End Zone (Week 4)

1.Who’s in more trouble from a coaching perspective: Steve Spagnuolo, Jack Del Rio, Tony Sparano or Todd Haley?
KDC: I'm gonna pick half of the choices. So why does Sparano still have a job? I don’t understand anything Miami’s done for the last 3-4 years. I’m not saying he’s the only problem, but I don’t think he’s part of the solution either. Are the 2011 Chiefs the "Lay-Down-and-Die" Cowboys of 2010? It looks like it. Somehow, Haley has lost his team. Yes, there have been some key injuries, but the way they're losing indicates a coach who is being ignored. Maybe that golf background matters more than we thought it did... Are these men in trouble of losing their jobs? Probably. More importantly, they're in trouble because their teams aren't winning.
Momo: From these cast of characters I will say Sparano is done by the bye week. He is the last holdover from the Parcells regime and his ticket out town will be punched shortly. Sparano has lost 15 of 16 of the Dolphins home games in the last couple of years. Not good with a somewhat new owner. The Chiefs and Jags are going to wait until the end of the season to change coaches. Haley is not vibing with the front office and his players are laying down on the job. Del Rio decided to get rid of David Garrad and hosed his season. The interesting one is Spags in St. Louis. with Bradford at the helm and a winnable division, he really needs to get the ship righted. The Rams would be in real trouble with another coaching change.

2. Has the NFL legislated defense from the game?
KDC: I won't pretend to have much insight into this one, except to say at some point, the NFL's gonna have to decide regular scores in the 30s isn't all that exciting.
Momo: With the rule changes started in the early part of this decade, the NFL has decided that defense has become secondary and I'm not talking about defensive backs. First it started with the Colts telling the league about receivers being jammed at the line of scrimmage. Next it was the hits on the quarterbacks followed by hits on players going across the middle. Now what you get is higher scoring games and defensive players handcuffed. I think the league also looks at how higher scoring is can draw in a different market and that is women.If you you can tap into the female market you are generating more revenue. Just a thought.

3. The Bills are off to a great start and leading the AFC East. Are you buying or selling them?
KDC: I’m buying. But maybe not ready to coronate them as AFC East champs just yet. They seem solid like only underdogs and castoffs can be, but sometimes that takes you a very long way & sometimes that just breeds a solid season. Still, there's no reason not to buy them for the season. I might also take a flyer on the Raiders. They might be the most-overlooked story of this start of the season.
Momo:I'm close to buying the Bills. I love the castoff of players, especially Fred Jackson and Ryan Fitzpatrick. (How many Harvard qb's can you name?). What I need to see is how they fare against the Jest. If the steal one from Gang Green, then the are definitely a playoff team. Its nice to see the resurgence in Buffalo.

4. Are the Packers being overlooked this season even as they are defending their championship?
KDC: Probably a bit. After their Week 1 victory over the Saints (which admittedly was the only game to talk about for 3 days, so maybe it wasn’t love, but necessity), there have been other good storylines to consume the media (Bills, Lions, good teams dissolving), but it does seem odd that a team that keeps finding a way to win or make good plays is just part of the highlights instead of one of the lead story. After all, they're the defending champs from Title Town or small town America (choose one). Yet both angles should be irresistible to the football media. I’m not ready to blame the East Coast Media, but if it keeps up for another couple weeks, then I might.
Momo:Many people are overlooking them so far and its a shame. The funny thing is that the Pack may be better then the were last year. Green Bay didn't even stage one of those made for TV mini camps that other teams did and they are in a rhythm. With a healthy Jermichael Finley in the offense, who is a beast, Rodgers has more weapons. Their defense may take a step back with the loss of the safety Collins but having Matthews and Woodson should keep them solid.

2 Point Conversion (Week 5)

1.Should have done this last week BUT whose seat is hotter Houston Nutt or Mark Richt?
Droddy:I think whenever you lose to Vandy by 30+ points, you should immediately be removed from the sidelines – they should just right it in the contracts. Within 15 minutes of the final whistle, they should have escorted Nutt out to his car and sent his belongings from his office via Fedex. With that said, they are probably both gone.
Momo:Houston Nutt by far. Living here in the south, close to Mississippi, these fans have an elevated view of themselves. What makes matters worse for Nutt is that Miss St. is garnering national attention and that will not help his situation at all. n top of that The Rebels play in the unrelenting SEC West. At least Mark Richt got all of his tough games out of the way. I do think Richt needs a win over Florida to help his cause.

2.Should the Syracuse win versus Toledo be vacated because the ref missed the call?
Droddy:No. For years we have seen missed calls decide games in every sport, why should this game be any different? Take the SEC for example, they make a habit on botching calls and then boldly support the officiating crew afterwards – “regardless what you saw on TV, the crew got it correct” is all you hear. At least the Big East can admit their mistakes, I give them credit for that.
Momo:This is a tough one, when the call was so blatantly missed. I mean how do you review a play ans STILL MISS IT. You have to feel awful for Toledo but you can't change the outcome based on human error. The only thing you could do is have them replay at the end of the season but with injuries and bowl game interfering that would not be possible.


3.Noticed Nebraska is going back to playing option football. Good idea or bad?
Droddy:The Huskers play in the B10 now, this might be the perfect place to bring the option attack back. The option attack takes advantage of slow D Ends and Outside LBers…exactly what the B10 is flush with.
Momo:This is going to prove disastrous for Nebraska in the long run. Top recruits today want to play in a prostyle offense, not a triple option style because it does not showcase all their skills, especially in quarterback position. It can work a little now with Taylor Martinez but its not a spread offense that is going to put a lot of points on the board. Georgia Tech runs a similar triple option and the only reason why it was so effective was because they had a beast in Demaryius Thomas at wide receiver. The Cornhuskers are going to set their program back.

We will play a game called “Who You Got” Picking winners from the top games of the weekend and why and keep a running total for the rest of the season. Here are our picks for this weekends matchups:Clemson vs. Va. Tech
Droddy:VT – always remember, its Clemson!
Momo: Hokies,because Clemson should have lost to Florida St.
Nebraska vs. Wisconsin
Droddy:WI – hard to tell with that WI schedule, but NE has looked average on both sides of the ball
Momo:Wisconsin because they have a balanced offense and their defense will force Nebraska to pass.
Texas A&M vs. Arkansas
Droddy:Tx A&M – proven QB and playmakers. Also, I would imagine Ark is beat up after their trip to Alabama.
Momo:In A&M's first game in the SEC, I think they get beat. Arkansas in a shootout because the Aggies have trouble stopping people.
Florid vs. Alabama
Droddy:Bama - game being in FL there is a slight shot for the gators, but Bama’s best shot to lose is LSU.
Momo:Alabama but since its in the Swamp, Florida will play them tight. The Tide defense is to stout.

Momo's Munchies

Here are some random NFL and CFB thoughts I had:

1.Never in my wildest dream would I have thought the university of Missouri would want to be in the SEC for football. The curators and some in the athletic department would love the challenge of being in the SEC but I believe that would be disastrous. Their pipeline into Texas would get cutoff and their chance to compete on a second-tier and possibly get into a BCS bowl game would be greatly diminished. Texas A&M is going to recognize in about three years.
2.Speaking of A&M, that loss to Oklahoma St. shows that they are not ready to compete in the SEC. When you have a 17 point lead at the half, how do you blow it?
3.This has no bearing on national polls but Toledo got ripped off at Syracuse by officials not paying attention to an extra point that did not go through. Read about it here:No Way To Take Away Syracuse Win
4.LSU has an NFL-type defense year in and year out. Its fun to see young guys take so much pride in shutting opponents down.
5.I really love that USC lost to Arizona St. and it has nothing to do with being a Sun Devil fan. It has everything to do with Lane Kiffin. He just grates on me.
6.If you get a chance, watch a "Football Life" about Bill Belichick. Its really good and gives some insight of how he coaches. He even gets emotional talking about Giant Stadium.

7.Glad people are finally realizing how good Fred Jackson is with the Buffalo Bills. No one knew he existed because the team was so bad. Jackson is an every down back out of the Marshall Faulk mold.
8.Darren McFadden of the Raiders is the real deal. It has taken him a few years and a couple of different coaches but he has finally found his stride.
9. Can you name 5 players on the Buffalo Bills? I already gave you one:)

End Zone (Week 3)

1.Thoughts are the Patriots so far:
KDC: Do the Patriots just win because their opponents are so stupid? Is that why when they run into smart teams in the playoffs, they lose their first game? (Or barely beat Green Bay last year w/Matt Flynn at QB, a man who had never started a game.) I’m saying the Patriots are smart & great with the fundamentals (I root against them every week, but let’s face facts – they’re smart and great with fundamentals), but when you’re driving against San Diego in the closing seconds of the half to get into field goal range & the Charges don’t even bother covering the sideline patterns (ensuring a free field goal), do you really need all those turnovers to help you win? Actually, yes, the Patriots did. They’ve got the smarts, but I don’t think they have the overall talent to do more than put up gaudy stats again this year. Predictably, the media will salivate about the greatness of Tom Brady (actually his stats), then stand amazed & aghast when New England doesn’t go far in the playoffs (again).
Momo:If you are a Patriots fan I would be worried about the defense. As great as a defensive mind that Belicheck is, their defense has been getting shredded, and its not just this year, this has been happening over the last few years. Teams like the Chargers routinely shoot themselves in the foot because they are still playing against the mystique of Patriot teams of the past. But teams like the Ravens and Jets are not intimidated by the "new" Pats. Brady is putting up monster numbers and will continue doing so but the trademark on defense in the end will be the Achilles heel of the Patriots.

2.What team is seriously deluded about their overall quality?
KDC: The Indianapolis Colts—I was visiting Indy last weekend & no one seemed to believe that the Browns could beat them. Considering they did almost nothing over the off-season while other established powers were beefing up their rosters, well…it already looked grim. Is it possible the Colts & fans never appreciated Peyton enough? They’re learning the hard way what a mediocre team they are without him. (And he doesn’t play defense, so Kerry’s Collins 19 points is respectable but not enough for Colt McCoy’s 27, which the Colts D gave up.) Much of this is of their own making. Runner-up: Pete Carroll at Seattle, who is proving (again) that any coach can be a horrible GM.
Momo: Its definitely the Colt. Jim Irsay and Bill Polian, two guys I like very much, did their fans and their team a complete disservice by not having a viable backup behind Peyton Manning. The way this team is constructed on offense, defense and special team is all dictated by having number 18 behind center. Peyton keeps the defense off the field, gives the special teams great areas to work and the front office thought they he would always be there. They thought Manning was just as indestructible as Favre, and this season proves that was not true. The Colts could have talked to Peyton while doing contract negotiations and informed him they were going to draft his replacement last year. Think the Colts wouldn't want to have Andy Dalton, or Ryan Mallet as a back-up, since they clearly don't believe in Curtis Painter. By not taking risks and constructing a balanced football team, the Colts are in a world of hurt. The big question is now if they have the number one pick will they draft Andrew Luck? I think they have to.

2pt Conversion (Week 4)

1. Who would be the biggest surprise if they stay undefeated this weekend between Arkansas, Vandy, and San Diego St.?
Momo:Without a shadow of a doubt its Vanderbilt. The Commodores are a perennial doormats in the SEC and win Saturday over South Carolina and the alums might erect a statue of new head coach James Franklin. Vandy would be just three wins away from being bowl eligible and that would be huge for a program that has been down on its luck.
Droddy: I have to go with Arkansas and it really is not close. I would be stunned if Arkansas beat Alabama with the biggest reason is the Ark’s 1 dimensional offense. If you cannot run the ball effectively, it allows a great defense to attack the quarter back with all out aggression – exactly where the pigs find themselves. I realize AL struggles on offense, but if they are on the field for most of the day, Arkansas defense will break eventually. Vandy and SDST winning would be surprises, but I can at least imagine the possibility.

2. Your thoughts on all the realignment in cfb:
Momo: First I need to get something off my chest about realignment. The next time some school president or chancellor or coach chimes in about the shadiness of agents and runners, someone should hold up a mirror so they can see their reflection. This action of realignment is deplorable and ridiculous. All these schools care about is reworking contracts so they can get their conferences more money. Fans and alumni will be there for their schools and find new rivals to root against, but some of the passions and traditions will be lost. Passion and tradition is what fuels college football. The only positive thing I can see from realignment is a playoff. This sport needs a playoff and college football would be on par with the NFL for popularity. That I believe is what the conference commissioners see as their way to break away from the NCAA to get a playoff instituted.
Droddy: I am torn on the realignment discussion. I love tradition and the historic rivalries that make college football the most exciting four month of the year, but I also think the game desperately needs a playoff. If conference realignment can do two things, I am for it: #1 create a playoff that is fair to everyone involved #2 add Boise St or any other “contenders” to a real conference. On point #2, I would like to see the teams not in a major conference go ahead and drop down to another division where they can compete or not worry about winning a national championship. In other words, you have to be in a major conference to have a chance to be in the playoff – I am not only talking about Boise States of the world, but a certain Blue and Gold team from Indiana. The playing field needs to be evened out, if they are going to do this…it would be nice if they did it right. That said, we all know this is not about making fan happy or a better Saturday experience – its about how much money can be made from TV contracts. Simple as that.

3. Winner of OK St. v Texas AM in control of Big 12?
Momo:I got OSU as my sleeper so I think this game is huge for them. They need this win as a shot before they have a showdown with OU.
Droddy: Until proven otherwise, Oklahoma is in control of the B12. More often than not, these teams look great, until they play Oklahoma.

4. Should college athletes be paid?
Momo:Athletes should be paid a little something especially since the school gets revenue from a player. Let's use Andrew Luck as an example. Don't you think Stanford jersey's sales of number 12 has increased since last year? Luck deserves a little piece of the pie.
Droddy:I do not see a big problem paying the athletes a little bit of money during the season. They are not allowed to hold jobs and put in countless hours to entertain us weekly. Now this will not stop the cheating that many people think, but it is probably the right thing to do. With States constantly cutting back in money going to the major universities, this may never be feasible…every athlete that plays would need to be paid, not just football.

5. Pick the winners: Alabama v. Ark, LSU v. WVU:
Momo:Arkansas does not have a chance against Bama. I love LSU's defense but am afraid of their offense. WVU can score and will give the Bayou Bengals some trouble BUT LSU probably prevails. I think it will be closer than people think.
Droddy: Easy…Bama and LSU – these 2 are on a collision course for an epic war in November.

The End Zone (Week 2)

1.How bad was Romo’s collapse on Sunday night?
Momo: This is a classic case of a good guy who crumbles when the lights are the brightest. Romo’s mishaps have always shown in Cowboys biggest games. From the fumble in the playoff game in Seattle, to the multi turnover games that he has, Romo cracks under pressure. Terrell Owens and Dez Bryant have tried and are trying to defend him but the proof is in the pudding: when the chips are down, he wilts under the bright lights. That collapse was bad and that is the biggest reason why the Cowboys will not win with him. In six years, Romo has not made the jump from good to great like Aaron Rodgers has.
KDC: The six years as a starter is what surprised me. I forgot he’d been starting that long. Granted last year was a loss, but . . . QB is the hardest position in any sport to learn - as Mark Sanchez, in Year 3, continues to prove. Except Sanchez is still winning games (or at least not losing them). Same for Flacco in Baltimore and Ryan in Atlanta (though not last week). Romo…I don’t’ know. If the Cowboys were a stock, there’d be no reason to buy them for about the past 8-10 years, yet they’re still considered a blue chip for some reason. Sorry, I still don’t see the character and leadership necessary to be a playoff-caliber team. (Wade Phillps must be chuckling in Houston.)

2.What surprised you in Week 1?
Momo: The way the Bears manhandled the Falcons. For all the preseason hype and offseason moves the Falcons made they did not score an offensive TD. I wonder if Matt Ryan is still feeling the affect of the Packers running through them last season.
KDC: How many good defenses looked so bad. Exhibit A: The Packers had some horrible lapses against New Orleans (8 men in coverage for 3rd & 16 & the Saints still get the first down…?!?) despite playing like heroes when it counted most at the goal line, and the 4th and inches inside the 10. There were plenty of other defenses though. It used to be that the offenses took several weeks to warm up and get in sync, while the defenses just ran around and tackled people. Now I wonder if defenses have gotten so complex, with a dozen different blitz packages, et al, that the defenders are thinking too much out there instead of trusting their teammates and just playing! We’ll see as the next month progresses.

3.Of these teams who should worry the most: Steelers, Chiefs, Colts or Falcons?
Momo: The Colts could be in serious problem if they lose to the Browns, so for one week, I’ll give them a pass for now. The Kansas City Chiefs were the biggest fraud last year and this year will truly expose that. Their record last year was one of the easiest in the league and they had a superstar staff that coached up their talented team. Now with Weis gone and the injuries piling up on the offensive and defensive sides, the Chiefs are going to come back to reality.
KDC: If you check last week, I mentioned the Falcons as a surprise team missing the playoffs. Everyone gave them a pass in the offseason for some reason (perhaps because there’s so little good football news out of Atlanta most years), but they traded too many draft picks for a wide receiver (Julio Jones) & didn’t help their defense out. The offense might start playing lights out again, but I see their opponent’s offense’s doing better than them most weeks.

4.Which of these teams got false hope on Sunday: 49ers, Redskins, Bills or Lions?
Momo: I’m a believer in the Lions if Stafford stays healthy so I will not pick them. The 49ers are ruining their chances of getting Andrew Luck. Every win they get gets them farther away from a ‘true’ franchise quarterback. Alex Smith is not the answer and the franchise needs a real quarterback with all that talent. I know Harbaugh will remake the team in his image but stop winning and get your quarterback.
KDC: Sorry, insight on this one, though I’d have to say the Lions are the team with the most hope in the group (assuming their secondary holds up). They beat the Patriots soundly in Preseason Game 3 (The one that counts). If the secondary holds, then the NFC North might be the toughest division in the land for the first time in decades.


5.Should the Broncos play Tebow?
Momo: Play Tebow because this team is not going anywhere. The Broncos believe they can contend with Orton at quarterback but their offense is a mess. They don’t have a running game and putting Tebow in could jumpstart this team. John Co.(Elway and Fox) should start using special packages for Tebow and start getting him on the field. When he played at the end of last year it inspired the team and energized heir fan base. Get him on the field and see what happens.
KDC: Sometimes a new coach has to prove he’s boss by showing everyone he’ll make a tough choice. Orton, by all accounts, outplayed Tebow & Co, for the starting position in training. I wouldn’t give up on him after one game, but I might after 3. At some point, management is going to have to figure out if he’s their guy or not. So sooner is better than later.

Momo's Munchies

Here are some thoughts to chew on about the NFL and CFB:
1.Mississippi St. is a tough luck team in the SEC. Last week they get hosed by the officials in the Auburn game by not having a touchdown called in their favor and the officials ignoring Mullen as he tried to call a timeout. And this week they had to face a top-ranked LSU on a short week. The Bulldogs have only won 1 game within the SEC West but their coach and fans have made Starkville a tough place to play.
2. Be glad when all this realignment in college football is done. Two conferences that were once on top of the world are now being reactionary (Big 12 and Big East). These conferences are watching other league raid their cabinets and are standing by and looking hopeless.
3. How dumb is the NCAA? Boise St. football program lost scholarships for having freshmen sleep on couches and on the floor of upperclassmen during spring and summer camps. Not accepting money but camping out in each others room. Don't believe me read here:Boise St. violations. Just dumb.
4.These little brothers are following in their brothers footsteps. Derek Carr at Fresno St. and Case McCoy at Texas. Both have big shoes to fill as well as their own legacies to create.
5. If the Seminoles win tonight's big game against Oklahoma, then their program is back.
6. The Steelers got man-handled n Sunday. Their core looks old and a little slow and that window of Super Bowl appearances could be closings.
7. San Diego Chargers will regret letting Sproles go and not getting someone like a Randall Cobb whom the Packers drafted in the 2nd round. Don't know why so many teams passed on him. Cobb was a presaeason offensive player of the year within the SEC while at Kentucky. What a steal by Green Bay.
8.We should have known that Peyton Manning consecutive games streak was going to end this year. The last six sites to host a Super Bowl, that teams starting quarterback has missed the season. Where is the Super Bowl this season? Indianapolis
9.When will Ed Reed and Ray Lewis get old? To be playing at such a high level as these do two do, is ridiculous at their age.

10.There are some athletes who when you see them on TV you stop what you are doing and watch them. In baseball for me its Albert Pujols is a BCW guy (Bathroom Can Wait, that's from the DP Show). Guys that are so electric and mesmerizing that you cannot help but to stare and nothing else matters Here are my top five BCW guys in the NFL:
1.Michael Vick
2.Chris Johnson
3.Desean Jackson
4.Darren Sproels
5. Tom Brady
Agree or disagree you can let me know.

As always thanks for reading....

2 PT Conversion (Week 2)

1. Boise State won on the road against a good team. Are you buying or selling them?
Momo: I’m buying big time. Here’s the deal, Boise is the only team that doesn’t require a home and home. Most of the big schools are afraid to play these guys and they are good. What is amazing is that the knock on them beating Georgia is most people see the Dawgs as a middle level SEC team. There’s always an excuse made win Boise wins. No one says that they would go undefeated in a major conference. I think they would be an 8 or 9 win team. What matters to me is how they play when they do play the so-called big boys. Boise rises to the challenges and gets the job done most of the time. Do I think they will play for the National Title, I’m not sure. The next big test on the schedule is not TCU but San Diego St. If they beat the Aztecs in November then they have a legitimate shot at a title. Of course, the cartel will keep them out.

Droddy:I’ve been buying Boise St well before I saw them beat a middle of the road Georgia (6-7 last year). They are a well coached team that can show up for the huge game once or twice a year – unless it is at Nevada. Now lets get real here – teams are not “afraid” to play Boise St…it’s a risk/reward thing – you gain NOTHING from beating a team like this. If you lose to Boise St you lose respect and the season is just about over in terms of a national title – if you beat Boise St…you will get, “well yea, you SHOULD beat Boise St” and its forgotten. When you are a team in the SEC for example you play about half the season again ranked opponents – what sense does it make to play a another one…especially when that is their super bowl and its just another tough team you have to play? As far as a national title for BSU…give me a break! As I mentioned, they play 1 or 2 tough games a year – is that what college football is about? Of course, they can “get up” for these games – good teams should win those games. As Momo said himself “No one says that they would go undefeated in a major conference. I think they would be an 8 or 9 win team” – ok, then why in the world are people claiming they should be in the title game? The best thing that can come from this conference expansion concept (besides kicking NCAA to the curb) is to put them in a real conference and we can stop hearing about a team that wins 1 or 2 decent games a year to play for the crystal.


2. Big deal Brian Kelly using profanity on the sidelines when talking to his players?
Momo: It’s not that big of a deal BUT it shows that he is under a lot of pressure at ND. Kelly is no longer at Cincinnati and has to realize that he is on-camera a lot and that all not some of his games are televised. Some kids respond well to profanity where others don’t. If you see a mass exodus from ND then there may be a problem.

Droddy:Brian Kelly was a hot head well before he went to South Bend. Ive seen him turn the color of Cincy’s uniforms during a game, always fun to watch. I suppose that since this is a Catholic school he is at now this has been brought up or the fact they lost – complete non issue if you ask me. During the national title game against West Virginia I saw Lou Holtz nearly break a kid’s neck by yanking on his face mask…not a word said, they did win the game of course.

3. Speaking of Notre Dame, why where they ranked at the beginning this season?
Momo: The delusional media that is older and still reliving the old time clips of Holtz and Davie. This team is not good and although Kelly probably is the right guy for the job, Notre Dame is not attractive as it used to be. The rest of the nation has caught and surpassed the Golden Domers and their base has yet to realize it. Top recruits are not lining up to come South Bend. They haven’t produced top draft picks in the NFL and that is hurting their stock as well. I doubt that they can survive as an Independent much longer in football.

Droddy: Just the way it is - Notre Dame will always be ranked going into the season….it’s not like they can rank them at the end! On another note – my bold prediction is ND will be forced to join a conference relatively soon. The BSC made special conditions for them, I don’t think there will be these arrangements going forward. I do think they beat Michigan this week to get back on track.

4. Upset pick between: Alabama v. Penn St., BYU v. Texas, Auburn v. Miss St., Mizzou v. Ariz St.
Momo: Having to pick between these games I would take BYU over Texas. I think the Cougars have a pretty good defense and might be able to take advantage of the Longhorns. Wouldn’t be surprised if Penn St. beat Bama. The Tide does have issues at quarterback which incidentally, Penn St. had those issues when they played last year.
Auburn is going down to the Bulldogs this year. Last year, Dan Mullen and his squad had Auburn dead to rights. The Tigers win streak ends this weekend.

The way Mizzou struggled with Miami of Ohio tells me this is going to be really bad in the desert. The Sun Devils have a pro prospect at linebacker that should make life difficult for James Franklin and the Tigers.

Droddy:Upsets: Alabama v. Penn St. – close through 3 or so, but bama pulls away late. Bama will have some issues scoring, but will dominate the lines and wear them down as the game goes on. BYU v. Texas – I do want to pick BYU, but seems too obvious. BYU has to be more worn down than the Longhorns after their dog fight in Oxford last week. Auburn v. Miss St – If I had to pick one, I think this will be the upset of the week. MS St is looking forward to LSU on Thursday the following week and who could blame them after the way Auburn looked? The perfect spot for Auburn to pull this off…at home while being severely disrespected all week long. Mizzou v. Ariz St – had to look up to see where the upset would be: Azst is a TD favorite. After seeing a little Mizzou’s QB play, ill go with the Sun Devils at home – love those new uniforms.

End Zone (Week 1)

With kickoff of the NFL season starting tonight, it’s time to get for us to get reacquainted in the End zone. This is where we talk about some of the burning questions in the National Football League:

1.I feel like we had this question last year but here it is anyway, who’s seat is hotter this season, Norv Turner or Gary Kubiak?
Momo: Both seats are really warm, but I feel like if the Chargers don’t make at least the AFC Championship game then Norv is done. What’s really going to hurt them is the loss of Darren Sproles. That is going to damage their special teams as well as hurt rivers on third down. If the Texans make the playoffs, which they should, Kubiak will be fine.

kdc: Full disclosure: I’ve never been a Turner fan, but the mediocre job he’s done w/the Chargers has only cemented that dislike. These Chargers have been extremely talented with nothing to show for it. Maybe this year will be different, but San Diego’s decision-makers don’t seem eager for change, so he could be around next year even if they just make the playoffs. Kubiak has only continued the Texans losing ways, so . . .does it matter?

2.Troy Aikman recently said that if this group of Cowboys don’t win a championship, then the team should rebuild. Agree?
Momo: I agree completely. The Cowboys are the most over hyped team in the NFL and this year they have to contend with the Eagles stealing all of their press. The key to their season will be Tony Romo. I don’t think he can lead this team to the Super Bowl. Their defense will be better but it won’t be enough

kdc: No heart. No locker room leaders. No playoffs.

3.From last year’s playoff teams, who’s more likely not to reach the playoffs?
Momo: One is real easy and that’s the Seahawks. Signing Tavaris Jackson was an awful move for this year. He wasn’t a good qb for the Vikings and won’t be for the Seahawks. I think Pete Carroll is waiting for the Bengals to dump Carson Palmer. Not sold on the Bears or Chiefs at all. I know the Chiefs will take a huge step back.

kdc: The post-Steel Curtain Steelers have never returned to the playoffs the year after they went to the Super Bowl. They’re the oldest starting team in the NFL. The Packers exposed their weaknesses & I see other teams trying to do likewise. I also don’t think the Falcons helped themselves much in the offseason & maybe not quite making it this year. It’s like no one wants to talk about it, but they needed help on the defensive side & then only helped their offense. I also think the Patriots are probably in more serious decline than most people realize, but they’ll probably make it in as a wild-card.

4.There are at least two teams to make the playoffs who didn’t make it in last year. Who you got?
Momo: The Rams and Lions. Look for Sam Bradford to take the next step. Also my sleeper rookie of the year pick is Rams TE Lance Kendricks. I love hybrid TE and WR and this kid has size and speed. Hopefully Matthew Stafford stays healthy because if he does the Lions with their defense will be really good. Love Suh and when Nick Fairley gets back their front four will be virtually unblockable.

kdc: You took 2 good ones. I’ll go with the young, hungry (& now seasoned) Buccaneers, who should’ve made it last year, & the Chargers will as well, but I don’t know how far.

5.Go out on a limb and make your Super Bowl Picks.
Momo: Normally I don’t do this but to have this on record I will say the Ravens and the Packers. I think for the first time since the Patriots have repeated as champions, the Packers will do the same. I think the lockout helped the Packers a lot. They didn’t have coaches leaving, get a lot of their injured players back and they didn’t have a lot of the distractions this offseason. Teams who didn’t make a lot of changes will benefit and the Packers are one of them.

kdc: I’ve been a Packer-backer my entire life, so there’s no way I can go against a team that took on unsustainable injuries all the way through the Super Bowl game (Woodson & Driver, their vets & leaders) & still won. On the AFC side I’m gonna go against good taste & my own proclivities & pick the Jets to lose to the Packers in the Super Bowl.

2 Point Conversion

With the college football season already upon I am offering up a new weekly posting called the "2 Point Conversion". This segment will feature me going head to head with a former college football player and roommate of mine. I hope you will enjoy it!!

1.The SEC has won the last 5 BCS championships, what other conference will you watch this year?

Droddy: I think we all can agree you are watching a different football world when you tune into a top SEC showdown – I'm not sure how anyone can really debate this at the moment. With that said, I think there is intrigue in every conference out there on any given Saturday – here are some items I will keep an eye on and my bold prediction:

B10-Droddy: How will NE look this year with a new schedule in front of them? I think the winner of NE and WI takes the conference this year. Is Ohio St going to finish as a top 2 team? Nope.

Momo: I think this is Wisconsin's year to compete for a National Title. We can both agree that Ohio St. is in a lot of trouble this year. I don't even think their starting quarterback will stay the same.

ACC-Droddy: Is FSU really “back”? I think they will play for the conference championship this year again, but they will not at the top of the college football world…just yet.

Momo: Another topic we are agreeing on. Florida St. is probably a yer away from being a true national power again. The sleeper to watch is Va Tech.

PAC10/12 – Droddy:Is Oregon really going to run through the PAC12 again? After Saturday (men vs boys) I have some doubts. How is Utah going to do in the conference? I think they hold their own (3 to 5 losses), but days of winning them all and only showing up to compete at a high level about twice a year are OVER.

Momo: Oregon dismal performance on Saturday notwithstanding, I think the conference is in good position to send another representative to play for the title and that is Stanford. This is the year that Stanford was shooting for, a Heisman contender at quarterback, and a deep roster. This is the year of the Cardinal.

Big East –Droddy: Ill never have too many questions or interest for this league, but will be interested to see a new coach at West Virginia. They have a good experienced QB who could make them great ….at times.
Momo: I still can't believe this league gets an automatic BCS game. This is a basketball league. Football in this conference is not that great. West Virginia will be all right. There qb Geno Smith is a dark horse for the Heisman.

Big12 – Droddy:Most of the interest there is off the field, obviously – love to see someone challenge Oklahoma…they will have a couple of close games, but I’m not sure who just yet – Baylor could match them in scoring. Can TX be that bad again..surely not, right?

Momo: The wonderful conference that is crumbling right before our eyes. OU is the class and the pundits have Mizzou as the sleeper. The Tigers are befuddling, now they have a solid team at all positions except a quarterback who can't throw. Oklahoma St could be the team that stuns everyone and wins the conference..

2. Which university recovers faster from the scandal, USC, Ohio St, or Miami?
Droddy:Recovery is inevitable at all these schools so I’m going to go with the one that knows their penalties and have already started the punishment – USC.

Momo:I think the "U" is in some serious trouble. Ohio St. recovery will be a lot faster than USC because I don't believe the NCAA will come down that hard on them. Plus OSU only has to contend with Michigan in the recruiting battle in the conference.
3. Good idea for Texas A&M to move to the SEC?

Droddy:Great idea for TX A&M. Obviously this assumes they are fine with being the 4th to 6th best program in the conference for any given year. This is very similar to where they are now, but will make more money and will not be annually behind their most bitter rival – TX. You don’t get better by jumping up in competition in the short term – in the long term, I will assume they will improve their: recruiting, facilities and coaching to be able to compete in the SEC year in and out.

Momo: This is a terrible move for A&M. First of all, they have forgotten that it was Texas that stood up for them when the Southwestern Conference folded to get them into the Big 12. I understand that you are upset that the conference has catered to Texas but to move to the SEC, where you will not be able to compete on a national level will be disastrous. A&M will regret running to the SEC and not going to the Pac-12 first.
4. Your surprise team this year is…

Droddy:I know this may not strike anyone as a surprise team, but I think Stanford will be right there for the conference championship. They have Luck obviously, but I think more importantly…everyone playing this year was coached by Harbaugh.
Momo: I hinted at this earlier but I think Oklahoma St. will surprise people and sneak into a BCS bowl. I love their quarterback and wide receiver Justin Blackmon, who may be the second best player in college football.
5. Your Heisman favorite…

Droddy:First of all…I have come to hate the Heisman. Its probably ESPN’s fault for handing it to someone new every week of the season, but I will play along – Andew Luck

Momo: I agree with the ESPN statement. Its like they just don't want to be wrong. But I think Luck is the clubhouse leader and my dark horse is Baylor's Robert Griffith III. If he gets Baylor i the top 10 its his award to lose.