What in the Hell?

USC.

How can you get absolutely embarrassed against Oregon State. A team that barely beats Stanford and a team who got throttled at the hands of Penn State. USC you looked two weeks ago like no one was going to come close to touching you all year and now you piss it away for now? Wow, unreal to me.

I didnt watch most of the game because I was watching Ryan Braun walkin' it off last night. But what I saw was that the defensive line of USC just got destroyed by Jacquizz Rodgers a true freshman. It makes one thing if Beanie Wells had played for the Buckeyes, would they have came closer to winning that game? Also the mighty stable couldnt do shit especially Reggie Bush Jr. (Joe McKnight) which once again is puzzling after they dominated Ohio State front line.

They still have a chance into the BCS Championship but its going to be a mighty climb because I think you will see one of the Big 12 teams in there and one SEC team likely. It is going to be tough for the Trojans to recover.

As for the Beavers, they could be the second-best team in the Pac 10 which I know isnt saying much this year but doesnt matter, they could really make some noise throughout the rest of the year. Also the future looks very bright with Jacquizz Rodgers in the backfield and hopefully they rock those Orange unis all year.

Who knows we could be on upset alert all day tomorrow.

-Charlie.

Top 25 Predictions

No article this week. There is really isnt anything that has peak my interest. There are a ton of a top 25 matchups that will leave for a good Monday post. So look forward to that, I just decided to make my picks because I have nothing better to do.


1. USC-At Oregon State-This is the Thursday night matchup and despite the bad success that the Trojans have had at Corvaillis, I think this team is focused on and will blowout the Beavers. USC 38-13

2. Oklahoma- vs. 24. TCU- Another big matchup this weekend between two good ones. If the Horned Frogs were to win this game then they should be higher in the polls than BYU. They are the more deserving non-BCS team then. I like the Horned Frogs chances to keep it close for most of the game although the Sooners are too good and will pull away late. OKLA 31-21

3. Georgia- vs. 8. Alabama- This is one will be a hard fought battle to the very end and expect the Dawgs to win this game through the air. Terrence Cody for Bama (their version of Gilbert Brown) will reek havoc on the young O-Line for the Dawgs. In addition, Nick Saban at least this year had gotten his boys ready to play in the big game situation. Georgia in my mind is a legit team and I think Matt Stafford is good enough to lead this team this week and will do so. UGA 17-14

4. Florida-vs. Mississippi- This marks the return of Jevan Sneed to Gainsville and something tells me that this game will be a lot closer than Urban Meyer would like. The Rebels could easily be 4-0 if not for some bad breaks against Wake Forest and Vanderbilt. I always trust in Tim Tebow and this week will be no difference, I see Tebow leading them down to win on the final drive. FLA 28-24

5. LSU-vs. Mississippi State- I dont think this one should be close for long. The Bulldogs have a pretty solid defense but it will not be any match for the Tigers as they show no signs of letting down after their big win in Auburn. LSU 31-6

6.Missouri-Bye

7. Texas-vs. Arkansas- A classic rivalry renewed between two teams who have some bad blood between them although this one will not have any heroics. I thought the Razorbacks were much better than they actually are plus Colt McCoy and the Longhorns have not been stopped on offense. UT 42-17

8. Alabama-See 3. Georgia

9. Wisconsin-at Michigan-The Badgers go into the Big House this weekend in the top 10 facing an unranked Wolverine team. I think the Badgers should win by a couple touchdowns but I just dont see the Badgers playing to their full potential. I think a game-winning FG decides this one as the Badgers snap their 14 game losing streak at the Big House. UW 20-17

10. Texas Tech-Bye- But watch the dating advice of their head coach Mike Leach, also Coach Leach has a bunch of great YouTube clips.

11.BYU-Bye

12. Penn State- vs. 22. Illinois- I think this is the one big games of the weekend that has the best chance of being a blowout. Its under the lights in Happy Valley which in my opinion is one of the toughest places to play and I think Penn State is one of the most underrated teams in the nation because all you hear about is the Big 12 and SEC but in reality, the upper echelon of the Big 10 isnt half bad. PSU-35-20

13. South Florida-at NC State- Well the Wolfpack have another chance to play spoiler and I think Coach Levittet will have his boys prepared after seeing the dismantle of ECU and this would of been my upset pick if the Wolfpack QB Russell Wilson hadnt gone down with injury. It will be very hard for QB Harrison Beck to win against South Florida. USF 24-10

14. Ohio State-vs. Minnesota- Now I think the Gophers are much better than team then they have been in the last couple of years and I think this game has a chance to be close for awhile. I am not sold whatsoever on the Buckeyes and this will be a game I will have my eye on. In the end, the Buckeyes defense gets done against the Gophers late. OSU 24-20

15. Auburn-vs. Tennessee- The Vols need to be included in the catagory of "Former great teams" like Michigan, FSU, Miami, Notre Dame, and Nebraska (granted 3/4 are in the top 35) always expectations yet never seemed to match-up to them. The Vols will be off to a comfty 1-3 start after this week lost to Auburn. AUB 27-14

16.Wake Forest-vs. Navy- The Midshipmen are the best military school out of the three, too bad they will have no chance against the Demon Deacons. WAKE 45-10

17.Utah-vs. Weber State- This one isnt worth my time on the keyboard. UTAH 70-3

18.Kansas-Bye

19. Boisie State-Bye

20.Clemson-vs. Maryland- The Terps are going to need alot of these big hits to win the football game. Both teams have been up and down to start the season but Clemson is overall the better football team. They will enjoy a significant victory in this one. CLEM 31-20

21. Vanderbilt-Bye

22. Illinois- See 12. Penn State

23. East Carolina-vs. Houston- The exciting world of C-USA football! Yes so jacked for that to start up again. I think this one shouldnt even be close as Houston defense cant seem to stop anyone. ECU 38-9

24. TCU-see 2. Oklahoma

25. Fresno State-At UCLA- Well I need an upset pick and I really like the chances of every team that is favored to win but for the hell of it, I will take the Bruins in this one. A west coast rivalry that the Bruins need/want to prove that they can be the same team that beat an SEC team. UCLA 31-28

Other Games to watch...
-Purdue at Notre Dame
-Virgina Tech at Nebraska
-Colorado at Florida State

Enjoy it.

-Charlie.

Matt Millen Gets the Boot..... 3 Years Late

This was about as shocking of news as finding out that Clay Aiken was gay. Basically saying everyone saw it coming, it was just a matter of time before it actually happened.

Matt Millen will never find an executive job in the NFL ever again. There is no possible way somebody can think its a good idea to have this guy in charge. The fans of teams in the NFC North loved the fact that Millen was in charge because we all knew that the Lions were nothing better than a 3rd place team.

The record of the Lions during Millen's seven years at the helm... 31-85. Wow, that is god-awful, how can you not fire this guy after about three years. He also the same guy who loved any wide receiver that was around in the first round a la Charles Rodgers (could of had Andre Johnson or Terrence Newman), Roy Williams (that one was good) and Mike Williams (missed out on DeMarcus Ware, Shawne Merriman, and Thomas Davis). In addition, I dont think he ever surrounded Joey Harrington- looking back on that pick, they could have Dwight Freeney or Roy Williams (free safety) with enough players to make him successful. Granted, he is still a bust but isnt on the top of the list for me. I just find it crazy that 50% of Millen's top 10 picks were wide recievers, just crazy.

It was a good move by the Lions to do it when they did. Now they can have a long process of picking a GM and I have not seen any lists of guys who could be favorites. I think they should at least keep around Rob Mirinelli. I think he has potential to be a good coach in my opinion.

-Charlie.

Al Harris Done for the Year?

I still think its a worthy blog mention as one of Green Bay's best players is possibly done for the year with a spleen problem. Everyone has been unsure whether its a ruptured, torn, or lacerated spleen and if he will be back this year. What does this mean for the Packers....

Anytime you lose one of your best players, it is never a good thing whatsoever although it gives way to a couple of young guys to show what they are worth. Right now according to ESPN.com, they have Will Blackmon slated in the #2 slot. Which I think is probably the right call, Blackmon is a speedy and very instinctive player. I worry about his foot issues though. I really like Tramon Williams though, I think he has the opportunity to be a great player for the Green Bay Packers. I thought Miles Austin of Dallas pushed off when he gave up that long pass play Sunday night.

I think the Packers might want to take a look at either Ty Law or Fakhir Brown who was just released by the St. Louis Rams. Those are two players that could make an impact for the Packers.

Worst case scenario is if Blackmon, Williams, or Charles Woodson goes down. That will mean more of Jarrett Bush, and Patrick Lee. We do not want to see that, I have no faith whatsoever in those two guys especially if they have to see more time.

-Charlie.

NFL Weekly Wrap-Up

We will kind of do the same thing I did for College Football. Just a bunch of quick hitters, what I got right, what i got partially got right, and what the hell was I was thinking.

-I think the Mizzou football team would be more exciting than the Chiefs or the Rams right now. God, are they bad. It looks like the Show-Me State will go one and two in the draft this year. KC cant decide who their QB is and STL has no defense in sight by giving up atleast 35+ points in the first two games

-Brett and the Jets are 1-2, rough. Cant say I didnt expect the start with the tough schedule but now with the Bills improving plus having go out west two more times, I think the Jets arent looking as good as people thought.

-Mike McCarthy playcalling looked like Ned Yost trying to manage the bullpen. I just didnt get alot of the moves he was making in the game for the Packers. I hope its not a sign of things to come this weekend against Tampa Bay.

-My apologies to Joey Porter who put his money where his mouth was this week with the absolute bashing of the New England Patriots and Porter had three sacks in the game as well. NE needs to play a wait/see process with Cassel, its still early and it wasnt Cassel fault the D gave up 38 points to the Phins.

-Another apology to the Grizzled Back-ups of the NFL club as all three of them went 3-0 this week and Brian Griese went for 400 yards in at OT victory against the Bears, Kerry Collins has his Titans 3-0 and Gus Ferrotte won with the Vikes although their D had a lot to do with that one.

Tom Swittel- A Hall of Fame Coach?

Did I hear right?

No really did I?

Why on earth does the WIAA see it reasonable to have Wauwatosa East Head Football Coach Tom Swittel into its Hall of Fame of coaches when he has only coached 14 years and has no conference championships to go along with it. How about he has never sniffed the third round of the playoffs. I think this is an absurd nomination and no way, shape, or form deserving.

Now to Swittel, I give him a lot of credit for making to the playoffs on a somewhat consistent basis with some of those teams having little depth. He did although in the last couple years have Jeff Donovan- Starting QB at UW-Whitewater at the helm So those years he had the depth on offense he needed to win football games and did so. You really can only point out last year as a surprise year with not much depth around them.

Another good thing about Swittel is he did create the Red Raider Junior Football Program whose one of the best in the southeastern area although its funny because they always have huge numbers yet they never seem to result in the High School. Hmm... isnt that a reflection of the Hall of Fame head coach?

Finally, this is a personal gripe but why doesnt this Hall of Fame coach play the rival Wauwatosa West Trojans. People at UWEC know about TE because of Jerry Smith and their state title in basketball although when I tell them we dont play in football, they are shocked.

The Hall of Famer's comments on this... "Well we have nothing to gain playing Tosa West". Although you do when you are playing Milwaukee Malcolm X, right. Now that you got your plaque and why dont you play Tosa West in an annual rivalry.

Just a thought for the Hall of Famer.

-Charlie.

College Football Wrap-Up

After the games are over on Saturday, either on Sunday or Monday give my thoughts on the week that was with short quick hitters. One of them will probably be expanded into an article the day before my picks (so Wednesday).

SEC has the best teams- I think when you have four top ten teams in your conference which is a third of the overall conference, its safe the say you are the strongest in the Nation. Teams like Georgia and Alabama proved to me their strengths with wins in dominating fashion where I expected the games to be close.

Dont forget the Big 12- They also have four in the top 10 with the addition of Texas Tech this week. They are all looking very strong but they will likely fall off as they seem to. Oklahoma in my opinion is the best all-around in the Big 12.

BYU=Next Hawaii?- They are beating opponents at will and it looks like (ugh) they might be making a run at the BCS but they could easily lose to TCU or Utah. I really hope for no non BCS teams that would be nice.

Bye ECU- I told you guys it would be a squeeker, I just didnt expect the Wolfpack to pull it out in the end. They will probably win their conference but no BCS game for them. If their bball team could get their shit together, they should be apart of the ACC.

I called it- I got Boise State and Colorado right this week and now Boise St. gets thrown in the conversation of BCS-busters. As for the Buffs, proves my point about the Big 12 above, and I think they will hover around the top 25.

Miss that one- FSU-Wake I got wrong, I thought the Seminoles would be able to take advantage of the homefield but both QBs struggled mightly with Wake Forest Defense. The Demon Deacons look to be the class of the ACC.

Finally, thoughts and prayers are with Dante Love from Ball State who will live a healthy life but will never be able to play football again which is a same because he would of been drafted this year in the NFL and the South Florida LB Brouce Mompremier who will only miss 2 weeks after a collision with his teammate.

-Charlie.