Ok folks, another week of the good, the bad, and the ugly here. With it being Thanksgiving week, there's likely to be more non-sports items in here. We'll see how it goes as I type this while waiting for my client to actually show up for a meeting this morning.
THE GOOD
- I haven't said much about them yet, but the Michigan State basketball team is off to a good start. Durrell Summers really appears to have taken a big jump from is sophomore year to his junior year. Not only is he finding new ways to score, he's also rebounding the ball better than ever. He might be MSU's next great rebounding guard (i.e. Charlie Bell). Kalin Lucas appears to be more aggressive with the ball this year, trying to get to the basket as often as possible and finishing the play more often than not. Draymond Green is playing like a man amongst boys at time. He plays much bigger than his 6'6" size and helps me be less worried about MSU's lack of experienced big men. Delvon Roe and Raymar Morgan have both battled injuries early this year but appear to be rounding into shape. Roe has definitely shown more explosion than last year as his knees continue to get healthier. The big tests continue this week with games against Florida and Rutgers/UMass out in Atlantic City and then the big match-up with North Carolina next week in Chapel Hill.
- Big Ten Basketball as a whole. MSU, Illinois, and Purdue are off to 4-0 starts. MSU has a big win over Gonzaga. Purdue has a big victory over Tennessee (a team that seemed to be able to score at will against everyone else). Wisconsin beat a good Arizona team out in Maui. The top 8 teams in the Big Ten are going to be very good and make this season one of the best Big Ten conference seasons in a long time. With everyone from the first and second team all-big ten teams returning from last year, it should be fun.
- Thanksgiving with the in-laws. I'm off tonight after work for a few days with the in-laws. Michelle's sister is home from Connecticut for the weekend and her uncle and cousin will be over tomorrow afternoon. Knowing the in-laws like I do, it'll be a fun mix of food, drinks, and conversation. We might even sneak in a good movie or two.
- Lions win. Everyone now loves Matt Stafford after complaining about him all year. I'm not sure what to think yet, but it was a heck of a performance to win at the last second against Cleveland this past weekend. He was also the youngest player (and first rookie) to ever throw five touchdown passes in a single game. I think the future is bright, I just hope the Lions find a way to provide him a better defense and a better offensive line. Now, with his injured arm still hurting, it appears no one will see him play this week as the Lions are on national TV for Thanksgiving and that's a shame.
THE BAD
- Coaching decisions at the college football and NFL levels. Let me preface this by saying, I have no problem with Bill Belichik going for it on fourth and 2 from his own 28 yard line with over two minutes left against the Colts. I have a problem with the play call. When you have Randy Moss and Wes Welker (maybe the best possession receiver in the history of the NFL) on your roster, how do you design a play for Kevin Faulk to run a two yard out pattern? When you need two yards, ever pattern should be run at least 4 yards down field. It just makes sense in case they have to cut a route short for some reason.
At the college level, you have the brilliant decisions of Les Miles last weekend. For Les Miles, how many times do you have to run a fade pattern near the goal line before you realize it's just not a high percentage play when you only have one chance? Then, you get the pass interference call the first time, so you do it again? I'm sorry, but on a two-point conversion play from the 1.5 yard line (after the penalty), you're telling me he doesn't have anything better than a fade route in his playbook?? Then, they somehow manage to recover the on-side kick. They get down in field goal range, take a sack, throw a screen pass that loses 5 more yards, and somehow manages to waste 17 seconds deciding if he should call time-out or not. With 9 seconds left now, he throws a deep pass that somehow ends with a first down in field goal range with 1 second on the clock. The clock is stopped because of the first down, but instead of running the field goal team onto the field for a last second field goal, he yells at his QB to spike the ball to stop the clock. THERE'S 1 SECOND LEFT!!!!! No play will last less than 1 second. I'm not saying LSU would have won the game if it went to overtime (if they make the 2 point conversion). I'm not saying their kicker would have made a rushed kick. But how do you not give yourself a chance?? Blame this one on the coaching staff. LSU played well enough to win that game.
- Thanksgiving away from home. For the first time in my 28 years of life, I won't be spending Thanksgiving with my family. Don't get me wrong, I love my fiance and her family, but when I wake up tomorrow morning, I can guarantee I'll miss my mom and dad and be sad that I'm not in Wisconsin. I know it's part of growing up and part of living 400 miles away from them, but that doesn't make it any easier. For those of you near your family for the holidays (even if it's rushing from one place to another to see both your family and your in-laws), enjoy your time this weekend.
THE UGLY
- And again this week, we feature the University of Michigan football program. News comes out that Rich Rodriguez gave the majority of the practice time with the number one offense to Denard Robinson the week of the Wisconsin football game. Then, who comes out for the first snap of the game? Tate Forcier. Does this make any sense to anyone? How do you not play the guy who practiced all week? This is just another example of how a team that started 4-0 managed to go 1-7 to end the year and finish last in the Big Ten. They're going to give Rich Rodriguez another yer to prove himself, but the seat is definitely getting hot in Ann Arbor.
- Glenn Winston and the MSU football team. Last year Winston was involved in an altercation that I won't even begin to talk about. I wasn't there and there are so many conflicting stories, I don't know who to believe. It ended with another MSU athlete in the hospital and Winston had to serve a multi-month jail term last summer. When he came back, MSU head coach Mark Dantonio gave him another chance to prove himself and Winston proved he was a valuable part of the football team and was doing things the right way off the field. Then he suffered a knee injury that ended his season and this week news came out that he's off the team for good.
The story going around is that Winston, Rod Jenrette (another football player) and a group of men were involved in a large altercation in the lobby of Rather Hall on the MSU campus. News reports say numerous individuals ended up at the hospital of emergency room to treat injuries and news has come out that Winston and Jenrette have been permanently kicked off the team. This is another example with an athlete who was given every chance in the world and completely blowing the opportunities placed in his lap. While I was conflicted when Winston returned to the team this past fall, I had big hopes for him on and off the field. Now he's completely proven he didn't deserve the opportunity. I hope he doesn't waste the rest of his life, but unfortunately we've seen it too many times with athletes who fail to capitalize on the opportunities presented to them.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
If Gambling were legal....
...this is who I like this weekend. After what should have been an undefeated weekend (I should know better than to put any confidence in Ron Zook and Illinois), I'm feeling more confident in my Big Ten picks going into the last weekend of the regular season. Only five Big Ten games this week as Illinois takes a week off before their two final non-conference games of the season. (Side note: Who schedules two non-conference games AFTER the Big Ten season? While there's something to be said for having more time off during the early part of the season, this was an Illini team that struggled to find an identity all season and probably could have used a couple more non-conference games early in the season) Also, the Big Ten's bowl teams became clearer last week as two teams became bowl eligible (Minnesota and Michigan State) and three teams became eliminated from bowl contention (Purdue, Indiana, and Illinois). Michigan is the only team still fighting for bowl eligibility as they sit at 5-6, looking to get that 6th win and avoid missing the bowl season for the second year in a row. Without further ado, here are my picks (home team in CAPS):
#10 Ohio State -11.5 over MICHIGAN 12:00 ET ABC
The Michigan defense continues to be awful. The Ohio State offense is still struggling to consistently get their offense rolling. This week Pat Forde (of ESPN fame) called Jim Tressel the "Most conservative coach in America." He also noted that Tressel has no problem with that, and why would he? Tressel is 92-21 in his first 113 games at Ohio State. Tressel is 7-1 against Michigan, a team that beat Ohio State so often during the John Cooper era that it cost him his job. Hidden behind his conservative offensive game plan and his sweater vest apparel is the fact that his defense is outstanding. This is a game where Tressel will be able to let his offense loosen up while his defense shine. The Michigan defense has allowed at least 35 points in their last four games and the streak continues as OSU wins 38-17.
#13 IOWA -10 over Minnesota 12:00 ET ESPN
Last week Iowa proved it can still hold their own, even without QB Ricky Stanzi. It was a tough overtime loss at Ohio State for the Hawkeyes who battled back in the second half to force the game into overtime. As predicted here last week, Iowa back-up QB James Vandenberg looked much more comfortable after having a full week of practice with the first string Iowa offense. The Iowa offense was also aided by the return of running back Adam Robinson who missed the previous two games due to injury. On the other hand, Minnesota struggled last week with lowly South Dakota State from the Missouri Valley Conference, needing a field goal with 2 minutes left in the game to eek out a victory. This is a rivalry game for both teams and the Hawkeyes are fighting to stay in line for a premier bowl game this season that started so promising (9-0) before losing their last two games. In this case, the Hawkeye defense will keep the Golden Gopher offense under control while the offense will get enough big plays from Vandenberg, Robinson, and receivers Marvin McNutt and Derrell Johnson-Koulianos as Iowa rolls to victory 31-13.
#16 Wisconsin -7 over NORTHWESTERN 3:30 ET Big Ten Network
This has been a decent year for the Wildcats as they prepare for their second bowl game in as many years. Pat Fitzgerald is building a winning program and has a 26-22 record as a head coach since he took over under less than ideal circumstances after the unexpected death of head coach Randy Walker. That being said, their upset victory over Iowa two weeks ago was greatly aided by the injury to Iowa starting QB Ricky Stanzi. Northwestern plays solid, yet unspectacular football. Wisconsin, on the other hand, is having a much better than expected season and is fighting for a New Year's Day bowl game. With a game remaining at Hawaii after this week, Wisconsin is looking toward a 10-2 season with a couple more victories. Wisconsin's offense has gotten a big lift from freshman running back Montee Ball as Wisconsin now has a back-up to give Big Ten leading rusher John Clay a break from time to time. Without a doubt Clay is still the leader of the Badgers offense, but the somewhat reduced work load the last couple weeks has allowed him to be fresher in the second half and the Badgers have worn down opposing defenses. QB Scott Tolzien continued his surprising performance this year with a big game against Michigan last week (240 yards, 4 TD's, 197.33 passer rating). Wisconsin just has too much talent and too much to play for in this game, Badgers win 31-20.
INDIANA +3 over Purdue 3:30 ET Big Ten Network
Indiana's offense has been competitive all season long. Purdue has been the epitome of the up and down team all year. They looked like world beaters taking out Ohio State this year. Their offense showed up and looked outstanding against Oregon and Michigan State, but the defense struggled in the two losses. This is a rivalry game as the two Indiana teams compete for possession of the Old Oaken Bucket. This is the equivalent of a bowl game for both these teams as their seasons will be over by 7:30 on Saturday evening. With it being senior day and a rivalry game, Indiana will come through and outscore the Boilermakers in a high scoring affair in Bloomington. Indiana wins outright, 38-34.
MICHIGAN STATE +3 over Penn State 3:30 ET ABC
I've gone back and forth on this game at least 5 times. It's really a question of which teams shows up to play for Michigan State. Will it be the team that played with Iowa until the final play of the game? Will it be the team that held a fairly explosive Michigan offense to 6 points for 55 minutes of their game? Or, will it be the team that allowed Minnesota to score 42 points? The team that gave up 38 points at Wisconsin? The team that allowed Purdue to score 37 points? The one common factor I see in all these games is that the defense has played much better inside Spartan Stadium.
Penn State has proved themselves to be very good against the teams they should beat and mostly average against tougher competition (see their two losses to Iowa and Ohio State). Their offense is lead by Darryl Clark who was first team All-Big Ten last season and Evan Royster who was a first-team All-Big Ten preseason pick this year. On defense their lead by linebacker Navorro Bowman, the most recent star from Linebacker U.
Call it a gut feeling. Call it intuition. Call it me being a Michigan State homer. MSU wins outright, 34-31.
Record last week: 3-1-1
Overall record: 8-8-1
#10 Ohio State -11.5 over MICHIGAN 12:00 ET ABC
The Michigan defense continues to be awful. The Ohio State offense is still struggling to consistently get their offense rolling. This week Pat Forde (of ESPN fame) called Jim Tressel the "Most conservative coach in America." He also noted that Tressel has no problem with that, and why would he? Tressel is 92-21 in his first 113 games at Ohio State. Tressel is 7-1 against Michigan, a team that beat Ohio State so often during the John Cooper era that it cost him his job. Hidden behind his conservative offensive game plan and his sweater vest apparel is the fact that his defense is outstanding. This is a game where Tressel will be able to let his offense loosen up while his defense shine. The Michigan defense has allowed at least 35 points in their last four games and the streak continues as OSU wins 38-17.
#13 IOWA -10 over Minnesota 12:00 ET ESPN
Last week Iowa proved it can still hold their own, even without QB Ricky Stanzi. It was a tough overtime loss at Ohio State for the Hawkeyes who battled back in the second half to force the game into overtime. As predicted here last week, Iowa back-up QB James Vandenberg looked much more comfortable after having a full week of practice with the first string Iowa offense. The Iowa offense was also aided by the return of running back Adam Robinson who missed the previous two games due to injury. On the other hand, Minnesota struggled last week with lowly South Dakota State from the Missouri Valley Conference, needing a field goal with 2 minutes left in the game to eek out a victory. This is a rivalry game for both teams and the Hawkeyes are fighting to stay in line for a premier bowl game this season that started so promising (9-0) before losing their last two games. In this case, the Hawkeye defense will keep the Golden Gopher offense under control while the offense will get enough big plays from Vandenberg, Robinson, and receivers Marvin McNutt and Derrell Johnson-Koulianos as Iowa rolls to victory 31-13.
#16 Wisconsin -7 over NORTHWESTERN 3:30 ET Big Ten Network
This has been a decent year for the Wildcats as they prepare for their second bowl game in as many years. Pat Fitzgerald is building a winning program and has a 26-22 record as a head coach since he took over under less than ideal circumstances after the unexpected death of head coach Randy Walker. That being said, their upset victory over Iowa two weeks ago was greatly aided by the injury to Iowa starting QB Ricky Stanzi. Northwestern plays solid, yet unspectacular football. Wisconsin, on the other hand, is having a much better than expected season and is fighting for a New Year's Day bowl game. With a game remaining at Hawaii after this week, Wisconsin is looking toward a 10-2 season with a couple more victories. Wisconsin's offense has gotten a big lift from freshman running back Montee Ball as Wisconsin now has a back-up to give Big Ten leading rusher John Clay a break from time to time. Without a doubt Clay is still the leader of the Badgers offense, but the somewhat reduced work load the last couple weeks has allowed him to be fresher in the second half and the Badgers have worn down opposing defenses. QB Scott Tolzien continued his surprising performance this year with a big game against Michigan last week (240 yards, 4 TD's, 197.33 passer rating). Wisconsin just has too much talent and too much to play for in this game, Badgers win 31-20.
INDIANA +3 over Purdue 3:30 ET Big Ten Network
Indiana's offense has been competitive all season long. Purdue has been the epitome of the up and down team all year. They looked like world beaters taking out Ohio State this year. Their offense showed up and looked outstanding against Oregon and Michigan State, but the defense struggled in the two losses. This is a rivalry game as the two Indiana teams compete for possession of the Old Oaken Bucket. This is the equivalent of a bowl game for both these teams as their seasons will be over by 7:30 on Saturday evening. With it being senior day and a rivalry game, Indiana will come through and outscore the Boilermakers in a high scoring affair in Bloomington. Indiana wins outright, 38-34.
MICHIGAN STATE +3 over Penn State 3:30 ET ABC
I've gone back and forth on this game at least 5 times. It's really a question of which teams shows up to play for Michigan State. Will it be the team that played with Iowa until the final play of the game? Will it be the team that held a fairly explosive Michigan offense to 6 points for 55 minutes of their game? Or, will it be the team that allowed Minnesota to score 42 points? The team that gave up 38 points at Wisconsin? The team that allowed Purdue to score 37 points? The one common factor I see in all these games is that the defense has played much better inside Spartan Stadium.
Penn State has proved themselves to be very good against the teams they should beat and mostly average against tougher competition (see their two losses to Iowa and Ohio State). Their offense is lead by Darryl Clark who was first team All-Big Ten last season and Evan Royster who was a first-team All-Big Ten preseason pick this year. On defense their lead by linebacker Navorro Bowman, the most recent star from Linebacker U.
Call it a gut feeling. Call it intuition. Call it me being a Michigan State homer. MSU wins outright, 34-31.
Record last week: 3-1-1
Overall record: 8-8-1
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
A break from sports....to complain about work
As you all know (and when I say all, I mean the four of you that might actually read this regularly) this is where I normally write my thoughts on sports, specifically MSU sports. For the moment, I'm going to use this area to complain about my job...
So, one of my clients a couple weeks ago decided that instead of paying their bills, they'd just file for bankruptcy protection. This actually makes lots of sense as they owe about twice as much as they expect to take in during the next 9 months. They also have an extreme shortage in the cash department and were going to struggle to keep paying their employees. Now they can continue paying their employees, but they get a break on paying their suppliers and such.
In the process of researching bankruptcy issues for other companies in my client's industry, a partner at my firm realized I was working on the issue AND that there was about to be a conference out west that was going to cover handling clients that have recently filed for bankruptcy. I was swamped at work, but when the boss says jump, you really don't have much of an option.
Now here I sit. In the past two days I've spent 4 hours on an airplane and 12 hours in classes. Here's the real question: How I learned anything new? The answer: No. I'm starting to think that this is going to be a meaningless conference. Others here may actually be getting something out of it, but it's covering things that I learned in the first 5 days working with my client back in Detroit.
This would have been a great class to take back this summer when things were really slow at work and I had lots of free time. It also would have prepared me for client's unfortunate situation. Right now though, it's not really the best time to be sitting here bored. I have 5 projects sitting back home waiting for me that I can't do anything about right now. I have to fill in my hours for this week as classroom learning time to get my continuing education credits (a firm and CPA requirement). I'd love to actually go back to my hotel room and do some work related items, but I also have to bill that and we're being lectured right now to avoid working more than 45 hours a week at almost all cost.
So, not only am I away from home, jet lagged, and not sleeping well, I'm also frustrated with the fact that I'm feeling very unproductive. I get back Monday and I'm supposed to take Friday off (because Monday and Thursday count as at least 12 hour days when you could travel time and class time, putting me well over 45 hours this week), but I know next week is a short week because of Thanksgiving. I just feel like I'll never get caught up on things because of this week away.
Oh well, at least the MSU basketball team managed to pull off a win tonight.
So, one of my clients a couple weeks ago decided that instead of paying their bills, they'd just file for bankruptcy protection. This actually makes lots of sense as they owe about twice as much as they expect to take in during the next 9 months. They also have an extreme shortage in the cash department and were going to struggle to keep paying their employees. Now they can continue paying their employees, but they get a break on paying their suppliers and such.
In the process of researching bankruptcy issues for other companies in my client's industry, a partner at my firm realized I was working on the issue AND that there was about to be a conference out west that was going to cover handling clients that have recently filed for bankruptcy. I was swamped at work, but when the boss says jump, you really don't have much of an option.
Now here I sit. In the past two days I've spent 4 hours on an airplane and 12 hours in classes. Here's the real question: How I learned anything new? The answer: No. I'm starting to think that this is going to be a meaningless conference. Others here may actually be getting something out of it, but it's covering things that I learned in the first 5 days working with my client back in Detroit.
This would have been a great class to take back this summer when things were really slow at work and I had lots of free time. It also would have prepared me for client's unfortunate situation. Right now though, it's not really the best time to be sitting here bored. I have 5 projects sitting back home waiting for me that I can't do anything about right now. I have to fill in my hours for this week as classroom learning time to get my continuing education credits (a firm and CPA requirement). I'd love to actually go back to my hotel room and do some work related items, but I also have to bill that and we're being lectured right now to avoid working more than 45 hours a week at almost all cost.
So, not only am I away from home, jet lagged, and not sleeping well, I'm also frustrated with the fact that I'm feeling very unproductive. I get back Monday and I'm supposed to take Friday off (because Monday and Thursday count as at least 12 hour days when you could travel time and class time, putting me well over 45 hours this week), but I know next week is a short week because of Thanksgiving. I just feel like I'll never get caught up on things because of this week away.
Oh well, at least the MSU basketball team managed to pull off a win tonight.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
If Gambling were legal....
So, I got completely crushed last week in my football picks. Crushed like Jared takes down a Subway Sub. The only bright side was my upset pick of Michigan not only failing to cover against Purdue, but Purdue actually winning outright. But, that being said, I still went 2-4 last week and it brings my overall record down to 5-7. I'd like to blame my record on the fact that I picked the games at 11:30 AM last Saturday morning, but looking back on things, I don't think I'd pick anything different now. The only thing I didn't factor in was the resurgence of Illinois as an offensive powerhouse after they destroyed Michigan and then put 35 on Minnesota last week. We'll have to see if the folks in Vegas have taken into into consideration for this week. Minnesota hosts South Dakota State this week and there is no line for this game, so I'll just skip it and say, no way Minnesota loses this game. Without further ado, here are the picks:
Big Ten Games - Home Team in Caps
Indiana +25.5 over #18 PENN STATE 12:00 ET Big Ten Network
Penn State has something to prove. They were pushed around by Ohio State last weekend and really struggled to get anything going in their 24-7 loss. If Darryl Clark and Evan Royster are going to be considered an offensive stars, they need to put up more than 161 yards of total offense between them. Credit the OSU defense for their gameplan, but two players that drew comparisons to Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook last week (yep, a newspaper in Pennsylvania actually made that comparison), you have to show up for what was arguably the biggest game of the season for your team.
This Indiana offense is pretty good. They've managed to put up 33 points against Michigan (granted Michigan is like the campus slut, everyone scores on them), 24 on Iowa, 28 against Northwestern, and 28 against Wisconsin. They even managed 14 against an Ohio State defense than held Penn State to 7 points last week. I'm sure Penn State win this game. They probably even win by 3 touchdowns, but I think they get off to a slow start against the Hoosiers (call it a hangover from last week's loss), but they'll come through in the 2nd quarter and 2nd half and easily roll to victory...but fail to cover. Penn State wins 38-17
#20 WISCONSIN -8.5 over Michigan 12:00 ET Big Ten Network
Michigan's defense is terrible. If Wisconsin fails to score 35 points in this game, it's because their offense turns the ball over multiple (read: 3+ times). John Clay was injured in their game against Indiana last week, but is fully expected to play this week. John Clay and Montee Ball have turned into a great 1-2 punch for the Badgers running game. On top of that, early in the season, Wisconsin QB Scott Tolzien proved he has the ability to make plays when he has time to throw the ball. I expect big games from Clay, Ball, Tolzien, and TE Garrett Graham against a weak Michigan defense. Also, something to watch for all Badger fans is the growth of freshman linebacker Chris Borland. Borland was a stand-out on special teams and rushing the QB early in season and his production has only gone up since he's stepped into the Badgers line-up after injuries struck the defense. Look for him to keep an eye on the Michigan QB's this weekend and cause trouble for Tate Forcier and Denard Robinson all day on Saturday.
Speaking of the Michigan defense, it's been written everywhere (including this blog) how terrible it has been this season. The real question on the matter is whether it's a talent issue or a coaching issue. Personally, I think it's a combination of things and you can't blame either side entirely. The bigger question is the Rich Rodriguez experiment. I was going to write an entire blog entry on this subject, but I don't want to come across as a Michigan State fan taking cheap shots at the Michigan football program when they're down. If I have some free time tonight, maybe I'll put something together. That being said, I just don't see the Michigan defense putting a stop to the Wisconsin offense. It's a Wisconsin offense that bases their game on ball control and running the football. They'll keep the Michigan offense on the sidelines and win by at least 10. Wisconsin wins, 38-28.
ILLINOIS -4 over Northwestern 12:00 ET ESPN Classic
I just have no feelings for this game. It's like a guy with a hot sister. He knows she's hot, but she's still his sister and doesn't think of her that way (even when all of his buddies are trying to hit on her). I just don't have any interest in this game. I guess Illinois wins. Their offense seems to be coming around (scored 38 against Michigan and 35 against Minnesota) Northwestern pulled off a major upset beating Iowa last weekend, but I think the injury to Iowa QB Ricky Stanzi was as much a factor in that game as was the play of Northwestern's defense. I also think there could be a letdown factor for the Wildcats this weekend coming off the big victory last weekend. I know I've always said never trust a Ron Zook coached team, but in this case I'll give the points and take the Illini at home in the in-state rivalry game. Illinois wins 27-20.
Michigan State -3 over PURDUE 12:00 ET ESPN
Probably the second biggest Big Ten game of the weekend. 4-6 Purdue is playing to keep their bowl hopes alive. 5-5 MSU is playing to become bowl eligible with a tough game against Penn State awaiting them next weekend. Purdue started the season 1-5, but that 1-5 record included a tough 38-36 loss at Oregon, a close 24-21 loss to Notre Dame. They surprised Ohio State and scored the 2nd biggest upset of the Big Ten season with a 26-18 victory at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette. Since then, it's been a collection of up and down performances for the Boilers. After being destroyed 37-0 by Wisconsin, the Boilers rebounded with a strong second half performance to beat Michigan 38-36 in a game they trailed 24-10 at halftime. QB Joey Elliott has proved to be very solid and RB Ralph Bolden is third in the Big Ten in rushing. Elliott leads the Big Ten in passing yards, is second in touchdowns, but is also second in interceptions. That being said, I still think their offense will have a couple of missteps against a MSU defense who should come out with something to prove and looked much better last week against a much inferior opponent in Western Michigan.
There's no question about the Michigan State offense. They're going to score some points as Blair White and Kirk Cousins will always keep this offense moving. The Spartans are hoping Larry Caper can return this week and continue what has been a decent freshman campaign for the Battle Creek native. One good thing to come out of the Spartans game last week was Ashton Leggett's performance. The seldom used running back who started the season fifth on the depth chart showed his nose for the endzone. Coming into the game Leggett had one carry for zero yards. Against Western Leggett had 14 carries for 110 yards and four touchdowns. While his 71 yard touchdown run was impressive, his ability to punch the ball in near the goaline was more impressive to me. Let's face it, looking at his long touchdown, almost any running back playing division 1 football takes that to the endzone. Western pushed all their defenders up the middle as MSU ran to the outside. Leggett, who is not known for his speed, jumped outside and was gone. There was no one on the field between the left hashmark and the sideline and Leggett has a wide open field in front of him. On the hand, the Spartans have struggled this season to get the ball in the end zone when it's 1st and goal inside the five. The offensive line has struggled to get a solid push and the freshman running backs (Caper and Baker) have struggled to find the endzone. When healthy, Glenn Winston was the guy near the endzone, but since his knee injury Caper and Baker have not been able to match his production. This set-up Leggett for what he did last weekend. At 5'11" and 230 pounds, he's exactly what MSU needs. The knock on Leggett coming into the year was his ability to hang on to the ball, but it appears he's worked on that problem and the coaches trust his ability near the endzone.
The Spartans will give up some points, but win the turnover battle. The defense will keep Bolden under wraps and put pressure on Elliott. Larry Caper will come back healthy and the Spartans will take care of business in West Lafayette this weekend. MSU wins 34-27.
#10 Iowa +17 over #11 OHIO STATE 3:30 ET ABC
I don't get this line. I know Iowa is playing without Ricky Stanzi. I know they're on their fourth string running back after injuries have crushed their running game this year. As bad as freshman QB James Vandenberg looked last week for the Hawkeyes, I expect him to be much better after a full week of practice with the starting unit. Also, this is still the Hawkeye defense that has given teams fits all year long.
That being said, Ohio State looked very good against Penn State last week. Their defense managed to shut down a very good Penn State offense. I still don't trust Terrell Pryor against a good defense. Iowa's strength on defense is their run defense. If they can prevent Pryor from completing the long pass and force him to be accurate throwing the ball short, I think they can keep the Ohio State offense under wraps. Pryor is still not very accurate in the 8-12 yard passing game. He's got a great arm and throws a great deep ball. If he has time to line-up and throw it 40 yards down the field, he'll complete 3/5 which is a great number on deep balls. That being said, he's lucky to complete 3/5 on short out patterns and crossing patterns.
There's no coach in the Big Ten that I trust more than Kirk Ferentz. He's like the anti-Ron Zook. He game plans well and his teams are almost always ready to play. I think he finds a way to keep this close even with all the injuries facing the Hawkeyes. Ohio State wins, but Iowa keeps it close with a couple of big plays from wide receivers Marvin McNutt and Derrell Johnson-Koulianos. OSU wins 24-17.
Record Last week: 2-4
Overall Record: 5-7.
Big Ten Games - Home Team in Caps
Indiana +25.5 over #18 PENN STATE 12:00 ET Big Ten Network
Penn State has something to prove. They were pushed around by Ohio State last weekend and really struggled to get anything going in their 24-7 loss. If Darryl Clark and Evan Royster are going to be considered an offensive stars, they need to put up more than 161 yards of total offense between them. Credit the OSU defense for their gameplan, but two players that drew comparisons to Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook last week (yep, a newspaper in Pennsylvania actually made that comparison), you have to show up for what was arguably the biggest game of the season for your team.
This Indiana offense is pretty good. They've managed to put up 33 points against Michigan (granted Michigan is like the campus slut, everyone scores on them), 24 on Iowa, 28 against Northwestern, and 28 against Wisconsin. They even managed 14 against an Ohio State defense than held Penn State to 7 points last week. I'm sure Penn State win this game. They probably even win by 3 touchdowns, but I think they get off to a slow start against the Hoosiers (call it a hangover from last week's loss), but they'll come through in the 2nd quarter and 2nd half and easily roll to victory...but fail to cover. Penn State wins 38-17
#20 WISCONSIN -8.5 over Michigan 12:00 ET Big Ten Network
Michigan's defense is terrible. If Wisconsin fails to score 35 points in this game, it's because their offense turns the ball over multiple (read: 3+ times). John Clay was injured in their game against Indiana last week, but is fully expected to play this week. John Clay and Montee Ball have turned into a great 1-2 punch for the Badgers running game. On top of that, early in the season, Wisconsin QB Scott Tolzien proved he has the ability to make plays when he has time to throw the ball. I expect big games from Clay, Ball, Tolzien, and TE Garrett Graham against a weak Michigan defense. Also, something to watch for all Badger fans is the growth of freshman linebacker Chris Borland. Borland was a stand-out on special teams and rushing the QB early in season and his production has only gone up since he's stepped into the Badgers line-up after injuries struck the defense. Look for him to keep an eye on the Michigan QB's this weekend and cause trouble for Tate Forcier and Denard Robinson all day on Saturday.
Speaking of the Michigan defense, it's been written everywhere (including this blog) how terrible it has been this season. The real question on the matter is whether it's a talent issue or a coaching issue. Personally, I think it's a combination of things and you can't blame either side entirely. The bigger question is the Rich Rodriguez experiment. I was going to write an entire blog entry on this subject, but I don't want to come across as a Michigan State fan taking cheap shots at the Michigan football program when they're down. If I have some free time tonight, maybe I'll put something together. That being said, I just don't see the Michigan defense putting a stop to the Wisconsin offense. It's a Wisconsin offense that bases their game on ball control and running the football. They'll keep the Michigan offense on the sidelines and win by at least 10. Wisconsin wins, 38-28.
ILLINOIS -4 over Northwestern 12:00 ET ESPN Classic
I just have no feelings for this game. It's like a guy with a hot sister. He knows she's hot, but she's still his sister and doesn't think of her that way (even when all of his buddies are trying to hit on her). I just don't have any interest in this game. I guess Illinois wins. Their offense seems to be coming around (scored 38 against Michigan and 35 against Minnesota) Northwestern pulled off a major upset beating Iowa last weekend, but I think the injury to Iowa QB Ricky Stanzi was as much a factor in that game as was the play of Northwestern's defense. I also think there could be a letdown factor for the Wildcats this weekend coming off the big victory last weekend. I know I've always said never trust a Ron Zook coached team, but in this case I'll give the points and take the Illini at home in the in-state rivalry game. Illinois wins 27-20.
Michigan State -3 over PURDUE 12:00 ET ESPN
Probably the second biggest Big Ten game of the weekend. 4-6 Purdue is playing to keep their bowl hopes alive. 5-5 MSU is playing to become bowl eligible with a tough game against Penn State awaiting them next weekend. Purdue started the season 1-5, but that 1-5 record included a tough 38-36 loss at Oregon, a close 24-21 loss to Notre Dame. They surprised Ohio State and scored the 2nd biggest upset of the Big Ten season with a 26-18 victory at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette. Since then, it's been a collection of up and down performances for the Boilers. After being destroyed 37-0 by Wisconsin, the Boilers rebounded with a strong second half performance to beat Michigan 38-36 in a game they trailed 24-10 at halftime. QB Joey Elliott has proved to be very solid and RB Ralph Bolden is third in the Big Ten in rushing. Elliott leads the Big Ten in passing yards, is second in touchdowns, but is also second in interceptions. That being said, I still think their offense will have a couple of missteps against a MSU defense who should come out with something to prove and looked much better last week against a much inferior opponent in Western Michigan.
There's no question about the Michigan State offense. They're going to score some points as Blair White and Kirk Cousins will always keep this offense moving. The Spartans are hoping Larry Caper can return this week and continue what has been a decent freshman campaign for the Battle Creek native. One good thing to come out of the Spartans game last week was Ashton Leggett's performance. The seldom used running back who started the season fifth on the depth chart showed his nose for the endzone. Coming into the game Leggett had one carry for zero yards. Against Western Leggett had 14 carries for 110 yards and four touchdowns. While his 71 yard touchdown run was impressive, his ability to punch the ball in near the goaline was more impressive to me. Let's face it, looking at his long touchdown, almost any running back playing division 1 football takes that to the endzone. Western pushed all their defenders up the middle as MSU ran to the outside. Leggett, who is not known for his speed, jumped outside and was gone. There was no one on the field between the left hashmark and the sideline and Leggett has a wide open field in front of him. On the hand, the Spartans have struggled this season to get the ball in the end zone when it's 1st and goal inside the five. The offensive line has struggled to get a solid push and the freshman running backs (Caper and Baker) have struggled to find the endzone. When healthy, Glenn Winston was the guy near the endzone, but since his knee injury Caper and Baker have not been able to match his production. This set-up Leggett for what he did last weekend. At 5'11" and 230 pounds, he's exactly what MSU needs. The knock on Leggett coming into the year was his ability to hang on to the ball, but it appears he's worked on that problem and the coaches trust his ability near the endzone.
The Spartans will give up some points, but win the turnover battle. The defense will keep Bolden under wraps and put pressure on Elliott. Larry Caper will come back healthy and the Spartans will take care of business in West Lafayette this weekend. MSU wins 34-27.
#10 Iowa +17 over #11 OHIO STATE 3:30 ET ABC
I don't get this line. I know Iowa is playing without Ricky Stanzi. I know they're on their fourth string running back after injuries have crushed their running game this year. As bad as freshman QB James Vandenberg looked last week for the Hawkeyes, I expect him to be much better after a full week of practice with the starting unit. Also, this is still the Hawkeye defense that has given teams fits all year long.
That being said, Ohio State looked very good against Penn State last week. Their defense managed to shut down a very good Penn State offense. I still don't trust Terrell Pryor against a good defense. Iowa's strength on defense is their run defense. If they can prevent Pryor from completing the long pass and force him to be accurate throwing the ball short, I think they can keep the Ohio State offense under wraps. Pryor is still not very accurate in the 8-12 yard passing game. He's got a great arm and throws a great deep ball. If he has time to line-up and throw it 40 yards down the field, he'll complete 3/5 which is a great number on deep balls. That being said, he's lucky to complete 3/5 on short out patterns and crossing patterns.
There's no coach in the Big Ten that I trust more than Kirk Ferentz. He's like the anti-Ron Zook. He game plans well and his teams are almost always ready to play. I think he finds a way to keep this close even with all the injuries facing the Hawkeyes. Ohio State wins, but Iowa keeps it close with a couple of big plays from wide receivers Marvin McNutt and Derrell Johnson-Koulianos. OSU wins 24-17.
Record Last week: 2-4
Overall Record: 5-7.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
My quick thoughts from last weekend. They're kind of random, kind of all over the place, but well, they're just some quick hits from the last week or so.
The Good
- The MSU football team did exactly what they were supposed to do this past weekend. They came out against Western Michigan, jumped out to a big lead and never looked back. I'm not 100% sold on Ashton Leggett as an answer to Michigan State's running game (I still feel that the offensive line is a big part of the problem), but he might be an answer near the end zone. I think Caper is a better all-around back and Baker provides a speed element that no one else can match, but Leggett runs with authority and it's something MSU needs in short-yardage situations. Glenn Winston filled this role before he blew out his knee earlier this year, but hopefully Leggett can fill that role in MSU's remaining games (at Purdue, Penn State in East Lansing, and hopefully a bowl game)
- College basketball officially started this week, as North Carolina tipped off against Florida International and Ohio State took on Alcorn State last evening. Not exactly thrilling match-ups, but exciting none the less. MSU opens the regular season Friday with a match-up at the Breslin Center with Florida Gulf Coast (Who??). They're a little banged up early in the year with minor injuries (slight concussion for Delvon Roe, a couple minor injuries for Chris Allen and Durrell Summers, and possibly a worse injury for Raymar Morgan), but most should be healed by Friday. Hopefully Morgan will be back by the time MSU plays Gonzaga (November 17), but Tom Izzo is taking a wait and see approach. One good thing to come out of the exhibition games against Northwood and Grand Valley is the emergence of Draymond Green. Not only is he still rebounding well, but he's also showing an outside shooting touch and some very strong leadership. MSU will miss Travis Walton's leadership skills at times this year, but it sure seems like Green is stepping into that role very early into his sophomore season.
- The NFL season is still going strong. The New Orleans Saints came from behind this weekend to stay undefeated. Indianapolis needed a missed field goal by Houston's Kris Brown to stay undefeated. The Colts host the Patriots next Sunday evening and you have to wonder if they were slightly looking past the Texans and towards their match-up with the Patriots.
The Bad
- The Detroit Lions are 1-7 through 8 games and Matthew Stafford threw 5 interceptions this weekend at Seattle. Remind you, this was a Seattle defense with only 3 interceptions this season heading into last weekend. While there are signs of improvements and more skilled players on this team, there are still major question marks. The offensive line still struggles to give Staffard time or open holes for the running game. The defensive line struggles to put any pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Kevin Smith is not the answer at running back. He just doesn't show a burst even when the line manages to give him a hole to run through. There is some young talent on this team (Stafford, Calvin Johnson, Brandon Pettigrew, Louis Delmas, and even Sammie Lee Hill), but they're a long way from being a competitive team.
- The University of Michigan Defense. Rich Rodriguez brought in Greg Robinson this year to improve their defense from last year's disaster. This year, they're 89th in the nation in total defense, giving up almost 400 yards per game. In games against Divison 1 opponents, they're giving up over 28 points per game. If you remove games against MAC opponents, they're giving up over 33 points per game. It makes you wonder if it's a lack of talent or poor coaching. I'd have to assume it's some of each, but with players like Donovan Warren and Brandon Graham, they shouldn't be this bad. The folks in Ann Arbor are getting restless as Michigan is 1-5 in the Big Ten this season and staring 1-7 directly in the face with their remaining games being at 7-2 Wisconsin and home against 8-2 Ohio State. So much for that 4-0 start, huh?
The Ugly
- It's been discussed almost everywhere lately, but if you haven't seen video of New Mexico female soccer player Elizabeth Lambert, you should see it. It's unbelievable and completely uncalled for to act the way she did. Soccer can be a physical sport. Anyone that has watched a soccer game played at the high school level and beyond would agree with that statement. That being said, there is never any reason to yank down a competitor by her pony tail or intentionally kick a soccer ball into the face of a fallen opponent. While Ms. Lambert has apologized, her actions are something that can not just be swept under the rug with a simple apology.
The Good
- The MSU football team did exactly what they were supposed to do this past weekend. They came out against Western Michigan, jumped out to a big lead and never looked back. I'm not 100% sold on Ashton Leggett as an answer to Michigan State's running game (I still feel that the offensive line is a big part of the problem), but he might be an answer near the end zone. I think Caper is a better all-around back and Baker provides a speed element that no one else can match, but Leggett runs with authority and it's something MSU needs in short-yardage situations. Glenn Winston filled this role before he blew out his knee earlier this year, but hopefully Leggett can fill that role in MSU's remaining games (at Purdue, Penn State in East Lansing, and hopefully a bowl game)
- College basketball officially started this week, as North Carolina tipped off against Florida International and Ohio State took on Alcorn State last evening. Not exactly thrilling match-ups, but exciting none the less. MSU opens the regular season Friday with a match-up at the Breslin Center with Florida Gulf Coast (Who??). They're a little banged up early in the year with minor injuries (slight concussion for Delvon Roe, a couple minor injuries for Chris Allen and Durrell Summers, and possibly a worse injury for Raymar Morgan), but most should be healed by Friday. Hopefully Morgan will be back by the time MSU plays Gonzaga (November 17), but Tom Izzo is taking a wait and see approach. One good thing to come out of the exhibition games against Northwood and Grand Valley is the emergence of Draymond Green. Not only is he still rebounding well, but he's also showing an outside shooting touch and some very strong leadership. MSU will miss Travis Walton's leadership skills at times this year, but it sure seems like Green is stepping into that role very early into his sophomore season.
- The NFL season is still going strong. The New Orleans Saints came from behind this weekend to stay undefeated. Indianapolis needed a missed field goal by Houston's Kris Brown to stay undefeated. The Colts host the Patriots next Sunday evening and you have to wonder if they were slightly looking past the Texans and towards their match-up with the Patriots.
The Bad
- The Detroit Lions are 1-7 through 8 games and Matthew Stafford threw 5 interceptions this weekend at Seattle. Remind you, this was a Seattle defense with only 3 interceptions this season heading into last weekend. While there are signs of improvements and more skilled players on this team, there are still major question marks. The offensive line still struggles to give Staffard time or open holes for the running game. The defensive line struggles to put any pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Kevin Smith is not the answer at running back. He just doesn't show a burst even when the line manages to give him a hole to run through. There is some young talent on this team (Stafford, Calvin Johnson, Brandon Pettigrew, Louis Delmas, and even Sammie Lee Hill), but they're a long way from being a competitive team.
- The University of Michigan Defense. Rich Rodriguez brought in Greg Robinson this year to improve their defense from last year's disaster. This year, they're 89th in the nation in total defense, giving up almost 400 yards per game. In games against Divison 1 opponents, they're giving up over 28 points per game. If you remove games against MAC opponents, they're giving up over 33 points per game. It makes you wonder if it's a lack of talent or poor coaching. I'd have to assume it's some of each, but with players like Donovan Warren and Brandon Graham, they shouldn't be this bad. The folks in Ann Arbor are getting restless as Michigan is 1-5 in the Big Ten this season and staring 1-7 directly in the face with their remaining games being at 7-2 Wisconsin and home against 8-2 Ohio State. So much for that 4-0 start, huh?
The Ugly
- It's been discussed almost everywhere lately, but if you haven't seen video of New Mexico female soccer player Elizabeth Lambert, you should see it. It's unbelievable and completely uncalled for to act the way she did. Soccer can be a physical sport. Anyone that has watched a soccer game played at the high school level and beyond would agree with that statement. That being said, there is never any reason to yank down a competitor by her pony tail or intentionally kick a soccer ball into the face of a fallen opponent. While Ms. Lambert has apologized, her actions are something that can not just be swept under the rug with a simple apology.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
If Gamlbing were legal....
...this is who I like this weekend. Short and sweet because it's Saturday morning and I'm just getting around to this. Call it a busy week. Oh, and for the rest of the year I'm not going to pick national games. I just haven't watched enough national football this year
Big Ten Games - Home Team in Caps
#21 Wisconsin -13.5 over INDIANA
Lots of losses for Indiana this year where they keep it close early and end up losing at the end (see their loss to Iowa last week)
MICHIGAN STATE -20.5 over Western Michigan
A non-conference game for the Spartans in the middle of the season is always a chance for the team to get healthy and work out the kinks. Watch the Spartans roll and win by 30 today.
Purdue +7 over MICHIGAN
Purdue is a young team that struggles on the road (lost 37-0 at Wisconsin) but excels at home (beat Ohio State at home). Not only do they cover, Purdue wins this game outright.
MINNESOTA -6.5 over Illinois
A game between two teams still looking for an identity. Illinois looked very good running the ball against a bad Michigan defense last week. Minnesota proved they can still pass the ball even without Eric Decker in their win over Michigan State on Halloween.
#4 IOWA -15 over Northwestern
Iowa's defense is very solid. Northwestern's offense is a little banged up. Iowa came out flat against Indiana last week, but I don't see it happening two weeks in a row. Hawks roll this week.
#11 PENN STATE -5.5 over #16 Ohio State
I still don't trust Terrell Prior in any game where he's forced to throw the ball to move the Ohio State offense. Penn State is very solid on the defensive side of the ball and they won't let Prior beat them with his legs. I wouldn't want to give Ohio State more than a touchdown, but at 5.5 I'm pretty comfortable picking the Nittany Lions is what should be the best Big Ten game of the day.
Big Ten Record against the spread last week:
3-3
Big Ten Games - Home Team in Caps
#21 Wisconsin -13.5 over INDIANA
Lots of losses for Indiana this year where they keep it close early and end up losing at the end (see their loss to Iowa last week)
MICHIGAN STATE -20.5 over Western Michigan
A non-conference game for the Spartans in the middle of the season is always a chance for the team to get healthy and work out the kinks. Watch the Spartans roll and win by 30 today.
Purdue +7 over MICHIGAN
Purdue is a young team that struggles on the road (lost 37-0 at Wisconsin) but excels at home (beat Ohio State at home). Not only do they cover, Purdue wins this game outright.
MINNESOTA -6.5 over Illinois
A game between two teams still looking for an identity. Illinois looked very good running the ball against a bad Michigan defense last week. Minnesota proved they can still pass the ball even without Eric Decker in their win over Michigan State on Halloween.
#4 IOWA -15 over Northwestern
Iowa's defense is very solid. Northwestern's offense is a little banged up. Iowa came out flat against Indiana last week, but I don't see it happening two weeks in a row. Hawks roll this week.
#11 PENN STATE -5.5 over #16 Ohio State
I still don't trust Terrell Prior in any game where he's forced to throw the ball to move the Ohio State offense. Penn State is very solid on the defensive side of the ball and they won't let Prior beat them with his legs. I wouldn't want to give Ohio State more than a touchdown, but at 5.5 I'm pretty comfortable picking the Nittany Lions is what should be the best Big Ten game of the day.
Big Ten Record against the spread last week:
3-3
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Busy, busy, busy days
So life's been pretty busy lately, but that's not really a bad thing. I've barely had time to sleep, let alone write in here. Here are just a few quick hits on the weekend and random sports over the past week or so.
The Good
- Halloween is always fun. I hope some day, when Michelle and I have kids and are in a house of our own, we can have a neighborhood that's as busy as Tim and Colleen's on Halloween. Michelle and I had a lot of fun out there this weekend with all the trick-or-treaters and their neighbors who went all out on their front yard decorations.
- The Red Wings managed to go 2-2-1 on their West Coast/Canada trip the last couple weeks. Not a great record, but I'll take it for a team hurt by injuries and the flu bug recently. With Franzen and Filppula (possibly the Wings most consistent player so far this year) out with significant injuries, and then Rafalski and Ericsson out with the flu, the Wings really aren't at full strength at all right now. On top of that, no matter what they say, their early season trip to Sweden throws off the whole first couple months of the season (it does it for everyone that travels to Europe early in the year, just see last year's New York Rangers for proof).
- The World Series goes on, and I'll be the first to admit I've barely watched any of it. I have an interest in who wins, but I'm not really sure I feel like watching a 4 hour baseball game between two teams I don't really care about. As much as I don't think it's going to happen, I'd love to see the Yankees blow their 3-1 lead and the Phillies win games 6 and 7 in New York City.
- The NFL still continues to surprise me every week. New Orleans and Indianapolis are as good as we thought. The Giants are probably not as good as everyone thought. I still can't stand Brett Favre wearing purple. I wouldn't want to play Tom Brady and the Patriots in the playoffs.
The Bad
- The officiating in the Big Ten seems to always find a way to get in the middle of a Michigan State football game, and not in a good way. If there's anyway that wasn't a catch and a fumble in the 4th quarter against Minnesota Saturday night, I don't know what is. It never should have been that close in the first place, but there's no reason for the officials to miss that call with instant replay.
- The Big Ten Network is charging people $2.99 to watch Big Ten teams play exhibition basketball games against Division II and Division III teams (i.e. MSU against Northwood University and Grand Valley State University). They're then replaying the games on regular television at 4 AM the following morning. Is the "classic" football game they're showing at 4 PM on Sunday really a bigger draw than a live men's basketball game? Thanks, but no thanks Big Ten Network. I'll tape the 4 AM coverage and watch it the next day over paying for an online stream that doesn't even have a clear picture half the time.
- The Detroit Pistons opened their season 1-2 against 3 teams that probably won't make the playoffs (the team former known as the the Sonics might make a playoff drive behind Westbrook and Durant). I don't see it getting much better. They don't play any defense. They don't have any inside offense (Charlie Villanueva spends as much time outside as he does inside and you can't rely on Ben Wallace or Kwame Brown to ever score more than 4 points per game). Their two best players (Rip Hamilton and Ben Gordon) play the same position and don't really fit together well on the court at the same time. Their top draft pick from last year (Austin Daye) plays the same position as their 29 year old prospect who has never really gotten better since his first two years in the league (Tayshaun Prince, who will never be better than a 13,5, and 3 guy) It's going to be a long year for Piston fans.
The Ugly
- I don't remember there being this many bad teams in the NFL in one year, maybe ever. The Browns, Rams, Lions, Bucs, Chiefs, and Raiders are just not very good football teams. I haven't seen attendance and television blackout figures lately, but it's hard to believe people in the cities of Cleveland, St. Louis, Detroit, Tampa, Kansas City, and Oakland are actually paying to watch those teams play.
The Good
- Halloween is always fun. I hope some day, when Michelle and I have kids and are in a house of our own, we can have a neighborhood that's as busy as Tim and Colleen's on Halloween. Michelle and I had a lot of fun out there this weekend with all the trick-or-treaters and their neighbors who went all out on their front yard decorations.
- The Red Wings managed to go 2-2-1 on their West Coast/Canada trip the last couple weeks. Not a great record, but I'll take it for a team hurt by injuries and the flu bug recently. With Franzen and Filppula (possibly the Wings most consistent player so far this year) out with significant injuries, and then Rafalski and Ericsson out with the flu, the Wings really aren't at full strength at all right now. On top of that, no matter what they say, their early season trip to Sweden throws off the whole first couple months of the season (it does it for everyone that travels to Europe early in the year, just see last year's New York Rangers for proof).
- The World Series goes on, and I'll be the first to admit I've barely watched any of it. I have an interest in who wins, but I'm not really sure I feel like watching a 4 hour baseball game between two teams I don't really care about. As much as I don't think it's going to happen, I'd love to see the Yankees blow their 3-1 lead and the Phillies win games 6 and 7 in New York City.
- The NFL still continues to surprise me every week. New Orleans and Indianapolis are as good as we thought. The Giants are probably not as good as everyone thought. I still can't stand Brett Favre wearing purple. I wouldn't want to play Tom Brady and the Patriots in the playoffs.
The Bad
- The officiating in the Big Ten seems to always find a way to get in the middle of a Michigan State football game, and not in a good way. If there's anyway that wasn't a catch and a fumble in the 4th quarter against Minnesota Saturday night, I don't know what is. It never should have been that close in the first place, but there's no reason for the officials to miss that call with instant replay.
- The Big Ten Network is charging people $2.99 to watch Big Ten teams play exhibition basketball games against Division II and Division III teams (i.e. MSU against Northwood University and Grand Valley State University). They're then replaying the games on regular television at 4 AM the following morning. Is the "classic" football game they're showing at 4 PM on Sunday really a bigger draw than a live men's basketball game? Thanks, but no thanks Big Ten Network. I'll tape the 4 AM coverage and watch it the next day over paying for an online stream that doesn't even have a clear picture half the time.
- The Detroit Pistons opened their season 1-2 against 3 teams that probably won't make the playoffs (the team former known as the the Sonics might make a playoff drive behind Westbrook and Durant). I don't see it getting much better. They don't play any defense. They don't have any inside offense (Charlie Villanueva spends as much time outside as he does inside and you can't rely on Ben Wallace or Kwame Brown to ever score more than 4 points per game). Their two best players (Rip Hamilton and Ben Gordon) play the same position and don't really fit together well on the court at the same time. Their top draft pick from last year (Austin Daye) plays the same position as their 29 year old prospect who has never really gotten better since his first two years in the league (Tayshaun Prince, who will never be better than a 13,5, and 3 guy) It's going to be a long year for Piston fans.
The Ugly
- I don't remember there being this many bad teams in the NFL in one year, maybe ever. The Browns, Rams, Lions, Bucs, Chiefs, and Raiders are just not very good football teams. I haven't seen attendance and television blackout figures lately, but it's hard to believe people in the cities of Cleveland, St. Louis, Detroit, Tampa, Kansas City, and Oakland are actually paying to watch those teams play.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
