College Basketball

With about one more month to go in the college basketball regular season, there are still two unbeatens, the first unanimous #1 in three years in Illinois, a top ten looking quite different from a week ago, and still many questions left unanswered. Is there a clear dominant team? Some would say Illinois, but lets face it, the Big Ten is a football conference, not the basketball conference it used to be in the days of the Fab Five and more recently Michigan State. That being said, the Illini had an impressive win at Wisconsin and have another tough test this week in East Lansing. Rounding out the top 10:

1. Illinois
2. North Carolina - still the most explosive team in the country, can beat anyone. The Heels haven't really played anyone since losing at Wake Forest, and they should beat both NC State and Florida State this week.
3. Kansas - bounced back nicely after an embarassing loss at Villanova. The Jayhawks beat Baylor by 20 and blew out then #13 Texas by 25. Granted the Longhorns are injured, but still an impressive showing.
4. Kentucky - Not sold on them being this high. They've squeezed out close games against Mississippi and Arkansas by a combined four points. At Vandy this week....potential upset? maybe but i don't see it happening
5. Boston College - This year's St Joe's? The Eagles have surprised many so far, and have not faltered in a tough Big East. Good close win at Providence, and impressive rout of a dangerous G-town team that has taken down Pitt and just missed 'Cuse.
6. Duke - Not the same Duke teams of the past. This team could go out in the sweet 16 no question. Two more tough games this week - at #7Wake and #23Georgia Tech at Cameron. I'm going out on a limb - Duke loses both.
7. Wake Forrest- Its not even close to time to talk about Wake being a perennial tournament choke team, but there it is -they are. Didn't buy this team at all til they beat Carolina, they've proven they're up there. Coming off a tough loss to Ga Tech, they should put up two more W's against Duke at home and Va Tech.
8. Syracuse - Can't hold a 17 point lead, even though your top two guys scored 25? This team is as good as anyone IF...they make free throws, they put teams away, and they put Billy Edelin at the point and get Craig Forth no where near the court. If this team plays 40 complete minutes of the basketball they are capable of - they are unbeatable. It hasn't happened yet. Notre Dame at the Dome this week....last time these teams matched up the Irish rained down from three but the Orange still came out on top - I'm going with the Orange again.
9. Louisville - 204 points in two games? Winning two games by a combined 83 points? Cinci has its work cut out for it this week.
10. Michigan State - Your time to shine Izzo. A chance to take down Illinois at home and Iowa four days later. Not quite make or break...but both going the same way could have some serious impact.

The rest of the coaches poll:

11. Oklahoma state
12. Washington
13. Arizona
14. Alabama
15. Pittsburgh
16. Oklahoma
17. Cinci
18. Texas
19. Wisconsin
20. UCONN
21. Gonzaga
22. Utah
23. Georgia Tech
24. Maryland
25. Villanova - first time in the polls since 1995-1996. Welcome back boys. Two monster wins.

more to come

NFC Championship Game

Championship Weekend

EAGLES -5 OVER Falcons
For the last time, the Eagles did not fail to make it to the Super Bowl last year because they didn't have T.O. They stumbled against the Panthers because they lost RB Brian Westbrook and LB Carlos Emmons to injuries late in the season. And yes also because the Eagles receivers dropped almost 10 passes. This Eagles team has a healthy and versatile Westbrook and Jeremiah Trotter at MLB - a Pro Bowler after just SEVEN starts. This is the best Philly defense of the last 4 NFC Championship Game teams. Vick will get his yards on the ground but he is an average passer at best going against a Pro - Bowl secondary in DB Lito Sheppard FS Brian Dawkins and SS Michael Lewis. Dawkins or Lewis will be used to spy Vick on many occasions throughout the game, but it will not create enough of any opening in the Philly secondary for Vick to take advantage of. Once again the Eagles will need a Freddy Mitchell, L.J. Smith, or Todd Pinkston to step up. But also keep in mind that the Vikings knew they had to shut down Westbrook to win - and they couldn't and didn't. He is so versatile - he is a mismatch against any linebacker and can split out wide or line up in the slot. The Falcons front four could present some problems for McNabb, I think Kearney will win the trenches battle against Runyan more often than not but it will not be enough to force McNabb into a turnover that will turn the game in the Falcons favor. The way for the Falcons to win this one is to get up big early. If the Philly homecrowd sees that scoreboard light up with points for the Falcons, don't look for patience to emerge from this championship starved-city. That being said, I see the Eagles winning by 10.

Playoff Picks Round 2

Steelers - 9 OVER Jets
I can't see the Jets winning this game. They played about as well as they could have and still almost lost to a conservative Chargers team playing to not lose instead of to win. They won't find that in Pittsburgh. The Steelers have an effective running game which sets up Quarterback Ben Rothlisberger for the 6 or 7 big plays he has to make every game. The play action pass is key in Pittsburghs offensive attack and as long as they can establish the run, which hasn't been a problem all season, they should be able to win this game by double digits. The Jets have a solid running attack of their own with Curtis Martin, but Pennington's ability to throw deep like he did last week is questionable. Anyone who has played baseball or football from little league on up knows that in those February and March workouts (in states that have a winter) it takes much longer for one's arm to loosen up and stay loose and thats without the effects of any kind of surgery. The Jets only scored 6 points last time against the Steelers - dont look for much more on Saturday.


Rams +7 OVER Falcons
The Rams are a turf team that has been hot the last few weeks. Playing in the Georgia Dome gives the Rams an advantage despite the fact that they lost in Atlanta 34-17 in their first meeting this season. The game was a lot closer than the score shows with the game tied at 17 heading into the fourth quarter before a St. Louis collapse. The Rams have allowed less than 19 points a game over their last 6 games, an improvement from 27 ppg over their first 11. Atlanta as a team has been good but largely inconsistent this season. The Falcons beat San Diego 21-20, but got blown out by Kansas City, blanked by Tampa Bay, and struggled against New Orleans (not the game where they sat Vick) and San Fransico. The only one of those teams that came close to making the playoffs was New Orleans. Of course Michael Vick is the wild card in this one. He might run for 2 touchdowns and throw for two more, or he might fumble two balls away and add two interceptions. The Falcons going against a hot and much improved Rams team, I'm going with the boys from St. Louis.

Vikings +10 OVER Eagles
Minnesota is coming off an impressive first round win at Green Bay, a game many people wrote off as a clear Packers victory. But with some help from Brett Farve, the Vikes were up on had blown the game open before Green Bay knew what him them. Don't expect the same on Sunday. The Packers secondary has not been the same since Mike MacKenzie left and Al Harris does not cut it and is not even close to the "shut down man to man" corner that he has been described is. Point is, Philly defense overall is much better and Minnesota will have a much tougher time against an Eagles secondary that boasts 3 pro-bowlers. Add into the equation a hobbled Randy Moss- his ankle is not 100% despite his on field antics- and the Vikings don't have the potential for that big play. Michael Bennett and Onterio Smith are both solid at running back, but they are not the type of backs that could exploit Philadelphia's improved but still questionable run defense. The key in this game, and for Philadelphia's postseason, aside from McNabb, is running back Brian Westbrook. Yes, teams were not able to concentrate on the versatility of Westbrook with Terrell Owens in the lineup, however, Westbrook being injured last year in the playoffs and not the absence of TO is the reason Philly came up short. The play of Philly's tight ends will prove huge in determining the outcome of the game. TE L.J. Smith is McNabb's best receiver but Todd Pinkston and Freddie Mitchell will have to step up when their numbers are called...they both have something to prove. The Eagles will win but it will be a good close game.

Colts +3 OVER Pats
This game has the potential to be the best of the postseason. Peyton has yet to beat New England and it would be story book for him to go through Foxboro on his way to the Superbowl in the same season he broke the season record for touchdown passes. I can't see a Pat's secondary without Ty Law and Tyrone Poole and Troy Brown in their place, stopping Manning. I'm sure Belichick will come up with something to make it a good game - after all - he has had Manning's number up to this point- but I think if Peyton's gonna do it, its gonna be this year. As far as the field being left uncovered all week, it actually helps the Colts receivers (both teams receivers for that matter) because they know where they're going to be cutting and the D-backs don't leaving a greater chance of the defense slipping and falling all over themselves. Vanderjagt's comments were ill-advised but not completely off-base about New England being right for the picking and I wouldn't be surprised if it came down to the foot of either he or Vinateri. I'm gonna go with with the Colts and their liquored up kicker in this one.

New York, New York

ESPN.com reports that the Mets and star centerfielder Carlos Beltran have agreed in principle to a 7-year $119 million dollar deal. A press conference is expected to be held Tuesday to announce the signing of the offseason's most coveted player....

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1963185

Schottenheimer's Shortcomings

Marty Schottenheimer, a career .602 winning percentage and 2004 Coach of the Year. He turned a San Diego team from 4-12 just a year ago to 12-4 this year and an AFC West division title. But when it comes to showtime and the playoffs Schottenheimer is a dismal 5-12 following last night's loss. It was a sloppy game on both sides and would have been over in regulation had the Jets' Eric Barton not made a boneheaded play roughing Drew Brees on fourth and goal. But thats why you play the game and the Chargers had a chance to win it with about 6 minutes to go in OT. But instead of trying to move the ball further down the field and play for the win, Schottenheimer played to not lose. San Diego ran the ball 3 times for a total of maybe 5 or 6 yards, making no effort to get a first down. Schottenheimer was fine with settling for a 40 yard field goal from his rookie kicker Nate Kaeding. First off, a 40 yarder is by no means a chip shot, and add in the pressure of the playoffs, and on top of it all, a rookie kicker? And even worse, he purposely set up those plays so Kaeding would kick from the right hash mark. Thats the worst possible spot for a right-footed kicker to kick from. He can overcompensate and hook it left or in an attempt to not overcompensate, push it right which is what Kaeding did. If he's kicking from the middle of the field, that kick is right down the middle and the Chargers are in the second round and still a sleeper pick to win it all. Playing conservatively in any sport - unless you're Denver right now and you run the ball the rest of the game against Indy so Jake Plummer won't throw any more interceptions - especially in the playoffs (Andy Reid NFC Championship games ring a bell?) doesn't work. Try again next year Marty.

Orange Bowl 2005 - from the 50 yard line

Let's face it - everyone expected a better game (Reggie Bush included), not a 55-18 romp. What this Orange Bowl Blowout really came down to was USC's D-line and O-line winning the battles in the trenches. During Oklahoma's 8 minute opening drive, it looked as though if the Sooners might be the team to pull away : 12 plays, 92 yards, and a touchdown. The whole time, even if QB Jason White was being pressured, the USC defenders could not find a way to bring him down and he would get the pass off, 4 of 5 times for a completion. Someone either on the Trojan sideline, or in the defensive huddle noticed this trend and made sure to put a stop to it on all other Oklahoma possesions (up until the game was out of reach). USC responded after being stopped dead on their opening drive. The Trojans mounted a 5 minute drive totaling 6 plays and 75 yards and capped by an amazing, spinning-one-handed-catch by Dominique Byrd. This would set the tone for the rest of the game as USC receivers made three unbelievable catches - and that was just in the endzone. The turning point of this game came minutes later on possibly one of the dumbest plays in Orange Bowl history. Oklahoma Senior Mark Bradley attempted to pick up a punt inside the Sooner 5-yard line - either he forgot to look up, or he thought he was superman because as soon as he grabbed the ball the entire Trojan punt team was there to meet him- he fumbled and USC would run the ball in on its ensuing possesion from the 6 yard-line. Instead of regrouping and possibly bringing his team back, on Oklahoma's next possesion Jason White proved once again that he is not a big-game quarterback. White finished the game 24/36 for 244 yards 2 TD and 3 INT. In two Bowl Games : 37/73, 346 yards, 2 TD and 5 INT. Under pressure, White retreated 10 yards and as he did so threw up a gift to the Trojan secondary instead of throwing it out of bounds or taking a sack. The only chance this ball had of landing on the ground and not in the lap of a red and gold d-back was if all four of them pushed each other to out of the way. Instead, Jason Leach brought in the errant chuck-up for USC which would lead to another Trojan touchdown. 10 minutes and 10 seconds saw a 7-0 Sooner lead, turn into a 28-7 USC rout. Heisman Trophy winner and Trojan QB Matt Leinhart avoided any Heisman jinx throwing for 332 yards on 18/35 passing and an Orange Bowl record 5 TD's. Leinhart was on target - attacking a weak Oklahoma secondary, seen as its Achilles heel for much of the season - and when the potententional first round pick was slightly off target, his receivers didn't cease to amaze with some spectacular catches. Sooner freshman tailback Adrian Peterson almost gets forgotten because he was such a non-factor. The Heisman runner-up notched only 82 yards on 25 carries - his longest a 9 yard burst. The USC d-line did exactly what they had to after the opening drive - make OU one-dimensional by shutting down the run- and once that was done they pressured White into constant mistakes. This game was over by halftime 38-10 thanks in part to a season high four OU turnovers and another Sooner championship game collapse.