By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
After a week of upsets among the Top-10, including unranked teams knocking off some high-profile teams, there are some very intriguing matchups shaping up this weekend in college football
No. 7 USC at No. 24 California
This could be the game that truly tells us if USC is back. After getting embarassed by Washington two weeks ago, the Trojans beat up a bumbling Washington State team that has won one game this season - Southern Methodist. California just got a wake up call against Oregon, but still has one of the most dynamic offenses in the country, averaging 37.3 points per game, even after being held to three points last week. While USC's defense remains its strength, the offense is the real x-factor here. Quarterbacks facing Cal have a 139.44 passer rating this year. While Cal might be able to put up some points, but the question really lies in whether or not the Golden Bears can stop the Trojans. I'm betting on no.
Prediction: USC 38, Cal 31
No. 8 Oklahoma at No. 17 Miami
Sam Bradford is not going to be a factor. The Sooners will hold him out. Big games are on the horizon, including Texas, so they want to make sure he's 100 percent for those. However, those big games will mean a whole lot less if they enter Big XII play with two losses and the very real chance of more losses. Two losses would put them in a very precarious position in terms of the BCS. Three would make it pretty much impossible. Freshman Landry Jones has played well, but he hasn't faced a good defense, but will face that in the Hurricanes. Quarterbacks facing Miami have completed just over 52 percent of their passes. Miami is still a formidable opponent, even after getting blown out by Virginia Tech. Jacory Harris saw what it was like to face a stiff defense and will see an even better one this week. How he reacts after a pretty pedestrian performance will be interesting to see.
Prediction: Oklahoma 30, Miami 17
No. 4 LSU at No. 18 Georgia
LSU could be in a very tough spot after barely getting by Mississippi State last week. The offense has still been in a transitional phase and some question Jordan Jefferson's abilitiy to lead to offense, even though he played well and the running game sucked wind last week. Georgia has not been the most stifling team on defense, so it could be just what the Tigers need. Geogia's offense is only scoring a couple points more per game and is going up against a tough LSU team that is giving up just over two touchdowns per game.
LSU 31, Georgia 13
Thursday, October 1, 2009
The Bruins are Back! Season Preview
By Matt Ingram
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
After a long off-season the Bruins finally return to the ice tonight to start the long road to redemption after a disappointing 2009 playoffs. The playoffs ended at the hand of the Carolina Hurricanes in game 7 overtime loss on home ice. This year Boston will need more consistency offensively and less injuries to jump to the next level in the NHL.
This off-season Peter Chiarelli traded away Boston's best offensive threat and goal scorer, Phil Kessel. With the long-term signing of Tim Thomas, 4 years $20 million, the Bruins handcuffed themselves and had to choose between the younger more dynamic Kessel or the cheaper and possible one year wonder David Krejci. Now, the B's have no proven goal scorer but are hoping that if Krejci comes back at full strength after off-season surgery, he will become the sniper he showed he could be last season.
Marco Sturm is also coming back off injury. Sturm missed most of the 08-09 season, playing in only 19 games, ending his season in January with knee surgery. The Bruins better hope he can return with 25 - 30 goals to make up for some of the 36 goals Kessel scored last year.
Another "if" for Boston is Patrice Bergeron. Bergeron is trying to come back from multiple concussions which has limited his ice time and effectiveness over the past 2 years. The good news is that Patrice showed great intensity in the 09 playoffs that hadn't been there since before the concussions.
The emergence of 21 year old Milan Lucic in the playoffs gave the Bruins fans a look into the past. Lucic was given high praise from all of New England with comparisons to Cam Neely. His hard-hitting, front of the net play and willingness to drop the gloves have fans remembering back to the late 80's and early 90's to when Neely ruled the garden ice. Those are big skates to fill but he does have the size and strength to do it, as long as he can stay healthy. Atleast the "gutless puke" Ulf Samuelsson isn't still playing to derail Lucic from his career like he did to Neely. Lucic was dominant in the playoffs leading his team in plus minus with a +12; the closest teammate had a +7, the departed Kessel. If Lucic's game does progress it should makeup some of the loss of Kessel.
There is one more "if" for the Bruins this season, goaltending. With $8.2 million of the possible $44.8 million given to Thomas and rookie Tukka Rask the goaltending better be a mirror image of last year. Thomas will need to again be a candidate for the Vezina in order for this team to succeed.
The good news for the goalies is that most of the stout defensive lineup were retained from last year, plus in my opinion an upgrade from Aaron Ward to Derek Morris. Morris is a bit younger and can move the puck better in the defensive zone than Ward.
There's no doubt in my mind that the Bruins will make the playoffs, there's just too much talent on the team. The question is what will they do when they get there. The difference will be the "ifs". These "ifs" could change the outcome of a Game 7 overtime loss that propels you into the next round or could send you home packing in the first round.
*Check out the weekly Bruins Blog every Wednesday, plus catch game recaps the day after a game with news and notes.
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
After a long off-season the Bruins finally return to the ice tonight to start the long road to redemption after a disappointing 2009 playoffs. The playoffs ended at the hand of the Carolina Hurricanes in game 7 overtime loss on home ice. This year Boston will need more consistency offensively and less injuries to jump to the next level in the NHL.
This off-season Peter Chiarelli traded away Boston's best offensive threat and goal scorer, Phil Kessel. With the long-term signing of Tim Thomas, 4 years $20 million, the Bruins handcuffed themselves and had to choose between the younger more dynamic Kessel or the cheaper and possible one year wonder David Krejci. Now, the B's have no proven goal scorer but are hoping that if Krejci comes back at full strength after off-season surgery, he will become the sniper he showed he could be last season.
Marco Sturm is also coming back off injury. Sturm missed most of the 08-09 season, playing in only 19 games, ending his season in January with knee surgery. The Bruins better hope he can return with 25 - 30 goals to make up for some of the 36 goals Kessel scored last year.
Another "if" for Boston is Patrice Bergeron. Bergeron is trying to come back from multiple concussions which has limited his ice time and effectiveness over the past 2 years. The good news is that Patrice showed great intensity in the 09 playoffs that hadn't been there since before the concussions.
The emergence of 21 year old Milan Lucic in the playoffs gave the Bruins fans a look into the past. Lucic was given high praise from all of New England with comparisons to Cam Neely. His hard-hitting, front of the net play and willingness to drop the gloves have fans remembering back to the late 80's and early 90's to when Neely ruled the garden ice. Those are big skates to fill but he does have the size and strength to do it, as long as he can stay healthy. Atleast the "gutless puke" Ulf Samuelsson isn't still playing to derail Lucic from his career like he did to Neely. Lucic was dominant in the playoffs leading his team in plus minus with a +12; the closest teammate had a +7, the departed Kessel. If Lucic's game does progress it should makeup some of the loss of Kessel.
There is one more "if" for the Bruins this season, goaltending. With $8.2 million of the possible $44.8 million given to Thomas and rookie Tukka Rask the goaltending better be a mirror image of last year. Thomas will need to again be a candidate for the Vezina in order for this team to succeed.
The good news for the goalies is that most of the stout defensive lineup were retained from last year, plus in my opinion an upgrade from Aaron Ward to Derek Morris. Morris is a bit younger and can move the puck better in the defensive zone than Ward.
There's no doubt in my mind that the Bruins will make the playoffs, there's just too much talent on the team. The question is what will they do when they get there. The difference will be the "ifs". These "ifs" could change the outcome of a Game 7 overtime loss that propels you into the next round or could send you home packing in the first round.
*Check out the weekly Bruins Blog every Wednesday, plus catch game recaps the day after a game with news and notes.
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