Michigan v Notre Dame In the Big House: Preview and Prediction

September 11, 2009 By 2 Comments
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michigan-notre dame preview, analysis, prediction, point spread, tv, time, ticketsMichigan and Notre Dame meet in Ann Arbor on Saturday and this year it will actually be a game worth watching. It will also be a game played in one of the only stadiums — The Big House — that is large enough to hold both schools’ massive  football egos.

The last two meetings between these teams were sloppy blowout games and neither team ended up having a good season. But this year both squads look to be back on track and the rivalry is being revived.

Last week, Michigan coasted to an easy 31-7 victory over Western Michigan, scoring all of their points in the first half. Freshman quarterback Tate Forcier solidified himself as the starter for the Wolverines while fellow freshman Denard Robinson flashed the speed and big play ability that quarterbacks in Rich Rodriguez’s system are known for having.

Rich Rodriguez’s spread option offense was effective against the Broncos, as Michigan racked up 242 rushing yards from 8 different ball carriers. The problem for the Wolverines is they are currently without a go-to running back. Backup quarterback Denard Robinson was the leading rusher with 74 yards.

charlie weis | michigan-notre dame preview, analysis, prediction, point spread, tv, time, ticketsIn Notre Dame’s season opener, the Irish shut out Nevada 35-0 with Jimmy Clausen throwing for 4 TD’s. Claussen showed poise in the pocket, completing 15 of his 18 attempts.

Charlie Weis and the Fighting Irish look ready to make it back to another bowl game this year, and possibly even compete for a BCS bid. The offense that was in complete disarray two seasons ago is now finally coming together.

Saturday’s matchup between these two bitter rivals is an intriguing one. Both teams have shown vast improvement from last year, but this will obviously be the first real test for each squad with Rodriguez and Weis both seated firmly on the hot seat to bring their teams back to the elite level of college football.

Before we get into an analysis of the matchup, let’s take a quick look at the particulars:

#18 Notre Dame (1-0) at Michigan (1-0)

michigan-notre dame preview, analysis, prediction, point spread, tv, time, tickets

Notre Dame-Michigan Preview and Analysis

Notre Dame comes into the game a slight favorite and rightfully so. Clausen is starting to fill in the void that was left when Brady Quinn left for the NFL draft. (Side note to Notre Dame fans: please don’t treat Claussen like the “golden boy” as you did with Quinn. Thank you.)

To win the game, the Irish must provide strong pass protection for Clausen and allow him to spread the ball around. Michigan, on the other hand, needs to pressure Clausen and limit his ability to locate WRs Golden Tate and Michael Floyd down the field. If Michigan tries to get in a shootout with Notre Dame, the Wolverines won’t be able to keep up with the Irish’s high-octane offense.

denard robinson and tate forcier | michigan-notre dame preview, analysis, prediction, point spread, tv, time, tickets

If Claussen can put up 300-plus yards passing Michigan won’t have a chance. Tate, a speedy and talented young receiver, could be the X-factor with his big play potential.

Michigan needs to control the pace and the clock by running the football over and over. Forcier looked good passing the ball last week, although he only put the ball in the air 20 times. He completed 13 of those passes for 175 yards and tallied 3 TDs. You might look at those stats and think the Wolverines should throw more.

On the contrary, Forcier’s efficient passing was set up by 50 rushing attempts at 4.8 yards per pop. Michigan would do well to follow attain a similar run:pass ratio. Forcier will have to be smart with the ball again when passing plays are called. An improving Irish defense picked off two passes last week and will be licking their chops going up against a freshman making only his second start.

Notre Dame-Michigan Prediction

This game can go either way and will likely be decided by one or two key plays. Notre Dame comes in ranked #18, but when playing in the Big House all rankings go out the window. [Editor's note: as do Division 1-A and 1-AA classifications...right App State?]

jimmy clausen | michigan-notre dame preview, analysis, prediction, point spread, tv, time, ticketsRich Rodriguez will have the Wolverines amped up to start the game and the Irish will have to take the fans out of the game early. Luckily for Notre Dame fans and the embattled Weis, the Irish have an experienced quarterback to rely on in Jimmy Clausen, who is no stranger to pressure, expectation, and hostile environments.  

In this high profile matchup between two of the all-time giants of college football, Clausen’s experience will most likely be the difference.

My prediction for this game: Notre Dame- 31 Michigan- 24

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* – Notre Dame / Michigan helmets image credit: The Onion

* – Charlie Weis photo credit: AP Photo/Carlos Osorio via WSBT-2

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

* – Jimmy Clausen in high school photo credit: Pre Pro Sports


Filed Under: CFB Tagged With: Big 10, Big Ten, Charlie Weiss, Collge football, Denard Robinson, Fighting Irish, Golden Tate, jimmy claussen, michigan, Notre Dame, Rich Rodriguez, Tate Forcier, Wolverines

Link of the Day: Poor Sean Salisbury and his Cell Phone Fired Again

September 11, 2009 By 1 Comment
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sean salisbury fired from dallas radio station 105.3 the fan - cell phone involvedNot a whole lot of links to pass long today, but just stumbled upon a pretty interesting one over at Deadspin.

Sean Salisbury, famous for getting into trouble at ESPN after using his cell phone to show a picture of Little Salisbury to a female co-worker, has now apparently been fired from another gig.

And more cell phone debauchery is rumored to be at the root of his firing.

Via Daulerio at Deadspin:

Sean Salisbury Fired From Dallas Radio Station The Fan 105.3 — (Deadspin)

According to one source close to the station, Salisbury “freaked out a station promo girl after sexting her”. Program director Tom Bigby had no comment about the alleged incident but said that a formal press release about Salisbury’s dismissal is forthcoming. Damn.

Stay tuned to Deadspin for the latest. They’ll be all over this one.

And finally, some links to carry you on your way this weekend. Hopefully you’ve enjoyed the onslaught of football content over the past 72 hours. Expect it to continue moving forward.

Sports:

Non-Sports:

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* – Sean Salisbury photo credit: Signal To Noise


Filed Under: Funny Tagged With: links, Sean Salisbury, Sean Salisbury cell phone, Sean Salisbury fired

NFL Week 1 Afternoon Game Previews: 49ers-Cardinals, Rams-Seahawks, Giants-Redskins

September 11, 2009 By Leave a Comment
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NFL Week 1 Previews, Predictions, Spreads: 49ers-Cardinals, Rams-Seahawks, Giants-Redskins[Editor's note: Matt Noonan of NoonTime Sports, who recently offered up his 2009 predictions for each division, has checked in with previews of the three afternoon games scheduled for the first Sunday of the 2009 NFL season.

Read his previews and predictions below, and get all of the information you need to schedule for your football watching Sunday with our NFL Week 1 TV Schedule and Point Spreads post.]

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Follow the links to StubHub for great deals on all NFL tickets for the 2009 season.

And if you’re planning on making any bets, head on over to BetOnline to place your Week 1 wagers.

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Washington Redskins at New York Giants Preview and Prediction

  • 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

Look for a true physical contest as both of these teams hope to start the season on the right foot.

For the New York Giants, a team that many experts believe should be the top dog in this particular division, they need to get out to an early lead and protect Eli Manning from the grueling Redskins defense. Brandon Jacobs should get a majority of the carries, probably between 20-25. But who will be Manning’s go-to target now that Plaxico Burress will not be sporting the blue and white on Sunday’s? Possibly Domenik Hixon or Steve Smith? Any suggestions?

On the other side of the ball, Jason Campbell carries not only this game, but also the entire season on his shoulders. Don’t expect anything too exciting from aging veteran running back Clinton Portis in this contest, but clearly make sure to watch for newly acquired defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, as well as linebackers Brian Orakpo and London Fletcher.

Washington has and will always be a team that looks like they belong in the Pro Bowl, but in order to win this contest they need to pressure Manning and establish an equal running and air attack.

Prediction: Giants 24 – Redskins 16

NFL Week 1 Previews, Predictions, Spreads: 49ers-Cardinals, Rams-Seahawks, Giants-Redskins

San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals Preview and Prediction

  • 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

Who would have imagined Arizona was going to be the representative of the NFC in Super Bowl XLIII? Yet, after a crushing loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Cardinals are energized and ready to defend their NFC crown. However, in the past, these meetings against the 49ers haven’t always been a cakewalk for the birds in the desert.

Take a look at the past few divisional meetings in Arizona between these teams:

2008: Arizona 29 – San Francisco 24

2007: Arizona 31 – San Francisco 37

2006: Arizona 34 – San Francisco 27

2005: Arizona 31 – San Francisco 14

2004: Arizona 28 – San Francisco 31

2003: Arizona 16 – San Francisco 13

2002: Arizona 14 – San Francisco 17

In the end I expect Kurt Warner to have a field day against Mike Singletary’s defense. Expect a great game for the Cardinals’ wide receivers Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, and Steve Breaston.

As for the 49ers, just expect a solid running attack with Frank Gore.

Overall, this game surely belongs to the Cardinals, but who really knows what will happen once the final whistle blows.

Prediction: Cardinals 31 – 49ers 26

St. Louis Rams at Seattle Seahawks Preview and Prediction

  • 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

The return of Jim Mora Jr. and Steve Spagnuolo’s debut has a head coach… hmm… may have to side with Mora in this contest.

The Seahawks are coming off an awful 2008 season, as are the Rams. The last time the Seahawks ended the season with 4 wins was in 1982, but this year look for a rejuvenated and healthy Matt Hasselbeck to lead an exciting offensive unit that features newly acquired running back Edgerrin James and wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

As for the Rams, this season and game are all about playing for pride, but also starting to improve their offense and defense for the future. Spagnuolo should turn this team around, slowly, but this game will just be a beginning in the journey of turning the Rams from a basement squad to the Greatest Team on Turf-Part II.

Prediction: Seahawks 24 – Rams 10

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Filed Under: NFL, Sports Betting, TV and Betting Tagged With: 49ers-Cardinals, arizona cardinals, football, Giants-Redskins, new york giants, NFL, NFL Week 1, Rams-Seahawks, san francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams, tv schedule, washington redskins

Two Holes in One for Steve Blass: The Most Ironic Story of Redemption in the History of Sports

September 11, 2009 By Leave a Comment
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steve blass hits two holes in one in 18-hole roundIn 1968, Steve Blass won 18 games, had a 2.12 ERA, and pitched 7 shutouts.

By 1973, Blass had an ERA of 9.81 while walking 84 batters in 88 innings.

By 1975, Blass was essentially incapable of throwing the ball over the plate and was out of baseball.

Since 1975, every Major League Baseball player who has inexplicably lost the ability to accurately throw a baseball has been dubiously compared to Blass and described as having contracted “Steve Blass Disease”. Mark Wohlers, Chuck Knobluach, and Rick Ankiel are a few who come to mind.

Now, nearly 35 years later, the man who lost the ability to throw a ball that is 2 7/8″ in diameter a distance of 60 feet and 6 inches into an area that is roughly the size of a human torso has apparently found the ability to do something much more difficult (and do it twice!): use a club to hit a ball that is 1.68 inches in diameter over a distance of between 150-175 yards into a cup that measures 4 1/4″ wide.

That’s right ladies gentleman. Steve Blass, the man synonymous with baseball inaccuracy, has recorded two feats of athletic achievement that require complete and almost unfathomable accuracy: the hole in one.

And, as mentioned, the 67-year old Blass did it twice.

The Biggest Games. The Best Tickets. StubHub.com

The irony of this story is so delicious that it feels as if I’m typing from a table at Fogo de Chao. But even more than the irony, this is a just a terrific story of delayed redemption that only the sports world can provide.

According to Golf.com’s account of Steve Blass getting two holes-in-one during one 18-hole round:

Blass’s first hole-in-one Thursday at Greensburg County Club came with an 8-iron at the 154-yard, par-3 15th hole – because of the format, his fivesome started on the back nine.

His second ace came with a 7-iron on the 175-yard, par-3 seventh hole.

Golf Digest estimates the odds against a golfer having two holes-in-one in the same round at 67 million to 1.

The two holes-in-one by Steve Blass came at the Pittsburgh Pirates’ annual team golf outing today.

Congratulations to Steve Blass on his incredible feat. Perhaps now he can be remembered for both his famous and infamous athletic achievements.

And I guess if Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson or any other golfer ever holes out two aces in one round, we can give a new, positive meaning to saying they have “Steve Blass Disease”.

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* – Steve Blass photo credit: SI via Podium Sports Journal


Filed Under: MLB, Sports History Tagged With: baseball, Golf, MLB, Pittsburgh Pirates, Steve Blass, Steve Blass Disease, Steve Blass two holes in one

Knee-Jerk Fantasy Observation: Trade Fast Willie Parker If You Can…Fast

September 11, 2009 By 2 Comments
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willie-parker-fantasy update - may lose starting job to mewelde mooreLadies and gentleman, we are one game into the NFL and fantasy football seasons and I am already issuing my first mea culpa.

In my Week 1 Start Em-Sit Em column from earlier this week, I recommended Pittsburgh running back Willie Parker, seen at your left getting flattened by a throng of Titans, as a solid play against Tennessee in the Thursday night season opener.

My reasoning certainly sounded good to me at the time, but after Parker’s 13 carry, 19 yard performance last night…I feel a little bit like Nick Nolte’s mugshot. 

Follow the link to StubHub for great deals on NFL tickets.

After citing Parker’s strong start to the 2008 season, plus his solid return immediately after a midseason injury, this is what I wrote:

I think Pittsburgh and coach Mike Tomlin will want to establish their running game early in the 2009 season and will take advantage of Parker’s fresh legs to do so. You may want to think about trading Fast Willie after Week 3 or 4, because he tends to wind down, but this is a week to take advantage of having him on your roster.

I was right on the first part. The Steelers tried to establish the run, and they tried to establish power running between the tackles. The problem is that running between the tackles is not Willie Parker’s forte, nor is it something he seems all that excited about doing. Add to that the fact that the Steelers are struggling along the offensive line and, well, 13 carries for 19 yards seems like a pretty reasonable outcome.

But now comes this update on Willie Parker, from Pro Football Talk:

In the wake of Thursday night’s regular-season opener, we’re hearing that the sun could soon be setting on Parker’s tenure as the team’s go-to tailback.

The scuttlebutt in the wake of the Week One game is that Parker seems to be reluctant to run between the tackles.  

That’s not the best way to start a contract year.

Florio explains that because of Parker’s growing reluctance and inability to be a between-the-tackles runner, the Steelers may soon turn to Rashard Mendenhall Mewelde Moore as their feature back. That’s right, the Steelers’ 2008 1st round pick Rashard Mendenhall may not even be the guy to fill in for Parker if he’s replaced.

How soon before we can officially label Mendenall a bust? (Perhaps we should ask this guy his opinion first…)

But getting back to Parker, from a fantasy standpoint this is clearly not good news. The following article by Jason Cole of Yahoo Sports echoes many of the growing number of real-life and fantasy concerns about Willie Parker.

The Steelers were able to eek out a victory last night with Ben Roethlisberger throwing for over 300 yards, but they still only produced 13 points. Granted, Tennessee has a strong defense — and may not skip a beat without Albert Haynesworth — but the Steelers want to control the ball and the clock. Less than two yards per carry and an aversion to inside running is not going to get that done.

So my advice to Willie Parker fantasy owners: float some trade offers, and do it right now. Some more astute owners in your league will shoot you down immediately, and with good reason. But there may be other owners who a) like to stockpile backs, b) who owned Parker a couple of years ago, or c) who give the Titans’ D a lot of credit and consider last night’s performance an anomaly.

The other option is to wait until after Week 6 to trade Parker. The Steelers face the Lions and Browns back-to-back in weeks 5 and 6. Whoever is running the ball for the Steelers will no doubt have success in those two games. If it’s still Parker toting the rock full-time, his value could increase. The risk you run is that he may already have been relegated to third down duty by then, at which point he would be nothing more than waiver wire fodder.

If you can find an owner right now with a void at running back who was high on Parker in the preseason — and there were some out there — see what you can get in return. You may not get exactly what you want, but it may be your only way to salvage value for Parker before he’s lost his starting job for good.

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* – Willie Parker photo credit: Reuters via DayLife


Filed Under: Fantasy Football, Fantasy Sports, NFL Tagged With: football, Mewelde Moore, NFL, pittsburgh steelers, Rashard Mendenhall, willie parker, Willie Parker fantasy

NFL Week 1 WR Injury Updates: Boldin, Bryant, Welker, Walter, Berrian

September 11, 2009 By Leave a Comment
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Gazing through the Thursday edition of the official NFL Injury Report, it’s clear that one fantasy-relevant position will be affected by injury more than any other: wide receiver.

A plethora of #2-#3 WRs are listed on the Thursday injury reports and could impact your lineup decisions. A few relevant links below, and then a quick rundown of the latest injury updates on each of the dinged up pass catchers.

WR injury update: Anquan Boldin - Wes Welker - Antonio Bryant - Kevin Walter - Bernard BerrianAnquan Boldin Injury Update

Anquan Boldin has been battling a hamstring issue and was a limited participant in Thursday’s practice. The Cardinals coaches are obviously hoping that Boldin will be ready to go, as are his fantasy owners, but this is an injury to watch as the games approach on Sunday. You will probably have to make your decision before pre-game warmups though, as the Cardinals play in their typical 4:00 slot on Sunday. Boldin’s teammate Steve Breaston was a full participant in practice and would be a good option should Boldin not be able to go.

Update 9/12: Boldin was limited during Friday’s practice and his availability for Sunday’s game will most likely not be determined until pre-game warm-ups. But as the Arizona Republic reports, while Ken Whisenhunt has been the coach it is rare that a player has played without practicing during the week.

Update 9/12: Josh Alper at ProFootballTalk is reporting (via the Arizona Republic) that Anquan Boldin thinks it would be “stupid” for him to risk further injury. Sounds like he’s leaning towards not playing, and you will want to keep track of how things progress over the next 24 hours, but prepare an alternative plan

Antonio Bryant Injury Update

Bryant is battling a knee injury and was limited in Thursday’s practice. According to RotoTimes’ latest injury update on Bryant, Bucs head coach Raheem Morris said that Bryant and teammate Michael Clayton are okay and the team is just being careful leading up to Sunday’s game against Dallas. The Cowboys are susceptible to big plays in the passing game, so Bryant appears to be a solid start this weekend.

Update 9/12: Antonio Bryant is listed as probable on the most recent injury report. He should be ready for the Cowboys tomorrow.

Wes Welker Injury Update

The Patriots’ diminutive dynamo has been battling a knee injury that has him listed as a limited practice participant on the injury report. Of course, this is New England, so injury updates on Welker are hard to come by. What you see in that link to the Boston Globe is about as much as you’ll get out of the tight-lipped Pats. Monitor this one because it appears relatively serious and could keep Welker sidelined. The Patriots play Monday night, so you’ll probably have to make your decision Sunday. If you have a solid option ready, think seriously about using it. But if any positive reports about Welker come out over the next 48 hours, keep him in your lineup as the Patriots should be able to throw the ball effectively against the Bills.

Kevin Walter Injury Update

Walter is listed on the Texans’ injury report with a hamstring issue, and did not participate in Thursday’s practice. According to the Texans’ official website, the latest injury update on Walter is that he will be a game-time decision for the team’s 1:00 matchup against the Jets on Sunday. If he’s healthy he will play, but there is no telling if the hamstring issue will linger. I’d have another option ready to go and be checking the pregame reports if you are intent on using Walter.

Update 9/12: Kevin Walter is listed as questionable on the most recent injury report.

Bernard Berrian Injury Update

Berrian has a hamstring injury and was a limited participant in Thursday’s practice. The latest injury update on Berrian from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune is not all that optimistic about his prospects for Sunday, as they cite the fact that this is the first time Berrian has battled hamstring issues in his career. For a straight speed receiver, this type of injury can be especially troublesome. The Vikings want to make sure he is totally healthy before green-lighting him, so check on this one up until kickoff Sunday.

Update 9/12: Bernard Berrian is listed as questionable on the most recent injury report.

Other WRs of note who are battling injury issues:

  • Kevin Curtis s listed on the Eagles’ injury report with a knee issue, but was a full participant in Thursday’s practice. He should be good to go Sunday.
  • Chris Henry has a thigh injury and did not participate in Thursday’s practice.
  • Deion Branch has a hamstring injury and did not participate in Thursday’s practice.

I will update this post with any new reports on the availability of these WRs.

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* – Anquan Boldin photo credit: The Cards


Filed Under: Fantasy Football, Fantasy Sports Tagged With: anquan boldin, antonio bryant, bernard berrian, Fantasy Football, injury updates, kevin walter, NFL, nfl injury report, wes welker

Ohio State-USC Preview, Analysis, and Prediction

September 11, 2009 By 3 Comments
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Ohio State-USC Tickets, Preview, Point Spread, Prediction, Kickoff Time, TVIf the current USC – Ohio State odds for Saturday night are any indication, the latest installment of this burgeoning rivalry will be one to forget…at least for Ohio State. The Buckeyes are listed as seven-point underdogs at home to the Trojans.

How the mighty have fallen.

Let’s break down why Ohio State seems primed for a disappointment at home. But first, the particulars for this weekend’s game, via the MSF college football TV schedule for Saturday, September 12th:

 (4) USC Trojans vs (6) Ohio State Buckeyes

Ohio State-USC Preview

To understand why Ohio State will fail this week, let’s examine what went wrong last week. Sure, Ohio State “beat” Navy, but a four-point home victory over Navy hardly qualifies as a success.

Terrelle Pryor made plays with his feet, as usual, but matched his lone touchdown pass of the day with an interception late in the game. The Buckeyes didn’t run the ball with much authority either.

Ohio State-USC Tickets, Preview, Point Spread, Prediction, Kickoff Time, TVPerhaps most concerning was Ohio State’s defense, which shocked college football betting fans by allowing 342 yards of offense, punctuated by two passing touchdowns from Navy’s Ricky Dobbs.

If Navy could pick apart Ohio State, it’s scary to imagine what USC might do on Saturday.

Matt Barkley, the first true freshman to start under center in USC history, passed his first test last week against San Jose State, going 15/19 for 233 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions. He played the caretaker role, letting dynamic tailback and Heisman Trophy hopeful Joe McKnight do the heavy lifting. McKnight rushed 14 times for 145 yards and two touchdowns, including a 54-yard scamper.

A good sports betting system for football is to watch for patterns of how a team wins and how a team loses.

Last week, USC showed an efficient passing game, able to inflict damage when it needed to, and handed off the rock the rest of the time, chewing up clock and tiring out the opposing defense. Ohio State scraped by Navy last week but struggled against the run and even allowed some scores through the air. If that’s not a recipe for a USC win, nothing is.

Since USC’s defense is strong and should fluster Pryor, the seven-point spread for USC on the road is totally justifiable. Pick the Trojans with confidence; the 2009 Buckeyes aren’t in their league.

Ohio State-USC Prediction

Betting services recommend: USC -7

What do you think?

Who will win this weekend's matchup between Ohio State and USC in the Horseshoe?

  • Ohio State (52%, 49 Votes)
  • USC (48%, 46 Votes)

Total Voters: 95

Loading ... Loading ...

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* – Ohio State-USC logos credit: The Scores Report

* – Jim Tressel photo credit: Thunder Treats


Filed Under: CFB, Sports Betting Tagged With: CFB, Matt Barkley, ohio state buckeyes, Ohio State-USC preview, Ohio State-USC tickets, Sports Betting, Terrelle Pryor, USC Trojans

Bears-Packers Rivalry To Renew at Lambeau: Preview and Prediction

September 11, 2009 By 1 Comment
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Bears-Packers Week 1 Tickets and Sunday Night Preview: Prediction, Point Spread, TV, AnnouncersAfter all of the games are played Sunday afternoon, there will be one remaining – and it’s the oldest rivalry in the NFL.

The Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears will meet for the 178th time Sunday night at Lambeau Field. It will also be the 21st time the two teams have met in the season opener.

The storied teams split last year’s series, with the Packers routing the Bears at home 37-3, while the Bears escaped with a 20-17 overtime win on a frigid December night at Soldier Field. (I should know. I was there.)

Before we break down the two rosters, here are the particulars for Sunday night’s Packers-Bears matchup:

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

This year brings with it a lot of questions for both teams:

  1. How will Green Bay adapt to its new 3-4 defensive scheme under new coordinator Dom Capers? 
  2. How will Jay Cutler do in his new city with less-than-average receivers? 
  3. Can Aaron Rodgers build on last year, when he threw for over 4,000 yards and 28 touchdowns? 
  4. Will Cutler’s big arm mean more passing from the Bears offense? 
  5. Will Ryan Grant return to his 2007 form, or was that just an anomaly?

The questions go on, and most will be answered, at least in the short term, Sunday night.

Bears-Packers Week 1 Tickets and Sunday Night Preview: Prediction, Point Spread, TV, AnnouncersThe Packers have been downright dominant in the preseason, posting a 3-1 record — the same as the Bears — with the first-team offense scoring touchdowns on nine of 13 possessions. The Packers were 3-0 before dropping the backup-filled finale to Tennessee.

The Pack seem to have a slight edge at quarterback, mainly because Cutler’s effectiveness is a relative unknown with receivers such as Earl Bennett, Devin Aromashodu, Rashied Davis and rookies Johnny Knox and Juaquin Iglesias. The supposed top receiver for the Bears is Devin Hester, who is still learning the ropes on offense bytdefinitely trumps any return specialist the Packers have.

The Packers certainly have a huge edge is at wideout. Aaron Rodgers has a plethora of weapons, including Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, James Jones and Jordy Nelson. Jennings, in fact, just might be emerging as the best player from the 2006 draft. Add Donald Lee and Jermichael Finley at tight end, and it makes the weapons pool even deeper for Rodgers.

The Bears have their own talented tight end in third-year player Greg Olsen, but neither Desmond Clark, Michael Clark, nor Kellen Davis give Chicago a 1-2 punch at tight end like Lee and Finley.

The running back edge belongs to Chicago, mainly because the versatile Matt Forte can flat out carry the rock and is effective catching passes out of the backfield. The second-year stud from Tulane ran for 1,238 yards last year to set a new franchise record for rookie tailbacks. Adrian Peterson is a nice change-of-pace back for Chicago, which recently lost Kevin Jones for the season.

Green Bay has plenty of runners, but none with the talent of Forte. Ryan Grant did eclipse 1,200 yards last year, but averaged less than four yards per carry. If he can get that number back up this year, the Packers will be all right. Spelling him in the backfield will be Brandon Jackson and DeShawn Wynn.

Both teams have solid offensive lines, which they’ll need against the aggressive defenses they’ll see on Sunday night. Despite finishing the year 6-10, the Packers led the NFL in defensive touchdowns last season. Where they struggled was in the pass rush, something the new 3-4 scheme is supposed to remedy. Cornerbacks Charles Woodson and Al Harris are two of the best in the business, and safety Nick Collins was a Pro Bowl selection in 2008.

Bears-Packers Week 1 Tickets and Sunday Night Preview: Prediction, Point Spread, TV, AnnouncersChicago has another aggressive unit led by linebackers Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs. If they can control the middle, the Bears can exert their will on pretty much any team. Green Bay’s backers are also good with Nick Barnett, A.J Hawk, Brandon Chillar, rookie Clay Matthews, and now Aaron Kampman added to the mix as an outside linebacker.

Kampman led the Packers with 9.5 sacks last season, his first year without registering double-digit sacks since 2005. If the Packers can get some pressure on Cutler, it could be curtains for the Bears.

It’s hard to overlook that Green Bay led last year’s game in Chicago 14-3 before imploding and handing the game back to Chicago. The Packers were clearly the more talented team last season, and look to be again this year.

Green Bay wins its home opener by beating up on the Bears, 31-13.

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* – Brian Urlacher getting owned photo credit: Mouth Piece Sports


Filed Under: Featured Column, NFL Tagged With: A.J. Hawk, Aaron Kampman, aaron rodgers, Al Harris, bears packers tickets, bears-packers rivalry, Brian Urlacher, chciago bears, Chicago Bears, clay matthews, donald driver, Green Bay Packers, Greg Jennings, Greg Olsen, jay cutler, Lance Briggs, matt forte, NFL, Ryan Grant, sunday night football

Troy Polamalu Injury Update: Likely Out 3-6 Weeks With MCL Sprain

September 11, 2009 By Leave a Comment
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troy-polamalu-injury-update - sprained mcl, out 3-6 weeksThe Pittsburgh Steelers successfully began their defense of the franchise’s sixth Super Bowl last night against Tennessee, winning 13-10 in overtime.

The victory was not without its downsides, however.

Troy Polamalu, the Steelers’ defensive backfield dynamo, sprained his MCL when a Titans player fell on his leg during the scrum that occurred after Steelers’ DE Aaron Smith blocked a Rob Bironas field goal attempt. Prior to the injury, Polamalu had already registered six first half tackles and an interception.

Pro Football Talk reports that Mike Tomlin speculated during his post game press conference that Polamalu will likely have to miss 3-6 weeks. Tomlin was not certain, and we should know more today after Polamalu has been more fully examined, but 3-6 weeks is the typical recovery time for MCL sprains.

I will update this post if we learn anything new later this afternoon.

Follow the links to StubHub for great deals on Pittsburgh Steelers tickets and all 2009 NFL tickets.

For the Steelers, any extended time lost for Polamalu would obviously be troublesome. While Pittsburgh seems to be able to replace linebackers with relative ease from one season to the next, Polamalu is the one truly irreplaceable player on their defense because of his peerless instincts and superb athleticism. He is one of a handful of defensive players in the NFL who is truly capable of making a game-changing play on every snap.

If you have the Steelers’ D in fantasy, losing Polamalu clearly hurts their value from the standpoint of being a weekly TD threat. Still, the Steelers have Dick LeBeau and enough other solid veteran players to remain a top-3 defense with or without Polamalu.

In leagues that use individual defensive players, Polamalu owners will have to adjust for what looks like at least a month. Typically, IDPs are relatively interchangeable, but Polamalu is one of the few guys I’d actually consider stashing on my bench if I could afford to do so. Luckily there are no byes to deal with over the next three weeks.

If you can find a way to keep Polamalu and still field a full, healthy roster of players, do it. Obviously if you need a QB, RB, or WR to complete your lineup, Polamalu might have to to go. Hopefully he’ll slip through the cracks for you and can be re-claimed down the line.

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* – Troy Polamalu photo credit: Sportsocracy.org


Filed Under: NFL Tagged With: Fantasy Football, IDPs, NFL, pittsburgh steelers, Troy Polamalu, Troy Polamalu injury update

Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts Week 1 Preview

September 10, 2009 By 3 Comments
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Colts-Jaguars Tickets, Preview, Point Spread, Prediction, Kickoff Time, Date, TV, AnnouncersGuess what kids? It’s that time again! The NFL season kicked off tonight with the Pittsburgh Steelers hosting the Tennessee Titans.

Finally.

Life seems to have such a void without football, especially considering that all people like me have done for the last six or seven months is talk about football. Now…finally…we can stop just talking and watch.

The Indianapolis Colts kick off their season against division rival Jacksonville Sunday at 1:00pm EST in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Changes have occurred throughout the roster and on the coaching staff, and these changes have been the focus of the Colts off-season. The exit of long time head coach Tony Dungy was the headliner, but the changes were felt all the way down to a change in punters from longtime Colt veteran Hunter Smith to rookie punter Pat McAffe. And there were plenty of other changes in between.

Jacksonville and Indy have what has become quite an intense rivalry, regardless of the year-by-year success of each team. The Colts hold the overall series advantage with a 12-4 head-to-head record, but in recent years they have struggled against Jacksonville’s running game.

Here’s all the info on the game according to MSF’s NFL Week 1 Preview and TV Schedule:

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

Like I said earlier, the Jags have dominated the Colts on the ground in recent years led by with their two-headed monster of Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew. The monster was cut in half this past off-season, however, when Taylor left Jacksonville and signed with the New England Patriots.

That being said, MJD is one of the league’s toughest backs, although this past preseason was somewhat unkind to Jones-Drew. The Philadelphia Eagles went Tonya Harding on MJD’s leg in their preseason bout. Luckily for Jones-Drew and the Jags, the injury wasn’t serious and turned out to be only a contusion. There’s a chance that it may still be somewhat tender come Sunday, but I expect MJD to be usual battering ram self.

The Jags also added one of the NFL’s premium route runners during the off-season: Torry Holt. Holt had a sub-par season last year with the Rams, but do not count him out. Look for David Garrard to hit Holt on third down every chance he can get, and Holt will convert.

Indy’s defense has also changed significantly. Safety standout Bob Sanders will most likely not play, and will be replaced by Melvin Bullitt, who subbed very well for Sanders most of last season. The biggest place the Colts have tried to bolster is in the middle as they drafted two defensive tackles and brought back the troubled Ed Johnson. Jacksonville will provide a great test to see if the Colts’ defense has truly moved past the “bend but don’t break” mantra they have held for so long.

New head coach Jim Caldwell didn’t get a lot of looks at his new defense as Marlin Jackson, Kelvin Hayden, as well as many of the other defensive starters did not play much in the preseason due to nagging injuries. Thus, there is a possibility that continuity — or, more specifically, a lack thereof — may perhaps be a bigger issue than any Colts fan or coach would like to admit.

colts-Jaguars Tickets, Preview, Point Spread, Prediction, Kickoff Time, Date, TV, AnnouncersI could sit and talk about Peyton Manning and the Colts offense for hours upon hours, but in order to be brief we’ll talk about the changes and the question marks.

Joseph Addai looks like he is back at 100%, and the addition of 2008 NCAA leading rusher Donald Brown will hopefully improve on what was quite a dismal 2008 rushing season. 

The departure of future Hall-of-Famer Marvin Harrison leaves a lot of question marks in the WR corps, with 3rd-year player Anthony Gonzalez expected to step into Marvin’s shoes. Rookie Austin Collie locked up the 3rd WR spot on the roster, and no doubt TE Dallas Clark will find himself in the slot.

The biggest advantage the Colts have on Sunday is that they are playing at home in the very impressive Lucas Oil Stadium. They will be in front of a sold-out crowd and one that has been deemed as one of the loudest crowds in the NFL.

The key to the game is for the Colts is either to handcuff MJD or establish an early lead and make David Garrard have to beat them through the air. If this is the case, Pro Bowlers Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis can “pin their ears back” and put pressure on the Jags QB.

The Jags must establish the run to be successful, as well as get pressure on the three-time MVP Peyton Manning. Zone coverages and blitz schemes will force Peyton into quick decisions and, if the Jags are  lucky, flush him out of the pocket. The Jags will likely take their chances letting the Colts beat them on the ground rather than giving way to Peyton and the Colts always dangerous aerial assault.

My Colts-Jaguars prediction is to take the Colts minus the points, with the final score of this game being somewhere in the realm of 27-13.

Jacksonville is not the team they used to be and with the emergence of the upstart Texans, the Jags may very well find themselves in the cellar of the AFC’s toughest division in 2009.

I do, however, anticipate this game to “feel” closer than the score shows. I expect a tough, hard-fought game throughout, with the Colts dominating the 4th quarter to pull away and seal the victory late, led by one of the NFL’s best pass rushing tandems.

As usual Colts v Jaguars will be a great watch.

Thank God football has returned to us! Gone are the Sunday Honey-Do lists. Gone are the awkward Lifetime movies and Family Guy repeats.

The NFL is back boys and girls! Viva la Sunday!

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You can follow BigMB on twitter by going to www.twitter.com/mylesb3269


Filed Under: Featured Column, NFL Tagged With: AFC South, Indianapolis Colts, jacksonville jaguars, Maurice Jones-Drew, NFL, peyton manning, rivalry

Chicago Blackhawks Season is Right Around the Corner

September 10, 2009 By Leave a Comment
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I went to the Blackhawks website earlier today, and I realized that pre-season for the Hawks is just around the corner. I don’t know how I forgot that, but it had me happy knowing that the hockey season is just around the corner.

The Hawks were one of the most talked about hockey team last year, and they proved they could compete against seasoned teams. The Hawks team was made of mostly young players who battled all the way to the Western Conference Finals only to lose to rival Detroit Red Wings. While the fans and the players were disappointed they didn’t make it the big game, it did show them that they can compete against the big dogs.

This year has the same amount of hype, only notched up to a whole different level. Fans know they can play for the Cup. Now they want to see them win the Cup. If there was a year for Chicago this is it. Salary cap problems will trouble the Hawks next year, which will for sure make the management cut some very good talent. With this problem looming just over the horizon, the Hawks have their best chance this year. It is all or nothing for the Chicago hockey team.

It wasn’t all good news this off-season. The Hawks lost two great and fan-loved players, Martin Havlat and Nikolai Khabibulin. Havlat was the top points leader for the Hawks last year, and Khabibulan was the Hawks first-string goaltender. Losing both your #1 goalie and scoring could be devastating for the Hawks.

Lets not forget that 2007 #1 draft pick Patrick Kane was arrested on robbery and assault charges last August. It was the type of news the Hawks did not want. While it didn’t end up to anything that serious, it was bad press nonetheless, and bad press is never good for a team.

The Hawks signed Marian Hossa to replace Havlat, but Hossa is injured and it’s not 100% known when he will be healthy enough to return. This has all the ingredients to backfire on the Hawks. The team is now relying on the young core to keep the team’s playoff hopes alive while Hossa is gone. Fans can only hope the Hawks don’t fall too behind the #8 spot in the Conference.

The Hawks will also have to rely on yet-proven goaltender Christobal Huet. Huet has been given a huge contract, but he did not live up to it last season making Hawk fans scratch their heads and thinking “Did we make a mistake?” Khabibulan was the better goalie last year, but with Huet’s contract being so high and because of the team already close to the salary cap, the management had no other choice but to release Khabibulan. So it’s Huet’s year whether fans like it or not. There is one good thing going foir Huet, and that is he played really well in the Conference Finals against the Wings.

Was that a sign of better things to come?

Lets hope so.

The full schedule is up on the Hawk’s website. Their first regular season game is on October 2. It will be unique because the Hawks will not in the United States or Canada, but in Finland. It will be the 1st out of 2 games played in Finland.


Filed Under: NHL Tagged With: Chicago Blackhawks, Christobal Huet, Marian Hossa, Martin Havlat, NHL, Patrick Kane

Feel the Draft? The Rams Didn’t, Releasing 11-year Veteran Linebacker

September 10, 2009 By Leave a Comment
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Just days before the St. Louis Rams open their 2009 regular season schedule in Seattle, the team made a surprising move Thursday morning that could send shockwaves through the locker room.

Veteran linebacker Chris Draft, the one member of the Rams most active in charitable events around St. Louis, was released by the club after refusing to take a pay cut.

“They said because of the their current salary cap situation, that down the line with the incentives they needed to pay to other players they’d end up being over the cap,” Draft told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “It seems like there’s other people that that could have been directed to, that (a pay cut) wouldn’t have impacted that much. It’s a business decision; they feel like they have to do it.”

Draft did say that the club told him they’d re-sign him Monday if another team had not picked him up. That move would save the Rams nearly $400,000 against the salary cap.

The Rams asked Draft to take a $300,000 pay cut earlier in the week. He was due to receive just over $1.2 million, but was asked to play for the veteran’s minimum of $845,000. If re-signed by the club, Draft would get the minimum, minus a game check.

To replace Draft on the roster, the Rams re-signed linebacker Quinton Culberson. The third-year player from Mississippi State spent all of camp with the Rams before being cut last Saturday to get down to the 53-man roster limit. Culberson will see plenty of playing time Sunday as the Rams enter the game thin at linebacker, especially with Larry Grant nursing an injury.

The lack of depth makes Draft’s release even more of a head-scratcher, because Draft can play every position behind the line.

Thursday’s move overshadows what had been an optimistic camp, complete with enthusiasm and energy. According to the Post-Dispatch, quarterbacks Marc Bulger and Kyle Boller, and running back Steven Jackson are adapting well to Pat Shurmur’s new offense.

“It’s a fun offense, and it’s a proven winner,” Jackson said. “As we see time and time again, teams that run this kind of offense are among the tops in the NFL when it comes to offensive statistics.”

The offense has yet to be sharp in the preseason, but it will need to be against the Seahawks because it’s unknown how the defense will react without one of its most respected leaders.


Filed Under: NFL Tagged With: Chris Draft, Marc Bulger, rams, Steven Jackson

Tennessee-UCLA Preview: Lane Kiffin’s Vols Look for Revenge Over Bruins in Knoxville

September 10, 2009 By 3 Comments
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tennessee-ucla tickets, preview, prediction, kickoff time, tv, time, dateJonathon Crompton threw 5 TD passes in a game.

No, that wasn’t a typo.

Tennessee quarterback Jonathan Crompton really threw 5 TD’s in a single game. (A short pause for you to google this if you still can’t believe it.)

Crompton and the Vols steamrolled right over the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 63-7 on Saturday, racking up 657 yards of total offense. Crompton had a career day with 233 yards passing to go along with his 5 TD’s. He showed maturity and, unlike last season, appears comfortable in Lane Kiffin’s pro-style offense.

However, the Volunteers’ running back corps refused to be shown up by their senior quarterback. As a team Tennessee rushed for 380 yards and 4 TD’s, averaging over 8 yards per carry. Senior running back Montario Hardesty had 160 yards on 18 carries, with a huge 43-yard TD run.

Tennessee’s offensive “Freshman Four” also played well, having a coming out party against Western Kentucky.

Running back Bryce Brown scored UT’s first TD of the season and finished with 104 yards on 11 carries. His fellow frosh back David Oku had 42 yards and 2 TD’s on 8 carries. Marsalis Teague was the leading receiver for the Vols. Teague caught 6 passes for 86 yards and a TD. Nu’Keese Richardson made an impact all around, catching passes, returning kicks, and even running the wildcat formation.

Lane Kiffin’s focus, however, is not on the blowout victory of last week.

The Vols are preparing for a rematch against UCLA after losing a heartbreaker in Pasadena last season. As a former USC coach, Kiffin is no stranger to the Bruins either. Thus, there are plenty of storylines heading into Saturday’s game in Knoxville.

Before we break down the matchup, here are the particulars:

UCLA Bruins at Tennessee Volunteers

The matchup between Tennessee and UCLA is completely different than last season. In ’08 the Vols were a team searching for an offensive identity and UCLA was lucky to scrape out a win.

This season the Vols appear rejuvenated on offense with their explosive young talent and offensive mastermind Lane Kiffin at the helm. And though the offense has improved vastly, the strength of this Vols team is still the defense, led by its all-world safety Eric Berry.

In Monte Kiffin’s first game as UT defensive coordinator, the Vols held Western Kentucky to 83 yards of total offense. The Hilltoppers only managed 34 yards rushing, averaging a laughable 1-yard per carry. The scary part of UT’s defensive performance is that Berry didn’t play all that well and the defense still held strong.

Berry and the Tennessee defense could have a field day against UCLA’s freshman quarterback Kevin Prince, who threw two picks against San Diego State in the Bruins opener. Prince doesn’t seem experienced enough to go up against a top-level SEC defense and will likely turn the ball over multiple times.

The Vols will have to be careful of their own turnovers however. Jonathan Crompton will have to keep an eye out for UCLA safety Rahim Moore, who had three interceptions last week against SDSU.

Lane Kiffin, though, appears to be more than capable of putting together an effective offensive game plan. And if Tennessee’s offense can produce even half as well as they did last week, the Neyland faithful should once again be singing Rocky Top at the top of their lungs.

And the Vols, coming off one of the most disappointing seasons in school history, should be 2-0.

My prediction for Saturday’s game: Tennessee- 31 UCLA- 17


Filed Under: CFB Tagged With: bryce brown, college, David Oku, Eric Berry, football, Jonathon Crompton, Lane Kiffin, Luke Stocker, Marsalis Teague, Montario Hardesty, ncaa, Nu'Keese Richardson, Pac 10, SEC, SEC East, Tennessee, UCLA, Volunteers, Western Kentucky

Links To Take With You to the John…Featuring Bill Simmons

September 10, 2009 By Leave a Comment
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Sports:

Non-Sports:


Filed Under: Funny Tagged With: bill simmons, links

Matt Barkley Hype and Hyperbole Machine Adds New Cog in Stewart Mandel of SI.com

September 10, 2009 By 3 Comments
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matt-barkley-joe-montana

Well, the Matt Barkley hype machine just keeps chugging along, gaining new cogs seemingly with every passing day.

Less than 48 hours after reading ESPN’s Heisman Watch in which they tab Barkley as a potential candidate should USC beat Ohio State, I stop by SI.com and am met with the following front page image:

matt-barkley-joe-montana

So, not only is the true freshman Matt Barkley apparently in the running for the Heisman Trophy after one ho-hum game against San Jose State, now he is being compared to perhaps the greatest quarterback in the history of the sport.

Here is a taste of the article from Stewart Mandel, whose opinions I usually respect:

That’s when it hits you. He reminds you of someone. Not any quarterback you’ve covered in college, not any quarterback playing today, but a similarly shaped quarterback who, as a 13-year-old, you watched on your parents’ television as he calmly led his team downfield for a game-winning Super Bowl drive.

It’s like you’re looking out at a young Joe Montana.

The hyperbole is mind-boggling.

As I wrote earlier this week, I have no personal vendetta against Matt Barkley, nor do I begrudge him any success that he has this season or in the future; and make no mistake, he will have lots of success and very possibly even win a Heisman Trophy during his time at USC. As Mandel writes in the SI piece, Barkley has great size, an outstanding arm, and a confidence level that belies his young age.

But Joe Montana? Once again, I will reiterate, can we wait until the guy actually does something at the collegiate level before we anoint him with such ludicrous accolades and comparisons?

Keep in mind, Barkley completed only 54.7% of his passes as a high school senior and threw 18 INTs against 23 TDs. His team, famed high school sports powerhouse Mater Dei, went 8-4 and lost in the quarterfinals of the playoffs.

If Barkley is potentially the best college player in America as a freshman, and comparable to an NFL Hall of Famer, shouldn’t he have been able to lead his team to a title while in high school? He never did.

Football is the ultimate team sport, so perhaps that’s unfair to expect. But 54.7% and 23:18? Barkley was far better as a junior when he threw 35 TDs against 9 INTs and completed 63% of his passes. He was also named Gatorade High School Player of the Year. But where was the consistency? If he is at a pro level already, as Mandel’s article quotes one of Barkley’s tutors as saying, what accounted for his significant drop as a senior?

I know that people are now going to think I’m on some Matt Barkley crusade and hate the kid. I don’t. I’m not a big fan of his cockiness, but whatever. He is who he is, and that confidence/arrogance/cockiness will probably make him an S.C. legend some day.

But 2009 is a great year for veteran QBs in college football, and Matt Barkley does not deserve this level of attention. Among the many who do:

  • Tim Tebow, perhaps the greatest player in college football history, is a senior. 
  • Colt McCoy, perhaps the greatest QB in the storied tradition of Texas football, is a senior. 
  • Sam Bradford, a record-setting former Heisman winner, came back to school. 
  • Jevan Snead had to transfer from McCoy’s shadow to find his fit at Ole Miss and now may challenge Bradford as the top QB selected in next year’s draft. 
  • A lightning fast sophomore named Robert Griffin is making Baylor relevant for the first time since J.J. Joe was under center. 

I could go on.

These are the players, the ones who have achieved something significant as collegians, who deserve the attention being heaped on Barkley.

If he leads USC to a road win over Ohio State and plays great, fine. He’ll finally have something worth hyping. As it is, I’d rather hear about the great QBs in college football who have done something…not a true freshman who had a subpar senior season in high school and who has nothing but a win over San Jose State under his belt.

I’ve changed my mind about this weekend’s game though. I’m not rooting against Barkley when he goes into the Horseshoe. I’ll watch objectively. If he’s everything he’s being made out to be, he’ll go 20-25 for 250 yards, 3 scores, and the Trojans will win a tough one on the road. He still won’t be worth mentioning in the same breath as Tebow-McCoy-Bradford, but at least there will be a little bit of legitimacy to all the overblown (to this point) hype.

And since it has become clear that such hype and hyperbole is inevitable, I’d rather it be somewhat warranted. There certainly won’t be any way to escape it.

Either way though…the next Joe Montana? He hasn’t even proven yet that he’s the next Tim Tebow or the next Colt McCoy or, hell, even the next Robert Griffin. Until he can enter those conversations, how about we wait just a minute before comparing him to Hall of Famers.


Filed Under: CFB, Featured Column Tagged With: CFB, colt mccoy, Jevan Snead, Joe Montana, Matt Barkley, Robert Griffin, SI.com, Stewart Mandel, tim tebow, USC Trojans
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