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Birdman Hates My Planet
I want To Throw Up
I can’t stand Chris “Birdman” Andersen at all of the Denver Nuggets. Everything he does makes me sick and want to grab a drink. In my hate of Birdman I’ve come to discover that he hates my planet with his purchase of a SportChassis P4XL, it’s just absolutely grossand pure stupidity.
I Need A Drink
BLOCK CITY: Your Victim-Mickael Pietrus
Carlos Delfino, you have been charged with the crime of Representin.
And the verdict is Guilty.
FOX, CBS & NFL Network Give Thanks For The NFL
Est. 1920
I don’t know why the ratings for Thanksgiving to forever to get in but they finally are here and once again the Dallas Cowboys draw in the large numbers.
Overnight ratings were up double-digits for both Thanksgiving Day NFL games.
Thursday’s Green Bay Packers/Detroit Lions game on FOX drew a 12.1 overnight rating, up 11% from Tennessee Titans/Detroit Lions on CBS last year (10.9). They are however down 13% from the Green Bay Packers/Detroit Lions in 2007 (13.9).
The 12.1 overnight is tied as the second-lowest for the early Thanksgiving Day game since ’01.
Later in the day, Oakland Raiders/Dallas Cowboys drew a 12.6 overnight on CBS, up 11% from Seattle Seahawks/Dallas Cowboys on FOX last year (11.4), and up 2% from New York Jets/Dallas Cowboys in 2007 (12.4).
The 12.6 is the third-highest overnight for the late Thanksgiving Day game since ’01.
The NFL Network saw it’s second-most viewed game in it’s history with the New York Giants/Denver Broncos.
The New York Giants/Denver Broncos drew 6.1 million viewers on NFL Network Thursday night, up 61% from 3.8 million for Arizona Cardinals/Philadelphia Eagles last year.
Thursday’s game ranks as the second-most viewed NFL telecast ever on NFL Network, behind only Green Bay Packers/Dallas Cowboys in 2007 (10.1 mil).
In related ratings news the SportsBusiness Journal shows the Cowboys have been the NFL’s biggest draw in primetime over the past four seasons.
Since 2006, primetime regular season Cowboys games have averaged 19.2 million viewers putting the team comfortably ahead of the second-place Colts (16.7 mil) and the Giants (16.6 mil). The Bears (16.3 mil), Patriots (16.0 mil) and Eagles (16.0 mil) round out the top 6.
The 49ers averaged the fewest viewers of any NFL team with more than 1 primetime appearance, with just 9.9 million.
Spurs Tim Duncan Named NBA Western Conference Player Of The Week
Via Spurs Press Release
[Via Spurs Press Release]
The San Antonio Spurs Tim Duncan today was named the Western Conference Player of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Nov. 23, through Sunday, Nov. 29.
Duncan led San Antonio to a 4-0 week, posting three double-doubles along the way. Duncan averaged 21.8 points on .583 shooting, to go with 10.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.5 blocks. With 21 points in the Spurs’ 92-84 win over the Rockets on Nov. 27, Duncan passed Terry Cummings (19,460) for 39th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.
Here is a recap of the week for Duncan:
Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
Nov. 23 vs. Milwaukee: Tallied 24 points and 12 rebounds in a 112-98 win over the Bucks.
Nov. 25 vs. Golden State: Posted 20 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and three blocks in a 118-104 win over the Warriors.
Nov. 27 @ Houston: Collected 21 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks during a 92-84 win over the Rockets.
Nov. 29 vs. Philadelphia: Recorded 22 points, six rebounds, five assists and three blocks in 97-89 win over the 76ers.
Gerald Wallace of the Charlotte Bobcats was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week
My 2009 Heisman Trophy Finalist
And The Winner Is?
The decision for my Heisman Trophy finalist’s is already set. I understand that there is another week of college football left before but since not every conference sets out to play a conference championship game I won’t need an extra week.
Quarterback Colt McCoy of the University of Texas Longhorns and running back Toby Gerhart of Stanford University Cardinal.
McCoy could have walked away with the award in 2008 but was bested by a record setting season from Oklahoma University Sooners quarterback Sam Bradford. McCoy’s numbers do not match is 2008 numbers but are not that far behind.
He has completed again over 71% of his passes and threw for 3,328 yards down 531 yards from last years performance. McCoy’s touchdowns are also down from 34 to 27. Aside from the stats being very similar McCoy has had to rely heavy on senior leadership due to a lack of a running game for most of the season. The numbers tell me one thing but my eyes have also shown me a player with will and drive to not see his chances of playing in the BCS National Championship game be stopped. That’s what excellence is about.
Gerhart may have burst onto the scene to the casual observer but he has been putting up numbers that date back to high school, as Gerhart is third in high school footballs all-time rushing leaders.
He has rushed for 1,736 yards and produced 26 touchdowns and even in his lone passing attempt threw for a touchdown pass. His remarkable 5.6 yards per carry average is more surprising when you consider they all have come behind freshman quarterback Andrew Luck. If McCoy is about will and determination then I’m not sure I have the words to describe Gerhart’s running style.
Even though Gerhart has stunning numbers, it’s his fight for every yard that impresses the eyes and make him a must see. One hit really does nothing, two hits might slow him down but a third and fourth hit is what is really needed to take him down.
You can make arguments for Boise State University Broncos quarterback Kellen Moore, University of Alabama Crimson Tide’s running back Mark Ingram or even University of Florida Gator’s quarterback Tim Tebow but I’ve made the argument for the two I believe deserve the trophy.
So who do I think will win between McCoy and Gerhart? I’ll tell you December 11th the night before the ceremony.
Lawrence Frank Denied His Shot At History
13-0 To 0-16
The NBA has fired it’s second head coach prior to reaching the 20 game mark, that’s a coach every ten games. The New Jersey Nets was the latest team after the denied coach Lawrence Frank a chance to make history. The Nets went ahead and achieved it without the coach that lead them to zero wins in their first 16 games.
The undermanned, under-talented Nets matched the worst start to an NBA season with their 106-87 loss to the Lakers in Los Angeles. The Nets 0-17 start matched the 1988-89 Miami Heat and the 1999 Los Angeles Clippers.
Frank was setup to fail in 2009 after management decided not to touch the roster or spend a dime after draft night, who closes out on this team? Management went publicly and said wins didn’t matter cause he was playing with a wounded squad and now wins matter.
Frank took over for Byron Scott, his friend and boss, when Scott was fired in early 2004. The Nets proceeded to go 13-0, setting a NBA record for most consecutive wins by a head coach to begin a coaching career. He finished with a regular season record of 225-241 and in the playoff he was 18-20.
Tom Barrise took over for Frank and has served as his assistant since the start of his tenure in early 2004, could be just a one-game replacement as it’s rumored Nets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe could be Frank’s replacement for the rest of the season.
When will Rod Thorn have to answer for his legacy and I’m not talking about the lucky legacy of getting Michael Jordan?
NBA Stars Amare Stoudemire & Tyson Chandler Fined For Tweeting During Games
$7,500 Fingers
The NBA has fined Phoenix Suns forward Amare Stoudemire and Charlotte Bobcats center Tyson Chandler for using Twitter to make in-game tweets
Stoudemire and Chandler each received $7,500 fines each for posting messages on their Twitter accounts during their games on Wednesday November 25, which is a violation of NBA rules. In September the league revealed their move to block players from tweeting during games, after the social network site grew in popularity over the last year.
“You want to make sure that pop culture doesn’t intrude on what brought us here, which is the game, and that we show the right respect for the game,” NBA commissioner David “The Goon” Stern said. “We just need to make sure when it’s OK to tweet and when it’s not OK to tweet, so it, at least, focuses around the game.
Tweets were posted on Stoudemire’s account (@amareisreal) during the Suns win over Memphis, while Chandler updated his Twitter account (@Tysonchandler) during the Bobcats victory over Toronto.
Rudy J Wears Starbury Cologne
Smell Like Rudy J Now
The Sports Grind Entertainment team has been busy spending time with our families and taking a break from the day to day operations during the Thanksgiving weekend. To my surprise the first time I hear from Rudy J is him telling me that he has found a cologne that makes Dolce & Gabbana’s Light Blue Cologne for men smell like trash.
That kind of information sends me instantly into an inquisitive state of mind. What’s the latest brand that I need to be dipped in, where do I find it, those kinds of questions. That’s when Rudy J tell me his cousin from Fresno, California hooked him up with Starbury Cologne.
Stephon Marbury has branched out into the world of cologne and now for only $14.99 everyone can now smell like Starbury. You can visit any of these locations to get dipped like Rudy J and Starbury.
Vince Young Defeats Matt Leinart Again
One day the name Vince Young will bring respect to those outside of Texas and Sports Grind Entertainment. Vince, just keep doing Vince and oh one day it will happen.
Max Hall Of BYU Hates Utah
Max Hall needs to stop lying, nobody threw beer on his fans and if anyone is classless it’s Hall especially after stinking up the Holy War with five interceptions last year. Hall actually might have actually taken the BYU and Utah rivalry to a new level.
Spurs Honor David Robinson With Tribute Night
I Salute You
Former San Antonio Spur David Robinson perhaps one of the finest human beings of my generation and proud to have claim he represents my hometown. What he has done with the Carver Academy is something truly remarkable. The Spurs feel the same way about the Hall of Famer as they honored the three-time Olympian with a tribute Sunday night.
Sean Elliott served as master of ceremonies, reminded us that it can be easy to take for granted of how lucky we are to witness such a stand up individual on a regular basis.
Thank you Mr. Robinson, I will never forget.
Support our community, support our future and make a donation to the Carver Academy [here]
You can watch and listen to David’s speech below.
Happy Birthday To Shannon “TNT Legs” Brown
I’m already hearing the cries for “TNT Legs” to compete in the 2010 Slam Dunk contest at the All-Star game in Dallas, I know he has the legs and power just not sure of the creativity factor. That’s besides the point, I’m a fan of the young cat and HB TNT Legs.
Who’s A 2010 Baseball Hall Of Famer?
All Alone
The 2010 ballot of potential Baseball Hall of Famers was released and it’s when O.G. baseball fans, like myself, sit around and provide our vote on who should be let into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. A candidate must receive 75 percent of the vote from the Baseball Writers Association of America members to gain election.
This years ballot includes 15 new entrants, Roberto Alomar and Barry Larkin being the biggest names, alongside 11 holdovers. If any player fails to receive 5 percent of the vote their are forever removed from future Hall of Fame ballots.
Voting for the 2010 first timers are as follows:
- Roberto Alomar – NO, a 12-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove second baseman, had a .300 batting average, 210 homers and 474 steals in 17 major league seasons. The pitting in the face of constant moving around in his career and spitting in the face of an umpire John Hirschbeck sure will cost him votes however I felt he was never a dominating second baseman.
- Barry Larkin – YES, a 12-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove shortstop in 19 seasons, all with Cincinnati. He had a .295 career average with 198 homers and won the 1995 NL MVP award. If it wasn’t for him playing in the same time as Ozzie Smith and Cal Ripken he might have been mentioned as one of the best shortstops of all time.
- Edgar Martinez – NO, won two AL batting titles and finishing with a .312 average and 309 homers. A seven-time All-Star, he was a designated hitter in 1,412 of 2,055 career regular-season games and spent all 18 seasons with Seattle. I admit that Martinez was a wonderful hitter but since he is the first to be nominated solely for playing the DH spot I find it will be hard for him to achieve the 75%.
- Fred McGriff – NO, tied with Lou Gehrig for 26th on the career home run with 493 and had a .284 average in 19 seasons. He was a 5-time All-Star and led the AL in homers for Toronto in 1989 and the NL for San Diego in 1992. I was a huge “Crime Dog” fan but fan favorite doesn’t mean a spot in the Hall.
- Andres Galarraga – NO, a 5-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove first baseman. He was the 2000 MLB Comeback Player of the Year after returning from cancer treatment. He finished with 399 home runs in 19 seasons and 2,333 hits. The “Big Cat” provided power for the teams he played with but nothing dominating.
- Ellis Burks - NO, a 2-time All Star and a one-time Gold Glove outfielder. He finished with 352 home runs in 18 seasons. Will not receive the 5% of votes to keep him on future ballots.
- Eric Karros – NO, the 1992 NL Rookie of the Year. Will not receive the 5% of votes to keep him on future ballots.
- Ray Lankford – NO, a one-time All-Star who played in the NFL and MLB at the same time. Will not receive the 5% of votes to keep him on future ballots.
- David Segui – NO, played 15 seasons, probably known more for admitted to steroid use. Will not receive the 5% of votes to keep him on future ballots.
- Robin Ventura – NO, a 2-time All-Star and six-time Gold Glove third-baseman. He finished with a .267 batting average and 294 home runs. His baseball infamy came at the hands on Nolan Ryan as well as hitting a “Grand Slam Single” in 2000 NLCS. Probably will receive the 5% of votes to keep him on future ballots.
- Todd Zeile - NO, is also one of 41 players ever to hit a home run in his final at-bat. Will not receive the 5% of votes to keep him on future ballots.
- Kevin Appier – NO, a one-time All-Star. He finished with a win loss record of 169-137 and 1,994 strikeouts in 16 seasons. Hopefully will not receive the 5% of votes to keep him on future ballots.
- Pat Hentgen – NO, a 3-time All-Star and 1996 AL Cy Young Award winner going 20-10. He finished with a win loss record of 131-112 and 1,290 strikeouts. Had one of the best curve balls in the game for a stretch but not Hall worthy.
- Mike Jackson – NO, in 17 seasons finished with 142 saves while winning 62 and losing 67. A setup guy out of the bullpen for much of his career. Will not receive the 5% of votes to keep him on future ballots.
- Shane Reynolds – NO, in 13 seasons finished with a win loss record of 114-96 and 1,403 strikeouts. Will not receive the 5% of votes to keep him on future ballots.
Voting for the 2010 holdovers are as follows:
- Harold Baines – NO, a 6-time All-Star in 22 seasons. A clutch hitter who had 2,866 hits and 384 home runs. An All-Star for sure but not a Hall of Famer.
- Andre Dawson – YES, an 8-time All-Star and eight-time Gold Glove outfielder. He was the 1977 NL Rookie of the Year and the 1987 NL MVP. In 21 season he finished with 2,774 hits and 438 home runs as well as 1,591 RBI’s. The “Hawk” deserves Jim Rice’s spot and doesn’t need to the Boston media to do his begging like Rice did.
- Don Mattingly – NO, a 6-time All-Star and nine-time Gold Glove first-baseman. Was the 1985 AL MVP. A great player but quite never provided the power in the batters box. If he had half the power of Mark McGwire he would for sure be a Hall of Famer.
- Mark McGwire – NO, a 12-time All-Star and one-time Gold Glove first-baseman. Was the 1987 AL Rookie of the Year and holds 2 MLB Records 49 home runs in his rookie season and 10.61 at bats per home run ratio. A great player but quite never provided anything but power. If he had half the baseball skill as Don Mattingly he would for sure be a Hall of Famer in my world. I do not figure steroids into any of the equation since it was not against the rules of baseball until 2005.
- Dale Murphy – NO, a 7-time All-Star and five-time Gold Glove outfielder. Was a back to back NL MVP in 1982 and 1983. Finished with 2,111 hits and 398 home runs and 1,266 RBI’s. The “Murph” was not a stat guy but a baseball guy. His contributions are surely appreciated within the game but not a spot shouldn’t be held in the Hall for him.
- Dave Parker – NO, a 7-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove outfielder. Was 1978 NL MVP. The “Cobra” had a lethal right field arm, however his career suffered from injuries and cocaine use that caused him from being one of the games best ever.
- Tim Raines – NO, a 7-time All-Star and stole 808 bases in 23 seasons. The “Rock” was an All-Star for sure but not a Hall of Famer.
- Alan Trammell – NO, a 6-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove shortstop. Was the 1983 MLB Comeback Player of the Year and 1984 World Series MVP. An excellent defensive shortstop but played in an era when he was the fourth or fifth best.
- Bert Blyleven – NO, a 2-time All-Star and 1989 MLB Comeback Player of the Year. Pitched no-hitter on September 22, 1977.He finished with a win loss record of 287-250 and 3,701 strikeouts as well as a 3.31 ERA. Never won 20 games, no Cy Young Award and stands at 287 wins after 22 season. “Bert” was an All-Star for sure but not a Hall of Famer.
- Jack Morris – YES, 5-time All-Star and a four-time World Series champions. Was the 1991 World Series MVP. He finished with a win loss record of 254-186 and 2,478 strikeouts as well as a 3.90 ERA. Morris was a winner and a pitcher I would want to give the ball to in a seventh game.
- Lee Smith – NO, 7-time All-Star and a three time Relif Pitcher of the Year, twice in the NL and once in the AL. He finished with 478 saves and won 71 games and lost 92 with 1,251 strikeouts. I was a huge Smith fan and it even hurts me to say no but fan favorite doesn’t mean a spot in the Hall. A strong case can be made though for the third all time leader in saves.
Reporters who have been in the Baseball Writers Association of America for 10 consecutive years are eligible to vote, and results will be announced January 6. Inductions are scheduled for July 25 at Cooperstown.
Mark Snyder Fired From Marshall University
You Are Not Marshall
Marshall has fired Mark Snyder after five seasons as head coach. The Thundering Herd went 21-37 in Snyder’s five year tenure and finished this season 6-6.
Snyder came to Marshall just before the start of spring practice in 2005 after four seasons as an assistant at Ohio State. His hiring coincided with Marshall’s move from the Mid-American Conference to Conference USA. But Snyder never produced a winning season and Marshall hasn’t been to a bowl since 2004.
Attendance at Marshall home games fell steadily under Snyder as the stadium was half empty for its final three home games. The team averaged 22,236 in attendance this season, the lowest under Snyder and 2,000 fewer per game than a year ago.
Marshall athletic director Mike Hamrick, who was hired in July, said Snyder will be paid the remaining three seasons on his contract.
If Marshall is invited to a bowl game it will be under the direction of assistant coach Rick Minter who would serve as interim coach.
J.D. Brookhart Fired From University Of Akron
Zip It, You'r Out
The University of Louisville and Virginia will sure atrach coaches looking to move up in the ranks, the job at the University of Akron will sure do the same just for a coach the rest of the nation is yet to hear about and maybe be hearing a lot from in five years.
The University of Akron athletic director Tom Wistrcill announced the firing of coach J.D. Brookhart one day after the Zips defeated Eastern Michigan to finish the season at 3-9.
Wistrcill said in a statement that four-straight seasons with the team finishing below .500 in the Mid-American Conference played into his decision. He said the search for a new coach would begin immediately.
Brookhart was hired in 2004 and posted a 30-42 record at Akron. He was named the MAC Coach of the Year in 2004 and won the program’s only MAC Championship in 2005, defeating Northern Illinois, to earn Akron’s first bowl berth as a Division I program. Brookhart had one year left on his contract worth $245,000.
I don’t perceive Kevin Sumlin to be interested in coaching the Zips but maybe Florida’s defensive cordinator Charlie Strong.
Al Groh Fired From University Of Virginia
So Long Al
So long Al. just hours after posting the firing of Louisville head coach Steve Kragthorpe, University of Virginia Cavaliers have decided to do the same to head coach Al Groh from his alma mater after nine seasons.
The writing was on the wall for Groh after the Cavaliers lost to their rival Virgina Tech 42-13 at home, making it the eighth loss in nine tries during Groh’s tenure. The loss dropped the Cavaliers to 3-9 overall and 2-6 in the ACC, marking their worst season since 1982.
Groh was hired in December of 2000, after he had resigned from the head coaching position of the New York Jets after just one season. He replaced George Welsh, who had retired after 19 seasons and only had two lossing seasons during that time.
Groh, 65, went 59-53 overall and 36-36 in conference. He guided the Cavaliers to five bowl gameswas the ACC coach of the year in 2002 and ’07. He had two years remaining on his contract and will receive a buyout of approximately $4.33 million.
Virginia’s decline was felt at home games, where the average attendance for 61,500-seat Scott Stadium had dropped by 13,600 in two seasons.
Can I suggest Houston’s head coach Kevin Sumlin or Florida’s defensive cordinator Charlie Strong.
Steve Kragthorpe Fired From University Of Louisville
Domino Effect
If you don’t emerse yourself into college football like I do or not a University of Louisville alumni then you probably didn’t notice or care that Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich fired head coach Steve Kragthorpe.
The Kragthorpe firing is the first in Division 1A and will ultimately cause the domino effect amongst the coaching ranks as we head into bowl season. With Jurich having ties to the Mountain West Conference could he lure TCU’s Gary Patterson or Utah’s Kyle Whittingham to a BCS eligible school? Could Houston’s Kevin Sumlin be on the Cardinals radar as I believe he will be the most sought after coach outside of Stanford’s Jim Harbaugh.
Kragthorpe was 15-21 in three seasons at Louisville and the Cardinals finished 1-6 in the Big East (4-8 overall) this season, their second consecutive losing season under Kragthorpe. He had two years remaining on his contract that pays about $1.1 million a year.
In January 2007, Kragthorpe replaced Bobby Petrino, but was unable to match the success UL had under Petrino, which included the 2006 Big East and Orange Bowl championship. Kragthorpe’s best season at UL was his first in 2007, when the Cardinals went 6-6 but did not receive a bowl bid.
The Cardinals struggles have lead to small crowds attending Louisville’s home games, as they saw back to back the smallest crowds in Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium history. Louisville is in the midst of expanding its stadium from 42,000 to 55,000 and it’s scheduled to be completed in 2010.
Kragthorpe came to Louisville after three seasons at Tulsa, where he was 29-22 and won the Conference USA title in 2005.
Can I suggest Houston’s head coach Kevin Sumlin or Florida’s defensive cordinator Charlie Strong.
Primetime College Football: Bruins vs Trojans
TALENT
USC began the season looking for an eighth straight Pac-10 title and eighth consecutive BCS bowl appearance. After its second blowout loss in three weeks, the Trojans are simply trying to get into the best lower-tier bowl that they can. With its worst ranking in seven years, USC tries to regroup Saturday against crosstown rival UCLA, which needs a win in its finale to increase its bowl chances.
USC (7-3, 4-3) have three losses for the first time since going 6-6 in 2001, Pete Carroll’s first year as coach. Two weeks after yielding 613 yards in 47-20 loss at Oregon, the Trojans’ defense was again embarrassed, giving up the most points in school history.
The offense wasn’t much better with quarterback Matt Barkley having his third straight unimpressive game. He went 21 of 31 for 196 yards, but threw one touchdown and three interceptions. His turnovers on USC’s first two drives put the Trojans in an early 14-0 hole. Carroll has stuck with the freshman all season although he is averaging only 165.0 passing yards in his last three games, with four TDs and five picks in that span.
Rick Neuheisel defense that has forced 10 turnovers in the last two games. The Bruins (6-5, 3-5) are bowl eligible after defeating Arizona State 23-13 last Saturday – their third straight victory following a six-game skid. UCLA hasn’t had much success against its crosstown rival lately, though. The Trojans defeated the Bruins 28-7 last season and have won nine of 10.
The Bruins’ defense allowed more than 27 points once this season and is giving up an average of 14 during its winning streak. USC’s once-powerful offense averaged 18.3 points in its last three.
Kevin Prince took the snaps for the Bruins, and he completed just 15-of-31 passes for 161 yards.
Overall this season, UCLA is scoring a modest 22 ppg while generating 340.9 total ypg. The Bruins have struggled to move the ball on the ground, as they are rushing for a mere 114.8 ypg at a clip of 3.5 yards per carry. The fact that only 19 total offensive touchdowns have been scored in 11 games is a sign of a stagnant offense. Prince has completed 57.6 percent of his passes for 1,739 yards and six touchdowns with five interceptions. There are no standouts present at either the tailback or receiver positions.
UCLA has been able to hold opponents to 20 ppg and 338.5 total ypg. The Bruins don’t excel against either the run or the pass. Kyle Bosworth leads the Bruins with 70 total tackles, and Brian Price has recorded a staggering total of 20.5 tackles for loss, including 7 sacks. As for Rahim Moore, he has intercepted 9 passes in 11 games.
USC leads the all-time series with UCLA by a 43-28-7 margin, and Carroll is 7-1 against the Bruins since taking over as head coach of the Trojans.
PICK: University of California Los Angeles Bruins
Primetime College Football: Irish vs Cardinal
TALENT
A bitterly disappointing regular season comes to a close for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, who will take on a tough Stanford team in non-conference action.
Notre Dame has completely fallen apart, as a promising 4-1 start has turned into a 6-5 record. The last three outings have resulted in losses of five points or less, including last weekend’s 33-30 overtime setback to UConn. Head coach Charlie Weis has been the topic of much conversation among fans and analysts, as it is the opinion of most that he will be coaching his last regular season game for the Irish this weekend.
As for Stanford, its Rose Bowl dreams were crushed last weekend with a 34-28 loss to rival Cal in the “Big Game”. That defeat halted a three-game win streak for the Cardinal, which is now 7-4 overall and 6-3 in Pac-10 play. All four losses this season have come by 10 points or less for Jim Harbaugh’s team.
The Notre Dame offense was held in check in regulation by UConn last weekend, as the Fighting Irish posted 20 points. Jimmy Clausen completed 30-of-45 passes for 329 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions, another stellar performance by the Notre Dame signal caller. Golden Tate made nine catches for 123 yards and one touchdowns, while Michael Floyd finished with eight grabs for 104 yards and a score. Armando Allen spearheaded the ground attack with 106 yards. Overall this season, Clausen has thrown for 3,382 yards and 23 touchdowns with only four interceptions, tremendous numbers for one of the nation’s truly elite quarterbacks. Tate has made 83 catches for 1,295 yards and 12 touchdowns, while Floyd has 38 catches for 710 yards and seven scores in the six games he has played. Notre Dame is averaging 29 ppg and 452.2 total ypg.
Notre Dame is allowed 24 ppg this season, and the defense is permitting 388.8 total ypg. Of the 30 touchdowns that have been surrendered to opposing offenses, 16 have come through the air. The Fighting Irish are giving up 4.6 yards per rushing attempt and 13.7 yards per pass completion, Kyle McCarthy leads the team with 90 total tackles, and he has intercepted five passes.
Stanford tailback Toby Gerhart is a legitimate candidate for the Heisman Trophy as he has rushed for 1,531 yards and 23 touchdowns while averaging 5.3 yards per carry, and his consistency from week to week has been most impressive. Gerhart has certainly helped freshman quarterback Andrew Luck succeed under center connecting on 55.2 percent of his passes for 2,377 yards and 13 touchdowns with only four interceptions, and he has rushed for 319 yards and two touchdowns as well. The top receiver on the roster is Ryan Whalen, who has recorded 48 grabs for 786 yards and three touchdowns. Stanford is averaging 35 ppg and 436.5 total ypg, tremendous numbers by any standards. Gerhart was outstanding against Cal last week, as he recorded 136 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 20 carries. Luck, unfortunately, was dreadful, completing only 10-of-30 passes with an interception.
Opponents are posting 25 ppg and 391.9 total ypg against a Stanford defense that has been mediocre at best. The Cardinal have permitted 18 rushing touchdowns and 15 scores through the air. Thomas Kaiser has 13 tackles for loss to his credit, including 8 sacks.
Notre Dame has won the last seven meetings with Stanford and owns a 16-7 advantage in the all-time series.
PICK: Stanford University Cardinal
Primetime College Football: Bulldogs vs Jackets
TALENT
Georgia Tech can earn its first trip to a BCS bowl with a victory in the ACC championship game. Considering how it’s fared at home against Georgia recently, though, it has something else to prove first.
Paul Johnson Yellow Jackets won a thriller in Athens last season to snap a seven-game skid in the series, and they’ll look for their first home win over the Bulldogs in a decade as the area rivals meet Saturday.
Georgia Tech (10-1) clinched the Coastal Division with a 49-10 win at Duke on Nov. 14. That set up a rematch of its 30-27 victory over Clemson on Sept. 10 next Saturday in Tampa for the right to represent the conference in the BCS.
Before the Yellow Jackets renew that series, which dates to 1898 and has been played 74 times, they will face their oldest rival. Georgia’s Tech’s history with Georgia (6-5) extends through 103 games back to 1893 and has been given the nickname “Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate.”
The Bulldogs were ranked in seven of the last eight matchups and four times in the top 10. The Yellow Jackets were ranked four times, but never higher than 16th. This season, Georgia Tech is the ranked team with its eye on the BCS, while Georgia is not in the Top 25 entering the game for just the second time since the start of the 1996 season.
Quarterback Josh Nesbitt and tailbacks Jonathan Dwyer and Anthony Allen have run for 2,600 yards, more than 115 teams. Nesbitt had a season-low nine carries for 30 yards against the Blue Devils, but threw for 195 yards and two touchdowns. He completed one pass for 19 yards and was held to 40 on the ground in the victory over Georgia last season, but faced a Bulldogs defense that ranked 22nd in the nation at 312.0 yards allowed per game. The team possesses one of the ACC’s top wideouts in Demaryius Thomas, who leads the team in 950 receiving yards and 6 TD catches.
The key contributor to the Yellow Jacket pass rush is All-American candidate Derrick Morgan. The 6-4, 275-pound junior has been unstoppable, recording 17 tackles for loss and an impressive 12.5 sacks. Linebacker Brad Jefferson team-high 76 tackles, two forced fumbles.
Georgia has allowed an average of 354.6 yards against opponents this season and forced eight turnovers in 11 games fewest in the nation. Almost as bad is the Bulldogs’ tendency to give the ball away. They are tied for 11th in the country with 26 giveaways, leaving them 119th in turnover margin at minus-18. Georgia turned it over four times last Saturday against Kentucky in a 34-27 loss, its first to the Wildcats since 1977. Junior linebacker Rennie Curran has done everything he can this season, leading the team in tackles with 107 stops.
Mark Richt Bulldogs are also fourth in the nation with 94 penalties.
Senior quarterback Joe Cox has played to mixed reviews, completing 56.1 percent of his passes, for 2,350 yards, with 21 TDs and 14 INTs. Georgia leading receiver A.J. Green, second in the SEC at 83.4 yards per game, sat out last week with a sprained shoulder and is doubtful. He had four catches for 64 yards and a touchdown against Georgia Tech last season.
This is the 102nd meeting in this longstanding rivalry that dates back to 1893. Georgia has won seven of the eight games under Richt, to take a 59-37-5 series advantage.
The Yellow Jackets haven’t beaten Georgia in Atlanta since a 51-48 win in 1999.
PICK: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Primetime College Football: Vols vs Wildcats
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The Tennessee Volunteers will attempt to post their 25th consecutive victory over the Kentucky Wildcats as the SEC foes meet this weekend in Lexington.
Tennessee has never played a night game in Lexington, and it will be interesting to see how the club reacts to the enemy crowd and crisp weather. The Vols have won three of their last four games to move to 6-5 overall, and the most recent outing resulted in a 31-16 triumph over Vanderbilt last weekend. Lane Kiffin’s Vols have been competitive even in defeat this season, as four of the five losses have come by 10 or fewer points.
As for Kentucky, it has improved to 7-4 overall and 3-4 in SEC play with three consecutive victories. The Wildcats showed a great deal of heart and toughness last weekend by knocking off Georgia in Athens. Rich Brooks remains rather anonymous among SEC coaches, but he continues to field a quality product at Kentucky.
Tennessee is a solid offensive team that is averaging 30.6 ppg and 391.0 total ypg. The Vols are led by quarterback Jonathan Crompton. He has completed 58.5 percent of his passes for 2,345 yards and 25 touchdowns with only 11 interceptions. Montario Hardesty paces the ground attack with 1,127 yards and nine touchdowns. In the victory over Vanderbilt last weekend, Hardesty pounded out a career-high 171 yards and a touchdown on 32 attempts, while Crompton threw for 221 yards and two scores.
With the exception of a few rough outings, Tennessee has played tremendous defense this season, especially considering the difficult schedule Kiffin’s group has faced. The Vols are yielding 20 ppg while holding opponents to 313.2 total ypg. Tennessee has been tremendous against the pass, limiting opposing quarterback to 9 yards per completion with a collective total of five passing scores in 11 games. There are a couple of tremendous performers on the defensive side of the ball, including safety Eric Berry, who is widely regarded as one of the best players in the nation at his position. Berry has record 75 tackles, including 5 tackle for losses, to go along with 2 interceptions and 3 fumble recoveries. Hard-hitting linebacker Rico McCoy has 99 tackles to his credit, and he has forced 4 fumbles.
Kentucky is scoring 27 ppg this season to go along with 342.9 total ypg. There are two dynamic play makers in the fold for the Wildcats in Derrick Locke, a tailback, and Randall Cobb, a converted quarterback who does a little bit of everything. Locke has rushed for 821 yards and 5 touchdowns while making 22 catches for 221 yards and two scores. As for Cobb, he has run for 436 yards and 9 touchdowns, and his 33 catches for 403 yards and four scores leads all receivers. In addition to his 80 receiving yards, Lock rushed for 80 yards as well. Cobb had a pair of rushing scores but was limited to only 59 combined rushing and receiving yards.
The Wildcats are not a dominant defensive team, but they have played fairly well in most games. Opponents are posting 22 ppg and 355.4 total ypg against Kentucky, which has room for improvement against both the run and the pass, as foes are gaining 4.6 yards per rushing attempt and 13.6 yards per completion. Micah Johnson continues to lead the Cats in tackles with 84, and Sam Maxwell is tops with five interceptions.
Twenty-four straight wins over Kentucky has enabled Tennessee to stretch its advantage to 72-23-9 in the all-time series between the teams.
PICK: University of Kentucky Wildcats
Primetime College Football: Raiders vs Bears
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The Baylor Bears and Texas Tech Red Raiders will close out their respective regular-season schedules on a neutral site, as the two are set for a Big 12 Conference clash at the new Jerry’s World in Arlington.
Texas Tech has gone just 1-3 outside of Lubbock this season. But the Red Raiders are coming off last week’s 41-13 dismantling of Oklahoma. The win made the team bowl eligible for a 16th straight season, and it also pushed Mike Leach atop the program’s list of all-time winningest coaches.
Baylor’s 38-3 loss to Texas A&M last weekend effectively ended the Bears’ hopes of receiving their first bowl bid in 15 years. They’ve lost two straight and six of their last seven, with all six setbacks coming by double digits.
Defensively, Texas Tech loves to get after the quarterback. The team ranks second in the nation in sacks with 3 a game, largely because of senior defensive end Brandon Sharpe. Sharpe picked up 2.5 sacks against OU to give him 13 on the season, which ranks 2nd in the nation. Daniel Howard has dropped opposing quarterbacks 7.5 times this season. The whole defense put on a clinic against the Sooners, who netted just 48 rushing yards on 26 combined carries, and they converted only 3-of-13 third downs.
It has been a learning process for Baylor freshman quarterback Nick Florence since taking over for injured starter Robert Griffin following a season-ending knee injury in late-September. Florence posted a school-record 427 passing yards in a win at Missouri earlier this month. In their past six losses, the Bears have averaged only 8.5 ppg.
Opposing teams have been able to move the ball almost at will against Baylor’s defense. A lot of that has to do with a run defense that ranks 100th out of 120 schools in the country. Last week, Texas A&M running backs combined for 375 rushing yards 7.2 ypg and 3 touchdowns against the Bears. The Bears simply don’t make a lot of plays in the backfield, as they rank 110th in the nation in tackles for loss at only 4 a game. One of the few bright spots on this unit has been Smithson Valley High School senior linebacker Joe Pawelek, who leads the team with 97 tackles to go along with 2.5 sacks, an interception and five pass breakups.
Texas Tech leads the all-time series, 34-32-1, although this marks the first neutral-site meeting between the two schools. Texas Tech has won the last 13 matchups.
PICK: Texas Tech University Red Raiders
Primetime College Football: Razorbacks vs Tigers
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The LSU Tigers try to rebound from their third loss in six games, including a series of blunders in their last loss, when they host surging Arkansas.
Les Miles Tigers (8-3, 4-3 SEC) opened the season with five consecutive wins before losing 13-3 to Florida on Oct. 10. They recovered to rout Auburn and Tulane before falling 24-15 at Alabama on Nov. 7, but struggled to beat woeful Louisiana Tech 24-16 and were dealt a big blow last Saturday. A number of questionable play calls and suspect clock management led to a 25-23 defeat at unranked Mississippi. The Tigers have fallen out of contention for the SEC title and a BCS bid, so the best they can do is an at-large invite to a marquee bowl.
A win over the Razorbacks (7-4, 3-4) would certainly help, but LSU has dropped the last two meetings by a total of three points. The Tigers blew a 16-point lead in the second half at Arkansas last year, losing 31-30 on a 24-yard TD pass with 21 seconds to play. This will be the Razorbacks’ first trip to Baton Rouge since a triple-overtime thriller, winning 50-48 on Nov. 23, 2007. Still, LSU holds a 33-19-2 advantage in the all-time series.
Jordan Jefferson struggled in last year’s loss to Arkansas, completing 9 of 21 passes for 143 yards while rushing 19 times for 50 yards. He wasn’t overly effective last week, either, going 19 of 37 for 250 yards with nine rushes for minus-32 yards. The sophomore did throw for two touchdowns but also had an interception after missing the previous game the Louisiana Tech game due to an ankle injury.
Jefferson is still young, and while he hasn’t made a ton of bad decisions this season 5 interceptions, his 1,785 passing yards in 10 starts and 14 touchdowns suggests that big plays through the air have been few and far between. There is a star wideout in the fold, as Brandon LaFell has made 48 catches for 635 yards and nine touchdowns.
Ryan Mallett leads the conference with 3,195 passing yards, the SEC’s highest-rated passer, and a team-record 28 touchdowns with six interceptions. The sophomore threw for 313 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Razorbacks to a 42-21 win over Mississippi State last Saturday. That performance came a week after he connected for five TD passes and 405 yards in a 56-20 win over Troy.
Mallett has been named SEC offensive player of the week after each game, and Bobby Petrino Razorbacks have won four straight after opening the season by losing four of seven. While Mallett has the offense averaging a conference-best 38.0 points, the defense is the worst in the league, surrendering 408.7 yards per game. Mallet has Greg Childs on the outside, who has made 40 catches for 738 yards and 7 touchdowns and Broderick Green 10 has touchdowns after picking up the slack for injuried Michael Smith.
PICK: University of Arkansas Razorbacks
