Uncategorized
Let’s fix the New York Knicks
Draft Lamelo Ball or Tyrese Haliburton.
The first move is going to be dependent on draft position. If the Knicks are lucky enough to find themselves in a top three pick they should have a shot at Lamelo Ball. Ball obviously comes with some baggage but his skill set and size make him NBA ready. New York has had a spinning wheel of point guards over the last few seasons. Elfrid Payton, Frank Ntilkina, Dennis Smith Jr. have all spent time running the point position last season, none of them performing to the level that allowed them to take charge of the position.
If Ball is not there for New York they need to look at Iowa State Cyclone Tyrese Haliburton. Haliburton flourished in his final year in Ames, stuffing the stat sheets averaging over 5 boards and 6 assists along with 15 points. Haliburton was able to shoot over 40% from behind the arc. His consistent shooting and size set him apart from Cole Anthony, the other top PG prospect.
New York is in need of a leader. They have had a long history of instability at the position and the addition of one of the premier guards in the draft is a need to go along with RJ Barrett and Julius Randle.
Trade for Devin Booker.
We may not know exactly the player Devin Booker is. He has never been given the chance to play with a team that can help his talents flourish. The raw potential of the 23-year old is something that the league can’t ignore. Booker’s extension has him in Phoenix for the next few seasons but if the organization can’t find a way to make them winners it won’t take long for Booker to want a new opportunity. Players now have all of the power in the league and it is a matter of time before Booker gets fed up with the direction of the team. The Suns have done their best to build around Booker and the combinations they are putting together are not working.
The Knicks have stockpiled a few draft picks over the last few seasons trading away Kristaps and Marcu Morris. The picks along with Kevin Knox and their litany of PG’s on the roster may be enough to entice the Suns to move their franchise cornerstone. Booker along with RJ Barrett and a new young PG picked up in the draft will give them a core that can compete with the middle of the pack in the East. The talent, along with the addition of another high star will push them where they need to be.
Commit to Mitchell Robinson
Robinson has faults. His ability to stay on the court is the biggest problem. If Robinson can mature as a player he can be the biggest asset the organization has. The ability to lock down the paint on the defensive end can help a young team develop a team concept.
If New York is able to add a game changer like Lamelo Ball the pick and roll with Robinson can be deadly, similar to the Chris Paul- Deandre Jordan connection of the mid-2000’s. Entering 2021 the Knicks have to decide what their direction for Robinson is going to be. They need to be done with Taj Gibson and Bobby Portis. Continuing to have pointless veterans in the middle needs to be a thing of the past.
It’s time to commit to the youth and ability of Robinson. Look to the future and run with it.
NL Central Preview Podcast
Jon Jones – The greatest that ruined it all.
We all make mistakes. We have done things we regret, sometimes these mistakes follow you for the rest of your life. Jon Jones is the greatest MMA fighter in UFC history but his mistakes have tarnished his legacy beyond repair. He won’t be remembered for being a great fighter. The story will always be what he could have been if not for his mistakes. He could have been a cultural icon like Chuck Liddell or even reached the pantheon of Muhammad Ali. Bold statements but that was the reality for him, extreme talent in the octagon, a great personality and a great look. He had all the tools to be the man forever associated with mixed martial arts, but he blew it.
Jon Jones made his MMA debut in 2008 at the age of 21. He immediately made an impact starting his career 7-0 and finding himself with an opportunity to join the vaunted UFC just four months into his career. Jone dominated his first three appearances in the UFC leading to a new four fight contract with the UFC signed in September of 2009. With the new contract came his biggest opportunity in the business taking on reality TV star Matt Hamil. Jones dominated Hamil throughout the fight but was disqualified for using 12-6 elbows on a downed Hamil. This disqualification loss is the only loss Jones has taken thus far in his career. Just two years later Jones worked his way to the title, replacing an injured Rashad Evans, knocking out “Shogun” Rua in March of 2011. He was cemented as the youngest champion in UFC history and was ready to build himself into the face of the sport.
Everything was in front of this 23-year old champion. He had all the tools to dominate in the octagon while being a marketing dream. He had it all. He began a torrid run through the top contenders Rampage Jackson, Rashad Evans, Vitor Belfort, Lyoto Machida, Chael Sonnen, Glover Teixeira, Alexander Gustafsson and Daniel Cormier. Jones had cleared out the division. His dominance was similar to future stars Rhonda Rousey and Connor McGregor. Jones showed his ego leading into matchups with Cormier and Evans. He had a cockieness that accentuated his dominance. He could play the villain with the skills of the hero. To build him up as the unbeatable champion that would dominate the division and hold the belt forever would only make it sweeter when one day he would slip up and lose. That moment would be a milestone that not only ended one great run but created a new superstar.
Jon Jones never should have a chance to pass the light heavyweight torch. There shouldn’t be a final fight for Jones, he has proven that he is not responsible enough to be in the forefront of an organization. He was a complete disappointment to himself, the organization and the sport in general. While we can forgive mistakes we can not overlook them. We can only give people chances so many times. I am a fan of MMA and supported Jones because I saw his potential. I saw a guy that was revolutionary in his style and ability. It has been 12 years since his first MMA fight and he still is the best in his division. Imagine a major sports team that was dominant for that amount of time. Jordan’s Bulls only win six titles, the Yankees had gaps in between their dynasties, the Patriots couldn’t hold their grasp on #1 forever, even Tiger Woods was overtaken by Vijay Singh at one point in his dominant run. What this man has done in a sport where you can lose in literally one second is revolutionary. His dominance should be his legacy. He should be the Jerry West logo of the UFC, but his ability will be an afterthought and his controversies will live on forever. Jon Jones could have been the greatest of all time but he is now just Jon Jones the greatest runined it.
Just some of the records Jon Jones has:
Longest unbeaten streak in UFC history (18).
Most light heavyweight title defenses.
Youngest UFC Champion in history (23 years old).
Most submission victories in UFC light heavyweight history (5).
Most stoppage wins in UFC light heavyweight history (10).
Controversies:
May 2012 – DUI- Drove his car into a pole in Binghamton, New York.
Jan. 2015 – Failed drug test before UFC 182.
April 2015 – Fled the scene of a hit and run.
March 2016 – Jones is jailed in Albuquerque for violating probation. A week earlier, he was cited by police on five charges related to drag racing, and footage from a police body camera captured Jones calling the officer a “f—ing liar” and a “pig.”
July 2016 – Tested positive for two banned substances prior to UFC 200.
August 2017 – flagged for a potential doping violation by USADA, stemming from his test sample that was collected on July 28, one day before his rematch against Cormier at UFC 214.
December 2018 – Jones is drug tested on the day of weigh-ins, and a trace amount of Turinabol, the same steroid metabolite that earned him his ban, is again found in his system.
July 21, 2019 – Albuquerque TV station KRQE reports that Jones, facing a battery charge stemming from the April strip club complaint.
March 26, 2020 – Jones is arrested in New Mexico for alleged aggravated DWI and negligent use of a firearm.
Ranking Cardinals one hit wonders
Players can make an impact on a team even if it’s over a short period. They can have such an impact that fans remember them to this day. I wanted to focus on a few players that had one great season with St. Louis and then either faded into obscruity or moved on to other organizations. I wanted to focus on players from my time frame so you won’t see any part timers from the 70’s or 80’s. This list is focused on the 90’s to today. If I missed any please let me know.
5.Bo Hart, 2003
Bo Hart has a major league baseball record. Through his first 15 games in 2003 Hart had 28 hits, breaking Irv Waldons record set in 1901. Hart was an instant sensation for a fanbase that loves the underdog. Hart was a 26 year old, 33rd round pick that should have never gotten the chance to play. He wasn’t even hitting well in the minors with a slash line of .249/.338/.351. An injury to Miguel Cairo left the Cardinals with no other options but to call Hart up and give him a chance. His great start captured the attention of the fans and the local media. Hart didn’t do much after his torrid start to his career, falling back down to earth the rest of 2003. After being a fan favorite during the 2003 season Hart was unable to make another impact playing only 11 games in 2004.
Bo was only a part of Cardinals History for a short period but to fans of that time his name will always bring back great memories.
4.Craig Paquette, 2001
Most of us will not remember Craig Paquette. He actually spent three seasons with the Cardinals but his 2001 season was the best of his career .282/.326/.465 in 134 games. Paquette was picked up from the New York Mets for veteran Shawon Dunston in 1999. Having previously played for manager Tony LaRussa there was a familiarity with Paquette. Paquette’s one season of legitimacy in 2001 netted him a nice contract from the Detroit Tigers worth about five million dollars. While Paquette technically is cheated on this list as he did play multiple seasons in a Cardinal uniform it was really only the one year in 2001 that he made any sort of impact. Also he coordinates with a guy that just missed my list Shawon Dunston.
3.Mark Grudzielanek, 2005
The Cardinals signed Mark Grudzielanek in 2005 to fill in for Tony Womak who had departed for free agency. Grudzielanek quietly put together a great season for the defending national league champs. The former All-Star put together his second best WAR season in his career (2.8). His second half helped propel the 100 win Cardinals into the playoffs. His 110 WRC+ was forty points higher than the first half of the season. He was also a home favorite hitting .322 at Busch Stadium.
The 2005 Cardinals are a forgotten team after losing to division rival Houston in an excting six game series. Grudzielanek was a stable piece in the middle of the field. After his departure St. Louis would have trouble filling the position until 2014 when Kolten Wong became a full time starter.
2.Jason Heyward, 2015
Jason Heyward was a rising star in the league. Heyward entered the majors in 2010 at just 20 years old making an immediate impact for the Atlanta Braves. He finished second in the league for the rookie of the year award, earning his first and only all-star appearance. The Braves moved Heyward in the 2014 offseason, sending him to St. Louis for pitchers Shelby Miller and Tyrell Jenkins.
Heyward had arguably the second most productive season of his career after a slow start he ended up with a OPS of .797 while adding his second gold glove. Heyward’s 5.6 WAR was the highest of his career. He became a big part down the stretch for a Cardinals team that was clinging to a playoff spot. Heyward had an outstanding 141 WRC+ in the second half of the season. Without him the Cardinals would not have made the postseason let alone competed against the revitalized Chicago Cubs.
Heyward will most be remembered for not resigning in the offseason but to ignore his play while in a Cardinal uniform is downright stupid.
1.Kent Bottenfield, 1999
Chubby Kent Bottenfield makes my list even though he technically played two seasons with the Cardinals. Bottenfield spent the 1998 season mainly out of the bullpen pitching in 44 games, starting 17. He established himself down the stretch in 98’ enough for Manager Tony LaRussa to give him a shot at the rotation heading into the 1999 season. Bottenfield excelled in the rotation having a career year with 18 wins and a 3.97 ERA, leading to his first and only All-Star appearance. Surprising numbers from a relative unknown that was only averaging 5.4 K/9.
The Cardinals cashed in on Bottenfield big season moving him to the Anaheim Angels in 2000 for an outfielder that would have a bit longer and more storied Cardinals career. A man by the name of Jim Edmonds.
Honorable Mention: Bud Smith (2001), Octavio Dotel (2011)
Three Fits for Jameis Winston
New England Patriots
Jameis Winston with Bill Belichick may seem like a ridiculous combination. But maybe this is exactly what Jameis needs. A stable organization that is going to have a solid game plan week in and week out. The Patriots are beginning to rebuild the organization on the offensive side. Obviously the Patriots will look to bring back Tom Brady but even if they do, signing a 26 year old Winston to a two-year deal and having him as an insurance policy would not be a crazy idea. The Patriots have young receivers with speed like N’Keal Harry and Jacoby Meyers that they can develop along with Winston.
This move would be completely wild if not for the stability of the Patriots defense and the mind of Bill Belichick. Jameis would have to become a different type of quarterback, limiting his turnovers would be step one but that would be the case no matter where he signs. New England has shown the ability to rehab players’ careers. If they can turn Winston into a winning quarterback it could be the greatest example of their internal strength.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers had a gunslinger last year. Their problem was their gunslinger was old and past his prime. Jameis has similar turnover issues as Rivers but he does bring a bit of mobility needed to allow talented receivers like Kennan Allen, Mike Williams and Hunter Henry to get open and push downfield. Winston has never had a versatile runningback like Austin Ekeler that can be a solid check down option for Winston.
Los Angeles is looking for a splash, but seeing Tom Brady join the AFC West competing with Patrick Mahomes twice a year would not be a good move for the GOAT. Winston wouldn’t be as flashy but pairing him with those skilled players and a defens that can force tunrovers make him a great fit.
Green Bay Packers
The Packers have Aaron Rodgers. Do they really need the headache of Jameis? The answer is no but would it really be a bad idea to keep their options open as Rodgers gets closer to the tailend of his career. Roders is 36 years old and has shown injury issues over the last two seasons. Having Jameis on the bench ready to step in incase of an injury would allow the Packers to have a solid option rather than throw out guys that are nowhere near the skill level of Rodgers.
We have seen what Jameis can do with talented receivers, placing him with Davante Adams would work very well. Quietly Jameis has really found a way to help younger recievers progress so wo
Five Breakout NBA Players of the Second Half
Miles Bridges, Charlotte Hornets
Ten games leading into the All-Star break Miles Bridges became a consistent scorer and productive player for the crappy Charlotte Hornets. Bridges averaged 16 PPG to go along with five rebounds. Take away two stinkers and he would be averaging over 20 PPG. Most importantly Bridges saw a rise in usages percentage over those games despite competeing with ball dominant Terry Rozier.
The Hornets will not compete for a championship or even a playoff spot but they do have a chance to continue to develop their up and coming forward. The former Michigan State Spartan underwhelmed their first season but has come on to be a mainstay in the rotation. Bridges showed a flash of his ability over All-Star Weekend putting up 20 points in the rising stars game. Bridges increased usage to go along with his consistent minutes should lead to production.
Jaylon Brown, Boston Celtics
Jaylon Brown is already doing everyting better in 2020. The loss of Kyrie Irving has allowed Brown to open up his game. Brown has seent he production jump in all advanced stats. His PER jumped up to 17.28 from his 13.58 from the previous two seasons. Brown’s length and athleticism along with a 3-pt shooting percentage of 38% makes him the perfect player for today’s game.
Brown is still just 23 years old and is a key piece of one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. Being the 3rd and sometimes 4th option for Boston keeps opposing defeneses from game planning against him. When Tatum struggles, Brown is the guy to bring the Celtics to the next level come playoff time.
Jordan Clarkson, Utah Jazz
Quietly Jordan Clarkson is having the best season of his career. He has his highest true shooting percentage of his career at 58.1% along with a PER of 18.87. Clarkson’s move to the Utah Jazz has allowed him to flourish as the #1 scorer off of the bench. The Jazz were in need of more scoring and Clarkson is the perfect fit. The last three games of the All-Star break Clarkson put up 21, 25 and 30. He has finally found a place that he fits and he will excel in the second half.
Christian Wood, Detroit Pistons
Christian Wood has been a DFS darling of mine for the last two years. With the departure of Andre Drummond it’s finally time for Wood to show the type of production he can bring to the table. Wood has become the vocal point to a terrible Pistons team. His player effenciency rating ranks 15th in the NBA while his minutes continue to increase. Averaging over 30 minutes per game since the Drummond trade has immediatetly put him in the place to be the new cornerstone of the organization.
Furkan Korkmaz, Philadelphia 76ers
While Korkmaz is not going to be a star on a Sixers team with big personalities he could be the biggest reason they have a chance to win the East. Korkmaz has shot 39% from three over his last ten games. Entering the starting lineup gives the Sixers a legit long range threat that is needed to go along with the Simmons work getting into the interior of the defense. Furkan will never be the name that people bring up when they are playing Philly but his shooting ability will be a huge asset to a team with a lot of promise.
Grading the Mookie Betts Trade
Los Angeles Dodgers- Receive Mookie Betts and David Price
The Dodgers are perennial contenders year after year. Losing three straight times in the postseason to the eventual champions. They were very open about doing what it took to add another impact player. They were in on Gerrit Cole, Anthony Rendon and Stephen Strasburg. When they got Scott Boras’d (that’s a thing now) on all of them it was time to go after a team looking to begin a rebuild in the Boston Red Sox.
Betts was not going to re-sign with Boston. The Red Sox saw the writing on the wall and it was time to get what they could out of their All-Star. The Dodgers didn’t hesitate when they saw the opportunity. Moving top prospect Alex Verdugo as well as a picking up a portion of the David Price contract has allowed the already talented Dodgers to become a legit SUPER team.
Grade: A++++++
Boston Red Sox- Receive Alex Verdugo and Brusdar Graterol #53
I understand that Boston fans are angry but they should really look on the bright side of the situation. Alex Verdugo immediately puts himself in the starting lineup for the Red Sox for years to come.
Verdugo, 23, is a future star in Boston. In 2018 mlb.com called him “One of the best pure hitting prospects in baseball”. The Dodgers loaded roster was unable to find consistent AB’s for Verdugo but when he played he excelled. He is not just just a hitter either, Verdugo has one of the highest rated arms in baseball, which should fill in nicely in right field.
So, who is Brusdar Graterol?
Graterol, 21, is currently the #53 overall prospect in all of baseball. He brings a ridiculous fastball that will consistently stay in the triple digits. He has dealt with injuries over the last two seasons but his plus arm should make him a candidate for a bullpen role. With the Red Sox severe need for bullpen pieces they may have a future closer on their hands.
Boston loses the trade because they lost the best player, but really did they do that bad? I say no. If they were not going to re-sign Betts, this isn’t that bad.
Grade: B-
Minnesota Twins- Kenta Maeda
The Twins need pitching. Behind Jose Berrios there is not much that you can depend on in the Twins rotation. Jake Odorizzi, Homer Bailey, Rich Hill and Michael Pineida are the probables behind their star. Adding Maeda gives the Twins another guy that has proven himself in the rotation as well as out of the bullpen.
The Twins gave up a prospect they didn’t see a future in and added depth in a place they needed it most. Solid job.
The Story of Marcell Ozuna and the St. Louis Cardinals
Marcell Ozuna signe a 1-year $18 million dollar “prove it” contract with the Atlanta Braves officially ending his two-year relationship with the St. Louis Cardinals. The St. Louis Cardinals were in need of an impact bat in the middle of their order. Long gone were the days of Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday anchoring the middle of the order striking fear into the opposing pitching staff. Ozuna had two years left on his contract when he was picked up in 2017. Those two years were supposed to be a showcase of his excellency, forcing the Cardinals to make him a huge offer cementing him as the new face of baseball in the gateway to the west. Ozuna was going to cash in and both the player and the team will live happily ever after. That would have been a great story unfortunately professional sports is not a fairy tale.
The Cardinals picked up a 27-year old, two-time all-star coming off of a breakout season where he posted a .312/.376/.548 slash line to go along with 37 homers, 128 RBI and a gold glove. It wasn’t former teammate Christian Yelich that was the future MVP, Ozuna was considered as the prized piece. The Cardinals gave three pitching prospects Daniel Castano, Zac Gallen, Sandy Alcantara and outfielder Magneuris Sierra for Ozuna. Alcantara was named an all-star in 2019 giving him one more than Ozuna in his time with St. Louis while Zac Gallen has become a part of the rotation for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
When the acquisition was made the Cardinals looked like the clear winner adding the power that was going to take them out of the dreaded middle pack of the central division. The days of Jhonny Peralta, Jedd Gyroko and Randal Grichuck batting cleanup were over. Finally a power bat to accommodate the on-base prowess of Matt Carpenter and Dexter Fowler. The 2017 Cardinals needed this bat.
2017 Team Stats (Non-Pitcher)
ISO: 176
Slug: .439
WRC+: 107
Entering 2018 was exciting with their new power bat the Cardinals had to improve their offense…right?
2018 Team Stats (Non-Pitcher)
ISO: .169
Slug: .419
WRC+: 100
Ozuna’s first season in St. Louis was marred by a shoulder injury, limiting his production. His slash line .243/.330/.435 was not nearly as productive as his final year with Miami. Coming into the 2019 season the team added Paul Goldschmidt to go along with Ozuna, that should have helped…right?
2019 Team Stats (Non Pitcher)
ISO: .177
Slug: .428
WRC+: 105
The Cardinal offense continued to be mediocre in 2019 even though Ozuna was electric to begin the season hitting ten homers in his first 27 games, he floundered down the stretch, hitting just .219 in the second half. Ozuna had a chance to erase two years of sub-par production and looked to be on the right track in the NLDS, hitting two homers with a slash line of .429/.478/.857 in five games against his new team. Continuing that production could have changed the opinion of the public on Ozuna, unfortunately the NLCS wiped away any memory of dominance at the plate. The numbers are literally not worth typing at this point.
Two years with Marcell Ozuna did not change the offense for the St. Louis Cardinals. Ozuna provided the fanbase with some mathom shots that showed the potential he brings to any lineup but he came into the 2018 season out of shape and injured. His swing produced long home runs but resembled a cleanup hitter at your local slow pitch softball league. Those guys can hit the ball pretty far to, doesn’t make them major league All-Stars. Both the Cardinals and Ozuna have found themselves in a place that they could have never imagined.
St. Louis is currently looking at a potential outfield of Tyler O’Neil, Dexter Fowler and Harrison Bader. Banking on a bounce back season from Bader and a breakout season from O’Neil are large questions marks for a team that is always looking to compete. With super prospect Dylan Carlson on his way there is some hope for the future of the Cardinals outfield but if Ozuna could have been the player the Cardinals thought they traded for it you could have the building blocks of a great outfield for years to come.
Ozuna was supposed to be that building block entering his age 29 season, this offseason was supposed to be the one that paid off in the long run of his career. Whether it was the Cardinals or someone else this was the time that the “Big Bear” was supposed to get his contract that could allow him to find a permanent spot to hibernate for the rest of his career. Accepting a one-year deal was the worst case outcome for him. If he is not able to pick up his production this could be a trend that follows him for years to come.
Trades don’t always work out for most teams. This one didn’t set the organization back, but it leaves them in a vulnerable place as we see the progression of the prospects. Marcell Ozuna and the St. Louis Cardinals was supposed to work. Sports stories don’t always have happy endings…luckily for both their stories continue, this was just a crappy chapter.
College Football Championship Weekend Picks ATS
Pac 12 – Oregon Ducks vs. Utah Utes -6.5
Does anyone remember when Utah was beat by USC? That was all the way back on September 20th. The Utes have become a top ten team both offensively and defensively. Utah QB Tyler Huntley has developed into a huge threat averaging 11.1 yards per attempt which has ranks him 3rd nationally.
Oregon has to find a way to make stops as their defense vanished against better talent giving up big points to Washington, Washington State and Arizona State. Oregon will have problems dealing with Huntley and Utah runningback Zack Moss.
Justin Herbert will be running for his life against the Utah pass rush most notably Bradlee Anae. The Ducks have a verteran QB and a coach that has played these big games before. I like Utah to win and Oregon to cover on a garbage time TD.
Pick: Utah wins, Oregon covers +6.5
Big 12 – Baylor Bears vs. Oklahoma Sooners -9
To have a chance at the College Football Playoff both of these teams would need some help. The Sooners have the best chance based on their placement at the moment. The Sooners have escaped multiple games over the last month and they have to come out and have a dominant performance on Saturday.
Baylor came out and took care of business the last two weeks dominating Kansas and beating in state rival Texas. The Bears big play ability is scary for the leaky Oklahoma defense. Baylor is top twenty in the nation in yards per play averaging 6.56. Baylor will put up points, it’s whether or not they can force turnovers. If Baylor is able to force mistakes from the Sooners they have a chance.
Oklahoma will have the services of CeeDee Lamb in the game, something they didn’t have in their prior matchup. That makes a dangerous offense even more explosive. The Bear’s have only given up a shocking seven touchdowns this season. Those numbers will increase by a lot on Saturday.
AAC – Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Memphis Tigers -10
I feel like I have seen this before. Oh it was last week. Memphis was able to topple the Bearcats by ten in their first matchup. Memphis was able to win but it was Cincinnati was able to cover the 14 point spread.
The Bearcats may have a wrinkle in their scheme come Saturday as quarterback Demond Ridder may be able to suit up. While he doesn’t have the arm strength of last Saturday’s starter freshman Ben Bryant, Ridder does bring a much more athleticism. I look for Cincinnati to utilize both QB’s if available. That means Memphis is not going to see the same game plan they saw the week before.
If Ridder plays I like the chances for Cincinnati, their defense has what it takes to win this game.
Pick: Cincinnati Upsets Memphis
SEC – Georgia Bulldogs vs. LSU Tigers -7
THIS IS YOUR MAIN EVENT OF THE EVENING!!! It’s hard for me not to imagine someone saying that as these two teams take the field Saturday. The entire landscape of the College Football Playoff could be changed by the outcome of this game.
Joe Burrow has burst onto the scene throwing himself right in the middle of Heisman talk as well as a bright NFL future. LSU has scored 36 points in all but one game this year. I can list off the Burrow’s statistics but they are pretty easy for anyone to find. He will outplay the steady Jake Fromm on Saturday, with the help of a strong running game and the red hot Clyde Edwards-Helaire.
Georgia will be the toughest test defensively for LSU. The Bulldogs are just behind Clemson with 10.4 points per game this season. As good as they are they will not be able to contain LSU for a full 60 minutes. LSU and Georgia have played four similar foes this season with LSU putting up 183 points compared to Georgia’s 94. This game could be interesting but I see LSU with too much firepower to handle.
Pick: LSU wins, Georgia Covers
ACC – Virginia Cavaliers vs. Clemson Tigers -28.5
Is Virginia good? Not really. Beating their rival Virginia Tech got them the chance to play spoiler for Clemson Tigers. That means they get a chance to play tune up for the only ACC team worth anything this season. Looking past just the stats Virginia has really only been great at times this season at home and with this being on a neutral site any advantage for Virginia is gone.
Clemson is better on both sides of the ball. They win and cover with ease.
Pick: Clemson -28.5
Big 10 – Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Wisconsin Badgers +17
There is only one way I see Wisconsin actually winning this game…..sorry really thought I had something. Wisconsin hasn’t beat Ohio State since 2010. Wisconsin is one dimensional, they will need to use the run game to control the pace and keep the #1 ranked offense in the country off the field. Ohio State will have all the motivation in the world to pour it on and insure themselves a shot at the #1 overall seed in the College Football Playoff.
I would love to see Wisconsin make this a game, but they had their chance week nine when the weather fit their game plan. Wisconsin has a puncher’s chance at best.
Pick: Ohio State -17
I Talk Sports and That's It 