This week college football will have many different intriguing games that are a must watch for a fan of any age. We will start off with one of the most talked about National Championship contenders the Trojans of USC traveling to East Rutherford to take on Syracuse. The Trojans have not played a game in the north-east since 2000. I would definitely look for the Trojans to roll over Syracuse especially considering they have two players named Marquis Lee and Robert Wood on their team. USC will most likely start off this game with the same way the started off the game against Hawaii and im sure will be sending a statement to everyone else that they are back.

Another very tough match up will be the number 18 team in the land the Oklahoma State Cowboys travel down to Tucson to take on the Wildcats of Arizona. Rich Rodriguez is undefeated so far, of course that win was against Toledo, but they could make a huge statement and a huge upset if they could pull off a win against the Cowboys. I simply believe that Oklahoma State is still too strong and too fast of the Wildcats and even though they lost Bradon Weeden and Justin Blackmon to the NFL they have replaced them with marquee players in Austin Hays and J.W. Walsh. Arizona is very capable in having a great season, but if they want to be treated like an elite team  they are going to have to get noticed and beating a top 25 team would do the trick.

The prime time match up for this weekend is going to take place in Death Valley. The Bayou Bengals of LSU will be hosting the Washington Huskies. Right off the bat I would like to note that LSU does not lose very often and they lose if less at home. The Tigers have won 18 home straight games at home and the last time the Huskies went down to the SEC to face the Tigers it was 1983. This game should be decent, at least for the first half. Keith Price will have a little time to shine, but he better bring it in the first half. If the Huskies do not start off running and gunning and getting points the Tigers will soon pounce and then you can throw the towel in. The Tigers do not have the greatest offense in the country, but their defense is very close to perfect.

College Gameday will be in College Station, Texas to see the Aggies SEC debut against the Gators.

Week 2 Picks:

Pittsburgh 18- 25 Cincinnati

Florida 18-37 Texas A&M

Fresno State 18-48 Oregon

USC 52-27 Syracuse

Georgia 37-17 Missouri

Wisconsin 44-30 Oregon State

Nebraska 41-21 UCLA

Oklahoma State 55-24 Arizona

Purdue 10-28 Notre Dame

Washington 24-42 LSU

The 2012 NBA Finals ended way too early, and now attention throughout the association is directed toward the Draft.  In Part 2 of our NBA Draft Preview we look at the players most likely to become All-Stars, as well as the later picks to keep an eye on.

Jerry Stackhouse Group (Potential All-Stars)

Harrison Barnes – The UNC swingman had a rough finish to his career as a Tar Heel, but he has rebounded nicely in pre-Draft workouts and the Scouting Combine.  Testing as one of the best athletes in the Draft, Barnes’ stock has risen, and there is no denying his shooting touch and ability to score.  His game could mature into something resembling Danny Granger circa 2009, which would be a great addition to any team in the early lottery.

Andre Drummond – The biggest boom-or-bust prospect in the Draft, we believe Drummond will succeed given he’s selected by the right team that has strong veteran presence.  He’s a very athletic 4 who has all the skill needed to play at a high level in the NBA.  The glaring questions, however, are his motor and desire to play.  This has been seen many times before, and Drummond can choose to follow the path of Eddy Curry (not good) or Shawn Kemp (good).

Jared Sullinger – Sullinger was a beast at OSU, and that will translate into the pro-game.  He has all the skill a team looks for in a power forward, including a capable mid-range jumper.  What he lacks in athleticism he makes up for in ability to score in multiple ways.  He is comparable to Kevin Love, another 4 who’s athletic ability was believed to hurt his game in the NBA.  The real concern with Sullinger is his back, which has recently begun to scare NBA teams.  As long as he remains healthy, look for Sullinger to play in future All-Star games.

Dion Waiters – One of the best sixth men in college basketball at Syracuse, Waiters’ game translates well into the NBA.  He’s relentless going to the rim and can finish in traffic.  He’s drawn comparisons to Dwyane Wade throughout his career at Syracuse and has the ability to be a combo guard in the mold of a Tyreke Evans at the pro level.  His shot could use some work, but a tough, physical 2-guard is something that will help any team in the lottery.

Monta Ellis Group (Sleepers)

Tony Wroten Jr. – The Washington PG had his ups and downs his freshman year, but his talent has been evident from day one.  At 6’5″, he has great size to run the point, and his athletic ability is freakish.  His court vision is good and he’s a very capable passer.  One of the flashier players in the Draft, his decision making is suspect at times and his shot needs to improve.  The ability is there, however, and he can be a cross of Russell Westbrook and Jason Williams if he develops.

Doron Lamb – Kentucky’s leading scorer in their National Championship victory, Lamb can shoot the lights out.  He has one of the purest strokes in the Draft with seemingly unlimited range.  He’s a smooth player who has the ability to score in the NBA.  He can flourish as a bench player and we see him as a solid sixth man down the road – similar to what Jason Terry has done throughout his career.

Andrew Nicholson – A stretch 4 who was overlooked because he played at St. Bonaventure in Olean, NY, Nicholson received great national exposure in the Bonnies’ run throughout the A-10 and NCAA Tournaments.  Nicholson is a player who can be good at everything and he reminds some of Davis West.  Whichever team selects him will be drafting a player who can contribute from day one and make the team better.

Hollis Thompson – Arguably the best long-range shooter in the draft, Thompson will find a spot on an NBA roster.  At 6’8″, he can get his shot off against most defenders.  He has the ability to drive to the basket and rebound as well, grabbing over 5 boards per game his Junior year at Georgetown.  He reminds us of Jeff Green, and if he develops into what Uncle Jeff was during Green’s first couple seasons with the Thunder then Thompson will be one of the better steals in the Draft.

For the second consecutive week, College FootBlog rolls out our 3rd & 1 feature, which breaks down three observations from the college football action from the previous weekend.  And we finish by giving one key match up to look for in the upcoming week.  Let’s get to it, shall we?

1st:  Another week, another set of hangover games.   Last weekend, the Alabama Crimson Tide fell at South Carolina after thumping the hated Florida Gators the week before.  This weekend, Kentucky returned the favor.  Steve Spurrier took his Gamecocks into Lexington, and the Wildcats shocked them 31-28.  Not to be outdone, Oregon State lost a double-overtime thriller to Washington, just one week after knocking off previously undefeated Arizona.   

2nd:  Michigan QB Denard Robinson cannot take the punishment of a full Big Ten schedule.  Although Robinson is the most explosive player in college football, Rich Rodriguez has no other legitimate weapons on offense, making Robinson a one-man show.  Robinson is on pace for around 250 rushes this year–if his body can take it.  They need more production and more carries from their running backs to take some pressure off Robinson (RB Vincent Smith is second on the team in yards and carries and currently has nearly half the rushes (70) that Robinson has accumulated this season.  More importantly, Robinson, who is listed 6’0″ and only 188 lbs. does not have the body to take that many hits in the thick of the Big Ten schedule.

Wisconsin's bruising running back, John Clay took it to Ohio State this past weekend (google images)

3rd:  John Clay is the real deal.  The Big Ten’s reigning Offensive Player of the Year, along with Wisconsin’s massive offensive line smacked Ohio State right in the mouth this weekend, en route to this season’s biggest upset as they took dominated the Buckeyes 31-18.  Clay led the Badgers’ ground assault with 104 yards and two touchdowns on just 21 carries (5.0 yards per carry).  Behind arguably the most physical offensive line in the country, the 255 lb. junior proved to be too much for a Ohio State defense that features seven players who could be playing in the NFL in the very near future.  Clay and fellow tailback James White will get another opportunity to shine on national television this upcoming weekend when they travel to Iowa City to take on the Hawkeyes.  If he has a similar performance against Iowa’s stout defense, Heisman voters will be forced to take notice.

…and 1:  Mizzou QB Blaine Gabbert will get his first major test of 2010 this weekend when Oklahoma comes to town.  At 265 yards per game, Gabbert ranks 20th in the country.  Statistically, the Sooners defense has been far from stellar this season, but a closer look shows that Bob Stoops’ squad has brought their A-Game in their only two legitimate contests so far this season.  The Sooners shut down Florida State in week 2 and rattled Texas QB Garrett Gilbert in the Red River Rivalry game a couple of weeks ago.  Look for OU to come after Gabbert, who has battled through a hip injury.  The Sooners will bring it this upcoming weekend, and they will look to ruin Mizzou’s homecoming weekend on the national TV game of the week.

The Syracuse University campus wasn’t as orange as it usually is this past weekend. The streets were filled with people in yellow, purple, red, and blue as the NCAA’s east regional took place in the Carrier Dome.

As a diehard Orange fan, it was quite the dilemma. Syracuse’s game against Butler in Salt Lake City was at the same time as the first game at the dome between Washington and West Virginia. I had bought the tickets a year in advance so I had to go. So I brought my radio with me, fully knowing I probably wasn’t going to be paying much attention to the game I was actually at.

It was a strange site seeing the NCAA regulated court instead of the orange hardwood I’m used to seeing. I was surrounded by some local SU fans, one of which brought a portable television to watch the Syracuse game on. Unfortunately, my eyes saw a sore sight as the Orange took more than seven minutes to score its first basket of the game. After that, I really did not have a good feeling about the game.

My worries were put on hold momentarily as the Orange took a four point lead late in the game. But it didn’t last long. A miracle three-pointer by Butler in the waning seconds ended what was a special season for the Orange. Feelings of disappointment and devastation could be felt in the dome by all those wearing orange. SU is the better team, and it hurts when that team doesn’t play up to its capabilities and losses. But that’s the nature of the tournament. One game, and it’s all over.

There was another game to be watched under the Teflon roof though. The SU fans, including me, had a much needed distraction. The underdog Cornell against big bad Kentucky. The opening moments of the game were electric as the pro-Big Red crowd got into a frenzy as its team was taking it to the number one seeded Wildcats.

Kentucky though proved its youth and athleticism was too overpowering for the experience group of Ivy League players. But it was the distraction all Syracuse fans needed who happened to be at the Carrier Dome.

West Virginia or Kentucky? It pains me to say that on Saturday for the regional final, I put my cheering behind the Mountaineers. It was the lesser of two evils to be honest. I can’t root for a team like Kentucky. Head Coach John Calipari seems just too smooth of a guy sometimes. And his hot shot players like John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins seem to think they’re better than everyone and have inflated egos because of the media coverage they receive.

It was all West Virginia for me, even though I despise the school just as I would any other Big East team. But that night I guess it was more so rooting against Kentucky if anything. Not very many people who had been around me on Thursday were back for this game. In front of me were a couple of Wildcats’ fans. And I can tell you, they hate my guts after Saturday. I hooted and hollered about John Wall being overrated and what a horrendous shooting display Kentucky was putting on that night. Well, the facts don’t lie…4-for-32 from three-point range. Yikes is right.

After the SU loss, it was enjoyable to see Kentucky who was so talented go down in the Carrier Dome. All those people who made the trip up from down south could feel the pain that I and every other Syracuse fan felt on Thursday.

By: Chris Ruple

There have been a number of lower seeds knocking off higher seeds in the tournament so far. Here’s a rundown of the first round upsets and a couple teams that may be this years Cinderella.

14 Ohio defeats 3 Georgetown

Out of all the first round upsets, this was probably the most surprising. Not many people had Ohio beating Georgetown in their bracket. They did it just like most teams that have success in the tournament do, solid guard play. Ohio standout guard Armon Basset put up 32 on the Hoyas and led the way to this first round upset. The Bobcats couldn’t even manage a winning record in conference play but were able to knock off the Hoyas. Ohio will clash with Tennessee in the second round and while we shouldn’t count them out yet, it would be a stretch to say the Bobcats will defeat anyone besides the inconsistent Hoyas.

13 Murray State defeats 4 Vanderbilt

One of the more popular upset picks of the tournament lived up to the hype. Impressive guard play from Issac Miles, BJ Jenkins, and big time six man Issiah Cannon helped the Racers pull the upset. Danero Thomas’ buzzer beater for the win provided the best finish to a game thus far. Don’t be surprised if this Murray State team takes their next game against Butler and makes it to the Sweet 16.

7 BYU defeats 10 Florida

While their first victory wasn’t an upset, BYU may have a couple of upset victories in their future. It is very possible that one of the 2 seeds will go down at the hands of a 7-10 team in the second round. Florida knew guard Jimmer Fredette would be key to a Cougar victory, yet they couldn’t stop him. Fredette dropped 37 on the Gators, one of the most impressive performances of the first round, while wing man Michael Lloyd Jr. was 7 for 10 from the field and 26 points. BYU looked very good in their first tournament win since 1992. If they can get past Kansas State in the second round and Fredette stays hot, they could be a surprise Final Four team.

12 Cornell defeats 5 Temple

This was another popular upset and Cornell lived up to the expectations defeating the Owls 78-65. The Big Red lead most of the game thanks to big man Jeff Foote who went for 16 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks. The Ivy League squad tallied its first NCAA tournament victory and will look to gain their second against the Wisconsin Badgers. This will be an interesting match up and don’t be surprised to see the Big Red challenging Kentucky for a spot in the Elite 8.

11 Washington defeats 6 Marquette

The Big East woes continued in San Jose as the Huskies defeated the Golden Eagles 80-78. The Huskies entered the Pac-10 tournament needing to make some noise and led by star forward Quincy Pondexter they swept the competition and won the tournament. Pondexter would also makes some noise in the Big Dance by putting up 18 against the Golden Eagles, including banking in a layup with 1.7 seconds left and claiming a berth in the second round. The rolling Huskies will face New Mexico in the second round, a very winnable game as the Lobos struggled in their opening round matchup against Montana.

10 Missouri defeats 7 Clemson

The battle of the Tigers ended with the boys from Missou advancing to the second round. With both teams running high press defenses, it appeared at first that Clemson’s sharpshooters might come out on top. Missouri struggled from the field in the first half but stuck around and were able to pull away in the second half. The Tigers “Fastest 40 minutes in Basketball” pressure defense may be the recipe for success to take down the West Virginia Mountaineers in the second round.

11 Old Dominion defeats 6 Notre Dame

Not too many people thought the Monarchs would take down the Irish but a strong defensive effort help them do just that. Old Dominion held Notre Dame to 35% from the field and forward Frank Hassel accounted for 21 of the Monarchs 51 points. Carelton Scott had a chance to send the game into overtime for Notre Dame with a three pointer but instead the ball was tipped in for two and the Monarchs got the win. The Monarchs aren’t new to first round upsets, they pulled one of the biggest in tournament history in 1995 as they took down 3 Villanova as a 14 seed in a triple overtime thriller. The upset minded Monarchs will face the Baylor Bears in the second round with a chance to reach their first ever Sweet 16.

10 St Mary’s defeats 7 Richmond

The “Boys from Down Under” defeated the Spiders 80-71. The Gael’s roster contains 5 players from Australia but it was California native Omar Samhan who led the way for the Gaels with 29 points and 12 rebounds. The Gaels looked very good in their first round match shooting a cool 49% from the field and 42% from beyond the arc. With 2 seed Villanova struggling against Robert Morris in the first round, don’t be surprised to see the Gaels make the Sweet 16.

This year’s field is full of lower seeded teams that are capable of making deep runs and a couple higher seeded teams that are very venerable to upsets. This year truly shows no one really has a good method to their madness when filling out their bracket in March.