Seeing as how this old school version of Blogger only shows the last 20 uses of a particular label I can't really link you to all of my bowl predictions. So until I move over to a new template(New Year's resolution of an indeterminate number), or get hired on by a shiny, big entity that has money to burn and provides cool looking Interweb homes, I will update you with the results of my predictions about every week or so. This first one is coming 10 days after the first bowl so you can see just how strict I am on that timeframe.
Poinsettia Bowl
Prediction: Navy over Utah, 31-17.
Actual Result: Utah beat Navy, 35-32.
Navy's running game did rack up the yards, but the three turnovers killed them. Utah also held them to just a 37.5% success rate on third downs. Something that I didn't think the Utes would be able to do.
Level of Correctness: On the right track, but derailed by some unpredictable circumstances.
New Orleans Bowl
Prediction: FAU beats Memphis, 42-31.
Actual Result: FAU over Memphis, 44-27.
FAU's quarterback Rusty Smith played an awesome game, and eventhough FAU's defense didn't force any turnovers they still did enough to pull out the win.
Level of Correctness: Right on target. I probably couldn't duplicate it ever again.
Papa John's.com Bowl
Prediction: Cincy wins 31-17.
Actual Result: Cincy won 31-21.
Ben Mauk killed it, though the Bearcats didn't exactly stop the Golden Eagles' rushing attack.
Level of Correctness: Pretty much there.
New Mexico Bowl
Prediction: Nevada beats New Mexico, 35-17.
Actual Result: New Mexico won 23-0
Donovan Porterie had no trouble passing, and New Mexico's starting tailback, Baker, shredded the Nevada defense.
Level of Correctness: Nothing to see here. Please keep moving along.
Las Vegas Bowl
Prediction: BYU wins easily, 38-17.
Actual Result: BYU beat UCLA 17-16.
UCLA played with a lot of heart, and their defense did a great job in slowing down the BYU attack. However, they couldn't totally stop them and BYU got a close victory.
Level of Correctness: Right winner, but that's about it.
Hawaii Bowl
Prediction: Broncos to win, 42-21.
Actual Result: East Carolina won 41-38.
Ian Johnson couldn't do anything, and ECU pulled out a somewhat surprising win.
Level of Correctness: "Impact" player got shutdown, and the team picked to win lost on a last second field goal. Close, but no cigar.
Motor City Bowl
Prediction: Purdue wins 42-28.
Actual Result: Purdue won 51-48.
Curtis Painter did have a big game, but Dan LeFevour was not slowed down in the least. He singlehandedly kept Central Michigan in this one.
Level of Correctness: Right team, but totally underestimated the losing opponent.
Holiday Bowl
Prediction: Arizona State wins 31-27.
Actual Result: Texas won 52-34.
Rudy Carpenter was beat-up all game long, and Colt McCoy actually played somewhat well. The Longhorns' running game made the difference.
Level of Correctness: Just wrong all the way around.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Bowl-O-Rama: First Update
It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere - New Year's Edition
Since it's Friday, and the end of the workweek for most people, we think that you should be provided with a post that takes the edge off so to speak. Because it's going to be random and hopefully humorous, that means that it won't always be sports related. It will also pop up at any time on Friday.
It's the last Friday of 2007. Time to get your resolutions in order, and prepare your liver for an onslaught of alcohol. And to get you motivated I present Prince! No, it's not 1999 anymore, but I always think about this song whenever New Year's approaches. So put on your blouse, grab your raspberry beret and try not to crash your little red Corvette.
Happy Friday!
"Pretty Boy" Floyd Makes It Rain
The newest installment of Cribs heads to Dallas to check out how Floyd Mayweather lives. He lets us know that Ramen Noodles are his favorite food, and that it doesn't matter how crazy your shower is as long as you "wash u ass". He also makes it rain. At least it's not in a strip club!
Giants Fans Don't Care To See Two Unstoppable Forces Colliding
Anyone who has watched even just a few NFL games has probably seen that amazing Citizen Watch commercial. You know, the one with Eli Manning and the tagline "Unstoppable". Yeah, whoever came up with that is an advertising genius!
Well, this Saturday the "Unstoppable" Eli Manning faces the really unstoppable New England Patriots and their perfect 15-0 record. History could be made, and all that stands in the way of the Pats is "Unstoppable" Eli and his Giants. The game is even being played at The Meadowlands so the Giants have homefield advantage. Or do they?
The chance to watch the Giants try to mar the Patriots perfect season isn't drawing many Big Blue fans to the stadium this Saturday.
Many New York Giants fans are hawking their tickets to the game to New England Patriots fans who want to see quarterback Tom Brady and his teammates go for a 16-0 record in their final regular-season game.
Internet auction sites that allow customers to buy and sell sports tickets have seen a surge in ticket sales for the game by Giants fans, The Star-Ledger of Newark reported Tuesday.
And these are probably the same fans that will be sitting at a bar on Saturday night screaming at the TV for Coach Coughlin to play the starters so they can beat the Pats. Yeah, way to go dickwads. Honestly, this is probably bigger than any game the Giants have played all season unless they miraculously make it to the Super Bowl, and a number of fans won't be there to cheer their team on. Hopefully Coach Coughlin gets a list of their addresses, and pays each one of them a special visit.
Can The G-Men Beat The Pats?
Tomorrow night we may witness an amazing feat. Something that I personally thought would probably never happen again. An NFL team may finish the regular season undefeated. If the Pats pull it off they'll be the first team to do it in 35 years. Many people probably aren't giving the Giants much of a chance to win because they already have their playoff spot locked up, and New England has already beat better overall teams. However, I think the Giants have a great shot at winning, and I'll tell you why.
First, Tom Coughlin has always struck me as kind of a dick. Seriously, watching him coach in Jacksonville I always got the sense that he was a hardass coach who enjoyed nothing more than whooping someone's ass. Player, opponent, it didn't matter. He always seemed to be motivated by showing everyone around that he was in charge, and that he could beat you every time. Knocking off the Pats and Bill Belichick seems like the perfect situation for him to draw maximum motivation from and use it to challenge his team. Plus, he has to know that this team isn't exactly Super Bowl caliber. Ending the Pats perfect run is much more memorable than a first round playoff loss.
Second, pressure. In the two closest games of the season the Patriots timing was hindered by defensive pressure. Both the Colts and the Ravens brought blitzes throughout the game, and forced Tom Brady into making very quick reads. He is more than capable of completing the quick throw, but over the course of the game it can throw off the timing just enough so that the passes aren't as crisp and the receivers drop balls. Against Baltimore, Brady was able to complete just 47% of his passes which was way below his season average of 68%. The Giants defense has limited quarterbacks to a completion percentage of just 57%. They've also racked up the most sacks, 52, in the NFL, and allow just under 200 passing yards per game. They have a number of defensive linemen that can bring constant pressure, as well as linebackers that are speedy enough to come on blitzes and cover short pass routes.
Third, overall defense and a strong rushing attack. The Giants aren't going to win if this game turns into a shootout. They just don't have the offensive weapons to keep up with the Patriots. However, they do have the number #4 ranked rushing offense that averages 137 yards per game. In their two closest games the Pats gave up 119 yards and 166 yards rushing. If the Giants can slow down the game and play it at a pace that they're comfortable with they have a good shot at grabbing the win. On the season, the Patriots have been held under 28 points just three times. Two of those times were the Colts and Ravens games. The Giants defense allows an average of just 20.9 points per game, and if they can keep the Pats in that 20-24 range they'll improve their chances of winning.
So there you have it. Just a few reasons why I think the Giants have a good shot at ending the Patriots' perfect season. Of course, cases could be made for the other 15 teams that New England beat, and being a Dolphins' fan I'm sure that some of it is wishful thinking. However, the Giants defense is good enough to slow down New England a bit and give them the opportunity to win.
Monday, December 24, 2007
Bowl-O-Rama: The BCS Title Game
I bet that Coach Cheaty McSweatervest can't wait to hear about that "SEC speed" again.
Teams: LSU & Ohio State
Location: Superdome, New Orleans, LA
Miles Traveled By Each Team: LSU(80), Ohio State(909)
Related Cereal: Tony’s Turboz(It’s going to look like someone’s hitting the turbo button when we to this Ohio State/SEC rematch).
Breakdown: LSU heads into this game with the #12 ranked rushing offense(218yds/gm, 34TD's), and the #53 ranked passing offense(229yds/gm, 25TD's). Overall, their offense is ranked #21 in the nation. On defense, the Tiger’s defense is ranked #14 against the run(103yds/gm, 13TD's), and #9 against the pass(180yds/gm, 17TD's). Their total defense is ranked #1, and surrenders an average of 225yds/gm and has allowed 15 total touchdowns.
Their opponent, Ohio State, comes into the game with the #20 ranked rush attack(201yds/gm, 20TD's), and the #87 ranked passing offense(195yds/gm, 24TD's). Their total offense is ranked #58. The Buckeyes’ defense is ranked #3 against the rush(77yds/gm, 2TD's), and #1 against the pass(148yds/gm, 9TD's). Their total defense is ranked #3, and allows an average of 283yds/gm and has given up 32 total touchdowns.
Signature Wins: LSU-Florida. Ohio State-Michigan.
Common Opponents: None.
Prediction: Both of these teams bring in top notch defenses. They’re ranked #1 and #3 in the nation in terms of yards allowed. However, LSU has allowed a little less than half as many touchdowns as Ohio State has. The Tigers also bring in a better offensive attack. There’s been some reports stating that one of Ohio State’s starting cornerbacks, Donald Washington, will be suspended for this game. If that’s the case, then watch for LSU’s receivers, Doucet, Byrd and LaFell to attack whomever is starting in his place. I think that SEC speed will be too much for Ohio State to overcome once again, and that LSU wins this game 31-21.
Bowl-O-Rama: The GMAC Bowl
I wonder if Mario Van Peebles was in anyway related to Ladd Peebles. If so, this game just got a bit cooler.
Teams: Tulsa & Bowling Green
Location: Ladd Peebles Stadium, Mobile, AL
Miles Traveled By Each Team: Tulsa(792), Bowling Green(901)
Related Cereal: Urkel-O’s(Only a true football geek would be interested in this game).
Breakdown: Tulsa heads into this game with the #41 ranked rushing offense(167yds/gm, 25TD's), and the #3 ranked passing offense(374yds/gm, 43TD's). Overall, their offense is ranked #1 in the nation. On defense, the Golden Hurricane’s defense is ranked #97 against the run(195yds/gm, 28TD's), and #108 against the pass(273yds/gm, 28TD's). Their total defense is ranked #111, and surrenders an average of 469yds/gm and has allowed 59 total touchdowns.
Their opponent, Bowling Green, comes into the game with the #87 ranked rush attack(130yds/gm, 16TD's), and the #18 ranked passing offense(286yds/gm, 29TD's). Their total offense is ranked #43. The Falcons’ defense is ranked #106 against the rush(205yds/gm, 22TD's), and #29 against the pass(207yds/gm, 21TD's). Their total defense is ranked #79, and allows an average of 413yds/gm and has given up 36 total touchdowns.
Signature Wins: Tulsa-Houston? Bowling Green-Akron?
Common Opponents: None.
Prediction: Bowling Green enters the game with both a decent pass offense and decent pass defense. However, I don’t think that they’re going to be able to contain Tulsa’s #1 ranked offense for four quarters. Tulsa’s defense isn’t that great, but Bowling Green won’t be able to keep up with Paul Smith and Tarrion Adams. Tulsa wins this game, 42-31.
Bowl-O-Rama: The International Bowl
I hear that marijuana is legal in Canada. Ball State might want to pick some up to help ease the effects of what could be a long, long day.
Teams: Ball State & Rutgers
Location: Rogers Centre, Toronto, Ontario
Miles Traveled By Each Team: Ball State(511), Rutgers(499)
Related Cereal: Baron VonRedberry(No, he’s not Canadian, but he is an international breakfast pilot).
Breakdown: Ball State heads into this game with the #66 ranked rushing offense(147yds/gm, 18TD's), and the #21 ranked passing offense(284yds/gm, 27TD's). Overall, their offense is ranked #30 in the nation. On defense, the Cardinals’ defense is ranked #99 against the run(197yds/gm, 20TD's), and #50 against the pass(221yds/gm, 18TD's). Their total defense is ranked #88, and surrenders an average of 418yds/gm and has allowed 41 total touchdowns.
Their opponent, Rutgers, comes into the game with the #31 ranked rush attack(190yds/gm, 24TD's), and the #43 ranked passing offense(247yds/gm, 18TD's). Their total offense is ranked #26. The Scarlet Knights’ defense is ranked #62 against the rush(155yds/gm, 18TD's), and #2 against the pass(160yds/gm, 11TD's). Their total defense is ranked #13, and allows an average of 316yds/gm and has given up 31 total touchdowns.
Signature Wins: Ball State-Navy? Rutgers-South Florida.
Common Opponents: Navy and Buffalo. Ball State defeated the Midshipmen 34-31. Rutgers beat them 41-24. Ball State beat Buffalo 49-14. Rutgers defeated them 38-3.
Prediction: Ball State brings a decent passing offense based around the arm of Nate Davis. If the Cardinals want any shot at winning he has to have a stellar game. Though, Rutgers does have an extremely tough pass defense so achieving success against them through the air will be difficult at best. Ball State’s defense isn’t particularly strong against either the run or the pass, and I expect that the Scarlet Knights will be able to move the ball somewhat easily against them. Ray Rice should have a big day, as Rutgers wins this one, 38-17.
Bowl-O-Rama: The Orange Bowl
I have a feeling that if you created a team using players from both of these teams that they could beat the Dolphins in this stadium.
Teams: Kansas & Virginia Tech
Location: Dolphins Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL
Miles Traveled By Each Team: Kansas(1,489), Virgina Tech(889)
Related Cereal: Wheatena(If Kansas is involved, you have to bring the wheat).
Breakdown: Kansas heads into this game with the #27 ranked rushing offense(196yds/gm, 29TD's), and the #14 ranked passing offense(294yds/gm, 35TD's). Overall, their offense is ranked #6 in the nation. On defense, the Jayhawks’ defense is ranked #7 against the run(91yds/gm, 7TD's), and #58 against the pass(226yds/gm, 16TD's). Their total defense is ranked #14, and surrenders an average of 318yds/gm and has allowed 24 total touchdowns.
Their opponent, Virginia Tech, comes into the game with the #81 ranked rush attack(133yds/gm, 21TD's), and the #86 ranked passing offense(198yds/gm, 16TD's). Their total offense is ranked #99. The Hokies’ defense is ranked #5 against the rush(86yds/gm, 13TD's), and #27 against the pass(207yds/gm, 9TD's). Their total defense is ranked #5, and allows an average of 293yds/gm and has given up 24 total touchdowns.
Signature Wins: Kansas-Kansas State? Virginia Tech-Boston College(ACC Championship Game).
Common Opponents: None.
Prediction: Virginia Tech enters the Orange Bowl with one of the toughest defenses in the country. They’ve allowed only 9 passing touchdowns all season. Unfortunately, their offense isn’t nearly as strong, and they’ve struggled to put points on the board throughout the season. Kansas on the other hand, has had no such problem. They’re ranked in the top 10 in total offense, and their total defense is tough too, though more so against the run. I think their offensive weapons, especially Reesing, McAnderson and Sharp will just be too much for the Hokies to keep up with. Kansas wins this one, 28-20.
Bowl-O-Rama: The Fiesta Bowl
If you're inviting West Virginia fans over please have a fire extinguisher on hand to protect your couch.
Teams: West Virginia & Oklahoma
Location: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, AZ
Miles Traveled By Each Team: West Virginia(2,135), Oklahoma(1,036)
Related Cereal: Pac-Man(Not exactly the best representative of the WVU program, but certainly one of the most visible).
Breakdown: West Virginia heads into this game with the #4 ranked rushing offense(292yds/gm, 45TD's), and the #113 ranked passing offense(157yds/gm, 14TD's). Overall, their offense is ranked #19 in the nation. On defense, the Mountaineers’ defense is ranked #16 against the run(107yds/gm, 12TD's), and #12 against the pass(184yds/gm, 13TD's). Their total defense is ranked #4, and surrenders an average of 291yds/gm and has allowed 26 total touchdowns.
Their opponent, Oklahoma, comes into the game with the #30 ranked rush attack(191yds/gm, 33TD's), and the #37 ranked passing offense(259yds/gm, 37TD's). Their total offense is ranked #18. The Sooners’ defense is ranked #8 against the rush(91yds/gm, 13TD's), and #68 against the pass(232yds/gm, 15TD's). Their total defense is ranked #18, and allows an average of 324yds/gm and has given up 28 total touchdowns.
Signature Wins: West Virginia-Connecticut. Oklahoma-Missouri(twice).
Common Opponents: None.
Prediction: West Virginia runs into this game on the legs of Pat White and Steve Slaton. Both are playmakers that can score anytime they touch the ball. The Mountaineers also have a decent defense that doesn’t get too much credit. On the other side of the ball, Oklahoma is lead by Sam Bradford who runs a very balanced attack. The Sooners have a very tough run defense that should be able to slow down the Mountaineers’ potent rushing attack just enough so that Pat White is forced into more passing situations. In the end, the Sooners’ offensive balance, and run stopping ability will get them the win, 35-31.
Bowl-O-Rama: The Sugar Bowl
This bowl game should be very entertaining, but I would like to see Stafford and Brennan engage in some type of keg tossing challenge.
Teams: Hawaii & Georgia
Location: Superdome, New Orleans, LA
Miles Traveled By Each Team: Hawaii(4,204), Georgia(541)
Related Cereal: Bill & Ted’s Excellent Cereal(Tell me that Brennan and Stafford couldn’t pull this off).
Breakdown: Hawaii heads into this game with the #113 ranked rushing offense(79yds/gm, 16TD's), and the #2 ranked passing offense(450yds/gm, 50TD's). Overall, their offense is ranked #3 in the nation. On defense, the Warriors’ defense is ranked #39 against the run(131yds/gm, 17TD's), and #43 against the pass(217yds/gm, 15TD's). Their total defense is ranked #33, and surrenders an average of 348yds/gm and has allowed 36 total touchdowns.
Their opponent, Georgia, comes into the game with the #36 ranked rush attack(178yds/gm, 29TD's), and the #84 ranked passing offense(200yds/gm, 19TD's). Their total offense is ranked #69. The Bulldogs’ defense is ranked #4 against the rush(79yds/gm, 12TD's), and #7 against the pass(179yds/gm, 8TD's). Their total defense is ranked #19, and allows an average of 324yds/gm and has given up 28 total touchdowns.
Signature Wins: Hawaii-Boise State. Georgia-Florida.
Common Opponents: None.
Prediction: Hawaii heads to the mainland for its first ever BCS bowl appearance. They bring with them one of the most explosive offenses run by Heisman trophy finalist Colt Brennan. Georgia comes in after closing out their season with six straight wins, and they have a defense that’s pretty good against both the pass and the run. They’ll be tested early and often by the Warriors potent passing attack, but I think they’ll stand up to the test. Hawaii doesn’t play their strongest ball away from home, and I can see Georgia limiting them to their lowest point total of the season on their way to beating the Warriors, 27-24.
Bowl-O-Rama: The Rose Bowl
Pete Carroll likes the proximity of this bowl game, as he can have his players jog to the stadium as a warm-up.
Teams: Illinois & Southern Cal
Location: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA
Miles Traveled By Each Team: Illinois(2,001), USC(10)
Related Cereal: California Raisins(I heard it through the grapevine that Coach Carroll has challenged Coach Redacted to a waterskiing competition).
Breakdown: Illinois heads into this game with the #5 ranked rushing offense(266yds/gm, 27TD's), and the #114 ranked passing offense(157yds/gm, 14TD's). Overall, their offense is ranked #35 in the nation. On defense, the Fighting Illini’s defense is ranked #23 against the run(114yds/gm, 8TD's), and #77 against the pass(240yds/gm, 17TD's). Their total defense is ranked #41, and surrenders an average of 355yds/gm and has allowed 28 total touchdowns.
Their opponent, USC, comes into the game with the #33 ranked rush attack(185yds/gm, 20TD's), and the #52 ranked passing offense(233yds/gm, 27TD's). Their total offense is ranked #41. The Trojans’ defense is ranked #4 against the rush(79yds/gm, 12TD's), and #7 against the pass(179yds/gm, 8TD's). Their total defense is ranked #2, and allows an average of 258yds/gm and has given up 23 total touchdowns.
Signature Wins: Illinois-Ohio State. USC-Arizona State.
Common Opponents: None.
Prediction: Illinois is headed to their first Rose Bowl since 1983, and it’s due in large part because of Juice Williams and Rashard Mendenhall. They provide a dynamic rushing duo that usually wears down opponents. However, they’re facing a USC defense that is tough against the run, and will probably force Williams into more passing situations. Unfortunately for the Illini, USC also has one of the top passing defenses. Combine that with the Illini’s suspect pass defense, and it looks like the Trojans will come away with the victory, 31-17.
Bowl-O-Rama: The Gator Bowl
A Cavalier versus Raider Red. This is the college football equivalent of bringing a knife to a gunfight.
Teams: Texas Tech & Virginia
Location: Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, Jacksonville, FL
Miles Traveled By Each Team: Texas Tech(1,389), Virginia(669)
Related Cereal: Sugar Jets(Sounds like the perfect cereal description of TT’s offense).
Breakdown: Texas heads into this game with the #119 ranked rushing offense(61yds/gm, 17TD's), and the #1 ranked passing offense(475yds/gm, 48TD's). Overall, their offense is ranked #2 in the nation. On defense, the Red Raiders’ defense is ranked #78 against the run(171yds/gm, 17TD's), and #17 against the pass(196yds/gm, 19TD's). Their total defense is ranked #50, and surrenders an average of 367yds/gm and has allowed 39 total touchdowns.
Their opponent, Virginia, comes into the game with the #93 ranked rush attack(126yds/gm, 21TD's), and the #80 ranked passing offense(203yds/gm, 12TD's). Their total offense is ranked #100. The Cavaliers’ defense is ranked #21 against the rush(113yds/gm, 8TD's), and #33 against the pass(210yds/gm, 15TD's). Their total defense is ranked #17, and allows an average of 323yds/gm and has given up 23 total touchdowns.
Signature Wins: Texas Tech-Oklahoma. Virginia-Wake Forest.
Common Opponents: None.
Prediction: Virginia put together a decent season, mostly on the strength of their defense. Their offense hasn’t been nearly as strong, and has struggled at times during the season. That’s a problem that Texas Tech has definitely not had. They might not have much balance, but when your pass attack is as potent as the Red Raiders you don’t really need it. Watch for Harrell and Crabtree to provide the spark for a Texas Tech victory, 41-24.
Bowl-O-Rama: The Capital One Bowl
Many of these Gator players have experienced something that the Wolverine players have not. A win over Ohio State.
Teams: Michigan & Florida
Location: Citrus Bowl, Orlando, FL
Miles Traveled By Each Team: Michigan(1,149), Florida(115)
Related Cereal: Mr. T(It’s Heisman winner Tim Tebow, sucka!).
Breakdown: Michigan heads into this game with the #44 ranked rushing offense(166yds/gm, 18TD's), and the #73 ranked passing offense(207yds/gm, 22TD's). Overall, their offense is ranked #74 in the nation. On defense, the Wolverines’ defense is ranked #56 against the run(150yds/gm, 15TD's), and #7 against the pass(179yds/gm, 11TD's). Their total defense is ranked #24, and surrenders an average of 330yds/gm and has allowed 27 total touchdowns.
Their opponent, Florida, comes into the game with the #26 ranked rush attack(197yds/gm, 37TD's), and the #33 ranked passing offense(264yds/gm, 29TD's). Their total offense is ranked #13. The Gators’ defense is ranked #10 against the rush(99yds/gm, 16TD's), and #86 against the pass(249yds/gm, 16TD's). Their total defense is ranked #32, and allows an average of 348yds/gm and has given up 34 total touchdowns.
Signature Wins: Michigan-Illinois. Florida-Tennessee.
Common Opponents: None.
Prediction: Michigan’s defense finished the season better than they started, but they’re facing a Florida team that features an offense similar to the Appalachian State and Oregon ones that handily beat them. If they want to win this game they’ll have to keep up through the air where Florida has been vulnerable all season. Chad Henne will keep the Wolverines in this one for a little while, but Florida’s collection of playmakers(Tebow, Harvin, Caldwell, etc.) will prove to be too much. The Gators win this one, 42-24.
Bowl-O-Rama: The Cotton Bowl
This game should be more exciting than trying to figure out who shot J.R. ever was.
Teams: Missouri & Arkansas
Location: Cotton Bowl, Dallas, TX
Miles Traveled By Each Team: Missouri(600), Arkansas(332)
Related Cereal: Superman Stars(Darren McFadden has become the Superman of college running backs).
Breakdown: Missouri heads into this game with the #46 ranked rushing offense(164yds/gm, 25TD's), and the #7 ranked passing offense(327yds/gm, 34TD's). Overall, their offense is ranked #5 in the nation. On defense, the Tigers’ defense is ranked #26 against the run(118yds/gm, 19TD's), and #100 against the pass(261yds/gm, 18TD's). Their total defense is ranked #59, and surrenders an average of 380yds/gm and has allowed 42 total touchdowns.
Their opponent, Arkansas, comes into the game with the #3 ranked rush attack(296yds/gm, 32TD's), and the #112 ranked passing offense(160yds/gm, 24TD's). Their total offense is ranked #16. The Razorbacks’ defense is ranked #54 against the rush(146yds/gm, 14TD's), and #36 against the pass(211yds/gm, 21TD's). Their total defense is ranked #45, and allows an average of 357yds/gm and has given up 37 total touchdowns.
Signature Wins: Missouri-Kansas. Arkansas-LSU.
Common Opponents: Mississippi. Missouri beat them 38-25. Arkansas won their match-up 44-8.
Prediction: Missouri put together a great season outside of their two losses to Oklahoma. In those games, Sooners quarterback Sam Bradford lead his team to victory. I don’t think that Casey Dick will be quite as effective, but he doesn’t have to be with a backfield tandem of McFadden and Jones. This game feature two Heisman finalists. McFadden bested Daniel in that competition, and he’ll do it again in this bowl game. The Razorbacks win, 38-35.
Bowl-O-Rama: The Outback Bowl
This bowl game has to be better because it's from the future.
Teams: Tennessee & Wisconsin
Location: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
Miles Traveled By Each Team: Tennessee(670), Wisconsin(1,322)
Related Cereal: Dunkin Doughnuts(Unfortunately, there is no steak related cereal. With Phil Fulmer in the mix anything doughnut related is a good second choice).
Breakdown: Tennessee heads into this game with the #70 ranked rushing offense(144yds/gm, 18TD's), and the #40 ranked passing offense(254yds/gm, 31TD's). Overall, their offense is ranked #55 in the nation. On defense, the Vols’ defense is ranked #68 against the run(162yds/gm, 14TD's), and #84 against the pass(245yds/gm, 24TD's). Their total defense is ranked #74, and surrenders an average of 407yds/gm and has allowed 74 total touchdowns.
Their opponent, Wisconsin, comes into the game with the #19 ranked rush attack(201yds/gm, 28TD's), and the #68 ranked passing offense(212yds/gm, 16TD's). Their total offense is ranked #44. The Badgers’ defense is ranked #49 against the rush(139yds/gm, 15TD's), and #35 against the pass(210yds/gm, 19TD's). Their total defense is ranked #36, and allows an average of 350yds/gm and has given up 34 total touchdowns.
Signature Wins: Tennessee-Georgia. Wisconsin-Michigan.
Common Opponents: None.
Prediction: Wisconsin is a statistically better team on both sides of the ball. Tennessee has played well at some points, but they’re inconsistent game to game. Having three starters, including defenders McCoy and Bolden, ruled ineligible isn’t going to help matters either. Look for P.J. Hill to be the difference maker as the Badgers get the win, 31-20.
Bowl-O-Rama: The Chick-fil-A Bowl
I'm really going out on a limb here, but I think the Tigers are going to win.
Teams: Clemson & Auburn
Location: Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA
Miles Traveled By Each Team: Clemson(124), Auburn(108)
Related Cereal: Peach Amaranth O’s(It has be peach related if it’s in Georgia).
Breakdown: Clemson heads into this game with the #50 ranked rushing offense(158yds/gm, 16TD's), and the #41 ranked passing offense(253yds/gm, 30TD's). Overall, their offense is ranked #47 in the nation. On defense, the Tigers’ defense is ranked #20 against the run(112yds/gm, 11TD's), and #13 against the pass(184yds/gm, 11TD's). Their total defense is ranked #6, and surrenders an average of 297yds/gm and has allowed 26 total touchdowns.
Their opponent, Auburn, comes into the game with the #56 ranked rush attack(154yds/gm, 21TD's), and the #107 ranked passing offense(173yds/gm, 11TD's). Their total offense is ranked #101. The Tigers’ defense is ranked #27 against the rush(119yds/gm, 11TD's), and #6 against the pass(179yds/gm, 11TD's). Their total defense is ranked #8, and allows an average of 298yds/gm and has given up 23 total touchdowns.
Signature Wins: Clemson-Wake Forest. Auburn-Florida.
Common Opponents: None.
Prediction: The battle of the Tigers rolls into Atlanta for the great chicken sandwich, good sweet tea and killer waffle fries bowl. Both teams sport tough defenses, but Clemson’s offense is a bit more balanced. They have a strong rushing attack with Davis and Spiller, and Harper has played well at quarterback for them. However, two of their starting linebackers have been declared ineligible for the game, and I think that that’s going to be a big factor. Those absences should help open up some holes for Auburn’s Ben Tate to run through. I think it will be a close game, but Auburn will pull out the win, 27-24.
Friday, December 21, 2007
It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere - Christmas Edition
Since it's Friday, and the end of the workweek for most people, we think that you should be provided with a post that takes the edge off so to speak. Because it's going to be random and hopefully humorous, that means that it won't always be sports related. It will also pop up at any time on Friday.
Christmas is only four days away, and to help you get into the spirit I present a video of house lights synchronized to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. At first, this seems like a very cool setup. Then you realize that if this was your neighbor, then you would probably be pissed for the couple of weeks that he has it stretched across his frontlawn. And therein lies the true spirit of the holiday. Sure, getting things for people is fun, but the actual act of shopping in a bunch of different stores, with a shitload of people, really sucks. So enjoy!
Happy Friday!
Bowl-O-Rama: The Insight Bowl
David Puddy fully endorses this bowl game. If you're attending, look for him in the parking lot. He'll be the one sporting devilish face paint yelling "the devils!" And thanks to the wonders of Paint we get just the right amount of red.
Teams: Indiana & Oklahoma State
Location: Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, AZ
Miles Traveled By Each Team: Indiana(1,740), Oklahoma State(1,079)
Related Cereal: Ghostbusters(Sun Devil? Sounds like the perfect place for Gozer to show up).
Breakdown: Indiana heads into this game with the #54 ranked rushing offense(135yds/gm, 16TD's), and the #49 ranked passing offense(237yds/gm, 26TD's). Overall, their offense is ranked #63 in the nation. On defense, the Hoosiers’ defense is ranked #61 against the run(155yds/gm, 20TD's), and #76 against the pass(238yds/gm, 18TD's). Their total defense is ranked #68, and surrenders an average of 394yds/gm and has allowed 41 total touchdowns.
Their opponent, Oklahoma State, comes into the game with the #7 ranked rush attack(245yds/gm, 26TD's), and the #48 ranked passing offense(238yds/gm, 23TD's). Their total offense is ranked #9. The Cowboys’ defense is ranked #60 against the rush(153yds/gm, 20TD's), and #116 against the pass(292yds/gm, 25TD's). Their total defense is ranked #103, and allows an average of 446yds/gm and has given up 46 total touchdowns.
Signature Wins: Indiana-Purdue. Oklahoma State-Kansas State?
Common Opponents: None.
Prediction: IU pulling out a win in memory of Coach Hoeppner would be a great way to end the season. They are a tenacious squad, but they’re going to be facing one of the most prolific offenses in the nation. If the Hoosiers want a shot at winning, they’ll have to exploit Okie State’s suspect pass defense. Unfortunately, I think that the Cowboys’ offense will prove to be too much, and that Dantrell Savage will have a big game en route to a 34-21 OSU victory
Bowl-O-Rama: The Music City Bowl
With all the suspensions, the Seminoles could take a team Mini Cooper to the game.
Teams: Kentucky & Florida State
Location: LP Field, Nashville, TN
Miles Traveled By Each Team: Kentucky(212), Florida State(494)
Related Cereal: Guitar Crunch(Please keep the air guitar to a minimum when consuming).
Breakdown: Kentucky heads into this game with the #52 ranked rushing offense(156yds/gm, 19TD's), and the #24 ranked passing offense(282yds/gm, 36TD's). Overall, their offense is ranked #25 in the nation. On defense, the Wildcats’ defense is ranked #92 against the run(190yds/gm, 18TD's), and #21 against the pass(200yds/gm, 23TD's). Their total defense is ranked #65, and surrenders an average of 390yds/gm and has allowed 46 total touchdowns.
Their opponent, Florida State, comes into the game with the #96 ranked rush attack(121yds/gm, 10TD's), and the #47 ranked passing offense(232yds/gm, 14TD's). Their total offense is ranked #82. The Seminoles’ defense is ranked #22 against the rush(114yds/gm, 10TD's), and #73 against the pass(236yds/gm, 20TD's). Their total defense is ranked #36, and allows an average of 350yds/gm and has given up 33 total touchdowns.
Signature Wins: Kentucky-LSU. FSU-Boston College.
Common Opponents: Florida. Kentucky lost against Florida, 37-45. FSU lost 12-45.
Prediction: Nashville is a fitting destination for the Seminoles this year. The home of country music could come up with endless whining melodies about another disappointing season, and the suspension of 20+ players for the bowl game(my girl, my dog, my truck, my futbawl team, waaa!). FSU’s defense has been decent all year, especially against the pass, but the offense has a tough time scoring points. Combine the suspensions with Kentucky’s ability to move the ball fairly well and this one could get out of hand quick. The Wildcats win, 35-17.
Bowl-O-Rama: The Sun Bowl
"Only steers and queers come from Texas, Private Cowboy. And you don't look much like a steer to me so that kinda narrows it down." Wait. What's that? Your mascot is a bull? Well then, moo moo buckaroo!
Teams: South Florida & Oregon
Location: Sun Bowl Stadium, El Paso, TX
Miles Traveled By Each Team: South Florida(1,724), Oregon(1,655)
Related Cereal: Raisin Bran(Sunny, the creepy breakfast character, is watching you eat).
Breakdown: South Florida heads into this game with the #28 ranked rushing offense(193yds/gm, 30TD's), and the #55 ranked passing offense(228yds/gm, 17TD's). Overall, their offense is ranked #39 in the nation. On defense, the Bulls’ defense is ranked #19 against the run(112yds/gm, 7TD's), and #40 against the pass(214yds/gm, 17TD's). Their total defense is ranked #22, and surrenders an average of 326yds/gm and has allowed 27 total touchdowns.
Their opponent, Oregon, comes into the game with the #8 ranked rush attack(243yds/gm, 31TD's), and the #62 ranked passing offense(218yds/gm, 22TD's). Their total offense is ranked #12. The Ducks’ defense is ranked #44 against the rush(136yds/gm, 13TD's), and #87 against the pass(250yds/gm, 18TD's). Their total defense is ranked #62, and allows an average of 386yds/gm and has given up 34 total touchdowns.
Signature Wins: South Florida-West Virginia. Oregon-Arizona State.
Common Opponents: None.
Prediction: Oregon without Dennis Dixon is a totally different, and largely ineffective, team. South Florida’s defense should be able to stop the Ducks’ rushing attack, and put more pressure on Oregon’s quarterback committee. George Selvie should be a disruptive force all game, and the Bulls should get the win, 28-17.
Bowl-O-Rama: The Humanitarian Bowl
Georgia Tech's passing offense isn't very good? But I thought that Reggie Ball used up all of his eligibility.(zing!)
Hey, look at that bulldog! Someone didn't put the antifreeze away properly.
Teams: Georgia Tech & Fresno State
Location: Bronco Stadium, Boise, ID
Miles Traveled By Each Team: Georgia Tech(2,171), Fresno State(721)
Related Cereal: Smurf Magic Berries(When you see the turf you’ll feel like you ate something “magical”).
Breakdown: Georgia Tech heads into this game with the #18 ranked rushing offense(202yds/gm, 26TD's), and the #102 ranked passing offense(182yds/gm, 8TD's). Overall, their offense is ranked #66 in the nation. On defense, the Yellow Jackets’ defense is ranked #12 against the run(100yds/gm, 15TD's), and #32 against the pass(210yds/gm, 11TD's). Their total defense is ranked #11, and surrenders an average of 310yds/gm and has allowed 28 total touchdowns.
Their opponent, Fresno State, comes into the game with the #16 ranked rush attack(264yds/gm, 30TD's), and the #82 ranked passing offense(202yds/gm, 14TD's). Their total offense is ranked #51. The Bulldogs’ defense is ranked #86 against the rush(182yds/gm, 21TD's), and #59 against the pass(227yds/gm, 16TD's). Their total defense is ranked #77, and allows an average of 409yds/gm and has given up 38 total touchdowns.
Signature Wins: Georgia Tech-Clemson. Fresno State-Kansas State?
Common Opponents: None.
Prediction: Both teams feature good rushing attacks, and Fresno State has a better pass offense. However, Georgia Tech has the better overall defense, and Fresno State has had trouble stopping run. That should mean a big day for Tashard Choice, who will find lots of running room against the Bulldogs. He should lead the way for the Yellow Jackets in victory, 27-21.
Bowl-O-Rama: The Armed Forces Bowl
Before reading on please take a moment to think about all the men and women serving in the military at home and abroad.
Teams: Cal & Air Force
Location: Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, TX
Miles Traveled By Each Team: Cal(1,701), Air Force(701)
Related Cereal: Jets(It’s the Air Force, what did you expect?).
Breakdown: Cal heads into this game with the #48 ranked rushing offense(162yds/gm, 20TD's), and the #51 ranked passing offense(233yds/gm, 18TD's). Overall, their offense is ranked #59 in the nation. On defense, the Golden Bears’ defense is ranked #58 against the run(151yds/gm, 19TD's), and #51 against the pass(222yds/gm, 16TD's). Their total defense is ranked #53, and surrenders an average of 374yds/gm and has allowed 36 total touchdowns.
Their opponent, Air Force, comes into the game with the #2 ranked rush attack(298yds/gm, 33TD's), and the #118 ranked passing offense(120yds/gm, 8TD's). Their total offense is ranked #40. The Falcons’ defense is ranked #37 against the rush(131yds/gm, 13TD's), and #57 against the pass(226yds/gm, 13TD's). Their total defense is ranked #44, and allows an average of 357yds/gm and has given up 27 total touchdowns.
Signature Wins: Cal-Oregon. Air Force-Utah.
Common Opponents: Colorado State. Cal beat Colorado State, 34-28. The Falcons beat them 45-21.
Prediction: At one point, Cal was being talked about as a contender for the national championship. Then Nate Longshore got a little banged up, and the wheels came off. Cal isn’t all that great on either side of the ball, though DeSean Jackson is a threat to score anytime he touches the ball. Air Force’s offense is based around their strong option run, and they should be able to have success executing it against the Golden Bears. Chad Hall should have a big game for the Falcons, and they should pull out the victory, 27-24.
Bowl-O-Rama: The Independence Bowl
Shreveport, LA, it's like a seedier, sweatier version of Vegas!
Teams: Alabama & Colorado
Location: Independence Stadium, Shreveport, LA
Miles Traveled By Each Team: Alabama(399), Colorado(1,084)
Related Cereal: C3PO’s(’Bama head coach Dick Satan isn’t real. He’s a football coaching C3PO-like android.).
Breakdown: Alabama heads into this game with the #60 ranked rushing offense(150yds/gm, 19TD's), and the #60 ranked passing offense(221yds/gm, 16TD's). Overall, their offense is ranked #75 in the nation. On defense, the Crimson Tide’s defense is ranked #34 against the run(128yds/gm, 14TD's), and #39 against the pass(212yds/gm, 17TD's). Their total defense is ranked #28, and surrenders an average of 341yds/gm and has allowed 32 total touchdowns.
Their opponent, Colorado, comes into the game with the #63 ranked rush attack(150yds/gm, 19TD's), and the #56 ranked passing offense(227yds/gm, 19TD's). Their total offense is ranked #72. The Buffaloes’ defense is ranked #32 against the rush(127yds/gm, 18TD's), and #101 against the pass(261yds/gm, 24TD's). Their total defense is ranked #64, and allows an average of 389yds/gm and has given up 44 total touchdowns.
Signature Wins: Alabama-Arkansas. Colorado-Oklahoma.
Common Opponents: FSU. ‘Bama lost to the Seminoles, 14-21. The Buffaloes lost 6-16.
Prediction: For the most part, these two teams have compiled similar stats throughout the season. However, Colorado has a little weaker pass defense, and I think that that will make the difference. John Parker Wilson hasn’t played particularly well this year, but he should have some success against the Buffaloes and lead ‘Bama to victory, 24-21.
Bowl-O-Rama: The Alamo Bowl
This was going to be called the Newsletter Bowl. Unfortunately, Dennis Franchione wasn't able to make it, but he still has double top secret info that he would like to sell you.
For those of you that have noticed something odd in the bowl game artwork, no, you're not crazy. Sometimes the colors get a little wacky when you use a hightech program like Paint. Personally, I think it goes perfectly with this mixed up season.
Teams: Penn State & Texas A&M
Location: Alamodome, San Antonio, TX
Miles Traveled By Each Team: Penn State(1,653), Texas A&M(169)
Related Cereal: Mr. Wonderfull’s Suprize(When Franchione was the head coach, every game was full of suprises).
Breakdown: Penn State heads into this game with the #32 ranked rushing offense(187yds/gm, 25TD's), and the #70 ranked passing offense(211yds/gm, 18TD's). Overall, their offense is ranked #56 in the nation. On defense, the Nittany Lions’ defense is ranked #6 against the run(87yds/gm, 7TD's), and #46 against the pass(218yds/gm, 14TD's). Their total defense is ranked #9, and surrenders an average of 306yds/gm and has allowed 25 total touchdowns.
Their opponent, Texas A&M, comes into the game with the #13 ranked rush attack(215yds/gm, 29TD's), and the #98 ranked passing offense(187yds/gm, 14TD's). Their total offense is ranked #54. The Aggies’ defense is ranked #57 against the rush(151yds/gm, 18TD's), and #104 against the pass(264yds/gm, 21TD's). Their total defense is ranked #83, and allows an average of 416yds/gm and has given up 40 total touchdowns.
Signature Wins: Penn St.-Wisconsin. Texas A&M-Texas.
Common Opponents: None.
Prediction: Once again, Texas A&M entered a season with high hopes only to struggle through their schedule. They have the personnel in place, at least on offense, to be a decent team, but former coach Dennis Franchione did a great job at squandering it. On the other side, Penn State put together an “ok” season, mostly due to their strong defense. They should be able to slow down the Aggies’ rushing attack, and force them into throwing more than they’re comfortable with. The Nittany Lions should pull out the win here, 31-20.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Bowl-O-Rama: The Liberty Bowl
Welcome to Memphis! Hey, at least it's not as dangerous as Detroit!
Teams: UCF & Mississippi State
Location: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis, TN
Miles Traveled By Each Team: UCF(825), Mississippi State(173)
Related Cereal: Toasties(Because that’s how Sly Croom’s voice makes us all feel inside).
Breakdown: UCF heads into this game with the #9 ranked rushing offense(242yds/gm, 41TD's), and the #101 ranked passing offense(183yds/gm, 15TD's). Overall, their offense is ranked #32 in the nation. On defense, the Knights’ defense is ranked #38 against the run(131yds/gm, 14TD's), and #85 against the pass(248yds/gm, 26TD's). Their total defense is ranked #58, and surrenders an average of 379yds/gm and has allowed 43 total touchdowns.
Their opponent, Mississippi State, comes into the game with the #79 ranked rush attack(135yds/gm, 17TD's), and the #108 ranked passing offense(170yds/gm, 12TD's). Their total offense is ranked #112. The Bulldogs’ defense is ranked #65 against the rush(159yds/gm, 14TD's), and #10 against the pass(182yds/gm, 20TD's). Their total defense is ranked #28, and allows an average of 341yds/gm and has given up 35 total touchdowns.
Signature Wins: UCF-Tulsa(Twice). Mississippi State-Kentucky.
Common Opponents: UAB. UCF beat UAB, 45-31. Mississippi State defeated them 30-13.
Prediction: Mississippi State put together a nice season with a very strong pass defense, but their rush defense isn’t quite as strong. In facing UCF, they’re going up against one of the best running backs in the nation, Kevin Smith(*cough*Doak Walker snub*cough*). He’s just 180 yards shy of breaking Barry Sanders’ single season yardage record, and should have a legit shot of reaching that yardage against the Bulldogs. As much as I would love to see some more “Croomed” pics of the lolcat variety, I think that UCF is going to run over Mississippi State, 35-21
Bowl-O-Rama: The Meineke Car Care Bowl
If you're lucky, admission will include a free lube and rotation!
Teams: Connecticut & Wake Forest
Location: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
Miles Traveled By Each Team: UConn(786), Wake Forest(80)
Related Cereal: Shredded Wheat(It keeps you running regular, just like oil changes and tune-ups).
Breakdown: UConn heads into this game with the #45 ranked rushing offense(165yds/gm, 17TD's), and the #91 ranked passing offense(193yds/gm, 14TD's). Overall, their offense is ranked #83 in the nation. On defense, the Huskies’ defense is ranked #64 against the run(158yds/gm, 13TD's), and #14 against the pass(187yds/gm, 11TD's). Their total defense is ranked #31, and surrenders an average of 346yds/gm and has allowed 27 total touchdowns.
Their opponent, Wake Forest, comes into the game with the #72 ranked rush attack(143yds/gm, 19TD's), and the #94 ranked passing offense(191yds/gm, 12TD's). Their total offense is ranked #98. The Demon Deacons’ defense is ranked #17 against the rush(108yds/gm, 13TD's), and #78 against the pass(242yds/gm, 20TD's). Their total defense is ranked #38, and allows an average of 351yds/gm and has given up 34 total touchdowns.
Signature Wins: UConn-South Florida. Wake Forest-FSU?.
Common Opponents: Duke and Virginia. Connecticut beat the Blue Devils, 45-14. Wake Forest defeated them 41-36. UConn lost to Virginia, 16-17. Wake Forest lost by the same 16-17 score.
Prediction: Wake Forest should be able to find some running room against the UConn defense, but I don’t think it will be quite enough. The Huskies will give Riley Skinner problems all game, and in the end, the powerful combo of Dixon and Brown should give Connecticut the win, 27-21
Bowl-O-Rama: The Emerald Bowl
Unless you're a total college football junkie you probably should have something better to do than watch this game. Yes, I'll be in front of my TV at 8:30 just like the rest of you addicts.
Teams: Maryland & Oregon State
Location: AT&T Park, San Francisco, CA
Miles Traveled By Each Team: Maryland(2,814), Oregon State(572)
Related Cereal: Lucky Charms(That damn leprechaun is hording more than a pot of gold), or Rainbow Brite.
Breakdown: Maryland heads into this game with the #65 ranked rushing offense(147yds/gm, 28TD's), and the #78 ranked passing offense(203yds/gm, 7TD's). Overall, their offense is ranked #88 in the nation. On defense, the Terps’ defense is ranked #45 against the run(136yds/gm, 15TD's), and #47 against the pass(219yds/gm, 13TD's). Their total defense is ranked #42, and surrenders an average of 355yds/gm and has allowed 31 total touchdowns.
Their opponent, Oregon State, comes into the game with the #43 ranked rush attack(166yds/gm, 25TD's), and the #76 ranked passing offense(207yds/gm, 10TD's). Their total offense is ranked #77. The Beavers’ defense is ranked #2 against the rush(74yds/gm, 12TD's), and #75 against the pass(238yds/gm, 18TD's). Their total defense is ranked #12, and allows an average of 313yds/gm and has given up 33 total touchdowns.
Signature Wins: Maryland-Boston College. Oregon State-Cal.
Common Opponents: None.
Prediction: Offensively this could be a very difficult game to watch. And by difficult I mean you might want to consider scrapbooking with the significant other in order to ensure no complaints when watching future(and much more entertaining) games. Between the two of them these offenses have a total of 17 passing TD’s. Yikes. At least the Beavers have Yvenson Bernard to spice things up a bit. Oregon State’s defense should be able to keep the Terrapins from doing too much, and the Beavers should come away with the victory, 20-10
Bowl-O-Rama: The Texas Bowl
Al Gore fully supports Houston's participation in this bowl, and he urges the players to ride Segways to the stadium.
Teams: TCU & Houston
Location: Reliant Stadium, Houston, TX
Miles Traveled By Each Team: TCU(269), Houston(0)
Related Cereal: Waffelos(It’s got a cowboy on the box. It has to be related to Texas.)
Breakdown: TCU heads into this game with the #40 ranked rushing offense(169yds/gm, 19TD's), and the #61 ranked passing offense(219yds/gm, 13TD's). Overall, their offense is ranked #64 in the nation. On defense, the Horned Frogs’ defense is ranked #18 against the run(109yds/gm, 12TD's), and #34 against the pass(210yds/gm, 12TD's). Their total defense is ranked #16, and surrenders an average of 320yds/gm and has allowed 26 total touchdowns.
Their opponent, Houston, walks(literally! into the stadium with the #10 ranked rush attack(239yds/gm, 32TD's), and the #27 ranked passing offense(273yds/gm, 23TD's). Their total offense is ranked #4. The Cougars’ defense is ranked #51 against the rush(141yds/gm, 19TD's), and #53 against the pass(223yds/gm, 28TD's). Their total defense is ranked #49, and allows an average of 365yds/gm and has given up 47 total touchdowns.
Signature Wins: TCU-Stanford? Houston-Rice?(Win started a stretch where they went 6-1.)
Common Opponents: Southern Methodist and Colorado State. TCU beat Southern Methodist, 21-7. The Cougars beat them 38-28. The Horned Frogs beat Colorado State, 24-12. Houston beat them 38-27.
Prediction: TCU enters the Texas Bowl with the stronger defense. Early on they should be able to somewhat contain Houston’s high-powered offense. However, Houston’s strong rushing attack should wear out the TCU defense, and in the second half the Cougars should pull away a bit. TCU’s defense will keep them in it, but their offense just isn’t strong enough to keep up. Houston beats TCU, 31-20
Bowl-O-Rama: The Champs Sports Bowl
Win or lose, both these teams have to be looking forward to getting away from the frozen tundra up north.
Teams: Boston College & Michigan State
Location: Citrus Bowl, Orlando, FL
Miles Traveled By Each Team: Boston College(1,290), Michigan State(1,226)
Related Cereal: Flutie Flakes(Since it's a bowl game, Doug Flutie will be mentioned 10,000 times more than usual when B.C. has the ball).
Breakdown: Boston College heads into this game with the #105 ranked rushing offense(106yds/gm, 17TD's), and the #6 ranked passing offense(329yds/gm, 28TD's). Overall, their offense is ranked #27 in the nation. On defense, the Eagles’ defense is ranked #1 against the run(68yds/gm, 8TD's), and #103 against the pass(263yds/gm, 19TD's). Their total defense is ranked #25, and surrenders an average of 331yds/gm and has allowed 33 total touchdowns.
Their opponent, Michigan State, comes into the game with the #22 ranked rush attack(200yds/gm, 29TD's), and the #59 ranked passing offense(225yds/gm, 19TD's). Their total offense is ranked #33. The Spartans’ defense is ranked #42 against the rush(134yds/gm, 19TD's), and #43 against the pass(217yds/gm, 19TD's). Their total defense is ranked #40, and allows an average of 351yds/gm and has given up 39 total touchdowns.
Signature Wins: Boston College-Virginia Tech(The first meeting, obviously) Michigan State-Penn State.
Common Opponents: Bowling Green and Notre Dame. Boston College beat Bowling Green, 55-24. The Spartans beat them 28-17. The Eagles beat the Irish, 27-14. Michigan State beat them 31-14.
Prediction: Michigan State isn’t going to find much running room against the Eagles. Because of that they’re going to have to rely more on their passing game which isn’t a strength of this team. On the flipside, Matt Ryan should be able to complete passes against the MSU defense, and Andre Callender should be able to run the ball decently against the Spartans. Boston College gets the win against Michigan State, 21-17.
Bowl-O-Rama: The Holiday Bowl
Welcome back to "A Whale's Vagina".
Teams: Arizona State & Texas
Location: Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, CA
Miles Traveled By Each Team: Arizona State(356), Texas(1,301)
Related Cereal: Cocoa Crispies(Only because I can see ASU coach Dennis Erickson eating them with some Kahlua instead of milk.).
Breakdown: Arizona State heads into this game with the #67 ranked rushing offense(146yds/gm, 17TD's), and the #38 ranked passing offense(259yds/gm, 24TD's). Overall, their offense is ranked #52 in the nation. On defense, the Sun Devils’ defense is ranked #13 against the run(100yds/gm, 7TD's), and #69 against the pass(233yds/gm, 17TD's). Their total defense is ranked #27, and surrenders an average of 334yds/gm and has allowed 27 total touchdowns.
Their opponent, Texas, comes into the game with the #25 ranked rush attack(199yds/gm, 29TD's), and the #36 ranked passing offense(262yds/gm, 21TD's). Their total offense is ranked #13. The Longhorns’ defense is ranked #10 against the rush(95yds/gm, 11TD's), and #109 against the pass(275yds/gm, 20TD's). Their total defense is ranked #54, and allows an average of 374yds/gm and has given up 36 total touchdowns.
Signature Wins: Arizona St.-Cal? Texas-UCF(Pulled out a tough road win against the eventual C-USA champs).
Common Opponents: None.
Prediction: Both of these teams feature strong rushing defenses. However, Texas is a bit more vulnerable against the pass. Texas does field a stronger run game, but with the defenses that are going to be there I think this one comes down to the passing game. In that case, I believe that Rudy Carpenter will be able to have a bit more success than Colt McCoy, and he will guide Arizona State to a victory, 31-27.
Bowl-O-Rama: The Motor City Bowl
Welcome to America's Most Dangerous City! Enjoy the game!
Teams: Purdue & Central Michigan
Location: Ford Field, Detroit, MI
Miles Traveled By Each Team: Purdue(338), Central Michigan(154)
Related Cereal: Wheaties(You’ll need to enhance your strength to cope with the cold, and general stabiness of the area).
Breakdown: Purdue heads into the Detroit with the #77 ranked rushing offense(136yds/gm, 19TD's), and the #17 ranked passing offense(287yds/gm, 27TD's). Overall, their offense is ranked #35 in the nation. On defense, the Boilermakers’ defense is ranked #55 against the run(149yds/gm, 19TD's), and #72 against the pass(235yds/gm, 15TD's). Their total defense is ranked #60, and surrenders an average of 385yds/gm and has allowed 35 total touchdowns.
Their opponent, Central Michigan, comes into the game with the #34 ranked rush attack(182yds/gm, 34TD's), and the #32 ranked passing offense(265yds/gm, 24TD's). Their total offense is ranked #22. Central Michigan's defense is ranked #72 against the rush(165yds/gm, 28TD's), and #111 against the pass(284yds/gm, 31TD's). Their total defense is ranked #106, and allows an average of 450yds/gm and has given up 62 total touchdowns.
Signature Wins: Purdue-Central Michigan(The Boilermakers won the first contest, 45-22). Central Michigan-Ball St.
Common Opponents: None.
Prediction: Central Michigan’s offense has put up better numbers in the passing department, but both teams are pretty even in the running game. However, Purdue has a stronger defensive unit, and they should be able to slow Dan LeFevour a bit. Central Michigan’s defense is vulnerable, especially against the pass. Curtis Painter should have a good day throwing the ball for Purdue, and they should pull out the victory, 42-28.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Bowl-O-Rama: The Hawaii Bowl
Aloha!
Teams: Boise State & East Carolina
Location: Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, HI
Miles Traveled By Each Team: Boise St.(2,835), East Carolina(4,861)
Related Cereal: Dorset's Tasty, Toasted Spelt(Hey, it contains pineapple. When you're in Hawaii you've got to have pineapple.)
Breakdown: Boise State heads to Oahu with the #29 ranked rushing offense(192yds/gm, 34TD's), and the #22 ranked passing offense(283yds/gm, 32TD's). Overall, their offense is ranked #10 in the nation. On defense, the Broncos' defense is ranked #24 against the run(114yds/gm, 16TD's), and #37 against the pass(211yds/gm, 16TD's). Their total defense is ranked #21, and surrenders an average of 326yds/gm and has allowed 33 total touchdowns.
Their opponent, East Carolina, comes into the game with the #38 ranked rush attack(171yds/gm, 25TD's), and the #75 ranked passing offense(206yds/gm, 20TD's). Their total offense is ranked #71. The Pirates' defense is ranked #53 against the rush(145yds/gm, 14TD's), and #115 against the pass(290yds/gm, 24TD's). Their total defense is ranked #98, and allows an average of 436yds/gm and has given up 43 total touchdowns.
Signature Wins: Boise St.-Wyoming(Start of a nine game win streak). East Carolina-UCF(A solid win over the C-USA champs).
Common Opponents: Southern Miss. Boise St. defeated the Golden Eagles 38-16. East Carolina lost to them 21-28.
Prediction: Boise State's offense should prove to be too much for East Carolina to handle. Their rush defense gives up a good amount of yardage, and Boise State should be able to pretty much run at will. Look for Ian Johnson to put up good numbers, and for the Broncos to win, 42-21.
Bowl-O-Rama: The Las Vegas Bowl
Welcome to Sin City!
Teams: BYU & UCLA
Location: Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas, NV
Miles Traveled By Each Team: BYU(378), UCLA(270)
Related Cereal: Flatliner Crunch(Supposedly a real cereal, and I have to imagine that when you combine gambling, legal prostitution, drinking/drugs and college football that your heart explodes and you flatline.)
Breakdown: BYU comes to Vegas with the #58 ranked rushing offense(153yds/gm, 24TD's), and the #13 ranked pass attack(304yds/gm, 24TD's). Overall, their offense is ranked #15 in the nation. On defense, BYU is #9 against the run(92yds/gm, 12TD's), and #41 against the pass(215yds/gm, 11TD's). BYU's total defense is ranked #10, and they allow an average of 307yds/gm and have given up a total of 26 touchdowns.
UCLA heads into the game with the #62 ranked rushing offense(150yds/gm, 12TD's), and the #99 ranked passing offense(185yds/gm, 12TD's). Overall, their offense is ranked #96. UCLA's defense is #25 against the run(115yds/gm, 10TD's), and #71 against the pass(234yds/gm, 21TD's). Their total defense is ranked #34, and allows an average of 349yds/gm and they've allowed a total of 33TD's.
Signature Wins: BYU-Air Force(That was the start of a nine game winning streak). UCLA-BYU(That's right, the Bruins have already defeated BYU once this season).
Common Opponents: Utah and Arizona. BYU beat Utah 17-10. UCLA lost 6-44. BYU defeated Arizona 20-7. UCLA lost 27-34.
Prediction: UCLA's season has been a mess. They entered with high hopes, but struggled to finish .500. They did have wins over Cal and Oregon, but that loss against Notre Dame was ugly. BYU comes in with a nine game winning streak, and their offense will prove to be too much for the Bruins. BYU wins easily, 38-17.
Bowl-O-Rama: The New Mexico Bowl
Bringing you some college football bowl insight one game at a time...
Teams: Nevada & New Mexico
Location: University Stadium, Albuquerque, NM
Miles Traveled By Each Team: Nevada(1,023), New Mexico(0)
Related Cereal: Dinersaurs(To celebrate the rich dinosaur fossil record found throughout the state.)
Breakdown: Nevada rolls into town with the nation's #11 ranked rushing offense(225yds/gm, 25TD's) and the #35 ranked pass attack(263yds/gm, 29TD's). Overall, their offense is ranked #7. On defense, their ranked #79 against the run(172yds/gm, 25TD's), and #67 against the pass(231yds/gm, 20TD's). The Wolf Pack's total defense is ranked #71, and gives up an average of 403yds/gm and has allowed 49 total touchdowns.
Taking the field across from the them will be New Mexico, and their #84 ranked rushing offense(131yds/gm, 16TD's) and #57 ranked passing offense(226yds/gm, 14TD's). Overall, their offense is ranked #84 in the nation. On defense, the Lobos bring in the #31 ranked rush defense(126yds/gm, 9TD's) and #22 ranked pass defense(202yds/gm, 16TD's). New Mexico's total defense is ranked #23, and allows an average of 329yds/gm and has given up 28 total TD's.
Signature Wins: Nevada-Utah State?(It sparked a three game win streak, and a stretch of six games where two losses came by a combined five points). New Mexico-Arizona?
Common Opponents: New Mexico State and UNLV. Nevada beat New Mexico State 40-38. New Mexico beat them 44-34. Nevada beat UNLV 27-20. New Mexico defeated them 27-6.
Prediction: At full strength I would easily give the win to New Mexico. Their offense isn't quite as potent, but their defense is better and they have homefield advantage. However, their top two running backs(Freguson & Love) are both out which will really put pressure on their passing game and Donovan Porterie. Watch for Ezra Butler to be very active for Nevada's defense, and their offensive attack will eventually get them the win. Nevada beats New Mexico, 35-17.
Bowl-O-Rama: The Papa John's.com Bowl
Time to up the tempo on the 'ole preview machine since the bowl season officially starts...tomorrow! So much work, yet so little time. Anybody got any greenies? Anyway, on to the PJ's.com Bowl and beyond!
Southern Miss & Cincinnati
Location: Legion Field, Birmingham, AL
Miles Traveled By Each Team: Southern Miss(234), Cincinnati(462)
Related Cereal: Frosted Flakes + extra sugar(You're going to need all the sugar you can get if you're getting up on a Saturday morning/early afternoon to watch this one.)
Breakdown: Southern Miss brings their potent rushing attack to the PJ's.com Bowl. It's ranked #22 in the nation, and they average 200yds rushing per game and have scored 29 rushing touchdowns. Their passing offense isn't quite as a potent, though(193yds/gm, 12TD's, ranked #90). Overall, their offensive unit is ranked #62. The Golden Eagles' rush defense is ranked #48(139yds/gm, 15TD's), and their pass defense is ranked #52(223yds/gm, 20TD's). Their total defense is ranked #47, and allows an average of 363yds/gm, and has allowed a total of 35TD's.
Their opponent, Cincinnati, heads to B-Ham with the #56 ranked rush offense(154yds/gm, 20TD's), and the #23 ranked pass offense(282yds/gm, 32TD's). Overall, Cincy's offense is ranked #28. Their rush defense is ranked #15(105yds/gm, 9TD's), and their pass defense is #105(265yds/gm, 23TD's). Their total defense is ranked #51, and allows an average of 370yds/gm and has given up a total of 26TD's.
Signature Wins: Southern Miss-East Carolina? Cincy-South Florida(They're currently the highest ranked BCS team that Cincy beat).
Common Opponents: Marshall. Southern Miss defeated Marshall 33-24. Cincy beat them 40-14.
Prediction: Cincy's strength on defense is stopping the run. They should be able to do that against Southern Miss, and make the Golden Eagles a one dimensional team. Southern Miss just doesn't have the passing attack to get it done through the air, and they will fall behind early in this one. Look for Ben Mauk to have a big day on offense, and Corey Smith to rack up tackles on defense. Cincy wins 31-17.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
It's Vick's Gift That Just Keeps On Giving
So, you thought that the sportsfan in your life had already received everything they could possibly want. Well, put down that Belicheater cutoff sweatshirt, and save that officially licensed, NBA player approved personal alarm(because all we need help during home invasions) for Easter and head to the snowglobe portion of PETA's website. Once there, you'll be able to select from six nefarious characters. Well, it's really seven, but the Olsen Twins are just two halves of the same person. Anyway, since we're discussing sports here the one you want is "Dogfighter Michael Vick".
Shake up the globe, and watch(and listen) as Vick punts footballs onto his own head and prison dogs bark at him. There's no soap scene, so I'm not exactly sure how realistic it is, but you get the point. Send them to your dogloving friends, or to the Falcons fan that you love to piss off. Just make sure to spread the Christmas spirit around at someone else's misfortune. You'll take some pleasure in it when you're stuck in line listening to babies cry while you're buying a gift on Christmas Eve for someone you don't really even know, and definitely don't like. I can't wait for the President's Day version. Hopefully it has Abraham Lincoln chinbutting Vick while lecturing him about animal cruelty.
Bowl-O-Rama: The New Orleans Bowl
Getting a bit of a slow start on the bowl previews today, but that's what happens when "real life" intervenes and your lone fantasy football squad that's making a playoff appearance cries out for help. Have no fear, we're already up to the second bowl of the season!
Teams: Florida Atlantic & Memphis
Location: The Superdome, New Orleans, LA
Miles Traveled By Each Team: FAU(825), Memphis(395)
Related Cereal: Quaker Oats Oatmeal(FAU coach Howard Schnellenberger was their spokesman in the 80's and 90's after all. Diabeetis!)
Breakdown: FAU heads into the New Orleans Bowl with the #91 ranked rushing offense in the country(126yds/gm, 16TD's), and the #19 ranked pass offense(286yds/gm, 28TD's). Overall, their offense is ranked #45 in the country. On defense, the Owls have the #83 ranked rush defense(179yds/gm, 22TD's), and the #74 ranked pass defense(237yds/gm, 24TD's). Their total defense is ranked #85, and has allowed 52 total touchdowns and an average of 417yds/gm.
On the other side of the ball, Memphis enters the game with the #76 ranked rushing attack(139yds/gm, 13TD's), and the #12 ranked pass offense(307yds/gm, 30TD's). Overall, their offense is ranked #23 in the country. When they're on defense, the Tigers line up with the #110 ranked rush defense(209yds/gm, 26TD's), and the #64 ranked pass defense(229yds/gm, 20TD's). Their total defense is ranked #100, and has allowed 50TD's and an average of 439yds/gm.
Signature Wins: FAU-Troy(For a share of the Sun Belt). Memphis-Southern Miss?
Common Opponents: Arkansas State and Middle Tennessee. FAU defeated Ark. State 34-31, and Memphis lost against them 31-35. FAU beat MTSU 27-14, and Memphis lost 7-21.
Prediction: Both of these teams average about 30 points a game, and they've both scored 44 touchdowns on offense. Neither one's defense is all that great, and I think this game will come down to two things. The first is FAU's quarterback Rusty Smith. He's a QB with a strong arm that can make some great throws. I think that he'll be able to have some success against the Memphis secondary, and will move the ball for FAU. The second, is FAU's ability to take the ball away from their opponents. They're tied for first in the nation in turnover margin after gaining 33 total, and only turning the ball over 14 times. That gives them a +1.58 margin per game, and it should provide them with a few extra scoring chances in this game. FAU beats Memphis, 42-31.
Emmitt "Twinkle Toes" Smith Broadens Our Knowledge Of Dancing
As a graduate of the University of Florida, I can't help but be proud of everything that former Florida running back Emmitt Smith has accomplished. Seeing what he was able to do on the field was amazing. Fortunately for all of us, he was able to carry that over to the dance floor, and we all got a healthy dose of Emmitt shakin' his groovethang. Naturally, with his "Dancing With The Stars" victory came endorsement deals, and an explanation of exactly what dancing means to him. Listen, as Emmitt tells us about elongation.
And then he tells us about the dances he's familiar with. Please picture Emmitt breakdancing, and/or poppin' and lockin' for added entertainment value.
Finally, Emmitt lets us know about how it felt to have America critiquing him.
There's also a radio commercial playing on a local station with Emmitt endorsing this particular studio, and talking about the "Emmitt Effect". I'll see if I can get that uploaded as well at some point.
Please Do Not Support Your Dog Fighting Brethern
When the Falcons faced the Saints on Monday Night Football, after Michael Vick had been sentenced to 23 months in prison, a buddy and I noticed some of the Atlanta players sporting signs and messages supporting their incarcerated teammate. My friend asked me if I thought they would get fined, and I told him that, "yeah, their paychecks are probably going to be a bit lighter in the coming weeks". Well, today we found out that five players were collectively fined $47,500.
Roddy White and four other Atlanta Falcons were fined by the NFL for violating uniform regulations with tributes to Michael Vick during last week's Monday night game.
Vick, Atlanta's suspended Pro Bowl quarterback, was sentenced to 23 months in prison on federal dogfighting charges the morning of Dec. 10. The Falcons played at home against New Orleans that night.
After scoring a touchdown, White displayed a "Free Mike Vick" T-shirt under his jersey.
He, along with tight end Alge Crumpler and cornerbacks DeAngelo Hall and Chris Houston, were fined $10,000 each. Crumpler, Hall and Houston all wore black eye strips with written tributes to Vick, which the league called "displaying an unauthorized personal message."
Wide receiver Joe Horn was fined $7,500 for pulling up White's jersey to show the black T-shirt with handwritten white lettering. The fines were confirmed Tuesday by NFL spokesman Randall Liu.
I understand that these guys make a good amount of money, but it seems to be an awfully high price to pay just to voice your opinion. Obviously they're trying to show support for their teammate, but they have to understand that he's in his current situation because of his own actions. He hasn't been framed for anything, and their messages of support could be construed by some(not me, by the way) as supporting the illegal activities that have put Vick behind bars.
Bowl-O-Rama: The Poinsettia Bowl
The end of the college football season is almost here, but before it's all over we get one final bombardment of tackles, touchdowns and thrills. We're almost on the last frame, so follow us as we buff our balls, and help you close it out with some strikes of knowledge.
First up, the Poinsettia Bowl!
Teams: Utah & Navy
Location: Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, CA
Miles Traveled By Each Team: Utah(751), Navy(2,710)
Related Cereal: Kashi Vive(It has be healthy since it's in San Diego, and Vive goes right through you like the Navy rushing attack)
Breakdown: Utah's rushing offense is ranked #47(163yds/gm), and their pass offense is ranked #85(199yds/gm). Overall, they're ranked #81. The Utes bring in the #35 rush defense(130yds/gm, 12TD's) and the #15 pass defense(189yds/gm, 7TD's). Utah's total defense is ranked #15, gives up an average of 319yds/gm, and has allowed only 20 total TD's.
Navy comes in with the #1 ranked rushing offense that averages 351 rush yards/game. They achieve very little offensive balance by complimenting that with a passing offense that's ranked deadass last at #119, and averages 93 pass yards/game. Their total offense is ranked #24 in the nation. On defense, the Midshipmen are ranked #80 against the run(172yds/gm, 24TD's), and #106 against the pass(265yds/gm, 31TD's). Overall, Navy's defense is ranked #99, and surrenders an average of 438yds/gm, and has given up a total of 56TD's.
Signature Wins: Utah-UCLA?(the only ranked opponent that they beat)
Navy-Pitt?(they did beat WVU after all).
Common Opponents: Air Force. Utah lost against the Falcons, 12-20. Navy beat them 31-20.
Prediction: Utah's defensive strength is slanted heavily towards the pass. Against Navy that won't matter too much since they run the ball about 99.9% of the time. Utah's offense is much more balanced, but I think that Navy's rushing attack will allow them to control the clock and keep the Utes defense on the field for extended periods of time. Third down could end up playing a huge factor because Navy has converted 52.5% of their attempts this season. Utah might get a few stops, but I still don't think it will be enough. They'll hang around for a few quarters, but the Navy rushing attack will eventually wear them down and lead the Midshipmen to victory. Navy over Utah, 31-17.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Rodriguez To Meeechigan
By now it's sort of old news. Rich Rodriguez, now the former head coach at West Virginia, has accepted the head coaching job at Michigan.
Just when it appeared that Michigan was having serious trouble luring anyone to Ann Arbor, reports started coming out that Rodriguez was a candidate. The most telltale sign of his interest came with one of those "Rodriguez mum on Michigan job rumors". Because when you don't say anything that's a sure sign of interest. Well, unless you're Dick Satan.
So now the Wolverines have a head coach, and an entirely new style of offense. Personally, I think that if RichRod(now that is a great nickname) can get another mobile quarterback in there, *cough*Terrelle Pryor*cough*, then he could acvieve success in the Big 10. Let's be honest, Ryan Mallett is not the right QB for the Rodriguez system, so it's going to take a while for him to get the personnel in place. The bigger problem that I foresee is with the Michigan defense. The Mountaineers have never been known for stellar defensive play, especially against the run. They allowed an average of 126yds rushing per game in '04, but improved on that in '05(99yds/gm) and '06(87yds/gm). However, they regressed a little in '07 when they averaged 107yds/gm rushing on defense. In the Big 10, Rodriguez is going to be facing four teams(MSU, OSU, Wisconsin, Illinois) that averaged 200 yards or more rushing per game in 2007. Good luck with that.
Michigan did need a "big name" hire, and Rodriguez gives them that. It's invigorated a fanbase that was probably feeling a bit discouraged after other coaches rebuffed their hiring attempts. Better yet, I'm sure it's put their opponents on notice. As of right now, it appears that Michigan has made a good hire, though I'm curious to see who comes in to run the defense because that might be the most important decision in the early going. Only time will tell if Rodriguez is a good partner for Ann Arbor. Unfortunately, I'm not sure that the Wolverine faithful will be all that patient.
My Miami Dolphins Won!
I know some people get all pissy when you say "we", "us", "our" or "my" when referring to a sports team. They feel that since you don't play for the team that you're not really part of it. Well, guess what? When you suffer through a season like this one, and you stay onboard no matter how shitty it gets then you deserve to consider yourself as part of the team. At least the players get paid for what they do. Fans give 100% every game, and their only compensation comes in the form of wins. So today, the Miami Dolphins belong to everyone that has cheered them on, even when it looked like they might not win a game.
I remember thinking yesterday before the early games started that this could be the first win of the season. Sure, I had thought that quite a few times this year, but after seeing how bad the Ravens played against Indy I really felt it could happen. Then I checked the TV schedule, and saw that the game wasn't going to be on. Instead I got the Jaguars/Steelers game, which turned out to be good, but it wasn't my Dolphins. I couldn't even find it on Sopcast, and had to resort to listening to it on the radio. Straight old school style.
As time wound down, and Miami set up for the late, apparent game winning field goal I tried to not get too excited. I had been down this road before, and it hadn't turned out good all season. Wouldn't you know, after making it Jay Feely kicks the ball out of bounds on the ensuing kickoff. That gave the Ravens great field position, and they marched the ball right down the field. I thought for sure that they were going to score the winning touchdown, but the Dolphins defense held in there and forced them to kick the tying field goal. Miami took a knee after receiving the kickoff, and in to overtime we headed.
After the Ravens won the toss, it felt like most of the Dolphins' momentum was gone. The defense was obviously worn out, and the earlier shot at winning the game had come and gone. Baltimore drove down the field, then set up for the winning field goal. At this point I was glad that the radio announcers were discussing Stover's perfect overtime record. Normally, I'm yelling at the commentators to shut the hell up because they're jinxing my team, but not this time. And what do you know? Stover fucking missed it! I turned to my buddy, and yelled "he missed it, no fucking way!" Right then, I knew that Miami had a chance.
They started out with a run for a loss. Then followed that up with a Cleo Lemon rush for a few yards. Just like that, it was third and decently long. What happened next is something I will never forget. Remember, I was listening to it on the radio so I had to rely on the Miami announcers to let me know what was happening. They tell me that Lemon throws a little in pass, and that the receiver has it and is turning up field. They start counting down the yardage, "40, 45, 50, 45" and then the words I've been waiting for all year, "he might score, it looks like Camarillo is going to score, the Dolphins are going to win!" I couldn't believe it. A few seconds later the replay flashed up on the CBS postgame report, and my buddy and I got to see it unfold. At that point, we were still jumping around and high-fiving like Miami had won the Super Bowl. We calmed down just enough to see Camarillo roll into the end zone untouched, and then quickly resumed the celebration afterwards. A season of futility had been erased with that 64-yard touchdown strike, and even now a part of me can't believe it.
I told a few people that asked me what I wanted for Christmas that I would take a Miami win over New England on the 23rd. Well, that's still true, but Christmas came about a week early for this Miami fan. My Miami Dolphins won, and I couldn't be any happier.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Beckham Visits The Hood
Yes, America's soccer savior spent some time with Tha Doggfather himself, and this Sunday we all get to see it.
David makes a guest appearance on reality show Snoop Dogg’s Father Hood, which airs in the US on Sunday 16th December at 10.30pm on E! Entertainment Television, teaching soccer skills to Snoop’s kids in a bid to help them adopt a healthier lifestyle. However, in return David asks Snoop to accompany him to a chicken and waffle house. Luckily for David, the soccer season is over!
Snoop Dogg’s Father Hood premiers in the UK on Sunday January 20th @ 10.30pm only on E! Entertainment Television (Sky: 152 / Virgin: 173) Don’t miss it!
Personally, I can't wait to see Becks and D-O-Double G do some soccer drills. Though, I have a feeling that at some point Snoop will end up getting frustrated, and he'll challenge Beckham to a game of "real football". In any case, it should be entertaining, and maybe we'll see Snoop get Beckham blazed.
Friday, December 14, 2007
It's 5 O'Clock Somehere- Mashup Edition
Since it's Friday, and the end of the workweek for most people, we think that you should be provided with a post that takes the edge off so to speak. Because it's going to be random and hopefully humorous, that means that it won't always be sports related. It will also pop up at any time on Friday.
So this morning I did an Internet search for "Jukebox Hero Remix". As I was going through the results I came across the website of DJ John. He's got some really cool remixes in his "mashup" section, but my favorite by far was the "Victim of Da Funk" track. It's a great way to start off the weekend.
Happy Friday!
He's Putting The "Fan" In "Fanatic"
There are a number of different types of fans out there. Some are just casual fans. Others are fair-weather fans. Some would consider themselves diehards. And then there are those fans that the others can't even explain. Mark Griffiths could very well fall into that last category.
Griffiths is a Red Sox fan, and he obviously can't wait for Boston to head south in a few months for spring training. He's so excited that he got in line on Thursday at noon for tickets. That go on sale on Saturday.
Mark Griffiths of Naples read that the first person in line for last year's Boston Red Sox spring training tickets started camping out at 5 p.m. on the Thursday before tickets went on sale Saturday.
"I figured if I got here at noon (Thursday), I'd have them," said Griffiths, 39, the first to set up camp in front of City of Palms Park.
Griffiths sat in a lawn chair, set up a small table and stockpiled various snacks and plenty of smokes.
He also has an inflatable mattress and a lawn chair for his girlfriend, Maria Zavala of Naples.
"She'll bring me some good food," Griffiths said.
He's probably lucky that she's not bringing him his stuff after kicking him out. Though, in this crazy mixed up world she's probably sleeping with a Yankees fan while he's waiting in line.
Maybe Chuck Was Asking For Some Stiff Arm Pointers
It seems that anything and everything related to Chuck Norris has experienced a resurgence in recent years. From the "Chuck Norris Facts", to the commercials, to even political endorsements, if you're with Chuck, then you're just that much cooler.
I guess that puts Florida quarterback Tim Tebow towards the top of the list at this point in time. Not only did Tebow just win the Heisman Trophy as a sophomore, but he also received a fax from Mr. Norris.One of the many reporters gathered around Tebow wanted to know what sort of celebrity encounters Tebow has had since he won the Heisman Saturday night.
The first “celebrity” Tebow thought of was Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, who Tebow said left him a voicemail. (OK, Crist’s an FSU guy, so perhaps that is a big gesture).
Then Tebow, ever so casually, tells us that Chuck Norris sent his congratulations. Tebow said it with a totally straight face. So ss reporters start looking at each other, like “Is he for real?”
Chuck Norris? Walker Texas Ranger wanted to talk to Tim Tebow? Did he want to compare outlandish facts?
This was just too good to be true. But it was. Norris indeed sent Tebow a fax, assistant sports information director Zack Higbee confirmed.
Incredible! Major Scott McCoy took time out of his busy schedule of asskicking to send Tebow a fax.
I would be willing to bet that none of the other Heisman winners ever got a message from Chuck. Though, Vinny Testaverde might have very well gotten one from Sonny Crockett.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
The Mitchell Report
The Mitchell Report was released today, and it provides a pretty good insight into steroid(HGH, etc.) use in Major League Baseball. I'm not going to go into it too much in this post because I'm still reading through it. If you want more expansive coverage, then head on over to Deadspin.
One thing I did want to address was the inclusion of Roger Clemens in the report. It appears that Clemens has utilized "steroids" quite frequently since at least 1998. How will this information affect his legacy?
Personally, I don't believe that it will affect it much.
This is based primarily on the fact that Clemens is a pitcher, and the belief that the public sees a pitcher using steroids differently than they see a hitter that uses steroids. And remember, that the court of public opinion is often the harshest of all.
I think that when the public hears about a pitcher using performance enhancers a majority of them justify it by tying the use to rehabilitation and not gaining a competitive advantage. I feel that many people hear about a pitcher like "The Rocket" using HGH, or injecting Winstrol, and they, in their own minds, see it as a way for him to keep his arm fresh. Not make it more powerful. They don't feel that Clemens is doing it to get a leg-up, but rather that he's trying to prolong his career.
On the other hand, when they hear about hitters like Giambi, Palmeiro, Sheffield or Bonds using a performance enhancer they instantly envision homeruns flying out of ballparks. They feel that the hitters are gaining a competitive advantage, and that they're tainting the game. They will vilify the hitters for the rest of their lives, while giving the pitchers a "free pass" of sorts. All because of their perception of how performancing enhancers relate to each position.
Fathead Lets Us All Know Who Sucks
I'm sure that most of you are familiar with "Fathead". You've probably seen their slightly annoying commercials. Though, the one with the bear spitting fire is mildly amusing.
While perusing their site the other day I happened across some of the ones that are on sale. Most are on sale because the player featured is playing for a different team now. Notice I said "most", but not "all". No, some of the players are still playing for team pictured in their Fathead.
And who are they?
Why, it's Chad "Noodle Arm" Pennington and Rex "Sex Cannon" Grossman of course!
Now, both of them could be playing for new teams next season, and that's probably why they're on sale. However, they're both still on the roster of their respective team. Though, it is nice that Fathead is providing this "players who suck" service free of charge.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Yes, You Heard Correctly, Petrino To Arkansas
It was announced last night that Bobby Petrino, now the former Atlanta Falcons' head coach after just 13 games, is leaving to take the vacant head coaching spot at Arkansas. Some are probably happy, and some are probably mad. Pat Forde says that he's worse than Nick Satan, and cautions Arkansas fans against getting too excited about anything long-term.
Back in August, I touched on the fact that the Falcons team he was preparing to coach was much different than the one that was there when he signed on. Jokingly, I wondered aloud if he would try to get his old job at Louisville back before the season even started. Looks like I was a little wrong on the timeframe, and in the wrong conference, but other than that I wasn't too far off.
Petrino has a history of making these types of moves, as Forde covers in his column, so it's not too surprising to see this. A little suspect? Yes. But certainly not surprising. Though, with the ongoing Vick debacle looming over the team, I'm sure that some feel that Petrino should get a "free pass" of sorts. Personally, since I'm not a Falcons or Razorbacks fan I can't say that I care too much one way or the other. The SEC gets another solid college coach which makes the conference stronger(for at least a few games), but outside of that Petrino's move out of Atlanta doesn't really bother me. All the parties involved knew what his tendencies were before he was hired, and no matter what he said there always had to be a belief, no matter how small, that he could bolt at any time.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Todd Sauerbrun Is At It Again
Todd Sauerbrun, the juicing punter who refused to kick away from Devin Hester and paid the price, is back in the news. This time it's for assaulting a cab driver.
Denver police said Sauerbrun was cited for simple assault early Saturday after an altercation with a cab driver.
Surprisingly, I have a transcript here of how the whole thing went down. What follows may or may not be true.
Sauerbrun: Hey buddy, I just wanted to let you know up front that I won't be paying for this cab ride.
Cabbie: Yeah, ok. Where ya headed?
Sauerbrun: Seriously, I'm not going to pay.
Cabbie: Whatever. Look do you need me to drive you somewhere or not asshole?
Sauerbrun: Yes. I need to go to this address(hands cabbie slip of paper).
Cabbie: Ok. What does this say? Dr. Amesjay Ortshay? That's a weird name.
Sauerbrun: Yes, he's Middle Eastern. Now could you please step on it? I need to get something from him immediately.
They arrive at the destination, and Sauerbrun leaves for a few minutes. He soon returns with a small package.
Sauerbrun: Alright, let's get outta here. I've got some chicks waiting for me at home. It's #10 Dooshbagg Ct.
Cabbie: No problem.
The cabbie gets Sauerbrun home, and waits to be paid.
Sauerbrun: Sorry man. I told ya I wasn't going to pay upfront. And if you know me, then you know that I make good on those statements no matter what the consequences.
The cabbie hops out with a blackjack, and starts advancing towards Sauerbrun.
Cabbie: Listen, you punk motherfucker. I'm gonna get my money, or I'm going to kick your ass. It's your choice.
Sauerbrun grabs a rock, and hurls it wildly at the cabbie hitting his foot. He then turns and runs toward his front door.
Sauerbrun: Screw you cabbie!
Cabbie: What an idiot. I've got his name and address. Time to call my lawyer. I'm rich bitch!
As you can clearly see, Sauerbrun was up to his latest douchetastic tricks. It appears that the cabbie has a valid complaint, and he'll probably get paid. Maybe that will teach Sauerbrun not to make irresponsible decisions.
Anthony Smith's Mouth Has To Be Overdrawn
What's the old saying? "Don't let your mouth write checks that your ass can't cash"? If that's the case, then Anthony Smith's mouth has to be deep in the red.
You might not have known who Anthony Smith was before last week, but after his guarantee of a Pittsburgh victory over the Patriots everyone knew who he was. Yes, he guaranteed a victory, and yes the Steelers got blasted by New England. Ultimately losing by three touchdowns.
For the most part, I don't really have a problem with guarantees. I do think they're rather irresponsible because it gives your opponent something to tack up on their locker room billboard. However, the one thing that I do hate about guarantees is that it's oftentimes done by players that probably aren't going to affect the outcome of the game too much. Think about it, Anthony Smith is a backup safety. He's not the starting quarterback, running back or a defensive leader. His guarantee just puts more pressure on his teammates to play a perfect game. And for God's sake man, if you're going to guarantee something don't get burnt to a crisp on two pass plays.
For those of you that were hoping that Smith's televised embarrassment would quiet him a bit(i.e.-Steelers' fans), I have some bad news. Smith has "guaranteed" that the Steelers will face the Pats again this season.
Still, Smith wasn't reluctant afterward to discuss his much-publicized remarks, which led some of the remaining fans in Gillette Stadium to chant "guar-an-tee, guar-an-tee" as the game wound down.
Smith's take: the Steelers didn't play well, but there's always next month.
"We will see them again," Smith said.
I'm all for a player having the utmost confidence in his abilities and his team. You have to have that if you want to succeed in just about anything. However, after getting torched so bad just a day before the last thing Anthony Smith should be doing is discussing possible playoff matchups. He should be preparing to face Reggie Williams, Fred Taylor, Maurice Jones-Drew, and the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Because I can guarantee you that the Jags will play the Steelers as tough as anyone as they try to secure a wildcard spot. And the Steelers can't afford a lose with the Browns just one game behind them in the AFC North.
Monday, December 10, 2007
The Gold Medal That Might Go Unawarded
When you devote your life to training to become an Olympic athlete the highest honor is receiving a gold medal. Unfortunately, sometimes athletes engage in various methods of cheating, and those that are awarded the gold medal have to be stripped of them. You might think that just handing them off to whoever finished second is the best way to right the wrong, but that's not always the case.
The IOC postponed the reallocation of the five Olympic medals returned by Marion Jones following her admission that she began doping before the 2000 Sydney Games.
The International Olympic Committee had been expected to rule on the medal changes -- which could affect more than three dozen athletes -- during its three-day executive board meeting that started Monday.
But board member Denis Oswald said the IOC wants more information from the BALCO steroid investigation before deciding whether to upgrade doping-tainted Greek sprinter Katerina Thanou to Jones' gold in the women's 100 meters.
Yes, I'm sure that we're all aware that Marion Jones wasn't 100% clean when she won her gold medals. The IOC is taking them from her no doubt, but what isn't clear is who will get them. While we've all heard of Marion Jones, most of us might not have heard of Katerina Thanou or her weird story surrounding a missed drug test.
Normally when an Olympic medalist is disqualified, the standings are adjusted so that the next-place finisher moves up and those below also go up a spot. However, there is reluctance among some IOC officials to upgrade Thanou because she was involved in a high-profile scandal at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
"If we upgrade her we would have to be sure," Oswald said.
One option under consideration is leaving the gold medal spot vacant.
"This is an open question all the time," Oswald said. "We have to study the legal basis and the flexibility we have."
Thanou and fellow Greek runner Kostas Kenteris failed to show up for drug tests on the eve of the games and claimed they were injured in a motorcycle accident. They were forced to pull out of the Olympics and were later banned for two years.
Without evidence that Thanou was guilty of any doping violation in Sydney, the IOC would need other reasons for not awarding her the gold.
In October, lawyers for Thanou, Kenteris and their former coach, Christos Tzekos, said investigations have found no evidence that the three were involved in BALCO and that Greek prosecutors had dropped a probe into the case.
So, for now at least, the gold medal doesn't really belong to anyone, and there's a good chance that no one will end up with it. It will be interesting to see what the IOC finally decides, especially with the 2008 Olympics fast approaching.
Bowl Season '07, Racking Up The Frequent Flyer Miles
The pairings have been announced. We know where each of the 64 teams invited to the postseason will be heading. But how far do they have to travel? And which teams get to stay close to home, while others get to accumulate mass amounts of frequent flyer miles? Let's check out the stats, and see what we come up with.
Crank Up The Distance Calculator Here
First, the mileage listed is an estimation from Google maps. Second, I put this list together mostly for fun, but also as a rough idea of how far each team's fanbase has to travel. While all teams have fans spread throughout the country, the highest concentration is probably on the campus of each respective school. You can view/cut & paste all of the mileage info here.
It's Like Playing In Their Backyard!
For two bowl teams, walking to the stadium might be the fastest way to get there. Both New Mexico and Houston are playing in their respective home cities, and New Mexico actually gets to play in their home stadium.
I Just Flew In For My Bowl Game, And Boy Are My Arms Tired
The winner for the farthest distance traveled is East Carolina. They're going to rack up an impressive 4,861 miles one-way on their journey to Honolulu. Of course, Hawaii came in a close second with 4,204 miles one-way as they head to the Sugar Bowl. Nothing like the distant third place that Colt Brennan secured in the Heisman voting against "system quarterback" Tim Tebow(zing!).
We'll Give You A Head Start And Probably Still Beat You There
Which bowl games have the biggest differential in terms of miles traveled between the two teams? We already talked about how far East Carolina and Hawaii have to travel. Overall, Hawaii leads the way with a 3,663 mile differential between them and their opponent, Georgia(541 miles to the Sugar Bowl). And while East Carolina does have to travel a long way, there's a 2,026 mile differential between them and Boise State's itinerary(2,835 miles to Honolulu), it's actually Maryland that holds down the #2 spot. The difference in mileage to the Emerald Bowl between them and Oregon State is 2,242 miles. Illinois(2,001 miles) heading to the Rose Bowl to face USC(10 miles), 1,991 mile differential, and Navy(2,710 miles) shipping out to the Poinsettia Bowl against Utah(751 miles), a 1,959 mile differential, occupy the fourth and fifth spots respectively.
Need A Ride? We'll Swing By And Pick You Up
And what about the bowls with the lowest mileage differential? In first place, is the International Bowl featuring Ball State(511 miles) and Rutgers(499 miles), and its mere 12 miles of travel differential. The Chick-fil-A Bowl is a close second at 16 miles, and features Clemson(124 miles traveled) and Auburn(108 miles). Third place goes to the Champs Sports Bowl(64 miles) and its two teams, Boston College(1,290 miles) and Michigan State(1,226 miles). Fourth place is held by the Sun Bowl(69 miles), which features South Florida(1,724 miles) and Oregon(1,655 miles). And fifth place goes to the Las Vegas Bowl(108 miles), which showcases BYU(378 miles) and UCLA(270 miles).
What About The Big Boys?
We already know that the Sugar Bowl has the highest travel differential between its two teams, Hawaii and Georgia. The Rose Bowl comes in second. In third, it's the Fiesta Bowl(1,099 miles), which features West Virgina(2,135 miles) and Oklahoma(1,036 miles). Fourth place goes to the BCS Title Game(829 miles), and its match-up of LSU(80 miles) and Ohio State(909 miles). Fifth place is held by the Orange Bowl(600 miles), which pits Kansas(1,489 miles) against Virginia Tech(889 miles).
Miscellaneous Trivia And Observations
Outside of New Mexico and Houston, there are a few teams that don't have to travel very far for their bowl game. Wake Forest only has to make a roughly 80 mile trip. Auburn isn't too far off with an estimated trip of just a bit over 100 miles. Florida is just a little higher with a trip of around 115 miles. USC basically walks down the street with an estimated journey of about 10 miles. And LSU gets what could be considered a homegame when they travel just 80 miles or so to play in the biggest game of the year for the BCS title.
Two bowl games feature four teams named for the cities in which they reside. They are the Chick-fil-A Bowl, which features Clemson(Clemson, SC) and Auburn(Auburn, AL), and the GMAC Bowl, which hosts Tulsa(Tulsa, OK) and Bowling Green(Bowling Green, OH).
So, that does it for the first round of bowl breakdowns here at The Sports Oasis. We're just 10 days away from the first game, the Poinsettia Bowl, so make sure you check back for more in-depth coverage as we get a little closer.
Thanks to Carl for the graphic.
Saturday, December 08, 2007
It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere - Saturday Afternoon Boxing Edition
Since it's Friday, and the end of the workweek for most people, we think that you should be provided with a post that takes the edge off so to speak. Because it's going to be random and hopefully humorous, that means that it won't always be sports related. It will also pop up at any time on Friday.
Real world events pushed back the "5 O'Clock" post to today. Never fear, though it's made its way through the Intertubes, and onto your computer. This week's edition showcases the big fight that is "Hatton vs Mayweather". Some may think that boxing is dead, but it's fights like these that still give hope to those of us interested in the sport.
Happy Weekend!
Friday, December 07, 2007
Greg Schiano Writes His Own Knight's Tale
If some people were writing the "Greg Schiano: A Knight's Tale" story it would go something like this:
*Grow up and play high school football in New Jersey
*Play college ball at Bucknell
*Return to old high school as assistant coach
*Become grad assistant at Rutgers, then move onto Penn State
*Coach in the NFL(Chicago Bears)
*Return to college as defensive coordinator for the Miami Hurricanes
*Head back to New Jersey as head coach at Rutgers
*Parlay success at Rutgers into head coaching position at storied program(i.e.-Michigan)
However, it seems that for the second time in less than a week that the University of Michigan has been told "no" by a potential coaching candidate.
Last week, it was Les Miles and his crazy pre-SEC title game press conference that was called just to tell everyone that he wasn't going to Ann Arbor. This, after numerous outlets had reported that Miles was heading back to his old stomping grounds.
Now, Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano has apparently told the Wolverines that he doesn't want their job, eventhough some reports had indicated on Wednesday that Schiano had tentatively accepted the job.
Schiano has achieved remarkable success at Rutgers by directing the Scarlet Knights to their third straight bowl game, but coaching in Piscataway, NJ comes with significantly less pressure and scrutiny than it does when it's being done within the confines of Michigan Stadium. Schiano has lead Rutgers to success that it's never known with regard to college football, and in doing so, he's pretty much set himself up for life there. It's hard to walk away when you're not just the king of the castle, but also the one who built it and bestowed tremendous prosperity over the entire kingdom.
At this point, it appears that Michigan's nasty case of transitive football herpes may be flaring up again. Hopefully the Gators wear their Durex uni's on New Year's Day.
Thanks to Woodmania for the picture.
Jon Kitna Better Be Saying His Prayers Saturday Night
Jon Kitna, probably the NFL's most openly religious player, might need some help from the heavens on Sunday when he faces the Dallas Cowboys. If he doesn't get it, then Terrence Newman might be the one making sure he has a "religious experience".
You see, after Detroit beat Dallas last year with Kitna throwing four touchdown passes, the Lions' quarterback made some comments that certain Cowboys' players didn't appreciate. In particular, Kitan singled out cornerback Terrence Newman and linebacker Bradie James. He stated that Newman wasn't as skilled as Seattle corner Marcus Trufant, and added that the Lions weren't scared to throw his way. He also said that throughout the game that James looked lost.
Newman responded on Tuesday with some comments of his own.
"Basically what it boils down to is you've got to watch what you say. Your mouth can't write checks that your (expletive) can't cash. That's what it comes down to," Newman said. "Everybody's going to see those quotes. He better just hope I don't blitz off the edge, because I've got 15, 25, 30 (thousand dollars), however much it would be for a fine. I've got that much for one fine. Revenge will be sweet definitely."
Of course the NFL sent Newman a nice letter indicating that he'll be under surveillance this weekend, but at least it adds an extra angle to the game. Hopefully Kitna puts some Holy Water in that Gatorade bottle.
Thursday, December 06, 2007
So That's Why The Jets Torched The 'Phins
Thanks Cam Cameron. For pissing away what was probably Miami's last shot at winning a game this season. And not only did they lose the game, but they got beatdown 40-13 by a division rival, the hated J-E-T-S. Though, this one stings a little worse because silently Coach Cameron allowed tight ends assistant Mike Mularkey to call the plays. Yes, the same Mularkey that had his offensive coordinator duties stripped when Cam Cameron was hired.
In a move unpublicized by Dolphins coach Cam Cameron, tight ends assistant Mike Mularkey called the offensive plays during Sunday's 40-13 loss to the Jets, marking the first time Cameron has relinquished some of his play-calling duties this season.
Mularkey, the team's offensive coordinator last year before Cameron appointed himself to the position this year, sent the plays to the sideline from the coaches' booth in a more natural coordinator role, three sources said Wednesday.
Great. So a guy that you originally stripped all playcalling duties from was calling the plays last weekend? No wonder this team is headed for 0-16. Keep doing these types of things Coach Cameron, and you may end up being the one stripped of your duties and title. It's almost as if the team isn't even trying and failing anymore. They're just failing.
It's Like High School Basketball In The 50's
We all know that sporting events can get rather heated. Players talking trash, fans elbowing boobs and parents rushing the court are just part of the excitement. But waving a Confederate flag? Come on, who invited David Duke?Moments after the 48-47 Port St. Lucie victory, students and fans followed the visiting team out of the gymnasium to their bus, the report said.
Students yelled at the bus and blocked its path. Some students were waving a Confederate flag at the bus, Florida Today reported.
This unfortunate incident has caused increased police presence at Satellite Beach High School basketball games, and the principal considered the Confederate flag waving "inciting" and stated that it was handled "very severely". Hopefully there won't be any retaliation when the teams face each other again in January, and everyone keeps their "Battle Flags" at home.
Ordering "Hits" In The NHL
I will readily admit that I don't follow hockey all that much. However, I'm pretty sure that coaches telling players to take out opponents probably isn't as prevalent as it might have been in years past. One recent incident that might have been influenced by a coach's direction, though is the Todd Bertuzzi attack against Steve Moore. In case you've forgotten about it, and the fact that Moore suffered a broken neck because of it, here's some video for you.
Last night, the CBC reported that Bertuzzi may have been told by his coach, Marc Crawford, that retaliation of some sort needed to be taken against Moore.A statement of claim filed in court by Moore's lawyer and obtained by CBC alleges that Crawford pointed to Moore's name and number on a board in the Canucks' locker room during the second intermission of that game and said "... (Moore) must pay the price."
In an accompanying document, Moore's lawyer claims Crawford's statement was disclosed by Bertuzzi while under oath, and by Canucks general manager Dave Nonis.
A month earlier, during a Feb. 16 game in Denver, Moore checked Canucks forward Markus Naslund and that led to talk of retribution against him, culminating with the Bertuzzi hit a month later.
Like I said, I don't follow hockey too closely, but are "enforcers" and "goons" still employed by teams just for the sake of retaliation? I imagine that there are probably still some around. Though, it is sad to hear of a coach singling an opponent out in an effort to get one of them to hurt that player. It will be interesting to see what the NHL thinks of this new evidence. I doubt they will do much with it, but I can't imagine that Gary Bettman is pleased to hear it.
Breaking Down The Heisman Finalists
Yesterday, the finalists for the Heisman Trophy were announced. And they are:
Colt Brennan, quarterback, Hawaii
Chase Daniel, quarterback, Missouri
Darren McFadden, running back, Arkansas
Tim Tebow, quarterback, Florida
I've listed them there in alphabetical order. Now let me list them and their stats in the order that I think they should finish in the Heisman voting.
Fourth
Colt Brennan. The University of Hawaii quarterback only faced one ranked team all season, and while he did put up impressive stats against #17 Boise State, he didn't face the tougher opponents that the others did. Here is his statline from that game:
Vs. #17 Boise State(W): 75.5% comp., 495yds, 5TD/2INT; 18yds rush, 2.0avg, 1TD
Third
Darren McFadden. I imagine that most people probably have McFadden in either the #1 or #2 spot. However, his down games against two of the five ranked opponents that he faced pushes him down in my estimation. In those two games, both losses for his team, he actually failed to score any touchdowns. Overall, McFadden ended with a 2-3 record against the five ranked opponents that he faced. Here are his stats from those five games:
Vs. #21 Kentucky(L): 173yds, 6.0avg, 1TD; 10yds receiving, 0TD
Vs. #22 Auburn(L): 43yds, 2.5avg, 0TD; 5yds rec, 0TD
Vs. #23 South Carolina(W): 323yds, 9.2avg, 1TD; 4yds rec, 0TD; 23yds passing, 1TD
Vs. #22 Tennessee(L): 117yds, 5.3avg, 0TD; 17yds rec, 0TD
vS. #1 LSU(W): 206yds, 6.4avg, 3TD; 34yds passing, 1TD
Average: 172yds, 5.8avg, 1TD; 7.2yds rec, 0TD; 11.4yds passing, .4TD/0INT
Second
Chase Daniel. The Mizzou quarterback was unable to defeat Oklahoma twice, but he's the only one out of the four candidates that has a winning record against ranked opponents. Daniel finished with a 3-2 record against those teams, and scored at least one touchdown in all five of those games. Here are his stats from those contests:
Vs. #25 Nebraska(W): 70.2% comp., 401yds, 2TD/0INT; 72yds rush, 6.5avg, 2TD
Vs. #6 Oklahoma(L): 78.7% comp., 361yds, 1TD/2INT; -1yds rush, -.1avg, 0TD
Vs. #22 Texas Tech(W): 73.7% comp., 210yds, 1TD/2INT; 11yds rush, 1.6avg, 0TD
Vs. #2 Kansas(W): 81.6% comp., 361yds, 3TD/0INT; 6yds rush, .9avg, 0TD
Vs. #9 Oklahoma(L): 59% comp., 219yds, 0TD/1INT; 26yds rush, 2.4avg, 1TD
Average: 72.6% comp., 310yds, 1.4TD/.8INT; 22.8yds rush, 2.2avg, .6TD
First
Tim Tebow. The Florida quarterback faced four ranked teams, and lead the Gators to a 2-2 record against them. In each of those four contests he scored at least three total touchdowns, and was the prime example of a dual threat type of quarterback. Here are his stats:
Vs. #22 Tennessee(W): 73.7% comp., 299yds, 2TD/1INT; 61yds rush, 3.4avg, 2TD
Vs. #1 LSU(L): 46.2% comp., 158yds, 2TD/INT; 67yds rush, 4.2avg, 1TD
Vs. #8 Kentucky(W): 69.2% comp., 256yds, 4TD/0INT; 78yds rush, 3.9avg, 1TD
Vs. #20 Georgia(L): 63.6% comp., 236yds, 1TD/0INT; -15yds rush, -1.2avg, 2TD
Average: 63% comp., 237yds, 2.2TD/.4INT; 47.7yds rush, 2.5avg, 1.5TD
Yes, Tebow's stats in the completion percentage and average passing yards departments are down a little from Daniel's, but Tebow also averaged more passing touchdowns and less interceptions against the ranked opponents that he faced. Overall, Tebow averaged an astonishing 3.7 total touchdowns versus the ranked teams that he faced. Daniel averaged a solid 2.0, and McFadden averaged 1.4.
I believe that these stats show that Tebow was able to perform better overall against his toughest opponents than either Daniel or McFadden. All of the finalists chosen are tremendous athletes, but only one deserves to have his name called for the Heisman. And that's Tim Tebow.
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
You Must Pay For Those Chips My Good Man!
The last thing you want to do when engaging in an argument with a "sandwich engineer" is to throw your freshly completed sandwich at them. They just spent their valuable(well, as valuable as $6.79/hr can be) time contructing that fine piece of sustenance, and having it hurled back towards them is the ultimate insult. Obviously, former Gators linebacker Jon Demps was never taught this lesson.
Sophomore defensive end Jermaine Cunningham and Jon Demps, a former Gator teammate, were arrested Wednesday morning on misdemeanor charges stemming from an incident in and around a West University Avenue deli, according to Alachua County law enforcement documents.
Cunningham and Demps, a linebacker who played for Florida in 2005, were charged with misdemeanor battery after getting into an argument with a clerk at Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwich Shop. Acording to the report, Cunningham threw empty soda cups and Demps threw a sandwich at the clerk when informed they needed to pay for a bag of chips.
Tossing empty cups and a sandwich? In a fine establishment like Jimmy John's no less! For shame!
However, that might not be the best part of the story. It seems that a third man had accompanied them to the sub shop, and when asked to stop he hauled ass. And he probably did it very fast because the man in question has run the second fastest 200 meters of all time.
Both men were arrested by Gainesville Police on campus at 2:49 a.m., about 30 minutes after the incident. When police approached the men, Xavier Carter, who was walking with them, began running away and continued despite police requests to stop. Police later apprehended Carter, who sprinted and played football at LSU after starring at Palm Bay High School in Brevard County, at 3:10 a.m. and charged him with resisting arrest without violence.
Carter had come to Gainesville last week to start training with UF track and field coach Mike Holloway, according to an entry on Carter's Web site, www.xaviercarter.net. Carter, who has run the second-fastest 200 meters of all time (19.63 seconds), is a 2008 Olympic hopeful.
That's right, you can most likely outrun Gainesville's finest, but you can't outrun their radios. Though, it appears that he was able to elude police for almost an hour. That type of practice will surely come in handy should Carter make the Olympics, and have to flee the Chinese police on foot.
They've Got The College Market Cornered On Crazy Singers
If someone asked you to pick two singers/entertainers that you thought were crazy(i.e.-on drugs, out of control, married to slackers) what are some names that would come to mind? Go ahead, I'll give you some time.
Done yet?
Ok, how about Britney Spears and Whitney Houston? They might not have been your two choices, but I bet you're nodding your head in agreement right now(or, that could be the "Soulja Boy" that's playing).
In any case, the Colorado Buffaloes women's basketball team has not one, but both of the superstars on their roster. When they're not comparing octave ranges and deadbeat ex-husband stories, they're dishing out assists and reigning three's.
And you thought their careers had gone down in flames(click here for a larger version)!
Monday, December 03, 2007
Someone At CBS Hates The Gators
Being that it's nearing the end of the college football season, everyone is putting together their "lists". You know, the ones that detail who they felt the best players were, what the best moments were, all that good stuff. Well, on Saturday, during the SEC title game, Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson(and to a lesser extent, Tracy Wolfson) went through their awards. They called them the "Lund-Sons", and everything seemed fine until they reached one screen in particular. 
Ok, Lundquist and Danielson, I see what you did there. You tried to sneak it past me, but I caught you. You're top three moments of the season all involved Florida losses?
Come on guys, I know that you covered so many great moments this season that you weren't forced to pick three where the Gators lost. Arkansas beating LSU in triple OT perhaps? Or maybe LSU beating Auburn on a last second touchdown pass? Or LSU beating former LSU head coach Nick Saban and his Alabama team by scoring two touchdowns in the final three minutes? Those are just three that I came up with after checking out what games they covered(thanks to Awful Announcing for the schedule). Neither of those involve a last second field goal, but they have to be every bit as impressive as their "Best Moment" and "Best Move" selections(Demetrious Byrd calling for the ball in the Auburn game won it for them).
Oh well, guess I'll just have to live with Lunquist's and Danielson's Gator hatred. At least it's better than watching them do the "Soulja Boy" on a loop.
College Football Debriefing
Each week, after all of the games have been played, I'll re-visit some of them and give my take(synonym for biased, slightly informed opinion). It's called the debriefing because whatever happened during your chosen team's game you probably felt like you were part of a crime scene, or maybe a terrorist attack. Whether you thought you were robbed by the referees, or got to witness some WMD's exploding in your stadium, this is where we'll re-open fresh wounds and examine the positives and negatives. But since we're all college football fanatics, probably mostly the negatives.
The College Football Season Comes Full Circle
Remember way back in week 1? When Michigan lost to Appalachian State? Everyone thought that was the craziest thing they had ever seen in college football. Then a bunch of upsets involving the top teams, which seemed to result in a revolving door of sorts for the #1 and #2 positions. And Stanford beating USC eventhough they were biggest underdogs in college football history. You thought that was it, right? Wrong! The top two teams went down in flames again on Saturday, as both Missouri and West Virginia lost. Ok, the Mizzou loss isn't too shocking considering that Oklahoma had already beat them once. But West Virginia losing to Pitt? With a chance at the national championship on the line? This season truly has been the most bizarre on record.
And The BCS Title Contenders Are...
Ohio State and LSU? It was the matchup everyone(*cough*voters*cough*) wanted a few weeks ago, and thanks to Tennessee throwing away the SEC title game, they were able to rig it up. I agree with the notion that the SEC is the toughest conference in college football, but LSU just hasn't looked all that impressive to me in recent weeks. Though, the same could have certainly be said about the Gators last year, and look what they did to the Buckeyes. Have fun Coach Sweatervest. I hope your fans travel well because it's going to be like a homegame for the Tigers.
Other Bowl Matchups
I'll do my best to cover all of the bowls as they get closer, but for now here are the matchups in the "bigger" bowls.
Rose Bowl: Southern Cal vs Illinois
Sugar Bowl: Hawaii vs Georgia
Fiesta Bowl: West Virginia vs Oklahoma
Orange Bowl: Kansas vs Virginia Tech
Besides the Buckeyes, Illinois probably benefitted the most from WVU and Mizzou stumbling. Instead of playing in the Capital One Bowl they get to head to the Rose Bowl. I'm pretty sure that's something that no one predicted before the season began.
Florida Faces Michigan
Remember last year, when Lloyd Carr seemed to be extremely critical of Florida head coach Urban Meyer's "lobbying" to get the Gators into the BCS title game? Well, he gets to coach his last game against Meyer. Here's to hoping that Meyer beats the Wolverines worse than he beat their bitter rivals last season.
Heismans!
Not much going on here with the limited schedule.
Chase Daniel didn't do much, and I still stand by my assertion that Kevin Smith should have received that Doak Walker invite over Mike Hart. Against Tulsa on Saturday, Smith ran for 284yds and 4TD's in helping UCF win the Conference USA title. Currently, he's in second place on the single season rushing list, and has a shot at breaking Barry Sanders' record. A-freakin'-mazing.
Consider yourself debriefed!
Saturday, December 01, 2007
R.I.P., Evel
Already too much death this week, with the passing of Sean Taylor and Dr. Cade. Unfortunately, we had another great sports figure leave our collection of stadiums, arenas and crazyass ramps yesterday.
Evel Knievel passed away on Friday. He was 69.
Just before his passing he had seemingly ironed out his differences with rapper Kanye West.
Knievel will always be remembered for his successful jumps, as well as his not so successful ones that usually ended in a horrific way.
R.I.P. Evel, your wild, brash, living-on-the-edge attitude will be sorely missed.
And really, when you're the inspiration for a character, Capt. Lance Murdock, in Matt Groening's favorite Simpsons episode that really means something.
