Dan Malkin Live

Half Way Through the Knicks First Season With Amare

2011-01-19T13:59:00.000-05:00

or the New York Knicks, the 2010-11 NBA season has been a rather up-and-down campaign.

Initially, after a rather successful offseason highlighted by the signings of Amar'e Stoudmire and Raymond Felton, expectations were very high.

However, the team stumbled out of the gate, earning a dismal 3-8 record through their first 11 games.

Nevertheless, New York managed to right the ship, proceeding to torch their opponents throughout the course of a 13-1 run, which set their record at 16-9.

But then their schedule began to toughen up, as they were soon to face Eastern Conference powerhouses like the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat and Orlando Magic, followed by a matchup against the league-leading San Antonio Spurs and a Western Conference road trip which included a game at the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers.

And while they lost to many of their more-highly-touted opponents, the Knicks still managed to go 6-6 during this stretch, putting their record at 22-15.

Yet with their January 19 loss to the Houston Rockets, New York is currently in the doldrums of a four-game losing streak, with a record of 22-19 at the halfway point of the 2010-11 season.

And with upcoming matchups against playoff teams like the Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder, Heat, Atlanta Hawks and Dallas Mavericks over the next two weeks, the Knicks' schedule doesn't look to get much easier.

Still though, the franchise is currently sitting in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, and it is a full five games above the next team.

So despite their less-than-desirable play of late, there's still hope for the Knicks.

Tiger and Phil are back and ready to battle

2011-01-10T12:54:00.000-05:00

Tiger Woods is back next week.

So is Phil Mickelson.

Thanks to the Farmers Insurance event at Torrey Pines, Woods and Mickelson are playing in January, and that in and of itself is an eye opener. Both will make their PGA Tour debuts for 2011 next Thursday.

Fact is, Mickelson couldn't even wait until next week. He's teeing up Thursday in Abu Dhabi on the European Tour with the other three major champions from 2010—Graeme McDowell, Louis Oosthuizen and Martin Kaymer.

Lee Westwood will also start his season before Woods. He's been on site in Abu Dhabi, knocking some of the rust off his game, as he's been rehabbing his bothersome leg and ankle that troubled him in the last few months of 2010.

This early start is a big departure for Mickelson from his typical routine. But Left has said that with the exception of the Masters, last season was not up to snuff for him.

Woods has been absent from Torrey Pines since his U.S. Open victory there in 2008. He was recovering from surgery in 2009, then missed 2010 with his self-imposed exile after his personal problems went ballistic.

Jimmer Fredette: The best guard in college basketball

2011-01-03T21:53:00.000-05:00

Is there anything Jimmer can't do?

I'm referring to Jimmer Fredette, the outstanding senior guard from Bringham Young University all the while repressing the urge to make several references to Jimmy, the gym rat who referred to himself in the third person on Seinfeld.

This is the same Jimmy Fredette who's lighting up the college basketball world and starting a battle with UCONN's Kemba Walker for the national scoring lead in a unprecedented race we have not seen...since 2006.

Of course, that was when J.J. Redick and Adam Morrison went back and forth all season for the scoring title and before both were selected in the first round of the 2006 National Basketball Association draft.

Morrison's now a bench warmer with a ring, while Redick's a serviceable pro.

Instead, Jimmer was pretty sweet on half-court jumpers in the first half of a blowout win against Texas Christian University.

Perhaps the most impressive thing, which was a clear make from almost the half-court line, is the confidence of Fredette to make the shot.

He's shown he can be dangerous from anywhere on the floor. He can penetrate and score inside, he can knock down the outside shot, and he can pull it down and distribute to his teammates. He's a very complete player.

What can you do when he's hitting shots like this without any effort. You can't touch him. Don't touch Jimmer. Okay—I had to do at least one Jimmy reference.

Granted, he's had trouble making easy dunks when he's by himself, but he's in a world by himself right now and some team in the late first or early second round of this year's draft is going get an absolute steal in Fredette.

Baseballs MVP Race Will Be One For The Record Books: Who Will Win The Award?

2010-11-16T13:19:00.002-05:00

November is upon us and we have entered into that time of year when all sports fans turn there attention to the NFL, college football and the start of college basketball. With that said, it is still time to announce the end of the year MLB awards.

It will be interesting to see which players come away with this years awards. The race is extremely tight in the American League, where there are four candidates who have a legitimate shot at winning the award. While in the National League, it will be a foot race between three sluggers.

In the AL, the race is between; Robinson Cano, Josh Hamilton, Jose Bautista and Miguel Cabrera. All four of these players had very strong statistical seasons in many areas of the game. When it comes to MVP awards, a non playoff team member should never win over a playoff team participant. Therefore, the AL race is between Cano and Hammy.

Both of these players had very nice seasons while helping to lead their teams into this years playoffs. With over .300 batting averages and nice doses of power, each hitter was able to get the job done at the plate.

Hamilton missed almost all of September and because of this, definitely lost some stat numbers. This may have a small effect on some of the votes. Since Cano is a second baseman he will also get some extra votes do to his position.

When it is all said and done, I believe Josh Hamilton will come away as the 2010 AL MVP. His .352 average is just straight remarkable and this will be the difference maker when it comes to the voters.

In the National League, the race will also be a close one. Albert Pujols and Joey Votto will be the top two finishers, with Carlos Gonzalez finishing in third place.

My playoff rule is in effect here once again as Votto is the only player of the group who helped lead his team into this years playoffs. However, when it comes to statistics, Votto is also better then the rest.

All three, hit over 30 home runs, scored over 100 runs and drove in over 100 while batting above .300. When it comes to the deeper statistics, Votto was on a whole new level. With his .600 slugging percentage and his .424 OBP he clearly proved to the world that he deserves this years coveted award.

The MVP awards will be announced to the public next week and all baseball fans should look for Josh Hamilton and Joey Votto to come away as the recipients.

Who Will Play for the BCS National Championship Game?

2010-11-16T13:18:00.000-05:00

We are currently approaching the end of the college football season, and it has been quite an exciting one to say the least.

The real question at this point in time is who will be playing for the National Championship.

This is a difficult question, because there are four undefeated teams sitting at the top of the rankings who all deserve a chance at national championship glory.

With that said, let’s break down the contenders and predict the championship game.

Auburn is currently undefeated and sit at the top of the very strong and talented SEC. However, Auburn has a very difficult remaining schedule, where they will have to beat two very talented teams.

When they lose one of these games, which will happen, Auburn will not be going to the BCS championship game.

In two weeks, the Tigers will travel to Tuscaloosa to take on Alabama. The Crimson Tide will show up to this game and will come away with a very important victory for them. This win will cause major chaos when it comes to the BCS rankings system.

When Alabama upsets Auburn, it will pave the way for either TCU or Boise State to make a push for the championship game.

In my opinion, if Auburn loses to Alabama but beats South Carolina for the SEC championship, they are still a better team then undefeated TCU or Boise.

But with the BCS system, they will not be going to the championship game.

Oregon is in a similar position to Auburn: If they win out, they will be going to the title game. All the flying Ducks have to do is win their final two games and nothing will bounce them from the top rankings spot.

When it is all said and done, Oregon will be one of the two teams that will play for this year's title. They were tested against Cal this weekend but proved to the country that they can play defense. Their offense will never be that sloppy again, and they should run the table against Arizona and Oregon State in the upcoming weeks.

When it comes to both Boise and TCU, each team is clearly playing do or die football right now, which means they cannot lose another football game.

Neither team will end up losing another game and one of them will end up playing Oregon. The real question is, which of these teams will be ranked ahead of the other?

The Broncos are a better team then the Horned Frogs, and if they finish the year undefeated, they should be ranked higher. Their marquee win against Virginia Tech and their future win against Nevada will be more impressive than TCU's.

The Horned Frogs win against Utah is becoming less and less valuable, and in many ways, Nevada is probably a better team then the Utes. VT is a better team than anyone on TCU's schedule, and you can even make the case that Boise dominated Oregon State on a higher level then TCU did.

With all of this said, if Auburn loses and Oregon remains undefeated, I see Boise State and Oregon going to the 2010 BCS Championship.

David Lee Makes His Glorious Return To The Big Apple

2010-11-11T16:54:00.003-05:00

Its nice to recognize a dude that played his heart out despite the guarantee of constant failure during the Isiah Thomas era. David Lee deserved every second of the standing ovation he got from the Garden faithful. What he didn't deserve was the absolute decimation he was allowed to perform by Knick defenders.

Once the whistle blew and the ball is tipped all emotional ties are to be cut. I love David Lee, its crazy to see him wearing #10 and in a Golden State uniform, but even he knows this is all business. Knocking out his former teammate's front teeth, bloodying his elbow and exposing bone while snagging a double-double in the process. Classic D.LEE hustle and grit. He wanted to win last night, that was evident from the get go. The Knicks however played sloppy and looked lost, jacking up a three whenever and where ever.

The Knicks blew that game last night, end of story. This failing behind big early, and then making runs at a come back in the 3rd and 4th quarter are not going to work for a team that hopes to make the playoffs. Props to Stoudamire for holding it down with a double-double of his own last night. That clean up dunk on Lee's face was nasty, but once again it was all for naught seeing as the end result of the game was not optimal. It was only fitting for Lee to pull down the nail in the coffin rebound, followed by knocking down two free throws for poetic justice

Got to play better, plain and simple. I have faith in this team.

San Francisco In Pictures- AT&T Park, Golden Gate Bridge, Trolley Cars and Seafood

2010-09-22T16:08:00.004-04:00

Continuing on with the summer baseball road trip, I traveled to the west coast to tour what their stadiums had to offer. First up was the beautiful AT&T ball park.

The stadium and the city of San Francisco are absolutely amazing. Beautiful scenery and amazing culture every where you look. AT&T Park, home of the Giants was incredible. It's very new, has some neat features and is situated right on the bay.

I was particularly amazed by the structure of the stadium and the landing point that is situated in right field. As I walked in I felt a chill, as I thought about all the steroid infested home runs that Barry Bonds hit. It was a rare occurrence but I had wonderful seats for the ballgame. First row, right on top of the dugout down the first base line. The seats were out of this world and really added to the experience of the game.

The park really is wonderful and is by far one of the best the game has to offer. There is so much to do within the stadium, such as the massive glove and Coke bottle in center field, to the views of the bridge and the bay. There even is an old cable car to check out.

I also had a great time exploring the city. The Golden Gate Bridge is a beautiful structure and enjoyed walked across it and taking in the views of the city. The pier, rides on the cable cars, fresh seafood and exploring all the hidden sectionx of the city was also a treat.

Everyone should take the time to travel to San Francisco and definitely checkout their wonderful ball park!

Detroit In Pictures- Comerica Park, GM Building and Motown Hot Dogs

2010-09-15T12:18:00.011-04:00

After driving through Canada and across the Michigan border, we finally reached Detroit. I was excited about checking out Comerica Park, as I had heard some great things about the stadium. Before the game started we decided to take a trip to the GM building.

After seeing what the city of Detroit had to offer, we quickly made our way over to the ball park to catch the opening day celebrations. We explored all around the outside area of the stadium and there was so much to see. From massive Tigers to some cool bars, we had a blast. Jets flew over the stadium and Kid Rock was on hand for the opening pitch.

The inside of the stadium is great, its a new park so there is alot to offer. I walked around every area and it seemed like almost every section offered a decent view of the field. All in all they did a wonderful job in the design of the ball park. I am a big fan of stadiums that offer the fan a skyline view, so that was also something nice.

After enjoying opening day at the park, we stopped by the famous American Coney Island and Lafayette Coney Island before hitting the open road. Both hot dogs were great!

Who will be selected in this years NBA draft and who should be selected

2010-06-24T13:11:00.001-04:00

Tonight is the NBA draft, one of my favorite events in the world of sports outside of the actual games.

I love the NBA draft as it is shorter than the NFL draft by a long shot and allows me to relive the year in college basketball.

It’s nice to see some great players who entertained me on the college court take the next step in their careers and enter the NBA.

Here is who each lottery team will take, as well as who they actually should select with their pick.

1. Washington Wizards: John Wall

Should Select: John Wall

No-brainer pick here for the Wizards as Wall is clearly the best player in this year’s draft class.

He has the potential to be a superstar in the league and immediately becomes the franchise player for a team that desperately needs one.

2. Philadelphia 76ers: Evan Turner

Should Select: Evan Turner

Turner is the most NBA-ready player to enter the league this year.

He was a remarkable player in college and should be an impact player from day one.

The 76ers have holes at other positions on their roster but it would not be smart to pass up on a sure thing for other players who could very well become busts.

3. New Jersey Nets: Wesley Johnson

Should Select: Derrick Favors

The Nets have options at this pick and will have plenty of cap room on hand to make a splash with the free agent pool.

Johnson is a great player and is pretty NBA-ready when it comes to making an immediate impact for his team.

That being said, I prefer Favors with this pick.

I think he has too much upside to pass on.

However, by selecting Johnson the Nets can then try and lure a big market power forward.

They just need to make sure they can sign a premiere player.

4. Minnesota Timberwolves: Derrick Favors

Should Select: Wesley Johnson

This pick obviously depends on who the Nets select at the third spot. Whoever the Nets select, the T’wolves with choose the other.

With that said, Minnesota would prefer to land Wes Johnson.

He can stretch the defense and would become a stronger player on the perimeter for their squad.

If they do select Favors, they will most likely continue to field trade offers for Al Jefferson.

5. Sacramento Kings: DeMarcus Cousins

Should Select: DeMarcus Cousins

The Kings have been debating about what big man to select, Greg Monroe or DeMarcus Cousins.

Monroe has the attitude and Cousins has the upside.

With the fifth selection, the Kings would be making a poor decision by choosing Monroe over Cousins.

His upside is tremendous and he has the potential to become a premiere player as time progresses.

6. Golden State Warriors: Ekpe Udoh

Should Select: Greg Monroe

The Warriors will take a big man with this selection and it pretty much comes down to Udoh or Monroe.

Udoh’s stock has been rising as of late due to some impressive workouts with various teams.

However, Monroe is the safer selection here and I believe that the Warriors should take him.

7. Detroit Pistons: Greg Monroe

Should Select: Greg Monroe

If Monroe is still available with the 7th pick, the Pistons will jump all over him.

He is an amazing passer and will be a very solid player in the league for years to come.

He is a safe pick who can do a lot for his squad.

8. Los Angeles Clippers: Al-Farouq Aminu

Should Select: Al-Farouq Aminu

He has the potential to be an All-Star at some point in his NBA career.

During his time at Wake Forest, I always looked for him to finally become that premiere player.

However, he never really took advantage of his game at the college level.

I believe that he will improve as a pro and should be a nice selection for the Clippers.

9. Utah Jazz: Cole Aldrich

Should Select: Ed Davis

The Jazz will want to get a big man with their pick.

If Monroe or Udoh drop to them, they will clearly select one of the two.

I am not a huge Aldrich fan as he has never impressed me with anything but his ability to block shots.

I like Davis a lot and feel that he is the safer and better pick.

But with the uncertainty of Carlos Boozer returning to the squad, Aldrich could be the safer choice.

10. Indiana Pacers: Ed Davis.

Should Select: Ed Davis

He is not necessarily NBA-ready at this point in time but he is does have the potential to do a lot for his team.

He can score a decent amount of points and he plays very solid defense.

Over time, Davis has the ability to become a good player for the Pacers.

11. New Orleans Hornets: Luke Babbitt

Should Select: Luke Babbitt

I am a huge Babbitt fan.

The kid is a tremendous shooter and would fit nicely with Chris Paul.

He is a premiere perimeter threat and if he can improve on his defensive, he will become that much more valuable.

12. Memphis Grizzlies: Gordon Hayward

Should Select: Paul George

A strong wing player who is a great shooter, Hayward would make a nice addition to a young Memphis team.

I like George more at this pick but he is an under the radar player when it comes to this draft.

It will be interesting to see what team scoops him up.

13. Toronto Raptors: Paul George

Should Select: Paul George

He has been very impressive as of late during his workouts and his upside is tremendous.

He played for Fresno State, so his name is not nearly as familiar as some other players.

If he is still available, the Raptors will be happy to select him with their first round pick.

14. Houston Rockets: Xavier Henry

Should Select: Patrick Patterson

The Rockets would prefer for someone like Aldrich to fall to them at the 14th spot.

If that does not happen, they will be left with a few choices.

Henry is a great shooter and he would fit in nicely on the Rockets squad.

Houston needs size and if Patterson is there, they should take him with their pick.

15. Milwaukee Bucks: Patrick Patterson

Should Select: Patrick Patterson

If he is available when the Bucks hit the clock, Milwaukee will jump all over Patterson.

They traded for Corey Maggette to help score some points and now can add a power forward to the mix.

This would be a great pick for the Bucks.

Here are your first 15 selections for the 2010 NBA draft.

It should be an exciting evening filled with some interesting picks and potential trades.

Enjoy it.

2010 MLB All-Star Game: What the National League Starting Lineup Should Be

2010-06-21T17:10:00.000-04:00

After taking a look at the American League All-Stars for this year's game, I will now take the time to discuss who should be suiting up for the National League.

Once again, a few of the current voting leaders do not deserve to be in the starting lineup. Here is who should be taking the field first:

Catcher: Miguel Olivo

The Rockies catcher is off to a great start. He is hitting about .300 and has some nice power every time he steps to the plate.

Even though Chris Iannetta has been taking some at-bats away from him, Olivo has still compiled a very nice season to this point.

First Base: Joey Votto

Albert Pujols will obviously be elected to serve as the National League’s first baseman for yet another season. His numbers have been strong, just not as dominant as past years.

With that said, Joey Votto has compiled a very impressive season of his own and deserves some recognition. He is hitting for a higher average then Pujols, and has scored more runs than the former All-Star. Votto is my man to be starting at the right corner.

Second Base: Martin Prado

The little-known second baseman from the Atlanta Braves is having a stellar season.

He is close to hitting for a .340 average, and leads all players at his position with hits. He scores a ton of runs for his squad, while consistently getting on base. Martin Prado should be the leading vote-getter while representing the infield.

Third Base: David Wright

None of the National League candidates to start at third base are having truly amazing seasons.

This year’s class is led by David Wright and Scott Rolen. Wright has had a solid year and continues to be able to mix a decent average with consistent power and speed. Rolen has really rebounded well this year and is having a very strong season.

It is a tough decision, but I give the nod to Wright.

Shortstop: Hanley Ramirez

Another relatively slow position for the National League is at the shortstop spot.

Had he not been injured, I would have given my vote to Troy Tulowitzki. However, with Tulowitzki out, my vote goes reluctantly to Hanley Ramirez.

The Florida Marlins shortstop is a star, but he is having somewhat of an off season, and his no-hustle escapades last month really rubbed me the wrong way. However, he is the best player at his position and should be in the starting lineup.

Outfielders: Ryan Braun, Andrew McCutchen, Andre Ethier

Ryan Braun is having yet another very impressive season as he continues to be the face of the Milwaukee Brewers franchise. Braun is a great young player who should continue to be a member of the All-Star game outfield for years to come.

My second and third All-Star selections for the outfield were difficult, and really shows how much stronger the American League has been this year.

McCutchen is having a great season as he continues to improve as an everyday hitter. He hits over .300, steals a lot of bases, and scores plenty of runs. The Pirates are a pathetic team, but McCutchen is the one good thing going for that franchise.

Before going down with a finger injury, Ethier was having an MVP-type season.

He has slowed down a decent amount since returning from the disabled list, and I look for him to improve as time goes on. He still is putting up strong numbers and should earn his starting position.

That is what the 2010 MLB National League All-Star team should look like. With less than two weeks to go, it should be interesting to see how it all plays out.

The Way the MLB All-Star Starting Lineup Should Be

2010-06-21T17:08:00.000-04:00

The 2010 MLB All Star weekend voting deadline is on the horizon. So this morning, I logged onto the Internet and compiled a ballot of my own.

When it comes to fan voting, I have to admit that I am a believer in the system. I obviously hate when a popular player makes the starting lineup who is either having an off year or who has been injured. With that said, it's nice to have the fans make their case heard and have their players begin the game.

After looking over the ballot, I have selected my players to create what should be the starting lineup for this year's festivities. My votes are based around what players have done throughout this season at this point in time. I will also compare my votes to the current vote leaders in the respective positions.

American League

Catcher: Joe Mauer

Mauer currently leads the American League in votes at any position. He has had a solid year, is the best catcher in his league, and deserves to be starting behind the plate. Mauer was hurt during the beginning part of the season and has yet to catch up to his stellar pace from last season. With that said, I believe Mauer will heat up and compile another very strong season.

1b: Miguel Cabrera

The Detroit Tigers first baseman is having one of the best years of any player in the league. He hits for a high average and leads the American League in both home runs and RBI’s. With a little luck, Cabrera has a shot at competing for the triple crown. Justin Morneau is the current vote leader and is having a very good year. His numbers are close to Cabrera’s and he does deserve a spot on the AL roster.

2b: Robinson Cano

The second base position is a very obvious selection. At this point in time, Robinson Cano is the best player in the league and the MVP so far. He is hitting above .370 and has really found his power stroke to all places of the field. He is the current leading vote getter at his position and will be the starting 2b for his squad.

3b: Evan Longoria

Another obvious selection is the Tampa Bay Rays third baseman, Evan Longoria. He is having a truly unbelievable year while being able to mix power with speed. He is the face of his franchise and will represent them while in Los Angeles this year. He will win the position and become this year's third base starter.

SS: Derek Jeter

Jeter currently has the second most votes of any player at any position in the American League. He is having a solid year, and as one of the most popular players in the league, he will become this year's starter. He deserves this honor, as he is having the most complete year of any player at his position.

Outfield

This is the most difficult decision when it comes to picking the three most deserving players to fill the outfield. The current vote leaders are Ichiro, Carl Crawford, and Nelson Cruz. All three are having stellar years, and Cruz has put together unbelievable numbers considering he has been to the disabled list twice during the season.

However, none of the three leaders get my vote. The best outfielder in the league right now happens to be Vladimir Guerrero. His stats have been completely out of this world, and he is playing like the Vlad of five years ago. He is near the top in almost all of the offensive categories and should be a starter.

My second outfielder happens to come from the same team. Josh Hamilton has turned his play up to a whole new level and has compiled an unbelievable month. He has great stats at this point and is the second best outfielder at this point in time.

My third choice was difficult, as I like both candidates. Crawford and Alex Rios are both having extremely strong seasons. Rios happens to be having a better one. After a few lackluster seasons, Rios has found his place in Chicago and also deserves to be a starting all star.

The voting will end soon, so get out there and vote for the players that most deserve this honor. This year's All Star weekend should be another fun and eventful time for baseball.

Two of The Leagues Best; Johnson and Revis, Fight For New Contracts

2010-06-15T15:38:00.000-04:00

Two of the NFL’s best and young players are currently holding out for larger contracts during the early part of this year’s offseason. Both Chris Johnson and Darrelle Revis are not practicing for their respective teams as they fight for new contracts. Both Johnson and Revis had monster seasons for the Titans and the Jets last year and do deserve guaranteed money from their franchises.
Last year, Johnson put up 2,006 total rushing yards, which ranks 5th all-time. Johnson is only set to make $550,000 for the upcoming season. Johnson is clearly one of the top two rushers in the league and may even be more valuable to his team then Adrian Peterson. The Titans are going nowhere this season without him and need to offer him a contract as soon as they can. With that said, he is a multi-talented player who will help his team for years to come. Johnson has also made his case known to the public via his Twitter account. “Its like how u expect ur players to give they all and put their bodies on the line when you not willing to give them what they deserve.” Hopefully the Titans can complete a deal with Johnson and cross two of their immediate distractions off their list. The “distraction” known as Vince Young is a completely different story.
On the other hand, the Jets pro bowl corner is also sitting out while he seeks a new contact. Revis, like Johnson, completely dominated his position this year. He shutdown some of the leagues best receivers on a weekly basis and made it known around the league that being on Revis Island is no walk in the park. Revis did show up at practice today but spent most of his time sitting on the bench. His latest contract offer contained to guaranteed money, something Revis clearly desires with his new deal. The Jets need to be very careful about how they approach Revis. They have a very strong team at this point and have the pieces to make another run in the playoffs. Revis is a major part of their success and they need to be careful with him while negotiating a new deal.
It will be another offseason filled with star players threatening not to play, while they argue for bigger and better contracts. It will be interesting to watch what happens as two franchises deal with two of the best players in the league.

Oregon-Oregon State battle in the Civil War for a ticket to the Rose Bowl

2010-04-08T12:41:00.000-04:00

When Oregon State goes into Autzen Stadium to do battle with the Oregon Ducks on Thursday night, it will be an epic showdown for the ages. It might not award either team a berth in the National Title game, but it will punch a ticket to the second biggest bowl there is-the Rose Bowl.

Besides this weekend's SEC Championship game between Alabama and Florida, there is no bigger game than the "Civil War." In fact Oregon-Oregon State might be the second best college football game all season long.

Oregon is 9-2 with only one of those losses coming in the very talented Pac-10 to Stanford and the other was to the undefeated Boise State Broncos.

Oregon State has three losses, two of them have come against Pac-10 opponents; USC and Arizona. Their other loss was early on in the season to the undefeated Cincinnati Bearcats.

Both teams have gone through very difficult schedules, only losing to other top conference teams and undefeated outside of the Pac-10.

Both teams feature exciting and fast running backs who can change the game at anytime. Last years Pac-10 player of the year, Jaquizz Rodgers leads the way for the Beavers while LaMichael James has been on fire lately for the Ducks.

The teams are pretty equal at running back, however the edge goes to the Ducks at the quarterback position. Jeremiah Masoli is an absolute gamer and has been able to take over games all season long. Beavers quarterback Sean Canfield has also had an impressive season.

Canfield rarely makes and mistakes and has been playing is best football as of late. He and James Rodgers have great chemistry, so expect a big game out of the other Rodgers brother as well.

Masoli on the other hand can make things happen through the air as well rushing the ball. He had a spectacular game in his last performance at Arizona, accounting for three touchdowns through the air and on the ground.

This is definitely a game that could go either way. Oregon has the home-field advantage, but the Beavers are playing better. Oregon has struggled as of late against some tough teams, while the Beavers have been playing weaker competition.

The Ducks will come out firing on all cylinders and quickly prove that they are a dominant team while at home. Masoli will control the ball and continue to beat up the Beavers defense as the game rolls on. In the end the Ducks will be playing in Pasadena on New Year's for the Rose Bowl.

The National League Central Division the Most Exciting in Baseball?

2009-07-24T15:11:00.002-04:00

After sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals, the Houston Astros have made a statement to the league and have put themselves back in the division race for the very exciting Central Title. At this point in time they are 1.5 games back from the Cards and are in a second place tie with the Chicago Cubs, who are also playing strong baseball.
Houston will now welcome the Mets into Tropicana stadium where they will go to battle for the next three days. This should be an interesting series and I can’t be the only one who finds the Johan Santana-Mike Hampton lefty on lefty battle to be somewhat intriguing, (good luck, Hammy).
What also makes this division so interesting will be the arrival of Matt Holliday to the Midwest. Holliday will join forces with Albert Pujols to lend a hand in trying to score some runs for a very weak St. Louis lineup. I like the trade a lot and it should give the Cards the upper hand in the division for the time being. With that said, this is a competitive and interesting division and I am excited to see how it will all unfold.
Don’t count the Brewers out, I hope they can land Cliff Lee and make their own run at the title which would add a fourth team to the mix. Stay tuned and keep watching as the Central Division continues to roll on.

Philadelphia Phillies NEED to Make a Deal For Halladay

2009-07-24T14:57:00.001-04:00

It has been said numerous times by writers and announcers across the country in the past few weeks and I will say it again... The Philadelphia Phillies need to rise to the occasion and trade for Roy Halladay. I’m not saying it is going to happen, but for the Phillies to make a run in the playoffs and have a shot at another World Series Championship they will need the big-man from Toronto.
In my opinion, I’m confused as to what is actually going on in Philadelphia regarding Halladay. I understand that trading J.A. Happ, who is having a wonderful season, may sound like a lot to swallow when coupled with a prospect or two. However, with Halladay you get one of the best if not the best starter in the league for not just half a season but for all of next year as well.
If the Phillies can land Halladay, they will become the clear favorite to win the division and should be able to take down the Dodgers in a seven game series. One must remember that the Dodgers desperately lack pitching and with Halladay the Phillies can easily outlast LA and make another legit shot at a title. There is even a chance Philadelphia could win three titles in a row with Halladay, he is just that good.
I will say it again, no matter the price; Philadelphia needs to go after Halladay and bring home another World Series title.

First Major MLB Trade as Deadline Approaches

2009-07-24T14:11:00.001-04:00

The St. Louis Cardinals and the Oakland Athletics have agreed on a trade that will send Matt Holliday to the middle of the map to join Albert Pujols and the rest of the St. Louis lineup. In return the struggling Athletics will receive third baseman Brett Wallace, outfielder Shane Peterson and right-handed pitcher Clayton Mortensen. The A’s will also be sending 1.5 million dollars to the Cards as part of the deal.
Holliday, who was in his first season with the A’s after coming over from Colorado, had been struggling for most of the season. However, he began to step his game up in the past month and has been hitting the ball at a high level as of late.
I like the trade a lot the Cards are in a position to win their division and desperately needed another bat to help Albert out in the middle of that lineup. Holliday and Pujols will now each have some protection and their teams offensive numbers should increase. When coupled with a strong staring rotation and a decent bullpen, the Card have positioned themselves to make a run in the playoffs.
The trade clearly keeps St. Louis as the favorite to win the Central. I don’t believe it makes them better then the Phillies at this point and clearly not as strong as the Dodgers. With that said, the trade will help them and should make the playoff chase that much more interesting.
As the July 31st trade deadline approaches, it will be interesting to see which teams decide to make a move and what players will be rocking a new uniform for the final two months of play.

NBA Playoffs are in Full Flight: Predictions and Breakdowns

2009-05-05T12:10:00.000-04:00

Eastern Conference Semi Finals
Cleveland vs. Atlanta-
The series between the Cavaliers and the Hawks is clearly going to be the least exciting series of all. Simply put, the Hawks have no chance against LeBron James and whoever else is on that team. Joe Johnson played amazing basketball against Miami and once again showed the basketball world that he is one of the premiere shooting guards in the league. However, Cleveland is just too strong on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball and will outplay Atlanta throughout the series. Cleveland 4-1
Boston vs. Orlando-
As a Celtics fan I would like to say that the last series against the Bulls was one of the most exciting seven games I have ever seen. With that said I believe Boston is a bit tired and are missing two key players, Kevin Garnett and Leon Powe due to injuries. Orlando will be without Courtney Lee at the guard position and will be forced to play the pathetic JJ Redick. Dwight Howard is a beast and the Celtics will have major problems containing him underneath the basket. Boston is more experience and has home court advantage which comes up big if the series goes to seven games. Rondo will outplay Alston in every game and Pierce will continue to hit big shots, but I don’t believe it will be enough to take down the Magic. Orlando 4-3
Western Conference Semi Finals
Los Angeles vs. Houston
This series is a difficult one to predict and has been overlooked by many basketball fans. LA has been playing great basketball and seems to have dominated the West for a majority of the season. Houston will pose somewhat of a threat to the Lakers because of Yao Ming. Bynum looked just average against Utah and clearly needs to step up more on both sides of the ball. With that said Kobe and Gasol will continue their impressive play and outside of Yao, Houston is too small to contend with the Lakers for seven games. Lakers 4-2
Denver vs. Dallas
The Nuggets have finally broken their first round curse by dismantling the Hornets. Chauncey Billups has made Denver into a serious playoff contender. The Nuggets are a completely different team with him on the court and he is continuing to prove that he is a premiere NBA point guard. The Mavericks looked good against the senior citizen spurs, but they were banged up and out run by Dallas throughout the series. Dallas lacks big men and Chris “The Birdman” Andersen will be flapping his wings after each and every block against Dirk Nowitzki. Denver will continue their playoff run and it will be interesting to see how much money Mark Cuban loses during another Dallas series collapse. Denver 4-2
Eastern Conference Finals-
Cleveland vs. Orlando
The Cavs will dominate the Hawks and get rested before going to battle against Dwight Howard and company. Howard will once again dominate games while absolutely destroying Ilgauskas in the paint. LeBron “The MVP” James will continue his amazing play and should dominate any defender the Magic throw at him. The Cavaliers will most likely come into this series undefeated or with only one loss so this will be their first competitive series. If Orlando can get through Boston, they will give Cleveland a fight but without Jameer Nelson and potentially not having Courtney Lee their bench is not deep enough to win. Cleveland 4-2
Los Angeles vs. Denver
Denver is a very good team, but they are not a great team. However, the Lakers are a great team and they will prove this against the Nuggets. With having home court advantage and Kobe Bryant, the Lakers should get through this series. Their bench is so much deeper and more athletic than the Nuggets and that will be the major difference in this series. I look forward to the matchups in the paint with both of these teams but the difference will be at the perimeter. Ariza, Odom and Bryant will hit big shots and Vujacic will contribute with some solid play. Lakers 4-2
NBA Finals
Los Angeles vs. Cleveland
If these two teams advance to the finals it should be a very exciting series between Lebron James and Kobe Bryant. The Cavs won one more game then the Lakers and therefore will be rewarded with home court advantage. James is the best player in basketball right now and no one can matchup up with his strength and speed on the court. The Cavs are a young, inexperienced team that lack big-time players outside of LeBron. The Lakers have experience and depth to outlast Cleveland throughout a seven game series. LeBron is one roll player away from winning a championship, but will come up short in this series. Lakers 4-2

Roger Williams Wrestling shows well in important tournament

2009-02-10T16:16:00.002-05:00

While students were away from campus, the wrestling team was hard at work. The first major tournament after the holidays had the team travel to the Hampton Coliseum in Virginia for a very important tournament.
The Hawks first faced the Apprentice school and immediately got out to an early lead. When the match was all said and done, the Hawks had dominated the competition 40-6. Next up was the division II opponent, Gannon University. The Gannon team had been competing at a very high level all season long and after a grueling match, escaped with a 27-9 win over the Hawks.
After the loss, the team faced Division I opponent, the Duquesne Dukes. The Hawks were immediately up to the opposition and split the first two matches. During the 141 and 149 pound competition, the Dukes moved ahead with back-to-back wins. After the two losses, the Hawks found their stride and were able to win three straight matches. Chris Nadeau, at the 174 pound division was able to get the victory by fall for the Hawks. After losing at 184 and winning at 197, the Hawks were up 21-19 with just one match remaining. Dan Woods proved to be the hero of the day coming up huge for his team while wrestling up from his normal 197 pound division. Woods eventually won the match 5-1,which gave the Hawks the impressive 24-19 win.
Next up in the tourney was the division III opponent Brockport University, ranked 19th in the country. After strong matches in the lighter weight classes by both schools, the Hawks entered the final two matches with a one-point lead. After a defeat in the 197 division, Nick Cambi moved up to heavyweight while giving up more than 50 pounds to his opponent. Cambi wrestled well against his heavier opponent but eventually lost in overtime.
After defeating Wesleyan University at home, 24-13, RWU hosted the New England Dual Championship. The tournament featured15 schools from the area and was sure to be an eventful weekend. In the end, the Hawks finished seventh in the Championship bracket, while Johnson & Wales finished first.
After the New England Duals, RWU traveled to Cambridge, Mass., where they defeated MIT and Bridgewater State College. After the back-to-back wins, the team traveled to Hunter College in New York for the Metro Conference Challenge.
Andrew Hawley immediately got his team out to an early lead by pinning his opponent early on in the match. After dropping the next three matches, Nadeau stepped up by winning his match which started the streak for his team. The Hawks went on to win the final three matches of the round and moved on to face The College of New Jersey. The Hawks struggled against New Jersey and in the end were defeated, 31-6. In the last match of the day RWU faced New York University. Andrew Hawley, Nadeau, Woods and Phil Kelly all wrestled well for the team while earning the win. However the Hawks lost the overall match to New York, 23-15.
Phil Kelly, a sophomore from Quincy, Mass., has been recognized as the New England wrestler of the week as well as being named the RWU male athlete of the week. Kelly had a brilliant streak going 3-0 on the mat that consisted of two pins and a major win over the top ranked heavyweight in the country.
"Over the past few months, we have been up and down as a team," said Andy Jackson. "We will continue to work hard throughout the season and expect to finish off the year competing at a high level."
The Hawks' season record now lies at 13-7 and the will next travel to Rhode Island College where it will face the University of Southern Maine on Feb. 7.

Roger Williams Women's basketball experiencing many ups and downs

2009-02-10T16:14:00.001-05:00

Since the start of the new year, the women's basketball team has been on somewhat of a roller coaster ride, filled with some impressive wins and some devastating losses.
On Jan. 2, the team hit the road to take on the Connecticut College Camels where they hoped to end their six game losing streak. The Hawks kept the score close throughout the first half and most of the second half before turnovers got the best of them.
In the end, the team did see all 10 players who got on the court score a point. Casey Anderson led the way, posting a double consisting of 12 points and 11 rebounds. The final score read 66-72 in favor of the Camels.
After dropping three straight games to Rhode Island College, Nichols College and Western New England College, the Hawks were determined to end their slide. The team traveled to Boston to take on the Wentworth Institute of Technology.
The game was close throughout both half's of play and remained that way late into the second half. With little time remaining, Jackie Criss drove into the lane for an attempted layup. The shot was just off the mark but was rebounded by Paige Congdon who was able to put the ball in for the score. It marked Congdon's eighth offensive board of the game and allowed the RWU to escape with the last second victory, 65-63.
After back-to-back TCCC victories on the road for the Hawks, the New England College Pilgrims traveled to Bristol. The Hawks began to get it going midway through the second half going on a dominating run against the competition. The score was 45-28 in favor of RWU going into the second half and the team never looked back. Babin once again played aggressive ball on both ends of the court putting up a career high 24 points and 14 boards. Criss finished with 19 and Anderson chalked up 12 on way to the team's third straight victory.
The streak ended for the team while on the road against Trinity College and continued with a home game against Endicott and a road contest with Colby Sawyer. The Hawks will next square off against Salve Regina at home on the 4th and then at the University of New England this Saturday.

Another Day, Another Year, Another "BCS Buster" filled season

2008-10-17T14:19:00.000-04:00

Call me crazy but I have been pulling for underdog teams my whole life and love seeing “BCS Buster” schools emerge during the course of a college football season. This year intrigued me on a new level because of two teams, BYU and Utah. BYU has especially caught my attention because going into last night’s showdown with TCU they were already ranked as the 9th best team in the nation. I also had my calendar marked and ready for their potentially major Holy War matchup at the end of the season with Utah.
However, all was lost last night as I sat on my couch, sipping on a few beers while the Cougars got annihilated by TCU. The Horned Frogs defense was dominate and their offense was able to get it going and played great against what I thought was a strong Cougars defense.
BYU ruined a great chance at not only a BCS Bowl bid, but even a potential BCS Championship birth. Whatever they do during the rest of their season, they will most likely have to settle for another Las Vegas bowl game and only have themselves to blame for their lack of play on a Thursday night in October.
That leaves me and fellow “BCS Buster” fans with Utah and Boise St. as our underdogs for the remainder of the season. Sure, Ball St. is undefeated, but I feel more comfortable rooting for Tulsa because at least I know what state they hail from. Anyways Utah has a real shot at being 11-0 when they face BYU, but has a bit too far to climb in the rankings. The Broncos always interest me and I will root for them and the Utes to shake up the rankings each and every Sunday.
Sit back, watch and enjoy the “BCS Buster” component of College Football unfold throughout the remainder of the season. Regardless of what happens, this season has been great and will continue to keep me and college football fans across the country interested and excited for every game.

Giants and Cowboys

2008-10-15T14:46:00.000-04:00

As a Giants fan I have to say this last week of football play brought me pleasure and grief. For starters the G-Men lost to the pathetic Browns in a downright AWFUL game. The entire team (except Steve Smith) played poorly, Manning looked like early last seasons quarterback and the secondary was destroyed by big Braylon Edwards. With that said, they are still 4-1 and I feel they should rebound and be 6-1 when they host the Dallas Cowboys in a few weeks. Now I was also brought some happiness because the Cowboys had just a horrible horrible weekend. First they lost in OT to the Cardinals. Then Tony Romo was diagnosed with a broken pinkie and Felix Jones was out with a bad hammy. Then the bad boys of this Dallas team added even more problems to their mid season disaster. T.O. complained in his usual fashion and Pacman was suspended for another one of his stupid decisions, further proving the point that he is just an absolute idiot. I will give Jerry Jones just a little credit and say that Roy Williams is a nice pickup, but the price was a bit steep. Also, be ready for more complaining, grumbling and criticizing from Mr. Owens, when his 33% play ratio decreases (can't believe he complains about not getting the ball). Please sit back and watch the Dallas Cowboys fall apart on all levels, at least they have a new stadium to get excited about.

ALCS Game 4

2008-10-15T14:38:00.000-04:00

Last nights Red Sox game left me pissed off, frustrated and just downright unhappy. Its tough for me to watch the Rays manhandle the Sox like they did last night and pretty much the entire series. Its especially difficult because i still think of the Rays as a AAA team who should be getting stomped on by a powerhouse franchise such as the Boston Red Sox. However, this team is more like the MLB TAMPA BAY RAYS filled with strong hitters and very good young pitching. I hate to say it, but Boston does not look good and will have a very hard time coming back to win this series. Forget about the pitching for a moment, the hitting needs to wake up immediately and start scoring some runs. The hitters need to give the starters some support early on in the game. Game 4 is tomorrow night and Daisuke needs to pitch just as well as he did in game 1. And ya Beckett lets get going already, 8 earned runs is just not gonna cut it.

2009 Fantasy Basketball Rankings

2008-10-14T12:13:00.000-04:00

We are entering the middle of October, which means the start of a new NBA season is just around the corner. I love basketball and last year's season was especially exciting with the Boston Celtics bringing home the Championship trophy. This time of year also signifies the beginning of fantasy basektball leagues. I want to take some time to talk about my top 5 players at each position and where they should be picked when you conduct your fantasy drafts.

PG-

1. Chris Paul- Definetly the leader at this position, he was ranked the #1 player at the end of last year. He is a guaranteed 20ppg, 10ast and even had a steal in all 82 games (draft 1-3)

2. Dwyane Wade- When healthy he is a premier fantasy player. He good at the olympics and will now get to play with Shawn Marion and rookie Michael Beasley (7-9)

3. Steve Nash- Is a very consistent player who will help your team significantly with assists. He also has a very strong 50% fg from the pg position.

4. Deron Williams- Has a chance to pass Nash this year, but he still is developing as a pg. Will get double digit assists and should continue to progress as a 3point shooter. (12-14)

5. Baron Davis- Has a great season last year and is now playing for the LAC. This will help Baron now that they have added Camby and he will love playing with Corey Maggette (12-14)

SG-

1. Kobe Bryant- Hands down the best player at this position. If you draft him you are getting a risk free player who will pul up great stats. He will remain healthy and is ready to go (1-4)

2. Danny Granger- Emerged last year as a major fantasy threat. He is a dynamic player that can fill multiple categories for your team. He should only get better. (9-11)

3. Kevin Martin- Has been getting better and better each year. He is a great shooter and will help fill all of your shooting categories. He also plays strong D. (26-28)

4. Andre Iguodala- Is very close to become a great fantasy player. He continues to become a better 3-point shooter and needs to start lowering his to's. (27-29)

5. Paul Pierce- Still one of the best sg's in the game. He does play on a great team and his numbers have taken a hit, but an increase in fg% and a decrease in to's has occured. (28-30)

SF-

1. Lebron James- Clearly the best SF out of the group who is still getting better. Now has a PG in Moe Williams which will help but he still needs to get his FG% up. (1-4)

2. Shawn Marion- Has always been a high ranking player and will not get a full year in Miami. It is also a contract year for Marion so I expect big numbers out of him. (6-8)

3. Caron Butler- Is a very versatile player who when healthy is a top 10 fantasy player. He plays on a good team and without Arenas until December look for him to score alot. (9-11)

4. Josh Smith- The upside with Smith is huge, you get a great defender who has the skills to score 20ppg. Lets see if his offense catches up to his defense. (18-20)

5. Rudy Gay- Is coming of a terrific sophmore season and should continue to get better. He is making a charge towards the top of this list and will fill numerous stat categories. (29-31)

PF-
1. Dirk Nowitzki- Dirk still remains at the top of this list. He can score at will, grab some boards and will have a good FG%. He's 3-point attempts will decrease but he still a great player. (4-6)
2. Elton Brand- He looks healthy and is ready to have a huge season with the Sixers. Andre Miller will help get him the ball and I expect a big year out of him. (5-7)
3. Kevin Garnett- The top 3 PF's are so strong and are all very close in talent. Garnett comes in a bit behind the other 2 because of the team he plays on, still a very steady fantasy threat. (5-7)
4. Chris Bosh- He is a great shooter with a very high FG%. He lacks the big time rebounds but should get some help in the paint with Jermaine O'neal heading north of the border. (12-14)
5. Carlos Boozer- I love Boozer, I think he is a great athlete and an all around superb player. He plays for a good team and will continue to put up big numbers (20ppg 10rpg). (22-24)

C-
1. Amare Stoudamire- The best player at this position by a large measure. He is young and will continue to get better, his FG% is amazing and he is a dynamic player in many ways. (1-4)
2. Marcus Camby- He is coming of a huge season and is now a member of the LAC. This will hurt him a bit, but Camby will contiune to rack up the blocks and the boards. (12-14)
3. Pau Gasol- Once he got traded he really became a top tier player. He will continue to play great ball but if Bynum is healthy Gasol may take a bit of a fantasy hit. (20-23)
4. Tim Duncan- Mr. Consistency has been a fantasy stud for years. When you draft Duncan you know exactly what you are getting and that is a great thing. (20/10 2 blk) (24-26)
5. Dwight Howard- He is a great young player who is just a monster at the fantasy level. His FG% and turnover ratio are terrible but will help you in many other stat categories. (28-30)

MVP/CY Young Predictions

2008-10-08T13:57:00.000-04:00

The 2008 MLB season comes to a close this week, the race for the MVP and CY Young awards is still up for grabs with no clear cut winner in either league. It will be interesting to see how who comes away with the most votes for each award. Here are my predicitons and opinions for what could happen in October.

With that said, this year’s AL MVP should be the Boston Red Sox’s little man, second basemen Dustin Pedroia. The Red Sox will continue on to the playoffs this year and a lot of that has to do with the emerging play of Mr. Pedroia. The Red Sox have played their best ball this year when Pedroia gets hot at the plate. Pedroia is currently batting .324, has 17 home runs and has scored a league leading 116 runs. He is currently contesting Joe Mauer for the batting title and if won, should easily make him the MVP.

Francisco Rodriguez, Pedroia's biggest competitor will finish his record breaking season as the all time saves leader. K-Rod passed Bobby Thigpen’s save record of 57, a record that had remained intact since 1990. A staggering case can be made that K-Rod truly is the most valuable member of any team this year. For example, he has had a hand in two out of every three Angels wins this year. It is clear that K-Rod has affected more wins than any other player, but it is still difficult to give the MVP to a closer.

The AL Cy Young award should be given to the Cleveland Indians starter Cliff Lee. Lee, not Rodriguez will win the award because the Cy Young should be given to a starter and not a closer. Sure, Eric “HGH” Gagne won it in 2004, but he had to remain perfect throughout the entire year and close down 55 of 55 games while posting a ridiculous 1.20 ERA. Lee has had an amazing year going 22-2 with a 2.41 ERA. He has also done this while pitching for a losing team and bouncing back from a 5-8 season with a 6.29 ERA. His stats are outstanding and his turnaround story is admirable and together will make him this year’s Cy Young winner.

The races are also very competitive in the NL and may be ever closer than the ones going on in the AL. The winner is difficult to pin point because no one is running away from the competition, making none of the choices a lock for the award. However, there are four key favorites which start with the St. Louis slugger, Albert Pujols. The Cardinals have a winning record, Pujols is having a monster year and he also has played brilliant defense. After posting these types of numbers, it is hard to base his MVP candidacy on his team not making the playoffs. With this said, he is the only Cardinals hitter that deserves his current job for next season.

The Astros slugger, Lance “The Puma” Berkman, the Mets Carlos Delgado, and Ryan “Strikeout King” Howard all had very strong years, but their numbers are not on the same level as Pujols.

The NL Cy Young is also a close race between “Tiny” Tim Lincecum, Brandon Webb and CC “Captain Creampuff” Sabathia. Lincecum is a special kid with great talent who deserves to win this year’s award. However, he will not win twenty games, while Webb already has. Furthermore, the San Francisco Giants play more like a little league team on offense and without Lincecum would have won less than sixty games. Lincecum leads the NL in strikeouts and ERA and overall has had the best statistical season. Webb and Sabathia will give him a run at the award but Lincecum should prevail as this year’s winner.

The race for MVP and Cy Young will remain up for grabs throughout the last week of the season. It will be interesting to see if any of the candidates can step it up and distance themselves from the rest of the pack. This year’s race should be one of the most interesting finishes in recent memory, so sit back and enjoy the ride.

Dan

Top 25 Week Six College Football Predictions

2008-10-07T14:32:00.000-04:00

I am really excited about this weeks college football games. Conference play is now in full force and there are a couple of powerhouse schools battling one another. So far the college football season has been great with a few interesting upset games as well as numerous potential BCS busters. From the blackout game in Georgia to the Florida disaster in the swamp, no one knows what will happen next. Anyways, here are my predictions for this weeks action.

Clemson at (21)Wake Forest- 10/9 7:30- At the beginning of the season this looked to be a major game for both ACC schools. Now six weeks into the season both teams have struggled and a loss here would further hurt their bowl chances. Wake Forest is coming off a devastating lost at the hands of Navy, where Clemson lost to Maryland two weeks ago. This would be a major conference win for either team. Clemson should bounce back after their bye week and upset Wake Forest at home. Clemson 27-21

(5)Texas at (1)Oklahoma- 10/11 12:00- This is bound to be the most exciting game of the day. You have two schools playing top notch football who are both in the Big-12. I expect to see lots of scoring and strong quarterback play from both Colt McCoy and Sam Bradford. In the end I see Oklahoma escaping with the W as Sooners fans storm the field in a sea of red.
Oklahoma 40-31

Colorado at (16)Kansas- 10/11 12:30- Another strong Big-12 afternoon game where the Buffaloes will take on the Jayhawks. Both teams have played up and down during the first half of the season and Kansas is coming off a major come from behind win against Iowa St. Sure, Colorado beat WVU, but they have been blowout by Florida St. and Texas. Therefore Kansas will come away with the win at home and begin to look ahead to their battle against Oklahoma.
Kansas 31-17

(14)Utah at Wyoming- 10/11 2:00- Utah has been great this year and continue to be a BCS buster during the beginning of the season. If you stayed up last Thursday night, you would have seen a great comeback win against Oregon St. Utah should have no problem on the road against Wyoming and will move to 7-0 on the season. Utah 41-20

(13)Vanderbilt at Miss St- 10/11 2:30- Vanderbilt had a monumental win last weekend against Auburn. Vandy fans were going crazy at home and their team has now started the season undefeated. I don't see them having much trouble with Miss St. this weekend and they should move to 6-0. Vanderbilt 21-10

Nebraska at (7)Texas Tech- 10/11 3:00- The Cornhuskers are coming off a crushing defeat against Missouri and will go up against the same type of team this week. It should be a similar game for Nebraska where they will struggle against the Texas Tech dynamic offense of Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree. Texas Tech will continue to roll on in the Big-12
Texas Tech 44-21

Purdue at (12)Ohio St- 10/11 3:30- After losing to USC by a substantial measure, Ohio St has fought back and are coming off a major win against Wisconsin. They should not have much trouble against Purdue this week at home. Pryor should continue his development and Beanie Wells looks to be getting healthy. Ohio St. 34-20

Notre Dame at (22)UNC- 10/11 3:30- This is one of the games I am most looking forward to watching this week. For starters I was devastated with the way my Huskies got manhandled last week in Chapel Hill. Both teams are coming off wins and are playing well. Notre Dame Should rise to the occasion and pull off the win on the road. Notre Dame- 27-21

(23)MSU at North Western- 10/11 3:30- Javon Ringer will rebound after a somewhat rough game last week and run wild against the Wildcats. They have been playing great football, but their perfect season will come to an end this week. MSU 31-27

Arizona St at (8)USC- 10/11 3:30- I would love to pick ASU in this game because I feel they have a shot at beating USC on the road. However, USC rebounded extremely well last week against the Ducks and they should continue their dominating play this week. USC 38-24

Tennessee at (10)Georgia- 10/11 3:30- Every year I look forward to this SEC rivalry between the Dawgs and the Volunteers. This year will not be as exciting, Tennessee has struggled on all levels and are not playing their typical football. Georgia will rebound from their lost to Alabama and run the table during the game. Georgia 40-21

New Mexico at (9)BYU- 10/11 6:00- BYU is undefeated and if they don't lose, have a legitimate shot at a BCS bowl or even (don't laugh) a National Championship. They will have no problem with the Lobos at home. BYU 44-17

(6)Penn St at Wisconsin- 10/11 8:00- Penn St has played great football and the Badgers have struggled during the past few weeks. Penn St. is a really good football team, but I'm not convinced their a great football team. Wisconsin will be ready for this game and the crowd will be going wild at home. Wisconsin should win, but it will be very close. Wisconsin 27-24

(17)Oklahoma St at (3) Missouri- 10/11 8:00- Missouri still remains my team to make the National Championship. With Chase Daniel and Jermy Maclin playing NFL caliber ball they will return home from Nebraska ready to roll against the Cowboys. Oklahoma St will give them a run and it will be an exciting game, but the Tigers are too much to handle. Missouri 38-27

(4)LSU at (7)Florida- 10/11 8:00- This is going to be a great game in Gatorville and everyone in college football should be excited about. LSU has played well and have faced some good teams, while Florida lost at home just two weeks ago. I feel that they slipped up slightly in that game and have rebounded as a team. The Gators are ready to play and Tim Tebow should carry his team, in the Swamp to victory. Florida 28-24