College Football Picks

#6 So Cal(-400) vs. #25 Notre Dame(+300)

USC was victim to an upset from Washington three weeks ago, but I don't see the Trojans dropping this game. USC has owned the Irish in there previous seven meeting going 7-0. Freshman QB Matt Barkley will have the offense scoring early and often, and the Trojans won't look back.

Cal Golden Bears (-160) vs. UCLA Bruins( +140)

Im going with the upset and picking the Bruins. College football can be very streaky and Cal does not seem to be in rhythm offensively lately. Scoring six points in the past two games, has me leaning towards UCLA in a close game.

# 4 Virginia Tech Hokies( -160) vs. # 19 Georgia Tech ( +140)

This is a battle for ACC supremacy, a meeting between two 5-1 teams. The ACC is a tough conference to pick but that being said Virginia Tech is an all around better team than Georgia Tech. Wins against Miami(FL), Nebraska and Boston College have me jumping on the Hokies' bandwagon.

# 22 South Carolina Gamecocks vs. #2 Alabama Crimson Tide (under 44 points) odds -110

I like Alabama to win this game but I feel that this will be far from a shootout. Steve Spurrier will have his defense fired up in this SEC showdown. I saw what Carolina's defense did to Ole Miss star QB Jevin Snead, and this unit just seems to be confident. I see this as a 17-10 Alabama win.

Has the Chad Henne era begun?

I'll be the first to say that Chad Henne's performance last Monday Night was quite impressive, but its hard to completely jump on the bandwagon (although I want to). Since the days of Dan Marino, the starting quarterback job has been a revolving door for the Dolphins. The likes of Ray Lucas, Sage Rosenfels, Brian Griese, Jay Fielder, Damon Huard, Daunte Culpepper, Joey Harrington and Cleo Lemon have been under center. Previous drafts have not helped either, i.e. John Beck. Dolphins fans desperately need Henne to continue to shine.

In his second year, he has stepped in for injured Chad Pennington and is so far 2-0. What is more impressive is that Henne has beat two division rivals in the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets. The Bills game was a blowout and therefore not much was asked from the passing game. Against the Jets however, when Henne needed to step up and make the throws, he did. He threw a beautiful deep touchdown pass to Ted Ginn Jr., and orchestrated a game winning drive that lead to a Ronnie Brown touchdown with six seconds left. He outshined fellow rookie Mark Sanchez and more importantly brought the Dolphins to within one game of the division lead. Sure Henne may not be asked to throw the ball a whole lot, with the dynamic tandem of Ronnie and Ricky, but knowing he can produce could really open this offense up. Not to mention he showed the poise of a crafty veteran. There is a tough road ahead, vs. Saints, at Jets and at New England, but I can't help but be excited about what this rookie has to offer.

Fantasy Follow-up: Things Leaned from Monday Night

After a bit of a hiatus the blog is back and in full swing.

After a long day, one thing was sure. I was most definitely ready for some football. It turned out to be quite a showing and some interesting storylines emerged throughout the divisional showdown. For starters, Braylon Edwards is one of a small handful of offensive players in the last 40 years to start for one team one week and another the next, a feat he not only accomplished, but did in style, snatching 5 catches 64 yards and a touchdown (almost 2). The Jets and Browns have similar systems and similar terminology, which enabled Braylon to crack the starting line up only 2 days after joining the team. He made an absolutely acrobatic catch on that 34 yard reception that reminded fantasy owners of his 2007 campaign. I was unaware that Edwards was also an acting major at Michigan, after dropping a huge reception he was able to draw a bogus pass interference call on the fins 5 yard line. This play enabled the Jets to go ahead with about 5 minutes left in the game. Overall he had a great game and it was remarkable how quickly he was able to do so.

Probably an even bigger story line was the emergence of Chad Henne. He was a solid 4 year starter at Michigan, though he never lived up to the potential he flashed during his freshman campaign. A second round draft pick only in his second year, Henne has been thrown into the starting position due to the injury of veteran Chad Pennington. In Henne's previous start he looked shaky at best. The dolphins did not seem to trust him either, favoring the wild cat and the two headed monster that Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams have become. However tonight, against a strong Jets team, the fins knew they would have to open it up a little with their neophyte quarterback. Henne shined tonight. He found open receivers, he was accurate (20/26...and 241 yards 2 tds), he got Ted Ginn Jr. involved on that long play. Anthony Fasano looked like a new man. It was a great day to be a Dolphins fan after seeing their offense so far this year.

There were some other players of note involved in tonights matchup:

1. Ronnie Brown- 74 yrds rushing, 2 tds, 14 yrds receiving (and 23 passing). Kid is a beast. Each week is proving why he should be considered part of that top tier of running backs. He looked good spearheading the wildcat attack, and came up huge on that touchdown in the final seconds of the game. He has shown he is still going to get his touches, and is definitely a must start fantasy running back. On a forum that i post on, somebody asked if they should start Braylon Edwards over Ronnie Brown....are you joking people...top 5 running back or wr that has just switched teams 2.5 days ago (it turned out that braylon put up some numbers, but ronnie was just too real).

2. Ricky Williams - 138 total yards- prior to the season i doubted the legitimacy of Ricky Williams as a fantasy player. He has definitely proven me wrong. He's a good weekly option in flex or 3 rb leagues. And he could spot start during your stars' bye weeks without much drop off. Despite Henne's performance i still expect the dolphins to be mostly a run oriented team. Look for Ricky and Ronnie (or Rail Road as i like to call them) to continue their success.

3. Ted Ginn Jr.- 2 rec 57 yds td...not the greatest game, but he finally got on the map after posting back to back miserable performances. I still do not know how confident i am in him becoming Henne's number 1 target, he is available in 35% of ESPN leagues, i would go ahead and pick him up if you can, and monitor how he does in the coming weeks as Henne continues to grow as a quarterback.

4. Mark Sanchez- 12/24 172 td....solid performance for the rookie. Do not expect too much out of him fantasy wise even though he has a new toy in Braylon Edwards. He can probably fill in for bye week quarterbacks most weeks, just avoid starting him starting him in tough matchups (ie. week 11 against @ the pats)

5. Thomas Jones- 42 yards 2 tds...not a flashy game by the veteran, but he got 13 touches including the goal line ones, and was able to find the promised land not once but twice. He has continued to put up decent numbers and could be a pretty consistent flex start (just avoid him in bad match ups as well, you saw how he did against the titans run D, 15 carries, 20 yards)


thats it for now, thanks all

Special thanks to and written by Jacob Alley

Dolphins Topple Saints, Improve to 4-0 on the Preseason

A few quick notes from the Dolphins vs. Saints game, the last of the preseason.

The play of the game had to be the interception by rookie cornerback Sean Smith, which came midway through the first quarter. Saints quarterback Mark Brunell dropped back and threw what seemingly looked like a touchdown pass, when Smith outstretched his arm and grabbed the ball with one hand while staying inbounds.

Chad Pennington was not very exciting, but was effective going 8-11 for 56 yards. Chad Henne continues to gain experience going 11-16 for 89 yards.

It was nice to see some signs of life from WR Ted Ginn Jr., who had a 23 yard reception. Davone Bess continues to be the go to guy, catching 5 passes for 39 yards.

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that right now Patrick Cobbs looks like the best running back on the roster. He had the only touchdown of the game, to go along with his 9 carries for 54 yards and 3 receptions for 23 yards.

Ok, I know its only preseason but I have to say I am excited about this Dolphins Team. Sean Smith has really stepped up to the plate this preseason and should help give an immediate improvement to the passing defense. Pat White role in the wildcat was not shown during the preseason, and for good reason. That element of surprise is what helped the Dolphins win 11 games last year. Up next, the Atlanta Falcons, and the start of the NFL regular season.

Lebron vs. Dwight: Trick Shots

Awhile back I posted a video of Dwight Howard hitting nothing but net while seated on the bench. Superman has become quite the master of these trick shots, rivaling the games best. Now this video of Lebron James hitting a crazy shot in Paris has surfaced, and my question to you is which shot is better?

In my professional opinion, Dwight has Lebron beat. I mean come on thats all you got for us Lebron, a straight up 3 quarter length shot. Please, Dwight could do that in his sleep. Talk to me when you flip into it or something. Nothing against the "King", he is as talented as any on the court, but this by far is not his best.

Ricky's Final Tour

Ricky Williams time in Miami could be compared to a real-life relationship. There have been big ups and big downs, but overall the experience was memorable. Lets take a look at his journey.

After being traded from New Orleans in 2002, Williams had a monster year with the Dolphins leading the NFL in rushing yards finishing with 1853. He followed that year with another solid performance rushing for over a thousand yards and 9 touchdowns. Looking like the second coming of Barry Sanders, the Dolphins thought they had found a franchise back.

Everyone knows what happened next, Ricky couldn't stay away from the blunt and violated the league's substance abuse policy in December of 2003. Then he went Dave Chappelle on the Dolphins, deciding to retire from the NFL and go on a spiritual trip to India. To this day he does not regret retiring, because it helped him find out who he really is. The Dolphins finished the year with a record of 4-12

Williams returned to the Dolphins in 2005, but then failed another drug test and was suspended for the entire 2006 season. Played for the CFL that year, then upon return to the NFL in 2007 was injured for the whole year. Finally last year he was able to play and was a nice change of pace back to Ronnie Brown, also taking some snaps in the "Wildcat" formation.

As a Dolphins fan, I have seen Ricky at his highest(no pun intended) and absolute rock bottom. It has been a wild ride, and I am actually very sad that he has announced that he will retire after the 2010 season. Williams has always been odd, but he has never claimed to be perfect. He has suffered from depression and anxiety at times, but has been able to pull through it and be a part of this team. I commend him for that. So Ricky you will be missed, but then again we are always left to wonder what could have been?

Notable '09-'10 Orlando Magic Games

Wednesday, November 11th vs. Cleveland 8:00 PM TV: ESPN

The first time these two teams meet since Lebron James stormed off the court in late May. Shaquille O'Neal returns to his old stopping grounds, where he broke into the league so many years ago. O'Neal was acquired to match up with all-star center Dwight Howard, who was simply too much for the Cavs to handle in the playoffs. It doesn't get much better than this, two of the best teams in the east, old Superman vs. new Superman, on prime-time television

Friday, November 20th @ Boston 8:00 PM TV: ESPN

Orlando's magical run last year almost came to an end with the series against the Celtics which went seven games. This game will look quite different from last year, as Boston was without Kevin Garnett and the Magic were without Jameer Nelson. Newcomers Rasheed Wallace and Vince Carter will look to make an impact in the east race and this game is a good place to start

Friday, December 25th vs. Boston 2:30 PM TV: ABC

A Christmas Day match up, following the Lakers vs. Cavs, that will more than likely be an important game in the standings. Come on, you know you will be tuned in and watching this great game after drinking eggnog and opening presents.

Monday, January 18th @ LA Lakers 10:30 PM TV: TNT

and Sunday, March 7th vs. Lakers 2:30 TV:ABC

Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson sat and watched as Kobe Bryant and company celebrated after closing out the Magic for the title last year. Orlando gets two shots at revenge during the regular season, and you wont want to miss either of these game. The Magic will also get a look at new Laker Ron Artest.

Fantasy Follow-Up- Sleeper QB's

Quarterbacks seem to be a position that managers seem to reach the most for when the fact is that quality starters can be drafted in later rounds. Point in case Aaron Rodgers last year, who was not drafted within the first ten quarterbacks. Here are a few guys who will be available later in the draft, that can produce at a high level:

Matt Hasselback- A former Boston College Eagle and Massachusetts native, Hasselbeck would make Marky-Mark Wahlberg proud with his performance so far this preseason. The veteran quarterback seems to be enjoying his new weapon WR TJ Houshmandzadeh, whom the Seahawks emptied the wallet for in the off-season. Hasselback also has a very young and talented tight-end to throw to in John Carlson. A finally healthy quarterback with something to prove will pay big dividends for your team, and I expect him to have from 28 to 30 touchdowns. Oh and also he plays in the NFC west

Matt Schaub- If he can stay healthy he has Andre Johnson, Kevin Walter, Owen Daniels, Steve Slaton and a good offensive line, need I say more?

Trent Edwards- Regardless of how you feel about Terrell Owens, the fact of the matter is that in the first year he makes the quarterback better. Both Donovan McNabb and Tony Romo enjoyed bountiful fantasy numbers that first year. With the speedy Lee Evans lining up opposite T.O, and pass catching running-backs Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch in the backfield, there are plenty of weapons. Edwards, a Stanford graduate, makes good decisions and should be able to deal with Owens and his ego. I also do not believe that his poor preseason so far is a huge cause for concern.

Jason Campbell- He is a deep sleeper, but I feel that he has a BIG chip on his shoulder. The Redskins made their pursuit of Jay Cutler very public, seemingly pushing Campbell to the curb. Although the front office might not believe he can lead this team, the players do. I side with the players and believe that this young athletic quarterback will prove the Redskins wrong. I see a good amount of yards and somewhere in the ballpark of 18 to 20 touchdowns. A lot can be said of how a quarterback can play with a chip on their shoulder, 6th round pick Tom Brady anyone?

Lighting Snag Tanguay

Pending a physical, LW Alex Tanguay will be donning a Tampa Bay Lightning jersey next year.

This move adds to the very busy off-season for the Lightning, signing free agent defenseman Mattias Ohlund, and drafting highly touted prospect Victor Hedman from Sweden. Tampa Bay also resigned D Matt Lashoff to a two-year deal. These moves should help the team improve on last year's not so stellar performance, finishing with an NHL worst 24-40 record.

Tanguay gives the Lightning a top tier forward that will play alongside of fan favorite Vinny Lecavalier. When Tanguay is healthy he is a precision passer that can also put the puck in the back of the net. His resume includes 193 goals, 378 assists and a Stanley Cup championship. Tampa Bay fans have to be drooling over the Lightning's attack which also includes Steven Stamkos and Martin St. Louis.

There is no reason that the Lightning wont be able to compete this year. This acquisition might have just given them that little push over the hump. A balanced attack and a greatly improved defense could have this team turning some heads.

Kazmir Shipped to Angels

In a deal that not a lot of people outside of the organization saw coming, The Rays sent lefty Scott Kazmir to the Angels. In return the Rays received prospects Alex Torres and Matt Sweeney, and a player to be named later. Lets take a closer look at this deal.

Kazmir leads the Rays organization in about every all-time pitching category, but don't let those numbers fool you. He was not the pitcher they were expecting when received him from the Mets. Kaz was inconsistent and injury prone throughout his Rays career. When this lefty pitcher is on he is hard to hit, but most of the time he struggles to get through five innings. Kazmir also seemed to not gel very well with his teammates or fans. Don't get me wrong the Angels are getting a talented lefty, but I understand why the Rays made this deal.

Alex Torres is a 21-year-old lefty, who is 13-4 with a 2.75 ERA in the minors.

Matt Sweeney, 21, is a two time minor league all star that plays third base and designated hitter.

In the short term it might appear that Angels got the better side of the deal, getting a talented starter to shore up their rotation. This deal does give them the ability to win now. On the other side, only time will tell how the Rays will fare with this trade. Kazmir's salary was a lofty one, and this frees up some money that Tampa Bay could use for a free-agent.

Wade Davis, whom I saw pitch in Montgomery, will be called up. He will be a nice addition to the rotation for the future. This trade also frees up a roster spot, which was taken by Akinori Iwamura who just came of the disabled list.

Dolphins Outlast Bucs

It was a sloppy night for football at Raymond James Stadium, on Thursday night. Rain storms followed by lightning moved in on the stadium, typical Florida weather. As I sat at the stadium with my throwback Dan Marino jersey on, rain dripping down my face, here is what I saw:

First Quarter-

Chad Pennington and the offense came out very sloppy in the first quarter, the conditions not helping very much. The offense seemed very much out of rhythm, going three and out the first few series. Pennington throws were a little off target, but drops by some wide receivers did not help. Also a long pass to rookie Brian Hartline was called back due to a questionable offensive pass interference call. The defense didn't play great , but well enough to limiting Tampa Bay to a Mike Nugent field goal.

Second Quarter-

Another field goal for the Bucs, as the weather was getting much worse. Lightining scattered through the sky, causing the officials to delay the game. After about a fifteen minute delay, the teams took back to the field. The Dolphin offense still sputtered, not able to get a rushing game going at all. The defense was able to put pressure on Bucs QB Luke McCown, sacking him a few times. Pennington stayed in the game, and with about two minutes left orchestrated a drive that ended up in a Dan Carpenter field goal. The Bucs lead 6-3 at half.

Third Quarter-

The Dolphins wasted no time as Pennington hit Hartline for a 54 yard reception. A couple plays later he hit a wide open Anthony Fasano on a play-action pass, for a 2 yard touchdown. Chad Henne relieved Pennington, but was inaccurate and unimpressive. There was no other scoring and the Dolphins were up 10-6.

Fourth Quarter-

The rain completely let up and it actually turned into quite a nice night. Again another very defensive quarter, although the Dolphins had a chance to score early. Henne hit Greg Camarillo for a 52 yard play, although it looked like Camarillo would have scored if he did not make a cut back to the middle of the field. A couple plays later in the red zone, Henne threw a bad pass and was picked off. Bad mistake by a young QB, but I am not worried this is just part of the learning process. Defense holds and the Dolphins win 10-6, an ugly win but a win none the less.

Other Notes-

First round pick Vontae Davis was active and had 6 tackles on the night.

Free agent pickup Gibril Wilson led the team with 8 tackles.

It was nice to see Jason Taylor making plays in a Dolphins uniform again.

Hartline final stats 3 rec for 79 yards, really making a case to be thrown into the receiver discussion for the season.

Don't Worry Gator Nation, Tim Tebow is Healthy

At Gator camp Tim Tebow's " back injury" has been garnering much attention from the media lately. Rumors on whether he is possibly hiding a serious back injury have caused a frenzy. Type in 'Tebow injury' on google and 168,000 results will come up.

Back away from the ledge Gator fans, both Tebow and coach Urban Meyer have refuted these reports. Despite what you want to think the quarterback is not superhuman, and is going to miss a practice every once in a while. Plus Meyer said that he wanted to give the second string quarterback some repetitions with the first team.

There is really no reason to worry, even if Tebow was hurt there is no way he would miss time. He is a tough kid, and could definitely play through a back contusion. As of now, I don't see this as a hiccup for the Gators run for a championship this year. Plus I feel bad for the back-up QB who never gets to start, at least let him get some time in practice.

In other news Tim Tebow found a cure for cancer, saved a school bus full of children, and rescued a cat out of a tree on his day off from practice........

Dolphins Make Roster Moves

It's about that time in the preseason when coaches start making cuts, trimming the "fat" from their roster. The Dolphins were very active this week, so lets take a look at some of the moves they made.

The Dolphins traded offensive lineman Ikechucku Ndukwe and Andy Alleman to the Kansas City Chiefs for an undisclosed 2010 draft pick.

Rookie Chris Williams was waived because of a broken hand, and after there was talk about an injury settlement between the two parties. He has likely seen his last days in a Dolphins uniform.

WR/TE Ernest Wilford had his contract terminated.

I like to see that the Dolphins are getting a draft pick for two lineman that would not likely have cracked the starting lineup anyways. The more draft picks the better, especially when you have Bill Parcells in the front office. Its too bad that Williams career as a Dolphin is likely over, I thought he showed tremendous burst and agility in the first game. Hate to see an injury ruin that. The Ernest Wilford experiment is finally over! After not making in impact at receiver, he worked out as a tight end over the summer. The former Jacksonville Jaguar is a big target, but has not showed enough improvement at both WR and TE. No reason to keep him with the depth they have at those positions. I am very glad the Dolphins cut ties with Wilford and his contract.

Fantasy Follow-Up: Sleeper WR's

This seems to be the year of drafting WR's early, but if you don't get Larry Fitzgerald or Randy Moss don't fret. Here are some recievers who can be scooped up in the later rounds and produce for your fantasy team.

Kevin Walter- Walter gets overlooked because, well, when you Andre Johnson on your team its hard not too. But you'd be suprised, Walter actually had more looks in the red zone last year than his all-pro teammate. With teams focusing on stopping Johnson and Walter in single coverage, I envision that Kevin finds paydirt at least ten times this year.

Calvin Johnson- Ok I know he is not a sleeper, but given that he is probably going to be drafted after Fitzgerald, Andre Johnson, and possibly Moss, Calvin is a steal. As he showed last year, anyone could play quarterback and he would be able to get the ball. He is simply that talented. I am very confident that Matt Stafford's strong arm will propel CJ to the best receiver in the league. Plus you know the Detroit Lions,( cough 0-16 last year cough), are going to be behind and will have to throw the ball quite a bit. In my opinion Calvin should be the first receiver off the board.

Anthony Gonzalez- I have always liked the former Buckeye's skill set, the only problem has been the logjam in front of him in Indianapolis. Gonzalez runs great routes and has the hands to go along. Now that Marvin Harrison is gone for good, he is ready for a breakout year. It is always a plus when Peyton Manning throwing the ball too.

Chad Ocho Cinco- I know what you're thinking. Why would I want to draft a receiver who has been the biggest headache over the past few years? Well because that headache might lead you to a fantasy championship this year. Ocho Cinco seems to be motivated, and on the same page again with quarterback Carson Palmer. I just have a feeling that you might see some touchdown celebrations this year. Hell, he might even replace your kicker after his recent preseason performance. That being said, Ocho Cinco's performance relies heavily on Carson Palmer's health. There is quite a possibility that Palmer won't stay healthy, but the reward outweighs the risk so why not take Ocho as your third wide receiver.

Pitching Woes a Problem for Rays

Last seasons spectacular run by the Tampa Bay Rays was in a large part due to the outstanding work of the starting pitching and bullpen. The team ERA was 3.82 and two starters had 14 wins. Every pitcher in the rotation had at least 10 wins. They were led by James Shields, who had a record of 14 wins and 8 losses. The combination of young pitching and a dependable bullpen led the Rays to a match up with their AL East foe the Boston Red Sox in the American League Championship Series. Matt Garza pitched brilliantly in the series, and propelled the Rays to their first World Series appearance. He was later named the ALCS mvp. Super prospect David Price was nearly un-hittable in the post-season.

This year has proved to be a completely different story. The consistent pitching that the Rays leaned so heavily on in '08, has been anything but in '09. In fact the starting rotation has been consistently, inconsistent. Who would have guessed that starter Jeff Neimann would be leading the team in both wins(11), and ERA(3.71)? Shields, last year's ace, is 7-10 this year.

Lets take a look at a stretch of three starts from Shields

July 17th vs. KC 5.1 IP 11H 7ER 3K's

July 22 th vs. CHW 6.2 IP 4H 2ER 4K's

July 27th vs. NYY 5.1 IP 9H 5 ER 2K's

Shields sandwitched a quality start between two less than stellar outings. Garza has been dominant at times, while faltering at others. One game he will pitch a complete game, then the next he won't be able to get out of the 4th inning. As goes for Price, whose control seems to abandon him sometimes. Reliever Grant Balfour, who had an ERA of 1.54 last year, has watched it balloon up to 4.29 this year.

Bottom line is that if the Rays want to be a serious contender this year or next, the pitching is going to have to find a way to be consistently good. That is what distinguishes the top teams from those in the middle of the pack. The Rays also desperately need some help on the road, where they have struggled all year.

Dolphins Tame Panthers

A couple quick notes from Saturday's game, the Dolphins second of the preseason. Miami won the game 27-17, to improve to 2-0 to date.

-Chad Pennington looked very good, going 8-11 for 105 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback of the future Chad Henne did a good job, even throwing a late fourth quarter touchdown. The Dolphins continue to only showcase second round draft pick Pat White as a normal quarterback and probably won't unveil him in the wildcat till the season starts. The speedster ran for 11 yards on 2 carries, while completing 2 out of his 3 passing attempts.

-Ronnie Brown had a nice touchdown catch in the first quarter, but former sixth round pick out of Montana Lex Hillard stole the show. The 240 pound back broke free for a 39 yard touchdown run in third quarter. Patrick Cobbs continues to do a little bit of everything rushing for 24 yards, while racking up 56 yards receiving.

-Vontae Davis looked a lot better in his second game, tallying up 4 tackles. Bill Parcells might have grabbed a sleeper with sixth round pick Chris Clemons, a safety from Clemson, who had 7 total tackles.

Next up on Thursday is cross state foe Tampa Bay, and I will be attending the game to check out the team.

Are the 2009 Florida Gators unstoppable?

Simply put, the Florida Gators are the best team in the college football universe. Winning three out of the last four BCS championship games, they are the cream of the crop. Ever since Florida lost to Mississippi at home last year, this teams' drive to win has been unparalleled. After that loss, star quarterback Tim Tebow vowed to the nation that we would never see a player work harder or push his team harder than he would. Boy, was he good to his word. The Gators never looked back and took care of business against the Oklahoma Sooners.

Now its a new season, and no surprise the Gators are the top ranked team in the BCS. There is going to be a big bulls-eye on that back, opponents bringing that little extra to push them off the pedestal. The question for this Gator team is not whether they have the talent to win, it is whether they can execute and repeat. A majority of the starters from last years team are returning to do just that, most notably seniors Tim Tebow and Brandon Spikes. What makes it so tough to repeat in sports is that it is easy to start becoming lazy and lacking that hunger once you have reached that top spot. Coach Urban Meyer assures that wont be the case, and has even had fellow championship coach Tony Dungy speak to motivate the team. The upperclassmen will also help provide tremendous leadership for this team.

I really can't see the Florida Gators doing anything short of winning their second title in as many years. This team is too balanced in every aspect, great coaching, great offense and an outstanding defense. They have an incredible work ethic and if its possible, will be better than last year. The Gators should pummel the SEC east, and I believe that this team will go undefeated. Anything short of a perfect season, would be a disappointment in their minds. Tim Tebow and company do not take disappointment very well.

Fantasy Follow-Up

Here is a look at some running back sleepers for '09.

Pierre Thomas- a young, big back that took over for incumbent Reggie Bush and did nothing but produce. Added more muscle to his frame and should see a majority of the rushing touchdowns for one of the top offenses in the league.

Ray Rice- Baltimore can run the ball, picking the right running back is the tough part. Rice is emerging as the starter, as Willis McGahee can't seem to shake the injury bug and Le'ron McClain is moving to full-back. Rice, a former Rutgers star, posses all the talent to be a big contributor for your fantasy team. Plus he is having a very nice preseason thus far.

Knowshon Moreno- Don't let the fact that he is playing for the Denver Broncos scare you, or that he suffered an injury already. Moreno will emerge as the starter after a couple weeks and then will be absolute fantasy gold. We have all seen what he can do in college, and the Broncos offensive line should open up some nice lanes.

Derrick Ward- Ward put on a show when Brandon Jacobs went down last year, and was able to cash in with Tampa Bay in the offseason. Yes, Earnest Graham is in the mix but I don't see him lasting the full season without being replaced. Graham has lost the trust of many fantasy owners, including myself. Whenever he does end up out of the picture, Ward should take the lionshare of carries and also catch the ball out of the backfield.

Williams sisters to buy part of Dolphins

Venus and Serena are looking to bring their winning ways to something other than the tennis court, an NFL franchise. The tennis superstars are close to a deal with Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, that would give them a minority stake in the franchise. Ross wants to improve the fan experience at games, and the Williams sisters join a group of celebrities that now have a share in the team. That list includes Miami residents Marc Anthony, Gloria Estefan and her husband Emilio Estefan. Ross also has partnered with singer Jimmy Buffet, and renamed the stadium Landshark Stadium after Buffet's Landshark Lager.

How does this affect the team? It doesn't. The celebrities do not have enough of a share to make decisions for the franchise. What this does do is engage the community and reach out to the fans. I like to see that Ross has been active in trying to draw people to the game, something the baseball team who shares the stadium struggles with. Who knows maybe the Williams' sisters winning attitude will rub off on the Dolphins players, if not then at least the team will have wicked backhands.

Top 10 Fantasy Football Names for '09

With the fantasy football drafts rapidly approaching, lets take a look at some of the best team names out there.

10. Burrested Development

9. Ginn and Tonic

8. Favre from Gone

7. Steve Breastonlargement

6. Home is Where the Portis

5. I Touchdown There

4. W-D Forte

3. Corn on the Shaub

2. Don'te Drink and Drive

1. Kibbles and Vicks

honorable mentions- Rex and the City, Bros Before Schiancoes, White Cassell, The Celek Few

Jason Williams to the Magic

According to the Associated Press, point guard Jason Williams was acquired by the Orlando Magic. Williams has had a long NBA career including stops in Sacramento, Memphis, and Miami. He was a part of the Pat Riley led Heat during their 2005-2006 title run, and also a part of the 1998-99 All-Rookie first team.

I like this move by the Magic. This adds some depth to the point guard position behind all-star Jameer Nelson and veteran Anthony Johnson. Yes Jason Williams is a bit old, 33, and may not be in the best shape having not played in awhile, but the Magic feel he can contribute. Stan Van Gundy, Williams former coach, believes that he is a similar player to Rafer Alston, who the Magic traded to New Jersey. Williams has some familiarity with the offense, and he can flat out dish the ball. Don't believe me? Go on to youtube and type in "Jason Williams Elbow Pass", and you might change your mind. At worst he doesn't play well, and the Magic just scrap this up as a failed experiment. To win in the playoffs, teams need sparks off the bench. Jason Williams and his crazy assists, just might prove to be that.

Rays Pitcher Suffers Head Injury from Line Drive

Rays Double A pitcher Darin Downs was in serious but stable condition after being hit directly in the temple with a line drive, this past Monday night. Downs, a 24-year-old lefty for the Montgomery Biscuits suffered a fractured skull and still remains in the hospital. The liner ricocheted off the pitcher and landed in the opposing team's dugout.

What is happening in baseball lately? This past week Mets 3B David Wright was hospitalized and suffered a concussion after an inside pitch struck him in the head. Then Dodgers SP Hiroki Kuroda was hit in the head and rushed to the hospital. I am almost thinking that pitchers need to start wearing helmets, because sometimes line drives will come so quick that there is absolutely no time to react. These instances are compromising players health and safety, and something needs to be done.

Any head injury is a serious deal, and possibly life threatening. All we can do is pray for Downs and his family, and hope for a speedy and complete recovery. His physical and mental health is the most important thing. God Willing he will be able to come back and play the game he loves most. An injury like this could end a career, leaving some pitchers never the same. Lets hope that is not the case for this talented pitcher.

Miami Dolphins 2009 Season Outlook

The question going into this upcoming NFL season for the Dolphins is how can they improve on a Cinderella 11-5 record, capped with a AFC East title and first playoff appearance since 2001? The AFC East is always competitive and the Dolphins face a much tougher schedule, including 7 teams that made the postseason last year. This season will be a true litmus test of where the Dolphins stand in the NFL. So now lets take an in depth look at the team.

Offense- In 2008 Miami introduced the Wildcat that shocked not only the New England Patriots, but the entire NFL. The Dolphins used Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams and Chad Pennington in a variety of ways, leaving defenses in complete disarray. The formation spread through all 32 teams, and soon each team had their own version of the wildcat. Miami drafted Pat White in the second round to add another dimension to the wildcat. The biggest question mark about this unit is, what receivers are going to step up? Former Ohio State standout and first round pick Ted Ginn Jr. has yet to impress, but as the number one receiver has a chance to show why he was taken so early. Greg Camarillo is coming back from a knee injury, and when healthy is a tough possession much like former Dolphin wideout Wes Welker. Davone Bess proved to be a consistent threat down the stretch last year and will only get better as he matures. The Dolphins went out and drafted Brian Hartline, a talented receiver who runs routes very well, and the 6-5 220 pound Patrick Turner provides a big target. Hartline has impressed so far this preseason, including during the 12-9 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars this past Monday. The WR position now seems to have a lot of depth.

Defense and Special Teams- The Dolphins defense proved to be a strength and a large part of the reason the Dolphins had so much success last year. Linebacker Joey Porter was a force, looking a lot like what the Dolphins were expecting from him when they signed him from the Pittsburgh Steelers. The biggest hole in the defense was the secondary which struggled at many points during last season. Free Agent safety Gibril Wilson was acquired from Oakland, and Vontae Davis and Sean Smith were drafted to help shore up the secondary which will have to face the likes of Randy Moss and Terrell Owens. As for special teams kicker Dan Carpenter has a solid rookie year, while Bess and Ginn handled the returning duties. Rookie Chris Williams was a little shaky returning kickoffs in the first preseason game, but settled down and showed a lot of speed and burst.

Overall the Dolphins have addressed many of their needs this off-season and should be in the hunt this year despite a very tough schedule ahead.

Stan Van Gundy thinking about benching Dwight Howard?

After watching this video, I can't help but think that resigned back-up center Marcin Gortat may be seeing a little more playing time. The magic can now keep Dwight Howard rested, out of foul trouble, and contributing offensively at the same time. Seriously, how ridiculous is this shot from Superman? I wish he could hit free throws with as much ease as these circus shots. It has been a busy summer for the budding star, including appearances on some late night shows, a cameo in a movie and vitamin water commercials. This kid is the REAL DEAL. Now if he could only develop a jump shot.....

Welcome

My name is David Cooper and I was born and raised in the Sunshine State. This blog will take a look at everything to do with Florida sports both college and pro. Please leave some comments so I don't look like the Florida Marlins fanbase( a complete joke). Enjoy and remember, We live where you vacation.