College Football Analysis 10/30

This past week of college football included many high-profile matchups, and in turn, produced a lot of important results that will bear much weight come season's end. Here are some of the main points to take away:

The battle for #2 (minus Florida) is as close as ever.
While Oregon was expected to roll lowly Colorado, putting up 70 points is still absurd. What's even crazier is that 56 of them (and 0 of the Buffaloes' 14) came in a first half that ended with the Ducks' starters already on the sidelines. However, fellow (former) title contenders in the Pac-12, USC and Oregon St. did not help their cause. Losses by the two will certainly hurt the Ducks' strength of schedule going forward. Look for Oregon to punish the now #17 Trojans for that next week in a still very important game. On the other hand, Kansas State and Notre Dame were supposed to be tested this past week by highly ranked teams. K-State routed a very hot Texas Tech team that looked to be the Wildcats' toughest remaining test. Collin Klein continued his assault on the Heisman trophy, and the Wildcat D held a high powered offense relatively in check. As I said last week, the fact that Kansas State usually makes a living on close games makes these big wins all the more impressive. They will be tested once again this week by a resurgent Oklahoma State team. While the game was definitely closer than the score indicated, Notre Dame beat a very, very good Oklahoma team. The Irish shut down Landry Jones and the rest of Oklahoma's high powered offense, and the offense was surprisingly efficient. The only real test remaining is against USC at the Coliseum to end the season. The National Championship decision could be very interesting if these teams continue to play the way they have been.

The general population should want Alabama to beat LSU.*
I won't usually say who to root for, but here's why I will be rooting for Alabama (who I hate). I initially planned to pull for LSU, because it's always fun to see the team on top fall. Also, this would theoretically open up the top of the standings for potentially two of the teams I discussed above to sneak into the Championship. However, when you take a closer look, this could mean none of those three making it. In an eerily similar situation to last year, an LSU victory could ultimately set up a Championship rematch. Though the teams would only likely be #4 and #5 in next week's rankings, they would be very close to the top #3, and would only gain ground over the remainder of the season due to the SEC strength of schedule. And at the end of the day, voters will feel the same way they did last season when voting them 1-2, that the SEC is so good that 1 loss is on par with an undefeated season elsewhere. This may or may not be true, but regardless, I do not want to see the rest of the country shut out of the Championship game for the second straight year. There are too many other great teams out there. BUT, this likely won't be an issue, as Bama doesn't look like they're losing anytime soon. They throttled previously unbeaten (but untested) Mississippi State this week, proving again against quality competition that they belong at the top. This will be an intriguing game to watch, but I hope it's the only time I have to see it this year. But maybe the rematch would live up to the hype this time and both teams will have crossed the 50 before the fourth quarter!! No.
*UNLESS YOU WANT ANOTHER REMATCH

Notre Dame and Georgia took my advice from last week.
As you may recall, last week I stated that these teams needed to really step up this week after less than promising performances against sub-par teams. Boy did they listen. If I talk too much about Georgia's huge rivalry win over the Gators, I may go back to the depressed state that caused me to not write an article in almost a week, so I'll keep it short. Though Florida's offense is not exactly a powerhouse, the Bulldogs' D came to play this week. Though Georgia's offense didn't crack the Gator D too much, they did enough, including a great performance on the ground by Todd Gurley. This has the Bulldogs sitting pretty to reach the SEC Championship, and possibly sneak into the title game with a win there. See above for my analysis of the Irish, but they put together their best performance of the season after arguably their worst last week against BYU.

Pretenders have been exposed.
Though I am definitely not willing to put Florida in the pretender category, several other unbeatens went down. Mississippi State flopped in their first major test of the year, though they can hardly be faulted as that test came against Alabama. They will have to regroup quickly, otherwise they will fall victim to a tough November schedule. They could easily go from 7-0 to 7-3 very quickly. Oregon State expected to roll with starting QB Sean Mannion returning, but instead lost to 3-4 Washington. While the Huskies are better than that record indicates, this should simply not happen to a contender. If they do not get their act together, they are also in serious danger of being a 3 or 4 loss team at the end of next month. I will visit the Rutgers loss more thoroughly in a coming section, but as the theme would indicate, the Scarlet Knights could very well be a three loss team in the near future. Ohio, while never thought to be a serious contender, let their undefeated record fall at the hands of a 3-4 Miami (OH) team. Yikes. Guess how many losses they could easily have at the end of the season (3, see the pattern?). Bottom line, these teams will have to rebound for the first time this season, and if they don't, they could all lose the majority of their remaining games.

The MAC may be better than the Big East.
Just two weeks ago, the Big East was sitting pretty, with 3 ranked undefeated teams. Two weeks changes a lot. A week after Cincinnati fell at the hands of mighty Toledo, another MAC team took down the league's second undefeated team. And it was a resounding defeat. Kent State forced SEVEN turnovers against Rutgers, leading to a double digit victory. Louisville, the lone remaining unbeaten, scheduled smart and avoided the mighty MAC. Now don't get me wrong, Toledo and Kent State are good teams, but the fact remains that when a team in a "power" conference (I use that term loosely) is undefeated this late in a season, they should have no problem with MAC teams. This is what has brought me to the conclusion that the MAC is better. Northern Illinois, who I still believe is the best team in the MAC, could go toe to toe (and possibly beat) Louisville. The MAC's second and third best have already beaten the respective teams in the Big East. Then there is one-loss Ohio, and 6-3 Bowling Green and Ball State. In the Big East? Nobody else over .500. Now I understand that the MAC has more teams, but that is definitely not an excuse that the Big East should even have to use in this comparison.

The Big Ten is a mess.
I'm not really going to explain this thoroughly, but the top team is ineligible, and one of the next best teams also is. Michigan, who looked on track for a Rose Bowl berth, lost Denard Robinson, and consequently the game to Nebraska. The Huskers have now emerged (I guess) as the Legends Division favorite, while Wisconsin will meet whoever wins that division in the championship pretty much by default even after a loss to middling Michigan State. The other three eligible teams have one combined conference victory. Case closed.

I WILL make predictions this week.
I ran into time constraints last week, but in the next few days, you should expect my rankings, and the debut of my weekly picks.

Mathieu's Week 8 Reactions

Reaction Tuesday

            It was one hell of a weekend in the NFL. With no Bills game, most of Buffalo just seemed to be tuned out to the rest of the league and more focused on Mario Williams’ phantom wrist injury. In case you missed it, here are the main takeaways from the weekend’s action.

The AFC East might not be that bad after all

            That is, as long as the Bills prove they aren’t the punching bag they’ve appeared to be in three of the last four games. The Patriots did a whole lot across the pond to reassure the football world that yes; they are still very, very good. Although it was against an inferior Rams team (just not as bad as years past) the Pats still asserted their dominance in a multitude of ways especially through their vaunted passing attack. Rob Gronkowski reminded everyone of his all-time season last year by grabbing two scores and accumulating over 150 yards receiving, and the offense was back to looking unstoppable.

            What people may be overlooking however, is the clear second best team in the AFC East division; The Miami Dolphins. When the Fins decided on bringing Ryan Tannehill’s talents to South Beach, the consensus around the league was that the Dolphins were in a clear rebuilding year and they were destined for a 4-6 win year. While Tannehill to this point has been serviceable, he hasn’t been as dynamic as nearly every other rookie quarterback. Then again, who can be dynamic when this guy is your number one receiver? Anyway, if anybody cared to notice, Tannehill left the contest vs. the Flying Tebows on Sunday with a bruised knee. Enter Matt Moore, who many see as the punch line to the joke of an offense that the Dolphins present. What many don’t know is that Matt Moore could very well lead the Dolphins to the playoffs this year. We all know about the Fins mediocre season last year, but what many don’t realize, is that after taking over at quarterback for Chad Henne in week 4 of 2011, Matt Moore posted a 6-7 record with a respectable 87.1 quarterback rating. The record may not be great, but when Moore is in the game he makes plays that Tannehill simply does not based on his lack of experience and Moore’s superior knowledge of the offense. Tannehill may have a much higher upside (and much more beautiful wife) that upside is future potential. Moore has the ability to lift this team to victories now. With the Dolphins possessing the league’s third-best run defense and an above average rushing offense, they have the type of team that can control the clock in any game and really play to Moore’s strengths; the ability to efficiently manage a game while minimizing turnovers, similar to what Alex Smith does for the 49ers. With the Tannehill injury, the second-best quarterback in the AFC East is back in the starting role with the Fins, and if the Bills don’t wake up fast (don’t even bother with the Jets, their season ended three weeks ago), they will be too far behind second place to make a serious run at the playoffs this year.

The AFC West is the worst division in football.

            With the exception of the Denver Mannings and his wobbly throws (who are still only 4-3 by the way), this division is awful. The mile-high air of Denver may be a serious advantage, because the three teams closer to sea level are a combined 2-7 in October, with one of the victories being the Raiders over the Chiefs (both in the AFC West, so somebody had to win). Believe it or not, the Chiefs have yet to take the lead in regulation in any game this year. Their only lead came in the game ending field goal against New Orleans in overtime. Each team has serious problems, all seeming to be the root of all problems in the NFL: Quarterback.

·      The Chiefs started Brady Quinn last week. That’s all you need to know about that. They will be selecting the top QB in the draft with their eventual number 1 overall selection.

·      The Raiders are marching Carson Palmer out there on Sundays, and while he is still competent, he is a shell of his former self. He may not be able to play with the elites of the league anymore, but the disappearance of Darren McFadden and any semblance of a running game is a bigger problem with this team.

·      The Chargers are an interesting case, as the obvious problem with the team is their coach, Norv Turner, who would have been fired by any sane GM three years ago. Seriously it’s amazing that this guy still has a job after countless years of leading an elite team to divisional round losses in the playoffs (and for basically wasting LaDanian Tomlinson’s potential to have several championships on his resume). The real head-scratcher here is Phillip Rivers. The one-time first round pick and all-pro now seems to have completely lost all football skill he once had. Everyone chalked up his struggles last year as an off year, and expectations were for him to return to his all-star ways. Sadly for Chargers fans, this hasn’t happened, as Rivers continues to look lost out there. A 7-6 loss to the lowly Browns is simply unacceptable, and the team may be looking elsewhere at coach, GM, and maybe even QB after the season.

Atlanta is as good as its record suggests.

            Many people may think this is not news, but after squeaking out last-second wins against the much weaker Raiders and Panthers, the record did not seem to match the product on the field.

            The Falcons bye week must have come at a perfect time, as they seemed re-energized and did something that all elite teams seem to do – beat a dangerous team on the road. Although the Eagles have been going through a season-long rough patch, there is no denying their potential to win any game with their extreme talent level (wins over Giants and Ravens this year). Going into a hostile environment in Philadelphia, notorious for having the worst fans in all of sports, the Falcons didn’t just beat the Eagles, they dominated right out of the gate, soared to an early lead, then toyed with the home team for most of the second half. At halftime, the Falcons led 24-7 and had a 252-94 advantage in total yards. Matt Ryan tore up the Eagles secondary that boasts two excellent cornerbacks, and the game left Michael Vick almost accepting the fact that he may not be the starting QB for much longer.

            This Falcons team is clearly as good as their record suggests (even though I had a different opinion a week ago) and should have no problem reaching 13, 14, or even 15 wins if they keep playing solid defense and if Matt Ryan continues his aerial assault on the MVP award. This team has proven before that they can win in the regular season, but they must now prove that they can win in the playoffs. It should be easier this time around however, as it looks as though they’ll be playing all of their playoff contests in the friendly confines of the Georgia Dome, where the Falcons have been nearly unbeatable with Matt Ryan as their starter.

The AFC Wild Card race will be much more exciting than the NFC race.

            At first when you read this heading you may think “no way that’s true.” But think about it for a second. Yes, the NFC clearly is the stronger conference, but when you look into the races, the strength of the NFC is going to make it extremely hard to make the playoffs even with a 10-6 record. Think about it this way: The Falcons, Giants, Bears, 49ers, and Packers are pretty much locks to make the playoffs, and if you’ve done your math correctly, that leaves one spot up for grabs. At season’s end, there should be only two teams competing for this spot: the Seahawks and the Lions. The rest of the teams that seem to be in contention now simply have too many problems to seriously contend later in the year. The Vikings, Cardinals, and Saints are fading fast, the Cowboys are too streaky and badly-coached, the Eagles are going through too much turmoil, the Redskins defense has taken too many major injuries and now can’t stop a nosebleed, and the Buccaneers seem to be a year away from seriously contending.

            If you would please turn your attention to the AFC however, we have a much more interesting race brewing. The locks to make the playoffs include the Texans, Patriots, Ravens, and Broncos (who could lose the rest of their games and still win that division). That leaves two spots up for grabs with no other teams seeming to take charge and become a sure-fire wild card team. That one extra opening, along with the AFC being the conference of greater parody, makes all the difference in having an exciting race. Here are the potential playoff contenders in order of likeliness:

·      Pittsburgh Steelers: They are another year older and their best defensive player can’t seem to get healthy, so this is definitely not a dominant Steelers team that we are used to. However, this team may be in the process of switching roles from defensive powerhouse to offensive juggernaut. With Ben Roethlisberger playing some of the best football of his career, three dynamic receivers in Wallace, Brown, and Sanders, an above average tight end, and the fact that any of their 37 running backs have been successful when given the opportunity, this Steelers team seems to be the closest thing to a lock for one of the wild card spots.

·      Cincinnati Bengals: This team has all the makings of a mediocre, 8-8 team. The only thing that may be able to prevent this from happening comes in the form of super-freak A. J. Green. When everyone in the stadium including the defense knows the ball is being thrown to Green and he still catches it, you know he’s something special. Quite possibly the best receiver in the league (no disrespect to Megatron), Green will surely do his best to help the Bengals reach their second straight postseason.

·      Miami Dolphins: Won’t get too in-depth here (see above), but this strong defense along with efficient play from the quarterback position has helped this team be much more formidable than had been previously anticipated.

·      Indianapolis Colts: Is this a joke? Isn’t this the team that lost Peyton Manning and finished last season with the WORST record in the league? Why yes, yes it is. It’s also the team that employs one Andrew Luck, future best quarterback in the league. Although he won’t win Rookie of the Year and his counterpart RGIII is the flashier of the two, Luck consistently puts his team in position to win games and has singlehandedly resurrected the career of Reggie Wayne (league leader in receiving yards). Luck has been as good as advertised, leading his team to a 4-3 record to this point (4-3!!!), and the Colts have been playing inspired football since news broke that their charismatic coach Chuck Pagano had been diagnosed with leukemia. Who’s to say their inspired play plus the benefit of playing in a weak division doesn’t carry them directly into the second wild card spot?

·      Buffalo Bills: Don’t write them off yet folks! The bye week couldn’t have come at a better time for the Bills as they try to get a bit healthier for the second half of the season. After what seem to be impossible road games against the class of the AFC (Texans & Patriots), the Bills schedule becomes much easier. It may be a long shot, but if the Bills escape Houston or New England with a win, it could give them momentum to make a run at the playoffs. The best hope for the Bills this season is that Dave Wannstead wakes up as coordinator, and Mario Williams’ wrist procedure rejuvenates him enough to help him regain some of his old form that has been non-existent so far in Buffalo. A lot has to go the Bills way for them to make the playoffs, though, so this seems to be more of a reach. This is another team that may be a year (or a quarterback) away from seriously contending for the playoffs or even the division.

Next Week: I’ll discuss all the discouragement that comes out of the Bills demolition at the hands of the Texans! Stay Tuned!

Tyler's Mid Season Awards

Offensive Player of the Year – Aaron Rodgers

Even with the fact that Rodgers has gotten sacked a league high 28 times this year, the reigning MVP still has an NFL leading 21 tds.  That’s not even the best part of his season; to the 21 tds he has ONLY 4 interceptions. He is also second in the NFL in completion percentage, forth in passing yards, and is second in QBR; those are some ridiculous numbers for a guy that gets absolutely no time to throw the ball.  But this was a lot closer than one would think; Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Matt Ryan and Adrian Peterson could have definitely been considered for this prestigious award.

Defensive Player of The Year. JJ Watt            

                        

Too bad you can’t give this award to a whole defense, because everything about the Bears defense has been flawless.  Well this would be everyone’s no doubt number one correct?  Watt currently has a league leading 9.5 sacks along with 2 fumble recoveries. 34 total tackles, which is 3^rd among defensive linemen. These stats alone might him considered for the award, but if you add his 10 pass deflections, YES 10! This stat is plain scary, the athleticism in this dude is unreal.  Guys like Jarius Byrd, Jerrod Mayo, Charles Tillman, and Tim Jennings were really close to stealing this award, but Watts 10 pass deflections just keep him above the rest of the pack.

 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year –Robert Griffin

 RGIII is really an electrifying player to watch, he can do it all.  He has a stellar arm and may be the fastest QB to ever play the game.  RGIII is 5^th in the NFL in completion percentage, 7^th in QBR, and 3^rd in yards per attempt.  Now this is just half of RGIII’s repertoire.  Griffin has some ridiculous numbers on the ground; he has accumulated 476 rushing yards, a 6.8 yard per carry, and is 2^nd in rushing tds with 6, only behind Arian Foster with 9. He will also be the NFC rookie of the year,  also the no doubt offensive rookie of the year so far beating out the likes of Josh Gordon, Alfred Morris, Andrew Luck and the stud kicker Blair Walsh.

 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year– Chandler Jones

This was another no doubter, Jones is quickly becoming one of the elite DE’s in the league. He is leading all rookies in sacks with 6.0, forced fumbles with 3, and tackles by a defensive lineman with 33.  He also is 10^th in total tackles for all rookies as d-linemen, and is 4^th in total tackles by d-linemen in the whole NFL.  If Jones keeps this tear up he will also be considered for the Defensive MVP too, Also taking the AFC rookie of the year honors.

NFL Comeback Player of the Year – Adrian Peterson

 AP is most definitely super human, after an injury plagued season last year he still rushed for 973 yards.  After tearing both his ACL and MCL in January, usually a year or more to recover, he came back and was in the starting lineup week 1.  This dude is a freak of nature and is leading the NFL in rushing.  If this story doesn’t pump you up I don’t know what will. I hope he continues on this role and leads the league in rushing all year, because he deserves it putting in all the hard work to make it back so quick.

 NFL Coach of the Year – Lovie Smith       

                                                                                                                                                                                               Lovie’s Chicago Bears are currently 6-1 and have one of the best defenses I have ever seen.  I know the Falcons are 7-0 but they have had continuous above average seasons.  I think what Lovie is doing in Chicago is stellar and I am really thinking they are the real deal.  Even with the spotty Jay Cutler, and the under producing Matt Forte the bears are finding ways to win in one of the toughest divisions in the NFL.  This team’s offense clearly is not one of the best in the league, 26^th in total yards per game, and bottom 5 in every team passing category. Matt Forte hasn’t been his normal self with only recording one game with 100+ yards and only 2TD’s.  No need to give statistics about their Defense because we all know that they are the best defense in the league, maybe one of the best to ever play the game. 

Kennys week 8 scores

Carolina 17, Bears 24

San Diego 32, Cleveland 21

Seattle 20, Detroit 27

Jacksonville 13, Green Bay 35

Indianapolis 34, Tennesse 28

New England 42, St. Louis 17

Miami 24, Jets 20

Atlanta 28, Philadelphia 24

Pittsburgh 24, Washington 17

Oakland 32, Kansas City20
(after game Bowe gets traded to the Bills for a 2nd and 3rd of this year and a unconditional next year)

Giants 34, Dallas 24

New Orleans 35, Denver 45

San Fran 31, Arizona 10

Bills offense 35, Bills defense 28

Fitz throw 3 pick 6 and kelsay sacks Fitz while barnett scoops and scores.

2012-13 NBA Preview: Playoffs and Awards

Projecting the playoffs before a season begins is no easy task. Will the same teams that dominated last year come out on top again? Or will a rebuilt or up and coming team break through? It will be a while until we find out, but until then, I will do my best to predict the results. Here we go.

FIRST ROUND

EAST

(1) Miami def. (8) Washington 4-0
John Wall and Co. are just happy to make the playoffs and show much promise for the future, but are simply overmatched by a much more experienced and proven team.

(4) Indiana def. (5) Brooklyn 4-3
Brooklyn actually finishes the regular season with a better record than the Pacers, but lose out on home court because Indiana won their division. Ultimately that makes the difference, as the Pacers use their playoff experience from last season and their home fans to take game 7.

(3) New York def. (6) Philadelphia 4-2
Melo desperately wants to shake the notion that he can't win in the playoffs, and Jason Kidd will provide needed leadership. The big difference though, will be Tyson Chandler's ability to shut down Andrew Bynum down low.

(2) Boston def. (7) Chicago 4-2
Boston draws a very difficult opponent in the first round, as Derrick Rose will finally be back from injury, but the C's are able to neutralize him on defense and force other Bulls to score. This is not a recipe for success for Chicago.

WEST

(1) LA Lakers def. (8) Sacramento 4-1
Though the Kings are actually able to neutralize the two new Lakers with Cousins on Howard and Evans on Nash, they still have no answer for Kobe and Pao.

(5) Memphis def. (4) San Antonio 4-3
The Grizzlies are able to exploit the tiring Spurs the same way they did in the playoffs two years ago, as Z-Bo takes over down low. This ultimately leads to a Memphis victory in a hard fought series.

(3) Denver def. (6) LA Clippers 4-3
CP3 will come through in the playoffs as usual, but the all around contributions of the Nuggets lineup will be too much for the rest of the Clippers' lineup to handle.

(2) Oklahoma City def. (7) Dallas 4-2
Dirk will have a few games that remind us of his championship magic, but as is the case with CP3, will not have enough help to take down a well rounded Thunder lineup.

SECOND ROUND

EAST

(1) Miami def. (4) Indiana 4-3
Indiana has shown that it is not scared to go toe to toe with the Heat, and will not be satisfied by simply keeping a series close with them. With that said, the talent gap will finally become evident in game 7 when the Heat escape at home.

(2) Boston def. (3) New York 4-2
The Knicks definitely have the talent to hang around in this series, and will give Boston a scare, but experience will be the difference late in the series, and the Celtics will come out on top.

WEST

(1) LA Lakers def. (5) Memphis 4-3
This is a dream matchup. Gasol on Gasol. Z-Bo on Howard. Tony Allen defending Kobe. Metta guarding Rudy Gay. Those will all be fun to watch, and will probably even out, making the difference in the series Steve Nash vs. Mike Conley. Though Nash is past his prime, we all know who wins that.

(3) Denver def. (2) Oklahoma City 4-3
Another very fun matchup featuring two very similar fast and flashy offensive styles. The Thunder may have the advantage in star power, but I'm picking Denver because I believe that the key to this matchup will be the PG battle between Ty Lawson and Russell Westbrook. I think Lawson will surprise a lot of people and win it.

CONFERENCE FINALS

EAST

(2) Boston def. (1) Miami 4-2
Surprise, surprise. Look who ended up in the Eastern Conference Finals. The facts are that last year, the Celtics had the Heat on the brink of elimination, and while the Heat have added an aging shooter (who was turning into somewhat of a cancer for Boston, as much as it kills me to say it), Boston has a revamped and improved lineup this year, and won't let this series get back to Miami for game 7.

WEST

(1) LA Lakers def. (3) Denver 4-2
After having to play a nearly perfect series to upset the Thunder, the Nuggets don't have enough left in the tank to repeat the feat in a long series against Kobe and the Lakers.

NBA FINALS

LA Lakers def. Boston 4-3
This year just seems destined for one last Paul Pierce vs. Kobe Bryant Final. I would love to pick the Celtics here, but the more I think about it, as well as they match up at most positions, I just don't see an answer for Dwight Howard with Pao occupying most of KG's attention down low. This series could go either way, but I see Steve Nash finally getting his championship in game 7.

AWARDS

MVP: Kevin Durant
No surprises here, likely a coin toss between Durant and LeBron as is expected. Was hoping to make a case for Kevin Love, but that will be put on hold with his injury.
Sleeper: Deron Williams
Quietly one of the best in the game, Williams will thrive with talent around him in Brooklyn.

ROY: Bradley Beal
I believe that Beal will come in right away and have an impact alongside John Wall, and helping the Wizards to the playoffs should seal the deal.
Sleeper: Thomas Robinson
I think that Robinson will take over the Kings' starting PF spot fairly early, and will run with it. He showed last year at Kansas that he can dominate, and he has the drive to succeed at any level.

Finals MVP: Dwight Howard
As I stated in my Finals analysis, I think Howard will present the one mismatch and be able to dominate down low.

That's it for my preview, now we get to see how everything plays out. Enjoy the season!

2012-13 NBA Preview: Western Conference

Welcome to the second installment in my 3 part NBA Preview! I have already laid down my Eastern Conference predictions, so go check them out if you haven't yet. Though the East has gained some star power in recent years, the Western Conference remains the much deeper of the two, making these predictions all that much more difficult to make. I can only hope I don't look stupid by season's end.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1. Los Angeles Lakers
Always a threat to make a deep run simply due to Kobe Bryant's dominance, the Lakers had an offseason for the ages. If you told someone that the Lakers could get Dwight Howard without getting rid of Pao Gasol, they would consider the team a complete powerhouse. And they also added one of the best point guards of this generation in Steve Nash, who has shown that he still has a good amount left in the tank. Assuming this "Big 4" can coexist, it will be downright scary to play against. The tandem of Metta-Ron-World-Artest-Peace and Antawn Jamison will solidify the lineup, and while the team does lack depth beyond that, it may not even matter. This team has the potential to be extremely fun to watch. Or the stars won't play well together. We will see.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder
How will this team respond after pretty much laying an egg in the Finals last year? I expect them to come back with a vengeance. James Harden will be looking to prove himself after his abysmal performance, while Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook will just continue to improve (a scary thought) and push for a Championship. In a particularly busy offseason, OKC's top 6 remain unchanged. Why mess with a lineup that has clearly shown itself capable of winning a title? Serge Ibaka is slowly becoming a more rounded player, and Kendrick Perkins is still his angry, defensive self down low. This squad is aiming no lower than a title.

3. Denver Nuggets
Gasp! How can I mess with the Lakers/Thunder/Spurs top 3? Because the Nuggets have the potential to be THAT good this year. Ty Lawson has very quietly developed into one of the NBA's elite PGs. He has speed that is often impossible to contain. Danilo Gallinari is also becoming a top tier player when healthy. I can see him putting up 20 a game with some decent rebound numbers if he avoids injury. Down low, a promising young duo of JaVale McGee and Kosta Koufos will share time at center, and "The Manimal" himself, Kenneth Faried (one of my favorite players to watch) will become even more of a force in the paint in his second year. That brings us to the addition of Andre Iguodala, who will be an all around contributor, as well as add (relative) star power and leadership to a young team. While Denver may be a bit inexperienced to expect to contend for a title, the personnel is definitely there to accomplish that down the road.

4. San Antonio Spurs
Don't worry everyone, I'm not too low on the Spurs. After all, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker are all still playing, and they made an absurd run at the end of last season that shows that they are definitely not done. However, they're not getting any younger, and seemed to run out of gas a little bit toward the end of the playoff series a bit against the Thunder. Will this happen earlier in a full season? Or will they benefit from more rest in this year's schedule? I'm willing to bet on the latter, but some of these top teams may be difficult for the aging Spurs to handle over a seven game series. But then again, they still have to be considered a threat to win it all, regardless of age.

5. Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies are a very interesting team. They showed a ton of promise in the 2011 playoffs, but after injury sidelined Zach Randolph for much of last season, they never really regained that magic. Well, rumor has it that Z-Bo is ready to go this year, and that news will not please the rest of the league. When healthy, Randolph makes up half of possibly the most dominant frontcourt duo in the league. He, along with Marc Gasol, have the ability to completely take games over, which is rare among big men. In addition, Memphis has an underrated star in Rudy Gay at the #3, who will put up big points and respectable stats across the board. The guard play will be solid if unspectacular, with one of the best defensive players in the league, Tony Allen, at SG and Mike Conley, a very solid and consistent player, at the point. This team was my surprise pick to make a run last year before Z-Bo's injury, and while there are some star studded teams this year, the potential is still there to surprise many people come playoff time.

6. Los Angeles Clippers
The first year of the revitalized Clippers had its ups and downs, but a second round playoff berth has to be considered a success for this organization. Chris Paul is one of the best players in the league, and he meshed brilliantly with Blake Griffin at times last year, showing the promise the duo has going forward. Chauncey Billups's early injury last year was a big blow, depriving the team of a clutch veteran leader. Billups expects to be back fairly early this year, which is promising for Clips fans. Jamal Crawford is more than capable of holding down the spot until then, and will provide scoring off the bench after. However, this team will need DeAndre Jordan to improve his offensive game to become a true powerhouse in the West. While Jordan is a great shot blocker and a good rebounder, the Clippers will need him to evolve offensively to complement Griffin down low. Griffin also needs to step his game up defensively. If those two things happen, this team could make some serious noise.

7. Dallas Mavericks
Mark Cuban is trying to surround Dirk with some talent, but he hasn't succeeded with the big name(s) that he had hoped for. O. J. Mayo and Darren Collison are solid additions, and will definitely keep the Mavs competitive, but not nearly as competitive as they may have been with Deron Williams. Dallas may struggle to start the season with Dirk out, but once he's back, he should be back to his usual self. He struggled a bit last season, but turned it on toward the end to show that he still has it. Though his absence early will affect the team's record, and thus, it's seeding, the potential is still there to contend. If Mayo and Collison thrive with the change of scenery, Dallas could see glimpses of the playoff magic they captured two years ago. If not, well, Cuban better find someone to complement Dirk next year.

8. Sacramento Kings
Young talent. If you haven't noticed, that has been one of the main themes of my previews this year, and the Kings epitomize that theme. Let's start down low with DeMarcus Cousins. The Sacramento center, only 22 years old, has already become a high-level big man out west. I will honestly say that he has the potential to play with Dwight Howard like dominance. No exaggeration. Jason Thompson is a solid forward to go along with Cousins, but I believe that Thomas Robinson will take the spot before long. The high draft pick is very talented and has the drive to succeed at any level. The unconventional three-guard look in the backcourt is home to supreme talent as well. Tyreke Evans is very good at the point (point-forward?), and is still evolving as a playmaker. Marcus Thornton has become a good scorer at the 2, while Isaiah Thomas shows tons of promise as well. The Kings may be a year or two away from really contending, but I expect major steps forward this year.

Non Playoff Teams

9. Golden State Warriors
Golden State may have a team that can contend for a playoff spot IF they can stay healthy. Stephen Curry, their talented young point guard, needs to avoid injury this year, as does newly acquired Andrew Bogut. If healthy, Bogut will form a formidable tandem with David Lee down low. Curry will run the show up top, and his fellow guard Klay Thompson took significant steps last year and is primed to break out. If Harrison Barnes can contribute at the 3 in his rookie season, the Warriors may find a way to sneak into the playoffs.

10. Minnesota Timberwolves
Oh, the potential in Minnesota. Kevin Love has become one of the best players in the entire league, hitting the boards, scoring at will, and doing pretty much everything in between. Ricky Rubio came into the league and showed why he is such a highly touted young player, dicing defenses with the dribble and the pass. But alas, injuries have hit the team hard. Rubio is still sidelined from a torn ACL last season, and may miss a few months. Love broke his hand in the preseason and will be out over a month as well. Though there is still some promise outside of these two with Nikola Pekovic and Derrick Williams growing into their roles and Brandon Roy attempting a comeback, it may not be enough to keep the rest of the teams within striking distance before the two stars return.

11. Utah Jazz
Utah can definitely contend for one of the last playoff spots in the crowded West, they just have to hope all of the pieces come together. Gordon Hayward and Mo Williams form a solid backcourt, and Jazz fans hope that they will work well together in Williams's first year in Utah. Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson provide veteran presence down low in front of two talented youngsters in Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter, who look to contribute more as the season progresses. Utah can definitely fight for one of the final spots, but I see them just missing out while managing to stay out of the basement.

12. Houston Rockets
Linsanity has come to Houston! Unfortunately for the Rockets, the same cannot be said of Dwight Howard. That will keep Houston from being a contender this year. Lin will likely develop into a solid point guard, and Kevin Martin is a scoring threat beside him. Chandler Parsons improved over the course of his rookie season and will look to continue that this year. There are many young and unproven big men in Houston as well (Terrence Jones, Royce White, Patrick Patterson, Omer Asik, Donatas Motiejunas), so it will be very interesting to see how the season plays out for all of them. The Rockets are primed to contend a few years down the road, but may struggle for the time being.

13. Portland Trail Blazers
The Blazers are a hard team to project. LaMarcus Aldridge is one of the league's premier big men, and Wesley Matthews has proven to be a scoring threat at the 2. However, the season will depend on how their rookies perform. Damian Lillard will take on the starting PG spot, and has a ton of potential, but will need to adjust quickly to the level of competition after playing at Weber State. Meyers Leonard, Portland's new 7-footer, will be expected to contribute right away at center, and will have to hope his raw potential translates rather quickly. I see the Blazers as being one or two years away.

14. New Orleans Hornets
The surprising draft lottery result that landed the raging unibrow in New Orleans has Hornets fans excited, but there's not enough around him yet to really compete. Eric Gordon, Greivis Vasquez, and Austin Rivers form a promising trio of young guards, but much of the team is in need of development. Davis still has to develop his offensive game to the NBA level, and until that happens, the Hornets will find themselves near the bottom of the standings.

15. Phoenix Suns
It had to happen eventually. Now that Steve Nash's time in Phoenix is over, the Suns have to rebuild. Though they don't possess an awful lineup, which includes Luis Scola, Goran Dragic, and Michael Beasley, it is far from overwhelming. The Suns will be far from the worst team in the league, but in the deep West, they will find themselves in the basement.

Stay tuned, playoff predictions to come!

Mathieu's Week 8 NFL Picks

Week 8 of the NFL is quickly approaching, and while the Bills have the week off, other teams still have games (news to me too)! This week features some interesting matchups; some between division rivals, some primed to be one-score games, and also a few potential duds. So lets get to my picks!

Thursday Night Football

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Minnesota Vikings

            This game is almost certain to be a hotly contested match, with the Bucs coming off a tough loss to the division rival Saints, and the Vikings coming off a nail biter against the suddenly not-so-tough Cardinals. The matchups to watch in this one are fairly clear: Minnesota’s top-10 rushing attack vs. Tampa’s top-5 rush defense, and Minnesota’s bottom-5 passing attack vs. Tampa’s bottom-5 pass defense. Something’s gotta give in this one, and I see too much offensive potential on Minnesota’s offense (Harvin, Rudolph, Peterson) for the Bucs below-average pass defense to contain, despite Christian Ponder’s recent struggles.

            The Bucs offense certainly has potential as well, but I see this one being won in the last seconds by the Blair W(alsh) Project. Vikings have home-field advantage, which I think swings this game. Minnesota wins 20-17.

Lock Games of the Week

Carolina Panthers at Chicago Bears

            Quite possibly the easiest game to call this week, despite Monday Night’s injury to Jay Cutler on this questionable hit by King Kong Suh. The Panthers insist on letting Cam Newton turn the ball over and act like a pouty child (similar to another QB in this game) instead of giving the ball to their $50+ million dollar backfield. Unfortunately for the Panthers, even if they do change their ways this may be the wrong week to do it. The Bears have been a force defensively, and have multiple ways to beat you on offense. This should come in handy against a Panthers defense that couldn’t stop a nosebleed.

            Bears, at home, win another easy one. Chicago 34-16.

Jacksonville Jaguars at Green Bay Packers

            How bad will the Jaguars be without MJD and Sunshine Blaine Gabbert? Also, how much worse could they get? With Aaron Rodgers back to being the best QB since Slingin’ Sammy Baugh, Pack should put this one away early at Lambeau.

            Green Bay 27-9.

New England Patriots at St. Louis Rams (in London)

            You might argue that the Patriots have just been off this year, and they are facing an upstart Rams team who play sneaky good pass defense. But did you see the Patriots drive at the end of the 4^th quarter against the Jets when they needed a field goal to take the game to overtime? This team can turn it on at any time they want, regardless of what Tom Brady says, and when it comes down to it, these teams still aren’t on the same level. Not yet at least.

            Patriots offense proves to be too much for the Rams to keep up with.

New England 28-17.

San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals

            It’s been proven before; you just don’t mess with an angry Harbaugh. After the Niners’ dismantling at the hands of the defending champs, they came out last week and physically dominated the Seahawks, yet only eked out a 13-7 win. Don’t you think Harbaugh is a little frustrated with the way his offense played? I think he is, and I can see Alex Smith responding with a solid game this weekend against a Cardinals team that suddenly (yet not surprisingly) just does not look as good as their 4-0 start suggested.

            49ers get up for a big Monday Night divisional showdown, and take it to Arizona in Phoenix. San Francisco 19-6.

Close Calls

San Diego Chargers at Cleveland Browns

            A home game for a Cleveland team that is slowly gaining some confidence after beating division-rival Cincinnati and almost beating a sneaky good Colts team. The Chargers, traveling across the country, looked absolutely awful in the second half against the Broncos their last time out and seem to have serious deficiencies in the Quarterback and Head Coach departments. However, Cleveland still plays shoddy defense (26^th vs. the pass, 24^th vs. the run), and San Diego just has too much talent not to pull this one out against an inferior team, even if it is a close one.

            San Diego 24-20.

Seattle Seahawks at Detroit Lions

            As good as everyone thinks the Seahawks are, check out these stats:

·      At home, Russell Wilson has 6 TD’s, 0 INT’s, and the team is 3-0.

·      On the road, Russell Wilson has 2 TDs, 7 INT’s, and the team is 1-3.

Unfortunately for the Seahawks, this game is on the road against a surely angry Lions team who were just embarrassed by a division rival. Expect the Lions to come out firing, and for Calvin Johnson to have a TD or two despite the tough matchup.

            Lions are too angry to drop this one, and ‘Hawks are too beatable on the road. Lions 17-13.

Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans

            After two big wins vs. the Steelers and Bills, the Titans are rolling right now despite having a defense ranked in the bottom half of the league. Chris Johnson seems to finally be back on track, averaging 113 yards over the team’s last 4 games (with a 100 yard game against the stingy Texans, so its not all against the Bills). The Colts rush defense is ranked 26^th in the league, so expect much of the same against the Colts. This game will ultimately come down to which defense can contain the opposing running game, and as talented as Andrew Luck is, the Colts running attack is below average.

            Looking forward to a strong effort in front of the home crowd from Chris Johnson and the Titans. Tennessee 26-21.

Miami Dolphins at New York Jets

            Coming off of three straight promising efforts (albeit two of them losses) the Jets are proving to be a bit more resilient than had been previously anticipated after losing arguably the best defender in the league in Darrell Revis, and their most productive receiver in Santonio Holmes. It was the defense that squandered a late lead against the Patriots, and the offensive line that allowed the sack fumble in overtime to set up the loss, so is it possible that we are putting too much of the blame for the Jets’ struggles on Mark Sanchez? The Dolphins have a top 10 rush defense, which will be critical in stopping the Jets as most of their success depends on establishing a strong rushing attack.

            Expect Cameron Wake to make his presence felt and rattle Sanchez a bunch, but I think this game comes down to the home field advantage once again. As long as the Jets don’t stumble out of the gates that is…. A fast start is essential to winning this game. Jets win a nail-biter. New York 16-14.

Washington Redskins at Pittsburgh Steelers

            In all seriousness, how good is RGIII? After last week’s game against the Giants (a game los Gigantes won), Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora had nothing but praise for the rookie, calling him “flat out unbelievable,” and Tuck went as far to say, “I’m really mad at the football gods for putting him in the NFC East.” I’m not sure if you remember or not, but this is the team that won the Super Bowl last year, the team that beat Matt Ryan, MVP Aaron Rodgers, and Tom Brady in the playoffs. If RGIII can strike this much fear and uneasiness into the hearts of the defending Super Bowl champions, what, exactly, will he do to the aging, slowing, not-as-ferocious Steelers defense? While Ben Roethlisberger may put up big numbers about a Redskins pass defense with more holes than swiss cheese (32^nd in the league), he may be doing so to keep up with RGIII.

            RGIII seems to be developing into the most dynamic playmaker/quarterback in the entire NFL. More dynamic than Newton, Vick, perhaps even Rodgers. In my upset special of the week, I predict the Redskins go into Heinz Field and steal one from the Steelers. Washington 31-30.

Oakland Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs

            In the matchup of possibly the two worst teams in the NFL, this game will come down to the Raiders ability to contain Jamaal Charles. Romeo Crennel seems determined to run Jamaal Charles into the ground despite coming off a year in which he tore his ACL. The Raiders have a middle of the pack rush defense, allowing 102.2 yards per game on the ground, and that may not be enough to contain Charles. If Brady Quinn can open up things a little through the air (did I really just say that?) then Charles will be too much to handle.

            With one of the best home-field advantages in the league, the Arrowhead crowd will keep Oakland’s Carson Palmer-led “attack” off balance all day.

Chiefs 20-10.

New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys

            Dallas looked awwwwfully unimpressive in their near-loss to the Panthers, while the Giants are coming off a dismantling of the 49ers and a containment of RGIII (an impressive feat). With the Cowboys continuing to prove their own mediocrity and lack of good coaching, the Giants may actually run away with this game, especially with Dallas potentially down their top two running backs. If Tony Romo has to throw the ball over 40 times, the Cowboys will lose this game.

            Considering the Giants have yet to lose in New Cowboys Stadium, Eli Manning should do enough to get revenge for week 1. Victor Cruz and the Giants salsa their way past the Cowboys in this one. Giants 28-20.

New Orleans Saints at Denver Broncos

            Both of these teams pass the ball a whole lot. Both of these teams have exposable defenses. We could be looking at an old fashioned Quarterback shootout here folks, and I anticipate Drew Brees will show up big in this one. Brees’ completion percentage actually increases on the road while his interceptions decrease. Both teams are coming off big wins last week, and the Saints look like a team on a mission to recover from that abysmal 0-4 start. Contrary to the opinions of many, I personally am still not sold on Peyton Manning and his noodle-armed wobbly throws. He may still be one of the smartest players in the game, but he is clearly not the physical marvel he once was (throwing the ball, that is.).

            The Saints embrace the Mile-High air and ride the arm of Drew Brees to their third consecutive W. Saints 34-28.

Game of the Week

Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles

           

            People may think Cowboys vs. Giants may be the game of the week, but my football genius self says no! How often do you get to watch an extremely exciting-yet-inconsistent team hand an unbeaten their first loss??? Did I just give away my pick? Oh well. The Falcons may be the most overrated undefeated team in recent memory (besides the 2008 Bills after week 4), having barely squeaked out victories (at home, mind you) against the dreadful Raiders and Panthers. The Falcons only have (maybe) one impressive win on their resume, while the Eagles have wins over the Ravens (before their defense collapsed) and the Giants (quite possibly the best team in the NFL). When the Eagles are good, they’re really good, and when they’re bad, well we all know how that can be. Since Andy Reid took over as Head Coach of the Eagles, the team is a staggering 13-0 (!!!!) coming off byes. The Falcons have a tough matchup in this one, as their top receivers face two top-tier corners in Nnamdi and Rodgers-Cromartie. Matt Ryan will have precious little time to throw in the face of the Eagles pass rush, and when he does have time, his receivers will be covered (lets not even entertain the possibility of Michael “the Now-Slow Burner” Turner goes off. Until he does and I am proven wrong).

            If Michael Vick (somehow) refrains from turning the ball over and doing his best to give the game away, Andy Reid’s record after byes should jump to 14-0. Looking to prove something to the home fans, the Eagles hand the Falcons their first loss of the season. Eagles 24-19.

           

            So that’s it for my week 8 picks! Thanks for taking the time to read and check out all the other fantastic articles posted on our blog!