BIG XII Picks and Preview

Get used to this sight

One of my writers continues to make me look bad, as he covers the Big East and does a nice write-up after the teleconference every week. I of course just screw off and use all this great info I get for the segment I have on his show. Well, it’s finally time to start sharing information with all of you, and more importantly giving you the insight I worked so hard to gain access to. Without further ado…

Week 8-

Kansas St at Kansas (-8.5)

Kansas papers are labeling this a “must-win” for both teams, as both teams are struggling this season the defensive side of the ball. I feel this is probably more of a must-win for K-St coach Ron Prince, whose job may be on the line after his team continues to tread water instead of swimming in it (or in the case of the first half last week take on water). Mark Mangino has built up enough good karma to survive a rough season, especially in a tough Big XII, but if Prince loses this game, he may want to get his resume spruced up. A win keeps the piranhas from circling this week. Look for Prince to pull out all the stops this week.

Kansas St 43 Kansas 39

Colorado at Texas A+M (-3.5)

One team has a quarterback in Jerrod Johnson who is flourishing and developing each week. The other team has 2 people playing quarterback in Cody Hawkins and Tyler Hansen, neither of whom is setting the world on fire. If the Buffs are looking for a defense to look good against, A+M’s is it, as the Aggies haven’t stopped anyone the last few weeks. The Buffs defense was lit up by Chase Daniel and Missouri last week, but they have played pretty decent football for most of the season. Look for another big game from Johnson here, and hopefully a Dan Hawkins meltdown on Monday morning.

A+M 34 Buffs 23

Missouri At Baylor (+21.5)

Chase Daniel and the Tigers got back on track last week, thanks to Gary Pinkel. “I told them just to focus on this week, this game, this opponent,” said Pinkel,”stop thinking ahead, and start thinking of now.” If only they had done this weeks ago. Baylor’s quarterback Robert Griffin continues to not make mistakes, and this should be more entertaining than many might think, as long as Baylor’s defensive secondary can hang with the Tigers receivers. Look for Mizzou to pull away late, but not before the Bears give them a scare (and pull their hair while riding their mare, eating a pear and walking up stairs).

Missouri 38 Baylor 30

Iowa St at Oklahoma St (-31)

Look up “let down game” in the dictionary, and you may find a picture of this one in there. Oklahoma St played as well as anyone against Texas last week and came up 4 points short in Austin. Iowa St has lost 4 straight and many Cyclones fans are asking for the head of Gene Chizik. A talented OSU team should roll here right? Not so fast. Cyclone QB Austen Arnaud is great with his feet and his arm, and a Cowboy defense that has a tendency to over pursue might get burned by more than one QB scramble, The Cyclones have played a lot of close games this year, and they are due to play another one, although they won’t win.

OSU 38 ISU 35

Nebraska at Oklahoma -22

Oklahoma continues to pound everyone not named Texas. Nebraska’s defense, while improved, still has a ways to go before it shuts down Sam Bradford and the Sooners. Nebraska QB Joe Ganz will be running for his life all day in Norman, and not because he is being chased by the Boomer Sooner (or Jim Ross).

Oklahoma 55 Nebraska 30

Texas at Texas Tech (+3.5)

This is the situation Mike Leach and the Red Raiders have been waiting for. They have a good defense, a great offense, and they get to play Texas at home with College Gameday in the house. Texas is missing something, what it is I don’t know, but I still don’t believe in them. They have had a tough stretch, but the games have been at home or on neutral fields, not in a hostile environment like Lubbock. Colt McCoy has completed over 83 % of his passes the past 4 weeks, I don’t think you see that this week. The Cowboys forced a turnover or two, don’t think the Red Raiders didn’t find something on that tape they can use. If you remember the Red River Shootout, Texas never really stopped Oklahoma, Oklahoma stopped themselves. Texas Tech will not stop themselves. Watch out for Eric Morris, who Mike Leach had great praise for this week and didn’t disagree with me when I compared him with Tech alum Wes Welker.

Texas Tech 48 Texas 38 *Pick of the Week*

Big East Preview…Week 3

After two weeks of football one thing is certain in the Big East…the conference is down. I mean way down…we are talking Andre Ware down here folks. The biggest non-conference win is a tight South Florida overtime thriller of Central Florida. Or how about UConn’s extra-time gem against Temple. Man, it’s not pretty, but it’s early…and ya never know what could happen on the college gridiron. Four games on the slate this week, against four BCS schools. It is time for the Big East to make a statement…hopefully a positive one. On to the picks…

Last Week: 5-2

Season: 11-4

Bye Week: WVU(Thank God), Cincy, Louisville, Pitt

Penn State at Syracuse: With last week’s loss to Akron, Syracuse may have sealed their fate at going 0-12. These ain’t your daddy’s Orange teams. Dick MacPherson is rolling in his grave, and he’s not even dead yet. Penn State is fresh off a dominating performance over Oregon State. Even with all of the off-the-field issues for State, the Lions are playing great ball, including averaging nearly 300 yards per-game on the ground. Not a good sign for Syracuse’s dilapitated defense. The State defense has been very stingy as well, only allowing 24 points so far this season. Not a good sign for the Orange iffy offense. The Big East will not gain any respect from this gem. Evan Royster will run for as many yards as he wants against the ‘Cuse, as PSU rolls.

Prediction: 48-10 Penn State

North Carolina at Rutgers: A Thursday night kick, with a national audience highlights this clash. Both teams are coming off a bye in different situations. Rutgers lost to a very good Fresno team 24-7…though the Knights had their chances. Carolina had a should-have-been walk through against McNeese State…only to win by 7. Mike Teel (see excited picture above) should have a better game this week, as he goes against a team that struggled to slow a division 1-AA offense. Though running back Kordell Young needs to run stronger if he wants the Rutgers fans to forget about Ray Rice. UNC will jump on the back once again of Brandon Tate, who racked up nearly 400 all-purpose yards in the first game. UNC will be too one-dimensional to take down the Knights, who have a underrated defense. They limit Tate, they win the game. Rutgers should benefit from the home-field advantage as well.

Prediction: 29-17 Rutgers

Virginia at UConn: There is not a lot to take away from UConn’s gem of a win last week against Temple. Neither offense produced much as Tropical Storm Hannah destroyed Philly. Though the Huskies did have one bright spot…Donald Young. Young rushed for over 200 yards, and now has 360 on the short season. UConn’s defense has also played well, not allowing a touchdown this season (though that’s against Temple and Hofstra). Meanwhile, Virginia has had an interesting year that includes a shutout…and being blown out. While UConn averages 255 rushing yards a game, while The Cav’s average…61. Have fun throwing the ball UVA, which may not be a good thing, considering they don’t have a passing touchdown this season. The ACC may be worse than the Big East this season, so this is a big game for the Huskies…and they should know it. They are a better team on paper, and should be able to grind out the yards and eat the clock. A low scoring affair? Yes…but that is how UConn wins games…ugly.

Prediction: 23-14 UConn

Game of the Week. Kansas at South Florida: Two top 20 teams…two good quarterbacks…two good coaches…one big game. Friday night will prove to be the biggest opportunity for the Big East to make some noise, when Kansas rolls into Tampa. Both teams are off to 2-0 starts, though the competition hasn’t been top shelf. Both teams have playmakers on defense, though Aqib Talib will be missed in that Jayhawk secondary…especially when they take on those Big 12 quarterbacks. (editor’s note: Talib will also be missed by pot dealers in Lawrence, Kansas) Matt Grothe is a duel threat behind the center for South Florida, and has posted big games against good teams in the past. The Jayhawks Todd Reesing may be the best QB that nobody talks about. The big test will be George Selvie vs the Kansas o-line. South Florida may be outmatched unless they can disrupt Reesing’s rhythm. South Florida is also tested. They went to overtime last week against a pesky UCF squad. Kansas may be hurt by playing only cupcakes (insert Coach Mangino joke here). Tampa is also quickly becoming a very difficult place to play. South Florida may be the Big East’s only chance for a top 10 team this year, so a solid performance could be weighing on the Bulls’ minds. With that said, the difference will be Selvie and USF’s defense, as well as the atmosphere.

Prediction: 30-27 South Florida

Chris Sedenka is the host of the PM JAB, which can be heard weekdays between 3-7pm on 96.3FM and AM1440 sports radio WJAB in Central and Southern Maine…and would do his own stunts…if he did stunts.

Friday Morning Quick Hitters

The Tampa Bay Rays held off a 9th inning charge from the Yankees to move 3 1/2 games up on the Red Sox, beating the Yanks 7 – 5.

The Minnesota Twins fell another 1/2 game back of the Red Sox in the Wild Card race, losing to the Toronto Blue Jays 9 – 0.

The Milwaukee Brewers dropped another game, this time to the San Diego Padres 5 – 2.

Seems the Chicago Cubs dodged a huge bullet.

The NFL season opened up in New York, at the home of………….I guess I have to say it…….Super Bowl 42 Champion New York Giants. I think I just threw up in my mouth a little. Anyway, the NY Giants used a huge 1st quarter and held on the rest of the way to stifle Jim Zorn and the Washington Redskins. The Giants beat the Skins 16 – 7. Our editor blames John McCain for the Redskins running out the clock last night (even though they were behind by two scores with 5 minutes left).
Editor’s note:before you get all uppity, this has nothing to do with political affiliations or anything. Read it and see…

The aforementioned Super Bowl Champs made official a multi year guaranteed deal with Plexiglass Burress.

Tom Brady is not on the NFL injury report for the 1st time in 4 years. Any bets (if betting were legal) if Brady plays Sunday?

Daunte Culpepper retires at 31.

Joe Paterno suspends 3 Penn State football players for drug policy violations.

“Beanie” to sit.

Ponder named starter at FSU.

The Old Ball Coach and his Gamecocks lose to Vandy 24 -17.

Apparently things might be a little different at KU.

College Football Preview

Another season of college football is upon us, and while we here at the Central Maine Sports Blog have an affiliation with Army this season as our “adopt-a-team”, there are more than a few other teams that are out there, so I am going to take a chance here and predict the top 10.

10. Florida Gators

Tim Tebow is back, and so is Percy Harvin, but Harvin’s heel has not healed yet. The SEC is as tough as ever, so 2 loss season for an SEC team may not get a spot in the national title game this year.

9. Texas Tech

I am buying into the hype about this defense improving, and Crabtree and Harrell will both get supports in the Heisman race.

8. Ohio St

After two years of bridesmaid status, I expect the Bucks to slip a bit this year. The big game against USC will probably tell you what type of team Ohio St is.

7. Kansas

I will always support the big guy, and Mark Mangino has done a great job with Kansas. This team only lost one game last year, and returns almost all of their key players. Plus Aqib Talib won;t be getting arrested, which can only help Mangino’s blood pressure.

6. Georgia

I don’t buy into the Georgia hype. I don’t believe they will beat Florida, and I don’t see them finishing the season with just one loss.

5. Missouri

Chase Daniel is back and could very well win the Heisman. The rest of this team has reloaded nicely.

4. Oklahoma

Although they can’t win in a bowl game, they will do enough damage to get to one of the big pay days, provided Sam Bradford stays healthy.

3. Virginia Tech

Defense and special teams lead the way, and the ACC is a very winnable conference this year. If Sean Glennon can keep mistakes to a minimum, (and this team can actually beat Free Shoes University, errr, Florida State) they win the ACC.

2. West Virginia

As much as I want to put them at the top, the durability of Noel Devine worries me, as does the durability of Pat White. Again, another case of an easy schedule that could lead a team to the promised land.

1. USC

The Trojans look to be the class of the league this year, as long as Mark Sanchez can stay healthy (I notice a pattern here). This team is loaded, and don’t think that Pete Carroll won’t remind them of the awful (by Trojan standards) year they had last year.

I think LSU’s qb issues will haunt them, and I also believe that Fresno St will make some noise this year (and will also win the WAC).