By Guest Blogger John Manuel & Friends:

Supreme Court of Sports Knowledge is back and so are Vic and the Matzie. Don’t be afraid to express your comments!

1- Biggest winner and biggest loser at the NFL draft?

Vic Vinegar: It will come as a huge shock to those of you that know me, but the Redskins were the biggest losers of the draft. That Kerrigan guy should be pretty good (as long as Tanya Harding and her hired goons stay away), but this was a team with a Top 10 pick and in desperate need of a QB of the future, and they did nothing. Who’s your QB for the next five years? Rex Grossman?? Really? DMac? Nope. Accept it Redskins fans, you will not make the playoffs….again. I would give runner-up loser to the Eagles for drafting a kicker in the fourth round. Unless that kicker is a dunkey (I know how I spelled it wrong) named Gus who can put it through the uprights from his own 10 yard line with Coach Don Knotts looking on, you don’t draft a kicker…ever. As far as winners go, I think the league’s bottom feeders did pretty well as a whole. Detroit, Buffalo, and Cleveland all did really well IMO.

Bob: The loser has to be the Chicago Bears. Their GM’s blunder for not getting the Ravens trade put through and ultimately getting the guy they wanted without giving away their fourth round pick exposed their draft room as looking like nothing more than a fantasy football draft with chicken wings and bud light cans strewn everywhere. If this GM does not get fired for thinking that the Chiefs were going to draft a guard that was not high on the draft boards and then botching a trade with the wizard of the draft, Ozzie Newsome, then the Bears owner is the worst in football. This must be the same GM who pulled off the Jay Cutler trade too.
Winner: Ravens: Anytime you get a physical shutdown corner plus Maryland wide receiver (both 1st rounders in my book) you had a great draft. Let’s look at a few Terps in the NFL, Merriman, Vernon Davis, Boomer, EJ Henderson, Erin Henderson, D’Qwell Jackson, Kris Jenkins, Lamont Jordan, Jermaine Lewis, Heyward-Bey and Randy White. Maryland produces. Torrey Smith may have been the steal of the draft.

Gib: I have to start by saying that handing out draft grades a few weeks down the road is pretty foolish. The fear of being foolish, however, rarely stops me.

Biggest winner: The Detroit Lions. Yes, the Matt Millen era is long behind us. I love the Nick Fairley pick in the first round. With Fairley and Ndamukong Suh (a big thanks to the inventor of spell check) on the defensive line they have turned what was already strength of the Lion’s defense into an absolute force of nature. NFC North quarterbacks should be warned – playing the Detroit Lions will be an absolute dogfight for two weeks a year for the rest of your careers. The boys in Honolulu blue also had two very nice picks in the second round when the team turned their attention to the other side of the ball. They picked up a nice WR in Boise State’s Titus Young to help try to keep coverage from collapsing to Calvin Johnson’s side of the field. They also recognized that, while Jahvid Best is a rare talent at tailback, Illini back Mikel Leshoure adds much needed depth to an obvious running back by committee approach.

Biggest loser: The Atlanta Falcons. I know plenty of people liked their draft, but I for one absolutely hated it. In order to move up 21 spots to grab Julio Jones in the first, Atlanta and Cleveland exchanged first round picks and Atlanta threw in its first rounder in 2012, a second rounder in 2011, a fourth in 2011 and a fourth in 2012. To me that’s a lot to give up for a WR with bad hands. It seems like Atlanta was trying to make a deal for A.J. Green and when it couldn’t – the Dirty Birds just pivoted and went after Jones, despite the fact that he appears to be significantly inferior to the Bulldog standout. Those who approve of the deal use the “Atlanta is one player away from the Super Bowl” defense, which can be debunked just by looking at the teams in the most recent Super Bowl. The Packers sustained a wave of injuries this year; however, they were able to overcome this with superior coaching and a deep roster that can only be assembled when draft picks are cherished and used judiciously. A team is never “one player away” from the Super Bowl, because each year you start all over with a different set of circumstances and injuries. We’ll never know who the Falcons would have drafted, but those picks could have improved the team significantly, even if the drafted players did not immediately replace front line players. Secondly, the Super Bowl losing Steelers have a roster full of impact WRs that they acquired in the mid rounds of the draft, headlined by the dynamic former third rounder Mike Wallace. WR is a position that can be upgraded on Friday or even Saturday of the draft and very few WRs are worth a top ten selection – certainly not one with a case of the dropsies. This will not go down as the second coming of the Herschel Walker trade, or even Ditka’s famous “all-in” for Rickey Williams, but, in my mind, Atlanta’s move was dumb nonetheless.

Matzie: Biggest Winner….Christian Ponder. Where in the hell did that pick come from? Leave it to the Minnesota Vikings to blow the No. 12 pick in the draft on an unknown QB. Hopefully they can fix the hole in their stadium roof because they certainly didn’t take any steps towards fixing their QB situation on draft day. Which leads me to part two….and would lead you to believe that the Minnesota Vikings are the biggest loser. No, they are the runner up to the NFL. Over the past decade, I can remember counting down the days to the draft and waiting with eager anticipation. Kinda like Marion Barry in a Washington D.C. hotel room. The league has eroded my enthusiasm for the NFL and all associated fan fare. All over splitting hairs with what equates to One Billion….Austin Powers pinky extended….dollars. In a nearly 20 Million Dollar industry, how much is this really worth?

Stinger: Biggest winner to me are the Detroit Lions. They added three parts that will pay dividends right away. Fairley, Leshoure and Young. Detroit has to now look good to somebody like Nnamdi Asomugha when free agency begins. Fairley could up being a bust but he could also end up being Warren Sapp.
Biggest loser to me was anyone watching at home. The suspense of the draft is gone. You know the pick before the announcement because every draftee is on camera and they show them taking calls. The commissioner doesn’t even need to go up to the podium anymore. If I was someone who was going to be picked in the late 1st or 2nd, I would have been on my cell crying or looking thrilled before Cam Newton was announced to see if you could fool ESPN or NFL Network…What’s this in the green room? Carolina is on the phone with Danny Watkins? Could this be the first pick in the draft?

2- Does the NHL offer the best playoffs?

Vic Vinegar: If I’d answered this question a week ago, I would have said yes. The NFL is my favorite of the pro sports, but can you imagine the drama that would have been created last year if the Ravens had to play the Steelers SEVEN TIMES in the playoffs last year? Even Osama Bin Mendenhall may not have made it through something like that. And while we’re talking about the Steel Town Taliban, can you believe that sh*t? Twitter is the best/worst thing to ever happen to pro athletes. Back to hockey…in the second round the “Annual Regular Season Champion Washington Capitals” pulled their usual spring face plant, the Flyers were down 3-0 to the Bruins (we have them where we want them…see 2010), and even the Red Wings were in danger of being swept. The first round of the NHL playoffs was unreal, but this round is pretty anticlimactic. I bet the NHL is salivating at the TV ratings explosion that would be a Tampa Bay vs. Vancouver Stanley Cup. Good times.

Bob: Yes, because they have three intermissions and start their games at 7pm. During intermission number one, I get to refresh my beer, put my daughter to bed, respond to some emails, make a snack and if your team is down 3 goals, you are still in it. During the second intermission, prime time TV is on, plenty of time to catch the end of Community or Helicopter Loggers. “I always worry that they will not get the job done in time.” And if your team is down only 2, you still have life. Third period is non-stop action. The hitting and speed picks up to a frantic pace and most games come down to the final three minutes. No sport is that dramatic, but it is the intermissions that make it so enjoyable.

Gib: I prefer the NFL playoffs over NHL playoffs. You get the sense that only the best make it to the NFL tournament where only 12 out of 32 franchises participate, rather than more than half of the teams making it to the postseason in the NHL (16 out of 30 teams qualify). I think the best playoff system has to raise the importance of the regular season first and foremost, and the NFL playoffs is a pretty exclusive club where mediocrity during the regular season does not earn you the right to participate – even though the NFC West does its best to shoot holes in my theory.

For my money, nothing beats the scenario where we have one game for all the marbles. A seven game series may be best for determining which team is better, but one “winner take all” game adds an element of “anything can happen” to the playoffs. This is the magical quality that makes the NCAA Basketball tournament what it is. Sure, a Game 7 in the NHL, NBA, or MLB is thrilling, but the majority of playoff match ups are decided without a Game 7.

Matzie: No. Plays a great third fiddle to the NFL and the NCAA tourney though. If it’s any consolation prize, it’s a much better league than it was 5 years ago. Even without the best player since Super Mario. That’s right….I’m talking about Sid the Kid. One of the NHL’s superstars that can win playoffs games…and cups.

Stinger: Yes, but since I posted this question the Caps got swept. The answers to this question probably were not that good since all Supreme Court justices’ teams have been eliminated. Saying that I still think the NHL is the most exciting. Almost all games are close and nothing beats sudden death overtime. Add to that the announcers are the best by far of any sport. Any sport where a fight can completely change the games momentum has my attention. I never thought I would be glued to a Nashville Predators playoff game but throw in a little Carrie Underwood and I am throwing “Community” and “The Office” on DVR.

3- Who is the best player right now in Major League Baseball?

Vic Vinegar: Not sure how anyone can say anyone but Pujols, until he struggles over a long period of time. The numbers he’s put up over the past 10 years are legendary. He plays good defense, plays every day, and seems like a good clubhouse guy.

Bob: Hands down, Jered Weaver. 6 wins in April. No Oriole pitcher has 4 wins by the break last year. He is on pace for 24 wins. His ERA is 1.39 and he is only two shy of the leader in K’s. And this guy has him on his fantasy baseball team. How you doing?

Gib: Despite his slump, Albert Pujols is still the best player in baseball right now. Over the last 10 seasons, Pujols has put up numbers that rival anyone who has ever played the game. His numbers this year are well below his career stats; however, he has shown signs of coming out his funk. If I could have any player in baseball on my squad for the rest of the year, it would be Albert. The man puts in the work and I think it’s very likely that he reverts to his old self any day now.

Matzie: Same player it was at the beginning of the season….Albert. One of the only power players not tarnished in the steroid era. He has a HOF skill set in any generation. Although he may very well be 49 years old. Which means he cheated in a different capacity. Forget Obama….I want to see Albert’s certificate of birth! Somebody call Donald Trump!

Stinger: Derrek Lee for sure. Joking. Although I really want to say Ryan Braun, I still have to go with Albert Pujols. Once he gets fully healthy he will go on a tear and the debate will be over. And the only question will be where he plays in 2012.

4- Should Jim Tressel still be the football coach at Ohio State?

Vic Vinegar: There isn’t a big time college football program (at least a good one) that doesn’t play in the fringes of what the NCAA considers legal. That being said, the NCAA usually seems to be harsher in the prosecution of the cover-up than they are in the prosecution of the infraction. He was suspended for the infraction. Now, it seems like something new and unseemly comes out every week about his program. How many other things has he covered up that haven’t even been exposed yet? I think he’s gone. But, in typical NCAA glacial speed, he will be fired sometime around 2014.

Bob: Yes, Ohio State is basically run like a professional team right now. They need a coach who can commit violations and not get punished. The University is strong than the NCAA and Jim Tressel’s sweater vests are the only reason they are not sitting out bowl games every year for suspensions.

Gib: There is so much I don’t like about the recent events in Columbus. I don’t like that the NCAA allowed the suspension of Terrell Pryor and four other Buckeyes to start after the team’s Sugar Bowl appearance. Even worse than that weak move, was the grandstanding by Tressel, who claimed that he looked each player in the eye and had them commit to coming back the following season so that they would not go early to the NFL and escape punishment. Tressel’s actions seemed a little self serving at the time, but in hindsight, the move seems downright hypocritical. Given how light-handed the NCAA dealt with the players in this issue, it makes sense why Ohio State believed that it could impose its own sanctions, by recommending a 5 game suspension for their coach and have it stick (of course, the university initially recommended that Tressel be suspended for OSU’s games against only Akron and Toledo – how very responsible of them).
The NCAA needs to go beyond this 5 game suspension and make a statement that rule breaking and lying about rule breaking will not be tolerated. The sanction against the coach should extend beyond the sanctions levied against the players involved. With that said, I think it would be asking a lot to have OSU fire Tressel. Coaches like the sweater-vested one do not grow on trees and university presidents understand this. For this reason, it’s up to the NCAA to dish out the punishment, which should be more severe than the five games the university self imposed. Maybe an eight-game suspension is closer to the right punishment?

Matzie: If he had not won a National Championship, Jim Tressel would’ve been gone. Which makes it even worse because any other coach would’ve been gone. Besides, he already had a second chance after the Maurice Clarett scandal. Yes, it did happen DURING the season and sources say Tressel knew about that too. That’s what you get when you sell your soul to the devil for a championship. See Carroll, Pete.

Stinger: Tressel should probably have been already fired for what he did. NCAA violations are always a tough subject for me after what they did to Maryland basketball in the late 80s. Hundreds of times since schools and coaches have done worse than Bob Wade and his staff and no school has been f’d by the NCAA like Maryland was. If Tressel is fired most of the blame I would throw at the players for the stupidity they showed trading in the memorabilia. Tressel was dishonest but is more of victim of trying to protect his players. He will get another job and Ohio State will probably just get probation and still be playing games on Jan 1.

5- Name your starting five from any basketball TV shows or movies.

Vic Vinegar: Hands down the best question of the week. I’ve tried to stock my starting five with a combination of scoring, gritty defense, positive team chemistry, and an ability to teach us all an occasional lesson about the important things in life.

G – Scott “Teen Wolf” Howard – Granted he won a Championship without having to go “Full Wolf”, but I would take him in his wolf-like state 9 out of 10 times with a game on the line. Brings ridiculous ball handling skills and mad hops to the floor. Wears a headband even though he is completely covered in hair, and learned a valuable lesson about being true to one’s self when things don’t go the way you want. Only concern with Howard is potential off the court issues. His antics with his best friend Styles (surfing on top of a van, participating in closet make-out parties) could alienate teammates.

G- AC Slater – If you notice, Bayside’s entire athletic program seemed to be dominated by Slater. He could throw touchdowns, hit home runs, pin grapplers, outrun anyone, and even keep Preppy’s from cracking too much wise. But it was his hoops exploits that went largely unnoticed. Unnoticed that is until a very special episode of “Saved by the Bell” where the whole gang decided to play in a charity wheel chair hoops game to make a disadvantaged youth feel special. You’d think this would be a heartwarming event. Wrong. Slater showed his killer on court instincts by dominating the game like a true champion does, highlighted by several STANDING block shots against a team of wheelchair confined disabled youths (evidence below).

AC Slater playing in Charity Basketball game.

F – Jimmy Chitwood – Can you get more clutch than Chitwood? Nope. That team was awful while he was sitting out. Just awful. He comes back, pretty much unstoppable. He is the straw that stirs the drink, the glue that holds the team together, the donkey eating a waffle (some of you might get that). Chitwood is also a character guy who liked nothing more than shooting hoops on his dirt court with a flat basketball.

F – Will Smith – In the “Courting Disaster” episode of Fresh Prince, Will went OFF against a rival High School in an oddly small gym with oddly low rims. Suspension of disbelief aside, he put up like 40 points that night. Dunks, three pointers, fadeaways off of Carlton’s head…you name it, he did it. Deadspin has done an amazing analysis of that historic evening here….http://deadspin.com/#!5784151/calculating-the-fresh-prince-of-bel-airs-usage-rate-and-what-it-can-tell-us-about-ball-hogs

C – Warren Coolidge – Every team needs an imposing force in the middle, and Coolidge brings the full package. While “White Shadow” was only on for three seasons, the 6’8″ man child Coolidge has quite the resume. Consider that all of this happened in one season…after one of his better games, he was almost tricked into signing with a crooked agent, he contracted a venereal disease from an apparently dirty fellow student, he tried his hand at acting, and if that weren’t enough, he also tried out for the Harlem Globetrotters (he later decided to stay in school after seeking the counsel of teammate Mario “Salami” Petrino). Coolidge isn’t afraid to do the “dirty work” inside if you know what I mean (and no, I’m not talking about the episode where he gets VD).

Bob: Jackie Moon, Teen Wolf, Jimmy Dolan/Kevin Bacon “air up there”, Hoosiers Jimmy Chitwood, Woody Harrelson (Semi-pro/White man can’t jump) and team manager Pedro from Basketball Diaries. I had to go with an all-white team because Hollywood cheats when it comes down to casting African American actors to play basketball. Only a real basketball player can be cast to play an African American basketball player because when it comes down to it, if we were to see Denzel or Forrest Whitaker play basketball, it would be so laughable it would totally ruin the movie. The only actor ever to be cast to play a basketball player (don’t quote me on that fact) was Omar Epps in Love and Basketball. The problem with that movie is that if I turned on the TV and started watching that movie, I could easily confuse it for Save the Last Dance. Going back to my team, Team manager Pedro from Basketball diaries is the difference maker over all other these teams in this blog. First, he steals all the jewelry from the opposing team, second he was the most loyal friend to the egotistical Doogie Howser. His skills as a people person and problem solver will go a long way with the mental quirks of Jackie Moon, Jimmy Dolan, and Woody Harrelson. By the way, the brilliance of this team selection is in the synergy I have created ala six degrees of Kevin Bacon. Teen Wolf is the only pick I wish I could take back, I’d take Meat from Porkies just to party with him afterwards.

Gib: Let’s start with our guards, which we conveniently recruit from the same movie, “White Men Can’t Jump.” Running the point is Sidney Deane (Wesley Snipes) who has the cockiness and flair you need to run the show. Management will make sure that his game check is sent directly to the IRS. At shooting guard we go with Billy Hoyle (Woody Harrelson), the degenerate gambler can flat out shoot and get in the opponent’s head. Our swingman, of course, is Jimmy Chitwood from “Hoosiers” (not sure who played him in the movie, but he sort of looks like the lead singer of Arcade Fire). While “the picket fence” probably didn’t outlive the 1950′s, we’ll find other ways to get him and his Kevin McHale haircut open. At power forward, the incomparable Jackie Moon from “Semi-Pro” (Will Ferrell) and of “Love Me Sexy” fame. The puke play will be lifted from the Tropics playbook and immediately incorporated into our offense which can only feature one half man/half wolf at center. Scott Howard of “Teen Wolf” (Michael J. Fox) is probably 5′ 8″ on a good day making him an odd choice for center. He IS a freaking werewolf though, so we can probably ignore the numbers and just play the kid in the paint.

Matzie:
1) Point Guard….Michael J Fox from TeenWolf. If he doesn’t get you with his killer crossover, he will shake you with his spasms. I know it’s wrong.

2) Shooting Guard….Woody Harrelson from White Men Can’t Jump. Even if he still can’t dunk.

3) Shooting Forward…Duane Martin from Above the Rim. If he’s OK by Tupac, he’s OK by me.

4) Power Forward…William Gates. I’m making this choice based on movie merit alone. One of the top 3 basketball movies ever made. This Bill Gates never made a Billion bucks or a software conglomerate. However, he had a lot of heart and basketball skill.

5) Center….Shaq from Blue Chips. No explanation necessary. One of the best of all time in film and reality.

Coach….Dennis Hopper from Hoosiers and a case of Wild Turkey.

Stinger:
Point Guard- Scott Howard aka the Teen Wolf. No doubt. But even though Howard was unstoppable in the final game versus the Dragons as himself. I want him as my point guard as the Wolf. The only tough decision here was who would I get to do the remake of “Win In The End”? Maybe Ruben Studdard. Its tough not to add the whole team, especially Chubby. Backup point guard would have to be “The Professor” from the And 1 Mixtape tour.

Shooting Guard- Everyone is expecting Jimmy Chitwood here. But we have a no babies rule on Stinger’s team. Chitwood was afraid to play most of the season and that cost his spot. Giving this spot to a downtown bomber who isn’t afraid to play a little defense with the psyche out. Joe “Coop” Cooper from Basketball. Rarely you find a defensive stopper combined with a long range bomber. Plus Yasmine Bleeth may hit the games.

Small Forward- The NBA playoffs have shown how important it is to have a fat guy who can step out and hit 3s. Zack Randolph has taken over the playoffs this spring. That’s why I go with Teddy Broadis from HangTime. That round mound can step it outside and will free the lane for Teen Wolf. Maybe not the popular choice but it’s all strategy.

Power Forward- All good teams have an enforcer and I think I got enough scoring so I would go with the gun waving madman from “White Men Can’t Jump” Raymond. No last name needed. You won’t see Andrew Bynum putting his shoulder into Raymond like he did to Nowitzki. Raymond was bringing guns to the arena when Gilbert Arenas was in diapers. He might even play games in the ski mask.

Center- Neon Boudreux from “Blue Chips.” My team doesn’t need to take the SATs so racist tests won’t be a factor. Derrick Rose would fit I guess also. The most dominating big man in basketball movie history completes my team. Although he may only have one game of college experience, that game was versus Bob Knight’s Indiana Hoosiers. Neon didn’t even want that Lexus so I know he would not be a questionable character to have. I could see him and the Teen Wolf becoming best friends on and off the court.

All this under the expert tactician coaching of “Teen Wolf’s” Coach Bobby Finstock.

Easiest Road For A Number 1 seed: Tie, Kansas and Duke-

I think overall Duke and Kansas have the best brackets to propel them into the Final Four. Neither team should face much of a challenge as they advance through their bracket, and in fact I think in both cases they only have one real challenge facing them.

For Duke that challenge will come in the Sweet 16 as Texas is a team capable of matching up well with them. If they get past Texas neither of their two likely Elite 8 matchups, really scares me. UConn is a very good young team, but they are really a one man show, which I think Duke can handle. On top of that the Huskies just won 5 games in 5 days, including the last four against ranked opponents, to win the Big East Tournament. While that was an incredible feat, it might leave themselves worn down for an early exit. And although I consider San Diego State a very good team, I don’t know if they can matchup with Duke’s shooting ability.

For Kansas, their challenge probably won’t come until their Elite 8 matchup with likely Notre Dame. Notre Dame made a strong case for a potential number 1 seed, and are no doubt a dangerous team with their defense and slow tempo offense. The problem is I think Kansas is one of the better teams equipped to deal with them. Kansas is very deep and experienced so I think that will play into it. Also, they aren’t an outside shooting team, so if they can get the ball into the Morris Twins, Notre Dame can’t match up.

Hardest Road To The Final Four: Ohio State

I know Ohio State is supposed to be the number 1 overall seed, but it sure doesn’t seem like they are. Their 2nd round matchup is dangerous no matter who they face. George Mason has shown before what happens when you take them too lightly. Mason doesn’t have the greatest size and speed, but then again neither do the Buckeyes. Mason plays great team basketball, and have a couple excellent shooters. Villanova on the other hand looks like an easier opponent, b/c they only finished .500 in conference play, and have lost their last 5 straight, but I wouldn’t count them out. They have good veteran talent, and a very good starting 5, with three talented guards and two big men. They have a fairly weak bench, especially among their bigs, but if they aren’t in foul trouble they are dangerous. Either game could be a major hurdle for the Buckeyes.

Ohio State’s road doesn’t get any easier as both their Sweet 16 and Elite 8 matchups look pretty difficult. In the Sweet 16, they will either face Kentucky or WVU, two teams with talent and very good coaching. Both have some flaws, but are real threats to Ohio State. In the Elite 8, both UNC and Syracuse are talented, balanced teams that can upset Ohio State.

Tough But Doable Path To the Final Four: Pittsburgh

The Panthers have some tough matchups, but overall the path is doable for them. They could face a battle in round two against either last year’s Cinderella, Butlter, or Old Dominion. ODU also has the advantage of playing very close to home, so they should have a favorable crowd. While Pitt is better than either of those teams, they aren’t going to just flat out dominate them. In the Sweet 16 the Panthers could face a Kansas State team, that knocked off Kansas or a Wisconsin team that beat Ohio State. At the same time though there is such parity in this bracket that both of those teams could end up losing to either Utah State or Belmont, who are legit Cinderella team’s in their own right. In the bottom of the bracket, 2 seed Florida is a bit overseeded, but they do possess some serious future NBA talent on that roster. Three seed BYU, could be a bit short-handed, but when you have the game’s best scorer, you can never be counted out. Also, don’t forget that one of Pitt’s few losses came at the hands of 6th seed St. John’s. St. John’s is an inside/outside team with a great coach and a lot of veterans. They have a bit of an uphill climb, but they are talented to make a run.

By Guest Blogger Tyler Fenwick:

This is one of the best match-ups we will see this year. Ohio State got a share of the Big Ten title and are riding a lot of momentum from their impressive win over Michigan to end the season.

Arkansas finished their season on a six-game winning streak. Half those wins were over ranked opponents. Obviously, the star of this Razorback squad is quarterback Ryan Mallet.

For Ohio State to have success against a team like Arkansas, it needs to come from the offensive power of your quarterback and runningback. Although Ohio State has one of the best defensive squads in the nation, I don’t have full confidence in them going up against Ryan Mallet (QB) and Knile Davis (RB). They will certainly get their stops, but I’m leaving it up to Terrelle Pryor and Dan Herron.

For Arkansas, the balanced attack of Mallet and Davis has to be there. Ohio State has a very good defense, but if both of them are on top of it, I think they can do some damage to the Buckeyes. Don’t get me wrong though. I’m not saying the defense doesn’t need to show up, but I think it’s more important for the Razorbacks to find their offensive rhythem first.

What To Expect:

-Expect Ohio State to come out and really mix things up. We could see Pryor running the ball a little more in this one. Arkansas should be planning for this, but at the same time, it can’t be on the top of their list. Pryor isn’t typically a designed runner.

-I think the defense will go back and forth with Mallet. They’ll get beat up some, but they will also come through at times.

-You can expect to see Arkansas just stick to what they do best. They will give the ball to Mallet and say, “Do work”. He may stumble a couple times, but I think overall, he has a good game.

-Defensively, they will be defending the long ball first. It’s very important to not give Pryor and his offense any more momentum than they already have. But at times, they will bring pressure.

We have two identical teams going at it, so it should be very exciting.

While I’d been hearing some rumors suggesting that today’s report to be true, I was still a bit surprised when I read all 5 suspended (for the beginning of next year) Ohio State players will return next season and face their punishment. Now none of these players were thought to be locks to go in the draft before the suspensions, but I did think that the possibility of missing one third of the season would convince a couple of them to turn pro. Four of the five players probably would have been taken in the top 5 rounds and should have gone a lot higher than that. While it is possible that these players go back on their word to their coach I don’t see the max exodus of players from the Buckeyes that seemed likely a week ago. Remember these players draft stocks really weren’t going to be hurt for what they did. It isn’t as if they did anything that broke the law or violated anything resembling the NFL’s personal player conduct policies. If these four players work at it they can rebound from the suspension and build their draft stock up, but it will take a significant amount of work. Here is what I think they need to do to improve their stock the most:

Terrell Pryor: Pryor would have been drafted in the top 100 on potential alone. While right now he doesn’t profile as a top notch quarterback, he has the tools and athleticism to be something special. If Pryor can go back and really dedicate himself to being an NFL quarterback, who can make all the reads he could build his stock up to the late 1st round level. Pryor needs to work on his accuracy and decision making, and not just rely on beating up on weaker competition. It won’t be an easy task, especially with a 4-5 game suspension, but if Pryor dedicates himself he can improve his stock.

Dan Herron: It will be nearly impossible for Herron to post another 1,000 yard season next year with missing so much time, but he will need to make the most of his opportunities if he wants to be a mid-round pick. Herron will need to maintain or improve upon his 5.6 ypc average as well as showing more power and the ability to make defenders miss. Herron could also work on his blocking and pass catching to further give him a role in a backfield.

DeVier Posey: Posey is a quality wide receiver with good size and speed combination. He will need to show better hands going forward, and catch more balls in traffic. Overall Posey just needs to prove his consistency as there were entire games where he would disappear last year. I think with a good year Posey will end up being a mid-2nd round pick at worst.

Mike Adams: Prior to this past year Adams had failed to live up to his billing as a first class offensive tackle, but after this year he now has the production to go along with the promise. Adams might have found his way into the 3rd round this year despite his sketchy track record, based on potential alone, but with another good season he could hear his name called in the first round. Now Adams won’t have as many games to showcase his talents and won’t have a couple cupcake games to dominate, meaning every game is important for him. The good news for Adams is it appears most of the top DE talents in the Big Ten are leaving for the NFL so he very well could have a dominate year next season.

A Guest Blog By Fanspeak Contributing Writer Matt (aka Slick)

Bad Slick. Bad Slick. Bad Slick.  I cant help that Bama couldnt put the game away when they had the chance.  RIDICULOUS! should have been 42-7 at the half- GAME OVER… but mistakes came back to haunt them, and me.  I knew at that point that the BUFFS were turning over too, and my Saturday was falling apart as quickly as it had started.  I should have stuck to totals… but i told myself, “thats not what the people want…”

Good thing the REDWINGS beat COLUMBUS (is that a sign…Michigan/OhioST?…maybe?maybe?).  Oh well, lets get back on track and put a smile on those faces..

So, here we go… no totals.

Take MARSHALL -10 V TULANE. did you seen the green wave perform last week?  seriously?  it was UGLY, with a capital, well, everything.  The HERD in a stampede!  Take em.  Take em all day long.  Huntington,WV will be a happy place tomorrow, and so will you.

Since we are on the GREEN kick, lets add one more for good measure.  TAKE NORTH TEXAS +14 V KANSAS STATE. yes the MEAN GREEN.  Look for lots of meanness.  and a close score.  Sure the cats will probably win and shouldnt they…but the mean green will come to play.  North Texas always reminds me of Unnecessary Roughness – the movie.  (Texas State Fighting Armadillos).  Love that flick.  and Love the MEAN GREAN tomorrow.  take the 2 TDs.

Take DUKE (the football team) +7.5 V UNC.  its college basketballs biggest rivalry, and in the spirit of the beginning of college basketball, lets jump on this game.  the finals are always close, and with more than a TD on our side, we should be in good shape.  expect a close game.  UNC lost its title hopes last week to STATE, and DUKE actually has something to play for.

Finally, lets get crazy… real crazy.  lets play a game.  lets see how many points TCU can score.  50? 60? 70 maybe?  TAKE TCU – 43.5 V NEW MEXICO. yes, you heard me… lay more than 6 TDs and watch the madness unfold.  TCU will drop at least 55 on UNM, and allow only a couple FGs, at best.  Should be plenty to cover the spread.  I just wonder how you approach a game when you are favored by 43.5.

YEAH YEAH YEAH… and then there is MICHIGAN…this is my LAST CHANCE before bowl season, I KNOW.  So, you say, what happened to MICHIGAN?  the fix was in, right?  unbelievable.  even the fix wasnt good enough, and i was bitten again.  but i made a committment to this team, and I am here for you Michigan.  Vegas will pay for this.  Michigan has dropped 7 straight games AGAINST THE SPREAD.  How is that even possible.  WAKE UP VEGAS!  SERIOUSLY!  WAKE UP! Not this time, not again.  no one doesnt cover 8 straight times!  and as you all know, and the documentation will prove it, im riding this train to the last stop…so……………………………… TAKE MICHIGAN… +17.  TAKE IT ALL DAY.

WHY NOT!?

A Fanspeak Guest Blog By Fanspeak Contributing Writer Tyler Fenwick

It’s Michigan and Ohio State. It’s the greatest rivalry of them all. Simply known as ‘The Game’, its meaning goes beyond that. Everyone knows of the NFL rivalry between Indianaoplis and New England. Well take that, multiply it by ten, and you are half-way to how big this game is. Every Ohio State fan lives for the ‘Michigan game’, and every Michigan fan lives for the ‘Ohio State’ game.

The first meeting between these two was in 1897, when Michigan won 36-0. Overall, things have not changed. Michigan leads the all-time series 57-43-6, but Ohio State has won the last six. The most famous meeting between these two schools came just recently. In 2006, they met as number one and number two (Ohio State-1, Michigan-2). That, of course, went to the Buckeyes in a game that ultimately sealed their big in the National Chapmionship.

This week, the game may not have quite that much power on the rankings, but Ohio State is still in the top ten. But in this rivalry, you can throw the records out the window.

Looking at the game: We’ll start with Ohio State. For those of you who think Ohio State’s only play-maker is Terrelle Pryor, you have been greatly mistaken.

Dan Herron, running back, has been the X-factor this season for the Buckeyes. He may be one of the most underrated backs in the country and here’s why: Teams are no longer able to sit back and wait on Pryor to throw the ball. Herron’s presence in the game gives them that needed double attack of run and pass. He has almost 900 yards, averaging over five yards per cary, and has 14 touchdowns. He has the ability to give any team trouble.

Maybe one of the most improved areas of Ohio State football is the surrounding talent around Terrelle Pryor. They’ve certainly been a good team lately, but I don’t think they’ve had as much talent as this year. And I’m not just talking about individual talent. I’m talking about a total team effort that makes them so hard to stop.

This defense may be the best in the Big Ten. They are only averaging 14 points per game. It is a very disciplined defense that doesn’t bite often on play-action pass and option reads.

What can we expect from Ohio State offensively? The Buckeyes won’t make any dramatic changes to try to confuse this weak Michigan defense. They’ve seen what works and what doesn’t. It should be a balanced attack of run and pass. Dan Herron will be the difference if this one. They have to keep it spread out and try to penetrate the holes created on the line.

Terrelle Pryor is a very good quarterback. He’s not the most explosive, but he can still get things done on the ground when needed. The best part of Pryor’s game is probably his ability to deliver a strike on the long ball. He puts it only where his man can get it. I would expect him to have the green light to pick apart the weak secondary of Michigan.

What can we expect defensively? It’s so hard to say what teams should do against a quarterback like Denard Robinson. You can’t commit to his running game becuase he has beaten teams up with the pay action pass. But if you sit back and wait to see what he does, that’s also taking a huge risk.

If I were Ohio State, I would first commit to the running game. I think they will come out in a 4-4-3. It’s an easy formation to confuse the quarterback on who is rushing and who is dropping back. That could take away to deadly read option, and forcing Denard to think and slow down his game could be devestating for Michigan.

Now let’s look at Michigan.

Michigan is headlined by their star quarterback, Denard “Shoelace” Robinson. He is the leader of one of the most productive offenses in the nation. But what I think makes Michigan so special is their ability to score with Denard and Tate. It doesn’t matter who is in the game, Michigan scores.

Michael Shaw and Vincent Smith are the two running backs for the Wolverines, and they have had some explosive games, but not enough. It will be interesting to see how they come out in this one; wheather they give them ball to work, put them in the wideout, or just use them to block.

Defense has been the one thing that kills Michigan. Teams are able to run through, over, and around them seemingly at will. Maybe the most painful thing though, is that Michigan has a couple of shots at beating good teams, but the defense was not able to come through on clutch drives late in the game, putting it out of reach.

While the security of greg Robinson’s job isn’t certain, all he has to focus on right now is that school from Ohio, and stopping Terrelle Pryor.

What can we expect offensively? You can expect Michigan to go out and do what they do best: Give Denard the ball and don’t blink.

I know he’s been out of rhythem in late half of the season, but he is riding on a lot of personal momentum, being that he just broke two quarterback records last week against Wisconsin.

They will probably do a lot of read options as well as play action pass. It’s worked for them all year, so why stop now? The only thing I can see them doing differntly is taking more shots down field. Maybe they get a first down and hurry up to the line. Next thing you know, they’re airing it out. It could be very affective, especially early.

It’s not just Denard who will have to have a big game, though. Hemmingway, Stonum, and Roundtree are three very good recievers. If you’re asking how a wideout can possibly have a big impact, look at the Illinois game. They were able to evade tackles and get yards after the catch. And they needed every bit of it.

What can we expect defensively? I think Michigan’s run defense will be much improved after last week. They went head to head with the best rushing backs in the Big Ten. And, although they didn’t stop either of them, it was a good exposure to get ready for both Herron and Pryor.

Undoubtedly, Michigan will stick to their 3-4 defense. They shouuld be better prepared to face this rushing attack. So hopefully this will give them the opportunity to finally begin to shut down a quarterback through the air.

Also, they should try bringing pressure to the quarterback. It’s a risk that must be taken; leaving a weak secondary to likely go one-on-one with these wideouts of Ohio State. But making Pryor do some quick thinking off-balanace could lead to some mistakes. It may not be a turnover, but even an incomplete pass would mean they did their job.

Keys to the game: For Michigan, they will have to use the play action pass while letting Denard just plain run the ball. It’s worked for them most of the year, and I wouldn’t expect anything different. The defense should take risks on getting to Terrelle Pryor. Make him through the ball with a hand in his face.

Ohio State will need to play smart. They can’t turn the ball over to an offense like Michigan’s. Expect to see some quick screens mixed in with a lot of shots down field. The defense will have to mainly focus on keeping Robinson contained, but that might leave the secondary just open enough for the big play. All three lines of the defense will have to be on their A-game.

Prediction: If Michigan can get out to a quick start, I actually like their chances. (Understand: I am saying this looking at the game as true analyst, not a fan). Once they catch rhythem, nobody has been able to stop them. But, if they play only in the second half again, we will see a very similar game to last week’s. I have a feeling on this one, though. Michigan gets out to the needed fast start and wins on the road: 42-38.

Let me know what you think!

(18) Penn State at (1) Alabama: The Crimson Tide are without both their Heisman Trophy running back, Mark Ingram, and their top defensive lineman Marcell Dareus, but I still like their chances today against a much improved Penn State team. Running back Trent Richardson should be more than enough for the Nittany Lions to handle. And if that isn’t enough backups Demetrius Goode and Eddie Lacy added 177 yards in backup duty last week, to give the Tide an impressive ground game. If that wasn’t bad enough Alabama has one of the best receivers in the nation in Julio Jones, and he should give Penn State corners plenty of problems. While I like Penn State’s offense led by QB Robert Bolden and RB Evan Royster, but I think the Tide will be too much for them. Bolden is especially promising, but he is just a true freshman and in for a rude awakening today. Alabama wins this one 31-21.

(17) Florida State vs. (10) Oklahoma: While I see this being a close game I believe the Seminoles will knock off the home team Oklahoma Sooners. Florida State has a ton of speed and athleticism on both sides of the ball and I think they are more talented than Oklahoma. QB Christian Ponder is poised for a huge season. He has great awareness in the pocket and rarely makes a bad throw. If his offensive linemen give him some time, I think he will pick apart the Sooners’ secondary. Oklahoma will keep it close, but look for Florida State to win 27-24.

(12) Miami vs. (2) Ohio State: This is the game of the week and is a true matchup between two National Title contenders. Miami doesn’t have the hype yet, but they are a very good team. Led by QB Jacory Harris and WR Leonard Hankerson the Hurricanes have an impressive offense. And it will have to be today for them to survive their trip to Columbus. The Buckeyes offense is just about as good and led by QB Terrell Pryor, who is poised for a breakout season. Both teams are equally adapt on defense as well, with All-American talent at every position. And in fact that is where I think the Hurricanes could have an advantage. Miami has very talented defensive ends (Ohio State’s aren’t too shabby either), going up against a pair of fairly green offensive tackles. If the offensive tackles can’t handle their own then the Ohio State offense could sputter. And if those Miami ends get consistent pressure and containment on Pryor, then I don’t think Ohio State can win this football game. I think this will end up being a very close game with Miami outlasting Ohio State 21-20.

Giants Answered the Call: I tend to believe the Giants version of the story, that the Cards called them and not the other way around. Leinart is more hype than anything else at this point and that contract is very prohibitive in trade talks. Giants still could use a backup so I wouldn’t say talks are officially dead, but Arizona would practically have to give him away for New York to be interested.

Ohio State and Michigan Will Be Split Up: With the Big Ten (you got to change the name) adding a 12th team next year they will move to a division format. The conference will be split in two with Michigan and Ohio State in separate divisions. They will still maintain their rivalry game every year at the end of the season, but now it is quite possible they could meet again in the Conference Championship game. I personally like the plan to split up the two schools. For one thing it helps bring some balance to the divisions, for another is it allows the schools to keep the game at the end of the regular season inline with tradition. If they were in the same conference, you probably wouldn’t want year in year out for those two teams to face off right before the conference championship game if they were the two best teams in the conference. Now If they do face off as the top teams in their respective divisions they can potentially redeem themselves the next week.

UNC Suspends Austin Could Suspend More: Losing Mavin Austin is a major blow to the Tar Heels and things could get a whole lot worse. In addition to Austin it looks as though DE Robert Quinn and Linebackers Bruce Carter and Quan Sturdivant could also be suspended, and none of them will probably play in Saturday’s opener against LSU. Austin, Quinn, Carter and Surdivant are all top talents and potential top 50 picks in next April’s NFL Draft. While the team says this has nothing to do with the NCAA investigations into agent tampering, I don’t know if I’m buying that story. Whatever the cause, this is a huge body blow for a team that I thought had a legitimate shot of winning the ACC.

(11) Virginia Tech vs. Tennessee: I like the Hokies in this one, both teams are similar with a good running game and a great defense. In the end though I think Tech has more overall talent and will win a close game 24-21.

Oklahoma vs. (21) Stanford: This is going to be a fun game to watch Stanford’s Toby Gerhart against the tough run defense of the Sooners, led by All-American Gerald McCoy (DT). While Stanford’s the ranked team, they will be without their starting quarterback and have to be underdogs against Oklahoma. As long as Gerhart’s on the field I would never want to discount the Cardinal’s chances, but I think they come up short against a Sooner team that wants to avenge their disastrous season. Oklahoma wins 31-20.

(3) Cincinnati vs. (5) Florida: Instead of the Sugar Bowl they should call this the “Coaching Uncertainty Bowl” with the controversy we’ve seen at both schools over the last month. As much as I love the Bearcats and Tony Pike, I don’t think they have the ground game or defense needed to stop Florida. I think the Gators will be able to move the ball effectively, and their defense should be able to slow down Pike and Gilyard (note to Florida, kick the ball out of bounds instead of kicking it to Gilyard. If you don’t believe me, ask the Pitt Panthers) enough for Florida to win this game pretty easily, 38-24.

(8) Ohio State vs. (7) Oregon: The Rose Bowl this year should be a fun (and high scoring game to watch). Both the Buckeyes and Ducks have electric offenses that can score from anywhere on the field. The Ohio State offense is a little less refined but is more balanced overall. The Ducks on the other hand are very good and running back, quarterback and tight end, but lack top notch talent across the board. The Ducks defense isn’t as talented as Ohio State’s, but shouldn’t be taken lightly otherwise you will find yourself on the other end of a blowout (just ask Cal and USC). In the end I think the Ducks better execution will win the day in Pasadena 42-38.

(12) Penn State vs. (13) LSU:  History has shown that Big Ten teams don’t fare to well when they go head to head with an equal from the SEC, and I think history is about to repeat itself tomorrow. Penn State has some elite talents on their football team, but they lack the vertical attack to match the Tigers score for score if need be. While the Nittany Lions have a couple players who will be playing on Sunday’s next season, they lack the overall defense needed to stop the Tigers size and speed. I think Penn State keeps it close early, but the Tigers pull away in the end 31-17.

(16) West Virginia vs. Florida State: The “Bowden Bowl”, a match-up of his current team against his former team, is a nice retirement party for Bobby Bowden (though I don’t know if he’ll like his parting gift from the Mountaineers). I suspect that Florida State will be fired up for their coach, but emotion is about the only advantage they have over WVU. The Mountaineers have an immensely talented (and quick) offense, and while they’ve had their share of inconsistencies I see them putting on quite a show tomorrow against FSU. The Seminoles will be starting a freshman at quarterback, and while he has a promising future, I think he will have his hands full with the Mountaineers defense tomorrow. If the Mountaineers can get pressure on the quarterback early, they can neutralize the Seminoles extremely talented receiving corps. WVU wins this one easily 38-24.

By contributing Fanspeak writer Geoff Nelowet

(10) Iowa at (11) Ohio State

The tenth-ranked Hawkeyes took their first loss of the season last week, which nearly destroyed any national championship hopes Iowa once had. Should they win at Ohio State this weekend, the BCS rankings will be very interesting.

Ohio State, on the other hand, is coming off their best win of the season, and it had major Big 10 implication, as they broke the two-way tie for second in the conference against Penn State, and now they have an opportunity to take down the first-place Hawkeyes, and earn a BCS bid.

Ohio State is a superior team in talent. Iowa has no offensive threat equal to Terrelle Pryor. Iowa is a sound football team that makes few mistakes. They have had a great run this season, but it seems unlikely that they will pick where they left off without their starting quarterback – Ricky Stanzi. Iowa will be starting redshirt freshman James Vandenberg on what could not be a bigger stage: at the Horseshoe – the third biggest college football stadium in the country – vying for a Big 10 title and a trip to the Rose Bowl.

Iowa is a major underdog in this came, and rightfully so. Vandenberg will have to step in and play the game of his life, and Ohio State will have to make a few mistakes. This is where Pryor comes in. Pryor is electrifying, and he seems to either win or lose the game for the Buckeyes. Unfortunately for Iowa, though, it seems that both Pryor and Ohio State are finally hitting their stride.

Ohio State will take down Iowa, and they will do so convincingly. At the end of the season, Ohio State will be surprisingly high in the BCS rankings after what seemed like a down season. Final Score: Ohio State 34 Iowa 17.

Notre Dame at (12) Pittsburgh

Notre Dame is coming off their worst loss of the season to a Navy team that should not have been able to keep the game close, let alone win it. Not only did they lose, but Charlie Weis’ is now ostensibly on the hot seat. Notre Dame will respond in one of two ways: they will come out motivated and fired up to salvage their season and their coach’s job, or they will pack it in because they have nothing left to play for, as they are officially out of the BCS hunt.

Unfortunately for the Irish, they are going up against a Pittsburgh team that hasn’t loss since September 26^th. This could very well be Weis’ last season in South Bend.

Pittsburgh is beatable, though, and their schedule reflects that, as they do not have a win against a ranked opponent on their resume – and Notre Dame doesn’t either. These are too evenly matched teams, but at this point in the season, they have greatly differing incentives to win football games, and that could ultimately decide this game.

Pittsburgh has relied on their balanced offensive attack this season, which is lead by senior quarterback Bill Stull and freshman running back Dion Lewis. Lewis has been one of the top rushers in the nation this season, and Stull has complemented the run game with a steady, effective air attack. The Panthers are hard to stop on offense because they can beat a team in a number of ways.

Notre Dame, similarly, is also an offensive-minded program, and junior quarterback Jimmy Clausen was considered a Heisman hopeful earlier this season. Notre Dame is a pass-first offense, and Clausen has thrown the ball almost 100 times more than Stull this season, which may be a disadvantage because it shows that Notre Dame is a bit more one-dimensional.

Pittsburgh is better than Notre Dame at this juncture of the season, and they will be more intense than the Fighting Irish. Both teams will score points, but Pittsburgh will be more focused and more determined. Final score: Pitt 37 Notre Dame 28