Vanderbilt Drops the Ball

The team that seemingly finds ways to lose was at it again yesterday.

Vanderbilt had #10 Arkansas on the ropes at home yesterday but dropped the ball, both literally and figuratively.  They allowed the chance to give James Franklin the signature win of his first season at the helm slip away in frustrating fashion.

A 62 yard run by Zak Stacy and a pair of Razorback field goals in the third quarter put the Commodores up 28-20 with the ball at the start of the fourth quarter.  On the opening play of the quarter Jordan Rodgers found Stacy for a 44 yard gain on a screen pass to convert a third and seven.  That put Vanderbilt at the Arkansas 16 yard line.  Rodgers gained 11 yards on the next play to set up first and goal from the 5 yard line.  All of the momentum was with Franklin's squad and they rode the hot hand, giving Stacy the ball on first down for a gain to the 3.  They went back to him on second and goal.

And then the game changed.

Stacy mishandled the handoff and fumbled at the Arkansas 6 yard line where it was picked up and returned 94 yards by Jerry Franklin.  After the 2 point conversion made the score 28-28 all the air had been sucked out of Vanderbilt Stadium.

Total disaster was avoided after another fumble when Arkansas fumbled it back in the end zone, but the Commodores went three and out.  Arkansas eventually got a Zach Hocker 42 yard field goal to take a 31-28 lead.  Vanderbilt took over possession after a punt with just over three minutes to play needing a field goal of their own to force overtime.  They drove to the Razorback 10 yard line on a drive highlighted by Rodgers completions of 48 and 14 yards to Jordan Matthews.  That set up a 27 yard field goal that missed wide right, to the surprise of very few unfortunately.

Vanderbilt now need to find a way to bounce back emotionally.  Yesterday was a setback for sure but their pre-season goals can still be met.  Vanderbilt needs to focus on the fact that they had the tenth ranked team in the country on the ropes and that they were in control of the game.  Yesterday should show them that they can line up in play with any of the teams remaining on their schedule.

They find themselves at 4-4 heading into November.  They need 2 wins to reach bowl eligibility, which would be a huge success for James Franklin in his first year.  They should beat Kentucky, which means they would need to win at least 1 of the 3 other remaining games (at Florida, at Tennessee, and at Wake Forest).  All three of those games will probably see the opponent favored but should be considered toss-ups for the 'Dores.

Franklin promised that things were going to change at Vanderbilt under his watch.  The first opportunity to prove that was squandered yesterday, but a 2-2 month in November would be the ultimate sign that things are different in Nashville.

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Why Hello There Baseball

Football Friday, Volume 9

I was planning what to do for Football Friday last night when the World Series decided to stage one of the craziest finishes to a game that I can remember.  So today Football Friday is going to be taken over by baseball.

Trust me this comes as a big surprise to me especially.

Prior to last night I had not watched one minute of the World Series.  I had last tuned in to the final two innings of the Yankees' game 5 loss to Detroit in the ALDS.  I only flipped the game on last night because I saw it was going to the ninth inning and figured I would at least watch Texas celebrate winning the series, since they were up two runs.

After I turned it on I ended up leaving the room for about ten minutes and when I came back in I saw that St. Louis had runners on first and second with two outs.

Now I know the game itself had been pretty crazy from the start (Gus Ramsey tweeted the following around the sixth inning: "30 years from now the scorecard from this game will need to be sent to people who decipher hieroglyphs to understand what happened") but what proceeded in the final two and a half innings was a roller coaster of emotions for each team's fan base.

In no particular order here is a recap of what went down:

- On two separate occasions the Rangers had the Cardinals down to their final strike.  In the ninth inning David Freese (more on him later) tripled to right field to tie the game at 7, and in the tenth Lance Berkman singled to center to tie the game at 9.  Now the Rangers don't have the tortured past that some other franchises do, but coming off a loss in the Series last year and blowing two opportunities to win last night will probably cause a fair amount of pessimism in the greater Dallas area tonight.

(We will now enter the Ron Washington portion of craziness, and none of it involves cocaine)

- There were a few things that can be questioned last night but the greatest mistake made by the Rangers, and namely Washington, was the decision to have the outfield play deep in the tenth inning.  They went into a "no doubles" defense, but the problem was the tying run was on second base and the Cardinals only needed a single out of the infield to tie the game.  Berkman ended up singling to center and Texas had no opportunity to make a play at the plate because the outfield was so deep.

- The decision to pinch hit for pitcher was shaky as well.  Feldman had been pitching well for Texas in the postseason overall and outside of the base hit to Berkman had looked solid last night.  He seemed their best option on the mound, but instead they had to go to Mark Lowe in the eleventh and the rest is history.

- Nelson Cruz will look back on this game a lot if the Rangers end up losing tonight.  He had seemingly put the Rangers in control when he followed an Adrian Beltre homer with one of his own (his 8th of the postseason, tying the record for one postseason).  In the ninth inning though he allowed Freese's triple to get over his head despite playing deep to prevent an extra base hit.  Sports can be cruel because of how quickly one player can go from hero to goat.

- Josh Hamilton's night (3-6, 3 RBI and what could have been the game winning 2 run homer in the tenth) was overshadowed, and rightfully so, by the Cardinals' heroics.  He is the one I will feel the worst for if St. Louis ends up winning.  He has gone through a lot and it would have been a great story for him to have hit the home run that propelled the Rangers to a championship.

- David Freese became a legend in St. Louis last night.  The hometown boy not only kept the Cardinals alive in the ninth with his two run triple to right, but he topped it off with the game winning home run to center field in the eleventh to force game 7.  Not only was it a great story because of him being a local product, but it was also redemption for him after he dropped an easy pop fly earlier in the night.  If the Cardinals win tonight his name will never be forgotten in that city.

- Finally I could not get over the fact that only four people initially went to grab the Freese home run ball when it landed in center.  It was funny to see the guy dive and get it and then get hugged afterwards.  I am pretty sure in most other cities there would have been more of a fight for that ball.  And of course nothing more will be made of the ball because Derek Jeter didn't hit it so the media can't obsess over it.

So no matter how tonight plays out Game 6 will go down as an all-time classic in World Series history.  The series as a whole has also been very exciting and memorable.  At least that's what I've been told...

On to the (football) picks!

(Home teams in CAPS)
NCAA
Brigham Young (+14) over TEXAS CHRISTIAN
Michigan State (+4) over NEBRASKA
MICHIGAN (-14) over Purdue
MARYLAND (-7.5) over Boston College
PENN STATE (-5) over Illinois
Navy (+21.5) over NOTRE DAME
Georgia (-3) over Florida (in Jacksonville)
KANSAS STATE (+14) over Oklahoma
TENNESSEE (+4) over South Carolina
Stanford (-8.5) over SOUTHERN CAL

Last Week: 5-5
Season: 39-37-4

NFL
TITANS (-8.5) over Colts
TEXANS (-10) over Jaguars
Vikings (+3.5) over PANTHERS
Saints (-14) over RAMS
RAVENS (-13) over Cardinals
GIANTS (-10) over Dolphins
BILLS (-6) over Redskins
BRONCOS (+3) over Lions
Patriots (-3) over STEELERS
NINERS (-8.5) over Browns
SEAHAWKS (+3) over Bengals
Cowboys (+3.5) over EAGLES
Chargers (-4) over CHIEFS

Last Week: 6-6-1
Season: 54-42-7

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Football Friday Light

To the few of you who read this and enjoy it each week I will apologize in advance.  Work is cutting into the blogging a little bit.  After a slow start to the year I am substitute teaching for the fourth straight day today.  On top of that I have been very busy with coaching work because we have one of our two biggest games of the year tomorrow night.

So I will go through my picks today for both college and the NFL and include some quick thoughts for each.  I am hoping to be able to post some reaction entries either Sunday or Monday for some of the action, but no promises.

On to the picks...

Predictions (Home teams in CAPS)


NCAA
Illinois (-4) over PURDUE
Purdue has lost to Rice, beaten Middle Tennessee by 3, and in their two games against above average competition (Notre Dame and Penn State) they have only averaged 14 PPG.  Look for Illinois to bounce back from their first loss of the season to Ohio State last week.

CLEMSON (-11) over North Carolina
Clemson looks to keep their unbeaten season going at home against the Tar Heels.  North Carolina comes in at 5-2, but their two losses are by a combined total of 13 points so they could give Clemson some trouble.  I expect the Tigers to pull away in the fourth quarter behind Boyd and Co.

Arkansas (-16) over OLE MISS
Poor Ole Miss fans, they will probably see Houston Nutt fired by season's end and they have to witness back to back blowouts at home at the hands of Alabama and Arkansas.

Boston College (+21) over VIRGINIA TECH
BC's offense is horrible but if they can sustain some drives the Eagles could keep this game close.  Their defense is pretty good but they have to play 40 minutes every week.  I also don't think Virginia Tech's offense is all that good.  BC, coming off of a bye, stays within arm's reach and covers.

Georgia Tech (+3) over MIAMI
Tech is coming off of their first loss of the season while Miami is looking to build off last week's win over North Carolina.  The Canes offense has been putting up some points, but I think Tech will give their defense problems with their option attack and keep the offense off the field. 

BOISE STATE (-30) over Air Force
Kellen Moore and the Broncos should roll here,  but still need a lot of help to enter the BCS Championship picture.

LSU (-23.5) over Auburn
The suspensions of Tyrann Mathieu and Spencer Ware hurt for sure, but the Tigers should still roll in their final tuneup before their trip to Tuscaloosa on November 5.  Auburn is terrible offensively and LSU still has a lot of playmakers on the field to make up for the lost production. 

VANDERBILT (-11.5) over Army
This should be win # 4 on the year for James Franklin's Commodores.  They are scuffling right now, having lost three straight to South Carolina, Alabama, and Georgia, but a bowl could still be in reach with a 2-2 November.

ALABAMA (30.5) over Tennessee
A trip to Tuscaloosa is bad enough but the Vols are also without quarterback Tyler Bray and top receiver Justin Hunter.  The Tide should roll in their final test before LSU in 2 weeks.  

NOTRE DAME (-9) over Southern Cal
I believe every time this season I have picked Notre Dame to cover they have failed to do so but I am going to stick to my guns on this one.  For the first time in a decade the Irish enter this matchup with more firepower than the Trojans.  I think Michael Floyd, Cierre Wood, and the rest of the Notre Dame offense will be too much for USC to handle in this primetime game in South Bend.

Last Week: 4-6
Season: 34-32-4

NFL

Bears (-1) over BUCS
Two teams that have displayed some Jekyll and Hyde tendencies this season.  My gut tells me that Chicago is the better team and I think they will take advantage of a Bucs team coming off of an emotional win over New Orleans last week.

PANTHERS (-3) over Redskins
Another game that I am not totally comfortable picking.  Carolina had been the kings of the backdoor cover before last week's meltdown against Atlanta that featured Cam Newton throwing a screen directly into the stomach of a waiting defensive lineman.  I am sticking with Carolina at home, behind a big game from Cam.

Chargers (-2.5) over JETS
The Jets are coming off of a short week and are terrible offensively.  They only scored 24 points against a Dolphins team that can't stop anyone, and that included a return TD by Revis.  The Chargers are the better team.

Seahawks (+3) over Browns
The Mediocrity Bowl! 

TITANS (-3) over Texans
A battle for first place in the suddenly dismal AFC South.  A Tennessee win puts them in the driver's seat for the division title.  Houston will be without Andre Johnson again and have already lost Mario Williams for the season.  I smell a big Chris Johnson game here.

Denver (+1.5) over DOLPHINS
Tebow getting his first start of the year on the day that the Dolphins decided to honor Florida's 2008 National Championship team???  It sounds like the rapture has arrived in Denver.

LIONS (-3.5) over Falcons
It will be interesting to see how Detroit reacts to its first loss of the season as well as all the distractions following the post game incident between Jim Schwartz and Jim Harbaugh.  I like them here at home.

RAIDERS (-4) over Chiefs
Backing Carson Palmer in his return to the NFL will probably be something I live to regret.  Expect a lot of McFadden and a lot of Richard Seymour on top of Matt Cassel.

Steelers (-4) over CARDINALS
Pittsburgh should roll here leading to everyone overrating them and picking them to win against the Pats next Sunday.  Wonder how that will work out.

COWBOYS (-13) over Rams
Dallas will bounce back after their last minute loss to New England last week that shockingly didn't include a Tony Romo meltdown.  The Rams are bad and to make things worse their goal of 6 wins to take the NFC West is going down the drain as the Niners continue to surprise.

Packers (-9.5) over VIKINGS
Poor Adrian Peterson probably can't figure out if rookie Christian Ponder is an upgrade or downgrade from Donovan McNabb. 

SAINTS (-14) over Colts
They can't make this line high enough.

Ravens (-8.5) over JAGUARS
It's been stated already, but whoever was in charge of selecting the Monday Night lineup for ESPN this season should be fired.

Last Week: 6-5-2
Season: 48-36-6

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Are You Serious Bro?

People question and criticize World Wrestling Entertainment on a lot of things, sometimes rightfully so.  I try not to get into that too much because we do not always know the reasons behind why things are done, but I can't remain silent on this issue.

The WWE has a rising star on it's roster and he is not being utilized near enough.

Crowds pop huge for him.

He has become a social media icon.

News recently broke that he has cracked the top ten in WWE in terms of merchandise sold.

That man is Long Island Iced Z, Zack Ryder!

This is a man who is passionate about the business and has put in a lot of work to create a following.  He has his own YouTube show.  He is active on both Facebook and Twitter.  He has created a Ryder Revolution.

Ryder originally came into the WWE as part of a tag team with Curt Hawkins.  They originally competed under the name "The Major Brothers" but later were repackaged as Hawkins and Ryder when they were aligned with the World Heavyweight Champion at the time, Edge.  This was their biggest exposure at the time, but it did not translate to a push.  In 2009 Ryder was split up from Hawkins and soon thereafter debuted the Long Island Iced Z persona that we know today.

Through his own efforts he has risen up the ranks in WWE.  Today fans can purchase Zack Ryder t-shirts, headbands, and sunglasses.  There are numerous signs at events for him, many of which use his signature catchphrase "Woo Woo Woo... You Know It!" (WWWYKI).  Fans compete to be his "Broski of the Week" on his YouTube show.

It is clear that the fans want to see more of Zack Ryder.  He has been making more appearances on the flagship show of the company, Raw.  He was recently featured with Hugh Jackman on Raw.  Two weeks in a row he defeated the United States Champion Dolph Ziggler, but inexplicably he has not been used in the two weeks since.

Hopefully that changes soon.  Ryder has worked hard to move up the ladder in WWE.  He seems to eat, sleep, and breathe the business and would be a good torch bearer for the company. Both John Cena and The Miz were similar and worked extremely hard to get to the top of the business.  Ryder seems to have the same level of passion and commitment, and hopefully he gets the same opportunities.

The fans have made it known, both through their cheers and their spending habits, that they want more of Zack Ryder.  He has shown a willingness to work hard and connect with the fans.  We will have to tune into Raw this week to see if it is enough.

For now...

Like him on Facebook.

Follow him on Twitter.

Buy the Broski T-shirt, headband, and sunglasses.

And take care... spike your hair.

WWWYKI!

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Buying or Selling College Football's Undefeated

Football Friday, Volume 7

As we near the halfway point of October, college football's second month, there are still 13 undefeated teams heading out to practice today.  This number will reduce as the season continues because some of these teams will play one another.

The fact remains though that the BCS claims that it was created to separate the top 2 teams in the country from everyone else and put them into the National Championship game.  What will happen if there are a handful of undefeated teams, or even six or seven (the BCS Armageddon as Clay Travis predicts).

The possibility definitely exists and I will go through each of the remaining undefeated teams and "buy or sell" on there chance of finishing the season that way.

Houston Cougars (6-0, 2-0 Conference USA)

I am buying Houston's chances to finish the season undefeated but selling on their chance to cause any BCS chaos.  They are putting up impressive offensive numbers (47 PPG) behind quarterback Case Keenum.  The problem though is their schedule.  Their most "impressive" win to date is a 38-34 opening weekend victory over UCLA.  They only defeated Louisiana Tech (2-4 in the WAC) by 1 point and UTEP (2-3, 6th in the C-USA West) by 7.  Their remaining opponents are Marshall, Rice, UAB, Tulane, SMU, and Tulsa.  I don't see them being a BCS buster with that schedule.

Kansas State Wildcats (5-0, 2-0 Big 12)

Kansas State, under coach Bill Snyder, is one of the surprise undefeated teams in 2011.  They own victories over Miami and Baylor but unfortunately I will be selling on their chances to keep the ball rolling.  The schedule turns brutal for them over the next 6 weeks.  They head to Lubbock this week to take on a Texas Tech squad that hasn't scored fewer than 35 points in a game this season.  After a road game at Kansas, the Wildcats get to embark on this fun stretch: vs Oklahoma, at Oklahoma State, vs Texas A&M, and at Texas.  Two of those teams (OU and OSU) are undefeated and all four are ranked.  It was fun while it lasted Kansas State.

Illinois Fighting Illini (6-0, 2-0 Big 10)

Holy Zook look at the Illini!  Coach Ron Zook and his team are the biggest surprise in the Big Ten this year.  They control their own destiny in the Leaders division but I am going to have to sell on their chance to run the table this year.  The fortunate thing for them is that their toughest remaining games all will be played in Champaign.  They host Ohio State this week (a winnable game) before heading out on the road to play Purdue and Penn State.  After that they have huge back to back home games against fellow undefeateds Michigan and Wisconsin.  I can't see them surviving that stretch unscathed.

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (6-0, 3-0 ACC)

Paul Johnson and company are the exception to college football's rule.  In an age where seemingly every offense has gone to the wide open spread attack, Georgia Tech continues to run their triple option attack.  It is tough to argue with their success though.  The Yellow Jackets rank fourth nationally in rushing yards, averaging 360.5 yards per game.  October 29 looms as their biggest challenge of the season: a home game against ACC foe, and fellow undefeated squad, Clemson.  Twelve days later they host Virginia Tech on a Thursday night.  A second showdown with Clemson is likely in the ACC Championship Game.  I am going to sell on their chances.  Their defense hadn't given up fewer than 21 points until last week when they held Maryland to 16.  I can't see them keeping up with Clemson, especially twice.

Michigan Wolverines (6-0, 2-0 Big Ten)

The Wolverines have gotten off to a fast start in coach Brady Hoke's first season.  Denard Robinson has been playing at an extremely high level on offense, while the defense is currently eighth in the country, allowing 12.5 points per game.  Despite all of this I will have to sell on the Wolverines.  They have tough road games against ranked opponents Michigan State and Illinois and still have to host Nebraska.  They should be favored to defeat Ohio State at home this year, but they also have a potential showdown with Wisconsin in the inaugural Big Ten Championship Game.  In most years I would probably take a chance on Michigan running the table, but Wisconsin looks to be too tough this season.

Clemson Tigers (6-0, 3-0 ACC)

Dabo Swiney's Tigers have emerged as a surprise contender in the ACC, and appear to be the league's best shot at an undefeated season.  Offensive Coordinator Chad Morris has the offense, led by quarterback Tajh Boyd, averaging over 470 yards per game as well as 35 points.  They will have to continue to play at a high level as the schedule still includes home dates with North Carolina and Wake Forest, as well as a road game in Atlanta against Georgia Tech.  I am going to buy Clemson though.  They already have wins against Auburn, Florida State, and Virginia Tech, and I think that their big game experience early in the season will serve them well down the stretch.

Stanford Cardinal (5-0, 3-0 Pac 12)

New Stanford head coach David Shaw has picked up where Jim Harbaugh left off, thanks in large part to quarterback Andrew Luck.  The likely top pick of the 2012 NFL Draft has thrown for almost 1,400 yards so far this season with a TD/INT ratio of 14-2.  The toughest game remaining on the schedule is a matchupNotre Dame and their explosive offense.  The most difficult remaining road game is a date with USC on October 29, but the Trojans have been very inconsistent this season.  I am going to buy Luck and company's chances of running the table, especially since they play the Ducks in Palo Alto.

Oklahoma State Cowboys (5-0, 2-0 Big 12)

Senior quarterback Brandon Weeden is leading a passing attack that ranks 2nd nationally with 431.2 yards per game.  The success of the passing game has also helped the Cowboys to become the highest scoring team in the country to date (51.4 PPG).  They still have four remaining games against ranked opponents, beginning with a road game against Texas this weekend.  Mike Gundy's squad already owns one victory over a top ten team (a 30-29 victory over Texas A&M) and hopes that experience pays off down the road.  Even though there is no official Big 12 Championship Game, December 3 could still see a default title game when the Cowboys head to Norman for a date with Oklahoma.  That game could be a shootout of epic proportions with a pair of high powered offenses squaring off.  I see that game being a toss up, so I am going to buy on Oklahoma State because I don't see any of their other opponents being able to score with them.

Boise State Broncos (5-0, 0-0 Mountain West)

Chris Peterson's Broncos once again find themselves with an opportunity to crash the BCS party.  They opened the season with a marquee matchup against Georgia in Atlanta.  They cruised to a 35-21 victory and made another statement that they can compete with the big boys.  The rest of the schedule looks to be smooth sailing.  They have already avenged last season's loss to Nevada, and their toughest remaining game is a home game against a TCU team that hasn't played to the level that most expected them to before the season.  I am definitely buying Boise State's odds to run the table, but the number of undefeateds definitely hurts their chances of cracking the National Championship game.  They should definitely be in the discussion, but they are going to need a lot of help to make a trip to New Orleans a reality.

Wisconsin Badgers (5-0, 1-0 Big Ten)

The Badgers appear to be the team to beat in the Big Ten behind transfer quarterback Russell Wilson.  They are coming off of a bye week but in their last outing they dispatched conference newcomer Nebraska 48-17 in Madison.  They are currently third in the nation in scoring, averaging 48.4 points per game.  The only disadvantage for Bret Bielema's team is that their toughest remaining games (Michigan State and Illinois) will be played on the road.  They could also see Michigan (potentially undefeated) or Nebraska (again) in the inaugural Big Ten Championship Game.  Despite all of this I will buy on Wisconsin navigating the remainder of their schedule.  The offense has been nearly unstoppable behind Wilson and Montee Ball, and as long as the defense is competitive, most teams should struggle to match the Badgers' firepower.

Oklahoma Sooners (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) 

The preseason number one team in the country has slid under the radar to a degree.  They took care of business in Tallahassee back in September, and made a big statement last weekend in the Red River Rivalry, blowing out Texas 55-17.  They have a prime time date with Texas Tech next weekend and still have to play ranked opponents Kansas State, Texas A&M, and Baylor before their showdown with Oklahoma State.  I am going to buy them finishing undefeated.  Other than Oklahoma State their other remaining ranked opponents don't appear to be on the same level as the Sooners.  Landry Jones and company should continue to score points in bunches (45 PPG), which takes pressure off of their defense as they play some high scoring opponents, though the defense has played well up to this point (15.6 points allowed).

Alabama Crimson Tide (6-0, 3-0 SEC) and LSU Tigers (6-0, 3-0 SEC) 

The two best teams in the nation have to be mentioned in the same breath especially since everyone will be doing the same until their monumental showdown in Tuscaloosa on November 5.  Both teams have two tune-up games remaining before that date.  Alabama visits Ole Miss and hosts Tennessee before a bye, while LSU visits Neyland this weekend for their game with Tennessee then hosts Auburn before a bye of their own.  Both teams will get extra rest which is good because it means we should see both teams at their peak.  Expect a low scoring game when they meet as Alabama allows the fewest points per game in the nation while LSU is 8th in that category.  A.J. McCarron and Jarrett Lee have emerged as strong leaders on offense for each team, and it will be interesting to see if LSU creates any packages for Jordan Jefferson during the bye.  I am buying on both of these teams right now because it is too early to predict a winner between the two.  Just like OU-OSU I see this game being a tight matchup.  (P.S. I am interested to see how everyone feels about this matchup, so please vote on the poll at the top right of the page!)

So there you have it.  Thirteen teams still sitting undefeated as we hit the midway point in October.  Maybe chaos will reign this season or maybe everything will work itself out and leave us with two undefeated teams in New Orleans this January.  Either way it is shaping up to be a fun ride with a number of huge games still to come!

On to the picks... 

Predictions (Home teams in CAPS)

Fortunately I did not jinx myself last week by patting myself in the back so the only logical thing to do is risk jinxing myself again!  I had another strong week, especially in the NFL where I went 9-3-1.  Let's hope I can keep the ball rolling this week!

NCAA
PENN STATE (-12) over Purdue
Baylor (+8.5) over TEXAS A&M
Michigan (+2) over MICHIGAN STATE
Georgia Tech (-7.5) over VIRGINIA
Louisiana State (-18) over TENNESSEE
ILLINOIS (-3.5) over Ohio State
Oklahoma State (-8) over TEXAS
Boise State (-33) over COLORADO STATE
WAKE FOREST (+7) over Virginia Tech
Clemson (-9) over MARYLAND


Last Week: 6-4
Season: 30-26-4


NFL
PACKERS (-15.5) over Rams
STEELERS (-13) over Jaguars
REDSKINS (+2) over Eagles
Niners (+4.5) over LIONS
Panthers (+4) over FALCONS
BENGALS (-7) over Colts
Bills (+3) over GIANTS
RAVENS (-8) over Texans
RAIDERS (-7) over Browns
PATRIOTS (-7) over Cowboys
Saints (-5) over BUCS
BEARS (-3) over Vikings
JETS (-7) over Dolphins


Last Week: 9-3-1
Season: 42-31-4

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Ranking Tom Brady

Football Friday, Volume 6

Tom Brady is widely considered to be the best quarterback in the NFL today.  He has won 3 Super Bowl titles, 2 Super Bowl MVP's, and 2 regular season MVP's.  He, along with Peyton Manning, have defined the last decade in the NFL.  In the last couple of seasons it seems as if Brady has been writing his name into the record book more and more.  In fact I just received this message the other day:

Hey Mark, 
I have a request. I'm always wondering where Tom Brady falls in the all-time list for stats. Is there any way you can put this in your blog or make it part of some aspect of the blog. I like tracking his stats and I feel Brady's breaking records almost every game. So if you could put something like that up there so we can track his progression to the number one spot, I'd appreciate it. (Courtesy of Joe in Hanson, MA)

Ask and you shall receive Joe!  Fortunately the wonderful website pro-football-reference.com was created for stat junkies to research things just like this.  Joe's request got me curious and I started wondering myself. 

Let's see where Brady ranks on the all-time career passing stat lists:

Passing Yards:
1. Brett Favre  71,838 yards
3. Peyton Manning  54,828  (Active leader in yards)
16. Drew Brees  36,676
17. TOM BRADY  36,297
18. Jim Kelly  35,467

So Brady just passed Jim Kelly this season to move into 17th all-time in passing yards.  He has 2 current players immediately in front of him (Brees and Donovan McNabb), but he could hit the 40,000 yard mark by the end of the season with the pace he is on through 3 games which would put him into a group with Kerry Collins, Joe Montana, and Johnny Unitas (#10-12 on the all-time list).

Touchdown Passes:
1. Brett Favre  508 TD Passes
3. Peyton Manning  399 (Active leader)
5. John Elway  300
8. Vinny Testaverde  275
9. TOM BRADY  274
10. Joe Montana  273

Brady just passed his boyhood idol, Montana, on this list last weekend, appropriately enough in the Bay Area.  Testaverde should get passed this Sunday at home.  If Brady stays at a good pace he should hit the 300 TD pass milestone by season's end which would put him in the top 5 all-time among QB's and allow him to either tie or pass John Elway.

Completions:
1. Brett Favre  6,300 completions
3. Peyton Manning  4,682 (Active leader)
13. Donovan McNabb  3,141
T14. TOM BRADY  3,105
T14. Dave Krieg  3,105

There is getting to be a common theme with these lists.  Favre is #1 followed by Marino and then Manning, who is the active leader now with Favre's supposed retirement.  Brady is 268 completions behind Montana, who is ranked tenth.  Brady should leapfrog McNabb at some point because he completes more passes and McNabb may be benched by season's end, but Brees is just ahead of Donovan and he should stay in front of Brady even as he moves up the board.

(Note: I was going to include the all-time rankings for completion percentage here, which Brady ranks tenth in, but I could not allow myself to include a list in which Chad Pennington is #1 all-time.)

Game-Winning Drives:
1. Dan Marino  51
T2. Peyton Manning  46 (Active leader)
T2. John Elway  46
T7. Vinny Testaverde  33
T7. Joe Montana  33
9. TOM BRADY  32
10. Drew Bledsoe  31

This list is interesting because it's not a sure thing that Brady will move up during the season.  Odds are he will have to lead a drive to win the game during the season, but the Patriots have been in control pretty much from start to finish in their 3 wins this season.  One more GW drive will allow him to tie Montana (and Vinny), though catching Marino (and/or likely Manning) will prove difficult, especially if the Patriots remain at their current level.

Comebacks:
1. Dan Marino  36
T2. Peyton Manning  35 (Active leader)
T2. John Elway  35
T10. Dave Krieg  24
T10. Dan Fouts  24
T10. Drew Bledsoe  24
13. TOM BRADY  23
14. Jim Kelly  22

Another list with no guarantee but odds are he will get at least one this year, which would move him into the top 10.  Montana ranks fourth with 31.  This could be a reachable mark for him, granted Manning doesn't put it too far out of reach.

I think those lists give everyone a good idea of where Tom Brady ranks on the career passing lists.  We know he owns the single-season touchdown pass mark with 50 in 2007.  He also tied (with 12 others) for the longest touchdown pass of all-time in their opener with his 99 yard touchdown to Wes Welker.  He was also the first QB in history to follow a 500 yard passing game with a 400 yard passing game.  So aside from the career marks it seems like there are plenty of other crazy marks for Brady to still set.  He will likely keep those at the Elias Sports Bureau busy as his career continues.

Can Clemson Contend?

The Clemson Tigers currently stand at 5-0 (2-0 in the ACC) and have risen to #8 in both polls.  Going into the season I figured Florida State and Virginia Tech gave the league their best chance at a National Championship contender but the Tigers have been a surprise.  They have defeated ranked teams in the previous three weeks (Auburn and Florida State at home, Virginia Tech on the road).  Only LSU has as many wins against ranked opponents (though all of LSU's came away from home).

This week Clemson hosts struggling Boston College.  The Eagles have been mediocre at best on offense and should prove to be no match for the Tigers, especially at home.  This is where Clemson needs to prove themselves though.  In past years they have followed up big wins with disappointing performances against lesser opponents.  After BC they visit Maryland then host North Carolina before a huge showdown with Georgia Tech (the ACC's other undefeated squad).  If Clemson wants to prove themselves as an elite team they need to take care of business the next three weeks.

A Quiet Week

This is probably the quietest week in college football thus far in terms of top 25 showdowns.  There are three on the schedule for Saturday and of those three only one (Texas-Oklahoma) features a pair of undefeated teams.

The Florida-LSU game lost some luster after the Gators were blown out at home by Alabama last weekend and lost starting quarterback John Brantley in the process.  They are now expected to start true freshman Jeff Driskel.  On the road in Death Valley against that defense, led by Tyrann Mathieu, will probably prove to be a rude welcome for Driskel, especially after his second half introduction to the Crimson Tide defense last weekend.

The Red River Rivalry between Texas and Oklahoma in Dallas features a pair of undefeateds but Oklahoma has been much more impressive.  Texas benched their quarterback, Garrett Gilbert (who now plans to transfer), after he struggled to start the season.  They now rely on a pair of young signal callers: sophomore Case McCoy (younger brother of Colt) and freshman David Ash.  The Longhorns' strongest opponent to date is probably a toss up between UCLA and BYU, neither of whom are anywhere near the Sooners' level.  Oklahoma has already proven itself on a big stage, beating Florida State on the road, and should roll tomorrow.

On to the picks...

Predictions (Home teams in CAPS)

After posting winning weeks on both fronts I finally stand over .500 in both the NFL and college football!!!  (Let's hope I didn't jinx things for this week.)

NCAA
Oklahoma (-10.5) over TEXAS (neutral site but Texas is the home team)
Maryland (+15) over GEORGIA TECH
CLEMSON (-21) over Boston College
PENN STATE (-4) over Iowa
VIRGINIA TECH (-7.5) over Miami
NOTRE DAME (-14) over Air Force
Kansas (+32) over OKLAHOMA STATE
LSU (-14) over Florida
Auburn (+10) over ARKANSAS
TENNESSEE (+2) over Georgia


Last Week: 6-4
Season: 24-22-4


NFL
Chiefs (+3) over COLTS
Cardinals (+3) over VIKINGS
BILLS (+3) over Eagles
TEXANS (-6) over Raiders
PANTHERS (+7) over Saints
Bengals (+3) over JAGUARS
STEELERS (-3) over Titans
Seahawks (+10) over GIANTS
NINERS (-3) over BUCS
PATRIOTS (-9) over Jets
Chargers (-4) over BRONCOS
Packers (-6) over FALCONS
Bears (+6) over LIONS

Last Week: 11-5
Season: 33-28-3

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My Top 10 Favorite Patriots Seasons

This season marks the tenth anniversary of the one of the craziest and most improbable Super Bowl runs in NFL history.  In honor of that anniversary I have decided to list my ten favorite Patriots seasons.  This is not a ranking of who I feel are the best Patriots teams of all-time but rather the ones I have enjoyed the most during my life as a Patriots fan.

Without further ado...

10. 2010 (14-2, AFC East Champs, lost in Divisional Round)

Last year's squad was a very likable team.  Going into the season the expectations for the team were not as high as in years past.  There were a lot of rookies and second year players and most people thought they were a year away from contending.

They lost in week 2 to the Jets at the Meadowlands and again to the Browns in week 9.  After that loss in Cleveland the team rattled off 8 straight wins to close the regular season, scoring 30+ points in every win.

Tom Brady threw for 39 touchdowns with only 4 interceptions and was the unanimous choice for MVP.

The playoff loss to the Jets was disappointing but the season was a fun ride as Brady and the young guys clicked much quicker than anyone expected.

Favorite Game: November 21, home, 31-28 W over the Colts.  The Patriots got only their second win against the Colts since the 2004 playoffs and the win was sealed with a late James Sanders interception of Peyton Manning.

9. 1998 (9-7, 4th in AFC East, lost in Wild Card Round)

An exceptionally strong year for the AFC East as a whole.  Four teams from the division made the playoffs that year (Jets, Bills, Dolphins, Pats) as the other two divisions had only their champion with a winning record.

The Patriots found themselves at 5-5 after a November 15 loss in Buffalo.  They had started the year 4-1 and a possible playoff spot was slipping away.  A Monday night home game against the Dolphins became a must-win for the team.  Drew Bledsoe led the team to a thrilling 26-23 win, throwing for 423 yards and a late touchdown pass to Shawn Jefferson to win it.  He did that despite breaking the index finger on his throwing hand on the winning drive.

The next week he played with the broken finger and threw a touchdown pass to Ben Coates to win the game with no time remaining.  That pass came after a controversial pass interference call put the ball on the 1 yard line.  The Bills were so upset with the call that they walked off the field and the Patriots had Adam Vinatieri run for the 2 point conversion unopposed.  Bledsoe played two more games after that (a win in Pittsburgh and a loss at St. Louis) before they had to shut him down for the season.  Scott Zolak clinched the playoff berth with a win at home against San Francisco but they were blown out on the road in Jacksonville in the first round.

Favorite Game: The Buffalo win.  Doug Flutie's return to New England, a last minute win, and Wade Phillips leading his team off the field when there was still a play left added up to a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend.

8. 2008 (11-5, tied for first in AFC East, missed playoffs)

A season that felt like a throwback to the 1990s.  The Patriots became underdogs again after Brady tore his ACL in the first half of the season opener.  Long time back-up (long time as in he hadn't started since high school) Matt Cassel stepped in and became the starting quarterback and helped Josh McDaniels get his first head coaching job.  Cassel threw for almost 3,700 yards on the season to go with 21 touchdown passes.  Unfortunately this was a strong year in the AFC and for the first time in the current playoff system an 11 win team did not qualify for the playoffs.

The team sat at 7-5 heading into December, needing to win out to have any hope at the playoffs.  They did win out, including a 47-7 annihilation of the eventual NFC champion Cardinals at home, but thanks the Brett Favre choking for the Jets against Miami they did not make the playoffs.  December also featured the second of Junior Seau's three "post-graduation" returns to the Patriots.  They signed him the week of the Seattle game and he somehow ended up playing the majority of the game.

Favorite Game: The loss to the Jets on Thursday night at home.  Down 24-6 in the second quarter, and 31-24 in the last 2 minutes the Patriots twice came all the way back to tie, highlighted by a freakish catch by Randy Moss with 1 second left to force overtime.  Of course they ended up losing in overtime after they allowed Dustin Keller to gain 16 yards on a third and 15 to start the possession.  This brought back childhood memories of the team sucking you in and then kicking you square in the nuts.


7. 2006 (12-4, AFC East Champs, lost in AFC Championship Game)

This team was a classic example of maximizing talent and showed why Brady is the greatest of this generation.  He had a receiving corps that featured a past his prime Troy Brown (in his last full season), Reche Caldwell, Doug Gabriel, and Jabar Gaffney, among others.  Gaffney ended up being a pleasant surprise, breaking out in the playoffs and emerging as a dependable receiver in 2007.

Brady struggled in SD but found a way to win

This season also featured the first season of Bill Belichick-Eric Mangini coaching matchups.  They split in the regular season but the Patriots rolled to a 37-16 home playoff win in the Wild Card round.  The next week saw them pull off a huge upset in San Diego that I still question how they actually managed to win (and also featured LT spouting off about what a class act he is) before a collapse of epic proportions in Indianapolis in the AFC Title Game.  Up 21-6 at the half, the Patriots saw Manning and the Colts come storming back in what turned out to be a shootout.  The Colts won 38-34 after a late touchdown.  Most people forget but the turning point of this game was an atrocious offensive pass interference call against Troy Brown when they were heading in to score again before the half.  Not that I'm still bitter or anything...

Favorite Game: The Divisional win over San Diego.  The Chargers dominated the game and Brady was sub par for most of the game but San Diego continued to do dumb things.  The biggest play of the game was Troy Brown forcing a fumble after a Brady interception by Marlon McCree that could have iced the game had he just gone down.  I also loved the Chargers (mainly LT) complaining about the Patriots' celebration after they had been spouting off all week.

6. 2007 (16-0, AFC East Champs, lost in Super Bowl)

The greatest regular season in NFL history will forever be overshadowed by the way it ended, which I still cannot talk about so let's move on.... 


5. 1996 (11-5, AFC East Champs, lost in Super Bowl)


The first really good Patriots team of my childhood.  This season did not start well though.  Coming off of a 6-10 year in 1995, New England opened 1996 with back to back losses to Miami and Buffalo on the road.


They won 11 of their next 14 games after that to win the AFC East and earn a first round bye.  It also allowed them to host a playoff game for the first time since 1978.  They blew out Pittsburgh 28-3 in a game that will be remembered as "The Fog Game".  

The first true Patriots success during my time as a fan

They also hosted the AFC Championship Game against Jacksonville (in a game that featured a delay when the lights went out) after the Jaguars pulled off a monumental upset in Denver the week before.  The Patriots won that game with defense and special teams.  Their first touchdown was set up by Larry Whigham, who tackled the Jaguars punter at his own 4 yard line after a mishandled snap.  Willie Clay had a huge interception in the end zone late in the game when Jacksonville was driving for a tying score and Otis Smith sealed the game with a fumble return for a touchdown.


The Pats were expected to be blown out in the Super Bowl by the Packers but hung tough for most of the game.  They led 14-10 after the first quarter (the highest scoring quarter in Super Bowl history) and trailed only 27-21 after a Curtis Martin touchdown run.  Unfortunately they kicked off to eventual Super Bowl MVP Desmond Howard, who ran back the ensuing kickoff 99 yards to provide the final 35-21 margin.


Favorite Game: Week 17 against the Giants.  The Patriots fell behind 22-0 in the Meadowlands and it looked as if they would not be getting a bye in the playoffs, but the Pats came roaring back and the Giants imploded.  They ended up winning the game 23-22, highlighted by a Dave Meggett punt return for a touchdown and the winning touchdown pass to Ben Coates on a fourth down.  Recently watched this on Youtube.


4. 1994 (10-6, tied for first in AFC East, lost in Wild Card Round)


The year that I fell in love with both the Patriots and the NFL in general.  I have Robert Kraft to thank for that because after taking over as owner of the team people actually wanted to attend games again.  Since they were selling out again I was able to watch the Patriots on TV every week.  I bet there are plenty of people that laugh at teams now getting blacked out locally that have no idea that this was our reality prior to Kraft.  I remember being 8 years old when Bledsoe led his big comeback against Miami in the final game of the 1993 season and needing to wait for in-game updates on whatever game we were being shown locally to know what was happening (the world without Red Zone was a terrible place).

I truly became the sports nut I am today in 1994.  Bledsoe truly emerged as a franchise player (broke on to the scene in week 1 throwing for 421 yards and 4 TD's in a 39-35 shootout loss to Marino in Miami) and quickly became my favorite player.  I began watching football on TV every week, highlighted by the Patriots being on every week, and I also got my first subscription to Sports Illustrated (when it was still relevant) so I was reading about sports when I wasn't watching them.  


The season looked like it was going to be a disappointing one.  The Patriots sat at 3-6 in early November before ripping off 7 straight wins to make the playoffs.  They lost to Cleveland (coached by Belichick) on the road 20-13, but I was hooked.  I remember watching the rest of the playoffs that year and the San Francisco-San Diego Super Bowl was the first one I remember having any interest in watching.  


Favorite Game: The 26-20 overtime comeback over Minnesota.  The Pats were down 20-3 at the halftime and were booed off of the field.  They came out in the second half and handed the game to Bledsoe.  He threw for 426 yards and set the NFL single game records for attempts (70) and completions (45).  He won the game with a 14 yard touchdown pass to fullback Kevin Turner.  That win started the 7 game win streak that got them into the playoffs.


3. 2004 (14-2, AFC East Champions, Won Super Bowl)


Probably the strongest of the Patriots' three championship teams.  Coming in to the season as defending Super Bowl Champions the Patriots' offense got even stronger with the addition of running back Corey Dillon.  Dillon ended up rushing for over 1,600 yards on the season.  

Mr. Moreland: just happy to be there

This season also saw the Patriots set the NFL record for consecutive wins with 21.  That streak came to an end on Halloween in Pittsburgh.  The Patriots rallied though and finished with their second consecutive 14 win season.  They did this despite the fact that they lost both of their starting cornerbacks (Ty Law and Tyrone Poole) to injury.  It got so bad that Troy Brown ended up playing some slot corner and they had to start a guy named Earthwind Moreland.  Eventually Randall Gay and Asante Samuel settled into a nice tandem for the team.


The Patriots won their second consecutive Lombardi Trophy, and third in four years, after defeating the Colts and Steelers in the AFC and then the Eagles in the Super Bowl.  The team will be remembered for Dillon's last elite season and for the Pats' willingness to do anything for the team (Brown playing both ways, Vrabel catching a TD in the Super Bowl, different members of the defense playing fullback in short yardage and goal line situations).


Favorite Game: Tie between the Colts and Steelers playoff wins.  The Patriots' defense was completely written off heading into the Colts game (everyone predicted a shootout) but they stood tall.  The Colts got the ball to start the game and the Pats forced a three and out, setting the tone for the game.  They went on to win 20-3 led by Dillon and Tedy Bruschi.  The next week everyone was ready to crown Pittsburgh champs but the Patriots walked into Heinz Field and took a 24-3 halftime lead en route to a 41-27 win.  A fourth and one stop followed by a 60 yard pass from Brady to Deion Branch quieted the crowd, while an 87 yard interception return for a touchdown by Rodney Harrison served as the virtual knockout blow.


1A. 2001 (11-5, AFC East Champs, Won Super Bowl) 


This team is the one that started the Patriots' run of dominance, but it has to rank as the most unlikely Super Bowl champion in history.  Key contributors on this team included Jermaine Wiggins, Matt Stevens, Marc Edwards, Antowain Smith, Tebucky Jones, David Patten, and J.R. Redmond, among others.  Their best player was arguably their kicker, Adam Vinatieri.  Their starting quarterback was a skinny second year kid named Tom Brady.


Don't get me wrong I am not hating on this team.  In fact everything I just said is what makes the team so great.  They were truly a team and they got contributions from a variety of players.  As has become their staple they found ways to win and didn't beat themselves.  


They fought through 0-2 and 1-3 records to reach 5-5 and then rattled off 6 straight wins to win the division and earn a bye.  Brady was not the focal point, as highlighted by the fact that 2 of their wins came when he threw for 107 and 108 yards.  Smith had a big year, rushing for over 1,100 yards and Troy Brown led the receiving corps with 101 catches and numerous big plays.  

A shocking scene in 2001

They got to host one final game at Foxboro Stadium in the Divisional Round before it was torn down and made the most of it.  "The Snow Bowl" is one that will never be forgotten.  Down 13-3 the Patriots came back to defeat the Raiders 16-13 in overtime featuring a replay review that spawned the term "Tuck Rule" and two ridiculous field goals by Vinatieri.  The next week they went into Heinz Field and beat the heavily favored Steelers 24-17.  That game saw Brown return a punt for a TD and lateral a blocked field goal to Antwan Harris for another touchdown.  Their lone offensive touchdown came from Drew Bledsoe who returned to action after Brady got knocked out of the game in the second quarter.  After that, as everyone knows, they went down to New Orleans and shocked the Rams, and the world, 20-17 on a Vinatieri field goal as time expired.  Those three games tie for "Favorite Game" of that season.


1B. 2003 (14-2, AFC East Champs, Won Super Bowl)


My personal favorite team and possibly the greatest Patriots' defense in franchise history.  The team did not make the playoffs in 2002, failing to defend their 2001 title.  They reloaded in 2003 and went on a remarkable, historic run.  They began the year 2-2 before winning their final 15 games and the Lombardi Trophy.  


The defense was led by free agent signings Rodney Harrison and Ted Washington.  Harrison became a leader in the secondary, a strong one that also featured Ty Law and Tyrone Poole at the corners and rookie Eugene Wilson at the other safety, while Washington anchored the middle of the defense from his nose tackle position.  They held 5 opponents to under 10 points, including 3 shutouts.  They defeated co-MVP quarterbacks in the playoffs and held on for dear life in the Super Bowl.


People began to realize something special was happening in October.  The Pats went down to Miami and won in overtime on a long Brady to Brown touchdown pass.  The Patriots always struggled, and rarely won, in Miami and people began to take notice.  The game that garnered them the most national attention was their win in Indianapolis on Thanksgiving weekend.  They jumped out to a big early lead but the Colts came back.  Up 4 in the final minute the Patriots' defense stopped the Colts' Edgerrin James on the goal line to preserve the win.

Manning Face

This was another team that found ways to win.  They won on a late touchdown in Denver (another house of horrors for them) after taking an intentional safety to aid them in field position.  They won 9-3 over Cleveland at home in a game with no touchdowns.  Backup linebacker Matt Chatham keyed a 17-6 win over the Giants with a fumble return for a touchdown.  Tedy Bruschi scored the only touchdown of a snow game at home against Miami.  This was just a really fun team to follow.


Favorite Game: My favorite Patriots' playoff game of all time was my favorite game from this season.  The Patriots' boasted the best defense in the league that season but were forgotten about in the days leading up to the AFC Championship Game at home against the Colts.  When the game started that changed as they picked off Peyton Manning 4 times (3 by Ty Law) and recovered a fumble.  This was a big time "Manning Face" game as he seemed completely confused by the New England defense at times.

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