College Football Preview: 8. Florida Gators

Florida Gators Number Eight, Key Loss: QB Tim Tebow
Few can replace Tim Tebow at quarterback. We watched number 15 lead the Gators to SEC greatness challenging Alabama two straight years for the SEC championship. Now we meet John Brantley, Tebow's replacement. Brantley wouldn't have to throw the ball that often though, fortunately the Gators have a solid backfield led by Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey. Guard Mike Pouncey(brother of draft pick Maurkice Pouncey) will lead the way for Demps. On defense, the Gators are trying to regroup after losing Joe Haden and Brandon Spikes. Threy still have guys like safeties Will Hill and Ahmad Black. Tackles Omar Hunter and Terron Sanders return an will constantly pressure QB's.

Heisman Hopeful: Jeff Demps
Other Notable Players: Mike Pouncey
Key Games: October 2 vs. Alabama Quick Pick: Could be the SEC championship as John Brantley tries to prove he can replace Tebow. Alabama wins.
September 18 vs. Tennessee Quick Pick: The Vols are declining but are still a challenge to the also declining Gators. Florida escapes.

College Football Preview: 7.TCU Horned Frogs

TCU Horned Frogs Number Seven, Key Loss:DE-LB Jerry Hughes
TCU was oen of two major teams to crash the BCS party last year along with Boise State. This year it looks like much of the same. Andy Dalton returns to the TCU roster and gives the Horned Frogs probably the best quarterback in the Mountain West. He'll have options to through to in guys like Jimmy Young and Jeremy Kerley, both seniors. The defense lost some power when lethal threats Jerry Hughes and Daryll Washington left to the NFL. It is still pretty talented though on the defensive line with Cory Grant and Wayne Daniels. The cornerbacks are a cause for concern but free safety Tejay Johnson keeps the secondary in check.

Heisman Hopeful: Andy Dalton
Other Notable Players: Tejay Johnson
Key Games: September 4 vs. Oregon State Quick Pick: The TCU defense has to find a way to stop talented Jacquizz Rodgers in the backfield but Andy Dalton should do just fine. TCU wins.
November 6 vs. Utah Quick Pick: A big rivalry game TCU gets one of the final chances to face Utah before their move to the Pac 10. Utah wins.
Photo: Andy Dalton(left) and Tejay Johnson (right)

College Football Preview: 6.Nebraska Cornhuskers

Nebraska Cornhuskers Number Six, Key Loss: DT Ndamukong Suh
Losing probably the best all around defensive player on the planet isn't exactly fun but Nebraska will still be a power in the Big 12. The offense didn't lose much keeping quarterback Zac Lee and running back Roy Helu. Lee isn't the best quarterback in the Big 12 but he'll be good enough for the 'Huskers. On defense cornerback Prince Amukamara leads the secondary well Jared Crick is a strong player on the D-line. The 'Huskers could well go later but with Helu leading the team Nebraska challenges Texas for thr top of the Big 12.

Heisman Hopeful: Roy Helu
Other Notable Players: Prince Amukamara
Key Games: October 16 vs. Texas Quick Pick: The Texas offense will likely get it going by this game but the 'Huskers will still give them a challenge. Nebraska wins.
October 23 vs. Oklahoma State Quick Pick: The Cowboys lost their key players so the Cornhuskers will look dominant. Nebraska wins.
Photo: Roy Helu (10) and Prince Amukamara (21)

The NBA Draft Is Over

It was a pretty predictable night in the NBA draft last night. The top 14 picks looked like this:
1. John Wall, Guard, Kentucky to the Wizards Grade: A
2. Evan Turner, Guard, Ohio State to the Sixers Grade: A
3. Derrick Favors, Forward, Georgia Tech to the Nets Grade: A-
4. Wesley Johnson, Forward, Syracuse to the the Timberwolves Grade: A-
5. DeMarcus Cousins, Forward-Center, Kentucky to the Kings Grade: A
6. Ekpe Udoh, Forward, Baylor to the Warriors Grade: B+
7. Greg Monroe, Forward, Georgetown to the Pistons Grade: A-
8. Al Farouq-Aminu, Forward, Wake Forest to the Clippers Grade: A
9. Gordon Hawyard, Guard-Forward, Butler to the Jazz Grade: B
10. Paul George, Forward, Fresno State to the Pacers Grade: C-
11. Cole Aldrich, Center, Kansas to the Hornets Grade: B+
12. Xavier Henry, Guard-Forward, Kansas to the Grizzlies Grade: B
13. Ed Davis, Forward, North Carolina to the Raptors Grade: B+
14. Patrick Patterson, Forward to the Rockets Grade: A-
Awards
Best Pick: John Wall to Wizards, Number 1 Overall
Best Steal: Patrick Patterson to Rockets, Number 14 Overall
Biggest Bust: Paul George to Pacers, Number 10 Overall

NBA Mock Draft: Second Round, Picks 47-60

47. Bucks- Dwayne Collins, PF The Bucks could use a young inside threat to go along wtih Andrew Bogut.
48. Heat- Derrick Caracter, PF The power forward from UTEP means yet another forward for the Heat as they could stock up.
49. Spurs- Art Parakhouski, C An unknown from Radford Parakhouski gives the Spurs an option when Tim Duncan retires which will be very soon.
50. Mavericks- Luke Harangody, SF-PF One of the best players ever to wear a Notre Dame uniform Harangody is an option if Dirk Nowitzki leaves to the market this offseason.
51. Thunder- Sherron Collins, PG The former Jayhawk is experienced but will have to wait a few years until he plays depending on Russell Westbrook.
52. Celtics- Jon Scheyer, PG-SG If Scheyer moves to shooting guard all time he could easily be picked up by the Celts to replace Ray Allen when he retires.
53. Hawks- Darington Hobson, SF(right) After a surprise season in the Mountain West with New Mexico Hobson will give the Hawks another option at small forward.
54. Clippers- Mac Koshwal, PF The Clippers already have some inside threats but they could always move Koshwal to small forward if they decide to draft him.
55. Jazz- Charles Garcia, SF-PF All the way from Seattle Garcia helps at small forward to the injury prone Andrei Kirilenko.
56. Timberwolves- Manny Harris, SG Going into the '09-'10 season Harris and his Michigan Wolverines were expected to be one of the top teams in the Big Ten. They had a disappointing which explains Harris dropping all the way to 56.
57. Pacers- Denis Clemente, PG Clemente is yet another strong Big 12 guard who gives the Pacers various options.
58. Lakers- Alexey Shved, PG-SG The international star from Russia gives the Lakers an explosive new guard.
59. Magic- Dexter Pittman, C Pittman can back up Dwight Howard but the Magic will find some way to play the big cenetr.
60. Suns- Latavious Williams, PF A nice power forward from the USA international team Williams gives the Suns another post presece with Robin Lopez and Channing Fyre.

NBA Mock Draft: Second Round, Picks 39-46

39. Knicks- Jerome Jordan, C With an aging roster inside except for David Lee the Knicks could use the strong C-USA center.
40. Pacers- Nemanja Bjelica, SF The Brandon Rush pick hasn't quite worked out yet so the Pacers could try a new approach with the star from Serbia.
41. Heat- Greivis Vasquez, PG-SG If Dwayne Wade leaves Vasquez could become a starter right away as the Heat could use the sharpshooter.
42. Heat- Samardo Samuels, PF If the Heat grab an earlier big man like many predict including me (Hassan Whiteside) they could use Samuels as another young inside threat.
43. Lakers- Matt Bouldin, PG-SG The West Coast star stays in the West Coast as the Lakers pick him up to backup aging Derek Fisher and Kobe Bryant.
44. Blazers- Jarvis Varnado, PF The great shot blocker will help the Blazers inside if LaMarcus Aldrige or Greg Oden aren't fully healthy.
45. Timberwolves- Tiny Gallon, PF An interesting name for a big man, Gallon gives the T-Wolves yet another big man.
46. Suns- Mikhael Torrence, PG-SG Steve Nash isn't getting any younger so the guard from Alabama could help the Suns in the future.

Speacial Edition: Group B Report: Argentina Dominates, Greece Comes Back

After a decent first game against Nigeria in which Argentina won 1-0, Argentina exploded against South Korea. After being up 2-0 looking to shutout South Korea for the half Argentina made a vital mistake and Lee Chung Yong for Korea made it 2-1. But Gonzalo Hiquain had netted three goals giving him a hat trick and Argentina a 4-1victory marking them on top of Group B with six points. South Korea has 3.

Also in Group B winless teams Greece and Nigeria faced each other. Nigeria's Kalu Uche scored in the sixteenth minute looking like they could be the team that many expected them to be: a team that could advance. But later just before the half Greece's Dimitrios Salpingis scored tying up the game. Late in the game Greece's Vasilis Torosidis scored a huge goal and Greece won 2-1. Greece now has 3 points tied with South Korea, who they lost to in game one. Nigeria looks like they are done with no points.

NBA Mock Draft: Second Round, Picks 31-38

31. Nets- Craig Brackins, PF Even though the Nets already have Brook Lopez, the Nets could make a great young post duo.
32. Thunder- Trevor Booker, PF Another post man gives the Thunder more and more depth inside.
33. Kings- Lance Stephenson, SG Sacremento grabbed a great guard last year in Tyreke Evans. They will get another one in sharp shooter.
34. Warriors- Stanley Robinson, SF The big man Robinson gives the Warriors another forward to help Al Farouq Aminu if they do pick up the pair.
35. Wizards- Damion James, SF James is more of a power forward figure than small forward so the Wizards can move him around.
36. Pistons- Jordon Crawford, SG The former Indiana Hoosier, who was a star for Xavier last year returns to the Midwest as the Pistons need a shooting guard.
37. Bucks- Willie Warren, PG-SG(right) The star from Oklahoma could the team's savior by helping with Brandon Jennings.
38. Knicks- Lazar Hayward, SF When Wesley Matthews and Dominic James left for the NBA Hayward was the only Golden Eagles star that had stayed. Last year helped him show he was a leader and can score.

NBA Mock Draft: Picks 24-30

24. Hawks- Eric Bledsoe, PG-SG Bledsoe is a young and explosive guard who gives the Hawks an option a few years from now when Mike Bibby is gone.
25. Grizzlies- Devin Ebanks, SF Ebanks could well go higher but if the Timberwolves on him Memphis will snatch him up.
26. Thunder- Gani Lawal, PF Picking up Daniel Orton earlier in the draft will help but Lawal gives them more depth in the post.
27. Nets- Elliot Williams, SG(right) With no number one pick in which they could have grabbed either John Wall or Evan Turner, both guards the Nets could use one later in the first round with the C-USA star.
28. Grizzlies- Kevin Seraphin, PF-C The foreign Seraphin will help an already strong inside game and learn from Zach Randolph.
29. Magic- Quincy Pondexter, SF Pondexter can replace Rashard Lewis in a year or two and will be a valuable option off the bench before that.
30. Wizards- Dominique Jones, SG The explosive guard out of the Big East will team up with John Wall too make the best(and youngest) guard combo in 2 or so years.

Speacial Edition: Round of 16 Preview

Even though the 2010 FIFA World Cup has started I have yet to post my round of 16 preview. So here it is:
1A France loses to 2B Nigeria 1-0.
1C England beats 2D Serbia 2-0.
1E Netherlands beats 2F Slovakia 2-0.
1G Brazil beats 2H Switzerland 2-0.

1D Germany beats 2C USA 1-0.
1B Argentina beats 2A Mexico 2-1.
1F Italy beats 2E Cameroon 1-0.
1H Spain beats 2G Portugal 1-0.

1C England beats 2B Nigeria 2-0.
1E Netherlands loses to 1G Brazil 1-0.

1D Germany loses to 1B Argentina 2-1.
1F Italy loses to 1H Spain 1-0.

1C England loses to 1G Brazil 1-0.
1B Argentina loses to Spain 1-0.

Championship 1G Brazil beats 1H Spain 1-0.
Champion: Brazil