Bowl Season Has Finally Arrived

It’s time to go bowling.  The College football bowl season kicks off today with a triple header.  Temple and Wyoming will face off in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl, Ohio takes on Utah State in the  Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, and San Diego State and Louisiana-Lafayette will play in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl tonight. All of these games will be on ESPN.

Gildan New Mexico Bowl:

How They Got Here:

Temple: Temple started the 2011 season with two wins over Villanova and Akron, Two not so great teams in college football. Then Penn State traveled into Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia to play the Temple Owls. That was a great game where Temple had a strong chance to upset Penn State but Penn State scored late and that was the end of the game. I was at that game, and it was pretty great. Temple then crushed an awful Maryland team and then was crushed by Toledo. Temple was able to put beatings on Ball State and Buffalo but stumbled against Bowling Green and Ohio in the next two weeks. Temple then wrapped up the season with a three game winning streak.   Temple finished with an 8-4 record this season.

         

Wyoming:  Wyoming started well out of the gates in 2011 where they started 3-0. Wyoming then faced a tough Nebraska team that was able to beat them 38-14. The Wyoming Cowboys then got lassoed by Utah State 63-19. They then went on a two game winning streak beating UNLV and San Diego State. Wyoming then lost to a really good TCU team 31-20. The Cowboys then handled Air Force and New Mexico but lost to the seventh ranked Boise State Broncos. The Cowboys finished the season with a win over Colorado State. Wyoming also finished with an 8-4 record.

Prediction:  I believe that this will be a good game but Temple has the 13^th best defense in the country and is also 7^th in the running game. If Wyoming can keep Temple from being able to run the ball they will have a chance in this game since Temple isn’t a very good passing team. I do think that Temple junior running back Bernard Pierce will have a good game and Temple will beat Wyoming in the first bowl game of the 2011 bowl season.

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl:

How They Got Here:

Ohio Bobcats:  Ohio relied heavily on quarterback Tyler Tettleton who threw for nearly 3,100 yards and 26 touchdowns this season. Ohio was 3-0 after beating New Mexico State, Gardner-Webb, and Marshall to open up the season. Ohio then traveled to Rutgers where they fell to the Scarlet Knights 38-26. The Bobcats then bounced back against Kent State the next week winning 17-10. They then traveled to Buffalo and lost then lost to Ball State at home. Ohio then got hot and beat Akron, Temple, Central Michigan, Bowling Green, and then Miami Ohio. They then went to the MAC title game where they fell to Northern Illinois on a last minute field goal.

Utah State: The Utah State Aggies were on the losing end of a close game versus the defending champion Auburn Tigers 42-38. They then bounced back and beat Weber State. Utah State then started struggling then lost to Colorado State in Overtime and lost to BYU by a field goal. Utah State then crushed the Wyoming Cowboys 63-19. Then the woes continued losing to Fresno State and Louisiana Tech. Then Utah State went 4-0 to end the season.  They finished with a 7-5 record.

Prediction: This will be an entertaining game but as long as Ohio can handle Utah States 6^th rated running game I think that Ohio will come out on top in a pretty high scoring game.

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl:

How They Got Here:

San Diego State: The Aztecs of San Diego State played absolutely nobody and lost to any decent team they played this season, which includes a very overrated Michigan team. San Diego State was able to finish at 8-4.

Louisiana- Lafayette:  This team played even worse competition then San Diego State though they did open with a game against Oklahoma State and were crushed. They also lost to a not so good Arizona team and two horrible teams in Western Kentucky and Arkansas State. The Ragin’ Cajuns finished with an 8-4 record.

Prediction: San Diego State should completely dominate this game. San Diego State running back Ronnie Hillman ran for over 1600 yards this season and you will see that in this game tonight. San Diego State wins this bowl game.

Tebow Time In Denver

It’s Tebow time. You may have heard of Tim Tebow if you have paid any attention whatsoever to ESPN or any other sports network or website the last few days or even weeks. Tim Tebow became the starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos on October 23^rd after Kyle Orton had an awful game before that.

Tebow has always faced criticism ever since he was drafted last year in the first round by the Broncos. ESPN analysts and people who covered the NFL said that his throwing motion isn’t good and that Tebow couldn’t make it as an NFL quarterback. Tebow has so much heart and passion and is one of the hardest working players in the league. He works hard and because of that he wins. He motivates his team and he gets players around him to buy into it and play above their ability. This team believes in their quarterback and so does the city.

Since Tebow has taken over the Broncos have won three overtime games and are 7-1 since. Tebow hasn’t been great statistically but when its crunch time he goes into Beast Mode. Tebow has been unstoppable and this team is the hottest team in the league. Nobody can figure out why this guy is winning football games.

I think the true answer is he has the heart to win, the ambition to win, and the work ethic of a champion. Tebow hates losing and he will do anything to help his team win a game. You can hate on this man all you want but you have to respect him, not for his numbers but for his courage and determination. Tebow is overall the perfect NFL player and perfect role model. This makes a lot of people want to see him fail. I say you give him a break.  The winning streak may end this week against the Patriots but the magic is just beginning. I’m rooting for Tim Tebow.

Game Of Honor: Army vs Navy

Honor. Something all people in the Military have. The annual Army vs Navy football game rivalry was fittingly played near the Nation’s Capital this season.  This game is virtually always all running plays due to both teams playing in an option offense. These two teams are great at utilizing every player they have and using them as a weapon. 

The Navy Midshipmen were able to fight back to beat the Army Black Knights 27-21. Senior quarterback Kriss Proctor led the way with 32 carries for 97 yards and a touchdown. 

Navy got out to an early 14-0 lead but Army rallied back to tie the game after an Alexander Teich and Trent Steelman touchdown. Kriss Proctor than ran for a touchdown for Navy to lead 21-14 early in the third quarter.

 Army then completed a 25 yard pass to Trent Steelman for a touchdown to tie it up. A passing touchdown in a game between these two teams is almost unheard of.  In the fourth quarter it was all Navy as they made two field goals and held the Black Knights scoreless in the fourth to win the game.

This game is more than just a win or loss for each team. These men serve our country and I’d like to congratulate all of these men who put on uniforms for the United States. They are the true winners. Navy’s win this Saturday made it their tenth straight in the rivalry.

The Recent Changes In The MLB World

The MLB offseason is here and the spending is higher than ever. This is going to be a rundown of some of the players that will be stepping into a new place during the 2012 baseball season.

Key Players on the Move:

The most coveted free agent was Albert Pujols hands down.  Pujols who helped lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a World Series title last season. Pujols has a career batting average of .328 to go along with 445 homers. This set him up to make big money and he signed with the Angels after denying a $210 million dollar deal to play ball for the Florida Marlins, along with a deal worth even more money by his former team, the Cardinals. Albert Pujols will be with the Angels for ten years and is set to make $254 million with this contract that features a no trade clause.

Jose Reyes was the other big name out there this offseason. He signed with the Miami Marlins this offseason. Though, an injury prone Reyes is great it is uncertain how many games he will suit up. I was expecting to see an ESPN report like “Newly Acquired Reyes Pulls Hamstring in a Miami Airport.”Reyes was set to join another great player at his own position in Hanley Ramirez who tends to have a poor work ethic at times but is obviously a great player. Ramirez didn’t want to move to third base and may end up being traded. Reye’s contract is for six years worth $106 million. Veteran relief pitcher Heath Bell also signed with the team.

Key Players Still Available:

There are also many players who should get big deals this offseason as well. Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins and Prince Fielder headline this group. Fielder, an explosive power hitter will probably make a huge amount of money but not nearly as much as Pujols, though he deserves more than Reyes. Fielder can produce many runs and really energize a team. He’s a big time power bat in the middle of the line up that would inprove any team he signs with immediately.

Championship Week in College Football

It’s time to wrap up the Conference Championship games from this Friday and Saturday. These games are a huge factor for teams looking for BCS Bowl bids.

Let’s start on Friday night, when there were two games. Northern Illinois rallied from a 20-0 deficit to beat Ohio 23-20. The other game was the inaugural PAC-12 title game which featured Oregon and UCLA. USC, who beat up on the UCLA Bruins last week, face sanctions so they were unable to participate in this game. Oregon went on to beat UCLA 49-31 in a really unexciting game.

Yesterday afternoon Houston and Southern Miss went out to play for the Conference USA title. Houston was ranked number six in the nation, though a very overrated team this year. Houston has a great offense but was unable to execute on the defensive side of the ball and get the necessary stops against the also explosive Southern Miss offense. The Houston Cougars went on to get blown out 49-28, and eliminated their chances of getting a BCS Bowl game.

Wisconsin was able to hold off Michigan State in the inaugural Big Ten title game in a last minute thriller, 42-39. Wisconsin will play the Oregon Ducks in the Rose Bowl. The Clemson Tigers were able to beat an overrated Virginia Tech team 38-10 to win the ACC Championship, and to clinch a BCS Bowl bid.  LSU struggled in the first half against Georgia in the SEC title game but was able to rally and dismantle the Bulldogs 42-10. The Tigers are the best team in the country and will more than likely be playing in the BCS National Title game in their home state of Louisiana.

Chris Paul to New York?

Now that the NBA lockout is over we can finally talk about things like trades and free agents for this season. Yahoo! sports reported that Chris Paul's agent says that Paul would like to be traded and not have to play the last season of his current contract in New Orleans.

Paul hasn't really come out to the media and said this, though him and Carmelo Anthony have been good friends and they have joked about both of them playing on a team somewhere before. There is no better place to play basketball then the legendary Madison Square Garden in New York City.

There were also many reports stating that Celtics wanted to swap point guard Rajon Rondo in a straight up trade but decided that it wasn't going to happen if Paul wouldn't sign an extension in Boston and he didn't want to do that. Paul would be a great fit in New York with his great defense, something that the Knicks lack who were 28th in points allowed last season giving up over 100 points a game! I don't care how good you are on offense that is just unacceptable. I do kind of expect this from a Mike D'Antoni coached team since defense has never been a big focus for him.

The Hornets can't afford to let their star player leave without getting something for him. Not after watching what LeBron James did to the Cavaliers a season ago. Many teams will try to trade their stars for many role players or draft picks. I think that the Knicks could give up back up guard Toney Douglas or maybe Landry Fields and a draft pick or two that this deal could be done. This is just what the city of New York wants and has been waiting for. Don't disappoint your loyal fans and bring in another star.

Just for a note, Chris Paul played once last year at Madison Square Garden and was held to only four points in the game against a Knicks defense that gave up over 100 points per game on average. The pressure may be a factor in The Garden.

Upsets In The World Of College Basketball

UNLV and their fans rushing the court after upseting the Number one North Carolina Tar Heels.

It isn’t March but there has been plenty of madness in the college basketball universe so far this season. North Carolina, the number one team in the country, was shocked by UNLV in Las Vegas Saturday in a 90-80 loss. UNLV really shot the three well and every time it seemed North Carolina may make a run UNLV buried them with a three. UNLV was led by Chace Stanback who had 28 points and ten rebounds and Harrison Barnes was North Carolina’s leading scorer with 15 points.

 The Tar Heels couldn’t make that many shots in the second half, as they only shot 31 percent in that half. North Carolina was stripped of their top rank but bounced back against Wisconsin last night in a thrilling 60-57 game that wasn’t as close as the score indicated due to North Carolina’s near collapse at the end.

The Connecticut Huskies suffered the same fate in an early season tournament. UConn led by as much as 17 but UCF rallied to win 68-63. Michael Jordan’s son, Marcus, plays for the UCF Knights and led them in scoring with 20 points. UConn was able to also bounce back with a win over Florida State in a 78-76 overtime nail biter.

How these upsets will affect these teams in seeding for the NCAA tournament is uncertain for now, but these games certainly have been something to watch.