NFL Week 1 Preview: TV Schedule, Announcer Pairings, Point Spreads, and Picks

September 7, 2009 By 5 Comments
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Update: The NFL Week 17 TV schedule, point spreads, and picks post is up.

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nfl Week 1 Preview: tv schedule, announcers, point spreads, odds, over-unders, As Michael Jackson once sang with his brothers, “can you feel it…Can You Feel It…CAN YOU FEEL IT!?”

Not sure exactly what the late, great MJ was referring to when he sang those lyrics, but I reference them to illustrate my excitement at what will happen this Thursday night: the kickoff of another NFL season.

I love college football, and was excited about the first full slate of games this past Saturday, but nothing beats the NFL. And now that the Official Sports League of America is back, so to is our weekly look at each game with the NFL Week 1 Preview, including the TV Schedule, Announcer Pairings, Point Spreads, and Over-Unders. Plus, I try my hand and predicting each game against the spread.

A quick note for all the gamblers out there:

First of all, the point spreads and over-unders you see listed below are current as of September 7th. Thus, if you want the most up-to-date information, follow this link to DocSports where we get our information from:

Secondly, I don’t bet on the NFL or any sports, so I won’t be “putting my money where mouth is” to test out the wisdom I dispense below. And I don’t have any charts of historical trends regarding how teams do against the spread in various situations. My picks, while against the spread, are just my own educated gut feelings. If you want true expert advice, here is a helpful link:

NFL Week 1 Preview: tv schedule, announcers, point spreads, odds, over-unders,
And finally, before we delve into the Week 1 preview, a quick shout out to our sources for the helpful information contained in this post, as well as some mood music in the form of an embedded mp3 to get you ready for Week 1 of the 2009 NFL season:

NFL Week 1 Preview

TV Schedule – Announcers – Kickoff Times

Point Spreads – Over-Unders – Spread Picks

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Click here to great deals on NFL tickets from Stubhub

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Tennessee Titans (0-0) at Pittsburgh Steelers (0-0)

  • Titans-Steelers Date: Thursday, September 10th
  • Titans-Steelers TV & Kickoff Time: 8:30 ET on NBC
  • Titans-Steelers Location: Heinz Field in Pittsburgh
  • Titans-Steelers Announcers: Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth
  • Titans-Steelers Point Spread: PIT -5.5
  • Titans-Steelers Over-Under: 35
  • Jerod Morris, MSF Titans-Steelers Preview and Analysis
  • Titans-Steelers Prediction: The Steelers are at home and will be excited to begin their Super Bowl defense in front of the terrible towels. Tennessee is now without Albert Haynesworth and still does not have a legit outside threat to keep the vaunted Pittsburgh D honest. Titans-Steelers spread pick: PIT -5.5

nfl Week 1 Preview: tv schedule, announcers, point spreads, odds, over-unders,

Miami Dolphins (0-0) at Atlanta Falcons (0-0)

  • Dolphins-Falcons Date: Sunday, September 13th
  • Dolphins-Falcons TV & Kickoff Time: 1:00 ET on CBS
  • Dolphins-Falcons Location: Georgia Dome in Atlanta
  • Dolphins-Falcons Announcers: Greg Gumbel and Dan Dierdorf
  • Dolphins-Falcons Point Spread: ATL -4
  • Dolphins-Falcons Over-Under: 43.5
  • Dolphins-Falcons Prediction: One of the NFL’s two surprise teams from 2008 will being 2009 with a loss. Considering the Falcons have a stellar rookie QB with a year of experience and another weapon in Tony Gonzalez, while the Dolphins still are relying on Ted Ginn to be their #1 WR, I like the Falcons to win this one, but not easily. Dolphins-Falcons spread pick: MIA +4

Kansas City Chiefs (0-0) at Baltimore Ravens (0-0)

  • Chiefs-Ravens Date: Sunday, September 13th
  • Chiefs-Ravens TV & Kickoff Time: 1:00 ET on CBS
  • Chiefs-Ravens Location: M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore
  • Chiefs-Ravens Announcers: Ian Eagle and Rich Gannon
  • Chiefs-Ravens Point Spread: BAL-10.5
  • Chiefs-Ravens Over-Under: 37
  • Chiefs-Ravens Prediction: Kansas City will very likely be awful this year, with Matt Cassel already hurt and the O-line looking shaky. The Ravens have a more experience Joe Flacco, a solid ground game, and a defense that wants to prove it was more than just Rex Ryan’s scheming. I think Baltimore continues its trend of having alternating good/bad seasons, but it won’t begin in Week 1. Chiefs-Ravens spread pick: BAL -10.5

Philadelphia Eagles (0-0) at Carolina Panthers (0-0)

  • Eagles-Panthers Date: Sunday, September 13th
  • Eagles-Panthers TV & Kickoff Time: 1:00 ET on FOX
  • Eagles-Panthers Location: Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte
  • Eagles-Panthers Announcers: Dick Stockton and Charles Davis
  • Eagles-Panthers Point Spread: PHI -1.5
  • Eagles-Panthers Over-Under: 43.5
  • Eagles-Panthers Prediction: This is a very intriguing matchup. Philly is trying to work Michael Vick into the lineup, but will have a few weeks not to worry about it while he is suspended. I think Donovan McNabb, usually a fast starter, uses these couple of weeks to assert himself and remind coaches and fans that he is the undisputed #1 QB. Plus, this will be the Philly defense’s first game without deceased former DC Jim Johnson, and I expect an inspired performance. And sorry Panthers, but your awful performance in the playoffs is still ringing my head. Eagles-Panthers spread pick: Eagles -1.5

Denver Broncos (0-0) at Cincinnati Bengals (0-0)

  • Broncos-Bengals Date: Sunday, September 13th
  • Broncos-Bengals TV & Kickoff Time: 1:00 ET on CBS
  • Broncos-Bengals Location: Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati
  • Broncos-Bengals Announcers: GUS JOHNSON and Dan Fouts
  • Broncos-Bengals Point Spread: CIN -4
  • Broncos-Bengals Over-Under: 43.5
  • Broncos-Bengals Prediction: I am not bullish at all on the Broncos this season. I do, however, think the Bengals will rebound from last year to win 6 or 7 games at a minimum (as long as Carson Palmer stays healthy). Palmer should be healthy for Week 1, and despite my hatred for Cedric Benson, I don’t see the Broncos getting a road win in Josh McDaniels’ first game. I do, however, think the Broncos will play inspired and keep it close. Broncos-Bengals spread pick: Broncos +4

Minnesota Vikings (0-0) at Cleveland Browns (0-0)

  • Vikings-Browns Date: Sunday, September 13th
  • Vikings-Browns TV & Kickoff Time: 1:00 ET on FOX
  • Vikings-Browns Location: Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland
  • Vikings-Browns Announcers: Thom Brennaman and Brian Billick
  • Vikings-Browns Point Spread: MIN -4
  • Vikings-Browns Over-Under: 40
  • Vikings-Browns Prediction: My heart is telling me to pull for the Browns, who obviously want to kick off 2009 on the right foot in front of the home fans. But as we saw with the Jets last year, Brett Favre will probably get off to a good start this season, and the Browns have not yet proven they can put consistent pressure on the passer or stop the run. That’s a bad combo against Brett Favre and Adrian Peterson. I hope I’m wrong, but doubt it. Vikings Browns spread pick: Vikings -4

New York Jets (0-0) at Houston Texans (0-0)

  • Jets-Texans Date: Sunday, September 13th
  • Jets-Texans TV & Kickoff Time: 1:00 ET on CBS
  • Jets-Texans Location: Reliant Stadium in Houston
  • Jets-Texans Announcers: Jim Nantz and Phil Simms
  • Jets-Texans Point Spread: HOU -4.5
  • Jets-Texans Over-Under: 43.5
  • Jets-Texans Prediction: Houston is, once again, a trendy pick to make the playoffs this year. The Jets have a rookie QB and a rookie head coach, which prior to last year suggested struggles. But I am still not a total believer in Houston, and I think the Jets’ D has a chance to be among the league’s best with Rex Ryan at the helm. Houston may win this game, but not by more than a field goal. Jets-Texans spread pick: Jets +4.5

Jacksonville Jaguars (0-0) at Indianapolis Colts (0-0)

  • Jaguars-Colts Date: Sunday, September 13th
  • Jaguars-Colts TV & Kickoff Time: 1:00 ET on CBS
  • Jaguars-Colts Location: Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis
  • Jaguars-Colts Announcers: Kevin Harlan and Solomon Wilcots
  • Jaguars-Colts Point Spread: IND -7
  • Jaguars-Colts Over-Under: 44.5
  • Myles Berry, MSF: Colts-Jaguars Preview and Analysis
  • Jaguars-Colts Prediction: Peyton Manning and the Colts are going to want to come right out and show that their offense will not skip a beat without Tony Dungy and Marvin Harrison. With new RB Donald Brown ready to provide depth and explosiveness with the experienced but oft-injured Joseph Addai, I like the Colts’ chances to put up some points. I think the Jags will be better this year, and they always seem to play the Colts tough, but I think Indy pulls away in the second half. Jaguars-Colts spread pick: Colts -7

Detroit Lions (0-0) at New Orleans Saints (0-0)

  • Lions-Saints Date: Sunday, September 13th
  • Lions-Saints TV & Kickoff Time: 1:00 ET on FOX
  • Lions-Saints Location: The Superdome in New Orleans
  • Lions-Saints Announcers: Chris Myers and Trent Green
  • Lions-Saints Point Spread: NO -13
  • Lions-Saints Over-Under: 49
  • Lions-Saints Prediction: Detroit is coming off of an 0-16 season and spent their high draft picks on offense. Even though new head coach Jim Schwartz is a defensive guy, the Lions simply have not improved their personnel enough…certainly not enough to contain what will prove to be the NFL’s most prolific offense in 2009. I think the Lions come out an inspired and keep this game close early, but Drew Brees and the Saints will rack up points and pull away in the second half. Lions-Saints spread pick: NO -13

nfl Week 1 Preview: tv schedule, announcers, point spreads, odds, over-unders,
Dallas Cowboys (0-0) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-0)

  • Cowboys-Buccaneers Date: Sunday, September 13th
  • Cowboys-Buccaneers TV & Kickoff Time: 1:00 ET on FOX
  • Cowboys-Buccaneers Location: Raymond James Stadium in Tampa
  • Cowboys-Buccaneers Announcers: Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, and Tony Siragusa
  • Cowboys-Buccaneers Point Spread: DAL -5.5
  • Cowboys-Buccaneers Over-Under: 39
  • Cowboys-Buccaneers Prediction: I have been telling anyone who will listen that I like the Cowboys this year. They will not be as exciting or dramatic as they were the last two seasons, but I think they will be better. Living in Dallas, it is easy to see the difference in focus between this year and last year. Tampa Bay has a new coach, a recycled QB, and a completely new identity on defense. Home or not, the Bucs don’t have what it takes to hang with a talented team that wants to make a Week 1 statement. Cowboys-Buccaneers spread pick: DAL -5.5

San Francisco 49ers (0-0) at Arizona Cardinals (0-0)

  • 49ers-Cardinals Date: Sunday, September 13th
  • 49ers-Cardinals TV & Kickoff Time: 4:15 ET on FOX
  • 49ers-Cardinals Location: University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale
  • 49ers-Cardinals Announcers: Sam Rosen and Tim Ryan
  • 49ers-Cardinals Point Spread: ARI -6.5
  • 49ers-Cardinals Over-Under: 46.5
  • Matt Noonan: 49ers-Cardinals Preview and Prediction
  • 49ers-Cardinals Prediction: The 49ers are another team I am bullish on in 2009, and I think they have a good chance, like the Cowboys, to be a non-playoff team from 2008 that makes it in 2009. We all know how much the Super Bowl loser struggles the next year, and I see no reason not to expect a similar hangover for the Cardinals who, remember, were only 9-7 in the regular season last year. The 49ers play well with Shaun Hill and QB and I think they actually grind out a win this Sunday. Either way, they keep it close enough to cover. 49ers-Cardinals spread pick: 49ers +6.5

Washington Redskins (0-0) at New York Giants (0-0)

  • Redskins-Giants Date: Sunday, September 13th
  • Redskins-Giants TV & Kickoff Time: 4:15 ET on FOX
  • Redskins-Giants Location: Giants Stadium in New York
  • Redskins-Giants Announcers: Joe Buck and Troy Aikman
  • Redskins-Giants Point Spread: NYG -6.5
  • Redskins-Giants Over-Under: 37
  • Matt Noonan, MSF: Redskins-Giants Preview and Prediction
  • Redskins-Giants Prediction: Washington typically starts out well before fading late, and Jason Campbell has had a couple of good starts in the preseason. The Giants have an incredible defense, and will put lots of pressure on Campbell, but are still struggling to find continuity between Eli Manning and his receivers. This is a division game that will be hard-fought and close, and while the Giants probably pull out a victory, I think it will be by a field goal or less. Redskins-Giants spread pick: WAS +6.5

St. Louis Rams (0-0) at Seattle Seahawks (0-0)

  • Rams-Seahawks Date: Sunday, September 13th
  • Rams-Seahawks TV & Kickoff Time: 4:15 ET on FOX
  • Rams-Seahawks Location: Qwest Field in Seattle
  • Rams-Seahawks Announcers: Ron Pitts and John Lynch
  • Rams-Seahawks Point Spread: SEA -8
  • Rams-Seahawks Over-Under: 41
  • Matt Noonan, MSF: Rams-Seahawks Preview and Prediction
  • Rams-Seahawks Prediction: A lot of people are high on the Seahawks this season, but I am not one of them. And while the Rams were beyond awful last year, a lot of that was due to injury. Every report out of Rams camp has been glowing regarding the players’ willingness to embrace new coach Steve Spagnuolo, and I think running back Steven Jackson will be on a mission (until he gets hurt) to prove that he is a forgotten star in this league. I definitely would take the over, but Matt Hasselback’s creaky back and the absence of Walter Jones has me reluctant to predict Seattle to win by more than a touchdown, if they win at all. Rams-Seahawks spread pick: STL +8

Chicago Bears (0-0) at Green Bay Packers (0-0)

  • Bears-Packers Date: Sunday, September 13th
  • Bears-Packers TV & Kickoff Time: 8:30 ET on NBC
  • Bears-Packers Location: Lambeau Field in Green Bay
  • Bears-Packers Announcers: Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth
  • Bears-Packers Point Spread: GB -3.5
  • Bears-Packers Over-Under: 46.5
  • Ronald Clements, MSF: Bears-Packers Preview and Analysis
  • Tyler Juranovich, MSF: Chicago-Green Bay Strengths/Weaknesses and Matchup Analysis
  • Bears-Packers Prediction: What a great game to have on the first Sunday night of the season. The Packers ran circles around their preseason opponents, with Aaron Rodgers and Greg Jennings looking like the NFL’s next great QB-WR duo. I also expect a solid season from Ryan Grant and an improved Packers’ D. The Bears have bee one of the marquee stories of the offseason with Jay Cutler now at the helm and an emerging superstar in the backfield in Matt Forte. The Bears will clearly will be better this season, but not good enough to beat the Packers at Lambeau in Week 1. Are they good enough to keep it really close though? Yes they are. A Mason Crosby field goal wins it late for Green Bay, but the Bears cover. Bears-Packers spread pick: CHI +3.5

Buffalo Bills (0-0) at New England Patriots (0-0)

  • Bills-Patriots Date: Monday, September 14th
  • Bills-Patriots TV & Kickoff Time: 7:00 ET on ESPN
  • Bills-Patriots Location: Gillette Stadium in Foxboro
  • Bills-Patriots Announcers: Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski, and Jon Gruden
  • Bills-Patriots Point Spread: NE -10.5
  • Bills-Patriots Over-Under: 47.5
  • AJ Kaufman, MSF: Bills-Patriots Preview, Analysis, Prediction
  • Bills-Patriots Prediction: Buffalo is in absolute disarray right now. Marshawn Lynch is suspended, the offensive line has five starters in new positions, T.O. is having toe problems, and Dick Jauron recently fired OC Turk Schoenert. With very little continuity, how in the hell are the Bills going to keep up with Tom Brady, Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Joey Galloway, Sammy Morris, Fred Taylor, and the rest of the Patriots’ sterling offense? New England does have question marks on D, but Buffalo is not good enough to take advantage and outscore Brady and Co. Bills-Patriots spread pick: NE -10.5

San Diego Chargers (0-0) at Oakland Raiders (0-0)

  • Chargers-Raiders Date: Monday, September 14th
  • Chargers-Raiders TV & Kickoff Time: 10:15 ET on ESPN
  • Chargers-Raiders Location: Oakland Coliseum in Oakland
  • Chargers-Raiders Announcers: Mike Greenberg, Mike Golic, and Steve Young
  • Chargers-Raiders Point Spread: SD -9
  • Chargers-Raiders Over-Under: 43
  • Chargers-Raiders Prediction: Oh Lord. The Raiders looked absolutely awful against the Saints during the preseason, and have given fans little hope that they will be better in 2009. I think the Chargers may fly under the radar somewhat this season, and that it could finally be the year they break through and make it to a Super Bowl. They certainly are not going to get tripped up in Oakland, with Philip Rivers and LaDainian Tomlinson both getting off to great starts. I foresee a boring laugher of a game, and it has nothing to with morning tools Mike and Mike being in the booth. Chargers-Raiders spread pick: SD -9
Email the author of this post: jerod@midwestsportsfans.com


Filed Under: Featured Column, NFL, Sports Betting, TV and Betting Tagged With: NFL, NFL Announcers, nfl odds, NFL over-unders, NFL point spreads, NFL TV Schedule, NFL Week 1

Wolverine Freshmen QBs Forcier, Robinson Impress In 31-7 Win

September 7, 2009 By Leave a Comment
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Denard Robinson TD Run Video, Tate Forcier - MichiganRich Rodriguez kicked off the 2009 campaign with an impressive showing from his true freshmen quarterbacks in the Wolverines’ 31-7 win over Western Michigan.

Tate Forcier is only the third freshman quarterback to start for Michigan in the school’s history, with the others being Rick Leach and Chad Henne. He looked sharp and passed for three touchdowns in his debut. 

Even better than his three touchdowns, he had no completions to the other team, finishing 13-20 for 179 yards.  He also rushed for 37 yards on 11 carries.

Denard “Shoelace” Robinson was 2-4 for 18 yards through the air, but his running game was more impressive.  Robinson rushed 11 times for 74 yards, with an impressive touchdown run of 43 yards. The video of Robinson’s incredible debut run is below.

Denard “Shoelace” Robinson Runs for TD Against Toledo

The only letdown in this game was Rodriguez’s thought that putting Nick Sheridan into the game was a good idea.  Sheridan continued his stellar quarterbacking abilities that he so finely displayed last year by going 0-2 with a completion to the other team.  I had instant flashbacks to every game he played in last year. It seems that some things will never change.

This win was nice, but basking in the glory of a Week 1 victory is something that Michigan cannot afford to do, as they have a real test at home next week against Notre Dame, who rolled Nevada 35-0.

Kurt Fraschetti

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* – Denard Robinson / Tate Forcier photo credit: Said Alsalah/Daily via Michigan Daily


Filed Under: CFB, Featured Column Tagged With: Big Ten football, CFB, Denard "Shoelace" Robinson, Denard Robinson, Michigan Football, Michigan Wolverines, Rich Rodriguez, tate forier, video of Denard Robinson TD run

Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame Hand Nevada a Beating

September 7, 2009 By 3 Comments
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Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame beat NevadaCharlie Weis and his team must feel really great right now after shutting out Nevada, 35-0. It was a right step on the road to recovery for the Notre Dame football team.

All areas of the team were spot on. The defense was fast and shut down both the running and the passing game. The offense was unstoppable. Notre Dame ran away with the game early, and once they had it they never looked back.

Jimmy Clausen had a Heisman-caliber game, throwing for 315 yards and 4 touchdowns. The ball came out out of his hand like a bullet and was always incredibly accurate as well.

Sure, it wasn’t a top 25 team they played in South Bend on Saturday, but a game like that should improve Clausen’s confidence in the pocket and the overall confidence of the offense. It was a great day for the junior QB and hopefully we will see more games like that from him.

It was just a blast to watch this game. Being a Notre Dame fan I had seen some bad football being played by the Irish over the past 2 years, and this game was basically a vacation from all that bad football. For once this team looked like the old Fighting Irish I knew and loved.

It was a big win against a small school, but it seemed like it was a huge win against a huge team. You could see the happiness on the players’, coaches’, and fans’ faces. This is a win the team needed. To start off a season like that, after playing so poorly the past couple of seasons, must be a big relief. Hopefully it is also a sign that this team can do big things this year.

Next week the Irish play against rival Michigan. It is another big game and comes against a team that is in the same position Notre Dame is, only worse. Both teams will want a W, so expect a hard fought football game. You can check out the game on September 12 at 2:30cst.

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* – Jimmy Clausen photo credit: AP via BoDog Beat


Filed Under: CFB, Featured Column Tagged With: CFB, charlie weis, Jimmy Clausen, ncaa, notre dame fighting irish

Jamal Lewis Makes Final Cut and Remains A Cleveland Brown

September 7, 2009 By 1 Comment
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Jamal Lewis still a Brown, makes 53-man rosterAfter reports came out of Cleveland that the Browns might cut Jamal Lewis, he remains a Brown after the team trimmed down to the 53-man roster.

I can’t figure out the motive behind the thought of cutting Lewis.  Eric Mangini’s plan to establish any kind of ground game would be out the window with the loss of Lewis.  Were they serious, or was this a carefully planned media release to motivate Jamal Lewis?

Although rookie running back James Davis and Jerome Harrison have shown promise at the running back position, they at this point are only nice complements to Jamal Lewis.

In the preseason, Lewis demonstrated the ability to smash the hole with violence and displayed that he still has his hard-nosed running style.  I am, as any Browns fan should be, ecstatic that Lewis is still a Brown.

Kurt Fraschetti

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Filed Under: Featured Column, NFL Tagged With: Cleveland Browns, jamal lewis, NFL

Sam Bradford Injury Update: Sprained Right Throwing Shoulder (Updated)

September 5, 2009 By 1 Comment
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Sam Bradford injury updateThe new Cowboys’ Stadium, the entire state of Oklahoma, and Sam Bradford’s future bank account all were left speechless earlier tonight when Bradford, last year’s Heisman Trophy winner, got slammed to the ground and took a shot to his throwing shoulder.

The latest: it’s not the best case scenario, but at least it’s not the worst case scenario.

According to the ESPN telecast, Bradford has a sprained AC joint in his right shoulder but the X-Rays were negative.  

After watching Bradford walk to the locker room with what Brad Nessler aptly described as “an imaginary sling” I’d say this is about as good as could be hoped. I think everyone watching thought Bradford had probably separated the shoulder.

Bradford is obviously out for the rest of tonight’s game (and, strangely, got a bloody nose while standing on the sideline) and is currently watching his Sooner teammates try to stave off a game BYU club that is currently on the goalline with the score tied at 10-10 as I type this. 

Now, onto the most important question: will Sam Bradford play against Texas? It is obviously too early to tell now, and we probably won’t know more until Monday. But — and this is an important but — if the initial prognosis (at least, according to ESPN) of 2-4 weeks proves accurate, Bradford should be back for the October 17th Red River Shootout. 

Follow the link to StubHub for great deals on tickets to the Red River Shootout between Oklahoma and Texas.

In between now and then the Sooners face Idaho State, Tulsa, Miami (FL), and Baylor. If they can find a way to tonight, they should be able to win those four games even without Bradford, thus making the Red River Shootout still a potentially monumental game between two top-5 teams.

Of course, winning tonight will now be much harder after BYU scored a TD.  14-13 Cougars with 3:00 minutes left in the 4th quarter.

More info to come as it becomes available.

Update 10/7: The latest word on Monday is the Bradford’ shoulder injury appears worse than initially hoped. According to Bob Stoops (via College Football Talk), who provided an update on Sam Bradford’s injury today, Bradford has a Grade II or Grade III sprain of the AC joint in his throwing shoulder. Stoops said the team is still 1-2 weeks away from even having a timetable for Bradford’s return. Needless to say, not good.

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* – Sam Bradford photo credit: OU Math Club


Filed Under: CFB, Featured Column Tagged With: CFB, oklahoma sooners, sam bradford, Sam Bradford injury update

Bears’ Kevin Jones Out for the Season, but Presence of Jay Cutler Assuages All Fears

September 5, 2009 By Leave a Comment
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chicago bears logoThe Bears preseason is officially over, and every time something ends something else begins.

It is time to begin the long-awaited regular season.

The Bears had what I thought was a positive preseason, and it only made me more excited for this year. It could be a big year for the Bears, and it will be exciting to see how things end up playing out.

Will Jay Cutler fit the role of franchise QB in Chicago?

Will Devin Hester ever be a true receiver?

Will the defense return to being the “Monsters of the Midway?”

All these questions will be answered over the next few months.

In the meantime some pretty breaking news was released, and it’s not positive for the Bears: oft-injured Kevin Jones, the Bears’ back-up running back, will miss the entire season with an ankle injury. This makes Adrian Peterson and Garrett Wolfe very happy, as now they have a chance to get a lot of playing time and carries this season.

Two guys that have never gotten the attention they deserve now have a chance to finally get into the spotlight somewhat spelling Matt Forte.

Adrian Peterson is one of those running backs that is great for those 3rd and 1 plays. Powerfully built yet speedy, Peterson is very underrated as a straight-up-the-gut runner. He surprises players and fans alike when he just seems to go untouched running up the middle. He was fighting for some playing time this preseason, but with the Jones’ injury, I see Peterson benefiting the most.

Garrett Wolfe, who played his college ball at Northern Illinois, has become somewhat of a fan favorite over the years. His small stature might seem to be a disadvantage for his position, but it doesn’t seem to affect Wolfe at all. He still has very good runs and shows that his size won’t hold him down. Maybe that’s the reason many fans like him. Everybody likes an underdog, or someone that doesn’t seem to fit the “prototype” description, yet still succeeds. Fans have found that in Wolfe, who is a very versatile player. It will be interesting and fun to watch his progression as a player, especially if he gets more carries this year with Jones’ injury.

It’s obvious though that the most watched and covered player this year will be Jay Cutler.

Jay CutlerI have faith in Cutler. I know that there is a lot of hype around him, but it seems warranted. Chicago fans are just so crazy about their QB, mainly because they have never had a really great QB. Now that we have one that can fit that role, Bears fans are understandably expecting big things.

What I am afraid of is the fans wanting Cutler to put up insane numbers like he did last year. All I want is for him to spark something in the offense and play consistently well. With his great passing ability, our running game should excel also. I want the wealth distributed throughout the whole team.

The best part about having Cutler is that he can directly impact every aspect of the offense in a way that makes each of its elements better.

Overall, I have high expectations for the Bears this year, and I would hate to see all this talent go to waste should the team end up falling below expectations.

It should be a fun football season, and I can’t wait!


Filed Under: Featured Column, NFL Tagged With: Adrian Peterson Bears, Chicago Bears, Garrett Wolfe, jay cutler, Kevin Jones, NFL

White Sox Continue Inevitable Run Towards 81-81

September 5, 2009 By 2 Comments
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chicago white sox logoI wrote about a week back regarding the obsessive magnetic attraction that this year’s Chicago White Sox have with .500.

Every time we get a few games over .500, we can’t stand the prosperity and play like the Royals.

And then once the pendulum has swung back, and we’re under .500, and jackass bloggers like myself are acting like the sky is falling, we turn into the Yankees.

Case in point: the last four games.

After dropping what felt like 6,000 games in a row, and essentially falling out of the AL Central race, the White Sox have reeled off the following:

  • Scoring four runs off of Twins closer Joe Nathan in the 9th inning to steal a win in the Metrodome.
  • Shutting out the Cubs 5-0 in Wrigley Field in a makeup game from earlier this season. Perennial Cy Young candidate Carlos Torres pitched 7 shutout innings, striking out six Cubs.
  • Dominating the Boston Red Sox at home, winning 12-1 on Friday and then 5-1 today powered by a Gavin Floyd gem for which the post game show was not canceled until two outs in the 6th inning.

So, in summation, the White Sox had fallen to 64-69 on Tuesday. Now here we sit on Saturday night with the White Sox one game under .500, 6.5 games out of first place, and playing like we all know this club is capable of playing.

Gavin Floyd - Chicago White SoxPersonally, I plan on enjoying it until we get to a few games over .500, and then the fear of an inevitable three- or four-game implosion will overshadow any optimism that builds up.  It’s just been one of those years.

If the White Sox finish anything other than 81-81 this year, I will be surprised. (And believe me, I hope to be surprised…positively.)

Here’s the thing, as bad as things have seemed this season, the White Sox are not out of it yet. If we just make up one game per week on the Tigers leading up to our final three game set with Detroit from September 25th-27th, we’ll be a home sweep away from being tied for the lead in the division.

A long shot? Sure. But for a veteran club that’s experienced in pressure, pennant-race baseball, it’s not completely outlandish. 

In other White Sox news, one thing that could make a late-season charge up the AL Central standings more difficult would be for Gordon Beckham to miss any time. The Sox sterling rookie left today’s game in the first inning with back tightness. Though it doesn’t sound serious, I’ve seen no updates on his status moving forward, and White Sox fans have been conditioned to be fearful about back tightness and our third baseman being mentioned in the same sentence.

Perhaps it was just time for a day off. Gordon has played in 81 straight games, counting today’s.

Also, a big congrats to Ozzie Guillen, who won his 500th game as a manager yesterday. Hopefully there are at least 500 more, and then 500 more after that, for Ozzie on the South Side.

Anyway, to close this post, I will just say that even though I’ve said previously that I have essentially given up hope on the White Sox making the playoffs this year, I’m starting to get pulled back in. Impressive four game streaks have a way of doing that.

If we can keep up the good play over the next four at home, and then defy historical trends by playing well out West on a six-game trip to LA and Seattle, I’ll really be excited.

Let’s go Sox. Championships are won in September, and there is still a whole lot of September left.


Filed Under: MLB Tagged With: AL Central, Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers, gavin floyd, gordon beckham, MLB, ozzie guillen

Saturday Afternoon Links, Including the Greatest Link of the Day EVER

September 5, 2009 By Leave a Comment
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Jay MariottiThere is absolutely nothing I can say that will do justice to the brilliance, the greatness, and the utter truth of today’s Link of the Day.

But in the immortal words of Kevin Spacey’s Lester Burnham in American Beauty after Wes Bentley’s Ricky Fittz quit his catering job, I say this to The Big Lead’s Saturday editor Cousins of Ron Mexico: I think you just became my new personal hero.

The perfect headline and then a sublime excerpt:

Please, Fire Jay Mariotti — (Cousins of Ron Mexico at The Big Lead)

Basically, his columns are AOL’s new version of the Free Trial discs. They paid to have so many made and they have to get rid of them so they keep sending them out. They just keep handing them out, day after day, to a public that has no use for them.

And some other links for anyone who is taking a quick college football break to browse the blogosphere.

Sports:

Non-Sports:

 

 


Filed Under: Featured Column, Funny Tagged With: Cousins of Ron Mexico, jay mariotti, Jay Mariotti sucks, links, The Big Lead

2009 NFL Season Preview and Division-by-Division Predictions

September 5, 2009 By 4 Comments
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[Editor's Note: This has been a great week for us here at MSF with so many great new sports writers joining the crew. Today's debut is being made by Matt Noonan, the creator and editor of Noontime Sports, as well as the Sports Director for Wheaton College Radio. Matt is a die-hard football fan and will be covering the NFL, among other topics, for us moving forward.

Enjoy Matt's first post below, a complete 2009 NFL preview with division-by-division predictions. And welcome aboard Matt!]

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2009 NFL Season Preview: Division-by-Division Predictions | NFL logoSeptember is finally here!

The days are getting shorter, the cool autumn breeze is quickly approaching, and most importantly another season of NFL football is just days away. Are you excited? I am!

The start of the NFL season really should be considered an important holiday. It is in my book. It truly is a time where every fan knows their team matters and that this new beginning could be something special come December and January. Super Bowl dreams are discussed while men, women, and children gather around their living room television to cheer on the local stars. And, of course, all those fantasy gurus are sitting on their computer monitoring every snap.

Yet, with all the high hopes for another season, some teams will have great seasons and some teams will ultimately fall short of pleasing themselves and their fans. It is time now to break down the true winners and losers for the 2009 NFL season.  

 AFC East: 

We all know the big story for this particular division: Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. The Patriots will be the team on everyone’s radar Week 1, when they welcome the Buffalo Bills to Gillette Stadium. All eyes will be on number 12, along with the five men that make up his offensive line. Look for the Patriots to be one of the top dogs this year, as long as Brady can hang in the pocket and be protected.

With the New England Patriots hoping for a repeat of 2007, this clearly means Miami and New York will go south. The Dolphins and Jets do have the talent on both sides of the ball, but look for these two squads to probably earn 7-8 wins total. Also, do you really trust Mark Sanchez as your starter in New York? I certainly do not, which is one of the main reasons the Jets won’t be competing in the post-season.

Lastly what a great idea by Ralph Wilson Jr., bringing in one of the biggest headaches ever to the Buffalo Bills. Who is excited to see T.O. and Trent Edwards arguing? [Editor's note: put your hand down Tony Romo, you don't count.]

You know once the middle of the season arrives in October and November, the cameras will be focusing on the Bills’ sidelines rather than the contest. So don’t get your hopes up for a possible playoff or Super Bowl year Bills fans, as this acquisition could set you back even further.  
NFL 2009 season preview - division-by-division predictions
AFC East predicted order of finish:

  1. Patriots
  2. Dolphins
  3. Jets
  4. Bills

AFC North:

After winning their sixth Super Bowl in franchise history, the Pittsburgh Steelers are clearly the strong favorite to win this division, but it won’t be easy. Big Ben Roethlisbeger needs to rebound in regards to his statistics (touchdowns vs. interceptions), but also by ignoring any off-field drama from this summer.

Do not count out the Baltimore Ravens, a team that faced Pittsburgh three times last season, including in the AFC Championship game. The key question in Baltimore is how much will their defense and running game improve? Watch for a decent sophomore season from Joe Flacco, but nothing spectacular.

The Cincinnati Bengals have made some moves, but with all the reports already this preseason surrounding the questionable health of quarterback Carson Palmer, it is most likely that the Bengals will resume the role of the Bungles. Chad Ochocinco has promised change, but what exactly does he mean? No twittering?

Then of course there are the Cleveland Browns, who will continue to remain the laughing stock of the NFL. They once were a great team with Jim Brown, but now an organization in turmoil. Good luck Eric! [Editor's Note: Browns fans, quick! Ignore Matt and take some solace in this much more hopeful post.]

AFC North predicted order of finish:

  1. Steelers
  2. Ravens
  3. Bengals
  4. Browns

AFC South:

Pick the Indianapolis Colts to win this division, but do not count out defending AFC South champ Tennessee, those pesky Houston Texans or even the Jacksonville Jaguars. I expect all these teams to compete, with the division crown going down to week 13 or 14 at the earliest. So if one team emerges with a 5-1 record early in the season, do not automatically count them as your winner.

This league is filled with talented backs, including the Jaguars’ Maurice Jones-Drew, Steve Slaton of the Texans, the Colts’ Joseph Addai and the Titans’ Chris Johnson. Overall, solid defensive play, the team speed that will be in display especially in Indy, Nashville, and Houston, and lots and lots of touchdowns are what will make this division very competitive this fall.

AFC South predicted order of finish:

  1. Colts
  2. Jaguars
  3. Texans and Titans (Both teams will finish tied for Third) 

AFC West:

I would like to apologize to all the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, and Oakland Raiders fans because clearly this is yet again…NOT YOUR YEAR!!

This year, the strongest team in the AFC West is clearly the San Diego Chargers, and it’s not even close. Do any of the three teams I mentioned even have a prayer of coming close to challenging the Bolts? I doubt it!

The Chargers will rebound from their 2nd round exit in the 2009 playoffs and certainly be one of the top dogs in the AFC this year. Look for an exciting year by Philip Rivers and a rejuvenated LaDainian Tomlinson.

As for the Broncos, Chiefs, and Raiders, as long as they can all start grooming the young talent, separate themselves from all the media attention, and just focus, I would say these teams could become spoilers for certain squads down the stretch in November and December. But that’s about it.

AFC West predicted order of finish:

  1. San Diego Chargers
  2. Kansas City
  3. Oakland
  4. Denver

NFC East:

The true “Black and Blue” division of the NFL will be on display this season as every game for the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, and Washington Redskins matters. This division is filled with offensive, defensive, and special teams talent that surely is a must-see every week when divisional matchups are on the schedule.

For the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins, this is the year these squads need to compete for the top spot. Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones showed the door to big names such as safety Roy Williams (Bengals), shut down corner Adam “Pacman” Jones (CFL), and sent wide-out Terrell Owens packing (Bills). Now the ‘Boys have some work to do and are certainly one of those teams that need to make and win a playoff game this year. Otherwise, who knows what will happen next.  The same is true for the Redskins, where Albert Haynesworth became the latest high-priced free agent acquisition. The pressure is on Jim Zorn to meld this talented roster into a winner.

 As for the Eagles, the entire attention and media buzz will ramp up come week 3 when Michael Vick becomes eligible to play, but the attention will certainly remain in New York due to the high contract of Eli Manning. The Eagles and Giants could easily end up as the two best squads in this division, but without a true #1 target for Manning, don’t be surprised to see the Cowboys overtake them for 2nd place.

NFC North predicted order of finish:

  1. Eagles
  2. Cowboys
  3. Giants
  4. Redskins

NFC North:

There are too many storylines to discuss in this particular division, but let’s start with the Detroit Lions. Many in Detroit are hoping for a squad that could do what Miami did in 2008, win 10 more games than the previous season, which I doubt will occur, although stranger things have happened. The Lions will certainly be loved, enjoyed, and watched by many, as no one wants their misery to continue after a 0-16 2008. All the hopes lie on the broad rookie shoulders of Matthew Stafford, but he has to prove he’s worthy of starting as a rookie.

The Chicago Bears certainly made some noise this off-season, acquiring quarterback Jay Cutler from the Broncos. But what does it mean when the best receiver on their team is a former cornerback? Greg Olsen, you will be the go-to target.

Don’t look for anything exciting in Green Bay this fall, despite their hot preseason, but do become more engaged when the Vikings pay a visit on November 1st. Minnesota will be on everyone’s radar because this team certainly has as much talent as any NFC squad. The only question is will Brett Favre blow it down the stretch again? The chances of a slide similar to what the Jets saw last year should be diminished when you consider that all Favre needs to do is just give Adrian Peterson 25-30 touches a game. The fact is, however, that Favre must deliver the Super Bowl dreams or else Vikings fans may start demanding refunds for his jersey and tickets. 

NFC North predicted order of finish:

  1. Vikings
  2. Bears
  3. Packers
  4. Lions

NFC South:

This should certainly be quite an exciting year for the NFC South. All four teams need to prove themselves as possible playoff teams, and the New Orleans Saints just seem too powerful on paper to fail, which hopefully translates into 11 or 12 wins. Expect great things from Drew Brees, and look for newly acquired defensive coordinator Greg Williams to bolster the defense.

The Falcons and Panthers both fall under the same category, which is they have the potential to be great teams, but question marks surround them. The Panthers fell short of advancing to the NFC Championship game last year and Matt Ryan’s magic ride ended in the desert. Both teams have a chance to be very good again, but the offenses must deliver in order to compete with the Saints.

I hope Raheem Morris has some tissues and a good shoulder to cry on because this will not be an easy season for the rookie head coach. Talent is there, but Kellen Winslow and Antonio Bryant are aging. Throw the underwhelming Byron Leftwich into the mix as the QB and it just seems like Tampa Bay will not be a great team.

NFC South predicted order of finish:

  1. Saints
  2. Falcons
  3. Panthers
  4. Buccaneers

NFC West:

The Arizona Cardinals have to be considered the team to beat in the NFC West this fall, yet don’t count out the Seattle Seahawks or San Francisco 49ers. The St. Louis Rams will do nothing, but in the end, I think we could be looking at a three-way horse race to the finish line.

The way to win this division is simply to win at least 8 or 9 games and then you are golden. Come playoff time, one or two of these squads may be an easy first-round knock-out for a possible Super Bowl representative.  

NFC West predicted order of finish:

  1. Cardinals
  2. Seahawks
  3. 49ers
  4. Rams

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[Editor's note: What do you think of Matt's picks? Chime in with your comment below; I'm sure Green Bay fans can't get there fast enough! Stay tuned for Matt's future work here at MSF, but also follow his blog Noontime Sports and check him out on Twitter.]


Filed Under: Featured Column, NFL Tagged With: NFL, nfl picks, NFL predictions

Reports: Browns Might Cut Jamal Lewis

September 5, 2009 By 1 Comment
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Browns might cut RB Jamal LewisI have three words for Eric Mangini and George Kokinis if they are seriously considering cutting veteran running back Jamal Lewis:

Don’t.

Do.

It.

In the Plain-Dealer this morning, Mary Kay-Cabot wonders if the Browns will do just that, despite the fact they already paid him a $3.5 million bonus this offseason and that his only backups are the current injured Jerome Harrison and 6th round rookie James Davis, who has apparently become the next Jim Brown after one 81-yard scamper against the Detroit WinlessLions.

A quick excerpt:

Could Browns running back Jamal Lewis be cut today when the Browns trim their roster to 53?

NFL sources said rumblings began a couple of days ago that Lewis, who turned 30 last week, could be one of the dozen players the Browns let go, and ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter on Friday put Lewis at the top of his list of big-name players on the bubble. Nationalfootballpost.com’s Mike Lombardi also speculated Lewis will be cut.

Among the many reasons why I think this would be a terrible move:

  1. It makes the $3.5 million already given to Lewis basically just a colossal waste of money.
  2. Lewis has done a tremendous job of accepting that his role will likely be reduced this year and has taken to mentoring Davis, who went to the same high school as Lewis. For a rookie RB, this must be invaluable.
  3. Jamal Lewis may be too old and slow to be a featured, wear-’em-down type back any more, but he can still churn out tough yards and get goalline carries. Have Jerome Harrison of James Davis proven they can do this?
  4. As much as we all want to hope that the Browns can engineer a Dolphins- or Falcons-like turnaround in 2009, the fact of the matter is that the Browns are more likely than not building for the future. Unless there is something we don’t know about Lewis’ willingness to play the role of good soldier under the regime, there is no reason to cut him and prevent Jerome and James from having his experience and leadership at their disposal.
  5. Jamal Lewis is one of the few leaders on this offense. With Brady Quinn, a first-year starter, likely to take over as the QB, why not give him the support of a veteran in the backfield who can allow Quinn to grow into his leadership role.

I could go on and on. Yes, the Browns would save some money cutting Lewis, but I think it would be a terribly myopic decision. Hopefully when the final cuts are announced, Lewis’ name will not be among them and we can put this foolish story behind us.


Filed Under: Featured Column, NFL Tagged With: Cleveland Browns, eric mangini, george kokinis, jamal lewis, James Davis, jerome harrison, NFL

Links: Fines, Suspensions, and Layla Kiffin…What More Could You Want?

September 4, 2009 By 1 Comment
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Layla Kiffin - LeGarrette Blount suspended, Brett Favre fine for chop blockOkay, as we wrap up another week in the sports world, a few quick hitters and then onto your daily link dump.  

And, for the record, the pictures of Layla Kiffin (whose husband has a big debut coming up) are not gratuitous.  As you will see, while she has nothing to do with LeGarrette Blount or Brett Favre, there is an interesting story about her at the top of the sports links.

First, updating a story that we covered in the wee hours of this morning, Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount has been suspended for the year after punching a Boise State player last night and nearly going into the stands after fans who were taunting him. My gut reaction is that it’s too much.  My rational reaction is that the kid has been in trouble before and there is a good chance that this was a “last straw” type thing.  Either way, I think the University of Oregon needs to take it upon itself not to take an “out of sight, out of mind” approach and make sure the kid gets help.

In related news, Todd McShay has spent an entire column stating the obvious: that Blount’s actions from last night will hurt his draft stock. What would we do with Todd McShay? Although, I am linking to him, so perhaps the joke’s on me.

Layla Kiffin - LeGarrette Blount suspended, Brett Favre fine for chop blockAnd finally, the last quick-hitter, ancient and indecisive Vikings QB Brett Favre has been fined 10K for his chop block on Eugene Robinson. Favre thought about retiring when he received word about the fine, then decided against it, then realized his arm hurt and he missed his tractor, and then looked at himself in the mirror and marveled at how good he looked in his new Wranglers. Then he retired again. And then unretired. Then, presumably, he paid the fine.

(And yes, for the record, that is Layla Kiffin staring thoughtfully at me while podcasting. The photo might be doctored, and might have originally had Lane in it, but I will neither confirm nor deny this. Kudos again to KVB for making me look an idiot with cartoon headphones on. In honor of his hard work I try to post this picture whenever I can.)

And now onto the links!

Sports:

Non-Sports:

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* – First Layla Kiffin photo credit: GratisBay.com

* – Second Layla Kiffin photo credit: 3rd Saturday in Blogtober


Filed Under: CFB, Featured Column, NFL Tagged With: brett favre, Brett Favre fined for chop block, Layla Kiffin, Layla Kiffin Pics, LeGarrette Dunn, LeGarrette Dunn suspended, links

Lane Kiffin Hoping to Put “Rocky Top” Back on Top Sooner Rather Than Later

September 4, 2009 By 1 Comment
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[Editor's Note: This is the first article from new MSF writer Mike Dooley (aka J-Dools), a student at the University of Tennessee, originally from Dearborn, MI, who will be covering the Vols and the Detroit Tigers. We're happy to have Mike aboard and hope you enjoy his first effort below, a preview and prediction for Lane Kiffin's first season at Tennessee.]

——————–

Tennessee Volunteers 2009 season preview, outlook, prediction, tickets, logoAs college football begins once again, fans can rejoice that ESPN will have more to cover than the Little League World Series. My apologies to Chula Vista, California.

For students at the University of Tennessee, such as myself, the start of the season means gratuitous amounts of orange and a sharp increase in whiskey sales.

Putting the Lane Kiffin offseason media circus behind us, it is now time to start playing football, and probably the start of the in-season Lane Kiffin media circus. The Vols kick off the season against Western Kentucky this Saturday and barring a repeat of last year’s debacle against Wyoming, UT will start off the season with a “W”.

[Editor's Note: Follow these links to StubHub for great deals on Tennessee football tickets, and all NCAA college football tickets. Plus, get ready for Saturday with the Week 1 college football TV schedule from MSF.]

The season will really start for UT in week two versus UCLA. The down-to-the-wire loss to the Bruins in Pasedena last year still lingers in the minds of the Vols. This year the Bruins travel to Knoxville and Kiffin will be under extreme pressure to win the rematch.

But will Kiffin be able to quickly turn this program around? That is the question everyone is asking about the Vols’ young new head coach.

Coming into this season Tennessee is unranked for the first time in 19 years. However, Kiffin seems poised to revive this program. Kiffin has brought in an elite coaching staff with NFL credentials and outstanding recruiting skills.

tennessee Volunteers 2009 season preview, outlook, prediction, tickets, logoLane’s father, Monte Kiffin, left the NFL and followed his son to Tennessee as the defensive coordinator. Coming to UT, Monte was effectively handed a top level defense and was told “Here you go, have fun.” Monte will help bring out the full potential of 3 time All-American safety Eric Berry. (A scary thought for all opponents.)

The offense is completely revamped with Kiffin’s pro style playbook and zone blocking system. This is a much needed change after the abysmal offensive performance last season. The Vols have the electric Gerald Jones returning at receiver, who will be a year older and should be a major offensive weapon. Jones is currently injured, but should be able to return in time for the rematch against UCLA.

The added youth to this team will have an immediate impact as Kiffin assembled a great recruiting class. Top-ranked running back Bryce Brown will play a major role in the offense, likely splitting carries with senior Montario Hardesty. His fellow freshman back David Oku will also see time, likely as a third down back.

Speedy freshman receivers Nu’Keese Richardson and Marsalis Teague will provide big play potential to the passing game. Also, freshman cornerback Janzen Jackson may battle his way into a starting role on the defense.

The most important factor in the ’09 Volunteers season, of course, will likely be the play of senior quarterback Jonathon Crompton. Last year Crompton threw for a meager 889 yards, with only five touchdowns and four interceptions. The Vols need Crompton to emerge as a solid starter in Kiffin’s offensive system.

My prediction for the 2009 Tennessee Volunteers season: 8-4 (4-4)

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* – Eric Berry photo credit: TNJN/Hall, Adrian via Tennessee Journalist


Filed Under: CFB, Featured Column, SEC Football Tagged With: bryce brown, CFB, David Oku, Eric Berry, Lane Kiffin, Monte Kiffin, ncaa, Nu'Keese Richardson, SEC, tennessee volunteers, Tennessee Volunteers Football

Sad News: Legendary Tigers Broadcaster Ernie Harwell Has Incurable Cancer

September 4, 2009 By Leave a Comment
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Via the ESPNMLB Twitter account, legendary Detroit Tigers announcer Ernie Harwell has been diagnosed with an incurable form of cancer. Per the AP report (via ESPN) on Harwell’s cancer diagnosis:

The 91-year-old Harwell, who was in the Tigers’ broadcast booth from 1960 until he retired in 2002, remains upbeat after an inoperable tumor was found in the area of the bile duct.

ernie harwell has incurable cancerHarwell is later quoted as saying that whatever is in store, he’s ready for a “new adventure.” He said he’s lost some weight but is not in pain.

The Hall of Fame broadcaster spent 42 of his 55 years in the profession announcing Tigers games, and is among the all-time titans of the industry.

If you’re like me, and you’ve heard of Ernie Harwell and understand the affection that Tigers fans have for him, but don’t necessarily know a whole lot about him, here are some links. I’m about to get check these out. You too.

 

 

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* – Ernie Harwell photo credit: Detroit Public Library


Filed Under: Featured Column, MLB Tagged With: broadcasters, cancer, Detroit Tigers, ernie harwell, ernie harwell cancer, MLB

Oregon RB LeGarrette Blount Punches Boise State Player Byron Hout, Restrained From Attacking Fans

September 4, 2009 By 14 Comments
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Video: Oregon RB LeGarrette Blount punches Boise State player, restrained from attacking fansGood lord.

When I used to teach at an alternative high school down in Miami, one of the most often used terms my students would say is “duck.” And being called a “duck” was not a good thing. It meant something along the lines of being cowardly and acting like a wuss. (And I know this because they gave me a vocab test one day in return for all the vocab tests I gave them.)

Well, the definition of “duck” is now crystal clear: Oregon Duck running back LeGarrette Blount.

I woke up this morning excited to hear how the college football games went last night that I didn’t get a chance to see, and all they are talking about on ESPN is the sucker punch that Oregon RB LeGarette Blount landed on Boise State’s Byron Hout.

As you’ll see in the video below, Hout appears to be talking trash and makes contact with Blount (and should be reprimanded by his coaches for it), but it certainly does not excuse what happened next.

If you haven’t seen the punch yet, and then Blount having to be restrained from going into the stands to presumably give the same treatment to fans, here is the unfortunate video:

Video: Oregon State RB LeGarette Blount Punches Boise State’s Byron Hout


 

And now what happened after the punch:

Video: LeGarrette Blount restrained from attacking fans


Video: Oregon RB LeGarrette Blount punches Boise State player, restrained from attacking fansAnd then after the game, Blount offered one of the least sincere apologies I have ever seen. Forgive me for being judgmental — and I realize he’s just a young kid who has some very obvious emotional problems whose head was probably spinning while giving the apology — but hopefully no one at Oregon is fooled by this canned, forced apology like they were fooled earlier this year.

According to the announcers, Mark Jones and Bob Davie, Blount had been suspended earlier this year. He had purportedly learned to control his emotions and was allowed back on the team, at least according to what they were saying while watching everything unfold. Clearly, however, he had learned nothing.

LaGarrette Blount needs help and shouldn’t be allowed back on a football field until he gets it. The Oregon Ducks need to do what is right for him, so he can help turn his life and attitude around, and forget about getting him back on the football field until that is accomplished.

Video: LeGarrette Blount apology after hitting Boise State player


What a terrible way for the college football season to begin.

According to the AP report of the game and Blount’s sucker punch, Blount will most likely not be arrested despite immediate post-game rumors suggesting that he might be. Here is what the two coaches had to say about the incident immediately after the game:

Oregon coach Chip Kelly said he would review the game film before making a decision on Blount’s future.

“I did not see anything. I will see it on tape and make a decision on what we need to do with him,” Kelly said. “There is no place for that. I do not condone that. I will make that decision if that is the case.”

Petersen didn’t want to comment on what happened.

“It’s just unfortunate,” he said.

For the record, Boise State won the game 19-8, their first step towards trying to crash the BCS come January.  Time will tell what the loss and Blount’s eruption will mean for Oregon.


Filed Under: CFB, Featured Column Tagged With: Boise State, CFB, LeGarrette Blount, ncaa, Oregon Ducks, video, video of LeGarrette Blount apology, video of LeGarrette Blount punch

Maurice Jones-Drew Injury Update: Bruised Right Leg in 4th Preseason Game

September 3, 2009 By Leave a Comment
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Maurice Jones-Drew injury update - bruised right leg | Greg Jones backupThere is a reason why the fourth preseason game typically is a battle of the backups.  

Most teams have had enough time to decide on their starters and a) don’t want any of said starters getting injured in a game that means nothing except $$$ in the organizations’ bank accounts; and b) want to use it as an opportunity to make final decisions on the back end of the roster.

Case in point: Jacksonville.

Fantasy football owners across the nation held their breath Thursday night when consensus (well, almost consensus) top-5 pick Maurice Jones-Drew went down with a leg injury. According to the AP, via ESPN.com’s Maurice Jones-Drew injury update article (via PFT’s Maurice Jones-Drew injury update), the team is calling the injury a “bruised right leg.”

Jones-Drew injured his leg on the opening series when cornerback Fred Smoot tackled him following a short reception. Jones-Drew headed to the locker room, and team officials said his return was questionable.

The official party line for the Jags right now is that the injury does not appear to be serious. Whether it is or not, I would expect them to say that for as long as possible. With the team struggling to sell tickets, it would be devastating for their one offensive star (apologies to David Garrard and Torry Holt) to be out.

Sounds like we’ll have to wait until tomorrow for a more concrete MJD injury update.

Maurice Jones-Drew injury update - bruised right leg | Greg Jones backup

Update: The good folks at PFT have the latest on MJD’s injury. It’s being called a “shin contusion” and he should be fine. Exhale fantasy owners and Jags fans. That’s good, because the Jags had record-low attendance last night, an ominous sign for the upcoming season and perhaps the city’s ability to keep the team long-term.

I don’t believe I have MJD in any fantasy leagues this year. He’s always been a favorite of mine, but I think he’s being overvalued that high in the draft.  He still needs to prove he can handle the rushing load of a full-time back (although he does have 1st round value to me in a PPR league). Marion Barber buckled under the pressure a year ago, and I have similar fears about Jones-Drew.

Either way, I hope he’s healthy. It’s never fun to see a great player go down in the preseason.

Fantasy owners will want to take note that Greg Jones is slated to be Maurice Jones-Drew’s backup this season. Should MJD be forced to miss any time, Jones is the guy you want. And if you own MJD and don’t own Greg Jones…well, I question everything about you as a fantasy owner.

In other NFL preseason news, courtesy of Pro Football Talk:


Filed Under: Fantasy Football, Fantasy Sports, Featured Column, NFL Tagged With: Fantasy Football, football, Greg Jones, jacksonville jaguars, Maurice Jones-Drew, Maurice Jones-Drew injury update, mjd, NFL
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