NBA Preview 2013-14: Central Division

Paul George

Predictions
1. Chicago Bulls
2. Indiana Pacers
3. Detroit Pistons
4. Cleveland Cavaliers
5. Milwaukee Bucks

Rookie Report
Tony Snell, SF, Bulls
The 6-7 forward from New Mexico should bring help on the wing and gives Chicago scoring, something that it definitely lacked last season.
Anthony Bennett, F, Cavaliers
The surprising No.1 overall pick will bring a ton of rebounding but it remains to be seen what forward slot he fits into.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, SG, Bucks
The Greek guard, who was selected 15th overall, has great size and has the potential to be a solid guard/forward at the NBA level.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG, Pistons
Detroit really lacked excitement and scoring in their backcourt so they picked up Caldwell-Pope, a high-scoring guard who was a star at Georgia.
Solomon Hill, F, Pacers
Although undersized, Hill will bring leadership and maturity to a frontcourt that has some aging players, like David West.

"The Return" should decide the Central this year. Even without Derrick Rose, the Bulls managed to win 45 games and took out Brooklyn in the first round of the playoffs. With Rose back, it gives Chicago scoring and the face of their franchise back. It remains to be seen if he is 100% but he should be a big addition, nonetheless. Along with Rose, the Bulls offense should rely heavily on Joakim Noah, who is a monster on the glass and is a great defender and aging Carlos Boozer, who disappeared at times last year. The addition of Tony Snell, this year's first round draft pick, should help significantly. Snell is a gifted athlete who can score but is also psychical on the wing. It remains to be seen how much minutes he can gain with the multitude of wings Chicago has. Thanks to a big year from Paul George the Pacers challenged the Heat for the Eastern Conference crown until the last second. George is still a year or two from becoming a superstar but the wing can shoot, but also is gifted with the size and strength to get to the rim. He can score and rebound but is also a quality defender who can shut down big name stars. Roy Hibbert returns as one of the NBA's most intimidating low post presences and a fully healthy Danny Granger will mean big things for the Pacers. When healthy Granger is one of the most underrated players in the NBA, a threat on the perimeter who also has good size. Luis Scola arrives to give more help in Indiana's solid frontcourt. Quietly, the Pistons made a couple of huge splashes over the offseason, landing Josh Smith from Atlanta and trading for inconsistent, but talented, Brandon Jennings. Along with aging but still effective guard Chauncey Billups, Detroit has the talent to make a playoff appearance, especially in the extremely weak Eastern Conference. This roster has a ton of young talent, from rookies Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, an elite scorer and Tony Mitchell, a big man from North Texas to second-year man Andre Drummond. The Pistons are banking on Drummond to develop into the dominant low post presence he has the potential to be. If Jennings can mature and Smith is effective from the beginning, Detroit could surprise. It appears the Cavaliers are starting to build a roster that can compete in the East again. Kyrie Irving has developed into one of the NBA's most dangerous guards. His ankle breakers are a common scene and Irving has proven he can be a playmaker, which he will be this year with talent around him. The Cavs took a real risk on signing Andrew Bynum, who didn't play one minute with Philadelphia, but he has the talent to be dominant. When healthy, Bynum dominates, with his impressive size and athleticism. Cleveland is also hoping for second-year guard Dion Waiters to improve greatly and Tristian Thompson, who is changing his shooting hand from lefty to righty, to finally develop into a more formidable forward. The Bucks were saved by the fact that the East was so terrible last year, sneaking into the playoffs. They clearly felt that a 37-45 mark wasn't good enough so they shipped two expensive contracts, Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis off. They did pay Larry Sanders, who is an elite shot-blocker and still have an underrated forward in Ersan Ilyasova, who can stretch the floor. The frontcourt appears to be solid, but the backcourt has no proven playmakers. Brandon Knight was acquired in the Jennings trade and he has talent, but has struggled with inconsistency in his career. O.J. Mayo can score and played well at times with Dallas, but isn't anything to build around.

College Football Power Rankings

1. Alabama Although 'Bama's offense was held in check by Ole Miss, the Tide's defense looks as great as ever holding the Rebels' explosive offense to 0 points.
2. Oregon This week's game against Cal proved just how good the Ducks are. Even in terrible conditions Oregon was just as deadly as ever and shut down the Bear's high-octane attack.
3. Ohio State Braxton Miller's fantastic performance against Wisconsin put to rest any questions about a quarterback controversy in Columbus and the defense stopped Melvin Gordon and the Badger's dominant ground game.
4. Clemson Tajh Boyd and the Tigers continue to roll through the ACC, this week embarrassing an average Wake Forest team. Next up, a weak Syracuse team in the Carrier Dome.
5. Stanford While most people were asleep the Cardinal put on yet another impressive show, dominating an improved Washington State team.

Michael Bennett

6. Georgia It appears Aaron Murray and Mark Richt have answered questions about whether they can win big games. With Florida weakened, the SEC East is Georgia's to lose.
7. Florida State It is hard to know how good Florida State is right now, they have blown through average opponents to this point. Their meeting with Clemson will tell a lot about both teams.
8. Louisville The American Athletic Conference should add little resistance to an undefeated year for the Cardinals. After this week's meeting with Temple, a big game with Rutgers awaits.
9. Texas A&M The Aggies' didn't completely blow out Arkansas but it was still an impressive win for a team trying to keep pace with Alabama in the SEC West.
10. LSU Even though they lost to Georgia, the Tigers should feel pretty good about their performance. Zach Mettenberger played the best game of his career and their ground game was explosive in the second half.
11. Oklahoma It was pretty stunning how dominant the Sooners were against Notre Dame. The defense caused turnover after turnover and Blake Bell is legit at QB.
12. UCLA The Bruins are coming off a bye week and get a sneaky Utah team next. Though, if their run game keeps producing (284 yards per game), this team is going to be tough to beat.
13. South Carolina Although the Gamecocks sneaked out a win over UCF their QB, Connor Shaw, who has having a great senior year could be out for a while. Luckily, junior Dylan Thompson is ready to lead South Carolina.
14. Miami The 'Canes blew out a South Florida team with no identity. But, Miami gets sneaky Georgia Tech next and the Coastal looks tougher than originally thought.
15. Northwestern It is a huge week for the Wildcats, as they square off against Ohio State, who is coming off a dominant showing against Wisconsin. If the ground game can find its stride Northwestern can pull off the upset.
16. Michigan The Wolverines had a bye week as they hope to address the last two games, in which they escaped past lowly Akron and UConn. To make things worse, this week, the Huskies were destroyed by the MAC's Buffalo Bulls.
17. Washington The Huskies weren't perfect against Arizona but came away with a win. If their defense continues to play the way it has been playing they could stun Stanford for the second straight year.
18. Baylor The Bears are 3-0 and keep rising up the polls. The good news for them, other than the fact Bryce Petty has been amazing, the Big 12 looks weaker than ever after Oklahoma State lost.
19. Oklahoma State It was stunning to see West Virginia, a 2-2 team who had been killed by Maryland the following week, push around the Cowboys. If J.W. Walsh can't fix his turnover problem it could be a long year.
20. Florida No Driskel, no problem for the Gators. At least it hasn't been a problem yet, as they handled Kentucky with ease thanks to a dazzling performance by back Matt Jones.
21. Texas Tech Kliff Kingsbury has already done wonders at Texas Tech, as a school breaking in a new QB is 4-0, with a chance to become bowl eligible, as the next two weeks they have Kansas and Iowa State.
22. Fresno State Hawaii gave the Bulldogs a closer game than we thought but the Derek Carr-led Fresno State Bulldogs appear to still be BCS busters.
23. Arizona State Taylor Kelly and the rest of this Arizona State offense picked apart USC, putting up 62 points on the board and leaving the Trojans without Lane Kiffin.
24. Northern Illinois For anybody disrespecting the MAC, think about what the Huskies have done. Led by Jordan Lynch, NIU has beat both Iowa and Purdue, beating the Boilermakers 55-24.
25. Maryland The surprising Terps have already matched last year's win total, thanks in big part to sophomore Stefon Diggs, who is a dark horse Heisman threat.

College Football Week Five Picks

6 LSU vs. 9 Georgia
The Bulldogs get their third Top 10 battle of the season in this SEC East-West showdown. LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger who originally committed to Georgia, returns. Mettenberger, who had an extremely inconsistent first year as starter last season has been quietly one of the most improved quarterbacks in the nation. The senior has thrown for 1,026 yards and 10 touchdowns this season, throwing the ball to two fantastic receivers in Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry. For a Georgia defense that has proven it will struggle against explosive offenses like Clemson that is a definite issue. Though LSU's defense won't have an easy job either. QB Aaron Murray and backs Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall give the Bulldogs a dangerous offense. In order for LSU to win, they need Mettenberger to play the way he did against Auburn and TCU and the defense must contain Georgia's offense. Though this LSU team is a lot different than past teams; they are faster and can score meaning Georgia could fall to 2-2.
LSU, 31 Georgia, 26

14 Oklahoma vs. 22 Notre Dame

Blake Bell

Both of these teams enter this game not knowing just how good they are. Notre Dame is 3-1 and lost
to Michigan and Oklahoma is undefeated but hasn't beaten anyone significant. Oklahoma will use junior QB Blake Bell who accounted for 413 yards and four touchdowns in a dominant win over Tulsa. But, this Notre Dame defense is dominant, not as good as last year's, but still very good. It is led by end Stephon  Tuitt and cornerback Bennett Jackson who had a big interception in their win over Purdue. Meanwhile, the Fighting Irish offense has some explosive playmakers led by powerful back Cam McDaniel and extremely improved Tommy Rees. The Sooners' defense has some questions; although the stats look great it is still weak against the run and has some holes all across it. Oklahoma just hasn't played any yet to prove that they will be able to beat the Fighting Irish.
Notre Dame, 24 Oklahoma, 17

1 Alabama vs. 21 Ole Miss
When the Tide beat Texas A&M at Kyle Field the general assumption was that the only real obstacle standing in their way of a third straight national championship is the SEC Championship. That is wrong as this Ole Miss team could well complete one of the biggest upsets of the year. The up-tempo Ole Miss attack is led by junior quarterback Bo Wallace, senior Jeff Scott and two explosive receivers in Donte Moncrief and true freshman Laquon Treadwell. Alabama's defense has proven it can be beat by explosive offenses like the Aggies. Although it includes a number of All-Americans from linebacker C.J. Mosley and Trey DePriest and defensive back Vinnie Sunseri it can be shredded, especially by dual threat quarterbacks, which the Rebels possess in Wallace. In order for the Tide to beat Ole Miss their offense must also perform. A.J. McCarron can win big games and has turned into one of the nation's best quarterbacks. Their ground game must be great, like it was against Texas A&M in order to beat a sneaky Ole Miss squad. It will and the Tide will come away with a 4-0 mark after this one though it may be a closer game than people think.
Alabama, 34 Ole Miss, 21

4 Ohio State vs. 23 Wisconsin
The Big Ten race takes an interesting turn in this one as the Badgers, who are eager to prove they are better than their 3-1 record, which they don't deserve and the Buckeyes are trying to prove they are still a national title threat. Amazingly, Ohio State doesn't know who their quarterback will be this week. That would be crazy to many people when the year began but that is how good backup Kenny Guiton has been in Braxton Miller's absence. Whoever starts will engineer an explosive offense that includes a number of different playmakers. But, can the defense which has played average this year, stop Melvin Gordon and the power attack the Badgers run? Gordon is extremely explosive while senior James White dominates in between the tackles. Plus, sophomore QB Joel Stave has been great this year and the defense has been solid. If the Buckeyes can find any way to stop Wisconsin's offense they should win this one easily. But that is easier said than done. OSU pulls away with his one thanks to a dominant showing by Miller/Guiton.
Ohio State, 42 Wisconsin, 33

Other Picks
2 Oregon, 58 California, 44
3 Clemson, 31 Wake Forest, 13
11 Oklahoma State, 45 West Virginia, 21
Georgia Tech, 27 Virginia Tech, 24
Current Picks Record: 26-6

College Football Power Rankings

Kenyan Drake

1. Alabama The Tide had no issues with Colorado State but they get a sneaky Ole Miss team next. They need A.J. McCarron to be on his A game in order to fend off the Rebels.
2. Oregon Mariota, Thomas, Marshall and Lyerla. The Ducks' offense is as deadly as ever but their are still some questions on the defensive side of the ball.
3. Clemson The Tigers weren't perfect against NC State but they are still undefeated and Tajh Boyd still appears as the Heisman frontrunner.
4. Ohio State Backup QB Kenny Guiton and the Buckeyes absolutely embarrassed Florida A&M and will get Braxton Miller likely back this week.
5. Stanford For anyone that questioned Stanford: the Cardinal absolutely shut down an explosive Arizona State offense and QB Kevin Hogan improved to 8-0 as a starter.
6. Louisville Teddy Bridgewater and the Cardinals won 72-0... against Florida International. The Cardinals are going to breeze through their schedule before their meeting with Rutgers.
7. LSU The Tigers blew out an undefeated Auburn team but we still don't know how good this team is. The one proven thing is that Zach Mettenberger and the rest of the offense is the best it has been in years.
8. Florida State The 'Noles have one of the nation's most talented teams led by Jameis Winston, Nick O'Leary and the ACC's best defense.
9. Texas A&M Johnny Manziel and the Aggies didn't show any weaknesses against an underrated SMU team and don't overlook Manziel winning a second straight Heisman trophy.
10. Oklahoma State The Big 12 has been all about Texas' struggles this year but Oklahoma State has quietly been one of the nation's most explosive offenses, as usual.
11. Georgia North Texas never really had a shot at upsetting Georgia but it was way too close for a SEC team against the lowly Sun Belt.
12. South Carolina With Florida struggling the SEC East looks a lot less intimidating. If Connor Shaw can continue to develop don't be surprised if the Gamecocks sneak into the SEC Championship game.
13. UCLA The Bruins appear ready to contend even in the rough Pac-12. Brett Hundley is a dark horse Heisman threat and the defense is so underrated headed by dominant linebacker Anthony Barr.
14. Miami The 'Canes were a 60 point favorite against Savannah State and they didn't disappoint as they 77-7.
15. Oklahoma This week is a huge one for Oklahoma. Is Blake Bell ready to go up against the dominant Notre Dame defense and can the Sooners' defense stop Tommy Rees and Amir Carlisle?
16. Northwestern The Wildcats are blowing through opponents and the Legends Division doesn't look very good with Nebraska and Michigan both struggling.
17. Washington Every one wants to talk about Oregon and Stanford in the North but Washington is a real threat. Keith Price and Bishop Sankey make an impressive offense but can their defense hold up?
18. Michigan For the second straight week Michigan needed some help late to hold off an upset. But, they are still 4-0 and the win against Notre Dame is still should help them out in the mind of some pollsters.
19. Baylor The Bears offense has started off this year with three straight games of 70+ points. Needless to say things are clicking on the offensive end for Baylor.
20. Florida The loss of Jeff Driskel for the year is huge. The Gators were already struggling on offense meaning there is even more pressure on their defense.
21. Notre Dame It certainly wasn't pretty but the Fighting Irish beat Michigan State 17-13 to improve to 3-1 as Oklahoma awaits.
22. Ole Miss So far the Rebels offense has been dominant led by Bo Wallace, Jeff Scott and freshman Laquon Treadwell but we will see just how good this team is against 'Bama.
23. Texas Tech The Red Raiders haven't looked that great this year but somehow they have managed a 4-0 start with an impressive win over TCU.
24. Fresno State The Bulldogs are turning into Boise State, they have the remaining schedule to go undefeated.
25. Georgia Tech The Yellow Jackets and their offense has been on fire and they were extremely impressive in the second half of their win over UNC.

College Football Week Four Picks

Marion Grice

5 Stanford vs. 23 Arizona State
The Pac-12 has been extremely impressive this year but the favorite remains a question. The winner of this one could well prove themselves as the biggest contender to Oregon in the conference. Arizona State is coming off a bizarre but impressive win over Wisconsin, while Stanford has dominated Army and San Jose State thanks to a power ground game and dominant defense. These two teams have contrasting styles: Arizona State runs a spread attack with speed and a high-scoring offense while the Cardinal rely on power and a stiff defense. The key for Stanford will be shutting down explosive Marion Grice who was dominant against the Badgers and junior QB Taylor Kelly who can make plays with his legs. Luckily, their front seven has proven they can stop the run and they have stopped explosive offenses more than once (Oregon last year). Even if the Sun Devils are held down a little bit they should still manage to put up points. That will put pressure on sophomore Kevin Hogan and the Cardinal offense. Arizona State doesn't have any proven defenders other than Will Sutton and Tyler Gaffney and Anthony Wilkerson can just run people over.
Stanford, 31 Arizona State, 23

6 LSU vs. Auburn
Two undefeated teams collide in this rivalry game which is always a good one. LSU hasn't been necessarily dominant but they are 3-0 and senior Zach Mettenberger, who has been the X-factor for a while in Baton Rouge, has been playing great this year after a rough junior season. Along with junior back Terrence Magee and receiver Odell Beckham, who has 330 yards this season. Auburn has been surprising this year even though they haven't played any real contender and a lot of their success can be credited to junior QB Nick Marshall. Although he isn't a real dual threat Marshall has proven he can run as well but this Tigers defense can be dominant even if it is inexperienced. Even if the LSU defense plays well can it stop the two-headed monster of a backfield that includes Corey Grant and Tre Mason? If they do Auburn just doesn't have the talent there right now to stop this LSU offense and score against their D.
LSU, 27 Auburn, 14

22 Notre Dame vs. Michigan State
This has been huge the past couple of years as whoever wins it usually takes a huge step in the right direction. Notre Dame has been efficient and their offense looks better than expected when Everett Golson was suspended. Tommy Rees has played well this season but this Michigan State defense is extremely underrated. Max Bullough is a beast in the middle and Spartans' defensive end Shilique Calhoun who has had a huge year. The Spartans also feel confident in their offense after Connor Cook has earned the quarterback job over Andrew Maxwell. The Notre Dame defense is not what is was last year but it is still a stingy unit. Stephon Tuitt will pressure Cook all day and the Fighting Irish have speed all over the unit. Speedy USC transfer Amir Carlisle has been huge in the backfield for the Irish and Cam McDaniel offers a change of pace player and will give Notre Dame a scary 1-2 punch. This one could be a defensive battle much like last season, but Notre Dame is the better football team.
Notre Dame, 20 Michigan State, 9

Other Picks
Fresno State, 35 Boise State, 21
19 Florida, 34 Tennessee, 20
24 Wisconsin, 21 Purdue, 17
Kansas State, 35 Texas, 24
15 Michigan, 24 UConn, 13

Current Picks Record: 18-6

Is Mack Brown Done at Texas?

Mack Brown

A couple of years ago it seemed crazy to think that Mack Brown, one of the most successful coaches of his generation might be fired, just three years after getting into the national championship with Colt McCoy and a group of future NFL players. But, after that, things have gone south in a hurry. Their first year removed from the McCoy era the Longhorns struggled to a 5-7 mark, then 8-5 and 9-4 years followed. This year, things were supposed to change. Junior QB David Ash was back along with a number of playmakers including Malcolm Brown, Mike Davis and defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat. So what happened?

If you were a Texas fan you probably shielded your eyes for all of their matchup with BYU. Sophomore QB Taysom Hill and the rest of the Cougars ran for 500+ yards in their blowout win of the then 15th-ranked Longhorns. That was an embarrassing show for the Longhorns and they responded quickly, firing defensive coordinator Manny Diaz. That didn't help the Longhorns out to much this past week against Ole Miss. The Rebels' star back Jeff Scott ran for 164 yards on 19 carries with a score to go along with it and QB Bo Wallace ran for 57 more. Texas currently sits at 1-2, with their only win coming against lowly New Mexico State, who is basically a FCS team. To make things worse, Ash who has struggled with injuries throughout his career at UT, will likely be out against Kansas State who has won 2 straight since their stunning loss to FCS powerhouse North Dakota State. Plus, Kansas State possesses one of the nation's speediest backs in John Hubert which hurts Texas severely as they have proven their rush defense is just embarrassing.

Texas has the resources to win championship after championship. The state of Texas is football-crazy and the Longhorns can recruit the state with ease. The Longhorns have a new Longhorn Network which allows them to televise all their games and gives them even bigger recruiting advantages over teams in the Southwest. Their reputation should give them four and five-star recruits just by itself and their historic relevance should as well. They expect to win double-digit game totals every single year, not 8-9 years that include losses to Oklahoma in the Red River rivalry. And, they most definitely don't include 21 point losses to BYU, a team filled with two and three-star commits and breaking in a new quarterback (Hill).

With a Red River rivalry versus Oklahoma still remaining plus matchups with Oklahoma State, Baylor and Texas Tech still remaining the future isn't much brighter than the past. The rush defense has proven it is atrocious, surprising considering the talent on the defense. Baylor, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech can all score put up touchdown after touchdown, an issue for Texas, who is currently allowing 30.3 points per game. Plus, who knows how long Ash will be gone and senior Case McCoy, who is Colt's brother, has proven he can't win big games and struggles with turnovers. Even if new defensive coordinator Greg Robinson can get the defense going and the ground attack becomes dominant the schedule means things are going to tough for the Longhorns.

The numbers speak for themselves: From 2001-2009 Brown and the Longhorns were 101-16 and had just 4 home losses in that span. Since 2010, Texas is 23-18 and has lost 10 home games. One more loss, even if it is to an Oklahoma State or Baylor team that is clearly better than Texas right now, will mean the end to the Mack Brown era. Texas is just too good to be losing games the way they are. If he is fired Brown's future is definitely interesting. He is a big-name coach who has proven he can win and any program would like to have him (except Texas). It is going to take a lot for Brown to save his job at this point and that just isn't going to happen.

College Football Power Rankings

1. Alabama For a second there it looked like 'Bama would lose. But, A.J. McCarron might be the nation's best quarterback and the ground game finally found its stroke.

2. Oregon The Ducks are feasting on average opponents but Tennessee is a decent football team. One question: how many points are they and Cal going to combine for next week?

3. Clemson NC State isn't a pushover and will give Clemson some issues. But, this offense is just too good to lose in their ACC opener.

4. Ohio State No Braxton Miller, no problem. The Buckeyes beat Cal easily without their Heisman candidate but questions still loom about their defense.

5. Louisville The Cardinals got through one of their biggest tests this past week against Kentucky. That is how weak their schedule is.

Zach Mettenberger

6. Stanford The Cardinal don't appear scared at all by Oregon's early dominance. The defense was great against Army and Kevin Hogan looks much improved.

7. LSU With Texas A&M losing to 'Bama it appears LSU is the biggest threat to the Tide in the
West. If Mettenberger continues to play good they could be a dark horse championship threat.

8. Florida State Jameis Winston and Co. rolled over and underrated Nevada team and if they can get past Clemson, a second straight ACC crown is a real possibility.

9. Texas A&M Manziel and the Aggies' offense was fantastic against Alabama but the defense proved that it will be the thing that will hold back TAMU.

10. Georgia People might not understand just how stacked this backfield is. It contains Todd Gurley, an All-American, Keith Marshall, a productive back and fullback Quayvon Hicks who just makes plays.

11. Oklahoma State In the midst of the rumors about their program Oklahoma State is 3-0 and the offense looks as lethal as ever.

12. Michigan A week after beating Notre Dame in the Big House, Michigan nearly suffered one of the biggest upsets in college football history. If Devin Gardner plays smart this team is tough to beat.

13. South Carolina The Gamecocks didn't have much trouble with a good Vanderbilt team and they have the schedule to sneak into a BCS bowl.

14. UCLA Everybody in the Pac-12 talks about Stanford and Oregon but don't overlook UCLA. The Bruins and Brett Hundley made Nebraska look like a FCS team in the second half.

15. Miami "The U" is back. Stephen Morris and Duke Johnson lead an offense that looks scary and the defense looks much improved from last year's unit.

16. Northwestern If the offense keeps performing the way it is the Wildcats are being to be a tough game. The defense has one of the Big Ten's elite pass rushers in Tyler Scott at end.

17. Oklahoma The Sooners might have solved their offense issues as junior QB Blake Bell was dominant in their spanking of Tulsa. With the Big 12 looking weak the Sooners could really surprise.

18. Florida The Gators have the offensive talent to be dominant but they haven't been able to put it together. Word of warning: don't overlook Tennessee they are playing their best football in years.

19. Washington Keith Price and the Huskies have rolled over a relatively easy schedule so far but things are about to get real tough. After this week against Idaho State the Huskies have Arizona, Stanford and Oregon all in a row.

20. Notre Dame The Fighting Irish weren't perfect against Purdue and the defense has some worries. But, this offense has been surprisingly good under Tommy Rees and they found a real threat in back Cam McDaniel.

21. Baylor The Bears' offense has been deadly early but they are starting to enter Big 12 play where we will see just how good this team is.

22. Texas Tech Amazingly, it wasn't the Red Raiders' offense that carried them to a win over TCU. It was their defense who shut down Trevone Boykin and the Horned Frogs.

23. Arizona State Yet another Pac-12 team with an explosive offense, as the Sun Devils proved last night. Junior QB Taylor Kelly is dangerous and Marion Grice can change games with his speed.

24. Ole Miss That Texas win would have been impressive, if the Longhorns hadn't allowed 500+ rushing yards to BYU the week before. Things are about to get even tougher as Ole Miss gets Alabama this week.

25. Fresno State Quietly, the Bulldogs have played very well and quarterback Derek Carr has played like a dark horse Heisman threat. If the defense holds up, Fresno should roll to a Mountain West crown.

Week Three College Football Picks

1 Alabama vs. 6 Texas A&M
"The Rematch" has a lot on the line as it may decide the SEC West and Heisman race. Everybody

Christion Jones

knows Nick Saban has been thinking of ways to stop sophomore quarterback Johnny Manziel who dominated the defense last year. The Tide will pressure Manziel constantly but he isn't the only Aggie they have to worry about. Junior receiver Mike Evans has had two big games this year and back Ben Malena is explosive. The Aggies have proven constantly they can put up points but the defense is definitely a question mark. A.J. McCarron can beat you with his big arm and the Tide have found a number of explosive deep threats including Amari Cooper and Christion Jones. If the Tide can get their ground game going, which was surprisingly ineffective against Virginia Tech. A lot of it had to do with the offensive line. A unit that was historical last year has proven that the three starters gone are going to leave a big gap. The explosiveness of Texas A&M could give Alabama issues and Manziel knows how to beat the Tide. But, McCarron has proven he can win the big games and the ground game should punish a young Aggies defense.
Alabama, 34  Texas A&M, 28

16 UCLA vs. 23 Nebraska
A week after squeaking out a win against Wyoming the 'Huskers responded by blowing out Southern Miss. They will get their biggest test this year outside of Michigan in the UCLA Bruins who killed Nevada to begin their year. Nebraska will have headaches trying to stop sophomore quarterback Brett Hundley who threw for 274 yards and ran for 63 more over Nevada. Junior Jordan James who had the tough job of replacing Jonathan Franklin, will provide a dangerous 1-2 punch. If James has a big game and Hundley plays smart Nebraska's defense, which was shredded by Wyoming, won't be able to stop the Bruins. Luckily for Nebraska they have a dual threat of their own in senior Taylor Martinez who has proven he can make big plays. But, what will he be able to do in the passing game with linebacker Anthony Barr pressuring him constantly? The pass defense is weak for UCLA and Martinez has proven he can beat defenses occasionally. Back Ameer Abdullah is key as the 'Huskers will look for him just to move the ball. Nebraska's defense just doesn't look like it has the personnel to stop Hundley and the defense should be able to get enough pressure on Martinez to force him into mistakes.
UCLA, 28 Nebraska, 17

13 South Carolina vs. Vanderbilt
The Gamecocks who were dominated last week by Georgia will get their second straight SEC opponent as they get Vanderbilt this week. Vandy, who sits at 1-1, has one of the nation's best receivers in senior Jordan Matthews who 289 yards in his first two games. He has the size and speed that is so tough to defend and South Carolina doesn't have any proven defensive backs who can slow him down. Though, the talent on the offensive end is impressive for the Commodores. They have the next Marcus Lattimore in back Mike Davis who has proven he has a lethal mix of power but can beat defenders. Receiver Shaq Roland is poised for a big game if Connor Shaw can get him the ball. The Gamecocks have a power ground game in Shaw and Davis but they have proven they can beat you deep as well. Don't overlook Vandy though, although they don't have a lot of stars beyond Matthews they play hard and they are extremely efficient on both sides of the ball. If Wyoming transfer Austyn Carta-Samuels and Matthews have big games and Jadeveon Clowney continues to struggle Vandy could pull off the upset. But, South Carolina is still the safer pick.

Other Picks
4 Ohio State, 45 California, 31
Arizona State, 38  20 Wisconsin, 35
25 Ole Miss, 42 Texas, 35
19 Washington, 27 Illinois, 10
7 Louisville, 41 Kentucky, 20

Current Picks Record: 11-5

Is the U Really Back?

From 2000-2003, the Miami Hurricanes were 46-4 and lost just one conference game in that span. But, since the move from the Big East to the ACC the 'Canes have been downright average. Miami has been ranked three times in the final AP poll since 2004 and those have been rankings outside the Top 10. After beating the 12th ranked Florida Gators 21-16, a game that was dominated from start to finish by the Hurricanes, Miami jumped all the way up to No. 15 in the latest poll. Their recent success has led many to wonder if the old U, the dominant Miami teams from the 1980's to early 2000's is really back?


Stephen Morris

The talent on this Miami roster is fantastic. Sure it isn't yet the old Miami teams that were stacked with future NFL Hall of Famers, but it is impressive. The 'Canes are led by senior quarterback Stephen Morris who looks like he could be an NFL quarterback with his huge arm, sophomore back Duke Johnson who could be a Heisman threat and explosive receiver Phillip Dorsett who can stretch the field. Though it wasn't the offense that carried Miami to their upset of Florida, it was their defense who carried them to victory. The defense forced the Gators to commit five turnovers led by sophomore cornerback Tracy Howard and junior linebacker Denzel Perryman. The 'Canes hit hard and played aggressive and they played with a chip on their shoulder. If Miami's defense continues to play like they did against Florida and much of this offense stays healthy big things are going to happen for Miami.

A close look at Miami's schedule further suggests big things are on the horizon for the Hurricanes. Florida was their big opponent on their schedule and the win means an undefeated season, although it will obviously not be easy, is a real possibility. This week they get Savannah State, who shouldn't give Miami too much issues. After that they travel to South Florida, who just lost to a FCS opponent and Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets could make an interesting game, they beat Elon 70-0 to begin their year and it definitely isn't easy to stop their triple-option attack. Though, there isn't a lot of question that the toughest game on Miami's schedule this year will be the November 2nd date with Florida State, at Tallahassee. The 'Noles who could also be undefeated by the time they meet, are led by one of the nation's most exciting players in redshirt freshman Jameis Winston and a defense that has proven it can be dominant. The week after they meet up with Virginia Tech at home, a game that they should be favored in even if the Hokies offense finally starts getting things going. If Miami does manage to go undefeated in the regular season, or even a couple losses, they are loads better than any other team in the Coastal Division. They should roll to the ACC Championship where they have the possibility of playing Clemson.

Miami could be a dark horse national championship pick as they have the offense, explosiveness and aggressive defense that could take them to big games. This year, the 'Canes will have success, there is no getting away from it and they have the young talent and recruiting that could bring them to a consistent contender once more. Duke Johnson is just a true sophomore and they will have him for at least one more year and they already have a stocked 2014 class that includes four-star back Joseph Yearby and offensive tackle Kc McDermott an in-state talent.

So is the U really back? Are the 'Canes built once more to be a championship contender every single year? The past couple of years many have overreacted about the possibility of a Miami comeback, especially in the Jacory Harris era. But, this isn't an overreaction, this program is back and with Florida State back to their usual dominance it could make for an interesting ACC for years to come.

CFB Power Rankings

1. Alabama The Aggies await for the Tide and we will see just how good this Alabama team is. If they can get past Johnny Football and the Aggies they should roll to the SEC Championship game.
2. Oregon The Ducks' offense looks even more dangerous than usual; Marcus Mariota, De'Anthony Thomas and Byron Marshall form one of the scariest backfields in CFB history.
3. Clemson A week after beating Georgia, the Tigers dominated 52-13... Against South Carolina State. The offense, headed by Tajh Boyd, leads a fantastic offense.
4. Ohio State The Buckeyes' defense looked weak against Buffalo but responded with a dominant showing against an underrated San Diego State team.

Ed Reynolds

5. Stanford This offseason many people wondered who would replace Stepfan Taylor in the
backfield. Their questions were answered: senior Tyler Gaffney had 104 yards and Anthony Wilkerson had 65.
6. Louisville Teddy Bridgewater hasn't disappointed at all so far this year throwing all over defenses; though things will get tougher than Ohio and Eastern Kentucky.
7. Texas A&M Johnny Manziel was amazing against Sam Houston State and proved he may have improved since last year, though can the Aggies defense stop 'Bama?
8. LSU The Tigers have been dominant this season but in a non-LSU way. Zach Mettenberger has 533 passing yards and 6 touchdowns and LSU has been great through the air this year.
9. Florida State After Jameis Winston's dominant debut and Florida's recent loss the 'Noles have a real chance to go undefeated.
10. Michigan Devin Gardner had a great showing against a fantastic Notre Dame defense and proved this Michigan offense can be scary at times.
11. Georgia After their tough loss to Clemson, Georgia responded with a dominant showing against South Carolina. Todd Gurley is a Heisman threat and the Bulldogs are the favorite in the SEC East.
12. Oklahoma State The Big 12 suddenly looks weak; Texas and TCU have lost and Oklahoma struggled against West Virginia. If J.W. Walsh continues to dominate the Cowboys could run away with the conference.
13. South Carolina The Gamecocks played decent against Georgia but Connor Shaw continues to make bad decisions. Even if Clowney can really get things going South Carolina may be held back due to an average passing game.
14. Miami It wasn't a lethal offense that was the reason Miami beat Florida; it was their defense which looked weak entering the year. That is bad news for the rest of the ACC.
15. Oklahoma The Sooners never really looked in trouble against West Virginia but the offense still looks like it is still an issue.
16. UCLA The game against Nebraska will be a proving one; can the Bruins compete with Stanford and Oregon in the Pac-12?
17. Northwestern The Wildcats' offense continues to look dominant as Northwestern has put up 40+ in their first two games. If the Wildcats keep playing like this they could surprise the Big Ten.
18. Washington After their beatdown of Boise State the Huskies will head to Illinois, a team that is surprisingly 2-0. Bishop Sankey has the chance to have huge day and get himself into a real Heisman conversation.
19. Florida The Gators' offense looked lost against Miami and they turned the ball over too much. They will face tougher defenses in the SEC then Miami's.
20. Baylor 70 points is something to be proud of even if it was against a FCS team and the Bears offense looks about as dangerous as anyone's in the nation.
21. Wisconsin The Badgers have blown outs two easy opponents but we will see just how good this Wisconsin team is against an Arizona State.
22. Nebraska After a squeaker of a win over Wyoming the 'Huskers blew out Southern Miss. Can Taylor Martinez finally lead this team over the hump?
23. Notre Dame The Fighting Irish have a tough schedule but I still think this team could definitely get into a BCS bowl. Tommy Rees is efficient and the offense has some explosive players.
24. Ole Miss The Rebels will get Texas this week but that game looks a lot less intimidating after the Longhorns were dominated by BYU. Jeff Scott and Donte Moncrief lead a great offense.
25. Northern Illinois The Huskies are starting to become the Boise State of the Midwest, dominating weak teams but not enough big wins on their schedule. Jordan Lynch could lead this team to another BCS bowl.

Week Two College Football Picks

6 South Carolina vs. 11 Georgia
The Bulldogs lost a close on to Clemson and must now play the sixth-ranked Gamecocks in Sanford Stadium. Connor Shaw and South Carolina dominated UNC for much of that game and that was without Heisman candidate Jadeveon Clowney on top of his game. Clowney will be ready to go in this one and should give Georgia fans headaches. Evan against a relatively weak defense Georgia's offensive line was terrible and now they get Clowney and Chaz Sutton? It is a recipe for disaster for the Bulldogs. Todd Gurley dominated against Clemson and other than their defensive line, this South Carolina defense is just average. He will need to have a big night once more, especially if Aaron Murray continues his trend of losing big games. The talent of the Gamecocks offense isn't a huge drop-off from Clemson's in my opinion. Shaw looked pretty good against UNC and Mike Davis looks just as good as Marcus Lattimore. If Bruce Ellington is healthy and ready to play and Shaq Roland has a big game this could be a comfortable South Carolina win.
South Carolina, 34 Georgia, 24

Devin Gardner

14 Notre Dame vs. 17 Michigan
This historic rivalry will breath one more breath before being lost of a long time as it will end after this year. Notre Dame and Tommy Rees dominated against Temple but the Wolverines will put up a
bigger fight. Rees looked very good in his first game back as starter and receiver Davaris Daniels proved he can be a real deep threat. Meanwhile, Michigan's Devin Gardner had a strong game against another weak team but decision-making appears to be an issue. This Notre Dame defense could be the best he will see all season with Stephon Tuitt, Louis Nix and Bennett Jackson. Gardner is definitely the X-factor and this defense could struggle. It did look good in Week One but Jake Ryan is still not playing and there are few proven defenders. Gardner can scramble but he won't be able to get to far against this defense as Notre Dame shuts down the Wolverines.
Notre Dame, 21 Michigan, 17

12 Florida vs. Miami
After a relatively close win the Gators get a team from in-state in dangerous Miami. The 'Canes dominated a weak Florida Atlantic 34-6 as sophomore back Duke Johnson ran for 186 yards. Johnson will be a force in this game but the Gators have proven their defense is still stout. Florida held Toledo very good and that was without defensive stars Antonio Morrison and Loucheiz Purifoy. Morrison should really help the rush defense which is obviously an important thing with Johnson running around. We will see how much Will Muschamp plays Purifoy at cornerback as he may also need him on offense. Purifoy will be needed as well; Stephen Morris is one great quarterback and can beat teams deep. Once more, Florida's hopes will hinge on junior QB Jeff Driskel who was average in the opener. Driskel does have a dangerous weapon to work with in back Matt Jones but the rest of the offense is mediocre. Even against Florida's defense Miami will put up points and it is tough to imagine Florida matching their number.

Miami, 38 Florida, 30

Other Picks
2 Oregon, 52 Virginia, 20
3 Ohio State, 35 San Diego State, 24
16 Oklahoma, 27 West Virginia, 9
15 Texas, 42  BYU, 27
19 Northwestern, 38 Syracuse, 28

Current Pick Record: 6-2

CFB Power Rankings

1. Alabama The Tide certainly have some things to work on but the fact that they beat Virginia Tech by 25 even with their offense struggling is scary.

Marcus Mariota

2. Oregon 66-3 is quite a way to start your coaching career. Yes, it was against Nichols, but Mark Helfrich has the talent on this roster to sneak into the national championship.

3. Clemson With the offense led by Tajh Boyd, Roderick McDowell and Sammy Watkins the Tigers
will put up a lot of points but their defense looked very improved against Georgia.

4. Ohio State At one point in the Buffalo game the score could have been 30-27, if a penalty hadn't been called on Buffalo's Khalil Mack. Scary for Ohio State but the talent is there.

5. Stanford Not much to say about Stanford as they had a bye week. We will see how their defense performs against David Fales and San Jose State.

6. South Carolina The Gamecocks dominated UNC for much of that game and that was without Jadeveon Clowney dominating. If he does this week against Georgia expect a huge win.

7. Texas A&M The Aggies handled Rice without much issues and now gets Johnny Manziel back for full games. Alabama awaits next on Texas A&M's schedule.

8. Louisville Teddy Bridgewater looked like a real Heisman threat, throwing for five touchdowns, even if it was against Ohio.

9. Florida State Jameis Winston started his Florida State career off with a bang against a decent Pitt team. The redshirt freshman dominated and should have a huge year.

10. LSU The Tigers were far from perfect in their opening game against TCU but they have the talent to survive in the SEC West.

11. Florida They might have won against Toledo and played dominant defense, but I still have a ton of questions about this team.

12. Georgia The Bulldogs did play well against Clemson, but as usual couldn't finish out the game. Things won't get easier as they face South Carolina this week.

13. Oklahoma State J.W. Walsh and the rest of this Cowboys team impressed against Mississippi State and their defense, which has been a weakness over the years, looks improved.

14. Texas The Longhorns blew out New Mexico State but this team is a mystery. David Ash looks very much improved, we will find out against Kyle Van Noy and BYU.

15. Notre Dame Tommy Rees had no issues in Notre Dame's dominating performance against Temple but it remains to be seen how good this offense around him is.

16. Michigan The Wolverines dominated but there are some questions about Devin Gardner, who made some bad decisions. The Notre Dame game will prove just how talented the junior is.

17. Oklahoma Redshirt freshman Trevor Knight played well after stealing the QB job from Blake Bell but the Sooners will face tougher opponents than Louisiana-Monroe.

18. UCLA The Bruins had no issues with Nevada, beating the Wolfpack by 38 and it appears sophomore QB Brett Hundley is poised for a huge 2013.

19. Nebraska  Wyoming gave them some real troubles but the 'Huskers still look strong. Taylor Martinez still has the same issues and the defense has some real questions though.

20. Northwestern Junior Treyvon Green had a great game and the Wildcats offense looked as good as ever. But, the defense couldn't stop freshman Jared Goff of Cal and they will see better quarterbacks than him in the Big Ten.

21. Wisconsin The Badgers used their power rushing attack to win, as usual. Sure, it was against UMass but it proved Gary Andersen won't change much things here in Madison.

22. Washington The Huskies came into the Boise game with a chip on their shoulder and blew out the Broncos 38-6. Back Bishop Sankey looks like a real threat to win the Heisman.

23. Ole Miss Vandy gave the Rebels all they could handle but Ole Miss prevailed. QB Bo Wallace is the real deal and the hyped recruiting class impressed.

24. Baylor 69-3 was Baylor's score in their first week. Sure, it was against Wofford, a terrible FCS school but new quarterback Bryce Petty showed great command of the offense.

25. USC So many questions surround this team. They don't even know who their starter is but managed to hang on and beat a weak Hawaii team.

CFB Week One Impressions

It is finally back and the first week of the college football season didn't disappoint. There were huge upsets like North Dakota State over Kansas State, dominant performances and a fantastic game between two of the nation's better teams. So what caught my eye this week?

Clemson, 38 Georgia, 35
Clemson beat their second straight SEC opponent with a squeaker of a win over Georgia. The game

Tajh Boyd

was back and forth and both teams played well but the Tigers won and that is all that matters. The big issue for Aaron Murray was shown in this one; he can't win big games. Murray can rack up impressive stats but he is 1-10 now against Top 25 opponents including two straight losses in the SEC Championship Game. If the Bulldogs didn't have back Todd Gurley, a preseason All-American, Georgia's offense would look terrible. Gurley showed us why he is a preseason All-American, rushing for 154 yards on 12 rushes and two touchdowns. It was against a Clemson defense that has been famous for making average offenses look explosive. Clemson couldn't tackle Gurley and that leaves questions to how they will perform against psychical runners. Clemson's defense did do one thing right; they got a ton of pressure on Murray. The Georgia offensive line looked like they couldn't stop anyone and that is a real cause for concern because they are going to be facing better pass rushers than what Clemson possesses.

I think Tajh Boyd should be considered the Heisman front runner after his impressive performance in this one. Boyd threw for 270 yards and three scores and also rushed for 43 yards. For any NFL scouts questioning if he can run a read-option offense, they probably were reassured.

A huge question for Clemson was whether or not they could find a replacement for All-ACC back Andre Ellington. On 22 carries senior back Roderick McDowell ran for 132 yards, averaging 6 yards a carry. McDowell has the speed and vision to be a force and also proved he can make great moves in the open field. Plus, junior receiver Sammy Watkins is a playmaker who can help in a number of different ways, including running the ball.

South Carolina, 27 UNC, 10
The war of the Carolinas wasn't even a contest. South Carolina dominated from start to finish against an underrated UNC team, winning 27-10. They dominated on both sides of the ball, as they ran effectively and played fantastic on defense, even though Heisman candidate Jadeveon Clowney wasn't a force. This was a quality win for South Carolina but it only gets tougher from here on, as the Gamecocks get Georgia next and their annual rivalry game against Clemson, who could be undefeated when the two square off.

Senior QB Connor Shaw was competing with junior Dylan Thompson for the job and definitely impressed. Shaw proved he can throw a deep ball after a beautiful strike to explosive receiver Shaq Roland. Though the same issues he has struggled with seem to still be there; he pulls the ball down the moment he feels pressure and still lowers his shoulder when embracing contact, leaving him vulnerable for injuries. Thompson only played a little bit but made a fantastic throw to Kane Whitehurst for a 29 yard throw but definitely has happy feet.

Other Thoughts
Oregon State coach Mike Riley should definitely be worried about how his Beavers performed against FCS Eastern Washington. Junior quarterback Sean Mannion passed for 400+ yards and his Beavers were still downed in the last second. If the defense allows 49 points to Eastern Washington, what is it going to be able to do against Oregon and Washington?

The SEC should be scared of Alabama, if they aren't already for some reason. The Tide, who are famous for a strong, power ground attack were held under 100 rush yards against Virginia Tech. Even with that issue the Crimson Tide still managed to put up 35 points on the score board and found an emerging star in Christion Jones, a junior who had three total touchdowns.

Washington is definitely the dark horse of the Pac-12 conference. Bishop Sankey ran all over a strong Boise State rush defense, rushing for 161 yards and 2 touchdowns. Keith Price also proved that he can be a great quarterback once more this year and the defense, which has had a ton of questions during Steve Sarkisian's tenure held Boise to just six points.