Thursday, October 31, 2013

College Football Week Ten Picks

3 Florida State vs. 7 Miami
One of the greatest rivalries in college football will have a new chapter after both undefeated teams meet in Tallahassee. The Seminoles have been very impressive this season, sitting at 7-0 and with impressive wins over Clemson and Maryland. But, they have to stop Miami and their explosive offense led by sophomore back Duke Johnson and senior QB Stephen Morris. Miami's defense has been solid this year and has played well in big situations. But, they also have a tough task of their own, trying to hold "Famous Jameis", redshirt freshman QB Jameis Winston, who is likely the Heisman frontrunner, and the rest of the 'Noles' offense. Winston played great against Clemson but this Miami defense can force turnovers. Along with tight end Nick O'Leary to throw too and a rush defense that they can rely on if Winston struggles Florida State could put up a lot of points over the 'Canes. Miami is a big underdog in this one, even if it is a Top 10 battle, but if Morris plays smart and the defense can make big plays, they still have a chance.
Florida State, 41 Miami, 28

Davis Webb
15 Texas Tech vs. 18 Oklahoma State
Even though they did lose to Oklahoma last week to ruin their undefeated mark, Texas Tech still played well and proved they are a proven threat in the Big 12. First-year head coach Kliff Kingsbury's offense still has issues with turnovers but their defense has been surprisingly solid so far this year and will play hard. On the other side of the equation, Oklahoma State may be 6-1, but this year has been a little bit of a disappointment. Their offense has been the old Oklahoma State at times, but turnovers can be an issue and they are inconsistent. Their defense has played well but it hasn't really seen an offense like the Red Raiders'. The key in this one will be quarterback play, like a lot of Big 12 matchups. Texas Tech uses a two-quarterback system with Davis Webb and Baker Mayfield while the Cowboys have a dual threat in J.W. Walsh. If they play well they should give their respective teams an advantage. This one could well turn into a typical Big 12 game; a whole lot of scoring and both teams throwing the ball all over the place. If it does I'm leaning towards Texas Tech.
Texas Tech, 51 Oklahoma State, 40

21 Michigan vs. 22 Michigan State
The Big Ten Legends Division could be decided in this rivalry battle. Although they both hail from the same state these two teams have been polar opposites this season. Michigan has relied on a great passing attack that includes a number of field-stretchers, while Michigan State has managed their 7-1 start thanks to the best defense in the Big Ten. Michigan has been very confusing; that win over Notre Dame seemed pretty legit but then they followed that up with close wins over Akron and UConn. Devin Gardner has been very inconsistent but when he is smart and reads defenses the way he should, he been be great, like when they scored 63 in their victory over Indiana. The Spartans have a great defense that can put pressure on the quarterback and is disciplined but even they could have some issues in containing electric wide receiver Jeremy Gallon. Michigan's defense has been questionable at times this year and it appears Michigan State has finally found a way to move the ball in junior back Jeremy Langford, who has 655 yards and 9 touchdowns this season. Earlier in the year I would go with Michigan but I like the Spartans a lot more now that they have found Langford.
Michigan State, 28 Michigan, 24

Other Picks
24 Wisconsin, 35 Iowa, 20
14 South Carolina, 31 Mississippi State, 18
9 Missouri, 27 Tennessee, 17
11 Auburn, 33 Arkansas, 14
Georgia, 38 Florida, 31
Current Picks Record: 51-21

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

College Basketball Preview: 2. Michigan State Spartans

2. Michigan State Spartans

As usual, the Spartans dominated through much of the Big Ten and rolled into the NCAA tournament with a quality seed. Michigan State once more made the Sweet 16 before a tough loss to a good Duke team. Massive center Derrick Nix is gone but nearly everyone else returns from that Sweet 16 squad. Tom Izzo has one of his best teams here in East Lansing and the expectations are a national championship.

Backcourt: Senior point guard Keith Appling is back to lead the Spartans' offense. Appling has proven that he can be a reliable scorer and can score anywhere on the court. Appling is also a good ball handler who can finish in traffic or in space. Sophomore Gary Harris had an impressive freshman year and could even improve in 2013-14. Harris proved to be valuable shooter who plays with smarts well beyond his years. Harris also has good size (6-4) and has the versatility to play a number of different roles this season. Junior Branden Dawson can also play at a number of different positions. Dawson has great size (6-6) but can still handle the ball well for his size. If Dawson does stay healthy and improves his perimeter shot he could have a big year. Junior Travis Trice is also healthy and brings a lot of leadership. Where he will see minutes is a question; Trice isn't a true point guard but is too small to spend a lot of time at shooting guard. Trice is a sharpshooter who plays hard and is a good defender. The addition of Chicago product Alvin Ellis should give Michigan State a lot of athleticism and great IQ on the perimeter. Sophomore Denzel Valentine is a big threat who should improve in '13-'14. Valentine uses his size to finish through contact and rebound his position well.

Frontcourt: The loss of Derrick Nix will hurt because he gave Michigan State, a shot-blocking big man with loads of experience. Senior Adreian Payne who plays big and do a lot of different things. Payne is an average scorer but it looks like he could improve this year. Payne is big and mobile and is an extremely good rebounder. He doesn't have All-American talent but he is a very serviceable center who is very productive. Junior Russell Byrd will likely spend time at small forward. Byrd is athletic and can make a lot of different plays but health may be an issue for him. Byrd isn't an elite scorer yet; but he has the size and playmaking potential to be a huge year. Junior Alex Gauna will fight for minutes at the power forward spot and has the size and rebounding ability to have a strong year. Gauna isn't too much of a scorer yet as well, but he the ability to score when given the chance and is quite the rebounder. Sophomore Matt Costello, who was pretty quiet in his first year, could have a breakout sophomore season. Costello is good-sized forward who has proven he is a strong rebounder and good defender. He has to improve his touch around the rim and isn't very polished yet but has room to improve in big ways. Sophomore forward Kenny Kaminski is also a polished rebounder and gives Izzo hustle off the bench. With Nix gone and Payne the clear cut starter at center, the backup will likely be three-star center Gavin Schilling, another Chicago talent. Depth could prove to an issue for the Spartans too, especially if Gauna or Byrd continue to struggle with injuries.

Recruiting Rundown (according to ESPN.com)
3 Star Prospect Alvin Ellis, SG from Chicago, Illinois
3 Star Prospect Gavin Schilling, C from Chicago Illinois

PROJECTED LINEUP
PG Keith Appling, Senior
SG Gary Harris, Sophomore
SF Branden Dawson, Junior
PF Alex Gauna, Junior
C Adreian Payne, Senior
Sixth Russell Byrd, Junior

Michigan State doesn't have the star power Kentucky does or some other teams have. But, Tom Izzo is a great coach and always gets the best out of his teams. The Spartans will play smart, rebound well and play great defense. Even in the Big Ten, which will be brutal once again this season, Michigan State has the talent and smarts to win the Big Ten and fly into the Final Four.

Sunday, October 27, 2013

College Football Power Rankings

1. Alabama The Tide are blowing out opponents they have been dominating teams in the first half. They get a bye before one of their second-toughest matchup of the year against LSU.
2. Florida State Led by Jameis Winston, the Seminoles have been absolutely scary, they absolutely passed all over NC State..
3. Oregon Halfway through their matchup with the Bruins it looked like UCLA may be able to pull out the upset but Marcus Mariota reassured his Heisman candidacy with a dominant second half.
4. Ohio State Braxton Miller and the Buckeyes continue to roll through their weak schedule, blowing out Penn State 63-14, the most lopsided win in the rivalry history.
5. Stanford After losing to Utah and questions arrived about Kevin Hogan, the Cardinal have recovered beating UCLA and taming Oregon State and their explosive offense to just 12 points.
6. Baylor The Bears continue to through the ball all over the field, they are averaging nearly 64 points a game thanks to QB Bryce Petty and receiver Antwan Goodley but things get tough this week against Oklahoma.
Stephen Morris
7. Miami There is no denying the Hurricanes are winning and sit at 7-0 but their last two wins have both been by three and their early-season victory against Florida is looking unimpressive by the week.
8. Clemson A week after getting mauled by Florida State, Clemson proved they will still be a factor in the ACC, handling a good Maryland team this past week.
9. Auburn The job Gus Malzahn has done this year with the Tigers has been extremely impressive, the Tigers are 7-1 but, Alabama and Georgia still await.
10. LSU The next couple weeks will prove just how good the two-loss Tigers are, they get a bye before Alabama and then another week off before their big matchup against Johnny Football and Texas A&M.
11. Missouri For a moment there Missouri looked like a real national title threat. But even up 17-0, the Tigers couldn't stifle a South Carolina comeback and then lost it in OT.
12. Oklahoma Blake Bell continues to play well, accounting for nearly 300 yards as the Sooners handed Texas Tech their first loss of the year. Can their defense stop Baylor on a Thursday night meeting?
13. Texas A&M The Aggies had no troubles with Vanderbilt and should dominate UTEP this week before a tough stretch that includes Mississippi State, LSU and Missouri.
14. Fresno State Although they were nearly upset by San Diego State, Fresno kept their BCS hopes alive even though Derek Carr wasn't himself. Their next four games should be wins but they need to impress pollsters.
15. Northern Illinois After a great 2012, Jordan Lynch has been even better this year, he has passed for 1,711 passing yards and 1,031 rushing yards. The 8-0 Huskies should go undefeated in this regular season.
16. Texas Tech The Red Raiders played pretty well against Oklahoma but they need their defense to improve if they hope to handle Oklahoma State this next week an Baylor in the future.
17. Oklahoma State The explosive offenses that Oklahoma State has possessed the past couple of years looks like it is starting to improve, it scored 58 in their win over Iowa State.
18. South Carolina No Connor Shaw, no problem for the Gamecocks as they used Mike Davis and Dylan Thompson to stun Mizzou in overtime. They still have a chance in the SEC East after their win.
19. UCLA A week after struggling to score against Stanford the Bruins were blown out by Oregon. Brett Hundley has been great this year but the offense has been inconsistent. Luckily, the tough part of their schedule is over.
20. Louisville After their loss to Central Florida that might have cost them a BCS bid, the Cardinals proved they are still a good team, embarrassing South Florida, 34-3.
21. Wisconsin The Badgers are playing very well, they ran all over Illinois but they still have no big wins, now that Northwestern, their signature win, has fallen apart.
22. UCF Blake Bortles dominated as the Golden Knights picked apart the 0-7 UConn Huskies, 62-17. Unless they have a hiccup, UCF should gain the conference's BCS berth over Louisville.
23. Michigan It is time the Wolverines start proving themselves. Their 6-1 mark will be put to a the test against Michigan State this next week and Nebraska and Ohio State still await.
24. Michigan State Even though their offense has been tough to watch at times this year the Spartans sit at 7-1 thanks to the Big Ten's best defense.
25. Notre Dame After a 3-2 start, Notre Dame has been fantastic winning their next three including a dominant victory over the hopeless Air Force Falcons. Stanford still remains on their schedule but a BCS run is still a possibility.

Saturday, October 26, 2013

College Basketball Preview 2013-14: 1. Kentucky Wildcats

1. Kentucky  Wildcats Lost in NIT

Last year's Kentucky squad had their usual load of McDonald's All-Americans but they could never get things together. Ryan Harrow wasn't an impact point guard, Kyle Wiltjer wasn't the difference-maker he was expected to be and the team never gelled. Not to mention Nerlens Noels' year-ending injury. This year, John Calipari brings in possibly the best recruiting class in college basketball history. Power forward Julius Randle should bring immediate scoring at the four spot, the Harrison twins should manage the backcourt and James Young is a quality swingman. Dakari Johnson has the talent to be an impact center from the beginning.

Backcourt: The big issue for Kentucky last year was point guard as Ryan Harrow struggled with inconsistency and turnovers. Archie Goodwin is gone and he never fit in at point guard either. Five-star point guard Andrew Harrison is ready to take over the important role. Harrison is a great ball handler and has proven he has the smarts and floor vision to be a great passer. His twin, Aaron, will likely spend time at shooting guard. Aaron is less of a playmaker than Andrew, but has a more proven shot and is a more dangerous scorer. Both play well together and are extremely competitive. Sure to get minutes behind the Harrison twins will be senior Jarrod Polson who gives the Wildcats experience, something they will definitely lack. Redshirt senior Jon Hood has had a career full of injuries in Lexington but should still be a contributor. He also brings experience and was on the Kentucky team that won a national championship. Junior guard Sam Malone is only going to be used if their are some injuries or if the Harrison twins struggle to adjust to the college game.

Frontcourt: The loss of shot-blocking center Nerlens Noel leaves a big vacancy at the center spot. 2012-2013 sixth man Willie Cauley-Stein should take over the spot. Cauley-Stein isn't as good as a shot-blocker as Noel nor Anthony Davis but is still a good defender. If he develops a mid range game and becomes a better rebounder he could have a magical sophomore year. The No. 1 overall rated power forward, Julius Randle, should make an impact immediately. Randle is a psychical forward who can help as a rebounder but is an extremely dangerous scorer. The lefty has good touch around the basket and can extend the floor.  Dakari Johnson also is coming in and could play the role Cauley-Stein did last role, as backup center. Johnson embraces contact a little more than Cauley-Stein and makes plays in it. He is a better rebounder, but is smaller and can be beat up by taller opponents. It isn't like he is small; he is 6-10 and can play above the rim. Sophomore Alex Poythress is also back after an average 2012-13. Poythress proved he was extremely athletic but he struggled to score at times and just wasn't the impact player Calipari expected him to be. He has the size (6-7) to be a quality starter at either small forward or power forward. Guard-forward James Young should see major minutes at the small forward spot. Young is a lethal shooter and uses his size to his advantage after smaller defenders. Another freshman, Marcus Lee, gives the Wildcats an athlete who can make plays right away. Lee is a great rebounder and has the athleticism to make some highlight plays. The Wildcats will lose Kyle Wiltjer, who will transfer to Gonzaga but he isn't a huge loss.

Recruiting Rundown (according to ESPN.com)
No.3 Prospect, No.1 PF Julius Randle, PF from MicKinney Texas
No. 5 Prospect, No.1 PG Andrew Harrison, PG from Richmond, Texas
No. 7 Prospect, No. 2 C Dakari Johnson, C from Bronx, New York
No. 8 Prospect, No. 3 SF James Young, SF from Rochester, Michigan
No.9 Prospect, No. 1 SG Aaron Harrison, SG from Richmond, Texas
No. 25 Prospect, No.9 PF Marcus Lee, PF from Antioch, California

PROJECTED LINEUP
PG Andrew Harrison, Freshman
SG Aaron Harrison, Freshman
SF James Young, Freshman
PF Julius Randle, Freshman
C Willie Cauley-Stein, Sophomore
Sixth Alex Poythress, Sophomore

Once more, Kentucky has the talent to win a national championship. They have size, shooting and playmaking ability to dominate the college basketball landscape once again. Though, as usual, there is questions whether all of these fantastic freshman can gel together and play to their potential. Leadership and experience may be an issue and the SEC isn't an easy conference, Florida could give them issues. Kentucky is ready for a huge turnaround and might even be able to keep the national championship in the Bluegrass State.


Thursday, October 24, 2013

College Football Week Nine Picks

Bralon Addison
3 Oregon vs. 12 UCLA
After being dominated by Stanford last week, the Bruins hope to recover this week against the Ducks.That won't be easy as they need to stop the explosive Ducks on the road. Brett Hundley struggled mightily against Stanford last week but Oregon's defense is worse than Stanford's. Along with back Jordan James Oregon's defense will have some real issues containing UCLA. But, can the Bruins' stop the Ducks? Marcus Mariota is a real Heisman threat, having 19 touchdowns and zero picks, well engineering an offense that is putting up 57.6 points per game, 2nd best in the nation. UCLA will also have to contain back Byron Marshall and sophomore wide receiver Bralon Addison. This won't be a blowout but UCLA isn't on the same level as Oregon nor Stanford.
Oregon, 58 UCLA, 42

10 Texas Tech vs. 15 Oklahoma
The Big 12 race will heat up this week, as the undefeated Texas Tech Red Raiders travel to Oklahoma to meet up with the Sooners. Oklahoma's pass defense has been fantastic this year but in this one they will have to handle the two-quarterback system of Baker Mayfield and Davis Webb. Both have played well this year but they are both prone to turnovers, which isn't too much of a surprise, considering how much they throw the ball. They have relied on Jace Amaro, a big target who is to big for defensive backs but too fast for linebackers. Tech's defense has been surprisingly strong this year but stopping dual threat Blake Bell has proven to be difficult and the rushing attack has been solid. Both of these teams have a lot to prove: Texas Tech has to prove themselves, they haven't beat a significant opponent yet this year, while Oklahoma has to prove that their defense is legit. Tech hasn't proven themselves yet and on the road with an offense that can be very inconsistent, Oklahoma is the smarter pick.
Oklahoma, 38 Texas Tech, 28

6 Stanford vs. 25 Oregon State
After their stunning opening loss to Eastern Washington to begin the season, the Beavers have won six straight, propelled by junior QB Sean Mannion, who has passed for nearly 3,000 yards and has 29 touchdowns. If there is a defense inside the Pac-12 that can handle Mannion and the high-scoring Beavers it is likely Stanford. Their defense is constantly putting pressure on the QB, led by Shayne Skov. As much as Oregon State scores their defense has been just average at best and the Cardinal have proven they have an efficient offense. They have a psychical offense and dominate in the trenches. Attempting to tackle senior back Tyler Gaffney is extremely difficult as he thrives through contact and ran for 171 yards against UCLA. The Beavers do force turnovers often and Kevin Hogan turned the ball over a lot in their loss to Utah. If he plays smarter against the Beavers they should be able to pull out the win but stopping Mannion should be their number one priority.
Stanford, 34 Oregon State, 24

Other Picks
5 Missouri, 41 21 South Carolina, 27
1 Alabama, 27 Tennessee, 17
24 Nebraska, 35 Minnesota, 14
16 Texas A&M, 48 Vanderbilt, 30
9 Clemson, 35 Maryland, 20
Current Picks Record: 45-19

Monday, October 21, 2013

College Football Mid Season Awards

Jameis Winston
Halfway through the year, upsets have been frequent, no frontrunner for Heisman has emerged and all though Alabama has stuck at No. 1 all year, the national title picture it still pretty muddied. Who do I think should win some of college football's big awards?

Heisman: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
After his dazzling performance against Clemson in their dominant showing it appears the two-sport star could be the favorite along with Oregon's Marcus Mariota. Winston has thrown for 1,885 yards and 20 touchdowns with just 3 interceptions. A year ago, Winston would lose votes because he is a freshman, but with Johnny Manziel winning last season it shouldn't hurt him.
Other Top Candidates
Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
Lache Seastrunk, RB, Baylor
Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M

Biletnikoff Award: Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M
Evans, Johnny Football's favorite target, is having a huge year and could be the top candidate for the Biletnikoff, the award give to the best receiver in the nation. The sophomore already has 43 receptions and 1,024 yards and those numbers could increase significantly.
Other Top Candidates
Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State
Jordan Matthews, WR, Vanderbilt
Jeremy Gallon, WR, Michigan

Doak Walker Award: Melvin Gordon, RB,Wisconsin
The sophomore back Gordon is having a huge year for the Badgers, he already has 1,012 rush yards and 11 touchdowns. His elite explosiveness and playmaking ability are perfect qualities for the award given to the best running back in the nation.
Other Top Candidates
Bishop Sankey, RB, Washington
Lache Seastrunk, RB, Baylor
Antonio Andrews, RB, Western Kentucky

Outland Trophy Award: Jake Matthews, T, Texas A&M
For the second straight year it appears an Aggie will win the Outland after Luke Joeckel won it last season. Matthews has been a big part of Manziel's success and will likely be the first tackle taken in the 2014 draft.
Other Top Candidates
Taylor Lewan, T, Michigan
Anthony Steen, G, Alabama
Zack Martin, T, Notre Dame

Jim Thorpe Award: Steven Nelson, CB, Oregon State
Dick Butkus Award: Anthony Barr, LB, UCLA
Chuck Bednarik Award: Michael Sam, DE, Missouri

Coach of the Year: Gary Pinkel, Missouri
Pinkel has done an amazing job this year with the Tigers, who are 7-0 this season with wins over Georgia and Florida. After a rough 5-7 first season in the SEC, Pinkel didn't appear to have a tough ready to compete for a SEC crown yet. Mizzou is already No. 5 and could roll to a SEC East crown, they are up 2 games over South Carolina.

Biggest Upset: Auburn beating Texas A&M
Most Surprising Team: Missouri
Biggest Disappointment: Florida

National Championship Prediction: Alabama vs. Florida State
The Tide are the clear cut favorite to enter in yet another national championship, they have already gotten past their toughest opponent in Texas A&M. LSU and Auburn still await but A.J. McCarron has dominated them throughout his career. After beating Clemson, Florida State could roll to the national championship. Miami will be a tough test and they might face the Hurricanes again in the ACC Championship Game. For people that say that Oregon has been more impressive than Florida State: FSU has scored 41+ in all their games this year and they have already beaten Georgia and Maryland in blowouts. Oregon's best win is probably Washington, who has lost 3 straight now after their loss to Arizona State.

Sunday, October 20, 2013

College Football Power Rankings

1. Alabama The Tide continue to roll, thanks to an offense that has some explosiveness, as displayed in their 52-0 beat down of Arkansas.
2. Oregon Despite the Washington State Cougars trying to throw 100 times, Oregon came out with a comfortable win.
3. Florida State Who saw Florida State's throttling of Clemson coming? If Jameis Winston continues to play the way he has they could roll to the BCS championship game.
4. Missouri Well all the focus for the SEC was on the upsets, Missouri used redshirt freshman Maty Mauk to beat Florida with ease.
Bryce Petty and Lache Seastrunk
5. Ohio State The Buckeyes continue to win, but barely. Iowa gave them one tough game and Ohio State still has a ton of work to do.
6. Stanford A week after being stunned by Utah, the Cardinal responded by downing undefeated UCLA thanks to another dominant defensive showing.
7. Baylor It was a good thing some Iowa State fans were asleep last night. The Cyclones were absolutely destroyed by the Bears, losing 71-7.
8. Miami On a Thursday night, the 'Canes were nearly stunned by struggling UNC. But, they were bailed out once more by their rushing attack which will have Duke Johnson fully healthy now.
9. Clemson Suddenly, Clemson's season doesn't look as impressive. Georgia, their signature win, is 4-3 and they were destroyed by FSU. They need Tajh Boyd to grow from that loss and keep them in the ACC race.
10. Texas Tech Although they lack a signature win, Texas Tech has quietly moved to the front of the Big 12 race with Baylor and managed to take down a sneaky West Virginia team this past week.
11. UCLA The Bruins' offense really struggled against Stanford but Brett Hundley has the talent to dominate in many ways. The defense continues to impress but it needs to prove itself against Oregon this week.
12. Auburn After beating Texas A&M and watching LSU lose to Ole Miss, Auburn appears as the biggest contender to Alabama in the SEC West. They have Florida Atlantic this week, who will have real issues with Tre Mason at back.
13. LSU Zach Mettenberger, who has been so improved this year, really struggled against Ole Miss but when he is on his game this LSU team is very tough to handle.
14. Fresno State The Bulldogs had no issues with UNLV and that will likely be the case the rest of the year for Fresno until they arrive at the Mountain West Championship game.
15. Texas A&M Although Johnny Manziel and Mike Evans did their usual thing, putting up a lot of points the defense continued to struggle, giving them their second loss.
16. Oklahoma The Sooners have been strong this year and they have a huge test this week against the undefeated Texas Tech Red Raiders.
17. Louisville It looked like the Cardinals would roll through the weak American Athletic but they ran into a speed bump with UCF. Teddy Bridgewater and Louisville has talent though and they shouldn't lose again.
18. Virginia Tech The Hokies sit at 6-1 and they look like a favorite for the rest of the season except for their meeting with Miami. Senior QB Logan Thomas has been great and the defense has been solid.
19. Oklahoma State OSU is winning games, they are 5-1 but the wins aren't very convincing. The offense has not been its usual self and they turn the ball over too much.
20. South Carolina Tennessee was bound for an upset after their OT loss to Georgia and it just so happened South Carolina was their victim. Connor Shaw is injured once more and Missouri is a very tough opponent.
21. Northern Illinois The Huskies continue to win as they are now 7-0 but once more their win over another weak MAC school wasn't convincing enough.
22. Wisconsin  Led by a power rush attack the Badgers are rolling and sophomore back Melvin Gordon continues to dominate, as he passed the 1,000 yard mark in their win over Illinois.
23. UCF The Knights could be very good. They are sitting at 5-1 with wins over Louisville and Penn State and their only loss was a close one to South Carolina. Junior QB Blake Bortles continues to have a big year.
24. Michigan Offense has been an issue for the Wolverines this year but they were fantastic against Indiana, putting up 63 points thanks to a big showing by Devin Gardner and receiver Jeremy Gallon.
25. Nebraska After a rough loss to UCLA a couple of weeks ago, Nebraska has been very good and they should beat Minnesota to gain bowl eligibility this week.

Thursday, October 17, 2013

College Football Week Eight Picks

9 UCLA vs. 13 Stanford
The Stanford Cardinal look to recover from a stunning loss to Utah this week against an undefeated UCLA team. The Cardinal played great on the defensive end against the Utes but the offense had some key turnovers at some bad times and didn't play to their full potential. UCLA is going to apply pressure on sophomore QB Kevin Hogan, who is composed under pressure. The Bruins' secondary has had some bad moments and they will have to attempt to defend the psychical receivers of Stanford. Scoring against the Cardinal won't be easy, they are constantly disrupting opponents' backfields and are good tacklers. Though, it isn't very often they have to face a quarterback like sophomore Brett Hundley, who can run and pass effectively. I believe Stanford can recover, they are coached well and are a better football team than the Bruins. Plus, they are at home and Stanford Stadium will be rocking.
Stanford, 31 UCLA, 23

14 Missouri vs. 22 Florida
Dorial Green-Beckham
Two teams who have seen their starting quarterbacks go done with season-ending injuries square off in Columbia. The 4-2 Gators are led by junior Tyler Murphy at quarterback, who has been very good in Jeff Driskel's absence. The loss of back Matt Jones puts even more pressure on Murphy and the Gators offense which hasn't found its stride at all this season. The Tigers' defense has been solid this year and Florida will struggle to pass the ball even more against senior cornerback E.J. Gaines. Florida will rely heavily on their defense in this one, as usual, but they won't have to worry about senior QB James Franklin who separated his shoulder. Redshirt freshman Maty Mauk, who has thrown six passes this year, will start at QB. Mauk can scramble and he will be a decent threat, plus he has some great options to pass to, including sophomore Dorial Green-Beckham. If the Gators don't get enough pressure on Mauk and struggle to stop Henry Josey and the rest of this Mizzou backfield, the Tigers will handle this one.
Missouri, 28 Florida, 17

5 Florida State vs. 3 Clemson
This a huge one that should decide the ACC Atlantic Division. It could also decide the Heisman race as two true candidates, Tajh Boyd and Jameis Winston square off. Both offensives are explosive as the Tigers have Sammy Watkins and a lot of playmakers surrounding Boyd. The 'Noles have a number of offensive threats as well, including tight end Nick O'Leary and back Devonta Freeman. This one could well be a shootout, even though both defenses have their strengths. Clemson can bring the pressure and can force turnovers. Florida State is experienced is very well coached. Both teams could score a ton of points and whoever touches the ball last could win this one. They both appear evenly matched but I have to go with Clemson, just because they are at home and have already proven themselves once against Georgia.
Clemson, 42 Florida State, 38

Other Picks
7 Texas A&M, 48  24 Auburn, 34
20 Washington, 37 Arizona State, 31
11 South Carolina, 27 Tennessee, 24
12 Baylor, 61 Iowa State, 28
1 Alabama, 38 Arkansas, 14
6 LSU, 35 Ole Miss, 24
Current Picks Record: 41-14

Sunday, October 13, 2013

College Football Power Rankings

1. Alabama The Tide had no issues with Kentucky and if they keep it up they should roll past Arkansas and Tennessee until their meeting with LSU.
2. Oregon The Ducks rolled past a good Washington team this past week and proved their offense, led by Marcus Mariota can be scary no matter the defense.
3. Ohio State No issues with a bye week for Ohio State but the loss for Michigan really hurts. The Wolverines remain as the Buckeyes last real challenge and a win over them would impress the polls.
4. Clemson It was a scary week for Clemson, they were done 14-10 to Boston College at the start of the 4th quarter. They won, and Tajh Boyd played well, keeping him in the Heisman hunt.
Teddy Bridgewater
5. Florida State It is a huge week for the Seminoles as they travel to Clemson to play in a game that should decide the Atlantic race. They need their offense to keep up with the Tigers to pull out a win.
6. Louisville The Cardinals handled Rutgers but their wins haven't been as impressive as they should be with Teddy Bridgewater. They need some help from the polls to have any shot at a national title appearance.
7. LSU Dominant defense carried the Tigers past Florida. They will need it this week against Ole Miss and their explosive offense. They don't want an upset before their meeting in the future with 'Bama.
8. Texas A&M Once again defense cost the Aggies, like it did against Alabama. But, led by Johnny Football they escaped and still are a real threat in the SEC.
9. UCLA The story of the Pac-12 this year has been all about Stanford, Oregon and Washington but quietly UCLA has been very impressive this year, led by Brett Hundley.
10. South Carolina All the talk about Jadeveon Clowney overshadowed the Gamecocks dominant showing against Arkansas.
11. Miami The 'Canes are having their best year since their glory years, carried by an explosive offense. They still have Florida State on their schedule but they should still roll to an ACC Coastal title.
12. Stanford The Cardinal should not have lost to Utah, they are too good of a team. But, a win against Oregon in a couple of weeks could put them right back in the title race.
13. Baylor For the first time this year, the Bears didn't manage at least 69 points, but their offense still carried them past the struggling Wildcats.
14. Texas Tech The Red Raiders became bowl eligible with their performance over Iowa State, and they should be able to manage a win against West Virginia if their offense doesn't turn the ball over.
15. Missouri Although, the Tigers should feel great about their win over Georgia, it was overshadowed by their loss of starting QB James Franklin. With a tough two weeks ahead of them that isn't a good thing.
16. Georgia The injuries finally cost the Bulldogs a win as they really couldn't get anything going against Mizzou. Their daunting schedule finally gets easier this week when they get Vanderbilt.
17. Fresno State With Northern Illinois struggling against MAC opponents it is clear that Fresno is this year's BCS busters. With Boise and Rutgers off their schedule they could run the table.
18. Oklahoma State It will be interesting to see if the Cowboys can recover from their loss to West Virginia. The Big 12 race is wide open, they need to beat 3-3 TCU this week.
19. Oklahoma Surprisingly, the Sooners were throttled by Texas. They still have Blake Bell and an offense that can move the ball, but their defense must take steps.
20. Northern Illinois The Huskies didn't play very well against Akron but managed to come out with the win. They need somebody else on offense to step up to relive some pressure off Jordan Lynch.
21. Florida Once again, the Gators offense kept them from success as the offense managed just six points in their loss to LSU. This week, a pivotal matchup with Missouri, a loss here could mean chaos for Florida.
22. Auburn Headed by a fabulous backfield and a defense playing well, the Tigers have jumped to a surprising 5-1 mark. Texas A&M this week should be their biggest challenge outside of the Tide.
23. Virginia Tech Since their blowout loss to Alabama, the Hokies have been rolling, winning six straight. Though, those games have been close and they have been playing an easy schedule to this point.
24.  Wisconsin Despite having three turnovers, the Badgers destroyed Northwestern 35-6 and ran all over the Wildcats. Joel Stave continues to improve and the tough part of the Badgers' schedule appears to be over.
25. Washington The Huskies have lost two straight, but to Stanford and Oregon and they have played well in each. Their schedule won't get much tougher from this point on.

Friday, October 11, 2013

NBA Preview: Northwest Division

Serge Ibaka
Predictions
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
2. Denver Nuggets
3. Minnesota Timberwolves
4. Portland Trail Blazers
5. Utah Jazz

Rookie Report
Steven Adams, C, Thunder
The seven-footer brings more size to the Thunder's frontcourt and although his offensive game is a work in progress he has time to develop it.
Trey Burke, PG, Jazz
Burke, last year's Wooden Award winner, will bring long range shooting capabilities and will be dominant in transition.
C.J. McCollum, G, Blazers
Portland will welcome in another dominant scorer to pair with Damian Lilliard in a talented backcourt in McCollum, who missed most of his final year with Lehigh due to a foot injury.
Shabazz Muhammed, G/F, Timberwolves
A five-star recruit to UCLA last year, Muhammed, was expected to be an elite scoring threat and a real threat to be the No. 1 pick. He fell to Utah at 14 then was traded to Minnesota, and will bring more scoring help to go along with Ricky Rubio in the backcourt.

The Thunder dominated the Northwest and much of the Western Conference last year, but their off season came sooner than expected. When Russell Westbrook went down with a knee injury, the Thunder didn't have a scoring threat to complement Kevin Durant and were eliminated by Memphis. Westbrook will miss some time but when he comes back this team should rise to the top of the West once more. Other than Westbrook, the backcourt has some real young talent including Jeremy Lamb and Reggie Jackson. Lamb has great size and scoring potential, and Jackson is an athletic talent who plays hard. The loss of Kevin Martin hurts a lot more than people may think. Martin isn't an elite player but he was an effective wing scorer who could stretch the floor and open up space for Durant and Westbrook. If Serge Ibaka can continue to keep pressure off Durant and Kendrick Perkins in the paint this team should be a threat to win 60+. But, if they don't at least make the Western Conference Finals, this year should be considered a disappointment. Although the Nuggets lost Andre Iguodala, they still should be a threat. Their up-tempo attack can already beat teams and they have a number of players who could have breakout seasons. Ty Lawson continues to develop into a quality point guard and his speed and agility are so tough to guard. Javale McGee has unlimited potential but he famous for making stupid plays and his jumper looks extremely ugly. McGee is super athletic and has the size to be dominant in the paint. If he cuts down on his bone-headed plays he could well develop into an All-Star caliber center. The addition of J.J. Hickson will relive some of the pressure inside on McGee and Denver's other notable free agent signing, Nate Robinson, can do a lot of things off the bench. Other than the Lakers, the most disappointing team in the NBA was the Minnesota Timberwolves who were decimated by key injuries. Though, it appears Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love are both going to be healthy this year and that is a nightmare for opposing teams. The addition of both Kevin Martin and Shabazz Muhammed will help a lot as well. Rubio is clearly a passer, although he can score when needed. Muhammed is a proven wing scorer and is athletic, despite the fact he is a terrible defender. Martin is aging but can still stretch the floor and has the size to still get to the rim. Former No. 2 draft pick Derrick Williams has been quiet so far in his career but finally appears ready to have a career-changing year. This is the best T-Wolves in quite a while and if they can stay healthy they will get their first playoff appearance in the post-KG era. The Trail Blazers could surprise people this year. Damian Lilliard, last year's Rookie of the Year, should continue to mature into one of the NBA's brightest stars. LaMarcus Aldridge is in the prime of his career and is one of the league's most underrated forwards. He can score in a number of ways and has the size to be a force down low. Along with the drafting of elite scorer C.J. McCollum, from Lehigh, the Blazers also made a number of moves to try to improve their roster. Mo Williams will bring experience off the bench and he has proven he can score, nobody what team he is on. Thomas Robinson is on his third team in just two years and hopefully he can stay put after he was traded from Sacramento to Houston and then left to Portland. It isn't that he is a bad player, he is a monster on the glass and has more maturity than most players who are 22. The Jazz have a very interesting roster but it is hard imagining them as a real playoff threat this season. Utah has a number of players who have the potential to develop into stars, like Derrick Favors, who is still just 22 and improving center Enes Kanter. Gone is Paul Millsap, who signed with Atlanta, meaning that it should leave more minutes for both Favors and Kanter along with French big man Rudy Gobert, a 7-1 shot-blocker. The backcourt has pieces to with first round draft pick Trey Burke and last year's draft pick Alec Burks. Burke proved he can be an elite scorer in college but it will be interesting to see if his game can translate to the NBA. Much of his scoring in college was in transition, and off isolation, plus he is small for the NBA.

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

College Football Week Seven Picks

De'Anthony Thomas
2 Oregon vs. 16 Washington
For any college team that ever complains about their records, they better look at what Washington has had to do these last two weeks. The Huskies, who lost last week to No. 5 Stanford, now have to face the speedy Oregon Ducks and their high-powered attack. Containing Marcus Mariota, De'Anthony Thomas and Byron Marshall is definitely not a small task, but the Washington defense has been solid this year. It held Arizona and Boise State down and played very well against a tough Stanford attack. For Oregon, it is really the first test of the year as the Ducks have been feasting on average opponents. Their offense can put up 50 without too much issues and their defense has been underrated this year, it has a lot of playmakers. Though, Washington has the offense to match the Ducks' up-tempo scheme. It contains senior QB Keith Price and back Bishop Sankey, both who have been great this year. Both these defenses have been playing well, but stopping each other is a tough task and this could well be a shootout. Oregon is the better team but the Huskies are talented and could well pull an upset at home.
Oregon, 55 Washington, 45

7 Georgia vs. 25 Missouri
In the midst of all the other great teams in the SEC, the Missouri Tigers are quietly 5-0 and looking to pull off a big upset against Aaron Murray and the Bulldogs. For Georgia, it is yet another big test, and they barely managed to fend off Tennessee in overtime. This past week the Bulldogs learned they lost back Keith Marshall and receiver Justin Scott-Wesley to go with injuries to Malcolm Mitchell and Todd Gurley. It appears Gurley may be ready to go this week and that would be huge with Marshall out. When healthy, Gurley is a dominant runner who can burst in between the tackles but also has the speed to bust a big run. Missouri's defense has been decent this year but is has to have a huge game to stop Gurley, who has already run all over Clemson, South Carolina and LSU. The key to success for Missouri will be getting pressure on Murray and moving the ball through the air. Senior QB James Franklin has had a good year, passing for 1,407 yards and 13 touchdowns while distributing the ball to sophomore Dorial Green-Beckham. Georgia's defense has had issues against the pass this year, they are young in the secondary. If Franklin can perform the way he did in their dominant win over Vanderbilt, the Tigers have a real shot. If Gurley is healthy, Georgia should win and even if he isn't they are going to be favored. Plus, talk about a team stretch for Missouri as they get Georgia this week, Florida the next and then South Carolina after that.
Georgia, 34 Missouri, 21

10 LSU vs. 17 Florida
The Missouri-Georgia game should be good but the real good one in the SEC this week is the battle between LSU and Florida. Last year, Florida stunned the Tigers in low-scoring affair but the Gators are without Jeff Driskel and their offense was struggling anyways. Junior Tyler Murphy has played pretty well in Driskel's absence and LSU's defense is not as dominant as it has been in years past but it is still a tough order. Back Matt Jones has been the star of this offense, leading the way for a strong rushing attack. But, in their loss to Miami, Jones could never find his groove. Florida likely won't put up 30+, meaning there is a lot of pressure on their defense. LSU's Zach Mettenberger has been great this season and is executing very well on third downs. Along with Jeremy Hill fully back in the backfield and explosive receiver Jarvis Landry, the Tigers should put up points. Florida needs to get pressure on Mettenberger, who still will struggle when defenders get in his face. Though, in order to win, Florida must not turn the ball over and Murphy has to have a strong showing. With the 96th passing offense in the nation, that might just not happen.
LSU, 31 Florida, 16

Other Picks
19 Northwestern, 42 Wisconsin, 34
9 Texas A&M, 38 Ole Miss, 28
12 Oklahoma, 27 Texas, 13
1 Alabama, 35 Kentucky, 10
Current Picks Record: 37-11

Sunday, October 6, 2013

College Football Power Rankings

1. Alabama The Tide has no issues with Georgia State and they should become bowl eligible next week against Kentucky.
2. Oregon The Ducks haven't showed any signs of weakness through the first six weeks but things get tough this week when they get a Washington team that can keep up with their offense.
3. Ohio State Any doubters were answered when the Buckeyes beat two strong Big Ten teams in Northwestern and Wisconsin, even with Braxton Miller not playing perfect against the Wildcats.
Tajh Boyd
4. Clemson The Tigers are blowing through their ACC schedule, dominating Syracuse this week 49-14 a week after embarrassing Wake Forest. Boston College will be a blowout, before their pivotal meeting with Florida State on the 19th.
5. Stanford Led by another impressive defensive showing the Cardinal handled Washington despite an impressive performance by the Huskies and should be able to get past Utah this past week.
6. Florida State The Seminoles have the chance to be scary good this year. Led by Jameis Winston, who is a real Heisman candidate, Florida State exploded to a 63-0 win over No. 25 Maryland.
7. Louisville Not to surprising, the Cardinals destroyed a terrible Temple team thanks to another great showing by Teddy Bridgewater. Plus, their defense has been fantastic, holding opponents to just 6.8 points per game.
8. Georgia Tennessee gave the Bulldogs all they could handle but the Bulldogs were still able to escape. They get Missouri this next week, a team that could pull an upset.
9. Texas A&M The Aggies are averaging nearly 50 points per game, but can their defense hold up, especially against explosive Ole Miss?
10. UCLA The undefeated Bruins are rolling, though Utah did manage to give them some issues on Thursday. Brett Hundley and UCLA must be careful not to be surprised by an average Pac-12 team.
11. LSU Mississippi State gave the Tigers some issues through the first three quarters but their offense managed to pull away.
12. Miami The Hurricanes are playing very good right now, coming off a win against a pretty good Georgia Tech team. If Duke Johnson continues to dominate Miami should roll to an ACC Championship appearance.
13. Oklahoma It was almost an upset for TCU, as the Horned Frogs were right in the game against Oklahoma, but they avoided it and get a good game against Texas this next week.
14. Baylor The Bears might have one of the best offense in college football history, they have put up 69+ in their four games this year.
15. South Carolina The last two weeks have been pretty worrying for the Gamecocks. They barely beat Central Florida and then were nearly upset by the 1-4 Kentucky Wildcats.
16. Florida The loss of junior QB Jeff Driskel for the year hasn't been that bad for the Gators. In fact their offense might be better with dual threat junior Tyler Murphy
17. Michigan Three games straight the Wolverines haven't been great, even though they won 42-13 this week against the Gophers, the score was closer than it may have appeared.
18. Washington The Huskies played very well against Stanford, but they don't get any break as this week they get Oregon and their explosive offense. If their offense can keep up with the Ducks, Washington can surprise.
19. Texas Tech Walk on freshman Baker Mayfield has been great this tear and the Red Raiders continue to be one of the nation's biggest surprises.
20. Fresno State This is the best Fresno team since the last Carr threw touchdown after touchdown there. Now, his brother, Derek appears to be a dark horse Heisman threat, throwing for 419 yards and five scorers against Idaho.
21. Oklahoma State After their stunning loss to West Virginia, Oklahoma State responded by beating a struggling Kansas State team 33-29, thanks to a great show by J.W. Walsh.
22. Northwestern The Wildcats should feel happy with their performance against Ohio State, but that won't help the fact they lost. A healthy Venric Mark should help Northwestern a ton.
23. Northern Illinois The Huskies are 5-0 and have already gotten through the toughest part of their weak schedule, beating those two Big Ten teams. They should be undefeated by the time they get Toledo on November 20th.
24. Missouri Quietly, the Tigers are 5-0 and have rolled through a very weak schedule so far. But, they are in the SEC now, meaning things are going to get tough in a hurry. They get Georgia next then a home meeting with Florida.
25. Auburn In the midst of a great day of college football the Tigers pulled off likely the nation's biggest upsets. Although Ole Miss is just 24th nobody really expected the now 4-1 Tigers to win and now they get Western Carolina next.

Thursday, October 3, 2013

College Football Week Six Picks

5 Stanford vs. 15 Washington
Last year, a Stanford team that had just beaten USC a couple weeks before was stunned by Washington. This year's Washington team looks even better as their offense has been lethal and their defense is greatly improved. Unfortunately, the defense for Stanford is fantastic, possibly the best in the nation right now. The defense is led by Shayne Skov, Trent Murphy and a speedy front seven that is constantly disrupting the opponents backfield. Plus, don't underestimate Stanford's offense which has been surprisingly fantastic this year with sophomore QB Kevin Hogan fifth in the nation in QBR. Plus, Hogan is undefeated as a starter with the Cardinal and this Washington rush defense is terrible and they have to stop the powerful combo of Tyler Gaffney and Anthony Wilkerson. Stanford has to stop Bishop Sankey, who has ran 607 yards and five scores this year but they are up to the task. Washington is better than last year, but Stanford is too good of a football team to lose to a team not named Oregon.
Stanford, 34 Washington, 24

4 Ohio State vs. 16 Northwestern
This a huge game for both teams and it should go down to the wire. The Buckeyes have won 17 straight games and are coming off a pretty dominant win over Wisconsin, where a healthy Braxton Miller was dominant. Meanwhile, Northwestern is trying to prove they are a Big Ten championship threat and trying to get a huge win for a university that has been destroyed by Ohio State in their history. The Buckeyes will have a tough assignment stopping Trevor Siemian and Kain Colter at quarterback and Treyvon Green in the backfield, who is averaging 7 yards a carry to this point. Plus, the Wildcats get back speedy senior Venric Mark who has missed the past three games with an injury to his leg. This Ohio State defense has been shaky at times but it does have some good pieces like outside linebacker Ryan Shazier. Northwestern will turn the ball over a lot meaning this Wildcats' defense has to make plays which they might not be able to against Miller and freshman Dontre Wilson, who has impressed me this season.
Stefon Diggs
Ohio State, 37 Northwestern, 35

8 Florida State vs. 25 Maryland
Maryland is off to their best start in years starting off 4-0 and sneaking into the latest poll. Though, they get their first true test of the year against Florida State. The recipe of success for the Terps has been senior QB C.J. Brown, a dual threat who has been healthy this year and explosive receiver Stefon Diggs who can do everything. Florida State, meanwhile, has been great as well thanks to redshirt freshman Jameis Winston who has been fantastic this season and a dominant defense. The Terps defense is also solid and gives a lot of different looks, which could confuse Winston, who is still learning. Though, can they stop guys like tight end Nick O'Leary and a rush defense led by Devonta Freeman? Maryland is truly back and is ready to be a threat once more in the ACC. Though, they aren't good enough yet to stop the Seminoles.
Florida State, 28 Maryland, 17

Other Picks
11 Oklahoma, 24 TCU, 12
22 Arizona State, 45 Notre Dame, 31
17 Baylor, 63 West Virginia, 35
21 Oklahoma State, 38 Kansas State, 24
2 Oregon, 58 Colorado, 28
Current Picks Record: 30-10

NBA Preview: Southeast Division

John Wall
Predictions
1. Miami Heat
2. Washington Wizards
3. Atlanta Hawks
4. Charlotte Bobcats
5. Orlando Magic

Rookie Report
Victor Oladipo, SG, Magic
In order to bring some excitement, athleticism and psychical wing play the Magic picked up Oladipo, a talent from Indiana, who should immediately become their best player.
Cody Zeller, PF, Bobcats
Charlotte believes they have solved their post issues by bring in Zeller, also from Indiana, and Al Jefferson.
Otto Porter, G/F, Wizards
The Wizards managed to pick up Porter with the No. 3 overall pick, who should bring size in the backcourt and a lot of versatility.
Dennis Schroder, PG, Hawks
The rebuild began this off season for the Hawks and their first pick of the process was speedy German guard Dennis Schroder who will compete for minutes from the beginning.

There is no way anybody manages to top the Heat inside the Southeast. Miami doesn't lose anyone from the dominant team last season that dominated throughout the regular season. LeBron might have had the best year of his career in 2012-2013 and he will continue to gel with his teammates. Dwayne Wade struggled at times and injuries have limited him over the years but when he is healthy he is still one of the NBA's most efficient guards. The only real notable weakness was the fact they didn't have a dominant big man and Chris Bosh spends way too much time on the perimeter. The Heat are hoping bringing in former No. 1 pick Greg Oden, who appears healthy for the first year of his NBA career, will solve that. Also back in the post is Chris Andersen who was an important piece to the puzzle last year and they also brought in Michael Beasley, who returns to Miami and can bring even more scoring help, even if he takes dumb shots. It appears the Wizards finally have a roster that can get them back to the playoffs, headed by John Wall who continues to improve. Along with Wall, the Wizards will rely heavily on second-year shooting guard Brad Beal and rookie Otto Porter. Beal and Wall will bring speed and scoring but Washington can't hope to compete if their big men aren't factors, which they weren't for much of last season. Nene is back and fully healthy and Emeka Okafor is a proven rebounder. If Trevor Booker continues to improve in the paint and the other rookie, Glen Rice Jr. brings some scoring off the bench 40 wins is a real threat. The Hawks lost Josh Smith but don't think they are completely out of the playoff hunt, considering how bad the Eastern Conference is. Al Horford is probably the best player on their roster now but he isn't extremely effective on the offensive end and doesn't move that well. Also in the frontcourt is aging Elton Brand, who is still decent when healthy and Paul Millsap, who was a quiet signing from Utah. Atlanta is pretty strong in the frontcourt but they are aging, meaning the real talent lies in the backcourt. Jeff Teague has turned into a quality point guard but he still isn't much of a scorer and he can't shoot but he is a playmaker. Rookie Dennis Schroder will likely back up Teague and plays a lot like him; he is athletic and quick but isn't much of a scorer. The Hawks are hoping they can get some help from their bench which does have some talent including aging sharpshooter Kyle Korver and efficient shooting guard John Jenkins. The Bobcats are the best they have been in years but that doesn't mean much lately. Al Jefferson arrives from Utah and brings more length and mobility in the post. Jefferson isn't a season-changer meaning that they need somebody else to step up down low. That could be Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who was a non-factor for much of his rookie season but has the potential to have a good year. I ripped the selection of Cody Zeller with the No. 4 pick, when Alex Len and Nerlens Noel were still available and I still don't like it. But, he is 7 foot and he can still bring good things to their roster. The backcourt is solid led by Kemba Walker who continues to improve but he hasn't developed the scoring potential that he had while at UConn. The Magic just aren't a good team, plain and simple. Rookie Victor Oladipo will help a lot, he can do so many different things. He is a very good defender who is quick and athletic and has good size. Nikola Vucevic is efficient and is a double-double machine and Glen Davis is probably the third best player on this team which isn't ever a good thing. There is some potential on this team, including Andrew Nicholson and Maurice Harkless. The Magic should be improved with Oladipo on their roster but they are still likely a 60 loss team. That isn't a bad thing at all they should have a real chance at getting Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker, Julius Randle or Marcus Smart.

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

NBA Preview: Atlantic Division

Joe Johnson
Predictions:
1. Brooklyn Nets
2. New York Knicks
3. Toronto Raptors
4. Boston Celtics
5. Philadelphia Sixers

Rookie Report
Kelly Olynyk, F/C, Celtics
The Gonzaga big man is a proven scorer and will help in the paint immediately, which is very important, considering Jared Sullinger will most likely miss the start of the season.
Nerlens Noel, C, Sixers
The Sixers traded away established star Jrue Holiday for Noel, who is proven shot-blocker with an evolving offensive game. It was a risky move but it gives Philadelphia a big man to work with right away.
Mason Plumlee, PF, Nets
The most talented Plumlee is a great pickup late in the first round for Brooklyn. He is a double-double machine who has the potential to be a star.
Tim Hardaway, SG, Knicks
The Knicks are hoping that Hardaway will give them the shooting and smarts that they sometimes lacked last year.

This offseason, it was made quite clear that the Nets want to and believe they can win it all. After picking up Deron Williams and Joe Johnson, Brooklyn struggled to find its way early and although they ended up the No. 4 seed in the East last year was considered a disappointment. The addition of Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce bring yet more star power and more expectations for the Nets. Along with that trade came sharpshooter Jason Terry and the Nets also brought in Andrei Kirilenko, giving them experience and veteran leadership. Kirilenko, who played decent last year in Minnesota, is a force when healthy but rarely is. Although they were one of the NBA's most consistently good teams last year, the Knicks never really seemed like real Finals' threats. In order to match, Brooklyn's impressive signings, New York responded by bringing in Metta World Peace and Andre Bargnani, who won't help much. World Peace can still play lockdown defense but he is definitely nearing the end of his career and Bargnani, a former No. 1 overall pick still isn't a legit big man. Carmelo Anthony had one of the best years of his career last year. He finally seems comfortable in New York and has the pieces around him which helps him get open shots as teams can't just focus on him, which happened in Denver. The Knicks brought back J.R. Smith, who was effective at times, but is far too inconsistent for my taste. He could well be one of the NBA's best scorers but he takes dumb shots and turns the ball over. If he continues to makes bad decisions, the Knicks could look for more minutes from rookie Tim Hardaway. They aren't real contenders but considering how weak the East is at the bottom, consider the Raptors as a playoff threat. Rudy Gay, who was brought in towards the end of last season is a proven scorer and provides a solid foundation but he isn't going to be an elite player. Explosive guard DeMar DeRozan is back on the Raptors roster and he will form a great backcourt combo with point guard Kyle Lowry. Along with second-year guard/forward Terrence Ross and D.J. Augustin, Toronto appears to have a solid group of players. But, it will be the same old news for a while with the Raptors; they don't have the star power to be real threats. They're hoping center Jonas Valanciunas can turn into the big man they need, something Andrea Bargnani never was. The Celtics knew that the rebuild had to start some time. Some time Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett weren't going to be wearing Celtics' jerseys and now is that time. Luckily, for new coach Brad Stevens he does have Rajon Rondo to work with who he has already formed a great relationship with. Jeff Green, who was more of a role player the last few years with Boston the past few seasons, will be expected to step up in big ways. Boston didn't get snubbed to bad in the Nets trade, at least they got hard-working forward Gerald Wallace and MarShon Brooks is an elite perimeter scorer. It appears the Sixers are also starting their rebuild and both are doing it at a great time with this next year's draft being so impressive. Nerlens Noel has the potential to be a great NBA player but it remains to be seen if he will play much better this season, as he is still recovering from that torn ACL. Another rookie, Syracuse product Michael Carter-Williams who is a proven playmaker, will fight for minutes from the start. This team does still have Evan Turner, who has struggled in the NBA to this point, and Thaddeus Young but the rest of this roster is full of bench players.