SportsWrap

Tonights College Football Lock of the Year

2007-11-15T19:29:00.000-08:00

Arizona tonight at home +13 vs Oregon. Few reasons:

One, Dixon is banged up

Two, conference road game

Three, Oregon undefeated

Four, Double Digit dogs

I will take a home double digit dog at this point in the season vs an undefeated conference foe every single time, and all day.

Layup here folks, take pound your bookie pounder style.

NBA Tonight

2007-11-07T16:10:00.000-08:00

2-2 last night, 1-0 Sunday nite brings the year to 8-6.

Tonight, give me Atlanta +6.5 vs Phoenix. Hawks 5-1 as dog B2B at home last year, 2-2 year before. Sign of a team growing up, taking care of their business. Off their win vs Dallas, I look for them to keep this one close. Suns also 0-1 B2B this year already, and with the team still banged up, take the Hawks.

Pacers -5.5 clippers. Battle of unbeatens, might think a line like this is too high. Well, Pacers are 8-1 off 2 days rest at home LY, with 6 of those 9 going under. Two years ago, Indiana 3-1, 3 of 5 under. Give me the Pacers minus the points, and the under.

Might be back later, three selections for now.

NBA Tonight

2007-11-06T14:18:00.000-08:00

Got a few selections tonight, lets get right to it:

Suns -4 at Bobcats: If Amare plays, this is a selection as the Suns last year were 15-7 one day rest on road ATS, 7-3 vs East. Bobcats are 3-8 vs West in same setup.

Nuggets -3.5 KNICKS: Denver was 14-4 1 day rest of road, and have covered two straight at MSG.

Spurs -2 ROCKETS: Rockets coming off a game in Dallas last night draw San Antonio in a series dominated by the road team. Spurs last year were 4-1 on at least 3 days rest, 4 under and the over was by 1/2 pt. Rockets are 2-5 BTB at home, 0-3 vs West. Two years ago they were 1-7 (0-4 as dogs), 0-3 vs West. 8 of those 12 games went under. Take the Spurs and under.

College Football Rankings November 4

2007-11-04T16:41:00.000-08:00

Back again, quicker than usual to post my latest rankings after this week of football.

#1 Ohio State - Got a break with Hill missing the game this weekend, and they pulled away at the end with some questionable play calling by the Badgers. Things are looking good in Columbus, and it appears it once again similar to last year is going to come down to the Michigan game for a possible birth in the Sugar Bowl. To reiterate, I do not like them in that game as the Wolverines dont have to worry about Troy Smith anymore, and Mike Hart will do just enough to get them the win.

#2 Oregon - Gotta put them here after the win this weekend over Zona State. Dixon is the real thing...good thing he is healthy because you could feel the tension in Autzen Saturday night when he went out of the game. Stewart is the real deal running the rock as well. Their defense is good enough. Still some tough games to navigate through, but I really think they are going to get it done and finish the season undefeated.

#3 LSU - big, big win on Saturday nite. I keep working over Les Miles for his decisions, and he continues to press the right buttons and get the job done. Flynn is still suspect at QB, and Hester is not the explosive back usually seen on National Title caliber teams, but that defense is NFL worthy, and they play in the toughest conference in the country. Still aways to go, but if they go on to win their remaining games including the SEC title game, its going to be tough to keep them out of the Sugar Bowl.

#4 Kansas - I was guilty too. I havent given them their props. But you know what, after posting 76 on Nebraska, they move to #4. Their defense is one of the stingiest in the country, especially against the run. Their QB makes great decisions, and they have enough playmakers on the outside to get the job done. It will be interesting to see their last few games, and it is very doubtful they will win out. But you never know, and the chance is there. This is not a fluke.

#5 Oklahoma - Bradford had a big game this weekend as they routed their opponent at home. But when he gets on the road its a whole different animal, and that is why I just dont see them running the table from here on out. But for the next few years, they are going to be in the mix to return to the title game under Stoops.

#6 West Virginia - yes, the other half of my Sugar Bowl equation is at #6 right now.......just give it time.

#7 Missouri - cannot believe I have 3 Big 12 teams in the top 7, and the league isnt even that good this year. But these teams all deserve it up to this point, but things will play out and I would not be surprised at all to see only one remaining in my Top 10 at the end of the year.

#8 Arizona State - gutty performance in Eugene Saturday, but they just didnt have enough in the end this time. Their offensive line is borderline 1-AA as Carpenter continues to get killed in the backfield. They have playmakers on both sides of the ball however which will keep them in most games. I still think they might show up in the Rose Bowl when all is said and done because I see the Pac 10 champ Oregon Ducks in the Sugar Bowl.

#9 Georgia - even with the struggle Saturday against Troy, they have done enough to remain in my Top 10. Game on Saturday hosting Auburn will be BIG.

#10 Michigan - run off 8 wins after opening the season in disappointing fashion. Need Henne and Hart 100% healthy however to win their last two games, and thus take the Big 10 title. I see it happening.

NBA Tonight

2007-11-04T16:31:00.000-08:00

One play tonight after going 3-1 last night which puts the record at 8-5 for the season. Only two plays tonight in the same game even with 8 games going today.

Lakers +1 at home vs Jazz. Jazz come in last year at 3-7 B2B on road. Also, Jazz are a terrible 1-5 on road as favorites in a B2B situation. Lakers were 4-2 as home dog on one day rest. Thats a 69% angle, take the Lakers.

Jazz playing B2B on road, 7 of the 10 going under the total. In 05-06, 9 of 13 went under with a B2B on road setup. Thats a 70% angle on the under.

NBA Tonight

2007-11-03T16:14:00.000-07:00

2-1 Thursday night brings the year totals to 5-4. Here is what we have tonight:

Magic plus 3 at Washington. Wizards come in at 1-5 last year B2B at home (4 of 6 under), 2-5 the season before (5 of 7 under) that same situation. Although I like the Wiz tonight to break their 2 game losing streak, the trends point to Magic and under and this is a blog that only looks at trends.

Memphis -5 over the Pacers. Indiana lost 10 of 13 on road B2B as an underdog (4-6 2005/2006 season). Also, Pacers were 2-4 B2B on road vs West (1-4 2005/2006). Griz are the play.

Thats it tonight, check back later for late game selections if anything pops up.

And enjoy the USC/Oregon State under 47.5 as a complimentary college football selection.

NBA Tonight

2007-11-01T11:18:00.000-07:00

2-2 on opening night, Magic blasted the Bucks 102-83, continuing their dominance over Milwaukee at home. Also, Nets continue to own the Bulls in NJ beating them in OT. Losses were the Sixers on a late bucket by the Raptors to cover by 1.5pts, and the Wiz, the bet of the night losing to the Pacers in OT.

Tonight even with a light sked we got a few selections:

Houston +4.5 @ Utah. Rockets were 16-6 last year on road with 1 day rest, backing up a mark of 16-9 the previous year which makes that a 70% angle over two years.

Miami +3.5 at home vs Detroit. Yes, even without Wade and Shaq the numbers and trends are pointing to the Heat. Heat last year were 7-3-1 as home dogs including 2-0 vs the Pistons. Under could be another play of you prefer that over sides as the Pistons played to the under last year 26-15 on the road, while of 9 of Miami's 11 last year as a home dog went under the total.

NBA Tonight

2007-10-31T11:24:00.000-07:00

On days I get a chance to run the tool I built for predicting NBA games based on past trends, I will post some selections with some trends I am focusing on, and see how things work out:

NETS –2.5 own the Bulls at home recently winning three straight, covering the last two as home dogs. Chicago comes in at 16-24 on road last year, including a miserable 1-5 on the NJ Turnpike tour of PHI, NY, NJ.

Sixers + 7.5 at RAPTORS. Philly has owned the champs of the Atlantic division recently covering 4 straight in Toronto. Sixers were a stellar 7-1 on road last year vs. their division.

ORLANDO –6.5 will crush the Bucks, winning 3 of the last 4 in Florida by 15+ points.

Wizards +2.5 against the banged up PACERS. Washington has covered 3 straight in Indiana, and were 23-17 on road last year ATS. Wiz also 5-1 last year +4 or better on road (selection of the night).

College Football

2007-10-30T17:58:00.000-07:00

As we head into November, and things really start to heat up, lets take a look at the rankings - the rankings how I believe they should be right now in time....so, this is not a forecast...or, rankings based on who would win certain games head to hear...this is all about what you have done to this point, and where that work puts you in the pecking order

#1 Ohio State: How can you not put the Buckeyes first? They played in the title game last year (I know, they got blown out, but at least they were there to get blown out), and they are undefeated to this point, granted their toughest games are straight ahead. I personally dont think the Big Ten is down as much as some say; Pac 10 and SEC are both better, Big 12 would be third, and the Big Ten is a slight notch below that. Bucks as usual have a killer defense, but it is young. Have explosive WRs, solid RB, and a "no mistake" Krenzelesque QB. All that, and I think they will lose to the Wolverines the last game of the year, as Michigan has payback on their minds from last year, and the Bucks finally dont have Troy Smith to torture the Wolverines.

#2 LSU: The Tigers have the most talent in the country, hands down. However, I feel the coaching leaves ALOT to be desired, and will get exposed in big games. As a UM fan, I am not in the majority of wanting Les in Ann Arbor, but that is a subject for another day. Tigers have talent everywhere, led by both lines. They can dominate games from the trenches, and key in most games. However similar to the Bucks, their QB does leave alot to be desired, and you have to wonder if he can get it done in a pinch. I like what the Tigers have, but dont think they run the table from here, its just too deadly in the SEC. In fact, they lose their next game vs Saban and the Tide down in Tuscaloosa.

#3 Oregon: Beating the Trojans in Eugene this past weekend was a HUGE mental hurdle to get over for the Ducks. They have the second biggest OOC road win of the year beating Michigan in AA (S Florida's win in Auburn #1). Ducks are led by Dennis Dixon, quickly becoming a Heisman favorite and will surely be in NYC if the Ducks can run the table. This isnt you typical Pac 10 Duck team, they play some defense too. Big time showdown with the Sun Devils this weekend in Autzen, one of the toughest places to play in the country. Gotta like their schedule too, at least the best of the main contenders. I think we are going to see them in the NC game.

#4 West Virginia: only loss down in Tampa vs S Florida when the Bulls were playing some of the best ball in the country. Led by White and Slaton, two of the quickest skill players in the country, this Neer team is for real and wants to make amends for last season's meltdown. Had an impressive road win in Rutgers this past weekend, and close with 3 of 4 at home. That being said, they are going to win the rest of their games and finish with one loss.

#5 Arizona State: the cardiac kids of the desert, the Devils just keep winning and winning and not many are noticing. Behind Rudy Carpenter, and experienced gunslinger, their offense continues to get the job done, particularly in the second half of games, when its been needed after slow starts. They have a defense that lives on forcing TOs, and providing the offense with short fields, or TDs of their own. These slow starts have to be a concern as it seems they have come back in every game this year. Its been a nice story, but I feel it is coming to an end this weekend, and would not be shocked to see another loss or two after that. But it still has to be looked at as a succesful season, and Ericson might be working on something down there.

#6 Oklahoma: I am not as high on the Sooners as some others are. Bradford is a decent QB, but nothing to write home about and is still a FR. Yes, they have stud RBs and WRs, like every year Stoops has been at the helm. And the defense is pretty good, but its not one of this better units. Bad loss at Colorado, big solid blowout win over Missouri. That struggle in Iowa City has them down at 6 in my rankings, and I do not see them running the table either. They will win the South, maybe losing another along the way, but this is the year the North finally takes the Big 12.

#7 Boston College: I know, an undefeated team down at 7? Well, truth is the ACC is awful, and watching that game last Thursday was painful, and frankly, they should have lose the game. Ryan is a STUD at QB, and will be in NY come December. And their defense is serviceable, thanks to that ACC sked. With a tougher sked coming up, expect the Eagles to lose at the very least one game, most likely two. Dont be surprised though to see them in the ACC title game, if anyone cares.

#8 Missouri: Give the Tigers their due. They beat Illinois on a neutral field, won at Mississippi, beat the tar out of Nebraska and Texas Tech, and played well in Norman. Led by Chase Daniel at QB, their offense is very potent and can put up points with anyone in the country. And their secondary is very solid, but can that run defense hold up in a big spot against a solid team? They still have two road games left, and a finale on a neutral field against Kansas which could be for the Big12 North. Another team who loses at least one more, and drops out of the chase.

#9 Kansas: undefeated, and at 9? Sorry Jayhawk fans, but take it and shut it! Its been a great job by KU, but when the competition turns up, they are going to be in trouble. Give them their due, I thought they were losing at Colorado...I thought they were losing at Texas A&M. They are going to lose this weekend against Nebraska, and the ride will be over.

#10 Georgia: two impressive wins at Alabama and neutral against Florida. Stafford is coming into his own. They have a stable of RBs. Defense is slightly questionable. Dont think they will win the East, but I really think they are going to challenge for a NC in the next year or two.

There you have it, Oregon and West Virginia for the National Championship. Man, is that gonna raise some eyebrows.

College Football Week 2

2007-09-08T19:06:00.000-07:00

Folks, I will be back within the next 13 days or so to complete the previews of all 6 conferences. Right now, I wanted to get out my weekly Top 10 that I posted weekly last year so you know how I am seeing things up to this point.

#1 USC - not sure there is any question about this at the moment as the Trojans once again are on top of the polls. With the best defense in the country, an experienced QB, great backfield, solid wideouts, and a pretty good line, they have all the intangibles to make it to New Orleans in January. They will have some road tests this year however, that could pose some issues starting next week in Lincoln vs Nebraska. But unless Keller plays ALOT better than he has in the first two games this year, the Huskers dont have a shot. Even if he does, its certainly going to take a lot of breaks to go the way of Big Red, but it isnt out of the question.

#2 LSU - the Tigers are waiting to pounce right into the #1 spot if the Trojans were to slip up, or not look so hot. As I type this, they lead Va Tech in Death Valley 17-0 so it looks as though they are going to roll to another win down there (not surprising me at all, Va Tech is not even a Top 25 team in my book). The only issue on this team they can control is inexperience at QB, but he is talented. They will of course have to navigate the wicked SEC unscathed to get to New Orleans, the sight of their last title a few years back. Look for the Tigers to be in the mix all year, with their offense being the critical aspect of their game meaning if it were to disappear one game, they will be in trouble.

#3 Florida - yes, I have the defending champs at #3. Just cannot put them at #1 losing how much they did on defense, and at QB, but they are certainly in the mix. And LSU has a better defense at this point to put them at #2. Man would I love a ticket to that October game in Death Valley vs the Tigers. Tebow has looked very well the first two weeks against subpar competition, but that is smart scheduling to let him get his feet under him. And give the defense some playing time to gel. They will need a RB to step up once the SEC schedule really kicks in or they certainly will not run the table.

#4 Oklahoma - their offense is probably better than many suspected it would be at this point in the season. Put an absolute working on Miami today, have scored 130pts in 2 games. And with perhaps the best WR core in the country, and a very solid OL and backfield, their new QB just has to manage the game and let his playmakers do the rest, of which there are plenty. The Sooners might have the best secondary in the country, and the front seven is Top 10 at worst. With what appears to be a down year in the Big 12, I look for the Sooners to run the table in the regular season, but will they win the Big 12 title game, where there have been upsets in the past? And will their SOS be enough if they are one of three undefeateds to put them in the Sugar Bowl? That remains to be seen, but all the Sooners can do is win games, and I expect them to do so all year.

#5 West Virginia - playing in a very underrated Big East. Will be challenged a few times in conference, but nothing out of conference besides the annual backyard brawl at the end of year with Pitt. White and Slaton lead one of the most explosive backfields in college football, but can their defense play well enough against top level competition? They struggled today in an "in state" rivalry game for a half, but turned it on in the second half and won comfortably. I dont think they have the talent to run the table, but they will contend in the Big East.

#6 Wisconsin - playing UNLV tonight in a late night west coast matchup so this ranking assumes a win. New QB in town who might be more talented than Stocco, but will obviously be lacking in the experience category. The Badgers do have a top 5 DL, and top 10 OL, and one of the best RBs in college football. I look for the Badgers to lose one game, at Ohio State this year which will earn them a trip to the Rose Bowl.

#7 UCLA - this is my sleeper pick this year, eventhough they are playing in what has turned into the rugged Pac 10. They looked good last week in Northern Cali against Stanford, where their defense controlled the game for the most part. Kind of the same story this evening vs BYU, where they shut down the Cougars for the better part of the game, minus a stretch in the third quarter. With a very, very good defense, and running game, I see that USC/UCLA matchup at the end of the year possibly being the biggest game of the college football year with a possible matchup of two top 5 teams and a national title game berth on the line.

#8 California - yes, the third Pac 10 team. I dont necessarily see this team being ranked this high at the end of the year, but right now they have been impressive beating Tennessee at home, then going on the road today and pulling off a nice win at better than you think Colorado State. They no question have one of the best offenses in the country, but need some work on defense to really challenge and be a consistent threat in the Pac 10.

#9 Texas - maybe disappointing to this point with sneaking out a win last week, and struggling early against TCU today. They do have a lot of talent, McCoy is one year older, but their defense is not that talented, especially in the secondary. I think the Horns will be tested often this year in conference, and see them losing at least 2 games there. But right now they deserve to be here.

#10 Penn State - JoePa's squad will round out the opening Top 10 of the season after the 59pt trouncing of FIU (who only lost to Maryland by 9 today), and blowout of ND this evening at Happy Valley. Morelli has all the experience and tools to be succesful this year including a Top 5 WR clan. In a down year for Michigan and Ohio State, Penn State should challenge for the Big Ten title.

5 to watch (alphabetical order): Auburn, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Ohio State, Rutgers

College Football Pre Season 2007

2007-09-01T07:37:00.001-07:00

Alright, we are back for another great college football season. Last year saw the Gators cut shot the Buckeye dreams of a repeat, what is in the cards this year? Seems to be a wide open year, besides that team that resides in Southern California. But they have a tough slate to navigate through this year, with plenty of oppurtunities to trip up. This year I am going to get a little more detailed in my conf breakdowns, and also give you my Top 25 Preseason edition. Lets get right into my conferences breakdown, a breakdown that correctly predicted every division winner last year sans Wake Forest, whom nobody had.

SEC: Lets start in the East. This division without question is the toughest 6 team division in college football, and will remain very top heavy in the foreseeable future. And this happens to be where the defending champs reside, so lets look at the Gators. They have to replace Leak, a four year starter with Tim Tebow, who got considerable action last year. Thing is, he came in and mostly ran the rock, catching defenses off guard. It is a much different and tougher spot to come in and play all downs, be consistent, and handle those tough road atmospheres of the SEC. The Gators still lack a RB, but have great athletes on the outside. Defensively, they have a lot to replace, but certainly have the athletes to do it. Tennessee has experience at QB with Ainge, solid RBs, but are weak at WR with the lose of Meachem. Defensively, they have a lot of talent and will be the best in the SEC. They open with a big one on the West Coast against Cal, where we will learn a lot about this team as the seat is certainly heating up on Fullmer. Georgia brings back Stafford, their second year QB who has a lot of talent, and now one year of experience under his belt. Their backfield and wideouts are formidable, but not up to National Title contender status at this point. They will be relatively strong with their back seven, but their DL leaves alot to be desired, and pushes their overall defensive rating to a middle of the pack SEC team. South Carolina under Spurrier is improving, as he continues to get his players in his system, and things are only looking up in Columbia. They will be solid at QB and RB with very good players, that are experienced returning, but they will be a little weak on the outside, and that spot is key to Spurrier teams. They will be led defensively by a strong secondary. Vandy and Kentucky will be bringing up the rear once again, but are a threat this year to pull off and upset or two at home against the heavy weights. UK is led by Woodson, and potential Top 10 QB in next years NFL draft. Vandy also is led by their QB, and will have some strength on the outside. But both teams still arent where they need to be defensively to challenge for their division title, and dont figure to get there in the near future. With all that said, here is the way I see this division shaking out:

Florida (slight edge against Florida because their game is in the Swamp)
Tennessee (edge of UGA because of schedule strength, and experience at QB)
Georgia (last top tier team in this division)
South Carolina (improving but still a little away from challenging)
Kentucky (Woodson will lead them to a solid season)
Vanderbilt (things are just too tough in his division)

In the West, things are slightly easier than the East, but things are still no bargain. LSU, a national title contender resides in this portion of the SEC, and are clearly leading the way. The only question mark with the Tigers is at QB, where Flynn is taking over for last year's numbers one pick. Good depth and speed in the backfield, and outside will help the adjustment to the new QB. Defensively the Tigers will just be completely stifling, led by the best defensive line in the country. Their front seven is only rivaled by USC. The secondary has to replace some talent, experience and leadership, most notably Laundry, but they certainly have the athletes to take care of this on the Bayou. Auburn is led by Cox, heading into his final season down on the Plains, and some will classify his career as a disappointment. Could he pull a Chris Leak and lead his team to a title his Sr. season after taking the brunt of complaints for three straight year? Once again the Tigers have an unbelievable backfield, but need to replace some parts on the outside, most notably Taylor. Alabama, led by Nick Saban in his first year, will certainly stir the pot some this year. JP Wilson returns at QB, whose experience will help the Tide. They also have one of the top wideout sets in the SEC, and the country, but will be a little short in the backfield. Their defense is very average, and will be middle of the pack in the SEC, with no one position standing out good or bad. Arkansas will be led by heisman candidate McFadden, but have too many issues with qb play, and sheduling to not allow a run like last years. And once again, for what seems like the 10th straight year, Mississippi State and Ole Miss bring up the rear and do not even deserve any chatter in his post. Here is how things will shakeout:

LSU (national title contender)
Auburn (led by experience, could be a sleeper pick of national title if they can win at LSU)
Alabama (things looking up in Tuscaloosa)
Arkansas (going to be tough to follow up last year)
Mississippi (bad)
Mississippi State (worse)

Florida will beat LSU in the SEC title game, in an upset and it will keep the Tigers out of the National Championship game in their own backyard.

BIG 10: OSU has led the way for many, many years....and that will change this year. They have some rebuilding to do, most notable losing QB Smith after a helluva run the last couple years. The Bucks do have Wells coming back at RB, athletes on the edge (with not much experience losing Gonzalez and Ginn) and a pretty good OL, but its gonna take time to start playing at a National Title level again. Defensively they are replacing a lot, and again have the ahtletes, but its going to take time. Michigan appears to be leading the way for the Big 10 this year, returning a bunch of offensive starters which could easily be the most potent offense in the country. Henne, Hart and Manningham are a mean trio, and Long is awesome leading another strong UM line. Defensively, they are replacing a ton, but I beleive they will be better at the end of the year than they were last year. Wisconsin has a shot this year at making it to Pasadena, but do not see them going to New Orleans. A new qb steps in, but will Hill in the backfield, things are certainly an easier transition than most would experience. They also have a very solid trio of WRs that could start for most teams in the country. And its the Badgers, you know they have a good OL and DL. PSU needs Morelli to step up, along with those gifted WRs and form one of the better passing games at least in the Big Ten. Iowa will rebound from last years disappointing year, look for them to return to the Top 15 teams in the country. Purdue will have a nasty passing attack, but still will struggle beating the upper echelon teams in the conference. Northwestern has a sneaky good team this year, watch out for the to possibly reach .500 in the conference and play in a nice bowl game. Minnesota will be able to run the ball, but will have some growing pains with the new coach. MSU doesnt have much back and should be among the bottom 3 teams in the conference. Illinois is improving, and has a bunch of playmakers on offense. They just have to be more consistent, and play better on D. Indiana will have to adjust to the death of their coach in the offseason, look for them to get maybe 1 win this year. Here is my breakdown:

Michigan (offense could lead UM to title)
Wisconsin (can they beat UM at home in Nov?)
Iowa (things are going to turn around)
Ohio State (slightly down year breaking in new QB)
Penn State (potential to be even better than this, but have to beat top teams first)
Purdue (strong passing attack, might pull of big win, and have terrible loss)
Northwestern (decent year)
Illinois (trust me, will be a top 5 big ten team in two years)
Minnesota (new stadium will only help)
Michigan State (bad, bad year and things are only looking worse in near future)
Indiana (nothing to say here)

I will be back later this weekend to go over the remaining conferences.

Last weekend in July

2007-07-28T15:41:00.001-07:00

Looks like my British Open selections werent too shabby at all. Hopefully, you won some money as I did.

Pretty much right on with Woods as his name was talked about a little on Sunday am, but it was only a Top 20. Also, Phil didnt play well as I pointed out, as I was not fooled by his solid performance in the Scottish the week before.

My #1 Donald played pretty well until blowing up on Saturday, something I was afraid of. Most of the Europeans seem to play well in three of four rounds often in majors, but they always have that one round 75+ that puts them out of contention. Then Garcia and Harrington, my #2 and #3 ranked guys made it to a playoff. Gotta feel for Garcia, but Harrington showed great resolve coming back after making a mess of the 18th in regulation to win his first major. Had a feeling this was going to be the week the Euros broke their major drought, lets see what happens going forward and hope it doesnt take another 8 years to win again.

Fantasy Football

I have available a template for people looking to power rate out players with the point system their league uses. It is excel based, and very handy with results shown in only a few short minutes. I have populated the top players at each position (QB,RB,WR,TE,D,K) with their stats from last year, all you have to do is adjust for your scoring system to get an accurate look how guys did last year in your system. Even includes an adjustment for WR's taking into account how many times they were the target of a pass. Also normalizes results for players that did not play an entire season as if they did. Really is a must have guys, trust me. Will send it to you with your paypal payment of $4.95 to psca12@aol.com. Guys, trust me, this is a must have and will save you a ton of homework. Win your league with my help!!!!

I will be back in a few weeks with a detailed college football preview.

British Open Preview

2007-07-18T16:42:00.001-07:00

After a long break from posting, I am back and will be for the near future. Along with previews for some key golf events, I will also be talking to the upcoming football seasons in both College and Pro. I am developing a College Football Power Ratings system I will be unvailing shortly, along with my picks for the Big 6 conferences (hit all champs last year except Wake in the ACC).

OK, the Open Championship. Can Tiger Woods pull off his third straight British win, which hasnt happened since the 50s? It is always hard to bet against Woods as he is the favorite (rightfully so) every time he tees it up. However, his only event since becoming a pro didnt work out so well as he never threatened for the win in the event he was hosting. Though he did perform relatively well the last time the tourney was held in Carnoustie, I dont see that really coming into play this week since the course will be playing so much different. Fairways will be slightly wider, and the rough will not be so penal (have decent chance at reaching green from it), but I feel Tiger's erratic driving will be a factor this week he will not be able to overcome. The last two Opens at St Andrews and Hoylake, the courses played extremely short yardage wise, and due to the weather. This year's course is stretched out to 7400+ yards, some 200+ yards compared to the last two years. Also, recent wet weather in the area will have this course playing soft, which only adds to length being key. I know, Tiger is the King of length. However, his strategy the last two opens was to hit stingers off the tee with irons, and use longer irons for his approach shots. This week he will be forced to hit driver more often, and it will prevent him from taking his third straight. Also, his putting is not as great as usual. Look for a Top 20 out of Woods, with possibly minimal contention on Sunday morning.

Though Phil played well last week before imploding down the stretch, I dont like his chances either this week. He does not typically play well overseas, and with his wrist injury, and the coaching changes, its not his time. If he is going to win a major for the fourth straight season, its going to have to be the PGA.

On to our contenders as I see it. Here is my Top 10:

1-Donald 33-1: He is ready to win a major, and I feel this is going to be a great chance for him. On the Euro tour, he ranks 5th in fairways, 14th in GIR, and 29th in putting. Those are great numbers, the best combo of anyone in the field, and being in his home country, I like his chances.

2-Harrington 20-1: He has been the "Euro leader" in best player not to win a major for a while now. Last week he teed it up in Ireland and played a links course to prepare. Has had good experiences on Carnoustie in the Dunhill Championships, and tied for 29th in '99. Has had a fabulous putting year, but can he hold up under the pressure?

3-Garcia 33-1: Finally coming in under the radar, the way he likes it. New hairdo also. 5 Top 10s in his last 8 appearances means he has been around the top of the board consistently, but can his putter put him over the top? Ranked 21st in putts per round this year on the PGA, maybe things are turning around.

4-Westwood 66-1: Super under the radar with this selection, I think he has a great chance at picking up the Claret Jug this week. Ranked 10th in fairways, 2nd in GIR this year. Finished 18th in '99.

5-Casey 40-1: Certainly has the ability to get hot and post a low number. Ranked 9th in GIR this year. Has contended before in Masters and US Open, not really in the British. But this would be his biggest win, and certainly is his favorite event.

6-Montgomerie 40-1: Yes, Colin makes my Top 10. How could he not? Win in Ireland few weeks ago, challenged in US Open last year, and British the year before finishing in Top 5 of both events. At 44, he can still get it done, and would make quite a story were he to win in his homeland. Ranked 24th in fairways, 20th in GIR. Putting decent enough to win. Can he keep his emotions in check if he puts himself in contention?

7-Els 10-1: Hasnt really gotten back to his top level of play since knee injury. But what better place to return to his old form than the British where he has one win and 5 Top 10s in the last 8 years. Finished in 24th in '99. Ranked 5th in GIR this year. Not really sure he is playing well enough, but past performances alone warrant him a spot on this list.

8-Rose 25-1: Since bursting on the scene with a Top 5 in his first Open, he hasnt really performed to the level many expected since then. This is more a gut pick than anything else.

9-Verplank 66-1: Lone American on the list, he plays very well and consistent on all courses in the roto. He is the ultimate grinder which fits this British course more than most others where birdies are plentiful. Closer to par the score remains, more the wind blows, better his chances. Ranked 10th in GIR, 20th in putting. Does he have the length to get the job done?

10-Scott 50-1: Talented, probably the most talented now without a major. Only 1 Top 10 in last 7 Opens. Recently has slid off a little since his implosion a few weeks back on the back 9 in Hartford. Hits the ball high and long, but can be erratic at times. Probably not his week, but he certainly has a chance.

I look for a European to win this thing, with a score around -4.

Good luck, golf is a tough thing to bet, but there are certainly some nice odds worth at least throwing a few bucks on.

Will be back soon with some football talk.

NFL Divisional Playoffs

2007-01-12T19:28:00.000-08:00

Best weekend of NFL football is upon us. Games start tomorrow with the Indianapolis Colts at Baltimore Ravens. Here is how I see this game breaking down:

Indy offense vs. Baltimore defense: This is the matchup we all want to see with the best offense (some will say) vs the best defense in the league. Nobody can argue that Peyton Manning is one of the Top 2 QBs in the league, so if anyone can break through against this rugged Raven defense, it is a Manning led offense. The Colts need to find some sort of offensive balance and that will come with a running game led by Joseph Addai or Dominic Rhodes. One of these backs has to show the ability to gain some yardage so the Ravens will respect their running game. Yards is not even the key for these backs, it is purely about the attempts they have. Need 20+ attempts to remain somewhat balanced. If they can get that #, the best play action QB in the league will have some chances to make big plays down the field. Not only will the play action force Ed Reed into the box for run support, it will slow down the Ravens sick rush off the edge. And that will be key. The Colts offensive line is one of the best units in the league, and usually keep Manning clean. Crowd noise will be a certain factor in this game as the crowd in Baltimore is one of the louder crowds in the league. It seems teams with tough defenses always get an extra little edge from their crowd, and with all the issue between these teams a long time ago, these people have not forgotten that either. On the outside, Harrison needs to bounce back after his sub par game last week and play much better. The combo of Marvin and Reggie Wayne are as good as it gets, and if Manning is given time, the most accurate passer in NFL history will certainly have the opportunity to make plays down the field. Colts are not playing their best ball right now, and though weather will not be a factor, noise will. I give the Ravens defense the edge here.

Baltimore offense vs Indy defense: The Colts really responded defensively last week in an impressive effort vs Kansas City. Looking into it deeper however, I saw a Chiefs team coached by Herm Edwards. Herm is a good coach, great motivator, but not the most imaginative offensive mind. I feel the Chiefs really played it too close to the vest, and once the Colts defense got on a roll, they fed off the crowd and the questionable play calling and had a solid game. The Ravens are clearly not an offensive juggernaut, averaging the lowest total (22.8pts) of any team left in the playoffs. The only scored 32 TDs all year, or an average of 2 per game. I am not sure 2 TDs is going to get it done this week. McNair certainly gave the Ravens a better chance to win compared with their QBs of the past. But Steve is clearly not the QB he once was, and he is just in their to manage the game and make a few plays. Jamal Lewis really has not played well in a few years, but he is the type of back that the Colts have issues with. The Indy defense is certainly not one of the more physical defenses in the league, and big, bruising backs can often have their way with the smallish, faster Colts, especially on grass on the road. The Colts speed rush off the ends could cause some problems for a less mobile McNair, but that will be negated if Jamal can get going somewhat. On the edge, the Ravens are lacking playmakers down the field, which will certainly help Indy in its attempts to stop the run. However, Todd Heap is a very good TE, and a major threat down the middle of the field, in particular on third down. The Colts have Dallas Clark, so facing him everyday in practice should help. Though the Colts defense played well last week, outside, on grass, against a physical offense is going to lead to problems this week, and we will see the defense we saw all year. Advantage Ravens.

Special Teams: Indy of course signed Vinatieri for moments like this on Saturday. Stover on the other side has had a great year, and was voted as an All pro. Give the edge to the Colts there. The return games I give the edge to the Ravens. Punting, advantage Colts.

Intangibles / Coaching: Dungy vs Billick. Two defensive minds. Billick with a SB title, Dungy with no SB appearances. Is this his year? I think this is the worst possible matchup for the Colts, I would give them a better chance against San Diego and New England. The crowd is going to be a very big factor in this as I believe this is one of the Top 5 toughest places to play in the league. Colts are not playing well right now, and they dont play well in the playoffs, particularily on the road.

Final verdict: I liked the Ravens prior to the year starting to reach the SB, and I am sticking with it. Ravens win this one 23-18. Can't wait to see Peyton not get it done in the playoffs again.

College Basketball continued....Big 12, Pac 10, SEC

2007-01-09T19:33:00.000-08:00

Back to round out the Top 3 conferences in hoops.

Big 12: A perennial powerhouse conference that has been down lately. Some of the coaching star power has left this conference in the last few years including Roy Williams at Kansas, Kelvin Sampson at Oklahoma, Eddie Sutton at Oklahoma State, Quinn Snyder at Missouri...however, some big names have come in and are bringing back memories of the gold old days...these new coaches are Bobby Knight at Texas Tech, Bill Self at Kansas, Bobby Huggins at Kansas State. Interesting changes, lets take a look at the teams behind these coaches. I do not see a clear cut favorite this year, but will take Kansas. Kansas has a ton of talent, more than any other Big 12 team. They are led by Chalmers and Rush in the backcourt, and Mr Julian Wright in the front court. After a couple down years by Jayhawks standards, we saw what they were capable of with that fantastic matchup with Florida in Vegas earlier in the season. I like the Jayhawks this year. Next up, Texas. They have unbelievable talent, albeit very young. Kevin Durant, the diaper dandy power forward is a sure fire Top 5 pick in the NBA draft whenever he decides to come out. He has some support in the backcourt with Abrams and Augustin. They have played a pretty tough schedule to this point, with some nice wins, and some tough losses. This team should continue to improve as the season progresses. Oklahoma St and Texas A&M should challenge Texas for the second spot and all three teams should secure NCAA bids. OSU will have some transition pains moving to the younger Sutton as coach, but that homecourt advantage, and victories over Pitt and Syracuse show what this team is capable of. The Aggies made a nice run in the tourney last year behind PG Acey Law. He is back to lead the men of College Station into one of the most exciting years of hoops down there in years. Thus far, they have been impressive with a loss at UCLA by a duece, and a slightly bigger loss against the team that knocked them out last year, LSU. After these four teams, I have Kansas St, Texas Tech and Missouri with potential to make the postseason, but most likely it will be of the NIT variety. KSU will have things turned around shortly when Coach Huggins gets his players in there. TT is slightly down this year after making the tourney most of the last few years, given they havent done any damage. Congrats to Coach Knight for setting the overall wins record over taking Dean Smith with his win over UNLV in early January. Missouri does have some talent in place, but they are clearly in a rebuilding mode. These teams will be able to pull off an upset or two, but will lack the consistency necessary to make the Big Dance. The last five teams in order of finish will be Oklahoma, Iowa State, Nebraska, Baylor and Colorado. OU will be back under Mr. Capel, but it will take some time as Sampson did some damage to the program down there. I see 4 bids, and Kansas and Texas A&M with FF potential.

Pac 10: Wow, got some talent out west this year. Lets start with one of my favorites squads this year, the Arizona Wildcats. Lute Olson has himself a TON of talent in Tuscon this year, that is also balanced with a load of experience, a balance between front and backcourt, and a hunger to succeed. Team is led by 4 yr starting PG from Philly Shakur, and he is joined in the front court by Radinovic, Williams and the super frosh Chase Buddinger. So much skill there it is amazing. The question that often arises with Pac 10 squads is can they ratchet up the defensive pressure when necessary in the NCAA tourney and get stops at critical times against quality teams? That is an open issue that will not be answered until March, but until then, look for the Cats to lock the #1 seed in the West, and have a favorable draw to the FF. Committee members will remember the scenario they faced last year when they matched up with Villanova on their homecourt and played a heck of a game, one many argue would have been won by Zona on a true neutral floor. I know, I know what you are already thinking....No UCLA at the top? Well, just a hunch. What a run by the Bruins last year. I give them all the credit in the world, and they did only lose Jordan Farmar. Many argue they are a better squad without him, so it will be interesting to see how things play out this year. Bruins lost their first game this past weekend at Oregon, nothing to be ashamed of as MacArthur Court is always a tough place to play, and these Ducks are no push over with some quality wins already (Georgetown). UCLA will certainly be battle tested after their run last year, their tough OOC schedule, the brutal Pac 10 this year, and the Pac 10 tourney. If anyone has extra seats for the Bruins/Wildcats matchups, please contact me. I see both these teams as favorites to win the NC. Below these two heavyweights are plenty of other solid teams that are a big time threat as well. Oregon, Washington, and Washington State are the next three. Oregon has a great homecourt advantage that greatly helps their conference record. Plenty of young talent in Eugene that will develop this year, and the Ducks will be title contenders in the Pac 10 for years to come. Washington has quite a little program going in the Northwest now. They have turned this once football school into a perennial tourney team, abd the Huskies should get it done again this year. They showed what they are capable of with a big victory at home vs LSU, but have some questionable losses on their resume at this point. I look for the Huskies to finish above .500 in conference, and in the Pac 10 this year, that will lock up a bid. Washington St? The Cougars? Yes, I said it. Its a little late to take total credit for this call as they just became ranked this week for the first time in some 30 years. They have an interesting style of play, already went on the road and picked up some quality wins, and gave UCLA all it could handle in Pauley. Watch out for the Cougars in the tourney, teams that play that wicked slow style are always a tought matchup. USC, Cal and Stanford could push for NCAA bids, but I feel it will be tough. With Zona and UCLA in this league, that almost assures 4 losses for most teams. These teams would have to go 9-5 to get to .500 in conference if that is the case, and I see that as difficult for not only one of these teams, but surely all 3. NIT seems more likely at this point, but if I had to pick one I think could get it done, give me USC. Arizona State and Oregon State will bring up the rear. I see at least 5 bids, with UCLA and Arizona as FF contenders.

SEC: Home of the National Champs, Florida. I like them to win the regular season title this year, something they did not do last year. The Gators are just pure nasty with a frontline of Horford, Noah and Brewer with Green and Humphrey in the backcourt. Talent wise, not even close with anyone else in the country. Can they keep the hunger? Will they be able to handle getting everyone's best shot? Well, its too early to tell, but they have two losses this year already, and they have had a bunch of injuries. Not much will matter for the Gators until March as I would be shocked if they were any lower than a 3 seed. Big drop off, not just because they are the Gators, but the SEC is down. I see a few teams in the next range and they include LSU, Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas. I believe all these teams will make the dance, but they each have a significant weakness which will keep them from making the FF. LSU made a great run last year ending in the FF behind Big Baby Davis, but they do not seem to have the same hunger or talent this year. Four losses already, I just think this team got on a run last year in March, and I expect an early exit this year. And Big Baby Davis is very overrated in my opinion. Alabama has a ton of talent with all everything PG Steele, but they are very inconsistent, and have had teams with equal to more talent recently that didnt amount to much. Kentucky continues to have issues scoring, and Tubby Smith's job may soon be in danger. He does not appear to be getting the kind of athletes Wildcat fans expect, and I have a feeling there is going to be someone else roaming the sideline in Lexington shortly. Tennessee, led by PG Lofton has a lot of talent, and plays a very up tempo game. Question with the Vols is their front line, but no question Bruce Pearl is doing another wonderful turnaround. A slight sleeper are the Razorbacks, coached by Stan Heath. Heath is attempting to bring back the glory days of May Day and 40 minutes of hell. I like the Razors to pull out a couple surprising wins, and do some damage this year. The other six teams are all pretty equal in my opinion, and all could make the NIT, but none will make the NCAA. Florida only team with FF potential, and they will get 6 bids.

College Hoops - ACC, Big East, Big Ten

2007-01-07T05:53:00.000-08:00

My first post of the year regarding one of my favorite sports, college basketball. Similar to college football, I am going to do a conference breakdown. If you notice, I correctly predicted all conference champs in football except the ACC champ (did anyone have Wake Forest?).

ACC - College hoops really seems to be down this year, and the ACC is certainly in that grouping. I see UNC taking the title this year. The talent down on Tobacco Road is simply amazing this year, and the Heels should cash that into a #1 seed come Tourney time. Hansbrough and Wright lead one of the best front line combos in the country, while Ellington and Lawson provide the Frosh lightning aspect in the backcourt. These two guards compliment each other great with Lawson in the mild of Felton, and Elllington similar to a Stackhouse. Combine that with depth, the best scoring ability in the country, and solid coaching, the Heels are a threat to win the National Title this year. I see a big drop off after that with teams like Duke, Maryland, Clemson, Virginia Tech, Florida State and Boston College challenging for NCAA bids. I think Duke is currently overrated with shoddy scoring and PG play. Things are certainly down this year in Durham. Maryland has been an interesting team this year with some impressive wins (Michigan State, Illinois), and their two losses werent that bad (Notre Dame, BC). Clemson has been the surprise team in the country to this point as they are the lone undefeated left in 1A after a one point win vs Ga Tech last night. Gotta think they are a lock to be dancing at this point. Va Tech had an impressive win at Duke last night, but they still have a lot of work to do to make the dance. Florida St beat Florida earlier in the year, so they have the talent to get it done, but lets see how things go as the conference season goes on. And BC certainly has the talent to make the dance, but with some terrible losses already (Duquesne comes to mind), I am not sure about their mental state. Right now I see 5 bids for the ACC (UNC, Duke, Maryland, Clemson and one of the other three I list), with UNC being the only Final Four threat.

Big East - Another conference that is down this year compared to last, however, that isnt saying much with all the talent they had last year. I see many teams that could win the title this year, and they have to start in Pittsburgh. The Panthers have a wealth of talent back, with solid coaching. Pitt has actually changed their OOC style this year and played some teams which will make them better in the end. They are always a very physical team, and that is consistent once again. Below Pitt, I see Marquette, Georgetown, Villanova, Syracuse, Connecticut, Notre Dame, West Virginia and Providence all having a chance to make the Field of 64. A brief breakdown of these teams shows various strengths and weaknesses. Marquette has one of the better guards in the country, and have beat Duke this year. However, they are inconsistent, and their front line is a weakness. Georgetown is a team that clearly has not peaked this season yet which is a good thing for the Hoyas in my opinion. I think people are writing them off too quickly, and with that front line, they will have the chance to be dominant come March, especially with the right matchups. Villanova looked good until two BE losses this week that werent pretty. They certainly have the talent to be one of the Top 64, but can they get the coaching that puts them over the top? Syracuse is clearly on the outside looking in at this point, and frankly the Orange have been disappointing since winning the Title with Carmelo. I see them on the outside looking in come March. UConn only has 1 JR, and 1 SR on their squad, and they are both walk-ons! Better get the Huskies this year. The talent is there, especially along the front line and I think the Huskies will be playing much better than right now come late Feb and Mar. ND has been a surprise thus far, and the start should vault them into the dance. WV falls in the same boat as ND, a great start. It will be interesting to watch these two teams, and Providence and the season goes on. In the end, I see 7 bids (Pitt, Marq, Gtown, UConn, WVU, ND, Nova) getting in, with Pitt and GTown showing Final Four potential.

Big 10 - Again, not the usual suspects we have come to expect to see near the top the last 5 years or so. The Spartans and Illini not quite leading the way any longer the the midwest as new teams are rising. Big Ten is led by Ohio St this year, just like football. Even with nearly zero experience, that talent in Columbus is HUGE, as witnessed when they traveled to the Dean Dome in early December. And with Oden in the middle, anything is possible. Right behind OSU is Wisconsin, with another solid team under Bo Ryan. With wins over Pitt and Marquette, seeding should be favorable come March. The other teams that should be fighting for a bid are Illinois, Michigan, Michigan St, and Indiana. Clearly, the depth is there in the Big Ten, and the conference schedule is going to be brutal as usual. The Illini have lost an awful lot of talent in the last few years, but the pipeline is still solid in Champaign, and the cupboard is far from bare. Michigan has been a disappointment the last few years under Amaker, and that appears to be the case once again this year as witnessed by the 40pt loss at UCLA. Michigan St under Tom Izzo is always a threat. At 13-3, with two losses by 2 pts, the Spartans should be dancing come March, but this is not a FF caliber team. Indiana under first year coach Kelvin Sampson will continue to improve as the season and years go on. Once he gets his own players in there, the Hoosiers are going to be lethal. Their losses are very close too this year, and they have played a brutal schedule to this point. I like 5 bids for the Big 10, with Michigan being the only team I mention above not getting a bid. I believe both Wisconsin and OSU have FF potential.

I will be back later with the Big 12, Pac 10, and SEC.

NFL Playoffs - WC round

2007-01-07T05:39:00.000-08:00

Ok, even though it is Sunday morning, and 2 games have been played, I am going to forecast the NFL playoffs right here and let you know where to wager your hard earned cash to get on top. Yesterday, it was a 2-0 day straight up, 1-1 vs spread. That two point conversion in the Seattle game wound up costing me, but overall, it was a good day.

Today, the early game pits the NY Jets in New England to face the Patriots. Big time rivalry game here, been that way especially since the Tuna bowls of the late 90s. This is probably the one match up in the WC round the Pats did not want to see. Jets will not be intimidated in Foxboro where Brady is nearly unbeatable, in fact, he is undefeated in the playoffs there. Breaking this game down further, when the Jets have the ball is going to be the key to the game. How is Pennington's arm? Many in the NY area believe his arm strength and accuracy have dimished as the season has gone on, especially the last 3 weeks. Can Leon Washington or some combo of Jets RBs carry the ball and take some pressure off the QB? Can Coles get open, and outplay the NE secondary, in particular vs Asante Samuel? I see a very low scoring game just like most Jets games this year. However, I see NE pulling away in the 4th quarter behind a couple big passes from Brady. Give me NE 20-13.

In the nightcap, another NY team has a division rivalry game as the Giants head down the NJ turnpike to face the surprising Philadelphia Eagles. In the earlier matchup between these teams at the Linc, the Giants came back after being down big early and defeated the Eagles in OT on a long pass from Manning to Burress. Things have changed dramatically from that point, in particular the last month of the season where the Eagles have not lost, and the Giants only won once. Running the ball is going to be critical for both teams in this one because the QBs are very prone to mistakes if asked to do too much. I think that plays into the Giants hands since Reid's playcalling tends to be heavily skewed towards passing the ball. Will that change now that Garcia is his QB? I am not convinced a zebra can change his stripes, and I am certainly not impressed with the Eagles RB committee strictly running the ball. However, as we saw last week, if the Giants feed Tiki the ball, and mix in an occassional Brandon Jacobs carry, this could possibly wear down the Eagles defense. Clearly, Garcia is playing much better than Manning, which is a huge advantage for the Birds. One has to wonder however if Garcia is due for a bad game? Out on the edge, the Giants have the better #1 WR, and the better TE which should assist Manning. Both teams do not have the best defenses, thats for sure. I see this game being a shootout similar to their two games played during the regular season. My key stat in this game is going to be rushing attempts. Whichever team runs the ball more times in this one will advance to the Divisonal round. At least one road team has to win this weekend after going 6-2 in the WC round the last 2 years. Giants win it by running the ball all over the Eagles defense 30-23.

New Years Day Bowl Previews

2006-12-30T06:53:00.000-08:00

The final bowls are upon us as the College Football season has once again gone far too quickly. Looks like eventhough my Wolverines clearly got the raw end of the stick this year, we will be playing for preseason #1 next year in the Rose Bowl, which is not comforting for this year, but it will have to do. Here is the way I see the games on Monday:

Outback Bowl - Penn State vs Tennessee: One of a couple games pitting the SEC and Big 10. These matchups are going to go a long way in the discussion of who deserved the shot at Ohio St when all the games are in the books. In this game, offensively, UT has the advantage at QB with Ainge. Ainge has a very solid Jr. campaign after a rather disappointing So. year. PSU QB Morrelli has some maturing still to do in order to reach Ainge's level, so edge to UT. WR edge I would give to PSU with their playmakers on the edges. I do however like the Vol offense's ability to run the rock. Overall offense, edge to UT by a moderate amount. Defensively, much closer with both teams being relatively impressive on that side of the ball for most of the season. Since the Vols clearly faced more solid O's than the Lions, I would give the edge to UT mostly due to speed. Speed kills, and I really see this as a HUGE advantage for the Vols. Penn St really struggles against top level teams as can be seen in their performances year in and year out vs Michigan and Ohio St. Give me the Vols in a relatively low scoring game 24-10.

Cotton Bowl - Nebraska vs Auburn: What a matchup here in Dallas in a game I am certainly looking forward to. Auburn had some touch losses in the rugged SEC this year where they seemed to be playing a ranked team on a weekly basis. The Huskers have made it back to a NY day bowl game for the first time since that whipping they took in the Rose Bowl Title Game in 2003. QB matchup is a tough one here where Brandon Cox matches up be Zach Taylor. I like what Taylor has done this year with the West Coast offense, and Cox certainly has not had as good a year as last (very simliar to Ainge with his regression from FR to SO years). That said, in a pressure spot, I would personally rather have Cox under center. But for this analysis, give me Taylor with the slight edge since he did have a better season this year. At WR, I see the matchup very close with a possible slight edge to the Tigers due to speed. Running the rock, the advantage certainly goes to Auburn with a healthy Kenny Irons. Irons was a Heisman candidate earlier in the year prior to some injuries slowing him down, combined with the Tigers losing some games. The Huskers also have a ton of injuries in their backfield which I think will play a very significant role in this game and will force Zach Taylor to shoulder much more of the load. Defensively, I like the Tigers. I believe Auburn has one of the Top 10 units in the country, and getting pressure on Taylor is going to be key here. The Huskers defense is certainly no pushover as well yielding only 28 pts on the road to USC, 22 to Texas, and 21 to OU in the Big 12 Title Game. The Huskers should have a nice home field advantage for this matchup in Dallas. Auburn really laid an egg last year in its matchup with Wisconsin, and I dont see that happening again. Weather will not be a factor as it sometimes is in this game, and even with that, I like the Tiger pass rush to be the difference in this matchup. Look for the AU Tigers to take this one 23-16 and the SEC will start off 2-0 and the pollsters will be smiling.

Citrus Bowl - Wisconsin vs Arkansas: What a rugged lace em up matchup here between the Badgers and Razorbacks. Is there a team in the country that has received less respect and we heard nothing about it than Wisconsin? These guys are 11-1, their only loss coming to Michgan in the Big House, and they were not even in the talk for the National Title game. Impressive job done by first year coach Brett Beliema, with hopefully better thing to come for the Badger faithful. To the game, QB matchup has to go to the Badgers. Razor coach Houston Nutt is not even sure which QB will take most of the snaps in the game, while there are no doubts John Stocco will be taking the snaps for the Badgers after missing the last two games of the regular season. Razor freshman QB Mitch Mustain might be special in years to come, but his irratic and inconsistent play has caused a QB controversy down in Little Rock. Expect to see Dick under center for the majority of this one. Talk about heavyweight RBs, we got em in this game. PJ Hill of Wisconsin, and Darren McFadden of Arkansas both lead their teams into this matchup. Though both are solid, give me McFadden with his combination of size, speed and experience. I do like the Wisconsin O line slightly more than the Razors which will make the difference in running games even slighter. The passing games of these teams is not much to speak of. I would give the edge to Wisconsin due to the QB position. I do not see much passing in this one as this game could be over in under 2.5 hours. Defensively, I see a clear edge to the Badgers. Through the season, the UW unit has been much more consistent than the Razors (see 50 pt beatdown in season opener, or 38 pts allowed vs Florida in SEC Title game). The pressure the Badgers will generate on the Razor passing game is certainly going to force the Arkansas QB's into mistakes that will turn the game in UWs favor. I like the Badgers by a smidge in this one 27-24.

Rose Bowl - Michigan vs USC: What a matchup. Wolverines and Trojans. Rematch of 2004 Rose Bowl won by Leinart and the Trojans. Both teams are disappointed by not being in the Title game, but with Lloyd Carr and Pete Carroll on the sidelines, dont expect that to really affect the level of play here. This is also a potential Title game preview for next year. On to the game. At QB, edge has to go to Chad Henne over JD Booty. Henne has the arm, experience, and decison making compared to his peer in this matchup. In the backfield, you also have to give the advantage to the Wolverines with Mr. Hart. One of the premier backs in all of NCAA Football, Hart plays his best games vs top opponents, and I expect this game to be no different. The Trojan backfield is unsettled with no one true back taking the lead role. On the edges, we have two of the best in CF when talking of Jarrett (USC) and Manningham (UM). Though both guys missed time this year with injuries, and Manningham had some big games in very visable games, I would give the slight edge to Jarrett due to size and experience. Both guys are very talented (will be Top 10 selections in NFL draft), and expect both to find the end zone on Monday. Offfensive lines are top notch on both sides, but I will give the edge to Michigan. Jake Long is a Top 10 NFL selection and will lead the way. On the other side of the ball, both teams have very solid units. I think it is a wash overall. DLs I will take Big Blue due to the pressure they can generate from the edges, and the run stuffers they have at tackles. The Wolverines have a few Top 10 picks on that DL and they will play a critical part in this game Monday. I like the Trojans LBs over UMs by a slight advantage. In the secondary, I think it is a toss up. Both teams seem to have talent, but both can be had as various passing attacks have had their ways with each unit as some point during the season. Here are the three keys I see: 1 Which line can generate pressure on the passer better to force QBs into mistakes 2 Who will run the ball better 3 Which team comes out to start the game with more intensity and proves their are not disappointed about being there. With all that said, I like the Wolverines to get revenge and generate some controversy post bowls. The preseason #1 Wolverines will take this one 31-27.

Fiesta Bowl - Oklahoma vs Boise St: AH, the first Non BCS team to make one since the new rules were instituted. Now in my opinion, Non BCS conferences have had better teams than this Bronco team. That being said, they deserve to be here so lets move on to some analysis and break this puppy down. At the QB spot, how well has Paul Thompson played for the Sooners this year. He came to OU as a QB, transferred to WR, then came back to QB when Bomar was kicked out of Norman prior to the start of the season. He has gone on to play very solid ball this year leading his team to the Big 12 title. Zabransky for the Broncos is experienced, but has seemed to regress since playing stellar ball his first two years. Edge to OU. Mr. Peterson comes back for one final time in the garnet for the Sooners. He may be slightly out of shape, and not used to game speed, but I see him finishing off his college career in a big way vs. the Boise St defense. I see at least 150 with 2 TDs out of Peterson in this one. Boise has its own nice RB in Ian Johnson. However, nobody quite matches up with Peterson so edge to OU. WRs edge to the Sooners. Defensively, I like the Sooners unit overall over Boise. The Broncos have a nice front seven, I just dont think it will be enough to stop the OU running game. The play action pass that Thompson runs so well is going to eat the Broncos secondary alive a few times in this one. Too many big plays will be given up by Boise, and I like the Sooners big....38-17

College Football Week 14

2006-11-27T21:26:00.000-08:00

Well, I havent done a writeup in a while...been very busy with school and personal things, but here we are...

College football season winding down...and that stinks.

Nevertheless, some very important games this coming weekend. USC travels to UCLA in the battle of LA. Trojans need a win to advance to the National Title Game over Michigan. And I think they get it, but not as easy as the experts and oddsmakers think.

SEC title game pits Florida vs Arkansas. I like Arkansas in this game to be too physical for the Gators on both sides of the ball.

Big 12 title game is an old school battle between Nebraska and Oklahoma. I think the Big 12 Title will go back to the North after what seems like many, many straight years of it residing in the South. Give me the Huskers and their passing game to outscore the Sooners.

ACC title game....Wake Forest vs Georgia Tech? LOL. Wow, who had this one prior to the year? Hey, but give these teams credit where credit is due. They got the job done, which included many big road wins by both teams. I have to like Georgia Tech in this game. I think the Jackets have the better team on both sides of the ball, and though the Deacs will find a way to keep this thing close, Tech takes it home for their first ACC title.

Here is the way I see the Top 10 right now, along with my BCS bowl predictions:

#1 Ohio St 12-0
#2 USC 10-1
#3 Michigan 11-1
#4 Florida 11-1
#5 Wisconsin 11-1
#6 LSU 10-2
#7 Arkansas 10-2
#8 Auburn 10-2
#9 Oklahoma 10-2
#10 Nebraska 9-3

BCS Title: Ohio St v USC
Rose: Michigan v Florida
Sugar: Notre Dame v Arkansas
Orange: Louisville v Georgia Tech
Fiesta: Nebraska v Boise St

I will be back to post reaction to the BCS decision, final regular season Top 25, and my selections to each bowl game.

Also later in the week, I plan on a college hoops blog to talk a little about the upcoming season, an NBA update as the first few weeks are complete now, and of course NFL power rankings and some talk about the playoff picture. Lots to get done, but check back later in the week, and I will get there slowly. Thanks for reading again!

College Football Week 12

2006-11-11T23:35:00.000-08:00

WOW! WOW! What a day it turned out to be. Nobody could have predicted this. Well, we have all been waiting for Ohio State and Michigan, and we will get our dream next weekend. Both teams mowed through the opponents this afternoon after slight struggles the past week. I will have a full preview of this game in the middle of the week right here, so for now, lets move on to all the upsets and what it means for the BCS. My number 3 Louisville travelled to NJ in the biggest college football game in that state possibly ever, but certainly in my 30 years on this earth. The Cardinal went up 25-7, and the Knights came storming back in the second half. The RU defense shut out the vaunted 'Ville attack, and came back mostly led by the ground game combo of Rice and Leonard. Ito buried a FG with under 30 seconds to play (after missing the first attempt, but an offsides penalty gave him another opportunity) and the field shortly thereafter became a sea of red. Rutgers probably will not be able to get themselves into the National Title talk, but lets see if it can finish off the season undefeated with a trip to West Virginia still in the cards. Last weeks #4 Texas also went down in a HUGE upset in Manhattan, KS. McCoy went down in the first quarter, but that was not the reason they lost. Their defense got totally abused against a very average Wildcat offensive attack prior to this week. Texas had been struggling on the road prior to this week in conference games (2 wins by 6 points combined) finally caught up to them, which will happen with a Freshman at QB. Tough loss for the Horns, but they should still make it to the BIG 12 Title game. However, we will have a new champion this year. Florida, my #5 barely sqeaked out a victory against their old coach and the South Carolina Gamecocks. It took 3 blocked kicks, and another field goal that was taken off the board because of a delay of the game in the first half to win 17-16. Once again the Gators were less than impressive, and this time it was their offense. Well, it usually is. I am not sure what to think of the Gators at this point other than they are clearly going to be ranked #3 this week in my poll, with a lot of the season still to play for them and they teams chasing them. My #6 last week, California blew a big lead in the desert, got shut out in the second half like Louisville, and lost 24-21 to Arizona. Stoops really has this Wildcat team pointed in the right direction, and they are going to be a force to reckon with in the very near future. I was not crazy about this Cal team, very inconsistent in my opinion, and that was obvious today. They still control their own destiny to play in the Rose Bowl with a win over USC, but their margin for error to play in a BCS game went down a ton after this loss. Next team from last weeks poll, Arkansas had a big win today. The Razors had the biggest win of the day (Rutgers had the biggest of the week) and are in firm control of the SEC West, and appear to be on a collision course against Florida in what could be for a spot in the National Title Game. The Razors still worry me with their unsettled QB position, but as long as McFadden stays healthy, their offense will always be a threat as long as the QB can protect the ball. I would like to see Coach Nutt stick with Mustain at this point and ride out the season. Really only one game left at home vs LSU, and with a win there, watch out. Big time darkhorse here for the whole shabang. Auburn, another SEC team in last weeks rankings came up with an absolute clanker at home vs a 12 pt underdog Georgia. Mark Richt really had his team ready to play here, which was kind of surprising since UGA has lost their most SEC games in 10 years, and has a Freshman QB in their this year. I did not catch any of this game, but it seemed weather was a slight factor that led to more than a few turnovers, especially from Cox the Auburn QB. Auburn is eliminated from the SEC race and figures to match up with either Wisconsin or Penn St in a Jan 1 bowl game. Speaking of Wisconsin, is there a team getting less respect than the Badgers? These guys are 10-1, finished the Big 10 season 7-1 (only loss to Michigan), and not a peep about them prior to this week as one of the top one loss teams. This week they traveled to Iowa, a place they dont play well, and the only team in the Big 10 their Sr. class did not beat, without their starting QB John Stocco and win the game 24-21. New coach Beilema has these guys playing very well and believing in what they are doing. It will be interesting to see how the last few weeks plays out, and how high the Badgers will climb. It is very realistic in my opinon we could have 3 of the Top 5 at the end of the season from the Big 10. Notre Dame rounded out my Top 10 last week, and they continued to roll on beating Air Force. One more tune up before what suddenly again looks like a Top 5 match up with the Trojans. Wake Forest, which will debut in my poll for the first time buried Florida State in Tallahassee Saturday night. The Seminoles were blanked at home for the first time ever by the Deacs. I can hear the cries for Bobby Bowden's head all the way up here in PA. They got dominated in every single aspect in a half empty stadium. Things are going downhill for the young Seminoles quickly, and they only thing that can save them now is a home victory vs the Gators in a couple weeks. Dont count that out just yet. My new Top 10:

#1 Ohio State 11-0
#2 Michigan 11-0
#3 Florida 9-1
#4 USC 8-1
#5 Notre Dame 9-1
#6 Arkansas 9-1
#7 Rutgers 9-0
#8 Wisconsin 10-1
#9 Wake Forest 9-1
#10 West Virginia 8-1

Next 5 in alphabetical order: Boise St 10-0, Louisville 8-1, LSU 8-2, Oklahoma 8-2, Texas 9-2

Latest BCS Bowl projections:

Title game: Michigan v Ohio St
Rose: USC v West Virginia
Fiesta: Texas v Boise
Sugar: Arkansas v Notre Dame
Orange: Florida v Georgia Tech

NBA Western Conference Preview

2006-11-10T17:47:00.000-08:00

OK, took care of the Eastern Conf earlier in the week, lets now look at the big boys where I see some surprises:

Northwest: I like Denver to bounce back from what may be termed a slightly disappointing last year. K Mart will be healthy, Melo is Melo, and Nene is back. I like the Nuggets. I see a battle for second between Seattle and Utah, and give the slight edge to the Sonics with Ray Allen. I put Minnesota fourth (yes, I foresee a KG trade later in the year), and Portland improved, but bringing up the rear.

Southwest: STACKED. Tough division, where there is more than one team that thinks it can win it. I like Dallas to win the division barely. They are a little younger and more talented than the Spurs and Rockets. I see the Spurs slipping this year, and actually coming in third behind the Rockets. This is the year Houston grows, shows signs of life, and TMac and Yao stay healthy. I like New Orleans to come in fourth, and Memphis to finish last. What a division from top to bottom. Memphis would certainly win the Atlantic, that shows how stacked the West is.

Pacific: My Suns reside here, and I like them to win the division with relative ease when all is said and done. Amare will slowly come back to where Phoenix needs him by May, and they are a little deeper this year in my opinion, even without Timmy T. Give me Sacramento in second with a whole year of Artest. I think the Clips, Lakers and Kings will battle it out for second. I will take the Lakers in third, and the Clips in fourth because of their age. Golden St. once again bringing up the bottom.

Playoff Seeds: #1 Phoenix, #2 Dallas, #3 Houston, #4 Denver, #5 San Antonio, #6 Sacramento, #7 Lakers, #8 Sonics

Conference Semis: #1 Phoenix v #5 San Antonio, #7 LA Lakers v #3 Houston

West Finals: #1 Phoenix v #7 LA Lakers

Champs: #1 Phoenix, and they win their first title

NBA Preview Eastern Conference

2006-11-07T20:50:00.000-08:00

Though we are one week into the season, I still wanted to get my outlook out here so when I am correct on all 16 playoff squads, I can say I told you so. OK, so maybe that wont happen. But here is how I see the East breaking down:

Atlantic - I see this as the closest division top to bottom, with no real threats to even reach the East Finals. Lets start with the Nets, who have to be considered the favorite at this point. With Kidd, Carter and Jefferson leading the way, they clearly have the most talent in this division. If they could get some improvement out of Collins and Kristic, and the previous three stay healthy, they could threaten the top teams in the East. I dont see it happening. I am a fan of Toronto this year with the additions of Ford and Bargnani. I like them to make the playoffs and come in second in this divison. I will take NY at 3, where I believe Isiah will do some good thingst to at least buy himself one more year. Philly will come in fourth, they just do not have a lot of talent outside of AI. And lastly Boston, who really has no direction, and hasnt since Mr. Ainge took over. I liked Danny as a player, but as a GM, he should hang em up.

Central - One of the worst divisions just a few short years ago, this is not the powerhouse of the Eastern conference, with possible four teams with a chance to advance to the East Finals. I am still taking Detroit to win the division. I do not see the loss of Big Ben being that great, and I certainly dont see it doing enough for Chicago to make a huge jump. The Cavs will come in second, right behind the Pistons. LeBron and company will have another year to gel, and with him on the squad, they are a threat in the playoffs. I like Chicago to come in third, taking maybe a slight step back this year, but they will be in the playoffs nevertheless. The Pacers are going to be in fourth, a really solid team which would probably win the Atlantic. I see them also making the playoffs. And Milwaukee will be bringing up the rear, and again, there are definetely worse teams out there.

Southeast - The home of the defending champs. Miami will take a step back this year because of many reasons, mainly their age, and lack of hunger. They will still win the division, but I do not expect them to get back to the Finals this summer. Once again I like Washington to come in second, and hopefully do some more damage in the playoffs this year with their experience from the last two years. I am a big fan of Arenas, and would not be surprised if he won the scoring title this year (especially matching up with Charlotte, Atlanta, and Orlando a few times). The bottom three you can basically flip a coin in my opinion, but I will stack them Orlando in third, Charlotte in fourth, and Atlanta once again in last.

Playoff seeds: #1 Detroit, #2 Miami, #3 Cleveland, #4 NJ, #5 Washington, #6 Chicago, #7 Toronto, #8 Indiana

Second round matchups: #1 Detroit v #5 Washington, #2 Miami v #3 Cleveland

East Finals: #1 Detroit v #3 Cleveland

Champs: #1 Detroit

I will be back later in the week to discuss the Western Conference

College Football Weeks 10 & 11

2006-11-06T04:47:00.000-08:00

We had some issues downloading the blog for last week, so I will combine both in one post here. The week really got kicked off in Louisville for the first of a few Big East showdowns to come in the next couple weeks. The 'Ville was very impressive on both sides of the ball, and really took control of the game when the 'Neers made a couple mistakes in a row early in the third. Slaton had a few fumbles, and also injured his arm. Once he was taken out of the game, the steam seemed to come out of WVU, and they could not stop Louisville at all. I think most of us knew the WVU defense was not solid, but they really got exposed in this game. Louisville travels to Rutgers this Thursday in another BCS title elimination game. Lets now move to the Big Ten where OSU and UM had some struggles, but ultimately came out on top, while both did not cover. The Buckeyes traveled to Champaign to face a feisty Illini team that has actually been in every Big Ten game this year mainly due to Freshman QB Juice Williams. Juice is a very good and exciting player, but takes some chances because of his youth that put their defense in vulnerable spots occassionally. The Bucks jumped out to a 17-0 lead, and held on 17-10. Eventhough the score indicates a 7 pt win, the game was never really in doubt as the Illini scored their only TD with under 2 minutes left. After they had a chance at recovering the onsides kick, the Bucks ran out the clock. One more game @ Northwestern before the big showdown the entire college football world has been waiting for since the second weekend in September. The Wolverines also struggled to a 34-26 win in a game I didnt see much of since it was on ESPNU. The Wolverines outgained the Cardinal by a ton, but made some mistakes that kept Ball St in the game. Give Ball credit as a 34 pt underdog and a chance to tie the game in the final moments, but it wasnt meant to be. Michigan travels to Indiana next week in what could be a tough game for a half or so. Next up, the SEC. Florida traveled to Vandy to face a better than expected Commodore team. I did not catch any of this game, but the Gators defense got the job done in the end, and locked up a spot in the SEC Title game. They will most likely face Arkansas in that could be for a spot in the BCS Title game. Arkansas rolled into Columbia and beat Spurrier's gamecocks 26-20. The Razors have to get their QB issues resolved, but lets look at the good...McFadden. Wow, this guy is one of the top 3 RBs in college football in my opinion. He has a very impressive combo of speed and strength, and the Razor offense is heavily reliant on him. They still have some battles coming up, so lets not reserve their spot in the SEC Title game until we watch the last couple games unfold. But no matter what happens, its been a good year in Fayetteville, and only projects to be better as Mustain gets some experience. Auburn stepped out of conference and beat Arkansas St. 27-0 (L on line). Did not see much of this one, but lets watch the last few weeks and see if the Tigers can get a rematch with Florida. Texas at home took care of the Cowboys from Oklahoma St. Colt McCoy continues to impress, and their defense was very stifling. They appear to be the best one loss team in my opinion with their only loss coming to the Buckeyes. I have jumped Cal up in my rankings to #6. These guys lost their opener in Knoxville, and have gone undefeated since. Opening up on the road against the Vols is no easy task. The Bears continued rolling Sat night with a 38-24 W (L on line) vs UCLA. This game was not on here, but they were in control most of the game. It seems the Pac 10 and Rose Bowl bid is going to come down to the Bears/Trojans matchup on Nov. 18. Game is in LA, so my early instincts tell me take the Trojans, but more to come on this next week. USC blew out Stanford on Sat night 42-0 on the road. The Cardinal is just terrible, and it was a good rebound for USC. And rounding out my Top 10 are the Fighting Irish. Notre Dame rolled the Tar Heels by 19 (L on line). As I have been saying for weeks, nobody will threaten the Irish until their visit to USC. They have locked up a BCS bid at this point. Below are my rankings:

#1 Ohio State 10-0
#2 Michigan 10-0
#3 Louisville 9-0
#4 Texas 9-1
#5 Florida 8-1
#6 California 8-1
#7 Arkansas 8-1
#8 Auburn 8-1
#9 USC 7-1
#10 Notre Dame 8-1

Next 5 in alphabetical order: LSU 7-2, Rutgers 8-0, Wake Forest 8-1, West Virginia 7-1, Wisconsin 9-1

Top 5 one loss teams ranked in order of who would win if games played on neutral field:

#1 Florida
#2 Auburn
#3 Texas
#4 California
#5 Notre Dame

My 10 BCS Teams including National Title game teams:

Ohio St, Michigan, Florida, Auburn, USC, Notre Dame, Texas, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Boise St

Matchups I see:

National Title: Michigan v Florida
Rose: USC v Ohio St
Orange: Georgia Tech v Louisville
Sugar: Auburn v Notre Dame
Fiesta: Texas v Boise St

NBA Saturday Night

2006-11-04T14:21:00.000-08:00

First off, let me start by saying I have been having some computer issues that have not allowed me to post here for about a week. That is why the college and pro rankings have not been updated for last weeks action. I will make another attempt to at least post the rankings later today.

I am going to start posting some analysis on NBA games for you gamblers out there on Saturday nights. I have built up a database with last years games, and if some of these trends start to show promise, I might extend it to the last couple years and see what happens. Here is analysis on tonights games:

Boston @ Washington: Typically, these two teams play close games. Just last year there were a couple buzzer beaters by Pierce and Arenas. This game has conflicting trends on the side and total. Boston trends are pointing to Boston and the under, Washington trends point towards Washington and the over. If you twisted my arm, I would take Boston and the over, but this blog is only going to use trends to make selections, so pass.

Cleveland @ Charlotte: Charlotte was a great team to play last year, actually having the best ATS in the league (46-33), and the third highest for overs (45-35). Trends in this game show Cleveland however due to covering 7 of 10 on road on back to backs, and covering both last year at Charlotte. Also, 6 of 7 have gone under on the road for B2B. Stay away from this one as well.

Memphis @ Detroit: Grizzlies were 6-2, 10-6 in road, B2B situations. There were some under trends in this game, but the line was set too high, so I will stay away from this one again.

Indiana @ New York: Knicks were 2-6 at home during back to backs last year. Here is the first trend we can play tonight: NY under is 14-3 off B2B, and Pacers hit the under on road B2B 6 of their last 7. Take the under.

Sacramento @ Milwaukee: Bucks played 12 of last 16 under off one day rest at home. They are also 4-0 when favored between -2 to -3 off one day rest at home. Nothing on the Sac end, so i will pass.

Dallas @ Houston: Rockets were 0-4 as home dog more than 3 off one day rest last year. Even though there are no trends on Dallas' side, I am a big fan of Dallas in this spot. Not going to lose two in a row in the lone star state. As long as line stays under 3, take it.

Golden State @ Utah: Warriors played 9 of 12 under in B2B on road. Jazz are 2-5 at home B2B, but 3-0-1 B2B -5 or higher. I kinda like the Warriors here, but would stay away because we are not sure how the Jazz will bounce back from their big win last night.

Minnesota @ Portland: Blazers are 0-5 at home B2B. Portland is also 0-3 +3 or lower B2B. I like the Wolves here.

Phoenix @ LA Clippers: Tough game to play here. Phoenix only has 1 win thus far, and it was against the Clipps. Clippers have lost 6 of 7 off one day rest. Anytime you can get the Suns, one of the TOP 5 teams in the NBA at +4, I have to take it. Also, Clipps have played 4 of 6 over when line is 200+ at home off one day rest.

To close, I certainly like the MAVS tonight big. To a lesser extent, I like the Wolves, Suns and the Pacers/Knicks under. From a high level, it looks like there should be some unders tonight as well.

Thanks for reading, see you next Saturday.

NFL Power Ratings Week 7

2006-10-29T05:59:00.000-08:00

1-Colts
2-Bears
3-Broncos
4-Patriots
5-Saints
6-Giants
7-Bengals
8-Chargers
9-Rams
10-Falcons
11-Vikings
12-Panthers
13-Eagles
14-Ravens
15-Seahawks
16-Jets
17-Jaguars
18-Cowboys
19-Chiefs
20-Steelers
21-Bucs
22-Texans
23-Redskins
24-Bills
25-49'ers
26-Titans
27-Packers
28-Lions
29-Browns
30-Dolphins
31-Raiders
32-Cardinals

College Football Week 9

2006-10-28T19:43:00.000-07:00

Well, USC finally lost a Pac 10 game! After 28 straight wins, they went down in Corvallis this afternoon 33-31. Booty led a frantic comeback attempt in the 4th quarter, including a TD with 10 seconds left, but the two pt conversion pass attempt fell incomplete and the Beavers scored one of their bigger victories of the century, if not their biggest. It seemed to just be a matter of time seeing these Trojans the last couple weeks, but I think today was unexpected since they were coming off a bye, and facing a below average Beavers squad. But when you turn the ball over, we always see what happens. And the Trojans did not hold on the the rock today. That loss not only hurts USC, but it also hurts Notre Dame and Cal. It appears all three of these teams are eliminated from National Title contention unless their is a bevy of late season losses by many teams. On to the #1 team in the country, Ohio St. Once again they just completely bury their opponent, this time Minnesota at the Horseshoe. They are just playing all around excellent ball. A few interesting point going into the Michigan showdown where Michigan could have a slight advantage are the quality of opponents before the big game, and tight games. Michigan has played Notre Dame, and Wisconsin. Though OSU matched up with Texas, they were a far cry from the team they are now back then. Also, Michigan has played some slightly closer games, maybe OSU would get tight when put in the spot. Nobody knows, and I am not suggesting they would choke, just fodder for conversation. #2 Michigan had a very workmanlike 17-3 victory in the rain of Ann Arbor this afternoon. Hart had a solid game, but again the story was the smothering Michigan defense holding Northwestern to negative rushing yards. With matchups with Ball St and Indiana left, it might almost be time to start putting together the game plan for the Buckeyes. Thursday night is the Big East showdown we have been looking forward to all week between West Virginia and Louisville. Its a shame the Ville isnt playing better right now, but Papa JOhns will be rocking and rolling on Thursday night. The winner of this match up will lock up a BCS birth, with a chance at the title game. I do like West Virginia in this battle. I think they are just playing better at this point in the season. Texas went into Lubbock tonight and came back from being down big early to beat the Red Raiders 35-31. COlt McCoy once again played well, and the Red Raiders could not get anything going in the second half just like the rest of the season. Texas will not be challenged until a possible rematch with Nebraska in the Big 12 Title game. Onto the SEC, where Florida, Auburn, Arkansas, and Tennessee all won today. Florida was in control all afternoon in the Cocktail Party, though UGA tried to make a game of it towards the end of the game. Leak improved to 4-0 vs Georgia in his career. Auburn struggled mightily at Ole Miss, but pulled it out in the end by the narrowest of margins. Arkansas stepped out of conference and buried UL-Monroe at home. And Tennessee with an impressive victory in Columbia vs the Gamecocks. UT keeps winning, with their only loss coming at home in the last seconds to Florida. Though I see some losses inthe future for the Vols, give them some credit to this point. Clemson will fall from my rankings as they lost in Blacksburg on Thursday night. Tough match up there for the Tigers. Notre Dame will move back into the Top 10 with their 24 pt victory vs. Navy. The Irish will have one loss when they take on USC, but the Trojans loss is going to hurt them in the end. Here is the way I see it now:

#1 Ohio St. 9-0
#2 Michigan 9-0
#3 West Virginia 7-0
#4 Texas 8-1
#5 Florida 7-1
#6 Tennessee 8-1
#7 Louisville 7-0
#8 Auburn 8-1
#9 USC 6-1
#10 Notre Dame 7-1

NFL Power Ratings Week 7

2006-10-28T18:25:00.000-07:00

Here is where I see everyone going into tomorrow's games. We show Team, ranking this week, and rankings in week 6,5,4,3 in order to see some trending. Enjoy the games tomorrow!

Colts 1,2,2,1,1
Bears 2,1,1,2,5
Broncos 3,4,3,4,6
Patriots 4,5,5,7,11
Saints 5,7,11,12,9
Giants 6,14,17,22,20
Bengals 7,11,8,8,2
Chargers 8,3,4,6,3
Rams 9,9,13,14,14
Falcons 10,18,12,11,12
Vikings 11,17,15,20,13
Panthers 12,8,14,17,18
Eagles 13,10,6,5,8
Ravens 14,12,7,3,7
Seahawks 15,6,9,10,4
Jets 16,19,21,18,15
Jaguars 17,15,10,13,10
Cowboys 18,13,16,9,16
Chiefs 19,20,18,21,26
Steelers 20,16,19,16,17
Bucs 21,26,28,28,27
Texans 22,31,25,29,32
Redskins 23,21,20,15,19
Bills 24,22,23,19,21
49'ers 25,23,22,27,25
Titans 26,24,29,31,30
Packers 27,28,30,24,24
Lions 28,29,31,30,29
Browns 29,30,27,23,28
Dolphins 30,27,26,26,23
Raiders 31,32,32,32,31
Cardinals 32,25,24,25,22

College Football Week 8

2006-10-21T20:22:00.000-07:00

Well, today was relatively uneventful on the college football landscape. Some close calls, but in the end, the elite teams held on. Lets start at the top, Ohio St rolls on 44-3 vs. Indiana (W on line). Another impressive day for Troy Smith, as he appears to be the biggest runaway Heisman winner in quite some time. Michigan took care of their biggest obstacle before the mathup with OSU with a 20-6 win vs Iowa (W on line). Once again, the story was the front seven of the Wolverines battering Drew Tate all afternoon. The Wolves were once again without Mario Manningham due to knee surgery the previous week. Look for him to return next weekend when Big Blue faces Northwestern. And as most of us have heard and predicted by now, I have the winner of the OSU/UM game in the BCS Title game. USC will stay at #3 in my poll with a bye this week. W. Virginia looked very impressive with their running game, just as we have come to expect when the thumped UConn on Thursday night. Messengers White and Slaton abused the huskie defense, and the Neers showed they can play a little of their own. With Louisville struggling lately, including today, their toughest matchups might be at Pitt and the season finale vs Rutgers. I also see, as do many analysts, a few one loss teams I believe would leapfrog WVU into that National Title game. But that is fodder for another conversation. Lets move on to the game of the day in snowy, cold, windy, and rainy Lincoln. The Longhorns were up 19-13 late in the fourth, with the snow picking up, when the Huskers called two great plays to score a TD to take a 20-19 lead. First, a double reverse which gave them about 15 yards, then the half back option pass for the TD. The Husker D then held, and forced a punt which led to a third and two for the Huskers. Play action pass was called, it was completed, then the received got drilled and fumbled. Horns took over with under 2 minutes to play on about the Husker 40. They drove down, and used their walk on right footed kicker (had used the left footed kicker all day; granted he missed an extra point and two field goals) to boot the game winner. McCoy is really growing up, and he is going to be special for the Horns. Mack Brown made a few very questionable coaching decisions in this one...I still do not think he is a good coach, and if it wasnt for Vince Young, he would not have a title. Things are also looking up for the Huskers, and it is good for college football when they are challenging for the title. My sixth ranked squad Tennessee was involved in another barn burner as they defeated Alabama 16-13 (L on line). Give Bama credit for playing with a lot of heart defensively, but their offense just has not developed as of yet behind their young QB. Ainge was not particularily sharp for the Vols, but he got it done in the end with a late TD drive to put them up for good. They still have some dicey road games left, along with a pretty tough home slate, so winning the SEC East doesnt look good. But a BCS bowl game is certainly in reach, and would have to be considered a very solid year after last years 5-6 record. Florida is #7 in my rankings and they had a bye this week. They return to action next weekend in the Cocktail party against a very depleted Georgia team. The Gators have a very favorable schedule, and will be favored to win every game relatively handidly except their visit to Tallahassee to close out the year. I look for the Gators to face the Auburn Tigers in the SEC title game, and the winner of that to match up with the OSU/UM winner for the title. #8 in my poll, and certainly slipping in my mind is Louisville. I am giving them a pass this week for not burying the Cuse, and their next game is the big matchup with WVU. I will pass my judgment on both these teams after that game, but rest assured that the loser will not be ranked in my Top 10. Clemson makes their first appearance in my rankings this year after their demolition of Georgia Tech Saturday night. I really have not paid much attention to Clemson, they usually play relatively well early, and have some bouts of losing their concentration. Is this year going to be different? Their only loss was at BC, a game they dominated. And we saw what BC did today. Clemson only has one road game left which is next week in Blacksburg. If they could somehow get thru that, they will win their last 3 in my opinion and be 11-1 heading to the ACC Title game. Problem for them is their SOS is not going to be good enough to get them into the BCS title game. Lets see how they fair next weekend. And #10 I have another newcomer. Wisconsin, thats right! The Badgers have only lost one game this year, 24-10 vs Michigan in the Big House. They played well in that game, and it was even tied late in the third before the Michigan defense took over. Following that, they have anialated every one in their path. They arent the most explosive, and Stocco isnt a household name, but they sure put up a lot of points. And we dont hear much about their defense, but they keep playing very well. They only have one road game left, and with the teams on their slate, they should at worse be looking at a 10-2 record. Possible BCS worthy? We'll see, but nevertheless, a solid year in their first without Alvarez. Here is how I see it right now, and where I see the teams finishing:

1-Ohio State 8-0 (11-1)
2-Michigan 8-0 (12-0)
3-USC 6-0 (10-2)
4-WVirginia 7-0 (12-0)
5-Texas 7-1 (11-1)
6-Tennessee 7-1 (9-3)
7-Florida 6-1 (11-1)
8-Louisville 7-0 (10-2)
9-Clemson 7-1 (10-2)
10-Wisconsin 7-1 (10-2)

Five to watch in alphabetical order: Arkansas 6-1, Auburn 7-1, Boston College 6-1, California 7-1, Notre Dame 6-1

NFL Rankings Week 6

2006-10-20T16:47:00.000-07:00

#1 Bears 6-0: Not sure what happened in first half, but that is the defense we are all used to in the second.
#2 Colts 5-0: Should get by a banged up Redskins team this weekend (look for a BIG day out of Manning, Harrison and Wayne). Sets up showdown next weekend in Denver.
#3 Chargers 4-1: Offense was impressive at San Fran. Rivers looks like the real deal, and we know they have the RB and D.
#4 Broncos 4-1: Shanahan is using ultra conservative gameplans now; things will open up next week. As a Broncos fan, I am not worried about our offense.
#5 Patriots 4-1: Coming off bye in good position. They will win AFC East, and will most likely match up with Ravens/Bengals in first round of playoffs (I know its early, but they will probably be the 3 seed).
#6 Seahawks 5-1: Keep winning without Alexander, but need him back to reach their goals.
#7 Saints 5-1: Validating victory on Sunday. How long can it last?
#8 Panthers 4-2: Might even deserve to be higher now that Smith is healty (undefeated since his return). Nice win at Baltimore on Sunday, their AFC North tour continues this weekend in Cincinnati for a big time match up of offense vs defense (watch for Peppers to put a lot of pressure on Palmer).
#9 Rams 4-2: Tough home loss on Sunday. Going to be tough to win division now, but they can challenge for wildcard. Playing a lot tougher under Linehan.
#10 Eagles 4-2: Did the cupcake schedule catch up with them on Sunday? Their schedule really kicks in the last half of year, and if Westbrook isnt healthy, its going to be tough to win NFC East.
#11 Bengals 4-2: Disappointing loss at Tampa Bay on Sunday. Just dont seem mentally tough enough at this point to challenge elite in AFC.
#12 Ravens 4-2: Two losses in a row, could easily be 3 or 4 if not for McNair miracles. I am officially worried about the Ravens (even after I picked them to win AFC North before year).
#13 Cowboys 3-2: Took a while to get going, but buried Houston in second half as they got TO more involved in offense. Must defense home turf on Monday night vs the GMEN.
#14 Giants 3-2: Things have turned around the last two weeks. I, for one, was worried after loss to Seattle. They have the most talent in NFC East, but they also have toughest schedule. On a side note, sad to hear about Tiki Barber, a great RB, and more importantly, a great man.
#15 Jaguars 3-2: Coming off bye, and their team looks like a mash unit. Might be time to panic in Northern Florida.
#16 Steelers 2-3: Super Bowl champs got healthy quick vs the swiss chiefs. Going to be a little more of a test this weekend in the Georgia Dome, but with the top teams in NFC North struggling, its not too late for the Steelers.
#17 Vikings 3-2: Played Chicago close at home, not head to Seattle. If they can play it tight, I might be an official believer they can challenge for a wild card spot.
#18: Falcons 3-2: Things started off so well, now are slipping a little. Really got beat up in second half vs Giants, and things get tougher this weekend with the Steelers coming to town. Must start playing more physical.
#19 Jets 3-3: Mangini has these guys playing as hard and disciplined as anyone in league. Detroit comes to town this weekend in a game they must win to stay on pace for a .500 season.
#20 Chiefs 2-3: Really got pounded, bombed, whatever adjective you want to use at Pitt. Is Herm feeling the heat already? SD comes to town this weekend so things dont appear they will get any easier.
#21 Redskins 2-4: Falling apart since big win at home vs. Jacksonville. Brunnel looks old, defense is all banged up, Gibbs doesnt look like his self of the 80s and 90s, and its obvious Campbell isnt the answer of we would have already seen him.
#22 Bills 2-4: Lost to Lions last week, which was Lions first win. They arent terrible, but they arent good. One bright spot is certainly McGahee.
#23 49'ers 2-4: Playing better, and at least they are the best team in the Bay Area
#24 Titans 1-5: Got first win in Washington last week. That is two solid games in a row since Vince took over. Fisher is a good coach, things are getting better.
#25 Cardinals 1-5: Wow, what a thirty minute display. Unfortunately, games are sixty minutes and they got manhandled those last twenty or so. Denny Green's rant was one for the ages. Big battle this week of bottom dwellers as they travel to Oakland.
#26 Bucs 1-4: What a win against Cincinnati on Sunday. Gradkowski gets it done when he needed to. Renew rivalry from early 2000's vs Philly this weekend.
#27 Dolphins 1-5: Harrington is not the answer. Culpepper is still injured. Defense is getting old. Lots of problems for the fish.
#28 Packers 1-5: Sad to see Favre living throught another season like this. He is a hall of famer, but I have thought for a while, and now firmly believe, he is overrated. I would like to see Rodgers get some action towards the end of the year to see what he has.
#29 Lions 1-5: Picked up first W Sunday at home vs Buffalo. They seem to have a lot of talent at the skill positions, and secondary, but as we know, the games are won at the line of scrimmage. You would think Millen of all people would understand this.
#30 Browns 1-4: Have actually played a few solid games this year, but the only victory they could muster up was against the lowely Raiders. And with Denver coming to town this weekend, it looks like they will remain ranked in the 30s next week.
#31 Texans 1-5: Carr has certainly been a bright spot this year. And their offensive line has certainly improved. But defense still remains a BIG issue. I do think they are going to play a tough game this weekend vs Jacksonville.
#32 Raiders 0-6: Played decent Sunday night at Denver. Eight false start penalties? Shows a lack of discipline. Attitude really stinks in Oakland, and there are no answers right now. They will remain ranked in the 30s for the entire year in my opinion, and I will be shocked if they do not get the first overall pick in the 2007 Draft.

College Football Week 7

2006-10-14T20:22:00.000-07:00

1: Ohio St 7-0 (Michigan is closing the gap)
2: Michigan 7-0 (Defense is just stifiling)
3: USC 6-0 (Struggling lately, but winning; will be tested in matchups with Cal and ND)
4: West Virginia 6-0 (Ground game impressive on Sat; how good is their defense?)
5: Texas 6-1 (Only loss to OSU)
6: Tennessee 6-1 (ahead of Fla because of timing of losses)
7: Florida 6-1 (behind Tenn due to timing of losses; ahead of Auburn due to better loss)
8: Louisville 6-0 (Need to get everything going once again with Brohm back and healthy)
9: California 6-1 (Focused, and looking good)
10: Notre Dame 5-1 (Bye this week)

Five to watch in alphabetical order: Auburn 6-1, Arkansas 5-1, Clemson 6-1, Nebraska 6-1, Wisconsin 6-1

Be back with more in depth analysis next week. Also, please check out my handicapping link on side as the Pounder went 6-1 this week, plus 16 units, including a Win in his game of the week on Nebraska.

NFL Rankings Week 5

2006-10-10T17:29:00.000-07:00

1: Bears 5-0 I am starting to be a believer; Looks like 2002 all over again
2: Colts 5-0 Have to put them up this high; maybe they are going to peak in Jan this year?
3: Broncos 3-1 Best defense in league; will offense heat up?
4: Chargers 3-1 Another really solid defense; how will Rivers fair as season progresses?
5: Patriots 4-1 With Brady, always a chance; but have they lost too much to play in Feb?
6: Eagles 4-1 Great passing game; can they run to hold a lead? Westbrook injured?
7: Ravens 4-1 Great defense; is McNair over the hill?
8: Bengals 4-1 Solid offense; are they disciplined enough to win it?
9: Seahawks 4-1 Kinda flying low this year; need Alexander back healthy
10: Jaguars 3-2 Good overall team and well coached; can they score enough?
11: Saints 4-1 Great start; can it last?
12: Falcons 3-1 Flying low; can they win on Sun v Giants which could be tie breaker down line?
13: Rams 4-1 Only team to beat Broncos; only team the 49'ers beat (Raiders dont count)
14: Panthers 3-2 Three in a row with Smith in lineup; is he league MVP?
15: Vikings 3-2 Relegated to Wild Card chase; another late season swoon?
16: Cowboys 2-2 Big disappointment Sunday; can Bledsoe get it done?
17: Giants 2-2 Big rebound on Sun; division race is going to be brutal, must defend home turf
18: Chiefs 2-2 Two in a row; is Green coming back? Do they need him?
19: Steelers 1-3 Big hole, especially in AFC North and Big Ben looking tentative
20: Redskins 2-3 Can Brunnel hold up whole season?
21: Jets 2-3 What happened on Sunday? Did Colts game take that much out of them?
22: 49'ers 2-3 Things are starting to improve on this side of the Bay
23: Bills 2-3 Respectable to this point; in a race for second behind New England
24: Cardinals 1-4 One of the biggest disappointments this season this far; Leinart looked OK
25: Texans 1-4 Carr looking great; D still stinks; is Mario Williams playing?
26: Dolphins 1-4 Joey Harrington???
27: Browns 1-4 Only win against lowly Niners; still a long way away
28: Bucs 0-4 Glad to hear Simms is doing fine; Good fight on Sunday; Gruden will have them up
29: Titans 0-5 V Young looks like the real deal; helluva an effort Sunday at RCA Dome
30: Packers 1-4 Team is in diserray; Sad to see Favre like this
31: Lions 0-5 Again, when is Millen going to get canned???
32: Raiders 0-5 Just lose baby, Just lose.

College Football Week 6

2006-10-07T19:43:00.000-07:00

What a Saturday! We had a lot of tight action involving Top 10 teams, including a pair of Tigers getting mauled in the SEC. Lets start on the Plains, where the Razorbacks of Arkansas came into Jordan Hare and controlled the entire game start to finish and beat the Tigers 27-10 (W on line). Yes, these were the same Hogs that got pasted at home vs the men of Troy earlier in the year. It seemed Temple dressed as the Auburn run defense cause they got toasted all day uncluding yielding 2 100 yard rushers. Once the Tigers got down, they really showed as I wondered about last week they lacked the firepower to get back into this puppy. It would have been difficult to run the table in the SEC anyway, but the Razors are now in firm control of the SEC West division. Then the Bayou bengals from LSU got taken behind the woodshed in Gainesville. LSU really could not get anything going offensively mainly driven by the fact they could not run the ball at all. Their offensive line really got exposed today. The Tiger defense played relatively well, but their special teams really let them down fumbling a punt in the first half, then fumbling the opening kickoff to the second half which directly resulted in a safety. LSU now has two losses, and is completely out of the National Title picture, and most likely, the SEC title as well. Keeping the SEC theme going we move to the night game between the hedges between the Dawgs and Vols. UGA went up early in this game and appeared to be in control. Until the third quarter rolled around and UT turned it up on both sides of the ball, and Ainge really started getting time in the pocket to pick apart the Dawg secondary. Turning point of this game was the blocked punt in the 4th that pused the lead from 31-27 to 38-27. The Dawg defense really had no answers once the Vol snowball started rolling. X a 1pt loss to the Gators, and Tennessee would be getting a lot of recongition around the country. Lets move to the Big Ten where OSU stepped out of conference and buried Bowling Green 35-7 (L on line). Did not catch any of this game, but it looks as though it went as expected. T. Smith had good stats, and the Buckeyes appear to be on cruise control right now. Michigan faced Michigan St. in a rivalry game and had no problems dispatching the Spartans 31-13. Mike Hart was just too much for the Spartans, along with Michigans defensive pressure. Wolverines have a HUGE one next week in Happy Valley on Saturday night. Remember what happened last night game there? Thats right, they beat the Buckeyes last year 17-10. Michigan does have a 9 game win streak against the Lions, and Penn St. is not nearly the team they were last year as evidenced by their lucky victory today at Minnesota. USC put a ton of winning streaks on the line against the Washington Huskies in SoCal and it came right down to the last seconds. Washington stayed in this game all day, and this game ended on a very controversial timing issue. This game was not on in Philadelphia, so I didnt see it live. But it seemed there was 6 seconds left when they earned a first down, yet the clock operator in the LA Coliseum had a quick finger and the Huskies did not even get off another play in the Trojan red zone. Trojans have struggled the last 3 weeks, and they clearly are not the team they have been in the past. But, they are still solid and getting better every week. Lets move on to the Mountaineers who stepped out of conference in a semi big way and at least faced a team on the road from a BCS conference. It could be argued, but stepping out to play Mississippi St, who could be the weakest of all BCS teams is not really that impressive. This game was tight until late third quarter just as I predicted last week. However, in the end, the running game of the Neers was too much for the Bulldogs. The Big East has really improved this year, might even be better than the ACC in my opinion. However, I do not see anyone challenging them outside the Cardinals from Louisville. Speaking of Louisville, they pounded Middle Tenn. St on Friday night. Not much to say regarding that one. Red River Shootout was this weekend in a game I caught a lot of. Texas handled Oklahoma 28-10 outscoring the Sooners 21-0 in the second half. Colt McCoy continues to impress and grow up as the weeks pass by. Peterson, really the Sooners only offensive weapon, had a great game as he continually showed his strength, speed, and smarts on the field. Stoops even put him out there running back kickoffs and punts. He is a special player, but fact is Thompson is just not getting the job done under center. And their defense has underachieved this year. With this victory, the Horns are firmly in control of the Big 12 South, and hence, the Big 12. And lastly, the Ducks and Bears battled it out Sat night in Berkeley, and it turned out to be not much of a battle. The Bears offense just tore apart the Oregon defense, and the volatility of the Ducks offense really cost them. Cal has to be considered the main challenger to the Trojans. They would be undefeated if it wasnt for the loss in Knoxville opening weekend. That loss is looking better by the day for Tedford and Co. Here is the way I see things after Week 6. New this week I am going to include 5 teams that are on the verge of the rankings:

1- Ohio St. 6-0 (Keep winning, and still have most impressive road win of anyone)
2- Florida 6-0 (If they run table in SEC, they better get an invite to Glendale; huge battle next Saturday night in Auburn)
3- Michigan 6-0 (Really looking impressive; they own Penn St)
4- USC 5-0 (Undefeated, and in major conference; enough said)
5- W. Virginia 5-0 (First of the next tier of teams)
6- Louisville 5-0 (Hopefully they get everyone healthy before showdown with Neers)
7- Texas 5-1 (Keep improving, could still sneak in title game in watered down Big 12)
8- Tennessee 5-1 (Ainge looking very solid; schedule could be worse)
9- Notre Dame 5-1 (Officially on cruise control until USC matchup)
10- California 5-1 (Might be best all around Pac 10 squad)

Next 5 in alphabetical order: Auburn 5-1, Clemson 5-1, LSU 4-2, Missouri 6-0, Nebraska 5-1

NFL Rankings Week 4

2006-10-03T17:40:00.000-07:00

1- Indianapolis 4-0
2- Chicago 4-0
3- Baltimore 4-0
4- Denver 2-1
5- Philadelphia 3-1
6- San Diego 2-1
7- New England 3-1
8- Cincinnati 3-1
9- Dallas 2-1
10- Seattle 3-1
11- Atlanta 3-1
12- New Orleans 3-1
13- Jacksonville 2-2
14- St. Louis 3-1
15- Washington 2-2
16- Pittsburgh 1-2
17- Carolina 2-2
18- New York Jets 2-2
19- Buffalo 2-2
20- Minnesota 2-2
21- Kansas City 1-2
22- New York Giants 1-2
23- Cleveland 1-3
24- Green Bay 1-3
25- Arizona 1-3
26- Miami 1-3
27- San Francisco 1-3
28- Tampa Bay 0-3
29- Houston 1-3
30- Detroit 0-4
31- Tennessee 0-4
32- Oakland 0-4

Major League Baseball Playoffs

2006-10-03T17:24:00.000-07:00

Alright, October is here. Playoff baseball is in the air! Awesome!

Lets take a look at my predictions from a couple months ago and see how things played out. In the AL, I had 3 of the 4 teams correctly predicted just missing the Twins (who I did say would barely lose out to the CWS). In the NL, also had 3 of the 4 only missing the Dodgers. Here is how I see the matchups breaking down:

Yankees v Tigers: Wow did the Tigers really blow it over the weekend. Getting swept at home vs the Royals has forced the Tigers to open up in the Stadium. Not good if you are a Tigers fan. They have not been playing good ball lately, and with the Yankees getting healthy at the right time, look for the Yanks to have too much offense, and experience for the Tigers. Gimme the Yanks in 4.

Twins v Athletics: Good matchup. With the Liriano injury, the Twins lethal tandem of Santana (my AL Cy Young winner) and Liriano has been cut in half. With both guys, I liked their chances to win the whole thing. They have still been hot lately, playing the best ball of anyone in the second half. The As are back in the playoffs with a different set of characters from prior trips. We are probably watching Zito's last games in the Bay Area, at least with the As. Tough series to handicap, but I am giving the edge to the As with the Liriano injury. As in 4.

Mets v Dodgers: Is any team east of the Motor City limping into the playoffs worse than the Mets? Granted, in the last 10 years, the team that had the worst record in the final month won the Series. So, anything is possible. But without Pedro, and possibly El Duque, I just dont like the Mets' chances here. Dodgers are playing some great ball, and I see it rolling on. LA in 5.

Padres v Cardinals: Cards also limping into the playoffs. Only difference between them and the Mets and Tigers is they have no injuries, and have a ton of playoff experience. Padres also playing great ball similar to the Dodgers as we move into October. This is a rematch from last years mismatch where the Cards rolled. I see this series as the most competitive of the four, and like the Padres in 5 with Hoffman being the difference with his ability to shut the door in the 9th.

Should be an exciting month and a wide open race. I will be back to preview the CS's when they are all set.

Handicapping Results

2006-10-03T16:55:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone, and thanks for stopping by again. I wanted to review my handicapping results for the first month of football action. Please follow link on side of page to purchase my picks at TRACKPICKS.COM

NFL has started off solidly with a 15-7 overall mark, up 29 units or 29K for dime players. Also, 2-1 on BIG PLAYS. Recently, I have posted a 5-0 mark in the last 2 weeks, and 9-3 in the last 3 weeks including 2-0 in BIG PLAYS. Further analysis supports a 6-3 record betting dogs, 5-3 taking the chalk, 2-0 on PKs, 1-1 on O/U and 1-0 on money line. Hop on board this weekend and take your book down!

CFL has started off relatively solid also posting a 20-16 mark, or netting 7.5K for dime players. This includes an amazing 5-1 on BIG PLAYS, including WINS in my last 5! Dogs have been 7-7, 12-8-1 on the chalk, 1-0 on O/U and 0-1 using the money line. Always have HUGE cards going Saturday, so purchase a package, grab a beverage, and chill out on the couch and take your book behind the woodshed with the Pounder!

College Football Week 5

2006-10-01T13:49:00.000-07:00

#1 Ohio State (Impressive win in Iowa City; cruise control till Maize and Blue)
#2 Michigan (Didnt get caught sleeping in Metrodome)
#3 Auburn (Escaped with W on Thur. night; Are they explosve enough?)
#4 Florida (Moved to 2-8 all time in the Swamp vs. Bama; showdown with LSU Sat.)
#5 USC (Got W in Pullman; Didnt Auburn crush the Cougars?)
#6 W. Virginia
#7 Louisville
#8 Texas
#9 LSU
#10 Tennessee

LSU @ Florida showdown next Saturday. LSU needs it to remain in the hunt in the SEC West.

Tennessee faces Georgia between the hedges. Loss eliminates Vols from the SEC race.

Michigan hosts Michigan St. in a rivalry game. Not going to be a cake walk eventhough the Spartans somehow lost at home to the Illini last week.

WVU travels out of conference to Starkville to face Mississippi St....Dont be surprised to see the Bulldogs put up a fight defensively.

Texas battles Oklahoma in the Red River shootout. Look for the team that pressures the QB and wins the turnover battle to come away with the win and the inside track on the Big 12 South.

Undefeated Wake Forest matches up with Clemson. Are the Deacs for real?

Oregon and Cal get together in Berkeley for the inside track to second place in the Pac 10. Give a slight edge to Cal cause it is in Berkeley.

Undefeated Mizzou travels to Texas Tech. Look for the Tigers to pick up their first loss.

Thanks for reading again. Look for the NFL Week 4 Power Ratings by Wednesday, along with a baseball playoff preview tomorrow night.

NFL Power Ratings Thru Week 3

2006-09-27T17:51:00.000-07:00

I have not psoted much regarding the NFL, but I am a huge fan, and hit the local watering hole every Sunday to watch all the games. This is where I see all 32 teams after the first 3 weeks, with a brief comment on each:

1- Indianapolis (3-0): Gotta put them on top early, but lack of a running game is going to cost them in the end
2- Cincinnati (3-0): Beating the defending champs in their own backyard is no small feat, even with Big Ben obviously still not on the top of his game
3- San Diego (2-0): Coming off bye week to face the Ravens in what should be an ultimate defensive struggle. Over/Under 24?
4- Seattle (3-0): Defending NFC champs really took it to the Giants in first half. How will Alexander injury effect them?
5- Chicago (3-0): D looking really strong, and Grossman playing above average. Benson or T.Jones has to step it up
6- Denver (2-1): Impressive win Sunday night. Started off slow last year, and remember how that turned out?
7- Baltimore (3-0): Jumped by Denver after struggle at Cleveland. Matches up with AFC West next two weeks including Monday night tilt at Mile High next week
8- Philadelphia (2-1): Offense is a juggernaut. But how long will they be able to get away with no running game?
9- New Orleans (3-0): Favorable schedule to this point, but they have done what they had to. Division games are going to key their playoff run.
10- Jacksonville (2-1): Tough schedule to this point. Front 7 is Top 5 in league. Would like to see them open up the offense a little more.
11- New England (2-1): Tom Brady is owned by Denver, so no surpise with the loss on Sunday. However, something isnt quite right this year with the Pats.
12- Atlanta (2-1): Did they have any chance of coming out of NewOrleans with a win on Monday night? Lets see how they react next week.
13- Minnesota (2-1): Gave they Bears all they wanted on Sunday. B.Johson is steady under center, and has a ring. Could challenge for playoff spot.
14- St. Louis (2-1): Jeckyl and Hyde here. Beat the Broncos, lose to the Niners, beat the Cards on road. New intensity on defense should have the challenging for playoff spot.
15- New York Jets (2-1): One of the bigger surprises this year. If Pennington can stay healthy, can they challenge Pats?
16- Dallas (1-1): Under the radar to this point. Certainly wont stay that way with the trip to Philly coming up in two weeks.
17- Pittsburgh (1-2): Super Bowl champs off to slow start offensively. No need to panic in Steel City yet, but with the Bengals and Ravens in the division, better get it going soon.
18- Carolina (1-2): Easily the biggest threat of the 1-2 teams. When Smith comes back healthy they are a different team
19- Washington (1-2): Nothing like a trip to Houston to get the offense going. But boy, Brunnell is looking old and washed up. Will we see Campbell this year?
20- NY Giants (1-2): Going down 42-7 is never a good thing. Having players calling out the coach is even worse. I smell bad things brewing in GMEN country
21- Buffalo (1-2): Bills have been better than most thought to this point, including a win in Miami. Vikings visit this weekend.
22- Arizona (1-2): Almost Leinart time in the desert. Which means no playoffs this year.
23- Miami (1-2): Who thought Miami was going to challenge New England? I certainly didnt, and we are seeing why thru the first 3 games
24- Green Bay (1-2): At least Favre is playing better after that atrocious performance in Week 1
One
25- San Francisco (1-2): Alex Smith looks like he is progressing. Nolan may have things headed in the right direction for this once proud franchise.
26- Kansas City (0-2): With Green out, things are looking bleak in the Land of Red. But a visit from SF this week may turn things around, at least for a week.
27- Tampa Bay (0-3): With Simms out, things arent looking great for the ole Bucs.
28- Cleveland (0-3): Put up a hell of a fight against Baltimore, a game they should have won. And Winslow really looks great. May be building something on the banks of the Ohio.
29- Detroit (0-3): I got one thing to say....When is Millen going to get canned?
30- Tennessee (0-3): Almost time for the Vince Young project to commence
31- Oakland (0-3): How are they this bad with that much talent on offense? Easy, they cant block anyone!
32- Houston (0-3): Defensively, terrible. Offensively, only slightly better. Give Kubiak some time to get things turned around.

Top Divisions (AFC 263, NFC 255) *Lowest is best

AFC EAST 70 6th
AFC NORTH 54 2nd
AFC SOUTH 73 8th
AFC WEST 66 4th
NFC EAST 53 1st
NFC NORTH 71 7th
NFC SOUTH 66 5th
NFC WEST 65 3rd

Week 4 College Football

2006-09-24T07:35:00.000-07:00

Well, I usually start it off from #1 and work my way down my rankings from the previous week. This week however we have to start with the Irish for the second consecutive week. What a game that was last night in the rain of East Lansing. Down 37-21 late in the third, the Irish started a monumental comeback of their own and downed the Spartans 40-37 (W on line) in an absolute classic. Brady Quinn got back into the heisman talk with a 5TD effort, and the Irish D was very opportunistic forcing Michigan St. into a few critical turnovers, including the final 3 times the Spartans had the ball. Game turning moment in my mind was the strip and recovery by the ND safety after they had pulled to within 37-27. Another epic collapse from the Spartans as this same thing seems to happen every year to them in at least one game. A loss like this really crushes a team, and it is going to be interesting to see how they react when they kick off the Big 10 season next weekend. ND remains alive in the NC hunt, and almost has assured themselves of getting to a BCS game. They will be favored pretty big in their remaining games until the season ending tilt in the Coliseum of LA vs the Trojans. My #1 Ohio St. struggled mightily against a very average Penn St. team at home, also in the rain. Troy Smith in the end made just enough plays, and their defense ran back two picks for TDs late in the 4th to get the cover. PSU needs better QB pkay from Morelli if they hope to get some wins this year in the Big Ten. Elsewhere, #2 USC struggled (L on line) all game in a defensive battle vs. Arizona. Arizona just does not have that much talent on offense, but give them credit for bringing back memories of the Desert Swarm defenses of the early 90s last night. In the end, USC did enough in a game I did not catch any of. #3 Auburn slipped a cupcake in this week before the SEC schedule really heats up and crushed Buffalo 38-7. This was only a 10-0 game at the half, but the Tigers picked up the pace in the third quarter and rolled on. However, Auburn did not cover in a game I did not see any of. #4 Michigan also struggled through most of the third quarter against an undefeated Wisconsin team. However, in the end, and like last week, Mr. Manningham stepped up and the Wolves went on t0 the win 27-13 (W on line). Michigan D line again looking like it is the best in the nation. It will be interesting to see how focused the Wolverines stay as the season wears on. #5 Florida with a very average effort last night in a game I caught a little of, particluarly in the second half (L on line). The Gators defense can rival and in America, and with Chris Leak under center, they are a dangerous team. With their win against Tennessee, and Georgia playing a frosh QB and really struggling on offense, they appear on their way to the SEC title game (Auburn has the inside track in the West). #6 West Virginia also won yesterday at East Carolina pretty comfortably. Patrick White and Steve Slaton led the way one more time. Louisville went out to the little apple (Manhattan, KS) and rolled the Wildcats. Even with a backup QB, the Cardinal D was absolutely stifling. Gonna be a special matchup when they meet the Mountaineers later in the season. Va Tech really had their problems with the Bearcats yesterday, but in the end, they rolled relatively concvincingly. UGA, who entered my Top 10 last week for the first time, will be on the outside looking in after a 14-13 win of Colorado. Yes, the same Colorado team that lost at home to an average at best 1-AA team Montana St. Give the Buffs credit, they came in their with an attitude on D and completely shut down the Dawgs until Richt brought in Cox late in the 4th. Down 13-0, they came back with 2TDs in the last 10 minutes to pull this one out. And lastly, Texas, beat Iowa St.

Here is the way I see things after Week 4:

#1 Ohio St. (Without Troy Smith, they lose yesterday; Heisman favorite at this point)
#2 USC (Pac 10 not looking like much of a challenge at this point)
#3 Auburn (SEC schedule about to heat up after breather against Buffalo)
#4 Michigan (Killer front 7)
#5 Florida (experience, and good balance)
#6 West Virginia (solid W yesterday)
#7 Louisville (can they continue this with backup QB?)
#8 Virginia Tech (special teams still gets it done)
#9 Texas (offense coming around; get them now)
#10 LSU (solid team that could still win title)

Week 3 College Football

2006-09-16T20:37:00.000-07:00

What a day it was in college football this third Saturday in September. Lets start in South Bend, where my Wolverines came out all sorts of fired up and rolled the Irish 47-21 (W on line). UM D was flat out stifling from their pash rush, to run stuffing LBs, and their solid DBs. Henne to Manningham 3 times in first half put the Wolverines up 27-7 in the second quarter and you kinda knew it was going to be Big Blue's day. Mike Hart had a solid game eating up the clock for most of the second half as the Wolverines earned their first victory in South Bend since 1994. Like I have been saying all year, these Wolverines are tough, smart, and will be in the National Championship hunt late into the season unlike all seasons this century. Up next for them is a revenge game against Wisconsin, so look for them to stay focused. ND has been pretty disappointing this year if you listened to all the writers pre season prognastications. Weis has these guys going in the right direction, but they still have a lot of work to do on D, in particular need more speed in the secondary. Not a bad time to lose for the Irish, and if they run the table until their season ending showdown in LA (which is very possible if they get by Michigan St. next week), they could possbily find themselves in Glendale still. On to the second biggest game of the day in Auburn where the Tigers of Auburn beat the Tigers of LSU 7-3 (W on line) in a mighty defensive struggle. Cox, Irons and company just had enough for a third quarter TD drive which turned out to be the only trip to the end zone by either team all day. Both of these teams are championship caliber, but it will now be hard for LSU to do enough to get to the SEC title game. Auburn really has a tough schedule still including another showdown on the Plains as the Gators come to town for the first time this century in a few weeks. Speaking of the Gators in a game that just ended, they came back to defeat the Vols of Tennessee 21-20 (L on line) in a very exciting game. Florida got their offense going late in the third quarter to overcome a 20-7 deficit late. Ainge still doenst look like his Freshman year self and that is costing Tennessee. Both of these teams also have a great defenses and quality special teams. The Gator WR core is solid top to bottom including Percy Harvin, the freshman sensation. Fr Tim Tebow got a lot of work at QB tonight which will bode well down the road if something was to happen to Leak. Florida looks like the real deal. USC took care of Nebraska (W on line) 28-10 in a very un-exciting game. Callahan really played this game close to the vest, and in my opinion, did not really give his kids a shot at winning this game. He seemed to be just doing damage control IMO. USC has all their tough opponents coming to the Coliseum, so dont be surprised if you see them undefeated when the Irish come to town in December. Louisville handed Miami their second loss of Sept in a big way today at Papa Johns (W on line). They have looked impressive to this point, and their match up with West Virginia (crushed Maryland on Thur W on line) down the line is going to be huge, especially if WVU can take care of Va Tech too. Speaking of Virginia Tech, they shut out Duke for the second consecutive year 36-0. Really nothing to say here, but the Hokie slate will toughen up as league play really kicks in. With these results, here is the way my Top 10 shakes out after Week 3:

1- Ohio St. (turned it on in second half for solid W)
2- Auburn (jump USC with LSU victory; will their offense cost them eventually?)
3- USC (business as usual in the Coliseum)
4- Michigan (very impressive today)
5- Florida (SEC road wins are always solid, especially in Knoxville)
6- West Virginia (seem to be on cruise control, can anyone sneak up on them?)
7- Louisville (burying Canes very impressive)
8- Virginia Tech (always in Top 10 this early; lets see what happens in November)
9- Georgia (Fr QB Stafford looks like a good one; boy, are they under the radar)
10- Texas (best of the one loss teams, or at least has the best loss at this point)

Week 2 College Football

2006-09-11T19:52:00.000-07:00

The big showdown in Austin on Sat night didnt really turn out to be one as I predicted. OSU was my bet of the year, and they turned a 3 pt dog line into a 17 pt win. Lets take a look at what happened. Troy Smith was the difference, much like Mr Young was last year. And on defense Mr Laurnaitis was a big playmaker on d forcing the key fumble down near the goal line when game as tied at 0, and picking off Colt McCoy in the 4th. Texas is a good squad, but is not a threat to win the Title this year like the Buckeyes are. On to the rest of the Top 10 games. Auburn went on the road in the SEC to Starkville to take on the Bulldogs of Mississippi St. As expected, Auburn (W on line) dominated through the air with Cox and on the ground with Irons. The tiger defense was stifling for the second consecutive week. Big, Big showdown next week at home when they other Tigers come calling to the Plains. Notre Dame got back on track in a big way with a big win against Penn St. (W on line). Brady Quinn had a solid game, and the Irish defense has looked solid through 2 games. This was the offense we were expecting, but this clearly is not the same PSU team as last year. Another big game this weekend when they host the Wolverines. FSU (L on line) really struggled at home vs a pesky Troy team. The Noles trailed at halftime, and into the fourth quarter before forcing two late Troy turnovers to seal the deal. The Noles offense has to be a concern at this point after only putting up 37 pts on 2 games. They have a very favorable schedule, so it isnt going to take much in my opinion for them to get to the ACC title game. The Gators put up huge numbers against George Oleary's Central Florida team. As expected, but lets see what happens when they travel up to Knoxville this weekend for the key SEC East matchup. LSU (W on line) dominated the Arizona Wildcats at home in Death Valley Sat night and was not caught looking ahead to the huge matchup with Auburn. West Virginia rolled against a very weak team to move to 2-0. And lastly, the Michigan Wolverines got Mike Hart rolling early and often for the second consecutive week to roll of C. Michigan. We got some huge, huge games coming up this weekend which are sure to effect the rankings next week. But here is my Top 10 going into Week 3:

1- Ohio State (rather obvious after Sat night)
2- USC (move up even with Bye week)
3- Notre Dame (played tougher schedule than Auburn at this point)
4- Auburn (defense looking like best in America)
5- Florida (going gets tough this week in Knoxville)
6- LSU (HUGE battle with Auburn this weekend)
7- West Virginia (again, they are gonna be here all year)
8- Florida St. (fall 3 spots after Troy struggle)
9- Texas (losing to best team in America nothing to be ashamed about)
10- Michigan (has their opportunity this weekend at ND)

First Saturday

2006-09-03T07:02:00.000-07:00

Good morning and thanks for reading. I would like to go over the Top 10 results from yesterday, and any other interesting happenings from what was basically an uneventful day. Lets start at the top with the Buckeyes, who covered and looked relatively impressive doing so. Their offense looked good, balanced, and Ginn showed why he is a top heisman candidate. Defensively, they did look a little shaky giving up nearly 200 yards rushing and 300 total yards to N. Illinois' star RB Wolfe. This is something that I was worried about (see my last blog), and if it isnt straightened out, they are obviously in trouble. Teams hoping for national titles cannot outscore teams week in and week out because that strategy eventually catches up to you. Notre Dame, the second ranked team also notched a W (L on the line) in a very tough environment on Saturday night. I think most people saw this game being a little more high scoring than it turned out to be, but a win is a win, especially on the road against a solid team. ND has to rev their offense up much, much more in the next 3 weeks (PSU, Mich, @MSU) if they hope to come out of those undefeated. They looked good on defense, but GT is known as being very inconsistent. Moving on to #3 Texas. Wow, talk about not missing a beat. They crushed the "Mean Green" from the North with their D and their new QB McCoy looking solid. Obviously, things are going to get much tougher with the Buckeyes coming to Austin, but they took care of their business in a very impressive fashion (W on the line). Auburn, the fourth ranked team in the country got a W (W on the line) by 26. Getting a visit from a PAC 10 team is usually a good thing for schedule strength (instead of playing a weak, weak team), yet they really dont pose a threat to win the game unless they are in the maroon and yellow. Tigers looked good all around, only thing that could worry you as a Tiger fan is 5 fgs. They need to figure out their offense as the field shortens a little better when they get into all those SEC tussles that are coming up shortly. Irons looked very impressive, and their defensive line is very fast. #5 West Virginia got a W (W on the line) against their in-state rivals Marshall. I didnt get a chance to see any of this game, but their offense appears to have not missed a beat. WVU is gonna kinda be on cruise control until their visit to Louisville later in the year. #6 USC, wow. They may have been the most impressive of the weekend considering all they lost. They go on the road, against a solid SEC team, and put up a 50 spot (W on the line). Again, I did not see much of this game with ND and Auburn going at the same times, but obviously they do not look to have missed a step. Give credit to Pete Carroll who just keeps plugging in top level athletes and moving along. Booty threw for nearly 300 yards, and their defense (which was thought to be really good) lived up to the preseason hype. They are a threat this year to get to Glendale, dont be fooled because they lost Bush and Leinart. The talent is there, the schedule is there, but is the luck gonna be there for a 4th straight year? Thats a tough proposition. Moving on to #7 Florida, who started very slow with only a 14-7 halftime lead, but poured it on in the end to get a solid 34-7 win (W on the line). I didnt catch any of this game, but the Gator defense didnt allow any points all game after an opening drive TD that put the Golden Eagles up 7-0. I am a BIG FAN of the Gators this year, I really like their defense, and Leak should only be better having another year under his belt. This Golden Eagle team isnt what some have been in the past, so take this victory with a grain of salt, and look forward to two weeks when they hook up with the Vols (who crushed Cal yesterday and should move up the rankings). LSU, ranked eighth, got a solid W (W on the line) against their in state rivals UL Lafayette. Didnt catch any of this game, but the Tigers have a team that will be challenging for the SEC West title. #9 was California, and they got POUNDED by Tennessee last night in Knoxville. The Vols were my selection of the day yesterday, and boy was their W on the line impressive. Where to start with CAL? Their offense looked terrible except for Lynch. Their pass defense was a sive, special teams didnt get the job done. If this is the second best team the PAC 10 has to offer, USC is on cruise control right now. The Pac 10 really got punished yesterday out of conference. I think Cal is around #20 in country, and was over ranked to start. Plus, there is NO WAY they should have been favored on the road at Rocky Top last night. And to close out the Top 10, we head to Norman. Also did not catch much of this, but this was much tighter than most of the experts thought (L on the line). For you Sooner fans, thank the heavens for Peterson cause he is the only reason you won this game. The best RB in the country really got the job done for OU last night, as Thompson was average at best. He is going to have to play a lot better if they are going to challenge Texas in the Big 12 South. OU is also going to have to tighten up their defense, or it is going to be another season of not meeting their lofty goals in Norman.

My TOP 10 after Week 1 would look like this (where they deserve to be ranked) *Includes Monday night game:

1 Texas (they are the defending champs, right?)
2 USC (see game last night if you dont agree)
3 Ohio St. (showdown in Austin next Sat night)
4 Auburn (Tigers look to be well rounded)
5 Notre Dame (a W is a W; have to improve though)
6 Florida St. (Impressive win Mon night)
7 Florida (nasty D, and second year in Meyer's offense is usually charm)
8 LSU (talent is there as usual; lots of tough games though)
9 West Virginia (will move up all year with W's)
10 Michigan (yes, my fav team; have something to play for this year)

College Football Preview

2006-08-31T19:04:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone. And wow, how stoked am I for the College Football Season that kicks off tonight. Should be a specatcular year with a wide open chase for the National Title. Let me give you some of my picks:

ACC-Miami: Man, I love the Canes this year. They will have a stifling defense including possible the best secondary in the country. Kyle Wright is about ready to make that next step. Schedule sets up nicely catching FSU and VT at home. Watch out for that trip to Louisville in September however.
BIG 10-Ohio State: Not as big a fan of OSU as some are. Need to rebuild that back 7, and even though they surely have the athletes to plug in, experience matters. With a young defense, I see them slipping up at least once.
BIG 12-Oklahoma: Loved Oklahoma before QB issues, still think they will have enough to win the BIG 12. Texas had its year last year, and will struggle without the leadership of Mr. Young. And the North is still light years away from the South.
PAC 10-USC: Still loaded, dont be fooled. They will play with a chip on their shoulder all year long, and their defense is going to be fast and physical. I dont see anyone in the PAC 10 to challenge them, as I am not a fan of Cal.
SEC-Florida: How loaded is the SEC? I mean, seriously, there are about 5 teams that are in the Top 15 in the nation. Then you got 3 or 4 more that could do a lot of damage in another conference. I am going to go with Florida because there schedule sets up decent, they have a great defense, and experience at QB with Leak. I look for a big year from the Gators this year, but they will not be able to go unbeaten.
BIG EAST-Louisville: Slight edge over WVU since WVU is getting all the ink, and their game is in Louisville.

Through the year I will be back posting predictions, along with overall observations on games for the coming weekend. Enjoy the season~!

WGC Bridgestone Invitational Preview

2006-08-23T22:23:00.000-07:00

Lets take a quick look at the golf tournament this weekend since this is a World Golf Championship and all the top players are in the field. This is a strange week because most tournaments that are hosted the week after a major are devoid of the top players but this weekend is different. This makes this a little harder to handicap. But, lets dig deeper.

Woods is always the fav when he tees it up, and his odds this week at 1.25 to 1 show that very clear. And his past domination on this course, along with the way he is swinging and putting right now lead me to believe he will put up another W this week. However, with the second best odds at16 to 1 for Furyk and Mickelson, lets dig a little deeper and see if we can find some value.

Furyk is a solid play at 16 to 1, his game is very good for this course. Another player I like this week is Easy Ernie at 20 to 1. Ernie has yet to find the winners circle on the TOUR since his boating accident last year, but he appears to be playing relatively well all things considered. Two others I like are Adam Scott at 33 to 1, and Chris Dimarco at 40 to 1. Both played well last week, and are top notch players at very solid value odds.

Take those 5 and come talk to me on Monday when you make some extra cash to spend on Labor Day weekend!

Baseball chatter

2006-08-23T22:08:00.000-07:00

GM sports fans, thanks for reading "Paddy the Pounders" blog.

Baseball

What is going on in the National League, particularily the West? As a Giants fan, I gave up on my squad about 2 weeks ago. Now, they won 8 of 10, Dodgers are losing to everyone except my Giants, Padres are on fire, DBacks keeping pace, and as many expected, Rockies are done. One down, Four to go. And who knows, maybe two can make it. I like the Dodgers to win the division, and the Giants to win the wild card. Central also heating up with Reds making a run on the Cardinals. Cards having real issues the last month or so, they really are not getting the job done with their pitching. Not that the Reds have great arms either! I like the Cards holding on. And the East is and has been all about the Mets all year long. If I were a Mets fan, I would be worried about the starting pitching. I saw a stat the other night showing how the Mets starters ERA has steadily increased every month this season. Not good, and with Glavine and Pedro on the mend, things are not looking as bright as they once were in Queens. Although they will hang on to win the division.

American League has a bunch more solid teams, but that doesnt matter because only 4 are going to make the playoffs, just like the National League. Red Sox really falling apart with that 5 game sweep this past weekend. I think this falls on the front office for not making any moves at the deadline. Someone like Zito would have been a great fit, but they stood still, and will pay the price. Yankees will hold on, what else is new? Central we got the Tigers. Man, how impressive have these guys been this year? You got the young arms in the rotation, Ordonez and Rodriguez providing the leadership, and Leyland handling the coaching. They are going to win this division obviously, and it will be interesting to see how they react in the playoffs most likely matching up with the West winner. Wild cards appears to be coming from either the Twins or White Sox. Give the edge to the White Sox in my opinion at the moment due to experience and Liriano's injury. However, they do have the tougher schedule left so that could be the deciding factor. Out West, Oakland appears to have this puppy wrapped up with another one of their patented late year runs. Seems they win every game in August and September every year. Lets see how they do in the playoffs.