Sunday, November 28, 2010

NFL Picks: Week 12

Jacksonville +8 against NY Giants
Atlanta -2 over Green Bay
Pittsburgh -7 over Buffalo
Cleveland (pick'em) over Carolina
Minnesota +2 against Washington
Houston (pick'em) over Tennessee
Oakland (pick'em) over Miami
Kansas City -1 over Seattle
Philadelphia -4 over Chicago
Denver -4 over St.Louis
Baltimore -8 over Tampa Bay
Indianapolis -3 over San Diego
San Francisco -1 over Arizona

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Kevin's Week 12 Picks

Week 11: 9-6
Season: 76-76-4
Week 12 so far 2-1

GB +2 (GB wins)
Pit -7
PK Cle
Jax +8 (NYG wins)
Min +2 (Min wins)
Pk Hou
Pk Oak
Sea +1 (Sea wins)
Phi -4
Den -4
Bal -8
Ind -3
AZ +1 (AZ wins)

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Thanksgiving Picks

Or Happy Halloween according to Steve Siracusa.

New England (-7) over Detroit
Dallas (+4) against New Orleans
NY Jets (-9) over Cincinnati

Friday, November 19, 2010

Kevin's Week 11 Picks

Last week: 7-5
Season: 67-70-4

Cin -6
Dal -7
Was +7 (Ten wins)
AZ +8 (KC wins)
Min +3 (Min wins)
Hou +7 (NYJ wins)
Pit -7
Bal -10
Jax -2
Atl -3
Sea +12 (NO wins)
SF -3
Ind +4 (NE wins)
NYG +4 (NYG wins)
SD -10

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Penn State Vs. Indiana

Be sure to catch Penn State versus Indiana at 12:00 PM on Saturday November 20.  The game is to be televised by the Big Ten Network.  I myself will be among the many Penn Staters expected to trek down to Washington DC for the game.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Bobcats Nation


Catch the fever before it spreads across the globe!  This picture was designed and created by the great Kevin Bodkin.

Proof To Why Miami Is A Bad Sports Town


When you have Lebron James and Dwyane Wade on your hometown NBA team, is there any excuse for lacking fans (let alone anybody) at your home games.  This was the biggest reason I was disgusted with the Miami Heat winning the biggest prizes in the free agency this summer.  It would be so much better if the LBJ and company decided to play in either New York or Chicago.

NFL Picks: Week 11

Chicago (+1) against Miami
NY Giants (+4) against Philadelphia
Cincinnati (-6) over Buffalo
Dallas (-7) over Detroit
Washington (+7) over Tennessee
Kansas City (-8) over Arizona
Minnesota (+3) against Green Bay
NY Jets (-7) over Houston
Oakland (+8) against Pittsburgh
Baltimore (-10) over Carolina
Cleveland (+2) against Jacksonville
Atlanta (-3) over St. Louis
Seattle (+12) against New Orleans
Tampa Bay (+3) against San Francisco
New England (-3) over Indianapolis
San Diego (-10) over Denver

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

The Michael Vick Experience Part Deux


Michael Vick was simply magnificent last night in the Philadelphia Eagles romp over the Washington Redskins.  Vick combined score six touchdowns running and passing last night in the 59-28 victory.  Wonder if the Philadelphians are still against Andy Reid and the Eagles giving Vick a second chance after serving two years in prison.  In honor of Vick's performance, here is a commercial at the height of Vick's popularity with the Atlanta Falcons.


Wouldn't it be interesting if the Eagles and Falcons meet in this year's NFC Playoffs especially if it is in Atlanta.

Monday, November 15, 2010

A Cause For Concern (Not Panic) on South Beach

LeBron James during last week's loss to the Utah Jazz

Currently the Miami Heat (Led by LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh) have a "pedestrian" record of 6-4.  To an outsider, the Heat have vastly underachieved by losing four of their first ten games.  Experts such as ESPN's Jeff Van Gundy expected the Heat to be a contender to break the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls record for wins in a regular season (72).  Some feel that there is something seriously wrong right now in Miami with the each loss bringing Team President Pat Riley one step closer to returning to the coaching sideline replacing Erik Spoelstra.

Any NBA expert though will tell you that the Heat are simply working out their team weaknesses and the players are learning how to play with each other.  The team was unable to do this in the preseason since Wade missed essentially all of it.  In a few months, expect the Heat to have a lethal fast break with James and Wade running the show with Bosh and a couple of capable sharpshooters in Eddie House and Mike Miller (when he returns to injury).

However, two problems currently exist with the way the Heat are currently constructed.  Right now, Miami could really use a Center who can eat up space on defense and grab rebounds.  Both Joel Anthony and Udonis Haslem are undersized and are unable to match up against the likes of Kevin Garnett, Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol.  Bosh meanwhile often spends his time on the perimeter on offense and is vastly overrated as a defender (see him get posterized by Rajon Rondo).



The Heat also lack a capable Point Guard who is capable of slowing down the league's elite on defense.  In each of the Miami's losses this year, they have been carved up by All-Star Point Guards (Chris Paul, Rajon Rondo and Deron Williams).

Miami should still be able to cruise to the best record in the Eastern Conference this year.  The big test will come in the post season against either Boston or the Los Angeles Lakers who each present a plethora of big men to exploit Miami's weakness.  Little did anyone know in the off season that someone like (prospective free agent) Erick Dampier could possibly hold the keys for the Heat's playoff success.  Riley has one more urgent recruiting pitch to persuade Dampier (or any other big men) to join "Miami Thrice" on South Beach.

Middle School Trick Play


I'm sure many of you have already seen this, but this was a trick play that occurred during a Middle School Football Game in Texas.  My question is, how is this play even legal?

2010 Penn State Basketball Preview:

Talor Battle

What a difference a year makes for the Penn State Men’s Basketball Program.  Entering last season, the program was riding a wave of momentum surrounding its run to 2009 Post Season NIT Championship.  The run which resulted in over 30 busloads of students who traveled to Madison Square Garden for the title clinching victory seemed to awaken the Nittany Lions’ dormant fan base.  Unfortunately, this momentum was short lived as Lions were arguably one of the country’s biggest disappointments in 2009-10 with an 11-20 record which put them in last place in the Big Ten Conference. 

The main problems with last year’s roster resulted were a lack of leadership and a lack of a complementary option to help All-Big Ten Point Guard Talor Battle.  During Penn State’s magical 2008-2009 season, the Lions were led by Battle, gritty Power Forward Jamelle Cornley, and sharpshooters Danny Morrissey and Stanley Pringle.  Last year only Battle remained from that quartet and his teammates failed to step out and fill the void left by the three seniors.  Statistically Battle was spectacular, leading the squad in points (18.5), rebounds (5.3) and assists (4.2).  Many critics felt that Battle did not make much of an effort to get his teammates involved and often settled for contested three pointers, but who could blame him since he was given the freedom by Head Coach Ed DeChellis and due to a lack of support from his teammates.  The fact that a 5”11 Point Guard led the team in rebounds is a bigger indictment on the Lions frontline (namely Jeff Brooks and Andrew Jones).

Swingmen David Jackson and Chris Babb seemed to improve as the season went on but neither is considered to be capable to play “Robin” to Battle’s “Batman.  Jackson was often responsible for guarding the opposing team’s best player and had solid stats across the board.  Jackson would be perfect as a 5th starter or a 6th man on a NCAA Tournament caliber team (which the Lions are not).  Unfortunately for the Lions, Babb (who averaged 9.3 points per game and shot well from 3-point range) decided to transfer to Iowa State after the disastrous season.

For Penn State to sniff any post-season (NCAA, NIT or CBI) they will need their two front court enigmas (Brooks and Jones) to step up.  Many observers hoped Jones would build on his solid NIT Tournament run in which he outplayed ex-Notre Dame Star Luke Harangody in the semifinal win (Jones recorded 16 points and 15 rebounds).  Last season Jones often was in early foul trouble which led him to be sitting on the bench for long stretches of games.  Brooks is the ultimate “enigma” who is Penn State’s best athlete and was a four star recruit entering the program in 2007.  Brooks has failed to earn consistent playing time due to a low Basketball IQ even after having ample opportunities.  This season is the last chance for both Jones and Brooks to finally put everything together and give the team a formidable frontcourt presence.

The Lions will be have a couple of options to help Battle in the backcourt.  Tim Frazier is a fantastic athlete who is one of the quicker guards in the Big Ten.  Frazier’s quickness often led him to be out of control with the ball resulting into turnovers. He would also be much harder to defend if he develops a consistent jump shot.  Shooting Guard Taran Buie (Talor Battle’s brother) is arguably Penn State’s biggest recruit in years. He chose Penn State over Maryland, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh and Georgia Tech. 

The biggest question surrounding the program is the job security of DeChellis.  DeChellis signed a contract extension prior to last season after the stirring NIT run.  At the end of last season though, many fans wanted DeChellis out after the team massively flopped and the team was plagued by the same problems all year (stagnant offense, failure to protect the three point line).  DeChellis better right this sinking ship quick if he wants to avoid losing the fan base altogether.  The Athletic Department announced this fall that they are adding NCAA Ice Hockey in a brand new 85 million dollar on-campus arena.  This will certainly be a huge hit for students and local residents alike and could possibly make Men’s Basketball a distant second in terms of winter sports popularity.   

Sunday, November 14, 2010

NFL Picks: Week 10



Dallas (+14) against NY Giants
Buffalo (-3) over Detroit
Minnesota (-2) over Chicago
NY Jets (-3) over Cleveland
Indianapolis (-7) over Cincinnati
Tennessee (-1) over Miami
Tampa (-7) over Carolina
Houston (+1) against Jacksonville
Kansas City (-2) over Denver
Arizona (-3) over Seattle
St. Louis (+6) against San Francisco
Pittsburgh (-5) over New England
Philadelphia (-3) over Washington

Friday, November 12, 2010

Kevin's Wk 10 Picks

Week 9: 7-5-1
Season: 60-65-4

Det +3 (Det wins)
Min -2
NYJ -3
Ind -7
Mia +2 (Mia wins)
TB -7
Den +1 (Den wins)
NYG -14
AZ -3
SF -6
NE +5 (Pit wins)
Phi -3

Sunday, November 7, 2010

NFL Picks: Week 9

Seattle (+8) against NY Giants (NYG win)
Tampa Bay (+9) against Atlanta (Atlanta win)
Chicago (-3) over Buffalo
New England (-6) over Cleveland
NY Jets (-6) over Buffalo
Arizona (+8) over Minnesota (Minnesota win)
Carolina (+7) against New Orleans (New Orleans Win)
Miami (+5) against Baltimore (Baltimore win)
San Diego (-3) over Houston
Oakland (-1) over Kansas City
Indianapolis (+3) against Philadelphia (Indy win)
Green Bay (-8) over Dallas
Pittsburgh (-5) over Cincinnati

Friday, November 5, 2010

Kevin's Week 9 Picks

Last week: 8-5
Season: 53-60-3

TB +9 (Atl wins)
Buf +3 (Buf wins)
NE -5
NYJ -5
Min -8
NO -7
Bal -5
Hou +3 (Hou wins)
NYG -7
KC +1 (KC wins)
Ind +3 (Ind wins)
GB -9
Pit -5