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It's almost that time again (well, technically, that time started Wednesday, but it officially starts tonight) The time when many of the world's greatest athletes in several different disciplines gather to compete on a world stage. There are so many different sports and events, sometimes it may be overwhelming. Plus, it's been four years since the last Summer Olympics, which is a long time (to put in perspective how long ago it was, it was four years ago). So I'm here to give some suggestions of sports you could tune into over the next few weeks. To see when and where you can watch everything, click here.
If You Like Excitement and Drama...
Swimming
Watch this and tell me it's not exciting:
By the way, one of the guys on that relay team is looking to add to his all-time record 22 medals in Rio.
Volleyball
It's pretty entertaining to watch a nonstop sequence of people diving and jumping to set, spike, and block a ball over a net.
If You Like Trying New Things...
Water Polo
If you're unfamiliar with water polo, it's basically like soccer, except the competitors are in a pool, use their hands, and try to push each other underwater (so maybe it's not anything like soccer).
Handball
Like water polo, handball (we're talking team handball, not the other handball) is a sport where teams try to score in each other's goals. Unlike water polo, the ball is closer to the size of a baseball than a volleyball, and it's pretty fast-paced. I think handball may be the most underrated Olympic sport.
If You Want To Watch Something You Didn't See in 2012...
Golf
Golf makes its return to the Olympics for the first time in 112 years, although many of the world's best players, including Jason Day, Rory McIlroy, and Jordan Speith, won't be competing.
Rugby
This is the Olympic debut for Rugby Sevens, and both the men's and women's U.S. teams look to be medal contenders.
If You Like Yoga...
Gymnastics
Gymnastics is a must-watch during the Olympics, especially with the talented women's U.S. team, headed by world-beater Simone Biles.
Average top speed of a horse: 25-30 miles per hour.
Top speed of Usain Bolt: 27.8 miles per hour.
Those are just a few of the sports you can tune in to. Those who like watching people beat on each other, there's wrestling (Freestyle and Greco-Roman), boxing, Judo, and Taekwondo (I honestly don't know the differences between the last two). If you're more into watching people poke each other with sticks, check out fencing. If you like the X Games, there is BMX biking. And If you want a near-guarantee (nothing's guaranteed, of course) of an American gold, basketball (men's and women's), and anything Biles and swimmer Katie Ledecky are in, are pretty good bets. Other sports include archery, shooting, field hockey, boating (whether it be in a canoe, a kayak, or a sailboat), badminton, and, yes, table tennis. And if you're really bored, there is also a speed-walking race.
The MLB Trade Deadline officially passed at 4:00 PM Eastern Time today. Lots of things happened, and I'll share my thoughts on some of those things.
The Brewers had an agreement to send catcher Jonathan Lucroy to the Indians over the weekend, but Lucroy, who has Cleveland on his no-trade list, vetoed the trade (he wanted his team option for next year voided). Lucroy probably won't be well-received when his new team, the Rangers (they aren't on his no-trade list), whom he was traded to for prospects Lewis Brinson (OF who's 21st on MLB.com's latest top prospects list, 30th on Baseball America's, and 21st on Kieth Law's on ESPN.com) and Luis Ortiz (RHP who's 63rd on MLB.com, 74th on Baseball America, 46th on ESPN.com), goes to Progressive Field. The Indians still got a difference-maker, trading for Yankees left-handed reliever Andrew Miller, who sports a 1.39 ERA and 11/1 K/BB ratio in 45.1 innings (they gave up minor league OF Clint Frazier (22nd on MLB.com/21st on BA/34th on ESPN), LHP Justus Sheffield (93rd on MLB.com/69th on BA), and pitchers Ben Heller and J.P. Feyereisen) They are probably the team to beat in the American League right now.
The #2 team to beat is probably Texas, who got Lucroy and Yankees OF Carlos Beltran in the final hours (without giving up top prospect Joey Gallo). They're lineup is scary now, but the question will be their rotation after Cole Hamels and Yu Darvish.
Speaking of the Yankees, the normally win-minded big spenders realized their current situation and sold, trading Aroldis Chapman, Miller, and Beltran for a solid haul of prospects.
Jay Bruce was finally traded to the Mets after the deal had to be reworked due to medical concerns. Bruce gives the Mets another big bat, although they now have three outfielders who aren't true center fielders. The Reds got 22-year-old 2B Dilson Herrera and minor league LHP Max Wotell. Herrera joins a crowded infield that includes prospect Jose Peraza (acquired in the Todd Frazier trade last winter) and veterans Brandon Phillips (who vetoed a trade last winter) and Zack Cozart (who came up in trade rumors, but wasn't dealt). It'll be interesting to see how playing time is doled out the rest of this season.
The Dodgers didn't get Bruce, but they did get A's pitcher Rich Hill and OF Josh Reddick, which helps thief playoff pursuit, though doesn't instantly make them favorites (Hill and Reddick are solid players, but not big-time acquisitions).
The NFL had a bit of an eventful last week. First, on Friday, it was announced that Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell was suspended four games (again), but this time for missing a drug test (or drug tests), not failing one. Either Bell simply forgot the test, he just happened to be busy with important matters at the times of the tests, or he knew he would fail them. Then news started spreading that Cowboys rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott had been accused of domestic violence. The accuser said he hit her while sitting in a car, but three witnesses (including one in the car) said they didn't see him touch her. Elliott' ex-girlfriend also posted pictures of bruises on instagram, saying it (the abuse) had been happening for months, and tagging Elliott. Elliott denied any wrongdoing, saying he even had texts that she was out to get him for breaking up with her. He has not been charged, and authorities are investigating. A situation like this (if it is proven that he didn't do anything) is why everyone should be treated as innocent until proven guilty. But, as I saw someone on Twitter make a point of, how do athletes (or any other famous people) prevent false accusations from happening? Even if they're proven innocent, just an accusation could potentially tarnish a reputation. The NFL world also lost former coach Dennis Green at age 67 on Thursday night. He was best known for his "They are who we thought they were" rant, but he also coached two teams over 16 seasons, and won Super Bowl XXIII.
More NFL news came out at the beginning of this week. First, on Sunday night, an archived Periscope video from a periscope account supposedly run by Raiders linebacker Aldon Smith (he appears in many of the account's videos), who is currently suspended indefinitely under the league's substance abuse policy, got around. In it, a man (who is not shown) and a woman are smoking a blunt. The woman questions the man about why he is Periscoping it, and the man says, "They don't know it's me. It's not like I put 'Aldon Smith'". In response, Smith tweeted, "Good try, not me" today. Either he is really stupid, was so high he didn't realize what he was doing at the time, or is telling the truth. Today, Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon, who, like Smith, had been suspended indefinitely under the substance abuse policy, was conditionally reinstated and suspended for the first four games. He'll be able to got to team meetings and have contact with coaches during this time. Obviously, he's on a short leash with the new coaching staff, but if he can finally stay clean, he is one of the league's elite receivers (I'd put him in the top five).
The MLB trade deadline is a week a way, and trade rumors are heating up. Today, the Cubs acquired flamethrowing lefty Aroldis Chapman from the Yankees to solidify their bullpen. In exchange, the Yankees received 19-year-old shortstop Gleyber Torres (ranked 24th overall in MLB.com's latest prospect rankings, 27th in Baseball America's, and 26th in ESPN Insider Kieth Law's), reliever Adam Warren, and minor league outfielders Billy McKinney and Rashad Crawford. From an on-the-field standpoint, this definitely helps the Cubs in their quest for their first World Series title since 1908, as Chapman is one of the best relievers in baseball. This is also the right move for the Yankees, who probably won't make the playoffs, and got a pretty good-looking return for a reliever who was suspended the first 29 games of the season for a domestic violence incident and is in the last year of his contract.
Trades aren't the only notable transactions that occur this time of year in Major League Baseball. Two top prospects were called up yesterday. The Astros called up top prospect Alex Bregman (ranked 18th by MLB.com, 8th by Baseball America, and 1st by Kieth Law) after weeks of speculation. Bregman tore up AAA, and will probably play some third base and left field for the Astros. Meanwhile, the Rockies called up outfielder David Dahl (40th by MLB.com, 16th by Baseball America, and 31st by Kieth Law), who will get ample playing time, and will get a permanent spot if the Rockies decide to trade any of their outfielders.
Speaking of trades, there have been rumors that the White Sox may be shopping ace Chris Sale (although they are reportedly looking for "five top prospects" in return, according to Jon Heyman). On Saturday afternoon, the White Sox scratched Sale from his scheduled start that night. The first thought by many was that a trade might be imminent. Then the White Sox announced they had sent him home due to a "non-physical incident" prior to the game. That was odd enough, but it got stranger. Apparently, Sale didn't like the throwback uniforms the team was slated to wear, so he took everybody's unis and cut them all up so they couldn't be worn. He also did it because he felt the front office and ownership cared more about PR and jersey sales than winning. He was suspended five days by the team on Sunday. I can respect that Sale was standing up against "The Man", especially since this is not the first time this season he has voiced displeasure with the higher-ups (Adam LaRoche retired in Spring Training after the organization told him he could no longer bring his son into the dugout), although I feel like there were probably better ways to go about it then going all Edward Scizzorhands on the uniforms.
Hello again, everyone. It's been too long. If you haven't heard, we've undergone a little remodeling. We're now called "Head In The Game", and I've brought on Troy Lehman as a writer. If you, like me, are against pennies, like obscure sports, and enjoy movie-related jokes, you'll love him. He'll be mainly covering basketball (of the NBA, college, and Olympic variety). As for me, look for my fantasy football preview and an Olympics viewing guide in the near future. But first, I've decided to try a weekly article where I just share some (somewhat) random thoughts (hopefully I come up with a catchier name for it at some point). We'll see how this goes.
The answer to violence is not more violence. Can't we all just get along?
There are rumors the Oklahoma City Thunder are looking to trade Russell Westbrook with the increased likelihood that he won't re-sign with them next year. If I were the Thunder, I would try to trade him as soon as possible. Their chances of contending for a title don't look great after KD left, and as an elite player, Westbrook has immense trade value. If they don't trade him, though, I look forward to him going for 50 every game.
It's trade season in Major League Baseball, and a big one went down last week between the Boston Red Sox and San Diego Padres. Padres GM A.J. Preller once again got great value in a trade with Boston (he traded closer Craig Kimbrel there last year), trading All-Star pitcher Drew Pomeranz, who's having a career year, for 18-year-old top prospect Anderson Espinosa, who's been lauded by many as a future ace.
The Houston Astros made news when they signed Cuban star Yulieski Gurriel to a 5-year, $47.5 million contract last weekend. With the addition of him, and the continued dominance of top prospect Alex Bregman in Triple-A, the 'Stros, who are playing great after a slow start, look primed for a postseason run.
With that in mind, here are the five teams I think are most likely to win the World Series (as of right now):
San Francisco Giants - It's an even year. 'Nuff said.
Cleveland Indians - This year is the year! BELIEVELAND!!!
Toronto Blue Jays - I still think they're an ace away from the World Series.
Houston Astros - Ditto
Washington Nationals - Maybe they'll finally live up to the expectations?
I am more of a believer in Ben Simmons than I was a few months ago. Like many people, I was unimpressed with him during his one year at LSU, but the #1 overall pick via the Philadelphia 76ers showed off his otherworldly passing skills and all-around talent during Summer League. Now, if only he could shoot...
Hello again. Longtime, no see. With it being NFL Draft Week (it starts Thursday at 8 PM), I'm back for a little draft primer. I was going to do a mock draft again, but the NFL Draft is a crapshoot anyway (especially this year), so I'll just go over some key things I'll be looking out for come Thursday night. Note that all news and information regarding the draft is "reported" or "rumored", since teams obviously don't divulge that information. Also, my rankings of players and thoughts on players are devoid of any in-depth scouting and research, and are subject to (minor) change.
Goff and Wentz 1-2, Right?
Jared Goff and Carson Wentz (in that order) are expected to be the first two picks of the draft, with Jordan Raanan of NJ.com even reporting that he heard Goff is "99.9% the pick at number one". It would be a shock if the Rams and Eagles picked anyone but those two quarterbacks at one and two, since they traded so much to move up to those spots.
After That, it's Anyone's Guess
Although the first two picks in the draft are presumably clear at this point, the rest are far from it. Starting with San Diego at #3, there could be some trades and surprise picks. The Chargers have gauged interest for the third pick, but reports say talks are quiet. Most expect the Bolts to take either Ole Miss tackle Laremy Tunsil, or Florida State defensive back Jalen Ramsey (although don't rule out Oregon defensive end DeForest Buckner, whom the Chargers reportedly have strong interest in). After them is the Cowboys, who are expected (according to rumors and mock drafts) to take one of two Ohio State players - pass-rusher Joey Bosa or running back Ezekiel Elliott. Jacksonville, who picks at five, is expected to take a defensive player, possibly Bosa or UCLA linebacker Myles Jack. Speaking of Jack...
Myles Jack & Jaylon Smith: Top-5 Talents, Not Top-5 Medicals
Jack and Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith are two of the most explosive athletes in this draft class, and have the talent and ability to both be among the top players in the class. The problem is, both players have injury problems. Smith tore his left ACL and MCL in the Fiesta Bowl and is expected to sit out this coming season. That may drop him into the second round (or later). Jack, thought by many to be the most athletic player in the draft (he played running back and linebacker at UCLA), hurt his knee early last season (causing him to go pro). There have been reports that some teams are concerned with his medicals and that he may have a problem with his knee. However, it only takes one team to feel confident about him, and he will probably still go in the top half of the first round.
Trade Frenzy
The first two picks in this year's draft have already been traded, and I expect many more to be traded on Thursday night. The trades will most likely include Cleveland (they already traded down to #8, but may trade down again for even more picks, or trade up from #32 for a quarterback), Tennessee (they have already traded down to #15, but they reportedly want to trade back into the top 10), Miami (they are rumored to want Ezekiel Elliott, but at #13, may have to trade up to get him), and Denver (they are in the market for a quarterback, and may trade up from #31 to make sure they get a quarterback they feel strongly about before someone else does).
Stock Market
As we approach the draft, many players are seeing their stock fluctuate. Among those who seem to be on the rise are DeForest Buckner, Clemson safety T.J. Green, and Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch. Among those who seem to be trending downward are Joey Bosa, Myles Jack, and Clemson corner Mackensie Alexander.
Other News & Notes
In his press conference last week, Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson hinted that Jared Goff and Carson Wentz may not be the top two quarterbacks on his draft board (which may partly explain why Cleveland traded out of the top spot). I think Jackson's top two quarterbacks might be Goff and Paxton Lynch, and VP of Football Operation Sashi Brown may try to trade back from #8 or up from #32 to grab Hue's guy.
By the way, I would probably say my top two quarterbacks in this class are Wentz and Goff, in that order, but I really have no idea. I could see some of the second and third-tier quarterbacks (Lynch, Michigan State's Connor Cook, Penn State's Christian Hackenberg, Ohio State's Cardale Jones, Mississipi State's Dak Prescott, and N.C. State's Jacoby Brissett) being just as good as, or even better than, the top two.
San Francisco and Philadelphia both have disgruntled quarterbacks who want out (Collin Kaepernick and Sam Bradford, respectively), but neither team seems to be close to getting rid of their unhappy incumbent. Both teams are expected to draft quarterbacks relatively high, especially the Eagles, who are expected to take one with the second overall pick, but Philly had planned to have that quarterback (most likely Carson Wentz) sit behind Bradford his first year. Now, I'm not so sure.
It's that time of year again! Arguably the greatest sporting craze is upon us: March Madness. The play-in games (or the "First Four", as they are called) have already started, and the First Round (yes, they changed the Round of 64 back to the "First Round") starts Thursday. Here is a little primer to help you fill out your bracket (Note: I am not responsible if/when your you lose your bracket pool). First, let's rehash some key factors I told people to remember when filling out brackets in last year's March Madness Preview:
#1 Seeds NEVER Lose in the Round of 64
No number one seed has lost a Round of 64 game in the NCAA Tournament. They are 120-0 against the sixteen seeds.
Number one seeds are now 124-0 against 16 seeds, and while I don't envision one losing this year, it may be the year it finally happens (keep an eye on Florida Gulf Coast).
At Least One 12 Will Beat a 5, at Least One 11 Will Beat a 6, and There Will Probably be a 13 That Beats a 4
4, 5, and 6 seeds are only a combined 250-110 all-time in the Round of 64. In fact, the last time there weren't at least two 11, 12, or 13 seed upsets in the Round of 64 was 2000 (when there was only one). 12 seeds are probably the best bets, as three made it to the first weekend each of the past two years. Right after I tell people to pick at least one 12 seed, no 12 seeds win. However, there were two 14 seeds and two 11 seed upsets last year, and there will probably be at least that many this year (especially look hard at the 11 seeds).
There Will Be One Upset Nobody Saw Coming
Last year it was three seed Duke losing to 14 seed Mercer. The year before it was 15 seed Florida Gulf Coast making it to the Sweet 16 (and 14 seed Harvard making it to the Round of 32). And the year before that it was 2 seeds Duke and Missouri getting upset by 15 seeds. Whether it's a 14 vs. a 3 or a 15 vs. a 2, there will most likely be at least one upset almost nobody saw coming. Last year continued this trend, as 14 seeds Georgia State and UAB upset Baylor and Iowa State, respectively. There will probably be another one (or more) this year, but I don't know who it will involve (hence the phrase "upset nobody saw coming"). If I were to venture a guess of where a "shocking" (14, 15, or 16 seed) upset might be this year, I would look at 14 seed Green Bay (vs. Baylor) and 15 seed Weber State (vs. Xavier).
Strong Defense and Stellar Guard Play Win Championships
When picking a national champion, look for a good defensive team with a playmaking guard. Let's look at the last five champs: In 2010, champion Duke ranked 28th in scoring defense (and 2nd in three-point defense) and had junior guard Nolan Smith, who averaged 17.4 points per game. In 2011, champion UConn was only 80th in scoring defense but was 11th in opponent field goal percentage, and they had playmaking guard Kemba Walker, who was 5th in the nation in points per game (23.5) and was the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player. In 2012, champion Kentucky ranked 25th in scoring defense (and 1st in opponent field goal percentage) and had two guards who each averaged over ten points per game (Doron Lamb with 13.7 and Marquis Teague with 10.3). In 2013, champion Louisville was 21st in scoring defense and had junior guard Russ Smith (18.7 points per game) and senior guard Peyton Siva (10). And last year, champion UConn ranked 31st in scoring defense and had electric guard Shabazz Napier (18 points per game). The old adage is true: Defense (and a playmaking guard or two) wins championships. Last year's champion, Duke, didn't have an outstanding defense or guard, but did defend well against three-pointers and have a solid veteran guard in Quinn Cook. Continue to look for a strong defensive team (although offense helps too) with a good guard (or guards) to win the chammpionship (and yes, I would count Denzel Valentine as a guard).
Teams Who Enter the Tourney Hot Usually Stay Hot
Always go with the hot hand. That's a good tip about many things, including filling out NCAA Tournament brackets. Last year, UConn wasn't necessarily hot going into the Big Dance, but they did make a run in the Big East Tournament, falling to Louisville in the finals. Going into the 2013 NCAA Tournament, Louisville was on a 10-game winning streak (winning each game by at least five), Kentucky had won 24 in a row in 2012 before losing to Vanderbilt in the SEC Championship, and 2011 UConn was especially hot, making a surprise run in the Big East Tournament and winning it after struggling at the end of the regular season.
Momentum is helpful. That can help you decide close matchups in the tournament (such as 7-10 or 8-9 games). However, it's not absolutely everything (yes, Austin Peay is on a roll right now; no, they won't continue that roll)..
3's Are Your Best Friend... And Your Worst Enemy
Relying heavily on the three-point shot is a dangerous proposition. On one hand, you can beat just about anybody on any given night if the threes are falling. On the other hand, if they aren't falling, you can lose to just about anybody. So it's probably smart to pick a three-point heavy team to pull an upset in the first couple of rounds, but not to win it all. I learned this the hard way last year, when I picked Doug McDermott and three-happy Creighton (I wasn't thinking clearly; I was hypnotized by the greatness that was McDermott). Think about it this way: Attractiveness can get you through a one night stand, but looks alone won't make a relationship last. The same idea applies to threes. You can survive one night against anyone if you knock down the three, but you'll need a lot more than the three to win a championship. This is always true, and this year, many tourney teams launch a lot of threes. Threes (as long as they're falling) win ball games (along with defense, rebounding, free throws...)
I've identified my favorite (best team), sleeper (under-the-radar team), "Upset Alert" (a big upset to watch for), and pick to win in each region.
South Region Favorite: #1 Kansas The Jayhawks are the number one overall seed in the tournament. They won both the regular season and tournament titles in the Big 12 (arguably the best conference in the nation), haven't lost since January, and have tons of talent, led by senior forward Perry Ellis (16.7 PPG, 5.9 RPG), junior guard Frank Mason III (13.1 PPG, 4.7 APG), and junior guard Wayne Seldon Jr. (13.3 PPG). They are strong in several different statistical categories, and are lethal from deep (They are 42.6 % on three-pointers, and all of their starters can shoot from beyond the arc). Sleeper: #9 Connecticut The Huskies are riding high off a American Conference Tournament run that included a wild four overtime win over Cincinnati in the quarterfinals and culminated in a conference championship. This team isn't quite as good as the 2014 National Championship team, but still has some similarities, including a surprise conference tournament run, a low seed (the 2014 team was a seven seed), and talented guards. This year's team is led by 6'7" sophomore Daniel Hamilton (12.4 PPG, 8.9 RPG), along with junior guard Rodney Purvis (12.5 PPG) and senior guard Sterling Gibbs (12 PPG), both transfers, and senior forward Shonn Miller (12.8 PPG, 5.4 RPG). Unlike that 2014 team, this team is better on defense (63.2 points allowed per game, tied for 15th in the country). Upset Alert: #13 Hawaii vs. #4 California
The Cal Bears may have multiple NBA prospects in senior guard Tyrone Wallace (15.3 PPG, 5.4 RPG), freshman forward Jaylen Brown (15 PPG, 5.5 RPG), freshman forward Ivan Rabb (12.5 PPG, 8.5 RPG), and junior guard Jabari Bird (10.4 PPG), but the Rainbow Warriors, who won the Big West this year over UC-Irvine (and 7'6" Mamadou Ndiaye), a team that almost upset Louisville as a 13 seed last year, has played well against some very good teams, including Oklahoma (lost by three), Texas Tech (lost by eight), and Northern Iowa (Won by 14). They are a strong defensive team (66.5 point allowed per game, 50th in the nation) piloted by junior forward Stefan Jankovic (15.7 PPG, 6.6 RPG), a Missouri transfer who was Big West Player of the Year, and senior guard Roderick Bobbitt (13.3 PPG, 5.5 APG), who contributes in numerous areas.
Elite Eight Pick: #9 Connecticut Kansas is the overwhelming favorite in this region, but I'm going outside of the box with the dangerous Huskies. Coach Kevin Ollie has been in a similar situation to this before, when he led an under-the-radar seven seed on a tournament run and National Championship. Remember, the NCAA Tournament isn't necessarily about the best teams, but the hottest teams. West Region Favorite: #2 Oklahoma The Sooners, who were once the number one team in the nation (and almost beat number one overall seed Kansas), took some hits late in Big 12 play and fell to a number two seed. But this team is still one of the best teams in the country (and possibly better than one seed Oregon), thanks in large part to arguably the best player in the country (it's either him, Denzel Valentine, or maybe Tyler Ulis) in senior guard Buddy Hield (25 PPG, 5.6 RPG). Other large contributors include senior forward Ryan Spangler (10.8 PPG, 9.4 RPG), senior guard Isaiah Cousins (13 PPG), and junior guard Jordan Woodard (12.6 PPG). They are, like Kansas, lethal from three-point range, hitting 42.6% of there shots from outside. Sleeper: #11 Northern Iowa The Panthers won the Missouri Valley Conference title on a buzzer-beater by star senior guard (and Tennessee transfer) Wes Washpun (14.3 PPG, 5.2 APG), and will try to cause some havoc in the NCAA Tournament, which they have done in the past. They also have junior guard Jeremy Morgan (10.4 PPG, 5.1 RPG), who contributes to a defense ranked 11th in the nation in points allowed per game (62.9). They also boast wins over the likes of North Carolina, Iowa State, and Wichita State this season. Upset Alert: #12 Yale vs. #5 Baylor If you're looking for a 12-5 upset this year, this may be the place to look. The Bulldogs are in the tournament for the first time in 54 years, and they are capable of doing what fellow Ivy League school Harvard did a couple of years ago in the NCAA Tournament. The strong rebounding dogs are paced by senior forward Justin Sears (15.8 PPG, 7.5 RPG) and sophomore guard Makai Mason (15.8 PPG). They may have trouble with Baylor's size (especially 6'8", 275-pound forward Rico Gathers, who's playing football next year) and neon uniforms, but they are a team to watch out for. Elite Eight Pick: #2 Oklahoma Buddy Hield. He alone is reason enough for the Sooners to win this region, but they also have an all-around elite team and are a National title contender. They're dangerous offense and elite three-point shooting will make them hard to beat, even in a region with Duke, Baylor, Texas, Texas A&M, and Oregon. East Region Favorite: #1 North Carolina The Tar Heels, per usual, have lots of talent, including senior forward Brice Johnson (16.6 PPG, 10.6 RPG) and senior guard Marcus Paige (12.1 PPG). They feature four players who average at least 12 points again, and two more who average over nine. While UNC struggles outside (31.4% from three), they are money inside (52.3% from two). They are also among the best in the nation in points, assists, and rebounds. Sleeper: #10 Pittsburgh This is the most wide-open region in the bracket, with talented teams like Indiana, Kentucky, and Notre Dame who could lose first round or make it to the Final Four. It also has (in my opinion) the weakest two seed (Xavier), which is a good team but isn't on the level of Oklahoma or Michigan State. Jamie Dixon's Panthers are a dangerous team that has beaten Duke, Notre Dame, and Gonzaga. They have talented players in junior forward Michael Young (16 PPG, 7 RPG), Junior forward Jamel Artis (14.4 PPG), and senior guard James Robinson (10.3 PPG, 5.1 APG). Upset Alert: #12 Chattanooga vs. #5 Indiana If the Hoosiers are hitting shots, they are hard to beat. But if they don't have going well offensively, a strong mid-major like Chattanooga can knock them off. IU isn't a great defensive team (68.9 points allowed per game, 99th in the nation), and they are coming off a shocking loss to Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals. The Mocs of Chattanooga have beaten Georgia, Illinois, and Dayton, and are led by junior forward Tre' McLean (12.3 PPG, 6.4 RPG). Elite Eight Pick: #3 West Virginia "Press Virginia" is more than just the press this year. The improved offense is led by junior forward Devin Williams (13.3 PPG, 9.3 RPG) and senior guard Jaysean Paige (13.9 PPG), and the havoc-wreaking defense is among the best in the country, as well as their offensive rebounding (15.9 per game, second in the nation). Midwest Region Favorite: #2 Michigan State The Spartans are rolling into the tournament off a Big Ten Tournament championship, and they probably should have been a number one seed. They are (in my opinion) one of the two best teams in the country right now (along with Kansas). They have arguably the best player in the country (again, either Buddy Hield, him, or possibly Tyler Ulis) and probably the most versatile player in the country in Denzel Valentine (19.4 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 7.6 APG). They also have much-improved senior forward Matt Costello (10.4 PPG, 8.2 RPG) and senior guard Bryn Forbes (14.4 PPG), who is deadly from three (48.4%). MSU as a is the best three-point shooting team in the nation (43.5%). Sleeper: #9 Butler You can never count out Butler, even in the post-Brad Stevens era. The Bulldogs didn't have the best season, but they do have the ability to make a tournament run. They are a very good three-point shooting team (38.7% from deep), paced by senior guard Kellen Dunham (16.3 PPG), sophomore forward Kelan Martin (16.1 PPG, 6.8 RPG), and senior forward Roosevelt Jones (14 PPG, 6.6 RPG). Upset Alert: #13 Iona vs. #4 Iowa State
Iona is a fast-paced, high-octane three-point shooting team (320 total threes made, 12th in the nation) with one of the best mid-major players in the country in senior guard A.J. English (22.4 PPG, 5 RPG, 6.2 APG). They have also won their last eight games. That combination could spell a potential upset. They play Iowa State, a team that, while very talented, has scuffled recently, and was upset as a three seed last year by 14 seed UAB.
Elite Eight Pick: #2 Michigan State Tom Izzo in March. That's really all that needs to be said. Oh, and Denzel Valentine. And best three-point shooting team in the nation. Yeah, that should about do it.
Final Four Picks:
Oklahoma over Connecticut
This is where UConn's magical run ends. I'm crazy enough to have UConn in the Final Four, but I'm not quite crazy enough to have them in the National Championship (this team's not quite as good as the National Champions two years ago), especially against a talented and experienced Oklahoma team.
Michigan State over West Virginia
West Virginia is a great, physical team that has a shot at winning it all, but Denzel Valentine won't let the Spartans lose. He, along with Michigan State's other talented seniors (Bryn Forbes and Matt Costello), will lead Tom Izzo's team to the National Championship.
National Championship Pick:
Michigan State Spartans over Oklahoma Sooners
This seems like a fitting way to end a season that has seen many more good senior-laden teams than usual (as opposed to the one-and-done powerhouses). The two best players in the country (Buddy Hield and Denzel Valentine) playing their final collegiate games against each other. Both of these teams have shown that they are National title contenders and have the pieces to win one. I think Michigan State, with more depth and experience (and a better overall teams), takes the title.
There is only one college football game this weekend (Army-Navy), but one event that does take place this weekend is the annual presentation of the Heisman Trophy (in New York), awarded to the best player in NCAA Division I FBS college football. There are three finalists, as well as plenty of other deserving candidates who didn't get an invite.
Mayfield made a strong case for the Heisman, and believes he should have been a finalist. He led the Sooners through the wild Big 12 and emerged with just one loss, a championship, and a spot in the Playoff. Mayfield threw at least two touchdown pass in all but one game (which he threw one in).
It was the Michigan State game that not only ended Ohio State's title hopes, but also Elliott's Heisman hopes. He carried the ball just 12 times for 33 yards, and both he (in a post game "rant") and Urban Meyer admitted they should have given him the ball more. In every other game (including the next week vs. Michigan), Zeke rushed for over 100 yards.
Early in the season, it looked like Fournette winning the Heisman was almost a foregone conclusion. He had at least 150 yards rushing in his first seven games, but then he got contained by Alabama (19 carries, 31 yards) and Arkansas (19 carries, 91 yards) in consecutive weeks, dwindling his Heisman chances.
If the Heisman were a career award, Reynolds would probably win it. Reynolds is a four year starter who holds the NCAA record for most career rushing touchdowns (84), and he led the Midshipmen to the AAC Championship Game this season (where they lost to Houston).
McCaffrey broke Barry Sanders record for most all-purpose yards in a season while leading the Cardinal to a Pac-12 Championship and the Rose Bowl. He may be the most versatile player in the country; he has also thrown two touchdown passes (he's attempted three) and returned a kickoff for a touchdown.
Alabama Junior RB Derrick Henry: 339 rushes, 1,986 yards, 23 TD; 10 catches, 97 yards Henry was a workhorse back for the Tide, breaking the SEC record for most rushing yards in a season while averaging 26 carries a game, including 46 and 44 in his last two games (an Iron Bowl win and an SEC Championship win) respectively.
Watson came back from ACL surgery and piloted the Tigers to an undefeated season and an ACC Championship. The dual-threat had four games of 100 or more yards rushing and five games of three or more passing touchdowns.
G-Rex's Pick: Watson Watson isn't the favorite to win the Heisman (many have him behind both McCaffrey and Henry), he should be. He's the only finalist who plays quarterback, widely thought of as the most important position. He also has intangibles like leadership and poise, and he led Clemson to an unbeaten season, which no other team in NCAA Division I accomplished. McCaffrey is highly versatile and productive, but Stanford lost twice and didn't make the Playoff. Henry is a very powerful runner, but he didn't do much else besides run the ball. Watson was extremely productive passing the ball and running the ball, and he didn't lose a game, something the others can't say. G-Rex's Rankings: Watson, McCaffrey, Henry
Hope you had a good Thanksgiving (and Black Friday, if you're into that). The Weekly Review/Preview is back from Thanksgiving break, and just in time for conference championship week. This week will determine who makes the College Football Playoff, and what bowls other teams go to. Right now, there are really about nine teams who still have a shot (even if it's minuscule) at making the Playoff:
Clemson: If the unbeaten Tigers take care of business Saturday in the ACC Championship, they will most likely be the #1 seed in the Playoff. If they are upset by North Carolina, they still have a chance of staying in the top four, but they will most likely be on the outside looking in.
Alabama: As with Clemson, the Tide are in with a win in the SEC Championship Saturday. They're out if they lose to offensively-challenged Florida.
Oklahoma: Oklahoma looks to have a Playoff spot locked up. They demolished Oklahoma State to take the Big 12 (which doesn't have a championship game) crown, and that's the final impression the Playoff Committee will get from them.
Iowa: The unbeaten Hawkeyes will play in a winner-take-all (or at least a Playoff spot) Big Ten Championship against Michigan State. Win and they're in. Lose and they're out.
Michigan State: The Spartans are in with a Big Ten Championship victory. If they lose, they most likely go to the Rose Bowl.
Ohio State: The Buckeyes played to their potential last Saturday against Michigan, running all over the Wolverines with J.T. Barrett and Ezekiel Elliott a week after Elliott hardly touched the ball in a loss to MSU. They need at least either Clemson or Alabama to lose to have a chance to defend their title
Stanford: The two-loss Cardinal are still in contention, but they will need to win the Pac-12 Championship against USC, hope either Clemson or Alabama lose, and hope the Playoff Committee values a conference championship over the eye test.
North Carolina: The Heels could sneak in with an upset of Clemson and a Stanford or Alabama loss. The problem is their strength of schedule; their lone loss was to South Carolina, and they played two FCS teams.
Florida: It's unlikely the Gators, who have struggled recently, including last week in a loss to Florida State, get in, but if they pull off an SEC Championship upset of Alabama, they have a sim chance.
In a double-overtime thriller, Trevon Boykin and TCU dashed the title (conference and national) hopes of third-string quarterback Chris Johnson and Baylor.
Led by their talented offense, Western Michigan ruined Toledo's hopes of winning a MAC Championship and playing in a New Year's 6 bowl game. They play Northern Illinois in the MAC Championship this weekend.
In last weekend's marquee game, Stanford rallied to knock off Notre Dame on a game-winning field goal in the final seconds.
Top Performances California QB Jared Goff vs. Arizona State (W 48-46): 30-51, 542 yards, 5 TD
One of the top NFL prospect at quarterback put on a show in Cal's final regular season game, throwing five touchdowns to push the Bears past ASU.
Alabama RB Derrick Henry @ Auburn (W 29-13): 46 carries, 271 yards, TD
Henry is many people's Heisman front-runner after a dominating performance that saw him tote the rock 46 times.
Clemson QB Deshaun Watson @ South Carolina (W 37-32): 20-27, 279 yards passing, TD; 21 carries, 114 yards rushing, 3 TD
Another Heisman candidate, Watson kept the #1 Tigers unbeaten despite a scare from South Carolina.
Play of the Week
The best play from the holiday weekend goes to Southern Miss receiver Mike Thomas, who made an Odell Beckham-like catch in the end zone and somehow managed to get a foot down in bounds. Southern Miss beat Louisiana Tech and will play in the Conference USA Championship.
Play of the Weak
If there was a team that exemplified Play of the Weak best, it would be the Kansas Jayhawks. Somebody made this "hype video" to celebrate their 0-12 season.
Championship Week Preview Quick Picks
Two Weeks Ago: 12-7 Season: 104-38 Friday MAC Championship: Bowling Green 32, Northern Illinois 28(8:00 PM, ESPN 2) Saturday Texas 38, #12 Baylor 32(Noon, ESPN) C-USA Championship: Southern Miss 34, Western Kentucky 45 (Noon, ESPN 2) AAC Championship: #22 Temple 28, #19 Houston 42 (Noon, ABC) SEC Championship: #18 Florida 13, #2 Alabama 30 (4:00 PM, CBS) MWC Championship: Air Force 38, San Diego State 35(7:00 PM, ESPN 2) Pac-12 Championship: #20 USC 28, #7 Stanford 35 (7:45 PM, ESPN) Big Ten Championship: #5 Michigan State 40, #4 Iowa 29(8:00 PM, FOX) ACC Championship: #10 North Carolina 34, #1 Clemson 32(8:00 PM, ABC)
Two quarterbacks will be making their fist start of the season this week, and they happen to be two of my favorite backup quarterbacks. Those two would be Denver's Brock Osweiler and St. Louis's Case Keenum. Osweiler came in for Peyton Manning last Sunday after Manning threw four interceptions. Earlier this week, we learned that Manning had been battling plantar fasciitis, so Osweiler was named the starter this week for the injured/ineffective Manning. It's remains to be seen whether Gary Kubiak will stick with Osweiler if he plays well, or go back to the future Hall of Famer in the midst of a miserable season. Meanwhile, in St. Louis, Jeff Fisher announced that Keenum will start over ineffective Nick Foles this week. The Rams have an outstanding running game with Todd Gurley, but no passing game due to the lack of talent at quarterback and receiver. If this is the first time you've heard the names Brock Osweiler and Case Keenum, let me provide some background. Osweiler is 6'8", 240 lbs., and is in his fourth year out of Arizona State (third round draft pick). The 6'1", 205 lb. Keenum is in his fourth season (undrafted) out of Houston, where he set multiple career passing records. This is an audition for quarterback of the future for Osweiler and Keenum (as well as Johnny Manziel.
Week 10 Review Top Games Lions 18, Packers 16
The last time the Lions beat the Packers at Lambeau was in 1991. They broke that streak on Sunday, but they almost blew it. The Green Bay offense couldn't do anything, as Detroit held them to just three points through three quarters. The Packers finally scored a touchdown with just under six minutes left, making it 12-10 Lions. The Lions then answered with just under two minutes left, but failed the two-point conversion. Green Bay scored again with 32 seconds, but needed to convert the two-point conversion. They didn't get it on a well-defended pass, and it looked like Detroit would escape Lambeau with a win. But then the onside kick went right through Calvin Johnson's hands and the Packers recovered. They got into field position for a Mason Crosby 52-yard field goal. However, the ball was not kicked well and fell well short, and the Lions finally won in Green Bay.
Jaguars 22, Ravens 20
Blake Bortles led the Jags to a fourth quarter comeback victory (he did it again Thursday night against the Titans). The Ravens scored with 7:30 left to take a 20-13 lead, but didn't get the two-point conversion. After a couple punts, Bortles and the Jaguars got the ball back with 1:06 to play. Bortles drove the offense 45 yards, and Jason Myers made a 53-yard field goal as time expired.
Patriots 27, Giants 26
The Patriots remained undefeated, but only after a close encounter with the Giants. New York took a 26-24 lead with 1:47 left, a few plays after a Odell Beckham Jr. touchdown catch was reviewed and ruled an incompletion (didn't complete the process of the catch). The Giants could have run out the clock before the field goal, but they decided to throw the ball, giving Tom Brady more time. On the ensuing Patriots possession, Brady threw what looked like a sure interception, but as Landon Collins came down with the ball, he hurt his arm, dropping the ball. Brady took advantage, setting up a Stephen Gostkowski 54-yard field goal with one second left.
Top Performances Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger vs. Cleveland (W 30-9): 22-33, 379 yards, 3 TD, INT
Big Ben was active but didn't start after getting injured last week, but after starter Landry Jones was injured early, he came in and (as usual) tore up the Browns defense.
Vikings RB Adrian Peterson @ Oakland (W 30-14): 26 carries, 203 yards, TD
AD ran all over the Raiders defense, including on an 80-yard touchdown run that put the game out of reach.
Steelers WR Antonio Brown vs. Cleveland (W 30-2): 10 catches, 139 yards, 2 TD
Brown is really good, and the Browns are really bad. Brown went to town on Cleveland's depleted secondary, exemplified by front flip into the end zone.
Play of the Week
Texans receiver DeAndre Hopkins made a fabulous one-handed touchdown catch against the Bengals on Monday night. Despite tight coverage, Hopkins was able to hold on to the ball and get both feet down. The play helped propel the Texans to an upset of the previously unbeaten Bengals.
Play of the Weak
As I have done sometimes, I am putting something I found funny from last week in this spot. After J.J. Watt and the Texans took down Andy Dalton and the Bengals on Monday Night Football, Watt made a funny comment about beating Dalton.
Week 11 Preview Quick Picks (home team listed last) Last Week: 6-8 Overall: 80-55 Byes: Browns, Saints, Giants, Steelers Thursday Night Final: Titans 13, Jaguars 19 Sunday Raiders 34, Lions 28(1:00 PM, CBS) Colts 27, Falcons 31 (1:00 PM, CBS) Jets 22, Texans 24 (1:00 PM, CBS) Buccaneers 24, Eagles 21(1:00 PM, FOX) Broncos 35, Bears 17(1:00 PM, CBS) Rams 23, Ravens 16(1:00 PM, FOX) Cowboys 38, Dolphins 30(1:00 PM, FOX) Redskins 17, Panthers 27 (1:00 PM, FOX) Chiefs 28, Chargers 26(4:05 PM, CBS) Packers 32, Vikings 28(4:05 PM, FOX) 49ers 22, Seahawks 35 (4:25 PM, FOX) Game to Watch: Bengals 27, Cardinals 30 (8:30 PM, NBC)
The Sunday night game is usually the game to watch, and that is the case here when the 8-1 Bengals visit 7-2 Cardinals in a battle of two great defenses. Monday Bills 31, Patriots 38 (8:30, ESPN) Start 'em
Cowboys QB Tony Romo @ Miami Broncos QB Brock Osweiler @ Chicago
Of course you should start Romo, who's likely to play this week after coming off IR. Romo is always a strong fantasy quarterback when healthy. Osweiler may be a bit of a flier, but I believe in him. Plus, he has weapons around him and doesn't face an extremely tough defense. Other Suggestions: Raiders QB Derek Carr @ Detroit, Rams QB Case Keenum @ Baltimore Chiefs RB Charcandrick West @ San Diego Cowboys RB Darren McFadden @ Miami
Charcandrick (great name) has scored a rushing touchdown in each of his last three games, and has at least 20 carries in each of those games. San Diego has one of the worst rushing defenses in the league. Speaking of one of the worst rushing defenses in the league, Miami would be the worst (according to yards allowed per game) if not for the Cleveland Browns. Other Suggestions: Panthers RB Jonathan Stewart vs. Washington, Raiders RB Latavius Murray @ Detroit
Buccaneers WR Mike Evans @ Philadelphia Rams WR Tavon Austin @ Baltimore
Evans has had 150 yards receiving and 126 yards receiving the last two weeks, respectively. This week he is up against a below-average Eagles pass defense. Austin is up against one of the worst defenses in the league. He is also St. Louis's top receiving option, and Case Keenum might be an improvement over Nick Foles (we'll see). Other Suggestions: Raiders WR Amari Cooper @ Detroit, Chargers WR Stevie Johnson vs. Kansas City
Sit 'em Bengals QB Andy Dalton @ Arizona
Dalton got silenced by the Texans last week, and now he must play one of the top defenses in the league on the road.
Bears RB Jeremy Langford vs. Denver
Langford has filled in admirably for Matt Forte, but he faces Denver's defense this week.
Bears WR Alshon Jeffery vs. Denver
Same thing with Jeffery, along with the fact that he is questionable.
We are entering the most climactic part of the college football season: the last few weeks. Many teams have just two or three (including conference championship games) left, and those games will be vital to determining what bowl they go to, especially since these games will be fresh in the committee's minds. One topic up for debate as we enter this crucial stretch is the ever-present question of whether a one-loss Power 5 conference team should be ranked above an unbeaten Power 5 conference team. Right now, there are two one-loss teams from major conferences (Alabama and Notre Dame) in the top four (Alabama at #2, Notre Dame at #4), while Ohio State (#3), Iowa (#5), and Oklahoma State (#6) all carry unblemished records. Here is the complete Week 12 College Football Playoff Rankings:
Clemson (10-0)
Alabama (9-1)
Ohio State (10-0)
Notre Dame (9-1)
Iowa (10-0)
Oklahoma State (10-0)
Oklahoma (9-1)
Florida (9-1)
Michigan State (9-1)
Baylor (8-1)
Stanford (8-2)
Michigan (8-2)
Utah (8-2)
Florida State (8-2)
LSU (7-2)
Navy (8-1)
North Carolina (9-1)
TCU (9-1)
Houston (10-0)
Northwestern (8-2)
Memphis (8-2)
Ole Miss (7-3)
Oregon (7-3)
USC (7-3)
Wisconsin (8-2)
The reason for putting the one-loss teams in front of the unbeaten ones is simple: strength of schedule and talent level. Iowa's strength of schedule is ranked 61st in the nation (according to ESPN.com), while Oklahoma State has the 55th strongest schedule. Ohio State is ranked 69th in strength of schedule. Conversely, Alabama has the strongest schedule in college football and Notre Dame is 27th. Notre Dame's one loss was on the road against the #1 team in the country, and Alabama's lone loss came early in the season against Ole Miss. Another big factor in the rankings is how talented the teams are perceived to be. Many people think Alabama is the most talented team in the nation, and although they have a loss, they have the talent to beat anyone. Many feel the same way about Notre Dame, especially since they were so close to beating #1 on the road. This is unfortunate for the players and coaches of Iowa and Oklahoma State (and Houston, for that matter), who have done their jobs thus far and can't do anything about their strength of schedule. Of course, if Iowa wins the Big Ten Championship and/or Oklahoma State wins the Big 12, they should be in the Playoff (probably over Notre Dame and/or Ohio State), but right now, despite their pristine records, they're on the outside looking in.
Saturday was probably a bittersweet day for the Pac-12. There were some very close and entertaining games out west, but the conference's playoff hopes were squashed. In what was a shootout, Oregon had the lead for most of the game thanks in part to three Stanford turnovers and a missed field goal. The Ducks were up 38-30 with just over two minutes left in the fourth quarter when Stanford had its most costly fumble in the Oregon red zone. The Cardinal would get the ball back and score with ten seconds left, but they could not convert the two-point conversion.
In late-night Pac-12 action, Arizona's upset of Utah effectively eliminated the conference from the playoff. Every Pac-12 team now has at least two losses after backup quarterback Jerrard Randall led the Wildcats to a double-overtime victory over the Utes (starter Anu Soloman was injured in the fourth quarter).
In another double-overtime game, Indiana and their high-scoring offense gave Michigan a scare. The Hoosiers took their first lead with 2:52 left in regular time, but then the Wolverines tied it up as time expired. Michigan answered Indiana's touchdown in the first overtime, then scored a touchdown to open up the second overtime. IU got down to the two, but couldn't convert on fourth and goal.
Top Performances
Texas Tech RB DeAndre Washington vs. Kansas State (W 59-44): 27 carries, 248 yards, 3 TD
In an offense known for passing, the running back stole the show on Saturday. Washington had three of Texas Tech's five rushing touchdowns in a win that made them bowl-eligible.
Chesson caught four of Michigan's six touchdowns, including the game-tying one as time expired in the fourth quarter.
Navy QB Keenan Reynolds vs. SMU (W 55-14): 2-9, 81 yards passing, TD; 14 carries, 137 yards rushing, 4 TD
The highly-accomplished Midshipmen set the NCAA record for career rushing touchdowns (78) while also throwing a 72-yard passing touchdown.
Play of Week
Oklahoma quarterback looked Johnny Manziel-esque on this touchdown against. Mayfield was able to extend the play and put the Sooners up two possessions with just a few minutes left in a 44-34 win.
I honestly just wanted to highlight the Memphis-Houston game, where Houston was down 34-14 at one point and came back to win 35-34. They were helped by plays like this, where Paxton Lynch's pitch bounced right off of running back Doroland Dorceus's chest and was recovered by Houston. Houston didn't capitalize on the turnover, but the next drive Lynch threw an interception on a bad pass.
GSB Playoff Rankings (Week 12)
1. Clemson
Clemson got a bit of a scare from Syracuse, but they were able to put the Orange away. The Tigers next two games are Wake Forest and South Carolina, and then (presumably) the ACC Championship game.
2. Ohio State
Ohio State dispatched Illinois last weekend and showed once again that the offense is better with J.T. Barrett at the helm. Now comes the tough part of the schedule, games against Michigan State and Michigan.
3. Alabama
Alabama destroyed Mississippi State last Saturday, and face what looks like a cupcake game against Charleston Southern this weekend before the Iron Bowl at Auburn.
4. Notre Dame
The Irish took care of Wake Forest, and now they have Boston College this weekend and a tough test at Stanford next weekend to finish off their season.
#17 North Carolina 29, Virginia Tech 27(Noon, ESPN)
Purdue 20, #5 Iowa 38 (Noon, ESPN 2)
#12 Michigan 35, Penn State 28 (Noon, ABC)
#21 Memphis 38, Temple 26(Noon, ESPNU)
Chattanooga 17, #14 Florida State 40 (3:00 PM, ESPN 3)
Game to Watch: #9 Michigan State 32, #3 Ohio State 38 (3:30 PM, ABC)
There are many good games this weekend, but the best is probably this Big Ten battle with playoff implications. 10-0 Ohio State faces by far it's toughest test of the season against a Spartan team that is a questionable call away from being 10-0 as well.
Arguably the biggest headliner out of the NFL recently has been Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy. Hardy was arrested last year, while he was on the Panthers, for assaulting and threatening his then-girlfriend Nicole Holder. He allegedly threw her against a bathroom wall, threw her on a pile of assault rifles, and threatened to kill her. Hardy was convicted of domestic violence, but the conviction was eventually removed from his record after he requested it be. He was suspended 10 games and placed on the commissioner's exempt list in September of last year, but he appealed and the suspension was reduced to four games. He signed with the Cowboys in the offseason, and since then, although he's been a force on the field, he has made abrasive comments and gotten into an altercation with a coach (on the sideline during a game) off of it. Despite that, Jerry Jones, who likes to take risks and draw attention to himself, backed him, calling him a leader and saying they wanted to sign him to an extension. Then, last week, photos from the night of Hardy's domestic violence incident were released, showing a badly bruised and battered Nicole Holder. Hardy tweeted regret for past mistakes later, but then changed his Twitter bio to proclaim his innocence briefly before changing it again. I don't have very strong feelings about this situation (and I'm not usually a very opinionated person), but I do have opinions on it. Although photos shouldn't change people's perceptions, they did when Ray Rice punched his then-fiancee (and current wife) in an elevator and knocked her out. Before that, Rice had only been suspended two games, but after it, he was released by the Ravens and is currently not on a team. But Rice is much different from Hardy. Rice made one really idiotic choice in a moment where he got out of control emotionally. I'm not trying to say what Rice did wasn't serious or very wrong, but he paid the consequences, and now he wants to help raise awareness for domestic violence. Hardy continues to do dumb things, and doesn't seem very remorseful. Hardy is still playing football because he is more of a help on the field than Rice at this point. Although I don't think Hardy should be suspended by the NFL (they already suspended him, albeit lightly, for the domestic violence incident), Jerry Jones and the Cowboys should consider letting him go. Right now he seems like a cancerous personality in the locker room, and he needs time to fix it. But the NFL should fix its discipline. Players are getting fined for what they wear (including clothing honoring a deceased family member or our country) when the NFL and Roger Goodell should focus on more serious offenses. It just doesn't make sense how something like smoking pot or deflating footballs can be disciplined similar to something like domestic violence.
Week 9 Review Top Games Titans 34, Saints 28 OT
Marcus Mariota came back from injury and outdeuled Drew Brees, throwing for 371 yards and four touchdowns. Tennessee blocked a field goal with a minute left in the fourth quarter, and after they went three and out, the game went into overtime. The Titans got the ball, and Mariota led a nine-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a five-yard touchdown pass from Mariota to tight end Anthony Fasano.
Rams 18, Vikings 21 OT
Despite losing quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to a concussion in the fourth quarter, the Vikings were still able to get an overtime win thanks to 125 yards and a touchdown from Adrian Peterson and a game-winning field goal from The Blair Walsh Project Blair Walsh. Greg the Leg Greg Zurlein hit four field goals to help the Rams take Minnesota into overtime, including a career-long 61-yarder, but he also missed a 48-yarder.
Eagles 33, Cowboys 27 OT
Guess what the Sunday Night Football game was this week? Yep, it was this one. Philadelphia beat the Matt Cassel-led Cowboys thanks to ex-Cowboy DeMarco Murray (161 total yards, 1 TD) and fellow running back Ryan Mathews (67 yards, 1 TD), as well as cornerback Jordan Hicks, who had a pick-six, and Sam Bradford and Jordan Matthews, who connected on the game-winning touchdown pass in overtime.
Top Performances Steelers RB DeAngelo Williams vs. Oakland (W 38-35): 27 carries, 170 yards, 2 TD
Williams thrived in his first game as Le'Veon Bell's replacement (well, technically third game, since he filled in during Bell's suspension), running all over Oakland and helping the Steelers squeak out a victory.
Bills WR Sammy Watkins vs. Miami (W 33-17): 8 catches, 168 yards, TD
Watkins returned with a bang after being out a few weeks with an injury, starring in a big win over Miami.
Titans QB Marcus Mariota @ New Orleans (W 34-28): 28-39, 387 yards, 4 TD
Another big returner from injury, Mariota thrived in his first game with Mike Mularkey as interim head coach.
This was a great play by Bears tight end Zack Miller, who hadn't scored a touchdown since 2011. He put a hand up and was able to corral the ball with both hands and score the game-winning touchdown.
This week, this section goes to everything the Broncos did on the last drive against the Colts. The Colts were able to keep the ball and run out the clock thanks to Aqib Talib poking Dwayne Allen in the eye and a holding penalty against Denver on a Colts field goal (why would the defense need to hold on a field goal!?)
Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater @ Oakland
Teddy is expected to play Sunday, and he gets to face the worst pass defense in the NFL (by yards allowed per game).
Packers RB James Starks vs. Detroit
Earlier this week, Packers head coach Mike McCarthy announced that Starks will be the starting running back over Eddie Lacy this week. Starks is also involved in the passing game, and he plays Detroit's subpar defense.
Sit 'em Any Steelers QB vs. Cleveland
I know they're playing the Browns, but I am not currently sure who's starting for Pittsburgh this week. Will Big Ben be able to go? Will Landry Jones fill in? What about Mike Vick? If you have inside information and are confident in one of these guys, go right ahead. But there are better options.
Bills QB Tyrod Taylor @ NY Jets
I really like Tyrod Taylor, especially as an underrated fantasy quarterback. However, the Jets defense is really good, so Taylor probably isn't the best choice this week, especially in a Thursday night game.
Cardinals RB Chris Johnson and Broncos RB Ronnie Hillman
Both Arizona and Denver have elite defenses, and neither team leans extremely heavily on the run game.
We are into the second week of the College Football Playoff rankings, and there are some changes near the top after Alabama beat LSU. Here are this week's rankings:
1. Clemson 2. Alabama 3. Ohio State 4. Notre Dame 5. Iowa 6. Baylor 7. Stanford 8. Oklahoma State 9. LSU 10. Utah 11. Florida 12. Oklahoma 13. Michigan State 14. Michigan 15. TCU 16. Florida State 17. Mississippi State 18. Northwestern 19. UCLA 20. Navy 21. Memphis 22. Temple 23. North Carolina 24. Houston 25. Wisconsin
The College Football Playoff Committee uses many different criteria for their rankings, including strength of schedule and the eye test, so I'm going to compare the brief resumes (strength of schedule, best wins, losses) for each of the teams: Information via ESPN.com 1. Clemson (9-0) SOS: 19th Best Wins: #4 Notre Dame (24-22), #16 Florida State (23-13) Losses: None
2. Alabama (8-1) SOS: 1st Best Wins: #9 LSU (30-16), #25 Wisconsin (35-17) Losses: Ole Miss (37-43)
3. Ohio State (9-0) SOS: 73rd Best Wins: Penn State (38-10), @ Virginia Tech (42-24) Losses: None
4. Notre Dame (8-1) SOS: 12th Best Wins: #20 Navy (41-24), @ #22 Temple (24-20) Losses: @ #1 Clemson (22-24)
Use this to make any case you want, because their are definitely many arguments that can be had.
Week 10 Review Top Games 1. Northern Illinois 32, #24 Toledo 27
In some Tuesday night MACtion, the Huskies upset the unbeaten Rockets thanks to a rally led by freshman backup quarterback Ryan Graham, who had to come in for starter Drew Hare, who injured his leg in the second quarter. Down 24-16 in the third quarter, the Huskies came back and took the lead with just under two minutes left, then intercepted Toledo quarterback Phillip Ely to seal the victory.
2. #7 Michigan State 38, Nebraska 39
Another week, another controversial finish. Michigan State was up 38-26 with a little over four minutes to play. Nebraska responded with a touchdown, but they were still down 38-33 with 1:47 left. They were able to force the Spartans to punt with 55 seconds on the clock, then conducted a four-play drive culminating in a 30-yard touchdown pass from Tommy Armstrong Jr. to Brandon Reilly with 17 ticks left. However, Reilly clearly went out of bounds before catching the pass, which is illegal. The officials reviewed the play and came to the questionable conclusion that Reilly was forced out by MSU corner Jermaine Edmondson.
3. Arkansas 53, #18 Ole Miss 52, OT
Another week, another crazy play to win a game. The game was tied with three seconds left in the fourth quarter, when an Arkansas 47-yard field goal attempt was blocked. Ole Miss scored in overtime on three plays, and Arkansas couldn't get anywhere. On fourth down and 25 from the 40, Brandon Allen threw a 14-yard pass to Hunter Henry. Knowing he wasn't going to make it to the first down marker, Henry flung it backward, where it was picked up at the 42 by Alex Collins, who found space and ran 31 yards for a first down (he fumbled at the end of the play, but it was recovered by Arkansas' Dominique Reed). Allen threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to Drew Morgan two plays later, and instead of going for the tie, Bret Bielema went for the win. Unfortunately, Allen was pressured and had to throw it away as he was being taken down. However, he was taken down by his facemask, so the Razorbacks got another chance. This time, Allen ran it in for the game-winning score.
Top Performances Arkansas QB Brandon Allen @ Ole Miss (W 53-52): 33-45, 442 yards, 6 TD
Allen played tough and exceptional, throwing six touchdowns, including the equalizer in overtime, and scoring the game-winning two-point conversion.
Alabama RB Derrick Henry vs. LSU (W 30-16): 38 carries, 210 yards, 3 TD
In the battle of Heisman contenders at running back, Henry wiped the floor with Leonard Fournette (19 carries, 31 yards, TD), which was a microcosm for the entire game, where Bama wiped the floor with LSU.
Baylor WR Corey Coleman @ Kansas State (W 31-24): 11 catches, 216 yards, 2 TD
Coleman continued his historic season in a nail-biter over K-State, catching 11 of Jared Stidham's 23 completions and two of his three passing touchdowns.
Play of the Week
I was going to go with Arkansas' amazing lateral, but I'm a sucker for flea-flickers. Oklahoma had their way with Iowa State, including on this nifty trick play.
Play of the Weak
I'll just use this as the Play of the Weak for Ole Miss's inability to stop Arkansas on fourth and 25 followed by a facemask penalty on the two-point conversion.
GSB Playoff Rankings 1. Clemson
Looking at each team's resume, I've finally conceded that Clemson deserves the first spot over Ohio State. The Tigers are rolling right now, and it seems highly likely they enter the ACC title game unbeaten. Next 3 Games: @ Syracuse (Saturday), Wake Forest (11/21), @ South Carolina (11/28) 2. Ohio State
Although the Buckeyes are no longer number one, they are still in the top two due to their talent level. This Saturday's game against Illinois is the preamble to big games against Michigan State and Michigan. Next 3 Games: @ Illinois (Saturday), #13 Michigan State (11/21), @ #14 Michigan (11/28) 3. Alabama
I contemplated putting unbeaten Iowa (or Baylor, or Oklahoma State) ahead of one-loss Alabama, but the Tide have a tougher schedule and are probably a better team. This is another case of how much talent a team has. Next 3 Games: @ #17 Mississippi State (Saturday), Charleston Southern (11/21), @ Auburn (11/28) 4. Notre Dame
I also contemplated one of the other unbeatens here, but Notre Dame's lone loss was by two points on the road against the number one team in the country. Next 3 Games: Wake Forest (Saturday), Boston College (11/21), @ #7 Stanford (11/28) 5. Iowa 6. Oklahoma State 7. Baylor 8. Stanford 9. LSU 10. Utah Week 11 Preview Quick Picks(home team listed last) Last Week: 15-7 Overall: 85-27 #1 Ohio State 42, Illinois 14(Saturday, Noon, ABC) #11 Florida 28, South Carolina 17(Saturday, Noon, ESPN) Kansas 13, #15 TCU 42 (Saturday, Noon, Fox Sports 1) Maryland 14, #13 Michigan State 35 (Saturday, Noon, ESPN 2) Purdue 21, Northwestern 28 (Saturday, Noon, BTN) N.C. State 27, #16 Florida State 38 (Saturday, 12:30 PM, ESPN3) Miami 30, #23 North Carolina 32 (Saturday, 3:30 PM, ESPNU) Wake Forest 17, #4 Notre Dame 32 (Saturday, 3:30 PM, NBC) #1 Clemson 38, Syracuse 10(Saturday, 3:30 PM, ABC/ESPN 2) #2 Alabama 34, #17 Mississippi State 21(Saturday, 3:30 PM, CBS) #14 Michigan 32, Indiana 27(Saturday, ABC/ESPN 2) SMU 23, #20 Navy 35 (Saturday, 3:30 PM, CBS Sports) #8 Oklahoma State 40, Iowa State 24(Saturday, 3:30 PM, ESPN) #22 Temple 34, South Florida 19(Saturday, 7:00 PM, CBS Sports) #21 Memphis 28, #24 Houston 35 (Saturday, 7:00 PM, ESPN 2) Arkansas 13, #9 LSU 21 (Saturday, 7:15 PM, ESPN) Oregon 32, #7 Stanford 38 (Saturday, 7:30 PM, FOX) Game to Watch: #12 Oklahoma 48, #6 Baylor 42(Saturday, 8:00 PM, ABC)
This Big 12 shootout between the Sooners and undefeated Baylor will definitely have an impact on the Big 12 race, and quite possibly the Playoff race. Minnesota 20, #5 Iowa 29 (Saturday, 8:00 PM, BTN) #10 Utah 32, Arizona 24(Saturday, 10:00 PM, Fox Sports 1) Upset Special: Washington State 41, #19 UCLA 38(Saturday, 10:45 PM, ESPN)
Fun fact: Washington State's three losses (to Stanford, Cal, and, somehow, Portland State) were all by one possession. The Cougars are coming off a win over Arizona State, who beat UCLA 38-23 in Week 5. Washington State has the tools for the upset.
