The common belief is that the teams in the SEC are always beating each other up, thus knocking each other out of contention for a national championship. This weekend is the start of the beatings that will likely ensue for the rest of the season in that conference. High profile SEC matchups (Alabama vs. Arkansas and South Carolina vs. Auburn, to name a couple) will result in at least two of the SEC's seven currently undefeated teams to suffer their first loss of the season. At least one Top 15 team will go down. Thanks to the top teams in the conference beating on each other this weekend, there will likely be a major shakeup in the rankings come Sunday. They branded two weekends ago Monster Saturday, but this weekend could be as monstrous as any in the SEC. After tomorrow, we will have a much clearer picture of who are the contenders and who are the pretenders down South.
Top 5 Games to Pay Attention to This Weekend
#1 Alabama at #10 Arkansas (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET)
Last year, the Alabama defense shut down Ryan Mallett on their way to a 35-7 drubbing. This year the Razorbacks should be in a much better position to challenge the Tide. For Arkansas, it all starts with the turnaround on defense. A team that ranked last in total yards per game given up last year now ranks second in the SEC, behind only Alabama. Alabama is still very strong on defense, which should make it hard for Ryan Mallett to do a whole lot more than he was able to last year. If the defense for Arkansas is as improved on defense as the statistics suggest, they should keep this game close enough for Mallett to give them a shot at winning.
My Pick: 27-17 Alabama
#12 South Carolina at #12 Auburn (Saturday, 7:45 PM ET)
I was pretty sure that Clemson was going to be able to knock off Auburn last weekend, and if it hadn't been for Clemson quarterback Kyle Parker being injured the entire second half, they may have won that game. That is why am very confident that South Carolina will be able to do what their rivals could not last Saturday night. I don't think it was Clemson's defense that lost them the game. They just couldn't find a way to score points in the second half when they needed to. South Carolina has the tendency to have the same problem, but I believe that they won't even need to score that much in order to beat the Tigers.
My Pick: 24-13 South Carolina
#24 Oregon State at #3 Boise State (Saturday, 8 PM ET
Oregon State was able to keep the game against TCU close thanks to a couple of interceptions thrown by Andy Dalton. If the Beavers want to upset the number three team in the nation, they are going to have to force turnovers yet again. Boise's Kellen Moore was able to lead Boise over Virginia Tech thanks in part to the fact that he took good care of the football. If he is able to do that again, then the talent on the Broncos roster will probably be the difference in this game. Oregon State has gone as far as to practice on a blue field this week in preparation for the Smurf Turf, so if that doesn't say anything about the impact of playing in Boise for opposing teams, I don't know what does.
My Pick: 44-28 Boise State
#22 West Virginia at #15 LSU (Saturday, 9 PM ET)
Although they are 3-0, LSU doesn't really look like one of the best teams in the SEC this season. Even though they average over 28 points per game scoring, their passing game hasn't been all that productive. West Virginia, on the other hand, has had a surprisingly good passing game so far. This game will likely be a battle between LSU's defense (which has been solid) and West Virginia's offense, in particular the passing game. If this game were in Morgantown, I may go the other way with my pick. However, at home, LSU is going to need a collapse similar to the one they had against North Carolina in the second half in order to lose this game.
My Pick: 30-17 LSU
#5 Oregon at Arizona State (Saturday, 10:30 PM ET)
Arizona State did a nice job in Madison last weekend, coming within a blocked extra point of overtime with Wisconsin. This weekend the Sun Devils face an entirely different offensive attack. Oregon has been putting the pedal to the metal offensively in all three of their games this season, scoring an average of sixty-three points per game. It would be one of the shockers of the entire season if the Sun Devils were able to beat Oregon, and I'm not saying that it's going to happen. Just keep an eye on this game if Arizona State is still hanging around in the second half.
My Pick: Oregon 44-17
5 More to Flip To
#16 Stanford at Notre Dame (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET)
I think Charlie Weis could have started 1-3 with this schedule too...
Temple at #23 Penn State (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET)
Temple looks to be the class of the MAC. They have the capability of making this one interesting.
UCLA at #7 Texas (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET)
UCLA handled a Texas team last week. Can they make it two in a row?
Kentucky at #9 Florida (Saturday, 7 PM ET)
If this game wasn't being played at The Swamp, I would give Kentucky a much better chance of winning this game. Still, I think they at least have as much of a chance as Tennessee did last week.
California at #14 Arizona (Saturday, 10 PM ET)
The Pac-10 is weird. Arizona looked great last weekend, and Cal looked terrible. It could be the exact opposite this weekend, and I wouldn't even be all that surprised.
Storylines for the Weekend
North Carolina is cooked
Oh, how the tables have turned on the Tar Heels. Three weeks ago, they were getting ready for a game with the LSU Tigers, hoping that a win would be a proving point that they were one of the better teams in college football this season. Now, thanks to multiple suspensions handed out by the NCAA, the Tar Heels may just want to make it a goal to finish with a winning season. If North Carolina loses this weekend at Rutgers (which I believe they will), they will have a hard time not thinking of the 2010 campaign as a lost season. This is a sad but good example of what can happen when players receive improper benefits and are caught.
The Heisman race will begin to take shape
Right now, the Heisman bubble is still very fluid. After this weekend, we should have a better sense of who is really competing for college football's top individual prize. Ryan Mallett and Mark Ingram face off, which will undoubtedly result in one gaining a leg up on the other. Kellen Moore will get his second (and possibly last) shot to perform in front of a national audience to make his case as a Heisman contender. Terrelle Pryor has a chance to pad his stats against an Eastern Michigan team that is just plain bad. We're still weeks away from really knowing who is fighting for the bronze bust, but the conversation is becoming more relevant.
- K. Becks
Friday, September 24, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
Hold On There, Partner
We were all about ready to say that the Big Ten might be as good as the SEC this year. Unfortunately for Jim Delany, everyone is holding their tongues to avoid a premature anointment of greatness. The top of the Big Ten, save Ohio State (who rolled to a 43-7 victory over in-state rival Ohio), did not look very good at all this past weekend. Although the Buckeyes won, they still showed a weakness that has proven to be, at least at this point in the season, their only vulnerability; special teams. Iowa got into the mess that they did in the first half thanks to a blocked punt (which resulted in a touchdown) and a kickoff return for a touchdown. Wisconsin didn't look solid on special teams either, other than their block of Arizona State's extra point attempt in the fourth quarter, which ultimately proved to be the difference in a 20-19 Badgers win. What does all this say so far about the Big Ten? Well, since one of their best went down this past weekend, another survived a scare at home, and a third didn't have much trouble against a walkover (but still didn't look great on special teams), they need to fix the special teams dilemma. The weakness was highlighted in Ohio State's game against Miami two weekends ago. If the Big Ten wants to have a realistic shot of dethroning the SEC, they need to be able to contain these speedy return men, of which are plenty in the SEC. Special teams can win or lose games, and if the Big Ten wants to be on the winning side, they need to tighten up the special teams.
Part of being an NFL fan is that you must proclaim your team the greatest with each win, and cover your head to avoid a piece of the sky falling with each loss. This is especially true considering a team which, on paper, has all the tools to hold up the Lombardi Trophy at the end of the season. Yes, I am talking about the Dallas Cowboys. It is hard to pinpoint what the real problem is for the Cowboys. They have been in close games with teams who may be surprisingly difficult to beat this year (sure, Chicago was a controversial call away from losing in Detroit. They are 2-0, though. Washington followed up their win against Dallas with a valiant effort against the 2-0 Texans). Tony Romo hasn't played terribly, either. I think that Dallas themselves are a little confused, which is why it has been rather quiet from the Cowboys camp. No one is pointing fingers. Yet. However, the Cowboys get to face the Houston Texans this weekend for their first road test. A third loss to start the season and fingers will be flying in every direction. The only mystery will be at whom.
I really hope that the Colorado Rockies make the playoffs. It seems that each year, the Rockies catch fire at precisely the right time in order to make a run for the playoffs, and add excitement to what can often be a rather bland National League picture. Now that Troy Tulowitzki is back, he has energized this Colorado team once again, and is playing like the best player in baseball. If the Rockies do manage to make the playoffs, I don't see why they can't make it all the way to the World Series, much like they did back in 2007. Statistically, the Rockies' pitching performance as a whole is not any better than the Phillies' pitching. However, thanks to the play of guys like Tulowitzski and Colorado's consistent raising of the bar deep into the season, I think it would be an extremely exciting series. If the Rockies don't make in the NLCS, then I think the league is the Phillies for the taking once again (that is, of course, assuming that they make the playoffs as well). I don't see enough from San Diego or San Francisco to suggest otherwise, and I think that Cincinnati's inexperience in the playoffs will ultimately be their demise.
Questions or comments about anything I've written or about anything in sports you'd like to discuss? Send me an email at aroundthecornsportsblog@gmail.com or post a comment in the comments section, and I'll get back to you as quickly as possible. Have a Facebook page? Then please check out the Around The Corn Sports Blog fan page, and become a fan if you enjoy the site. Also, remember that you can now type in www.aroundthecorn.com into your browser and be redirected to the blog. Thanks everyone!
- K. Becks
Part of being an NFL fan is that you must proclaim your team the greatest with each win, and cover your head to avoid a piece of the sky falling with each loss. This is especially true considering a team which, on paper, has all the tools to hold up the Lombardi Trophy at the end of the season. Yes, I am talking about the Dallas Cowboys. It is hard to pinpoint what the real problem is for the Cowboys. They have been in close games with teams who may be surprisingly difficult to beat this year (sure, Chicago was a controversial call away from losing in Detroit. They are 2-0, though. Washington followed up their win against Dallas with a valiant effort against the 2-0 Texans). Tony Romo hasn't played terribly, either. I think that Dallas themselves are a little confused, which is why it has been rather quiet from the Cowboys camp. No one is pointing fingers. Yet. However, the Cowboys get to face the Houston Texans this weekend for their first road test. A third loss to start the season and fingers will be flying in every direction. The only mystery will be at whom.
I really hope that the Colorado Rockies make the playoffs. It seems that each year, the Rockies catch fire at precisely the right time in order to make a run for the playoffs, and add excitement to what can often be a rather bland National League picture. Now that Troy Tulowitzki is back, he has energized this Colorado team once again, and is playing like the best player in baseball. If the Rockies do manage to make the playoffs, I don't see why they can't make it all the way to the World Series, much like they did back in 2007. Statistically, the Rockies' pitching performance as a whole is not any better than the Phillies' pitching. However, thanks to the play of guys like Tulowitzski and Colorado's consistent raising of the bar deep into the season, I think it would be an extremely exciting series. If the Rockies don't make in the NLCS, then I think the league is the Phillies for the taking once again (that is, of course, assuming that they make the playoffs as well). I don't see enough from San Diego or San Francisco to suggest otherwise, and I think that Cincinnati's inexperience in the playoffs will ultimately be their demise.
Questions or comments about anything I've written or about anything in sports you'd like to discuss? Send me an email at aroundthecornsportsblog@gmail.com or post a comment in the comments section, and I'll get back to you as quickly as possible. Have a Facebook page? Then please check out the Around The Corn Sports Blog fan page, and become a fan if you enjoy the site. Also, remember that you can now type in www.aroundthecorn.com into your browser and be redirected to the blog. Thanks everyone!
- K. Becks
Friday, September 17, 2010
NCAAF Week 3 Weekend Preview
They called last weekend Monster Saturday in reference to the number of big matchups being played around the country. Although no one has coined a name for this weekend, there are a lot of interesting games this weekend as well. Here is a list of my top five games to pay attention to this weekend, as well as some storylines that I'd like to address.
Top 5 Games to Pay Attention to This Weekend
#12 Arkansas at Georgia (Saturday, 12 PM ET)
Georgia has never started 0-2 in the SEC under Mark Richt, but they have a tough test this weekend if they want to keep it that way. I put Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett on my preseason Heisman watch for a reason; he has the ability to pick defenses apart, even in the most hostile atmosphere. Georgia has had trouble scoring the ball this season, putting just six points on the board in a loss to South Carolina last weekend, which is not a recipe for success against a Razorbacks team known for their offensive firepower. The Bulldogs are missing wideout A.J. Green more and more every week.
My Pick: 31-17 Arkansas
#10 Florida at Tennessee (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET)
This is the most interesting matchup this weekend in my opinion. Tennessee looked good against Oregon last weekend for about a quarter and a half, and then went totally flat on offense for the rest of the game. Florida has not been overly impressive on offense this season either, so barring some sort of career day by John Brantley, Tennessee will probably not give up forty-five unanswered to the Gators like they did against Oregon. Florida is 5-0 against the Vols under Urban Meyer, but those wins were during the Chris Leak and Tim Tebow eras. Add the fact that Florida may be a little overrated, and that the game is being played in Knoxville, and we may be looking at the first Top 10 upset of the season.
My Pick: 27-24 Tennessee
Clemson at #16 Auburn (Saturday, 7 PM ET)
The ACC looked awful as a whole last weekend, so this is a game where they can attempt to regain some of the respect they lost. Clemson may be the class of the ACC, but then again, they may not be. Regardless, I think that Auburn is a little bit overrated, much like their SEC counterpart Florida. Cameron Newton is kind of like a poor man's Terrelle Pryor, but unlike Pryor, Newton routinely has to rely entirely on himself to make plays. Auburn will need to be more unpredictable against Clemson if they want to win this game, because Clemson has the playmakers on defense to contain Newton.
My Pick: 34-27 Clemson
#6 Texas at Texas Tech (Saturday, 8 PM ET)
Last time this game was played in Lubbock, Michael Crabtree was able to score a late touchdown to lead the Red Raiders over the Longhorns, which proved to be the only loss Texas would suffer that year. Crabtree is no longer there to help the Red Raiders out, and as usual, Texas Tech has a questionable defense. Currently, Texas Tech averages 43.5 PPG on offense, and they're definitely going to need to score a lot tomorrow night if they want to beat the Longhorns. Even then, it may not be enough. Texas has had some trouble offensively early on in games this year, so Texas Tech will need to hope that happens and take advantage of it. As for the Longhorns, playing catch up against a team like Texas Tech, who can score at will, is not recommended.
My Pick: 41-31 Texas
#9 Iowa at #24 Arizona (Saturday, 10:30 PM ET)
This is the only game this weekend featuring two ranked teams, so naturally it is one to watch. Iowa has cruised in their first two games, but their first real test will be against the Wildcats, who will test a Hawkeye defense that gives up a Big Ten best 216 yards per game. The Wildcats will need a balanced offensive attack, and cannot rely on Nick Foles to carry to offense. Arizona will need to find a way to contain Iowa's defensive line, or this game could have an end result similar to the 2009 Holiday Bowl, which the Wildcats lost 33-0 to Nebraska.
My Pick: 28-13 Iowa
5 More to Flip To
California at Nevada (Tonight, 10 PM ET)
Cal's defense should be too much for Nevada. Should...
Georgia Tech at North Carolina (Saturday, 12 PM ET)
Both teams are in dire need of this win, if only to instill some confidence, which both have lost a lot of.
East Carolina at Virginia Tech (Saturday, 1:30 PM ET)
Who would have guessed that the Hokies could start the season 0-3?
Air Force at #7 Oklahoma (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET)
The Falcons are probably a little too undersized to beat the Sooners, but they looked really good in a win over BYU. This one could be interesting.
Notre Dame at Michigan State (Saturday, 8 PM ET)
Notre Dame has had trouble in East Lansing as of late. Could the Irish go 0-2 against Michigan teams yet again?
Storylines for the Weekend
Georgia's Mark Richt is NOT on the hot seat
I was listening to the Paul Finebaum Radio Network yesterday, and a lot of people were calling in speculating on whether or not Georgia head coach Mark Richt is on the hot seat if he loses to Arkansas this weekend. The answer, quite simply, is no. The Bulldogs have a redshirt freshman starting at quarterback, and are without their star wideout until the fifth game. Once A.J. Green returns and Aaron Murray gets some game experience under his belt, the Bulldogs will turn it around, and probably finish the season on a high note. There are clear reasons why the Bulldogs offense has been bad so far, and Richt isn't one of them.
Don't Stop Living In The Red
You think Boise State's field is bad? If you do, you're really going to get a kick out of this. There's no editing or Photoshop work there. No, that's actually the University of Eastern Washington's field, which will be played on for the first time this weekend. I like Boise's field, but I think that the red could quickly become an eyesore. Also, you won't be able to make the joke that birds dive into it thinking it is water like you can with Boise's field. I wouldn't expect any big name programs to try this any time soon.
Time for the Pac-10 to make a statement
Last weekend, the ACC made a statement, but in a bad way. The Pac-10 has a chance to look really good on the national stage. As far as underdogs are concerned, Arizona is at home against Iowa, Washington is at home against Nebraska, and UCLA is at home against Houston. These are all games that the Pac-10 can realistically win and use as ammunition against critics who believe that the conference is weak. If the Pac-10 doesn't want to become an afterthought as the ACC may have become after last weekend, then they need a big weekend from not only the top of their conference, but from the middle as well.
Thanks to my dad, I now have an easier way for you all to get to the blog. By typing in www.aroundthecorn.com, you will now be directed to the page. It should be much easier for you all to tell people how to get to the blog. I am aware that saying around the corn sports blog dot blogspot dot com is a mouthful, and even harder to remember. As always, thanks to everyone that has ever taken the time to read my work.
- K. Becks
Top 5 Games to Pay Attention to This Weekend
#12 Arkansas at Georgia (Saturday, 12 PM ET)
Georgia has never started 0-2 in the SEC under Mark Richt, but they have a tough test this weekend if they want to keep it that way. I put Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett on my preseason Heisman watch for a reason; he has the ability to pick defenses apart, even in the most hostile atmosphere. Georgia has had trouble scoring the ball this season, putting just six points on the board in a loss to South Carolina last weekend, which is not a recipe for success against a Razorbacks team known for their offensive firepower. The Bulldogs are missing wideout A.J. Green more and more every week.
My Pick: 31-17 Arkansas
#10 Florida at Tennessee (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET)
This is the most interesting matchup this weekend in my opinion. Tennessee looked good against Oregon last weekend for about a quarter and a half, and then went totally flat on offense for the rest of the game. Florida has not been overly impressive on offense this season either, so barring some sort of career day by John Brantley, Tennessee will probably not give up forty-five unanswered to the Gators like they did against Oregon. Florida is 5-0 against the Vols under Urban Meyer, but those wins were during the Chris Leak and Tim Tebow eras. Add the fact that Florida may be a little overrated, and that the game is being played in Knoxville, and we may be looking at the first Top 10 upset of the season.
My Pick: 27-24 Tennessee
Clemson at #16 Auburn (Saturday, 7 PM ET)
The ACC looked awful as a whole last weekend, so this is a game where they can attempt to regain some of the respect they lost. Clemson may be the class of the ACC, but then again, they may not be. Regardless, I think that Auburn is a little bit overrated, much like their SEC counterpart Florida. Cameron Newton is kind of like a poor man's Terrelle Pryor, but unlike Pryor, Newton routinely has to rely entirely on himself to make plays. Auburn will need to be more unpredictable against Clemson if they want to win this game, because Clemson has the playmakers on defense to contain Newton.
My Pick: 34-27 Clemson
#6 Texas at Texas Tech (Saturday, 8 PM ET)
Last time this game was played in Lubbock, Michael Crabtree was able to score a late touchdown to lead the Red Raiders over the Longhorns, which proved to be the only loss Texas would suffer that year. Crabtree is no longer there to help the Red Raiders out, and as usual, Texas Tech has a questionable defense. Currently, Texas Tech averages 43.5 PPG on offense, and they're definitely going to need to score a lot tomorrow night if they want to beat the Longhorns. Even then, it may not be enough. Texas has had some trouble offensively early on in games this year, so Texas Tech will need to hope that happens and take advantage of it. As for the Longhorns, playing catch up against a team like Texas Tech, who can score at will, is not recommended.
My Pick: 41-31 Texas
#9 Iowa at #24 Arizona (Saturday, 10:30 PM ET)
This is the only game this weekend featuring two ranked teams, so naturally it is one to watch. Iowa has cruised in their first two games, but their first real test will be against the Wildcats, who will test a Hawkeye defense that gives up a Big Ten best 216 yards per game. The Wildcats will need a balanced offensive attack, and cannot rely on Nick Foles to carry to offense. Arizona will need to find a way to contain Iowa's defensive line, or this game could have an end result similar to the 2009 Holiday Bowl, which the Wildcats lost 33-0 to Nebraska.
My Pick: 28-13 Iowa
5 More to Flip To
California at Nevada (Tonight, 10 PM ET)
Cal's defense should be too much for Nevada. Should...
Georgia Tech at North Carolina (Saturday, 12 PM ET)
Both teams are in dire need of this win, if only to instill some confidence, which both have lost a lot of.
East Carolina at Virginia Tech (Saturday, 1:30 PM ET)
Who would have guessed that the Hokies could start the season 0-3?
Air Force at #7 Oklahoma (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET)
The Falcons are probably a little too undersized to beat the Sooners, but they looked really good in a win over BYU. This one could be interesting.
Notre Dame at Michigan State (Saturday, 8 PM ET)
Notre Dame has had trouble in East Lansing as of late. Could the Irish go 0-2 against Michigan teams yet again?
Storylines for the Weekend
Georgia's Mark Richt is NOT on the hot seat
I was listening to the Paul Finebaum Radio Network yesterday, and a lot of people were calling in speculating on whether or not Georgia head coach Mark Richt is on the hot seat if he loses to Arkansas this weekend. The answer, quite simply, is no. The Bulldogs have a redshirt freshman starting at quarterback, and are without their star wideout until the fifth game. Once A.J. Green returns and Aaron Murray gets some game experience under his belt, the Bulldogs will turn it around, and probably finish the season on a high note. There are clear reasons why the Bulldogs offense has been bad so far, and Richt isn't one of them.
Don't Stop Living In The Red
You think Boise State's field is bad? If you do, you're really going to get a kick out of this. There's no editing or Photoshop work there. No, that's actually the University of Eastern Washington's field, which will be played on for the first time this weekend. I like Boise's field, but I think that the red could quickly become an eyesore. Also, you won't be able to make the joke that birds dive into it thinking it is water like you can with Boise's field. I wouldn't expect any big name programs to try this any time soon.
Time for the Pac-10 to make a statement
Last weekend, the ACC made a statement, but in a bad way. The Pac-10 has a chance to look really good on the national stage. As far as underdogs are concerned, Arizona is at home against Iowa, Washington is at home against Nebraska, and UCLA is at home against Houston. These are all games that the Pac-10 can realistically win and use as ammunition against critics who believe that the conference is weak. If the Pac-10 doesn't want to become an afterthought as the ACC may have become after last weekend, then they need a big weekend from not only the top of their conference, but from the middle as well.
Thanks to my dad, I now have an easier way for you all to get to the blog. By typing in www.aroundthecorn.com, you will now be directed to the page. It should be much easier for you all to tell people how to get to the blog. I am aware that saying around the corn sports blog dot blogspot dot com is a mouthful, and even harder to remember. As always, thanks to everyone that has ever taken the time to read my work.
- K. Becks
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Decisions, Decisions
The first week of pro football is now in the books, and it has definitely provided us with some talking points for the rest of the week. The Texans are now a healthy 2-15 against the Colts all-time, the Kansas City Chiefs are leading the AFC West, and the Eagles may have more of a quarterback controversy than they envisioned they would encounter this season.
I think the most important topic is Philadelphia's quarterback situation. With Kevin Kolb out with a concussion, Michael Vick may start in his place this coming weekend at Detroit. Eagles coach Andy Reid has made it clear that Kolb is still the team's number one quarterback, which is a good decision in my opinion. However, since this weekend's game is against the Lions, if Vick starts, he may again look like a quarterback worthy of the starting job. The coaching staff will have a sticky situation on their hands; start Vick, with the knowledge that he could potentially account for one or two more wins for Philadelphia this season, or stick with Kolb, their quarterback of the future. Reid may feel the heat from fans this season if he opts to stay with Kolb after he returns from his injury, but I think it's the right decision. Vick is not their quarterback of the future, and probably won't even be in the league in a few years. His leg speed won't be there forever, and his performance this past weekend could just be a result of defensive coordinators not seeing him the past few years. Once teams have to prepare to stop Vick, I don't think he will be nearly as effective. Kolb will definitely take his lumps this season if he starts, but it will be worth it if Philadelphia wants to remain a contender in the NFC East in the future.
Speaking of quarterback controversies (well, I guess this next one isn't really a controversy anymore), Michigan's decision to go with Denard Robinson over Tate Forcier has worked out pretty well. Of course, let's not start the Heisman debate just yet. Robinson is good (430 yards passing and 455 yards rushing in his first two games? Yea, that's pretty good.), but he hasn't exactly been lighting it up against Alabama's or Ohio State's defenses, either. UConn has a defense that ranks in the bottom half of the Big East (known for particularly porous defenses) in yards per game allowed. Notre Dame gives up 427 yards per game, which would be good for...dead last in that same conference. For a few more weeks, Mr. Robinson will likely continue to rack up yardage and reel off ESPN worthy runs. However, I won't be truly impressed until early October. Starting October 9th, Michigan faces in-state rival Michigan State, number nine Iowa, and number twenty two Penn State on the road. If number sixteen is still ripping up defenses after those three games, then we can start talking about the Heisman. We've seen it happen before in the Big Ten, though. Juice Williams rode the spread offense all the way to the Rose Bowl in 2007, but couldn't do much against teams in his final two years. There is a chance that Denard Robinson could be the next Michael Vick, but my educated guess is that he is just taking advantage of unprepared (and mediocre) defenses.
I said that I would start to cover the U.S. Open in the later rounds, but I never really got around to it. Then I was going to cover the Final before it was played (assuming that it would be another Federer vs. Nadal epic), but Federer lost in the semi-finals and I had nothing to speculate on. Now that Nadal has won, completing his career Grand Slam, I have my newest poll: Is Nadal better than Federer? After Federer won at Wimbledon in 2009, the title of "World's Greatest Tennis Player", and to some extent, "Greatest Tennis Player Ever" was bestowed upon him. Enter 2010, where Nadal has won three of the four Grand Slam events. Federer was not the opponent in any of those finals. Federer is twenty-nine years old, so it is natural to assume that his best days may be behind him. However, in the Federer-Nadal rivalry, Nadal is 14-7. Even more telling of Nadal's dominance is his record against Federer in Grand Slam Finals, which is 5-2. What is the common measure of a player's lasting legacy in other major sports? Championships. Although Federer currently has more major championships (and probably isn't completely done yet), common sense tells us that, barring injuries, Nadal has more years left than Federer. If Nadal can catch Federer in number of Grand Slam titles and continue to remain dominant against him in head-to-head matches, will Nadal go down as the best player in his era? Or have we already given the crown to Federer, and fair or not, it is extremely hard to steal the crown that has already been given to someone in your own era. Considering Federer's age, this is an argument that should string out for at least two or three more years. This debate is also proof that just because Americans aren't dominant in tennis doesn't mean it's any less exciting.
- K. Becks
I think the most important topic is Philadelphia's quarterback situation. With Kevin Kolb out with a concussion, Michael Vick may start in his place this coming weekend at Detroit. Eagles coach Andy Reid has made it clear that Kolb is still the team's number one quarterback, which is a good decision in my opinion. However, since this weekend's game is against the Lions, if Vick starts, he may again look like a quarterback worthy of the starting job. The coaching staff will have a sticky situation on their hands; start Vick, with the knowledge that he could potentially account for one or two more wins for Philadelphia this season, or stick with Kolb, their quarterback of the future. Reid may feel the heat from fans this season if he opts to stay with Kolb after he returns from his injury, but I think it's the right decision. Vick is not their quarterback of the future, and probably won't even be in the league in a few years. His leg speed won't be there forever, and his performance this past weekend could just be a result of defensive coordinators not seeing him the past few years. Once teams have to prepare to stop Vick, I don't think he will be nearly as effective. Kolb will definitely take his lumps this season if he starts, but it will be worth it if Philadelphia wants to remain a contender in the NFC East in the future.
Speaking of quarterback controversies (well, I guess this next one isn't really a controversy anymore), Michigan's decision to go with Denard Robinson over Tate Forcier has worked out pretty well. Of course, let's not start the Heisman debate just yet. Robinson is good (430 yards passing and 455 yards rushing in his first two games? Yea, that's pretty good.), but he hasn't exactly been lighting it up against Alabama's or Ohio State's defenses, either. UConn has a defense that ranks in the bottom half of the Big East (known for particularly porous defenses) in yards per game allowed. Notre Dame gives up 427 yards per game, which would be good for...dead last in that same conference. For a few more weeks, Mr. Robinson will likely continue to rack up yardage and reel off ESPN worthy runs. However, I won't be truly impressed until early October. Starting October 9th, Michigan faces in-state rival Michigan State, number nine Iowa, and number twenty two Penn State on the road. If number sixteen is still ripping up defenses after those three games, then we can start talking about the Heisman. We've seen it happen before in the Big Ten, though. Juice Williams rode the spread offense all the way to the Rose Bowl in 2007, but couldn't do much against teams in his final two years. There is a chance that Denard Robinson could be the next Michael Vick, but my educated guess is that he is just taking advantage of unprepared (and mediocre) defenses.
I said that I would start to cover the U.S. Open in the later rounds, but I never really got around to it. Then I was going to cover the Final before it was played (assuming that it would be another Federer vs. Nadal epic), but Federer lost in the semi-finals and I had nothing to speculate on. Now that Nadal has won, completing his career Grand Slam, I have my newest poll: Is Nadal better than Federer? After Federer won at Wimbledon in 2009, the title of "World's Greatest Tennis Player", and to some extent, "Greatest Tennis Player Ever" was bestowed upon him. Enter 2010, where Nadal has won three of the four Grand Slam events. Federer was not the opponent in any of those finals. Federer is twenty-nine years old, so it is natural to assume that his best days may be behind him. However, in the Federer-Nadal rivalry, Nadal is 14-7. Even more telling of Nadal's dominance is his record against Federer in Grand Slam Finals, which is 5-2. What is the common measure of a player's lasting legacy in other major sports? Championships. Although Federer currently has more major championships (and probably isn't completely done yet), common sense tells us that, barring injuries, Nadal has more years left than Federer. If Nadal can catch Federer in number of Grand Slam titles and continue to remain dominant against him in head-to-head matches, will Nadal go down as the best player in his era? Or have we already given the crown to Federer, and fair or not, it is extremely hard to steal the crown that has already been given to someone in your own era. Considering Federer's age, this is an argument that should string out for at least two or three more years. This debate is also proof that just because Americans aren't dominant in tennis doesn't mean it's any less exciting.
- K. Becks
Thursday, September 9, 2010
NFL: AFC Preview
This is a very short post. Like I said yesterday, I don't have that much to talk about as far as the NFL is concerned. I like to let the season get underway before I begin to rant.
AFC Preview
AFC East
1. New York Jets (12-4)
2. Miami Dolphins (10-6)
3. New England Patriots (10-6)
4. Buffalo Bills (4-12)
Why They'll Win: They aren't as good as they think they are, and this isn't a division where they will just run away with the lead. However, the Jets did a nice job in the offseason, and having Darrelle Revis back in time for the regular season will help the already solid defense. With all their new components, plus a fiery coach, the Jets are just better than Miami and New England. It's the passing of the torch from New England to New York, because the Jets may have a hold on this division for years to come.
AFC North
1. Cincinnati Bengals (10-6)
2. Baltimore Ravens (10-6)
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-9)
4. Cleveland Browns (3-13)
Why They'll Win: Most people aren't ready to put the Bengals at number one in this division. The Ochocinco and T.O. combination could be a powder keg, and Baltimore is the class of the AFC in some people's eyes. I think that Cincinnati is capable not only of keeping their two receivers happy, but of beating Baltimore twice this season. Carson Palmer is still better than Joe Flacco, and I think that will ultimately be the difference when these teams meet each other this season.
AFC South
1. Indianapolis Colts (13-3)
2. Houston Texans (9-7)
3. Tennessee Titans (8-8)
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-12)
Why They'll Win: I routinely feel bad for the Houston Texans, because for as good as they are, they always have to deal with the Indianapolis Colts. Pay no attention to the Colts 0-4 preseason record, because they will still be pretty darn good. Unless Houston has their best season in franchise history, or Vince Young and Tennessee surprise again, the Colts will win this division yet again, and by a sizable margin considering the talent in this division.
AFC West
1. Denver Broncos (10-6)
2. Oakland Raiders (9-7)
3. San Diego Chargers (7-9)
4. Kansas City Chiefs (3-13)
Why They'll Win: I think that this is one of the weakest divisions, but also one of the toughest to predict, in the entire NFL. Denver is either going to be pretty good, or pretty bad. Oakland is the chic pick for many people, but I'm not ready to hop on Oakland's bandwagon yet, because I'm skeptical that quarterback Jason Campbell can really lead them to a division title. San Diego's balloon was almost entirely deflated this past offseason, and I only expect problems out West from them. Kansas City just isn't there. Since someone has to stumble into the number one spot in the AFC West, I think the Broncos are most likely to do so. Josh McDaniels will not be on the hot seat; at least, not this year.
Playoffs
Wild Card
Baltimore (Wild Card) vs. Denver Broncos
Winner: Baltimore
Miami (Wild Card) vs. Cincinnati
Winner: Miami
Divisional
Baltimore vs. Indianapolis
Winner: Indianapolis
Miami vs. New York
Winner: New York
Conference Championship
New York vs. Indianapolis
Winner: Indianapolis
Okay, now that you've seen my predictions, you know that my conference champions are the Green Bay Packers and the Indianapolis Colts. I'm sure that you all have differing opinions, so I'd like to hear them. Before you sound off in the comments section or on the Around The Corn Sports Blog Facebook fan page, here is my prediction for Super Bowl XLV.
Super Bowl XLV
Green Bay Packers (NFC Champions) vs. Indianapolis Colts (AFC Champions)
Winner: Green Bay Packers
- K. Becks
AFC Preview
AFC East
1. New York Jets (12-4)
2. Miami Dolphins (10-6)
3. New England Patriots (10-6)
4. Buffalo Bills (4-12)
Why They'll Win: They aren't as good as they think they are, and this isn't a division where they will just run away with the lead. However, the Jets did a nice job in the offseason, and having Darrelle Revis back in time for the regular season will help the already solid defense. With all their new components, plus a fiery coach, the Jets are just better than Miami and New England. It's the passing of the torch from New England to New York, because the Jets may have a hold on this division for years to come.
AFC North
1. Cincinnati Bengals (10-6)
2. Baltimore Ravens (10-6)
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-9)
4. Cleveland Browns (3-13)
Why They'll Win: Most people aren't ready to put the Bengals at number one in this division. The Ochocinco and T.O. combination could be a powder keg, and Baltimore is the class of the AFC in some people's eyes. I think that Cincinnati is capable not only of keeping their two receivers happy, but of beating Baltimore twice this season. Carson Palmer is still better than Joe Flacco, and I think that will ultimately be the difference when these teams meet each other this season.
AFC South
1. Indianapolis Colts (13-3)
2. Houston Texans (9-7)
3. Tennessee Titans (8-8)
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-12)
Why They'll Win: I routinely feel bad for the Houston Texans, because for as good as they are, they always have to deal with the Indianapolis Colts. Pay no attention to the Colts 0-4 preseason record, because they will still be pretty darn good. Unless Houston has their best season in franchise history, or Vince Young and Tennessee surprise again, the Colts will win this division yet again, and by a sizable margin considering the talent in this division.
AFC West
1. Denver Broncos (10-6)
2. Oakland Raiders (9-7)
3. San Diego Chargers (7-9)
4. Kansas City Chiefs (3-13)
Why They'll Win: I think that this is one of the weakest divisions, but also one of the toughest to predict, in the entire NFL. Denver is either going to be pretty good, or pretty bad. Oakland is the chic pick for many people, but I'm not ready to hop on Oakland's bandwagon yet, because I'm skeptical that quarterback Jason Campbell can really lead them to a division title. San Diego's balloon was almost entirely deflated this past offseason, and I only expect problems out West from them. Kansas City just isn't there. Since someone has to stumble into the number one spot in the AFC West, I think the Broncos are most likely to do so. Josh McDaniels will not be on the hot seat; at least, not this year.
Playoffs
Wild Card
Baltimore (Wild Card) vs. Denver Broncos
Winner: Baltimore
Miami (Wild Card) vs. Cincinnati
Winner: Miami
Divisional
Baltimore vs. Indianapolis
Winner: Indianapolis
Miami vs. New York
Winner: New York
Conference Championship
New York vs. Indianapolis
Winner: Indianapolis
Okay, now that you've seen my predictions, you know that my conference champions are the Green Bay Packers and the Indianapolis Colts. I'm sure that you all have differing opinions, so I'd like to hear them. Before you sound off in the comments section or on the Around The Corn Sports Blog Facebook fan page, here is my prediction for Super Bowl XLV.
Super Bowl XLV
Green Bay Packers (NFC Champions) vs. Indianapolis Colts (AFC Champions)
Winner: Green Bay Packers
- K. Becks
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
NFL: NFC Preview (And More)
It's been over a week since my last post, which is okay, since I've decided that I only have enough to talk about concerning the NFL to stretch out into two posts. Considering that the NFL season starts tomorrow, I have just enough time to give my preseason predictions before the season kicks off. However, remember that thing that took place a couple of nights ago? The really big game that people had been talking about for months? Yea; I think I should address that first.
For all of you doubters, I told you so. You tried to pretend like Boise State was still this little podunk school with no athletes capable of matching up with the big boys. If that were true, then why exactly does no one want to schedule them? San Jose State, Marshall, Rice, Miami (OH), and Utah State all fit the bill, and the big boys do schedule them. Do you really want to know why? Because it's false. Boise State isn't a little podunk school with no athletes anymore. They can go into the hostile crowds, on the road, and play heads up with these power conference teams. The others can't. But Boise can, and that's why they're the biggest fish in the smallest pond. They can't help it right now that they're in that small pond, but they can prove that when they're thrown into the Mississippi, they can swim just as fast as the big fish. Sure, Virginia Tech may not be a truly elite team this year, but they aren't bad, and they're the only team that was willing to stand up and take a punch from the Broncos. The Broncos K.O.'d 'em, and now everyone else is looking around, trying to figure out what happened, and trying to figure out who's going to stand up next. Boise deserves and is ready for another fight, but the sad truth is, there probably isn't anyone with enough down low to stand up and challenge them.
For all of you believers, this proved nothing, and I mean that in two ways. Firstly, we all knew that Boise State was capable of winning this game. It's no surprise to us that they won, and it won't be any surprise to us if they beat Oregon State in two weeks. However, we also know that this didn't prove anything to the doubters, either. We can say "we told you so", but they'll just come back with their slew of rationalizations. Virginia Tech wasn't really a Top 10 team. They didn't win convincingly enough. They still only play one tough opponent all season. As hypocritical as those rationalizations are, they are the words of the majority, and in college football, the majority wins. That's also why Boise's win was a win for the majority. It sounds contradictory, but here's why it is. Boise is still an outside shot to play for the national title, even with an undefeated season. Many of the same people arguing against Boise now will be the ones arguing on Boise's behalf if they get overlooked for a national title bid in favor of a one loss power conference team. Further conference re-alignment is coming. A college football playoff is inevitable. The majority wants it, and Boise State is helping speed up the process.
Also, on another note, the SEC was impressive this past weekend. Florida looked sharp. Ole Miss looked really good. Kentucky just rolled right over always tough Louisville. LSU had no trouble holding off North Carolina's second defense. Oh, wait. What? That isn't what happened at all? Well, I guess after the week the SEC had, they really proved to the country that Boise State would finish fourth or fifth in their conference. Give me a break.
For the NFL previews, I'm basically just going to predict each team's record and tell you why I think a team will win their division, as well as give you my predictions for the playoffs. I couldn't really think of much else to cover, so if there is something you'd like to hear my opinion on, let me know, and I'll include a section for it in one of my upcoming posts.
NFC Preview
NFC East
1. Dallas Cowboys (10-6)
2. New York Giants (9-7)
3. Philadelphia Eagles (6-10)
4. Washington Redskins (4-12)
Why They'll Win: I think that Dallas is a little bit over-hyped coming into this season, but when I look at every other team in the NFC East, I don't feel comfortable putting them in the top spot. New York is hit or miss, Philadelphia has to prove they have a quarterback, and Washington has a slew of issues. With all that being said, Dallas is the only team I feel confident putting at number one in this division.
NFC North
1. Green Bay Packers (13-3)
2. Minnesota Vikings (11-5)
3. Chicago Bears (5-11)
4. Detroit Lions (3-13)
Why They'll Win: Aaron Rodgers is finally ready to become an elite quarterback in the league, and he has a team around him that is ready to accept elite status as well. Minnesota will be hard pressed to have as good a season as they did last year without another career year from Brett Favre, and Chicago and Detroit (who is getting better and could surprise) just aren't there. Green Bay will be back in the playoffs with home field advantage throughout.
NFC South
1. New Orleans Saints (13-3)
2. Atlanta Falcons (11-5)
3. Carolina Panthers (7-9)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-14)
Why They'll Win: I don't see anything, other than that post-Super Bowl slump myth, that suggests that New Orleans can't win this division again. Atlanta would have to beat New Orleans on the road and hope for some other things to go their way to steal the division, and I just don't see the former happening. After New Orleans and Atlanta, the division drops off quite a bit.
NFC West
1. San Francisco 49ers (10-6)
2. Arizona Cardinals (7-9)
3. Seattle Seahawks (4-12)
4. St. Louis Rams (1-15)
Why They'll Win: Considering the Cardinals quarterback situation, the 49ers are now my confident pick to win this division. Other than Arizona, there isn't much here, and as long as San Francisco doesn't stub their toe against a lesser division rival or other opponent, they should be able to win this division with some breathing room. They're not the most talented team in the NFC, but they have enough to win here.
Playoffs
Wild Card
Atlanta (Wild Card) vs. San Francisco
Winner: Atlanta
Minnesota (Wild Card) vs. Dallas
Winner: Minnesota
Divisional
Atlanta vs. Green Bay
Winner: Green Bay
Minnesota vs. New Orleans
Winner: New Orleans
Conference Championship
New Orleans vs. Green Bay
Winner: Green Bay
Remember to vote on all the new polls I just added. There are fifteen or so active polls, so if you haven't voted on any of them (or haven't visited the site in awhile and can't remember which ones you've voted on and which ones you haven't), just vote on them all. It makes it look like more people read the blog. Thanks everyone.
- K. Becks
For all of you doubters, I told you so. You tried to pretend like Boise State was still this little podunk school with no athletes capable of matching up with the big boys. If that were true, then why exactly does no one want to schedule them? San Jose State, Marshall, Rice, Miami (OH), and Utah State all fit the bill, and the big boys do schedule them. Do you really want to know why? Because it's false. Boise State isn't a little podunk school with no athletes anymore. They can go into the hostile crowds, on the road, and play heads up with these power conference teams. The others can't. But Boise can, and that's why they're the biggest fish in the smallest pond. They can't help it right now that they're in that small pond, but they can prove that when they're thrown into the Mississippi, they can swim just as fast as the big fish. Sure, Virginia Tech may not be a truly elite team this year, but they aren't bad, and they're the only team that was willing to stand up and take a punch from the Broncos. The Broncos K.O.'d 'em, and now everyone else is looking around, trying to figure out what happened, and trying to figure out who's going to stand up next. Boise deserves and is ready for another fight, but the sad truth is, there probably isn't anyone with enough down low to stand up and challenge them.
For all of you believers, this proved nothing, and I mean that in two ways. Firstly, we all knew that Boise State was capable of winning this game. It's no surprise to us that they won, and it won't be any surprise to us if they beat Oregon State in two weeks. However, we also know that this didn't prove anything to the doubters, either. We can say "we told you so", but they'll just come back with their slew of rationalizations. Virginia Tech wasn't really a Top 10 team. They didn't win convincingly enough. They still only play one tough opponent all season. As hypocritical as those rationalizations are, they are the words of the majority, and in college football, the majority wins. That's also why Boise's win was a win for the majority. It sounds contradictory, but here's why it is. Boise is still an outside shot to play for the national title, even with an undefeated season. Many of the same people arguing against Boise now will be the ones arguing on Boise's behalf if they get overlooked for a national title bid in favor of a one loss power conference team. Further conference re-alignment is coming. A college football playoff is inevitable. The majority wants it, and Boise State is helping speed up the process.
Also, on another note, the SEC was impressive this past weekend. Florida looked sharp. Ole Miss looked really good. Kentucky just rolled right over always tough Louisville. LSU had no trouble holding off North Carolina's second defense. Oh, wait. What? That isn't what happened at all? Well, I guess after the week the SEC had, they really proved to the country that Boise State would finish fourth or fifth in their conference. Give me a break.
For the NFL previews, I'm basically just going to predict each team's record and tell you why I think a team will win their division, as well as give you my predictions for the playoffs. I couldn't really think of much else to cover, so if there is something you'd like to hear my opinion on, let me know, and I'll include a section for it in one of my upcoming posts.
NFC Preview
NFC East
1. Dallas Cowboys (10-6)
2. New York Giants (9-7)
3. Philadelphia Eagles (6-10)
4. Washington Redskins (4-12)
Why They'll Win: I think that Dallas is a little bit over-hyped coming into this season, but when I look at every other team in the NFC East, I don't feel comfortable putting them in the top spot. New York is hit or miss, Philadelphia has to prove they have a quarterback, and Washington has a slew of issues. With all that being said, Dallas is the only team I feel confident putting at number one in this division.
NFC North
1. Green Bay Packers (13-3)
2. Minnesota Vikings (11-5)
3. Chicago Bears (5-11)
4. Detroit Lions (3-13)
Why They'll Win: Aaron Rodgers is finally ready to become an elite quarterback in the league, and he has a team around him that is ready to accept elite status as well. Minnesota will be hard pressed to have as good a season as they did last year without another career year from Brett Favre, and Chicago and Detroit (who is getting better and could surprise) just aren't there. Green Bay will be back in the playoffs with home field advantage throughout.
NFC South
1. New Orleans Saints (13-3)
2. Atlanta Falcons (11-5)
3. Carolina Panthers (7-9)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-14)
Why They'll Win: I don't see anything, other than that post-Super Bowl slump myth, that suggests that New Orleans can't win this division again. Atlanta would have to beat New Orleans on the road and hope for some other things to go their way to steal the division, and I just don't see the former happening. After New Orleans and Atlanta, the division drops off quite a bit.
NFC West
1. San Francisco 49ers (10-6)
2. Arizona Cardinals (7-9)
3. Seattle Seahawks (4-12)
4. St. Louis Rams (1-15)
Why They'll Win: Considering the Cardinals quarterback situation, the 49ers are now my confident pick to win this division. Other than Arizona, there isn't much here, and as long as San Francisco doesn't stub their toe against a lesser division rival or other opponent, they should be able to win this division with some breathing room. They're not the most talented team in the NFC, but they have enough to win here.
Playoffs
Wild Card
Atlanta (Wild Card) vs. San Francisco
Winner: Atlanta
Minnesota (Wild Card) vs. Dallas
Winner: Minnesota
Divisional
Atlanta vs. Green Bay
Winner: Green Bay
Minnesota vs. New Orleans
Winner: New Orleans
Conference Championship
New Orleans vs. Green Bay
Winner: Green Bay
Remember to vote on all the new polls I just added. There are fifteen or so active polls, so if you haven't voted on any of them (or haven't visited the site in awhile and can't remember which ones you've voted on and which ones you haven't), just vote on them all. It makes it look like more people read the blog. Thanks everyone.
- K. Becks
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