College Football: After 4 Weeks

  
      An exciting four weeks of the college football season have gone by headlined by the SEC's continued reign of dominance.  The Alabama Crimson Tide are the #1 team in the nation and almost all polls have four SEC teams in the top eight spots.  Besides the SEC, the Oregon Ducks seem like the team to beat in the Pac-12 after USC suffered an early and disappointing loss to Stanford in Week 3.  Rounding out the top-5 is the Florida St. Seminoles.  After easily winning their first three games, including a 55-0 thrashing of Savannah State, the Seminoles came out victorious against what will probably be their most difficult opponent of the season, the Clemson Tigers.  From the Big-12, both the West Virginia Mountaineers and Kansas State Wildcats have looked impressive.  Notre Dame has surprised many, but with tough upcoming games, will the Irish have enough to make it to the BCS?  Among the new coaches this season, some have had early success while others have struggled.  Urban Meyer has the Ohio State Buckeyes at 4-0 and in the #15 in most polls.  The Pac-12's Jim Mora and Rich Rodriguez have led UCLA and Arizona respectively to 3-1.  Bill O'Brien and Penn State struggled early, losing their first two games of the season, but have rebounded nicely, despite all the defections, by winning their past new games.  We are all in for an exciting rest of the season as Oregon's game vs. USC on November 3rd and Alabama vs. LSU, also on November 3rd, will very likely determine who is the best in college football and has the clearest path ahead to the BCS National Championship Game.

5 Surprises

1. Notre Dame Fighting Irish-  The 4-0 Irish have been the biggest surprise in the country this season.  With one of the nation's best front 7's including All-American hopeful linebacker Manti Te'o, they have looked convincing in wins over Michigan and Michigan St. this season.  Their defense can only take they so far as the effectiveness of their quarterbacks Tommy Rees and Everett Golson will determine how far the Irish go this season.

2. Florida Gators-  Everyone expected Florida to be decent, but after disappointing last year, few though that the Gators would be 4-0 at this point in the season.  They have won important games against Tennessee and SEC newcomer Texas A&M.  Led by running back Mike Gillislee and quarterback Jeff Driskel, the Gators play the LSU Tigers this Saturday in a game that could potentially make or break their season.

3. Oregon State Beavers-  The Oregon St. Beavers, an afterthought even in the state of Oregon, have only played two games so far this season.  In the first game they week a ranked Wisconsin team and in the second, they went down to Pasadena and beat a ranked UCLA squad.  Sophomore quarterback Sean Mannion has been a surprise this season as he teams with running back Storm Woods, wide receiver Markus Wheaton and a stellar defense to lead the Beavers.  The question that remains is, do the Beavers have enough to compete with Oregon in the Pac-12 North?

4. Rutgers Scarlet Knights-  After beating Arkansas last weekend, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights are 4-0.  The Scarlet Knights should be favored in every game the rest of the season until they play Louisville on November 29th in a game that could determine the winner of the Big-East.  Quarterback Gary Nova leads Rutgers as they attempt to regain the national recognition they have not had since the Ray Rice era.

5. Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks-  Although they are 1-2, the Warhawks have been somewhat of a cinderella story.  After providing the first big upset of the season in which they beat a top 10 ranked Arkansas team, the Warhawks played Auburn and Baylor tough, only to lose on their final possession.  Quarterback Kolton Browning has helped the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks become somewhat of a household name.

5 Disappointments

1. Arkansas Razorbacks-  The 1-3 Razorbacks, once ranked in the top-10, have been the biggest disappointment this season.  Not only have they lost to Louisiana-Monroe, but they also got slaughtered by Alabama and lost to Rutgers.  What was once a team with BCS bowl game aspirations will be lucky to finish 6-6 and make a bowl game appearance.  What a mess!

2. USC Trojans-  Although they have only lost once, this season will be considered a disappointment if the Trojans don't make it to the BCS National Championship.  To do so, they will face the tough task of having to defeat Oregon twice and receive help from elsewhere.  Matt Barkley will lead the men of Troy in this uphill battle and try to bring himself back into the Heisman conversation.

3. Michigan Wolverines-  The Wolverines are 2-2 and have lost to top teams Notre Dame and Alabama.  The problem isn't the loses though, the problem is the offense.  When put in the national spotlight Denard Robinson and crew have looked stagnant and haven't been able to put points on the board.  Robinson has lost any hope he had for the Heisman and the Wolverines are in danger of finishing in the middle of the Big-10 this season.

4. Wisconsin Badgers-  The Badgers record is decent at 3-1, but they've lost to the only team they've played in a power 6 conference, Oregon State.  Wisconsin has also looked bad in wins against Northern Iowa, Utah St., and UTEP.  Montee Ball has been unable to get going this season and quarterback is a position of uncertainty.   The Badgers should be alright, but only because of the fact that the Big-10 is having a down year.

5. Oklahoma Sooners-  The once National Championship hopeful Sooners are 2-1 after losing a close game to Kansas State.  Like Michigan the offense doesn't look good and what has happened to Landry Jones?  Oklahoma will try to rebound but the lose to Kansas St. may have ended any BCS hoped they had.

Top 25

1.  Alabama Crimson Tide-  They Crimson Tide have been the most dominant team in the country this season.  Quarterback A.J. McCarron just doesn't make mistakes and freshman running back T.J. Yeldon has teamed with Eddie Lacy to form one of the best backfields in the country.  Alabama will face a tough test come November 2nd but the question is no longer, will they make it to the championship game?  It is, who are they going to play?

2.  LSU Tigers-  The Tigers survived a scare from Auburn last weekend but still seem to be the second best team in the country.  The defense is stellar once again and so are the running backs, including Michael Ford and Spencer Ware.  Quarterback Zach Mettenberger seems to be a slight improvement over Jordan Jefferson.  The outcome of their game on November 2nd against Alabama will determine their season.

3.  Florida State Seminoles-  The 4-0 Seminoles are riding high after beating Clemson last weekend.  The offense, lead by quarterback E.J. Manuel looks explosive, and the defense looks solid too.  Florida State won the hardest game on its schedule and must avoid being upset as they continue towards the National Championship.

4.  Oregon Ducks-  The offense has always been tremendous, but it was the defense that was spectacular in the drubbing of Arizona last weekend.  The 4-0 Ducks led by the most explosive player in the NCAA, De'Anthony Thomas and quarterback Marcus Mariota look to remain unbeaten, but will face a tough test on November 2nd against USC.  It looks as if it may be the Ducks year once again.

5.  Georgia Bulldogs-  Aaron Murray leads the dominant offense the 4-0 Bulldogs.  They will face a tough test against South Carolina on October 6th.  Georgia looks good this season and may win the SEC West.

6.  South Carolina Gamecocks-  The Gamecocks easily defeated Missouri last week in what was there first test off the season.  Led by quarterback Connor Shaw and running back Marcus Lattimore, we will see just how good South Carolina is when they play Georgia on October 6th.  A trip to the SEC championship game could result from the outcome of this game.

7.  Kansas State Wildcats-  The Wildcats impressively beat the Oklahoma Sooners last weekend.  They may be the best team in the Big-12 and play West Virginia on October 20th.  This game may determine who wins the conference.  Quarterback Collin Klein leads this unorthodox style offense which puts up many points.

8.  West Virginia Mountaineers-  The Mountaineers have put up a lot of points this season but haven.t really been tested.  The next two weeks they play Baylor and Texas and we will see how good they really are.  Wide receiver Tavon Austin and quarterback Geno Smith lead the offense.

Best of the Rest

9.  Notre Dame Fighting Irish

10. Stanford Cardinal

11. Florida Gators

12. USC Trojans

13. Texas Longhorns

14. Clemson Tigers

15. TCU Horned Frogs

16. Oklahoma Sooners

17. Ohio State Buckeyes

18. Mississippi State Bulldogs

19. Oregon State Beavers

20. Louisville Cardinals

21. Michigan State Spartans

22. Rutgers Scarlet Knights

23. Nebraska Cornhuskers

24. Baylor Bears

25. Boise State Broncos

Most Honorable Mention: Northwestern Wildcats

*The author apologizes for having Stanford at #10, as the rankings portion of this article was done before they lost on Thursday.

Week 2 Preview

Ray Lewis and the Ravens travel to Philadelphia this week. 

LeSean McCoy leads a strong Eagles squad.

What happened in Week 1? RG3's homecoming, the Packers getting their first loss after a 15-1 season, and Chris Johnson rushing for 4 yards. Yes, that's not a typo. 4 yards. In picks last week, I was 8-8. Due to time constraints picks for the Bears vs. Packers game were unable to occur. However, here are the rest of Week 2's games.

Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills 
The Bills had everyone hopeful. People thought that their renewed defense would bring a wildcard playoff spot. Well, last week was not a good start. The defense allowed 48 points to a subpar Jets offense. 48 points to Mark Sanchez and Stephen Hill? Just imagine what Jamaal Charles and Dwayne Bowe could do.
Chiefs over Bills

New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers 
Two teams coming up off disappointing losses. Cam Newton threw for 300 yards, but unfortunately 2 interceptions as well. Brees had a great game also, but the suspect defense allowed RG3 to have a career forming game. If Brees can do well again, and the defense can pressure Cam Newton, the Saints should beat their division rivals. If not, then we'll see.
Saints over Panthers

Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals 
Andy Dalton and A.J Green need to redeem themselves. After fantastic rookie years from both of them, the Baltimore defense forced Dalton to throw 2 interceptions. Hopefully, there will be no such problem with the Browns. Expect Dalton to throw multiple TD passes, and target Green a lot, maybe even surpassing the 11 targets from last game.
Bengals over Browns 

Minnesota Vikings at Indianapolis Colts 
Andrew Luck needs to demonstrate why the Colts drafted him. Sure he passed for 300 yards, but his team was still steamrolled by the Bears. Against the Vikings this game should have been easier. The key word is should have been. With the improvement of Adrian Peterson, and receiving skills of Percy Harvin, the Vikings look good. This game will be close, but ultimately, AP will lead his team to victory.
Vikings over Colts 

Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars 
Sorry Rashad Jennings. A knee injury just cost you a starting running back job. Oh well, MJD is back to engineer the Jaguars offensive attack. The attack, which was said to be terrible, took the Vikings to overtime last week. However, the Texans have a football version of "the big three". If Schaub can get the ball to Andre Johnson, nothing will stop the attack.
Texans over Jaguars 

Oakland Raiders at Miami Dolphins
The Raiders made a run at the Chargers, could have won, if it had not been for Nate Kaeding's five field goals. The Dolphins have a rookie, inconsistent quarterback, and a not-very-good group of receivers. If Carson Palmer can get it to Darius Heyward-Bey, and Denarius Moore is able to play the Raiders should have a field day.
Raiders over Dolphins

Arizona Cardinals at New England Patriots 
What an unfair matchup. The fantastic Patriots against the very unstable Cardinals. To make matters worse, its in Foxborough, where the Patriots have won 15 of 16. No matter how many catches Fitzgerald has, it won't be enough. Tom Brady and his quartet of receivers should have fun.
Patriots over Cardinals 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New York Giants 
The defending champs are looking to avenge their season opening loss against the Cowboys. The Buccaneers are happy to have defeated Cam Newton. Doug Martin has been a surprise for the Bucs, who could surely use a sparkplug. But Eli Manning and co. will end their winning streak at Metlife Stadium.
Giants over Buccaneers 

Baltimore Ravens at Philadelphia Eagles
In one of the best games of the week, it's a matchup of two of the best running backs in football. LeSean McCoy against Ray Rice. Two fantasy football stars face-off in Philadelphia. Michael Vick also needs to prove that he can still play. He had a great game last week, but he needs to continue to demonstrate leadership. It will come down to who has the better defense. In this case, it is the Ravens, led by Ray Lewis.
Ravens over Eagles 

Dallas Cowboys at Seattle Seahawks
The Cowboys impressed everyone with a solid win over the Giants last week. Led by DeMarco Murray and Tony Romo, they should cruise against the Seahawks, who are led by a rookie quarterback, and an inconsistent but good Marshawn Lynch.
Cowboys over Seahawks 

Washington Redskins at St.Louis Rams
RG3 and Alfred Morris. People knew that RG3 was going to be good, but who thought this good. Alfred Morris? He was a mid-round draft pick. Not expected to start. And yet, these two dominated the Saints last week. Against the Rams, these two should again pass and run for a lot. Steven Jackson can run, but unfortunately, won't be able to lead the Rams to a win.
Redskins over Rams

New York Jets at Pittsburgh Steelers 
The Steelers lost to Peyton Manning. That doesn't sound that bad. But then you realize he wasn't on the Colts, and was playing his first game since January 2011. Jonathan Dwyer has been a bright spot, and Antonio Brown and Mike Wallace could always be solid. The Jets, after Sanchez and Tebow could not score a touchdown, Sanchez had a great game last week, throwing two TD's to Stephen Hill. The Jets are on a hot streak, but the consistent Steelers should be able to bounce back.
Steelers over Jets 

Tennessee Titans at San Diego Chargers
Chris Johnson had an awful game. He should get more carries. Rivers should also improve. Both of these teams had disappointing games last week. They should both improve. But, only one will. The Chargers and Phil Rivers should be able to beat the Titans in a close one.
Chargers over Titans 

Detroit Lions at San Francisco 49ers 
The 49ers beat the Packers last week. Things are looking good for a team without an elite quarterback. The Lions have a superhero, and fantastic quarterback throwing to him. This should be a very interesting game. One team that relies heavily on offense, the other on defense. The defense gets the edge in this one.
49ers over Lions 

Denver Broncos at Atlanta Falcons
Matt Ryan and Julio Jones had amazing games last week. Can they do it again though, is the question? Peyton Manning also had a great game. Can he do it again? The answer to both of these questions is yes. The Falcons however, have the advantage in this one. Why? It's simple. Homefield advantage. If this was played in Denver, the Broncos would have the advantage.

Falcons over Broncos

Week 1 Preview

Aaron Rodgers begins the Packers' quest for the Superbowl at Lambeau Field. 

Patrick Willis and the 49ers, take on the Packers  in Green  Bay. 

Sunday begins the first of many, many glorious Sundays. On Sunday Peyton Manning will throw his first pass in two years. On Sunday Chris Johnson, will try to redeem himself. On Sunday, fantasy football will begin. On Sunday, it will be week 1, finally! And now, here are previews of each game.

Indianapolis Colts at Chicago Bears 
The era of Luck begins for the Colts. Unfortunately, they face one of the best defenses in the NFL. Matt Forte recently signed a new contract, and will be looking to exploit the Colts' defense. In addition, new acquisition Brandon Marshall is reunited with his former Broncos teammate, Jay Cutler. Expect big things to happen for the Bears, not so much for the Colts.
Bears over Colts 

Philadelphia Eagles at Cleveland Browns
Last year, great things were expected for the Eagles. They were expected to reach the Superbowl. They had an amazing team. And then, it just didn't work. This season, the Eagles should do well. Their team is solid, and if things go the right way, they could make a playoff push. For the Browns, it is much different. They are starting a 28 year old rookie, and Heisman finalist Trent Richardson. The Browns are not expected to contend, and won't have much of a factor in this game. It will be a test.
Eagles over Browns 

New England Patriots at Tennessee Titans 
The Superbowl runner-ups begin their quest to reach the big game again in Nashville. The Patriots, who have one of the easiest schedules in the NFL, added another offensive weapon, receiver Brandon Lloyd. Second year back Stevan Ridley, will also look to run a couple of times. This game for the  Titans, is mainly to make sure Johnson is back like he was in 2010, and that Jake Locker can make a good impression. Expect Ryan Mallet to take a few snaps in the fourth quarter, you know when the game is already decided.
Patriots over Titans 

Atlanta Falcons at Kansas City Chiefs 
Jamaal Charles and Tony Moeaki are back. And boy, the Chiefs are glad. The Chiefs could have made a playoff push last year, had it not been for their injuries. Matt Ryan is ready to showcase that he is an elite quarterback. With a choice of weapons that include Julio Jones, Roddy White, and the great Tony Gonzalez, he has the chance. In a very close game, the Chiefs have the advantage, as they are playing at home. And, Charles can explode.
Chiefs over Falcons 

Jacksonville Jaguars at Minnesota Vikings 
MJD's back! That's great news for Jaguars fans, but unfortunately he has not had enough practice to become the primary back just yet. This job falls to Rashad Jennings. The Vikings have some running back problems of their own, as Adrian Peterson is a gametime decision. That leaves Christian Ponder and Percy Harvin. These two can connect for numerous passes, as they did last year. This will probably happen, as MJD's loss, will be too much for the Jaguars.
Vikings over Jaguars 

Washington Redskins at New Orleans Saints 
RG3 vs. Drew Brees. The rookie against the seasoned veteran. The Saints now have another advantage, defensive end Will Smith is back. He won his appeal in the bounty case, and is going to play Sunday. Even worse news for the Redskins, who don't even know who their primary running back is going to be. Expect Brees to have a fantastic game, with tight end Jimmy Graham.
Saints over Redskins 

Buffalo Bills at New York Jets 
Normally, in this matchup of AFC east rivals, the Jets would have the upper hand. Not with the vastly improved Bills defense. With the additions of Mario Williams and Mark Anderson, the Bills are stacked. The Jets on the other hand, have a quarterback problem, and not a big time target. Expect Sanchez and Tebow to get sacked. A lot.
Bills over Jets 

St. Louis Rams at Detroit Lions 
A matchup of the only team to ever go 0-16, against a team that could very well do that same thing this year. The Lions have a solid team, led by Stafford and Megatron, as well as Titus Young and Nate Burleson. Their defense is also great. For the Rams, Steven Jackson is still there, but there's not much else. The Lions could roll all over the Rams.
Lions over Rams 

Miami Dolphins at Houston Texans 
Another team without a big time receiver. The Dolphins do have Davone Bess, but if your number one receiver is owned in just 16.4% of ESPN leagues, you have a problem. The Texans, however, have one of the best Quarterback, Running back, Receiver combinations in Matt Schaub, Arian Foster, and Andre Johnson. Assuming they all can stay healthy, a big assumption, they could make a run for the championship.And this game is a good start.
Texans over Dolphins 

San Francisco 49ers at Green Bay Packers 
The 49ers look great. A fantastic defense, solid running game, and an average passing game. Many people think they could reach the Superbowl. The Packers, have one of, if not the best quarterback in football. Aaron Rodgers has many targets in which to throw. Alex Smith has new acquisition Mario Manningham, Michael Crabtree, and.... Randy Moss. In a game of complete opposites, a great offensive against great defense, offense should prevail. But it will be close.
Packers over 49ers 

Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals 
The Seahawks are a sleeper team. Russell Wilson could be the next Cam Newton or Michael Vick. And along with Marshawn Lynch, they have a great offense. The Cardinals have Larry Fitzgerald..... and John Skelton who stole the job away from millionaire Kevin Kolb. Marshawn and Russell Wilson will attempt to look their best, while Fitzgerald will catch everything that is thrown to him.
Seahawks over Cardinals 

Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers 
An NFC South rivalry. Cam Newton vs. Josh Freeman. Everyone is wondering what Cam Newton will do. Will he have a sophomore slump, or will he have another great season. The Buccaneers are looking to rebound from a disappointing season. Freeman, who now has a great receiver in Vincent Jackson will try to throw as much as possible. Cam Newton will run, a lot, and it will be hard for the buccaneers to catch him.
Panthers over Buccaneers 

Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos
Peyton Manning's second act begins at Qwest field. For the Broncos receivers, it is a feeling of joy. Unfortunately, they will be taking on the best passing defense in the game last year. Peyton has some options and hopes to develop DeMaryius Thomas in a top threat, like Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison. Ben Roethlisberger has his two main targets, Antonio Brown and Mike Wallace. Their defense is also top notch. Though the team is getting older, they are still the Steelers.
Steelers over Broncos 

Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens 
A fierce AFC North rivalry begins again. The duo of A.J Green and Andy Dalton starts in year two with big expectations. The Ravens begin this season feeling a bit old, and tired. But with Ray Rice and young receiver Torrey Smith, anything can happen. Both of these teams have great defenses. This is another game that will come down to homefield advantage.
Ravens over Bengals 

San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders 
To round out Week 1 of the NFL season, are two teams in different places. One team, the Chargers finished 8-8 last season and was disappointed. The other, the Raiders, finished 8-8 and were happy. The Chargers still have Philip Rivers, but they lost their biggest threat, Vincent Jackson. The Raiders have Carson Palmer, and young star Denarius Moore. Also, they have Darren McFadden, who if healthy could be very explosive. The Chargers are also always slow starters.
Raiders over Chargers

NFL Preview 2012

Ray Lewis will lead his Ravens to the Superbowl. 

Matt Forte will lead his Bears  over the Ravens in the Superbowl. 

It's back. The sport that we've all been waiting for. The best five months of the year. A time of tailgating, endless pizza deliveries, and many moments shouting "Oh no, and Oh yes!" have finally arrived. It is time for the NFL 2012.

But wait, first let's recap the summer. Mario Williams signed with the Bills, who now have one of the best defenses in the NFL, Terrell Suggs tore his ACL, and is questionable for the rest of the season, the Patriots added a deep ball threat to complement their tight ends, in Brandon Lloyd, and finally, the Jets traded for Tim Tebow. Also, Mike Wallace and MJD each had holdouts, but eventually went back to their teams.

Now, let's get to the preview. There are many different ways this NFL season could pan out, especially with replacement refs for at least Week 1. Ten different questions are going to be asked, all ten are going to be answered. These questions are going to be about players, teams, coaches, and just anything NFL. So sit back with some chips and salsa. These should be interesting.

Question 1: Who will win each of the divisions? 
The most common question. First the East Divisions. AFC: Patriots, who have arguably the easiest schedule in the NFL, will cruise to be Division champs yet again. NFC: The defending champion Giants have some quirks that they need to fix, but they will still be able to win the Division. AFC North: The Ravens will win, despite the loss of Terrell Suggs, but the Bengals will be fierce challengers. NFC North: The Packers will win the division again, even with the addition of Brandon Marshall to the Bears. AFC South: In one of the weakest divisions in football, Houston led by its defense, will win a second consecutive division title. NFC South: With the Saints in trouble because of the bountygate, the Falcons, led by a fantastic offense will win the division. AFC West: The addition of Peyton Manning may help, but it will be the Chargers, not the Broncos who will surprise everyone and win the division. NFC West: In what was once a division where a 7-9 team made the playoffs, the 49ers will win an extremely weak division.

Question 2: Who are some teams that could sneak up on people? 
The Kansas City Chiefs. With Jamaal Charles healthy, this was a team that was able to make the playoffs a couple years ago. If Dwayne Bowe can repeat his 2011 season, the defense can hold up, these guys could win the division. The Philadelphia Eagles. The "Dream Team" was unfortunately unable to reach the playoffs, and Mike Vick, and LeSean McCoy want to keep Andy Reid's job. If DeSean Jackson "tries" this season, they have a chance. The Detroit Lions. Matt Stafford and Megatron. Those two are one of the best WR-QB combinations in the NFL. If the defense gets better, don't be surprised if they win a wildcard spot.

Question 3: How will Peyton Manning do? 
Manning will not be wearing the familiar Blue and White of the Indianapolis Colts. He is with a new team, and a new coach. Manning will be solid, but will not be what he once was. It won't be like the Brett Favre on the Vikings and Jets, but it won't be the Peyton Manning-Marvin Harrison.

Question 4: Will Maurice Jones-Drew play? 
MJD is slated to start as a third down back during Week 1, as he has just ended his holdout. Rashad Jennings will get the majority of the carries, and depending on how he does, will effect MJD's playing time. Remember, this is the same MJD who led the league in rushing last year.

Question 5: Will the Madden Curse affect Calvin Johnson? 
When Calvin Johnson was announced as the cover of Madden '13, fantasy owners everywhere were worried. Why? Because of something called the Madden curse. Shaun Alexander, Vince Young, these are just two players who have been on the cover of Madden, and were never the same. Megatron will be different. Johnson has a fantastic quarterback throwing to him, and will still score plenty of touchdowns.

Question 6: Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III 
These two rookie quarterbacks went 1-2 in the draft last April. Who will have a better rookie season? It will be the man who went number two, RG3. Griffin is a fantastic quarterback, and has better talent around him than Luck does. Though Luck does have his college teammate Coby Fleener, RG3 has speed, and new acquisition Pierre Garcon and Fred Davis.

Question 7: Which Chris Johnson will we see? 
Chris Johnson ruined many fantasy owners lives last season, with his horrible year. Many people were hesitant to take him. But why? It could've just been a down year. He has a chance to bounce back, and be a great back again. Though he may not be as good as 2010, he still will be able to have a solid year.

Question 8: Who will be the MVP? 
Last year it was Aaron Rodgers. This year? It's a tight race. There are the three elite quarterbacks, as well as the running backs, and of course Calvin Johnson. But this year, the NFL MVP will go to Arian Foster. Foster is being hyped as the running back in the game, and he will be this season. If Andre Johnson gets injured, as he hasn't played a full season in two years, which will cause the passing game to be scaled back. Expect Arian to win the rushing title.

Question 9: Who will win tomorrow's game, Giants vs. Cowboys? 
The Cowboys will try to start off their 2012 campaign strong after a disappointing last season. Led by Tony Romo and DeMarco Murray, and a much improved secondary, the Cowboys could be hard to beat. However, the Giants have a great team of their own. Filled with salsa dancers, and Superbowl winners, the Giants have a versatile team. The Cowboys fixed their secondary this offseason, and who knows, Victor Cruz might cool down from last season. The pick: Cowboys 

Question 10: Finally, who will win the Superbowl? 
This season, there are a surplus of teams who can contend for the Superbowl. It is all about who has the best luck, as the Patriots and the Giants learned last year. The Chicago Bears, one of the most improved teams of the offseason, with one of the league's best defenses, and best running backs, will make a run to the Superbowl. Their opponent, will be the Baltimore Ravens. Led by Joe Flacco, Ray Rice, and an old but stellar defense, the Ravens will avenge their AFC championship loss. The Bears however, will conquer the Ravens.

Summer Well Spent?

 What a summer around the NBA. What a way to kickoff, what would become a hectic summer, with none other than the Orlando Magic. The Magic were busy this summer, but firing Coach Stan Van Gundy, a.k.a Mr. Egotistic, was the first of many unfortunate blows to occur to the Magic. As June turned into July, Dwight Howard rumors were spreading fast, but where would he end up? The answer came a week into August, when the Los Angeles Lakers acquired Howard from the Magic, saying farewell to all-star center Andrew Bynum.

      

 Speaking of the dazzling purple and gold, the Lakers had an eventful summer. Not only did they acquire Howard, they also added all-star point guard Steve Nash to the mix. With Kobe Byant and Nash in the backcourt and a strong front court consisting of Howard, Gasol, and World Peace, I would expect to see these guys going deep into the playoffs. The Lakers also acquired Chris Duhon, Antawan Jamison, and Jodie Meeks; which gives them one of the deepest benches in the Western Conference.

One player really stood out this summer. Recently (un)retired shooting guard Brandon Roy. Roy has 
had a roller coaster-type career, which abruptly ended last year when he announced his retirement 
due to his unstable degenerative knees. The 28 year-old all-star decided that he would give the NBA 
another shot and announced a comeback for the 2012-2013 season. This announcement sparked life 
into many teams, in need of a strong backcourt. The two teams that were fighting harder than any 
other were the Portland Trail Blazers (Roy's previous team) and the new-look Minnesota 
Timberwolves. The outcome was quite a surprise, as Roy decided to sign a two-year $10.4 million 
contract. This may seem like a significant amount for a player whose future is undecided, but if he
can stay healthy, Roy could lead this team to a playoff birth and, possibly, beyond.

Ray Allen left Boston with a farewell and a title under his belt. Now he is off to South Beach to 
pursue another with the defending champions Miami Heat. What does this mean for Boston? Well, 
more cap space and now a chance for Jason Terry to step up his role to the starter position and help 
contribute to the old-age Leprechauns. The Celtics may be old, but with Kevin Garnett coming back
 to play another year (or two), Paul Pierce sticking to his guns, and Rajon Rondo possibly being the 
best point guard in the NBA, the C's are going to be a handful for most teams in the league, assuming
 they stay heathy. With the re-signing of the the explosive Jeff Green and the acquisition of the up-
and-coming Courtney Lee, the bench of the Celtics has more than a substantial amount of depth and 
will be an asset if the Celtics hope for a lengthy playoff run.

These were the main events of the summer. For more one the free agent market and player 
acquisitions, please go to http://espn.go.com/nba/.  

Though the playoffs are still close to five months away, here are my predictions as to what the first 
round will look like:

Western Conference

1. Los Angeles Lakers- No team with Kobe Bryant is going to be out of the playoff race. With Dwight Howard and Steve Nash by Bryant's side, the Lakers will be a handful for any team.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder- The Thunder are younger than the other top teams in the west, but just as talented. A roster made up of three Olympians, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden,
 the Thunder are more than capable of winning an NBA championship as each of their stars continuesto improve. 


3. Los Angeles Clippers- The Clippers will follow up one of their better seasons with an even better one. The high flying duo of Blake Griffin and Chris Paul is enough to keep the Clippers in the playoff race, but they have created a solid supporting cast to back them up. With the re-signing of Chauncey Billups, and the addition of Lamar Odom, Grant Hill, and Jamal Crawford, the Clippers will find themselves near the top of the Western Conference.

4. San Antonio Spurs- The Spurs are the exact opposite of the Thunder. They are made up of older players mostly past their prime. Despite this, the Spurs are coming off of a fantastic season in which they, even as the underdog at the beginning, found themselves at the top of the Western Conference.

5. Denver Nuggets- A rebuilding year that featured dealing the face of the franchise, Carmelo Anthony, to the New York Knicks, ended well for the Nuggets as they obtained 50 wins and made it to the first round of the playoffs. They’ve made some smart moves since then, dealing Nene to the Wizards for Javale Mcgee. In addition, the Nuggets played a largely unknown role in the trade that saw Dwight Howard land in Los Angeles and were able to add a solid player in Andre Iguodola.

6. Minnesota Timberwolves – Had Ricky Rubio not been injured, the Minnesota Timberwolves would have been in the playoff race all the way until the end last season. With Rubio set to come back sometime towards the end of the calendar year, the Timberwolves will have him towards the end of the season, the time when they need him most. With the addition of a very defensively proficient Andrei Kirilenko and an improving Brandon Roy, the Timberwolves have filled some of the major voids that they had last year. That combined with the guaranteed dominance of Kevin Love means the Timberwolves are in great shape for a playoff run.

7. Memphis Grizzlies- Coming off a solid season ending with a playoff appearance, the Grizzlies will once again find themselves in the postseason. Although they will only be a seven seed, whoever faces them in the first round will need to watch out or they will find themselves being upset. Zach Randolph is playing some of the best basketball of his career and with Rudy Gay finally emerging as a real threat, the Grizzlies are a dangerous team for any opponent. The Grizzlies suffered a setback with the loss of O.J Mayo, but will still be a solid team regardless.

8. Golden State Warriors – Even playing in their first year without Monta Ellis, the Warriors will still have a good shot at making the post season. The acquisition of Jarrett Jack from the Hornets means that Stephen Curry will be able to do what he does best, score the ball. There isn’t a basketball fan that doesn’t know the scoring potential of Stephen Curry. In his college days at Davidson he averaged 28.6 points a game and led the nation in scoring. Since he’ll be able to play as a scorer rather than a passer, he can do what he is best at and will be much more efficient as a result. As long as Curry stays healthy and role players such as Andrew Bogut and Richard Jefferson do what they’re supposed to, the Warriors will make a run at the playoffs.

Eastern Conference

1. Miami Heat- The defending champs are just getting stronger and more experienced by the day. Now thirsting for another title, they will do anything to obtain the honor again. With the addition of shooting guard Ray Allen, the Heat have a veteran who knows the ropes and can buckle down and hit a big shot in pressure situations.

2. Boston Celtics- With a mixture of young and old on the team, the C's have a perfect balance to contend with any team in the league. With the re-signing of explosive forward Jeff Green and the acquisitions of veteran guard Jason Terry and young guard Courtney Lee, the Celtics are locked and loaded on the quest of another title. 

3. Indiana Pacers- The team with the most returning player, Indiana has what it takes to make a run in the playoffs. Coach Vogel now knows what it takes to make it to the playoffs and what he needs to do to succeed. If they stay healthy, Indian is one of the strongest teams in the league led by underrated forward, Danny Granger, whom is looking for a strong start and a healthy season to lead his team to a much deserved high seed.

4. Philadelphia 76ers- The Sixers are young and small, but with Andrew Bynum now on the team, they have much potential, Yes, the loss of all star forward Andre Igouadala could sting a bit, but Jason Richardson will take his place and show the team he is serious about helping them contend with the other powerhouses in the league.

5. Chicago Bulls- Yes, the Bulls are playing without Derrick Rose for a good portion of the season, but they have proved in the past that other players can step up and carry this team when they are called upon. Joakim Noah is open about how he hates to lose, so will he prove to the rest of the NBA that he can revamp his team after an early departure from the postseason? Yes, he can because he is one of the hardest working players in the league and with Luol Deng by his side, the Windy City is ready to give other teams a run for their money.

6. New York Knicks- This may be the last time the Knicks will make the playoffs. They have been a disappointment to most of us since they acquired Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire because they have not lived up to their expectations. With the addition of world class point guard Jason Kidd to give the youngsters some help, they could make the fifth seed, but this is do or die because after this, coach Mike Woodson will be looking to rebuild.

7. Atlanta Hawks- The Hawks lost a key component in their lineup when Joe Johnson left. Since Al Horford is back and in prime conditions, Josh Smith is trying to keep his team pumped for each game, and Jeff Teague is one of the biggest surprises, the Hawks may have a couple of spurts left in them. 

8. Brooklyn Nets- The Nets have a new home, a new look, and a new lineup. One that consists of all stars Deron Williams and Joe Johnson. Both have been in the playoffs and both have lost in the playoffs, so they will be playing with a chip on their shoulders. The Nets have a decent front court with Kris Humphries, Brook Lopez, and Gerald Wallace, all who have a history of season-ending injuries, but if they can stay healthy, they can make it to the postseason.  

College Football Preview

Matt Barkley leads a stacked USC offense hoping to win the BCS championship. 

  

After an off season marred by the Penn State scandal, the college football season is finally back.  The 2011-2012 season ended with the Alabama Crimson Tide beating the LSU Tigers in the BCS National Championship Game and a member of the SEC (Southeastern Conference) winning the championship for the sixth year in a row.

 But, this year there seems to be a clear challenger to the SEC's reign of dominance.  The USC Trojans, led by senior quarterback Matt Barkley, seem poised to bring the trophy to Los Angeles.  Another Pac-12 team, the Oregon Ducks, sporting the most explosive player in the nation, De'Anthony Thomas, are also in the National Championship conversation.  The Oklahoma Sooners could also make same noise as the season goes on.  With many teams on bowl bans, the season has already started off on a little bit of a sour note, but better things are sure to come.  Conference realignment should add to the excitement with teams like Missouri and Texas A&M joining the SEC and TCU joining the Big-12.

Additionally there are many coaching changes including former Florida Head Coach Urban Meyer replacing Jim Tressel at Ohio State, former New England Patriots assistant Bill O'Brien replacing Joe Paterno at Penn State, Mike Stoops being replaced by former West Virginia and Michigan head coach Rich Rodriguez at Arizona, and former Seattle Seahawks coach Jim Mora replacing the much maligned Rick Neuheisel at UCLA.  All the changes plus the amount of quality teams vying for the National Championship will make this College Football season one to remember for a long time.

My Top 25

#1: USC Trojans-  After being on probation for the past two years, the Trojans are finally eligible to play in a bowl game.  The team that finished 10-2 last year returns senior quarterback and Heisman front runner Matt Barkley as well as receivers Robert Woods and Marqise Lee.  Silas Redd, a Penn State transfer, joins Curtis McNeil in the Trojans backfield.  With a very good defense including safety T.J. McDonald and linebacker Dion Bailey, anything less than a National Championship victory for the Trojans will be considered a disappointment.

#2: Alabama Crimson Tide- The National Championship winner lost a lot of players to the NFL Draft this year including starting running back Trent Richardson and linebacker Dont'a Hightower.  What they do return is starting quarterback A.J. McCarron, running back Eddie Lacy who is set for a breakout season, one of the nation's best offensive lines, and linebacker Nico Johnson along with three other defensive starters.  If newcomers on defense help make it one of the best units in the country as many expect they will and Eddie Lacy is able to effectively step up, there is no reason the Tide won't be able to return to the title game this January.

#3: LSU Tigers- The National Championship runner-up had difficulties this off season with star cornerback and punt and kick returner Tyrann Mathieu being kicked off the team.  Although, coach Les Miles does return running backs Alfred Blue and Spencer Ware, wide receiver Russell Shepard, and safety Eric Reid.  If new quarterback Zach Mettenberger manages the offense well and the defense performs like an LSU defense always does, the Tigers will be serious National Championship contenders.

#4: Oregon Ducks- The Ducks lost starting running back LaMichael James and starting quarterback Darron Thomas to the NFL this season.  Luckily for the Ducks, senior running back Kenjon Barner and freshman quarterback Marcus Mariota are quality replacements.  With college's football's most explosive player De'Anthony Thomas, coach Chip Kelly's Ducks season will be decided when they face off with USC in November and most likely again in the Pac-12 championship game.

#5: Oklahoma Sooners-  Led by senior quarterback Landry Jones, the Sooners will be the class of the revamped Big-12 this season.  Although Jones lost his favorite receiver Ryan Broyles, he will still rack up many passing yards.  If the defense is solid, they will be able to contend for the National Championship.

#6: Georgia Bulldogs-  Led by the best quarterback in the SEC, Aaron Murray, the Bulldogs should win the SEC east this season and will face either LSU or Alabama in the SEC championship game.

#7: Florida State Seminoles-  Senior quarterback E.J. Manuel will lead the Seminoles to be the top team in the ACC and to a BCS bowl berth.

#8: South Carolina Gamecocks- Coming off a season ending ACL tear, running back Marcus Lattimore along with quarterback Connor Shaw will lead the Gamecocks as they compete in a loaded SEC.

#9: Arkansas Razorbacks- Senior quarterback Tyler Wilson and running back Knile Davis along with a good defense will be the main reason that the Razorbacks secure a third place finish in a tough SEC west.

#10: West Virginia Mountaineers- Senior wide receiver Tavon Austin and senior quarterback Geno Smith will light up the scoreboard as West Virginia competes with Oklahoma in its first year in the Big-12.

Best of the Rest: 

#11: Wisconsin Badgers

#12: Clemson Tigers

#13: Michigan State Spartans

#14: Michigan Wolverines

#15: Texas Longhorns

#16: Virginia Tech Hokies

#17: Nebraska Cornhuskers

#18: Kansas State Wildcats

#19: Ohio State Buckeyes

#20: TCU Horned Frogs

#21: Stanford Cardinal

#22: Oklahoma State Cowboys

#23: Boise State Broncos

#24: Auburn Tigers

#25: Notre Dame Fighting Irish

The Most Pointless Games in Sports

Michael Vick being knocked down by Patriots lineman Jermaine Cunningham,.Vick needed to leave and was X-rayed. 

Each year there are five unnecessary games played. These games don't count. Most of the teams' prominent players do not even play. It's the players who are fighting for a job who play. They risk getting concussions, torn ACL's and more serious injuries. If you haven't guessed it already, it's the NFL preseason.

Already, after just two weeks, starting Bengals offensive guard Travelle Wharton is already out for the season. How did this happen? Tore his ACL in a Week 1 pre-season game. Austin Collie, Colts Wide Receiver, suffered yet another concussion, and his return status is unknown. Linebacker Chris Chamberlain, who was competing for a starting position on the Saints, tore his ACL just this past weekend. Lastly, and perhaps most notably, Michael Vick has been hit hard multiple times this preseason. The second time, forced him to leave the game against the Patriots, and had to get X-rays. Luckily for the Eagles, they came back negative, but coach Andy Reid is not playing him the rest of preseason.

The last example says it best. Vick got hurt, and they don't want to risk him getting hurt more so they will let him rest until the games actually count. Unfortunately, Travelle Wharton, Austin Collie, and Chris Chamberlain weren't so blessed. They were trying to fight for their jobs but instead got injured, and will have to sit out a year. They will then become a year older, and as a result a year weaker.

There are some coaches who are smart. Like Norv Turner for example. Turner let starting quarterback Phil Rivers, throw just five passes in the teams win over Green Bay. Why? Because it's preseason, and it does not matter! In fact, Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy, allowed Aaron Rodgers to throw just eight passes, for presumably the same reason. It's preseason, and they don't want their players to get injured.

Commissioner Goodell, you talked about expanding the season to 18 games. Most of these players play 21 games already, and that isn't including playoffs. Think about all of the ACL's you could be tearing, and the concussions that you could be causing. You can keep the preseason, just don't make it five games. Make it say, two, or even three. Because this way, at least guys like Tom Brady could play.

One could make the argument that preseason is a waste in all the major sports, but football it is the worst. In baseball, the starters have just one At-bat, and then get replaced by Triple-A players. In basketball, the teams usually play European teams, and don't often get injured.

Football is the sport with the most injuries, so why not minimize the amount of games played? Just leave it till when it really counts, the season. Let the players play their hardest then.

Drugs and America's Pastime

Melky is going to have to get used to sitting on the bench, after his 50 game suspension for PED's. 

With the recent suspension of Giants outfielder Melky Cabrera for PED (performance enhancing drugs) use, many baseball fans have begun to wonder how many other players are currently using these drugs. Every player who is doing well in the season is a suspect.

For example, Cabrera was doing great, phenomenal. He was having the best season of his career. hitting 41 points above his best season. Fans thought it was a great story, "Oh he's finally doing well", he made his first all-star game, and even had 2 hits. Then BOOM. The story gets out that he tested positive for PED's. He gets suspended for 50 games. Then Victor Conte comes out and says that there are lots of players who still use it. This further puts this season in speculation.

But why? Why would players want to use drugs? Why would they want to get suspended? Maybe they thought they could avoid it, like Ryan Braun did. Melky might've thought he could have come up with the "urine excuse" like Braun did. Unfortunately for Melky, he could not, and he is forced to miss the next 50 games, unable to compete for a batting title.

It's obvious to say that drugs are ruining baseball. All of these suspensions, and scandals are killing the game. Melky did not only reach of the love of Giants fans, but fans around the country who wanted to root for the underdog. Now they will look at him with disrespect.

All of this can be attributed back to Barry Bonds. He stole the home-run record away from a man who did it the old fashioned way. And he truly did it the old fashioned way, there were no computers, or advanced metrics, like there are today. Bonds just ruined it. He cheated. It is unfair, but that is baseball nowadays. There is always a way to cheat.

Let us hope and pray, that Mike Trout and Andrew McCutchen, the respective leaders in batting average are not taking PED's.

He Finally Did It

LeBron James has reason to be happy. He silenced his doubters by putting in an MVP performance in Game 5. 

Congrats LeBron. You did it. You finally won an NBA championship. People finally have the evidence that you are the best player in the NBA right now. Along with your teammates Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, and Shane Battier, you lead your team to victory 121-106 in American Airlines Arena last night. LeBron, you put in a great showing. You scored 26 points, had 13 rebounds, and 11 assists, to complete a triple-double.

If anyone deserved a championship it was you. Why? LeBron has been ridiculed ever since he has left Cleveland. He has been chosen as one of the most hated athletes in America in a Forbes poll.  Even though at times he can be arrogant, (see the proclamation of multiple championships when introduced as a member of the Heat), he has still has played solid basketball. He has been made fun of in numerous jokes, from not winning a championship, to not being able to close out games. Everyone just wants to hate LeBron James.

As a result of LeBron's championship win, a serious debate can now be opened. Who was better, LeBron or MJ? People ignored this debate before, but did not realize that LeBron had more MVP's and more championship appearances. So, Congrats LeBron. You earned it, now let's see if you can do it again next year.

NBA Finals Preview

The Durantula has finally reached his first finals. 

Will King James choke again? 

It's the final that the NBA has wanted all along. LeBron James and the Miami Heat getting his revenge, against a young and raw Thunder squad. Will Lebron D-Wade, and a supposedly healthy Chris Bosh win their first title together? Or will the Durantula and Westbrook start a new era? No matter the result, this finals will be one for the ages.

Team Comparisons:

Point Guard: Russell Westbrook (OKC) vs. Mario Chalmers (MIA)
Chalmers is one of those basketball players, who pretty much is in the NBA because of one shot in college. Other examples include Eric Maynor. Chalmers is a solid player, but he doesn't compare at all to Westbrook. Westbrook is the Dwayne Wade to Kevin Durant's LeBron. Chalmers is decent, but Westbrook will outplay him in this series.
Edge: Thunder


Shooting Guard: Thabo Sefolosha (OKC) vs. Dwayne Wade (MIA) 
Another unfair matchup, however this is one is towards the Heat. Wade may be the best shooting guard, with the exception of Kobe Bryant. He has playoff experience, while Thabo and Harden have just this past few seasons. Wade is a complete player, while you would have to add Thabo and Harden together to have a complete player. Sorry OKC, but Miami gets this one.
Edge: Heat


Small Forward: Kevin Durant (OKC) vs. LeBron James (MIA). 
The matchup of the series, maybe even the playoffs. Arguably the two best players in basketball today. The scoring champion against the MVP. If LeBron wins this title, basketball purists will finally respect him. If he doesn't, the general public will not accept him as a premier player. If Durant wins, he may even surpass LeBron as the better player. For now, LeBron is able to squeeze past Durant, but this could change in a couple years.
Edge: Heat 


Power Forward: Serge Ibaka (OKC) vs. Chris Bosh (MIA) 
This matchup, which had Chris Bosh been healthier would have gone towards Miami but now is pretty close. Ibaka is a very solid player who keeps on improving year after year. Bosh, the weakest member of "The Big Three", this season has struggled this season. When he's healthy, he can be great player. We will see what happens, but these two big men will fight it out this series.
Edge: Even 


Center: Kendrick Perkins (OKC) vs. Ronny Turiaf (MIA) 
Kendrick Perkins was a huge, (both literally and figuratively) signing for the Thunder. He has been a great post presence for them, and has allowed them to compete with teams such as the Lakers and the Spurs. Ronny Turiaf has somehow survived in the NBA for seven years without contributing much other than a couple boards and a few lay-ups per game. Kendrick Perkins has been to the championship twice. Perkins easily gets the edge.
Edge: Thunder 


Bench: 
Oklahoma City's bench is anchored by sixth man of the year James Harden. Harden has been a monster off the bench, and with the midseason addition of Derek Fisher, their bench became even stronger. The Heat's bench is not as strong. Mike Miller, Shane Battier, and Udonis Haslem are solid, but it will be very hard to outperform the sixth man of the year and his squad.
Edge: Thunder 


The Pick: 
Both of these teams are very evenly match. . Some people may think LeBron may choke, and he might. But his missed shots might not matter. Durant, Westbrook and Harden could fast break past the heat. Or LeBron and D-Wade could work their magic. In addition,  Chris Bosh must perform, as well as Miami's bench. If they can't perform, the Heat will easily lose. It will be a close series, but the Thunder want it more. And this won't be their only one.
Thunder over Heat in 7 

UEFA 2012 Preview

The leading Premier League scorer will try score some goals in the Group of death. 

Xavi and his Barca and Madrid all-star team will try to win this tournament again. 

It is here. The tournament that features all of the top European players in the world. Well most of them anyway. Frank Lampard of England, David Villa of Spain, and Yoann Gourcuff of France will be absent because of various injuries.

Though Lampard, Villa, and Gourcuff will not be there. Many will be. Including newly named English captain Steven Gerrard, Premier League top goal scorer Robin Van Persie, and the Real Madrid and Barcelona all-star team. Some call this team Spain.

Can Spain pull a Euro-World Cup-Euro trifecta? Or will the Netherlands led by Van Persie and Robben win the tournament? Or, will there be an upset similar to the one in 2004 when the Greeks won?

Group Previews: Teams listed in order of predicted finish

Group A: 
Russia- The Russians are the best team in a weak group. Led by Arsenal striker Andrey Arshavin and Yuriy Zhirkov, the Russians should cruise to the next round.
Czech Republic- Usually the teams with the best players in the best leagues end up winning. With Tomas Rosicky, on Arsenal, and all-star keeper Petr Cech with Chelsea, the Czechs only major problem will be the game against Russia.
Greece- These guys made a surprise run in '04, but didn't do well in '08, and didn't qualify for the World Cup in 2010. Don't expect them to advance.
Poland- Poland is hosting which got them automatically in the tournament. That will probably be all they get.

Group B: 
Netherlands- In the so called "Group of Death", the Dutch lead the pack with a fantastic roster. Netherlands should reach at least the Semis and maybe even the final.
Germany- The Germans reached the final of Euro '08 before losing to eventual champion Spain. Led by a selection of players from Bayern Munich, which lost to Chelsea in the Champs League final, these German players are fighting for a championship.
Portugal- Group A is filled with mediocre, even bad teams, while Group B is filled with All-Star teams. Because only 2 can advance Portugal is the odd man out. Unless Christiano Ronaldo can play like the Christiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid.
Denmark- They have a couple decent Premier League players, but it will be extremely difficult for them to advance to the Knockout stage.

Group C: 
Spain: When about half your players are from two of the best teams in the world, how can you not advance?
Italy- They are not as good as they were in '06, but Gigi Buffon is still a great keeper. If they will be able to beat Croatia, they are pretty much a lock to advance.
Croatia- Luka Modric is a very,very good player. Unfortunately, he doesn't have much help, and Croatia will be stuck in third.
Ireland- Robbie Keane last played in the Premier league with Tottenham from 2009-2011. He has since struggled to be in-form with the Galaxy. He leads an aging core that will struggle to get a point, much less a win.

Group D:
France: Though they have struggled at tournaments since the '06 World Cup Final, "Les Bleus" have an unbeaten streak of 18. If Karim Benzema and Franck Ribery play well, a team that plays "Champagne Football", could reach the semis, or even the finals.
England: Joe Hart led the Premier league in clean sheets. If he can keep England in the game against France, they should be able to advance. Hopefully when Rooney comes back, the British will have already qualified for the next round.
Sweden: Led by Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Sweden will try to advance to the Knockout Round. It will be a bit difficult, but if they can beat the Rooney-less Brits, they could sneak into the next round. '
Ukraine- How many players named Andriy does it take to get to the Knockout stage? More than four apparently.

Quarterfinals:                                                                                                          Quarterfinals: 
Russia vs. Germany                                                                                           Netherlands vs. Czech
Germany                                                                                                              Netherlands 


Spain vs. England                                                                                              France vs. Italy
Spain                                                                                                                   France

Semifinals 

Germany vs. Spain                         

Spain 

France vs. Netherlands 

Netherlands 

Finals: 

Spain vs. Netherlands 

Spain 

Spurs vs. Thunder Preview

Having just swept the Clippers, Tony Parker and the Spurs will take on the number two seed Thunder. 

After beating the Lakers, the Durantula and  Co. will take on the Spurs. 

The Western Conference Finals will be a battle of the new generation of the NBA vs the old guard. The #1 seed vs. the #2 seed. Kevin Durant vs. Tim Duncan. Oklahoma City vs. San Antonio. Thunder vs. Spurs.

The Spurs come into this series having won 8 straight games in the playoffs. First blowing out Utah, and then decimating the Clippers. Counting the regular season, the Spurs have won an astounding 18 games in a row. The Spurs have been led by its two stars, Tony Parker and Duncan. Parker has been putting up 19 points per game, and 7 assists, and Duncan has been contributing a team high 9 rebounds per game.

OKC has come in hot as well. Beating the Lakers 4-1, in a series which could have gone either way, as the Lakers lost leads in multiple games. As usual, the Durantula has been dominating the competition for the Thunder. He has been scoring 26 points, and getting 8 boards per game. As usual, James Harden has been contributing off the bench, scoring 17 points in 30 minutes.

Team Comparisons: 


Point Guard: Russell Westbrook (OKC) vs. Tony Parker (SA)
Both of these players are superb. On one hand there is Westbrook, the Batman to Durant's Robin, and on the other, there is Parker. Parker, once a supporting cast member to Tim Duncan, has now officially had the torch passed to him. He led the Spurs in points and assists, and finished third in player efficiency rating on his team.He also had the best assist to turnover ratio in his career. There is also the young Westbrook. Westbrook has, willingly or not, been second fiddle to Durant. He has of course contributed, but let's be real, Parker is the star, and Westbrook is the co-star. It should be fun to see these two go at it come Sunday.
Edge: San Antonio


Shooting Guard: Thabo Sefelosha (OKC) vs. Daniel Green (SA) 
Well this is a rather interesting battle. Despite starting each game, both of these players play less than their better known sixth men; James Harden for the Thunder, and Manu Ginobili for the Spurs. Green averaged 8 points during the season, while Thabo averaged just 4. Green got a little bit more playing time, 23 minutes compared to Thabo's 21, and did more with his time. These two are just really on the court in order for their more famous backups to play, but Green gets the edge, as Thabo has been struggling this playoffs.
Edge: San Antonio 


Small Forward: Kevin Durant (OKC) vs. Kawhi Leonard (SA) 
Sorry Kawhi, but Durant just won his third straight scoring title. This playoffs, he has constantly helped his team when they desperately need him. And what you have done? You've been a good starter for the Spurs and could be a vital part of the next Spurs Dynasty. But for now, it's Durant's time to shine.
Edge: Oklahoma City 


Power Forward: Serge Ibaka (OKC) vs. Tim Duncan (SA)
Ibaka is one of the best young players in the game. He can score, block shots, get boards, anything you need. Oh, and he's also 6 foot 10 and 235 pounds. In the other corner, is one of the most underrated players in the NBA. Tim Duncan, for years he has averaged a double. Until these past two years. Where he failed to reach double digit rebounds. Does that make him worse than Ibaka? No, it does not. Duncan has played and started in 184 playoff games. Ibaka has played in just 32. Duncan has experience, Ibaka doesn't. That's all you need to know.
Edge: San Antonio 


Center: Kendrick Perkins (OKC) vs. Boris Diaw (SA) 
Perkins has the experience, and was a great addition for the Thunder. Diaw is a little small, but is still a solid player. Neither of them score, but Perkins gets some boards. Neither will really be a large factor in the outcome of the games, but Perkins has won a championship, so I'll give this battle to him.
Edge: Oklahoma City 


Bench: 
Both the Thunder and the Spurs have great benches. The most intriguing battle of all on the bench, will be James Harden against Manu Ginobili. Both of these guys can score, and shoot lots of jumpers. The Thunder added Derek Fisher this season to help bolster their point guard position. Besides Ginobili, the Spurs have Tiago Splitter, Gary Neal, and Stephen Jackson. Because the Spurs have more depth in their bench, they should score more, but Harden can give Manu a run for his money.
Edge: San Antonio 


The Pick: 
Both of these teams, are really, really good. The Spurs have lots of experience in playoff games, and while the Thunder does as well, their two core players, Durant and Westbrook have never been to the finals. Parker and Duncan meanwhile, have won three championships together. This series will be really close, but the Spurs have experience in the championship, and no what it takes to win, and that should carry them over the Thunder.
Spurs over Thunder in 7

The Tale of Two Sluggers

While Pujols is struggling in Anaheim....

Kemp is thriving in Los Angeles

Los Angeles. In the so-called city of Angels, there is a certain Dodger who is standing out with 12 home runs in the month of April. 

Anaheim. The Angels spent 240 million dollars, and committed 10 years for a guy who is hitting 202, and without any home runs. 

Two sluggers, two completely different stories. There are also two completely different teams. The Dodgers are in first place in the NL West, while the Angels are already 7.5 games behind Texas. Oh, and they are in last place. So much for 240 million? 

Matt Kemp is a star. The Albert Pujols signing is looking like a bust. Many Fantasy owners and even Angels fans are starting to question the amount of money, as well as the length of the contract. Meanwhile. Dodgers fans are rejoicing, and many Matt Kemp fantasy owners are in first place in their leagues. 

Numerous Angels fan are saying “Oh its early, he’ll turnaround”. Well guess what. It’s May 4, and Albert still hasn’t homered, and has under 10 RBI’s. Then you get the people who are skeptical of Kemp’s fast start. He has faced the Pirates, and Padres among others. But, he’s also faced the Nationals, and hit a walkoff home run against them last Saturday. 

It still may be early, but Matt Kemp and Albert Pujols are true symbols of their team. Kemp and the Dodgers, a fast starting, and lots of run scoring. Pujols and the Angels, not scoring much, and in last place. But then again, Jered Weaver pitched a no-hitter on Wednesday.