The first week of the Winter Olympics has been pretty fun, as long as you weren’t part of the crew that worked on the Opening Ceremony. It had everything you would want in a first week. You had prime athlete’s elevating their game to win medals, also-rans wilting under the pressure, questionable judging, and lots of lost sleep. So, let’s do a little run-down of the first full week of the Winter Games.
Snowboarding:
I’m getting this out of the way first. Shaun White deserved the gold medal he won. No question in my mind. The tricks, the air, the technical ability were all much better than everyone else. However, I have a problem with the judging.
For every boarder, the judges were knocking off points for the smallest little things, but when it came to White, they became simpering fan-girls who could only see him through rose colored glasses. I think White could have fallen and they still would have scored him in the 40’s.
As for the snowboard cross, only one thing disappointed me about the Lindsey Jacobellis debacle. I didn’t get to see it live. I like to make fun of people’s failures in real-time. It’s more fun that way. Thankfully, since she imploded, I don’t have to see her anymore. Seriously, have you seen that girl? She looks like a guy in a bad platinum blonde wig most of the time.
Luge:
While it was tragic that the luger from Georgia died on a test run, I was getting tired of NBC beating the story into the ground. Every time they would head out to the track, they would tell us once again that a luger had died.
What was even worse was when Bob Costas told us that they would not show the clip of his death. I mean, we had all seen it by then. I had seen it earlier that day on NBC Nightly News. Doing this was like drinking a 12 pack of beer and then saying you’re not going to drink that night. The cat’s already out of the bag on this one.
On a lighter note, I still giggle every time I see a clip of doubles luge. Yes, I have the mentality of a 3rd grader.
Skiing:
Did you know that Lindsey Vonn has an injury? I guess her leg is injured or something. You would think they would bring this up.
Watching the skiing coverage is like watching an episode of House. They continually brought up the Vonn injury, like her leg is going to fall off at any minute. Based on the coverage, it seems like it would be noteworthy if she was healthy.
Anyway, I’ll be rooting for Julia Mancuso. Her child like enthusiasm warms my heart and I always like the underdog. Plus, I think she’s the only one that hasn’t nearly wiped out on the course.
Figure Skating:
Earlier when I was thinking about it, I was glad that, so far, the figure skating has been without controversy. I mean, the gold medals have been awarded to the best performers. Then Elvis Stojko rained on my parade.
Elvis Stojko, former Olympic skater who was better left on the trash heap of Olympic history, wrote an article today basically saying that Plushenko was robbed and figure skating was dead. Obviously, Elvis was watching something completely different than the rest of us.
Evan Lysacek absolutely killed on Thursday night. He was pretty much flawless in his routine. He didn’t throw a quad jump, but he did pair together his jumps well and did them throughout the routine.
Plushenko, on the other hand, looked like a wounded duck through most of his jumps (somehow landing them cleanly though). He did throw in two quads, to his credit. His footwork, minus what Stojko says, was pretty basic. We had plenty of time to study it, too, since Plushenko didn’t throw a jump at all in the last minute of his routine.
See, I listened to Dick Button and concentrated on Plushenko’s feet and not his crazy arm movements that make it look like he’s doing something. While Stojko was probably distracted by something shiny, he missed the fact that a 10 year old could have pulled off Plushenko’s movements.
Stojko needs to remember that figure skating isn’t just about who can make the biggest jump, but who can consistently hit all the elements. NBC was more than happy to point out (thank you Scott Hamilton) that Lysacek’s jump combos nearly had that same difficulty level, points wise, as Plushenko’s quads.
Anyway, enough picking on a guy who couldn’t quite get it done in the Olympics. At least there was no controversy in the pair’s figure skating this year.
Curling:
I was watching curling the other day and the Duchess walks in and sits down. She looks to grab the remote to change the channel and suddenly becomes enthralled by the action. Before you know it, she’s screaming at the USA Captain because she can’t make a simple hit.
I think she’s searching online for places we can go curling. Once again I’m shown I picked the perfect wife.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Why I Love The Olympics
There are a few things I look forward to in this world. New Doctor Who episodes, the release of the Sam Adams Oktoberfest, the start of the college football season, and the Olympics. The Olympics are two weeks of pure enjoyment for the sports fan inside me. There are so many reasons it grabs my enjoyment.
First and foremost is the patriotism that flows forth during the Olympics. I can forget things I'm not thrilled with, like the horrible economy and our idiot President. For two weeks, it's all USA, USA, USA! I may not know who these people are but I'm pulling for them to beat up on opponents from places like Finland. I may have to bust out a mini American flag and wave it around from my couch.
Then, we get to the part that it's two straight weeks of great sports. Normally, if it's not football, baseball, or soccer, it can pretty much be The Jay Leno Show, because I'm not watching it. Maybe it’s the drama, but all of a sudden, I think the Nordic Combined is the best sport known to man.
I can honestly say that outside of the Olympics, I don't watch curling. Hell, I go out of my way to actively avoid it. However, just today requested a day off of work to watch the US/Russia women's curling match (2/19, 12 noon, USA Network). Plus, I need to know how heavy the curling stone is and how big this sport is in Canada.
I think one of my favorite parts is NBC. I mean, besides Chuck, I don't even think about watching NBC. I even cringe when I want to watch a Notre Dame game or a Sunday Night NFL Game, because the sports on the network must be directed by a drunken monkey. However, they know how to put on the Olympics.
The one thing that makes NBC great is Bob Costas. Yes, Bob is past his prime and can't quiet catch up to the fastball anymore but his interviews are top notch. He blows the door off the creepiness factor when he interviews attractive female athletes. When the three USA fencers swept the medals in Beijing, I think I saw one of the top TV moments of all time. I felt the need to take a shower after watching it. I can't wait for Lindsey Vonn to win a medal. It's going to be great.
Last, but not least, is the drama. NBC always amps up the sap to make you root for some Bulgarian alpine skier who's sister lost her foot in a thrasher accident but still works 60 hours a week to support his dream. It makes you want to root for the guy, even if he has no chance of bring home the gold.
To balance this out, there is always some punk who thinks they are entitled to a medal when the Olympic Gods smack them down (to my utter pleasure). In 2006, during the final run of the Women's Snowboard Cross, American Lindsey Jacobellis was coasting her way to a gold medal when on the second to last jump, she decided to showboat and pull a method grab, only to completely douche the landing and wipe out. This allowed the woman behind her to easily coast past her as Jacobellis was floundering like a fish out of water trying to get up. Jacobellis finally got and finished in second.
We all learned an important lesson, after we finished laughing. Don't screw with the God's of fate. Play the sport with pride and integrity and you can be remembered for all time as an Olympic champion. If you become egotistical and showboat, you can end up like Jacobellis and be a laughing stock. That is why the Olympics are great; they are mostly played with pride and integrity. Well, unless you're a client of BALCO, but that's a different story.
First and foremost is the patriotism that flows forth during the Olympics. I can forget things I'm not thrilled with, like the horrible economy and our idiot President. For two weeks, it's all USA, USA, USA! I may not know who these people are but I'm pulling for them to beat up on opponents from places like Finland. I may have to bust out a mini American flag and wave it around from my couch.
Then, we get to the part that it's two straight weeks of great sports. Normally, if it's not football, baseball, or soccer, it can pretty much be The Jay Leno Show, because I'm not watching it. Maybe it’s the drama, but all of a sudden, I think the Nordic Combined is the best sport known to man.
I can honestly say that outside of the Olympics, I don't watch curling. Hell, I go out of my way to actively avoid it. However, just today requested a day off of work to watch the US/Russia women's curling match (2/19, 12 noon, USA Network). Plus, I need to know how heavy the curling stone is and how big this sport is in Canada.
I think one of my favorite parts is NBC. I mean, besides Chuck, I don't even think about watching NBC. I even cringe when I want to watch a Notre Dame game or a Sunday Night NFL Game, because the sports on the network must be directed by a drunken monkey. However, they know how to put on the Olympics.
The one thing that makes NBC great is Bob Costas. Yes, Bob is past his prime and can't quiet catch up to the fastball anymore but his interviews are top notch. He blows the door off the creepiness factor when he interviews attractive female athletes. When the three USA fencers swept the medals in Beijing, I think I saw one of the top TV moments of all time. I felt the need to take a shower after watching it. I can't wait for Lindsey Vonn to win a medal. It's going to be great.
Last, but not least, is the drama. NBC always amps up the sap to make you root for some Bulgarian alpine skier who's sister lost her foot in a thrasher accident but still works 60 hours a week to support his dream. It makes you want to root for the guy, even if he has no chance of bring home the gold.
To balance this out, there is always some punk who thinks they are entitled to a medal when the Olympic Gods smack them down (to my utter pleasure). In 2006, during the final run of the Women's Snowboard Cross, American Lindsey Jacobellis was coasting her way to a gold medal when on the second to last jump, she decided to showboat and pull a method grab, only to completely douche the landing and wipe out. This allowed the woman behind her to easily coast past her as Jacobellis was floundering like a fish out of water trying to get up. Jacobellis finally got and finished in second.
We all learned an important lesson, after we finished laughing. Don't screw with the God's of fate. Play the sport with pride and integrity and you can be remembered for all time as an Olympic champion. If you become egotistical and showboat, you can end up like Jacobellis and be a laughing stock. That is why the Olympics are great; they are mostly played with pride and integrity. Well, unless you're a client of BALCO, but that's a different story.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
New and Premiering in 2010
Well, the first non-college football entry in ages is a yearly tradition. That's right, the annual New and Premiering entry. As a side note, Lost will not be on this list, mostly because this final season will not be TV show, but an event. With no BSG or Lost to choose from, the number one will be tough to pick. Anyway, enough about my inability to create a simple list and let's get to the countdown.
5) Southland - 1/12 on TNT at 10PM
This is more of a F You to NBC than my wanting to actually watch this show. I normally stay away from your average cop drama, if only to stave off becoming my parents for another year. However, I've heard nothing but good things about this show.
Critical acclaim is something that NBC seems to shy away from, considering they canned it even before it got to premiere and gave the 10PM time slot EVERY NIGHT to Jay Leno. If I had time, effort, and an actual following, I would have lead a campaign to ensure that Southland actually beat Leno in the ratings. It would be a noble goal.
4) Leverage - 1/13 on TNT at 10PM
This American version of Hustle probably would have been higher except for the fact that they replaced Gina Bellman's Sophie with Jeri Ryan's Tara. That's like replacing Sam Adams with Budweiser, sure, it's still beer, but which would you prefer? Thankfully, it's only a temporary switch while Bellman spits out a kid.
This pretty much going to follow the same formula as all the proceeding shows. Someone gets hosed by a company, businessman, politician, or local crime lord. Said victim gets in contact with Nate and his band of do-gooders and they take care of it, getting the victim back his money and turning a tidy profit. It's a winner of a formula and they should keep riding it. Don't fall into the trap of thinking you need to bog us down with plot or overall story arcs, that's not your bread and butter.
3) Human Target - 1/17 on FOX at 8PM
You know what? Screw all the "comic book background" on this. I have two reasons to watch this. One, it has the trifecta of guns, ass-kicking, and humor. Two, ever since Keen Eddie, I will support anything with Mark Valley in it (plus, high marks for his marriage to Anna Torv).
After seeing the first commercial for this show, I knew I wanted to watch it. Not only was he throwing himself in front of bullets meant for Tricia Helfer, but he looked like he was possessed with some sort of death wish. Just your classic "I don't give a shit" attitude. I can't wait.
2) Caprica - 1/22 on Syfy at 9PM
How can anything be bad that has Eric Stoltz in it? If they made a "Pulp Fiction" sequel that featured his drug dealer character, I would be first in line to watch. Anyway, this is the much anticipated Battlestar Galactica prequel that shows us the beginnings of the Cylons (which makes no sense, since they have been around for thousands of years, but I'm sure they'll explain that).
When I went to visit Seamus last year for SBSA 2009 (I'll explain later), he popped in the pilot for Caprica, since Syfy was nice enough to release the pilot on DVD back in June. I enjoyed it, it was good. A little cerebral, but overall a good watch. It definitely needed some time to mature, but it has a lot of potential.
1) 24 - 1/17 on FOX at 9PM
Jack Bauer is back again to save us from terrorist who want to do us harm. God knows our President won't do it. This time, Jack and the newly minted CTU are taking up in New York, if only because it makes more since than Los Angeles.
The last time we saw Jack, he was dying from a deadly pathogen that was to be released by an evil Jon Voight (being almost as evil as Coach Bud Kilmer from "Varsity Blues"). Obviously, the experimental treatment worked and Jack is right as rain. I give a thumbs up to the return of Agent Renee Walker, Jack's potential love interest and lump of clay which he can mold into a female version of himself. I give a big old thumbs down to Jack's new partner, the excruciating Freddie Prinze Jr. The only role he was ever good in was his role as the idiot brother in "House of Yes" and that's because he got to play to this strengths, as an idiot.
Even Freddie can't dull my enthusiasm for the new season. However, my enthusiasm will dull quickly if they keep recycling the "mole in CTU" storyline. It was classic with Nina Myers (because we all thought Tony was the bad guy). After seven seasons, it just gets old. I would forgive the rehash of this if you gave me a half hour in some episode where we see the terrorist doing there thing and we get the split screen of Jack on the crapper with the New York Times. Seriously, everybody poops.
5) Southland - 1/12 on TNT at 10PM
This is more of a F You to NBC than my wanting to actually watch this show. I normally stay away from your average cop drama, if only to stave off becoming my parents for another year. However, I've heard nothing but good things about this show.
Critical acclaim is something that NBC seems to shy away from, considering they canned it even before it got to premiere and gave the 10PM time slot EVERY NIGHT to Jay Leno. If I had time, effort, and an actual following, I would have lead a campaign to ensure that Southland actually beat Leno in the ratings. It would be a noble goal.
4) Leverage - 1/13 on TNT at 10PM
This American version of Hustle probably would have been higher except for the fact that they replaced Gina Bellman's Sophie with Jeri Ryan's Tara. That's like replacing Sam Adams with Budweiser, sure, it's still beer, but which would you prefer? Thankfully, it's only a temporary switch while Bellman spits out a kid.
This pretty much going to follow the same formula as all the proceeding shows. Someone gets hosed by a company, businessman, politician, or local crime lord. Said victim gets in contact with Nate and his band of do-gooders and they take care of it, getting the victim back his money and turning a tidy profit. It's a winner of a formula and they should keep riding it. Don't fall into the trap of thinking you need to bog us down with plot or overall story arcs, that's not your bread and butter.
3) Human Target - 1/17 on FOX at 8PM
You know what? Screw all the "comic book background" on this. I have two reasons to watch this. One, it has the trifecta of guns, ass-kicking, and humor. Two, ever since Keen Eddie, I will support anything with Mark Valley in it (plus, high marks for his marriage to Anna Torv).
After seeing the first commercial for this show, I knew I wanted to watch it. Not only was he throwing himself in front of bullets meant for Tricia Helfer, but he looked like he was possessed with some sort of death wish. Just your classic "I don't give a shit" attitude. I can't wait.
2) Caprica - 1/22 on Syfy at 9PM
How can anything be bad that has Eric Stoltz in it? If they made a "Pulp Fiction" sequel that featured his drug dealer character, I would be first in line to watch. Anyway, this is the much anticipated Battlestar Galactica prequel that shows us the beginnings of the Cylons (which makes no sense, since they have been around for thousands of years, but I'm sure they'll explain that).
When I went to visit Seamus last year for SBSA 2009 (I'll explain later), he popped in the pilot for Caprica, since Syfy was nice enough to release the pilot on DVD back in June. I enjoyed it, it was good. A little cerebral, but overall a good watch. It definitely needed some time to mature, but it has a lot of potential.
1) 24 - 1/17 on FOX at 9PM
Jack Bauer is back again to save us from terrorist who want to do us harm. God knows our President won't do it. This time, Jack and the newly minted CTU are taking up in New York, if only because it makes more since than Los Angeles.
The last time we saw Jack, he was dying from a deadly pathogen that was to be released by an evil Jon Voight (being almost as evil as Coach Bud Kilmer from "Varsity Blues"). Obviously, the experimental treatment worked and Jack is right as rain. I give a thumbs up to the return of Agent Renee Walker, Jack's potential love interest and lump of clay which he can mold into a female version of himself. I give a big old thumbs down to Jack's new partner, the excruciating Freddie Prinze Jr. The only role he was ever good in was his role as the idiot brother in "House of Yes" and that's because he got to play to this strengths, as an idiot.
Even Freddie can't dull my enthusiasm for the new season. However, my enthusiasm will dull quickly if they keep recycling the "mole in CTU" storyline. It was classic with Nina Myers (because we all thought Tony was the bad guy). After seven seasons, it just gets old. I would forgive the rehash of this if you gave me a half hour in some episode where we see the terrorist doing there thing and we get the split screen of Jack on the crapper with the New York Times. Seriously, everybody poops.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Trent's Touchdown - Week 14
Championship Week is upon us once again. It seemed like just yesterday when my wife was complaining about the start of the season. Man, how time flies when there are upsets, shakeups, and dark horses all over the place. To paraphrase the great philosopher Mr. T, let’s cut out the jibber jabber and get on with the Touchdown.
1) The SEC Championship Game – No. 1 Florida vs. No. 2 Alabama – 4:00 on CBS in Atlanta.
This one is pretty simple to figure out. The winner goes to the National Championship Game and the loser gets an at-large bid to a BCS Bowl, sort of like last year. Both of these teams have so much in common, you have to figure this one is going to be epic. Hopefully, we won’t be disappointed.
Florida has one of the best college football players and leaders of all time in Tim Tebow. You can’t say enough about the guy. Look for him to try and find lanes and opening against the tough Alabama defense. The difference from last year is while the Florida defense gave them the edge a year ago, this year they are the anchor for the team. Say what you want about the offense, but they have looked flat and beatable since Tebow’s concussion. The defense for Florida has been the one winning their games.
Alabama has one of the best running backs in Mark Ingram leading their offensive attack. Plus, when Greg McElroy is confident, he is one of the better game managers around. Like Florida, the defense of Alabama is the key. They need to be able to contain Tebow and the Florida option attack. Florida has so many ways to make you pay, you need to stay at home, don’t over pursue, and for Heaven’s sake, don’t let anyone get behind you.
These two teams slug it out for the entire game, but Florida finally proves that they are human and Alabama punches their ticket to the National Championship Game.
2) No. 16 Oregon State at No. 7 Oregon – 9:00 on ESPN on 12/3
Civil War baby! The winner goes to the Rose Bowl and the loser cries over broken dreams. I’m just glad that no matter what the outcome, I won’t be seeing USC at the Rose Bowl this year. I got tired of seeing the likes of Booty, Sanchez, or Bush every year. It sounds like a bad porno.
This is pretty much a tale of two different teams. Oregon got all the hype. The bad kind for the Boise State debacle at the beginning of the year, then the good kind for the utter beat down of USC. However, they lost to Stanford and got taken to the wall by Arizona before pulling it out in OT.
For Oregon, it’s all about the run. You know its going to be run, run, run, play-action pass. The problem is that you have to respect the run, because both James and Masoli are dangerous with the ball. You need to be able to trust your defensive backs to hold the receivers in check.
Oregon State got to fly under the radar this year. It was always about USC, or Oregon, or Stanford, never about the Beavers. I don’t give a crap about Canfield’s passing numbers; the offense begins and ends with Jacquizz Rodgers. If Rodgers can get good blocking and make people miss, it’s going to be long night for Duck fans.
However, I think Oregon plays the way we all know they can and squeezes out a win to go to the Rose Bowl
3) No. 5 Cincinnati at No. 15 Pittsburgh – 12:00 on ABC
Let’s just dub this one the Big East Championship Game. The winner gets a BCS Bowl berth and if you listen close enough, you can hear the whispers of a National Championship Game. However, in all likelihood, the winner goes to the Orange Bowl with the loser going to some bowl most of us have never heard of.
After Pitt lost to West Virginia last week, the game lost a little luster, but should still be a good game. Pitt favors a more balanced offensive attack, more than willing to beat you through the air or on the ground. Pitt will most likely try and establish dominance with running back Dion Lewis, to try and take advantage of Cincy’s weak rush defense. Once committed to stopping the rush, Bill Stull will attack through the air.
Cincy on the other hand is all about the pass. They have a capable running attack, but they use the passing game to soften up defenses and the run as more of a slap in the face once they’ve beaten you into submission. On the other side of the ball, the Cincy defense have been complete porous, making the last few games shootouts. While I normally advise against it, I think Cincy needs to make this a shootout to win.
I think this will be a fun game to watch with plenty of points being scored. Cincy gets the ball last and drives down the field for the win and we get a month worth of articles on how we need a playoff system in college football.
4) The Big 12 Championship Game – No. 3 Texas vs. No. 22 Nebraska – 8:00 on ABC in Arlington, Texas.
Either ABC and ESPN are completely trying to shill for this game or Nebraska really does match up well against Texas. Let’s take a look at this one to see if Texas makes it into the National Championship Game or we get to see the BCS thrown into complete disarray.
I agree with the commentators on one point, Nebraska has the defense to harass Colt McCoy and make his life hell. They have one of the best defenses in the country for a reason, they know how to keep you out of the end zone. The problem they have is offensively. They don’t have a guy who can bust the game wide open, like Jerrod Johnson did last week against Texas for Texas A&M.
The Texas defense will have the ability to stop the methodical offense of Nebraska. This will give Colt McCoy and Jordan Shipley plenty of time to find one or two openings in the Nebraska defense. In the end, Texas walks away the victor and makes it unnecessary to spend all day Sunday making calculations as to who will be in the National Championship Game.
5) The ACC Championship Game – No. 10 Georgia Tech vs. Clemson – 8:00 on ESPN in Tampa.
Coming into last week, I didn’t think Clemson would have any issues with Georgia Tech. Then, the South Carolina game happened and it gave me pause. The pause turned to outright bewilderment when GT lost to Georgia. Definitely not the way you want to head into your conference championship game.
I want to get two names out of the way early. C.J. Spiller and Jonathan Dwyer. There, I said it. The Georgia Tech offense is sort of like the poor man’s Oregon offense. They have a great option offense and can beat you about a hundred different ways with the run. The issue is that Josh Nesbitt can’t throw and isn’t trusted to throw.
For Clemson, C.J. Spiller seems to overshadow a moderately good passing attack lead by the freshman Kyle Parker. The speedster Jacoby Ford may be his main target, but he can spread the ball around when he has time. My only problem with Spiller is he seems to disappear at times.
Defense will play the difference maker in this one. Clemson needs to stop the option and GT needs to pressure Parker. If they both can do that, we get another nail-biter that has become commonplace in this series. However, this time, Clemson comes out on top.
6) Arizona at No. 18 USC – 3:30 on ABC
Question: If USC and Oklahoma both finish the season out of the top 25, does the world come to an end? God I hope not. Don’t blame me; I always thought Mustain should be the USC starting quarterback.
Extra Point:
7) I’m going to use the last extra point of the regular season for a quick shout-out to the only game next week. The Army-Navy Game next Saturday at 2:30 on CBS. These teams may not have a single future NFL player on them, but they will all serve a higher purpose in our Armed Forces. So, to them I say thank you for the future defense of our country. I’ll see you all real soon for the Bowl previews and my post-season awards.
1) The SEC Championship Game – No. 1 Florida vs. No. 2 Alabama – 4:00 on CBS in Atlanta.
This one is pretty simple to figure out. The winner goes to the National Championship Game and the loser gets an at-large bid to a BCS Bowl, sort of like last year. Both of these teams have so much in common, you have to figure this one is going to be epic. Hopefully, we won’t be disappointed.
Florida has one of the best college football players and leaders of all time in Tim Tebow. You can’t say enough about the guy. Look for him to try and find lanes and opening against the tough Alabama defense. The difference from last year is while the Florida defense gave them the edge a year ago, this year they are the anchor for the team. Say what you want about the offense, but they have looked flat and beatable since Tebow’s concussion. The defense for Florida has been the one winning their games.
Alabama has one of the best running backs in Mark Ingram leading their offensive attack. Plus, when Greg McElroy is confident, he is one of the better game managers around. Like Florida, the defense of Alabama is the key. They need to be able to contain Tebow and the Florida option attack. Florida has so many ways to make you pay, you need to stay at home, don’t over pursue, and for Heaven’s sake, don’t let anyone get behind you.
These two teams slug it out for the entire game, but Florida finally proves that they are human and Alabama punches their ticket to the National Championship Game.
2) No. 16 Oregon State at No. 7 Oregon – 9:00 on ESPN on 12/3
Civil War baby! The winner goes to the Rose Bowl and the loser cries over broken dreams. I’m just glad that no matter what the outcome, I won’t be seeing USC at the Rose Bowl this year. I got tired of seeing the likes of Booty, Sanchez, or Bush every year. It sounds like a bad porno.
This is pretty much a tale of two different teams. Oregon got all the hype. The bad kind for the Boise State debacle at the beginning of the year, then the good kind for the utter beat down of USC. However, they lost to Stanford and got taken to the wall by Arizona before pulling it out in OT.
For Oregon, it’s all about the run. You know its going to be run, run, run, play-action pass. The problem is that you have to respect the run, because both James and Masoli are dangerous with the ball. You need to be able to trust your defensive backs to hold the receivers in check.
Oregon State got to fly under the radar this year. It was always about USC, or Oregon, or Stanford, never about the Beavers. I don’t give a crap about Canfield’s passing numbers; the offense begins and ends with Jacquizz Rodgers. If Rodgers can get good blocking and make people miss, it’s going to be long night for Duck fans.
However, I think Oregon plays the way we all know they can and squeezes out a win to go to the Rose Bowl
3) No. 5 Cincinnati at No. 15 Pittsburgh – 12:00 on ABC
Let’s just dub this one the Big East Championship Game. The winner gets a BCS Bowl berth and if you listen close enough, you can hear the whispers of a National Championship Game. However, in all likelihood, the winner goes to the Orange Bowl with the loser going to some bowl most of us have never heard of.
After Pitt lost to West Virginia last week, the game lost a little luster, but should still be a good game. Pitt favors a more balanced offensive attack, more than willing to beat you through the air or on the ground. Pitt will most likely try and establish dominance with running back Dion Lewis, to try and take advantage of Cincy’s weak rush defense. Once committed to stopping the rush, Bill Stull will attack through the air.
Cincy on the other hand is all about the pass. They have a capable running attack, but they use the passing game to soften up defenses and the run as more of a slap in the face once they’ve beaten you into submission. On the other side of the ball, the Cincy defense have been complete porous, making the last few games shootouts. While I normally advise against it, I think Cincy needs to make this a shootout to win.
I think this will be a fun game to watch with plenty of points being scored. Cincy gets the ball last and drives down the field for the win and we get a month worth of articles on how we need a playoff system in college football.
4) The Big 12 Championship Game – No. 3 Texas vs. No. 22 Nebraska – 8:00 on ABC in Arlington, Texas.
Either ABC and ESPN are completely trying to shill for this game or Nebraska really does match up well against Texas. Let’s take a look at this one to see if Texas makes it into the National Championship Game or we get to see the BCS thrown into complete disarray.
I agree with the commentators on one point, Nebraska has the defense to harass Colt McCoy and make his life hell. They have one of the best defenses in the country for a reason, they know how to keep you out of the end zone. The problem they have is offensively. They don’t have a guy who can bust the game wide open, like Jerrod Johnson did last week against Texas for Texas A&M.
The Texas defense will have the ability to stop the methodical offense of Nebraska. This will give Colt McCoy and Jordan Shipley plenty of time to find one or two openings in the Nebraska defense. In the end, Texas walks away the victor and makes it unnecessary to spend all day Sunday making calculations as to who will be in the National Championship Game.
5) The ACC Championship Game – No. 10 Georgia Tech vs. Clemson – 8:00 on ESPN in Tampa.
Coming into last week, I didn’t think Clemson would have any issues with Georgia Tech. Then, the South Carolina game happened and it gave me pause. The pause turned to outright bewilderment when GT lost to Georgia. Definitely not the way you want to head into your conference championship game.
I want to get two names out of the way early. C.J. Spiller and Jonathan Dwyer. There, I said it. The Georgia Tech offense is sort of like the poor man’s Oregon offense. They have a great option offense and can beat you about a hundred different ways with the run. The issue is that Josh Nesbitt can’t throw and isn’t trusted to throw.
For Clemson, C.J. Spiller seems to overshadow a moderately good passing attack lead by the freshman Kyle Parker. The speedster Jacoby Ford may be his main target, but he can spread the ball around when he has time. My only problem with Spiller is he seems to disappear at times.
Defense will play the difference maker in this one. Clemson needs to stop the option and GT needs to pressure Parker. If they both can do that, we get another nail-biter that has become commonplace in this series. However, this time, Clemson comes out on top.
6) Arizona at No. 18 USC – 3:30 on ABC
Question: If USC and Oklahoma both finish the season out of the top 25, does the world come to an end? God I hope not. Don’t blame me; I always thought Mustain should be the USC starting quarterback.
Extra Point:
7) I’m going to use the last extra point of the regular season for a quick shout-out to the only game next week. The Army-Navy Game next Saturday at 2:30 on CBS. These teams may not have a single future NFL player on them, but they will all serve a higher purpose in our Armed Forces. So, to them I say thank you for the future defense of our country. I’ll see you all real soon for the Bowl previews and my post-season awards.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Trent's Touchdown - Week 12
With births to conference championship games and outright claims to the top spots in other conferences on the line, Week 12 looks like a winner. So, let’s skip the preamble and get right to the games.
1) No. 10 Ohio State at Michigan – 12:00 on ABC
While this one looks like a cakewalk for Ohio State, this one gives me pause. As much as I hate it when people say that records don’t matter in rivalry games, this one transcends the records. Both have something to play for, just one is more important than the other.
Ohio State is playing for the outright championship of the Big Ten and, more importantly, respect. Yes, they are going to the Rose Bowl, but no one thinks they can beat any Pac-10 team. They are a team being carried by their defense. Every Buckeye fan out there, while not admitting it, just hopes that Terrelle Pryor doesn’t do anything stupid when he has his hands on the ball. I mean, look at the series they played in the OT win against Iowa, three straight dives into the heart of the line. Yes, Tressel really trusts Pryor.
Michigan is playing to get out of the cellar of the Big Ten and, most probably, for Rich Rodriguez’s job. After starting 4-0, they have gotten smacked around by all comers, wining only one of their last seven games. I like Tate Forcier and I like the enthusiasm of the team, but Michigan still makes dumb mistakes. I think Rodriguez really needs to take the training wheel’s off here and just let Forcier air it out. They have nothing to lose.
Michigan has played well at home all year, so they can keep it close. I just think the Ohio State defense is too good for Michigan. Ohio State wins this one, while I get deluged with “Ohio State is for real” stories before they douse their drawers against Oregon in the Rose Bowl.
2) No. 11 Oregon at Arizona – 8:00 on ABC
Speaking of Oregon, they get to take one more step to securing the Pac-10. Personally, I like Stanford, but the Duchess like Oregon. As any married man knows, the secret to a successful marriage is to always listen to your wife.
Anyhow, the Oregon offense is pretty simple to figure out. It’s run, run, run, and then beat you with the play action pass. It’s just a question of stopping it. I don’t know why they bothered to reinstate LeGarrette Blount, since LaMichael James is one of the better running backs in the nation. Look for the Ducks to keep doing what they do.
Arizona is in a very good spot. They win out and they go to the Rose Bowl. However, they need to stay consistent on offense, something they couldn’t do against Cal last week. The problem is there is a big question mark at running back, as Nic Grigsby has a bit of a shoulder problem.
While Arizona is undefeated at home, they really haven’t had any quality wins (minus Stanford). Oregon knows how to get up for the big games and they know just how important this one is. I think they go into Arizona and win it, but Arizona sticks around for most of the game.
3) No. 25 California at No. 17 Stanford – 7:30 on Versus
Talk about two teams on two different sides of the spectrum. Cal has absolutely no quality wins, while Stanford slapped around USC and Oregon in back to back weeks. God I love Stanford right now.
The blue-collar Stanford Cardinals are showing they are not a team to be taken lightly. They also know how to go for the kill when they have the shot, going for a two-point conversion up 27 in the fourth quarter against USC. Andrew Luck keeps plugging along, knowing the offense doesn’t rest on his shoulders. All he needs to do is get the ball to Toby Gerhart and he is all set. They have a competent defense that doesn’t get lit up, so they are all good.
Cal is one team I don’t understand. They can’t beat a good team, yet they keep getting into the top 25. Their best player is on the sideline after nearly killing himself trying to get into the end zone. We’ll be lucky if we Jahvid Best before the opening game next year. Shane Vereen is an admirable back up, but he isn’t Best. Pardon the pun, but Best is Cal’s best shot at winning.
Stanford wins this one, by doing what they always do. I don’t even think Cal keeps it close, but it’s worth watching just to see Stanford dismantle another team and keep their hopes of a Pac-10 Championship alive.
4) Virginia at No. 23 Clemson – 3:30 on ABC
I’ll admit it; this is pure and utter homerism (even if I’ve never been to South Carolina or know anyone who has been there). This is the game every Clemson fan has been waiting for since 1991. Well, technically, that would be in 2 weeks against Georgia Tech, but they need to beat Virginia first.
Let’s forget about the Virginia offense completely. They can’t move the ball against a high school team, and Clemson is one of the better defenses in the country, leading the nation in interceptions. This game hinges on the ability of C.J. Spiller making plays and giving Kyle Parker piece of mind that the game isn’t on his shoulders. Throw in a big play by Jacoby Ford and you pretty much have yourself a victory.
It’ll be fun to watch for about two and a half quarters, which is usually where Clemson decides they’ve had enough and decide to just win it and be done with it.
5) No. 8 LSU at Mississippi – 3:30 on CBS
Remember when everyone (including me) was saying how Jevan Sneed was for real? That was 14 interceptions ago. However, out of the limelight, Ole Miss has been able to put together a fairly good record.
If I was a LSU fan, I wouldn’t be sure if I was more scared of Jefferson or Lee starting at quarterback. Listen, I could go into some spiel about how LSU needs to work the run, but it’s all a lie. This game will come down to the LSU defense stopping Dexter McCluster. If they do that, they put the game in Sneed’s hands and as scary as that sounded at the beginning of the season, it would make me downright giddy now.
LSU wins this, but the game is ugly in the fact that it turns into a defensive struggle. LSU just needs to pray that if Lee does start, that he doesn’t make too many mistakes.
6) Harvard at Yale – 12:00 on Versus
Come on people, this is The Game. The Game! Basically, it’s an excuse for the alumni of two Ivy League schools to drink all weekend, but that’s a whole different story.
Extra Point:
7) Let me throw in my two cents about the Mark Mangino debacle at Kansas. I want to preface this by saying that we don’t know all the evidence and I don’t want to come off like an idiot like Obama and the whole Gates incident. Also, I’ve always liked Kansas because of their underdog status.
That being said, if this is true, this is the weirdest thing I’ve heard in a while, but not completely shocking. With the amount of control coaches have over players in college football, something like this was bound to happen. If this was one or two players, you can write it off as sour grapes, but this is a whole host of players with similar stories.
This doesn’t just affect Mangino though. This will affect his assistant coaches and coordinators, not to mention the legacy of Bill Snyder at Kansas State. There is a fine line between hard-nosed disciplinarian and out of control behavior. No matter the outcome, Mangino is toxic after this. No team is going to touch him. If he did cross the line, let’s hope he learned his lesson.
1) No. 10 Ohio State at Michigan – 12:00 on ABC
While this one looks like a cakewalk for Ohio State, this one gives me pause. As much as I hate it when people say that records don’t matter in rivalry games, this one transcends the records. Both have something to play for, just one is more important than the other.
Ohio State is playing for the outright championship of the Big Ten and, more importantly, respect. Yes, they are going to the Rose Bowl, but no one thinks they can beat any Pac-10 team. They are a team being carried by their defense. Every Buckeye fan out there, while not admitting it, just hopes that Terrelle Pryor doesn’t do anything stupid when he has his hands on the ball. I mean, look at the series they played in the OT win against Iowa, three straight dives into the heart of the line. Yes, Tressel really trusts Pryor.
Michigan is playing to get out of the cellar of the Big Ten and, most probably, for Rich Rodriguez’s job. After starting 4-0, they have gotten smacked around by all comers, wining only one of their last seven games. I like Tate Forcier and I like the enthusiasm of the team, but Michigan still makes dumb mistakes. I think Rodriguez really needs to take the training wheel’s off here and just let Forcier air it out. They have nothing to lose.
Michigan has played well at home all year, so they can keep it close. I just think the Ohio State defense is too good for Michigan. Ohio State wins this one, while I get deluged with “Ohio State is for real” stories before they douse their drawers against Oregon in the Rose Bowl.
2) No. 11 Oregon at Arizona – 8:00 on ABC
Speaking of Oregon, they get to take one more step to securing the Pac-10. Personally, I like Stanford, but the Duchess like Oregon. As any married man knows, the secret to a successful marriage is to always listen to your wife.
Anyhow, the Oregon offense is pretty simple to figure out. It’s run, run, run, and then beat you with the play action pass. It’s just a question of stopping it. I don’t know why they bothered to reinstate LeGarrette Blount, since LaMichael James is one of the better running backs in the nation. Look for the Ducks to keep doing what they do.
Arizona is in a very good spot. They win out and they go to the Rose Bowl. However, they need to stay consistent on offense, something they couldn’t do against Cal last week. The problem is there is a big question mark at running back, as Nic Grigsby has a bit of a shoulder problem.
While Arizona is undefeated at home, they really haven’t had any quality wins (minus Stanford). Oregon knows how to get up for the big games and they know just how important this one is. I think they go into Arizona and win it, but Arizona sticks around for most of the game.
3) No. 25 California at No. 17 Stanford – 7:30 on Versus
Talk about two teams on two different sides of the spectrum. Cal has absolutely no quality wins, while Stanford slapped around USC and Oregon in back to back weeks. God I love Stanford right now.
The blue-collar Stanford Cardinals are showing they are not a team to be taken lightly. They also know how to go for the kill when they have the shot, going for a two-point conversion up 27 in the fourth quarter against USC. Andrew Luck keeps plugging along, knowing the offense doesn’t rest on his shoulders. All he needs to do is get the ball to Toby Gerhart and he is all set. They have a competent defense that doesn’t get lit up, so they are all good.
Cal is one team I don’t understand. They can’t beat a good team, yet they keep getting into the top 25. Their best player is on the sideline after nearly killing himself trying to get into the end zone. We’ll be lucky if we Jahvid Best before the opening game next year. Shane Vereen is an admirable back up, but he isn’t Best. Pardon the pun, but Best is Cal’s best shot at winning.
Stanford wins this one, by doing what they always do. I don’t even think Cal keeps it close, but it’s worth watching just to see Stanford dismantle another team and keep their hopes of a Pac-10 Championship alive.
4) Virginia at No. 23 Clemson – 3:30 on ABC
I’ll admit it; this is pure and utter homerism (even if I’ve never been to South Carolina or know anyone who has been there). This is the game every Clemson fan has been waiting for since 1991. Well, technically, that would be in 2 weeks against Georgia Tech, but they need to beat Virginia first.
Let’s forget about the Virginia offense completely. They can’t move the ball against a high school team, and Clemson is one of the better defenses in the country, leading the nation in interceptions. This game hinges on the ability of C.J. Spiller making plays and giving Kyle Parker piece of mind that the game isn’t on his shoulders. Throw in a big play by Jacoby Ford and you pretty much have yourself a victory.
It’ll be fun to watch for about two and a half quarters, which is usually where Clemson decides they’ve had enough and decide to just win it and be done with it.
5) No. 8 LSU at Mississippi – 3:30 on CBS
Remember when everyone (including me) was saying how Jevan Sneed was for real? That was 14 interceptions ago. However, out of the limelight, Ole Miss has been able to put together a fairly good record.
If I was a LSU fan, I wouldn’t be sure if I was more scared of Jefferson or Lee starting at quarterback. Listen, I could go into some spiel about how LSU needs to work the run, but it’s all a lie. This game will come down to the LSU defense stopping Dexter McCluster. If they do that, they put the game in Sneed’s hands and as scary as that sounded at the beginning of the season, it would make me downright giddy now.
LSU wins this, but the game is ugly in the fact that it turns into a defensive struggle. LSU just needs to pray that if Lee does start, that he doesn’t make too many mistakes.
6) Harvard at Yale – 12:00 on Versus
Come on people, this is The Game. The Game! Basically, it’s an excuse for the alumni of two Ivy League schools to drink all weekend, but that’s a whole different story.
Extra Point:
7) Let me throw in my two cents about the Mark Mangino debacle at Kansas. I want to preface this by saying that we don’t know all the evidence and I don’t want to come off like an idiot like Obama and the whole Gates incident. Also, I’ve always liked Kansas because of their underdog status.
That being said, if this is true, this is the weirdest thing I’ve heard in a while, but not completely shocking. With the amount of control coaches have over players in college football, something like this was bound to happen. If this was one or two players, you can write it off as sour grapes, but this is a whole host of players with similar stories.
This doesn’t just affect Mangino though. This will affect his assistant coaches and coordinators, not to mention the legacy of Bill Snyder at Kansas State. There is a fine line between hard-nosed disciplinarian and out of control behavior. No matter the outcome, Mangino is toxic after this. No team is going to touch him. If he did cross the line, let’s hope he learned his lesson.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Trent's Touchdown - Week 11
I think I just realized last weekend that we are getting to the end of the season. This has been one wacky season so far, and it’s only going to get wackier. There are three teams right now vying for the rights to upset the BCS apple cart and it brings nothing but enjoyment for those of us who love college football, but more on that later. Now, on to the Touchdown.
1) No. 25 West Virginia at No. 5 Cincinnati – 8:00 on ESPN2 (Friday)
The devil is getting fitted for ice skates, because Cincinnati is in the top spot of this week’s Touchdown. Cincinnati is looking to make a case for the BCS National Championship Game, but they need to get out to the Big East unscathed. The first of two big tests is against WVU.
Cincy has the problem that Oklahoma fans wish they had, a back-up quarterback just as good as the starter. After gunslinger Tony Pike went down with injury, Zach Collaros stepped in and the Cincy offense didn’t miss a step. They are one of the most prolific offenses in the country and run a no huddle, spread offense. As of now, Collaros is getting the start, but Pike should see some time as he is still not 100%.
On the other side of the ball, WVU isn’t as lucky with the injuries. Both superstar running back Noel Devine and quarterback Jarrett Brown went down with injuries in last week’s game and it’s still questionable on what role, if any, both will play. WVU needs a good defensive effort against the high-powered Cincy offense. Unfortunately, the WVU pass defense is a little sketchy (that’s a nice way of saying they’ll get lit up like a Christmas tree).
Cincy won’t miss a beat and pull away with this one. They have a knack for keeping games closer than they should be, so expect WVU to hang around for a while.
2) No. 10 Iowa at No. 11 Ohio State – 3:30 on ABC
You know, if Ricky Stanzi hadn’t gotten injured and if Iowa had beaten Northwestern, this game would have been a lot more interesting. Anyway, welcome to the Big Ten Championship Game.
Iowa had been playing with fire all season, needing to come back in all but one game this season. However, they were able to toughen up on defense, get good plays on special teams, and lean heavily on Stanzi at critical times and pull out wins. However, with Stanzi out, the load falls on freshman James Vandenberg. After seeing him in the second half of the Northwestern game, he looked more like Landry Jones than Zach Collaros. Not good if you are an Iowa fan.
Ohio State, on the other hand, seems to have found their rhythm. Offensively, they have gotten more consistent play out of Pryor, which the Buckeyes need to win. However, this team will win or lose based on the defense. Everyone knows that the Buckeye offense isn’t going to blow the doors off anyone, so the defense is going to shoulder the load.
If Stanzi were in, even if they lost to Northwestern, I would have picked Iowa. Unfortunately, Vandenberg is an unknown quantity facing a very good Ohio State defense. Iowa goes down early but won’t be able to pull off the comeback.
3) No. 16 Utah at No. 4 TCU – 7:30 on CBS College Sports Network
You want to see the first non-BCS conference team to reach the National Championship Game, scour your TV Guide for the listing on this one. However, let’s not give this one to TCU just yet.
TCU has actually beaten some relatively good opponents, winning road games against Clemson, Air Force, and BYU. Now they get to beat an untested Utah team who has only lost to Oregon. TCU has a vaunted running game, in which any number of players can get their hands on the ball and make an opposing defense look foolish. However, they are a well-balanced offense that can hurt you through the air when needed.
Utah, conversely, has been having troubles of late moving the ball and even switched up quarterbacks to help things along. Look for running back Eddie Wide to carry the load for the Utes, trying to establish a running game to take the pressure off the quarterback.
I think TCU takes this one and more and more people start whispering about this BCS buster.
4) Stanford at No. 9 USC – 3:30 on Fox Sports
Part of me wants to watch this game just so I can try and figure out how the hell Stanford beat a surging Oregon team last week. As for USC, Pete Carroll can pull a happier version of Michael Corleone quote “Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.”
If last week was any indication, USC is going to have issues with Stanford. USC barely put away a struggling Arizona State team and were lucky to get the win. I think we all know where the struggles originate. I hate to keep picking on Matt Barkley, but he is having issues running an offense that has one of the best running backs in the Pac-10 and the best wide receiver in the Pac-10. The defense is this team’s saving grace and they have issues containing good offenses.
Stanford has one of the best offenses in the Pac 10. Andrew Luck is everything that Carroll hoped Barkley would be when he decided to start a freshman at quarterback. He brings an enthusiasm and leadership to the Stanford offense. Of course, it doesn’t hurt to have the Pac-10’s best running back helping you out. Toby Gerhart absolutely embarrassed the Oregon defense last week.
USC ends their home winning streak against the team they last lost to at home. Stanford will win and finally knock USC out of the Pac 10 race. Of course, it’s USC, so talent alone will keep the game close.
5) No. 1 Florida at South Carolina – 3:30 on CBS
If you are a degenerate gambler, you look at the line on this one (Florida +18) and say “let’s rock and roll.” I mean, Florida is the number 1 team in the country and South Carolina is fading fast. But let’s not notch a win for Florida just yet.
Let’s be straight about one thing, Florida has been having issues on the offensive side of the ball. This is not the same Florida team from last year that could move the ball at will and Tebow has been looking decidedly human lately. The reason they keep winning is because they don’t make too many mistakes on offense and they have a very good defense. That should be enough to get them through most games.
It should be enough to get them through this game as well. As much as I moderately like Stephen Garcia, I don’t think he can carry his team past the Florida defense. Florida will win, but South Carolina has a knack for keeping it close.
6) Notre Dame at No. 12 Pittsburgh – 8:00 on ABC
I just want to watch this just to see when the defense of Notre Dame will mess up, costing them the game. I think it’ll happen sometime in the early 4th quarter, but that’s really just wishful thinking.
Extra Point:
What are the chances of seeing Cincinnati, TCU, or Boise State (if they all stay undefeated) in the National Championship Game? This isn’t a new twist on my rant a few weeks ago about a playoff system. I’m just really curious on the possibilities.
First, you would need two of the top three to lose. Well, we know for a fact that Alabama or Florida will have one loss. There is a possibility that it could happen, but is that enough. Let’s say, for the sake of argument that Alabama loses a close game on the road to Auburn, but then beats up on Florida in the SEC Championship Game. Does that guarantee that the one of the undefeated teams takes the place of Alabama?
Do the voters and computers give Cincy, TCU, and Boise State credit for going undefeated, even though their schedules were not as tough as that of Alabama? Even if one of them does get to the number 2 spot, which one is it? They all have their arguments to make.
I think clearly it would be Cincy, which would have quality wins over WVU at home and Pitt on the road. Plus, they are in a BCS conference (seriously, the Big East is a BCS conference). I think that the BCS is just hoping for all three teams to lose to make it simple. I mean, Cincy could lose to Pitt and/or WVU. TCU could lose to Utah. The Boise State team bus could get struck by lightning. All are possibilities. Then again, it wouldn’t be a college football season without some controversy.
1) No. 25 West Virginia at No. 5 Cincinnati – 8:00 on ESPN2 (Friday)
The devil is getting fitted for ice skates, because Cincinnati is in the top spot of this week’s Touchdown. Cincinnati is looking to make a case for the BCS National Championship Game, but they need to get out to the Big East unscathed. The first of two big tests is against WVU.
Cincy has the problem that Oklahoma fans wish they had, a back-up quarterback just as good as the starter. After gunslinger Tony Pike went down with injury, Zach Collaros stepped in and the Cincy offense didn’t miss a step. They are one of the most prolific offenses in the country and run a no huddle, spread offense. As of now, Collaros is getting the start, but Pike should see some time as he is still not 100%.
On the other side of the ball, WVU isn’t as lucky with the injuries. Both superstar running back Noel Devine and quarterback Jarrett Brown went down with injuries in last week’s game and it’s still questionable on what role, if any, both will play. WVU needs a good defensive effort against the high-powered Cincy offense. Unfortunately, the WVU pass defense is a little sketchy (that’s a nice way of saying they’ll get lit up like a Christmas tree).
Cincy won’t miss a beat and pull away with this one. They have a knack for keeping games closer than they should be, so expect WVU to hang around for a while.
2) No. 10 Iowa at No. 11 Ohio State – 3:30 on ABC
You know, if Ricky Stanzi hadn’t gotten injured and if Iowa had beaten Northwestern, this game would have been a lot more interesting. Anyway, welcome to the Big Ten Championship Game.
Iowa had been playing with fire all season, needing to come back in all but one game this season. However, they were able to toughen up on defense, get good plays on special teams, and lean heavily on Stanzi at critical times and pull out wins. However, with Stanzi out, the load falls on freshman James Vandenberg. After seeing him in the second half of the Northwestern game, he looked more like Landry Jones than Zach Collaros. Not good if you are an Iowa fan.
Ohio State, on the other hand, seems to have found their rhythm. Offensively, they have gotten more consistent play out of Pryor, which the Buckeyes need to win. However, this team will win or lose based on the defense. Everyone knows that the Buckeye offense isn’t going to blow the doors off anyone, so the defense is going to shoulder the load.
If Stanzi were in, even if they lost to Northwestern, I would have picked Iowa. Unfortunately, Vandenberg is an unknown quantity facing a very good Ohio State defense. Iowa goes down early but won’t be able to pull off the comeback.
3) No. 16 Utah at No. 4 TCU – 7:30 on CBS College Sports Network
You want to see the first non-BCS conference team to reach the National Championship Game, scour your TV Guide for the listing on this one. However, let’s not give this one to TCU just yet.
TCU has actually beaten some relatively good opponents, winning road games against Clemson, Air Force, and BYU. Now they get to beat an untested Utah team who has only lost to Oregon. TCU has a vaunted running game, in which any number of players can get their hands on the ball and make an opposing defense look foolish. However, they are a well-balanced offense that can hurt you through the air when needed.
Utah, conversely, has been having troubles of late moving the ball and even switched up quarterbacks to help things along. Look for running back Eddie Wide to carry the load for the Utes, trying to establish a running game to take the pressure off the quarterback.
I think TCU takes this one and more and more people start whispering about this BCS buster.
4) Stanford at No. 9 USC – 3:30 on Fox Sports
Part of me wants to watch this game just so I can try and figure out how the hell Stanford beat a surging Oregon team last week. As for USC, Pete Carroll can pull a happier version of Michael Corleone quote “Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.”
If last week was any indication, USC is going to have issues with Stanford. USC barely put away a struggling Arizona State team and were lucky to get the win. I think we all know where the struggles originate. I hate to keep picking on Matt Barkley, but he is having issues running an offense that has one of the best running backs in the Pac-10 and the best wide receiver in the Pac-10. The defense is this team’s saving grace and they have issues containing good offenses.
Stanford has one of the best offenses in the Pac 10. Andrew Luck is everything that Carroll hoped Barkley would be when he decided to start a freshman at quarterback. He brings an enthusiasm and leadership to the Stanford offense. Of course, it doesn’t hurt to have the Pac-10’s best running back helping you out. Toby Gerhart absolutely embarrassed the Oregon defense last week.
USC ends their home winning streak against the team they last lost to at home. Stanford will win and finally knock USC out of the Pac 10 race. Of course, it’s USC, so talent alone will keep the game close.
5) No. 1 Florida at South Carolina – 3:30 on CBS
If you are a degenerate gambler, you look at the line on this one (Florida +18) and say “let’s rock and roll.” I mean, Florida is the number 1 team in the country and South Carolina is fading fast. But let’s not notch a win for Florida just yet.
Let’s be straight about one thing, Florida has been having issues on the offensive side of the ball. This is not the same Florida team from last year that could move the ball at will and Tebow has been looking decidedly human lately. The reason they keep winning is because they don’t make too many mistakes on offense and they have a very good defense. That should be enough to get them through most games.
It should be enough to get them through this game as well. As much as I moderately like Stephen Garcia, I don’t think he can carry his team past the Florida defense. Florida will win, but South Carolina has a knack for keeping it close.
6) Notre Dame at No. 12 Pittsburgh – 8:00 on ABC
I just want to watch this just to see when the defense of Notre Dame will mess up, costing them the game. I think it’ll happen sometime in the early 4th quarter, but that’s really just wishful thinking.
Extra Point:
What are the chances of seeing Cincinnati, TCU, or Boise State (if they all stay undefeated) in the National Championship Game? This isn’t a new twist on my rant a few weeks ago about a playoff system. I’m just really curious on the possibilities.
First, you would need two of the top three to lose. Well, we know for a fact that Alabama or Florida will have one loss. There is a possibility that it could happen, but is that enough. Let’s say, for the sake of argument that Alabama loses a close game on the road to Auburn, but then beats up on Florida in the SEC Championship Game. Does that guarantee that the one of the undefeated teams takes the place of Alabama?
Do the voters and computers give Cincy, TCU, and Boise State credit for going undefeated, even though their schedules were not as tough as that of Alabama? Even if one of them does get to the number 2 spot, which one is it? They all have their arguments to make.
I think clearly it would be Cincy, which would have quality wins over WVU at home and Pitt on the road. Plus, they are in a BCS conference (seriously, the Big East is a BCS conference). I think that the BCS is just hoping for all three teams to lose to make it simple. I mean, Cincy could lose to Pitt and/or WVU. TCU could lose to Utah. The Boise State team bus could get struck by lightning. All are possibilities. Then again, it wouldn’t be a college football season without some controversy.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Trent's Field Goal - Week 10
While it looks like the Pac-10 was decided last week, the SEC, Big 10, and ACC all have games that will heavily impact their conference outcomes. Just so you know, I’m refusing to put Iowa on this week’s list. They will keep it close, just enough to draw you in, before they let hellfire rain down on Northwestern to make the end no where near as exciting as the beginning.
As an aside, due to graduate school application time, this week’s Touchdown gets downgraded to a Field Goal. Hey, we can’t get six every time.
1) No. 9 LSU at No. 3 Alabama – 3:30 on CBS
If you’re not excited about this game, you need to check yourself into the morgue, because your heart has stopped beating. This top 10 showdown will pretty much decide the winner of the SEC West. Not only that, it has National Championship implications.
While everyone will tell you that the defense is the key here, I’m going to go a different route. This game hinges on the running game of both teams. In my mind, Mark Ingram is the best running back in the country. The kid is a force to be reckoned with and has run past, over, and through all comers. If he can gain positive yards against the LSU defense, that takes pressure off Greg McElroy so he can do his thing and pass the ball down the field.
For LSU, Charles Scott needs to have a good game. Jordan Jefferson may be getting better with each game, but this isn’t the Tulane defense he’s facing. Scott needs to be able to establish a consistent running attack, which will allow Jefferson to use play action and his natural scrambling ability to attack the Alabama defense.
That all said, these are two of the best defenses in the nation. It’s a distinct possibility that both Scott and Ingram will have tough games. The question you have ask yourself then is which quarterback to you trust to exploit any possible mistake made by the opposing defense, Jefferson or McElroy?
Yeah, that’s what I thought. That is why I’m picking Alabama to win, but it’ll be close and low scoring.
2) No. 16 Ohio State at No. 11 Penn State – 3:30 on ABC
If you had told me at the beginning of the season that this game would decide the Big Ten, I would have agreed whole-heartedly. Too bad Iowa controls what happens in the Big Ten. These two could be playing for number 2.
When you really look at Ohio State, you start to understand their problems (even if the pollsters don’t). They are always going to have the great defense, which will keep them in every game. The problem is their whole offense revolves around the quarterback. That’s not bad thing if you have a good quarterback. Too bad Ohio State has Terrelle Pryor. If you contain Pryor and don’t over-pursue, you can win.
Penn State, on the other hand, has a more balanced attack led by Daryll Clark. Clark is the type of quarterback Pryor wishes he was. He leaves the running to Evan Royster, one of the better running backs in the Big Ten. Like Ohio State, they have a very good defense that keeps them in most games and can bail out the offense when needed. Clark and the offense just don’t need it as much as Ohio State.
That, coupled with the fact that the game is at Penn State, is the reason the Nittany Lions win this game. It’ll stay close because of the two good defenses, but Clark will lead a drive late to seal the deal.
3) Florida State at Clemson – 7:45 on ESPN
With no Tommy Bowden, this isn’t the annual Bowden Bowl anymore, but there are still plenty of reasons to be excited about this ACC match-up. While FSU would need some help, Clemson is in the driver’s seat on the road to the ACC Championship Game.
In past years when Clemson has been in this situation, they always found ways to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. However, it seems to be a whole new atmosphere in Clemson, where anything is possible. Who knew a head coach and offensive coordinator coming to blows would spark a team to a string of victories?
I’m going to write the most obvious statement in the history of my columns and say that game depends on what C.J. Spiller does. He needs to be the triple threat that he is more than capable of being. While I said earlier that Ingram is the best running back in the country, Spiller is the best all around player in the country. Clemson will need consistent play out of the freshman quarterback Kyle Parker. He needs to have a higher completion percentage that his season average and needs to keep possession of the ball.
FSU has been a weird team all year. Let’s look at it. They lose a close one to Miami, go down to the wire against Jacksonville State, then blow the doors off of BYU, before losing three straight. However, they are on a two game conference win streak, but only one both games by 3 points each.
FSU’s only shot at winning this is to defensively key on Spiller. They need to make sure they know where Spiller is at all times and swarm to him. They need to let Parker beat them with his arm. Unfortunately, Jacoby Ford will blow by one-on-one coverage and Parker can hit him with the deep ball. If Spiller is contained, it’ll stay close, but Clemson will pull it out in the end.
As an aside, due to graduate school application time, this week’s Touchdown gets downgraded to a Field Goal. Hey, we can’t get six every time.
1) No. 9 LSU at No. 3 Alabama – 3:30 on CBS
If you’re not excited about this game, you need to check yourself into the morgue, because your heart has stopped beating. This top 10 showdown will pretty much decide the winner of the SEC West. Not only that, it has National Championship implications.
While everyone will tell you that the defense is the key here, I’m going to go a different route. This game hinges on the running game of both teams. In my mind, Mark Ingram is the best running back in the country. The kid is a force to be reckoned with and has run past, over, and through all comers. If he can gain positive yards against the LSU defense, that takes pressure off Greg McElroy so he can do his thing and pass the ball down the field.
For LSU, Charles Scott needs to have a good game. Jordan Jefferson may be getting better with each game, but this isn’t the Tulane defense he’s facing. Scott needs to be able to establish a consistent running attack, which will allow Jefferson to use play action and his natural scrambling ability to attack the Alabama defense.
That all said, these are two of the best defenses in the nation. It’s a distinct possibility that both Scott and Ingram will have tough games. The question you have ask yourself then is which quarterback to you trust to exploit any possible mistake made by the opposing defense, Jefferson or McElroy?
Yeah, that’s what I thought. That is why I’m picking Alabama to win, but it’ll be close and low scoring.
2) No. 16 Ohio State at No. 11 Penn State – 3:30 on ABC
If you had told me at the beginning of the season that this game would decide the Big Ten, I would have agreed whole-heartedly. Too bad Iowa controls what happens in the Big Ten. These two could be playing for number 2.
When you really look at Ohio State, you start to understand their problems (even if the pollsters don’t). They are always going to have the great defense, which will keep them in every game. The problem is their whole offense revolves around the quarterback. That’s not bad thing if you have a good quarterback. Too bad Ohio State has Terrelle Pryor. If you contain Pryor and don’t over-pursue, you can win.
Penn State, on the other hand, has a more balanced attack led by Daryll Clark. Clark is the type of quarterback Pryor wishes he was. He leaves the running to Evan Royster, one of the better running backs in the Big Ten. Like Ohio State, they have a very good defense that keeps them in most games and can bail out the offense when needed. Clark and the offense just don’t need it as much as Ohio State.
That, coupled with the fact that the game is at Penn State, is the reason the Nittany Lions win this game. It’ll stay close because of the two good defenses, but Clark will lead a drive late to seal the deal.
3) Florida State at Clemson – 7:45 on ESPN
With no Tommy Bowden, this isn’t the annual Bowden Bowl anymore, but there are still plenty of reasons to be excited about this ACC match-up. While FSU would need some help, Clemson is in the driver’s seat on the road to the ACC Championship Game.
In past years when Clemson has been in this situation, they always found ways to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. However, it seems to be a whole new atmosphere in Clemson, where anything is possible. Who knew a head coach and offensive coordinator coming to blows would spark a team to a string of victories?
I’m going to write the most obvious statement in the history of my columns and say that game depends on what C.J. Spiller does. He needs to be the triple threat that he is more than capable of being. While I said earlier that Ingram is the best running back in the country, Spiller is the best all around player in the country. Clemson will need consistent play out of the freshman quarterback Kyle Parker. He needs to have a higher completion percentage that his season average and needs to keep possession of the ball.
FSU has been a weird team all year. Let’s look at it. They lose a close one to Miami, go down to the wire against Jacksonville State, then blow the doors off of BYU, before losing three straight. However, they are on a two game conference win streak, but only one both games by 3 points each.
FSU’s only shot at winning this is to defensively key on Spiller. They need to make sure they know where Spiller is at all times and swarm to him. They need to let Parker beat them with his arm. Unfortunately, Jacoby Ford will blow by one-on-one coverage and Parker can hit him with the deep ball. If Spiller is contained, it’ll stay close, but Clemson will pull it out in the end.
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