Michael Beasley, Eric Gordon, OJ Mayo, Kevin Love, Derrick Rose, Kyle Singler. These are the names of the nation's elite freshman in college basketball. If you talk to Texas head coach Rick Barnes, I think he would advise that one more name be added to that list. Michigan State point guard Kalin Lucas, a freshman from Detroit, carved up the Longhorns vaunted pressure defense Saturday night for 18 points, six rebounds and seven assists, while turning the ball over just once. Lucas' breakthrough performance spearheaded the Spartans 78-72 victory over previously unbeaten Texas, and for much of the game he looked like the best player on the floor.
So much of the hype surrounding this match-up of top-10 teams focused on preseason All-American Drew Neitzel and Texas guard DJ Augustine, an early favorite to win the Wooden Award. Both players had fine games, but it was Lucas who stole the show. Texas ran a box and one, focusing much of its defensive attention to Neitzel, and Lucas made them pay. He entered the game at the 17:34 mark of the first half and immediately hit a jump shot for Michigan State's first field goal. He carried that momentum through the first half, when 11 of his team high 18 points were scored. His most impressive play came during the momentum turning 28-13 run where Lucas converted an acrobatic reverse layup through two Texas defenders.
"The Jet," as Spartans coach Tom Izzo likes to refer to him as, told reporters after the game that he took his match-up with Augustine personally because all week long he had to hear about how great the Texas point guard was. It wasn't hard to notice that Lucas elevated his game to another level, a level that, if he can play at consistently, could help elevate Michigan State to its fifth Final Four in ten years. He would outplay Augustine on this night, scoring at will and stopping his dribble penetration on the defensive end, which is important because he may run into similar match-ups later in the season, like say, in March.
The most important element Lucas brings to Michigan State is his ability to run the offense at a pace that has eluded them since their last Final Four run in 2004-05. With all due respect to Neitzel and Travis Walton, Lucas can find another gear and get into the paint at will, which translates into easier scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates. Like most freshman, Lucas is bound to hit a wall at some point in his first season. Fortunatly, Michigan State has the depth and ability to overcome that if and when the moment arrives. Because of this, he will have ample opportunities to elevate his game and his team to another level in games that dwarf the significance of a December win over Texas; games played in late-March and maybe, just maybe, early-April.
DTM
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Pistons Still the Class of the East
The Eastern Conference has received more love from the media over the first eight weeks of the NBA season since the days of MJ. The Celtics have garnered the most attention with their 20-2 start headed into Wednesday's action. You also hear an awful lot about the emergence of the Orlando Magic behind Dwight Howard and the fall of Shaquille O'Neal and the Miami Heat. The team that gets the least amount of publicity is the Detroit Pistons. They headed to Boston Wednesday night for a showdown with the Celtics carrying a three game win-streak and an 18-7 record. Shockingly, you get more stories about Lebron James and his 11-15 Cavs then you do about the boring old Pistons. While all the major media outlets outside of the Motor City continue to look elsewhere for compelling stories, here's a news flash for all of you NBA lovers out there: the Eastern Conference championship runs through Detroit, not Boston.
You could tell the Pistons were playing with a chip on their shoulder Wednesday night in Boston. I know that is the most overused phrase in sports, but for once it is being accurately applied. Sportscenter talked at nausea about the Celtics dominance this past week and even went as far as to compare these Celtics to the 1996 72-10 Chicago Bulls. Detroit players such as Chauncey Billups, Rasheed Wallace, and Tayshaun Prince- players who have, you know, actually won a championship- noticed this and kept it stored in the back of their minds. Then they went into the Boston Garden and defeated those unbeatable Celtics 87-85, while overcoming a seven-point halftime deficit. Understand that this game will have little bearing on the result of a possible playoff series between the two, but don't misunderstand what it means now. The Pistons went to Boston and won a tight game in spite awful performances from Wallace and Prince and despite the average outing from Boston's Big Three. This shows that the Celtics are not better then the Pistons now, and they have much to improve upon if they intend on being a notch higher in May.
If you go back into the archives of this blog to my NBA Preview, you will see that I have never been big on the Celtics. In fact, I had them finishing second in their own division to the Toronto Raptors. You don't have to go any further then the box score from Wednesday's duel with Detroit to see why. Of the 85 points the Celtics put on the board, the bench managed to score two of them. Two. Doc Rivers used five guys off his bench for a combined 52 minutes and got five points, seven rebounds, three assists, three turnovers and nine personal fouls. There is a problem when the best statistic your bench gives you is personal fouls. Let's just go all the way and say that Celtics not named Allen, Pierce or Garnett combined to score 24 points on 11-25 shooting. If you are a Boston fan and those numbers don't scare you then this will: the Celtics out shot the Pistons (49%-40%), were +3 on the boards, and were just -1 in turnover differential. Boston outplayed Detroit in just about every facet of the game, but couldn't find a way to finish them off.
There are three things you can point to for reasons why the Pistons are better now, and likely will be come playoff time. Number one is point guard. The Pistons have Chauncey Billups, a former NBA Finals MVP, running their team, while the Celtics have Rajon Rondo, a second year guard without a jump shot running theirs. Number two is depth. Detroit brings a nice balance of dependable experience- Lindsey Hunter and Ronald Murray- and fresh young legs- Jarvis Hayes and Jason Maxiell- off the bench, while Doc Rivers is sending in Scott Pollard, James Posey, and Eddie House. Just tell me the last time Scott Pollard had any role for a real contender. You got it! It was in fact the Kansas Jayhawks in the late 90's! Lastly, the Pistons have been there. Since this nucleus came together in 2004, they have won the NBA Championship, lost in the NBA Finals and lost in the conference finals twice. They know how to win close games in December or June, and they know their bread and butter down the stretch. The Celtics have three great options to go to for a final shot, but it's better to know who is going to have the ball in the final seconds more often then not. They have not played together long enough to know that answer at this point, and that hurt them down the stretch Wednesday night.
Boston lacks the depth and playing experience with one another, and while they have three bona fide superstars in their lineup, they have someone who should be playing their senior season at Kentucky running their team. Until these issues are addressed Boston will merely be the Boys of Winter, while Detroit absorbs the Eastern spotlight in late-May and early-June.
DTM
You could tell the Pistons were playing with a chip on their shoulder Wednesday night in Boston. I know that is the most overused phrase in sports, but for once it is being accurately applied. Sportscenter talked at nausea about the Celtics dominance this past week and even went as far as to compare these Celtics to the 1996 72-10 Chicago Bulls. Detroit players such as Chauncey Billups, Rasheed Wallace, and Tayshaun Prince- players who have, you know, actually won a championship- noticed this and kept it stored in the back of their minds. Then they went into the Boston Garden and defeated those unbeatable Celtics 87-85, while overcoming a seven-point halftime deficit. Understand that this game will have little bearing on the result of a possible playoff series between the two, but don't misunderstand what it means now. The Pistons went to Boston and won a tight game in spite awful performances from Wallace and Prince and despite the average outing from Boston's Big Three. This shows that the Celtics are not better then the Pistons now, and they have much to improve upon if they intend on being a notch higher in May.
If you go back into the archives of this blog to my NBA Preview, you will see that I have never been big on the Celtics. In fact, I had them finishing second in their own division to the Toronto Raptors. You don't have to go any further then the box score from Wednesday's duel with Detroit to see why. Of the 85 points the Celtics put on the board, the bench managed to score two of them. Two. Doc Rivers used five guys off his bench for a combined 52 minutes and got five points, seven rebounds, three assists, three turnovers and nine personal fouls. There is a problem when the best statistic your bench gives you is personal fouls. Let's just go all the way and say that Celtics not named Allen, Pierce or Garnett combined to score 24 points on 11-25 shooting. If you are a Boston fan and those numbers don't scare you then this will: the Celtics out shot the Pistons (49%-40%), were +3 on the boards, and were just -1 in turnover differential. Boston outplayed Detroit in just about every facet of the game, but couldn't find a way to finish them off.
There are three things you can point to for reasons why the Pistons are better now, and likely will be come playoff time. Number one is point guard. The Pistons have Chauncey Billups, a former NBA Finals MVP, running their team, while the Celtics have Rajon Rondo, a second year guard without a jump shot running theirs. Number two is depth. Detroit brings a nice balance of dependable experience- Lindsey Hunter and Ronald Murray- and fresh young legs- Jarvis Hayes and Jason Maxiell- off the bench, while Doc Rivers is sending in Scott Pollard, James Posey, and Eddie House. Just tell me the last time Scott Pollard had any role for a real contender. You got it! It was in fact the Kansas Jayhawks in the late 90's! Lastly, the Pistons have been there. Since this nucleus came together in 2004, they have won the NBA Championship, lost in the NBA Finals and lost in the conference finals twice. They know how to win close games in December or June, and they know their bread and butter down the stretch. The Celtics have three great options to go to for a final shot, but it's better to know who is going to have the ball in the final seconds more often then not. They have not played together long enough to know that answer at this point, and that hurt them down the stretch Wednesday night.
Boston lacks the depth and playing experience with one another, and while they have three bona fide superstars in their lineup, they have someone who should be playing their senior season at Kentucky running their team. Until these issues are addressed Boston will merely be the Boys of Winter, while Detroit absorbs the Eastern spotlight in late-May and early-June.
DTM
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Dolphins Win! Thaaaa Dolphins Win!
December 10, 2006. That was the last time the Miami Dolphins had won a game before this afternoon. It had been 371 days of poor decision making and even worse luck, all of which resulted in 16 consecutive losses dating back that glorious 21-0 victory over Tom Brady and the Patriots last winter. That will be the first and last time I mention anything about losing because that's all any Dolfan has known for some time now. Today is about winning and what a great feeling it is. After the game, most players spoke about not knowing how to react after Greg Camarillo ran the last few yards of the 68 he needed for the game's winning score. Most fans, including myself, could relate. I simply sat and smiled with my hands raised towards the heavens while, to my surprise, just about everyone in attendance at the Indigo Joes Sports Bar in Mooresville, NC clapped and cheered.
Everyone from the front office down to the fans deserved the applause. This team, despite some recent grumblings, never quit, and the same could not be said for the other 31 NFL teams had they been faced with this situation. Take a look at the Ravens. They have four wins, but have lost eight straight and quit on this season a long time ago. As for the fans, they deserve the applause for sticking it out. Week after week, loss after loss, the team gave fans reason after reason to utilize their Sunday free-time in another way. So for you Dolfans out there who stuck it out, give yourself a pat on the back.
You had to feel a victory was coming for these Dolphins. Six losses by three points or less and two overtime losses showed how competitive the team has been throughout '07. This season has been about injuries at key positions and the ball always bouncing the other way. That was not the case Sunday as the ball bounced the Dolphins way a couple different times, and those bounces proved to be the difference. In the second quarter, Kyle Boller put a ball right on the numbers of receiver Mark Clayton. The ball popped out of Clayton's arms as he hit the ground and fell into the arms of Michael Lehan as he headed for the turf. The Dolphins converted that turnover into three points. Then in the overtime Matt Stover missed his 44-yard field goal attempt wide left, which set up Cleo Lemon's game winning touchdown pass three plays later. These were the breaks that eluded them all year, and they found a way to take advantage.
As can be said for a majority of Dolphin victories the past eleven years, they don't win this game without Jason Taylor. Last year's Defensive Player of the Year had his best performance of the season, making a number of game changing plays throughout. He started off by sacking Boller for a six-yard loss on 3rd and goal on the game's opening possession, forcing Baltimore to settle for a field goal. He blocked Stover's 50-yard field goal attempt just before the half, a play that may have contributed to Stover pushing the overtime kick wide. And just before that failed attempt in overtime, Taylor got into the backfield and tackled Willis McGahee for a five-yard loss, which made the field goal that much harder to convert. JT finished the day with five tackles, two sacks, four quarterback hurries, and a blocked kick- all on a nagging right foot. Attitude and effort reflects leadership, and Taylor deserves much of the credit for keeping this team together all year despite all the losing and negativity surrounding his previously winless team.
As a reward for their first victory, the Dolphins will travel to New England next weekend where they will likely be four touchdown underdogs. But now is not the time to discuss the prospect of another loss, or the impending doom that always seems to be surrounding the team. Now is about Dec. 16: Baltimore- 22-16 (OT), W. It's time to bask in the sweet aura of victory; something that had eluded this prestigious franchise and its faithful followers for much too long.
DTM
Everyone from the front office down to the fans deserved the applause. This team, despite some recent grumblings, never quit, and the same could not be said for the other 31 NFL teams had they been faced with this situation. Take a look at the Ravens. They have four wins, but have lost eight straight and quit on this season a long time ago. As for the fans, they deserve the applause for sticking it out. Week after week, loss after loss, the team gave fans reason after reason to utilize their Sunday free-time in another way. So for you Dolfans out there who stuck it out, give yourself a pat on the back.
You had to feel a victory was coming for these Dolphins. Six losses by three points or less and two overtime losses showed how competitive the team has been throughout '07. This season has been about injuries at key positions and the ball always bouncing the other way. That was not the case Sunday as the ball bounced the Dolphins way a couple different times, and those bounces proved to be the difference. In the second quarter, Kyle Boller put a ball right on the numbers of receiver Mark Clayton. The ball popped out of Clayton's arms as he hit the ground and fell into the arms of Michael Lehan as he headed for the turf. The Dolphins converted that turnover into three points. Then in the overtime Matt Stover missed his 44-yard field goal attempt wide left, which set up Cleo Lemon's game winning touchdown pass three plays later. These were the breaks that eluded them all year, and they found a way to take advantage.
As can be said for a majority of Dolphin victories the past eleven years, they don't win this game without Jason Taylor. Last year's Defensive Player of the Year had his best performance of the season, making a number of game changing plays throughout. He started off by sacking Boller for a six-yard loss on 3rd and goal on the game's opening possession, forcing Baltimore to settle for a field goal. He blocked Stover's 50-yard field goal attempt just before the half, a play that may have contributed to Stover pushing the overtime kick wide. And just before that failed attempt in overtime, Taylor got into the backfield and tackled Willis McGahee for a five-yard loss, which made the field goal that much harder to convert. JT finished the day with five tackles, two sacks, four quarterback hurries, and a blocked kick- all on a nagging right foot. Attitude and effort reflects leadership, and Taylor deserves much of the credit for keeping this team together all year despite all the losing and negativity surrounding his previously winless team.
As a reward for their first victory, the Dolphins will travel to New England next weekend where they will likely be four touchdown underdogs. But now is not the time to discuss the prospect of another loss, or the impending doom that always seems to be surrounding the team. Now is about Dec. 16: Baltimore- 22-16 (OT), W. It's time to bask in the sweet aura of victory; something that had eluded this prestigious franchise and its faithful followers for much too long.
DTM
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Handicapping the AFC Wild Card Race
Here's my outlook on how the AFC will turn out. Look below for my NFC outlook and for the explaination of how I broke it down.
AFC:
- Teams in the race: Buffalo, Cleveland, Denver, Jacksonville, Tennessee
(In alphabetical order, not in projected order of finish)
1. Buffalo Bills (6-6): 11
Will make playoffs because: They have won five of their last seven games.
Will miss playoffs because: Despite their run, they have yet to beat a team with a winning record and are sitting at .500 despite giving up 90 more points then they have scored this season.
2. Cleveland Browns (7-5): 17
Will make playoffs because: Of the teams remaining on their schedule, only the Bills (6-6) have a record of .500 or better.
Will miss the playoffs because: Similar to the case of the Chicago Bears, they are from Cleveland meaning if it can go wrong it will. We saw glimpses of disaster with their loss to Arizona last week.
3. Denver Broncos (5-7): 11
Will make playoffs because: They will win out, while the Chargers collapse, thus Denver wins the division.
Will miss playoffs because: The above scenario will not happen and they have no shot of making the playoffs unless it's through a miracle run to a division title.
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4): 17
Will make playoffs because: They play great defense, run the ball effectively, don't turn the ball over, and have proven more often then any of these other teams that they can play with, and beat, anybody in the NFL.
Will miss playoffs because: Injuries happen and if David Garrard goes down again, this promising season could take a sudden turn for the worst.
5. Tennessee Titans (7-5): 13
Will make playoffs because: Their quarterback is Vince Young, and while you point out every one of his 1,000 flaws, don't forget that it all comes down to winning and that's all the man does.
Will miss playoffs because: Of the contenders their remaining schedule is the most difficult (SD, @KC, NYJ, @IND), and their defense has begun to crack in recent weeks. Albert Haynesworth's presense will be key to their hopes.
The AFC picture is much clearer then the NFC's, but I still see it coming down to the final week. Denver has no real shot, but again, they are only two games out of their own division with four to play so I felt it necessary to include them. Buffalo's season has been admirable despite their lack of a quality win all season, but their's will end next week when they lose to Cleveland, giving the Browns a key tiebreaker.
It will come down to the Jags, Titans and Browns, and it's very unfortunate that one of these teams has to be left out because all of them would be in the NFC bracket and could very well advance to the conference title. The Jags already hold a one game edge and have home games against Oakland and Carolina, so they are in. I see the Browns and Titans going 2-1 over the next three games, meaning the final week will decide the AFC's last playoff team. As much as I hate to go against Vince Young, his Titans travel to Indy in Week 17, while the Browns get the 49ers at home. Since I don't see the 49ers going in to Cleveland and ending their season prematurly as they did to Denver in Week 17 last year, I'm going to go with the Browns. Jacksonville and Cleveland will complete the AFC picture.
NostraDTMus
AFC:
- Teams in the race: Buffalo, Cleveland, Denver, Jacksonville, Tennessee
(In alphabetical order, not in projected order of finish)
1. Buffalo Bills (6-6): 11
Will make playoffs because: They have won five of their last seven games.
Will miss playoffs because: Despite their run, they have yet to beat a team with a winning record and are sitting at .500 despite giving up 90 more points then they have scored this season.
2. Cleveland Browns (7-5): 17
Will make playoffs because: Of the teams remaining on their schedule, only the Bills (6-6) have a record of .500 or better.
Will miss the playoffs because: Similar to the case of the Chicago Bears, they are from Cleveland meaning if it can go wrong it will. We saw glimpses of disaster with their loss to Arizona last week.
3. Denver Broncos (5-7): 11
Will make playoffs because: They will win out, while the Chargers collapse, thus Denver wins the division.
Will miss playoffs because: The above scenario will not happen and they have no shot of making the playoffs unless it's through a miracle run to a division title.
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4): 17
Will make playoffs because: They play great defense, run the ball effectively, don't turn the ball over, and have proven more often then any of these other teams that they can play with, and beat, anybody in the NFL.
Will miss playoffs because: Injuries happen and if David Garrard goes down again, this promising season could take a sudden turn for the worst.
5. Tennessee Titans (7-5): 13
Will make playoffs because: Their quarterback is Vince Young, and while you point out every one of his 1,000 flaws, don't forget that it all comes down to winning and that's all the man does.
Will miss playoffs because: Of the contenders their remaining schedule is the most difficult (SD, @KC, NYJ, @IND), and their defense has begun to crack in recent weeks. Albert Haynesworth's presense will be key to their hopes.
The AFC picture is much clearer then the NFC's, but I still see it coming down to the final week. Denver has no real shot, but again, they are only two games out of their own division with four to play so I felt it necessary to include them. Buffalo's season has been admirable despite their lack of a quality win all season, but their's will end next week when they lose to Cleveland, giving the Browns a key tiebreaker.
It will come down to the Jags, Titans and Browns, and it's very unfortunate that one of these teams has to be left out because all of them would be in the NFC bracket and could very well advance to the conference title. The Jags already hold a one game edge and have home games against Oakland and Carolina, so they are in. I see the Browns and Titans going 2-1 over the next three games, meaning the final week will decide the AFC's last playoff team. As much as I hate to go against Vince Young, his Titans travel to Indy in Week 17, while the Browns get the 49ers at home. Since I don't see the 49ers going in to Cleveland and ending their season prematurly as they did to Denver in Week 17 last year, I'm going to go with the Browns. Jacksonville and Cleveland will complete the AFC picture.
NostraDTMus
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Handicapping the NFC Wild Card Race
Within the past five minutes I have noticed a statistic that is rather alarming. All eight division leaders in the NFL lead the second place team by at least two games. This shows that the NFL, a league once filled with parity, is turning more into a league that is top heavy and not much else- similar to the NBA. So with one month left in the season and the division races pretty much wrapped up, I decided that it would be a good time to handicap every team's chance in each conference of stealing the two wildcards. To break it down for you, I will allocate a number to each team and give one reason why they will make it and why they may be left out. The number will represent the teams odds of grabbing the wild card, and is based solely on the schedule they have remaining. Each game is worth five points; if the team has great odds to win the game they will receive five points, while if the odds are very poor they could receive a one or somewhere in between. This will be based on teams that I believe have a realistic shot, not a mathematical one. So for example, the Panthers are 5-7, but they are very bad and will not be included here. I'll start today with the NFC, followed by the AFC tomorrow.
NFC:
- Teams in the race: Arizona, Chicago, Detroit, Minnesota, New Orleans, NYG, Washington
(Alphabetical order, not order of finish)
1. Arizona Cardinals (6-6): 14
Will make playoffs because: Only one team (Seattle) remaining on their schedule has a record of.500 or better.
Will miss playoffs because: They struggle to run the ball and relying on Kurt Warner to carry an offense was so five years ago.
2. Chicago Bears (5-7): 10
Will make playoffs because: Rex Grossman is looking like the first rounder he was.
Will miss playoffs because: Devin Hester can only save your (behind) so many times. Oh yea, and they're from Chicago, meaning if it can go wrong, it will.
3. Detroit Lions (6-6): 5
Will make playoffs because: Riding their current four game skid, teams will forget they exist, similar to the way they did during their 6-2 start, and they will run the table to a wildcard berth.
Will miss the playoffs because: They have what could be the most difficult four game stretch to end the season (Dal., @SD, KC, @GB), and are low on confidence riding a four game losing streak.
4. Minnesota Vikings (6-6): 15
Will make the playoffs because: No team is better at running the ball and stopping the run.
Will miss the playoffs because: Tavaris Jackson is their quarterback!
5. New Orleans Saints (5-7): 11
Will make the playoffs because: Of the wildcard contenders, Brees, Bush and Colston is the most potent offensive threesome.
Will miss the playoffs because: They turn it over way too much and have too many teams to jump.
6. New York Giants (8-4): 14
Will make playoffs because: They lead every other NFC wild card contender by two games with four to go.
Will miss playoffs because: The Giants are 7-14 after Nov. in the Tom Coughlin era, and everyone would be talking about another swoon had they not staged a miracle comeback in Chicago on Sunday.
7. Washington Redskins (5-7): 10
Will make playoffs because: Some divine power is rooting for them heavily.
WIll miss playoffs because: They can't run the ball (Portis has just two 100 yd rushing games this season), and the Sean Taylor travesty will understandably be too much to overcome.
The final month should be very interesting because a number of these teams play eachother, meaning each team can help their own cause by knocking off another contender. Based on how they are playing now and the games that remain on the schedule, I believe the Giants and Vikings will complete the NFC playoff picture. I can't tell you how badly I wanted to put in Arizona over the Giants because I still feel like they will choke, but I also refuse to endorse the Cardinals. With that said, I am completely sold on Minnesota despite their quarterback troubles. If you can run the ball and stop the run you will go far in this league and, as I said in their analysis, no team in the NFL is better at doing those two things then Minnesota.
What two teams will earn the wildcards in the AFC? Check back tomorrow for my outlook on that. Until then, GO SPARTANS!
DTM
NFC:
- Teams in the race: Arizona, Chicago, Detroit, Minnesota, New Orleans, NYG, Washington
(Alphabetical order, not order of finish)
1. Arizona Cardinals (6-6): 14
Will make playoffs because: Only one team (Seattle) remaining on their schedule has a record of.500 or better.
Will miss playoffs because: They struggle to run the ball and relying on Kurt Warner to carry an offense was so five years ago.
2. Chicago Bears (5-7): 10
Will make playoffs because: Rex Grossman is looking like the first rounder he was.
Will miss playoffs because: Devin Hester can only save your (behind) so many times. Oh yea, and they're from Chicago, meaning if it can go wrong, it will.
3. Detroit Lions (6-6): 5
Will make playoffs because: Riding their current four game skid, teams will forget they exist, similar to the way they did during their 6-2 start, and they will run the table to a wildcard berth.
Will miss the playoffs because: They have what could be the most difficult four game stretch to end the season (Dal., @SD, KC, @GB), and are low on confidence riding a four game losing streak.
4. Minnesota Vikings (6-6): 15
Will make the playoffs because: No team is better at running the ball and stopping the run.
Will miss the playoffs because: Tavaris Jackson is their quarterback!
5. New Orleans Saints (5-7): 11
Will make the playoffs because: Of the wildcard contenders, Brees, Bush and Colston is the most potent offensive threesome.
Will miss the playoffs because: They turn it over way too much and have too many teams to jump.
6. New York Giants (8-4): 14
Will make playoffs because: They lead every other NFC wild card contender by two games with four to go.
Will miss playoffs because: The Giants are 7-14 after Nov. in the Tom Coughlin era, and everyone would be talking about another swoon had they not staged a miracle comeback in Chicago on Sunday.
7. Washington Redskins (5-7): 10
Will make playoffs because: Some divine power is rooting for them heavily.
WIll miss playoffs because: They can't run the ball (Portis has just two 100 yd rushing games this season), and the Sean Taylor travesty will understandably be too much to overcome.
The final month should be very interesting because a number of these teams play eachother, meaning each team can help their own cause by knocking off another contender. Based on how they are playing now and the games that remain on the schedule, I believe the Giants and Vikings will complete the NFC playoff picture. I can't tell you how badly I wanted to put in Arizona over the Giants because I still feel like they will choke, but I also refuse to endorse the Cardinals. With that said, I am completely sold on Minnesota despite their quarterback troubles. If you can run the ball and stop the run you will go far in this league and, as I said in their analysis, no team in the NFL is better at doing those two things then Minnesota.
What two teams will earn the wildcards in the AFC? Check back tomorrow for my outlook on that. Until then, GO SPARTANS!
DTM
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Computers Got it Wrong Again
For the last time, can college football just get a playoff system? Honestly, it has gotten to the point where the government should hold a Congressional hearing and take over, similar to the way they did with the drug testing policies in professional sports. That was pointless because athletes will always find ways to get around drug tests, but there is no getting around how wrong and unfair this BS BCS system is. Somehow, LSU was given a ticket to the national championship game despite losing at home a week ago. In a sport with a system such as the BCS, it has been proven time and again that the later in the season you lose, the more it negatively affects your status. Not this time. Instead, LSU is granted a free pass, and a trip to a game that a few other teams deserve to be playing in.
In my universe, Virginia Tech would be playing Ohio State for all the marbles. Tech's last loss came on Oct. 25 to Boston College; a game they lost in the final moments on an incredible throw by Heisman candidate Matt Ryan. They just avenged that loss yesterday by defeating the Eagles 30-16. Their only other loss was to LSU, but that came on Sept. 9 in Week 2, which should make it almost irrelevant. After that heartbreaking loss to BC, Virginia Tech was looking at a schedule where three of their five remaining games would be on the road and two of those would be against ranked opponents. The Hokies won their final five games by an average margin of 19.8 points. Tech is the hottest team in the country and it's a shame that they were overlooked by a machine that continues to show its incompetance year after year.
It was also funny to me that Kansas, not Missouri, got the invite to the Orange Bowl. Kansas had a great year, and I believe that they should get more consideration for the title game then LSU seeing as how they have one loss and were at the top of the Big 12 all year, but I digress. Didn't Missouri just go to Kansas and beat the Jayhawks a week ago? And I believe it was Missouri, not Kansas, who won the Big 12 North and earned a trip to last night's conference title game. Not to mention that the computers had Missouri ranked sixth in the BCS, with Kansas two spots behind. Missouri was #1 in the country less than 24 hours ago and now they find themselves playing in a non-BCS Bowl Game. Is there anyone out there who doesn't see that as a serious problem?
Georgia also has legitimate beef here. They finished 10-2 and a tiebreaker away from playing LSU for the SEC Championship last night. They have won six straight since losing to Tennesse in early October and have beaten ranked Florida, ranked Auburn, and ranked Kentucky in the process. Georgia has the same SEC record as LSU, has the same number of overall losses, and their last loss came almost three months ago, whereas LSU lost a week ago. How then did LSU get in over Georgia? You say because LSU won the SEC title? Well to that I say Georgia was just as deserving to be in that game as LSU and they're basically being disciplined for being idel this weekend. Remember, after LSU lost to Arkansas last Saturday, everyone on television and radio agreed that LSU had blown their final chance to cement itself as a National Championship contender.
In closing I would just like to propose this final question: Had LSU beat Arkansas, but lost last night to Tennessee to end up with the same record would they still be playing for the National Championship? No, no, and no. If that were the case, Virginia Tech would be playing Ohio State, and that is just as it should be. Hopefully this debotchery is the final straw in the failing BCS system, and we can let a playoff decide who is the true National Champion.
DTM
In my universe, Virginia Tech would be playing Ohio State for all the marbles. Tech's last loss came on Oct. 25 to Boston College; a game they lost in the final moments on an incredible throw by Heisman candidate Matt Ryan. They just avenged that loss yesterday by defeating the Eagles 30-16. Their only other loss was to LSU, but that came on Sept. 9 in Week 2, which should make it almost irrelevant. After that heartbreaking loss to BC, Virginia Tech was looking at a schedule where three of their five remaining games would be on the road and two of those would be against ranked opponents. The Hokies won their final five games by an average margin of 19.8 points. Tech is the hottest team in the country and it's a shame that they were overlooked by a machine that continues to show its incompetance year after year.
It was also funny to me that Kansas, not Missouri, got the invite to the Orange Bowl. Kansas had a great year, and I believe that they should get more consideration for the title game then LSU seeing as how they have one loss and were at the top of the Big 12 all year, but I digress. Didn't Missouri just go to Kansas and beat the Jayhawks a week ago? And I believe it was Missouri, not Kansas, who won the Big 12 North and earned a trip to last night's conference title game. Not to mention that the computers had Missouri ranked sixth in the BCS, with Kansas two spots behind. Missouri was #1 in the country less than 24 hours ago and now they find themselves playing in a non-BCS Bowl Game. Is there anyone out there who doesn't see that as a serious problem?
Georgia also has legitimate beef here. They finished 10-2 and a tiebreaker away from playing LSU for the SEC Championship last night. They have won six straight since losing to Tennesse in early October and have beaten ranked Florida, ranked Auburn, and ranked Kentucky in the process. Georgia has the same SEC record as LSU, has the same number of overall losses, and their last loss came almost three months ago, whereas LSU lost a week ago. How then did LSU get in over Georgia? You say because LSU won the SEC title? Well to that I say Georgia was just as deserving to be in that game as LSU and they're basically being disciplined for being idel this weekend. Remember, after LSU lost to Arkansas last Saturday, everyone on television and radio agreed that LSU had blown their final chance to cement itself as a National Championship contender.
In closing I would just like to propose this final question: Had LSU beat Arkansas, but lost last night to Tennessee to end up with the same record would they still be playing for the National Championship? No, no, and no. If that were the case, Virginia Tech would be playing Ohio State, and that is just as it should be. Hopefully this debotchery is the final straw in the failing BCS system, and we can let a playoff decide who is the true National Champion.
DTM
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