|
Every week Mark Chalifoux and Doug Stuerenberg of AllSportsEmpire.com (launches November 8th) pick and predict their top games of the weekend.
College Football
.
Doug's Pick: No. 2 Oklahoma at No. 22 Texas A&M
Saturday, 3:30 p.m. EST, ABC (regional coverage)
The Sooners march into College Station to take on the Aggies in the most intriguing game of the week. Two years ago, A&M freshman quarterback Reggie McNeal torched the Sooner secondary en route to a 30-26 upset victory at Kyle Field. Last year in Norman was a different story: Oklahoma 77, Texas A&M 0. McNeal's passing and running ability will present problems for the Oklahoma defense, which gave up 35 points last week to Oklahoma State.
The Sooners counter with Heisman winner Jason White, who has thrown 20 touchdown passes this season, and freshman tailback Adrian Peterson, who has run for 1,272 yards in just eight games. Plus, Oklahoma boasts excellent special teams that feature kicker Trey DiCarlo and punter Blake Ferguson.
This is Oklahoma's last true test on its road to the Orange Bowl, so they should lay it all on the line. It remains to be seen if A&M can bounce back from a bad 35-34 overtime loss at Baylor last Saturday. They'll be game, but I don't think they can stop White, Clayton, Peterson and Co. from claiming Big XII South dominance.
Pick: Oklahoma 38, Texas A&M 24
College football
Mark's pick: Notre Dame at no. 11 Tennessee
3:30pm est, CBS
The Fighting Irish roll into Knoxville coming off of a bye week. The Irish were last in action as they dropped their fourth straight to Boston College on a last minute TD by the Eagles. Tennessee comes into the game as winners of their last four games, including strong road wins over Georgia, Mississippi, and South Carolina.
This is hands down the most intriguing game in the college ranks this weekend. While many may point to Oklahoma-A&M,the Aggies are coming off a humiliating loss to Baylor and the Sooners, led by Heisman frontrunner Adrian Peterson, will roll easily over Texas A&M. This Notre Dame game, however, holds the future to the Ty Willingham era at Notre Dame.
The Irish definitely have the talent to win this game, but they have had trouble with consistency this season. If Rhema McKnight, Ryan Grant, and Maurice Stovall step up and play like they can, the Irish can win this one. The offense holds the key to this game, and this could be Brady Quinn's breakout game.
If Notre Dame gets humiliated in this one, it will show that Notre Dame has made no progress in the past few years. If they can hang tough, and maybe even pull out the win, it will be a sign that the Golden Domers are starting to get back on track. A win in Knoxville could signal the return of a storied program and the awakening of a sleeping giant.
Prediction: The Irish have had success against freshmen QBs this season, and I expect this game to be no different. The ND front seven will set the tone for the defense, and Brady Quinn and Darius Walker will have statement games with the offense. This Tennessee team always plays teams close at home, and I you can't go against Notre Dame in close games against big time opponents.
ND 31 Tenn 28
NFL
Doug's pick: Minnesota Vikings at Indianapolis Colts
Monday, 9:00 p.m. EST, ABC
Both the Vikings (5-2) and the Colts (4-3) come into their Monday Night Football tilt off of embarrassing losses. The Vikings were stomped 34-13 by the G-Men in the Metrodome, while the Chiefs shredded the Colts' defense in a 45-35 home win at Arrowhead Stadium.
Both teams feature prolific offenses, but the Vikings have been grounded with a hobbled Randy Moss. Moss might not play Monday night in order to rest his sore hamstring, which would be a break for the Colts. Still, Daunte Culpepper has thrown for 2,180 yards and 20 touchdowns in seven games, and he has respectable targets in Nate Burleson, Marcus Robinson and Kelly Campbell. On the ground, fill-in running back Mewelde Moore has averaged 5.9 yards per carry.
The Colts offense is hitting on all cylinders coming in to this game. Peyton Manning has thrown for 22 touchdowns and has dangerous targets in Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne and Brandon Stokley. Wayne and Stokley each have 34 catches and Harrison has seven touchdowns.
On a two-game losing streak, the Colts will come out hungry. The offense will impose itself on the Vikings' defense, while Minnesota will continue to struggle offensively without Randy Moss. Look for a big Indianapolis win here.
Pick: Colts 35, Vikings 20
Mark’s Pick :
2004 Tour Championship Final Round
Where: East Lake GC, Atlanta
Yardage/Par: 7,132 yards/par 70
Purse: $6 million (Winner: $1.08 million)
Television: Sunday: 12:30-1:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2), 1:30-5:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
Granted, Doug is a big football fan, like most of America (and most of the world, but we don't talk much futbol here). However, there are other sports...I think. Either way, I intend to find out this Sunday as I'm watching the Tour Championship.
Now I know many people don't like to watch golf on tv, but this is the final tournament of the season and I think it will be even more entertaining than the Tournament Championship in Happy Gilmore (which even had Happy being run down and then making a circus putt to win his Grandmother's house back).
Why? Because people in golf think Vijay Singh is the best player in the world.
They think Tiger is nothing anymore.
"The fear factor is gone," one caddie said on the practice range as he watched Woods warm up.
This worthless caddie will find out, along with America, that Tiger is back and back with a vengeance as I predict he will win this tournament by at least two strokes. So, if you want to see a return to greatness, tune in to watch the world's greatest do what he does best.
Storyline of the week: Will Steelers rookie quarterback Ben Roethlisberger humiliate the Eagles defense en route to a victory over the NFL's last undefeated team?
Philadelphia Eagles at Pittsburgh Steelers
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. EST, FOX
Doug's Pick: Eagles
Mark, you can tune into the ultimately meaningless Tour Championship this Sunday, but I guarantee that you won't do so until the end of this game. The Eagles are the last undefeated team in the NFL with a 7-0 mark, while the 6-1 Steelers knocked off the previously undefeated Patriots, 34-20, last Sunday.
Granted, Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers offense looked great last week, but they won't look nearly as good this week. Let's keep in mind that Patriots cornerback Ty Law was injured in the first quarter last week, which left Pittsburgh receiver Plaxico Burress up against untested Randall Gay.
Momentum is such a key, especially for a rookie like Roethlisberger. Last week, the Steelers had it because of Law's injury and because the Pats' running game was AWOL without Corey Dillon.
Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson will do everything in his power to throw off Roethlisberger this week. The Eagles come into this Keystone State showdown a little banged up, but tackle Darwin Walker and linebackers Mark Simoneau and Dhani Jones are probable. Expect ends Jevon Kearse and Hugh Douglas to get pressure on Roethlisberger, and expect the Eagles to shut down former teammate Duce Staley's running game. Hines Ward has 49 catches for Pittsburgh this year, but safety Brian Dawkins will be meeting him over the middle all day.
Also working in Philly's favor is that Donovan McNabb and the offense are playing very well. Terrell Owens and Freddy Mitchell will be available all afternoon for McNabb, and this unit can keep Roethlisberger and Co. off the field.
Don't expect the Steelers to jump out to a 21-3 lead this Sunday. The Eagles are an experienced team that will make Roethlisberger look human, and in crunch time, I'll take McNabb and T.O. any day.
Pick: Eagles 23, Steelers 20
Mark’s Pick: Roethlisburger
Doug, you can use all the logic you want when you discuss this game. Frankly, I am all for logic. But when talking about rookie QB Ben Roethlisburger, the logical thing to do is to throw logic out the window.
You talk about taking the Eagles in the clutch, but, a lot people said they would take NE in the clutch. Who wouldn't? They had the longest win streak of any team in football history, and they got the job done against some of the best teams in football. It wasn't enough to stop Big Ben.
It’s funny that you talk about the Tour Championship being meaningless, because meaningless is a word that comes to mind when you say Eagles D Coordinator Jim Johnson will do everything in his power to stop Roethlisburger. If the Eagles could barely stop Jeff Garcia, they will be powerless against Roethlisburger.
He is playing like a veteran right now, not only does he have great poise and patience in the pocket, but he's doing a great job commanding and leading the offense. The ball is bouncing Pittsburgh's way right now, I can't explain it, but it is.
TO will have some fun, score some TDs, do some dances, but the fact of the matter remains the same. The Eagles are vulnerable right now, and their offense isn't the same without a healthy Brian Westbrook. Philly, like Doug's picks, will be sub par this weekend and they will fall to the Steelers.
Steelers 35, Eagles 24
Mark Chalifoux and Doug Stuerenberg team up every Friday to give their take on the top games every weekend. Mark Chalifoux is a weekly columnist for SportsFan Magazine and the VP of AllSportsEmpire.com, launching Monday November 8th. Doug Steurenberg is the featured columnist for AllSportsEmpire. You can reach Mark at Rockne48@und.com and Doug at dsknicks@fuse.net
|
|
|
No comments yet - join this discussion...
|
|
|
|
|
|
