Bowl 11’

Let's be honest, no one cares about most of these bowl games. Think about it, the only games that are pre-determined are the BCS games. After those, every other game is chosen by the bowls themselves. So, let's evaluate the games that we'll be sitting down in front of the TV begging for some man time to watch.

Oregon vs Auburn…Two words for this game, Cam Newton! He's dynamic, he's versatile, and he's a winner. After Cam, there's Nick Farley and no one else. Auburn can't stop the run or the pass. They haven't stopped anyone with their defense all year unless you would like to count Louisiana –Monroe and Chattanooga who still put up 24pts. Fear the Duck. Oregon features an offense that runs each play in 23 seconds. This is as fast as the two minute offense teams run near the end of a half or game. Oregon is finding this much success on an offense run by their backup QB. Yep, Darren Thomas was Jeremiah Masoli's backup before the season started. All Thomas has done is become the 3^rd best player in the Pac 10 behind his teammate LaMichael James and Andrew Luck. James is lightning in a bottle but runs tougher and harder than he looks. Oregon will win, but if Auburn spot's the Duck 24 pts like they did Bama, this will be a blowout.

Bama vs. Michigan ST will be a tough fought game predicated on the big play. Who will make or miss them is the question. Bama has already lost to their rivals and will be looking to regain a swagger that seems to be leaving. Michigan State is trying to prove that this season wasn't a fluke. Cousins will lead a pass happy offense who has found nine receivers over a 100 yards. Bama features a Heisman winner and future All-Pros. But maybe, just maybe Bama has turned into Mike Tyson when Holyfield beat him. Maybe the plans have been drawn to Bama. Nick Saban will be prepared as ever to win but it probably time for Nick to stop turning athletes into safties and wideouts and allow them to play QB. Michigan St will win this game because no one is afraid of Alabama any more….roll tide.

Ohio St vs Arkansas… Okay, I got a free Buckeye tattoo as well but I still charged them for my autograph. Tattoo-Gate or the NCAA finding out that several Ohio State players trading autographs for tattoos has led to a 2011 five game suspension. None of this will have any effect on this bowl game. As a matter of fact, this game will have a higher viewership rating than the national championship game. This game will come down to balance. Arkansas has a high powered offense behind the big arm of Ryan Mallet. The Razorbacks defense has shown the ability to give up the big play. Ryan Mallet has made huge mistakes in their biggest games of the year. The Buckeyes are solid on offense, defense and special teams. Because of this, the Buckeyes will be victorious and finish ranked #3 in the country after this game.

 

Wisconsin vs. TCU… TCU has another chance to add to their undefeated season. The Badgers are ready to prove they aren't just the red headed step child to the usual Big 10 powerhouses. The Horn Frogs feature a high octane offense that can score with the best of them. Their defense is solid and dedicated to rushing the passer and stopping the run. The Badger offense will run, run, pass, and then run some more. Defensively, the Badgers are strong and feature NFL prospects at half of their starters. This will be a close game but Wisconsin will win.

And, the rest of them.. LSU vs Texas A&M… Name three players for either team in this game. Still waiting….. Now you see why this game isn't important. A&M wins.

UCONN vs. Oklahoma seems like a second round matchup in the NCAA tourney. It's not, it's football and that means the Sooners will put up a basketball score on the Huskies.

Stanford vs. VaTech should have been a huge game. The problem is that none believes the Pac 10 is any good. Stanford will blowout VaTech but it will go unnoticed because the Hookies also lost to James Madison.

 

 

It's Now or Never

The NFL regular season is winding down and the New Year is almost here. No not the welcoming of 2011, instead Happy New NFL playoffs. Unlike our New Year ’s Eve plans, the NFL playoffs are yet to be determined. With only two games left in the season, teams are still fighting for playoff berth and positioning. Last year the heavy frontrunners had already been decided, the Saints and Colts shut it down and played all backups to ensure the health of their starters. This year , The only clear cut #1 seed is the Atlanta Falcons. Matt Ryan, Roddy Roddy White, Michael Turner and the crew have been solid. They’ve won games the old-fashioned way, good defense, good special teams and great offense. In the AFC the Steeler’s and New England will have a photo finish to capture their #1 seed. Regardless, both will get a buy and due to both teams playing outside in the elements, home field advantage throughout shouldn’t make that big of a difference. The Pats have won games with Tom Brady’s arm and a renewed spirit of takeaways displayed by a young defense. Pittsburgh on the other hand, has won games the same way they always have. Great D, Great D, and more Great D! Regardless of the late fall by the J-E-T-S, their early season success has ensured them of a playoff spot. Go Chargers go, may as well be the chant because they’re doing it again. They are making a late December push that will not only allow them to win a very weak division, but it will also secure them a slot in the playoffs. Baltimore has some work ahead of them. They have to get QB Joe Flacco up to speed about the urgency of now. He is the only thing that stands between them and a second Superbowl ring. The Ravens will show up in the playoffs. The only question is, will Flacco be joining them. The Indianapolis Colts “aint what they used to be…aint what they used to be…aint what they used to be.” They still have Peyton Manning and because of this and a furious pass rush, they’ll be in the playoffs. The Saints will earn a buy in week one, and seem to be getting into Superbowl form. The Packers will win the division, thanks to a late year skid by the Bears due to three or four more interceptions thrown by Jay Cutler. The Giants are playing well at the right time but there, league leading turnover problem will be their demise in round one. Philly and Mike Vick are very dangerous and will create plenty of problems for their opposition’s defense. But Eagles also have their own defensive issues and will probably end up winning one game and then losing because of it. The Rams are back! Just kidding, they are back in the playoffs, even though they’re in the worst division in football.

Urban did the right thing.

Coaching has long been a stressful job. Coaching has always been filled with the ideology that says, out work your opponents. In coaching,
that language means spend more hours in the office than your opponents and your coworkers. The idea that working long means working hard in the coaching ranks has been going on for years. Many have given this credit to long time NFL coaches George Allen and Sid Gillman who believed, "Every time you win, you're reborn; when you lose, you die a little." Like everything else in the NFL, this attitude filtered down to the college ranks. As college coaching salaries continue to increase, the time dedicated to these jobs multiplies. College coaches have a little more added pressure; they have to recruit talented players without paying them… College coaches first job is recruiting. If you can't recruit, you will find it hard being a collegiate coach. Collegiate players in any sport will tell you they each had a coach on their staff that couldn't coach. They always wondered how in the world he/she was able to have their job only to find out that most of their best players came to the University as a result of that particular coach. While coaches are game planning for an opponent, they're recruiting. When a coach is on a game trip, they're recruiting. When coaches are on vacation, they're recruiting. Coaches are always recruiting! Due to this 24 hour recruiting cycle, coaches families suffer. Some have even said, people who coach don't like they're families. Urban Meyer is trying to give the coaching profession a better name by giving up millions in order to be a better husband and father. Many believe that the 30 arrest during his tenure, or the fact that he can see looming disaster in the Gator program up ahead as factors in his resignation. But, you have to respect a man who believes that his family is much more important than winning another sears crystal football. I've had the opportunity to play with several coaches kids and a lot of times they are in the same position as kids from single parent households. They weren't able to see their dads in the stadium. They even found it hard at times to get help from them in the same sport they were coaching.
Coaches and their own personal health has suffered as a result of the job. Coaches have fainted during and after games and also have had heart attacks. The price paid by coaches families can be high. Coaches have dealt with suicides and seen kids going to prison right before their eyes and never knew what had happened. Urban Meyer doesn't want to fall into this statistic and would much rather be called dad right now. The hours that take coaches away from the home can sometimes blind them to the most important coaching job in their life, coaching their family.

Who watches the Heisman anyway?

“At its inception, the Heisman trophy was supposed to go to the best overall player in college football regardless of their position or rather or not their team was playing for a national title.” But we all know that isn’t the case. Somewhere the Heisman has lost its way. Was it when Jerry Rice finished 9^th in voting behind winner Doug Flutie. Or how about the multi positioned, most electrifying Deion Sanders finishing 8^th behind Barry Sanders. It just had to be when Gino Toretta beat out both Marshall Fualk and Garrison Hearst. The Heisman has been a joke for far too long as we pretend every year the voters got it right. This year the Heisman may go to Kellen Moore or Andrew Luck. Luck will be a prototypical NFL drop back QB, More on the other hand is a sympathetic pick by many because of Boise States alleged misfortunes of being a small guy playing in an automatic BCS bids world. Heck, why isn’t Denard Robinson in the Heisman race anymore. That’s a different conversation. Whether Cam Newton had lost 1 game or 2, it still wouldn’t change the fact that he’s the best player in college football. Cam Newton is 6’5 and 250 pounds of GROWN MAN. He looks as if he’s playing a video game while he’s playing. If he needs a first down he breaks a couple of tackles and gets it. If he needs a touchdown, he throws it down the field and nails it. Newton’s numbers are off the chart. He’s top ten in every offensive category except passing yards. Auburn is a five win team at best without Cam Newton being on the field. To hear voters publicly state they won’t vote for Cam Newton but will still vote for the Heisman is disgusting. At least he’s the best player on his team. The same voters voted for Matt Leinhart , when he might have been the 8^th best player on the USC roster. Cam Newton has been exceptional. For you Heisman voter’s, he’s shown Roger Staubach type accuracy, Archie Griffin like vision, Earl Campbell’s bruising power, Charlie Wards leadership, and yes by evidenced in the comeback victories over Clemson, South Carolina and especially Alabama he possesses Tim Tebows undeniable will to win. The Heisman has lost its luster under a regime of cynical agenda driven voters. In order for kids to start growing up dreaming to win the Heisman trophy again, voters need to go back to the Heisman’s intentions. Reward the best overall player in college football.

That's BCS

Now that we just about know who's playing for the BCS National Championship, is a playoff system better. Certainly not! The college playoff system will not bring a better ending to a year blitzed with huge games. The enthusiastic season, NFL comparisons, to many games, and lack of Bowl opportunities should be the reason why the BCS and the playoff system should remain at odds. The entire college football season will be affected by the playoff system. Teams will only schedule cupcakes and argue about how they should be in the playoffs because of their conference games. College basketball coaches make this same argument yearly when they don't make the NCAA Tourney. Just ask Seth Greenberg who plays in the one of the top two conferences in the country and missed the NCAA Tourney with a 25-9 record. The NFL comparisons should also be a reason to end college football playoff talk. College football fans really want a Superbowl Champ. College rules and structure needs to be different from the professional ranks. These collegiate players are amateurs and should be treated as such a 100% of the time. They should be allowed to be treated as student athletes and not be overly stressed because of the added pressure put on them by boosters and fans over a "one game" playoff season. We want them to perform like pros but only want to compensate them with a scholarship. The playoff system will give these players just too many games during a season. Conference title games and at least 2 more games would have to be eliminated in order to have a true playoff. Truly the most important reason to not have a playoff system is due to the elimination of bowl games. The bowl games are for the athletes. Bowl games don't mean anything only to the perennial top 30 teams in the FBS. The rest of us, celebrate like we are going to the Superbowl when our team makes a bowl game. The playoff talk should be squashed because of lack of student athlete support, but surely you realize they don't matter.

Heard it all before. Part 2

The 1987 strike set the tables for today's negotiations. The players went on strike due to the heavy restrictions of free agency. The NFLPA couldn't even get all of its players to strike as some of them crossed the picket lines daily to go to work. The owners were prepared for the strike and had replacement players ready to go. The owners also had the upper hand financially due to the lucrative television contracts and the lower replacement players salaries. The players weren't making any head way with owners so they took the fight to the court system. They were victorious in the courtroom, winning free agency in return for salary caps tied to a formula based on players share of total league revenues. Fast forward to now, what's really behind this proposed lockout. Owners are feeling the recession, corporate sponsorship and advertising is way down. Due to this fact, owners want the now 60-40%(players get 60%) split with a $1billion expense credit. The owners now want an additional 18% expense credit, to cover more expenses. The owners have already destroyed this happy balance because they receive the billion dollar exception. Last year players recieved 53.33%-46.67% split, the proposed 18% will completely turn the formula in the owners favor. Owners want to get paid more while restricting players salaries. This won't work and the NFLPA will not give in to this. The biggest problem looming is all of this is estimated numbers because the NFL owners won't allow the NFLPA into their financial records. Ponder that.....

NFL Sunday

B-MO@Carolina
The Ravens will have a week to rest some starters during the game and also rebound from a tough loss last week. The Panthers have now placed Deangelo Williams on IR as their prized running game continues to struggle. Ravens Win

BUF@CINCY
Buffalo finally got their 1st win and the Bungles need a win. Until they win a game, they shall be known as the Bungles....Again. That should only last until Sunday. Cincy Wins

Detroit@Dallas
The Lions are the best 1 win team in the league. Dallas has been inspired by a coaching change and finally playing up to their ability. Dallas wins

Cleveland@Jac
The Dog Pound has to be excited about the future of their team. The Browns with, McCoy, Cribs and Hillis on offense will create mismatches for defenses. The Jags on the other hand, have been sparked by last week impossible play . It's plays like this that change seasons for teams. Jags Win

Ari@KC
2 ships passing through the night. The Cardinals have quickly slipped back into the Cardinals of old. KC is on the rise and trying to compete for a division title. KC Wins

GB@Minn
As long as Bret Farve is the focal point of this team, the Vikes will struggle. GB will win because Aarron Rodgers is the 3rd best QB in the league behind Vick and Manning. GB Wins

Hou@NYJ
Houston is struggling and Gary Koubiak is starting to hear catcalls about is job. Meanwhile, Rex Ryan is dressing up like his twin for Halloween and winning games in OT. Houston will play for their coach and win a tough game in New Jersey. Texans Win

Oak@Pitt
Pitt finally played like the team that I thought they were in the beginning of the season. Now they're in trouble because they lose their true leader to a concussion, Hines Ward. Oakland has played well due to the play of Darren Mcfadden and Jason Campbell. They will continue in this shocking win over the Steeler's. Oakland Wins

Wash@Tenn
Vince Young nor Kerry Collins will be 100% during this game. This makes Randy Moss much tougher. The Skins were embarrassed Monday night and will bounce back this week against a confused Titan team. Skins Win

SEA@NO
Seattle is the leader of a garbage division. New Orleans is beginning to hit their stride. NO wins

TB@SF
Tampa Bay is for real, they're winners. Raheem Morris coach of the year now begins. Bucs Win

ATL@STL
Matt Ryan,Matt Ryan, that's what everyone is yelling after last weeks comeback victory. But the Rams are treating every game like a one game season. Sam Bradford is playing like a 3rd year vet already. Rams Win

Ind@NE
New England has hit their stride and are looking like the NE of old. Peyton Manning has put this years team together like McGuyver...He's taken 3 rubber bands and 2 straws and made an offense. What everyone is forgetting is that while they've struggled on offense, defensively Indy has been dominant. Indy Wins

NYG@Philly
The Giants have VICK issues, not e wide out issues. The Michael Jordan of football has entered the building....AGAIN. Like Jordan, no one has ever stopped Vick he can only stop his self. Philly needs to get better on D. They gave up 4 touchdowns in the blowout, normally if you give up this many TD's, you lose. Philly Wins

SD@Den
Phillip Rivers is quietly having an outstanding season but..... they're in 3rd place in an awful division. SD wins

Saturday Games

Nebraska@TexasA&M
Tannihill has taken over for preseason Heisman hopeful Jerrod Johnson. He then let his team know he was the man by throwing for 485 yards. Now he's facing the best defense and rushing attack in the Big 12. The Aggies will have a wonderful crowd and a very enthusiastic team. But, Martinez and the Cornhusker offense will be too much for them. 45-23 Nebraska

Wiscousin@Michigcan.
How'd this game make my list...2 words, Denard Robinson. Rich Rod put a huge talent a QB and brought back garbage on defense in the form of the 3-3-5. The Wolverines will perform well on offense but will be blown out because of the dumbest defense in the world. 45-28 Badgers

Stanford@CAL
Stanford and Andrew Luck continue to dominate in every facet of the game. They have a program and a team that other universities should emulate. CAL should be ashamed after it was leaked that their staff was unsportmanlike in making players fake injuries. They will pay this week against a well prepared Stanford. 50-23 Stanford

Ohio ST@Iowa
OhioST has been lights out on defense all season. They lead the nation in picks. Iowa just dropped a game to Northwestern and will be very hungry for a victory. QB Ricky Stanzi is known for throwing a picks and he will throw them against the Buckeyes.

OleMiss@LSUp
The Tigers will continue their winning ways against a bad Ole Miss team. Ole Miss has been very dissapointing this year especially after last weeks horrible loss to Tenn. LSU will win ugly as usual. 24-13 LSU

VTech@Miami
Jacory Harris been a bust this year after being a preseason Heisman candidate. Freshman Ryan Morris has taken over since Harris's concussion and has played almost mistake free football. VTech hasn't lost a game since losing 2 games in a row and should continue their winning ways at the U.35-20 VTECH

Arkansas@MissST
The Bulldogs have rushed their way into the top 25 all year long. They have played solid and are trying to rebuild a SEC powerhouse. Arkansas lead by Ryan Mallet will pose a huge problem for a defense that gives up yards in the passing game. Pig Souey!! 38-17 Razorbacks

FSU@Maryland
The Noles still have a chance to win the Atlantic and with a victory here or a NCST loss. Maryland has used a balanced attack and a opportunistic defense to obtain victories all year. Christian Ponder is back and will be in attack mode against Maryland. This should give the Noles the edge. 30-24 FSU

Get Crunked 4 Saturday

K.ST@Mizzou
K.ST has had a very good year that some thought could have been a special one. Now they can only play spoiler to a Mizzou team who is still trying to chase a Nebraska team to the Big 12 title game. A stout Mizzou defense will have to put the breaks on a powerful K.ST rushing attack led by D.Thomas. Mizzou will be to good at home with their passionate fans. 34-20 Mizzou

*****Upset Alert****
Iowa@NW
Iowa is traveling into dangerous territory in ChiTown. Northwestern has a high powered offense led by their passing game. They feature the most underrated QB in college football, Dan Persa. Iowa has a stingy defense, but has a QB who's known for giving away the football. I see an upset brewing. 48-45 NW
******Upset Alert*****
OKST@Texas
Usually when you say upset alert Texas is involved your speaking about the other team . But Texas will put together the 2nd best game of this season to beat OKST. Look out Mack, Will Muschamp will be Texas head coach at seasons end. 24-20 Texas

****Upset Alert*****
MissST@Bama

Miss ST is in the middle of the Cam Newton pay for play scandal. However they have quietly arose to the #19 team in the country. They've done this behind a strong running game. Bama's championship run was ruined last week after losing to LSU. The last time they were in this position, they laid an egg in the bowl game to Utah. 31-28 Bulldogs


Georgia@Auburn
Cam Newton is Auburn's entire team. Auburn isn't as sure anymore on Newton's eligibility. If doesn't he play, they'll lose. Auburn's undefeated National Championship season is on the line, Cam Newton will play. 34-27 Tigers


South Carolina@Florida

South Carolina blew their chances of winning the SEC outright when they were blown out by Arkansas. They have always struggled down the stretch during Spurier's tenure and this year is proving to be no different. Florida isn't the team of the past few years but they do have enough athletes on offense to make tons of plays. 38-27 Gators

Oregon@Cal
It will be a blowout. 61-24 Ducks

Utah@Notre Dame

ND defense will never be able to stop the Utes offense. Crist is out and ND starting a true freshman at QB. ND will be blown out again. 48-17 Utah

Clemson@FSU
The Tiger's have been an average team all year. Asking them to win a game to put them in the above average category is crazy. They won't do it. 28-17 FSU

Heard it all before...Part1

The NFL season is quickly entering a critical playoff push run, while at the same time, someone needs to use the defibrillator on the negotiations for the new CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) . In order to accurately explain today's CBA, we must first go back into the NFLPA (NFL Players Association) vs NFL archives. This isn't the 1st major squabble between the players and the owners. That happened in 1982 when the NFL players wanted a piece of the revenue the owners were making. One of the ways they sought to do this was through free agency. Owners wanted to ensure there players only played for their teams for the player entire career. So they made it extremely difficult for players to move around the league. The Owners would require cash, player compensation and draft picks in order to agree to trades. Due to this fact, players couldn't move around and thus played for the same teams for their entire careers. This was great for the Owners and fans but greatly crippled the players ability to have any leverage in negotiating a new contract. Also, Teams had revenue sharing, which meant whether you win the Superbowl or lose every game, the billion dollar TV deals were split evenly throughout all NFL teams. The Players on the other hand, didn't receive any portion of this money. All of this caused the 1982 strike. The looming lockout has some of the usual issues and suspects currently involved. This is Part 1 of a 3 part series, read next weeks issue for Part 2. Kevin Lewis is an retired NFL linebacker who now does motivational speaking, complete athletic training, coaching and football seminars. If you have comments or inquiries contact via his website www.klew59.com.