Sweet 16 Predictions: Friday Edition

Kansas vs. Michigan St.
A rematch of two teams that met in the regular season where the Spartans dominated; the game was never really close and the Kansas young guns were exposed, but look for a closer result this time. Kansas has been an up and down team lately. They shot very well from the field (50%) against a pesky North Dakota State team in the first round and then defeated Dayton in the 2nd round in a less than stellar performance. Tom Izzo always has his team ready in the tournament and he should have a terrific game plan for the Jayhawks. The guard play for the Spartans matches up very well with Kansas. Kalin Lucas showed Sherron Collins up in East Lansing last time with 22 points. If Collins and Cole Aldrich don't get any help from their teammates, Kansas will not be defending their national championship.

The Pick: Michigan St.- Look for Michigan State's depth and ability to control Aldrich to be the difference in the game.

Louisville vs. Arizona
What a ride it's been for Arizona. Going from a bubble team to a Sweet Sixteen team. Although some may be surprised the Wildcats are this far, I am not. They have 3 very good players in Nic Wise, Chase Budinger, and Jordan Hill. Also, they've been the better team in both of their match-ups. The Utah win wasn't really an "upset" and the Wildcats were flat out better than Cleveland St. Zona will have a tougher time vs. a Louisville team that loves to pressure and some gives tough matchups. Louisville is one of the most athletic teams out there with Earl Clark and Terrence Williams, also Samardo Samuels is a tough draw down low. Louisville's guard depth could be a problem as well for Zona. I don't know if the Cats have enough depth to overcome the Cards.

The Pick: Louisville- I like Rick Pitino over Russ Pennell coaching wise and Zona relies way too much on their "big three".

North Carolina vs. Gonzaga
This is a very intriguing matchup. Gonzaga matches up fairly well with UNC. They could give some tough match-ups on the perimeter with Austin Daye, Micah Downs, and Steven Gray size wise. UNC has the edge down low even with the Zags' Josh Heytvelt. Gonzaga just isn't tough enough down-low and their frontline would prefer to play on the outside mostly. Defense could be a problem for the Zags' as they will face the best offense in the nation. If Ty Lawson is healthy for UNC they should win, but they could have some trouble defensively with Gonzagas size. But other than that, Tyler Hansbrough and Deon Thompson down low along with Wayne Ellington and Danny Green on the outside should be too much.

The Pick: UNC- Too much firepower for the Heels' and the Zags just aren't tough enough.

Syracuse vs. Oklahoma
Another intriguing match-up. I am interested to see how Blake Griffin does against the Syracuse zone. If Cuse is able to not let OU dominate down low, they will win this game. It will be a tall task though. Johnny Flynn will have a big advantage over Willie Warren and Austin Johnson at point.

The Pick: Oklahoma- Too much Blake Griffin down low.

March is here!

March is finally here, probably my favorite month of the year. We all know what that means, MARCH MADNESS BABY!

In honor of the month of March and March Madness, here's some clips to get you pumped up...

Our thoughts and prayers are with Corey Smith and Marquis Cooper

NFL players Corey Smith and Marquis Cooper along with 2 others are reported missing at sea after a fishing trip. Both have been gone for about a day and there are still no traces of them.

The Coast Guard has been searching all day Sunday and will continue all throughout the night and into Monday morning.

Smith is a starting defensive end for the Detroit Lions and Cooper is a LB for the Oakland Raiders.

TSF is asking to keep these guys in your thoughts prayers and we hope that they will be found alive soon.

I Love the Vikings

So, just in case you are a first-time or simply casual reader I will clear the air right now. Any one who knows anything about me or my sports/interest, or has read much of my work on TSF knows that I hate the Vikings. So when I title a post, "I Love the Vikings". Please don't get the wrong idea.

I love the Vikings because of how pathetic they are. To be quite honest the Vikings scare me. The last 3 seasons they have entered into the season with a pretty scary-looking team. I love them because they almost always choke or underachieve. They have a great window of opportunity here with a star-studded defense and the best young RB in the league in his prime. As a life-long Packers fan this scares me. It is common knowledge to NFL fans everywhere that the Vikings are a QB and a upper-tier WR away from being insanely good. In fact, with a new QB and WR I would almost guarantee the Vikes to be favorites to at least go to the Superbowl.

So, when I saw on ESPN's front page headlines, "Report: Vikings Near Deal for Texans QB" I got scared. I thought maybe someone struck some sense into Mr. Wilf/Mr. Childress. I thought the Vikings realized their window was closing and they were making a play at Matt Schaub. Then I clicked on the link and had all my thoughts on the Vikings reaffirmed. Nope, they were going after SAGE ROSENFELS! I immediately had a vision of him diving for that 1st down against the Colts with the lead last year and fumbling away the game (PICTURED ABOVE). I literally laughed out loud.

Granted he may be a small upgrade because Jackson is complete dogcrap and Ferotte is old and injury prone, and not good at headbutting. But if you're going to upgrade why not truly upgrade!? Sage Rosenfels is basically a younger version of Ferotte and a lifelong back-up. Hell, he's even backed-up Ferotte before! He might be a small upgrade but he is certainly not the answer and as a Packers fan I find it so entertaining to watch the Vikings chase after the answers to their problems in such a ridiculous way. I also love when my friends who are Viking's fans can't stand their own team and their way of doing things. So go ahead Minnesota. Use that 4th Round pick on Sage Rosenfels so you can have 3 2nd-string QBs on your roster and we'll watch you underachieve again next season.

Bracket Talk: 2/23

We're gonna talk some bracketology today and some thoughts about NCAA Tournament teams.

Final Four Projections (As of today):

Pittsburgh Panthers
Why they'll make it:
They're coming off an impressive road win vs. UConn. They play strong, physical defense. They have depth and experience to go along with solid guard play with DeJuan Blair and Sam Young in the frontcourt.

Why they won't make it:
Every single Final Four team ever, has been a strong 3-point shooting team. Pittsburgh isn't very consistent from deep. When they're on from the outside, they are a damn good team. When they're not, they can be exposed. If they're not hitting their threes against a top power conference team in the Big Dance, they'll be done for.

North Carolina Tar Heels
Why they'll make it:
UNC is dangerous. They have a lot of talent and good experience. This team made it to last years Final Four and that should help with this years tourney run. They have the best frontcourt depth in the nation now with Tyler Zeller back. Ty Lawson is arguably the best PG in the country and Wayne Ellington is their strike-dead shooter. Depth is lacking, but they have enough to get over the hump.

Why they won't make it:
UNC's overall depth will be tested deep in the tournament. It isn't nearly as deep as last years team, but once they run into an equally talented team with better quality depth (Like Kansas in the Final Four last year) they'll lose. Defense is a concern as well. Perimeter defense needs to be shored up.

Connecticut Huskies
Why they'll make it
They're extremely talented and have great depth. One of the best defenses in the country and they pose match-up problems for a lot of teams; not many can bang down low with Hasheem Thabeet, Jeff Adrien is long and physical, and AJ Price is a quick and great decision-making point man. They won't give you many extra scoring opportunities because they're the best rebounding team out there.

Why they won't make it:
The loss of Jerome Dyson. UConn looked destined for the Final Four before Dyson went down with a torn MCL. Now they'll need Kemba Walker and Craig Austrie to step up and provide some scoring help. This hurt their depth quite a bit and it may have screwed up their scheme.

Memphis Tigers
Why they'll make it
Memphis is talented and experienced. Plus, they play exceptional defense. They're physical and they'll get in your face. Tyreke Evans is not your typical PG.; He can dominate you at any time. Their frontcourt can play with anybody with Shawn Taggart and Robert Dozier. Experience will help them as well.

Why they won't make it:
Offense can be stagnant at times. Once they go up against a team that is just as strong defensively and match-up with them individually, they could have some trouble putting up points. Also, as in every year, lack of competition in C-USA will hurt them.

Final Four Sleepers:
Villanova
Watch out for the Wildcats. They're experienced and have some good guard depth. Dante Cunningham is the most improved big in the nation. Plus, they can shoot it from deep and make you pay for your mistakes.

Marquette
Another team with great guard play. Their guards have been around awhile and they can shoot as well. They're not very big, but their defense and quickness will help make up for that.

Arizona St.
Don't sleep on the Sun Devils. They may not be very deep, but they have a stellar 1-2 punch with James Harden and Jeff Pendergraph. Plus, the defense is pretty strong.

Michigan St.
If Raymar Morgan stays healthy and can regain his oldself, the Spartans will be dangerous. Izzo always gets the best out of his teams in March.

Purdue
The Boilermakers haven't done much without Robbie Hummel, but if he can stay healthy they're a real threat. They nearly made the Elite 8 last year with virtually the same squad. They're talented, versatile, long, and athletic.

Xavier
This team has been there done that. They made it to the Elite 8 last year and the 2nd round two years ago. They have 3 starters back from those two teams and the depth is even better.

Overall Sleepers
Siena
They have everybody back from last years 2nd round team. They'll be dangerous after playing a tough schedule.

Creighton
The Jays are a well-known squad and they play in a good enough league to give them some competition for the tourney. They shoot the 3-ball well and they also defend well too.

UNLV
The Rebs have been inconsistent lately, but they're experienced. Wink Adams may be one of the most underappreciated guards out there. They're a well-coached squad and their top players have been there before.

West Virginia
WVA returns a lot of players from last years Elite 8 team. Bob Huggins is a terrific coach and WVA always seems to give match-up problems to teams in the tournament. This team is battle-tested and they can hang with anybody.

South Carolina
SC could sneak up on some people. They're one of the fastest teams in the country and they like to get out and run when they can. Devan Downey is a top-notch guard and has the ability to catch fire from the outside.

Stephen F. Austin
This is a well-balanced team overall. They have scorers and play tough, physical defense.

North Dakota State
This is probably the most experienced team in the country with 4 fifth-year senior starters. They've played in some big games and have gotten some big wins. They can score and they rank pretty high in some offensive statistics nationally. Ben Woodside is a very good guard for them.

Western Kentucky
They play in a formidable league and they lost in the Sweet 16 last season. Some of those players are back, including AJ Slaughter. This team is dangerous from the outside.

A-Rod truly is A-Fraud

I don't know if anyone else caught A-Rod's press conference yesterday but it had to have been the biggest crock of crap I've ever seen. The man read off of a piece of paper for crying out loud! About the only thing he had going for him was the fact that he didn't look Orange this time...Watch this in case you missed it:

Like I said the guy read off of a piece of paper, which was probably prepared by his crisis management specialist. And there weren't even follow-up questions allowed. WHAT A JOKE!

A-Roid constantly mentions that he was so young and naive and etc. This is such a joke. Does he really expect us to believe that he let his cousin inject him with something he didn't even know what it was!? Injecting himself with a mystery substance that he didn't know the effects it would have or even how exactly to use it? He's stupid, but not that stupid. I also really liked how he said the reason why he didn't disclose on his cousin right away was that he first called him and talked about it. Yeah that's called deciding on the story they were going to tell. Just seems wrong to me.

And how about that address to his teammates? That horrendous 37 second pause was nearly unbearable. I would almost guarantee that he practiced that act in front of the mirror for the last couple days. This man is the T.O. of Major League Baseball. He wants us to judge his legacy from this day forward. All i have to say is good luck with that because I am not impressed and I don't think that many people bought into what A-Roid said in the interview.

Duke-UNC Week

It's that time again. One of the weeks that I look forward to most (other than March Madness) in College Basketball. I'm not a big fan of either team, but I love it when these two meet on the hardwood. It is always a battle and this is the best rivalry in ALL of sports.



2003


1998: #2 UNC vs. #1 Duke


2008


2000


Predictions:
I like UNC over Duke in this one. Duke does not have an answer down low for Tyler Hansborough. UNC will be one for this game, but they need to step up their defense, especially their perimeter defense and not let Dukes' shooters go off. But in the end I think UNC has a little too ,uch fire power. Danny Green, Wayne Ellington, and Tyler Hansbrough will be the difference.

Here Come the Bison

After an 18-5 start in their first season eligible in Division 1, the North Dakota State Bison are looking to do the unthinkable.

It was back in the fall of 2004, where four scrawny freshmen showed up on the campus of NDSU in Fargo. They all decided to come play basketball for the school, who had just decided the season before that it would make a jump to Division 1.

Tim Miles, the coach for the Bison at the time, encouraged the four frosh to redshirt; suggesting that they would get one shot at glory in their 5th-year seasons, a shot at the NCAA Tournament.

A lot of people thought Mr. Miles was crazy, but now four years later the Bison are leading the Summit Conference with a 12-1 record and 18-5 overall.

They also could become the first team to make the Big Dance in their first season eligible as Division 1 members in nearly three decades.

NDSU is lead by a small 5-11 point guard in Ben Woodside. Some experts go as far as to say that he is one of the best PGs in the country. He has a knack for getting to the rim and is currently 9th in the nation in scoring, averaging 23 ppg. Not to mention he is also 5th in assists, with 7 apg.

Woodside gained national attention after scoring 60 points in a game on December 12 vs. Stephen F. Austin University. He tied the NCAA record for most free throws made in one game with 30, which was previously held by "Pistol" Pete Maravich.

Not to mention Ben scored 49 of his points in a 23 minute span. Quite impressive.

The Bison have won 10 games in a row, including 12 of their last 13. They've looked impressive in late January and here in February with quality wins over Summit Conference stalwarts Oakland 81-71 and IUPUI 91-69.

NDSU is also lead by two of their other 5th-year seniors in Brett Winkelman and Mike Nelson. Winkelman, is an undersized post player at 6-6, who leads the team in rebounding with 7.3 rpg and at one point this season was averaging a double-double.

Nelson, meanwhile is their shooting specialist. He has a knack for hitting down 3 point shots and is also their best defender.

NDSU is primed to make a run at the NCAA Tournament, starting with the Summit Conference tournament in nearby Sioux Falls, SD (March 7-10). The Bison will be bringing loads of fans to the Sioux Falls Arena and will be hungry for 3 wins that can get them to where many other teams have been dreaming of for years.

Projecting the Seeds

Quick projections on how the top four seeds will look like in the NCAA Tournament and what region they will end up in.

Joe Lunardi's got nothing on me...

Region by Region:

Boston:
1. Connecticut- overall 1 seed
2. Duke
3. Memphis
4. Gonzaga

Indianapolis:
1. North Carolina
2. Pittsburgh
3. Xavier
4. Arizona St.

Memphis:
1. Michigan St.
2. Wake Forest
3. Marquette
4. Texas

Glendale:
1. Oklahoma
2. Louisville
3. UCLA
4, Purdue

If this were the case, here would be my Final Four predictions from the regions...

UConn, UNC, Michigan St., and Louisville

What's Happened to Michigan Football?

Earlier this week there was a very suspect hiring in the Big10, in my opinion. The Michigan Wolverines solved their defensive woes by hiring Greg (the 10-27 coach from Syracuse) Robinson as their new coordinator. What the hell!?

Now I am no Michigan fan in any way but if I were a Michigan fan I'd be losing it right now. There have to be so many other coaches with better track records. Well, unless you consider him an upgrade because Syracuse hasn't lost to any 1-AA schools lately and Michigan lost to Toledo this year while Syracuse only lost to Akron!

I just wanted to point out this head-scratcher to everyone else. As an Iowa fan, however, I love this hire! And I'm sure the rest of the BigTen does too.

2009 NFC Championship Predictions

Philadelphia Eagles @ Arizona Cardinals
So here we have it, the 5th and 6th seeds are facing off for a Super Bowl birth. The Eagles have been there done that, but the Cards haven't. Which gives the experience factor to the Eagles. Philly has been to 5, may I repeat that, 5 NFL Championships since 2001. Now that is impressive.

Both teams have a lot of momentum right now. The Cards' pass offense cannot be stopped, but the Eagles defense are on top of their game right now. The defense has done a great job lately with pressuring the opposing QB and keeping the running game at bay. I think the Eagles secondary is good enough to not let Warner, Fitzgerald, and Co. go off. The Eagles have done a great job of getting into the redzone and putting up points, but they need to convert those field goals in touchdowns and if they can do that, and also get their running game going and get Brian Westbrook in space, there is no doubt in my mind they will win on Sunday.

Eagles 26 Cards 19

2009 AFC Championship Preview/Prediction

Now that the college football season is done we can all focus on the NFL and the conference championship showdowns this weekend. Is it us or has defense been the theme of these playoffs? Pittsburgh and Baltimore (division foes) will square off in Pittsburgh for the passage to the Super Bowl (and a Browns fan's worst nightmare). While the Arizona Cardinals will host the Philadelphia Eagles for the NFC’s spot in the big game. I will preview the AFC Championship while Stefan handles the NFC and his beloved Eagles.

The Steelers are a very well coached team that has play makers on each side of the ball and Vegas has them as the favorite here. The Ravens, on the other hand, have reached this round of the playoffs with a rookie QB from a FCS (Football Championship Series) school, Delaware, and a rookie coach. The Ravens offense last year average 17.2 ppg and 302 ypg, which landed them with the 22nd best offense in the league. They moved up to #18 this year scoring 24.1 ppg while producing 324 ypg. The Steelers rank 22nd in offense this year scoring 21.7 ppg and racking up 347 ypg.

However, offense is not going to be the story here. Defense is how each of these teams succeeded this year and its what will win on Sunday. The Steelers and Ravens are the top 2 defenses in the league giving up 13.9 ppg and 223 ypg and 15.2 ppg and 244 ypg, respectively. The Steelers won both matchups this year by a combined 7 points. This is a tough game to call but Baltimore will ultimately win, I just feel it.

I expect both teams to be able to establish the run on each other and the difference maker will be on defense. Look for guys like Ray Lewis and Ed Reed to win this game for the Ravens by pressuring Big Ben on D, getting some big hits in, and creating turnovers while Joe Flacco does just enough to win the game. It will be a great game to watch as there is snow in the forecast with a high of 27 and I love me a good defensive struggle. I say Ravens and Eagles in the Superbowl. But we'll just have to see what Stefan says about that!

Prediction: Ravens 17 Steelers 13

The Sports Flow on Sporting News

So I am a subscriber to Sporting News and after the BCS National Title Game I was meandering on the SN site and decided to give my take on who should be the number one college football team next year.

They said they would pick a few to be mentioned on the site and in Thursday's edition of Sporting News Magazine and they ended up choosing mine. I had a good feeling they would pick mine to display, I mean I am a Florida Gator football expert and plus they probably felt bad for a poor North Dakotan like me.

Here's the link: Sporting News article

Here's my take on why Florida is number one for 2009 and what I submitted.

"Florida is the top team for 2009. They could return 19 total starters, including at least 10 starters on the best defense in the nation. Tim Tebow, Percy Harvin and Brandon Spikes could return, and it is likely Tebow will.

Even if the others leave, they still have plenty of playmakers in Jeff Demps, Chris Rainey and Aaron Hernandez on offense and Carlos Dunlap, Ryan Stamper, Major Wright and Joe Haden on defense. Add in another valuable recruiting class to one of the top coaching staffs, and you have the making of college football's next dynasty."

So there it is, I've always wanted to have something of mine on a major sports media publication such as ESPN, Sports Illustrated, or Sporting News and it finally happened.

Gators Chomp Sooners

Oklahoma flapped their mouths. CB Dominique Franks said Tim Tebow was the 4th best QB they've faced all season and it didn't take as much preparation for him as the others.

Well, looks like you awoken a sleeping giant Sooners!

I think Tim Tebow resolidified himself as the best college football player last night. He was even better than Heisman winner Sam Bradford. Tebow took his team on his back and dominated the second half. He made the plays, completed 6 of 6 passes in the final drive. He threw two touchdown passes and carried the ball the final six plays to lead Florida to its 2nd national title in three years.

Tebow outplayed Bradford and showed why he's the best player in college football and why the Gators are the national champions.

The game was not out of Oklahoma's hands though. They had their chances, they were stopped twice inside the 5 yard line, including an interception after a dropped pass by the WR. True champions take advantage of these opportunities, which the Sooners did not.

The Florida defense stepped up when it needed to. They pressured Bradford at times, but although their run defense wasn't the best, they still made enough plays in the end to get it done. The plays on the goal line and the two costly interceptions by Major Wright and Ahmad Black I think clinched it in the end, along with Tebow's play.

Looking Ahead to 2009
It's never too early to look ahead to the 2009 College Football season, so here's my early top 5 teams for now:

1. Florida Gators
Tim Tebow, Percy Harvin, and Brandon Spikes could all leave, but it is likely Tebow will return. 19 starters could still be back in all and at least 10 will be back on defense. If Harvin is to leave, sophomore speedsters Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey will help fill the void. The defense will be strong as ever with Carlos Dunlap and Jermaine Cunningham up-front, Ryan Stamper and AJ Jones anchoring the middle, and the next big ball hawk safety in Major Wright and Joe Haden leading the way in the secondary.

2. Texas Longhorns
Colt McCoy is coming back and should lead another potent offensive attack. WR Jordan Shipley is back as well. It will be interesting to see how the defense responds after losing some key starters, but that's why they have d-coordinator Will Muschamp.

3. USC Trojans
USC returns a lot of talent. If QB Mark Sanchez returns they will have 11 starters back on offense. The defense will need to reload though, but they have backups that can step up.

4. Alabama Crimson Tide
It's scary to think what Nick Saban will do with this team. He will have them contending with the Gators for another SEC Championship and yet another national title. The defense returns 9 starters and the offense returns both RBs and one of the best WRs in the nation in Julio Jones.

5. Mississippi Rebels
Ole Miss looked incredible down the stretch. They manhandled a potent team in Texas Tech. They return load of talent and depth. QB Jevan Snead has the potential to be one of the best in the country.

BCS National Championship Preview: Florida vs. Oklahoma

3 Reasons why Florida will win:
1. Speed
Florida is easily the fastest team in the country. Oklahoma needs to account for everybody that Florida puts out on the field with the threat to take one all the way at anytime. That's Percy Harvin, Jeff Demps, Louis Murphy, Chris Rainey, Emmanuel Moody, and Brandon James.We know Urban Meyer will try to spread the field and use their speed to his advantage and also try to get his speedsters the ball in space.

2. Defense
Florida has one of the best defenses in the country. Oklahoma has faced some poor defenses all season long in the Big 12. Florida creates a ton of pressure up front and their LBs are among the best in the nation lead by Brandon Spikes. Don't count out the secondary, they have some speed as well and will fly around and smack you in the mouth.

3. Tim Tebow
Tebow's already won a Heisman and more importantly, a national title. It doesn't help that OU has been talking some trash, more specifically at Tebow. He's the guy you don't want to mess around with. Tebow will beat you with his legs and even his arm. He's a better QB than he's ever been and he can hurt you in so many ways.

3 Reasons why Oklahoma will win:
1. Offense
Oklahoma can spread you out as well. They have some big-time playmakers on their side and Sam Bradford can pick you apart all day. They can throw in front of you or even go long. Jermaine Gresham is arguably the best TE in the country and could pose some match-up problems for the Florida defense. The Sooners have some quality skill position players and will use it to their advantage.

2. The Trenches
Specifically on the offensive end, OU has one of the best lines in the country. Lead by All-American OT Duke Robinson and Big 12 1st-teamers C Jon Cooper and OT Phil Loadholt have dominated all season long. They've only given up 11 sacks all season. I give them a slight advantage over the Florida D-Line.

3. Senior Leadership
Florida only has two senior starters, both on offense and only two starters back from the 2006 BCS National Championship team (LT Phil Trautwein and Percy Harvin); plus, only a handful of players back whom actually played in that game. OU has 8 senior starters. Safety Nic Harris will start the 50th game of his career and the o-line has a combined 170 total starts. Experience is always a big key.

Prediction:
Florida 34 Oklahoma 20

Oklahoma hasn't seen a defense as good as Florida's all season long. Florida's speed could offset just about everything else in this game. Florida is ready and Tim Tebow is furious after losing the Heisman to Bradford and the comments coming from the Oklahoma players. Florida has an advantage just about everywhere in this game. They have better depth, coaching, speed, special teams, defense, and even offense. Plus, RB DeMarco Murray and DT DeMarcus Granger are both out.

The Big XII is overrated, as has shown this bowl season. Texas squeaked by Ohio St., Texas Tech got pounded by Ole Miss and Oklahoma St. was upset by Oregon, while the SEC is sitting 5-1 in their bowl games. The SEC has definitely shown they are the best conference once again and they haven't lost in the BCS National title game with a 3-0 record. Look for that trend to continue after Thursday night.

NFC Divisional Playoff Predictions

Arizona Cardinals @ Carolina Panthers
The Cards could be a good choice right now, but they did face an inexperienced team with a rookie QB in the Falcons. Plus, they're a pretty good team at home. Arizona is obviously a great passing team with Kurt Warner and a trio of WRs in Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, and Steve Breaston. But Carolina is amazing at home; they're unblemished, a solid 8-0 in Charlotte. I think the Panthers are on a mission to finally get something done. Jake Delhomme has picked up his game compared to the last few seasons and DeAngelo Williams has been very impressive running the ball for Carolina towards the end of the season. Defense has been a question sometimes, but at times they've also looked very stellar. The Panthers have enough firepower and some defense to shoot the Cards.

Panthers 31 Cards 23

Philadelphia Eagles @ New York Giants
A lot of people are jumping on the Eagles bandwagon and that could be easy for me to do. They have a lot of momentum right now. Donovan McNabb is looking as good as he's been in several years, and their defense is phenomenal right now. The Giants are also a little banged up; the two-headed monster in the backfield are both less than 100%. Brandon Jacobs could be the key, if he isn't his normal self, I think the Eagles have a great chance. Also, remember no Plaxico, which is something the Giants didn't have in their last game vs. the Eagles, in which they lost. Can the Giants defend their title? Or will the Eagles continue to ride the wave of momentum?

Eagles 27 Giants 24

AFC Divisional-Round Playoff Predictions

Pittsburgh Steelers over the San Diego Chargers

I don't like doing this because when it comes to predicting the NFL playoffs I go by which team is hottest. It's also worth mentioning the last 3 SB winners have come from wildcard weekend. This is going to be a great game no matter what. The Chargers are hot right now without question. But, with an injured LT things become questionable. Darren Sproles carried the work load and did a magnificent job of it against the Colts, but it will be another challenge entirely to do it against the Steelers and the leagues best defense. The weather looks to be in the high teens and snowing, playing into the Steelers favor. The Chargers will make it a game no doubt. But I think the Steelers are just the better team, and will (hopefully) play like such but I'm not overly confident.

Steelers-17, Chargers-13

Baltimore Ravens over the Tennessee Titans

The Ravens are red hot right now and Joe Flacco's got me thinking about the year when the Steelers won the Super Bowl with Roethlisberger at the helm as a rookie. I feel like the extra time off hurts the Titans here too especially how hot the Ravens are right now. The Ravens have the D to shut down the run and make Collins beat them with the pass. Kerry Collins might be old but if forced to he can still beat teams....just not the Ravens. Flacco is plenty good enough to take advantage of the field position given to him by his D and gets some help along the way. I forsee a very defensive game.

Ravens-10 Titans-6

Year End Awards for Sports Dummies

So after a long day of a funeral and hunting I had intended on starting a TSF 2008 countdown but I found this extensive "Year End Awards for Sports Dummies", it starts at 44 and goes all the way to 1. I've read them all and it's a pretty good countdown. You should check it out!

Now here's an idea....

With the celebrity world abuzz over the engagement of Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen I got a great idea. Maybe Bill Belichick would like to be the videographer for the wedding!? Seems fitting doesn't it?

Big Unit Signs with Giants

The Big Unit will give it another go in the NL West next season in his question for 300. The 45-year-old, five time Cy Young Award winner signed a one year, $8 million contract with the San Fransisco Giants Friday night. The contract joins Johnson with an already formidable Giants staff that features former Cy Young winners Tim Lincecum, Barry Zito as well as the highly touted Matt Cain.

FANTASY IMPACT
Johnson has gone to a very good place and this really helps his fantasy value for next season. While the Giants' offense is nothing to write home about (in fact it's nothing to write anywhere about) the Big Unit should see similar success to what he saw in the second half of last season with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Don't be totally fooled by Johnson's overall numbers, his second half numbers showed flashes of the Unit of old we are used to seeing.

IMPACT ON THE GIANTS

Johnson's numbers picked up in the second half as he got healthier and came to terms with what he now is as a pitcher. Less power, more finesse, pitching more to contact and allowing the defense to do their jobs really allowed Johnson to thrive. Not to mention the fact that he'll be going from a good hitter's park to a good pitcher's park..He isn't the dominant ace he once was in years past, but you can still expect near 15 wins, 175Ks and an ERA in the low 3.00s. I feel like this was a really good move for the Giants and helps their pitching stall out a lot really. The Giants need a lot more help than just the Big Unit if they want to contend though. But Ming should be excited because this was a step in the right direction.

A Bold Prediction: UNC's only loss will be...

I've been hearing talks of the North Carolina Tar Heels finishing undefeated this season. This is certainly not out of the question.

They are definitely the number one team in the country and there is only one other team that comes close to them (UConn) in my mind.

UNC is a dominant team and is one of the best in years. They have the best guards in the nation, the best depth, a high-powered offense, one of the best players in Tyler Hansbrough and also one of the best coaches in Roy Williams.

When you watch this Tar Heel team, they look like an NBA team out there on the court.

They could easily finish the regular season unblemished, but they won't. I predict they will finish the season with one loss. Like Memphis did last year.

UNC's only regular season loss will come to...... wait for it......

WAKE FOREST.

Yes, you heard that right. On January 11th, the Heels' go to the Demon-Deacons (man that's weird to say) house and stumble.

Wake Forest is a very underrated team. They are very versatile and talented, young, but extremely athletic and talented. They play great defense and have a sound offense. Jeff Teague and James Johnson are tremendous players for the Deacons.

But, North Carolina will recuperate after this loss. Wake will give UNC a taste of it's own medicine in January, but UNC will heal its wounds and make them even hungrier, where they will then tear off 14 staight wins going into March.

You heard it here first.

After you make your prediction make sure you go to the game to see what happens! If you don't have the funds for a ticket get a cash advance and never miss a game!

Seasons Postings

Sorry Santa, The Sports Flow hasn't been a good blog lately. We've been bombarded with college stuff and Christmas. Sorry to our fellow posters/readers with the lack of posting. But we wanted to wish everybody a belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We will now start out with our 2008 Year in Review. We promise to get out posting back on track.

How would Ed Hochuli Rule this One?

So I don't know if anyone else has seen this but Kyle Orton's neckbeard is not very good at spiking a football. But I must draw the comparison....was his arm moving forward or not? What's the ruling Ed? Compare and contrast...

Watch out Ohio State!

Hot Damn! Ohio State better hope that the Fiesta Bowl doesn't turn into a shootout!

Can anybody stop UNC?

After some impressive wins, including Notre Dame and the pummeling of Michigan St., UNC is easily the favorite to cut down the nets in April.

It's not supposed to be like this; a team this well-coached, talented, and this high-caliber, is not supposed to return 10 of 11 players, 4 of whom could've been drafted in the NBA. Tyler Hansbrough, Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington, and Danny Green all decided to return.

North Carolina looked so good and so much better than everybody else in the country after the 98-63 drubbing of 12th ranked Michigan St.

UNC looked so dominant and just too deep and talented against a Michigan St. team, who is expected to be a Final Four contender this year.

UNC manhandled the Spartans, they had too much speed. Hansbrough and Deon Thompson were too much down low and Lawson and Ellington made Kalin Lucas and Travis Walton look like high-schoolers.

Which comes to the question, can anybody beat this Tar Heel squad? It's almost like they're destined for a Final Four and National Championship run, it's only a matter of time.

It's tough to argue against them. They could easily finish the regular season undefeated. They have tough road games at Wake Forest, Miami and the annual showdown with Duke. But I don't see them losing any of those right now even.

The NCAA Tournament could be different. Really, if you ask me, there are only two teams right now that could give the Heels a run for their money.

That's the UConn Huskies and Gonzaga Bulldogs. Both teams have strong frontcourts and could hold down the Heels' inside.

We all saw what Josh Heytvelt did to Hansbrough two years ago. Then there's 7-3 Hasheem Thabeet. I feel he is the best big in the country and he could cause problems inside for the Tar Heels, were they to meet.

The Huskies could give match-up problems with UNC. Thabeet down low on Hansbrough, Jeff Adrien could be a tough match-up with Thompson and guards AJ Price, Jerome Dyson, and Craig Austrie can play with the Heels' guards. But UNC's depth could off-set that difference.

As for Gonzaga, this may be their best team yet, they finally have the depth and the toughness to go all the way.

But all in all, it will be hard to bet against this North Carolina team right now.

The Williams Wall Needs to be Very Careful

So most of my friends who like football are Vikings fans. Most were heartbroken when they found out about the suspensions to Pat and Kevin Williams. Then they were elated when they heard that their suspensions are being fought in court. Well don't jump to conclusions my silly purple-loving friends.

This appeal is not necessarily good. So if they fight this off long enough odds are is that they will be allowed to play this weekend against the Detroit Lions. The thing is that in the court of law these men are innocent until proven guilty. But what is innocent and what is guilty in this case? Players are claiming that the league knew that this masking agent was present in the starburst or whatever they are called. But the league is very serious about players knowing what they put in their bodies. These players have no defense against that. They can fight and say that they didn't know that that masking agent was present in the pill. But will that matter? They can say that others knew but they weren't told. Will that matter either? It is their responsibility to know what they put into their bodies, and the NFL is very clear about that. Not to mention that there are dozens of better ways to lose weight that a dietetic.

If they fight this they might be able to hold off long enough to play this weekend against the Lions. But is that a good idea? By fighting this off for a week and then if the NFL rules they still have to serve the suspension that will mean that they must sit out the last 3 regular season games AND THEN the wildcard weekend playoff game that we are assuming they'd be able to hold on to. Is it worth it? For all my silly purple friends out there I hope that they put a little bit of thought into this and assess the risks of fighting this in court.

Playoffs?

It seems like everywhere I turn, on the Internet, in the sports world, it's "we need a playoff system"! "The BCS needs a major overhaul!"

Well, I don't buy it.

The BCS has its flaws, yes some teams have gotten screwed over the years and a 16 or 8 team playoff seems to make more sense, but it really doesn't.

The BCS is an okay system for major College Football, it's way better than the Bowl-Alliance that we had all through out the 1990's, where we had 3 co-champs and the Big Ten and Pac 10 weren't even part of it.

But yes, the BCS needs some tweaks. A four team playoff format or plus-one, makes the most sense.

But first, an 8 or 16 team playoff would not work and would only create more problems.

Whether you take the top 8 teams or the 6 power conference champs and 2 at-large bids, it won't work. You will still have arguments for the 9th, 10th, and 11th teams who don't get in. The power conferences will want their champs to be rewarded somehow with the playoff and some years you will have 3 or 4 teams in one conference that would deserve it over another conference (like this year I feel OU, Texas, and even TT would deserve it over the Big East or ACC Champs).

If we had an 8 team playoff this year, Cincy would be in it and say Oklahoma loses to Mizzou. Wouldn't OU deserve to be in over Cincy because they beat them earlier in the season and are better than Cincy? It just makes another big mess...

As for the 16 team playoff, it may sound great, but it will never become reality. College Football has such a rich tradition in bowl games. It's what makes College Football so great.

Not many people would want to take away from that. A 16 team playoff would diminish the regular season and you would have to shorten it somehow.

A 16 team or more playoff is not gonna happen unless you decrease some regular season games and more importantly conference games. All in all, not gonna happen. Most coaches and university presidents already hate teams that play 12-13 games as it is. Plus, it's more than just football, it will interfere with finals.

Which comes down to a 4 team playoff. In my mind, this makes the most sense. Most years, it usually comes down to 3-4 teams anyways and there is a bigger difference between the 4-5th best teams than the 8-9th best teams.

You wouldn't have to cut any regular season games, you can keep the bowl tradition and it's just one extra game for two teams; and I don't think any college coach or president will argue over one extra game, especially when it's the national championship.

But we have to remember, no system is perfect. But I'd rather have the BCS than an 8 team and above playoff.

All in all, the Bowl tradition is what makes College Football so great. A huge playoff format simply would create more havoc and ruin what makes this sport so great.

An Idea To Save the NFL on Thanksgiving

Ok, so I'm sure that most of you sports fans like me love to watch NFL football on Thanksgiving. This is not a far fetched assumption by any means because the Thanksgiving Noon game is the 2nd most watched game of the year (second only to the SuperBowl!). So assuming you all watched like I did I'm sure you were also disgusted by how unentertaining the games really were.

It is truly a tragedy to have the Lions host one of the games each and every Thanksgiving. What a waste of quality entertainment. The Cowboys I can understand because they are America's team really. Now, I know that you can't very easily just take Detroit off of Thanksgiving day and leave Dallas. People wouldn't like that very much because It is breaking the tradition. But what if there was a new tradition?

Here is what I propose, let me know what you think. There are 3 games each Thanksgiving. The teams that win their respective games host that game the next season. For example, Tennessee hosts the noon game next year, Dallas at 3, and Philly's got the night game. It would add a cool feel to it I think and would help add some variety and some added quality to the Thanksgiving day match ups. Wouldn't you agree?

Best TV Sports Commercials

Here's some great sports commercials over the years and whether funny or just bone-chilling, this is what keeps us going between games...

Everybody loves the SportsCenter Commercials...


"Next time have some ID"


Remember Y2K?


Who's up for a game of Ping-Pong?


New Kid


50th best heavyweight, in Georgia


Big Buddy


ESPN NBA


Now for the bone chilling ones...


A Tradition Unlike any Other


Leave Nothing


Let Your Game Speak


United We Rise


Where Amazing Happens


Just do it


The Time is Now (Bare with me, this is still a good commercial)


This was a little lengthy, but I know you'll appreciate it...

A Big Mess is Brewing in the Big 12 South

The Big 12 South champion could be determined by a poll of faceless, strangers who are often bias and live far from the area of concern. And only a sport with such a profound lack of leadership, in this case Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe, is capable of deciding a champion like this.

"The Big 12 failed to come up with enough of its own criteria for breaking a three-way tie at the top of the standings, as Oklahoma, Texas, and Texas Tech could produce. Instead it was willing to punt to the computers and voters who determine the BCS rankings. Whatever team is ranked highest wins the division." How positively retarded is that?

Problems I see here: Few of the coaches who vote in the coaches’ poll have seen anything but highlights of play from the Big 12 South. They are no better than the 114 politically connected folks of with little qualifications who make up the Harris Poll. Combined, the two polls count for two-thirds of the rankings. Each voter has personal biases, and self-interests.

Since the BCS has no set standards for ranking teams, just about anything can be taken into consideration. Should Texas get the nod because it beat Oklahoma? Should it be Oklahoma because it put together the most impressive performance of the season in blasting Tech 65-21? Should Tech be considered because they beat Texas in dramatic fashion? How about strength of schedule? Or margin of victory? Coolest mascot? Color scheme? Does it matter who’s played the most recent TV game? What if a voter missed one team’s impressive performance because he went out drinking?

Obviously a voter’s alma mater has been known to come into play. And doesn’t he owe the conference that got him a vote in the first place? What about the coach who’s still bitter about losing a recruit to a certain school?It could be any of the above. No one knows.
Seriously, that’s the system: no one knows.

That is how the champion of the Big 12 South is going to be decided. I don't know about you but I find that to be mind-numbingly retarded. Now, Texas did have the lead previously but with a win like we saw Saturday night I'd say that Oklahoma has to be charging quickly, while for the moment Tech is definitely out of the national championship picture.

I could ramble on with endless speculation but it's fruitless. Basically we need to all tune in next week and see if all 3 teams win their games (Texas vs. Texas A&M, Baylor vs. Texas Tech, and Oklahoma @ OK St.) If all 3 teams win their games, which I am assuming they will. Then it will be a mess. It's the Big 12's fault for not coming up with a better tiebreaker but I consider this just one more reason why the BCS has gotta go.

2008-2009 TSF College Basketball Predictions

Final Four Predictions

Stefan Ming's Picks:
North Carolina
Connecticut
Louisville
Gonzaga

2009 National Champion:
Connecticut Huskies

Grittysquirrels Picks:
North Carolina
Connecticut
Michigan St.

Marquette

2009 National Champion:
North Carolina Tar Heels

All-American Team:

Stefan Ming:
Darren Collison (UCLA)
Stephen Curry (Davidson)
Blake Griffin (Oklahoma)
Tyler Hansbrough (UNC)
Hasheem Thabeet (UConn)

Player of the Year: Blake Griffin (Oklahoma)
Coach of the Year: Dino Gaudio (Wake Forest)

Grittysquirrels:
Ty Lawson (UNC)
Stephen Curry (Davidson)

Blake Griffin (Oklahoma)
Luke Harangody (Notre Dame)
Tyler Hansbrough (UNC)

Player of the Year: Tyler Hansbrough (UNC)

Coach of the Year: Mark Few (Gonzaga)

2008-2009 College Basketball Conference Preview: Pac 10

Predicted Order of Finish

1. UCLA

UCLA may have lost Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook, and Luc Ruchard Mbah a Moute, but they still have one of the best PGs in the nation in Darren Collison and Josh Shipp looked like one of the best players in the early part of last season. Alfred Aboya and James Keefe are both capable post presences and Michael Roll should be healthy. Also, the top recruiting class in the nation should help with the draft losses. Recruit Jrue Holliday should fill in right away at SG.

2. Arizona St.

The Sun Devils are out to prove they truly are a NCAA Tournament team, they want to prove the NCAA that they belong this season. The Sun Devils have all the pieces this season to top UCLA for the Pac 10 Title. James Harden, arguably the best player in the conference is back along with 4 other starters, which includes forward Jeff Pendergraph. With experience and talent returning look for ASU to have a bright season.

3. USC
OJ Mayo is gone, but freshman Demar DeRozan is ready to step in and help USC get back to the NCAA Tournament. The Trojans return some key players that can help compete with UCLA and ASU atop the Pac Ten standings; PG Daniel Hackett, SG Dwight Lewis, and PF Taj Gibson are among those returning. USC could make some noise in March, especially if DeRozan lives up to his billing.

4. Washington St.

Even though they lose some key players, I think the Cougars will surprise some people and put up some fights with the upper echelon of the Pac Ten. Taylor Rochestie, Aron Baynes, and Daven Harmeling are all returnees who provide leadership and experience for this squad. The key will be the other two starters and bench. If some young, inexperienced players can step in and provide some balanced scoring and good depth, Wazzou can make its third straight NCAA Tourney appearance.

5. Washington

The Huskies have the potential to be a serious contender in the Pac 10. They've underachieved quite a bit since they were last in the big dance. All-conference PF Jon Brockman along with other key players return. With Justin Dentmon, Quincy Pondexter, and Artem Wallace all back they can contend. Plus, they finally have a PG in recruit Isiah Thomas, who can step in and get this team back on the right track.

6. Arizona

Zona has gone through a lot of changes in the off season. Head Coach Lute Olson stepped down, prized recruit Brandon Jennings decided to play in Europe, and now other recruits left after Olson left. But the Wildcats are moving on and want to forget the past. Chase Buddinger returns and is one of the best players out there. PG Nic Wise is one of the top PGs in conference, and post Jordan Hill returns as well. There may be some growing pains right away, but they have enough talent to still be a threat.

7. California

There is no doubt that the Bears have a strong frontcourt, but their backcourt is pretty bare. Mike Montgomery is the new coach, but it will take him a few years to get this team back in the upper tier of the Pac 10.

8. Oregon

The Ducks must replace three starters and break in a big freshman class. This team will be inexperienced with few veterans returning. Look for Tajuan Porter to be an all-conference player, but that's all this team will have to look forward to.

9. Stanford
Johnny Dawkins, former assistant under Coach K at Duke, is now the head coach for the Cardinal. Dawkins can get this team on the right track and back to the top of the conference, but it will take a couple of years.

10. Oregon St.
Not much talent for this team, but they can only go up after a winless conference season in 2007-2008.

Player of the Year: James Harden, F- Arizona St.

Freshman of the Year: Jrue Holliday, G- UCLA

Coach of the Year: Herb Sendek- Arizona St.

Three Big Games:
UCLA at Texas- Dec. 4, USC at UCLA- Feb. 4, UCLA at Arizona St.- Feb. 12.

Bigger surprise thus far, Miami Dolphins or Atlanta Falcons?

I've seen and heard this question tossed around the blogosphere a bit so I figured I'd give you my answer.

Now, I realize that the Dolphins were 1-15. Which is really bad, and for the Dolphins to be 5-4 right now with an outside shot at the playoffs right now is truly outstanding. However, I'm going with the 6-3 Atlanta Falcons as my biggest surprise in the NFL this year so far.

Notice that I said "surprise" and not turnaround because the Falcons were actually 4-12 last year so by wins-losses the Dolphins have had a better turnaround. However, given the state that this Falcons team was in last year I don't see how you can't be more surprised by their success. I mean with Parcells coming into Miami you knew he would change the culture and turn them around. I guess people didn't think that it would happen so quickly but it was more expected.

With all the turmoil the Falcons incurred (being ditched by their coach, Vick in prison, star players leaving) I don't think anyone expected Head Coach Mike Smith (wait Mike who?) and rookie QB Matt Ryan to have this team at 6-3 with playoffs even within grasp is almost outlandish to think about.

Both teams are great surprises thus far but I've gotta go with the Falcons as my pick (and not just because of their record is better than the Dolphins). Who do you think has been a bigger surprise so far this season?

2008-2009 College Basketball Conference Preview: Big Ten

Predicted Order of Finish

1. Michigan St.

Michigan St. loses it's top player in Drew Neitzel, but it returns 6 of its top 7 scorers. Raymar Morgan, Chris Allen, Durrell Summers, Kalin Lucas, Travis Walton, Goran Suton, and Marquise Gray are all back. The Spartans are very experienced and deep. They're balanced all over, with bigs down low and some promising guards who have a year under their belts. This will be the best MSU team in the past few seasons and with the Big Ten as wide open as it's ever been, look for MSU to run the table.

2. Purdue

Purdue was an inexperienced team last year and showed some amazing flashes at time, they were close to making the Sweet 16 in the tourney. Robbie Hummel returns and is one of the top players in the conference. Add in E'Twaun Moore, Ja'Juan Johnson, Chris Kramer, Keaton Grant, and you got the makeup of a team that can be a legit threat to make a deep run in March. Purdue should compete with MSU and Wisconsin for Big Ten supremacy.

3. Wisconsin

The Badgers aren't flashy or anything like that, but they get you results. They're old-fashioned with their stellar defense and slow tempo offensively, but they execute so well. Wisconsin loses some key players but return some as well. Marcus Landry returns at forward and should be one of their go-to players, Trevon Hughes is a solid SG, Joe Krabbenhoft is back, and so is Jason Bohannon. Reserve center Greg Stiemsma will have big shoes to fill for Brian Butch, but he is very capable of doing so. Look for the Badgers to be another threat come March.

4. Ohio St.

OSU should be a little improved from last season, but pretty much the same old team. They have holes to fill at PG and PF. David Lighty is back at guard and can step up and lead this team. Center recruit BJ Mullins should be one of the top freshman big men in the country. Thad Matta should have this team ready and competitive with the top teams of the Big Ten.

5. Minnesota

The Gophers are only going to get better with Tubby Smith at helm. The Gophers lose its top three scorers but still return some good talent. Lawrence Westbrook is a capable guard. Ralph Sampson III should step in right away and be an immediate impact, I think he'll help out quite a bit. Look for the Gophers to be a bubble NCAA Tournament team.

6. Illinois

This should be another rebuilding year for the Illini, with stellar classes coming in for 2009 and 2010, Bruce Weber will use this season as a learning curve, to improve and gain experience as this team looks to the future for one more season. Look for Alex Legion to be the top player for Illinois.

7. Michigan

Michigan returns 3 starters. Manny Harris and DeShawn Sims are both fine players who will lead this Wolverine team. They don't have any depth, but look for John Beilein to have this team competing.

8. Penn St.

Penn St. looked like a promising team last season, but it's two stars had their seasons cut short with injuries. Jamalle Cornley is one of those stars returning and should help an up-start Nittany Lions program compete for an NIT berth.

9. Iowa

The Hawkeyes return most of its nucleus and add a very good recruiting class, but they're still the same old struggling squad.

10. Northwestern

The Wildcats have better depth and more quality big men than in the past and some promising newcomers, but don't expect this year to be the year Northwestern moves up in the Big Ten standings.

11. Indiana

New head coach Tom Crean has a long road ahead of him. He has the toughest job of any team in the country right now. This program has gone through a lot of changes in the past year, but Crean is capable of turning it around. The Hoosiers return only two players from last years squad, Brett Finkelmeier and Kyle Taber, none of whom averaged over 2 ppg. IU has a decent recruiting class who desperately need to step up in their first year. This will be a long year for IU faithful.

Player of the Year: Raymar Morgan, F- Michigan St.

Freshman of the Year: B.J. Mullens, C- Ohio St.

Coach of the Year: Tubby Smith- Minnesota

Three Big Games:
North Carolina at Michigan St.- Dec. 3, Purdue at Wisconsin- Jan. 27, Purdue at Michigan St.- March 8.

College Football Power Poll

Here's my top five teams in College Football.

1. Texas Tech Red Raiders

The Red Raiders have been amazing lately. A big win over Texas is very impressive and their offense just keeps on putting up point after point. Who can stop these guys? Big games coming up vs. Oklahoma and rival Texas A&M, plus possibly a Big XII Title match-up, it will be interesting to see how they fare.

2. Florida Gators

The Gators are a different team since their loss to Ole Miss and I think that loss may help them in the end. This is a young Florida team and now they know what it takes to get it done. Tim Tebow is better than he was last season (even after winning the Heisman). Florida has so many weapons and so much speed. Plus, the defense has improved dramatically from last season.

3. Alabama Crimson Tide
The Tide have two big road wins over Georgia and LSU. They haven't been too impressive since their big win over Georgia, but they're still getting the job done. Everybody is coming through for the Crimson. Julio Jones is one of the best young WRs out there. Tough games still coming up against arch-rival Auburn and Florida in the SEC Championship.

4. Texas Longhorns

Texas is still one of the top teams in the country despite their loss to Texas Tech. Tech just happened to have the ball last and scored. Colt McCoy may be the Heisman front runner right now, if not he's up there. The Longhorns need OU to beat Tech.

5. Oklahoma

The Big 12 is so solid this season and I feel OU is still a top team as well. They've been very impressive after their loss to Texas and a win over Texas Tech would be huge to help their cause for a BCS Bowl berth.

Martin Brodeur is the Most Important player to his team in all of Sports

Can you hear that? That sound you hear is Devils fans everywhere screaming in agony. Now, we don't talk a lot of hockey here on TSF but today I really wanted to chime in on the significance of the Martin Brodeur injury for the Devils and for all of hockey.

Let me start off by telling you that the injury to Martin Brodeur putting him out 3-4 months is HUGE. If you know anything about hockey you know this. Let me follow this up by telling you that it is a lot BIGGER than you realize.

Where am I going with this? Well as I was watching ESPN somebody made a comment that they thought Martin Brodeur was the most important player to his team in sports. Yes, not just hockey but all of sports. At first I thought what most of you are probably thinking. That that is a outrageous statement. But is it? The more I thought about it the more I agreed.

What position in all of sports can be more important to its team other than a Goalie to a hockey team? Certainly no position in Basketball. You could almost argue a dominant starting pitcher or closer but they play once every 5 games or one out of every nine innings! The best argument is probably for a dominant QB in football. But I'm going to go out and say that this injury to Brodeur is way worse than the Pats losing Brady. I am telling you the goalie to a hockey team is the most important player to its team in all of sports. And when you're a dominant and historically great goalie like Martin Brodeur (I'm calling him the greatest ever) how can you not be considered the most important player it your team in all of sports.

Still not a believer? Here are some stats:

- He has played in 89.3 percent of the Devils' games (931 out of 1,043) since the lockout-shortened 1994-95 season.

- He currently has 12 consecutive 30-win seasons

- Brodeur has won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goaltender four times, including last season, when he posted a 44-27 record and a 2.17 goals-against average.

- His seven seasons with 40 or more wins are an NHL record, and his 2.20 career GAA is the lowest in the NHL's modern era.

- He set a single-season record for wins (48) in 2006-07, breaking Bernie Parent's mark of 47.

- He needs just seven wins to tie Patrick Roy's record of 551

- In his 15-year tenure, he has led the team to three Stanley Cup championships and has taken them to the playoffs all but once.

- He holds more than thirty Devils franchise records.

- a four-time Jennings Trophy winner, a ten-time NHL All Star, and one of only two NHL goaltenders to have scored goals in the regular season and the playoffs.

- He will retire as sure-fire hall of famer

- Is widely considered to best to ever play Goalie in the NHL.

If anyone has any really strong arguments against this I would love to hear them because the stats and logic have me convinced that Martin Brodeur is the Most Important player TO HIS TEAM in all of sports.

Oden a Bust?

Greg Oden's much anticipated debut was last night on TNT against the Lakers. It didn’t last long. Oden left the game after just under 13 minutes with another injury, this time it was his foot. I’m not gonna get into all his injuries because it would take to long, but he hasn’t been healthy since his junior year of high school. And it isn’t like he has one nagging injury, it’s been his wrist, his knee, and now his foot.

This guy was the number 1 pick overall. He was supposed to be the next Shaq. Now, is it too early to say he is a total bust? YES. Some people are going way too extreme with this. Is this very alarming for Oden, and Portland fans? YES. What we've seen so far is not a good sign.

I'm going to say that Greg Oden winds up kind of like a Grant Hill. I forsee him playing here and there with nagging injuries coming back all the time. Except he won’t pile up all-star years before the injuries. Greg Oden will never be a dominant force. It is a shame, because dominant centers are a rarity nowadays and a lot of fun to watch. He could have really made this young Portland team great. Yet another coulda woulda shoulda.

In his 13 minutes, Oden went 0-4, 5 boards, a block, 2 turnovers and 2 fouls….very subpar

Is this just a phase or is this what Portland fans have to look forward to? Bust or future Allstar? Let me know!

Chargers Take First Step to Turning Their Season Around

After starting this season as a trendy pick to take on the Cowboys in this year's superbowl the Chargers have come out and surprised everybody! They've kind of stunk! They find themselves 3-5 and in 2nd place in the AFC West. This team is WAAAAY too good to be 3-5 (especially with the way that Rivers has been playing lately).

So they flipped the first panic switch by firing D-Coordinated Ted Cottrell and replacing him with Ron Rivera. In my opinion this was the right move. I've always thought Rivera did a great job in Chicago and he has the tools to do great in San Diego now. I've never been a fan of Norv Turner and if it was up to me the second step would be to elevate Rivera to head coach, bumping Norv down to the offensive coordinator position. But let's not hold our breath on that one. Besides, the Chargers offense is certainly not the problem. Philip Rivers has emerged as one of the top young quarterbacks in the NFL, and he's playing without LaDainian Tomlinson at full speed for most of the season.

This was the right move in my opinion giving the way this team's defense has been playing this year. I think this team still has a shot to turn it around and make the playoffs given their talent on both sides of the ball and their lousy division.

What do you think about this move? Will the Chargers still make their predicted Superbowl run?

2008-2009 NBA Preview: Northwest and Pacific Divisions

West

With the season already starting, we're just going to give some quick predictions.

Northwest
1. Utah Jazz
2. Portland Trail Blazers
3. Denver Nuggets
4. Minnesota T-Wolves
5. Oklahoma City Thunder

Pacific
1. Los Angeles Lakers
2. Phoenix Suns
3. Golden St. Warriors
4. Los Angeles Clippers
5. Sacramento Kings