College Football Week 3: Is for me

Photo courtesy of zimbio.com. The status of Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson (pictured above) is uncertain for Saturday’s game against Alabama. Even with a healthy Wilson, Arkansas will not be able to defeat Alabama.

By Josh Kramer

Louisiana-Monroe stole the show in Week 2 with their shocking upset of the heavily favored Razorbacks.  In addition, the Pac-12 flexed their muscles against the Big Ten and staked their claim as the second best conference in college football.  Luckily for all of us, Week 3 is when the schedule begins to take things up a notch.  The powder puff games are few and far between, with ranked matchups galore.

Here are the marquee matchups:

Alabama at Arkansas:  Crimson Tide by 24

Headline:  No comeback needed this time around.  The Crimson Tide smack around the overmatched Razorbacks from start to finish.

Louisiana-Monroe?  Do they even have a college football team?  This stunning upset was reminiscent of the infamous Appalachian State victory in the Big House back on September 1, 2007.  That was last week though.  Believe me, Alabama is not going to come to town with milk and cookies because they feel bad for the Razorbacks.  Not to mention that the status of Arkansas star quarterback Tyler Wilson is uncertain.

Back when the schedules were released, this was a game that I and many thought would be a classic.  That just won’t be the case.  The Razorbacks have defeated seven of their past ten ranked foes, but Alabama is better than the Razorbacks in every facet of the game.  Add in the fact that Tyler Wilson’s status is uncertain, and you have a blowout in Fayetteville.

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Weekly Nickel 9-10-2012

Photo courtesy of zimbio.com. Much will be expected from Mark Trumbo (left) and Albert Pujols (right) if the Angels want to make a playoff run.

By Josh Kramer

Football, football, and more football.  How nice was it to have a Saturday and Sunday jam-packed with football action?  Your weekends may be less productive, but more entertaining for the forseeable future.  Not to mention we are nearing the end of the MLB regular season and the Chase for the Cup is on.  Last week was fun, but you better believe that this week will be a good one in its own right.  Here are the events to keep an eye on.

5.  The Chase is finally on.  After 31 races spanning over nearly seven months, the field has been whittled down to 12.  There are ten races left starting at Chicagoland Speedway on Sunday.  Who will take it home?  We know that Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch won’t.

4.  Strasburg is done.  Teixeira could be done.  The injury-bug has struck as the season nears the final twenty games.  It is September and teams are doing all they can to land a spot in the postseason.  The races of note are taking place in the AL East, the AL Central, and of course for the four wild card spots this year.  My matchup of the week takes place in the friendly confines at Angel Stadium of Anaheim.

Oakland Athletics at Los Angeles Angels:  Who else envisioned the Angels participating in the Fall Classic this year?  I know I am not alone.  Well the clock is continuing to tick and currently, the Angels will miss the postseason entirely.  Fortunately for them, they open up a four-game set tonight against the team they are chasing.  Got to love how MLB scheduling works out at times.

It is make or break time for the Angels.  There is no better way to track down the team you are chasing than to handle business against them head to head.  The Angels appear to finally be clicking at the right time led by the terrific trio of Trout, Trumbo, and Pujols.  Look for the Angels to close the gap by nabbing three of four in front of a very supportive home crowd.  Also, expect the Angels to catch and pass Oakland when all is said and done.  The remainder of the A’s schedule includes the likes of the Orioles, the Tigers, the Yankees, and lots of Texas.

Throwback Saturday Part VIII

Photo courtesy of zimbio.com. Jerry Sandusky (pictured above) is one of the many faces that represents a year of scandal in the NCAA.

By Josh Kramer

Welcome to the eighth edition of “Throwback Saturdays.”  By this point, I think you all know the drill.  What was happening in the wide world of sports on March 10, 2011?  How about on March 10, 2010?  Well let’s find out.

One year ago..

State of College Athletics

Here is a snippet..

“The NCAA’s core purpose is to govern competition in a fair, safe, equitable and sportsmanlike manner, and to integrate intercollegiate athletics into higher education so that the educational experience of the student-athlete is paramount.”

That is directly from the NCAA website.

It’s hard to believe in those words these days.

Reggie Bush.

Cam Newton.

The “Tat Five.”

Lane Kiffin.

Bruce Pearl.

Jim Calhoun.

Jim Tressel.

All of those people were recently involved in major scandals in college athletics. Don’t forget about oversigning either. College athletics is in worse shape than LeBron James’ reputation in Cleveland.

What’s worse is some university presidents and athletic directors will stand by these men at all costs (To finish reading this post, click this link).

Weekly Nickel 1-30-2012

Photo courtesy of theoldprincetonlanding.com. All eyes will be focused on Indianapolis this week as America gears up for the biggest sporting event of the year.

By Josh Kramer

Yes, this past weekend, no “real” football games (college or professional) were played for the first time since the beginning of September (and no the Pro Bowl is not a real game).  Tennis jumped to the forefront of the sporting stratosphere and rightfully so.  The Djokovic/Nadal 5 hour and 53 minute thriller was a match for the ages, that anybody who had a chance to bear witness will not soon forget.  In addition, the Men’s Australian Open final made up for a Women’s final that was perhaps the worst Grand Slam final of all time.  Last week was great, but you better believe this week will be pretty amazing in its own right.  Here are the events to keep an eye on.

College Football Week 10: I remember when

Photo courtesy of espn1420.com. Saturday night's showdown in Tuscaloosa may come down to which team gets the better quarterback play. Can the senior duo of Jordan Jefferson (left) and Jarrett Lee (right) outdo standout sophomore AJ McCarron?

By Josh Kramer

Week 9 of the College Football was “mighty fine.”  It was highlighted by a Braxton Miller hail mary toss and a very gutsy triple overtime win by the Standford Cardinal at the Coliseum.  But this is the week we have all been waiting for.  The “Game of the Year” is set to take place in Tuscaloosa Saturday night.  Grab your popcorn.  There will be some fireworks when number one takes on number two.

Here are the marquee matchups.

South Carolina at Arkansas:  Razorbacks by 7

Headline:  The lack of Lattimore kills the Gamecocks at Razorback Stadium.

College Football Week 3: Third time is the charm

Photo courtesy of newsok.com. Landry Jones (right) and Ryan Broyles (left) are College Football's most lethal connection. Can the Sooner stars help OU pick up a huge road victory against Florida State?

By Josh Kramer

Notre Dame certainly hopes the third time is the charm as they take on a tough Michigan State Spartans team in South Bend.  The Fighting Irish are off to their first 0 and 2 start since 2007, and tempers appear to be rising for one of College Football’s most storied programs.  What didn’t Week 2 have?

Classic endings, unforgettable individual performances, and upsets galore.  Week 2 was what College Football is all about.  Luckily, Week 3 has the promise of being even better.

Here are the marquee matchups.

LSU at Mississippi State:  Tigers by 7

A second week that was far better than mediocre

Photo courtesy of news.fiu.edu. One of the best players in College Football you have never heard of put on a real show on Friday night in Louisville. America, say hello to T.Y. Hilton (pictured above).

By Josh Kramer

It is safe to say that Week 2 of the College Football season was far from “mediocre.”  I was not thoroughly impressed by last Saturday’s football action.  This week took a 180 from last week and made me once again realize why College Football is so great.  From the second consecutive great Friday night game, to the lights going off at the Big House, week two was definitely a week to remember.  Amazingly, the schedule will only get better as we move forward.  Here is a look back at some of the highlights of Week 2.

Weeknight game are still wild and unpredictable

Why men’s basketball is greater than women’s basketball

Photo courtesy of lakers.topbuzz.com.

By Josh Kramer

Now that title is a bit deceiving.  By no means am I saying that men’s basketball is better than women’s basketball.  Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Sure men’s hoop teams tend to be more talented, but the point here is that men’s basketball receives much greater viewership at both the collegiate and professional ranks than women’s basketball.  It is a simple fact.

Now why exactly does this happen?

Here are the five main reasons.

1. Women’s basketball is way too predictable.

Food for Thought 6-14-2011

Photo courtesy of marketfolly.com.

By Josh Kramer

It has been another wild past couple of days.  So many major headlines.  So much exciting action.  Here are the items that have caught my attention.

Mr. Dallas

I am still utterly shocked by the results of Sunday night’s game 6 of the NBA Finals.  The MonStars were defeated handily by the Mavericks.  How often outside of the movies do the good guys actually get the best of the bad guys?  I am by no means a Mavericks fan.  But as I have said many times before, there are sports fans, and then there are fans of the Miami Heat.  Therefore, I was happy with the outcome.

“State of College Athletics”

 

This past year has been especially bad in regards to scandal involving collegiate athletics. What is the next move for NCAA President Mark Emmert (pictured above)?

Grant Freking is a Lantern (OSU Newspaper) sports writer. Ology magazine managing editor. OSU football featured columnist for Bleacher Report. High school football reporter for Newark Advocate.  You can follow him on Twitter @GrantFreking.

 “The NCAA’s core purpose is to govern competition in a fair, safe, equitable and sportsmanlike manner, and to integrate intercollegiate athletics into higher education so that the educational experience of the student-athlete is paramount.”