Tag: Sam Bradford (Page 24 of 25)

      College Football Week 8 Primer

      October 15, 2008 /

      Top 25 vs. Top 25

      Colt McCoyNo. 11 Missouri at No. 1 Texas, 8:00 PM ET
      For their first game after being crowned number one in the land, surely the Longhorns would rather face a Big 12 cupcake than a pissed off Tigers team reeling from suffering their first loss of the season. But at least Colt McCoy and Co. don’t have to worry about suffering a letdown after their thrilling win over top rival Oklahoma last weekend. Speaking of McCoy, he’s been nearly perfect this season, completing 79.4% of his passes and compiling 17 touchdowns to just three interceptions. He’ll get the chance to light up a suspect MIZZOU defense, although don’t expect Heisman candidate Chase Daniel to have back to back bad games, especially against a UT defensive unit that was destroyed by Sam Bradford and the Sooners. Remarkably, Daniel and the Tigers have scored in 23 of 24 quarters this season. Oddsmakers have made MIZZOU a 7-point underdog.

      No. 16 Kansas at No. 4 Oklahoma, 3:30 PM ET
      Despite walking away with victories, the Jayhawks have not played very sharp the past two weeks. In their 12-1 campaign last season, KU didn’t have to face the powerhouse programs of the Big 12, but they’re not as fortunate this year. Neither team is running the ball as well as they would like, but the Sooners will be looking to make a statement after losing to Texas last week. If sophomore QB Sam Bradford could hang 35 points on the Longhorns, imagine what he’ll do to the Jayhawks. Still, Kansas isn’t a pushover and is looking to make a statement in the polls as well.

      No. 22 Vanderbilt at No. 10 Georgia, 12:30 PM ET
      One might assume that since the Commodores suffered a crushing blow last week to Mississippi that they’d roll over and play dead this week in Athens. But Vandy has enough speed and athleticism to contain UGA’s explosive offense and they should be able to keep things close. The hard part will be containing QB Matthew Stafford and RB Knowshon Moreno for four quarters, however. And if the ‘Dores can’t come up with a turnover or two, the Dogs should pull away in the end. Still, expect a bounce back week for Vandy, who could expose a young UGA secondary ranked 11th in the SEC.


      Javon Ringer      No. 12 Ohio State at No. 20 Michigan State, 3:30 PM ET
      It’ll be interesting to see if the Spartans can catch the Buckeyes looking ahead to their date next week with No. 3 Penn State. OSU has had a tough time moving anywhere in the rankings since being blown out by USC in mid-September, but they could use the next two weeks to make a huge statement to voters. MSU is playing awfully well right now, especially on offense where QB Brian Hoyer has provided balance with the dynamic running style of Javon Ringer. Since making a splash against Troy, Buckeye freshman QB Terrelle Pryor has leveled off in recent weeks, throwing for just 104 yards per game and one touchdown in his last three outings. RB Beanie Wells also seems to still be suffering lingering effects from an early-season toe injury as he rushed for only 94 yards on 22 carries last week against Purdue. Next Saturday’s PSU-OSU matchup should be great, but Sparty isn’t going to be a pushover this week in East Lansing.

      Upset Watch:No. 9 BYU at TCU, Thursday, October 16
      The Cougars arguably get their first test of the season against a Horned Frogs team that has already faced the likes of Oklahoma. TCU’s defense will provide a challenge BYU QB Max Hall and the high-powered Cougar passing attack and even though he’s a backup, Frog’s QB Marcus Jackson has led the team to back-to-back wins. TCU is also incredibly tough to beat in Fort Worth, so beware a major upset on Thursday night. (Of course the last time I suggested that BYU could be upset, they beat UCLA 59-0.)

      College Football

      Couch Potato Alert: 10/10

      October 10, 2008 /

      Oklahoma vs. Texas
      This year’s Red River Rivalry battle at the Cotton Bowl has more marquee value than in past years; as for the first time since 2004 both teams will enter the game ranked in the top five. Heading into this season, the Longhorns offense was thought to be their biggest strength. But it has been the Texas defense that has provided most of the swagger. The Longhorns are ranked fourth nationally in total defense and that is a big jump since the 2007 unit set a school record for most yards allowed in a season. They will get stiff competition come Saturday against top-ranked Oklahoma. The Sooners are in the top five nationally in all offensive scoring categories, led by the nation’s second-rated passer Sam Bradford. National coverage begins Saturday at 12 PM ET on ABC. Click here for the official Oklahoma-Texas smack thread.

      LSU vs. Florida
      “The Showdown at the Swamp” marks the first time the last two national champions have faced each other since Notre Dame defeated Miami, 29-20, in 1990. The stakes are high for both schools; Florida must win to maintain any realistic hope of staying in the hunt for a berth in the BCS championship game, while LSU needs the win to stay on course to repeat as National Champions. And the matchup got even more intense after Tigers defensive lineman Ricky Jean-Francois promised that the LSU defense will try to knock Gator quarterback Tim Tebow out of the game. Later in the week, Jean-Francois said his comments were misinterpreted by the press. National coverage begins Saturday at 8 PM ET on CBS.

      Major League Baseball LCS Series
      The animosity between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Boston Red Sox is not ready to approach the level of the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry, but their contempt for each other is a good undercard. Back on June 5th, the Rays’ Game One starter, James Shields, hit Red Sox outfielder Coco Crisp with a pitch that triggered a bench-clearing brawl between the two teams. Has this issue been resolved? Stay tuned for the answer. Meanwhile, the National League Championship series boils down to how well the Los Angeles Dodgers left-handed pitchers throw to the Philadelphia Phillies lethal left-handed hitting. The Phillies led the NL with 214 homeruns, with Ryan Howard leading the way with 48 followed by Chase Utley with 33, and both players bat left-handed. The top of the Phillies’ lineup also includes switch-hitting Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino, who both have outstanding on-base percentages. NLCS Game Two is Friday at 4:30 PM ET and Game Three is on Sunday at 8 PM ET; all NLCS games are on Fox. ALCS Game One is on Friday at 8:30 PM ET and Game Two is on Saturday at 8 PM ET. All ALCS games can be seen on TBS.

      New England Patriots vs. San Diego Chargers
      Their franchise quarterback is out for the season, and somehow the Patriots have still put together a successful start to their 2008 season. On the other side of the field, the Chargers have been one of the biggest disappointments in the NFL. To avoid falling further back in the AFC standings, the Chargers must try to defeat a Patriots team that has eliminated them from the past two post-seasons. Inconsistent play on both sides of the ball has plagued the Chargers all season; they have lost three games by a total of 10 points. Coverage begins at 8:15 PM ET on NBC

      Bullz-Eye Sports Channel, College Football, Couch Potato Alert, General Sports, MLB, NFL, Television

      College Football Week 7 Primer

      October 8, 2008 /

      Time to check out the big games, top matchups and potential upsets as college football heads into Week 7.

      Top 25 vs. Top 25

      Colt McCoyNo. 5 Texas at No. 1 Oklahoma, 12:00 PM ET ABC
      Boy the schedule makers really screwed ABC by showing this game at Noon didn’t they? People on the west coast will have to get up at 9:00 AM to see the best game of the week. Ouch. The Sooners get a huge boost to their defense with the expected return of DT DeMarcus Granger and redshirt freshman Frank Alexander. They should help generate a pass rush, which will be imperative in stopping Heisman candidate Colt McCoy. Offensively for OU, the switch to the no-huddle has been a tremendous success for QB Sam Bradford, who seemingly has a leg-up on McCoy in the Heisman race. This game will come down to which secondary can rise to the challenge and which team can establish a running game against their opponents’ stingy front seven. At least on the onset, the Sooners have the edge in both categories.

      No. 17 Oklahoma State at No. 3 Missouri, 8:00 PM ET ESPN2
      This is going to be a shootout, which only favors QB Chase Daniel and the host Tigers. Missouri has scored in 19 of 20 quarters this year and have now gone 49 straight possessions with no three-and-outs. That’s a remarkable feat to say the least. But the Cowboys bring plenty of offense to the table themselves, scoring 56 points per game in their last four outings. Although MIZZOU doesn’t provide a huge challenge defensively, it must be noted that OK State has yet to face a tough defense on the road this year. The Tigers are 14-point favorites and that bodes well considering they’re 12-3 in their last 15 games as the favored team.

      No. 4 LSU at No. 11 Florida, 8:00 PM ET CBS
      Things got interesting on Tuesday when Tigers’ DL Ricky Jean-Francois stated that if he and his linemates got the opportunity, that they would take Florida QB Tim Tebow out of the game. Considering the Gators will try to use this game as a springboard to get back into the national championship hunt, Jean-Francois’s comments only fuel the fire. LSU has a new set of cornerbacks this year who have suffered communication breakdowns in previous games. Expect Tebow and speedy wideout Percy Harvin to try and torch the inexperienced Tigers’ secondary. Even though they have the edge in the plls, it’ll be tough sledding for LSU this Saturday in “The Swamp,” especially considering Gators’ head coach Urban Meyer is 22-2 lifetime in Gainesville.

      Upset Watch

      Vanderbilt CommodoresNo. 13 Vanderbilt at Mississippi State, 2:30 PM ET
      The Commodores have the better overall team, talent and coaching, but if the 2008 College Football Season has taught us anything so far, it’s to expect the unexpected. This is a dangerous game for Vandy considering its coming off an emotional home win over Auburn and now have to go on the road to face an inferior Bulldog squad. Where the Commodores are currently ranked is roughly where East Carolina (college football’s previous Cinderella story) was a couple weeks ago when they were upset by NC State on the road. Granted, NC State is arguably a better team than Mississippi State, but the SEC doesn’t produce cupcake programs. Beware the upset.

      Other notable games:
      No. 6 Penn State at Wisconsin, 8:00 PM ET ESPN
      The Badgers have dropped their first two Big Ten games of the season while the high-powered Nittany Lions are out to prove that they’re the best team in the conference.

      Tennessee at No. 10 Georgia, 3:30 PM ET CBS
      The Vols are off to a 0-2 start in the SEC, but they gave Auburn a run for their money a few weeks ago. This is always a great matchup and nothing beats a SEC game “Between the Hedges.”

      Notre Dame at No. 22 North Carolina, 3:30 PM ET
      Some believe the Irish are back after starting the season 4-1 and they’ll get the opportunity to prove it facing the ranked Tar Heels on the road.

      College Football

      Heisman Trophy Watch: Week 5

      September 30, 2008 /

      FOX Sports.com has the latest breakdown of this year’s Heisman Trophy candidates as college football heads into Week 6.

      Javon Ringer4. Javon Ringer, RB, Michigan State
      Ringer ran 44 times for 198 yards and a touchdown, and added two receptions for 20 yards in the win over Indiana.

      3. Chase Daniel, QB, Missouri
      Daniel completed 36 of 43 passes for 439 yards and two touchdowns in the 42-21 win over Buffalo. The Tigers play Nebraska this week.

      2. Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
      Bradford completed 19 of 34 passes for a career-high 411 yards and four touchdowns in the win over TCU.

      1. Colt McCoy, QB, Texas
      McCoy completed 17 of 19 passes for 185 yards and three touchdowns, and he ran nine times for 84 yards and two scores in the win over Arkansas.

      All of these candidates have been fantastic so far, but none of them have faced very legitimate opponents. That quandary will be fixed for two of these players when Bradford’s Sooners host McCoy’s Longhorns in two weeks. And I can’t wait to see how Ringer stacks up against Ohio State’s defense on October 18, because he has absolutely shredded opponents to date. Daniel will get a decent test this week against Big 12 opponent Nebraska, although the matchup looks less sexy after the Huskers fell to VA Tech last Saturday.

      College Football

      Chase Daniel takes lead in Heisman race?

      September 16, 2008 /

      Gene Menez of SI.com breaks down the Heisman race as college football enters Week 4 of the season.

      Chase Daniel1. Chase Daniel, Missouri, QB, Sr.
      Last week: 23-of-28 passing, 405 yards, 4 TDs; 1 rush, 12 yards in a 69-17 victory over Nevada.
      Season: 65-of-90 passing, 973 yards, 10 TDs, 1 INT; 10 rushes, 58 yards.
      Heisman-o-meter: Daniel has been a regular on this list for three years, but he has never been No. 1 — until now. The Tigers’ triggerman has been mind-boggingly productive in his first three games as the Missouri offense has rolled. (In the last two he has played just four quarters total and has seven touchdowns against six incompletions.) How he plays in the Tigers’ tough October stretch (at Nebraska, Oklahoma State, at Texas, Colorado) will go a long way in determining if he stays at No. 1.
      Up next: Saturday vs. Buffalo.

      2. Sam Bradford, Oklahoma, QB, Soph.
      Last week: 18-of-21 passing, 304 yards, 5 TDs; 1 rush, 1 yard, 1 TD in a 55-14 victory at Washington.
      Season: 64-of-81 passing, 882 yards, 12 TDs, 2 INTs; 4 rushes, 4 yards, 1 TD.
      Heisman-o-meter: In other Big 12 news, the Sooners have the conference’s — and country’s — No. 2 candidate for the stiff-armed statuette. Bradford plays so smoothly when he’s rolling out of the pocket and hitting receivers on the run, and he has Oklahoma’s offense humming. The task of separating Daniel and Bradford (Does Daniel benefit from having better receivers? Does Bradford have a better offensive line, running game and defense to get him the ball?) could go into early December when the Big 12 title game is played.
      Up next: Sept. 27 vs. TCU.

      3. Tim Tebow, Florida, QB, Jr.
      Last week: Idle.
      Season: 30-of-49 passing, 393 yards, 3 TDs; 22 rushes, 92 yards.
      Heisman-o-meter: As Daniel, Bradford and others have made early-season cases for the Heisman, the incumbent has yet to be the Tebow we know. For Saturday’s game at Tennessee, it will be interesting to see if the Gators’ rushing attack has improved since the Miami contest and who’s doing the heavy lifting. None of Florida’s tailbacks were effective against the Hurricanes, forcing the running load onto Tebow’s legs, which could prove great for a Heisman repeat but not so good for the Gators’ long term goals.
      Up next: Saturday at Tennessee.

      Daniel has been the best quarterback of this young season and his play at the end of the opener against Illinois was fantastic. But even though the Illini proved to be a tougher opponent than many thought, Daniel’s first true test comes next week when the Tigers travel to Nebraska and take on an improved Huskers program.

      Unfortunately college football fans have to wait two more weeks before Bradford faces his first real test. After TCU this week and at Baylor next Saturday, Oklahoma hosts Texas and Kansas in back-to-back weeks. Bradford might have the chance to win or lose the Heisman in those weeks.

      College Football

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