Ohio State Should Not Have Been In College Football Playoffs

No matter what excuse Ohio State fans may want to give themselves for the playoff loss they did not deserve to be in the college football playoffs. Clemson dominated them from start to finish and no one can dispute that one bit. Yes, the Buckeyes are young, but there was some veteran players on the roster as well. Penn State in my opinion was more deserving then the Buckeyes as they did play against one of the hottest teams in USC.

 The playoff committee needs to look deeper when they decide on who is in and who is out. Instead of looking at television ratings and the name pick the team that is hot, but also look at whom they have beaten and when it took place. Take the Buckeyes they beat an Oklahoma team that was not really playing well compared to the end of the season. These are important when making decisions about a team. Take USC as well they struggled early, but was a tough team to beat down the stretch. Ohio State was not even their conference champion, so that should have held a lot of wait with the committee, but apparently it didn't.

The committee did get Alabama and Clemson right, but most of us could have done that ourselves. Ohio State was not the fourth best team in country and we all see that, so hopefully the committee was watching and squirming in their seats.

What Can Penn State Do To Impress The Committee?

When the rankings were announced Penn State found themselves rated 8th which is not a bad position right now. The first thing that Penn State needs is some help and the best way to get that would be Ohio State to  continue to win. This would eliminate Michigan from the playoff picture. If Michigan wins out Penn State has no chance of making the playoffs. Besides Ohio State winning they need Louisville and Washington to struggle in their remaining games. Not likely, but Penn State fans can always hope.



The other thing the Nittany Lions need is to play in the Big Ten Championship game which still is possible. A dominating performance will go a long way in swaying the committee. For Penn State there best chance is have some teams to lose and continue to win. If Ohio State loses to Michigan the Penn State Nittany Lions will just be playing in a good bowl game. They just wont be playing for a National Championship. Penn State has come a long way this season and have many things to be proud of and who knows they may make the playoffs.

Could Penn State Get Screwed By The College Football Playoff System?

Just a few weeks back nobody was talking about Penn State Football program, but now that has taken a 360 degree turn. The Nittany Lions upset the Ohio State Buckeyes and everything has changed for this program. Penn State has slowly moved up the rankings and could find themselves in the Big Ten Championship game, but will that be enough for the College Football Playoff Committee.

This could get very confusing and upsetting for Penn State fans before its all over. In the scenario that Ohio State wins there last two games just like Penn State must do the Nittany Lions win the tiebreaker. By beating the Buckeyes they would go to the Big Ten Championship game. Seems pretty simple doesn't it, but this is College Football and it is not that simple. We are talking about politics and that could put the Nittany Lions on the outside looking in. Let's look closer at this and how Penn State might be left out.

The College Football Playoff committee has said it values winning your conference championship, but even if Penn State does there record won't be as good as the Buckeyes. Ohio State will have wins over Wisconsin, Michigan, and Oklahoma on their resume. This means even though Penn State beat the Buckeyes they could find themselves not in the playoff format. Is this fair? Of course not, but we are talking about college football and sometimes the committee see's something everyone else does not.

College Football Playoff Could Get Messy In The End

When the College Football Playoff idea came around we all thought it was the answer to the BCS, but little did we know it has not solved the issues. It seems every season it has gotten worse and this year could really be a terrible mess. Let's look at some of the issues the committee could face when selection time comes. It could be tough that's for sure.

Let's start with the Big Ten as that should not be to bad of a mess for the selection committee. Ohio State, Michigan, and Wisconsin are all still in the running for a playoff spot. Michigan is in the best spot as if they win out they will get in. Wisconsin has to have some help, but winning the Big Ten Championship could hold alot of weight as they will need to beat either Ohio State or Michigan to get it. Wisconsin is a long shot even if they win the Big Ten Championship in my opinion.

In the SEC it's Alabama to lose as all season they have been the best team in College Football. Even with a loss I could see Alabama getting in. That loss though will need to come in the SEC Championship game. Clemson is another team that is a lock if they win out rest of the season.

Right now I see Alabama, and Clemson as locks to get in which means there is two spots left. If Washington runs the table I see them getting in to the playoffs. Now after that this is where it could get interesting. I think if Ohio State or Michigan runs the table they will be the remaining team in. This means a one loss Louisville could not make it even though there one loss was a close game at Clemson. Oklahoma could be Big 12 champions but with two blowout losses they will not make it.

Now if some of these teams drop a game down the stretch there could be a lot of one loss teams. This means more teams will be in the mix. No matter how you look at it adding more teams is something that will need to be done down the road.

Cleveland Or Chicago No Matter Who Wins This World Series Is Special

The one thing baseball has been lacking in the last few years is a good storyline and the 2016 World Series has brought us plenty. We have the Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians both trying to get that elusive World Series Title. Both teams have seen there share of struggles, but both now are elite teams in the MLB. Fans have waited a long time for both teams to win a championship, but only one will be able to do it.

One of the biggest things I have taken away from this world Series is how well it has been played. Both managers have used their players wisely and for the most part the pitching has been outstanding. If you like pure baseball then this World Series has been for you. It has been a long time since we have had two teams that are pretty closely matched in the Fall Classic.

The only bad thing about this Series is one team will have to lose which is a shame. Both teams deserve to win for their cities and their fans. No matter who wins it should go down as a very good World Series. I know the ratings have been good for this Fall Classic. Hopefully, this will put Baseball back up as one of the best sports to watch again. For some time it was pretty boring to watch, but thank the Indians and Cubs for baseball's revival.

Cubs And Indians Making Baseball Fun Again

Over the last few years it seems baseball has slowly lost fans and viewers, but that sure is changing right now. I'm not a fan of either the Indians Or Cubs, but have found myself watching or listening to the games on the radio. Yes, I said listening to the games on the radio as well. That part takes me back to when I use to listen to the Tigers on radio all the time with Ernie Harwell. Boy that brings back alot of memories.

Both the Cubs and Indians have struggled to get back to the World Seris, but this season both found a way back. Suffering Cubs and Indians fans are delighting in the matchup, but so are the fans of baseball. Both teams are playing the game the way it should be played. You can thank manager of  both teams along with the players. It looks like baseball is back and the real winners are the fans of the sport.

Ohio State vs Wisconsin Big Ten Championship Preview?

Wisconsin maybe the surprise of the Big Ten along with Nebraska, but Saturday Night they have a tall order in front of them. The Badgers will be hosting the Ohio State Buckeyes the No.2 team in the nation. This game could be a preview of a future Big Ten Championship game if everything falls into place for both teams. Let's take a closer look at this game and who should win it.

The Badgers have two things going for them heading into this game one is a home crowd and they are rested. Wisconsin will have a rowdy crowd to welcome the Buckeyes on Saturday Night and playing up in Wisconsin at night is not an easy thing. Many teams have seen there playoff hopes dashed in this night game. Wisconsin will also need to play ball control if they want to stay in this game. Keeping Ohio State's offense off the field will be one of the keys. Ohio State has one of the best offenses int he country and can light up the scoreboard.

Ohio State must remember to do a couple of things if they want to sneak out of Wisconsin with a valuable win. One of the first things is to not commit turnovers. If Ohio State does not protect the football they could be in for a very long night. The second thing they must do is not let the crowd noise or the aura of playing in Camp Randall Stadium effect them. If they do these things they should be fine.

Picking this game is tough, but I still like the Buckeyes in a close one 28-24. Ohio State is to good for Wisconsin right now. The skilled positions Ohio State is very good and they have an outstanding defense. I like the Buckeyes from the start of the season and so far they have proven me correct.

Michigan Could Be The Best Team In College Football

After watching Michigan play Rutgers you just have to shake your head. Yes, I will be the first to admit Rutgers is not a very good football team, and was over matched. The one thing I did take away from the game is Michigan could very well be the best team in College Football. Many people besides me are in the same kind of thinking. How good is Michigan really?

Well the one thing that makes Michigan so good is the defense. When you have a defense as good as Michigan you will be in most every game you play. This makes it so much easier on the offense and planning for games. Michigan is only giving up a little over 10 points a game. For the offense all they need to do is get two touchdowns and more times then not they will be winners. It makes it much easier for the offensive coaches as well.

No matter what anyone tells you defense wins championships and Michigan has a championship caliber defense. As long as the defense continues to play well Michigan will be a tough team to handle. The showdown with Ohio State could be the only test Michigan has this season until the playoffs roll around.

Are The Huskers For Real Or Is it Smoke And Mirrors?

When the Nebraska Cornhuskers were struggling last season many people wanted to see Mike Riley gone as coach, but what a difference a year happens to make. Nebraska lost a number close games last season, but the opposite has happened this season. Losing those close games has brought the team closer together, and coach Mike Riley has had a big part in making sure he did not lose the team.

This season the Cornhuskers have showed poise even after they made mistakes and it looked like things were going south. Give Riley and his staff credit for not giving up on this group. Another guy who has showed up big is Tommy Armstrong Jr. Last season he made alot of mistakes, but he learned from it. He has become the leader Nebraska has needed for a couple of years. How far can this group go?

In two weeks the Cornhuskers travel to play Wisconsin on the road. I feel this will give us a better gauge of how good Nebraska happens to be. Give the Cornhuskers credit they are playing good right now. Nebraska is rated No.12 and it has been a long time since fans could say that about their Cornhuskers. Only time will tell how far Nebraska can go, but at least they are headed in the right direction.

Can Nebraska Finally Get Over The Hump In The Big Ten?

I will admit I thought when Nebraska moved to the Big Ten it suited the kind of football they played, but so far it has been a bit of a rocky road. Nebraska at times have looked good, but for the most part they have looked downright horrible. Some games I will admit I was embarrassed the way they played especially against Wisconsin one year. Over the last few years there have been games that Nebraska fans have come away shaking there heads. Yes, Nebraska fans are passionate and many times they do cross the line on social media calling out coaches and players. Sometimes I wish it would not happen, but it does. Passionate fans is something Nebraska football is all about. Now back to the question can Mike Riley and the Nebraska Cornhuskers get over the hump this year?

Tommy Armstrong will be the key this season once again. I am hoping over the spring and summer he has worked on his decision making skills. Many times he made mistakes that cost Nebraska games because he was trying to do to much. With that said Armstrong also has the heart of a lion as well. He will give you all he has on every play. You really cannot ask any more of a player. I am critical of Tommy Armstrong at times, but I will take him any day of the week. He just needs to make better decisions with the ball this coming season.

I like the offense has they should be able to score points with the talent returning and what is coming in to the program. What worries me the most is the defense. We need a defense that can get stops when needed and that was not the case last season. Hopefully the defense will get better and the Blackshirts will be back. Can they get over the hump? The answer is yes if they get good play and some breaks go there way. This season the Big Ten will be tough, but with the right leadership on the team they will be very competitive this coming season.

Are You Ready For Some Football Cleveland Browns Fans?

Most Cleveland Browns fans will tell you they cannot wait for the season to start, but isn't it that way every season. The Browns are hoping a new serious coach in Hue Jackson will turn things around for them. Cutting Johnny Manziel should help as there should be alot less distractions to deal with which is a good thing. Hue Jackson is a no nonsense guy that wants you to come to work and be prepared. He is fair with everyone, but if you get in his doghouse that is not a good thing. He did help get the Raiders going in the right direction which is no small feat.

August 12, 2016 the Browns will head to Green Bay to take on the Packers which should be interesting to say the least. Both teams will play alot of players and this is something that is normal in a preseason football game. I will be looking at several things in the first game. One of the things I want to see is how many mistakes the Browns make. I know this is the first game, but you do not want to see alot of mistakes. Preseason mistakes can translate to regular season mistakes and you do
 not want that to happen.

One of the most important things to watch will be the quarterback play. RGIII is being groomed to be the started, but nothing is guaranteed. Every quarterback will be given a chance, but in the end the one who moves the team and makes the less mistakes will win out. No matter whom it may be the Browns need someone they can count on. I will admit I have no idea who the starter will be, so we will just have to watch and see what happens.

This is what is great about the NFL you never know what could happen. A player many people never heard of could come out of nowhere to be the starter. This years Browns team should be fun to watch. I just hope Hue Jackson can do what he did in Oakland and that is turn the team into an competitive team week after week. If he does that Browns fans should be very happy.

Kevin Durant Decides To Take Easy Route And Play For Golden State Warriors

Well I must admit I never thought Kevin Durant would leave the Oklahoma City Thunder and take the easy way out. In the years with the Thunder he would say how he loved playing for the fans and he loved the small town atmosphere in Oklahoma City. I guess that was really just talk, as he bolted for the Golden State Warriors. Was this  good move or one that kills his legacy as a player?

Many people keep saying it won't make a difference, but I have to disagree with that analogy. Going to Golden State is the easy way out and it will hurt his legacy. Lebron James legacy was not cemented until he came back to Cleveland and led  the team to the NBA Championship. Durant is going to a team that has already won a championship. His contribution will not be valued as much because Golden State was already the early favorite to win anyways.

Durant has disappointed a lot of people by his decision, but it will be one he must live with down the road. I think staying in Oklahoma would have been the best move, but only time will tell on that one. Russell Westbrook now becomes the man in OKC and they are still going to be a good team. Durant will be hated forever in OKC, but it was his choice and in my opinion not a wise one.

Is Lebron James A Coach Killer?

When David Blatt was fired as the Cleveland Cavaliers coach many people were scratching their heads. Why do you fire a coach that has his team with the best record in the East Conference? Many people think Lebron James had something to do with it. Is Lebron James a coach killer? Let's take a closer look at James and his role in all of this.

Now David Blatt was not the best coach in the world. There have been many stories how he was confused with the American game and understanding defense and matchups. This maybe true, but James and his camp was never happy with Blatt. It was a surprise to me when the Cavaliers retained him after the first season. James and his camp wanted a changed, but did not force one in season one.

The relationship between Blatt and James got worse in season two and I think the Cavaliers could see that and decided a changed needed to be made. No matter what anyone says publicly James wields a lot of power still in Cleveland. James may not have asked for the firing directly, but I'm sure management was warned about James displeasure with Blatt.

James a coach killer? Maybe not in that sense, but James has a lot of power in Cleveland. The writing was on the wall and Blatt days were numbered. We may never know what influence James had on the decision, but for James coach killer will now follow him.

Ohio State Loses First Game And Things Fall Apart

​Now when you win as a team you are suppose to lose as a team which is how it's suppose to go. Ezekiel  Elliott must not have gotten the memo as he ripped into some of the play calling in the loss to the Spartans. Elliott could have a beef as he only carried the ball 11 times in the game, but you never air it out in the public forum. If you have a beef you always keep it in house as it never looks good to air out grievances. Yes Elliott should have carried the ball more, but as a whole the Buckeyes offense did not look good at all. The defense did not do anything when it counted either, so this was a team loss nothing more or less.

Ohio State on reality has had a pretty soft schedule this season and it showed up on Saturday. Yes, they had some close games and maybe should not have been ranked as high as they were. This comes many times from being National Champion and defending your title.  Many times you are given the benefit of the doubt just like Florida State was last season. I'm sure we will here about this more in the coming days from players, fans, and coaches about what went wrong. Against Michigan State the Buckeyes did not play well and that is the bottom line.

Will this loss carry over to the Michigan game next week? It could and if that happens you will see more players speak up and it could get ugly. I hope that does not happen, but Buckeye Nation are not use to losing games since Urban Meyer took over. It's the nature of the beast, but the Buckeyes will be back, but this will not be there year to be National Champions. The loss did open the door to alot of teams who are smiling this morning.

Should The Browns Give Johnny Manziel The Starting Job

The Cleveland Browns drafted Johnny Manziel to be there starter, but he has only started a few games for the Cleveland Browns. Josh McCown has been injured this year and Manziel has filled in and has done a decent job. He has not been great, but he did get one win for the Browns as a starter. There comes a time when you must decide if Johnny Football is going to be the man or not.

Cleveland drafted Johnny Manziel to be there starting quarterback and I think it is time the Browns give him that opportunity. If he cannot handle the job this is something the Browns need to find out. That way they can look towards the draft for a future quarterback or through free agency. Many people feel Johnny can be the quarterback, but you must first see what he can do on the field of play before you can make any kind of a decision.

The one thing to remember when looking at Manziel he does not have the greatest talent around him either. he Browns have no kind of running game and the receiving corps are not the greatest either. This must all be looked at when giving an opinion of his performance as a starter. Cleveland has been known not to do things the right way, but hopefully they will this time around.

Why Nebraska Has Many Changes To Make

One of the most passionate fan bases in College Football is in Nebraska that is why it is so hard for them to watch there beloved Cornhuskers get beat week after week. There are things to do in Nebraska, but when fall comes around it is all about the college football team and that will probably never change. This year brought in a change at head coach and so far the results have been dismal. Let's take a closer look at Nebraska football and see where the problems are and how they can be fixed.

It starts with recruiting and this is one area the Cornhuskers have really struggled. It's hard to convince top level recruits to come to a school that plays in cold weather and has not won in awhile. Recruits like things like warm weather and playing certain kinds of football and many times that is why they pass on Nebraska football. The one thing that can help Nebraska is to recruit better and get players who understand the program, and what hard work and dedication will get you at Nebraska. These kind of players are out there you just have to go out find them. You do not have to recruit five star athletes all the time, but you need guys who will fit it well with the type of program you are running.

Another thing Nebraska must do is get better on defense and you can do that in a few ways. Look towards junior college players more as starters is an option. Sometimes switching offensive players to the defensive side is a possibility as well. Talk to kids in there home and see if they would be receptive to that kind of an idea. Sometimes when you cannot get the top recruits you must think outside the box.

Third is the quarterback position is very important. Lately, Nebraska had quarterbacks that did not really fit the system they were running or the plays they call. Getting guys who have a good grasp of the game is important. You don't necessarily need the most talented quarterback, but you want a coachable smart young man that makes good decisions. If you find young men like that you will be fine at the quarterback position.

Lastly, you must get back to what Nebraska football is all about and that is tradition. Nebraska was built on rushing the football behind a good offensive line and using the pass to keep a team off balanced. Playing good safe defense was a hallmark of great Nebraska teams. Run the ball stuff the opponents offense was a recipe for success. If Nebraska wants to win consistently again they have to get back to this part of the program.

Three Takeaways From Nebraska's Ugly Loss In Purdue

After watching another Nebraska debacle there are several things that came to the forefront. One of the things that many fans gripe about is how the Cornhuskers have played in recent years and I will tend to agree with them. I try to not to be to critical about the football team, but this team really is not very good at all. There are three takeaways I took watching Nebraska playing at Purdue yesterday, so let's take a look at them right now.

1. Nebraska's defense is bad to the point it's laughable. When you miss assignments all the time and when you have seven guys tackling a ball carrier and he busts through that many guys you have real issues. The tackling is horrible and it seems like they have no discipline at all hen they play. Game after game they give up huge chunks of yardage and you will never win on a consistent basis that way.

2. Nebraska has become to predictable on offense. Years ago the Cornhuskers were predictable on offense as well, but they could run the ball and teams struggle to do that. Today's team has become so bad it has no identity at all. Nebraska struggles to run the ball and the passing game at times is ineffective. There are times the quarterback does have great games and it is because the defense for Nebraska gives up so many points. Until there is more consistency on offense they will struggle to win games.

3. Coaching, coaching, coaching is also a problem. Bo Perini basically had the same group and got nine wins, but Riley won't come close to that this season. Yes, Riley has a new system put in place and he is becoming familiar with what the players can do. He also has had some bad luck as well along with some key injuries in games. I will give him a pass on this year, but a vast improvement must be made into his second season or he needs to be fired. Nebraska football has a proud tradition, but right now I don't see any of that on the field.

Nebraska Hits All-Time Low In Loss To Purdue

Well the Nebraska Cornhuskers played Purdue on Saturday and as you can expect the Cornhuskers gave away another game. Turnovers and poor defensive play led to a 55-45 lost at Purdue. This puts the Cornhuskers 3-6 and must win there final three games to become bowl eligible. Does Nebraska really want to go to a bowl game after what we have seen in 2015. I think they should pass on any bowl invite unless they play lights out the final three games of the season.

This is one of the worse losses I have seen in a long time. Nebraska was forced to start Ryker Fyfe and he looked like a quarterback who had not played in a long time. He turned the ball over and at times looked horrible. He was not the only one though as the defense got shredded again for big chunks of yardage. Nebraska has become a National joke to other teams and in the press box.

Mike Riley was brought in to get the program where they said Bo Pelini failed to get them. I can truthfully say it was never this bad under Bo. Nebraska has had injuries and some bad luck, but to lose to a one win team is not accepted and never will be in Nebraska football. Will Mike Riley be fired? The chances are he will not, but you never know these days. This loss was a black eye for the program that needed something positive.

J.T. Barrett Gets Arrested For Operating Motor Vehice While Intoxicated They Never Learn

It seems people never learn as J.T. Barrett was named starting quarterback for the Ohio State Buckeyes, but that was not enough it seems. Barrett was arrested for operating motor vehicle intoxicated and that was not good thing. Players never learn that you cannot skirt the law. Eventually you will get caught and he did. He was released to fellow quarterback Cardale Jones.

Barrett was suspended for at least one game and it could be two games depending on what Urban Meyer and AD Gene Smith decide to do. Players have to start making better decisions and that includes Barrett. This is his second strike and if he continues to go down this path I don't know how many more chances h is going to get.

The public is getting tired of college and pro players screwing up all the time. Yes, college players tend to do it rarely, but when you are in the limelight you cannot make mistakes like this one. Barrett needs to learn from his mistakes and make much better decisions in the near future. If h does not he could find himself struggling to get to the next level that's for sure.

J.T. Barrett WasThe Logical Choice But Is It The Right One

Urban Meyer decided to go win J.T. Barrett and it has already paid dividends, but was it the right choice for the Ohio State Buckeyes. Barrett played well against Rutgers and he silenced the critics for at least another week. As long as the Buckeyes continue to win with Barrett at the helm not much will be said about it. Toss in just one bad game and then you will have the same questions on whom should be quarterback of the Ohio State Buckeyes.

I do like J.T. Barrett a lot, but the reality in my opinion he is not the best quarterback on the team. I think Braxton Miller is much better at quarterback. The problem with putting the quarterback back at the helm is the Buckeyes reply need him at wide receiver. Miller gives the Buckeyes the best chance to win another National Championship. I do think Barrett or Jones can help them as well, but talent wise Miller is the best of the three.

Miller will probably not play quarterback again as it will hurt his chances to make the NFL Draft. Look for Miller to concentrate on wide receiver this season. I still think he gives the Buckeyes the best chance.

Cavaliers Overpaid For Tristan Thompson That's For Sure

The Cleveland Cavalier and Tristan Thompson have reached a deal on a five year 52 million dollar guaranteed contract. This should make Lebron James happy as he wanted everyone in the fold. In my opinion this contract will come back to haunt the Cavaliers. Thompson is not worth that kind of money for the numbers he produces.

Tristan Thompson has to be smiling today as he got a contract that is guaranteed. This means he will get paid no matter what. Thompson is a good player, but not worth the kind of money the Cleveland Cavaliers Re paying him. I guess we will just have to wait and see how this all works out. I just think he is being paid more them he is worth.

Same Ole Browns Just Different Year

Every year there is optimism in the air in Cleveland only to have the same ole Browns to appear and that s what happen this past Sunday. Browns fans love there team, but how much can they take without snapping. Against the Denver Broncos they showed they have the talent to play with a good team, but not the resolve to beat a team like the Broncos.

Josh McCown has come in and played well so far this season. He has done everything he can to help them win, but simple mistakes are killing the Cleveland Browns. McCown has thrown interceptions at times when he should have just thrown it away. The Browns run defense has to be the worst in the NFL and every week teams exploit it.

Unless some things change Browns fans will be crying once again wait until next year. This season is just a make over of the same ole Browns and I am getting tired of seeing that myself and I am not a Browns fan. I can imagine how hard this is on a die hard Browns fans.

Michigan Can Still Make A Big Impact In College Football

Many things have been written about the tough gut wrenching loss to Michigan State so I won't rehash what everyone already knows about the loss. Michigan in the big picture still has a lot to play for this season. No one thought they would be as good as they are this season. Michigan could still find themselves in the Big Ten Championship game with a little luck and if they win out. You never know what could happen in this crazy college football season so far.

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The loss could actually help Michigan by giving them even more incentive to win out this season. Michigan played well except for the final play that no one will ever forget anytime soon. Michigan was everything advertised and Jim Harbaugh has them playing well and all is not lost for Michigan and their fans this season. They could still possibly give Ohio State there first loss of the season at the BIG HOUSE! Michigan just needs to stay focused and play well rest of the season.
Jim Harbaugh will keep them playing well and there will won't be a let down anytime soon. Yes, it was a tough loss, but they will be back and ready to go when they play again. Michigan football is back and that is not a good thing for teams they play with Jim Harbaugh at the helm.

Utah Is A Playoff Team Right Now

 Utah sits at No.5 in the latest College Football AP Poll which means right now they have a good shot of making the playoffs. Is there any roadblocks in Utah's​ way? Let's take a closer look at what is ahead for the Utes.

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Utah has a nice schedule of oppenents which should help them with the voters. This week they have a ranked Cal team and still have UCLA, USC, Arizona and Arizona State left. There are some good teams on the schedule for the Utes. This will only help them as long as they continue to win games.

The one thing I worry about for Utah is name recognition. It seems many times voters do not look enough at the body of work, but the name of the program. Hopefully they will not screw Utah if they win out. If Michigan continues to win that could also help out Utah alot.

Ohio State Holds On To No.1 Spot But It's Slipping Away

Now I might take some heat for this statement, but after watching them against Maryland they are not the No.1 team in the nation anymore. Ohio State did win the game and take over the second half, but they struggled at times against a Maryland team that is not that great. Just step back a week and this team got shutout by Michigan.

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Maryland's quarterback played well and that had something to do with it, but the Buckeyes defense has been touted to be very good. From what I seen today I am have my reservations about that one. Ohio State played better on offense, but they need to settle on a quarterback and stick with it. Changing all the time is not really helping them.

Ohio State is a top 10 team just not no.1 anymore. The rankings should reflect that this coming week I hope. It will be interesting to see how  this all plays out, but for me Ohio State is no longer a No.1 team in college football. They are very good, but Baylor and TCU have made a case for them as well. Keeping Ohio State at No.1 when they are not playing like a No.1 team in my opinion is just wrong.

Nebraska Finds Itself On The Losing End Again On The Final Play

Now I will admit Mike Riley was not my first choice to coach the Nebraska Cornhuskers, but you really cannot put all these losses at his doorsrep. Nebraska has loss there four games on last plays in the game. Some of this has to do with coaching, but not all of it. Some of this should be put on bad luck, but also some on the players. The hail mary should never had happened at all, but it did. Players have to be more accountable for there play on the field if they want to stop losing. Against Wisconsin Nebraska had a chance to run the clock out and savior a victory, but they could not get a first down. Then the defense let Wisconsin drive down the field for a field goal. Yes, Mike Riley has some blame, but the players also must play better if they want to win ball games.

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As far as Mike Riley goes he is really going to feel the heat in Nebraska this week. Until he stops losing games in the final minutes the fans and media will be all over him about it. He seems like a good guy, but the bottom line is Nebraska football fans do not like to lose at all. They have been use to winning for so long losing eats at them from the inside. They get on social media and anywhere else people will listen to them. Yes, they are passionate fans and they want to win bad. Mike Riley realizes that and he wants to win as well.

Nebraska college football will be alright once they start winning again, but the reality of it is that is going to be tough. The remaining schedule is not easy at all. The likes of Northwestern, Minnestoa, Iowa, Rutgers, Purdue, and Michigan State will not be easy.  All these teams are playing decent and will be tough wins to get considering the way the Cornhuskers are playing right now. It will be interesting to see how Nebraska bounces back from the latest defeat. If they lose again the pressure will just get hotter for Mike Riley

Nebraska Struggling Under Mike Riley

What's wrong with Cornhusker Nation? The truth is right now there is good, bad, and ugly when you talk about Nebraska College Football.  Let's start with the good and many people will probably wonder why I  would name this as the good about Nebraska football. I consider very lucky to write about the passionate fans we have that follow the team. Yes, sometimes they may go over the edge and say things that are not always popular with people. This is called passion and sometimes certain fans will cross the line. When you write about Nebraska college football you must understand that fans sometimes they will say hurtful things to you but its because of the passion. I rather have passionate fans then fans who do not care at all.

Mike Granse-USA TODAY Sports

Now the bad of Nebraska college football is simple these days losing games that they should win. No matter whom the coach has been recently it seems games we should win we lose. Under Mike Riley it has been real bad and his 2-3 start is not a good thing in Husker Nation. Riley took a job with alot of expectations and right now he is not reaching them. It's getting bad, but Mike Riley has seen nothing yet especially if he continues to lose ball games. Nebraska fans are about winning and do not want excuse they want wins. Until Riley does that he will take a lot of heat from the fans on and off the field.

When it comes to the ugly that is easy it's the blowout losses. Yes, Riley has really not faced that year, but it seems every coach recently has had this problem. If Riley suffers some blowout  losses the heat will really come down on Riley. Some people did not want Riley hired, so when he struggles the negativity will really come to the forefront. Hopefully things will get better for Husker Nation, but I do not see that rifght now. Talentwise Nebraska is not the ebst. It's getting better, but they have a long way to go. Husker Nation will always be my favorite win or lose.

Tristan Thompson Lowered Demands But Still Not Worth The Money

Tristan Thompson as of right now has not come to a deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Thompson has lowered his demands to a 3yr/53million dollar deal, but Cavaliers have not jumped at it just yet. If you look inside the numbers I can see why the Cavaliers have not done that just yet. Let's look inside the numbers with Thompson.

He is a very good rebounder and in that part of his game real consistent. He averages around eight to nine rebounds a game which is great in the NBA. The problem with him he also is a liability as well. When fouled he is a career .633 free throw shooter which is not very good. If he gets fouled often he is going to cost you at the foul line. He will get you around 10 points per game. His assists and steals are very low as well.

Now the money can you really justify paying a guy almost 18 million a year just to rebound the ball. I can see the Cavaliers point in not paying him that kind of money. Then you have Lebron James who wants Thompson back in the fold. I look for Thompson to sign eventually, but maybe not for awhile. Him Cavaliers still far apart.

Johnny Manziel Not Happy About Benching

Johnny Manziel was the starter one week and it probably made him very happy, but another week has come and he finds himself on the bench. Is this fair to Johnny Football? I will admit I thought the Cleveland Browns should have left Johnny Football as the starter, but this does not surprise me at all. Generally, starters do not lose their stopping spot because of an injury and that is what happen to Josh McCown.

Josh McCown has cleared all the tests and he will be back on the field for the Cleveland Browns as their starter. Where does this leave Johnny Football? The truth is back on the bench to think about his future. Johnny cannot be happy as he got the Browns there first win, but got no respect for it. I am sure Johnny had hoped he would be the starter again for another week. It did not work that way for Johnny Manziel.


Hopefully, Johnny will stay positive and he will get another shot at being a starter. He did not play the best last week, but a win is a win. It does not matter if it looked pretty as long as it goes in the win column. Johnny's performance sure was alot better then what we seen from him last season.

Browns Lay Another Egg To Open Season As Jets Win 31-10

The dawn of a new season in Cleveland and Browns fans are optimistic of a great season, but again reality hit them right in the face. It looked for a few minutes the Cleveland Browns had turned the corner, but Josh McNown fumbled the ball into the end zone and it was downhill there for the Browns and their fans as well.. Maybe the one bright spot for the day was Johnny Manziel threw for a touchdown and did not play that bad.

It's too bad the Browns had no other real highlights as the Jets rolled to a easy 31-10 win over the hapless Browns. Cleveland looked horrible for most of the day. Turnovers and dropped balls were the order of the day. Cleveland could really do nothing right consistently unless you count turnovers. This was a game i felt the Browns had an outside chance to win, but it looks like they are much worse than I thought.

Well Browns fans have one way to look at it there is always next week. Cleveland looks like a team that could be looking at a very long season if they lose next week. I guess Browns fans are used to losing so they should be able to handle it.

One Game Does Not Make A Season For Any College Football Team

The college football  season has started and already people have certain teams playing for a National Championship. People need to take a chill pill it is only game one of the season. Ohio State fans have there team as back to back champions after the first game. Nice try but it does not work that way at all. As you go through the season you will have injuries and adversity to play through to get to another National Championship.

Most teams going through some rough stretches, but by the time we reach the end of the season it all shapes up. Winning back to back titles is a tall order no matter how talented you happen to be. Yes, Ohio State is loaded but sometimes the best team doesnt always win it all.

College Football fns are rapid about there support and sometimes that can be a good thing, but sometimes they go a little to far. Early in the season the hype is there, but remember it is a very long college football season. Let's hope this is one of the best ever.

Can Jameis Winston Improve In Game 2

Jameis Winston did not look very good in his debut and it has many people wondering  if he will be an NFL quarterback. What many people tend to forget it is pre-season and it takes some time for a player to get use to the game. No matter how good you are the game is much different then the college game. In college you may only see a few exceptional players on a team. The NFL has them at every position which makes it a lot tougher.

Ball security is something Winston must always  keep in mind. If you are struggling just do not turn the ball over. When you do you will find a quick exit out of this league. Players who make mistakes are cut because teams know there is always someone waiting in the wings to take there place.

I personally  like Winston and what he can do for a team. If people give Winston time he should become a good NFL quarterback. In Tampa he has some very good receivers and coaches. His players believe in him and that is usually half the battle. Winston just needs to relax and perform better in game 2 of his career.

Tigers Move David Price But Why

It always amazes me how teams GM's are quick to pull the trigger when u are struggling.  The reality of the Tigers is they were not that far out from a wild card spot.  Trading away David Price for some prospects is not something that makes alot of sense.  Yes,  David Price could bolt and you could end up with nothing,  but prospects do not guarantee success either.  I would rather try to win now and worry about signing him down the road.

To many teams start to lose and throw in the towel way to early.  You never know when a team can get on a hot streak and make up alot of ground.  Staying the course longer makes more sense then making a knee jerk reaction and trade away good players.  Always remember a prospect  is not going to always work out.  Give me the proven commodity every time and I will usually see more success.

Cleveland Cavaliers Disappointing In Off-Season Moves

In the off-season your suppose to make yourself better as a team, but I do not see that from the Cleveland Cavaliers so for this off-season. Yes, they had injuries and that hurt them, but in reality they have not gotten any better. Other teams have improved themselves and it looks like Cleveland is content going into the new season with the same basic group they had when they lost the NBA Championship. It is true some of those players were not available for the Finals and that had an impact on them losing. Getting better is the key and right now in my opinion the Cavaliers are no better off then when they lost the NBA Finals.

Making some kind of effort would be nice, but right now the Cavaliers are trying to resign the same players they had. Now James wanted the bulk of the team back, but it just means he will be doing everything once again. I do not believe that is a good thing. James gets tired towards the end of the season and wears down. He is not as young as he once was. This is why he is going to need more rest and the Cavaliers should look to bring some more talent in to the roster. If they do not I think we could see a repeat of last season.

The Tom Brady Decision Can Effect The 2015 Season In Many Ways

Tom Brady is waiting for a decision from the commissioner on what his future will look like for the 2015 football season. Many people do not realize how his suspension could have an impact in their team. New England with Tom Brady is a very good team, but without him the Patriots could lose those games. The impact could help certain teams make the playoffs depending on scheduling  and wins and losses.

The suspension has everyone in pins and needles to see if they will have to face Brady this coming season.  The announcement of the decision is something that may not come right away.  Either way once it is announced  other legal options could be used by Brady if he is not happy with suspension length or wording.

No matter what happens I do not think this is not going to end anytime soon. Brady does not want to sit any games at all,  but do not see that happening.

Is This The Right Move For Braxton Miller And The Buckeyes?

By now everyone knows that the Ohio State Buckeyes will probably be moving Braxton Miller to HB/wideout this coming season. Many people feel this is a good move for the Buckeyes and Miller. I am not so sure about that one. There are many different things I do not like about the move, and some I do like. Let us look deeper into this and see what the right move is for Braxton Miller and The Buckeyes.

Now this will give the Buckeyes a chance to add another offensive weapon to there already talented offense. Many people think that is a good thing. In one way it is and another way it is not. This gives Miller a chance at another injury which you really do not want to see. Yes, Ohio State has plenty of quarterbacks, but you never are guarantee they will play like they did last season. Miller should benefit from the change in the sense his draft stock should rise if he does well. It could also fall if he gets injured or struggles in his new role.

In the end, I just think you are risking too much and losing him for all year is not what you want to do. If you limit his playing time that is an option, but wont make him happy. Either way you go there are pluses and minuses. I'm glad I'm not making this call on this young man's future.

Did Cleveland Really Make The Right Moves?

Well the Cleveland Cavaliers made some moves, but none in my opinion is going to help them. Last season the Cavaliers had an outstanding season and many people felt if Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving had not gone down they would have won it all. I am not one of those people though, as I think the Cavaliers could have taken it to seven games, but would have still lost the game. Let's look at what the Cavaliers have done so far this free agency period.

Cleveland has resigned Kevin Love, Iman Shumpert, and Tristan Thompson to contracts. Now this team is starting to look like last season's team all over which is something I was hoping the Cavaliers would not do. I understand the reasoning behind it, but would have rather seen them go in a different direction. Signing Iman Shumpert to a 40 million dollar contract was way to much. He does not bring much to the table but defense and he is not worth that kind of money.  The other two needed to be signed if the Cavaliers wanted any chance to contend this coming season.

Lebron James wanted to same basic roster back and we all know how much input he has on the team. James basically runs the franchise and whatever he wants the team tends to do. Sometimes that can be good, but most of the time it is not. Unless they make some signing in the future I do not look for the Cavaliers to win the championship next season either. It will be a team out of the Western Conference as the Cavaliers did not improve any at all. Even in the Eastern Conference the Cavaliers could find it a little tougher in the playoffs as well.

Should Pete Rose And Others Be In The Hall Of Fame?

I just read an very interesting article from Jayson Stark who is one of my favorite writers about why Pete Rose should be in the Hall Of Fame. He makes some good points and I tend to agree with him. Where do we draw the line in the sand. Can we really have a true Hall Of Fame and not have Baseball's all time hit leader not in it. Other players such as Barry Bonds should also be included in the Hall Of Fame. Stark made a good point about putting something on the plaque about how they cheated the game as well would serve a purpose.

Yes, Pete Rose did lie and so did Bonds, but we need to look past that and look at the accomplishments. We cannot keep these players out forever. Yes, they cheated the game, but put up some impressive numbers. Rose probably will never get into the Hall Of Fame and that is a shame. We need to look past what he did and count his accomplishments more. As long as his plaque reads he lie and gambled on baseball what is the harm putting that on it. At least we will have the pea ce of mine we have one of the best players to play the game of baseball.

Darryl Hamilton Dead At 50 As Apparent Muder-Suicide Took His Life

Darryl Hamilton former Major League Baseball player has died of an apparent murder-suicide at his home. According to police his girlfriend may have shot him multiple times then turned the gun on herself. The couple has a 15 month old child as well. Hamilton played a number of seasons if the Major Leagues and was a good player. A lifetime .291 hitter he was a player that loved the game and always played hard and did whatever was needed to get the win.

I was lucky enough to meet Hamilton and got his autograph and he was a classy guy. He always found time for the fans and signing autographs. He played for a number of different teams, but everywhere he played his teammates have fond memories of him. He was the kind of guy that was a total team player. He will be missed as he was a special ballplayer. If you ever met him he would always put a smile on your face. Fun guy to talk to and a hard worker on and off the field. R.I.P. Darryl Hamilton.

Pete Rose Waves Goodbye To Hall Of Fame As His Betting As A Player Surfaces

Pete Rose had hoped for a chance to make the Hall Of Fame, but it looks like that will never happen anytime soon. Outside The Lines has unearthed a notebook which shows Pete Rose bet on baseball games as a player. This is really disappointing news for many fans whom had hoped Rose was going to be able to make the Hall Of Fame before he died. Now he will never get in and the only person Rose can blame is himself for it. He holds the all-time hits record and it's sad to know he will never make it in.

For  Rose he has always denied betting on baseball as a player, but it looks like there is evidence to the contrary. Hopefully, the story is not true, but it does not look good for Rose. It's a shame it has come down to this, but it looks like that is where we are at with Pete Rose. Lying throughout his career since retirement is something Pete will be known for and that is a shame. Pete's legacy will be nothing but lies and it should not have been that way at all. We will have too see how this all plays out, but hopefully this story is just not true, but not looking good right now.

Where Does A-Rod Rank Among The Game's Elite

Alex Rodriguez has now gotten 3,000 hits and over 500 home runs and owns many major league records, but where does he rank among the elite. This is an interesting question as you must look at many different things when you talk about A-Rod. One of the things you really do not need to look at is his numbers. They are some of the best around, but many people want to put an asterisk around those numbers, and I guess they should have the right to do that considering A-Rod's past.

Everyone knows A-Rod has used steroids and have been suspended for it a good amount of games. Now I think this should factor into it, but the question is how much of a factor. It is hard not to consider him an elite player as he showed what he could do before steroids. As a Mariner and a Rangers play he put up some very good numbers. He continued that as he moved to the Yankees. The real question which is anyones guess is when he started using steroids. No one really has an answer for that one.

The way I look at it is A-Rod was an elite prospect and would be an elite player no matter what. Taking it all away because of some mistakes is just not fair. I look for A-Rod to get the benefit of the doubt over time. He will get into the Hall Of Fame eventually it will just take some time for it to happen.