MLB
Games 1 and 2 are in the books and its all Giants so far as San Francisco has claimed a 2-0 lead in the best of 7 series. The National League finally won an all star game and gave the Giants the advantage by opening up at home. All was thought to be lost on that advantage when Cliff Lee took the mound for the Rangers. But the dominant and nearly flawless postseason Lee didn't show up for the World Series and the Giants capitalized taking game 1. Then following the momentum and success of Lincecum, Matt Cain turned in a dazzling game 2 performance, shutting out Texas in an eventual 7-0 route. The Giants can relax a little as they head to Arlington.
WORLD SERIES GAME 3 - LEWIS (TEX) vs. SANCHEZ (SF)
If you're a casual fan, I will understand if you've never heard of Colby Lewis, but if you've been following the postseason, you should definately know who the other C.L. from Texas is.
Lewis is having a remarkable postseason, dominating the competition with a 2-0 mark and a 1.45 ERA. Not unprecedented, but utterly shocking coming from a journeyman pitcher who spent the last 2 years in Japan. A 12-13 mark on the season and career 24-28 W/L record, there was no reason to think that Colby Lewis would be a big advantage for Texas, but here we are. He's starting game 3 in the most important game of the series. He pitched them into the World Series, not he has to keep them in it. He's got a tough opponent to do so though in Jonathon Sanchez, a power pitcher who has racked up 24 strikeouts ins 15 plus innings this postseason. He throws a lot of pitches though and tends to walk a lot too. If the Rangers are patient, they can get to Sanchez and knock him out by the 5th. That's going to be tough though, the Rangers bats have been held silent and they are going to come out swinging to prove why they are considered the better team offensively in this matchup. RANGERS take game 3 and make it an interesting series.
WORLD SERIES GAME 4 - HUNTER (TEX) vs BUMGARNER (SF)
The game 4 starters have been announced as Tommy Hunter versus Madison Bumgarner. However, this has to be listed with caution. If the Rangers win game 3, then the formula will stick and Hunter will start. If they lose game 3, look for the Rangers to start Cliff Lee instead as deperation mode will set in. This would still line up Lee for a Game 7 start if possible. For now, we'll discuss the 2 scheduled starters. 45 years. Thats the collective age of Bumgarner (21) and Hunter (24). Most guys that age are still partying in college or living with their parents. These guys are starting game 4 of the World Series. Hunter is older, but has not pitched in the postseason as much as Bumgarner. He had a decent 13-4 year, but doesn't have dominating stuff and relies heavily on his defense behind him. Bumgarner, the 10th overall pick in the 2007 draft has raw talent and a blazing fastball. However, he's never been on a stage this huge before and at 21 its hard to fathom how he'll be able to control his emotions. Look for Hamilton, Guerrero, Cruz, and Young to take charge offensively in games that could be high scoring.
RANGERS take game 4 and even up the series.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Last night saw another top 25 defeat by an unranked opponent as North Carolina State took advantage of a late fumble to upset 16th ranked Florida State. Which brings me to my next point. Predicting outcomes in College Football is easier said than done! After going 7-1 a couple weeks ago, I've gone 10-13 since, which has not only humbled me, but made me search more in depth on a team's potential. We'll see how I do this week.
TOP 25 FACE OFFS
5 MICHIGAN STATE (8-0) at 18 IOWA (5-2) 2:30p (CST)
The Spartans are in uncharted waters. The last time Michigan State was undefeated this late in the season was in 1966 when the team went 9-0-1 and claimed the National Championship under legendary coach and awesomely named Duffy Daugherty.
Surviving a scare from Northwestern last week, Michigan State finds an even tougher road opponent this week in Iowa. Ricky Stanzi and company are coming off a heartbreaking last minute loss to Wisconsin and are in a must-win mode to fight for the Big Ten Championship and stay in Rose Bowl consideration. Iowa has 2 losses, but only 1 Conference loss, meaning taking down the Spartans would even up the standings in the loss column, along with Ohio State, and Purdue. They'll take that motivation with them and send the Spartans home disappointed. IOWA 28-24
6 MISSOURI (7-0) at 14 NEBRASKA (6-1) 2:30p
The fight for the Victory Bell could not have a more polarizing QB matchup in college football than what will take place this saturday in Lincoln.
Taylor Martinez is a run first, pass 2nd QB and Blaine Gabbert from Missouri is the exact opposite. Martinez is 10th in the nation in rushing at 870 yards, Gabbert has rushed for a total of 0 yards. Yep, that's not a typo, there he's netted exactly nothing this year. Gabbert may not be a household name, but his Tigers are ranked in the top 10, whereas the Huskers are not. (for now). Both teams are coming off upset victories over Oklahoma teams (OU for Missou and OK State for Nebraska). The Tigers are stout on defense which has kept their opponents at bay. But even if they shut down Martinez on the run, he may be showing tha he can throw too as evidenced in last week's 5 touchdown, 312 yard performance through the air. A home game for Nebraska, this will be a tough game for Missouri.NEBRASKA takes it 31-24
RIVALRY GAMES
One of the joys of College is the traditions that each school is rooted in and a lot of those traditions take place on the battlefield between rival universities. Geography, history, symbolism, and former players/coaches all can take into consideration the traditions of a matchup. In many cases a Rivalry game is 2nd to a Conference championship, and it can provide entertainment in those years that desperately need it. Here are a few highlighted Rivalry Games this weekend.
PURDUE (4-3) at ILLINOIS (4-3) 11a - Purdue Cannon
This historic rivalry started back in the early 1900's when a group of Purdue students took a cannon to Champaign in anticipation of firing it to celebrate a Boiler victory.
The Boilermakers won, but the Cannon was discovered before the Purdue students could start their booming celebration. The Cannon was moved to a farmhouse near Milford, Ill., where it survived a fire and gathered dust until it was suggested the cannon be used as a trophy in the football series between the two schools when the rivalry was resumed in 1943 after a 12-year lapse. Purdue holds the series edge 30-26-2, winning the last 5 and 8 out of the last 10. Both teams struggle on offense, especially in the passing game, where both teams are in the bottom 15 in the country. They'll rely on the ground game and defense. Where the Illini have the edge. Each team is coming off blowouts, Illinois over Indiana 43-13 and Purdue in a loss to Ohio State 49-0. The Fighting Illini are are home and will use last week as a momentum to grab back the Purdue Cannon after a 5 year hiatus.ILLINOIS 27-21
FLORIDA (4-3) vs GEORGIA (4-4)in Jacksonville - Okefenokee Oar
Officially the game is titled the Florida vs Georgia Football Classic, but with all the tailgating and other events associated with it, it has also been named the "World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party".
Although this series dates back to 1915, this is only the 2nd year a trophy has been presented to the winner. The Oar was crafted from a 1000-year-old cypress tree that once grew in the Okefenokee Swamp that straddles the Florida-Georgia border. This year's game will feature a rare sight, neither team is ranked at this time. But that will be a moot point as rankings don't mean a thing between these 2 teams. On the field the teams are going in opposite directions. The Bulldogs are gaining steam after starting the year 1-4, they've won their last 3 games, scoring 40 or more points each time against SEC mid-level competition. The Bulldogs have a chance to salvage there season and finish with a trip to a bowl game. They'll take a win over Florida over anything else however. The Gators are heading the other way after losing 3 straight, all to teams that are currently in the top 25 though. If they can right the ship, a win over Georgia sets up a big matchup against SEC West leader South Carolina, the winner of that game could be headed to the SEC championship game. Both teams have a lot at stake, and neither team has a definite advantage. I'll take GEORGIA in a tough game in Jacksonville 27-24
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL (2-4) at FLORIDA ATLANTIC (1-5) 3p - Shula Bowl
The Shula Bowl is named after former Miami Dolphins head coach Don Shula, to whom each school's first head coach has previous ties. FAU's head coach Howard Schnellenberger was an assistant of Shula in the 1970s and FIU's former head coach Don Strock was a player under Shula in the 1970s and 1980s.
Consider this game as a best of the worst matchup. As FAU and FIU are consistently 2 of the worst college football teams in the country. The series has been one-sided with Florida Atlantic holding a 7-1 edge. The Golden Panthers of FIU might have the edge though this year, coming of 2 straight wins (albeit against doormats Western Kentucky and North Texas). The Owls of FAU hold a lone victory against UAB, but did lose by just 13 to now #5 Michigan State earlier this year. Despite the 2-4 record, FIU is tied for first with Troy as the only undefeated Sun Belt teams. They have to hold on to the hope that they can sustain this winning streak and put them into contention for FIU's first ever bowl game. FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL 31-17UPSET SPECIAL
KANSAS STATE (5-2) vs 17 OKLAHOMA STATE (6-1) 11a
These 2 teams have one big thing in common, Nebraska and not because you have to drive through Kansas to get to Nebraska. Both teams got scored on at will by the Cornhuskers giving up atleast 48 points to them. The CW put a lot of faith in Oklahoma State last week, but was burned by a suprisingly pass efficient Taylor Martinez. This week the 3 headed monster of Weeden, Hunter, and Blackmon is down to 2 after Blackmon's DUI cost him from suiting up this week. That puts a big emphasis on Hunter, who's 3rd in the nation and might rise to the challenge and prove he can handle the load if needed. K-State is coming off a close high scoring loss to Baylor, that vaulted the Bears from Waco into the top 25. The Wildcats have average 51 points in their last 3 games, and up until last week, had shown a very stingy defense. With Blackmon out, K State will rush the box more often and force Weeden to find other receivers. The Wildcats are no slouch on offense either, they'll the 7th best rusher in the country in Daniel Thomas to pull off the upset in Manhattan.
KANSAS STATE 42-28
GOPHER WATCH
It was hard to do, but I found something the Gophers do better than the Buckeyes, other than finding ways to lose games. The Gophers are actually ranked 1 spot higher than the Buckeyes at 41st in the nation in pass yards per game 246 to 244. This edge is likely to keep the Gophers in the game until the Buckeyes get off the bus at TCF Stadium.
The Gophers haven't beat Ohio State since the Middle Ages, but in a silver lining, at least theyre not facing the them in the Metrodome, where Ohio State went undefeated against Minnesota. The last time the Gophers beat Ohio State at home, I wasn't even an embryo (1981). After last week's desperate hope post as an upset special vs Penn State, I know much better now.OHIO STATE 42-21
NFL
GREEN BAY (4-3) at NY JETS (5-1) 12p
The battle of the green jerseys takes place on Sunday at the New Meadowlands stadium.
Green Bay takes its show on the road after their big Sunday night win against the Vikings and Brett Favre's last return to Green Bay. At 4-3, the Packers are tied for the best record in the paltry NFC North. Aaron Rodgers is keeping the injured Packers afloat with steady and productive play, but he'll face a tough corner in Darrell Revis this weekend. On the other side, LT is making all the writers and experts rip up their predictions that he was riding into the sunset. He's back to being the man behind the offense, leading a powerful 1-2 punch of Tomlinson and Shonn Greene. With Sanchez offering enough efficiency to get the ball to them, Braylon Edwards, and Dustin Keller, the Jets have a balanced offensive attack. Coming off a bye week, New York is well rested to face a Packers team that played Sunday night and is duct taping their roster together. JETS take this game. 34-24
MINNESOTA (2-4) at NEW ENGLAND (5-1) 3:15p
The magic that was last year for the Minnesota Vikings has seemingly lost its luster. After another long offseason of will he or wont he, Favre came back to much fanfare in Minnesota, but has yet to deliver anything remotely consistent to last year.
The Vikings 2 wins this year come against 1-5 teams, so despite being in the NFC North, where 9-7 could win the division, the panic button should already have been pushed for the Vikings. Add in the fractured ankle that Favre suffered last week, we don't even know if Favre will be playing this week. Either way, I wouldn't bet on the Vikings right now, especially on the road against New England. Trading Randy Moss and Laurence Maroney have only seemed to help the Patriots, despite lacking a true "star" running back or wide receiver. Brady makes up for that though. He's only tossed 4 interceptions all year and consistently hooks up with Welker on 3rd down. PATRIOTS overcome a Viking invasion in New England 28-21
PITTSBURGH (5-1) at NEW ORLEANS (4-3) 7:20p
The battle of the last 2 superbowl champions takes place Sunday night at the defending champion's home stadium, the Superdome. The Steelers are just a minute's worth of time away from being undefeated on the season, despite playing the first 4 games without all-pro Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
The Steelers have gotten the job done they way they always do it, by rushing and defense. Mendenhall has been effective enough to offset back-up QB's Batch and Dixon, and the defense is #1 against the run. The Saints have played good but not great and definitely not consistent, trading wins and losses in the last 6 games. They have gotten it done through the air as expected with gunslinger Drew Brees behind center. Injuries to Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush have hurt the running game, a recent surge by Chris Ivory is positive though. I like Pittsburgh on the road, as they seem to be gelling with Roethlisberger and settling in for another deep post-season run. STEELERS 28-27
Well that's it for now. Have a safe and happy halloween weekend and don't forget to throw out the orange peanuts and never take candy from strangers unless your in a costume.
bsv
the courtesy wave
No comments:
Post a Comment