Rematch in the Super Bowl

We still have to wait one more week for one of the biggest sporting events in the world, but I want to get a head start on the keys to victory for both teams and my prediction.
Let's begin with the New York Giants, a team that won their final three games to squeeze into the playoffs and now has a shot to win a second Super Bowl in the last 5 seasons. Eli Manning is playing the best football of his career and with the emergence of Victor Cruz and the stellar play of Hakeem Nicks there seems to be nothing that can stop this offense. The key will be if the Giants can run the ball to not only balance their offense but to keep Tom Brady of the field. Time of possession is important against the Patriots. The Patriots often go no huddle on offense which seems to tire out the defense. If the Giants can keep their defense fresh while running time off the clock their chances greatly increase. The Giants also want a close game. Even when New York had been down late in games, they seemed to never panic and they leaned on the leadership of Manning.
As for the Patriots, they have to keep doing what they are doing. Tom Brady has been flawless in the playoffs. Their only concern on offense is stopping the Giants "front four" from getting pressure on Brady. New York's pass rush is good enough to disrupt the Patriots high powered offense, so it's up to their offensive line to give Brady protection in the pocket. New England's defense caught a lot of fire heading into the playoffs. But after two solid performances against the Broncos and the Ravens, they are playing with confidence. If they stop the Giants running game they improve their chances of winning.

So after listing the keys for both teams it's time to pick a winner.
The Patriots are the favorite just as they were back in 2008 when they faced the Giants. The Giants won that game and they seem to have a better team this year than they did 4 years ago. I'm picking the Giants by 3 points. Their defense will be the X-Factor and Manning will be able to control the game and its tempo.

second round of NFL playoffs

As we witnessed last weekend, anything can happen in the playoffs. The Falcons scored only 2 points, rookie QB TJ Yates led the Texans to a victory, not to mention Tim Tebow played the best game of his already famous season in an overtime thriller. What lies ahead is still unknown, but for now lets look at this weekend's match-ups.
Saints vs 49ers: The Saints travel to San Francisco this weekend for a very interesting game. A dynamic offense will face off against one of the league's best defenses. Harbough has instilled an old fashioned system in San Francisco of running the ball and playing flawless defense which landed the 49ers the #2 seed in the NFC. On the other hand, the Saints are arguably the hottest team in the NFL, and no one is playing better than Drew Brees. The Saints have the offense but I'm going with 49ers this weekend for a few reasons. First off, the Saints seem to struggle when they don't play in doors. The long grass may hinder their speed and athleticism just enough to keep the game close, and that's exactly what the 49ers want. In a close game, the 49ers rarely lose, not to mention they have the best kicker in the game in David Akers. If the Saints have to settle for field goals they will be in trouble, that is why I'm picking San Francisco.

Giants vs. Packers: Many believe that if the Packers aren't going to repeat as Champions, they will lose at the hands of the Giants this weekend. The Giants are rolling and are peaking at the right time during the season. A lot believe they will upset the Packers, but I think that is how Green Bay would want it. With the Giants being picked by people to win, it takes the pressure off of the Packers and adds more pressure to New York. I can't go pick against the defending Super Bowl Champs. Their defense has had problems but they have been able to come up with key turnovers and stops, while their offense continually puts up points. Packers win a shoot out at Lambeau Field.

AFC match-ups
Texans vs Ravens: Texans are feeling pretty good about their first round blow-out win over the Bengals but now they travel to Baltimore where it's cold, and the Ravens rarely lose. I like the running game of Houston but I'm not sure that will be enough to get the job done. If the Ravens slow down Arian Foster, I'm not sure if TJ Yates and Andre Johnson can do it with the passing game. Ravens win this game easy with Ray Rice running and catching the ball, and their defense shutting down the Texans.

Broncos vs Patriots: My heart tells me to pick "my donkeys," but my mind tells me otherwise. The Patriots are the number one seed in the AFC for a reason and the though the Broncos beat the Steelers last week, it's hard to think that Tebow can play that well two weeks in a row. What I like about this game is that the Broncos match up well with the Patriots. Solid defense that could perhaps slow down a high powered offense led by Tom Brady, and one of the league's worst defenses allows the Broncos a chance to run the ball and put points on the board. The key to game will be turnovers. If the Broncos turnover the ball even once, you have to like the Patriots chances to win the game. My heart says Broncos, but Tom Brady is too good. But I will say this, though I'm picking the Patriots, I won't be shocked if the Broncos win the game. There is something special about this Broncos team, and like Tebow has proven time and time again, "anything can happen."

national title is overshadowed by Tebow Mania

I would like to devote a whole blog post to the upcoming National Title game between Alabama and LSU, but after the weekend, it seems like I need to devote some time to the one they call Tebow.
The Denver Broncos were back in the playoffs, but after losing their last three games of the season, their chances looked bleak to beat last year's AFC Champs, the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Steelers were plagued with injuries so the Broncos were playing them at the right time, however, Pittsburgh was still 8 point favorites on the road. The even bigger story leading up to the game was if Tim Tebow could rally after playing some of his worst football and "pull the trigger", as John Elway had told him to.
Let's just say Tebow pulled the trigger and some. For once, I watched a Tebow who wasn't afraid to throw the ball before his wide receivers were turned around. He had complete and utter confidence in his teammates to make plays consistently during the game as he threw for two touchdowns, including the game winning 80 yard pass and catch to win the game in OT, and ran in for a score in the first half. Say what you want, but it seems like Denver has committed to fact that they will try to build around this guy, plus you can't argue with playoff victories. That being said, Tebow still has a lot of work to do, but for now his attention is on the Patriots, who by the way have one of league's worst defenses. After beating the number one ranked defense in the NFL, the sky is the limit for Tebow and these pesky Broncos.

Ok, now onto Monday night's game in New Orleans.
Anyone catch that?? In case you didn't, LSU will be playing right in their backyard. Does anyone remember the last time LSU won the BCS National Championship? It was the 2007 college season, where LSU beat Ohio State in the Allstate Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.
LSU finds itself in a similar situation only this time they play a team they have already beaten this season.
Though it is difficult to beat a team twice, can you really argue against home field advantage? In a game where the teams are more similar than different, it comes down to coaching and game situations. Don't expect a lot of points on the board, we aren't watching the New Orleans Saints play in the dome. Les Miles has proven that even with players suspended, and shuffling two quarterbacks that he can get the job done. I expect the LSU Tigers to win the game by no more than 3 points.
What is even scarier is LSU just signed the top quarterback recruit in the 2012 class, so we could very well see them play in this game again next year.

NFL Wild Card Weekend may bring a few surprises

On the brink of the college national championship game between LSU and Alabama, we are given the gift of Wild Card weekend in the NFL consisting of two teams starting rookie quarterbacks, three teams that have won a Superbowl in the last 5 years (New Orleans, NY Giants, Steelers), and of course...Tim Tebow. But more important than the underlying stories, who will move on in the NFL playoffs after the weekend.
Let's start with the NFC. Detroit at New Orleans presents maybe the most intriguing matchup of the weekend. Two dynamic passing attacks, two of the league's best quarterbacks, and these teams have already played one another earlier in the season. The Saints won the first matchup between these two teams. Detroit struggled in the fourth quarter after only being down 1 score. They committed too many penalties and they were missing two of their best pass rushers. Look for this game to be a little closer than their first meeting but it will be the same result. The Saints are too good at home, and Drew Brees is playing some of the best football of his career.
The next NFC matchup is between the NY Giants and Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons had a somewhat disappointing season but snuck into the playoffs where as the Giants finished off the season red hot in order to win the NFC East division. Eli Manning and their passing attack will cause problems for the Falcons and they won't be able to win a shootout in cold weather in New York. Giants over the Falcons.
Now to the AFC. Bengals vs Texans. Two rookie quarterbacks, who have already faced each other once this season. The Texans won their first meeting, and they win this weekend as well. Their rushing attack will be too much for the Bengals on the road.
Then we have the Denver Broncos taking on the Pitt. Steelers. Tim Tebow finished out the season as a turnover machine and the Steelers are plagued with injuries. The difference, the Steelers play their best football in the playoffs. This won't be a blow out, but the Steelers will win this game, probably late in the fourth quarter by a field goal, and the Broncos dismal passing attack won't be able to relish another comeback.
Well...there you have it. Saints, Giants, Texans and Steelers will be the winners on the weekend.

NBA PREVIEW AND PREDICTIONS

With a shortened NBA season to begin on Christmas day, it's time to give my opinion on what lies ahead.

Headlines
Where will Dwight Howard be traded? We saw the same situation last year with Carmelo Anthony quietly requesting a trade and finally getting dealt to the New York Knicks. This year it's Superman requesting the trade, the only difference is Howard has asked to be traded to one of three teams...LA Lakers, New Jersey Nets, or the Dallas Mavericks. Considering that Dallas has already made an off season move to get Lamar Odom, they don't look like the destination. The Nets were looking like the team for Howard until Brook Lopez was injured in a pre season game and has to undergo surgery on his ankle. Brook Lopez was the one guy the Nets could have used in a proposed trade to the Magic. That leaves the Lakers, and I'm sure at some point they will make an effort to get Howard, only time will tell.

Are the LA Clippers the new team in Los Angeles? With the signing of Chris Paul, Caron Butler, and Chauncey Billups, the Clippers went from a one man show in Blake Griffin, to a playoff contender. That being said, I still believe the Lakers will be the team in LA. Did people all of sudden forget about Kobe Bryant? Sure he is in his 16th NBA season, but the guy accepts any challenge that comes his way and he remains an elite player in the league. That is Kobe's city, and he isn't ready to give up that title to the Clippers yet. His supporting cast is still way better than average with Paul Gosol, Andrew Bynum, and Metta World Peace (what was Ron Artest thinking with that name?).

Will the Miami Heat win an NBA Championship? aka will Lebron step up if they make it to the NBA finals?
The big 3 are determined to get back to the NBA finals, but the key still remains with Lebron. If you are the "best player in the NBA" than how do you not show up in the series that matters most? The east looks like they have three teams competing for the eastern conference crown...the Heat, the Bulls, and the Knicks. The Heat remain my favorite to win the East and Lebron seems to have a new perspective going into the season. Look for the Heat to win the most games in the NBA and reach the NBA finals again. However, I'm not ready to pick them as the NBA champs, it depends on who comes out of the west, which looks wide open to me.

here are my 8 playoff teams in both conferences.
West-1. Dallas Mavericks 2. OK City Thunder 3. LA Lakers 4. LA Clippers 5. Memphis Grizzlies 6. Denver Nuggets 7. San Antonio Spurs 8. Portland Trail Blazers

East- 1. Miami Heat 2. Chicago Bulls 3. New York Nicks 4. Atlanta Hawks 5. Boston Celtics 6. Philadelphia 76ers 7. Indiana Pacers 8. Orlando Magic

League MVP
Kevin Durant

Rookie of the year
Kyrie Irving or Ricky Rubio

6th Man
(the usual) Lamar Odom or Jamal Crawford (though one of these guys could be starters for their new teams)

NBA FINALS-I wasn't going to make a prediction but I lied
Oklahoma City Thunder vs Miami Heat
Miami Heat in 6 games are the 2012 NBA Champs

Final JRM322 Post: what I learned in Feature Writing

My feature writing class was everything I expected and more. From frequently updating our blogs to writing a profile story, I was able to experience the many different aspects and benefits of feature writing. I would have to say my favorite blogs were usually the free style ones, but one of my favorite pieces we had to write a blog post about was the personal essay written by the sister of Steve Jobs. Not only did I enjoy learning more about Jobs himself, but the personal interaction in the personal essay was a great example on how to write a good personal essay.
I learned that with the constant changes in media and journalism today, there are multiple ways to get your work out there for others to read. There are blogs out there on just about anything. Twitter continues to grow and be a primary source of breaking news and Facebook still leads the charge of social media.
Feature writing has shown me the many aspects that go into writing good stories that people will be interested in reading. Reviews, profiles, personal essays, and even blogging are all ways to practice and make your writing better.

Big Ten emerging as Basketball powerhouse?

In years past, we have seen the dominating basketball conference be the ACC, led by Duke and North Carolina. Recently it has been the Big East, and their physical play and depth in the conference with teams like Georgetown, Louisville, UCONN, and Syracuse. Now we find ourselves in a situation this year. Though the depth is still relevant in the Big East, the talent has seemed to dwindle a little. The ACC seems to only be a two team conference with a big gap after North Carolina and Duke. Is this the year the Big Ten is able win the Big Ten/ACC challenge? The answer to the question is yes, and not only will they win, but they will win the challenge easily.
Lets begin by looking at the powerhouse teams in the Big Ten, which include Ohio State, Wisconsin and Michigan, who are all in the top 25 currently. Lets also not forget about Purdue, Northwestern, Illinois, Michigan State, and Indiana, who seems to have finally turned their program around. The second tier of teams I listed are solid programs with a lot of young talent and good coaching. They all have the opportunity to make the NCAA Tourney in March. Michigan St. will eventually find their way back into the top 25. Same goes with Purdue, Illinois and Indiana who will find themselves battling day in and day out with any team in the country. Now we move to the big dogs of the conference. Sure Michigan suffered a tough, unexpected loss to Virginia earlier this week, but they are are also a team who beat a top ten ranked Memphis team at the beginning of the season, and took Duke down to the wire in a tough loss. Michigan is a team that will continue to grow, and with one of the best players in the country in Tim Hardaway Jr, Michigan is built to make a run late in the season. Wisconsin, is
another team that seems to get better and better each year. Led by Jordan Taylor, who ranks with the top point guards in the NCAA, has suffered just one loss which was to North Carolina. The game was thriller as UNC pulled out the 3 point win late in the final minute of the game. Wisconsin can run with the best of them including Big Ten rival Ohio State. Ohio St. in my opinion should have been ranked the #1 team in the nation to begin the year. They arguably have the best player in the nation with big man Jared Sullinger, along with a great supporting cast led by William Buford and Aaron Craft. Ohio State has begun the year undefeated with wins over two top ten teams. They beat the Florida Gators who were ranked #8 and beat Duke by 22 points who was ranked #4 at the time.
With the depth and talent that has emerged in the Big Ten, is there a new power conference in town? The ACC is headlined by two schools, so they are out of the question. The Big East seems to have kept a little depth, but this year they seem to go about 6 deep before there is a drop off in the rest of the conference. One could argue that the Big Ten could end up with 8 to 9 tournament teams this year (Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State, Northwestern, Wisconsin, Purdue, Michigan, Michigan St, and maybe Minnesota, or Penn St.)

Not saying this is the case, but the Big Ten is for real this year, so hold your horses before naming the Big East the best basketball conference in the nation.