled me....now that that is out of the way... Georgia did a fairly good job of taking away the OK State running game, but in the end couldn't hold Dez Bryant and couldn't move the ball a lick after the first drive (an 80-yard absolute march to the goal line)...24-10 seems competitive...but Georgia's offense was anything but in the 2nd half...
• Washington hangs with LSU? Okay LSU fans....not total panic time...Washington will be much better than last year (they can't possibly not be), but any time you let a team with a 14 game losing streak hang around for that long....ewww....Jake Locker was very good for the Huskies...but LSU's defense still has the holes that plagued them last year it looks like...at least the offense doesn't involve the incomparable Jarrett Lee...
• Michigan vs. Notre Dame next week suddenly looks alot more intriguing.... Michigan disposed of MAC-favorite Western Michigan (and "NFL 1st day pick" Tim Hiller) 31-7...it was 31-0 at halftime...never competitive and there were even shades of a competitive defense and passing game from the Wolverines...Tate Forcier for governor if this keeps up.... On the Irish side...Jimmy Clausen was nearly flawless and their offense was on cruise control in beating up Nevada....this is actually a decent matchup for next week now....fingers crossed....
• Al Groh should be fired today.... Virginia lost to William & Mary...this seems to happen often to Sir Groh....go away...
• So much for the concerns about USC's offense...yes, I know it's San Jose State...but that's a 1-A team....and it was a complete dial-a-score...Barkley was efficient and accurate and the 6-man stable of running backs is just plain ludicrous...
• The ACC as a whole....yikes...how bout ONE win against a FBS school? and TWO losses to I-AA (FCS) schools in one weekend....it's gonna be ugly...but at least their best team (VT) played a very tough opponent...and 2 of their upper-tiers (Miami and FSU) play each other Monday...maybe that'll save a little face
• And finally....2 huggeeeeee almost-upsets in Big 10 land...Ohio State was cruising comfortably up 15 until inexplicably going for it on 4th and 2 (UP 15!) instead of kicking a chip shot for a 3-score lead....turned around and the next play is an 80 yard TD for Navy...very un-Tressel-like....at any rate...they escape...and Navy's a decent football team...but not a positive outlook for them for the USC game...and that's before you get to the abomination that Iowa turned in....they had to block 2 FGs in 5 seconds to beat Northern Iowa....I said before the year that Iowa being ranked preseason was baseless and dumb...and I'm looking smart (for once)....and still to this day I can't name you a coach that is stealing money AND somehow still being highly regarded for accomplishing NOTHING more than Kirk Ferentz...I just don't get it.....

More later...

LeGarrette Blount....

Well... First... Go ahead and disregard the post below lol swings and misses happen... But as far as the punch and ensuing situation... Suspend him asap and wow... He went ballistic...first thought? Artest...insane look and all

Live, Real Football...and more

Quick tonight...

• Real CFB action tonight...i'm terribly excited...NC State/So. Carolina playing now (SC up 7-0)...i am on Twitter record liking NC State in the game...Russell Wilson is the best QB you've never heard of and may be the best player in the ACC....SC is more talented elsewhere but unless Garcia plays good (unlikely IMO), I like NCSU
• Oregon/Boise is the headliner...love the matchup... Love the venue (blue turf in Boise)...but I like the Ducks...I'm higher on Oregon than anyone I know and LeGarrette Blount will be kicking off his darkhorse Heisman campaign tonight....
• Mike Vick to play Week 3...sounds about right...let's see how Donovan responds lol
• And finally...Bruce Bowen retires...he hasn't been his dominant defensive self in a few years actually...but this is a guy who made a living (and even got a team USA tryout invite somehow) out of his defense and "tactics" (we'll leave it there)....a good story of a guy undrafted out of college making a long, productive career....

Enjoy

The Fastest College Football Preview in the Business....

Greetings all...This will be quick....First? The conference champions, possible sleeper(s) that I think is/are underrated (NOT who is coming in 2nd place necessarily) and the player of the year on both sides....

ACC

Champ: Georgia Tech (increased balance and no QB questions)
Sleeper: NC State (very very good QB play), Miami (huge recruiting classes and speed everywhere)
Offensive POY: Russell Wilson, QB NC State
Defensive POY: Morgan Burnett, S Georgia Tech

Big East

Champ: Cincinnati (best coach, best talent other than WV, good schedule)
Sleeper: Umm...aren't they all?
Offensive POY: Noel Devine, West Virginia RB
Defensive POY: Aaron Berry, Pitt DB

Big 10

Champ: Ohio State (Pryor and Tressel...done)
Sleeper: Michigan State (don't have to play OSU, get PSU at home, and return tons of talent)
Offensive POY: Arrelious Benn, WR Illinois
Defensive POY: Brandon Graham, DE Michigan

Big 12

Champ: Oklahoma
Sleeper (non-Texas): Kansas (Todd Reesing is STILL there...and they return about a million starters on offense)
Offensive POY (other than Bradford or McCoy): Dez Bryant, WR Oklahoma State
Defensive POY: Ndamukong Suh, DT Nebraska

Pac-10

Champ: USC (even with the frosh at QB)
Sleeper: Oregon (yes I know they're ranked, but they are legit)
Offensive POY: Jahvid Best, RB Cal
Defensive POY: Taylor Mays, S USC

SEC

Champ: Florida (shocking)
Sleeper: Georgia (best OL in the league, return alot on defense, 5th year senior QB)
Offensive POY (non-Tebow): AJ Green, WR Georgia
Defensive POY: Eric Berry, S Tennessee (best player in the country on either side of the ball....yes, that includes Mr. Tebow)


And now....to my top 10....

1. Florida - Just monsters everywhere...return all 11 on a fast, aggressive defense...Tebow is a great leader and a fantastic college football player...only worry is replacing Harvin and there is a stable to choose from...
2. Oklahoma - Bradford, Grisham, Gerald McCoy....horses.... most explosive offense in the nation to my knowledge... we all know the game against Texas is for the marbles...
3. USC - Matt Barkley is the real deal...and all he has to do is manage the game with all the talent returning...Taylor Mays anchors the defense.... Joe McKnight can't even start on this team...that tells you all you need to know
4. Texas - Colt McCoy is the truth...the defense isn't as good as Oklahoma or USC's so they land here... but on any given night...look out for the most accurate passer (statistically) in Big 12 history...
5. Alabama - Monsters on the D-line headed by Terrance Cody...a heady QB that seems to be even-keel (that's all they need) and a star wide receiver to make plays when things break down...oh yeah, and an elite level coach doesn't hurt
6. LSU - Yes they went 7-5 last year...but it was a fluky 7-5...Jarrett Lee is gone forever (mercifully) and won't be able to lose them games by himself...the talent is everywhere...and Jordan Jefferson has a special skillset....they'll play Bama for the right to play Florida
7. Ohio State- the cupboard never empties...Terrelle Pryor is a special, special player (sigh....) and the defense will always keep them in games...big losses at WR and RB have question marks here but there is experience left out wide and the O-line is massive and good....
8. Georgia - Most folks have them lower...and I wish I did (I loathe them)...but the "weakness" on this club is at QB and I think Joe Cox's 4 years in the system won't exactly leave them wanting... Not the most explosive bunch in the world but an elite O-line leads the way to a mauling attack using 3 running backs
9. Oregon - I love this team... speed after speed...a returning QB in Jeremiah Masoli and a potential breakout candidate at tailback in LaGarrette Blount...mark down October 31 vs. USC for the Pac-10 title IN Autzen Stadium (the loudest stadium in the entire land)
10. Oklahoma State - I can't leave the triplets off...Zac Robinson, Kendall Hunter, and Dez Bryant (the country's best WR) form a crazy combination on offense...the defense is average, but that's all they'll have to be to go 10-2...

I can't wait for the festivities....let's get it!