West Coast Bias

We've Moved

2008-04-05T13:59:00.000-07:00

West Coast Bias has now become SoCal Sports Hub and exculsively focused on Southern California sports teams. We encourage you to check out the site here.

Angels Preview: Shortstop

2008-03-15T20:18:00.000-07:00

The biggest question facing the 2008 Angels can be found at the shortstop position where experience and durability remain key issues.

Over the offseason GM Tony Reagins dealt Gold Glove shortstop Orlando Cabrera to the Chicago White Sox for starting pitcher Jon Garland, who is known as an innings eater. Replacing Cabrera at short will be the young Erick Aybar and the experienced Maicer Izturis.

With Cabrera playing shortstop every day in 2007, Aybar and Izturis were still able to received valuable playing time at second and third due to injuries to Howie Kendrick and Chone Figgins.

Despite an opportunity for playing time, Aybar struggled in 2007, largely due in part to injuries. While playing left field in Baltimore on July 1, he suffered a right hand contusion in an attempt to make a diving catch. He underwent surgery four days later and did not return to the lineup until August 5. However, Aybar promptly strained his left hamstring and returned to the DL on August 20, effectively ending his season. He only received 18 September at-bats, and ended the season with a dismal .237 average while appearing in only 79 games.

Despite a sub-par 2007 campaign, Angels manager Mike Scioscia still feels confident in the young shortstop due to his lively young arm and great range in the middle of the diamond. Many experts also feel Aybar's speed on the base paths is reminiscent of a young Chone Figgins. Because of his upside, Aybar is considered by many to be the front runner for the starting shortstop position.

However, if the Angels want a more dependable option at shortstop, they would be wise to tab Maicer Izturis as the starter. Last season Izturis impressed the Angels handsomely with his bat, as well as his glove. While spending much of the season at second and third, he led the club in hitting with runners in scoring position at .406 in addition to 51 runs in just 336 at bats (half a season). He also batted .289 with six homers and 17 doubles, and he committed just four errors.

"Izzy had a remarkable season," Scioscia said. "He came up big for us time and time again. He was as good as anybody we had with runners in scoring position. He's a smart, talented player with outstanding versatility."

While Aybar and Izturis are expected to be the starters for 2008, the future appears to be in the hands of Brandon Wood, whose defense, both at shortstop and third base, is already Major League-caliber. However, Scioscia still feels that Wood needs to improve his command at the plate by avoiding pitches way out of the strike zone.

"Brandon needs time," Scioscia said. "He's an exciting player with some unbelievable upside. But, he's got a little ways to go. He just needs to smooth out some things offensively."

Many some scouts feel Wood has the potential to be a player in the mold of 2002 World Series MVP Troy Glaus. However, Wood still has a long way to go before he can prove to fans that he is more like Glaus than Dallas McPherson.

Overall Grade: C+. The Angels are relatively inexperienced at this position and Brandon Wood is still a year away from taking over the reigns.

2008 Angels Preview: Second Base

2008-03-08T07:20:00.000-08:00

After an injury plagued 2007 campaign, questions regarding experience and durability surround the Angels young second baseman Howie Kendrick.

Kendrick's 2007 season almost ended before it even got started. On April 18th while facing Chad Gaudin of the Oakland A's, Kendrick was drilled by a pitch in the left hand. Hitting .327 at the time, Kendrick did not return to the lineup until May 22, which caused him to miss 32 games with a fractured left middle finger.

After recapturing his form with 21 hits in just 22 games, Kendrick was injured once again on July 9th. While taking a swing, he was hit by a pitch that fractured his left index finger. This latest trip to the disabled list cost him an additional 35 games.

Despite missing significant playing time as a result of these to injuries, Kendrick still managed to finish the season with a solid .322 average, a .435 slugging percentage and a .332 on-base average in 88 games. While these are certainly respectable numbers, Kendrick certainly needs to improve his plate discipline with just nine walks in 338 at-bats.

According to manager Mike Scioscia, "He's never walked a lot, and he's probably not going to walk a lot. His plate discipline is getting better. He has the potential to be an outstanding offensive player. We want to see what Howard can do with 600 plate appearances."

Defensively, Kendrick has been steadily improving since entering the big leagues in 2006. Scioscia has noticed a difference in his defense, remarking that he, "has made big strides, and he's going to continue to get better."

Despite the Angels perceived confidence in the young second baseman, he has still been subject to multiple trade rumors. Over this past offseason, he was prominently mentioned in trade talks with the Marlins involving Miguel Cabrera and with the White Sox regarding Paul Konerko. Despite the persistent rumors, Kendrick is as confident as ever.

"I'm confident I can continue to develop and do some good things," Kendrick said. "I've never had injuries like the ones I had with my hand, so that was all new to me. I'm just looking to be healthy and productive. I really like this team, what we're capable of doing."

If for whatever reason, Kendrick is unable to perform due to injuries the loser of the shortstop battle will likely take his spot in the lineup. Currently, Maicer Izturis and Erik Aybar are competing for the starting shortstop position. Izturis has proven to be a dependable utility player over the past few season while Aybar is still relatively unproven. Both will be more than capable of providing solid relief for a potentially injured Kendrick.

Overall Grade: B. Kendrick has been a highly regarded prospect but he is still relatively unproven as a major leaguer.

2008 Angels Preview: First Base

2008-03-04T20:52:00.001-08:00

With Casey Kotchman starting at first base, it is clear that the Angels lack the traditional big, brawny basher that could hit for thirty home runs in a single season. While Kotchman won't rack up a bunch of home runs, he will still be more than capable of producing and scoring runs.

Last season the 25 year old Kotchman was on his way to a career year before being derailed by injuries over the second half of the season. Despite the nagging injuries, he still finished with a .296 batting average and a career highs in doubles (37), home runs (11) and RBIs (68). His .372 on-base percentage was third-best on the team after Vladimir Guerrero's .403 and Chone Figgins' .393.

Kotchman had a particularly tough postseason as he was forced to watch the final two games of the Divisional series from a hospital bed after being taken down by an illness in Boston.

While the left handed first baseman certainly had a solid season at the plate, he was even more phenomenal in the field. According to a statistical study of fielders by John Dewan, author of The Fielding Bible, only the Cardinals' Albert Pujols was found to be superior at first to Kotchman, who committed only three errors for a .997 fielding percentage.

Unfortunately for the young first baseman, injuries made it tough to get in any sort of offensive groove over the second half of the season. In mid-June, Kotchman was struck in the helmet by a pickoff throw from Dodgers catcher Russell Martin. Kotchman, among the AL's top 10 in batting average, slugging and on-base percentage at the time, sustained a mild concussion.

When he returned to action, Kotchman wasn't the same, as he struggled to regain his stroke, and subsequently, his numbers dropped. Another injury occurred on August 22nd, Kotchman was hit by a cut fastball from Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, which caused a hand injury that Kotchman battled through for the rest of the season.

As long as Kotchman stays healthy the Angels will have a legitimate player that can bat .300 and get at least 70 RBIs. However, if Kotchman falters for whatever reasons, the Angels will have he the switch-hitter Kendry Morales waiting in the wings. Last season, Morales showed some serious pop from the left side of the plate in 119 at-bats with the club, batting .294 with four home runs and 15 RBIs. He also had a .479 slugging percentage that was only surpassed by Guerrero's .547 and Garrett Anderson's .492.

The Angels are hoping that lefty specialist Robb Quinlan, a .290 career hitter, can bounce back from a disappointing 2007 campaign in which he batted just .247. In 2006, he had a .491 slugging percentage while batting .321. His presence coming off the bench will be very important to the fate of the club.

Overall Grade: B. Kotchman is a top notch defensive player but he has failed to show consistency at the plate to warrant a higher grade.

Jefferson to the NBA: Really?

2008-03-01T09:13:00.000-08:00

Earlier this week the Los Angeles Times reported that USC freshmen forward Davon Jefferson is leaning toward declaring for the NBA Draft following this season.

"Jefferson's steadiness on the court has elevated him to a late first-round
selection in the NBA draft in the estimation of one league executive. A source
close to Jefferson said he intended to declare for the draft after this season."

Let it be clear that Jefferson is quite the talent and in the right system, he could become an excellent pro player. However, if he were to declare for the draft following just one collegiate season, than he would be jeopardizing his future in the NBA. As of right now, Jefferson's game does not translate well to the association for several reasons.

At 6'8" and 215 pounds, Jefferson is the prototypical tweener, who is not an ideal fit at either the small or power forward. If Jefferson is going to play small forward in the NBA, he must be capable of facing up to shoot and scoring off the dribble. So far this season, the 6'8" freshmen has struggled do either of these things. During multiple games this season, Jefferson has proven to be incapable of handling the ball consistently in traffic. On multiple occasions, defenders will strip him of the ball as he attempts to dribble down court.

If Jefferson is to become a power forward in the NBA then he will need to greatly improve his strength and post game. At just 215 pounds, even Keith Wilkinson is heavier, Jefferson will have trouble battling forwards and centers for rebounds. In addition to his slim frame, Jefferson lacks a solid repertoire of post-up moves that are necessary to become a power forward in the NBA.

Through numerous quotes in the newspapers, Jefferson has become to be known as a fairly cocky player, calling UCLA and other Pac Ten teams out. Because of this attitude, he could easily be influenced by agents, who will encourage him to test the waters of the NBA Draft. Clearly, Davon would be best served to return to USC for at least another year in order to work on his game, but as of right now, I wouldn't bet on it.

Top NFL Unis: #5 San Francisco 49ers

2008-02-26T22:29:00.000-08:00

Color Scheme: 10
Helmets: 8
Flashiness/Sharpness: 8
Tradition: 10
Overall: 36

Final Thoughts: From the days of Joe Montana in the 19980s to the Steve Young era of the 1990s, these 49er uniforms have witnessed great success on the field. All together they have been through five Super Bowls and multiple division titles since the early 1980s. These famous uniforms are some of the most classic uniforms in all of the NFL. As you may already know I really love the classics.

YouTube Tuesday: Coach K. v. Roy

2008-02-26T22:23:00.000-08:00

Now, this is a pretty funny video! The Bookie Mom has made a video using an Aladdin doll for Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski, and some other doll for Roy Williams. Their argument is classic.

Korver Making a Big Difference in Salt Lake

2008-02-25T19:58:00.000-08:00

After an NBA trading deadline that included a flurry of moves (Pau Gasol to the Los Angeles Lakers, Jason Kidd to Dallas Mavericks, and Ben Wallace to Cleveland Cavaliers), the Utah Jazz's acquisition of Kyle Korver has gone unnoticed by the typical NBA fan.

Since acquiring the former Sixer in late December, the Jazz have been nothing short of magnificent, as they have gone 19-3. since Korver is only averaging 23.3 minutes per game, but his career-high 46.9 shooting percentage has given the Jazz new life. By providing the three-point range that they've long needed, the Jazz big men, Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur have more room in the paint to score. Korver has enabled his teammates to attack the lane as a result of spreading the floor.

This trade may not have had the flash of some of the others but it is still proving to be quite valuable for the Jazz.

Top NFL Unis: #6 Dallas Cowboys

2008-02-25T17:54:00.000-08:00

Color Scheme: 10
Helmets: 10
Flashiness/Sharpness: 6
Tradition: 10
Overall: 36

Final Thoughts: "How about them Cowboys!" The Cowboy's logo and uniforms may be the most recognizable of all of the NFL jerseys. However, these famous uniforms lack some of the flash that would be able to land them a top three finish. Even with the simplistic look, when the Cowboys take the field on Sundays, they still sport some of the NFL's best uniforms.

One More Year for Grossman

2008-02-24T20:25:00.001-08:00

Yesterday, the Chicago Bears re-signed the infamous Rex Grossman to a one-year deal worth around $3 million. Both the Bears general manager, Jerry Angelo, and head coach Lovie Smith wanted to give Grossman one more chance as the team's starting quarterback.

So far in his far from illustrious career as a Bear, Rex's has posted shaky numbers at best (489 for 900, 54.3 completion percentage, 5,907 passing yards, 31 touchdowns, 33 interceptions, and a 70.9 QB Rating). His best season was in 2006 when he led his team to Super Bowl XLI, only to lose to Peyton Manning and the Colts. Despite an NFC Championship, Grossman was far from spectacular and rode the coattails of a stifling defense. During the Bears Super Bowl run, Rex threw 20 INT's, and only completed 54.6% of his passes, with a QB Rating of 73.9.

Personally, I don't see why the Bears still want him. Grossman has been in the league for five years and the former Florida Gator has likely already peaked. He did manage to lead the Bears tp the Super Bowl in 2006, but even Ryan Leaf could have managed that. Chicago's Defense was just too good that year.

I am also surprised Grossman still wants to suit up in a Bears uniform, especially with the way he has been treated in Chicago. Moving to other suitors, San Francisco or Miami, would allow for a change of scenery that could potentially aid Grossman. The Bears also just released wideout Muhsin Muhammad, and Bernard Berrian is also a Free Agent so his status is uncertain. With Cedric Benson returning to the Windy City, it is entirely possible that the Bears offense could be worse. I can't imagine Grossman taking pressure off guys like Benson or Devin Hester.

While the signing was a poor move by Bears management, the structure of the deal isn't too bad. If he underperforms than he will surely be gone by 2009 and no sweat. However, a breakup would certainly serve well for both the Bears and Rex.

Top NFL Unis: #7 Miami Dolphins

2008-02-23T20:39:00.000-08:00

Color Scheme: 8
Helmets: 8
Flashiness/Sharpness: 9
Tradition: 10
Overall: 35

Final Thoughts: Some people may hate the teal green and orange look but what other colors would you want for a team named after a marine animal. These uniforms still look pretty flashy while maintaining the traditional look of the 1970s. The Dolphins have had Super Bowl victories and an undefeated season while sporting these uniforms so the tradition factor has to be a ten.

Why Sports are Important to the Community

2008-02-23T20:24:00.000-08:00

Earlier this week the county and the city of Miami agreed to spend millions of dollars in order to finance a baseball stadium for the Florida Marlins. Miami's decision to donate millions toward a public stadium raises the question whether it is a idea good to have a sports team in your city? While some may complain, sports do indeed have a positive impact on a city's economy and morale.

From the warm nights of summer to the cold afternoons of the fall, sports franchises employ thousands of poeple, and not just players and coachers. Marketing executives, cheerleaders, concession stand workers, janitors, groundscrew, and even scalpers, all profit from the existance of sports teams. Street Venders and local sports stores also profit off the local teams.

Over the past few years the city of Los Angeles has debated the idea whether to remodel the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in order to attract a NFL team. While Los Angeles citizens complain that its not the city council's job to worry about pro football, it is their job. If there is a NFL team in the Los Angeles area it brings and creates new jobs for the community. Thousands of people will have new jobs, as a concession stand worker outside gate 27 or mowing the grass before each the game. I haven't even talked about the construction of the stadium. Thousands of people will take part in the multi million dollar construction project and earn money for themselves and their families.

When games are played, traveling fans will want first class accomodations. I am talking about hotels here. Hotels in the greater Los Angeles area will be advertising like crazy in order to get visiting fans to spend money at and stay at their hotels. Their money keeps the hotels in business, along with the people who work there. Can you imagine what Super Bowl weekend would be like? Hotels and restaurants would earn millions of dollars taking care of the city's visitors.

The Southwest Michigan Devil Rays, previously known as the Battle Creek Yankees, are a Class A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. After this season they will be moving to Midland, Michigan. Now, hundreds of team workers will be without a job, while hundreds of new people in Midland will have new jobs. This goes to show how a sports team can greatly change the makeup of a city.

In addition to financial reasons, sports teams unite the community. All Los Angeles, Burbank, Glendale, Van Nuys, and other surrounding cities can recall the Lakers' title runs in 2000, 2001, and 2002. They all remember seeing the Laker car flags and banners that people so proudly displayed. Everyone felt apart of something special as the Lakers kept winning basketball games.

The same thing happened throughout Michigan in 2004 when the Pistons took home championship glory. People proudly wore championship hats, t-shirts, and sweatshirts. They could relate to this blue-collar, hard working basketball team, as they were blue-collar themselves. They understood Ben Wallace's drive and determination to push Detroit over the top, even though he lacked the physical size and offensive touch of Shaq. Sports don't just provide financial security to a city, but hope and pride as well.

So, the city of San Diego is considering building a new stadium for the Chargers. What should they do? Should they meet the Chargers demands or give 'em the boot. Well, judging by what I've previously written, what do you think I'll say?

2008 Fantasy Baseball Preview: Catchers

2008-02-23T06:57:00.001-08:00

1. Russell Martin, Los Angeles Dodgers
When was the last time we had a 20/20 catcher in the big leagues. Last year Martin was one home run shy of that mark and he should be able to reach it in 2008. Unlike most catchers Martin is able to hit for average and power, while also able to produce runs with his legs. In his first full season a year ago, Martin nearly had a .300 batting average in addition to 87 runs and RBIs. The young catcher should be even better in 2008 as more young Dodgers, James Loney, Matt Kemp, and Andy LaRoche continue to improve. With the addition of Loney and LaRoche to the everyday lineup Martin's overall stats should make him the top fantasy catcher in 2008.

2. Victor Martinez, Cleveland Indians
Victor Martinez had an incredible year at the plate in 2007, batting .301 with 114 RBIs, and 25 home runs. Martinez is arguably the top power hitting catcher with a slugging percentage over .500 in 2008. However, he fails to meet Martin’s ability to steal bases and score runs with his legs. Martinez may post great power numbers once again but expect Martin to have a better overall season.

3. Brian McCann, Atlanta Braves
McCann was a little inconsistent in 2007, but he still turned out a pretty successful campaign while sharing time with Jarrod Saltalamacchia. His numbers dropped a little bit, but the left handed catcher still wound up with some solid power numbers, 18 home runs and 92 RBIs. With Saltalamacchia shipped out of town to Texas, McCann will once again be the Braves' every day catcher. Because of this, expect him to hit for a decent average but lead all catchers in homers and RBIs.

4. Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins
If Mauer was able to stay healthy in 2007, maybe he would have reverted back to his 2006 form in which he was named A.L. rookie of the year. However, even when Mauer is healthy he does not look like the ultra-catcher that he’s hyped up to be. So far in his big league career Mauer has failed to post more than 13 home runs and 80 RBIs in one season. These aren’t bad numbers but Mauer has failed to prove that he is the undisputed top catcher.

5. Jorge Posada, New York Yankees
Posada picked a good time to have a career year in 2007. While in the final year of his contract, Posada hit .338 with 20 home runs and 90 RBIs. However, do not be delusional and expect these same numbers from Posada in 2008. Jorge has always puts up respectable numbers, but for most of his career he has failed to post stats similar to last year's. At 36 years old, expect there be a significant drop off in his production so be careful expecting too much from Posada.

Just missed...
6. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Texas Rangers
7. Ivan Rodriguez, Detroit Tigers
8. Kenji Johjima, Seattle Mariners
9. Geovany Soto, Chicago Cubs
10. Josh Bard, San Diego Padres

Top NFL Unis: #8 New York Giants

2008-02-21T18:19:00.000-08:00

Color Scheme: 10
Helmets: 9
Flashiness/Sharpness: 7
Tradition: 9
Overall: 35

Final Thoughts: After winning the Super Bowl against the Patriots, Eli Manning (pictured) looks pretty good now. The Giants' uniforms are not all that flashy but their color scheme of blue and red and traditional look of the 80s gives them a top ten finish here. What eventually hurts them is the lack of flare. Their home jerseys with the blue tops are a little plain. If only they used those sweet red ones more often.

YouTube Tuesday: Bad Proposal

2008-02-19T21:38:00.001-08:00

This little skit was from last week's Kings versus Rockets game.

Top NFL Unis: #9 Atlanta Falcons

2008-02-19T06:55:00.000-08:00

Color Scheme: 10
Helmets: 9
Flashiness/Sharpness: 10
Tradition: 5
Overall: 34

Final Thoughts: While Michael Vick (pictured) may not be wearing the black and red of the Atlanta Falcons anymore, the uniforms still look pretty solid. The black helmets with the black visors may for a pretty intimidating look. Much like the Bucaneers, Atlanta's uniforms lack the tradition aspect which makes some of the top uniforms even more special.

Top NFL Unis: #10 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2008-02-18T11:50:00.001-08:00

Color Scheme: 9
Helmets: 9
Flashiness/Sharpness: 9
Tradition: 7
Overall: 34

Final Thoughts: The Buccaneers have gone from having the worst uniforms in the 70s and 80s to having some of the best in the 2000s. It looks flashy and new, but it isn't over the top. The main problem with the current uniforms is the fact that it lacks the tradition of some of the other teams, Green Bay, Dallas, or Kansas City. However, with one Super Bowl in 2003 and some more solid seasons in the current uniforms could move them to an even higher position.

Top NFL Uniforms Project

2008-02-18T11:35:00.000-08:00

Everybody loves football and now that the Pro Bowl is over there will be no pigskin play until next August when the Hall of Fame Game tees off. In order to keep football in the discussion and not beat you over the head with Mock Drafts, I felt that it was time to rank the best uniforms in the entire NFL. I hope you enjoy.

Each of the following teams will be rated on a 1-10 scale for each of the following categories:

A. Color Scheme: It is essential to have the right color scheme. Some colors simply look good together while others don’t.

B. Helmets: On a football uniform, the helmet is one of the most recognizable parts. A sharp design or pride stickers give a bonus to a team.

C. Flashiness/Sharpness: There has to be some excitement; I don’t want a jersey to be plain and boring. However, there can also be too much flashiness. A team needs to be sharp but flashy at the same time.

D. Tradition: It has to have some tradition in it. When you look at the jersey, it has to remind you of great players, legendary coaches, and dominating teams.

-All ties go to the winner of category C.

Kings' Rebuilding Project Under Way

2008-02-17T18:37:00.000-08:00

Just yesterday, the Sacramento Kings basketball traded starting point guard Mike Bibby to the Atlanta Hawks for Anthony Johnson, 2007 first-round pick Shelden Williams, backup point guard Tyronn Lue, veteran forward Lorenzen Wright and a 2008 second-round pick.

Kings President Geoff Petrie was optimistic of the trade, saying, "I think we got some different potential parts of things that help us. You have a chance to have another young big (in Williams) who was a fifth pick in the (2006) draft and hasn't had an opportunity yet. You get some veteran point guards there, some experience, and we'll see what happens down the road and how they integrate."

However, Petrie and the Kings did not make this move to simply add to veteran players. In actuality, they understand that the Kings are not going to make the playoffs with their current roster and realized that Bibby does not fit in their long term plans. Therefore, they agreed that it would be in the best interest of the franchise to clear significant salary cap room, which they can use this summer on a free agent. Assuming that Johnson, Lue, and Wright, do not resign then the Kings will have approximately $11 million off the salary cap.

Williams, a former number five pick, is an intriguing prospect who gives the Kings a decent frontcourt prospect. He was the Rookie of the Month in his debut run while playing for an injured Marvin Williams, but he was never able garner consistent playing time in Atlanta. In Sacramento, Williams will have the opportunity to showcase his skills.

"I'll be able to play, and that's the best thing right there," Williams said by telephone. "I'll be able to showcase what I can do, and hopefully more consistently, too. That's one of the biggest things. … Hopefully, I'll make the best of it."

With Bibby out of town, it appears as if the Kings looking to rebuild with shooting guard Kevin Martin as their center piece. According to the Sacramento Bee, there is a strong possibility that Kings forward Ron Artest could be traded to a contender in the coming weeks. By trading Artest, the Kings could collect some promising young talent that could be of some use in a few years. As it appears right now, this rebuilding process isn't going to be a quick fix, especially since the Maloof brothers appear to be more concerned with Las Vegas, not their own sports franchise.

Ryan Newman wins the Daytona 500

2008-02-17T17:41:00.000-08:00

The winner of the 2008 Daytona 500 is Ryan Newman. Newman held off Kyle Busch (who lead the majority of the race) with the help of Kurt Bush, who pushed his teammate to the win:

Here are the top ten finishers, from first to tenth:
1. Ryan Newman
2. Kurt Busch
3. Tony Stewart
4. Kyle Busch
5. Reed Sorenson
6. Elliott Sadler
7. Kasey Kahne
8. Robby Gordon
9. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
10. Greg Biffle

NBA Midseason Awards

2008-02-16T16:06:00.000-08:00

MVP: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
It's amazing that Kobe Bryant has been in the NBA for ten years but has failed to garner one MVP trophy. While this may not be Kobe's best season in terms of fifty point outbursts and eighty-one point games, but it is his best season in terms of winning and leadership. Besides ranking second in the league in scoring with 28.0 points, Bryant has excelled in other facets of the game. Currently, he is averaging 6.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.9 steals per game. He doesn't rebound or score as much as LeBron James, but his experience and leadership make him even more valuable to his team. Despite numerous trade rumors prior to the start of the season, Kobe has played unselfishly in an attempt to develop his teammates. Guys like Jordan Farmar, Sasha Vujacic, Trevor Ariza, and Andrew Bynum, are all having career years. By taking a back seat, and holding his competitive desire in check, Kobe has allowed his teammates to be aggressive as well on the offensive end. As a result of his play, the Lakers have become one of the top teams in the NBA once again.

Rookie of the Year: Kevin Durant, Seattle SuperSonics
Due to a fairly lackluster rookie class, and Greg Oden's knee injury, Durant for rookie of the year is a pretty obvious claim right now. So far this year, the 6'9" forward is averaging 19.4 points per game, which is nine more than the second-place rookie, Juan Carlos Navarro. While Durant is only shooting forty percent, he is the focus of opposing defenses all season and forced to be the team's top scorer. Al Horford looks to be a future double-double guy, but he is no where near Durant yet. It's really too bad that Oden isn't around to make this a more compelling race.

Coach of the Year: Nate McMillan, Portland Trail Blazers
Despite having the NBA's youngest roster, McMillan has taken a team that was 32-50 a year ago and transformed it into one of a Western Conference powerhouse. When Greg Oden was injured over the summer and would miss the season, the Blazers could have easily folded. However, McMillan kept the team together and focused on their goal of making the playoffs. McMillan's poise and leadership is transferring to the players on the court as they have played extremely well in the fourth quarter of games.

Sixth Man Award: Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs
In order to be eligible for this award, a player must come off the bench for more games than he starts. Because of this rule, Chicago's Ben Gordon, Toronto's Jose Calderon and Washington's Antonio Daniels, are eliminated from contention. However, Manu Ginobili would still be the clear frontrunner even if those guys were eligible. At the break, the 6'6" swingman is averaging 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.6 steals. Ginobli has not only been the league's top sixth man, but he also probably should be in New Orleans playing in the All-Star Game.

Defensive Player of the Year: Marcus Camby, Denver Nuggets
Camby, who is also the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, is having another outstanding season. Currently, the Nuggets' seven footer leads the NBA in blocked shots with 3.95. This is the highest figure since Dikembe Mutombo's averaged 4.5 blocks per game during the 1995-96. In addition to his block shots, Camby ranks second in rebounds with just over fourteen per game. The Nuggets rank a respectable 12th in field-goal percentage allowed (45.0), due to Camby's presence in the middle.

Most Improved Player: Chris Kaman, Los Angeles Clippers
After getting a huge contract extension a year ago, Kaman was written off as a bust as he failed to live up to those lofty expectations. After a terrible season a year ago, the "Kaveman" has answered the bell this season. While his team has struggled without Elton Brand all year, Kaman has become a reliable post scorer with 16.4 points per game. However, Kaman's improvement has been most noticeable on the defensive end, as he has transformed into an elite rebounder (13.8 rpg, third in the NBA) and a great shot blocker (3.1 bpg, third in the NBA). After a poor season a year ago, Kaman could have tanked, but instead, he has become one of the best centers in the NBA.

Don't Forget About Stanford

2008-02-14T18:06:00.001-08:00

Did you know that the Stanford Cardinal is now ranked seventh in the nation with a 20-3 record? Probably not. So far this season, the Cardinal has been of the country’s surprise teams. An early season loss to MAAC leader Siena and a weak non-conference schedule put the Cardinal at an immediate disadvantage

Now, two months later, they've become one of the hottest teams in all of College Basketball. As evidence of its improved play, the Cardinal is tied for the Pac-10 lead with UCLA. Yes, this is the same UCLA team that several pundits are calling the nation's top team. Last week, the Cardinal floored both Oregon and Oregon State at home following a tough three game road stretch against Cal, Washington and Washington State in the weeks prior.

The key for the Cardinal this season has been its improved center Brook Lopez, who has established himself as one of the best big men in all of the land. His twin brother Robin is also playing at a much higher level then a year ago by providing another menacing presence down at the block.

However, Stanford has much more than its twin towers, as four other players average more than four rebounds a game. Former Lakers coach Pat Riley once told his team, "No rebounds, no rings." With its ability to rebound, the Cardinal certainly employs Riley's principles and is more than capable of controlling the glass.

In addition to an excellent frontcourt, the Stanford has great perimeter players in guard Anthony Goods and forward Lawrence Hill. With their ability to drive and knock down jump shots, Brook Lopez has all the more room to move around in the paint.

This week should be very challenging for Cardinal as they travel to face Arizona State and Arizona. Following a trip to the Valley of the Sun, the Cardinal will play host to the Washington schools and then travel to Los Angeles for UCLA and USC. As a team that goes eight or nine deep with a legitimate low post presence, the Cardinal seem like a team that is poised to make a big run in March.

Caption Contest (02/11/08)

2008-02-13T21:11:00.000-08:00

Our First Commercial

2008-02-13T18:52:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, I uploaded a video to YouTube in order to promote the site. Feel free to check it out.

Purdue is For Real

2008-02-12T20:00:00.000-08:00

After a big win over Michigan State, I think everyone is starting to understand that Purdue is for real.

Earlier tonight, the Boilermakers defeated Michigan State 60-54 in West Lafayette to improve record to 20-5 and 11-1 in the Big Ten. Freshmen Robbie Hummell led the way with 24 points and 11 rebounds, and Purdue has beaten top 10 teams in consecutive games for the first time ever.

During the ESPN broadcast, Steve Lavin said, "I think Purdue can play with anyone in the country." While Lavin may be taking this one too far, the Boilermakers are certainly the best team in the conference right now. Who would have ever thought that?

So, what's your take on the Boilermakers? Are they for real?

YouTube Tuesday: Walton on Diaw

2008-02-12T17:40:00.000-08:00

This clip is a little old, but Bill Walton's commentary, "When I think of Boris Diaw, I think of Beethoven in the Age of the Romantics," makes me laugh.

Bedard Makes M's Serious Contenders

2008-02-11T18:52:00.000-08:00

Just last Friday, the Seattle Mariners finally made their big splash this winter by trading for Baltimore Orioles's ace Erik Bedard.

The left-handed pitcher was Baltimore's opening-day starter last season but appeared to be relieved after escaping the Orioles' massive rebuilding project. In return for Bedard, Baltimore received Seattle's top outfielder prospect Adam Jones, left-handed reliever George Sherrill and three minor-league pitchers in the five for one deal.

The 28-year-old Bedard now becomes Seattle's ace for a team that nearly won the A.L. West last season. He will lead a staff consisting of 21-year-old Felix Hernandez, veteran holdovers Miguel Batista and Jarrod Washburn, and recently acquired free agent Carlos Silva. Suddenly, it appears as if the Mariners have a very formidable pitching rotation.

Bedard may not have the name recognition of a Johan Santana, a C.C. Sebathia, or even a Josh Beckett, but he still might be the A.L.'s top pitcher. Last season, Bedard’s ERA was 3.16, better than Santana’s (3.33), Sebathia’s (3.21), and Beckett's (3.27). In fact, only three other A.L. starters with the same amount of innings pitched posted better ERAs than Bedard.

While Bedard is criticized for his poor win-loss record (15-11 in 2007), his overall record is actually better than Santana’s 15-13 record. This comes even with Santana pitching for a playoff caliber team and not the last place Orioles.

Six of Bedard's eleven losses in 2007 occurred when he gave up three runs or less. In one game against the Nationals, Bedard actually hit a home run, but still didn’t get enough run support. With enough run support, he could have easily won eighteen to twenty games.

Last season, he was also third in strikeouts even with his injury. If he had not been injured, he would have led the majors in strikeouts.

While the Johan Santana deal to New York gets most of the press coverage, Bedard's deal may have an even greater impact. Last season, the Mariners were just a few games away from winning the A.L. West with an average pitching staff. Now, Seattle has one of the top rotations in the entire league with Bedard, Felix, and Silva. With a healthy Bedard, the M's might take the A.L. West crown away from the Los Angeles Angels.

Making Sense of the Shaq Trade

2008-02-09T07:06:00.001-08:00

On the surface, this trade appears to make little sense for the Phoenix Suns, who are one of the top contenders in the Western Conference. The Suns traded away one of their best players in Shawn Marion for an over-the-hill center in Shaquielle O'Neal. Marion is an almost perfect fit in their fast break system, while Shaq is much more suited toward half court sets. However, Phoenix has proven over time to be a pretty smart franchise in terms of drafting, and player personnel so it would be premature to crucify GM Steve Kerr. Despite my confidence in the Suns front office, I am still pondering why they pulled the trigger on this deal.

Before this deal happened on Wednesday, there were a lot of rumors that Shawn Marion and Amare Stoudemire were not getting along all that well. Over the past year or two, Marion has made it clear that he feels underappreciated to the point in which he even requested a trade in October. The change from Marion to Shaq, who is regarded as a great locker room presence by everybody not named Kobe, should have a positive affect on team morale. So from that standout point it is a good move for the Suns.

However, champions are won on the court and not in the locker room. With Shaq's declining health it is unreasonable to expect the seven foot center to be running up and down the court each night. Therefore, Phoenix's fast break offense could take a hit, but they should excel in. His presence will attract the occasional double team, which should free up some shooters on the perimeter. He also allows Amare to move to the power forward slot where he is much more comfortable. Unlike in Miami, the Suns have some great offensive weapons, which could force teams to single cover Shaq, leading to some possible big-time scoring nights.

Defensively, the trade definitely hurts Phoenix. Shawn Marion was one of the lock down best defenders in the association, who could guard any position. Now, outside of Raja Bell, the Suns lack a great perimeter defender. While Shaq does provide a big defensive presence at the rim, he has never really been a dominant defender. Even with his imposing status, Shaq rarely collects more than ten rebounds, even in his prime. While Shaq may help a little down low, losing Shawn Marion was too great of a loss.

While I certainly would not have made this trade if I was Steve Kerr, it isn’t as bad as people are making it out to be. The Suns weren't going to resign Marion after this year and Shaq may actually help them in the halfcourt sets. It'll be interesting to see if this will help them go over the top. I say no. What's

The Ship is Sinking in Milwaukee

2008-02-08T19:22:00.000-08:00

While it may seem strange to panic when a team has a 16-5 record, but the Marquette Golden Eagles have some serious issues that need to be addressed if they are going to compete in March. Most of all, that major problem is consistency.

Back in early December, the Eagles appeared to be a confident bunch, ready to take on anyone with their matured three-guard lineup. In the Maui Tournament they looked strong as, advancing to the finals against Duke. They were also finally able to defeat Wisconsin, this time at the Kohl Center.

However, January has been a completely different story for the Eagles. Since January 6th, they are 5-4 with an average losing margin of just over 16 points. They lost by fifteen at West Virginia, by twenty at Louisville, and by sixteen at Connecticut. The other loss was by four against Duke in Maui, but that was in the early part of the season when the possibilities seemed wide open for one of the few teams that could go into the Kohl Center and beat Wisconsin.

It is pretty easy to understand that Marquette struggles when it shoots poorly, 32% against Louisville on Monday. While Tom Crean typically assembles perimeter-heavy teams, his current squad lacks a consistent frontcourt. As a result, the Eagles rely heavily on their perimeter game and three point shots. When their shots are on, they win big, but when the shots aren't falling the Eagles lose big. Right now it's pretty obvious, they can't shoot.

If Marquette is going to be remotely competitive come March, its star players, Dominic James, Jered McNeal, and Wesley Matthews, are going to really have to elevate their games. As of right now, I do envision that happening.

National Signing Day Recap

2008-02-06T21:30:00.000-08:00

Typically, Signing Day has been an oppurtunity for the rich to get even richer. While USC and Florida still reeled in top ten finishes, downtrodden programs such as Alabama, Notre Dame and Miami, all had some of the best recruiting classes of 2008.

Saban going to Work
Earliar today, three major services, Rivals.com, Scout.com and SuperPrep, all dubbed Alabama, winner of the 2008 recruiting season on Wednesday, with the Irish and Hurricanes not far behind. This is a big deal for Crimson Tide fans, whose team is coming off consecutive 6-6 regular seasons and has won just one SEC title over the past 15 years.

Its pretty obvious that Nick Saban was the main reason as to why the Tide landed such a talented class. Saban is highly regarded in SEC country and he certainly had a major influence in bringing in a bunch of in-state recruits, 18 to be exact. While Alabama was expected to do well, nobody saw a number one finish. Today, they added some big time uncommited players early, especially Julio Jones, the top wide receiver prospect. Overall, the Tide signed three five star players, 17 four star players, and ten three star players, and 6 top 100 players overall. Some key players that they signed from that could contribute from the get go could be: WR Julio Jones, LB Jerrell Harris, WR Chris Jackson, LB Mark Barron, OT Tyler Love, and DE Courtney Upshaw.

Shannon rebulding the U
One of the more unerrated aspects of recruiting is protecting the home turf, which is exactly what Miami's Randy Shannon did. Miami, Florida, consistantly houses some of the nation's top recruits and this year was no exception. Unlike in years past, Miami was finally able to keep most of the local boys home.

On Wednesday, the 'Canes finished with a bang, as they signed Rivals.com's No. 2 safety Ramon Buchanan (previously committed to Florida), No. 3 cornerback Brandon Harris, top-15 receiver Tommy Streeter, top-20 offensive lineman Benjamin Jones and top-20 defensive tackle Jeremy Lewis. All but Buchanan were South Florida natives.

Notre Dame ain't all that Bad
After a horrible three loss season, Charlie Weis gave Irish fans some hipe going into next season. Actually Weis, didn't receive too many late signings. In fact, 18 of his eventual 23 signees committing by the end of last summer. What is most remarkable is the fact that only one player decommitted (five-star defensive tackle Omar Hunter) after a season in which the Irish got destroyed on a weekly basis.

Pryor Undecided
The nations top prospect, quarterback Terrelle Pryor is still not sure where he attends to play ball next spring. Pryor has narrowed his list to Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, and Oregon. The 6'5" quarterback is a spread option type and is is often compared to Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young. It is interesting to note that Pryor recently mentioned he wants to play where he would make an immediate impact. If that's the case it looks as if Ohio State with Todd Boeckman behind center, could be off the list. As I said a few weeks ago, Pryor would be best suited to play for Rich Rodriguez at Michigan.

Carroll's Worst
Many people are convinced that this is Pete Carroll's worst recruiting class with just 14 players signing. .Many recruiting experts feel that it is his lowest-ranked class in five years because it lacks quantity as well as a quarterback and marquee running back. However, Trojan fans shouldn't fret too much for Santa Ana Mater Dei quarterback Matt Barkley is one of eight juniors who have already made commitments to USC. Despite a lack of quanity, Carroll believes that most members of the class will play major roles for the Trojans in the upcoming season.

My Top Five:
1. Alabama:
2. Notre Dame
3. Miami:
4. Florida
5. Georgia

Scout.com Top Five Team Rankings:
1. Alabama
2. Notre Dame
3. Miami (Fl.)
4. Georgia
5. Florida St.

Does Kiffin Miss Uncle Pete Yet?

2008-01-29T19:06:00.000-08:00

On Friday, ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported during NFL Live that the Oakland Raiders Owner Al Davis sent head coach Lane Kiffin (pictured) a resignation letter two weeks ago. However, Kiffin refused to sign it, forcing the Raiders to consider firing him. This has its roots in rumors of Kiffin’s desire to fire defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, son of of Buddy and brother of Rex, although they have publicly made up. Ryan has always been a favorite of Davis, who had kept him from going east to serve as the Jets' defensive coordinator.

As a Raider Hater, I usually enjoy poking fun at the struggles that the Raiders routinely endure, but now, I am actually developing some sort of empathy for Raider fans. Clearly, Davis the Dinosaur has gone insane, as he has gone through four coaches in just four years. No coach can turn a 2-14 team into a Super Bowl contender overnight, even if you're Vince Lombardi reincarnated. A coach will need a few seasons and drafts to build a consistent winner that can challenge for a playoff birth.

What are Davis expectations anyway? He fired head coach Norv Turner after two short years. This is the same Turner who led the San Diego Chargers within nine points of defeating arguably the greatest team in NFL history and reaching the Super Bowl. Hiring Kiffin and promising him front office decisions might have been a mistake but you can't turn your back on the rookie coach after just one season. The Raiders have some of the least talented offensive players in the league and its hard to realistically expect a record greater than 4-12.

With Davis's poor handling of coaches, he is essentially ruining his own franchise right now. The great teams in the NFL, Colts, Patriots, Giants, and Packers, all have stable front offices. On the other hand, the teams at the bottom, 49ers, Raiders, and Lions, all have major front office issues. An owner must be capable of hiring great personnel and expressing patience during rebuilding projects. However, Davis continues to prove that he is incompetent in both categories. Too bad you can't fire an owner.

YouTube Tuesday: Super Bowl Media Day

2008-01-29T17:01:00.000-08:00

Super Bowl Media Day is a big-time joke. An American Idol winner is asking people about their journalistic credentials. A reporter dressed in a wedding dress was asking players, such as Tom Brady and Deion Sanders, if they would marry her. This is becoming an embarrassment if you ask me.

The Very Early Mock Draft

2008-01-27T09:26:00.000-08:00

1. Miami (1-15)
The Pick: Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU
The Dolphins need a lot of help on defense and Dorsey is far and away the best defensive player on the board. They might try and trade down but no team with the number one pick has traded down these past few seasons anyway.

2. St. Louis (3-13)
The Pick: Chris Long (pictured), DE, Virginia
Long is a dominant inside force on the defensive line that is much needed in St. Louis. Matching up Long and 2007 draft pick Adam Carricker would make for a fearsome foursome.

3. Atlanta (4-12)
The Pick: Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College
Last year's quarterback carousel of Michael Vick, Joey Harrington, Byron Leftwich, and Chris Redman, gave Falcon fans nightmares. Their entire offense needs a shakeup and a leader at quarterback is much needed.

4. Oakland (4-12)
The Pick: Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas
McFadden is too good for Al Davis to pass up. The Raiders have a decent backfield with LaMont Jordan and Justin Farges but McFadden is going to be one of the best running backs that the NFL has seen in a long time.

5. Kansas City (4-12)
The Pick: Jake Long, OT, Michigan
Its too early to give up on Brode Croyle just yet. By giving Croyle a dominant left tackle he could become one of the league's better quarterbacks.

6. N.Y. Jets (4-12)
The Pick: Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC
The Jets need a dominant defensive tackle to plug up the middle and outside of Dorsey, Ellis is the best player on the board.

7. New England (From San Francisco (5-11))
The Pick: Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida
Asante Samuel is expected to leave after this season and Jenkins, the top cornerback, should be able to replace his six interceptions.

8. Baltimore (5-11)
The Pick: Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville
The Ravens were a total offensive disaster this season, and the quarterback spot is their highest priority. Therefirem Brohm is arguably the best quarterback in the draft this year.

9. Cincinnati (7-9)
The Pick: Vernon Gholston, DE, Ohio State
The Bengals defense gives up too many big plays and therefore needs a dominant pass rush that can force a quarterback into mistakes. Take the Ohio product.

10. New Orleans (7-9)
The Pick: Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas*
The Saints really need to upgrade their pass defense. Jason David really looked overmatched the majority of the time. Talib was one of the top players in college football last year and he should help the Saints immediately.

11. Buffalo (7-9)
The Pick: DeSean Jackson (pictured), WR, California*
I normally don't like taking receivers this high but Jackson is one of the top playmakers available. The Bills took a rookie from Cal last year ad it worked out okay.

12. Denver (7-9)
The Pick: Ryan Clady, OT, Boise St.
If Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler is to take the next step as an NFL starter than Denver needs to improve its offensive line.

13. Carolina (7-9)
The Pick: Calais Campbell, DE, Miami*
The 6'8" Campbell will help out a Panthers defense that lacked a consistent pass rush outside of Julius Peppers.

14. Chicago (7-9)
The Pick: Andre' Woodson, QB, Kentucky
The Bears don't have a quarterback of the future, unless you count Rex Grossman or Kyle Orton.

15. Detroit (7-9)
The Pick: Reggie Smith, CB, Oklahoma
Detroit's defense was exploited through the air and Smith was one of the top cover corners in college.

16. Arizona (8-8)
The Pick: Kenny Phillips, FS, Miami
The Cards need another impact defender to take the next step in the NFC West.

17. Minnesota (8-8)
The Pick: Malcolm Kelly, WR, Oklahoma*
The Vikings had one of the worst receiving groups last year and Kelly should help the young Tavaris Jackson out.

18. Houston (8-8)
The Pick: Antoine Cason, CB, Arizona
The Texans could use another wide receiver but Cason is a top corner and punt returner as well.
19. Philadelphia (8-8)
The Pick: Keith Rivers, LB, USC
The Eagles linebacker unit would benefit from another strong defender.

20. Tampa Bay (9-7)
The Pick: Sam Baker, OT, USC
The Bucs' offensive line struggled at times this season so Baker would be a major addition.

21. Washington (9-7)
The Pick: Lawrence Jackson, DE, USC
The Redskins are hoping to draft an impact pass rusher and Jackson could be that guy.

22. Dallas (from Cleveland (10-6))
The Pick: Mario Manningham, WR, Michigan
The Cowboys receivers aren't getting any younger and Manningham is one of the best receivers on the board.

23. Pittsburgh (10-6)
The Pick: Gosder Cherilus, OT, Boston College
The Steelers need to address their offensive line, especially the tackle spot.

24. Tennessee (10-6)
The Pick: James Hardy, WR, Indiana
If Vince Young is going to be effective, the Titans need to add some playmakers in their passing game.

25. Seattle (10-6)
The Pick: Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Illinois
With Shaun Alexander on the downside of his career, the Seahawks are looking to the future.

26. Jacksonville (11-5)
The Pick: Fred Davis, TE, USC
The Jaguars lacked big-time receivers and Davis can play receiver or tight end.

27. San Diego (11-5)
The Pick: Jonathan Stewart, RB, Oregon*
The Chargers will lose veteran runner Michael Turner to free agency and LaDainian Tomlinson will enter his eighth season next fall.

28. Dallas (13-3)
The Pick: DeJuan Tribble, CB, Boston College
The Cowboys secondary had a lot of problems in coverage, and corner is one of their top priorities.

29. San Francisco (From Indianapolis (13-3))
The Pick: Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida
The 49ers need help everywhere but Harvey will be too good to pass up.

30. Green Bay (13-3)
The Pick: Brandon Flowers, CB, Virginia Tech*
Both Al Harris and Charles Woodson are in their thirties so an upgrade at corner is important.

31. NY Giants (10-6)
The Pick: Dan Connor, LB, Penn St
The Giants are pretty solid all around but Connor would be too good to pass up on.

32. New England (16-0)
The Pick: no pick
Pick forfeited.

Why Pryor Should Head to Ann Arbor

2008-01-26T09:45:00.000-08:00

Standing at 6'6" Terrelle Pryor of Jeannette, Pennsylvania, is the nation's top quarterback prospect, but unlike many of the top high school players, Pryor is uncommitted. Many top programs, LSU, Oregon, Ohio State, and Michigan, are all trying to woe the Western Pennsylvania quarterback to their campus. While all four schools would be good fits for Pryor, Michigan is far and away the best choice. Here are three reasons why:

1. Family connection:
One of the reasons people feel that Pryor should head to Ohio State is due to the fact that he is friends with several Buckeye commits, while he isn't too close with many Wolverine recruits yet. However, his cousin Toney Clemons is a wide receiver for the team and led him on the official visit last weekend.

2. He's Needed Badly
If Pryor does end up going to Michigan, he'll probably start right away. With the graduation of Chad Henne and the transfer of Ryan Mallett, the Wolverines' have an opening at the quarterback. At Ohio State he would likely sit behind Todd Boeckman. If he went to LSU, he'd likely be behind Ryan Perrilloux. If he heads west to Oregon he'd battle Justin Roper for the starting job. However, at Michigan, Pryor will play right away and be the guy who brings the Wolverines back to national prominence.

3. Rich Rodriguez and the Spread
Pryor has a strong bond with Rodriguez, the former West Virginia coach. When Rodriguez resigned from West Virginia in December, Pryor was one of the first people he notified. According to some people, Rodriguez told Pryor about his departure before he even told his own team. Rodriguez’s spread often also caters perfectly to a dual-threat quarterback like Pryor. Over the past three years, Pat White has become one of the top quarters in the country while playing under Rich Rod.

A word of advice to Pryor: Sign with Michigan on February 2nd

Get Over It: Wide Receiver is Overrated!

2008-01-25T17:18:00.000-08:00

With 30 of the 32 NFL teams already on vacation, the 2008 NFL Mock Drafts are already out in full force. However, it still amazes me that people have wide receivers going so high in the draft.

In the NFL, the wide receiver does not have as great an impact as the average fan thinks. He only touches the ball five to ten times a game. On the other hand, a quarterback handles the ball every single play, and a running back usually touches it at least twenty times a game.

While the receiver position is still very important, the average wideout can not dominate every play like a quarterback or running back can. Team's need a solid receiving core, not just one superstar.
Besides their limitation in touches, receivers can only be as good as their offensive line and quarterback. If you place the best receiver on the Atlanta Falcons, even he won't manage to get open in under two seconds. While he is running his route his quarterback is getting planted into the dirt by a 300 pound defensive tackle.

We are able to see this first hand with the rise and fall of Randy Moss. While playing in Minnesota for the Vikings, Moss was a perennial pro-bowler. This was due to the fact that the Vikings had Pro-Bowl Quarterbacks in Randall Cunningham and Daunte Culpepper in addition to a strong offensive line. Due to these factors Moss was able to be dominate year in and year out.

When he was traded to Oakland, things changed. The Raiders had the worst offensive line in football and were quarterbacked by Aaron Brooks and Andrew Walter. As a result his production dropped dramatically.

Now, in New England, Moss has become one of the game's best again by haling in twenty-three touchdown receptions. Moss isn't that much better in 2007 but he is able to be more productive due to playing with the game's top quarterback and offensive line.

Moss's situation shows that without the play of a solid offensive line, a dominant left tackle, and an efficient quarterback, any great receiver is limited.

So, why do NFL teams continue to invest high draft picks on receivers before they have a strong offensive line and effective. Look at some of the best receivers today.

Reggie Wayne: Late First Round
Chad Johnson: 2nd Round
Chris Chambers: 2nd Round
Isaac Bruce: 2nd Round
Steve Smith: 3rd Round
Donald Driver: 7th Round
T.J. Houshmandzadeh: 7th Round
Rod Smith: Not Drafted

What do they all have in common? Besides all being late round draft choices, they were all placed on good teams. Johnson and Houshmandzadeh played with a Pro-Bowler Quarterback Carson Palmer and a well-established offensive line. Isaac Bruce was on the Greatest Show on Turf, enough said. Reggie Wayne plays with Peyton Manning. Steve Smith plays with Pro-Bowler Jake Delhomme and an outstanding Panthers offensive line. Donald Driver has played with future hall of famer Brett Favre.

Many of the recent top ten receivers weren't as lucky as those late round steals.

Peter Warrick: 4th Overall
Travis Taylor: 10th Overall
David Terrell: 8th Overall, 2001
Charles Rogers: 2nd Overall, 2003
Reggie Williams: 9th Overall, 2004
Mike Williams: 10th Overall, 2005

All of these players were drafted in the top ten by lousy teams with terrible offensive lines. In college they seemed to be stars in the making, but they never had the chance to develop while on horrible teams. Warrick was on the lousy Bengals teams of the early 2000s. Rogers and Mike Williams played for the Detroit Lions with Joey Harrington and a porous offensive line.

These examples show how receivers can only make an impact when on a team with a solid offensive line and an efficient quarterback. If they end up going to lousy teams, such as the Lions, Falcons, or Dolphins, it becomes extremely difficult for them to become Pro-Bowlers.

A word of advice to NFL General Managers: build a strong offensive line before you draft a receiver in the top ten (a la Matt Millen).

High Fives #1

2008-01-24T20:46:00.000-08:00

High Fives is the weekly segment that contains links to some of the better stuff that appears on the blogsphere. Send your links and such to thewestcoastbiasblog@gmail.com, and check this post for updates.

*Apparently Kevin Love, an Oregon native, is not welcome in Eugene, home of the Oregon Ducks. (Signal to Noise)
*Well, maybe not all of these new college coaches are great fits. (Saturday Sound Offs)
*With just two losses, the Baylor Bears are the latest surprise in College Basketball. (Complete Sports)
*ESPN and Yahoo Sports have a rivalry brewing. Yahoo TV anybody?
*Roger Federer is still number one in the world. (Sports Lounge)
*Not everybody loves Jon Gruden. (Tampa Bay Sports Fanatic)
*Not everybody is in love with Jim Fassell, especially Redskin fans. (The Loss Column)
*USC is team of the week in the latest Pac Ten Weekly Report. (Storming the Floor)

January Madness: My Top Ten

2008-01-22T17:49:00.001-08:00

After a crazy weekend of College Basketball, I felt that it was time to compose a list of my current top tens teams. When I conduct polls, particularly college hoops polls, I base it on how good the teams actually are and not just their achievement. If I did the latter, than the undefeated and one-loss teams would be at the top. However, sometimes teams benefit from a loss or two. So without further ado, here is my top ten:

1. Kansas: As said last week, the Kansas Jayhawks are the nation's top due to their depth. They have a great front line with Darrell Arthur and Darnell Jackson dominating the glass. However, its their backcourt with Mario Chambers and Brandon Rush that makes them such a great team. They due an excellent job at dictating the temp of the game, which is something that Memphis struggles with at times. Most of all, there is lots of depth on the Jayhawks' roster.

2. North Carolina: Despite the loss to Maryland on Saturday, I would still take the Tar Heels in a head-to-head matchup with Memphis. They have the nation's top big man in Tyler Hansbrough and other great players in Wayne Ellington and Ty Lawson. The loss of Bobby Frasor hurts, but they still have the depth and explosiveness to make up for his loss.

3. Memphis: The Tigers have been one of the most impressive team so far this year. Their December victory over top ten Georgetown has been the most impressive win for anyone this year. They dictated the style of play that game and took apart the Hoyas in the second half. What concerns me about this bunch is their inability to play a slow, grind-it-out game. Against USC, the Trojans slowed the game down and the Tigers struggled to score at times. When they play in the open court, their athleticism is very obvious and their defense also improves.

4. Washington State: They've been pretty impressive so far with their lone defeat coming on the road against UCLA. The Cougs force teams to play their style of play by slowing down the game. They are able to do this as a result of their great defense. This just a solid team overall that doesn't beat themselves.

5. UCLA: While they did beat Washington State two weeks ago, they've looked really bad against USC and Texas this year. However, they're still a pretty good team with Darren Collison leading the way. Collison controls the game and gets the ball to the playmakers, three point ace Josh Shipp, quick guard Russell Westbrook, and imposing big man Kevin Love. So far this season, Love is averaging a double-double right now and is a strong candidate for Pac-10 Player of the Year.

6. Duke: The Blue Devils are one of the deepest teams in all of college basketball with nine guys playing at least eleven minutes per contest. Six of those guys are scoring about eight points per game. Their trio of Nelson-Singler-Henderson is one of the best in the country. It seems as if they finally have some athleticism, which is what they really lacked last year.

7. Tennessee: When the shots are falling, they can beat anyone anytime anywhere. However, when their shots are not falling than they have a tough time beating anybody (see last night against Kentucky). Chris Lofton and company are hard to guard because of their fast-paced style but like Memphis they struggle in the half court sets. This must improve if they want to reach the Final Four in March.

8. Indiana: Depth is a serious concern with the Hoosiers. Outside of star freshman Eric Gordan and D.J. White, the Hoosiers lack a deep bench that can carry them through March. Despite this perceived weakness Eric Gordan and the rest of the Hoosiers are getting better every single game so this team might even be more dangerous come March.

9. Georgetown: The Hoyas are the ant-Memphis. When playing in half court sets they're an imposing bunch, especially with Roy Hibbert in the middle. However, they struggle against up-tempo teams like Memphis, who play really fast. When teams take away Hibbert, the Hoyas are far less dominating. However, they aren't terrible without a dominating Hibbert. The Hoyas are a surprisingly versatile, and talented ball club with efficient guards. As the season progresses Georgetown will continue to improve and become much more explosive.

10. Michigan State: I think the Spartans may surprise people come tournament time in March. They are great defensively under Tom Izzo and have one of the nation's top players in Drew Neitzel. The lefty just seems to hit one big shot after another. They have done pretty well so far this year, and with a lot of freshman, they'll get even better.

Just missed...
-Texas
-Pittsburgh
-Wisconsin
-Vanderbilt
-Stanford

Your thoughts? What changes would you make?

YouTube Tuesday: LSU Fans and Hitler

2008-01-22T16:10:00.000-08:00

Geaux White Power

This is a really sad video as the white LSU fans act like racist morons. I certainly do not endorse anything they say or do, as I feel ashamed that we still have fans acting like this.

Hitler is a Cowboys Fan

Yes, even Adolf Hitler has/had a favorite NFL football team, the Dallas Cowboys. The question is: who is more power hungry Jerry Jones or Hitler, himself.

Red Zone Report: Conference Championship

2008-01-21T16:54:00.000-08:00

Patriots 21, Chargers 12 - The Chargers demonstrated why Red Zone efficiency is so important, especially in the playoffs. San Diego repeatedly had success against New England's defense as they marched the ball down the field. However, when the they had the ball inside the red zone they couldn't finish the job and had to settle for Nate Kaeding field goals instead. You are never going to beat the Patriots by kicking field goals. Defensively, the Bolts did everything possible by picking off Tom Brady three times. It seems as if all Brady had were short passes over the middle and nothing deep. Despite the perceived "bad day," the Pats still scored 21 points. LaDainian Tomlinson was in for just two plays before sitting out the rest of the game with a sprained MCL. It's safe to say that he was sorely missed.

Giants 23, Packers 20 - As Packers fan, I am truly sick to my stomach after this loss. Eli Manning looked so good that it seemed as if Peyton was playing for the Giants. Who would have ever thought that Manning would come into Green Bay and actually beat Favre in subzero temperatures. Certainly, I wasn't a believer in Eli, but hey, he is a Super Bowl quarterback now. However, Eli couldn't done it all by himself. Plaxico Burress completely dominated Packers all-pro cornerback Al Harris. While New York's offense was extremely efficient, Green Bay wasn’t even able to develop an offensive rhythm and exploit the Giants’ tattered secondary. Last week's star running back Ryan Grant was nowhere to be found in the game plan with just over ten carries. As a result, the Packers had only 25 rushing yards the entire game. In the end, Lawrence Tynes had three times to kick the game winner and he finally came through.

AFC Championship Preview: Patriots v. Chargers

2008-01-20T07:26:00.000-08:00

This is just the wrong place and the wrong time for the San Diego Chargers. At kickoff its going to be around 8 degrees with the windchill which is 50 degrees colder than what they practice in San Diego. Injuries are also a major concern for the Bolts. As of right now, Phillip Rivers is optimistic that he'll play but he is still listed as questionable. If Rivers can't go for very long or even at all, Billy Voleck will be lining behind center. Volek has a losing record as a starter which has to scare a lot of Charger fans.

Pro Bowl Antonio Gates is also doubtful with a dislocated toe. Without Gates, the Chargers lack explosive pass catchers, as wide receivers Vincent Jackson and Chris Chambers are fairly average receivers. The league's top running back LaDainian Tomlinson will play against the Pats, but many are questioning how healthy and effective will he be. Even if LT is unable to go, the Chargers still have quality backups Michael Turner and Darren Sproles. However, quality backups are not the recipe for success against New England's top-notch defense.

Can the Patriots really be stopped? Seriously, since mid-2006, the Pats are 13-0 at Gillette Stadium and they haven't lost once this entire season. Over the past two games, Tom Brady has never been better as he has gone 58-70, .829, 618 yards, five touchdowns, no picks, and two sacks. Even the Jaguars, who punted just twice last week, lost to New England by double digits.

Yes, amazing things can happen in football with Chargers winning in Indy without Tomlinson and Rivers and the Jags winning twice at Heinz Field in a month and the Chargers defeating the Colts with Tomlinson and Rivers on the sideline. However, the Pats don't seem like a team that's going to slip up. Patriots 31-14

Fight On: Trojans Upset Bruins

2008-01-19T18:38:00.000-08:00

Wow! What a game. I don't think that I've ever been more excited after a USC Basketball game than I am right now. For once this season, the Trojans played up to their potential and actually pulled off a big-time victory. They played very well against Kansas and Memphis but they were unable to pull out the victory in the closing seconds. However, this time they got it done on the road at Pauley Pavilion.

USC Forward Davon Jefferson had a career game, scoring 25 points and collecting seven rebounds. Even with the career high total in points, Jefferson will be remembered most of all for his dunk on Bruins center Kevin Love.

It was also refreshing to see O.J. Mayo not shoot every single time he came in contact with the basketball. Mayo was more of a facilitator getting guys like Daniel Hackett, Angelo Johnson, Taj Gibson, and Jefferson open shots and opportunities on the offensive end. Even Kevin Love (who's getting dunked on in the picture) agrees with me. ''He was very patient and let the game come to him,'' said Love. ''A lot of people give him a lot of grief for shooting so many shots, but today he played a team game.''

Undoubtedly all Trojan fans are pumped after the victory but it seems as if Bruins Nation is bitter as usual:

"What do you call a school with recruitment violations and purchased diplomas? USC. Football season is over, and let's get real here. So what, you won a game. It happens. How many NCAA Basketball Championships has SC won? Where is OJ Mayo going next year? The Pro's. Where will SC be once again? At the bottom of the pot. Enjoy today, we all know not many of these wins happen for the Trojans, nor will many happen in the future. You have Football, We have Basketball...at least for now. We'll have to see how our new Football Coach does."

This is one of many reasons why I hate the UCLA Bruins. Half of the things this crazy Bruin fan says is inaccurate. Yes, Mike Gunday it is fiction. Besides the inaccuracies, the rant is just a little uncalled. Let the Trojan fans have their day in the sun and keep quite. Instead of worrying about USC, focus on what Ben Howland's bunch has to do to beat the Trojans next time at the Galen Center.

NFC Championship Preview: Packers v. Giants

2008-01-19T15:54:00.001-08:00

Breaking Down New York
After two shocking playoff upsets over the Buccaneers and Cowboys, the Giants will try to punch an even more unlikely ticket to the Super Bowl. What has made the Giants so effective this postseason is the playof their quarterback Eli Manning, who has failed to throw one interception against the Bucs or 'Boys. Relying on a mistake-free Eli and a power running game with Brandon Jacobs, New York has found an offense that is capable of scoring just enough.

The Giants don't need to score thirty plus like the Patriots because they have one of the league's better defense. Currently, the Giants are tops in the NFL in total sacks. Against the Cowboys, the Giants front four put so much pressure on Tony Romo that he made one poor throw after another. Defensive end Michael Strahan should give Packers right tackle Mark Tauscher fits, and Osi Umenyiora will likely win a few battles against Chad Clifton on the left side.

Breaking Down Green Bay
After an amazing 13-3 regular season, Brett Favre will try to add to his great legacy by leading the Packers to their fifth Super Bowl with a win over over the visiting New York Giants. While Favre certainly gets the majority of the media attention, the Packers are a team that has more pieces than just the 38 year old gunslinger.

Against the Seahawks a week ago, running back Ryan Grant had another outstanding performance, as he rushed for over 200 yards and scored three touchdowns. What was most encouraging about Grant's effort was the fact that he was able to recover from two early fumbles. Grant is surrounded by plenty of talent on offense, especially at wide receiver and tight end. Look for the Packers to line up in four and five wide receiver sets to expose a pretty weak Giants secondary. Both Packers receivers Donald Driver and Greg Jennings had Pro Bowl caliber seasons as they proved to be reliable targets for Favre.

The Packers might have one of the league's most underrated defenses. So far this season the Pack have allowed just 18 points per game, good for 6th best in the entire NFL. Their front seven is nearly as good as the Giants with Aaron Kampan, Cullen Jenkins, and Nick Barnett leading the way. However, its their secondary that makes them a top defensive team. Cornerbacks Al Harris and Charles Woodson are two of the best shutdown corners in the game and they could make it very difficult for Eli Manning to find either Amani Toomer or Plaxico Burress down field.

Final Analysis
Even with New York being the media capitol, not very people are even picking the Giants to win. With the weather expected to be around minus-5 wind chill, and breezy, with flurries, it just seems like a Packer type of game. However, the Giants are a team that is on a roll, winning 9 straight road games. Their front seven should test Green Bay's average offensive line and give the Packers offense some fits. Look for the G-Men to play extremely well but in the end Brett Favre and company should prevail. Packers 28-20

The Dugout: Pierre's Job and Bronson's Song

2008-01-18T11:29:00.000-08:00

Because of his great work ethic, Dodgers outfielder Juan Pierre (pictured) is one of my favorite baseball players. However, the Dodgers center fielder's starting spot could be in jeopardy this season. When the Dodgers begin spring training next month they will have four everyday-caliber outfielders, Pierre, Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp, and the newly acquired power hitter and 10-time Gold Glove winner Andruw Jones. Yesterday, new Dodgers manager Joe Torre made a rare visit to Dodger Stadium and seemed to suggest that Pierre, who is entering the second season of a five-year, $44-million contract, does not have a guaranteed spot in the regular lineup. By not including Pierre in the everyday lineup, Torre would be making a huge mistake. Pierre is one of the top table setters and base stealers in the league and his presence would be surely missed if he didn't play every day.

Juan Gonzalez's Return
Two-time Texas Rangers MVP Juan Gonzalez is looking to return to baseball after a three year absence. So far there aren't too many interested in Gonzales outside of the St. Louis Cardinals, who have discussed extending him an invitation to spring training. The 38 year old Gonzales has been working out at Eduardo Perez's Winter Training Program in his native Puerto Rico. What makes Gonzales for attractive for the Redbirds is the fact that he has been impressive in workouts and that the team lacks a legitimate power hitter outside of Albert Pujols.

An Owner could be Suspended
According to the Houston Chronicle, there is an excellent chance that MLB commissioner Bud Selig could suspend San Francisco Giants owner Peter Magowan and general manager Brian Sabean for ignoring the fact that Barry Bonds likely took steroids as a Giant. At some point, Magowan and Sabean had to have suspected that Bonds was doing something. However, it's easy to understand why they would have ignored the suspected steroid use as Bonds was great for business. Balco Barry was one of the reasons that the beautiful new AT&T Park got built and the biggest reason for those seats being hot items. However, didn't most of the owners ignore the steroid issue? It wasn't just Magowan. Is Bud going to suspend all of the owners?

Bronson Arroyo is an Idiot
What is Bronson thinking? At the recent 2008 Hot Stove, Cool Music fundraiser at the Paradise in Boston, Arroyo sang a set of songs including Augustana’s “Boston.” In the final chorus Bronson inserted his own lyrics:

I said
I think I’ll go to Boston
I think I need to come back
I think I need a ballpark
Where all the fans are there
I gotta get out of Cincinnati
I’m tired of the summer
I think I need the Olde Town
To fill my heart again
Ah yeah

Did Arryo do this to pump up the crowd or was it a plea to GM Theo Epstein, who was on hand.
Regardless, it was a pretty dumb move on his part. Did he really think this would just slide by unnoticed? Whether he was just joking or not, it was a low blow to the Cincy fans. I feel for you Ryan Parker.

UCLA to Fans: Leave Wooden Alone

2008-01-18T07:45:00.000-08:00

Apparently UCLA officials want all fans that attend Bruin basketball games at Pauley Pavilion to let the 97-year-old John Wooden watch basketball uninterrupted. Spokesman Marc Dellins announced on Wednesday that fans won't be allowed to continuously walk up to the former coach during games and ask for autographs.

UCLA Coach Ben Howland strongly favored the decision, saying, “I think it’s long overdue. When Coach Wooden comes to a game, it would be nice if people respected the fact he’s there to enjoy the game and not just sign autographs."

“Here’s a living legend and it’s something he’s done for years and years. I suggested this a year or two ago. He’s got to have a little more protection. He’d be there all day just doing that because he’s so great. He hardly says no to anybody.”

It was a much needed decision by UCLA, especially since Wooden always finds it difficult to turn down request. While most fans are pleasant and patient, it is fairly common to see a line of 10 or 15 lined up in the narrow aisle at Pauley waiting for an autograph. Every person, Wooden included, has the right to watch a basketball game and not be disturbed by autograph seekers. There is nothing wrong for seeking Wooden's John Hancock but it would be more fitting to have him sign at an autograph session.

Is there a Curse of Dallas?

2008-01-17T19:06:00.000-08:00

I am beginning to believe that the city of Dallas, Texas, is under some sort of curse after the Cowboys became the latest Dallas pro sports team to choke in the playoffs. While its certainly not uncommon for a team to undergo a playoff collapse, no city has been more subject to these postseason meltdowns than the Big D. Take a closer look:

Texas Rangers
The Rangers might be the only team here not to have chocked in the playoffs. Wait, a second, the Rangers have been so poorly managed that they have failed to even come close to reaching the postseason. Despite a collection of talented players such as, Alfonso Soriano, Michael Young, Hank Blalock, and Francisco Cordero, the Rangers have failed to be even remotely competitive in the four team A.L. West. Since 2000, the Rangers have failed to finish higher than third in the division despite having one of MLB's highest payrolls.

Dallas Desperados
For those who aren't familiar with sports outside of the Big Three, the Dallas Desperados are an Arena Football League team owned by Jerry Jones that began playing in 2002. Despite just six seasons of play in the AFL, the Desperados have done pretty well going 13-3 in 2006 and 15-1 in 2007. However, the Desperados have made a name for themselves with their annual playoff chokes. In both 2006 and 2007, they have failed to reach the Arena Bowl despite having the league's top record.

Dallas Cowboys
No team has been failed to meet expectations more often than the Dallas Cowboys. When Bill Parcells was introduced as Cowboys coach in 2003, many expected America's Team to become an NFL dynasty once again. However, that idea never came to fruition as the Boys suffered through three years of Drew Bledsoe lining up behind center. The results weren't too pretty either as Dallas failed to win one playoff game under Parcells. After Parcells resigned, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones hired Wade Phillips, who had been known for his numerous playoff collapses. With the young, hotshot quarterback Tony Romo entering his first full year of starting, the Cowboys got of to a hot start in 2007 going 12-1 with their only loss coming at the hand of the undefeated Patriots. Dallas eventually ended the regular season at 13-3, while also holding homefield advantage. However, their Super Bowl dreams were dashed quickly as they lost at home to the Eli Manning led New York Giants. They lost has made all Cowboys wait one more year before they can hopefully see their team win its first postseason game in over a decade.

Dallas Mavericks
After their last two playoff performances, it might be possible to pronounce the Dirk Nowitzki led Mavericks the biggest chokers in NBA history. In the 2006 Finals, the Mavs appeared ready to take home their first NBA title as they held a 2-0 series lead over the Dwyane Wade led Miami Heat. In Game 3, Dallas held a twelve point lead with just over five minutes to play but ended up losing the game in overtime. Much to the dismay of Mark Cuban, the Heat went on to win the next three games, capturing their first NBA title. A year late, the Mavs appeared ready to avenge their disappointing finals performance by winning 67 regular season games, best in franchise history and sixth best in league history. After such a successful regular season, not even the most pessimistic Dallas fan would predict what would happen next. Former Mavericks coach Don Nelson led the 8th seeded Golden State Warriors to a shocking upset over the top seeded Mavs.

After horrendous regular seasons and playoff collapses, it seems pretty clear that city of Dallas is under some sort of curse. While a curse seems all but certain, its exact origin is a true mystery. Without any clear beginning, the curse lacks a proper name and title like Philadelphia's Curse of William Penn. So, if anybody out their has an idea where this curse originated from, I'd be more than happy to hear your thoughts.

Watch Out Folks: Kansas is Really Good

2008-01-15T16:21:00.000-08:00

Just when sports fans were thinking that Lawrence, Kansas, was the home of football stars such as Todd Reesing and Aqib Talib, they forgot to remember that KU Hoops is always number on campus. After last night's thirty point victory against Big XII rival Oklahoma, the 17-0 Jayhawks hoops team may be the number one team in the nation. Even better than the likes of UCLA, North Carolina, or Memphis? Yes, and here are three reasons why.

Big Double D's:
Last season when playing against big, physical teams such as UCLA, the Jayhawks experienced a lot of difficulties scoring points in the paint and controlling the glass. However, that is not the case this season due to the rise of the double d's: Darrell Arthur and Darnell Jackson. Arthur has been the dominating low-post presence that the Jayhawks have been missing since the graduation of Wayne Simeon and Nick Collison. Against Oklahoma on Monday, the 6'9" sophomore used an array of post moves to dominate the Sooners' frontcourt by scoring fourteen points in addition to eight rebounds.

While many teams like North Carolina and UCLA have great big men in Tyler Hansbrough and Kevin Love, most don't have two imposing giants. Arthur's frontcourt mate Darnell Jackson makes the Jayhawks even more lethal. The imposing 6'8" 250 pound senior is having a breakout season , averaging double figures for the first time in his career and providing great defense in the paint. Like Arthur, Jackson also had a big game against the Sooners on Monday, scoring seventeen points and logging eight rebounds.

An up-tempo but smart Backcourt:
When the NCAA Tournament rolls around in March, teams that are going to make it to the Final Four must have exceptional backcourt play. The past few NCAA Champions, Florida, North Carolina, and UConn have all been captained by experienced, veteran guards such as Taurean Green, Raymond Felton, and Ben Gordon. Kansas's strength by far is in the backcourt with Mario Chalmers, Brandon Rush, Russell Robinson and Sherron Collins, who are all experienced and poised in addition to being fast, good shooters and good passers.

What makes Kansas's guards so special is their ability to change their style of play. While they certainly love to get out and run in transition, they are capable of managing a slow, half court game, unlike last year against UCLA. The play of the backcourt has allowed Kansas big men, Arthur and Jackson, to get more open looks underneath the basket. As the big men continue to improve, Chambers and company will get more open looks, fewer double teams, and more zone.

A deeper team than the Heels or Tigers
If any team has aspirations of cutting down the nets in March, team depth must be the first priority of any coach. While North Carolina and Memphis get most of the media attention, the Jayhawks are better than both of these teams because of their depth. What if UNC big man Tyler Hansbrough got into foul trouble against the Jayhawks in the tournament? Could you imagine the Tar Heels playing without Crazy T in the middle? What if Memphis point guard Derrick Rose got injured during the tournament? Memphis would not nearly be as effective without their star freshmen point guard.

While several top teams may suffer because of a lack of depth, Kansas is one of the nation's deepest teams in all of College Basketball. Instead of having one star player, the Jayhawks have seven players who average between seven and thirteen points per game. If they were to lose Arthur or Rush for a big-time tournament game, the Jayhawks would still have a great chance at winning. That can't be said for other top ten teams, North Carolina, Memphis, or Michigan State. If any

A lot can change between now and March but if the Jayhawks continue their solid play, I got a feeling that they might be dancing come April 3rd.

YouTube Tuesday: Minnesota Gorillas

2008-01-15T14:49:00.000-08:00

Apparently, the University of Minnesota has its own special little rock group known as the Gorillas. Inspired by Tubby Smith, watch the infamous gorillas perform the song "Jumper" originally composed by Third Eye Blind.

Red Zone Report: Divisional Round

2008-01-13T11:58:00.001-08:00

Packers 42, Seahawks 20 - Once again, the Seahawks proved that they can't win on the road while the Packers demonstrated how difficult winning at Lambeau Field can be in January. The Seahawks were rolling early on as they took advantage of two early turnovers with scores. However, they then failed to get in the end zone for the rest of the day. As usual, Seattle had a lot of trouble running the football, which was absolutely necessary considering the snowy conditions. On the other side, the Packers had an excellent running game behind Ryan Grant, who totaled over 200 yards on the ground and three scores after two first quarter fumbles. With one of their top receivers gone early in the game, Seattle's passing attack was limited as the Packers’ defenders such as Al Harris and Atari Bigby leveled hit after hit on Seahawk receivers. While the much of the credit for Green Bay's victory belongs to Grant, Brett Favre had another great performance as well, throwing two touchdowns to wide receiver Greg Jennings. Ryan What was most impressive about the Packers was how fast and quick their defense was, as Seattle was incapable of doing anything offensively. The Packers defense made it clear that if the Hawks want to become an upper echelon NFC team again than they're going to have to invest more in the offensive line realize it’s time to cut Shaun Alexander loose.

Patriots 31, Jaguars 20 - I absolutely hate New England but I can't deny the fact that they're one of the best teams in NFL history. Winning two more games will undoubtedly make the them the greatest of all time. Jacksonville played their hearts out and nearly pulled this one off as they were down by eight points in the first quarter. The Jags tried going pass-first as often as possible to keep up with New England in the first half, but in the end the Patriots's offense was just too powerful. By going away from their running game, Jacksonville wound up kicking field goals. If you're going to score touchdowns, you have to have touchdowns not field goals. I just hope someone can beat the Patriots

Chargers 28, Colts 24 - Okay, I'll admit it. I'm stunned. Without Phillip Rivers, LaDainian Tomlinson, and Antonio Gates, the Chargers will still able to go into Indianapolis and pull off a major upset. With the big three missing in the fourth quarter, guys like Billy Volek at quarterback and Michael Turner at running back led San Diego 78 yards on eight plays to score the final go-ahead touchdown.The Chargers' defense mad Manning look normal as the pressured the golden boy constantly throughout the game. However, in the fourth quarter, Manning and the Colts still had a chance to win with a first and goal at the ten. The Chargers' big-play defense then held on downs at its 7, and stopped Indy again in the final moments to preserve the win.

Giants 21, Cowboys 17 - While a lot of people are saying that Tony Romo chocked in the playoffs, most of the blame should fall on the coaching staff and Dallas's offensive line. The Cowboys have one of the best running back tandems in all of the NFL with Marion Barber III and Julius Jones but offensive coordinator Jason Garrett stuck with the pass a little too much. At some points in the game, it seemed as if Dallas didn't even have a rushing attack. The Cowboys' offensive line should also shoulder much of the blame for the loss. During the final drive, Tony Romo spent every single play on his back as he had no time to even look down field. So before people go criticizing Romo, they might want to remember that there are ten other players on offense as well.

NFL Playoff Preview

2008-01-11T21:04:00.000-08:00

Green Bay Packers v. Seattle Seahawks
Is there any sporting event that is better than a January playoff game at Lambeau Field. I'd be hard pressed to think of one. With homefield advantage, many people are regarding the Packers as a virtual lock to advance to the NFC Championship game, but don't sleep on the Seahawks just yet. Seattle has an excellent passing attack that has challenged some of the league's best secondaries. When Green Bay faced Dallas back in November, Tony Romo and Terrell Owens had a big day against the Packers' defensive back so there is a possibility that Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck might also be able to exploit some mismatches. On the other side of the ball, Green Bay should be more than capable of scoring a bunch of points. With the sudden rise of Ryan Grant, the Packers now have one of the most complete offenses in the entire NFL. While not starting until mid-October, Grant was still able to rush for nearly 1,000 yards. With Favre having a career year, the Packers should be able to take care of business at home. Packers 34-21

New England Patriots v. Jacksonville Jaguars
Don't get caught up in all of the Jacksonville hype just yet. While they are certainly a pretty solid team, the Jags have too many holes to defeat an undefeated Patriots team.Last week against Pittsburgh, they showed some difficulty getting their offense going and playing with a big lead. If they are going to have a chance at upsetting the undefeated Patriots, David Garrard must be extremely efficient and sustain long drives that will keep Tom Brand and Randy Moss off the field. It also doesn't help that they're missing some crucial defensive personnel, and are not fully equipped to play the Patriots for all four quarters. Patriots 38-17.

Indianapolis Colts v. San Diego Chargers
When these teams faced off back in October, the Chargers caught Peyton Manning without his regular personnel (Dallas Clark, Marvin Harrison, and Reggie Wayne) and picked him six times. Despite the six interceptions, the Colts were a missed Adam Vineteri field goal from winning the game. If the Chargers have any chance to beat the Colts again, than they must get another great game from quarterback Phillip Rivers. Rivers will not have Antonio Gates playing this week so Norv Turner may end up calling this thing way too conservatively by pitching it to LaDainian Tomlinson too often. With a missing Gates, Indy should win in a close one. Colts 27-24

Dallas Cowboys v. New York Giants
I am definitely not buying this whole “Jessica Simpson is making Tony Romo suck” talk. What I do buy is the fact that neither Tony Romo nor Wade Phillips has ever one a single NFL playoff game, while the Giants are coming in off a big road victory. Historically, Phillips has been one of the worst signal callers in the postseason and the Cowboys' recent performances have not been very encouraging. They have a Pro-Bowl running back in Marion Barber but over the past few games, Phillips and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett have thrown the ball more than necessary. If they have Romo passing 40 times or more, Strahan, Umenyiora and the Giants pass rush will have a huge day. Once again, Eli Manning will throw little while Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw get the bulk of the carries. It's hard to imagine a team beating its division rival three times in one season so I'll take the Giants. Giants 27-21

College Football Rankings: Final Edition

2008-01-10T19:53:00.000-08:00

1. LSU: Did LSU finally live up to their potential or just beat a poor Ohio State football team?
2. USC: What if John David Booty does not break his thumb against Stanford.
3. Georgia: What if Georgia started Knowshown Moreno from day one?
4. West Virginia: How did this team ever loses to Pitt 13-9?
5. Ohio State: Will they ever be allowed to play in the national title game again.
6. Oklahoma: Is Bob Stoops the worst coach in BCS games?
7. Missouri: How did they loses to Oklahoma (twice)?
8. Kansas: Were they just a one-hit wonder or a program on the rise?
9. Virginia Tech: Does a two quarterback system really work best in Blacksburg?
10. Boston College: How did a team this good end up in the Meinke Car Care Bowl?
11. Tennessee: Could they be even better with Ryan Mallett coming?
12. Texas: So, did Mack Brown's stepson touch the football?
13. Texas Tech: Is this the greatest second half team during the bowl games?
14. Michigan: Where was that spread offense earlier in the season
15. Cincinnati: Did Brian Kelly make the right decision to stay in the Queen City?

Troy Troubles

2008-01-09T20:16:00.000-08:00

When writing my College Basketball preview back in mid-November, I was positive that the USC Trojans with the arrival of O.J. Mayo would be among the top teams in the Pacific Ten Conference. However, that has not been the case so far as the Trojans have now fallen out of the top twenty-five by starting conference play with two losses to Bay Area rivals Cal and Stanford last week.

What bothers me the most about this team is that the same problems that they have now are the same ones they had in early November. Taj Gibson still tries to force plays, which eventually put him in foul trouble for long stretches. Do-it-all point guard O.J. Mayo continues to fire shots without any hesitation, going 5 for 19 against Stanford with no assists. He is also incapable of setting up his teammates and forces plenty of bad shots .The Trojans are ranked last in the Pac-10 in turnovers and assist-to-turnover ratio. Tim Floyd will be tested if he's going to turn this thing around.

Favre for MVP? Some think So

2008-01-08T18:10:00.001-08:00

Last week, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was one vote shy from becoming a unanimous MVP winner. That one missing vote was cast by Frank Cooney, founder of Sports Xchange. Cooney voted for Packers quarterback Brett Favre, thus preventing Brady from becoming a unanimous winner.

In an interview with the Boston Globe, Cooney said, "First, let's be clear that this award is a distinctly individual honor in the ultimate team sport, which makes it extremely difficult to sort out in the first place... As such, it cannot be based on statistics, which reap their own rewards. The term we are addressing here is Most Valuable Player, which I take to mean most valuable to one's team..."

While Cooney certainly does not question Tom Brady's tremendous ability, he does note that the New England plays in a "highly-evolved system," with a "proven, veteran coach." and a great supporting cast. On the other hand, the Packers were thought to be rebuilding mode prior to the start of the season. Behind the leadership and amazing play of Favre, the Packers wound up , going 13-3. Cooney concludes that what Favre accomplished with the Packers "was a more valuable individual achievement than what Brady managed with his great team."

Who is more valuable to their teams, Brady or Favre. Does Cooney have a legitimate argument here?

YouTube Tuesday: Isiah Thomas

2008-01-08T18:08:00.000-08:00

Ryan Parker is at it again with his new song that makes fun of New York Knicks' Coach/President/Savior Isiah Thomas.

Bold Prediction: Ohio State will beat LSU

2008-01-06T20:28:00.000-08:00

Everybody outside of Columbus, Ohio, believes that the 2008 National Championship will be just like the 2007 version when Ohio State was blown out by another SEC team in Florida. However, much like this entire college football season, the final game will also be a major upset. Yes, I said it, the Ohio State Buckeyes will defeat the LSU Tigers and here are three reasons why.

3. LSU isn't on fire
Everybody talks about LSU as if they're the fastest, most dominant team to ever step foot on a football field. However, this could not be any further from the truth as the Tigers struggled throughout the season. Outside of the first two games against Mississippi State and Virginia Tech, the Tigers did not soundly defeat one BCS conference team with four wins coming by a touchdown or less. In games against 7-6 Alabama and three win Ole Miss, it nearly lost. It took a miraculous fourth down play to beat Auburn, a trick play to get past 6-6 South Carolina, and four fourth down conversions to escape four loss Florida. The Buckeyes will be in for some trouble if the September LSU shows up at the Superdome tomorrow night. However, the Tigers were an average team for the final two and half months of the season, so why should anybody expect anything different.

2. Last Year's Title Game
Is there any bigger motivation factor for the Buckeyes than last season's 41-14 loss to Florida. It's been a year since the title game debacle and the players have become so sick of hearing how slow they are. Even head coach Jim Tressell sent out DVDs to motivate his players. Last season's loss has been a little overhyped, especially since Florida came into the the national championship with a great game-plan and a mega-chip on its shoulder; while thee Buckeyes were returning from the banquet circuit. The Buckeyes came in a little too confident, didn't make any adjusts due to their number one ranking, and therefore, were dominated. Now, the Buckeyes have a chip on their shoulder just like Florida did.

1. OSU has a Great Defense
You may think that the Big Ten is weak but the Buckeyes do have the number one ranked defense in the country, allowing just 225 yards of total offense and ten points a game. While SEC supporters claim the Buckeyes have not faced a great offense this year, Ohio State has played some pretty talented offensive unites. Currently, the Big Ten has six offenses that rank in the top 50, while facing some of the stingiest defenses each week. They have faced some powerful rushing attack like LSU's in Michigan and Wisconsin. Both the Wolverines and Badgers were completely shut down by the Buckeyes' front seven. This year, Northwestern had the nation's 11th-ranked passing offense, but they were held to 120 yards passing, while no team even threw for more than 269. The saying, "Defense wins championships is never more true here."

Another Angels-Sox Trade?

2008-01-05T20:09:00.001-08:00

Back in mid-November, the Los Angeles Angels and the Chicago White Sox swapped players with shortstop Orlando Cabrera going to the Windy City and pitcher John Garland returning to Southern California. Now the two A.L. foes are looking to deal again with Sox first baseman Paul Konerko and Angels second baseman in the middle of trade talks.

According to the Los Angeles Daily News, sources have indicated that Angels general manager Tony Reagins might be trying to get Paul Konerko to come play in Anaheim next season. When Konerko was a free agent before the 2006, Reagins' predecessor, Bill Stoneman, nearly landed the Chicago slugger. Now it appears as if Howie Kendrick and pitcher Ervin Santana could be headed to Chicago in a deal for Konerko. It's also been whispered that third baseman Joe Crede could be thrown into the deal if Angels utility- man Cone Figgins was to be included.

BCS: The B is for Boring

2008-01-05T08:04:00.000-08:00

As a USC fan, I certainly enjoyed the Rose Bowl, but sadly, I found most of the other BCS games this year to be pretty boring. There was no Boise State sequel as Hawaii was completely dominated by SEC power Georgia. Oklahoma proved to be an overrated number three team as they were destroyed by the Rich Rodriguez-less West Virginia Mountaineers. The only semi-interesting game was the Kansas-Virginia Tech defensive battle. Sorry, I found the Iowa Caucuses to be a little more interesting. But anyways, here are my thoughts from the games.

USC 49, Illinois 17 - Is there any doubt that USC is the number one team in the country after thrashing this Big Ten team. The Trojan defense had their way with the next Dennis Dixon, Juice Williams, who was sacked and threw a few interceptions. The Illini had four turnovers in the game and the Trojans capitalized on every single one for 28 points. John David Booty (pictured) showed that he is a legitimate pro prospect by throwing for nearly three hundred yards and three touchdowns. However, it wasn't just Booty. The Trojan offense racked up an astonishing 633 yards of total offense. This was the rout everyone expected came and it will only fed fuel that the BCS selection committee screwed it up once again.

Georgia 41, Hawaii 10 - It makes perfect sense that this bizarre College Football season would end with no unbeaten teams. However, I was hoping for a better game. To be honest with you, this game seemed like an exact clone of the earlier Rose Bowl blowout with Georgia playing the part of USC and Hawaii looking like the Fighting Zooks. If either Ohio State or LSU doesn't show up to play next Monday night, I am going to be pretty upset that Georgia got shafted just because they didn't win their conference. The Dawgs absolutely dominated a pretty good, Hawaii team. Warriors quarterback Colt Brennan was on his back for most of the night, as Georgia's defense sacked him eight times and rushed him into poor throws. At 12-0, Hawaii deserved to be in the BCS bowls but not against Georgia, who should have been in the BCS title game against USC.

West Virginia 48, Oklahoma 28 - I guess I was wrong here for I was sure that Oklahoma was going to destroy the Rich Rodriguezless West Virginia Mountaineers. Clearly the better team was West Virginia, as they owned the highlight reel on Sportscenter after the game. Fullback Owen Schmitt had the longest run in Fiesta Bowl history for 57 yards and fellow rusher Noel Devine looked like an SEC players on a 65-yard score in the fourth quarter. It wasn't a total blowout like the previous two BCS bowls for it was 20-6 at the half. Bob Stoops once again proved that he is lousy in BCS bowls after calling for an unsuccessful two point conversion and then on-side kick in just the third quarter. However, Stoops' stupidity should not take anything away from the well played game by West Virginia, who will be even better next year with the return of dual threat quarterback Pat White and his dual-threat rushing-receiving yardage, Noel Devine. Heck, maybe even Steve Slaton will stick around.

Kansas 24, Virginia Tech 21 - After hearing about how Kansas really didn't deserve a BCS bowl, can we all finally admit that the Jayhawks are pretty good football team after all? Maybe the problem is a BCS rule that allows only two teams from one conference to take part in the BCS. Then, Missouri could have played in the BCS instead of the overmatched Illinois Fighting Illini. I am not even a Jayhawks fan but I think that they are on the cusp of something big, and they definitely deserve a top five finish this season. They return just about everybody next year, including quarterback Todd Reesing. Watch out for the Jayhawks!

I Owe you an apology: Mr. Kupchak

2008-01-04T11:54:00.001-08:00

Before the start of this season, it would be an understatement to say that I was not a fan of Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak. Calling him "Mitch Kupcake" I criticized his draft picks (Sasha Vujacic, Andrew Bynum, and Jordan Farmar) and his personnel moves (trading not trading for Jason Kidd or Kevin Garnett). Now that we are over two months into the NBA regular season, I believe that I owe Lakers Kupchak an apology.

While Kidd or Garnett would have made the Lakers better this season, Bynum has proven capable of producing now, while still being the center piece for future Laker teams. Even Kobe Bryant, who was critical of Bynum, now seems to be his biggest fan. After averaging a double double this season it seems as if the entire NBA wants Bynum. It's no big surprise when you think about it. How many twenty-year old seven foot centers are walking around the league averaging well over ten points and ten rebounds.

Kupchak was torched for his poor drafting, specifically taking Jordan Farmar and Sasha Vujacic. Now both Farmar and Vujacic are young, crafty guards who are more than capable of knocking down jump shots and getting the ball to LA's playmakers.

I am sorry for being so critical, Mitch. Maybe, you know what you're doing after all.

This Sounds Familiar

2008-01-04T11:04:00.000-08:00

Guess who wants back in Green Bay? Mr. Javon Walker. Yes, this is the same Javon Walker who wanted out of Green Bay because the Packers refused to renegotiate his contract following the 2005 season in which he missed most of the year due to injury. The Packers gave him his wish and subsequently traded him to the Denver Broncos during the 2006.

After two lackluster and injury plagued seasons for the Broncos, Walker now wants out of Denver as well. During a postseason interview Walker said that the Broncos were not the right fit for him anymore.

“Green Bay made me who I was for a team like (the Broncos) to want to bring me here,” Walker is quoted as saying in an interview. “So, maybe it takes a team like that to go back.”

Sorry, Javon but the Packers really don’t need an injury plagued receiver with an enormous salary. Green Bay also has one of the top wide receiving groups in the entire league with Pro Bowler Donald Driver, touchdown machine Greg Jennings, and sure handed rookie James Jones. Maybe, Javon Walker needs to put more thought into demanding trades.

NFL Wild Card Playoff Preview

2008-01-04T08:19:00.001-08:00

Seattle Seahawks v. Washington Redskins
After four consecutive victories the Washington Redkins are one of the hottest teams in all of the NFL and poised for a big playoff run. Their opponents, the Seattle Seahawks, have been a little up-and-down as of late. They lost to the horrible Panthers and Falcons this month and pilled on wins again lowly NFC West foes to win their weak division. On paper the 'Hawks might have the better all around team, especially on offense with Matt Hasselbeck, but the Skins are simply a team on a mission. Todd Collins has been quite efficient as the team's quarterback and team leader since the injury to Jason Campbell. He has led a Redskins offense that has played mistake-free football, which is the key in the postseason. Since the death of Sean Taylor, Washington appears to be a team focused and ready to play with enthusiasm. Redskins 27-24

Pittsburgh Steelers v. Jacksonville Jaguars
Everyone around the NFL seems to be on the Jaguars bandwagon right now, and it is pretty obvious as to why. Jacksonville has a dual-headed monster at running back with Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew, a mistake-free quarterback in David Garrard, and a stifling defensive unit. For the past month, the Steelers have been pretty inconsistent, and they'll also be playing without star running back Willie Parker, who was injured just a few weeks ago. The Steelers to be on the downside while the Jaguars seem to be getting better each week. I'll take the hotter team. Jaguars 24-17

Tampa Bay Buccaneers v. New York Giants
While the Giants looked sensational offensively against the Patriots last Saturday, inconsistency has plagued them all season. Some games Eli Manning has looked like his older brother while in others he reminded fans of Ryan Leaf. What is most disturbing about Eli is his 20 interceptions and his 56% completion rate. Certainly the Giants have the firepower to potentially make a run in the NFC, but they have also proven to choke and collapse after emotional games such as last Saturday loss to New England. Look for the efficient Jeff Garcia and the stout Bucs defense to take over in this one. Buccaneers 23-17

San Diego Chargers v. Tennessee Titans
The Titans only hope here is for the Chargers to self-destruct and beat themselves. That's going to really tough, especially since the Chargers have now won 6 games in a row now. Earlier in the season Philip Rivers was playing like an inexperienced rookie bu now he is is starting to play like a poised veteran. With LaDainian Tomlinson in the backfield and stout defense led by Shaun Merriman, it seems as the Bolts are a lock here. Chargers 34-14

Don't Forget about Neitzal and the Spartans

2008-01-02T16:13:00.001-08:00

So far this College Hoops season, all of the undefeated teams such as Memphis, North Carolina, and Kansas, are getting all of the love, while some of the one better loss teams like UCLA, Pittsburgh, and Tennessee are becoming easily forgotten.

Most of all people have completely forgotten how good the Michigan State Spartans are. Their lone defeat this season was to then number one ranked UCLA when star point guard Drew Neitzel had been throwing up all day. What made matters worse was the fact that the Spartans got lousy performances from Goran Suton (0 field goals attempted in 20 minutes) and Kalin Lucas (five points, four turnovers). Each team is going to have a bad game eventually and the Spartans just had theirs a little early. This is still a serious title contender.

Happy New Year!

2008-01-01T21:34:00.000-08:00

While I certainly hope your 2007 was a great year, hopefully 2008 will be even better. Happy New Year to All! Go Lakers, Angels, Ducks, Trojans, Packers, and Chargers.

YouTube Tuesday: Bosh and Gundy

2008-01-01T21:32:00.000-08:00

Chris Bosh begs fans to vote him in for the All-Star Game this year. Personally, I thought it was pretty fun.

Coors Light does another great job with these coach press conferences.

2008 Sugar Bowl: Georgia v. Hawaii

2008-01-01T16:00:00.001-08:00

Breaking Down Georgia
Prior to an October 13th matchup against highly touted Florida, Georgia was struggling after two early season blowout losses. Then in the victory over Florida, they discovered redshirt freshman Knowshown Moreno who carried the Dawgs to a big victory. Over the second half of the season, Moreno has been the heart and soul of the Bulldogs' offensive attack.

In a game against Auburn, Moreno, had 101 yards on 22 caries. Hawaii has not faced a running back as good as Moreno so expect the Dawgs to try and control the line of scrimmage by pounding the ball with Moreno.

Riding Moreno and the much improved quarterback Matt Stafford, Georgia ended up finishing 10-2 but they were unable to face LSU in the SEC championship as they lost the tiebreaker to Tennessee, who had beaten 35-7 on October 6th. Since the Dawgs were denied a chance for a SEC championship bid, most voters did not give Georgia a shot for the national title and they ended up in New Orleans a week earlier for the Sugar Bowl. Look for the Dawgs to try and make a statement.

Breaking Down Hawaii
Much like the 2006 Fiesta Bowl was for Boise State, this Sugar Bowl will be the biggest game in Hawaii’s history. A win over the "hottest team in college football" will signal the arrival of the Warriors as a national power.
They certainly have the offensive playmakers to knock off the highly touted Georgia Bulldogs. At quarterback the Warriors feature one of College football's greatest players of all-time in Colt Brennan. Brennan, who finished third in the Heisman voting, holds the Division I-A record for touchdowns with 131. Currently, he is also the nation's active leader in career completion percentage (70.7), pass efficiency (169.8) and total offense (394.8 yards per game).

What separates Brennan from the typical quarterback is his ability to get the ball to multiple receivers. Receivers Ryan Grice-Mullen (100 catches, 1,335 yards), Davone Bess (101 catches, 1,213 yards) and Jason Rivers (82 catches, 1,069 yards) all finished with very similar statistics.

X-Factor: Knowshown Moreno's Ankle
Against Georgia Tech, Moreno sprained an ankle that leaves him questionable for tonight's game. Because of the injury, Mark Richt anointed senior Thomas Brown as the team;s starting running back. While Brown is certainly a serviceable running back, Moreno was the key piece in Georgia's midseason rival. If he can't play effectively, Hawaii's chances will improve dramatically.

Final Analysis
Expect Hawaii to jacked up and get off to a really fast start, just like underdogs like Boise State last season and West Virginia the year before. Brennan will certainly get his yards, especially with his talented receiving core. Hawaii's defense is a lot better than people give them credit for. They have a lot of big guys up front and they won't let Moreno and the Dawgs just overpower them. I am not saying that they shut down the Dawgs but they hold them to enough points that will eventually allows Brennan and company to score as much as necessary. Hawaii 45-41

2008 Rose Bowl Preview: USC v. Illinois

2008-01-01T10:47:00.000-08:00

Breaking Down USC
USC struggled at times this season due to numerous injuries, most notably to left tackle Sam Baker, running back Stafon Johnson, and quarterback John David Booty. Even with Booty and many other starters out, the Trojans were still able to beat Arizona and hapless Notre Dame, but they were upset at home by Stanford and edged out on the road against Oregon. These two October losses cost the Trojans a shot at the national championship.

After appearing destined for the Sun Bowl after the loss to Oregon, USC reeled off four straight victories, including wins over highly ranked Arizona State and cross-town rival UCLA. With a rejuvenated Booty, USC's offense was spectacular down the stretch, outscoring opponents 116-51. Against Arizona State on Thanksgiving night, the Trojan offense racked up 508 yards of offense with Booty scoring five total touchdowns. A week earlier against California, running back Chauncey Washington displayed USC's strength in the running game by rushing for over 200 yards. With a month to prepare all of USC's offensive stars are finally healthy, except for wide receiver Patrick Turner.

While the offense has had a roller coaster season, the Trojans' defense never lost its way. Led by first-team All-America defensive linemen Sedrick Ellis and Lawrence Jackson, the Trojans defense finished the season ranked second in the nation while giving up just 258.8 yards per game. USC also finished fourth nationally in points per game (15.9) and run defense (79.1 yards per game).

Breaking Down Illinois
Back in August, many predicted that Illinois would finish in the bottom tier of the Big Ten. However, to the surprise of many, the Illini wound up with a 9-3 and a birth in the Grandaddy of them All, the Rose Bowl. Sophomore quarterback Juice Williams was the biggest surprise for Illinois, throwing for 1,498 yards, 13 touchdowns and rushing for 774 yards and seven scores. His maturation was the main reason why the Illini were able to win their final four games, including an upset against number one ranked Ohio State in Columbus.

Williams is the same dual threat quarterback that has historically given the Trojans' defense fits. Earlier this season Oregon's Dennis Dixon beat the Trojans by running for 76 yards and a touchdown and throwing for 157 yards. Back in September, Washington's Jake Locker ran for 50 yards and two scores in a three-point USC win. Do we even need to remind you what Vince Young did to the Trojans a couple years ago? Williams may not be as good as Dixon or Young but he is running the spread option well behind an offensive line that allows just eleven sacks all season.

However, Williams isn't the only big-time player on the Illini offense. He has a dangerous backfield mate in Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year Rashard Mendenhall (1,526 yards and 16 TDs). If the Illini are going to have any chance at upsetting the Trojans, they must be able to move the ball on the ground with Mendenhall.

X Factor: Experience v. Inexperience
This is Illinois first Rose Bowl since 1984 and the first bowl game for all of Illinois' current group of players. Just last season, the Illini were 2-10 so they clearly lack the big game experience, On the other hand, this is USc's third consecutive Rose Bowl and their sixth consecutive BCS Bowl. It will be hard for Illinois' young players to travel over 2,000 miles, play in their first big-time bow game, and beat USC in their own house.

Only one team, Maryland, has had a longer bowl drought than Illinois' end. Back in 2001, the Terps made their first postseason appearance in 11 years by playing Florida in the 2001 Orange Bowl. However, the inexperience caught up to them, as they suffered a 56-23 loss to Florida.

Final Thoughts
While Zook certainly has the Illini headed in the right direction, USC is far too talented of a team to lose to the inexperienced Illini. Over the final month of the season with all of the injuries behind them, the Trojans finally began playing like the team they were suppose to. Pete Carroll and the Trojans sincerely value the experience of playing in the Rose Bowl so expect USC to come out firing on all cylinders. USC 38-13

Bowl Preview: Outback, Cotton, Gator, Capital One

2007-12-31T18:13:00.000-08:00

(16) Tennessee v. (18) Wisconsin: Outback Bowl
When the preseason magazines hit the shelves back in the Spring, most experts had Wisconsin as a national championship contender. However, the Badgers did not meet expectations as they looked mediocre against non-BCS conference teams and eventually lost to several conference foes. Wisconsin's defense was expected to be the strength of the team but in reality it was a weakness. Therefore, expect Wisconsin's secondary to be exploited by the arm of Tennessee gunslinger Erik Ainge, who has an excellent season in his own right. The Badgers have a pretty good offense with Tyler Donovan and P.J. Hill but they faced a fast SEC defense this year. Tennessee 38-31

(7) Missouri v. (25) Arkansas: Cotton Bowl
The Cotton Bowl features two Heisman finalists in Chase Daniel and Darren McFadden. Both Daniel and McFadden should have their typical big-time performances but it's the supporting casts that will be the difference. Since Daniel's surrounding cast, especially with Tony Temple and Jerry Maclin, is superior, the Tigers should emerge victorious in their first New Year's Day bowl since the 1970 Orange Bowl. Missouri 41-28

(21) Virginia v. Texas Tech: Gator Bowl
Chris Long and company will get plenty of pressure on Texas Tech's Graham Harrell but the question is whether they can keep up with Tech's fast receivers led by Michael Crabtree. As we saw this season, Virginia won a lot of close games that could have gone the other way. .Tech has a lot more firepower than the Cavs do so I'll take Tech. Texas Tech 38-21

(9) Florida v. Michigan: Capital One Bowl
This will be the final game for Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr who just retired last month. With six weeks to get healthy and prepare for the Gators, expect seniors Chad Henne and Mike Hart to have big performances against a vulnerable Florida defense. However, Michigan will be exposed once again by another team that utilizes the spread offense. Florida's Urban Meyer is the master of the spread and expect him to exploit every possible weakness for Michigan's defense. He has the playmakers with Heisman winner Tim Tebow and speedburner Percy Harvin to dominate a slow Michigan defense. With too much team speed, expect Florida to pour on the points and ruin Carr's final game as the Michigan coach. Florida 45-24

Overall: 12-9

Bowl Preview: Insight, Music City, Chick-Fil-A

2007-12-31T09:16:00.001-08:00

Indiana v. Oklahoma State: Insight Bowl
If you like high scoring affairs like the Motor City Bowl, than you're going to love his one. Neither the Hoosiers nor the Cowboys have the defense to keep each other under 30 points. On paper, it seems like Oklahoma State would have the better athletes and therefore a victory would be inevitable. However, the Hoosiers appear to be a team of destiny in the postseason with their mantra, "Play 13." This refers to former head coach Terry Hoeppner's goal of returning the Hoosiers to post season play for the first time since 1994. Indiana has played the 2007 season in honor of Hoeppner, who passed away in June from brain cancer at the age of 59. Now that the Hoosiers have reached his goal of 13 games, don't expect them to let up in the slightest. They have an excellant quarterback-wide receiver tandem in Kellen Lewis and James Hardy that will able to compete with the Cowboys' exciting offense when this game becomes a shootout. Indiana 41-38

Kentucky v. Florida State: Music City Bowl
Florida State has been having tough times these past few seasons and with 36 players missing the bow game due to a cheating scandal, it's hard to imagine the Seminoles actually beating the resurgent Kentucky Wildcats. At one point this season, Andrew Woodson was a serious Heisman candidate and the Wildcats were in contention for the national championship. Kentucky still has a lot to play for in this one: back-to-back bowl wins for the first time ever. With a decidedly blue crowd in Nashville, Woodson and the Cats won't disappoint. Kentucky 42-10

Auburn v. Clemson: Chick-Fil-A Bowl
Auburn is going to struggle a little bit offensively due to the fact that they are trying to install a brand new spread offense for this game. On the other side, Clemson has an exciting fast paced offense that can score points in bunches. The Tigers have a dynamic tailback tandem of C.J. Spiller (1,505 all-purpose yards) and James Davis (992 rushing yards). They were able to produce a much more balanced offense this season thanks to the emergence of highly efficient quarterback Cullen Harper (67 percent completions, 27 touchdowns, 6 interceptions). While both teams have stifling defenses, Clemson should take home the victory because they have the more efficient offense. Clemson 17-14

Red Zone Report, Week 17: Late Games

2007-12-31T09:05:00.001-08:00

Chargers 30, Raiders 17 - The Chargers will only go as far as Phillip Rivers will take them. Sorry LT, but the you need a quarterback to manage the games in the postseason. Against the Raiders, Rivers had another good performance with over 100 yards passing and a touchdown pass. While these aren't the most impressive stats, Rivers did not throw an interception. The Chargers are +24 in turnover margin and if the trend continues this team could go far in the playoffs.

Titans 16, Colts 10 - Well the folks in Tennessee are happy but those in Cleveland are anything but pleased. The Titans' chances appeared bleak when Vince Young got hurt but the reliable Kerry Collins was able to lead leads the Titans way in drives that got two Rob Bironas field goals. Field goals is all you need when Jim Sorgi is playing for the Colts instead of Peyton Manning.

Redskins 27, Cowboys 6 - Did you really think the Cowboys would pose much of a challenge for the Skins. With homefield advantage there was no way that the Cowboys were going to play their starters. On the other side, Washington was extremely focused on easily won the game.

Ravens 27, Steelers 21 - Pitssburgh should have played their starters. If they had won, they could've had a chance for the third seed and avoided the surging Jacksonsville Jaguars. However, they played Charlie Batch and abunch of second and third stringers and watched Troy Smith look like the Heisman winner that he was in 2006.

Broncos 22, Vikings 19 - The Vikings almost came back to win this with Tarvaris Jackson throwing two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter to Bobby Wade. However, the Vikings still lost and Washington won so they were out of the playoffs anyway. Minny had their chance last week.

Jets 13, Chiefs 10 - Did either team really want to win? Common, the winner gets a lower draft pick but the loser, the Chiefs gets a higher.

Cardinals 48, Rams 19 - Do the Rams stink or what?

Bowl Preview: Armed Forces, Sun, Humanitarian

2007-12-30T20:10:00.000-08:00

California v. Air Force: Armed Forces Bowl
Cal finally seemed poised to seriously contend for a national title back in October as they were ranked second in the nation. However, their 5-0 start was nothing more than a mirage, as the Bears then lost six out of their last seven games, including a 20-13 defeat to Stanford in the Big Game. One of the biggest reasons for Cal's collapse was the erratic play of quarterback Nate Longshore and wide receiver DeSean Jackson. Ever since their September victory against Oregon, Longshore had been playing with a chipped bone in his right ankle, which was not known while he was playing. The injury forced Longshore to get rid of the ball quickly, which resulted in 11 interceptions over the last six games. While having big games against Tennessee and Oregon, Jackson struggled mightily with consistency and completely disappeared in several games. Cal's most consistent offensive threat was running back Justin Forsett (pictured), who rushed for 1,406 yards and 13 touchdowns. While Air Force certainly has a good enough offense with quarterback Shaun Carney and running back Chad Hall to put pressure on Cal's average defense, I can not envision Jeff Tedford letting the Bears lose other game to inferior opponent, especially when his quarterback finally appears healthy. California 31-28

Oregon v. South Florida: Sun Bowl
Much like Cal, Oregon was another Pac Ten that had a chance to appear in the national championship game on January 7th. However, that opportunity fell apart on November 19th when quarterback Dennis Dixon went down with an injury in the first quarter. Without Dixon, the Ducks lost their final three games to Arizona, UCLA, and Oregon State. While they did finally show some life against Oregon State, it is hard to see the Ducks regrouping against a talented USF team. Back in October, South Florida (which is actually in Tampa) was ranked number two in the BCS. They feature an outstanding quarterback in Matt Grothe, who has run for 832 yards and 10 touchdowns and thrown for 2,473 with 13 TD passes. Oregon has a shaky pass defense that allows 250 yards per game so Grothe and the Bulls will have plenty of success. South Florida 35-24

Georgia Tech v. Fresno State: Humanitarian Bowl
Make no mistake about it, Georgia Tech does not want to be playing in the Humanitarian Bowl in Boise, Idaho. After dominating wins against Notre Dame and Samford to open up the season, most Jacket fans were expecting a run at the ACC championship again and not a trip to Boise in December. Therefore, even with Tashard Choice and a far more talented team look for Georgia Tech to be anything but motivated for today's game. On the other side, Pat Hill's Fresno team is always motivated to play team from BCS conferences. Therefore, Fresno State upsets Georgia Tech simply because they actually want to be playing.

Overall: 9-6

Red Zone Report, Week 17: Early Games

2007-12-30T19:09:00.000-08:00

Browns 20, 49ers 7 - It's Brady Quinn time in Cleveland. With about five minutes to go in the first half, current starting quarterback Derek Anderson left the game with a right hand injury. While making his way toward the locker room for X-rays, Brady Quinn checked into the game followed by loud cheers! His first pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage, his second pass was dropped in the flat, but his third attempt was a completion to tight end Steve Heiden for a first down. Quinn then led the Browns down for a field goal to increase their lead to 17-7. While Quinn looked okay, the Browns still decided to start Anderson for the second half in a meaningless game.

The victory win was meaningless for the Browns because their playoff chances ride on the back of the Indianapolis Colts. If the Colts beat the Titans than the Browns are in. However, if the Colts lose than the Titans are in. Even if they miss out on the playoffs, this was one heck of a year for Browns fans.

Falcons 44, Seahawks 41 - Everytime the Seahawks venture to the East Coast, they always seem to lose to subpar NFC teams. While the starters didn't play much, a three touchdown loss to Atlanta doesn't help anybody get ready for the playoffs. Even NFL journeyman Chris Redman threw for 4 touchdowns in this one.

Bears 33, Saints 25 - Why would anybody in their right mind even kick to Devin Hester (a.k.a. the Windy City Flyer). The Bears return specialist took another punt to the house in addition to a 55-yard bomb he caught from the bearded Kyle Orton. With his 64 yard return, Hester broke his own record for kicks/punts returned for touchdowns in a season. Orton got the win over Drew Brees in the battle of Boilermaker QBs, while throwing for two touchdowns and 190 yards. Better than Grossman and Griese.

Bengals 38, Dolphins 25 - Sitting in a press box suite, Bill Parcells got to witness first hand his massive rebuilding project, the Miami Dolphins. I least he could take solace to the fact that not all of his players have been arrested like his team's opponent.

Panthers 31, Buccaneers 23 - This is one of many reasons why I hate Week 17. Here we had Matt Moore and Luke McCown battling in a meaningless game. My one-time fantasy sleeper, DeAngelo Williams, had his first bug game, rushing for two touchdowns and 121 yards on 20 carries.

Eagles 17, Bills 9 - Donovan McNabb threw for 345 yards and a touchdown in what might be his last game in Philly. Too bad for Philly fans that their team started playing well when the games didn't matter anymore.

Packers 34, Lions 13 - Can we all agree that the Mike Martz experiment did not work according to plans. Thirteen points against the Packers third string. Common!

Texans 42, Jaguars 24 - Congratulations, Houston, you now have a .500 football team. Maybe they aren't hopeless after all!

Bowl Preview: Independence

2007-12-30T11:16:00.000-08:00

After hiring Nick Saban for $32 million dollars and starting off the season at 6-2, most Alabama fans were expecting a better finish than a 6-6 record and a trip to the Independence Bowl. However, the Tide struggled down the stretch with demoralizing losses to Sun Belt conference foe Louisiana-Monroe and heated-rival Auburn. Just like the past few seasons, this Crimson Tide team was also suspect to inconsistent play, particularly at quarterback with John Parker Wilson.

Wilson and the rest of Bama's offense has looked impressive at times, scoring 41 points against Arkansas and Tennessee, but they also failed to score more than 14 points in its final three games. Wilson put together some clutch drives early in the season, but he finished in a slump with five interceptions and one touchdown in his last three games.

Colorado quarterback Cody Hawkins has also had trouble with inconsistent play this year. After the first eight games, Hawkins had thrown 14 interceptions in his first eight games, but he did throw just one in his final four while attempting 120 passes.

The key to the game is which quarterback can make the fewest mistakes. Judging by the defenses they'll be facing, the most likely quarterback to screw up will be Hawkins. Defensively, Alabama ranks 28th in the nation and first in the SEC in tackles for loss so they should be able to rattle the young freshmen quarterback. The Tide feature three first-team All-SEC performers, defensive lineman Wallace Gilberry and defensive backs Simeon Castille and Rashad Johnson. With Nick Saban at the helm, there is no way Alabama will have a losing record in 2007. Alabama 31-24

Bowl Preview: Liberty, Meineke, Alamo

2007-12-28T21:21:00.000-08:00

Mississippi State v. UCF: Liberty Bowl
Central Florida features the best player that you've never heard of in running back Kevin Smith (pictured), who has rushed for 2,448 yards and 30 total touchdowns. The junior back needs just 180 yards to break Barry Sanders' all-time, single-season rushing record. Over his last four games, the junior running back has piled up 1,000 yards. The Knights lack a strong passing game and therefore rely heavily on Smith as he averages over 30 carries per game. If Mississippi State is to stop Central Florida than they must shut down Smith who has feasted upon weak rush defenses. The Bulldogs' front seven is the typical SEC defensive front as they rank just 65th nationally against, which should allow Smith to have a big day rushing the football. What hurts the Bulldogs even more is the fact that their offense is one of the worst in the country, as they average just 305.33 yards, worse than 111 schools. Their top offensive star is running back Anthony Dixon (980 rushing yards, 13 TDs), but even he hasn't rushed for over the century mark since an October 13th loss to Tennessee. Mississippi State lacks enough offensive firepower to keep up with UCF and their defense isn't good enough to stop the Knights completely. UCF 21-7

UConn v. Wake Forest: Meineke Car Care Bowl
Just one year ago, Wake Forest was a top the ACC and was preparing to face Big East champion Louisville in the Orange Bowl. While the Meinke Car Care Bowl is no BCS game, the Demeon Deacons were still a solid football team in 2007 by winning eight games. UConn also experienced a resurgence of their own under Randy Edsall as they finished with nine wins. While Wake is known for its efficient offense, UConn is the exact opposite as their offense ranks just 84th nationally. They use a running-back-by-committee in sophomores Donald Brown II and Andre Dixon who combined for 1,558 yards and 11 touchdowns. If the Huskies can maintain a consistent running attack they will be able to keep Wake's highly efficient quarterback Riley Skinner off the field. In 2007, Skinner completed 71% of his passes, good for second in the nation. If Wake dominates the time of possession that UConn will be in for a long afternoon. Playing in a virtual home game, look for the Demon Deacons to stop UConn's running game and score just enough to win. Wake Forest 24-14

Penn State v. Texas A&M: Alamo Bowl
If you like low-scoring, defensive battles than this is the game for you. Both Penn State and Texas A&M feature offenses that have their fare share of difficulties in 2007. Senior quarterback Anthony Morelli had another tough season as he struggled in big games against Michigan, Illinois and Ohio State; combining for four interceptions and just one touchdown. A&M has a pretty good quarterback in Stephan McGee, who passed for over 300 yards against Texas, but the Aggies rarely throw the ball. Instead they rely on 268-pound bulldozer Jorvorskie Lane and speed-burner Mike Goodson to run the ball. This does not boad well for the Aggies as they face a Penn State defense that ranks ninth in the nation in yards allowed (306.6 per game) and second in the Big Ten behind Ohio State. With Texas A&M losing their coach, Dennis Franchoine to retirement, Penn State should come out with the victory in an ugly game. Penn State 23-13

Overall: 6-5

Why are You a Fan: NFL Edition

2007-12-28T17:22:00.000-08:00

We are all fans of particular NFL teams, but it is important to ask: Why do we like the teams that we do?

Was it as simple as cheering for the local team? Or was it parental influence? Was it a favorite player, like Peyton Manning? How about a style of play, like the greatest show on turf St. Louis Rams teams. Was it the blue-collar type like the Pittsburgh Steelers? Was it a big play, like Donovan McNabb's 4th and 26 completion to beat the Green Bay Packers? Whatever it was, we all have are reasons for liking a certain NFL team.

Speaking for myself, I am proud to be a Green Bay Packers. When I first became an NFL fan around 1999, Los Angeles had already lost both the Rams and Raiders to relocation. Therefore, there was no logical team for me to follow. I grew even more frustrated while learning how the Rams and Raiders went about leaving Southern California. Therefore, I decided to follow a team that could never leave its city: the Green Bay Packers. Besides the Packers, I also root for Southern California's only professional football team, the San Diego Chargers. I like the Bolts because they are a the only SoCal team and are fun to watch every week. Due to their recent success, CBS is broadcasting the Chargers every week in the Los Angeles area and like many fellow residents, I have the chance to watch them play.

So now its your turn, Why are you a fan?

Bowl Preview: Champs Sports, Emerald, Texas

2007-12-28T09:44:00.000-08:00

(14) Boston College v. Michigan State: Champs Sports Bowl
Both Michigan State and Boston College made impressive strides this season under first year coaches Mark Dantonio and Jeff Jagodinski. However, on paper this appears to be a complete mismatch in BC's favor. Eagles quarterback Matt Ryan (pictured) became one of the country's top offensive players this season by throwing for 4,258 yards and 28 touchdowns. For several weeks this season, it appeared as if Heisman voters were just about ready to hand the prestigous trophy over to Ryan. Subsequently, the BC quarterback should be more than capable of torching a pretty weak Michigan State secondary. It also doesn't help that the Spartans' key defensive standouts Jonal Saint-Dic and Darean Adams have been suspended for the game due to academic violations. Saint-Dic's defensive pressure and ten sacks will surely be missed. The Eagles' underrated defense (25th nationally) should also be able to control Michigan State's unimaginative offense. The Spartans have a good running game led by Javon Ringer but Boston College's run defense should keep him in check. With Ryan at the helm and a stifling defense, Boston College should be too much for upstart Michigan State. Boston College 31-14

Oregon State v. Maryland: Emerald Bowl
Oregon State is not your typical Pac Ten football team as they feature a power running game in addition to a physical defensive front. After a slow start the Beavers have finished strong winning their final three games including the Civil War against instate rival Oregon. Running back Yvensen Bernard had another outstanding season on the ground, rushing for over 1,000 yards. With Bernard and a stout rush defense that allows just 74.9 rushing yards a game, the Beavers should be able to control the tempo. Like Oregon State, Maryland also lacks a strong passing game. If the Terps find themselves in many third and longs, it could be a long night for Ralphy Friedgen's bunch. With two average offenses, Oregon State's defense should be the X-Factor. Oregon State 21-10

Houston v. TCU: Texas Bowl
While this game doesn't have the big names like a Texas or Arizona State, it does feature two exciting teams to watch. Under head coach Art Briles, Houston became one of the top scoring teams in the country and under Gary Patterson TCU continued their top notch defensive play. However, the Cougars with be without Briles who left to take the head coaching job at Baylor. With Briles away, Houston might be missing a step on offense and look for TCU to certainly take advantage. However, even without Briles at the helm, the Cougar offense will still be capable of scoring plenty as they average over 500 yards a game. Unlike other high-scoring teams such as Hawaii, the Cougars have balance as they average over 200 yards in the air and on the ground. While playing in front of the hometown crowd in Reliant Stadium, look for the Cougars to edge out a victory. Houston 35-24

I didn't have time to do a Holiday Bowl preview but I would've tabbed Arizona State anyway.
Overall: 4-4

Prior to the 619 is a Steal

2007-12-26T22:10:00.000-08:00

Earlier today, Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported that the San Diego Padres signed former Cubs ace Mark Prior to a one year deal for one million dollars. The signing gives Prior a chance to revive his career with his hometown Padres in pitcher friendly Petco Park. Back in 2003, Prior became one of baseball's best young pitchers by finishing third in the CY Young Voting by going 18-6 with a 2.43 ERA. However, the former USC standout has suffered through injuries since then and has not pitched since the 2006 season. Despite the injury concerns, the Padres signing of Prior was a good move by their GM Kevin Towers. Here are three reasons why:

1. It's Low Risk
A major league baseball teams signing a guy for a one year one million dollar deal is the equivalent of McDonalds hiring a sixteen year old for minimum wage. If Prior is once again pounded by injuries than the Padres don't have their one million dollar deal fulfilled. However, the upside of the signing is tremendous. Just a few years ago, Prior was one of the game's most dominant pitchers nearly leading the Cubs to the 2003 World Series while finished third in the CY Young voting. If he can regain at least some of his old form than the Padres will have found a top level pitcher for AAA money.

2. Petco Park
Petco Park is regarded by most major leaguers to be the most pitcher friendly park in all of baseball. If Prior is to ever regain his old form, it'd be best for him to do it away from a hitters park, like Coors Field, U.S. Cellular FIeld, or Citizen's Bank Park. Many young pitchers such as Chris Young and old veterans such as Greg Maddux have found Petco to be instrumental into improving their game.

3. Bud Black
Padres manager Bud Black is regarded by most people to be one of the top pitching coaches in all of baseball. While working for the Angels under Mike Scioscia, Black developed young pitchers such as John Lackey, Jered Weaver, Joe Saunders, Ervin Santana. Was is just a coincidence that Santana had a dismal season in 2007 after winning 18 games under Black in 2006. Black could help Prior to become an efficient major leaguer once again.

Bowl Preview: Motor City

2007-12-26T07:38:00.000-08:00

When Purdue and Central Michigan faced off last September, the Boilermakers quickly jumped out to a 38-0 lead before winning 45-22. Subsequently, most analysts are expecting Central Michigan, who beat just one team with a winning record this season and lost by an average of 41 points against their three BCS conference opponents, to once again fall apart at the face of the Boilermakers. While on paper, this seems like a Purdue rout of CMU, Boilermaker fans should feel a little concerned right now.

Since beginning the season 5-0, Purdue has done a major nose dive losing five out of their last seven and their final three games. I question whether the Boilermakers really care about playing a MAC school the day after Christmas in snowy Detroit. On the other side, the Motor City Bowl is like a national title game for the Chippewas. With a chance to get revenge at an upper level Big Ten school, CMU should come out firing on all cylinders. With a high scoring offense led by Dan LeFavour, the Chips should find themselves scoring in bunches against an average Boilermaker defense. If Purdue comes out flat, especially on offense, look for the Chips to take advantage. Central Michigan 41-31

Overall: 4-2

Merry Christmas to All

2007-12-25T11:06:00.000-08:00

Have a safe and wonderful holiday.

What I Want For Christmas

2007-12-25T06:40:00.000-08:00

When six and seven year olds ask Santa Claus for toys, I thought I'd ask him for some help in the sports world. So please Santa, this is all I want for Christmas:

7. For the Pac Ten to play on ESPN
The Pac Ten finally gained some respect nationally this past season and it would have been nice for the rest of the country to see the conference's exciting teams more frequently. With late-night telecasts on Fox Sports Net and Versus, it becomes increasingly difficult to watch teams other than USC. By playing weekly on ESPN, the Pac Ten could really increase its exposure, benefiting us all.

6. For Somebody to beat the Patriots
There isn't a team in all of sports that I despise more than the Pats. From spygate to their arrogance of Bellicheat, I find myself rooting for New England's opponents each and every week. Nothing would make me more sick than seeing this group of guys go 19-0 and become the greatest team of all time. Sorry but that is just how I feel so please make sure this team doesn't stay undefeated.

5. For Andrew Bynum keep improving
So far this season, Baby Bynum has proven to his critics that he is a legitimate NBA center by averaging a double double (11 pts and 10rebounds) per game. Bynum is a humble young man who hasn't been treated well by the Lakers' star player, Kobe Bryant. So far Bynum has handled on the criticism of Bryant and Phil Jackson well and it'd be nice for him to continue his success.

4. For John David Booty to play in the NFL
During his five seasons in Los Angeles, John David Booty's class and determination on and off the field have won me over. I can vividly recall Booty thanking my younger brother for seeking his autograph back in 2004. Yes, you heard that right thanking him. With all the preseason hype, it was sad to see Booty have an "average season this year. Because of the way USC fans have turned on him, it'd be nice to Booty get a chance to do well in the pros.

3. For East Coast Baseball Powers to Collapse
Nothing bothers me more than watching Baseball Tonight during June, July, and August, and being forced to listen to everybody hyping up the Yankees, Red Sox, and Mets. I figure that the only way to get them to stop talking about the New York and Boston teams would be for them to just go down the tube.

2. For the Packers to do well in the playoffs
Despite a 12-3 record so far this season, I am not expecting or even demanding that this team take home its fourth Lombardi Trophy. Just two years ago the Packers had just four wins and last year they only had a .500 record. Therefore, I was not expecting this current Packers team to win the Super Bowl this season. Yes, they have a very good team but with the Patriots, Colts, and Cowboys, all appearing to have more firepower, a loss to either of these three teams would not be a bad mark in my books.

1. For the Angels to win the World Series
Over the past few seasons, the Angels have been very close to being a great team. In both the 2006 and 2007 seasons, the Halos have been just one power hitter away from taking home a World Series title. Is Tori Hunter the missing piece? I hope so. Nothing would be better than the Vladimir Guerrero Angels taking home the World Series crown come next October.

Why We All Hate Bonds

2007-12-24T10:04:00.000-08:00

Just yesterday, Roger Clemens released a video on his website restating the fact that he did not use steroids, HGH, or any other performance enhancing drugs despite allegations in the Mitchell Report. This same denial is much similar to the one we have heard from Giants slugger Barry Bonds over the past few seasons, causing baseball fans and even members of the national media to condemn Bonds for lieing about his alleged steroid use. While thinking about Bonds' treatment compared to Clemens, it became clear that Americans don't view Clemens with the same disdain that they do for Bonds. Since both are alleged steroid users, it would appear logical that Clemens would be hated just as much as Bonds. Sorry but that isn't the case and here is why Bonds is so hated.

1. He plays for the Giants:
What makes Bonds difficult to cheer for is the fact that he plays for the San Francisco Giants. The Giants aren’t the lovable losers like the Cubs or Devil Rays, and they have rivals in multiple cities, Los Angeles, Oakland, and New York. One of the reasons that made Ken Griffey Jr. an easier player to root for is the fact that he has played for the Seattle Mariners and Cincinnati Reds. Fans of other teams usually don’t have a problem cheering for the Mariners or Reds but the Giants tend to bring up more hard feelings. People seem to either love the Giants or hate them.

2. Everybody loves Hank Aaron:
Breaking Hank Aaron's home run record wasn't an event that was celebrated by the fans. Hammerin Hank Aaron is one of baseball’s most beloved players due to his dedication, skill, and character. When Aaron chased the all-time home run record, he did it with grace and courage as even death threats were directed toward he and his family. Because of his actions, he is still beloved by baseball fans and even certain commisioners.

3. Bonds’s Ego is bigger than David Wells's diet:
Fans love the hard-working, modest players with Tony Gwyn and Cal Ripken Jr. being prime examples. Bonds isn’t that team first guy. He has been known by many players to be a distraction in the clubhouse. During the early 2000s, Bonds became notorious for feuding with former Giant teammate Jeff Kent. Throughout his career he has had trouble being the team guy that so many fans love. Is it any coincidence, that free agents are flocking to come play with Bonds. If I was a free agent hitter in 2002, would there be a better spot in the lineup than batting third in front of Bonds.

He has also been a jerk to the young baseball fans. When kids have brought baseball cards for Bonds to sign, the Giants slugger has been known to either refuse to sign or to rip the cards up. Nobody likes a big jerk and Bonds surely acts like one.

4. Bonds represents Goliath
Bonds fits the hated Goliath role better than anyone else. From 2001-2005, he was the most feared hitter in the entire game of baseball. Nobody cheers for the all-mighty Goliath. Each time he stepped up to the plate, all baseball fans east of San Francisco cheered for the opposing pitcher to strike out the great slugger.

Santana won't go to NL

2007-12-24T10:00:00.000-08:00

When discussing the possible suitors for Johan Santana one things appears clear: he isn't going to the National League. It would seem logical that the Twins would prefer to trade their ace away from the A.L., but that does not appear to be the case. Trading Santana to the Yankees or Red Sox would only hinder Minnesota's chances of advancing to the World Series. By trading him to the Dodgers or Mets, this would be most beneficial to the Twins.

However, nobody but the Red Sox or Yankees have presented the Twins with a compelling offer, showcasing the gap between the two leagues.

Apparently, the Twins are disinterested in anything that N.L. teams have to offer. The belief is that the N.L. teams aren't financially competitive and have thin farm systems. Last season, seven of the top ten payrolls, including four of the top five, were in the AL. It appears as if the N.L. teams don't have the pieces to make a trade possible.

Red Zone Report, Week 16: All Games

2007-12-24T08:42:00.001-08:00

Jaguars 49, Raiders 11 - Wake up people! Outside of the Indianapolis Colts, the Jacksonville Jaguars may possibly be the biggest threat to knock off the Patriots. This really wasn't an exciting game for the average fan but it was important for the development of this young Jags team. Earlier in the season, the Jags had a pretty mellow offense but still had a stifling defense. Now, they have an potent offense that may be just as good as their defense. Quarterback David Garrard continued to be efficient as always throwing just his third interception of the year to go along with two touchdown passes. Running back Fred Taylor showed Pro Bowl voters why he should be in Hawaii in February by rushing for 111 yards and a touchdown on just seven carries. This is a very scary football team.

Lions 25, Chiefs 20 - Detroit might not reach Jon Kitna's predicted ten games but they still might reach a .500 record, which isn't too bad considering that Matt Millen still runs this team.

Colts 38, Texans 15 - Nothing really much to watch here, as the Colts performed their annual victory over the playoff aspiring Texans. Peyton Manning and company were efficient as usual as six of the first eight Colt drives resulted in points. Tony Dungy will be sitting people next week against the Titans.

Eagles 38, Saints 23 - Well, put it in the books, the Saints were a one hit wonder. So many times this season, the had winnable games that they just threw out the window. Losing Marques Colston to a chest contusion doesn't help too much but still the Eagles aren't that good.

Giants 38, Bills 21 - All season long the Giants have tried to be a finesse team offensively with Eli Manning, Amani Toomer, and Jeremy Shockey. However, they finally used their most effective offense this season: the running game. Pounding the ball with Brandon Jacobs, the G-Men were able to come back from a 14-0 defecit..

Bears 35, Packers 7 - If the Green Bay Packers were too play one more sloppy game than it was best to get that out of their system. The loss gave home field advantage to Dallas Cowboys. Packers punter Jon Ryan had a terrible game in the cold a with two blocked punts, a bad snap, and a nine yard punt. Ouch!

Bengals 19, Browns 14 - The Bengals finally showed up and looked like they kinda-sort of cared. For once, Derek Anderson and the Browns' offense appeared mortal, but they still almost came back from a 19-0 halftime deficit.

Cardinals 30, Falcons 27 - The Cardinals did pull this off in overtime but how bad is their defense? Arizona defense gave up over 300 yards passing to Chris Redman.

Titans 10, Jets 6 - Thanks to the egg that the Browns layed in Cincinnati, the Titans actually have a chance to make the playoff, despite another terrible offensive football game.They say that Vince Young is great because he just wins but maybe its just the fact that he has a great defense right now.

49ers 21, Buccaneers 19 - Maybe this Shaun Hill guy is actually pretty good. Last week, he had a big game with two touchdowns, leading the Niners to a victory over the Bengals. This week, Hill threw three touchdown passes in a victory over the Bucs. Maybe he deserves a shot?

Patriots 28, Dolphins 7 - Another Patriots game in which Brady, Moss, and comapny destroyed their opponents. Brady needs two more touchdown passes to set the all-time single season mark.

Seahawks 27, Ravens 6 - The 'Hawks beat up on another lousy opponent. Troy Smith actually got the start but he looked pretty mediocre.

Bowl Preview: Hawaii

2007-12-23T13:22:00.001-08:00

Last year Boise State stunned America by upsetting Oklahoma in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, but a year later they find themselves playing East Carolina in the Hawaii Bowl. Big drop off? Certainly, but the Broncos still are a pretty good team with ten wins to show for it.

After last season's historical bowl win, the Broncos responded quite nicely despite the loss of numerous starters such as Jared Zabransky. After starting the season slowly with a road loss to Washington, Boise State has come on strong, especially senior quarterback and first-time starter Taylor Tharp. With star running back Ian Johnson injured for several games, Tharp carried the Broncos by throwing for more than 3,000 yards and 28 touchdowns.
While East Carolina has certainly had a solid season, the Pirates are pretty thin, especially on the defense front. If the Broncos can create some holes for Johnson, they'll destroy a pretty average East Carolina defense. With a surplus of offensive talent, expect plenty of points to be scored in this especially with Ian Johnson leading the way. Boise State 42-22

Overall: 4-1

Kobe Becomes Youngest to Reach 20,000

2007-12-23T12:07:00.000-08:00

On a Sunday morning filled with NFL action, Kobe Bryant's latest achievement might have slipped under the microscope but not here at West Coast Bias. When Kobe sank a three-pointer during the third quarter against the Knicks, he became the youngest player in league history to score 20,000 career points. The previous record holder was Wilt Chamberlain at 29 years, 134 days, but Kobe was able to get there 12 days sooner. Not surprisingly, even though Kobe achieved this feat at a younger age, Wilt got there in far fewer games: just 499 to Bryant's 811.

Even though the Lakers did eventually win the game 95-90, they still blew a 25-point third quarter lead. Kobe was able to shake off both his recent injury and his poor shooting, by scoring 39 points, collecting eleven rebounds, and logging eight assists, while shooting 50% from the field. I guess there really is something special about playing at Madison Square Garden.

Live Blog: Las Vegas Bowl

2007-12-22T16:52:00.000-08:00

Because of my crazy schedule, I usually don't get very many chances to do live blogs. So over the course of the holidays, I plan on doing a few live blogs. If you aren't familiar with live blogs, don't worry. During the game, I am just going to use the comments section in order to give some random thoughts about the game. I encourage all readers to join in on the fun and comment. Here is my prediction for tonight's matchup between UCLA and BYU.

The State of the Seahawks with Mookie

2007-12-22T15:12:00.000-08:00

Mookie, also known as SSReporters, is the lead writer for the sports blog Stupid Sideline Reporters and the Seattle Seahawks beat writer for the sports website known as ArmchairGM. To get a better understanding of how the Seahawks' roller coaster season has gone, I decided to interview the young Seattle resident. So here is Mookie's take on the state of the Seahawks?

1. When did you begin following the Seahawks?
My initial interest in the Seahawks began around 2004. At that time they were marginally good but often faded in the 2nd half of many games, blew away leads and ended up losing them. In an ironic twist, we relocated here in 2005, the year they went to the Super Bowl. Naturally, I threw my full support behind our home team and I'm still a very loyal 'Hawks fan (not to be confused with the Atlanta Hawks!).

2. How did you become the ArmchairGM Seahawks beatwriter? Could you explain what the ArmchairGM beat writing group is all about?

Just one word Joey, bribery Dan Lewis (DNL) had created this project for beat writing. Initially, the focus was on NBA, MLB, and NFL teams. Since no one was assigned to the Seahawks beat, I signed up right away (now I share duties with Afraidofedhochuli. Besides, do you really think I would want to write about the Sonics?

The ArmchairGM beat writing group is all about objectively covering a specific team. Even when the season is over for whatever league, you still write about them. In my humble opinion, its no different from being a sports journalist for any major publication (minus the road trips, of course).

3. On a 1-10 scale, could you rate the Seahawks' performance so far this season?
To be totally objective, it's better to rate by individual categories, since each have different standards of measurement.

Passing Offense: 8. The passing game has been phenomenal for Seattle. Matt Hasselbeck is having a great season, his receivers in Deion Branch, Bobby Engram, and Nate Burleson are not dropping passes, they seem to be really in-sync.

Rushing Offense: -3.5 3. The running game has actually worsened from last season. Shaun Alexander has rushed for 612 yards on 186 carries and 3 touchdowns. That's just 3.3 yards per carry: pathetic!. However, there have been some bright spots in this debacle. Back up RB Mo Morris has run for 497 yards on 112 carries (4.4 yards per carry) and 3 TD's. Do the math, Morris has been much more effective than the supposed franchise player.

Offensive Line (Passing): 9. It's not up to the standards of 2005, but Hasselbeck is finally getting protection again. Consider that in 12 games last season, Hasselbeck was sacked 34 times. After 14 games this season, Hasselbeck has been sacked just 29 times. That's not half bad right?
Offensive Line (Rushing): 4.5. The blocking is just on there anymore. The holes for Seattle running backs are hard to come by nowadays. It's been pathetic. Obviously these guys need Steve Hutchinson and Mack Strong badly (to be discussed later in the interview).

Passing Defense: 9. An incredible improvement from last year in the secondary. The new signings in Deon Grant and Brian Russell to go along with the 7 interceptions by Marcus Trufant have lead to a defense that has allowed the fewest TD passes in the NFL.

The Front 4: 10. Seattle is 2nd in the NFL in sacks (41), with the front 4 anchored by off season signing Patrick Kerney, who leads the NFL in sacks with 13 1/2. The pass rushing has been consistent for most of the season, and has been the key to this Seattle defense.

Rushing Defense: 8.5. Last year, 49ers RB Frank Gore torched them for over 300 yards in their 2 meetings. Overall, they were literally run over by every running back imaginable. This season, Seattle has allowed just 2 RB's to reach the 100 yard plateau. Their recent success has been led by run stuffer's Julian Peterson, Lofa Tatupu, and Brandon Mebane, a rookie from Cal. The only flaw for the Seahawks for now is that they've been allowing a lot of TD runs of 30 yards or more.
Special Teams: 5.5. The special teams in the return game has been much improved once Nate Burleson started returning kickoffs and punts. Burleson is a reserve Pro Bowl return man if Devin Hester is injured. The punting by Ryan Plackemeier though has been atrocious, averaging just 39 yards per punt. It's mainly been the poor snaps by Boone Stutz, who has since been released.

Overall: 7.5

4. I have heard some 'Hawks fans grumbling about Holmgren's coaching this season. How do you think he's doing? Should he resign after this season?

I believe Holmgren is having an average year so far. The play calling is predictable to the point where I know what they are going to call even before the play begins. I think he took way too long to realize that Seattle has a lot more success throwing the football, than when they run off tackle with Shaun Alexander. If he started this pass first style of play earlier in the season, you're looking at a team that could be easily be 11-3.

Should he resign? I don't think he should at all. Holmgren has led them to 5 playoff appearances (including an NFC Championship and 4 division titles) after switching to the NFC, he is still a key figure in this franchise's history. One option that could happen though, is he relinquishes his play calling duties to offensive co-ordinator Gil Haskell or share those duties in 2008.

5. It seemed that the Seahawks were really hot two weeks ago after thrashing the Cardinals at home. Then, they went to Carolina and layed an egg. Which is the the real Seahawks team?

The real Seahawks team is pretty much what you just stated, a Jekyll and Hyde team. Seattle has shown they can play to the level of the Cowboys and Packers with dominating wins against Tampa and Arizona, yet play ever so poorly against teams like Carolina.

6. Fantasy Football players have surely found out that Shaun Alexander is not the same player he was two years ago. What the heck happened?
I don't know where to start, let me find a way to explain it in a clear and concise manner.

Injuries. Shaun Alexander has had an incredible number of injuries since last season. He had a broken foot, was out for a month, and he still has not run with the same power and determination ever since. I believe that the foot problem has not gone away, and it may permanently affect the rest of his career. This season, he's the human version of the guy on the Operation game. He's missed time with a sprained ankle, a bad knee, a broken wrist, you name it. Perhaps because of these, Alexander is actually running even worse this year than last year.

Personnel changes. A good running back is nothing when his offensive line is mediocre. The loss of Steve Hutchinson and the retirement of Robbie Tobeck have really hurt the overall running game of Seattle. In addition to that, this year, Seattle lost a great blocking fullback in Mack Strong, who had a career ending neck injury. Strong has blocked for 1,000 yard rushers for 14 consecutive seasons up until 2006, when Alexander was hurt.

Shaun himself. For reasons unknown (with the current best guess being his injuries), Alexander is going down with arm tackles, he is even falling to the turf with no one touching him. He is no longer hitting the holes when available, he stutters out of the gate as if he is scared.

Offensive play calling. He used to be Mr. Reliable on 3rd and 1 and 4th and 1 situations. Now he's running backwards, getting stopped at the line of scrimmage, he's practically incapable of getting just 1 yard. Some of it has to do with the offensive line, but in other cases, the play calling is predictable. But Holmgren keeps trying over and over and over again, and the result doesn't seem to affect his thinking just a little bit.

7. How far can this Seahawks team go in the playoffs?
It depends on who their opponent is in the first round. Seattle has already lost to New Orleans at home, and Minnesota is the hottest team in the league not named New England. They could very easily be out in the first round if they face either team, but with the home field advantage, I doubt it. For now, with the way the Seahawks are playing, sure they can compete in places like Green Bay or Dallas, winning is highly unlikely. Any given Sunday we could see an upset, but the final verdict is another year, another exit in the NFC Divisional Round.

Bowl Preview: Papa Johns, New Mexico, Las Vegas

2007-12-22T08:25:00.000-08:00

(19) BYU v. UCLA: Las Vegas Bowl
In the first meeting back in September, UCLA edged the Cougars by ten points, but in actuality, BYU dominated the Bruins. Despite the final score, BYU outgained UCLA offensively 435-236, but three turnovers doomed the Cougars. Don't expect BYU to make so many mistakes this time around.

This is a young Cougar team that has really improved throughout the course of the season. Sophomore quarterback Max Hall has replaced John Beck quite nicely with 3,617 yards and 24 touchdowns. However, this year the Cougars are a little more balanced offensively with Harvey Unga rushing for 1,211 yards and 13 touchdowns.

This offensive surge will be way too much for the Bruins' defense. With the recent Karl Dorrell firing, the Bruins won't be mentally prepared for the game against a really good Cougars team. BYU 38-17

(20) Cincinnati v. Southern Mississippi: PapaJohns.com Bowl
After such a succesful first season of the Brian Kelly era, it would have been nice to see the Bearcats in a big-time bowl. Despite that, the Bearcats will still be geared up to earn their 10th victory, which will be a huge step for the program. Cincinnati feature head coach Brian Kelly's signature no-huddle spread offense, and senior quarterback Ben Mauk runs it to absolute perfection. The Wake Forest transfer finished ninth nationally in pass efficiency with 27 TDs and just six interceptions. With Mauk at the controls, the Bearcats also rank 14th in scoring offense (36.75 points per game). The Bearcats are average on defense but they are pretty good against the run, which is Southern Mississippi's strong suit. Cincy's offense and talent is too good for the Eagles so expect Mauk to finish his college career in style. Cincinnati 45-14

New Mexico v. Nevada: New Mexico
I think the whole point of creating the New Mexico Bowl for for the Lobos to have at least one bowl that they would make very single year. On paper, both of these teams are pretty average and really don't deserve to be in a bowl game, especially the Lobos. So far this season, New Mexico ranks 84th in total offense (357.42 yards per game) and 78th in scoring offense (24.83 points per game). That lack of offensive production doesn't work too well in high scoring bowl games. While Nevada is only 6-6, they are a little better than their record indicates. The Wolfpack is 3-5 in games decided by eight points or fewer, including a 69-67 quadruple-overtime loss to Boise State and a 28-26 defeat to Hawaii. If they can finish the deal against an average New Mexico team than the Wolfpack will finish over .500 for the third straight season. Nevada 35-21

Yesterday: 1-0

Bowl Record: 2-0

Bowl Preview: New Orleans

2007-12-21T14:08:00.001-08:00

Of all the bowl games that are available, thanks NFL Network, this one appears to be the least interesting. Anyway, I really think that Florida Atlantic is going to win this game for two reasons: Rusty Smith and Howard Schnellenberger.

Smith (pictured) is the quarterback for the Owls and he has had one of the best seasons in Sun Belt history by throwing for 3,352 yards and 27 touchdowns. This type of efficiency, especially at the quarterback position, is good enough for the Owls to dominate an average Memphis defense.

The second reason is Howard Schnellenbgerger. If you aren't familiar with Schnellenberger than you're really missing something special. Schnellenberger has turned around various college football programs such as Louisville and Miami. During his tenure at both schools, Schnellenberger won multiple big games. Right now, he is building the FAU program from scratch and the rise should continue tonight. Florida Atlantic 34-21

Bowl Preview: Poinsettia

2007-12-20T13:16:00.000-08:00

During the regular season, I made previews for the best games each Saturday. With the regular season now history, I decided to do a preview for all 5,432 bowl games, whether you care or not. So without further ado, here is the first preview of the season: the Poinsettia Bowl.

Big wins over rivals Notre Dame, Air Force, and Army, have given Navy one of the most memorable seasons in recent memory, as they'll aspire to cap it off with a Poinsettia Bowl victory tonight. However, they will enter tonight's game against the Utah Utes without their head coach Paul Johnson, who resigned earlier this month to take the job at Georgia Tech. Instead of Johnson, the Midshipmen will have the first Polynesian head coach in Division I-A history, Ken Niumatalolo, pacing the sidelines.

This sudden change at the top doesn't help the Middies too much but neither does Utah's stout defense. Over the course of this season, the Utes have allowed just over fifteen points a game, good for third in the nation, and are 18th nationally in total defense. While Navy does average 40 points per game, they were just 1-3 against bowl teams this season. Because of this matchup or mismatch, Utah should win fairly decisively. Utah 27-10

Overall: 0-0

Sean Taylor Posthumously Named to Pro Bowl

2007-12-19T16:07:00.000-08:00

Earlier today, the Pro Bowl rosters were announced and Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor was named to the NFC squad. Taylor was voted to the NFC Pro Bowl team posthumously on Tuesday, three weeks after after he was shot during a burglary at his Florida home.

"The Washington Redskins defensive back got a starting position on the team at free safety. He was having an outstanding season and was among the leaders in fan balloting for a team selected by a combination of fans, players and coaches."

This situation reminds everybody that Taylor wasn't just a practice squad player but a legitimate Pro-Bowler.

Red Zone Report: Week 15, Late Games

2007-12-17T19:45:00.001-08:00

Chargers 51, Lions 14 - They're back. Last year the Bolts were the toast of the league while posting a 14-2 record but this year they have been rather quite. The Chargers picked off Lions QB Jon Kitna five times in this one. They were also outstanding running the football as LaDainian Tomlinson had over 100 yards and two scores in the first half. Imagine if he had played in the second. LT's backup Darren Sproles was pretty impressive in his own right as he rushed for 122 yards and two more scores. It seems as if the Chargers are back on top while the Lions are back on the bottom.

Eagles 10, Cowboys 6 - Get over it folks! Jessica Simpson had absolutely nothing to do with the outcome of this football game. Tony Romo's injured thumb was the main problem as he threw three picks and had several fumbles against a swarming Eagles defense. It was obvious that Romo had no grip on the ball and he clearly lacked some zip on his passes. However, it is interesting that the last time he performed so poorly was when then-"just friend" Carrie Underwood was in the stands in a game last year against the Eagles.

Colts 21, Raiders 14 - While the Colts did lock up a first round playoff bye, the Raiders sure made this one interesting. Prior to the start of the fourth quarter, Oakland had the lead and they were keeping Indy's offense out of the endzone. However, their upset attempt ended when Peyton Manning threw a late touchdown to regain the lead, and Joseph Addai converted the 2-point conversion afterwards to lock it up.

Redskins 22, Giants 10 - This was another game in which the weather (wind) played an absolutely huge role in the outcome of the game. Eli Manning either had his receivers dropping the ball constantly or throwing behind behind them at bad times, mostly in the red zone. With Todd Collins at quarterback, the Redskins basically just handed the ball off to running backs Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts.

Red Zone Report: Week 15, Early Games

2007-12-16T14:53:00.001-08:00

Dolphins 22, Ravens 16 - You have to feel happy for the Fins. No team should have to suffer through losses each week unless they are the Raiders. With the game in overtime, it appeared as if the Fins would blow it again but Matt Stover hooked a 44-yard field goal. Then the great Ravens defense, with six defensive backs on the field, gave up a 65 yard touchdown pass to Cleo Lemon for the win.

Browns 8, Bills 0 - It was ugly but that can be credited to snow and 40 mile per hour winds. Cleveland’s points came off of two Phil Dawson field goals and a safety when Buffalo punter Brian Moorman let the snap go over his head and into the end zone. Browns running back Jamal Lewis was impressive once again as he rushed for 145 yards, eating much of the clock late in the game.

Patriots 20, Jets 10 - I had a feeling this would be closer, especially since everybody in the world was saying that the Pats would drop fifty on New York. For once, Tom Brady and Randy Moss, did not score three touchdowns apiece as running back Laurence Maroney did the dirty work, rushing for over one hundred yards. The win pushed the Pats to 14-0 with the Giants in two weeks and the Dolphins up next.

Buccaneers 37, Falcons 3 - The Bucs had their first kickoff return for a touchdown in franchise history by Micheal Spurlock. The Bucs defense was sensational as they limited Falcons quarterback Chris Redman to 34 yards passing. Ouch! No wonder Bobby Petrino left.

Packers 33, Rams 17 - While everybody loves Brett Favre, his receivers are getting the job done for him. The Packers receivers lead the league in yards after catch. While Favre is having a great year, more credit needs to be given to the outstanding receiving core of Donald Drive, Greg Jennings, James Jones, and Donald Lee.

Jaguars 29, Steelers 22 - The Jaguars remain the league's most underrated football team after they once again beat a top NFL team on the road. Quarterback David Garrard had three touchdown, and Fred Taylor was dominant on the ground with a late touchdown.

Panthers 13, Seahawks 10 - I did not see this one coming at all. The Panthers have been porous all season long and the Seahawks have been dominant of late, especially last week against Arizona. If they are going to get back on the winning track Shaun Alexander has got to start playing much, much better.

Titans 26, Chiefs 17 - It's official, the Kansas City Chiefs have stopped playing football. Their defense, which was good in the first half of the season, made the inconsistent Vince Young look out of this world with 191 passing yards and 2 TDs.

Saints 31, Cardinals 24 - It appears as if the Cardinals are out of the playoff hunt and the Saints are still in. There is one Wild Card spot in the NFC remaining, since the Giants already took one. With consecutive victories, the Saints have a great shot at returning to the postseason. Drew Brees continued his offensive surge with two touchdowns in the air and running back Aaron Stecker had two on the ground.

Breaking News: Michigan Hires Rodriguez

2007-12-16T12:49:00.000-08:00

According to ESPN and the Associated Press, the University of Michigan has hired West Virginia's Rich Rodriguez as its next football coach. The Wolverines intend to introduce Rodriguez at a news conference tomorrow morning at the Junge Family Champions Center on campus.

In an e-mail to the Associated Press, Michigan athletic director Bill Martin said, "I am thrilled to have Rich Rodriguez as Michigan's new coach. Rich brings an exciting brand of football to Michigan Stadium. We welcome the entire Rodriguez family to Ann Arbor."

Rodriguez will take over the Michigan program from Lloyd Carr, who spent thirteen seasons in Ann Arbor and announced his retirement November 19th. Carr plans to coach the Wolverines in the Capital One Bowl on January 1st against ninth ranked Florida.

Rodriguez compiled a 60-26 record after seven seasons at West Virginia. This season he led the Mountaineers (10-2) to their second Big East title in the past three seasons. While coaching All-Americans Pat White and Steve Slaton, Rodriguez and the Mountaineers appeared in three major bowl games, 2006 Sugar Bowl, 2007 Gator Bowl, and the 2008 Fiesta Bowl.

Red Zone Report: Week 15, Pre-Sunday Games

2007-12-16T08:29:00.000-08:00

Texans 31 Broncos 13 - Back in 2006, everybody in the world criticized the Houston Texans for selecting Mario Williams with the number one pick instead of celebrated college stars such as Reggie Bush, Vince Young, and Matt Leinart. Even their fans chanted "overrated" following his selection. Two years later, nobody is criticizing the Texans as Williams is having a better season than the former USC and Texas stars. Currently, the Texans defensive end has 13 sacks and two forced fumbles. On Thursday night against the Broncos he recorded 3 1/2 sacks in leading Houston to a 31-13 victory over the visiting Broncos. The victory gave Houston a 7-7 record, equaling the franchise total in wins, while keeping them in the playoff hunt. On the other side of the ball, Denver pretty much eliminated themselves from playoff contention, as they are now 6-8.

49ers 20 Bengals 13 - The Bengals have pretty much fallen off the face of the earth here. Just two seasons ago, Carson Palmer and company won an AFC North title but now they have just four wins after losing to the depleted 49ers. On Saturday night, the porous Bengals defense allowed 49ers quarterback Shaun Hill, who was the third stringer and a starter for NFL Europe months ago, to complete 75% of his passes and record two touchdowns (1 passing and 1 rushing). The way this season has gone, it wouldn't surprise me if Marvin Lewis begins looking for a new job really fast.

Replacing Phillips Would be a Huge Mistake

2007-12-15T08:14:00.000-08:00

As the NFL regular season is nearing the end, potential coaching changes are already being speculated by various media outlets, including the Chicago Tribune. According to Dan Pompei of the tribune, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones may replace current head coach Wade Phillips with offensive coordinator Jason Garrett:

"Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett. He has a great pedigree. He comes from a football family, has a Princeton education, was an NFL backup quarterback for 11 years, played for Jimmy Johnson, Norv Turner, Jim Fassel, Sean Payton and Jon Gruden and coached under Nick Saban. To say nothing of his tremendous success with Tony Romo this year. Every team will want to interview Garrett, and it would not be shocking if Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is willing to replace Wade Phillips with Garrett next year instead of losing him."

Dallas would be making a huge mistake to even think of replacing Phillips with the young, offensive-minded Garrett. So far this season, Phillips has been nothing short of outstanding, as he has led the Cowboys to an NFC best 12 wins. While Garrett has shown a lot of promise as a young coach, he is still relatively inexperienced. Outside of this great season, he has not shown that he can be a head coach just yet.

If Garrett and the Cowboys are smart,than both parties will broker a deal to make Garrett the next coach once Phillips is done. Garrett is still plenty young, and there is no need to rush him into coaching. Also remember that there is no salary cap for coaches. Jerry Jones can pay Garrett a bunch of money to still remain the team's offensive coordinator.

Want Kobe Love?

2007-12-14T21:39:00.000-08:00

If anything became clear this past offseason, Kobe Bryant wasn't a big Andrew Bynum fan. However, Young Drew made Kobe proud last night with his ejection in the third quarter:

"Andrew should be proud of himself," Bryant said smiling. "First ejection. He
went out in style."

So Kobe's acceptance of a young teammate is complaining to the zebras and not through a big-time performance.

Mitchell Report Released

2007-12-13T18:48:00.000-08:00

Earlier today, former senator George Mitchell released the long-anticipated "Mitchell Report." Of course, I have not read the 300-page monster, but I have collected the most important information, the names. Albert Pujols, Mark McGwire, and Sammy Sosa, are not on the list. It’s pretty neat to see the list, but there aren’t too many shockers.

Andy Pettite
Gary Sheffield
Jay Gibbons
Troy Glaus
Roger Clemens (No wonder he missed spring training. To avoid testing!)
Barry Bonds (Duh!)
Bobby Estalella
Jason Giambi (I am shocked! Didn't see this one)
Miguel Tejada
Eric Gagne (do the Brewers regreat paying him $10 mill.)
Jeremy Giambi
Benito Santiago (Giants fans are laughing somewhere.)
Randy Velarde
Lenny Dykstra
Denny Neagle
Ron Villone
Ryan Franklin
Mike Stanton
Paul Lo Duca (bet the Nats are thrilled!)
Fernando Vina (What will ESPN say!)
Kevin Brown
Matt Herges
Chris Donnels
Todd Pratt
Kevin Young
Mike Lansing
Larry Bigbie
Brian Roberts
Jack Cust
Kent Mercker
Rick Ankiel (I thought he had a doctor's note)
Tim Laker
Todd Hundley (former Dodger! Yes!)
Mark Carreon
Hal Morris
Matt Franco
Rondell White
Jose Canseco (he only wrote a book about it)
Chuck Knoblauch
Gregg Zaun
David Justice
F.P. Santangelo (ha!)
Glenallen Hill
Mo Vaughn (He was certainly a fat one)
Paul Byrd
Jose Guillen
Jason Grimsley (What a surprise!)
John Rocker (It wasn't his fault. Gays and New Yorkers made him do it!)
Gary Matthews Jr. (No wonder he has such a high voice.)
Matt Williams

Kidd to LA isn't the Answer

2007-12-12T18:22:00.000-08:00

For the past few weeks, New Jersey Nets point guard Jason Kidd has been quite clear in his desire to be traded to a contender. As trade rumors continue to pop up daily, Nets team president Rod Thorn has admitted that he has received numerous proposals involving his disgruntled superstar.

One of the teams, supoosedly, interested in Kidd is said to be the Los Angeles Lakers. Any deal made with the Lakers would half to include starting center Andrew Bynum. If the Bynum was indeed traded to the Garden State, the Lakers would set the franchise back by at least ten years.

Sorry guys, but Jason Kidd is not the answer to the Lakers' problems. While there is no doubt that Kidd can play, he is 34 years old and is beginning to experience some injury problems. A trade for Kidd would also weaken LA's horrible frontcourt. Currently, Bynum is LA's best option at center and trading him for a guard would hurt the team anymore.

YouTube Tuesday - Tebow Highlights

2007-12-11T20:21:00.001-08:00

With Tim Tebow capturing the Heisman Trophy last Saturday night, I felt that it was appropriate to honor the Florida Gator with his highlight real.

Red Zone Report: Week 14, Late Games

2007-12-10T16:59:00.001-08:00

Seahawks 42, Cardinals 21 - The Seahawks might just be the quitest team in all of football. They never seem to get the press that the Patriots, Cowboys, or Colts, get but they still put play well just about every week. Their performance on Sunday was no exception as they dominated the playoff-aspiring Arizona Cardinals. Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner has had a pretty good season so far, but the Seahawks defense intercepted five of Warner's passes and sacked him five times as well. Offensively, the Seahawks have one of the league's top quarterbacks and game managers in Matt Hasselbeck. He had a great day throwing the ball with four touchdown passes in addition to leading the hawks to their fifth straight NFC West crown.

Patriots 34, Steelers 13 - Steelers defensive back Anthony Smith won’t ever be talking smack about an opponant ever again, especially after getting burned three times on touchdown passes by Tom Brady (twice to Randy Moss and once to Jabar Gaffney). The Patriots once again looked unstoppable on offense as Tom Brady became just four touchdown passes short of Peyton Manning’s current season record. If one thing is clear after this AFC battle, the Steelers and Ben Roethlesburger aren't even close to the Patriots' level right now.

Vikings 27, 49ers 7 - The Vikings have a really good running game, while the 49ers simply have a bad everything. Minny' Chester Taylor nailed the longest run for a touchdown this year with an 84-yard score on which he broke multiple tackles. It was clear after that play that the Niners may be worst tackling team in the league. As Alex Smith continues to struggle and Trent Dilfer became injured before the half, it seems likely that San Francisco is going to try and find a quarterback of the future. Maybe it should have been Aaron Rodgers? Just a thought.

Broncos 41, Chiefs 7 - Denver is a really young team that is beginning to turn the corner. Yes, they have struggled at times this year but they have a second year starter at quarterback, a rookie at running back, and an injured wide receiving corpse. However, these young guns looked really good against a good Chiefs defense. Jay Cutler threw for four touchdowns and rookie running back Selvin Young had 156 rushing yards. Denver's defense was pretty good as well as they held the Chiefs to just 159 yards of total offense.

Browns 24, Jets 18 - The playcalling and poor clock management by Jets coach Eric Mangini is one of many reasons that I don't love the NFL as much as everybody else does. With the Jets in a position late to make it interesting during the fourth quarter, Mangini decided to kick a field goal, which tied the game. Then he called for an onside kick with all three timeouts and plenty of time left on the clock. They good field position allowed the Browns to close it out with a Jamal Lewis touchdown run. Oh, and by the way, Cleveland is in position to make the playoffs.

Colts 44, Ravens 20 - Nothing much here for it was a boring game all in all, as the Colts locked up another playoff birth. Peyton Manning had a typical strong performance with four touchdown passes (two to Anthony Gonzalez, one to Reggie Wayne, and one to Joseph Addai, who also had two more rushing touchdowns). The game was a blowout for even third stringer and rookie quarterback Troy Smith got into the game. This Baltimore team is going absolutely nowhere and is Brian Billack's "offensive genius" title beginning to wear thin.

Saints 34, Falcons 14 - Is this team actually better without Mr. Overhyped (Reggie Bush). Seriously take a closer look at it. Prior to Monday night, the Saints ranked 30th in the league in average rushing yards per carry with 3.5. Their primary ball carrier, Reggie Bush, is also averaging 3.7 yards per carry. With Bush out of the lineup due to a PCL injury, the Saints averaged 4.8 a carry against Atlanta, led by Aaron Stecker's 20-carry, 100-yard performance. If New Orleans can maintain a consistent rushing attack than they might be capable of recreating that 2006 magic.

Red Zone Report: Week 14, Early Games

2007-12-09T14:39:00.000-08:00

Chargers 23, Titans 17 - Whatever happened to the Chargers actually being a fun team to watch? Oh ya, Norv Turner arrived. This was just an ugly game that went into overtime LaDainian Tomlinson scored to end it. Quarterbacks Phillip Rivers and Vince Young were both unable to complete the game was their backups Billy Volek and Kerry Collins each took snaps under center. The Titians had this one in the bag before falling apart.

Bills 38, Dolphins 17 - Miami really, really sucks! Sorry but there is simply no other way to put it. I never thought that they would give up 38 points to an average Bills team. Rookie quarterback Trent Edwards threw four touchdown passes. Both Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch had over 100 yards rushing. At 7-6, Buffalo is a threat to make the playoffs. Yes, Jim Mora, playoffs!

Packers 38, Raiders 7 - Too bad I missed a fun game here. Two special teams touchdowns from Will Blackmon (punt return and fumble recovery on a punt) helped to seal the victory and an NFC North title. Brett Favre’s arm appeared okay as he tossed two touchdowns and Ryan Grant had another 100 yard rushing game.

Cowboys 28, Lions 27 - It has got to be difficult being a Detroit Lions fan. God The Lions had a chance to add on to a 27-20 lead but fumbled the ball. Then Tony Romo led the troops down the field and connected with Jason Witten for a touchdown with only seconds left. Marion the Barbarian had 3 scores for the Boys, to help orchestrate the comeback.

Bengals 19, Rams 10 - How bad are both of these teams? You would think that with all the firepower that the Bengals have on offense that they would be able to score a bunch of points against the weak Rams' defense. This wasn't the case, as they had just one touchdown and four Shayne Graham field goals.

Texans 28, Buccaneers 14 - With all the injuries at quarterback, running back, and receiver, it still amazes me that the Texans are 6-7 and still fighting for a playoff birth. Gary Kubiak appears to be the right man for the Houston job. This team could be a playoff team the next few seasons provided that the front office is committed to winning.

Giants 16, Eagles 13 - I had a feeling the Giants would sneak out with this one. Philadelphia seems to be a little distraught ever since their Sunday Night loss to the Pats two weeks ago. On the other hand, another late season collapse doesn't appear to be in store for the New York Giants. It's a solid win for the Eli and company as the also clinch a playoff birth.

Jaguars 37, Panthers 6 - Not much to watch here. Jacksonville improves to 9-4 while John David Garrard throws for two touchdowns and Fred Taylor has another on a 100+ yard rushing day. On the other side, John Fox's hot seat might be getting a little hotter.

What's in Store for Bonds?

2007-12-08T17:10:00.000-08:00

On Friday afternoon, the circus officially began once Barry Bonds entered his plea: Not guilty. This is not surprising for anybody, but that doesn't mean it won't be any less suspenseful.

"Barry Bonds is innocent,'' said defense attorney Allen Ruby, "He has trust and faith in the justice system. We're confident of a good outcome.''

Ruby also alluded to the fact that the indictment has multiple holes. He said he and his colleagues would eventually be able to ask for a dismissal of the charges against Bonds.

Despite the indictment and a federal trial awaiting, it would seem to make sense that most teams would laugh at the idea at signing the media drawing slugger. However, the Oakland Athletics appear to have an interest in Bonds.

"There is no doubt in my mind that Oakland will sign Bonds," one major-league executive said Thursday as the winter meetings wound down. "I'd be shocked if it didn't happen."

Personally, I am shocked that Oakland is considering signing Bonds. Why would any team want to deal with the public relations nightmare that is Barry Bonds right now? No matter what the Athletics, do next season, if Bonds is on the team than he will be the only thing anybody wants to talk about. There is no doubt that Barry can still hit, but I don't think the 27 home runs that he may hit next season will be worth it due to all of the baggage that he brings.

Maybe I am crazy but this doesn't seem like a good fit for Oakland. What do you think?