10.  Western Michigan @ Michigan – Do or die time for Rich Rod and company.  Anything less than a 2 TD win here only darkens the cloud of his short tenure in Ann Arbor   Prediction: Michigan 35, W. Mich. 13

9.  Baylor @ Wake Forest -  This game was a lopsided affair last year in favor of Wake 41-13.  This year it should be much closer.  Two of the most underrated QB’s in action>  Robert Griffin (Baylor) and Riley Skinner (Wake).  Prediction: Baylor 27, Wake Forest 21

8. Cincinnati @ Rutgers-  Last year’s Big East champ meets one of this year’s favorites.  The Knights lose some big play makers, but a solid secondary should help them contain Bearcat QB Tony Pike.  Prediction:  Rutgers 23, Cincinnati 20

7.  South Carolina @ NC State-  The Wolfpack are much improved this year, starting with QB Russell Wilson.  The question will be can he lead this team past one of the SEC’s stingiest defenses?  Homefield advantage wins this one.  Prediction: NC State 24, S. Carolina 23

6.  Nevada @ Notre Dame- OK Irish fans, let’s hear it.  How great you’ll be this year, how you’re BCS bound, how 10 wins is a “worst case scenario”.  I don’t buy it yet.  Nevada had the 5th overall offense in the nation last year.  Hope Charlie Weis has his team focused.  Prediction:  Notre Dame 37, Nevada 31

5.  Miami @ Florida State- Who would’ve thought we’d see the day that this became an unappealing matchup of two “has beens”?  The Seminoles are creeping back to relevance, but they’re still a few years away.  Miami may be light years away.  Prediction: Florida St. 37, Miami 24

4.  Oklahoma vs. BYU- No doubt the Cougars will be ready for this game.  At a “neutral” site, BYU has the chance to play lead in a big upset.  Max Hall can throw the ball, and the Sooners porous pass D is bound to give up some yards.  Look for a shootout.  Prediction: Oklahoma 45, BYU 35

3.  Oregon @ Boise St.-  Is there anyone out there that doesn’t root for the team with the Blue Turf?  Boise State has managed to be one of the top college programs NOT from a BCS conference.  Should be fun to see their D try to contain Oregon’s potent offense.  Prediction: Boise State 31, Oregon 26

2.  Georgia @ Oklahoma St.- The Dawgs defense will have their hands full with a Cowboy offense that managed 40.8 PPG last year.  All their playmakers return, making this trip for Georgia a rough one.  Prediction: Oklahoma St. 39, Georgia 29

1.  Alabama vs. Virginia Tech-  The prime time special will feature two programs coming off BCS bowl appearances.  VT lost starting RB Darren Evans about a month ago, but the D is still in tact.  Look for a close, low scoring affair that goes down to the wire.  Prediction: Va. Tech 23, Alabama 20

1) Less players.  The fact that the rosters were actually EXPANDED this year was absurd.  There are still plenty of guys who didn’t play or pitch.  Further more, let’s end the requirement that every team is represented.  Maybe just have home team representation mandatory.  Really, no one from the Pirates, Nationals, or A’s should’ve been on a roster.  25 player max on a roster is the way it is, and should be for this game as well.

2) Have the game on the weekend.  I understand the fact that it’s summer makes it less pertinent to have a gala of this magnitude on a Saturday, but really, it would make it better.  Maybe late afternoon on a Saturday, allowing players and their families to have a weekend off.  If for no other reason than the fact that 7 year old boys dying to see their favorite player bat in the 8th inning won’t have to stay up until 11:00 p.m. to do so.

3) End fan voting.  It’s pointless to have nonchalant  fans who don’t pay attention to baseball actually have a say in who the best players in the game are for the first half of the year.  The fact that Manny Ramirez was as high as he was in the voting was an absolute sham.  Also, to have fans vote batters but NOT pitchers is a tad hypocritical.  Have managers and players and a select few sportswriters vote players in.  That way you get a true feel as to who are the best players in the first half of the year.

4) Stop the homefield advantage nonsense.  Can you really put something that important on the line in an exhibition game?  No, you can’t.  That the Phillies chances of getting the home field advantage in the WS relies upon Heath Bell from the lowly Padres working a strong 8th inning is ridiculous.  Change it to the team that has the better record gets to claim stake to homefield.  It just makes sense.

Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers

Favre (left) has passed to torch to Rodgers, and he's done well with it thus far. (Photo courtesy of The Cheese Heads @ blogspot)

Rodgers is quickly proving to be the medicine for Packers’ fan’s going through Favre withdrawal. Many expected Rodgers to be decent, but he was much more than that in his first full season as a starter in 2008. Throwing for over 4,000 yards and 28 touchdowns, Rodgers also threw only 13 picks, a number that matched Favre’s career LOW in interceptions. Rodgers has great targets in Greg Jennings (the next superstar WR), Donald Driver (reliable No. 2), and Ryan Grant in the backfield. Rodgers may not have the need to pass as often this year with an improved Green Bay defense, but he’ll still be just as efficient (if not more so) and will put up similar TD numbers.

Tony Gonzalez, TE, Falcons

Gonzo will be the same beast he was in KC, but with a better QB. (Photo courtesy of nflgoddess.com)

No off-season acquisition, not even Housh to Seattle or Haynesworth to Washington, will have the impact that Tony Gonzalez to the Falcons will have. In 2008, Gonzo managed over 1,000 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns and had nearly 100 receptions. Did I mention that was all while playing for a team that used a combination of Tyler Thigpen and Brodie Croyle at quarterback? Now Gonzalez is with the Falcons, a team chock full of play makers and a young dynamo at QB. If you’re in a keeper league, Gonzalez’s age may be a bit of a concern (he’s 33). But in one year leagues, you can’t do much better at the tight end position than this guy. He’s always been a top 5 TE, and his move to the ATL only increases his stock.

Steve Slaton, RB, Texans

Slaton could be a top 5 RB by year's end, or higher. (Photo courtesy of Sports Illustrated)

Take a look back at the 2008 draft, and tell me which rookie RB led the league in rushing. Forte? Nope. McFadden? Not even close. Chris Johnson? Good guess, but you’d be wrong. It was Steve Slaton, the kid from West Virginia who, in the early summer of ‘08, was looking like he’d be third on the depth chart behind Ahman Green and Chris Brown. However, an early season injury to Green opened the door for Slaton, and all he did was rush for nearly 1,300 yards and 9 touchdowns. The stat line doesn’t end there for Slaton. He’s also a receiving threat, catching 50 balls for 377 yards. Now as the featured back going into the season, Slaton is sure to be a key part of an offense featuring Andre Johnson at WR. Look for Slaton to close in on 1,700 yards and possibly 14-16 touchdowns. Don’t be scared to grab him in the first round.

Dwayne Bowe, WR, Chiefs

Bowe will benefit from a new QB and the departure of Tony Gonzalez. (Photo courtesy of fanhouse.com)

It’s not often I say that Matt Cassel improves someone’s fantasy projections (in fact, this will probably be the only time). However, such is the case with Chiefs’ WR Dwayne Bowe. Last year, catching from the same QB carousel that Tony Gonzalez dealt with, Bowe managed 86 catches and over 1,000 yards receiving. Todd Haley comes to KC as the new coach, and we all know what he did running the Cardinal’s offense last year. Bowe has enough capable receivers around him to where he’s not forced to carry the workload, but he can expect to be the main target. Combine that with Cassel’s impressive stint as a starter for the Patriots last year, and you have perhaps the perfect storm. Bowe is worthy of being the first WR you take in the draft.

Jason Witten, TE, Cowboys

Sign him up: Witten is ready to be your dynasty TE superstar. (Photo courtesy of tristarproductions.com)

If the team chemistry in Dallas doesn’t improve with the departure of Terrell Owens, one thing’s for sure: Witten’s production is bound to increase big time. Last year, Antonio Gates was the only TE in the league targeted more times than Witten. Now with the largely disappointing Roy Williams as the only other recognizable receiving threat, expect the man crush Tony Romo has on his tight end to grow. Witten’s got great hands and is just as reliable in the red zone as anyone else in the league. It wouldn’t hurt to snatch him up even as early as late 3^rd round.

1.  The “Cardiac Cats” are Back

They aren’t making it look easy, but the Carolina Panthers are winning games, al be it in ugly fashion.  For the second straight week the Panthers struggled against a bad team, but still ended on the right side of the scoreboard, knocking off the winless Detroit Lions 31-22.  RBs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart combined for a team record 264 yards rushing against the Lions.  However, Jake Delhomme was held under 100 yards passing for the second straight week, a stat that can become troubling come playoff time.  Delhomme is a veteran, and more than likely he’ll get back on track.  Then again, if the dynamic duo at running back continues at this pace, Delhomme may not need to pass for 100+ to win.  Carolina is 7-3 and travels to Atlanta next week to play the gritty Falcons.

2.  Despite a still-injured pinkie and a Lame Coach, the Cowboys are Still Alive

As much of a cheeseball coach as Wade Phillips is, he still seems to manage to win ballgames.  Despite Tony Romo’s performance that showed some lingering affects of his pinkie injury, Dallas managed a 14-10 win over the rival Redskins Sunday night.  Hey, as long as Marion Barber can be a “Brandon Webb/Brad Lidge” kind of running back, the Cowboys will be in every game the rest of the way.  Barber scrapped for 66 4th quarter rushing yards, and basically put the game on ice by himself in the last 6 minutes.  The ‘Boys are 6-4, tied with the ‘Skins for second in the NFC East.

3.  The San Diego Chargers are the Most Underachieving Team in the NFL

If you had told me before the season started that the Chargers would have a healthy offense for the entire first half of the season and ony be 4-6 after week 11, I would’ve told you that your prediction was crazier than Al Davis being GM of the year.  But alas, here we are, playing Monday morning QB with the Chargers and wondering how they could lose this many games already?  The loss of Shawne Merriman early in the year ws big, but it wasn’t enough to implode BOTH sides of the ball.  And even with Ladanian Tomlinson running the ball, the Chargers still rank 26th in the league in rushing yards per game.  Ouch.  Not that losing to the Steelers by one point is embarassing, but we expected better.  The sad thing is in the absoultely awful AFC West, the Chargers are still alive.  The leader is the Denver Broncos at 6-4.  SD sits just 2 games back.

4.  The Texans are the best “bad” team I’ve seen in a while.

God bless the Houston Texans.  The not even a decade old franchise is ranked in the upper half of the league in points per game, yards per game, passing yards per game (they’re 5th), and rushing yards per game.  Still, they manage to lose games like Sunday’s 33-27 loss to the Colts because they have no idea how to close out games.  Sage Rosenfels has done well in place of the injured Matt Schaub, and Steve Slaton rolled up 156 yards rushing yesterday, tops in the league.  Still the Texans got outscored 24-14 in the second half, marking the fourth loss this year for the club that was determined by 7 points or less.  Still, the 3-7 Texans are playing well, and as soon as they figure how to NOT turn the ball over and close out games, they’ll be a team to keep an eye on in the future.

5.  The Tennessee Titans….really?

It boggles my mind that this team is still undefeated.  I’m not saying they’re not good, they’re just not a team predicated on perfection.  They’re relying on vagabond QB Kerry Collins to lead the charge, and so far he’s stepped up to the challenge.  However, the offense isn’t what wins games for this team, it’s the defense.  Giving up only 13 points a game (best in the league) will help any team win ball games.  I’m not convinced they’re the best in the NFL, but the Titans sure know how to win games so far. 

6.  In Terms of Immediate Impact, This May Be the Best Rookie Class Ever

The impact this rookie class is having on the league is proving to be one of the best we’ve seen in a while.  Two teams that struggled bad enough to have departing coaches last year have turned things around thanks to rookie QBs.  Of course I’m talking about Joe Flacco for the Ravens and Matt Ryan for the Falcons.  As for running backs, there are 5 rookies that are already over 500 yards rushing on the year, none with the last name McFadden.  Chris Johnson (Titans), Matt Forte (Bears), Steve Slaton (Texans), Kevin Smith (Lions), and Jonathan Stewart (Panthers) are all over 500 yards on the year running the ball, and none of them have less than 4 TDs.  And lastly, while rookie WRs aren’t always known for making a big splash in their first year, a few have.  Eddie Royal (Broncos) and DeSean Jackson (Eagles) are already over 600 yards receiving.  Throw in a couple of nice TEs (Dustin Keller, Jets, and John Carlson, Seahawks) that have over 27 receptions and 300 yards each, then you’ve got an impressive rookie class.

7.  Ties Suck, but so do the Bengals and Eagles

It blows my mind how Donovan McNabb throws 3 picks for the first time since 2006, and yet the Bengals can’t win.  It also blows my mind how the Bengals are 23rd in the league in run defense, yet the Eagles only hand Brian Westbrook the ball 14 times.  Bottom line from Sunday’s 13-13 tie at Paul Brown Stadium is that the Bengals desperately need a running game, and the Eagles desperately need a big-name wide receiver.  Simple as that.

8.  The Greed of the NFL Pisses Me Off Sometimes

Look, I want to make money as much as the next guy.  Believe me, I do.  I work in sales.  I understand the continual drive to obtain wealth.  However, when I miss two of the most exciting games in the NFL this season because I don’t subscribe to the NFL Channel, I get a little upset.  It’s not enough to force me into 2, maybe 3 games viewable on Sunday afternoon, now I must pay X amount of Benjamins just to see an occasional Thursday night game?  Why?  And furthermore, who are these morons paying for the NFL Network?  Is it really worth seeing preseason games and constant replays of last week’s games?  I don’t think so. 

9.  How Underrated is the NFC South?

The preseason favorite by many prognosticators to win the division was the Saints, who sit dead last.  However, they hold a record of 5-5, one that would make them tied for first in the NFC North.  The hapless Falcons who just a year ago began life without Michael Vick sit at a comfy 6-4 thanks to brilliant acquisitions of Michael Turner and Matt Ryan via the draft.  The Bucs, who won the division last year, are 7-3, and still not good enough to be first.  That spot belongs to Carolina at 8-2.  Yet the media love affair with Romo and the Cowboys and the Brady-less Patriots has caused great disillusion amongst NFL fans, distracting them from what will be the best divisional race in the NFL, if for no other reason than the fact that all the teams are actually good.

Ah yes…another exciting weekend of football is upon us.  The Pine Rider once again showed his prognosticating prowess last week, despite the Buckeyes taking their “Paris Hilton” frustration out on Michigan State.  Upset picks of BC over VT and TCU over BYU helped my cause in a week where only 4 picks went astray (thanks a lot Wahoos, for showing up to a football game). 

On to the picks….

#12 Boise State at San Jose St.

This could be the possible “good game no one knows about” game of the weekend.  Both are undefeated in the WAC.  The Spartans get the Broncs at home, the only problem is their 94th in the nation in scoring, which leads us to believe Ian Johnson alone may beat San Jose.

Boise St. 24, San Jose St. 10

#8 Texas Tech at #23 Kansas

The Red Raiders tick me off.  Every year they somehow sneak their way up the polls pummeling opponents with a video game offense.  Texas Tech hasn’t played a ranked team all year, and now they get a true test at Kansas.  Go ahead and mark the Raiders down to not win again until November 29.

Kansas 34, Texas Tech 28

Eastern Michigan at #20 Ball St.

Pay attention to Nate Davis, the #9 passer in the nation.  Ball State should end undefeated, and while they stand no chance of a BCS berth, it’s still a good story.  Just spare us any more David Letterman references.

Ball St. 38, E. Michigan 13

#22 Northwestern at Indiana

A crushing win over Purdue brought some legitimacy to a Wildcat team that, honestly, hasn’t deserved a top 25 ranking.  Their win over Iowa a few weeks ago looks a bit more impressive.  They should handly a Hoosier squad that really isn’t playing up to their potential.

Northwestern 35, Indiana 27

#24 Minnesota at Purdue

Speaking of teams undeserving of the top 25, enter Minnesota.  A nice win at Illinois last week pushed this team into unchartered territory, and I don’t expect them there long.  Purdue’s not very good, especially on defense, but QB Curtis Painter finds a way to keep the Gophers winless at Purdue since 1990.

Purdue 27, Minnesota 24

#4 Oklahoma at Kansas St.

Sam Bradford was seen salivating at practice Thursday.  Why?  Someone told him Kansas State has the 93rd ranked pass defense in the nation.  What’s the over/under on passing yardage for the Sooners in this one, 450? 

Oklahoma 45, Kansas St. 17

Kentucky at #10 Florida

Were it not for a loss to Ole Miss at home this year, I would mark this one as a trap game for Tim Tebow and company.  Kentucky has a stellar defense, but remains very lackluster on offense.  Add to that RB Derrick Locke is out for the season for the ‘Cats, it makes this into an uphill battle from the start.

Florida 28, Kentucky 10

UNLV at #21 BYU

THUD!  That was the sound of BYU’s football team crashing back down to reality.  After getting straight punched in the mouth by TCU, the Cougs look to rebound against a UNLV team that gives up over 32 points a game.  Hey, at least BYU gets to start back up a winning streak.

BYU 34, UNLV 20

#6 Oklahoma State at #1 Texas

I guess ESPN Gameday figured it’d look bad to be in Texas 3 straight weeks, but really THIS is the best game of the day.  Colt McCoy is leading an offense that scores nearly 50 points a game against a D that only gives up about 20.  I can’t figure out why nobody is talking about RB Kendall Hunter from the Cowboys (6.3 yards per carry).  After this game, they will be.

Oklahoma State 35, Texas 33

 #7 Georgia at #13 LSU

These two survived stiff tests last week, and now they get to grind it out against each other.  A loss for LSU would be more costly, as it would likely drop them 2 games behind Alabama in the West.  Georgia will rely heavily on Matthew Stafford to control this game. 

LSU 23, Georgia 20

#16 South Florida at Louisville

It’s unusual to look at the Big East standings and see the Cardinals near the bottom, but there they sit, just above Syracuse.  The good news is they get the Bulls at home, where they’ve handled USF pretty well.  Hunter Cantwell is a quality leader, and may help Kragthorpe pull the upset here.

Louisville 34, USF 31

Virginia at #18 Georgia Tech

Year after year in the ACC, there’s always a team that’s impossible to figure out.  Yes Virginia fans, it’s your team.  How you lose to UConn and Duke by a combined 68 points only to turn around and win 3 straight including last week’s upset of then #18 UNC is beyond me.  Interesting note: UVa has lost only once when Cedric Peerman has scored a touchdown.  Get him the ball, wear down the Tech D, and you’ve got a chance.

Virginia 17, Georgia Tech 14

Virginia Tech at #25 Florida St.

For the sake of the ACC, this needs to be a good game.  If it’s lopsided in any way, the loser is pinned with the “lame ACC team” tag a la Miami and Clemson.  Like every other ACC team, FSU has a strange loss on their record.  Still, look for a good solid game by both teams.

Florida St. 19, Va. Tech 17

Wyoming at #14 TCU

Wyoming has scored 63 points total this season.  TCU allows 10 points a game.  You do the math.

TCU 33, Wyoming 0

Colorado at #15 Missouri

The Tigers are reeling after back-to-back losses.  Look for Chase Daniel and company to get back to their winning ways and cruise to their Nov. 29 meeting with Kansas.

Mizzou 30, Colorado 16

#2 Alabama at Tennessee

If Eric Berry could play QB, RB, WR, and kicker, I’d give the Vols a shot.  This will be a close one just based on it’s great rivalry and tradition.  In the end, the better coach comes out the winner, and that coach is Nick Saban.

Alabama 26, Tennessee 20

#3 Penn St. at #9 Ohio St.

Penn State may very well be the best team in the nation.  They win by an average of 33 points, and have given up more than 17 points in a game only once.  The question is can Daryll Clark handle the frenetic atmosphere of the Horseshoe?  Then again, can Tyrelle Pryor of the Bucks handle the pressure of such a big game?

Penn St. 27, Ohio St. 17

#5 USC at Arizona

USC has a defense that is stacked with future NFL players.  Arizona can keep this one close, and if they do so into the 4th quarter, they certainly can upset USC.  But the Trojans have felt the upset sting once, and likely won’t let it happen again.

USC 39, Arizona 17

UCF at #19 Tulsa

I’m giving UCF the upset just out of pure irritation that Tulsa would schedule a game on a Sunday night, knowing that time slot is reserved for the NFL.

UCF 26, Tulsa 24

The reality of this year so far for Herm Edwards and his Kansas City Chiefs’ squad is an ugly one.  The team is dead last in the AFC in passing, mostly due to the musical chairs at quarterback.  Forget the childhood game, it’s been more like Russian Roulette, but every turn finds a bullet piercing deeper into the bare fact that KC doesn’t have a quarterback.  Brodie Croyle, Damon Huard, and Tyler Thigpen are combining to give the Chiefs 897 yards passing, just ranking them above the Seahawks paltry 761 yards passing.  On top of that, the Chiefs only have 4 passing TDs compared to 8 interceptions. 

It’s safe to say the front office in KC can start looking ahead to the 2009 Draft.  This team is more needy than a naked man in a snowstorm at almost every position, but perhaps none more so than at QB.  So who are the top prospects that can lead the Chiefs back into the glory of throwing the ball downfield (something the Chiefs have done a total of only 9 times this year past 20 yards)?  Let’s take a look.

The OBVIOUS

Tim Tebow, Florida, 6′3, 240

Tebow showed last year what all the hype was about before he stepped onto campus in Gainesville.  Throwing for over 3,200 yards and 32 touchdowns and a meager 6 inteceptions, Tebow became the first sophomore in NCAA history to win the Heisman.  His stock may have dropped a bit this year.  He’s certainly not putting up the gaudy numbers he did last year.  However, that’s because he’s become more reliant on the talent around him.  He’s still efficient, rarely making mistakes.  Through 6 games this year, Tebow’s thrown only one pick.  He’s tossed 10 TDs while running for 3 more.  Not on track to match last year’s numbers, but he’s proven his toughness with tremendous running ability not often seen by QBs of his size and stature.  Tebow is only a junior, but would seemingly have little need to come back for his senior year.  He’s got a national title, he’s got a SEC title, and he’s got a Heisman.  He could do wonders in KC if they also give him an O-line to protect him.

Tim Tebow already looks happy in a red jersey.

Chase Daniel, Missouri, 6′0, 225

Missouri’s rise in the football world comes from the arm of Chase Daniel.  Already throwing for over 2,300 yards and 18 TDs, Daniel is guiding the TIgers to a potential Big 12 championship.  His completion percentage and passer rating having both risen each of the past three years.  This year he’s also upped his yards-per-attempt average to 9.5 yards, due in part to talented big guys to throw to.  Jeremy Maclin and tight end Chase Coffman (Tony Gonzalez-esque, anyone?) have provided big targets for Daniel to throw to.  If there were any drawbacks to Daniel, his performance seems to drop a bit on the big stage.  In a huge game a few weeks ago against Oklahoma State, Daniel threw for 390 yards and a touchdown.  However, he also threw 3 costly picks, and Mizzou ended up losing 28-23.  Regardless, Daniel seems to excel when you give him someone to throw to, and KC has at least a few good targets.

Matthew Stafford, Georgia, 6′3, 237

Matthew Stafford has an absolute cannon for an arm.  Already with nearly 1,700 yards in a run-oriented offense, Stafford has proven his skills with his ability to find any receiver downfield.  He’s thrown 10 TDs this year, and only 5 picks. 

Colt McCoy, Texas, 6′3, 210

The third junior on the list, McCoy has played this year more like a man with a mission to go out on top.  He has simply staggering statistics (say that three times fast) for a junior QB.  1,894 yards, 19 TDs, only 3 interceptions, and a passer rating over 190.  And as if his arm wasn’t enough, his legs are doing a lot of work too.  He’s got nearly 400 rushing yards on the year for 6 TDs, and averages over 5 yards a carry.  In only one game this year has McCoy had a completion percentage under 70%.  The kid is simply amazing.  Question is, can he do this at the next level?

It's no joke: Colt McCoy is for real.

The top 25 finds a new king upon it’s throne this week.  After a huge upset win over Oklahoma, Texas received more votes than anyone, despite how Lou Holtz feels about Colt McCoy.  

On top of that, we learn that while OU isn’t the best team in the nation, they may not even be the best team in their own state!  Their bitter rivals from Stillwater went into Missouri and stunned the Tigers, and that capped the first weekend in a long time that we haven’t been buried with SEC talk.  But, the Gators are lurking…

Now, on to this weekend’s action…

#9 BYU at TCU

How ESPN is showing a lame ACC game over this one tonight I’ll never know, but make no bones about it: BYU and TCU will be a classic.  BYU was held to just 21 points last week, their lowest single-game point total of the season.  TCU brings in the best defense in the nation.  Looking at the history of Thursday night games for ranked teams, this one’s leaning the Horned Frogs way.

TCU 27, BYU 20

Hawaii at #15 Boise State

The Rainbows…errr….Warriors tripped me up a few weeks back by stunning everyone with a win over Fresno State on the road.  I’m still not convinced enough by the June Jones-less Hawaii squad to think they’ll pull another shocker here.

Boise St. 31, Hawaii 20

#7 Texas Tech at Texas A&M

My reservations on the Red Raiders were validated last week after they needed to go into OT to beat Nebraska.  Texas Tech may be in the top 10 nationally, but they may not even be in the top 5 of their own conference.  That said, they handle a really, really awful Aggie team with ease.

Texas Tech 52, Texas A&M 17

Syracuse at #19 S. Florida

If I had to put money down on which college coach would be the first fired this year, my pick would’ve likely been Greg Robinson from Syracuse.  The once proud Orange team has now replaced Temple’s old spot as Big East doormat.  USF took a step backwards against Pitt a few weeks ago, but they should be very effective with Matt Groethe moving the ball down the field.

USF 34, Syracuse 14

#21 Wake Forest at Maryland

With conference wins over Florida State and Clemson, the Demon Deacs know they’ve got the inside track to get back to the ACC title game.  Maryland has been perhaps the most inconsistent team in football.  Take Riley Skinner and the Deacs to win a big one on the road.

Wake Forest 20, Maryland 17

#22 Vanderbilt at @10 Georgia

Vandy was finally exposed as a fraud last week against Mississippi State (a game I predicted correctly).  They’ve got a solid defense and can win with turnovers, but they just don’t have the athletes to match up with the bigger SEC schools.  Give me Knowshon Moreno and company by a touchdown.

Georgia 20, Vandy 13

Colorado St. at #14 Utah

The only game in which Utah scored less than 30 points this year was their opening week win voer Michigan.  They’ve got all cylinders clicking right now, and it may take a feisty BYU team in the final week to beat them, because the Rams won’t do it Saturday.

Utah 42, Colorado St. 14

Baylor at #8 Oklahoma St.

Perhaps even more shocking than the Sooners’ loss Saturday was Oklahoma State’s win over Mizzou.  Kendall Hunter is bringing flashbacks to another Cowboy RB great from year’s past by the name of Barry Sanders.  Baylor hasn’t beaten OSU since 1939.

Oklahoma St. 48, Baylor 17

Ole Miss at #2 Alabama

What a prickly game to pick!  The Rebs bust down Tim Tebow in the Swamp, and yet lose at home to Steve “I can’t ever decide on a quaterback” Spurrier?  Well, this game could easily look like Bama’s last game against Kentucky, but higher scoring.

Alabama 28, Ole Miss 24

#16 Kansas at #4 Oklahoma

Kansas, as talented as they are, doesn’t have what it takes to win this one.  Sam Bradford is a phenomonal QB and will have 300-plus yards easy in this one.

Oklahoma 41, Kansas 20

#6 USC at Washington State

The last time the Trojans went to the great Northwest, Oregon State shocked them.  Washington State is no Oregon State.

USC 39, WSU 7

#12 Ohio St. at #20 Michigan St.

The winner of this game stays in the Big 10 hunt with Penn State.  Javon Ringer is having a sensational year, but the Spartans defense isn’t too bad either, giving up just over 16 points a game.  Ohio State is the Paris Hilton of college football: looks all pretty on the outside, but there’s no real depth or substance to them.  I like the Spartans in a mild upset.

Michigan St. 26, Ohio St. 23

#18 North Carolina at Virginia

A trap game for Butch Davis and company.  Already without their starting QB, word came down Monday that one of the Heels’ leading wideouts Brandon Tate is done for the year.  That kind of stuff can grind on a team’s morale, but not one lead by Butch Davis.  He’ll have his boys ready to play.

UNC 24, Virginia 17

#23 Pittsburgh at Navy

Navy can cause all kinds of frustrations for a defense.  Pitt, fresh off upsetting South Florida, looks to regain that swagger they had in the preseason.  LeSean McCoy should be able to rush for 100 plus here, and help pull out a close one.

Pitt 25, Navy 20

Michigan at #3 Penn State

It was just a few years ago when a loss to Michigan cost Penn State a shot at the BCS title game.  Unheralded QB Daryll Clark is playing lights out, and so is the Nittany Lion defense.  After this one, expect those “Fire Rich Rod” websites to be filling up even more.

Penn St. 31, Michigan 3

#11 Missouri at #1 Texas

The Big 12 this year is like a breeding ground for Heisman-caliber quarterbacks.  Expect another offensive explosion as Missouri’s Chase Daniel and Texas’ Colt McCoy light up the scoreboard.  Last one to get the ball wins.

Texas 44, Mizzou 38

#13 LSU at South Carolina

You can expect the Boys from the Bayou got a good workout from Les Miles this week after that embarrassing performance against Florida.  The defense they’ll face in Columbia is just as stingy.  The Gamecocks will rely on first-time starter Stephen Garcia to lead their passing attack.  Closer game than the experts think.

LSU 21, S. Carolina 20

#17 Virginia Tech at Boston College

The Hokies haven’t lost since that opening game special teams debacle against East Carolina.  Chris Crange is making Eagles’ fans forget all about Matt Ryan.  In a game that flies under the radar, take the Eagles in an upset.

Boston College 27, Va. Tech 24

#25 California at Arizona

Cal is playing to win the Pac-10, Arizona is playing to keep Mike Stoops from being unemployed.  Close game, but the Bears pull it out.

Cal 34, Arizona 27

All season we’ve been told by various media outlets and football analysts that the NFC East is hands down the best division in the NFL.  This weekend may have changed all that, with 3 of the 4 teams getting handed embarrassing losses.

We’ll start in D.C., where despite out-gaining the Rams by nearly 200 yards, the Redskins still managed to lose to a previously winless St. Louis Rams team 19-17.  The key stat was the three turnovers by the ‘Skins, one of which was a fumble returned 85 yards by Rams DB Osi Atogwe.  Sure, Clinton Portis had another big game, and Jason Campbell played efficient enough, but it wasn’t enough to fend off a late Rams drive that allowed Josh Brown to nail a 49 yard field goal to win it.  The Redskins came into the game tops in the NFC East, coming off two straight impressive road wins against Dallas and Philly.  Washington plays host to the Cleveland Browns next week.

Speaking of the Browns, how do they show to everyone they’re not really as bad as the way they’ve been playing thus far?  How about pick off Eli Manning three times, control the clock, and rack up over 450 yards of offense on one of the league’s stingiest defenses?  Manning managed just 196 yards and one TD, struggling constantly with various defensive looks from Crennel’s Browns.  Kudos go out to whichever trainer found the smelling salts to put under the noses of Derek Anderson and Braylon Edwards who connected 5 different times for 154 yards and a touchdown.  Anderson finished 18-29, 310 yards, and 2 touchdowns.  People all year have talked about the Giants being a good team, but also would mention the fact that they haven’t really played many stellar opponents.  They’ve battled the Redskins, Rams, Bengals, and Seahawks before tonight.  All wins, but not really a schedule to write home about.  Include the Browns in that list, and those 5 opponents combined are 8-19. 

Down in Glendale, Arizona, games featuring the Cowboys typically have fans split down the middle between the home team and “America’s Team”.  The Cardinals are getting a little more love from the locals, and that’s sure to continue after their thrilling 30-24 OT win over the ‘Boys on Sunday.  Looking at the stats, there’s no way Dallas should’ve lost this game.  They gained 100 more total yards than the Cards.  They had the ball 5:30 more.  They had 2 less turnovers, and had a great performance from Tony Romo.  Yet still, despite a big 4^th quarter comeback, even the Cowboys know how to refuse the Heimlich Maneuver and choke a game away.  Fine if you lose in OT by a field goal.  But you just don’t get a blocked punt returned for a TD in OT.  That kind of stuff only happens in college.  Oh, and let’s not forget Kurt Warner continuing his impressive year, and Steve Breaston coming up huge, catching 8 passes for 102 yards and a touchdown in place of injured Anquan Boldin.  More bad news for Cowboys’ fans: Romo is out the next month, Marion Barber is out 2-4 weeks, and yes, even your punter is out with a fractured foot.  Guess which play THAT injury happened on?

And then there are the Eagles.  Yes, I know Philly won Sunday, but their ugly exposure came the two weeks prior, losing back-to-back to Chicago and Washington in games they frankly had no business losing.  And while the Eagles were obviously the best NFC East team this week, they don’t get to play San Fran every week from here on out.  The good news is they’ve got a bye coming up, so perhaps Brian Westbrook can get semi-back to his dominant self.  It would be crazy to think Donovan McNabb can carry this team on his own.  And DeSean Jackson might try to, but he’d spike it before he got into the end zone anyway. 

I have to admit in recent years I haven’t been much of a NBA fan.  Every since my favorite player of all time (Shawn Kemp) became irrelevant, my favorite team left town (Charlotte Hornets), and the strike in the late 90’s, the NBA has become like the ex-girlfriend that every now and then when you’re bored you think about calling her up, but then remember the reason you left her in the first place, and you put the phone back down.

But I’m determined after watching some of the playoffs last year that I might just be missing out on a good thing here.  The stars of my childhood are gone (Jordan, Malone, Barkley, Bird) and while I may never see today’s players in their same light, there’s actually a lot to be excited about in the NBA.  Here are 10 things I plan on looking for this year.

1.  Can Greg Oden make the Blazers a playoff team?

Perhaps the most glaring absence from last year’s season occured before the year even began.  When Greg Oden got injured in the preseason, the hopes of the Blazers to jump back into Western Conference relevance were delayed a year. 

The Blazers have steadily improved over the last three years, balancing things out last year for a 41-41 record.  Brandon Roy led the team in scoring, and surprising LaMarcus Aldridge stepped up in a big way to help out with the lack of inside presence.  Adding to that was Joel Przybilla, who started 67 games and grabbed 8-plus boards a game.  There’s a lot of talk coming into the season about Rudy Fernandez and his “under the radar” talent that is certain to help relieve some of the pressure from Roy, if nothing else but to give him a breather or two down the stretch in games.

However, Oden is going to be the face of this franchise.  He has to be.  So much was built up around him before last year, that now fans and media have had a whole year on top of that to analyze what he might do on the court.  As tough as the West is, if Oden plays to his potential, and Roy and Aldridge continue their solid play, there’s no reason Portland can’t be a playoff team.

2.  Was last year’s Celtics squad a one-time fantasy or the beginning of a dynasty?

Anyone who follows the NBA had to be happy for Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce last season.  Garnett suffered and persevered through many tough seasons in Minnesota, and Pierce did the same in Boston.  However, a casual outsider couldn’t help but feel like the Celtics had become a bit much like the New York Yankees with their attempt to “buy a championship.”  Still, it brought a feeling of nostalgia having an Eastern team be that dominant, much like the Jordan-Pippen era of the 90’s.  Of course, they won 6 titles.  How many can this current Celtics team win?

First, look at the big 3.  Garnett, Pierce, and Ray Allen are 32, 31 (on Oct. 13), and 33 respectively.  As far as NBA age goes, those aren’t necessarily “old” guys, but they ain’t gettin’ any younger either.  Throw in Sam Cassell who looks like he’s old enough to be any of the big 3’s dad, and you’ve got a longevity issue.  Now, there is talent on the bench.  Doc Rivers has to be happy with what he saw from Eddie House and Glen “Big Baby” Davis down the stretch last year.  Leon Powe will be counted on break Garnett as needed, and Rajon Rondo must continue to impress.  He could be set for a big year again, but of course will be overshadowed in star-studded Boston.

The Celtics took a huge gamble on Darius Miles, who has already been suspended 10 games for violation the league’s drug policy.  If he can finally live up to his potential by allowing the stars around him to make himself better, then he can contribute in a big way.  The Celtics certainly seemed poised for a second straight title.  Lucky for them, they play in the Eastern conference.

3.  Can Tracy McGrady finally get past the first round of the playoffs?

With a healthy Yao Ming, the Rockets can matchup well against anyone in the West.  Now that they’ve acquired Ron Artest, they bulk up their bench as well, considering either Artest or Shane Battier will be playing a bit of a “sixth man” role.  Rafer Alston had a nice season last year, and looks to maintain his productivity at the point.  Aside from Yao, however, this team may rely on the health of Steve Francis.  If he can return fully from his quad injury and surgery, then the Rockets have perhaps one of the deepest benches on the league.  But the health of Yao Ming cannot be overstated in it’s importance.  There’s really no good backup for Yao, the one spot lacking coming off the bench.  Luis Scola is a nice rebounder, but he’s not a center.  Many wonder why the Rockets didn’t address a backup center in the draft.  It could be a move that comes back to haunt them.

4.  Are the Heat really that bad, and will they still be this year?

Boy how things can change in the span of a few years.  It was 2006 when the Heat were parading down the streets of Miami with the NBA championship trophy.  Last year, however, they matched their worst season ever as a franchise. 

Things should turn around this year as long as Dwyane Wade can stay healthy.  Miami unloaded Shaquille O’Neal last year and got a steal with receiving Shawn Marion for the big guy.  Add onto that the number 2 pick in the draft Michael Beasley, and this team is an immediate playoff caliber squad.  The big question is at the point guard spot, where Chris Quinn will likely be given the nod.  Don’t be surprised if Mario Chalmers and Marcus Banks challenge for it themselves, however.

5.  Are the Lakers the team the beat in the West?

There’s so much to like about the Lakers, it can almost make the typical anti-Kobe fan put down his glass of haterade and admire.  The addition of Pau Gasol early in the year was the best move made by any team, and it certainly paid off with a trip to the Finals.  Now that Andrew Bynum has had time to recover from his injuries, the Lakers are poised to be every bit as deadly as last year.  There’s manageable depth at every position, and the best player in the league still holding the “you can’t win a title without Shaq” chip on his shoulder.  Anything short of a title will be a disappointment for this team.

6.  Who will end the year with the best shot at Tyler Hansbrough?

I don’t think it’s too far-reaching of an assumption that Tyler Hansbrough, the outstanding big man from UNC, will be the #1 pick next year in the draft.  The question is, who’s gonna get him?  While certainly it would be fun to see him stay in the Carolinas and play for Charlotte, I think the Bobcats will manage to avoid the NBA cellar.  Perhaps the two likliest candidates are the Thunder and the Grizzlies.  Both teams lack serious depth, and both franchises have stability issues.  It will take some time for the Thunder to find their true identity in Oklahoma City.  As long as the Grizzlies have been in Memphis, they still haven’t found their identity.  I won’t be surprised to see that franchise moved in the next 5-7 years.

7.  Which rookies will live up to the hype?

I think right off you have to believe Michael Beasley will be huge in Miami.  He’s got the luxury few others drafted in the top ten of getting to play right away for a contender.  Wade and Marion will only make Beasley better.  If O.J. Mayo can beat out Mike Conley for the starting point guard job in Memphis, he could have a big impact.  Robin Lopez will be given a great opportunity to learn under Shaquille O’Neal in Phoenix, and still get plenty of playing time.  Their potent offense will involve him right away.  Derrick Rose will have some impact, but doesn’t come in as a guaranteed starter.  Hinrich still will hold that spot much of the year unless Rose really shows he’s got what it takes.

8.  Will the Knicks continue to be the laughing stock of the NBA?

When Isiah Thomas was removed from the coaching job in New York, it was almost as if a collective “finally!” echoed across the northeast by Knicks fans.  Mike D’Antoni comes in, leading a dominate Suns team for the past several years.  That’s the good news.  The bad news is that he’ll have basically the same old Knicks roster to work with.  It’s not that the talent’s not there, it’s been more an issue of chemistry and heart.  D’Antoni won’t turn this team into a winner overnight, but he just might remove them from David Letterman’s nightly monologue, and that’s a start.

9.  Does Baron Davis make the Clippers a playoff team?

The problem with the Clippers isn’t that they’re not a good team, it’s the fact that there are just so many better teams in the West.  In their own division, the Clippers can’t match talent-wise what the Lakers and Suns have.  Plus, much to Baron’s dismay, Elton Brand up and left what was a sure thing for a playoff run.  Davis can make things interesting, but it sure would be nice to have a recognizable sidekick to go along with him.

10.  Which coaching change will turn out to be the best move?

I’ve already mentioned the D’Antoni hire, which is MUCH better than what was there before, but I’m not sure it will be the best move of all.  Larry Brown was a smart hire in Charlotte with his Carolina ties, but you never know what kind of longevity you’ll see with him.  I’m not sure Michael Curry is going to bring anything to that group of veterans on Detroit that Flip Saunders didn’t have before.  The one move I actually really like?  Rick Carlisle to the Mavericks.  He’s a proven winner in his other stops, and Cuban had to make a change despite Avery Johnson’s successes there.

Week 6 Picks (Last week: 9-7, Overall: 9-7)

Ok, so my first week didn’ go quite as well as planned.  Sure, I got more right than wrong, and I did call the Bama upset of UGa, but missed badly on USC, Wake, Clemson, and Florida, among others. 

Pitt at #10 South Florida

The Panthers certainly must be one of the most underachieving teams thus far.  LeSean McCoy is a great back, but you wouldn’t know it by the dismal year Pitt has had thus far.  South Florida wins this conference matchup. USF 35, Pitt 20

Oregon St. at #15 Utah

Trap game???  Possibly.  We all know what OSU did to USC last week.  Now they travel away from Reser Stadium to play an undefeated Utah team.  A nailbiter to the end.  Utah 28, Oregon St. 24

#8 BYU at Utah St.

How insanely good is BYU’s offense?  Try 482 YPG, scoring 43 PPG.  THe D ain’t bad either, giving up only 11 PPG.  Cougs win big.  BYU 49, Utah St. 12

#6 Penn St. at Purdue

Questions abound in my head when considering the winner of this game.  The obvious choice is the Nittany Lions, who are making defenses look like a mid-90’s Jim Carrey movie…just plain silly.  Their numbers look even better than BYU’s.  Still, Purdue isn’t a pushover.  They forced Oregon into OT.  Yes, they looked bad against Notre Dame last week, but they still have Curtis Painter, one of the top QBs in the Big 10.  My heart says Purdue gets the upset, my head says Penn State.  Always go with the logical side.   Penn St. 36, Purdue 28

#1 Oklahoma at Baylor

The only interesting bet in this game is how long do the Sooners starters stay in.  Oklahoma 63, Baylor 10

#12 Florida at Arkansas

Florida, still shell-shocked from last week’s stunning loss to Ole Miss, won’t dare repeat that.  Arkansas is just plain awful, perhaps the worst in the SEC.  Couldn’t happen to a slimier coach (Bobby Petrino).  Florida 31, Arkansas 13

#16 Kansas at Iowa St.

If Kansas wants to be looked at as a school that has sports beyond basketball, they need to continue winning the easy games.  This should be just that.  But be prepared Jayhawk fans: you play 4 top ten teams over the next 2 months.  Kansas 38, Iowa St. 12

Western Kentucky at #20 Virginia Tech

Beamer ball is back, and VT is looking like the class of the ACC again. VT 40, WKU 10

Kentucky at #2 Alabama

How good is the Crimson Tide?  They start more freshmen than anyone else in the country, and still have managed to beat two top ten teams by decisive margins.  Oh, and they haven’t trailed in a game this season.  Bama 31, Kentucky 17

#7 Texas Tech at Kansas St.

The Red Raiders are topping 572 yards per game of offense.  Meanwhile, Kansas State is checking to see if Darren Sproles has any eligibility left.  Texas Tech 51, Kansas St. 24

#13 Auburn at #19 Vanderbilt

This could be the first trip ever where College Gameday has gone to a school whose law program is ranked higher than their football team.  Vandy looks like typical Vandy, but now they’ve learned how to close games out.  Auburn has a nasty D, but it’s offense is more lame than a Carrot Top routine.  Vandy 17, Auburn 13

#24 UConn at North Carolina

Butch Davis has Heels fans actually focusing on football and not “Late Night with Roy Williams”.  UConn boasts Donald Brown, the nation’s top rusher.  This should be one of the better games on Saturday, and no one is paying any attention to it.  N. Carolina 27, UConn 21

Texas A&M at #21 Oklahoma St.

It’s not so much that I think the Cowboys are a good team, it’s more so that I KNOW the Aggies are a horrible team.  Oklahoma St. 44, Texas A&M 21

#5 Texas at Colorado

Colt McCoy sure is a heck of a runner for a QB.  Texas has looked pretty solid in all phases of the game.  The Buffs haven’t.  Longhorns win, but it’s closer than the experts think.  Texas 31, Colorado 24

#23 Oregon at #9 USC

I don’t see USC losing back to back games to Oregon teams.  USC will be fired up for this one.       USC 38, Oregon 21

#14 Ohio State at #18 Wisconsin

Wisconsin had Michigan beat last week.  But when you turn the ball over, bad things happen.  You cannot, if you’re the Badgers, turn the ball over Saturday night.  Ohio St. 27, Wisconsin 24

#4 Missouri at Nebraska

Many people are calling for an upset here, but I’m telling you it won’t happen.  If the Huskers allow 35 points to an average Virginia Tech offense last week, they’ll give up 40 easy to Mizzou.

Missouri 41, Nebraska 23

Hawaii at #22 Fresno St. 

No June Jones, no Colt Brennan, and no win over a D-1 school for Hawaii.  Give me the Bulldogs.  Fresno St. 42, Hawaii 14