College Football Week 5 Preview

OK, I went 23-4 last week, putting me at 74-16 for the season. This week has big matchups in the Big Ten so let's see how I do with these. 

Week 5

                                                               

                                #7 Florida @ #1 Alabama

                                                 Alabama goes from facing one of the best passing attacks in the country to facing one of the best defensive teams in the country. However, this dominant defensive team is hampered by an offense that hasn’t been the same since Tim Tebow left. It’s very doubtful that Florida will be able to keep pace and overcome the Crimson Tide defense.  Roll Tide.

                                #2 Ohio State @ Illinois  

                                                  No Reshard Mendenhall, No Juice Williams. Sorry Illinois, you’re just not ready for this kind of win.

                                #3 Boise State @ New Mexico State

                                                 Boise State should beware a letdown after a tough battle against Oregon State, especially with their next game on the road. They were lucky to get New Mexico State as that opponent. This shouldn’t be a difficult opponent, but you never know after a game like they had last week.

                                #9 Stanford @ #4 Oregon *Game of the Week*

                                                 This is going to be a very interesting game to watch. For most it would seem like Oregon’s first legitimate opponent this season. Also while Stanford has been winning most games through the air, Oregon has stuck to their outside running game to bring them success. Ultimately I think this game comes down to the defenses, and I have more faith in Oregon’s defense than in the defense of Stanford, so I’m calling for Oregon to win.

                                #5 TCU @ Colorado State

                                                 Colorado State hasn’t looked very good this season, while TCU is getting the typical flack for not being a BCS team. Honestly TCU should be higher than Oregon and probably Ohio State, though not Boise State. But that is beside the point, TCU wins.

                                #6 Nebraska: Bye  

                                                 

                                #21 Texas @ #8 Oklahoma

                                                 The Red River Rivalry. One of the greatest rivalries in college football. Sadly it will be far more boring than has been in previous years. Garrett Gilbert and this younger Texas team are still growing into their new starting lineup and Landry Jones has slid seamlessly into the role that Sam Bradford filled when he was the starter. Oklahoma wins.

                                Louisiana-Monroe @ #10 Auburn   

                                                 Auburn greatly surprised me when they pulled that victory out against South Carolina. They are definitely not a team to be underestimated. They win handily.

                                #11 Wisconsin @ #24 Michigan State

                                                 I almost pick this one for game of the week. Michigan State has been putting together a very good season almost in spite of themselves. Wisconsin has been dominant in the majority of their games this season. I think this is where Michigan State’s winning end. Badgers win.

                                Tennessee @ #12 LSU  

                                                Tennessee simple hasn’t looked like an SEC team this season. I’m not saying they couldn’t pull the upset, but I’m not calling for it this time. LSU wins.

                                #13 Utah: Bye

                                               

                                #14 Arizona: Bye

                                               

                                #15 Arkansas: Bye

                                                 

                                #16 Miami (Fl.) @ Clemson 

                                                 Miami has recovered nicely from their embarrassing defeat at the hands of the Ohio State. Clemson will be a difficult opponent, however, I am still of the belief that Miami should be able to win this game.  

                                #22 Penn State @ #17 Iowa

                                                 Another tough battle in the Big Ten, but with Penn State riding an inexperienced quarterback, I think Iowa has the advantage.

                                Washington @ #18 USC

                                                 This will be the proving ground for Jake Locker. I was amazed when Washington pulled out the victory a year ago and I will be amazed if they do it again. USC did impress me last week, albeit very mildly. They should win this one.

                               

                                #19 Michigan @ Indiana   

                                                 I’ll say the same thing about Indiana that I said about Illinois. They’re just not ready to win this kind of game. Michigan wins.

                                #20 South Carolina: Bye

                                                                 

                                Virginia Tech @ #23 North Carolina State  

                                                 Earlier in the year I doubt anyone would have even given this game a second glance. Now, with Virginia Tech looking like they took a giant step back and North Carolina State shocking many, myself included. With their victory against Georgia Tech, I am going to have a hard time picking against NC State, so that’s who I am picking to win this game.

               

                                #25 Nevada @ UNLV  

                                                Nevada wins. I don’t think I need to explain why.

                Other Games of Note

               

                                 Texas A&M @ Oklahoma State

                                                Tonight’s battle of undefeated Big Twelve teams that are surprisingly not among the AP’s top25 best teams should be a fun one to watch. Both teams rank in the Top 10 in the country in yards per game and have roughly equal rushing attacks. So this game will likely come down to which team is able to contain the opponent’s passing game. In that regard, I’m going with Texas A&M. I just think they’ll get the kind of pressure that’s needed to disrupt that passing game of Oklahoma State.

                                Florida State @ Virginia

                                                Much like North Carolina State, I am surprised to see that Virginia is playing so competently. I don’t think that’ll beat Florida State, however, I am putting Florida State on upset alert.

                                Temple @ Army

                                                This is a bit of a weird game. Army has been playing very well, surprising many including myself, while Temple has maintained the kind of excellence they established last year. While Temple had a rough go against Penn State, I think it would be foolish to pick against them in this game. I got Temple for the outright win.

                                Navy @ Air Force

                                                The first of three battles between the military academies, the winner of this battle will probably be the best of those academies. Normally, Navy would have the major advantage with their dominant running game. However, this year, Air force is actually leading the country in rushing. Due to this fact, I have to select Air Force to win this game.

                                Georgia Tech @ Wake Forest

                                                While both teams lost last week, I have to say that this is still a pivotal battle in the race for the ACC crown. There is an interesting contract in offensive styles here, with Georgia Tech using the run heavy triple option and Wake Forest focusing on the pass heavy spread offense. I’m going with Georgia Tech, mostly because I believe in Paul Johnson.

 Top 10 Heisman Candidates

1.       Kellen Moore – As Moore continues to roll, so do the Boise State Broncos.  

2.       Terrelle Pryor – No matter how good he was last week, he was playing Eastern Michigan; he’s not earning points in my eyes against them.  

3.       Colin Kaepernick – He didn’t have his best game last week, but he didn’t have a bad game.  

4.       John Clay – He played well, but he was outshined by his backup.  

5.       Andrew Luck – Not the best performance, but his team won the game strongly.

6.       Matt Barkley – He stepped up, but still should’ve been better against the lowly Washington State.  

7.       Ryan Mallett – He threw the ball well and without him, Arkansas wouldn’t have been able to even hang with Alabama. He also cost his team the game by forcing two passes into coverage. It will be hard to regain lost ground with their toughest opponent behind them.  

8.       Denard Robinson – His rushing performance was strong enough to keep him here, but he’ll have to play through his injury to stay here.  

9.       Nick Foles – Performed well in the clutch, not moving in my mind.  

10.   Daniel Thomas – Another subpar performance will drop him from this list, but being second in the country in rushing will keep him here at least one more week.  

The Braylon Edwards Situation: A Different Prespective

                About one week ago, Jets wide receiver Braylon Edwards was arrested on charges of DUI, stemming from driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.16 which is twice the legal limit. Since then, there has a been a lot of criticism of the Jets as an organization for deciding that Edwards’ punishment was a one quarter suspension during Monday night’s game against the Dolphins.

                Let me start out by saying that I in no way, shape or form agree with the decisions of Edwards in driving with intoxicated. It was poor decision and with all the options he had that had that would have prevented this incident, he deserves the slamming he is getting for it. However, I’m not of the opinion that the Jets deserve it. So consider this to be the other side; the explanation to why the Jets made the correct decision in allowing Braylon Edwards to play in Monday night’s game.

                There are three main people who are being targeted in this attack of the Jets, those being head coach Rex Ryan, general manager Mike Tannenbaum and owner Woody Johnson. All have their own reasons for why they would make this decision, but I think there is an overriding fact that needs to be addressed first. That fact is that the NFL is a business. I know it sounds obvious, but the purpose of a business is to make a profit. Not to build a better community. Not to improve social habits. Not to improve people. The purpose of a business is to make money. The only reason any business, including the NFL, focuses on the conduct of their personnel is because of the effect of a negative perception on potential profits. If the NFL owners didn’t feel that the conduct of players off the field would affect their potential profits, there would be no conduct policy that went beyond the confines of the law. It’s a simple fact. You may find that reprehensible, but that is the way it is.

                That kind of logic is what had to be going through Jet’s Owner Woody Johnson’s head when the decision to let Edwards play was made. There was a very simple comparison to be made; how much potential profit was there to be lost by allowing Edwards to play versus the amount of potential profit lost by not allowing Edwards to play and potentially losing the game. In hindsight it was clearly a good idea from an on-the-field production standpoint; however, Woody Johnson didn’t know he would play that well when the decision was leveled. He needed to consider a number of other things. One was the opponent. I know it seems petty in comparison to the potential loss of life; however it is important those involved. In a game against a division opponent on the road, no matter how early in the season it is, that game is important. No one can predict how these early divisional games will play a role in the playoff race later in the season.

Another important factor that comes to the mind of all those involved is what the Jets have done to prepare for the season. I know it sounds kind of weak, but think about this from the owner’s perspective. He’s been doling out money left and right trying to build a team to make a Super Bowl run. This past offseason more than ever, the Jets signed a good number of high-profile players to one and two year contracts to try and make run for the Super Bowl this season. While it is easy to blame Braylon Edward’s stupidity for this not working out (should this incident have any effect on the Jets performance), I doubt Woody Johnson will see it as simply as that. The man is spending millions of dollars to pay players to perform well on the field and when one of those players is not on the field, he is not going to allow that to be an excuse if the team is doing poorly.

Probably the most underrated aspect of this entire situation is the demographic of the Jets. In smaller cities with closer knit communities, this kind of incident would resonate more with the populous. It’s more likely in those tight knit communities that a random person within the populous has had an experience with a loved one being lost due to drunk driving or that they know someone who has been affected by that kind of incident. However, in massive New York City, it seems that the masses or more desensitized to the criminal actions taking place around them and care less about what may happen to others in the city. It’s not say that no one cares about the incident, but more along the lines that a smaller percentage of New York City’s population is affected by an incident like this than in a city like Green Bay or Pittsburgh. Also, in cities like those, the football team is a bigger draw because there are fewer avenues by which one can entertain one’s self. However, in New York City, football is one of many draws. The Jets not only have to compete with the Giants for the sports entertainment dollar, but they also have to compete with the Knicks, Nets, Yankees, Mets, Islanders and Rangers. That’s also not including having to compete with Broadway, movie theaters and countless other entertainment venues for disposable income. In that competition, providing a quality product, which is mostly measured by winning and losing, is generally more important than maintaining the moral high ground.

That is the kind of logic that an owner must consider when a make a decision like this; however, what must be going through the heads of the head coach and general manager when a decision like this is being made? Well, besides from the first two arguments I discussed, there is the fact that both Rex Ryan and Mike Tannebaum could lose their jobs if the Jets don’t play well enough. I know that an individual game shouldn’t be enough to cost them their jobs; however, no one has a clue about how much this game will affect the race for the division. Given how much money Woody Johnson has invested on this team, it’s doubtful that even an Edwards’ suspension would give Ryan or Tannebaum an excuse for the potential failure of the Jets to perform. In their minds (potentially), their jobs are on the line throughout the season and they need to do all they can to keep the team performing well. I certainly can’t blame them for not wanting to get fired.

Overall, the backlash that the Jets have received for their decision to allow Edwards to play is just another in a long line of criticisms the NFL has received for their handling of personal conduct. The common theme is that, regardless of what the law decides or what would be a reasonable disciplinary action, groups of people want NFL players who are involved in dubious off the field activities to not be given a second chance. Perhaps the best example of this is the situation surrounding Michael Vick. Regardless of what you think of Michael Vick and his actions, the actions of PETA in the weeks leading up to Michael Vick’s trial were beyond reprehensible; they were downright disgusting. The story of Michael Vick’s involvement in a dog fighting ring had barely broken before PETA was demanding the Vick be punished before even knowing if he was actually involved or not. As the situation unfolded, PETA raised their demands to the point of some demanding that Vick be permanently banned from the NFL. They weren’t looking for justice for the animals that Vick had abused and killed, they were simply using his situation as a way to get themselves in the news and to promote themselves cheaply. That’s really my big problem with it. PETA was more interested in promoting themselves than allowing the justice system to take its course, or allowing Vick to be given the fair trial that all American citizens are promised in the Constitution.

Fortunately, the NFL is smarter than to rush into this incident and lay down punishment at this time. I know the common opinion is that the NFL should be getting involved and suspending Edwards for at least a game or two. But, from the NFL’s perspective, it’s too risky to get involved with this right now. The part of that will be quoted most often is the fact that the NFL’s conduct policy allows for the justice system to run its course before a final decision is made. However, I think there is a lot more to this than that. Let’s keep in mind that the NFL and the Player’s Union are in the middle of negotiating an extension to the Collective Bargaining Agreement, a big part of which is the manner in which teams and the NFL can discipline players for poor conduct. Rushing this situation could very well stress the negotiations to a point that could make it almost impossible to avoid a lockout/strike. There are a lot of “ifs” in that statement, but when one is dealing with legal negotiations; every “if” matters.

This is issue is far more complex than I think most fans give it credit for. It’s not so much a matter of if the Jets or the NFL condone what Braylon Edwards did, it’s more a matter of how to deal with it and not adversely affect business too much. It sounds so wrong, but from the perspective of those organizations involved, it’s still very important. Besides, by this time next week, no will care. 

4th and Goal: NFL Week 3 Picks

Alright, my picks have left me in the dirt of mediocrity. I went 9-7 last week, leaving me 17-15 for the season. I will redeem my self with this weeks picks.

TEN vs. NYG

                                 Both of these teams looked dominant in their first game, but regressed badly in their second game. Ultimately I think this game comes down to which team is able to pressure the opposing quarterback more. By that count, I am going with the Titans. As bad as their offense looked against the Steelers, their defense was able to pressure the quarterback with some amount of consistency.

                CIN vs. CAR

                                 With the Panthers deciding to switch to Jimmy Clausen at quarterback for the foreseeable future, I just don’t think they’ll be able to overcome the very good defense of the Bengals. Cincy wins.

               

                PIT vs. TB

               

                                                 While Tampa Bay has been playing well, I just don’t think Josh Freeman (who has been the key to the Bucs offense) is ready to deal with the dominating Steelers defense. Steelers win.

                BUF vs. NE

                                 Buffalo fooled me once with how hard they were playing against Miami, but no more. New England needs to dominate for me to not drop them to third in the AFC East.

                CLE vs. BAL

                                 Cleveland isn’t playing well, while Baltimore’s defense is just as dominant as ever. Ravens fly high.

                SF vs. KC

                                I was recently asked to name my top five teams in both the AFC and the NFC. Both of these teams found their way onto the list. It stunned me too, but you can’t deny the success the Chiefs have had through the first two games and any who watched the 49ers on Monday can tell that they have the ability to hang with any team in the NFL. I’m picking the 49ers to win in this matchup, mostly because Alex Smith looks far more competent in his offense than Matt Cassell does in his.

                DAL vs. HOU

                                 Wow! Talk about two teams heading in completely different directions. Dallas looks like a team that has simply succumb to the pressure of being a favorite in the NFC and the pressure of trying to play the Super Bowl in their home stadium. Houston on the other hand looks like a team that’s playing footloose and fancy-free (Dear god when did I get stuck in the 50s?). Either way, the Texans will win this; Dallas is just trying way too hard to be great.

                DET vs. MIN

                                 You know, two weeks ago this would have been a one sentence preview. Now I am having a hard time convincing myself to stick with my original pick of the Vikings. The Lions have just looked so good offensively this season that I think they’ll be able to outscore teams with offenses as mediocre as the Vikings. But, the Vikings defense is still as good as ever, more a victim of the poor performance of Brett Favre and the offense. I think the Vikings will win here, but Lions do have a chance.

                ATL vs. NO

                                 If I went based solely on what I saw last week, I would pick Atlanta to win. Let’s face it, the Saints have been living and dying by turnovers and well-timed bursts of scoring, but other than those quick bursts, they have been dominated by their opposition. Even Drew Brees as looked less than stellar as the season has progressed. I am picking the Saints because of the home field advantage and because I am not overly impressed with the Falcons defensive backs; but right now, the Falcons look like the better team.

                WAS vs. STL

                                 Washington has had a surprisingly good start to the season while St. Louis looks about as competent as they did a year ago.  Redskins win.

                                               

                PHI vs. JAC

                                 In spite of all the controversy surrounding the decision to switch quarterbacks in Philadelphia, it makes more sense to do so because of the success of Michael Vick. Jacksonville has been competitive, but I don’t think they’ll be able to keep up with the Vick experience. Philly wins.

                IND vs. DEN

                                 Denver hasn’t shown that they can play strong enough defense to hang with the Colts. Indy wins.

                OAK vs. ARI

                                 Arizona could barely pull out the victory against St. Louis. I doubt they’ll keep up with much more talented Raiders team. Oakland wins.

                SD vs. SEA

                                 Seattle couldn’t keep up with Denver and looked like their success in week 1 was nothing more than a fluke. San Diego should win, but you never know when Phillip Rivers will throw a hissy fit and cost his team the game.

                NYJ vs. MIA

                                 This will be a close game, though not very exciting. Both teams are really better at the power running game and need to stick to that strength if they want to win. The problem, for the Jets at least, is that when they do go to the air. The Jets still have to deal will the Dolphins best defensive backs while the Dolphins don’t have to deal with Darelle Revis. Because of this, I’m picking the Dolphins to win this game, and gain an early advantage in the AFC East race.

                GB vs. CHI *Game of the Week*  

                                                 This is going to be an exciting match-up. Both teams are using offenses which feature spreading the opposing team’s defenses out to isolate and manipulate match-ups. Both teams use this to great effect with their tight ends, both of whom create real problems with their size and athleticism. Ultimately this game is going to come down to whose defense is able to stop the opposing offense. The Packers top corners are better than the Bears top corners, though the Bears have a better receiving runningback. Based on that, I am going to select the Packers for the victory. 

College Week 4 Preview

Alright I got my mojo back last week. I went 29-2 on the week leaving me at 74-12 on the season.  This week should be even more interesting as conference races start to heat up and there are fewer warm-up games for the more highly ranked teams.

                                 

                                #1 Alabama @ #10 Arkansas  

                                                 While Ryan Mallet has been playing extremely well for Arkansas, he’s now going to face one of the most dominating defenses in the country. I’m just not of the opinion that he’ll be able to do it. Alabama wins.

                                Eastern Michigan @ #2 Ohio State

                                                  One of the most consistently bad teams in the country is facing Ohio State…….Yeah, Buckeyes win.

                                #24 Oregon State @ #3 Boise State (Game of the Week)

                                                 I minds of many, this game is the final obstacle that Boise State will face on the road to an undefeated season. Anyone who has seen Nevada or Fresno State play would disagree with that statement, but it is going to be a good game to watch. Oregon State has talent everywhere and will challenge Boise State’s defense on every level. I am picking Boise State to win in a close game though.

                                #4 TCU @ SMU

                                                 SMU has made strides and looks competitive again. However, they’re still no match for TCU.

                                #5 Oregon @ Arizona State

                                                 While Arizona State lost their last game, they have shown that they are more competitive than I thought they were going to be coming into the season. However, their strength defensively is up the middle, while Oregon is better at running to the outside. Oregon should win this game.

                                South Dakota State @ #6 Nebraska

                                                FCS teams rarely do well against AP top 10 FBS teams. Cornhuskers dominate.

                                UCLA @ #7 Texas

                                                 UCLA caught me by surprise when they pulled the victory out against Houston. It does of course help the Houston’s top two quarterbacks went down with injuries in that game. I doubt the same thing will happen in this Texas game. Texas wins.

                                #8 Oklahoma @ Cincinnati  

                                                 Cincinnati has looked less than stellar this season. Oklahoma wins.

                                Kentucky @ #9 Florida

                                                 While Kentucky has been playing tough the past couple of weeks, however their facing a really good Florida team this week. It’ll be a close game, but I think Urban Meyer’s superior coaching will be enough to surpass the surprisingly good Wildcats.

                                Austin Peay @ #11 Wisconsin

                                                 Austin Peay. Meet John Clay. He will be destroying you this evening. Badgers roll.

                                #12 South Carolina @ #17 Auburn

                                                 Both teams have been playing exceptionally well these first few weeks, but something have got to give in this matchup and I am picking Cam Newton to be the one who stumbles. It’s not that I don’t think he can play well, I just think that South Carolina has enough momentum to carry them through this game. It should be a good one though.

                                San Jose State @ #13 Utah

                                                 Utah continues to pound on lesser opponents. Someone needs to be nicer to poor San Jose State.

                                California @ #14 Arizona

                                                 Cal just got ripped by Nevada; I don’t think they’ll be able to hang with Arizona. 

                               

                                #22 West Virginia @ #15 LSU 

                                                 While this game could be good, I think it won’t be. West Virginia struggled to defeat Marshall. I think that fact alone means that LSU should easily destroy this team. Tigers win.

                                #16 Stanford @ Notre Dame

                                                Stanford is rolling while Notre Dame is still finding their way. Stanford wins.

               

                                Ball State @ #18 Iowa

                                                Ball State still doesn’t have Nate Davis. Therefore, they have no chance. Iowa wins.

                                #19 Miami (Fl.) @ Pittsburgh

                                                Pittsburgh has still yet to impress me. Miami has had a week to rest and a weeks’ worth of rage to release on the poor Panthers. Miami wins.

                                #20 USC @ Washington State

                                                 USC had better impress me in this game. I don’t doubt they’ll win, but I’m about to write them out of the Pac-10 if they don’t have an impressive victory. Same goes for Matt Barkley’s Heisman chances. Impress me Trojans.

                                Bowling Green @ #21 Michigan 

                                                 This could be a high flying affair, but Michigan should have little trouble outscoring Bowling Green.

                                Temple @ #23 Penn State

                                                I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but Temple could actually win this game. Temple has played extremely well in their first few games, going so far as to upset over UConn. I don’t think Penn State has fallen far enough to be defeated by Temple, but the possibility does exist.

                                Northern Colorado @ #25 Michigan State

                                                  FCS + AP Top 25 = Michigan State win.

                Other Games of Note

               

                                 North Carolina State @ Georgia Tech

                                                As conference play starts to pick up, more games like this will be mentioned. While it would seem to most that this would be a rather non-descript game, North Carolina State has been playing extremely well to start out the season, while Georgia Tech has not been nearly as dominating as they were a year ago. This game comes down to which quarterback will be executing their offense better; Joshua Nesbitt or Russell Wilson. Nesbitt is a bit more consistent, so I’m picking Georgia Tech, though I am rooting for NC State.

                                Wake Forest @ Florida State

                                                Much like the previous game, this game will have big ramifications in the race for the ACC title. While Wake Forest hasn’t been thought of in the same light as Florida State, they have been playing just as well. This game should be a high-flying affair that will end in Florida State’s victory.

                                Arkansas State @ Troy

                                                Probably the biggest game in the Sun Belt for the foreseeable future. Arkansas State’s Ryan Aplin has been surprisingly good these first few weeks, giving the Red Wolves hope that they will be able to compete with Troy for the Sun Belt title. However, I have said it once and I will say it again, Larry Blakeney is one of the best coaches in the country and he will have his team ready. Troy wins.

                                Fresno State @ Mississippi

                                                While Mississippi is not the best team in the SEC, they are still an SEC school and should be a challenge for this resurgent Fresno State team. I’m picking Fresno State to win in an upset.

                                Utah State @ San Diego State

                                                This game could test the limits of the scoreboard. Both teams have high powered offenses and have been playing unusually well this season, at least when compared to their normal seasons. I’m going with San Diego State in this matchup, simply because their offense is a bit more explosive and balanced.

Top 10 Heisman Candidates


1.       Kellen Moore – Another strong showing after having a week off. He is still the best player in college football.




2.       Terrelle Pryor – Didn’t play as well as he did the previous week, but won’t lose traction in the Heisman race.




3.       John Clay – Another week, another strong performance by Clay.




4.       Ryan Mallett – A big passing game against Georgia boosts his case. A repeat performance against Alabama would jump him above Pryor.




5.       Colin Kaepernick – Five total touchdowns against a Pac-10 team leads to Kaepernick jumping more highly touted Andrew Luck and Matt Barkley.




6.       Andrew Luck – Extremely efficient in the red zone, but the yardage simply isn’t there to move up.




7.       Matt Barkley – After a great first game, he has fallen back with increasingly mediocre performances.




8.       Daniel Thomas – Continues his strong start, though it is taking for carries for him to get the kinds of yards he needs to stay on this list.




9.       Denard Robinson – Another dominant performance, but against lesser competition.




10.   Nick Foles – A big win against National ranked Iowa has brought Nick Foles to the forefront in the Heisman discussion. It doesn’t hurt that Case Keenum is missing the rest of the season with a torn ACL. 

NFL Picks for Week 2

Season Record: 8-8.


BUF vs. GB



While Buffalo has a small chance of winning this game, they showed enough tenacity on defense to potentially ruin Green Bay’s playoff chances. What I mean is that the Bills defense could injury a player like Greg Jennings or Donald Driver for the season with how hard they hit. Either way Packers win.


MIA vs. MIN


In spite of the offensive performance that Miami seemingly sputtered out last Sunday, they still made some good strides and could be a problem for the Vikings. The Vikings should win this game on the strength of their run defense, but their corners will need to step up to shut down Brandon Marshall, or this could be a close one.


KC vs. CLE


Well, Kansas City looked great and Cleveland looked not so good. With Jake Delhomme probably missing the game, I’m going with Kansas City.


CHI vs. DAL


Most people say that the smart money is on Dallas. I agree. Cowboys should win.


ARI vs. ATL


Neither team looked particularly impressive last week. However, of the two, Atlanta at least looked like they had a competent passing game and defense. That combined with a home field advantage gives Atlanta the victory this week.


TB vs. CAR


Earlier in the week, it was decided by the Panthers that Matt Moore was healthy enough to start this game. Even though he is starting, I’m still of the opinion that it won’t be enough for the Panthers to pull out the game. Tampa Bay wins.


PHI vs. DET


Detroit got robbed of a victory last week. Sadly, I believe that that type of loss is the kind that can ruin their season. I need to see how they recover from that in this game, which the Eagles will win.


BAL vs. CIN


While both teams looked less than ready for their opponents last week, they both also showed that their defense and offense (for Baltimore and Cincy respectively), were highly capable. This game will come down to which weaker unit will come through for their team. For this matchup I am going with the Ravens, because they have three good receivers who should be able to work the less than impressive third and fourth corner on the Bengals.


PIT vs. TEN


Pittsburgh had a rough game against Atlanta, but they were still able to pull out the victory. However, against a more prepped Titans defense, I think they’ll be unable to pull through. Titans win.


SEA vs. DEN


Seattle really surprised a lot of people with their success last week. They looked fired up and ready to compete with any team in the league. Fortunately they don’t have to prove that it wasn’t a fluke this week, as they face the Broncos, a team without a rudder. Seahawks win.


STL vs. OAK


While neither team looked good in their first game, Oakland at least has some talent, and could exploded for a big game against the woeful Rams. Raiders win.


HOU vs. WAS


Both teams pulled impressive upsets last week. Houston was able to control the clock and contain Indianapolis’ defense just enough to pull out the win, while Washington’s defense was just plain dominant in their win over Dallas. In this tighter matchup, I expect to see Houston’s offense surpass the strong Washington defense. The Texans win.


NE vs. NYJ


I’m picking New England to win. Why? Mostly because the Jets third corner is a rookie and just won’t be able to contain Wes Welker, who always plays the slot.


JAC vs. SD


Jacksonville looked pretty good during their victory over Denver; however, they were playing Denver. San Diego should win, but they need to look impressive after a poor performance last week.


NYG vs. IND *Game of the Week*


Manning Bowl II should be dominated by the Giants. The Colts rushing defense was pitiful last week and the Giants will take advantage of that.


NO vs. SF


I’d pick the Saints to win even if the 49ers had won last week.

College Football Week 3 Preview (Heisman Top 10 included)

Ug, last week felt like such a bad week for my picks. While I did go 19-6 (bringing me to 45-10 for the season) for the 25 games I picked, I missed on the two biggest games of the weekend and it wasn't close. Well, I hope I do better calling the games this week.


Week 3


#1 Alabama @ Duke


While Duke has impressed me somewhat with their offensive production, I think there is no way they’ll be able to hang with the Crimson Tide.



Ohio @ #2 Ohio State


The smaller school baring the Ohio name may be able to compete in the MAC, but not against the Buckeyes.



#3 Boise State @ Wyoming


Boise State needs to pay attention to this game. Like I said last week, Wyoming quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels is an underrated quarterback and could very easily give Boise State more trouble than they expect to get. Boise State still wins.



Baylor @ #4 TCU


This game is similar to the Boise State game. Robert Griffin III has the potential to give that Horned Frog defense fits. TCU will win though.



Portland State @ #5 Oregon


This should be an easy one for the dynamic Ducks offense.



#6 Texas @ Texas Tech


Texas Tech is playing surprisingly well considering the turnover in coaching staff and could pull the upset against the Longhorns. I’m not going to call for that though, Longhorns win.



Air Force @ #7 Oklahoma


Air Force proved last week that they are ready to take a big step forward in the Mountain West. That doesn’t mean too much against the dominant Oklahoma offense. Sooners win.



#8 Nebraska @ Washington


While Jake Locker is having a nice season, I don’t think that the Huskies are ready for Nebraska. Cornhuskers win.



#9 Iowa @ #24 Arizona (Game of the Week)


A great match-up of two upstart programs with two very different offensive identities, this should be fun to watch. Iowa is more of a ball control, run offense while Arizona likes to spread the field to pass then run to the outside. It’ll be interesting to see how each defense attempts to counter the strengths of their opponent. I’m actually going to go with the upset and pick Arizona to win, mostly because Nick Foles looks like he could be the best quarterback in the Pac-10 with no one talking about him as such.



#10 Florida @ Tennessee


This game could be a surprise. Tennessee could step up and provide Florida with the same kind of challenge that Miami (Oh) did. But, that’ll only happen if the Vols start causing turnovers like mad, because the Tennessee offense just isn’t up to par with the Florida defense. Gators win.



Arizona State @ #11 Wisconsin


This is a matchup that is probably going to be surprisingly good. Arizona State’s offense has been playing much better than most thought they would and they have the talent defensively to stop John Clay. I still think Wisconsin wins, but it will an interesting game.



#12 Arkansas @ Georgia


The Razorbacks have been on a roll recently, while Georgia has been stumbling out of the blocks. With A.J. Green still suspended, I don’t think that Georgia can stay with Arkansas. Razorbacks roll.



Furman @ #13 South Carolina


After a difficult game against Georgia, South Carolina gets an easy run against Furman. Look for Marcus Lattimore to have a monstrous game.



#14 Utah @ New Mexico


New Mexico has fallen apart in recent years and should pose little threat the Utes.



Mississippi State @ #15 LSU


Mississippi State played a tough game last week, in spite of their loss. I look for similar toughness this week, as well as a similar result. LSU wins.



Clemson @ #16 Auburn


Clemson is playing extremely well and could find themselves in the AP 25 should they pull out this victory. However, I’m not of the opinion that they will be able to compete with the improving Auburn.



#17 Miami (Fl.): Bye


#18 USC @ Minnesota


Minnesota had a rough game last week and will probably have another long Saturday. USC rolls.



Wake Forest @ #19 Stanford


Wake Forest has been playing very well considering they lost their four-year starter at quarterback Riley Skinner. That being said, Stanford is just on a different level right now.



Massachusetts @ #20 Michigan


Denard Robinson should continue to impress. Michigan wins.



Maryland @ #21 West Virginia


A clash of two undefeated teams, West Virginia should get the bounce back they need after a disappointing performance against Marshall.



Kent State @ #22 Penn State


Penn State should have a good game after a rough loss to Alabama.



#23 Houston @ UCLA


If UCLA’s defense can keep the run-and-shoot contained, they should pull off the upset. They won’t, Cougars win.



Louisville @ #25 Oregon State


Oregon State gets a relatively easy game after their major challenge in the first week. The Beavers should dominate.



Other Games of Note



Cincinnati @ North Carolina State


When the year started, I probably wouldn’t have listed this as a game to pay attention to; however, North Carolina State has looked much better in these first two weeks than they did a year ago. Combine that with the fact that Cincinnati looks just a little out of sorts with a new coaching staff, leads me to select NC State as the winner of this game.



California @ Nevada


Yet another interesting matchup between a top tier non-BCS school and a middle tier BCS school. Both teams have their quarterback playing quite well for them, Kevin Rile being very efficient in the passing game while Colin Kaepernick is contributing as both a passer and a rusher. I think Kaepernick is the superior player and that the impact he has on Nevada is such that his presence alone will be enough to lift the Wolf Back over the Golden Bears.



Georgia Tech @ North Carolina


Georgia Tech needs a big game to make up for a severely disappointing game against Kansas. I think they will get that big game, since North Carolina is still dealing with suspension issues. Georgia Tech wins.



East Carolina @ Virginia Tech


Two weeks ago this wouldn’t be a blip on the radar. However, with Virginia Tech going winless for the first two weeks of the season and East Carolina playing extremely well in their first two weeks, this looks like a big game. Virginia Tech needs the win more, but Ryan Williams hasn’t been able to get himself going and I think that East Carolina is just too hot to stop right now. The Pirates are-a pillaging in Blacksburg.



BYU @ Florida State


Both teams are coming off of disappointing losses (oddly enough against two teams who are facing each other this weekend), and need a win to regain their confidence. Florida State’s defense looked terrible against the spread last week, but they were facing a spread that was commanded by an experienced quarterback. I think the Seminoles take advantage of the inexperience of BYU’s freshman quarterback to pull out the victory.



Tulsa @ Oklahoma State


This matchup looks like a shootout between two high flying offenses. However, Oklahoma State has been relying on the running of Kendall Hunter to succeed while Tulsa has relied on the arm of G.J. Kinne. While I think that Tulsa will be able to keep the game close, I don’t think they’ll be able to overtake the Cowboys. Okie Doke State wins.



San Diego State @ Missouri


This game is the true high flying, high scoring matchup. Both teams utilize spread offenses and their quarterbacks (Ryan Lindley and Blaine Gabbert respectively), are well suited to carrying out the game plans associated with those offenses. I’m picking Missouri to win, mostly because Gary Pinkel of Missouri, has had more time to settle his team into the offense he runs, unlike Brady Hoke of San Diego State.



Fresno State @ Utah State


Another very interesting game to watch, if only to see whether or not the Utah State offense is as good as we saw in their opening game against Oklahoma. I’m picking the more experienced Fresno State team to win however.



Top 10 Heisman Candidates



1. Kellen Moore – He’s not dropping on this list because of a bye week.


2. Terrelle Pryor – Another Strong performance, but he was better on the ground than through the air. He still has not completely convinced me though.


3. Case Keenum – Still dominant, but if he misses games because of the concussion, he will fall on this list.


4. John Clay – Maintaining his position as the best runningback Heisman candidate.


5. Ryan Mallett – He had almost exactly the same game as a week ago, just with a hundred extra yards.


6. Matt Barkley – Solid enough to hold his spot.


7. Andrew Luck – Took a step back, but wasn’t bad enough to lose his spot.


8. Colin Kaepernick – Passing well + Rushing well = Heisman.


9. Daniel Thomas – While he didn’t repeat his performance from week 1, he continued to roll up the yards.


10. Denard Robinson – I wasn’t willing to buy the hype after one game. Now with Robinson leading the nation in rushing yards and being a have decent passer, he’s getting some love for the Heisman.

Preview and Picks for College Football Week 2

Last week I went 26-4. Let's see how I do this week.

#18 Penn State @ #1 Alabama Well, both teams performed about as well as expected last week. This week, I think that the freshman quarterback of Penn State will led to their downfall. Alabama wins.


#12 Miami (Fl.) @ #2 Ohio State (Game of the Week)
A duel of top quarterbacks, this will be the game that makes or breaks the Heisman cases of both Terrelle Pryor and Jacory Harris. Both players had great games to open the season and both are expecting to have a great game in this match-up. While both could have great games and one loses, it’s far more likely that one of these two is going to have a below-average game. I happen to think that player will be Terrelle Pryor. I don’t doubt his talent; I just think that he isn’t ready for a team quite like Miami. I also think Jacory Harris could be the second or third best quarterback in the country and will explode onto the nationally scene in this game. Miami wins.



#3 Boise State: BYE



Tennessee Tech @ #4 TCU
TCU just beat a dominant Pac-10 team; you really think they’ll have trouble with Tennessee Tech?


Wyoming @ #5 Texas
In-spite of everything that I am about to say, I am picking Texas to win. But I am also of the opinion that this game will be a really good test for that Texas defense. Wyoming’s Austyn Carta-Samuels is one of the more underrated quarterbacks in college football and if that Texas defense is not ready, he could expose that.


Idaho @ #6 Nebraska
While Idaho has taken good strides and improved vastly over the past few years, they’re still not up to the level of Nebraska. Nebraska wins.


#7 Oregon @ Tennessee
This is where all the recruiting losses start to really kill Tennessee’s season. Oregon wins in a blowout.


South Florida @ #8 Florida
Put very simply, the Florida defense needs to play at 100% for the entire game or South Florida could pull the upset. Florida wins in a close game.


Iowa State @ #9 Iowa
The Cy-Hawk trophy remains with the Hawkeyes.


#17 Florida State @ #10 Oklahoma
This will be the proving ground for Florida State’s defense. Oklahoma’s defense was horrible against Utah State, while the Florida State’s offense was dominant in their first game. This leads me to believe this game will be a shootout and the first defense to make a big stop is going to be the key to winning. I’m calling for Florida State to get that stop and pull the upset.


San Jose State @ #11 Wisconsin
Poor San Jose State. They start off against Alabama, now they get to be spanked by Wisconsin.


James Madison @ #13 Virginia Tech
*Snore* Va. Tech wins. *Snore*


#14 Arkansas @ Louisiana-Monroe
Arkansas gets another easy one playing a middle of the road Sun Belt Team. Ryan Mallett gets to improve his numbers for the Heisman.


#15 Georgia Tech @ Kansas
After losing to a FCS team, Kansas gets to try and slow down the triple option attack of Georgia Tech. Yeah, Georgia Tech wins.


Virginia @ #16 USC
Another easy one for USC.


#19 LSU @ Vanderbilt
LSU gets a bit of a rest after facing a tough North Carolina team. They should win this one easily.


UNLV @ #20 Utah
Utah showed how good they are in their first game against Pittsburgh. Now they get a conference opponent who shouldn’t pose too much of a problem. Utah wins.


#21 Auburn @ Mississippi State
Tonight’s big game won’t really be much of a contest. Mississippi State still hasn’t sorted out who their quarterback is going to be and that really hurts their chances of competing against a rising Auburn team. Auburn wins.


#22 Georgia @ #24 South Carolina
This game will be very interesting and has big implications in the race for the SEC crown. While neither team is expected to win the SEC, both have a chance. While I think the talent at Georgia is better, South Carolina has their act together and isn’t missing their best player the way that Georgia is. South Carolina will win this game.


#23 West Virginia @ Marshall
The battle of West Virginia will go to the team that has always dominated the state. West Virginia wins.


#25 Stanford @ UCLA
While UCLA isn’t as good as Stanford, they are good enough to be a test for Stanford. Stanford wins in a tight game.


Other Games of Note


UTEP @ Houston
This game is one that faces a power running team in UTEP against the high octane passing offense of the Houston Cougars. This is another game that holds a lot of meaning when it comes to conference title races; however it’s as closely matched as previously mentioned games. Houston should win easily, considering how much they have dominated Conference USA play in the past, but UTEP did pull the upset a year ago so don’t be too surprised to see them win.


Michigan @ Notre Dame
Michigan impressed me last week with both their defensive performance and their offensive explosiveness. Denard Robinson is definitely the kind of quarterback Rich Rodriguez has been waiting to have emerge since he arrived in Ann Arbor. Notre dame played about as well as one would expect. In this match-up, I’m going with Michigan to pull the upset, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Notre Dame pulls out the win.


BYU @ Air Force
A big game in one of the best conferences in the country; this match-up will help determine who will be competing for second or third in the Mountain West, and if TCU and Utah trip up, either of these teams could pull out the Mountain West title. I doubted BYU last week, but I’m not doubting them this week. BYU wins.


Toledo @ Ohio
Tight conference game in a highly competitive conference, there’s almost no way of telling who is going to emerge from this game. Both teams lost their starting quarterback from a year ago and this game will help show which team has done a good job replacing those lost stars. I’m picking Ohio for this one.


Bowling Green @ Tulsa
Another shoot out game for Bowling Green, however it’s against a team with a definite starting quarterback and an impressive showing underneath their belts. I’ve got Tulsa winning this one.