We open this week with a eulogy to Rashaad Penny. His brief Heisman campaign was the only hope for a smaller school player to win, but that hope has been snuffed out. That being said, his departure from our Heisman watch does not really affect the chances of a running back winning. This year is a bit of an aberration, as this is very much a quarterback-dominated award. In fact, there have only been two running backs to buck the QB trend and win the Heisman: Mark Ingram and Derrick Henry (Reggie Bush had his trophy vacated). This year we are almost guaranteed to see a running back take home the hardware. In fact, we might only see one QB invited to New York City. What a strange year this is. Also, we are finally cutting the list down to nine players. The number of guys who can win is slowly dwindling. Let's get started.
9. Jalen Hurts, Alabama (Last Week: 8)-. Another week, another typical game for Hurts. Alabama won 45-7 against fellow SEC team Tennessee while Hurts had good, not great, stats. He went 13 for 21 for 198 yards, a touchdown, and zero picks.
8. J.T. Barrett, Ohio State (Last Week: 10)- Barrett has been incredible since his Buckeyes lost to Oklahoma in Week 2. He has yet to throw an interception and OSU has not lost a game. If they can beat Penn State this week, Barrett will be a true Heisman contender and OSU will have a shot at making the playoffs.
7. Josh Adams, Notre Dame (Last Week: 7)- One of the biggest pros for Josh Adam is his strength of schedule. He's already faced Georgia, Michigan State, and USC and has yet to face North Carolina State, Miami (Fl), and Stanford. It's one of the toughest schedules in the country and will certainly legitimize Adams's Heisman chances. He had a spectacular game against USC in Week 8, even though he was slightly overshadowed by teammate Brandom Wimbush. The only blemish on the speedster's record is his 53-yard performance against Georgia. But seeing as Georgia has one of the best defenses in the country, that's a little understandable.
6. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin (Last Week: 6)- Taylor has come out of nowhere to become a fringe Heisman finalist. On 22 carries against Maryland, he ran for 126 yards and one touchdown. Taylor has run for at least one touchdown in each game this season.
5. Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State (Last Week: 4)- If you like stats, then Rudolph's your guy. The Cowboy leads the nation in passing yards and yards per game. He needs to beat Oklahoma and make the playoffs in order to keep this campaign going.
4. Trace McSorley, Penn State (Last Week: 5)- I'm honestly very surprised that McSorley has made it this high here. He continues to get overshadowed by Barkley but has managed to play very well and withstand the emergence of players like Adams and Taylor.
3. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (Last Week: 3)- Mayfield's 200.4 passer rating is the best in college football and has only thrown two interceptions this season (hi Sam Darnold). He's the best chance of any non-RB to win the Heisman.
2. Bryce Love, Stanford (Last Week: 2)- The Stanford Cardinal leads the nation in rushing yards and will probably be the season's rushing leader. He's an incredible talent that defies all expectations or the human body.
1. Saquon Barkley, Penn State (Last Week: 1)- It seems a bygone conclusion that Barkley will win the Heisman. After all, even one of the best defenses in the country couldn't slow him down. He is one of the best runners in the country and on top of that, he leads Penn State in receptions. He also benefits from playing on the big state, something that Love does not have. You may think that's unimportant, but it's the reason why Derrick Henry beat out Christian McCaffrey (also from Stanford) to win the Heisman two years ago.
Thanks for reading everyone.
Friday, October 27, 2017
Monday, October 23, 2017
Heisman Watch Week 7
We start this week's rankings by saying goodbye to Luke Falk and Lamar Jackson, both of whom are no longer in the Heisman race. Falk threw five interceptions against unranked Cal while Lamar Jackson and Lousiville fell to Boston College. Let's get started.
10. J.T. Barrett, Ohio State (Last Week: NR)- Barrett and Ohio State have been absent from the national conversation since they lost to Oklahoma but that all changed this week. The Buckeyes steamrolled Nebraska as Barrett threw for five touchdowns and ran for two more.
9. Rashaad Penny, San Diego State (Last Week: 4)- I told you last week, SDSU needed to stay undefeated in order for Penny to win the Heisman. Unfortunately, they lost by 17 points to unranked Boise State and tumbled from the rankings. Penny meanwhile, only ran for 53 yards and one touchdown on 21 carries.
8. Jalen Hurts, Alabama (Last Week: 9)- Hurts had a very typical Hurts game in Alabama's win over Arkansas. He went 12 for 19 for 155 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He also ran for 41 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.
7. Josh Adams, Notre Dame (Last Week: 8)- Adams was on a bye this week but moves up thanks to other players slipping. If he wants to move into the top five, he'll need to keep having big games and long runs.
6. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin (Last Week: NR)- The talented freshman from Wisconsin makes his debut here after running for 219 yards and one touchdown against Purdue. On top of that, Wisconsin is undefeated and a national title contender (albeit a sneaky one).
5. Trace McSorley, Penn State (Last Week: 5)- McSorley had the week off in Week 7.
4. Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State (Last Week: 6)- Rudolph and the Cowboys aired it out in their win over Baylor. Rudolph threw for 459 yards and three touchdowns as Oklahoma State won by 43 points.
3. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (Last Week: 3)- A week after losing their first game of the season to unranked Iowa State, the Sooners bounced back by beating the Texas Longhorns. The score was a little closer than you would like (29-24), but a win is a win. Mayfield threw for 302 yards and a score while also running seven times for 27 carries.
2. Brice Love, Stanford (Last Week: 2)- Love had yet another big game as the Cardinals whooped Oregon. The dynamo ran for 147 yards and two scores as Stanford won by 42 points.
1. Saquon Barkley, Penn State (Last Week: 1)- Despite Love playing well and Barkley having a bye week, the Nittany Lion retains our top spot.
Thanks for reading everyone.
10. J.T. Barrett, Ohio State (Last Week: NR)- Barrett and Ohio State have been absent from the national conversation since they lost to Oklahoma but that all changed this week. The Buckeyes steamrolled Nebraska as Barrett threw for five touchdowns and ran for two more.
9. Rashaad Penny, San Diego State (Last Week: 4)- I told you last week, SDSU needed to stay undefeated in order for Penny to win the Heisman. Unfortunately, they lost by 17 points to unranked Boise State and tumbled from the rankings. Penny meanwhile, only ran for 53 yards and one touchdown on 21 carries.
8. Jalen Hurts, Alabama (Last Week: 9)- Hurts had a very typical Hurts game in Alabama's win over Arkansas. He went 12 for 19 for 155 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He also ran for 41 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.
7. Josh Adams, Notre Dame (Last Week: 8)- Adams was on a bye this week but moves up thanks to other players slipping. If he wants to move into the top five, he'll need to keep having big games and long runs.
6. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin (Last Week: NR)- The talented freshman from Wisconsin makes his debut here after running for 219 yards and one touchdown against Purdue. On top of that, Wisconsin is undefeated and a national title contender (albeit a sneaky one).
5. Trace McSorley, Penn State (Last Week: 5)- McSorley had the week off in Week 7.
4. Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State (Last Week: 6)- Rudolph and the Cowboys aired it out in their win over Baylor. Rudolph threw for 459 yards and three touchdowns as Oklahoma State won by 43 points.
3. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (Last Week: 3)- A week after losing their first game of the season to unranked Iowa State, the Sooners bounced back by beating the Texas Longhorns. The score was a little closer than you would like (29-24), but a win is a win. Mayfield threw for 302 yards and a score while also running seven times for 27 carries.
2. Brice Love, Stanford (Last Week: 2)- Love had yet another big game as the Cardinals whooped Oregon. The dynamo ran for 147 yards and two scores as Stanford won by 42 points.
1. Saquon Barkley, Penn State (Last Week: 1)- Despite Love playing well and Barkley having a bye week, the Nittany Lion retains our top spot.
Thanks for reading everyone.
NBA Predictions 2017-2018
Basketball is back baby. This season follows on the heels of a particularly exciting offseason that saw a number of notable players move teams. This includes Jimmy Butler, Gordon Hayward, Kyrie Irving, Jeff Teague, Paul George, Carmelo Anthony, Dwayne Wade, Derrick Rose, Brook Lopez, and Avery Bradley. It will be interesting to see how all these offseason moves play out.
Last year, it seemed destined that the Golden State Warriors would win the NBA Championship. After all, they were coming off a season where they had set a record for most regular season wins (73) and had four of the best players in the world: Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Kevin Durant. Lo and behold, the Warriors went 16-1 in the postseason and won their second title in three years. This year, they are once again the favorites. Shocking, I know. But what of the other teams and playoff hopefuls? How will they fare this season? This post will take a look at each team and predict the regular seasons, awards, and playoffs. Let's get started.
Atlantic Division:
After surprisingly finishing last season with the best record in the East, the Celtics are favorites to win the Atlantic. Thanks to trades with Cleveland and Detroit the C's have a very different team from last year. Instead of featuring Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley, and Jae Crowder, the Celtics will now showcase Gordon Hayward, Kyrie Irving, and Marcus Morris. There might be a few chemistry issues, but this team will win the division for sure.
The biggest threat in this division to Boston is Toronto. The Raptors are a perennial playoff team and return their core team of DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry, Serge Ibaka, and Jonas Valuncias. They have the talent to be a 50 win team but it will be tough to reach that level.
In third place. we have the Philadelphia 76ers, quite possibly one of the most interesting teams in the league. This could be the year we finally see the Process take shape. Rookies Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz are ready to go and superstar center Joel Embiid might actually stay healthy all season long. The ceiling is high but the pitfalls are real.
In the basement of this division, we have the Knicks and the Nets. Neither of these teams is in a position to win right now, but the Knicks are just a little bit closer thanks to unicorn Kristaps Porzingis. Now that they're rid of Phil Jackson and Carmelo Anthony, the future of the Knicks is looking kind of hopeful. Unfortunately for the Nets, things are looking a little bleaker. There's not much hope when your backcourt features Jeremy Lin and D'Angelo Russell.
Central Division:
The defending runner-ups Cleveland Cavaliers are the easy favorites here. They might not go full-speed in the regular season, a strategy they employed last year, but that doesn't mean they'll slip to any lower than first in this division. Coming in second will be the Milwaukee Bucks, the team most poised to break into the conference's upper echelon.
The Detroit Pistons had a disappointing season in 2017 but look to rebound thanks to new additions Avery Bradley and Luke Kennard, which should help ease their shooting woes. If all goes well, they will challenge for a playoff spot. Key to their playoff contention will be their center, Andre Drummond. Two years ago he led the league in double-doubles and rebounds as the Pistons nabbed the 8th seed. Last year, he failed to repeat as an All-Star and struggled at the free throw line.
Both the Pacers and the Bulls lost their biggest stars: Paul George and Jimmy Butler, respectively. Both teams, especially Chicago, are in full rebuilding mode and will be out of the playoff race. I'm picking Indiana to finish ahead of Chicago thanks to center Myles Turner.
Southeast Division:
This division belongs to the Washington Wizards, who managed to resign Otto Porter Jr., one of the biggest free agents on the market this summer. They also have one of the league's best backcourts in John Wall and Bradley Beal. They should cross the 50-win mark here, especially since they are by far the best team in this division.
The Miami Heat are nowhere near the heights when they had LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh, but they are by no means a bottom-feeder. Hassan Whiteside is one of the best centers in the league and he has a great supporting cast that includes Goran Dragic and Justice Winslow.
The only other team in this division that will contend for a playoff spot- the Charlotte Hornets. This defensive squad is led by former All-Star Kemba Walker and also features former Kentucky Wildcat Malik Monk and Nicolas Batum. Their success will largely depend on how well Dwight Howard plays. Although he was once regarded as the best big-man in the game, Howard's last few stints with the Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets, and LA Lakers can only be described as disappointing.
Speaking of Atlanta, they are facing a rebuilding season after losing players such as Paul Millsap and Howard. That being said, the future looks bright thanks to players like John Collins and Taurean Prince. Orlando will finish in the basement of the division, though Aaron Gordon continues to turn heads.
Pacific Division:
What else is there to say about Golden State? They retained all of their core players from last year and added players such as Nick Young and rookie Jordan Bell. While they are the clear favorites, the rest of the division is a little murkier. The conversation has to start with the LA Clippers. Although they lost J.J. Reddick and Chris Paul, the team is still loaded with players such as Blake Griffin, Danilo Gallinari, Austin Rivers, and Milos Teodosic.
The Lakers are one of the most intriguing teams in the league thanks to flashy rookie Lonzo Ball. Sure, his dad will steal a lot of the headlines, but don't let that distract you from this potential franchise player. The Lakers are young and untested, and that goes for head coach Luke Walton. It will be up to him to develop players such as Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson, and Brandon Ingram.
Neither the Sacremento Kings nor the Phoenix Suns will contend for the playoffs, but they have some young players who could feature in this league for years to come. This includes Buddy Hield, Devin Booker, and Josh Jackson.
Southwest Division:
There's trouble in Texas as both the Houston Rockets and the San Antonio Spurs will contend for the division title. I'm going to give the edge to the Rockets and their incredible backcourt of James Harden and Chris Paul.
In third place, we have the New Orleans Pelicans. The big-man duo of Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins proved to be a little underwhelming this season, but those chemistry issues should be sorted out by now. Rajon Rondo's injury problems might cost them a spot in the playoffs, however.
Bringing up the rear we have the Memphis Grizzlies and Dallas Mavericks. The Grizzlies have developed a well-earned reputation for being one of the most consistent franchises around but should see a decline this year. Both Marc Gasol and Mike Conley are getting on in years and Tony Allen, one of the franchise's biggest unsung heroes, has moved on to New Orleans. Meanwhile, the Mavs are in tank mode. Franchise legend Dirk Nowitzki is nowhere near the player he used to be, but rookie Dennis Smith Jr. could contend for Rookie of the Year.
Northwest Division:
Thanks to the additions of Paul George and Carmelo Anthony, the Thunder will be one of the most exciting teams to watch. However, they will face some stiff competition from the Minnesota Timberwolves. On paper, Tom Thibodeau's squad looks like one of the league's best. This includes Jeff Teague, Jimmy Butler, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Andrew Wiggins.
In third place, we have the Portland Trail Blazers, last year's #8 seed. Though they ultimately fell short in the Carmelo Anthony sweepstakes, any team with Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum is good enough to compete for a playoff spot.
The Denver Nuggets and Utah Jazz should find themselves in the 7-10 range. The Nuggets are preseason sleepers to make the playoffs while the Jazz will find themselves taking a step down after losing their star player Gordon Hayward.
East Seeds: 1. Boston Celtics 2. Cleveland Cavaliers 3. Toronto Raptors 4. Washington Wizards
5. Milwaukee Bucks 6. Miami Heat 7. Philadelphia 76ers 8. Detroit Pistons
West Seeds: 1. Golden State Warriors 2. Houston Rockets 3. Oklahoma City Thunder
4. San Antonio Spurs 5. Minnesota Timberwolves 6. Los Angeles Clippers
7. Portland Trail Blazers 8. New Orleans Pelicans
East Playoffs:
I'm predicting two sweeps in the first round (Boston over Detroit and Cleveland over Philly) while Toronto beats Miami in five and Washington beats Milwaukee in six. The Bucks have the best chance of scoring an upset, but I don't see it happening.
The Raptors might steal a game from Cleveland, but that's it. The Wizards on the other hand, should push their series with the Celtics to six games before bowing out. The semifinals between Cleveland and Boston should be an epic series. They have history from last year and the Kyrie Irving trade from this offseason. It'll be close, but I'm picking Cleveland in seven.
West Playoffs:
Like the East, I see two sweeps in the first round of the West: Golden State over New Orleans and Houston over Portland. The Clippers have enough talent to make their series with OKC interesting but will still lose in five. The Timberwolves have all the talent in the world but lack the postseason experience of San Antonio. Thus, I predict the Spurs win in six.
Last year, the Spurs were winning Game 1 by 21 points before their star player Kwahi Leonard suffered an injury. The Spurs went on to be swept. Now, if Kwahi is healthy, the physical Spurs will test GSW. The Dubs will win in five games where they will take on the Houston Rockets. The Rockets will have a hellacious series against the Thunder and will win in seven. I think the Western Conference finals will also go to seven games as the Dubs eek out a win.
Finals:
For the fourth year in a row, the Golden State Warriors will face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA finals. I know a lot of fans will be upset about that, but what's wrong with seeing the two best teams play? Golden State leads the series 2-1 and should earn win #3. Cleveland did beef up in the offseason but are still no match for the Dubs.
Finals MVP: Kevin Durant
Regular Season Awards:
MVP: Kwahi Leonard
Coach: Gregg Popovich
Defensive: Draymond
Rookie: Dennis Smith Jr.
6th Man: Greg Monroe
MIP: Myles Turner
Thanks for reading everyone.
Last year, it seemed destined that the Golden State Warriors would win the NBA Championship. After all, they were coming off a season where they had set a record for most regular season wins (73) and had four of the best players in the world: Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Kevin Durant. Lo and behold, the Warriors went 16-1 in the postseason and won their second title in three years. This year, they are once again the favorites. Shocking, I know. But what of the other teams and playoff hopefuls? How will they fare this season? This post will take a look at each team and predict the regular seasons, awards, and playoffs. Let's get started.
Atlantic Division:
After surprisingly finishing last season with the best record in the East, the Celtics are favorites to win the Atlantic. Thanks to trades with Cleveland and Detroit the C's have a very different team from last year. Instead of featuring Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley, and Jae Crowder, the Celtics will now showcase Gordon Hayward, Kyrie Irving, and Marcus Morris. There might be a few chemistry issues, but this team will win the division for sure.
The biggest threat in this division to Boston is Toronto. The Raptors are a perennial playoff team and return their core team of DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry, Serge Ibaka, and Jonas Valuncias. They have the talent to be a 50 win team but it will be tough to reach that level.
In third place. we have the Philadelphia 76ers, quite possibly one of the most interesting teams in the league. This could be the year we finally see the Process take shape. Rookies Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz are ready to go and superstar center Joel Embiid might actually stay healthy all season long. The ceiling is high but the pitfalls are real.
In the basement of this division, we have the Knicks and the Nets. Neither of these teams is in a position to win right now, but the Knicks are just a little bit closer thanks to unicorn Kristaps Porzingis. Now that they're rid of Phil Jackson and Carmelo Anthony, the future of the Knicks is looking kind of hopeful. Unfortunately for the Nets, things are looking a little bleaker. There's not much hope when your backcourt features Jeremy Lin and D'Angelo Russell.
Central Division:
The defending runner-ups Cleveland Cavaliers are the easy favorites here. They might not go full-speed in the regular season, a strategy they employed last year, but that doesn't mean they'll slip to any lower than first in this division. Coming in second will be the Milwaukee Bucks, the team most poised to break into the conference's upper echelon.
The Detroit Pistons had a disappointing season in 2017 but look to rebound thanks to new additions Avery Bradley and Luke Kennard, which should help ease their shooting woes. If all goes well, they will challenge for a playoff spot. Key to their playoff contention will be their center, Andre Drummond. Two years ago he led the league in double-doubles and rebounds as the Pistons nabbed the 8th seed. Last year, he failed to repeat as an All-Star and struggled at the free throw line.
Both the Pacers and the Bulls lost their biggest stars: Paul George and Jimmy Butler, respectively. Both teams, especially Chicago, are in full rebuilding mode and will be out of the playoff race. I'm picking Indiana to finish ahead of Chicago thanks to center Myles Turner.
Southeast Division:
This division belongs to the Washington Wizards, who managed to resign Otto Porter Jr., one of the biggest free agents on the market this summer. They also have one of the league's best backcourts in John Wall and Bradley Beal. They should cross the 50-win mark here, especially since they are by far the best team in this division.
The Miami Heat are nowhere near the heights when they had LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh, but they are by no means a bottom-feeder. Hassan Whiteside is one of the best centers in the league and he has a great supporting cast that includes Goran Dragic and Justice Winslow.
The only other team in this division that will contend for a playoff spot- the Charlotte Hornets. This defensive squad is led by former All-Star Kemba Walker and also features former Kentucky Wildcat Malik Monk and Nicolas Batum. Their success will largely depend on how well Dwight Howard plays. Although he was once regarded as the best big-man in the game, Howard's last few stints with the Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets, and LA Lakers can only be described as disappointing.
Speaking of Atlanta, they are facing a rebuilding season after losing players such as Paul Millsap and Howard. That being said, the future looks bright thanks to players like John Collins and Taurean Prince. Orlando will finish in the basement of the division, though Aaron Gordon continues to turn heads.
Pacific Division:
What else is there to say about Golden State? They retained all of their core players from last year and added players such as Nick Young and rookie Jordan Bell. While they are the clear favorites, the rest of the division is a little murkier. The conversation has to start with the LA Clippers. Although they lost J.J. Reddick and Chris Paul, the team is still loaded with players such as Blake Griffin, Danilo Gallinari, Austin Rivers, and Milos Teodosic.
The Lakers are one of the most intriguing teams in the league thanks to flashy rookie Lonzo Ball. Sure, his dad will steal a lot of the headlines, but don't let that distract you from this potential franchise player. The Lakers are young and untested, and that goes for head coach Luke Walton. It will be up to him to develop players such as Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson, and Brandon Ingram.
Neither the Sacremento Kings nor the Phoenix Suns will contend for the playoffs, but they have some young players who could feature in this league for years to come. This includes Buddy Hield, Devin Booker, and Josh Jackson.
Southwest Division:
There's trouble in Texas as both the Houston Rockets and the San Antonio Spurs will contend for the division title. I'm going to give the edge to the Rockets and their incredible backcourt of James Harden and Chris Paul.
In third place, we have the New Orleans Pelicans. The big-man duo of Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins proved to be a little underwhelming this season, but those chemistry issues should be sorted out by now. Rajon Rondo's injury problems might cost them a spot in the playoffs, however.
Bringing up the rear we have the Memphis Grizzlies and Dallas Mavericks. The Grizzlies have developed a well-earned reputation for being one of the most consistent franchises around but should see a decline this year. Both Marc Gasol and Mike Conley are getting on in years and Tony Allen, one of the franchise's biggest unsung heroes, has moved on to New Orleans. Meanwhile, the Mavs are in tank mode. Franchise legend Dirk Nowitzki is nowhere near the player he used to be, but rookie Dennis Smith Jr. could contend for Rookie of the Year.
Northwest Division:
Thanks to the additions of Paul George and Carmelo Anthony, the Thunder will be one of the most exciting teams to watch. However, they will face some stiff competition from the Minnesota Timberwolves. On paper, Tom Thibodeau's squad looks like one of the league's best. This includes Jeff Teague, Jimmy Butler, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Andrew Wiggins.
In third place, we have the Portland Trail Blazers, last year's #8 seed. Though they ultimately fell short in the Carmelo Anthony sweepstakes, any team with Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum is good enough to compete for a playoff spot.
The Denver Nuggets and Utah Jazz should find themselves in the 7-10 range. The Nuggets are preseason sleepers to make the playoffs while the Jazz will find themselves taking a step down after losing their star player Gordon Hayward.
East Seeds: 1. Boston Celtics 2. Cleveland Cavaliers 3. Toronto Raptors 4. Washington Wizards
5. Milwaukee Bucks 6. Miami Heat 7. Philadelphia 76ers 8. Detroit Pistons
West Seeds: 1. Golden State Warriors 2. Houston Rockets 3. Oklahoma City Thunder
4. San Antonio Spurs 5. Minnesota Timberwolves 6. Los Angeles Clippers
7. Portland Trail Blazers 8. New Orleans Pelicans
East Playoffs:
I'm predicting two sweeps in the first round (Boston over Detroit and Cleveland over Philly) while Toronto beats Miami in five and Washington beats Milwaukee in six. The Bucks have the best chance of scoring an upset, but I don't see it happening.
The Raptors might steal a game from Cleveland, but that's it. The Wizards on the other hand, should push their series with the Celtics to six games before bowing out. The semifinals between Cleveland and Boston should be an epic series. They have history from last year and the Kyrie Irving trade from this offseason. It'll be close, but I'm picking Cleveland in seven.
West Playoffs:
Like the East, I see two sweeps in the first round of the West: Golden State over New Orleans and Houston over Portland. The Clippers have enough talent to make their series with OKC interesting but will still lose in five. The Timberwolves have all the talent in the world but lack the postseason experience of San Antonio. Thus, I predict the Spurs win in six.
Last year, the Spurs were winning Game 1 by 21 points before their star player Kwahi Leonard suffered an injury. The Spurs went on to be swept. Now, if Kwahi is healthy, the physical Spurs will test GSW. The Dubs will win in five games where they will take on the Houston Rockets. The Rockets will have a hellacious series against the Thunder and will win in seven. I think the Western Conference finals will also go to seven games as the Dubs eek out a win.
Finals:
For the fourth year in a row, the Golden State Warriors will face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA finals. I know a lot of fans will be upset about that, but what's wrong with seeing the two best teams play? Golden State leads the series 2-1 and should earn win #3. Cleveland did beef up in the offseason but are still no match for the Dubs.
Finals MVP: Kevin Durant
Regular Season Awards:
MVP: Kwahi Leonard
Coach: Gregg Popovich
Defensive: Draymond
Rookie: Dennis Smith Jr.
6th Man: Greg Monroe
MIP: Myles Turner
Thanks for reading everyone.
Friday, October 13, 2017
Heisman Watch Week 6
Week 6 is in the record books and it did not go quietly. Two top ten teams (Oklahoma and Michigan State) fell to unranked teams while the Heisman race continued to heat up. Let's get started.
10. Lamar Jackson, Louisville (Last Week: 3)- Louisville lost its second game of the season and took down Jackson's Heisman chances with it. It doesn't matter how well Jackson plays now, there's next to no chance of him winning the Heisman again. Still, he didn't play badly against NC State. He threw for 354 yards and accounted for three interceptions.
9. Jalen Hurts, Alabama (Last Week: 9)- Alabama faced their toughest test of the season thus far in Texas A&M, but the Crimson Tide escaped unscathed. Hurts played well again as he threw for a score and 123 yards while also running for 56 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries.
8. Josh Adams, Notre Dame (Last Week: 10)- As Notre Dame climbs up the rankings, Adams's Heisman chances slowly rise. The star back is sixth in FBS in rushing, is second in YPA (his 9.0 trails only Brice Love), and is the most important piece in the nation's best running attack (sorry Alabama and Navy fans). In a 23-point win over UNC, Adams ran for 118 yards and a score on 13 carries.
7. Trace McSorley, Penn State (Last Week: 7)- McSorley continues to get overshadowed by his more famous teammate, but his performances have been nothing to scoff at. Against Northwestern, McSorley threw for 245 yards and one touchdown while also rushing for another one.
6. Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State (Last Week: 4)- Rudolph didn't play in Week 6 and that hurt his standing here. In a week where we saw great performances from players such as Josh Adams and Brice Love, Rudolph's week off hurt him.
5. Luke Falk, Washington State (Last Week: 8)- As crazy as this might sound, Falk might be the last chance the quarterbacks have to win the Heisman. Hurts is not playing well enough to be treated as a serious contender, Sam Darnold & Josh Rosen have completely faded from the Heisman conversation, Jackson feels like a total afterthought, and Rudolph & Baker Mayfield have their resumes tainted with a loss. If Falk does win the Heisman, no one will be able to say he isn't deserving of it. Against 4-1 Oregon, Falk threw for 282 yards and three touchdowns.
4. Rashaad Penny, San Diego State (Last Week: 6)- Last week, I said that in order for Penny to win the Heisman, SDSU had to go undefeated. Let me add two things to that list: Penny needs to keep playing well and other contenders have to fall. All three of those things happened in Week 6. The Aztecs ran over UNLV, Penny ran for 170 yards and two touchdowns, and former top contender Baker Mayfield picked up his first loss of the season.
3. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (Last Week: 1)- The Baker Mayfield Heisman campaign finds itself in nearly the same position as Lamar Jackson's campaign a couple of weeks ago. Both men lost but played well in the loss. In a one-possession loss to Iowa State, Mayfield threw for 306 yards and scored thrice. He's still very much in the race because of two reasons: his win over Ohio State and the fact that Oklahoma could still make the playoffs.
2. Brice Love, Stanford (Last Week: 5)- Thanks to Love's stellar play, Stanford knocked off #20 Utah. Love ran for 152 yards and a score on 20 carries and caught 2 passes for 14 yards. Love has been absolutely sensational this year and if it weren't for another running back, he would definitely top this list.
1. Saquon Barkley, Penn State (Last Week: 2)- Last week, I had a hard time deciding who would be #1: gunslinger Baker Mayfield of Oklahoma or top prospect running back Saquon Barkley. This week, the answer is obvious. Mayfield lost to an unranked team while Barkley ran for 75 yards and two touchdowns.
Thanks for reading everyone.
10. Lamar Jackson, Louisville (Last Week: 3)- Louisville lost its second game of the season and took down Jackson's Heisman chances with it. It doesn't matter how well Jackson plays now, there's next to no chance of him winning the Heisman again. Still, he didn't play badly against NC State. He threw for 354 yards and accounted for three interceptions.
9. Jalen Hurts, Alabama (Last Week: 9)- Alabama faced their toughest test of the season thus far in Texas A&M, but the Crimson Tide escaped unscathed. Hurts played well again as he threw for a score and 123 yards while also running for 56 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries.
8. Josh Adams, Notre Dame (Last Week: 10)- As Notre Dame climbs up the rankings, Adams's Heisman chances slowly rise. The star back is sixth in FBS in rushing, is second in YPA (his 9.0 trails only Brice Love), and is the most important piece in the nation's best running attack (sorry Alabama and Navy fans). In a 23-point win over UNC, Adams ran for 118 yards and a score on 13 carries.
7. Trace McSorley, Penn State (Last Week: 7)- McSorley continues to get overshadowed by his more famous teammate, but his performances have been nothing to scoff at. Against Northwestern, McSorley threw for 245 yards and one touchdown while also rushing for another one.
6. Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State (Last Week: 4)- Rudolph didn't play in Week 6 and that hurt his standing here. In a week where we saw great performances from players such as Josh Adams and Brice Love, Rudolph's week off hurt him.
5. Luke Falk, Washington State (Last Week: 8)- As crazy as this might sound, Falk might be the last chance the quarterbacks have to win the Heisman. Hurts is not playing well enough to be treated as a serious contender, Sam Darnold & Josh Rosen have completely faded from the Heisman conversation, Jackson feels like a total afterthought, and Rudolph & Baker Mayfield have their resumes tainted with a loss. If Falk does win the Heisman, no one will be able to say he isn't deserving of it. Against 4-1 Oregon, Falk threw for 282 yards and three touchdowns.
4. Rashaad Penny, San Diego State (Last Week: 6)- Last week, I said that in order for Penny to win the Heisman, SDSU had to go undefeated. Let me add two things to that list: Penny needs to keep playing well and other contenders have to fall. All three of those things happened in Week 6. The Aztecs ran over UNLV, Penny ran for 170 yards and two touchdowns, and former top contender Baker Mayfield picked up his first loss of the season.
3. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (Last Week: 1)- The Baker Mayfield Heisman campaign finds itself in nearly the same position as Lamar Jackson's campaign a couple of weeks ago. Both men lost but played well in the loss. In a one-possession loss to Iowa State, Mayfield threw for 306 yards and scored thrice. He's still very much in the race because of two reasons: his win over Ohio State and the fact that Oklahoma could still make the playoffs.
2. Brice Love, Stanford (Last Week: 5)- Thanks to Love's stellar play, Stanford knocked off #20 Utah. Love ran for 152 yards and a score on 20 carries and caught 2 passes for 14 yards. Love has been absolutely sensational this year and if it weren't for another running back, he would definitely top this list.
1. Saquon Barkley, Penn State (Last Week: 2)- Last week, I had a hard time deciding who would be #1: gunslinger Baker Mayfield of Oklahoma or top prospect running back Saquon Barkley. This week, the answer is obvious. Mayfield lost to an unranked team while Barkley ran for 75 yards and two touchdowns.
Thanks for reading everyone.
Sunday, October 8, 2017
Heisman Watch Week 5
It's around this point of the season where we begin to start looking at some of the real Heisman contenders. For example, guys like Josh Rosen, Nick Chubb, and Calvin Ridley may have been contenders in prior weeks, but are now virtually eliminated from contention. With that being said, why don't we take a look at some contenders who do have a chance to win? Let's get started.
10. Josh Adams, Notre Dame (Last Week: NR)- It's a little surprising that Adams has yet to generate any Heisman love thus far. He's a top ten rusher this year, Notre Dame is a ranked team, and he has consistently put on flashy and impressive performances. In Notre Dame's five-possession win against Miami (OH), Adams rushed for 159 yards and two touchdowns.
9. Jalen Hurts, Alabama (Last Week: NR)- A week after falling off the rankings, Hurts slides back in. It's just too hard to ignore his performances. He has yet to have a bad game this season and his Crimson Tide are still undefeated. 'Bama thoroughly handled Ole Miss as Hurts threw for two scores and ran for one more.
8. Luke Falk, Washington State (Last Week: 10)- On a Friday night, #16 Washington State took on #5 USC. Had this been on a Saturday, this game would likely have been buried away. Instead, Washington State and Luke Falk had the national spotlight on them. This was USC's chance to prove that they were worthy of contending for a national championship and Sam Darnold's chance to prove he was worthy of being a Heisman contender. Instead, Washington State picked up their fifth win of the season while Luke Falk vaulted up the Heisman watch. Falk threw for 340 yards and two touchdowns.
7. Trace McSorley (Last Week: 9)- McSorley is still trailing his teammate in terms of Heisman momentum, but he is doing his best to catch up. McSorley threw for 315 yards and two scores while also adding a rushing score.
6. Rashaad Penny, San Diego State (Last Week: 8)- It's quite clear that SDSU needs to stay undefeated for Penny to be treated as a serious Heisman contender. That's just the way it goes for non-Power 5 players. So far so good though, as the Aztecs beat Northern Illinois 34-28. Penny ran for 107 yards while also catching two passes for 32 yards and one touchdown.
5. Brice Love, Stanford (Last Week: 7)- Stanford may no longer have the nation's attention, but Love is still playing well. Against ASU, Love ran for 301 yards and three scores as Stanford won 34-24.
4. Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State (Last Week: 5)- OKSU was tested against Texas Tech, but the Cowboys managed to pull out the win. Rudolph had an incredible five touchdowns- three passing and two rushing.
3. Lamar Jackson, Louisville (Last Week: 3)- For Jackson to be taken seriously as a Heisman contender again, he needs to win next week against North Carolina State as well as have a sensational performance. In the meantime, Jackson threw for three scores and zero picks against Murray State.
2. Saquon Barkley, Penn State (Last Week: 2)- At some point this season, Barkley win reign atop this Heisman watch, I'm sure of it. Until then, he'll have to do with being just short against Baker Mayfield. In Week 5, Barkley ran for 56 yards and hauled in 4 passes for 51 yards as Penn State dismantled Indiana.
1. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (Last Week: 1)- Mayfield is still our Heisman pick at this point of the season. The Sooners didn't play in Week 5, but they will return to action in Week 6 against Iowa State.
Thanks for reading everyone.
10. Josh Adams, Notre Dame (Last Week: NR)- It's a little surprising that Adams has yet to generate any Heisman love thus far. He's a top ten rusher this year, Notre Dame is a ranked team, and he has consistently put on flashy and impressive performances. In Notre Dame's five-possession win against Miami (OH), Adams rushed for 159 yards and two touchdowns.
9. Jalen Hurts, Alabama (Last Week: NR)- A week after falling off the rankings, Hurts slides back in. It's just too hard to ignore his performances. He has yet to have a bad game this season and his Crimson Tide are still undefeated. 'Bama thoroughly handled Ole Miss as Hurts threw for two scores and ran for one more.
8. Luke Falk, Washington State (Last Week: 10)- On a Friday night, #16 Washington State took on #5 USC. Had this been on a Saturday, this game would likely have been buried away. Instead, Washington State and Luke Falk had the national spotlight on them. This was USC's chance to prove that they were worthy of contending for a national championship and Sam Darnold's chance to prove he was worthy of being a Heisman contender. Instead, Washington State picked up their fifth win of the season while Luke Falk vaulted up the Heisman watch. Falk threw for 340 yards and two touchdowns.
7. Trace McSorley (Last Week: 9)- McSorley is still trailing his teammate in terms of Heisman momentum, but he is doing his best to catch up. McSorley threw for 315 yards and two scores while also adding a rushing score.
6. Rashaad Penny, San Diego State (Last Week: 8)- It's quite clear that SDSU needs to stay undefeated for Penny to be treated as a serious Heisman contender. That's just the way it goes for non-Power 5 players. So far so good though, as the Aztecs beat Northern Illinois 34-28. Penny ran for 107 yards while also catching two passes for 32 yards and one touchdown.
5. Brice Love, Stanford (Last Week: 7)- Stanford may no longer have the nation's attention, but Love is still playing well. Against ASU, Love ran for 301 yards and three scores as Stanford won 34-24.
4. Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State (Last Week: 5)- OKSU was tested against Texas Tech, but the Cowboys managed to pull out the win. Rudolph had an incredible five touchdowns- three passing and two rushing.
3. Lamar Jackson, Louisville (Last Week: 3)- For Jackson to be taken seriously as a Heisman contender again, he needs to win next week against North Carolina State as well as have a sensational performance. In the meantime, Jackson threw for three scores and zero picks against Murray State.
2. Saquon Barkley, Penn State (Last Week: 2)- At some point this season, Barkley win reign atop this Heisman watch, I'm sure of it. Until then, he'll have to do with being just short against Baker Mayfield. In Week 5, Barkley ran for 56 yards and hauled in 4 passes for 51 yards as Penn State dismantled Indiana.
1. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (Last Week: 1)- Mayfield is still our Heisman pick at this point of the season. The Sooners didn't play in Week 5, but they will return to action in Week 6 against Iowa State.
Thanks for reading everyone.
Monday, October 2, 2017
Heisman Watch Week 4
I'd like to start this Heisman watch with a bit of a disclaimer. I'm sure this goes without saying, but just because a player is trending high on the Heisman watch right now does not mean they will necessarily be a real contender in a few weeks. That's just the nature of the highly volatile and explosive Heisman race. With that being said, let's get started.
10. Luke Falk, Washington State (Last Week: NR)- Falk is best known for airing it out and accumulating a massive amount of passing yards, but it also happens that he is quite good at it. During #18 Washington State's win over Nevada, Falk threw for 478 yards and five touchdowns as the Cougars won their fourth game of the season.
9. Trace McSorley, Penn State (Last Week: NR)- Barkley has so far gotten all of Penn State's Heisman love, but McSorley is starting to eat into that. Yes, Barkley stole the show in Week 4, but it would be unwise to overlook his teammate's performance. Against Iowa, McSorley threw for 284 yards and one touchdown while also adding 64 yards on the ground.
8. Rashaad Penny, San Diego State (Last Week: NR)- Penny is FBS's leading rusher and the way he is going, he'll find himself on top of the leaderboard at the end of the season as well. Against Air Force, Penny ran for 128 yards and three scores as the Aztecs remain undefeated.
7. Brice Love, Stanford (Last Week: 9)- Love needed a big win to kickstart his Heisman campaign and he just might have gotten it against UCLA in Week 4. Love ran for a career-high 263 yards and one touchdown as the Cards beat the Bruins by 24.
6. Royce Freeman, Oregon (Last Week: 6)- His Ducks may have lost to Oregon State, but Freeman produced another solid effort. He ran for 81 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries while also catching three passes for 19 yards.
5. Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State (Last Week: 3)- Just a week after cracking our Top Three, Rudolph takes a hit. Sure, he still had good numbers against TCU (398 passing yards and three total touchdowns) but his Cowboys still lost. On top of that, he had two costly interceptions that cost his team the game. Rudolph is by no means out of the Heisman conversation, but his campaign has definitely taken a hit.
4. Sam Darnold USC (Last Week: 4)- Honestly, I'm not sure what to do with Darnold. Yes, USC keeps winning and he has good stats, but he is struggling way more than he should and is throwing way, WAY too many interceptions. I honestly struggle with ranking him every week.
3. Lamar Jackson, Louisville (Last Week: 5)- Many people have said that Jackson is no longer a Heisman contender after losing to Clemson, but I don't see it that way. Sure, Jackson struggled mightily, but it was his team that really let him down. Besides, that was the only bad game he's had this season. Against Kent State in Week 4, Jackson had three total touchdowns while throwing for 299 yards.
2. Saquon Barkley, Penn State (Last Week: 2)- Many people have Barkley at #1 on their list, but I don't think he's there just yet. For one, our #1 pick has done nothing to warrant losing that spot. Second of all, Barkley is losing some Heisman shine thanks to his teammate Trace McSorley. Still, you can't argue with how well Barkley has been playing this season. Against Iowa, Barkley ran for 201 yards and one touchdown while also catching 12 passes for 94 yards.
1. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (Last Week: 1)- In an ideal world, Mayfield and Oklahoma wouldn't have struggled so much against winless Baylor. But they did, and Mayfield was put in a tough situation. He did make the most of that tough situatiion as the Sooners escaped with a win and Mayfield threw for 283 yards and three scores.
Thanks for reading everyone.
10. Luke Falk, Washington State (Last Week: NR)- Falk is best known for airing it out and accumulating a massive amount of passing yards, but it also happens that he is quite good at it. During #18 Washington State's win over Nevada, Falk threw for 478 yards and five touchdowns as the Cougars won their fourth game of the season.
9. Trace McSorley, Penn State (Last Week: NR)- Barkley has so far gotten all of Penn State's Heisman love, but McSorley is starting to eat into that. Yes, Barkley stole the show in Week 4, but it would be unwise to overlook his teammate's performance. Against Iowa, McSorley threw for 284 yards and one touchdown while also adding 64 yards on the ground.
8. Rashaad Penny, San Diego State (Last Week: NR)- Penny is FBS's leading rusher and the way he is going, he'll find himself on top of the leaderboard at the end of the season as well. Against Air Force, Penny ran for 128 yards and three scores as the Aztecs remain undefeated.
7. Brice Love, Stanford (Last Week: 9)- Love needed a big win to kickstart his Heisman campaign and he just might have gotten it against UCLA in Week 4. Love ran for a career-high 263 yards and one touchdown as the Cards beat the Bruins by 24.
6. Royce Freeman, Oregon (Last Week: 6)- His Ducks may have lost to Oregon State, but Freeman produced another solid effort. He ran for 81 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries while also catching three passes for 19 yards.
5. Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State (Last Week: 3)- Just a week after cracking our Top Three, Rudolph takes a hit. Sure, he still had good numbers against TCU (398 passing yards and three total touchdowns) but his Cowboys still lost. On top of that, he had two costly interceptions that cost his team the game. Rudolph is by no means out of the Heisman conversation, but his campaign has definitely taken a hit.
4. Sam Darnold USC (Last Week: 4)- Honestly, I'm not sure what to do with Darnold. Yes, USC keeps winning and he has good stats, but he is struggling way more than he should and is throwing way, WAY too many interceptions. I honestly struggle with ranking him every week.
3. Lamar Jackson, Louisville (Last Week: 5)- Many people have said that Jackson is no longer a Heisman contender after losing to Clemson, but I don't see it that way. Sure, Jackson struggled mightily, but it was his team that really let him down. Besides, that was the only bad game he's had this season. Against Kent State in Week 4, Jackson had three total touchdowns while throwing for 299 yards.
2. Saquon Barkley, Penn State (Last Week: 2)- Many people have Barkley at #1 on their list, but I don't think he's there just yet. For one, our #1 pick has done nothing to warrant losing that spot. Second of all, Barkley is losing some Heisman shine thanks to his teammate Trace McSorley. Still, you can't argue with how well Barkley has been playing this season. Against Iowa, Barkley ran for 201 yards and one touchdown while also catching 12 passes for 94 yards.
1. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (Last Week: 1)- In an ideal world, Mayfield and Oklahoma wouldn't have struggled so much against winless Baylor. But they did, and Mayfield was put in a tough situation. He did make the most of that tough situatiion as the Sooners escaped with a win and Mayfield threw for 283 yards and three scores.
Thanks for reading everyone.
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