Round One, Part Four
January 4th 2011 17:28
GM Lance Blanks needs to do something…else. His Phoenix Suns are 14-18 and fading fast. After the recent trade he made that sent Jason Richardson, Hedo Turkoglu and Earl Clark to Orlando for Vince Carter, Marcin Gortat, Mickael Pietrus, cash, and a first round pick, the Suns have been awful. Now that isn’t a surprising revelation by any means. When you trade a player such as Jason Richardson and get parts in return (Gortat and Pietrus are serviceable), that is what can be expected.
Since the trade the Suns are 2-5 with some terrible losses that include games in LA against the Clippers, at home against the 76ers, then again on the road against the Kings. As for the pick, I would applaud Blanks if only it wasn’t a pick that will be in the 20’s somewhere.
It was an obvious trade for the future considering Richardson’s contract is going to be up at the end of the year and they wanted to get something for him and they unloaded Turkoglu’s contract on someone else, which I agreed with. Then there is Vince Carter’s contract that is up after this year as long as the Suns don’t exercise the $18 mill team option (which is highly doubtful). However, quit wasting Nash’s precious time that he has left in the league. Send him to a contender and get something for him.
On to Round One, Part Four
Both UCF and Wisconsin are run first teams, but Wisconsin has much more talent in their backfield. With the likes of James White, John Clay, and Montee Ball, UCF will have their hands full all day. Not to mention, Wisconsin also has two First Team AP All-American offensive linemen in Gabe Carimi and John Moffitt.
UCF has both Latavius Murray and Ronnie Weaver at running back (Weaver carrying more of the load), and although they both have skill, they will have a tough time keeping up with the points Wisconsin’s running game will put on the board. Wisconsin wins this one easily at Camp Randall.
Final Score: 41-7 Wisconsin
Oklahoma State may have the best offense in the nation, but South Carolina is a tough place to play and they have a very good run defense that is ranked eighth in the nation in YPC given up. The main problem South Carolina will have is stopping the pass offense of Oklahoma State that is led by QB Bradon Weeden (34 TD's, 13 INT's) and WR Justin Blackmon (111 rec., 1,782 yds, 20 TD). South Carolina ranks 107th in the nation in stopping the pass and will have problems with Weeden and Blackmon all day.
On offense, South Carolina can move the ball well at times, but other times they are spotty and can be exposed. Stephen Garcia went for 20 TD's and 14 INT's this year, while Alshon Jeffrey was a huge recipient of the passes hauling in 88 catches for 1,517 yards and 9 TD's.
Overall, Oklahoma State’s firepower on offense will be too much for South Carolina to overcome.
Final Score: 45-24 Oklahoma State
Geno Smith and Noel Devine will try to lead West Virginia to an upset at Nebraska. Smith had 24 TD's and 7 INT's in the passing game this year, while the small but very fast RB Noel Devine led the team with 859 rushing yards, and also contributed 34 receptions.
Nebraska has Taylor Martinez (10 pass TD's, 12 rush TD's) at QB who is a dual threat option, along with Roy Helu (1,198 yds, 11 TD's) and Rex Burkhead (912 yds, 7 TD's) splitting time at RB to give Nebraska a decent 1-2 punch.
What this game will come down to is who has the best defense. Nebraska has First Team AP All-American CB Prince Amukamara who will be a top 10 pick in this coming April’s draft, along with two 2nd team AP All-Americans in DT Jared Crick and LB Lavonte David.
Final Score: 27-13 Nebraska
North Carolina has had all kinds of problems this year. Whether it be at the beginning of the year with all the suspensions, or having two of their top three running backs out for the end of the season, they have gone through a lot. QB TJ Yates (19 TD's, 9 INT's) will try to lead the way with RB Shaun Draughn, now that RB Johnny White is out for the season with an injury and RB Anthony Elzy is out because of academics.
Arkansas will counter with QB Ryan Mallett (30 TD's, 11 INT's) and RB Knile Davis (1,151 rush yds, 13 TD's) on the offensive side with OT DeMarcus Love blocking for them. DE Quinton Coples of North Carolina will try to put pressure on Mallett, but the pressure won’t be enough and North Carolina will be headed home after a first round loss in a game that was closer than the score looked.
Final Score: 38-21 Arkansas
Overall, the bracket looks like this now:
1. Auburn vs. 16 Texas A&M
8. Stanford vs. 9 Michigan State
4 TCU vs. 13 Missouri
5 Ohio State vs. 12 Virginia Tech
2. Oregon vs. 15 Alabama
7. LSU vs. 10. Oklahoma
3 Wisconsin vs. 19 Oklahoma State
6. Arkansas vs. 11 Nebraska
Since the trade the Suns are 2-5 with some terrible losses that include games in LA against the Clippers, at home against the 76ers, then again on the road against the Kings. As for the pick, I would applaud Blanks if only it wasn’t a pick that will be in the 20’s somewhere.
It was an obvious trade for the future considering Richardson’s contract is going to be up at the end of the year and they wanted to get something for him and they unloaded Turkoglu’s contract on someone else, which I agreed with. Then there is Vince Carter’s contract that is up after this year as long as the Suns don’t exercise the $18 mill team option (which is highly doubtful). However, quit wasting Nash’s precious time that he has left in the league. Send him to a contender and get something for him.
Steve Nash
On to Round One, Part Four
30. UCF @ 3. Wisconsin
UCF has both Latavius Murray and Ronnie Weaver at running back (Weaver carrying more of the load), and although they both have skill, they will have a tough time keeping up with the points Wisconsin’s running game will put on the board. Wisconsin wins this one easily at Camp Randall.
Final Score: 41-7 Wisconsin
19. Oklahoma State @ 14. South Carolina
Oklahoma State may have the best offense in the nation, but South Carolina is a tough place to play and they have a very good run defense that is ranked eighth in the nation in YPC given up. The main problem South Carolina will have is stopping the pass offense of Oklahoma State that is led by QB Bradon Weeden (34 TD's, 13 INT's) and WR Justin Blackmon (111 rec., 1,782 yds, 20 TD). South Carolina ranks 107th in the nation in stopping the pass and will have problems with Weeden and Blackmon all day.
On offense, South Carolina can move the ball well at times, but other times they are spotty and can be exposed. Stephen Garcia went for 20 TD's and 14 INT's this year, while Alshon Jeffrey was a huge recipient of the passes hauling in 88 catches for 1,517 yards and 9 TD's.
Overall, Oklahoma State’s firepower on offense will be too much for South Carolina to overcome.
Final Score: 45-24 Oklahoma State
22. West Virginia @ 11. Nebraska
Geno Smith and Noel Devine will try to lead West Virginia to an upset at Nebraska. Smith had 24 TD's and 7 INT's in the passing game this year, while the small but very fast RB Noel Devine led the team with 859 rushing yards, and also contributed 34 receptions.
Nebraska has Taylor Martinez (10 pass TD's, 12 rush TD's) at QB who is a dual threat option, along with Roy Helu (1,198 yds, 11 TD's) and Rex Burkhead (912 yds, 7 TD's) splitting time at RB to give Nebraska a decent 1-2 punch.
What this game will come down to is who has the best defense. Nebraska has First Team AP All-American CB Prince Amukamara who will be a top 10 pick in this coming April’s draft, along with two 2nd team AP All-Americans in DT Jared Crick and LB Lavonte David.
Final Score: 27-13 Nebraska
27. North Carolina @ 6. Arkansas
North Carolina has had all kinds of problems this year. Whether it be at the beginning of the year with all the suspensions, or having two of their top three running backs out for the end of the season, they have gone through a lot. QB TJ Yates (19 TD's, 9 INT's) will try to lead the way with RB Shaun Draughn, now that RB Johnny White is out for the season with an injury and RB Anthony Elzy is out because of academics.
Arkansas will counter with QB Ryan Mallett (30 TD's, 11 INT's) and RB Knile Davis (1,151 rush yds, 13 TD's) on the offensive side with OT DeMarcus Love blocking for them. DE Quinton Coples of North Carolina will try to put pressure on Mallett, but the pressure won’t be enough and North Carolina will be headed home after a first round loss in a game that was closer than the score looked.
Final Score: 38-21 Arkansas
Overall, the bracket looks like this now:
1. Auburn vs. 16 Texas A&M
8. Stanford vs. 9 Michigan State
4 TCU vs. 13 Missouri
5 Ohio State vs. 12 Virginia Tech
2. Oregon vs. 15 Alabama
7. LSU vs. 10. Oklahoma
3 Wisconsin vs. 19 Oklahoma State
6. Arkansas vs. 11 Nebraska
| 54 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
Comment by Joe Soriano
Pro Sports Wrap
Orble Sport Blog
Comment by Dustin Hull
Football Times
Diamond Press
Comment by sports freak
sports freak
thecnology and gadgets