The Three-Point Competition is constantly over shadowed by the
Slam Dunk Contest on All-Star Saturday especially this year with the dunk event
containing numerous high profile names.This year’s Three-Point Shootout contains 8 prolific shooters who all
rank in the top 70 among three point percentage and in the top 37 for three
pointers made.If we go by
percentages Marco Belinelli would be the favorite however if we based our
predictions on three pointers made, Steph Curry would win while Belinelli would
finish in last.Whoever catches
fire will win as is the case every year but I think the best chance lies with
either Beal or Belinelli.Both are
catch and shoot/spot shooting specialists and should excel at the stationary
racks.In the end it will be Beal
who comes out on top because he possesses the purest jump shot in the
league.Overlooking Curry might be
insane especially because he has been called by some the greatest shooter of
all time but he excels shooting off the dribble and over defenders not wide
open while picking balls off a rack.
3 Point Contestants and their 3PT
Statistics
-Stephen Curry – 171 Made 3PT – 41.5%
-Kyrie Irving – 90 Made 3PT – 36.9%
-Arron Afflalo – 93 Made 3PT – 42.5%
-Bradley Beal – 89 Made 3PT – 43.0%
-Marco Belinelli – 81 Made 3PT – 44.8%
-Kevin Love – 114 Made 3PT – 37.0%
-Joe Johnson – 94 Made 3PT – 39.0%
-Damien Lillard – 149 Made 3PT – 40.4%
After years of mediocre dunk
contests, (topped off by my least favorite Blake Griffin jumping over the front
of a mid-sized family sedan and being awarded champion solely because there was
a car on the court) the NBA finally decided they needed to revamp the
competition in two ways.First
they decided to bring in more than one superstar contestant which had been the
case for a number of the more recent contests.The other change is that the NBA has decided to alter the
rules and divide the dunkers into teams decided by conference.The dunkers will first have a freestyle
round and will then be picked to go up against one another in a battle where
the loser is evidently eliminated.Whoever the last man standing is has won the event for his
conference.The actual individual
winner will be decided by a fan vote and will be crowned “Dunker of the Night”.These rules changes are interesting and
should be beneficial to the long term success of the dunk contest but we will
see how everything plays out.
Almost all of the contestants in
this year’s Slam Dunk Contest are intriguing with Ben McLemore’s inclusion
being the only head scratcher.We
all know what defending champion Terrence Ross can do as well as past
participant Paul George.I don’t
know what to expect from John Wall or Damien Lillard although both are superior
athletes who can defy gravity and fly. Harrison Barnes has a good dunk reputation and is tied for
the tallest participant with George.The fans love to see a small player win but they also like to see a
superstar win so in that department George and Lillard both have a good chance.Ross would not be a bad bet to repeat
as champion but I think the favorite does have to be Paul George.Ross will not be able to live up to
last year’s performance and Lillard will be too burnt out from competing in 48
other events this weekend. We saw what George can do in game a couple weeks ago
and he will demonstrate some more of that creativity and athleticism en route
to winning the first ever “Dunker of the Night”.
Dunk Contest Contestants and
their Height
-Harrison Barnes – 6’8 -
-Damien Lillard – 6’3 -
-Terrence Ross – 6’6 -
-John Wall – 6’4 -
-Paul George – 6’8 -
-Ben Mclemore
– 6’5 –
McLemore could be a prop in the contest… but let’s be fair here we
go!
NBA All-Star
Game 2014
By: Sal Pellone
When: February 16th8pm
Where: Smoothie King Center in New
Orleans, Louisiana
Host: New Orleans Pelicans
Imagine a Skills Challenge,
a Three-Point Contest, and a Dunk Contest all mixed into one game. You are
saying to yourself, “Wow that would be pretty sick, the NBA should do this.”
Little do we know, this jumble of all three events into one is known as the NBA
All-Star Game. This year’s game will be the 63rd edition and will be
played in The Big Easy. New Orleans
previously held the event in 2008 (I always knew David Stern and Adam Silver
were huge Mardi Gras fans). This year we anticipate more exotic colored
sneakers, sleeved jerseys, and less and less defense.
Jerseys
I do not like the NBA’s transition into
sleeved jerseys one bit. They look like those cheap fake jerseys you would get
as a kid at Modell’s. I do admire the creativity of the logo design though. The
logo is the Fleur-de-lis symbol that is presented on the jerseys of most New
Orleans sports teams and defines the city’s rich background.
I LOVE the warm-up jerseys for the
all-star game. I immediately got goose bumps after seeing these. These jerseys
represent the accolades of each player and they get to wear it with pride.
Snubs
As you should know, the fans vote for the
NBA starters that will participate in the All-Star Game. The coaches get the
privilege to select their bench players. Many players have gotten belligerently
snubbed from the big game. So I picked my NBA Snub teams for the Eastern and
Western Conference.
Now, lets get to the big game we are all
waiting for. The Western Conference has been more superior to the Eastern
Conference this year and the past 3 all-star games. The West definitely has the
more star-studded roster with stars galore. Although the East has Indiana
Pacers coach Frank Vogel who is a great defensive coach, expect absolutely no
defense from both teams.
West
OVER East
MVP
Every player is competing for that MVP
award secretly. It is so hard to predict when LeBron James, Kevin Durant,
Carmelo Anthony, Stephen Curry and others stars are competing. I am going with
the unexpected pick for MVP, he is going to have alley-oops to Anthony Davis,
Blake Griffin, Dwight Howard, and Kevin Durant. The ex New Orleans Hornets
player wins it.
Vancouver 2010 was where
we left off with Olympic hockey. Sidney Crosby of Canada squeezed an overtime
goal past USA's goalie Ryan Miller resulting in a heartbreaking dagger through
American's hearts. Our friendly neighbors from the North hoisted the beloved
gold medal in their hometown while Americans had to resolve with a silver
medal.
Olympic hockey is back and more hectic than ever in Sochi, Russia
this year. From killing stray dogs to poor hotel conditions, it seems as if
Sochi was not ready to host such a prolific world event. Let's just say the
Olympics probably will not be back here for a while. In the midst of all the
turmoil occurring in Sochi, we just have to take a deep breath in and remember
that Olympic hockey is back.
Preview: The Russians have home field advantage heading into the tournament. They have a solid offense behind NHL stars Ovechkin and Malkin. It will be pretty neat seeing Kovalchuck play again after he suddenly parted ways with the NHL for the KHL. Sergei Bobrovsky and Semyon Varlamov will most likely split time in net.
Prediction: Silver
Slovakia
2010 Finish: Fourth
Notable Players: (F) Marian Hossa, (D) Zdeno Chara, (G) Jaroslav Halak
Preview: Slovakia came close to a medal in 2010 finishing fourth. They face a tough group featuring Russia and the USA. The giant Zdeno Chara is the leader for the Slovaks along with Blues goalie Halak. The offense is a little shaky but have some key players like Hossa, Tomas Kopecky, and Michal Handzus. Marian Gaborik will be missed due to an injury.
Prediction: Seventh
Slovenia
2010 Finish: Failed to Qualify
Notable Players: (F) Anze Kopitar
Preview: Slovenia failed to put a team in Vancouver last Olympics. They feature only one NHL player on the team Anze Kopitar. I do not see them winning one game in the entire tournament. Maybe this Olympic appearance will erase the minds of Slovenians missing out on the World Cup.
Prediction: Eleventh
United States
2010 Finish: Silver
Notable Players: (F) Patrick Kane, (F) Phil Kessel, (F) Zach Parise, (D) Ryan Suter
Preview: The Americans came up short in 2010 and are hungrier than ever this year for the gold medal. They have one of the few rosters in the Olympics compiled of all NHL players which helps immensely. Phil Kessel and Patrick Kane are both in the top five among NHL points leaders. The three goalies for the U.S. Jonathan Quick, Jimmy Howard, and Ryan Miller are all having mediocre years which leaves speculation in the net.
Prediction: Bronze
Group B
Austria
2010 Finish: Failed to Qualify
Notable Players: (F) Thomas Vanek, (F) Michael Grabner
Preview: Austria missed the last Olympics and they sure as hell do not bring anything to the table in this Olympics. Although they are a new team to the tournament, Vanek and Grabner could spark some life into the Austrian roster. I do not see them winning any games.
Prediction: Ninth
Canada
2010 Finish: Gold
Notable Players: (F) Sidney Crosby, (F) Ryan Getzlaf, (F) Rick Nash, (F) Corey Perry, (F) John Tavares
Preview: The Canadians are completely loaded with a surplus of NHL stars. They are for sure the favorites heading into the games. If I could name the whole Canadian roster I would, but that would defeat the purpose of the notable players. The only weak spot on this roster are the goalies Carey Price, Mike Smith, and Roberto Luongo.
Prediction: Gold
Finland
2010 Finish: Bronze
Notable Players: (F) Teemu Selanne, (G) Tuukka Rask
Preview: Finland grabbed a medal in the last Olympics and they have the potential to win another. In my opinion, they have the best goalie tandem with Tuukka Rask, Kari Lehtonen, and Antti Niemi. Top defenders Sami Salo and Kimmo Timonen along with forwards Teemu Selanne and Olli Jokinen are older than dirt but will try and triumph the Suomi.
Prediction: Sixth
Norway
2010 Finish: Tenth
Notable Players: (F) Mats Zuccarello
Preview: Norway has nothing to offer here. Zuccarello is the lone NHL player on the roster. The Norwegians' only shot is verse Austria in this division. Other than that, there is no hope.
Prediction: Tenth
Group C
Czech Republic
2010 Finish: Seventh
Notable Players: (F) Jaromir Jagr, (F) David Krejci, (G) Ondrej Pavelec
Preview: Another old timer roster featuring Jaromir Jagr and Petr Nedved will need support from young guns David Krejci and Martin Hanzal. This is a strong roster with a mix of old and new which can make a run deep.
Prediction: Eighth
Latvia
2010 Finish: Twelfth
Notable Players: (F) Zemgus Girgensons
Preview: Latvia is going to be an absolute atrocity. They have a premature roster that features one NHL player. Latvia will be grateful to achieve 5 goals in this entire tournament. This team will be a quick exit.
Prediction: Twelfth
Sweden
2010 Finish: Fifth
Notable Players: (F) Daniel Sedin, (F) Nicklas Backstrom, (D) Erik Karlsson, (G) Henrik Lundqvist
Preview: The Swedes are favorites to win the group and can make some noise in the medal race. Henrik Sedin will be missed with his injury keeping him out. Henrik Zetterberg and Daniel Alfredsson are the leaders of the team with a lot of talent to coincide.
Projection: Fifth
Switzerland
2010 Finish: Eighth
Notable Players: (G) Jonas Hiller, (D) Mark Streit, (D) Roman Josi, (F) Nino Niederreiter
Preview: The Swiss are my underdog team heading into the tournament. The defense runs behind Mark Streit, Roman Josi, Yan Weber, and Raphael Diaz. Goaltender Jonas Hiller is a having a great year with the Ducks and led the Swiss last Olympics. Watch out for Switzerland to defeat the odds this year.
Projection: Fourth
Friday, January 17, 2014
An American’s Guide to the World Cup 2014
By: Jack Kavanagh
First
I will say the talent in each squad at this World Cup will be tremendous.Soccer is a sport where underdogs can compete
with the giants at any stage (Northern Ireland earned a draw in Portugal during
qualifiers so don’t write off any team).Accurate predictions are near impossible to do especially because of the
number of sides with a real chance to compete all the way up to the final.There is probably ten to twelve teams if not
more that could be crowned champions if everything fell their way. When ESPN conducts a poll on which group is
the group of death, as a fan you know you’re in for a good World Cup.Criticize me all you like for my predictions
but it’s very difficult to pick everything correctly and as we know anything
can happen (Greece won Euro 2004).Also
don’t read too far into the FIFA Rankings as they do a poor job judging teams
(how many of us truly believe Switzerland is a stronger side than the
Brazilians? No one? Oh that’s what I thought).
GROUP A
-Brazil should take the group rather easily.Mexico looked terrible in qualifiers and
Croatia is constantly overlooked.I
wouldn’t write off Cameroon either as these are four quality sides.Second place in the group will be a good competition
and Cameroon stealing a point from Croatia or Mexico could decide who goes
through.
-Brazil
Best Previous Finish: Five-time Champions
FIFA Ranking: 10 Coach: Luiz Felipe Scolari Names to Know: Everyone but most importantly Neymar Expectations: Very High Prediction: Champions
-Croatia
Best Previous Finish: 3rd place finish
FIFA Ranking: 16 Coach: Igor Stimac Names to Know: Modric, Srna, Mandzukic Expectations: Medium Prediction: Round of 16 loss to Spain
-Mexico
Best Previous Finish: Quarterfinals
FIFA Ranking: 21 Coach: Miguel Herrera Names to Know: Hernandez, dos Santos, Peralta, Marquez Expectations: Medium Prediction: Third in the group
-Cameroon
Best Previous Finish: Quarterfinals
FIFA Ranking: 50 Coach: Volker Finke Names to Know: Eto’o, Song, Makoun Expectations: Low Prediction: Fourth in the group
GROUP B
-This is a tough group to predict especially with
three strong sides and one somewhat weaker side similar to Group A.Spain should win the group but they definitely
dread a group like this one.Netherlands
and Chile can hang with the best of them.Australia could be the key factor in this group if they are able to
fight for a draw or even a win against any of the others.In the end I think Spain wins the group and
Chile beats Netherlands in their matchup to get through.Interesting note: This group features a
rematch of the 2010 World Cup final between reigning champions Spain and the
Dutch runners up.
-Spain
Best Previous Finish: One-time champion
FIFA Ranking: 1 Coach: Vincent Del Bosque Names to Know: All 23 players Expectations: Very High Prediction: Semifinal loss to Argentina
-Netherlands
Best Previous Finish: 2nd place finish
FIFA Ranking: 9 Coach: Louis van Gaal Name to Know: van Persie, Robben, Sneijder, Jan
Huntelaar, and more Expectations: High Prediction: Third in the group
-Chile
Best Previous Finish: 3rd place finish
FIFA Ranking: 15 Coach: Jorge Sampaoli Names to Know: Sanchez, Bravo, Fernandez, Beausejour Expectations: Medium Prediction: Round of 16 loss to Brazil
-Australia
Best Previous Finish: Round of 16
FIFA Ranking: 56 Coach: Ange Postecoglou Names to Know: Cahill, Kruse, Jedinak Expectations: Low Prediction: Fourth in the group
GROUP C
-One of the weaker groups that seems rather
boring for the normal fan.Colombia
should win the group but second place anything can happen.Japan, Greece, and the Ivory Coast have
enough talent to advance to the knock out stages.Ivory Coast has more world-class players than
the Japanese and the Greeks so I see them sneaking through.
-Colombia
Best Previous Finish: Round of 16
FIFA Ranking: 4 Coach: Jose Pekerman Names to Know: Falcao, Rodriguez, Cuadrado, Zapata,
Guarin Expectations: High Prediction: Quarterfinals loss to Brazil
-Greece
Best Previous Finish: Group stage
FIFA Ranking: 12 Coach: Fernando Santos Names to Know: Mitroglou, Samaras, Karagounis,
Papastathopoulos Expectations: Medium Prediction: Fourth in the group
-Ivory
Coast
Best Previous Finish: Group Stage
FIFA Ranking: 17 Coach: Sabri Lamouchi Names to Know: Toure brothers, Drogba, Gervinho, Tiote Expectations: Medium Prediction: Round of 16 loss to England
-Japan
Best Previous Finish: Round of 16
FIFA Ranking: 48 Coach: Alberto Zaccheroni Names to Know: Kagawa, Honda, Nagatomo Expectations: Medium Prediction: Third in the group
GROUP D
-This group and Group G are competing for the
toughest groups in the competition.Sorry Costa Rica no chance of making it out of this one but they can
possibly influence the points if they can find a draw somewhere.Italy always seem ready for the challenge
when it matters most, while England does not and we cannot forget Uruguay’s
breathtaking run to the semi-finals in South Africa.This time around I see England’s loaded
talent finally learning to play together under the guidance of Roy Hodgson and
they go on to win the group.Italy
advances after Uruguay drops a vital two points against Costa Rica.
-Uruguay
Best Previous Finish: Two-time champions
FIFA Ranking: 6 Coach: Oscar Tabarez Names to Know: Suarez, Cavani, Forlan, Rodriguez Expectations: Medium Prediction: Third in the group
-Costa
Rica
Best Previous Finish: Round of 16
FIFA Ranking: 32 Coach: Jorge Luis Pinto Names to Know: Ruiz, Oviedo, Campbell Expectations: Medium Prediction: Fourth in the group
-England
Best Previous Finish: One-time champions
FIFA Ranking: 13 Coach: Roy Hodgson Names to Know: Rooney, Lampard, Gerrard, Hart, Baines Expectations: Medium Prediction: Quarterfinals loss to Spain
-Italy
Best Previous Finish: Four-time champions
FIFA Ranking: 7 Coach: Cesare Prandelli Names to Know: Balotelli, Buffon, Pirlo, Rossi (Born in
New Jersey), El Shaarawy Expectations: High Prediction: Round of 16 loss to Colombia
GROUP E
-Toughest group to predict out of them all in my
opinion.Switzerland really does not
have the strongest squad but they are currently ranked in the top ten in the
world.I would not be surprised if they
won the group or on the contrary finished with 0 points.France will have the strongest squad in the
group and should be the favorites to win.Ecuador, like the other South American teams, is loaded with talent and
will use that to claim a spot in the knockout rounds.It seems unfair to give nothing to Honduras
but in this group I don’t see them doing too much as they will fail to get out
of the group.
-Switzerland
Best Previous Finish: Quarterfinals
FIFA Ranking: 8 Coach: Ottmar Hitzfield Names to Know: Shaqiri, Inler, Dzemaili, Senderos, Xhaka Expectations: Medium Prediction: Third in the group
-Ecuador
Best Previous Finish: Round of 16
FIFA Ranking: 23 Coach: Reinaldo Rueda Names to Know: Caicedo, Valencia Expectations: Low Prediction: Round of 16 loss to Argentina
-France
Best Previous Finish: One-time champion
FIFA Ranking: 20 Coach: Didier Deschamps Names to Know: Ribery, Benzema, Lloris, Pogba, Giroud,
plenty more Expectations: Medium Prediction: Round of 16 loss to Nigeria
-Honduras
Best Previous Finish: Group Stage
FIFA Ranking: 43 Coach: Luis Fernando Suarez Names to Know: Palacios, Izaguirre Expectations: Low Prediction: Fourth in the group
GROUP F
-Argentina should clean up this group with no
trouble with Iran being one of the weakest sides in the tournament.The most important match will be when the
Bosnians face off against Nigeria.Although the unaccurate FIFA rankings may not support this, Nigeria wins
this game and goes onto the knockout stages.
-Argentina
Best Previous Finish: Two-time champions
FIFA Ranking: 3 Coach: Alejandro Sabella Names to Know: Messi, Aguero, Messi, di Maria, Messi,
Higuain, and Lionel Messi Expectations: High Prediction: Runners up to Brazil
-Bosnia and Herzegovina
Best Previous Finish: First Time Participant
FIFA Ranking: 19 Coach: Safet Susic Names to Know: Dzeko, Begovic, Pjanic Expectations: Low Prediction: Third in the group
-Iran
Best Previous Finish: Group Stage
FIFA Ranking: 34 Coach: Carlos Quieroz Names to Know: Ghoochanejhad, Teymourian, Dejagah Expectations: Low Prediction: Fourth in the group
-Nigeria
Best Previous Finish: Round of 16
FIFA Ranking: 41 Coach: Stephen Keshi Names to Know: Mikel, Enyeama, Ambrose, Onazi Expectations: Medium Prediction: Quarterfinals loss to Germany
GROUP G
-Group G has given us the highly anticipated
Group of Death.All four of these teams
advanced to the knockout stage in 2010.Unfortunate for the United States to get this draw and I just don’t see
them competing against the likes of Ronaldo, Essien, or Ozil.Germany and Portugal are the two strongest
sides in the group and I see them advancing in that order.
-Germany
Best Previous Finish: Three-time champions
FIFA Ranking: 2 Coach: Joachim Low Names to Know: Schweinsteiger, Muller, Ozil, Neuer,
Podolski, and others Expectations: High Prediction: Semifinals loss to Brazil
-Portugal
Best Previous Finish: Third Place
FIFA Ranking: 5 Coach: Paulo Bento Names to Know: RONALDO, Nani, Moutinho, Coentrao, Pepe Expectations: Medium Prediction: Quarterfinals loss to Argentina
-Ghana
Best Previous Finish: Quarterfinals
FIFA Ranking: 24 Coach: Akwasi Appiah Names to Know: Muntari, Essien, Gyan, Ayew brothers Expectations: Medium Prediction: Third in the group
-USA
Best Previous Finish: 3rd place finish
FIFA Ranking: 14 Coach: Jurgen Klinsman Names to Know: Bradley, Altidore, Donovan, Dempsey,
Howard Expectations: Medium Prediction: Fourth in the group
GROUP H
-Weakest group in the entire tournament with
Belgium being the heavy favorites and they should win the group.Algeria and South Korea are two of the
weakest squads and I don’t see too much quality in the current Russian side.In the end South Korea represents Asia well
by squeezing out of the group past Russia.
-Belgium
Best Previous Finish: Fourth place
FIFA Ranking: 11 Coach: Marc Wilmots Names to Know: Hazard, Vertonghen, Fellaini, Lukaku,
Kompany, and many more Expectations: High Prediction: Round of 16 loss to Portugal
-Algeria
Best Previous Finish: Group Stage
FIFA Ranking: 27 Coach: Vahid Halilhodzic Names to Know: Feghouli Expectations: Low Prediction: Fourth in the group
-Russia
Best Previous Finish: Fourth place
FIFA Ranking: 22 Coach: Fabio Capello Names to Know: Shirokov, Akinfeev Expectations: Medium Prediction: Third in the group
-South Korea
Best Previous Finish: Fourth Place
FIFA Ranking: 53 Coach: Hong Myung-Bo Names to Know: Lee Chung-Yong, Ki Sung-Yeung, Park
Chu-Young Expectations: Low Prediction: Round of 16 loss to Germany
To
me, there is no better time of year in sports than when the calendar turns to
March and the madness begins. After Selection Sunday many brackets are filled
with wild upset predictions that I pray will happen just so I can be that guy
who predicted the upset. I’m all about the typical underdog story. A team that
is physically overmatched and less talented that somehow pulls together a
string of great basketball and makes the NCAA Tournament what it is. Every
major upset has that one defining moment. Whether it be the game winning three
by Bryce Drew for Valparaiso, the backdoor cut and layup by Gabe Luwellis to give
Princeton the 43-41 win over UCLA, there is always that one moment that
everyone who watched that game will remember the upset by.
One of my favorite NCAA Tournament
upsets was Northern Iowa knocking off the number 1 overall seeded Kansas. The
Panthers had control over the game early and never gave up the lead. Ali
Farokhmanesh made his first 4 shots and big man Jordan Eglseder knocked down two
threes as well, despite shooting just 1-9 from downtown all year. Northern Iowa
had the lead to as big as 11 in the second half, but Kansas stormed back into
it by creating turnovers off of some full court pressure. They eventually cut
the lead to 63-62. With 42 seconds left Northern Iowa had possession and two
passes led to the ball in the hands of Ali Farokhmanesh. The game clock was now
at 37 seconds and the shot clock at 30. Conservative basketball minds would
think to wait for the offense to get set up and try to run down the shot clock
before thinking about shooting. Instead, Farokhmanesh pulled the trigger and
knocked down a dagger three-pointer to make the score 66-62. A charge on the
other end pretty much sealed the deal to what was one of the greatest upsets in
NCAA Tournament History.
I had the pleasure of getting in touch
with Ali Farokhmanesh via Facebook, and he was kind enough to answer a few
questions about the game and his shot.
1. What was your personal mindset prior
to the Kansas game?
“I was excited about the opportunity to
play a team like Kansas. They were the consensus number 1 team all year long
that season. It was a chance to prove what I could do on a stage like no other
in college basketball. There were some nerves but mainly just pure excitement.”
2.Before the play when you made the shot
did you tell yourself that if you had an open look you'd let it fly or did you
plan on killing clock?
“I
didn't really think about what I was going to do exactly when I got the ball. I
just knew that I wanted to win. So, when the opportunity to take that shot
opened up, I took full advantage of it. I've shot that shot hundreds of
thousands of times, so there was no thinking involved at that point.”
3.
How often do people still talk about that shot and that game with you?
“People still talk about it with me
every now and then. It's fun to relive it, and see what other people thought or
how they reacted. Always get the stories about where people were when they were
watching the game. It's fun, and brings back great memories for me too.”
First of all, much thanks goes to
Farokhmanesh for taking the time to do this. I used to always friend request
random NCAA players on Facebook and when the thought came to try to connect
with a former player he was the first to come to mind. His shot was unreal in
more ways than one. The fact that he just let it go with 30 seconds on the shot
clock could have cost Northern Iowa the game if it hadn’t gone in. This shows
that although it is essential to have a high basketball IQ in order to be
successful at that level, sometimes basketball is a game of instincts. I love
the line “There was no thinking involved at that point”, because I believe that
shooters are at their best when they are shooting the ball with no conscience.
Ali Farokhmanesh had no conscience when taking that three, which has become one
of the most famous NCAA Tournament shots in recent years.
It's that time of the year again to watch mediocre .500 teams play under makeshift coaches in unattractive bowl games. Unfortunately (sarcastic), the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) will finally be put to rest on January 6, 2014. The BCS system has been in operation since 1998 and has been criticized ever since. No longer will a computer decide which games Americans will be waking up to after a New Year's Eve of scarfing down red wine the night before. Starting in 2015, the BCS will be transitioned into a four-team college playoff. This playoff will be similar to the Final Four in college basketball, in which many people seem to enjoy. So 'Tis the Season, here are my Bowl picks.
Gildan New Mexico Bowl
We kick our bowl season off with two decent football teams squaring off, Colorado State (7-6) and Washington State (6-6). Washington State was terrible this year versus their own conference (4-5), but did take down #25 USC earlier in the year and lost by only 7 to Auburn. The Cougars will be led by Connor Halliday and the 4th best passing offense in the league. On the other hand, Colorado State has not had great competition all year long, but will be led by a nice peanut butter and jelly combo of QB Garrett Grayson (3327, 21TDs) and RB Kapri Bibbs (1572, 28TDs). Both defenses are horrible so I expect a high scoring game. Washington State OVER Colorado State Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl
This is one game I am actually looking forward to watching between #20 Fresno State and #25 USC. Fresno State has not played great teams at all this year. The plus side, the Bulldogs have the best passing team in the country with QB Derek Carr (4866, 48TDs) and the 5th overall offense averaging 45.3 points per game. USC will have a tough time defending this, even with the 21st overall defense in the country. Unless Pete Carroll comes back and coaches USC, the Trojans will be playing an uninspired game with several coaching changes throughout the year. Fresno State OVER USC Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Not too sure if it is Idaho that is famous or the actual potato from Idaho that is famous. This game will feature San Diego State the king of OTs this year and the Buffalo Bulls (not Bills). San Diego State's passing attack is not so bad at 35th in the country but their defense is horrendous at 97th. Buffalo does not have a lot of special attributes, except maybe that they have the 27th overall defense in the nation. San Diego State OVER Buffalo R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Tulane will play Louisiana-Lafayette on a Saturday at 9pm... If you are born and raised in Louisiana, I would still keep away from this stinker of a game. The Rajin' Cajuns have a semi-decent rushing attack ranking 26th overall. Tulane has a solid defense averaging 21.2 points per game, meanwhile their offense is atrocious. STAY AWAY from this game I repeat STAY AWAY. Watch the Pelicans vs Blazers game instead. Louisiana-Lafayette OVER Tulane Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl
Possibly the most unappealing name for a bowl game, nonetheless will be played in Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay. East Carolina has a solid offense ranking 11th in points for. Ohio has nothing flashy about themselves at all. I expect East Carolina's QB Shane Carden (3866, 32TDs) to shred this Bobcats secondary. East Carolina OVER Ohio
Sheraton Hawaii Bowl
This game will be played in the beautiful Aloha State featuring a Chris Peterson-less Boise State squad versus an Oregon State team that currently rides a 5 game losing skid. The Broncos are an overly solid all around team across the board. The Beavers are riding on their air attack which ranks 3rd in the country behind QB Sean Mannion (4403, 36TDs). The Broncos are gonna need a Christmas miracle to win this one and they will continue that 4 game Bowl win streak. Boise State OVER Oregon State Little Caesars Bowl
The Little Caesars Bowl or should I say the Pizza Pizza Bowl will be fought between Pittsburgh and Bowling Green. Pittsburgh actually went 3-5 in the ACC game but did play some good competition. Bowling Green is coming off a huge win against Northern Illinois and Heisman candidate Jordan Lynch. This Falcons defense is ranked 5th in the nation only allowing 14.8 points per game. Pittsburgh only wins this game if LeSean McCoy comes back and suits up for the Panthers. Bowling Green OVER Pittsburgh
San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl
The name of this Bowl game gives me a headache, however I am looking forward to seeing Jordan Lynch and Northern Illinois take on Utah State. Northern Illinois as you should know has Jordan Lynch who can do everything from pass, run, and probably catch. The Huskies ran into a tenacious defense in Bowling Green last week and they run into another this week being the Aggies'. Utah State's defense is 7th overall and averages only 17.3 points per game. Northern Illinois for sure is the sexy pick, but I am thinking otherwise. Utah State OVER Northern Illinois
Military Bowl
In a game for the troops, (We Are) Marshall will face hometown Maryland in Annapolis, Maryland. Marshall has a real good offense averaging 43 points per game and ranking 7th overall. The only thing Maryland has is the hometown advantage. Marshall will be led to victory by QB Rakeem Cato (3579, 36TDs) big time. Marshall OVER Maryland Texas Bowl
I am very excited to see an absolute putrid offense in Syracuse play a horrendous passing offense in Minnesota. The Orangemen are 100th in points for this year and 102nd in passing yards. The Golden Gophers are even worse with a 116th overall in passing yards. I will give the upper hand to Minnesota since they did beat #24 Nebraska earlier in the year Minnesota OVER Syracuse Fight Hunger Bowl
Another Bowl game being played in a baseball stadium, this time between BYU and Washington. Both teams carry a run-heavy offense and will score a lot of points. Washington will have newly acquired coach Chris Peterson and he definitely still has some tricks up his sleeves. Huskies RB Bishop Sankey (18TDs) will bring his A game to the McCovey Cove Washington State OVER BYU New Era Pinstripe Bowl
Yet another bowl game being played in a baseball stadium. This game will draw a large crowd from Rutgers and Notre Dame, especially since Yankee Stadium is the host. Rutgers is not a good team at all, as a matter of fact, I do not know how they are in a Bowl game. The Irish are going to express their anger from last year's BCS Championship game and pound the Scarlet Knights in this one. Notre Dame OVER Rutgers Belk Bowl
This will be Cincinnati's second straight year in this Bowl and they will play hometown team North Carolina. The Bearcats have a solid passing attack behind Brendon Kay (3121, 21TDs) and the 12th overall defense in the country. North Carolina on the other hand started off 1-5 and they also got demolished by Old Dominion 80-20. There is nothing to see in this game. Brendon Kay will add his second straight Belk Bowl MVP to his trophy case after this game. Cincinnati OVER North Carolina Russell Athletic Bowl
This Bowl game will be a good one with Louisville facing off against Miami. The U has a solid offense behind QB Stephen Morris averaging 35.9 points per game. Little do they know, they are facing a Cardinals defense that is ranked 3rd in the nation only allowing 12.4 points per game. Louisville's Teddy Bridgewater should have a field day versus Miami as this could be his last college game of his career pending his decision. Louisville OVER Miami Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl
Unless you are a Michigan or Kansas State fan, this game will be boring. Michigan QB Devon Gardner will be the only human being keeping your attention in this one. I know "almost" only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades, but Michigan almost beat Ohio State (42-41 loss) on a two-point conversion miss. The only chance of me watching this game is if both teams have a hot wing contest consisting of Buffalo Wild Wings' Blazin' sauce instead of playing the game. Michigan OVER Kansas State
Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl
Not sure how Middle Tennessee received a Bowl game but they will play the triple option frenzy offense Navy. The Midshipmen are going to run all over this weak Conference USA Blue Raider squad. Navy OVER Middle Tennessee Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl
Take a breath after reading this joke of a Bowl game name. Besides the name, I do look forward to watching Ole Miss versus Georgia Tech. The Rebels' 7-5 record does not reflect their team accurately. They lost close games to Texas A&M, Auburn, and Missouri. Georgia Tech's record is 7-5 as well and will no doubt be running the ball the majority of the time. The Yellow Jackets rank 5th in rushing yards and average 311.7 yards per game. In the end, I will always lean towards SEC over ACC Ole Miss OVER Georgia Tech Valero Alamo Bowl
Let's just say this game is going to end fast, real fast. Even without Chip Kelly, Oregon should destroy Texas in this Bowl. The Ducks are 3rd in the country in points behind future NFL QB Marcus Mariota (3412, 30TDs). The Ducks will be flying high in these bad boys.
Oregon OVER Texas National University Holliday Bowl
This is an interesting game that should be a blowout. Coming into this game, Arizona State has the 10th overall offense in the country averaging 41 points per game and has only one loss to a team not named Stanford. They will facing a pretty bad Texas Tech football team that is 4-5 in the Big 12, on a 5 game losing skid, and has a points against average of 31.2 points per game. The number 14 ranked Sun Devils prevail. Arizona State OVER Texas Tech
AdvoCare V100 Bowl
Another vanilla Bowl game taking place between two 7-5 teams. This game will be all about ground and pound with Arizona versus Boston College. The Wildcats are ranked 11th in the nation in rushing yards behind RB Ka'Deem Carey (1716, 17TDs) and QB B.J. Denker (868, 12 TDs). Boston College is not far from Arizona's rushing attack. The Eagles are led by Heisman nominee and part-time tank Andre Williams (2102, 17TDs). This game will be down to the wire. Arizona OVER Boston College Hyundai Sun Bowl
This game will be battled out by a stout defense in Virginia Tech versus P. Diddy's son and UCLA.
The Hokies' offense is pretty bad ranking 97th in the country but their defense will hold down the fort ranking 8th. The Bruins have an overall good offense averaging 36.5 points per game. This will be a low-scoring old fashioned battle. UCLA OVER Virginia Tech AutoZone Liberty Bowl
Another game that will put you to sleep between Rice and Mississippi State. The Bulldogs are 3-5 in the SEC, 0-5 versus ranked teams this year, and 82nd in points scored. They matchup versus a Conference USA Rice Owls team that heavily depends on the run game. Rice RB Charles Ross (1252, 14TDs) will lead the way to victory. Rice OVER Mississippi State Chick-fil-A Bowl
Texas A&M versus Duke is a non BCS game I am looking forward too for sure. The Aggies will be led by Johnny Football himself, Johnny Manziel (3732, 33TDs). This year's Heisman nominee and ex-Heisman winner leads the high-powered offense against a surprisingly good Duke football team. Notice I did not say basketball team because their football team is good for once. Although Texas A&M is 0-4 versus top 25 teams this year, I am still sticking with Johnny. Texas A&M OVER Duke Taxslayer.com Gator Bowl
Georgia will play Nebraska in what should be called the Deja Vu Bowl. Last year these two teams met in the Capital One Bowl on the same date, nearly the same time, and the same state of Florida. Georgia outlasted Nebraska 45-31 last year and this year the outcome is expected to be familiar. Georgia has a real solid offense and suffered through a tough schedule throughout the year. The only thing Nebraska has going for them is to save Bo Pelini's job from being terminated in Lincoln. Georgia wins this game unless this happens again.
Georgia OVER Nebraska Heart of Dallas Bowl
The only person I can see watching this game is Jerry Jones. UNLV will battle North Texas in Dallas, Texas to try and win over the hearts of heart-broken Tony Romo fans. This is as boring as it gets but North Texas does win the battle of the better nickname, the Mean Green. North Texas also holds the 9th ranked defense only averaging 18.1 points per game. North Texas OVER UNLV Outback Bowl
LSU will take on the Iowa Hawkeyes. Iowa has real good defense averaging a mere 18.8 points per game. LSU also shares a strong defense but their offense is where the questions are asked. With star QB Zach Mettenberger out with a torn ACL, can the Tigers still perform offensively? I think so, Freshman Anthony Jennings will be taking over and he will have two 1000 yard receivers to throw to. LSU OVER Iowa Capital One Bowl
Wisconsin and South Carolina will sure be an underrated game to pay attention to. Wisconsin has played well all year and their three losses have come from only 7 points or under. They play phenomenal defense allowing only 14.8 points per game on average. The Badgers' offense will consist of a two-headed monster in RBs Melvin Gordon and James White with a combined total of 2,803 yards and 25 TDs. As I am speaking they are watching film on this video here of Jadeveon Clowney.
South Carolina will be lead by QB Connor Shaw who has only thrown one pick all year. South Carolina escapes a close game vs Wisconsin. South Carolina OVER Wisconsin Rose Bowl
The traditional Rose Bowl will be host to Stanford and Michigan State. Stanford is not afraid of anyone with an outstanding 7-0 record versus ranked teams this year. Their defense ranks 10th in the nation while averaging 18.6 points per game to opponents. The most points they have allowed in a game this year was 28 twice and they won both of those games. It should be mostly ground and pound with Tyler Gaffney (20 TDs). Michigan State actually has the better defense though, allowing a microscopic 12.7 points per game to opponents. The Spartans' biggest win of the year came in the Big Ten game against Ohio State. This game is going to be a gory battle for that prized rose at the end of the game. Stanford OVER Michigan State Tostitos Fiesta Bowl
Folks in Glendale, Arizona are in for a battle of high-octane offenses between UCF and Baylor here. Baylor has the number one offense in the nation by far averaging a whopping 53.3 points per game. Bryce Petty (3844, 30TDs, 2INT) will have all cylinders rolling this game despite UCF's defense. UCF's defense is 13th in the nation only allowing opponents to average 19.6 points per game. Baylor's only loss of the year came to a Oklahoma State defense that held the Bears to 17 points. UCF QB Blake Bortles (3280, 22TDs) is no Bryce Petty but will lead the Knights to an upset victory. UCF OVER Baylor Allstate Sugar Bowl
I do not know how Alabama and Oklahoma got paired up. Last time Oklahoma and Alabama met in a Bowl game was the year 1970 in the Bluebonnet Bowl, surprisingly ending in a tie game. When the defending champs (Alabama) have only lost 3 times in the past 3 years, it is hard to pick against them. Roll Tide wins this one by 20+. Alabama OVER Oklahoma At&T Cotton Bowl
Missouri will be playing their old Big 12 partner Oklahoma State. Missouri carries a loaded offense behind multiple players with 10+ TDs. The Tigers also went through a tough schedule facing six top 25 teams and finishing 4-2. Oklahoma State did shut down Baylor with their reluctant defense holding the Bears to only 17 points. Missouri is going to want revenge from the Auburn loss and on an old friend. \ Missouri OVER Oklahoma State Discover Orange Bowl
After Ohio State choked against Michigan State, they will get another test versus Clemson. Tajh Boyd (3473, 29TDs) threads the needle like no other. Clemson averages 40.2 points per game in the 12th best overall offense. The Buckeyes are very similar averaging 46.3 points per game with a 4th ranked overall offense. To go along with that, they have the 3rd best rushing attack in the nation averaging 317.5 yards per game. Ohio State is 24-1 behind Urban Meyer and are hungry for their first Bowl win. Ohio State OVER Clemson BBVA Compass Bowl
Houston will get their chance versus the big boys in the SEC, Vanderbilt. Houston is riding high behind Freshman QB John O'Korn (26TDs). The Cougars have not faired well against top 25 schools falling to 0-2. Vanderbilt has held their own with the SEC going 4-4 in the conference. Vanderbilt OVER Houston GoDaddy Bowl
Arkansas State versus Ball State is not a tasty appetizer at all following the entree (Auburn and Florida State). Arkansas State's head coach Bryan Harsin left for Boise State leaving the Red Wolves in the wind. Keith Wenning (3933, 34TDs) is going to have a field day. Ball State OVER Arkansas State Vizio BCS National Championship
The Granddaddy of them all Florida State versus Auburn. Florida State has the 2nd best overall offense in the country averaging an astronomical 53 points per game. The heart and soul of the offense is Heisman winner QB Jameis Winston (3820, 38TDs). Auburn's defense will be in for a rude awakening. The Tigers' offense will be led by Heisman nominee RB Tre Mason (22TDs) + QB Nick Marshall's ground game. These two help Auburn to be the number one rushing offense in the nation. Florida State's defense is no joke at all ranked 1st in the nation only allowing opponents to score an average of 10.7 points per game. This game is going to be an epic battle of the best and I am leaning towards the SEC yet again. Auburn OVER Florida State
