Took a hit from the last predictions. This thing is anything but easy, you can sift through every statistic and piece of insider info you want, but sometimes a coin flip is just as effective. As it stands through 14 games, the Courtesy Wave is 7-7. Which is better than a lot of experts at SI and ESPN. Below are the next 8 bowl games for today and tomorrow, sit back and enjoy as the days are now filled with college football.
Thursday, December 30th
ARMED FORCES BOWL - Southern Methodist (7-6) vs Army (6-6) 11a in Dallas
Tune in for: Army in a bowl game for the first time in 14 years. Taking a break from Iraq & Afghanistan for a little gridiron action. Also check out the Mustangs 1,000 yard combo WR's Aldrick Robinson (8th) and Cole Beasley (23rd), as well as running back Zach Line and his 1,391 yards (11th), and not to mention Kyle Padron's 3,500 passing yards (11th). This Mustang offense is primed to score.
Shortest Drive: SMU - Located in Dallas in normally would be a short drive anyways, but since TCU (the host stadium) is renovated their park, SMU will host the Armed Forces Bowl this year and the next. Meaning its a home game for the Mustangs. Which doesn't immediately mean game over (see Hawaii), but is none-the-less a HUGE advantage for SMU.
Local Connections: Army - Robert Speidel CB, So. out of Saint Paul.
Courtesy Pick: Army does one thing really good, run the ball, fitting for our country's ground defense arm. At 256 yards/game that's good for 10th in the country. That's about all the good things I can say about Army football. They are dead last in passing at just 82 yards a game. They have beaten no one of significance, with their "best" victory on the road against Kent State (5-7). SMU can't shake its stick much more than Army, but they do hold 2 wins against bowl teams Tulsa & East Carolina. Playing at home with that offense, it'll be a tough day for our nation's defender's on the ground.
SOUTHERN METHODIST 27-14
PINSTRIPE BOWL - Syracuse (7-5) vs Kansas State (7-5) 2:20p in New York City
Tune in for: Football at Yankee Stadium. It's been done before, but worth checking out, if not for the novelty, than for 2 top tier backs in Kansas State's Daniel Thomas, 1,495 yards (10th) and Syracuse's Delone Carter, 1,035 yards (37th).
Shortest Drive: Syracuse. Now K-State is located in Manhattan, but not the big Apple one. Too bad, they would just have a short cab ride north. The Orange will take a 4 hour bus ride south to the Bronx and hope to enjoy a little home state cookin.
Local Connections: Kansas State - Ben Kall FB, So. out of Rochester.
Courtesy Pick: For the Wildcats, aside from a win over C-USA's UCF (10-3), Kansas State has no other wins of note, finishing 2-4 including a squeaker of a win against lowly North Texas (49-41). Syracuse can't say much more finishing 1-3, with a close win against a bad Rutgers team. Kansas State had a much tougher schedule, but one thing Syracuse did well was win on the road, never an easy task, going 5-1 away from Syracuse.
SYRACUSE 21-17
MUSIC CITY BOWL - North Carolina (7-5) vs Tennessee (6-6) 5:40p in Nashville
Tune in for: The game that should've been played earlier this season, but Tennessee paid North Carolina NOT to play them. Also tune in to catch two teams that not only border each other's states, but also carry pastel uniform colors orange and powder blue.
Shortest Drive: Tennessee - Vols fans will have a short 3 hour trip west on I-40. UNC will be coming via I-40 as well, but at 8 hours, more than double Tennessee's bus ride.
Local Connections: None
Courtesy Pick: Tennessee was 2-6 on November 5th, all but out of any bowl game before finishing with a 4 game win streak. A nice effort, but only 1 of those wins came against a bowl team and that was at home vs Kentucky (6-6). North Carolina won't have the home state advantage, but 4 of their 7 wins came on the road, including at a 24th ranked Florida State on November 6th.
NORTH CAROLINA 27-24
HOLIDAY BOWL - #18 Nebraska (10-3) vs Washington (6-6) 9p in San Diego
Tune in for: Huskies vs Huskers....A potential beatdown or an inspired revenge game. This is the 2nd meeting between the 2 teams this year. The first game, at Washington September 18th turned into a Huskie nightmare losing 56-21. Also try to keep your eyes on Nebraska's QB/RB rushing tandem of Roy Helu Jr. and Taylor Martinez who are averaging 6.8 and 6.4 yards per attempt respectively.
Shortest Drive: Washington, but consider the ozone first. If you're looking to travel by car, it'll be a 21 hour jaunt from Seattle. Slightly better than the 24 hour endeavor from Lincoln, NE.
Local Connections: Nebraska - Tobi Okuyemi DE, FR out of Maple Grove.
Courtesy Pick: You might be wondering how a 6-6 team gets matched up with a 10-3 foe. But if you look at Washington's schedule you'll see why. The Huskies played the 2nd toughest schedule in the country this year, their 6 losses coming to teams combined with a 53-21 record including top 5 teams Stanford & Oregon. But Nebraska is a formidable foe. Nebraska's 3 losses come via Texas, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma, all by 7 points or less. A top 10 rushing offense and top 10 overall defense should provide enough to get past the Huskies twice this year.
NEBRASKA 32-22
Friday, December 31st
MEINEKE CAR CARE BOWL - South Florida (7-5) vs Clemson (6-6) 11a in Charlotte
Tune in for: The best pass rusher in the nation, Clemson DE Da'Quan Bowers, who leads the nation is sacks with 15.5 and is naturally tops in yards lossed with -112. Bowers leads a top 10 defense which is why Clemson stays in games since they have nothing to write home about on their offense.
Shortest Drive: Clemson. Just a quick 2 hour drive to Charlotte for Tigers fans, should give an edge, that is, unless 6-6 doesn't warrant a road trip.
Local Connections: Clemson - Bryce McNeal FR, WR out of Breck in Minneapolis. McNeal has played in 11 games and is used sparingly as a wideout, with 19 receptions, he's 6th on the team.
Courtesy Pick: Clemson is marred by inconsistency. They played a tough schedule and we're not able to pull out the big win they desperately needed. A win against then #25 NC State at home 14-13 on Nov. 6th was the biggest of the season. Needless to say, their defense only carries them so far. The Bulls of South Florida have played a little more consistently, that is to say that they've played close games and won a few too finishing 4-2 on the season. However, they have no wins against top 25 teams and their signature victories come over 7 win teams, Louisville & Miami. The Bulls lack a big offensive weapon, which should play into Bowers and the Tigers hands.
CLEMSON 24-23
SUN BOWL - Notre Dame (7-5) vs Miami (7-5) 1p in El Paso
Tune in for: Historical matchup of the Bowl season. These programs are two of the most decorated in all of college football. Combined these teams hold 30 National Championships (consensus and retroactive). Nostalgia aside, these two teams represent the underachieving division. Loads of talent garnered by the name on the jersey, but lack of direction and leadership keep these teams from higher glory.
Shortest Drive: Notre Dame. But neither team will be taking the bus. In fact, this is the only bowl game where both teams have more than a 24 hour trip by car. Notre Dame comes in at 26, Miami at 31. Might want to check flights first. I wouldn't leave Miami for El Paso, but Indiana in the winter could use an El Paso break (just don't cross over the border).
Local Connections: These teams have taken 2 of the best players to come out of Minnesota High School Football. Notre Dame - Michael Floyd WR, Jr Cretin Derham Hall. Floyd spurned the Gophers and headed to South Bend, where he's become the next Larry Fitzgerald, an NFL star in waiting. His numbers aren't staggering, but his size and athletic ability have scouts drooling, enough so that he's considering skipping his senior season for the cash. Miami - Seantrel Henderson. Not only was Henderson the MN player of the year in 2009, he was the USA Today player of the year and consensus #1 player in the nation. He's been compared to as a combination of Jonathon Ogden and Orland Pace. I can see why the Gophers couldn't get him.
Courtesy Pick: Of the Hurricanes 5 losses, 4 came to bowl teams, including Ohio State, Florida State, and Virginia Tech. They also have a 4-2 record away from home. The Fighting Irish have won 3 in a row to salvage a lost season, all against teams with .500 or better records (Utah, Army, & USC). The Hurricanes are also in the middle of a coaching change, whereas Notre Dame might be figuring things out.
NOTRE DAME 27-21
LIBERTY BOWL - #25 Central Florida (10-3) vs Georgia (6-6) 2:30p in Memphis
Tune in for: A battle. Take the records out of the picture, Georgia's strength of schedule this year was 35th, compared to UCF's 108th. Switch schedules and Georgia could easily be 10-3 or better. But here they are and they'll make the best of it. The Bulldogs are in a bowl game, but if they lose it'll be the first time in 14 years that Georgia would have a losing record. Also take note on Jeffrey Godfrey, UCF's QB who can run it in just as much as pass it. Godfrey has at least 2 touchdowns a game rushing or passing in 6 of the last 7.
Shortest Drive: Georgia. A 7 hour trip west is much more doable than the 14 hour jaunt from Orlando.
Local Connections: None
Courtesy Pick: A quick glance at UCF's schedule and its easy to see one thing, nothing. They have no wins of note, and have only 1 win on the season versus a team with a winning record and that's 7-6 Southern Methodist (who could lose and finish at .500). Georgia, however, has finished the season nicely after starting 1-4. Their 2 losses in the last 5, an OT loss to Florida at a neutral site and a loss on the road against National Championship contender Auburn. Put the records aside, and look at the guts, it's not always a cut and dry story.
GEORGIA 34-27
CHICK-FIL-A BOWL - #20 South Carolina (9-4) vs #23 Florida State (9-4)
6:30p Atlanta
Tune in for: Steve Spurrier taking on Florida State in a flashback to his Florida days. Spurrier has super wideout Alshon Jeffrey and his 1,387 yards at his disposal too (good for 4th in the nation). Not to mention Marcus Lattimore's 1,198 yards rushing (22nd). A good old fashioned southern brawl is worth tuning in for regardless.
Shortest Drive: South Carolina. Slight edge to the gamecocks who have a 4 hour trip, just a 1 hour difference from Florida State's 5 hour ride.
Local Connections: None
Courtesy Pick: South Carolina is one of the few teams ever to face two #1 ranked teams in the same season. Beating Alabama on Oct. 9th 35-21 and getting crushed by Auburn 56-17 in their last game (Dec. 4th). The Gamecocks have had a tough schedule and rose to the occasion several times, picking up 7 of their 9 wins against bowl teams. Florida State is hoping the 3rd time's a charm in beating a Carolina team. The Seminoles lost consecutive games to North Carolina and North Carolina State before picking up 3 wins (all against bowl teams) in their last 4. This figures to be a battle and a tough call to make.
SOUTH CAROLINA 32-31
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Going Bowling December 28th & 29th
9 down, 26 to go. As it stands, the Courtesy Wave is 5-4 on Bowl predictions, just enough to keep me going! Get ready for the whirlwind...the first 10 days of the bowl season brought 9 games, the next 5 days will have 19 bowl games! We'll keep the same format here to give you a different flavor than the rest of the sports world. Short and concise with enough info to be dangerous.
Tuesday, December 28th
CHAMPS SPORTS BOWL - #22 West Virginia (9-3) vs North Carolina State (8-4) 5:30p Orlando
Tune in for: The Big East's best non-BCS team versus the best QB in the nation under 6 feet tall (NC State's Russell Wilson). Wilson is 16th in the nation in passing yards and averages 307 yards per game in overall offense (yeah he's mobile). He'll be facing one of the nation's best defenses in West Virginia, who are 3rd in yards allowed and 2nd in points allowed.
Shortest Drive: NC State. Another one of those long hauls by both fans. However, the drive from Raleigh is about 5 hours shorter at 10 hours for the trip.
Local Connections: None.
Courtesy Pick: The Mountaineers are on a 4 game winning streak against decent Big East competition, albeit not tough, they did win those 4 games decidedly. The Wolfpack are coming off a tough close loss at Maryland but they can claim something West Virginia cannot, a win against a ranked team this year. NC State beat then #16 Florida State on October 28th, whereas West Virginia's greatest victory comes against that same Maryland team, who finished 8-4. It's a tough call and should be a close game, if West Virginia's defense lives up to there calling, that could be the difference.
WEST VIRGINIA 27-21
INSIGHT BOWL - #12 Missouri (10-2) vs Iowa (7-5) 9p in Tempe, AZ
Tune in For: The crushed dreams bowl. Both teams are very talented and both have suffered heartbreaking losses that defined their season. Don't be fooled by Iowa's record, after 6 weeks, they were 5-1 and very much in the Rose Bowl discussion. They finished 2-4 and put a stamp on their disappointing, underachieving season by losing to the lowly Minnesota Golden Gophers, a team that had lost to nearly everyone including South Dakota earlier in the year (sorry, had to bring it up). Missouri, on the other hand, was 7-0 and fresh off a victory against then #1 Oklahoma when they marched into Nebraska and fell flat on their face against the Cornhuskers. With a chance to redeem themselves the next week against Texas Tech, they again failed to rise to the occasion. The Tigers finished off the season with 3 straight wins, but the damage was already done and a BCS game out of the picture.
Shortest Drive: Long trips on either end, the slight edge goes to Missouri who's fans only have to travel 23 hours, as opposed to Iowa's 26 hour plight.
Local Connections: Iowa - Broderick Binns DE, Junior, Cretin Derham Hall. Binns is one of the top DE's in the Big Ten, no surprise coming out of CDH. Karl Klug DT, Senior, Caledonia. Klug will be watched heavily by NFL scouts as he is widely considered a 1st or 2nd round draft pick.
Courtesy Pick: If you go by records, its an easy pick, however if we look at Iowa closer, you'll see that all 5 losses are by 7 points of less. They were in every game until the final tick. However, Missouri's 2 losses weren't blowouts either (lost by 14 & 7), and they beat 6 bowl teams to Iowa's 3. Winning close games is more crucial.
MISSOURI 30-29
Wednesday, December 29th
MILITARY BOWL - Maryland (8-4) vs East Carolina (6-6) 1:30p in Washington DC
Tune in for: Dominique Davis, the QB from East Carolina. Davis finished 4th in the nation in passing and tied for 1st in passing TDs (36). He's going to have to pass like a madman again as the Pirates rank 2nd to last in points allowed at 43/game.
Shortest Drive: Maryland. East Carolina fans can rejoice in a doable 5 hour trip to DC, but Maryland wins hands down with a 10 mile skip and a jump to RFK stadium. The Terrapins will easily have the home-field crowd advantage.
Local Connections: None
Courtesy Pick: Maryland is coming into the game after a 4-2 push to finish the season, including a big win over then #22 North Carolina State. The Pirates, however, are limping in on their wooden leg having finish 2-4 after their promising start. In their last 5 games, East Carolina has given up an average of 55 points. Only a win over 4-8 UAB saved them from a 5 game losing streak.
MARYLAND 43-38
TEXAS BOWL - Baylor (7-5) vs Illinois (6-6) 5p in Houston
Tune in for: The first Bowl game for Baylor in 16 years. Plus two 1,000 yard rushers and top 30 backs in the country in Mikel Leshoure, Illinois (9th) and Jay Finley, Baylor (29th).
Shortest Drive: Baylor. Another hands down win, although still a little jaunt, but only a 4 hour drive for the Baylor Bears, whereas Illini fans will have to take a 16 hour trip.
Local Connections: Illinois - Fritz Rock (awesome name), Fr. CB from Wayzata.
Courtesy Pick: When you think about the 2 teams, think Baylor = Balance and Illinois = Inconsistency. Baylor is not only solid in the run, they have a remarkable QB in Robert Griffin III, the 17th best passer in the nation. So if the running game is stopped, they have options. Whereas Illinois has the 13th best rushing game (242 yards/game), but the 5th worst passing (143 yards/game). Baylor may be limping, losing their last 3, but those came against Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma, all ranked teams. Illinois finished 1-3, not much better and they lost at home to Minnesota, a notably horrendous team this year.
BAYLOR 32-21
ALAMO BOWL - #14 Oklahoma State (10-2) vs Arizona (7-5) 8:15p in San Antonio
Tune in for: Oklahoma State's 3 headed offensive monster. The Cowboys are led by gunslinger Brandon Weeden's 4,037 passing yards (3rd in the nation), Kendall Hunter's 1,516 rushing yards (7th), and Justin Blackmon's 1,665 receiving yards (2nd). If that's not enough, their kicker, Dan Bailey leads the nation in scoring with 137 points.
Shortest Drive: Oklahoma State. A 9 hour trip down I35 doesn't sound very fun, but a 16 hour jaunt awaits Arizona fans.
Local Connections: Arizona - Derek Earls LB, Jr. from Waconia. Earls is a JuCo transfer from NDSU, who's done fairly well for the Wildcats. Willie Mobley DT, So. from Eden Prairie. Another JuCo transfer, Mobley has brought depth and raw power to the the D-Line.
Courtesy Pick: Oklahoma state scored 41 points in each of their 2 tough losses against #16 Nebraska (51-41) and #13 Oklahoma (47-41). That's what separates the Cowboys from a BCS bowl. Arizona on the other hand, lost their last 4 games after starting the season 7-1. Their defense will have to show up in a very big way to reverse there current trend.
OKLAHOMA STATE 45-22
Happy watching and look for my previews of the 8 Bowl games on the 30th & 31st coming soon!
bsv
the Courtesy Wave
Tuesday, December 28th
CHAMPS SPORTS BOWL - #22 West Virginia (9-3) vs North Carolina State (8-4) 5:30p Orlando
Tune in for: The Big East's best non-BCS team versus the best QB in the nation under 6 feet tall (NC State's Russell Wilson). Wilson is 16th in the nation in passing yards and averages 307 yards per game in overall offense (yeah he's mobile). He'll be facing one of the nation's best defenses in West Virginia, who are 3rd in yards allowed and 2nd in points allowed.
Shortest Drive: NC State. Another one of those long hauls by both fans. However, the drive from Raleigh is about 5 hours shorter at 10 hours for the trip.
Local Connections: None.
Courtesy Pick: The Mountaineers are on a 4 game winning streak against decent Big East competition, albeit not tough, they did win those 4 games decidedly. The Wolfpack are coming off a tough close loss at Maryland but they can claim something West Virginia cannot, a win against a ranked team this year. NC State beat then #16 Florida State on October 28th, whereas West Virginia's greatest victory comes against that same Maryland team, who finished 8-4. It's a tough call and should be a close game, if West Virginia's defense lives up to there calling, that could be the difference.
WEST VIRGINIA 27-21
INSIGHT BOWL - #12 Missouri (10-2) vs Iowa (7-5) 9p in Tempe, AZ
Tune in For: The crushed dreams bowl. Both teams are very talented and both have suffered heartbreaking losses that defined their season. Don't be fooled by Iowa's record, after 6 weeks, they were 5-1 and very much in the Rose Bowl discussion. They finished 2-4 and put a stamp on their disappointing, underachieving season by losing to the lowly Minnesota Golden Gophers, a team that had lost to nearly everyone including South Dakota earlier in the year (sorry, had to bring it up). Missouri, on the other hand, was 7-0 and fresh off a victory against then #1 Oklahoma when they marched into Nebraska and fell flat on their face against the Cornhuskers. With a chance to redeem themselves the next week against Texas Tech, they again failed to rise to the occasion. The Tigers finished off the season with 3 straight wins, but the damage was already done and a BCS game out of the picture.
Shortest Drive: Long trips on either end, the slight edge goes to Missouri who's fans only have to travel 23 hours, as opposed to Iowa's 26 hour plight.
Local Connections: Iowa - Broderick Binns DE, Junior, Cretin Derham Hall. Binns is one of the top DE's in the Big Ten, no surprise coming out of CDH. Karl Klug DT, Senior, Caledonia. Klug will be watched heavily by NFL scouts as he is widely considered a 1st or 2nd round draft pick.
Courtesy Pick: If you go by records, its an easy pick, however if we look at Iowa closer, you'll see that all 5 losses are by 7 points of less. They were in every game until the final tick. However, Missouri's 2 losses weren't blowouts either (lost by 14 & 7), and they beat 6 bowl teams to Iowa's 3. Winning close games is more crucial.
MISSOURI 30-29
Wednesday, December 29th
MILITARY BOWL - Maryland (8-4) vs East Carolina (6-6) 1:30p in Washington DC
Tune in for: Dominique Davis, the QB from East Carolina. Davis finished 4th in the nation in passing and tied for 1st in passing TDs (36). He's going to have to pass like a madman again as the Pirates rank 2nd to last in points allowed at 43/game.
Shortest Drive: Maryland. East Carolina fans can rejoice in a doable 5 hour trip to DC, but Maryland wins hands down with a 10 mile skip and a jump to RFK stadium. The Terrapins will easily have the home-field crowd advantage.
Local Connections: None
Courtesy Pick: Maryland is coming into the game after a 4-2 push to finish the season, including a big win over then #22 North Carolina State. The Pirates, however, are limping in on their wooden leg having finish 2-4 after their promising start. In their last 5 games, East Carolina has given up an average of 55 points. Only a win over 4-8 UAB saved them from a 5 game losing streak.
MARYLAND 43-38
TEXAS BOWL - Baylor (7-5) vs Illinois (6-6) 5p in Houston
Tune in for: The first Bowl game for Baylor in 16 years. Plus two 1,000 yard rushers and top 30 backs in the country in Mikel Leshoure, Illinois (9th) and Jay Finley, Baylor (29th).
Shortest Drive: Baylor. Another hands down win, although still a little jaunt, but only a 4 hour drive for the Baylor Bears, whereas Illini fans will have to take a 16 hour trip.
Local Connections: Illinois - Fritz Rock (awesome name), Fr. CB from Wayzata.
Courtesy Pick: When you think about the 2 teams, think Baylor = Balance and Illinois = Inconsistency. Baylor is not only solid in the run, they have a remarkable QB in Robert Griffin III, the 17th best passer in the nation. So if the running game is stopped, they have options. Whereas Illinois has the 13th best rushing game (242 yards/game), but the 5th worst passing (143 yards/game). Baylor may be limping, losing their last 3, but those came against Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma, all ranked teams. Illinois finished 1-3, not much better and they lost at home to Minnesota, a notably horrendous team this year.
BAYLOR 32-21
ALAMO BOWL - #14 Oklahoma State (10-2) vs Arizona (7-5) 8:15p in San Antonio
Tune in for: Oklahoma State's 3 headed offensive monster. The Cowboys are led by gunslinger Brandon Weeden's 4,037 passing yards (3rd in the nation), Kendall Hunter's 1,516 rushing yards (7th), and Justin Blackmon's 1,665 receiving yards (2nd). If that's not enough, their kicker, Dan Bailey leads the nation in scoring with 137 points.
Shortest Drive: Oklahoma State. A 9 hour trip down I35 doesn't sound very fun, but a 16 hour jaunt awaits Arizona fans.
Local Connections: Arizona - Derek Earls LB, Jr. from Waconia. Earls is a JuCo transfer from NDSU, who's done fairly well for the Wildcats. Willie Mobley DT, So. from Eden Prairie. Another JuCo transfer, Mobley has brought depth and raw power to the the D-Line.
Courtesy Pick: Oklahoma state scored 41 points in each of their 2 tough losses against #16 Nebraska (51-41) and #13 Oklahoma (47-41). That's what separates the Cowboys from a BCS bowl. Arizona on the other hand, lost their last 4 games after starting the season 7-1. Their defense will have to show up in a very big way to reverse there current trend.
OKLAHOMA STATE 45-22
Happy watching and look for my previews of the 8 Bowl games on the 30th & 31st coming soon!
bsv
the Courtesy Wave
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Going Bowling December 22nd - 27th
Its all even steven at the Courtesy Wave after the first 4 bowls as my picks garnered a 2-2 record. It's early and there are several bowls to go and if the end result is a .500 record, well then I'd take it, just enough to stay afloat and maintain my "expert commentary" status.
Without further ado, lets keep bowling with today's game.
Wednesday, December 22nd
LAS VEGAS BOWL - 10 Boise State (11-1) vs. 19 Utah (10-2) 7p in Las Vegas
Tune in for: Quite possibly the best non-BCS matchup. These two teams represent the class of the WAC and MWC for the past decade. Both teams have fought vigourously for respect among the nation's elite programs despite playing in non-power conferences. However with the Big East crumbling and more parity in college football, these 2 teams likely could hold a candle in any power conference. This will be a swan song for each team as Boise State heads to the MWC and Utah to the PAC 10 next year.
Shortest Drive: Utah - Neither team is really close, but the drive from Salt Lake City is 4 hours less than from Boise (7 over 11 hours). However, it's likely Utah has a bunch of fans all over the state as the de facto state team and it's only a 2 hour drive to the Vegas from the border.
Local Connections: Boise State - Matt Slater is a senior Offensive Tackle and starter out of Cretin Derham Hall. At 290 he's not huge by offensive line standards, but he's quick and agile, a big plus for an offense like Boise State's.
Courtesy Pick: Boise State is a 3 point overtime loss on the road against #15 Nevada away from being in TCU's position and a BCS bowl game. Their 31 points in that game was the lowest scored on the season for an offense ranked 2nd in the country in points scored. Utah was 8-0 heading into their highly anticipated matchup with fellow undefeated TCU. They were utterly destroyed in that game 47-7, then embarrased the following week to a weak Notre Dame team 28-3. They rebounded, albeit not impressively with close wins over San Diego State (38-34) and BYU (17-16). Boise State rebounded much better demolishing Utah State 50-14. That and Heisman candidate Kellen Moore and not to mention a top 5 defense should push the Broncos past the Utes.
BOISE STATE 42-21
Thursday, December 23rd
POINSETTIA BOWL - Navy (9-3) vs San Diego State (8-4) 7p in San Diego
Tune in for: A great battle between 2 evenly matched teams as they were only .12 away from each other in the Sagarin ratings, SDSU 44th and Navy 46th. Furthermore both teams have huge area ties as the Naval Base Point Loma holds 22,000 Navy and civilian personal, giving Navy a home away from home (Annapolis, MD).
Shortest Drive: San Diego State. Naval Base aside, this is the Aztec's backyard, almost literally, San Diego State will have a 3 mile bus ride to the stadium. Fans can take a nice leisurely walk if they want. If Navy didn't have their base, this would be a huge advantage, but as it is, it's still a big swing for SDSU.
Local Connections: None
Courtesy Pick: It's a matchup of two teams who score nearly the same amount of points each game (31-35), but go about it 2 very different ways. Navy's 289 yards/game rushing attack easily double's their pass offense (118 yards/game). Whereas San Diego State's passing game (297 yards/game) nearly doubles their ground game (152 yards/game). The Aztec's WR's Vincent Brown and DeMarco Sampson are 8th and 10th in the country in receiving yards, which actually ranks them 2nd behind Hawaii's amazing 1st and 6th best WR in the nation. (I'll touch on that below)
SAN DIEGO STATE: 35-31
Friday, December 24th
HAWAII BOWL - 24 Hawaii (10-3) vs Tulsa (9-3) 7p in Honolulu
Tune in for: A passing frenzy! The Warriors of Hawaii are #1 in all of college football with a whopping 388 yards/game. QB Bryant Moniz leads the nation with 4,629 yards, just another great passer from Hawaii, following in the recent footsteps of Timmy Chang and Colt Brennan. The Warriors don't run a lot, but they do have a 1,000 yard rusher in Alex Green (26th in nation).
Shortest Drive: Hawaii - And you thought San Diego had a short trip. The Warriors actually have no trip, they will play on campus because of the Hawaii guarantee. If Hawaii is bowl eligible and not BCS eligible, they are guaranteed one of the 2 bowl spots. The Golden Hurricane will have a much longer trip. Actually if you Google map the trip between Tulsa and Honolulu, it'll only take you 16 days, that includes Kayaking for 2,750 miles. No really, try it yourself.
Local Connections: None
Courtesy Pick: Tulsa may not be as flashy as Hawaii, but they are consistent. They like to spread the ball around and have a top 20 offense in both the air and on the ground. Neither team has had a daunting schedule, but Hawaii can claim Nevada's only loss this season and since starting the season 1-2, the Warriors have gone 9-1. That and the obvious home field advantage play well into the hands of Hawaii.
HAWAII 42-31
Sunday, December 26th
LITTLE CAESAR'S BOWL-Toledo (8-4) vs. Florida International (6-6) 7:30p Detroit
Tune in for: The only bowl game on the 26th! It's Sunday and if you want a break from the NFL because your team (Vikings) are completely out of it, tune in to watch 2 teams fight for it in the Pizza Bowl. Actually, for these 2 teams, any Bowl game is special and a chance to win a trophy will be huge motivation for teams that get little to no attention or press all year (especially FIU).
Shortest Drive: Toledo. Figuratively by a mile. The Rockets will have a huge home advantage being only an hour away from their campus, whereas the Golden Panthers of FIU will be traveling by plane unless they want to sit in a bus for 23 hours.
Local Connections: None
Courtesy Pick: The MAC may not be a power conference, but when compared to the Sun Belt, it might as well be. The Sun Belt is by far the worst conference in FBS College Football, so winning it, as FIU did, isn't necessarily a big feat. However, it is for FIU which is playing in its first ever Bowl game. They should also get some credit for playing their first 4 games (all losses) against Rutgers, Texas A&M, Maryland, and Pittsburgh. Toledo did win on the road against Purdue, a tough thing to do regardless of Purdue's 4-8 record. The numbers aren't as far off as you think, but its tough to put a Sun Belt team on top.
TOLEDO 28-27
Monday, December 27th
INDEPENDENCE BOWL - Air Force (8-4) vs Georgia Tech (6-6) 4p in Shreveport, LA
Tune in for: AKA the Rushing/Ground Game Bowl! The #1 and #2 rushing attacks in the country face off in this game. Georgia Tech covers 327 yards/game on the ground and Air Force goes for 318/game. Usually when teams are so heavy in one facet they don't carry a tune in the other. Such is the case here too as these teams *combine* to average 207 yards per game and Georgia Tech is a pitiful 88 yards of that. The Yellow Jackets QB Josh Nesbitt actually ran for more yards than he passed this year (737 rush, 674 pass).
Shortest Drive: Georgia Tech - Neither team has much of an advantage. Air Force is out of Colorado Springs, but really they have bases all over the place and its hard rooting against the military (or is it?). The Yellow Jackets fans have a 10 hour plight from Atlanta, more doable (16 hrs from CO) but it'll take a lot of coffee and gumbo.
Local Connections: Air Force - Alex Means LB, Sophomore, Mankato. Wally Wykstrom (awesome name) DT, Senior, Saint Paul. Eric Soderberg WR, Junior, Eden Prairie.
Courtesy Pick: Georgia Tech is reeling having lost 4 of 5 with the one win against lowly Duke. In fact the Yellow Jackets cannot claim one of their wins against a team going to a bowl game. Air Force, however, can claim victories over bowl teams BYU, Navy, and Army. If they beat Air Force, they can pull off the military trifecta, beating all 3 military service teams (the Coast Guard and Salvation Army don't have teams).
AIR FORCE 32-28
Without further ado, lets keep bowling with today's game.
Wednesday, December 22nd
LAS VEGAS BOWL - 10 Boise State (11-1) vs. 19 Utah (10-2) 7p in Las Vegas
Tune in for: Quite possibly the best non-BCS matchup. These two teams represent the class of the WAC and MWC for the past decade. Both teams have fought vigourously for respect among the nation's elite programs despite playing in non-power conferences. However with the Big East crumbling and more parity in college football, these 2 teams likely could hold a candle in any power conference. This will be a swan song for each team as Boise State heads to the MWC and Utah to the PAC 10 next year.
Shortest Drive: Utah - Neither team is really close, but the drive from Salt Lake City is 4 hours less than from Boise (7 over 11 hours). However, it's likely Utah has a bunch of fans all over the state as the de facto state team and it's only a 2 hour drive to the Vegas from the border.
Local Connections: Boise State - Matt Slater is a senior Offensive Tackle and starter out of Cretin Derham Hall. At 290 he's not huge by offensive line standards, but he's quick and agile, a big plus for an offense like Boise State's.
Courtesy Pick: Boise State is a 3 point overtime loss on the road against #15 Nevada away from being in TCU's position and a BCS bowl game. Their 31 points in that game was the lowest scored on the season for an offense ranked 2nd in the country in points scored. Utah was 8-0 heading into their highly anticipated matchup with fellow undefeated TCU. They were utterly destroyed in that game 47-7, then embarrased the following week to a weak Notre Dame team 28-3. They rebounded, albeit not impressively with close wins over San Diego State (38-34) and BYU (17-16). Boise State rebounded much better demolishing Utah State 50-14. That and Heisman candidate Kellen Moore and not to mention a top 5 defense should push the Broncos past the Utes.
BOISE STATE 42-21
Thursday, December 23rd
POINSETTIA BOWL - Navy (9-3) vs San Diego State (8-4) 7p in San Diego
Tune in for: A great battle between 2 evenly matched teams as they were only .12 away from each other in the Sagarin ratings, SDSU 44th and Navy 46th. Furthermore both teams have huge area ties as the Naval Base Point Loma holds 22,000 Navy and civilian personal, giving Navy a home away from home (Annapolis, MD).
Shortest Drive: San Diego State. Naval Base aside, this is the Aztec's backyard, almost literally, San Diego State will have a 3 mile bus ride to the stadium. Fans can take a nice leisurely walk if they want. If Navy didn't have their base, this would be a huge advantage, but as it is, it's still a big swing for SDSU.
Local Connections: None
Courtesy Pick: It's a matchup of two teams who score nearly the same amount of points each game (31-35), but go about it 2 very different ways. Navy's 289 yards/game rushing attack easily double's their pass offense (118 yards/game). Whereas San Diego State's passing game (297 yards/game) nearly doubles their ground game (152 yards/game). The Aztec's WR's Vincent Brown and DeMarco Sampson are 8th and 10th in the country in receiving yards, which actually ranks them 2nd behind Hawaii's amazing 1st and 6th best WR in the nation. (I'll touch on that below)
SAN DIEGO STATE: 35-31
Friday, December 24th
HAWAII BOWL - 24 Hawaii (10-3) vs Tulsa (9-3) 7p in Honolulu
Tune in for: A passing frenzy! The Warriors of Hawaii are #1 in all of college football with a whopping 388 yards/game. QB Bryant Moniz leads the nation with 4,629 yards, just another great passer from Hawaii, following in the recent footsteps of Timmy Chang and Colt Brennan. The Warriors don't run a lot, but they do have a 1,000 yard rusher in Alex Green (26th in nation).
Shortest Drive: Hawaii - And you thought San Diego had a short trip. The Warriors actually have no trip, they will play on campus because of the Hawaii guarantee. If Hawaii is bowl eligible and not BCS eligible, they are guaranteed one of the 2 bowl spots. The Golden Hurricane will have a much longer trip. Actually if you Google map the trip between Tulsa and Honolulu, it'll only take you 16 days, that includes Kayaking for 2,750 miles. No really, try it yourself.
Local Connections: None
Courtesy Pick: Tulsa may not be as flashy as Hawaii, but they are consistent. They like to spread the ball around and have a top 20 offense in both the air and on the ground. Neither team has had a daunting schedule, but Hawaii can claim Nevada's only loss this season and since starting the season 1-2, the Warriors have gone 9-1. That and the obvious home field advantage play well into the hands of Hawaii.
HAWAII 42-31
Sunday, December 26th
LITTLE CAESAR'S BOWL-Toledo (8-4) vs. Florida International (6-6) 7:30p Detroit
Tune in for: The only bowl game on the 26th! It's Sunday and if you want a break from the NFL because your team (Vikings) are completely out of it, tune in to watch 2 teams fight for it in the Pizza Bowl. Actually, for these 2 teams, any Bowl game is special and a chance to win a trophy will be huge motivation for teams that get little to no attention or press all year (especially FIU).
Shortest Drive: Toledo. Figuratively by a mile. The Rockets will have a huge home advantage being only an hour away from their campus, whereas the Golden Panthers of FIU will be traveling by plane unless they want to sit in a bus for 23 hours.
Local Connections: None
Courtesy Pick: The MAC may not be a power conference, but when compared to the Sun Belt, it might as well be. The Sun Belt is by far the worst conference in FBS College Football, so winning it, as FIU did, isn't necessarily a big feat. However, it is for FIU which is playing in its first ever Bowl game. They should also get some credit for playing their first 4 games (all losses) against Rutgers, Texas A&M, Maryland, and Pittsburgh. Toledo did win on the road against Purdue, a tough thing to do regardless of Purdue's 4-8 record. The numbers aren't as far off as you think, but its tough to put a Sun Belt team on top.
TOLEDO 28-27
Monday, December 27th
INDEPENDENCE BOWL - Air Force (8-4) vs Georgia Tech (6-6) 4p in Shreveport, LA
Tune in for: AKA the Rushing/Ground Game Bowl! The #1 and #2 rushing attacks in the country face off in this game. Georgia Tech covers 327 yards/game on the ground and Air Force goes for 318/game. Usually when teams are so heavy in one facet they don't carry a tune in the other. Such is the case here too as these teams *combine* to average 207 yards per game and Georgia Tech is a pitiful 88 yards of that. The Yellow Jackets QB Josh Nesbitt actually ran for more yards than he passed this year (737 rush, 674 pass).
Shortest Drive: Georgia Tech - Neither team has much of an advantage. Air Force is out of Colorado Springs, but really they have bases all over the place and its hard rooting against the military (or is it?). The Yellow Jackets fans have a 10 hour plight from Atlanta, more doable (16 hrs from CO) but it'll take a lot of coffee and gumbo.
Local Connections: Air Force - Alex Means LB, Sophomore, Mankato. Wally Wykstrom (awesome name) DT, Senior, Saint Paul. Eric Soderberg WR, Junior, Eden Prairie.
Courtesy Pick: Georgia Tech is reeling having lost 4 of 5 with the one win against lowly Duke. In fact the Yellow Jackets cannot claim one of their wins against a team going to a bowl game. Air Force, however, can claim victories over bowl teams BYU, Navy, and Army. If they beat Air Force, they can pull off the military trifecta, beating all 3 military service teams (the Coast Guard and Salvation Army don't have teams).
AIR FORCE 32-28
Friday, December 17, 2010
Going Bowling December 18th - 21st
Today marks the start of the College Football Bowl season. The Courtesy Wave has followed, previewed, and picked our way through the College season. Therefore its only fitting to continue on with the Bowl season in hopes that you put all of your faith in our picks. Because there are so many bowls they'll be broken down and picked apart every few days in order to give each their respective spot in the limelight.
Saturday, December 18th
NEW MEXICO BOWL- UTEP (6-6) vs BYU (6-6) 1p in Albuquerque
Tune in for: A battle of .500 teams from smaller conferences won't excite a lot of people, especially a UTEP team losing 5 of their last 6. Unless your a UTEP or BYU alum, this one might be hard to watch, I would tune in just because its the first game of the Bowl season.
Who to watch:
Fan Advantage: UTEP - Only a 4 hour drive away, compared to BYU's 10 hours.
Local Connection: BYU -Reed Hornung, Anoka. Reed is a sophomore and you can find him on the field every time the Cougars are in punt formation, he's the long snapper.
Courtesy Pick: When you compare the two schedules of these teams side by side, there's no question BYU has played a tougher schedule and their 6-6 record is a lot better than the Miners 6-6 who could only muster a 3-5 record in Conference USA. BYU 27-24
HUMANITARIAN BOWL - Northern Illinois (10-3) vs Fresno State (8-4) 4:30p in Boise
Tune in for: A dogfight, literally. The Huskies of UNI face the Bulldogs of Fresno. The Bulldogs definitely had the tougher schedule, but came up short in every big game matchup. The Huskies are coming off a tough MAC championship game loss to Miami (OH) and will be playing without most of its coaches, as Jerry Kill and his staff are already in place at Minnesota.
Fan Advantage: Fresno State - Not really though, by car it'll take you 13 hours still from Fresno (25 hours from DeKalb). Can't imagine flying into Boise will be cheap, so its more of a toss up.
Local Connections: Northern Illinois - Dan Edem, LB Apple Valley & Trevor Olson, OT Richfield.
Courtesy Pick: Northern Illinois is the hotter team coming in, but its tough to pick them knowing the head of the snake and most of its scales are cut off. The Bulldogs have faced a tougher schedule which at least gives them experience. Plus they have a head coach in this game too. FRESNO STATE 38-30
NEW ORLEANS BOWL - Ohio (8-4) vs Troy (7-5) 8p in New Orleans
Tune in for: The Trojans QB, Corey Robinson is 11th in the nation in passing yards. He's got a wildcat player to toss the rock to in Jerrel Jernigan, who has scored touchdowns this season rushing, receiving, passing and on punt and kickoff returns.
Fan Advantage: Troy - A doable 5.5 hour trip from Troy, AL. If you're headed from Athens, OH, then pack a bunch of snacks for your 16 hour trip.
Local Connections: None
Courtesy Pick: These 2 teams have beaten virtually no one worthy of noting. Troy seems to take annual trips to New Orleans for this bowl which represents the Sun Belt victor. Experience and a shorter drive might be in their favor. TROY 33-28
Tuesday, December 21st
ST. PETERSBURG BOWL - Southern Miss (8-4) vs Louisville (6-6)
Tune in for: A high powered offense clashing against a high powered defense. Southern Miss is 15th in the nation is scoring, whereas Louisville is 15th in the nation is scoring defense.
Shortest Drive: Southern Miss - But neither fan base has a short drive. Golden Eagle fans still have a 11 hour trek to St. Petersburg as opposed to Cardinal fans 15 hour jaunt.
Local Connections: None
Courtesy Pick: These teams are pretty equally matched. Louisville comes from a tougher conference, although the Big East was way down this year and it could be said that Conference USA was just as good. The Golden Eagles are just a few points away from an 11-1 record, having 3 of their 4 losses by less than 7 points. A more established quarterback is also key. SOUTHERN MISS 38-26
Next 4 Bowl previews: Las Vegas, Poinsietta, Hawaii, Little Caesars...
until then, hedge your bets!
bsv
the courtesy wave
Saturday, December 18th
NEW MEXICO BOWL- UTEP (6-6) vs BYU (6-6) 1p in Albuquerque
Tune in for: A battle of .500 teams from smaller conferences won't excite a lot of people, especially a UTEP team losing 5 of their last 6. Unless your a UTEP or BYU alum, this one might be hard to watch, I would tune in just because its the first game of the Bowl season.
Who to watch:
Fan Advantage: UTEP - Only a 4 hour drive away, compared to BYU's 10 hours.
Local Connection: BYU -Reed Hornung, Anoka. Reed is a sophomore and you can find him on the field every time the Cougars are in punt formation, he's the long snapper.
Courtesy Pick: When you compare the two schedules of these teams side by side, there's no question BYU has played a tougher schedule and their 6-6 record is a lot better than the Miners 6-6 who could only muster a 3-5 record in Conference USA. BYU 27-24
HUMANITARIAN BOWL - Northern Illinois (10-3) vs Fresno State (8-4) 4:30p in Boise
Tune in for: A dogfight, literally. The Huskies of UNI face the Bulldogs of Fresno. The Bulldogs definitely had the tougher schedule, but came up short in every big game matchup. The Huskies are coming off a tough MAC championship game loss to Miami (OH) and will be playing without most of its coaches, as Jerry Kill and his staff are already in place at Minnesota.
Fan Advantage: Fresno State - Not really though, by car it'll take you 13 hours still from Fresno (25 hours from DeKalb). Can't imagine flying into Boise will be cheap, so its more of a toss up.
Local Connections: Northern Illinois - Dan Edem, LB Apple Valley & Trevor Olson, OT Richfield.
Courtesy Pick: Northern Illinois is the hotter team coming in, but its tough to pick them knowing the head of the snake and most of its scales are cut off. The Bulldogs have faced a tougher schedule which at least gives them experience. Plus they have a head coach in this game too. FRESNO STATE 38-30
NEW ORLEANS BOWL - Ohio (8-4) vs Troy (7-5) 8p in New Orleans
Tune in for: The Trojans QB, Corey Robinson is 11th in the nation in passing yards. He's got a wildcat player to toss the rock to in Jerrel Jernigan, who has scored touchdowns this season rushing, receiving, passing and on punt and kickoff returns.
Fan Advantage: Troy - A doable 5.5 hour trip from Troy, AL. If you're headed from Athens, OH, then pack a bunch of snacks for your 16 hour trip.
Local Connections: None
Courtesy Pick: These 2 teams have beaten virtually no one worthy of noting. Troy seems to take annual trips to New Orleans for this bowl which represents the Sun Belt victor. Experience and a shorter drive might be in their favor. TROY 33-28
Tuesday, December 21st
ST. PETERSBURG BOWL - Southern Miss (8-4) vs Louisville (6-6)
Tune in for: A high powered offense clashing against a high powered defense. Southern Miss is 15th in the nation is scoring, whereas Louisville is 15th in the nation is scoring defense.
Shortest Drive: Southern Miss - But neither fan base has a short drive. Golden Eagle fans still have a 11 hour trek to St. Petersburg as opposed to Cardinal fans 15 hour jaunt.
Local Connections: None
Courtesy Pick: These teams are pretty equally matched. Louisville comes from a tougher conference, although the Big East was way down this year and it could be said that Conference USA was just as good. The Golden Eagles are just a few points away from an 11-1 record, having 3 of their 4 losses by less than 7 points. A more established quarterback is also key. SOUTHERN MISS 38-26
Next 4 Bowl previews: Las Vegas, Poinsietta, Hawaii, Little Caesars...
until then, hedge your bets!
bsv
the courtesy wave
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Minnesota Sports Misery Rankings - December edition
The ground is covered in white and the air is seen clearly on the breaths of Minnesotans, it can only mean one thing, winter is here. Welcome to December in Minnesota, the start of guaranteed cold air for the next 100 days and beyond. It is now we really look to our sports teams to provide us the warmth and good feelings we desperately need to get us through.
This month's edition features each team's ranking with a song reference that's relevant. Since it's December, I'll take a page out of the Counting Crow's and you can decide if it'll really be a LONG DECEMBER, with reason to believe that maybe next year will be better than the last. So without further ado, here are the 7 local sports teams starting with the most Optimistic to the most Miserable.
GOPHERS BASKETBALL - "You're the Inspiration" - Chicago
Record: 9-1
Rankings: 20th ESPN/USA Today, 21st AP
The Gophers are off to one of their best records in years and with the lack of entertaining teams in the area, all eyes are aimed at the Barn where the Gophers hope to bring some glory back to the frozen north. They are THE best team in Minnesota that's currently in-season and for that are the inspiration that Minnesota sports fans desperately need. The team packs the most talented roster Tubby Smith has produced thus far. The starting 5 of Nolen, Joseph, Hoffarber, Mbakwe, and Sampson III have proved their worth in the non-conference and are poised to show the Big Ten what they're really made of. That's the hope at least. The Nolen injury (out 6 weeks) could be a big problem and we'll continue to monitor that.
HIGHLIGHTS: The Puerto Rico Tip-Off was an early test against high profile teams and the Gophers were expected to do well, but not favored to win it all, which is exactly what they did. Wins over North Carolina and West Virginia, two big time programs, solidified the Gophers as contenders for the Big Ten and NCAA Tournament, not just participants.
LOWLIGHTS: On November 29th, the Gophers reminded us all what the definition of humble is. Their home loss to Virginia, an ACC foe, but a regular ACC bottom feeder, was a wake up call that nothing is going to be easy and no team should be taken for granted.
OUTLOOK: The Gophers finish their non-conference slate at home against Akron and neighboring South Dakota State. Neither team should be taken lightly. Akron nearly made the NCAA's last year after an OT loss to Ohio in their Championship game. South Dakota State is 7-2 on the season and have already won on the road against a Big Ten team this year, at Iowa November 14th. Big Ten season starts on the road against Wisconsin on December 28th, then the madness really begins!
MINNESOTA TWINS - "Waiting in Vain" -Bob Marley
Record (2010): 94-68 AL Central Champs, Lost in ALDS to Yankees 0-3
Rankings (Hot Stove): 6th FoxSports.com
The Twins have been relatively quiet this offseason so far. The biggest noise made so far is the trade of JJ Hardy to the Baltimore Orioles (not too mention the dumping of Brendon Harris) for right handed Minor League pitchers Jim Hoey and Brett Jacobson. Getting rid of Hardy seemed to be a foregone conclusion when it was announced the Twins won the exclusive rights to strike up a contract with 26-year old Japanese shortstop Tsuyoshi Nishioka.
HIGHLIGHTS: The trade of Hardy and impending signing (hopefully) o
f Nishioka rids the Twins of a player that underperformed and was riddled with injuries in his only season in Minnesota. Ron Gardenhire finally won the coveted AL Manager of the year award for a brilliant season directing the Twins to another postseason with a banged up roster. This award is for the regular season only, otherwise Ron Washington would have picked it up. Our Ron gives us a chance to win every year, whether you think he's the right man for the job or not. If his playoff struggles continue, that could cost him a job, but for 162 games, I'm not sure how many really great managers there are out there, and we have a good one right here, and the Twins have elected to keep Gardenhire on for another 3 years at least.
LOWLIGHTS: Today's news was a little somber as a long time Twin has departed and is heading to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Matt Guerrier signed a 3 year contract with the boys in blue and has spent his entire 7 year career with the Twins. A durable workhorse out of the bullpen, and a great character guy in the clubhouse, the Twins will definitely miss his contributions.
OUTLOOK: It's only December, meaning there's still another 3 months until spring training, but the Twins have a lot of work to do. The biggest of which is deciding on whether to re-sign Carl Pavano and Jim Thome, 2 veterans that proved that each has a lot left in the tank and is worthy of their place on the roster. Pavano is openly shopping and may be more interested in the highest bidder. In just 1 and half seasons though, he's created a loyal mustache following unlike anyone else in the league and would be a sad sight not to have the Stache at Target Field next year. Jim Thome did everything but upset Twins fans last year. I challenge you to find a Twins fan that has bad things to say about Thome. Despite the fact he turned 40 this year, and had about half his normal at bats, Thome still led the Twins with 25 homeruns. He's got a lot left in the tank and has the enthusiasm and energy that ballclubs love to have in the clubhouse and on the field. He's also earned a big raise from last year. The question is whether the Twins want to pay that raise or let Thome get it from someone else. For now, we'll take a cue and relax with Bob Marley as we wait in vain on the Minnesota Twins.
GOPHERS HOCKEY "Where are You Going?" - Dave Matthews Band
Record: 9-7-2 overall, 6-6-2 WCHA
Rankings: 17th USA Today, 19th US College Hockey Online
The Gophers find themselves in middle ground right now, not out of it by any means, but
certainly not leading the way either. And they haven't proven anything lately, since Thanksgiving, the Gophers are 2-3-1, with consecutive losses to an inferior Minnesota State team. Where are you going Gophers Hockey? We would all like to know.
HIGHLIGHTS: Their weekend series against UMD grants a little hope for a 2nd half surge. The Gophers took the first game and split the 2nd, walking away without a loss to a team ranked in the top 5 in the nation, let alone the WCHA.
LOWLIGHTS: The back to back losses to the Mavericks of Minnesota State definitely sting. To leave Mankato without even so much as a tie will keeps Minnesota from joining the upper echelon of the WCHA.
OUTLOOK: The Gophers schedule is about to get a whole lot harder. They have non-conference games versus two teams ahead of them in the rankings in Ferris State and Union, followed by amatchup with the USA under 18 team. Then they're back in WCHA action, but on the road against conference juggernaut North Dakota for a pair. Will the team that showed its grit against UMD show up in the near future, or will the team that showed its weaknesses against Mankato come to play. Gopher Fans hope for the latter.
MINNESOTA WILD "Pass Me By" - Frank Sinatra
Record: 13-12-4, 3rd Northwest Division, 13th in Western Conference
Power Rankings: 22nd ESPN, 22nd Sports Illustrated
The Wild can be crooning with Franky lately as everyone near them, including anyone close to Nickolas Backstrom, has passed on by without much of a problem. On November 19th, the Wild were 10-6-2 and outperforming their expectations, giving the #1 hockey fans a lot of hope that the Wild were more than we thought they were. Since the 19th, the Wild are 3-6-2 and have fallen back to where many predicted they would be.
HIGHLIGHTS: The Wild have are coming off a 4 game road trip where they went 2-1-1. The two wins came against Los Angeles and Phoenix, both of whom are ahead of the Wild and in the thick of the playoff race.
LOWLIGHTS: Unable to keep momentum going from the 2
wins above, the Wild finished their road trip by getting blown out by Anaheim, a good team, but comparable to Los Angeles and Phoenix. The legs could have been weary from the long trip, it'll be interesting to see if the wins were a fluke or something they can build on.
OUTLOOK: Pierre Marc-Bouchard is back after missing over 100 games because of a concussion. This is a good sign for a team hoping to fight for a bottom playoff spot. The Wild's next 3 games are against losing teams, at Ottawa and a home and away with Calgary. This will be a great time to take advantage of the schedule, as the end of December brings in power playoff teams Colorado, Detroit, Columbus, and San Jose.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS - "Till I Collapse" - Eminem
Record: 5-8, 3rd in NFC North, 10th in NFC Conference
Power Rankings: 21st Sports Illustrated, 26th ESPN
The chorus of Eminem's song begins like this: Till, the roof comes off, till the lights go out, till my legs give out, can't shut my mouth...Well I'm hear to say that all of these things have come to pass in the last month for our Vikings and we can all save our voices for next year. The roof literally came down during the huge blizzard last weekend, forcing the Vikings to play a "home game" in Detroit of all places. The team's playoff lights went out with there loss to the Giants, and BrettFavre's legs finally gave out.
HIGHLIGHTS: For the 1st time all year, the Vikings won consecutive games, albeit to two non-playoff teams, the Redskins and Bills. But we need to find a silver lining in what might come down as the most disappointing season in recent memory, if not the Vikings entire history.
LOWLIGHTS: Too many. The team has 8 losses, meaning the best finish will only end up at .500. The "home loss" to the NY Giants was deflating, because a 9-7 record would have at least kept things interesting, even though it's likely a team needs to be 10-6 to make the NFC playoffs sans the eventual and pitiful NFC West Champ. The pressing need for a QB was highlighted after T-Jack failed to perform anything worthy of an NFL starter.
OUTLOOK: 3 games remain for this lame duck team. The next game is Monday night (Dec. 20th) at another new home for the Vikings, the University of Minnesota TCF Bank Stadium. The Metrodome roof collapse could actually turn out to be a blessing in disguise. With the Vikings out of the playoffs and Favre's streak over, the team doesn't have a lot to be press worthy of, until the roof collapsed! Media coverage from around the world have focused on Minneapolis and the first outdoor NFL game here in 29 years. The logistics of moving the Vikings toTCF Bank stadium in less than a week are amazing. What normally would take months to schedule and organize, must be done in 6 days, including clearing multiple feet of snow and preparing a stadium built for Fall weather. Green Bay might have the frozen tundra, but the Vikings will have their own frozen ground, playing on a non-heated surface. Regardless, there is still buzz in this town about the game and the Vikings, just the recipe needed for a team desperate to keep their fans (and the legislature) interested in Vikings football beyond 2010.
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES "You Can't Always Get What You Want" - Rolling Stones
Record: 6-19 5th Northwest, 13th in Western Conference
Power Rankings: 23rd Sports Illustrated, 25th ESPN
If Mick Jagger was talking about the 2010-11 Minnesota Timberwolves, he'd be dead on singing to the tune of this classic hit. If an NBA game only lasted 3 quarters, the Timberwolves would be in the conversation of a playoff spot. The Timberwolves have had no problem getting double digit leads, but they've had all the pain in the world, keeping those leads and finding a way to the W column in the box score. On November 17th, the T-Wolves were 4-9, not great, but at least enough to keep people interested. Since then, the Wolves have gone 2-10 and have reminded everyone that there is still a long way to go.
HIGH
LIGHTS: Since wins are hard to come by, let's highlight a couple players standing out this season. Michael Beasley and Kevin Love are quickly on their way to stardom. Don't give up on Beasley just because the Miami Heat did. The Heat had to cut him with the entrance of the Big 3. Beasley is proving why any team would be glad to have his services. His 21.2 points per game are good for 15th in the league. Kevin Love on the other hand is establishing himself as the new Rebounding King in the NBA. Love posted the first 30/30 game in 28 years and hasn't let up all year, averaging 15.2 boards/game, which is far and away the best in the league (2nd place Zach Randolph 12.3).
LOWLIGHTS: There are a lot to pick from with the recent stretch of losses, however I'll highlight 2 from the same team: the San Antonio Spurs. At 20-3, the Spurs are the best team in the entire NBA, but for 6 of eight quarters the Minnesota Timberwolves were better. On November 24th, the Wolves, led by Kevin Love's 32 points and 22 rebounds had the Spurs on the ropes and led by as much as 20, and 11 to start the 4th quarter, ran out of gas. The Spurs forced an OT and held Minnesota to just 3 points for the win. Just a week later, the Timberwolves met the Spurs in San Antonio for another game. The Timberwolves hung with the Spurs in the first half and amazing spurted away in the 3rd quarter, building a 15 point lead to start the 4th. Again, if only they played 3 quarters. The 4th quarter was all Spurs, erasing the lead and taking the game by 6 points, despite a great effort and 28 points by Beasley.
OUTLOOK: The Timberwolves play 5 of their next 6 games on the road, where they can claim only 1 victory. This stretch will really test their wits and pride. The season is a loss in terms of the playoffs, but the team can win over there fans with aggressive energetic play and reasons to believe that with another high draft pick, the team can return to the playoffs sooner rather than later. Love & Beasley have done just that, now is the time for Webster, Ridnour, Darko, Johnson, and Flynn to live up and make the rest of us believers.
GOPHERS FOOTBALL "Killing Me Softly" - Roberta Flack
Record: 3-9, (2-6) - Finished 10th in Big Ten
Ranking: 86th Sagarin Football Rankings
The Gophers Football team finished off a dreadful season where they fired long time loser head coach Tim Brewster, lost to FCS foe South Dakota, and had a 9 game losing streak. The Gophers were headed toward a 1-11 record, but found strength at the end of the season to avoid double digit losses by winning the last 2 games and finishing 3-9. After the season, Gophers AD Joel Maturi promised the fans and boosters he'd be bringing in a big name coach,
just like he did with Tubby Smith in basketball. So when the news arrived the Gophers were hiring Jerry Kill, Maturi all killed us softly with his choice. Kill's Northern Illinois Huskies came in and beat the Gophers at TCF Bank stadium in what turned out to be an audition for his future. The Huskies finished 10-3, but lost in the MAC Conference championship game to Miami (OH). Maturi is a MAC guy and its no surprise he couldn't land a big name coach. That and Minnesota is just a tough place to recruit players, let alone head coaches.
HIGHLIGHTS: The biggest win on the season was saved for the last game. On November 27th, the Golden Gophers pulled off a golden upset of border rival Iowa 27-24. The Hawkeyes, ranked 24th at the time, finished their season by losing a heavily favored game, regulated Iowa to a mid-tier bowl, after early season hopes of smelling the roses. The Gophers won back the pig, Floyd of Rosedale, and did what Brewster couldn't do, win a trophy game. The loss in the least gave Gophers fans something to hold onto for the long cold, bitter winter ahead.
LOWLIGHTS: The hiring of Kill by the numbers looks good. The guy has won every where he's gone. The problem is he's gone from High School to Division 2, to a mid-major Division 1. This is by far his biggest job and he'll be seeing the best talent day in and day out come the Big Ten schedule. UNI's strength of schedule this year was 122, compared to the Gophers 38th. Kill will have to win to attract recruits, a task that has come with many difficulties at the U.
OUTLOOK: The Gophers will be starting a new era next year, not only will it be Kill time, but there will be a new QB under center for the first time in 5 years. Adam Weber graduates after setting many school records, mainly based on the fact that he played so many games to accumulate those stats. Regardless, he was a fine quarterback, not flashy, but consistent. Marquis Gray is in line for the job, he's waited more than most people would and he'll bring in a mobile style contrast to what we've been seeing with Weber. Whether that and Kill's coaching leads to more wins, I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
Well that's it for the 3rd installment of the Minnesota Sports Misery Rankings. I'm sorry I couldn't bring you any better news, but I hope you found the silver linings you were looking for.
Until next time, remember when shoveling, lift with your knees.
bsv
the courtesy wave
This month's edition features each team's ranking with a song reference that's relevant. Since it's December, I'll take a page out of the Counting Crow's and you can decide if it'll really be a LONG DECEMBER, with reason to believe that maybe next year will be better than the last. So without further ado, here are the 7 local sports teams starting with the most Optimistic to the most Miserable.GOPHERS BASKETBALL - "You're the Inspiration" - Chicago
Record: 9-1
Rankings: 20th ESPN/USA Today, 21st AP
The Gophers are off to one of their best records in years and with the lack of entertaining teams in the area, all eyes are aimed at the Barn where the Gophers hope to bring some glory back to the frozen north. They are THE best team in Minnesota that's currently in-season and for that are the inspiration that Minnesota sports fans desperately need. The team packs the most talented roster Tubby Smith has produced thus far. The starting 5 of Nolen, Joseph, Hoffarber, Mbakwe, and Sampson III have proved their worth in the non-conference and are poised to show the Big Ten what they're really made of. That's the hope at least. The Nolen injury (out 6 weeks) could be a big problem and we'll continue to monitor that.
HIGHLIGHTS: The Puerto Rico Tip-Off was an early test against high profile teams and the Gophers were expected to do well, but not favored to win it all, which is exactly what they did. Wins over North Carolina and West Virginia, two big time programs, solidified the Gophers as contenders for the Big Ten and NCAA Tournament, not just participants.
LOWLIGHTS: On November 29th, the Gophers reminded us all what the definition of humble is. Their home loss to Virginia, an ACC foe, but a regular ACC bottom feeder, was a wake up call that nothing is going to be easy and no team should be taken for granted.
OUTLOOK: The Gophers finish their non-conference slate at home against Akron and neighboring South Dakota State. Neither team should be taken lightly. Akron nearly made the NCAA's last year after an OT loss to Ohio in their Championship game. South Dakota State is 7-2 on the season and have already won on the road against a Big Ten team this year, at Iowa November 14th. Big Ten season starts on the road against Wisconsin on December 28th, then the madness really begins!
MINNESOTA TWINS - "Waiting in Vain" -Bob Marley
Record (2010): 94-68 AL Central Champs, Lost in ALDS to Yankees 0-3
Rankings (Hot Stove): 6th FoxSports.com
The Twins have been relatively quiet this offseason so far. The biggest noise made so far is the trade of JJ Hardy to the Baltimore Orioles (not too mention the dumping of Brendon Harris) for right handed Minor League pitchers Jim Hoey and Brett Jacobson. Getting rid of Hardy seemed to be a foregone conclusion when it was announced the Twins won the exclusive rights to strike up a contract with 26-year old Japanese shortstop Tsuyoshi Nishioka.
HIGHLIGHTS: The trade of Hardy and impending signing (hopefully) o
f Nishioka rids the Twins of a player that underperformed and was riddled with injuries in his only season in Minnesota. Ron Gardenhire finally won the coveted AL Manager of the year award for a brilliant season directing the Twins to another postseason with a banged up roster. This award is for the regular season only, otherwise Ron Washington would have picked it up. Our Ron gives us a chance to win every year, whether you think he's the right man for the job or not. If his playoff struggles continue, that could cost him a job, but for 162 games, I'm not sure how many really great managers there are out there, and we have a good one right here, and the Twins have elected to keep Gardenhire on for another 3 years at least.LOWLIGHTS: Today's news was a little somber as a long time Twin has departed and is heading to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Matt Guerrier signed a 3 year contract with the boys in blue and has spent his entire 7 year career with the Twins. A durable workhorse out of the bullpen, and a great character guy in the clubhouse, the Twins will definitely miss his contributions.
OUTLOOK: It's only December, meaning there's still another 3 months until spring training, but the Twins have a lot of work to do. The biggest of which is deciding on whether to re-sign Carl Pavano and Jim Thome, 2 veterans that proved that each has a lot left in the tank and is worthy of their place on the roster. Pavano is openly shopping and may be more interested in the highest bidder. In just 1 and half seasons though, he's created a loyal mustache following unlike anyone else in the league and would be a sad sight not to have the Stache at Target Field next year. Jim Thome did everything but upset Twins fans last year. I challenge you to find a Twins fan that has bad things to say about Thome. Despite the fact he turned 40 this year, and had about half his normal at bats, Thome still led the Twins with 25 homeruns. He's got a lot left in the tank and has the enthusiasm and energy that ballclubs love to have in the clubhouse and on the field. He's also earned a big raise from last year. The question is whether the Twins want to pay that raise or let Thome get it from someone else. For now, we'll take a cue and relax with Bob Marley as we wait in vain on the Minnesota Twins.
GOPHERS HOCKEY "Where are You Going?" - Dave Matthews Band
Record: 9-7-2 overall, 6-6-2 WCHA
Rankings: 17th USA Today, 19th US College Hockey Online
The Gophers find themselves in middle ground right now, not out of it by any means, but
certainly not leading the way either. And they haven't proven anything lately, since Thanksgiving, the Gophers are 2-3-1, with consecutive losses to an inferior Minnesota State team. Where are you going Gophers Hockey? We would all like to know.HIGHLIGHTS: Their weekend series against UMD grants a little hope for a 2nd half surge. The Gophers took the first game and split the 2nd, walking away without a loss to a team ranked in the top 5 in the nation, let alone the WCHA.
LOWLIGHTS: The back to back losses to the Mavericks of Minnesota State definitely sting. To leave Mankato without even so much as a tie will keeps Minnesota from joining the upper echelon of the WCHA.
OUTLOOK: The Gophers schedule is about to get a whole lot harder. They have non-conference games versus two teams ahead of them in the rankings in Ferris State and Union, followed by amatchup with the USA under 18 team. Then they're back in WCHA action, but on the road against conference juggernaut North Dakota for a pair. Will the team that showed its grit against UMD show up in the near future, or will the team that showed its weaknesses against Mankato come to play. Gopher Fans hope for the latter.
MINNESOTA WILD "Pass Me By" - Frank Sinatra
Record: 13-12-4, 3rd Northwest Division, 13th in Western Conference
Power Rankings: 22nd ESPN, 22nd Sports Illustrated
The Wild can be crooning with Franky lately as everyone near them, including anyone close to Nickolas Backstrom, has passed on by without much of a problem. On November 19th, the Wild were 10-6-2 and outperforming their expectations, giving the #1 hockey fans a lot of hope that the Wild were more than we thought they were. Since the 19th, the Wild are 3-6-2 and have fallen back to where many predicted they would be.
HIGHLIGHTS: The Wild have are coming off a 4 game road trip where they went 2-1-1. The two wins came against Los Angeles and Phoenix, both of whom are ahead of the Wild and in the thick of the playoff race.
LOWLIGHTS: Unable to keep momentum going from the 2
wins above, the Wild finished their road trip by getting blown out by Anaheim, a good team, but comparable to Los Angeles and Phoenix. The legs could have been weary from the long trip, it'll be interesting to see if the wins were a fluke or something they can build on.OUTLOOK: Pierre Marc-Bouchard is back after missing over 100 games because of a concussion. This is a good sign for a team hoping to fight for a bottom playoff spot. The Wild's next 3 games are against losing teams, at Ottawa and a home and away with Calgary. This will be a great time to take advantage of the schedule, as the end of December brings in power playoff teams Colorado, Detroit, Columbus, and San Jose.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS - "Till I Collapse" - Eminem
Record: 5-8, 3rd in NFC North, 10th in NFC Conference
Power Rankings: 21st Sports Illustrated, 26th ESPN
The chorus of Eminem's song begins like this: Till, the roof comes off, till the lights go out, till my legs give out, can't shut my mouth...Well I'm hear to say that all of these things have come to pass in the last month for our Vikings and we can all save our voices for next year. The roof literally came down during the huge blizzard last weekend, forcing the Vikings to play a "home game" in Detroit of all places. The team's playoff lights went out with there loss to the Giants, and BrettFavre's legs finally gave out.
HIGHLIGHTS: For the 1st time all year, the Vikings won consecutive games, albeit to two non-playoff teams, the Redskins and Bills. But we need to find a silver lining in what might come down as the most disappointing season in recent memory, if not the Vikings entire history.
LOWLIGHTS: Too many. The team has 8 losses, meaning the best finish will only end up at .500. The "home loss" to the NY Giants was deflating, because a 9-7 record would have at least kept things interesting, even though it's likely a team needs to be 10-6 to make the NFC playoffs sans the eventual and pitiful NFC West Champ. The pressing need for a QB was highlighted after T-Jack failed to perform anything worthy of an NFL starter.
OUTLOOK: 3 games remain for this lame duck team. The next game is Monday night (Dec. 20th) at another new home for the Vikings, the University of Minnesota TCF Bank Stadium. The Metrodome roof collapse could actually turn out to be a blessing in disguise. With the Vikings out of the playoffs and Favre's streak over, the team doesn't have a lot to be press worthy of, until the roof collapsed! Media coverage from around the world have focused on Minneapolis and the first outdoor NFL game here in 29 years. The logistics of moving the Vikings toTCF Bank stadium in less than a week are amazing. What normally would take months to schedule and organize, must be done in 6 days, including clearing multiple feet of snow and preparing a stadium built for Fall weather. Green Bay might have the frozen tundra, but the Vikings will have their own frozen ground, playing on a non-heated surface. Regardless, there is still buzz in this town about the game and the Vikings, just the recipe needed for a team desperate to keep their fans (and the legislature) interested in Vikings football beyond 2010.
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES "You Can't Always Get What You Want" - Rolling Stones
Record: 6-19 5th Northwest, 13th in Western Conference
Power Rankings: 23rd Sports Illustrated, 25th ESPN
If Mick Jagger was talking about the 2010-11 Minnesota Timberwolves, he'd be dead on singing to the tune of this classic hit. If an NBA game only lasted 3 quarters, the Timberwolves would be in the conversation of a playoff spot. The Timberwolves have had no problem getting double digit leads, but they've had all the pain in the world, keeping those leads and finding a way to the W column in the box score. On November 17th, the T-Wolves were 4-9, not great, but at least enough to keep people interested. Since then, the Wolves have gone 2-10 and have reminded everyone that there is still a long way to go.
HIGH
LIGHTS: Since wins are hard to come by, let's highlight a couple players standing out this season. Michael Beasley and Kevin Love are quickly on their way to stardom. Don't give up on Beasley just because the Miami Heat did. The Heat had to cut him with the entrance of the Big 3. Beasley is proving why any team would be glad to have his services. His 21.2 points per game are good for 15th in the league. Kevin Love on the other hand is establishing himself as the new Rebounding King in the NBA. Love posted the first 30/30 game in 28 years and hasn't let up all year, averaging 15.2 boards/game, which is far and away the best in the league (2nd place Zach Randolph 12.3).LOWLIGHTS: There are a lot to pick from with the recent stretch of losses, however I'll highlight 2 from the same team: the San Antonio Spurs. At 20-3, the Spurs are the best team in the entire NBA, but for 6 of eight quarters the Minnesota Timberwolves were better. On November 24th, the Wolves, led by Kevin Love's 32 points and 22 rebounds had the Spurs on the ropes and led by as much as 20, and 11 to start the 4th quarter, ran out of gas. The Spurs forced an OT and held Minnesota to just 3 points for the win. Just a week later, the Timberwolves met the Spurs in San Antonio for another game. The Timberwolves hung with the Spurs in the first half and amazing spurted away in the 3rd quarter, building a 15 point lead to start the 4th. Again, if only they played 3 quarters. The 4th quarter was all Spurs, erasing the lead and taking the game by 6 points, despite a great effort and 28 points by Beasley.
OUTLOOK: The Timberwolves play 5 of their next 6 games on the road, where they can claim only 1 victory. This stretch will really test their wits and pride. The season is a loss in terms of the playoffs, but the team can win over there fans with aggressive energetic play and reasons to believe that with another high draft pick, the team can return to the playoffs sooner rather than later. Love & Beasley have done just that, now is the time for Webster, Ridnour, Darko, Johnson, and Flynn to live up and make the rest of us believers.
GOPHERS FOOTBALL "Killing Me Softly" - Roberta Flack
Record: 3-9, (2-6) - Finished 10th in Big Ten
Ranking: 86th Sagarin Football Rankings
The Gophers Football team finished off a dreadful season where they fired long time loser head coach Tim Brewster, lost to FCS foe South Dakota, and had a 9 game losing streak. The Gophers were headed toward a 1-11 record, but found strength at the end of the season to avoid double digit losses by winning the last 2 games and finishing 3-9. After the season, Gophers AD Joel Maturi promised the fans and boosters he'd be bringing in a big name coach,
just like he did with Tubby Smith in basketball. So when the news arrived the Gophers were hiring Jerry Kill, Maturi all killed us softly with his choice. Kill's Northern Illinois Huskies came in and beat the Gophers at TCF Bank stadium in what turned out to be an audition for his future. The Huskies finished 10-3, but lost in the MAC Conference championship game to Miami (OH). Maturi is a MAC guy and its no surprise he couldn't land a big name coach. That and Minnesota is just a tough place to recruit players, let alone head coaches.HIGHLIGHTS: The biggest win on the season was saved for the last game. On November 27th, the Golden Gophers pulled off a golden upset of border rival Iowa 27-24. The Hawkeyes, ranked 24th at the time, finished their season by losing a heavily favored game, regulated Iowa to a mid-tier bowl, after early season hopes of smelling the roses. The Gophers won back the pig, Floyd of Rosedale, and did what Brewster couldn't do, win a trophy game. The loss in the least gave Gophers fans something to hold onto for the long cold, bitter winter ahead.
LOWLIGHTS: The hiring of Kill by the numbers looks good. The guy has won every where he's gone. The problem is he's gone from High School to Division 2, to a mid-major Division 1. This is by far his biggest job and he'll be seeing the best talent day in and day out come the Big Ten schedule. UNI's strength of schedule this year was 122, compared to the Gophers 38th. Kill will have to win to attract recruits, a task that has come with many difficulties at the U.
OUTLOOK: The Gophers will be starting a new era next year, not only will it be Kill time, but there will be a new QB under center for the first time in 5 years. Adam Weber graduates after setting many school records, mainly based on the fact that he played so many games to accumulate those stats. Regardless, he was a fine quarterback, not flashy, but consistent. Marquis Gray is in line for the job, he's waited more than most people would and he'll bring in a mobile style contrast to what we've been seeing with Weber. Whether that and Kill's coaching leads to more wins, I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
Well that's it for the 3rd installment of the Minnesota Sports Misery Rankings. I'm sorry I couldn't bring you any better news, but I hope you found the silver linings you were looking for.
Until next time, remember when shoveling, lift with your knees.
bsv
the courtesy wave
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