Bobby Cox, and a quick-run Football Preview...

Greetings all...Please forgive my inconsistency....Last trip of 2009 this weekend and a freeing of time are in order...the info will be stronger as we go...

• Bobby Cox to retire after 2010....This is actually one more year than I'd been hearing and I'm okay with this...I'm not the staunchest of Bobby's supporters (especially lately), as he's long driven me crazy with his bullpen handling, but I haven't heard anybody give me a name that is available that I'd feel better with...so the farewell tour in 2010 sounds good to me...and it should be accompanied by a playoff berth with the addition of some young bats and the renewed starting pitching....
• The richest man in Russia to buy the Nets...interesting turn here....this may fit into the Lebron James "world mega-star" plan, no? Just an angle I hadn't heard today...

To the college gridiron...

• UNC/Georgia Tech - Huge implications here....must-win for Georgia Tech (many people's preseason conf. champ) to not garner a 2nd ACC loss in a division game...I like the Jackets...
• VT/Miami - Easily the game of the week in the country IMO...Jacory Harris faces his stiffest test in this early supposed Heisman campaign... I like VT in the game b/c it's in Blacksburg...but it certainly wouldn't surprise me to see Tyrod Taylor lay an egg against this lightning fast Miami defense...
• Cal/Oregon - 2 of the top 3 teams in the Pac-10 do battle....this may be Cal's toughest game of the season (apologies to USC, but they get the Trojans at home), and going into Autzen Stadium is never easy.... Jeremiah Masoli has to be semi-competent for Oregon to have a chance (he hasn't been yet this year), and b/c of that...Cal by a touchdown...

Quickly to the NFL's big games...

• Atlanta @ New England...the marquee game of the week, especially where I live... I'm still extremely hesitant to show any confidence in the Falcons on the road here... Too much offensive firepower (through the air) and the first time the maligned (by me) Falcons secondary will see a QB that can challenge them...and I believe they'll fail...that being said, New England's defense has been soft (esp. vs the run without Mayo), and this has the makings of a 38-28 Pats win to me...
• Tennessee @ NYJ.... Classic "means more to one team than the other" game....the Jets have looked great in going to 2-0...Tennessee blew a double-digit lead to Houston and somehow lost a game where Chris Johnson had 250+ total yards and 3 scores...that being said, Tennessee is 0-2 and in full must-win mode whereas the Jets have been told how great they are all week...add in the rookie QB against a competent defense...I like the Titans in a point-spread upset...20-13 Titans
• Chicago @ Seattle... last week, this would've been a quick pick for me...Seattle by a score... but without Hasselbeck? Things get dicey...Seattle has one of the true homefield advantages in the league...and they'll need it behind Seneca Wallace...I'm a fan of his work, but he needs to incorporate TJ into the gameplan early to not rely on the Julius Jones experience on the ground...Cutler is capable of letting Seattle into the game...but without Tatupu, Walter Jones, and Leroy Hill....I can't pick Seattle outright....

I recognize this is just a smattering of games...but the college slate is less than desirable in the "big-time" conferences this week...and the NFL has settled into a bit more of what we can predict...it's almost time for another weekend of football folks...

College Football Wrap Week 3

Greetings...the early NFL slate has already gone down...will hit that tomorrow...but blogging once again from 35,000 feet! lol

• USC goes down...a typical USC flop, but let me give huge props to Washington...Jake Locker is a top 10 QB in the nation and gutted that one out simply...Aaron Corp was awful (just over 100 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT, generally clueless-looking) and I don't think they lose this game with the Matt Barkley I saw last week...but at any rate...big win for Washington (program-turner maybe?) and even bigger loss for the Trojans...
• Jahvid Best....Heisman front-runner...there it is...5 TDs does it all and he was already being talked about before hand...couple that with Tebow and McCoy relative stinkers...and Best gets the lead...at least in a perfect world
• BYU and Utah end their BCS hopes....obviously the bigger story here is BYU who was a top-10 team who had a legit shot at the BCS title game if they ran the table with a decent schedule...but they got absolutely run out of the building by Florida State to the tune of 54....as a sidebar...FSU scores 19 against Jacksonville State at home...then 54 @ BYU.... BYU's defense holds Oklahoma under 25 on the road...gives up 54 at home to a far inferior offense.... explain that one to me....and Utah lost a game they probably should lose...but at any rate, they're gone too....
• Va Tech with a huge win for the ACC... Tyrod Taylor finally made a play with his arm for the first time in 3 years....and it came just in time to save their credibility as a legit top 20 team...Nebraska's defense is fairly impressive...but they have to...repeat HAVE to win that game when you have Taylor HAVING to throw the ball....there it is
• Look out for Cincinnati... Going on the road and beating a legitimate team in Oregon State after a 2500 mile trip...that's your CLEAR Big East favorite and the only legitimate team in that league unless West Va. can start defending....and Mardy Gilyard is an NFL receiver
• Georgia 52, Arkansas 41....Ten...yes, ten...touchdown passes for these 2 teams...neither of which are really known for their passing attacks...Ryan Mallett was absolutely incredible with almost 400 yards and 5 TD, 0 INT....but the more surprising result is certainly Joe Cox putting up similar numbers.... 2 abysmal defensive performances however...
• Notre Dame gets off the schneid... Michigan State does not...Meh...I hate both these teams...big loss for ND if Michael Floyd really broke his collarbone....

More later...

Quick Football Weekend Preview...

Coming to you live from 30,000 feet in the air on a Delta flight with a free wi-fi promo...awesome lol....right in...First? College....

• USC @ Washington.... An underrated matchup for 2 reasons...1) Washington looked pretty good against LSU and Jake Locker is worth the price of admission at QB....factor that in with Steve Sarkisian having just left USC's offense...I like it...and 2) Matt Barkley may not play....and Taylor Mays (the nation's 2nd best safety) may not play either...I'm not saying the Huskies win it...but they'll compete
• Utah @ Oregon.... Utah is the ranked team...and Oregon is a 7 point favorite...part of that is disrespect for Utah...part of that is Autzen Stadium..but 7 points? For the team I saw on opening night MINUS their best player (LaGarrette Blount was the real deal btw)...Crazy number...
• Tulsa @ Oklahoma....This will be entertaining b/c 1) Tulsa can really, really score....and 2) Sam Bradford isn't playing...can Oklahoma put up enough points here without him?
• Nebraska @ Va Tech...the quietest top 20 matchup of the year so far...Nebraska is making strides toward regaining a bit of their old form under Bo Pelini....VT's offense is extremely one-dimensional, and it's almost better that way b/c when Tyrod Taylor tries to "commit to staying in the pocket" he's rendered virtually ineffective... This should be smashmouth all night....and I like it alot....Watch out for the Huskers here
• Tennessee @ Florida...You've heard all about it... Lane Kiffin has ticked off Urban Meyer...Tennessee is the biggest underdog they've EVER been (29.5 points at the moment)....this could get ugly and quick...especially with how bad Jonathan Crompton has been recently at QB for the Vols... 52-17....
• Florida State @ BYU.... BYU is a significant favorite...and that's weird in itself...but Florida State still has team speed that BYU has no concept of....I like the Cougars in the game, but Max Hall better be prepared for an adjustment....
• Texas Tech @ Texas...the first "test" for Texas and an opportunity for them to actually get some national play...they've been weirdly un-talked about so far for being the #2 team in the land...that ends with the national ABC game this week...and they'll cruise over an overmatched TT unit...

To the pro game...

• Carolina @ Atlanta....the Jake Delhomme traveling road show comes to Atlanta lol... fortunately for Panther fans, this isn't the same quality defense as Philly...that being said, it's an aggressive, fast unit that should cause some issues for Jake... and I simply can't trust him in a road game against the Falcons knowing that Redbird offense will generate 20+ points....
• NE @ NYJ... Tom Brady led the league in passing yards in week 1... he's back lol... this is an interesting matchup however as the Jets defense looked dominant in systematically dismantling Houston last week...Sanchez gets to play at home as well...I like the Pats in the game, but not by as much as I would've thought 2 weeks ago...
• New Orleans @ Philly... Big time matchup here of 2 teams that I really like in the NFC....IF Donovan can't go for Philly, the advantage swings to New Orleans who will put up points regardless (though it won't be fish-in-a-barrel 6 TDs, etc. like last week).... Kevin Kolb isn't ready to beat a playoff-quality team...
• Houston @ Tennessee.... It's too early for an "elimination" game in the AFC South...but neither one of these squads expected to be 0-2... and one of them will be... I really like Houston in this one.... Tennessee needs to grind out the ground game to control the clock b/c any passing situation is advantage BIG to Houston on that side of the ball... I'm thinking 24-20 Houston...
• Pittsburgh @ Chicago... Jay Cutler faces a big-time defense...albeit at home...and he'll fail another test... It won't be as ugly on that side of the ball turnover-wise, but Matt Forte needs to be the key to that offense, and he simply can't be against Pittsburgh...Willie Parker gets on track a bit for Pitt too...
• Baltimore @ SD.... A titan matchup in the AFC... big time defense vs. big time offense...Baltimore is my pick if LDT isn't 100% (and he isn't to my knowledge), Sproles isn't a good combatant to that huge, bulldozing Baltimore defense, and Rivers won't have the time he had against Oakland...Flacco has another field day and the Ravens win
• NYG @ Dallas... Big game early for these clubs...Eli targeted Steve Smith as his lead guy in week 1...and he proved worthy...if he continues to be that guy (along with reliable TE Kevin Boss), I like the Giants chances...it's looking like Romo will go and that's a relief in Dallas....the fireworks will be out for the Texas Stadium grand opening... and with that fire...will come a flop...Giants by 10

Will talk about Monday Night Football on....Monday? Yes, Monday....

Myles Brand, NBA Refs, Braves, etc...

Just a quick peak into the sporting world this morning....Note: I'll be traveling this weekend with questionable wi-fi (i.e. I have no idea what it'll be) so if I don't get a full football preview up...I'll have thoughts on twitter @browismyhero going all weekend...

• Myles Brand, the current NCAA President who was most famous for the Bobby Knight implosion situation while he was the president at Indiana, died at 67 of Pancreatic cancer....it's pretty crazy that the head of an organization such as the NCAA would die while in office...basically the equivalent to Roger Goodell or Bud Selig dying and that would be bigger news.... he seemed to be rather heavy-handed but universally respected....RIP
• The NBA refs are on the verge of a strike situation....and no one seems to care even as the season approaches...they are currently preparing a counter-offer to their current labor agreement...but replacement refs? yikes...the real ones are bad enough as it is...that could be a travesty
• The Braves are living and breathing....6 wins in a row...that being said, Colorado has to play below .500 baseball the rest of the way AND the Braves need to finish 13-4 ish from here on out...I don't see it...but the pitching has been flat-out awesome lately and the Hanson/Jurrjens combo is an electrifying foundation...
• Georgia Tech and Miami on ESPN tonight....this may be the most watchable game in the ACC this year...2 contrasting styles...tons of speed on both sides...maybe the best RB in the nation in Jonathan Dwyer (apologies to Jahvid Best who I think is better, but hey), Jacory Harris and his nerves of steal...a potentially crazy, old-school throwback Miami crowd...and 2 of the top 3 teams in the conference....on their own platform....tune in
  
• Gilbert Arenas apparently wants out of Washington....ummm...Gil? Really!???! You have a $100+ million contract that you haven't earned a dime of so far...your production doesn't match the level and youre fleecing them by being at least 30% overpaid....I think you have this one backward sir...

More later...

Week 1 NFL Wrap

An interesting slate...

• The Falcons take a stand.... how bout that defense, huh? I liked the Falcons in the game due to the matchups, but I definitely did not think the defense would show up the way it did.... I thought Miami got infinitely too cute with the wildcat in a weird spot in the game (and gave it away obviously by making Pat White the #2 QB and basically ensuring he'd play by doing so)..... Liked the effort...and I'm not particularly worried about the lack of offensive output b/c Matt Ryan seemed to be just a touch off, and the Miami defense is a top 8 unit in the league... Very encouraged...
• Green Bay beats up on Cutler.... Aaron Rodgers wasn't as good as I had hoped he'd be, but Jay Cutler was certainly far worse... 4 INT's isn't acceptable for anybody, and I don't want to hear the WR excuse...you can explain 1 or 2 of them with WR issues...but not 4.... The more discouraging fact for Chicago to me, however, was the lack of Matt Forte....I had that fear in fantasy as well as real life, that Cutler would detract the focus from Forte, and it seems to be headed that way...
• The Niners make a mark... I'll chalk up this one to a clunker by Arizona (which I expected) moreso than the Niners playing fantastically...but Shaun Hill was encouraging... Kurt Warner looked like a 40-year-old statue and the running game still isn't there for Arizona...
  
• How bout them Seahawks! and How bad are the Rams!
• Denver/Cincy....you know where I'm headed...this was a PUTRID game....until the last 20 seconds or so...with the Gus Johnson call of the tipped ball 87-yard touchdown to Brandon Stokley...awesome...awesome....awesome....I heart Gus
• The Vikings played the Browns and won 34-20...Adrian Peterson is good at running with a football.... that's all i have
• Drew Brees...6 TDs... He's that good, and yes it was against the Lions but he threw to EIGHT receivers and SEVEN of them had 30 yards or more of output...and that's without a big game from his go-to-guy in Colston... Matt Stafford? typical rookie debut with 3 INT...meh...
• Philly/Carolina....Donovan McNabb goes down... broken ribs are fairly mild by NFL standards...but if he can't play by Week 3...get ready for the barrage of Vick coverage...will he start? Won't he start? lol.... Philly looked very good though....not surprised by that, as I really like that unit.... on the other end...Jake Delhomme was flat-out awful and if they had ANY legit presence backing him up, I think I'd sit him...and yes, it's week 2 this week...even worse for Carolina, though, was under 75 yards total from Williams and Stewart...they can't win that way
  
• Fantasy studs: Joe Flacco was huge.... indicator of things to come or product of KC's bad defense? I choose the latter...but only b/c his numbers were too gaudy for that offense... Reggie Wayne 10 catches for 162 and a TD...and people wanna continue to talk about Anthony Gonzalez (who is now hurt FYI)...this is the stud... Tony Romo...350+ and 3 TDs...and the big one...0 INT....take that for no receivers... Mike Bell and Julius Jones... not exactly the most likely candidates for 100+ yard games...but both got the majority of the carries...and both can operate in pass-first offenses when they don't face stacked boxes...
  
• Previewing Monday night... Pats by 3 Tds... Brady goes nuts... Moss goes nuts... the Bills offense gets beat up on... Chargers by 17... LDT shows the world he's still a marquee back (I'm thinking 150 total and 3 TDs), and Chris Chambers has a big game (Jackson will be taken away by the human gauntlet CB on the other side lol)....

Big-time weekend...and it only gets better...

CFB Quick Wrap...

Straight in...

• USC 18, OSU 15....heart breaking loss for the Buckeyes (hurraayyyyy!!!) in the way it happened...Matt Barkley outplaying Terrelle Pryor down the stretch (and really for the last 3 quarters), too many field goals for OSU, and some big-time play from Joe McKnight late...That being said...USC is more talented pretty much everywhere and OSU played big and very competitively...not a bad showing for the Big 10 despite what you may hear in the coming 24 hours...
• Michigan 38, ND 34....Well you know how I feel about this result...but here we go...much bigger loss for ND than it is a win for Michigan...yes, I know that sounds funny coming from me...but Notre Dame could NOT lose that game...and that's why it's such a big W for Michigan...Charlie Weis is in deep trouble...Rich Rod suddenly isn't...He has his potential 4-year starter at QB in Tate Forcier (who was unbelievable today frankly), a young receiving corps, a young O-line...there is some actual promise....now...I wouldn't get ahead of ourselves...yes 4-0 is looking likely with Eastern and Indiana on the way...but this isn't a 10-win team or anything....take a step back...
• Houston over Oklahoma State....The single craziest result of the day...the not-so-vaunted Cowboy defense reared its ugly head allowing 45 points to Houston...the Cougars can seriously wing it, but that's not an excusable loss....Big-time free fall coming
• UGA squeaks by... I'll be the first to say I couldn't have possibly been more wrong on this game lol....almost 80 combined points? I would've taken the under if you offered me Under-30...that's should tell you enough...As expected, Joe Cox didn't deserve the beating he took this week...and Georgia still has a talented team... On the bright side for Spurrier? Stephen Garcia was darn good...on the dark side? That vaunted defense was....in a word...atrocious

Status quo elsewhere...blowouts from big teams (Oklahoma, Cal, BYU, Florida among others)....and conference play will be firing up soon....on to the NFL tomorrow....and more analysis on this insane Serena Williams foot fault tirade after the jump...

Go Blue....

Ladies and Gentlemen....we have a quarterback...a 2-0 record, and an ounce of respect back....Go Blue!