http://www.wetalksports.com/ en Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:35:34 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.wetalksports.com/images/misc/rss.png http://www.wetalksports.com/ http://www.wetalksports.com/showthread.php?t=42719&goto=newpost Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:23:19 GMT Bryan Albin’s College Football Games of the Week[/B]

Last night, Boise State won a thriller over Virginia Tech to give me a solid opening week of picks, as I went 3-1-1. Due to last night’s game messing up with my normal weekly schedule, today I will make two picks with abbreviated game summaries.

5. MICHIGAN WOLVERINES (+4, -110) @ NOTRE DAME (-4, -110)
Saturday September 11 3:30 PM ET

One of college footballs most storied rivalries is on the slate of games this week, as both programs are looking to get back towards the upper echelon of college football. Michigan was unbelievable in its opener, as sophomore QB Denard Robinson dominated the UConn defense in his first career start, as Michigan won 30-10. However, even though UConn only scored 10 points, the Michigan defense looked shaky at times, but it was bailed out by UConn turnovers and dropped passes. Several players were injured in the game, but Denard Robinson showed the type of ability that Rich Rodriguez needs at QB for his spread offense to be effective.

Notre Dame played its first game under new head coach Brian Kelly Saturday and won 23-12 over Purdue. A win is a win, but the Irish didn’t look as though they have grasped Brian Kelly’s spread offense yet, as at times the offense looked incredibly shaky. QB Dayne Crist didn’t make mistakes, but he hardly lit up a Purdue defense that will more than likely rank in the bottom half of the NCAA this year. Notre Dame is going to need its offense to step up on Saturday, because I find it hard to believe that the Notre Dame defense will shut down the Wolverines offense like it shut down Purdue on Saturday.

Pick: Michigan 27 Notre Dame 21 Michigan covers

4. SOUTH FLORIDA BULLS (+16, -110) @ #4 FLORIDA GATORS (-16, -110)
Saturday September 11 12:20 PM ET

South Florida played its first game under new Head Coach Skip Holtz and trounced Stony Brook 59-14. Sophomore QB B.J. Daniels was solid, but there really wasn’t anything to be learned about South Florida in this game. This game is a big deal for the Bulls, though, because they are trying to prove that they have made it “the big 4″ in Florida, as they hope to recruit on the level that the Gators, Miami and Florida State do. The Bulls beat Florida State last year and they get a crack at Miami in November, but nothing would be bigger to this program than beating the Gators in the Swamp. Daniels will have to play the game of his life for the Bulls to do so, as he will need to use his speed to escape pressure from the Gators front seven.

Florida looked very shaky in its first game against Miami (OH) on Saturday. The Gators comfortably won, 34-12, but QB John Brantley was not as god as advertised in the opener. WHile he did throw for 2 TD’s, he and the Florida offense only manages 213 yards of offense. Furthermore, Florida had 8 fumbles (3 lost) that mostly happened during the exchange from C Mike Pouncey to Brantley on snaps. The center to quarterback exchange should not be this hard for two players of Brantley and Pouncey’s caliber. South Florida is known for playing swarming defense in big games, so Florida needs to be prepared to be much sharper in this one.

South Florida also has the pressure of playing with the weight of the Big East on its shoulders this week. After the Big East had dreadful first weekend, the Bulls have the chance to restore some conference pride. Some may say that this is too much pressure for an upstart Bulls team, but South Florida has thrived when in this position over the years. In 2007 South Florida scored a huge win on the road against a ranked Auburn squad, then it beat a ranked Kansas team in 2008 before beating Florida State in Tallahassee last year. Therefore, I expect South Florida to put up a similar effort and surprise a lot of people in this game, even if the Bulls can’t win.

Pick: South Florida 16 Florida 21 South Florida Covers ]]> Free Sports Service Plays, Free Picks, and News freepicks http://www.wetalksports.com/showthread.php?t=42719 http://www.wetalksports.com/showthread.php?t=42643&goto=newpost Mon, 06 Sep 2010 17:30:11 GMT Bryan Albin’s College Football Game of the Week

1. * * *# 3 BOISE STATE (+1.5, -110) @ # 10 VIRGINIA TECH (-1.5, -110)

Without a doubt, tonight’s labor day showdown is the biggest game of week 1. With 21 starters returning from a team that went 13-0 and won the Fiesta Bowl a year ago, Boise State is finally starting he year high enough in the polls that another undefeated season would probably put the Broncos into the National Championship game. On the other side, Virginia Tech may have its best offense since Michael Vick quarterbacked the Hokies in 1999. This game is being played in Washington, D.C. which means that it is essentially a road game for Boise. A high profile win like this is necessary for the Broncos to make it to the BCS Title game.

STRENGTH AGAINST STRENGTH

Virginia Tech comes into this game with a highly touted running game. A year ago RB Williams ran for over 1,500 yards as a Freshman. This year he is a dark horse Heisman candidate. However, the rushing attack could be a 2-headed monster, as last year’s projected starter Darren Evans is returning form an injury. Unfortunately for these two, their season’s might get off to a rough start. People all talk about the strength of the Boise offense, but people seem to forget how stifling the Boise State run defense was in big games a year ago. Neither TCU or Oregon were able to get 40 rushing yards against the Broncos. This is an unbelievable statistic. If Boise can have a similar game to those two defensively, I can’t imagine that Virginia Tech will win.

KEYS TO THE GAME

• When Boise gets into the red zone, the Hokie defense must seek out WR Austin Pettis. Pettis is a big target who was a red zone machine a year ago. If Virginia Tech can take away the fade to Pettis in the end zone Broncos may have to settle for a few field goals.
• Virginia Tech is known for its ability to make game changing plays on special teams. If it makes one tonight, that could be the difference.
• Boise State’s run defense vs. Virginia Tech’s running attack may be one of the most interesting battles of the season. I expect Boise to come out on top.

Pick: * * * * *Boise State 20 * * * * * * Virginia Tech 17 * * * * * * Boise State covers



More... ]]> Free Sports Service Plays, Free Picks, and News freepicks http://www.wetalksports.com/showthread.php?t=42643 http://www.wetalksports.com/showthread.php?t=42632&goto=newpost Mon, 06 Sep 2010 15:16:49 GMT Cappers access navy va. Tech cubs Cappers access
navy
va. Tech
cubs ]]> Free Sports Service Plays, Free Picks, and News CATWINS http://www.wetalksports.com/showthread.php?t=42632 http://www.wetalksports.com/showthread.php?t=42596&goto=newpost Sun, 05 Sep 2010 17:00:29 GMT Bryan Albin’s College Football Preview

As my preseason Top 25 rolls towards the # 1 spot, I will discuss the national title chances of a team replacing an icon.

6. FLORIDA GATORS

2009 Recap- * * * *It’s not usual for a team to call 13-1 season that culminated with a Sugar Bowl victory a disappointment. However, if you asked the Florida Gators about their 13-1 year last year they would probably call it just that. Florida was the unanimous favorite to win the BCS title last year throughout much of the season as Tim Tebow’s storied career was coming to a close. However, in the SEC title game, Mark Ingram and Alabama physically destroyed the Gators and forcing the Gators to play Cincinnati in the Sugar Bowl. Tebow’s career ended on a high note, as the Gators pummeled the Bearcats. The offseason was interesting for the Gators as Urban Meyer announced his retirement from coaching, only to decide that he would come back and continue to coach the Gators. Defensive Coordinator Charlie Strong left to coach Louisville, but despite all tha, Florida is still considered a National Title Contender.

Offense- Jr. QB John Brantley has the toughest job in the country, as he has to follow the act of Tim Tebow. However, Brantley has to try and forget that Florida fans will hope for Brantley to be the same kind of leader that Tebow was. Brantley simply has to focus on playing his game, as he is more of a pocket passer, whereas Tebow was most effective as a power runner. For Brantley to succeed, he will need a receiver to have a breakout season now that Aaron Hernandez and Riley Cooper are in the NFL. If former RB Chris Rainey adapts to playing WR quickly, he could play a similar role to the one Percy Harvin did 2 years ago. A solid running combination of Jeff Demps and Emmanuel Moody will have the luxury of running behind perhaps the best offensive line in the nation, anchored by C Mike Pouncey. The Florid offense will look very different this year, but it still could be one of the more explosive offenses in the country.

Defense- The strengths of the Florida defense ought to be the tackles and safeties this season. Due to injuries and intense competition at the position, every DT on Florida’s 3 deep has at least one career start. Sr. SS Ahmad Black and Jr. FS Will Hill are also considered to be one of the nation’s top safety tandems. As long as the defense can replace Carlos Dunlap’s sack production, the defense should be in good shape. Let’s face it, Urban Meyer has top recruits coming in every year, and you can be sure each defense is striving to be better than the one the year before.

Schedule- Florida has a couple of non-conference games that could be tricky in 2010, as South Florida comes into the Swamp on September 11 looking to prove that it is also a power to be reckoned with in Florida. The Gators rivalry game with Florida State is in Tallahassee this year and Florida State may finally be ready to make the rivalry interesting again. The SEC schedule is brutal for the Gators this year, as they have tough road games at Tennessee and Alabama, while having to host LSU South Carolina and up and coming Mississippi State. Then there’s Florida’s rivalry with Georgia in Jacksonville. Simply put, the SEC scheduling committee didn’t do the Gators any favors this year.

Prediction- Florida jump out to 4-0 as South Florida and Tennessee come up just short of upset bids. Despite being 4-0, the Gators will be feeling shay coming into a huge game at Alabama, and it will show as the Tide rolls over the Gators. The Gators keep their national title hopes alive the next week with a rebound win over LSU in the Swamp. Using the momentum from that game, Florida will Mississippi State, Georgia and Vanderbilt to get to 8-1. However, that is where Florida’s title hopes will die as Steve Spurrier and the Gamecocks will pull a shocker, beating the Gators in Gainesville. Rebound wins over Appalachian State and Florida State in the finale are solid, and Florida will have the consolation prize of a rematch with Alabama in the SEC Championship game, but these days in Gainesville, 10-2 isn’t enough to provide anyone with a happy ending.



More... ]]> Free Sports Service Plays, Free Picks, and News freepicks http://www.wetalksports.com/showthread.php?t=42596 http://www.wetalksports.com/showthread.php?t=42595&goto=newpost Sun, 05 Sep 2010 17:00:29 GMT Bryan Albin’s College Football Preview

Yesterday, the Florida Gators checked in my Top 25 countdown at #6. Today, a team replacing last year’s #1 pick in the NFL Draft takes its spot in my rankings.

5. OKLAHOMA SOONERS

2009 Recap- * * * * * Oklahoma came into last season with extremely high expectations. However, the injury bug had derailed the Sooners’ season by the 2nd quarter of their first game. TE Jermaine Gresham was injured before the season, and would not return. Then, in the 2nd quarter of the season opener against BYU, QB Sam Bradford injured his shoulder and had to come out of the game. Oklahoma ended up losing that game, as its national title hopes were crushed. With Landry Jones at QB, Oklahoma fell again on the road against Miami. Then, when Bradford returned for the Red River Shootout against Texas, he again was injured in the first half, and was out for the rest of the season. Oklahoma did end the season on a strong note though, as the Sooners defeated Stanford in the Sun Bowl to finish 8-5.

Offense- Technically, Bradford and Gresham left the offense this year, but considering Gresham didn’t play a down all year and Bradford barely played all of last year anyway, so its not like the Sooners aren’t used to playing without them. In fact, I expect the offense to be explosive with the trio of Landry Jones at QB, DeMarco Murray at RB and Ryan Broyles at WR. Broyles caught 80 balls for over 1,000 yards and 15 TD’s in 2009. He is a frontrunner to win the Biletnikoff award at the end of the year, which goes to the nation’s best Wide Receiver. Oklahoma’s offense should be able to light up scoreboards, especially in the Big XII where offenses have been way ahead of defenses recently.

Defense- DT Gerald McCoy, who was the 3rd pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, is going to be very hard for the Sooners to replace. However, the Sooners still have DE Jeremy Beal, who was a monster last year. Beal had 11 sacks and wreaked havoc, making life very difficult for quarterbacks. Last year, when things went wrong for the Sooners, the defense was not at fault. The Sooners held Texas to a 16 points, but lost 16-13. Against BYU, a 20-17 loss was mostly blamed on the offense. With a much improved offense expected this year, look for the Sooners defense to lock in and play sound football.

Schedule- Oklahoma as a difficult schedule ahead of itself in 2010. Non-conference games against Florida State and at Cincinnati will provide major challenges for a Sooners team looking to get back in the national title mix. The Red River Shootout will be difficult as always for the Sooners. While I expect the Big XII to be down this year, I do think that there are some tough road games on Oklahoma’s schedule, including Texas A&M, Missouri and Baylor. Avoiding Nebraska ought to make many Sooners fans happy as well.

Prediction- After the disappointment that Oklahoma felt on week 1 last year, I expect that coach Bob Stoops will have the Sooners up to their early season challenges. On September 11th, Oklahoma will hand Florida State its first loss under Jimbo Fisher, and Oklahoma will be off to the races. After surviving a road test in Cincinnati, Oklahoma will be 4-0. A win the next week against Texas will have many people thinking that he Sooners will roll to a 12-0 season. However, that is not as easy as it sounds, and Oklahoma will find that out the hard way when it loses at Missouri. Oklahoma will be forced to settle for an 11-1 season and a Big XII South title, as they will fall short of reaching the national title game.



More... ]]> Free Sports Service Plays, Free Picks, and News freepicks http://www.wetalksports.com/showthread.php?t=42595 http://www.wetalksports.com/showthread.php?t=42587&goto=newpost Sun, 05 Sep 2010 17:00:29 GMT Bryan Albin’s College Football Games of the Week

2. * * * * *#24 Oregon State (+13.5,-110) @ TCU (-13.5,-110)

September 4th *7:45 PM ET

This game will be the best game of Saturday night, as it’s our first chance to see whether or not TCU has what it takes to possibly surpass Boise State and make it into the BCS National title game. Oregon State comes into the year a contender to win the Pac-10, as the offensive duo of WR James Rodgers and RB Jacquizz Rodgers is as electric as any in the Country. However, Oregon State is notoriously known for starting off slow at the beginning of the season, only to put it all together once the non-conference schedule comes around. If the Beavers don’t come out ready to play this upcoming Saturday, they will get smacked by the Horned Frogs, who are looking to make a statement on a national stage.

NOT AFRAID

Oregon State hasn’t gotten off to great starts in recent years, but much of that has to do with the difficult scheduling that Oregon State has done in the non-conference schedule. Last year it was a tough game against eventual Big East champion Cincinnati that derailed Oregon State early in the season. Two seasons ago it was a road game at eventual Big Ten champion Penn State. This year, Oregon State has non conference games against TCU, Louisville and Boise State! Therefore, Oregon State may need to win this game just so it doesn’t end up falling apart before the Pac-10 season even gets started.

KEYS TO THE GAME

• Jacquizz Rodgers is a Heisman candidate in many peoples’ eyes, but will he be able to get loose against a strong TCU defense? If he doesn’t, the Horned Frogs win easily.
• The last game TCU QB Andy Dalton played, his untimely Interceptions cost TCU the game. Will there be any after affects, or has the sting of the loss to TCU worn off after 8 months off.

Pick: * * * * Oregon State 30 * * * * * * * * * * TCU * 40 * * * * * * *Oregon State Covers



More... ]]> Free Sports Service Plays, Free Picks, and News freepicks http://www.wetalksports.com/showthread.php?t=42587 http://www.wetalksports.com/showthread.php?t=42588&goto=newpost Sun, 05 Sep 2010 17:00:29 GMT Bryan Albin’s College Football Games of the Week

3. * * * #21 LSU TIGERS (-4, -110) VS. *#18 UNC TAR HEELS (+4, -110)

September 4 * 8:00 PM ET

This game was once looking like it would be the best game of Saturday, but NCAA investigations surrounding the UNC football program have completely turned the tables. Both teams came into this season with question marks on offense. The Tar Heels now have to worry about how many of their star defenders will be allowed to play, as star DT Marvin Austin has already been suspended indefinitely and further punishments for other players, including leading WR Greg Little, could come before kickoff. However, despite he distractions that UNC has coming into this game, it is still a game between two ranked teams and the winner of this game ought to be looked at as an outside BCS title contender right out of the gate.

BEST OFFENSE IS A SUSPENDED DEFENSE?

LSU was horrible offensively a year ago, as it averaged barely over 300 yards of offense per game, which was 112th out of 120 teams in the FBS. People around Baton Rouge have been expecting the offense to be better this year in QB Jordan Jefferson’s Junior season, but there’s no doubt that Tigers fans probably weren’t too happy about having to go up against a vaunted Tar Heels defense in the first game of the year. Now it appears that the defense may not be so dominant on Saturday. Austin will definitely not play, and it is possible that LB’s Quan Sturdivant and Bruce Carter could be suspended for the game as well, as their names have been involved in the ongoing NCAA investigations surrounding the UNC program. If Sturdivant, Austin and Carter are all out for this one, the heart and soul of the Tar Heels defense would be gone. EVen if it’s just Austin out, the UNC defense will be less effective, as Austin is the kind of incredible space eater that gives guys like Carter and Sturdivant he ability to attack the line of scrimmage freely and clog up running lanes. LSU RB Richard Murphy will try and capitalize on the absence of Austin in the middle.

KEYS TO THE GAME

• How many UNC players will be out? If it’s just Austin, UNC still has a very good shot at winning this football game. If Greg Little is suspended too, UNC would lose its best offensive playmaker, which could be *a major problem considering offense will be hard to come by on Saturday.
• Has Jordan Jefferson put it together? He was sacked 32 times a year ago, mostly because he holds on to the ball too long. While he is incredibly talented, he needs to show the polish to recognize which throws are smart throws, and when he needs to just throw the ball away because nothing has developed. If he shows that kind of maturity, I like LSU’s chances.
• Can UNC run the ball against the LSU defense? While Shaun Draughn is probably the go to back for the Tar Heels, I think the physical Ryan Houston is going to have to see a lot of early action to wear down the Tiger front seven. His physical running early may open up some holes for Draughn later.

Pick: * * * * * *LSU * 24 * * * * * * * * * * * * UNC * * * 13 * * * * * * * * * LSU Covers



More... ]]> Free Sports Service Plays, Free Picks, and News freepicks http://www.wetalksports.com/showthread.php?t=42588 http://www.wetalksports.com/showthread.php?t=42589&goto=newpost Sun, 05 Sep 2010 17:00:29 GMT Bryan Albin’s College Football Games of the Week

#4. *# 15 PITTSBURGH PANTHERS (+3, -110) @ UTAH UTES (-3, -110)

Thursday September 2nd 8:30 ET

This matchup is clearly the best of the Thursday night games even though it’s on Versus instead of ESPN. Pittsburgh comes into the year as the favorite to win the Big East, and a team that could be a darkhorse candidate to make the BCS title game. However, the Panthers will have to survive the Utes in Salt Lake in the first game of the year before they look into the future. Utah is nearly impossible to beat at home (17 straight home wins) and the Utes are the most likely candidate to unseat TCU as Mountain West Champions if anyone can overtake the Horned Frogs.

TEAM GAME

If this matchup could be decided on paper, Pittsburgh would probably win comfortably. Pitt has three potential All Americans in RB Dion Lewis, WR Jonathan Baldwin and DE Greg Romeus. However, as all football fans know, sometimes you are only as good as your weakest links. Therefore, the guys who will probably have the biggest influence on this game are Pitt QB Tino Sunseri and the Pitt offensive line. Sunseri will be making his first career start in a hostile environment and he will be standing behind an inexperienced offensive line that has 3 new starters. If the line protects Sunseri and if Sunseri is efficient passing, Lewis ought to be able to succeed. However, if Utah is able to stack the box with 8 defenders due to an incompetent Pitt passing game, Lewis may be in for a long night.

GOING FOR THE WYNN

Utah So. QB Jordan Wynn burst onto the scene in the second half of last season. Wynn took over in the 8th game of the regular season and threw for over 1,300 yards 8 TD’s and 4 INT’s in limited action. He really emerged in the Poinsettia Bowl Game, though, when he led Utah a big win over California with 3 TD passes. Pittsburgh will be breaking in 2 new cornerbacks this year, as both Aaron Berry and Jovani Chappel are no longer on the football team, so Wynn will have to be sharp in attacking the corners right from the get go.

KEYS TO THE GAME

• The expectations are as high as they’ve been in a long time in Pittsburgh. With Lewis and Baldwin being Heisman candidates, Pitt fans believe they ought to win the Big East outright this year. However, expectations can sometimes put unnecessary pressure on a team, especially one that’s breaking in new starting Qb on the road against a high caliber team such as Utah. I don’t expect Sunseri to be sharp in this one.
• If Utah jumps out to a quick lead will Pitt be patient? Pitt needs to establish Dion Lewis, even if it falls behind early. If Lewis goes off for 150 yards or so, Pitt may find itself winning a huge opener.
• If Utah double teams Greg Romeus, the other DE for Pitt, Jabaal Sheard, has to take advantage. Sheard doesn’t have the speed of Romeus, but he is a big physical end who ought to be able to put pressure on Jordan Wynn if he’s being single-covered all game.

Pick: * * * *Pittsburgh 23 * * * * * * * * * Utah 24 * * * * * Pittsburgh covers



More... ]]> Free Sports Service Plays, Free Picks, and News freepicks http://www.wetalksports.com/showthread.php?t=42589 http://www.wetalksports.com/showthread.php?t=42590&goto=newpost Sun, 05 Sep 2010 17:00:29 GMT Bryan Albin’s College Football Games of the Week

Now that we have made it to the end of my preseason Top 25 Countdown, it is time to start picking games. Each week I will pick the weeks most important games for you starting with the 5th best game of the week on Mondays, all the way to my game of the week on Fridays. With only 3 more days until kickoff, let’s start breaking down my #5 game of week one.

Connecticut Huskies (+3, -110) @ Michigan Wolverines (-3, -110)

September 4th, 3:30 EST

Despite this being a game between two unranked teams, it will garner as much national attention as any game on Saturday. With Michigan looking to return to glory in Rich Rodriguez’s third year at the school, this is a game that Michigan needs to win to get on an early roll. The Huskies, though, will be poised to spoil the first game played in the expanded Big House. Whereas Michigan finished the 2009 season in the middle of a slump, the Huskies reeled off four wins in a row to end the season, including a bowl win over Steve Spurrier’s South Carolina. The Huskies became a national story as they played in honor of a fallen teammate, CB Jasper Howard who was murdered outside of a school dance last October, and they ought to be expected to play this season with similar emotion and unity as this would have been Howard’s senior season. Other story lines include the possibility that UConn and Michigan may soon be regular opponents if UConn moves to the Big Ten in the near future as part of the Big Ten’s imminent expansion to 16 teams.

GETTING OFFENSIVE

This game also could turn out to be one of the most exciting games to watch in week 1, because a lot of offense should be expected. In the last 4 games of the 2009 regular season, UConn scored 45, 33, 56 and 29 points respectively. Michigan, on the other hand had a hot offense early in the year, but it cooled off as the Wolverines got deeper into Big Ten play. However, wherever he has coached, Rich Rodriguez’s teams tend to make a huge improvement offensively in his third year at the school. It should be expected that the Michigan offense will be much improved this season. Also, both defenses have a lot of question marks and are probably not as ready for games as the offenses will be.

KEYS TO THE GAME

• Who is starting at QB for Michigan? Right now it looks as if the speedy Denard Robinson has beaten out incumbent Tate Forcier for the starting job. Robinson is similar to Rodriguez’s most famous protege, Pat White, in terms of ability to turn nothing into a huge gain with his legs. If Robinson starts, though, he will have to be able to show he can make throws downfield, because UConn’s front seven is very good at stopping the run, while the UConn secondary may be vulnerable.
• UConn’s Sr. MLB Greg Lloyd has had his redshirt pulled and will actually start the game. If Lloyd, who has recovered from a torn ACL, is really 100% healthy, the Huskies have one of the best linebacker units in the country, as Lloyd, Lawrence Wilson and Scott Lutrus are the heart of the UConn defense.
• Can UConn Sr. QB Zach Frazer start this year playing as consistently as he did at the end of last season? If he does, which means he is protecting the ball, making smart throws and throwing a good deep ball, UConn will put a lot of points on the board. Not only is Michigan’s secondary weak, but UConn has one of the best rushing attacks in the nation.
• Special teams always seem to play a huge roll in these types of games. UConn hurt itself on special teams many times, including giving up Touchdowns on the opening kickoff of games against West Virginia. If Michigan could expose similar problems with the 2010 Huskies’ Special Teams, it may be enough to hand it a critical victory.

Pick: * * * * *Connecticut 31 * * * * * * * * * Michigan 20 * * * * * * *Connecticut covers






More... ]]> Free Sports Service Plays, Free Picks, and News freepicks http://www.wetalksports.com/showthread.php?t=42590 http://www.wetalksports.com/showthread.php?t=42591&goto=newpost Sun, 05 Sep 2010 17:00:29 GMT Bryan Albin’s College Football Preview

After the long, long wait, I am finally ready to debut my #1 team in the Country. Let’s just say we will start 2010 where we left off in 2009.

1. ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE

2009 Recap- * * * * Alabama was coming off of a very difficult end to the 2008 season when a loss to Florida in the SEC title game denied the Crimson Tide their national championship aspirations. Then a loss to Utah in the Sugar bowl left ‘Bama looking for a big year in 2009. A win over Virginia Tech in Atlanta got the Bowl rolling for the Tide in 2009. It took a last second field goal block to survive Tennessee. Then, in the last game of the regular season, after falling behind Auburn 14-0, Alabama staged a late comeback to win 26-21. Then, Alabama throttled Florida in the SEC Championship and then rolled over Texas 37-21 in the BCS Title game. RB Mark Ingram won the Heisman trophy, as Alabama is officially the nation’s new powerhouse under Nick Saban.

Offense- The Alabama offense returns most of its starters from a year ago, which is certainly great news for the Rolling Tide. Alabama scored 32.7 points per game last year, and they did it behind a strong rushing attack. Heisman trophy winner Mark Ingram is back and he will be backed up by RB Terry Richardson, who might be the best #2 back in the Country. With QB Greg McElroy returning, as well as star WR Julio Jones, Alabama has all the weapons it needs at the skill positions to have an explosive offense in the defensive SEC conference.

Defense- The Alabama defense was stifling a year ago. Opponents scored 11.7 points per game against the Crimson Tide in 2009. However, Alabama lost a ton of key players from that team. DT Terrence Cody, LB Rolando McClain and CB Javier Arenas are all gone from last years team. The defense is going to need Dont’a Hightower to step u and become a key performer now that he is returning from injury. True freshman CB will DeMarcus Millner is going to have to be able to step in right away and replace Arenas. Normally I would be worried about a team that has to replace as many starters on defense as the Crimson Tide has to, but Nick Saban has the ability to stockpile defensive talent like no one else, so I have faith that the ‘Bama defense will be ready to perform from the get-go.

Schedule- There’s going to be a bunch of challenging games on the Alabama schedule in 2010. On September 11th, ‘Bama has a huge game against Penn State in Tuscaloosa. A brutal three game stretch at Alabama, home against Florida and at South Carolina will really test Alabama and prove what they bring to the table this year. Road games against Tennessee and LSU will also be difficult tests for the Crimson Tide, but probably not as difficult as the Iron Bowl rivalry game against Auburn will be in the last week of the season.

Prediction- I believe Alabama will get off to a 2-0 start after a statement win over Penn State in the 2nd win of the season. *Arkansas will be trailing, but find a way to win at Arkansas. After another brutal win over Florida at home and a road win at South Carolina, Alabama will have solidified its # 1 ranking. Road wins over Tennessee and LSU will not come easily, but Alabama will get it done and then seal a 3rd straight 12-0 regular season with a win over Auburn. A win over Florida in the SEC title game and then a win over Boise State in the BCS title game will have Alabama firmly established as the best College Football program in the nation.



More... ]]> Free Sports Service Plays, Free Picks, and News freepicks http://www.wetalksports.com/showthread.php?t=42591 http://www.wetalksports.com/showthread.php?t=42592&goto=newpost Sun, 05 Sep 2010 17:00:29 GMT Bryan Albin’s College Football Preview

My 2nd ranked team in my preseason top 25 comes from the WAC, and no, I’m not talking about San Jose State.

2. BOISE STATE BRONCOS

2009- * * *Great things happened on the smurf turf a year ago, as Boise State opened at home against #6 Oregon. Boise State dominated Oregon 19-8, but that game ended up being remembered more for LeGarrette Blount’s infamous postgame punch. From then on, the only real test Boise faced was a tough 28-21 win over Tulsa. After a 12-0 season, Boise had a Fiesta Bowl matchup with TCU. Just like in the Oregon game, Boise State played stifling defense and denied TCU the ability to run the football. After turning 2 interceptions into 14 points, Boise State was able to in 17-10 and are rolling into 2010 with as much momentum as any team in the Country.

Offense- There are not many teams that can claim they return every starter on offense from a team that went 13-0 and won the Fiesta Bowl. Boise State can do just that this year. Last year’s offense averaged 42.2 points per game and ought to be even more explosive this year. Jr. QB Kellen Moore threw for over 3,500 yards with 39 TD’s and 3 INT’s, which is why many believe he is a Heisman candidate this year. With his top targets, Titus Young and Austin Pettis, back for the 2010 season, Moore should be able to put up similar numbers, if not better to what he did a year ago. RB Jeremy Avery ran for nearly 1,200 yards last year and he is poised to have another strong year. The only teams that may be able to challenge the Boise offense are Virginia Tech and Oregon State, which is why Boise is probably thrilled to play these teams early in the season, because its offense should be clicking from the get go.

Defense- Boise State’s defense was great when it had to be last year, but it showed plenty of moments of weakness. In games against Fresno State and Nevada the defense allowed 30+ points, but luckily for the Broncos the offense was good enough to overcome those performances. The only starter missing from last years defense is CB Kyle Wilson, who is now with the New York Jets, but the secondary should be very strong still, as Brand Thompson returns after picking off 6 passes a year ago. DE Ryan Winterswyk gives the defense a legitimate pass rusher off the edge, which should help force opposing quarterbacks into bad throws that guys like Thompson can pick off. As long as Boise’s defense maintains its ability to step up in big games, which I believe it will, Boise should be in prime position for another undefeated season.

Schedule- On Labor Day night, the season will kick off with a bang as Boise State plays Virginia Tech in Washington D.C. This could be the game to springboard Boise State to its first BCS National Title appearance. However, another tough test is looming a couple weeks later when Oregon State visits Bronco stadium. Other than that I really don’t think that Boise State has much to worry about in WAC play. Nevada could provide a test if the defense spaces out and Fresno State always seems to find a way to give Boise State a challenge.

Prediction- Boise State, just like last year, will come out ready to go and prove its ability with a win over Virginia Tech in what is virtually a road game. Then, after a win over Wyoming, Boise will have its last chance to impress the nation for a while when it faces Jacquizz Rodgers and Oregon State. Rodgers, a Heisman candidate, is going to realize how tough it is to run against the Broncos and Boise State will roll to an easy victory. After that, no team in the WAC will even challenge the Broncos and they will finish 12-0. Due to their success last year, with only one other undefeated team in the Country, Boise State will finally get its shot to play for the National Championship against my #1 team.



More... ]]> Free Sports Service Plays, Free Picks, and News freepicks http://www.wetalksports.com/showthread.php?t=42592 http://www.wetalksports.com/showthread.php?t=42593&goto=newpost Sun, 05 Sep 2010 17:00:29 GMT Bryan Albin’s College Football Preview

As my preseason top 25 comes to a close, my third ranked team is a team looking to continue its dominance of the Big 10.

3. OHIO STATE BUCKEYES

2009 Recap- * * * *In 2009 the Buckeyes had lofty expectations for the season. With QB Tyrelle Pryor starting as a sophomore, it was expected that the Buckeyes could make it to the National Championship game. However, in a week 2 showdown against USC in Columbus, the Buckeyes had their hearts broken by USC for the 2nd straight year. The Buckeyes’ chances of winning the Big Ten for the 5th straight year took a major ht when the Buckeyes lost at Purdue as Pryor looked horrible in the pocket all night. Luckily for the Buckeyes, Pryor rebounded and the Buckeyes clinched a spot in the Rose Bowl with a dramatic win over the Iowa Hawkeyes. In that Rose Bowl, Ohio State surprised many when they controlled the Oregon Ducks and Pryor played like the superstar that many expected he would be. An 11-2 season and Rose Bowl victory have given Buckeyes fans high hopes for the 2010 season.

Offense- In 2010, much like in 2009, the Buckeyes offensive efficiency will all depend on how well Jr. QB Tyrelle Pryor plays. In 2009 he threw for just over 2,000 yards with 18 TD’s and 11 INT’s. We all know Pryor is a fantastic runner, as he nearly ran for 800 yards and 7 TD’s a year ago, but the Buckeyes need him to become a more legitimate passing threat for RB’s Dan Herron and Brandon Saine to excel this year. A veteran offensive line anchored by LG Justin Boren ought to help Pryor improve his passing, given that they will provide him with plenty of time to throw. The real key to Pryor being a successful QB this year will be the play of his receivers. DeVier Posey is a solid number one target , but there are questions as to whether or not Dane Sanzenbacher is a legitimate number 2 for a title contending team. If Sanzenbacher fits the bill, Ohio State ought to have plenty of ways to be explosive on offense.

Defense- The foundation of Ohio State football under Jim Tressel has been the defense that his teams play. Guys like A.J. Hawk, Bobby Carpenter, James Laurinitis and Chris Gamble have been pieces on great Ohio State defenses under Tressel. This year, I expect the name Cameron Heyward to join that list of elite Ohio State defenders of the Tressel era. Heyward had 6 sacks a year ago, and his combination of size and speed terrorizes opposing offensive lines.With Sr. DT Dexter Larimore also on the line, Ohio State has probably the best defensive line in the Big Ten. The line’s efforts will be key against Conference foes Iowa, Penn State and Wisconsin, who are all known for playing power football before anything else. With 7 seniors starting on this years defense, I am more than confident in saying that Ohio State will have the best defense in the Big Ten. If the newly formed secondary can gel quickly, it may turn out to be one of the most stifling defenses in the nation.

Schedule- In recent years under Tressel, Ohio State has played a marquee non-conference game early in the season. That tradition continues this season, as Ohio State plays host to the Miami Hurricanes on September 11th. Other than that game, the Non Conference slate is soft for the Buckeyes, as they play Marshall, Ohio and Eastern Michigan. The conference schedule will be difficult for the Buckeyes in 2010, due to two very difficult road games against Big Ten contenders Wisconsin and Iowa. The last two home games of the year for the Buckeyes are also potential road blocks, as they host Penn State and Michigan.

Prediction- Ohio State will start with an easy win over Marshall. Then, in week 2, the Buckeyes will realize their newly formed secondary is not yet ready for a strong passing attack, as Miami, led by Jacory Harris, will put up points through the air early. Tyrelle Pryor will end up trying to do to much to keep up, and a few turnovers will leave Ohio State falling to Miami in a tight game. Ohio State will rebound quickly with 4 wins in a row before visiting Wisconsin. Wisconsin will jump out to a quick lead behind John Clay’s power running. Ohio State will show its character in the 2nd half, though, as Tyrelle Pryor will finally break out into the star that people have been waiting for. This emotional breakthrough will spur Ohio State on the rest of the season, as huge wins over Iowa, Penn State and Michigan will allow Ohio State 11-1. Many people will be campaigning for the Buckeyes to make the Championship game, but the Buckeyes will find themselves playing in the Rose Bowl against Oregon for the 2nd straight year instead.



More... ]]> Free Sports Service Plays, Free Picks, and News freepicks http://www.wetalksports.com/showthread.php?t=42593 http://www.wetalksports.com/showthread.php?t=42594&goto=newpost Sun, 05 Sep 2010 17:00:29 GMT Bryan Albin’s College Football Preview

Yesterday, my Big XII champion, Oklahoma, came into the poll at #5. Today, one of the best mid major’s in the nation takes its spot.

4. TCU HORNED FROGS

2009 Recap- * * * * A year ago, everything seemed to be falling into place for the TCU Horned Frogs. After early season wins over ACC opponents Virginia and Clemson, TCU was in great position to get climb up the rankings. Then, a 38-7 thumping of BYU on the road put TCU on the map. The Horned Frogs, coached by Gary Patterson, ran through the Mountain West without a problem, for a 12-0 season. For a moment, it almost looked like TCU would sneak into the National Championship game, as Texas was on the verge of losing to Nebraska in the Big XII title game. However, Texas won on a last second field goal and TCU had to settle for a Fiesta Bowl matchup with Boise State. TCU could not get anything going on the ground against Boise, and 2 interceptions from Andy Dalton turned into 14 points for Boise, as the Broncos bet the Horned Frogs 17-10, leaving TCU with a 12-1 season in 2009.

OFFENSE- TCU put up a boatload of points last season, as QB Andy Dalton was electric. Dalton threw for nearly 3,000 yards to go with 23 touchdowns and only 8 Interceptions. With Dalton and the entire offensive line back from a year ago, many Horned Frogs fans believe TCU has what it takes to run the table again in the regular season. Matthew Tucker and Ed Wesley will combine at the running back position again, after combining for 1,300 yards and 12 TD’s a year ago. Jimmy Young and Jeremy Kerley, TCU’s top receviers in 2009, both return this year, meaning TCU has just about every weapon back on offense this year. Expect TCU’s scoring average to be among the nation’s best in 2010.

Defense- Gary Patterson’s football teams at TCU are normally known for their defense. However, this year’s defense has a couple of question marks coming into the season. The first of those questions is how will the Horned Frogs replace DE Jerry Hughes. Hughes was a sackmaster that many offenses would have to double team. Forgetting the 11.5 sacks Hughes had in 2009, his presence alone on the field impacted how opposing offenses went about their gameplan. This year, it does not appear that TCU has a dominant pass rusher and that may put a lot more pressure on guys like LB Tank Carder to get up into the box and make solid tackles while fighting of blocks. TCU will also have to figure out how to continue to create turnovers without Hughes, as Hughes not only forced a few fumbles, but often forced quarterbacks to make poor throws that led to interceptions.

Schedule- TCU opens up the 2010 season with one of the biggest games of week one. TCU plays Oregon State in the new Cowboys stadium in what will be a major showcase game for the Horned Frogs. The only other non-conference test is a home game against Baylor and its star QB Robert Griffin. Other than those games, the two Mountain West games that will present challenges to TCU are the games against BYU and at Utah.

Prediction- I anticipate that TCU will open up the season strong this year by beating Oregon State in impressive fashion. Tennessee Tech won’t provide any challenge to TCU and the Horned Frogs will be 3-0 after surviving a test from Baylor. Wins over SMU, Colorado State and Wyoming will have TCU 6-0 and probably ranked in the Top 5. However, that is when TCU will slip up up, as I see the Horned Frogs losing a very tight game before running the table the rest of the way and finishing 11-1. However, despite my belief that they are the 4th best team in the country and deserving of a trip to a BCS bowl if they go 11-1, my guess is that they will ranked just low enough in the BCS standings so that they can be excluded from the BCS.



More... ]]> Free Sports Service Plays, Free Picks, and News freepicks http://www.wetalksports.com/showthread.php?t=42594 http://www.wetalksports.com/showthread.php?t=42567&goto=newpost Sun, 05 Sep 2010 14:20:42 GMT smackthespread.net

Texas Tech 20! Units -13

Check Out the write up on the Blog'


Even thought the record wasn't fantastic, we knew which games to lay the wood on. With a mediocre 10-8 record during the NFL Preseason we still pocketed +50 Units and took home $335 if we only played $10 per unit. Not bad for a few minutes worth of work pressing buttons or walking up to your nearest sportsbook.

We look to start he NFL regular season off with a bang latter this week. Let's start off strong and finish stronger.


The Iphone App for NCAA Football Kicked Off with a mediocre 5-4 record, but again, we ALWAYS know which game to bring the wood. We ended the day with +35 Units and +$395 if we only played $10 per unit. The NCAA sesason with be a great one. Don't miss the Iphone picks.


We started a new thing on the Free section and were posting them on the Iphone app as well. We'll be posting games that we are leaning towards but we're not comfortable enough with them to post them with our true plays. We had 4 games that didn't quite make the cut on 9/4. We went 2-2. You can play those at your own value. We'll just track the W/L.

We have another new feature coming soon. We've just signed an agreement with the Southeast Regions Vegas Insider. This guy knows where all the money is being laid. Everybody knows that Vegas wasn't built on WINNERS and that's why we hired this guy. He will be posting the games that have the most money on them. And off course he's taking the VEGAS side. Until we finish the APP he'll be posting on my IPhone app. We will be adding this feature the APP in the next few weeks. You see his blog picks posted under "The Vegas Insider” This is an Exclusive deal for smackthespread.net. Don't worry you "LANG" followers. He'll be kicking his ass...

Also, wanted to thank all you visitors and loyal subscribers. We've been having a few issues with the system and we'll have everything worked out shortly.

See you tomorrow if the Lord is willing.

DocRich ]]> Free Sports Service Plays, Free Picks, and News CrimsonKes http://www.wetalksports.com/showthread.php?t=42567 http://www.wetalksports.com/showthread.php?t=42490&goto=newpost Fri, 03 Sep 2010 21:36:05 GMT Dave Malinsky 5* Texas 4* Texas Tech 4* Mich State Dave Malinsky

5* Texas
4* Texas Tech
4* Mich State ]]> Free Sports Service Plays, Free Picks, and News madden08 http://www.wetalksports.com/showthread.php?t=42490