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The Late Game Situation: Fantasy Shots Week 11

February 11, 2010, at 4:44 pm

We had a first on the Fantasy shots this past week. Stein and I tied 3-3-1 to keep the standings as is. I hold a one game lead on Brandon and looking to continue my reign of being the finer ma gentlemen. Here are our picks for Week 11:

Stein:

G- Jeffrey Taylor, Vanderbilt (13.9 ppg, 5.3 reb) – 2/13 vs. LSU
G- Malcolm Delaney, Virginia Tech (20 ppg, 4.2 ast) – 2/13 vs. Virginia
G- Sylven Landesberg, Virginia (18.1 ppg, 5.2 reb) – 2/17 vs. Florida State
F- Greg Monroe, Georgetown (15.4 ppg, 9.5 reb) – 2/14 vs. Rutgers
F- DeMarcus Cousins, Kentucky (16.4 ppg, 10.1 reb) – 2/16 vs. Mississippi St.

Vanderbilt over LSU – 2/13
Virginia over Florida State – 2/17

Soldano:

G- Mikhail Torrance, Alabama (15 ppg, 5.5 ast) – 2/13 vs. Arkansas
G- Austin Freeman, Georgetown (16.8 ppg, 3.6 reb) – 2/14 vs. Rutgers
G- Devan Downey, South Carolina (23 ppg, 3.4 ast) – 2/17 vs. Arkansas
F- Al-Farouq Aminu, Wake Forest (16.4 ppg, 11 reb) – 2/16 vs. Virginia Tech
F- Larry Sanders, Virginia Commonwealth (14.9 ppg, 8.7 reb) – 2/16 vs. Drexel

South Carolina over Georgia – 2/13
Seton Hall over DePaul – 2/14

Listen to College Basketball 2Nite: The Late Game Situation, with the Ma Gentlemen, every Friday night at 10 PM (EST) on WCWPSports.

NCAAF

Bowl Mania Day 17: The National Championship

By Jordan Lauterbach

January 7, 2010, at 3:24 am

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Record- 19-14
BCS Record: 2-2

BCS National Championship Game: Alabama v Texas

I must admit, December 12th influenced my pick tremendously. Forget dates? Not as insane about this stuff as I am? Probably better off. December 12th was the date of the Big 12 and SEC championship games. One day. Roughly five hours. Two completely different situations.

In the early game (SEC Championship), you saw Alabama dominate Florida. Greg McElroy was efficient. Mark Ingram won the Heisman trophy. Alabama took the current royal family of College Football and threw them off the thrown without a second thought. It was 26-13 early in the fourth and ‘Bama never looked back. Oh, and they made Tim Tebow cry. Not an easy feat.

The win looks even better after watching Florida dismantle an already cracked Cincinnati team in the Sugar Bowl. Now, I know it’s unfair to judge a Cincinnati team that has had just about every bit of turmoil thrust their way in the last month. But the Bearcats were still undefeated. Maybe it was just the revenge mentality, Tim Tebow’s final “see that!” game, but how could you not be just a little more impressed with the job that Nick Saban’s crew did after watching Florida run around in a glorified scrimmage on Friday night.

Texas looked anything but dominant in the Big 12 championship game. Heck, although I disagree with the opinion, there is the thought that they didn’t deserve to win the game. Colt McCoy was bad, throwing no touchdowns and three interceptions. Clearly rattled by Ndamukong Suh and that imposing Nebraska defensive front, McCoy barely got his team into field goal range enough to keep pace with an also-stagnant Nebraska offense. If not for two bad mental mistakes by Nebraska on that final drive and I’m writing about Brian Kelly spurring Notre Dame for a shot at a title with the Bearcats of the Big East. An illegal procedure penalty and a horse collar may have changed the history of three schools….gotta love this stuff.

You may say its only one game for each team. But I think its telling because of the stage. Alabama played a better team and was dominant. Texas won because kickers are dumb.

Alabama’s defense, minus the obvious advantage of having Ndamukong Suh, is just as good as Nebraska’s, if not better. I like Alabama for the same reason’s I liked them to beat Florida.

They have more than one way to beat you.

Sure, stopping Mark Ingram is the key to beating Alabama, but I don’t think that its an if,than proposition. Greg McElroy, although not the owner of flashy numbers, doesn’t turn the ball over. For one game, could you see a combo of McElroy to Julio Jones and great defense beating a Texas team that has one offensive play (McCoy to Shipley- go on 3!). I sure could.

Shut down Colt McCoy, you win. Shut down Mark Ingram and you still have to account for some things.

I entered the year saying that Alabama was the most overrated team in the country. I end it saying that they are the nations best.

Wow, I love this game.

The Pick: Alabama

NCAAF

Bowl Mania Day 15

By Jordan Lauterbach

January 5, 2010, at 2:57 am

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Record: 17-14
BCS Record: 1-2

FedEx Orange Bowl: Iowa v Georgia Tech

How good is Iowa? It was one of my favorite debates of the entire season. It was the biggest disagreement between College Football Tonight co-host Jesse Lauterbach and I in a few seasons. What made it such a good debate is that both sides made sense.

Iowa were the kings of the close victory. They beat Northern Iowa by a point to open up the year. They squeaked a three point win out of Arkansas State. Michigan had them on the ropes, only to loose by 2. Finally, the Hawkeyes needed a last second touchdown pass to escape Michigan State.

That’s four close calls against teams that aren’t exactly Alabama or Texas. Two ways to look at this.

1. Teams in the top five in the country should not be needing miracle after miracle to top foes like Michigan and Michigan State. Teams in the top five don’t have to hang on to beat Northern Iowa and Arkansas State. Like it or not, College Football is not only about wins and losses. It’s about who you beat, how you beat them, and when you beat them. Escaping mediocrity once is fine, twice (depending on the circumstances) is passable. But four times? Four times is a sign of a problem….

2. There comes a point when luck isn’t a reasonable explanation. After one Houdini act, luck is a reasonable explanation. Two, it gets hairy, but depending on the circumstances, it is feasible. But to have the fortitude to come back and win like that on four separate occasions isn’t luck. It says something about your team to have that kind of come-back ability. There comes a point when credit has to be given to teams that routinely find ways to win. It’s the Bruce Springsteen theory. When it comes to luck, you make your own.

I fall on the side of argument number two. Teams don’t just get lucky four times. It doesn’t happen in sports.

I think all questions about Iowa went out the window in the second to last game against Ohio State. In what was the defacto Big 10 championship game, Iowa went on the road and took the Buckeyes to overtime without quarterback Rickey Stanzi and with a banged up Adam Robinson. Freshman James Vadenberg threw three picks in substitute duty for Iowa, but they were almost able to overcome it. Robinson gutted it out for 74 yards on 20 carries.

The performance showed something that a lot of us already knew. Iowa is a feisty, resilient football team. There a football team that doesn’t quit, even when they are at Ohio State with a freshman calling the shots. Those types of teams, teams that are mentally strong usually do well in bowl games. Especially big ones.

I think the Hawkeyes will do well offensively. Georgia Tech allowed 24 points a game and yielded nearly 120 more points then Iowa did. Ricky Stanzi is back and Adam Robinson is healthier than he was against Ohio State.

The challenge for Iowa is stopping a dynamic Georgia Tech offense. The Yellow Jackets run the triple option and are 11th in total offense in the FBS. Jonathan Dwyer ran for over 1000 yards and 14 touchdowns this year. He averaged over 6 yards per carry. Josh Nesbit ran for 18 touchdowns and threw for 10, eight of which went to Demaryius Thomas.

But Iowa’s defense is ranked 11th in the country as well. They allow less than 16 points a game. The strength of the defense is the line, excelling in run stopping. I think they’ll be able to at least control the triple option and win the game.

The Pick: Iowa

NCAAF

Week 7 Picks

By Jordan Lauterbach

October 17, 2009, at 1:37 am

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Currently hanging with fellow WCWP staff members, Matt Soldano and Max Caster in a Lancaster, PA hotel room prepping for tomorrow’s Pioneers/ Millersville showdown. Should be a tough one to call. The high is expected to be around 39 degrees and I hear we’re outside. Ouch.

Here’s some quick picks for Week 7 in division one ball.

#1 Florida over Arkansas- If you forgot how good this Gator defense is, last week’s proformance did a lot to remind you. Tim Tebow is not the only thing making Florida the best team in the nation. Arkansas has some offensive firepower, but they won’t get much against this defense.

#2 Alabama Over #22 South Carolina

#4 Virginia Tech over #19 Georgia Tech- Huge game in the A.C.C, Virginia Tech is coming into it’s own at the right time.

#7 Ohio State over Purdue

#9 Miami (FL) over USF

#11 Iowa over Wisconsin- Iowa may be the best team in the Big Ten and Wisconsin was very unimpressive in a big game last week

#12 TCU over Colorado State

#15 Nebraska over Texas Tech

#16 Oklahoma State over Missouri

#17 Kansas over Colorado

#18 BYU over San Diego State

#23 Houston over Tulane

#24 Utah over UNLV

Two to Change Plans for:

#3 Texas over #20 Oklahoma- Think Colt and crew remember how they got hosed last season by beating Oklahoma and not getting the national championship bid? I do. A must-win for Oklahoma makes this a close game, but I like Texas at home.

#6 USC Over #25 Notre Dame- Charlie Weis needs this win in the worse way. If there was ever a time for Charlie to get that elusive statement win, its now. But I think that the loss of Michael Floyd hurts them too much.

Upset of the Week

Minnesota over #14 Penn State

NCAAF

College Football Week Five Picks

By Jordan Lauterbach

October 3, 2009, at 1:14 am

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Last Week: 16-7

Season: 71-18

#3 Alabama over Kentucky- This is the last of the “easy ones” for the Crimson Tide. After Kentucky, they play Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee, and LSU. The bye comes after Tennessee. How good is ‘bama? We’re about to find out.

#4 LSU over #18 Georgia

#5 Boise State over U.C Davis

#6 Va.Tech over Duke- Not that beating Duke is a challenge, but I think Va Tech has rediscovered it’s identity after being kicked in the you-know-whats after Darren Evans went down. The key: Don’t let Tyrod Taylor throw.

#9 Ohio State over Indiana- Indiana gave Michigan a scare last weekend. This game won’t be that scary for Bucs fans.

#10 Cinncinatti over Miami (OH)- How high can the Bearcats climb? I mean the strength of schedule argument has to kick in at some point right?. Miami of Ohio doesn’t help that argument.

#11 TCU over Southern Methodist

#12 Houston over UTEP- Biggest surprise of ’09 is not Miami. It’s Houston.

#13 Iowa over Arkansas State- Don’t look now. Iowa may be the class of the Big Ten

#15 Penn State over Illinois- I still don’t know a thing about Penn State. But I do know that Illinois is terrible.

#16 Oregon over Washington State- If Washington State wins, will the Legarrette Blount reinstatement rumors vanish?

#21 Ole Miss over Vanderbilt – Ole Miss has to rebound from that bad Thursday night loss to South Carolina.

#25 Georgia Tech over Mississippi State

Notre Dame over Washington- Clausen appears to be healthier then he was last week. ND will eek out another close one.

Two to Change Plans For

#7 USC over #24 California- All the pressure is on USC if Cal beats Oregon last week. They didn’t and now the roles are reversed. Cal cannot afford to loose this game. USC knows this and will use it to their advantage…. And so goes the biggest “fall from grace” story in 2009. Looks like another year looking up at USC for Cal.

#8 Oklahoma over #17 Miami- Oklahoma need this game more than Miami does. A second loss hurts more in the Big 12 than it does in the weaker A.C.C. Desperation gets the win in this one.

Upset of The Week

Michigan State over #22 Michigan- I know what you’re thinking. “There goes Jordan’s anti-Michigan bias again.” I swear it’s not that. This is Michigan’s first road game of the year, in a hostel environment to boot. I expect Tate the Great to struggle a bit early and Michigan to fall just short.

NCAAF

Week Four College Football Picks

By Jordan Lauterbach

September 25, 2009, at 6:11 pm

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Last Week: 17-5

Season- 55-11

Currently sitting in a motel room on the side of the road in Mifflinville, PA. All set to call tomorrows Bloomsberg/C.W Post matchup. You can hear the game on wcwpsports.com beginning at 11:30am. Hopefully I’ll make it back in time for Notre Dame/ Purdue at 8.

#1 Florida over Kentucky- Kentucky is 2-0, but they haven’t seen anyone quite like the Gators this year. I thought it spoke to how good the Gators are when people were impressed at the way Tennessee played last week. I guess not getting destroyed against this bunch is suddenly an accomplishment… and who said there were no moral victories.

#2 Texas over UTEP

#3 Alabama over Arkansas- Three games in and Ryan Mallet is already getting recognized as one of the top quarterbacks, in terms of arm strength, in the nation. It won’t be enough to beat Alabama, but Arkansas owes Rich Rodriguez a debt of gratitude.

#6 California over Oregon- Cal has to be careful of looking ahead to USC next week.

#7 LSU over Mississippi State

#8 Boise State over Bowling Green

#12 USC over Washington State

#13 Ohio State over Illinois

#14 Cincinnati over Fresno State

#15 TCU over Clemson

#16 Oklahoma State over Grambling State

#18 Florida State over South Florida

#19 BYU over Colorado State

#20 Kansas over Southern Miss

#21 Georgia over Arizona State

#22 North Carolina over Georgia Tech

#23 Michigan over Indiana
#24 Washington over Stanford

#25 Nebraska over La-Lafayette

Notre Dame over Purdue- At this hour, Clausen is expected to play. Armando Allen is iffy. As big as the Michael Floyd injury is (and its huge), any injury to Allen will be huge as well. Allen is quietly having a huge year. He’s stronger, he’s more athletic, and it shows. If he can’t go for any long amount of time, this Notre Dame offense is in a lot of trouble. That being said, assuming Clausen plays well, the Irish will beat Purdue.

2 To Change Plans For

#5 Penn State Over Iowa- We don’t know a lot about Penn State. Sure, they’ve looked real good. Sure, they haven’t allowed more than seven points a game. But who have they played? Do you know anything more about Penn State then you did four weeks ago? I don’t think so. I still think Penn State will win the Big 10, but I’m pumped to see them play an actual game this week.

#9 Miami over #11 Virginia Tech- Isn’t it interesting that both pre-season ACC favorites are hanging on by a string. Miami puts the dagger in Va Tech’s hopes this week.

Upset Of The Week (2-1 this year)

Texas Tech over #17 Houston- Texas Tech played well against Texas last week. I think the bye week came at a bad time for Houston. They were hot, coming off a big win over Oklahoma State, and sat down for a week. I think they come out flat, fall behind early, and never recover.

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