I usually dont start talking about college basketball until after the new year (You're gonna love my spec sheet around tourney time) But I had to weigh in on reading that the Big East is expanding its tourney for the 08-09 season to include all 16 teams. To this, I give a hearty thumbs down. "But Bandit." You ask quizzically "Your beloved Bearcats were felina non grata (Cat not welcome) at the Big East tourney last year after finishing 15th of 16 teams. At least your team could go to New York." To that, I have always liked the tourneys that do not include all league members. True it precludes an out of nowhere run my a lower echelon team, but I've always said earn your way in during the regular season. The Pac 10 only allows its top 8 teams in, something I wish the Big Ten would do. I have no real beef with the SEC's tourney setup since they have divisions. But I like the "you have to earn it to get in it mentality."
Nice warmup games we're seeing. Ohio State thumpin' Findlay in their season open...what??? They got beat? In Columbus? Whaaaat? Oh well, Kentucky rolled up a nice win against Gardner-Webb in the 2nd round of the Coaches vs Cancer and a re headed to New...wait a minute, see what had had happened was...you're telling this scribe that they got beat badly in the hallowed halls of Rupp??? (They did 84-68 )Damn, ya'll can't blame Tubba Smiff for this loss. I betcha Wildcat Nation is still trying to figure out who and where Gardner-Webb is (A small school from the Atlantic Sun conference in Boiling Springs North Carolina). Considering that this happened to two teams with haughtier and mouthy fans, Im loving this!
Since we're on the subject of college...
Back by popular demand, or just because I love to do the analysis, here's a list of games that you should be watching. Not only am I going to tell you the games that you need to watch but better still convincing persuasion why you should. I will admit that I watched more of the Michigan-Michigan State game (Cause I was there) but that Bama-LSU was something else.
All Times EST and not all games are nationally televised
#12 Michigan (8-2) @ Wisconsin (7-3)
Camp Randall Stadium; Madison, WI 12:00 (ABC)
Fast Fact The Badgers have won 24 of 25 at Camp Randall but the Wolverines are 21-4-1 there.
Why You Should Watch Michigan can't afford to look past a wounded yet dangerous Badger team to its annual showdown with Ohio State. The Wolverines needed a late rally to fend off in-state rival Michigan State while Wisconsin is trying to recover from its 4th quarter meltdown against the Buckeyes. Emotions run fairly high in this matchup, so expect a tight tense battle.
Wake Forest (7-2) @ #21 Clemson (6-3)
Memorial Stadium; Clemson, SC 12:00 (ESPN2)
Fast Fact Tiger QB Cullen Harper set a school record with his 23rd TD pass
Why You Should Watch This is pretty much a knockout game to stay in contention for the ACC Championship. Wake is coming off a heartbreaking loss to Virginia where a game winning FG try stray wide right. Clemson has rolled up on fairly beatable opponents. Both teams are fairly evenly matched. Keep an eye on Tiger QB Cullen Harper who could take advantage of a weak Demon Deacons pass defense.
Illinois (7-3) @ #1 Ohio State (10-0)
Ohio Stadium, Columbus 3:30 (ABC)
Fast Fact The Illini have lost 12 straight matchups to the #1 ranked team, its last win coming in 1956
Why You Should Watch The Bucks march to a title continues to get tougher as they play a rugged Illini team in what should be an emotional senior day. Its highly doubtful that the Bucks will get caught looking past this game to its date with Michigan but its habit of leaving teams in games for a while will get them sooner or later
#18 Auburn (7-3) @ #10 Georgia (7-2) Bandits 5-Star Matchup
Sanford Stadium; Athens, Georgia 3:30 (CBS)
Fast Fact Georgia RB Keyshon Moreno joins Bulldog legend Herschel Walker as the only freshman to rush for over 1000 yds.
Why You Should Watch An Interesting cross divisional matchup between two teams who need the win to stay in contention for their respective divisions. Auburn has been strong defensively as of late giving up just six points in their last two games. Georgia has on the other hand scored 40 plus points in their last two games. The Dawgs have been getting good games out freshman scatback Knowshon Moreno
#13 UConn (8-1) @ Cincinnati (7-2)
Nippert Stadium, Cincinnati 3:30 (ESPNU)
Fast Fact UConn has yet to beat the Bearcats in three meetings.
Why You Should Watch Best game feature under the radar teams. UConn is a slim loss at Virginia from being unbeaten. Cincy got a badly needed win at South Florida racing out to a huge lead and holding on late. The Huskies featuring the twin running attack of Donald Brown II and Andre Dixon. The Bearcats are big play, big score squad and have a fearless defense who if they force turnovers as is their wont, they win games more often than not. Keep an eye out for underrated SS Haruki Nakamura who specializes in big hits and seems to always be in the middle of strips and forced fumbles
#9 Arizona State (7-2) @ UCLA(6-3)
Rose Bowl, Pasadena 3:30 (ABC)
Fast Fact The Bruins have beaten the Sun Devils four straight meetings in Pasadena
Why You Should Watch After taking a beat down from Oregon, the Sun Devils are in a bind, but they can still get to a BCS bowl. The road won't be easy as they face USC and Arizona after a matchup with an always tough UCLA squad. The Sun Devils had better do a better job of keeping QB Rudy Carpenter upright as Oregon sacked him nine times. UCLA's coach Karl Dorrell could fend off the hounds for his job with a win here
#4 Kansas (9-0) at Oklahoma State (5-4)
Boone Pickens Stadium; Stillwater, OK 8:00 (ABC)
Fast Fact The Jayhawks are seeking their first 10-0 start since 1899
Why You Should Watch Like the great rhyme artist Rakim, The Jayhawks are no joke. Go ask Nebraska who got 76 points hung on them. Todd Reesing isn't a household name but throwing for six scores will get you noticed for sure. The Cowboys have a decent offense themselves led by Zac Robinson but keep getting snakebit by blowing late leads. Witness the collapse against Texas, in which the Pokes shamefully squandered leads of 21-0 and 35-14 at home. This could be a blink and miss a score type game as both teams average better than 500 yards a game in offense and are 2nd (KU) and 6th (OSU) in the nation in scoring.
Fresno St (6-3) @ #16 Hawai'i (8-0)
Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, HI 11:05 (ESPN2)
Fast Fact The Rainbow Warriors are first in the NCAA in scoring (51.9)
Why You Should Watch For those that doubt the Rainbow Warriors, they have their chance to prove their case against a solid Bulldog team. Hawai'i is a team that will score and score a lot. Fresno State hopes that fab frosh RB Ryan Matthews is a go to help keep Hawai'i's lethal offense off the field. Colt Brennan has been a beast for the Rainbow Warriors the last two games, throwing for a mindblowing 970 yards and 10 scores.
Those are the games that are hot rrrrrright now!
But wait before you go, you have to step into Bandits Court…
Thought you might be interested in looking at this custody case ....
New York (AP) - A seven-year-old Brooklyn, New York boy was at the
center of a Manhattan courtroom drama yesterday when he challenged a
court ruling over who should have custody of him. The boy has a
history of being beaten by his parents and the judge initially
awarded custody to his aunt, in keeping with child custody law and
regulations requiring that family unity be maintained to the degree
possible. The boy surprised the court when he proclaimed that his
aunt beat him more than his parents and he adamantly refused to live
with her. When the judge then suggested that he live with his
grandparents, the boy cried out they also beat him. After
considering the remainder of the immediate family and learning that
domestic violence was apparently a way of life among them, the judge
took the unprecedented step of allowing the boy to propose who should
have custody of him. After two recesses to check legal references
and confer with child welfare officials, the judge granted temporary
Joint custody to the St. Louis Rams and Miami Dolphins, whom the boy firmly believes are not capable of beating anyone.
NFL Picks tomorrow, until Next Post Fellow Sports fans!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment