Monday, October 29, 2012

Preview of Alabama at LSU

    You can throw the rankings out of the window on Saturday night with the Alabama Crimson Tide travels to Baton Rouge to take on the LSU Tigers.

    Its easy to say Alabama will run away with this game due to the issues that LSU has at the quarterback position, but its not that simple. Across the board both teams are almost identical. Both ranking in the top 10 for allowing points on defense, and both rely heavy on the running game Alabama averaging 214.4 rushing yards and LSU averaging 208.4 yards. Who will be able to impose their will is the question.

    Its clear that Alabama holds the advantage at the quarterback position with AJ McCarron, meanwhile LSU has the advantage with their defensive front. Outside of turnovers, 3rd down will determine the game for the most part.

    Alabama will win if they can force LSU into tough situations on 3rd down. Alabama wants Mettenberger to have to beat them through the air, meaning 3rd and long situations when he has to throw the ball.

    Seeing that LSU holds the advantage with their front four, they are going to have to be able to hit McCarron and sack him with the opportunity presents itself. LSU must avoid getting put into 3rd and long situations, knowing Mettenberger has struggled through the air.

    I don't expect this to be an high scoring affair, Alabama has to get after Mettenberger, and LSU has to keep Mettenberger out of 3rd and long situations. With that being said we will see who imposes their will Saturday night.

Justin Thomas
ESPN 730 Blogger
Twitter: @JTyree704
Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/SportsFromMyEyes

    

5 Questions That Will Be Answered This NBA Season

 Here are my five questions that I'm eager to find out as we are one the eve of NBA season :

1. Can the Miami Heat repeat?

2. How will Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard mesh?

3. Who will win the battle of New York? Will it be the Knicks or Nets?

4. What will Andrew Bynum do in Philadelphia?

5. How much will the lost of James Harden hurt the Oklahoma City Thunder?

Justin Thomas
ESPN 730 Blogger
Twitter: @JTyree704
Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/SportsFromMyEyes

My Thoughts On ESPN's NBA Preseason Power Rankings (Top 5)

1. Miami
2.San Antonio
3.Los Angeles
4. Boston
5. Oklahoma City

    I Agree with Miami being number one they are the defending champs, but as for two through five I'm not to sure.
    San Antonio being ranked two after being embarrassed in the Western Conference Finals showed me that the Spurs aren't better than the Oklahoma City Thunder, and father time has caught up to them. I do believe the Spurs will be one of the top four seeds going into the playoffs, but ultimately I don't see them in the Western Conference Finals.

    Los Angeles is the team I see coming out of the Western Conference, defeating Oklahoma City. Early off I believe the Lakers will be good, but not great. Having new additions to the team means chemistry will need to be developed, with that being said if everyone gets on one accord the Lakers for sure will be facing the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals.

    Boston I believe will be solid once again which isn't a shocker. Anytime you have Doc Rivers, Rajon Rondo Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce you're in pretty good shape. Many aren't talking about the additions of Jason Terry and Courtney Lee, but those two will play big for the Celtics come playoff time.

    Oklahoma City will be back and still strong despite losing James Harden. Anytime you lose the Sixth Man of the Year, you're going to take a step back. With that being said that step back will be just enough for them to fall to the Los Angeles Lakers come playoff time.

My top five goes Miami, Oklahoma City Los Angeles Boston then San Antonio.

Justin Thomas
ESPN 730 Blogger
Twitter: @JTyree704
Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/SportsFromMyEyes
 

   

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Week 10 BCS Standing (Top 15)

1. Alabama
2. Kansas State
3. Notre Dame
4. Oregon
5. LSU
6. Georgia
7. Florida
8. South Carolina
9. Florida State
10. Louisville

Justin Thomas
ESPN 730 Blogger
Twitter: @JTyree704
Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/SportsFromMyEyes

Monday, October 22, 2012

Which One Will It Be Cam?


Cam Newton has put himself in a situation that he shouldn’t even be in with his comments made following the 19-14 defeat by the hands of the Dallas Cowboys Sunday in Bank of America Stadium.
"I'm going to bring in a suggestion box. And I want your suggestions in that suggestion box, because I sure don't know. I really don't," said Newton.
Newton, is going through what many foresaw would happen, that he’d hit a “Sophomore Slump”, and he’s not handling it well. Last season, Newton took the world by storm arguably having one of the best if not the best rookie season statistics wise. Now have the tables turned dramatically.
The Panthers struggles all aren’t on Newton, Coach Rivera and the rest of the coaching staff definitely are taking some heat as well. What the question now is how will Newton respond? The Panthers have lost seven straight games by seven points or fewer, and the frustration has been more than evident. Even Deangelo Williams is feeling it, he went to Twitter to vent retweeting tweets sent by fans questioning the play calling and lack of touches.
What Cam needs to do is shake this off and find a way to win games, it’s that simple. As the leader of a franchise you can’t have this “Woe is me attitude” after you throw an interception or take a bad loss. He needs to get that swagger back that he had last season, tune out the media and play football.
What I do know is this, Cam will either be the player people saw at Auburn and respond well to the adversity or he’ll succumb to the pressure. Which one will it be Cam?
Justin Thomas
ESPN 730 Blogger
Twitter: @JTyree704

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Week 9 BCS Rankings (Top 15)


1. Alabama
2. Florida
3. Kansas State
4. Oregon
5 .Notre Dame
6. LSU
7. Oregon State
8. Oklahoma
9. USC
10. Georgia
11.Texas Tech
12. Florida State
13. South Carolina
14. Texas Tech 
15. Rutgers

Justin Thomas
ESPN 730 Blogger
Twitter: @JTyree704

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Week 8 BCS Standings (Top 15)

1. Alabama
2. Florida
3. Oregon
4. Kansas State
5. Notre Dame
6. LSU
7. South Carolina
8. Oregon State
9. Oklahoma
10. USC
11. Georgia
12. Mississippi State
13. West Virginia
14. Florida State
15. Rutgers
Justin Thomas
ESPN 730 Blogger
Twitter: @JTyree704
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SportsFromMyEyes

Monday, October 8, 2012

A Wild Weekend In College Football

When you have the third, fourth and fifth ranked teams in the country all fall in the same weekend that’s when you know the saying is true “Anybody can be beat”.
    LSU, Florida State and Georgia all lost this weekend while being on the road. LSU has struggled more than what people imagined barely beating Auburn 12-10 two weekends ago, to now falling to the Florida Gators 14-6. It only gets tougher as the third ranked South Carolina Gamecocks, who are on a roll come to visit Baton Rouge for the biggest game of this upcoming weekend. Death Valley is known to be the toughest place to play in the country for a night game, will that be enough for LSU? Who knows, but that’s why we play the game.
    Florida State was the biggest shocker of the weekend losing 17-16 on the road to NC State. Florida State its still the same ole song, highly ranked, great expectations but failing to take care of the games they need to win. The hope for the Seminoles to make it to the national championship isn’t  over, but the difference now is that they don’t control their own destiny they have to hope for other top teams to start falling off which is likely to happen.
    The Georgia Bulldogs still a top team as LSU and Florida State, did not look good on Saturday night failing to the South Carolina Gamecocks 35-7. South Carolina just has Georgia’s number beating them the past three times they’ve played. Georgia is in a tricky spot, hopefully they don’t over look Kentucky when they travel to play them Saturday jumping ahead to a highly anticipated matchup when they face their biggest rival the Florida Gators.
    If you’re a fan of LSU, Florida State and Georgia all hope isn’t lost for a spot in the national championship game, it just means they need to win and hope for other to lose.

Justin Thomas
ESPN 730 Blogger
Twitter: @JTyree704
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SportsFromMyEyes