Very busy weekend for me, so I'll just give my picks.
Green Bay (+3) over Buffalo
Tennessee (+9.5) over Jacksonville
New Orleans (-1) over Tampa Bay
Chicago (-13.5) over Miami
St. Louis (-2) over Kansas City
New York Giants (-13) over Houston
Dallas (-3) over Washington
Cincinnati (+3) over Baltimore
Detroit (+5) over Atlanta
San Francisco (+5) over Minnesota
Denver (+3) over Pittsburgh
San Diego (-12.5) over Cleveland
New England (-3) over Indianapolis
Oakland (+7) over Seattle
Last Week: 5-9
Season: 52-56-6
Friday, 3 November 2006
Thursday, 2 November 2006
College Basketball Preview: ACC
Amazingly and thankfully, the NCAA Basketball season is approaching quickly, which is good because it's the sport I enjoy most. So like the my NBA previews right before this and College Football Preview, it's time to look at the major conference previews. No rest for the weary!
Player of the Year: For the most part, this is a league of skilled big men (and great freshmen, as we'll learn later). Any discussion here starts with Tyler Hansbrough of North Carolina, who might the favorite for National Player of the Year. He averaged 19 and 8 as a true freshman, and has just a great feel around the basket. Next in line is Jerad Dudley from Boston College. He's been great alongside Craig Smith, but now is his time to shine. He can play inside/outside, rebound well, and he's an excellent passer. Another skilled big man with a chance is Josh McRoberts of Duke. He flirted with the NBA before deciding to come back, and he's the best ballhandling big man in the country, and extremely athletic. And with Greg Paulus out to start the year, they'll need him to have a big impact early. Other candidates are Al Thornton of Florida St., Reyshawn Terry of North Carolina, and JR Reynolds of Virginia. However, when it comes down it, I don't think anyone will be able to beat out Tyler Hansbrough.
Freshmen to Watch: Well we have to start at North Carolina, where they grabbed what were considered the #1 HS prospects at PF, SG, and PG with Brandan Wright, Wayne Ellington, and Tywon Lawson respectively. All three should contribute in some way to an already young and talented Tar Heel squad. Not far behind UNC's class is Duke's, which features SF Gerald Henderson, SG Jon Scheyer, and late signee Lance Thomas. With the departures of Shelden and JJ, as well as the injury to Paulus, these guys will be looked on early as well. And the trifecta in the ACC as far as good freshmen go is Georgia Tech, led by Thaddeus Young. and Javaris Crittenton. Both were top 15 prospects, though Thaddeus Young is consensus top 10. At 6'8'', he can create shots for himself and should immediately be a very solid scorer.
Breakout Players: There are a couple of guys I really like off of Boston College. One is Tyrese Rice, who was the backup PG last year, but assumes the starting role with Louis Hinnant gone. Rice is a dyanmic scorer with a very quick release on his jumper. Next is Sean Williams, a beast of a man down low. He's exceptionally athletic, which makes him one of the best shot blockers in the conference. Here's something I wrote after the BC Sweet 16 game last year:
Human beings are just simply not supposed to do what Sean Williams did to block Kyle Lowry's shot at the end of regulation. He came from the other side of the lane to block that thing. One of the better blocks I've ever seen.
Predicted Order of Finish:
1. North Carolina
2. Boston College
3. Duke
4. Georgia Tech
5. Maryland
6. Florida St.
7. Virginia
8. NC State
9. Wake Forest
10. Clemson
11. Virginia Tech
12. Miami
Wednesday, 1 November 2006
College Football Picks: Week 10
Since there's a pretty big game tomorrow night (as in, the biggest game so far of the season), and because I have to start some College Basketball previews soon, my football picks are a day early here.
(12) Arkansas @ South Carolina
I picked the Gamecocks to upset Tennesse last week, but they came up just short. Fool me once, shame on you. This week, South Carolina has a chance to beat a ranked team in the 12th ranked Razorbacks. The same Razorbacks whose only loss came that opening night against USC. Things have changed since then. Darren McFadden and Felix Jones have formed a lethal backfield combo, Mitch Mustain is getting comfortable, and the defense has been very good. I think Arkansas is too good, and too talented at RB to fall to South Carolina. ARKANSAS 21-13.
(16) Boston College @ (22) Wake Forest
Don't look now, but both of these teams are 7-1. Um yeah, the ACC isn't that good this year I don't think. Not to trivialize what these teams have done, because there have been some nice victories. Boston College has notched wins over Clemson, Virginia Tech, and FSU so far this year while Wake Forest has, well, Wake Forest hasn't really beaten anybody yet. I'll believe it when I see it. BOSTON COLLEGE 27-20.
(18) Oklahoma @ (21) Texas A&M
Tough game here. I picked against the Sooners last week, and they beat Missouri relatively easily. The Aggies are 8-1, but they end their season with games against Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Texas. They're tough at home, but I'm not picking against Bob Stoops and that Sooner defense two straight weeks. OKLAHOMA 19-16.
(13) LSU @ (8) Tennessee
I know Tennessee has a good record and they've beaten some good opponents, but I'm still having a hard time trusting them. They needed 4th quarter comebacks to beat Alabama and South Carolina in the past couple weeks, and other close calls throughout the year. But I think the luck runs out this week. LSU is very talented, very good defensively, and the offense has played better. Maybe I'll finally be able to believe in the Vols if they win this game, but I'm going with LSU. LSU 17-16.
(3) West Virginia @ (5) Louisville
The game of the year so far, at least as far as its importance. With both teams undefeated, the winner could be looking at controlling their own destiny to make it to the BCS Title Game. When I first prognosticated on this game, I picked Louisville. But now Michael Bush is hurt. They've done a solid job replacing him as best they can, but he just added a whole different dimension to the offense... when they were by the goal-line it was just a given they were going to score a TD. They don't have that now. Meanwhile, the Mountaineers just continue to roll along. Pat White hasn't been great throwing the ball, but with the 1-2 running combo of White and Steve Slaton, he won't have to be. WEST VIRGINIA 34-31.
Last Week: 3-2
Season: 31-14
(12) Arkansas @ South Carolina
I picked the Gamecocks to upset Tennesse last week, but they came up just short. Fool me once, shame on you. This week, South Carolina has a chance to beat a ranked team in the 12th ranked Razorbacks. The same Razorbacks whose only loss came that opening night against USC. Things have changed since then. Darren McFadden and Felix Jones have formed a lethal backfield combo, Mitch Mustain is getting comfortable, and the defense has been very good. I think Arkansas is too good, and too talented at RB to fall to South Carolina. ARKANSAS 21-13.
(16) Boston College @ (22) Wake Forest
Don't look now, but both of these teams are 7-1. Um yeah, the ACC isn't that good this year I don't think. Not to trivialize what these teams have done, because there have been some nice victories. Boston College has notched wins over Clemson, Virginia Tech, and FSU so far this year while Wake Forest has, well, Wake Forest hasn't really beaten anybody yet. I'll believe it when I see it. BOSTON COLLEGE 27-20.
(18) Oklahoma @ (21) Texas A&M
Tough game here. I picked against the Sooners last week, and they beat Missouri relatively easily. The Aggies are 8-1, but they end their season with games against Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Texas. They're tough at home, but I'm not picking against Bob Stoops and that Sooner defense two straight weeks. OKLAHOMA 19-16.
(13) LSU @ (8) Tennessee
I know Tennessee has a good record and they've beaten some good opponents, but I'm still having a hard time trusting them. They needed 4th quarter comebacks to beat Alabama and South Carolina in the past couple weeks, and other close calls throughout the year. But I think the luck runs out this week. LSU is very talented, very good defensively, and the offense has played better. Maybe I'll finally be able to believe in the Vols if they win this game, but I'm going with LSU. LSU 17-16.
(3) West Virginia @ (5) LouisvilleThe game of the year so far, at least as far as its importance. With both teams undefeated, the winner could be looking at controlling their own destiny to make it to the BCS Title Game. When I first prognosticated on this game, I picked Louisville. But now Michael Bush is hurt. They've done a solid job replacing him as best they can, but he just added a whole different dimension to the offense... when they were by the goal-line it was just a given they were going to score a TD. They don't have that now. Meanwhile, the Mountaineers just continue to roll along. Pat White hasn't been great throwing the ball, but with the 1-2 running combo of White and Steve Slaton, he won't have to be. WEST VIRGINIA 34-31.
Last Week: 3-2
Season: 31-14
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