Every week I will pick at least 5 games to predict the outcome/score. I plan on picking the Georgia Tech and Florida State games every week as well as a couple other big games featuring Top 25 teams. Like most pick-em articles, I will also have a Upset Special. Without further ado, here are the picks for Week 1 (there aren't a lot of good games in Week 1):
South Carolina State at Georgia Tech- I normally wouldn't pick a game this one-sided, but I plan on picking every Tech game. Tech should get the triple option running early and often in this one. The biggest questions is how long will the starters play and whether or not the Tech back-ups will look good in their extended time. Josh Nesbitt, Anthony Allen, and company should roll up a whole lot of yards before halftime in this one. Georgia Tech 48, South Carolina State 14
Samford at Florida State- Like the Tech game, this game will be very one-sided. There are two big things FSU can take away from this warm-up. The first is to launch Christian Ponder's Heisman campaign. Big numbers do wonders for a candidate's chances and this game is an excellent opportunity to rack up some huge numbers. The second is to test run Mark Stoop's new defense before next week's showdown in Norman versus the Sooners of Oklahoma. It should be much improved from last year. Florida State 56, Samford 7
Oregon State vs. TCU (in JerryWorld)- I really like Oregon State and want to pick them to do well this year. However, TCU is one of the toughest teams in the country, especially in what is basically a home game for them. I really respect Mike Riley for scheduling such a tough first game, but Oregon State has a history of starting their seasons slowly. Still, this game should be a great match-up between Quizz Rodgers and the stifling TCU defense. TCU 17, Oregon State 14
LSU vs. North Carolina (in Atlanta)-When this game was first scheduled, I thought it would be a great opportunity for the ACC to regain some respect with a Tar Heels win. In light of the recent investigation, UNC may be missing close to 10 players, including some big time stars. LSU is overrated going into this season, but they should be able to handle a skeleton North Carolina team. Unforunatley for the ACC, the SEC will continue their Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic dominance. LSU 27, UNC 17
Upset Special: Boise State vs. Virginia Tech (in Washington DC)- This pick isn't a true upset special but it is the closest thing I've got. Even though Boise St. is ranked in the Top 5, most people don't really believe they can compete with the big boys. Not only will Boise beat Virginia Tech, they should handle them easily. Boise is one of the most talented teams in the country (returning 20 of 22 starters) and Virginia Tech has a long history of starting slowly, especially in big games. The Broncos national title drive starts in DC on Labor Day. Boise State 26, Virginia Tech 13
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Greatest Yankee of the Modern Dynasty?
Recently Joe Posnanski wrote an article about who is the greatest Yankee of the modern group: Mariano Rivera or Derek Jeter? The full article can be found here: http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2010/08/16/mo-v-the-captain/. Posnanski's conclusion was that Jeter's role as the face of the Yankees and an everyday player was too much for Mo to overcome. While I admire and respect his talent's as a writer and sports commentator, I respectfully disagree with Posnanski's conclusion.
First, let's take a brief look at each players career:
Jeter joined the Yankees full-time in 1996 and has been the starting shortstop ever since. He won the Rookie of the Year in 1996 and is an 11-time All-Star. Jeter has played in 7 World Series, winning 5 of them. He was the World Series MVP in 2000 and is one of only 11 Yankees ever to be named the team captain. He is noted for his leadership, consistency, and clutch play. Jeter is the face of the modern Yankees and one of the greatest shortstops ever to play the game.
Mo joined the Yankees full-time in 1995 and spent the 1996 World Series campaign as John Wettleland's set-up man. He became the full-time closer in 1997 and the rest is history. Rivera has also played in 7 World Series with 5 victories. He was the ALCS MVP in 2003, the World Series MVP in 1999, and is an 11-time All-Star. Mo has the second most saves in MLB history and owns every conceivable playoff relief record. He is almost indisputably the greatest closer of all-time and his cut fastball is widely considered the most devastating pitch baseball has ever seen.
The first point that becomes clear in this debate is that their is no wrong answer. Both Mo and Jeter have had sensational careers and both players appear to be far from done. Without either player, the Yankees of today would be very different. However, there are two reasons that make Mo the greatest Yankee of the modern dynasty. The first is the uniqueness of his dominance. Jeter is by no means a "common" player, but there have been other shortstops of his caliber. In the early 2000s, you could make a very convincing argument that he was actually the 4th best shortstop in the league, behind A-Rod, Nomar, and Miguel Tejada. He has outlasted all of these players (except for A-Rod, but he doesn't player shortstop anymore because of Jeter so it still counts), but he doesn't dominant his position in the same way that Mo does. Other closers may have better individual years, but no one has sustained a level of dominance anywhere near that of Rivera's. He is the best ever at closing games and he effectively makes the game only 8 innings long. Jeter may contribute offensively and defensively on a daily basis, but Mo allows the Yankees 9 innings to score more runs than their opponents can score in only 8. If the opposing team is losing and "Enter Sandman" comes on the loudspeakers, they know the game is over. The second, and more important, reason Mo is the most important player in the modern dynasty is that he represents the best of the Yankees. As a longtime fan of the team, I can tell you that it is devastating and shocking whenever the Yankees lose, especially in the postseason. We truly do expect to win every game. But if a team beats the Yankees by going through Rivera, I cannot be upset that the Yankees lost. He is the most devastating player on the team and when he loses, the other team truly deserved to win. And that is why Mo is the greatest Yankee of the modern dynasty. He doesn't ever lose and when he does its okay because it means the other team really was better.
First, let's take a brief look at each players career:
Jeter joined the Yankees full-time in 1996 and has been the starting shortstop ever since. He won the Rookie of the Year in 1996 and is an 11-time All-Star. Jeter has played in 7 World Series, winning 5 of them. He was the World Series MVP in 2000 and is one of only 11 Yankees ever to be named the team captain. He is noted for his leadership, consistency, and clutch play. Jeter is the face of the modern Yankees and one of the greatest shortstops ever to play the game.
Mo joined the Yankees full-time in 1995 and spent the 1996 World Series campaign as John Wettleland's set-up man. He became the full-time closer in 1997 and the rest is history. Rivera has also played in 7 World Series with 5 victories. He was the ALCS MVP in 2003, the World Series MVP in 1999, and is an 11-time All-Star. Mo has the second most saves in MLB history and owns every conceivable playoff relief record. He is almost indisputably the greatest closer of all-time and his cut fastball is widely considered the most devastating pitch baseball has ever seen.
The first point that becomes clear in this debate is that their is no wrong answer. Both Mo and Jeter have had sensational careers and both players appear to be far from done. Without either player, the Yankees of today would be very different. However, there are two reasons that make Mo the greatest Yankee of the modern dynasty. The first is the uniqueness of his dominance. Jeter is by no means a "common" player, but there have been other shortstops of his caliber. In the early 2000s, you could make a very convincing argument that he was actually the 4th best shortstop in the league, behind A-Rod, Nomar, and Miguel Tejada. He has outlasted all of these players (except for A-Rod, but he doesn't player shortstop anymore because of Jeter so it still counts), but he doesn't dominant his position in the same way that Mo does. Other closers may have better individual years, but no one has sustained a level of dominance anywhere near that of Rivera's. He is the best ever at closing games and he effectively makes the game only 8 innings long. Jeter may contribute offensively and defensively on a daily basis, but Mo allows the Yankees 9 innings to score more runs than their opponents can score in only 8. If the opposing team is losing and "Enter Sandman" comes on the loudspeakers, they know the game is over. The second, and more important, reason Mo is the most important player in the modern dynasty is that he represents the best of the Yankees. As a longtime fan of the team, I can tell you that it is devastating and shocking whenever the Yankees lose, especially in the postseason. We truly do expect to win every game. But if a team beats the Yankees by going through Rivera, I cannot be upset that the Yankees lost. He is the most devastating player on the team and when he loses, the other team truly deserved to win. And that is why Mo is the greatest Yankee of the modern dynasty. He doesn't ever lose and when he does its okay because it means the other team really was better.
Monday, August 23, 2010
My Top 25: Preseason
A college football top 25 is a very strange thing to compile. Different people think a top 25 should be different things. Some people see it as a collection of the 25 best teams. Others see it as the 25 most deserving teams. Rather than go with one school of thought or the other, my top 25 will be a combination of both theories.
25. Houston- Behind Casey Keenum, the Cougars have a chance to beat any team in the country. Their two biggest tests are winnable games against UCLA and Texas Tech.
24. Cincinnati- If Zach Collaros can maintain his play from last year, the Bearcats could avoid a drop-off this year. Their biggest challenge is a home game versus the Sooners of Oklahoma.
23. Stanford- Andrew Luck had a very strong freshman year and should prevent the Cardinals from missing Heisman runner-up Toby Gerhart too much. Their biggest games are on the road at Oregon and at home versus USC and Oregon State.
22. Mississippi- Jeremiah Massoli instantly makes the Rebels a contender in the exceptionally difficult SEC West. The Rebels toughest games are on the road versus Alabama, Arkansas, and LSU.
21. West Virginia- Heisman contender Noel Devine should keep the Mountaineers competitive in a wide-open Big East. Their toughest tests are at LSU and at Pitt.
20. South Carolina- Every year the Gamecocks seem to be on the verge of contending. This year, Stephen Garcia and the Ole Ball Coach should put all the pieces together and make a run at an SEC East title. Their hardest games are at home versus Alabama and Arkansas and on the road versus Florida.
19. Penn State- JoPa must replace his starting QB, but the rest of his offense is quite experienced. Penn State is not an elite Big 10 team, but they should win enough to stay ranked. The Nittany Lions' most difficult tests are at Alabama, Ohio State, and Iowa.
18. Auburn- Cameron Newton should excel in Gus Mazhalan's offense and between the two of them, Auburn should be back this year. The Tigers' hardest challenges are at home versus Arkansas and LSU and on the road at Ole Miss and Alabama.
17. Miami- Lots of pollsters have the Hurricanes higher than this, but Jacory Harris can't light up the skies behind a leaky offensive line. Still, the U should have a strong season and weather a brutal schedule. The Hurricanes' toughest games are at Ohio State, Pitt, and Georgia and at home against Florida State and Virginia Tech.
16. Pittsburgh- Pitt has a very gifted offense behind super-sophomore Dion Lewis and they should be able to play with any team they face. The Panthers' biggest games are at home against Miami and West Virginia.
15. Wisconsin- The Badgers have a powerful running game and a massive offensive line. This team isn't great, but those two things and an easy schedule should keep them in the Top 25. The Badgers' most difficult challenges are on the road at Iowa and at home against Ohio State.
14. Florida- The post-Tebow era will not be terrible, but Florida needs to get used to a lower standard than they have seen the past few years. John Brantley is talented, but he is no football Jesus. The Gators' hardest tests are at home against LSU and on the road against Alabama and Florida State.
13. Virginia Tech- VT has a strong running game and a Bud Foster defense can always expected to produce. The Hokies' hardest games are at home against Georgia Tech, on the road against Miami, and, of course, against Boise State in Washington DC.
12. Oregon State- This is the year that Quizz Rodgers leads the Beavers to a Pac-10 title. They play an extremely tough schedule, but this team is talented enough to survive it. The Beavers' biggest tests are at home versus Boise State, USC, and Oregon and against TCU in Jerryworld.
11. Oklahoma- If Landry Jones plays to his potential, this year could be very special in Norman. The Big 12 South should be a 2-team battle between Oklahoma and Texas. The Sooners' toughest tests are at home against Florida State and versus Texas in the Red River Shootout.
10. Iowa- The Hawkeyes return almost everyone from a team that played out of its mind last year. With a healthy Ricky Stanzi, the sky is the limit for Iowa. The Hawkeyes most difficult games are at home versus Penn State, Wisconsin, and Ohio State.
9. Nebraska- Nebraska came within 1 second of beating Texas last year and that was without any semblance of an offense. This year's team should have a much better offense and the defense should is rumored to be better, even without Suh. The Cornhuskers' toughest challenge is at home versus Texas.
8. Georgia Tech- The triple option will reign supreme once again behind the experienced hand of three-year starter Josh Nesbitt and soon-to-be superstar Anthony Allen. I predict that Allen will end up being a better running back the Jonathon Dwyer. The Yellow Jackets' most difficult tests are at home versus Miami and on the road at Virginia Tech.
7. Arkansas- Behind the huge arm of Ryan Mallett, the Razorbacks have an excellent shot to win the incredibly deep SEC West. Their toughest games are at home versus Ole Miss and Alabama and the road at Auburn.
6. TCU- If not for the Broncos of Boise, TCU would be the story of this football season. Still, the Horned Frogs are one of the best and most balanced teams in the nation and they have an excellent shot at qualifying for the BCS for a second straight year. Their most difficult games are at Utah and versus Oregon State in Jerryworld.
5. Texas- Garret Gilbert showed in the National Championship that he is a big time player and he should star for the Longhorns in the post-Colt McCoy era. The Longhorns' hardest games are at Nebraska and versus Oklahoma in the Red River Shootout.
4. Florida State- This pick is by far my biggest reach, but I really do believe this year is the year the Noles return to glory. Their toughest challenges are at home versus Florida and on the road at Oklahoma and Miami.
3. Ohio State- Behind Terrell Pryor, the Buckeyes have the talent to beat anyone in the country. Unfortunately for them, they will fall in Glendale against Boise State. The Buckeyes' biggest tests are at Iowa and Penn State and at home versus Miami and Wisconsin.
2. Boise State- The Broncos will conclude this season undefeated and National Champs. However, until the Tide lose, they are stuck at #2. Their toughest games are at home versus Oregon State and in Washington DC versus Virginia Tech.
1. Alabama- I do not think the Tide will win the National Title this year, but until they lose, they deserve to be ranked #1. Bama's toughest games are on the road at LSU and at home versus Ole Miss, Penn State, Florida, and Auburn.
25. Houston- Behind Casey Keenum, the Cougars have a chance to beat any team in the country. Their two biggest tests are winnable games against UCLA and Texas Tech.
24. Cincinnati- If Zach Collaros can maintain his play from last year, the Bearcats could avoid a drop-off this year. Their biggest challenge is a home game versus the Sooners of Oklahoma.
23. Stanford- Andrew Luck had a very strong freshman year and should prevent the Cardinals from missing Heisman runner-up Toby Gerhart too much. Their biggest games are on the road at Oregon and at home versus USC and Oregon State.
22. Mississippi- Jeremiah Massoli instantly makes the Rebels a contender in the exceptionally difficult SEC West. The Rebels toughest games are on the road versus Alabama, Arkansas, and LSU.
21. West Virginia- Heisman contender Noel Devine should keep the Mountaineers competitive in a wide-open Big East. Their toughest tests are at LSU and at Pitt.
20. South Carolina- Every year the Gamecocks seem to be on the verge of contending. This year, Stephen Garcia and the Ole Ball Coach should put all the pieces together and make a run at an SEC East title. Their hardest games are at home versus Alabama and Arkansas and on the road versus Florida.
19. Penn State- JoPa must replace his starting QB, but the rest of his offense is quite experienced. Penn State is not an elite Big 10 team, but they should win enough to stay ranked. The Nittany Lions' most difficult tests are at Alabama, Ohio State, and Iowa.
18. Auburn- Cameron Newton should excel in Gus Mazhalan's offense and between the two of them, Auburn should be back this year. The Tigers' hardest challenges are at home versus Arkansas and LSU and on the road at Ole Miss and Alabama.
17. Miami- Lots of pollsters have the Hurricanes higher than this, but Jacory Harris can't light up the skies behind a leaky offensive line. Still, the U should have a strong season and weather a brutal schedule. The Hurricanes' toughest games are at Ohio State, Pitt, and Georgia and at home against Florida State and Virginia Tech.
16. Pittsburgh- Pitt has a very gifted offense behind super-sophomore Dion Lewis and they should be able to play with any team they face. The Panthers' biggest games are at home against Miami and West Virginia.
15. Wisconsin- The Badgers have a powerful running game and a massive offensive line. This team isn't great, but those two things and an easy schedule should keep them in the Top 25. The Badgers' most difficult challenges are on the road at Iowa and at home against Ohio State.
14. Florida- The post-Tebow era will not be terrible, but Florida needs to get used to a lower standard than they have seen the past few years. John Brantley is talented, but he is no football Jesus. The Gators' hardest tests are at home against LSU and on the road against Alabama and Florida State.
13. Virginia Tech- VT has a strong running game and a Bud Foster defense can always expected to produce. The Hokies' hardest games are at home against Georgia Tech, on the road against Miami, and, of course, against Boise State in Washington DC.
12. Oregon State- This is the year that Quizz Rodgers leads the Beavers to a Pac-10 title. They play an extremely tough schedule, but this team is talented enough to survive it. The Beavers' biggest tests are at home versus Boise State, USC, and Oregon and against TCU in Jerryworld.
11. Oklahoma- If Landry Jones plays to his potential, this year could be very special in Norman. The Big 12 South should be a 2-team battle between Oklahoma and Texas. The Sooners' toughest tests are at home against Florida State and versus Texas in the Red River Shootout.
10. Iowa- The Hawkeyes return almost everyone from a team that played out of its mind last year. With a healthy Ricky Stanzi, the sky is the limit for Iowa. The Hawkeyes most difficult games are at home versus Penn State, Wisconsin, and Ohio State.
9. Nebraska- Nebraska came within 1 second of beating Texas last year and that was without any semblance of an offense. This year's team should have a much better offense and the defense should is rumored to be better, even without Suh. The Cornhuskers' toughest challenge is at home versus Texas.
8. Georgia Tech- The triple option will reign supreme once again behind the experienced hand of three-year starter Josh Nesbitt and soon-to-be superstar Anthony Allen. I predict that Allen will end up being a better running back the Jonathon Dwyer. The Yellow Jackets' most difficult tests are at home versus Miami and on the road at Virginia Tech.
7. Arkansas- Behind the huge arm of Ryan Mallett, the Razorbacks have an excellent shot to win the incredibly deep SEC West. Their toughest games are at home versus Ole Miss and Alabama and the road at Auburn.
6. TCU- If not for the Broncos of Boise, TCU would be the story of this football season. Still, the Horned Frogs are one of the best and most balanced teams in the nation and they have an excellent shot at qualifying for the BCS for a second straight year. Their most difficult games are at Utah and versus Oregon State in Jerryworld.
5. Texas- Garret Gilbert showed in the National Championship that he is a big time player and he should star for the Longhorns in the post-Colt McCoy era. The Longhorns' hardest games are at Nebraska and versus Oklahoma in the Red River Shootout.
4. Florida State- This pick is by far my biggest reach, but I really do believe this year is the year the Noles return to glory. Their toughest challenges are at home versus Florida and on the road at Oklahoma and Miami.
3. Ohio State- Behind Terrell Pryor, the Buckeyes have the talent to beat anyone in the country. Unfortunately for them, they will fall in Glendale against Boise State. The Buckeyes' biggest tests are at Iowa and Penn State and at home versus Miami and Wisconsin.
2. Boise State- The Broncos will conclude this season undefeated and National Champs. However, until the Tide lose, they are stuck at #2. Their toughest games are at home versus Oregon State and in Washington DC versus Virginia Tech.
1. Alabama- I do not think the Tide will win the National Title this year, but until they lose, they deserve to be ranked #1. Bama's toughest games are on the road at LSU and at home versus Ole Miss, Penn State, Florida, and Auburn.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Watching the Heisman: Preseason
Every sportswriter must have a Heisman Watch and I am no different. A preseason Heisman list is one of the strangest things to write because there are so many possible players who could conceivably win the award. This list is by no means a complete account of Heisman candidates and is undoubatedly very different from the final Watching the Heisman I will write in December. That being said, here is my preseason version of Watching the Heisman.
Honorable Mentions: Josh Nesbitt (QB) - Georgia Tech, Jake Locker (QB) - Washington, Cameron Newton (QB) - Auburn, Andy Dalton (QB) - TCU, Andrew Luck (QB) - Stanford
10. Dion Lewis (RB) - Pitt: Lewis took the Big East by storm as a freshman last year. He broke almost every major Big East freshman rushing record, including many set by former Pitt superstar Tony Dorsett. Plus, Lewis is only a sophomore and the Heisman has been won by 3 sophomores in a row.
9. Noel Devine (RB) - West Virginia: Unlike the youngster Lewis, Devine seems like he has been at West Virginia forever. His YouTube highlights are legendary and he has produced the numbers to back them up. Speedsters always have a shot at a Heisman and Devine is one of the fastest.
8. Adrian Clayborn (DE) - Iowa: I strongly believe that Ndamukong Suh should have one to the Heisman last year and will therefore do my best to highlight defensive contenders this year. By all accounts, Clayborn is the closest thing in 2010 to Suh and he should have a nice set of tough games to prove his worth.
7. Mark Ingram (RB) - Alabama: I didn't like Ingram winning the Heisman last year, but any time the defending champ returns, he must be considered a contender. However, Ingram is probably not the best running back on his own team and by year's end, I expect Trent Richardson to be receiving the majority of the Crimson Tide carries.
6. Ryan Mallet (QB) - Arkansas: Heisman voters love big armed QBs. Mallet's arm is about as big as they come. Plus, he plays in one of the most explosive offenses in the nation. Arkansas's scoring potential gives them the opportunity to beat any team in the nation on any given day. If their defense can hold up, the stiff armed statue could be Mallets.
5. Landry Jones (QB) - Oklahoma: Jones is in a very similar situation to Mallet. There are 2 reasons his prospects are better. First, Oklahoma has a much better shot of winning their conference (Big 12) than Arkansas (SEC). Second, Oklahoma plays a much more difficult non-conference schedule, giving Jones a bigger body of work for voters to look at.
4. Christian Ponder (QB) - Florida State: Ponder's candidacy is very similar to the 2 guys above him. Two things set Ponder apart from Jones. First, Ponder puts up big numbers but more importantly he doesn't make mistakes. Before his injury last year, Ponder was completing nearly 70% of his passes. Second, the prestige of bringing the Noles back to prominence could vault Ponder into joining Charlie Ward and Chris Weinke as the Noles's Heisman winners.
3. Jacquizz Rodgers (RB) - Oregon State: I have always been a huge Quizz fan and I think this year is when the nation will jump aboard his bandwagon. Oregon State has an excellent shot at winning the wide open Pac-10 and if they do, Quizz will be the biggest reason why. Plus, his power running game gives him a chance to put up huge, but consistent, numbers, and Heisman voters love big numbers.
2. Kellen Moore (QB) - Boise State: The players with the best shots at the Heisman are the two QBs for the teams playing in the National Title game. And since I expect Boise State and Ohio State to play in Glendale, it makes since the Moore and Pryor are 2 and 1 in Watching the Heisman. Much like Ponder, Moore simply does not make mistakes. Last year, he threw 39 touchdowns and 3 interceptions! Plus, Moore will get an opportunity to showcase his skills in big wins over Virginia Tech and Oregon State. However, he will ultimately be the runner-up because he is from Boise State and the 2010 Heisman winner is the second coming of...
1. Terrell Pryor (QB) - Ohio State: ... Vince Young. That's right, this year's Pryor will be eerily similar to Young circa 2005. I have already documented in another post (It's College Football Time!) how their career's are very similar up to this point. Young deserved the Heisman in 2005 and Pryor will get his in 2010. Pryor is a supremely athletic and talented QB who is only beginning to scratch the surface of his potential. Playing in the Big 10, he will get numerous opportunities to showcase his skills while not playing too many top opponents who could derail his campaign. Plus, Heisman winners have a proud tradition of losing the national title. Since Boise State will win in Glendale, Pryor can keep this tradition alive. Pryor will win the Heisman in 2010 that Vince Young should have won in 2005.
One final note: It pains me to put this many QBs on the list, but this year the QB crop is very strong. However, I am all for non-traditional Heisman candidates and would love to see one win it this year.
Honorable Mentions: Josh Nesbitt (QB) - Georgia Tech, Jake Locker (QB) - Washington, Cameron Newton (QB) - Auburn, Andy Dalton (QB) - TCU, Andrew Luck (QB) - Stanford
10. Dion Lewis (RB) - Pitt: Lewis took the Big East by storm as a freshman last year. He broke almost every major Big East freshman rushing record, including many set by former Pitt superstar Tony Dorsett. Plus, Lewis is only a sophomore and the Heisman has been won by 3 sophomores in a row.
9. Noel Devine (RB) - West Virginia: Unlike the youngster Lewis, Devine seems like he has been at West Virginia forever. His YouTube highlights are legendary and he has produced the numbers to back them up. Speedsters always have a shot at a Heisman and Devine is one of the fastest.
8. Adrian Clayborn (DE) - Iowa: I strongly believe that Ndamukong Suh should have one to the Heisman last year and will therefore do my best to highlight defensive contenders this year. By all accounts, Clayborn is the closest thing in 2010 to Suh and he should have a nice set of tough games to prove his worth.
7. Mark Ingram (RB) - Alabama: I didn't like Ingram winning the Heisman last year, but any time the defending champ returns, he must be considered a contender. However, Ingram is probably not the best running back on his own team and by year's end, I expect Trent Richardson to be receiving the majority of the Crimson Tide carries.
6. Ryan Mallet (QB) - Arkansas: Heisman voters love big armed QBs. Mallet's arm is about as big as they come. Plus, he plays in one of the most explosive offenses in the nation. Arkansas's scoring potential gives them the opportunity to beat any team in the nation on any given day. If their defense can hold up, the stiff armed statue could be Mallets.
5. Landry Jones (QB) - Oklahoma: Jones is in a very similar situation to Mallet. There are 2 reasons his prospects are better. First, Oklahoma has a much better shot of winning their conference (Big 12) than Arkansas (SEC). Second, Oklahoma plays a much more difficult non-conference schedule, giving Jones a bigger body of work for voters to look at.
4. Christian Ponder (QB) - Florida State: Ponder's candidacy is very similar to the 2 guys above him. Two things set Ponder apart from Jones. First, Ponder puts up big numbers but more importantly he doesn't make mistakes. Before his injury last year, Ponder was completing nearly 70% of his passes. Second, the prestige of bringing the Noles back to prominence could vault Ponder into joining Charlie Ward and Chris Weinke as the Noles's Heisman winners.
3. Jacquizz Rodgers (RB) - Oregon State: I have always been a huge Quizz fan and I think this year is when the nation will jump aboard his bandwagon. Oregon State has an excellent shot at winning the wide open Pac-10 and if they do, Quizz will be the biggest reason why. Plus, his power running game gives him a chance to put up huge, but consistent, numbers, and Heisman voters love big numbers.
2. Kellen Moore (QB) - Boise State: The players with the best shots at the Heisman are the two QBs for the teams playing in the National Title game. And since I expect Boise State and Ohio State to play in Glendale, it makes since the Moore and Pryor are 2 and 1 in Watching the Heisman. Much like Ponder, Moore simply does not make mistakes. Last year, he threw 39 touchdowns and 3 interceptions! Plus, Moore will get an opportunity to showcase his skills in big wins over Virginia Tech and Oregon State. However, he will ultimately be the runner-up because he is from Boise State and the 2010 Heisman winner is the second coming of...
1. Terrell Pryor (QB) - Ohio State: ... Vince Young. That's right, this year's Pryor will be eerily similar to Young circa 2005. I have already documented in another post (It's College Football Time!) how their career's are very similar up to this point. Young deserved the Heisman in 2005 and Pryor will get his in 2010. Pryor is a supremely athletic and talented QB who is only beginning to scratch the surface of his potential. Playing in the Big 10, he will get numerous opportunities to showcase his skills while not playing too many top opponents who could derail his campaign. Plus, Heisman winners have a proud tradition of losing the national title. Since Boise State will win in Glendale, Pryor can keep this tradition alive. Pryor will win the Heisman in 2010 that Vince Young should have won in 2005.
One final note: It pains me to put this many QBs on the list, but this year the QB crop is very strong. However, I am all for non-traditional Heisman candidates and would love to see one win it this year.
Monday, August 9, 2010
A Look Towards the Future
The summer is always a wasteland when it comes to sports. The NBA finals are over, college and pro football are just starting up, and the MLB pennant races haven't heated up. This summer was a little different because of the World Cup and "The Decision". Still, its been hard coming up with blog topics while the sporting world takes its one and only break. However, that is all about to change. Our journey through the summer wasteland is over. Its football season!
This fall, this blog will be geared towards college football (my favorite sport by a considerable amount). I will still write about the NFL and baseball (once the pennant races heat up), but the majority of posts will be NCAA related. Specifically I plan on writing 3 columns on a weekly basis. The first will be a Heisman Watch. The Heisman race is one of the least important and most exciting parts of college football and everyone has their own opinion on who deserves consideration. The second will be a weekly pick-em of top games and games I care about. And finally, I will be doing my own weekly Top 25. Preseason versions of my Top 25 and Heisman Watch will be coming out soon.
I also have a couple other columns in the works. Specifically, I will be writing my Top 10 baseball players of all-time. Not to give too much away, but this idea is motivated by a statistic I saw today about how truly amazing Babe Ruth was. I will also be writing about the upcoming NFL and NBA lockouts/strikes. The sports world could be drastically different next August.
I will be without a computer for the next couple days as my disc drive is getting fixed, but I will be back posting as soon as I get my Mac back.
This fall, this blog will be geared towards college football (my favorite sport by a considerable amount). I will still write about the NFL and baseball (once the pennant races heat up), but the majority of posts will be NCAA related. Specifically I plan on writing 3 columns on a weekly basis. The first will be a Heisman Watch. The Heisman race is one of the least important and most exciting parts of college football and everyone has their own opinion on who deserves consideration. The second will be a weekly pick-em of top games and games I care about. And finally, I will be doing my own weekly Top 25. Preseason versions of my Top 25 and Heisman Watch will be coming out soon.
I also have a couple other columns in the works. Specifically, I will be writing my Top 10 baseball players of all-time. Not to give too much away, but this idea is motivated by a statistic I saw today about how truly amazing Babe Ruth was. I will also be writing about the upcoming NFL and NBA lockouts/strikes. The sports world could be drastically different next August.
I will be without a computer for the next couple days as my disc drive is getting fixed, but I will be back posting as soon as I get my Mac back.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Was "The Decision" Good for the NBA?
The general consensus regarding Lebron's ESPN special was that it represented everything that is wrong with the egotistical NBA. And that is absolutely correct. However, when Lebron "took his talents to South Beach," the NBA was the biggest winner. There are two reasons why:
1) The NBA is a league driven by great teams and dynasties. The best years of the NBA are all defined by one or two dominate teams. The 60's featured the Russell's Celtics and Wilt's Warriors/76ers/Lakers. The 80's had the Showtime Lakers versus Bird's Celtics. And the 90's belonged to Jordan's Bulls. Since then we have been treated to 1 great team, Shaq and Kobe's Lakers, and a bunch of other good teams. And the NBA's overall brand has suffered for this fact. By putting three stars on one team (with the prospect of more Miami Thrices happening elsewhere), the NBA should once again have great dynasty-worthy teams. Bird and Jordan may remaniss about being the only superstar on their teams, but in reality those teams were absolutely stacked. As were the Showtime Lakers and Russell's Celtics. The salary cap has done a great job of spreading the talent around the NBA, but the overall brand has suffered because of it. The Miami Heat should begin to reverse this trend starting next year.
2) Everyone loves a villain. More accurately, everyone loves to cheer against a villain. And the Miami Heat are the biggest villains the NBA has had in a very long time. The closest comparison in any sport to the Heat is the Yankees. Not the historically Yankees (the most successful franchise in sports history), but the Yankees of right now. They have more stars than any other team in the league and fans across the nation hate them for it. And yet, because they hate them so much, they sell out every single game they play. Most baseball teams charge more for Yankees tickets than any other ticket. The Heat could face similar treatment this year and certainly will in the future. Even in venues like Atlanta, the Heat will sell out because everyone will come to cheer against them and see the Miami Thrice fall flat on their faces. Lebron James has gone from being the most loved to the most hated player in the NBA, but one thing has not changed. He is still the most popular draw in the league.
And the NBA may be entering another golden age because of it.
1) The NBA is a league driven by great teams and dynasties. The best years of the NBA are all defined by one or two dominate teams. The 60's featured the Russell's Celtics and Wilt's Warriors/76ers/Lakers. The 80's had the Showtime Lakers versus Bird's Celtics. And the 90's belonged to Jordan's Bulls. Since then we have been treated to 1 great team, Shaq and Kobe's Lakers, and a bunch of other good teams. And the NBA's overall brand has suffered for this fact. By putting three stars on one team (with the prospect of more Miami Thrices happening elsewhere), the NBA should once again have great dynasty-worthy teams. Bird and Jordan may remaniss about being the only superstar on their teams, but in reality those teams were absolutely stacked. As were the Showtime Lakers and Russell's Celtics. The salary cap has done a great job of spreading the talent around the NBA, but the overall brand has suffered because of it. The Miami Heat should begin to reverse this trend starting next year.
2) Everyone loves a villain. More accurately, everyone loves to cheer against a villain. And the Miami Heat are the biggest villains the NBA has had in a very long time. The closest comparison in any sport to the Heat is the Yankees. Not the historically Yankees (the most successful franchise in sports history), but the Yankees of right now. They have more stars than any other team in the league and fans across the nation hate them for it. And yet, because they hate them so much, they sell out every single game they play. Most baseball teams charge more for Yankees tickets than any other ticket. The Heat could face similar treatment this year and certainly will in the future. Even in venues like Atlanta, the Heat will sell out because everyone will come to cheer against them and see the Miami Thrice fall flat on their faces. Lebron James has gone from being the most loved to the most hated player in the NBA, but one thing has not changed. He is still the most popular draw in the league.
And the NBA may be entering another golden age because of it.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Are mega-conferences good or bad?
This summer it looked like the college football landscape would change forever. What actually happened was much more tame. However, we are inevitably moving towards a more concentrated NCAA. Will these mega-conferences be good or bad for the sport? For the purposes of this discussion, let's assume that the conferences will only change for football so the other sports won't factor in.
All of the good from mega-conferences derives from the fact that they should lead to a playoff. The pro's and con's of the BCS can be debated another time, but almost every college football fan can agree that a playoff would be better. College football is the only the only team sport in the world that doesn't use a playoff to determine its champion (I think). Rather than deciding its champion on a computer and in the newspaper, the NCAA needs to give out its trophy on the field. And by moving to 4 16-team divisions, we would be that much closer to our dream. One of the major complaints regarding a playoff is the logistics involved with picking the teams (because the BCS is run so well). Mega-conferences solve of the logistical issues because you can simply pick the top 2 teams in each conference for an 8-team tournament or the top 4 teams for a 16-team tournament.
Mega-conferences would also destroy what history and tradition remain in the game today. Most of today's fans have never heard of the Southwest Conference or the Big 8. They don't know that Texas used to have a big rivalry with Arkansas or that Penn State used to be as independent as Notre Dame. Mega-conferences would tear apart many of the regional ties and rivalries that still remain in the game today. Check out my speculation of who will end up where (http://thereasontheyplaythegame.blogspot.com/2010/06/total-different-ncaa.html) and you will see how geography has to play second fiddle to other considerations. And that article was written with 5 conferences rather than 4. Mega-conferences would also entrench the elites of college football in a way that the BCS never could. It has taken 10 years, but the BCS has finally been busted repeatedly by teams who don't belong to the college football elite. Mega-conferences would reverse this trend in 2 ways. First, the mega-conferences would be designed with the BCS busters in mind, so Boise State, Utah, and TCU would be included. By adopting the current generation of BCS busters, mega-conferences would force a new generation of teams to emerge. Second, mega-conferences will be MUCH harder to bust than the BCS. The BCS is an inherently unfair system that was forced by public opinion to allow outside teams in. Mega-conferences and their accompanying playoff would be a fair system that could permanently lock outsiders out by only allowing spots to teams in the mega-conferences. By accepting Boise State and Utah, the college football elites can lock out other outsiders forever.
Ultimately, there is more to college football than playoffs and mega-conferences would be a bad thing for the sport. We should be thankful we still have the ACC, SEC, Pac 12, new Big 10 (old Big 12), new Big 12 (old Big 10), Big East, Notre Dame, MWC, and Boise State. And even the BCS.
All of the good from mega-conferences derives from the fact that they should lead to a playoff. The pro's and con's of the BCS can be debated another time, but almost every college football fan can agree that a playoff would be better. College football is the only the only team sport in the world that doesn't use a playoff to determine its champion (I think). Rather than deciding its champion on a computer and in the newspaper, the NCAA needs to give out its trophy on the field. And by moving to 4 16-team divisions, we would be that much closer to our dream. One of the major complaints regarding a playoff is the logistics involved with picking the teams (because the BCS is run so well). Mega-conferences solve of the logistical issues because you can simply pick the top 2 teams in each conference for an 8-team tournament or the top 4 teams for a 16-team tournament.
Mega-conferences would also destroy what history and tradition remain in the game today. Most of today's fans have never heard of the Southwest Conference or the Big 8. They don't know that Texas used to have a big rivalry with Arkansas or that Penn State used to be as independent as Notre Dame. Mega-conferences would tear apart many of the regional ties and rivalries that still remain in the game today. Check out my speculation of who will end up where (http://thereasontheyplaythegame.blogspot.com/2010/06/total-different-ncaa.html) and you will see how geography has to play second fiddle to other considerations. And that article was written with 5 conferences rather than 4. Mega-conferences would also entrench the elites of college football in a way that the BCS never could. It has taken 10 years, but the BCS has finally been busted repeatedly by teams who don't belong to the college football elite. Mega-conferences would reverse this trend in 2 ways. First, the mega-conferences would be designed with the BCS busters in mind, so Boise State, Utah, and TCU would be included. By adopting the current generation of BCS busters, mega-conferences would force a new generation of teams to emerge. Second, mega-conferences will be MUCH harder to bust than the BCS. The BCS is an inherently unfair system that was forced by public opinion to allow outside teams in. Mega-conferences and their accompanying playoff would be a fair system that could permanently lock outsiders out by only allowing spots to teams in the mega-conferences. By accepting Boise State and Utah, the college football elites can lock out other outsiders forever.
Ultimately, there is more to college football than playoffs and mega-conferences would be a bad thing for the sport. We should be thankful we still have the ACC, SEC, Pac 12, new Big 10 (old Big 12), new Big 12 (old Big 10), Big East, Notre Dame, MWC, and Boise State. And even the BCS.
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