Shane O Mac’s Games of the Week (Week 5)
So this is it folks!! The cupcake games are finally over and its time for the real games to start! Most of the FBS Teams are playing someone in their conference and I am so juiced for it that I am going to bed right after this so the first Saturday of October can come faster!
It started last night in Stillwater, where the Oklahoma State Cowboys came from behind and beat Texas A&M 38-35 off a last second field goal by Dan Bailey. The Cowboys only had 38 total yards in the final quarter, but 5 turnovers by the Aggies didn’t help their cause (4 INT by Jerrod Johnson). The Big XII Conference is up for grabs and it gets more and more up for grabs week by week. If you would of told me that the teams with undefeated records after the first four weeks would be Kansas State, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma State and Oklahoma I would of called you out on three of the five. This conferences is exciting to watch and I am looking forward to see which two teams fight for the right to name themselves Big XII Champions.
Now onto important matters….WEEK 5 MATCHUPS!! It was hard to pick just five games, but here they are.
(22) Penn State (3-1, 0-0) vs. (17) Iowa (3-1, 0-0) – (8pm, ESPN)
The 2010 Big Ten season has officially kicked off this Saturday and this game is one of the headliners, but it has the potential to be a blowout. This primetime battle pits two teams who really don’t like each other. The Hawkeyes are the favorite in this one, a part they rarely have ever played in recent years. This game is full of history. Let’s go back to 2009 in the soggy, wet Beaver Stadium. It was primetime in front of the nation with an unranked Iowa team facing a undefeated Penn State team who on the first play from scrimmage scored a touchdown on a deep pass play. Fast forward to early in the fourth quarter…10-5 Iowa and Penn State couldn’t get anything done on offense. Adrian Clayborn is a name that makes Nittany Lion fans twitch every time they hear it. This is because he was the star in that game where he blocked a punt and rumbled into the endzone to dash any hopes of a undefeated season. So now it’s 2010 and Penn State brings in true freshman Rob Bolden to Kinnick Stadium, a place where the Nittany Lions haven’t won since 1999. The Nittany Lions don’t look solid on either offense or defense, but the defense seems a little bit stronger. A close encounter with Temple last week may have woken this team up because there’s no turning back now. Running Back Evan Royster is also having trouble running the ball with only a measly 297 yards and 1 touchdown to show for it. Penn State’s offense will be pressured by Iowa’s defense all game and watch for Bolden to make mistakes. Iowa’s quarterback Rick Stanzi is one yard away from 1,000 yards and has 9 total touchdowns and makes few mistakes. Iowa clearly has the advantage in the experience category and honestly I don’t see this game close at all. It will be your grandaddy’s Big Ten game with both teams being in the top 10 in points against. And don’t forget, because of the addition of Nebraska into the Big Ten these teams might not play for a while. So, whoever wins this one will have bragging right for at least two years. Iowa wins at home
(21) Texas (3-1, 1-0) vs. (8) Oklahoma (4-0 0-0) – (3:30, ABC)
The Red River Shootout or Rivalry…however you want to call it this one might not be close. I understand that Texas has won four out of five, but this is a different Texas team. This is a Texas team who allowed five turnovers against UCLA last week and got embarrassed at home. This is a Texas team who allows 18 points a game and has been untested. Now here comes the test rolling down into Dallas and the battlefield is the Cotton Bowl. The Oklahoma Sooners bring in Landry Jones who has completed 65% of his passes and has only thrown three interceptions. Garrett Gilbert has only four touchdowns and four interceptions. I honestly think that this game might get out of hand to in the second half and it could be all Sooners. But, deep down inside I think that #8 ranking is a bit high for Oklahoma and with this being a rivalry game, this will get ugly. Both teams know what’s on the line. Texas knows that if they do lose, Mack Brown might be in trouble and the team might not see a January bowl game. Oklahoma knows that if they do win and go 5-0, their next tough test might not come until……well it might never come!! After the 1st week scare against Utah State, the Sooners have been unstoppable and this week will be no different. From what I saw last week in Austin I don’t think the Longhorn players will be able to keep up with the Sooner offense. This will be a shootout, but I like Landry Jones’ and DeMarco Murray. So, the Sooners will win this game.
(11) Wisconsin (4-0 0-0) vs. (24) Michigan State (4-0 0-0) – (3:30, ABC)
The Spartans will be playing this game for Mark Dantonio, their head coach who had a heart attack just hours after the barnburner against Notre Dame. He will be in the skybox in East Lansing. I would call this the co-headliner in the Big Ten this Saturday, but this might blow the other Big Ten game right off the stage. This might be like the Black Sabbath/Van Halen tour in 1978. Most experts say that the opening band, Van Halen blew Sabbath off the stage. So the Spartans/Badgers matchup will be a great game. Which team will break first. Will Kirk Cousins lead the Spartans to their first 5-0 record since 1999 or will the two headed monster that has emerged in Madison reign supreme. John Clay isn’t the only big name running back in Madison. Freshman James White is talented as well and quarterback Scott Tolzien has completed 76% of his passes. Both teams looks similar on both sides of the ball and their schedule has had its ups and downs. The Spartans beat Notre Dame in the last second fake field goal thriller and the Badgers just beat Arizona State. Now they meet in East Lansing and both teams are undefeated. As I always say………….something’s got to give! I like Wisconsin in this one but it will be in double overtime (Yeah, I’m that confident it will be that close)
(9) Stanford (4-0 1-0) vs. (4) Oregon (4-0 1-0) – (8pm, ABC)
Well, if you’re looking for a 10-7 or 9-6 game you have came to the wrong place. If you think Oklahoma and Texas will be the “shootout” you are sadly mistaken. Eugene, Oregon is the site for this huge Pac-10 battle. This might very well be the biggest Pac-10 game in the history of the conference. This isn’t the Oregon-Oregon State game of last year where Rose Bowl implications were on the line, there’s NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP implications on the line here. Andrew Luck leads the Cardinal into this game where both teams are in the top 5 in total points. He has thrown 11 touchdowns compared to two interceptions. Stepfan Taylor leads the running attack while Doug Baldwin has caught three touchdowns. For the Ducks, they have weapons on all sides of the ball. LaMichael James had four touchdowns and has had numerous pretty runs this season. Quarterback Darron Thomas has thrown 10 touchdowns and three interceptions. The main question in this game is if Stanford can stop the passing and running attack of the Ducks. Autzen Stadium will be crazy in this primtime battle. Will Andrew Luck be rattled in this one? We will find out and I can’t wait! This game will be a barnburner as well, but I think that Oregon is just a bit stronger. The Ducks get a big win at home.
(1)Alabama (4-0 1-0) vs. (7) Florida (4-0 2-0) – (8pm, CBS)
On a side note, CBS has gotten some darn good SEC games this year and they have only been on the air for two weeks. On this Saturday they might be sadly disappointed with this primetime game. In my opinion, this game won’t be close. Alabama got their scare last week in Oxford and I don’t think they will get rattled again. John Brantley leads the Gators into Tuscaloosa into very hostile territory. The Gators haven’t looked like the Gators of old this season. In the first game it seemed that they couldn’t get the ball from center correctly but they are 4-0 and 1st in the SEC East. This is a rematch of the huge 1-2 matchup from last year in the SEC Championship and it might not be the last time these two guys play. Greg McElroy and Mark Ingram will show up in this game and won’t look back. Sorry CBS, but this one will be done after the 1st quarter. Tide roll.
Other games to watch:
Florida International (0-3,0-0) at Pitt (1-2, 0-0) (3:30, ESPN3) – Will Pitt ever be where they should have been before the season started?
Washington (1-2 0-0) at (18) USC (4-0, 1-0) (8pm, ESPN2) – Jake Locker was a Heisman candidate at the beginning of the season and hopefully he will show it at the Coliseum this Saturday night.
Navy (2-1) at Air Force (3-1,2-0) (2:30, Versus) – This game has the potential to be a sleeper great game. Both teams have winning records and military bragging rights on the line here. And it’s actually on national television.
9.24.2010
Shane O Mac's Games of the Week (Week 4)
Shane O Mac’s Games of the Week (Week 4)
Well, it is time for Week 4 and this should be the last week of cupcake games for most teams. But in college football every game is important. This week is no different and these are games to watch in Week 4 and we start at 3:30 in the SEC.
(1) Alabama (3-0 1-0 SEC) at (10) Arkansas (3-0 1-0 SEC) (3:30, CBS)
CBS gets their 2nd SEC game of the week and this could be the toughest game of the year for the Crimson Tide. Quarterback Greg McElroy and running backs Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson lead the Tide into this game. What makes this game a challenge for the Tide is that it’s in Fayetteville and the environment will be hostile. Also, if you forgot the quarterback for the Razorbacks is Ryan Mallett. Oh, yes that Ryan Mallett who used to play for Michigan. He already has over 1,000 yards passing with 9 TD’s compared to only 2 INT’S. For people to say that Arkansas has no chance in this game is very foolish. They beat a very talented Georgia team, without A.J. Green, but it was in Athens. This is obviously isn’t easy. But their facing the number one team in the country who has made every team they have faced looked bad with a very balanced attack. Arkansas is tough on defense by only allowing 11.5 points per game (5th in the country). This game is obviously the game of the week and I can’t wait for this one. I want to see if Richardson and Ingram can run on this defense, and if the Razorbacks can get something done against the top team in the nation. Watch for this game to be closer than the experts think.
(12) South Carolina (3-0 1-0 SEC) at (17) Auburn (3-0 1-0 SEC) (7:45 ESPN)
Ok, you must be asking yourself why is there two SEC games in here, well that answer is easy. The rankings don’t lie and neither do the records. The SEC is obviously the strongest conference from top to bottom every year, but this year there are some conferences knocking on the door. This is another battle of undefeated teams and one team is good at rushing and one is good on defense. Something has got to give and I like Auburn at home. 259 yards rushing per game is no joke and with a explosive quarterback like Cameron Newton at the helm for the Tigers this game might not be close. But not if the ole’ ball coach has something to say about it. Their 9th in the nation in points against with 12.7 and it helps to have running back Marcus Lattimore in the backfield. Anything could happen. Also, if or when the Gamecocks get through this game they will take their (4-0) record back home in Columbia against the Tide. Oh, jeez what a game that would be!
(16) Stanford (3-0 1-0 Pac-10) at Notre Dame (1-2) (3:30, NBC)
I don’t know if South Bend is ready for this one. The Legends Trophy is on the line and Andrew Luck comes into this one with one of the most explosive and talented offenses of the country. Last week they put up 68 points last week against Wake Forest and that pushed them all way up to 3rd in the country in points per game (51). None of the Cardinal’s games have been even close, but this could be their first real test. Notre Dame has a good defense, but it didn’t seem like it against Michigan or Michigan State. The special teams defense got embarrassed in front of the nation last week in their primetime debacle in East Lansing with that last play of Overtime. This week the Fighting Irish are trying to save face and this might be the team to do it against. Their at home, they average over 300 passing yards per game and 2 out of their 3 games have been within one score. They could be easily 2-1, but they keep the opposing team in the game. This game used to be dominated by Notre Dame, but on this Saturday in South Bend, karma could be a….well, you can finish that one.
(22) West Virginia (3-0 0-0 Big East) at (15) LSU (3-0 2-0 SEC) (9pm, ESPN)
Death Valley is the site of this interesting game between powers of the Big East and SEC. Both teams are undefeated and this game has the talent to make it game of the year. Two out of the three LSU games have been conference games and they dominated both with their offense and 5th ranked defense. West Virginia has a running attack with Noel Devine (354 yards, 2TD), but the stout LSU defense will look to stop that. The noise in this place will be tremendous because not only is this game in Death Valley….it's a night game in Death Valley. West Virginia’s defense isn’t that bad either. Their 9th in the nation with allowing 12.7 points per game. Their game against Marshall was memorable with them coming back from 15 points down in the 4th quarter and eventually winning in overtime. LSU had that tough game against North Carolina way back in the opening week of the season. That game was overshadowed by the toughness of North Carolina playing without most of their starters, but people forgot what really happened, LSU won. This game will be no different. I think West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith will have all that he can handle and not be ready for this raucous primetime SEC game. LSU will have their hands full with Devine, but their defense will be able to take care of him. Look for this game to be out of reach for the Mountaineers by the 2nd quarter.
(24) Oregon State (1-1 0-0 Pac-10) at (3) Boise State (2-0 1-0 WAC) (8pm, ABC)
This game is for real. Oregon State seemed to buy into the “blue turf” hype and literally painted their practice field blue. The Rodgers brothers have combined for over 300 yards rushing and 4 touchdowns. Will it be enough for the 15th ranked defense of Boise State? College Gameday is in Boise for this one and I never thought I would ever see the day. It will be 5am in Boise when Gameday kicks off at 9am EST. The fans will be out of control all game long and look for that to rattle Beaver quarterback Ryan Katz a little bit. I am excited about this one. I’m excited to see how Boise State reacts not only to the primetime game but how they perform at home in plain, little Idaho. Austin Pettis and Titus Young lead a group of senior receivers. Kellen Moore is getting more hype after his performances in the first two games, especially against Virginia Tech. It seems the coaches aren’t impressed by the Broncos schedule but I believe if they do beat Oregon State soundly they will be up there with the huge teams. But after this game they really don’t have a challenge until November 26th when they travel to Nevada who are playing great as well. Oregon State seems to be stuggling on both sides of the ball. When you look at their rankings: 98th in passing (162 yds), 89th in rushing (125 yds), 64th in offensive points (28) and 88th in points against (29) it seems like the Broncos will pass all over the Beavers defense. This will be a shootout offensively…..for 1 half. The Broncos throw and rush a lot. A very balanced attack…15th passing and 22nd in rushing. The stats say that the Broncos will lay the smackdown on the Beavers…BUT…the Rodgers brothers will make things interesting because Ryan Katz doesn’t throw the ball much. He only has 301 yards passing all season through two games. Overall, this game doesn’t seem to be close when you look at the stats, but we will see how it ends on the blue turf in Boise in primetime on ABC.
Other games to keep an eye on:
Kentucky (3-0 0-0 SEC) at Florida (3-0 0-0 SEC) (7pm, ESPNU) - John Brantley plays his first conference game in the Swamp and he hasn’t looked good in his first three games. Both teams are undefeated and need to prove themselves.
Ohio (1-2 0-1 MAC) at Marshall (0-3 0-0 C-USA) (7:00pm) - Well, you might be asking yourself why this game is on here? It might be because I have a big heart for the Thundering Herd. After that heartbreaking (and that’s putting it lightly) loss to West Virginia two weeks ago I just have felt bad for them. They had the game won, but blew it at the end and to put more salt in the wound…they were at home. They lost to Bowling Green last week and are winless so far. Let’s see if they can get the ball rolling against Ohio in Huntington…the scene of the crime against the Mountaineers.
(5) Oregon (3-0 0-0 Pac-10) at Arizona State (2-1 0-0 Pac-10) (10:30pm) - 1st Conference game for both of these teams. The Sun Devils are coming off a tough loss to Wisconsin just a week ago and they are coming out swinging against the Ducks. The Ducks are 2nd in rushing yards (380.7), 1st in offensive points (63) and points against (4.3). Are you serious 4.3 points per game!! I’m looking for this game to be a shootout…and the Sun Devils will put up a little more than 4.3 points.
That concludes week 4 in my games of the week. Enjoy it everybody!!
Well, it is time for Week 4 and this should be the last week of cupcake games for most teams. But in college football every game is important. This week is no different and these are games to watch in Week 4 and we start at 3:30 in the SEC.
(1) Alabama (3-0 1-0 SEC) at (10) Arkansas (3-0 1-0 SEC) (3:30, CBS)
CBS gets their 2nd SEC game of the week and this could be the toughest game of the year for the Crimson Tide. Quarterback Greg McElroy and running backs Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson lead the Tide into this game. What makes this game a challenge for the Tide is that it’s in Fayetteville and the environment will be hostile. Also, if you forgot the quarterback for the Razorbacks is Ryan Mallett. Oh, yes that Ryan Mallett who used to play for Michigan. He already has over 1,000 yards passing with 9 TD’s compared to only 2 INT’S. For people to say that Arkansas has no chance in this game is very foolish. They beat a very talented Georgia team, without A.J. Green, but it was in Athens. This is obviously isn’t easy. But their facing the number one team in the country who has made every team they have faced looked bad with a very balanced attack. Arkansas is tough on defense by only allowing 11.5 points per game (5th in the country). This game is obviously the game of the week and I can’t wait for this one. I want to see if Richardson and Ingram can run on this defense, and if the Razorbacks can get something done against the top team in the nation. Watch for this game to be closer than the experts think.
(12) South Carolina (3-0 1-0 SEC) at (17) Auburn (3-0 1-0 SEC) (7:45 ESPN)
Ok, you must be asking yourself why is there two SEC games in here, well that answer is easy. The rankings don’t lie and neither do the records. The SEC is obviously the strongest conference from top to bottom every year, but this year there are some conferences knocking on the door. This is another battle of undefeated teams and one team is good at rushing and one is good on defense. Something has got to give and I like Auburn at home. 259 yards rushing per game is no joke and with a explosive quarterback like Cameron Newton at the helm for the Tigers this game might not be close. But not if the ole’ ball coach has something to say about it. Their 9th in the nation in points against with 12.7 and it helps to have running back Marcus Lattimore in the backfield. Anything could happen. Also, if or when the Gamecocks get through this game they will take their (4-0) record back home in Columbia against the Tide. Oh, jeez what a game that would be!
(16) Stanford (3-0 1-0 Pac-10) at Notre Dame (1-2) (3:30, NBC)
I don’t know if South Bend is ready for this one. The Legends Trophy is on the line and Andrew Luck comes into this one with one of the most explosive and talented offenses of the country. Last week they put up 68 points last week against Wake Forest and that pushed them all way up to 3rd in the country in points per game (51). None of the Cardinal’s games have been even close, but this could be their first real test. Notre Dame has a good defense, but it didn’t seem like it against Michigan or Michigan State. The special teams defense got embarrassed in front of the nation last week in their primetime debacle in East Lansing with that last play of Overtime. This week the Fighting Irish are trying to save face and this might be the team to do it against. Their at home, they average over 300 passing yards per game and 2 out of their 3 games have been within one score. They could be easily 2-1, but they keep the opposing team in the game. This game used to be dominated by Notre Dame, but on this Saturday in South Bend, karma could be a….well, you can finish that one.
(22) West Virginia (3-0 0-0 Big East) at (15) LSU (3-0 2-0 SEC) (9pm, ESPN)
Death Valley is the site of this interesting game between powers of the Big East and SEC. Both teams are undefeated and this game has the talent to make it game of the year. Two out of the three LSU games have been conference games and they dominated both with their offense and 5th ranked defense. West Virginia has a running attack with Noel Devine (354 yards, 2TD), but the stout LSU defense will look to stop that. The noise in this place will be tremendous because not only is this game in Death Valley….it's a night game in Death Valley. West Virginia’s defense isn’t that bad either. Their 9th in the nation with allowing 12.7 points per game. Their game against Marshall was memorable with them coming back from 15 points down in the 4th quarter and eventually winning in overtime. LSU had that tough game against North Carolina way back in the opening week of the season. That game was overshadowed by the toughness of North Carolina playing without most of their starters, but people forgot what really happened, LSU won. This game will be no different. I think West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith will have all that he can handle and not be ready for this raucous primetime SEC game. LSU will have their hands full with Devine, but their defense will be able to take care of him. Look for this game to be out of reach for the Mountaineers by the 2nd quarter.
(24) Oregon State (1-1 0-0 Pac-10) at (3) Boise State (2-0 1-0 WAC) (8pm, ABC)
This game is for real. Oregon State seemed to buy into the “blue turf” hype and literally painted their practice field blue. The Rodgers brothers have combined for over 300 yards rushing and 4 touchdowns. Will it be enough for the 15th ranked defense of Boise State? College Gameday is in Boise for this one and I never thought I would ever see the day. It will be 5am in Boise when Gameday kicks off at 9am EST. The fans will be out of control all game long and look for that to rattle Beaver quarterback Ryan Katz a little bit. I am excited about this one. I’m excited to see how Boise State reacts not only to the primetime game but how they perform at home in plain, little Idaho. Austin Pettis and Titus Young lead a group of senior receivers. Kellen Moore is getting more hype after his performances in the first two games, especially against Virginia Tech. It seems the coaches aren’t impressed by the Broncos schedule but I believe if they do beat Oregon State soundly they will be up there with the huge teams. But after this game they really don’t have a challenge until November 26th when they travel to Nevada who are playing great as well. Oregon State seems to be stuggling on both sides of the ball. When you look at their rankings: 98th in passing (162 yds), 89th in rushing (125 yds), 64th in offensive points (28) and 88th in points against (29) it seems like the Broncos will pass all over the Beavers defense. This will be a shootout offensively…..for 1 half. The Broncos throw and rush a lot. A very balanced attack…15th passing and 22nd in rushing. The stats say that the Broncos will lay the smackdown on the Beavers…BUT…the Rodgers brothers will make things interesting because Ryan Katz doesn’t throw the ball much. He only has 301 yards passing all season through two games. Overall, this game doesn’t seem to be close when you look at the stats, but we will see how it ends on the blue turf in Boise in primetime on ABC.
Other games to keep an eye on:
Kentucky (3-0 0-0 SEC) at Florida (3-0 0-0 SEC) (7pm, ESPNU) - John Brantley plays his first conference game in the Swamp and he hasn’t looked good in his first three games. Both teams are undefeated and need to prove themselves.
Ohio (1-2 0-1 MAC) at Marshall (0-3 0-0 C-USA) (7:00pm) - Well, you might be asking yourself why this game is on here? It might be because I have a big heart for the Thundering Herd. After that heartbreaking (and that’s putting it lightly) loss to West Virginia two weeks ago I just have felt bad for them. They had the game won, but blew it at the end and to put more salt in the wound…they were at home. They lost to Bowling Green last week and are winless so far. Let’s see if they can get the ball rolling against Ohio in Huntington…the scene of the crime against the Mountaineers.
(5) Oregon (3-0 0-0 Pac-10) at Arizona State (2-1 0-0 Pac-10) (10:30pm) - 1st Conference game for both of these teams. The Sun Devils are coming off a tough loss to Wisconsin just a week ago and they are coming out swinging against the Ducks. The Ducks are 2nd in rushing yards (380.7), 1st in offensive points (63) and points against (4.3). Are you serious 4.3 points per game!! I’m looking for this game to be a shootout…and the Sun Devils will put up a little more than 4.3 points.
That concludes week 4 in my games of the week. Enjoy it everybody!!
9.12.2010
Sorry for the Delay...
Posting from me will resume this week. I have been moving in to my new place and getting settled, so no time to post. Just some things to look forward to this week:
NFL resume play (right now)
Pretty weak slate as far as college football is concerned, but some games to look forward to include:
Notre Dame-Michigan State
Iowa-Arizona
Texas-Texas Tech
Look for more game day stuff this week.
9.11.2010
Shane O Mac's Games of the Week (Week 2)
Well, it seems we have made it to Week 2 of College Football with a few questions. Is Boise State really for real? Is Michigan really that good with Denard Robinson and is there any chance for Penn State to upset the defending National Champion Alabama. Well, Tuscaloosa is where we will start.
(19) Penn State at (1) Alabama (7pm, ESPN)
College Gameday is there so that means something. Penn State starts a true freshman Rob Bolden once again after his impressive performance against Youngstown state. The only weak point for the Crimson Tide is their young secondary. Will Bolden be able to exploit that? Also, how good will the Nittany Lions react to the elements? Its going to be hot, humid, and sticky and the crowd will be very hostile at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram will be out for this one, but Trent Richardson is just a good maybe even a bit better. Penn State will be in for a battle in the trenches and they will have to pressure Greg McElroy because if they do happen to stop the Tide will go to the air. Also, Julio Jones will have to be stopped if the pass happens. The Vegas line for this game is 12…I’ll take Penn State because in the words of Lee Corso, “This one will be closer than the experts think.”
Michigan at Notre Dame (3:30, ABC)
Well, the Wolverines are in the Shane O Mac Games of the Week again. Last week Denard Robinson blew up against Connecticut and nobody thought game them a chance. Well the Fighting Irish welcome Michigan and this will be a tough test for Robinson. Notre Dame has good receivers and Dayne Chirst is leading the offense. Purdue had a lot trouble scoring points against the tout Notre Dame defense so it’s going to be interesting to see how Robinson reacts in this game away from home.
(17) Florida State at (10) Oklahoma (3:30, ABC or ESPN)
The last time these two met was in the 2001 Orange Bowl and it was for the National Championship. It was a sloppy game but the Sooners came out on top and won (13-2). Now we fast forward nine years and these teams are different in many ways. Florida State has a new head coach in Jimbo Fisher and last week he got off to a good starts against creampuff opponent Samford. The last time the Seminoles were in Norman was 1976, the first year of Bobby Bowden at Florida State. Oklahoma struggled late last week against Utah State but won 31-24. Christina Ponder will go to the air and abuse the Sooner defense while Landry Jones tries to keep his mistakes to a minimum. This one will be a barnburner.
(7) Oregon at Tennessee (7pm, ESPN2)
In this game something has got to give. Oregon put up 72 unanswered points last week against New Mexico State while the Volunteers but up 52 against Tennessee-Martin. Well, these two teams are obviously facing tougher tests that last week so that’s what makes this game interesting. We know the offenses can score a lot of points but what about the defenses. Oregon is in the Pac-10 which always gets criticism for having bad defenses. Tennessee is coming off an offsesason where Lane Kiffin bolted and went to Los Angeles. So there was a huge cut that is steal healing in Knoxville but last week’s game cured it a little bit. Oregon is in the top 10 for a reason so we will see if they can uphold their ranking this week, but it won’t be easy because this game is at Neyland Stadium in front a hostile orange and white crowd. Oregon set a school record with 720 total yards, but this week I don’t think it will happen. Ducks quarterback Darron Thomas might have his hands full today.
(12) Miami (FL) at (2) Ohio State (3:30, ABC)
Well, this is the other big game of the day. It is in Columbus and this game just feels like its going to be good. Two young quarterbacks take the national stage. Jacory Harris goes up against his toughest test maybe in his career. The Buckeye defensive line is very talented and will pressure Harris all game. We do know what to expect out of Terelle Pryor after his impressive Rose Bowl game last year against Oregon. Its just the simple question of who will make the first mistake? This game will have a huge impact in college football and it is only Week 2…
So strap up your chinstraps folks, Week 2 College Football is about to get underway in about an hour. Another sleeper game to watch for is (22) Georgia at (24) South Carolina. The ole’ ball coach tries to get the ball rolling for the Gamecocks in this early-season SEC game. If South Carolina wants any respect from the voters and the SEC they need to win this game against Georgia. Well that’s Shane O Mac’s Games of the Week for Week 2. Enjoy the games everybody!
(19) Penn State at (1) Alabama (7pm, ESPN)
College Gameday is there so that means something. Penn State starts a true freshman Rob Bolden once again after his impressive performance against Youngstown state. The only weak point for the Crimson Tide is their young secondary. Will Bolden be able to exploit that? Also, how good will the Nittany Lions react to the elements? Its going to be hot, humid, and sticky and the crowd will be very hostile at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram will be out for this one, but Trent Richardson is just a good maybe even a bit better. Penn State will be in for a battle in the trenches and they will have to pressure Greg McElroy because if they do happen to stop the Tide will go to the air. Also, Julio Jones will have to be stopped if the pass happens. The Vegas line for this game is 12…I’ll take Penn State because in the words of Lee Corso, “This one will be closer than the experts think.”
Michigan at Notre Dame (3:30, ABC)
Well, the Wolverines are in the Shane O Mac Games of the Week again. Last week Denard Robinson blew up against Connecticut and nobody thought game them a chance. Well the Fighting Irish welcome Michigan and this will be a tough test for Robinson. Notre Dame has good receivers and Dayne Chirst is leading the offense. Purdue had a lot trouble scoring points against the tout Notre Dame defense so it’s going to be interesting to see how Robinson reacts in this game away from home.
(17) Florida State at (10) Oklahoma (3:30, ABC or ESPN)
The last time these two met was in the 2001 Orange Bowl and it was for the National Championship. It was a sloppy game but the Sooners came out on top and won (13-2). Now we fast forward nine years and these teams are different in many ways. Florida State has a new head coach in Jimbo Fisher and last week he got off to a good starts against creampuff opponent Samford. The last time the Seminoles were in Norman was 1976, the first year of Bobby Bowden at Florida State. Oklahoma struggled late last week against Utah State but won 31-24. Christina Ponder will go to the air and abuse the Sooner defense while Landry Jones tries to keep his mistakes to a minimum. This one will be a barnburner.
(7) Oregon at Tennessee (7pm, ESPN2)
In this game something has got to give. Oregon put up 72 unanswered points last week against New Mexico State while the Volunteers but up 52 against Tennessee-Martin. Well, these two teams are obviously facing tougher tests that last week so that’s what makes this game interesting. We know the offenses can score a lot of points but what about the defenses. Oregon is in the Pac-10 which always gets criticism for having bad defenses. Tennessee is coming off an offsesason where Lane Kiffin bolted and went to Los Angeles. So there was a huge cut that is steal healing in Knoxville but last week’s game cured it a little bit. Oregon is in the top 10 for a reason so we will see if they can uphold their ranking this week, but it won’t be easy because this game is at Neyland Stadium in front a hostile orange and white crowd. Oregon set a school record with 720 total yards, but this week I don’t think it will happen. Ducks quarterback Darron Thomas might have his hands full today.
(12) Miami (FL) at (2) Ohio State (3:30, ABC)
Well, this is the other big game of the day. It is in Columbus and this game just feels like its going to be good. Two young quarterbacks take the national stage. Jacory Harris goes up against his toughest test maybe in his career. The Buckeye defensive line is very talented and will pressure Harris all game. We do know what to expect out of Terelle Pryor after his impressive Rose Bowl game last year against Oregon. Its just the simple question of who will make the first mistake? This game will have a huge impact in college football and it is only Week 2…
So strap up your chinstraps folks, Week 2 College Football is about to get underway in about an hour. Another sleeper game to watch for is (22) Georgia at (24) South Carolina. The ole’ ball coach tries to get the ball rolling for the Gamecocks in this early-season SEC game. If South Carolina wants any respect from the voters and the SEC they need to win this game against Georgia. Well that’s Shane O Mac’s Games of the Week for Week 2. Enjoy the games everybody!
9.10.2010
Week 1 Reaction
Ok, so my reaction from Week 1 of the College Football season was mixed. One reason because there are some teams that made a big leap in my mind and some teams that need help. Obviously, teams that took the leap of faith were Michigan. Yes, as a Penn State alumnus it pains me to say but Denard Robinson really shined against Connecticut. His stats were out of control (186 passing and 197 rushing) are you kidding me? This Sophomore QB looks to be for real and most people thought that the Wolverines were supposed to lose to the Huskies. Another team that looked impressive was Boise State. This comes from their come from behind victory in D.C. on Labor Day night against Virginia Tech. In my opinion, that game cements them for at least a top 3 ranking if they do end the season undefeated. The reason why I think they won’t be in the BCS National Championship game is because of their weak schedule. They have Oregon State on September 25th and that seems to be it. The game that I am looking forward to in their schedule is the Wolfpack of Nevada the day after Thanksgiving. Colin Kaepernick is a very dangerous quarterback and might exploit that weak secondary of the Broncos. Boise State gave up a 17-point lead to the Hokies but won off the arm of Kellen Moore with seconds remaining. Against the Wolf Pack or the Beavers they might not be so lucky.
Teams that took a step back is Oklahoma and Ole Miss. For the Rebels it’s easy, they lost to FCS opponent Jacksonville State. They were up 34-13 going into the 4th and allowed 21 points to the Gamecocks and went to overtime. After that it was history from there. 355 total yards allowed and 3 turnovers later the game was lost. The biggest upset since Appalachian State beat Michigan in 2007. You might be wondering to yourself why I picked Oklahoma and there’s good reason. Utah State gave them a game and Diondre Borel seemed to make the Sooner secondary look silly at times. The Sooner defense gave up 421 yards with 341 of that on passing plays. If Oklahoma plays like that against Utah State they might have a hard time against Christian Ponder and Florida State this Saturday.
Also, I just have one more statement to close Week 1: The North Carolina Tar Heels seem to be the gutsiest in college football after the opening week. Going into the game against strong SEC opponent LSU and being 6 yards and one touchdown pass away from upsetting the Tigers is very impressive pending the circumstances. Through all of the suspensions to many key starters and having the 2nd string players almost coming out on top was amazing. One of best games of the weekend by far because when everybody thought the Tar Heels were down in the 1st half they made into a hell of a game. Only thing to think past this part was if North Carolina had their starters in, how would they have performed?
Shane O Mac Games of the Week...Week 2 edition...upcoming!
Teams that took a step back is Oklahoma and Ole Miss. For the Rebels it’s easy, they lost to FCS opponent Jacksonville State. They were up 34-13 going into the 4th and allowed 21 points to the Gamecocks and went to overtime. After that it was history from there. 355 total yards allowed and 3 turnovers later the game was lost. The biggest upset since Appalachian State beat Michigan in 2007. You might be wondering to yourself why I picked Oklahoma and there’s good reason. Utah State gave them a game and Diondre Borel seemed to make the Sooner secondary look silly at times. The Sooner defense gave up 421 yards with 341 of that on passing plays. If Oklahoma plays like that against Utah State they might have a hard time against Christian Ponder and Florida State this Saturday.
Also, I just have one more statement to close Week 1: The North Carolina Tar Heels seem to be the gutsiest in college football after the opening week. Going into the game against strong SEC opponent LSU and being 6 yards and one touchdown pass away from upsetting the Tigers is very impressive pending the circumstances. Through all of the suspensions to many key starters and having the 2nd string players almost coming out on top was amazing. One of best games of the weekend by far because when everybody thought the Tar Heels were down in the 1st half they made into a hell of a game. Only thing to think past this part was if North Carolina had their starters in, how would they have performed?
Shane O Mac Games of the Week...Week 2 edition...upcoming!
9.02.2010
Shane O Mac's Games of the Week (Week 1 - September 2nd-6th)
Its time for the 1st Installment of Shane O Mac’s Game’s of the Week. Basically I pick out 5 games of each weekend that you should be keeping a close eye on. These are games that are obviously ones to watch, but I throw in one sleeper pick every now and again. What I love about College Football is that in most cases Week 1 of the season means that cupcake games will be played(19)Penn St/Youngstown St., (2) Ohio State/Marshall, San Jose State at (1)Alabama, Presbyterian vs. Wake Forest etc… just to name a few. But this season schools want to make a name for themselves early and get some respect from the BCS voters and this first week of the season doesn’t waste any time.
(15)Pittsburgh at Utah –(8:30 Thursday, Versus)– Well the Panthers have their work cut out for them in this Thursday night battle, which is surprisingly on Versus nonetheless. Pitt comes into this game with one of the best running backs in the country in Dion Lewis, maybe the two best receivers in the country in the 6’5” giants in Jon Baldwin and Mike Shanahan, but they do have a weak spot. His name is Tino Sunseri and he is an unproved Sophomore and will get challenged by the Utes tough defense early in this game. Watch for Utah to rattle this young quarterback early with their talented secondary corps. Junior CB Brandon Burton will lead the secondary while former quarterback Chad Mannis will lead the linebackers. And oh yeah this game is in Salt Lake City so maybe jetlag will take its effect.
Uconn at Michigan (3:30 Saturday, ABC) – Well, a game at the “Big House” has lost it’s importance over the years but this game is still big for both teams. Rich Rod tried to get his team out of the gutter and improve on his 8-16 record he has established over the past 2 seasons. So not only is Michigan’s dream of being relevant in the Big Ten on the line but Rich Rod’s job is hanging by a thread and he would like nothing more than to beat a talented team like the Huskies in Ann Arbor.
(14)USC at Hawaii (11pm Thursday, ESPN) – Ok, you might be asking yourself why the heck is this game on here and I will tell you why. Number one I am a huge college football fan and I love games like these. Nothing is better than watching a west coast game because when you think all the games are over, one just pops out of nowhere. It just makes me feel like a little kid on Christmas Day opening all of the gifts under the tree and then having your parents pull one out from behind the couch and it happens to be the gift that you “really” wanted. Might be over the line, but that’s how I feel.
Ok to the game…USC lost a ton of scholarship players and are only playing with 70. Lane Kiffin is the new head coach and I want to see how he deals with the situation that Pete Carroll left him tonight. I know that USC has talented players because c’mon it’s USC, but something has to give and it might be tonight. Either one of two things could happen…number one – USC will buckle under pressure and will get upset tonight and ESPN will make a huge deal out of it and you will see the highlights over and over OR USC takes the critics like myself, tell them to shove it and play USC football and win big. I am looking forward to this “gift” of a game tonight.
(5)Boise St vs. (6)Virginia Tech (8pm Monday, ESPN) – HERE WE GO…this is what college football is all about. A team out of the state of Idaho that has been absolutely dominant the past five years is ranked in the top 5 heading into their first game of the season. I love it! Head Coach Chris Petersen has gone an astonishing (49-4) in the time he has been there and they have won HUGE games against TCU last year in the Fiesta Bowl and obviously the “State of Liberty” game against powerhouse Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl. Since then they only thing that has kept them out of the National Championship game is a tough schedule. Well, if the Broncos didn’t do it this year then I don’t know what they can do…they have this game against Virginia Tech in Landover, MD and a home game against Oregon State.
I am looking forward to see the battle of the quarterbacks, Kellen Moore vs. Tyrod Taylor. Both men are excellent athletes and can get the ball where ever they want to on the field. It’s just a matter of who gets the ball last and THAT’S why this game will be a dandy.
(24) Oregon State vs. (6) TCU (7:45 Saturday, ESPN)– So two teams from conferences that don’t get an automatic bye into the BCS Championship game are in the top 10. That just goes to show you how up in the air this season will be and expect ANYTHING to happen. In this game it’s no different. You have the Rodgers brothers on one side, who can blow it up and score some points and you have a tough defense that was 6th in points against last season (12.5). Senior quarterback Andy Dalton continues his leadership role on the Horned Frogs offense while sophomore Ryan Katz takes over Sean Canfield’s spot as quarterback for the Beavers. IT’S THE Horned Frogs vs. Beavers in this game and it will be interesting to see if Oregon State can cause the upset and rock the top 25 in the first week.
So that’s SHANE O MAC’S GAMES OF WEEK for Week 1…check out more from me on here. You will get reactions and previews from me about anything College Football, NFL and even a little WWE wrestling because I am a huge wrestling. So keep reading and I’ll keep writing.
(15)Pittsburgh at Utah –(8:30 Thursday, Versus)– Well the Panthers have their work cut out for them in this Thursday night battle, which is surprisingly on Versus nonetheless. Pitt comes into this game with one of the best running backs in the country in Dion Lewis, maybe the two best receivers in the country in the 6’5” giants in Jon Baldwin and Mike Shanahan, but they do have a weak spot. His name is Tino Sunseri and he is an unproved Sophomore and will get challenged by the Utes tough defense early in this game. Watch for Utah to rattle this young quarterback early with their talented secondary corps. Junior CB Brandon Burton will lead the secondary while former quarterback Chad Mannis will lead the linebackers. And oh yeah this game is in Salt Lake City so maybe jetlag will take its effect.
Uconn at Michigan (3:30 Saturday, ABC) – Well, a game at the “Big House” has lost it’s importance over the years but this game is still big for both teams. Rich Rod tried to get his team out of the gutter and improve on his 8-16 record he has established over the past 2 seasons. So not only is Michigan’s dream of being relevant in the Big Ten on the line but Rich Rod’s job is hanging by a thread and he would like nothing more than to beat a talented team like the Huskies in Ann Arbor.
(14)USC at Hawaii (11pm Thursday, ESPN) – Ok, you might be asking yourself why the heck is this game on here and I will tell you why. Number one I am a huge college football fan and I love games like these. Nothing is better than watching a west coast game because when you think all the games are over, one just pops out of nowhere. It just makes me feel like a little kid on Christmas Day opening all of the gifts under the tree and then having your parents pull one out from behind the couch and it happens to be the gift that you “really” wanted. Might be over the line, but that’s how I feel.
Ok to the game…USC lost a ton of scholarship players and are only playing with 70. Lane Kiffin is the new head coach and I want to see how he deals with the situation that Pete Carroll left him tonight. I know that USC has talented players because c’mon it’s USC, but something has to give and it might be tonight. Either one of two things could happen…number one – USC will buckle under pressure and will get upset tonight and ESPN will make a huge deal out of it and you will see the highlights over and over OR USC takes the critics like myself, tell them to shove it and play USC football and win big. I am looking forward to this “gift” of a game tonight.
(5)Boise St vs. (6)Virginia Tech (8pm Monday, ESPN) – HERE WE GO…this is what college football is all about. A team out of the state of Idaho that has been absolutely dominant the past five years is ranked in the top 5 heading into their first game of the season. I love it! Head Coach Chris Petersen has gone an astonishing (49-4) in the time he has been there and they have won HUGE games against TCU last year in the Fiesta Bowl and obviously the “State of Liberty” game against powerhouse Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl. Since then they only thing that has kept them out of the National Championship game is a tough schedule. Well, if the Broncos didn’t do it this year then I don’t know what they can do…they have this game against Virginia Tech in Landover, MD and a home game against Oregon State.
I am looking forward to see the battle of the quarterbacks, Kellen Moore vs. Tyrod Taylor. Both men are excellent athletes and can get the ball where ever they want to on the field. It’s just a matter of who gets the ball last and THAT’S why this game will be a dandy.
(24) Oregon State vs. (6) TCU (7:45 Saturday, ESPN)– So two teams from conferences that don’t get an automatic bye into the BCS Championship game are in the top 10. That just goes to show you how up in the air this season will be and expect ANYTHING to happen. In this game it’s no different. You have the Rodgers brothers on one side, who can blow it up and score some points and you have a tough defense that was 6th in points against last season (12.5). Senior quarterback Andy Dalton continues his leadership role on the Horned Frogs offense while sophomore Ryan Katz takes over Sean Canfield’s spot as quarterback for the Beavers. IT’S THE Horned Frogs vs. Beavers in this game and it will be interesting to see if Oregon State can cause the upset and rock the top 25 in the first week.
So that’s SHANE O MAC’S GAMES OF WEEK for Week 1…check out more from me on here. You will get reactions and previews from me about anything College Football, NFL and even a little WWE wrestling because I am a huge wrestling. So keep reading and I’ll keep writing.
8.27.2010
Eastern-Southeast Division
Hockey season is right around the corner with training camp set to start within weeks and the first preseason games a month way. Last year hockey took major steps forward regaining popularity and respect after the lockout just five years ago. The Olympics showed the world how exciting and gripping this sport can be as everyone watched a goalie put the entire nation on his back only to be outdone by the sports golden boy. A city and team regained dominance after decades of frustration and lack luster teams. 2010-2011 looks to continue momentum into the new decade with new and interested fans across the entire nation.
TLAAB will dissect every division and preview the upcoming season. We start in the dirty south, the Southeastern division of the Eastern Conference.
Atlanta- If it seems like the thrashers look a lot like the Blackhawks, its true. Well sort of. Atlanta picked up some key additions this off season and maybe the biggest are coming from the Stanley cup champions. Dustin Byfuglien was dealt this offseason in trade and free agent Andrew Ladd also landed in Atlanta. Both were instrumental in Chicago’s championship run. Also coming out of the cental is former St. Louis goalie Chris Mason. Mason should bring some leadership and stability in the locker room and most importantly between the pipes.
In this division its pretty locked up at the top with Washington. Everyone else has a chance to sneak into the second spot and playoffs. Atlanta is still a couple years away but clearly are moving in the right direction. Along with Ladd and Byfuglien, Nik Antropov and still unrestricted free agent Maxim Afinagenov should provide some scoring and excitement. 25 year old Swedish born Tobias Enstrom had 50, (6 G, 44 A) points from the blue line and will continue to anchor the Defense.
Key Additions: Andrew Ladd, Dustin Byfuglien, Chris Mason
Key Departures: Pavel Kubina, Colby Armstrong
Prediction: 80 pts. 4th in SE.
Carolina- It’s been five years since the Hurricanes hoisted the cup. They got off to a terrible start last year and looked destined to finish in the bottom of the league. Eric Staal became captain and the teams salvaged what was left of the season finishing third in the division. Building off of last year’s momentum the canes should be much better in 2010-2011. Staal will continue to be one of the best centers in the league and now it’s his team to lead. Losing veteran Ray Whitney (21 G 37 A) certainly will hurt but adding veteran Joe Corvo to the defense gives Carolina another veteran leader. On July 15, 2010 the Hurricanes announced that Brind'Amour's #17 number would be retired in after he officially announced he would retire as a player. Brind’Amour was captain in 2006 when Carolina won their first Stanley cup and was eventually replaced by Staal.
Carolina fans can expect to be back in the playoffs once again. They may not have the talent to dethrown Washington, but expect them to be in the mix in April in the sixth-ninth range of the conference. Cam Ward continues to progress as a net minder. Staal and Jussi Jokinen have provided scoring, while Corvo and Joni Pitkanen will provide support on defense.
Key Additions: Joe Corvo
Key Departures: Ray Whitney, Rob Brind’Amour
Prediction: 95 pts. 2nd in SE
Florida- Panther fans are asking, “Is this the year we make it?” Probably not, but the future is definitely bright. Three first round draft picks including third overall pick, Erik Gudbranson will help get this franchise back in the right direction. Gudbranson was ranked the best defensive prospect in the entire draft. Florida also added Nick Bjugstad (19th) and Quinton Howden (25th) to the squad. Gudbranson is the only one likely to make the team and impact immediately but clearly panther fans have reason to look toward the future. Florida didn’t make much of a splash in free agency adding only Christopher Higgins to the roster. Bringing back Stephen Weiss, Nathan Horton and David Booth certainly will be the backbone of the offense. Tomas Vokoun comes back once again and builds of last years 2.55 GAA and .925% SV%.
Don’t expect much from this young squad, but seriously in 2-3 years they may be at the top of the division and knocking on the Caps door.
Key Additions: plethora of Pipeline talent
Key Departures: NONE
Prediction: 75 pts. 5th in SE
Tampa Bay- Stevey Y. Mr. Red wing brings his talent and knowledge of the game to the Bay. Hiring Steve Yzerman and Guy Boucher has brought some electricy, (no pun intended,) to the Lightning. Already stacked with scoring talent, some key additions have made this one of the most talented and threatening offenses in the entire league. Steve Stamkos is coming off his Rocket Richard Trophy winning season with 51 goals, tied for most in the NHL with Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Martin St. Louis and newly signed Steve Downie provide instant offense, and oh yeah there’s that other French Canadian Vincent Lecavlier who has seen production decline over the years but still had 24 goals and 46 assists last season. Yzerman bolstered the roster even more with additions like Simon Gagne in a trade, Dominic Moore and former Thrasher Pavel Kubina at the blue line.
It wasn’t all blissful in the sunshine state this offseason. Losing goalie Antero Nittymaki in free aganecy to San Jose is a bummer. They added Dan Ellis from Nashville to take the role, but its hard to believe he has all that it takes to be a dominant # 1. Alex Tanguay also left the gulf coast heading back to Calgary. The defense is shaky, but adding Kubina will help. This team should make the playoffs or at least battle with Carolina for the second spot in the division.
Key Additions: Simon Gagne, Dominic Moore, Pavel Kubina
Key Departures: Antero Nittymaki, Alex Tanguay
Prediction: 92 pts. 3rd in SE
Washington- We know this team can score and score a lot, but they lack one key ingredient to get over the hump and into the Stanley Cup Finals…a goalie. Coming off a Presidents Trophy can leave high expectations. They couldn’t be any greater heading into this season. We all saw what a hot young goalie, (Jaroslav Halak) can do to a team in the playoffs. The Caps didn’t get a big time goalie in the offseason and have put a lot of faith in 22-year-old Semyon Varlamov. Varlamov went 15-4-6 last year, but with a .909 SV%. The team is going to put up goals in front of you, easy to do when you have the best player in the world, Alexander Ovechkin, on your team. Joe Corvo will be missed and Mike Green as a great a player as he is, is an offensive minded player. Jeff Schultz signed a huge 4-year $11,000,000 deal this offseason and a lot if riding on him to perform. The defense needs to show up and play in front of Varlamov or this will be another heart breaking performance for Caps fans.
The caps didn’t make any big free agency moves, but didn’t get any worse. They have a lot to prove this year and don’t want to let down like in years past. Don’t expect them to give up control of the Southeast or Eastern conference any time soon. When you can score five goals a night, the regular season won’t seem so bad. The playoffs are where it hurts and Washington might not have what it takes just yet to get to the finals.
Key Additions: NONE
Key Departures: Joe Corvo, Milan Jurcina, Shaone Morrisonn
Prediction: 118 pts. 1st in SE
All Division Team:
Center: Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay
Right Wing: Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay
Left Wing: Alexander Ovechkin, Washington
Defense: Mike Green, Washington
Defense: Tobias Enstrom, Atlanta
Goalie: Tomas Vokoun, Florida
8.26.2010
Big Ten Divisions
Reports are coming out of ESPN that the Big Ten has its divisions set and will adopt a 9 game schedule starting in 2015. We do not know the specifics to the divisions yet, but what we do know is that Iowa and Wisconsin, a protected rivalry, are split up.
I have played with division alignments a lot, and I think that while rivalries are extremely important, the smart thing to do is maintain competitive balance. Geography should play the smallest role in the decision making process. With that being said, here is my two cents in the division alignment debate.
East
Ohio State
Penn State
Wisconsin
Northwestern
Illinois
Minnesota
West
Michigan
Nebraska
Iowa
Michigan State
Indiana
Purdue
8.25.2010
Preseason Top 25
For those of you who pay even the slightest bit of attention to college football, you know the AP Top 25 Poll was released over the weekend. While I, like some, believe that preseason polls can make or break a season, I figure if ya can't beat 'em, join 'em. Here is my top 25 for the 2010 season, including a breakdown of the top ten.
1. Alabama- It is hard to argue with Nick Saban's success in Tuscaloosa, starting with the fact they haven't lost a regular season game in 2 years. With a star studded backfield and a dynamic group of wide receivers, it is tough to see them losing this year either, even with an inexperienced defense. If any team gets to them, it will be early.
Set your TiVo- Sept. 11 vs. #19 Penn State, Sept. 25 @ #17 Arkansas
2. Ohio State- A Heisman Trophy quarterback, a deep backfield, an experienced offensive line, a solid defense, and the BCS monkey finally off their back, what's not to like? A tough schedule including road dates to Camp Randall and Iowa City is a start, and seemingly the only things standing in the way of the Buckeyes and a National Championship date in Glendale. Oh, and don't forget about The Big Game and a rising "Border War" with Penn State.
Set your TiVo- Sept. 11 vs. #13 Miami, Nov. 20 @ #9 Iowa
3. Boise State- There is no team in the nation with more returning star power than Boise State. Kellen Moore is for real, and will prove it yet again this season. They have two early tests, one in D.C. and then two weeks later in Boise, but there is no reason to think back to back 14-0 seasons aren't well within reach for coach Petersons Broncos. If there ever were a chance for a non-BCS team to make it to the big show, it is this team.
Set your TiVo- Sept. 6 vs. #10 Va. Tech (in D.C.), Sept. 25 vs. #24 Oregon State
4. TCU- Some may disagree but this team is nearly as dangerous as the team above them. They boast a ton of experience, an explosive offense, and a traditionally stout defense. Experience at the quarterback position is what separates this team from Florida and Texas, and trust me people will know who Andy Dalton is by the end of this season.
Set your TiVo- Sept. 4 vs. #24 Oregon State, Oct. 16 vs. BYU
5. Texas- Texas is the model of consistency when it comes to college football. With Mack Brown at the helm, coupled with being at the center of the recruiting universe, you can guarantee a 10 win season just about every year. Although Garrett Gilbert wasn't able to put together the storybook ending on a special season last year after taking over for an injured McCoy, what I saw from the true freshman really impressed me. This team definitely won't run away with the Big 12 South, but another title is well within their grasp.
Set your TiVo- Oct. 2 vs. #7 Oklahoma, Oct. 16 @ #8 Nebraska
6. Florida- Things in the land of Tebow will be a little bit different this year as John Brantley takes the helm. Fans in The Swamp shouldn't give up all hope yet though, Brantley is a big kid with a strong, accurate arm who makes his receivers look better than they are. Look for Meyer to air it out a little more to utilize his new QBs talents. My only concern is Brantley's leadership skills. Can he replace one of the greatest leaders of all time?
Set your TiVo- Oct. 2 @ #1 Alabama, Oct. 30 vs. #23 Georgia
7. Oklahoma- While this is a fairly young team on paper, there is a lot of experience in key areas, including all of the skill positions on offense. Landry Jones looks to take the next step in an offense that is always good, and DeMarco Murray is on my Heisman Trophy darkhorse list (coming soon). With most of their secondary returning in an air-it-out conference their defense looks to be solid this year as well. Avoiding Nebraska doesn't hurt either.
Set your TiVo- Sept. 11 vs. #20 Florida State, Oct. 2 vs. #5 Texas
8. Wisconsin- This is a very risky pick for one reason, Wisconsin is no longer coached by Barry Alvarez. While Bret Bielema is no slouch, the last time Wisconsin entered the season with any sort of expectations, they were a major flop. However, with one of the best offensive lines in the nation, and experience QB, and a Heisman contender in the backfield, it is really tough to mess this one up. This team has a very high ceiling and it helps to get Ohio State at home.
Set your TiVo- Oct. 16 vs. #2 Ohio State, Oct. 23 vs. #9 Iowa
9. Virginia Tech- Tyrod Taylor's production jumped greatly last year as he refined his passing ability and compiled a nice season. It helps to have one of the nations top returning rushers to open up the passing game as well. Combine that with an always stout Hokie defense and the tradition of "Beamer Ball" and you have the recipe for another ACC Championship.
Set your TiVo- Sept. 6 vs. #3 Boise State, Nov. 13 @ #18 North Carolina
10. Nebraska- While their offense was anemic at times last year, nearly all starters are returning in what could be a special last go round for Nebraska in the Big 12. Their defense may not be as stout as last years, but they still will be a force in what is usually a defenseless Big 12. Watch for this team to win the North again without much of a challenge setting up a potential rematch of last years title game.
Set your TiVo- Oct. 16 vs. #5 Texas, Oct. 30 vs. Missouri
Best of the rest:
11. Iowa
12. Miami
13. Oregon
14. USC
15. Arkansas
16. North Carolina
17. Florida State
18. Penn State
19. Pitt
20. Georgia Tech
21. LSU
22. Oregon State
23. West Virginia
24. Georgia
25. Cincinnati
Breakdown of the rest: While the ACC and Big East don't have that elite team to win it all, (although Virginia Tech is close, I don't think they have the star power to make a run at the crystal football) they do have a lot of very good teams which is made evident in the best of the rest category. The Pac 10 isn't the Pac 10 minus 9 it has been for the past decade, with both teams from Oregon having a legitimate shot at the Pac 10 crown this year. The SEC remains the top conference in the land, but the gap between them and the Big 10 and Pac 10 isn't as big as it used to be.
8.23.2010
Welcome!
Welcome to 3 Lions and a Bonnie's Sports Blog! We are four recent college graduates from Penn State and St. Bonaventure combining to cover the vast world of professional and college sports.
We are always looking for improvement so feel free to comment (no spamming, and please, keep it appropriate) and leave suggestions.
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